"Aww hell," Silas interjects, "they be in harm just being held by them varmints. I'd hope they'd duck when the lead starts flyin', but if'n Chance is any indication they may not have the sense God gave a goat."

"Anyhoo, I reckon we have us a fine plan...Jeb refined it all nice and purty like, I'm good with it."

Silas lays down on the ground and pulls his hat up over his forehead.

"Reckon we'd best get a little rest...got us a long night a'comin'."

I hear you. My vote is to wait them out. Try to pick a few more off. But that doesn't seem to be in the cards.

So. . . Cole's gone missing, probably retasked by Chance, who, you may be able to tell by the silence, has also gone missing. Likely run off on his own. So he's probably been reunited with his mother and brother and is in some sick way enjoying himself. But I digress.

The current plan, idealy, is to catch someone on the shitter with a couple of guards and blow it up taking out or injuring all three. Then for our fast guns to storm the house - maybe through a hole blown by a second charge. Artemus will follow the fast guns (god help me) into the house. Owen and Hattie will hang out in the cover of the woods and pick off anyone they can.

Sounds good to me.  Doesn't really matter though, with our luck, we'll probably be attacked by Tate's men in the next hour or so.

Chuckle.

Meriwether opened his pocketwatch & smiled at Travis "Well best follow Silas' grand example then."

The Englishman laid bck down & winked at Travis "See you in an hour then?"

RECAP: Although the Judge still perceives some differences in opinion about particulars of the plan to attack the squatters at the Osterfeld homestead (as evidenced by stated dialogue), there does seem to be a consensus for that endeavor, like it or not. Therefore, the Judge is ready to move on.

It is now about 9:45 p.m. There is time for specific preparations before the appointed time (understood as 'round midnight).  A few characters have voiced a desire to rest until that time. If anyone has other follow-up actions before that time, please post soon, in this forum (or privately if necessary).

If your character has no other actions/preparations before the midnight hour, I would appreciate a "ready" post.

As this forum is nearly at it's limit I will be creating a new forum that will begin at that time; however, please post anything up to the midnight hour here (including further dialogue) and then we will close this one out.

Ready here boss.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #878):

Per post #867 JEB will retrieve and prepare the powder/detonators.

Meriwether checked both his pistols & made sure they were in good working order before catching a nap. He then bid everyone a good eve...

Travis cleans and loads his pistols. He ensures his cartridge belt is full, his pocket knife in his back pocket and every extra shell in his front pocket..  He synchronizes his watch with everyone else who has a time piece.

We're starting separated remember our challlenge and reply.

I'll rest down by the road where we were last night....  Just in case.

OOC: Ready.  Relaxing down by the road.  Waiting for 12:00

OOC: Where are the powder/detonators?

In the post you reference, you asked someone to tell you where they were and as far as the Judge can tell, no one did. So, the Judge's perception is that JEB doesn't know where they are and thus can't carry out this stated action.

EDIT: If the Judge is wrong and JEB does know where the powder/detonators are, please state the location and JEB can certainly carry out his action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:32, Thu 18 June 2009.

OOC:  If over the past few days I have seen the powder and/or detonators or know where they are, I would tell JEB.

OOC: Travis remembers hearing Chance saying something about explosives in his rucksacks and talking about a dry place to store them. Travis left with Chance shortly after that and doesn't know where the rucksacks are now.

JEB, I remember Chance saying something about explosives in his rucksacks and talking about a dry place to store them.  I don't know where those rucksacks are now.

OOC: Can't say who was there, but see msg #607.

OOC: If you read the few messages before Art's post #607, it is clear who was there when Art mentioned the "powder in the corn crib." But that doesn't mean that characters were paying attention or that they would remember where the "powder" was, which is partly why I have been insisting that people tell me where the "powder" and "detonators" are.

At this point, Artemus can point out that Chance's stuff is in the corn crib. Anyone around the Watson camp now knows that.

Moving onward, when JEB goes in there to see what's there, it becomes apparent that the talk about "powder" and "explosives" and "detonators" is all a misunderstanding--thus the other reason I have been insisting that people tell me what they were looking for and where they were looking for it. The Judge's view is that this is a result of people playing the "whisper game." What started as Chance stating he had "grenades" and "powder explosives" turned into kegs of powder and detonators during the discussion. That's what happens when human beings communicate (or fail to).

What JEB actually finds are two rucksacks filled with a variety of items--including some of Chance's personal stuff (utilitarian, like socks and a coffee pot, or otherwise, like paper/pencil), as well as six improvised grenades (bottles with powder) and two military grenades that JEB recognizes as Excelsior grenades. There is also a nearly empty cask that once held black powder. The cask is in a sack secured to the rucksacks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:30, Thu 18 June 2009.

Sorry fellers, I must not have noticed the rucksacks when I was dumping the bodies in the crib.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #888):

Disappointed JEB realizes there’s not enough powder here to blow up a doghouse, much less an outhouse.  Nonetheless, he checks for more material just in case.

20:12, Today: James E. Beauregard rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Demolition.
20:12, Today: James E. Beauregard rolled 24 using 1d20+8. Search.

Well, maybe these will suffice.

OOC: There weren't any rucksacks in the corn crib where Travis dumped the bodies. The rucksacks are in the OTHER corn crib. The map clearly shows 2 corn cribs, as have the Judge's previous descriptions of the property.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:49, Fri 19 June 2009.

JEB's search reveals that the six improvised grenades appear to be in working order. The bottles have been wrapped in canvas and prepared for arming with percussion caps (no caps are in place, now, it appears, thus the devices aren't armed). They also have makeshift wooden fins--JEB believes they are fashioned similar to Ketcham grenades. He thinks that they might actually work, if armed properly.

He also turns up a single detonator cap and plenty of fuse. The cap really couldn't be used with these improvised grenades. It looks a bit old and rusty, to boot.

JEB finds other useful items, but since his focus is on explosive materials, he doesn't pay much attention to the rest of the stuff. They are, after all, another man's belongings.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:00, Fri 19 June 2009.

OOC: bodies = crib 3.
     sacks  = crib 2.

What time is it?

#uckers. . .
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Fri 19 June 2009.

10:47 p.m.

RECAP: Two PCs are still using time before the midnight hour and haven't given a ready message, unless I'm mis-recollectin' (Art and JEB).

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #895):

JEB is rarin' to go.

OOC: Just messing with you. If Art wants to know what time it is, he'll check his watch.

Artemus is doing nothing but waiting around at this point.