Early Afternoon, April 10th, 1879. Ward's ranch house.

[John Smith, Alouette, Augustus Spotswood]


John crouches underneath the awning of the porch, waiting for a reply. It's not a long wait.

The door opens a crack, and the weathered face of an old negro looks out at him.

"Hello." he says conversationally. "Welcome to the house of Dr. Dexter Ward. What is your business here in such dreadful weather?"

John tries his best to avoid letting his teeth chatter but fails as a sudden gust of wind blows by him chilling him to the bone. "'Ahm l-l-looking for Dr. Ward." he managed to get out. "and m-m-maybe some place warm to wait out this st-storm." he added. Hopefully the doctor was enough of a gentleman not to let someone die of pneumonia on his front step. Perhaps he could kill two birds with one stone and see what was going on with Charging Bear and Alouette, he kind of liked the tin can, odd though it may be, and given Ward seemed heavily connected with the goings ons around the town and its environs he even felt a bit of worry for the alleged angel.

The man nods. "Certainly. Please, step inside, sir."

He opens the door and ushers John into a lavishly appointed foyer. He pulls a chair for John. "Wait here, sir." He says, and heads down the hall.

Steps inside and finds himself feeling a little uncomfortable and out of place, soaking wet and none too clean from the rain and the mud he looks at the chair dubiously. If it's wooden he goes ahead and takes a seat otherwise he tries to find a place for his duster and his muddy boots.

The chair is, in fact, wooden, and John enjoys a few minutes off his feet when a well-dressed gentleman with his arm in a sling enters the foyer. He regards John and bows. "Greetings, sir." He says, his gentle Georgian accent lighting the room as much as the fire from the nearby parlor. "I am Dr. Ward. Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"John Smith, least as far as I know." John says offering his hand to the doctor now that it's had a chance to warm up his shivering has lessened some. "Pleasure sir. Come to see if'n I could ask you a few questions and the mebbe take have your hospitality till the storm clears up some. If'n it's not too inconvenient of course." he said trying to smooth out his English some to sound more 'proper', he's met with limited success.

Ward shakes John's hand with his good arm. "A pleasure, sir. Would you kindly remove your boots and overcoat and set them in the coat closet? I'll have Abraham fetch you a blanket, and we can move into the parlor, where I have a fire going."

John nodded "Sounds like a good idea if ever I did hear one." he said as he proceeds to do just that, pulling his boots off and trying to do the best he can to keep the mud off his hands. "Any chance I could trouble you for a towel as well sir, er, doctor?"

Ward nods.

With in a minute, the towel and blanket have arrived, and John has managed to get reasonably drier. He and Ward retire to the parlor, which has a cheery, roaring fire. John manages to spend a few minutes remembering what it feels like to be a normal person instead of a drowned rat.

"So, Mr. Smith, that I can do for you today?" Ward asks.

This message was deleted by the player at 15:45, Thu 04 Nov 2010.

John sighs as he enjoys the warmth of the fire. Given the recent bloodshed and the weather he takes a moment to enjoy feeling like a human being again. Of course he is snapped back to reality and his reason for coming here when Dr. Ward speaks inquires as to the nature of that itself. Despite his ragged appearance he sits up with his back straight in the chair, his posture a little odd, all things considered a man either unused to comfortable furniture or just plain used to keeping his back straight. "I come here, to the ass end of Nowhere, Texas to find m'self fightin' a dead yank that wont stay dead, getting caught in the streets when people come riding through shooting everythin' up and blowin' up buildins. All I came here fer was to see if anyone heard of a friend of mine. Chinese feller by the name of Zhang, Ah've been told he might've made his way through your lands in his wanderin' and you'd be the one to ask if he's been seen. There's another Chinese fella that's lookin' fer 'im as well, no one has the name right but seems to be an angrier chap." He finished, he'd rather ask one question at a time. "So I guess what I'm gettin' at is have you seen anyone like those two recently?"

"Yes, I can see how such excitement would be disconcerting. I hope that, with Nathanial Frost's death, the other hands will keep their rambunctiousness to a minimum while in town from now on." Ward considers Smith's question. "I have not personally met your friend, Zhang, I'm afraid. I heard about the other gentleman, but did not concern myself with the situation at the time. If either of them passed through my land, then they did not make enough trouble to be noticed by the hands. Of course, I own over thirty thousand acres of land, so it would be easy enough for someone to hide themselves if they had a mind to. I have a method of gleaning more information for you, if you wish."

"If that isn't too much trouble for you doctor I'd appreciate it greatly. I think the other feller seeks to do Zhang harm and I'm none too keen on that occurin'" he said as he found his gaze drifting to the fire for a moment. After the walk he had endured he had found a new appreciation for the warmth of a fire. "I suppose the other thing I come here for was to see how Charging Bull and the Angel in the bucket of bolts are doin'. Haven't heard from either of them and I been told they were here last. Charging Bear can take care of himself I think but I fear if the automo-ton is left to it's own devices it might get into a heap of trouble."

Ward nods. "In that case, I will gather my supplies. However, before we begin, I will require three things from you. First, I require payment for the service rendered. I am willing to accept whatever remuneration you think is fair for the information obtained, but all things have their price. Second, I insist that you swear an oath never to reveal what you may witness to anyone. I hate to be so melodramatic, but without a working knowledge of the underlying science my methods might seem strange, and there are those who would decry them as 'ungodly.' For your protection and mine, it is really for the best. And third, I will need a lock of your hair."

He stands, and fetches a black bag. "As for the Native Son and the <i>Angelus ex Machina, well...your instincts were right on. Charging Bear left here several hours ago along with several of my men to bury Nathanial Frost, who died trying to escape justice for last night's reprehensible and cowardly attack against Marshal Evans."</i>

He absently rubs the shoulder of his bandaged arm.

"And as for Friend Alouette...sadly, one of my men took exception to it and filled it full of holes."

John blinked. "Really? What did the tin can do to deserve being shot up?" he asked. "Is it, um, dead? At least as far as automo-tons can be?" he asked surprised at his concern. He had liked the thing/angel/machine, at least it had given the dark events of late a lighter side.

He reflected on Dr. Wards other request and frowned in thought "I see." he said simply and went silent for a time. He trusted magic and things 'unnatural' about as much as the next person, his justification for his own abilities that they came from within, not from some spirits or deities or whatnot. Still, finding Zhang was important to him and while Ward seemed to be at the center of much of the goings on his choices were limited. "Ah hell, all right then." he said as he pulled out a knife and cut a lock of hair from his head. "Here's that."

"As for the swearin' I can do that, I won't lie but I won't tell." he said and paused for a moment as a thought came to him. "Now ah'm not sure ifn' it's possible but if I can stand in another room while you do what you need to do for getting the information then I don't witness much at all." he said. He was thinking practically, rather than out of nervousness about what Ward might have to do to acquire the information, he could keep secrets but he figured the less he knew about how the doctor acquired the information the better. "As fer payment, well, I only have $36 to my name, I doubt that's much to a man like yerself but you're welcome to $30 of it. Otherwise I don't know what else I could give you." he'd sleep outside with his horse if necessary.

He fished the money out of his pocket and was about to hand it over when he paused and removed his watch as well. "It's not much, not terribly expensive, but it was a gift from Zhang." he sais

"Deserve?" Ward says, raising an eyebrow and grimacing. "Nothing, as far as I can tell. I suspect he may have merely been irritated with it, but as I was not present when it was shot, I cannot say for sure." he sighs, then shrugs. "But all is not lost. Mr. Spotswood, who is another guest of mine here, believe he can repair the damage, and is currently attempting to do so in the carriage house at the back. We can visit them after our business here is concluded."

Ward takes the lock of hair. "Thank you. And yes, I agree. If you do not wish to be a witness, then wait in the foyer and I will fetch you once I am finished. It will not be a long wait."

Ward takes the wad of money, counts out ten dollars, and returns the rest to him. "Sir, this will be sufficient. I would not wish to deprive you of all you have. However," he says, picking up the watch, "this will be useful to me. Having such a powerful sympathetic connection such as this between your friend and yourself will greatly aid my method. I will return it to you when I am finished."

He leads Smith out to the foyer, then returns to the parlor, closing the parlor, closing the door behind him. Smith hears something which could be Latin, then silence.

After about two minutes, Ward returns. he hands the watch back to John and gives him a small, tight smile. "Well. I believe I have both good news and bad news for you. Which would you prefer to hear first?"

John listened as Dr. Ward spoke and nodded when appropriate, He accepted the returned money and waits in the foyer as discussed. He blinked and listened to the latin and tried to shrug it off as a chill went down his spine at how much of the world he didn't understand, he always knew he lacked book smarts, probably wasn't much better before he wound up in Zhangs care, but sometimes the sheer amount of the world that he didn't understand could feel overwhelming.

When Dr. Ward returned he nodded his thanks as he returned the watch to its place and then looked at that tight smile and winced. "Well, Ah've always preferred hearing the bad news first."

Ward nods. "Very well. I've found him, but it seems the rogue Comanches have found him first. I do not know how he may have upset them, but currently my information indicates he has been buried up to his neck out on the edge of my territory in the gulch, slowly watching the storm raise the creek towards him." He shivers. "What horrible barbarians they are. However, I beleive that an effective rescue may be mounted, provided we hitch up the carriage and leave immediately."

John blinks briefly and nods before heading to where his boots and duster lay. If he had any hesitation about going back out into that storm it sure as hell didn't show. "Sounds like you got the right idea Doctor." he said and paused as he realized something. "You plannin' on helpin'?" he asked a little surprised. That certainly wasn't expected.

Ward nods as he grabs an overcoat for himself. "Sir, I cannot, in good conscience, leave a man to such an awful fate. What sort of gentleman would I be if I did? Besides, you may need assistance digging him out in time, and two can work faster than one. All my hands are currently either in town or elsewhere on the ranch, so that leaves only us in this house to assist you, and I have some skill in first aid should he require it." He grabs his black bag from the parlor. "This way, Mr. Smith." He says as he heads through the kitchen.

he leads john to the carriage house at the back, where a thin, clean-shaven man in a rumpled pinstriped suit is working over the partially disassembled body of Alouette, the mechanical angel.

"Mr. Spotswood." Ward says to the man. "There is a situation that has developed. What is Friend Alouette's condition?"

John nodded and simply followed the doctor. That seemed reason enough, if there were other factors involved in Dr. Ward lending his assistance, well, there was little he could do at the moment. Beggars and choosers and all that.

Upon seeing the partially disassembled form of Alouette John blinked, that was another thing that was beyond him, the complex mish mash of gears and whatnot that made up the automaton were about as foreign to him as the french language. He found himself hoping that whoever the thin man was he'd be able to fix it.

The man in the rumpled suit was in the midst of muttering something to himself.  It sounded like an argument.  His head going back and forth as he plays both sides against himself.  When Dr. Ward speaks up, Augustus jumps and drops the bit he'd been working on, "Good Lord!"  Quickly gathering his wits, he scoops up the dropped bit and checks over it, "Condition?  The damage was very severe, sir.  Very severe." Turning back to his "patient" he begins working again, "And this machine is a wonder.  A true wonder, I say.  The man who created this was a genius beyond compare."  Fitting another piece back again, he continues, "I /believe/ I have repaired the worst of it.  There's so much left to do...."  He trails off, his vocie dropping quieter, "Stop nagging, I am perfectly capable...  Your naysaying isn't helping either..."

Ward nods at Augustus' assessment. "I see. Do you believe you'll be able to reactivate Friend Alouette? There is a...situation, which I beleive it might be suited for. And if not, do you believe you might spare some time to help us?"

John blinked again, the man seemed odd but he was finding himself curious about how one might go about reactivating the angel in the machine that was Alouette. Still, these were more things beyond his knowledge so he did what he was good at and remained silent.

Augustus blinks a little at Ward's question, as though it was a strange and unconsidered idea.  Turning around again, he regards Ward curiously, "I...suppose...  I could attempt to reactivate Alouette now.  But, there's so much damage...  Such complexity."  He looks again to his "patient" and runs a hand through his hair, "If I have understood the mechanisms correctly, the current repairs should suffice for a safe reactivation.  On the other hand, if I have not understood the complexities of the wondrous machine it could explode in a dramatic ball of condensed lightning, high pressure steam, and brass shrapnel."  The scientist pauses a moment after this doomladen declaration, then adds, "So I suppose, in answer to your questions.  Yes and yes.  Though the former's consequences could prevent my having any time left on this earth with which to assist you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:30, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

Ward nods. "I understand, but I trust your abilities. We have a soul to rescue from hell. What better agent for such a task than an angel? Please, proceed."

There's a certain, almost frightening, gleam in the scientist's eye as he is given the go ahead to attempt restart.  He even smiles, "Happy to do so.  Truth to tell, I'm very hopeful that it will succeed.  Just give me a few moments!"  Joyously, he turns back to the machine and begins getting things back to some semblance of order.  His voice lowers again quietly, "I am /so/ hopeful...  No...not like that time... That was an accident...  Of course...I was hopeful then too...  But no, I'm right this time!  Or am I..." Having forgotten to mention that perhaps the others should leave, just in case, Augustus will "flip the switch" as soon as most things are back to rights in Alouette's systems.  As he re-engages the angelic automaton's systems, he steps back and rubs his hands together.  That gleam again in his eye as he quietly, hopefully murmurs, "Please work.... please work.... please work..."

John glances to Dr. Ward and shifts his feet. The mans muttering to himself as well as his claim that there was a possibility things would go BOOM didn't make him feel all that at ease. Still, he figured if there was something to worry about the good Doctor would be seeking cover or at least stepping outside, so he remained with his host and the strange man.

There's a brief whine as the boiler's relit, then light flares in the automaton's lenses and from the cracks and whichever bits of bullet-damage aren't patched yet. It's quiet a moment, then, as it gets up pressure, the thing's dented 'beak' raises and there's an eerily lifelike frail chirp: "How...dy...AUG-US-TUS... AUG...is...Gangatsu...safe?"

Astonishingly efficient systems engaged, it's almost back to normal movement/volume when it sees who else is in the room. Which is rather startling, since it hasn't seen the man for a while after what it told the priest, and so has felt in lack of him...which leads it to select the response for recieving a wanted thing.

It squeals like an eight-year-old girl, lurches up and across the room, and tacklehugs John with a cry of "Howdy, John John Smith!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

Dr. Ward chuckles at the sight of the automaton glomping John. "Well. It seems my faith in you was well placed, Mr. Spotswood." He says absently.

John, in his masculinity, lets out a yelp of surprise as the automaton lunges for him only to hug him, needless to say while he isn't surprised Alouette might have learned a greeting like that he certainly wasn't expecting it. "Um... Howdy Alouette." he said as he pats the construct upon the back before attempting to pry loose after what seems an appropriate amount of time. "Feeling better?" he asks still a little thrown off by the greeting.

Augustus completely misses Alouette's greeting and question in his shock and amazement.  Amazed that the machine, that wonderful machine, again walks, talks, and thinks.  Amazed that there was no earth shattering ka-boom.  "HAHA!" He laughs happily as he is easily pushed aside so that the stranger can be embraced.  With no small amount of pride, he looks to the Doctor, "Thank you, sir!" The scientist then remembers that the machine is still damaged and is now rather worried the thing will tear itself apart with its energetic awakening, "Alouette!  Alouette!  Be careful now.  You have still sustained quite a bit of damage.  Do not cause more damage by being foolish."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

It's not too hard to get Alouette to let go. It tilts its head at John, not sure what the question refers to or if it's a question at all, then recalls that if you want someone to notice things, you point at them. It points John out to Augustus.

"He is John John Smith, he has fighting sticks and throws fast stones." Then it points Augustus out to John: "He is AUG-US-TUS, he is plus plus clever and talks to cows and angels and has a devil rabbit person thing that lives in his lungs."

It's not sure whether John may has Dr.Ward before, so it introduces him as well, pointing. "He is Dr.Ward: he is a Man of Genius and Complicated. If you break things that belong to Dr.Ward or question his honour he will shoot you from ten paces away." It tilts its head the other way at the sling, but doesn't seem to grasp its significance. It looks about. "When is it?"

Ward takes out a golden pocket watch, opens it, and consults it. "It is...oh, my. How time flies. It's just after 3 o'clock in the afternoon."

He puts the watch away. "Now, to business. Alouette, there is a man who has been buried up to his neck and left to die in the rain. I should like your help digging him out again. Would you kindly accompany us on this task?"

He also looks at John and Augustus. "My injury limits my ability to hitch up horses to the carriage. Would you kindly help me make everything ready?"

Augustus nods once, moving off to collect his inventions and tools as wuickly as he may, "Of course!  I'll see if Abraham would assist us as well."  His odd ear attachment is donned, its cabling going down to the case now slung from his shoulder.  From his other side is hung his odd trumpet and a satchel.  In hand is the scientist's trumpet gun.  Coughing a bit, he heads out past John Smith with purpose, "Come, Mr. Smith!  There's work to do.  Its good to have purpose."  His cough grows a bit louder, between mutters as he heads towards the house to call out the servant's assistant, "I don't know what that machine meant by a rabbit in my lungs...  Its quite mad at times...  No, that doesn't even make sense..."

John blinked at Alouette, his typical response to the machines behavior, before he nodded to Augustus and Dr. Ward, more for Alouettes benefit than for having met them. He looked like he was about to attempt to explain something to the machine and thought better of it when Dr. Ward requested his assistance. "Sure thing, it's only polite after all." he said and would proceed to assist the doctor in getting things prepared.

"Yes." Alouette patters happily after the others as they move off. Seeing Augustus has gone on ahead a bit, it addresses its question to Dr.Ward, because he talks more:
"What is 'rape'?"

Then, in case he needs context to work out words, like it does: "Gus Shaw was talking about it before he pointed a gun at Gangatsu. Self told Gus Shaw not to hurt mortals, but then Gus Shaw shot self. Many times." It continues to witter, innocent and devastatingly perceptive: "Where is Dr.Ward injured? Did the damned Yankee come back from another place? Can AUG-US-TUS fix you or will God do it? Where is Called Charging Bear?"


[[ >_< This is what happens when an aetheric entity that can only semi-control the "subconscious" of a derranged automaton hates someone's guts. Bear in mind it has the experience-based comprehension of a six-year-old and whilst it will accept answers like 'a very bad thing', it can be persistent with what seems important and may simply dump the question on someone else later]]

The group gathers together. Abraham is less than thrilled to see Alouette up and walking about again, but he agrees to help hitch the horses up.

In a few minutes, the carriage is ready, and everything is ready to go. The carriage rolls out into the rain, with Abraham leading the horses and Ward sitting shotgun, leaving Alouette, Augustus, and John to huddle in the cabin. not that there's much protection from the cold in here, but the windows have glass panes that keep the rain out and afford them some privacy to chat a bit as it rolls along the plain, following a creek westward.

In reply to Alouette (msg #37):

[[OOC: Backposting a little, since Alouette's comment must have posted just before mine did, so I didn't even see it...]]

Ward frowns at the Automaton's questions. "So many questions. But I cannot answer them right now...perhaps once we have completed our task, I can converse with you further. But for now, Let me assure you that my shoulder will mend, Charging Bear has returned to town...and we will need to have a discussion about just what happened to you when you left."

Augustus still seems quite pleased with himself as the quartet heads out in the storm.  His seat would be taken next to Alouette, over whom he would fuss a bit, "Now, you must take care, Alouette.  I've patched up the majority of the holes, but in this weather you cannot take any chances.  I've no idea the harm humidty could do..."  At which point he trails off into a hacking cough, which he quickly covers with a handkerchief.  Apparently, the damp weather isn't good for him either.

Alouette considers this, moves its head as through trying to look at the air and raises fingers near its casing.

*crklt!*

"Sparky." It agrees. It presses its head as flat as possible to the window, seeming utterly fascinated by the rain on the glass.

John sits in his seat and stares out into the rain filled landscape. He was lost in thought regarding the possibility of being reunited with his master. He wasn't sure why he had left, he should have known that without anything keeping him bound to those damned mines he would follow after, there was so much he needed to learn after all. He found himself handling one of his riverstones, try as he might the Ten Foot Punch evaded him, the closest he came was using his chi to fire the stones at incredible speeds. Only when he could could fire without the stones would he have that technique down.

He paused and turned to Augustus and Alouette. "How'd you come to be here to help fix Alouette up if'n I may ask." he said, he was normally silent but he knew little of the strange man who argued with himself.

Augustus, putting away his newly used handkerchief, starts to scold Alouette again.  But, perhaps because its futile anyway, he allows himself to be distracted by the stranger's question, "Ah well, I was actually trying to escape...."  He trails off quickly, voice lowering, "I was not going to tell him everything...  Stop nagging."  As quickly as it came, the distraction is over and the scientist continues as though he had never stopped, "...from some poor buisness dealings.  Found my way to Texas and a stagecoach ushered me to Blackthorn.  Whereupon, I stumbled across this marvel of a machine.  Dr. Ward has seen fit to guest me in his house, where I was available to render the repair work inquired about."  He pauses, throwing a meaningful glance to the automaton currently looking out the window, "The /second/ repair I have had to make.  Its a wonder its still in operation at all..."  Attention back again to the stranger, "And you?  How is it that you came across this mischievous machine?"

John nodded as Augustus spoke and couldn't help but chuckle despite himself "Met it at the bar in town. Caused quite a stir the followin' day, burried one of those union walkin' dead in the town crossroads." he said as he looked at Alouette. It felt like so many months ago but what was it, day before yesterday? Day before that? Not too terribly long ago that was for sure. Suffice to say his stay in Blackthorn has proven interesting thus far.

Augustus' brow creases a bit as he catches something in the man's quick re-telling, "I'm terribly sorry...  But did you reference "walking dead"?"  The scientist rolls his eyes a little and looks to the Doctor as a source of reason as he finds himself having to deal with yet another crazy person.

John shrugs, he's a fairly straight foward man who takes things as they come "He looked plenty dead to me. Rotting flesh and all that but up and moving around spoutin' something that sounded like backwards scripture." he paused "Least the two I've seen. Hopefully you won't find out one way or another, they're right unsettlin' to look at."

Alouette is apparently listening, though its brass fingers trace the fall of raindrops on the other side of the glass. "It was a demon that had stolen Union clay, AUG-US-TUS...not like, similar to, the damned Yankee wearing ash and dust that made a hole in Called Charging Bear and self then went to another place. Also not like Danny Albatross - he is differently alive like you and Gus Shaw..."

It reaches up to trace a silver squiggle of water. "It would be not good if Gus Shaw has killed Danny Albatross again...it turns Danny Albatross more wendigo, because his bird has to fix him. Christians should not eat people. Also, Gus Shaw should not scalp him, or Gangatsu: that is a sin. Self told Gus Shaw this."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:37, Sun 14 Nov 2010.

The coach rolls onward, quiet in the face of Alouette's pronouncement.

Looked at Alouette and then at Augustus before deciding it was time for him to remain silent once more. Apparently he had missed much and quite frankly there were other times for an explanation, preferably with someone who wasn't as... confusing to understand at times.

Augustus is quite obvious in his disbelief of the whole idea.  Shaking his head a bit, he returns, "Really now.  Alouette is a machine who misunderstands many things.  It can hardly be expected to think reasonably about such things."  Looking back to Mr. Smith finally, "But really sir, of all possible solutions you maintain this idea that the dead can rise again?  Folktales and poppycock.  Dead flesh cannot be reanimated.  Application of electrical current can sometimes stimulate reflexive muscle contraction, but that is not the same."  He pauses, brow creasing a bit as he mutters to himself, "Of course...  It is curious that so many different people in this area seem to believe..."

" I don't mean the cave in itself, I mean the breaking of the seal holding the snake, a cataclysm o sorts related to that event o time. Maybe it happen so the snake could get more.. More reach to others, like a plague..." She thinks a bit more openly, and it was a bit vexing not to go and see what was down that hole. She didn't mind dying, but she needed to pass on some knowledge to someone other then Angus Shaw.

A hearty glare raised to the man as he called her some orient flavor name, emerald eyes watching as he explained out his thoughts. She looked at him for a long moment and shook her head.

" In both of our cultures. The Snake is a trickster, deceitful, a creature of unfathomed evil. That ain't a coincidence." She moved away from him a bit in processing this.

" Dun't be a dumbfu'k, Gus. You owe it squat. " Su's harden nature rising again for a moment. " Healer my ass. It brought the dead to life, killin and runnin a mok. It brought up a monster made o bodies, ya admitted ta seening and it kilt yer own people. It brought Tex back ta be stronger and invun'rable, but he's in pain and people are scar'd of 'im til da end and after yer gone, he won't have no one. I honestly feel sorry for him too. Only person in this damn town that turned to be an alright fella. Hmmph. The list o weird and mournful shit goes on." She was pacing a little, her grip upon her sword flexing a bit.

 "Yer prolly 'ight about healin on d'em Union boys. Could be why the dead monster beast down d'ere didn't touch 'em. All'o'em hollow things. Okay.. That makes sense." She started and nodded a bit. " Don't  ever say dat thin's a healer. If it was something good, someone wouldn't seal it away in sleep. It's Mean. It's Old. It'll kill us all, b'cuz it's too strong ta die."

She shook her head and pulled on her pants and gathered her gear. " I can't stay here.. "

"Angel," Alouette corrects, not offended in the least.

"Demons can make dead clay move, AUG-US-TUS, if it once did know life, or it has eyes. They are a different energy - aetheric, not electric. If demons get physicality, they can use it, like, similar to, thoughts move your clay. Soul...aetheric energy, to electrical energy, to...movingmental energy. Differently alive people also draw from aether more than food, which is...people fuel. Why is the ground on top in the rain?"
It may take a few moments to realise it's talking about refraction in raindrops.

John turned away from the window and looked at Augustus for a moment, he had met the type before, to blind to what they know to be the 'truth' and 'fact' to open to any other possibilities. Perhaps there was a scientific reason for that yank to have been walkin' around with a decomposin' body but if so then it was beyond anything John had ever heard or read. "Saw it, touched it, dropped it. If'n I'm wrong I'm wrong but it looked dead, smelled dead, and I doubt that yank sounded like that when he was marchin' with his brothers." he paused and looked out the window once more "If things continue the way they have been, I wouldn be surprised if y'end up seein' one yerself here soon."

"Yeah, it's a healer. That don't make it nice." Gus says. "Dr. Ward said once that some diseases are actually caused by the body tryin' to heal itself but goin' too far. And there's Ward himself...he's a doctor, but he also fought in the war, and there's all that weird shit he can do with his mumbo-jumbo. So yeah, the ability to heal stuff don't automatically make a one o' the good guys."

"At the same time, though, you don't know shit about Tex aside from what you saw in town. He was always big, angry, and a moron. It was how he was born. The snake didn't do that to him, it just...made him moreso, if that makes sense..."

Gus suddenly stops speaking. "Hey...do you hear that?"

[[OOC: Gatsu, make a notice Check.]]

" Then keep yer trust in 'em and you'll die from it, jus dun't get in my way." A stern resolve put an end to that, they will not see eye to eye on this and she knew it. Another reason why she needs to speak to someone with a mind not hailed by the serpent.

" I spoke ta Tex, stop actin like shit I'm sayin is just a guess. I might sem off me fu'kin mind, but I.." She paused as he spoke up. She went quiet and listened for the sound. it was faint, but getting closer. It was a couch.. " Well, sounds like a ride." She slipped on her sandals and headed out to the rain. " Get yer shit and move yer ass."

"Yeah. I suppose so." Gus says, buckling his gunbelt back on. He grabs one of the smoldering boards from the fire and breathes new life into the flames before stepping out of the mine entrance and waving it. It's still raining heavily, but perhaps it might get noticed...

[[OOC: Those of you in the coach can make a Notice check (-1) to see the burning brand being waved around in time to try and let the driver know.

Gatsu, if you have any ideas to try and gain some visibility, you can help reduce that penalty if you come up with a good plan.]]

" We're out a bit far. Shoot off a round to get their attention." She started and moved out a bit more into the rain. If they didn't see Guss, then maybe she could get close enough to be heard.

Gus nods, and pulls his Dragoon. The gun barks out a couple rounds that echo back into the mine behind them.

[[OOC: That grants a +2 bonus for the Notice roll of the people in the coach, so that's a net roll of Notice (+1) to hear and see them.]]

John's eyes widen and he reflexively ducks at the all too familiar sound of a gunshot. He turns and looks out the window trying to find it's source. "Didja hear that?" he asked Augustus and Alouette. "Don't sound like an attack, maybe a warning shot or a signal or something." he said as he gripped the riverstone in his hand all the tighter. He couldn't do anything until the stage-coach stopped.

Alouette points out the source of the gunshot to John, pointing being one of the loopy automaton's strong points.

"A fire is waving." It doesn't seem to have any notion they should maybe do anything about this, however.

Almost without thinking, Augustus answers Alouette's query, "It's called refraction.  Light moves slower through the medium of water, explained by Young's wave theory of light, and distorts are perceptions."  So answered, the scientist returns to the conversation with Mr. Smith, "I would dearly love to see the phenomena to which you are referring.  Brining the light of Science upon it should dispel its shadowy mythology." He may have been ready to continue, but the mention of a gunshot seems to worry him.  Which it might any sane person.  Augustus lifts his trumpet gun and begins winding it, "Are we being attacked?!"  His voice drops a bit to his muttering self-talk, "I am beginning to hate travelling by coach...  Always getting attacked...  No, its not my fault.  They couldn't possibly know where I am...  Could they?"

The carriage begins to slow, as apparently the drivers up top have noticed the flame and gunshots, as well.

Through the rain, it is possible to make out a gully where a raging stream flows. Down in the gully, near what looks like an old mineshaft, stand two figures. One is brawny, and waving a flaming brand above his head, a pistol pointed up to the heavens in his other hand. The other figure is smaller, slighter, and feminine, moving closer to the creek waving her arms.

It's difficult to make out more details than this, thanks to the rain

Gus whoops as the coach up on the ridge slows down. "It's Ward! That's Ward's coach up there!" he says to Gangatsu. "HEY! BOSS! WE NEED A LIFT!" He shouts at the top of his lungs.

The words are lost on him given the sound of the rain and the walls of the carriage but he cannot help but feel that feminine form seemed familiar. "Nope, they're not attacking, I think we can breathe easy." He said though he still held tight to his river stone. "They're not in a position to rob us let alone attack us. From where they are we'd stand a better chance of just riding on if they intended on robbin' us or anythin' like that." He said, more for Augustus' benefit that out of any desire to speak. He preferred to keep his words to himself but the man didn't seem all there in the head and he would rather he remain calm than doing something inspired by panic.

SOmething about that shouting voice, though muffled by the rain, gives Augustus pause.  His brow creases in concentration, then his eyes go wide, "Mr. Shaw!"  And then the recollection of Alouette's condition and the person who put it there.  The scientists face darkens again, "Mr. Shaw will have quite a bit of explaining to do...  The damage he cause was....was..."  Getting angrier, he starts to cough and has to let go of speaking and cover his mouth instead.

"He is a Bad Man," Alouette agrees. "Why do we not go? Is Gus Shaw the man who is in trouble?" It tries to see. "Gus Shaw will not stay dead if he is drowned..."

Ward's voice can be heard through the coach walls, though it's difficult to make out what he's saying. The figures in the distance start heading over in your direction, swimming across the creek then climbing up the gully wall.

The big man with the reddish-brown hair opens the coach door to let the slender Asian enter. "Damn, it's good to get a ri..." he says, then cuts off in midsentance and stares at Alouette. "Aw, Hell!"

Suddenly, there is a gun in his hands, pointed at the automation.

"You don't want to do that." John says simply, he could list the reasons, one of them being that in an enclosed space John had a far greater advantage against someone with a gun, but he settled for the reason that seemed would get through the mans skull the easiest. "You'd likely end up pissin' off Dr. Ward." he said. And m'self.

Upon seeing Gangatsu John would blink slightly and then recover his composure and return his focus on the man with the gun. "We're rescuing Xhang, Alouette will help." he said simply once again.

Alouette awkwardly tries to rise, to get out of the coach and away from mortals if Gus means to blow it up. "Cease," it tells him, then after John seems to have delayed the possibility of shooting: "Repent."

"Jesus Christ on a cross! What does it take to kill this goddamn thing!?" The gunman snarls.

He glares at John. "I really don't give a fuck. That machine is crazy, and it needs to be put down before it gets a gear stuck somewhere and decides to chop us all into fish bait or something!"

"Alouette is helping us rescue someone very important to me and Gangatsu there, put the gun away and get in or walk to wherever we're going, the longer we waste time here the closer to death he is." John said leaning casually back against the seat. There won't be another warning, should Gus not put the gun away, hesitate, or so much as twitch the wrong direction he would act. He had leaned back to give himself better leverage for a kick to Gus's hand, his boot would lash out with more force than the comparatively scrawny man had a right to with the intention of disarming the big man. He didn't want to damage him, he had no beef with Gus at the moment, but hell if some idjit with a gun was going to keep him from Xhang.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Thu 18 Nov 2010.

The man looks like he's about to argue the point, but he notices John tensing.

"Whatever you say. Don't come cryin' to me when it murders you all." he says, holstering his gun.

"Mr. Shaw!" comes a voice from the front. "Would you kindly sit up here?"

"Aw, but boss..." he says

"Mr. Shaw, you and I need to have a discussion about your treatment of my guests. If you value your continued employment, please cease arguing with me."

"fine." he grumbles, then helps Gangatsu up into the carriage. "You gonna be ok in here, Su?" He asks.

"Angels do not consume fish," Alouette says, with blithe certainty. "-Except Archangel Michael, who is a different angel, not self. ! Howdy, Gangatsu! Did Gus Shaw hurt you plus much? Where is Danny Albatross?"

The automaton resettles beside Augustus, though it still cranes to see if it can spot any men in danger anywhere about. It touches the scientist's temple ever so gently, apparently an attempt to stop his coughing, but all it manages to do is puff his hair with static.

Augustus attempted, despite his coughing fit to ready and level his gun at Mr. Shaw as he opened the carriage door.  But, he just doesn't really manage to make the gesture a threat in any way.  In all honesty, Mr. Shaw probably wouldn't even notice the scientists intent.  As Alouette moves to settle beside him and poke him in the head, he yelps a little at the snap of static.  The charge seeming to send a jolt through his copper-wire earpiece.  Shaking his head a bit, he finally manages to speak a bit, "T-thank you, Alouette. I'll...I'll be fine..."

She trudges after Gus after getting out of the river, crossing her arms over her chest as he moved ahead to the carriage and opened the door. He swore and the woman's head jerked up, her raven hair spilling over her face as she spotted him hualing his gun out to someone in the carriage.. No.. Something. The Metal Bird Machine. IT was still banged up a little, the big guy was ready to bang it up again yet that fellow was there. One of Zhang's students, John Smith, that seemed to make the big guy ease up. Doc Ward Spoke up and Gatsu was content on being silent for the moment. A hand slipping away from her soaked form take Gus' hand as he helped her up into the carriage.

" Y-yeah. Know'em two. K-keep yer eye out fer anything odd." She spoke, getting chilled as she sat in a seat, her katana close to her, leaning between her legs to rest against her forearm. The scarlet yakuata nd her black thin leggingsshe felt about ready to try and wring out the water. Her green eyes slid to Spotswood with a bit of distrust easily read on her face before Alouette spoke up.

" Nah. He's tempermental and twisted, but he did no harm.. Well, not ta me. Danny is gone. Dead gone. Again... And that Snake, you kept babbling about. I heard it. It's a baby one o the ancient one.. Do you know anythin' bout that, Alouette? About a 'seal' bein cracked?" Her eyes shifted to John Smith.

" And about time you damn well showed up. You found out something about Zhang? I heard some indians were around the boarders, found out they're Commanche, but not much else. Wut do ya know?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Fri 19 Nov 2010.

John gets a look of embarrassment, something that doesn't cross his face over-much and chuckles despite himself. "Decided to see if the doctor knew anythin'; 'bout Xhang, Alouette here, or Charging Bear; thought I knew how to get there but the storm hit and I got lost." he said and shook his head. "He found out Xhang is in trouble and we're goin' to help him. Comanche's got to him."

Alouette believes Augustus implicitly: after all, he is plus plus clever.
"Why does your fork tube sing?" it asks, pointing at Augustus' weapon. Clearly it remembers nothing of being hit with it.

It ticks a bit at Gangatsu's question, then starts to ramble: "Father said all the demons self cannot hear wanted to break a seal...they wanted him to do...something...then make paths, with the ghost rock, before it was ghost rock - it was different then, but it still had the holes in from another place, Father found ways to tell with alchemy. That was when the demons started talking to Father so he couldn't hear God any more...so he made an angel."

"If someone opened up the paths the rock under California would change, and it would sink in the sea...Roland said that had happened, so high possibility that seal is broken now, letting plus plus demons into the world because it is easy to make paths to their Bad Place with the ghost rock, but harder to make paths for the angels, because mortals have to care to do that and they are not good at that or listening to what God says."

It concludes this philosophical tangent with "God tried to tell them directly once, but they wrote down what they remembered and stopped listening again." It tilts its head at Gangatsu. "That seal, or another seal? Dr.Ward has spirit-snake friends; he would know." There's a sleepy-soft crackle of static after these words. "You can ask Dr.Ward after he shoots you from ten paces away."

The coach lurches back into motion, rolling along the the side of the gully as the people inside discuss weighty matters.

" Zhangs gunna get a kick outta this.." She murmured to John, her head lightly chinned up toward the robot in the carriage. She didn't know anyone else that would know enough about ghost rock, though perhaps this creature might.

She blew on her hands, they stung a little, her hair matted down to her face and the murky water did not do much for her. The little robot had a squawk of things to say and she had so many questions, so many places to start.

" So dat's the change. I remem'er when dat happen.." Ah, eleven years ago in California, she was a teenager when her world sank tothe sea and her family moved to a place later known as Shan Fan. Even through it all, the world was still harsh, especially toward a little half-blood accident.

" Yeah, ya got de right one. You know why ghost Rock screams when it burns, Alouette?.." She started and listened, a faint smirk coming up as the bot said she would be shot. " Nah, that duel won't happen.. I ain't gunna get side tracked by my problems, but tis will ask him later... Now.. Alouette.. An Angel. Ya can sense d'ese spirits like Gus'. You got a spirit in ya too. A hawk. Only ye ain't a bad one.. Yer really sumptin else under all that metal. I won't let no one break ya until the seal is repaired... there has to be a way to fix it.. Do you know where it is?" 

PM


John looks at Gangatsu and furrows his brown a bit before he begins sifting through the carriage until he finds a cabinet under the chair. Reaching within he lets out an "A'ha!" before pulling out what appears to be a warm blanket stashed away for his guests comfort on those cold Texas nights. He unfolds the thing and offers it to his soaked companion hoping to alleviate her obvious discomfort some.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:13, Sat 20 Nov 2010.

"Self knows - it is to do with the chickens." Alouette says with authority. "When the pale people brought chickens to the lands of West they kept them for eating, and for eggs - male chickens are not good for this, so the pale people taught everyone to kill most male chickens whilst they were still wet from the egg...most mortals that are not humans understand enough not to become ghosts even if they die of violence, but the baby chicks are too young, and they still have the urge to seek for their mothers, even though they will never find them, and mothers in the material world cannot know they are there...also they have the hatchling urge to eat, and stay to peck at corn and small things they can never pick up, not understanding why...the ghost rock draws such small lost souls like iron loves iron, or electricity loves metal poles, because it has holes in to another place, so the chickens stick in it. Father said he tested this, with Experiments."

"When ghost rock burns, it burns in aether also, burning up all the little chicken ghosts...because they are dead already they cannot become unconscious, so there is plus plus aetheric energy from their pain and not-understanding terror...which makes the ghost rock plus many times powerful as simply burning, from its connection to the aether. The sound is some of the aetheric energy being transferred: the helpless cries of dozens of tiny souls being consumed in fire."

Alouette pauses a moment, then chirps: "Fear not! Self was designed to send the lost souls onward to a Better Place!" It ticks a bit. "...though the rock is much stronger now, and known to many. High probability result of war: was predicted, war must have happened, because now there is Confederacy. Many weak souls are set loose in a war and human ghosts stay more than others."

It tilts its head at Gangatsu. "Dr.Ward said he would shoot you when you were unkind to him...you should be unkind to less people, then they would like you more and you could get oranges and hugs and not feel of angry all the time."

It then tilts its head the other way, clearly not understanding what she's on about. "Self is angel, Gangatsu. Gears are under metal - AUG-US-TUS has seen them." Then of the seal: "Another place."

It looks out of the window. "When Zhang is saved self will seek Danny Albatross...he will be more wendigo now he has been killed again and he will want to eat people a lot. Or a lot of people. That would be bad."

Augustus just seems to be altogether lost in the flurry of conversations in the carriage.  He's not really a people person on the best of days.  His attention flicks from one to the other, trying to ask something, then forgetting it as he tries to follow something else.  His voice drops a bit quietly as he glances down, muttering, "Chickens...  Screaming rocks...  These people are mad...  Of course not the machine.  It can't be mad, its a machine...  True, if it thinks then perhaps it can think poorly, or "go mad"...  Yes, you're right, I should stay on alert.  There's madness afoot."

This thread is now closed. Resume posting on the 9.2 thread.