Emrys holds unless he sees something he can hit with his staff.  He waits for Evren and Leonard to come up to them (Emrys, Affare, & Wulfgang) and get ready before taking a shot if he's able.  Karl and Felix stay behind in support (with Calliope or Alfred).

Emrys and grogs from the night foray still can see in the dark (until morning).

Realizing he probably won’t be much use in combat, Affare heads inside and tries to figure out how to make himself useful.

Your night vision isn't of much help Emrys.

Whatever this "dark" is, it's not got a clear shape.  At least not at the moment.

Inside, Olga is starting to thrash around.  She's screaming.  Cursing actually.  A torrent of filth begins to strew from the little girl's mouth.

Her sister begins to convulse.

Johann is staring at the two of them.  He shakes his head.  "Should...should I try an exorcism?  I have the accoutrements."

He looks at the soldier.  "Can someone try to get his wound closed while I try..."  He stares at the girls.

"And I'll need someone to assist me. If you can speak Latin, that'd be a help."

Emrys and anyone else at the door, the darkness stops opposite you. It stands there, just out of the torchlight. Hovering.

Then it launches itself forward...

If you want to do something, like fire anything at it, I will need an init roll as well as any other applicable rolls please.

Questions? Thanks

Emrys points the staff of wood he's holding at the onrushing darkness but nothing further happens.

23:41, Today: Emrys rolled 3 with the Ars Magica stress die.  Piercing shaft of wood (+7 MuHe mastered, +10 damage) -3 aura. – 3

Fails due to aura drat;-)

OOC
Anyone want to play and roll dice for the other grogs in combat?

Wulfgang is a bowman
Evren is good with his polearm
Leonard is a bruiser

Calliope ran over to Father Johan.

"Father! It's coming! The darkness...I believe it heralds the Horseman! And I don't need a blessing or curse to tell you that much when the evidence is right outside the door like a dark mist probing at us!| she said.

"Latine loqui possum, pater Johan. I can speak Latin! And I speak it nearly as well as I can speak Greek! I promised God I'd learn more about Catholocism, so I suppose an exorcism is one way to do it!" she said.

She quickly turned toward the Grogs.

Felix? Go and help the soldier stay down and push some rags onto his wounds to help get the blood to stop flowing again. Just do what you can for him! Wulfgang? Get your bow and arrow ready, and hide behind one of the pews as cover. Evzen and Leonard? get up there by Emrys! Leonard, focus on keeping your shield raised and try and stay in front of Emrys. But DO NOT LEAVE THE CHRUCH, even if that means you need to physically move Emrys back a bit to position in front of him. Evzen, get your polearm at the ready. Karl? Go next to Evzen and use your polearm to hold the line. she commanded, switching once again from weird Olive-Oracle to Resolute Noble again, like she did back in Riga when she took control over the counter-ambush. The menfolk were panicking, so it was up to the women to keep things together.

OOC: I am putting Felix into "passive mode" and having him tend the wounded soldier. Just mainly getting the man off to the side if they need to move to a safer spot, and helping get rags and stuff to hold onto the wounds to help the blood stop, and otherwise keep the man calm.

I am assigning Leonard to use full-defense actions, or whatever equivalent this system has, and his heater shield and placing him in Front of Emrys and the 2 polearm grogs (Evzen and Wulfgang). He will sacrifice all attacks to try and boost his defense as high as possible. I don't know the combat system that well yet but this is my intention. He will not harm Emrys, but he will as gently as possible push Emrys bask slightly if needed so he can get in front of him to tank, because he totally understands why Calliope is ordering him to do this and knows that if Emrys falls we're all fucked lol.

I will take control over Wulfgang and Leonard basically, and Wulfgang will be hiding back a ways behind some pews and using his bow and arrow for the fight. I figure this way, Affare and anyone else who wants to more actively participate can grab Evzen and Karl, the two polearm users.

Affare and others: will you take Evzen and Karl?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Fri 10 May.

"I also know my Latin quite well," Affare makes known to all who will listen.  "I'm not sure an exorcism is really appropriate here, but I'm no churchman and will willingly assist the effort, if it is to be made."


I'd rather not run any other characters/grogs, if it's all the same to you.

The darkness rushes forward.  As it gets closer it seems to take on an outline.  That of a large wolf.

As the magic refuses to come together for you Emrys, and as Leonard, Wulfgang, and Evzen take up positions in front of you, the darkness rushes to the dooway...

and leaps upwards, out of view.  Suddenly from above there's a church shaking

WHUMP

Then the sounds of something heavy rushing around atop the roof.

Johann shakes his head.  "I don't know what else to do.  The girl must be possessed!  No child would act like this otherwise!

"I'm going to try the exorcism.  If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.  But it's what I can do.  Now here is what I need help with..."

If you want to help with the exorcism, I need a Latin/Int roll please.  It will be a Stress test.  More than one of you can make the test.

I will assume the medic and Felix are dealing with the wounded soldier.

If anyone wants to take other actions, you may.  But for now:

Olga is going all Linda Blair (except for the pea soup vomit).

There's something on the roof.

Calliope took her rosary in hand and began to chant in Latin as best that she could to help Father Johan.

"In nómine Pátris, et Fílii, et Spirítus Sancti. Amen." she began to chant in Latin, although would switch her pace to try and play off of Johan.

23:29, Today: Calliope Podarces rolled 3 with the Ars Magica stress die ((3)).

That is a base roll. From now on, I'm only rolling base dice and adding mods later. So this is 3+Latin 4 + Int 1 = 8 (9 with her specialty). She has an "academic usage" latin specialty that I'd like to apply here as well, showing that she is using her understanding of lore and her education to try and fill the gap between her and Johan's religious training, as well as using her academic know-how and enunciation to follow his lead. So if you are okay with it, her roll total is a 9.

Emyrs moves closer towards the tabernacle, looking at the roof and preparing to try his spell again.

22:08, Today: Affare Acisculu rolled 15 using 1d10+7 ((8)). Latin/Int

In reply to Affare Acisculu (msg # 307):

The sound on the roof changes to that like long nails being dragged across thick boards Emrys.  Whatever this demon is, it seems intent on dancing on top of the roof.  It moves away from the door, towards the area above the altar.  Then it starts jumping up and down.  The roof makes groaning sounds, as if it's going to collapse.

Calliope, since you were calling the grogs, are they following along with Emrys?

Calliope, you do a fairly solid job, reciting after Johann's lead.  And Affare, you rattle off the prayers like you'd been reciting them from the womb.  Olga screams and then screeches.  The sound of her voice becomes a thin, grating, jarring sound that echoes around the church, ringing through your ears and into your nasal passages, vibrating against the back of your teeth.

Slowly a black sort of ichor starts to seep from Olga's mouth.

"Almost!  We need to start the next round of prayers!  Follow my lead!"

Calliope and Affare, one more round of rolls.  But this time it's Latin/Pre please.

Emrys, the roof sounds like it's under quite a bit of strain.

Someone do let me know what Leonard, Evzen, and Wulfgang are up to please.  If not, I will assume they are still guarding Emrys.

Thanks

OOC: Here are my battle orders...

I will have Leonard stay guarding Emrys, his Heater Shield up. He doesn't know if that wolf will actually be able to get into the church from the roof somehow or not, and he doesn't want Emrys caught off guard.

Wulfgang moves off to the side, neither by Tabernacle nor entrance, and hides by some Pews and gets ready to snipe at any threats with his bow and arrow.

Evzen goes with Emrys.

...but Karl kind of hangs back close to Calliope and stays alert.

Felix is on passive mode helping the medic for this scene. He won't be a combatant.

Calliope issues some new commands to the Grogs, while trying to still assist with the exorcism as best she can.

"In nomine Dei eicio diabolum. Requiescat in luto satanas sub calcaneo Domini." she intoned on her own suddenly, trying to use her force of personality and sense of presence to more actively try and call upon God for help!

23:26, Today: Calliope Podarces rolled 2 with the Ars Magica stress die.  Presence+Latin.

Latin 4 + Presence 2 = 6. Plus 2 from the roll is a result of 8 (9 with her academic usage as she tries to speak the Latin as perfectly as possible to better invoke God and such). Basically...the same result as last turn, but because her presence is a 2 it evens out with the slightly lower roll. So still a 9.

Emrys stares at the ceiling...

OOC
Attempting to strengthen it (base 1?) range voice (+2), Duration concentration (+1) for magnitude of 4...Muto (4) + Herbam + (1) Sta (1) -3 = 3 + Die roll /5 (need a minimum roll of 15 to succeed)

01:01, Today: Emrys rolled 18 with the Ars Magica stress die.  spontaneous muto herbam (magnitude 4 strengthen ceiling). – 18

Whoop;-)!  I think

I could be mean and throw in a Te requirement.  But I won't.  Good roll

The roof seems to bolster, and although the noises continue, the roof isn't shaking as much.

Thanks Calliope.  Just needed to know if anyone was watching the door.

Wulfgang, you notice a beat too late.  Two men smeared with mud and river loam have come up to the doorway.  They both have bows.

They fire, aiming for Emrys.

One arrow goes wide.  The other one manages to swipe across the back of his head, not enough force to penetrate, but enough to be felt.

Or would, if it had hit him and not his imaginary double.

Olga convulses on the floor.  A black sort of sludge is starting to spill out of her mouth.  As it hits the floor of the church, it sizzles and turns into a foul smelling steam.

OOC: Ah that's what you meant. Yeah, that's why I had Karl more in the middle of things, so he could either rush the door or to Emrys if needed. And Wulfgang is definitely watching the door.

Calliope notices the attack immediately after the arrow is fired, but remains by Father Johan. Partially because she's a lover and not a fighter, but also to keep providing him with exorcism support as needed. It was very encouraging seeing that it was working, which only served to further reinforce her recently ignited faith in God. Like yeah, she was a Christian when she met the group, but only nominally. But after all she had been through in the past 1-3 months or so, gosh was she experiencing a renewed and invigorated interest in the Faith for sure! She had a lot to think about now, but first they had to get through the night!

"Grogs! Except Felix...to arms! Leonard, shield up and rush the doorway, and try to intercept any arrows they fire with your shield rather than attack. Karl? Sic 'em! Wulfgang? Shoot 'em! Evzan? Stay by Emrys for now unless he tells you otherwise, but focus on protecting him." she ordered suddenly.

She turned to Johan.

"Keep praying, Father. We have no other choice but to keep on going! Let the others do what they do best, and us leader/support types will do our thing in our own way. I can see and feel the presence of the Dominion here still, so we still have a chance!" she said, encouragingly.

OOC: GM? Again Felix is relegated to the background for this scene. Calliope is also not participating in the combat, and will stay with Father Johan.

Karl is in between Emrys and the entrance doorway, as Calliope had purposefully kept him closer to her as a sort of precaution. So he's gonna use his polearm and charge the door and try to skewer one of the archers.

Wulfgang will also try and shoot one of the Archers.

Leonard is charging for the door too, shield up, but will have a special focus on trying to - if this system allows for it - intercept any arrows that come flying in with his shield. Mechanically, he is moveing toward the door but will move in such a way that he will "run into the line of fire" and then use a full defense action to boost his armor class or what have you. His priority is equally Calliope and Emrys primarily, Affare after that, and everyone else third if he has to make a choice. But yeah...he's gonna run interception till he gets to the door, then will adjust tactics accordingly.

Evzen is staying near Emrys for now, but is alert but he will take an arrow shot rather than stand by and let Emrys get hit. But he is hoping he can parry or otherwise not get shot at, mind you. Heh.

Emrys maintains his concentration on the spell reinforcing the roof as he positions himself behind Evren.

22:02, Today: Affare Acisculu rolled 16 using 1d10+6 ((10)).

Affare, you churn out a whole section of the prayer, the words rolling off your tongue as easy as butter melts on a warm slice of bread.  Olga bends her back and then suddenly leaps off the floor while remaining prone.  More black sludge rolls out of her mouth and sizzles on the floor of the church.

The sounds on the roof change.  Whatever it is up there suddenly moves to the left and begins racing along the side of the wall outside Emrys.  It seems to be headed for the wall near the back of the church.  On the other side of the tabernacle.

"Your" grogs surge forward Calliope.

So noted on Leonard.

Let's get you used to the combat system Calliope.  For now, make me two rolls.  Both stress tests.  One will be for Wulfgang's return fire.  One will be a Athletics/Qik test for Leonard to see how good a "shield" he's going to be.

We'll add in the mods later.  For now, just make the rolls please.

I would like one last round of Latin rolls please.  And Olga will be finished.  Emrys, let me know what you want to do

Questions?  Thanks

Calliope continues to chant in Latin, trying to follow Father Johan's lead as well as occasionally throwing in some lines of her own. She felt that this more personalized touch would show God that it wasn't the ritual itself that was doing anything, but God interveneing by being invoked by them. In this sense, she could speak about cherry tarts and basket weaving and in theory as long as her heart was feeling faith, the exorcism could work. But...she wasn't going to go THAT far off script of course. It would have been a funny thought, if not for the surreal creeping sense of dread of the situation that drowned out her inner voice's laughter. But her resolve to stay the course was firm!

22:50, Today: Calliope Podarces rolled 7 with the Ars Magica stress die.  Exorcism. – 7

Thats 7 base + 4+(1) Latin + 1 or two depending on if you let her continue to use Presence or not. It's her best exorcism roll yet: 13/14. Guess God really did like that she realized that the ritual itself wasn't what mattered!

As for the Grogs...

Base results are:

22:50, Today: Calliope Podarces rolled 2 with the Ars Magica stress die.  Wulfgang. – 2

22:50, Today: Calliope Podarces rolled 8 with the Ars Magica stress die.  Leonard. – 8

Emrys casts a worried glance to the back of the church (and the ongoing exorcism) but maintains his focus on staying out of the line of fire and continuing to concentrate on keeping his spell up.

Okay Calliope.  For Wulfgang's bowshot, you got a total of 12 by my recokening.  Dex 0/Bows 5 with a +1 spec bonus from "Long Bows"/+4 Attk bonus from the long bow itself. Add in your roll.

Leo is defending on an 11.  Your roll plus the heater shields Dfn bonus of +3.

You can see all the Grog's states in the Grog pool.

One of the door-hunters takes another shot Emrys' way.  But Leonard is ready, managing to get the shield between the mage and the arrow.  The impact staggers the big man.  And the arrow punches a small hole in his shield.  But Leonard stays upright and ready.

Wulfgang holds his own arrow a moment and lets lose when one of the archers docks into the doorway, about to send another shaft Emrys' way.  But the archer is the one who gets shot: Wulfgang's careful shot managing to sink into the man's chest.

Olga stops screaming, though her body is still jerking.  She starts to retch, but what issues isn't that damned greasy, spluggy looking black mass.  Now it's just good old fashioned vomit.  She rolls to one side instinctively, emptying her stomach all over the floor.

Father Johann nods.  "I'll take care of her now.  Go hide.  Your..er...master is...doing something I hope."

He glances oddly towards Emrys and then moves to help Olga.

The noise on the roof stops.

The two door-hunters are moving to fire off another round of arrows.  But the two of them are moving somewhat slow.  the younger one iws taking his time, trying to line up a shot.

Calliope, Wulfie hit.  can you roll a die for his damage please?

And it's your guys go.  Thanks

Hearing an arrow thunk into Leonard's shield Emrys turns his attention from the room to the doorway.  The pale moonlight peaking through the front doors of the Church look almost silvery as Emrys staff sprouts thorns as he flings it out at an archer.

00:00, Today: Emrys rolled 12 using 1d20.  Piercing Shaft of Wood (Mu +4 He +1, Sta +1 Master+1 -3 aura) need  6+ on archer . – 12

+10 damage for staff sized piece of wood;-)

No longer concentrating on spell to reinforce ceiling

Affre strives to keep the Latin flowing like warm butter, even though his nerves are thoroughly frayed.


15:53, Today: Affare Acisculu rolled 8 using 1d10+7 ((1)).

This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Sun 19 May.

Johann leans Olga up, so she doesn't choke on her own vomit.

He glances towards the back of the church.  "I think we've done all we can for her at this point.  But do you think...that..."

He jerks his head at the back of the church where the pounding sound seems to be attacking the wall behind the tabernacle, "...is going to make it through the wall?"

No more Latin rolls needed. It worked.  Thanks

Your staff slams into the other hunter Emrys.  Wulfgang's arrow hangs out of the other one.

The two men stagger back and away from the doorway.

The banging on the wall of the church goes on for a bit longer and then stops.

Outside, you can only hear a few odd shouts.  Like the soldiers out there are calling out in agony.

You can take a breath.

Anyone heading outside?

Emrys grabs another staff sized piece of wood.