sixthiterationlogs | Exploration Attempt #1

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Exploration Attempt #1

WHO: Sam Wilson
WHERE: Outskirts of Village Area, various points (see subthreads)
WHEN: July 3 - Morning
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: N/A
STATUS: Open
NOTE: Subthreads will be set up for the different paths by myself and anyone else who wants to take a path. Once a path is claimed, feel free to tag into that group and be part of the exploration party.

A few of them had the same idea and it seemed to make the most sense to divide and conquer. They had no map or compass to use, so it made sense to meet in the morning and use the sunlight as their guide. Of course, they would be working on the assumption that this sun even WORKED the same way, but at least it followed SOME pattern so they may as well designate where it rose as "East" and where it was setting as "West." It was going to be difficult with limited tools, but it was better than just holing themselves up in the abandoned buildings hoping for something to change. Not that it really mattered whether it was east or west, they'd be starting on the roads leading out of the village so they had an easy division and land marker to start with.

Sam couldn't tell you whose idea it had been originally, but most of them had agreed pretty quickly. After meeting in front of the Pub, they would divide into groups and each take a different path out of town. If the path ended, then they'd just have to do their best to press on in the woods. If they couldn't find a way out before sunset they'd mark their stopping point and return to the pub. That way they could all share details and figure out a plan for another attempt. More optimistically, they'd return with an idea of how to get out, though Sam was skeptical about it being that easy.

For his own sense of consistency and to make referencing things a little easier Sam had designated the four paths by letter.

Path A would head past the Blacksmith Shop.
Path B would head past the School house.
Path C would head towards the River.
Path D would head towards the Police.

After scratching the letters out into the dirt of each path, he waited for the groups to form and then they'd head out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Doesn't mean they are nearby though," Sam remarks, "They could have some kind of remote system in place or it could even be automated to trigger after certain things are triggered." That's not to say he disagrees with Peggy, just that there might be a siren unmanned and without someone at the controls in the immediate area. "But even if that is the case, finding it might also answer a lot of questions."

Sam considers her question as he starts walking again. He's keeping an eye out for any interesting landmarks or any other kinds of interesting pieces of the landscape to explore. "Well we should keep in mind that however far we walk in to the forest we're going to have to cover that same distance to get back. Considering this is pretty unfamiliar territory it kinda depends on what we come across. So let's see where we're at in a mile or in an hour -- whichever happens first." Because if they came across a cave or something interesting to examine that would mean stopping and exploring it. However, if there was nothing interesting they could try for distance and see what was a mile away from the town or further if they felt like it. It was just important not to get too tired that they couldn't make it back to the village.

The idea that there's some sort of trigger calms her mind just a little when it comes to someone sitting there and watching them, but it brings her right back around to the initial question. "If there is a trigger, who installed it," is what she says. "Who built these homes and who stocked them with furniture and all the things you need to live and then just left?"

What don't they know? is the bigger, more frightening question.

"I'm fine to walk as long as you are," she says, knowing her sheer stubbornness will keep her going.

Sam sighs, because he's been wondering the same thing. "That's certainly the big question, isn't it? Along with about a hundred others that all boil down to the basic fact that we still have no idea why we're here, how we got here, and who or what is behind all of this." It's certainly been taking away from his sleep at night, that's for sure. But that was also why he was trying to stay busy and do stuff like this. "That's why we're out here though. Gotta find answers somewhere and nowhere in town seems to have them."

He smirks at her answer, "We'll play it by ear then." As they continued to walk, Sam notices the terrain is starting to slope up gently. They're probably going over a hill, though it's hard to tell since there are trees and not an obvious curve -- just a sensation of going "up."

A few minutes pass as they walk uphill, though they are far enough from the village that they might start to hear slight rustling. Wind? Animal? Or something else? The place is too new for Sam to be sure and he keeps his eyes peeled.

Peggy's tense and on her guard as they walk, feeling like she's never going to be truly calm in this place. There's always going to be something that bumps in the night or something that catches her off guard and makes her think that she's only just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"Do you have something that might help against, say, a bear?" she asks quietly, thinking of the general wild animals one might find in a situation like this.

Sam snorts. He'd hardly torn the entire place apart looking for weapons or tools, but he's sure there is nothing that's going to stop a bear and he really hopes their luck isn't THAT bad. "Like what exactly? I've never even seen a bear except at the zoo."

And why was her first go to a bear anyway? They had no idea where they were, it could be ANYTHING. Which wasn't exactly reassuring.

Suddenly, about ten feet away, the bushes started thrashing violently. Sam tensed up, not sure if he was preparing to run or attack. He need not have bothered however because it was not a bear that leaped from the bushes.

It was in fact a goat.

"Baaaah," the goat cried.

Peggy's getting ready to defend them as best as she can, even going so far as to step slightly in front of Sam as if she can somehow tackle and subdue a giant bear. Her body is coiled and tense, ready for anything. Then, the bushes give way and Peggy is shocked to discover that no, she's not ready for anything.

She's absolutely, one hundred percent, utterly not ready to be nearly accosted by a goat.

Peggy's torn between a heart attack and a fit of laughter and she settles for a hand on Sam's shoulder as she bows her head down, letting out a strangled laugh as she glances up. "It could still charge, I suppose," she says, as if she wants them to still be wary of the danger. "Are goats lethal?"

Sam knows he's not ready but he's certainly not going to let Peggy Carter take on a bear all by herself. He doesn't care what stories he's heard, he's pretty sure she can't do that.

And then it turns out to be a goat.

Okay. Wait a minute now.

Sam stares at the animal with a good deal of confusion written all over his face. This cannot be happening right now. When he feels Peggy's hand on his shoulder is when he finally relaxes and actually starts to chuckle a little himself. Man had they worked themselves up over nothing. "I honestly don't know. I mean...it's out here in the woods so does it still count as a wild animal?"

The goat doesn't seem to be interested in them now however, instead munching on some weeds nearby and flicking it's little goat tail occasionally.

"Do you think we could get milk out of it?" she asks, all of a sudden much more interested in this animal than she had been a few moments before. Their limited supply of food might grow exponentially if they could do things like create cream and butter. Of course, that would be even better if someone sat down to make bread, but she's currently staring down a goat.

So she's a little busy.

"The phrase stubborn as a goat does have to come from somewhere," she notes. "Do we want to attempt bringing it back with us?"

"If it's a female goat I think," he tilts his head, trying to peer at the goat from a different angle. "I can't really tell from here," Sam finally admits with a shake of his head. Sam glances around as if looking for more goats or a way to easily capture it. It's not like they have a rope or anything.

Still, it seems like a waste to not at least try, "If you're up for it. Not really sure how we're supposed to bring it back in. I mean, it probably doesn't weight much, but I don't know if goats are prone to just come along nicely. Like you said...they're stubborn." He's not taking his eyes off the goat now, just studying it and what it's doing. "We have no tools that would help and we have to consider would it be worth it to capture the goat if we get injured. Might be easier to build some kind of trap and come back in a few days with bait."

Peggy thinks if they can get a hand in all that mangy fur, they could at least guide the thing with them. Of course, they also might pick up a nasty case of fleas or ticks in the meantime, but her need for milk currently outweighs her need to primp and preen over proper cleanliness. "If we find a rope back home, we could tie it up until we decide what to do."

"Truthfully, I'm not sure we'll find it again if it wanders too deep into the canyon," Peggy admits.

The goat munches away at grass, completely oblivious to the two humans plotting a few feet away. Or maybe it is aware and just doesn't care. Goats have that air about them, they're the kind of creatures who just don't care.

Sam seems to pick up on this and relents. "You're probably right. So we should at least try then. There's two of us, so we can try to corner it instead if we don't have time for a trap." He wasn't sure how smart goats were or how strong, but he'd hate to go back to the village empty handed. If nothing else, they could try and explain how they tried to catch the goat.

Peggy shares a look with Sam that says that they absolutely cannot fail in doing this, because if they do, it will likely be one of the most embarrassing things in the entire world. "I'll go right if you go left? Or would you prefer to break up the goat in top and bottom halves," is her sharp remark, as if she can't quite believe the conversation she's having.

"Left. I'm not about to approach a goat from behind," Sam quickly answers. He thinks this is going to result in injury enough without tempting fate by coming at the goat from behind. He doesn't need a face-full of hoof thanks and if this does end badly he certainly doesn't want THAT as part of the story.

The goat shows no sign of moving. Sam watches it for a few seconds before glancing at Peggy, "Count of three?"

She presses her lips together and tries not to laugh at the comment, because there are at least three rude comments that she wants to make. She does drift to the right, though, intending to be mature and useful rather than say things that will likely make only her laugh.

"Yes, three," she agrees, crouching down a little in order to get her best brawling face on. On three, she makes her move towards the goat, awkwardly trying to figure out how best to put her hands when the thing bleats at her rather pathetically. "I feel like I'm somehow abusing it in an inappropriate way."

It would very much depend on what the comments were. Sam is, unfortunately, used to being on the receiving end of jokes. He has a knack for walking right into them without realizing it.

Sam, clueless to what humor he might have just missed out on, shifts his stance as well. He tries to look like he's ready for anything; but how do you do that when what you are preparing to do is trap and tackle a goat? Sam counts off to three and then also moves in on the goat. Either Peggy is faster than he would have guessed or the goat is a lot tamer than they originally anticipated. Sam does realize, however, that it does seem awkward to grab the goat, but he doesn't seem to have the same qualms as she does.

It occurs to him the goat is only going to get away if it can run, "Let's not think about that right now..." He says even as he slips his arms around the goat's midsection, but closer to the front legs. As he said earlier, he's avoiding getting anywhere near the back.

The goat bleats again, this time a little more panicked and starts to try to escape.

She has to start to struggle now and it forces Peggy to clamp down her fingers in the fur available to her, unable to do much more but hold on. It's not quite a bucking horse, but it's still a furred creature on four legs that's trying to escape and she nearly topples over on top of it, hair in her eyes. She digs her heels in at the last minute and gets her bearings, but it's a near thing.

"We thought this was a good idea...why?" she asks, grasping the legs together so it can't run away, thinking they ought to just fell it and try carrying it back. "We should get it on the ground."

"No idea...food source I think," he grunts with effort. It should NOT take two people to take down a goat. At least he has help, since this wouldn't even be possible if Peggy weren't here. Sam can feel his own grip slipping and he wonders if a goat would go down the same way as a human would if he knocked it out somehow. Still, Peggy brings up a good tactic. They need to get it pinned and on the ground so they can tie it up somehow.

Which reminds Sam that he had brought those pieces of clothes to tie around trees. Sam curses, it would have been helpful to remember those earlier.

"If I can hold it down, get in my pack and pull out some of the scraps--maybe we can tie some of those around its legs to keep it bound."

For a moment, Peggy mishears him and thinks about them putting the goat in the backpack, Sam toting it back with the goat peeking out from behind him. She muffles the amusement and realizes what he's saying, instead. "We should be able to get the legs tied up so that even if it tries to run, it sort of...stumbles around," she says, for lack of a better explanation. "I think this is the most ridiculous thing that I've ever done," Peggy confesses with a laugh, in sheer disbelief that this is happening to her.

"We're going to enjoy some milk after this," she vows, like that will suddenly make this whole endeavour worth it. "Or certainly some cheese, after some work."

Sam nods, because honestly if they could even just hinder it's speed a little that would be better than nothing. "Pretty sure this tops my list of ridiculous things too," he says. This was even including fighting a man who was less than an inch tall mind you. He's pretty sure wrestling a goat still somehow topped fighting Ant-Man. Although, given how that turned out, he wasn't about to share that little tidbit with Peggy.

At this point Sam's frustration was making him contemplate goat burgers, but that wouldn't solve long term problems. So he keeps his mouth shut and with a grunt of effort he pins the goat, holding it down without wanting to hurt it. Peggy will hopefully take that as her cue to get the scraps out of his bag.

Peggy's sure that the same can be said for her, though she has watched something incredible similar. "Now I know how Jarvis felt about that awful flamingo Stark had," she curses under her breath, though that had been a purely ornamental thing and not something that could actually end up contributing to their society.

She gives Sam a look and immediately heads for his bag to find something, fishing out scraps with victory. She goes to work with a knot that Gabe had once shown her, securing it around both sets of legs before she feels content to call her work done.

"Now, shall we bring it back to town like the conquering heroes we are?" she teases.

If they had been doing anything else Sam would have asked for more details. That sounded like a great story and he wanted to hear more -- especially if a Stark was involved. However, when you're wrestling a goat to the ground and waiting for someone to help you bind it, asking about stories is not exactly a priority. In the back of his mind though Sam makes a note to ask later.

Instead, he waits for Peggy to get the knots tied, rather impressed by the speed and efficiency of her knots. Sam lets off of the goat when Peggy has the knots secured and he doesn't bother questioning them because he can tell they're fine. "It looks good, didn't know you knew knots so well."

The goat struggles against the bonds, but it's tied down fairly well. Now, Sam grabs the goat and hefts it up. "Sounds good, we should probably spend the time walking back with a better sounding story though."

"You learn a thing or two when you work with the Howling Commandos as long as I did," Peggy says, thinking of the various pieces of stray information she's picked up. "You have no idea how many ways there are to make a bomb," she quips cheerfully, as though this is the sort of useful, random information that everyone ought to have.

She gives him an appreciative smile for taking the brunt of the weight and glances back to the path they'd come from. "I'd say that's our search party done, unless you want to tote around the goat with us the rest of the way?"

Sam raises an eyebrow at that. He's not surprised, given the stories he'd both read about and heard. Still, the image of Peggy putting together various DIY bombs is a pretty good one. Leave it to Steve to fall for a girl like this and he really can't blame him. "You're just tempting me with that one--that's actually a skill I wouldn't mind learning. Bomb building sounds a little more impressive than goat wrangler."

He shakes his head at her question, catching a whiff of the goat in the process and wincing. The goat, giving his two cents, bleats irritably. "I think the sooner we deposit the goat, the better I'll feel," he sighs and then adds, half sarcastic, "The better I'll smell if nothing else. It's not like this was a waste -- we got a pretty good reward out of it."

"I'm sure that we could find our share of explosives around here, though I think the question would beg itself as to whether that's the intelligent thing to do," she feels compelled to point out, arching her brow. Of course, it could go a long way in helping to defend themselves or even just to change the landscape, so she leaves the thought idling in her mind.

"Are you going to keep it, then?" she can't help but ask, trying to sound rather innocent in her query. "Since you discovered it and all."

"We do have enough problems without someone blowing themselves up--so I guess we'll leave it at that unless something comes up," he replies. Certainly there could be uses for explosives, but not as useful as a goat.

He falls quiet at her question though. It was a good one and honestly he hadn't thought past the idea of capturing it. Now that they had it though they couldn't just let it go, could they? Not after all that damn work! He sighs, "I don't know the first thing about keeping a goat. I don't know if I should keep it...but I'm sure as hell not letting it get back out after all that work. Guess we might have to ask for some takers on the goat."

Exploration Attempt #1

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now i can't decide if they should succeed or fail

Re: now i can't decide if they should succeed or fail

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