The Fourth Adventure

[kipper]

Is Dame SImonetta carrying the picnic basket and/or blanket, or did she leave them behind? Each takes 1 hand to carry, so she can bring one or the other and have 1 hand free, or bring both the basket and blanket and have no hands free.

Dame Simonetta brought the blanket as it didn't seem very encumbering and wouldn't restrict her descent, she's left the basket behind however for similar (yet opposite) reasoning. Now that she's partway down she thinks that she could have launched the basket down the chute instead of leaving it abandoned at the top, but she shrugs it off and continues down methodically.

[mushgnome]

The moose walks a short distance in the direction of the chute, pulling the toboggan. It stops, looks over its shoulder at Kiplyn, and blinks. Then it takes a few more steps, looks back at Kiplyn, and blinks again. Its behavior doesn't seem to be threatening.

[ehiker133]

Dougal shakes his head. "Nah. That don't seem right."

He checks the naked hobbet for any signs of injury.

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn tries to get Willie's attention while moving to follow the White Moose. "Willie it's safe to come out. I'm coming Mr. Moose"

[mushgnome]

Dougal visually inspects the face-down mystery Hobbet. She doesn't seem to have any sign of violent injury (at least not on her back side). No cuts, bruises, limbs bent at awkward angles, or anything like that.

Dougal can see that the mystery Hobbet's fingers and toes show signs of moderate frostbite. (2nd degree with blistering)

I am assuming until you say otherwise, this is a visual-only inspection. If you want to do any physical examination, please be specific.

[acodispo]

Willie pops his head out of the snow upon hearing Kiplyn's call.

"It's YOU!" he cries, amazed, when he sees the Great Albino Moose. "Hello!"

He gets out of the snow & cautiously approaches. Once he sees what the Moose is doing he hops tentatively onto the toboggan.

[mushgnome]

Dame Simonetta has descended one-third the length of the track. It's a tough slog, but she's found a good rhythm. She has reached Frederick, who is almost finished clearing the track. He's chopping away with his little axe, whistling a happy tune, and hasn't heard Dame Simonetta sneaking up on him. He's lopped a Christmas tree sized portion off the top of the tree, and is carefully whittling it down to match the radius of the toboggan chute.

How does Dame Simonetta approach Frederick? What does she say? (Or does she ignore him?)

[mushgnome]

Willie and Kiplyn hop onto the toboggan, and the Great Albino Moose takes them for the ride of their lives!

First they do some "donuts" and figure-eights in the fresh snow of the clearing.

The moose stops for a moment and looks back at its passengers and blinks, as if to ask, "You good?"

Our heroes notice the moose has pulled the toboggan to the far side of the field, opposite from the toboggan chute and perfectly aligned, pointing straight at it. The chute looks even longer, icier, and more terrifying going up than it did on the way down. Surely Hornpipe Hill was not such a towering and rocky peak as this?

The moose lowers its head, crouches, and tenses its leg muscles like a sprinter at the starting block. It grips the reins of the toboggan in its mouth and pulls them taut.

How do Willie and Kiplyn react?

[mushgnome]

What are Wilbur and Dougal up to, meanwhile?

[coffee]

Wilbur continues digging in the snow around the departed one, looking for any clues as to how the poor soul got here and why.