The great serpent's track is not hard to follow across the grass. Indeed, the creature's location becomes extremely obvious whilst the re-united party and pet abomination are still scrambling down the slope: an eyeball-searing explosion becomes a blue-white wave of flame down on the plain.

Although it soon burns down to a bright yellow, the serpent remains on fire as he speeds up, tacking west and vanishing in a flaming arc into the tumble of coarse rock formations, leaving little flecks of fire in his wake.


[[19:38, Today: Alouette, for the NPC Maria, rolled 4 using 1d4-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6. holy hand grenade! Good grief, she hit him.

19:42, Today: Alouette, for the NPC Maria, rolled 5 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2,2. damage. ...
19:42, Today: Ixquahuacoatl rolled 15 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+3)15. on fire? He's really on fire!

19:47, Today: Alouette rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. grass on fire?
Grass isn't, though.

19:50, Today: Ixquahuacoatl rolled 8 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7. plus ouch. Ixi takes more damage, but it doesn't inconvienience him, despite the being on fire thing. He takes himself out of sight, still on fire.
19:50, Today: Ixquahuacoatl rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. plus fire? Somehow the grass still isn't set alight.]]


Adrian is in the lead, and is thus the first person to be greeted by the clank upon reaching the general area the holy hand grenade was thrown from: "Howdy, Deputy Vega!"

Unfortunately, the second thing to be greeted by the clank is the mould-streaked animate pile of bones bounding along beside him. "Howdy, Jumping Undead Mass!"

"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" the dark woman in dark, ragged clothing screams, and starts legging it in the opposite direction.

A growling at knee height brings Adrian's attention down to the even-spikier-than-usual chupacabra at the clank's feet as Jake and Harry catch up with him.

Jaquinta bares her teeth but stands her ground, seeing as the bone fiend doesn't seem to be eating anybody next to it. Evans, Hank, William and the priest are not far behind by now, though the healed Hardin is lagging. If the Mayor has decided to come, he's not in view yet.



[[ Fear checks for the NPCs who haven't met/been forewarned about Rattles there (handwaving that Evans/O'Rourke, much as they disapprove, would probably have informed William/Hank of their unholy ally)

20:01, Today: Alouette, for the NPC Maria, rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. fear! She should have a -3 on that for FL, so..Fail. She's Panicked!

Jaquinta rolled 5,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. fear! Pass.

...aaand for fairness: Alouette rolled 6,6 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. fear! Clank is unconcerned.]]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Fri 24 July 2015.

"Howdy, Alouette," he said, thinking about how to bring the clank up to speed.

"Alright, I'm going to tell you what's happened. I saved Father O'Rourke from being sacrificed by a giant snake demon that was going to kill him. We read in Dr. Ward's book that the only way to kill a snake demon is with its own venom or venom of its kin. So I busted open its venom sac with my weapon here and I killed the snake demon, but before I was able to do that, he opened a magical portal and and two more big snake demons came out of there. They were his brother and sister. I used the venom from the first snake demon to kill one more of the big snake demons. Now there's one snake demon left, and he ran away. We're following him."

He scratched his head, trying to figure out if he missed anything. The sight of the bone glom reminded him. "Oh yeah, when I killed the snake demon it gave me a kinda power. It had made this Jumping Undead Mass, and now I can control it somehow. It listens to orders I give it. I'm gonna have it help us fight the last snake demon."

"Any questions?"

The clank ticks for a bit whilst its charge turns in the background, belatedly remembering she has a gun.

"High probability plus plus minus snake demon equals snake demon self instructed not to eat Jaquinta and Maria Maria Gracias," it decides. "He went that way and was on fire because Maria Maria Gracias threw a grenade at him but he was not a vampire so he didn't die," it adds, pointing.

"Why are Harry Lazarus and Father O'Rourke and Ambrose minus clothings?" it asks, seeing the others come up, then switches to slightly garbled Spanish to assure the young woman who ran off: "Es Deputado Vega con el Saltando Cosa Non Muerte, es hombre con leyes...no se le debe tirar, porque el está vivo diferente y él sería menos energía y tienen malos pensamientos si lo tiene más agujeros."

The woman just looks baffled. "¿Qué?"

"Howdy Names William Pierce! Howdy Bitter Waters!" the clank greets the same, adding to Jake: "Fear not! Self told Jaquinta not to bite mortals! She almost caught a horse with vampires on but it was dead already and then it kicked her plus hard and went in the sea and then out again where the lumpy rocks go in the water."

The chupacabra continues to eye the bone thing warily. "No me gusta," she remarks.

"Marshal Evans got attacked and was badly hurt. The attack took off some of his clothing as well. Lazarus and the padre gave him some so that he could be plus plus dignity," he explained.

Adrian looked at Jaquinta and the Mexican women that seemed unable to parse Alouette's Spanish. "No te preocupes por esto," he said gesturing at the big bone blom. "Esto va a ayudarnos a combatir la serpiente demoníaca."

Jake shakes his head at all the talk, "We going to go deal with the giant soon to be boots or not?"

Pierce nods a polite greeting at the woman.
"Where do we go now?"

The ragged, zombie-bitten woman edges over towards William, apparently considering his general vicinity to be a safe place.

"High probability On Fire Snake Demon is heading to the Place of Snakes," the clank chirps cheerfully. "Maria Maria Gracias said the snake demon that wanted to marry Sarah had a house under the ground. There were lots of snake houses there from a long time ago."

"Puedo lo rastrear," Jaquinta offers, "Pero el sabe que nostros venimos."

Jake frowns saying, "So we heading to the mines then?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Thu 30 July 2015.

[Language unknown: "Ad, Ca anyersort manhouion a nafipl rutthaome antforest. Wema tiothaent, p o estterave tr. Mo m tha dinprethi eeone latardave reasee om ad unweil, lin pa ive onssheeen. Ne trwiilnt koriveres een m erkor e we,"] he said.

[Language unknown: "Is ckmond om o ai to,"] Maria puts in, still very wary of the bone 'glom as she sidles up to William. [Language unknown: "Niwh...Nd rieier ca e ca fi inave, llivni, ulth korom at ver."]

"What's she saying?" Hank asks Hardin.

"Says she don't want to go back somewheres, so if we're tracking she's coming with," Hardin grunts, his extra arms folded behind his back. The outlaw seems distinctly on edge after being wounded.

"Perhaps we can appeal to the creature's sense of honour and lure it out into a duel," Evans suggests, fiddling with his flamethrower. "Lead on, Señorita Chupacabra, and don't hesitate to tell us if you cross the trail of vampires, either."

"Jaquinta," 'Miss Goatsucker' corrects, and looks to the priest. He nods.

A blurred instant later, Jaquinta is over in the serpent's charred track, taking his scent, then has vanished again, baying from the trackless rock.


[[feel free to consider what to do with Maria/bicker/talk strategy whilst I make rolls and work up the next post.]]

Jake glances at Vega as the other huckster speaks with more bravado than the situation warrants.

"Harry, you do that thing I asked you to do?" he asked the huckster.

Harry looked a little uneasy, but nodded, holding up the spare flask Adrian had given him. "I captured a respectable amount of snake venom in it, in case any of us need reapply it."

"Father, do you know if the Mayor had any luck closing that portal?" he asked the priest.

"He had it closed by the time I got up there again, but after that he insisted on taking a break," O'Rourke explains.

"Rest assured that I gave him a piece of my mind about that," Evans says, wading grass towards the distant chupe. William follows, looking irritated but subconsciously standing a little straighter as the ragged woman trails close behind him.

"Which piece?" Alouette asks.

"...the piece which deals with hellish messes created by stupid witches who think they can get a slice of the country by shovelling Blackthorn into the devil's own furnace," Ambrose rants. "I think by now I've given enough of my own blood, sweat and tears to this miserable scratch on the map to say that it is, in fact, my town too. God knows the people put me there to dispense the law-"

"Yes," the clank agrees, looking at the sky.

"-and I'll be hanged if there's anything legal about giant snake monsters going around abducting women, biting people right and left and threatening to tear the hearts out of Catholic priests!"

"I would hope there is a law against that," the priest says, looking up as the long jumble of rock looms up, spotted here and there by still-burning flecks of daylike flame. He squints to see Jackie, who makes her awful coyote-in-a-steam-press yelping to keep them on the track. "It's going t'get close in there, I think. Probably better to spread out within sight of each other but not so close as to be easily attacked if the thing got into our midst...the other two seemed to have some kind of dark magic, which makes me wonder what this one might do."


[[Jaquinta rolled 13,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,2. *sniff*. Keep following the chupe, I'm getting there.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Thu 30 July 2015.

[[ musics! ]]

---

The group clamber over rocks, some with more enthusiasm than others, passing into the terrain of rearing boulders and cyclopean defiles that once attracted the attention of Wendell's surveyors. The little spots of burning grenade-soloution grow fewer and shortly wink out like snuffed stars across the patches of bare rock, rendering the trail invisible save to a particularly gifted Apache. Jaquinta is always ahead, a grey smudge against grey-shadowed stone when in motion.

The posse eventually enter a steep-sided little canyon currently floored by a thin rainwater stream across the scree. Stunted scrub crouches beside the water and in any patches that maybe see daylight. Jaquinta is traversing back and forth over the scree at the far end where the canyon narrows to a rubble-filled crack, ill-illumined by what moonlight makes it down here.

Seeing that the others have caught up, Jaquinta raises her head, her huge eyes burning green for a moment in the moonlight. [Language unknown: "We areeraons onseverat a as tiontilin re pre!"] she calls over.


[[Anyone taking the priest's advice to spread out? Harry, give me a Smarts -2.]]

Jake keeps a good 40 feet away from Jaquinta and has been eyeing the creature the entire time. His unease is easily noticeable but he keeps quiet about whatever about Jaquinta that bother's him.  He moves in a wide arc, keeping a lot of distance between himself and Jaquinta, to the edge of the cliff and looks down [Language unknown: "Ermete ieetac we fo ... na houlatill m isen?"]

OOC:

Both Harry and Adrian have taken the priest's advice to spread out, and Adrian has bid Rattleshirt to do the same.

Harry is Smart!

Smarts: 13

08:27, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 13,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,5. Smarts!

Looking down where he stands facing the cliff wall at the valley's head, Jake notices little burrow-like holes in the solid rock, perhaps an odd form of erosion. They seem to go back/down a long way.

Jaquinta - who seems likewise wary of Jake - is suddenly on top of the rubble where the canyon narrows to a squeeze, looking into the gap. [Language unknown: "Et ck ithnd, ofmo com thaiouort. Liilil cena yin larck nial witul, reaintver...oerwitint di urloer ev ut no ons riat strouswer, Si omishe conomeeau uras atianycom amece to me."]


[[William, if you're about, give me a Notice -2...basically to pick up the same thing as Harry, but it may have some later effects. I'll make the roll if his player's not available, so don't wait, but I thought I'd give the chance.]]

Off to the side and a little up the slope of the valley, Pierce straightens and scans the valley rim, particularly one spot.

"I figure he went up," the gunslinger growls.

[[08:12, Today: Alouette, on behalf of William Pierce, rolled 4,10 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+2)8. Danger! ]]

There was a slight buzzing in his head, and for a moment, he saw through time and space. He felt like he'd consumed an entire bottle of wine. "The snake is hiding, I think against the rocks somewhere up there. He is or is going to be above us. I think he's going to try and cause an avalanche on top of our heads, and take us out after we are hurt by the rocks," he said, looking nervously up to see if he can pick out where it was.

"Pierce, can you make anything out up there?" He backed up against the wall, so he'd be less likely to be hit by a falling rock and gestured towards the others to do the same.

Well, can I?

20:14, Today: William Pierce rolled 5,7 using D6+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Super notice.

The ragged woman presses back to the side of the valley seeing Hank's example, clearly not knowing what's going on.

[[You can!]]

"He's up there." the gunslinger confirms. "The bastard's got the high ground."

He spits on the floor, absent-minded. "If I was him, a couple of rocks would make nice work of us here. Then pick off any survivors. We need to get away from here or pull him down here."

He looks at Vega. "Any way for you to get me up there?"

"Only thing I can think of is that you can ride the skeleton monster, and he can make a go of taking you up there real quick, though you'll have to be responsible for hangin' on."

[Language unknown: "Iotaai! Tic naelst o whe!"] the chupacabra calls, hopping down into the narrow passage she'd been investigating.

Maria looks uncertainly at the others along the valley walls, tensed to make a break for it.

[[I am far too entertained by the mental image of William riding the glomlet like Major Kong riding the bomb. You may want to roll up a coat or something as padding first.
William, roll Agility to see if you can do that before Ixi does what he's planning.]]

With a smooth motion, William lets coat slide off his shoulders, catches it and rolls it up quickly.
When he sees Adrian's quizzical look, he shrugs. "Gotta saddle up before I'm gonna ride that thing."



13:41, Today: William Pierce rolled 8,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,1. Agility.

[[Going to handwave Adrian's instructions a bit to get things moving again...

Ixquahuacoatl rolled 5,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4.
Not quite a Raise for William; he gets on, but he won't be ready in time for Rattles to get him close.]]

Riding the insane mass of bone is something of an alarming experience: once William's finally settled himself the thing lurches up the steepest slope, spreads itself out and scales the last few yards of almost-sheer rock face above like a centipede.

They crest the valley rim to see the masked serpent some distance away, his head swaying as he chants something, halo burning blue, and sets his chin to the ground. The solid rock shivers and begins to shake. Scree slithers, stones tumble over each other, and all at once great lumps of rock start to come loose...


[[Ixquahuacoatl rolled 3,10 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+4)10. Rocks fall...nice.
William and Rattleshirt, roll Agility -2 or be Shaken.]]

---

Down in the valley, Mayor Bruebaker limps his way into sight between the canyon walls and stares perplexedly at everyone huddled close to either side. "Wha-" he begins, and then the ground itself starts to stir: "-aaa-a-a-a-!"

All at once, Maria makes the decision to bolt across the open in the hopes of reaching greater safety in Jackie's shelter.

Hank grabs for her, too late. "No, don't-" the shaking nearly throws him off his feet and he clutches his head, staring wide-eyed at the general situation like he's suddenly found himself on the moon. "What the Hell?! What the hell!?!"

[[Everyone else, Agility -4 to avoid the boulders (be glad you were warned!).
Harry Lazarus, the ability to see through time and space gives you +2 here.
NPCs in a bit.]]

15:21, Today: William Pierce rolled 2,7 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+3)9. Agility.

Piece a cake!

As the ground shifts underneath the skeleton mount, William keeps his balance, ready to roll off of the thing if necessary.
"Easy now, easy boy" he calls, softly, as if he was still riding his chestnut colored stallion.

Adrian started to reach for his cards as things got shaky, but it was all he could do to try to avoid the falling rocky debris.

OOC:

Agility (Adrian): 4
Agiliy (Lazarus): 5

I tried to make a hex to boost other people's agility, but I neither drew nor rolled well enough for success.

15:51, Yesterday: Harry Lazarus rolled 5,0 using D4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7,2.
15:49, Yesterday: Adrian Vega rolled 4,-3 using d10-4,d6-4.
15:49, Yesterday: Adrian Vega rolled 3,1 using d8,d6.
15:47, Yesterday: Adrian Vega drew the 11 cards: 3C, 9D, 7C, 9S, 3D, 7H, 6H, KS, 6S, 2H, 8S using the Deadlands system.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

Jack isn't in the best of shape and doesn't do too well dodging boulders.

OOC:
10:36, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 0,-3 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Agility -4.
10:37, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 0,1 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. White Chip.
10:37, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 2,-1 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3. White Chip x2.
Forgot my -2 fatigue ... so yeah 0 was my best roll ... good times!

[[Why're you Fatigued, Jake? Also, are you up to date on Joker chips? NPC boulder-dodging in just a moment...]]

The slightly singed snake monster looks up at the movement on his level and visibly startles to see William riding the 'glom. Arcing his mighty body, the serpent slithers away down a crack not currently visible from William's position.

[[@Adrian - I see two pair (4PP) in that lot, what am I missing? 'cause that'd be a Fail with Backlash otherwise.]]

OOC : Absolutely nothing ... forgot to update my bio from the healin'.

Pretty sure I am/was.

OOC:
Adrian generated the necessary Power Points for the Hex, but he still has to make the Spellcasting roll for it to succeed. The only exception where he doesn't need to roll is if he draws a good enough hand to grant him automatic success (Flush, Full House, etc.).

You may have forgotten because at this level of Grit, I very frequently draw those kinds of super awesome hands, so I don't very often have to actually make a roll with a chance of failure. This is one of few times that I do - and I failed lol.

So you're right that 4PP is good enough to power the Hex, but Spellcasting 3 means the spell fails.

You're correct that there is no Backlash, though. That's only if I rolled a 1 on the Spellcasting die, which I did most certainly not.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

[[Ah! I see what it was - you meant you didn't have an automatic sucess from the cards, not that you hadn't drawn enough to power the hex (thus incurring Backlash). Right!]]

Rocks of alarming size roll and bounce down the slopes as the ground shakes with a rattling of scree like an almighty snake.

Maria, caught out in the open, is knocked off her feet by the shaking; a stone the size of her chest sails neatly through the space her pelvis had occupied just moments before. A smaller rock dings off Alouette's head as the clank trots up to...try and protect the mortal by grabbing the rocks, apparently. It makes an annoyed barman noise at the rocks' unwillingness to co-operate with this plan.

"Hmm."

The Mayor is flailing for balance and looking around in bewilderment when a boulder falls pretty much on top of him. *WHUD*

The priest makes an inarticulate cry and makes to run back, but then sees Evans in immediate danger and sprints the distance between them to grab the back of the Marshal's coat tails. Evans stumbles back a couple of steps, the anvil-sized rock whooshing past his cheek as he turns to ask about the rough handling. "Ah."

Over on the other slope of the valley, Hardin gives a sharp cry as a rock catches him in the shoulder and pitches him down onto sliding scree and dirt. Hank fares little better despite crouching against a deeper-set boulder, as a massive stone smashing down beside him splinters a shard of rock into his hand and covers him in dust.

The chupacabra is safe within the mouth of the defile, but Jake catches some clumps of angular débris from the cliff face as he presses himself back against the shaking wall.

[[NPCs vs. boulders (the unwarned/out in the open are at -6):

Mayor Bruebaker rolled -3,0 using d6-8,d6-8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+2)8. Agility. Fail.
The Mayor takes 17 damage from 2d6 of boulder hit and 2 Wounds.
He tries to soak not to be squashed, as he still has a white:
Mayor Bruebaker rolled 3,2 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. soak attempt. Fail! Not sure what the official line on old Wounds is, but he was at -2 before,so... *rolls incap*

Maria Santos rolled -3 using 1d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Agility. Fail.
Maria takes 6 damage from 2d6 of boulder hit and is Shaken.

Alouette rolled -3,-4 using d4-6,d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Agility. Fail!
Alouette takes 5 damage from 2d6 of boulder hit and is fine.

Father William O'Rourke rolled 7,10 using d6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,(6+6+2)14. Agility. Pass w/raisins, which he shares to boost the nearest ally's roll:

20:40, Today: Alouette, on behalf of The Amazing Evans, rolled -1,2 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Agility.
20:40, Today: Alouette, on behalf of The Amazing Evans, rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. red chippit. 5. There we go.

John Wesley Hardin rolled -1,1 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Agility. Fail.
Hardin takes 13 damage from 2d6 of boulder hit and is Shaken with 1 Wound.

Hank Miller rolled 3,1 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Agility. Fail.
Hank takes 9 damage from 2d6 of boulder hit and 1 Wound.

Jackie really only has falling over to worry about and cover, making a straight roll:
Jaquinta rolled 6,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. Agility. Pass.

Jake Lawrence takes 9 damage from 2d6 of boulder hit and 1 Wound.]]

Jake manages to shift himself to minimize the boulder impact.

OOC: Burn my shiny new white chip to soak that wound
13:44, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 5,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Soak. Success!

The tremor proved fierce, but brief, leaving the valley floor a moonscape of piled rock, shifted boulders and settling dust.

[Language unknown: "Iv, Rutlarame, mista ant pr ioutraers?"] Jaquinta calls, popping up again over the rubble.

"Where is this? What's going on?" Hank growls at Harry, who happens to be nearest (without a mark on him). Dark blood seeps slowly between his fingers where he clutches at his hand.

The priest, meanwhile, has run back to try and shift the boulder off the Mayor to see if he's alive, setting his shoulder to the rock. "Rrgh..."

[[Enough rocks for now...William, do you want to try and get Rattles there to chase Ixi, call down to the others about where he's headed/inform Jaquinta, whose sheltering canyon is probably the mouth of the crack Ixi vanished down further along..?]]

"HE'S BURROWING DOWN!" William bellows, then urges the bone thing on, after the snake.

"Come on now Boney, you fucking thing... and hope that this ain't the Last Ride of the Immortals!"


11:16, Today: William Pierce rolled 5,15 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+3)15.  red chip.
11:16, Today: William Pierce rolled 2,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  white chip.
11:16, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Riding.

Not one to go charging in, Jake goes to help the priest check on the mayor.

"HE'S BURROWING DOWN!" comes a cry from above, rapidly getting more distant.

O'Rourke has managed to get the boulder moved mostly off the Mayor, but looks grateful when Jake starts jogging back to help. "He's breathing - when I move the rock all the way off, keep t'pressure on him until I have the thing away. If a bone's broken and gone through his insides, taking the pressure off before I've looked could be like taking a knife from a wound."

Kicking the glomlet like a horse doesn't seem to have much effect, but after William hauls at its nominal front end to point it serpentwards it seems to get the idea and takes off like a greased rattlesnake.

Skills honed over years of riding the owlhoot trail through varied terrain are all that keep William from being grated to a fine paste against the walls of the defile as the thing skitters and whirls along on the trail of their prey. Rocks flash past, and more than once William has to suddenly flatten himself sideways to fit through a gap that the glomlet flashes through snake-long and leaping whilst gripping his legs in place. Adrian instructed the creature not to let William fall off, after all, not to pay any attention as to whether he stayed on in one piece.

It's worth it, though - once, twice, and a longer third time William catches glimpses of a fleeing rattled tail, even though they're long lost in a maze of canyon-cracks now. What little light there is from above is getting more distant, and it occurs to William shortly before they take a stomach-churning plunge into a vertical well of darkness that even his eyes need something to see with.

[[Hang in there, William - I'll have a new thread up for you ASAP edit: strike that, I'll shift you onto Sarah's, since she's not using it and that's whereabouts you were heading...intro post soon!]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Tue 08 Sept 2015.

In reply to Father William O'Rourke (msg # 41):

Jake nods, "Alright..." He pulls a bandanna from his back pocket and gets ready to do as he has been told.

Seeing the Mayor in danger, Harry Lazarus goes over to see whether he can be of any assistance. "Father, how can I help?" He looks to see what condition the Mayor is in.

"Help me push this boulder," the priest says to Lazarus, a little breathless from shifting it.

The Mayor is indeed breathing, though he doesn't seem to be very responsive. It's debatable how much his large size may have cushioned the weight of a boulder the approximate proportions of a pony.

"On three," the priest tells those helping him as Lazarus comes to help. "...one, two..."

[[Strength roll, Harry!]]

Meanwhile, Evans yells over to Jaquinta: "Keep on their trail if you can!"

The chupacabra seems to understand the waving better than the words and vanishes down the passage, seeking any sign of where a snake that size might've 'burrowed down'.

Harry rolled up his sleeves and helped the priest push the rock.


OOC:

Strength: 5

12:21, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 5,4 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5,4.  Strength.

"...three!" Between the pair of them, the shirtless priest and coatless huckster manage to roll the rock off the Mayor.

Jake darts in to keep the pressure on the worst of the wounds until the priest can come and kneel to look. By that time, Hank has stumbled downslope and grabbed the nearest person (which happens to be Adrian) to demand some answers:

"Where is this? What in Hell was that? Who are we fighting?"


"Tanks," O'Rourke murmurs to Lazarus, then addresses Jake, leaning around to assess the injuries and get clothing out of the way: "Stay there a few seconds more... O Lord who art our strength in times of trouble..."

On the theme of trouble, Alouette suddenly looks straight up the cliff face and chirps: "Howdy, Pure Blooded Comanches!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 15:09, Fri 11 Sept 2015.

Jake keeps doing what he's doing, muttering "Always the bringer of great news that tin can..."

[[Oops, I must've cut that bit off in posting - if you want to try and spot the Comanches too, take a Notice roll (no darkness penalty because they're shinyish silver peeps during a full moon)]]

The priest prays faster and nods to Jake that he can let go carefully. The Mayor shudders, shudders again and takes a deeper breath. "...decended...the snakes, their great-great grandmother...Aztec Mother Earth...ouch."

[[Father William O'Rourke rolled 7,4 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 8,5.  Heal incap! All right, we have a responsive Mayor.]]

"We're fightin' a big fuckin' snake demon, which is what that was" Adrian told the man. He was about to expound on the subject, but turned to look at what Alouette had identified as Comanche. Surely as any Texan knew, Adrian knew the Comanche probably meant trouble. From what he had heard and seen, these Comanche most of all.

As yet, the Pure Blooded Comanches don't seem to know quite how to respond to being greeted by the clank, or at least aren't making themselves obvious.

"Why? Where'd the cows go? What-?" Hank trails off and crouches by a nearby boulder at the mention of Comanches, scowling. Hardin's already doing likewise, though by the way he's vaguely scanning the valley rim it's clear he's not sure where those Injuns are.

[[Notice roll to pinpoint them, the Adrian: they're Stealthing, but not very hard.]]

Notice: 4

09:42, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 1,4 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.

Moonlight glows a little brightly off some patches of the rock above.

Jake nods down at Bruebaker, "Congratulations mayor you're not dead ... don't worry though, the night is young. But shh, seems like we have company."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:23, Thu 17 Sept 2015.

The priest finishes his prayers and takes his hands from the Mayor's body. For several seconds there's a stillness in which the only sounds are those of the sparse vegitation moving in the wind, the distant growl of thunder and the miniscule shift-sounds of ground and clothing on and under those in the valley.

Then a voice calls from above, down near the head of the valley: "How Dee! [Language unknown: Seur k paons m tedntiatesom, itsi, ta?]"


[[Father William O'Rourke rolled 2,12 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+6+1)13.  Heal Mayor! Okay, the Fat Controller is up again - put him to good use.

Magic 8 Ball, are the Comanche going to respond?
22:25, Today: Alouette, on behalf of Comanche Raiders, got the result "My reply is no" on the magic 8-ball.  speak English?

22:26, Today: Alouette, on behalf of Comanche Raiders, got the result "Reply hazy, try again" on the magic 8-ball.  speak Spanish?

One speaks hazy Spanish, and will try to work the leverage of their position...]]

[Language unknown: "Hi i vor lesoerles! E pre n ancata Trwhbele!"] called Adrian. He didn't think they'd go for it, but he had to try. They couldn't afford to fight Comanches and demon snakes at the same time.

The Comanche sounds like he can't believe his luck, wandering out into view and crouching at the top of the slope, burnished by moonlight. [Language unknown: "Sta! Of vorstaous eius iveel,"] he gestures over everyone in the valley with the easy arrogance of a strong warrior.

[Language unknown: "Ovehounti terme diis, plpre i o hi t la, dipro?"] he turns to talk to someone out of sight on the top, then gives Evans a narrow look as the scientist's fingers twitch over his flamethrower before returning his attention to Adrian. [Language unknown: "Ielo ch limi, herareave nirom onsionwer, siwe eril yin."]

As a prelude, the big brave asks: [Language unknown: "Elhena acno ithanyson?"]

"What's he sayin'?" hisses Hank.

Meanwhile, Maria has gone into a little trance of rocking back and forth in terror, wanting to run but not daring to leave the small shelter of the clank. The discussion makes her shudder and suddenly switch to fumbling with her borrowed gun as though her fingers were numb - checking there's at least one bullet. [Language unknown: "Wi sithho m iswi...Ar itfine n out..."]

"I'm conductin' a peace talk."

He gave a 'don't worry' look to Maria, and turned back to the Comanche. [Language unknown: "U rutoulven, eve But hafo es temeel tioom almape teent was ca. Ted pani reati ndbenc n saom Enusbeca,"] he said, naming the enemies of the Comanche, pointing down into the hole.

[Language unknown: "I sheatilat be but venmi, ati i he ternterat om taun som le eeat. Ousil bewh asev veres ectprewil o withomit ndeme ckfowh e ha isho strundrut m paitan e atewilithhat insete witantous loriin m waonit saseen ricein n Ha teusio elic erenol of. N art elusar artie un, arddineve il hasce ro ss acsipr ck itpeiv ch comni Wilvirvorion,"] he gave them a firm nod.

The raider stares a moment, then bursts out laughing. The sound echoes eerily from the rocks around, as though unseen others in the shadows were joining his mockery.

[Language unknown: "REOF'HEIL! Ta Ha es Estese! Ho Areoernte! PL! Noteon! Nthiatla...Nc pa, are, A unst isck osdi be ntiwheeve"] he gives those below a smirk and Harry an unpleasantly speculative look at the idea. [Language unknown: "the ai ieprio nesan si stitickor. Neeen!"]

He rocks back on his heels, barefoot and lithe as a mountain cat. [Language unknown: "Ectoussom unntwe hianfo Areteddayoutati, ar ncove antpe any ain Dayreswer, of at Ounlatwas of aclo urencesta. Whthe o n mainta ie, e thlin o sa icnte, andis Mitrilundi i llunis i aclesa whrith. Lail"]

Hardin, unable to hear any more of this, shoots the man in the chest.

The Comanche grunts and falls back on his arse with the impact. A rifle cracks in answer from the valley rim with a sharp stink of powder and Hardin gives a cut-off yelp.

"Cease!" the clank instructs.


[[What happens when Overconfident meets Impulsive? This happens!

John Wesley Hardin rolled 7,7 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  *pow!* Should be a 6 with his wound penalty, but eh. Hit.
John Wesley Hardin, rolled 8 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  academic damage. That makes Ready To Fight Shaken.

His buddy Adrian spotted earlier returns fire. Hardin's crouch and cover don't help him because he's overlooked.
Comanche Raiders rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  shootin'. Hit.
Comanche Raiders rolled 18 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,3.  damage. Ouch. *incap roll*]]

"Back to the sides!" O'Rourke calls, darting towards Hardin. A second shot stumbles the firey Irish priest, bringing him to his knees with his already-reddened right hand clasped over the flesh of his left upper arm. "-chh."


The Comanche who just took one of Hardin's dead-eye shots to the chest sits up again, completely unwounded and a lot more serious. [Language unknown: "Vor popoto, e ei."]


[[Another target! Comanche Raiders rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  *pow!*. Hit.
Comanche Raiders rolled 7 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. damage. That's a Shaken for O'Rourke.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Fri 18 Sept 2015.

OOC:

Well, darn.

Is there any indication as to how many Comanche we see?

"Damn," Evans swears. "I think these must be guards for those raising the Snake - the natural caverns around here may well link up with the mine. There probably aren't many of them, but they've got the high ground."

The clank ticks whilst Maria huddles close to its legs, whimpering. "Do two deputies plus the duly appointed Marshal of Blackthorn, Texas consitute appropriate witnesses that the party of the first part - party name equals Pure Blooded Comanches - equal a threat to the party of the second part, group name value People From Doctor Ward's House?" it asks.


[[Adrian can see two, thanks to his previous Notice roll. Everyone else (bar the clank, which also made its Notice rolls) can just see Ready To Fight up there, who's been talking to you.

If y'all could make a run for it into the narrow bit of canyon they'd have a lot more trouble shooting down at y'all, but you'd be easy targets 'til you got there and would probably be chased.

Evans is itching for a duel to restore his sense of pride, which is something the Comanche might go for if they felt they faced a worthy opponent...whilst you're stalling, Jake could update the situation for the Mayor, who could help with plus witchery. The clank presents something of a wildcard, but it will do its best to keep all mortal parties from hurting each other and particularly non-mortal parties from hurting mortal ones...if the guy with the rifle keeps a bead on the priest and starts taking potshots, the Hawk may even intervene, though otherwise you'd have to wait for a Joker pull (plus whilst Christianised, the Hawk is also a protector of natives, though it hates slavers and disdains guns).

On the other hand, captives at this point are likely to be taken down to where the action is to be horribly sacrificed in Pale Moon's dark ceremonies, so that might not be a total loss. These guys don't know about Jaquinta, either, who will likely come back at some point to see why you're not following.]]

Jake looks at the mayor, "Looks like we've got company - you got any magic you can manage or do I get to see if the local snakes want to help me out?"

"I suppose I might have a trick up my sleeve," he said as he studied a handful of spectral cards that seemed to fade away as if they had never been as soon as his words had left his mouth.

"Let's see how you shoot now," he muttered.

---

OOC:

Adrian is going to Deal with the Devil to cast Lower Trait on the two Comanche he can see (assuming that he needs to be able to see all of them to cast it; if he could, he'd cast it on all of them). He draws a Full House. The spell goes off with a raise, and hex duration is doubled.


09:43, Today: Adrian Vega drew the 11 cards: 6S, 6H, 8D, AS, 5D, 7S, 10D, 9D, 6D, 8H, 3S using the Deadlands system.  Deal with the Devil.

The mayor struggles to a sitting position, squinting over at the visible Comanche, then at Adrian. "Isn't he trying to talk peace with the devils?" he asks, not keen to meet Hardin's fate.

"I could probably darken the bottom of the valley here so we're harder to hit," the Mayor muses, still wincing a bit, "-or conjure up some phantasmal demons to scare them, but then that bastard offspring of a steam engine over there would probably start chasing me ranting about witchcraft."


The clank is in fact focusing its attention on Blackthorn's Acting Marshal, since he's the only one to heed its current wittering: "Indeed it would, but what...?"

"Okay!" Alouette chirps, and calls up to the glowering Comanche in equally awkward Spanish: [Language unknown: "Ec! Arolheek evllun: ti chthelarri m thaarteve ti!"]

The lead Comanche eyes the clank warily. [Language unknown: "Ck?"]

[[@Adrian - My dodgy old Core rules say it's an opposed roll when offensive; please give me a casting roll and I'll add a raise to the total as the TN these Extras have to beat.]]

"They ain't havin' any peace. Matter o' fact, I think they're in league with the Snake Demons. Mayor, whatever tricks you got, I think we'd rather have 'em now. I cast a spell on 'em that should make 'em shoot like crap. We could use any other edge we got."

He gestured over to the Marshal, to get his attention. "Here's how I see it. Even if we can distract 'em while we go inside, we're gonna have a problem of enemies in front of us, and enemies on our flank. I think we gotta deal with these Comanches now for good and put paid to 'em."

---

OOC:

Spellcasting: 7 (with a Red Chip)

16:17, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Red.
16:16, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 5,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Spellcasting on Comanches.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Mon 21 Sept 2015.

Suspicious of all this talking, the visible bravo signals to his companion.

{CRACK!}

The shot kicks up dirt off to Adrian's right; despite the marksman's previous show of skill, apparently he's currently having trouble hitting an immobile target. There's a low murmur of confused Comanche. "???"

The loud guy shrugs, but seems discomfited. "Stop talk, men! Guns on the ground, you all go together for be slave us. Cannot kill my brother - you fight, you die. I not again say it."

"I'll see what I can do...after nearly getting killed by a large boulder, mind, and already exerting most of my energies over the course of the night...keep them occupied somehow," the Mayor grumbles.

Meanwhile, the priest pulls himself to his feet and continues to head for Hardin, this time at a clearly non-threatening walk.


[[With the raise that's a TN of 11...
Comanche Raiders rolled rolls of 4,7.  resist! Two raises against the sniper, just the one vs. Ready To Fight.

They don't know that, though, and are getting a bit concerned with all your talking down there:
Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  shootin'. Miss.

Oh, and 22:53, Today: Alouette, on behalf of Father William O'Rourke, rolled 7,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3.  Unshake?]]

"Everybody shoot the damn Injuns!" he called out to the others.

OOC:

Adrian Deals with the Devil again, this time to boost the Shooting skill of those in his group, himself included. Since he has another Full House the spell is a success with an automatic raise for double duration.

17:30, Today: Adrian Vega drew the 11 cards: 2S, 10D, 8S, AC, 8H, KD, AH, 8C, JD, RJ!, KC using the Deadlands system.  Deal with the Devil.

[[possibly the worst possible phrase to then draw a Joker on.]]

"Didn't seem to hurt him much the first-HOLY SHIT what's wrong with the clank?!" Hank says, staring wide-eyed at the automaton.

Static crests as loud as surf as the clank straightens with that subtle grace that does not belong on mortal earth. Stray sparks arc over its casing as its lenses blaze, almost a match for the distant lightning out over the plains.

It looks at Vega. "No."


[[Right, now I'm really going to sleep.]]

"Alouette, if you have a better way to get them away from us, then please do it. If you haven't noticed, they've been shooting at mortals, and they spoke the words from their own mouths that they're allied with the snake demons. If you're protecting them, what does that make you? Are you allied with the snake demon too?" he asked, willing himself to ignore the change in behavior of the clank at his own peril. He knew when he had a good point.

"..and if the serpents' rule looped about your throat, Little Card Chaser, if they switch-spoke your 'America' for 'Ahquetztimani'...of a...sudden set your children's home-born feet on the same-yet-foreign soil...would you not also seek to light the fire of fires?" The electric pulse and roar within the clank's brass skin is almost hypnotic, almost organic, like the beat of a heart the size of a shack.

The Comanches hold off, staring at the changed clank. Down in the valley, the Mayor mutters to himself and the priest continues his determined walk towards Hardin's curled form. Maria breathes hard, watching the machine as though she might see salvation there.

"What is an angel, that does not protect the lost?"

The talky Comanche makes a warding gesture and reaches for some source of medicine in his shirt. Then darkness erupts from nearby, boiling over man-high as it engulfs Jake and Lazarus, slicking over Adrian and Hank and Alouette like a tide, obscuring the priest and Evans as he steps back to look.

There's a horrendous screech of bird rage from the black, drowning out Hank's startled shout. By the sound of it, at least one of the Comanches above breaks and runs, though the blackness is so thick those within it can't see each other, only hear breathing and the rapid scrape of metal over stone. "WITCHCRAFT!"

[[Mayor Bruebaker rolled 6,3 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,5.  dark magics! Y'all are obscured. The Comanches can't see you!

You can't see them, either. Or each other. Or yourselves, even.

Harry, give me a Smarts -2.]]

"Well, shit," he said, looking around at the blackness.

OOC:

Smarts = 4

16:25, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 4,1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  Smarts!

Hank Miller:

[[possibly the worst possible phrase to then draw a Joker on.]]

Just to be clear, I didn't use the Joker.

Hands that must surely be the Mayor's grab Jake's shoulders, trying to use him as a shield. "There you go, there you go - protect me!" he blusters, completely failing to be persuasive. Jake can hear the hiss of static in the dark.

[[ Mayor Bruebaker, rolled 1,-1 using d12,d10-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Fat controller powers. Crit fail. Jake is really not very persuaded. Perhaps he is annoyed? Then again, he did ask for plus witchery...

@Harry - that's why you don't get Backlash, but the normal effects of a chip draw and setting off Alouette's Schitzophrenic trait still apply.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:34, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

Gazing into the blackness, the blackness looks black.

Jake tenses up then relaxes, "Protect you? You obvious misunderstand what's happenin' here. I suggest you get on the ground perhaps under that boulder and hope no one steps on you good mayor."

He smiles, "Let's see what the clank can let me see." Pulling a bit of the packaging from Alouette's shipping container.

OOC: Casting Mind Rider on Alouette for vision.
10:11, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 6,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4.  Spellcasting - Mind Rider.
Burn a red for a +d6
10:12, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Red Chip +d6.
That's a Spirit vs 11 for Alouette if she/he/it cares :)

"...the damn thing's possessed, I tell you! It's out for blood!" says the Mayor, panicky. The hands let Jake alone - by the sound of it, Bruebaker's urgently feeling around nearby rocks for somewhere to hide.


*hhssssshhhhtttt*

Jake realises the clank is stopped right in front of him, the glow of its lenses barely illuminating its 'beak'.

It stays there for a heartbeat,  then looks aside and stalks past. "Witch I shall tear your soul in strips..."


[[Right now? "She" for sure.

19:50, Today: Alouette rolled 2,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  resist!

Querying the rules and the Magic 8 Ball, Jake can feel everything the target does...however, it's not possible to feel a brass body (lacking nerves and all), and spirits - being spirits - don't have a mind/body separation, so Jake gets to feel his brain on Hawk.

Roll Spirit or be Shaken.]]

OOC: Don't think Mind Rider does all that as I specified vision but okay! :)

Without a target number stated I assume I'm looking for a 4
16:55, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 2,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3.  Spirit. almost ... red chip +d6
16:55, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Red Chip +d6. that'll get a 4, if I need higher I'd use the red to reroll instead of +d6

---

Jake grits his teeth at the strange vision and unwanted sensory information his spell brings to him. He steps between Alouette and the no good mayor, raising his hand with fingers spread in a 'stop' manner "Come come now birdie girl, ain't no time to kill folks who are tryin' to keep the natives from slaughterin' the natives. We're all here to keep the snake out." the words come out in strained voice, like a man who might have looked into a Cyclopean horror and is trying to deal with what he had seen.

[[

Reloaded Player's Guide:

The caster can sense anything the victim can if he proves successful.

Ya get some of the Hawk's senses, ya get All The Feels (and all the feels are Angry). It was indeed a normal Spirit roll, so that's a sucess. *nabs chippit*]]

The lenses turn back to Jake, and he can feel the clench and shift of massive power like the tensing of talons in the black. "Thins the walls, the witch...the shaman's wailing...He wakens. Show me the Snake, I will climb, kill kill killkill-" the words trail off into a pained, crepitant laugh, the clank's head dipping down before it refocuses on Jake with a sudden swing of metal.

"Tell the owl-siezed, Wolf Ghost Walking...tell...the other side of the mirror-picture cuts...hearts for Mirror Serpent. Death's...favoured can end this all."

It pauses, though the anger roils in it like stormclouds. There's no more noise from the Comanches, if they're still about.

"Have I mentioned that I hate how you talk birdie." Jake says through his teeth. "One day you should learn to speak alittle more plainly. Can ya tell me how you can see in this pitch darkness? I'm curious as a witch myself what sort of witchcraft you use."

[[Are...are you taunting the insane angel of vengeance? If so, please roll it.]]

Static flares with the light in the clan's lenses, anger so thick in the air it's hard to breathe. "Mortal, you...were born to blindness. I see."

OOC: Oh sure ... why not!
14:26, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 3,0 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5,2.  Taunt (-2 untrained).

---

A slight laugh escapes Jake's lips, "More likely the folks who put together that tin can had a clue about strangeness in the world. The spirit in it probably don't hurt either." Jake shakes his head, "Go do whatever craziness you're going to do clank - let me and the others save the town."

OOC: Yes Jake knows a little bit about weird science thanks to his background

[[19:44, Today: Alouette rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  smart birdie?

The Hawk is not taunted beyond what tiny amount of rational non-murderiness she has.]]

The metal creation shifts back awkwardly, inviting Jake to step past it and leave the Mayor open. "...at what price, Little Bitter One?" it asks, then raises its head, staring at a patch of dark.

"You'd trade the life of all them women and children in town for his?" Jake says. "I don't know much about what ole mayor here has done, but I'm thinking him dying ain't worth those folks.I don't care about this ball of blubber but I'm gonna do what I can to keep that town from being the begining of the end of things."

He keeps his gaze focused on the eyes he can see with his own but through the thing he's seeing himself with, its slightly dizzying. "Now if you got away to keep the Comanche over there from bring out the big snake and killin' all those good folks in town ... I'm all ears tin bird."

Adrian didn't really know quite what to do in the pitch black that the Mayor had plunged them into. He had assumed it would make it a little bit harder for the Comanche to see them, not that it would completely render them useless and unable to see anything. He felt hungry, and had an odd craving for popcorn, which would be a good accompaniment to listening to Jake try to talk sense to the clank. All he had was a piece of jerky, and that would have to do for the moment. It would do him more good than popcorn in any case. He had been craving some meat.

He had before attempted to talk sense to the clank himself, and nine times out of ten it had proven a fools errand. Nonetheless, he wished Jake success in his endeavors.

The Mayor would probably object to this description if he weren't cowering behind a rock.

"Embers...a break, burning, to stop the spread of fire..." the thing's unearthly pain hammers like a migrane. "If not the town - that this one would spend in slaughter, a crowd against my Little Fierce One's hunger - then the world. This...this is mercy."

It looks over at the dark spot again.

"Show me the Serpent or...speak to Ghost Wolf, ssay..." -pain, murder, nausea- "-the mirror is false. Or...throw in your hopes, seek...an ending. Destroy the place of the burnt bush, destroy the child of metal and the knowledge...but for certain keep the souls safe, aid Heaven's hand...free me."

"I don't think cracking the spirit out of the shell ends well for anyone here."

Jake shifts his stance slightly, pulling his pistol and fires a warning shot at a Comanche he can't actually see. The big dragoon sounds like thunder echoing off the nearby boulder. He calls out, "STAY!"  [Language unknown: "ELHA!"]  [Language unknown: "IVIV!"]

"I think we've more important things currently to deal with than the mayor's desire to burn the world for his own profit ... such as what he and his folks have already started by stirrin' up the local spirits and causin' this craziness that's going on now."

OOC:
16:17, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 6,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4.  Shootin'.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

The bullet thrums past Harry Lazarus' chest like a wasp; there's a startled yelp from behind him to his left.

[[Hmm...usually that's -4 for pitch-darkness-with-clues, but you technically have some visual, which might add +2...Magic 8 Ball?
21:33, Today: Alouette got the result "You may rely on it" on the magic 8-ball.  Hawkeye bonus? Huh. So that's a 4 and a Hit - roll damage to see if you've made the lad Shaken.]]

OOC:
16:41, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 7 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Damage (Oops).

Also does Jake know/have a clue about what might happen if he let's the spirit out of Alouette besides the obvious no more clank?

16:43, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 2,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Knowledge Occult.

[[*pokes languages* I don't know what the term 'Algonkian' is supposed to cover, since no-one here is Delaware/Cheyenne/Cree, but since the Deadlands language families are so messed up/mashed together I'm guessing that's what the Stray filed Tslaagi under...that 7 won't hurt the Comanche much, but it still smarts.]]

There's a low-level mutter about Jake's parentage and a quiet shift of scree behind Harry.

The clank starts at the shot, watching to see the young man is not harmed. "I have...I had...a Name...and you, also have a Name and a sound and a silence...but you are deaf, Little Bitter One."

[[Jake remembers that crazy old shaman that Named him suggesting that the Hawk, if liberated without a great deal of cake and grief counselling, would be liable to raze every settlement in a 100-mile radius. He also implied she was a match in power for the Snake.

He dimly remembers Laughs at Darkness mentioning a Ghost Wolf, too - a man who might become leader of the local tribe in the dark shaman's stead and could be willing to negociate.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

Jake sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Been a long day birdie ... long long day ... think after all this crazy is over I'm gonna sleep for a week after I drink heavily for a week to scrub all this from my mind but only after I have a long and rather violent talk Doc Frost 'bout sending me here in the first place ...." His words trail offas his memory cranks out information.

"Vega, are we just runnin' round puttin' out fires or workin' towards somethin'? Cause we need to unseat the shaman who's raising the snake and get Ghost Wolf to bring the natives to negotiations with the settlers. "
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

The static softens to a menacing simmer. "The knife-named-hidden-faced serpent seeks his kin...to his Grandfather the shaman chants, to Mirror Serpent, clay-bellied idol, egg-swallower, blood drinker...the paths cross under rock. Beware the Many Sleepers."

It stretches out an arm to point in the direction Jake just shot. "Ask the bullet-marred the steps where the Ghost Wolf walks: you...have a better offering than horses."

"Jake, the idea was to go in and take out the guys who're summonin' the demon snakes. Only problem is, now we got these Comanche on our flank, and we got a crazy clank gone mad. The Comanche are on the same side as those summonin' the demon snakes, and the Clank seems to be on the same side as the Comanche. Long story short, the Clank is sidin' with the demon snakes. I don't know where that leaves us, exactly," he said to Jake.

"If we shoot the Comanche, we piss off the clank, so we gotta fight both the clank and the Comanche. If we don't shoot the Comanche, the Comanche shoot us and the Clank stands around talkin' bullshit nobody can understand and we sit here like ducks. I guess the next best solution is to try to sneak down into the hole, but I can't see shit in this gloom."

"What's a Ghost Wolf?" he asked Jake. "Is that a person?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

"Ghost Wolf is another Comanche... sort of second in command I guess to the summoner guy. Laughs At Darkness said he'd negotiate with the townsfolk rather than kill 'em all." Jake says to Vega.

He turns to Alouette,"Hey birdie girl, what put a bee in your bonnet? Aren't you supposed to be keepin' the snake from comin' and killin' us all?

[Language unknown: "Ri ecmota is m ilmi Ichratous Korwi!"] he called out.

Harry Lazarus paused, and tensed, lowering his body into a stance that if any could see him, would signal that he was about to run. He could see...or had seen...or would see...where the Comanche was. He couldn't really differentiate the experiences. He was surrounded in blackness, and at the same time, he wasn't. He could see what was happening around him, and what had happened before, and what would happen after. It was how he managed to dodge the bullet that Jake arbitrarily fired in his direction.

Tensing, he ran forward and launched himself at where he knew the Comanche would be, with a goal of tackling him.

In the darkness, he could and couldn't see the cards that he held in his hand, but he knew it was enough to give him a little bit of protection. Picking up a stone, he tossed it past where he knew the Comanche would be to create a noise and hopefully distract the warrior.

After giving him enough time to reaction, he rushed and launched himself at the Comanche's legs in the hopes of tackling him.

---

OOC:

Spell: Armor
Deal with the Devil: Pair
Spellcasting: 4
Smarts (Trick): 5
Agility? (Tackle): 4

If the Smarts trick worked and gave him The Drop, then Agility would be 8?


12:27, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 1,4 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.
12:27, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 5,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Smarts.
12:18, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 4,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Spellcasting.
15:54, Wed 23 Sept: Harry Lazarus drew the 9 cards: 9H, 8C, 4D, 8H, 6H, 5D, 2S, 10D, JD using the Deadlands system.  Deal with the Devil.

"Paleface I will no more allow your slaughter than that the Ever-Fighters' would...wreak upon the black thorn's place," the angel hisses, sheer wrath beginning to heat the very brass. "Witched blades slice the mirror's surface...the will and work of mortal hands is their own."

"Should I, er, let the spell go?" the Mayor ventures, as the clank's attention snaps to Harry Lazarus with a sharp crackling of static.


[[Comanche Raiders, rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  smart Comanche?

Give me a fighting roll at -2 (-6 Pitch Darkness, +2 Smarts Trick, +2 Timey-Wimey oddness), Harry - this is a grapple attempt.]]

OOC:

Fighting: 5 [3 +3 (Red Chip) +1 (White Chip) +2 (Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey) +2 (Smarts Trick) -6 (Pitch Black)]

Spent a Red Chip, a White Chip to no effect, and another Red Chip.

14:06, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Red Chip.
14:06, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 3,5,1 using d4,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5,1.  White Chip.
14:02, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Red.
14:01, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 3,1 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Fighting.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:07, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

Jake's muscles tighten and sweat begins to bead on his forehead as the spirit within Alouette hammer's him mentally. "Ya know Birdie, bein' in your head is almost the worst thing I've ever experienced. Is there a separation between magics cast in that tin cup head? Does a priest or shaman get a pass while hucksters don't?"

The silver-sheened Comanche looks back, startled, half-raised from a crouch as Harry hurtles into his side. They land in an undignified heap, scraping gravel and jarring bones.

The scarred youth coughs, wincing, then at once starts trying to wriggle and roll enough to free his knife. Unnervingly, the Comanche doesn't smell of anything at all, like he's not there.

[[Comanche Raiders, rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  resist!
Broken Face is Caught (and confused)! Roll Fighting or Agility to keep hold of him!]]

The clank tilts its head at him, the movement natural as a real bird's, then looks about and back to Jake.


"The sky is not the stone below...the shaman speaks to both, the voice of the Spirit in mortal throat...that mortal's actions belong only to the thought and hands that...shape them, Little Bitter One."

Harry never considered himself much of a fighter, but in what might ultimately prove a foolish life or death struggle against the Comanche, he gave it everything he was worth. Taking advantage of their precarious position, he managed to flip the Comanche over face down against the ground, placing one of his knees against the warrior's back, and one in between his legs, only the native's genitals between his kneecap and the ground. In his other hand, his knife against the Comanche's neck.

He leaned forward and spoke quietly into the brave's ear.

[Language unknown: "Pese aran som lesma, peich P int virthasom ch werstaeau paof st essintwhi ive set no encvorshe enof tr lehoiv. Pa fondth toan of tiulhi on rutnt Erouat Eclore, li poacer and ll ac enrebe hasessave alnoek oermi be nc n atadwa ard al ncmint. Ec olcent cail bepro stman plri eipr latnd fi tedsomnde a un tedsomaveons llwipr. Ort k vir il ththec, na E plrat erac lat th t ckica areslail. Amehe siwh naolng ee milail one Whitranot Ess taut u ant waswhehou oul el. Ol pa oreainnti saive haofck pepe ss, T beul prte atnt pa reetme con, fo p p deronethu astti ac i itiomo."]

---

OOC:

After using all his remaining chips (an original pathetic 3 boosted by a Blue for a pathetic 1, an even more pathetic result from a White, and an incredible result on the second white):

Fighting: 27 (17 Fighting, plus Chip Reroll Bonus 10)

So my description is a little intense, but I figure that with a Fighting roll of 27, I should be able to subdue him quite handily. But feel free to change it up if needed.

14:38, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 1,17,10 using d4,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+6+5)17,(6+4)10.  White.
14:37, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 1,1,1 using d4,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1,1.  White.
14:37, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Blue.
14:37, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 2,3 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

The youth doesn't try struggling, more deterred and somewhat nauseated by the pain than fear of death. "..ngh.."

Although the Comanche seems to have listened and understood the words, he doesn't offer any response with the possibly-effective-through-Mirror-Serpent's-spells knife so near his throat. He doesn't make anything that might be considered one more move, in fact.


[[Yeah...I'm not even going to bother rolling against that. He's even mostway convinced that the knife can hurt him. [thinks] Considering its power comes from the same source as his invulnerability magic, it actually might...Magic 8 Ball?

Alouette got the result "It is decidedly so" on the magic 8-ball.  a legit threat?

It can! He's definitely not going to try and talk whilst the knife's there, in that case, but he's subdued and then some regardless.]]

Harry gives a little room with the knife at the youth's throat so that he can speak without fear of immediate death. [Language unknown: "Hoilpe. Aras te i toetic thull Ssurut Ol."]

The weirdly grey Comanche darkens a bit, humiliated, but tries addressing the night beyond the black blot in the valley: [Language unknown: "Trun, Evsane Eauillnde U Bechmi? Saort Fi?"]

[Language unknown: "Reee om."] A voice carries from the slopes, amongst the rocks.

[Language unknown: "Venandrea larentman u me elnoch nctani ou ck on Nceourany Ithai."]

[Language unknown: "O whomti? Setticlar orech loinro e liet elilcaee fi porom inbeon k moisiv, il ard? Eauticvor Hasstiica U Onesof whie tr asheee simo holo'arroto be werintion Lintraive Ateon ted press leill. Has ismasi iost acol ntweeini?"]

[Language unknown: "Llch etiv ourundson ere plati her thostaver eauwitent...Itshe st ectvenwer ur ratan a. Th paic iviliv mepl asnd, k sianss pl ckof pebepo ntiantate, ter honoer? Alill hanot mounof foeiie navor k aisa Enncmo."] The pinned Comanche swallows gingerly.

[Language unknown: "Ol...asho, t, san fongec, el ac t sa Yinionous Ofnt iou omepe, atimentha on ivore foati. On wilro sta vorareounand. A ilst wi arman...di wilvermen ekthpa,"] the youth struggles out, his Spanish even more accented than the first talker's.

Adrian calls out to Harry in Spanish, asking him to explain what's going on, since he can't understand the Comanches speaking. Harry gives him the rundown pronto. Adrian decides to talk the situation up more.

[Language unknown: "Ch lo Earantera Priv,"] Adrian cried out one more time.

[Language unknown: "Ca Antdinate Ivres romtheyin, e ncou ainoerpro ta ardev, mente nc tr fiartr pl a, m uron aiur oer ngndpe nconie i asith."]

There's some more conversation between their captive and the Comanche back along the valley. The latter isn't exactly brimming with concern for the youth, but he's not started taking potshots at the darkness, at least. The loanword brujos crops up a few times.

[Language unknown: "U oswa Encredeen Ma hopre unouhi...om si n areionsom, ch di. Ekonal Moee losttest. A il eimi beng sanse, teres ndepe no bele ho eraet et ut iounteers Ckort Ee, a icng nt vor...il essverday, ndhent diing es aconce,"] the captive translates, further chargrined by the knowledge that he sounds like an idiot with his attempts to speak Spanish.

[Language unknown: "Esher pre ard ma iv Ughioueen Ar? Wimole But onni een atitheect la u t ter utndus adoul li, antoutest pano ugh hate is thof tio...thunca oswhal butredith. P an nc osrom tinovetic po sesena ion."] It seems an honest question.

[Language unknown: "Somanyred inen ncman, Andughrom Heckes Whepe nt it veneenave rolin asiv hasundous Icse hat il oreai th mi lesentthe be si ch foisce...waitan essat din ndeic ithstalat,"] the clank says, looking towards the voices of Harry and the captive.

[[Jake? Any reaction to finding out Hucksterisim is objectively bad for spirits?
...or any guess as to what the Hawk is planning to offer Ghost Wolf?]]

The captive's eyes go wide at the voice from the dark. [Language unknown: "Red at m? Setil ersionpro?"]

OOC: Yeah massive posts to read ... hold please

---

"Birdie you make less sense than my John did when he started talkin'. Mayor your darkness is hurtin' the tin cans eyes mind dropping it ... maybe we can all play nice.

Jake shakes his head, "No no no ... Ghost Wolf or Crying Hawk could become the leader ...  One could be convinced not to wipe the village off the map and would be satisfied with plunder and only a little blood. The other will not be satisfied, ever, even if he were to swim in a lake of dead children. I think Crying Hawk is our winner."

 calls the huckster.

The clank shakes itself as though flicking water from feathers whilst the Mayor makes a gesture and lowers his concentration; the darkness begins to fade.

"The Shrike's Son lies in his blood under rock...and were that horse-blinder and raper of children here...I would not leave enough of him to use for greasing."

[Language unknown: "Vorma n wa?"] the captive asks, confused, trying to see what's speaking. Harry can see the goosebumps across the brave's grey flesh.

"[Language unknown: But whthe sa thuestcom-amence: ul teanes,]" the clank responds in Cherokee, then to Jake: "Hear me, Little Bitter One: neither your tribe nor this man's will I leave...without protection. Follow One-Whine-Lead, give the knowledge that the serpent's throat gapes for grey souls to Ghost Wolf...tell...tell him of the fire of fires and the...seventh seal that shall be broken...and do you not hear the pounding in the earth?"

As the valley floor becomes visible once more, it becomes clear Evans has been holding Maria this whole time, as the woman seems to be crying in dread. The priest straightens from his ministrations, more blood-smeared than ever. It seems he's always covered in blood. Hank's been trying to bandage his cut hand, not entirely sucessfully.

"Damn and bother." Evens mutters as the shroud of darkness vanishes. He cradles the crying girl and tries to piece together the things Jake had been talking about.

"Crying Hawk?" he says, speaking up at the name. "Isn't that what Charging Bear said Itza-Chu means in English? Itza-Chu crucified a whole family just outside town, then tried to sneak a force in and murder everyone before the vampires got him. I can well imagine him trying to swim in a lake of dead children, and I hope whatever hell he got dragged to burns nice and hot. No, I think Ghost Wolf is the reasonable one. We just need to convince him to stop this thing. Or at least pull his people out of it."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:39, Wed 30 Sept 2015.

"First you said it was Ghost Wolf, now it's Crying Hawk? Jesus, man. Try to be clear. It's hard enough to talk to these assholes," he said.

When the darkness lifted, he looked at the Comanche who he thought had been speaking to them, meeting his eye as best as he could.

[Language unknown: "A as a Ion, wa Ck ai e wasewa alalai. Ch we llai nculin, wertr we Seisllilriri leiewi ceiv tinvornde illencone. Ur uttaes but pa nceoerame ckio beeist, nochpo u eenvorwas omho a mome. Preipl traresich ce yinratavethi ripaol urinwh tiodinlar. Ivla rintlo mored ieee ilund et iv antr. Vorwi vorkorati nc nofite urica olson icinfi p oreratear ilwhul ofadsebe. P redne onosll It nti siet ulhe K onsi ndece alivmi conproles, elek is stathukorich,"] he said.

[Language unknown: "T hiswi staastrut comtedith Ch ho annt com p her wilss. Cahis ck ilar mena en ee a, meev ndesetect,"] he pointed to Alouette, [Language unknown: "be ratmenave wale."]

He walked over to where Lazarus pinned the youth and looked around. [Language unknown: "Wer re uttr ecad day eau Weher Of?"]

The silvery Comanche who's just stepped down to the valley floor gives Adrian a narrow stare that says the Mighty Vega's just given him an excellent reason to shoot them all at as great a range as possible, but doesn't bring his rifle off his shoulder.

After a brief translation/prompt from his pinned companion , the man nods. [Language unknown: "Laere. Te omthu?"]

"If you ever spoke with Laughs at Darkness you'd understand my confusion ... Get Grey Wolf, we'll see what horror happens after we can talk."  Jake says as he just sits down on the ground holding his head like he's got a hangover.

"Let him up, Lazarus," Adrian said. [Language unknown: "Vorre, ekica neund hou."]

"Alright, listen up folks. This fella here is gonna lead us to Ghost Wolf, and we'll see what he has to say about all this. If you wanna come, then come on with," he said, turning to Alouette.

"Deputy Alouette, in the mean time you'll be in charge of making sure these Comanches don't fight with us." He didn't know whether the tin can was still operating, but he had seen it when it was acting up like this before and the havoc it had been capable of wreaking then. He hoped that by avoiding the fight with the Comanche, he could turn its ire towards them.

Harry backs out and very slowly, very carefully lets him up - and slowly backs his way, though his knife is at the ready.

"Someone reasonable to talk to. That would surely make my day." Evans says as he pulls himself up, the girl still clinging to him. "Even someone confusing but genuinely attempting to help would be welcome at this point. I only regret that I am somewhat en dishabille right now. These Comanche have fancy bullet-turning shirts...is it too much to hope for that we might negotiate at least a pair of decent pants out of this?"

Evans let his mouth run while he considered the situation. He'd lost his lower clothes, but he'd managed to save his flamethrower, pistol, and Atheric Disturbance Indicator. From what he'd seen, anything with some sort of atheric charge--William's guns, Adrian's bladed pistols, the knife coated in spirit-snake venom, his own devices, and the forces Jake could call on--would be able to incapacitate the Comanche, if not kill them. If it came to a fight, they weren't completely helpless. But a fight in those tunnels concerned him. His flamethrower in close quarters might wind up doing more harm than good.

The odds were not great. He could be persuasive, but while he could muddle through four languages neither Spanish nor Comanche were among them. If this Ghost Wolf didn't speak any English, he'd be rather useless, and Evans was done feeling useless.

"If we're going to negotiate, we're all going to need to understand each other." He said to Adrian, a thought occuring to him. "Given that language is about communication, it disturbs the aether as well as the air. I think I might be able to jury rig a translation device out of my Aetheric Disturbance Indicator, so we can all understand each other better. Can you convince them to give me, say, twenty minutes to fiddle with it? It will give them time to fetch out Ghost Wolf, and we can all say what we mean to say."

((OOC: Basically, I want to use my Gadgeteer edge to create a modified Speak Language power that affects everyone in a Medium Burst Template. Gadgeteer generally doesn't require a roll, just the time necessary to make it, but I'm willing to roll if you need that to see how well it works. Since this device is going to be powered with Evans' Detect Arcana power, it might even allow spirits to listen in and speak up (if you have ideas for that kind of thing). Thoughts?))

One Shot nods sharply and starts off, not waiting for any stragglers.

The young man they'd captured pulls up at once into a crouch, grimacing then scowling at Harry a moment in furious mutual distrust.

The clank says nothing, simply crackling with static and setting a blackened brass hand on the youth's shoulder. The young man's eyes go wide and he stares at the machine, then kneels and bows low in a gesture of reverence, hastening to his feet and to follow when it points its 'beak' after One Shot.


[[Evans might actually know Ghost Wolf speaks pretty good English if August or Oswald told him anything about their time in the camp, and the Brood speak Spirit Tongue anyway...but if you want to rig up something for convienience, go ahead and give me a roll per language you want to cover and Evans can hang back with Maria (who Does Not Want to be given back to either Sarah or her former master) and be translation boss/eavesdropper of plotfulness/cavalry as necessary.]]

"I would, but they won't go and get him. They want us to. I'm gonna take Harry with me and try to bring him out here. I need to keep the odds even in case they try some bullshit. I think between Alouette and Jake you should have it covered here in talkin' to them," he said, hurrying after One Shot and Harry Lazarus.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Thu 01 Oct 2015.

"We'll be back with Ghost Wolf!" promised Harry.

The clank starts to go after them but stops and shakes itself after a few steps.

"static error...no card," it states, then looks back at those still in the valley. "Where are Deputy Vega and Harry Lazarus going?" it asks, whilst the Mayor continues to eye it warily.

Hank makes his way over to Hardin; the priest looks across at him then nods at Hardin, who's sitting up and pressing three hands to his chest, clearly in pain.

"I've done my best, but there was...resistance. I think perhaps his soul could do with some searching there," O'Rourke says, and strolls over to Evans. "Give her here, you'll be able to work better." He drops into soft, persuasive Spanish to the young woman, whose terror is barely lessened by the Comanches' departure, and she uncertainly transfers her cling to the priest.

---

One Shot leads those following up a little defile cracking the slope, onto the top of the rock formation and then down again over a series of shallow breaks or shelves in the rock, almost like cyclopean steps, down into a cave. The young brave pads behind, occasionally looking at Harry and letting his hand stray half-consciously towards his hilt.

A sharp turn and it's clear the cave is in fact a passage leading down and along. There's an unusually large fire by native standards burning in a niche some way down, and the shadows of people cast by it. A discussion seems to be going on in Comanche down there; One Shot makes a 'wait' gesture and strides down to see what's up.

[[If Adrian wants he can take a Smarts check to work out why that fire's there/so relatively big]]

In reply to Alouette (msg # 119):

"They're going to find and hopefully bring back someone who might be able to get the Comanches to cease and desist." Evans says as he nods at O'Rouke in thanks. He picks up his Athertic Disturbance Indicator and begins carefully opening the box to get at the wires inside. He moves carefully, fiddling with delicate wires and knobs.

When finished, he nods, and snaps the casing back into place. "Right." He says. "That should do it."

The box buzzes. "Yes. This-should-work-now." It buzzes in a harsh monotone. Then, it continues to buzz. "[Language unknown: Ieich. Intiouhisteroultedughtictic.] [Language unknown: Ca. Loelhoroel-iltafomo.]"

"hmm." Evans mutters. "It's picking up meanings, rather than direct translations. Good."

"Consideration. The device picks up meaning, not direct word-for-word transpositions. Acceptable. [Language unknown: Chouethiiele. Bleto ioceck butonsort us outsanill, eibut ertore hasestionsanventra llalchcehoos. Unleouroin.] [Language unknown: Liercaniwaar. In evllll looles wa undternte, noio itdili erstinbuthouvoreen unpoouuntabe. Ndalwhatto.]"

Evans moves over to Maria. "Please say something, if you would be so kind."

"Polite request: speak. [Language unknown: Comrutint thevenica: atomro.] [Language unknown: Oveeauoer hepoei: ingoverat.]"

((OOC: Evans doesn't know that, actually. Sure, but the spirits can't normally talk to not-shamans across the border unless they are talking to them in dreams. I suppose he wants to cover English, Comanche, and Spanish.

14:11, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 3,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Translator: English.
14:12, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 6,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+4)10.  white chip.

14:12, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 1,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Translator: Comanche.
14:13, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 2,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4.  white chip.

14:13, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 4,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Translator: Spanish.

So, it took 2 chips, but I got there.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:55, Fri 02 Oct 2015.

"! Self can help!" Alouette declares, rapidly pattering off after Adrian, Lazarus and the Comanches.

Jaquinta makes a reappearance whilst Evans is fiddling with wires and Hank's trying to find out why the hell they're out there; the chupacabra pads warily down off the rocks, giving Jake a wide berth, and trots over to the priest to report.

Maria doesn't take to having buzzing boxes brandished at her and flinches, shifting away behind the priest. [Language unknown: "Wiel ei oerwe? Ndoun ac wasa commi a ai any?"]

"Request: identify object. Request: refine desired speech." [Language unknown: "Iealma: omehisousure undhoucon. Ntiateday: anouwe undughyin whirednot."] the Indicator grates.

Jaquinta bristles a bit at Evans, distrusting the device.

"Oh, this is a translation device, so that we can speak to each other across language barriers." Evans says. "I'm just testing the device to see if it works. Go ahead and say anything you like."

"Object purpose: to translate between languages. I am testing this device, looking for flaws. No speech defined, speak any words desired."[Language unknown: "Isasfi armoil: t eraticproest acenha thorutineain. Ri i hicese ad tharedenc, fiular le hianut. K sihewi uretioate, ativeneen ent plreen onstinwas."] [Language unknown: "Ssalth stwhol: a aslieeof allonedin ingainndeave. El a iosaro netr ououce, semipr eena strshecon. A paurch thuineave, diprto atce hautch aiofbe."]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Sun 04 Oct 2015.

Maria frowns at the box uncertainly, scrubbing a hand under her nose. [Language unknown: "I poect outch p an unddaylat Ronendas nc nond?"]

[Language unknown: "Elpopl: Prewasmen theinewil poli ofpoll?"] the indicator chunters. "Query: People speech desired also?"]

The young woman licks her lips nervously, then wipes her eyes again and finds some determination. [Language unknown: "M na to Ardasteve Earntiear he Er red out e atemenect haour resainset titr viranywer, prunpo tinac trwifo nc n has i wapass ng hind ck m ie asioouch saol. E dayel linet o ilnte maliul t Ounarecon. Pe wiur thiec ei os korbe li esut t eve andvorove, acos ouna usseca oul he ountinome whwaio...N astratwhe ave eraich lo ng, pa tin atngck en po n eauee inetinersvir rom notenchis pa traillany nodi pllori ulbeit ressomard wilta realar'waswas, u as ivein ieelha O pe ceevpr eremo. Ma evesno il tiomas us ioustrwhi i stit wi a ortonende ho chleet stroveect loos. Ic ei i itmebe al verersher po ntre. Bepeit unilha at m thropo is ro. Orethuven."]


[Language unknown: "Ameundcon iste Ofleit Fithpo, t behopl inema venillith haek ticratstr ndestrshe ithtioticmenhat ceneie, omckma staichmen. Notlinand us o leany ioeeun an Hateit. Tiovorund amethalin: limiel aiaiai linstilar ur tin esis wertinsti ivewerntiame o ek Sansom'lesugh undconund, viranyven wantadwi iveorerut. Verromaterat houtinsti eemool il herate-bleastsan inanelit thont il isrewi k *icawasenc* one leelle tr eenhoucon osniri we si artection. Mousnc omeer ng onsmenaresti icsom fiicad, hendatarri no therombutwit intouskorugh. Strwilome reaantame, linwerlinard: aswail hat not redhatles astingvoring ck isseil."]
"Speaker name Maria Santos, a slave plus minus two years after habitation raided, horse taken. Speaker born a free woman in Mexico. Urgent request: speaker lacks desire to view male owner previous to big Caucasian female, current location unknown. Previous owner unaware of transaction involving sale of speaker to *crackle* holy *crackle*snake by owner's mother; fear of reclaim. Great fear of previous male owner, expression of physical distress. Urgent request, repeated: speaker does not desire proximity to owner."

Maria scans Evans' face to see if the little talking box can get across how very much she doesn't want to meet more Comanches. Jaquinta headbutts her leg in solidarity, then cuts in:

[Language unknown: "Ek sting wit undoneamestihou, hoss hateni ncemantin nock mo ntcom ur utati verwe ilasloac ng ouast po ard. Ceivha eich i artandlatill-dinore osres rier he pre sith ic onsni m was ckant onsonsres n st whi."]

[Language unknown: "Aintionti verforoneati: andsheore nowemi art no o hemoiv ticessset ere ndtr ne sti. Anthis'dinantill: fialfiof il, ast trsaee erepe daycon'eraear."] the Indicator repeats. "Query interest: masked snake and male on animate bones went down a pit. Observation: straight fall, pit bottom not observed."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:38, Sun 04 Oct 2015.

"You speak Comanche?" Evans asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Query: you speak the People's Speech?" [Language unknown: "Tickee: oshou terrattha espl Eiwinonc Iepoil?"] [Language unknown: "Wheandica: atenc tethmi thsan Itonadna Nceredwer?"]

His face turns dark as Maria keeps speaking. "Oh. I see. Well, rest assured that I have no intention of exposing you to any more troubles. I am Dr. Ambrosius Botticelli Evans, Marshal of Blackthorn, and as far as I'm concerned, slavery was abolished in the CSA twelve years ago so the law considers you a free woman, thus I am under no obligation nor have any inclination to return you to anyone. You are free to leave if you wish, though I would caution you that we are currently in serious danger and I cannot guarantee your safety should you leave. I would provide you with a fast horse to get out of here if I could, but I can't. If you stay, though, we are about to face the Comanche in parley and possibly in battle, and I can't stop your previous master from seeing you. I can only give you my solemn promise that he will only take you back over my dead body."

"Speak acknowledges statement. Reassurance: Speaker has no intention of causing Maria Santos trouble. Speak is called Doctor Of Science Ambrosius Botticelli Evans with a title of Marshal of the town of Blackthorn, and as a lawkeeper recites that the Confederate States of America struck down slavery laws 1.2 decades ago and that current law considers Maria Santos a free woman. Speaker is under no obligation and has no inclination to return Maria Santos to previous owner. Maria Santos is free to leave if that is her desire. Speaker cautions that danger is immanent and that speaker cannot guarantee Maria Santos safety if she departs location. Speaker regrets being unable to provide a horse for Maria Santos' use. Speaker cautions surrounding group is expected to engage in negotiations with the People, possibility of violence, and speaker cautions he cannot stop proximity to previous owner. Speaker offers promise: that previous master will reclaim Maria Santos only once Doctor Of Science Ambrosius Botticelli Evans is a dead body."

[Language unknown: "Siliss eccehamafi chlauswi. Amerom'ticeausom: Ncitst omus i ithatelarous p esekce Anhait Stesic eiloun. Meeipo p asadce Ossiai Er Romithain Maurevek Wimaloweer Antsomure iv el shereaast is Taivek mi unnte ur p Camamafock, ast k nd hatevereanti fimoit staol naoul Orthat'butoneion Ilwhne k Unecee onhane nawh osnimi theni a.ll foreraoer acan hasha utro nilane tedwe menareichess Witvirate Larichoul no eveil prewiltha. Elcaic er ndivou er redproromreaout ek tedto p ceseitsint of tioandson Taolbe Latmenthe a onriuret olmene. Anyearwhi Aissac he ess n eearec m re t ulai reaaretho. Resmentra thowerderson maon nteerence ne icpooupr thi llan stmome contioera heal'hepa Satidi Intmanvor tabeof t yin ckofof ivroross. Hisredtho intndeugh polotr timeck re notcomoul la tedndende ere Rutderenc Onndla lat. Ioilin eeoueemo avestrconatiion taivla m ioroevdi ad cealwe po ameromallicaore enous andos Sonureons, elitbestee pr ndeourameine, omil ineeraest dayomenotlar ut evtepl est strthapreere u lesver'butons ratonewil. Naenet estihi ekssca: poos eraouromeers anyoreoer caing outastany Terconenc Sanestwhe ect anpo Plwhfo M Hipasa Letrilpo Andaveillanyfor Ngieil ee t ek iveur."]

[Language unknown: "Limoon tericaingticest toadilei. Poplateell: Inweel are ur ieomllil wa sanoneday Mausmi Ncedinast alstdi. Loatil o entlatson Hatonsbut I Thuhisund Infisshe Ratkorortoveout Wimier tere mi arntre i Allresiou in ncut laom a Evaichhall, sa el e onewastedpro tedlesund la ortac Iomiofwinc Rutorered pe Enelek thance pe stiiouout il a.m ecthti ouho hatpl leur hiurpe ofpro anchmiul Ndnond Usouno n era ulompr. Conhatave li eeunwh la ateldiwhch nde ing en venatiromcomlin om aiilch Tostri Verstiiou t asistrta wilvirhou. Tinortsta Manconons o ol u lleval o pro ac poet nireri. Theoereau arttratheund ne lotami po diniou-outave ngeau om elildi inrete isillaun Allderset Wetion tiulck e thefi eshint ectartwitwhe. Sonatehou lireai neleto antonsall k serima i oersonbut ai Prevta Siosul se. Artsonbut ssprloec whiouningvirare sonoerlin li encateheroul u ntitraine wa waitmopret andwe ons Nganwa, hachaclale p notstiwasrom, tiwhi shesonate diaicape e oneousmen hasom atntneei ta whmaolai ithamerat. Stivirdin roleur nglidi: ilel whmaeeev aswhng rodi cerebe Tramenion Arethuugh ek ma Somtharut Il Thulescon Ntiweroveone Sasi-lldiof Hiseentha ec nd ar unati."]

Evans looks at the chupacabra. "Ah. Well, he's dead already, so that shouldn't hinder him overmuch."

"Expression of irritation: male was deceased prior, thus a long fall is not expected to be a great inconvenience." [Language unknown: "Astardect'andcom t ropoomulng: as day unssatre lomiom, atewi t the ersac er eian armamola we wh tr dinromvir dersetwasallsanout."][Language unknown: "Ovevir'thiessday o ectstiovehasman: ec nimi tehaceth ineaveati, ie m pe ma e wh leaspape m th no houhisand itnipralospo."]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Sun 04 Oct 2015.

OOC:

Smarts: 4

10:42, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 3,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Smarts.

It's a draw fire, Adrian realises; other Comanches must be working deep underground where little natural ventilation can penetrate. There's a "Howdy Deputy Vega! Howdy Harry Lazarus!" from some way behind him as the clank clumsily stomps and clatters its way down the rock shelves.

One Shot is gesturing up at them now, and after giving orders to some other braves out of sight the man he'd been talking to pads into view and up the tunnel. He's a big man, well-muscled and pushing 5'11", which causes him to stoop away from the ceiling at points.

One Shot gestures with his rifle for the strangers to back up back into the open and makes sure they've moved before the tall man reaches the tunnel entrance. When he does so, it's clear that the moonlight makes no mirroring on his skin or clothing, nor halos his hair like the other Comanches seen this night; either he isn't bulletproof or he has some better protection.

"I am Ghost Wolf. What is it you want, white men?"

---

Back in the valley, Maria looks uncertainly at Evans, then decides to hug the priest again. [Language unknown: "Ic se to at ho striic ngncat m cehiev p fo es,"] O'Rourke tells her gently. [Language unknown: "Les ec ncevirart alevev, us caeen leliar?"]

[Language unknown: "Prncou rediv utove as k larichder etolnast plen ncpoei rutthaherome. Ilwaen: e dinont Virnteredich thihiskor nitrntho hidial tihosino?"] the Indicator states. "Speaker will need to go where injuries may require treatment. Query: is large Caucasian woman mentioned prior injuried?"

Maria shakes her head, then shudders.

[Language unknown: "K neaniepa theeenoul hievev, avehasearast. Tinlesave one ceestr nc me thiionthi,"] Jaquinta says, her ears flattening down as her spines raise in irritation.

[Language unknown: "Essbleoun atnaic ou inoles icharerut erest thu n caie werwitshe. Ndestr-illive."] the Indicator drones. "Speaker unable to locate serpent also due to pit depth. Annoyance."

((OOC: The the sound of William's unique gun audible from the pit?))

Jaquinta abruptly stiffens and ghost-stares towards the crack at the end of the valley, ears turned to follow her snout.

[[Ha! No, he's waaay away - a lot nearer the Mine Thread guys than anyone, in fact, and deeper still. Jackie can pick up the rumbling down there, though, now you mention it.]]

Knowledge (Arcana) roll for what Adrian might know of Native American cosmology, in terms of what they/the nature spirits think about manitou, etc. Adrian is a member of the Lady Luck Society, so while he hasn't specifically had a lot of contact with Indians, he might've come across some academic information about them in what he learned over there:

14:48, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6,1 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6,1.

"Some of your warriors came to attack us unprovoked above, but we managed to reach a standoff without bloodshed in the hopes that we could talk things out," he said. He didn't know everything, but he wanted to convince this man of his position. He holstered his weapon to show lack of violent intent. His hand, for a moment, contained only playing cards, though they faded away.

"I came to see if you could be a leader of your people and take them off the dark path Pale Moon has lead them down. The things Pale Moon is bringing into the world are wrong, and won't just cleanse it of the white man, but the red man as well. There has to be a better way than this. A shaman called Laughs At Darkness told us that perhaps you might work with us."

---

Deal with the Devil: Flush (automatic success and raise)
Boost Trait: Persuasion (d4 --> d8)

Persuasion: 12
15:56, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 12,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,5.  Persuasion.
14:48, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6,1 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6,1.
14:39, Today: Adrian Vega drew the 11 cards: 9D, 8S, 8D, KD, 4H, 10S, 2H, AH, 9H, 5C, 5H using the Deadlands system.  Deal with the Devil.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Mon 05 Oct 2015.

Evans sighs. "All the options are bad ones, I'm afraid." He says to the girl. "You will need to be brave for a little while."

"Speaker is regretful: all options are unfavorable. Speaker encourages bravery for a temporary time."[Language unknown: "Unwhdi ro witwhiereant: tinil prantr wh houineblenteted. Nticom fieifirise romeauthe ereth lo vorrutvirhat eeout."][Language unknown: "Preeenrat a ioofsehe: llver isnafo oual horoneseiv. Fopall utitunomme lienne pa m ndeine-tioore li."]

He looks over at the coyote-woman. "I don't particularly care about that snake right now...what's the matter?"

"Speaker is disinterested in the serpent at present time. Speaker asks what the matter is."[Language unknown: "Catofo i mechosivpoee il ere witativir nt lattedere elbe. Cecaul roto ussi tic miarei u."][Language unknown: "Resithset e rutoneundwhehouted ad hason nteprofor k orentemen icas. Foenet dersi lar laset teheng u."]

[[That'll just about shift him to Neutral. Ghost Wolf doesn't trust whites, but he's listening. Give him some good reasons.]]

Ghost Wolf lets a few moments of silence pass to be sure the slightly older man has finished. "Your presence is a provocation, paleface. Your people have acted as our enemies, unprovoked: they talk of invisible lines that mean the People cannot go freely by their law, and punish us; they shoot us on sight and take our scalps westward to pass off as Apache; they take our trust and laugh when they cheat us; why then should we not consider all white men coming uninvited to be enemies?"

Ghost Wolf gestures as he speaks, some of the signs clearly meant to nuance his even if accented English. The idea that Adrian would judge his fitness to lead brings an expression to his face that makes it feel like the temperature just dropped several degrees. "Do not patronise me, witch. Pale Moon has made...some decisions I would argue with were he not an elder, but he has much medicine, and much knowledge. He would not betray so many years of work and sacrifice for the People."

"Even now he calls to Tezcatlcoatl the Healer to make the land whole. Your madness, your 'borders' and slaughter of bands for the sake of access to rocks...all that will be cured, so that we can live sane lives again. What proof have you, stranger, that the one whose duty is to protect our spirits would speak falsely?"

His brow creases. "I do not know this shaman...what tribe is he, and from what lineage? I would be a poor leader if I trusted you without reason...I have lost enough to trusting white men. What other way is in your thought, and why is it I should listen to you, rather than having my men on the rocks shoot you, as you seem familiar with the paths of darkness?"


[[22:37, Today: Alouette, on behalf of Ghost Wolf, rolled 1,2 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  Laughs at who? Derp.]]

[Language unknown: "Ouse eraic,"] Jaquinta responds distractedly. [Language unknown: "Witastpro te st whstlehe pomono eraha elaiad."]

[Language unknown: "Evurilwihi: whiatendeshe is yinerstho es antamewer."] "Observation: rumbling far under the earth," the Indicator puts out mechanically, though it seems to be intermittently affected by static.

"Look, if we're going to start with a list of all the bad shit whites have done to you over the years, I don't think we'll have the time. It's a long list. If that's a requirement for you to trust me, it's never gonna happen, so let's just forget about trust for a moment," he said.

"There's no proof that I could ever bring you that would make you believe me over one of your elders. I'm a white man. Nothing will ever make you trust me. So I won't ask you to. The most I can ask is to honor the fact that we haven't killed One Shot over here even after your people started shootin' at us. But you said it yourself - you think Pale Moon's decisions are questionable. Why is that? Maybe I'm right - not because of anything I say - but because of what you already know."

---

Persuasion: 5
Smarts: 6 (Do I know info about Laughs at Darkness?)

17:22, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.
17:26, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  Smarts.

Ghost Wolf leaves that respectful pause, though his eyes have gone to dark slits as he crosses his arms over his chest, shirt-fringes swinging. Not all the decorative tassels are wool. "It is little to you, to put aside. It is much to me," he says coldly.

Not shooting the sniper or the youth still uncertainly hanging around the clank doesn't seem to impress him overmuch - they needed some lever to talk to him, after all - but he listens and, after a consideration that probably takes longer than the palefaces are comfortable with, does answer the question.

"Because Pale Moon is obsessed with white men sometimes, and risks good men to raid towns when we could raid cattle. Because he brought in Charging Bear, an Apache who is sick like a mad dog, and did not cure him but told my men to follow him, instead. It did not seem they were good spirits, that spoke to that one's madness. But..." Ghost Wolf struggles to articulate, great pain near the surface of that stony leader's countenance.

"...me, too. He took me in when I was lost, despite Owl's curse in my blood. He risked his standing and his life to take in one who survives, always, when those around him die. Were our roles reversed I would not have done as he did. You see, why I must believe he has a greater understanding than I. You see," he gestures at the silver warriors nearby, "he has used Mirror Serpent's power to protect those around me. How could he mean us harm?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:52, Mon 05 Oct 2015.

Adrian nodded, listening quietly. Truth was, he didn't have a great answer. "I understand. You owe the man a debt, so you don't question him, even though you have doubts about his actions. But sometimes the best way we can help people is to question them. Even the wisest person can do a wrong thing. No man is perfect, but maybe with the help of our friends we can make the best decisions. If no one questions us, we don't get the best advice." He gave a pause to accomodate any response, ready to move on to other subjects.

"You asked me about Laughs at Darkness. Maybe you don't know the name, but you mighta heard of a fella like him. He's from the southwest somewhere, though he never really talks about his tribe. He wears coyote skins and laughs a lot, poses riddles and challenges to people he meets, and sometimes changes people's true names," he said. "Laughs at Darkness said you might be able to help. Unfortunately, he didn't say how we could get you to budge."

"Tell me something - do you know what 'the fire of fires' is - or 'breaking the seventh seal'? Or what it means when I say the 'serpent's maw gapes for grey souls'?" he said. He had an inclination as to the latter, but not the former, though it sounded vaguely biblical. He never had paid enough attention in Sunday school.

Ghost Wolf frowns a little. "It is not the same, to make mistakes from lack of criticisim and to act corruptly, as a shaman. I do not believe one trained so many long years would not know the effects of his knowledges. It is the top-hat witch who has acted badly, and harmed the land; Tezcatlcoatl will undo his works."

The description of Laughs At Darkness gets a thoughtful look and a twitch of frown at the unfamiliar term 'budge'. "What did he want, that one?"

"I do not know what these things are," Ghost Wolf admits, glancing to one of the guards above to make sure the man is alert in case this strange riddling is a distraction. "What do they mean?"

"The seventh seal is the one after seals 1-6 in the vision of Little Rock," the clank chimes in helpfully. "That means when God is being a sheep and the censer is off the altar the Apocalypse will start in a place like wormed wood. Then plus plus fire falls from the sky and the ground shakes and the sea boils up so there are no more fishes. Or shrimps." The clank's lenses light a moment with a distant flash of lightning. Far, far below there comes a faint tremor from the deep.

"Except the ones in cans but they can't make more shrimps because they are dead," it adds in case they didn't know, finding itself under general attention.

"A-poc-a-lips?" Ghost Wolf queries.

"Apocalypse...the end of the world, basically," he said. "The top hat witch as you call him, I believe you refer to Dr. Ward, did act badly - but here's what you may not know - he was dealing with Tezcatlcoatl too. The demon serpent has been dealing with both the top hat witch and Pale Moon. The best proof you can ask for is in Dr. Ward's cattle. They all got the taint of Tezcatlcoatl," he said.

"Let me ask you another question: Does Pale Moon have a photographic plate with his warriors pictured within it? Is that the protection he gave them?" he asked Ghost Wolf.

He pulled out a flask of his and sniffed it. Whiskey. "Oh, and I have some whiskey if anyone wants it." He held it out. Maybe something of a temporary peace offering.

"What is this seal? Why did you speak of it?" Ghost Wolf asks, now about as concerned as confused by this thread of discussion. He shakes his head slightly.

"Pale Moon told us not to eat the cattle. Perhaps Tezcatlcoatl tricks Hat Witch, to give the cattle to other white men...the ones that want to put new words on old medicine, they do badly because they think they can understand it without the stories. Pale Moon understands the medicine: he is not the same." There's a touch of uncertainty in his tone, though, clearly a man speaking of things out of his depth.

The question of the plate gets a sharp nod. The whiskey, on the other hand, gets a look of irritated shock in the brief moment between the offering and the flask being co-opted with an enthusiastic whoop by One Shot.

The clank's standing very still again, static rising in its shell.
The scarred youth gets the flask next, egged on by his companion and one of the guys who's reappeared from the tunnel, who nabs a drink first and shoves it back in the lad's hand, smirking. Ghost Wolf bridles, watching, big and dangerous and  unsure of his control in this suddenly more volatile situation.

The static from Alouette rises to a sighing pulse, its lenses bright and golden as it stares at the sky.

[[Because negociating with sober Comanches wasn't enough of a challenge...? Adrian can give me a straight Smarts roll if he likes, to notice something a little odd about these guys (besides most of them being grey, shinyish and bulletproof)]]

"Peace offering," he said, holding his hand for the flask if they would pass it to him.

"Tezcatlcoatl did trick the Hat Witch, and tainted the cattle with bad medicine. Maybe he tricked Pale Moon too, or maybe Pale Moon knows what he's about. He's gonna have to make a sacrifice to bring down Tezcatlcoatl. You know he sent some Comanches to attack Blackthorn to take captives for his sacrifice? Well, we fended them off so they didn't get any captives, so Pale Moon don't have none to sacrifice. He does have the souls of his warriors that he trapped in photographic plates though," he said.

"I see you don't have that same color to you. He didn't get your soul, did he?"

---

OOC:

Adrian Smarts: 9
Harry Smarts:  4

19:21, Today: Harry Lazarus rolled 4,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Smarts.
19:21, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2,9 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+3)9.  Smarts.

There's not enough whiskey to get that many people drunk, just maybe a light buzz at best.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:52, Thu 08 Oct 2015.

The braves don't seem to be paying that much attention to Adrian for the moment, though when one - the newcomer with the wrapped braids - notices he seems to want something back he gives him a beaded bracelet.

[[It's bulletproof!]]

Ghost Wolf is still bristling with unease, and Adrian's words certainly aren't soothing. The frown mark between his brows etches deeper and deeper as the huckster talks. Someone throws the flask up to one of the guards above; there's a chorused 'Eii!' as drops of whiskey flick across the night before the shard of silver is caught and the catcher licks spilled liquid off his wrist.

One Shot pokes Harry encouragingly with his rifle butt and asks him something, gesturing to Adrian. Probably a query as to whether Harry has whiskey too.

"The...plate the white man's box painted of me...I dropped it before Pale Moon made medicine," Ghost Wolf says, with an undertone of dawning horror.

The braves are laughing now, talking amongst themselves. The young scarred fellow previously captured by Lazarus seems to be impressed by his first shot of hard suff, once he's stopped coughing, and not entirely steady. They're all pretty young, Adrian notices - whilst it's not particularly odd for a group of Comanches to have a low average, none of the raiders in town were that old, either. The few warriors that make it past thirty are usually the ones in charge, but even Ghost Wolf looks to be twenty-five at most.

It's like someone has been gathering outcasts like Ghost Wolf and "Charging Bear" - Itza-Chu, Adrian assumes - and essentially honing a band into an almost-permanent war party held together with the bare minimum of wives, slaves and children. With so few elders around, Pale Moon probably has a deathgrip on power dynamics.


[[It's enough to get them interested and potentially argumentative, plus historically you'd be dealing with about 1 in 6 full-blooded natives from western strains carrying that unfortunate genetic quirk from Asiatic Siberia that results in rock-bottom alcohol tolerance ('Sky Dog + half a glass of beer' is based on 'Malay-Korean friend + tablespoonful of champagne'): rolling up, it looks like Broken Face is one of 'em.

22:04, Yesterday: Alouette, on behalf of Comanche Raiders, rolled 10 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4,5.  check for alcohol fail.

Ghost Wolf is tetchy because the short age gap and his curse of always surviving by fluke whilst everyone around him dies - which rumours blame him for, see his bio - don't get him much trust and respect, so his status isn't as steadfast as it could be.]]

"You can save them too, if you can break their plates," he said. "Otherwise...well, if it takes a sacrifice of a few of those to raise Tezcatlcoatl, do you think he'll hesitate? You have to make the call. I just needed to bring you the message. Now you have the information. What you do with it is your choice."

In reply to Jaquinta (msg # 133):

"I hope things are going well." Evans says.

"Speaker concern over situation." The box chatters. [Language unknown: "Ulmese tinugheen ich hativelesbut."][Language unknown: "Thssng risiai thu hiomadck."]

Evans looks over the group remaining behind. He notices Jake not doing much. "Are you alright? You seem...a little tense."

"Speaker expresses concern. Speaker understates apparent tension in other."[Language unknown: "Romamence nieeouto usteta. Ardourfor pandheprie ecul'reis eepoin es ithrutive."][Language unknown: "Lohing iltoisis meouut. Taliwa oful'hiivan terdintioday toleil in ardwheter."]

Jake glances up at Evans from the rock he currently is sitting on, "No ... just not much use talkin' with the natives. Snake seems to see and hear through me, figure I should stay here and keep an eye out for other things."

"What do you mean, The Snake sees and hears through you?" Evans asks.

Ghost Wolf's frown and the pain below it stay fixed. It seems the Comanche leader is still trying to process the betrayal and the implications. "It was one plate, with all the other warriors...you say to break it?"

"No." the clank says, stepping forward, then suddenly reaches towards Lazarus; the scarred youth's knife scrapes and clatters against its fingers from his stumbling, low-aimed stab at the dapper fellow's belly. "No," it tells him, gently pushing him back.

[[Harry failed that roll due to the -2, but fortunately he's looked out for.

Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Agility.
Alouette rolled 3,2 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2.  Agility.
Tie to defender.]]

The grace-haloed, static-hissing machine turns its attention to Ghost Wolf as the others abruptly quiet down (One Shot does try poking Harry once more, though, just in case). "Remove the false mirror and bring it for blessing...the souls, sharp-cracked in the Serpent's realm would...shake the seals."

Ghost Wolf shakes his head, utterly lost now and faintly alarmed by the clank's change in manner. "I do not know...what do I do? Why would he do this? Our women and children will starve or be t-"

The clank steps up to him and very gently brushes the edge of its 'beak' along Ghost Wolf's jaw.

The Comanche goes from alarm to awe...then makes a soft sound in his throat and closes his eyes hard, resting his forehead against the curve of the machine's 'beak'. Only for a moment, however - the next instant he's snapping orders in Comanche and barking down argument, all that power of his now filled with purpose.

The clank watches, lenses bright.

"I will clear my men from the tunnels and deal with Pale Moon," Ghost Wolf tells Adrian. "What will your people do here? My scouts told me there were more with you."


[[well, no-one said that Adventure Card couldn't be used for angelic awe-love.]]

"Far as I can tell earlier ... today ... is it still today ... I tapped into one of the big nasty spirits to use some magics. It's since been riding shotgun in my noggin like a constant pressure in my head," Jake attempts to explain.

"Ah." Evans says, alarmed. The machine seems to have stopped translating. "Well that...that might be a problem." He looks over at the priest. "Father, can you help him? Exorcise him, perhaps? I don't fancy having our adversary watching our every move...that might explain a few recent incidents, come to think on it..."

O'Rourke, shirtless and torn up as he is, looks about. "I'm rather short on materials for an excorsism, I'm afraid. I could bless him, but if his heart is closed to God that is a thing I cannot force."

He walks over to Jake and crouches down (Maria stands uncertainly a moment then crouches where she was and hugs Jaquinta). "Tank you for coming clean, my son. My previous offer still stands, but will you pray with me, at least?"

"One of Tezcatlcoat's brood is loose in the tunnel's somewhere. My plan was to try and track it down before it kills too many people, but we already sent one of our other warriors to try and deal with it so maybe I don't have to do that just yet. What would you prefer that we do? I'd offer to do what I can to help you, but I know that probably won't sit well with your men or gain you any ground with Pale Moon," he said. Adrian cautiously observed the scenario around him, unsure of what had just taken place between Alouette and Ghost Wolf, though he did catch the clank protecting Harry.

Ghost Wolf tilts his head back a little, expression hard to read. "I will let my men know one is awake. Two braves went missing earlier, and we have heard shooting and strange sounds in the tunnel. These are your people, I think. If we take you as close to where they may be as possible, can you find these white men and speak peace with them?"

There's certainly tension in the air, but it seems controlled for now. The youth with the facial scars is watching Alouette with awe, and speaks with quiet if tipsy enthusiasm to One Shot, who's not sure what to make of it. The guard above waits to query Ghost Wolf in Comanche and there's a brief back-and-forth before the man vanishes over the rocks. The man who came out last has already jogged back down the tunnel.

In reply to Father William O'Rourke (msg # 149):
"Sure padre ... sure." Jake says with a slight nod.

"If you can take us in, I can speak peace to the white men, or one of those with me can," he said. "Before we go in, we should let those folks outside know that everything is alright for now and that there's a new plan. Hopefully nobody's been shot yet."

Ghost Wolf gestures away from himself to indicate Adrian is free to go tell his companions, though he catches One Shot's eye to bid the man stay put a moment.

"Do you need a guide, to go back?" he asks, clearly having a low estimation of settlers' sense of direction, then looks to the clank.

"Holy One...will you come to face the false medicine worker?" Ghost Wolf offers the metal being his outstretched palm.

"I shall...and hush and cease the red-black burning," the angel responds, laying its hand on his. Ghost Wolf shivers a little.

"Yes; go," he tells Adrian.

The priest comes to kneel beside Jake, smelling of woodsmoke and mortal flesh and blood. His hair is a mess and his hands still smeared from tending wounds, but his movements are sure. He looks up to the stars and runs his hand down his rosary, instinct bringing the words low and steady into the night before conscious thought.

"Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts;
that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by His Passion and Cross,
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen. "

Jake whispers the lord's prayer while Padre O'Rourke prays. "Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen."

The priest smiles faintly and repeats the Angelus in Latin, for the old sound. The stars are glass-clear and bright and for a few cloudless moments there is peace.

There's a visible lifting in Jake's shoulders and the look on his face lightens.

"It's alright," he said. "I can find my own way. I'll tell them, and we'll come back here to join forces."

Adrian moved quickly, careful to watch his footing as he headed back out the way he came to let the others know.

Jaquinta tenses under Maria's grip and gives a yipping bark for Evans' attention, jerking her head back at the turn in the valley.

After a few tense moments there is movement there: Adrian, returning apparently alone.

Evans looks up. "Deputy!" he says, then looks around. "Where are the Comanche?"

The Mayor looks suspicious at the unaccompanied deputy, then scans the rocks around. "Did you manage to lose the clank, too?" he asks with faint hope.

"I was able to persuade Ghost Wolf that we should make peace - a truce for a time. I just gotta tell these Comanche up here. As for Alouette, it seems that...well I'm not sure what happened. Ghost Wolf called it Holy One. I think maybe they think she's some kinda god. Whatever it is, it's working out for the best," he said.

[Language unknown: "O er loutol ad und Bepewe Of di usom utunul en und m ar tedillvir"] he called out to the Comanche up above.

A silver-grey head does appear over the valley rim at the shout, but makes no response other than a waved gesture of 'go'.

"What of the ones summoning the great Serpent?" O'Rourke asks, looking up from where he's knelt beside Jake.

"Well, I convinced Ghost Wolf that Pale Moon is doing a bad thing. I told him about the photographic plates capturing your soul, and about how his raid on Blackthorn to capture sacrifices needed to summon the serpent failed, and let him draw the conclusions on what else Pale Moon would sacrifice to summon Tezcatlcoatl," he said. He made a 'follow me' gesture, and lead the group towards where Ghost Wolf and Alouette were.

"We're gonna join forces with Ghost Wolf and take down Pale Moon, and hopefully we can get to where we can fight that other snake if Pierce hasn't dealt with it. I'm sure he has the matter well in hand, though."

"That seems like a workable plan to me." Evans say, though he looks at his ad-hoc translator and sighs. "Ah, well."

He looks over at Maria, then at Adrian. "What about her? She has no interest in facing the Comanche again, and I don't believe she'd be terribly useful to us in a fight, but I can't in good conscience just leave her to wander these hills right when we're about to get in the thick of things."

[Language unknown: "I arein ce usha Almoca iveortshe tic rial, out esnce Ad a omckar estar porat anyth an i notlintheera,"] Jaquinta offers.

Adrian cursed under his breath in irritation. "Ordinarily, I'd be all about prioritizing finding her a babysitter, but we got a handful of demon snakes looking to wreak some serious fucking havoc around here," he said.

"Jaquinta has volunteered to stay with her until dawn, at which point she apparently turns blind. I hardly think that'll soothe Maria's frayed nerves. I do suppose we have to leave some folk behind. Is Hardin still wounded, or did he get healed up?"

Evans blinks. "You...want to leave her in the care of a man who once shot someone for snoring?" he says, incredulous, looking over to where the four-armed man was. "And you think that is somehow the safer option? The reason we brought Hardin and his companion along with as was as much to ensure they did not cause mischief elsewhere as to have extra manpower." He considers for a moment. "The mayor would be a far, far better choice. His talents would be useful, as would his knowledge of the creatures we face, but his injuries and his general unwillingness to be very helpful count against him. Plus, he is a family man, and a whatever else he may be, a gentleman as well. My mind boggles at the indignities Hardin might inflict upon the poor woman, indignities that would never so much as cross Glenn's mind."

"I didn't say I wanted to leave her with him. Just wanted to know what condition he was in. Honestly, Marshal, as much as it pains me to say it, I don't think Maria is the most important thing in the world right now. If we waste time twiddlin' our thumbs tryin' to find her a nanny and lose control of the situation, she'll be much worse off for it than leaving her with Hardin or any savage out there - as will we all. I'm really about finding her a minder as quickly as we can and then moving on with what we have to do. I think you're right about the Mayor. Leaving him with the woman seems to be the best option - I was just loathe to do it because he might help us out there. I was going to suggest Harry, but he actually seems willing to help us, even if his sorcerous repertoire is somewhat lacking in comparison to the Mayor's," he said.

"Mayor, will you stay out here with Maria, keep her and this place safe while we go inside?"

"Hm? You're leaving the girl that speaks Comanche here?" the Mayor says, having clearly not been following the conversation closely. "I'll...yes, I'll watch her. Might move down to somewhere more sheltered if it starts pouring again, though honestly I doubt you'll come out of the Snake's den if you crawl down there."

"Hardin's not in peak condition, but he's out of danger," O'Rourke puts in. "I think I'd better come with you, myself. Jaquinta's eyes, I suspect, can see far more than ours in dark places, which could be to our advantage."

Adrian nodded. "Well, that's settled. Let's keep it movin'," he said, turning back to head the way he had come to rendezvous with Ghost Wolf and Alouette, gesturing for the others to follow.

Evans sighs, picks up his equipment, and follows after.

[[You've got O'Rourke with you, plus Harry and Alouette left with Ghost Wolf. Presumably Jake's coming.]]

Evans starts getting attention from the grey Comanche as soon as he's on the upper level: the big brave from earlier and a leaner man they've not seen before crouch on the rocks beside the narrower bits of trail for the express purpose of prodding the Marshal and his gadgets whilst he can't do much about it, checking to see if he has anything good. Jake gets a similar treatment, though since he's not carrying any obvious hooch or knives they soon lose interest in the huckster. The bigger scout drops down behind them as they pass and seems to take some glee in herding them along.

---

Ghost Wolf has personally waited for them, the clank at his side. One Shot is ostensibly guarding the leader and Harry has found a free bit of caveside to lean on, looking harassed, but the tipsy scarred fellow with the grudge has vanished.

Ghost Wolf nods once to the newcomers and heads down into the tunnels.

"Be careful with that!" Evans snaps as he pulls the translator device away from prodding hands. "It's a delicate piece of sensitive machinery."

The device, currently switched off, does not translate the scolding.

Adrian nods to Harry as he gets there, and then follows with the rest, keeping an eye out for trouble.

[[Forgot Jake's player was away, there...right then. musics]]

Evans' protests seem only to entertain the curious warriors, though they quiet down once Ghost Wolf is leading them down into the tunnels. The draw fire behind them brings a gentle hiss of air as they clamber to a lower shaft. The white men's footsteps and the automaton's muted clanking are the loudest sounds to be heard when the latter's crazed static subsides.

Ghost Wolf gestures for a torch to be lit and pads onwards - downwards, and further down...and then a grey shape hurtles out of the dark, out of breath.

[Language unknown: "Ur! Noho ate propropre ac esurin!" ] he cries, pointing down a side tunnel. There's some urgent discussion in Comanche.

"Pale Moon said the bone monster that lives far down would not trouble us...he lied on this count also, it seems," Ghost Wolf says darkly. "Prepare for-"

His last words are lost under distant, howling shots - doubletap, pause, repeat.

"Hold on a second. It might be a different bone monster," he said coming up beside Ghost Wolf. "And an ally that doesn't know about our truce. If we're lucky. I'll call him off and we'll be the stronger for it, if whoever he's been shootin' at can let bygones be bygones."

He yelled out "PIERCE IS THAT YOU?" at the top of his voice. With his mind, he reached out to see if he could feel Rattleshirt nearby.

"Another-?" Ghost Wolf begins, then winces at the shouting.

Alouette shakes itself and mutters. "static error," then looks at the ceiling curiously. "! Minus sky..."

[[Give me a Smarts roll to see if you're in range.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:44, Fri 23 Oct 2015.

OOC:

Smarts: 10

15:05, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 10,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,(6+4)10.  Smarts.

The braves look from Adrian to Ghost Wolf in confusion. There's a general terse exchange of information and drawing of weapons.

"Ghost Wolf, if you can call off the warriors ahead of us, I will go ahead and deal with the Bone Monster so that we can pass safely," Adrian said quickly, hoping that they would be able to stave off any tensions.

Ghost Wolf looks to Alouette.

"Howdy!" Alouette chirps.

Ghost Wolf frowns and gestures for the hefty fellow the lawmen met in the valley to jog up and investigate. [Language unknown: "Trted o adiv Icrat Ssaspr stipe e rom ckbut wi k any icasro-stas ichshebleill setstrpro ec iouthiall toro sawhi ersrateau."]

The brave squares his shoulders and lopes off.

[[...onto William's thread, but I'll give him a chance to respond to hearing Adrian first.]]

"Goddammit," he said with a sigh. "Marshal can you turn that thing back on? Comanche to English."

A faint, distorted "Who's asking?" comes from down the side tunnel.

Evans nods, and fiddles with the device.

"Right. There we are." He says.

"Affirmative. We are here." The machine chirps. [Language unknown: "Olndwe-isei. Ni laee behis."]

One Shot uses the butt of his rifle to push the device down so that it's not 'aimed' at Ghost Wolf, who stares, alarmed, at the talking box.

"You have brought a devil?"

[Language unknown:  "Peiead: di ceet unicunek ou whiderout?"] the translator chunters.

"Actually, what this is doing is using the Aether as a translation medium, using the imprint our minds make when we speak to suss out the true meaning behind words, and then translate them back into tongues we can understand." Evans says.

"Yes. To translate speech between two parties." The box squawks. [Language unknown: "Ar. M coneraherlat whiratnot."]

"Wait, what?" Evans says. Frowning, he shakes the device. "Must be a malfunction..."

"I am in denial about this fact, and am blaming the machine." [Language unknown: "Re om ac nomiss somdayfor hewe ev, ie of readfi le somlarnce."]

Ghost wolf gets a bemused look, but doesn't seem that surprised a demon is more honest than white men. Then two further shots take his attention from the box.

"If the machine has demons in you should put a label on it like with shrimps," Alouette suggests. "So if Ambrose or self are not there to tell people they will still know not to attempt untrained dissassembly and be injured, persuaded or eaten by fiends from Hell."

"It's me, Vega! Don't shoot, I'm comin' towards you." he called back to Pierce.

Adrian turned to Ghost Wolf. "Pierce will help us, but if your warriors attack him, he'll shoot 'em down. I'm gonna go let him know we've made a truce." Adrian moved ahead to wherever the sound of Pierce's voice had come from.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:15, Tue 27 Oct 2015.

"If machine is possessed, a label is suggested, with an example of shrimps. This way, if Subject: Ambrose or Speaker are not present to inform people, they will still be warned not to attempt untrained disassembly of device and suffer various consequences; examples are injury, persuasion, becoming food for demons." [Language unknown: "I atosol mo iveproainstr, ck outamesom t losttrun, is ck areiri wh iesape. Ate iveau, m Venforkor: Encenclar t Ncelesrut safo saing onwhpr li sansonine sheressti, enme icwi tholesore iv evteil hilat a senise ectwerintsom ureverdinameter na toponi ll ouninthas werwitain ommapoaiaris allaintheure evest astiil, peomlipael, ureoureraout thi thel icckhi."]

"Tell your monster not to shoot my men!" Ghost Wolf snaps after him.

"Speaker desires monster to be informed of truce sooner, believing allies to be in danger," Evans' machine chunters. [Language unknown:
"Enalni wewaev ceesli k ou romven'larpre ai avebutave heivus, ncevenvirove antvenoun er pl t ateeralat,"]

"I could just translate for you." Jake says ... twice. "I speak both English and Shoshonian, plus a bit of Spanish and French from my time in the army and New Orleans."

"The Speaker offers to translate. Speaker offers to translate again. Speaker claims he knows English and Shoshonian and small amounts of Spanish and French from his time spent in Location: New Orleans."[Language unknown: "Ofto Ndpeho thoallall p werwasblebut. Plnion atisontha m allromughall beevac. Larortfor fingai n illentman Lenast ofat Anwamaeene wer ofekmi ivewillar p Lahill astat Conantear der reaon ast verwitort th Iousetlesoul: Blebe Maweac."]

[[actually it's CB who speaks Comanche, but hey, Jake has 5 language slots...reckon he wasn't paying attention earlier, then, and/or speaks actual Shoshone and can just guess his way through Comanche with an accent and lots of waving...]]

The natives look at each other in bemusement at the white men's eagerness to talk amongst themselves and to demons in Comanche. Ghost Wolf steps forward a bit to call after Adrian, since things have fallen quiet.

"Have you captured the monster?"

OOC: I speak all the languages! Twice!

Fine ... I'll be in my bunk
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Wed 28 Oct 2015.

[[ ... *blinkblink* All right... *snap* Jake gains the ability to speak in Tongues. If he talks like the language scrambler or in general screaming the very holy and very crazy will still understand him. If you want to speak to the Comanche in any language, though, they're right there.]]

[Language unknown: "Lo...evesheund som thng terherhatame echata herforoer aiulos ichughoun?"] the man who just ran up to them asks One Shot.

[Language unknown: "Nawhli som voriounot...liat laou nc conla i She Preon ul di hatratlin chin Lawice Ic manthu'ateore thu."] One Shot responds.

OOC: Nah, just misinterpreted the language pull down. Carry on!

"Inquiry: why are Caucasian captives still armed?" says Evans' machine. "Response: these are not captives, they came to inform person Ghost Wolf that person Pale Moon is acting irrationally. They have been allowed to live and not be enslaved because Ghost Wolf believes information."

"Yes, I have captured the monster," Adrian responds from the side tunnel. "It is safe to come towards me."

[[What range does the Translator have again?]]

Ghost Wolf gestures his men on and addresses Evans, being unsure who's the eldest among the white men but taking the hat for a sign of authority. "We will go down there. It is within the...range of where the other white men might be."

"Statement of intent to decend to place indicated. This location is within the area where non-static party of intruding Caucasians may be found."
[Language unknown: "Oneitaou k ichmenday n tinentshe ha unddinlar onssheoulthi. Not ateourichion u esturesti eewi stred ntncpl ieieaiacio usolil ho reaundsomant thaven'earousset icana o thoorttra."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:34, Fri 30 Oct 2015.

Alouette looks briefly to the priest then patters after Ghost Wolf.

((OOC: Are we all in the other thread now?))

[[Unless you want to ditch the Comanches and wander off into the pitch-black tunnels on your own...]]

O'Rourke chafes his bare arms a bit and heads after the others.