Gangatsu had a bit of a problem, she had heard many things about the technological deviation that man kind has forged, yet living Shan Fan, she had never truly seen one. Heard of them, yes, like they were golden oni-tengu, but to see one... Being diminutive in size, she had slunk back. This must be the referred 'clank' people were screaming of and she was keeping her distance and only watching in silence that she couldn't break...

When the party split up, she followed the marshal, figuring whatever Doctor Ward finds, he'll report it to the marshal as soon as possible.  If it's worth knowing, of course.. Yet she had to pick up on what all the dead Yankee Soldiers where doing around this place. What else had happen. Perhaps her Master had been seen around here somewhere as well... Following two yards behind Robert and Marshal Evans, she had to stop for a moment as they mentioned her plausible race. He sent her where now?  Did he presume that she would take some mindless order? Her brows narrowed a little...

' Now, now, darlin. You just reading too much in... Pull the reigns on d'em horses...' the click of spurs almost seemed real. She looked over to the office and saw a pair of boots there as no one could. She breathed and then went on to follow the two men to the Grand Bull.

Ha, ironic name. She moved along thorough the doors and it took her a moment to locate them in the hussel and bussel of it all. Yet again, it came to race..

" Gan... Gat... Su. Never forget it." She gritted between her teeth, a light sneer on her features. " Ya call me chinese again.. And I'll show ya an interestin' trick I can do."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:45, Fri 30 July 2010.

In reply to Audrey Frost (msg #86):

"Rare, please. And I'll have the cornbread and peas."

Katy was a little surprised that the food wasn't so different from back home. Cornbread, corn, black-eyed peas, potatoes... she'd had them all. Cornbread less so, since her parents thought it a bit cheap and only used it when fresh vegetables were harder to come by.

"You're not eating, Mr...?"

She waited for him to give his name.

In reply to Alouette (msg #84):

Charging Bear watches the self-named angel up until he realizes the walking talking tin can doll isn't going to knock on the door at which point he calls out , "Alouette? Mind if I handle this?" With that he moves towards the door which Alouette would've surely just walked right through.

In reply to Katy Devon (msg #90):

The waitress takes down the order and scurries off.

"Kaje. Vincent Kaje. And no, not at the present - my employer will be expecting me soon, so I don't have much time to share more than a drink and some conversation. Although I hope that we can share a meal later, if that's not being too forward of me, Miss Brown." He smiles again.

The waitress returns, with a bottle for the gentleman and a shot of whiskey for Katy.

"Handle...door?" Alouette seems to have at least partly grasped the idiom; it steps aside to watch what Charging bear will do.

The doctor watches the pair of Indian and Automaton make their way to the Robertson house. "All this trouble over a cat." he says absently and faintly bemused. "I'm really not sure I understand it all."

He sighs, then turns to Augustus. "I don't mean to disturb your concentration, Mr. Spotswood, but it seems to me that, while we are waiting on them, we might get a few preliminary questions out of the way. Can you tell me a bit about when you first started noticing that cough?"

At first, Augustus makes no reply, not even looking up.  His pencil continues to scratch feverishly to the end of whatever thought or sentence he was on.  So finished, the scientist looks up and around the cabin to find the speaker.  Only to be greeted again with the sight of the highwayman...  And the curious lack of the automaton.

That leaves only the Doctor as the speaker.

And it is to said Doctor that he finally responds, "Oh...  I...fell into a river..."  Grabbing his kerchief, he manages to cover his mouth for another cough before being able to finish, "Simply have been unable to shake it since."

Charging Bear isn't one to overly complicate things, so the young native walks right up to the door and politely knocks. He waits of course, as it would be silly for him to just wander away.

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #95):

Dr. Ward nods, reaches into his bag, and pulls out a stethoscope. "I see. Will you please lift your shirt, so I can hear your breathing patterns? And how long ago was this? Two hours? Three?"

[Private to Augustus Spotswood: he's also going to make a Knowledge (medicine) check while he looks you over...Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 7,13 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+5)11. Diagnosis check. hee. That's two raises. He knows you're a dead man.]

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #96):

The door of the little house creaks open, and a small, brown haired-girl in a checkered blue and white dress peaks out shyly. "...hello?" she squeaks, then seems to take in both the Indian, the clank, and the kitten all at once. Her eyes go wide, and then she runs, letting the door swing open, yelling "Mommy! Mommy! There's an Indian and a tin woodman at our door! And they found Dandelion!" at the top of her lungs...

Dandelion, startled a bit by the noise, tenses in Charging Bears arms and lets out a "Meeeew!" while unsheathing its tiny claws.

[[OOC: I laughed so hard at the idea of CB specifically not teaching Alouette to play Knock Down Ginger there...]]

The automaton watches all this, learning the intricacies of threshold ettiquette. Not having had time to correct Sal, it turns to Charging Bear and the kitten attached to his sleeve:

"What is tin-wood-man?"

In reply to Dr. Dexter Ward (msg #97):

Augustus puts away his notebook and, after securing the carriages window coverings as best he might, lifts his shirt as directed.  His brow knits a little as he considers the question, "A day or two I think...  The past few days have been a bit hazy.  Results of a fever I'm sure."

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #100):

"A day or two, hm?" Ward murmurs ominously. He places the business end of the scope on the scientist's chest, instructs him to "Breathe in...breath out.." at intervals, removes a glove and rests the back of his hand against Augustus' forehead, pulls a fob watch and counts seconds while holding the scope end to Augustus' heart, and all the while his frown gets deeper and deeper.

"Well." he mutters at last. "Isn't that curious?"

When one is being examined by a doctor, the word curious is really the last one you want to hear.  The frown really isn't helping either.  Augustus attempts to push down a slight rise in panic while asking, a little exasperatedly, "What?  What is curious?  Am I dying?  I really feel quite fine!"

Charging Bear keeps the poor kitten wrapped up in his arm. "There there little one." he whispers to Dandelion as he gives the wee kitten a few pets and scratches about it's head and chin.

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #102):

Ward looks at Augustus. "Well. I can't be certain without a more thorough examination. I have a few more tests I'd like to run, but I'd like you permission to proceed, as these tests are somewhat...invasive. I can tell you that your malady is not consumption, nor is it caused by fever." He pauses, then adds "Would you care to give more details on your adventure with the river? And don't hold anything back...the details may be vitally important, and I give you my word as a physician that I will hold any information you give me in the strictest confidence."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Fri 30 July 2010.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #103):

[Private to Charging Bear: Did you catch Alouette's question up a little earlier?]

An older woman comes to the door. "Sally Robertson, what on Earth are you on abou..." she says, stopping in mid-sentence as she gets to the door and looks out at the pair. She doesn't say anything more, just stands there staring at them with her mouth hanging open in shock.

"Howdy, Mother Of Sal! Fear not - self is angel, man is Called Charging Bear, mighty deputy-warrior, and Dandelion is un-lost, also safe."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Fri 30 July 2010.

In reply to Alouette (msg #106):

The woman just stands there, staring in shock and confusion. The little girl pops up. "See, mommy? The tin woodman! Like in th' book you read me!"

The little girl steps out of the house and hugs Charging Bear. "Thank you thank you Mr. Indian Savage Man!" she squeaks. Then she bounces over and hugs Alouette. "Thank you Mr. Tin Woodman! I hope you find your heart soon!"

[[OOC: Yes, I know it's an anachronism. The Oz books won't be written for another 20 years or so. I don't care. The image is just too fun not to play with. :D ]]

OOC: sorry, I was at an appointment all morning

In reply to Gangatsu (msg #89):

Robert smiles.  "Now that you have told me, Miss Gangatsu, I surely will not forget it.  I am Robert Micklethwait, and this is Marshal Evans.  There now, we are all properly introduced.  Have you eaten?  Please join us."

OOC: I did a search on this thread and the last.  We never exchanged names.

"And I offer my humble appologies if I have mis-identified your place of origin.  You look very similar to those few persons from China whom I have previously encountered."

As the Doctor settles back, Augustus re-buttons his shirt and regards said good doctor somewhat askance.  Obviously quite worried now, but just as obviously unwilling to divulge too much regarding the affair.  In answer, he offers these concessions, "I will happily allow the tests, as I am a man of science.  If it is so concerning to a professed medical man I would know more.  Though I will of course need to review your credentials first."  Straightening his shirt again, he explains, "I mean no offense of course, but it is my health at stake."  Pausing a moment to consider and take a quick look about, in a rather paranoid fashion, he finishes, "As to the adventure it shall be sufficient to say that I fell into a river accidentally and was washed some distance downstream."

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #109):

"None taken." he says, closing his bag. "I can see how such things as one's health may make one cautious. I graduated from the Medical Collage of Virginia in 1857, and had a thriving practice in my home of Savannah, Georgia until the Northern Aggressors began their campaign against us, whereupon I joined the Army of Virginia as a medic and served until '65. You will be able to view my diploma once we reach my residence." A shadow of an unpleasant memory made him grimace for a moment. "To tell the truth, I do not believe your explanation is sufficient, but I suppose I shall have to content myself with it for the nonce. I can respect the need to keep secrets."

She watched him closely, a bit unnervingly so before her gaze switched to Mister Evans, the local marshall as she understood it. She was invited to sit amoungst them, giving a half step to turn and survey the busseling room for a moment... Damn, she hated crowds.  People were more vulnerable then they thought here and pray to their white heaven that she didn't have to swing her sword should something occur. A sigh released, looking back ot the men, she pulled out a chair and sat primly. Removing her straw hat and hooking it to her sword.

" No, I haven't." Green eyes slide from one man to another. She listened to his apology for a moment, an innocent mistake just as 'He' had warned her. " Ah, d'hen I reckon yer buyin' me a cup of stew and bread, Roubert. Being da friendly kinda fella yer are.."



[OOC: I know, it's a IC thing. She's making sure you remember her dislike of the term... And yeah, major Clint Eastwood Otaku here.]

"Well!" Evans says. "I'm glad we've cleared up any misunderstandings." He waves to the pretty blond waitress, who bustles over.

"Hello again, sugar!" she says to Robert with a smile. "What can I get for you tonight?"

While she takes the order, Evans turns his attention to the wandering samurai. "Now, Miss Gangatsu, I understand you brought in an outlaw who attempted to rob your stage. Can you give me the details of the incident, please?" He pulls a pad and a fountain pen to take notes.

In wardly, Robert grimaces, thinking of his slim wallet.  But to Gangatsu, he simply says "But of course, a gentlemen will always succor a lady in need."

To the waitress, he asks.  "Ah, lovely bringer of victuals.  And what is on the stove for this evenin'?"