In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 905):

"I like that idea professor...if we can find a spot but we will have to be careful with  the oil. I used a whole can that first time with the spiders"

"Let's see what we have in terms of food to lure them away from us"

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OOC -- I think we all have standard rations with us but wondering if the judge wants to rule on any limit for the times we might use this tactic

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 906):

OOC: The Judge won't impose any limit to the number of times you can try such a tactic, presuming the heroes have rations they wish to part with; however, the Judge may determine that the tactic's effectiveness diminishes over time -- or rule that the heroes go hungry at some point because they used their food for other purposes. At present, the latter isn't an issue.

"Forewarned is forearmed, as the old sayin' goes," Jake said to his pards.

"So, then . . . dependin' on the sit-u-aeshunn, I'm a-gonna give y'all fair warnin' that I might fiere off Widder-Maeker when them rats come a-swarmin'."

"If'n that is like-ly to be a prob-lem for anybody, y'all might wish to be ready to plug up yore ear-holes."

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 908):

Tracy nods to Jake. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be ready.”

To the others, Windham adds, “That sounds like it might take out quite a few rats if it works. But it might not. How long should we wait on it? And what is our next move?”

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 909):

Tommy addresses the pardners

"So here's me...faalanx..idea." Tommy glances over to the Professor to make sure he's pronouncing the word correctly.

"When the rats get close, we huddle up together and keep the torches out front and low around our feet. With each one of us protecting our own spot, hopefully they won't be able to get to bite us....I'll go last and try to keep them from sneaking up behind us."

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 910):

Earnest contributes some of his food to the accumulation and pulls out the half-full oil can.

I think you gentlemen will do better for Tommy's plan, so I will find a relatively dry spot and spread the rest of this can's oil there as well as some of the food. I'll then go into the rat cave and attempt to lure them out with some more of the food. For now, you men stay here with torches lit; if I can get them to the trap en masse, one of you can set fire to it!

Earnest rubs his chin a moment.

How does that sound for a first attack?

OOC: Assuming the others agree, what will Earnest need to roll for this effort?

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 911):

OOC: Rolls will definitely be involved in such an attempt.

The Judge isn't proceeding until all 4 heroes have agreed on a plan of action. From the Judge's perspective, there are 4 different ideas about what the men are going to do. Once a consensus (or compromise) is reached, we'll deal with the necessary rolls.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 912):

Jacob scratched his chin-whiskers thoughtfully. "Waal," he said after a moment, "reckon it sounds as if'n I shouldn't be a-fierin' off Widder-Maeker right at the git-go."

"If'n we're ah-temptin' to draw them rats out to us, shootin' at 'em'll prob'ly jest send 'em a-scurryin' back to whaere they caeme from. Best I hold Widder-maeker in ree-serve 'til we see whether she's needed," he concluded.

After another moment's thought, he glanced at Earnest. "Meanin' no ah-fense, Perfesser, but I ain't so certain-shure that you oughtta be the one a-tryin' to out-run them roe-dents. You got it all over the rest of us-uns when it comes to readin', writin', and 'rith-matic, but what yer sug-jestin' ain't none uhv those things."

"Ah'd saey that one uhv the rest of us oughtta be the one to be baitin' 'em outta their hidey-holes."

---

OOC: Did some minor punctuation editing. Nothing substantive.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Wed 19 Jan 2022.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 913):

Earnest grins at Jake.

As long as it doesn't involve my bad arm I will be fine... That's why I think you all should handle the torches, including setting fire to the oil!

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 914):

“I’ll bait them out,” Tracy says. “I can move real fast when I need to. Just tell me where to spread the oil, and I’ll go deeper into the cave with the food and get them to chase me like you planned, Professor.”

“I’m ready to go as soon as everyone else is prepared.”

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 915):

Earnest sighs.

If you all insist! Let's prepare the oil and food area over there...

Earnest points to a relatively dry spot near them.

The rest of us will wait near it with torches lit, ready to set fire to it once a good number of the rats are on the oil... Does that sound good?

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 916):

"Sounds good gents, let's give it a go! Once Tracy comes out of the cave we can throw our food to attract their attention off of him and toward the oil patch"

Jacob slipped the leather strap of Widder-Maeker over his left shoulder, in keeping with his decision to hold off on firing at the rats, at least initially.

He stood with his shoulders slumped a little, a torch in his right hand. He looked a picture of a veteran's pre-battle fatalistic acceptance of whatever the Fates decreed.

"Ready when y'all are," he called to his pards.

---

OOC: Jake would not be familiar with the word "insouciance". Although, come to think of it, it might be fun to try and figure out how he would pronounce it in his Texican's drawl. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Mon 24 Jan 2022.

OOC: The Judge is now moving forward based on the consensus and narrative actions. Inferring some details based on character comments.

--------------

Windham heads down the tunnel, lantern in hand. The other three pards have torches ready, waiting near the end of the passage where they have set their oily trap for the swarm.

Same as before, Tracy travels along a small stream of water towards the cave where they first witnessed the mass of the rat swarm. Also like before, he smells the foul odor ahead, and then sees a few rats here and there along the tunnel walls or in the water as he reaches the bend in the passage. Once he rounds that bend, his lantern light reveals the opening to the cave some five yards away. The Wolverine sees numerous rats near and beyond the cavern entrance. He continues with the plan to lure them out.

--------------

OOC: Now, Tracy needs to describe how he is luring out the creatures, along with a Trait roll he thinks is appropriate for the situation and his intent. The Judge will either allow that roll, or require a different suitable Trail roll, based on the Californian's description.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 919):

Tracy takes a deep breath to steady himself. A familiar vision from his childhood flashes in his mind, sprinting away from those older boys who wanted to pummel him. The investigator shakes his head and turns his attention back to the rats.

Windham tosses a little bit of the food into the rats’ midst. He hoped to get them to fight over the little amount, turning them into a frenzy. He lofts a bit more food this time, seeing the ripple of excitement move a bit farther through the throng this time. Now, he tosses a little chunk of food just in front of the pack to see if they would start moving towards him. He steps back, tossing a bit more a little closer to himself.

Once the rats begin to move towards him, he shouts. “HEY!” He turns to run, leaving a bit more food just behind him with the same motion.

OOC:

I am not sure what to roll for this. I tried to build Tracy’s Survival knowledge into this ploy. I also think he would use his Athletics to outrun the swarm at this point.

Edit: rolling Survival.

08:45, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 4,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Survival check.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 920):

The Wolverine's first toss gets the attention of several rats congregating near the cave entrance. Seeing their interest as a number of them fight over the tidbits, Windham chucks some more food their way. This results in more rats pouring out of the cave into the tunnel, and then a wave of the critters flows towards the bait. By the time Tracy steps back and drops some morsels near his own position, the swarm has filled the tunnel and advances.

Perhaps he has underestimated the potential fervor of the swarm, the Californian thinks to himself as he turns to run. The wave of rats appears to swell nearly a yard above the floor, rolling towards him and shrieking. He hopes his pards are ready.

OOC: Tracy's action succeeds, taking us into combat and Action Cards. The Judge ruled that the swarm essentially ignored him until he started throwing food, and his Survival roll is good enough to entice them to follow. He essentially got a free round to take his initial action, and now we enter the combat phase.

The Judge will deal a card to Tracy and the Swarm, at minimum. The other 3 heroes need to succeed on a Notice roll to get a card this round. This simulates the impact of the strange acoustics we had discussed earlier--along with their inability to see what is happening beyond the bend in the tunnel.

Earnest, Jake, and Tommy: make your rolls as usual, with any of your regular modifiers for a Notice roll. Then the Judge will deal cards and start the round.

OOC: As requested:

13:48, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 4,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Notice Check: Lots of Squeakin' and Squealin'.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 921):

Earnest is watching the cave that Tracy went down intensely...

12:35, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 4,8 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+2)8.  Notice - Rat swarm.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 923):

Tommy is on pins and needles waiting for Tracy to return with the rat swarm.

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19:32, Today: Thomas Pearce rolled 3,6 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Notice roll - Tracy and rats exiting cave.

Windham had turned to run after dropping the last of the bait, but the swarm of squealing rats catches up to him much faster than he had imagined. Hundreds of the rodents attack the investigator with teeth and claws.

Meanwhile, the Wolverine sees the swarm split into two. One mass stays with him; another continues its rush down the tunnel. Perhaps they have smelled the bait further along, as the professor had hoped.

The men hear, and finally see, the swarm of rats rushing forth. A mass of them pass Tracy, whom they can just barely see now because of his lantern light. The heroes can act, but not before the swarm spills into the entryway and attacks.

OOC: The three pards waiting to ambush the swarm got a card because everyone succeeded on the Notice roll. There is no bonus for a raise on that roll.

Initiative
Earnest Six Diamonds Fourth
Jake Two Spades, Nine Clubs Third
Tommy Nine Spades, Jack Clubs Second
Tracy Four Diamonds Fifth
Rat Swarm King Hearts First

Swarms are fast ... and nasty. The Judge got a wicked roll.

09:54, Today: Judge Messalen rolled 13 using 2d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+4+2)10,3.  Rat Swarm damage (all 4 characters).

That's 13 damage on each character. Good thing the heroes have makeshift armor or two of them would have suffered 2 Wounds.
Instead, all four characters take 1 Wound and are Shaken.

If you have Bennies, you may use to Soak. Please do that NOW. Remember, on your turn you get a chance to Unshake for free, but if you want to attempt to Soak the Wound from the swarm, you need to do that right after it happens--here on RPOL that means before you roll or post anything else.

Tracy had indicated he was starting to run, but he can change that if he chooses to stop or move normal pace this round. It's about 15 yards from the bend to the entryway, where his pards are. Of course, it ain't his turn, yet.

It is Tommy's turn. He may go at anytime, but as above he must roll Soak before anything else if he is going to spend a Benny and attempt it. After that, if he is still Shaken (doesn't Soak the Wound), he can make a Spirit roll to Unshake on his turn. As a reminder, when Shaken, you can move but cannot take actions.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 925):

Tommy sees the rats charging out of the cave. The size of the swarm and their ferocity give him a chill up his spine.

"ok gents time to bait the trap!"

He wonders about Tracy but as planned he throws the food from his pocket onto the oil patch.
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OOC - At this point I'm assuming the 3 pards are standing 10 feet or so away from the oil soaked area.
13:47, Today: Thomas Pearce rolled 3,11 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+5)11.  Throw food -- Athletics roll.
13:23, Today: Thomas Pearce rolled 5,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+1)7.  Vigor check - Soak roll rat attack wounds

OOC:

15:56, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 6,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  Vigor Check (to eliminate "Shaken").

Comments: My understanding is that succeeding on this Check will eliminate both the Wound and the Shaken status. Jake's Benny count has been adjusted downwards.

I believe that it is now Jake's turn to act (IC), but I will await the Judge's confirmation before posting.

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 926) and Jacob Richardsen (msg # 927):

Tommy tosses food into the patch of oil. His portion lands squarely in the middle of it, just where he wanted it to go.

OOC: Jake is correct. This is a Soak roll to attempt to remove Wounds just taken. If you successfully remove all Wounds (in this case, only 1), you also remove the Shaken status.

So, both Tommy and Jake Soaked the 1 Wound and are no longer Shaken. Tommy took his action and it is now Jake's turn.

BTW, Tommy's assumption about being roughly 10 feet away is fine.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 928):

"Damn!" Jake exclaimed when a mass of rats came boiling up out of the cave ahead of the Californian and began hissing and biting at the Texican's legs.

~~That warn't what I was expectin'. I thought that the Wool-verine was s'posed to outrun them critters an' git here first. Reckon four legs is lots quicker'n two when it comes to a race.~~

Hearing Mister Pearce speak up and seeing the Irishman toss his rat-bait prompted Jacob to do something other than just stand there and stomp on the rodents that were surging around his feet.

Quickly enough, Jake tossed his own portion of the rat-bait into the oil, with the food landing right where he had aimed. "Dang!" he muttered. "Too bad we warn't playin' horse-shoes. I'd a' won for shurre!"

---

OOC: 17:28, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 12,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,4.  Athletics Check: Food Toss.

OOC: Jake wins at horseshoes and now it’s Earnest’s turn