April 8th, 1879. South Texas, CSA

The day was dying, slowly but surely. A bitter wind whipped in from the coast, pushing dark purple thunderclouds west across the Texas plains. The light from the setting sun lit the bottoms of the dark clouds a brilliant orange. The smell of rain was heavy in the air.

A storm was coming. It would be here soon.

The wind tugs at the clothes of Jack Twofeather and Charging Bear as they ride the trail south. After a chance meeting in Houston, the two decided that riding together would be safer than each trying to ride alone.

Safer, perhaps. But while catching up on old times, they'd somehow managed to make a wrong turn, and now they were lost. They should have been at the Trail House hours ago. Instead they'd wandered into the path of a growing storm. Sure, they'd passed a sign proclaiming "Blackthorn--4 miles" a little while ago, but neither of them had ever head of such a place, and ghost towns were depressingly common these days. Still, if it was standing, it would provide shelter for the night.

The two, however, had a feeling. It was a bad one, like something was just ever-so-slightly off. The world felt slightly twisted and the feeling seeped into their bones...

[[OOC: Go ahead and interact for a bit before I spring the next thing on you.]]

Jack runs his fingers through his hair as he reads the sign... " Well, we've been turned around somewhere on the trail, so do we seek directions here or turn back and waste a day's ride?" Jack adjusts the quiver strap on his shoulder and pats the horse's neck affectionately.

"This reminds me of when I was in Kansas a few years back and a pair of twisters were brewing." Taking a look into the sky, Charging Bear frowns. "Almost got caught out when they hit, got lucky and found a root cellar of an abandoned house. But, to the situation at hand, I'd say we should see if we can make it to this Blackthorn and before this storm hits. Hopefully folks are still living there so we can find out where we actually are."

The scent of rain grows stronger as the sun slips lower on the horizon. The threat of rain becomes very real as a few wayward drops find the pair. It's a brief shower, but it bears the threat of more. A flicker of lighting lights the clouds, followed almost immediately by the thunder. Loud, and close. It's going to be a bad night.

"I guess this is why some people take trains." Charging Bear looks into the distance, hoping to see some signs of a place to stop for the night and get out of the rain.

"You have to have faith. The Spirits and our Ancestors will guide us." Jack looks over to Charging bear piously, then grins. "Plus, I beieve if we ride hard in the saddle we'll make it." Jack snaps the reins and clicks through his teeth urging the horse onward.

"I've faith Two Feathers, but I've always taken the stance that they also help those that help themselves." with that he gently nudges his horse into a gallop.

The pair gallop as the rain begins to start in earnest. Not quite a downpour yet, but the threat is there. The two ride hard, and the miles seem to melt away. In the distance, buildings become visible in the gathering gloom. And, invitingly, there are lights in them. Someone is up ahead, at least.

[[OOC: Make notice checks for me, at -2 due to the weather and the speed you're traveling at.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Mon 09 Nov 2009.

Charging Bear is oblivious.

OOC
16:31, Today: Charging Bear rolled -1,-1 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max. Notice.

Critical fail for me... man do I know how to start off a game!

15:30, Today: Jack Twofeather rolled -1 using 1d6-2. notice check.

Jack's barely able to see the town's lights due to the rain in his eyes.

OOC
Don't forget your wild die!!!!!!

In reply to Jack Twofeather (msg #10):

[[OOC: Remember that, when defaulting, you roll d4-2 and your Wild Die at -2, and you have the extra penalty on top of that. So you'd be rolling d4-4 and d6-4, not just the wild die on it's own]]

[[OOC: Given that it would be a miracle if Jack saw anything thanks to his penalties, I'll just continue on with the assumption neither of you two succeeded.]]

The two are so focused on the lights of town that neither of them notice the body until Charging Bear's horse suddenly rears in fright as it's about to run over it. Charging Bear Manages to keep from being thrown, just, but the horse refuses to move.

Given there's a body laying in the middle of the road, clad in a blue union army uniform, the horse's reluctance to continue is understandable.

Charging Bear slips off the side of his horse, petting the animal gently to calm him. "There there, Swift Wind." Once the horse is at ease, Charging Bear will take a closer look at the dead body.

08:43, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max. Notice.
08:43, Today: Charging Bear rolled 2,2 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max. Common Knowledge.

The man wears the uniform of a union private, and he hasn't been dead that long--rigor hasn't set in. But how he managed to get out here, you can't tell...there's no way he walked here on his own, not with his ankle broken. He also looks like he's been ill, with ashen skin and sunken eyes. Aside from the broken ankle, there are other signs of mistreatment, from bruises and abrasions and poorly-healed cuts. All in all, the poor sod looks like a refugee from some sort of prison camp, who tried to escape and died of exposure.

Jack looks down as Charging Bear examines the body and slips off of his own horse, "What happened to him? He looks beaten." Jack looks up at the town ahead, " Do you think he came from this town? or was he abandoned hre by someone on their way there?"

Charging Bear looks up at Two Feathers from where he's been kneeling over the body, his face is grim. "He's been physically dead only a short time but mentally and spiritually I'd guess much longer. He's been beaten yes, but he didn't walk here... his ankle won't get him very far." Looking towards the town, "I'm sure we'll find answers there but won't like them much."

Answers may be coming sooner than either of them thought. As Charging Bear looks up towards the town, he notices figures on horseback, coming fast.