Sundown, April 10th 1879. Blackthorn Creek

The Coach finally rolls to a stop. The weather is clearing...it's only sprinkling now. But they'd lost time due to a damaged wheel, which everyone had been needed to help fix.

Ward collected everyone, and pointed down the slope of the gully towards the swollen creek. "He's here, in this area, according to my information. We'll need to fan out to form an effective search...we've lost a lot of time thanks to that blasted wheel, and we have precious little daylight left. It is possible we may have to make camp out here tonight."

He counts up the people with him. "One of us should stay with the coach...the rest will pair up into three teams. We'll need to work quickly...the Comanches who did this may still be watching this area."

"So...who goes with whom?"

Augustus glances around at the others as he ties a scarf over his bowler hat, in an attempt to further protect his earpiece from the dampness.  He considers the gathered "companions"; weighing his options as to who might be the safest to travel with.  But really, its a quick decision for the scientist.  There's really only one amongst them who he has come to know well enough to really trust and understand.  Fitting really as he has rebuilt this entity numerous times.  Stepping forward, weapon in hand, "I believe I should like to pair off with Alouette.  Should keep us both safe from...."  At this he casts a narrow-eyed look to Shaw and takes a firmer grip on his sonic gun, "Any miscreants which may be about."

Alouette looks up at the sky and around a bit, then points onward down towards the creek. "Seek - yonder!" It declares, and starts off in a direction to search, giving a powerful, confident impression of having absoloutely no idea where it's going and twice the enthusiasm of a St.Bernard.

Well, a lot of that stranger crap was making some sense. it sounded insane, but it was something closer to an comprehensive explaination of what exactly could happen.. Yet before she could ask more of the machine, they wheel on the carriage had broken just she she was finally able to rest under a good blanket and become a bit more dry. The rain had ceased it's heavy fall and left only sprinkling droplets to peper the murky ground.

Ward, whom seemed to have been in better condition ealier, seemed to have been shot. It caused a faint lift of her brow, perhaps he challenged someone good with a gun to a duel. Green eyes shift over as Allouette charges out and Augustus plans to stay near the queer machine.

" It's leavin ya in da dust. Go aft'r it, den." She murmured without interest, even though she would have seen to it herself, at least to keep it safe as she doubted the sickly fellow could.  It was brushed out of her mind since she had to move to find Zhang. She pulled on her coolie to keep the water off her head.

" John. We'll cover more ground seperated so.. " She glanced to Gus, for a moment, and then to the valley hill. " I got Doctor Ward. Y'all holler up, if ya spot a head in da murk. " She moved forward and gave the Doctor an eying in her passing.

"Sounds good." he said. He looked at Gus and shrugged. "I guess that leaves you an' me." John said to Gus. He turned and scanned the horizon, somewhere out there was his master, mentor, and hell, the closest thing to a father he could recall, not that was saying much. He was about to head out when he paused "How shall we contact eachother ifn' we find him? An' should we take shovels or somethin' seein' as you said he was buried, or do we have any?"

Gus shrugs. "Yup. Suppose so." He doesn't seem quite as boisterous as he was earlier.

As the pairs split off, Ward opens the luggage trunk of the coach and pulls out a pair of shovels. "I did not bring more than this, as I did not expect to have more pairs of hands." he says apologetically as he hands one over to John.

"Now, when we find him, shouting out should suffice to get the attention of the others. If it is not, that is why we are in pairs. One of the pair can run to find the others."

With that, he moves off in a different direction, with Gangatsu following.

[[OOC: OK, teams. To find this guy, you're going to need to make Notice rolls a -3 (-1 for the twilight, -2 for it being a small target) or Tracking at -1. If you've got any ideas on how to compensate for some of the penalties (such as Alouette's magic sensor or John's idea of trying to feel out his mentor), go ahead and run the ideas past me--if successful, you can reduce the penalty by 2.]]

John accepts the shovel and takes a moment to breath and center himself. His chi isn't as focused as he'd like but after a moment he opens his eyes and heads off at a brisk jog "This way." he says to Gus without preamble his eyes scanning the ground for any sign that his master might be about.


 John Smith rolled 13,4 using d4-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (4+4+4+2)14,5. Notice. ]

"You sure about that?" Gus grunts, but he follows along nonetheless.

John can feel the old man's energy. It's faint, and ebbing fast, but it's still there. John spots a a small, round object on the shore near the rising creek...a silver-haired head.

"Damn." Gus mutters. "That was fast. HEY! OVER HERE! WE FOUND HIM!"

He turns and looks at John. "So who is this guy, anyhow?"

Spied the silver hair and rushed forward as best he could on the soggy ground. "He saved my life, took me in when I was a shell of a man, taught me a lot of things." he said as he moved. "He may not lookit but he can scrap betterin' you or I combined." he said with a smile, he may not have a lot of pride in himself but pride in his master was something else. "Granted he's not the one to go pickin' fights." He'd leave it at that for the time being as he found himself focusing on the task at hand. No sooner than he'd arrive would be do his best to determine which direction Xhang was facing and begin digging, careful not to plunge the spade into him. "Need to get him air and quick."

Gus nods. "Yeah. I see." he says, a determined look on his face. "Folks like that are worth looking out for."

The old man is unconscious, which is good for him because they buried him facing the creek, probably so he could watch it rise towards him during the storm. He's breathing shallowly...not much room to draw a breath in the pit he's stuck in.

Gus bends down and starts clearing loose mud away from the man, uncovering shoulders and giving John room to dig around him.

"I think he's been poisoned." He says, feeling the old man's pulse. "Pulse is irregular, and he's a bit feverish. He's hung on this long, though, so the Doc should be able to help him."

Alouette hasn't got very far when it hears Gus' call and goes loping that way (not all that fast, since the clank's not great at rough wet terrain). If it gets there uninterrupted it'll take the opposite side of the man to John and start digging like a tireless mechanical dog.

She didn't mind being behind Ward, it gave her a moment to eye him over, but that would have to wait. She heard Gus calling and her head whiped over tothe sound, almost making the coolie slip off her head. " Have mercy.." She started, breaking into a run down the way and she could see the glittering metal can sprinting along and digging like a dog, Gus looming over the silvery head sticking out of the mud and checking his vitals. She got to a clear spot and dug with ehr hands if she needed, the wet earth was moved away in clumps.

Gangatsu rolled 2,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. hear gus +2. Total is 4

Augustus did his best to keep up with the tireless machine, "Alouette!  Slow down!"  But to little avail.  The scientist skids and slips on the damp ground in his attempts to follow along.  Just as he's about to catch up tot he machine, Mr. Shaw calls out.  At which point, the automaton is off again and so is the poor scientist.  By the time he catches up to the others, he is quite winded.  This is all a bit much for an educated man.  He looks over all the digging and wonders just what to do (digging himself doesn't occur to him at all).  But, a sudden inspiration does strike him.  He slings his sonic rifle over a shoulder and draws up his strange trumpet.  Fiddling with the keys for a moment, he aims the bell towards the buried man and begins playing a complex collection of tones.  Calling it music would be too kind....

OOC - Mad Science 5 to Boost Vigor.

With the combined efforts of everyone gathered around the old man, the digging moves quickly. Even Augustus's odd tune seems to help, as the man breathes easier and a bit of color returns to his face (though he doesn't wake). However, the sun is fully down and only the moon is providing any light to the group by the time the soil is cleared away enough to pull him free. Gus and John lay him out on the ground while ward bends over him to examine the man.

"Hmm...He's been shot. Looks like an arrow. I believe the arrowhead is still in the wound. I can pull it out, but not here. We need to get him back to the ranch house."

There's a sound in the distance...sounds like a coyote howling. Except not quite. There's a few more rising up, too...and these sound more human. There not coyote howls...they're war whoops.

"Damn!" Gus says. "Comanches! We need to get back to the coach, now! Anyone with a gun oughta get it ready!"

Augustus' tonal interlude tapers off a bit at the warning.  He swallows hard and slowly lowers his trumpet, "C-c-comanches?  Of course.  That would have to be what would happen next...."  He re-slings his instrument and draws back up again his sonic gun.  The key is wound and an eerie triple note sound fills the air.  Settling the stock to his shoulder, he tries to put some steel in his spine and voice, "I shall cover our retreat as best I can.  But please....hurry..."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Wed 24 Nov 2010.

Digging the man out wasn't the easiest, but all the help made it swift. The doctor settles up the analysis and damn, it's going to be some time for her to actually worry about the old man. The howl of men in the distance didn't made her feel any better, but it did bring a silent anger to her gut Why would they be coming back now? It didn't make sense.

" John, gimme a hand movin 'im." She spoke lowly and moved to grab his Zhang's knees, she stayed squat down until they could lift and move the man to the coach.

It would become clear that John wasn't the strongest of men though he gripped Xhang by the arms and did his best to haul him along. He looked to the others to see what they were doing, after all, the more help the better.

Yeah, Gangatsu wasn't a push over when it came to strength. As long as John could hold on, they could make it over their in a quick enough manner. Zhang was only a hundred and thirty or some odd pounds.

" Ya gunna pass out, John?" Openly picking on the man when he glanced to the others that were covering the retreat.  " Just up, o'er dale d'en we'll get outta here." She murmured. " Allouette, lend yer help in carrying, woul'ja.." She spoke a bit more grimly with a mild sniff, this cold weather was going to be hell on her tomarrow, but at least she could see the carriage now. There was hope ta get out of this quickly.

Alouette obediently nudges in and carries the Chinaman wherever directed. Static murmurs within it as though stirred by the howls around rather than the movement.

Some Mood Music

The motley crew manages to get back to the coach, especially since Gus also lends a hand.

"Hey! Abraham!" he shouts up to the negro butler. "We got trouble!"

"Trouble?" the man yelps, alarmed. "What sort of trouble?"

"Whole mess o' Comanche ridin' down on us!" Gus yanks the door of the coach open. He points to Augustus and John. "So we're gonna need gunners. Someone take shotgun next to the driver, and someone else can hang out o' the door as we ride to pop off shots as the incomin'. I'll take the roof. There might be room for one other up there, but I don't think any one else has a gun."

"I have my derringer." Ward says, pulling the weapon. It looks ludicrously tiny, though Alouette can feel that odd, bound urge from within it to cause harm.

"Er...you hang on to that, Boss. Save it to spare Sue from the Comanches if we get caught." Gus looks back at the others. "Well? What are you waitin' for? Git movin!"

[[OOC: Here's the stats for the coach.

Large coach
Acc/TS: 4/8+d6; Toughness: 10 (2); Crew: 1+7. Your driver is Abraham, who has d6+2 Driving (from the Ace edge) but no wild die.

Anyone sitting Shotgun can gain Light or Medium cover depending on where they're being fired at from). Anyone on the roof gets Medium cover for being Prone. Anyone popping of shots by hanging out the door gains Heavy cover, but must succeed on an Agility check as a free action each round to be able to line up a shot.

Shooting penalties are: -2 (Unstable Platform), -1 (Dim light)]]

John, with help, hauls his master into the carriage and does his best to make him comfortable. "I'll take the door." he said as he stuffs his hands into his pockets making sure he has his river stones. He didn't like showing off that particular ability but it wasn't like the Comanches were going to give him much choice to get up close in a fight and John couldn't shoot worth shit. He looked at Gangatsu and nodded to her before taking his position, she was the only one he thought would properly protect Xhang should he fall, Ward might nurse him back to health but the Doctor had no obligation beyond his gentlemans honor. He still wasn't clear on Xhang and Su's relationship but from what he could ken she was just as interested in keeping him alive as he was. Not going to lose you now that I've found you old man.

Augustus turns his attention around to Shaw from where he had been watching the perimeter.  The scientist's eyes seem stranger, larger pupils that flash an eerie red as he turns.  "Mr. Shaw," he begins indignantly, holding out his humming sonic weapon for review, "I can assure you that my invention is more effective than any mere /gun/.  To prove said effectiveness, I shall take the /shotgun/ seat."  With that, he heads over to climb up next to Abraham, again the flash of red eyes, "To be honest, I am quite tired of being trapped inside coaches under attack." Settling into his seat, he prepares his inventions for the coming engagement, "These savages shall rue the day!" His voice drops quieter a moment, "Of course its very likely we'll all be shot with arrows and scalped, but at least I will have tried...  Oh very nice...very helpful cmmentary indeed....  Keep your naysaying to yourself."

Alouette, typically, has already got moving in entirely the wrong direction after handing the old man over. Whilst everyone else was involved in frantic movement, it quietly ambled off towards the sound of the enemy, presumably to tell them to 'cease' and be nice.

It tries to climb a low rock to see further, but can't quite cope with the wet surface and so moves around it. Anyone observing the clank might note an abrupt shift in its deportment: its awkwardness suddenly has more of the grounded bird than the clumsy child to it. It raises its brass 'beak' to the clouds, seems to listen as though for something half-heard.

The cry of some vast hawk rends the damp air - not angry this time, though hurt, but calling.

In reply to Alouette (msg #23):

There's an answering call to Alouette's screech, high up in the air. It's not a hawk's cry of greeting...it's a owl's cry of warning, a cry meant to scare off one imposing upon another's territory. A cry that promises violence if not heeded.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:18, Wed 24 Nov 2010.

Alouette bobs its head and twitches it to watch the sky in a strangely lifelike fashion, static sparking between brass fingertips, then seems to decide the brawl isn't worth it and hops aside...though its head swings towards the approaching riders with a certainty of more than sight and the hawk gives a warcry as it's backing off.

It's a wild sound, grief-shot, inhuman and furious, enough to chill any predator-fearing blood.

The automaton backs a few steps towards the coach (or at least where it was a minute ago) before it shakes itself. "Static error." It proceeds to just stand there unless yelled at to do otherwise.

"Howdy Pure-Blooded Comanches!"

The oncoming horses waver a bit at the screech, but the riders are experts at urging their horses on.

"Friend Alouette!" comes a call from Ward. "Would you kindly get inside the coach? We need to be leaving now!"

Flashing red eyes catch a glimpse of the approaching Comanches finally, along with the wayward machine.  Joining in Dr. Ward entreaties, Augustus yells, "Alouette!  Come back here at once, we need you!" The scientist then hefts his sonic gun to his shoulder and begins taking aim at the riders; silently cursing his weapon's short range.

entering the wagon, John kept Zhang where he would be comfortable, the fellows helped lug him up the road. The gunners taking their places, she spared a light nudge to Gus' arm as she made her way inside. Staying down a bit on the floor, leaning against the seat with the sheathed blade closer to her.  She heard the shouting for Alouette and she leaned out the window.

" Hurry up and get o'er 'ere." She barked, it was like trying to get a dog out of the crow field, but unfortunately, she didn't want it to get lost. It held too much information..

Alouette trots over and does its best to get in, inquiring of the occupants: "Why are we going away?"

"The Pure Blooded Comanches aren't happy to see us, they want to hurt us unless we leave, fast." he said to Alouette, if their is sarcasm in his tone it doesn't show, he peered out the open window of the car. No need to provide them with a target just yet. He turned his attention back out to the oncoming enemy and assumes the driver doesn't need him to tell him to get a move on.

Some mood music

Abraham does, indeed, know when to move without being told. As soon as the door closes he snaps the reigns, sending the coach into motion. however, given how heavy the coach is, along with all the passengers within it, it takes a while getting up to speed.

Which is bad, because the Comanches, whooping and hollering and firing shots into the air, have just crested the hill...

[[OOC: Remember that you have a -2 penalty when firing from the coach, and a -1 penalty from the dim light. This applies to any arcane attacks.]]

Initiative:

John Smith: AD
Abraham: KS
Comanches: 10C
Augustus Spotswood: 8H
Gus Shaw: 6C
Others inside (Gangatsu, Alouette, Dr. Ward): On hold (unless you can think of an action that can get you invovled in the running fight)

John Smith is up first!

Alouette ticks a bit, then recalls what Mr.Mickelthwait said about taking things from the ground and how that made one liable to be exploded by those who claimed it.
"A legal dispute," it confirms, and leans to see what it can out of the windows without getting in the way, crouched on a seat and holding onto it.

As the coach jolts along, static sounds from the clank increase in volume like gathering clouds until it speaks, pointing across at a distant Comanche: "They wear the sound of the song that makes men bulletproof; horse folk fear a threat to horses." It looks up and onward. "If the death-owl gorges on the rattlesnake a spread wing over the Drowned One may suffice."

John smith peers out the window cautiously waiting for the Comanches to get closer before he places his hands together and and mutters something in Cantonese taking a breath and then expelling it when he opens his eyes as he focuses his mind on his surroundings giving him a faint bit of precognition as to where attacks may strike.

Abraham lashes the reigns, urging the horses into a full gallop. However, moving the coach is no easy task, and the Comanches begin to gain ground.

[[OOC: Using the Chase Rules to abstract the chase a bit.

Abraham attempts to pull ahead.

Abraham rolled 7 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Drive faster! Success...he gets to move 1 Range Increment further from the charging horsemen.

The Comanches have a +1 bonus to their Ride roll for being slightly faster than the coach is, and they make their roll as a group, so it gets a wild die.

Comanche Raiders rolled 7,5 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4

Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. red chip.

The comanches get to move 2 Range increments closer. They are now 20 squares (5 range increments) behind the coach.

Next round: Comanche Raiders 10H, Abraham 10D]]

Augustus is next.

Augustus' eyes widen at the sight of the onrushing Comanches.  His mind whirls, calculating speeds and distances.  Still arriving at the same answer.  His sonic rifle is simply ineffective at these ranges...  But there must be something...  "Ha!" shouts the scientist in elation at his inspiration.  He reaches down to take up his box device in a hand, his rifle left to hang from its sling.  The box is directed back towards the indians.  Fingers quickly adjust dials and switches as he attempts to tune in on the onrushing horses.  As he dials, he shouts, "Hello!  To any Comanche horse!  This coach is dangerous!  If you wish to not be harmed and save your rider, turn away!"

OOC - Mad Science 6 to gain control of a Comanche Horse for 10 minutes.

Initiative Draw - 9D

[[OOC: Nice use of powers, Augustus. That costs you 7 pp from that device (base 3 + 4 for the size), and one of the Comanches is really, really confused right now. You've certainly been getting you points worth out of that power, haven't you?]]

One of the horsemen suddenly wheels around and rides off in the opposite direction at Augustus' plea.

Gus gives him a confused look, obviously trying to figure out how that just worked. Coming up empty, he shakes his head and pops off a shot at the nearest Comanche. Or rather, that Comanche's horse.

The shot strikes true, if only causing a flesh wound. The horse rears up, forcing it's rider to scramble to hold on. While he does, he falls further and further behind the others.

[[OOC: Gus Shaw takes a shot at the horse. he has Darkvision, so he ignores the dim light penalty, but he still has the Unstable Platform and Distance penalties to deal with, for a total of -4

Gus Shaw rolled 3,-1 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3. Shooting! Not quite enough, thanks to penalties. Gus spends one of his personal Red Ships to improve his roll.

Gus Shaw rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. red chip. That's enough to hit.

Gus Shaw rolled 10 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. Damage. that's high enough to make the Warhorse Shaken. The Comanche has to make a Riding check or be thrown off, and drops back 10 squares (2 Range increments).

Comanche Raiders rolled 4 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Ride to avoid bucking. He succeeds, but now has a Shaken mount and no way of catching up until his Mount unshakes. With the Mind Whammy Augustus put on the other horse, that means two riders effectively out of the fight.

Next round: Gus Shaw drew the single card: AH]]

---

Next round:

Gus Shaw: AH
Comanche Raiders: 10H
Abraham: 10D
Augustus: 9D
John Smith: 4C
Others inside the coach: Still on hold
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Fri 26 Nov 2010.

PM

"Ha HA! Gotcha, ya red nigger!" Gus shouts as the Comanche drops back, but there's still ten more indians, who whoop and holler and get even closer.

And even the one Gus shot at is not out of the fight just yet. He steadies him horse, then aims his rifle. Gus howls as the bullet rips though his shoulder, and slumps over. It seems the coach has just lost one of it's defenders.

Abraham tries to spur the horses on, but the unholy howling of Gus breaks his concentration some, and he has to scramble to keep hold of the reigns. Looks like it's up to the other defenders to keep the Comanches back.

[[OOC: Gus Holds his action to fire at the Comanches when they draw closer.

The Comanches try to Push their mounts to get closer.

Comanche Raiders rolled 5,0 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. riding up like demons! That moves them 10 squares closer (2 range increments), putting them 10 squares away.

The Comanche with the Shaken horse attempts to unshake his horse and take a shot at Gus. The Comanche has -2 range, -1 dim light, -2 cover, but no Unstable Platform thanks to Steady hands. And since the horse is the one doing the unshake action, no Multi-Action penalty.

Comanche Raiders rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Unshake. Success, but he gets even further behind this round.

Comanche Raiders rolled 14 using 1d6-5, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+6+1)19. Shooting! Lucky shot. That's a hit and raise.

08:48, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 27,9 using 2d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,(8+4)12,(6+3)9. Damage. Total of 36!!! That's 7 wounds for Gus, but since the max is 4, all extra wounds are lost.

Gus burns a chip and attempts a soak.

Gus Shaw rolled 2,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+4)10. soak roll. That's 2 wounds, leaving Gus with 2 wounds and Shaken.

Gus uses his held action to attempt to Unshake. Gus Shaw rolled 2,3 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. Unshake. Fail. Gus remains Shaken this turn.

After this, Abraham tries to pull ahead. Abraham rolled 3 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Drive! Fail. The coach stays where it is relative to the Comanches.

Next round:

Comanches: 7H
Gus: 10S
Abraham: 10C  ]]

Augustus is up next

Gus' holler of pain comes down through the roof, causing the automaton's head to jerk upward. There's a soft, pleased-sounding noise from the clank before the static cuts out, like some bird of prey that's just gulped down a mouse.

OOC: To move things along, I'm placing Augustus on hold.

---

John Smith, you're up next

John finishes gathering his chi, his vision blurs for a moment before his mind gets used to seeing everything in slow motion, he fishes out his riverstones and readies three in his hand preparing to pop out the window and launch them at the pursuing enemy. Hearing Gus's cry of pain he gives a grimace, he was not keen on how ready the man was to shoot up Alouette but he was even less keen on losing a defender of the carriage.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Sat 27 Nov 2010.

Ward also seems to be concentrating on something. He's pulled off his tophat, and is muttering something in Latin. There's a small silver charm in one of his hands.

Up on top, while Augustus is still making the other Comanche's horse dance away, Abraham beings cursing. "Oh Lord..." he mutters, then shouts down to the people inside. "Hold on, everyone! Brace yourselves! There's a culvert up ahead...I'm going to try and steer clear!"

---

Initiative:

John Smith: RJ! (+2 to actions and damage)
Gus: 10S
Abraham: 10C
Comanches: 7H
Dr. Ward: 2D
Augustus: On hold
Others inside: On Hold

This was queer. She was beside the unconscious Zhang, John was hanging out the window, the Machine was click around with some weird words she was mentally keeping note of while Doctor Ward sat in silence as the carriage shook on the dirt trail. It was a slow start, but they were picking up a little speed, yet not enough. She could hear the whooping getting louder and the gun fire from above.. A strange sound, must have been Augustus' queer invention. Horses neigh, the drumming of hooves still approaching.

Above, she heard the howl of the gun men and a heavy thunk.. The bird thing cooed  in delight and she suddenly felt uncomfortable with that. Uncomfortable with concern, really. She shouldn't feel anything at all. Dammit. She's getting too soft. She push that dark thought and pride away to fish the dynamite from her bag, three cylinder scarlet sticks bound together. The fuse was too short to light it up. She placed the candle like things into the blanket and started to roll it up in a firm bundle, unhilted the blade from it's yaiba to slit the material and cut off the excess.  Tying it shut, she doused a little funny smelling fluid.. Oil.. To help the fabric burn quickly. She fitted the loop under the tethering knot into the wooden scabard.

" Doc, got a light?" She started, talking over the noisey road, abraham was a quick second coming. Damn, she really was starting to miss traveling on foot.


Gangatsu pulls 10C

Augustus, pleased with the success of his invention, continues to broadcast his warning to the Comanche's horses.  In many ways, the horses were far more sensible and reasonable.  The Indian's /know/ we are a danger.  The horses, once informed, choose to give up the chase.  Dumb animals indeed... Gus' shooting seems to only reinforce the scientists warning as well.  "Please!" implores Augustus again, thumbing the transmitter, "Save yourselves and your riders!  Run away and you will remain unharmed!"  He could tell though that the charge on his invention was fading out more quickly than he had guessed.  Still, there was hope that the message would get through.

As Gus is shot and slumps onto the roof, the Scientist feels a momentary bit of glee.  Serves him right...   But then the realization comes that Gus was quite necessary to the defense of the coach.  Abraham's warning reaches him and he gives up his calls to the wild and grabs onto the coach's rails...

OOC - Enough PPs for one more control attempt.  Mad Science 8.  I'm quite pleased with the idea myself and I really do like this invention.

KD Initiative Draw
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Sun 28 Nov 2010.

[[OOC: Placing John On Hold, as it's been 24 hours between combat posts from him]]

Gus groans, but he's holding on. Yeah, the shoulder injury hurt, but he'd been injured worse this very day.

Abraham yanked hard on the reins, coaxing the animals away from the ditch and the certain disaster it portended. The coached swayed sickeningly at the sudden turn, shedding speed and rolling on two wheels for a heart-stopping moment before straightening out with a jolt that rattled bones.

The Comanches took advantage of the slowing carriage. A group of five warriors spur their mounts, circling around the right side of the coach, pulling parallel.

"Goddamn it!" Gus shouts. "We're gettin' surrounded here! Do something in there!"

The other Comanches, hanging back, begin taking shots at the coach itself. One slug punches a tiny hole in the cabin, missing Alouette by a hair's breadth. The coach jolts as another bullet strikes the metal binding of the rear axle, screeching as it ricochets away. There's a whoop of triumph from the Comanches as a whole at the damage.

"We'll just see about that." Ward mutters as he finishes his incantation. He holds his top hat out the lefthand window.

From out of the hat bursts a dark, squawking, semi-transparent bird with cruel talons and glowing, blood-red eyes. It is swiftly followed by a dozen companions, then a score, soaring out of the hat into the moon-lit sky. The murder sweeps across the battlefield towards the indians in the rear, then descends on the warriors. Shrieks of pain and terror erupt from the cloud of corbies as the birds take down one of the braves, tearing into his flesh and plucking out his eyes. Another brave turns his rose about and runs.

Ward nods in satisfaction and turns to answer Gangatsu, then suddenly convulses. He seizes his chest as his body begins to spasm and jerk...

[[OOC: Gus attempts to recover from Shaken.

Gus Shaw rolled 4,4 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. recover from shaken attempt. Success, but not a raise. He's unshaken, but has no action this turn.

Abraham has to roll to try to avoid collision. The obstacles in this area are Light, so there's no penalty to his roll.

Abraham rolled 9 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7. Avoid Collision! Success and Raise.

Abraham tries to Push his team to go faster (-2, 1 extra Range Increment). Abraham rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. push the horses! Fail.

The Comanches split into two groups.

One group attempts to close on the coach, while the other shoots at the wheels, trying to damage it.

Comanche group 1: Comanche Raiders rolled 08 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+4)10. push the horses! Success and raise. That's three range increments for them.

Comanche Group 2: Comanche Raiders rolled 8,1,0,5 using d8-1,d8-1,d8-1,d8-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,2,1,6. Shooting! two hits, one with a Raise.

Damage with Raise: 8
Damage without Raise: 4

Abraham only has to make one Drive check. Abraham rolled 5 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Keep control! Success.

Dr. Ward summons a flock of Spirit Ravens to fight against the Comanches.
Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 2,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. spellcasting. Hmm. spending a White Chip on this.

Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 1,11 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+5)11. white chip. Success and Raise, but is also Shaken from the Backlash.

The Ravens go to work, dealing their Automatic Damage to the Comanches caught in the template. One Comanche takes 3 damage, the other 13 and is downed. The one who wasn't hurt still has to make a Guts roll at the sudden appearance of hundreds of spectral ravens, and rolls a Guts check. He rolls 3 (6 +1 grit -4 for the fear level) and panics at the Bad Medicine being called forth.]]

---

Initiative:
John Smith: On Hold with that RJ!
Augustus Spotswood: KD
Dr. Ward: JS
Gangatsu: 10C
Comanche Group 1: 10C
Abraham: 7H
Comanche Group 2: 7C
Gus: 4C
Alouette: On Hold

John takes a breath, the waiting was killing him but he needed patience to focus, Xhang always spouted about the merits of waiting for that one strike that brought the enemy low while over the thirteen strikes in the hopes that one would hit. Sure there were times when more was better but he had to make these shots count. Finally he felt the time was right and rose out of that window as grim as death, he sited three targets near him and his thumb flashed twice launching two of the river stones, the third one he decided to try something and tossing it in the air he punched it toward the third comanche with an open palm strike extending his chi with the stone using the theory Xhang had taught him about the ghost punch instead of using the chi to launch the stone itself. When he saw all three connect with their targets he resisted the urge to whoop and ducked back into the safety of the carriage.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Mon 29 Nov 2010.

In reply to John Smith (msg #46):

The three stones fly true, and three riders fall.

"Yeah! Good shot!" Gus crows from the top of the coach.

[[OOC: You cannot spend a white chip to reroll just one of the dice...you have to reroll all of them and take the overall better result. So I'll charge you a Red Chip instead and count that as a bonus. If you want to avoid giving me a chip, it'll be a blue instead.

"page 58 of the explorers edition on Bennies":

You can use bennies to reroll any Trait test. Make the entire roll from scratch. if you're firing three shots on full auto and don't like the results, pick up all three dice and your Wild Die and roll again. You can keep spending bennies and rerolling as long as you like, and take the best of the attempts

Their base toughness is 6, and their shirts provide +2 armor, but only against bullets. A bullet is defined as a projectile fired from a gun, sling,

The trapping of your bolt is river stones charged with Chi, so I don't know if those will technically count. So I'll flip a coin...odds. Your sling stones do NOT count as bullets for this.

Most of the Comanches are facing two wounds, except one, who will spend a chip from my pool and attempt to soak. Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3. soak attempt. Fail.

That's three Comanches down]]

Augustus is up next!

Augustus hangs on for dear sweet life as the carriage is put through the turn.  He shuts his red shining eyes, having no desire to see his end come for him.  But the coach lurches back to rights under him.  No time for relief as bullets crack by.  The sound of the ravens is surprising though.  Cracking open his eyes again, the scientist now takes back up his sonic rifle.  Seeing one group of raiders harried by ravens, he takes aim at the other group.  Calling out, to whomever might hear him, "Remind me to inspect my Zoological Evocator when we reach safety!  I was attempting to communicate with horses, not ravens!  Something must be wrong with the modulations in the higher bands!"

OOC - Taking Aim for this round.  Did another comanche horse ride off with its rider from the second use of the machine or did it become moot under an attack of ghost birds?

6S for Init

After a few moments of convulsing, Ward takes a deep breath, and the shivers subside. He reaches into his waistband and produces a match. Wordlessly, he hands it over to Gangatsu.

[[OOC: Dr. Ward attempts to recover from being Shaken. Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 5,11 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+5)11. recover from shaken attempt. Success and Raise, so he spends his action drawing a match for Gangatsu's use.

In response to Augustus: Yes, the other horse Augustus commanded rode off. That's four left behind from the initial dozen: two from Augustus' device, one whose mount was hit by Gus, and one who panicked at the crows.

Next round: Dr. Dexter Ward drew the single card: 2S]]

Gangatsu is up next!

The ride was rough with a swerving jerk and a bouncing landing as the third and fourth wheel touched down. Damn to hell if they could get out of this mess at all.  John poped himself out the window for a moment and did what he did best as a student of Zhang.  The doc spoke of something and took off his top dollar hat and bare it toward the window and a murder of crows burst out of his hat and the entities  viciously attack. over the pounding of hooves, the whoops, and creaking groans of the carriage, she could barely pick up the screaming..

Ha! He is a witch! Fucking knew it! Oh well, now. Time for that later, especially when he seizes and curls a bit. Least there is a pay back for the advances of his magics, though she wasn't glad it hurt him, it only made her a bit curious. Had to hand it to the man, he pulled out a good hat trick.

" Take it easy, Doc." A hand clapped on his shoulder briefly before snatching the match stick away. She shifted to a seat on the right side and struck the match up. she waves it against the top knot and let it start to burn a little, the oil keeping it going even next to the howling window she stuck her lithe frame out from, dropping the 'bundle o joy' out the window.

Card:
Gangatsu: QC

Throw: 6
damage: 8
This message was last edited by the player at 05:06, Tue 30 Nov 2010.

Gangatsu's bomb goes of with a *BOOM!* that rattles the stage a little. One of the Comanches is nearly thown off as his horse rears, and he drops behind. The other one dives off his horse, landing on the back of the stage, where he hangs on for dear life.

"Lord Alimighty!" Abraham shouts at the explosion, but he manages to turn the shock of the sudden burst to his advantage, spurring the horses to greater speeds while keeping them from panicking and losing control.

Meanwhile the Comanches in the rear continue to follow, though they fall behind a bit. The two remaining warriors who haven't been injured, scared off, or carried away by wayward mounts take shots at the coach, though the bullets just ricochet harmlessly off the frame.

Gus cocks his pistol and waits. "Come on, redskin." He growls. "I know yer comin'. Show me that head o' yours so I can blow it into a canoe.."

[[OOC: The bomb goes off. On Comanche is able to dodge out of the way, the other isn't. He takes 8 damage, which makes him Shaken, which means he falls 2 range increments behind and might fall off his horse.

Comanche Raiders rolled 5 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5. remaining horsed!

Comanche Raiders rolled 2 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Unshake

The remaining Comanche in group 1 attempts to leap on to the coach.

Comanche Raiders rolled 14 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14. Pull up along side. Success with raise, after I realized there was no penalty to this roll.
Comanche Raiders rolled 1 using 1d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3. leap on! fail. Spending the last GM red chip. i'm down to whites for now.
Comanche Raiders rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. red chip. Success! The Comanche is now hanging on the back of the coach. He currently has Heavy Cover from Gus until he pulls himself up, unless Gus wants to stand and make himself a target.

Abraham attempts to Push his team out of easy range of the remaining Comanches in Group 2.

Abraham rolled 10 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8. push the horses! Success and raise! The coach pulls ahead three range increments!

The remaining two Comanches attempt to catch up, and I'm no longer rolling group rolls for them since there aren't that many left in the running at the moment. They split their actions between riding to catch up and shooting.

Comanche Raiders rolled 9,8 using d8-2,d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,(8+2)10. Ride... both succeed and raise, closeing the gap by 2 range increments.

Comanche Raiders rolled 03 using d8-3,d8-3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,6...and shoot. Nowhere near close enough.

Gus takes an Aim maneuver, waiting for the redskin crawling on the coach to pop into range.]]

---

Initiative:
Abraham: AS
Gangatsu: QC
John Smith: 8H
Comanches: 8C
Gus: 7C
Augustus: 6S
Dr. Ward: 2S
Alouette: On hold

The carriage jittered and the horses whinny, but the man at the reigns kept them all in check, quite a damn driver. She grinned lightly to herself, but heard a heavy thump on the back of the wagon. Her brow narrowed as she ties the sheathe to her waist.

" John, stay vigil." She uttered the words encouragingly. " I'll be back.. " Her brow narrowed a little as she opened the door against the whipping wind and  the sly fox of a woman slipped out through and managed a hold on the side of hte carriage, closing the door with a controlled movement.  She shifted a little, protective over the side of the frame, a hand slipping to her side to perpare in defense..


Climb: 4

Next round: AD

Alouette had reached for the doctor in seeming concern at the fit, but then flailing with matches dynamite happened and it stayed out of the way.

It crouches back against the thud of a man jumping onto the back of the carriage and listens carefully, static murmuring.
"Shoot here," it suggests to Dr.Ward, pointing at a spot on the carriage roof.

[[4 notice, hawk listening]]

John leans out the side of the carriage and takes aim at one of the Comanche chasing after the group, the carriage is rocking combined with their distance and the dim lighting throw his aim off and the stone flies wide. He ducks back into the carriage with a curse.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:29, Wed 01 Dec 2010.

Abraham snaps the reins, trying to urge more speed from his mounts, but they just can't push any faster.

The Comanches pop off some more shots...one punches through the coach, grazing Dr. Ward's already injured shoulder. He grunts, but it only tore his shirt.

The other bullet, however, snaps the axle.

Some Mood Music

The coach suddenly lurches violently. The reins snap, hitting Abraham in the face. Stunned, he's unable to regain control as the yoke breaks apart, and then the whole coach tips over.

It rolls, going down the embankment towards the creek, sending everyone on top of it flying...

[[OOC: Abraham attempts to push the horses to try to outdistance the Comanches. Abraham rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. push the horses!

The two Comanche on horseback take Steady actions and shoot at the carriage. -1 from vision conditions, but no other penalties.

Comanche Raiders rolled 6,4 using d8-1,d8-1, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Shooting! Both hit the coach.

Comanche Raiders rolled 16,23 using 2d8,2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(8+3)11,(8+8+1)17,6. Damage. That's 1 wound and then 3 wounds, and a lot of driving rolls for poor Abraham.

Abraham spends a chip to try to soak the single wound. Abraham rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Soak attempt. Ouch. Fail.

first Out of control check: Abraham rolled 4 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Out of Control? No. not this first one. The cirtiacl hit from this wound: Crew. a random crew member is hit.


1 Zhang
2 Ward
3 Abraham
4 Gangatsu
5 John
6 Gus
7 Augustus
8 Alouette

Comanche Raiders rolled 2 using 1d8 with rolls of 2. Random person hit. That's Ward

Comanche Raiders rolled 12 using 2d8 with rolls of 5,7. -2 for the target being hit being inside the coach...That's 10. That's a Shaken and a Wound for Ward, who is going to drop one of his red chips to soak. Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 6,1 using d6,d6 with rolls of 6,1. Success. Ward soaks the wound, though he's not happy.

The coach has larger problems, though, because it took 3 more wounds from the last shot, which will put the coach out of commission no matter what happens.

Abraham rolled 4 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 3. Out of Control? No. Not this time, he still has to make one final roll once all these wounds are calculated, though.

Abraham rolled 6 using 2d6. crit hit.
Abraham rolled 7 using 2d6. crit hit.
Abraham rolled 10 using 2d6. crit hit.

Two of the wounds do nothing special. The last wound hits another random member of the crew. The Stray rolled 3 using 1d8. random crew hit.

Abraham! No! Comanche Raiders rolled 5 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Damage. That means Abraham is Shaken. This means the coach falls back 2 range increments.

Worse, it means he can't make the final Out of Control roll to prevent what happens next: The Stray rolled 2 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,1. out of control! Roll-Over! ouch!

Everyone is going to suffer 2d6 damage (Roll your own damage and post the results).

Everyone who was outside the coach can make an Agility check to halve the damage (roll this before you roll the damage). If you raise, you take no damage at all.

Gus Shaw rolled 05 using d8-1,d6-1 with rolls of 1,6. Agility. Success. Gus Shaw rolled 2 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,1. Damage. That's reduced to 1. Lucky skunk isn't even scratched.

The Comanche Raider on the back rolled 7 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Agility. Comanche Raiders rolled 7 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. Damage. Reduced to 4. The Comanche is also uninjured.

Abraham rolled 2 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Agility. Fail. Abraham rolled 6 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Damage. That's a Shaken. Since he was already Shaken, that's a Wound. That puts Abraham down. He's seriously injured, might even be dead.

Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 7 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Damage. That makes Dr. Ward Shaken.

Zhang Hou-ku rolled 6 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Damage. He's already Incapacitated, so being Shaken doesn't really do anything to him.]]

Everyone, roll your Agility tests (if you're outside the coach) and your damage from the roll-over. Once I have that, we'll continue the round on Gus's turn.

 Being outside, she was waiting to get her grip steady and attack the man that hitched on, but the gun fire she heard, the asian kept close to the buggy as it rickets down the way and the loud sound made her jerk a bit, feeling the world starting to tip.

Makes Agility of 4.

Quick on her instinct she released her hold and bailed from the wagon,time seemed to still for a moment as those light eyes watching the carriage start to land upon it's side and grate through the dirt. A grunt, taking the impact, her world spinning in a rampant blur of darkness, dust, and moonlight. Rough ride, but after a little tussel the roll reduced speed and she was laying on the ground.

Gangatsu lost her hat somewhere, she landed a bit on her sword's hand guard, but other hen that she wasn't very hurt.

Rolled a 5, getting halve is 3 damage.

The automaton doesn't cry out or express alarm during the crash and the terrible shaking about, not aware that it's supposed to (though it may learn this fast).

It does, however, chirp up from the tangle of limbs, wood and furnishings inside the coach when the initial tumbling has finished:
"Critical tilt error! Please rearrange sky."

John feels coach lurch and braces himself, when the coach tips he moves with the roll giving the illusion he's walking (or jogging and jumping as the case may be) the coach down the hill like one might an oversized wheel. While he's certainly jostled and the other bodies within the coach don't help him much it doesn't appear to be anything he cannot shake off.

Augustus was still weighing speeds and distances to choose the best time to make his shot when the axle snapped asunder.  From the corner of his eye, he saw Abraham getting whipped across the face and began to reach out to help steady the stalwart servant.   But the world....tilted.  Quite suddenly the scientist was thrown clear of his seat.  Thrown clear of the coach in fact.  Human self-preservation brought him to turn just so, softening the still rough landing with an arm as the coach hurtled past.  No one was more surprised than he that he managed to avoid terrible harm as he quickly found his feet again.  Red eyes agleam and sonic rifle still in hand, he couldn't help but smile, "Ha!  Not /this/ time Cruel Fate!"  Of course, his friends were still in the coach and he was surrounded my wild indians, but let him have the moment.

OOC - Agility roll 4, Damage 6 halved to 3.

The Comanche who had been on the back had also leaped off at the opportune time, and so wasn't injured at all but the rolling carriage. He springs to his feet, and charges at Gus, who is also pulling himself upright. The pair square off, with Gus drawing his wicked Bowie knife and the Comanche brandishing a tomahawk. The pair dance around, swinging, thrusting, and feinting each other, until they finally lunge and collide.

They break, and the Comanche collapses, Gus's knife rammed through his guts.

[[OOC: The Comanche raider on the back stands and leaps at Gus, trying to keep him down. He's Wild Attacking (+2 atk/dmg, -2 Parry), has Dim light (-1 atk), and no other penalties or bonuses (Gus is armed and gets to stand for free as the Comanche rushes him).

Comanche Raiders rolled 4 using 1d8+1, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Fighting! Gus is able to block the strike.

Gus gets to go. He Quickdraws a Bowie knife and strikes back. He has Wounds (-1) and Dim light (-1), so he's going to Wild Attack himself. Gus Shaw rolled 3,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Fighting! That's enough to hit the brave's lowered Parry. Gus Shaw rolled 3,8 using d6,d4+3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(4+1)5. Total of 11, which is enough to Drop the brave (his shirt doesn't protect against the white man's blades, just their guns).]]

It's Augustus's turn.

The fact that his companions were still in the careening coach quickly catches up with Augustus.  Glancing around, he notes the swordswoman still nearby and Gus, who is engaged in a duel with a Comanche.  The other Comanches bearing down.  Bringing his sonic cannon to his shoulder, he takes a quick shot at one of the approaching Indians and then turns to run for the carriage.

OOC - Shooting 10 vs. Raider's Agility or Smarts to evade the Sonic Entanglement!

9H Initiative
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Sat 04 Dec 2010.

some mood music

The sonic device works beautifully, and the Comanche drops from his horse, disoriented and unable to move.

Dr. Ward hit his head then the carriage rolled, but the dizziness passed quickly. He crawls out of the wreckage, and surveys the scene before him. his gaze stops when he sees the broken body of Abraham lying in the grass.

"No..." He says, then lurches out towards the fallen negro. He kneels down, and begins examining the wounds.

They're bad. Abraham was caught under the wagon when it rolled. It crushed his leg, arm, and ground part of his ribcage to powder. The man is bleeding freely.

"Abraham..." Ward says. "Oh god."

"It's...it's ok, Sir..." The man says weakly. "It...it doesn't hurt...anymore..."

Then he lays very, very still.

The murder of crows, feasting on the fallen Comanche, suddenly spring into dreadful life. They swoop and whirl towards the two remaining riders nearby. The one still seated on his horse is able to move out of the way, but the one frozen by Augustus's sonic device is frozen, immobile, when the flock descends. He isn't even able to scream.

By now, the rest of the Comanches have regrouped, and are riding into view...

[[OOC: Ward attempts to recover from Shaken. Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 9,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,1. recover from shaken attempt. Success and Raise, so he gets his action.

He uses a free action to command the crows to attack some of the remaining Comanche. They fly over and deal their auto damage to the pair of Comanches still remaining.

Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 3 using 2d4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. Crow Damage. Failure to injure on one
Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 11 using 2d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(4+4+2)10. Crow Damage. Success and 1 wound on the other, dropping him.

Dr. ward uses another free action to move over to Abraham, who is injured. He checks the wounds, and Abraham makes his Aftermath roll. Abraham rolled 2 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 2. vigor roll to survive. eek. Fail. White chip to reroll. Abraham rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1. white chip. Fail again.

Abraham is dead.

By now the Comanches who have been Shaken and/or left behind have regrouped, and are coming up from the rear. The ones addled by their mounts running from danger are out of this fight.]]

---

Initiative:
Alouette: Please take this turn to attempt to Recover from Shaken (Spirit roll, modified by wounds) and draw a card for the next round
Comanche Raiders: BJ!
Gangatsu: AD
John Smith: JH
Augustus Spotswood: 9H
Gus: 4S
Dr. Ward: 4C

It is Alouette's turn, followed by Gangatsu. The Comanche will take their turn after these two have gone.

Alouette eventually disentangles itself from Zhang and furnishings and hauls itself out of the hole where the remains of the axle splintered the undercarriage. It stands on the bottom of the coach, static murmuring heavily in its brassy skull, not looking around...only up.


[[5 to unshake, hawk helping, 7H init.]]

John took a moment to make sure he was alright, then checked on Zhang before nodding to himself and climbing out of the carriage. His master seemed none the worse for wear, at least compared to how they found him, and there might still be angry Comanches after the groups blood. There would be little time to waste in aiding the others in defending the carriage.

As John slipped out his gaze immediate settled on Abraham and his eyes widened. "No." he mouthed and rushed forward. The others were well accomplished in the ways of violence and knew full well what this mess might entail but Abraham struck him as being here less out of volunteering and more out of his loyalty to Dr. Ward. "No, you cannot die to help me dammit!" he growled he was no healer but perhaps there was hope, surely the damage couldn't have been too terrible right? Maybe he was simply knocked unconscious?

In reply to John Smith (msg #64):

The damage does look pretty grim from where John stands. But perhaps, if he lent some of his own vital force, he might be able to save the man...

John frowned, "Maybe..." he said and knelt beside Abraham opposite Dr. Ward. "No time to waste..." he muttered again. Zhang had spoke of theories of using the Chi to heal the bodies of others. He had used such a technique on John when they first met what seemed like ages ago. He rubbed his hands together and took a breath before expelling it in short yet rapid successions. He then parted his hands and as he lowered them small pebbles nearby stirred about the ground and the hairs about Johns wrists stood up as though statically charged. He rested his hands lightly and felt for the mans chi using his to push and nudge the damaged chakra flows back into place before life fully left the body. More strange breathing and a deep bass humming as he worked, the actual process only took moments, to those around he placed his hands on the wounded man, did some strange breathing and that was it. But the process felt much longer. When it was done he looked hopefully at the fallen man. "Hope that worked..." he murmured.

In reply to John Smith (msg #66):

Abraham blinks, takes a deep, pained breath, then opens his eyes.

"Oh lawd..." He groans...but he's moving and speaking, which is a good sign.

Dr. Ward looks at John. "Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'" he says, "and the dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'"

---

Meanwhile, it is still Gangatsu's turn

In reply to The Stray (msg #67):

"Hardly Jesus Doctor," John said standing and turning toward the oncoming Comanches, "Just got to him 'afore his life was gone. Doubt I could do it again." he tried to hide the growing redness in his face. Perhaps he could get Zhang to teach him more about chi healing when they got out of this mess.

The automaton's been watching John since he started his healing attempt, like one distracted by a bright light flaring at the edge of vision. It's a pity it doesn't have an expression to read before it resumes its upward vigil.

[[OOC: The Comanche get to go, using their Black Joker.]]

The remaining raiders begin to circle the group. They split apart, having seen the crows descend on clustered groups twice in a row. They pick their shots carefully.

Bullets fly.

John, flush from saving a man's life, isn't able to react in time to fully dodge the shot aimed at him, and feels a bullet part his hair and nick his ear.

Augustus notices that his inventions have garnered some hostile attention by now as a shot into the side of the coach he crouch beside showers him with splinters.

Gus throws himself to the ground as one of the Indians takes exception to him killing one of their comrades.

And Gangatsu, just recovered from he fall, feel a sharp sting as a rifle slug hits her leg...

[[OOC: The riders move their hoses' pace and take shots at the group.

The closest Comanche aims at John, reasoning that taking out the healer is a good idea. The others, further away, pick their shots at the nearest targets, which are Gus, Gangatsu, and Augustus. They have Range penalties to contend with, and Augustus has the added benefit of cover from the wagon. They have the benefit of their Joker card negating some of their penalties.

Comanche shooting John (+1): 6 (hit), 8 damage (John is Shaken, even with his Armor up)

Comanche shooting Gus: (-1): 1 (miss)

Comanche shooting Gangatsu (-1): 10 (hit and raise), 10 damage (Gangatsu is Shaken and takes 1 wound unless she spends a chip to soak)

Comanche shooting Augustus (-3): -2 (miss)]]

---

Gangatsu, Augustus, you two are up.

pm

Augustus yelps and ducks back into his rudimentary cover for a second as the bullets fly.  "What am I doing!?  I am no Indian Fighter!"  He voice drops low for a moment as he makes a quick adjustment to some switches on his sonic rifle, "True...  I suppose I had better learn lest I become an Indian victim...  Unfair and untrue, my inventions have proven effacacious thus far..." The ominous triple-toned hum from the strange scientific device rises in volume and pitch as Augustus leans out again from his cover, "I am quite tired of being a victim."  The weapon is rested against some of the debris to steady it as the scientist takes aim...

OOC - Sonic Disruptor switched to Area Effect.  I am unsure of the range of the Comanches.  If they are in range, he'll fire.  If not, he'll aim.

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #72):

[[OOC: The closest one to Augustus is 14 squares away, the others are between 25 and 30 squares away from the action. The remaining Comanche have spread out so that they won't be caught in a Medium Burst template, to avoid Dr. Ward's crows (see updated tactical map). You'd need to move closer to the near one, due to the limited range of your Entangle power (one of it's chief drawbacks, I've noticed).]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:58, Mon 06 Dec 2010.

In reply to The Stray (msg #73):

OOC - In that case Augustus will go on Hold and try to interrupt the nearest Comanche entering his range.  Cheating scattering indians...  Well, the burst will still have a chance to effect horse or rider.  Either way should work.

[[OOC: Putting Gangatsu on hold. She said she was soaking, so she can still make the attempt, but I need to move this thread along.]]

Gus raises his pistol at the closest horseman. His aim is dead on...but Gus watches his bullet actually bounce off the pale leather shirt the warrior is wear. "What the fuck!?"

Dr. Ward picks Abraham up. "Come on." he says to John. "We need to get back to the safety of cover."

He moves to do just this.

[[OOC: Gus moves to get a shot at the closest Comanche.

Gus Shaw rolled 5,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Shooting! Hit.

Gus Shaw rolled 7 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Damage. Not enough to hurt them, thanks to the Ghost Dance shirts they wear.

Dr. Ward picks up Abraham and begins moving back towards the coach as his action.]]

---

Initiative:
Gangatsu: On Hold
Augustus: On Hold
Dr. Ward: 9D
Alouette: 7H
Comanches: 7S
John Smith: 5C
Gus: 2S

"Cease!" Alouette tells Gus and/or the Comanche, before static crests again and that storm-hiss of a voice calls to the skies in an Indian language: Gangatsu might be surprised to hear Cherokee, spoken with an accent she's unlikely to have heard since she was a little girl.

"Have you flown to hide yourself in your mother's skirts, owl-wearer? ...or do you...hang behind like a white general, sending men against...what they do not know?"

The automaton finally turns its 'beak' to their attackers, lenses glowing just brighter than the moonlight. "Any here...who understand the Foreign Speakers' tongue, turn back...while you are still warriors. Attend the fallen stalks before the...whirlwind reaches down." It seems to be struggling with pain...at least until it shakes itself with a mutter of "static error," and starts gesturing the natives away like a harried butler:

"Get out of here! Get out! Go on! Shoo!"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Tue 07 Dec 2010.

The nearest Comanche to Alouette, the only one able to hear it's pronouncement, looks vaguely worried.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjepHj4W3sI&feature=related">Some Mood music</a>

There's a deep, throaty hooting as a great horned owl appears in the air over the broken coach. It flutters imperiously as it takes a perch on the upturned wheel of the coach and stares intently at the group clustered around through angry yellow eyes.



[[OOC: Alouette rolled 3 on an Intimidation ToW, the Comanche rolled 1. Alouette gets a +2 bonus to its next action against it.

The Owl teleports to a spot on top of the coach and lands.]]

Noting the sudden appearance of the Owl, Ward draws his derringer warily.

The crows, meanwhile, having feasted long enough on their last victim, flutter into the sky and vanish.

[[OOC: Dr. Ward spends his action drawing his weapon.]]

"Howdy, Owl Comanche!" the automaton greets the bird, apparently unfazed by its appearance from thin air. Static murmurs; the clank shifts a little to put its body between owl and Ward, crouching and watching Gus like he's far more threat than the Indians.
"The cage is as a child," it manages to hiss. "Scorn not, Pale-ss *sst* static error."

Alouette reaches out to gently brush the wrathful puff of feathers, fascinated by the texture. If it manages to touch them - a surface more yielding than anything it's ever encountered - there'll be an exclamation of "Soft!"

[[talkin']]

The gunshot went off and she felt something bump her, but she was un and about to run from being tagged with a bullet when Alouette spoke and.. She understood the language. It took her off guard for a moment, to where she stopped and looked oddly.

And instead of charging at the Horsemen, she looked at the owl and stayed her ground in shock... " Gus, pull back." She managed before gathering to the group taking cover beyond the broken carriage. " When in de hell will'is day pass."

Soak rolled 7

Augustus is no soldier, but today he finds himself on a confusing battlefield.  It is sometimes hard for him to focus on things, but being ridden down by wild indians does seem to add a new level of clarity to life.  Closer the Indian rides.  The scientist's hand tightens on the grip of his sonic rifle.  He does hear Alouette chatting so blithely and spares a moment, though he does look away from his target, "Alouette!  Come down this instant!  This is no time to play games and practice bird calls!  These savages seek to injure and dismantle us!"  His targetted gaze remained, all the while, transfixed upon the approaching aboriginal aggressor...

OOC - Remain Held

Alouette obediently stops stroking the owl and hops gracelessly down...then wanders into the path of the Comanche warrior, hand held out like one passing down the command of God.

"Cease!"

The Comanches do not cease. The one that was mildly perturbed at Alouette decides he's had enough and charges full tilt towards Gus, slinging his rifle back and drawing a tomahawk out with a wild, bloodthirsty battle cry.

Unfortunately for him, this brings him into Augustus's range...

[[OOC: You'll need to roll Agility for Augustus to interrupt the Comanche's action, otherwise he and the rest of the Comanches continue their turn as normal.

Comanche Raiders rolled 2 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Agility. So 2 is the number to beat...]]

Augustus nearly loses his concentration as Alouette attempts to cross into the firing line, "Alouette!  Get out of the way!  They mean you harm!"  To clear his shot, the scientist rises from cover just as the Comanche enters what he hopes is in range.  The trigger is pulled.  Once more the sonic cannon shouts its disharmonious triple tone.  Air ripples in a wide swirl striking out at the Comanche and his horse...

OOC - Agility 9.  Shooting 7 resisted by Agility or Smarts, one White burned.

Alouette looks back to see if Augustus is pointing, genuinely confused. "Which way, AUG-US-TUS?"

Again the smoke-curl impression of huge feathers is caught around the clank as the sonic shockwave rolls past it, an almost-unseen etching on the air. The automaton doesn't seem to notice.
"Primary command: protect," it says, as though that explains everything, then points at the shot-at Comanche. "Those mortals also."

It doesn't seem to have any interest whatsoever in protecting Gus, however.

The Comanche sees Augustus stand, and reigns his horse in. The air wavers as the triple-tome blast ripples just past him. The Comanche grins, yells something in his native tongue, and swings at Gus. however, his momentum was broken by the quick maneuvering.

Not that that is much comfort to Gus, as the Indian's wild swing connects with his chest. The roughneck goes down in a bloody heap.

The rest of the Comanches, emboldened, pick shots at the exposed people. A bullet kicks up dust near Alouette's feet, while another whizzes past Augustus's head (nowhere near hitting him, but too close for comfort).

John sees a Comanche firing at him, and is able to twist himself so that the bullet only shreds the back of his jacket.

[[OOC: The Comanche rolls 7 exactly to avoid the sonic entangle. However, since this a match and not a clear win, I rule that he loses his Charging bonus. He Wild Attacks to offest his MAP for drawing his Tomahawk, reducing his Parry by 2.

Comanche Raiders rolled 14 using 1d8-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15. Wild Attack! Ow. Hit and Raise.

Comanche Raiders rolled 4,14 using d8,2d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3,(6+3)9. damage. That's a Shaken and 2 wounds. Gus opts to save the very few chips the NPCs have left for the Incapacitation roll.

Gus Shaw rolled 5,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+1)7. vigor roll to survive. He only needs 1 to Raise, so he spends the last reaming GM red chip. He gets a 1. He is only Shaken and at 3 wounds, and has taken a shot to his Guts that reduces his Agility to d6 for the rest of this fight.

The rest of the Comanches take their actions, shooting at Alouette, John Smith, and Augustus to avoid cover penalties. They are still 17-20 squares away from everyone.

Shot at Alouette: 3 (miss)

Shot at John: 7 (hit), 6 damage (No damage thanks to John's armor

Shot at Augustus: 1.]]

John Smith is up next.

John shakes himself from the shock of getting winged and rushes to whatever cover the wagon can provide hoping to reorient himself before taking further action against their enemies.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Fri 10 Dec 2010.

Gus cracks an eye open. Ow. That really hurt. It was hard to draw breath...and the Comanche was right above him. Better to wait it out...let the man think he was dead.

[[OOC: Gus attempts to recover from Shaken. Gus Shaw rolled 1,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. recover from shaken attempt.]]

---

Initative:
Pale Moon: QC
Gangatsu: 10H
Augustus: 5H
Comanches: 4D
John Smith: 4C
Alouette: 3H
Ward: 3D
Gus: 2H

This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Sat 11 Dec 2010.

A bullets shizz pat, Augustus begins to drop back behind his cover again.  Alouett's insistance on remaining in harms way, quite frustrating him.  "They will not understand, Alouette!  If you allow yourself to be harmed you will be unable to continue with primary function of protect!"  Thinking quickly, he glances back to the wounded man and the Doctor, then continues, "Aloutte!  The Doctor and his patient require your assistance and protection!"  At least it will help remove the automaton from direct line of fire and provide some defense for the Doctor.

OOC- 5H for initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Sat 11 Dec 2010.

Alouette hastily patters back to relative safety to 'help' Dr.Ward. It stands waiting for instructions a heartbeat, ticking, then glances up/over at the owl, out at the fight, then back to Ward. More ticking.

"Permission to use glove of Dr.Ward?"

The Owl stares at the proceedings, and then hoots, shivers, and begins to change.

Its body stretches and warps. Wings become paws, feathers become tawny fur. The Yellow eyes remain the same, however, glaring at the assembled refugees. Where once there was an owl, a cougar now yowls. It tenses as it readies itself to leap off the wagon's wheel towards them.

[[OOC: Pale Moon uses his Shapeshift to assume the form of a mountain lion, which uses pretty much the same stats as the lion/tiger from the core book. He rolls 8 on his Tribal Medicine check.]]


Gangatsu is up next.

The static from the moving about seems to be snatched up, concentrated, as Alouette points at the big cat. "Stay, son of [Comanche word]'s line!"

Augustus breaths a sigh of relief as Alouette moves back and begins to lift his weapon again.  But something above on the carriage wreck draws his attention.  Strange noises, skrawks and growls...  Glancing up, the rational scientist watches an owl stretch and shift and grow into a mountain lion.  An impossibility.  Something unexplainable in his philosophy.  His glaring red eyes go wide as saucers...

In reply to Augustus Spotswood (msg #93):

The sight of the unnatural transformation is enough to short-circuit the rational part of the scientist's brain and tap into that deep, primal urge to just flee...

For once, Augustus can find no words.  No rational explanation.  In fact, his rational mind seems to get very quiet and go hide in a corner.  The primal, reflexive mind is thus left in control.  He scrambles back from the owl-now-lion and turns, pushing up to his feet and running off, "Lion!  The Owl!  A LION!!!"

The woman watched August go nuts and then her gaze whipped up at the sound of a large wild cat, the lion. Green eyes widen, sliding back a bit from the coach,  eyeing the large creature, her hand slipping to the handle of her blade.

[On Hold]

"Shaman! Would you...become a crow's puppet? You strike...the horses of your enemy, scatter his ornaments and feathers to...dust."

It pauses to see if it's been understood, static quieted but light flared within. "What...honour to the Ever-Fighters: broken bows and women's sandal-straps. Come, test your medicine against me...deafdrunk, pain...in victory, I would give you a death for that serpent's son, who cannot die from weapons...if defeated, you need not fear...me, in the machine."

At the mechanical creature's words, the mountain lion roars. It dips it's head at the group huddled around the wagon.

First it dips it's head at Gangatsu, then waves it's paw dismissively, as if to say she's free to go as far as her legs take her. It dips it's head towards John, and does the same. But when it glares at Dr. Ward, Augustus Spotswood, and Alouette itself, it growls, and smashes a paw down on a spoke of the wagon wheel it perches on, cracking it more and more until, looking at Ward once more, it smashes the spoke clean through.

It's clearly a statement of intent, though the cougar has no means of speaking directly to the group.

John blinks, walkin' dead people first, twisted simpletons powered by hell, and now an owl that turns into a lion. He got the gist of what it was attempting to communicate and moved to gather up his master. "Gangatsu," he said as he hauled Xhang back from the wreckage. "Take Xhang." he would set his mentor down slowly and move to stand with those this beast clearly intended on threatening. The Dr. would likely be the only man capable of mending Xhangs hurts, never mind the fact that John was all too aware that they were in this situation helping him. He moved to stand near Alouette seemingly calm with his arms folded oddly in front of his chest. Instead of crossed like most would he held one above the other, palms open and facing downward. Alouette seemed to be challenging the thing, he wouldn't interfere, but he would make sure he could move to anyones defense if necessary.

"Ínsil! Kill her, blood-thirster, unless you are a lover of snakes also...eager for the world to burn." It points at Dr.Ward, though it doesn't look at him. "He is your blood-brother, if so...cannot make amends dead, your...people cannot face what awakens alone. River-thing, shiver...what harm has it done you? Are you spirit-blind...taken with the palefaces' invention of...colour as with their weapons? There is a once-man on this land...a Yankee...an infant thunderbird in his chest. Could save all."

There's a pause, static crackling as though something were desperately clawing at metal for power, then the automaton touches its chest. "The child confines...if it blows embers in blood you are welcome to sacrifice one of your young warriors to my...greater glory." Its tone suggests it thinks the big cat is the kind of man who might do that.

The metal 'beak' turns to John a moment - he might feel himself studied by something, an intelligence neither human nor anything to do with clockwork at all - then back to the cat on the wheel. "...or if you care for their existence...here, after...let us walk a little way and settle this between us before you are...just ten more dead Indians." It tilts its head sharply like a living bird, one bright-burning lens fixed on the eyes of the cougar.


[[...and the King of Spades is in play! Hawk spirit fails (2) to identify what to break to give it control without leeching its reserves, will start using pp next round if the duel is accepted]]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:57, Mon 13 Dec 2010.

some mood music

There is a sharp yowl at Alouette's words...there's a tone of repudiation, condemnation, and rage in that howl. The panther leaps into the air....and vanishes.

It reappears in the battlefield, away from the combatants. It begins to change again, this time the powerful sinews of the lion flowing into a human form, that of a silver-haired, middle-aged Comanche wearing an elaborate headdress made from owl feathers and a pale fringed-leather shirt adorned with the images of birds and stars and a crescent moon. Glowing yellow eyes burn as he regards Alouette. A pale aura of moonlight gathers around him, illuminating him. He leans on a spear.

"The world must burn with a cleansing fire, Crying Hawk." The man says in fluent, if accented, Cherokee. "For too long have the long knives brought sickness to the land. Can you not feel it, even in your captive state? The land must be purged. Brother Rattlesnake can heal the sickness, and bring much needed wisdom to the people. When it is freed, it will drive the pale faces to ruin. I warn you not to stand in my way, Crying Hawk. Come. We shall settle this."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Tue 14 Dec 2010.

Alouette paces after the shaman with the uneven grace of a bird trailing a useless wing.

"You drink a full cup of poison...to cure a fever, little Ever-Fighter." It raises its head. "The burning will come...and God will roll the white man's works back from the earth...as a blanket is rolled...later. Fifty years. To start the Fire of Fires now...your kin...mine...choked in the smoke - all, all to ashes...and ruled by palefaces still, for they have learned to do this." It raises its brass hands as though showing wounds, clearly taking up position for some sort of challenge.

"Truth...earth-crawler might become a warrior then...as part of a Gatling gun."

Some Mood Music

"That is why we strike here, to destroy the workers of bad medicine and their science." The old man hisses the English word like a curse, as if it burned his tongue to say. "The crows whisper these tricks in their ears, feeds them knowledge that allows them to build iron paths and wires that speak. But like any tools, they can be turned against their creators."

He gestures to Ward. "I have watched this one for many days now. I have seen the paths he has carved into the Hunting Grounds to bring the spirits to him. I have seen the spirits he has called to watch over his cattle to protect them from sickness. It is bad medicine. The spirits remain, even when the cattle are slaughtered for meat. They can move to those who consume the flesh. They wait. And some they attack like trained hounds. Six long knives, colored blue, sickened with the white man's coughing plague from the bites of the serpent spirits he fed them." his eyes narrow at Alouette. "You would protect one who gives tainted blankets to his own people?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:32, Tue 14 Dec 2010.

The automaton turns its head from side to side as though trying to feel the wind, then crouches and pushes a handprint into the creekside earth due South, pacing cautiously a little way to do likewise due West. The protection of North and East it leaves to its opponent, if he wishes.

"Where a raven leads, there will be slaughter-" this seems to be a proverb. "-but birds make no warclubs. This one-" it also gestures at Dr.Ward "-is spirit-blind, cannot tell self from...cage. Perhaps he sees only that what he does helps his...cattle, but Mirror-Serpent speaks to him...grants power, uses him to its ends...a wave, lapping: if you love...snakes, you love him and his deeds also."

It makes its second handprint and straightens. "His...people? This white making that is 'colour'!" A brass hand flicks as though shucking ants from a feathertip. "Three goings of the sun I have been...awake and I know this: blue-coats are a different tribe. Long knives fear warpaint...coats of stripes and colours are in the place. Blue-coats are Yanqis, enemies of Ward's tribe...killed his mate and all his chicks...too young to fight, took his horses...I think he wishes to fight when the club is on the earth."

The metal construction clanks back to a point in its impromptu arena it seems satisfied with and raises its 'beak' sharply to regard the human opposite. "You clasp arms with the taint. You will gain no wisdom from food...except many ways to shit on the earth."

The remaining Comanches have by now dismounted and are gathering around the pair of combatants, watching them in fascination.

Pale Moon bends down, making a hand print in the mud to the north. "Where the raven leads, I shall follow. That is my vow, and the vow of my people. This one may strike at the Yanqui tribe now, but what about when the White Father in the East takes the medicine he has done and turns it against The People? There are many tribes of Pale Face, but none of them belong in this land."

He moves, and presses a hand into the East. "You say to love Mirror Serpent is to love this man and his works. I say that this man's works are his own doing, and Mirror Serpent only dreams power to him. When the Mirror Serpent wakens, he will see the mistakes he has made and correct them. Mirror Serpent did not cause the Yanqui war that killed this man's family. Mirror Serpent did not tell this man to fight while the club was on the ground. Mirror Serpent did not come to him and say, 'take these children of mine and taint your herd with them.' Mirror Serpent only dreams."

He sighs, and pulls a leather drum and stick from his belt. "Come, Crying Hawk." he says, as he begins to beat a rhythm. "Let us test the strength of our convictions. Let us dance in spirit war, and see which of us emerges stronger."

With that, he begins to sing in rhythm with the drum, his wailing cry taken up by his fellows.

Some Mood Music

Augustus, who has had a very hard last few days, continues to stumble away.  His sonic rifle is clutched to his chest.  He isn't running very fast, uneven ground keeps tripping him up.  But, with images of terrible demon mountain lions chasing him, he is spurred on...

OOC - Failed to Unshake and find it amusing.

The automaton spreads its arms with terrifying grace. There is no soft rustle of feathers, though it's hard not to expect.
"Where may spirits touch the minds of men, save in dreams?" A polished foot is laid carefully to earth. "A warning: draw from your soul, for few spirits - or your Snake - will aid you here."

With that, it bows/bobs like a bird and begins to dance.

John asked her to fish out Zhang and get him far away, but she couldn't. there was no way she could just carry him across the plains on her own, she wouldn't get far.

" John, The safest place for Sefu is to be is in the carriage. I won't risk him getting shot at. I'll be back, just stand yer vigil here.. " Gangatsu moved, her green eyes went tothe other riders, they stood back and waited, watched.. She moved over across the land over to the fallen body of Gus. he wasn't moving, but she could see he was breathing slightly..

" Gus..." She spoke quietly, nearing him.. " Gus..?" It was.. creepy, giving her an errie feeling she had no t felt in a while, but she knew he was alive. he had to be, the fellow was a quick healer..

Gus cracks one eye open at Gangatsu.

"Ow." He grunts. The injury to his side looks fairly bad and is bleeding freely, but he's stirring. "That really hurt." He looks around as best he can without actually moving. "What's goin' on? Injuns still tryin' to kill us?"

The old man matches Alouette, dancing as he chants, his old voice filled with rage, sorrow, and pain. His wailing cry speaks to the heavens themselves, growing in power as the aura of pale moonlight surrounding him grows brighter.

The only sound from the clank is the distant crash of static, moonlight flashing down its metal body to pool in the impressions left in the damp earth. Though its style of dance is markedly different to the plainsman's, its feet strike the ground so precisely with each thunderclap of the drum it's impossible to tell which comes first.

The automaton and the shaman continue their dancing, moving around each other slowly. The clank leaves moonlit footprints behind, and flickering eldritch sparks snap around its chassis. Distant thunder roars from the storm clouds in the distance.

The old man's wailing song tears at the hearstrings, sends shivers down the spine, and invokes the heaven. The moonlight aura grow brighter around him, casting every feature of his craggy, weathered face into sharp relief.

There is a strange feeling in the air, an anticipation. Hairs prickle on the necks and arms of those watching.

Augustus, fleeing the dance and the lions and the craziness, might liken the growing feeling to a building static charge. John Smith might liken the sensation to that which he draws on himself when he manipulates his chi. Gangatsu's thoughts flow back to that terrible day when she found her lover's remains. There was a feeling like this in the air then, too, like the eyes of the universe were watching, and someone somewhere had begun to laugh...

The automaton dances, static building with each step, the waves of sound starting to drown out even Pale Moon's song. Its grace is unearthly, its every movement inhumanly precise, a prayer of effort and will to exist danced as it was at the first sunrise of the melting ice. Danced long before men set foot on its continent. Danced for an audience of the sea and sky and Great Spirit alone.

The sparks, ever more frequent, begin to trace the outlines of feathers.

" Oh yea.. He got'cha good." The woman moved closer and knelt down near the fellow.

 " Their shaman apeeared, the machine challenged it to some kind o spirit walker duel. Their tribe seems ta believe the snake's a healer, like ya think, but they also want Ward's head. Said he's doing somethin wicked, but metal beak ain't havin that. " She looked up and around to the others by the coach and then the tribesmen on their steeds. " E'eryone's holdin fire, reckon til the match be o'er.. We need ta get ya over ta Doc... While he's alive.."

Pale Moon's song becomes strained as he tries to rasie it higher, and starts to go horse. Suddenly, there is a *CRACK!* as the static aura around Alouette seems to rise into the air and dive into the old shaman, who collapses.

There is silence for a moment. The other Comanches look on in shock at the fall of their leader.

Then they rush over to him, babbling worriedly. One helps the old man to his feet. He looks over at the clank.

"So. I see you are quite determined. Very well. You have earned the right to protect these men if you wish. We shall depart, for now." he says as he wipes a curl of blood from his nose. "I trust that you will prevent your paleface friends from shooting us in our backs."

With that, the group heads towards their horses. They move to pick up their wounded, though there is nothing they can do for the ones who had been set on by the crows, nor can they help the man Gus took down, though they still take the bodies with them.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:42, Mon 20 Dec 2010.

"I'll live." Gus grunts. "Won't enjoy it none for the next few days, I reckon, but I'll live."

He falls quiet as footsteps near the pair and the Comanches removes the body of the man Gus killed.

A silence falls over the camp as the riders leave.

The clank's 'beak' turns briefly to look at those called "friends". "A song of snakes, shaman: they care nothing for their young...for they come forth to the world with as much poison...as one grown."

Warning given, it approaches Dr.Ward still crackling with power, getting in the way of any shot he might make. A brass finger points at his chest.
"Repent."

...then the flare dies in its lenses and the static fades. Alouette looks at its extended finger with apparent curiousity, then around. It identifies part of its current aetheric patterning as similar to 'happy' and selects the response. It giggles like an eight-year-old girl, its laughter ringing out in the hush.

"Hmm..." it says, sounding suddenly vaguely Cajun in annoyance with something wrong. "Critical level static error...where is AUG-US-TUS?"

Augustus stumblbed a good bit away during all the hub-bub.  The shamanic duel, he seems to have missed out on.  Or ignored.  Instead, his attention, his manic focused attention, was instead given over to adjusting the dials on his box device and tapping his earpiece.  As though it was making some annoying, bothersome noise.  As the duel finds its end and the hawk spirit releases the automaton, the scientist seems to suddenly "fix" his device.  So working, he stands up and finally turns around...only to see the savages leaving.  "Thank goodness, apparently someone was able to reason with them....  That was entirely too exciting."

Watched the strange scene in silence and when it seemed all was said and done he moved to help Gangatsu with Xhang and would proceed to remain by his sifu's side until they reached safety, as relevant as the term might mean these days.

Dr. Ward mentions that the horses have gotten too far away to chase down in the dark, and suggests the group camp outside for the evening.

The coach is a total wreck, and is in no condition to move anywhere, though once righted it serves as a decent shelter. Ward tends to the immediate injuries among the group, but aside from Gus and the old Chinese man the party is remarkably healthy.

Augustus is able to scrounge up enough makeshift tools from the coach to complete his repairs on Alouette.

Ward examines Zhang, and does what he can to treat the old man, but there's little he can do in these conditions. The old man has an arrow wound that Ward says was poisoned, and the poison has been in his system long enough that his survival and recovery is solely up to his will and the will of God. Given he's survived this long, Ward estimates that he'll make at least a partial recovery as long as he's kept warm, at least until they can return to the ranch house and the more extensive supplies Ward keeps there.

Parts of the broken coach are salvaged for a fire, and the group spends an uncomfortable night roughing it.

Not being the sleeping kind and seeing no sheets in evidence, Alouette won't catch on to the fact people are tired/trying to sleep unless directly informed. It'll reassure Abraham and the unconscious Zhang that God will fix them and witter at people in general about anything passing through what approximates its mind. If it is told to go away, it will be important to mention how far.

This thread is now closed. Please resume posting on the 10.2 thread.