The boy nods. "Yes, ma'am. Ghost Rock. Black Gold. California Coffee. And I tell you, if I never see the stuff again till the day I die, it'll be too soon."

" There's somethin' foul about.." Gangatsu started as she found a lump in the pocket, her mind was on what the yankee was saying, remembering what her beloved had spoke of; a rot on the air liable to make the whole world ill.

" Never seen it again, eh? " She started, pulling out an ounce of the ghost rock from the pocket, she flashed it openly and was starting to wonder. For a boy that hated the stuff, guess he wanted a souvenior. " Pray to the white 'heavens' you are not uttering lies, it will be your only comfort if I find dat yer lying.. Do you know how dangerous d'is 'ere is, baka?! " She placed it into a little pouch of the jacket. " Burn it, my ass! I don't know about the rest of you, but I need to get to town and find out answers from the ones responsible."

Katy craned to get a better look, never having seen ghost rock before.

"It looks so innocuous. Like coal."

She'd read the tales from the Epitaph - how it stained the skin, how it wailed when burned, and how it burned hotter than any coal. Somehow, a small lump of coal was a bit of an anticlimax.

The boy grimaces as Gangatsu flashes the chuck of white-specked coal about. "Forgot about that piece. It were Billy's idea...take a piece o' the stuff, show to them we met who might believe us. We all had to take a chunk o' the stuff. I took the smallest bit he'd let me."

He raises his eyebrow at Katy. "Aye, it don't look like much. Put it to a flame, though, and ye get that horrible wailin'. And they say the fumes'll dive a man mad if he's cooped up with it too long. It's worth more than gold, but th' coolie's right, it's a fair bit more dangerous than it looks."

At the suggestion of pressing on to town, he says "You go on then, ye crazy chink! And good riddance! But the rest o' you should heed my advice, and turn away now while ye still can!"

"Poppycock," scoffs Augustus at the sickly man's story, especially the last bit explaining Ghost Rock, "Complete and total poppycock!  Ghost Rock is no more supernatural than any other mineral.  I also very seriously doubt the Devil himself kidnapped Yankees with magic to mine Ghost Rock in Texas.  Balderdash I say."  The swordswoman seems to have the right of it and the scientist offers his agreement, "Miss Gangatsu seems to have hit upon the vital point to reveal your untruth.  You hate it, yet you carry it with you.  Tsk, tsk.  You are the /worst/ outlaw I have ever met."  He pauses a moment, to consider, "Granted, I haven't met many...  But, most likely you and, perhaps, a few others attempted to rob another coach and ransacked a shipment of Ghost Rock.  Even more likely that you got into a fight with the other outlaws afterwards, which explains your solo status and your empty firearm."

Turning his full attention to Gangatsu, he offers, "As the town is where we were headed, I would be happy to assist you.  This is all simply too curious..."

"Believe what ye will...'tis your funeral. But I'll warn ye now, I will not be goin' back to that Hellpit with ye." He suddenly reaches out and grabs at Katy, quickly wrapping the girl in a vicious armlock. "Now, I don't care where ye go, just as long as I'm not goin' with ye. So we're going to all part company now, nice and easy, and then I won't be havin' to break this pretty girl's neck."


[[OOC: Danny Boy rolled 3,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Grabbing Katy. Katy has a Parry of 2, so he hits. Katy is entangled. She can attempt to break free with an opposed Strength or Agility check, or perform another action 9such as shooting Danny with her derringer) with a -4 penalty]]

A smile broke her lips.

She wasn't even insulted by the derogative term to her heritage, but at least someone was in link to her curiousities. This would make certain things a bit easier to get through. Such as bringing Danny back to town.

" My, my, my.. You just dun't get it, honky. I brought you back here for a reason...." She took off her hat and watched the man whom snared the young woman easily, gatsu's emerald gaze shifted to augustus for a moment and then back to the crook. Here's hoping Katy shoots him. " You want to try and run from me again? I doubt Augustos-san will save you this time, but if you hurt her, I think the gentlemen would blast ya good. So just stop, sit down, and this will go easier on ya... Hmm.. Then again, I don't need you alive, just this coat and rock... But if your insisting on it by resisting.." She laughed lightly, it was such an ominous little sound as she found some mirth in the desperate showdown.

"I think that if he tries to use that fancy gun o' his, he might hit us both, and from where I'm holdin' her the spasms alone would break her neck. I also think that ye may be a bitch, but even you won't want to harm two for the price o' one with that sword o' yours. It doesn't matter what either of us think, though...I'm not goin' back, and I will do anythin' I have to to make sure o' that."

He seemed to forget that she said if he hurt her in the intent that he had spoken of.  The baka figured that she wouldn't want to hurt two for the price of one and that was the most absurd thing she had heard and it was showing in those green eyes, they seemed to glow and her lips pulled back widely, madly as her head canted upward to the challenge. This man was a horrible judge of character, a heavy husk of a chuckle spilled out, her brow arching as she unblinkingly watched Danny Boy with a vicious sort of intensity.

Her tongue slipped by to wet her top lip and broguht her head down as the man finished the crap spewing. With a quick draw, the soft slink and flash of silver, before he knew it the tip of the blade was a narrow space away from him... " Try me.."



Intimidation roll: 16

Katy had been listening to the story; the sick man's grab for her took her by surprise.

"Ow! That hurts!" she squealed, and her eyes then widened as Gangatsu approached, sword drawn. Katy wriggled and twisted like crazy in his grasp, trying to work herself free.

[Private to GM: 11:10, Today: Katy Devon rolled 8,4 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,4. Resisted Agility check.
Result: 8]

The sudden appearance of the blade, coupled with Katy's movements, serve to loosen the boy's grip. Katy finds herself slipping easily out of the robber's hands. The boy just sits there, eyes bugging nearly out of his skull, staring at the blade bare inches from his face.

"Scoundrel!"

The scientist immediately re-wound his device as the boy grabbed his other stagecoach companion and began his monologue.  He had even just begun to level it, relying on his weapons purpose-designed non-lethality to solve this prickly situation.  But, the outlaw might not be far wrong about the spasms, "Damn!"

Of course, the swordswoman proved rather the more efficacious in securing the girls release.  Augustus moved up quickly to catch the newly released girl before she stumbled or fainted.  Women do that you know.  The bell of his disabling weapon remained trained on the Yankee cad.

The driver of the coach has not been idle. While the shenanigans inside the coach were going on, he fishes a shotgun from beneath his seat. While the boy's attention is diverted, he sneaks up from behind and delivers a vicious blow to the back of the Yankee's skull with the butt of the gun.

*CRACK!*

"One bad turn deserves another, varmint." he growls as the boy crumples to the floor of the carriage.

[[OOC: The Stray rolled 7 using 1d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Wilbur gets the drop on Danny Boy. Total of 9 damage. With Danny already Shaken from Gangatsu's Test of Wills, that's 2 wounds. Danny does not spend a chip to soak at this time]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:05, Wed 14 July 2010.

Katy whirled on her would-be captor, derringer drawn, only to find the stagecoach driver had taken matters in hand.

"Oh. Thanks."

Feeling slightly foolish with her gun drawn and no-one to point it at, she carefully re-engaged the safety and slipped it back into her pocket.

"Blackthorn sounds like an interesting place."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:52, Wed 14 July 2010.

The driver tips his hat. "Just doin' my duty, Ma'am. I'm awful sorry things got so out of hand in the first place." He frowns down at the groaning robber. "Hasslin' Womenfolk. That's just low-down, even fer a potato-eatin' Billy Yank. I'm of half a mind to blow his guts out an' leave him fer the vultures, but that wouldn't be Christian o' me to do. 'asides, once we get him to town I have the feelin' he'll get a reservation to dance the hemp fandango at a necktie party anyhow."

He looks at Augustus. "Keep that there thing handy while I get some rope, sir." he says, nodding at the modified gun. he looks at Gangatsu for a moment, opens his mouth as if he's about to make some comment, then apparently thinks better of it. Instead, he sighs. "Ain't normally this excitin' in Blackthorn, lemme tell you. I've been doin' this route for nigh on to two years now, and usually I'm drivin' folks out o' town, not into it. Must be the weather."

The scientist is somewhat surprised at the young lady's resilience and armament.  He is further surprised by the sudden head-bashing delivered to the man.  Though he cannot fault the Driver for returning the favor.  At the Driver's direction, he levels his clockwork contraption at the fallen man to keep him "covered" as they say in the dime novels.

To Katy, he offers, "It does indeed sound an interesting place, miss...."

To the Driver, he offers, "Though I am glad to hear this is not normal for the town."

To the Swordswoman, with her drawn blade and grim demeanor, he decides it best to say nothing at the moment.  No need to draw her attention overmuch.  His free hand then covers his mouth for a wet hack of a cough.

The boy on the ground coughs. He makes no move to stand, but he does look up at Augustus. "...I wasn't really goin' to hurt her, you know...but I had no choice....*hack, cough*...what would you be doin', in my place?...and for what it's worth, I haven't lied to ye...I'm beggin' ye, turn this thing around...I'll go quiet, I swear, but for God's sake, don't take me back to that place..." And he begins to weep a little.

Gatsu drew in her blade, sheathing it as the boy fell over from Wilbur's strike.  Her jaw shifted a little, looking up to the Driver whom started to politely instruct some people and in turning to her, He decided to leave the pettie asian woman alone for now. So did Augustus.

She knelt down and picked up her hat, placing it back upon her head as the Billy Yank, a new word to add to her vocabulary, began to plead.

" You desperation is filling yer boots with lead. Pray and be silent." Gangatsu murmured, she turned ehr back and followed Wilbur to get rope. However she kept her disagreements to herself, she needed this boy to meet her comrade, see if anything matches up in town. When they get hte rope, Gatsu helps to tie up Danny boy, making sure the slipp knot around his wrists hold firm to his thin stick arms.  " I would considering gagging him as well."

"I can safely say, that in your place," begins Augustus, "that I would not attempt, to rob a stagecoach with an empty gun.  Nor would I endanger an innocent young woman by using her as a shield."  Adjusting his trumpet gun slightly, but still keeping it leveled on the Yankee, he continued, "These things I would never do, suh.  And these things prove to me you are just an outlaw."

Augustus continues to keep him covered while he is tied up, nodding to the idea of gagging him, "I grow tired of the coward's mouth."  Once certain the man is secured this time, he unwinds the mainspring of his device again.  Turning to the Driver, he inquires, "Certain you will be able to drive us in, alright?  I'd be willing to ride...oh how do you say it out heah...  Shotgun, is it?"

Wilbur uses his kerchief to gag the boy, who glares sullenly at them. Then he limps on over back to the driver's seat. He painfully pulls himself into the seat, then nods at Augustus.

"Well, if yer offerin', I'd be much obliged. Blackthorn's only a few more miles...shouldn't take us more than 20 minutes. But if you're right, and he weren't alone but had an argument with friends, I'd certainly feel much better havin' someone by my side." He spares a glance towards the modified scattergun. "What is that thing, anyhow? It's the darnest gun I ever did see."

"I can't wait to get there!"

Her previous anxieties forgotten, Katy felt excited about getting to Blackthorn. She climbed on board the stagecoach, and sat next to the window.

At the mention of his device directly, Augustus beams with no small amount of pride.  He holds it out a bit, turning it slightly for those who wish to get a good look.  He offers, by way of explanation, "It is a Sonic-based Neurological Interrupter.  In the /very/ simplest of terms it uses a very specific harmonic tone to disrupt the conscious mind's control of the body.  Sends the target into a reflexive fit."  After the driver climbs aboard, the scientist follows awkwardly up to the shotgun seat, still rambling about his work, "Rather like a seizure really.  The difficult part was actually determining the exact tone harmony.  Let me tell you, there were some disastrous experiments."  Once settled into the seat, he confides quietly, trying not to offend the delicate ladies, "One tone actually caused the subject to lose control of their bowels...  No good at all.  Though it would be an effective deterrent..."

Gatsu gave a little sniff, her shoulders pressing back a little at danny was corkeda and the virgina man started to ramble on about his invention. Most of whichs she figured was a sort of musical inspired distortion,like hte man said, that effected the brain's sensory department. Hmm.. Katy seemed up and ready togo, the little lady seemed awfuly cheerful in heading to, what the asian woman was starting to conclude, a 'earth-bound hell'.

Augutus would ride up with the driver, and Gangatsu would sit in the back with Danny Boy to watch over him. Her wooden sandels clicked odd against the step up into hte  coach. She sat at the opposit window next to Katy, her eyes shifting from the window, occasionally tohte bound and gagged yank. She but up the butt of her sword and gave the roof three knocks to let the menfolk know they were boarded and ready.

"You done created a shit gun?" The driver looks at Augustus in disbelief, then breaks out into a hearty laugh. "Well, don't that beat all!"

And he continues laughs about the thought of a cannon to make people crap themselves all the way into town.

Please resume posting in the "Chapter 3: An Afternoon in Blackthorn" thread.