In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 269) and Albert (Padre) Juhasz (msg #271):
The Irishman had continued to move quietly after the sounds of gunfire pierced the dark of night. His tactic pays off now, he thinks, as the three riders gallop past him and towards his pards without taking notice of his presence. Firing the scattergun at short range, he strikes the same rider that Jake had targeted, knocking the patrolmen from the mount. Pearce is close enough to hear the heavy thud of the rider's body -- and the immediate crunching of bones -- as it impacts the rocky ground. If the buckshot didn't kill him, the fall must have, Tommy reckons, as he continues moving towards the mesa.
A moment later, Padre rushes to meet with Red Shirt and Earnest. His instinct is to run, but he finds it unnecessary, as they are only ten yards or so away. Speaking to them briefly, but as of yet receiving no reply, the man-who-used-to-be-called Albert sights one of the oncoming riders with Repentence, hoping to have a clear and measured shot in the next several seconds. He begins to mumble a prayer, of sorts.
OOC: Pearce's damage kills the rider. The above, again, is for flavor, as in the moment, it's uncertain whether the man is dead, unconscious, or just stunned by the shotgun blast. Juhasz didn't need to run, his pards were within normal movement distance, which is good because the Judge was unlikely to allow Aim after running (a corollary to the ruling above in msg #252).
- RS, Earnest, Padre, Tracy are still roughly 140 yards east of the mesa and base camp. Tommy's a little closer (the Judge erred last time saying that, but it's true now); Jake is a little farther.
- The four pards are roughly 40 yards east of the rock formation where the two scouts spied the mesa (and were spied themselves by the patrolmen).
- The horse patrol (two riders and one runaway mount) is riding towards RS, Earnest, Padre, and Tracy. They are now roughly 30 yards away from the heroes and have passed Tommy.
- The rider from the mesa is roughly 60 yards from the group of four heroes, almost to the position where the initial shooter fell from Tracy's shot. He is still charging towards the group of four. Tommy is roughly 50 yards from that rider's position.
A bunch of high cards dealt here, with the advantage to the heroes, including Jake's Joker, which gives everyone another Benny (update your totals, please) and gives the Texican +2 to rolls this round.
Initiative
Earnest Six Diamonds Eighth
Jake
Joker, Ten Spades First or whenever he wants Fourth
Padre King Clubs Fifth
Tommy King Diamonds, Three Hearts Fourth (or Eighth if desired w/Calculating)
Tracy Jack Spades Sixth
Daniel Ace Clubs Second
RS King Spades, Ten Diamonds Third
BP Two Clubs, Jack Clubs Seventh
It is Jake's turn.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Thu 19 Oct 2023.