French Connection Prequel

between April 20 and 23

Manny Wulfenstein approaches Dr. Sihn regarding the disappearance of the Filipino Manny who was searching for Princess Lakura.  "So, Ellie, I've been reading up, scouting around Manny's rep, and checking out the part of the world he was in.  I think he's really missing, and I KNOW anyone missing down in that part of the world is either cannibal stew, under alien lock-and-key, or held hostage by a Japanese WW II vet.  Of course even in the first two scenarios, he might just be on his way and not done for yet.  I narrowed down things and at least have tracked him down to his last known place and where he was headed next.  Doc, I think we gotta do something!"

Dr. Sihn calls Bob Rogers and sees what he can work out.  He tells Aela what he's up to and assure her that as soon as they find anything, they will let her know.  Rogers has time and can personally fly them down there in the Black Buick; Gere-luce would like to come along as well and Sihn welcomes the company. 

Sammy overhears Manny Wulfenstein and all the activity, and joins up, but really doesn't pay much attention, and is rather confused as to how they ended up on there way and, as they arrive, there.  He figures someone else must know what they're doing... "Sihn!  Wo is this Lakura woman?  Is that your mother-in-law, Sihn?  How do you know this?  Who sent "Filipino Manny" after her?  Why would Lakura want to be so afraid of people?  Do you have the time?  When are we going to eat lunch?  It's nice and warm here, and I hear they have Tsunami's.  I sure wish I could surf one of those!  I like the extra moisture in the air.  Is that sweat I see pouring down your brow, Dr. Sihn?  Gee, it sure would be neat to find grandma!  Do they have buffets here?  They sure talk funny here.  Maybe I can pick up a few words before we leave."

Sihn is patient and accommodating to Sammy's questions, though he's a bit circumspect about Prince Namor's involvement.

Sammy, Dr. Sihn, Bob Rogers, Gere-luce, and Manny Wulfenstein arrive at Yasur, the volcanic island that is the center of the Jon Krum cargo cult among the Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) islands).  Some info on the cult and island are at http://enzo.gen.nz/jonfrum/text.htm.

Bob Rogers decides to take advantage of the beliefs in an effort to expedite getting info.  So they touch down on one of the makeshift runways, and many natives turn out to greet them, a couple leading in hastily-assembled US Army outfits.  Dr. Sihn takes a dose of his presence-building drug to assist in their dealings. 

Rogers makes with the requisite cargo offerings, explaining that they are on "a mission from the West" and cannot stay but will send word back on their plight (he means it; he will work on a charitable foundation to attempt to educate the cargo cult believers).  He emphasizes the need to get info, describing Manny and Lakura.  Sihn is as gracious as he can be.  He carefully explains that Lakura is the mother of his wife, and the grandmother of his child.  He also explains that the father of his wife would like to speak with her again.  He'll take his time and not rush things, trying to get a feel for whether any skulldugery is at work.

An older man comes forward, Huri-Jubi, who speaks broken English.  He indicates he has known Lakura (not by name but by description) and met Manny.  He explained to Manny that Lakura was escaping a nobleman and that he told her to go into the volcanic crater and seek out Jon Frum, who would surely help a woman in her situation, particularly a Westerner (she has of course light skin).  Huri-Jubi is sure that Lakura went there and that Manny has followed. 

A woman roughly the same age as the man disputes this, though.  Madame Descheaux only speaks the native language and French; a native translates for the Americans.  She instead says she housed Lakura and knows that Lakura went on her advice to Hunter Island which adventurers, scientists, and archaeologists visit.  She told her to go there because it is otherwise-uninhabited and easy to hide in and around while having enough food for a person and enough contact with people should she need it.  More info on Hunter Island at http://users.bendnet.com/bjensen/volcano/swpacific/vanuatu-hunter.html.

Sammy chimes in, "DId someone say there was food on Hunter Island?!?  As I always say, Follow the Food!  The bread crumbs are getting cold!  Lets get going!"  But there is no significant source of food on the island (save the fish in the ocean, of which there are also plenty in Yasur).  So Sammy is willing to stay as they settle into work and later leisure.

Sihn talks to some of the other tribes-people about Madame Descheaux and Huri-Jubi, trying to get a sense of what their motivations might be.  The younger generation generally find both Huri-Jubi and Mme. Descheaux prone to exaggeration and wrapped up in the "old days" but have genuine respect for both when it comes down to it.  Peers of them are actually quite quick to chime in and take sides, once asked (even if asked discreetly, it doesn't take long for people to overhear and get involved)!  If this were an ancient Icelandic trial by jury where opinion and weight in society counted and they were the jury, it'd probably be a tie.  Some of the people accuse Huri-Jubi of being a merciless profiteer and therefore no doubt a liar.  Others indicate that Mme. Descheaux is a gaudy attention-seeker and thinks she runs the island.  It's possible that Huri-Jubi wants to generate local business by having more foreigners (particularly apparently rich ones) stay on the island, but it's possible that Mme. Descheaux is simply grand-standing.  They both know that it's extremely unlikely you'll find her or Manny (after all "people disappear all the time"), so either could be playing off that and imagining that neither will be proven or disproven.  However, witnesses know that both Huri-Jubi and Descheaux communicated with a woman of great beauty who appeared seemingly out of nowhere there, so it seems that they both met a woman who matches the description, and of course many people remember Manny.   Sihn is inclined to believe the woman, particularly as Manny seemed to follow her advice and leave the island headed towards Hunter.

As it takes time to talk with the villagers anyway, the villagers are loathe to see the crew go, and Yasur is an island paradise albeit with a volcano,  Eliot decides along with his cohorts it makes sense to enjoy their time and stay overnight.  There's a hotel that has rooms for all, the Yasur Guesthouse (see http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/vanuatu/hotels/yasur_bung.html ).  It's late already so they turn in and rest up to enjoy a day on the island.

Waking up the next AM, they find the village is a-twitter.  A couple of the local livestock (someone owned a pig, a cow, and several chickens) have been brutally torn apart and half-eaten.  Several people saw a big dog or a bear (people are uncertain) running wild from their windows.  Thankfully most people were indoors and anyone outside was unaffected.  Villagers claim nothing like this has ever happened before, it's a real oddity.  Sihn immediately suspects that Manny is behind the livestock mutilations.  He waits until he has a chance alone with Manny, and ask somewhat casually, but still a bit pointedly, "So, have you seen a lot of these kinds of mutilations in your travels?"  

Manny laughs off the mutilations, saying, "Ellie, yeah, I've seen them but you know it's my business.  Most of the time I'm going to where they are, y'know?  Anyway, I think it's aliens; you  know this happens with cows all the time.  I think they've switched their modus operandi from surgical-seeming strikes to these wild ones.  And you know, I think the aliens follow me around, I have some photos of them I published once.  So en route to where I am they show up and do this stuff.  But I don't think they mean it as a hostile strike, I think it's some kind of research.  What do you think, El?"

"I think you have a problem, Manny.  And I don't think aliens are involved.  If you want to talk about it, or look for a solution, I'm here, and ready to help.  Otherwise, be careful.  If your problem becomes our problem, we'll take care of it, but our list of possible solutions might be slightly curtailed."

Manny pauses and says, "Well, El, why do you say this?"

"I had a chance to look at a sample of your blood a while back, and the results suggested that you might have some form of lycanthropy.  This would be consistent with the mutilations.  If this is the case, you seem to have done a fairly good job of controlling it thus far.  If you want it gone, though, I can probably help you."

Manny pauses, almost nods a bit, and then mutters and says, "Well, that's something to think about.  In the meantime I've got to do some shopping."

Sihn, with Gere-luce and Rogers, ventures to find a souvenir for his Mrs.  Locals are eagerly selling all sorts of things.  The nearby city is somewhat sizeable for a small island and has most reasonable amenities and tourist traps.  On his meandering Dr. Sihn runs into a few Western and Asian scientists, all looking a bit well-funded.  They inevitably nod and a few introduce themselves, virtually all speaking English, a few only French.  There's a biologist that Sihn's somewhat familiar with.  He runs into 3 who recognize his work, one of whom is offended by his "populist" image (linked to Justice Squad, some public speaking now), saying, "Oh, I guess it's great to be <rolling eyes> star, eh?  Just like Carl Sagan..." he essentially pouts and goes off.  The "Carl Sagan" comment doesn't bother Sihn in the least.  That kind of name-recognition is good for SihnTek, and as for his work, people can accept it or not.  The other two are quite pleased to meet Sihn and enthusiastically ask what he's doing on Tanna island (the actual island name, though most call it Yasur).  He casually asks the other scientists what they are working on.  No startling revelations from the other scientists; a couple of the biologists are working on island population theory and this is an ideal place to do it since this island has seen significant recent dramatic redistribution of species and populations with so many visitations since the 1700s.  

It's easy for Sihn to find some cheap but wonderfully made locally crafted sea shell items and wooden trinkets.  He spends the rest of his time relaxing on the beach, along with Gere-luce and Rogers, letting Lefty go off to play with Sammy.

Always on the lookout for "oddities," Sammy, with Lefty in tow, keeps his eyes and ears wide open for nifty things he can tell "pop" (Eliot Sihn).  First, he goes to socialize with the locals and to see if he can go food-gathering with some.  Sammy doesn't make out too much as the locals whisper among themselves in their tongue, except he does know they're whispering A LOT.  Otherwise, he sees several oddities - a lad with ears pointed like Namor's; an odd looking fish-like creature crawling along the ground; a sign saying "Elvis slept here" on a hotel; and .  Manny goes around with Sammy, sort of looking out for him but also intrigued by any and everything unusual Sammy can pick up.  He takes pictures of everything and scribbles furiously.  

Eventually, Sammy shows off his amazing dexterity by running up trees and grabbing coconuts (Sammy has never had Coconuts -- only coconut oil in that popcorn).  He also has flight and stretching to help in this endeavor.  Lefty is unavoidably, is seen by some of the natives who are quite interested and not in the least fearful.  In fact Lefty feels more at home here than anywhere.  The villagers are impressed with the coconut-gathering and the strange little hand and in return they are offer up all sorts of food.  Sammy and Lefty are also given kava, without any real explanation, a psychoactive drug, which is in this island actually a natives-only thing and he is honored!  Although Lefty experiences a "pick-me-up" he's otherwise unaffected, while Sammy finds things are funny, he feels he can communicate in the natives' local tongue, and then everything begins to spin...

After recovering (which doesn't take too long given his metabolism), he goes for his swim, seeking out some fish, finding Sihn to leave Lefty with him.  So he dives into the water, and goes swimming as a seal, fishing up some munchies, including some nifty shells to take home as presents (keying off Sihn's quest for a present).  It takes him a while to realize there are no seals here.   He finds a few dolphins and they seem to enjoy his company; he "hears", he swears, one say "Hey, Sammy!" in his mind, but then just as suddenly it's silent again.  But it's fun swimming with them.

After he does stretch his wings, he takes a little flight scouting out the area.  Sammy enjoys flying over/into the volcano crater, seeing several geologists around the edge.  It's beautiful and lava belches out of one side of it as he goes over.

Eliot Sihn feels much better about things after a nice relaxing day.  He's glad Sammy has a chance to run around and kick up his heels a bit - all this serious life and death crime fighting stuff is hard on a young mind like Sammy's.  He briefly wonders if Sammy wouldn't be happier here instead of back in Detroit.  Lefty speaks with Eliot, asking that if they find Lakura, then can Aela come down and everyone there.  He also tells Eliot he really dug the kava, though it really barely affected him, much less so than Sammy.  Sihn has a talk with Lefty about mind-altering drugs, and the awful things they can do to one.  He assures Lefty that he's probably OK this time, but he might not be OK next time, so he should be careful.  He reflects on sending Lefty to Professor X and is a bit torn.  He knows that many of the kids wind up there because they come from families that don't understand mutants.  That isn't the problem for Lefty.

Late in the day, everyone rested and recovered, it's off to Hunter island.  The villagers, however, are quite sad to see that you will leave the island.  Children gather around and yell, "Don't go!" in their native tongue.  Some men rush to the Gilligan's Island-like "control tower" (a wooden replica of one) and appear to make motions and mock radio calls indicating conditions aren't good for take-off.  

Sammy checks the on-board computer on the Black Buick and reports, "Oh boy, they have a volcano there!  It'll be the second one I've seen in two days!  Dr. Sihn!  It's "toped by explosion craters and a lava dome."  He wonders if Lakura made a home in the lava dome.

Hunter Island is 1 km across and not much more than a rock.  The significant food source is clearly fish although there are isolated vegetations on the island.  Hunter lies approximately 42 nautical miles east of Matthew Island, also an active volcano whose last outbreak was in 1987.  Hunter is 242 (974ft) meters high and consists of several volcanic cones. The island is approximately 1000 meters long and 700 meters wide in the south.  The coast consists of partly perpendicularly ascending cliffs, with only a few spots of gradual rises and fair weather anchorage points.  Hunter and Matthew both are contested for ownership by Vanuatu and New Caledonia.  Because of its isolated situation and the difficult landing possibilities, all of the ownership argument so far has only been on paper.  

The island is volcanic and outbreaks have occurred in the years 1903, 1895, c.1892, 1841, 1835, and  c.1797.  There was an intriguing eruption report in 1983; a Vanuatu government team visited Hunter Island and witnessed white vapor tinged with gray ash billowing to an altitude of approximately 900 meters.   Smoke seemed to be coming from the main active crater on the west side and from two small craters on the east side.  Vegetation on the lower slopes of the east coast was burning, which suggested that the eruption had begun recently.  Later that day the fires had reached the central spine of the island.  But later information revealed that human activity had started fires and NO eruption had taken place.

[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...

"Winning" against inferior opponent by finding clues, moving on to Hunter Island - +.375 RPs for  Sammy, Troll, +.025 XP for Sammy, Troll

Session Play - +.5 XPs for Sammy, Troll, +1.5 RPs for Sammy, Troll

Sammy - 8/less dolphin familiarity (1 XP), 1 XP Perk Reputation, worshipped by Tanna Island natives, 1 XP Contact Tanna island chief

Troll - 11/less base Area Knowledge Tanna Island (3 XP)

Totals (includes pre-spent XP above, may not be spent otherwise):

Sammy +1.875 RPs, +3.525 XP
Troll +1.875 RPs, +3.525 XP 

Totals to Date:

Neumann 93.5 RPs, 17 XPs
Rodin 950.75 RPs, 91.875 XPs
Sammy the Slime 885.5 RPs, 89.7375 XPs
Spectrum 773.25 RPs, 85.175 XPs
Troll 921.5 RPs, 98.425 XPs]