In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #161):

The girl pouts, but backs away, leaving Wildcat alone to do her job.

[[OOC: So...what now? How do you plan to continue your investigation?]]

Wildcat shakes her head, not sure what's gotten into that one.

Well for starters, I'm going back to where I saw there'd been a clean up.  I want to figure out what they were cleaning up...

PM:
[Private to GM:
A perfect woman! Robert thinks to himself.  not afraid of danger, easy on the eyes, what a team we'd make... Robert makes a not to himself to see if he could recruit her.

Drawing his pistol, "Best let me go first, miss, unless you are very good, you can't be concealing a pistol anywhere..."
]

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #164):

[[OOC: Ok, then. Roll me Notice and/or Tracking. Remember that you can spend Chips to get past the penalty you're taking for the clean-up.]]

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #165):

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: The basement of the theater is dark and earthy. Boxes and crates of various sizes loom, while casks of not-quite-high-quality ale sit around waiting to be tapped.

The only light present is the lantern the woman (Robert never did get her name) is holding.

((OOC: Go ahead and roll a Notice check for me.))]

PM
[Private to GM: "Could you shine that over here, miss.. may I have your name, if you don't mind?" Robert asks


14:47, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 1,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. notice.

]

In reply to The Stray (msg #166):

17:08, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 2,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. tracking.

I assume that since most penalties are even, that doesn't hull it.  Sacrficed a red:

17:09, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. bonus die.

Total is now 7

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #169):

Looking deeper at the cleaned area, Wildcat finds that, at least in this area, there's nothing sinister apparent. There's a lingering smell of spilled whiskey in the wood. It looks like whatever happened, happened back in the wardrobe area, and this was just some day-to-day maintenance. If there's any more to be learned, it will have to come from pointed questions directed at the residents. Joy.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #168):

Some mood music.

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: "Marina. Marina Vanderholt, owner of the Traveling Vanderholt Troupe." She says as she brings the lantern closer. "And yours?"

Robert notices a faintly nasty smell, like meat that's gone bad, coming from a large crate near the far wall...]

In reply to The Stray (msg #170):

Wildcat makes her way back there, resolving to at least try to question whoever is there, but unexcited at the prospect.

As Wildcat crosses the room to question the girls, she sees Evans, still over by the back door, waving at her to get her attention.

In reply to Marina Vanderholt (msg #171):

PM
[Private to GM: Gripping his cane in his left hand, and his pistol in his right, he moves closer to the crate, answering Marina somewhat absentmindedly, "I'm Robert Micklethwait, attorney-at-law.  Excuse me, I might have found something."  Robert walks closer to the crate and pokes it with his cane.

OOC: I'll try to flip off the lid if it's loose.

]

PM

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: The lid of the crate slides off easily, revealing a human figure stretched out within, hands crossed over its chest. Dressed in a fine suit, the corpse's skin has been powdered and the cheeks marked with rouge, as if it had been prepared for a burial.

The scent of rot grow thicker in the room. There's a gasp of shock from Robert's companion. And Robert himself feels a thrill of recognition creeping up his spine...because the face of the corpse is that of His Honor Melvin Blume, circuit judge of Victoria and Jackson counties.

((OOC: Roll Guts for Fear/Nausea, please. Remember the -3 penalty for the Fear Level but +1 for your Grit))]

PM
[Private to GM:
Robert is no stranger to rotting corpses, he might not have seen much battle in the war, but he saw the aftermath more times than he cared to recall.

"you'd best stay back, miss.  He's dead, he can't hurt anybody, but it's not a sight for young lady."  Raising his voice, he calls out, "Evans!  Wildcat!  Got something t'see down here."

OOC: I almost put the above in public, but I figured the others might be a post or two behind, and they might need to roll notice to hear me.  Or Marina's going to try to eat me first.

13:35, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 9,-1 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,1. guts.
]

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #173):

Wildcat, intrigued, makes her way over to him.

"You're a might unpredictable here lately Marshal."

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #177):

"It's the weather that's unpredictable." Evans mutters, and points out the door. Though it's brighter outside compared to the lamp-lit interior of the theater, it has noticeably darkened. "Clouds are rolling in, covering up the sun. I have no idea if your 'vampires' are going to spontaneously ignite while the sun is behind a storm, and that's exactly what's coming over the horizon. We have to move fast."

Suddenly, there's a shout from the other end of the hall.

"Evans!  Wildcat!  Got something t'see down here."

Then, a few seconds later, there's a bloodcurdling scream...

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #176):

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: As Robert shouts, the corpse stirs. It opens its burning red eyes and glares at the attorney, then begins to speak.

"Why, how very rude of you, Mr. Micklethwait. Can't you see I'm trying to rest?"

Suddenly the room is plunged into pitch darkness as Marina blows the lantern out, and lets out a bloodcurdling shriek...

((OOC: Make me another Guts check, this time for horror. -3 from the fear level, -1 from the bizarre situation, + your grit))]

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #178):

Wildcat presents her Peacemaker and moves down the hall toward the scream without hesitation.

As Wildcat runs towards the screaming, so do the girls. Since they are closer a pair of them stop in front of the doorway, while a couple hop off the stage just as Wildcat rushes by.

[[OOC: I'm going to move things into combat rounds just to make things simple from here on out.]]

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: Robert, make a reaction post with the results of your Guts check. Don't post any actions yet.]

---

Initiative for the first round:
Marina Vanderholt:BJ!
Evans:AS
Wildcat Hawkins:AC
Dance Hall Girls:JD
Robert Micklethwait:7H
The Judge:5D

PM
[Private to GM:

Robert had seen things in the battle of Washington, and had heard stories of dead man still moving, but this is the first time he'd seen it.

Can I play a card when it's not my turn?

10:21, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 2,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. guts without mods.
5, +1 grit, -3 fear, -1 bizzare = 2

10:22, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. red.
4, whew, just made it

]

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #182):
[Private to Robert Micklethwait:

In the darkness, Marina's velvet voice slithers into Robert's ear. "Now, whatever happens, all you will remember is that I dropped the lantern, it went out, and then I screamed. Remember that I am above suspicion, sugar. And play nice, you two..."

Then she vanishes back up the stairs.

((OOC: I'm going to say no, you can't play cards when it's not your turn. She's planting a magic suggestion in Robert, muddling what he remembers later.))]

Out of the hall comes the raven-haired girl. She rushes up to Wildcat, babbling, "Oh god! it's horrible! It's some kind of dead thing walking! You have to stop it!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Tue 12 Oct 2010.

PM
[Private to GM:

OOC: so, do I roll spirit to resist her suggestion, or is that kind of built into the Charm effect?

]

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #184):

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: OOC: It's built into the charm effect. Unless she order you to attack friends or do something overtly suicidal, you don't get a roll to resist unless she stops maintaining the power.]

PM
[Private to GM:

OOC: gotcha.  My initial thought was that I'd blindly shoot the coffin and skeedadle, but does the "play nice you two" mean I can't do that?  Is it "overtly suicidal" to stay in the dark with the judge?

]

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #186):

[Private to Robert Micklethwait: Shooting blindly and skedaddling is perfectly fine...her last comment wasn't intended as a command.]