This large A-frame has a front porch. Chance crouches in the open doorway on the porch; it's obvious that the door was removed from the hinges, probably some time ago. The slivers of moonlight that penetrate the place reveal a large ruined room. Small piles of debris--mostly lumber, it seems--dot the floor. Chance can see moonlight entering from the back wall where he passed a minute ago. It looks like there is another room in the back, as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Sat 21 Mar 2009.

"Thank you, Mr. Meri. I'll build the fire when you return. I'll look for some kindling right around here."

OOC: Assuming Travis concurs.
-------------

JEB and Travis navigate back around to the road. Pausing for a moment, you can't help but wonder where Cole and the others went. Fortunately, you see a flicker of fire appear to the south, with a small puff of smoke rising over the trees. Looks about the size that your group would build.

Cole notices Meri leaving to gather wood. So, with his rifle, he keeps a close eye on Meri and the surrounding area, to protect him from harm.

Silas speaks up to the folks scouting the town.

"Looks like this place is dead and buried," he says, "I think we can scamper on back to the others...we be safe enough here."

Artemus lights a match, then a candle, and drips a couple drops of wax into the bottom of an old whisky bottle and seats the candle.

“What say we have a little look around inside first?”

Artemus holds out his improvised lantern to see how it works.

OOC: Anybody that hasn't rolled for the day's hunt, please do so. Then the JM can give us the new tally.

OOC: Travis Concurs

Looks like things are going along nicely here.

JM RECAP:
Travis and JEB head toward the small campfire, which proves to be that of your companions.
Silas, Chance and Artemus remain in town. We will play that a little longer. Silas is at the edge of the alley, he can still see Art, but Chance has moved into the main street. Art lights the candle after Travis and JEB headed into the woods.
-----------

Immediately, it makes it easier for Silas and Chance to see him. Chance sees the glow through the back windows of the A-frame; Silas sees the beacon from the edge of the alley. It illuminates some of the backyard. Art can better see the A-frame and the corner of the burned building. He figures if he took the makeshift lantern inside a building, it would work right nice.

Well, based on some of the things the boy has said, he does have a large pair . . .
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:17, Mon 23 Mar 2009.

Chance is satisfied the A-frame building is unoccupied, save a mouse and a roach.  He exits and heads across to the large box-y building next to the flat-roofed one.  He peers in the front door.

When Chance approaches the tall, square building, he sees that the front door is mostly intact--and closed. He could either peek through the busted windows or open the door.

Artemus picks a building, which looks like it might be slightly worth a search. Not the A frame, as we can already see through it, and not the burned out building, so he picks the most intact of the remaining ones and proceeds to approach and enters it.

Artemus moves past Silas in the alleyway. Now that both Art and Chance are moving into the street, it makes sense for Silas to follow them, stopping near the well in the middle of the square. Art sees that Chance has moved over to the tall, square building and is preparing to enter (or look into) that building. The only other one remaining is the low, flat-roofed building--it is mostly intact.

As Art nears the low structure, he sees an old sign laying flat on the rickety front porch, reading simply, "Saloon." He approaches the open door frame and walks in.

Art, Chance and Silas: roll initiative.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #938):

20:40, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 13 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

Never get out of the boat. Absolutely goddamn right. Unless you were goin' all the way. Never get out of the boat.

08:19, Today: Chance Osterfeld rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Initiative? WTF, not another shin buster. (edit - 11:45a, 3/24) Just kidding, LOL!?! :C
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

Silas and Chance, noticing Art's glowing makeshift lantern, see that their companion is about half-way in the doorway to the flat-roofed building, when he stops suddenly. With haste, Art sets down the lantern and then sets his spear as if expecting something to charge at him.
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RECAP: Chance is peeking in the busted windows of the tall, square building and Silas stopped at the well when this happened.

15:32, Today: Judge Messalen rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Silas initiative.

Silas and Chance state your full round action.

OOC: Went to roll initiative and see that JM has taken care of that...we'll roll with it there.

Aww crap, here we go again.

14:32, Today: Judge Messalen rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Silas initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

FLB, what is up with Art?

As if by instinct, Chance draws his knife from its well oiled sheath.  He fixes the blade in his hand in the traditional fighting style.  Armed, and possibly dangerous, Chance rushes to Art.






fLUFFY lITTLE bUNNIES

Beautiful. Artemus knows he has only a moment to study its form. Not going to eat it. Pelt’s not worth its life.

Artemus attempts to use his animal handling skills to execute a controlled retreat. He knows it must be slow and calm.
21:35, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 19 using 1d20+1. Handle Animal.


As Chance comes charging forward Artemus executes a deft sidestep, tripping Chance with his outstretched foot. Chance tumbles pell-mell skittering across the floor into the darkness.

Trying to remain as still and as quite as possible, Artemus thrusts the butt of the spear (which is fairly level) hard into Chance’s gut to keep him back as far as possible.

A moment’s pause will tell if the retreat can continue. If so, Artemus attempts to retrieve the lantern and continue a calm withdraw until he’s well back from the door.

Art's attempt to thrust the spear into Chance's gut has no effect, as the man had stopped far just enough away for that action to become moot. Nevertheless, Art realizes that he has the space he wants to begin his retreat. Chance can see over Art's shoulder--but he hasn't yet figured out what Art is looking at.


Art grabs the lantern and backs away three steps from the door. A mere moment later, Chance and Silas see a large, graceful creature leap through one of the front windows and land in the street, on four legs. It begins to run toward the eastern corner of the building.

OOC: All three men should state their next full round actions.

If the animal is intent on running off, Artemus is content to let it do so. "Magnificent."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Wed 25 Mar 2009.

Chance turns to watch the creature run off.  He has no intention to pursue.  "A fleeing threat is the best threat of all.  What was that, Art?"

OOC: I'm going to assume Silas also lets the beast go, because my understanding is the player's availability is limited now . . .
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As it turns the corner of the flat-roofed building--the town's old saloon--all three men get a good look at the mountain lion. She glides away into the darkness, holding what must be a fresh kill in her mouth.

Chance sees the building's old sign on the ground and can now see the deserted bar through the entryway.

---------------------

OOC: I would like to move on if there aren't any objections. To the campfire. The group knows that Hartville (or Hartsville according to the map) is the last town between here and Chance's home, Marshfield, assuming you cross the hills and pick up a road Chance remembers in the valley. (There are other options, including going out of the way to another town in order to remain on a road, but the Judge has already told both Chance and JEB that the their research--and Chance's memories of home--indicate that traveling directly from Hartville is the best route).

It's about 30 miles from Ellsworth to Hartville (the dirt road continues).

It's about 25 miles from Hartville to Marshfield (part trail, part trail blaze, part road).

This thread is reaching the post limit, so I will be starting a new one to pick up the conversation at the campfire. It would be nice if you could start that thread by discussing and agreeing on your general plans for the rest of the journey--i.e. which route to take, travel speed, hunting/foraging dates, selling food or not, re-supply, what-have-you and I will attempt adjudicate as much as possible. Even if you used Survival every day and traveled half-speed, you could probably make it in three FIVE days, so it would help to know your plan over the next few days (or however long it takes).

I'm not asking for detailed instructions; just a clear outline of how you see the next 3-5 days of travel. Including whether you want to roleplay in Hartville. As I wrote in the OCC forum, I'm one day of travel ahead in town research, so I could do something there or not. My preference would be to transact business (e.g. selling food or re-supply) and that's it, but I'm open.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:53, Wed 25 Mar 2009.