[OOC: Each of you will have a post or more to play out any preparations or start anything for a personal story here. Tag me with a "GM response requested", at the bottom of your post if you'd like to play it out but if not keep it as a post about your preparations for brevity. This will help to flesh out your home life and/or the things you want your characters to be practicing, packing, etc.

 I'll be giving karma for the posts which try to do the most, accordingly.

 This will be telling me what you'll be focusing on for advancement or study, during the "off-screen" time of the trip. PM me with any brainstorms about this.

 So you know the plan a little, I will make a post after everyone's more or less done here about the trip itself. This is where you'll be able to communicate amongst one another's characters more.

 I don't mind if you want to modify it at any time so long as it's finalized prior to the send-off.

Feel free to begin posting whenever you'd like, opening this early for the sake of having something to do in game and condensing the downtime. ^_^ ]

 After the meeting, a thousand thoughts run through your heads about a journey which could take months. What should I bring? Who do I need to say goodbye to? How should I spend this first paycheck? How do I get home again from here?!


 Each person's basic kit will include access to these items, if you don't want or need something for your character pull it out of the list in your post. That said, if there's something you want but don't see, unless it's outlandish, feel free to include it. Anything else should be run by me first. Everyone should be able to carry these basics or have it on the expedition's custom motor wagon for the slightly larger items.

Expedition gear -

Cotton and Wool clothing, Water-proofed Cold-weather Boots
7 days dry rations
Haversack
Metal containers
First Aid Kit
Sewing Kit
Shaving Kit
Soap Kit
Mess Kit
Canteen and Cup
Towels
Small Tent
Bedroll
Heavy Blankets
Belt and Harness
Entrenching Tools
Springfield M1903 Rifle with Bayonet
M1900 Pistol and Holster
Compass
Pocket Watch
Matches
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:07, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

There is a lot of modern equipment involved with going on an expedition like this. Things that Asar did not have in the past. This meant that he had to go through everything. He was impressed with the ingenuity of some of the items and wondered at others. He would not need the shaving kit, since he did not shave, but instead brought a pair of exceptionally useful paired knives with odd holes in the ends for fingers. Where the name scissors came from was a total mystery to him, but they were very useful.

He also decided that the wagon needed to have a couple 100 cubits of rope and some pitons in case they had to do any spelunking or just getting up or down a cliff they could not bypass. In his investigations there was also an archeologists kit, full of interesting tools, brushes, and a curved piece of glass that made things appear large. In that kit he also included a small pull out telescope like the ones he had seen used on the ship across the Atlantic. There were many other things that had to be custom made, but he had brought some things with him. Things that were properly sized for someone like himself.

============================================
Regular stuff w/o Shaving Kit
Add three 100ft ropes and a dozen pitons.
Archeologists Kit (including thin paper and charcoal for rubbings)
Small pull out telescope
Pair of scissors
Signaling Mirrors (one for everybody+1)
Extra full sized Journal
Three extra pairs of boots
Extra Shirt
Thick, Black, fitted leather jacket with slightly large forearms
Leather Gloves
Extra undergarments and socks
Tins of crackers (hardtack)
Tins of peanut butter
20lbs of pimîhkân (with blueberry)
A pair of double weight properly sized brass knuckles
Water filter and silver-nitrate
Two thick steel forearm guards

Hiram goes through the equipment, marvelling over the fact that it apparently only takes agreeing to go on a secret expedition into the snow-filled unknown to get more basic amenities than he's had for the last 5 years. Not to mention tools and... weapons he frankly hopes he'll never have to use.

Hiram didn't do anything with the equipment, other than familiarize himself with them as much as he can. He trusts that the general and his people know what might be necessary quite a bit better than a homeless guy would. He does ask for two extra pair of boots and an extra of each piece of clothing. Living on the street has taught Hiram the value of good shoes, if nothing else.

Having little idea what else could be useful, Hiram ponders if there's anything he could bring to benefit the group in some way. He settles on asking for a blank journal, a letter and writing tools, figuring that a written first hand account of the expedition could be useful.
More importantly, he takes the time to write a letter to his family. the first letter in more than 4 years, where he tries to apologize. to explain. And to inform them that he will be doing important work for the government.
With the letter he sends his first paycheck. his family has always been living humbly, so extra money will help his younger siblings. And Hiram won't need money where they're going.

Cotton and Wool clothing, Water-proofed Cold-weather Boots
7 days dry rations
Haversack
Metal containers
First Aid Kit
Sewing Kit
Shaving Kit
Soap Kit
Mess Kit
Canteen and Cup
Towels
Small Tent
Bedroll
Heavy Blankets
Belt and Harness
Entrenching Tools
Springfield M1903 Rifle with Bayonet
M1900 Pistol and Holster
Bayonet only.
Compass
Pocket Watch
Matches

Extra
Tea for drinking
A backup Umbrella
A journalist’s pad and pen/pencil set.
Oil and rags (to make torches)

In addition to the 'standard' gear everyone receivers, Nic would request:

Climbing Gear (couple sets)

Snowshoes (for everyone)
Tinted Goggles/Spectacles (for everyone)
Knife (for everyone)
Lip Balm (for everyone)
Moisturizing cream (for everyone)

Flint and Steel/"strikers" (several)
Hatchets (several)
Signal Mirrors (unless something is included in the various kits)
Tarps
Tool Kits (or various tools for wilderness survival and general just in case)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Sat 29 Aug 2020.

Angok sat on the bed in the small dormitory room that had been provided him during his time here. It was sparse, with little more than the furniture that had been provided and the 2 sets of clothing that had been provided to him. He needed little else, and more importantly there was still much he didn't understand about this place and how things worked here. He was honestly happy to be getting out of this place, and out where he could more freely be himself.

He glanced down at the pile of equipment at his feet, looking through the items to figure what each was and whether he wanted to take it with him. While the clothes looked and felt restrictive, he remembers how cold Tunguska had been in what Dr. Short called Summer, and with it now being apparently much colder, he realized these would be necessary for survival. Most of the other small items he looked at quizzically, but as long as they fit in the haversack, he decided to bring them along, just in case he found a use for them.

The guns, as Dr. Short had called them, had already been replaced by a spear he had requested be made for him. He had no idea how to use a gun, and from what he understood, they were not simple weapons to use. Perhaps he would learn to use one in the future, but for for now he felt more comfortable with the weapon he'd trained with since he was young child.

---

Cotton and Wool clothing, Water-proofed Cold-weather Boots
7 days dry rations
Haversack
Metal containers
First Aid Kit
Sewing Kit
Shaving Kit
Soap Kit
Mess Kit
Canteen and Cup
Towels
Small Tent
Bedroll
Heavy Blankets
Belt and Harness
Entrenching Tools
Springfield M1903 Rifle with Bayonet
M1900 Pistol and Holster
Compass
Pocket Watch
Matches
Spear

Expedition gear +

10 waterproof canvas bags
Numerous hand tools 🧰 (everything he could find)
Blow torch
Cast iron skillet
Extra M1900 pistol
Extra ammo for pistols and rifles
A case of vodka ( for medicinal purposes)
A crossbow and quiver of bolts
A spear fishing kit
Extra fishing line
Extra pairs of leather gloves
The professor’s telescope
The professor’s Geiger counter

********

Art was so excited that he could barely sit still. Having some up front money helped. He could spend as much time as possible at the local stores buying as many tools as he could get his hands on for the mission. Never knew when one might need to pull a tooth or weld a pipe.

Once he had completed his shopping expedition, Art found a telephone and called Professor Kingsley.

“I hope it’s not too late. There is always so much to try and prepare for, so many possible eventualities.”

“No, sir. I will just rely on your good nature to inform my family that all is well and that we are starting off for the expedition at first light. It wouldn’t exactly be a wasted call, but I would rather not have to repeat to my mother how many pairs of socks and underwear that I have packed. Or if there are any girls of marrying age involved in this mission.”

“Thanks, Professor. I will tell you all about it when I get back. Goodnight.”

Expedition gear -

Cotton and Wool clothing, Water-proofed Cold-weather Boots
Haversack
Metal containers
First Aid Kit
Sewing Kit
Soap Kit
Towels
Small Tent
Bedroll
Heavy Blankets
Belt and Harness
Entrenching Tools
Compass
Pocket Watch
Matches
Geo's personal maintenance kit
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:46, Tue 17 Nov 2020.

Let your gear be stated here too help clear your character sheet of unnecessary clutter!

(I'm not very good at gear, so I mostly stole this list from Geo)

Heavy clothing, sturdy walking boots
Backpack
Soap, razor, toothbrush, hand towels
First aid kit
Sewing kit
Small Tent, Bedroll, Blankets
Small tool/repair set
Compass
Matches
Pocket bible
Field rations
Waterskins
Sample containers
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Tue 17 Nov 2020.