Near Sundown, April 11th, 1879. The Oriental Theater. Good Friday.

Some Mood Music

William Pierce:

The world sways and creaks a William Pierce's eyes flutter open. He finds himself looking down on the stage of the Oriental Theater from a distressingly great height. There's a horrible pressure around his neck.

A rope creaks in his ear as he wakens, and discovers that, in fact, that pressure around his neck is the only think keeping him suspended in the air...

---

Charging Bear:

The escape from the jail was much easier than it should have been. It seemed like the whole place had been abandoned. opening one room nearby, Charging Bear and his two bandit companions stumbled on a treasure trove of weapons: A shot gun and two pistols, as well as boxes and boxes of ammunition.

The bandits fall on the the weaponry like flies on shit. McCaivty takes both Peacemakers, reasoning that one of those weapons will go to Jenny when they find her. Rum Tum Tugger grabs the revolving shotgun and a generous amount of shells.

"I know it's Easter, but today it feels like Christmas!" Rum chuckles as he checks the action. "Oh, I like this. I like it very much. People should leave their guns laying around more often."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:07, Mon 12 Dec 2011.

William flails his legs, fighting down a surge of panic, but all it does is making him swing gently from side to side.
He gasps for air, but can't breath... then he realizes he doesn't have to. And he feels a presence... somewhere... that seems to make itself comfortable like a stranger coming into his house and occupying William's favorite chair.

A cold shiver washes over him.
But the ogre goes with you.

He grits his teeth and takes a moment to assess his situation.

OOC: 11:16, Today: William Pierce rolled 5,7 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Notice, Alertness.

Do I have my knife, my pistols? I guess not, but you'll never know...
Are my hands bound?
What is the rope tied to? Is there a gangway up there or is it slung across a beam and tied at the bottom...?

Glancing at the weaponry, Charging Bear says, "Something tells me those are the Ranger's reserve weapons. She was talking with your friend the salesman earlier." His eyes scan the room causally, Wonder what other presents people left but unfortunately his mind is else where as the combination of pain and dread are causing him to lack his normal focus.

"I'd suggest y'all leave 'em be but that's just a silly idea I'm guessing."

OOC:
08:59, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,1 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Notice (-2 WP).

In reply to William Pierce (msg #2):

As William flails about, trying to get his bearings, he finds that he's not the only corpse swinging above the floor...poor Jenny is right next to him. His hands aren't bound, but as he moves the rope pitches downward a bit, while Jenny's corpse slides up. He looks around and realizes they've been tied together at the neck and then dropped from a railing from the balcony overlooking the stage.

His gun and his knife are gone. In fact, he isn't even wearing his original clothes. He and Jenny have been dressed as a bride and groom by someone with a sick sense of humor. The only thing he can find on himself is a piece of paper in his jacket pocket, which isn't helpful at the moment.

"Yes." Says McCavity.

"Very silly." Rum says. "If she didn't want them taken, well, she should have locked them away better."

"We should try to find a trail." McCavity suggests. "If I know Jenny, she would have left by the back door, so we should start there."

"Yeah, she's a back door girl, alright." Rum snickers.

"Hey!"

"What? Someone had to say it."

"No." McCavity growls, his hand dipping toward one of his newly acquired guns. "Someone didn't."

"Alright, alright!" Rum throws up his hands in mock surrender. "Yeesh. Can't even make a joke around here without getting your head blown off."

"Let's just find her, shall we?"

Charging Bear remains quiet, letting the two mercenaries talk to each other. "Guess there's something I missed, but regardless I'd like suggest we see about horses. Ain't gonna get much of anywhere on food." The native son looks out at the wet earth outside the mining office. "I don't think you'll have much luck tracking her though, grounds mush thanks to the rain."

"Just an old sore wound that Rum here won't stop picking at." McCavity grumbles. "It doesn't really concern you anyway." He sighs. "You're probably right about that, though. If it were just mud, it would be easier, but the current precipitation precludes much of a trail."

"The best place to find her would be at the emergency campsite." Rum says as they enter the streets and head for the livery. "That's where we were supposed to meet up if we all got separated. It's not far out of town, by an old dead tree."

"With the rain? There's no shelter out there, so unless she snatched a tent on her way out of town..."

"Do you have a better idea about where to look? I'd really like to hear it if you do."

"It's raining, but it's muddy. We could try following the bounty hunter's trail instead."

Rum looks at Charging Bear. "Well? Looks like you're the tie breaker, here. Campsite? follow the bounty hunter? Or perhaps you have some other plan stashed in that savage brain of yours."

Charging Bear looks back towards the front of the mining office. He takes a moment to gather thoughts; the native son shakes his head slightly before finally saying, "I done told yall my plan - I'm going after Cantrell. Given that he was the last person to leave here, I'm pretty sure I can sort out which way he went. As of right now I'm going to get my horse then see to killing that bastard."

"Then follow him it is." Rum grins. "I told you, I want a piece of that bastard my own self. He didn't have the good sense to stay dead when I shot him before, and I mean to correct that oversight."

((OOC: Make a Tracking Roll, please. -4 for the rain, +2 for the mud))

OOC: Oh the should be good, let me get the modifiers here sorted
-4 for rain, +2 for the mud, -2 for wounds, +2 for Woodsman (doubtful) = -2 total (-4 if no Woodsman)

14:08, Today: Charging Bear rolled 9,2 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,4. Tracking.
That'll do, 9 w/ Woodsman, 7 w/o it.

---

"I'm not sure there will be much left after I'm done." The native son walks towards the front door and when he gets there Charging Bear takes a moment to get his bearings. He hunkers down in the mud and starts looking over the tracks.

In reply to The Stray (msg #4):
William stares at Jenny for a long moment.
I'm sorry for what happened to you, girl.

Then he starts pulling himself up on the rope, towards the railings.

OOC: Strength roll!
20:55, Today: William Pierce rolled 6,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. Strength.

William swings his way over to the railing and pulls himself up...and feels a tugging and jerking at the other end of the rope...

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #10):

Charging Bear and the Jellicles follow the bounty hunter's trail to the livery (where Charing Bear's horse is missing...doesn't take a genius to figure out who took it).

From there they follow the hoofprints heading out of town...

But as they pass the Oriental Theater, Charging Bear spies his own horse, tied up outside under an awning, next to a couple other horses.

That seems...odd, to say the least.

"What's my horse doing here..." Charging Bear mutters as he puts the pieces together. He looks to the duo with him, "Looks like he left and came back. There's my horse."

"Either of you been in there before?" he nods to the Oriental Theater.

McCavity shakes his head, but Rum nods.

"Yup. Nice place, if a bit on the pricy side for a 'private dance' or two. But then, this was back when this town was still booming, so I don't know how business has been for them since." Rum say, then grins at McCavity. "Though I can see why Jenny might be hiding out there. Seems to suit her just fi..."

At this McCavity hauls off and punches Rum square in the mouth. "Thomas, I will tell you this once and only once. Jenny may be many things, but she is not, and never was, a whore. And if you insinuate such again I will blow your fucking head off." He leans in close, fire in his eyes. "Are we quite clear on that?"

Rum rubs a trickle of blood away from his jaw. "Yeesh. Don't have to get all bent out of shape."

Not wanting to get in the middle of things, Charging Bear lets the two sort out their differences, once they're done he says, "Not exactly the reason I had for asking, it looks like at least Cantrell is inside. He'd be the only person who'da taken my horse. So it looks like we're heading inside, but first I'd like to get something off my horse"

Charging Bear walks over to his horse, keeping an eye on the door and retrieves his  bladed war club.

In reply to Jenny Anydots (msg #12):
"Jenny?!" William's whispers, not believing his own eyes.

He pulls himself over the railing, then slowly starts pulling up the rope, keeping eye contact with Jenny.

OOC: 22:04, Today: William Pierce rolled 18,9 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (10+8)18,(6+3)9. Strength.

Once she's up, he works the knot of his sling until he can pull his head through it.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Tue 13 Dec 2011.

Jeeny looks back up at him, struggling against the rope around her neck, clearly panicking. Her eyes have turned blood red, and William can see that her canines have lengthened.

He pulls her up and over the rail, where she curls into a ball and starts shivering.

"Thirsty..." she whimpers once she's loosened the noose. "...so very, very thirsty..."

Now that she mentions it, William also feels so very, very thirsty...

But he doesn't have time to ponder that. There's a light from below, coming from the very same entrance you were attacked at.

"why would she be here?" Someone asks.

"don't rightly know." says someone else. "but this is where the trail leads. perhaps she's seeking sanctuary with the soiled doves."

((OOC: William is Fatigued (-1 penalty) until he gets his pint of blood.))

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #16):

"Well, there's a back door, if you want to try and get in discreetly." Rum says, lowering his voice and drawing his shotgun. "We could go that way. Or we could split up, and try to flank him."

In reply to Jenny Anydots (msg #18):

Easy now, Jenny... something bad happened.

"We let you back, you'll be a monster." The words echo in his head...

"Let's get down there, somebody's coming. I need to find my guns. And then we're gonna kill those fanged bitches."


OOC: Assuming there's a way off the balcony behind the stage...


Slowly coming down the stairs, William keeps holding one of Jenny's hands to make sure she doesn't run off. He keeps scanning the surroundings for something he could use as a weapon.

07:28, Today: William Pierce rolled 9,4 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,2. Notice.

In reply to William Pierce (msg #20):

"No shit, Captain Obvious." Jenny grumbles, but she follows along. "Yeah...find them...so thirsty...tear them apart, drink their blood down, make them pay..."

The balcony is part of the second floor. Rows of doors line the wall, and there's a staircase leading down.

The prospects for weapons isn't good here, but William spies the remains of a wooden chair smashed to flinders down below. Some of the bigger bits could be used as makeshift clubs...

...but even as William is pondering that, he feels something sharp cut the inside of his cheek, and realizes that it must be his own, also elongated fangs...

In reply to Rum Tum Tugger (msg #19):

With a gentle hand, Charging Bear checks on his horse making sure the animal is alright and been well taken care of. Three days in a barn hopefully haven't cause you too much harm girl, could be worse you could be shot like me. he thinks. Once satisfied that his horse is alright, Charging Bear retrieves his bladed war club and makes quick harness of some tent cord, so he has the nasty looking weapon within easy reach.

"Since none of us are in particularly good shape and have no clue as to who or what might be inside this place I suggest that we stick together." Charging Bear contends in hushed voice. His eyes scan the area but come up with no reason not to try the back entry. "Let's slip into the back quietly, hopefully Cantrell has given up looking for your number three and might be off guard. Though knowing him, I doubt that to be the case"

OOC:
08:55, Today: Charging Bear rolled 0,2 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Notice (-2 WP).
I'm loving these wound penalties!
This message was last edited by the player at 14:00, Wed 14 Dec 2011.

"Monster..."

He stumbles, catching his fall against the wall.
No... Nooo!

In his head he can hear the freakish laughter of four demons, rounded out with the drunken chuckle of his father.

William presses his fingers against his temples and takes a few deliberate deep breaths.

"They turned us into things like them." He raises a hand. "Yes, I know, obvious. If it was so fucking obvious, then why did you want to go to the Oriental?"

He feels his anger flaring up and grabs one of the makeshift clubs, pounding it against the nearest wall again and again.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK, NOOOOOO!"
Not caring about who... or what might hear them, he yells as loudly as possible: "I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU AND WATCH YOU BURN!"

That cools him off a bit and he glowers at Jenny, replacing the broken club with a newer one.
"Let's go and find my guns."

@ Charging Bear

Not noticing the shouting going on inside, Charing Bear and the Jellicles sneak to the back door and find it unlocked. There seems to be some kind of commotion going on further inside...

---

@ William

"I didn't know!" Jenny snarls at him. "I didn't know! I haven't been here in a couple years! I had a friend here who I thought could take us in but I didn't fucking know the girls who worked here had been replaced by blood sucking monsters! And furthermore, I told you we should've gone the other way! This was the only place I could think of that might have been a good place to lay low with all the crazy going on in town on short notice!"

There's a cough from nearby.

"Excuse me," says a giant black man in an old CSA army coat with a pair of huge pistols, one fitted with a wicked-looking bayonet, pointed at their direction. "I hate to interrupt, but...you're under arrest. Oughta come quiet-like, now."

Another fellow, small by comparison but still lean and muscular, also has a gun trained on them. He also has a deputy's badge. "Throw down your weapons, please." he says.

((OOC: And I'm going to need to get a tactical map of this up...just to be safe, I'd like everyone to state their intentions before things go down.))

In reply to The Stray (msg #24):

OOC: CB would like to kill Cantrell.

In reply to The Stray (msg #24):

Within a split-second, Wiliam's world shrinks down to himself and the two armed men in front of him, Jenny being reduced to a presence on the edge. He feels the missing weight of his pistols at his belt, acknowledges it, then focuses on the two men, judges them, their proficiency with guns, by the way they hold them, how the holsters look and the look on their faces.

Darky's got crazy eyes... he'll be the first to make a move, he decides.

William slowly spreads his arms, showing he is unarmed. "Arrested on what charge?" he asks, his voice flat, unconcerned.

Moving quietly as he could, Charging Bear stops just inside the backdoor as he hears someone talking "Someones here," he whispers to the others. He points to the second door, "You two go that way work around, I'll go in this way."

OOC: Sending them through the "east" /right door and CB will take the "west"/left door.

William:

The big guy smirks. "You want me to read the whole entry on her in the Bible, or just what she's been up to today?"

"Stand away from her, sir." The deputy says. "She's a stone killer. She's wanted for three counts of attempted murder in my town just in the last 24 hours."

There's a giggle from behind William. "Only attempted? None of them died? Such a shame."

William sees looks of horror cross the faces of the bounty hunter and the deputy.

"What the fuck!?" the bounty hunter gapes.

"Get away! Get away from her now! RUN!" The deputy screams, turning around and running for the door.

"Time for dinner, boys!" laughs the girl, and surges past William...

((OOC: Both of them fail their fear checks. Bill, as an Extra, is panicked. Jericho, as a Wild Card, rolls on the fear table. Big Bab Bounty hunter gets scared of a little girl...picks up a Minor Phobia (not quite sure of what yet).

Oh, and William? Draw a card for combat, please. We're now in Rounds.))

---

Charging Bear:

As Charging Bear enters the ballroom, he can see some figures in the distance. It looks like the girl he knocked out earlier, the third member of the gang, has been cornered by Jericho and that Dust Adder Evans hired on as a Deputy.

There's also someone there dressed as a groom, oddly enough...CB has no idea who the guy is, but he's facing down Cantrell, so he can't be all bad.

Then the girl moves, and the bounty hunter and the deputy start shouting...

((OOC: Draw cards! Do you want to control RTT and McCavity for this fight, or leave them under my control?))

---

Turn Order:
Bill: 10H
Charging Bear: 10C
Rum Tum Tugger: 9S
William Pierce: 9D
McCavity: 9C
Jericho Cantrell: 8C
Jenny Anydots: 2H
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Thu 15 Dec 2011.

OOC:08:45, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 9D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

William steps to the side, then surges forward, seemingly away from Jenny... but once he's past Jericho, he swings that leg chair at the other fellow's head.

OOC: The Drop, maybe? Otherwise, I miss.
08:49, Today: William Pierce rolled 0,2 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Fighting, head, wild attack, White chip.
08:49, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,3 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Fighting, head, wild attack.

((OOC: Er...what penalties/bonuses are you assessing there? List them out, because I'm not sure where you're getting a net -2 penalty to your attack rolls...

As for attempting to get The Drop, well, that would be an attempt at a Smarts Trick, which would be an opposed roll. I'd allow you to do that in the same action with a -2 Multiple Action Penalty, but I'd still want to know where your penalties above are coming from.))

OOC: I actually forgot my fatigue, but:
-4 for the "headshot"
+2 for the Wild attack

In reply to Jericho Cantrell (msg #28):
OOC: I'm fine with running RTT and McC. So here are a few cards
08:00, Today: Charging Bear drew the 3 cards: 10C, 9S, 9C using the Deadlands system. Initiative (CB, McC, Rum).

OOC: Oh, right - new card!
15:23, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: QD using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

Alrighty, let me untangle some stuff.

@ William: So it was an actual called shot to the head instead of a description? Alrighty. In the future, please make sure you're calling out Called Shots in your OOC blurbs. I don't require a Called Shot if you're just trying to be descriptive, but if your actual intent was to get the bonus damage, then it's something I need to know. Also keep in mind that, per SWD, Improvised Weapons have a -1 penalty to the attack roll, so I'll be assessing that as long as you're using the chair leg and not your natural weapons.

Your action is also 3rd in line, behind Charging Bear and RTT, so they will get their actions in before your attack.

@ Charging Bear: here are the stats for RTT and McCavity. I've included some notes on their goals for this fight for RP purposes.

Charging Bear enters the ballroom, his eyes requiring a moment to adjust to the difference of illumination, but he keeps moving sticking close to the wall. His hands are empty as makes his way through the ball room

OOC: Just moving 6 spaces south as quietly as I can ..
12:25, Today: Charging Bear rolled -1,-1 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Stealth (-2WP).
which is like a bull elephant apparently

---

Rum Tum Tugger moves into the Orient like he owns the place. He smiles as hear the commotion in the other room. "I'll set up a little slice of fun. A trio of dynamite might do the trick."
OOC: Moving South and keeping an eye out for anything useful
12:28, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,0 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Notice (-2 WP) RTT.
Or being blind...

Neither Charing Bear nor RTT are particularly quiet, and there isn't much around here excepts tables and chairs and a big stage.

Then CB sees the man move and swing a board at Cantrell's head. It doesn't seem to do much except make him mad...and in watching someone else take a swing at his hated foe, CB dislodges a chair and sends it clattering, drawing even more attention.

((OOC: I'll slip William's action here.))

William, swings his board, but the big bounty hunter catches it on his shoulder instead of in his face.

"You cocksucker!" He growls, then he looks over at the noise. "Fuck! Why aren't you dead!?"

---

Up next: McCavity!

"You'd best try harder next time!" Charging Bear barks back at Cantrell.

---

McCavity follows after Rum, he hears Charging Bear making noise so he picks up his pace alittle.

OOC: Run McCavity run!
12:56, Today: Charging Bear rolled 2 using 1d6. Running.
Just not too fast now. That'll make his total move 6 squares weeee.
12:54, Today: Charging Bear drew the 3 cards: 7S, 4H, 5S using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative (CB, McC, Rum).

This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Thu 15 Dec 2011.

Sure, will do. My apologies, I thought the "head" part in the roll description was enough.
Also, do you want me to run Jenny or do you want to run her yourself?

Cantrell's Turn:

((OOC: Nah, we describe that kind of stuff here all the time. Flavor over mechanics for the most part. So when you really do want to make a called shot, let me know in the OOC. As for Jenny, well, I was going to control her during this fight.))

"I'll keep that in mind!" Cantrell shouts, then turns his attention on William. "And as for you...sorry 'bout this. Nothin' personal, but you picked the wrong side."

So saying, he sticks a sliver-plated, pearl-handled Peacemaker in Pierce's face and snaps off two quick shots, one in each of his eyes. The bounty hunter turns away from William and faces down Jenny, his bayonet-bladed pistol ready in his other hand.

He hasn't even noticed that the shots didn't even knock the other man down...

((OOC: Cantrell knows to get when the gettin's good. He's going to withdraw, but not before he clears a path. So he's going to fire at William, making a Called Shot to the head. He expects this to kill him so he can deal with Jenny.

He is making a Called Shot (-4) but Double Tapping (+1) and using Marksman (+2), for a net total of -1 to his shooting roll. Since he's firing into melee, he has to beat William's current Parry of 3 (normally 5, -2 for the Wild Attack)

01:00, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 7,1 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 8,2. Shooting (mrksmn, DT, called shot:head). That's a Hit and Raise.

Damage: 01:06, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 5 using 3d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1,1. Damage. ...and he completely muffs the damage roll. Even with the +4 from the head shot, that's only a total of 9 damage...William is only Shaken.

Cantrell's next Card: BJ!))

---

Jenny's Turn:

Jenny glides over to the big guy, a savage grin revealing her fangs.

"How many licks does it take to the get to the juicy red center of a big chocolate bully?" She giggles. "Let's find out!"

She weaves under his swing and sinks her fangs into Cantrell's arm, eliciting a yelp of surprise and pain. She moans and begins sucking on his bicep...

((OOC: Jenny is going to attack Cantrell, leaping at him with a Wild Attack in order to get around her one level of fatigue for being hungry.

01:17, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 3,4 using d6+2,d6+2. Bite!  Not enough, so I'm going to spend a White Chip for a reroll.

01:17, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 3,9 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7. White Chip. This time it's a hit.

Damage: 11, and Jericho must make an opposed Vigor roll with her or take a level of Fatigue.

01:20, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 9,9 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(6+3)9. Vigor (mistake in previous roll).

01:21, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 4,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Vigor.

Jericho will spend a chip to soak: 01:22, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Soak Roll. He soaks the damage, but not the Fatigue, which means Jenny heals the Fatigue level she was suffering and is back to full health.

Jericho Cantrell is now Fatigued.

Jenny's next card: 10H))

---

Turn Order for next round:
Jericho Cantrell: BJ!
William Pierce: QD
Jenny Anydots: 10H
Charging Bear: 7S
Rum Tum Tugger: 5S
McCavity: 4H

---

I'll skip Jericho for now...it's William's turn!

OOC:

Jericho Cantrell:

She weaves under his swing and sinks her fangs into Cantrell's arm, eliciting a yelp of surprise and pain. She moans and begins sucking on his bicep...

Does he drop the pistol in his left hand, perchance? Or what would I need to do to pry hit from his not-cold-dead-hand yet?

OOC: You'd need to disarm him to get the gun, yes.

OOC: Then a disarm attack it is. I assume +1 Gang-up from Jenny, -2 Called shot.
17:55, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,-1 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Disarm attack.
17:55, Today: William Pierce rolled 7,2 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,4. Disarm attack, white chip.
17:56, Today: William Pierce rolled 24,4 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (10+10+5)25,5. Strength, white chip.
17:56, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,2 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Strength, Fatigue.
Cost me two chips, but I think I got a pistol now, unless he uses that Joker to beat that...
Actually forgot that I was Shaken...

17:58, Today: William Pierce rolled 16,2 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+1)17,3. Spirit to recover from Shaken. Halle-Frickin'-Luja! I would've hated for that Strength roll to be wasted!

William staggers back, for a second blinded by the mussle flash and blood, his world turning dark. He feels panic rise up in him, then blinks - and he can see!

He steps behind what has to be Cantrell, grabs Cantrell's right hand and the colt it is holding. Then he squeezes the black man's fingers, prying the weapon from his hand.

William wrenches the gun from the bounty hunter, who stares at the man who should be dead.

"no..." He mutters, then switches his bladed LeMat to his right hand and begins firing wildly at both of them. Half a dozen rounds blast through the bride and groom as he slaps the hammer down on his gun.

"die...die...DIE...WHY WON'T YOU DIE!?" He shrieks in absolute terror as the bullets do...not a single thing to either Jenny or William.

"HELP!" He screams. "OH GOD SOMEONE HELP ME!"

((OOC: Yup, she gives you a gang-up bonus.

Jericho rolls strength to resist losing his weapon...10:08, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 4,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Strength. Oh, and he get's +2 from the joker bu -1 from Fatigue, so no, that still doesn't help at all.

He's going to take his action now...He's quite clearly terrified, and is going to turn his LeMat on you and Jenny by fanning the hammer. Since he's in melee, he has to hit your Parry scores. He has +2 from his Joker, -4 to each attack from the Fan, and -1 from Fatigue, so a total of -3 to each attack.

He's going to shoot three times at Jenny and three times at William.

10:13, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,16,0 using d10-3,d10-3,d10-3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(10+9)19,3. Fanning the Hammer! (Jenny).

10:13, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,5,4 using d10-3,d10-3,d10-3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,8,7. Fanning the Hammer! (William).

10:14, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 4 using 1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7. Fanning the Hammer! (Wild Die).

That's one hit w/Raise on Jenny, and one hit on William.

Damage (Jenny): 18. Jenny is Shaken. She isn't otherwise hurt, because guns do dick all to vampires.

Damage William): 6. And apparently they do dick all to vampire-like Harrowed, too.

Card for next round: 9D.

Jenny will spend her turn attempting to Recover from Shaken. 10:24, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 4,5 using d8,d6. Recover from Shaken. Success, but not a raise.

Jenny's next card: 7S))

---

Up next: Charging Bear!

Seeing Cantrell's bullets do nothing to the duo who fall upon him, Charging Bear tries to think of anything he might have seen that would act like that. Sadly he can't come up with anything, but the native son is quite sure neither of these individuals are quite right.

He considers how well this J. Stone pistol worked on the now re-dead'ed Deputy Fuller and thinks it to be his best option. The pistol comes to his hand with an ease only an experienced soul could manage.The single shot sounds like a train speeding towards its target.

OOC:
12:47, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,0 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Know (Occult) -2WP.
Well spit...
My apologize William but tag you're it!
12:51, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8,6 using 1d8+2,1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4. Shooting (+4 Gun, -2 WP).
8 is a hit w/ a raise (baring anything strange)
12:51, Today: Charging Bear rolled 25,2 using 2d6+5,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+1)13,(6+1)7,2. Damage (Gun, Raise).
27 Damage to William

---

Rum Tum Tugger and McCavity continue to circle round, if they make it to the door they'll assess what's happening and act accordingly.


12:56, Today: Charging Bear drew the 3 cards: JD, 3S, 6H using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative (CB, McC, Rum).

OOC: 20:40, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 6H using the Deadlands system. Initiative,again. William has Quick.
20:40, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 3H using the Deadlands system.
Since I guess this is some sort of magical weapon, I guess I need to soak that. White chippity chip.
20:41, Today: William Pierce rolled 8,9 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(6+4)10. White Chip, soak roll.
That leaves me with two wounds and Shaken.

((OOC: You'd have to soak it even if it wasn't magical...you're only immune to nonlethal damage. It can't kill you unless he destroys your heart, but it can incapacitate you and put you out of action until you can heal.

I'm working on getting the new map up. The Jellicles are heading back around the ballroom, from what I understand.))

---

Turn Order:
Charging Bear: JD
Cantrell: 9D
Jenny: 7S
William: 6H
Rum: 6H
McCavity: 3S

---

Up next: Charging Bear!

OOC: Between G and H - is that a wall that would provide me with cover?

((OOC: G and H are doors back into the lobby where William met his untimely end previously. There is a wall there, yes.))

Then I think I'll fall down after being cowardly shot in the back.

"How bout y'all back off Cantrell, so I can put a bullet in his brain pan." Charging Bears says with a stern voice.

Ooc: Going on hold till William/Amy do something - assuming something  violent

Cantrell? Why was he shooting me, then?

William is confused, but he remains lying on his back on the floor, his left arm spread out, his legs crossed, seemingly killed dead by the bullet to his back.

OOC: Going on hold, assuming that strange indian isn't finished yet... at at my wound & chip level I need all the advantages I can get.

"You idiot!" Cantrell yells back. "We got a problem here a little more important than the shit between us!"

He puts the barrel up to Jenny's head and fires. The girl doesn't even flinch as the bullet exits the back of her skull.

"You need to go and get Hawkins! NOWAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" he yells, then screams as Jenny dives for his throat and sinks her fangs into him, the wound in her face sealing over as she drinks...

((OOC: William is currently Shaken (and will need to Unshake before he can do anything with his Held Action), while Jenny isn't. Cantrell wants to withdraw, so he's going to fire off a bullet from his LeMat (yay for 9 bullet clips!) and hope it does enough damage to stun her so he can make a break for it.

01:17, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 4,2 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Shooting! Not high enough t hit her Parry. Spending a chip...

01:17, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 6,3 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. White Chip. Hit.

01:20, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 8 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Damage. with Jenny's toughness bumped to 9 after going vampire, that's not enough.

Cantrell's Card: AC

Jenny isn't happy about the shot, and goes for Cantrell's throat (a Called Shot to the Head)

01:26, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled -3,6 using d6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+4)10. Go For The Throat! Almost enough...
01:27, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Red Chip. Total of 7, hit.

01:28, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 3,7 using d10,d4+4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Damage. 10 total. That's a Shaken for Cantrell, plus he has to avoid another bout of Fatigue...

01:31, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 9,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2. Suck!

01:32, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 2,3 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. Vigor.

Ow. That's a Raise for Jenny. Fortunately for Cantrell, the Raise only heals her extra (which she didn't need anyway), it doesn't do extra levels of fatigue to the victim. But Cantrell is not fatigued. The next fail will make him Incapacitated, the one after that will kill him.

Jenny's Card: 4D))

---

Up Next: William!

OOC: Forgot about that Shaken.
Well, it'll make playing dead even more convincing.
10:54, Today: William Pierce rolled -1,1 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Recover from Shaken, wounds, fatigue.

10:55, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 6H using the Deadlands system. Initiative redraw, due to Quick. well, that payed off royally.
10:55, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 3S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

William lies there, apparently dead. But inside, he's still struggling with the pain from his bullet wounds - oh and that sweet smell of blood coming from Cantrell makes his jaws hurt even more.

OOC: At this points boss I'm going to give control of Tugger and McC to you as Charging Bear is going to be shooting Jenny

((OOC: Alrighty. Are you going to try to interrupt her or just shoot her after she goes?

Jenny has Dodge, which imposes a -1 penalty on Shooting Rolls against her. She also has a Seduction power which imposes a further -2 penalty on attack against her if the attacker is male, for a net total of -3 to hit before wounds are factored in. The gun's bonus will do a lot to compensate for that, but it's still a -1 pnealty to hit her overall.))

OOC: Did I ever mention that I hate Deadlands vampires? I'll try to interrupt before she gets to feast on ole Cantrell

08:07, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,2 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. Agility (-2WP).
Burning a red chip for +d6, enjoy the free chip sir~!
08:07, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Red Chip.
5 total
I'm just going to assume I go after her
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Mon 19 Dec 2011.

((OOC: Indeed. But some of the vampire powers I'm using I lifted from the Horror Bestiary. Anyhoo, let's see if you can beat Jenny to the punch...

06:10, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 11,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,2. Agility.

It looks like CB's infamous luck still holds. Jenny gets her action first, which is biting Cantrell. It is now CB's turn.))

It call comes into crystal clear focus as Jenny goes savage on Cantrell that something was the matter, but was that REALLY news in Blackthorn. Charging Bear leaves the big Dragoon on the wee woman and fires.

OOC:
08:11, Today: Charging Bear rolled 6,8 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+3)9. Shooting.
Hit with a raise
08:13, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8,3 using 2d6+5,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1,3. Damage (Gun, Raise).
11 Damage ... not a great roll at all.

((OOC: It's enough to make her Shaken. Since both William and Jenny are Shaken right now that give Cantrell a chance to get away...provided RTT doesn't kill you all with that dynamite he's prepared...

Oh yeah. Fun times.

Oh, and draw your card for next round, please.))

OOC: Yeah I expect CB isn't going to be having a long life here in Blackthorn... unlife maybe
08:39, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: 10D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

The two bandits creep along, listening to all the shots.

"We're going to miss all the fun." Rum mutters.

"Quiet!" McCavity snaps back at him. "Look, head over to that door over there." He points to the exit to the lobby. "If the bounty hunter gets past us, well, you can spring your surprise on him."

The gunslinger creeps over to the door, his gun at the ready for an ambush.

((OOC: The Jellilces will spend their action moving and getting in to position to ambush anyone entering the Lobby area. McCavity doesn't have a clear shot on Cantrell and can't see much inside the room.

Rum Tum Tugger's card: 7S

McCavity's Card: 10S

I still need William's Card for the next round.))

Nope, drew the Six o' Hearts again:
10:55, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 6H using the Deadlands system. Initiative redraw, due to Quick. well, that payed off royally.
10:55, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 3S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

Charging Bear's shot knocks Jenny to her knees and off Cantrell's neck. The bounty hunter looks at Charging Bear, salutes...and runs out the door.

Unfortunately for him, McCaivty is hiding in the hallway just past the door. He only gets a few yards when the bandit leaps at him, gun at the ready. Cantrell grunts, flips his Bowie knife into his free hand, and turns to face his attack.

"Ain't there no end to you boys?" He growls. He swings with his gunblade, but it's just a feint for the knife in his other hand. Mccavity yowls as the bounty hunter cuts off a piece of his ear.

"Chew on that a little." The bounty hunter grins.

((OOC: Jericho takes advantage of both William and Jenny are shaken to withdraw...and runs right in to McCavity.

He's going to Quick Draw his Bowie Knife and go go Two-Fisted on McCavity. He's Exhausted (-2 penalty) and his Bowie knife has a -2 off-hand penalty.

00:00, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,0,12,7 using d10-2,d6-2,d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2,(10+6)16,(6+5)11. Two-Fisted! Only one hit, but it's a Raise!

Damage: 8. That's a Shaken for McCavity.

McCavity attempts to unshake on his turn.

00:02, Today: McCavity rolled -1,-1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Unshake!

Hmm. Crit Fail. Sorry, MC. No unshake for you, and you'll need to wait 1d4 rounds before you can attempt to unshake again.

Next round:

Cantrell: JD
McCavity: 10S))

---

Turn Order:
Cantrell: AC
McCavity: 10S
Charging Bear: 10D
Rum Tum Tugger: 7S
William: 6S
Jenny: 4D

---

Charging Bear is up!

As usual nothing goes according to play for Charging Bear, should he go after a Cantrell or stay and fight off the obviously unnatural Jenny... he acts according to his nature and keeps firing at the lone female of the The Jellicle Gang.

OOC: Bang bang!
08:21, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,3 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Shooting.
Burning a white chip to reroll
08:21, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8,0 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,1. Shooting - reroll.
Hit w/ Raise
08:23, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8,9 using 2d6+6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1,(6+3)9. Damage (Gun, Raise).
17 Damage

08:26, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: 9S using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

The gun kicks in Cb's hand, sending him back a step. Jenny pitches back as the bullet hits her...but she remains standing. She looks at CB and grins an evil, pointy-toothed grin.

"Looks like it's rematch time, honey." She giggles. "I'm going to drink you dry for hitting me earlier."

((OOC: So. Here's how I'm going to rule this. Although CB's new toy isn't one of Juenny's Weaknesses (and thus can't kill her)...It's Stone's freaking gun, so it can definitely injure her and make her incapacitated. Of course, if CB attacks her weak spot he can kill her that way.

So Jenny's going to spend a chip to soak. She's facing 2 wounds. 11:32, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 5,14 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+2)14. Soak.
That's...that's impressive. Wow, the die roller really DOES hate CB. Anyhoo, on to Rum Tum Tugger's turn...))

---

Rm Tum Tugger pops out of the corridor. "Hey nigger! Catch!" he shouts.

"Wait!" McCavity shouts as well. "Don't...!"

Too late. The lit bundle of dynamite flies through the air and Cantrell scrambles to get away. Not that he had to move much. The poorly-thrown bundle lands on the conutertop of the attendance desk.

{{BOOM!}}

The desk is torn to pieces by the explosion and some windows bust out in the foyer, but luckily no fires are started. Unluckily for Rum, the bounty hunter is unharmed.

((OOC: Rum Tum Tugger is going to toss a three-stick bundle of dynamite at Cantrell. That's 3d6+1 damage in a SBT. He's tossing it behind Cantrell, but he has no throwing and is wounded. What's the worst that could happen?

11:57, Today: Rum Tum Tugger rolled -2,-3 using d4-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. Throwing. Not even close. RTT is going to spend a White Chip on that.

11:57, Today: Rum Tum Tugger rolled -1,0 using d4-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. White Chip. Still a fail. Let's see where and how far it deviates. It can only deviate 1 square (since he was only throwing it 2 squares away from him). So it's time for a clock facing roll. I roll d8's on these because it's easier to adjudicate on a square grid.

12:02, Today: Rum Tum Tugger rolled 6 using 1d8. deviate. That puts the explosion...just behind Cantrell. He's not even singed.

It creates a terrific noise, though, one that will be heard by a certain up-and-coming Ranger...

Oh, and it might set the place on fire. Got to check for that. It's a wooden building, so I'll say that a fire starts on a 5-6.

12:13, Today: The Stray rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2. Oriental on fire? No. Not this time.

RTT's next card: 5H))

---

Up Next: William!

Outside, August ducks instinctively as the windows blow out.  "Holy -!"

((OOC: 20:53, Today: August Colby drew the single card: 4D using the Deadlands system.
20:53, Today: August Colby drew the single card: 5S using the Deadlands system. Quick.
I've inherited William's luck with Quick re-rolls.))

OOC:
08:58, Today: William Pierce rolled 0,7 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+4)10. Spirit to recover from Shaken. Yay!
08:59, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 6H using the Deadlands system. Initiative. I believe the dice roller has the Six of Hearts hardcoded for William. Third time in a row!

What the hell is going on here? William wonders, pushing down the pain, clearing his head. The thirst was on him now, and he could see Jenny laying it on the indian who shot him.
He gripped the pistol tighter, but didn't move yet.
What - or who - was the biggest threat now...?

Jenny runs at Charging Bear. "One ill turn deserves another." She says. "You should have killed me when you had the chance."

She pushes his arm aside and bites him, hard, right where his shoulder meets his neck. Charging Bear can feel his lifeblood draining away...

Isn't it obvious? whispers a voice in William's mind at his unvoiced question. What was it told me when you came upon my cabin? That you were on the run from bad folk, that you just needed a place to rest the night, to get from the cold. You told me just enough truth to get me to trust you, to take you in. Then you shot me in the back. Don't you recognize your own game when you see it?

((OOC: Jenny moves up to Charging Bear and Wild Attacks with her bite. She's still a little sore about the last fight between them and is looking to end this quickly.


01:53, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 12,5 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+4)10,3. Bite! Ouch. Hit and Raise.

Damage: 7, which will make CB Shaken. He also needs to roll an opposed Vigor test with Jenny or suffer a level of fatigue as she sucks his blood away.

The number to beat is: 4

Jenny's next card: QD))

---

Turn Order:
Jenny: QD
Cantrell: JD
McCavity: 10S (Shaken for 4 rounds)
CB: 9S
William: 6H
RTT: 5H
August: 5D

---

Since there's a ton of NPCs up in a row, I'd like to have CB resolve his Vigor Roll before I proceed.

OOC: Here we go
08:05, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,1 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Vigor (-2 WP).
That ain't gonna do it. Burning my last red chip to add +d6 to that - enjoy your extra chip Stray
08:06, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8. Red Chip.
9 works.

Jenny Anydots:

The girl giggles again. It's unnerving, hearing that childish sound from a figure soaked in blood down the front of a pristine wedding dress. She continues trying to gnaw on Charging Bear's shoulder.

((OOC: Jenny attacks again. She's Wild Attacking again, too.

11:03, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 16,7 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+2)14,5. Bite! Hit and Raise. Why does the dice roller hate CB so?

Damage: 8. That's a Shaken. Since CB is already Shaken, that's a wound. Also, he needs to roll Vigor again. The number to beat is 3.

Jenny's card: 8C))

---

Cantrell:

The bounty hunter curses and snaps off a shot at the bandit, but Rum dives behind a doorway marked "Gentlemen" and the bullet hits only wood. Jericho curses, but he only has a single shot left before he has to reload and the door was not far now.

The bleeding bounty hunter runs for those doors and steps outside into the rainy twilight...right in front of August Colby!

August sees a huge black man in an old army coat and a black stetson bursting through the door, a large Bowie Knife in one hand and an even large LeMat grapeshot pistol with a bayonet blade in the other. He looks at the man and raises his gun.

"Shit! More trouble?" He growls. "Who the fuck are you?"

((OOC: Jericho is going to take a shot at Rum Tum Tugger, but RTT currently has Light Cover (-1) and Jericho is still Exhausted from the blood drain (-2). And right now he's more concerned about getting away than getting revenge.

10:54, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 0,0 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Shooting! Well that's shitty, but expected. Cantrell will use his move to get outside...which will put him right in front of August.

Cantrell's card: BJ! ruh-roh.))

---

McCavity:

Meanwhile, back in the theater, McCavity stumbles into the great hall. The pain in his ear is intense. He pauses near William's body, taking it in, then looks over at Jenny attacking CB.

"Jenny! Wait! Stop!" he shouts. "He's on our side!"

((OOC: McCavity can't unshake yet. He's still reeling from the loss of his ear. He'll stagger half his pace into the theater. He can speak, because talking in a free action.

McCavity: On Hold until he Unshakes.))

---

Up Next: Charging Bear!

OOC: First off I'm going to try and soak that wound - burning a white chip
13:23, Today: Charging Bear rolled 4,-1 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. Soak Roll (-2 WP).
That'll soak and get ride of my shaken. Next up Vigor vs 3
13:24, Today: Charging Bear rolled 0,14 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+6+4)16. Vigor (-2 WP).
I think that will do it.

---

Charging Bear grunts as the newly formed vampire attempts to end his life. "Come come now, that's no way to treat someone who's trying to help. Besides you are ruinin' that nice dress of yours." He's still holding a mighty nasty weapon and does what comes naturally - uses it.

OOC:
13:25, Today: Charging Bear rolled 2,4 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Shooting.
Something tells me a lil'ole 4 isn't going to hit her. Burning a white chip to re-roll.
13:27, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,1 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. Shooting - reroll.
Guessing that 5 won't either but I'll roll damage just in case
13:28, Today: Charging Bear rolled 11 using 2d6+6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Damage.

13:29, Today: Charging Bear drew the single card: 9H using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Thu 22 Dec 2011.

Jenny staggers back, but on;y a step and it's clear she wasn't overly hurt. "Your gun just isn't big enough, honey." she giggles.

"Charging Bear! Stop!" McCavity shouts over near William's body. "Jenny! Stop it! Please!"

((OOC: Actually, the 4 would have hit because her Parry is in the toilet right now from her Wild Attack. You get that White Chip back.

That's a hit and Wound. Jenny will attempt to Soak with that chip you gave me from your Red.

11:52, Today: Jenny Anydots rolled 7,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Soak. That'll do it.))

---

William is up next!

You gotta stop Jenny.

But... sooo thirsty...

And he shot you.

Do him a favor and kill him before Jenny turns him into the likes of you.

All these thoughs and more tumble through William's brain, the sight of the indian's blood on Jenny's dress strangely mesmerizing.

Then the dead man raises the pistol in his right hand, fires off a shot at the indian, then aims the pistol at One-Ear, a grim look on his face.

OOC: 19:54, Today: William Pierce rolled 6,7 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(6+4)10. Shooting. 2 Wounds and Fatigued.
The Stray, no idea what kind of pistol I got off of Cantrell, so I'm just going with 2d6 for the damage
19:57, Today: William Pierce rolled 13 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,4. Shooting damage.

20:01, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: AH using the Deadlands system. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Thu 22 Dec 2011.

OOC: Soaking
14:15, Today: Charging Bear rolled 13,-1 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,1. Soak Roll (-2 WP).
YES!

((OOC: The pistol is a silver-plated double-action Peacemaker (which actually belongs to Jenny, as a point of interest), so the damage is 2d6+1.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Thu 22 Dec 2011.

OOC: Well, I'll be happy to return it to her once I got my own weaponry back.

While hi-jinx are going down on the dance floor and out the door, an unnoticed fellow in a wide-brimmed hat and ridiculously long scarf begins pulling out sticks of dynamite and wrapping them together...

((OOC: RTT is preparing 4 sticks of dynamite. This will take his action, so I'll just draw a new card.

Rum's Card: AD. Uh-oh. This won't be good for anyone except Jericho...))

---

Up Next: August!

"Marshal's deputy," August half-yells, hearing gunfire from inside the building. "Heard there was trouble!"

He eyes the armed stranger in front of him, trying to work out which side he's on with a quickness.  It's clearly not just red-eyed monsters he has to worry about, unless there are beasts in there with fangs that also know how to use explosives... which really doesn't bear thinking about.

((OOC: Going on hold for now, will try to interrupt Cantrell if he makes a clearly aggressive move.))

The big man lowers his gun. "Well thank god. The other deputy ain't worth a shit...soiled his trousers and ran like like a little girl." He says. "Here's the situation. The whole damn Jellicle gang staged a jailbreak and are holed up inside, along with a murderin', rapin' redskin. There seems to be some kind o' dissension in the ranks...whatever unholy alliance they had, it's comin' apart at the seams."

((OOC: Cantrell is going to give some brief and biased exposition and go on hold with his Joker, waiting to see what August does with the news.))

---

Turn Order:
Cantrell: On Hold (BJ! gives him the power to interrupt any action)
August: On hold
McCavity: On Hold
William: AH
Rum: AD
Charging Bear: 9H
Jenny: 8C

Pierce growls at the one-eared man: "I'm with her.", then gets up.
"Everybody calm the fuck down! Jenny... Jenny! Don't kill him, just hold him!"

He tears himself away from the delicious sight of the blood and takes a step or two into the foyer, scanning the room for his belongings.

OOC: 20:51, Today: William Pierce rolled 2,2 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Notice. Stupid two wounds cancel Alertness.

"Everybody just calm down", he repeats, softer now.

OOC: Going on hold - unless you consider the above a bit too much for a "free action of talking" ;-)

"A jailbreak, huh?  Is that who's slingin' the dynamite around in there?" August asks, moving a little closer to the entrance while trying to stay out of the eyeline of anyone inside.  He's still wary of being caught in another blast, or ambushed by critters with fangs, but at least the big man seems to be talking sense.

What he isn't talking about is any monstrous creatures, August notices.  "Fella who sent me this way was hollerin' about some kinda monsters," he adds, with a questioning glance at the other man.

In the Theater:

The bleeding man looks away from William and up at Jenny. From his angle he can't see the blood, the fangs, or the glowing eyes...just his girlfriend's back.

"Jenny! Charging Bear! Enough! We've got bigger problems...Cantrell got past me, and he's probably on his way to get the Marshal and the Ranger!"

((OOC: William goes on hold. McCavity is still on hold. It's Charging Bear's turn.))

---

Just outside the theater:

The big man nods. "That would be them, yes."

As August peers into the gloom of the theater, he sees a figure toss something his direction. It looks like a bundle of sticks, with one end lit and smoking...

Incoming!

((OOC: Rum Tum Tugger takes his action to toss a 4 stick bundle of dynamite at the doors. That's a large burst template. Sadly, I have to rebuild my maps, so I don't have a map to put up, but suffice to say you need to dodge or take a huge explosion to the face.

Since August is still technically on hold, you can make an Agility check at -2 to get out of the blast range. Cantrell is on Hold as well. he has a -2 penalty for his fatigue, but a +2 bonus from his Joker, so it will all even out. I'll cover Cantrell's action when August goes. Escaping from this blast will consume your action for the round, so you'll need to draw a new action card on your post.))

---

Up Next: August and Charging Bear

August barely has time to register the incoming explosives before he's in motion, flinging himself backwards and away from the doorway.

Of course the big guy is the target, you damn fool, he thinks with surprising clarity as he falls.

((OOC: 17:58, Today: August Colby rolled 3,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Evade! (-1 Fatigue, +1 Dodge).
17:59, Today: August Colby rolled 5,1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3. White chip of hopefully not dying.

It occurred to me to try and save Cantrell as well, but only after I rolled the dice, so he can look out for himself.

Next round: 18:01, Today: August Colby drew the single card: JC using the Deadlands system.))
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Fri 06 Jan 2012.

Charging Bear looks at the living dead girl and waits.

Ooc: Going on hold

August is able to roll away from the door just as the bomb goes off. The big guy moves with him...but is just a hair slower.

{{BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!}}

The fireball engulfs the doors, the walls, and the big guy. Wood and flames shoot out as the front facade of the building groans and collapses, burying the entrance and the bounty hunter.

He's still moving, but there's a beam laying over him...and smoke is rising from the raging fire. The wet wood sputters and fizzes...but the interior is on fire as well, and that's bone dry.

Inside, the unholy noise of the blast is followed by an alarming creak. A fellow with a wide-brimmed hat and outrageously long scarf pokes his head in.

"I think it's time we all started running." He grins.

Jenny looks at Charging Bear. "Truce. For now."

((OOC: Cantrell also attempts to leap away from the bomb. He has a lowered agility from a permanent wound, a -2 penalty from his fatigue, and a +2 bonus from his Joker. He's on hold, so he can make his escape attempt at -2 instead of the normal -4.

13:53, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,2 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. Duck and cover! Fail.

He spends a Red Chip for a reroll, but Rum uses his Seventh Son ability to dutch it, so Cantrell is stuck with the fail. That's 4d6 damage to Cantrell and 4d6 damage to the surrounding building.

13:55, Today: Rum Tum Tugger rolled 20 using 4d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,4,4,1. Damage (to Cantrell).
13:56, Today: Rum Tum Tugger rolled 11 using 4d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5,1,4. Damage (to Building).

Cantrell is facing 20 damage. That's a bit much even for him...it's a Shaken and 3 Wounds. He will attempt to soak, but again gets hit by Rum's Seventh Son edge, so he's stuck with this. Cantrell is very, very hurt, as well as fatigued. Any action he takes until he can get proper medical attention is going to be at -5.

The building, on the other hand, is toast. I rule that the walls of the building, being made of thick wood and plaster, are about as strong as a Heavy Door for the purposes of Breaking Things, which means it has a Toughness of 10. The 11 daamge rolled is more than enough to send the front of the building tumbling down.

Also, dynamite is a fire hazard. Let's see if the place catches. 14:09, Today: The Stray rolled 4 using 1d6. Fuego! That's a fire, folks. The Oriental Theater is now ablaze.

I'm dropping out of combat rounds. Time to start reacting.))

---

Combat Over

William shakes his head, clearing the ringing from his ears - which proves to be surprisingly easy.

Dead ears don't go deaf...

"You're a fucking fool!" He yells at scarf-man, then remembers the piece of paper in his pocket.

He takes it out and unfolds it, on the off-chance that it tells him where his stuff is - or where he might find the fanged bitch.

Probably just something to mock me, he thinks, as he slowly walks away from the blaze back towards the ball room, one last time glancing around the foyer.

OOC: Okay, trying to notice my guns lying around here...
22:53, Today: William Pierce rolled 0,8 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+3)9. Notice.

Now, what does the scrap of paper tell me?

August rolls with the blast, but it's still enough to send him sprawling and knock the air out of his lungs.  Lying flat out on his back, staring up at the darkening sky overhead, he almost forgets where he is for a moment.  Then he hears the sounds of flames rising over the ringing in his ears, and painstakingly climbs back to his feet.

"Son of a bitch," he says to himself reflectively, staring at the wreckage that was the Oriental, then repeats it with added feeling as he catches sight of the big man trapped in the debris.  "I ain't gonna leave you here..."

((OOC: Going to wade in to try and rescue Cantrell, like someone who thinks he still has chips to spend.))

"Not exactly how I imagined today would go." Wishing he could go after Cantrell, Charging Bear looks toward the back of the now inflames building to see if he can find a clear-ish path.

OOC:
11:35, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8,0 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+4)10,2. Notice (-2 WP).

The floppy fop in the hat and scarf just laughs wildly. "Ain't this the life?" he crows.

The front of the building is on fire, true, but the back is fine. There's no obstructions to the back door Charging Bear and the Jellicles used to enter the building in the first place.

Sadly, William can't see his original clothes or gear anywhere around the theater. All he has is a silver peacemaker with (at a quick count) four bullets left. It's likely that his guns are probably in the hands of the vampire dance hall girls.

The note isn't very helpful, either.


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Thu 12 Jan 2012.

In reply to August Colby (msg #87):

The flames leap into the night, sending waves of heat and smoke rolling over August. He can hear horses screaming in terror nearby...they're hitched to a post near the entrance, and now can't get away from the fire.

Cantrell groans in pain. The beam looks quite heavy.

((OOC: It'll be a Strength check at -2 to move the beam. Also, if you're going to remain in the smoke, make a vigor roll at +2 or suffer some Fatigue. You get an additional +2 if you put a wet cloth over your face first.))

Pierce crumples up the piece of paper and tosses it into the flames.

They don't know I got back... that is interesting.

He turns to the group, holding a little speech.

He first looks at the indian, contempt in his eyes.
"You're name's Charging Bear? Word of advice: When you see someone you want to see dead and you got a clear shot at them: Take the shot. Don't try to kill the fella who's fucking distracting your real target. I was having the most fucked up day of my life already. Only reason you're still alive right now is that I got more important fish to catch."

"You two... you're too fucking crazy for my taste. No offense, I've ridden with cold-blooded killers before, but right now, I gotta lay low for a bit. Can't have whatever passes as 'the law' around these places be after me, too.

"Jenny: If somebody asks you what happened to me, you tell them you saw my body burn in the fire. I'll need every edge I can get. I'm sorry... 'bout everything, I guess."

He pushes the pistol into the waistband of his pants and tips his (imaginery? Not sure a hat's part of my costume...) hat.
"I'm getting the fuck out of here. Good luck to you all."

OOC: Plan is to get around the building, see if my horse is still there for my spare clothes and my rifle. Hoping that Cantrell's either dead by this point or too screwed up to make sense or recognise me.

In the meantime, a very angry woman in an already bullet ridden gray duster approaches the Oriet, scattergun at the ready.

She makes no real attempt at stealth per se, but is advancing carefully, confident she will soon encounter errant prisoners freed by an incompetent and now completely untrustworthy jailer.

It had to be here didn't it?  The Marshal had found something here with his witch-a-ma-doo... well Kat didn't understand it, but it sounded bad.  Indeed she had unfinsihed business here, but like everything else in Blackthorn, it had just had to wait.

She steeled herself and tried to find serenity.  Odds were excellent that they'd gotten away and left this as a distraction, indeed odds were they were long gone now, out of her grasp, possibly in Cantrell's company, voluntary or otherwise, but it would have to be verified.

There wasn't time to go after them, so if they escaped they escaped, but this couldn't just be ignored while the town was so vulnerable.  Worse yet, the lives of the people coming to deal with the fire were in danger without at least a cursory check of the building.

But why did it have to be here?

OOC:  Pausing a bit to see if Vega followed Crazy Incoherent Ranger Woman, or went to help clean this mess up.  Also, does WC approach closer to the front, or back?  She intends to check both sides of the building, but one has to be done before the other.

Also, if she does the back first she possibly runs into Pierce, et al., is the other thing.

Not sure exactly what to make of this strange new comer Charging Bear lets the man rant and wander away as the native son has business else where. He turns to the Jellicles, nodding to them as he says, "Gents, lady. Good luck and I hope to never see you again." then Charging Bear heads towards where he believe Cantrell will exit the building.

August tugs his damp bandana up to cover his nose and mouth, even as the smoke billows around him, and pushes forward to get to the downed man.

((OOC: If it can be done very quickly, he'll free the horses first, either by unhitching them or, if that would take too long, just sawing through the reins with his knife.

Afterwards or instead, he's going into the smoke: 18:46, Today: August Colby rolled 9,5 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Vigor +4, smoke inhalation.  That's actually 8,4, I forgot Fatigue for a moment like an eejit.

And trying to move the beam: 18:47, Today: August Colby rolled 1,-2 using d6-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Strength -3, ill-advised heroics.))

August:

Cutting through the reigns of the horses is the most expedient way of freeing them. All of them go riding off down the street.

The fallen timber (it looks like a piece of the sign) doesn't budge much at August's push. The injured man below doesn't comment, though...he's already passed out from the smoke! If August doesn't step up soon, the man might be beyond saving.

((OOC: Jericho attempts to resist fatigue from the smoke, though he has an impressive array of penalties against him from wounds & fatigue. 16:56, Today: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,-2 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Smoke. He's Incapacitated and near death. If August can't pull him out next action (or with the help of Wildcat), Cantrell is probably dead. Though a damp cloth over his mouth might help.

Make another Vigor roll, same modifiers, please.))

---

Wildcat:

Wildcat arrives to see horses galloping away. The bucket brigade is not far behind her, but the more immediate problem is that someone seems trapped by a burning sign. Someone else seems to be braving the flames to dig him out. Wildcat can't see who it is thanks to all the smoke...could be the Jellicles for all she knew.

((OOC: If you're coming by any of the major roads (and I assume you are), you'd be coming by the front entrance. She'd have to enter the alley to reach the back, where not just William but a whole mess of Jellicles are currently escaping.

Make a notice check to figure out who the figures she can see. If you succeed, you can identify Cantrell. If you raise, you can also see shenanigans in the alley.))

---

Charging Bear and William Pierce

McCavity nods at Charging Bear. "I hope we never have to meet again, either." He and the other two Jellicles hurry around the back, scurrying off into the growing night.

As it happens, Charging Bear and William have to head in the same direction to get to their goals...and already there's a line of citizens lining up and sloshing buckets on to the fire.

One of them is a blonde lady in a white stetson and grey duster cursing up a blue streak. A silver badge twinkles on her lapel twinkles in the firelight. The only sign of the horses are some dangling leather straps on the hitching post, straps that seem to have been hastily cut.

((OOC: up to you now. CB would recognize Wildcat, of course, but all William could see is a lawlady, and he's got blood all over his tux. What to do?))

18:41, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 6,3 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6,3. Wildcat's Awesome Notice Roll.

"Con sarn it Cantrell!"  Wildcat rushes over to the trapped Bounty Hunter.

"All on God's earth ya'll done had ta did was watch a bunch o' hogtied critters..."

Is anyone else in her sight?

Cantrell would probably argue, spouting something self-serving that bore a passing family resemblance to the truth...if he were awake. Since he's not, the only one to hear her tirade is the young-looking man trying to heave the burning sign off him.

((OOC: There's August, whom you don't know. There's Bunyan and possibly Adrian (don't know where he's at, but he said he'd be posting soonish. There's the bucket brigade. You won't see CB or William until they post their actions, though.

It's a Strength check at -2 to lift the wood. If you just want to assist, it's a standard Strength check that will add +1 to August's roll for every Success and Raise.))

It took him a little while to think about it. On the one hand, lending a hand with the buckets might have helped an easily comprehensible problem, putting out a fire. On the other hand, he could follow the incomprehensible Ranger. But he did tell Carl he'd try to keep her safe, and he felt bad for the woman to be honest. It couldn't be an easy life to carry the burdens of upholding the law as well as mental instability.

He chose to follow Wildcat.

"Hell's goin' on here?" He regretted asking the question, now beginning to expect some manner of analogy and metaphor.

Notice: 3

19:36, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 5,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Faith Roll.

Boost!  Strength!

Wildcat closed her eyes momentarily.

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."

Cantrell's "weakness" was debatable, but he obviously had at least one to wind up in this position.

"Ya'll thar..."  She barks at August.  "This here feller's a dirty kingsnake, but if'n he get kilt here we won't know what happen'd.  Come on!"

19:41, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 4,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Is Wildcat Mighty?

Well it's a +1.

So goddamn weak, a voice in the back of August's head is saying while he tries to catch his breath amidst the smoke, the muscles in his back and shoulders screaming.  Shame you were here instead of somebody else; somebody strong would've had him out of this by now.

Hearing a stranger adjure him to try and rescue the big man just adds to the chorus.  "What d'ya think I'm -" August snaps, but it's muffled by the bandana and the noise of the flames, and he regains control of his temper mid-sentence.  Wasting air isn't going to do him any good, and it looks like she's pitching in to help.

He holds up three fingers to her, then quickly counts down - two - one - before throwing himself into another desperate attempt to shift the debris.

((OOC: 07:06, Today: August Colby rolled 8,9 using d8+3,d8+3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,6. Vigor +4 (-1 Fatigue), smoke.
07:08, Today: August Colby rolled 8,3 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+4)10,5. Strength -2 (-1 Fatigue, +1 assistance).))

William curses under his breath. Great, just what I need.

My horse ran off... You're keen on meeting the law?

OOC: I don't have tracking, but following a bunch of horses shouldn't be too hard... I hope.

In reply to William Pierce (msg #101):

Charging Bear smiles, its not OVERLY convincing but that might because the man is pretty beat up at this point. "Since I know her... I don't mind so much. But regardless might be wise to lend a hand." Without much else to say the native son goes over to those bucket brigade to help... baring them attempting to lynch him again.

William looks after the indian and runs off into the dark, hoping to find his horse.

The fire and the dark suit should at least give me some cover...


OOC: 15:05, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,4 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Notice.
Now where did my horse go...?

In a gesture that he knew was most likely to be futile, Adrian went to try and add his strength to the endeavor. He had never been accused of being a strong man, always tending more towards the skinny and lean depending on how well he'd been eating and what he'd been doing. Nevertheless, it seemed like the right thing to do.

---

21:44, Yesterday: Adrian Vega rolled 3,0 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Strength

Together, August, Adrian and Wildcat are able to shift the rubble enough to pull the bounty hunter free, and they're able to drag him away before the rest of the Oriental collapses in on itself. He's unconscious, badly burned, and in need of medical attention...but he's alive.

Meanwhile, the bucket brigade works feverishly to keep the fire contained. The rain helps, although it seems to be clearing up as the minutes drag by. No one attempts to lynch Charging Bear. Only a few even spare him a passing glance, so focused are they on their task.

William is able to see the tracks his horse left in the mud of the street quite clearly. Following them would be a different matter.

The ranger, looking over the scene, isn't really sure what to do next, but she does know that this man Cantrell is before her dying for the second time in the same day.

Disgust filled Kat Hawkins' mind as she looked down at his sorry carcass.  That sorry snake deserved to die.

12:55, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 1,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Faith Roll Sans Modifiers.

Eeek!  Why do I constantly roll 1s!?

But a voice answered her, a voice she hadn't heard in her head for so long because she'd gotten so used to her split personality.

"That ain't your call to make, Ranger."

In the echo chamber that was Wildcat's internal dialog, silence reigned for what seemed like an eternity, when in reality all this occurred in a fraction of a second.  A single word came forth.


12:56, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 5,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. That was a 1.  Reroll with a Red.

Faith restored!  Hallelujah!

The thinking stopped completely as Katrina hovered over Jericho Cantrell, a man who constantly needed mercy and compassion but deserved neither.  But she had an answer for that.

"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Okay I'm trying for Healing, but I don't really care about taking his wounds away necessarily, it's just I'll never get an explanation if Cantrell dies.

I imagine Cantrell is tore up so I'm leaving it up to yon Stray to decide if the success is good enough to make him not die without removing any of his wounds, or if we're only going to go by the book and his wound penalties will apply.

If that's the case I did spend a chip trying to make the roll not suck, but it's probably not going to get it with a 6 less wound penalties.

12:56, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Conditional Blue Chipper.

At this point I've tried very hard already and am saving my last chipper.

Wildcat stood over Cantrell and laid her hand on him.  Whatever it was might not see fit to save him this way at that moment, but she had the power to try.  If it didn't work it wasn't her decision.

"This man needs a doctor," he said aloud, shaking his head as he watched Wildcat putting her hands on him and spouting off lines from the Bible. He thought they were from the Bible, at least. He'd never paid much attention in Sunday school. Hell, for all he know, she could just be makin' stuff up. She was a crazy woman after all. And I'm following her around, so what does that make me?

"Least she ain't talkin' 'bout snakes," he muttered dryly under his breath.

Charging Bear steps out of the water line as he sees Cantrel getting pulled out of the rubble. The native son moves slowly and slightly unsteadily, he's still hurting from the past few days of beating, gun shots and general lack of rest. Something within him keeps him moving, his feet growing more steady as he walks.

When he at last reaches the others, his eyes lock on Cantrel as he says "No, I think he needs Mr Dragoon here," the words come out in a cold anger that is a far cry from Charging Bear's usual kind demeanor.

OOC: Just a note on healing - regardless of the type (magic or skill) you have to take your wounds/fatigue AND those of the person your healing as modifiers to the roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Fri 06 Apr 2012.

((OOC: If a victim is Incapacitated the healer must first make a Healing roll to remove that state. He may then attempt further Healing rolls to remove actual wounds. I'm not charging the wound penalty for removing Incapacitated, but that roll won't heal any wounds. It will keep him from slipping further and get him able to talk, which is what Wildcat was going for. You can keep the Blue Chip.))

Cantrell's eyes flutter open. "angels comin' to sing me home?" he says weakly. He seems quite out of it. "no...not yet...gotta warn her...monsters...jellicles turned...fangs...charging bear with 'em..."

William stares at the tracks, but quickly loses them among the dozens of others.
Damn... could use that bloody indian now.

OOC: I'm kinda stumped. Wounded, fatigued, no weapon, no equipment...

For a minute, William just stands there, watching the people around Cantrell's body. Then he nods to himself and walks away, circling back, looking for the saloon Spades was talking about.

The Grand Bull saloon isn't far from the remains of the theater, only a block or so down the street. It's seen better days...the sign is on crooked, and a couple of the windows have been borded up. But it's a hive of activity. People are rushing in and out of it, joining the bucket line that's passing water towards those trying to keep the fire down the street down. It seems like this has become the meeting point of choice for the town...there's some sort of coordination effort going on between a sandy-haired man in an apron with a handlebar mustache, another mustachioed fellow in an expensive-looking black stetson, and a grizzled man who's seen a lot of trails. No one is paying any attention to William as he passes...there's quite a number of people who seem to be sporting minor injuries of some kind. The smell of blood in the air makes his stomach rumble.

The interior of the saloon is just as crowded as the outside. Wagon wheels festooned with candles form chandeliers above the tables crowded with men and women talking about some kind of attack. There was a giant mirror behind the bar at one time, but only shattered shards remain in the frame now. In one corner is a compact piano, but no one's playing. There isn't much food being served...the whole place has an air of quiet desperation rather than relaxation.

At a table not quite near the back sits Seven, scowling. He's nursing a bottle of some foul rotgut, and there's another empty bottle nearby, so he doesn't notice William immediately.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:53, Sun 08 Apr 2012.

Adrian looked at the Injun and said, "Hell, I think you could use a trip to the doc too. Or one of y'all's medicine men. I done seen them work some crazy shit one time. Or maybe the Ranger here can use some o' her snake magic on you."

"I'd rather see the rapin' savage visit a grave," comes a gravelly voice from behind the native son. There's the unmistakable *click!* of a gun hammer being cocked. Gus stands, shaking in barely concealed rage, his own dragoon pointed at Charging Bear's head. As this distance, he'd have to be the world's poorest marksman to miss. "But let's all wait 'til the dyin' nigger here tells us why the fuck you ain't in a cell where you belong."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Mon 09 Apr 2012.

In reply to The Stray (msg #111):


William pushes through the crowd, not acknowledging the complaints when he needs to shove a little harder. His right hand is tucked into his belt, not far from the pretty little pistol he took off of the bounty hunter.

4 bullets... won't take me far.

Once he's near the table of Seven, he looks down at the bastard.

"Reckon I should've listened to you", he says as a way of greeting.

In reply to Gus Shaw (msg #113):

Charging Bear glancing over at the man point a gun at his head, the native son seems less than concerned. "That might have something to do with Cantrell making the building with that cell explode." He shifts slightly to give himself a better line on Gus, should he have to throw down, "Now put that pistol up before someone gets hurt, maybe make yourself useful and help put out the fire."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Mon 09 Apr 2012.

The Ranger gave Deputy Vega a strange look right back.  He seemed to be an all right sort but he sure was weird sometimes.  But it fit the bill for this place.

Wildcat's gun hand twitched.  Her first instinct was to put Gus in the Mexican standoff position.

Her fingers were open, preparing to index the grips, when she observed Charging Bear's steely eyed resolve and stone cold indifference.  Something calm and inhumanly rational in her prevailed.  It was not easy to resist the urge to point deadly weapons at someone like Gus Shaw, but it was that constant escalation between the two sides which had brought Blackthorn to the brink, and if indulged now, could spell doom.

But she didn't have to like his filthy mouth.

"Thar's more white niggers than there are black ones."  Wildcat's tone was factual.  She was by no means advanced to any point of racial sensitivity, but Kat had never been taught to hate, and tended to weigh actions far more than physiology for practical reasons.  She knew from her own experience people often weren't what they seemed, as the horrible effort at cross stitching in the bottom of her war bag was one of her deepest and most shameful secrets.

"Th' ev'dence to th' contrary o' Dep'ty's ah-lejed offenses is right thar fer ya'll ta go look at, ya orn'ry cuss, assumin' ya'll can cipher.  If'n ya can't get th' other feller ta cipher it fer ya.  A white man wouldn't go ta jail or hang fer it un'r th' same sir-come-dances, so he won't neither.

"'Sides, he's right.  Can't have th' darn place burning down 'round us now can we?  An ah reckon them 'scaped idjits wants nothin' but ta put bullets in me nohow.  Ah want 'em caught an' drug to th' judge worse than ya'll could ever know.  But even ah reckon we gots bigger problems here 'n now, it'll hafta wait.  An' we ain't gettin' no answer outta him soon."

Wildcat poked Cantrell with the toe of her boot.  She wanted to kick him, but he wasn't well enough for that.  Her gaze went to Charging Bear next however.  These circumstances were suspect at best.  How would the Jellicles escape and why would Cantrell blow a building up fighting the Deputy, it didn't make a lot of sense.

"An ah want a real damn good story outta you.  But later."

The drunk gunslinger looks up. "I'll say. Where the fuck've you been?"

He paws at one of a couple shot glasses around him...apparently he'd started with shots before moving to whole bottles. He sloppily sloshes some of the foul-smelling rotgut into the glass and slides it over William's direction.

"Looks like this little shithole turned real ugly real quick. I've been hearing folk say there's been trouble here...the local law decided to man up and take on the Dust Adders. Suppose it was bound to happen eventually, but damn me if it isn't the worst piece of luck I've ever had. Can't get in touch with my contact, either. I'm beginning to thin comin' here was a bad idea."

"Hurt? Me?" Gus gives an awful, nasty chuckle. There's a strange snake rattle buzzing in the air around him. "Ya'll look half dead to me already, son. I see how ya shake. Ya'll can barely lift that hand cannon. Yer just another dead injun to me."



"Is that a fact?" Gus drawls.



"Y'all think I care one shit about that? He's a savage. He done worse that the law ain't heard of. They ain't like us, girl. They look human, but they ain't no more related to us than I am a monkey's uncle. I seen this savage in action. I know what he can do. Don't bother defendin' him. He'll just turn on you like the scorpion in that tale. He can't help it, it's his nature."



"They got the fire well in hand. It's what I come over here to tell you, afore I saw the red nigger tryin' to shoot the black one. But you're right. We got injuns to worry about. I say, kill their spy right now and string him up as a warnin' to the others."

That rattle coming from him is growing louder...



"NO!" Cantrell shouts at the toe nudge. "ya..ya gots to know! I seen 'em!...Jellicles got turned, some sort o' monster..." he whimpers. "...Red eyes...long teeth...I been bit...oh Lordy, I been bit..." tears start curling down his face. "...the Jellicles is monsters now, and I been bit...i'm gettin' cold...I think I'm changin'...changin' into one o' them things..."

And he starts sobbing.

"Don't let 'em...don't let 'em change me...please! Don't let 'em turn me to nothin' unnatural..."

William sits down, and downs whatever passes for whiskey around here. He appreciates the burning sensation as the liquid runs down his throat.
"You're right on that last part. Made the mistake to stop over at the Oriental. They....
killed me by sucking out my blood and turned me into a vampire before stringing me up in a scene out of some fucking english play...
..seem to have knocked me out and stole all my possessions. My horse took off because of the fire. Barely made it out...
alive? Well, that would be stretching it.
I just grabbed whatever I could get."

He pulls his wedding jacket open, as way of demonstrating his lack of choice in the matter. It has the added benefit of showing Spades that he, William, has a pistol tucked in his belt, too.

"The whores, apparently, took of. I'll be needing a gun and some ammo. And a horse if I can't find mine. Another suit would be nice, too. I inted to... repay them for their kindness."

The rotgut is soothing, but he finds he's still thirsty...thirsty for something altogether less wholesome than bad tequila.

Seven breaks out laughing at William's tale. "What, that nice piece of action you found wasn't enough for you? I notice you ain't with her no more...run oft and left you high and dry, huh? Well, you know, that's why I don't go to the low class places. Only the best whores for the Seven o' Spades!" After he laughs himself out, he considers William's requests.

"Well, I seen a salesman 'round here peddlin' guns. He was makin' good business, too...everyone's afraid Comanches are goin' to descend on the town. I can lend you a few bucks for some new irons, though I expect to be paid back. As for horses, well, there's the stable across from the street. I have no idea if it's open right now...too much shit going on. Same for the Gen'ral Store...the gun salesman might have something new to wear and I can lend you the money for that, too. It's none of my business if you want to go slap a whore around for robbin' you, but with all the law 'round here riled up, I recommend you keep it quiet. We can head out at first light."

"Howdy, Gus - been a while," he said, calmly. He felt that some details were missing from his head, but he was pretty sure he'd worked the mine with Gus some years ago - or Gus's dad. They looked alike, or at least, he seemed to think they did. Shame, I can't hardly tell one thing from another these days.

Adrian remained quiet for a moment, though, hoping to defuse the situation. People here seemed to have no sense of priorities. The town was about to be under attack, and everyone decided that this was the right time to bring up all their grievances on everyone else.

"This ain't a good time for you to bring your grievances with this man up though," he said, pointing to Deputy Bear. "Maybe when we sort out shit with the other Injuns, you know the ones that're about to attack the town, you can come back and talk to this feller again." He spoke in a calm and relaxed manner, not trying to be commanding or threatening. Just making a good suggestion.

Suddenly his expression changed, and his eyes darted to the ground. "And am I the only one that hears a rattlesnake? Ranger, you're the snake expert - what do you think?" He looked about on the ground for a snake, and drew his pistol.

((OOC: Roll Persuasion for me, Adrian.))

Knowledge: Occult Roll to connect the dots for Cantrell?

((OOC: Sure. Roll away))

21:58, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 2,4 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Smart, or Derpy Derpy Doo?

Hmmm that's neither Smart nor Derpy Derpy Doo, but apparently our Ranger must know something or be able to theorize a guess as to what might happen to Cantrell, or how to stop it, something...

PM

First light... they were afraid of light. Does that mean I should be, too? Only one way to find out.

Thanks, I'll pay you back once I've dealt with the whores, earlier if I come into money somehow.
As for riding out... they'll have a headstart, but a horse should be able to catch up to few wagons mighty quick - if we know where to go. Any idea which direction they might take?

In reply to Gus Shaw (msg #118):

Wildcat's gaze goes to Deputy Vega momentarily.  "Derned if'n ah know."

It is an honest answer but a distracted one.  She's obviously lost in thought, after all it is unfamiliar territory, but apparently she finds her way out quickly enough.  It's like a row of dominos in the Ranger's mind got a nudge and fell over all at once.

This was worse than spilling turpentine in the beans.  The pupils in her blue eyes went wide for a moment before refocusing to their usual narrow size.  When she spoke again it was to Gus Shaw.

"Ya'll need ta silence yer mess."  It was a strange thing to say, like she garbled two thoughts together at once, and it lacked her usual hard edged panache.

Her fingers went to her own shoulder, and her eyes were then alight on Deputy Bear and his blood spattered form.

"Neither of 'em kin be allowed ta die."  There was a pause as if something of great weight had just fallen on her.  "An' neither can ah."

In reply to The Stray (msg #122):

10:13, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 0,1 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Persuasion.

Seven shrugs. "Ain't much out here they could've got to afore sunset. They might have made it to the Roadhouse toward Victoria, back the way we came. There's a few farms and ranches out here they might hole up at, too...the Circle W's the closest, and I bet them whores might get some good trade with the cowboys there afore movin' on."

This is assuming, of course, that they don't travel through night, but this does not seem to have occurred to Seven. He reaches into a pocket, pulls a wad of greybacks, and counts out $20. "Here." he says, sliding the money to William. "Won't get you anything fancy, but it should do. I saw the peddler by the old mining offices, but I have no idea who long he's going to be there past sunset. You ought to hurry."

"I think it's a perfect time." Gus growls. "Who's to say he ain't workin' with 'em? Rather be sure than..."



"I was about to..." Gus growls again, the rattlesnake buzz growing louder.



Gus's eyes follow hers, from the shoulder to Cantrell's arm and neck to the patch of blood down Charging Bear's shirt front.

"What do ya mean?" he says quietly, a quavering note of fear in his voice. "What's goin' on?"

Katrina Hawkins is living proof that sometimes a little knowledge is a very bad thing.

12:37, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 1,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Guts Check, sugar free with modifiers!

Oh dearie me.  All right it's not very Wildcat to fail a Guts check.  I just got this blue chip back so I'll use it again!

12:38, Today: Wildcat Hawkins rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Blue Chipper.

A 7 all told.

A more timid soul would probably panic right about now.

Waiting to see ramifications of passing the roll, if any, before saying more.

((OOC: It's just an "oh crap, I might be infected" panic roll. You passed, so no panic.))

Wildcat takes in a deep breath and calms down a bit upon considering the events of the last day or two.  She'd been hurt a lot, but she didn't feel sick beyond her usual night terrors.

"Th' Injun's bit.  Them critters, they can infect the folks they bite.  One of 'em done bit me th' other day though, an' nothin's happen'd.  Ah cain't rule it out though, not yet.

"Problem is we dunno what sets 'er off, th' two folks I done heard of that done gone loco, it happen'd when they was dyin' or dead as a doornail.  So you cain't kill him.  Ah don't think it would matter if you done cut his head off an threw it in a wood stove.  An' he cain't die."  She looks down at Cantrell.

"All of us better get to th' preacher, a blessin' 'gainst evil might not matter but ah reckon it's smartest thing we kin do."

In reply to The Seven of Spades (msg #130):

William pockets the money.
"Obliged."

He downs another shot, fighting back the urge to draw back his lips as the liquor hits the back of his throat and stands up.
"They might know I'm after them... and with a Comanche attack coming, they might be inclined to go through the night. If that's the case, where'd you think they went?"


OOC: Do you want to play through the scene where I buy what little equipment I can get for 20 bucks or should I just hit the Equipment table?

OOC: 07:34, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,4 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Know (Occult).
Oops forgot my -2 for wounds...

---

Charging Bear just laughs. It is the sound of someone who might have just lost it, or perhaps someone who just finds the whole situation funny in that, oh no I'm going to die and can't do anything about it sort of way.

After a few moments of this semi-insane laughter the native son stops and seemingly regains his composure. Charging Bear looks at Wildkitten and inquires, "Ranger mind sharing with the class why Cantrell there, you and I can't die? I'm pretty sure if I put a bullet into Cantrell's head he'll be most certainly dead."

"Oh we kin still get kilt, but t'ain't a good ideer Dep'ty Bear.  Or more proper, it's even worse ideer than usual."  Wildcat informs him.  She's calmed down a bit.

"Good chance it ain't no thing, but our 'Christian friend' here ought not be so quick ta go pointin' shootin' irons at folks.  That... disease... been goin' round here since I done got here?  I got bit.  Cantrell here got bit.  You done been bit from th' looks of it.  An' Mr. Mickle-fwate got bit too, ah was there and seen it."

Wildcat paces speculatively.  The account of what happened to Mr. Mickle-fwate ran through her mind over and over again.

"S'posedly Mr. Mickle-fwate done got up after being kilt real good, an' he'd been bit.  He was fine 'n dandy 'til some idjits-"  She casts a sidelong glance at Gus Shaw.  "done kilt 'im in th' saloon, then he came back wrong.  An' ah know what you reckon, but this ain't the same as th' other, ah suspect yer pastime o' mutilatin' the corpses ain't gon' not stop this.  Everyone in this here town knows the dead ain't stayin' dead, but ah think th' deaders don't all play bah th' same rules.  Th' only way ta manage it is we don't kill no one."

"Hell if I know," Seven shrugs. "The last thing I want from a whore is to know her mind. They could get to Victoria if they rode all night and didn't have any problems...from there they could take the train just about anywhere. But that's assuming they don't have a wagon wheel bust in the dark, or have Comanches descend on 'em. Like as not, they're already dead and you don't have to worry about 'em."

((OOC: Since you buying equipment would put you right in the path of a couple of PCs, I'd rather play it out...see what happens.))

William nods. Victoria, then.

And hell, if he understood his situation correctly, it didn't really matter that much. He did have all eternity to catch up with that bitch.

"Again, obliged."

With that, he strodes off, getting directions to the general store to pick up some much-needed equipment.
And maybe my horse just happens to be in my path somewhere...

OOC: Fine with me.

'Everyone in this here town knows the dead ain't stayin' dead.' The Ranger's words echoed in his head. Whether the woman was crazy or simply had an unusually heavy reliance on animal related metaphors and figures of speech, her recounting of events seemed to match with different things he'd been hearing.

Oh, Lord it can't be. As he thought through his own strange experiences that had taken place, and what he knew about these things from his time in the Lady Luck Society, he couldn't help but put two and two together.

"I'm gonna need a drink," was all he could think to say, and it came out a bit hoarsely.

William heads out of the saloon, and finds the town still in chaos. The bucket brigade has mostly managed to contain the fire at the Oriental down the road, but they're still passing water down the line, so all William gets is a few curt gestures.

The General Store is easily found...but is closed and locked up tight.

Luckily, from up the street come a voice hawking wares:

"Yes! Step right up, folks! I have guns! I have ammo! I have all your weaponry needs covered! Step right up, don't be shy! Protect your loved ones! Protect your families! End the renegade menace! I have exactly what you need...and I guarantee my prices cannot be beat!"

Gus's face is unreadable for a few moments. The firelight reflects off his eyes. They shine like a cat's...or a snake's.

"I reckon creamtin' might work." he mumbles, but he lowers his gun. "Fine. Git yer blessins', if'n you've a mind to. Then you git these two locked away somewhere. I can't have 'em turnin' on us right in the middle o' everythin'."

He glares at Charging Bear. "This ain't over, redskin."



"Fuck. Ain't that the truth. Come on, boy." Gus says, offering a hand to Adrian. "I'll take you to the saloon personal."

In reply to The Generous Salesman (msg #141):

Pierce walks up to the salesman, his eyes scanning the street.

"What do you have?"

In reply to William Pierce (msg #143):

The stall has been set up in the ruins of a burned-out building half a block up from the saloon.  The street is filled with people...it looks like someone's directing folk into the large stone building across from where you are, and a number of them are stopping at the man's stall to purchase items. most of them are coming away with handguns, though the occasional shotgun or rifle makes an appearance.

The stall consists of a table under an awning in front of a big black peddler's wagon with the words "The Generous Salesman" emblazoned on the side. Oddly, there aren't any wares laid out on the table, just a large carpet bag.

The man himself is tall and rake thin, dressed in a dapper black suit. He gives William an easy smile.

"Oh, I have everything." He says. "Everything excepting foodstuff. What are you interested in purchasing today?"

Adrian nodded to the others. "I think I'm gonna head to the saloon with Gus here for a minute. I'll be back out real soon like, just gotta wet my whistle. After what y'all just said..."

He shook his head and gave a half-hearted chuckle and a weak smile that lacked conviction. "I reckon talk of folks that ain't stayin' dead is about a good a reason as any to have a drink. Come get me in a little bit if you can, Ranger."

Giving Gus a rueful smile he said, "Come on, let's go get that drink and we can talk on old times for a little bit. How's your folks? I remember I used to dig that mine with him for a bit." He didn't holster his weapon this time. Once bitten, twice shy. It seemed every time he put it away, someone else had one out or drew down on him.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Wed 11 Apr 2012.

Charging Bear just gives Gus a nod as the big lug threatens him some more. For a moment the native son contemplate shooting the snake man in the back but stop as he thinks better of himself than that.

When Gus and Adrian are out of ear shot, Charging Bear looks to WildKitten, "So Ms Ranger, now what? You putting me back in some jail to rot or going to let me lend a hand where I can? And what are you going to do with that sack of human waste?"

Charging Bear is subjected to the most deadly of attacks, the angry Wildcat rapid fire hat strike.  He's so tall her usual habit of strinking about the head instead lands on his chest.

"Why in th' sam hill does ev'ry dern horse's ass 'round here keep tryin' ta kill ya'll!?"  In a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, she blames the victim.

"Ennyway ah didn't get ol' tall snakey and ugly thar ta leave ya alone to lock ya'll up... tarnation whar would ya go now anyway!?"

It's obvious the Ranger is mad at the situation and Charging Bear is receiving her wrath for the moment.  She looks at Cantrell like she wants to kick him while he's down.

"Pick his sorry hide up, he's too big fer me, we need ta get ta gettin'.  Ah ain't none too convinced o' whatev'r happen'd here, but it don't matter a hill o' beans right now."

Curious, do WC/CB see the interaction with The Salesman/Pierce?

((OOC: Only if you're headed up by the Mining Office. If you're headed up to the church, you'd be taking the street just before The Grand Bull...more likely to run into Alouette and Evans, who are currently headed your way.))

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #147):

"I'm a full blood Cherokee in Texas, and there's a group of Apache coming to kill every man, woman and child in this town." Charging Bear looks down at Cantrell and then his own wounds. He tries REALLY REALLY hard not to laugh at Wildkitten when she tells him to carry the bounty hunter but he fails.

"I'm sorry Ranger, but I don't think I'm going to beable to carry him very far. I'll do what I can but don't expect me to carry him out of town or anything like that"

OOC: Just in case
15:49, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,-1 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Strength (-2 WP).
Oh that's a fail...

OOC: Why do I get a Needful Things chill all of a sudden? :-)

"You have a .45? I'll also need a box of ammo. And a new shirt and jacket if you have any."

Also, some blood would be nice. William suppresses the thought.

"Old times." Gus mutters. "Sure. Why not?" He sounds a bit distant.



Gus winces. "I ain't even started drinkin' yet, and you wanna rip that old wound open?" He sighs. "Well, I guess you don't know, since you done left afore it all got bad. Paw died in the cave-in in '74. Maw...she's hangin' in there, but her health ain't what it was. She seems to be gettin' weaker every day..." he stops abruptly, then shakes his head. "Anyhow. It ain't good. This town's got so bad, sometimes I wish that when I left I'd staid gone. Just me and Tex and Nate..." he chokes up again. "But when Ward came, it seemed like there might've been a chance again. That we could build this town back up, and get on with life bein' mostly as it was before. And we was doin' it, too, 'till that shithead Evans and that bitch Ranger started fuckin' it all up!" He slams his fist into a nearby hitching post. The wood dents and splinters. "Now look at this place! Dragged halfway back to hell just as it was crawlin' out! Ward had a plan, you know. A Goddamned Hail Mary raise-the-town-from-the-ashes plan! But it's all gone to shit."

He pushes through the line of bucket birgaders as he heads into the Grand Bull and stomps to the bar. No one seems to be tending it...all the people inside seem to be caught up in the preparations, though many more just seem to be confused. Gus helps himself to a bottle and a couple of shot glasses, pours a shot for Adrian, and one for himself.

"To Blackthorn. Town of the walkin' dead." he says, raising his glass.

((OOC: It's just your imagination...probably. Possibly. Maybe. ;) ))

"Any preference in manufacturer?" The salesman asks as he begins rummaging through his bag.

Just as predicted, Charging Bear can barely lift Cantrell, and his wounds protest so loudly that he has to let the man down just moments after getting a grip.

When he walked in, he did a quick survey around the saloon to see who there was most likely to pull on him next. It was a paranoid kinda day. He didn't for a moment put his back to them, lounging against the bar, his free hand ready for trouble. He toasted to Gus, and downed the shot quick.

"Sorry to open old wounds, Gus. I'm sorry 'bout your pa. My folks both died when I was out and away, as I'm sure you know. I was sorry that I was gone for that, and now I guess that I left at all. This town's gone to hell, that's for sure."

He took the bottle and poured them each another. "So I ain't been around, but I heard a little. Seems like everyone got a different story 'bout things. What's all this about Dust Adders? I ain't never heard o' such a thing till I got back here."

In reply to The Generous Salesman (msg #152):

"I was always an admirer of Colonel Colt's design, but I'll take what I can get as long as it's in fine working order."

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #149):

Wildcat sighs, hat soothed and replaced, as her better nature takes over.

"A Chair-oh-key ain't not a 'Patchy then, ah reckon.  Kin ya at least get 'em off th' ground 'gain, I reckon ah can drag 'em wit' ya, but ah cain't dead lift no one his size."

Wildcat's intuitive grasp of physics that her barely five foot frame and tiny size probably doesn't afford sufficient leverage is astonishing, but her choice of terms is most unfortunate.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Wed 11 Apr 2012.

In reply to Adrian Vega (msg #154):

"Yeah, well, all I got are old wounds." Gus says, pouring another shot. "I heard about that. Damn shame."

He sighs. "Well, I don't know what you heard...probably ain't nice, but we ain't nice folk. But here's the truth. We're the guys who keep this place runnin', the folk who watched over this town when everyone else abandoned it, the ones who stuck by to make it work. We was left high and dry by the Wendall folk when the mine closed. They just skedaddled without so much as a goodbye. Took all their promises with 'em. No pensions, no compensation for the workers that died...they just took the wealth they'd extracted from us and vamoosed."

"Me and Tex and Nate, we got word that Dr. Ward was gettin' a ranch set up here. We were workin' the railroad at the time, tryin' to make a wage to support our families back here. When we heard Ward was lookin' for cowhands, though, we came back. That was right around the Edict o' '77, when they laid off a whole mess o' railroad workers. When we got back, we found other folk had been drawn in, too. Mostly local boys, them that had ties here. Well, we all decided to make a pact. We weren't gonna let no one do what the Wendell folk had done. if there was going to be business in Blackthorn, well, we the folk would own it. We'd all get our fair slice. We'd be the ones what kept the peace. We organized. Dr. Ward understands. We get paid mighty fine for cowhands, and when we get the mine back up...that'll be ours, too. Ain't gonna be no fancy pants from Back East callin' the shots, no sir! Miner worked, miner owned...just gotta clear it out. Gonna use the profits from the next drive to buy all the equipment that we need."

"At least, that was the plan. Then Evans decides he don't like us havin' the power, and the fuckin' Yankee starts stickin' his nose in where it don't belong. We try to disuade him, and he calls in' a fuckin' Ranger bitch. And wouldn't you know it? She starts shootin' folk the instant she gets in town!" he swigs his drink, and pours another. "She'll get hers. We can work all friendly-like 'till we deal with the Comanche, but she'll get hers after. You remember jesse? Jesse Holfield? Well, she shot him down. Now, I don't know all the details. I heard Dave egged him on, but you know how Jesse was, always leapin' afore he looked. He didn't deserve to be shot like some rabid dog...just plugged down in the rain. Oh, yeah. If there's anythin' left o' that bitch when Carl gets through with her, you better believe I'm carvin' up a slice o' my own. For Jesse."

He downs his whiskey, and pours yet another glass.

"It's the fault o' The Powers That Be, y'see." He grumbles. "They don't like that we want to call the shots here in town. They think we all uppity, need to be slapped down some, so they sent their dogs in to do their dirty work. That ain't right. We didn't fight no war against the Yanks just so our own government can turn around and do the same ol' shit..." He keeps on rambling in this vein for quite some time.

((OOC: Make a Notice check at -3. Let's see what your paranoia brings up.))

"Sir, I guarantee all my wares to be of the finest quality." The man says, pulling forth a brass-and-blue Colt Peacemaker from his bag, as well as a box of rounds.



He sets these aside, and says, "Now, on the matter of shirt and jacket, I have a wide selection of styles to chose from. Anything specific you were thinking of, or would you prefer to browse?"

"If I may?"
William gives the Colt a quick spin of the drum, eyes the barrel and the chambers, weighs it in his hand.

OOC: 00:41, Today: William Pierce rolled -2,0 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Shooting, to gauge gun. *Sigh*
At least I should know if it's a SA or DA, right?

It feels fine in his hand, but his thirst makes it hard to focus.
He asks for a holster, and once he's got it, straps it on, carefully loading the colt, then holsters it.

"Just something that fits. Black would be fine, to go with the pants."

Then he remembers something.
"I'd also like some pliers, if you have them. Small ones, like to pull teeth? How much for all of that?"

Adrian listened patiently to Gus, nodding to show that he was following. He kept up shot for shot with Gus, and when the man had finished, poured out a couple more. He tried to keep his eye on the bar, but his voice was calm and level. He didn't want to set Gus off, but he wanted to know the truth about what happened here. Evans seemed like a good enough sort to him, as did the Ranger. In all his expereience, they seemed like folk that tried to do the right thing. But half the townsfol seemed to think they were at least half responsible for the battlefield Blackthorn had become.

"What about before Evans and the Ranger came into town? The way I heard it told, y'all beat up or killed anyone who didn't like the way you were runnin' things. Like Revered Kaspar and Marshal Bentley. Word on the street is that them two just got disappeared after they said they didn't like how y'all were runnin' the show down here. Where'd them two go? Were they Yankees too, maybe?"

OOC: With Notice at a -3...I rolled a 3, including the use of a Red Chip.

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #156):

The native son shakes his head slightly at Wildkitten's butchering of the two names. He ponders for a moment on correcting her but in the end decides to skip it. "Alright, let's try this one more time..."

OOC:
07:38, Today: Charging Bear rolled 4,2 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4. Strength (-2 WP).

In reply to William Pierce (msg #159):

((OOC: The gun has nothing obviously wrong with it. It's a Single Action (as per Wildcat's lecture) and seems to be a solid weapon.))

"Hold still for a moment while I measure, then, if you please." The man says. He reaches into his pocket. William might be expecting a tailor's ruler of something similar, but he instead pulls a small metal wand. He presses a switch on it, causing the tip to glow blue. It emits a high-pitched whine as he waves it in William's general direction. He examines something on the wand, then turns to the side of the wagon, presses it, and slides open a panel, revealing a rack of coats and shirts. He selects a shirt and an Inverness Coat, pulls them from the rack, and sets them on the table for William's inspection before closing the panel up.



He wrinkles his brow at William's question. "A pair of dental pliers? Hmmm..." He goes back to his carpet bag and rummages around. "Ah! You're in luck, sir. One pair in stock." He pulls it forth and lays it on the clothing.

Then he says, "Oh! And as for your last request..."

What last request?

...he reaches into his bag once more and pulls a pint-size silver flask. Something sloshes inside.

"There. That comes to $18, sir."

That seems somewhat low, given that the last gun he bought was $17 all by itself...

((OOC: Awesome. Blind as a bat...with The Seven of Spades in the same room! This is gonna be hilarious.))

"Roughed up, maybe," Gus concedes, "But you got yer facts wrong. Sounds like you bin talkin' to Gabby." He takes another shot. The alcohol doesn't seem to be affecting Adrian quite as much, oddly. "In fact, I'd like to find the low-down sonovabitch what shot down Rusty Bentley. He was a good man, and didn't deserve to go like that. He was on our side o' the scuffle we had with them idjit sheep fuckers, you know. He didn't want to see the land all criss-crossed by barbwire neither. You know they found him near one o' them fences? All shot up with small caliber rounds, like a gatling pistol. Looked like mebbe they'd tied him up in barbwire first and dragged him along the ground." shakes his head. "Horrible thing them sheep fuckers did to him. But it was them, not us, that killed the Marshal."

He takes another shot. The bottle is getting quite low now. "And as for the Reverend, well, I ain't sorry 'bout that at all. Not after what he said about my brother."

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #161):

Charging Bear is able to get Cantrell's torso off the ground, at least...though he's still going to need help carrying it.

Something about the whole situation makes William's neck hairs prick up, but he tries to keep a cool demeanor.
He puts the 20$ on the table and collects all items, resisting the urge to open the bottle right away.
He moves to change the jacket, then remembers the two bullet holes in his back from that damned indian... No, better to change in an alley out of sight and to not have to explain the blood.

"You don't happen to know where the girls from the Oriental went? I believe they wanted to leave town, but they didn't mention where to."

The salesman shrugs. "As a new arrival in town myself, I'm afraid I haven't collected many rumors yet. Ask for me tomorrow, and I may be able to help you. Or at least point you in the right direction. But as it stands..." He shrugs again.

"See you tomorrow, then."

William nods and walks away.
Did I just sell my soul to this fella? Well,... he can get in line, I guess.

He walks into a sidestreet and opens the small flask, smelling the metallic coppery smell. He downs the liquid in a few quick gulps, feeling the blood burn down its way to his belly, warming his very core... and he feels something squirm with delight inside of him.

20:14, Today: William Pierce rolled 8,-1 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of (10+1)11,2. Natural Healing re-roll, red chipped.
20:14, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,-1 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Natural Healing roll. Are you kidding me??

So, are both wounds healed and the fatigue done as well? Or does one wound remain?
Also, I only just now realized I had a white chip, too. Since I went for a re-roll, do you allow the spending of a white instead of the red chip?

He feels the bullets in his back move and pop out of his body as the wound close, the lead balls sliding down the inside of his shirt.
He chuckles, then quickly changes into his new set of clothes.

I'm coming to get you, fang-face...
"...and Hell is coming with me." He finishes speaking, half-loud.

Now, where was his damned horse?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

In reply to The Stray (msg #164):

In perhaps an ominous fashion, Wildcat grabs Cantrell's massive legs and pulls up so that the pair of them can carry him between them like a corpse, because they sure aren't getting any help from the big man himself.

"So I guess that's a yes on the Reverend, then. Nah, that Gabby didn't say nothin' 'bout y'all. Not that I'm gonna say who did, though, if its all the same. I'd just feel downright awful if y'all kilt someone just cause I talked to y'all about what's been goin' on. I'm just tryin' to see if I can't figure on some truce here. Some way to set things right again. This is my home town, even if I been gone a while. I wanna see it back on its feet as much as anybody," he said.

"I know some old wounds won't heal, but you kill that Ranger, and you'll bring down a hell storm on us down here in Blackthorn. Ranger Brigade don't take kindly to that kinda thing, as I hear it, and I think they gotta mite more firepower than the Dust Adders. Then where would we be? Just more folks dead for no good reason. And another setback for Blackthorn."

In reply to William Pierce (msg #167):

"Happy hunting!" The salesman says brightly as William heads into the darkness.

The blood has a faintly stale aftertaste, and obviously isn't fresh and warm from the vein, but that hardly matters as it begins to work it's magic. Something about the taste reminds William of a rare steak...might be cow's blood.

((OOC: The Fatigue is removed automatically by getting the blood down, so the raise heals both wounds. You are fully healed. I don't mind you subbing a white for the red...I only get a chip if you use it for a bonus, anyhow. And something tells me you might soon need that chip.))

Just as William is beginning to feel normal again, he hears a voice from right behind him.

"Did I hear you mention the girls at the Oriental?" says the voice...but before William can answer, pull a weapon, or even turn his head, the world suddenly spins and he finds himself slammed hard against the nearest wall and pinned there against the wood by a frothing madman.

"WHERE!?" The blond man screams in William's face, cold blue eyes boring into William's own as he bears a set of wicked fangs. "WHERE ARE THEY!?"

In reply to Wildcat Hawkins (msg #168):

As Wildcat and Charging Bear heft the delirious bounty hunter, Marshal Evans pushes through the bucket brigade, heading right for them, the strange mechanical clank close behind.

"What's this? What's happened?" He asks. "Did you get them all?"

"Let's just say the Reverend's gettin' some face time with the Lord about practicing what he preached and not shooting his mouth off about a man's kin. Man was tryin' to incite the town to kill him, you know? That don't sit square with us that've bled for this place."

He frowns mightily. "Now, don't you go judgin' us by what some idjit says. I reckon I know who yer talkin' about now. You gotta remember, Roland never did get on with his brother all that well. And now that Nate's dead...he oughta know better than to go bad-mouthin' Nate's friends. But you ain't seen the shit we have. You don't know all we've had to do to keep the folk here safe. There's things in this world...unnatural things. Things that's singe yer hair and blacken yer eyes and make you wanna curl up and die o' fright if'n you saw 'em. I seen 'em. I even talked with one."

"The ranger chose her own fate when she done shot Jesse down. I ain't gonna stop Carl...them two were as close as me and Tex. Closer, perhaps. And it weren't the girl defendin' herself. It were cold-blooded murder, what she done. Jesse was just mouthin' off like he normally did, but she twitched and blew his chest in. His hand weren't nowhere near his gun. And instead o' doin' his fuckin' duty, that dipshit Evans lets her walk around without a care in the world. Just like he done with that murderin' savage you was so intent on savin'. You know he's wanted for rapin' another Ranger? O' course not. You'd've been pointin' iron with me if'n ya did. That's who the nigger come for. he's a bounty hunter. The injun got a price on his head so high that if we don't get 'em we'll be up to our necks in more scum like him if'n we don't act. They'll think Blackthorn's a good place to hide out, you know? A good place to lay low, 'cause we let trash like that savage walk free."

He tips the bottle and finishes it off. "You want to help Blackthorn? The law's gone crooked. We need to straighten it out. Then you'll see things change."

Alouette trots swiftly to heel by Evans, having been distracted investigating the bucket brigade.

"Howdy Ranger Hawkins! Howdy Called Charging Bear! Why is Cantrell sleeping in the middle of the road?"

OOC: Yay for full health!



Go to Blackthorn, it's the perfect place to lay low...
Spades' pitch of the town rings hollow in his head.

"Funny, I was wondering the same thing."
He draws the hammer of Jenny's colt back with an audible click.
"Now, we both know that I can't miss at this distance. And we also both know that a little bullet won't kill you. But we also both know that it would ruin your cheap suit and there's lots of nervous folks around who won't look kindly on a fella with a bloody shirt running around. SO BACK THE FUCK OFF!"

At the very least, William's own fangs are cleary visible while shouting that last part.

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #171):

"Marshal, ah dunno what we got, other'n a damn mess."  Wildcat's response wasn't helpful, but it was honest.

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #171):

"Who all?"

In reply to Alouette (msg #173):

"Hello Alouette. Cantrell isn't sleeping; he's been badly hurt, and we're trying to get him someplace safe."

Aside from harboring a touch more than the common bigotry that Adrian had long since outgrown after his time spent in New Orleans, he thought Gus wasn't such a bad sort, after a fashion. It wasn't that he believed or disbelieved Gus, but that the man seemed pretty honest. He'd heard multiple accounts of things, and no account from anyone that he'd grown up with had anything good to say about Marshal Evans or the Ranger, or really any of the other Deputies that he'd come to casually meet through his brief period of service.

"Well, I'm glad I got to talk to you, Gus. I hope I don't come 'cross the wrong way, but I gotta play Devil's Advocate here. Everybody's tellin' a different story, and I suppose there's more than one side of any story. How the hell's a man to figure out what's really been' goin' on here? I guess I just gotta keep talkin' to folks and make the best decision I can."

"But I may be in a position to try and calm shit down at some point. I'm on good terms with a lotta folks in town, includin' the law - got deputized earlier today. I don't want you to think that means I'm takin' a side against y'all. I just figured that well, if there's law men in town, maybe one o' them actually ought to be somebody that's a Blackthorn native, you know?"

Alouette tilts its head at the recumbent bounty hunter. "He shut down because he needs fixing?"

It looks between Charging Bear and Evans. "Primary command help Ranger Hawkins fix Cantrell, or collection of monsters, witches, quasidemonic entities?"

(((OOC: Roll Intimidation please. This is a roll opposed by his Spirit.))

18:45, Today: William Pierce rolled 13,4 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,2. Intimidation. +2 due to my night terrors, not sure if that applies here.

"We were made to suffer." Evans sighs. "It's our lot in life."



"I have been reliably informed that the Jellicles, vampires, or both were in yon theater until very recently." He says. "I'm trying to ascertain how many of either were destroyed before we hunt down the others."

He glares at Charging Bear. "I've also been reliably informed that you attacked Cantrell while he was on guard duty, which allowed the Jellicles to escape in the first place. Well done, deputy. Well done."

The acid in his voice could eat through stone.



Evans looks at Wildcat, then back at Alouette. "What on Earth could you even do to aid in mending this man's wounds?" he asks.

In reply to William Pierce (msg #180):

((OOC: 09:49, Today: Vincent Kaje rolled 4,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Resisiting Intimidate. That's not going to cut it, not even close.))

The man snarls, then throws William to the ground. Not drops, throws. The impact would have driven the breath from him if he still breathed.

"I can smell her all over you. Whore." he says. "Well, I'm sick of cleaning up her messes. That bint isn't going going to see another sunrise if I catch up with her. She's got careless. Going to get us all killed."

He doesn't actually seem to be talking to William at all. More like he's thinking out loud.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

"Well, I reckon that's the truth, sure enough." Gus says. "But I reckon some o' the stuff we done looks pretty bad on the outside o' it, on account o' us tryin' to make sure none o' the really horrible things actually happen."

He nods. "Sure. Hope you do more'n Bill's done to keep 'em in line. I haven't seen hide nor hair o' him since he found Jesus and signed up with Evans and his crew. If'n you can get with Bill, maybe the two o' you can get Evans and his Ranger attack bitch out o' the picture."

Suddenly, someone stumbles over Adrian's chair, and the huckster is splashed with some pungent whiskey. The man in the monocle and black fringed-leather jacket snarls at him. "Watch where you're goin', asshole." he says...then gets a good look at Adrian's face and goes pale.

And well he should. It's the Seven of Spades, looking the man he'd murdered right square in the eye.

"Holy shit." he squeaks.

William gets up, slowly, and releases the cocked hammer, pushing the colt back in his belt.

"We might have mutual interests, then. I have unfinished business with her. We could work together, then go our seperate ways."

"Was that before or after his attempt to kill me and the Jellicles? He's the fool who tried to blew up the jail with some half cocked plan, I hope your informant told you that too." says the native son, his tone still managing to be even despite the obvious rage that should be in the words. "I don't take kindly to people who try to kill me nor folks threatening me. Cantrell here has tried done nothing but since he got here."

"I've done nothing but help you and this town since I got here Evan. I'll continue to do that, but don't push my good nature too far."

OOC: I'm alittle fuzzy on the time line so CBs "facts" might not be 100%
This message was last edited by the player at 11:01, Sat 14 Apr 2012.

"What does a Jellicles look like?" Alouette asks, not having heard of this sort of monster before.

"Self could make him wake up, then Ranger Hawkins could make him done plus fixed," the clank asserts, and bats gently at Cantrell's cheek. "Awake! Resemble the living!"


[[4, with that just-drawn red chippit, because the Healing rules scare me. I now have one chip of each colour, this pleases me.
Don't worry CB, Cantrell will get an angelic telling-off in stereo if he does get better.]]

The stranger on the road. The man with the monocle. Ezekiel 25:17. Well maybe it hadn't been a nightmare after all. It had been a nightmare he'd never forget, whether he'd dreamed it or it happened for real, but now he was pretty certain that it was real. This would be too much of a coincidence otherwise.

Without thought, Adrian lifted up the gun he'd been holding and pointed it straight at the monocled man as he mentally filled in the whole picture. "Gus, I'd like to introduce you to the bastard that robbed me on my way into town. Shot my horse, knocked me out, took almost all my shit 'cept some bills I had tucked away and then the sick sonuvabitch buried me alive. If I didn't wake up sooner, well, no tellin' what woulda happened. I nearly suffocated as it was."

He continued in a frivolous, somewhat self satisfied tone as he now spoke to his murderer. "Hello, sick sonuvabitch. This is my minin' buddy Gus Shaw, and this is my Peacemaker. I'm Deputy Adrian Vega and you're under arrest. Oh yeah - welcome to Blackthorn, asshole."

In reply to Alouette (msg #186):

Wildcat's face just tells it all.  Her eyes are wide, her brow is angry, her mouth is somehow scowling and open, and she can't decide between stalwart, furious, and aghast.

He has to stop and lower her half of Cantrell.  Well probably more like her third.  She then very carefully removes her hat and places it upon him upside down.

"Hold onta that."

Naturally Cantrell does no much thing as hold the hat, but he makes a good enough hat rack she is able to remove her buckskin gloves, one at a time, one finger at a time.

Wildcat's mind struggles to put this all together.  There's a certain cleverness to the way Katrina thinks in that her clarity of thought is amazingly consistent, even under extreme duress.  The ability to think, the presence of mind to act, even imperfectly, in terrible situations is a godsend.  But the downside is no one has ever accused her of being a know it all.  It takes her a minute to think about it all sometimes.  That inability to consider alternatives that saves her sometimes confounds her now.

She looks very different.  There's actually a lot of thought and work that goes into making something feminine look subtly masculine without looking like she's trying to accomplish same.  The gloves normally hide how small her hands are, and the delicate appearance of her fingers, and the straight lines and slight flare of their long cuffs makes her arms look bigger than they really are.  The hat diverts attention from the length of her hair and helps her appear to be taller.  Strands of blonde hair begin to curl up and dance.

She cups her hands over her face for a second.  She quits the gesture and looks like she's about to go off, but just suddenly stops.  She just stops.

Now back together, she begins to speak.

"It's better'n that Marshal.  It's better'n all that, though that's a doozy.  It's right 'pos'ble the three of us got th' infeckshun."

Deputy Clank's ministration's intrigue her.

"Deputy Clank what'n ya'll up to fer?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

Gus, for his own part, stands and whips the rifle out of the sling on his back. "Nice to metcha, fucker." He growls at Seven. "This here is Miss Winchester. She's a beaut, ain't she? You wanna get all intimate with her business end, well, go ahead and twitch."

The man with the monocle, for his part, doesn't quite seem to have registered either of the guns pointed at him.

"You," he says to Adrian, pointing for emphasis, "are dead. You're dead! You're fucking DEAD!" He shouts in disbelief. "You're dead! Dead! Dead! DEEEEEAAAAAADDDDDD!" Then he breaks out into helpless, hysterical laughter. "Dead! Boom! Right to the chest! Right through the heart! Dead! Dead! Dead!"

Gus raises an eyebrow. "I done think he's lost his mind," he remarks, looking at Adrian quizzically.

The monocled man grabs a saltshaker and starts flicking salt at Adrian. "Back, zombie! Back to your bed! Back! I command it!" The salt doesn't seem to be doing anything except getting into Adrian's clothes and hair.

Everybody in the room is staring at Adrian, Gus, and the crazy man.

The man eyes William, sizing him up.

"How do you figure that? Only one of us will get to kill her."

"She thinks I didn't get up again. That's gotta count for something. And partnering up doubles our chances that one does get to kill her."

In reply to William Pierce (msg #191):

The man raises an eyebrow. "Three of you sods in a week. I don't get it. That's far too sloppy for her. How can she be getting so careless?" He frowns deeply. "Fine. Allies until the end. The last sod was completely under her spell...had to stake him. Word of advice, friend. She bats her loverly eyes at you and you fall for it...I'll take you down."

"Oh, and I'm Vincent Kaje." he says, extending a hand.

"Giving him energies," Alouette responds "so he grows minus holes...Ranger Hawkins can help fix him, too..."

It straightens and regards Wildcat a moment. "...but you feel of...of...like, similar to, a wire that goes *ping*." It looks at Evans, apparently assessing him in a similar manner. "Ambrose feels of scrunched. Y'all need more positive energies," it chirps, and pauses.

There isn't a lightbulb that goes on over its head, but there is a soft *tik* as the clank stands straight. Clearly it has had an Idea. It patters around the back of Evans and pushes him very gently forwards, then buisily patters 'round behind/beside Wildcat and pushes her forward so very carefully too. When it's satisfied its friends/minders are in good position, it steps back and does the extra explaining mortals sometimes need to get things, with a bit of Wildcat's imperative:
"Hug!"

"At this point, it hardly matters." Evans snaps. "Right now I have an unknown number of vampires, outlaws, and combinations of such at large in the area, a situation which I understand is at least partly your fault. Thus far, the Dust Adders have shown more restraint!"

He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry. This has been an exceedingly trying day. Perhaps we should start again. What happened? how did this great flaming mess come to be?"

((OOC: I've posted a timeline of events in the OOC thread...it's all the events that lead up to the blowing up of the Oriental, many of which CB wasn't present for, so would have no way of knowing.))



Evans pinches the bridge of his nose. "Miss Hawkins...would you please offer an explanation? I don't think I can formulate one right now..."

At Alouette's touch, Cantrell groans. He's already awake, but not focused on anything. He's babbling softly to himself about angels and monsters, but the words are slurred and half-formed gibberish.

((OOC: That's not going to be high enough, given the -3 penalty Cantrell's wounds impose on the roll. Sorry.))



Evans blinks, and a moment of panic crosses his face before giving way to a resigned weariness that creeps into his voice. "Of course. That would be what was needed to make this horrific day complete." he sighs. "Should I have a stake ready to burrow into your heart when you pass, or do you think you might linger long enough to give the Comanche a good what for when they arrive to murder us all later on tonight?"



At this, Evans just stands, dumbfounded.

((OOC: This is probably about the time Carl shows up...))
This message was last edited by the player at 08:00, Sat 14 Apr 2012.

Three?

William takes the offered hand, shaking it.
"William Pierce. Allies till the end. If you cross me, I'll kill you, so that takes us back to an even footing. And I didn't fall for her the first time, but that bitch is hard to put down.
Now - where would she have gone and how do we kill her and her entourage?"

[[Righto, chief!]]

A leggy dark horse half-slithers from a run to a perfect halt on the soaked street outside the Grand Bull, its rider barely touching the reins. There's a piercing whistle for attention, then the mounted man in the halo of porch light starts giving and rehashing orders to the townsfolk and present Dust Adders alike, his tone hard with tense authority:
"Git water boiling. Y'all start piling that - don't need t'be solid, jes' look solid, move to't. Ned, you got them sharps strung? Good, fetch what-all from the tanner, don't lay 'em down 'til we leave. You, find more blankets. Y'all t'arms. Tom, you find out why some non-combattents ain't at town hall, round 'em up - riding. Max, find any'f us who ain't here, get 'em here, we got Comanche down on us in twenty minutes if they ain't decided to push on, dismount an' sneak in the streets already - I ain't havin' that! Move, you goddamn hounds - we'll give 'em Hell!"

The words almost burn. Carl rides down the half-disintegrated bucket line as folk begin to realise who he is, assessing the damage and what can be re-used from the wreckage and assigning people to buildings.

Charging Bear shivers, "I'm not much good to you right now, too beaten to help in the coming fight."

The native son chuckles quietly at the angel and has a seat in the dirt/mud beside Cantrell. "I got a feeling unless something causes the Jellicles to return, they should be high gone... but given with how this town has been i expect they'll pop up again soon. What exactly is the plan for when this war party comes rolling through here exactly? I'd say you take everyone and run, let the Apache burn the town down but I've a feeling folk won't got for that idea."

Alouette looks over at the ex-sergeant's movement. "Run where, Called Charging Bear?"

"Don't think that makes you immune to her." he says. "If she likes you enough to keep at it, eventually you'll fall under her spell. It's how she works." he frowns in thought. "I would have thought she'd have waited for me. Our plan was to head to Victoria after we'd had a few nights revenue and perhaps gained some new hired help. We've been in town before, and there wasn't much of a problem then. But there was some sort of shootout a few nights back. A lone straggler made the mistake of seeking sanctuary with us, and we drained him. Horace was supposed to burn the damn corpse, but he must have dumped it instead. We got a visit from the law, poking around. They killed the decoy we'd kept, and she was hoping it'd thrown them off the scent, but we started talking of packing up much earlier than usual. The plan was to head to Victoria early and take the train, but there was a loose end to tie up. And while I was out, the theater blew up."

He pauses for thought, then continues. "No one could tell me what happened there, but the wagons were long gone. Perhaps if you can fill in some of the blanks for me, I can figure out where she might have gone. You smell freshly dead, so it couldn't have happened that long ago. Tell me what you remember."

In reply to Carl Allans (msg #196):

The theater is a gutted wreck, but by now the flames are contained and won't be spreading. It's still too hot to enter and search, but the wood around the back of the place seems mostly intact. Might make good barricade material.

As Carl moves up the line, he can see a knot of people: that crazy machine, the damn Yank marshal, the Ranger, that Indian who's supposed to be in jail, and some figure half-laying in the mud. They seem to be just...talking.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #197):

"That doesn't answer my questions, Deputy." Evans says. "McCoy told me that he'd seen at least one of the Jellicles transformed into an unholy beast. That means we missed some in our initial examination of the place. We haven't found our vampire Patient Zero yet, so until we do we must assume that it's still out there, spreading it's infection among the populace. A populace currently being gathered in one place in order to withstand a siege. If we don't find and contain the vampires, well, I shudder to think what the results will be. How many of the Jellicles are afflicted? Where would they have gone? Did you see any other vampires? And what became of the girls who were staying here in all this?"

I remember my old man tearing up my joints... and then four men I murdered sent me back here.

"There's not much. I rode into town with a girl I met shortly before. She wanted to hide at the Oriental, apparently a bounty hunter and the Texas Rangers were after her.
They were already packing up the wagons at that point. We went inside, talked to that Vanderholt woman. Things went south quickly then. The girls surrounded us, then they bared their fangs and attacked. I emptied my colt into that bitch's chest, but she didn't even flinch."

He sighs.

"Then I wake up and Jenny - that's the girl I was with - and I are strung up in the theater, dressed for a wedding. Once we got down, people started showing up. That bounty hunter, some other folks... A fucking indian shot me in the back. Then somebody played with dynamite and blew the house up. Barely made it out.
And I'm still trying to find my horse. Got scared away by the fire."

He shrugs. "They didn't say anything about where they were going. If they left any clues, they went up in the flames. And people are there, trying to kill the fire."

Vincent looks like he's about to say something, then stops.

"We?"

Wildcat looks down upon Deputy Clank.  This has been a terrible day, but that is way too adorable even for her.  There is a hug, but it's for the automaton.

"Marshal, ain't no one wants ta get to tha bottom 'o this more'n me, but we need ya get Cantrell somewhar he kin lie down 'n naught die.  Deputy Bear's all tore up, an' he prolly cain't be left 'lone or some-nother Adder make trouble where thar don't need be any.  Jus' cause we done 'greed ta not come ta blows fer now don't mean they ain't achin' ta try."

William nods. "The girl, Jenny, came back as well. She took off with a few friends... one of them wearing a weird scarf. He was the dynamite-happy fellow. The other one's missing an ear, but just recently. Not sure if the indian was with them, too."

Alouette's chest casing carries a faint warmth, presumably distributed from its boiler. It smells of church and steam engine, though there's the very faintest trace of something else, a scent like snow on summer dust, or feathers. (It has been carrying Deputy Chicken around, though.) The automaton responds very naturally to Wildcat's hug, then realises it has two arms and drags the possibly-suspecting Evans in too.

There's a short whistle as Wildcat finishes her reasoning. Carl is clearly not going to ask about hug time, but the tense posture in the saddle, the readied gun and the headjerk at the clearly uncuffed Injun is a question in itself. " ? " Alouette is mostly in his peripheral vision, but the clank is rather hard to miss.
"Angel. Go find monsters."

"Okay!" Alouette chirps, and starts acting like a hound on a scent.

[[18:06, Today: Alouette rolled 5,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. go go gadget vampire hunting! ]]

"Many vampires..." it murmurs, Augustus-like, then walks up to Cantrell, leans right down to gently nudge him with its 'beak', informs Charging Bear "He needs steak, and onions, or possibly ramps. Plus plus ramps and not dying."

Charging Bear well-informed, it happily patters off along the nearest/most recent vampire trail.

[[how far away are William and Vinny?]]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Sun 15 Apr 2012.

((OOC: While I'm waiting for CB to post (he usually doesn't post on weekends) I can work on the Detect Arcana info...))

[[20:42, Today: Alouette rolled -1,5 using d4-2,d6-2 Untangling trails
...Alouette's intermittent attentiveness will never fail to amuse me.]]

Vincent groans and cradles his head in his hands. "Oh, fuck. Another one. And she has friends, which will swiftly wind up as more accidents if she's not careful. And you blokes are never careful when you're first sired. They'll be hired help by the end of the night." He sighs. "Nothing for it. Can't hunt them and Marina down at once."

He stands a while in thought. "Well. She sounds like she was in a hurry, to risk the daylight. Sunlight burns up the hired help, and makes her weaker, though rainstorms like today are a godsend...keeps the sun off, you know. I've been hearing blather about some kind of Indian attack that's supposed to be nigh, so she may have been trying to leave to avoid it. I'd like to think she would have waited while I tied up that other loose end, but I know her too well. She was going to leave me high an dry, take the fall for her mistakes."

He sighs again. "If they headed to Victoria, they might have at least made the Roadhouse by now. If they're going to continue on, they'll reach Victoria by sunrise. I don't know the train schedule, though...we usually take night trains when we aren't using our wagons."

"Once I find my horse, we could take off after them at once. We're bound to be faster than few weighed-down wagons."

He strokes his scraggy beard. "Since I'm new at... this... What do I need to know?"

In reply to The Amazing Evans (msg #201):

Taking a moment to think Charging Bear nods slightly, "There was the girl of the Jellicles - Jenny I thinks her name. She was a vampire and there was a man with her <insert William's description here> who I'm quite sure was as well as he did some of the same things she did. They were both dressed in wedding clothing, so I'd guess they weren't the start of all the vampire stuff here but rather pawns."

The native son pauses for a few seconds as though letting the bits and pieces of an idea slide into place, "As for your Patient Zero, I'd suggest looking at who was new in town and has since left. Now, I need to go sit somewhere and do my best not to bleed all over the place."

Evans nods, pushing himself out of the Automaton's hug. "Yes. I'd certainly rather get the wounded to the church...the Father might be of some assistance to both our new issues here." he looks at Wildcat. "I would rather have some help dealing with our monster issue, though. You don't look like you're going to sprout fangs and go after my neck in the next hour. Can you lend assistance? Or at least help me find some of the other deputies?"



Evans sighs. "Mr. Allans, I understand, but I am only one person. Let us get medical attention for the wounded first, then deal with the Comanche issue, then deal with who should be in jail. Unless you want to call on some of your fellow Adders to act as escorts and jailers, I cannot worry about him right now. All i can tell you is that I have reason to believe the charges against him are false, or at least wildly exaggerated. Let us let him help."



The nearest trail heads off toward the Mining offices. There's other trails, but they don't seem to be the same monster.




Evans cocks his head at the description. "He doesn't sound familiar...granted, I've only been in town half a year, and haven't learned to identify everyone on sight, but he does not sound like a local. Mr. Allans, are you familiar with the gentleman described?" He turns to Carl.


Evans sighs. "Well, if the Vanderholt Troupe is a vector, and they've left town, I can't follow them very far. My jurisdiction ends about two miles outside of town limits. I'll wire on to Victoria and see if they can pick them up there, but with everything going on it will have to wait. My concern now is finding those infected left in town and quarantining them away from the rest of the citizens."

Something hardens in his face. "We need to find the Jellicles and destroy them. The same goes for our mystery man as well. We cannot allow this to spread. As of now, these suspects are to be incapacitated on sight. No quarter shall be given to them, and any victims of their predations are to be quarantined as well."

"Well, the first lesson is horses hate you now. Good luck trying to get any to let you approach, let alone ride. The horses we had for our wagons were specially trained to ignore that instinctive terror they feel at our presence, and even then they were nervous, skittish beasts only fit to pull a load, not bear a rider. Horace did most of the stabling and driving....now that he's dead I'm not sure they will be able to make good time."

"Next, when you feed, try not to drain the sod dry unless you're willing to burn the corpse after. It won't always produce another mouth to feed, but it'll happen enough to cause you problems. It takes some effort to produce a full member of the family, so you don't have to worry about that...I'm not sure if you're hired help or a full family member, but either way I'm not teaching you to make more. You'll figure it out if you get the urge to procreate."

"Stay away from the sun. Stay away from the Church and it's agents. Stay away from fire. A stake of wood to the heart will kill you if you're hired help, or lock you up if you're family."

"Finally, you're a predator now. The sooner you accept that, the more useful you'll be to me. I can't stand those wankers who whine and try to pretend they aren't monsters. You eat people to survive. Get used to it or march into a bonfire."

Alouette, with its strange talent for vanishing the moment people take their attention off it for two minutes, is already out of sight around buildings, a fair way off towards the mining offices, by the time Evans is making plans. It witters to itself/invisible lurking things on the rooftops and will happily greet/reassure anyone it happens to meet on the way.


[[as for Carl, I'll let Wildcat jump in and say something more convincing than "I let the supposed psychopathic rapist wander about because I really really think he's innocent and we haven't time to can him" because Carl's automatic reaction to that is along the lines of "shoot the problem"...]]

"Those are pretty harsh word, Marshall. The Jellicles are rather sly opponents, each making the whole better. Though I've a feeling their old dynamic won't be there with all that's happened to them here."

"If you think I'd be of any use I'll lend you a hand. Just point me in the right direction."

In reply to Vincent Kaje (msg #213):

That... takes a minute or two to sit in.

"My rifle... and my spare clothes are on that horse." is the first he manages, after a while.

He turns half-around and sees four figures standing at the edge of the alley - no, just shadows playing a trick on him.

"I've always been a predator", he says, matter-of-factly, "but I was trying to leave that behind me. Marina's 'family' I suppose? So how do you kill her if a stake through the heart won't do it?"

He takes a step toward the main street.
"I'm going to search for my horse. If it won't stay near me, I'll put it down. But we'll need horses to get after them or do you plan to run?"

In reply to William Pierce (msg #216):

Vincent sighs. "Well, I suppose that it might be worth going after just for supplies. If they find it wandering around they might lead it to the stables and see if anyone claims it, especially if it's saddled and tacked. We can check there once the fire has died down and there aren't so many people about."

Yes, shadows. Shadows and a sense of being watched...

"In a sense, yes. You're part of the clan now." he says, then shrugs. "I was planning to light her on fire. Or stake her anyway and watch her crumble in the sunlight. Or maybe just keep her staked and watch her suffer."

"I shouldn't think it would go that far. We can just get a wagon and hitch it up. Difficult, yes, but as long as it's scared it will keep moving, which is what we want anyway."

Some thing rounds the corner as William steps up to it. A gleaming thing, all weird angles and inhumanity, the sear of the pale and gentle light from two round lenses a reminder that the vampires' vision is adapted for darkness; this is not a thing of their umbral world.

Its body is vaguely humanoid, gangling and androgenous, its head somewhere between helmet and fragile avian cranium. For a moment, as static sighs within its eerie form, it moves with a grace that seems to separate its lines from mortal air. That part's short-lived, however, as it stops short like the bastard offspring of a hatstand and someone's kitchen sink.

"Howdy, Man In Black! Howdy Not Suspicious Man!" it chirps cheerfully at William and Vincent respectively. "Y'all should go out of town that way with the other vampires now."
It points to help them get the hint.

In reply to Vincent Kaje (msg #217):

"Walk. Now."
William turns around and walks away from the shadows where he felt eyes on him.

"Trust me, somebody's there." , he adds, quietly, his right fingering the handle of his new colt.

I could always trust my instincts... and see where it got me the one time I didn't trust them.

Vincent stares at the impossible machine. "The fuck!?" he says, completely flabbergasted.

((OOC: This post should go here, as William's post is the perfect set up for it.))