The construct looks up at Gus and keeps talking even as the enraged brigand tries to turn it into a brass pancake. "An unkin-" *tonk* "-who threatens mortal-" *tankcrik* "-life is a-" *clang* "-demon, Gus Shaw." *SMAK* "Primary command:" *clonk* "-protect."

This might almost be a warning, if the clank were more aggressive than a damp tissue.


[[OOC: unshaken, but no raise to do aught with.
initiative: 10 clubs]]

Charging Bear nod to Dr Ward, "You're quite right..." He looks to Augustus, "I'm sorry for my words earlier but please understand that I've seen things that men of science have tried to explain without truly explaining."

With that he turns back to Ward, "Dr Ward do you have a pistol I could use? While I don't usually carry fire arms as my bow works far more reliably, I find myself without my preferred weapon."

Augustus seems quite ready to continue his "debate" for a moment, but slowly his anger deflates.  Adjusting his shirt again, he clears his throat, "Of course, Dr. Ward.  I do apologize.  I simply was carried away in the moment.  Stress perhaps..."  Turning to Charging Bear, the scientist looks a bit sheepish, but nods his acceptance of the Indian's apology, "I beg your forgiveness in return, sir.  My conduct was uncalled for.  Perhaps I was rash in my deductions."  As Charging Bear mentions requiring a firearm, Augustus seems to light up a bit with an idea, "Mr. Bear, please in defense of Science and to help you see its benefits, I wonder if you would do me the honor of wielding this..." The scientist offers out his sonic cannon, "It is a Sonic Neurological Disruptor.  Non-lethal in every regard, yet totally effective at neutralizing the enemy."


OOC - Just as a note for CB, it does use Shooting as its operating skill.

Charging Bear looks to Augustus and nods, "Of course... I'm guessing the trumpet end is pointed towards the foe?" he says with a smile as he accepts the non-weapon weapon. Then taking a moment, Charging Bear cleans his tomahawks and puts them back into their homes.

As Charging Bear cleans off his tomahawks, Augustus gives him a quick rundown on his invention.  How to wind the mainspring appropriately.  The proper tone it should make when ready.  Hints on aiming the strange weapon.  Relatively simple and sturdy in its design really.  As opposed to many inventions of the New Science.  Satisfied that his weapon is in good hands, the scientist looks over to Dr. Ward, "This will allow me to make use of my other inventions to aid your endeavor.  How much time before we are to attempt this citizen's arrest?"

"Fuck you and your bullshit, clank!" Gus bellows. "Just shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

As he screams, He takes his pistol and fans the hammer down, punctuating each scream with a bullet.

The slugs slam into the machine, buffeting it around and ripping through internal mechanisms. The clank collapses, ghost rock steam leaking from holes in a high-pitched wail

[[OOC: Gus Shaw rolled 10,17,0,-3 using d8-4,d8-4,d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,(8+8+5)21,4. Fanning the hammer. Fuck. That's two raises and a miss. Ouch.

Fist bullet: Gus Shaw rolled 17 using 3d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4,(6+5)11. Damage. That's a Shaken and 2 wounds since Alouette got unshaken.

Second Bullet: Gus Shaw rolled 8 using 3d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3,3. Damage. Since Alouette is still Shaken, that's an additional 1 wound, which means Alouette is now incapacitated and needs to make a Vigor roll not to go all explody.

Next initiative: Gus 3H]]

---

Danny, in the middle of dressing himself, stares goggle-eyed at gus's sudden loss of temper. He turns tail and runs away, moving as fast as he can with his limp and his new pants halfway on.

[[OOC: Danny Boy rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6. Running! His pace is reduced to 3 because of the wounds against him.

Next round: Danny 8D]]

---

The jackalope watched the carnage. The metal thing fell. That was no good. It couldn't eat metal. however, the runny one, he was wounded. It wouldn't take much to finish him off.

The bunny with antlers burst from its hiding place, charging at the fleeing Danny Boy. It leaped into the air and attempted to gore the boy, but just as it leaped Danny's pants fell all the way down and he stumbled. He noticed a blur of brown whizzing past his head, then turned and looked to find himself staring into the eyes of a fuzzy brown rabbit with horns.

The rabbit let out an ear-piercing shriek of frustration.

[[OOC: the Stray rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1. Jackalope attack! Miss.

Next turn: Jackalope 10D]]

Dr. Ward leads Charging Bear and Augustus outside. He has his own derringer at the ready. The trio stride across the ground towards a bunkhouse. he pauses at the door. "How do you want to approach this, gentlemen?"

"As simple as possible. Have you gone in and asked Frost out in the past? ..." The plan is simple, bring Frost out and away from the bunkhouse, then render him unconscious as quickly as possible. From there the trio takes him into town.

OOC: Figured I'd give out the plan regardless of Ward's response.

Folk around may suffer from riquochets, shrapnel, noxious fumes and possibly the disfavour of God, but fortunately no explosions.

[[unless Nerves of Steel doesn't count for anything when incapacitated (I can see why it wouldn't, though I can also see why it would), in which case, not to put too fine a point on it, everyone's screwed.
Can anyone in/around the house hear this screaming and shooting, by the way?]]

Yet, anyway.

Gatsu couldn't help the machine as it got pummeled, she could still feel something following her around. Yet this started to freak Danny out and hte boy was trying to run, comically so in a waddling with her pants half way around ht knee.  And then, that's when she spotted a blur of brown and dust kicking up from the shadow of some sage thorns, she started to squint at the look of it when she heard a gunshot rapid and close.

Instinctually it mean her lash out! The flash of silver razor from slight curve of hte katana whipping out of the sheathe and catching the wrist that held that damn gun with those ghost rock bullets. She couldn't stand that wretched sound. Gritting her teeth, she should have done this sooner, and she had to admit it was a bit selfish of her not to care. Yet how could she, really? It wasn't a person, but itf it blew, it could blast them all to cinders.. And to say the least, to a woman not caring whether she lives or dies, there was only the drive, a primal determination to take her revenge. She would not die now because of a Redneck and a walking squwak box.

" Stop! What da hell's wrong wid you gettin bent out o yer mind o'er nuthin? You might as well be beatin a child.. You want sumptin to beat on, aim it to what's tailin us..." She could feel the pressure of her blood starting to spike up a bit, she looked after danny whom fell over and something swooped over his head. What..

"Wat da hell?" Was that a rabbit? " What's wrong with it.." Righting her sword to flip it over toward the blade and she started to move forward after Danny.


Rolled 23 to hit; called shot, non lethal
Rolled 15 for damage
Moves 5 paces toward Danny.
[Stray said nah, though I don't know how anyone can't hear that damn Ghost Rock.. They're a hundred o yards or so away in a big sturdy [sound proof] ol house.]

[[OOC: The Stray, on behalf of Gangatsu, drew the single card: AH using the Deadlands system. Initiative.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:58, Wed 06 Oct 2010.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #127):

Augustus begs a moment to retrieve a few things from his bags.  He jogs to catch up to the other two men outside, just in time to hear the "plan."  In his hand is a very strange trumpet.  From his shoulder hangs a case, from which run wires up to a brass contraption strapped over his right ear.  He gives a quick nod to the general idea, "Simple is sometimes best with these things.  Thanks to my inventions we should be able to manage it with no bloodshed whatsoever."  He pauses a moment, cocking his head to the side and dropping his voice, "No...not like the other time...  I said /no/ blood...  Oh be quiet."

Initiative for next round:

Gagatsu: Ace of hearts
Jackalope: 10 of Diamonds
Alouette: Incapacitated
Danny: 8 of Diamonds
Gus: 3 of Hearts.

It is currently Gangatsu's turn.

"I'm not confident that will work. Frost and I quarreled last night, and he is well aware of my intentions. I should have matched him back to the Marshal's care right then, but another distraction developed, which I'm sure you remember. Still..."

He backs up, and motions for Charging Bear and Augustus to take their positions.

"NATHANIAL FROST!" He shouts at the bunk house. "I AM CALLING YOU OUT TO FACE JUSTICE! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP, OR BE A COWARD AND FORCE US TO HUNT YOU DOWN!"

Charging Bear looks at Dr Ward as if the man had lost his mind as the entire bunk house would be upon them in moments. The native son aims Spotswood's Sonic Neurological Disruptor (trademark with patent pending of course) at the doorway to the bunk house.

OOC: Is this an area or single target weapon Augustus?

Ward catches Charging Bear's expression. "Trust me, sir. I know Frost. His arrogance will not allow him to ignore a direct challenge."

[[OOC: The Restrain power can do both, depending on the amount of Power Points spent to activate it, unless the trapping somehow prevents it (which I can't really see, as the trappings are directed sound waves)]]

Augustus' eyes go a little wide as the Doctor literally calles Mr. Frost out.  Looking around quickly, he sprints over to the nearest bit of cover he can find and crouches behind it.  He'd also have a look around for any nearby animals.  Like the men's horses perhaps.

OOC - Yep, just like the Bossman said.  It is basically the Entangle power from the rulebook vs. Smarts or Agility.  20 Power Points

Augustus takes cover while Charging Bear readies the strange scattergun. As it happens, there is a corral containing horses not far away.

---

Inside the bunkhouse, Carl is awakened by Dr. Ward calling out Nathanial Frost. There's a flurry of movement from the other Dust Adders as they blink awake, grab weapons, and look around in confusion.

It looks like there might be a fight. Just one problem. Nathanial isn't in the bunkhouse. He didn't return there last night.

[[OOC: You're up, Carl.]]

Carl threw on some pants whilst the others acted out an upset chickenhouse. He set his hat on his head, let his shotgun find his hand like a faithful dog and made one sure, slow sweep to check Nate wasn't anywhere about. He nodded to a half-awake Percy to leave the cook-door open 'round back, in case.

This done, Carl steps up to the door and opens it careful-like, leaving his shotgun leant up by the doorpost. He steps into the sunlight with hands raised, at least until his eyes adjust - if Ward's out there who knows but Gus might be with him, and Gus always did shoot several times before he'd allow maybe he shoulda asked questions.

...nope, just the Injun. First target if it comes to a fight. Carl leans against the doorpost, surrupticiously watching the Cherokee and one-side shrugs to Ward like 'he's not here'.

Ward frowns. "Not here? what do you mean he's not here?"

He points to Charging Bear, then indicates the man should check around back.

Charging Bear nods to the doctor and moves around the bunkhouse, about as quietly as his name sake.

OOC:
13:54, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,2 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. Stealth.

Carl looks back into the bunkhouse, whistles for attention, gives a slight headjerk at outside and makes a show of looking from man to man in case anyone wants to squeal anything they know. If there's silence, he'll turn back to Ward and give a more emphatically empty-handed shrug along the lines of 'nothing doing/they ain't seen him either'.

Augustus peeks his head out from behind the outhouse which has provided him with cover.  A brow is lifted at the seeming quiet standoff rather than the expected gunfight.  Perhaps there won't be a fight after all.  A relief really.  Coughing quietly into a handkerchief, he once again checks his device.  It would be a shame for the valves to stick if it does come to it....

Charging Bear creeps around noisily, and finds that the rear is just as quiet as the front. There is a cook door open in the back, but if anyone had run out it in the last few minutes, he'd still be able to see them.

Ward looks into the bunkhouse. "Well then. If no one is willing to step forth and speak up for conscience, then here is a different incentive. I want Nathanial Frost found and delivered alive to the marshal in Blackthorn. I guarantee a $200 bounty for his arrest and capture, or for information about his whereabouts. For those of you who were involved in last night's outrage, I will shield you from prosecution as best as I am able. No one has to pay for Nathanial's mistakes but him. However, if I discover that any of you are aiding and abetting him, and believe me when I say I will discover it, that person will have no more place here, and will need to seek employment elsewhere. Am I understood, gentlemen?"

A chorus of silence greets his words.

Ward steps out of the bunkhouse and goes over to Charging Bear. "Well, it seems we will find no help here. I have one more method that I can use to locate him, should the promise of a bounty not prove a sufficient motivator. Let us return to the house, and discuss what must be done from there."

He returns to the front of the bunkhouse and motions to Carl. "Mr. Allans, I know you were not involved in the fracas last night, and you have been a steadfast and worthy fellow. Would you kindly accompany us as we continue our search for Frost? Or do you choose to stay here, with the others? Where do you stand, Mr. Allans?"

Charging Bear takes a moment to look over Ward's ranch, trying to see the lay of the place and the number of buildings.

"He's probably still on property. I'd guess probably that barn as it is the easiest place to sneak in and out of and still provides a fairly warm place to sleep."

OOC: Trying to sort out the layout of the place
09:47, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Smarts.

Carl raises one eyebrow a little and gives Dr.Ward a long look, then jerks his head slightly at the interior of the bunkhouse.

"..."

He meets Ward's eye again and makes a movement as though for the grip of an imaginary gun. "?" He drops the gesture slowly and carefully tugs his hatbrim in respect, keeping eye contact but not moving from his post.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Fri 08 Oct 2010.