Ch. 9 Copperhead Road

[Philulhu]

Howard wished he’d spent less time in his studio and more time on the track as William pushed his foot to the floor and truck jerked forward. The student felt hands plucking at his clothes but they couldn’t stop him as James hauled him aboard.

On shaky legs, swaying with the movement of the truck, Thomas stood with his shovel ready. Beside him, Lawrence tried to clear the breach of his rifle, but the blood running into his eyes made it impossible to see properly.

The car with the burning petrol tank suddenly exploded with a “WHOOMPH!”, causing the chasing pack to scatter and dive for cover. Thomas was knocked over by the force of the explosion, sent flying to the floor of the truck amongst the debris there.

The sheriff fired one last shot but again it was wide, and William accelerated quickly and they were soon out of range...

OOC,Thomas - damage [dice]0[/dice] (A check against your Jump skill will mitigate this). Sheriff [dice]1[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

Howard lays in the truck, gasping for air, and shaking with adrenaline. Feeling the truck jolt it's way along the track, he dares to raise his head to see if their pursuers are following.

[Philulhu]

Just one of their pursuers was still on their feet. Wordlessly screaming, he staggered forward, flames licking up his body. He tottered a few more steps before his legs crumpled and he collapsed face first in the middle of road.

Behind him and beyond the church, flame-lit smoke from the sacrificial fire boiled into the sky. As Howard watched, it rolled and coiled like a giant snake with - briefly - dead, serpentine eyes that chilled Howard to his soul before it dissipated into the night sky... ...

OOC,Howard - SAN roll, please.

[Mr. Handy]

William keeps his eyes on the road ahead, focused on getting them out of here.

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence kept his profile low, wiping the accumulated blood and sweat from his eyes as he continued trying to unjam the rifle. He was in relief and disbelief, unsure how this whole thing had even happened, but glad he had at least survived.

OOC:   Mechanical Repair 50%,[dice]0[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

SAN,SAN 49: [url=https://orokos.com/roll/784382]SAN[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]31[/b]

Howard is transfixed by the image of the snake, wondering just what hell they have escaped from.

[peper757]

Jump (25%),[dice]0[/dice]

Thomas came down hard onto the bed of the truck, landing on something hard and injuring himself.

[Philulhu]

The road was rutted and uneven and it took all of William’s strength and concentration to keep the truck in a straight line.

In the back, Howard sat back carefully, his eyes not leaving the scene behind him, which was both abhorrent but strangely compelling at the same time. Beside him, Thomas lay on his back, winded from his fall and absentmindedly running his hand through his hair, picking out bits that had been charred by the explosion. Further still, Lawrence was trying to fix the rifle, picking out bits of bullet fragments from the ejection port, realising as he did so, that he had no bullets left.

Up ahead, William could see a break in the trees, the stars twinkling between the stygian shadows of the Cyprus trees. Through the open cab window, William could hear Brophy talking quietly to James in a language that he didn’t understand.

OOC,Howard - 1 point of SAN loss. Thomas - just the 1 HP damage as mentioned before.

[Mr. Handy]

"What's going on back there?" calls William as he drives.

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence just sat quietly as he stared into space, though William's call caught his attention enough to make him focus.
"What was that, William?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Brophy's talking to James in another language," says Wiliam.

[HoneyDog]

Howard gets hold of himself and turns to Brophy, suspicion all over his face.

"What are you doing?" he says in an accusatory tone.

[Philulhu]

”I am trying to ease his distress,” said Brophy sharply, glaring at Howard. ”James was forced to use his powers back there and I am trying to arrest the effects upon him.”

He glanced over the cab roof as they approached the edge of the forested area. ”I think you want to head right to go back to town, Mr Preston,” he said to William.

OOC,Is there anything you wish to do before returning to town?

[Mr. Handy]

William bears right as instructed.

OOC,There's nothing else I need to do.

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence mentally cursed his ill luck, due to him running short on bullets. Of course, he generally tried to keep that hidden from Brophy; if he tried anything funny, at least Lawrence could threaten him, even if he lacked the ammunition to carry anything out.

OOC,I've got nothing I can think of.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Let's go back to town.

[Philulhu]

As predicted, turning left did indeed lead towards town, although it was some forty minutes before the lights of the town first made an appearance.

Brophy continued to talk to James for a while but eventually lapsed into silence, his head slumped onto his chest. It looked as If the disturbed night’s sleep and the exertions of their escape had taken its toll. In fact, they were all feeling it, struggling to stay awake as the truck rolled along...

As the lights from the truck lit up the ‘Welcome to Pointe-aux-Chênes’, Brophy’s eyes snapped open and he barked “Now, James!” and a dozen writhing tentacles flew through the air, trying to ensnare the investigators!

OOC,Howard: [dice]0[/dice] Lawrence: [dice]1[/dice] Thomas: [dice]2[/dice] William: [dice]3[/dice] Actions, please!

[Mr. Handy]

William slams on the brakes in an effort to throw Brophy and James from the flat back of the truck.

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence swears half-intellibly out of surprise and fury as he clings onto the truck; he knew that Brophy wasn't going to hold up his deal, but he wasn't expecting treachery of this level!

[HoneyDog]

”James!” shouts Howard. “Don’t do this! We’re your friends!”