((OOC: *points a couple posts up* The Indian is on 2C, right after Murphy. What's your card for next round, BTW?))

The Indian pitches back. That was right between the eyes, enough to kill any man...normally.

But something's not right. The raider is actually getting up again!

And William realizes it's not quite warpaint...the man's skin and clothing have no color at all, not even from the glow of the lamplight. He looks as if he'd just stepped out of a photograph.

And then he knocks his bow again and fires. The arrow whizzes past Murphy's ear.

They call the Comanche Ever-Fighters. This one's living up to that name.

((OOC: The Comanche is Shaken by the shot. But since he has magic on him that makes him Invulnerable to Bullets, he's only Shaken.

does he recover this turn? 15:46, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 13 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13. Recover from Shaken. That's a success and Raise, so he gets his action, which is to shoot an arrow at William.

15:47, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Shooting.

Card for next round: 7H))

---

Please draw your card for the next round!

OOC: sorry, forgot about the card. 08:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: QH using the Deadlands system. initiative.

Murphy curses, breathlessly. Then a thought forms in his brain...

What destroys photographs...?

08:19, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+1)7. smarts.

As Murphy racks his brains, Joel crawls closer to the horse, his wife, and his rotting daughter.

"Emma! Get back in the house! Please!"

Emma nods, rather in shock by her fall from the horse, and tries to grab up Sally again...but the little deadder slips her grasp and crouches, ready to pounce...

As Murphy considers options of destroying photographs (burning, solvents, tearing, running water) a thought came to mind. He'd heard somewhere that a few Indian tribes didn't want to be photographed because they thought it would steal their souls. If he's come across the work of an actual soul-stealing camera, the image would have to be destroyed to release it. This would mean trouble, as until that was done the best Murphy would be able to do would be to incapacitate the raider somehow...


((OOC: Joel tries to Unshake again. 02:06, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Recover from Shaken. Nope. He can still do free actions, though.

Emma will try to Grapple Sally:

Emma: 02:09, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Emma's grab.

Sally: 02:09, Today: The Stray rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Sally's escape attempt.

Sally ain't gonna be held, but Emma's in a perfect spot to get bit now...Though Murphy gets his turn.

Cards for next round:

Joel: 8D
Emma: 4S))

---

Murphy's up next, followed by Sally and The Comanche Raider.

Why didn't I take the road to Blackthorn? Murphy ponders

Because you didn't want to go past the undead soldier on the road, remember? his father's voice answers in his head. He had little talks with his father ever since he died in the aftermath of that failed bombing attack in Tralee.

Oh, right.

Whatya gonna do now, lad? That had been one of the last things his dad had to him.

Well, what am I gonna do now?

If he shot Sally, Emma - and Joel - would think he'd killed her. If he did nothing, Sally would bite Emma. Again.
Then there was the dead indian. The whole thing was enough to make his head spin.

That is quite the conundrum, my dear fellow. The chippy voice of the British officer who had interrogated him after the Chester raid. That sentence had stayed with him as well. That and the faint scar on his left wrist were the bastard had put out his cigar.

"Fock the conundrum", he says, incidentally the same reply he had given to the bloody Saxon.

Murphy turns away from the indian, offering a quick prayer to Jesus to shield him against an arrow in his back, then grabs Sally from behind careful to stay away from her teeth.

10:28, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Fighting attack. Grappling attack. Want to throw her towards the indian next round.

At this point I'd like to point out my Dodge edge, too. ;-)

10:30, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 8S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 08:47, Thu 10 May 2012.

The littlest deadder struggles in Murphy's grip, thrashing about, teeth snapping as it tries to bit down, but Murphy's grip is strong and sure, and it remains held.

The Indian comes to his feet at last, still groggy from the wound, and shoots an arrow at Murphy. The shot goes wide, streaks off into the night without effect.

((OOC: 10:10, Today: The Stray rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. opposing Grapple. That means you got a Raise on her, so she's Shaken.

On her turn she attempts to Unshake: 10:11, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Recover from Shaken. She loses her action.

The Comanche Raider attempts to unshake as well: 10:15, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 6 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6. Recover from Shaken. He's no longer Shaken, and may attempt an action at -2.

He will, in fact, fire his bow at Murphy again, since Murphy is armed and active right now.

10:16, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 0 using 1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Shooting. It comes nowhere close to hitting anyone, and doesn't even invoke Innocent Bystander because it's a natural 2.))

---

Turn Order for next round:
Murphy: 8S
Sally: 8D
Joel: 8D
Comanche 6C
Emma: 4S

Holding his head back and high, Murphy takes a few steps backwards, towards the indian, his gait like that of a drunken sailor on land leave.
He turns, quickly, then let's go of the dead girl, sending her towards the grey indian!


22:11, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Nobody tosses a zombie!
Well, Murphy just might.

22:13, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 2H using the Deadlands system. Crap. Hope the gamble works out.

Only then does the thought occur to him that Sally's parent might not take to kindly to him throwing their daughter toward the indian.
Well, all happened pretty fast, and she was trying to bite him...
But one thing at a time.

The little dead girl goes flying at the Comanche, who was certainly not expecting anything like this when he woke up this morning. Sally hits him square in the chest, and they both tumble over in a heap.

Joel shouts in shock, but the girl looks up and snarls. Joel looks at Murphy, wild-eyed, then back at his little Sally. "Oh...oh baby, no, please..."

The Indian slowly collects himself, looks at the girl, then at Murphy, then at the girl again.

Then he makes some sort of warding gesture, says something in Comanche, turns tail and runs back into the night. Apparently being Immortal doesn't make you immune to soiling your delicates.

Emma, though, screams in horror and rage. "You bastard!" she screams at Murphy. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

So saying, she pulls the Winchester from Embarr's saddle and chambers a round.

Joel, on the other hand, slowly stands, and raises his shotgun. A tear streams down his face. "I'm so sorry, baby..." he says, and pulls the trigger...

The gun misfires.

Murphy's rifle doesn't, and the Irishman feels the kick of a rifle slug graze his shoulder...

((OOC: Sally rolls to resist being flung: 19:58, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Sally goes sailing. Yes she does. That's a Success and Raise on your fling, so she'll be Shaken as well as Tricked (though she was Shaken anyhow).

Can the Comanche get out of the way

20:00, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Agility.

No. no he does not. He's also Shaken and Tricked.

Both Sally and the Comanche Raider have -2 Parry until their next actions.

Of course, Sally gets to go first. She attempts to unshake: 20:06, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Recover from Shaken. No.

Joel gets to go. Does he unshake? 20:06, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Recover from Shaken. No again.

does the Comanche unshake? 20:07, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 7 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Recover from Shaken.

So yes, he does recover.  But he's had enough of this...dead babies being tossed his way freaks him out enough to Withdraw, and he moves his pace away from the mad Irish guy who chucks little girls around.

Emma, being a little pertebed at her baby being used as a shot-put, grabs murphy's Winchester rifle from Embarr's saddle and aims it at him.

Next round:

Sally: JS
Joel: 5H
Emma: 3H
Murphy: 2H

All of them get to go again.

Sally attempts to unshake: 20:12, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4. Recover from Shaken. No. I'll probably have to spend a Chip to unshake her, but I can wait on that.

Joel: 20:13, Today: The Stray rolled 4 using 1d6. Recover from Shaken.

Now he unshakes...and he's going to try and put his little girl out of her misery.

Head shot -4, buckshot +2 = net -2 on Shooting. 20:14, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4-2. Shooting. No.

Emma, unhinged, takes a pot shot at Murphy; 20:15, Today: The Stray rolled 4 using 1d4. Shooting. Hit.

Damage: 20:16, Today: The Stray rolled 5 using 2d8. Damage. Murphy is Shaken.

The Comanche is still running. He's 12 squares away from the cottage now, and out of the lamplight (-1 darkness penalty).))

---

Up Next: Murphy!

Next round:
Emma: QH
Joel: 10S
Sally: 2h

Murphy ducks at the last moment, out of pure instinct it seems, then wheels about and runs back to Emma, grabing the rifle.

"Give me that before you hurt someone!"
OOC: not shaken! she misses on account of my Dodge edge!

 09:07, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. disarm damage.
09:06, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,10 using d8,d6,

09:12, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 7C using the Deadlands system. initiative.

"No!" Emma screams, trying to wrest the gun away from him. "I won't let you hurt my baby anymore! I won't!"

((OOC: Why, so you do. Lucky skunk.

Did you forget about your Raise damage? You rolled a 10 (down to 8 because disarming is a -2 penalty, but still a raise because her Parry is 4), so you get the extra d6 damage.

Which is important, because she rolled a 4 to resist dropping the gun. Roll your Raise damage and we'll see how it compares. if you roll anything other than a 1, you win. If you roll a 1, you're still grappling with her over it. Once we resolve this, I'll get into her turn.))

OOC: A raise, sweet! Wasn't expecting that.

10:24, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Raising the damage. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"You bastard!" She shrieks, and kicks Murphy square in the family jewels...

((OOC: That's why the call it the Luck o' the Irish...

Emma attempts an Agility trick by kicking for the groin.

01:43, Today: The Stray rolled 29 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+6+6+5)29. Agility Trick.

O_O

...I think that's a hit. Want to try to resist, just in case?))

10:49, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Resisting that Agility Trick. yeah right.

Murphy falls to his knees, the air pressed from his lungs.

Chrrrriiisssssttttt.... he manages.


10:51, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 9,5 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5. Recover from Shaken. Well, at least I'll be back on my feet quickly.

While Murphy lies on the ground wondering when God will be merciful and end his pain, another shot rings out...it's Joel. But the growl of the feral Sally still reaches Murphy's ears...apparently he flinched at the last second. Just doesn't quite have the nerve.

((OOC: While this hilarity is going on, Joel attempts to put down Sally again.

01:58, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Mercy Kill. Another bad roll.

Cards for next round:
Emma: BJ!
Joel: JS))

---

Up Next: Murphy, then Sally. Since you already rolled your Recovery (and got a raise), you get a full action on your turn.

OOC: Joel just shot twice at his daughter, but missed - so now he's empty, right?

"Bloody hell, woman, that hurt!" He staggers up and grabs the rifle again, prying it from Emma's fingers...

Or so I hope!
11:15, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+5)11. Fighting, again.
11:15, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 18 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,(6+5)11. Damage to grab the rifle.
11:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 8D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

((OOC: That's correct.

That's another Raise, so add another d6 to the damage, please...also, is this damage lethal or nonlethal?))

OOC: The raise is already factored in in the damage roll - and my apologies, I need to be more clear: that was another disarm maneuver, trying to grab the rifle from her.

Emma struggles with Murphy, but the butt of the rifle strikes her in the temple as he pulls and she goes down in a heap.

While they're struggling, the little deader finds her feet and leaps at her father, teeth gnashing as they try to rip his flesh. He screams as the girl bears him to the ground, but none of the teeth find their mark. He's too panicked to do anything but hold her at bay...

((OOC: Ah, ok then.

Just a note, though: Disarming still does damage to the person...it's basically a Called Shot with the additional effect of also causing the person to drop what they're holding. You can choose to deal nonlethal damage automatically with a melee weapon, but it's still damage and still can cause Wounds.

In this case 18 damage is more than what's needed to knock Emma right out, so even if she were to roll to resist she'd be unconscious. Or dead. Depends on how vicious you were being pulling the gun away.

Sally gets a roll to unshake: 22:14, Today: The Stray rolled 7 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7. It would figure that NOw would be the time she gets loose. She uses her action to try and take a chomp out of Joel.

22:15, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Fighting! That's a miss.

Sally: 2C

It's Joel's turn, but he's out of ammo and has just failed a Fear check, so he's Shaken and unable to do anything except scream.))

---

Turn Order:
Murphy: 8D
Sally: 2D
Joel: Shaken!
Emma: unconscious

OOC: Got ya - Nonlethal damage to Emma!

Patrick watches horrified as Emma crumbles to the ground - he hadn't want to hurt her, after all - but Joel's scream and Sally's snarl refocuses his attention immediately.

He takes a few steps forwars and swings the rifle like a club,

Trying to knock her off her father... by hitting her over the head!
-4 head, +2 wild
07:36, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Fighting, red chip. Out of Chips again.
07:35, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,-1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Fighting, wild, headshot.
Damage? I guess d4 for the rifle butt?
07:37, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,3 using d6,d4+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. damage. +2 for the wild attack, and I'm not sure how much damage for the called shot to the head... if there is any bonus.
Not going for Nonlethal this time

In reply to Mad Irish Murphy (msg #62):

((OOC: Damage is Str+d6 (it's a Medium improvised weapon), +2 Wild Attack, +4 Head Shot, +2 Weakness. Total damage is Str+d6+8.))

08:04, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 5S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.
08:05, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max. Ace on damage roll.
08:05, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3,14 using d6,d6+8. (3,6) damage...
soooo...21 total

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70GINGcOIMs">some mood music</a>

Sally Robertson has just enough time to look up at Murphy before the rifle butt falls. Murphy could be imagining it, but for the briefest instant there's a look of peace on her twisted face before the stock cracks her skull and she falls to the ground, lifeless again.

Then there's just him, Joel, and the bitter chill of the night wind.

Murphy takes a few deep breaths, crouching down.

"Joel... I'm sorry." He manages, finally, after a long moment.

He helps Joel up and they both look down at Sally. Murphy takes off his hat.
"We should get Emma to the Marshal, make sure the infection is looked. Should we put Sally back in the house? So that, ye know, she'll be safe. Before we can give her a proper burial?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Fri 11 May 2012.

Joel is quiet. Very, very quiet. He's just sitting there, looking at the remains of his daughter.

Murphy walks back into the house and grabs a blanket from Sally's bed and a bottle of liquor he finds after rummaging through a few closets.
Back outside, he gently puts the blanket over her body, then sits down next to Joel, offering him the bottle.

"Joel... we need to get Emma to a doctor. Then we need to get back and take care of your daughter. Come on, mate."

OOC: 18:41, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7. persuasion.

Joel is still quiet, but he nods and stands. He's a bit listless, and he obviously started crying while Murphy was in the house.

Murphy is glad of having two horses now...Hoss can hold both Joel and Emma with ease.

As murphy and Joel ride away from the cabin and into town, Murphy notices a single crow land on the rooftop of the Robertson's place and caw.

((OOC: This thread is now closed. Please resume posting on the "Chapter 14.3: A Long Ride To Hell" thread.))