Chapter 4- The Lost Plateau

[kabukiman]

The knight speaks in a very archaic french and very weird (Anglo-normand dialect).

"Some time ago, a lone men appear here, he said he was the last survivor of an expedition that had been attacked by the natives; I cured and he didn't seem evil. Some time latter he run away."

Sir Jeremiah invites you to follow him to learn why the Nazis must be prevented from plundering Paititi. He escorts you down one floor and into a large, square chamber that holds a six foot-diameter, wheel-shaped sandstone boulder stamped with the long-faded insignia of Imperial Rome. It is plain, pitted, scratched, and scarred. The stone wheel is suspended in a complex, scaffolding-like wooden framework. Thick, leather straps stretch from the frame to gently cradle the revered stone. With whispered reverence, Sir Jeremiah tells you that this is the relic that he has been sworn to protect for over five centuries. It is none other than the boulder that sealed Christ’s tomb, and finally he explains that he died of illness (that is the true reason why the tomb was build) but the artifact raised him from the dead when used to close his tomb.
After a while of contemplating it, he leaves the place. As clouds darken and rain begins to drive down upon Paititi, you have gathered together inside the ziggurat to guard the Resurrection Stone. Sir Jeremiah, now clad in his white Knights Templar tabard and wielding his sword and shield, stands guard at the doorway. The LZ-142 Waldhar, a secret German airship, approaches the lost city. Turret-mounted machine guns provide covering fire as an Arado Ar 68 biplane detaches from the zeppelin to strafe the city.

[Mephistophilis]

OOC:   oh crap

Hearing Sir Jeremiah's story delivered in his archaic Anglo-Norman dialect Alex stares in shock at the stone. He crumples to the floor, struggling to comprehend this account of Christ's resurrection that is completely heretical and yet...he has seen the power of the stone. He pulls open his Bible and reads out loud in Latin from the gospel of Mark (chapter 15 verse 46 to 16:8). Eventually he rises to his feet and says to no one in particular, 'I have much to think upon'.

OOC,Does Alex need to roll sanity? If so, Sanity 89% [dice]0[/dice] Success, Alex is surprisingly sane

Later...

Deep in prayer and silent contemplation Alex is roused by the sound of gunfire. He places his hand on Sir Jeremiah's shoulder and recites a short prayer for courage and protection.

He draws his pistol and turns to the others 'I do not like the odds, even with the Q’ero - is there any alternative to taking a final stand? We are not soldiers. Could we move the stone out of the temple and make a run for it and spare Paititi'

ETA OOC,Any chance Alex could try and use his 10% in Cthulhu Mythos to improvise some kind of warding charm on the ziggurat (as outlined in the Pulp Cthulhu book)? Unlikely to work on 10% but might provide a sign of his unravelling faith

[Snapper]

Crowley rolls his eyes. "Snap out of it Alex. This object is not much different to the legend of the Holy Grail. Surely in both cases their power comes from their proximity at a crucial time to, ah," here Crowley does pause and stutter slightly. "Their proximity to the Saviour at an important time. This object does not necessarily mean the end of accepted Christianity."

When the zepellin arrives, Crowley turns to Sir Jeremiah, speaking hastily in Latin. "Sir, your people must get under solid shelter. The Germans have terrible weapons that can kill many people from far away."

Addressing his friends, Crowley gestures at the biplane and goes on. "Gentlemen, this is the Germans' brand new fighter, now they have decided to re-arm. It is state of the art and supposed to be very good indeed."

Hopeless as it is at long range, Crowley grabs his shotgun. "Should have brought a rifle."

[Mr. Handy]

Harry readily agrees with Crowley's explanation. "It must have been the Resurrection that imbued the stone with its power," he says. "Before that, it must have just been an ordinary stone."

When the German plane approaches, Harry nods. "Everyone take cover!" he calls, doing so himself and drawing his revolver. That's only good if the plane gets close enough, much like the shotgun, but it's better than nothing. "Too bad we don't have an antiaircraft gun, or at least a barrage balloon. The airship might be easier to shoot down. That big bag is full of hydrogen, which explodes rather nicely. Sir Jeremiah, can the warriors here make fire arrows? Those would be useful against the plane as well as the airship."

[Starspawn338]

Butch will take out his .303 Lee Enfield rifle and take cover while waiting for the plane to get closer. Once the plane is within a couple hundred yards, he'll start shooting.

[kabukiman]

"Yes they can, but first I'l tell them to hide".
He shouts some instructions and then says that he will follow your instructions since you know better this machine.
Meanwhile...
The plane is shooting anyone on sight, but avoids targeting near the place of the stone.

Amidst the firestorm, the team of Nazi soldiers rappel three hundred feet to the muddied ground to claim the prize. You can detect easily the leader:
dark, oily hair and wears a black uniform—crisp and clean, apart from his now-muddy boots. He shouts something in German. They are about 500 m from the stone; he has 8 SS as bodyguard, the others are busy attacking the village.

[Mr. Handy]

From behind cover, Harry takes aim at the Nazi leader, ready to open fire as soon as he gets into range, though he realizes that he'll probably have to shoot the bodyguards first as they will physically stand in the line of fire.

[Snapper]

Crowley takes another look at the stone. "Gentlemen, do we have any dynamite? I'm just wondering if perhaps we should be looking to stop the Boche making off with this thing? Better perhaps no-one than the wrong one."

OOC:   How hard would it be to get the stone down from its cradle thing? Is there some hole or drop it could be rolled to and dropped down?

[kabukiman]

OOC: You could try, with knifes but it will take several minutes. And then rolling it would be more complicated.

[Snapper]

Crowley turns quickly to the ancient Templar. "Sir Jeremiah, your people will not be able to stop those men. They have terrible weapons from the modern world. Is there somewhere we can quickly hide this stone of yours?"

[kabukiman]

"We can try in the basement, but if they win, they will find anyway."

Meanwhile, the nazi leader and his group is now at a range that can be hit.

[Mephistophilis]

Fr Malone gets to his feet. 'Right gentlemen, it looks like the time for action is upon us.' He pulls out his bottle of whiskey and looks at it for a moment with a forlorn expression. He takes a long drink and then fills the bottle with gasoline from the fuel can brought by his assistant Maria. He stuffs a rag into the neck and fumbles for some matches. 'Any of you fellows got a good arm?'

[Mr. Handy]

"Then let's not let them win!" says Harry, opening fire on the Nazis. He targets the leader, but he'll be happy to hit the bodyguards if they get in the way. "I wish we had some grenades or dynamite, but that'll do nicely. My arm's of better use shooting, though." His first shot misses, but his second is deadly accurate, and his third is pretty good as well.

OOC,I'm using the Rapid Fire Pulp Talent, so my second and third shots have no penalty dice. They will come later in the round in the event things happen before they go off, but I may as well roll them now. Firearms(Handgun) roll (60% skill) shooting at the Nazis, shot 1 of 3: [dice]0[/dice] Firearms(Handgun) roll (60% skill) shooting at the Nazis, shot 2 of 3: [dice]1[/dice] Damage from impaling .45 bullet: [dice]3[/dice] Firearms(Handgun) roll (60% skill) shooting at the Nazis, shot 3 of 3: [dice]2[/dice] Damage from .45 bullet: [dice]4[/dice]

[kabukiman]

Harry is very careful to hit the leader... and sees another men falling!

Sir Jeremiah says to Crowley:
"Let's then hide he Holy Relic if you think it is a good idea".

[Mephistophilis]

Alex waits until the Germans are within 12 yards before lighting his petrol bomb and throwing it.

Alex Throw 20%,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Ah crap, don't even have enough luck to spend, at least he didn't fumble

[kabukiman]

OOC: Please, everyone who can see the german commando and his leader, make a spot hidden roll.

[Mephistophilis]

Alex Spot Hidden 25%,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Nope

[Mr. Handy]

Harry can see the enemy quite clearly. "I killed one and wounded another," he says. "At this rate, he'll run out of men to protect him soon."

OOC,Spot HIdden roll (55% skill) about the Nazis: [dice]0[/dice]

[Starspawn338]

As soon as the Nazis get to within 110 yards, Butch will start firing at the advancing soldiers.

OOC,Rifle 60 [dice]0[/dice] Damage 2d6 +4 [dice]1[/dice] Would I be able to get multiple shots in as they advance?

Spot Hidden,Spot Hidden 50 [dice]2[/dice]

[Snapper]

Crowley:

Spot Hidden 60%,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Fail.

Crowley nods to Sir Jeremiah. "I believe it is high time this was hidden," he says in Latin. Crowley heads over to the stone. "Is there an easy way to get it down?"