Re: Chapter 22: Prickly Pears and Four O'Clocks
Ringgenberg had moved around the rocky knob rising up above the small ledge he had climbed a few moments ago. While his re-positioning gives him a better view, he remains aware that Richardsen intends to follow, and divides his attention between the ledge below and his pard's ascent from the other side of the switchbacks. When the Texan hoists himself to the top, he immediately begins to scan what he can see below. Both men see the fallen outlaw, still immobile behind the rock, when Walker announces he is next and lines up for his turn to receive a leg-up from the young Knight. Neither Earnest nor Jake sees the other outlaw, although the rifleman, looking over the professor's shoulder, catches a glimpse of Windham running along a switchback below towards the west.
Red Shirt grabs his carbine and resumes his run back the way the heroes had come.
Windham, finding himself a few feet above the landing at the turn in yet another switchback, jumps down and follows that trail to his right, hoping to keep the outlaw runner in his line of sight. The trail curves to the west and is ascending gradually. The investigator can now see that he is essentially one level above the man running away, on parallel paths with the Californian on a trail perhaps 10 feet higher now, although the nature of the rocky switchback walls limits his ability to see the man continuously. A rock outcropping, a suddenly steeper slope or turn in the path can obscure a clear view at any moment. Roughly 15 yards ahead, it appears that these two paths will intersect. The runner is just reaching that point and about round a slight bend.
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OOC: Several things:
HC is now off map. Windham may soon be if he continues moving. Not to worry, please just follow the Judge's lead here and do what you think your characters should do in the described situation without depending on an exact position on the map. Nonetheless, see the updated map as it continues to be relevant in this combat for obvious reasons.
The Judge is ruling that Earnest is still on hold . . . technically he took no action during the round, everything he did was free and he indicated a desire to help Jake if needed, which the Judge takes to mean that he was on hold. That could have ended up as an "interrupting action" such as grabbing Jake's wrist and hauling him up before he slipped and fell onto Daniel Knight. Then, while Earnest looked from his new vantage point, he didn't take the action of making a Notice roll, so in the Judge's view, no action. Rather, Earnest saw what would normally be seen by anyone and which is why he didn't Notice Windham while Jake did see the Californian as a result of a the successful Notice roll. The initiative rules indicate that if you are on hold and you take no card, then you don't get a card again the next round, you simply begin on Hold, which is an advantage. Note, Judge sees this as different than last round, when Jake didn't really didn't take an action (waiting for his turn up). Because the Texan was waiting for / depending on Daniel in order to take a specific action, and Daniel needed to draw an initiative card (he had acted that round), the Judge ruled that the rifleman also needed to draw -- that is, in effect, Jake's Hold was used at the end of the round.
Now, Dave Walker is in the same situation that Richardsen was. He didn't take an action, so he went on hold, but he is waiting to take an action that depends on Daniel, so again the hold has been used at the end of the round, for all combat intents and purposes. Walker has to be dealt in along with Daniel.
Initiative Order
Daniel Two Hearts Seventh
Dave Joker! First or Anytime
Earnest Hold Second or Anytime after Dave
Jake Seven Diamonds Sixth
Red Shirt Seven Hearts / Jack Clubs (Level Headed Edge) Fifth
Tracy King Clubs Fourth
B none Eighth
HC Ace Clubs Third
It is Walker's turn to act, with the Joker. Of course, he may go at any time he wants. Currently, the herbalist is waiting for Daniel (who goes last), but he could change and do whatever else he wants. The Joker gives a +2 to all Trait tests, so he could decide to try something different. The Judge can think of a couple of possibilities here, such as foregoing Daniels boost and trying to ascend the slope on his own, or attempting to jump down to the ledge below from his previous position, taking advantage of the Joker bonus. Or he could choose to wait for Daniel as planned, taking the +2 to the Agility roll for the Joker, which would offset the -2 applied by the Judge for this relatively difficult action.
Either way, the Judge would encourage Walker to state his intentions (hold and wait for Daniel, hold and act at some point of his choosing, or act immediately), so that others may continue their actions. As usual, if Walker doesn't post within 24 hours, he is automatically on hold (with Joker bonuses still in play) and then it would be Earnest's turn.