Carl's instincts prompt him: chase, drag, cut...but there was still the crazy with his gun, a blasting gun where the walls...don't think about the walls. Keep moving.

Carl swings about and lands a good blow against Augustus' chest...or rather, one of his control panels. It proves extremely solid, and Augustus feels almost nothing of the impact at all. The cowboy massages his hand, teeth bared slightly and a killing stillness haunting the set of his bare shoulders.


[[Carl decides to one-punch the scientist (see Magic 8 Ball), so that he's not running into snakes with a loose cannon at his back...he has an odd version of Cautious, but it's there.

Carl Allans rolled 13,9 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,(6+4)10. fightin'. Hit, Raise.

23:57, Today: Carl Allans rolled 2 using d8, d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. damage, raise. lollerskates.
init. QH

How far away is the snake/Bear/Kat pile?]]

In reply to Carl Allans (msg # 265):

((OOC: From Carl? 6 squares, which translates to roughly 12 meters. That's assuming he was standing near Augustus at the time. It's within his pace. Were you going to move, or did you want me to move on to the next character?))

Forgot:
03:25, Today: Augustus Spotswood drew the single card: 5C using a deck of 54 cards. Init.

Carl glares at the scientist and moves away towards the Ranger's light.

[[sorry...hmm. Augustus isn't neutralised, but then again, Carl won't want Murphs walking into snakes effectively alone...yes. He'll move down there. Trusting the other Dust Adders to marmalise Augustus if he carries on the funny buisness.]]

Next up: Mad Irish Murphy!

"Oh, boy-o." Murphy shakes his head and picks up a sizeable rock in his fist on his way to the mass of coils and bodies.

He kicks at the tail of one snake, then brings the rock down on the head of another serpent hissing at the indian.

"Need a hand there, chief?"


09:55, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. white chip.
09:55, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Attack the closest snake.

09:55, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,5 (total 7) using d6,d4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(4+1)5. stone damage.

W4R3B2
Initiative:
09:57, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the 2 cards: JH, 5H using the Deadlands system. Initiative, Level Headed.

Some of the snakes seem to have recovered from the pummeling from the Mad Scientist's weapon, given the angry rattling from the pile of snakes.

The snake Murphy smacked doesn't seem injured by the blow. In fact, it seems very, very angry. It coils up around Murphy's leg, joined by one of the other recovered snakes who wraps around his other leg.

Carl is able to dodge a strike from one of the snakes. Wild cat is not so lucky. A snake coils up and strikes her with lightning speed, catching her right on the neck...

((OOC: It seems I skipped the Brood's turn and had Ward go in their place. Whoops. Ah, well. Snakes go now.

The snake-manitous are tougher than ordinary rattlesnakes, having a Toughness of 8. Murphy's rock annoys the snake, but doesn't actually injure it.

The snakes roll to recover from being Shaken:

08:47, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 6,5,14,18,8,4 using d10,d10,d10,d10,d10,d10, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5,(10+4)14,(10+8)18,8,4. Recover from Shaken.

08:48, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 28,4,8,4,3,2 using d10,d10,d10,d10,d10,d10, rerolling max with rolls of (10+10+8)28,4,8,4,3,2. Recover from Shaken.

10 of the snakes recover from being Shaken, 5 of them with raises that allow them to act this round.

One of the snakes attempts an Intimidation Test of Wills against all the humans in the pile of snakes, as they have an ability that allows them to do this.

08:51, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 5 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Intimidation.

Carl, Charging Bear, Wildcat, and Murphy, I need you to roll Spirit against the Intimidation attempt.

Two of the snakes attempt to Grapple Murphy.

08:54, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 1,1 using d8,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Fighting. They have a Gang-up bonus of +1, but I sincerely doubt there's much of a threat there.

Murphy, please make me 2 Fighting checks. You are looking to beat 2 on both of them.

The other two snakes attempt to bite Carl and Wildcat.

Carl: 09:02, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 2 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Fighting. Flat miss, even with Gang-up bonuses.

Wildcat: 09:02, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 12 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12. Fighting. That, on the other hand, is a Hit and Raise.

Damage: 09:04, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 7,16 using d8,2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5,(6+5)11. Damage. Ow. That's 23 damage.

Wildcat, that is a Shaken and 4 wounds, plus you need to make a Vigor roll against the snake's poison. There's a good chance the poison will Wound you even if you make the roll (you need a raise to avoid a Wound and Fatigue). Unless you happen to have any relevant Adventure Cards?

Cards for snakes: 10C))

---

tl;dr:

• Murphy must make a Spirit Roll against being Intimidated and two easy Fighting checks against being grappled.
• Carl must make a Spirit roll against being Intimidated.
• Charging Bear must make a Spirit roll against being Intimidated.
• Wildcat must make a Spirit roll against being Intimidated, a Vigor roll against deadly poison, and must attempt to soak 4 wounds.

---

Up Next: Wildcat!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:23, Tue 20 Jan 2015.

...if not for Carl's instinctive swipe at the creature, which twists, gouging a bloody gape from his wrist as the hooked fangs catch. Carl frowns at it. "..."

Wildcat stares, eyes open so wide white rims the blue all around. "..."


[[19:23, Today: Carl Allans rolled 3,0 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Resist! Nope, but no raise, so I'll leave it to do this...

Playing Noble Sacrifice; Carl takes the damage, our cleric w/ poison-healing capacity stays in play. Blessed possibly goes nuts.

Soaking, after a red, blue and white chip:
19:46, Today: Carl Allans rolled 3,7,2,4 using d8-1,d6-1,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+2)8,2,4. white reroll all.
-> 13--> 3 Wounds Soaked.

19:48, Today: Carl Allans rolled 2,0 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. poison. ...
20:08, Today: Carl Allans rolled 2,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. white chippit.
20:08, Today: Carl Allans rolled 8 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8. last blue. Ouch...Carl is, eventually, Not Poisoned. Must've taken the nasty flesh with it. Wildcat in a wee bit, when the dice roller's in a better mood...]]

((OOC: Actually, the way the poison works, there's no roll that doesn't end with Carl at least a little. In addition to the wounds from the damage, he is also Exhausted (the second level of fatigue) until he can get treated. This is the best result that could have happened, which should give you an idea of how nasty this poison is.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Tue 20 Jan 2015.

"You..." Wildcat says, and can't get any further. Him. Not an officer of the law, not a deputy, not even a particularly upstanding citizen. A Dust Adder. Taking a hit for her. "...you..." Something snaps.

"You stupid sonofa blue-blistered butt-barbequed barncat! Git back!" Wildcat shoves Carl behind her as she stumbles to her feet before the mass of snakes, the corners of her eyes burning with bewildered rage.

Carl catches her off elbow to keep her in balance as she reaches out to Charging Bear but the Ranger doesn't notice, the linking of limbs as natural as a gesture.

"Deputy Bear!" Her slender hand falls on his shoulder as though she might pull the weight of him up, though she's soon distracted by the snakes. "'He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.'" she murmurs, hauling backwards.

Carl braces to anchor her, more concerned about Murphy's predicament, though the shadows crawl in around the edges of his vision and his heartbeat's very loud. Heat trickles into his right hand, edges his fingers, drips.


[[Ouch! Good thing the Blessed's still up, then...

Wildcat Hawkins rolled 3,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Resist!
Wildcat Hawkins rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. red chippit. -> 4. Nope. Wildcat is Intimidated. Slightly. But mostly she's goshdarn mad!

Wildcat Hawkins rolled 9,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,1. unshake? Unshaken with Raise.
Wildcat Hawkins rolled 9,10 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(6+4)10. Deflection! Deflection with Raise...since the Range is Touch, does this cover Wildcat as well as those she's touching? That should get Carl and CB covered, at least.

Sorry, Murphs! Wildcat will be over there as soon as she can stomp snakes.

init. KH Bwahahaha...]]

((OOC: No. You can only cover one person at a time with a single casting of Deflection. This means you can cover either Wildcat, Carl, or Charging Bear with that casting. So...which is it?))

OOC: Rolls before CBs action
18:35, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Unshake. Fail, burn a white chip to auto-unshake.
18:36, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Spirit.
5 vs 5  ... tie goes to the defender ... ? If not I'll use a chip to reroll.
18:39, Today: Charging Bear rolled 6,6 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Spirit - reroll +2 Elan. That'll do it

---

Charging Bear glares at Murphy and coldly replies, "No." The native son gets up without issue. His twin blades seem to be humming with energy as they slash at the snakes in wide arcs.

OOC:
18:44, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,7,4,1 using d10+2,d6+2,d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5,4,1. Fighting.
Not sure if I get any gang up, if so I hit with both if not then well I miss.
18:46, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,4 using d8,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Damage (Str, Tomahawk). 7 damage to one snake

18:47, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: JS using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative .

The native son's humming blades bite into the scales of the glowing serpent, but do not draw blood.

((OOC: From my house rules:

quote:

- Ties on Opposed Checks maintain the status quo. In many cases, this defaults to the defender effectively "winning" ties.

So yes. You won the tie. You may keep your chip.

You get gang-up for Wildcat, but not for Carl (who is Shaken). So your second attack is a miss, sorry.

The attack that hits does not do enough damage to the snakes (which have tougher stats than normal snakes).))

---

Turn Order:
Dr. Ward: AD
Wildcat: KH
Carl Allans: QH
Charging Bear: JS
Mad Irish Murphy: JH
Snakes: 10S
Augustus Spotswood: 5C
Dust Adders: 3H

[[Oh? It says Range = Touch in my rules...CB, I suppose, since the great daftie's gone wading in them only wearing a vest...]]

Wildcat notes Murphy's plight and narrows her eyes, leaning away from Charging Bear's broad cutting.

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg # 278):

((OOC: You can, in fact, touch yourself, but you can only target one person at a time. Unlike Boost/Lower Trait, there isn't an option for targeting multiple people at once. Since they gave that option to powers like Boost but NOT Deflection, I have to assume that was intentional on the part of the designers.))

As Ward and the Dust Adders continue down the tunnel, Ward stops briefly, pulls out his pendant, and chants something briefly.

A small crow spirit pops into existence near him, its snake tail rattling in a friendly manner.

"It's time for your kin to uphold your end of our bargain, my tiny friend." Dr. Ward says to it. "The snakes have turned against all of us. If you would keep your feast going, you will need to put a stop to them. Go. Get your family. Stop the snakes."

"Death!" the tiny thing cries. "Pain! Murder! Murder!"

Ward lets the creature fly off back up the tunnel.

---

There is a sudden disturbance in the air, and a noise like the fluttering of hundreds of tiny wings. A flock of red-eyed, snake-tailed crows burst from the tunnel, screeching, cawing, and wheeling about. They pass Augustus and Murphy without harm, pass the dazed Carl, and dive into the tangle of snakes.

"Death!" They cry. "Pain! Snakes go back or die! Murder! Murder! Murder!"

The tiny claws and beaks tear at exposed flesh and serpent scale alike. One of the serpents gives an anguished, strangled noise as the swarm descends on it and pecks out the snake's eyes.

---

((OOC: Ward calls on some of his spirit friends to help. He has to roll Spellcasting, -2 because of Tez Interference, +1 because of his Analyze Foe power.

17:12, Today: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 0,2 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Spellcasting. No, not going to hit him with backlash. Spending a white.

17:13, Today: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 4,0 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. white chip.

Success. He calls up 2 swarms of Night Ravens and sends them after the snakes. Unfortunately, they also attack Wildcat and Charging Bear. They autohit for 2d4 damage to creatures in a Large Burst Template.

Damage against the snakes: 3,5,4,4,4,2,10,5,3,3,6,3

Damage against Wildcat: 3

Damage against Charging Bear (he gets +4 armor against this because of the Deflection power): 3

The PCs are fine, but have a nice distraction to cover their escape. One of the Snakes goes down.

Card for next round: 7S))

---

Wildcat is next!

"What the Sam Hill-?!" Wildcat snarls, tiny claws scoring her face in passing. Ignoring the flock for now as More Problems, Wildcat backs a step and brings the shotgun to bear on the snakes threatening Murphy.

[[ Wildcat Hawkins rolled 11,4 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,2. shootin'. Raise.
Wildcat Hawkins rolled 24 using 3d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5,(6+4)10. holy (*&@ing buckshot, Batman! (Raise, Smite)

Wildcat Hawkins drew the single card: BJ! using the Deadlands system. init.
Looks like the dice roller loves a berserkin' Blessed.]]

Catching up...
11:33, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Fear check, wild die.
11:33, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Fear check.

11:33, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Fighting 2.
11:33, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,13 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+6+1)13. Fighting 1.

Murphy blows a raspberry in response to the snake's rattling. "What are you sounding off about, you bloody over sized worm?"
He starts shaking his arms and dancing around and the snake on his leg slips clean off - he uses his left hand to pull the snake off his arm, swinging it around like a lasso.

"Get the fuck off me shirt, bloody hell! Me Flora's gonna nag me ears off if I get it ruined."

Carl puts one foot behind the other as the shotgun blast seems to echo forever. In balance, as Wildcat is in balance before him. His arm throbs a distant heat, as though the echoes kindled fire under his skin. Keep moving.

Carl kicks at a snake coil and steps back, watching as best he can, mouth over-dry and head thudding with a ringing thirst.

[[20:17, Today: Carl Allans rolled -2,10 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+6+2)14. unshake? Carl always was good at unshaking...
Carl Allans rolled 0,0 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. fightin'. He's not a useful Carl, though.
init. 4S]]

Wildcat blasts one of the snakes crawling around Murphy with the precision of a surgeon after he tosses it free. The other one is fairly dazed by Murphy twirling it around his head.

((OOC: Er, Charging Bear is next...what were you all waiting for? Do you just want me to resolve the rolls here?

Also...Carl, Wildact, are you using any of your movement? There are going to be more snakes that have actions next round, and the further you are from them, the fewer there will be to bite you with their super deadly poison, rather than dealing with the Night Raven swarm currently pecking at them. There are 2 snakes down out of a dozen. That's not good odds for you folks. If you are moving away from the snakes, you need to tell me how far it is you are going.))

Wildcat allowed herself a grim smile and looked over at Deputy Bear. The snakes beyond him were swiftly unravelling themselves, roped around with shadow out in the edges of her light as the crowlets swarmed and dived.

[[I have Stupid Heroic-Loyal soup going, since Wildcat won't leave CB and Carl, whilst backed up about 3 paces, won't leave Murphs (and is even trying to keep the Ranger upright, since God seems to want that and all) >_< ]]

OOC: Sorry missed that it was my go X_x

---

Charging Bear takes a couple of swings at the snakes to clear the path before him, then stepping back up the tunnel.

OOC:
10:33, Today: Charging Bear rolled 9,7,6,5 using d10+2,d6+2,d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5,6,5. Fighting. Two hits?
10:37, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,3,12,4 using d8+1,d6+2,d8+1,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1,(8+3)11,2. Damage (Str, Tomahawk) x2. 8 and 16 pts damage
Taking all 6 squares of movement away if possible
10:38, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: 6C using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Tue 27 Jan 2015.

Charging Bear's blades whirl and bite, and in the end he slices two of the snakes in half. He is able to back up without being bit.

((OOC: Nice. That 8 will be a Shaken result, but on one that was already Shaken, so it goes down. The 16 is just a flat kill. That is 4 snakes down.))

---

Up Next: Mad Irish Murphy!

Murphy doesn't seem to notice the amazing accuracy of the shotgun shot - but instead he looks determined to return the favor.
He grabs onto the twisting and turning snake and starts spinning it even faster, aiming the thing closer towards its scaly siblings.

<small>19:02, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 11,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,(6+4)10. Grappling!
That's right. Murphy is grappling the snake and will try to use it as a weapon next round.


19:04, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the 2 cards: JH, 8H using the Deadlands system. Initiative, Level Headed.

</small>

The snakes slither and swarm, snapping at the birds that peck and bite at them.

The snake rattling its tail at Wildcat goes for it, and the Ranger feels pain in her thigh as the teeth hit home.

Two more snakes slither up to Charging Bear, snapping and hissing at him, though neither is able to land a solid bite.

More snakes slither over to Murphy, attempting to wrap him fast before he can whip them with their brethren.

((OOC: Grabbed snake! 22:10, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 7 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Fighting! The snake is well and truly grappled, and Shaken to boot.

Unshake the snake? 22:17, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 9,5 using d10,d10, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5. Recover from Shaken. Both the snakes that were Shaken are Unshaken, one with an action this round.

9 snakes active, 1 snake grappled, 4 snakes down

The snake that made its Intimidate check wants a piece of Wildcat.

00:23, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 7 using 1d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Fighting! With ToW. A piece it shall have.

00:24, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 6,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5. Damage.

That's 11 Damage, which is a Shaken and Wound unless Wildcat soaks, and a Vigor roll if she takes the damage against the poison.

Another pair of snakes strike at Charging Bear.

00:26, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 6,7 using d8+1,d8+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,6. Fighting! with Gang-Up bonus. No hitter, even with gang-up.

Murphy gets another pair of snakes, who try to grapple him again.

00:30, Today: Mirror Serpent's Brood rolled 7,8 using d8+1,d8+1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,7. Grapple! Murphy, make 2 grapple checks for me, please.

The rest of the snakes are getting pecked at by birds and are responding in kind.

Card for next round: JC))

---

Up Next: Augustus Spotswood!