At The General Store:

Sam seems pained at adding the ammo on to the tab, but relents. "You drive a hard bargain, sir" he says as he pulls out a box of .44 rounds. He points to a small alcove with a curtain for privacy. The gun cleaning supplies clear out the muck rather nicely, and soon the native son has a nice, shiny, loaded Colt Army pistol to slip in the ugly, scuffed, and notched gun belt.

He travels to the Oriental without pause, passing the Grand Bull just as Carl hands the handbill over to Dave, blissfully unaware of the speech that soon followed. He spots a knot of people over by the back door, including Robert, the Ranger, and some lady he'd never seen before.

[[OOC: Since you failed the persuasion roll: The gun belt and the ammo will turn out to be El Cheapo, but CB won't realize it until later. The gun belt is just ugly, inflicting a -1 penalty to your already low Charisma. The ammo, on the other hand, means that if you roll a 1 on your Shooting die, the gun will be fouled, requiring a repair roll and 1d6 hours of work to fix.

The gun itself is a standard single-action Colt Army, yes. The cleaning is successful, though, and the gun itself won't cause you any problems.]]

---

In The Grand Bull:

Dave looks at the wanted poster for a moment, until a wide, diabolical grin breaks his face in half.

"Hey!" he shouts at the big black man. "You Lt. Cantrell?"

"I am." he replies, turning slightly. He lowers one hand to his gunbelt out of reflex.

"Well good," Dave says, speaking as much to the entire bar as he does the bounty hunter, "'cause it just so happens we seen this here redskin!"

The large man's eyelids rise, and he turns, giving Dave his full attention. "Where?"

"Well now, it seems that our dear Marshal Evans done hired this raping, murdering sonovabitch to act as his deputy." Dave says, eliciting gasps from the assembled crowd. "And you know what? Ever since, well, the bodies in town have been piling up! It's like Marshal Evans done want to scare us all into being sheep he can herd!"

Jericho gives a half grin at the situation. "Oh, really? So I take it that if I were to remove this problem for you, you wouldn't have any objections?"

"Object? Hell, I'd love to help you hunt this fucker down!"

Jericho is grinning ear-to-ear by now. "Well then. Anyone of you fine men who helps me bring this vile man to the justice he so richly deserves will be well rewarded. I'm putting up one hundred dollars, to be split among any of you fine gentlemen who join my posse and help me find this criminal scum. Who among you is with me?"

There's a brief pause as the Dust Adders look between Carl and Dave for marching orders.

[[OOC: Carl, this is going to be a turning point. Do you give the orders around here, or does Dave? Make me a Persuasion Roll. Dave has a total of 7 after spending a Red Chip. Does Carl step up?]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:24, Mon 08 Nov 2010.

Mean while a or so block away
Charging Bear reaches the Oriental Theater, realizing that he has NO idea what the people he's supposed meet look like just a pair of names. Hopefully the tin star ranger will be here. the native son thinks as he enters the theater.

OOC: Sounds good boss man, I've updated my gear and CB's description.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Mon 08 Nov 2010.

Luckily for Charging Bear, he can see a group of people around back. The Ranger, the lawyer, and some lady he's never met before are standing in the rain, talking.

Wildcat immediately corrects herself, taking the fist she just made and touching it to her forehead.

"... but he was going to run that errand...  Mr. Mickle-fwate, Miss Katy, I have to beg yer pardon, I ain't right in th' faculties here lately.  Not that I ever am, but this has been a hell of a day.  Did that, er, did she hurt ya'll?"

Wildcat spies Charging Bear.  Well at least one thing was right with the world, Deputy Bear was here.  Is it right to call him Deputy Bear?  she wondered.  Wildcat had no idea how Injun names worked, if you could break it up like that or if you had to say the whole thing.

"Deputy Bear, that's... a new look for you."  She'd like him better in the traditional garb.

Charging Bear smiled, it was an honest smile if ever there was one to be had, "Stranger things have and probably will occur Ranger Hawkins. I used to ride for the Confederate Calvary, so this isn't too different from those days. Just alittle more difficult to figure out who the bad guys are." He pulled his new side arm in a flash and returns it just as quickly, "Sadly this gun rig leaves something to be desired but what do you expect in the middle of nowhere Texas?" It's obvious, Charging Bear knows at least something about handguns.

He looks at the trio, nodding to Robert who he met the previous day, "Robert, seems like ages. Who's the young lady with you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Mon 08 Nov 2010.

[[OOC: CB and Robert have met...it's only been a day in-game since they were parted. But Katy entered town after CB went to Ward's place.]]

Wildcat looks a bit surprised, now that the adrenalin from before has worn off.  Admittedly she didn't know much about red skinned people.  Sure she'd learned an "old Indian trick" or two for surviving without the effects of civilization, but that didn't equate to much cultural knowledge.

But didn't they not like the white man's shooting irons, much less his military uniforms?  Well at least not the ones that were repeaters?  Wildcat could understand why, their self made weaponry was quite efficient and lethal on its own.  She'd always wanted a tomahawk after seeing what one could do to a man's skull.  The Bowie knife was great and all but it just wasn't the same.

In fact her mother had told her more than once they were bloodthirsty devil worshipping scalp counting savages who would take pretty little white girls like her away for their evil pagan rites if given the chance.  But if Wildcat's experiences had taught her anything, it was that the exception to any rule was more commonplace than the rule itself.

An Indian with a sixgun was after all one of the less remarkable things she'd seen today.  She'd have to inquire more about these things, delicately, and some other time.

Carl looks up from under the palm he just struck his forehead with. Dave was certainly good at the talking thing. Too bad he just wasn't that smart. His look at Dave is rather cold.

"..."

Carl points down sharply, looks around, then gestures to the bounty hunter, rubs thumb and fingers together and flicks a hand out towards the ranch. Deep down, though, he knows he's lost them.

He meets Dave's eyes again, a stillness in his figure even as he waves the others away to do as they like, touches the badge-place again and makes a grabbing gesture over one side of his chest. Keeping Dave's gaze, he mimes a grip around the throat, or a collar far too tight. A warning.


[[two chips for you and not a hope in Hell (yes, I know I should've rerolled): 6
5 Intimidate to be listened to at least a little.]]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Mon 08 Nov 2010.

OOC: these comments are kind of intermixed with everyone else's

"We were going to find a doctor, but I think you get to go first."

"The Marshal, he was looking for a place to put Mis Luzy.  Not that it's needed any more ..."

He nods at CB when he arrives.  "A lot has happened, we should talk.  Maybe at the hotel, after Miss Katy and I get patched up?  If, that is, Miss Hawkin's here hasn't exhaused teh local supplies of bandages... that did happen to you anyhow?" he asks as he starts towards the undertaker's
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Fri 12 Nov 2010.

Charging Bear points to his side, "Got stabbed by a dead Yankee." then he points to the various scrapes and cuts on his face and hands "Earlier today I got shoved down a gorge by the now deceased Nathaniel Frost. So just another fun day out here in Texas... what are you getting patched up for?"

"Oh nothin' much.  Some sunuvabitch in the middle of a pack of Dust Adders shot me half a dozen times an' managed to hit most of 'em, and I think his were the only ones to actually go inside and stay there because Underhill pulled a slug out here..."  She points to a prominent dried red splotch.  "Here..."  She points to another one before proceeding to the third.  "An' right 'bout here, in the left arm, that one just plain hurt.  He t'were a pretty good shot though, so I think two bullets actually done went in that second hole there but there's this spot on my side here, I think it came clean out.  Then his partner shot me in the back from the roof of the barber's shop.  Not sure which hole that one is exactly, I kinda lost track."

There's no braggadacio in Wildcat's vivid descriptions, just an accurate retelling and the blood stains to prove it.  It's more like comparing notes with Charging Bear.

"An' then the Dust Adders wanted to kill me, but I called 'em out an' one of 'em wanted to fight fer him all.  He shot me here..."  Wildcat points to the tear in her blouse.  "Worst part is, I hadn't planned on staying in Blackthorn long so this ol' work shirt's gonna have to be warshed somehows.  Ah seen fellers come out of th' slaughterhouse lookin' cleaner than this."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Mon 08 Nov 2010.

Robert points back at the theater.  "Crazy girl bit me.  There are a couple of theories about why, but ... you know I found that ghost rock when I came into town?  I'm thinking she had Ghost Rock fever.  Would explain a lot, including all these dead but moving blue-bellies."

Wildcat looks like she's going to argue... and then doesn't.

"Yeah... must be that old Ghost Rock fever.  They had a nasty breakout in Lampasas a while back, some ol' deputy buddies of mine had to work the quarantine detail."  Wildcat just grins wide.  Yer a genius, Mr. Mickle-fwate.

Listening to Wildkitten's replay of her day, he realizes how bad this town seems to be, he looks at Robert again and says, "You'd best go get patched up... be sure Underhill cleans that wound well. Bites get infected far easier than a gun shot. I'll head over to the hotel, see you there when you get patched up. Evans is off checking into a lead right now."

"Hold on there Charging Bear, I owe you a fire water.  Besides, the Marshal sent Underhill to get vittles right after he finished sticthin' me.  He might not be back in his parlor yet."

"Sounds like we are all heading for the saloon."

"I've little desire to go deal with the Dust Adders right now, plus I need to check on my horse. I'll take you up on the drink another time." Charging Bear says to the Tin-Star Ranger.

OOC: Avoiding possible crazy combat ... who me?

OOC:  Wildcat has no such holdups, mwahahahaha.  That and technically all I know is they moved down the street, I have no idea they're in the Grand Bull.

"Fair enough.  Come to think of it, the Marshal said for me to meet him here at the theater anyway, an' if you two are goin' off to get stitched, it wouldn't hurt if somebody stayed here to keep watch considering the weirdness of the, uh, fever, going on in here.

"But can one of ya'll come back in about two hours fer a bit?  Telegraph operator had gremlins in the line.  I need to go back when he resends."

"You know, so much has happened, you went to Ward's for a seance, right?  how'd that go?" Robart asks CB

Charging Bear's eyes narrow slightly at Wildkitten's 'uh, fever' statement but says nothing.

Looking back to Robert, he answers the man's question, "It didn't... got interrupted by a cattle rustler and a not quite dead Yankee who thought the war was still going on... he's the one who stabbed me. Then the Adders returned from the craziness they had done here.. well the séance wasn't going to happen. Did manage to find out that Dr Ward or someone out there is dealing with some potentially nasty spirits."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:07, Mon 08 Nov 2010.

Robert nods.  "While you were out, case you hadn't heard, the Dust Adders rode into town, throwing dynamite and shooting.  That's what happened to me." he touches the bandages on his face.

Eli begins to consider the options placed before him, but a rumble from his stomach makes the decision for him.  With a grin, he answers, "One of each to start with and we'll just see where we go from there.  Been so long since I had gumbo that I have forgotten why I shouldn't."  He chuckles a bit at his own joke, then adds, "I'll have a whiskey while I wait."

Keen reporter senses begin to tingle as the wave of tension begins to sweep the room.  Eli turns back around to have a look at the goings on.  A brow is lifted at the ease with which the hunter secures the help of the local roughs.  It lowers again soon enough, creasing his brow a bit in wariness as the power struggle gets played out.  Its the kind of thing that occaisionally causes fists and/or bullets to start flying, so it pays to keep an eye on it...

Katy was quiet. Very quiet. She didn't like how this was going. There was a dangerous frightening threat around and they had to ignore it until they could snuff it out.  They were going to tell Marshal Evans, but not the other deputy that started to come up. She got to look at the tall man with a strong build, the ran was soaking her hair and her dress and she was getting so cold. The rain wasn't this bad when she went chasing after them to the theater. She didn't have a coat or a hat, her lovely hair style ruined and falling strands of hair that stuck to her face and cheeks.  In these clothes, they were nice looking but poorly put togethere and she already had a poped sem on her shoulder.

" I'm going back to the saloon. Mean gang of men or not. I need some tea and towel. " She murmured, leaving the circle of people with some conflict playing in her mind. She headed down the street, trudging in her nice heeled boots and it felt like trying to walk across mush. She Finally got sick of that and took offthose girly boots  with a grunt and a sigh. Hiking the front of her skirt, she marched a bit faster and even though it was cold, it felt nice to feel the mud and the earth under her feet again. It got the edges of her el cheapo dress dirty, it was dragging behind her in the mud without thhe additonal height of shoes. She sniffled a little and wiped her face with her free hand as she headed down the road.

In reply to Carl (msg #25):

Jericho watches the quiet man's gestures.

"Look here." He says to Carl, though he's loud enough that the whole room can hear. "I don't mean to get in the way of town business, though from the sounds of it, it's already got fucked up enough. But if you're of a mind to hang that redskin, well, I won't stand in your way. I'll be satisfied with a corpse that a judge can identify. And if your corrupt Marshal gets involved, well, I think I can help you out there. The law shouldn't stand in the way of justice...it ought to be there to see justice done. So tonight, we ride for justice, and if the law gets in the way...well, we Texans know what to do, don't we?"

"Hell yeah!" Dave says. "Come on, everyone! We got ourselves a savage to hang!"

At this, most of the Dust Adders (except Mike and Percy) and most of the residents of the bar stand. Those who aren't armed grab bottles, chairs, and other improvised implements. An impromptu cry of "Lynch the savage! Lynch the savage!" rises.

In reply to Elijah Fuller (msg #39):

Ed takes down the order and heads off to the back just before the crowd turns into a bloodthirsty, shouting mob. Things are looking grim for the poor man.

In reply to Katy Devon (msg #40):

Katy Devon reaches the porch and is just about to enter the saloon when she hears the chant of "Lynch the savage! Lynch the savage!"

She's only met one Indian in town...oh no...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:27, Tue 09 Nov 2010.

If lil Katy Devon wasn't chilled to the bone already, the on goings did it! They couldn't. What is wrong with these people! She backed off the porch, her feet touching the mud against her feet. Dropping her boots, she turned tail and ran back to Robert, Hawkins, and Charging Bear, her suit case slowing her down a little.

She came back, hearing robert say something about dynamite. She nearly tripped over her feet, staggering from the cold when she reached out and grabbed Charging Bears arm and gave him a meek push. " Run. The townsfolk. They're going to hang you. Everyone in the Saloon just went mad and chanting and it loudly. You have to go, now!"