Morning, April 11th, 1879. Blackthorn, Texas. Good Friday.

((Wildcat Hawkins, Charging Bear, Carl, Jake Lawrence, Katy Devon, Elijah Fuller, Robert Micklethwait))

The night passes the folks in Blackthorn by.

Wildcat practices her harmonica, while Charging Bear rests fitfully, dreaming of snakes and ghosts.

Jake Lawrence and Katy Devon part ways, and Jake gets a room. Eventually, he heads back downstairs, ready to start his day. Katy manages to get a nice emergency hair cut, though it's still scandalously short.

Robert Micklethwait manages to slip away from the nosy reporter, but to do so, he has to leave his original goal of heading to the Grand Bull behind. He doesn't remember what happened next...everything was a blur after that. He wakes in what looks like an abandoned, boarded up home, his clothes stained with blood...

Elijah Fuller isn't able to make any progress, either. The ghost vanished into the darkness, and the former Marshal was receiving now visitors in his room. The reporter had decided to go to bed, in order to be fresh for the morrow. After all, he still had a wayward marshal to confront and a prisoner to guard.

Carl found himself waking up with a pounding headache on the floor of the Red Eye, his drinking companions still passed out around him. Darn. He was late for his shift back on the ranch. And he still needed to tell people...something...and there was the cold, creeping deadness from the burn the spectre's gun had marked him with...oh, and there was Bill, who had said something...about something else. Yeah. That much, he was sure of.

Make your posts stating what it is you plan to do now that it's day.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Mon 27 Dec 2010.

Wildcat can do nothing but wait for her relief, hoping her "plan" doesn't blow up in her face.

The worst case scenario is she has to be a very unprofessional jailer and sleep there until it's time to meet the Adder.  But getting to Ward with Charging Bear in tow is her goal, regardless of what else happens.

Carl rises, mentally cursing a truly hate-filled, bitter streak at himself, drinking games, and the world in general. He kicks anyone likely to get up and walks straight out the doors to stand in the street. Ugh. Sunlight, unfortunately, doesn't kill him. Mike...had to tell Mike something. Damn. Comanches? No...

Seems he's still a little drunk since it's only his head pounding, though his spit's laced with blood when he clears the gunk from his throat. He fetches Hoss (and Jesse's horse if present) and stops off at the undertaker's for Jesse's guns, intending to take them to Jesse's folks at some point later in the day.

Charging Bear had been awake for a while; the sun had been sleeping when his eyes had opened and couldn't return the restless slumber that had taken him through the night. Too many things were swimming around in the native son's head, even as he awoke he wasn't sure if he would see the morrow or even dinner with the way things were going and with Cantrell about.

Wildkitten as still asleep when Charging Bear woke, Seems even Rangers sleep. he thought with a slight smile on his face. The room was dark so he sat quietly, letting the Ranger get her rest as he had a feeling she would need it even more than just because she'd been shot more than once the day before.

Jake woke in a cold sweat with visions of his wife and child coming back from the dead to 'greet' him still dancing in his head. Slowly he got out of bed and walked to the mirror in his room. Jake noted that he looked like death warmed over and tried to straighten himself out.

Pouring water into the bowl, he splashed some on his face in an attempt to clear his mind. Well that was a new one ... a lot more snakes than anything my brains conjured up before too. Slowly he moved back to he bed and pulled out his second set of cloths. Jake took his time and got dressed then he checked his pistol and rifle. Guess I'd best head out to this Ward's place... see about finding the Doc's automaton and wrangle the thing on back to New Orleans. If I see Katy I'd best warn her to stay away from that Vincent Kaje fellow, seeing as he is probably a vampire.


Once satisfied with things he went downstairs to see about breakfast.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:53, Tue 28 Dec 2010.

pm

PM

Robert checks to see if he still has the gun he "borrowed" the night before, and makes sure it's loaded.  He peeks out the window, wincing at the bright light, trying to figure out where in town he is.  Finally, he looks for a change of clothing, checking the bedrooms first, or someway of cleaning up or concealing the blood stains.

Katy devons was already downstairs, bright and early. She tried to sleep, she really did, but it kept bringing up scary thoughts and brief nightmares. She played it off though, as if it was restful because teh alternative was just plain icky. She wondered if she should get a wig or something, her head felt cold even wit the hat on her head. She wore a pair of pants and a shirt that was a bit to large for her and concealed her form. She had tucked it into her pants and used her dress belt to hold up her trousers. Clunky boots on her feet were laced tight to her ankles, certain they would not fall off from her. She looked like a very pretty faced lad.

Robert:

There's quite a few abandoned places in Blackthorn, but it doesn't look like he's far from the telegraph office. The gun is still there, at least. The house he's in looks like it's been empty for some time...all the rooms (all four of them) are bare and empty. At least he's not hungry (or wounded) at the moment...though that's not a comforting thought.

---

Katy:

What are you up to for the day? please give me some info so I can work out the kinks.

As he descended the stairs, Jake noticed Ms Devon sitting in the The Grand Bull Saloon's main floor. A slight smile came upon his face, as he was reminded of his son playing dress up in the mirror of his old home; the smile vanished after but a moment as terrible memories of medical horrors came clawing their out of the recesses of his mind. The memories caused Jake to shiver visibly as he moved into the room.

Collecting himself mentally, he approached Katy's table."Ms Devon, I see you've managed to rummage through my closet." he said with a slight smile. "Have you eaten?"

Elijah Fuller returns, some of the paleness in his cheeks gone, but nevertheless looking as if he had seen a ghost.

Wildcat, who despite her desire to not do so, has fallen asleep but only just.  It was immediately understandable, as she'd had heavy bags under her eyes for some hours now.  Luckily her sleep was an unstable, shallow one, not that she ever slept well, but it wasn't a deep sleep this time.

Making his way to her, Elijah considered the best way to awaken a boisterous woman with a six gun and not die in the process.  Luckily his footfalls, augmented by the *click*thump*ing of his cane on the association's former floor, was enough to stir her.  She bolted in place, possibly not even realizing she'd drifted off.

"Ranger Hawkins?"  He asked carefully.  Wildcat slurred by way of answer, but when he saw the cobalt irises focus, he knew she was coherent for the moment.

"I, uh, don't know how to tell you this, but we have a pilfering specter on the loose."

Wildcat sat upright.  That got her attention.

"What in tarnation?"

"Well, to make a long story short, I followed th' feller about, an' he, well he didn't look too solid.  I think he grabbed a couple of things an' warned me ta leave him alone.  That's... not the worst part."

Wildcat listened intently, not sure how this could get worse yet again.

"He sounded an awful lot like that feller who talked down that lynch mob."

Mr. Mickle-fwate Kat thought immediately.  Her heart turned to ice in horror of the realization of what Elijah had just said.  A war was being fought.  Katrina wanted to cry, and then go find Mr. Mickle-fwate and hug him.  Wildcat yelled at the stupid girl to keep her head on straight.  Her silence was duly noted by the novice deputy and experienced reporter.

"Well, what do we do about it?"

Kat retreated into the back of her mind, and Ranger Wildcat Hawkins came to the fore as she stood up with a groan.

"Nothing much different Deputy Fuller.  While ah'd dearly love to find this... thing that might be the dearly departed deputy, an' talk to it, ah' half convinced that whatever terrible thing has happened to him still traces back to Ward."

She sighed and looked down at herself, a bloody, caked mess.

"I'm still going there, and the redskin here is still coming with me.  But yer not, as much as ah need ya."  Wildcat made note of still having the cuffs Carl had worn.  Two cuffs, two sets of keys.  Good.  "This extra pair will have to suffice.  Yer gonna stay here, we're gonna go.  I doubt either of us comes back though Mr. Fuller."

"Why Ranger?"

"I don't think th' Adders done have much use for neither of us, ah think the only worth I have to th' one I let go were he wanted me to talk to this Ward.  Makes sense, Mr. Ward probably don't listen to his own help very well.  Th' Adder, he's likely a murdering bastard, but ah think he don't like what's going on here 'tall.  'Tis a mighty peculiar sense of decency, but there it is, so ah think we're safe 'til we done get thar.

"But in his turned around mind he thinks shooting me in th' back is gonna make him feel better 'bout his boy Jesse's demise, and the lot of them were raring to string Charging Bear up."

Elijah thought promptly, his quick mind reacting to Wildcat's words.

"Uh Ranger, I don't know how to tell you this either, but there were a voice coming from one of the coffins, feller that wanted Jesus."

Wildcat frowned.  "Damn."  Her first thought was to go hunt him down... but no, that was the problem.  She was putting out brushfires instead of taking the matches away from the arsonist.  It was the same problem with chasing down what may have been the late deputy.  "Well ah reckon it's a plumb good thing ah'm leaving you here then, there may be another one of them runnin' around."

Wildcat gathered her war bag and her rifle.  "I'm... exhausted deputy.  Ah need to sleep."

Elijah nodded, unable to argue with that sentiment.  "But what about the Marshal?"

"I'll take care of it, deputy.  Sorry, I have to ask for that badge back."

Elijah was very glad to finally be rid of it.

Exhausted and stammering, Wildcat hoped Evans was in his rented room, so she wouldn't have very far to go to hers.

Elijah in the meantime pondered his course of action.  He felt he owed it to this Ranger to at least stay the shift while she recuperated herself, but he was strongly considering resigning upon her return.

OOC:  Because Elijah's text being pink seems funny to me for some reason.

Evans looked out of the window. Was it day already?

He looked back to the desk of the room he'd rented in the Grand Bull. Left-over widgets, springs, and assorted bric-a-brac littered it, along with the mostly-finished device.

He had thought to leave straight away, but had gotten sidetracked putting his Gyromounted pistol back together, using the weapon of the late Nathanial Frost as a basis. And then the idea had occurred to him, as if whispered in his ear...and he'd been inspired.

He'd wanted to leave, he truly had. But there were some things a man just didn't turn his back on. There were vampires, and walking dead, and men who were no better than snakes stirring up trouble. These were problems that needed to be solved before he left.

And fire would work on all of them. At least, that's what he hoped. He'd broken down the hasty glue gun he'd built yesterday, cleaned the parts, and refitted them together into something more sturdy. He'd obtained a mixture of certain ingredients to create an inflammable gel. He hadn't tested this device yet, but there was a certain mad certainty that he had that yes, THIS would work.

There was evil in this town. He knew it. He'd seen it. And now he he had to deal with it before it spread...

Wildcat figures out which one is (probably) the Marshal's room and knocks on the door.

"Yes?" Comes a reply.

"Ah guess that means yer in there.  Ah got to jaw at ya briefly, Marshal."  Wildcat replies, so utterly tired.

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #12):

Sitting quietly in his cell, Charging Bear listened to the goings on between Wildkitten and Fuller.

Alouette enters the town at the exact point that Danny did. It pauses a moment, apparently listening to the sky, then looks around. It will reassure any townsfolk/mules/stray dogs etc. to Fear Not! before ambling along on Danny's trail, consuming any stray bits of paper it encounters on the way.

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #16):

"It's Dr. Evans now." Comes the voice. The door opens. Evans stands there, looking just about as tired as Wildcat feels. He has bags under his eyes. "Or just Ambrose, if you prefer. Either way, the stewardship of this town is no longer my responsibility. The people have made that quite clear to me in the blood of an innocent man. I leave it in your hands now, Miss Hawkins, and I wish you good luck."

In reply to Alouette (msg #18):

The townsfolk stare at Alouette as it clanks through town towards the Undertaker's place. Most of them do fear, despite the automaton's reassurances.

This isn't surprising to the clank. It sees many more crows hanging around the town than there were when it left. They seem to hang most thickly around the Undertaker's shop, where Danny's trail leads...but there's another trail, new and strange and possibly dangerous...but familiar at the same time.

---

In reply to Jake Lawrence:

Jake is working his way through breakfast when he notices a man enter the Grand Bull in some haste. The man goes up to Roland, and Jake's able to make out their conversation:

"Hey Roland, where's the Marshal keeping hisself these days?"

"He has rented a room upstairs, but he's..."

"Well, good. That crazy Clank is back in town!"

"Alouette?"

"I dunno what it's called...anyhow, which room? He's got to be told."

"Room #4. But he's..."

"Thanks!" And the man speeds off. Roland sighs, and goes back to taking orders.

The automaton greets the undertaker's roof. "Howdy crow spirits!"

Then it looks at the ground as though the chaos of footprints in the street are going to tell it something. "One wendigo, one...other..." It looks up at the building curiously. If the door is shut, it will knock and wait as Charging Bear taught it, otherwise it'll patter straight in and look about.

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #19):

"The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

She pauses, tired, exhausted even, before continuing.

"I'm not staying in this town, not for today anyway.  You were right Marshal, I didn't see what was going on.  Ah still believe there's a sharp division between who's right and who's wrong and I guess I always will, but sometimes you have to find some common ground with whoever's on the other side of that line.

"I talked to th' Adder that done chucked the bottle at ya, compared notes.  Everything going on here, it ties back to Ward.  He agreed to make sure I get to Ward, alive.  Everything goes back to Ward.

"Another Adder, maybe soon to be a former Adder, came forth.  Deputy McCoy wants to help.  Th' reporter... he volunteered, he's a good man, but I think this is over his head.  I think he'll be leaving quietly today, but he put his rear end on the line to serve as he could.  Protocol would be to... do something unpleasant to him or detain him, but I'm going to let him go, trust him to do the right thing.  Ah done broke every other rule by now anyhow.

"Pony Express is showing up today with my commission.  And I'll be sending them back with a request to formally charge or exonerate Deputy Bear."  She shrugs, for whatever that was worth, she had told him.

"The Adder has promised to kill me.  Deputy Bear has volunteered, very bravely, to come with me, he seems to know just a little bit about what Ward is up to."

Kat leans in.

"He don't know it, but ah'm gonna try to make sure Deputy Bear has at least a chance to get away, they'll kill him for being red.  But if I come back alive, it will be by the grace of God.

"Ah've sent word to send the army in and level this whole place if ah don't report back in a week or less.  Don't know how serious they'll take it, but ah told 'em.  If we fail here, that's the only option, this cannot be allowed to go on or spread."

She steps back and extends the tin star.

"There's more, but I'll stop there.  At this point either yer gonna walk out of here wearing this, or I am.  Either way, you had it in you to be one of the good ones Ambrose.  You still do.  But I'll ask you one question.

"You can't do this without asking good men to make the ultimate sacrifice.  Mr. Mickle-fwate is forever a part of a sacred brotherhood now, right in there with my own pa.  I will continue on, because... because neither of them can.

"But that's my lot in life ain't it. Ah have faith that now, or in some other time, you'll honor those sacrifices in your own way.  The question is, are you going to leave this town in the care of one raw green deputy, who came forward and sought you, because he thought that you represented who and what was right here in Blackthorn?"

Wildcat's question takes the form of holding the Marshal star before him.  He'll either take it, or he won't.  Wildcat is silent either way.

Robert searches the house, looking for either replacement clothing, or some way of cleaning the blood stains off his shirt.  He glances out a few times, to see if can see anyone he knows, but the sunlight was so bright, he soon stopped.

Well, I guess I just wait until night fall.

...

Leaning up against the wall, Robert was bored.  He couldn't get comfortable.  He drew his gun, checking again to make sure it was loaded, and realized his left hand was again rubbing his head where the bottle had struck him down.  Hell with this.  His possessions might still be in his room, all he had to do was get there.  He peeked out the windows again, trying to see what buildings were nearby, and if they were occupied.

OOC: would a person have a t-shirt under their dress shirt?  Would Robert had a handkerchief/bandanna with him?

In reply to Alouette (msg #21):


There is no reply to the knock, and the door itself is barred. There are no lights on, and peering in the window (if Alouette thinks to try this) reveals that the room is empty, and there are no coffins about.

---

In Reply to Robert:

The Map of Blackthorn for reference

Robert finds himself in the house just across from the Telegraph office. It's the same block where the Oriental Theater is, just at the opposite corner. If he keeps to the back alleys he should remain out of sight, though there is at least one major street he's going to have to cross to get to the Grand Bull.

((OOC: Robert is probably wearing long underwear beneath his clothes, which would serve about the same function as a tee shirt in our day. And as for the bandanna, I leave that up to you.))

Alouette stands there for a bit longer than the length of time it took Sal to come to the door the last time it tried this, then gives an annoyed little "hmmmm" and wanders around the building to see if there are any more doors, like in Ward's house and barn.

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #22):

Evans listens to Wildcat speak. He frowns.

"I suppose I don't really have a choice, do I? No, I can't leave town yet. Not without setting some things straight." He sighs, and picks the badge out of Wildcat's hands.

Just at that moment, a man heads up the stairs. "Marshal? There's a situation. That crazy clank is back!"

Evans lets out a sigh. "Damn. just what we didn't need right now...yet another complication..."

In reply to The Stray (msg #24):

Well, that's the telegraph office.  Which means that the lovely ladies are down thataway.

Decision made, Robert takes out his handkerchief and holds it up to his face, as if to an injury.  Sticking to the back alleys and shadows, he heads south towards the Oriental, pausing when he get's to the theater to listen intently for what is happening inside.

12:14, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. notice to listen to the oriental.
probably not good enough, unless they are really loud, even if I don't have a light penalty

Hearing nothing (I assume), Robert ghosts his way inside, trying to get into one of the rooms off the main ballroom.

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #26):

"Is it serious?"  Wildcat asks, not sure what at all he's talking about, having put Robert's mention of a clank out of her mind.

In reply to The Stray (msg #20):

Jake smiles, Seems a bit of fortune for this tired soul. He stands up and puts a few dollars of confederate script on the table to cover the bill and a bit of tip. Picking up his hat from the table, Jake exits the saloon quietly and makes his way into the street to see if he can see this 'clank' the towns folks have been talking about.

In Reply to Wildcat:

"That depends." Evans says, grabbing his hat and overcoat. "The last time it was in town was right when all this other craziness started. It walked into the Grand Bull, claiming to have fallen from the sky. Then it went and battled one of our walkers, burying the body right in the middle of the crossroads in the middle of town. And THEN, from what I told, it got into a fight with the Dust Adders and nearly scared a man to death, all because of a cat. Then it wound up being picked up by Dr. Ward for God knows what reason. Now it's back in town, and I'm going to have to deal with it sooner or later. I don't think it's dangerous, but the Mayor has been on my case to have it removed from town as a 'disturbance to public order.'" He scoffs. "All the problems we have now, and he's focusing on this one...I don't know what he's thinking."

He heads downstairs and out the door.

---

In reply to Jake Lawrence:

Jake doesn't see the clank right away, but there's a small knot of onlookers near the undertaker's office who are busy pointing and gossiping.

"...Where is it now?"

"...went round back..."

"Lord, I thought Evans got rid of that thing..."

"...another corpse?"

"Didn't see one..."

"...doing here? Why us? Why now?..."

Unfortunately for Jake, Victor didn't tell him what to do if the automaton was active...the possibility probably didn't even occur to him. Or if it did, he came up with a plan...and then got distracted and forgot all about it. Victor was brilliant, but also terribly absent-minded. He once drank dry coffee grounds because he forgot to add water, and once went down to the general store without any pants on, much to thee dismay of the townsfolk. Jake's on his own at the moment.

---

In Reply to Alouette:

There does happen to be a door at the back of the Undertaker's shop. It is also closed and locked. There are several trails here...the wendigo, the faintly familiar one, and one that the contraption hasn't encountered yet. The Wendigo and this new trail go one direction, while the vaguely familiar one goes off in another.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #27):

A refresher on the Oriental's layout

The theater is quiet, and, when Robert enters, very dark. With his ability to walk through walls, getting inside isn't difficult, but no one seems to be about.

At least, no one in the rooms adjoining the ballroom on the ground floor. There's a possibility that people might be in the rooms upstairs, though to get to the stairs Robert will need to cross the ballroom first.

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #30):

Jake walks over to the crowd, Seems they've caught sight of the thing, finding it at least was easier than I thought. His eyes scanning the area for the object of his employer's desire.

Wildcat finds this account bizarre, but Evans didn't ask for her immediate help, and she's exhausted.  She can't help but smile a little bit as he leaves the hall with the tin star, and then she sees about entering her own space so generously provided by the proprietor.

And then she promptly falls into her cot and sleeps, in her bloody clothes, perhaps able to stay awake long enough to get the duster off, and maybe the boots,  but that's about all she has energy for.

OOC:  Wildcat's laundry list:

1.  Do something about this shirt if possible.
2.  Meet Pony Express rider.  Use portion of enclosed payment to send a message back. 
3.  Go back to get Charging Bear out of the clink.
4.  Give "jail" keys to Evans.
5.  Ride out.

Oblivious to its fan club on the other side of the building, Alouette stands a moment examining the new trails. "One wendigo, two wendigo...other thing..."

It follows the trail of Other Thing until it walks into a wall, then gives an annoyed little "hmmm" and starts cheerfully following the track of the people who eat people.

In reply to The Stray (msg #31):

Robert looks and listens to make sure noone is in the ballroom.  He starts to head upstairs, then on a hunch changes his mind and heads down to the basement first.

She got to exchange a little bit of words with Jake Lawerence before word of Alouette, that intriguing metallic bird thing came wandering up.  And then again, she was left alone and Katy was trying to think of what better a thing to do. She could follow Mister Jake, he seemed to be feeling better then the other day. A sigh, finding that she knew a bit, but there wasn't a single thing to do about it. Robert didn't want her to spill about the vampires, Mister Evans was no where to be seen, that nice Indian man Charging Bear was in the slammer with the Ranger Hawkins watching over him. SHe had no idea whatsoever what happen to that little asian lady and the Doctor with the cough that she entered the stage couch with, and mister Lawerence had his own ventures of affiar to keep in order.

What was a young lady to do?.. Honestly, all she did since she got up was sit on the bar stool, drink tea, and eat biscuits with honey... Yet there was a thought creeping into her mind.. Maybe the indian man would would know what to do about foul spirits. The thought took her a little by surprise, but.... Yes. He could be helpful.. That's all a vampire really is, a restless spirit. Yet what would she say? He might not believe her and just seem like a cross dressing young damsel gone mad.. Her jaw shifted at the thought.

" Eh. What the hell." She murmured merrily. " Thank you for your time, Mister Roland.. Is there anything I can do for you before I have to go my way? "

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #35):

The place is eerily quiet. No one seems to be about at all. Not the gentleman with green teeth who answered the door, not the ladies, not Marina herself.

Robert creeps into the darkened basement. It's much the same as the last time he was here. Racks of costumes, boxes of props, and those long, low crates labeled "Loose Soil" greet him. The one where he'd found the judge is still there, closed up again.

In Reply to Jake and Alouette:

Jake easily spots the thing the crowd is muttering about. It's a beautiful brass construct, built in a humanoid form with a vaguely avian head. The chassis has been lovingly detailed, but it's been marred in several spots by some patch-ed up bullet-holes. It moves somewhat like a creature following a trail, though it stops short at a wall, looks about, then heads off in a new direction. It seems to be heading off into the alleyway behind the undertaker's. Who knows what it's doing?

---

In reply to Katy Devon:

As Katy speaks to Robert, she sees Evans appear, striding purposefully down the stairs and towards the door. He pauses. "Ah! Deputy Devon!" He says to her. "I'm very glad to see you still here after yesterday's unpleasantness. I feel we have some matters of import to discuss, though there is another matter I have to see to first. Would you like to accompany me, or wait here until I return?"

Jake took a few moments to watch the automaton. Seems smarter than the otherss I've encountered, but thats probably why the Doc wants it. He followed after the walking talking brass bird-man, but kept his distance.

Alouette is heading northward at a determined amble like a bloodhound who's eaten the "special" brownies.

In reply to The Stray (msg #37):

Robert takes a quick peek inside, just to make sure, then heads up to the ballroom, and from there, assuming it's empty, upstairs, looking for any of the girls.

In reply to Alouette (msg #40):

Having watched the automaton for a few minutes, Jake wasn't exactly sure what to think of it. Of course he'd dealt with such constructs before but this one was acting rather differently... as though it had more reasoning skills than dozen or so he'd encountered previously. He followed after this Alouette keeping his distance.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #41):

The box labeled "Loose Soil" opens...and there's another body inside it.

This body is of a young man, lean, with long features and the hint of a five-o-clock shadow. Robert is sure he's seen the man somewhere before, but can't place exactly where.

And suddenly, trying to remember where he'd seen the familiar face is not a strong concern, as the man opens his eyes and stares at Robert. "Penny for the Guy, Gov'nor?" he says, his canine teeth extending as he speaks.

In reply to Alouette, Jake Lawrence, Katy Devon:

As the automaton travels northward, pursued by the interested party, They are met by a dapper man in an overcoat and top hat, a marshal's star pinned to the outside. He gives the pair of them a look that's half amusement, half exasperation.

"Well, now." He says to Alouette. "I see you've returned. Dare I ask what it you are doing now?"

((OOC: Assume Katy Devon is somewhere nearby...unless she decided not to come along with Evans.))

Alouette halts and turns to face Evans properly. "Howdy, Ambrose! Self is attempting to locate Danny Albatross - Gus Shaw killed him again, so he is probably unhappy and a wendigo now." There's a slight pause. "Gus Shaw is a Bad Man," it informs Evans, in case he didn't know. "He wanted to throw Danny Albatross in the pit where the bodies are buried or set him on fire the first time he killed him, and shot self many times for telling him not to shoot Gangatsu, and he uses bad words."

"Setting Danny Albatross on fire would be very bad - sickness would spread into grazing, stock feed, water supply...high probability Danny Albatross will become aggressive and eat alive people if given bread or unkindness or killed again: self is going to find him and his differently-alive friend who is also turning wendigo, and tell them not to eat people. Eating people is wrong. Self will inform townsfolk to hang up fish for them on porches, then they will not hurt any men, women, children or pets."

"Then self will search for unknown other undead or differently alive entity also in Town, Texas," it informs the Marshal cheerfully. Then it notices the others nearby. "Howdy, Slender Man With Big Shirt!" it greets Katy, "Fear not, self is angel!"

Then it spots Jake. "Howdy Pale Man!" ...and the air behind him.
"Howdy Pale Man's crow friends!"

Glancing over his shoulder and seeing nothing, Jake looks back then with a lazy smile he greets the tin-can angel, "Howdy automaton." He fiddles absentmindedly with the rosary in his right hand as he approaches the group.

In reply to Vincent Kaje (msg #43):

Robert smiles back, flashing his own fangs.  "Are the ladies of the house about?"

"Maybe." The man says, pulling himself up into a crouch. "Maybe I ain't interested in sharing that info with you, though. Maybe I'd prefer pulling your fucking tongue out the back out the back of your skull."

His eyes flash red. "She's mine, Gov'nor. Always will be. Together forever, that was our deal. But then I sees you about, and I didn't turn you, so that only leaves her to have done it. Makes a man mighty jealous when the missus is casting a roving eye."

"Angel," the automaton corrects mildly, then points at itself. "Alouette."
After a moment's ticking, it points out Evans, too. "He is Ambrose, he knows lots about many things and has a friend called Jack Daniels who lives in a bottle."

In the spirit of fairness, it points Jake out to the Marshal, too. "Self has not encountered Pale Man before."

With a tip of his hat and a smile, he looked to Evans, "Pleasure Mr Ambrose, Jack's a friend of mine too. I'm Jake Lawrence."

Then Jake turned his attention back to Alouette with a slight shake of his head as if in disbelieve, "I hate to be the one to inform you but you're not an angel. You're an automaton found in California - pretty near the Maze to be more precise- and were being shipped to my employer, Dr Victor Frost of New Orleans, but apparently the postal service got their Frosts mixed up and dropped you here in middle of no where Texas. Now how you got out of your crate is the subject of some curiosity to me. "

His right hand continued to roll the rosary beads over and over as he spoke. "But regardless, you're up and moving about, and I've been instructed to bring you to New Orleans. So what do you say automaton do ya want to see a big city?"

Charging Bear suddenly has a feeling something strange is happening in the town... but it passes.

"Angels cannot want for the unknown, Jake Lawrence - what is in the big city?"
It tilts its head at him a little.

"Your self is meat and clay, mechanisims, but also Jake Lawrence, mortal, soul crafted by the hand of God in His image..." it points at itself with a clumsy *tok* of brass finger on casing "...self has brass mechanisims, automotive function...also, self is angel, messenger and servant of the Great Spirit."

Possibly in explanation of how it got out of its box, or why it's present or why it's moving around: "Town, Texas, required angel. Primary command: protect."

In reply to Vincent Kaje (msg #48):

Robert shakes his head.  "Weren't her.  You think she's the only one who can turn people, you have a lot to learn.  And I don't think she'll be to happy us getting into a loud fight.  You got a choice, help me, or explain to her why you didn't."

12:38, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 8,5 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. persuastion.

In reply to Alouette (msg #52):

Jake nodded for a moment as if in thought about the present situation with the delusional self-aware automaton before him. After having taken the time to think he said, "I can understand that I suppose. So how long are you going to be here protecting? My employer paid pretty good money to have you shipped to him, and now it is my responsibility that you get there.

"Until mortals of town, Texas are safe from demons of plague, famine, blood-feudage and the walking dead," the self-declared angel answers promptly. "Also when apocalypse is delayed - alternate: it starts here."

The brass prophet seems to consult with the sky a moment, then steps nearer Evans.
"God says you need a hug," it informs him, and attempts to carry out said heavenly edict.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #53):

"If it wasn't her, then you are a competitor, and you are hunting on the grounds we've staked out." He replies. At least he doesn't look like he's about to jump Robert. "Not a good basis for a relationship. Why should I help you? Ain't nothing good comes from helping the bobbies out, dead or not."

Evans takes in all the information. "Wendigo? Eating people? Damnation, we have more of them to worry about." He mutters. "So I'm afraid I must accompany you to check this out."

He nods in acknowledgment of Jake's greeting, but his eyes narrow at the mention of Jake's employer waiting on his purchase. "Now wait just a minute, Mr. Lawrence. Last I heard, slavery was illegal on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line these days. So whatever your employer paid, he may simply have to live with the loss if Alouette chooses not to go with you. Do I make myself clear?"

Then Alouette looms over him saying something about a hug. "A hu-wha-?" GLOMP! It seems Evans is rather too befuddled to stop Alouette from carrying out it's divine mandate...

Katy was surprized to see Evans strolling along, but perked up in her little boyish outfit, tilting her head up with a bright nod, she decided to accompany him along to the streets  and meeting up with the automan and Jacob. She got to hear about Danny, that yankee that held her and others at gun point before she entered the town.  Yet whom was Gus? Her brow furrowed softly and then the Automan said it is an angel and named Alloute. She smiled and giggled lightly, shifting her hips and Mister Lawerence announced that Alloutte was the item he came to retrieve. Yet Evans stepped up about this little fact of slavery...

" I thought tha only applied to humans, Mister Evans. It is a shiny angel, but it doesn't have feelings." She murmured, and then the machine spoke that Evans needed a hug and glomped the fellow into a hold. She burst into a little giggling fit. " Oh! I spoke too soon! That's so adorable!" She squees, moving over and giving Evan a hug too.

Well, Least we know if Aloutte was a human girl rather then an angel, Katy would be the result.

As Evans went on about slavery, Jake was in thought probably due to his not knowing that Evans was the law in this little town. Seems that this talking tin can might be self aware, which is an issue but even the most remarkable creation of man is just a thing. I'm sure Jessica and John would've loved to see this brass bird man though. Jake frowned slightly at the thought of his now dead family.

The noise made by the collision of flesh and brash jarred Jake out of his own thoughts and back into the real world. "Alright Mr Evans, I'm glad you've decided to tell me about the horrors of slavery, but it still remains that Dr Frost paid to have this machine brought to him. I'm quite sure once it has finished doing whatever it feels it must to stop the pending end of the world, it will come right along with me."

Seeing Katy, Jake smiles and tips his hat to her.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:46, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

In reply to Vincent Kaje (msg #56):

"I'm not hunting, I ... look, you can stay here and let me wander around alone, we can get in a big fight and make a lot of noise, or.., you can take me to her and say you found a stranger."  Robert wait a moment, and if he doesn't immediatly rise, he'll turn to the door and head upstairs.

Evans is a little too involved in being gang-hugged to reply to Jake. "Yes, well..." he says, blushing furiously. "I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you. But we have...other matters to attend to..."

He gently disentangles himself from the pair of embraces, and looks at Jake. "If Alouette chooses to go with you, that's perfectly fine. But given the scope and depth of the problems our little town is facing, assuming any of us will be in much shape to go anywhere after all is said and done is being, to be blunt, premature at best."

He straightens his coat out. "However, if you are interested in expediting you trip, with or without our clockwork angel here in your company, then perhaps you can lend your assistance to our cause. What do you say, sir?"

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #60):

The man seems to consider this for a moment.

"Very well, then." he says, hopping out of the box. "You'll come with me. We'll see what she says about all this. There may yet be a great, bloody, noisy fight in your future, though."

Robert lets him lead, replying, "In that case, it will match my past."

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #61):

"Is this a save the girl and save the world scenerio we're talking about Mr Evans?" Jake inquired. "Who or what is trying to lay waste to this gem of a town anyways? Who's the sheriff, marshal or what ere the law is called here? Shouldn't we be talking to them about all this? I'm not a fan of being arrested for doing the right thing." He appeared to be half-joking, but the ever present rosary in his hand hinted at religious belief while the pistol and rifle give him the look of a gun for hire.

"Angel-" Alouette corrects Jake gently, logging that the man has a very short memory, or possibly has been drinking that stuff with forgetting in.

"Have not seen trails of more wendigos, Ambrose...high probability eaten people have been consumed by undead like the Damned Yankee who made holes in Called Charging Bear and self, or another thing." It pauses and ticks a bit. "There was another thing that went out of the house with crows on..."

"Danny Albatross will not start eating live people unless he is killed again, and he is wearing the pants of Gangatsu - she has legs -" it seems to think this a thing of some note "-so less people will be angry with him, also the Pure Blooded Comanches made a big hole in Gus Shaw, so he will not come and hurt Danny until Dr.Ward has fixed him...promise not to kill Danny Albatross again?"

It looks from Evans to Jake. "Witches," it responds, to the question of what is trying to destroy the town, then straightens with a lifelike imitation of someone - perhaps a martial artist - looking alert. "A girl requires saving? Where?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:08, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

Evans sighs. "I don't know about saving any young maidens, and I can't tell if the situation is a threat to the entire world though I'd very strongly doubt it, but I can tell you there is a great evil afoot. And as for the local law, well...you're looking at it, such as it is. I am Dr. Ambrosius Botticelli Evans, Ph. D, late of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, currently acting Marshal of Blackthorn. Miss Devon here is one of my deputies. There's also a Ranger about who is resting after having a very hard day."

He looks at Alouette. "I'm afraid I can't promise that. I'm sorry. There are simply too many corpses walking around that need to be put down for good, and I am not going to let this vampire problem spread any further. We've already lost a good man to these monsters and I will not let any more be lost, not while I can do something to stop it."

He turns back to Jake. "To go into all the details would take more time than I have right now. You will have to accept on faith that we are dealing with things that seem to possess the legendary traits of vampires, and we are currently working to end this menace. Your help would be appreciated, whether you believe in vampires or not. What say you?"

"Danny Albatross is not a vampire, Ambrose," Alouette interjects, failing to make the Miss/female connection through lack of experience. "...but he will become much worse than vampires if killed again."

There's a faint, faint murmur of static after these words.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #63):

The man leads Robert to one of the rooms on the upper floor. He knocks slightly harder than necessary for politeness's sake.

"Yes?" Comes a soft, tender voice, lightly tinged with irritation. "I was trying to get my beauty sleep..."

"Marina, we have a problem." The man says, glaring back at Robert. "Can you come out here a moment?"

"Why, whatever can be the matter?" comes the reply.

"I really think you should see this for yourself."

"If it's the marshal and his posse, I've already dealt with that little..." The door opens, and Robert is once again face to face with the rapturous Marina Vanderholt. She gasps a little, then swiftly replaces her shock with a forced smile. "Why Robert! What an...unexpected surprise! I had heard there was a fight at the saloon in which you were involved...they said you'd died! Oh, how relieved I am to see they were wrong!"

"You backstabbing two-faced whore!" the man growls, his eyes glowing red, his fangs bared. "I knew it! I'll kill you both for this!"

And he leaps at Robert, fists flailing...

[[OOC: And now we enter combat rounds]]

---

Initiative:
Robert: JC
Vincent: 3h
Marina: 2h

Robert ducks, saying quickly, "You fool!  There are things happening you don't know, don't lose her over nothing!"

07:21, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 3,6 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Persuastion.

In reply to Alouette (msg #65/67) and The Amazing Evans (msg #66):
Jake considered the law man's offer, Boss didn't specify WHEN he wanted the tin can brought to him. His right hand reached up and slowly scratched his chin. He looked between Marshal Evans, Deputy Katy and Alouette, "I'll be of whatever help you need Marshal."

Suddenly, Jake had couching fit after a few moments it passes. "Do you have a I borrow a handkerchief Marshel?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Mon 14 Feb 2011.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #69):

The man moves quickly, and is hellishly strong. Robert finds himself hoisted into the air by one hand and slammed into the wall so hard it drives his breath from him.

"Then I suggest you talk quickly, mate, before I tear your noggin off." The vampire growls.

[[OOC: Thanks to Robert's Persuasion, Vincent goes for a Grapple instead of a normal attack.

Vincent Kaje rolled 4,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+5)11. Grapple! That's a hit and Raise. Robert is Entangled and Shaken. Robert can still talk, but making Persuasion checks is out of the question until you spend a chip or make the spirit roll.]]

"Vincent! Let him go!" Marina shrieks. "There is nothing going on between us!"

"And I'm supposed to take your word for that, I suppose?" Vincent snarls back. "No, Marina. Not this time. I want to hear what he has to say!"

[[OOC: Marina attempts a Test of Wills wither her Persuasion, as she has an ability similar to Snake Oil Salesman.  however, Vincent has Strong Willed and is also paranoid and angry and knows Marina too well, so he gets a bonus to his resistance check.

Marina Vanderholt rolled 9,7 using d10+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Persuasion ToW attempt.

Vincent Kaje rolled 25(!),5 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+5)21,1. Guess it's clear who the winner is in this contest.]]

---

Initiative for next round:
Vincent: KC
Marina: JH
Robert: needs to draw (and should probably draw for the next round, too, in case his argument fails)

In reply to Jake Lawrence, Alouette:

"Well, then. Thank you." Evans says, handing over a kerchief, then turns to Alouette. "Now, let's find these...wendigo things before they start digging up the cemetery or whatever it is you think they're going to do."

OOC: I should have been more clear, I was doing a test of wills myself.  I can go with this as it's my fault; I should have been more clear

12:35, Today: Robert Micklethwait drew the single card: 3D using a deck of 54 cards. init card.
looks like I go last
 

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #73):

[[OOC: Ah. In that case, let's see what the result would have been. Maybe you can get that +2 after all...

Vincent Kaje rolled 6,5 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. resisting Test of Wills. Nope. He tied.

The two of them will hold their actions until you speak.]]

Robert exhales about a bushel to much air, and coughs and weezes for a moment or thress

Glaring at his attacker, he spits out.  "Fine.  The whole story?  I came in here as human as the next man and a girls named, named, Lucy bit me.  A few hours later someone cracked my skull with a whiskey bottle.  I woke up on a coffin.  I came back here to find out as much as a can about my ... condition.  Miss Marina seemed to be in charge.  There.  Ain't.  Nothing.  Between.  Us."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Tue 15 Feb 2011.

"Lucy? Who the fuck is Lucy?" Vincent says, turning to Marina, who sighs.

"She was one of the girls here. One of our recruits. A shame, really. I thought she had talent, but the authorities were looking at us too close. That bungling night manager botched a disposal, and it turned. I used our decoy, but they weren't satisfied, so I had to point them at Lucy as well."

The man lets Robert drop. "Well, fuck. I thought they couldn't do that, Marina. I thought we were the only ones who could turn others."

"This is rather new to me as well, sugar." Marina purrs, sliding over to him and enfolding him in an embrace. "I just found out about this. You know you're the only one for me, the only one I'd share eternity with."

Vincent turns back. "So what do we do with this wanker, then? We're going to have to leave town pretty fast, and I don't fancy a tag-along."

[[OOC: How much jealousy would Robert be feeling right now? He's still under her mental whammy...]]

With a grimace Robert pulls himself to his feet.  "I thought, well, my original thought was that I could join your entertainment troupe.  I'm a lawyer by trade, it could be useful if there are any ... legal problems.  And if not I just wanted to know, what am I?  Are there more of us?  What are the rules?"


OOC: I think he'd feel quite a bit, but he's also a realist; he'll take care of Vincent later.  Venfeful doesn't have to be immediate.

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #72):

"Steal fresh corpses," Alouette chirps informatively "-or take the property of butchers, trappers, store-keepers, people with comestibles..." It looks around at the assembled deputies, lawmen and helpful random people.

"Plus safe if self goes first, also if y'all go with peace and love and trust in God: plus plus positive energies will encourage Danny Albatross and his friend to be more human than hunger, keep them minus dangerous, prevent attempts to eat people alive - y'all should be kind to your wendigo friends; do them harm, they'll eat somebody's mother..."

It watches Jake a moment, then the air behind him, then moves as though refinding a scent and abruptly starts rambling off down whatever track it's got.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #77):

"Well, Robert, to be quite honest with you I'm not quite sure what you are." Marina says as she sashays over to him. She begins looking him over.

"Are you seriously considering this, Marina?" Vincent scoffs. "It's already troublesome enough getting food for all the rest of the troupe as it is!"

"Vincent, sugar," Marina says, a hint of steel slipping into her velvet voice, "Enough. I will handle Mr. Micklethwait here. Be a dear and start packing the troupe's things, won't you?"

The man grits his teeth, but says nothing, slinking off downstairs again.

Marina sighs as he departs. "That's better. He can be such a handful at times." She says to Robert. "But he really is very good at his job. Now, as for you...I need to determine some things about you in order to answer your questions. Can you tell me more about the circumstances surrounding your death and rebirth?"

In reply to The Amazing Evans, Alouette:

Jake wiped his mouth and pocketed the handkerchief of Evan, perhaps for later us. "No problem Marshal Evans, always glad to help."

He watched Alouette look over his shoulder and his eyes followed suit. Crows was the only thought that went through his head. A shake of his head brought his thoughts back to the present. "But it seems the brass angel has found its scent again. Ms Devon, you coming along on this adventure?"

Charging Bear begins looking around his cell for some way out, he's pretty sure that he's been left behind at this point and has no desire to starve in a vault in this little town. "This isn't exactly how I thought my path would end..."

OOC:
08:54, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Notice.

In reply to Jake Lawrence, Alouette, Katy Devon:


"Indeed." Evans says, following the departing construct.

The trio (or quartet if Miss Devon is indeed coming along) move onward. They travel for about a quarter of an hour before the trail ends. Whatever trail the angel is following seems to stop at another one of those abandoned houses near the outskirts of town.

"I recognize this place." Evans mutters. "We aren't too far from the cemetery." He sighs and turns to Alouette. "You wanted to talk with them first. See if you can get them to surrender. We can take them to our makeshift holding pen if they agree, and then we can sort out this whole mess once our Ranger friend is up and about."

He turns to Jake (and katy, if there). "If they refuse to come quietly, we may have to subdue them. Be ready." He pulls a strange pistol, like a six-shooter but with a bunch of odd knobs and a pair of clockwork pendulums affixed to it.

---

In reply to Charging Bear:

As the native son begins looking around, searching for a way out, he notices that he's not, in fact, alone. That reporter guy who was hanging around is there, snoozing lightly against the wall.

Unless Charging Bear has some way of picking the lock, there's nothing that immediately comes to his attention, though he could theoretically check the rows of deposit boxes lining walls and seeing if something got left behind when this place closed down.

In reply to The Stray (msg #82):

He heard the sound of crows cawing echoing in the distance, which caused him to turn for an instant to look behind him. Satisfied that there were no crows, he drew his Colt Dragoon. Jake nodded to Evans as though he completely understood the Marshal's intentions. "So wound, do not kill."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Wed 16 Feb 2011.

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg #83):

Evans nods. "If practical. If not, I'll understand."

In reply to The Stray (msg #82):

Charging Bear sighs as he notes the sleeping news hound. "Guess he'll wake up... some time." The native son sits back down on the vault floor and waits as he apparently has lots of time on his hands.

"Hmmm..." Alouette folds its arms like an annoyed Roland. "Causing wounds causes wendigo to require plus meat to fix wounds...killing wendigo causes plus plus meat requirement, minus minus humanity...also spilling of blood, which is dangerous: infective."

It moves in to gently push any raised pistols down. "Do not add to negative aetheric flow with fear, threat, anger to those already afraid, threatened, angry...on the brink of losing souls, armed only with teeth and possibly lamps."
It points at Jake's rosary. "Use that."

Angelic advice given, it wanders up to the door and tries the knocking thing.



[[Persuasion 5 @ Evans if needed...]]

In reply to Alouette (msg #86):

Jake looked down at the rosary as though he'd forgotten it was there. "Not sure if this is much more than a nervous habit..."

In reply to Marina Vanderholt (msg #79):

"You should remember some of it.  Katy was up in Lucy's room keeping an eye on her.  Guess she got hungry, and attacked Lucy.  I went up, got bit, Lucy got staked.  I was feelin' a mite ... ansy, thirsty, anyhow I went to the saloon for a drink, and Katy had gotter herself in a brawl over shootin' a man who had been trying to kill me, I intervened and got hit by a bottle.  I woke up on coffin, still feeling hungry, and discovered I could walk through walls and see in the dark.  I figured whatever was going on happened here, and I'd seen what looked like a few bite marks on your fair skin, so here I am."

Katy didn't want to tag along, they were hunting down that scary fellow with the bad hacking cough that tried to rob her, the asian woman, and the cute sick doctor. Yet there was nothing else to do in town and she kept getting lost in the interesting things that were happening all around. Just her luck, too.

Well, they walked along for a dreadful boring hour and some odd minutes with nothing to show for it. Yet there was an old cementary and this was starting to get a bit spooky as they were to subdue him without the use of guns.

" Should.. Should we spread out incase he runs?..."

Jake shifted his pistol in his hands and shrugged at Katy's question, "Don't know... is this wendigo guy dangerous?"

" Well.." Katy started with a lift of her chin to recall the memory. " It was scary cause he held us all at gun point on the stagecoach here, but he was very scared and desperate, sobbing a lot. He did not wish to return to Blackthorn, but wouldn't give a straight answer about why.. So the asian lady thought he was hiding something and brought him back... Then the man was shot and injured, and this doctor took him away, and the rest this.. Angel bot told us about and.. Now here we are... Why exactly is finding Danny important?.. I don't understand that part. He seems like he just needs to be left alone. He might be a 'yankee', but I feel bad for the guy, Seems to always bein trouble..
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:45, Sat 19 Feb 2011.

In reply to Katy Devon (msg #91):

"Because, my dear," Evans says, still holding his gun out, though he's lowered it. "According to our local mechanical angel, this 'Danny' person has become something like the vampire lady who attacked you. A monster that pretends to still be human. And, just like the vampire, it's somehow managed to recruit another soul into it's hellish existence. We have no idea what these creatures are doing to spread themselves, but it's our duty to put a stop to it before the walking dead outnumber the living."

There's no immediate response to Alouette's knock.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Sat 19 Feb 2011.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #88):

Marina frowns. "You'll need to tell me a bit more than that, honey. What were your feelings upon rising? Was there any sort of transition you felt turning from dead to alive again? What was that experience like?"

Alouette patiently waits the amount of time it's learnt one waits when doing the knocking thing.

"Biting," it remarks to Evans when it seems the dead are having a lie-in, heading around the building to see if there's another door. "Then becoming subject to unkindness, pain: negative energy."

It pauses to see if Katy's coming, since he seems to be the best at hugs and isn't waving a gun about. Then it patters off round the side, still wittering in a vaguely Augustus-like manner, shaking its head like Dr.Ward does when he disapproves of something:
"People keep killing Danny Albatross...it makes him plus much worse..."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Sat 19 Feb 2011.

" Oh?.." Katy murmurs, though that reminded her of the lie Evans told her and kept her ignorant of the real dangerous little egg she sat on. " On and I'm going to have a word with you about lying, Ambrose Evans. She nearly bit me just like.." Trailing off slightly, though Alouette's words seemed to make her go a little pale.

" Bites? It transfers through bites?! Oh no.. That's so bad, that's so very bad, but.. Oh goodness, now I know what he meant. Oh.. Oh no, no no, Are you sure?" She chirps girlishly, following after the metallic angel like a duckling, Listening to it mutter and such. " Is there a way to reverse this, Angel? Is that what we need Danny for, to save everyone? Oh goodness, this is becoming like Sasha Cohen's fright in the west novels..."

"Yes," Alouette responds to Katy "also blood is infective: dangerous...if wendigo blood gets into a mortal's mouth, alternate: into broken skin of mortal, even a drop like, similar to, a single speck of dust can cause infection..."

It carries on along the side of the house. "...vampire blood may be similar." The tin-can angel considers her next question a moment, ticking. "Deterioration in differently alive people is plus plus fast, but a mortal infected by vampirefulness may be cured with kindness, holy water, and a lemon...also many green vegetables, especially ramps. Also not being killed."

"A mortal turning wendigo requires bear fat and kindness, but consumption of much fish can slow deterioration, perhaps halt...these wendigos require halting, because vampires can be made not to bite people with holiness and steak and onions - or possibly ramps - but a wendigo who is minus human, only hunger, cannot be stopped or prevented: the hunger hurts them more than any wound someone trying not to be eaten can inflict, more than anything in the world, and they will try to eat anything with flesh to make it less because it will never stop...a wendigo who cannot get any food will try to eat itself but stay alive, becoming only violence and hunger, no thought...vampires just go to sleep."

"Self is going to find Danny Albatross and his friend before they are like that and hurt alive people...also, the bird in Danny Albatross' chest might help save the world..."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Sun 20 Feb 2011.

In Reply to Alouette, Katy, Jake:

The cabin is small. There are windows along the back, but no back doors.

[[OOC: Make Notice checks, please.]]

Jake thought about the automoton's words but couldn't quite make heads or tails of them. He looked over the small cabin and thought, Looks like little more than a bunch of scrap wood made into a shed.

OOC:
10:46, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 1,3 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Knowledge Occult.
10:52, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 5,3 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Notice. 

Alouette notices the lack of door. In fact, it notices lots of things.

[[ Notice: 14! ]]

"Well, I woke.  Like from a sleep.  A sleep of nightmares ... I was hungry.  Very hungry.  The only time I every felt any hunger that close was during the war."  Roland replies.  "And m'head hurt."

In reply to Katy, Alouette, and Jake Lawrence:

Alouette does indeed notice a lot of things. Like the sound of movement from within. And the sound of a shotgun being cocked.

Jake also hears the sounds of weapons being readied. Apparently the cabin isn't so empty as it first appeared.

Evans doesn't seem to have noticed anything yet. And neither has katy, apparently...

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #100):

Marina frowns. "That's...odd. Quite odd. I've heard that sort of story before now..." She frowns, and then moves over to the curtains. "Robert, would you kindly come over here for just a moment? I'd like to try something that will give me some answers, if you'll trust me."

The automaton pauses in its ambling around the cabin.

"Firearms," Alouette remarks, then calculates where the last sound/movement came from with scientific precision and attempts to make sure the weapon stays lowered like it did with Evans. It hasn't quite worked out the whole 'windows are solid things you're not supposed to reach through' thing yet.

*CRASH*tinkletinkle*


[[8 strength vs. glass surface. It's not trying to do terminator impressions...]]

Having heard the sounds of other's firearm readied, Jake muttered a prayer and looked to Evans. His eyes narrowed as he noticed Evans not readying himself. In a whisper he said, "Evans, who or what ever is in there is armed."

In reply to Marina Vanderholt (msg #102):

With a chuckle, Robert complies.  "If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't be here.  I don't like the light, if that's what you are going to check"

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #105):

"There is not liking the light, and seeing what the light does to you." She says, pushing his hand through the curtain.

In reply to Jake, Alouette, and Katy:

[[OOC: Please draw and post initiative cards so I can get a good sense of the next sequence of events.]]

Robert let's her do so.

Jake was ready for most anything...

OOC:
07:49, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: AH using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

Katy was following Alouette and was thinking over the information. She wasn't really paying attention to the building itself.

Katy pulls a 3c.

Everything seems to be a blur...Alouette sticks it's hand through a window, though it can't feel anything. Shouts of alarm from the cabin . Evans already has his weapon drawn, but otherwise didn't seem prepared for a firefight.

But Jake had a level head quick reflexes...

[[OOC: It's Jake's turn]]

Order of initiative:

Jake Lawrence: AH
Danny Boy: QD
Jesse: 9H
Alouette: 6H
The Amazing Evans: 3H
Katy Devon: 3C

Jake leveled his big Colt Dragoon on the door and called, "Come out with your hands up. This doesn't have to get bloody!" The words had a harsh tone and definite intent behind them.

OOC: Test of Wills!
14:07, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 4,9 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+3)9. Intimidation.

[edit] Forgot my initiative card ... oops
08:02, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 10H using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:03, Fri 18 Mar 2011.

In reply to Robert Micklethwait (msg #108):

The lady moves his hands through the curtain, letting a little bit of sunlight spill through the curtain. The day is overcast, but it's still bright enough to make the pair of them flinch.

That's all that happens, though. Instinctive reactions to sunlight aside, Robert's hand comes away unharmed.

"Why, I declare I find this most perplexing." Marina mutters. "It was Lucy bit who you, but you've become one of us, not one of the hired help. This is most unusual, but I think I can answer your questions more easily now."

Robert nods.  "So it's like I'm, an officer, not a soldier.  So was Lucy, hired help?"

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg #112):

There's shouts of alarm from inside.

"Oh Christ! Oh Christ! Oh Christ!"

"Shut up! Shut your fecking hole, ye useless son of a bitch!"

"We're gonna die! We're gonna die again!"

"Get ahold o' yeself, man!" *SMACK!* "You out there! We don't want any trouble, but by God I am not going to let no fecking rebel lawman take me in! Ye go your way, we'll go ours, and there won't be no trouble at all between us! Alouette, if that's you out there, please for the love of God Almighty stop following me!"

[[OOC: Results of Intimidation ToW:

Danny Boy rolled 5,7 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+2)8. resisting intimidate. Fail, meaning Jake gets a +2 on his next action should he need it.

Jesse rolled 5,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. resisting intimidate. Also a failure, with a Raise. Jesse is panicked and Shaken.

Danny uses his action to talk.

Jesse attempts to Recover from being Shaken. Jesse rolled 5,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. recover from shaken attempt. Success, but it takes his whole action.

It's Alouette's turn.]]

"Not Christ," Alouette corrects after withdrawing its arm and looking around for the Second Coming, "-angel."

As such, it can't really refuse Danny's request. However, there are things to sort out: "Howdy Danny Albatross! Howdy Danny Albatross' Differently Alive Friend! Y'all should go to church, it will help y'all not eat people. Eating people is wrong and bad for your soul. Also for eaten people."

There's a short pause. "Self told Ambrose, Miss Devon and Jake Lawrence not to harm or frighten y'all...but Jake Lawrence forgets fast..." *tiktiktik* "Fear Not! Self will go tell him again. Y'all should put those smokewagons away - if y'all hurt mortals self is not required to protect y'all."

The automaton patters back round the front to put itself directly between Jake and the most logical firing point from inside the cabin, assuming - correctly or not - Katy will follow like she did before.

"Cease! Not add plus plus negative energies! Be excellent to each other!"


[[Alouette moves its pace and into combat mode: Actively In The Way
init: QS]]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:51, Thu 17 Mar 2011.

[[OOC: I think we'll drop out of combat rounds for now.]]

"We didn't eat nobody! I swear we didn't! And we certainly didn't eat..." *SMACK*

Evans sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I do not even have words." he mutters, looking at Jake. "This is a debacle of the highest order." he sighs, and lowers his gun, then nods to Jake and indicates he should do the same.

"Listen up in there!" he says. "I'll have you know that I'm from Boston. I'm not a rebel, nor, if you want to be technical about it, a citizen of the CSA. However, I am this town's acting law official, and since you're the first undead federal soldiers we've met who weren't off chanting biblical doom, I have some questions for you that might help us solve a particularly large dilemma that we have here. If you surrender yourselves into our custody, I can promise you that once I've taken your statements and determined you aren't a threat to life and limb of others you will be free to go. does that sound like a workable deal?"

"I ain't no filthy fuckin' Yank!" Shouts one of the voices. "I always knew you was a Yankee spy, Evans! I knew it!"

There's another loud *SMACK*, followed by a thud.

"I think we can work out a deal. Send in th' machine."

"Angel," Alouette corrects, though it still looks to Jake to see if he's been sufficiently reminded not to shoot its albatross and is ready to move if it gets out of the line of fire between him and inside.

Jake shock his head and holstered his Colt. "This aught to be good." he muttered as they waited to see how things played out.

"Be excellent,"  Alouette reminds him, and sidles over to try the knocking thing again.

*knocknok*

" Aww.." She pouts slightly in a girlish fashion. " I want to go too.." She nearly squees. The whole dead men that could eat flesh and be all talky about it, well, this so far was an interesting prospect. The little Brunette  peeked around the corner at the angel as it knocked upon the door.

"Somethings tells me you don't really want to be heading in there with the automaton." Jack said as he shifted the rosary in his hand. Just seems like this town is fuller of strange than New Orleans... which takes some doing.