In reply to Charging Bear (msg #11):

Charging Bear isn't the only one to respond to the scream...a red-faced man with rusty hair and bead rushes past from outside. He seems somewhat familiar...

[[OOC: Hey! Good to hear from you before your trip! The local Fear Level of Blackthorn is 3 normally (due to all the stuff going on). I wasn't going to have you make a Guts check, but if I were, you've passed with nothing more than a shiver down the spine.]]

The automaton is, of course, right back in the room again as soon as screams are heard - it didn't close the door.

"Move away, Dr.Ward!"

[Private to GM: 11 persuasion, if needed. Aw, poor thing...he needs to sleep on his front for a bit. Heh, pschosomatic breahing, then.]

Ward begins to speak. "Sir, if you would kindly..." but Alouette bulls him out of the way before he can finish.

This sight of a mechanical thing rushing towards him does not make the boy stop screaming. In fact, he screams louder, and grabs at the wall behind him as if trying to climb it.

Alouette continues to hastily cow Ward genly but firmly out of the way with the pillow it snatched up - it remembers Ward threatening to shoot it if it laid hands on him, which would be dangerous for both mortals. When it's satisfied the men are no longer in easy lunging distance of each other it straightens and declares loudly:

"Fear not! Self is angel; will protect."

It's not sure who it's protecting at present, but that doesn't seem to lessen its enthusiasm.

Danny doesn't seem convinced. "Ye won't take me alive, ye metal demon!" he shouts, then grabs the oil lamp and attempts to smash it on Alouette's head. The lamp cracks, spreading oil all across the clank's torso (and the boy's arm) but thankfully the force of the blow also douses the flame...

[[OOC: Danny Boy attacks Aloutte with an improvised weapon that has a chance to set things on fire. Danny Boy rolled 1,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7. Behold! The lamp!

Danny Boy rolled 6 for damage. Not nearly enough to hurt Alouette, due to armor.

Danny Boy rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5. chance for fire. The oil doesn't catch.]]

The clank shakes itself off like a dog, getting oil and paraffin everywhere but showing no signs of aggression. It'll pillow Danny back onto the bed if he looks set to fall off, aiming at the shoulders.

"Not demon, angel. Do not advise setting fire to angel or yourself...self would become hot to touch, dangerous, also risk of explosion, shrapnel, noxious fumes, disfavour of God."

It tilts its head, lenses glowing palely in the gloom. "You would be burnt but not die, Albatross...the bird in your chest is trying to save your leg, and Dr.Ward gave his word he would not do you further harm."

It'll still pillow Ward away if he comes closer, though: after all, that could've been him lamped in the head.


[[5 persuasion, if needed.]]

Augustus had moved off into the sitting room after his "encounter" with the marvelous machine.  He mutters to himself, sorting through thoughts and hypotheses.  His bags find a good spot and he settles into a seat.  A servant inquires and the scientist is quick to request a tea, along with a sandwich if it isn't too much trouble.  While he waits, he begins to settle in to relax.  Finally.

And then the screaming starts...

Augustus bolts up out of his seat, grabbing into his nearby bag for his trumpet gun.  Trying to choke back a cough, he rushes into the foyer to find the Indian.  "What on earth was that?!" he inquires, winding up his strange weapon's clockwork.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Fri 06 Aug 2010.

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #18):

[[OOC: GM puppeting to keep the story moving while CB's player is out of town]]

[Private to Charging Bear: Just doing a little puppeting to keep the story moving while you're on your trip. Feel free to edit anything I may have made a mistake on in terms of characterizations or actions.]

Charging Bear's thoughts are briefly pulled from his melancholy at the screams and the nervous scientist's questions. He smiles briefly. "Sounds like someone has just met Alouette." He tells Augustus. "The clank can have a disconcerting effect on those who are not prepared."

Still, the illness in the air has him on edge, and he slowly slides the tomahawks from his belt, just in case.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:49, Fri 06 Aug 2010.

Unconvinced by the Indian's reasoning, Augustus takes a ready hold of his harmonically humming blunderbuss, "That's as may be, but that fellow up there is a scoundrel of the highest order..."  Referring of course to Danny Boy the Would-be Highwayman, but Charging Bear won't necessarily know that.

The scientist begins to mount the stairs, aiming the business end of his "gun" to the top of the stairs. Clearing his throat a bit, he calls up, "Dr. Ward is everything alright?"   

A red-faced man appears in the doorway. "Doctor! What's goin' on?"

Ward looks up from the corner. "Gus! Please help the automaton restrain that man." He points to the bed.

Danny doesn't seem too convinced by the clank's assurances. He continues to shout and thrash, until he begins to cough and wheeze rather violently.

The brawny, ruddy-faced man uses this distraction to bull into the room past Alouette, grab Danny, and put him in an armlock.

"I thank you for your concern, Mr. Spostswood," Ward calls down stairs, "But I believe we have the situation in hand now."

The automaton rocks on its feet a little as it's swept aside, not only from the force: the brass body jerks as though something threw itself against the inside of its chest, one hand for an instant crooked and talon-like as static crackles...then it just flails a little for balance.

Alouette shakes itself once again and, identifying the localised aetheric patterns it's 'feeling', reacts as it has learnt how. A low growling sound like a coin rolled in a copper basin rings out from the clank, its 'beak' pointed at Gus.


[Private to GM: 's from the dog under the porch. It doesn't know why it feels trapped-wary, just picking up on local fear + the entity's focus on the newcomer.]

Gus ignores the rattling of the clank as he tries to hold the boy steady. The boy manages to slip out of the armlock, but, having nowhere to go, just curls up on the bed.

"Damn! That sonovabitch is slippery, ain't he?" Gus grunts. "I reckon we should lock him back in the shed. That'd keep 'im still."

"There will be no need for that." Ward replies calmly He looks at Danny and says pointedly, "Will there?"

"Oh Jesus! Oh Jesus!" The boy mutters from his fetal position on the bed. "Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..."

Ward gives the boy a patronizing smile. "There, there. As I promised, no further harm will come to you, provided you do not do anything foolish. I shall return down stairs, and let you calm down. Gus will remain here and keep watch." He heads out of the room. "I will return when you have settled, to check on you." He looks at Alouette. "Will you join me downstairs, friend Alouette? There is much we should speak on, and I must still see to Mr. Spotswood."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Fri 06 Aug 2010.

Alouette's head snaps round to watch Ward for any signs of drawing a gun. It's learnt about men who say one thing and do another.

"That is not what you promised," it observes, then simply:
"No. Primary command: protect."

With that, it turns and sets about trying to get between Danny and Gus, head pointed at the latter.

"Please yourself." Ward sighs. "Remain here, then. Gus will remain here as well, to watch the pair of you."

He collects his bag, closes the door, and heads downstairs, still sighing and shaking his head. He looks at Augustus, with his humming blunderbuss, and Charging Bear, with his tomahawks.

"There's no need for that. The patient was...more excitable than I anticipated, and I do not think the automaton's presence had a calming effect. Still, all seems to be in hand now...my man Gus and our friend Alouette are keeping a watch on the boy." He walks into the sitting room and takes a seat. The servant, a negro dressed in a butler's outfit, brings him a glass of what appears to be wine.

"So. Mr. Spotswood, shall we continue your examination? Or would you prefer a little conversation first?"

The ruddy-faced man leans against the wall after Ward leaves, eying Alouette and the boy in turns.

"Well, tonight's been an adventure." he declares, addressing Alouette. "So what's your story?"

The automaton tilts its bullet-marked head at the big man, staying between him and Danny.
"Self has no stories, Gus Shaw, only truth. Self is angel."

In reply to Alouette (msg #27):

"Is that right?" he chuckles. "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle." Then something it said catches up with him. "Hey...how you know my name, anyhow?"

In reply to Dr. Dexter Ward (msg #25):

Augustus is not subdued by the first answer to his question.  Thoughts of the vicious, though wounded, highwayman assaulting the doctor flit through his mind.  Perhaps the doctor simply is unaware of the danger...  Thus he continues up the stairs again, intent on offering his assistance.

Only to meet Doctor Ward coming down, bag in hand.  Confused, but willing to go along with the Doctor's explanation for now, he retires as well to the sitting room.  Releasing the catch, he allows the clockwork spring of his invention to relax, "You should warn your man that that fellow is not to be trifled with.  He attempted to use a woman as a hostage.  A cad through and through."

Unwound, his weapon is returned to its place in the carpet bag.  He is returned to his chosen seat, just in time to receive his refreshment as well.  To the question, he answers, "I will leave that to you, Doctor.  Whatever you feel is best."

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #29):

"Is that so? That being the case, I suppose we should count ourselves fortunate that the man's time on this Earth is so short." Ward says in reply to Augustus. "Still, if he should cause any trouble, I am confidant that Mr. Shaw upstairs can take care of it. He's very good at what he does."

Ward sips his drink. "Well, I for one feel the need to unwind after dealing with the incident upstairs. And I find myself curious about that device you were ready to leap into action with. I can't say I've ever seen it's like before...what does it do?"

Alouette records that Tex's wife must be having a baby.
"Self consumed knowledge, Gus Shaw," it answers, then with complete, oblivious innocence:

"Why does Dr.Ward put people in a shed? Did someone claim their land, so they do not have another home?"

"I'll tell you why." The boy pipes up. "He's a fuckin' sadistic lunatic, that's why! It's where he stashes his human sacrifices for his satanic rituals!" he seems to have warmed to the fact that Alouette isn't going to harm him.

Gus laughs at this outburst. "Satanic rites? Did breathin' all that Rock finally crack yo' mind?" he pulls a wicked-looking Bowie knife. Danny flinches, but all Gus does is begin cleaning the crud beneath his fingernails with the tip. "No, you got it all wrong. He don't store people in the shed. He just stores tools." he grunts. "Damn near worthless, broken tools at that."

"Ye fuckin' bastard. Those were me friends you cooped up. Not to mention meself! Hauling that Devil's rock for your warlock master!"

"And it was my friends you shot, you limp-dicked horse-fucker!" Gus snarls back, moving his knife into attack position. "Or did you forget the trail of bodies you left?"

"You were keeping us prisoner! What the fuck did ye expect us to do? Keel over and die?"

"Yesssssssss!" Gus hisses...and there's a rattle at the back of his throat, like the shake of a rattlesnake's tail, when he does. At the rattle, Danny wedges himself into the wall as if he's trying to hide in it.

"But Ambrose said Dr.Ward was not a witch..." Alouette says, confused, then tries to correct the ruffian: "People are not tools, Gus Shaw."

Its shoulders twitch a little at the hiss as though something was squirrelcaging about inside, though otherwise it's unnaturally still, watching Gus.
"Cease," it commands.

In reply to Dr. Dexter Ward (msg #30):

Augustus' eyes stray back to the bag containing his device.  The look on his face is quite reminiscent of a parent looking upon a beloved child.  His tea is seat down as he leans forward in his chair, always excited to discuss his work, "That is my Sonic Neurological Disruptor.  It produces a particular harmonic tone, which I discovered, that interrupts many basic brain functions."  As he speaks, his hands move hurriedly, motioning to different areas on his head as he mentions the brain, "In effect it shuts down the ability for the brain to communicate with the body.  Much like a seizure really.  Now, I have discovered other tones which can..."  A wet, smacking cough forces him to pause his scientific verbiage.

In reply to Alouette (msg #33):

"Ain't witches female?" Gus says, a bit puzzled. At Alouette's attempt to correct him, he shrugs. "And tools ain't people. But there seem to be a lot o' them walkin' around that are a mite confused on that matter." he gives Alouette a pointed look at this. At the order to cease, he growls "Fine. But you best shut him up afore I do it myself by cuttin' out his tongue."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sat 07 Aug 2010.

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #34):

"I believe I understand the principle. It's a bit like a singer hitting the right note to shatter a wineglass, correct?" ward replies, but at the cough, he says "We can postpone the discussion until I've conducted my tests, if you like."