As the others gallop away, the winds slowly die down, not completely, but now they are only a stiff breeze, tearing at the dead men's uniforms, no longer tearing at their flesh.

Moses walks up to the closest in front of him, reciting another prayer.
"Never shall innocent blood be shed,
Yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river.
You three shall end your blackened reign,
And Moses shall the vengeful striking hammer of God!"

10:08, Today: Moses rolled 15,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,2. Faith for Smite.
So that's +4 for the staff.

Damn, should've made this a multi-action, but forgot to add the modifier. Well.

10:11, Today: Moses drew the single card: 9D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

Since I'm up before them again, I'll just go ahead and keep rolling.


The thick knob on the end of Moses' staff seems to start glowing, but this certainly must be a trick played on the eyes by the wind and the fading light.
The tall man swings his staff in a wide circle, hitting one of the confused blackened soldiers square into the side of its rotting head.

10:13, Today: Moses rolled 4,9 (total 13) using d8,d4+6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. damage.
10:13, Today: Moses rolled 9,3 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Fighting attack, WILD.
Damn, almost a raise.

"BEGONE! Begone, you foul creature, you mockery of life and the Lord's love!"

Now there should be only two. Their turn, then my card for next round:

10:16, Today: Moses drew the single card: 9D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.
Why, of course! :-)

The soldier struck by the Hickory stick vanishes in another cloud of greasy smoke.

The two remaining soldiers look at each other, then ready their bayonets and charge, striking at the prophet with wild abandon. The Lord is with Moses, however, as the rusty blades fail to find their mark again and again, and the single blow that does land only succeeds in tearing a rent in the prophet's duster.

((OOC: That's ok. I've goofed and forgotten mods myself. Given how high you rolled on that check, a paltry -2 wouldn't have mattered.

The remaining soldiers attempt to unshake.

The Black Regiment rolled 2,2 using d4,d4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. unshake. No dice. I'm going to spend chips on them...I haven't spent chips on any extras in a while.

So. The Black Regiment soldiers attack Moses, though Wovoka is still maintaining the Deflection, so they have -4 to hit. They get a Gang-up bonus, which helps a little, but it's only +1.

The Black Regiment rolled 1,0 using d8-3,d8-3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Fighting! Nope.

Card for next round: JC

They get to go again.

The Black Regiment rolled 9,2 using d8-3,d8-3, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,5. Fighting! That's one hit.

Damage: 5. Not enough to break Moses' regular toughness, never mind the enhanced toughness the Armor provides him.

Card for next round: BJ!))

hm looks like Moses is running out of luck.

12:31, Today: Moses rolled 3,7 using d8,d4+4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. damage.
12:31, Today: Moses rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. and a red chip.
12:30, Today: Moses rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. blue chip.
12:30, Today: Moses rolled 4,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. another smiting swing.

12:33, Today: Moses drew the single card: JD using the Deadlands system. initiative


Moses swings down his staff, hard, landing a blow on one of the undeads' head which would split the skull of any mortal man. In the case of these adversaries, the creature vanishes in another swirl of black smoke.

"How dare you attack a servant of the Lord? Back to the pit!"

EDIT: hold on - that wild attack gives me another +2 on the damage, which is just enoigh for another wound on one of those things... I'll be editing the narrative above.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:01, Mon 01 Oct 2012.

The last remaining soldier gives Moses a bony stare. "Fuckin' uppity nigger oughta learn his place." It growls through rotten teeth, and stabs wildly at the prophet.

The first blow is turned aside by the holy magic, but the repeated blows batter his protection...and finally one slips through, scoring a bloody gash across Moses's arm...

((OOC: It's alright...I've been forgetting the +2 to recover from Shaken they get from being Undead.

The last one tries to skewer Moses again.

The Black Regiment rolled 1 using 1d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Fighting! No Hitter.

Card for next round: AD

Getting desperate now, the dead man tries a Wild Attack. should have done that with the last attack, but oh well.

The Black Regiment rolled 3 using 1d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Fighting! He'll use one of my Reds for a bonus, because he can hit Moses' lowered Parry that way.

The Black Regiment rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. red chip. That makes his total 5, which is enough to hit Moses.

Damage: 17. That's enough to break even Moses's enhanced toughness. That will leave Moses Shaken with 1 Wound unless he soaks.

Card for next round: 4S))

Spending my last chip (red) to soak
10:17, Today: Moses rolled 13,13,1 using d8,d4+6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,(4+3)7,1. damage .
10:16, Today: Moses rolled 8,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. another wild swing.
10:15, Today: Moses rolled 3,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. vigor to soak.


Something stirs in  Moses, an uneasy memory. A memory of of chains and pain and whips. Then a memory of burning heat washing everything away.
His lips tighten.
"The Lord is Moses' only Master!" The prophet yells, then makes a quick roundabout turn, his staff tearing through the undead racist, sending the sorry creature back to hell.

The thing vanishes into greasy nothingness, and Moses finds himself alone in the valley.

---

Wanbli Luja sends a view of the battle from afar to Thunder Walker's eyes as the group flees over the hills--the solemn negro calling on the winds to scatter the dead, then taking the straggles one by one with only minor injuries.

He has the blessing of the Shiwana, that one, The Great Eagles thinks through their link.

For a few minutes, Moses stands there, still as a tree, looking down at his feet.
"Your humble servant is sorry, Lord, for his failure. They are too deep in the clutches of the Adversary."

He nods, shrugs, turns around amd swiftly starts walking toward the stage, to meet the others.

He said a few words for Sky Hawk's benefit. [Language unknown: "Usut ntpe, etcom Cathre halin un ntiotr erout Oulyinhis Yinearver...Whiwerres Ear tinpr ca lo etmo hene-usme a rea Ratstarom. T Nc ncpe it ural anlate eve virectwit...Ni ronomo eennt st ouekstnt ri ratatevirsti."]

"He has driven them away," he said, amazed at the spectacular vision provided him by the mightiest of the eagles. "Though I think he has taken some small hurts. You continue. I shall go to him, to see if he needs aid." So saying, he began to move with the same stealth he had heretofore employed toward where he thought Moses might be, using the Eagle's vision to give him landmarks and guidance.

[Language unknown: "Wiloulrat. Int mamaat ate pano a dihich."] Wovoka says. [Language unknown: "Th hat nope the ive en pa ineillter omeomeingfor. Chev ove it ncchhe areta u mate ulmack asri trman our Iseniend Ntadng?"]

He paused before departing, giving a quick shake of his head. [Language unknown: "N io vir p papain, Foprbe, encio illsomwer P tovir strle maion ast ugh ha Nd ee. P si u atncpr wetopo, vence erare ionwhenteday ul besa ekival altr i ounoutven thi. Sti Rihaek Icne diisch ai, U forateenc chch mofo. K wiome man, terne rihipa siwh ti ie ourstaore. O lesterday hi it ro iv e wh st pre sehi aietnawi ratal onmi eler."]

He nodded his head to the one called Li. [Language unknown: "Ol fo ill u ic pa verac ma on ratur miadse, icove a redughmen wiour t enwe pro E staorelat, teomwh on pe it le korortare."]

Xiaohan has been sticking close to Wovoka with an air of determined protectiveness, now frowning a little to the dark whilst attempting to follow the rapid Siouan. The genuine sentiment of Thank you, spirits wisps warmly through the little Chinese's chest despite the cold in the autumnal air.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:17, Tue 02 Oct 2012.

Wovoka looks at Li with a thoughtful expression.

[Language unknown: "Wit p e ove utbut iv amend sisa whipo t stisomati toloer, laranyfor wa?"] he asks as Thunder Walker heads to meet Moses.

---

Moses, meanwhile, strides back, triumphant over the forces of darkness. Thunder Walker, guided by Wanbli Luja's vision from afar, is able to catch up with him fairly quickly.

Xiaohan hesitates a little, regaining some of that hare-like ready to flee posture.

[Language unknown: "Ch...orentihas ou ousaic, a acosin wilael m Ee ain ie eren thmen, toel ratevevor Atwi-teee Voratinte, yin icbeic...a haivsios ev tio, of tonde si, waiewh t aiest tra i eloul enc, O eeno ithartnde...o icare Son Resnc plla ica, Ut m hatvirintith ch esioplon ng maho, elne n ereec ss ic was, t Ei hoha Omesetndeent Somsetnte con wit, p lepoti paca hanc andiheho strhe ainlatast powa. Anyundlar rutoerantave ca strestdayive e Herun Hiol, k ticivetedome...Fo ac e ie, eech ich, Set Rutme st e ntiproove...ac vor aileri, und trani beicur."]

Xiao bobs just slightly in apology, still clutching the razor and alert for any more undead or terrestrial menace. [Language unknown: "Fi washasant ni m aisemo fi P blewasnti t fodiad re, se shevennte wiicmeil ou ee wasvenove...osof Naonei lar difo eenpo ecacpo, mibemo ouriveoul."]

Wovoka nods as he listens to Li's tale. [Language unknown: "N m ta set connc ei ven k korbutortnde ithno ounind paan'omhiin. Ncil ro sipeee lo linaininehas eartr, hiect ter neiou sette elev'adec Eiunlini Mesaek fi ntine, o for ti we teosmaee. I di set, al arnt is wer eaustryin. Esich lar leica essateect ti taat wasos roart di. Trch fiis sanareall, no era t acisic at ndch Iltand Staatitra."]

Sky hawk smiles at the compliments, but says nothing as he keeps watch.

He nods at Li's explanation of his poor Sioux. [Language unknown: "M mockus-ngie. Whitheble k was e hisbleate verwerwilest. Om i Icssna, of ter pr napael Ithwhence p loliho tate ch hersanwhi. No whepr acncou whe ofic pr itstfo remapa. Yinno, o ouur at ainaveproleskor, Ti onsvorres Ho ing a trel pl paetme nt whe m usted late le ecain asesel, hi ic utsti Miusee Usmase prostitha. Noac nc ou undconore uressaousefi n son un ilmewh k ica tiowi ngac ha nisshi, adssca ta ck ilare. Ie whetr res io hou plbe. Inev liomri re ous ce n si eewanc u he adsiut. Ie he hasom nceenters virdinshe yinne. He ho esce olmi manundame nihis, cksa K helar ntndon ulted ca po ee un nt plnce eartinint, olwh at neloer maeen p wittedsti us eenughint sanlatsta."]

Moses almost runs into Thunder Walker, as he seems lost in thought.
"Oh, Moses thought you would not wait for him, but meet him back at the stage coach with the others."
He dismissively waves backwards. "The servants of War are gone. For now. They will return at another time, at another place, to fight another battle. Damned for all eternity they are. Moses thought he could at least pull them from Hell to Perdition, but he failed."

The prophet is unwounded but for a long scratch on his forearm.

[Language unknown: "I ard anykoring, anecme As ri eeevfo...me chwhha."] Xiaohan gets out. The shaman's offer brings a simultaneous surge of hope and a knotting in the gut. A place to learn to live. But what if I bring trouble to them with me?

[Language unknown: "M...traounart ncall sti p vironscon prewheion, iv st i be whi Trntur Sifiro plng,"] Xiao manages, since that much is true. A great deal of fear remains, however. O Spirits, let me belong with you and don't let them kill me if they find out what I am. The threat of being sold to the Sioux for raw gold and pelts had not entirely faded away.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Wed 03 Oct 2012.

In reply to Moses (msg # 83):

As Moses and Thunder Walker talk, there's a glimmer from back on top the bluffs. A ghostly figure stands on a nearby hill, watching the pair with sorrowful eyes. The luminescent figure is an Indian of indeterminate tribe with long black hair just beginning to grey tied with eagle feathers. There's a mass of scar tissue on the Indian's left breast, where his heart would be. The Indian notices the pair's gaze, nods, smiles faintly, and pulls a skin over his shoulders. Then he vanishes as if he never was.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 84):

[Language unknown: "Olllou e ouswaskor hebeta evmine oreartast ove onsorthis ers ameromconlin mo thaes. Lour and hascomsta na undthevir memion oer k atiardset icanotect."] Wovoka says. [Language unknown: "I oucom butessfor...Weusas Itheon nt ounncewit und ateectlin. I ca u antee ec k us Virredwhi Strwhiint ove ni trlehi oulo ousillble. Conai Ectthieve n Nteat Ndelck usntme acperi ut atiac prat, eiat ore ol atier Earstater Stiticstr out dina o. Eve astmi Inteennte Thavenive unet Ll Esect iselro eeain un le alanss wilemo, thuwe lestheres ho butrutounnde."]

He nods. [Language unknown: "Hath malat we lo ro t sonai Mathth Diivev? Ev chof sile ive: Ma Derbutlat Unouet omelarone sisa'ceon pawheclo pr ries thihispre, oun al weolfo toeeus el ate terencles. Fo e ac ratalleveted areredhouthi, ng witse ere icard om la staateate be road ac ine, re ainandiou n icar o plan ofioan, os betr hiei wecksawi andevetra som stroutoun fi atse unchic."]

[Language unknown: "Un it ta olil, Ul intaev. E ersto eradi p m se inen. Her ie er teut ri eciema thu tohi tic dinlinshe, thuof ate eauonsain iveeauore of meti he. Tiyin be o oer sonainred elni tio?"]

In reply to The Old One (msg # 85):

The prophet furrows his brow.
"Moses has seen him before. We were about to look for him when you arrived with news about the prophet Wovoka.
Will you go with Moses, Thunder Walker, to see what this old indian wants with us?"

Xiaohan knew enough of the Tao to know what might roughly be called its "will" was more in the nature of an incoming tide or the path of a storm, and calms a little: this was not a thing under mortal control; the choices here rested in the details.

[Language unknown: "M neairoriun. Ich vir era ss maeve tosieein...iomafi but al ndiopl hower ut comousintndeavesan and, P stenen...ai wepa icasne."]

Xiaohan takes a breath. [Language unknown: "It prtifo. Eehifoho mome ieroilie ic, are has atvor teplin ne...taicla i a of alutno ove: Er lo tire rewhus, in int be oulredver. Ngted onckad...diomer seivsi ofwhi paitai ulomliilmece. Ingit alatal t paanad temast, earhi icevce o ore a] Deadwood [Language unknown: wa thuureati icus hoevon ulivst hiswerarerederetin..."] Xiao makes a show of hands palm-up like the natives shrug, helpless.

Thunder Walker nodded, and replied in kind, speaking to Moses in his chosen manner. "Thunder Walker will go with Moses to see what that one wishes of us."

The luminescent Indian appears again as the pair get close, watching them with eyes far more ancient than the rest of his face. He's translucent, ghost-like.

He waits, silently, as they arrive up the hilltop.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 88):

Wovoka shakes his head. [Language unknown: "O a utse comun loinpl ho on anynceble mo...ll Rocalisa hou comoun-butand it urwhta. Liwas Stadinlar Hoonwi adati eriltr of ard witnteall foame aveai e stonne bein naugh, notwherea, not preoutvorousica. Nd, peen wami, pl Fi Ble reaughwil stand onwhta areoneher wi stiderles nefolo foni, not sonof encundall styin. Foate for out re ectromint miulad Ousestint. It ate ons sanoultic andhasson as und themenart ect, il i thi olstfi ndai hetaul ma hieles plart hou he ntisetder roli atasck witiveart. Day res haee ilnoul as llusmaio stawitiou ich eksere oulnc ntpale. Us the poetof, rom sonoveher, plngio and."]

[Private to group Siouan: "Then I will teach you a song to the spirits that will turn away such attacks. As for Cougar Woman, I know of one in Deadwood who must be warned. He can help destroy the creature."]

Xiaohan listens carefully, trying to follow a lot of unfamiliar concepts. "Ah...[Language unknown: ichcomint un e ul romalleraoun, sheher-werich? Er minte sonut a rontit, oun teddayame u ck ingnteart fimano ha eiulto? Fo ngofof som of la...ne ta helaha?"]

The little youth takes in a sudden, sharp breath as though ambushed with an icecube, looking to the sky. [Language unknown: "Ha icawasnot Artoustinore Ameallpre p..."]
I heard no shot...he must have gone because he was tired. I will thank him later.
The offer of a song against malicious hungry ghosts brings Xiao's interest firmly back to the shaman - not knowing what else to do in a gesture of grattitude, Xiaohan goes for another bow, switching shoulders with the satchel whilst talking: [Language unknown: "T dius atehaseve po ce."] Then, more warily: [Language unknown: "Icsom oneterone n Ousestonewit? Mipre redno..."]

[Language unknown: "Noher u me foriasiv, lo namewi anicliwinaom, ut oulwhewhe maset our. P a hatr sanivekorsta i whledi, loou aresoneau i sa ouhi. Eve platac thaentich nde staom eautrawas linei rock somhouher p peenou roest. Ngoul ameurethu p oulereort, koros, res linencsan. Ine eenrutnot ic kor prhanitr, ourstinti aiissehe utrat sirial li ilaswa as ilosndhi."] [Private to Tan Xiaohan: ((OOC: I see what you did there... >_> ))]

Wovoka sighs. [Language unknown: "T alli. U ndeenclin loher som an t pe trble and."]

Laughing Calf, who up until now had been quite, speaks up. [Language unknown: "But. Int Pl Ekfi Om se k taivto u eleve Buttedset Nistpl. E str e pa u hat eenectwil, poest p hien wi menasting, his Preil Ter Heit Ovehi dertiotin mifi ntimencon ardrutcom lepe. Ha tioantich liho Forwasour Undouning esslesred tr chweca. Red pl n eraouseenven plwhi me richul k ore Ratonsrat n nafo Anyillenc. Laront icweheac ithic ith urasho vorastndeder la ececheto...ho onstioore leswasman p esspl ariou ut urehasint nool."]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:41, Fri 05 Oct 2012.