The bone glom shifted its position, bone rattling against bone in what might be taken for agreement. Or at least obedience.

Wildcat pursed her lips while she surveyed what appeared to be the lines of battle. She looked around at the others as they prepared to dig in, and regarded Patrick Murphy for a few moments. "Prayer ta Saint Patrick never hurt nobody." Prayer in general didn't either, and this seemed like a good time to call upon any power that could help.

The Ranger set her jaw firmly as her gaze drifted back over to the group that apparently outnumbered them. Times like these - she preferred not to count so precisely.

((OOC: So it's Charging Bear's action, but bear with me a little bit, because Photobucket changed their ToS and now I can't embed photos without paying a ton of money I don't have. I have to find a new photo service for the battle map, and I'll have that up later on today.))

---

Turn Order
Charging Bear: KD
Mad Irish Murphy: KC
Pale Moon: KC (Complication)
Jake Lawrence: QC
Ghost Wolf: 10C
Ixquahuacoatl: 9D
Dr. Ward: 9C
William Pierce: 8S
Wildcat Hawkins: 8D
Adrian Vega: 8C
Carl Allens: 6S
Rattleshirt: 5D
Mirror Serpent's Brood: 5C
Doctor Evans: 4H
Alouette: 2S
Ghost Warriors: 2S
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:21, Mon 10 July 2017.

((OOC: CB? You around? I suppose I'll have to put him On Hold if I don't hear from him in a few days and move on.))

Charging Bear moves forward to get some cover and squeezes off a shot with the dragoon he's kept on him for a while.

OOC: Moving 6 space up map and shooting the big snake then taking cover.
10:43, Today: Charging Bear rolled 13,13 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,(6+5)11.  Shootin'.
Hit w/ raises
10:44, Today: Charging Bear rolled 13,5 using 2d6+4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4,5.  Damage (Gun, Raise).

13 shooting, 18 damage

[edit] Forgot initiative
11:29, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: JC using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Mon 31 July 2017.

"Alright, y'all. It's time to take these motherfuckers down. Let's thin down the herd, and then deal with what's left," he said.

---

I'm going to play an Adventure Card. Hopefully Charging Bear gets the bonus for this since the results of his action haven't been resolved yet.

7D - Inspiration “We only have one shot at this. It’s all or nothing, gang.”

Friendly characters (including your hero) add +2 to all trait rolls for the rest of this round. The Marshal gets a draw from the fate pot.

Charging Bear sights the largest of the snake-men, the giant serpent near the chanting shaman on the ledge at the far end of the cavern.

{{BANG!!}}

The dragoon bucks in Charging Bear's hand as the shot cracks like a thunderbolt, echoing throughout the cavern. The sake man twitches and lets out a hissing shriek as dark blood sprays on the Ghost Rock in the wall behind him.

"TREACHERY!" He shrieks, his eyes burning. He points to the passage. "They come to stop the Father's return! Stop them! KILL THEM!"

The snake-men and the Ghost Warriors turn and look towards Charging Bear and the mass of heroes behind him...

---

Outside of Blackthorn

A weathered man on a pale marble horse rides through the remains of an Indian attack. Several wagon wheels and crude posts had been erected in a circle around a bonfire. They were splashed with dry blood. The weathered man shrugged as he rode through the site. Looked like someone had a party without him.

Suddenly, he looked up, as if hearing something in the distance. A grin pulled his leathery lips tight.

"There you are." Stone said to himself, spurring his pale horse towards the south. "Close now, too."

The dead man and his mount continued on, heading for Blackthorn Creek.

((OOC: Alrighty. After some deliberation, I'll have Charging Bear's shot aimed at Ixquahuacoatl, as he's the largest of the snakes.

The +2 from the Inspiration card means that even with the Range penalty, Charging Bear gets to keep the Raise damage he rolled.

Ixi's Toughness is 14 (1), so that 18 damage is a Wound. Since he can regenerate, he's not going to use a Fate Chip to Soak, but he's also Shaken.

Now you have everyone's attention!))

---

Mad Irish Murphy is next!

After informing Adrian that he had been using Bad Words, the clank's attention snapped to the loud noises.

"Not treachery, Masked Snake Demon! An unkin that harms a mortal is a demon and Deputy Vega said you bit Ambrose so he became minus pants, also you are attempting to start the Apocalypse in Blackthorn, Texas, which does plus plus harm to many mortals. Called Charging Bear is not treacherous, lacking in faith, he is helping the world: that is a good thing. Y'all should repent and be excellent to each other," it informed the masked ophidian monstrosity.

"Howdy, Pure Blooded Comanches!" it called, now that it could see them.

[[talking/reminding folks the clank/chaos on legs is there...]]

"Bloody hell! You think that was a great idea, now did you? Jesus, Mary and fucking Joseph...."
Murphy groaned and pulled his pistol.
"I should've brought me rifle this. Well, looking at us, I think we all should have brought a rifle or two. And ammo!"

He moved forward, taking cover behind a boulder, carefully looking over.
"Now come to Paddy..."

((Moving into cover. Murphy has also Improved Dodge, so is at -2 to hit already.
New initiative:

15:24, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the 2 cards: 6S, 2D using the Deadlands system.  Initiative, level headed.))

The old shaman starts a bit at the shouting and gunfire, and his chant stumbles a little. A brief looks of panic crosses his face as the whirling energy around him sparks and flashes, but he manages to slip back into rhythm. The flash of energy settles back down and the shaman continues to chant, though he keeps glancing back at the cave mouth entrance in what looks like concern.

((OOC: @Murphy: Moving to cover. Alright. Does that mean heading for that gap on the left side of the map, or are you seeking whatever boulders or stalagmites might exist in the more open area in the center?

Pale Moon faces a Complication to his Dramatic Task from his club, which I interpret as distraction from the sudden outbreak of hostilities.

He has to make a Tribal Medicine roll, at -2 from the difficulty of the task and -2 from the complication. If he fails, the worst possible resolution to his task occurs. That would be bad for everyone.

10:59, Today: Pale Moon rolled -2,-3 using d12-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Tribal Medicine. That's not going to do it, so he spends a GM white chip for a reroll.

11:00, Today: Pale Moon rolled 5,1 using d12-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5.  White Chip reroll. Success. He keeps his ritual going and gains 1 success on the Dramatic Task.

Pale Moon's Card: 6S))

---

Jake Lawrence is up!

Jake moves to where Charging Bear was and taps the brave on the shoulder.

OOC: Casting on him Quickness - burning Power Points

11:27, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 4,10 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+4)10.  Spellcastin'.
Success w/ Raise!

So CB has 2 actions a round AND gets to toss cards under 8!<

11:28, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 3H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.


PP 6/10
Quickness - Rounds [][][]

The giant snake in the obsidian and turquoise mask glares at the interlopers as they begin to spread out.

---

Ghost Wolf is next!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:56, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

Ghost Wolf unslung his heavy warclub from his side and charged, wildly, towards the left flank of the Ghost Braves. He could see the rough path leading up to Pale Moon, and swore to any spirits listening that he would make it there or die trying.


[OOC: Draw Club, run for a total of 9 up the left side of the battlefield, toward the braves and the stairs up to Pale Moon. Death Wish time, ba-bee. 13:27, Today: Ghost Wolf rolled 1 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Running.
16:35, Today: Ghost Wolf drew the single card: 6C using the Deadlands system.

]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

"Look, Pale Moon!" The giant snake-man hisses as Ghost Wolf crosses the floor. "You are betrayed by your own!"

Pale Moon glances at Ghost Wolf, and his face falls. He continues his chant with even greater urgency.

"Leave him to me." The serpent hisses again. The bullet wound in his shoulder begins to seal over, closing swiftly. He slithers off the ledge, dropping to the floor, and rushes toward Ghost Wolf. Shards of obsidian and turquoise grow out of his scales, forming plates of armor.

"I have lost two siblings today," The serpent growls as he approaches. "And you would side with their murderers! For that, you will join them in death."

((OOC: Ixi needs to recover from Shaken, and he also attempts to Regenerate his wound.

11:58, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Ixquahuacoatl, rolled 9,2 using d12-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 10,3.  Recover from Shaken. Success and Raise, so he suffers no MAP.

12:03, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Ixquahuacoatl, rolled 8,3 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 9,4.  Regenerate. Yup. that heals his wound.

He moves 6 squares closer to Ghost Wolf, and casts Armor on himself.

12:05, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Ixquahuacoatl, rolled 9,1 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,1.  Spellcasting. Success and Raise. He gains +4 armor.

Card: 7C))

Dr. Ward took a few steps forward and pulled a thick tome from his black bag. A few muttered words and an aura of power sprang into sight around the gentleman. He flipped through the book and muttered again, this time to no appreciable effect.

"Hm. Unfortunate," he said a bit louder, "If some of you would provide screening cover, I believe I can stop Pale Moon. I am fairly certain I will become a priority target once it becomes clear what I am doing."


[OOC: Move just a bit up but try to stay covered. Cast Deflection (Succeed with a Blue Chip), Cast Summon Snake Spirits (Failed), and I would like to start the ritual

16:42, Today: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 3,-1 using d10-2,d6-2.  Summon Snakes.
16:39, Today: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 3 using 1d6.  Blue chip Add.
16:39, Today: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled -1,3 using d10-2,d6-2.  Spellcasting to cast Deflection.
Card: 5H]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:49, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

Pale Moon:

<small>((OOC: @Murphy: Moving to cover. Alright. Does that mean heading for that gap on the left side of the map, or are you seeking whatever boulders or stalagmites might exist in the more open area in the center?

Going forward to the gap.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:48, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

"Stay behind me", the gunslinger growled.
He moved in front of the doctor and drew his pistol, the ghost steel gleaming in the light of the torches. The carvings looking like distorted faces seemed to be delighted with the carnage that was sure to be about to happen.

William raised the gun and aimed it at the giant snake.



Not sure about range vs. size modifiers...

10:58, Today: William Pierce rolled 10,3 using d12+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2.  Shooting, double tap.
10:59, Today: William Pierce rolled 14 using 3d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5,4.  Doubletap damage.
AP 2!

10:59, Today: William Pierce rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Bonus damage? Not sure if it applies, but if it does, that's 19 instead of 14 then.


11:00, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 7C using the Deadlands system.  Initiative, Quick Edge.
11:00, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 2S using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

The giant serpent-man flinches a little at the screaming wail from William's ghostly gun. It hisses in pain as the bullet strikes, but the armor hold and it doesn't appear significantly harmed.

((OOC: The size bonus cancels out the range penalty, especially if you are moving a bit closer, so you get the raise damage.

19 damage (AP 2) vs. Ixi's enhanced Toughness of 18 (5) means it's 19 vs 16...just shy of a Wound. That will make Ixi Shaken.))

---

Wildcat's turn

Wildcat drew a sharp breath between her teeth. This was probably going to get bloody. Best to call for some help, it seemed. "Looks like we're gonna need ta get in close ta summa these...things. Mebbe the LORD can help with that."

The Ranger raised both arms and seemed to glow ever-so-slightly. "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'

"And I'm purty sure that includes serpents and their kin."

With a gesture, a few motes of the pale nimbus that had surrounded Wildcat flecked off and drifted toward some of her companions. One of them floats over to land in Charging Bear's hair. Another on Alouette's shoulder assembly with a clank. A third floated toward Carl Allans' mid-section before disappearing without a trace. A final one moved with chaotic grace to land in William Pierce's beard. Then the nimbus collapsed and Wildcat gasped and blinked a few times before regaining her composure.

"Prolly better ta stab them warriors and the big snake. Shoot them littler snakes." Wildcat narrowed her eyes a little as she stalked forward while keeping to cover.

OOC: Boosting Fighting for Wildcat and four of her bestest friends (at least the ones that didn't wander out of range. You know who you are...)

Faith roll of 4 plus 2 from the adventure card plus 2 from a blue chip equals a raise, I think, which should boost fighting by 2 die sizes. Lemme know if I did something wrong.

22:21, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  blue chip.
22:18, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 4,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Faith! (boost fighting, 5 targets).

Wildcat will also move to the spot 5 squares straight north of where she is (though she has to weave to her right before moving back to the left in order to do so).

Edit: Next init is 3D

09:30, Today: Wildcat Hawkins drew the single card: 3D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:31, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

((OOC: Everything looks good from this end))

---

Adrian Vega's up!

Adrian slipped down the passageway to the left, raised his weapon but didn't fire it outright, instead drawing the dark energies he played with into him. The cards flashed into and out of his free hand, and then out of the barrel of his weapon as he sported a crooked grin. He fired, letting one bolt each three of the grey skinned Comanche.

His grin disappeared, and he started to feel a sense of righteous anger towards them. They had attacked the town earlier, and now were raising some kinda snake demons down here to bring the whole damn thing to a head. Their actions would cause numerous lives to be extinguished unless they were stopped.

---

Deal with the Devil (Bolts): Flush
Spellcasting (for to-hit purpose): 9, 8, 5
Damage: 8, 7, 9 (if raises: 11, 11, 9)

10:37, Today: Adrian Vega drew the 11 cards: 6D, QC, JS, 10C, 5S, 9D, 2C, QS, AC, 9C, 4C using the Deadlands system.  Deal with the Devil (Bolts).

11:08, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 8,9,4,5 using d8+2,d8+2,d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,7,2,3.  White Chip reroll.
11:07, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 3,5 using d8+2,d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Spellcasting, Inspiration for the other bolts.
11:06, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 3,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Spellcasting (+Inspiration Bonus).

11:09, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 8,7,9 using 2d6,2d6,2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3,5,2,1,(6+2)8.  Damage.
11:10, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 3,4 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Raise?

I don't remember if the attack raises from the to-hit roll on bolts result in an additional damage die, so I rolled for raises anywhere and included the relevant information here for you.

The ghostly bullets slam into the three braves, knocking them off their feet.

But two of the silver-skinned braves immediately sit up, and glare at the huckster. The magic protecting them seems to have shielded them from the worst of the bolt's power.

((OOC: Raises on the Spellcasting roll do indeed add extra damage to Bolts as normal.

The bolts get around their Invulnerability thanks to a Weakness (they can't be killed, but they can be Incapacitated). 2 of them are facing Wounds, one of them is Shaken.

The Wounded braves attempt to Soak (each spending a GM chip)

14:46, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 6,6 using d8,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6,6.  Soak. Looks like 2 successes.))

---

Carl Allens is next!

Carl was trying to ignore the tremors running under his skin and the slick coat of sweat he'd gained, itching against his bandages. The morphine was wearing off. Dimly, more distant than the part of his mind that was trying to fight a battle wounded, against pagan gods in the presence of his greatest fear, he was aware the Injuns had given them away, started shooting. No matter.

Keep moving.

Carl slunk into the lee of the rock Murphs had darted around, struggling with words that pressed desperately up in his throat but would not pass his teeth. Settling into a crouch with his knife ready, he tried to catch the Ranger's eye and jerk his head at the shaman. "..."



[[Carl tries, and fails, to stealth over to that comma of rock on map left and set up a wounded soldier's ambush point in the curve of it, in case any hostiles get too close.

23:04, Today: Carl Allans rolled 0,1 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  sneakin'.
23:05, Today: Carl Allans rolled 2,3 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  white, why not?

init. 7H]]

((OOC: Alrighty. Position noted and mapped.))
Rattleshirt is up next. Adrian, I also need your next round's Initiative.