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.