Ch. 9 Copperhead Road

[Philulhu]

The brakes were far more efficient than they had any right to be on such a beaten-up truck and the passengers in the back all pitched forward alarmingly.

Brophy was thrown against the back of the cab, where Howard and Lawrence were thrown on top of him. Thomas was less lucky; he was tipped over the side of the truck and he landed on the side of the road, feeling a couple of ribs pop as he fell on the packed earth.

James’ bulk - he seemed bigger again than before - had stopped him sliding of the truck and four more tentacles whipped out! One caught Howard around the ankle and started to pull him off Brophy and the second crashed through the cab window and started wrap itself around William’s neck...

OOC,Dice rolls (DEX): Howard (5 x 5 DEX) [dice]0[/dice] Lawrence (5 x 10 DEX) [dice]1[/dice] Thomas (5 x 12 DEX) [dice]2[/dice] Thomas - damage [dice]9[/dice] Brophy - [dice]3[/dice] James - [dice]4[/dice] William has a hold of the wheel so he doesn’t need to check. James, again: Howard: [dice]5[/dice] Lawrence: [dice]6[/dice] Thomas: [dice]7[/dice] William: [dice]8[/dice]

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence flies off the handle, driven into a rage by Brophy's betrayal. He climbs off of the old man as he takes up his rifle again to club him, with every intention of ending his life.

club 25%,[dice]0[/dice]

Damage 1d8+1d4,[dice]2[/dice]+[dice]3[/dice]

[dice]1[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

William shifts the truck into reverse and starts it moving, hoping to ram James into the cab and shake his grip loose.

OOC,Do I get a chance to try to Dodge?

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Can Howard roll strength against James?

[Philulhu]

OOC,Yes - please make your dice rolls. Can I also have a Drive Auto roll for William, please?

[Mr. Handy]

While William can't avoid the tentacle in the enclosed cab, his driving skills prove to be excellent, spurred on by desperation.

OOC,Dodge roll (20% base skill) to avoid the tentacle: [dice]0[/dice] Drive Auto roll (50% skill) to ram [b]James[/b] into the cab by driving backwards: [dice]1[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

Howard is too exhausted to resist the pull of the tentacle on his leg.

Strength,[url=https://orokos.com/roll/787788]Strength[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]99[/b]

[Philulhu]

Brophy tried to twist out of the way but Lawrence caught him full on with the shovel, knocking him halfway over the cab of the truck. His body went limp and he started to slide down the windscreen...

As William saw the unconscious Brophy slip down, he popped the clutch and the truck jerked backwards, the sudden change of direction causing those on the back of the truck to stumble again. Lawrence managed to keep his feet, but James and Howard were thrown to the floor. The force of the fall caused the tentacle around William’s neck to tighten and he had to bury his chin in his chest to stop himself from choking.

In the road, Thomas pushed himself to his feet and, despite the pain he was in, ran towards the truck to join in the fray...

OOC - Dice Rolls,Brophy - Dodge [dice]0[/dice] CON [dice]6[/dice] DEX [dice]1[/dice] James - DEX [dice]2[/dice] Howard (5 x 5 DEX) [dice]3[/dice] Lawrence (5 x 10 DEX) [dice]4[/dice] William (10 x 11 CON - suffocating) [dice]5[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

William backs the truck up far enough so that Thomas can reach it before bringing it to a stop and trying to get free of the tentacle.

[Bullfrog]

Knocking Brophy senseless was quite a cathartic experience for Lawrence, but there was a much more pressing situation at hand: he had to figure out some way to deal with James. He wasn't a clever man, but he could always repeat someone else's idea:
"Matches! I need matches!"

[Philulhu]

OOC,Are you taking any specific action towards James?

[HoneyDog]

Howard is still struggling against the tentacle, but in his desperation he begins to feel the grip weaken.

Strength,[url=https://orokos.com/roll/788013]Strength[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]28[/b]

[Bullfrog]

OOC,Not yet, but I'm starting to set up a plan.

[Philulhu]

As William reversed, the unconscious Brophy rolled off the front of the truck and tumbled to the ground. The truck moved backwards a few yards until Thomas could reach it and bang on the side, indicating William should stop. The lawyer put his foot on the brake pedal, even as the tentacle around his neck tightened and he found himself unable to breathe!

As Thomas climbed onto the truck, he deftly threw a box of matches to Lawrence. On the back of the truck, Howard found himself being dragged off the back of the flatbed, only just managing hang on, to prevent James from flinging him to the floor.

OOC - Dice Rolls,James (Strength) [dice]0[/dice] Thomas (Luck - 80%) [dice]1[/dice] William (10 x 11 CON - suffocating) [dice]2[/dice] William takes the following damage due to suffocating. Damage [dice]3[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

William focuses his efforts on trying to get the tentacle off of him.

OOC,I thought I didn't take damage until I fail a CON roll, but that they keep getting harder (the second one is against 9 x CON, the third against 8 x CON, and so on).

[HoneyDog]

Howard shuts his eyes and hangs on as tightly as he can.

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence catches the matches and haphazardly shoves them into his pocket as he braces himself, carefully clambering down from the flatbed to the road.

[Philulhu]

OOC,Mr Handy - sorry, you are correct. I blame it on tiredness, a late evening and small print... Can I have rolls for whatever you’re attempting? Thanks.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,Roll to get free of the tentacle: [dice]0[/dice]

[Philulhu]

Howard found himself swung from the bed of the truck and flung into the road, knocking back Thomas as he tried to close the gap on James.

William felt the tentacle tightening around his neck, slowly starting to crush his windpipe and keeping him secured in the driver’s seat. He tried again unsuccessfully to break James’ hold and he could start to feel the blood pounding in his head as the pressure began to build.

As Lawrence contemplated his next move, James exuded another tentacle, this time with a sharp metallic spine protruding from its tip. It waved in the air as if trying to get its bearings before pointing directly at Lawrence.

”Laaaawrence...” rumbled James. ”Don’ make me huuurt yoooo...”

OOC - Dice Rolls,Thomas (Dodge - 54%) [dice]0[/dice] Howard (Damage) [dice]1[/dice] William (9 x 11 CON - suffocating) [dice]2[/dice] Howard - you can roll against Jump to mitigate against a heavy landing.