The sister bore it stoically, figuring the Lord would provide... somehow.

Yeah I'll spend the Benny to cast off/prevent the Shaken, that's a good use of a benny when it prevents a poison attack!

Jesse called down at Lou "Are you alright?!" and waited for some sign in the affirmative, before wheeling his horse around and charging closer to the swarm.

((That would be 14 inches, takes me to 16 away and I'll save the bullet for this round, don't think it'll affect the swarm much.))

"I feel better than I look! Quickly, we must help the Sister."

Leo continues his charge towards the swarm of palm sized spider's, plowing right into their midst next to Sister Deidre.  He never slows, intending to crush as many as he can under the powerful hooves of his mare.

21:35, Today: Marshal rolled 6 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6.  Leo Trample Spiders, Riding d8 (Ram Maneuver).
- hit

21:37, Today: Marshal rolled 9 using 1d12, rerolling max ((9)).
- one of the swarms is Shaken

Leo ends his movement next to Deidre in the midst of the swarms

Charlie you're up followed by Sister Deidre
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:42, Wed 03 Nov 2021.

Turning to see the dispersing spiders catch up to the Sister Charlie clicked his tongue sharply in annoyance, reversing his direction to move closer to the chaos there. With more than a few people closer than he and in a better position the older man held off on anything else, saving his breath for yelling some advice for those in a position to handle the creatures.


OC: Move Pace closer, Hold action for next round

Well it was impossible to shoot something that was already crawling on you, so that option was out.  Instead the "sister" intoned for some divine insight.

"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. "

Right, So The Sister will try to Lower the Swarm's Fighting ability to make this easier to put up with.  Mostly because I can't think of a logical physical action one could take in her situation lol

Also bonus, should decrease their Parry if it works so it's two for one

18:19, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 6,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  Lower Fighting.

Success!

Despite her calm words however, the Sister was quickly off and in their midst, grunting and groaning and battering the little beasties with the butt of her scattergun!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Fri 05 Nov 2021.

Well them young terrantulas have been stirred up and stomped on and there's certainly fewer of em now than there was when you first laid eyes on em.  Leo and Deidre are in their midst still (though Leo's more of a "passin through" as he let's his mare run'em over).  Rest of posse is closin' in.

But is it for the kill or to be killed?

Let's find out...

19:52, Today: Marshal drew the 5 cards: 9D, 9H, 4S, 2C, 8C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative (Lou, Deidre, Charlie, Jessie, Tarantulas).

Imitative Order:
- Deidre (9H)
- Lou (9D)
- Terrantulas (8C)
- Charlie (4S)
- Jessie & Leo (2C)

Both swarms are (more or less):
- 0 from Deidre & Leo
- 9 from Lou,
- 18 from Charlie
- 16 from Jessie

Lord be with ya Deidre, you're up!

Terrantula Swarms are both Wounded
1 Swarm is Shaken
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:58, Wed 10 Nov 2021.

I want to boost Lou if I had any idea what he was doing, so I want to hold, see what he's doing, then interrupt him and boost whatever he's trying.

Then we'll see what Lou does first....
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:51, Fri 12 Nov 2021.

Luo rushed in as quickly as he could, intending to attack the swarm as soon as he could.

OOC: I believe a distance of 1 should be close enough to hit it:

"01:52, Today: Luo 'Lou' Jing rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  running!!!"

So I'm going to wild attack, because I'm a risk taker, giving me a +1 (-3 for multi-action and wound, but +4 for Martial Artist, gang-up bonus, and wild attack):

"01:58, Today: Luo 'Lou' Jing rolled 6,4 using 1d8+1,1d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Wild attack on tarantula swarm menacing the good Sister."

And the damage, if that hits:

"01:59, Today: Luo 'Lou' Jing rolled 5,3 using 1d6,1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  +4 for wild attack + Smite active."

That comes out to 12 damage. This feels underwhelming after witnessing three of my players deal 16+ damage in a row in my own game, but rationally I know it's actually pretty decent. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

When Lou joins Deidre and Leo in Terrantula stompin ya start to notice real progress.  Pretty soon anything with eight legs that ain't already crushed or stuck to the bottom of a boot is scatterin and scamperin away into the brush.  Hopefully there's some predators out here that'll clean up the rest before they grow as big as their parents.

Ya regroup at the site of the attack, the pair of steers are bit up and it takes a while to get them movin but soon enough they're able to start back to the Lazy S.  Sutter can decide if they'll be okay to make the drive or not.

You find the remains of more dessicsted cattle nearby.  No question where other missin steers went.

Lou deals another wound and since both swarms are right there covering the area seems like he'd deal the damage to both.

Feel free to make any posts for introductions or plans or such, including giving Sutter the news about his missing cattle.

Jesse tips his hat to the group, once the spiders are dispersed.
"Pleasure to finally meet you all. You're the folks who signed up with Sutter the other week, right? I'm sorry we missed each other, I joined a couple of days before you. Good to finally meet up!"

If he thought the group before strangely compositioned, he didn't show it.

"My name's Jesse Belville."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Mon 15 Nov 2021.

The nun dusted off her habit and took a deep breath.  The newcomer distracted her however.  She replied.

"And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.  And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them."

Jesse cocked his head and smiled in response.
"Can't say I'm too familiar with the Good Book, ma'am. Read my passages as I was told to, but I reckon' I won't be able to hold a conversation on the subject. I hope you're not injured?"

Grimacing at his injuries a bit as the spiders dispersed, Lou turned back to formally greet this newcomer. He dusted himself off and said: "Yes, my name is Luo Jing. Westerners generally like to call me Lou." He had learned that handshaking was an acceptable and polite form of greeting, so he stuck his hand out to this Jesse.

"And do not worry--Deidre seems to be indicating that you appeared at an opportune time."

Stamping at more or less every skittering motion in the dirt as the swarms disperse as he makes his way to the general grouping Charlie touched the brim of his own hat in recognition, clearing his throat a couple of time times before spitting on one of the larger corpses, "Damn things. Good timing there, damn shame we didn't find this lot sooner might have meant they got to eat slightly less beef."

In reply to Luo 'Lou' Jing (msg # 128):

The strange nun didn't comment on whether Lou was right or not, but pointed at him, and in her strange haunting voice continued.

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

Let's try to get rid of that wound just in case.

Once again, saved by True Believer.  That is a powerful Edge!

22:11, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 5,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1.  True Believer!

22:11, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 3,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2.  Faith!

"Yet, we should still be glad we recovered even these cows, yes?"

Before he got back to his horse, Lou was of course intercepted by the good Sister. He nodded in appreciation and fascination at the display of faith healing. "Thank you, Sister."

Then, stretching his arm, he found that the ache in his arm had gone down significantly, and he was able to climb back up onto his mad-eyed horse.

Ya mosey back to the Lazy S an seein that brand over the entrance to the ranch proper is a welcome relief.  Ol man Sutter's with the Luke Canton, the foreman, by the corrals and come over.  The look of concern on their faces shows they're surprised you only brought back two.

"Y'all couldn't find any more'n these?" Canton asks with a frown, "And what happened to em?  How'd they get all tore up?"

Leo starts to speak, shakes his head chuckling and looks to the group in general, "I ain' got the words.  Somebody trin' explain that."

Lou took a moment in silent contemplation before explaining. When he did, he took a hand and put his fingers through the large holes made in his sleeve.

He said simply this much: "Very big spiders."

"And many of them."  The sister corroborated.  It seemed to be an excellent explanation to her, though the Sister was not one to conserve her words, they were still all purposeful.

"Honestly, we were lucky to only lose the steers we did, boss"

Dismounting Charlie glanced upwards at the others and grinned slightly at the taciturn summaries, "They summarised it well enough, once we get some food in us I'll spin a better yarn about it. But yeah, cottonwood grove back that direction had a bunch of dog-sized eight legged critters and a small legion of their smaller offspring along with a whole lot of cattle corpses."

Stretching slightly he went on, "Once we've got some light tomorrow might be worthwhile stopping on by and doing a body count, see how many the spiders have munched on there. There ones will need a check over too, one of them got bitten at minimum. Might be there's more still out there that have roamed further afield to avoid the spiders but this is all we dug up today."

"Ya don't expect us to beli..." Canton starts to protest but Old Man Sutter raises his hand.

"Now hold up, Luke," Sutter pauses his foreman in his easy goin' manner, " You 'member when Kate and Owen found that steer couple weeks ago, all shriveled when we'd just branded it not two days before?  Them puncture marks?  We ride out to these cottonwoods tomorrow, maybe we'll find more like it."

Shakin his head, he admits, "I've heard tell of some big tarantulas, some of the Mexicans have talked bout em but thought they were just stories.   Swore they're bigger'n a barrel top.  But never heard of them across the Rio Grande or bringin down full sized cattle.  If'n y'all ran into a nest o them things that were killin' my steers then that had to be damn dangerous."

Noddin to ya he adds, "I'm obliged for that work ya today.  I know the herd looks big but I'm squeezed pretty tight here.  Ya expect to lose some of em, mountain lion or even coyotes when their calves, but to somethin like this.." he whistles "Well bein a hand has got it's dirty jobs but this's goin beyond.   Sayin' I'm obliged don' really cover it, especially since looks like they almost got Lou."

"Mighty glad y'all agreed to join the Lazy S when ya did."

Sutter don' strike anyone as a sentimental type.  Honest though, you're pretty sure a that.  Ya feel the honest gratitude of the rancher and it fills ya with a determination to help the man save his herd and his ranch.

Everyone earns 1 Bennie

The next day's trip to the cottonwoods proves that more'n a dozen steers fed the terrantula brood.  The carcasses of the adult spiders are still there, only the ants seem to have any taste for em.

That evenin, just before chow at the chuck wagon outside Sutter's house, ya spy a small group of riders approachin. It's six rather surly looking gunmen following a better-dressed man sporting a pair of shiny Colt revolvers that halt a short distance away. Off to one side is a seventh man, a hard-looking Indian dressed in a threadbare Army jacket decorated with a
 smattering of bangles and fetishes.  The other hands of the Lazy S eye the strangers darkly but before anyone speaks up the well-dressed feller calls out for Sutter who's standing there with ya.

First thing old man Sutter does is pick up a shotgun and cradles it in the general direction of the strangers.   The leader of the group, cause you're pretty clear better dressed stranger must be the leader, doesn't take any notice of the scattergun nearly pointed at him and instead says, "Good day to you, Mr. Sutter. My name is Bartholomew Phelps and I'm here as a representative of the Bayou Vermilion Railroad. I’m authorized to purchase your cattle at the agreed-upon price of $5 per head."

Sutter screws up his face and snarls. "Like I told them other fellers from your railroad, you can pound sand. That ain't half what they’re worth on the open market!"

Phelps sneers. "Ah, but this isn't an open market. I understand no one hereabouts will purchase cattle with your brand and I'm afraid my employer's stock cars are booked up for the foreseeable future. I'd recommend you take the offer before prices drop further."

Sutter turns suddenly serious as a preacher. "Prices ain't the only thing about to drop around here, if you and your lot don't head out pronto."

With that, Sutter thumbs back both hammers on his shotgun.  Phelps looks round to you and the other hands gathered for chow.   He don't look too worried.

What do you do?

Y'all can give me a Notice roll at -2 if your lookin the railroad thugs over
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

At least it's not a crit fail.

09:29, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 1,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Notice!

All right, being Blessed, the "nun" is going to try to resolve this without violence.  In her own, uh, unique way.

Oh, they had picked the wrong day for this.  The Sister, who was contrary and bizarre at the best of times, was in a mood and had come out in the grease paint.  This wasn't one of her pretty skulls either, this was shock white, with deep black streaks in the eyes, and around the contours of the jaw, creating a skull but a very crude and sinister one.

She wasted no time approaching these heathens, raising both hands to the sky, and belting out her words with great... enthusiasm.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God!

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

"Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.   But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was."

All right we've had time to recover Power Points, so The Sister is going to judiciously spend a couple here.  That harangue was The Sister using the Lower power on Phelps to lower his Spirit trait.

10:05, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 6,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  True Believer!

10:05, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 7,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5.  Faith!

So 7.  Again, True Believer is an amazing Edge.  Missed the Raise, but that should lower Phelp's Spirit a step.

The Scripture recited, now came the sermon.

"Repent!  Repent!  The wages of sin are hellfire and damnation!  Death comes for all, none are spared!  He who spends this life in the commission of evil will burn, burn, in the fury of He Who Is Called I Am!  Death awaits you, on a pale horse, and Hell follows with him!  It cannot be reasoned with!  It cannot be bargained with! It doesn't feel pity of remorse or fear and it Absolutely Will Not Stop. Ever. Until you are dead.  And hell awaits you my brother!"

Deidre was animated and crazy and of dubious mental sanity.  Granted, the others were probably getting used to that, but it was new to Phelps.

lol well just spent the bennie we just got, but that first roll was terrible, that's at least good enough to Support if someone else has a better Intimidation score.

10:08, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 4,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Wow that was terrible.

10:07, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 1,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  Intimidation.