Dr. Wayland shrugged slightly in response to the Ranger's admission and said quietly, "Frankly, Ah find her honesty and candah quite refreshing...  Does not mince her words a'tall."

23:06, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 2,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Agility!

23:06, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 5,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Notice!

09:46, Yesterday: Patrick Garrett rolled 4,4 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Notice.

09:47, Yesterday: Patrick Garrett rolled 1,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Agility.

09:51, Yesterday: Lena Bauer rolled 1,11 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+5)11.  Notice.

09:51, Yesterday: Lena Bauer rolled 5,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Agility.

The right side of the ranch house’s front door explodes into splinters. As it flies open, several more holes are blown through the polished wood, sending splintered pieces of pine flying in every direction. This is accompanied by a roar, the sound of gunshot after gunshot in rapid succession.

The members of the posse all react quickly enough to clear the doorway, avoiding the lethal storm of lead. As they move, several of the riders get a glimpse inside; a wide hallway, finely furnished; a broad stairwell leading up to railed landing. And at the top of the stairs, a Gatling Gun, its operator flanked by a rifleman on each side.

”Seems like Mr. Murphy’s pretty serious about keeping out unwanted visitors,” Garrett calls out over the din.

OOC: Everyone give me a fresh initiative draw.

For reference, from the front door, the Gatling operator and his two companions are at medium range and behind light cover.

Dr. Wayland ducked to the side and braced against the destructive onslaught of the Gatling...  He quietly considered his life choices which have lead him, again, to being on the wrong end of a full-size Gatling...

Initiative: KS

00:09, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland drew the 2 cards: KS, 2D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative draw with Level Headed.

Bryan uttered a few coarse oaths in English and one in Cantonese as he ducked to the side.

"Well, he's racking up a list of crimes here, Sheriff. If there are enough left standing your jails will be full to bursting. Might even get some bounties outta this expedition, Doc."

OOC:

At this rate, I will have to pay the piper when we get to Murphy and I draw a 2 of Clubs.

20:32, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: BJ! using a deck of 54 cards.

Marshal: About how far are we from the gunmen in terms of movement?

This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

09:28, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Kansas Kate, drew the single card: 5C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

09:51, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 5D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

09:53, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 5S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Gunmen.

Seriously? Now all I need is a pair and I’ve got a Full House.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Bryan Lee
KS - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
5S - Gunmen (Gatling Operator, Rifleman)
5D - Allies (Garrett, Bauer)
5C - Kansas Kate

For reference, from the front door, the Gatling operator and his two companions are at medium range and behind light cover. Each gunman has a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 5.

To speak in tabletop terms, from the front door to the top of the stairs when the Gatling Gun is positioned is a distance of 20 inches/paces.

Your turn, Ranger Lee.

Bryan didn't particularly care for shooting folks. He acknowledge that firearms were a tremendously useful tool in the realm of survival and law enforcement alike, but for his personal tastes it removed him too far from the doing of the violence itself. He would prefer in all cases that things be done peaceably, but the personal nature of hand to hand combat was such that it would make him think twice about it.

But he knew when a tool was the best thing for the job, and he couldn't close the distance between himself and the gunmen without getting poked full of holes, and so he pulled out his Dragoon and fired a shot at the individual operating the gatling.

Once he struck his target he moved for the closest cover he could find.

OOC:

Bryan shoots the Gatling operator, then he will try to find a place to get some cover.

Shooting: 5 (3 [Dice] + 3 [Red Chip] + 2 [Joker] - 2 [Range] - 1 [Cover])
Damage: 9


12:04, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Red Chip.
10:35, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 1,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Shooting.
12:12, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 9 using 2d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Colt Dragoon Damage + Joker Damage Boost.

23:27, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: 4D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 05:30, Thu 05 Nov 2020.

Lee’s shot strikes the Gatling operator just below the cheekbone, snapping the man’s head back and sending him stumbling backwards. He only manages a few steps before he collapses on his side, blood oozing from his mouth and nose.

OOC: Two riflemen remain on the balcony. The Gatling gun is currently unmanned.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Bryan Lee
KS - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
5S - Gunmen (Gatling Operator, Rifleman)
5D - Allies (Garrett, Bauer)
5C - Kansas Kate

For reference, from the front door, the two riflemen are at medium range and behind light cover. Each gunman has a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 5.

Your turn, Dr. Wayland.

Dr. Wayland stepped away from the wall, just a bit, and certainly not out into any lanes of fire.  Just to give him enough room to perform a rather odd clog dancing maneuver involving a patterned heel-toe move, followed by a hard stomp with each booted foot.  Gears whirr and springs uncoil...  A pair of springy steel "blades" snap out from his pant legs and lift him up from the ground.  As he rises, he bends his knees in a curious bouncing, bent crouch.  With his new, longer, weirdly bouncy stride, the Doctor maneuvered back next to the door...testing the balance...  Obviously getting ready to charge in...

Activating Speed Device - Success and Raise.  Speed Doubled and Run as a Free action.

Next Initiative - AH

00:17, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland drew the 2 cards: 10D, AH using a deck of 54 cards.  Next Card(s).

00:04, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 20,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+4)20,1.  Weird Science - Terrestrial Locomotion Enhancement!

Bauer watches Dr. Wayland's legs sprout the strange, steel devices. She blinks, opens her mouth, then closes it, returning her attention to the shooters inside the house.

One of the riflemen dashes over to the Gatling gun, getting behind it and aiming it once more at the house's front entrance.

The other rifleman on the landing fires at the open front door, the bullet blasting splinters of pine from the door frame.

08:52, Today: Marshal rolled 1 using 1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Shooting - Rifleman.

Bauer fires a shot at the shooter behind the Gatling gun, but her bullet ricochets off of the metal body of the large weapon.

08:56, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 2,1 using 1d8-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4.  Shooting.

Garrett also fires at the Gatling gunner, managing to graze the man's shoulder. The rifleman yelps in a combination of surprise and pain.

08:57, Today: Patrick Garrett rolled 5,1 using 1d10-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 8,4.  Shooting.

08:59, Today: Patrick Garrett rolled 6 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Damage.

The rifleman at the Gatling gun is shaken.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Bryan Lee
KS - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
5S - Gunmen (Gatling Operator, Rifleman)
5D - Allies (Garrett, Bauer)
5C - Kansas Kate

For reference, from the front door, the Gatling operator and his two companions are at medium range (for pistols) and behind light cover. Each gunman has a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 5.

To speak in tabletop terms, from the front door to the top of the stairs when the Gatling Gun is positioned is a distance of 20 inches/paces.

The rifleman behind the Gatling gun is shaken.

Your turn, Kansas Kate.

"Ah, ya gots me a present!  Ain't ya'll sweet!  Ya'll be careful an' don't hit mah new Gatlin' Gun now!"

Kansas Kate's levergun pivoted on, well, its lever.  She didn't like to do that, do it too often and you could damage the mechanism.  But sometimes you had to get the right gun into play fast.

The shotgun hit the deck, she'd only thought it would get her in the door maybe, and well, here she was.

Quick draw the old Winchester!  Kansas Kate has the power of carrying All The Guns!  But But she only has a logical way to carry the two, so I'm going to say she just drops the shotgun in the dirt, since that was sort of the plan anyway.

Assuming a -1 for the cover:

14:08, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 4,0 using d12-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1.  Precision Pew.

Should be a hit juuuust barely.

14:10, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 22 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(8+8+1)17.  .44-40 or Fight.

lol so all my disappointing damage rolls have been corrected at once

14:11, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: 6S using the Deadlands system.  Pick a Card Any Card.

"Hey peckerless!  Get off 'ah mah prop'rty!"

As the rifleman behind the Gatling gun struggles to shift the weapon’s aim, Kansas Kate’s rifle cracks. The gunman freezes, looking down as blood begins to spread across the left side of his chest. His face frozen in an expression of shock, he slumps across the Gatling gun, unmoving.

Those on the porch hear the rush of footsteps from behind. Looking back, they see Tamsin River running to join them, the herbalist’s sleeves stained with blood from injuries she has attended to elsewhere in the battle.

16:29, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 10D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

16:30, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 10S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Rifleman.

16:37, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Tamsin River, drew the single card: 3D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Initiative Order

AH - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
10S - Rifleman
10D - Allies (Bauer, Garrett)
6S - Kansas Kate
4D - Bryan Lee
3D - Tamsin River

For reference, from the front door, the remaining rifleman is at medium range (for pistols) and behind light cover. The gunman has a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 5.

Dr. Wayland, you have the floor.

Having waited for a pause in the exchange of fire, Dr. Wayland suddenly ducked through the bullet riddled doorway.  Half bounding, half running, the bounty hunter sprang down the foyer for the stairs; which he reached with surprising speed.  Another bound took him half way up to the landing where the gunmen had been firing.

At some point during the run, Wayland had drawn a derringer.  He leveled the tiny pistol on the final gunman as he closed in and fired...


Move total - 17" which should put him 3" from the last gunman.

Derringer shot - 7 to Hit, 11 Damage + 5 SBT

Active Power - Speed - Doubled Move + Free Run Action.  19/20pp Round 1

Next Round Initiative - 10D

22:29, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland drew the 2 cards: 10D, 4D using a deck of 54 cards.  Next Initiative Draw.
22:28, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 11,5 using 2d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,3,5.  Regular Damage + SBT Explosion.
22:27, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 5,2 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4.  Derringer Shot!
22:23, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Free Running.

”I swear, some people are only alive through sheer stubbornness,” she says as she runs up. She’s out of breath and bloodied (not hers), but she’s alive. She gets her Colt Lightning ready just in case. ”Did I miss anything interesting?”

Moving with great strides and surprising speed, Dr. Wayland ducks inside the bullet scarred entryway, bounding up the stairs before the lone rifleman can react. As the guard tries to shift his aim to the bounty hunter, Dr. Wayland levels his derringer at the man, shooting him precisely between the eyes.

A momentary silence overtakes the hall, the pause giving those who have sought entry the opportunity to take in their surroundings.

On the hall’s lower floor, two pairs of double doors stand ajar to the east and west. The eastern doors lead into what appears to be a well furnished sitting room, while to the west, the doorway opens into a dining room, which is dominated by a long polished oak table. The entry hall itself holds several pieces of handmade furniture; a hall tree, writing desk, serving table, and two sofas, each upholstered with deep blue fabric. Partially concealed behind the wide staircase are another pair of double doors, which are closed.

On the landing are a trio of doors, evenly spaced apart, all closed. At the eastern end of the landing, a hallway leads northward, deeper into the house.

At the moment, the house is still. From outside, the posse members hear a powerful chorus of howls from the north, their volume suggesting that they belong to a sizable pack of wolves, a gathering which is quickly approaching.

OOC: Combat halted (for now).

I will do my utmost to put together a map of the ranch house’s interior before the weekend is over.

"Ah suggest we get our asses in, an' do what which we can ta keep theirs out."  Kansas Kate suggested, almost casually.  "Lessen' ya wants ta funnel 'em in through here an' turn that Gatlin' on 'em."

"Miss River, if you wouldn't mind taking a look at the Sheriff and the Deputy, I'd be much obliged. I believe they've taken harm. But let's all get inside first and fortify this place best we can. Like Kate said, better to be indoors than out. We faced off against these wolves on the way here to Lincoln. If I recall, Mr. Garrett heard a voice encouraging them to attack us, so I've got no doubt they're here for us," he said.

"If you don't mind, Kate, might not be a bad idea to secure that Gatling. You're like to be a better shot with it than I am. Better one of us is in control of it than anyone else."

Moving in, he looked both east and west to see if there were any threats easily visible in either the sitting room or the dining room.

OOC:

Notice: 5

15:14, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.

She started to bellow.  "Ya gotta say th' whole- ah never mind."  However it quickly trailed off, very uncharacteristically.

The outlaw figured that meant the plan was to funnel them in to the same trap, so she checked the Gatling gun, checking its ammunition supply and general readiness.

Once the final rifleman was down, Dr. Wayland returned his derringer to whatever secure vest pocket/holster he hides it in.  He reached down and made a few quick adjustments to the apparatuses strapped to his legs.  Once down, a quick two-step stomp locked the springs back into their places and himself to his normal height.

By that time, likely, Kate was joining him on the landing.  As she began to look over the machine gun, the bounty hunter watched for a few moments....trying to determine just how much familiarity the gunfighter has with mechanized guns.  Other than that, he would ward the landing with his lightning gun, keeping especial eye on the landing doors and the upstairs hall...

Kansa Kate finds the Gatling gun in good order, noting that it has been carefully maintained. She estimates that the weapon still has around sixty rounds loaded. Glancing down, the outlaw notices that the gun is attached to an elaborate trap door mechanism that appears to allow the weapon to be stored (and concealed) within a portion of the landing floor.

Watching the nearby doors and hallway closely, Dr. Wayland does not see, or hear, any new foes emerge at the moment, though the bounty hunter is entirely certain that enemies are very close at hand.

Aside from the lingering scent of cigar smoke, Lee discovers nothing of interest in the sitting room, the polished furnishings and wine colored wallpaper lending the spacious chamber an atmosphere perfect for plotting and negotiation. The dining room, similarly appointed, shows signs of neglect, dust clinging to most of the visible surfaces. However, the lawman’s eyes are immediately drawn to the center of the wide table that fills most of the space. A metal box has been placed there, its exterior crafted of hammered iron, its dull surface interrupted by a square grate, through which Lee can see sporadic bursts of blue sparks. On the device’s side, the handle of a crank turns slowly, seemingly moving of its own volition. The ranger can hear a low, steady hum coming from the strange square.

Garrett joins Kansas Kate and Dr. Wayland on the landing. Downstairs, Bauer uses a bandanna to wipe blood from her wound as she approaches the doors hidden behind the staircase. Pausing, she presses her ear to one of the doors, listening intently.

Outside, the howls and barks grow louder.

"Well, ain't mah ushyul style but ah have availed myself o' sech once when... uh..."  She let that trail off.  She was really not so proud of that any more.  Figuring on the inevitable, she judged the wolves' most likely point of entry and trained the gun, hoping the sights were zeroed, not that they were terribly precise to begin with.

Ah what did it matter she hardly used the sights on anything but a rifle anyway.

03:01, Today: Tamsin River rolled 8 using 1d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6.  Healing roll 2.
03:00, Today: Tamsin River rolled 7 using 1d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Healing roll 1.
03:26, Today: Tamsin River rolled 5 using 1d6 ((5)). Notice (listening at the door). In case I can hear anything as I patch up Bauer.


Anyone else might look frantic, but Tamsin moves with purpose. The gun goes away; she nods to Ranger Lee and glances over the room. Neither of them appear in danger of imminent death, and since Bauer is closest she’s the first one Tamsin goes to. She comes up in front of the deputy. ”You can continue with...” she gestures at her ear as she pulls the necessary herbs and dressings from her bag, curious as to what she’s listening for.

Once that’s done, it’s up the stairs to patch up the sheriff.

"Doc, there's some kinda contraption in here," he said, moving away from the thing until he was back in the main room.

"It's a metal box made of hammered iron. There's a grate on it, and I can see bursts of sparks comin' from the inside. There's a crank hande on it, and it is turning slowly, by itself. You reckon you can tell much by that? I'm not sure I wanna stay close to it in case it's the exploding type of thing."

He went over to the door that Bauer was listening by to see if he could hear anything from within either.

OOC:

Notice 4

09:18, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.