Scurlock does not move from his spot, watching the conversation with raised eyebrows.

The young man identified as Billy shifts his attention to Lee, his eyes hard and full of mistrust. ”A Ranger, huh? I’ll give you this, Mr. Lee. You sound like a reasonable man. The sort that thinks things through. Doesn’t jump to conclusions.”

“You gotta understand, sir, neither do I. My pals and me didn’t come here tonight just cause we were stirred up and angry.” He points to Brady. ”We’ve got real questions for this man. Things he damn well needs to answer for. I ain’t gonna lie. From where all of us sit, it doesn’t seem he’s done a blessed thing to make what happened to John Tunstall right. And I’ll tell you what, we’re not the only ones to hold that opinion. If we were, Judge Wilson wouldn’t have seen fit to deputize us to hunt down those that had a hand in it.”

He cocks his head to one side, his eyes narrowing. ”Mr. Lee, you might’ve heard, but Mr. Murphy’s got quite a few friends over in Santa Fe. What reassurance have I got that you’re not actually here to look after his interests?”

OOC: Albert and Bryan, please give me another Notice roll.

OOC:

Notice: 11

22:09, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 8,11 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.

Waiting for a result before I post an in character action.

OOC: Albert and Chavez are alone here, right? If that's inaccurate, Al wouldn't be so loquacious.

Albert nodded, but frowned. He spoke quietly to Jose. "Sure, but you ain't the only ones what had that thought. Somebody else might think middle of the night's a good time fer funny business."

Albert's brow dropped slightly. "As fer the sheriff, I think yer barkin' up the wrong tree. Ain't the sheriff that's on somebody else's payroll. It's some of his deputies, only he just don't know which. So he's bein' fed information from some folk that ain't on the level. You want help gettin' justice from the star, you gotta help him figger out which of his folks're good."

Albert licked his lips slightly. "Near's I can tell, Bauer and Bell are squeaky clean, and Olinger ain't the brightest but also likely clean."

OOC: Notice of 5

06:29, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 5,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4.  Notice.

OOC: You’re correct in how you have things visualized, Albert. Chavez y Chavez and Cooper are standing in the hallway that adjoins the Sheriff’s Office. Those in the office itself would have a difficult time overhearing them.

Chavez y Chavez listens to Cooper, nodding slowly in response to the man’s words. “I don’t guess I ever thought about Brady being undermined by his own people. I think most of us figured that everyone was just following’ the Sheriff’s orders.”

A moment later, both Lee and Cooper feel a momentary tremor vibrate the floor of the courthouse, almost as though something beneath the building is shifting underground.

Scurlock stiffens. Standing up straight, his gaze falls to the floor. In similar fashion, Bauer glances down, frowning at the floorboards.

Albert nodded. "Yeah, I thought the same thing too. Wondered when the hell the sheriff'd do something or we'd find somoene what can do somethin'. But folk that've been around here a while, well, their reactions made me have a little more patience. And I've been able ta...whoa!"

He looked at the ground. "The hell was that." His pistol waved in the general direction of the floor, but there wasn't anything yet apparent under Albert's feet.

He waited a moment before responding to Bonney's questions.

"Words are wind. Read that in a book one time. Actions speak louder. I'm sure you've heard a little bit about the Texas Rangers, Mr. Bonney. I wonder if you reckon it's a coincidence that the very night a Texas Ranger arrives in town, all the missin' children of the parents that criticized Murphy suddenly came to be free and back with their folks."

He lets that thought linger for a moment, hoping that Bonney and his boys would imagine that one of the legendary Texas Rangers had come into town and freed the kids all by himself. Of course, he could never have done it without help, but he didn't want to pin the deed on anyone else and make them or their kin a target for Murphy, and if it bolstered his reputation in the meanwhile, he hoped it would only serve to make any would be enemies wary of him.

"But if you want some assurances, maybe Mr. Scurlock could put in a good word for me. We had a polite exchange earlier in the day, when his friend was shot at and I helped him carry the body." He paused again, to see if Scurlock would put in a word. He figured that Bonney must know about the ruse as well, and his small part in not givin' it up. He had to speak around the subject, so that he didn't give it up to Brady then either.

"You could also speak to Renata Montaño and Desiree Thornton. I believe both women will speak well in my favor. Also, I have a bit of information to share - I believe that McDaniels has at least one shooter waiting to take aim at anyone running from this building, so let's spend a good little bit here."

"Mostly I'm here to look after the interests of the good men, women, and children that are caught up in the crossfire between the House and the Regulators."

That was when he felt the tremors from the floor.

"I don't mean to change the subject, but did anyone feel that?"

---

OOC:

Persuasion: 5 (7 if they respect the Rangers authority and jurisdiction in the Confederacy)

Mainly he's trying to Persuade Bonney that he's not a stooge for Murphy, and that he's done some things that wouldn't accord with that, and that people independently don't appraise him that way.

17:57, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Persuasion.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Sat 16 Feb 2019.

Chavez y Chavez responds with the same bewilderment that Cooper does. Drawing his own weapon, he mutters, ”Almost felt like somethin’ movin’ under there.”

When Lee finishes addressing Billy, Scurlock drops his crossed arms and nods. ”Bill, he’s tellin’ the truth about Tom. He’d caught on to what happened. Could’ve let everyone in on the ruse, but he...”

His words halt at the tremor. He nods in response to Lee’s question.

From outside, there is a shout. The words are muffled, but all present can identify the voice as male, and that it is a call for the Sheriff.

A moment later, a pair of shots are heard.

”I felt it too,” Bauer says. An instant later, her face falls, her complexion paling. ”I got a bad feelin’ about this. I’m not sure it’s gonna be safe to...”

A second tremor, far stronger than the first, sends a quake through the office. Near the eastern wall, several of the floorboard buckle upwards, toppling the table holding the chessboard.

Albert flung the door open that connected the area he was at with Chavez y Chavez and the main office. "Bauer. You know that legendary creature made of bones that moves through the ground? It might be in town. You said something about having to destroy its heart?"

He shot a curious look at Coop, and then one at Bauer, before looking to the present Regulators. "My suggestion is that we resume this conversation until we figure out what the hell's goin' on," he said, falling into a defensive stance as he backed away from the eastern wall, his eyes continually scanning the floorboards. After what Coop said, he expected something to rise up from the ground.

Bauer looks to Cooper with a wide eyed expression. ”That Apache legend? You really think...”

The deputy isn’t able to complete her sentence before the floor of the Sheriff’s Office explodes.

Amidst the shower of splinters and lumber, those gathered in the office can see that what has emerged from below defies reason.

It stands close to eight feet tall, portions of it nearly brushing the ceiling. It is a skeletal creature, its entire form made up of what appear to be human bones, some white as porcelain, others yellowed with the passage of decades. Many are broken, protruding from the monster’s form like jagged spines.

Six legs have been created by the gathering of bone, lending the dead creature an insect like quality to its form. Four other appendages, arms presumably, extend from the monster’s back, ending in clawed “hands” with varying numbers of sharp fingers. If the thing possesses a head, or eyes of any kind, they cannot be seen.

Seemingly conscious of those in the room with it, it lurches forward, the stomach knotting sounds of bones grinding against bones filling the small space. A mere few paces away from the beast, Deputy Diaz appears frozen with terror.

OOC: Albert and Bryan, I need you both to provide me with an Spirit roll (Fear Test). Should you happen to fail, make a roll using 1d20+1.

As well, please make an Initiative draw.

The characteristically calm Ranger yells out "Sweet mother of...!" He seems unable to complete his sentence.


OOC:

Alright, the fates really didn't want Lee to stand tall just now:

Spirit: 3
Fear: 11
Initiative: 5H

22:33, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: 5H using the Deadlands system.
22:32, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 11 using 1d20+1, rerolling max.  Well..
22:32, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 1,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  White Chip Reroll.
22:31, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 3,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Spirit.

Albert figured if the Ranger found this thing fearsome, he ought to do so as well. In fact, he found it exactly as fearsome as the Ranger.

"Yeah, I do. I didn't realize it was this big." Albert looked in awe at the creature as it looked about for some more bones to add to its collection.

OOC: Fail and then 11. I think that's Shaken? 2C for initiative. Albert enjoys sitting back and watching the action unfold in front of him. Why rush things?

23:09, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: 2C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

23:08, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 11 using 1d20+1, rerolling max with rolls of 10.  I'm afeared!

23:08, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 2,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Fear check.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Wed 20 Feb 2019.

15:40, Today: William Brady rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Spirit.

15:41, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 6 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6.  Spirit.

15:43, Today: Marshal rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Spirit - Diaz.

16:02, Today: Jose Chavez y Chavez rolled 6,13 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+6+1)13.  Spirit.

16:03, Today: Josiah Scurlock rolled 8,3 using 1d8+2,1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1.  Spirit.

16:04, Today: Henry McCarty rolled 7,10 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+4)10.  Spirit.

OOC: Well, everyone else in the Sheriff’s Office managed to pass their Fear Checks, with the exception of Deputy Diaz.

Cooper and Lee are both panicked. Diaz, being an extra, shares the same reaction. In essence, on their turn, all three will try to move away from the bone fiend at their full pace plus a running die. All three are also shaken.

Given that Cooper and Lee are both PCs, I’d allow for both to either burn a chip or make a Spirit roll to do away with the shaken condition. Once they’ve overcome being shaken, their panicked state will also end and they can act normally.

Diaz will remain panicked and, if it’s within his power, make for the high country.

Bauer, along with the Regulators, spit out a series of shocked curses. Diaz lets out a sob. Brady, suddenly sounding like the military man of old, shouts, ”We need to fall back! Get out of the courthouse! Go! Go! If we stay, we’ll be trapped in here and at its mercy!”

OOC: To make things a little more manageable for yours truly, I’ve put the Regulators and local law enforcers in groups for purposes of initiative.

Initiative Order

1. The Law (Brady, Bauer, Diaz)
   
2. The Regulators (Billy, Scurlock, Chavez y Chavez)
   
3. The Bone Fiend
   
4. Bryan Lee
   
5. Albert Cooper

16:07, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 6D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Regulators.

16:07, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 9C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Lawmen.

16:09, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 7H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Bone Fiend.

Brady turns and stands his ground, leveling his Peacemaker at the monster and firing a shot, the bullet shattering several bones on the creature’s lower torso.

17:52, Today: William Brady rolled 1,10 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+4)10.  Shooting.

18:00, Today: William Brady rolled 7,5 using 2d6+1,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5,5.  Damage.

The Bone Fiend is shaken.

”Sheriff, cmon!” Bauer yells, drawing her own weapon as she backs toward the hallway. ”We need to get clear!”

She fires a shot of her own as she retreats, but it ricochets into the ceiling off of the beast’s tough exterior.

18:02, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 2,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Shooting.

18:03, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 8 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Damage.

Diaz turns and runs as fast as his legs, and the crowded space will allow him to, shoving past Bauer and Lee as he rushes for the hallway that leads to the exit.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Thu 21 Feb 2019.

”Doc! Follow me!” Bonney yells, ”We got to get this thing out in the open! Take the son of a bitch down!”

The Kid pulls one of his pistols, but rather that taking aim at the monster, he points his weapon at the southern wall and fires.

19:13, Today: Henry McCarty rolled 7,5 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5.

19:13, Today: Henry McCarty rolled 14 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2,(6+1)7.  Damage.

The lone shot somehow creates a deafening blast, which blows a sizeable hole in the wall, and shatters part of the staircase beyond it. The opening is easily large enough for a person of average height to walk through unimpeded.

Bonney runs for the exit he has created. Scurlock follows, turning to fire at the monster with his sidearm as he moves.

19:18, Today: Josiah Scurlock rolled 7,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2.  Shooting.

19:28, Today: Josiah Scurlock rolled 8 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.  Damage.

Like Bauer’s shot, the lead skitters off of the creature’s body, doing no apparent harm.

Chavez y Chavez races down the hallway, opening the door at the end with hard smash of his shoulder. A figure that stood just on the other side stumbles backward a couple of steps. The young man’s eyes widen as he sees that there are three armed interlopers in front of him, all skeletons clad in rotten rags, any semblance of life having left them long ago.

OOC: Cooper and Diaz can both see the dead men standing just outside the door clearly.

19:44, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 5H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Regulators.

19:48, Today: The Bone Fiend rolled 6,5 using 1d12,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  Spirit.

The Bone Fiend is no longer shaken

Despite having no mouth that any can see, the creature makes a hideous, piercing screech, sweeping two of its clawed arms in the direction of Sheriff Brady, swinging them like scythes at harvest.

19:52, Today: The Bone Fiend rolled 11,1 using 1d12,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 11,1.  Fighting.

19:56, Today: The Bone Fiend rolled 13,5,5 using 1d10,1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (10+3)13,(4+1)5,5.  Damage.

Total Damage: 23

Brady suffers four wounds and is incapacitated.

20:06, Today: William Brady rolled 1,3 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Vigor.

20:09, Today: William Brady rolled 19 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,(6+2)8.  Injury.

This roll was for the Injury Table, and would count as a 12.

20:09, Today: William Brady rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.

Brady is bleeding out. The blow has done lasting damage to the Sheriff’s head, causing him to suffer brain damage. Even if his life is preserved, the injury will be permanent.

20:12, Today: The Bone Fiend drew the single card: 2D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Next: Bryan Lee

Lightning quick, Bryan dashed between the creature and the injured Brady, or as near as possible as he could be to interposing himself between the two and took a stance that would let him lash out at the creature.

"Get him outta here!" he shouted, hoping one of the deputies would act, though he was still shaking in his boots even as he stood there.

He hoped that he'd bought Cooper a chance to shoot its heart out or whatever.

---

OOC:

Quickness 1/3
Damage Field 1/3

NOTE: Because of Damage Field, Anything that contacts him in close combat takes 2d8 damage, the trapping for which I wish to just be a quick series of chops by Lee.

Spirit Roll failed, so I burned a White Chip to eliminate the Shaken condition.
Failed to activate Quickness to I burned a Blue Chip to make it a success, just fell short of a raise.
That gave me a second activation to activate Damage Field, which activates with a Raise.
This leaves him with 12/20 PP.

20:55, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: 6C using the Deadlands system.
20:45, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 11,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Damage Field.
20:45, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max.  Blue Chip.
20:28, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 3,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Quickness.
20:27, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 1,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Spirit, don't fail me now!

Albert got a stubborn look on his face when the others all seemed ready to flee. Bryan's sudden fortitude was catching, it seemed.

He already had his weapon out and was looking for a nice spot to put a bullet.

OOC: 11 Spirit

19:16, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 4,11 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+5)11.  Spirit.

Is there anything like the deputy had previously described for Albert to aim at? Or is he left with just shooting and praying for results?

OOC: At the moment, Cooper doesn’t see any target on the creature that stands out, including anything resembling the “heart” from the Apache story that Bauer shared. The monster seems to be a solid mass of mismatched bones. However...

22:25, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Albert Cooper, rolled 4,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Notice.

...even in the midst of being rattled by the beast’s sudden appearance, Cooper did notice that when Brady’s shot landed, the fiend’s body seemed to loosen, gaps appearing in its cobbled together frame.

OOC: I guess he'll just try to open up a little hole then.

Albert spins the gun on his finger and some electricity plays across both his fingers and his eyes a moment before he fires at the beast.

OOC: Just using a normal bullet to see if he can't create one of those openings before using the Loaded For Bear bullet. It is considered magical as he activated Smite. Note that the gun is also AP 1, so he managed to do a whole 7 damage (AP1).

JS for initiative

08:56, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: JS using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

08:56, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 7 using 2d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Damage.

08:55, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 6,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  Shooting.

08:54, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 4,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5.  Hexslinger (boost shooting).

08:52, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 4,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Hexslinger (Smite).

Cooper’s shot blasts splinters of bone from the monster’s flank, but it appears largely unfazed. The creature shifts in the direction of the hole in the wall created by Billy the Kid, its attention seemingly drawn to the escaping Regulators.

OOC: With the movement of several combatants to different exits from the Sheriff’s Office, I’m going to merge this thread into the Night Belongs to the Dead thread. All further actions will be resolved there.

OOC:

Understood. Quick follow-up: Does that mean the big critter is withdrawing from melee with Ranger Lee?

OOC: Correct. It isn’t seeking to engage Lee or to do any additional harm to Brady. It appears to be focused on the Regulators.