”We are the source of much of his strength,” the subterranean voice answers, ”He uses us, our souls...our torment, to fuel his power. It is the heart that grants him the ability to hold us prisoner.”

“The heart is close to him. In his shelter in the upper floor of this house. He keeps it near.”

There is a pause, a silence filled only with cold. ”If you speak truth, if you mean to destroy him, we can fight. Resist releasing the power he draws from us. We cannot stop him entirely. The heart will overwhelm us. But we can make his way difficult.”

Albert frowned momentarily, having considered and discarded the notion of trying to recruit the denizens of this subterranean passageway. He looked briefly at the others before responding to the voice. "If y'all are kept beholden ta the power of the heart, how do ya know he won't be able ta turn y'all on us if ya get closer ta the heart? I'm generally in favor of gettin' all the help we can, but - no offense intended - I'm a bit concerned 'bout losin' yer loyalty at the worst possible time."

”We cannot leave the confines of this tomb,” the voice replies, ”We do not serve Murphy in the manner of slaves, ordered about to perform chosen tasks. To him, we are like the oil in a lantern. We are fuel, burned to empower the magical workings he seeks to accomplish.”

“We can resist him using our life force, in order to weaken the power he commands. But that is all. We cannot harm him by virtue of the heart, and we cannot pursue you beyond this stone prison.”

Albert nodded. "Ah, then yes. If y'all can offer some resistance in the near future, now's gonna be the best time fer resistin'. Might be the difference between our bein' victorious or no."

Silence overtakes the stone corridor. Although the uncomfortable cold lingers, the lasting quiet leaves the small group to wonder if the restless spirits have gone.

The voice from below finally speaks again. ”We can only hope that you are not deceiving us.”

As the words fade, the chill recedes.

"Just see that Murphy's power's aren't what he's expectin'. Might give us that little edge."

He looked around at the others. "Nuff talkin', folks. Let's go finish this."

Nothing else acts to impede the riders as they traverse the long hallway, though each is well aware that unseen eyes continue to regard them. At the end of the corridor is a heavy door, built from pine timbers reinforced with iron bands. Opening it requires effort, the swollen wood groaning as it resists being pulled free from its stone frame.

Beyond it, a narrow set of steep wooden stairs lead up to another door that is closed. Moving up the steps, both Cooper and Castillo hear the sound of weeping as they draw near the doorway.

Jacinta stood at the top of the stairs and pressed her ear to the door to hear what lay beyond.  At the sound of weeping, she lifted an eyebrow and threw a glance at Cooper.  With a nod, she set her lantern down on the top step and readied her rifle, then reached for the doorknob to see if the door was locked.

Albert also had his weapon in hand, though he realized it would be easier for him to open the door (given the one-handedness of his preferred weapon). As a gentleman, he often opened doors for the women in his life. This was both different and not.

The cowboy quietly asked for Jacinta's assistance before opening the door. "Cover me."

The door requires some effort to push open, evidence that it is seldom used.

It opens into a cellar, the air cool and damp. A pair of lanterns hanging from a timber in the ceiling provide weak, yellow light, the stacked crates and barrels that occupy the left side of the large room casting long shadows across the remainder of the floor space.

Against the wall opposite the door the riders just opened are a pair of tables. The surface of one is taken up with the melted remains of numerous candles, along with what appear to be the dried remnants of several plants. The other table holds a number of different iron tools, their purpose unclear, though the group can spot a pair of knives among them.

Directly to the left of the table with the tools, a pair of iron manacles have been bolted on the wall, several feet high, and spread well apart from one another. The wall itself bears several dark stains. A wide tin bucket sits beneath the manacles.

To the right of the tables, a plank staircase leads up to a closed door above,.

Directly to the right of the riders is an iron barred cell, precisely of the kind found in most jails in the Southwest. Three people occupy the enclosure: a gray haired woman in a calico dress who is weeping, a clean shaven young man dressed like a ranch hand, and Desiree Thornton. Thornton, who is attempting to comfort the crying woman, bears a deep gash across her forehead and the young man’s face shows several bruises. All three start fearfully when Cooper, Castillo, and their companions enter the cellar.

Lying in the center of the cellar floor is a gray haired man with a full beard. He is perfectly still, blood pooled on the floor around him.

From somewhere above, there is the loud report of a firearm.

Albert looked down at the fellow on the floor, and made a general move of his head to suggest someone with medical ability maybe should take a look at him. For his part, he moved close to those in the cell. He initially directed his words to Desiree Thornton, lifting the hat off his head and pointing his gun toward the ground as he did.

His words were quiet, though urgent. "Glad ta see ya well, ma'am. And y'all. Can ya give us the quick lowdown on what's happened here?" He could take some guesses, but probably better to hear it true rather than take guesses.

Thornton blinks, clearly still surprised by the sudden appearance of Cooper and his compatriots. Her expression quickly turns to one of panic.

“Mr. Cooper, you and your friends, you can’t stay here! You need to leave! Now!”

Roberts kneels in front of the cell, examining the lock on door. Fishing through a pouch on his belt, he draws out a pair of metal tools.

The young man in the cell speaks up. ”She’s right, mister. We’ve probably had it. But ya’ll have still got time to get out of here.”

”Murphy came in here not long ago. I think he knew the law was coming for him.” Thornton points to the body on the floor. ”He killed Mr. Kearney.” She swallows hard, tears rising in her eyes. ”He cut his heart out. Said it would serve to draw up...”

Her words are interrupted as a jagged crack abruptly forms in the center of the cellar floor, the boards splintering as if pushed by some great force from below. An eerie orange glow, like flickering firelight, emerges from the fissure.

"Get 'em out," Jacinta hissed, jumping at the floor exploded.  "Get 'em all out."  She pressed her rifle against her shoulder, taking a step back toward the wall, aiming her rifle at the fissure.

Albert shook his head at the suggestion they flee. "No, ma'am, we're gettin' y'all out." He had his gun out, pointed in the general direction of the fissure.

A good portion of his attention was on Roberts, however. Picking locks was something Albert had done quite a bit over the course of his life. Those days when he was regularly pickin' locks weren't necessarily better. In fact, they were almost universally worse. But now wasn't the time to dwell on any of that. He did make an offer of help to Roberts in case the man had any trouble. "Lemme know if ya need a hand."

Nodding at Cooper, Roberts sets to work on the lock, the metal squeaking as the bounty hunter struggles to manipulate the tumblers.

Thornton opens her mouth to protest further, but before she can speak, the jagged split in the floor widens with a monstrous groan, powerful enough to quake the cellar, the timbers splintering from the strain. From within the growing fissure, a hand, entirely wreathed in crackling flame reaches up, gripping the edge of the opening to pull itself upward.

20:52, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 5,4 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4.  Lockpicking.

With a metallic snap, the cell door springs open.

OOC: Everyone give me an initiative draw.

Cooper stood, transfixed on the appearance of the flaming hand.

OOC: Unless you pull a 2C, anyway.

08:30, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: 2D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

OOC:

Balls!

21:51, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: 3H using the Deadlands system.

18:34, Today: Marshal drew the single card: JC using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Infernal.

18:35, Today: Andrew Roberts drew the single card: 4S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

18:36, Today: Tom Horn drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

18:37, Today: Desiree Thornton drew the single card: JS using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Initiative Order

JS - Desiree Thornton
JD - Tom Horn
JC - Infernal
4S - Andrew Roberts
3H - Jacinta Castillo
2D - Albert Cooper

The creature emerges from break in the floor, an indistinct, skeletal form obscured by raging flame that covers its body from head to toe. It does not stand on the ground, but rather levitates a few feet above it, surveying the group gathered in and near the cell with eyes that cannot be seen. Its attention seems to settle upon Cooper and Castillo.

It speaks with a voice that can only barely be heard over the sound of its own immolation.

”You...the two of you aided in banishing my brother.”

At the arrival of burning figure, Thornton steps out of the cell, moving with a visible limp. Seeing that Horn is holding a shotgun, she approaches him and pulls the stage guard’s pistol from its holster.

Turning to face the creature, she asks, ”Then why don’t you go fucking join him?” She fires a shot, which goes wide.

19:07, Today: Desiree Thornton rolled 0,-1 using 1d6-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2.  Shooting.

19:22, Today: Desiree Thornton drew the single card: KH using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Horn swears, most of the profanity lost beneath the report of his shotgun.

19:29, Today: Tom Horn rolled 4,6 using 1d10+2,1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4.  Shooting.

19:30, Today: Tom Horn rolled 15 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5,5.  Damage.

Total Damage: 15

19:42, Today: Tom Horn drew the single card: 5D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Horn’s shot will leave the Infernal shaken with one wound. It will attempt to soak that damage.

19:57, Today: Infernal rolled 6,5 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  White Chip - Soak Roll.

It succeeds, also shedding the shaken condition.

Without a word, the figure raises its hand, sending a torrent of flame at Thornton and Horn.

20:20, Today: Infernal rolled 6,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Shooting.

The attack functions like a burst, meaning that Thornton and Horn can avoid it if they can make an Agility roll that beats the creature’s Shooting roll.

20:17, Today: Desiree Thornton rolled 2,5 using 1d8-1,1d6-1.  Agility.

20:17, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Tom Horn, rolled 4,4 using 1d8,1d6.  Agility.

Unfortunately, neither succeeds.

20:29, Today: Infernal rolled 7,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Damage.

Total Damage: 9

20:30, Today: Desiree Thornton rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Fire

20:30, Today: Tom Horn rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Fire.

Neither catches on fire.

20:33, Today: Infernal drew the single card: KC using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Eyes widening at the sight of the burning creature, Roberts turns and grasps the barrel of Castillo’s rifle. He mutters a few words in the Apache tongue, the firearm briefly glowing with watery light in response.

20:41, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 4,1 using 1d8,1d6.  Tribal Medicine.

Cast: Smite

Power Points expended: 2

The blessing will add a +2 bonus to damage to shots from Castillo’s Winchester. The effect will last until the current load of the weapon’s cartridges are expended (15 shots).

20:52, Today: Andrew Roberts drew the single card: 7S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Initiative Order

JS - Desiree Thornton
JD - Tom Horn
JC - Infernal
4S - Andrew Roberts
3H - Jacinta Castillo
2D - Albert Cooper

The infernal has a Toughness of 10, 2 points of which are attributed to armor. It has a Parry of 5, for any who want to engage it in hand to hand combat.

Señorita Castillo, it’s your turn.

Jacinta was about to jerk her rifle away from the shifter, thinking he was trying to purloin her rifle, but the slight shimmer of magic racing up the barrel made her think better of it.  She gave him a nod of thanks, took aim at the fireball, and pulled the trigger without a single word uttered.

Shooting: 9  (7 +2 Marksman) (1 Raise)
Damage: 12 (w/ Raise & Smite)
Initiative: 8C

22:03, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 7,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1.  Shooting - White Chip.
22:02, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 1,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Shooting.
22:07, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 8,2 using 2d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,6,2.  Damage w/ Raise.
22:09, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: 8C using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

"Well, if ever twas a time ta call upon the power a heav'n, now'd be it. Lord, if ya'd bless these here bullets, I'd be mighty appreciative." After his short prayer, the gun wizard depressed the trigger on his gun. A pale white glow could be seen in the wake of the lead he sent toward the hellspawn, though its afterimage faded in mere moments.

The cowboy smiled slightly when the bullet smashed into the target.

OOC: First thing Cooper does is cast Smite on his bullet load. This is a free action for a Shootist such as him. The roll is a 6, which is a success but not a raise. Given the lack of PP currently available to him, Cooper burns a red chip to get that thing up to an 8. This means Smite is only 1 PP instead of 2. It's also +4 damaged.

Next the roll to hit is a 14. This assumes Marksman is allowed in this situation. It does seem moot, however, as it will be a raise no matter what.

The damage for this magic bullet is 23, AP1. I think that's 3 wounds.

Initiative for next round is a pedestrian 4H.

15:08, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: 4H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative .

15:08, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 23 using 2d6+5+d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3,(6+4)10.  Damage (AP1) + Raise.

15:02, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 14,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,5.  Shooting (Marksman).

15:01, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Red Chip.

15:01, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 6,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1.  Hexslinger (Smite).