She was quiet for a moment. It didn't sound right to her.. She looked around for a moment.. it seems the dark man in her head didn't have anything to add at all and it made her frown. Perhaps there was a method to madness afterall.

" Wouldn't make any more sense if it was a witch doctor... Just.. Dun't make sense.. " She looked to the clank. " Ya might say he ain't a witch, but sceince is close to dark magic as I ever fukin seen. You can't tell me that clank is just made out of steam, scrap, and bolts cause some smart ass in a white coat stuck it together. It eats ghostrock for damn sakes, ya know how explosive that shit is? Angel my ass." She growled, taking off her coolie for a moment to an herself. It was starting to get warm out here. danny's story and the truth behind it was less important. Somewhere out here was someone responisble for this bullshit and it didn't matter to her whom had to die, not even herself, as long as it stopped.

" If I dun't come back ta da ranch by sun down, tell Doc I got mehself killed.. Other then that. You gunna take da clank back down there wit'cha?"

Charging Bear looks up the wall of the gully and starts to move up but doesn't get overly far... seems he isn't much of a climber.

OOC: Fail!
08:33, Today: Charging Bear rolled -1,2 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Climbing.
08:34, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,0 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Climbing (White Chip).
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Tue 12 Oct 2010.

As Carl rides off, Dr. Ward pulls out his small, silver charm. He begins muttering something under his breath that Augustus can't quite make out. It sounds Latin...perhaps a prayer of some kind?

Meanwhile the bird flutters off and starts pecking at the insects uncovered by the Dust Adder kicking over the rock. It chirps happily.

---

Carl nears the campsite, and something strikes him as odd. There is indeed a figure in the bed roll, but it isn't moving. At all. It's not even seeming to breathe..in fact, the closer he gets, the more it looks like someone wrapped up a bunch of blankets and shoved them under another blanket...Oh crap...

---

Nathanial grinned from his hiding spot on the opposite ridge of the gully. He had a perfectly clear shot at Ward now. He aimed carefully...squeezed the trigger...

---

*BANG!*

The shot hit Ward high, and he slid off his horse to the ground.

The ambush had begun.

[[OOC: We are now in Combat Rounds! Carl, since you're controlling the dust Adders, you give them commands and I'll post their actions. Refer to the new map I'm posting as soon as I'm done with this post.

Nathanial spends a few actions casting magical protection, as well as dropping a Blue Chip from the GM pool to make himself especially hard to hit. He has cover on top of the ridge from being prone, and was hiding, which was why the bird didn't spot him.

He takes a shot at Ward with The Drop, but he has a penalty to hit because of Ward's action and his curse (not range, though...he's using a Spencer Carbine, which has a shot range of 24).

Nathaniel Frost rolled 8,6 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Shooting with The Drop. Still enough to hit with a raise.

Today: Secret Roll: Nathaniel Frost rolled 11,1 using 2d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4,1. damage. That's a total of 12, +6 for his Smite and The Drop, which is a grand total of 18 damage to Ward. That's a Shaken and 3 wounds.

Ward spends a White Chip from the GM pool to soak.

Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 2,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. soak attempt. That only soaks 1 wound.

He spends a red chip to try and increase this: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. red chip. Not enough for a raise. Ward takes 2 wounds, is knocked of his horse, and is Shaken.]]

---

Initiative:
Augustus Spotswood: QD
Dr. Ward: 10H
Charging Bear: 5D
Carl & The Dust Adders: 3H
Nathaniel Frost: 2H

Hearing the shot, Charging Bear knew he had no time to be quiet. He see Ward as the man get shot off his horse. The line of fire clear, the native son tires harder to get up the gully.

OOC: Updated based on map
13:51, 13:51, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,0 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Climbing.
Today: Charging Bear rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Blue Chip.
5 to climb the gully.

13:35, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Tue 12 Oct 2010.

The sudden gunfire comes as quite a surprise to Augustus, "Doctor!"  His dismount is ungainly but swift and the scientist stumbles over to the fallen man.  His thumb clicks down on the transmit button on his device, into which he yells, "There's someone shooting at us!  Can you distract him!?  Please!?"

OOC - Action to get down from horse, move to the Doctor and check him real quick with a 4, just to see if he's alive.  Sending the sparrow to "distract", however a sparrow may.

Next Initiative Draw - 3S
This message was last edited by the player at 12:31, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

Augustus rushes over to Ward and begins to check him over. Ward groans. "I believe...I've been shot." He says to Augustus. He's probably talking to keep himself from slipping into shock. "Medical bag...on the saddle. Field wound kit. Wound...is on the left shoulder. Can't tell...if the bullet passed through." he looks around. "Too exposed here...need to get under cover."

[[OOC: Augustus, what's your card for the next round?]]

Next up: Carl

"Yeah, I'll grant it's weird, but he's been taught in all them fancy schools Back East, and we ain't, so he knows more about his science than we do." Gus says philosophically.

At the question, Gus scoffed. "I ain't doing shit with that thing. Let it rust out here for all I care. Naw, I'm gonna do my job. I gotta see you to the edge o' the property, and that's what I'm gonna do. I can at least see you don't git yerself killed afore you reach them Comanches, though once yer past that yer on yer own."

It may be warm now, but a chill wind was bringing a dark stormhead in from the East. Thunder rumbled from the bruise-colored clouds baring down on them.

It was the birds, Carl realised as he rode into the gulley. The birds hadn’t been singing when they got here: someone had been moving around. He rode hard and low towards the false camp, expecting a shot to ring out and pinpoint Frost’s position wherever he was above...but not the one that came.

Mike’s rifle rang out from the mouth of the gully. That explained why he hadn’t brought it out today.

Carl wheeled his horse’s head about, almost at the too-wet fire with what-all Frost had set by it, cursing himself, Ward and Frost in equal measure. Nate had stolen Mike’s carbine. They’d been in range the whole time. Swearing inwardly, Carl motions to Jesse to ride around behind the tree and down around the bend of the gulley whilst Frost’s distracted; he should be able to get out and eventually around behind Nate without being seen.

Carl gestures to Tom and Percy to dismount and take cover if they haven’t already and rides back the way he came, jerking a hand at Frank to haul himself and his horse into the shrubbery. Mike is nowhere to be seen in that brief glimpse and is probably already in cover - Carl trusts him to look after himself.

The Dust Adder reins up beside Augustus' horse, taking a glance to see whether Ward’s alive then staring up at the gullyside scrub. He clears his throat, spotting the injun again and hoping like Hell he’ll keep his head down. How did this go again? Ah, yeah…

“How many of us you gon’ kill, Nate?”


[[init: 10D]]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

As the Dust Adders rear off and find cover, or go and take the long way around, Nathanial watches from his makeshift sniper nest. he heard someone scrambling up the sides of the gully near him, and trained his gun over there, waiting for the sonovabitch to show his head so Nate could blow it off. If only that damn bird would stop flapping about his head!

Carl called out to him. That was interesting. Nathanial hadn't heard Carl speak more than a handful of times. That deserved an answer, at least.

"No more than I gotta, Carl! No more than I gotta! You call the boys off, and ya'll will walk out of here alive! I just want another clean shot at Ward, a horse, and two-days head start!"

He cocks the level, chambering another round. "Oh! And a word of warning to whoever's coming up the side there! I see your noggin, I'ma gonna turn it into a meat salad, comprende?"

[[OOC: Nathanial Holds his action.

Charging Bear, you are right at the top of the gully. You could pull yourself over and charge, but then you'd have to beat Nathanial in an opposed Agility test to reach him before he shoots.]]

---

Next Round:

Nathanial: On hold
Charging Bear: JD
Carl & The Dust Adders: 10D
Ward: 6S
Augustus: 3S

Dropping stunner and moving with intent, Charging Bear's feet propel him up the gully wall and towards Nathaniel. While taking him alive would be preferable, the man had shown his intentions, and Charging Bear couldn't let him kill again. The native son's hand right hand brought forth his favored weapon by pure reflex and with it he crossed the distance in seconds. The tomahawk and Charging Bear's arm acted as one and with a vicious fury the blade arcs fro Nathanial's head. But it only manage to graze the hired gun's hat.

OOC:
13:39, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Agility.
13:39, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Blue Chip.
Agility check of 8

Modifiers for my fighting roll
 +2  Unarmed Defender
 +2  Wild Attack
 -4  Called Shot Head
+0 total

13:55, Today: Charging Bear rolled 4,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Fighting (+2 Unarm,+2WA,-4Head).
And a big fat miss... and I'm out of chips
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

Nathanial leaps to his feet as Charging Bear rushes him. Fortunately for the native son, he manages to get into the gunslinger's face before he can shoot. Nathanial is forced to block the Indian's tomahawk swings with the rifle instead of shooting it.

However, the wild swings leave Charging Bear wide open for retaliation, and Nathanial brings the butt of the carbine up into the Indian's jaw with a sickening *CRACK!* that leaves the Cherokee seeing stars. His balance on the ledge is precarious...the ground is crumbling...

[[OOC: Your modifiers were wrong. Nathanial is not an umarmed defender...he has the rifle, which counts as a club in melee. Also, he has Deflection active for an additional -4 penalty to hit.

Nathanial uses his Held action.

Nathaniel Frost rolled 2,2 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. attempt to interrupt!

Fail. CB gets his action first, then Nathanial goes.

Nathaniel Frost rolled 2,7 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+2)8. Rifle Whip! That hits.

Nathanial has Smite active on the Carbine, so he gets a +2 bonus to the damage.

Nathaniel Frost rolled 4,4 using d6,d4+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Damage. 8 damage. That makes Charging Bear Shaken.

Also, Charging Bear needs to make an Agility check to keep his balance or tumble down the ridge for a bunch of falling damage.]]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

Charging Bear's footing crumbles under him and the native son isn't quite quick enough to get to solid ground. He tumbles down the gully wall to the floor below.

OOC: Well it was worth a shot anyways... next character won't be Heroic
14:24, Today: Charging Bear rolled 2,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. Agility.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #181):

[[OOC: Charging Bear tumbles 4 squares to the gully's bottom, so that's 4d6 damage

The Stray rolled 16 using 4d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5,3,4. Rolling Down the gully! That's a Shaken and 2 wounds. since CB was already Shaken, that's 3 wounds total.

Now, because he's rolling down a hill, I'm counting these "wounds" as Bumbs and Bruises, which are levels of Fatigue, not Wounds, and aren't lethal.

You can roll vigor to soak these levels. If you manage to soak all 3, you'll no longer be Shaken. If you don't soak at least one, you'll be knocked out for an hour.

If CB is put out of action, do you want to take on the role of some of the Dust adders again?]]

OOC:
14:46, Today: Charging Bear rolled 4,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Soak Roll?.

and I soak 1!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #183):

[[OOC: Yup, it's a free soak because these are Bumps & Bruises, not actual "wounds" per se. That soaks one fatigue level, so you are currently Exhausted and Shaken at the end of your fall.]]

Charing Bear tumbles head over heels down the gully wall. He lands flat on his back on the gully floor, and the wind is knocked out of the native son. He lets out a low groan.

OOC: Forgot...
15:39, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: 2S using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

Carl draws his pistol and aims to take a shot at the deputy’s arm, hoping to get him out of the way, but the man is up and over the ledge like a panther. This annoyance merely adds fuel to the silent anger building in Carl’s chest. Shoot Ward, sure. Might as well shoot themselves, save time when the work was gone and they all had to turn hired gun or bank robber.

He gives a soft snort as the injun sails back the way he came and returns his gaze to the brush above without bothering to watch the impact. He gives Nate a little time to settle. When they finally arrive, Carl’s words are measured, slow.

“I ain’t draggin’ you to no damnyank marshall, Nate. Y’got two of ours kilt last night. I let you go, folks’ll talk. Talk ’bout a gang you can kill off any ol’ how without losin’ any sleep of nights. ‘Bout the chief who lit on out acause some tinhorn said ‘boo’ to him an’ skedaddled all the way to Mexico ‘count of the boys bein’ even yellower’n him.” Carl pauses, lets that sink in. How they‘d lose the town, how Nate’s reputation would fall from feared outlaw to small-time bully.

He glances down and to the side. Alive, then. Just. “…Ward’s out of it.” He clears his throat. “I got a proposition for you: quit hidin’ an’ git down here. One on one. Could be you’ll have trouble with Mike n’ Jess if I die, but not without my say-so. We'll have tried. No-one else‘ll touch you.”
Carl falls silent.

Nathanial watched Charging Bear tumble down the slope.

"That's for the leg, friend." he mutters.

Then he hears Carl call him out. He listens, and grins. A one-on-one duel? A chance to prove who was superior?

Hell yes.

"Alright, Carl! I'm comin' down. You got your one-on-one!"

He carefully took his time coming down the slope, stopping near the native son's fallen body. He didn't look down, just took a space in the middle of the field.

As he did, he mentally let his spell of protection lapse. Carl was a comrade. He would do this the right way. He casually rested the carbine on his shoulder and waited for Carl to do the same.

[[OOC: And thus a duel begins. Here's some mood music to set the stage.]]

Charging Bear did his best not to laugh, to be honest he didn't have the wind to so he managed quite well. He didn't know Carl from a hill of anything really, but the man had spunk. Slowly, the native son got to his feet causing dust to fall off him and his body to cry in protest. Taking a few steps, he retrieved his tomahawk and began to dust himself off. He would let the two dual, it didn't harm anything, but the out come didn't matter... Frost was going to see justice.

OOC: GREAT music by the bye.

Carl throws his pistol aside, dismounts and leads his roan a few steps out of danger before pacing back to face Frost, shotgun likewise slung at shoulder, face impassive. He tugs his hatbrim to his opponent and squares off, fighting the mad urge to whistle.

He meets Frost's gaze.

Time seems to hang hazy in the air as the two face off. Nate stalks about whilst Carl shifts now and then, boots stirring the dust. Each watches every twitch or move the other makes.

"You know this is a fool's errand, Carl." Nathanial says. "You've seen me shoot. I can Snip the wings off a Sparrow in mid flight. You have to use that scattergun to hit the broad side of a barn."

Carl doesn't reply. He just stares.

Nathanial swallows. "Just think about it, Carl. We team up, take out Ward and the Deputy, maybe hunt down the Marshal, not only do we have all of Ward's money, there won't be a soul in town who'd speak ill of us. We'd be the kings of our own little slice of heaven."

Carl just stares.

Nathanial is sweating now. "I'm giving you one last chance, Carl. You've seen the tricks I can do. I've done a deal, got myself a genuine Faustian pact like Gus done. Even if you shoot me down, I'll get back up again. I'll do what I gotta, but you can't kill me. I'm invincible!"

Carl. Just. Stares.




*CRACKOOM!*




Thunder rumbles as the storm moves in. Wind whips through the gully, playing with dusters.

It's Nathanial who breaks first. He whips his carbine into a firing position...

Carl is slightly quicker, however, and drops the shotgun off his shoulder with a shrug...




*KAPOW!*





Carl slumps slightly, red spreading across his shirt from the wound in his shoulder.

Nathanial, on the other hand, has collapsed. Buckshot has shredded his clothes, and a dozen holes in his flesh drip blood.

"no..." he gasps. "...this...can't...be..."

[[OOC: Carl and Nathanial duel.

Nathanial loses the Test of Wills to Carl.

Nathanial wins the card game, but only just.

Both shoot for speed.

Carl takes 8 damage and is Shaken.

Nathanial takes 15 damage, is Shaken, and takes 2 wounds.]]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

For a moment everything seems stopped, caught in the stormlight like gnats in amber. Then Carl leans his head back and takes a breath. Alive.

Pain stabs his shoulder. Jerked back into the rush of Time, Carl remembers what he came to do. Also the matter of Nate getting up again. Carl paces steadily over to his fallen opponent, tiny drops of crimson hitting the dust with each step, and pushes the shotgun gently against Nate's skull.

The gunman closes his eyes.

"Do it." he says. "You done earned it."

Carl does it.

Resume Posting on the Chapter 7.2 Thread.