"Careful Brother Edgar."  The Templar informs him on the sly.  "I know from my experiences before the authorities in this town are not to be trusted.  Truthfully these people are corrupt and unworthy."

Rowan sits on her bike casually looking around, as she waits for the good Brother to deal with his business in town.
As she watches events unfold around her she can be heard quietly humming an old song to herself

There was a "doomed" militia standing in front of the Sheriff's office. He looked Brother Edgar up and down.

"Ah, sure. Just go inside, ask for Sheriff Vandee."

Inside, the Sheriff was sitting at his desk. He a younger man in his 30's, and introduced himself by the name Alan Vandee. He was also an obvious mutant, with skin covered with radiation scars and purple and green flashburns (keloids). He wore fine clothing, new-looking snakeskin boots, gold chains and a gold watch as if to make up for his otherwise hideous appearance.

"So, what can I do you for?" he asked in an ingratiating manner.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #12):

Brother Edgar bows his head respectfully to the sheriff, folding his hands before him.  Offering a calm smile, he answers, "My name is Brother Edgar Coombs and I am looking for an item which was last seen in your settlement.  A lens, a monocle perhaps, of indeterminate origin.  Last seen in the hands of a young man who may have run afoul of your militia."  Lifting a brow of curiousity the Doomsayer looks over the sheriff, "Does this sound familiar?"

Roadkill shuts down the engine to preserve on fuel while he waits for Brother Edgar to conduct his investigation. He hoped that it would be quick (he still had a convoy to catch up with) and almost comments on it to his passengers in the back of the cab but decides against it in order to not draw attention to the fact that the cab had some extra occupants.

In reply to Brother Edgar (msg #13):

Vandee looked puzzled. "Ah, can't say I recognise that... wait, yeah, I remember that thing. Belonged to a little thief named Nix, right? Uh, as I recollect, we dumped his bag out when we searched it, then put everything back in. I swear, we didn't take nothin'. That punk took off ...

Tony is the cutest man in the whole wide wide stinkin' world. He iz teh kewlest.

He is laughing at me 'cause I'm ...

just a little bit toasted.


...with another polecat named Dakota Jack Vermillion we had in the hoosgow. We ain't seen either sidewinder since. You a friend of Nix's?"

Brother Edgar thought Vendee was something of a shallow flashy individual, but likely telling the truth.

Marshall's Note: embedded comment courtesy of my wife, Michelle.

Peter stayed in his truck while he watched Edgar go do his thing. He lit up a cigarette and slowly took drags on it while he waited. But he kept his eyes and ears peeled for any sign of trouble...or suspicious activity. He didn't want to get ambushed again. Every once in a while he'd glance back at Jane.

Jane was too busy looking out of the truck searching for any potential signs of trouble to notice Peter. Considering what she had heard the others say about this town she was suspicious, waiting for problems to arise. She may be wrong but as the expression went, better take precautions than get stabbed in the back.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #15):

Brother Edgar muses over this information a bit, absently answering, "I am uncertain /friend/ is the right word." Setting his musing aside, he explains a bit, "It came to my attention that Doomsayer Priests loyal to Rasmussen were seeking this item and this Nix.  I met him near Pantano Station and he indicated that he last saw the lens here...."  Edgar pauses, attempting to give the appropriate weight to his next words, "I have helped stop one group of these fallen priests, after they destroyed a settlement.  They mean to find this lens and destroy anything that stands in their way.  If I found my way here, they may as well..."

OOC - Continuing that Scrutinize on him as long as you'll allow it to stand.  Reroll in necessary.

In reply to Brother Edgar (msg #18):

Sheriff Vandee shrugged and leaned back in his office chair, rolling a cigarett.

"I'm glad to help you out however I can, Brother. Say, is there some kind of reward if I do find it? Just askin', y'understand. And what settlement did these "fallen priests attack? Were they dressed like you but in green? A bunch of them rode by here yesterday, but they didn't stop."

Done rolling, his lit the cigarette.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #19):

A brow is lifted a bit at the inquiry of a reward.  Brother Edgar's smile fades a bit, heading towards a look of admonishment.  Taking a deep resigned breath, the Doomsayer continues, "I have no reward to offer.  Only to take a potential threat to your settlement away.  Those who passed by were the group I  had a hand in stopping."  A pause for emphasis, "They may not be the last.  They burned out a settlement to the south, near the ruins of Las Cruces.  Crucified the defenders."

Vandee held up his hands.

"Hey, no harm in a feller asking if there's a reward!"

"That's mighty fine thing takin' care of those bastards. I'm sorry to hear about Las Cruces, I'll head down today and see if there's anything we can do."

"As for your doo-hickey, good luck findin' it, and happy trails Brother. Good day."

He sat back, indicating that to him, the interview was over.

"May the light of the Glow, lead you to a bright Future," offers Brother Edgar in return.  Folding his hands before him again, he makes a slight bow.  Propriety met, he turns to make his way out of the office and the building.  If unmolested, he'll go straight back to the Rig.

Popping open the passenger door of the cab, he'll clamber inside.  For the moment, keeping his thoughts to himself, though he offers for Roadkill's benefit, "The sheriff had little to offer and so, I suppose, my business here is done.  Thank you again for allowing the detour."

Rowan watches the good Brother come out of the sheriffs office as usual his body language is difficult to read, but he does not look happy to her, oh well maybe he will tell her about it later, Rowan starts her bike up and gets ready to leave the area when every one is ready.

Rowan
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:45, Sat 18 Sept 2010.

Without much else to do there, the convoy got ready to move out. As they were doing this, the Sheriff exited the jail and moseyed over to the truck. He was wearing a shoulder rig with an M-80 pistol, and he put his cowboy hat on as he shrugged into his coat.

Vandee looked up at Brother Edgar in the cab.

"Say, I'm just about to head on out to Las Cruces, see if those folks need anything. You're welcome to have a look in the jail for your thingy. Just let Ray at the front desk know what you're up to."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Sat 18 Sept 2010.

"No prob Ed," Roadkill says as he fires up the engine and gives a hand signal out the window to the others to let them know that they're ready to move out.

But when the sheriff comes over to talk to Brother Edgar and offer him the chance to look around the jail Roadkill cuts the engine again so that the two can hear each other speak. When Edgar looks at Roadkill he shrugs and gives him a look as if to say, 'go ahead, you might as well.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:36, Sun 19 Sept 2010.

The Doomsayer settled in as the rig roared to life, considering his options.  The sight of the sheriff coming out of his office shook him from the reverie though.  As rig shut down again, Brother Edgar popped open the door of the cab to hear the sheriff's offer.  Glancing back to Roadkill and catching the driver's assent, he lowered himself out of the cab again, "Thank you, Sheriff Vandee.  I /would/ like to have a look."  Upon reaching the ground, he glances around to see what convoy companions might be nearby, "Would you mind if one of my traveling companions accompanies me?  A second pair of eyes and hands would make faster work."

The Colonel stepped up to Brother Edgar's side. He'd gotten down from his perch atop the trailer shortly after they had reached the town. Though he couldn't put his hand on it, he had a bad feeling about the place.

"I'll be coming with you Brother, ja? As you said, vier Augen sehen mehr als zwei²"

Shaeffer continues to scan his surroundings for danger or anything seemingly out of place.




²Four eyes see more than two.

Rowan watches as the mode seems to alter slightly her eyes scan for trouble looking for a bird that she can ask to take a look around for her

Whistling an unknown tune, Marshall Vandee went along his way, ambling over to talk to the militia at the gate.

Climbing down, Col Schaeffer met with Brother Edgar and they retraced his earlier steps. They disappeared into the building.

Scanning the area, Rowan and Roadkill noticed the militia at the gate talking into a landline phone. A few minutes later, a half-dozen armed militia converged on the front gate. Vandee started talking to the small group, and he emphasised what he was saying by pointing at the convoy. Rowan spotted a large crow sitting on a powerline, about a half-block away. She knew she would have to attract its attention and use a bit of food to make friends.

After a few minutes searching the foyer of the evidence room under the watchful eye of Ray the deputy, Brother Edgar and Col. Schaeffer found what looked to be a monocle or eyepiece that matched the description of the Eye... and Brother Edgar's dream.

Returning outside, they noticed Vandee and the posse of armed militia approaching their vehicles. However, their posture seemed relaxed and their weapons (both modern and cap-and-ball reproductions) were either not in hand or carried at low-ready.

Rowan is about to call the birds attention when she notices the gathering of law men.
Under her breath she chants
"Winds power and Earths might, strike swiftly at their sight"
If nothing happens then Rowan relaxes

Peter had been looking around, hoping to not have trouble start. He too noticed the posse, however, and frowned with narrowed eyes. "That looks like trouble. Jane. Heads up, lady. I think we are about to get...searched."

Dakota Jack smiles his signature smile.  "Good, I was 'a gettin' mighty bored Smokey."

Pulling his boots back on, Dakota sticks his head into the cab from the sleeper.  "I don't s'pose this jalopy's got a back door?"

Upon finding the eyepiece, Brother Edgar wrapped it carefully in a scrap of cloth from a pouch and gently placed it inside.  The Colonel would not that he didn't seem to look on the object with "reverence" as one might a religious relic, but more concerned curiousity.  Job seemingly complete he follows the Colonel back outside, noting, "Thank you, now to find a way to stop those marauding bands from hurting anyone else while looking for this lens..."

Upon stepping outside, he too spots the gathering of militia.  The sight seems to concern the Doomsayer little enough, though he keeps a wary eye on them anyhow.  Just in case.  The sight of the convoy crew quietly shifting into "ready" mode makes him a bit more concerned though.  Quietly, to the Colonel, he notes, "The Marshal did say he was going to check on the Shalam Colony.  To see if they could help them get set back up...  Perhaps that's just the group that's going?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I had a bad feeling about this place right from the start. Lets see if my instinct was right."

Shaeffer carried his M4 in it's customary position on a patrol type sling on across his chest. He stopped walking for a second, let Brother Edgar pass and using the good brother's body as a shield from visual observation switched the rifle's safety off. Then he quickly caught up to Brother Edgar again, though this time he walked by his right side to be able to shield him while firing his weapon.