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.