OOC:  Okay I need a ruse.  Evans has the vault key right?

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #20):

[[OOC: As far as Wildcat knows.]]

"In that case... this Adder's getting out when I need him to.  We ain't waitin' on Evans."  Wildcat turns to Cantrell.

She hated to throw the Marshall under the stage coach, but it was the most convincing ploy she could think of.

"You want those other bounties Cantrell?  I need a little sit down with Ward.  He can make damn likely that happen, but not while he's in jail, and ah wouldn't put it past Evans to leave him in here too long by 'accident' to try to teach him a lesson.  Evans is obviously 'too busy' to come back, and he has the damn key.  Somebody's got to find where he's drinkin' an' playing poker and tell him to come and gimme the key if'n he's going to not tend to his own jail, and you and me are the only ones not locked in there.  Charging Bear ain't gonna evaporate while yer gone, and I can't let him out if I wanted to, so what have you got to lose?  I don't care if Deputy Mickle-fwate brings it back instead.  He's bein' held overnight, that's as long as he's gonna stay in here dammit, an' no longer."

"Right." the brawny black man gets to his feet. "I'll be back quicker than two jiggles of a jackrabbit's ass."

He heads out of the vault room.

As soon as I'm happy he's out of the building... 

Wildcat has no idea Carl is already privy to the weirdness in town, but accepts this as an acceptable breach of security since it's all shot to hell by now anyway.  Keeping this quiet, that ain't gonna happen, but it's going to be even worse if it just keeps spiraling out of control.

Cantrell had made it so clear.  Well, not really, but it made a lot more sense if it was true.

"All right, he's gone.  You two both listen to me and listen real good.

"Deputy Bear, you talked to me about them Indian spirits that'd been summoned right, them Ashtak ones with the long funny names I wired in to dispatch?  An' someone mentioned undead yankees, and I seen weird stuff here myself.

"My momma didn't believe in coincidences and I don't either."  Wildcat addresses Carl.  "I don't think your boss man is necessarily up to somethin' bad on purpose, but he is right in the middle of it.  I don't think yer boss is behind them killers, or they wouldn't have used you guys as cannon fodder like that.  Also you outta know he's got a whole laundry list of bounties, names I don't know.  If some of yers are wanted, it's in their best interest to hood wink this Cantrell feller with me.

"Mah guess is Ward or someone he's got out there is doin' some weird stuff over there, unnatural stuff with them Indian spirits.  But the Adders and the Marshal and the deputies and all the other bystanders fightin' tooth and nail over the town... Ward probably don't know the whole of what's going on here, reckon?

"This here's just my gut, my gut and nothin' else talkin', but ah think Ward's the key to all this.  You done told me you killed the man called Frost for what he done to the town th' other night.  I think it's because he don't want no conflict with Evans, right?  Ah reckon he has something to do with the judge not ever stopping here too.  Ward wants this town to be private, no accountability to outsiders, same as the Dust Adders so it makes sense he'd bring them on.  Only he's hidin' somethin'.

"Ah think whatever Ward is doing over there, he's got you Adders on to discourage anyone from peerin' in on it, and he probably has a good reason for that, but think about what Cantrell said.  It ain't me personal them killers is after, they're after me because Rangers have jurisdiction to go poking around places Evans can't.  I represent a wild card in Ward's plans, even though I probably couldn't stop him with all ya'll around, why take the chance if you've got something riding on it?

"What if'n someone, who ain't us, Ward, the Marshall, nobody we know of yet, don't want me to discover what Ward is doing over there with all what Charging Bear done told me about.  I reckon they reckon I'd try to stop it, and they don't want it stopped!

"Ah think someone knows what Ward is really doing, an' wants him to do it, an' it's what's causing all these problems.  Only Ward don't know how bad it really is  here because everyone's trying to kill each other instead of jawin' to each other.  Someone wants to destroy this town, and they're playing all sides against the middle.  Ward is using you guys to keep his privacy.  We're too busy fighting you to investigate him and mess with whatever he's doin'.

"This whole time I been thinkin' it was Ward using th' Adders to terrorize the town... an' don't look at me like that, first thing I seen when I got here was you guys shooting at people.  Fact is, yer boss had it under control... but someone else wants him to keep it that way, ya reckon?  Someone's playing your boss like a fiddle.  Ah've got to talk to him.  Ah've got to, make him stop it before it gets worse.  You know the difference between right and wrong after all, so help me dammit."

She shifts her view back to Charging Bear.

"So here's the plan.  Cantrell ain't dumb, he'll get that key back here one way or th' other.  I turned his greed on him, he'll make sure the quiet man here gets out at sunrise.  Charging Bear... ah, I can't base whether to let you stay or go based on what ifs, it's nothin' personal.  I couldn't live with the guilt if they lynched ya and I just stood there and I couldn't live with the guilt if you actually did any of those things and I let you loose.  But I have got to go back to the telegraph, but that could mean leaving you alone with Cantrell.  I won't do that if you don't want me to.  Ah have no right to ask either.  But I am asking, will you take that chance?  And if Austin lets you go, will you come with me?  Ward knows you, and you know what them spirits is called... it would help."

OOC:  That turned out really long... sorry.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:52, Mon 22 Nov 2010.

Carl resumed pacing as though bored or feeling the cold at Wildcat's speech, but when Cantrell turns his back he limits himself to one wall, nodding for Charging Bear to go towards the door where Wildcat can see him better and not have to raise her voice. He's still shirtless, happier now he's dried off; as he moves away in his pacing the barred light flickers over his left arm, tracing a history of probably-unecessary knife fights and sundry other defensive injuries. He'll consider coming over if called, but is otherwise content to pace and listen.

He nods as to Ward's semi-obliviousness, and shudders once, suddenly and helplessly, when Wildcat gets to the mention of 'someone'. He nods to her suggestion of talking to Ward - Carl will let the boss know he means to kill her anyway, so Ward can talk to her freely - and makes a quick mime of writing something, apparently after paper or something to make marks with.

Wildcat will look around for something to write on and with.  Not being much for reading and writing herself, that's one thing that ain't in the war bag.

With a smile, Charging Bear says, "Life is about chances Ms Hawkins, I'll take one for you. I didn't hurt Rose or anyone else that poster said I did. Cantrell's always had it out for me, even back in our CSA days."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Mon 22 Nov 2010.

"Thank you Deputy Bear.  As fer you-"  she turns back to Carl.  "-I let you out of here, you go back to yer boys and sleep, not necessarily in that order.  Talk to this Dave, whatever you have to do.  I will have to sleep too.  We don't have time for it, but neither of us can be exhausted for this, because I'm ridin' back with ya'll.  When the clock strikes two, out in front of the Grand Bull... unless I get kilt between now and then, a distinct poss'bility here.

"It ain't my idea of good company, but I can't go there alone or I'll just be a moving target, and I can't take more manpower away from the Marshall.  We already seen the assassins're cowards an' afraid of ya'll.  They won't jack with you."

OOC:  If I find any paper or such I'll let him have it.

"Charging Bear... I want to believe you, mostly because I want to believe those terrible things didn't happen to her.  Ah just... Ah can't make that decision that way.  I've got to get some confirmation."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Mon 22 Nov 2010.

As Wildcat searches for writing utensils, in the darkness up stairs a figure lurks.

Hidden and crouching up near the stairwell, Cantrell suppresses a chuckle. He was a former slave...he knew the signs of being dismissed so that the white folk could talk. He made damn sure he was always within earshot of such conversations ever since the one that he'd missed that ended with his master's decision to sell his mama down the river.

So. This "Ward" person was knee deep in some dark dealings, eh? You're gonna regret no keeping me in your confidence, girl, he thought to himself as he crept away to go fetch the keys from the Marshal. I could've been a great help for you, but I don't cotton to being kept out of the loop.

With that thought to comfort him, he left the building, to head for the Saloon that had had such helpful people within before.

Per The Stray's OOC Comment, she presents the improvised writing tools with her apologies.

Carl waits until Charging Bear's moved out of the way a bit, then looks bemused at Wildcat's offerings, taking the charcoal and gesturing for her to pull a flap of her warbag within reach. If he gets this, he'll concentrate and start drawing - bold lines rather than sketchy, so she can look at and remember them before scrubbing them away.

When he's finished, there'll be an unnerving little collection of Masonic-type cult symbols, some Charging Bear might recognise as having been set into the summoning-circle, the largest a sort of triangular construction with a crescent and weeping eye set into it. He catches her eye pointing to that one, like 'Them.'

He raises an eyebrow, holding up two fingers - one might surmise he's querying whether she wants to meet just after midnight or after siesta.

Wildcat looks at the symbols, mesmerized.  Damn, how deep did this go?

15:55, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 4,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. knowledge Occult.

Anything?

"Th' afternoon.  Won't do much good to ride out plumb tired for either you or me, will it?  You ain't slept one wink since ya been here and I ain't neither."

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #32):



[[OOC: The symbols are vaguely familiar to her...she's seen the crescent and weeping eye one before, at least. It's a masonic sign...the Enlightened Society of the Weeping Moon, a gentleman's lodge that Lt. armstrong had mentioned in a fairly negative fashion. They talk about "bringing progress through the application of traditional methods in new endeavors," and gets frequently confused with the Freemasons.]]

Carl leans against the bars, very aware of Charging Bear's position beside him, and hopes she'll have the sense to at least keep that flap shut until she's transferred the images and/or scuffed them off. He gives her half a tight twist of smile and nods over at Charging Bear as their reason for insomnia, though the staying awake doesn't seem to have much outward effect on the cattlehand.

"Thank you... that helps a bit.  Might help me explain things to Ward in a way he'll understand."  She'll wipe it clean, seeing no reason preserve such a thing.

Wildcat just shrugs in reference to Charging Bear.  "I'm playin' jailer, I can't be snoozin' anyway."

Charging Bear simply shrugs and returns to his corner, as he's gotten the distinct impression that Carl doesn't much care for him.

As Charging Bear returns to his corner, he notices that someone is already curled up there. Which is odd, because there shouldn't be more than two people in this cell.

The figure is dressed in black, and has a wide-brimmed hat pulled down over it's face.

"Get your own spot, Injun." the thing growls in a familiar Cajun accent. "This one's mine."

What the flying fuck?   Does Wildcat see this, or is it all just in Charging Bear's head?  Well it could all be in my head too for that matter...

In reply to Ol' Snake Eyes (msg #37):

Charging Bear's face grows pale and he grabs his chest.

OOC: As Spectral Gunman aren't every day I figured I'd roll Guts...
10:03, Today: Charging Bear rolled -1,3 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Guts (+2 Grit, -4 Fear Level).
10:05, Today: Charging Bear rolled 41 using 1d20+4, rerolling max with rolls of (20+17)37. Fear Table.
That would be a heart attack.... ugh!

[[OOC: Yup, that would be a Guts check...for everyone, not just you. Charging Bear incapacitated and must roll Vigor at -2. If you succeed, you're Shaken and can't recover for 1d4 rounds. If you fail, you're dead in 2d6 rounds unless someone can heal you [Heal check at -4]. Whee!]]

Charging Bear feels his heart freeze up, and he collapses on the ground. The ghostly black figure stands and chuckles. "All that strength, and he done collapses at the sight of me."

"Hey there, Carl." The ghost in black says, drawing a pistol and advancing towards the Dust Adder. He pushes his hat up, revealing the face of Nathanial Frost, still with a bloody hole in his temple, his hat hiding the missing half of his skull. His eyes have turned green and snake-like. "We gots to have some words."

Wildcat hears Charging Bear fall over, looks up...and sees the ghostly figure rise and advance on Carl, though she can't here anything it says...

OOC:
10:31, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,8 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+4)10. Vigor vs Heart Attack.
Success with a raise!

[[OOC: Ok. That makes you Shaken, but you can recover normally.]]

Charging Bear slowly gets back to his feet, his face still pale.

OOC:
11:01, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. Unshake (Spirit).

11:24, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 5,14 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+2)14. Requested Guts check, -4/+2.

I messed up that's actually a 12, but that'll do!  I ain't afraid of no ghost!


Wildcat, stupidly, pulls her gun and points it at the spectral intruder, unable to know it just spoke, but she's still thinking it's after the inmates due to Charging Bear's apparent peril.  That, and it's advancing on Carl with a gun in its hand.

"Hey, no one arrested you!  Get the hell out of my jail!  Put that weapon down and keep the hell away from him!"

It's a strangely maternal anger, like the man who promised to kill her and the man she had to arrest for possible rape charges are her cubs and she's a frightened mama bear.

Dammit...  Her mind searches for a way to get in there... but there simply isn't one.  She steadies her aim, standing with the bore between two bars, meaning to shoot this thing for all the good it won't do, but shooting things like this is where Wildcat's mind always goes first.

OOC:  Drawing a gun, and if there's time for another action, taking the Aim action.  Incidentally, does the gun look solid or spectral?  If it happens to look solid I'm aiming at that.  I don't know why it would but it's worth mentioning just in case.