[[21:34, Yesterday: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 9,11 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(6+5)11. Agility.
21:33, Yesterday: Ixquahuacoatl rolled 4,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Agility.

Tlachi reacts before the mortals, Ix after.]]

"Í ͝àssu͠r̛e͜ you͝,͜ ̛w̷e͏ ̕wer҉è ͡d҉efini̢n͡g ̧the͝ ̵la͝w ̷l͟ong ͜b̕ef̡ore̢ ͏yo͘ur ͠p̸e̢op̛l̵e'̧s ̴pit̴ìf͞u̵l̀ ͝a̷ttemp̧ts͠ ̷a͡t͠ c͠įv̡i͡lisat̀i̛o͡n," the masked serpent responds coldly to the man standing on his brother's corpse, but his sister seems to have hit boiling point.

"-̵s̀ss͏ss͠s͜s̢s̢sss̛s͝rr͟r͞RR̵RRAAAHHH͘!!̧"

"S̶is͟t̕e͜r-̧!"

His call comes too late. Tlachinollicoatl's vast muscles have already tightened her coils to a spring; massive as she is, the great serpent launches herself across the fires to the side of the hill the tiny missile came from.

---

Tlachinollicoatl hits the ground hard enough to dislodge great slides of earth and scree, her halo blazing like she's on fire. Her pupils are narrowed to viper slits in the light, but other senses drive her to strike out at the nearest mammal.

Hardin screams. Jake doesn't even see her move, just the afterimages of her brightness blobbing his sight with every blink as she coils back. Noticing the other human, Tlachi drops down and heads towards him, a nightmare of fire and scale.

"̸I ͡a͢ḿ ͝ve̵nge͝ance!͟ I͝ am d̛ea͢th̷!̧ I͝ a͟m t͞h͡e d͘est̶ŕoy̕er of̶ ̕citi̷es͢ and̛ I͞ ͘aḿ ou̕t o̵f̶ p͜a̵t͏i̷enc̴e!͞"

---

Standing on the path up, William sees Hardin turn and scream as he's snatched away around the curve of the slope by a huge, burning something with a voice like broken glass being dragged across metal. A madness-inducing rattling sound begins to rise from that direction as though ten thousand locusts were possessed with purest wrath.


[[18:46, Today: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 13,7 using d12+2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 11,(6+1)7. *bite*. Hit with Raise.
18:47, Today: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 6,4 using d12,3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2,1,1. 10 damage. Wow. That's like an Alouettte damage roll.
Still, 2 wounds Shaken (poison damage included) for Hardin.

John Wesley Hardin rolled 7,1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,3. snakebit! All right, he won't die at once, but he's going to be puffed up like a sausage roll...
John Wesley Hardin rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Soaking! Wound soaked, though.]]

((OOC: You think William is somebody who can sneak around?))

"Looks like I've come to the right place, then." William murmurs under his breath.
He pulls the Ghost Gun and rolls the drum, eying the shifting faces and shadows dancing accross the barrels.
"This time I'll make sure they're dead."

And he strides forward, after Hardin and, supposedly, O'Rourke.
Subtlety had never been his strong suit. But jumping into the middle of something he didn't know the particulars of would have been damn stupid. Also not something William considered himself.

He crouches down and forward, peering over the ledge that Hardin went over.

22:22, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,0 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. re-roll, blue chip.
22:21, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Stealth, unskilled.


22:22, Today: William Pierce rolled 13,14 using d6+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,(6+4)10. Super-Notice.

Moving to see around the curve of the slope, William can see Hardin curled in a shaking ball of pain, and beyond him...beyond him is surely something out of Revelatons.

A huge serpent the colour of bronze and aged copper lights the hillside with the blaze of light around its horns, aflame but unburning. Fangs the length of his forearm resettle as the creature finishes its shrieked imprecations and starts sliding low over the ground towards Bitter Waters further along the slope, smooth as quicksilver.

[[Guts please, William! -4 + Grit (I'm waiving their usual -2 ability since you were expecing one, but adding +1 circumstancial for seeing your first giant snake monster in a state of Royally Pissed Off)]]

Taking advantage of the chaos and the dramatically improved odds, Adrian took aim and fired at where he knew well the venom sac would be on the masked serpent.

---

Shootin': 6 (Base Roll 6, -4 Called Shot Penalty, +4 Relic Bonus)
Damage: 10 (Base Roll 6, +4 Relic Bonus)

18:44, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Weapon Damage.
18:40, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6,2 using d6,d6. Shootin'.

Just in case for next round:
09:40, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: 7S using the Deadlands system.

This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Wed 03 June 2015.

16:22, Today: William Pierce rolled 9,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,(6+4)10. Spirit. -4 modifier, +4 Grit.

William narrows his eyes.
"What the..." he starts, but then shakes his head.
"Snakes. Of course. What else would it be?"
He grins, flashing his long canines.

He raises his pistol and follows the snake's movement...

OOC: aim maneuver
And, just in case...
16:29, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 10H using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

In the chaos, Harry Lazarus moved towards the head of the slain serpent to envenom the knife that he carried with him where Adrian had told him the poison gland would be, careful not to make any contact with the poison himself. He didn't know whether or not he could help Adrian with this serpent, but he intended to take a stab at it.

OOC:

Forgot to make an agility roll for Harry.

Agility: 9

09:37, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 6,9 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6,(6+3)9. Agility.

Also just in case...

09:40, Today: Harry Lazarus drew the single card: KH using the Deadlands system.

Distracted by his sister's fury, the serpent towering over the flat of the rise doesn't notice Adrian aiming at him until a bullet shatters an obsidian tile and gouges a plate from his mask. The creature flinches sharply.

"K̕ssh̛!"

[[Yeah, you've re-started combat this side, too; go ahead and draw init. for Adrian.

Jake, there's a large, pissed-off serpent headed your way, please react and draw init.]]

Jake smiled, "Why hello there ugly."

OOC:
13:30, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 7H using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

The serpent replies with an inarticulate hiss, lunging for him like a comet.

[[Tlachi is too vengeful to just bite Jake in half, and tries to grapple him:
20:06, Today: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 9,5 using d12+2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. fightin'.

Jake, beat 9 or be caught! (and don't forget your mundane ol' snakebite penalty)]]

Jake gets out of the way of the snake with a quickness

OOC:
15:37, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 3,0 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Agility (-2 Fatigue).
15:37, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 4,-1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. White Chip.
That's a success with a raise for Tlachinollicoatl
Oops that was all Agility BUT grapple is an opposed Fighting
15:39, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 13,2 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+3)15,4. Fighting (-2 Fatigue).

[[It can be either, actually, to allow fighty characters with low Agility and agile characters with low fighting an even field - I recommend you use your highest, in general. Onward!]]

Tlachi's jaws slam on empty air as Jake somehow manages to evade her strike.

---

Up by the altar, Ixquahuacoatl recoils, looks back and abruptly slithers over the edge furthest from the mortals, out of sight. It seems improbable that something so big could move like a whip, but a blink would miss the movement.

[[Ix uses his reaction round and proper round to go hide in the grass like, well, a snake.

Initiative!
Tlachinollicoatl AS
Ixquahuacoatl AH
Harry Lazarus KS
William Pierce 10H
Adrian Vega 7S
Jake Lawrence 7H
Hank Miller 6C
Father O'Rourke 5C
Mayor Bruebaker 3S

Not sure if Evans is with us or the Woolwich. Harry, go!]]

OOC: We doing PCs in order?

Seeing the gigantic serpent nearest them gone, Harry sprinted off in the direction of the other one, figuring it was most likely going to attack someone else that might need his help.

"I'll be back," he promised Adrian as he dashed off with his newly envenomed knife.

---

OOC
How close to William Pierce can Harry Lazarus get in a turn? Not knowing exactly where they are it's hard to say. He would probably lend his envenomed knife to someone with a greater proficiency for violence and killing. If they are near enough, he can get Pierce or another ally the knife. If not, he will at least run in their direction.

Next Round:
15:25, Today: Harry Lazarus drew the single card: 10S using the Deadlands system.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Thu 04 June 2015.

Darting between the fires, Harry reaches the edge of the slope and looks down to see...well, the angry snake monster throwing her coils in a loop to prevent that gloomy Bitter Waters fellow's escape was the most demanding thing on Harry's attention, but the four-armed bandit was curled up on the ground nearby. Beyond him, apparently trying to hide behind a rock that was entirely too small, the foul-mouthed bearded fellow was crouching, and running steps nearby indicated the others coming up the path, currently hidden by the curve of the slope.


[[Harry can get to within 5 squares of William without running.

@Jake - I consider it more polite to wait for PCs, as their actions could affect yours and vice versa.
 ]]

As he ran towards William he said "I'm here to help. It's dangerous to go alone against the snake. Take this." He gestured that he was holding a blade. It was a dull blade, but even in the dark it glinted with wetness. He wasn't going to make it all the way, but he wanted to reassure the man that he was there to help.

OOC
For whatever it's worth, Harry'll run to get a tiny bit closer.

16:09, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Running.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Thu 04 June 2015.

Hardin gives a faint whimper, down on the ground.

[[Noted. William, go!]]

William notices Harry running around him, his more primal instincts screaming to shoot the guy coming with the gun at him - but he keeps his cool and when Harry tells him to take the damn knife, William leaves cover, takes the knife and turns toward the snake.

"That's right, you scaly son of a bitch!" he yells, "You just run the fuck away from me or I'll turn you into a nice pair of boots!"

Intimidation:22:35, Today: William Pierce rolled 9,5 using d6+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Intimidation.


22:36, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: QH using the Deadlands system. Initiative, Quick edge.
22:35, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 3H using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

Adrian's bloodlust for demonsnakes almost made him chase after the gigantic monstrosity that had fled his wrath, but he stemmed his anger and remembered why they were there in the first place. He rushed to the altar, where the priest was wrapped by bones and placing his free hand upon the bones he tried to pry it from the priest. It didn't come off.

"I'm gonna get this thing off you by hook or crook, Father. We can talk about what you done later if we're all still alive...or at least tickin'... but I can't support a vigilante killing of a mortal man. I'm gonna free you from this prison so you can keep doin' God's work. We need you."

He willed it to come off and that didn't seem to work either, but something in his mind seemed to flicker into the picture as he tried to pull the thing off.

Something started happening, and he was doing it.

OOC:

Using my special Spirit activated dead controlling coup ability to try to remove the bone coils from the not-so-good priest.

Spirit: 15 - Success and Raise (Wish I had used this roll on the snake)

15:41, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 15,1 using d12-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (12+5)17,3. Spirit.

15:44, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: KD using the Deadlands system. Initiative for Next Round.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Thu 04 June 2015.

The massive serpent threatening Lawrence raises its head and twists to look back, the rattling rising to the point of pain.

"Murd̨erer,͘ ̷I will̨ ̶d̷ev̴o̶u̵r͘ ̴ỳour ̶sib̵li̕n͢ģs̷ a͟n͢d ̸str͟ip̕ ͞y̶o͠u̸r n̴e҉phe̷w̨s͏'̀ ҉şk͠i̛nś t̀ó c̵lothe̡ ҉m͏y sl̢a͏v͏ȩs!̧" the creature hisses...and although the snake speaks in the Spirit Tongue, William can't help but note the voice seems...female.

[[Tlachinollicoatl rolled 9,4 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,4. resist! Tie, defender default. Tlachi is too pissed off to be worried about a mere super-warrior with a knife, methinks.]]

---

"The Lord brought me to Blackthorn, and I have helped the people," O'Rourke responds, scratched from struggling. "If I am t'die there as well it's all the same; I think God is tellin me I've run enough. I won't resist arrest later."

Adrian only half-hears him, his mind pressed against something that presses back like a cat wanting to be stroked...and then he realises that there's pressure on his real fingers, the bones moving against his palm. Seems like there's a knack to willing them to shift after all: the bone restraints unspring and uncoil themselves into a roughly serpentine shape with a lifelike suddeness that causes the priest to shudder.

O'Rourke sits up as soon as he can, grimacing at the complaints of overextended muscles, and half-jumps half-falls off the altar boulder. Although the bones do not react, Adrian can still locate that almost-awareness touching his mind, like a thing beyond a curtain. Perhaps he could will it to help...

[[It's actually a step larger than human-size, but with a roll like that you still have the raisins to give it relatively complex commands...I shall get stats to you presently.

Jake, go!]]

"Come come no ... we don't need all the name calling." Jake leveled his borrowed pistol and squeezed off a shot. Sadly his shooting hand happened to be the one with the snake bite currently causing him some issue and the shot goes a bit wide.

OOC:
08:10, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 3,1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Bang Bang!
08:14, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 9D using a deck of 54 cards. Can I go now?

[[Yo Jake, remember they're +2 to hit, being Large...still a miss since you're in her melee range, but worth bearing in mind.]]

"Whoah..." says Hank, scrabbling across the hill and getting a sight of the raging serpent. After a moment's staring, he braces himself and sights on some useful spot. "Okay, I got this."

[[Hank Aims.]]

---

The priest rubs his scratched forearms and looks towards the portal uneasily. "D'you think we should do anything about that?" he asks, then looks over at the sounds of battle, though there's nothing to see from up here.

"Though there could be more pressing matters at hand...would you happen to have a spare weapon on yourself?"

[[O'Rourke goes on Hold]]

The Mayor becomes visible nearby, bent over and puffing. "We should...have surrendered..." he mutters, then bends for a long shard of obsidian knocked off Ixquahuacoatl's mask, cuts some of his shirt with it, and winds the cloth several times around one end as a makeshift handle.

He huffs over to dip it in the venom pooled from the wound in Omitetlcoatl's skull, then stands and looks at his handiwork and the hand that holds it - the hand of an old man run to soft fat and little vigour. "I suppose I'll have to go and stab the giant witch, then," he states, bemused at his own situation.


[[Bruebaker saves PP and makes a knife.

Initiative!
Adrian Vega KD
William Pierce QH
Harry Lazarus 10S
Jake Lawrence 9D
Tlachinollicoatl 6S
Mayor Bruebaker 4H
Hank Miller 3H
O'Rourke: on hold

Adrian, go!]]

"We all had our part to play, Mayor, but I managed to slay one serpent. Now that I've shown you all the trick," he looked meaningfully at the venom that the heavyset man was dipping his makeshift weapon into, "it should be pretty easy for anyone to do it. Mayor, I know you have some arcane knowledge. You need to stay here and figure out how to close the portal," he said.

Reaching into the satchel he carried, he removed a copy of Trimestigus and handed it to the Mayor. "Catch your breath for now. Leave the serpent slayin' to me. And try to get this portal closed."

He turned to the preacher and with his free hand, unsheathed the Bowie knife, handing it to him. "Follow the Mayor's lead on dippin' that thing and stay here with him. Help close the portal. Use that knife if that other snake shows back up. I'm gonna go make sure the one over there is put paid to. I'll be back soon."

Turning to the Bone Glom, he said, "Stay still until I return." With that, he took off after where Lazarus had gone, his eyes peeled for a gigantic serpent.

OOC:

Adrian will run directly towards where he believes the snake to be.

15:12, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Running.

15:14, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: QS using the Deadlands system. Initiative for Next Round.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Fri 05 June 2015.

The long dense pile of bones pretends to be just a long, dense pile of bones and lies there, inert. Father O'Rourke sighs as he takes the killing tool and looks confused at Adrian talking to bones, but doesn't immediately disobey.

[[what, you don't think it makes a noble steed? I suppose you would need a cushion...
William, go!]]

[[ Well, I didn't know if it was the right time to give everyone a fear check and expose his necromantic prowess yet...]]

"Hit a nerve, did I? You know what? You got enough skin on you, that a pair of boots just wont be enough. I know! I'll turn your ugly hide into a snakeskin leather jacket! It's going to be a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom! People will start calling me Sssssnake Pierssssss!"


Taunt total of 8.
09:55, Today: William Pierce rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Red chip, on top.

09:54, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,4 using D4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. Taunting the snake.

09:56, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 9S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.