In which the adventure begins...

Chris: after the initial shock, the pain focuses your mind. You push the pain aside and see your situation in cold, hard fact. You feel yourself falling and quickly grab the ladder, throwing your arm through the rung and shifting your weight to balance properly. You look down and see blood pouring from your leg. You know you need to stop the bleeding, maybe with a turnicate. But you need somewhere to sit to take care of yourself. With some effort, you start to pull yourself up the ladder. Glancing down, you see the men still on the stage below you, but they are not shooting. Instead, they are shouting instructions to the other man who is now climbing the ladder leading up to the catwalk.

Momma D
Momma D. sees Christopher has been shot and knows he needs immediate assistance. If he doesn't tie himself off, Momma giggles to herself, he'll bleed out. Thankfully Momma has just the thing to make an impromptu tourniquet. Ripping off pieces of her long, blue dress, Momma smiles at herself. "Here Shaw, I know you've always wanted me to get naked for you; if we get out of this alive you may get more than this," Momma cackles as she throws the strips of dress down to Christopher. Hopefully he knows a thing or two about first aid. Momma knows she won't be much help as her skill lies not in stopping the flow of fluids but in releasing them.

Satisfied with her wit, Momma D looks around. "Fuck! We left the ladder up," Momma D curses as she notices the man starting his climb to the catwalks. "Amateur stuff, and I am no amateur by any means." Momma knows time is of the essence but so is downing this man inching his way towards the catwalk. Momma takes her time and carefully aims her revolver. If she doesn't hit him, it may shake him enough to lose his balance. Either way, she can't rush this shot. She watches as the man climbs up the ladder rungs and follows his movements with the revolver. Waiting for the perfect moment, Momma sees her opportunity and pulls the trigger...

Reference: Attack: Die you fucker, Die! (Round aiming)
You rolled 1d20+1-4+2: 8 | [ 9 ] 9+1-4+2

Momma: As you pause to aim, the man makes it almost all the way up the first ladder. When you fire, your shot just barely misses him, grazing his neck. He shouts in pain and lurches back wildly. He scrambles to stay on the ladder, but momentum and gravity take over and pull him back down to the ground. You watch his body slam into the stage and hear a few snapping bones. He tries to roll over, but groans in pain. The ladder has been knocked sideways and is hanging from the wall, but it is still attached. The two suits that shot at Chris rush over to their fallen friend. One shouts back at the others, but most of them have left the Hussy.

The water is still pouring down. The sirens you heard earlier are even louder. They're probably right outside.

Chris can grab the scrap of cloth you drop to him, but he is still balancing on the ladder. He doesn't have room or the ability to tie a tourniquet. He could probably manage if he was stilling on the platform where you are, but there isn't room. And he probably can't stay balanced on the ladder forever either.

Christopher Shaw

I shudder at the very mention and notion of the possibility of witnessing Momma giving "more than this". Maybe in her Hay-day that would have sounded good. Certainly not now. I have to make it up to her and stop this bleeding.

Reference: Strength to continue climbing up the ladder.

You rolled 1d20+2: 20 | [ 18 ] 18+2



I continue to try and climb the rest of the way up the ladder. If I can make it to the top I'll tie off the tourniquet. (Not sure if there was any penalty because of the gun shot wound to the leg.)


WHOA!! She's a better shot than I thought!

Momma D
Just what the doctor ordered! Nothing like the sound of bone cracking and moaning to get your adrenaline pumping. And then Momma remembers Christopher. He's seems to be making his way to Momma but there's no where for him to go. Momma looks around the platform for the roof hatch...

Chris: you can pull yourself to the top of the ladder with effort. You're starting to sweat and the pain in your leg is growing more intense. But your grit your teeth and haul yourself up one rung at a time.

Momma: the hatch is a little out of reach, but you can manage in your tip-toes. It's one of those doors that pulls down and drops a few steps when it's opened (like an attic door). You pull against it, and feel resistance. Looking closer, you see a rusted latch and padlock. It is locked.

Momma D
Of course it's locked, nothing is easy in this place. Momma could ask Christopher if he has the key but what's the fun in that?
Momma takes her time to aim her revolver and hit the non-moving lock.

Reference: Revolver: Shoot that lock, baby
You rolled 1d20+1-4+2: 5 | [ 6 ] 6+1-4+2

Momma: your shot slams into the wood right next to the latch. The wood splinters away and you can see the neon lights of the surrounding clubs and casinos pour in. In the time it takes you to make the shot, Shaw's grip starts to weaken a bit, but he's still holding on. Down on the floor, a group of 5 men has formed. Two are tending to their fallen friend, two are trying to grab the ladder and swing it back down, and one is looking up towards you both. He is holding a revolver, but is not aiming at you. Yet. You also see that the flow of water is slowing down.

Christopher Shaw
Why didn't I just listen to my parents. I'd probably be running a Super Market in Maine somewhere.....How dull...but I bet this kind of shit doesn't happen! Each painful rung I gain up this ladder is a metaphor for my climb to the top of the management tier of this Gods forsaken place in this gods forsaken town. Was it worth it Shaw? Did you "find yourself" here on what could so easily be confused with one of the lower levels of Hell? I see Momma standing at the top of the ladder training her pistol...Look at her...Old, decrepit, resigned.... Is this what might have awaited me? O' Fate thou hast dealt a strange hand that would see ill deeds and intentions to playout...Curse you in what could be my final hour....


When, and if I would reach the top of the ladder, I would look down to get a lay of the land.


Reference: Perception of possible

You rolled 1d20+6: 19 | [ 13 ] 13+6

Momma D
There's no where to go! Momma D must get this lock open!

Reference: Shooting that lock again!
You rolled 1d20+1-4+2: 6 | [ 7 ] 7+1-4+2


OOC: Oh what the fuck!?

Momma: your second shot is again off target, slamming into the wood next to the lock. Luckily for you, the wood is so old and weak that the padlock starts to fall down under its own weight. After a few seconds, the latch falls with it and the stairs swing down freely. You move up a few steps, and turn to help Shaw. He's sweating, but has a look of grim determination on his face. With your assistance, he makes it to the landing and begins to tie the cloth you gave him around his leg. The night air is fresh and clean above you, and you see the comforting neon glow of the city you love. The wail of sirens cuts through the chaos. They sound like they're right out front of the Hussy.

Chris: with a sigh of relief, you watch Momma manage to get the roof hatch open. She moves up a few steps and turns to give you what assistance she can. You muscle your way to the landing, sit, and start to wrap a tourniquet around your leg. You end up taking off your shirt and using it and the cloth Momma gave you to fashion a make-shift bandage, and using your belt to cinch everything tight. The night air feels cool on your skin. You're not sure if that's because you're down to your t-shirt or because of all the exhausting activities you've been through, but either way, it feels great.

You glance down, and see that the two suits have righted the ladder and another is climbing up and is almost to the catwalk already. You also clearly hear the sirens outside the club. You can hear a bit of commotion at the door as well. Your best guess is that the suits are not exactly cooperating with the emergency responders.


You both have a clear exit to the roof. There is one suit making his way up towards you, but he's just at the catwalk. The roof hatch will not stay closed on its own due to the latch having completely fallen off.

Momma D
"Come on, Shaw! Let's get to the roof so we have a better shot at those assholes. Once I get up I'll help you the best I can."

Momma D takes a deep breath and starts her climb to the roof.

Reference: Climb to the roof.
You rolled 1d20-1: 1 | [ 2 ] 2-1

Momma: luckily for you, walking up the steps is easily accomplished. But in your rush, you do twist your ankle slightly. You get to the roof and take a few steps, wincing in pain. You can still walk, but the throbbing pain won't go away quickly. Up on the roof, you are bathed in the neon glow of the city. The front of the Hussy is ringed with fire trucks and emergency vehicles. Beyond them is a massive crowd, attracted by the alarms and flashing lights. You can see the group of men in suits from table 13 standing around the door, talking to the firemen and police officers. They seem to be trying to prevent anyone from entering the Hussy.

Make a Perception check.

Momma D
Momma D grits her teeth through the pain. A Salem Spirit would really help the situation but that'll have to wait a bit longer. Taking a deep breath, Momma scans her surroundings.

Reference: Perception, baby!
You rolled 1d20+7: 14 | [ 7 ] 7+7

Christopher Shaw
I will follow Momma up the ladder as quickly as my injured leg will allow.

Reference: Climb dat ladder
You rolled 1d20+2: 15 | [ 13 ] 13+2


If I make it up I would immediately look for something to cover the hatch or find cover for when they do get up. You know, to "create an advantage" to my "defense".

Reference: Create a defensive advantage to change my FAE?
You rolled 1d20+6: 7 | [ 1 ] 1+6


Blech.

Chris: You heave yourself up the steps with some effort and slam the door down once you get to the roof. But then, you leg completely gives out and you collapse. You fall on top of the roof hatch door, which is incredibly lucky, as you now hear a thudding from below. You can only guess that the men from table 13 that remained in the Hussy are on the catwalk right below you. You are still bleeding quite badly. You are exhausted, having pushed yourself to an extreme during this hellish night. You take a deep breath, but the world around you starts to fade to black as you slip into unconsciousness. Right as you are about to pass out, your vision swims with red, yellow, and green.

Momma: Behind you, you hear Chris get to the roof and collapse. You hear the men still in the Hussy pounding on the roof hatch; you're sure they are only moments away from breaking through. Below you, the crowd is starting to disperse. It looks like the men from table 13 have convinced the emergency workers to leave. Looking down off the roof of the Hussy, something at the back of the crowd catches your eye. You see Vinnie Renaldo standing by his town car, holding the door open for Lacy to enter. They drive away into the Vegas night.

END CHAPTER 1.