The serpent cranes a little higher to focus on Pierce with a venomous glare, her fire gone from greenish to a blinding blue-white across her horns and forehead.

"Yo͢ur͝ ̢sk̛ùl̸l wiĺl ͜a͏do̢ŗn̶ ͞t̸h͢e ҉wąll̛s͟ o̵f m̛y̧ ̨d̸w͝él͏l̶in̴g! Y̢òu͘r̶ ́he͟a̵rt̷ ̷ąn͜d̵ ̶h͞ąnd͠s͝ ͢will ̸a̵d͏òr͟n̨ m̀y̴ b҉r̡òthe̸r͏'̨s ̸ne̛c̛k̛lace͟s҉! ̨I ͢wi̶l̴l̵ ͝play̶ Ōl̀la̛mal̀iz͢tli̕ ̛ẁi͘t̀h your̴ ͝i̕n͡ţi͏m̴a̶t͜e͠ pa̕rts͞!"


[[ *still laughing* alas...Tlachinollicoatl rolled 10,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,4. resist!

Harry, go!]]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Sun 07 June 2015.

OOC:

Sorry, forgot it was my turn! A bit busy at the moment so going On Hold for now but will post tonight surely.

Tlachinollicoatl's rattling hits a pitch to make the ears itch with almost-pain.

[[In that case Jake, go!]]

Jake frowns at his failure to shoot the creature. "I guess all snakes just bags of dicks ... geez. Can't y'all just go back to sunning on rocks or something?"

OOC: Taunt!
10:07, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 0,0 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. Taunt (-2 untrained).
10:07, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled -1,2 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. White Chip.
meh.
10:10, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Tue 09 June 2015.

With a lack of a better idea, Harry turned towards his greatest strength. He wasn't a fighter, but he was a gambler, and sometimes the latter could help him be the former. Especially when the cards came to him like they did just now, almost blazing in his hand even as they vanished. With the flare of a stage performer, he extended his sleeve and snapped his wrist, three cards sliding down into his hand, and he reached back as if hurling a discus and flung each one in short succession towards the beast.

---

OOC:

More bark than bite here. Successful Deal with the Devil for a Full House, but only one hit on three bolts and for only 4 damage, not enough to do any harm.

11:02, Today: Harry Lazarus drew the single card: JS using the Deadlands system. Initiative for Next Round.
11:02, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 4 using 2d6. Damage.
11:01, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 4,2,3,2 using d8,d8,d8,d6. Bolts.
10:57, Today: Harry Lazarus drew the 9 cards: 5H, JH, RJ!, JS, 9H, 9S, AS, 6S, JC using the Deadlands system. Deal with the Devil Bolt.

Next Round: JS

Also...looks like a Joker's Wild!

[[18:17, Today: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 6,1 using D8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. Resist mild taunting! She...resists.]]

Ignoring the less clever words thrown in insult from the man with the injured hand, the huge snake slithers her entire body into a tensed coil between Jake and those further along the hill. Her rattle blurs, and as it does so the itch of the sound passes over into pain, the kind of ear-invading, skull-scraping pain that rings through bone and consciousness. With it comes a desperate urge to run away, stab into one's own ears, escape escape escape...

[[18:19, Today: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 15,4 using D12+1,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (12+2)14,4. *rattlerattle*
William, Harry, and Jake, roll spirit versus 15, please!]]
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:04, Tue 09 June 2015.

OOC:
13:50, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 9,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,4. Spirit.
Hello fail!

(Do we add in grit? and substract Fear level?

20:49, Today: William Pierce rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. blue chip, on top.
20:48, Today: William Pierce rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Red chip, on top.
20:48, Today: William Pierce rolled 7,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2. red chip, re-roll.

Total of 15.
)

OOC:

Spirit: 4

15:54, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 4,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:56, Tue 09 June 2015.

The sound, the pain, the pressure: it's outside Jake's head now as well as inside it. It is everything, crawling inside his skin, shuddering his blood, forcing down his nose and throat with every breath until the temptation is to try and claw it out of him, tear off his flesh, not exist.

The noise floods into Harry Lazarus, choking him as his soul writhes within him. His thoughts forced out by that horrendous pitch, it is several moments before he realises he's running. His blood pounds hot in his throat and temples. Escape escape escape.

William hears Hank recoil behind him, somewhere amongst the grating layers of sound. There's a dull, painful thud to his left, but as he restrains his instincts from turning his attention fully on the sound he feels the nasty senation of blood in his inner ear, the slow slickness making its way out of his skull in a sluggish drip...drip.


[[@William - no, it's an Ability of theirs, though it does provoke a Guts check in the event of a raise.

22:07, Today: Alouette, on behalf of Jake Lawrence, rolled 5 using 1d20+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3. fear! Jake is Shaken and Shaken (and don't forget your snakebite penalty).

Being technically Henchman status, stat-wise, Harry is Panicked. He flees with a run roll away from the threat - do you want him to skedaddle back onto the top of the rise, around the slope or downhill?

Hardin was Shaken and is Shaken and Shaken.

William doesn't care. He wins a few burst capillaries.

As a note, Adrian (and Hank) are just outside the area of effect, but it probably doesn't feel too great for them either.]]

OOC:

Harry will flee back toward the Priest and the Mayor

Run: 11

Of course...NOW I get the good run roll. :)

17:06, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 11 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11. Running.

This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Tue 09 June 2015.

If I'm shaken+shaken then I'm wounded ... right?

Notice!

09:57, Today: William Pierce rolled 5,11 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9. Notice.

William's sense that something is off causes him to throw a glance behind him. There's only Hank, of course, who shifts his aim with the movement and gives William a questioning look. Only Hank...but there's something not quite right in the picture, some miniscule change in the landscape behind the lad.

[[Smarts -2 to identify the oddness further, if desired. I'll hold off on Hank's turn a moment here in case William wants to tell him anything...]]

---

Up on the top, the Mayor consults Trismetigus with one finger of his free hand in his ear, his round and sideburned face lit weirdly by the portal's light. "Hrmmm...ah."

"Oh, I see...I see that now...hmph." He looks up, eyes narrowed as Lazarus comes charging back.

"Steady, man!" O'Rourke barks, trying to intercept the panicked huckster.

"I need something to use for markings," the Mayor declares, keeping his place with his fingers.


[[Mayor Bruebaker rolled 4,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+1)7. Trismetigus check. He finds something useful!
Mayor Bruebaker rolled 3,2 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. SAN check. He gains a Dementia! *behind-screen roll* Hmm...

Harry Lazarus:

Of course...NOW I get the good run roll. :)

It's all down to motivation!]]

21:40, Today: William Pierce rolled -1,3 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Smarts.
Yeah, Smarts isn't really William's forte.


Something's odd. The gunslinger can't put his finger on it. But he hadn't survived - until yesterday, at least - by not trusting his instincts.
He raises his gun, taking aim seemingly at Hank.
"Hank! Behind you!" he yells out, hoping that his former gang mate's remembers their routines.

Hank's eyes widen and he drops to a crouch, pivoting to see what's behind him; a short, choked noise breaks from his throat at the sight of something further around the slope.

Then he stands up, right in William's line of fire at that just-barely-disrupted skyline, and nods stiffly. "Yes, master." Swinging back towards Pierce, he fires off a shot at the gunslinger's skull.

A last-instant jerk of his hand sends the bullet whining past Adrian and off into the night.


[[21:13, Today: Hank Miller rolled 14,1 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+4)16,3. what? Hank notices what's funky about the hillside all right.
21:17, Today: Hank Miller rolled -3,1 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. shootin'. Fortunately no-one's quite in line to be an Innocent Bystander there...]]

The very visible serpent lets her rattling tail off and coils back on herself, looming over Bitter Waters.

[[Tlachi grapples Shakey Jake whilst he's not in a position to resist...it took me a silly amount of forum-trawling to find out that Shaken characters can indeed still resist grapplage, but be very glad I sextuple-checked, because the first damage roll was nuts.
Tlachinollicoatl rolled 7,4 using d12+2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. grapplage.

Jake, you need to beat 7 or be picked up for nefarious purposes.

Initiative!
Tlachinollicoatl AS
Mayor Bruebaker AH
Adrian Vega QS
Ixquahuacoatl QH
Harry Lazarus JS
Jake Lawrence JD
William Pierce 9S
Hank Miller 4s ]]

OOC:
18:21, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 11,-1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,1. Agility (-2 Fatigue).

Despite feeling like his brain has become a real milkshake, Jake manages to thrash his way free as the giant snake starts picking him up by the ankle.

[[Huzzah for Jake!]]

Up by the altar, the Mayor grumbles his way over to hook a branch from a fire and dabble the charred end in Omitetlcoatl's blood for ink.

[[The Mayor makes a start on an emergency stop for the hyperpowered portal.

Adrian, go!]]

OOC:

How far from Tlachinollicoatl is Adrian? The plan is to try and stab it ASAP.

Her attempts to pick up Jake are currently holding the warrior-snake's attention.

[[Pfft, there's probably supposed to be some kind of terrain mod, but you could get the end of her tail at the diagonal reach of your Pace - that's bowling downhill, mind]]

Adrian made a mad dash for the massive serpent that was attacking Bitter Waters, and made to plunge into its reptilian carcass the scythe blade that mounted the gun he had taken from the dead Hangin' Judge. Slick with the poison taken from the venom glands of the other big snake, he hoped it would have the same effect this time around.

Some part of him felt the need to cry out something, but he didn't emit anything more than a snarl as he made his move.

OOC:

Adrian and makes a Fightin' attack with his Omitetlcoatl poison coated Gun of the Hanging Judge scythe blade, he seeks Payback (+2) for the serpent wizard messing with his friend and for the unjust conduct of these demons in general (+4 Relic).

Fightin': 25 (Base Roll, Size, Payback, Relic)
Damage: 18 (Strength 4, Damage 5, Payback, Relic)

15:56, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Raise.
15:53, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 4,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. STR, Damage. (Rerolled with a White Chip)
15:43, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2,17 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+6+5)17. Fightin' (Boosted).

Initiative: KC

15:59, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: KC using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

The serpent fails to notice her attacker until Adrian has lunged down the slope and plunged that awkward bayonet two-handed into her tail. "Y̨O͜W̸!̵"

At once her halo banks and she shudders, drawing her coils away. The wound wells with thick dark blood, and though it does not seem to be immediately fatal the snake's reactions have clearly become sluggish and confused, her raised head swaying as she tries to focus on Adrian. "Sssss̕s̢.̵.̷.."


[[Due to her sheer size she doesn't take the -2, but it still takes both her chips to resist the poison enough to only(!) wind up with 2 Fatigue Points and 1 wound.

23:36, Yesterday: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 3,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. poison!
23:36, Yesterday: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. red chippit.
23:38, Yesterday: Tlachinollicoatl rolled 4,9 using d10,2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4,5. white chip.]]

The slight interruption of the skyline melts smoothly away under William's sight.

[[Ixi withdraws back out of sight, not being much of a fighter and reasoning he can't help his sister if he's dead. Hank is the only non-incap'd posse member in range for withdrawal attacks, and he's currently disinclined.

Harry, go!]]

Harry Lazarus steadies at the call of the priest, looking between him and the mayor. It takes him a moment to steady himself, though he was clearly rattled. "They're fighting one of the other big serpents. If they get it, that'll only leave the one that has gone into hiding. How goes your work on closing the portal, Mayor?"

He tries to get a good look at the portal.

OOC:

Harry just wants to get a look at the portal, what he can see with his eyes. Not looking for anything specific.

If it takes a Notice roll, though, he failed that roll.

Initiative for next round: AC

10:24, Today: Harry Lazarus drew the single card: AC using the Deadlands system. Initiative for Next Round.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:25, Mon 22 June 2015.

"Trying to concentrate, thank you," the Mayor grunts, trailing arcane patterns of blood across the ground. "Kindly keep the snakes occupied in the meantime."

O'Rourke frowns. "I don't know what he's doing but he's more expert in deviltry than I am, to be sure." He claps a hand on Harry's shoulder, taking a moment to gather faith in this dark hour. "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul...if we are with the Lord facing Death, we are th' stronger party, my son. Recall that."


[[O'Rourke comes off Hold to bolster Harry against further funny five minuteses:

Father William O'Rourke rolled 2,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. *bless* (Boost Spirit) Poor show, old thing.
Father William O'Rourke rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. red chippit.
5. Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt snake. Harry has a boost to Spirit.

Jake, go!]]