In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 32):

ENS reads Jake's reply then takes a moment to look around the cavern, noting the other missing member. He writes "Sheriff?" below Jake's note then shows it to Travis and Cole.

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 33):

Still reloading his weapon, Cole takes a moment to glance at the note. If he is able to recall when he last saw either of the two men he inclines his head in the general direction.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 29):

Reenter the cavern, downed chinaman in tow, Art senses a certain limpness that suggests this is an ex-chinaman.

Dropping the foot by which the man followed him, the Aussie takes a quick measure of the cavern and proceeds to search his fallen foe - carefully so as to avoid any sharp surprises.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 35):

JEB gives the Aussie a friendly pat the back and rejoins the professor and company. Sensing the abatement of hearing loss, he says to the gathered men “we need to move.”

The men may see Beauregard's lips moving, but no one can hear his words.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 35):

Carson finds a hatchet on the man's waist. The weapon's haft is slipped through a fabric loop inside the highbinder's robe. Touching the weapon reminds the survivalist of the Winchester that his opponent had clutched previously. He glances for it as he continues to feel throuh the folds of the warrior's garments.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 38):

Cole temporarily pauses reloading his weapon to glance at the others in order to determine if anyone else could make out JEB's words.

Subsequently, he continues his reload operations.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 38):

Art wonders if this is the same man, and concentrates on the foot he touched, the center mass where he pointed the rifle and what he remembers of the head he attempted to kick.


22:52, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Is this the same bhd?

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 40):

The search of the man turns to more of a consideration of him. A chill runs up Art's spine as it occurs to him that if this ain't the chinaman, then there another in there. With a Winchester.

Still squatting, Art twirls his duster much as a horo to obscure his actual body position, and brings his carbine to bear on the dark opening.

This is swell

OOC: Profanity redacted.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:41, Mon 07 May 2018.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 40):

The survivalist's quick assessment about the highbinder: "ain't no tellin' one way or another." In Carson's recent experience, the highbinders -- with their uniform robes and long braided queues wrapped around their necks -- seemed more than a mite interchangeable.

However, in a moment of clear recollection, Carson remembers kicking the Winchester rifle away when the highbinder snapped awake as Art had grabbed his foot the first time. A glance along the cavern wall near the tunnel enables the survivalist to locate the weapon, still where it landed after his kick-away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:56, Sat 13 Jan 2018.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 42):

A sigh. Steady fella. A chuckle, entertaining no one but himself. Never get out boat.

One spring during the Great Rebellion, was it '61? Maybe '63. Art found himself traveling down the Missip towards Louisiana with this fella from Tennessee. That fella always said "Never get out of the boat" when it came to looking for trouble.

You need to work on that.


OOC: Profanity redacted.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Mon 07 May 2018.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 43):

Art concludes his search of the highbinder and walks to retrieve the Winchester.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 44):

ENS feels a sense of relief when he sees both JEB and Artemus emerge from the side tunnel. Good, all accounted for! he thinks.

He motions to the others to wait, then moves towards the curtain to see what Lu is doing.

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 45):

Reaching the curtain, the professor witnesses Lu Heng Bo attempting to organize the females -- as well as their several male captives -- for departure.

As it was for the men at the platform, communication appears limited. While Lu has a few of the eldest slaves gathering the younger ones -- and two of the elders helping him with the bound Chinamen -- there is a group of young women still huddled together. Afraid,  or still cowed by the whole experience ENS cannot tell, but he knows the reasons matter not. The professor's aim is to evacuate the cavern as soon as possible.

After a few moments, Ringgenberg notices that a few of the females are speaking to each other. Apparently, the audial damage from the gunfire was less potent behind the curtain. ENS himself couldn't hear them, but they seem to be able to hear each other, even if some temporary effects remain for them. Mayhaps that is how Lu managed to get the Chinamen subdued and bound after he first passed through the curtain. That is, the professor reasons, Xu's man may have barked orders and even if he had heard none of the women's responses, they must have heard enough of his urgent words -- or understood his gestures after seeing him dispatch their captor highbinders -- to realize that the warrior and his companions had come to their rescue. And that Lu's commands were in their best interest.

Now, it appears to ENS, it is simply a matter of time and effort to get the young women moving.

And perhaps more importantly, he recognizes that his calculations for hiding out at the Albion brewery had omitted the presence of the several bound Chinamen. From all appearances, Lu's intention is to bring them along.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Mon 15 Jan 2018.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 46):

Travis remains at the entrance to the Rabbit hole's tunnel on guard with his Spencer at the ready.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 46):

Jake spotted Artemus exiting a side tunnel -- which accounted for all of those who had entered the cavern with the intent of rescuing the women. The Texan was pleased to see that all of the rescuers -- well, not including those who had fallen in the fighting over near the beach -- were up and moving, although some of them (including Jake himself) had suffered wounds in the process.

Interpreting the Perfesser's motions to mean that the small group gathered near the platform should stand ready and wait in place, Jake watched as ENS walked over to where Mr. Xu's man and the other heathens were congregated.

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 44):

Winchester in hand. Art studies and assesses it, checks for ammo and sights down the barrel. Art then returns again to the fallen highbinder. He removes the axe and looks to see if the blade is coated with something. And again searches him as he feels his first search was insufficient; due perhaps to concerns about there being another foe in the tunnel.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 46):

ENS assesses the situation, writes another note, then gets Lu's attention to show it to him.

Note: "Let's take them to the beach below the brewery. Use the rabbit hole. Take these men too? Ready?"

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 50):

Mr. Lu reads the professor's note. He nods to indicate understanding and then takes the notebook from ENS.

He writes "Yes" next to the professor's question of "Ready?" He then circles the question about the men, glancing at them before shrugging at the professor. He points to the five who aren't wearing the black garb of the boo how doy, then scrawls, furiously:

"Buyers, not highbinders. Problem."

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 49):

Carson, who is no expert in the usage of poison other than how to provide first aid against a snakebite, sees a what appears to be a sticky substance on the hatchet's edge. He removes the weapon from its loop, cautiously to avoiding nicking himself. He feels a small item as he pats down the man's robe. It takes a little time to find the opening but once he does, Artemus puts his fingers on a small empty vial. It is slightly sticky and he has probably touched whatever the substance is, minimally, while retrieving the item.

Being no expert in the usage of poison, the survivalist cannot be sure whether touching the substance is dangerous. It seems designed to be administered through cuts by the hatchet . . . Art doesn't remember having any cuts on his fingers, but his thoughts give him enough pause to temporarily suspend his search, without having searched the man's tunic or leggings, yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:55, Thu 18 Jan 2018.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 52):

Art smells the sticky substance to see if has a recognizable odor. He spits onto his fingers and wipes them on the robes of his foe. Aside from the Winchester Art takes nothing and returns to the group.

Satisfied that his weapon is fully loaded and in good working order, Cole looks towards the others. The expression on his face clearly indicates that it is time to leave this place.

He glares at the bound men, clearly considering if this cave would make a suitable final resting place for them...

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg # 53):

Art examines the revolver and attempts to repair it, or ascertain if he's able.

Cole gets himself close to the note, and tales a look. He motions towards the buyers and, gestures that they should be left behind.

After he confirms both their hands and feet are properly bound, he proceeds towards the rabbit hole. As the wrangler moves into the tunnel, he gestures for the rest to follow.

Mr. Xu's highbinder doesn't fail to notice Cole Trayne's activities, especially when the wrangler checks the bindings of the five buyers. Lu Heng Bo offers no argument to Cole's pantomime -- that is, if in fact he understood the wrangler's meaning.

Before Trayne has completed his inspection, the highbinder attends to the sixth bound man, an enemy highbinder. Struggling for a moment with the bound boo how doy, who had refused to cooperate with Lu's plans even though he had neither the use of his hands or feet, Mr Xu's man pins his opponent to the cavern floor, knee in his back and the warrior's long queue in his left hand. Lu then produces something small in the palm of his right hand and slices through the queue at the base of the bound highbinder's neck. Finally, Lu stands, dropping the long braid of hair now separated from its long-time owner.

Xu's man surveys the preparations of the young women. He seems satisfied that they are prepared to depart.