Theme: https://soundcloud.com/scorere...he-magnificent-seven
Characters: Arulas, Ethan, Kalista, Doc, -- and Nyx?

The Lumberjacks ride with their team of borrowed pack mules behind them. They retrace their path along the trail back through the jaguars' forest. The sky is clear during the journey, and frequent shooting stars decorate the night sky. It takes them a day of hard riding to cover the distance, but they do arrive at sundown at the familiar guard tower.

An unfamiliar female voice calls out from the tower, "Sal de aquí!" (Get out of here.)

Kalista answered in Spanish, "It is Kalista, Knight of the Order of Lord Coke and friend to your enclave."

Digging up his gear, the Atlantean slips into his spare toga, a pale blue piece of cotton with a silver trim seen on.  Jason, accompanying the Lumberjacks, minus Polkitain, rides one of the looted robot horses.  Spending much of the ride in meditation, he is able to recovdr his energies, and even complete his own healing.
As they ride, the Atlantean attracts Ethan's attention, then touches the life-like flaming phoenix tattooed across his chest.  The Tattoo glows with a soft light, flickering like it really is burning with slowly flapping wings.  The areas of bare muscle, separating the Tattoos from the rest of his tattooing like borders, are soon filled with tattooed skin once again.  The magic can even bring back the recently deceased, he tells the medic.  But there is a cost, as it permanently weakens me.

Yes, Jason is fully healed and fully recharged.

The dwarven girl yells back, "I don't care if you are Rozzo, patron saint of vampire hunters. It's sundown. I don't open this door for anyone until morning."

  Arulas laughs and dismounts. He looks at his companions and says to them and them alone. "Get a light ring set up. We either get in or we defend this spot because I smell an attack." He doesn't walk he basically struts up to the door like he already knows the response. "I have two questions answer them please. Now who is the dwarf in charge of the First Watch? And where is he?"

Soy Iason Ianos Damianos, Asesino de Vampiros de la Casa de Luminine, Familia de Acheron. Puedes llamarme Jason Damien, he calls out.  Tenemos razones para creer que tienes uno o más vampiros dentro de tus salones en este momento.
He dismounts and takes out a stake to draw, on the ground, a larger version of the bites Kalista had said she saw on the new mother's ankle.  ¿Has visto alguna mordedura en alguien que se vea así?

We have reason to believe that you have one or more vampires within your halls at this moment.
Have you seen any bites on anyone that look like this?

This message was last edited by the player at 15:52, Thu 12 Apr 2018.

Let's see some rolls. Even after all of decades, Palladium has still not specified how those persuasion stats are supposed to be used. Anyone who wants to try talking the Dwarven guard into letting them inside, roll me a percentile. If you have a bonus to trust/intimidate or charm/impress (use one or the other, not both), add that bonus to your roll. You are looking for a combined team score of at least 100% which should be fairly easy so long as the rolls are not terrible.

The answers to the questions asked will depend largely on the outcomes of these rolls.

Trust/Intimidate at 60%:
21:13, Today: Jason Damien rolled 160 using 1d100+60 ((100)).

You jerk...

Okay, the female answers Arulas first (still in Dwarveny-Spanish), "Captain Geraldo will be here any minute to begin his shift. If he knows you, you can wait out there for him to vouch for you."

In response to Jason's request, some mumbling may be heard by the guards inside the tower. "Please hold, hunter of Luminine." Less than a minute later, the heavy metal door unbolts and is opened wide. Dwarven women (and one human) come out of the tower and a toss flower petals into the air. Two male guards actually roll out a carpet for him.

The female guard who was speaking earlier comes out. She's dressed in plate male with small silver spikes and spiked helm, holding a guirisame pike with a silver blade. "Welcome Iosan, the people of Harl Hall have counted Clan Luminine a close friend for many, many years." She makes heart-eyes at the Atlantean. "I do hope you will staying with us and sharing tales of your adventures, Sir Ionas."

Around this time, Geraldo arrives. In Dwarven, he admonishes the guards. Then he turns to the PCs and says (in Spanish), "Welcome back to Harl Hall, Lumberjacks. You look tired but well. As soon as you have passed the mirror test, you may come inside. I will escort you downstairs. There's no point in staying outside any longer than is necessary."

Jason is shocked and surprised that the dwarves of this hall would know of his house.  For a moment, he is speechless.  When the guard opens the gate and comes out, he finally speaks, he stammers at first.
Um... Um... Se... Se suponía que debía haber conocido a uno de mis parientes al norte de aquí, pero él nunca apareció. ¿Lo has visto? Se llama Cyrano Augustus Luminine.
When the captain comes out to admonish the guard, Jason turns to him and introduces himself and explains the reason for their sudden arrival.

ROFLMMFAO!  Don't blame me!  I can't control the diceroller or fudge the rolls made on it!

In reply to Jason Damien (msg # 10):

OOC: I think the only one of us that doesn't speak Spanish is Ethan. While my character does I do not at least not enough to read Spanish. Just saying.

I'm using Google Translate myself.

Captain Geraldo is a male Dwarf with a misshapen nose, short beard, muscular build (which is apparent on his shirtless body), shaved head, and scars and tattoos on his arms. He carries no weapons save for a heavy metal chain with silver weights around his waist. He says nothing more but points to a large silver mirror on the back of the security door.

The female guard answers, "Oh we haven't had the privelage of meeting many of your illustrious clan. We know them by reputation and of course by the word of clansman, Rozzo. The human in this part of the world call him Saint Rozzo, I think."

Kalista's jaw dropped at the welcome the Atlantean got. She murmured to her husband, "I've never seen that before."

Doc sits silently on his horse, his hands, as always very close to his pistols.

We are not so illustrious.  My House is a minor house within Clan Acheron.  But, thank you for the vote of confidence, he says to the  guard humbly.
Saint Rozzo?  I suppose I will have to meet with him after we finish our investigation.

The guard girl says, "Please do us the honor of coming underground and letting us show you Dwarven hospitality."

Geraldo rolls his eyes. One of the male guards moves over to Doc's side and asks (in bad Elven-Dragonese), "Mister Steel Archer, do you water your horse me want? Moon time soon." The flower girl move to the burros and begin unbuckling their packs.

Kalista tugged her husband's arm. She moved to follow the others into the Dwarven hall.

Geraldo nods with approval as Kalista passes in front of the mirror. "Come along the rest of you. Even if you have been here before, you still need to pass the mirror test just like any Hallfolk who leave the Hall. Madam Kalista and Mister Ethan, you know the way down."

It would be impolite to refuse such a request, m'lady, he says to the guard with a smile.  He follows his companions past the mirror, glancing at the somewhat dirty white toga.  It seems some of the silvery trim has a few loose threads, while the gray cloak looks quite well-travelled.  He nods at Captain Geraldo in greeting.
¿Cómo está esta noche, capitán?

Doc nodded, very efficient of the dwarves if nothing else. "that's a right clever idea, smart thinkin'." He will of course take the mirror test

Geraldo pretends that he did not hear the question from Jason (although he clearly did). He honors Doc with a nod almost imperceptible. "Welcome back, Lumberjacks -- and associate. The maidens will care for your animals. You might be pleased to know that the mother and child you saw the last time you were here are both doing well. As for the mirror, I don't know why we didn't think of it before. The priestess suggested it and had us carry it up here from the bath house. Too many of the youth were in love with their own reflections anyway, and the separation from their lovers will do them good." Geraldo seals the door behind them.

Geraldo follows everyone else down the long ramp towards the town below. Jason is being pulled along by the guard who now seems to have her hand permanently attached to his. She says, "Please tell us you will be staying for a long time, Clansman Iason."

The Atlantean cocks an eyebrow as the female guard takes him by the hand.  Um, well, I have a quest to continue.
He shrugs as they follow Lady Kalista and Ethan.  When it is complete, I may be able to return for awhile.  But, as an Undead Slayer, new quests always find me.  It seems that I am a magnet for trouble.  He pausea thoughtfully a moment.  Or, perhaps, trouble is a magnet for me.

As Ethan, Kalista, Doc, and Jason are escorted down the long descending hallway through three checkpoints, the guard says, "You hunt other undead monsters? That's amazing. Have you seen a Yemen? Please tell me all the monsters you have hunters. We know about vampires already, and we have that under control."

Geraldo chastises her, "We do not discuss our military tactics with outsiders, Valentina. -- even if they are friends."

Emerging into a large open cavern, all but Kalista and Ethan see the settlement for the first time. Cobblestone streets are topped with small stone houses and red clay tile roofs. Most of the houses are sized for Dwarven occupants, but a few human families are here as well. Electric lights illuminate a mariachi band (all Dwarves) in front of a small but ornate town fountain. Dwarven and human play soccer together in the winding streets. The interior of Harl Hall could be mistaken for a post card from Spain were it not for the looming carvings of fierce dragons in the fountains and on many roof corners. At the top of a hill, the large stone temple of Dragonright stands as the largest structure.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:30, Sun 22 Apr 2018.

Kalista asked politely, "May we visit the young mother? I've felt a special need to check in on her."

 Arulas follows behind having passed the mirror test that some vampire obviously passed as well. Well that or the far worse thought that the vamps dug into the dwarves refuge. "Tell me if this is over the line, but do you all have seismic sensors?"

I most recently fought a dimensional ghoul in hand-to-hand personal combat.  However, as they tend to be more mischievous and curious than wantonly dangerous, I let him go on the promise he would just fin d a graveyard somewhere to haunt, rather than continue working for the vampires.  A sad look crosses the young Atlantean's face momemtarily.  Unfortunately, he was killed anyway.
At the captain' s comment against dis ussing tactics, Jason nods his head solemnly.
I trained with a this minor psychic, Jason says as he turns back to the guard, who had boxes built into the bracers of his armor.  He would fill them with toothpicks.  He would use telekinesis to turn them into a weapon of last resort.
He seems impressed with the architecture and the inclusiveness of the hold.  You follow the Church of Dragonwright?

Geraldo shrugs when he hears the question from Kalista. "I suppose she's around here somewhere. If you and Doctor Ethan will follow me, we will find her. We don't have inns here, but it's getting late. You two may spend the night at my place while I am working through the night. The three bachelor gentlemen will need to make arrangements with the clergy to find them bunks for the evening." Without awaiting any confirmation, Gerlado veers off down a side street towards the healer's office. He expects others to follow him.

Valentina tells Jason, "Our founders converted to Dragonwright shortly before they rode the rifts to this new land. They eventually decided that it must have been the will of the dragon gods. She then answers Arulas' question. "Seismic sensors? Ha! That would be my bunk in the barracks. If I fall out it, I know that an earthquake has shaken the Hall. Psst, Clansman Ionson, does your companion have a fear of earthquakes?"

Jason arrives at front church door of a temple of Dragonwright, pulled the entire way by Valentina. A sizable crowd of curious dwarves and guards is following them now. I'll assume that Doc and Arulas are here unless they tell me otherwise.

A female dwarf in lizard-like scale mail armor appears from inside. She looks sternly at the boys. She addresses them, "What business brings outsiders to Harl Hall?" She speaks Elven-Dragonese with an unusual growling accent as if she were imitating a dragon.

P.S. That ghoul was lying to Jason to save his own hide. He was colluding with the Hole in the Neck Gang and helping with guard them during daylight hours.

Jason looks askance at the elves when Valentina explains how her bunk is a seismic sensor, glad she did not turn it into something lewd.
With an amused smile, he turns back to her.  Please, Valentina, call me Jason.  Everyone else does, he says with a soft chuckle.  I can see how that would tell you there's even an earthquake.
He pauses thoughfully.  Seismic sensors would also tell when large vehicles are getting close, if someone or something is tunnelling through the ground, or even let you know when there has been an explosion nearby, he says, mildly surprised that she knew about the sensors, considering the apparent level of technogy around them.
It is then they arrive at the temple. Kason watches as they are announced.  When the priestess steps out.  It is then that Jason gives a polite bow and introduces himself, and his companions, in Dragonese/Elven.  We are humble travellers, seeking a place to rest for a day or two before we continue on our quest.  He waves out his arm to group the two elves together.
My first companions and I have just come to your hall after dispatching most of them.  My current companions were staging from here earlier to go after the vampires, that my first companions and I had found.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

Doc shrugs, "Lady Knight says we needed to come back, so here we are." he says charmingly, with a smile.

I changed my mind. I know that I wrote that Geraldo was leading the newlyweds away. That did not happen. I decided to not sub-divide the party. Instead, Geraldo excused himself to go find the new mother. All the PCs are the front door of the temple.

Having been "introduced" Kalista takes a polite curtsy and begins speaking. "We uncovered a next of vampires a days ride from here. Many were dwarves. That alone is no reason to return to your halls. These vampires had a particular trait, double canines, which I've never seen before in vampire. I've been hunting and killing their kind for decades. I was reminded of a wound I encountered here in your halls. The young mother had such a wound on her ankle. I've heard of vampires who cast reflections, so your test may not be foolproof. I would ask permission to investigate this for the good of your colony."

Ethan was pleased that they had been able to enter the Dwarven hill. The mirror test was a clever idea, simple, effective and so much less fatal than say stabbing them through the heart with a wooden stake.

The combat medic was eager to see the mother and child, if not for precisely the same reasons as his wife. Yes, he was concerned that the odd mark on her leg might mean she had been a victim of a vampire attack but Kalista was certainly more qualified than he was to determine if there had been such an attack. More importantly, she would have a good idea on how to root out any hidden vampires and once found, destroy them. No his interest was that of a medical professional, eager to check in on the mother of the baby he had delivered. That eagerness extended to the baby as well. That dwarven baby had been the first non-human baby he had delivered and both from a professional and personal stand point, he wanted to see with his own eyes how the child was faring.

He had followed Geraldo, their guide, to the doors of the temple. He hoped that the dwarf would return quickly with the mother and child or at least good news of them. Ethan understood that their late arrival might mean they would not be able to see them until the next morning. “Then again if baby dwarves are anything like human babies, she will probably be up every couple of hours nursing the infant.”

The thought of the mother dwarf breastfeeding her infant made the medical doctor side of Ethan wonder what the chemical composition of her milk would be. Would it be identical to that produced by a human mother? Different but similar enough so that one could be substituted for the other? Or so dissimilar that they would be incompatible? Whatever the case may be, he was a trained chemist, including bio-chemistry. If he could get a sample, he was certain that after analyzing it, he could identify its chemical components. Once that was done, a synthetic formula could be produced. He had no idea if such a product would be of use to this community of dwarves but he resolved to ask when it seemed convenient. “Hopefully I don’t manage to offend them by asking,” he thought while he waited next to his wife.

The priestess listens to all three greetings with a perfect poker face. When Kalista mentions a concern of vampires here, she hears a few stifled chuckles from the crowd behind her. All this time, Ethan's eyes glaze over as he becomes lost in his own medi-nerd musings.

When a pause occurs, the priestess of Dragonwright says, "We are very secure in Harl Hall and require no rescue from outsiders. We have means that you do know, both practical and divine, of repelling invasions. If you must see the young mother to relieve your own minds, we will allow it. Our clergy is very busy tonight preparing for our Day of the Dead which begins in the morning. As guests, you may remain in the clergy's home, but you are not allowed to wander at night, and you may not invoke other gods while on church rock. Are these terms understood?"

About this time, Geraldo returns (yeah, that was quick actually). To not exclude Ethan, he speaks in American, "I found the lass. As I suspected, she's still at the healer's clinic. Healer's not there though. I'll escort you there, but be quick about it. I have my duties elsewhere."

The priestess says, (returning to Elven-Dragonese) "Commander Geraldo, we can escort the guests. You need not pull yourself away from your sentry any longer."

Geraldo: "Honor requires that see to our guests. Besides, they seem determined, and I won't be able to pry my pikewoman from that lanky boy's arm until he's done whatever it is he needs to do."

To the crowd, the priestess says, "Go home, all of you. The nightwatch needs the streets clear, and all good dwarves not the in the nightwatch should be in their beds. Go home!" With a abrupt turn, she retreats back into her temple and closes the heavy doors behind her.

 Arulas shakes his head when Kalista mentions the vampires being dwarves. Tact was never her way. "This just got harder" he thunks to himself.

Jason just reminded me of something through private message. I'll give him a chance to react to this new information.

Kalista bowed respectfully. "I understand, it is not our will to interfere with you or your way of life. We return out of concern for your safety. When it is alleviated, and at your leae we will depart as friends."

Jason looks about at his companions and the people around them.  He looks at the priestess, and her retinue, intently.  His jaw is set and he seems like he is on edge.  He gives Arulas a sidelong glance, muttering quietly to the Cyberknight in English.
Lady Kaliata is correct.  There's at least one present here.  Probably more.  H estands thoughtfully for a few moments.  Be ready.  I may be about to do something stupid.
Jason steps up towards the priestess, standing at his full height as he reaches up to his chest with his right hand, as if performing a salute, touching one of the Tattoos present as he focusses his will:  a Cross surrounded by other, smaller holy symbols of various sorts.  In Dragonese, he speaks in a clear, atrong voice modulated to be heard by all.
I am Iason Ianos Damianos of House Luminine, Atlantean Undead Slayer of Clan Acheron.

Time to invoke the Undead Slayer Horror/Awe Factor of 14.
Cross Surrounded by various Holy Symbols-60', 1 minute/level (3), Effect last 24 hours,
     15 PPE, As Spell Turn Undead.

This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Fri 11 May 2018.

Ethan nodded his head in response to the terse statement of Geraldo. "Thank you," he told the dwarf, "I just want to be sure she is recovering nicely from the delivery."

Jason than spoke in a confident, rather grandiose manner, taking Ethan's attention away from Geraldo. "I wonder what he is about?" he thought to himself. The combat medic wasn't concerned for he noticed no change in Kalista's posture, nor sensed any change in her emotions but he was glad he was at least wearing most of his body armor.

Where is the spell Turn Undead? I only know of the second level spell, Turn Dead.

The priestess takes a step back from this hostile-appearing gesture. She gasps and clutches her dragon-art-covered bracer with her other hand. She does, however, stand her ground after that first half-step.

Jason notices the runes on her bracer for what might be the first time. That piece of armor looks an awful lot like a genuine rune item to him.

In reply to GM Zaboem (msg # 39):

Kalista subtly stepped between her husband and the dwarves. She whispered, noting the confusion on his face. "Jason is from a group who train all their lives to face and slay vampires. The tattoos he bears are a magical arsenal, like the once on my neck on more prolific and powerful. He is a master of this and I, with all my experience, am a mere novice in his eyes. You would do well to heed his warnings."

  "Blood and ashes. Bloody and bloody flaming ashes." is all the elf says as he manifests his psi-sword and drops into a fighter stance. "So should we assume one of them is a vampire? Which one though?"

Jason looks at the priestess intently for a moment, then looks around at all of those gathered around them.  He knows there are vampires present, he can sense the presence somewhere amongst them.  Now, if he can just recognize the bloodsuckers....

Utilize psionic power Sense Evil.  Also has Sixth Sense.
11:08, Today: Jason Damien rolled 62 using 1d100.
11:08, Today: Jason Damien rolled 14 using 1d100.
11:08, Today: Jason Damien rolled 92 using 1d100.
11:08, Today: Jason Damien rolled 98 using 1d100.  Recognize vampire by sight.

The view has not changed since the last time Jason attempted to recognize a vampire. His sixth sense isn't a factor because no hostile intent has been taken towards him. The Sense Evil should tipped him off -- except that the auras and supernatural evil around are somehow hidden from such automated warnings. Now that he is focusing on it,...

Jason feels the presense of a small number of supernatural evil being inside the temple in front of him. They feel like a steep pit to his spirit, threatening to pull him in.

Arulas & the Newlyweds see mostly the crowd reacting to the action of Arulas. Human and Dwarven children rush forward for a closer look at his sword only to be snatched away by their parents and other adults. Geraldo unhooks the chain around his belt.

Jason turns to the captain.  Capitán Geraldo, debe llevar a estas personas a un lugar seguro y llamar a sus guardias de inmediato. Hay vampiros en el templo.
He pulls a metal and wood shotgun from the sheath attached to his hardsided backpack.  Water can be seen to drip from the barrel as he holds it up.

Doc remains quiet, watching everything carefully, his hands ever near his pistols, the silver loaded revolvers to be specific.

Gerlado wordlessly strides towards Jason, chain in his hands. From the look on his face, he is not pleased. Before he reaches the Atlantean, however, Jason gets tackled by Valentina. She doesn't knock him over, but she does squeeze him tight about his midsection and says, "Do not hurt Senor Jason!"

Doc clearly sees the priestess (Who is she? I guess nobody ever got her name.) back into the temple of Dragonwright. She tries to close the heavy church doors behind her.

Adults are now pulling the children away from the Lumberjacks and indoors. Specifically, they are looking at Arulas' blade as they drag kicking kids. Ethan gets splatted in the side of his face by a large moist mushroom thrown by someone in the crowd.

When Valentina hugs Jason, she discovers rockhard muscle beneath his clothing.  His abs and pecs are like steel.  When she initially tackles him, there is no give, no movement at all.
Scanning those around them for a vampiric target, the Atlantean repeats what he said in Dragonese:  There are vampires in the temple!

If he finds a vampire, he will fire the water shotgun at him, making a called shot for the heart.  If there is no vampire, then he will fire it at Geraldo to show that noone but vampires are in danger from it.
20:31, Today: Jason Damien rolled 4 using 1d6.  ×10 HP.
20:31, Today: Jason Damien rolled 19 using 1d20.  Called shot with water shotgun.
20:30, Today: Jason Damien rolled 4 using 1d100.  Recognize vampire on sight @ 36%.

Doc doesn't fire, but begins to move towards the temple doors where the priestess ran, his revolvers appear in his hands as if by magic, "Reckon we best get about doin' what needs done then."

Kalista tried to restore order, "Please everyone be calm. We will not put any innocents in jeopardy. You have my word as a Knight of Lord Coke."

Everything had happened, was still happening, with remarkable speed around the combat medic. He was none too sure of what exactly was going on but whatever was occurring, now was not the time for contemplation.

To that end, Ethan ignored the earthy smelling liquid that was now running down his right cheek. He heard his wife call out to the bystanders for calm but he didn’t add his voice to hers. It was true he was an Officer and if his Officer Evaluation reports were anything to go by, he was a good one. He was also quietly proud of his bed side manner and the way in which people usually responded well to him when he spoke. None of that mattered in this moment however as it seemed only a few of the dwarves spoke “American” and he didn’t speak Spanish. What’s more, his wife’s command presence and voice were not wanting either.

Instead Ethan focused on what he could do in that moment that his wife couldn’t. He concentrated and a nearly invisible force field sprang into existence. It took the form of a tunnel or tube stretching from where he and his wife stood all the way into the partially open temple doors, preventing them (hopefully) from closing.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:21, Thu 17 May 2018.

  "Geraldo there are two ways this goes. The first you help us find these leeches or you get in the way. Vampires can not be trusted. I understand the need to believe the best case scenario, but at least one of the dwarves in that church is a vamp. I don't want to have to fight anyone but the damned bloodsucker. So please at the very least don't get in the way." Arulas says to the commander of the Guard. To the local folks he just says "I do as I must to protect your innocents. I don't do this because it is right or just or anything but to protect those who can not protect themselves. I have very little choice here." To Jason he says "You had better be right Sir or you and I will dance because we put innocents at risk."

  He pauses and looks to Ethan. "Once we are in dome as much as you can of the church. I would like as few collateral chances as possible."

My people have fought the vampires for so long that we can sense them, and we cannot be made into them, Sir Arulas, the Atlantean says through gritted teeth.  Whether vampires or not, there is evil in that temple.

  "Good then we have no reason to dance. We have just recently met and I am placing a lot of trust in this ability of yours mostly because Kalista trusts you. Having never met your kind I wouldn't know that." he says

It seems to me that both Doc and Ethan are trying to prevent the temple door from shutting, and the priestess is hurrying to shut that door. I made some initiative rolls to determine what happens first. Doc's quickdraw doesn't apply here. As best as I can tell, none of the three characters have a bonus to Init.

03:26, Today: GM Zaboem, for the NPC prietess, rolled 16 using 1d20.  init.
03:26, Today: GM Zaboem, on behalf of Ethan, rolled 3 using 1d20.  init .
03:26, Today: GM Zaboem, on behalf of Doc, rolled 6 using 1d20.  init.

The temple door slams shut in Doc's face. His boot knocks against the heavy wooden planks where he tried to stick his foot into it. He hears a latch close on the other side.

Meanwhile, Kalista addresses the mob. Her commanding voice definitely grabs the attention of this crowd. Her words seem to defuse any further incidents of food wastage. The crowd is watching wearily now instead of disbursing.

Without a vampiric target in his line of sight, Jason sprays water at an already ticked-off dwarf. Geraldo's face twists into a gargoyle-like vision of anger. With the maiden around his waste, Jason is unable to dodge what happens next. Geraldo swings his chain around Jason's neck in an upside-down U shape. He pulls Jason down to face level with himself and says, "Chico, entregarás todas tus armas ahora o te enterraré bajo esta colina."

Ethan nods a confirmation of Arulas' instructions for after they get inside. Neither of them yet have a clear target.

Jason ducks his head down so the chain slips over off, growling at the dwarf at the same time.  ¡Hay mal en ese templo que has permitido que se pudra y se alimente de tu pueblo! ¡Ayúdanos a ponerle fin!  ¡Haz tu trabajo!

OOC:  In his defense, noone said Jason had to relinquish his weapons.

Doc mutters a few curse words, "Figurin' the one we need done got in here and locked us out folks."

Ethan frowned at his inability to prevent the temple doors from closing. He simply hadn't reacted fast enough. "Well I can at least keep bystanders at bay," he thought. He concentrated again and the tube of force vanished to be replaced by a trio of high walls. The walls formed a opened sided box with the open end anchored on the doors of the temple.

  "Now I refuse to ask more than once and my patience isn't very high right now. So give us the vampires or whatever supernatural predator is inside. You have 1 minute and I will come in and I really don't want to desecrate a holy building anymore than it already has." he yells loud enough to be heard inside and the crowd hears him asking for them to surrender.

The members of the crowd shake their heads and rub their eyes as their view suddenly becomes distorted by the mostly transparent wall in front of them.

Geraldo spins around, turning his back to Jason. "You! Your patience! The Lumberjacks told me that they came here to see the mother and child! I do not know this brash youth with his long claims of honored heritage and vampire slaying, but I took you as someone with better sense, Sir Arulas! Take control of your man-child, now! I want him disarmed by you, and you will be held directly responsible for his actions. Do that, and I will unlock the temple door and show you that there is nothing to hide within. Otherwise, I will teach him respect by public flogging -- or by the scaley gods I will die trying!"

Kalista marched up to Geraldo, hands out and fingers spread to show she had no weapons. She spoke Spanish, "Sir, this man is an Atlantean Undead Slayer. I trust him. I personally vouch for him. Please accept my word as a Knight of Coke that this man means you no harm, unless you are a vampire." She knelt. "Take me as hostage while he does his work. If he harms an innocent, my life is forfeit."

 "Fair enough if it gets me into that building and I can prove my claim of evil or vampires he gets his weapons and an apology. I will hold his weapons." He says to Geraldo. Turns to Jason and says "Hand the weapons over Jason. It speeds this up a bit. Geraldo could be a staunch ally for various reasons."

 He looks at Kalista "Do you really think Ethan, Doc, or myself is just gonna let him kill you if Jason wings an innocent with an errant wood chip?"

Kalista glanced Arulas, "Yes. It would be his right under the code, my faithful pupil." She is playing the squire card, something she rarely does.

Ethan had thought for sure that violence was imminent but it seemed that, for now at least, there would be no fighting. He was glad of that but considerably less than glad over the words of his wife. "Damn it," he thought as he stood there, alternating between watching the crowd and Geraldo, "I know how important her code of honor is to her but if that dwarf tries to touch a hair on her head..."

He let that thought fade away for following it to its conclusion would lead to nothing good. Instead he entered the conversation for the first time. "No one living has been hurt and it can stay that way, it will stay that way, if we can just focus on the search for the vampire." Ethan unclips his laser rifle from the single point harness and sets it down on the ground. The laser pistol from the drop-down holster on his right side is next. Finally his vibro-knife joined the small collection of weapons. "All I have left is the scalpel in my aid-bag," he says to Geraldo. "Technically true," he thought to himself. "It's not like my...abilities are coming from a physical device. I couldn't leave them behind even if I wanted too."

"I can't say I am thrilled at the idea of facing a vampire unarmed but if that's the only way you'll let us in," he shrugs, then looks at Kalista. "I'll be right back," he tells her, then dons his helmet before turning away to face the temple doors.

Si me hubieran dicho que me desarmara, lo habría hecho.  He begins to unholsters his Wellingtom auto-pistol, his Wilk's rifle and pistol, the TW sawed-off shotgun, his quiver and his bow.  He sets his weapons on the his survival pack or leaning against it.  Except for the pump shotgun.
Esta escopeta solo dispara agua y no herirá a nadie excepto a los vampiros, así que lo mantendré.
He reaches into a pouch on his belt to bring out a portable digital disk recorder.  Siento vampiros en su medio, y un gran mal dentro de su templo. No puedo decir que sean uno y el mismo, pero lo más probable es que lo sean. Capitán, si usted y su guardia desean venir como testigos, le doy la bienvenida a su presencia.
He opens the PDDR and looks at, closing it with a satisfied smile, as he collects the TW water shotgun.



Not Atlantean, Greek.  Don't know why....  Also Apache and Gobblely.

The scowling dwarf nods an knowledgement towards Kalista and  stomps around her towards the temple door. He makes a point of stepping over the various weapons on the ground. "Valentina, pick these things up before a child does."

He places a single link of his chain into a disguised hole in the door. With a twist, a heavy bolt can be heard releasing. Geraldo pushes the door with his free hand and swings it open.

Doc waits, semi patiently, for him at least, his fingers twitching at the handles of his revolvers.

Still under the effect of the Cross Tattoo, Jason steps through the doorway with the water shotgun in hand.  He looks around to see if anyone is present.
11:04, Today: Jason Damien rolled 36 using 1d100.  Recognize vampire on sight @ 36%.
11:03, Today: Jason Damien rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Initiative and sixth sense.  Forgot to change modifier on Dice roller.
11:03, Today: Jason Damien rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Perception.

Stays outside as hostage.

  Arulas shakes his head at Kalista's gesture. Then he heads in. Eyes scanning for trouble and trying to find anyone and anything. He is as alert as he can be. His psi-sword igniting the darkness around him and making the room somewhat brighter.

Inside the Temple of Dragonwright
Geraldo looks around the gloomy interior. Jason enters behind him and then Arulas (into Room 1 in the map below). The Cyber-knight's weapon does indeed offer some much needed illumination. Doc is positioned in the doorway, looking inside with his hands on his holstered revolvers. Ethan is standing shoulder to shoulder with Doc. Kalista is outside at a flat area on the top of the temple staircase with the guard, Valentina.



Geraldo shouts, "Who turned out the torches? The oil lamps of dragon-gods should always burn!"

A figure in the gloom appears from behind a small altar. The priestess answers, "I did this as a precaution, you old fool. Why did you let these strangers inside the sacred temple? We were so close to realizing years of work. We could have ended our self-imprisonment under this foreign soil. You have invited in the death of a great dream, Captain Geraldo." The eyes of the priestess begin glowing with a strong red hue.

Yes, she is tripping every vampire-recognition, sense evil, and 6th Sense ability. She isn't even trying to hide it any more. The sound of scuffling sandals on stone floors alerts to movement on both wings as figures emerge from the darkness to the right and the left.

Initiatives and declarations, please

"Kalista is not going to like this," was the first thought that popped into Ethan's mind when the priestess revealed her undead nature. His first action was to activate his radio and announce over the team radio net "Vampires, Vampires!".


OOC - Today: Ethan rolled 1 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Well, that would be a given, Jason says as the familiar feeling of danger tingles through the back of his mind.  That is when the music begins to play from the PDD in his pouch, loud enough to be heard clearly despite being slightly muted.
The metal shotgun comes up as he works the pump action and he takes aim at the head of the priestess and squeezes the trigger slowly.  It bucks in his hand as a blast of water explodes from the barrel at her face.  Let's share a drink, bloodsucker!

Music playlist-Vampire Slaying:  Vampire Slaying Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playli...p_0tVZO7ZCebBNQsO3X_

10:11, Today: Jason Damien rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Water Shotgun Blast-Called for head of Priest for 60 HP.
10:09, Today: Jason Damien rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Initiative and sixth sense.

Doc draws his pistols as fast as any elf ever has, and fires both silver bullet shooting revolvers at the vampire priestess.

  "Well I hate I told you so. So I won't but..." he drops to an attack stance and waits for the others to enter the fray. For surely the entire priesthood is in fact corrupt.

Groovy, I have the combat scene set up now.

INITIATIVE CHART
----------------
DOC 26
KALISTA 22
priestess 21
JASON 20
priest C 20
priest D 18
priest B 15
ARULAS 13
priest A 12
secret character beta 8
ETHAN 1
secret character alpha 1

I give the PCs the benefit of a tie for initiative, so amazingly Ethan is not dead last after all.

Doc must have been extremely ready for this fight. His draw would have made lightning bolts jealous. The cracking sound of his firearms echoes through the entirety of Harl Hall. Two bullets passed over the Dwarf Geraldo easily enough but narrowly wissed the ears of Arulas and Jason. They found their marks in the shoulders of the priestess. He shadow-wreathed silohette stumbled backward. Now that she knows someone is shooting at her, any further shots into the room from outside will require called shots. Please roll damage.

Kalista may take an action if she chooses.

The priestess ducks behind the cover of her marble altar. Jason loses line of sight on his target just as he brings his shotgun up to his eye.

Four male figures approach Jason and Arulas from flanking positions with super-human speed. Two males Dwarves in priestly robes approach Jason from one side, fangs growing within their maws. Two males (one Dwarf, one Human) in clerical robes of a more elaborate status approach from Arulas' side, their claws grasping at him. I am not actually certain what Arulas' bonus to initiative should be, so I might have shorted him a somewhat in this roll. Both Arulas and Jason may make attacks against these monsters as their weapons have better reach before the claws dig into armor.

Ethan sends a radio transmission which is answered only by static. The depth underground might be blocking the transmission and any possible response -- or maybe the vampires hired a gremlin to vex him, who knows?

Valentina clumsily drops some of the gear she's holding in response to the gunfire.

Jason turns towards the dwarven vampires heading towards him, pumping the shotgun before firing another blast of water from it, in the hopes of catching them both with the spread.  He then prepares to defend as they close in.

20:13, Today: Jason Damien rolled 6 using 1d20.  Automatic parry.
20:13, Today: Jason Damien rolled 16 using 1d20.  Automatic parry.
20:12, Today: Jason Damien rolled 2 using 1d6.  ×10 HP.  20 Dmg.
20:11, Today: Jason Damien rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Shotgun blast.

Unless released from her promise she will do exactly what she said she would, stay put and be a hostage.

In reply to Jason Damien (msg # 77):

That first priest was not expecting water from Jason's weapon. No attmept to evade was made. The spray hits him in his chest, and he stops his advance to recoil in pain. Priest A loses 20 MDC-hit points.

The next Dwarven priest manages to reach Jason. The Atlantean's last instant attempt to parry results in merely deflecting the damage to his own arm. The short vampire tears deep with his claws. 27 mega-damage

 Arulas does what he does best.
Since I am facing at least two opponents unleashing his full abilities.

  He takes several swings at both of the vampires and the dance is elegant. Spinning true death on these leeches is what Kalista honed his training for. His psi-sword comes and goes he manifests and unmanifests it in an attempt to distract his opponents. Some of his attacks are timed very well and some he mistimes, but he hits more often than not.
Six attacks in order 7,11,2,4,16,9 unmodified just doing what I can remember of his stats so +6 to strike.
Attacks 2 and 5 likely hit with a 17 and 22.
attack 1 and 6 likely hit as well with a 13 and 15
attack 3 and 4 likely missed with a 8 and 10
Damage is 1d6+10 I Believe Hit points.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Wed 27 June 2018.

The damage to his arm causes a grimace to appear on his face, but it does not prevent him from pumping and firing again, this time attempting to put the barrel under the chin of the vampire priest that is now in his face.
The music begins in earnest...

22:34, Today: Jason Damien rolled 9 using 1d6+7.  Automatic parry.
22:34, Today: Jason Damien rolled 10 using 1d6+7.  Automatic parry.
22:33, Today: Jason Damien rolled 2 using 1d6.  ×10 HP.  20 HP.
22:33, Today: Jason Damien rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Called shot with water shotgun.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Wed 27 June 2018.

Dang it, I apologize again. Work just will not stop calling me in. I don't want to short this battle, because it's the only one I expect to happen inside Harl Hall. This is your climax. Do we want to short hand it or not?

OOC I am here. lol. sorry, had a jiu jitsu competition and I got more involved than I thought I would... I'm ok with some hand waving. but whatever everyone wants.

I'm good either way.  I just would like an opportunity for the music to play, if possible.LOL

If this is my CLIMAX then please don't shorten it. No one likes short climaxes.

 ^_^

This made me giggle.

Ethan feared his radio message didn’t get through to the rest of the team when there was no answering reply. He felt certain that if Kalista had heard him, heard his warning about the vampire sneak attack, she would be storming the temple even now. Since she wasn’t here, swinging her sword in all her righteous fury, something had blocked his transmission. He was no communications expert but he doubted it had anything at all to do with the rocks because of just how short the range was to her. “Unless there is something in the rocks maybe? Something like iron ore or lead would do it...damn, that must be it.”

Since using the radio didn’t work, Ethan decided the old fashioned way would have to do. He turned to face the closed doors and held up his left hand, palm outward, directly facing the doors. A bolt of nearly invisible force leapt from his hand to strike at the doors.

OOC – Using a Force Bolt on the door to force it open.
Ethan rolled 4 MD using 1d4.  Force Bolt Damage.
Ethan rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Force Bolt roll to Strike with a D20 this time.

OOC Either way works for me. As for giggling you werent the only one Ethan. My bigger concern is getting the group back together and moving onto some more crunchy plot.

I understand the value if getting the party back together again too. Of everyone else wants to cut this combat short, I won't complain.

I would like to play out the action, but if you want to summarize it and wrap it up, I'm okay with that.  However, I must warn you not to deny the lady her climax.  That could be a good way to be murdered.LOL
I'm kind of disappointed no one has said anything about Jason's music.

1st Round, 2nd set of Initiatives

Doc holds his aim steady at the priestess and waits for her peak out again.

Kalista watches anxiously from a distance. She witnesses the temple doors (both of them) being knocked wide open by her husband's powers.

The cowering priestess words a statement in an unfamiliar hissing tongue.

Jason unloads another blast of water from his TW shotgun at his target's chin. The monster flinches as the trigger is pulled and gets hit in the shoulder instead. 20 more damage taken

Arulas has been holding his position, ready to strike at the two vampires who rush at him. They are not dodging either, their mistake. That damage stat is 1d6 x10, not 1d6 +10, right? Both priests take 50 points of damage. His psi-sword strikes for two devastating slashes. The vampires counter with a grasping claw attack and a bite, but both are rebuffed by the cyberknight's parries.


INITIATIVE CHART
----------------
DOC 26
KALISTA 22
priestess 21
JASON 20
priest C 20
priest D 18
priest B 15
ARULAS 13
priest A 12
secret character beta 8
ETHAN 1
secret character alpha 1
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:16, Thu 12 July 2018.

With quick pump of the water shotgun, Jason moves towards the vampire he had just shot.  With a powerful thrust, he attempts to drive the barrel into the bloodsucker's sternum just before unleashing a blast of water pointblank at the heart.
He then steps back to defend himself against retaliation.

02:28, Today: Jason Damien rolled 6 using 1d6.  ×10 HP.  60 HP.
02:28, Today: Jason Damien rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Called shot with water shotgun.  Into Heart
02:28, Today: Jason Damien rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Called shot to chest as blunt object.  Over Heart.

That last post was incomplete. It was a sort of I'm getting interupted-post what I've got now or lose it-situation. I didn't mean to exclude you, Ethan.

Jason gets attacked by the other two priests, both dwarves. The priest who has already taken damage from Jason's shotgun makes a merely wild slash with his claws. He seems less threatening somehow, and his eyes glow with less intensity. His slash comes so short that there is no need to even attempt a parry.

The other priest flanks to Jason's side and makes a more serious effort. Even with the edge that his sixth sense gives him, Jason is unable to parry this determined attack. Both claws gash at Jason's armor. 25 mega-damage

Ethan sees his blast knock the temple doors wide open. His eyes meet with those of Kalista for only an instant. Then, the noise of combat draws his gaze back to immediate dangers.

Kalista sees Ethan inside the temple. Then, with a yank, her wrist is grabbed. Valentina is attempting to actually drag the Sea Titan into the fray.

Lastly, Geraldo finally gets involved. With his chain unhooked and ready, he swings a silver weight at one end towards the only vampire which has thus far actually inflicted any damage, the priest clawing at Jason. The chain swings and wraps around the monster's neck, entangling it's target.

Kalista will fight against joining the fight.

Jason takes the claw attacks to his side with a pained grunt, choosing to ignore that priest over the one he faces at the moment.  He presses the attack, pushing the barrel of the shotgun forward into the vampire's chest as he works the pump action and fires another point-blank blast.  However, just as he fires, he stumbles slightly....

08:39, Today: Jason Damien rolled 29 using 1d20+9.  Automatic parry.
08:39, Today: Jason Damien rolled 27 using 1d20+9.  Automatic parry.
08:38, Today: Jason Damien rolled 4 using 1d6.  ×10 HP.
08:37, Today: Jason Damien rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Point-blank shotgun blast.

Seeing his wife resist being moved to the temple doors, Ethan decides she must not understand that they are under attack. He activates the built in loud speaker of his NEMA issue helmet and cranks it to the maximum volume of 80 decibels. "Vampires inside the temple! We are being attacked by vampires!"

Doc continues to wait for a shot at the priestess.

INITIATIVE CHART
----------------
DOC 26
KALISTA 22
priestess 21
JASON 20
priest C 20
priest D 18
priest B 15
ARULAS 13
priest A 12
secret character beta 8
ETHAN 1
secret character alpha 1

How exactly is Kalista resisting the efforts of Valetina?

The priestess peeks out from behind cover and is punished for it by crispy headshot. The priestess responds with super-human agility, avoiding the first shot. His second bullet manages to clip her as she disappears again behind her cover. Roll damage for 1 bullet, please.

Jason released another blast of focused water from his weapon. The vampire opts to turn and run. It dodges well enough avoid a punch but not a shotgun. This vampire is not missing all flesh from his torso leaving only a spine holding him together. he is in full retreat.

Both of the opponents attacking Arulas continue to press their own attacks, trying to overwhelm the Cyber-Knight. If his bonus to parry is +12 or better, he successfully parried both. If not, one claw strike gets through.

Arulas cuts at them both again, dealing less damage this time, but the vampires definitely look weak now.

I'm out of time, folks. I'll have to finish this tomorrow.

Kalista Will passively parry and dodge without making overt attack.

Jason fires another pumped blast of water into the back of the retreating vampire, hoping to see it fall in two pieces.
Spineless bloodsucker!
14:05, Today: Jason Damien rolled 4 using 1d6.  ×10 HP.  40 HP.
14:04, Today: Jason Damien rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Shotgun blast.

   Arulas grunts as a claw strike rakes his armor. His psi-sword slicing a finger off as the vampire's hand moves a little to slow.

+11 Parry are you kidding me! Lol.

 He responds with a new flurry of blows on the pair on him. However he elects to form a second sword to maybe end this that much quicker.
Gonna have to sit down and redo the numbers for Arulas.

Doc curses as his first shot just misses, but the second finds a home in the side of the priestesses head.

10:25, Today: Doc rolled 15 using 5d6.  silver bullet damage.

Me: Hey everybody, GM Zaboem is back!

voice in the wind: nobody caaaaareeesss

The priestess shrieks in pain, more from the painful sting of silver than from the damage inflicted by the shot Doc made.

The final Dwarven priest is the one caught in Geraldo's chain. It turns its attack towards the Dwarven captain. (This is the vampire who seems slightly different from the other in his eyes.) As Geraldo gathers his chi for a powerful kick, the vampire lunges at him. Geraldo attempts a duck but is caught by the fiend's wicked claws. Geraldo's blood erupts from the Dwarf's flesh.

It turns out that the Warrior Monk's abilities do not include anything that becomes MDC protection like in Ninjas & Superspies. Also, a superior quality Dwarven ball & chain grants no bonuses to parry. I had previously stated that Geraldo was bare-chested, and he just took a mega-damage attack to that bear chest. That's too bad because he was just about to inflict a ridiculous amount of damage using his Spirit Strike. We're going to use the Hit Location and Damage Chart from Page 359. Somebody roll percentage dice with no modifiers to determine what Geraldo the Grouch is losing. If he survives, he'll finally have something to complain about.

Ethan projects his warning, amplified by his suit's loudspeakers. "Vampires inside the temple! We are being attacked by vampires!"

Kalista witnesses an immediate reaction. The crowd gathered outside of the temple panics and screams. Apparently, they know enough English to understand what is happening.

END OF 3RD SET OF INITIATIVES

Jason sees the vampire priestess run.  But, he also hears the squelchy strike against Geraldo and sees blood fly into his field of view.  He turns, sees the downed captain of the guard, and the vampire looming over him.
STOP THE PRIESTESS!, he bellows as he pumos and fires a blast of water at Geraldo's enemy.  And nothing comes out, but a single, falling drop....
16:17, Today: Jason Damien rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Shotgun blast.  Natural 1.
15:37, Today: Jason Damien rolled 90 using 1d100.  Request by GM Zaboem.

n sees the bystanders immediately rush off in all directions. “I guess the do understand at least some English,” he thinks to himself as he turns to go back inside and assist the others. He didn’t wait for Kalista to enter for he felt certain that now that his lady wife and cyber-knight errant, knew of the vampires inside, she would be quick on his heels. No, he needed to return as quickly as possible to aid the team.

If Ethan arrives back inside in time to see Geraldo be struck by the vampire’s claws, he will slap a force field dome around Geraldo to prevent the vampire from doing anymore damage to the dwarf. The dome will have 200 MDC



Today: Ethan rolled 68 using 1d100.  determine what Geraldo the Grouch is losing.


PS I didn't see that Jason had rolled until after I did.

The vampire actually cut through Geraldo's abdomen and the claw exited out his back. The vampire pulled the blood-drenched claw free as Geraldo collapses in front of him. Even Ethan can not heal that.

INITIATIVE CHART
----------------
DOC 26
KALISTA 22
priestess 21
JASON 20
priest C 20
priest D 18
priest B 15
ARULAS 13
priest A 12
secret character beta 8
ETHAN 1
secret character alpha 1

At this point, some of the characters are using up their final attacks per melee.

Doc is still waiting for another his shot against the priestess, right? This is what I will guess unless a different action is posted.

The priestess remains hidden.

Jason fires a quick blast at the retreating vampire. The blast shears away most of it's flesh from it's back and the back of its head. The monster falls to the ground but continues to move, crawling into the shadows. Jason quickly pivots his shotgun towards his next target, the vampire who just felled Geraldo and shouts his warning.

Arulas sees both is his own opponents turn and run away from him. They are running in the opposite direction that Jason's target was running.

The only uninjured dwarven priest is standing before the falling body of Geraldo. With Geraldo's chain still around his neck, the monster gives into a frenzy and drops to its knees while opening his fanged mouth wide.

My wife is home. I'll get back to you guys later in the evening.

Arulas lunges and slashes at the retreating vampires.

I thought that Arulas was already using two psi-swords. That is why I was giving him two attacks every time his initiative came up.

With great speed, he slashes wide and catches both of his opponents in their backs. The taller of the (formerly a human) collapses and falls to the ground. The shorter (the dwarf-shaped vampire) staggers away towards the shadows, his head nearly severed at the neck and holding on by only bone and ligaments.

Ethan can see Geraldo collapse. His small dome force field smacks the hungry vampire in its surprised face.

In reply to GM Zaboem (msg # 107):

Per initiative round I get 7 actions. If I am dual wielding I get 14.

Is Arulas pursuing his opponent or turning to fight a different target?

OOC that is correct sir.

  It seems that the others have the issue well at hand. So pursuit would be best I think.

Ethan had seen enough death during his time as a NEMA soldier before his being flung into the far future, to know that Geraldo was gone. He didn't have to be an expert in Dwarven biology to realize that amount of blood loss, tissue and organ damage, meant the dwarf had likely been dead before he hit the ground. There was nothing, not his skill as a doctor or his new powers of healing, could do to change that.

What Ethan could do, was run toward the murdering vampire that had killed the dwarf, while creating a form fitting force field around himself.


OOC - Technically two actions and if allowed, that will use up all of my actions for this melee. The body armor force field has 200 MDC

INITIATIVE CHART
----------------
DOC 26
KALISTA 22
priestess 21
JASON 20
priest C DOWN!
priest D 18
priest B 15
ARULAS 13
priest A 12
shadow beast 8
Ethan 1
secret character alpha 1

Doc can swear that even over the sounds of shooting and screaming, he can hear the priestess mumbling something.

Kalista sees the crowd on the other side of Ethan's force field wall panicking.

The priestess jumps back upright. Doc sees in the dim light that her face appears somehow different. It reflects the light in a glossy way. Regardless, he fires off his first silver bullet quickly. I'm using an older to-strike roll that I don't think Doc got a chance to apply early in this combat. The bullet catches the Dwarven vampiress in her shoulder. The sound of shattering glass rings through the temple. The priestess staggers backwards. At the same moment, Doc feels a sudden stabbing pain in his own right shoulder. The sneak is using the House of Glass spell. Roll 5D6 damage for one bullet. This damage applies to both the vampire and to Doc's personal S.D.C.

Jason fires his magically enhanced shotgun at the vampire who just attacked Geraldo. And nothing comes out, but a single, falling drop....

Priest D continues to run away from Sir Arulas into the darkness.

Priest B is laying over Geraldo's body, leaning onto the force field which blocked his meal. He looks up and snarls at Jason. The vampire is guessing that the Atlantean is the cause of missing meal.

Arulas chases after the cowardly vampire. He leaps over the body of vampire that he just cut down. The elf's sixth sense warns him of a danger which he cannot see. Crossing both of his blades in front of himself, he manages to block the next blow. Out of thin air, a very long and hairy arm appears. The arm slaps into Arulas hard at torso level, knocking him up, back, and onto his back on the floor. The cyber-knight takes no significant damage, but he did get the wind knocked out of him. In the glow of his twin psi-swords, Arulas seems the looming figure of a giant. A Shadow Beast was hiding in the shadow of one of the pillars and waiting to ambush him there.

Priest A, now separated from his legs, attempts to crawl away from the Lumberjacks.

Ethan charges past Jason and Arulas. A warrior's look of righteous anger is in his face, and bubblesuit of shimmering force field is wrapped around his body. He's able to close the distance towards the vampire over Geraldo's body. Ethan didn't do a lot early in this round, so if you like, he can body block (tackle) his target before the vampire next takes an action. If that is the intention, just give me a to-strike roll.

END OF THESE INTIATIVES
Characters with actions left (which I think is every PC but Ethan) may get in some free hits now.

Reaching for his left forearm after dropping the shotgun, Jason slowly pulls a longsword that appears to be unsheathing from his arm with a sound of metal-on-metal ringing.  He looks the vampire over Geraldo directly in the eyes in an attempt to imtimidate the bloodsucker into either surrendering, running, fighting at a disadvantage.
Horror Factor 14, ot Trust/Intimidate at 60%.
01:43, Today: Jason Damien rolled 8 using 1d100.  Trust/Intimidate @ 60%.

The vampire fails that Save vs Horror Factor. He's already out of actions to take away, so I'll take away one of his actions in the next round and move him to the rock bottom of the initiative chart.

Reverting back to his training in hand to hand combat, Ethan's charge turns into a running tackle as he launches himself at the vampire. He knew his mortal strength was no match for a vampire's but this wasn't about strength. This was about momentum, leverage and weight. Since vampires didn't gain any more mass as a result of their transformation from living to undead, Ethan felt confident that, so long as he connected, he could send the vampire sprawling and gain at least a momentary position of advantage.

Today: Ethan rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Body Block/Tackle.

  Arulas doesn't wait to get to his feet to deal with the shadow beast. He attacks as he stands. Slashing with both swords as he rises into his fighting stance.

Doc staggers back, now he knew what his foes felt at his hands and that of his brother, it hurt too. Too much magic. "Somebody shut that little dwarf wench up! careful though... I shot her and I got hurt." Doc ducked for cover, unsure of how useful he could be in this fight, he searched for another target after checking his shoulder for damage.

As Ethan tackles the vampire that had struck down Captain Geraldo, Jason moves in with his Magic Tattoo Sword, attempting to strike around the soldier from the past, to wither stake or decapitate the bloodsucker.
23:10, Today: Jason Damien rolled 21 using 6d6+6.  MD.
23:09, Today: Jason Damien rolled 21 using 1d20+6.  Called shot to heart or neck, whichever won't hit Ethan.

Arulas slashes as his new opponent with both blades. The monsters tries to lean-dodge away from harm but fails in both attempts. The tower monster is dead before it hits the floor.

Had it been Jason, Ethan, or Doc who walked into that trap, it would have been much, much tougher. Arulas is using glow-stick weapons which automatically negate most of a shadow beast's everything. (MDC, strength, combat bonuses, powers, everything)

The retreating vampire spins on his heels and charges back into the fray against Arulas.

The other vampires are all out of attacks, but they do get their regeneration now at the end of the melee round. All vampires regain 5 hit points. Even the one which Arlas cut down is rolling over and beginning to move again.

Doc cannot see it under his armor, but he definitely has a gunshot wound in his shoulder. He can even feel the blood trickling down his arm as he leans against one of the pillars in the middle of the temple. The good news is that he has his choice of other targets. He doesn't have a clean shot for the vampire wrestling with Ethan, but he could shoot it with a called shot. He does have a clean shot at the halved vampire which was torn apart by Jason's shotgun and is crawling away. He does have a clean shot at the two vampires who are fighting Arulas.

Jason summons a sword from his magic tattoo. Which sword is it? He has three.

BEGINNING OF ROUND 2

INITIATIVE CHART
----------------
DOC 26
KALISTA 22
priestess 21
JASON 20
priest C 20 (on the floor and regenerating)
priest D 18
ARULAS 13
priest A 12
Ethan 1
spirit of the rune armor 1
priest B 0 (shot in half but crawling)

Doc lines up his next shot at the target of his choice. Please specify the target and whether Doc is using one gun or both.

Kalista can see enough of the conflict inside to see that the Lumberjacks have taken some damage. Doc looks like he is pain, and Ethan took a flying head-first leap at someone or something. Arulas cannot be seen, but Jason looks just fine. She also sees the panicking crowd running in every direction now. Some of the Dwarves will most certainly be hurt in the stampede.

The vampire priestess, now gleaming with a cloudy glass complexion under her robes, strides across the temple towards the melee.

Jason takes aim at the vampire tackled by Ethan. With Ethan over the smaller form (which was a Dwarf afterall), Jason has no clear line of attack at either the head nor the heart. He could stab at a leg or arm or maybe the monster's side. -- or Jason could try to roll them both over.

The vampire priest who had been previously struck down by Arulas sits up.

The sixth sense of Jason suddenly goes off warning the Atlantean of an impending attack. Small hairy bodies begin pelting his back (no damage yet). Rats are leaping off the sides of the pillars above him.

The vampire priest who ran from Arulas is now attacking the Cyber-knight. He strikes clumsily and is easily deflected by Arulas.

Ethan tussles with his own vampire. The vampire's fangs clamp down on Ethan's throat, but the shimmering field armors him and takes the damage in his place. 22 points of mega-damage. Ethan responds by planting his hand over the vampire's forehead, and focusing his energy into the vampire's flesh. It's reverse-healing in the most brutal and direct opposition to old Hypocrotes. Just a normal attack roll will do here.

The shot-in-half vampire continues to crawl away into the darkness.

Doc will fire at the two vampires battling Arulas, one gun for the each of them.

Unable to get a clear shot at the vampire's heart or neck through normal means because of Ethan being in the way, Jason decides to think outside the box.  Or, rather, strike from outside the box.
He moves in from the side as Ethan pushes down on the bloodsucker's to channel his psychic energy.  That's when Jason strikes.  He stabs into the vampire's side, just under the ribcage, and angles the blade towards the opposite shoulder to impale the heart through the intestines, stomach, and lungs.
Do I need a new roll, or cam we use the previously one?

Ordinarily, Ethan supposed, any sane individual would find it most disconcerting to be engaged in a wrestling match with a vampire. Especially one that seemed extremely intent on sinking its fangs deep into their neck. Fortunately for Ethan, he was still more than sufficiently outraged over the causal and brutal murder this vampire had just committed, that he just didn't care. Well no, that wasn't right, in point of fact Ethan did care since every second the vampire spent trying to tear out his throat meant another second Ethan was touching him. "Die you bloodsucking bastard!" was the only thought in Ethan's head and it was on continuous loop as the mutated combat medic focused the strange energies of his rift warped body.

Doc spins and blasts away at two targets. The silver bullet from his left gun hits the revived vampire in the back. The monster attempted to get out of the way but failed miserably. He collapses back onto the cold stone floor again. The right-handed gun shoots at running vampire but the vary monster manages to duck and weave out of the shot. The vampire who is charging Arulas managed to pull off a very difficult dodge but sacrificed a precious attack/melee to do it.

The priestess races across the temple as fast as her little dwarven legs will carry her. It's actually a little impressive that she is not tripping over her robes. Her glass feet clink each time they stab against the stone ground even through her sandles. She seems to be barreling towards <Jason> after he dropped low to stab from the ground. Dodge or counter-attack?

On the topic of Jason, he's near the floor stabbing at another vampire through it's soft abdonmen. The fiend snarls in pain. Jason thinks that he might have hit the monster's heart, but his medical knowledge is limited to first aid, so he isn't entirely certain. Some damage was definitely inflicted.

The running vampire again reaches Arulas. It grabs with claws and scratch and tear at the Cyber-Knight's armor. Arulas attempts to parry it away, but a sword is an impractical tool for a snarling monster. Curiously, this vampire seems more agile than its kin but not as strong. Only 11 mega-damage to Arulas's armor

Arulas, calm as a mountain, answers with an underhanded slash from the psi-sword in his right hand. The vampire amazingly weaves backward away from harm. Not surrending an inch of ground, Arulas stabs with his left arm against the Shadow Beast who is attempting to flank him. The psi-sword catches the tall monster under its chin and exits out the top of its skull. The shadow beast ceases fighting.

The vampire who is tussling with Ethan tries slashing at the medic's underbelly but finds more unseen barrier there. He settles for pinning one of the mortal's arms behind his back. 20 points of mega-damage

Ethan almost simultaneously sends a surge of anti-healing energy into the fiend's chest. Ethan's free hand on his target's chest, he feels the energy pouring out of him like it wants to escape. He can hear the crackle of his rift fill his ears. The vampire underneath him sort of desicates and collapses under his weight. It's flesh dries and crumbles away while its bones crack and splinter.

The crawling and legless vampire dissappears into a shadow behind a pillar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:10, Sun 19 Aug 2018.

With his sword buried in the vampire, Jason presses his advantage by pushing his sword even further into the vampire's torso, so he can make sure to get at the heart of the matter.
As the priestess comes at him, he attempts to use the skewered vampire to block her attacks.
02:17, Today: Jason Damien rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Automatic parry.
02:16, Today: Jason Damien rolled 17 using 6d6.  MD.
02:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 25 using 1d20+6.  Strike with sword.

Doc turns both of his revolvers on the remaining vampire near Arulas. It looks like I have been shorting Doc his full to-strike bonus. I've been rolling it as +2, but I think it's supposed to be something more like +4. An admirable attempt is made to dodge, but the creature cannot repeat its earlier bullet-dodging success. Both bullets strike their target in its robe. Arulas witnesses the fiend simply falling apart in front of him as the cursed body sort of gives up from excessive damage and collapses like a suicidal Jenga tower. Arulas is now standing between three unmoving bodies (two vampire priests and one shadow beast), none of whom are moving.

Kalista feels a punch to her stomach. There's no signficant damage, but Valentina the Dwarf seems very upset with her. "We're missing it!"

Jason feels a satisfying crunch as his blade pierces into the heap which used to be a vampire. He feels confident that he found the fiend's heart.

The halved vampire (shot in half by Jason) has disappeared behind a column now.

The priestess reaches the melee pile of combatants on the ground. She drops down claw-first towards Jason. The hunter pulls the vampire-cadaver upward as a shield, but it's a very awkward manuever, so he fails to not pick up Ethan who was on top. The priestess' claws tear into Ethan's force of armor but do not penetrate it. Another 15 points of mega-damage to Ethan

Doc grins, despite the pain in his shoulder, looking over at Arulas, "You're welcome boss, piece of cake." Doc then scans the room for another target.

OOC thanks boss, please keep things moving if I'm slow. Work is nuts right now.

Sorry, Ethan, Jason says as he continues the momentum of his swing so he can roll to his feet.  When the priestess comes at him again, he uses his sword to anchor himself as he comes up off the ground to launch a boot right into her face.
Then, without removing the sword from the vampire's heart, he goes on the defensive.
23:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 8 using 1d20+7.
23:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 10 using 1d20+7.
23:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 17 using 1d20+7.
23:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 13 using 1d20+7.
23:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 27 using 1d20+7.
23:15, Today: Jason Damien rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Automatic parry.
23:14, Today: Jason Damien rolled 11 using 4d6.  Critiacal Dmage.
23:14, Today: Jason Damien rolled 8 using 4d6.  Base damage.
23:13, Today: Jason Damien rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Kick the priestess.
Natural 20.

 "Thanks Doc." he says as he beheaded the vamps and shadow beast before moving on to the main event as it were. Normally he would draw the Thunderer, but it is with the rest of the surrendered weapons. So he waits for an opening at either of the vamps.

Beheading wouldn't take to long for a skilled combatant but the melee is rather close so yeah holding seems the smart move right now.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Mon 27 Aug 2018.

Kalista just shook her head. "Doesn't anyone know the meaning of 'hostage' these days?"

Doc spins around, searching for his next target. He finds none. The only hostile he can see at the moment is the priestess who made his shoulder hurt. Now that he's not focused on something else, his should really hurts by the way.

The glassy priestess snarls, revealing her fangs in all their fangy sharpess. With a swift kick from her short leg, she attempts to knock Ethan out of her way. She instead trips over the robes of the vampire that Ethan and Jason just vanquished. Natural 1 She falls backwards and lands on her rump.

Jason exploits the opening. Also from the floor, he spins himself around in a wide kicking arc and lands his heel directly on her face. The good news is that I will count this as a death blow, thus shutting down her ability to regenerate for 1D4 hours. The bad news is that her Glass House spell is still in effect, so Jason also takes 19 points of damage from his personal M.D.C., straight to his face.

Arulas completes his grizzly task of beheading his opponents. That took up three of your melee attacks, but you may do something else now if you wish. The Cyber-Knight knows that there was at least one vampire who got away, and the priestess is not going down easily.

Ethan is barely able to scramble backwards, avoiding the kicking and clawing fury which is errupting between the priestess and Jason. From here, he can re-engage and try hurting the priestess like he did the previous vampire. Otherwise, he can disengage and look for someone to patch up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:23, Sat 01 Sept 2018.

Landing upon his feet, Jason stumbles back as his nose flattens with a crunch.  Ow, he snarls at the pain.
He charges the vampire, grabbing her with his strong arms and spinning her around to trap her in a powerful bear hug to restrain her, without actually hurting her.
21:50, Today: Jason Damien rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Grapple the Priestess.  Pin/Incapacitate on 18+
This message was last edited by the player at 10:24, Thu 06 Sept 2018.

Doc points his revolver, his good shoulder, at the priestess, "There you o Kalista, hostage... I ain't shootin' her. Shit hurts, bad."

Ethan was as surprised as anyone that the vampire he touched had turned to dust. He didn't have any time to dwell on the matter though as the vampire priestess had launched a series of attacks on him. Thankfully his personal force field absorbed each blow, keeping him safe from harm, at least for the moment.

When Jason recoiled from delivering what Ethan knew to be a particularly vicious kick to the vampire woman's face, then saw the mirror image of damage appear on Jason, Ethan knew what he had to do next. Once Jason had the shorter vampire woman pinned, the combat medic reached out from behind the Undead Slayer to touch his right shoulder blade. Ethan concentrated and sent some of his healing energy into the tattooed man's body, greatly accelerating the natural healing process.

 Arulas merely grunts and starts walking towards the edge of Ethan's dome. Hoping that the barrier still stands to prevent the vampire from escaping "Fang face oh stupid fang face. I am waiting oh stupid fang face please try something stupid fang face. I mean I have seen rocks with more brains than you!" He taunts as he walks slowly towards where he last knew the vampire was.

Although she still stood where she had been the entire time, Kalista radiated relief and joy at Ethan's continued life. She smiled but did not interfere in any way.