((OOC: That's what he sounded like to William's ears.))

"Ya'll got some strange friends." Seven remarks, apparently not seeing the irony. He mounts and tips his hat to Wildcat with a sly wink. "Until we meet again, ma'am."

He turns his horse back in the direction of the stables, and starts riding.

"Till next time, Ranger."

William follows Spades.

((OOC: Any parting remarks from Wildcat? If not, where is she heading?))

((OOC: Moving this thread along...))

It doesn't take long for William and Seven to reach the stables, where Vincent is leaning against a post.

"Don't have the slightest idea of his whereabouts, eh?" The blond vampire smirks. William catches a glimpse of an overly sharp canine tooth in his smile.

"Didn't know you were on friendly terms." Seven mutters. "Though I can't see why he'd pal around with a bounty hunter."

"Bounty hunter?" Kaje says, this time with real amusement. "What gave you that peculiar notion?"

"You mean you ain't James Van Owen?"

"Never met the chap. Name's Kaje. Vincent Kaje."

"Seven of Spades."

"Colorful name. I shan't forget it in a hurry, much as I may wish to."

"I'll have them mark it on your tombstone."

"Are you looking for trouble?" Kaje's smirk devolves into a sharp-toothed snarl.

"Me? Why, heavens no. We all friends here, ain't we?" Seven's hand hovers near his silver-plated gun.

"We are friends. So keep your guns holstered. We have bigger fish to catch."
William sounds more than just annoyed. The wound in his back gives him a mighty hankering for blood, but he wasn't going to jump just any human and suck him dry. And he wouldn't go chase after rats... Maybe they'd have luck and run across some animal.

He also wondered what would happen when Seven found out that Vincent was... how had the thing put it? Differently alive. One thing at a time.

"We're traveling light, weapons and ammo only. Then we should catch up to them real easy, never mind the head start. Agreed?"

"You may be right." Vincent says, relaxing a little. "Perhaps another time."

"As ya like." Seven says, then frowns. "Wait. Who's them? I thought we was gonna head out to the Circle W, lay low 'till this 'Comanche attack' or whatever passed on through."

"We're", he nods at Vincent, "are after the Vanderholt girls, if maybe for different reasons. I don't want them to get away and I don't want the Comanche to get to them first. If the Circle W is on the way, so be it. Otherwise, we'll have to take a little detour."

"What!?" Seven barks, incredulous. "Are you loco? Look, I know gettin' beat up and robbed by a whore ain't exactly a manly experience, but goddamn! Let the Comanche have 'em!"

"You weren't invited along." Vincent says.

"Like Hell!" Seven shoots back. "This man took a bullet to save my ass. I don't forget my debts that easy." He looks back at William. "But ya'll gotta think this through some more. Ya been shot. Doc Ward's the best doctor in the whole county, and it ain't far to the Circle W, maybe five miles. But it's five miles to the south. If them whores lit out, they'd be heading west to Victoria. The longer you wait to treat it, the less a doctor can do for ya. We'd be pushin' things as it is now. I think you're life's more important than your pride, amigo."

"They took something from me that I value greatly. Something with great sentimental value. It's hard to explain."

When Spades mentions the wound, he shrugs. "The coat caught most of the shot. Nothing that'll stand in the way, I think. I've been riding wounded - and wounded worse - before, hunted by the law. This time I'm the hunter."

"well...If you're sure about this..."

"Again, feel free to piss the fuck off if you don't like it, tosser."

The two glare at each other again.

"Where do we start?" Seven says, relenting.

"Victoria seems to be the obvious destination. So we go after the whores."

((OOC: Make a Tracking roll, then to pick up the trail. Neither Vincent nor Seven have Tracking trained, so you're on your own for this...))

21:44, Today: William Pierce rolled -2,6 using d4-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+4)10. Tracking, unskilled, wounds.

((OOC: Nice! You're able to find the wagon ruts, which show up well in the moonlight. As you're tracking, however, you notice some other hoofprints heading in the same general direction...three more riders, and the tracks are fresher. Could be someone else beat you to them...Roll Notice, please.))

21:58, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Notice. -2 wounds, +2 alertness.

The sound of gunfire from a nearby hilltop catches William's attention...as does the brief flicker of fire.

And wouldn't you know it? The stagecoach tracks seem to be heading up the trail that leads past that hill...

"Might be the Comanche found them already..."
William points to the tracks. "But there are others as well. Let's get a closer look."

He motions the group to ride a bit closer, then suggests "Let's walk. We don't need to draw attention to us."

He tethers his horse on a nearby treebranch, and grabs the rifle and some extra shots of ammo. "Ready?"

EDIT: Forgot something.

William takes a few steps away from the horse, then stops, hesitating for a moment. Then he walks back, reassuring his nervous mount absent-mindedly and goes for the saddle-bags.
He rummages around in them and finally finds a small pouch.
Inside is a small cruzifix on a thin leather band. He winces looking at it, but with a determined look puts the necklace on, the cross resting a few inches under his neck on his shirt.

"Now. Let's go."

Figure it takes a Spirit roll to resist my phobia...
Spending a White chip, too.
08:57, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,4 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+2)8. Spirit, white chip.
08:56, Today: William Pierce rolled 2,-3 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. Spirit vs. cross.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Wed 16 May 2012.

The trio creeps along, heading up the ridge...and right into another trio of horses, hitched to some trees.

As William looks about, he sees a very large figure crouching in one of the bushes, a pistol with a large bowie knife as a bayonet trained on him. He's seen that gun before.

"Halt there, amigos." A booming voice challenges. "You're surrounded. State your business quickly..we got trouble on the way."

((OOC: Just a note...William, you're about 30 minutes in to the Golden Hour. Unless you get some Healing (or blood) soon, you'll have to wait a day for another natural healing check to remove your wounds.))

OOC: I know. William just doesn't think that a doctor would be able to do anything for him on account on him being dead and he doesn't want to drink human blood. It's a pickle he'll find himself in forever, I guess.

William raises his rifle.
"The bounty hunter." He says, quietly.


OOC: Booming voice? How much noise has there been around, ie, is Jericho drawin attention to us?

Seven also raises his pistol, though Vincent looks rather unconcerned.

"I wouldn't do that, fellas." Says another voice, much more in a whisper. This voice is from behind the trio.

"He means it about the trouble. Whole passle o' Comanche are camped out on that ridge. We sent a scout to scope the place out, but there was a gunshot and he ain't returned yet, so he might not be comin' back at all. Means we might have some braves down on our position at any moment..."

((OOC: It's only comparatively loud...there's no background noise to speak of. No birds, no insects, just the bounty hunter speaking at normal (for him) volume.))

William turns around slowly, his rifle at the shoulder, but pointing to the ground.

"Then what're doing aiming at us and not the savages? Can't tell a white man from an indian?" William growls.
"We're looking for the Vanderholts. Seen them about?"

William talks quietly enough to make himself heard by the guy in the back.

"Sure I can. I have a gift for faces." Cantrell growls. He's lowered his voice, but not his guns. "Especially those that tried to gnaw my flesh not two hours ago. Where's Jenny?"

"Ain't got the time for this." the voice in back whispers. The man, a slim, clean-cut fellow not more than twenty years old, looks up at the hill nervously. "We're all in trouble together." He shakes his head at the question. "Never heard o' them. Who are they?"

"Troupe o' whores." Seven says. "Took somethin' what don't belong to 'em."

"Fascinating. What sodding pillocks you all are." Vincent growls. "You done swinging your cocks about yet, or should we wait until the bleeding Indians get here?" He's drawn his Winchester, but has it aimed toward the hill. "Shut up and keep your eyes peeled!"

((OOC: Make a Notice check, -2 for the poor light.))

10:49, Today: William Pierce rolled 6,0 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,2. Notice-2, +2 Alertness, 2 wounds.

William turns around again, towards Cantrell. "Don't know what you're talking about. Got hit in the head, maybe?"

Even as he says this, he sees movement from some near-by trees...

((OOC: 01:54, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 5,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Stealth. Looks like they don't get Surprise on you.

Cards (Comanche, Cantrell, August, Seven, Vincent):

10D, 7C, 5S, 3C, 10S

Draw a card for initiative. Do you want Control over one or two of the NPCs during this fight?))

OOC: Sure, why don't I take care of Vincent and Seven?

Card: 11:08, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: QC using the Deadlands system. Initiative. Looks like I go first... so let me roll right away.

11:09, Today: William Pierce rolled 16,5 (21)using 2d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(8+5)13,5. Shooting damage, bonus die.
11:09, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,12 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+2)14. Shooting an indian.


William half-turns toward the trees, and fires off a quick shot at one on the savages, then crouches down, trying to offer as little a target as possble.

"They're here! Nice job, Cantrell!"



11:12, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: QD using the Deadlands system. Initiative round 2 (Quick).
11:12, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 2D using the Deadlands system. Initiative round 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Mon 21 May 2012.