The Black Dog roared down the cracked old highway.  The sun was already setting when they had taken the Weirdo scouts.  With the interrogation and all that came after, night had truly fallen now.  The Dog's brilliant array of lights lit up the blacktop and the forest to either side.  Occasional breaks in the scrubby tree line show momentary glimpses of the shadowy ruins of old homes and rural businesses or overgrown, forgotten fields.

It was at one such break next to a field striving hard to return to wild forest that McKellar indicated they should stop.  Once stopped, a couple of the riflemen jumped off the trailer and moved off to shift away bundles of camouflaging wild grasses and fallen branches between the old field and the trees.  They were quickly able to reveal a hidden dirt road that ran off into the seeming wilds.  It wouldn't be impossible for determined folk to find it, but was hidden enough that any passersby without some knowledge would likely pass it by.  As the Dog passed through, the riflemen hopped back aboard.

It was slow going down the hidden farm track.  It may not have been originally designed for something quite like the Dog, but McKellar assured Harry that they could make it.  There were a few more stops to clear another hidden passage or go around some hidden obstruction.  Thus far the old overgrown fields and wild forest didn't seem to indicate that there was anything like a farm back here.

Again, without any obvious sign for the non-locals, McKellar decided this patch of scrubby woods (which looked no different from the rest) would be the drop-off point. He gave Harry clear instructions for the rest of the road and what to avoid in the short distance to the Harrison farmstead.  As he stepped down, he added, "My people are expecting you.  Don't let them down.  We'll be there when it will count."  With that, he went to join the rifles.  As it had been pre-determined who should stay and go, Prudence and Martin joined in with the Lockesburg brigade.  Which left the .50 unmanned.  Crowboy understood that he was supposed to as well, but he was the last to jump down.  He cast a look back up at Kelly; half hoping she'd rethink it and let him come along.

Alright!  The NPCs are offloaded!

Kelly and Dean have Geiger Vision Goggles (-1 to everything, but no worries for any other lighting or cover penalties)

Kelly, Delilah, Fletcher, and Harry have Environmental Protection....err....  Invisibility packs.

Dean is naturally invisible to the Goggled

Everyone have their gear and gun choices set?  Anyone want to man the .50?  Any other last minute preps or anything?  Last words ICly...etc...  I mean....words.  Just words...surely....

This message was last updated by the GM at 09:18, Tue 11 June 2019.

Harry looked around. He'd been down a lot of back roads during his biking days, but those were always meant to be shortcuts, not destinations. This place was empty.

He waited for McKellar to get out of earshot before speaking up.

"So, something bothering me." He said. "This farm we're supposed to be protecting...it's damn hard to get to, and it seems to me that it's out of the way enough that you wouldn't find it unless you were specifically looking for it. Security aside, that strikes me as kinda backward. If you're hauling goods to a market, ease of access is important. The Lockesburg folks gone to great trouble to make this as inconvenient a trip as possible, which is something you don't want to be doing when you have to haul large amounts of produce back and forth."

To be clear, Kelly is carrying the goggles at the moment.  And let's do this, Kelly will stash the .22 pistol with Crowboy since it's better than nothing if we're going to leave him behind.

Kelly listened to Harry.

"Could be they didn't have a choice?  Maybe there's something from before the bombs there that's intact that ain't nowhere else around here?"  She guessed, not trying to invalidate Harry's point, just throwing out she'd seen other settlements that didn't make a damn bit of sense either, but some singular mitigating factor mandated their apparently stupid location.

She checked her levergun over to ensure it was ready to go.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:36, Wed 12 June 2019.

Harry frowns. "That don't mean you don't widen the roads, nor keep it tucked out in the middle of nowhere." He muses. "McKellar said the weirdos tagged this farm, and are apparently sending a significant force after it, right? Farms need a lot of space." He looked around at the scrubby, almost reclaimed field. "Now, none of this looks cultivated. At all. It certainly don't look like any sort o' path that gets regular use from heavy loads like a truck or even a horse-pulled wagon, not with all the obstacles we've had to avoid and apparently still need to get around. Whatever McKellar's people are doing way out here, I don't think it's farming. Might have once been a farm, maybe, but too much ain't addin' up."

"Big area.  Eggs.  Basket.  One hit, loose 'em all," he said with a simple shrug of one shoulder.  It wasn't a tactic he agreed with here but he could see it.  He didn't stop from his own task though, turning back to it and keeping an eye out.  It was hard to scout with the Dog running but it was still his job.  Since he couldn't be out front a ways, he settled for scanning the surroundings as best he could.

Before McKellar left, Fletcher pulled out his masks and charged them all up.

He handed two to McKellar.  "Ya got 'bout 'n hours charge on 'em.  Give 'em ta whoever ya think'll make best use of 'em."  He instructed the Syker.


Listening to Harry's worries, Fletcher shrugged.  "Lockesburg ain't a breadbasket sort a place.  They do alright, but from what I heard the output ain't always bountiful.  S'part a the reason we put together the fARMORs.  Texarcana needs 'em ta be able ta produce above what they're doin' now.  They also don't have the manpower ta guard everythin' they claim.  'Nother reason the fARMORs were designed ta be versatile.  Put one a those on each plot they got staked out amongst the wilderness ta keep things hidden, 'n it makes it more likely if they do get found, they can defend it rather 'n cuttin' 'n runnin' back ta behind the walls however far those may be."  He speculated.

"I even heard some talk that once the fARMORs get up 'n runnin' here, they might try seein' if the folks'd be willin' ta take on some of the refugees 'round Texarcana as extra hands 'long with the next batch a vehicles.  With the influx a folks, food's 'bout the most important thing ta lay hands on, but even if ya got good land that ain't full a rads, keepin' it safe from everythin' 'n everyone lookin' ta take the product a the hard work of yer hands is harder 'n makin' things grow."


Fletcher rolled 7,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4

So 5 instances of environmental protection, one hour each, 10PP spent
This message was last edited by the player at 08:15, Wed 12 June 2019.

McKellar gave Fletcher a nod of understanding, accepting the masks without really questioning how or if they would work.  Fletcher's word and instruction seemed good enough for him.  He motioned for his force to head off and began leading the way into the scrubby forest.

Crowboy checked his new pistol again, gave one last look at the cab....then joined Pru and Martin to head out with the Lockesburgers.

---

The Dog rolled forward again.  Branches from the woods close to either side of the track scritched and caught momentarily on the big truck as it powered on through.  Some effort had at least been made to keep the big branches cut away from the so-called road.  Thankfully.  But it was still slow going and took a few more minutes to get to the edge of this stand of scrubby forest.

When the Dog breaks free of the treeline this time, the next field is quite different.  Cultivated plots can be seen off the track at the edges of the Dog's headlights.  Not nearly a farm on the scale of the World As Was, but a decent smallholding hacked and burned out of the piney woods.  Up ahead must be the "farmhouse" itself.  And it looked straight out of the ancient frontier days.  A log blockhouse; new built by the look of the logs.  At a guess, somewhere around fifteen wide by twenty foot long.  Two stories.  The lower story had a single wood door, shut, and possibly a window, currently shut and battened with boards.  The upper story had two such windows and they were currently open.  No light from within to reveal anything about who or what might be up there.  In the bright headlights, a sharp eye could note numerous holes around shoulder height on both floors.  Perfect size for sticking rifle barrels through.  A stand of sharpened stakes surrounded the place, strung low with a nest of concertina wire.
 There were a few other much smaller sheds and such outbuildings around the place.  The "road" continued on past the blockhouse and might just circle around it widely.  Hard to tell much outside of where the headlight beams illuminated.

For those of a military mind, it was obviously not a place that could stand up to heavy modern weaponry.  But it could likely be a safe place for hiding out against most creatures and small-arms fire.  The piney woods around it would make it hard to get to with equipment of any great size.

As for what folk might be living here, there's no obvious lights or movements or anything at the moment.  Which one might expect if the folk in question were warned of an impending attack....

Notice rolls!

Also, I know Kelly is carrying the goggles at the moment, but, Dean, are you wearing yours?

Also, who has the three Environmental Protection masks?

This message was last updated by the GM at 19:43, Wed 12 June 2019.

Fletcher moved back into the Dog's cab in preparation for getting rolling again.

Once they'd arrived he peered out at the fortified little building.

Fletcher rolled 3,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Notice, wild

Well who benefits the most from them?  *is tottally not looking at the technically dead posse member*

16:58, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Notice.

Harry considered Fletcher's explanation. "I suppose that makes sense, if they don't have the manpower necessary to clear things all by hand. I just think we may not be gettin' the whole picture."

With such thoughts to comfort him, he kept his eyes wide, taking everything in as he pulled up a discreet distance from the farm house. He aimed for a place were they were nice and exposed. so that anyone inside wouldn't be tempted to think they were sneaking up on them.

((OOC: Yeah, Harry doesn't need much environmental protection, seeing as he's dead already and is made mostly of metal.

17:21, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 1,10 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+4)10.  Notice.))

OOC:
Dean is wearing them on his head but not his face.  He pulls them down periodically to scan but otherwise uses his regular eyes until they get closer/start expecting trouble.

Notice
21:04, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 2,2 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max ((2,2)).

"Best not to overthink until the mean men are dead, fellas," Del added, hanging on to the side of the Dog in her weird new outfit.

Save for the rumble of the Black Dog's engine, the farmyard is still and silent.  The only illumination comes from the Dog itself as Harry maneuvered it into a spot on the track to the left of the fortified "farmhouse".  Another minute or so after the Dog stops, there is finally movement. From one of the sheds steps a old man with crossbow.  A wooden, medieval style crossbow.  Other than the crossbow, his outfit is a patched old set of denim overalls, rough shirt, and a very old dirty cap.  He keeps the weapon leveled up at the cab, eyes squinting against the glare of the headlights. He's obviously put himself in a bad position; out in the open, right in the glare of the headlights, etc.  Taking great risk and pain to make himself available to whatever happens next....

Kelly slid up the goggles, just watching for now.  She thought to draw a bead, then instead remembered Harry was here, and her hand went for Connor.

Harry rolled down the window. "Howdy, sir!" He shouted in his friendliest voice. "McKellar said you were expecting us! How do you want to do this meet-up!?"

Fletcher waited for the old timer to respond to Harry and kept his eyes moving to the sides of the Dog.

He figured if the weirdos were waiting in ambush, now would be a good time to spring it.

It was hard for Harry, cyborged as he was, to ever come as "friendly."  Yet, somehow, the old farmer still visibly relaxed at the call.  He lowered his crossbow and walked, with a bit of a limp, over to look up at the driver's window.  He spat a nasty stream of...something...off to the side, "Well...  I reckon we just done this here meet-up. McKellar said he was sendin' some tough guns on out here in a fancy truck so..."  He eyed the Dog, and took the moment to spit again, "Still not partikalar clear on what's a comin', but I'll be glad for more guns I 'speck.  Well...  Come on then.  Let's get at 'er."

"We're expecting weirdos carryin' cobbled-together gear, flashing bright lights and thumping old-time music, lookin' to snatch people to take with 'em to a horrible fate." Harry says. "We're hopin' to hit 'em before they hit you. You got a place where we can stow The Dog here?" He looked around the yard.

The old farmer spat again, the squintily eyed the Dog for a moment.  He then looked back up to Harry and said, simply, "Nope.  As for the folk you say is comin', at least it ain't walkers again."  Spit. "I'm 'bout damn sick of dead things not stayin' dead like theys supposed ta."  A squinty eyed pause, then he added, "No offense there, son."

"Maybe we could use it as a distraction?"  Kelly offered.

While Harry talked with the old man, Fletcher moved forward and hopped down out of the passenger side.

"Don't mind me takin' a look do ya?"  He shot towards the old timer as he moved to survey the state of the other small buildings, ignoring all but the most solid of No's given that time may be of the essence.

Harry shrugged. "None taken. It's not like the fucker asked me if I wanted to be dragged back out of my nice comfy dirt nap."  He watches Fletcher set out. "And as for them that's comin', I'd like to use the Dog as a distraction, but my plan was to surprise 'em when they put on their disco show by suddenly flooding them with lights and drivin' toward 'em like a bat out of hell. I was thinkin' like if you had a barn, I could park there, but yeah, it don't look like you do." He looked at the track that lead between the sheds. "You think maybe there might work for that?" he says, pointing with his good hand.

"Or do we have enough alfalfa or canvas or whatever to cover it up?"  Kelly asked as a follow up question.  She liked that Harry had the same idea he was just a step ahead.

Spit.

Harrison, the old farmer, eyed Fletcher as he jogged off to look over the sheds, but didn't really verbalize an answer to if he minded or not.  He didn't stop the man though.  The farmer looked back to Harry, shrugging mildly, "Might.  Dependin' on where these bastards decide to jump us from.  I take it you don' really have no clue about that, eh?"  Spit.  "I speck you and that saw on yer arm'd be distractin' though.  I also speck shootin' them in the goddamn face'd be mighty distractin' too."

"Hey... not to interrupt, but actually to totally interrupt, there's something weird about the doors over there."  Kelly pointed to the spot that was glowing in her goggle vision.  "And more on all the windows... and..."  Kelly followed the trail with her eyes.

"...it looks like it goes all the way back there.  I think... I think we just got our answer."  Kelly pointed to the spot in the treeline where the smudges ended.

Fletcher gave the outbuildings a look, evaluating for the ability to keep someone out, as well as keep anyone standing beside one safe from the sorts of weaponry they saw the weirdos use in their last encounter.  He also did what he could to check on their likelihood of providing the option for higher ground.

He also took a look inside those that were unlocked, checking to see what they contained that might be useful to the fight.

"Sure. But that's one-on-one distractin'. I'm talking about putting a whole mess of 'em into distraction at once. They've got guns, too, so I'd like to be able to get close enough to actually use my saw...ain't much good at a distance. Gettin' 'em all riled and panicky because something big and heavy is comin' helps even those odds."



"Crap." Harry says. "Well, we know which way they're gonna come from, at least. But that means they've already been here once, probably scouting. Guess that's what that paintball thing that one guy had was for."

Fletcher and Dean's inspection of the sheds revealed that they were quite sturdy.  All relatively new built, by hand with old-school tools and techniques.   The shed roofs had a relatively slight pitch and, being only one story, could be clambered up onto.  The blockhouse roof as steeply pitched and, being two stories up, basically inaccessible.

As for what the sheds contained....  Well, all the sorts of things one might expect to help manage a farm without the use of modern machinery.  Hand tools, scavenged materials (neatly organized), a small metalworking shop.  There's even some livestock penned up tight in the larger "barn" shed (mules, a skinny cow, some chickens, etc.)

Harrison can't think of anything he has available in the sort of quantity that'd be required to hide the Dog.  He's also not particularly happy with the idea that someone has been snooping around his place and marking it up with....  Well, he doesn't really understand exactly what, but he gets the idea well enough.

So far I have....
Back the Dog in amongst the sheds.

What positions/plans are you each doing otherwise?  We'll start with....say a ten minute interval; about how long it'll take to back the Dog in...

When I log back in tomorrow, I'll pull a card.  If its a Face, Time's Up!  If not, keep planning/preparing!

Next time, I'll pull two....etc...

Maybe you'll be all set....maybe you'll be interrupted....  tick tock....

Once Fletcher got back from his snooping, and someone told him about the marks, he borrowed a pair of goggles momentarily to have a look himself.

Turning to the old man, Fletcher suggested some options.  "Way they have the place marked, it'll make it 'lot easy'r ta target yer folks as they try 'n fire down from those windows.  Figure we got two options.  Either we try 'n chisel off the faces of the logs where they've been marked, my guess is whatever liquids been used prolly ain't soaked in too much, or we use the other guns we found 'n shoot the whole place up so they won't be able ta tell much 'bout anythin' when they get here without stoppin' ta take a real good look."  He reasoned.

"It'll take longer 'n maybe leave ya with some repair work if we start hackin' things up.  Coverin' the place'll be quick, but it'll prolly take a few weeks fer the rads ta diss'pate.  Don't think there'll be any long term issues far as yer folks 'r concerned, but rads is still rads."

"I'm in favor of the 'screw up their marks with our own' plan." Harry says. "'Course, I ain't the one living here after we add to the rad count, so it's up to Harrison if we want to pursue that. Moving the Dog between the sheds so it ain't immediately visible is probably going to have to do for now."

"That or we leave it alone and okie-doke them.  They're likely to come in from that exact spot and attack along the path they've marked.  Set up a kill zone right around it, attack them at the treeline, put a rearguard behind to cut them off if they run.  If we can even do that."  Kelly pointed out.

"Hmmm...that's a neat plan, too. That's why I don't make the plans." Harry says.

Dean walked the grounds, getting a feel for the place, along with Fletcher.  "Guessin we need to pick a good spot.  I'd prefer to find something up high so that I can get some good sight lines.  But I might be the best to get behind the line as well," he offered with a shrug.  Either plan worked for him.

"I would say some combination of Harry and me need to do the cut off part, but neither of us are particularly... subtle."  Kelly acknowledged.

She contemplated and shifted her pack, but didn't dwell on it long.

"Listen, we don't have a lot of time and I have an idea to draw their fire and give us a serious chance of winning this before it has the chance to go pear shaped.  Do you think you all can settle into positions along the ambush zone here where you're not immediately visible?  This might even keep their eyes off of you for a second Harry."

"What did you have in mind?" Harry asked.

Dean was utterly confident and certain.  "Pretty sure I can hide anywhere and they won't find me, even if they were only a few feet away."  both from his own skill, powers and personal experience, he was certain they'd never figure out where he was unless he revealed himself.

Harrison didn't seem particularly keen on any plans to cut up his blockhouse.  Even to remove the markings.  Spitting again, he noted, "Marked or not, they'd likely see the winders eventially...specially since we'll be shootin' at 'em from there.  I don' think we got no time to go settin' ladders and scratchin' on my damn house....  Nossir.  I don' like it."  Spit.


Nine of Spades!  Not a face.  So, you now have a 15 minute window to park the Dog and get into position and whatever else you want to do!

Tick Tick..
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:20, Tue 25 June 2019.

"'Less they pull off their goggles 'n can actually still see normal, should be they won't see anyone."  Fletcher added as a reminder.

"'Cept me of course, but I'm not so useful as ta be settin' up anywhere really."

"One second Harry."  Kelly nodded to Dean.  "Then you're the best for the job.  You should get in position."

She turned her eye to Fletcher.  "Do your best to find a good ambush position."  She turned to the farmer.  "You too.  I'm going to try to talk them into surrender.  It's not going to work, but it should give a momentary distraction."

"As for how I'm going to do this Harry-"  Kelly opened the pack she had shifted and pulled out a long piece of white cloth tightly wound.  "-I reckon I will put on my uniform so they recognize my jurisdiction."

She untied a scrap she kept around it and dropped that back in the bag and with a flick of the wrist unfurled the garment and proceeded to put it on, making sure the red cross was on the front this time.

So Kelly's "brilliant" plan is to stand there right in their most probable path wearing her Templar tabard, sword out, prepared to cast deflection, and try to parley with them because she's hoping a(nother) Templar will not be what the Weirdoes were expecting.

The hope is that this will give everyone else a round with The Drop.

Harry frowns as Kelly brings out her colors. "I can see that working, sure. But I ain't very good in an ambush. My directives won't let me initiate hostilities until I've confirmed hostiles. That usually means I can't act until the shootin' starts." He thinks for a moment. "The programming they stuffed into my head was to make sure I was a deterrent. Taking orders from military and civilian authorities, protecting Agency supplies and assets, and this confirmation thing...they made it real clear that they didn't want me to be some sneaky cybrog ninja things dropping in unannounced. They wanted me big and loud. So if you're doing this, I'm going to be right out there with you. Maybe give 'em some extra incentive to be nice."

Kelly couldn't help but smirk at Harry.  "Uh-huh.  Programming.  Yeah that programming of yours is inconvenient sometimes."

She actually did not doubt Harry was telling the truth but it amused her all the same that this one time the other voice in his head was telling him to do what he wanted to anyway.

"Going to have to get some red spray-paint and make a stencil one of these days."

Harry smirks. "It certainly can be. Let's get ready."

((OOC: So yeah, I'm just going to follow Kelly's lead as she sets herself up. Also going to get my shotgun out, so that it's ready for use.))

Fletcher looked ready to say something else when Kelly began 'suiting up'.  Instead he paused to observe her for a moment, then shrugged and headed back for the Dog to get ready.

When Kelly tabards up, Harrison's eyes go wide and he straightens up a bit.  The truck was weird.  The cyborg was impressive.  But a legend of the Here and Now just revealed herself.  Everyone knows the Templar stories floating around the Wasted West.  Secretive knights with amazing abilities standing up to the horrors of this benighted world with sword in hand.  Every settlement tells Templar tales. Every settlement in a hard way hopes, loudly or silently, that a Templar will step up in the time of need.  Not every settlement is so lucky.

Templar's are rare.  Templar's are choosy.  You gotta be worthy.

The old farmer just got shown by a legend that he and his folk are worthy.  The Dogs had seemed willing to fight before, but who could know what road people really wanted.  A Templar and her squad of heroes, though?  Now he knew this crew was here to save him and his family.  He spat again, then almost looked apologetic for the first time.  He then tugged the whole chaw out and chucked it away; wiping his hand on the coveralls.  He was in a hearthtale now.  Can't be chewin' at a time like this.  Clearin' his throat, the old farmer said, "What kin we do, ma'am?  I'll stand the line witcha too, if'n you want.  I'll get my boys.  We got spears."  He glanced over at Dean, who was now basking in some of that Templar shine based on proximity, "If you need high ground, c'mon inside and take a winder.  Good view.  Good cover."  Harrison looked back to Kelly again, "Whatever you need... Thank you..."

Harrison and the Farm Folk will get two white chips for the fight to represent Hope!

Ace came up and, while that's arguably not a face card, it is the highest card in Deadlands!  SO, you had fifteen minutes to prepare!

Plan details so far -

Dog is parked in the Sheds.

Kelly and Harry are gonna stand out in the open near the main "gate"

Dean is seeking a high vantage point.

Fletcher has.... IDEAS.... and one of the "invisibility" suits?

Delilah is gonna take up a position by the door to the blockhouse.  She's not much for running and feels like the building is the likely target.  She has one of the Environmental Protection Invisibility Suits.

The Farm folk were gonna be inside to defend the house like they normally would.  But, Harrison now wants to grab some of his folk and stand the Hero's Line with the Templar and Harry.  Kelly can likely talk him into or out of anything, planning wise.

Finalize the Plan!  Tomorrow, barring RL problems, the battle begins.

Fletcher came back to the ambush area gingerly carting an odd series of tubes stuck together in such a way that they pointed in all directions which were mixed in with a bunch of electrical wiring and at their core encaged the two ammo hoppers from the "paintball guns" they'd gotten off the previous batch of weirdos.

"Show me where yer gonna stand 'n wait for 'em."  He asked of Kelly and Harry, then set the device down a short distance from that spot.

"If they don't come in the way we expect, just uh, keep that between you guys 'n them.  Otherwise it won't really work right 'n extend our advantage."  He advised them.  "Assumin' it actually works a course."  He added as he scampered off to find someplace to hunker down that was behind where they were planning on making their stand.

Fletcher doesn't have one of the "suits".  He gave one to everyone else (except Dean) and then gave the last two to McKellar's group.

Kelly checked through the goggles again.  "Right about... here."  She told Fletcher.

When the resident reacted Kelly sighed just a little bit.  "No, I need you to take positions that make sense.  If everyone stands out here as the bait, there's no one to spring the trap.  The idea is to distract them and gain an initial advantage of surprise.  It's not going to work for very long if it works at all.  Some in the house isn't a bad idea but if some want to be more aggressive, take positions along the flanks of their approach.  You see here..."  Kelly did her best to point and describe.  "...that's their approach zone, that's our kill zone.  Assuming they don't surrender.  Which they probably won't.  But we'll see."

As she took her position, Kelly debated, but then tucked the goggles away for the moment.

Harrison looked a little abashed at the Templar noting that, again, the entire plan was for her (and Harry) to draw the attention of the attackers.  To distract and maybe cause them to stumble.  But, he got the idea about the "kill zone" and went to discuss with his folks about how to support the plan.  And, no doubt, to let them know that a Templar was standing in their defense now.

---

The Dog was parked among the sheds.  Kelly and Harry were standing in the open between the blockhouse and the rad-painted track that lead the way into the farm from the deep dark woods.  The chevaux-de-fris (the heavy, wooden, pointy stick barricade) had been put back into place across the road while the truck was being parked.

As it was being hauled into place, everyone began hearing something in the woods.  It sounded like....guitar?  It faintly scritched a rhythmic driving pattern that Harry immediately recognized as the opening to the Weirdo's Warsong, Thunderstuck.  It quickly began growing louder quickly.  Closer.  It was joined by a guttural chant....rising and falling....mixing with that crazed guitar riff.  Many voices.  Many.

And it was coming from all along the woodline.

Bright, colorful lights started blinking on and off all through the deep dark of the woods to the rhythm of the music.  Like wisp lights flaring and dying to the beat of the warsong as it steadily grew....  And got closer....

Notice rolls and initial reactions!  And, Kelly had chosen no goggles for now.  Dean?

Kelly stood calmly, tabard swaying slightly in the breeze as she held the hilt of her sword.

"Pay not evil for evil, but provide things honest in the sight of all men.  As much as it lies upon you to do so, leave peacefully with all men.  Take no vengeance, but place your wrath aside, for 'Vengeance is mine' says the Lord.  If your enemy hungers, feed him, if he thirsts, give him drink.  Overcome evil with good."

If talking to one's self is a sign of insanity, Kelly belonged in a lunatic asylum, because she kept going.

"Blessed is the Lord my strength who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.  My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me.  Lord, what is man, that you care for him, or even think of him?  Man is like a lie: his days are a fleeting shadow.

"Part the heavens, Oh Lord, and come down: touch the mountains so they shall smoke.  Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot your arrows, and destroy them.  Reach down your hand from on high, deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of strange children whose mouths are full of lies, and their right hands are of falsehood.

"I will sing a new song unto you Oh God, to the one who grants victory unto kings, on my lyre I will make music unto you and sing your praises, he who gives salvation to Kings, the Lord who delivered his servant David from the sword.

"Rescue and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouths are full of lies, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  That our sons in their youth may be as well nurtured crops and our daughters like the pillars of a palace.  That our barns may be full of every kind of provision.  Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields, and our oxen will draw heavy load.

"That there may be no breaching of walls, nor flight, nor captivity, nor cries in our streets.  Blessed are those for whom this is true, and blessed is the people whose God is The Lord.  Amen."

18:48, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+1)7.  Notice.

Fletcher checked the distance between himself and where Kelly and Harry stood, or more correctly, between himself and the device.  Satisfied, he hunkered down to wait.

As the lights and sounds started Fletcher frowned.  There was either more of them than he'd hoped or they were very good at making themselves look more numerous than that actually were.

Reluctantly pulled two bundles out from the gear bag he carried most places.  From it he pulled out a scrap metal device, mostly metal bars, springs, and pulleys.  After releasing a catch it sprung out into the shape of a hunting bow.  The second bundle was a tool roll adjusted to hold the arrows, which he clipped to his belt.  Anyone who bothered to observe him instead of the cacophony in the trees would have seen he didn't handle the equipment with any real measure of confidence.

Still, if the show in the forest was to be believed, he might, might, need to use it for more than failing to hunt with.

He did a quick hand check of the rest of his gear and looked into the trees again, doing his best to be ready.

Fletcher rolled 1,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max ((1,5)).

Harry, meanwhile, stands near Kelly while resting his one-handed shotgun casually on his shoulder, ready to swing around and fire at a moment's notice. He scowled at the music...these jerks didn't need to be ruining good things like that song.

He said nothing at Kelly's prayer...he just nodded along. "Amen." he said quietly.

((OOC: 19:16, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 2,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3.  Notice. The Dice roller has failed me again. :P))

Dean took a few minutes to orientate himself and figure out a couple places to shift between with good sight lines.  He settled in to wait for the first subtle signs of attacking raiders.  Turns out it wasn't subtle.  He supposed there was some benefit to the whole shock and awe approach...he just didn't think they were doing it right.  Good taste in music though he thought as he sighted Dow nth3 crossbow.

OOC
Notice
23:22, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 3,4 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max ((3,4)).

The weird chanting continued to accompany the light-wisps as they drew closer to the farmyard.  Through the dark branches and scrub of the forest, the lights resolved into man shapes.  Or rather, what must be dazzlingly multicolored varieties of electric lights strapped onto and around man shapes.  Troublingly, they blink in and out as they edge closer.  They zig.  They zag.  Between the erratic movement and the lights cutting on and off again, it is very difficult to determine just how many there might be or exactly where they are.  They could just come straight on....but its clear they are enjoying drawing it out as the chanting grows in gleeful volume until....

"THUNDER!!"

The word is howled with manic joy.  As it the word is shouted to the skies, for a split second, every one of the Weirdoes' "lightsuits" switches on and their truer numbers can be seen.  Somewhere between ten....fifteen...  It was only for a split second, but it was enough to know the Dogs and Farmers were outnumbered.  The lights went out again, but the crashing and chanting could still be heard as they rampaged through the woods.

"THUNDER!!"

Again, they lit up all at once at the word.  Having scattered and moved quickly in the dark interval, they seemed to have moved impossibly farther than they should have been able to.  Its unnerving, watching targets blink into and out of existence.  Tantalizing glimpses of your enemy.  And knowing that they /want/ you to see it.  To fear it.

A new solo voice, scratchy and quavering, joined the warsong...amplified and distorted...

"YOU ARE CAUGHT!  IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAILROAD TRACK!"

"THUNDER!!"

"LOOK AROUND!  YOU KNOW THERE IS NO TURNING BACK!"

"THUNDER!!"

The lightshow continued to scitter and scatter through the woods...closing in...but taking their damn sweet time about it.  The show must go on.

In the farmyard, Harrison and his farmhand looked to be getting mighty spooked by the song and dance.  Up in the blockhouse, Dean could see the farm folk getting very nervey at it all.  One, no more than fifteen by the look of her, set her rifle on the window sill and started to try and draw a bead on the flickering forms in the woods.    She was obviously intent on offering a large caliber critque of their performance.  But, Dean would also know there was little to no chance of her hitting anything she aimed out there.  Ammo is a precious thing.

Harry smirked from his position over by. Oh, they were messing with the song's lyrics to intimidate them? Well, two could play at that game.

He kicked his chainsaw arm on, gunning it in time with the music.

"~My mind raced!~" He sang at the top of his lungs. "~And I thought, what could I do-oo? But then I knew! There was no threat! No threat from YOU!~" And he raised his chainsaw arm at the advancing weirdos.

"~Sound of the drums! Beating in my heart! The thunder of guns! Will tear you apart! You'll be...THUNDERSTRU~UCK!~"

{{Gun!}}

{{Gun!}}

{{GUNNNNNNNNNNNN!}}

((OOC: Attempting an Intimidation check to Support Kelly's attempt to get them to back off.

01:00, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 6,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1.  Intimidation.

Should be good enough for a +1.))

Well, Kelly could hear all that, but they hadn't approached yet.  One of two things was going to happen.  This was going to work or they'd just start mowing them down.

The plan was simple, stand there looking strange and alone (save for Harry) until they approached.  But this was probably a good time to slip the goggles on.  She'd wanted to avoid their use to not betray that she had them, but if they were going to come up like this she needed to be able to see them.

"Easy folks," Dean said calmly.  "They're just trying to shake you, scare you.  Let it roll over you and shake it off.  Reminds me of some annoying old military tactics really," he said dryly.  "Hold your fire for now.  Not going to get a good shot.  Make it count.  The first shot you want to be flawless.  Shock the shit out of them by not being fazed by this nonsense and getting a kill shot."

The wild Weirdos did seem to pause for a moment as Harry's voice (amplified thanks to his police riot control modifications).  For at least one blink of the lights, most of the force stayed in the same position for a moment.  The weirdo's own singer skips a few beats, the rhythm momentarily thrown off.  It forced the warsinger to rush to catch back up, but whoever it was managed to do it with a bit of guitar flourish.

The Weirdos chanted and sang back at Harry, shouting louder.  Whatever amplified the singer and the guitar was turned up too.  Possibly to 11.  They roared their "true" lyrics back in the face of Harry's heresy.

"NO HELP!  NO HELP FOR YOU!"

"THUN-DER!"

"SOUND OF THE DRUMS!  BEATING IN MY HEART!  THE THUNDER OF GUNS!!!!"

"YOU'LL BE......THUNDER-STRUCK!"

Harry, the Warsinger, and the Weirdos all shouted the main refrain of the ancient song.  The Cyborg hefted his chainsaw to accent it, revving the engine as he did.  And in that same moment, as though perfectly timed to coincide with Harry's lifting of the revving saw to the sky...  The sky above the blockhouse and farmyard, behind Harry and Kelly, suddenly exploded in chaotic bursts of spiraling hissing color and light.  Old-school fireworks and pyrotechnics were being blasted above and around the farmhouse in a blinding, frightening display.

---

UPPER FLOOR OF THE BLOCKHOUSE

Dean had just managed to get the nervous farmers under a bit of control.  His solid, soldierly demeanor going a long way to help ease them.  After all, Dean was /very/ reminiscent of another bald veteran that had likely trained them and helped them in the first place.

But when the song reached its crescendo and the fireworks went off, the farmers nerve broke.  They dove for the floor or the walls, getting low and covering.  Assuming the barrage to be much more lethal munitions.

(Dean! - Smarts roll to avoid being blinded by the sudden display AND Notice!)

---

AT THE FARM GATEWAY - Harry, Kelly, Fletcher, NPCs

The skyfire display exploded behind them, so Harry, Kelly, Harrison, and Farmer Bow didn't really catch the blinding effect of the sudden light.  So busy looking into those deep dark woods.  After the first few though, Harrison and Farmer Bow do look back at the house; obviously afraid that their home was being blown all to hell.

For Harry, Kelly, and Fletcher, though, they saw the whole force of wild cavorting light-up weirdos suddenly stop their zig-zagging ways.  All of them were rushing as hard as they could for the farmhouse.  The lights still blinked off and on, making them look like stop-motion ghosts flickering toward the farmyard between frames.

On the track in the woods, two very bright lights of a particularly headlight sort of configuration suddenly came on.  Those twin beams began rushing straight at the wooden, pointy-stick obstruction that served as a gate.  Behind which, a certain distance back, stood the Cyborg and The Templar....right in whatever-it-was' path!

(Harry, Kelly, and Fletcher! - The whole group is heading for the farmyard, but they are not all focused on your position....just 6 of them are.  And whatever is behind those headlights of course!  Notice!

Also, Harry!  You did in fact unnerve the Warsinger and will get a free +2 when/if you face him...especially with that chainsaw.  How dare you sing the Sacred Song!?
 For which, take a chip!)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:37, Tue 02 July 2019.

Fletcher stayed where he was.  Rather than trying to do anything just yet, he instead turned his focus towards the oncoming weirdo hoard, trying to judge when the best time to trigger his surprise was, and exactly what the heck they had those lights mounted on.

A vehicle would be bad news, but he wouldn't put it past them with all their choreography to have them rigged up to just look like it was a vehicle.  He tried to figure out the truth of things amongst all the lights and noise.

Fletcher rolled 5,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Notice, Wild

OOC

Notice
07:23, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 1,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.

Smarts
07:22, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 2,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.

Tanked the notice but think I made the smarts?  Not sure about penalties and what it means/if its more than just knowing it's fireworks.

Harry smirked. Interesting light show they had going on. But they had a surprise coming...before Harry had parked The Dog, he'd set a little something up. He wasn't sure if he could get the Dog's speakers quite as loud as these guys, but he had a song all cued up and ready to deploy. Again, two could play the rock music psychological warfare game.

He did wonder if he needed to grab Kelly, though, and get her out of the way of that...whatever it was that was coming...

((OOC: I'm going to hold my position, though I would like to say I've kept my link up with The Dog in order to set up a counter-blast of music to their music that I can trigger through my mental link at some point in the future, potentially as another Intimidation Test.

My Notice roll: 09:33, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 4,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Notice.

Also, rolled a 17 for the chip, so I got a new White Chip. Which will be handy, since I was down to a single fate chip before this.))

Now that they were visible, Kelly, sword in hand, walked calmly to them.

"Stop your advance!  You have slain my sworn brother Al Dickson.  I demand parley."

Fight at the Gate! Harry, Kelly, Fletcher, Harrison, and Longbow...also a small horde of frenzied christmas light ravers
The Warsong of the Weirdos thundered through the darkling woods as they raced towards their prey.  "THUNDER!".  The guitar screeched as the lead singer belted out the driving song.  Louder now to overcome Harry's attempt to subvert the holy words.  These were not honorable warriors.  They did not care for the challenge offered or the chance to parley.  Their ears were filled with the divine song of war that had lead them to victory after victory.

"THUNDER!"

The first four screamed out of the darkness of the trees, their outlining colorful lightshow blinking out the rhythm.  That weird eerie stop-motion quality as they blinked into and out of existence in the darkness.  Their arms cocked back and one by one they threw whirling black somethings at Harry and Kelly...

The somethings turned out to be scrounged metal bars whipped with energetic glee through the night.  This was found out as they connected painfully and suddenly....

The Blinkers drew the Black Joker and thus went first!

Two came charging out of the woods on either side of the track (Total of Four).  As they exited the woods, they whipped scrap metal throwing sticks at Kelly and Harry.

Kelly! - Two Hits - First: 8 Damage, Second: 9 Damage.  First will Shake, Second will Wound.  If you Chip the First (UnShake), the second will only Shake

Harry! - Two Hits - First: 6, Second: 9 TINK! SPANG! Nada!

The Four Blinkers are in easy Move and Hit distance after you deal with Damage and get to your action!




At the Blockhouse - Delilah (Outside the Front Door), Dean (Upstairs with the other NPC Farm Fighters)

Del had started to look up when she heard the first whistling rocket....then something told her to /not/ do that.  She managed to shut her eyes and duck her head against the first blasts, preserving her vision.  For now.  Cracking her eyes again, she spotted the blinking weirdoes charging out of the woodline.  Some were heading for Kelly and Harry, but the rest were angling for the blockhouse.

The Gun filled her hand without her ever needing to think much about drawing it.  Both she and The Gun were pretty clear on what needed doing.  Long shots for a pistol and their fun light-bright antics didn't help either.  Her arms extended and she quickly sighted anyway...  Need to thin the herd...

The Gun barked and spat fire.  One of the blinking weirdoes, between blinks, stumbled as he was winged by....a ghost?  Delilah, of course, being (hopefully) invisible to these psychos.  She thumbed the hammer again and began tracking another...

Initiative Order
Round 1 - Farmhouse Fight!

Blinkers - BLACK JOKER! (Four Currently at the Gate.  Two more running to the Gate.  A group of three to the "left" of the farmyard headed for the Blockhouse.  Another group of three doing the same on the "right) Right Group - 1 Shaken

Del (Gm'd for Now) - QS

"Secrets" - JS Stuff Happened.  But it was SECRET.  Shhhhhh.

Fletcher - 10C

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - 9C

Dean (Upstairs NPCs) - 6C

Harry (Harrison) - 5S

"Headlights" - 5H

Warsinger -  2H

Fletcher, Kelly, Dean, and Harry are all up before any more Bad Guys!

Fletcher put his hand on the trigger, and pressed it as the four weirdos closed on Harry and Kelly.

The device fountained liquid all over the attackers, though to most observers it was fairly mundane looking.  To anyone with the goggles, the substance shined like liquid sunlight.

Fletcher rolled 7,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4.  WS, WD.

The quartet need to make agility rolls at -2 or suffer the effects of the Blind power.

Well that didn't work.  At all.  Oh well.  She really hadn't expected anything else.

So drop a White to avoid the first Shaken result.  Let's see if Kelly can resolve the other Shaken result without burning more chips (I doubt it).

Also, how much time has passed for PP recovery purposes?  I think the last use of Kelly's PP was the lay on hands.

Assuming goggles don't effect Spirit rolls because logic

14:10, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Spirit.

That's a fail.  Well, down 2 whites in total, off to a great start.

Kelly invoked her prayer with a moment of concentration.

So let's use Simon's Gift and cast a quickened Deflection.  Again not applying Goggles to this roll because logic.

14:13, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5.  Faith.

This, I will take, a success is this.

"So be it.  This was completely unnecessary."

And with those words Kelly ran to close the distance, Connor already in hand to do what must be done.

Right, so Signature Weapon +2, -1 for Goggles, nets to +1

14:17, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 10,4 using d10+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 9,3.  Fighting with Modifiers.

10 beats 5 by 5, that's a Raise

14:18, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 7,6,17 using d8,d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,6,(6+6+5)17.  Strength, Sword, Raise.

Total damage is Dead.  He dead.  He all the dead.

It was textbook.  The strike was at the perfect angle, it went across the Weirdo's torso, biting deep.  Kelly's follow through came down and sheared his arm off, and the final stroke sent the tip of the blade through his shocked expression.  He was dead and not in one piece before he hit the ground.

14:20, Today: Kelly MacLeod drew the single card: JD using the Deadlands system.

For Next round!  We do it that way right I forget.

Just after the metal hurley sticks flew, Fletcher's odd device popped up and blew a spray of yellow-green "paintball" goo towards the Weirdos!  Three were caught completely by surprise by the trap splattering a blinding glow across their goggle lenses.  They jerked to a stop, shaking their heads wildly and howling with surprise.  One's howl was cut very short as Connor took his arm then stabbed into his face.  The one Weirdo with the reflexes to turn away from the goo blast no found himself facing down a Templar...  Wearing Goggles...

1 Weirdo Down.  1 Up Facing Kelly. We'll say on the Right of the gate.

1 Left Gate Weirdo is Partially Blind (Shaken, -2 Parry), Other LGW is Blinded! (Shaken, -6 to Everything till Unshaken) 

"COVER," he yelled as the flares went off, trying to warn everyone to avert their eyes in time.  It kept him from being blinded but it caused him to look away for a brief moment.  The rest of the crowd up in the bunker dove for cover but only one managed to clamber back to their feat.

"Target their leader," he shouted to the one person who managed to stand up again.  "Take him out and maybe we'll demoralize the rest."  He risked a glance down at the rest cowering on the floor.  "Get the hell up; we've got raiders coming from both sides!  Fight damn you!"

Using the goggles, Dean didn't waste any more time, spinning away and sighting on one of the blinking raiders.  With a soft thrum, lost in the fireworks and gunfire, he launched the bolt into one of the charging weirdos...


OOC:

The one rifleman not cowering, shoots! (now has 8 shots remaining)

20:48, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 9 using 1d4, rerolling max (((4+4+1)9)).
I forgot the blinking penalty (-4, so a 5) but it's still a hit!

Dam w/ AP 2
20:50, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 16 using 2d8, rerolling max (((8+2)10,6)).

Hopefully he'll be wounded/messed up to make it easier for Harry to finish him off easily and/or get us a morale test or something!


Dean shoots at one of the chargers:
20:52, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 3,3 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max ((4,4)).

Miss...but going to spend a red to reroll

20:53, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 5,4 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max ((6,5)).

Dam: 2d6, AP 2
20:55, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 7 using 2d6, rerolling max ((4,3)).

(As the longbow wielding farmer)

Daryl took a breath.  Know what yer aimin' at.  Focus.

He takes the Aim action.

Harry, revving his chainsaw arm and limbering up his shotgun, took a look at the situation. The blinking was distracting, but if he could get close enough, a face full of buckshot would cover for any deficiencies in his aim. But only if he could get close enough. He began heading towards the closest weirdo he could find.

((OOC: Heading for the nearest Weirdo with my mighty Pace of 4...I have a question about who is still up, who is down after Dean's shot, and if I can reach any of the weirdos enough to get into melee range.))

Harry rushed at one of the weirdos caught by Fletcher's trap. He waited until he got right up to the blinker and shoved his shotgun almost right into the man's belly before firing off a round.

---

Harrison, meanwhile, sighted along his crossbow, seeking a good shot, timing the blinks so he could hit one juuuust right...

((OOC: Making my way to one of the blinded blinkers. Once I get in melee range, I'm going to blast him with my Shotgun...the +2 Buckshot bonus should cancel out the -2 Melee penalty, I just need to hit his Parry.

11:40, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 4,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Shooting. Yarg. Fine, I'll also spend a Red Chip for a bonus.

11:40, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Red Chip bonus.

That puts me at a total of 8, which is more than enough.

11:54, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 21 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2,(6+6+2)14.  Damage.

For my next round's card, I got: QH

Harrison will be taking an aim action.))

Harry charged the other pair of light-up Weirdos.  He ignored their fancy, distracting light gear and taught a rather violent lesson in the value of a shotgun's scatterfire at point blank range.  The blinker was blown back into the woods, his lights fritzing wildly wildly as the wiring and control systems were shredded.

Away in the farmyard, the Blinker who had stumbled from Del's pistol shot started to regain his footing during one blink.  Then, by the next blink he was on the ground, balling up.  It would take a very keen eye to see the crossbow bolt sticking out of him with all the darkness and lights.

The woman with the rifle next to Dean quickly ran the bolt action of her rifle with trained practice, "I think I got one...  I think I got him!  Was that the leader?!"  One of the blinking figures in the farmyard had seemed to have stopped and fallen to the ground.  Eerily still blinking in time to the music.

---

The "Headlights" continued to charge forward at the wooden barricade as the Cyborg and the Templar tore into the Blinker vanguard.  Then...impossibly, the headlights...split away from each other to the ends of the spiky obstacle.  Huge hands appeared in the light as they reached out and picked it up with almost no effort.  For a moment, they illuminated each other in the headlights strapped to their chests.  Monstrously tall; giving Harry a run for his money on size and weight.  Once human, now those proportions have been twisted...strained...stretched...and bloated under the most horrifying manipulations of ghost-rock radiation.  Green-yellow skin covered in tumors, scars, and boils.  Mouths filled with far too many fangs and a pair of tusks.  Too large eyes...solid black.  They roar like beasts doing their best to make it wound like "ThUnDAR!!!"  Trogs.

The pair of Trogs heft the barricade up and throw the entire thing whirling end over end at Harry...and the poor unfortunate Blinker near the Cyborg....  It mostly hit the weirdo, but Harry did get showered with splinters and debris as it smashed past him..

Fear Checks for Harry, Kelly, Harrison, Longbow, and Fletcher at the sight of the mutant monsters! This check is a -4 (Fear Level), add your Rank (+2 for Seasoned), and Harry adds +2 because he is already dead and doesn't mind so much.  Harrison gets a +1 because he's a little more grizzled.

Blinker next to Harry gets creamed because....its fitting.  Harry gets hit...but a 5 is not going to get through his armor /at all/.

Fear check responses!  I ran out of time and will have to do the warchanter post tonight.

((OOC: 11:44, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 12,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,1.  Fear!

I ain't scared of no Trog))

Fletcher rolled 2,1 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.

Dropping a red chip


Fletcher rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Red chip

18:55, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  red or dead.

18:54, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 2,0 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Fear.

Fletcher did it I have to too

18:56, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled -3 using 1d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Longbow Wielding Farmer.

Figures!

"Nice shot," he said without looking.  "Keep it up; concentrate on the ones getting close to our position," he called before turning to see how the front was holding up, pulling the cocking lever for the crossbow as he did so. "Big mothers," he muttered unfazed by the monsters before firing a bolt into one them.



OOC:
Riflewoman - AIMs as the -4 penalty is just not going to work short of a miracle with the d4 skill!

Spirit for Fear
21:46, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 9,2 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max (((6+3)9,2)).

Shooting at mutant
22:04, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 5,3 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max ((6,4)).

Dam: 2d6, AP 2
22:07, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 13 using 2d6, rerolling max (((6+4)10,3)).

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:15, Wed 10 July 2019.

Just after the trogs go charging in, another set of lights switches on behind them.  This figure's light strips are arranged to suggest the outline of a red uniform jacket, shorts, and a blue tie.  There is even the outline of blue tennis-shoes carefully arranged where his feet should be.  Yellow lights dangle from his head suggesting stringy blonde hair.  His goggles have red lights surrounding the lenses giving him a weird, hellish gaze.  More lights outline the thing in his hands.  He holds it in the manner of a guitar, but the outline suggests something, more literally, ax-like.

His arm circles through a crashing chord across the strings of his axe before he points the pick at Kelly, "THE TEMPLAR IS MINE!  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!"  Somehow he managed to fit the words into the song in a crazy sing-song fashion without missing a beat. He then turned and aimed the the lit headstock of the "ax" at said Templar, charging with an athletic leap and a shredding guitar riff.

He tries to Taunt Kelly.....but manages a 4 after two chips.  The Roller does not feel he's Taunty!

Kelly - Smarts vs. 4!

---

Round 2 - Farmhouse Fight!

Harry (Harrison) - QH

"Secrets" - JS

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - JD

Blinkers - 10H

Trogs - 8D

Fletcher - 7H

Del (Gm'd for Now) - 5S

Dean (Upstairs NPCs) - 2H

At the Gate
-Harry (Harrison is Shaken from Fear)
-Kelly (Longbow is Shaken from Fear)
-Fletcher
-Trog 1 and Trog 2(Focused on Harry at the moment)
-Young Angus - Charging Kelly
-1 Blinker on Harry (Previously smashed by the Trogs), 1 Blinker on Kelly

In the Yard
-Delilah
-4 Blinkers in two groups

In the Blockhouse
-Dean (Riflewoman)

HARRY STARTS US OFF IN ROUND 2!  GOOOOOOOO!!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Sat 13 July 2019.

Harry glared at the oncoming mutants, then spun his shotgun to chamber another round and let fly at the nearest one.

{{BLAM!}}

Harry was rewarded with a spray of blood. He grinned. "You know, it's pretty nice that ya'll are so obligingly hostile." He muttered to himself. His chip hadn't given him any problems whatsoever tonight.

Upstairs, Harrison swallowed at the sight of the Trogs, but gathered his courage and went back to defending. This was his home, dammit! He aimed his crossbow at the Trog being shot at by the giant metal man. The blot shot out into the darkness...and hit a fencepost near the Trog instead of the trog itself. Darn.

((OOC: 16:57, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 5,11 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9.  Shooting.

Not sure if there's any darkness penalties, but I should hit even with those. I'll roll the raise damage separately.

16:58, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 16 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+2)8,5.  Damage.
16:59, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 7 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7.  Raise damage.

So that's 16 damage, 23 damage if I got the Raise.

Next, I roll to see if Harrison gets over his fear.

17:00, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 11 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11.  Harrison unshake.

He most decidedly does, and with a Raise to boot. Since his original target is gone and his aim was lost for being Shaken anyway, he's going to take a shot at the same Trog Harry's shooting.

17:03, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Harrison shooting.

That's a miss.

Card for next round: 2S. Siiiiiiigh.))

Kelly, amazingly, kept her cool.  Her only response was to point at him, and then make the come hither gesture.

19:44, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Smarts.

"Don't sing it, bring it!"

Battle at the Gate! - Harry, Kelly, Fletcher, Harrison, Longbow Farmer, Trogs, Blinkers, and Young Angus

The raging Trog stomped towards the metal man-thing, fully intent on smashing and tearing it to bits.  Sometimes metal things have tasty things in them. The shotgun blast tore a huge ragged chunk out of its side.  It managed another step...then collapsed...still looking intent on tearing Harry to pieces, but it is now physically incapable.  It'll figure it out sooner or later....

These Trogs were a bit tougher than regular Extras (Extra Wound)....  He Soaked one.  Took two.  Which still drops him! Also, to be clear, Harrison is in the field behind Harry and Kelly supporting the Gate fight.

Kelly is not Taunted!  It has been BROUGHTEN.

---

Upstairs in the Blockhouse - Dean, Riflewoman, 3 more Shaken Farmer Fighters, and.....

With a howling, whooping "THUNDER!", a figure came crawling in through the window at the back of the upstairs room.  Junk wings rattled and lifted from this mutants shoulders as thunked to the planks.  A machete was whipped out of a sheath and slashed down at one of the farmers crouched against the wall.  The farmer managed to dive out of the way of the clumsy hack...for now... The twisted hand of another mutant appeared at the window, trying to haul itself up and in to join the fun...

The Upstairs of the Blockhouse now has a Weirdo Scout!  And another about to join him!

Dean!  On your turn you can roll to Unshake each of the 3 Farmers!



Round 2 - Farmhouse Fight!

Harry (Harrison) - QH

"Secrets" - JS

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - JD

Blinkers - 10H

Trogs - 8D

Fletcher - 7H

Del (Gm'd for Now) - 5S

Young Angus - 5H

Dean (Upstairs NPCs) - 2H

Kelly is up next!  BRING IT!
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:03, Tue 16 July 2019.

Posting as Daryl The Longbow Wielding Farmer

08:13, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 13 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+1)13.  Spirit.

Daryl was terrified, but he managed to swallow it.  Get a hold of yourself Daryl!  There's some serious shit going on!

08:15, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1 using 1d4-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Shooting.

He made his best effort, but a longbow is a difficult weapon even in the best of circumstances.  Daryl would not be deterred however, he drew another arrow.

It was the other muties' lucky day, as Kelly had been challenged and she too charged to meet the challenger.

Not sure if quitting melee with him provokes an attack or if he'll listen to his boss's orders doing it either way, this is a weird sort of honor duel thing.

This had to end quickly, Kelly realized.  There were a lot of them, and their advantage was nullifying what offense could be mounted.  The best way she could see to stop this was demoralization.

So Kelly is going for a called shot to a Vital Area (-4) and has the goggles (-1), but is going to Wild Attack (+2) and is using her Improved Trademark Weapon (+2) for a total of -1.

Let us Pray and make this roll.

08:28, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 2,14 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+6+3)15.  Fight and Pray.

Prayer answered.  So Kelly hits with a Raise:

d8 - Strength
d8 - Sword
d6 - Raise
+6 - Wild Attack Damage and Called Shot damage

Let's roll that

08:30, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 22,10 using 2d8+6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(8+3)11,(6+4)10.  Damage.

32 damage, but wait, I'm not done!

Kelly knew she was taking a risk here.  But there was something else she understood.  An axe is certainly better than your bare hands, and it could actually be a superior weapon if the enemy was heavily protected by thick armor or plating or the like.

But there's a reason infantry weren't issued axes en masse historically.  It was, pardon her French, a shit weapon to parry with, doubly so when it was stylized into a guitar.

That meant he was open, though she'd have to use a weird technique to exploit it.

With a cry, Kelly jumped, thrusting, leaving herself open, but directing the point of her own sword into his exposed throat.

Because she was tired of him raiding, rampaging, and killing.  But more than anything, she was tired of that damned singing.

That's right, the called Vital Area was the head/neck!  So unless his armor protects his head, Kelly is probably bypassing Toughness from his armor.

"Do the world a favor and Shut up!"

The murder of Al Dickson, the rampaging, the killing, the raiding, these... she could forgive.  But not that stupid song.  If she died here today, it was okay as long as no one ever had to hear it again.

08:51, Today: Kelly MacLeod drew the single card: 8S using the Deadlands system.

*throws 2 Whites and 2 Reds at Kelly's massive pile of damage!*  One wound out of the six still made it through!  Angus is Shaken with 1 Wound

The Axeman checked his charge at the Templar's wild leaping sword thrust.  The lit-up axe smashed desperately upward and did manage to deflect the blow.  Instead of having the blade tear through his throat, it sliced across his shoulder.  The guitarist screeched in pain, somehow...still managing to make it fit into that damnable song...

---

The blinker that had been about to face the Templar alone was only to happy /not/ to have to do that.  He whooped and charged away, making for Fletcher.  It was hard to tell what he was swinging at the Junker with all the blinking lights, but it probably wasn't something nice....  It whistled past Fletcher who just managed to twist out of the way...

The rest of the blinkers continued their mad dash across the farm yard, singing and howling with joy as they closed in on the blockhouse...

Missed Fletcher!  Blinkers close in on the Block house.  Medium Pistol range now...

---

When the trog fell in confusion and blood, the other trog let out a crazed roar.  It was already pretty intent on smashing Harry...but now it had cause for /revenge/.  It dragged up a massive club made of part of a steel I-beam, studded with welded on bits of rebar and other scrap.  All stuck on the end of a steel bar.  The trog hauled it around all too easily, grabbing it with two hands to swing it wildly at the hated metal man...

Harry will take 13!  So....  Shaken!  He is very tough....  That Trog is now at -2 Parry btw.  Wild swings have downsides.


Round 2 - Farmhouse Fight!

Harry (Harrison) - QH

"Secrets" - JS

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - JD

Blinkers - 10H

Trogs - 8D

Fletcher - 7H

Del (Gm'd for Now) - 5S

Angus - 5H

Dean (Upstairs NPCs) - 2H

Fletcher is up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:28, Fri 19 July 2019.

Fletcher hopped a step back as the crazy mutant did its best to end him.

Such a situation was about as far from his ideal as you could get.

After taking half a moment to think, Fletcher grabbed a pair of electronic looking disks from his kit and then grabbed a pair of arrows, one in each hand, that instantly began glowing with a faint blue light.

"Fire in the hole!"  He yelled as he plunged each of them into the ground between him and the mutant, trying to convince it that something very very bad was about to happen.

Smarts trick!

Fletcher rolled 13,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,5.  trick test

The wild Weirdo checked himself at Fletcher's "Fire in the Hole".  He stumbled back a step, flinching and turning away from the expected explosion....

Fletcher! Your Blinker is Shaken AND -2 Parry till he next goes!

Delilah is up next now that sh'es back!  DEL!  GOOOOOOO!

Her first pull of the trigger had felt a little off, and now there was some manner of strange happening with Dean in the farmhouse? Well, that was gonna be a problem.

Del reached cross-body in preparation to attack the oncoming Blinkers, and found herself struggling mightily against the protective armor provided by Mr. Fletcher.

"Hell's bells, why am I even bothering with this?!" she demanded loudly, then quickly busted one of the straps to shrug it off, making herself a clear and obvious target for the enemy.

Unencumbered, Delilah braced her Colt against her hip and emptied the cylinder in a flush of bravado, fanning the hammer with her off-hand to fill the air (and a couple actual targets) with lead.

OOC: There were a lot of rolls with -5 modifiers and Chips, so I'll just go ahead and put the results here for the GM to arbitrate. I can't recall nor can I find the rules for whether Fumbles are only for natural bad rolls or also modified bad rolls.

Attack 1, Blue Chipped: 3, Miss

Attack 2, Red Chipped: 5, Hit
Damage 2, Benny Rerolled: 20, AP1

Attack 3, Benny Rerolled: 0 (Natural 5 and 1), Miss, Fumble?

Attack 4: 0 (Natural 5 and 2), Miss, Fumble?

Attack 5: 24! Colossal Hit with Raise(s)!
Damage 5: 26, AP1

If those maybe-fumbles didn't doom me, I think that's 2 extremely gooey killshots and three harmless misses. And one Red Chip Draw for the Fella-in-Charge, of course.

Also, I have discarded the camouflage gear due to ARROGANCE!

Two of the four charging "Blinker" Weirdoes were dropped by the hail of gunfire pouring out of Del's Colt.  One pitched backwards midstride, the staccato strobing lights making him seem to fall in weird stop-motion.  The other was spun around to crumple to the ground, lights still blinking out their musical pattern.

Two down!  Two still coming!

---

The warsinger took a cautious step back from the Templar, whirling his lit guitar-axe-thing around in a very skillful fashion.  No mere butcher this.  This mad butcher has talent.  And not just the musical variety.  As his hands shifted along the neck, the noisy guitar riffs match him, grinding up and down in time to his song.  Though his mouth is shadowed, the Templar could hear his smile as he sang, "Went through to Texas, yeah Texas, and we had some /fun/"  Texas.  Dickinson's home ground...  The axe continued its whirling readiness...begging the Templar to try again...

Multi Action!

1.) Taunt Kelly! - After /another/ chip, we have a 19
2.) Total Defense - Luckily, you can't drop it lower than your regular parry...and I just can't spend another chip on this right now...  His parry remains 7!

Dean and the Riflewoman!  GOOOOOOOOO!

This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Sat 20 July 2019.

12:44, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  Smarts.

lol yeah he wins

Well if he wanted to piss Kelly off, he just did.

Be careful what you wish for...

One of the farmers who had fallen to the floor roller onto his back and tried to fire at the weirdo that smashed into the room but missed badly due to fear and bad positioning.  The woman who'd shot one of the weirdo's a moment ago spun but just missed in her haste.  The room was overwhelmingly loud between the screaming and gunfire.

Dean spun towards the intruder and faded from sight with the ease of years of practice.  Even as he disappeared, he fired a bolt to slam into the weirdo's head.  Taking several quick steps, he moved to stand next to the window, preparing for the next intruder...


OOC:
Farmer unshake
21:35, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 7 using 1d6, rerolling max (((6+1)7)).

Farmer (both) shooting the one coming in... both miss!
21:38, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  farmer.

21:38, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  farmer.

Multi-action (forgot the -2)
Turn invisible
21:45, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 9,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max (((8+1)9,1)).
So, a 7.  Still a success.

Opponents have a -4 to spot and if spot have a -4 to hit.  Didn't get a raise so it's still possible to notice me

Shoot (-2; not sure if I get the drop or not but don't think it matters for the to hit)
21:45, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 13,16 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,(6+6+4)16.
So a 14.
Definitely hits w/ a raise.

Dam: 3d6 (w/ raise), AP 2;  if get the drop, it's another +4 but don't think it matters)
21:53, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 23 using 3d6, rerolling max ((2,(6+6+6+2)20,1)).

The weirdo scout recovered from his ill aimed strike, lifting his machete again... Only to stop quite suddenly as a crossbow bolt grew spontaneously from his forehead.  Just above the goggles.  His mouth drooped in a surprised "Oh" and he slumped down the wall by the window...

---

Round 3 - Farmhouse Fight!

Del - BJ!

Young Angus - KH (+2 vs. Kelly!)

Scouts - JD

Fletcher - 10D

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - 8S (SHAKEN)

Blinkers - 6S

Dean - 6D

Trogs - 3S

Harry (Harrison) - 2S

JOKER'S WILD!!!!  You get a Chip!  You get a Chip!  EVERYBODY GETS A CHIP!!

Del, would you care to go first or pass?


In the Farmyard - 2 blinkers left in charging range of Del!

Upstairs in the Blockhouse - One Dead Scout, One Scout Considering Entering

At the Gate - Young Angus vs. Kelly, Harry vs. Trog, 1 Blinker cheering on Angus vs. Fletcher (Currently Shaken w/ -2 Parry), 2 more Blinkers just appearing out of the woods.

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Wed 24 July 2019.

Del flicked the cylinder open and fed six fresh rounds into her weapon, then raised it to crack off a snapshot.

Even rushed after reloading, she neatly drilled a hole through the middle of a Blinker.

OOC: I'll go first! Reloading my gun and attacking, so -2 from multiple actions.

11:43, Today: Delilah Wolf rolled 17,3 using 1d10+1,1d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of (10+6)16,2.  Shoot! Multi-Action Penalty. Yay for raises!

EDIT: I forgot the extra ranged penalty against these guys, but a natural 16 still pips the post with room to spare.

11:43, Today: Delilah Wolf rolled 10 using 3d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3,3.  Damage with raise!

With the AP 1 of my pistol, I think that's another Blinker down.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Wed 24 July 2019.

In the Farmyard

One of the Blinkers straightened suddenly as the gunslinger, even rushed, landed another unerring shot.  He stumbled to the side, screeching wildly, and ended up in sprawling tangle in the few barbed wire obstructions near to the blockhouse.  The other Blinker suddenly had choices to make...

Another Down!  One left!  Angus is next!

---

At the Gate

The guitarist's weaving axe suddenly reared back as he charged forward.  His light strips strobed, turning the whole movement into that weird stop-motion effect.  Hard to keep track of his feet...his stance....  Anything....  A screeching, grinding guitar riff ground its way down to the basser notes as his hands shifted for better leverage.  Lights flared to the music as the axe came lashing in with a roaring soulful, "THUN-DER!!!"

Kelly!  - IMPORTANT GM EDIT!  He had a Wound from Kelly's hit!  Which makes his Hit a normal Hit!  Only 10 Damage!Hit w/ Raise.  You were already Shaken (but you can chip that first if you want).  If you chip the Shaken, you Soak vs. 2 Wounds.  If you don't, you soak vs. 3 Wounds.

---

Upstairs in the Blockhouse

As the first scout through the window thudded confusedly back against the wall, his warcry cut short.  The pair of hands at the window, that had been preparing to pull up.....  didn't!  Instead, a metallic rattling started up and weird metal wingtips extended up past the height of the sill.  There's only a split second before the blinding flare erupts between them!

Dean! Dean, the Riflewoman, and the Unshaken Farmer need to make an Agility at -2 to avoid the Flash!

Round 3 - Farmhouse Fight!

Del - BJ!

Young Angus - KH

Scouts - JD

Fletcher - 10D

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - 8S

Blinkers - 6S

Dean - 6D

Trogs - 3S

Harry (Harrison) - 2S

Fletcher and Kelly are up next!

This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Thu 25 July 2019.

With the weirdo momentarily distracted, Fletcher grabbed up the props used for his ploy and booked it towards where Kelly and Harry were mixing it up.

OOC: Not sure if I can get there with just the full 6" of movement or if I need to drop a run action in there too.

OOC:
Just posting now since they go first and this will matter; will sum up in next post

Dean - pass
20:37, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 7,-1 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,1.

Riflewoman - fail
20:36, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 2 using 1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4.

Farmer - fail
20:36, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 2 using 1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4.

Right.

So rather than put this in the OOC I put it here because...

19:57, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 21 using 1d35, rerolling max with rolls of 21.  Cheep.

That's a Red.  Okay, per the revision that's still 10 damage, and since Kelly was already Shaken, it would be a Wound.

Since there's not much of a difference, I'm going to use the Red I just got as a White and Unshake, but then the 10 remaining damage will leave Kelly Shaken again.  See this is why it doesn't matter, Kelly's Spirit and Vigor are the same so I'd either have to soak one wound or roll to Unshake.  So let's roll that (to unshake).

20:00, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 3,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.  Spirit.

Okay that gets it.  That'll do pig, that'll do.

Round 2 of Deflection I believe...

Kelly was now officially mad.  Worse, she was desperate.  She'd already failed; not taking him out in one clean kenjutsu strike had already doomed this entire farm to pointless bloodshed. If her opponent weren't surprisingly conservative with his tactics (or perhaps it's more accurate to say Kelly was quite aggressive with hers), she'd probably be missing her own head by now.  Well, she'd nicked him, might as well keep pressing the attack and she doubted she'd get another opening like that last one.

All right after much debating, we're going to keep this relatively simple, Kelly is going to try to just hack him to pieces with a good old fashioned Wild Attack, but no fancy called shots this time, total modifiers +2 from maneuver, +2 from Edges, -1 from goggles, +3 total.

20:16, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 16,7 using d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of (10+3)13,4.  Fighting with Modifiers.

Hit with a Raise.

20:16, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 8,1,2 using d8+2,d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1,2.  Damage.

Egads that's mediocre.  All right let's do it, let's Blood and Guts that roll.

20:18, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 7,1,5 using d8+2,d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,5.  Blood and Guts.

Still... not great lol, 1 point under the typical, but 13 is at least enough to get to Wound town and 11 wasn't.

20:19, Today: Kelly MacLeod drew the single card: 6S using the Deadlands system.

Posting as Daryl The Longbow Wielding Farmer

Daryl swallowed hard.  On the one hand, this was bad.  On the other hand, they were fighting back effectively.  It wasn't the slaughter he'd anticipated.  But damn they were impossible to hit.

He drew, and took aim again.

He aims because damn they're hard to hit!

As he put distance between himself and the weirdo Fletcher's hands pulled together a few items from his pockets.

Fletcher rolled 5,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  WS, Wild

2 components used, 1 use of Gadgeteer remaining for this "session"

The wildness of the Templar's attack seemed to surprise the Axeman a bit.  He spun his axe around in a desperate attempt to deflect the force of the sword.  He only managed to keep it from killing him...but not keep it from gashing open his side.  As he stumbled back a step, the guitar riff stumbled too.....just a little bit.  But it was a notable mistake...

Angus is now Shaken with TWO Wounds, having failed to soak!

---

The spooked Blinker had waited a frightened moment for Fletcher's explosion.  Which....didn't come...  He quickly looked about for that tricky fella, but spotted old Harrison first.  Being a simple maniac he was happy enough to go for the easier target.  Whooping, he rushed at the old crossbow man.  The junk metal club whistled down an old Harrison, but he's a tough old survivor-farmer.  He managed to shift just enough and took nothing but a slight glancing hit.

Two more Blinkers came charging out of the woodline.  One made a whooping wheeling dash at the swordswoman attacking his Lead Guitar.  He was overextended in a wild charge but didn't seem to much care.  Nor did he much connect with his target as his own rebar club whooshed by very close.

The other went charging straight out into the field....right for Daryl and his longbow.  Lights glittering and strobing, this Blinker-girl pitched a sharpened spike of rebar end over end at the farmer, "THUN-DER!!!"  The spike thunks sickeningly into Daryl's chest, knocking him back to the dirt of his fields with a scream.

---

The last surviving Blinker from the charge towards the blockhouse creepily flicker-stepped that last bit of his run straight at the gunwoman at the door.  He didn't stop...  Didn't check his speed...  Didn't even try to raise a weapon.  Just continued his weird stop-motion charge directly into Del....

Blinker engaged with Harrison.  Another Blinker Engaged with Kelly.  Another took out Daryl.  The last linebackers into Del....

DEL!  Strength check vs. 13!  If you fail, you are Knocked Prone and must make an Agility check to keep your Gun!  If you fail by 4 or more, you are Knocked Prone and must make the Agility Check at -2

DEAN IS UP NEXT!  Your folk are partially blinded and Shaken, but Dean's good!

Del, grouchy thing that she was, still only weighed 100 pounds soaking wet and couple charitably be described as waifish.

So when a big slab of armored, stupid, crazy motherfucker came running full-tilt boogie straight at her, it sent the little Law Dog (and her precious sidearm) flying.

OOC: 4 on the Strength and 3 on the Agility, ouch!

Rolling forward while I have the chance.  DEAN YOU STILL HAVE YOUR ACTION!  This trog shouldn't effect anything Dean's doin' anyhow.

The big monstrous Trog's club smacked off the armored hide of Harry with a resounding clang.  The mutant caught the rebound and redirected it by main strength (of which it has quite alot).  It brings the club up and around in a two handed smash in a wild attempt to drive the cyborg straight into the ground like a spike.  But, Harry managed to step back....just enough...to let the club smash a huge divot out of the earth instead.

Even with a Chip, this sad Trog couldn't manage better than 2!  BAD TROG!

HARRY!  You still have to deal with the Shaken from Round 2, but otherwise you are up!
DEAN!  You can still go before the end of the round!

Round 3 - Farmhouse Fight!

Del - BJ!

Young Angus - KH

Scouts - JD

Fletcher - 10D

Kelly (Longbow Farmer) - 8S

Blinkers - 6S

Dean - 6D

Trogs - 3S

Harry (Harrison) - 2S

Harry shakes his head to clear the ringing in his ears from the previous blow, steps on the mutant's club, then spincocks his sawed-off shotgun and shoved it up the Trog's chin.

"You've been...Thunderstruck!" He grins as he pulls the trigger.

{{BOOM!}}

((OOC: I'll spend a chip to unshake, since I currently have 4 whites [3 now].

I'm going to cock the shotgun, then a point-blank round into the Trog's face. This will be against his Parry of 6, but I get a +2 bonus from the buckshot.

13:58, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 13,11 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,(6+3)9.  Shooting.

Pretty sure that's a Hit and Raise.

14:00, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 25 using 4d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9,(6+2)8,5.  Damage.

Heh. Chunky salsa time!

Card: 5D

Is Harrison Shaken from the attack he suffered?))
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Tue 30 July 2019.

Orville Harrison growled at the nutter trying to brain him. That blinking sure was giving him a headache, and he wasn't confident about his ability to hit the bastard at this range -- too easy for his bow to get shoved aside. But this wasn't his first rodeo, and he'd picked this field to make his stand for a reason.

See, this patch of vegetables tended to draw gophers. And gophers loved making potholes in the land. And as it happened, he'd stationed himself near a cluster of those holes. The Blinker had missed the ones further out, but he didn't seem to be paying all that much attention to his surroundings, so Orville backed up, just enough to entice the nutter to chase him...and hopefully, he wouldn't be looking at his feet when he did it.

((OOC: Harrison is going to try a Test against the Blinker attacking him, in an attempt to gain some ground and at the very least distract the Blinker.

He's going to use his Knowledge (Farming) for this, since he knows these lands better than anyone with that d12 of his. Specifically, he's trying to maneuver the Blinker into a gopher hole. This would be opposed by Smarts (to not fall for it). Harrison is looking to make the Blinker Distracted and also Shaken. If he gets the Blinker Shaken, he'll move away to wherever he can put a patch of razor wire or similar obstruction between him and the Blinker; otherwise, he'll remain where he is.

14:31, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 6 using 1d12, rerolling max with rolls of 6.  Knowledge (Farming) Test.))

As the rest of the bunker crew looked on and then cried out as they were blinded, Dean did a quick crouch and spin against the wall.  This was almost just like being back in the war.  Well, almost anyway.  Standing, he stuck the crossbow against his shoulder and fired the bolt directly into the wierdo.  "Pain in the ass," he muttered as he cranked the lever.  Boy, he missed his old gear.


OOC:
I'm invisible, -4 to be seen/hit/etc.  Not sure if I get the drop though (ie if he spots me or whatever).  If I do, that's a raise.  Either way, it's a hit.
20:29, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 6,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max ((6,3)).

Dam (without raise or +4 from Drop as not sure if I have it or not).  AP 2
20:33, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 7 using 2d6, rerolling max ((3,4)).

If I got the drop, putting roll here
20:33, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max ((1)).

So 7 dam without, 12 damage with drop.

The war song's chorus was made even more thunderous by the well timed report of Harry's shotgun and roaring of his own "THUNDERSTRUCK" refrain.  The trog had very little time to consider how well it fit into their holy warsong.  In fact, the last thing that went through its mind was a load of pellets.  The massive mutant corpse was thrown backwards to crash to the dirt next to its partner.

The wily old Farmer lured the skittering Blinker into the gopher holes.  Singing his warsong and feeling generally gleeful about the prospects of bashing the old man, the Blinker foolishly followed.  When Harry's gun barked, it distracted the weirdo just for a second which was just enough for him to catch a gopher hole off-balance.  Lights still strobing, the Blinker stumbled in ungainly stop-motion into the soft earth.

TROG DOWN!  Blinker Distracted And Shaken!

---

Up in the Blockhouse, an invisible Dean raced through the blinded farmers.  He snapped a quick shot down through the window where the metal wings rattled ominously.  He was rewarded with a screech of anger and surprise from the scout hanging there.  The Weirdo seemed very put out that their tricks weren't working.

Weirdo Scout Shaken!  No Drop because there is fighting and, while he is invisible, they are still /expecting/ trouble.

Round 4 - Farmhouse Fight!

Fletcher - 9S

Scouts - 8C

Young Angus - 7D

Kelly (Daryl the Longbow) - 6S

Dean - 6H

Del - 6D

Harry (Harrison) - 5D

Trogs - 4S

Blinkers - 2C

ZONE RUNDOWN

At the Gate

Kelly is engaged with Angus (SHAKEN, Two Wounds) and a Blinker

Harry is Unengaged

Fletcher is Unengaged

Harrison is Unengaged

Daryl is Down

2 Blinkers, Currently Unengaged (1 is DISTRACTED and SHAKEN)

Outside the Blockhouse Front
Delilah is Prone, Gunless and Engaged with a Blinker

Upper Story of Blockhouse
Dean is INVISIBLE
Farmers are half-blinded and Shaken
At least 1 Weirdo Scout is SHAKEN and hanging at the window



FLETCHER!!  THE TIME IS NIGH!  GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Fletcher lifted one of his "arrows" up.  It had a bit of wire twisted around it along with a few odds pieces.

He twisted two of the wires together and the whole thing burst into a bright light.

Fletcher raised it high, hoping to eliminate the advantage the blinking suits gave the remaining raiders around the gate.

Fletcher rolled 6,3.  Activating "light" gadget.

Fletcher's Arrow of Light burns to sudden brilliance against the darkness.  The light suits still blink, but the colors are muted and the strobing effect no longer hides their movements.  They appears as what they really are wild mutants covered in wires and flexible tube lights.  They all wear some version of the goggles.  Without the distraction and lightshow, they seem much less threatening somehow.

Gate Zone is LIT!  No Blinker Penalties!

---

Up in the Blockhouse

Dean can hear some scrabbling against the wall of the big wood cabin as the wing rattle recedes.  The scout at the window is trying to get down and, possibly, away.  Before the Syker can really get a good look, someone from the ground opens up on the window with a pistol.  The bullets smack into the wood, throwing splinters around, and whirring through the opening with lethal warning.  Covering fire.

One Scout retreats down.  Another, on the ground, attempts to Suppress the Window.  The cover provided by the wall/window prevents it from rattling Dean!  No Effect!

---

Duel at the Gate

The warsinger just can't seem to recover.  His parrying is becoming a more desperate, trying to fend off the maddened Templar.  He tried to continue his song, but his voice was shaking from pain and distraction as his force (even the big Trogs) crumpled around him, "...Yeah...  It's alright!  We're....  Doin' fine!"  His guitar-axe spins and grinds through the riffs, focused on trying to keep that sword away....  Probably hoping for an opening to make a break for it....

Angus fails to Unshake!  HE IS.....TEMPLAR-STRUCK!

Round 4 - Farmhouse Fight!

Fletcher - 9S

Scouts - 8C

Young Angus - 7D

Kelly (Daryl the Longbow) - 6S

Dean - 6H

Del - 6D

Harry (Harrison) - 5D

Trogs - 4S

Blinkers - 2C

KELLY, DEAN, DEL, HARRY!  ALL OF YOU CAN GOOOOOOOOOOOO!


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:46, Fri 02 Aug 2019.

First let's get this out of the way.

Daryl laid there, possibly dead, holding the ground down.  The ground didn't rise.  Good job Daryl.

Round 3 of Deflection.

Kelly was just getting angrier now, mostly because there was one of those idiots interfering in an honor duel.  Now it didn't really matter who won, the contest was tainted either way.

She debated pulling back and being more conservative, that was probably the smarter play, but dammit, they killed Al Dickson.

So second verse same as the first, +2 Wild Attack, +2 Imp TM Weapon, -1 for the Goggles.

19:09, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 12,8 using d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5.  Fighting.

Hooyeah!

d8 Strength
d8 Sword
d6 Raise
+2 Wild Attack

A very respectable 20 damage - 19:10, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 16,4 using 2d8+2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,2,4.  Damage.

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"  Kelly screamed over and over again, practically windmilling with Connor as she unleashed a wicked series of thrusts and slashes, a veritable riddle of steel, though in a very different sense from how that expression is normally used.  No the riddle here was how to stand in the middle of it without losing several body parts.

19:14, Today: Kelly MacLeod drew the single card: JS using the Deadlands system.

Spinning back out of the window, he could hear and feel the building taking the multiple impacts.  "Why does everyone seem to have a gun but me," he muttered.  A quick peek saw Del on the ground with a weirdo bearing down on her.  As much as he wanted to stick the bugger trying to escape, Del came first.  Pulling away from the wall, he didn't hesitate to fire immediately.

Meanwhile, the spunky and determined riflewoman blinked her eyes clear and scrambled back to the window.  Rushing forward, she jammed the stock against her shoulder and fired but the shot went wide in her haste.


OOC:
Spirit rolls for riflewoman and bowman to unshake
23:12, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.

23:12, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.
NOPE!

Will burn a npc bennie so riflewoman can act at least...
Shooting
23:34, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 2 using 1d4, rerolling max ((2)).
Not that it matters!

Was the weirdo climbing down, stunned?  If so, did that mess with his climbing down?

Shooting Blinker engaging a prone Del - MISS
21:26, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 1,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.

Burning a chip to reroll!
21:26, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 9,8 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,(6+2)8.

Again the drop rules/shooting in the head/back but don't think it'll apply?  So not added.  Hit regardless.

Dam, 2 AP
21:28, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 2 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.
Plus the 1d6 from raise
23:13, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max ((3)).

For a whopping 5...

Oh hell no.  chip to reroll

21:28, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 8 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.
plus raise
23:14, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max ((5)).
total of 13 with 2 AP

This message was last edited by the player at 03:38, Sat 03 Aug 2019.

Harry blinked a bit at the light show, then loaded another round with a spincock. Both his playmates were down, so he holstered the shotgun and pulled forth the Ruger they'd pulled off the earlier band of wierdos. He wasn't terribly fast, and the shotgun had limited range. He took a shot at the Blinker near Kelly, but even with the light his aim was off. Sighing, he changed course and headed for the one Blinker that didn't seem to have anyone around him right now.

((OOC: Going to holster my Shotgun and pull out the Ruger. Drawing a weapon is a free action in SWADE, but I'm not use if that's one of the rules we imported for this game, so I'll adjust if necessary.

23:02, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 2,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Shooting.

...and that's a big, fat miss, so it doesn't matter. Harry will use his movement to get near the remaining Blinker that isn't near anyone else.))

---

Orville couldn't help but grin a little as the gopher hole did its work. Taking advantage of the blinker's distraction, he backed off and aimed a bolt at him. In his haste, though, the shot went wide, and he cursed his luck, then moved to a razorwire patch to make it difficult for the nutcase to get at him.

((OOC: Orville, having moved now that the Blinker is Shaken, takes a shot at him with the crossbow.

23:07, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Shooting (Harrison).

Nope. Le sigh.

Card for next round: JD))

Duel at the Gate

The Axeman spun his weapon back and forth, backpedaling under the Templar's furious assault.  But he was already wounded.  Already being put back on his heel.  And he was terrible at riddles.  Connor slid past the haft of the axe and bit deep.  The music didn't falter, still thumping from the pack that can now be seen in Fletcher's light.  The guitar riff dies off in scratch asynchrony.  The song died on the warsinger's lips as he crumpled around the Templar's blade.

ANGUS DOWN

Outside the Blockhouse

The Blinker Weirdo hooted and whooped along with the song, stepping over the downed gunfighter with malicious joy.  He started to raise his rebar beatin' stick....then the guitar riffs scratched away in death.  He looked up for a moment.  But it was a short moment to consider the death of the warsinger.  The crossbow bolt that thudded into his back took up all of his consideration quite suddenly.  He reached a hand back to scrabble at it, even as he fell over next to Del...

BLINKER DOWN

ZONE RUNDOWN

At the Gate

Kelly is engaged with Angus (SHAKEN, Two Wounds) and a Blinker

Harry is Unengaged engaging the attention of a Blinker

Fletcher is Unengaged and has Lit the Zone!  No Penalties for Lights Here!

Harrison is Unengaged, but has the attention of, Blinker (1 is DISTRACTED and SHAKEN)

Daryl is Down



Outside the Blockhouse Front
Delilah is Prone, Gunless and engaged with a Blinker

Upper Story of Blockhouse
Dean is INVISIBLE
Riflewoman is back up and ready
Some Farmers are still half-blinded and Shaken
At least 2 Weirdo Scouts are on the ground at the back of the Blockhouse

DEL STILL HAS A TURN!

Del heaved a sigh of relief and gave a little salute, not realizing Dean had other problems that he was trying to murder to death besides saving her apoca-bacon.

With a little struggle and a firm pressure on her bruised tailbone, she got up from the dirt and hunted down her pistol.

From there, she just started wandering towards the sound of violence.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Mon 05 Aug 2019.

At the Gate

The song may still be playing from the warsinger's backpack....but the soul seemed to have gone out of it.  The driving, lyrical push isn't there.  No guitar riffs to whip the Weirdos into their frenzy.  For the first time in all the bloody chaos of the attack, the weirdos seem....unsteady...

The Blinker who had joined the fight to save his warsinger hissed his hatred at the Templar, "YOU KILLED THE SONG!!!  ROCK AND ROLL CANNOT DIE!!!"  He feinted towards the Templar with his junk cudgel, then spun to the side in a deft move to try and run away from the wasteland knight.  He wasn't quite fast enough...

KELLY! Blinker attempts to run!  He failed to Extract so you still get to free hit at him!  Miss and he bolts into the woods!

The confused Blinker in the fields howls his own mournful scream, "ROCK AND ROLL IS LIFE!!"  The torment of losing the singer was enough to clear out whatever confusions he may have been experiencing.  He bolts for the woods as well, running for all he's worth.

The last Blinker, Daryl's attacker, sized up the approaching cyborg...and the loss of the warsong...and everyone else running.  She too decides that the time has come to make for the exit.  Scrambling away, she breaks for the relative safety of the trees.

---

Zone Rundown

At the Gate

Kelly has a free shot at the Blinker attempting to escape, miss and you'll have to chase after him!

Harry is UnEngaged

Harrison is UnEngaged

Fletcher is UnEngaged - Zone is still Lit, negating darkness and Blinker penalties

2 Blinkers are running for the trees!  You have this action to get them before they hit tree cover and we Chase it out.

At the Blockhouse

Dean and the Riflewoman are free to act!

Delilah is limping around the side of the Blockhouse!

2 Scouts are on the ground behind the blockhouse (likely of a mind to run like heck on their action!)

Round 5 - Farmhouse Fight!

Kelly (Daryl the Longbow) - JS

Dean - JS

Harry (Harrison) - JD

Scouts - 10C

Fletcher - 9S

Del - 8H

Blinkers - 8D

KELLY, DEAN, AND HARRY ARE UP!  GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Right, so no maneuevers on free pokes, but +2 for Connor, -1 for goggles still goes:

05:53, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 7,5 using d10+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4.  Free Poke.

I do believe that's a regular old hit.

05:54, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Damage

And it doesn't matter, Waaaahmp Waaaaahmp Waaaaaahmp

Round 4 of Deflection, down 1 PP to maintain

"You like singing so much!?"  Kelly managed to cry out despite sprinting after the one who had the audacity to interfere in an honor challenge.  "Here's a song for you!"


05:57, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 15,8 using d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of (10+2)12,5.  Wild Attack.

Not sure if I have a MAP for Running to catch him but with that roll it doesn't matter.

05:57, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4,7,5 using d8+2,d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,7,5.  Damage.

So hit with a Raise and 16 damage, yeah assuming he's an extra, so I'm going to take some liberties here.

It was an old happy, slightly silly song, something from long before the war, Kelly's father used to sing to her when they were in Thockmorton's camps, treating the Black Hats, and something loud or scary would happen, which was often.  Kelly was not going to win any awards for vocal performance but there was something about her enthusiasm.

"Oh I could fly 'neath the wings,
Of the Bluebird, as she sings,
The six o'clock alarm would never ring,
But six rings and I rise,
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes,
The shaving razor's cold and it stings!"

With a swift push cut, she drew a neatly horizontal blow across the Weirdos skull, as if she had aimed it precisely rather than simply let her guard down a bit.  The result should leave the top part of the victim's skull looking rather like a chili bowl once it detached from the rest.

"Cheer up sleepy Kelly,
Oh, what can it mean,
to a Daydream believer
and a Homecoming queen?

Come on boys, where ya goin', I ain't done yet!  Al Dickson says hi!"

So it seems Kelly's dad changed the lyric slightly, probably best not to tell her, judging by the fact she was very intent on recalling the Weirdos through sheer force of will apparently.

06:05, Today: Kelly MacLeod drew the single card: 6S using the Deadlands system.

Seeing the body fall before it could attack Del, Dean turned and moved back.  The woman with the rifle had already recovered, thrusting the weapon out the window to fire down at her attackers.  "TAKE THAT YOU BASTARDS!," she yelled, confidence growing as the tide turned.

Dean let his power fade as he stepped up beside her.  He shared her sentiment but didn't join in the yelling.  Raising his own weapon, he targeted the other weirdo and fired without remorse.  Raiders who escaped would just be a pain in the ass later after all.


OOC:

Riflewoman shoots and hits!
20:40, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 6 using 1d4, rerolling max (((4+2)6)).

Dam with 2 AP
20:41, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 10 using 2d8, rerolling max ((3,7)).

Dean shoots and raises
20:41, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 11,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max (((8+3)11,2)).

Dam with 2 AP
20:42, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 14 using 3d6, rerolling max ((1,(6+2)8,5)).

dropping the invis as no longer needed (and don't want to pay more cost).

Harry was tempted to just let the raider run. He wasn't a bloodthristy killer. He knew the value of mercy.

But he had the feeling these raiders weren't worthy of it. They had that thing to feed, and they preyed on people not because they felt they had no choice, like Crowboy and Steve, but because they wanted to feed some unholy thing.

To everything, there was a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. He thought. He wasn't sure where that was from...something he'd read, surely. It felt biblical. But it might have been part of an old song, playing through his head. But whatever. There was a time for everything. This was not the time for mercy.

So he followed behind the raider in his slow, plodding way. He drew a bead on her, and took a shot, trying to get her in the leg so he could slow her down enough to catch up.

((OOC: Harry continues moving toward the runner, popping off a shot with his Ruger as he does so.

18:02, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 6,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  Shooting. Hit.

18:04, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 6 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Damage.

I think that'll only make the non-blinky blinker Shaken, but as long as she remains Shaken she should also be slowed down enough for me to catch up to her.))

---

Orville, meanwhile, had no pangs of conscience. The thought of sparing the raider didn't even enter his head -- these men had come to destroy his livelihood and his family. He would take no prisoners today.

But though his will was sharp, his hand trembled slightly as he aimed the crossbow, and his shot went wide. He cursed, and stopped to load another bolt, trying to get another shot in before the raider slipped into the trees.

((OOC: 18:14, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Shooting (Harrison). Miss.

Card for next round: 5S))

At the Gate

The top of the Blinker's head fell away as he continued to run.  His run became increasingly erratic and uncoordinated.  He just kept trying to run...but things weren't working right anymore... Run...  Run...  He hit a tree without even turning and flopped back with useless finality.

Harry's high-caliber round clipped across the Blinker's shoulder armor.  The force of it was enough to send the Blinker stumbling.  It also forced her to try zigging and zagging.  Head ducked slightly in some instinctual defensive posture as she continued to make for the woods.

The other Blinker found it much easier to ignore the crossbow bolt that winged past him and made it into the trees.  As soon as he hit said trees at the edge of Fletcher's light, this Blinker cut his lights and seemingly winked right out of existence.  At least....for those without goggles....

At the Blockhouse

The Scouts on the ground veered off from each other, trying to spread the target opportunities as they tried for the woods.  The rifleshot cracked into the wing pack with a shower of sparks and electrical discharge.  The scout threw up his arms with a screech; some from the bullet.  Some from the random electric shocks.  He hit the ground in a flaring sizzle.

The other Scout didn't make it much farther.  A crossbow bolt cutting through his leg.  He crashed to the ground like the other.  Screaming.  He was trying to crawl for it...but he wouldn't make it.  The shiny trail he was leaving indicated something very major and important was cut...



Zone Rundown

At the Gate

Kelly is UnEngaged!  Her Blinker is DOWN.

Harry is "Jasoning" after a Blinker (Shaken)

Harrison is UnEngaged

Fletcher is UnEngaged - Zone is still Lit, negating darkness and Blinker penalties

2 Blinkers are running for the trees!  You have this action to get them before they hit tree cover and we Chase it out.

At the Blockhouse

Dean and the Riflewoman are free to act!

Delilah is limping around the side of the Blockhouse!

2 Scouts are on the ground behind the blockhouse (likely of a mind to run like heck on their action!)

Round 5 - Farmhouse Fight!

Kelly (<s>Daryl the Longbow) - JS

Dean - JS

Harry (Harrison) - JD

Scouts - 10C</s> (BOTH DOWN!)

Fletcher - 9S

Del - 8H

Blinkers - 8D

Fletcher and Del are up!  There's a Shaken Blinker at the Gate being stalked by Harry.  The last Blinker went dark and is in the trees.  Take your actions, but I think we're pretty much done here!

Fletcher paused and held up his light.
He took a good look around to see if any of the farmers who weren't in the block house were injured and in need of help.  Not that he could do much for them, but it seemed more useful than trying to chase a weirdo through the dark forest.

Del leaned up against the house and took her hat off, wiping a cold sweat from her forehead. She didn't see anyone left to pepper with fire, so that was good.

"Thanks for the backup, Dean-o!" She called upwards.

The last Blinker scrambled for the prospective safety of the trees.  She managed to regain her footing and balance after her panic.  This Blinker too pulled the wires to her lights and they winked out too.  She prudently didn't offer any last whoops or songs, just sprinted into the treeline...

The dead warsinger's amplifier pack continued to belt out the rest of the warsong recording.  The lights of the fallen weirdos continue to strobe and blink in time to its call, scattered across the fields around the farmyard.

Out of Combat!  Two of the Blinkers, lights out, made it back into the trees.  Now, Fletcher has a light and Kelly has goggles on.  Is there any desire to chase after them?

Kelly pondered the circumstances for a moment, then called out.  "Do we have any injured?"

Harry scowled as the Blinker he'd been chasing vanished into the treeline, but he was not really very good at foot-chases, and tough as he was, he didn't want to get caught by surprise and surrounded if it turned out there were more of them. He just had to hope that the Blinkers would run into McKellar's crew.

Instead, he began looking over the ones who had been downed, checking for survivors.

Fletcher hung around with his light, making sure those out by the gate could see as they checked wounded enemies and allies alike.

Not bothering to scowl at her name adjustment, it wasn't worth it after the fight.  "I got your back," he called out to his partner.  Turning to look at the rest of the people up in the room, he gave a nod to the riflewoman.  "Well done," he said to her.  She had made good use of that rifle after all.  He took a few minutes to check on the rest of them, seeing if any were injured.  Luckily most seem just shaken up from the violence.  For a bunch of farmhands, not bad at all.

Once done, he started moving back to the windows, resuming a watch around the perimeter.

Orval Harrison finished reloading his crossbow again, but the damn light-up assholes were out of sight.  Besides which, the Templar's call about wounded reminded him of Daryl.  He limp jogged his way over to the man and slowly knelt down, "Dammit boy...  Dammit to..."  He leaned in closer, checking the farmhand and receiving a groan of pain.  Harrison, quickly shouted back, "Over here!  Daryl's hit bad, but he's still kickin'!  Hep me gettim to the house! And shut that damn music off!"

---

Between their strobing lightsuits and Fletcher's light, it wasn't hard for Harry and the mechanic to find the downed Blinkers.  Most were already gone or close enough that there wasn't much chance beyond a miracle.  And those were pretty thin on the ground these days.  Two of them though...  They were hit bad, but would probably pull through with a little TLC and maybe an amputated limb.  Of course, that might not be the worst of their troubles.

---

The riflewoman beamed at Dean's compliment.  If a general came down and handed her a medal she couldn't have been more proud, "T-thank you, sir.  And...  Just....thanks...."  She joined in helping with and checking on the others.  She did take a moment to call downstairs, "WE GOT 'EM!  THEY RAN!"

Kelly moved toward the shouts of casualty.  She let down her proverbial guard, only taking a moment to remove the worst of the Weirdo juice from Connor, who would have to be cleaned properly later, but at least this way it wouldn't gum up the scabbard.

"Right.  Okay.  Water.  Hot water.  Cloth, preferably in long strips, softer the better, cotton ideally.  Antiseptic, whatever you've got, grab the booze if nothing else."

She wasn't sure who she was ordering or if anyone would respond, but Kelly always tried her thimble full of mundane skill first.  She was no village sawbones, but she had a long history of improvising (sometimes) effective wound treatments with... well, quite frankly, absolutely nothing.  Medicine was not something she did at a level anyone could consider "professional" but Kelly's skills were real, if limited, hard-earned, and surprisingly rare.

"Is the cookfire still going?  Get something clean and metal and stick it in there, I prefer to avoid it, but we might have to cauterize a blood vessel."

Such was life in the apocalypse.

04:52, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Healing.

Okay, I'm just going to throw this roll out and see if that succeeds or fails, because I have no idea if they have enough "stuff" laying around to improvise enough supplies to not take a penalty for lack of same, though this being a farm the odds are probably decent they at least have clean cloths and alcohol.

If not we'll go to option 2: Magic!


This message was last edited by the player at 09:59, Sun 11 Aug 2019.

At the shouts for help, the Blockhouse door opened up and a lady with the same weatherbeaten toughness that Harrison had developed stepped out.  She had a shotgun in her hand, still ready just in case.  She lowered it though at the calls for medical supplies.  She relayed the orders back into the house and very soon necessary supplies were being rushed out to Daryl.  Not just farmhouse stuff that could work, but an actual kit stocked with scavenged supplies.  The Templar had the bow-farmer patched in no time.  He'd be okay.  Sore....but okay.

The lady at the House stepped out and over to Delilah, "You alright?  Saw ya get knocked pretty hard.  Anything you need?"

Harry dragged the two who were still alive back over to the bunkhouse, then headed out to search the dead ones for any sort of useful supplies. Waste not, want not, after all.

"She needs to come over here.  And I need a candle.  A lit candle."  Kelly replied, impressed with the availability of medical supplies.  "I need to check her for concussion."

Kelly's whole demeanor had shifted.  Gone was the Crusader, present was the no-nonsense careworn nurse.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Mon 12 Aug 2019.

Dean let the lot celebrate, tend to the injured.  It wasn't much in his skill set and, as far as he was concerned, there were still enemies out there.  So he continued to patrol and keep watch from the top floor, looking out into the darkness.

Fletcher stuck with Harry, helping shift the injured and then venturing back out to collect what could be useful.

Del brushed herself off and waved the nice lady away. "I know I look like a stiff wind'll do me in, but really, I'm fine."

She limped her way over to triage-central, stuffing dropped brass into her satchel. "No concussion. But if these folks grow Mary-Jane, that'd be swell," she snorted. "Now, hurry up so we can get to work huntin' the rest."

"Yeah let me be the judge of that.  Though your speech is good, that's a start."  Kelly's test was not extensive.  "Look here.  Look here.  Let me know when you see the candle.  Any pain?  What's my name?"

"See it, see it, I got run over by a guy in armor which makes everything hurt, and you're Swordbabe." Del submitted to the tests, however unenthusiastically.

Once Daryl is in good hands, Harrison takes it on himself to go shut that music off.  It takes a bit and some wire pulling, but he gets it, "Used'ta like that song...  Ah well...  Assholes...."  Other farmfolk come out to help begin the cleaning up with Harry and Fletcher.  No one seems to pay the wounded, wailing pair of Weirdo prisoners much attention.  Well, other than a young woman with a rifle who has put herself in charge of keeping them under guard.  She also seemed to be hoping for any reason to use that big rifle again....

In the quiet minutes after the music is cut off, everyone make Notice rolls!

Kelly nodded.  "All right, if you a concussions it's the wussiest one ever."  She slapped Delilah's backside.  "Go on and git then."

She thanked the residents for their medical supplies before "closing down", as it were, as it seemed no one else needed attention beyond the prisoners possibly.  Kelly sighed, and headed toward them, but not before scavenging something to clean Connor with, he was covered in that nasty sludge.

06:36, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 2,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Notice.

Harry continued poking about the dead...

((OOC: Totals for various rolls:

05:35, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 3,-1 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1.  Scavenging.
05:35, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 10 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+4)10.  Red Chip bonus.

13 total for the scavenging roll.

05:39, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Notice.

5 for the unrelated Notice Roll.))

Fletcher worked with Harry and the farmers to quickly sort the junk from the... not quite junk.

Fletcher rolled 1,5 using 1d6,1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Notice.

Fletcher rolled 2,10 using 1d6+2-2,1d8+2-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(8+2)10.  Scavenge.

Fletcher rolled 7 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6.  Components.

So that's two card draws for Scrounger

Once the music was cut, the deep general silence of the World That Is returned.  There was some noise still with the "clean up" operations.  The quiet, relieved conversations of the farmfolk.  And the whining, quieting howls and curses of the wounded Weirdos.  Kelly, Harry, and Fletcher, along with Harrison and a few of the farm folk did hear something through.  Faint whoops and howls through the trees.  Followed by the pop-pop-pop of scattered gunfire.  It doesn't take long and everything goes quiet again.

Harrison, and most of his folk, had gone still and silent at the sounds.  Nervousness suddenly returning at the idea that the violence might begin again...

"McKellar?"  Fletcher wondered out loud to those within earshot of where they were working.

"Hope so." Harry replies. He hoists the machine pistol he'd pulled off the ugly with the axe. "Guess we'll find out soon."

Kelly grabbed one of the wounded prisoners.  "Where.  Did.  They.  Run.  To."

The injured Blinker Weirdo gritted her teeth, very sharp shark-like teeth, and snarled back at the Templar, "To Hell!"  She then followed that up with a gob of ill-aimed bloody spit, "Or to the Camp.  The whole Band will come for you now!!  All your voltages will belong to US!  I hope you burn Bright!"

---

One of the farmfolk, an older man with a heavy limp, made his way to the door of the blockhouse, calling out, "Orval!  Got Rusty on the Horn!  Let 'er know we stopped the bastards!  There's a lot of interference, she thinks there's more raiders!    She's trying to find McKellar!"

Harrison's shoulders slumped at the news, "More? Dammitall..."  The rest of the folk didn't take it much better.  The riflewoman standing near the wounded Weirdoes, an thus Kelly, looked particularly angry.  Her knuckles going white on the rifle stock.  Harrison yelled back to the radioman, "Tell 'er we'll find 'im quick as we can!"

Harry looked at the plentiful SMG rounds he'd scrounged, then handed the fancy machine pistol over to Dean. He looked at Orval.

"Well, if those gunshots we heard was McKellar taking down the fleeing ones, we might not have to worry that much." he says. He shrugged. "If we do have to worry, then at least McKellar's squad will be here to back us up before the raiders get their reinforcements. With the loss of this lot, and the ones we squished earlier, their manpower has to be running pretty low."

He jingled the ammo he'd found. "Besides, we came out ahead here. We only took a couple of casualties, and no actual fatalities. We've got their guns, their throwing stars, their clubs. This ammo fits one of the guns we have as trade fodder in The Dog...no one claimed it, because we didn't really have enough rounds, but with this we've got almost two clips worth of of ammo. Let me bring The Dog around, in fact. If we're gonna face another wave of these guys, you could probably use some of what's in our trade stash."

((OOC: I'm going to go get the SMG from the Dog, and I think we should distribute some of our stash to these guys. We can at least distribute some scavenged armor and some knives or spears, and make sure everyone has a melee weapon in addition to a ranged one in case they get real close again.))

I think that's a good plan.

Kelly was not having that and shoved the Weirdo into a tree.  "Where's the Camp!?"

"More raiders out here, 'r in the town?"  Fletcher hollered out to the radio man.

"We dropped McKellar 'n his folk off down the road.  They were s'posed to be makin' their way towards here."

The Weirdo grunted as she hit the tree.  She started to look like she'd just continue to angrily rant and stall the Templar....but then she got a sly look.  And an awful, bloody grin.  "West.  The dam on the Rolliefort.  The Queen's Lake.  Go and die there.  Your soul will power us up to Eleven!"

The riflewoman standing over the Templar's interrogation brought her rifle up to her shoulder and leveled the business end at the grinning Weirdo, "How about you just die here, freak!?"

---

Harrison and the farm folk did not disagree with Harry's idea.  The Farmer split the hands up to a few tasks.  One group to get Daryl back inside and start resetting for another attack.  The Farmer himself and a couple of others joined Harry in looking through the Dog's Armory.  Harrison had an eye for workmanship and he wasn't terribly impressed with the scrappy raider gear....but he was also not impressed with the state  of constant threat.  They'd find some of their folk that could wear the armor.  The light spears would be a useful addition to the upstairs arsenal to throw at attackers.  The farm folk had their own spears and knives.  But they weren't going to turn down spares; even shoddy, poorly made ones.

Orval eyed the firearms, noting, "Won't say no to that little pistol; could be handy in a pinch.  Got our own militia rifles for our trained shooters.  We could spare some ammo back to you for your rifles.  Least we could do."

---

Back at the gate and the woodline, there's some crunching of boots in the dark woods.  A prim, almost-English accented voice called out, "Head up.  Feet beneath you.  Friends approaching.  We'd rather prefer not to be shot."

"This one?" Harry says, holding up one of the .22's. "Sounds like a good trade to me. How much rifle ammo can you spare?"

Harrison nodded at the little target pistol.  He didn't have to consider long on his offer, "Box of nine.   We get 'em through the militia issue from HQ.  And they can yell at me all they want about trading it away, you all will make damn good use of it and in defense of us.  So it all washes out, I spec.  Wisht I could spare ya more."

"If beggars were horses, choosers could wish." Harry says. "We do what we can. 9 rounds is 9 rounds that we didn't have, and now these things are a damn sight more useful than ugly clubs."

((OOC: How much of the .22 ammo is he taking?))

Kelly let the Weirdo be.  She walked in front of the woman, standing directly in front of the rifle's muzzle.

"Though I must be harsh to get the information which could save us right now, no good is served now by this."

The riflewoman lifts the muzzle of her gun as the Templar steps in front of her, with a look of confusion and surprise.  The Templar's words don't do much to help with that confusion either.  She was angry enough to argue the point, but....

Prudence stepped out of the woodline cautiously.  Before the riflewoman or anyone else could get too many worrisome ideas, other folk stepped out into the farmyard.  The Lockesburg militia squad dragged a couple of Blinker bodies as they came.  Crowboy and Martin looked around the farmyard warily.  Lastly, McKellar stepped out and began heading right for the blockhouse.  Even in the dark, he seemed to just know the way.

The appearance of the group, in the dark, was enough to get the riflewoman's full attention, but she relaxed as soon as she could tell (in the scanty light) that it was militia.  She headed that way to talk with them, murderous intent forgotten for now.

Once Harry had finalized his deal with Harrison, he looked up at the approaching militia party. He headed over to McKellar's crew. "Is that all of them that got away?" He asked without preamble. "The weirdo we captured said they'd head back to their main camp to get reinforcements." He peered at the bodies, trying to see if the one he'd tagged but which ad gotten away was among them.

Kelly too headed over and commented.  "The captive said it was west of her, and apparently near or on a damn on something, presumably a river, called the Rolliefort, and mentioned The Queen's Lake.  I thought neither America hadn't had a queen in like hundreds of years?"

McKellar is easily diverted from his march to the blockhouse by the interception of the Dogs and the Harrison Farmfolk, most specifically Harrison himself.  The riflewoman stayed guard over the wounded weirdos (who continued to mutter and wail).  Kelly at least got the sense that the farmgirl wouldn't execute them....for now.

McKellar first responded to Harry, evenly noting, "We got all we could find.  Its very dark.  How many do you think got away?"  Not judgemental....or maybe it was....  Hard to tell with this deadpan fella.

Harrison, having cut himself a plug of tobacco, spat out a stream of juice and looked curiously at the Templar, "Rolliefort....  Roll...  Rolling /Fork/.  The lake is likely De Queen Lake.  Name of the town nearby.  Tweren't no royalty involved.  I ain't real happy with the notion of these assholes settin' up homestead that close..."

"Two that I'm sure of." Harry says, looking at the corpses. "Looks like they ran into you. I'm not sure about any on the other side of the bunkhouse, though." He looks over at the interrogation. "Sounds like their main camp is close, though, so it might not matter a whole hill of corn and beans in the long run...once this group is missed, they'll probably send a larger group anyway. So i suppose the question is -- do we try and whack them at their camp, or do we fortify here?"

"If we meet 'em at their home, there's no telling what tricks they'll have waitin'.  These guys could prolly do a lot with a primed reactor 'n time ta get some junk together, given what we seen so far."  Fletcher pointed out.

"If we wait, 'less word gets back and they're feelin' vengeful in a very particular way, there's no guarantee they'll hit here 'gain 'stead a one a the other farms 'r Lockesburg itself."

"They will reprise.  We need intelligence.  Acting blind or guessing isn't going to do us any good."  She pointed at Harry.  "Don't make that joke."

Once the two groups had merged and there were more people available to keep watch up in the bunker, Dean headed back down to rejoin his own team.  A couple had gotten away but it looked like someone had mentioned it already.  Keeping an ear out toward the conversations going on, he moved among the dead and helped pull useful equipment off.  "Even if some got away and went elsewhere, a group this big came from their base.  Come sun up, tracking them back should be a simple matter," he said, loud enough to be heard as he moved about.

McKellar stony expression gained a bit more of a grim downward curl to his lips at the suggestions.  Though, his opinion on the matter seemed fairly clearcut, "They will return.  And you are right that we can't guarantee where.  I'd much rather fight on /their/ ground instead of mine."  He did eye Fletcher though, considering, "I agree they will likely have more surprises...and that reactor is a problem.  But I can't leave them on my doorstep.  They'll keep coming."

Harrison spat again, then pointed out, "Hell, Deke done said they prob'ly already hittin' somewhere else right now."   He yelled into the blockhouse, "Hey Deke!  McKellar's here!  Find out any more?"

The radioman limped back to the door as quick as he could manage, "They can't raise the Whittens!  Others are reportin' some kinda powerful noise that way.  Rusty's rallyin' the rapid responders out there now."

"What joke?" Harry says, raising an eyebrow. He knew which one she meant, really, but he wasn't actually in the mood to crack jokes anyway. "Anyway, I'm with Dean. Trailing them back to their base and getting a good idea of what we're facing before we make an attack..." He scowls at word of another farm being hit. "Damn. How far away are they?"

Kelly listened.  She was no general, but she figured it was better to attack the enemy while their forces were split than to wait for them to reconvene.

How many of them were there, she wondered.

McKellar answered Harry without sparing him a look, "Rapid Response technicals can use back roads and trails.  They'll be there within ten.  From here, in your truck, we'd have to swing wider.  Fifteen...twenty minutes depending on how you drive."  He finally looked up at Harry, "Are you offering your truck again?"

The radioman looked back and forth, mostly just hoping for someone to tell him what to radio back.

Harrison spat again, then noted, "You'll be damn late to the party if'n you go.  If they sent anythin' like what they sent here...  Shit...  Sam and his folk are fighters, but they ain't ready for these crazy bastards."

Harry listened, then considered. "These folk are kidnappers. And from what we saw here, they're on foot. If we go after 'em now, we ain't gettin' there in time, and the main camp'll have hostages when we hit them." he scowled. "I'd like to get a recon of the camp first, but if we go right now, we can hit them while their main attack forces are split and they don't know what happened here. If we're lucky, we can ambush the bastards and rescue those they've taken, then hit their main camp while they've got their pants down."

"That's a lot of 'if,' Hare-Bear," Del frowned. "The raidin' party might turn tail with the kidnapped, or worse, if they hear a big ruckus on the way home. Or their defenses might be a mile better than we think, the raiders come back, and then we're flanked, which is military for 'fucked.' I'm all for risks, but if we commit everybody one way or t'other, we gotta accept that there'll be consequences. Save the people, the bad guys get advance warning and do god-knows with it. Hit the bad guys, probably lose the people. The third road is splitting forces. Either a few go to reinforce the farm and everybody else hits Shitsville hard, or a recon team goes to Shitsville instead so at least we got a little know-what about their defenses. Ain't perfect. War never is."

"That bike we picked up'll take two if we wanna put a hurry on a few folks out ta the farm."  Fletcher offered.

In reply to Fletcher (msg # 163):

"Then I'm one of the two."  Kelly responded to Fletcher's idea.  "Delilah is exactly right, it's a lot of 'ifs', but I'm in the business of 'if'.  If there's one chance in hell, I'll have to take it.  Find someone who can drive that thing, or rig it where a mechanical idiot like me could manage.  I have to fetch something first.  It's desperate but so are we."

Kelly quit the conversation momentarily to find Young Angus and quite unceremoniously took off his head.  The whole body would just be too much.

Dean walked up, stowing the recently acquired ammo.  Cradling the rifle, he checked it over methodically as he listened to the group.  "Splitting us and our effectiveness might let us approach two but it also weakens what we can do.  Two against a raiding party of this size or similar is bad odds," he said with a shrug.

"Two's the right size for recon and sabotage, though. 'Specially on a bike. Ain't you invisible to them anyhow, Deano?"

Fletcher replied to Dean with a shrug of his own.  He wasn't about to argue with a templar, a decision that seemed all the more wise as he glanced over his shoulder to see her hacking the head off of the raider leader.

He turned to McKellar.  "Any a yer folk'd be able ta drive that bike 'n not get lost?  Won't do anyone any good if one ah us were ta go harin' off in ta the dark with no way ta find the place."

"Mostly, yes.  But we're not talking recon.  And approaching on a bike will be noticeable.  If you'd like me to recon a situation first, that's fine.  But it takes time.  Rescues don't exactly allow that.  I suppose I can work on that if you lot want to do the rescue run," he added.

Harry looks at McKellar. "Let's get your response team headed out that way...they might still be in time to do some good. In the meanwhile, is there any good point between that other farm and the dam? Someplace where we might be able to intersect these bastards on their way back to camp?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Tue 03 Sept 2019.

McKellar eyed the Templar and her offer.  Not suspicious, but appraising.  He obviously wasn't of a mind to tell the head-hunting Templar no either.  To Fletcher's question, the deadpan syker said simply, "Me."  He seemed neither pleased nor put out by the idea.  Just a straightforward fact.

To Harry, McKellar considered the answer a bit more, then nodded, "There could be.  Easier to say if they were using vehicles.  Only so many roads.  On foot...  Bear Creek is going to be their biggest obstacle.  Not too many good crossings.  But their scouts did a damn good job so far.  If they are walking we have hours to intercept them."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:48, Thu 05 Sept 2019.

"If you were one of these weirdos, and you may or may not have a reliable vehicle but did know you had to carry back uncooperative prisoners, where would the best place to ford Bear Creek?" Harry asked.

Kelly listened.  She liked where Harry was going with this.  Though she was crazy enough to try something stupid she was also crazy enough to try something slightly less stupid.

McKellar considered the question for a moment, absently looking off in a particular direction.  Almost as if he was trying to see through the black night and shadowed woods to the creek in question.  Firmly, he answered, "The old county route seventy bridge.  Bridge is gone, but there's shoals there and the frame.  Closest possibility to the Whitten farm."  He looked back again to Harry, "I can send one of my people to get you there.  Old roads.  Rough.  We don't use them much.  If you can get there, and that's their crossing, we have a chance at trapping them."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Sun 08 Sept 2019.

"It won't save the farm, but in my book it's a much better chance of saving the captives."  Kelly reasoned, implicitly hoping there were in fact captives and they hadn't just killed everybody.  She knew before she wasn't going there to help the dead, but the living.  "You're a god damn genius Harry.  Let's do this."

Harry nods, and gets The Dog ready to roll.

Dean wrapped up the scavenged goods that hadn't been selected immediately and stowed them in the cab.  After securing them, he clambered down and did a final check of his gear, new and old.  Satisfied, he jumped up on the trailer and resumed his previous position.

Direction decided, McKellar quickly got his people moving.  They checked weapons and gear as they hustled over towards the Dog.  The strange truck and its Driver must have picked up that something was about to happen.  That there was need.  The big engine suddenly rumbled and roared to life with a shudder.  Light flooded out in a blinding salvo from headlights, sidelights, roof lights, etc, switched on.  Even the cab interior lights turned on helpfully.

Those who rode on the Dog before might be getting used to its surprisingly "autonomous" nature.  The militia folk were...a bit more skittish.  Even the farmsteaders looked on suspiciously.  McKellar, of course, didn't balk and barely even broke stride.  He barked an order to, "MOUNT UP!."  And the militia did.

Martin and Prudence retook their spot at the rear ramp, ignoring the Dog's weird antics and quickly checking the .50.  Crowboy, who had /not/ taken the chance to slip off in the dark and chaos, had been staring wide-eyed at Kelly and her revealed Templar gear.  He now had physical proof that she was /in fact/ a mythical, sword-wielding, badass savior.  If he wasn't her personal (unasked for) zealot before he definitely was now.  As the others took their places on the truck, he took a moment to grab a machete from the salvage.  He swung the blade a moment; like a knight testing a new sword....

---

Fully loaded and carrying a veritable platoon of wasteland warriors, the Black Dog growled away from the Harrison Farmstead.  McKellar, unless "asked" not to, joined Harry in the Cab to navigate.  He was as grim, terse, and focused as you might expect from the cold Syker leading a chancy effort to save people who had put some faith in him.  The route back out from the farm felt shorter than it had on the way in.  It wasn't, but it being a little more known always made trips feel that way.  Or maybe it was the adrenaline.  Or fatigue setting in.  Lack of sleep can do funny things to a mind.

The Dog rumbled out onto the old highway again for a bit before diving down another side road.  This one wasn't particularly hidden like the last...but not exactly used either.  Or maintained in whatever rudimentary methods that could be managed in the days after the End of the World.  It was bumpy.  Overgrown.  Tree branches reached out into the path like desperate, hungry hands....

Harry! - Make a Driving Check!  This is to establish how quickly and ably Harry gets to the target point. Failure will have Consequences, but you'll rech the target point.  If you get a Raise, it will help all the passengers because....

All the folk on the flatbed will need to make Agility checks vs the rough ride.  I'll worry about the NPCs.  Dean is on the flatbed.  Who else?

OOC:

Hope a 4 is good enough...
14:46, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 4,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max ((4,1)).

Kelly knew Harry was no pushover, but she didn't trust McKellar after his little stunt, and Harry only had one hand and needed that to drive.

Granted, the saw would work just fucking fine in the cab, but it left Harry with only one option: a lethal one.  She supposed he could smack someone with the saw, but she didn't see a way that didn't leave a deep nasty gash.  Also, say this idiot did try something, was it really fair to count on Harry to drive and fight?

So McKellar got to cuddle with her, in a way not at all pleasant.

Much to Crowboy's disappointment, Fletcher hunkered down in the back of the sleeper opposite Kelly so he could have a spot to sort out the spoils he'd salvaged off of the downed raiders.  Losing a bit of this or that under the seat or in the corner was an inconvenience, but it was better than it rolling away and off the side of the flatbed trailer.

Harry focused on the road, though he let The Driver have some input, working in tandem with the ghost through his link.

((OOC: Sorry for the delay! This week was sort of swamping.

So Harry is going to spend a White Chip to let The Driver aid the roll. I am down to 2 White Chips.

23:32, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 9,3 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max (((6+1)7,1)).

That actually should be an 11, as I forgot Harry's bonus from his Computer Jack.))

The Black Dog slipped down the old, broken, Pre-War road as though it was newly paved.    Harry skillfully guided, with one hand mind you, the big truck down the old laneway.  He slowed when he must, sped up when he could and made better time than anyone could have expected.  What ruts and obstacles he didn't manage to catch or avoid, the truck seemed to manage for itself.  Those in the cab would see the occasional flicker of another pair of hands on the wheel or, almost comically, Harry seeming to be wearing a trucker's cap.  Those on the flatbed have a bit of a rougher ride, but the skill of the driver(s) smoothed it out to the best that could be hoped for. There's a few slips and near misses, but everyone managed to stay aboard.

McKellar, indicating no surprise at the ghostliness or the skillful speed, leaned forward and stared into the darkness beyond the headlights.  Inspired by some landmark known only to him, "Around this curve, slow down.  Intersection.  What's left of the bridge will be on the right."  Harry had plenty of time to slow into the curve and was ready to roll to the intersection.  The headlights swung across the dark trees bordering the road till they came back to glare down the road again on the other side of the curve.  They revealed a pair of truck-like vehicles already sitting in the intersection.

The trucks seem to be cobbled together and modified from some some Pre-War frame.  One has something big and covered in wiring; chaotic sparks jump around its surface.  The other seems mostly empty.  A handful of scrappy-looking Blinkers, with their lights currently off, are scattered around and between the vehicles.  They seem very surprised by the blinding headlights appearing suddenly from a desolate and unused road....

I'm giving you a Surprise Round, thanks to Harry and the Driver's skillful driving.   You have plenty of road to slow down before you slam through the enemy vehicles.   There are 6 Blinkers visible from the Cab.  Dean, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say you can "Sense" a change in the Driver or those in the Cab and known there's enemies ahead.

Everybody gets an Action!  Though you may want Harry to go first to decide how close the truck gets.

Harry gunned the engine, and mentally flipped a switch. The speakers of the Dog began blaring a thunderous bass line as they rode like a bat out of Hell through the darkness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIE4UjBtx-o

~DUNNNNNNNNN Dat-Dun, DAT-Dun, DAT-Dun!~
~DUNNNNNNNNN Dat-Dun, DAT-Dun, DAT-Dun!~
~DUNNNNNNNNN Dat-Dun, DAT-Dun, DAT-Dun!~
~DUNNNNNNNNN Dat-Dun, DAT-Dun, DAT-Dun!~

~If you're
Having trouble with the high school head,
He's givin' you the blues.~

~dun-DUNN!~

~You want to graduate,
but not in his bed
here's what you gotta do.~

~dun-DUNN!~

~Pick up the phone,
I'm always home.
Call me anytime.~

~dun-DUNN!~

~Just ring three-six-two-four
three-six, hey.
I lead a life of crime!~

~Dirty deeds!~

~DONE DIRT CHEAP!~

~Dirty deeds!~

~DONE DIRT CHEAP!~

~Dirty deeds!~

~DONE DIRT CHEAP!~

~Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap.~
~Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap.~

((OOC: I am, of course, aiming to do a near miss on the blinkers as an Intimidation test to make the Vulnerable, before coming to a stop near the vehicles.

23:01, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 1,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  Intimidation. No, that will not do at all. Spending a White Chip for a reroll.


23:01, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 13,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,(6+5)11.  white chip. There we go!

Card for next round: 5H))
This message was last edited by the player at 06:05, Wed 18 Sept 2019.

The Blinkers stare in confusion at the roaring beast of a truck barreling down at them.  When the music cuts on though, they start to scatter.  These are a folk who know that music, especially the Sacred Rock, can be songs of war.  They leap from their vehicles and try to scatter to the sides and out of the path of the mad truck.  Of course, they are unaware that this truck is hauling a bunch of angry, gun-toting survivors....

All six are Vulnerable (Actions against them are at +2) and Shaken!  The truck screeches to a shuddering slowdown in short range of them.  So, this should be quick!
 Have fun with it!

Everyone else, take an action and roll for a Militia Rifleman (d6 Shooting).  Harry, feel free to roll for Prudence or Martin.

Dean had the rifle slung, holding the crossbow at the ready, for the drive.  It certainly wasn't a fondness for the crossbow or any delusion that thinking stealth was an option while driving on the big rig.  No, it was more about the keen awareness that he had a whopping 10 rounds for the thing.  Bullets were hard to find at times.  Crossbow bolts he could make.

So when the rig came screeching and shuddering to a stop amidst the crowd of freaks, he shouldered the well used crossbow and launched a bolt without pause at one of the freaks farthest away.  No more runners...

OOC:
Forgot the +2 but doesn't change anything
Shooting
14:13, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 5,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max ((5,3)).

Dam if that hits:
14:13, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 11 using 2d6, rerolling max (((6+4)10,1)).

Rifleman shooting - is gonna kill someone...and not the enemy!
14:14, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max ((1)).


Init:
20:20, Today: Dean Mitchel drew the single card: 5H using a deck of 54 cards.

This message was last edited by the player at 00:20, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

As Harry came up on the weirdos and their trucks, Fletcher leaned forward to look out the windscreen.  His eyes were drawn to the sparking apparatus and his concentration focused there even as Harry slammed on the brakes, as Fletcher did his best to reason what the thing was for.

Fletcher rolled 8,3 using 1d6,1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,3.  Wild, notice (Or Weird Science, whichever is more appropriate, they're both the same dice pool)

Fletcher rolled (6+3)9+2(forgot!)=11.  Militia

Simon's Blessing, this is a "free" action.

"For it is You who blesses the righteous man oh Lord, you surround him favor as with a shield."

Casting Deflection!

19:01, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 4,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Faith.

lol thank goodness for Inspiration. lol wrong game

05:32, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 5,8 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+2)8.  benny.

Okay got it on the benny, raise!

Kelly barreled out of the cab like a bat out of hell, screaming in rage, both hands on Connor's hilt, her strokes powerful and aggressive.  Whoever was unfortunate enough to be in her way was not going to be very happy.

So Kelly is going to use a Rapid Attack, hacking at each target she can possibly reach, and she's going to Wild Attack.  That's a -4, but Wild Attack adds +2, Vulnerability adds +2, and Improved Trademark Weapon adds +2.

19:06, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 10,4,6,4 using d10+2,d10+2,d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,2,4,2.  Rapid Attack.

And that roll is TERRIBLE.  But one hit, and one hit possibly with a Raise.

10 damage - bleagh 19:08, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 5,5 using d8+2,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.

13 damage... freaking seriously?
19:09, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 3,7,3 using d8+2,d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,7,3.

19:10, Today: Kelly MacLeod drew the single card: 2C using a deck of 54 cards.

INSULT TO INJURY

Well that round sucked.

This message was last edited by the player at 10:33, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

((OOC: Did you count the +2 from them being Vulnerable?))

This message was deleted by the player at 10:33, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

Prudence, hanging on to the side of the Dog, takes a carefully-aimed shot with her snub-nosed revolver.

((OOC: Prudence rolls Shooting, firing with her .38: 12:35, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 9,5 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3.  Shooting (Prudence).

Hit and Raise!

Damage: 12:36, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 10 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5,2.  Damage (Raise).))

Clyde's hands were shaking.  Sure he'd plugged the occasional scrap off a post, but most of his practice was with an empty rifle, or at best a magazine with a single live round in it.

15:54, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 7 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7.  pew pew.

However it wasn't for nothing.  Sight alignment will get you far.

The Blinkers stand little chance as they scattered away from the big truck's charge.  The Templar's sword flew wildly as she leapt free of the cab.  Two of the nearest Blinkers were cut down immediately.  The others made it a few more steps as the made for the trees.  The flurry of overwhelming fire from the Dogs riders cut them down before they made it out of the the strange truck's lights.  A few more scattered rifle shots from overeager riflemen bark out at shadows.

McKellar leapt down after Kelly, but the work was already done.  His pistol was holstered again and he made for the trucks, waving his militia forward to follow him.

Fletcher exited the cab after McKellar had assessed the situation and holstered his gun.

As the militia moved forward he trailed behind, waiting for the all clear before he moved to try and check the safety and stability of the sparking machine so no one accidentally got themselves electrocuted.

Kelly did not waste time, she was looking for any captives (hopefully not victims) or additional Blinkers.  She followed the militia closely unless she overtook them.

Dean moved forward, climbing atop the cab.  He was sure someone would get to looting the bodies; pretty standard really.  But he wanted to make sure there were no lurkers or surprises.  So standing atop the cab, he kept watch, letting his eyes scan the area.

Harry, too, kept an eye out for trouble from within the Dog. He pulled his Ruger and set it within easy reach. It wouldn't do for anyone to try and take The Dog while they were all distracted.

McKellar absently pulled a dead Blinker off the first truck he came to as he looked inside.  Nothing.  A few bags, wires, and oddments but definitely no captives.  The other truck is half taken up by the...whatever that buzzing sparking boxy contraption is.  What cargo space there was was also empty of captives.

McKellar gritted his teeth, then turned to his riflemen and sent them to set a perimeter and police the dead.

Kelly was unhappy and bewildered, though not necessarily in that order.  She at least knew better than to hit the weird sparky thing with Connor.

"Did they split their raiding party?  Leave some of them behind while these others went back with this machine maybe?"

"Might be a mobile camp."  Fletcher ventured as he moved to inspect the electrical device close up.

"Help transport the scoutin' 'n raidin' groups, 'n give 'em a place ta juice up 'fore headin' out on foot."

The raider trucks are sitting in a three way intersection.  The Dog had arrived from the south end.  The old broken road continued on in a northerly direction.  The third branch lead off east.  The Dog's lights don't illuminate far down any of the branches at the moment.

McKellar seemed mostly focused on the eastern route, "Couldn't take them across the broken bridge."  He pointed to indicate the direction of said broken bridge down the east road.  "If they'd stayed on the main route, our patrols might've seen them at our bridge," he continued with his flat almost-growl, "I think they posted here and sent the raiders across to the Whittens."

Harry, from his vantage point in The Dog, kept an ear on the conversation.

"So we may have beaten the entire raiding group here, then?" He asked. "The one that hit the Whittens? Or do you think they've already tried to ford the river?"

"I'm willing to bet we beat the rest of the raid back to this point.  That's the only way this scenario makes sense to me, but I'm no philosopher either.  I vote we set an ambush, well most of us do anyway, and our best scouts... well, go on a scout."  Kelly suggested.

McKellar nodded, but only faintly, as he stared into the blackness of the side road, "Agreed.  I'll go.  Who else?"  Some of his rifles look ready to step up and volunteer; all of them eager to get to these bastards and have another bite at them.  Of the Dogs, Martin took up his bow and was ready to go; he'd proven to be a light-footed observant fellow before.  Crowboy will absolutely volunteer....if Kelly goes.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:49, Mon 30 Sept 2019.

Fletcher did not volunteer.

Instead he was looking for a way to provide a better grounding point, even if only temporary, to the spark generator.  It would be obvious to any returning weirdo if it wasn't turned on which wouldn't help their ambush plans at all, but he also didn't want it accidentally hurting anyone while they staked the place out.

From the top of the truck, Dean scowled slightly.  He didn't like the feel of this in the least.  These farmers weren't exactly expert woodsmen.  And McKellar wasn't a scout either though Dean could admit the man likely had more skill than the recruits.  Of course there was the fact that the man was a completely untrustworthy traitorous asshat.  It didn't change anything though.

"If you want to do this, guess I'm up," he said after a moment.  He wasn't thrilled but he was the best in his squad to do the scouting bit.

"All right."  She looked at Fletcher and Harry.  "Can you two rig something up with this junk to give these weirdos a surprise when they get here?"

McKellar eyed Dean for a long moment after he stepped up, then turned back to his squad, "Dix, you're with us."  Martin watched the wordless exchange between Dean and McKellar....then stepped over alongside Dean, bow in hand, "Yeah.  Think I'll go too.  At least to the river.  For backup.  Y'know.  Cuz it's....dark....  Y'know?"  The mention of that inspired him to grab up one of the goggle sets from the blinkers and put it on.  Dix, the chosen rifleman, seemed to think that was a good idea and picked up one himself.  Some of the sets had been smashed in the sharp "fight", but there were some usable ones.  McKellar didn't bother.  When the others were finally ready, the Lockesburg Captain lead the way to the river...

"What sort'a surprise?"  Fletcher asked, looking up from where he was gingerly working.

"Would it be better ta do somethin' like try n' light up as much of this area as possible ta try 'n take 'way some of the advantage?  'R you think somethin' ta try 'n just blow a few've 'em up would be better?"

In reply to Fletcher (msg # 208):

Kelly looked at Fletcher, and oh so helpfully answered.  "...yes?"

Then she reflected.  "Though I guess if you can overcome their trick they do, that's probably best."

"Right."  Fletcher replied as he finished up doing what he could to improve the safety of the situation.

He then moved to sort through the supplies in the trucks and whatever the raiders themselves had to see what he could come up with that might help with Kelly's requested surprise.

SCOUTING OUTING - Dean, McKellar, Dix, and Martin

The scouting party makes its way up the spur road.  It isn't far, but it's got some curves that hide the area of the old bridge from the intersection.  The forest thins as it gets nearer to the creek; the waterway having some intermittent and dangerous flooding issues that dramatically raise and lower its levels.  The old road suddenly ends in the crumbled span of the forgotten bridge.

Where the bridge once spanned the creek, it was probably about fifty feet.  Not nearly big enough to need piers to support it.  It looks as though erosion and flooding ate away at the near side, washing its support out.  With no maintenance, the road deck buckled.  There's still some of the bridge left on the far side.  The rest is in haphazardly tilted pieces in the waters below.  The strong currents rush through the accidental shoals with enough force to make you careful.  All of this is visible through the Glow Goggles, but its hard to see much about the waters above and below the river.  Or how deep the waters are.

It looks possible to clamber across the tumbledown sections of the bridge and possibly some other stones as well.  Not easy.  But possible.  Those currents don't look like they would treat a mis-step kindly.

Across the creek is more scrub forest and, at the moment, no sign of anyone or anything.

The Intersection - Kelly, Harry, Fletcher, Delilah, and the Black Dog Army

Fletcher!  There are bits and bobs to make things out of in the trucks and on the Blinkers.  Do a Scavenging Roll at -2 to see what you can manage for Components!

Harry and Kelly! - Any particular plans on the disposition of troops or just let them do their thing?  Hiding in the trees or staying in the intersection on the trucks?

"All right.  I'm not much for old world military tactics... but I think I understand these Weirdos.  A little bit.  Let's give them a focal point, that'll give us a kill zone.  I need a long, thick staff or log or something.  And yes, that is what she said."  Kelly added the last, getting the joke in herself to mitigate the damage.

Fletcher got to picking through things.


Fletcher rolled 11,3 using 1d6+2-2,1d8+2-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11;3.  scavenge roll

Fletcher rolled 6 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4.  Components found

Dean crouched at the edge of the forest and stared across the water carefully for several minutes, looking for anything that might be off.  Once he was certain, he gestured to his...companions.  He pointed to himself first and then across the way.  He might dislike this combination of people he was with but if they were going to do this, Dean was going to do it right.  He then pointed to McKellar's man, then Martin then McKellar himself.  Dean felt little but disgust and revilement towards the man, but he couldn't argue the man's lethality and capabilities.  It was just good tactics having McKellar waiting as support until the group was across and set up.

With a quick nod, he quietly slunk forward.  Picking out his route, he focused his mind a moment before almost skipping across the bridge and stones with ease.  Once across, he took up a hidden position and kept watch for the next in line.


OOC:

Notice:
12:33, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 3,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max ((3,5)).

Stealth
12:33, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 6,4 using 1d6+2,1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.

Psionics
12:33, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 6,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1.

Scouting Outing - Dean, McKellar, Martin, Dix

None of the other "Scouts" saw fit to gainsay Dean's silently indicated plan.  Not even McKellar.  Dean managed to scramble quietly enough across the jagged wreck of roadway.  Reaching the other side, he made his way forward while the others made their crossing.  One at a time.

Dean saw nothing through the blackness of the scrubby overgrown woods on the other wide of the creek.  The cracked roadway curved of into the blackness from the bridge end.  Dean was able to creep forward a bit more, listening and straining his eyes against the darkness.  Soon enough he was joined by Dix, who was quieter than Dean expected....but not up to his standards.  Martin managed well too.  McKellar moved with the expertise and training that Dean knew all too well.

Just as Dean was readying to move forward, he caught something just at the edge of his senses....not his eyes or ears...  Fear.  To the east.

The Intersection - Everyone Else

The militia folk did as they were bid.  It was easy enough to follow orders from a mythical post-apocalyptic knight.  Just seemed the right thing to do.  They carried some tools in their go-bags; certainly enough to manage the cutting down and branch stripping of a sapling or two.  Easy enough to work in the bright lights of the Dog still glowering over the old road.

Dean froze suddenly, trying to let his mind pick up more details.  He flicked a glance to McKellar before Dean pointed at his own head and did a visible shudder.  Nodding in the direction, he tilted his head.  McKellar might have picked something up as well.

Kelly took the head of young Angus and fastened it to the post they scavenged.  She hoped they'd recognize it... when it was too late.

"All right, is there a way here to move these trucks such that they encourage approaching a certain way, with a bright light behind this post here, and when they get close enough to look at it, Fletcher trips his light show."

Fletcher piled up what he'd found and began working.  A very short while later he'd assembled five pieces of pipe shaped scrap metal about a foot long and wrapped in bare copper wire and dotted with fiber strands and LEDs.

He scattered them at points around the ambush site so they would maximize illumination of the area once they were triggered.

"We can prolly put the trucks however you want."  Fletcher commented to Kelly once he got an eyeful of what she had in mind.

"I'd stick the genny truck behind yer boy there.  With the goggles they're maybe not gonna see real light anyway, but that's kickin' 'nuff background ta backlight stuff 'n a spectrum they'll likely see."


Fletcher rolled 5,8 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max ((5,(6+2)8)).

Scouting Outing - Dean, McKellar, Martin, and Dix

McKellar tilted his head slightly, eyes unfocusing and he turned in the indicated direction.  Very quickly, his features tightened again.  His stony expression cracking with fierce anger.  He motioned to Dix and Martin to stay put.  He then turned back to the West and started to move...

McKellar obviously has a plan.  Though he's not expressing it, nor does he make any particular suggestion to Dean.  So...  What's Dean's plan?  Follow or go off his own way?  If you Follow or Go off on your own Scout, give me a Stealth and a Notice.  Also, Goggles?

Dean scowled.  The man was intolerable.  Couldn't even signal?  Resisting the urge to grind his teeth, Dean kept scanning the terrain as he held his position for a few minutes...

OOC:
Yes for the googles, since I can't see in the dark without them.  ;)  -1 is worth it.

Going to wait for several minutes (5?) to see if he returns or hear/see anything?  After that, I'll continue onward since the job still needs doing.

In reply to Kelly MacLeod (msg # 218):

Harry watched Kelly messing with the head of the Weirdo, then looked at The Dog. "I think the big problem is going to be, where do we put Dog? I don't want them stumbling on it in advance of the ambush, but I also want to keep The Dog in reserve should we need it."

"Behind the others, maybe use it to drive around and cut them off if need be?"  It was pure speculation on Kelly's part whether they wanted or needed to do the latter.

"Either way, it'll be best if it's got plenty a trees 'tween it 'n them weirdos.  You'll need somethin' bright on those goggles ta hide it."  Fletcher chimed in.

Scouting Outing - Dean, McKellar, Dix, Martin

Waiting for McKellar to return took somewhere between seconds and forever.  When he finally did reappear it was from a slightly different direction than he had left.  He looked as grim as ever, "Large raiding party.  Three big ones.  They have my people.  If they took them all, that's ten hostages.  All on foot.  Their lights are out, moving slow and quiet.  Heading right for this crossing."

Matching McKellar's grim look with a frown, he thought for a minute.  "How are they spread out?  Where are the hostages?  In the middle?  Ropes, chains?  If it's dark, they have to be moving slow or the hostages would be falling every few feet," he mused.  He waited to see what other facts McKellar came up with before looking to McKellar's man.  "Run back, quick and quiet, and let them know.  At the least, we'll hit them on the flanks but we'll focus on taking out those guarding the captives."

Scouting Outing - Dean, McKellar, Martin

Dix gave Dean a polite nod at his...order, but polite or no the rifleman looked to McKellar to confirm said order.  Which he did with a slight nod.  As Dix crept away, McKellar regarded Dean, "They are spread in a ragged mob.  Little coordination, but moving quickly.  They have my people in the middle, dragging or carrying them."  He paused, "Are you considering having the three of us take on the whole force?"

Martin tightened his grip on his bow at the thought and audibly swallowed hard.

Ambush Crossroads

While most finished up the preparations at the ambush sight (gathering supplies for Fletcher, arranging things, moving the trucks, the bodies, etc), some of the rifle team had positioned themselves as sentries.  The sentry on the east roadway, towards the old broken bridge, whistled a signal.  At said signal, the rest of the squad dropped whatever they were doing and grabbed their guns.  They quickly fanned out in a prescribed formation focused on the eastern track.

Notice Rolls for the Ambush Folks!

Noticing the sudden movements of the militia, Fletcher looked to try and see what was up.

He put a hand on the trigger of rigged up "trap" but hesitated until he knew more.

Fletcher rolled 3,4 using 1d6,1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Wild, notice

Dean frowned.  "Much as I'd like to hit them when they weren't ready or sneak the hostages out, we just don't have time and there are too many.  I think our best option is to snipe at the prisoners' guards, right when they get ambushed.  We pick our spots.  Once the ambush starts, we hit the guards and then, if we can send one or two of us to lead the hostages out.  Or we simply shoot anyone who gets close to them," he said with a shrug.  No time for planning, no idea of the landscape and unsure of most details made planning rather challenging.

Kelly was crouched, and close.  She intended to wade in amongst them, cutting away anyone restraining a captive.  It wasn't a particularly wise idea to shoot at the hostages after all.

18:50, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Notice.

Harry, moving the Dog, took a look around at the sudden movement.

((OOC: 12:00, Today: Rusty Harry rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max ((1,4)).))

Scouting Outing - Dean, McKellar, Martin

McKellar shrugged and looked away again, back towards the direction of the raiders, "Agreed.  Let's get in position."  He began moving slowly back towards the bridge...

Martin lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding when it didn't seem like the little scouting party was going to take on the whole force.  He did draw an arrow and nock it on his bowstring anyway.

Moving back to ambush positions near the bridge.  Stealth Dean!  Do well enough and I'll give Martin a boost as Dean helps him get a good spot.

The Ambush Site - Everyone else

The rifle squad had separated to take positions on either side of the roadway.  Their rifles were up and ready.  Prudence had stayed with the Dog; more specifically the big .50.  Crowboy, machete sword in hand, crouched just behind Kelly and waited to charge with her.

At first, nothing was seen.  Even by those that were trying the few sets of working goggles.  But eventually those with goggles could pick out a figure moving down the roadway.  Man-shaped.  Moving slow.  And alone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:56, Tue 29 Oct 2019.

OOC:

Stealth
11:32, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 5,9 using 1d6+2,1d6+2, rerolling max ((3,(6+1)7)).

Kelly grimaced.  Everyone sneaky was already out on the scout.

She didn't want to set off the ambush for one enemy.  Swords were quiet.

She looked at Crowboy.  "Move back the line, tell everyone to hold, don't blow it on a single enemy, if this even is an enemy.  I'll move to intercept."

The Ambush Site - Everyone Else
Crowboy gave the Templar a quick nod, grinning and whispering, "You got it.  Save some for me."  He twirled his machete in what he hoped like impressively showy, then went off to pass the word along.

The figure continued to shuffle down the road towards the intersection.  A few of the ambushers also begin noticing a few more.  Down the road.  There.  In the woods.  There...  Two more.  A breeze kicks up, wafting down the old cracked road and it carries a smell.  A terrible....horrible smell....  A reeking, rotting, putrescent smell...

The rifle squaddies recoil at the smell, but don't leave their hiding spots.  They do begin dividing their aim up amongst the growing field of targets, but they do hold....  For now...

Scouting Outing - Dean, McKellar, Martin and....oh so many terrible things....

The scouting party drifted back towards the bridge to find suitable hiding spots.  Dean managed to find a rock outcrop that seemed to be thick enough that it might hide Martin from the goggle-eyed raiders.  While settling in, the trio of scouts notice a terrible smell on the breeze down the old creek.  A terrible, awful rotten smell....

Of course, while that may be interesting, Dean also spotted the first of the raiders coming through the trees towards the collapsed bridge area...

EVERYBODY GETS AN ACTION BEFORE BAD THINGS...  I MEAN INITIATIVE!

Fletcher reluctantly readied his seldom used weapon.

Whatever was coming didn't seem like the raiders they'd been dealing with.

Harry, from his post inside The Dog, was waiting for the fireworks to begin, unaware of the strange nature of the coming threat.

Kelly drew Connor and uttered a prayer for redemption, which was the wrong thing to pray for right now.

19:48, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 1,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Faith.

Whamp whamp waaaa

Dean got Martin settled in the best spot he could before moving off to find his own spot to snipe from.  He settled his weapon on a rock, giving him a little extra bit of stabilization.  He took careful aim towards the bridge.  Dean's noise crinkled and his brow furrowed as the smell began to waft through the area...

The Fight at the Ford - Round 1

The Far Shore
Dean turned his attention just in time to see, through the green goggle-glow, figures groping and stumbling their way up from the river bank.  The awful, horrible, rotting smell definitely wafts from them.  They moan wetly, as though water choked their throats...

From the scraggy woods just up the road from the ruined bridge, five of the raiders trudge their way out.  Their lightshow isn't on, so far as Dean can tell with the goggles on.  They are moving quietly even.  Careful.  They began spreading out in a ragged line as the made the road.  So far, they haven't noticed any of what's coming.  But, the "stinkers" aren't being stealthy, so that won't last long.

Dean realized quickly that Martin, McKellar, and his hiding places were now between whatever was coming up from the river and the raiders now stepping free of the woods.

The Intersection

The Dogs and the Lockesburg Rifles stood or kneeled in their places.  In the Dark.  Surrounded my shadowy, scrub wood that could contain so many horrible things.  But that would be the things that could not be seen.  There were, right now, shambling things that could be seen.  By some anyway.

One of the Rifles nudged Riley and whispered, "What is it?  What's that smell?  Jesus..."  He put a hand under his nose as though it would help.

Riley just stared through the green of the goggles, spitting a quick stream of tobacco juice to the side.  Then she whispered back laconically, "I thought that smell was you, Buck..."  Though inside she felt lucky she couldn't make out too much detail with these goggle things....

Round 1 - Fight at the Ford

Everyone goes before the Bad Guys!  Starting with Dean!

Also, Dean drew a Joker so....  TAKE ANOTHER CHIP!

Lastly, when you take your action, feel free to pick an NPC in your Zone to act as well!  (For Dean that'll be Martin.  McKellar and Delilah have no stats at the moment and I may just have them....Do Useful Things as needed.

Initiative Draw!

Dean - BJ!

Harry - JD

Fletcher - 10S

Kelly - 5D

Raider Vanguard - 4H

Stinkers #1 (Intersection Road) - 3D

Stinkers #2 (Over the River) - 2D

"Bloody hells," he whispered softly.  Of course things would start to go wrong before they even started the dance.  He wasted no time in turning to face the monsters, targeting the closest.  The crossbow twanged quietly as the bolt thrummed forward to slam right into the cranium...


Martin drew his bowstring back and fired an arrow at the raiders as soon things got active...

OOC:
Shooting (-4 to hit the head, +2 from joker)
19:51, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 20,-1 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+6)22,1.

Damage (+2 from joker, +4 from head, +1d6 from raise; 1 AP)
19:53, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 16 using 3d6+6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1,5.


Martin shooting
19:56, Today: Secret Roll: Dean Mitchel rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.

Martin damage
19:57, Today: Dean Mitchel rolled 15 using 2d6, rerolling max ((5,(6+4)10)).

How many of the shambling things are there (I might have missed it if you had stated previously)?  Still a ways away I know but if it's only a couple its a huge difference from dozens that we'll never stop in time.

Fletcher moved forward as he finally recognized through the odd view of the weirdo goggles that the group heading towards them was not the one they had been planning this ambush for.

Sliding a hand into a pocket he fished out a pair of discs roughly the size of silver dollars and with a few patterned clicks, caused them to glow blue as they turned on.

He passed them off to Kelly and Crowboy.  "Should stick on ta yer swords.  Give 'em a good edge for a bit."  He instructed the pair as the shambling stinky dead bore down on the group.

Fletcher rolled 13,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,1.  WS, WD

Activating Smite, with a raise!.  So Kelly and Crowboy are currently swinging blades that do +4 damage.

Smite Power Points: 3 used out of 10

Fletcher rolled 32.  Joker chip


One of the rifles takes aim at the shambler on the road

"Oooooh?"  Kelly smiled, a big, white, sharp, ominous smile.

17:37, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 19 using 1d35, rerolling max with rolls of 19.  da cheep.  A white, I will sit on that for now.

In a bit of mood whiplash she recited "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe."

Simon's Blessing... let's try Deflection again.  I believe we established the Goggles don't affect Faith rolls.

17:39, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 7,8 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+2)8.  Faith.

Hullabaloo!

"Don't break off from me until I say so.  Try to bait them into the weirdos, but any that approach our forces, kill.  Back to back."  She chastised Crowboy.  If he was doing this, he was doing it properly.  "Come on you ugly bastard!"

17:43, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 2,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Stanky!

OF course.

Ignore the other roll, I forgot you can just spend a chip to unshake, so I'll do that.  No point in rerolling it.   White chip come, white chip go!

That thing could knock a buzzard off a gut wagon.  It reeked.  Kelly was all to eager to rid herself of it.

Wiiiiiiild attack since I got that awesome deflection raise!

17:45, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 5,7 using d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4.  Fighting with Modifiers.

Well good thing I did, sheesh!

But let's see if WA+Smith is enough dakka

18 damage - That will do pig, that will do.  17:46, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 11,7 using d8+6,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,7.  Strength with Smite, Sword.

"Fletcher this stuff is AWESOME!"  Kelly practically squealed.

17:50, Today: Kelly MacLeod rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Crowboy Vigor.

Crowboy however simply threw up at the smell.  It was bad.

Harry, still back at the Dog, still unaware of the zombie threat, waited for a chance to spring his intimidating trap.

((OOC: Until the situation changes enough that Harry can realize the engagement has changed, he's On Hold.))

In the Cab of the Dog

Harry's link clicks open.  He can feel the Driver pushing at the electronics, trying to get through.  The computerized voice of the GPS blurring with static and stretching as the ghost gives it his all, "Hhhhhey there, Hand.  Haand...  Harry.  They're coming.  Not again.  Not haulin' those things again.  Won't go back.  Not back East.  Not back to the Dead...  No Sleeper Creepers...  Against policy...."  The GPS display clicks on and indicates a route, right down the east roadway towards the broken bridge.  A few pins are dropped onto the display map, one on the road and three off to the sides.  The pins are labeled CREEPERS.

HARRY!  Take two actions in this next round!  I'll also give you the White Chip Driver spend of +2 to Drive for three rounds.

On the Road - Kelly, Crowboy

Kelly forced her way close to the stinking nasty dead thing on the road.  Even this close the goggles obscured whatever this nasty mess of a walking corpse really looked like.  Connor hummed with the new high-speed vibration Fletcher's device had started.  The sword swept through the zombie-thing without slowing much at all.  In fact, the most effort Kelly had to apply was in her recovery off the backswing after the sword met so little resistance.

The other two fetid monsters come crashing and lurching out of the woods.  They seemed to suddenly speed up as Kelly had moved closer!  Their feet slapped wetly on the pavement as they charged in, lashing at the Templar with wild hungry hands...  Far too wild to have a hope of landing a solid hit on the expert fighter...

Kelly clears a Stinker off the Board!  Two Stinkers move to engage Kelly; They miss by a mile!

Crowboy swished his now-humming blade and grinned fiendishly as he charged into the woods towards his chosen target.  The powered-up machete swept through brush, clearing his path easily.  He started to crow joyously, but it was cut off quickly as he got close enough to really hit the wall of the smell.  It was like a physical thing, reaching down into you and squeezing your insides.  He stumbled.  He retched.

It gurgle-growled and lashed out at the bandit with jagged bone finger tips.  The "claws" scraped useless across Crowboy's homemade armor plating, knocking him to the wide...but not leaving any permanent harm....

Crowboy is Shaken and in Melee range of a Stinker!  It Strikes with a Raise....and fails entirely to cause any damage on Crow!

Over the River - Dean, Martin, McKellar, and a lot of Bad Things(tm)

As the shambling things struggled up from the river's edge, one suddenly dropped to the ground with a horrible, smooshy, wet sound.  A crossbow bolt's fletching decorating its forehead.

Dean takes another Stinker off the Board!

Martin drew back his bow; a little awkwardly with the weird Goggles.  But he managed to get settled and take his aim.  He loosed the arrow with a soft, easily ignored twang of string.  It flew in slightly wobbly spiral across the open space...the old roadway...then cut into the neck of one of the Raiders.  Said Raider gurgled uselessly and grabbed at his neck as he dropped to his knees....

Martin takes a Raider from the Board!

The Raiders suddenly perk up as one of their own crumpled to the ground.  Their goggle-eyes sweep around looking for the threat.  Two seem to settle on an area near where Dean took his hiding spot and they charge towards him, throwing whirring rebar spikes.  The first clattered off the old guard rail he had been hiding behind.  The second struck very true, point first across the Syker's face...

Dean!  Your Medium Cover blocked one hit, the other managed  to stick a spike in you for 13 Damage! Shaken and one Wound to the Face!  Spike tore the cheek and you get the Ugly Hindrance till its healed.  Unless you Soak?

The other two Raiders charge more or less down the middle towards the Stinkers shambling up from the river and let fly with more spikes.  The first lands too low, skipping and flipping off course.  The second flew too high and sails past the dead things.

The stinking shamblers lurch on faster now as the Raiders seem to get their attention.  And they seem suddenly able to move pretty fast indeed.  Not shambling now as they snarl and dash forward to meet the pair of Raiders in the open.  They mob them.  One Raider screamed as they began to tear into the flesh his makeshift armor didn't cover.  They other managed to hold them off....while screaming himself and heaving at the horrible stench....

The Stinkers take a Raider off the Board!

Round 2 - Fight at the Ford

Harry - On Hold (Two Actions)

Fletcher - QS

Dean - JH

Raider Vanguard - 10S

Kelly - 7H

Stinkers #2 (Over the River) - 7D

Stinkers #1 (Intersection Road) - 6C

HARRY, FLETCHER and DEAN - YOU ARE UP FIRST!
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:10, Mon 09 Dec 2019.