OOC: Alrighty. Evans was most interested in figuring out where the trio of Union Soldiers came from and if there were any more out there. He wasn't very sure on where to begin, though. The corpse that went out ranting didn't have any identification on its uniform, but the other ones might (dog tags haven't been adopted by the militaries of either side yet, but soldiers frequently use pinned paper notes with their names and addresses on them inside their jackets). He suggested that the other two corpses might be places to start (as far as he's aware, they're both still out there).

He also suggested trying to find the local rumor mill, Gabriel Clarke, also known as Gabby, and asking him if he's heard or seen anything about Yankees (he's unaware that you've already met him once). Gabby can usually be found out panning for gold at the creek south of town, and tends to be responsive to strong drink or a few dollars.

[[weighin' in: someone'll likely have mentioned Gabe's apparent ignorance of any other bluecoats hereabouts - it's the sort of thing you mention when you hear one's being buried post-possession...might be better to start investigations with those who frequently go in and out of town, passing the outskirts, or who would know of folk coming in as soon as they did: stablehands, the mailman, washerwomen, any cattlehands that aren't Dust Adders etc. It'd be smart to investigate in pairs in case of zombie attack - someone should definitely go with CB if he's set to investigate any areas where people'll see his skin colour before his jacket.]]

The clank will look for the priest it said it would protect, semi-aware of the Marshall handing out tasks whilst it searches the saloon, still plastered with mud. Upon the idea of "bath" being explained to it in response to a remark, it first imitates Roland's cross-armed annoyance, then removes itself from the percieved threat area into the street, still exclaiming "no bath! no bath!"

Being as yet hopelessly bad at priorities, the automaton will attempt to hail passers-by (explaining, of course, that it's an angel) until it can ask the way to the nearest (hopefully priest-containing) church, but is liable to trundle off down alleyways, drift into any public places and/or open shop doorways, or get distracted by previously unencountered mortal behaviour. It will attempt to inform anyone it hasn't seen before that there is a zombie warning out and "in case of emergency, contact angel, priest, or marshall, do not attempt to engage demon in combat or conversation".

Any loose papers encountered along the way, including badly-posted bills and wanted posters are liable to be eaten. If anyone objects to this, it will freely offer to redraw anything it's stuffed into its chest with little chopping noises and produce a perfect replica.

Providing it hasn't been lynched, stolen, drawn into a game of hopscotch, obliviously co-opted into forging $10 notes etc. etc. and eventually gets there, it will thoroughly explore the church.

The angel automaton gets a great many strange looks as it wanders the town, but no one tries to hinder it. It eventually gets serviceable directions to the church, a small affair that consists mostly of a white-washed box of a building with a bell chapel.

Inside, the place is a mess. Most of the pews have been shoved haphazardly against the wall to clear a space, and though it shows signs of being used (possibly as a public meeting place) the building hasn't been cleaned recently, so trash and dust lurk around the edges. One of the windows has been boarded up. About the only thing not showing neglect is the pulpit, which is because Father O'Rourke is kneeling next to it, scrubbing furiously, a tub of soapy water near his knees.

He looks up at Alouette as it enters, and sighs. "Well. I seem to have my work cut out for me, don't I?" he says, gesturing to the neglected building.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:23, Sat 03 July 2010.

Alouette isn't quite sure what this means, but an affirmative seems wanted.
"Yes."

It walks out into the middle of the floor, shaking itself off like a dog to get rid of some of the drying mud, and brings the priest up to speed on corpses buried and what everyone's doing (if no-one's followed it to speak for themselves, 'course) as it pokes around. The empty area seems to interest it a lot: it goes on hands and toes around the edge and taps the point of its head on the floor to the right of the altar, seeming to listen a moment before straightening up and going to the wall over on the left, where it will start clearing debris double-handful by double-handful of its own accord.

[Private to GM: It needs to be taught sweeping...should I (have) cast Detect Arcana on the floor? (Yes, I've forgotten how) It seems to be reacting to something, but it may just be crazy. Also, what if any papers did it get on the way here?]

The Father sighs at the automaton's reply. "Thought as much."

He grimaces a little as Alouette tracks mud across the church floor. "You look like you could use some work done, too. Would you like me to give you a bath and a polish?"

He watches Alouette's movements, a little puzzled by the interest the automaton shows in certain areas of the largely empty building.

[Private to Alouette: If you want Alouette to search for mystical stuff, you'd roll your Mad Science die (d6) and your Wild Die (d6) and take the higher result, and spend 2 power points.

If searching for mundane stuff, roll your Notice die and the Wild Die and take the higher result. Since Alouette doesn't have Notice trained, you'd have to default, which means rolling a d4-2 (and a -2 penalty on the Wild Die).

Since it seems to assimilate knowledge by eating it, I want you to roll me an Investigation check (Roll your Investigation + Wild die, use the higher result). From that, I can deduce if it wound up eating any useful clues along the way, and from there give you a list of what it might have come across aside from, as you mentioned, "badly posted bills and wanted posters."]

OOC: Still waiting to hear what John Smith and Charging Bear are up to, but in the hours since the last thread, a runner found Robert Micklethwait with the replies to the telegraphs he sent.

Reply 1:

From Sheriff John Bewick Victoria Texas stop To Robert Micklethwait Blackthorn Texas stop confirm Judge Melvin Blume left Victoria stop Will investigate further stop

Reply 2:

From John Smith Houston Texas stop To Robert Micklethwait Blackthorn Texas stop received and understood stop will send experts to advise stop [Private to Robert Micklethwait: translation: I'm sending in some Agents to take over]

Charging Bear will tell Evan's that he'll see about talking with Gabby. He's not sure about trio of Yankees anymore than the rest of the folks around this town but he wants to know what happening.

If given the okay, Charging Bear will start with talking to Roland Frost about Gabby's where abouts.

The automaton sidles away like a dog that's heard the word 'vet', lacking fear or wariness as yet but aware that removing itself from the area worked last time.

"...no bath."

[Private to GM: 9 for Investigation, 1 for Noticing - heh - and 4 for Detecting Arcana...should I modify the sheet thingy? It went up again, I was on 18 from the night before, I swear...also, if it has eaten Wanted posters, let me know if any bandits wander past - it'll greet them like anyone else it recognises]

"Gabby? The drunk?" says Roland thoughtfully. "Hmm. Well, this time of day he is usually out near the creek south of town, panning for silver a ways from the old mine." He draws a quick map on a napkin and hands it to Charging Bear. "You might wish to be cautious approaching him, as he's a bit paranoid these days. The poor man was the one who discovered the mine, but the Wendell people forged a claim and registered it before he could. Gabby is still quite bitter about that, and is looking to make his next big break in secret. He's friendly enough while he's in town, though. He tends to come here in the evenings, usually with enough silver dust to cover a meal, though I've let him scrape by on credit a few times."

"Very well. How about a simple wash, then? You have beautiful scroll work...it's a shame to have it all covered up by muck."

[Private to Alouette: You aren't going mad...I edited it back to 20, since you've had time to regain the points you spent last night. Go ahead and edit it back if you like, or you can wait until you've determined how long you're going to maintain the power (it's free for three rounds, then costs 1 point per round after that).

While detecting arcana, there's a faint trace, like a lingering footprint, of something supernatural about the area. It's a dark magic, but it's month's old, perhaps from the time of the old preacher's disappearance.

Nice investigation. Ok, so Alouette has digested: A few handbills for "The Vanderholt Troupe," a burlesque show starring "The lovely Marina Vanderholt!" and various other vaudeville acts; a poster asking for help finding "mi tine kitte Dandilon"; a signs from a bar reading "No dogs, niggers, or Irish served"; Some wanted posters featuring Nathanial Frost and Gus Shaw, as well as one for "the damn dirty cuckold who needs to die in a fire for touching my Daisy May" (with no other picture or description); various ads for shops around town.]

The automaton considers this. "No bath?"

Beginning to deduce a connection between amount of mud on its person and number of threats to make it bathe, it pads/clicks its way over, circling that bit of floor that fascinates it once more before settling and offering an arm.
"Something watched," it says ominously, then: "Where are kittens found?"

Knocking away most of the mud and scrubbing off dried smears with a brush works best - won't take much brush/polishing after that to bring the brass up to a warm golden shine, a lot of the surface patina coming off with the dirt.

[Private to GM: 100 posts! I don't think there's anything else within these walls that needs detecting arcanely, it was just going nuts over that bit of floor...what're Nate and Gus wanted for?]

The Father begins cleaning. "Aye, no bath. Come to think of if submerging a steam-powered creature isn't a bright idea. Though coal can be dried off and relit, I wouldn't imagine the experience would be a pleasant one."

He looks a bit confused at the kitten question. "Usually with it's mother, I expect, or in the arms of little girls. Why do you ask?" he pauses. "And what do you mean by 'something watched?'"

[Private to Alouette: Yes, they pile up quick, don't they?

According to the posters, Nathanial and Gus (and Gus's brother, Tex) are wanted for "Armed robbery, cattle rustling, and harassment of decent folk."]

Charging Bear looks over the map trying to make sure he won't get too lost trying to find the town drunk. "Thanks Roland." he says to the barkeep with a nod, as he goes to see Evan's before heading out.

The marshal is finishing his lunch as Charging Bear comes up. "Ah! my fine native friend! How have your inquiries been going?"

Charging Bear nods to Evans, "Haven't started yet Marshal... just bout to go see about talking to that Gabby fellow you mentioned. Roland said he was usually out near the creek south of town around this time of day. Figured I'd start there and see if I could find 'em."

Evans nods, and pulls a flask. "Here. Give him this as a peace offering. I understand he might be a little touchy while working." Evans doesn't seem to note the irony of him handing liquor over to an Indian...

Robert looks up from his telegram, folding them and tucking them away.  "Mr. ... Bear, do you mind of I tag along.  If this Gabby person seems disinclined to talk, wahl, I kin be a mite persuasive."

Alouette clarifies its feelings on baths. "Do not want, Shepherd."

"In...arms...held? Embrace cats? Why embrace cats?" Of the reason, with great earnestness: "Dandelion is missing from home of Sal Robertson, 8 years old - lost priest goes to church, lost angel goes to people...but self does not know where lost kittens go. Where is mother of Dandelion?"
Of the Watcher In The Corner: "Wickedness happened." It points at the entirely unremarkable bit of floor it was recently obsessing over. "Something watched."

It cranes to look in the priest's bucket. "Is holy water?"

"I suppose not. Very well, I shall mention it no more." He says, lowering his brush. "I think that should be clean enough, at any rate. If I shine you any more you might blind people walking outside."

"Well...er...what do you know of the concept of pets?" He blinks a bit at the recitation of information. "That...is quite specific. You pick up the darndest bits of information, don't you?" he considers for a moment. "Well, if one is looking for a lost kitten, one might find it by searching under porches or in trees. Although it could have been eaten...there are a lot of coyotes out in the plains, and pets can make tempting prey if a coyote is willing to brave a human settlement. As for it's mother...you'd probably have to ask Sal Robertson, or Sal's mother."

He frowns as he listens. "That strikes me as quite odd. And a bit alarming. We've already seen the dead walk. I wonder what else this town is hiding."

He sighs, and looks at his bucket. "No, this is just well water I pumped. It's sanctified by nothing more than hard work and dirt."

With a smile, Charging Bear opens and jiggles the flask to check the contents before closing it and saying, "I'm sure he'll take kindly to it." The native son looks to Mr. Micklethwait as he suggests 'tagging along' and nods, "But of course... it is always best to travel in groups when going into the unknown." With that he heads towards the door.

((In the interests of speeding things along...))

Charging Bear and Robert Micklethwait travel through the town and down towards the creek. It takes about three-quarters of an hour to locate the prospector's camp along the creek. The first thing you notice is the mule, who looks...somewhat high strung.

There's an odd smell about, too, as if something is rotting nearby...

[[OOC: Make Notice rolls for me, please.]]

The automaton looks down at itself. "Shiny."

"Do not know, Shepherd..." It tilts its head. "Yes?" It clearly hasn't quite got the hang of determining rhetorical questions yet. "Also, what is burlehskew dancing?"

The thing ticks, taking in the information on where to find kittens. "Probability of witches, mortal consumption of ghost rock...and despair," it theorises. "Preaching required."
It looks about and rises to start getting the benches in order.

He nods, but makes no further comment on the shine.

O'Rourke sighs. "I thought as much. A pet is an animal kept by a person for companionship...I'm not sure if I can explain the relationship adequately." He blinks. "I think you mean 'burl-esk'. It's a fiddly word, true. As for what it is...it's a show where women tempt men to sinful thoughts through flashes of immodesty. And there are occasionally skits and plays of a ribald nature."

"I certainly agree with you. I just hope I'm up to the task." He says as he helps the construct move furniture about.

Charging Bear slips off his horse, patting the older animal as he ties her to a tree. His horse catches the scent first, which causes the beast to nay and try to move back. The native son's hand shifts to the tomahawk at his side as the smells is processed by his brain. "Robert... you smell that?"

OOC: 10:43, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,3 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Notice.

Robert dismounts, muttering, "Ah know this is the west, but bathing is still a good idea."  Then the wind shifts, and he realizes that it's more than just unwashed westerner he smells, and he nods at CB's question.  Shifting his cane to his left hand, he draws his pistol.  "Smells like something died."

09:14, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Notice.