Twilight, April 11th, 1879. Between the Circle W Ranch and Blackthorn. Good Friday.

It's been a busy few hours. Getting Flora situated with the other women and children at city hall. Riding hard from Blackthorn to the ranch to raise the warning, to deliver the message Carl wanted him to give to Dr. Ward. The panic with the disheveled woman showing up, claiming her carriage was attacked by the Comanche and all her girls had been taken by the heathen savages to unwholesome fates.

Now he was heading back to town, to bring Ward's reply back to the nominal leader of the Dust Adders.

Carl had told him to tell Ward "Whateley ain't comin'" and to make sure folk at the ranch new what they were to do. But as it turned out, Whateley was already there, and mad as a hornet at Carl for some reason. Murphy didn't want to get in the middle of all that.

Ward's message for Carl was simple. He had Murphy memorize it, as Carl wasn't lettered. It was only this:



So here he was, back on the trail. He'd even managed to find Carl's prized mare, Hoss. But it was growing dark out. The Comanche could strike at any time. And he was playing the vital role of messenger between town and ranch...a prime target if the Comanche wanted to cut them off from each other.

((OOC: make a Notice check, please...and an into post so that we can get to know Murphy a little better. Oh, and have you got your gear?))

OOC: I got some gear, weapons at least... and I'm almost broke.
Since I have a house in the town, I assumed that I would have anything reasonable there, like a few shirts, pots and pans, a time travel machine, a ray gun and a supersonic-baby-rocker, stuff like that.

Murphy rode ahead, quietly humming a tune to calm his nerves, urging on his spotted horse. "Come now, Embarr, don't want to spend the night outside, boy."

11:59, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Notice.

He kept looking around, everytime when he rode past a hill or a small copse that right behind it, the horde of comanche were already waiting for him.
"If them savages haven't gone to town yet", he said. He slapped his pony's neck. "Flora's gonna burn their hides with both barrels, if they try anything funny, hah, boy?"

He wasn't in the habit of talking to himself. Not unless there were bloodthirsty Comanche about. And, technically, he did talk to his horse, not to himself. Not his fault that the horse chose not to answer, was it?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:36, Tue 01 May 2012.

Embarr wickers nervously at the talky man on his back. Hoss, being lead along side, also seems skittish.

There's a faint breeze, blowing the clouds away. The moon is out already, thick and fat...Comanche Moon, he'd heard it called, on account of Indians raiding by moonlight.

But Murphy's nose picked up something else. Something...foul. Rot and gunpowder, it smelled like. And his ears picked the faint sound of boots on gravel...and a hair-raisingly familiar song, sung by a dead throat.

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord!
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored!
He hath loosed the fateful lighting of his terrible swift sword!
His truth goes marching on!"

That song...he remembered the bugler belting it out on that fateful day in Missouri, when the 207th was pushed out in front of the line, told to soften the rebs up...cannon fodder. Bullet soakers. They were playing that song on the day Murphy saw most of the friends he'd made in the army die.

"Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah..."

Up ahead on the trail stands a figure clad in a dark army uniform. It's impossible to tell whether the coat was grey or blue originally...it's too stained with blackened blood. Murphy can't make out any facial features, but the wind carries the sickly stench of rot from him. He grins...or perhaps he has no skin left over his jawline. And he raises an old Colt pistol at Murphy, singing the chorus of his damnable song as he clicks the hammer back.

"His truth goes marching on!"

((OOC: The figure begins the encounter On Hold, waiting to see what Murphy does in response to it's challenge. Murphy, draw a card for your action this turn.))

20:23, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 8D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.


"Oh, bloody hell..." Murphy mutters and crosses himself, then raises his right hand and salutes.
Boy, he hated that song. But there was another one that used to be pretty popular in the 207th.. and, from what he heard, throughout the Union army.
He cleared his throat and started to sing. Quavery at first, but going stronger with every line.

Says Pat to his mother, “It looks strange to me
Brothers fighting in such a queer manner,
But I'll fight till I die if I never get killed
For America's bright starry banner.”

Far away in the East came a dashing young blade,
And the song he was singing so gayly,
'Twas honest Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade
And the song of the splintered shillelagh.

Oh yes, how they had sung that in the camps. That, and Paddy's Lament had always been his favorites.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Tue 01 May 2012.

The black-clad soldier cocks his head at the song, but eases the hammer.

"You're out of uniform, Private." It calls. "Can't you hear the bugles and drums? Get your colors and your sheet-iron crackers, boy, and get steppin'. There's a war on, you know."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Wed 02 May 2012.

Them drums and bugles are celebrating! The rebs surrendered! You can throw away your gun and coat and dance with joy! For halleluja! The war is done!

He smiles, broadly and the dead soldier.
And it's corporal, not private. Not that it matters anymore, really

07:29, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 6,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+5)11. Smarts Trick.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:35, Wed 02 May 2012.

Some Mood Music

The dead soldier stands still. The gun arm lowers. "Surrender? The rebs? But...my blood! My kin! My fellow soldiers, rotting away in that dank cell...for nothing? Nothing!? no...no...must make them pay...pay in inches...this war is not done...not 'till every stinkin' reb is food for the worms..."

But he's halted, and seems genuinely confused. Might be enough of a distraction to get away...

((OOC: The soldier gets a bonus to his roll because he's basically a personification of War Without End, but nicely done.

22:51, Today: Private John Brown rolled 6,10 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+2)8. Resisting trick. ...and that's a fail. He's at least confused for a bit.))

Easy now, Paddy, he's still got a pistol in his hand...

"I hear there's a rebel company made up from Comanche that won't surrender. You want to make someone pay, you oughta search for them. Me, I gotta get back to me wife and children. Take care, private."

He salutes again, and urges Embarr on, keeping a nice distance to the dead soldier.
He makes a point of looking ahead, apparently not caring about him one bit.
But, very quietly, he prays to himself:

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death...

Christ Almighty, he had known it was a bad idea having them yankees work as slaves, but they wouldn't listen... and now he was here on the godforsaken bloody road and had to hope he'd get to see his second child be born.

Embarr wickers, but he and Hoss need no read urging to get moving away from the stranger. The trouble is, he's on the most direct path between Blackthorn and the Circle W. If he rides right on past, he risks getting attacked. If he moves off the trail, he'll have to ford the creek, which has been riding high thanks to all the recent rain. What to do?

((OOC: Decision time! Riding right past will likely initiate a combat. Fording the creek will be a Dramatic Task. Which one are you up for?))

OOC: Dramatic Task! I'm not going near that thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Wed 02 May 2012.

The stream is still high from the recent rain, and it's dark out. It's not the most ideal place to ford at the best of times, and Murphy has an extra horse in tow. But it's this or face the dead soldier. Time to head on!

((OOC: Draw a card to see if there's a Complication, and then make a Ride check at -2 (-4 if you pull a club). If you don't get 5 successes/raises in 5 attempts, you'll have to turn back. Plus, Complications will have other consequences beside just making the roll harder...))

07:39, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3,19 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+6+3)21. Riding. Would've done it in one go, too, if I didn't have that second horse! Why do I have a second horse, btw?

07:40, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: KD using the Deadlands system. Dramatic Task.

Round2:
07:42, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled -1,2 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Riding, white chip. Takes care of the critical failure. Should've left that second horse behind for the private.
07:42, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled -1,-1 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Riding.
07:42, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: JS using the Deadlands system. Dramat Task, continued.

Round 3:
07:43, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 8D using the Deadlands system. Dramat Task, continued.
07:44, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Riding, extra d6 red chip. Oh really? That's all you give me after that sweet roll of 19 you fickle dice-rolling SOB?
07:44, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,1 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Riding, white chip. Why do I have that second horse again?
07:44, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 0,1 using d6-2,d6-2. Riding.

Round 4:
07:45, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: AC using the Deadlands system. Dramatic Task. ....and a complication!
07:46, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,1 using d6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Riding.

Round 5 (seriously? Who would've thought I'd need 5 rounds to do that after that first roll?)
07:47, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 2S using the Deadlands system. Dramat Task, continued.
07:47, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,3 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Riding. Of course, that second horse again. So I guess I spend my last chip (red) to get that 1 extra point I need. Don't need to roll that, do I?



Murphy trotts steadily into the river, pushing and cajoling his mounts on. At first it seems like easy going, but then the riverbed is treacherous and while Embarr is quite willing to go on, Hoss stalls, whinying in fear. "Easy, easy, come one you scared bastard!"
But Hoss is adamant at standing there and slowly freeze rather than drown quickly, so Murphy needs several attempts going back and forth until finally making it to the other side - soaking wet and out of breath. But at least he didn't have to pass the dead soldier within his reach.
"Wonder if he's going after the Comanches now? Wouldn't mind that one bit. Come now, boys, come. Let's get you somewhere dry."
He reassuringly strokes Hoss behind the ears. Not every horse could be as brave as Embarr, after all.
"Would've been easier if I left you at the ranch. But all is good now, come."
He clicks his tongue and trots on.

((OOC: The second horse is Carl's horse, which he asked Murphy to bring back to him if he found her on his way. And since you got a complication... }:D ))

Hoss doesn't seem to want to go. Something is scaring her, that much is obvious. And while Murphy doesn't have Carl's knack with the mare, he does have enough horse sense to realize that skittish mares are usually skittish for a reason.

But the only thing around here is the Robertson's place. There's a lantern flickering in the window...shouldn't someone have come by to collect them by now, get them to the safety of town?
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:39, Thu 03 May 2012.

"Damned fool... probably thinks he can hold the Comanche on his own... or maybe he's sick? What do you think, ha?"
He strokes Embarr's neck.

If you ever should answer, I'll know I've lost me mind...

He wraps Hoss' reigns around a low-hanging branch of a nearby bush and trots a little closer toward the Robertson's.

OOC: Is that a cabin or a full-blown-house?

"OY! Paddy Murphy here! You alright, Robertson? Ma'am?" he yells. No sense in getting mistaken for a Comanche by sneaking up to the place.

((OOC: It's in-between the two...large enough for Joel Robertson, his wife Emma, and their daughter Sally to live comfortably. It wouldn't be more than four rooms large, though.))

A figure moves past the window. The door opens a crack.

"Paddy?" shouts Joel Robertson. "Did you bring Dr. Ward with you?"

"No, Joel, Ward's still at the range. What are you doing out here, why aren't you in town?"

He trots a few steps closer so that he doesn't have to yell as much. Now that he'd established that he wasn't Comanche, he didn't want to risk announce his presence to the Savages any more.

"Didn't Carl send you? Didn't anyone send for Ward?" Joel calls plaintively. "Don't you know? Sally was attacked! She's...she's fallen ill...I can't leave her now!"

"Attacked? Oh, dear Jesus, we have to take them to town. It's closer than the ranch. What happened to her?"

Joel opens the door wider and motions him inside. He's clutching a shotgun in the other hand.

"It was horrible...it came at her while she was playing on the porch! A great big cougar swooped in, shook her..." He sobs. "Carl was by, he chased it away...it was heading into town!"

"Sally, don't worry, mama's here..." A voice from another room floats through the small house. "Joel? Is it Doctor Ward? has he come to look after Sally?"

"It's Paddy Murphy, honey! He's come to check on us!"

"Oh, please get Dr. Ward...she's thrashing about so..."

"The cougar bit her..." Joel continues. "I...I think it was foaming at the mouth...I-I don't know what to do...we can't leave her, she's too sick to travel, and there's rumors of Indians about...please! you've got to get Doctor Ward here! Or Evans, I hear he knows something about medicine...or even Underhill, though I pray we don't need a mortician...just get anyone!"

((OOC: Make a Notice check for me, please.))

OOC:10:03, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,8 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+2)8. Notice.

"Joel... Joel... Joel...", Murphy grabs Robertson at the shoulders, trying to calm him down, then slaps him in the face when he won't stop blathering.
"Sorry, mate, but you have to listen to me. Ward's at the Circle W. Evans's in town. Everybody's preparing to fight off the bloody injuns. I'm the only one foolish enough to still be here."

He looks up at the man, earnestly. "You have to pack your things, Joel."

Joel looks like he's been slapped in the face (because he just was), but he snaps out of it. "Alright...alright...you have to help us get Sally moved, though. She can't stay here alone!"

As Joel is talking, Paddy notices a small orange tabby in the corner of the room. Its fur is standing on end, its ears are set back, and it's looking wide-eyed deeper into the house, where Emma and Sally are. It's also hissing.



And something just moved past the window.

Murphy reaches into his shirt and pulls a silver cross that he wears on a leather band out from underneath.

"Sure, mate, happy to."

He stares at the little cat, then turns around and moves to the side of the window, pushing the curtains to the side a little and peeking out.


10:54, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. Notice.

"I think I saw something...Joel, come here. You look out here, make sure there are no Comanche about."
Or rabid cougars.

"I'll be seeing about Sally." Murphy resists the urge to draw his pistol, but he makes sure the gun rests easy in his holster, then calls out to the mother. "Emma? Everything all right in there?"

There doesn't seem to be anything outside but darkness, and the horses aren't making any noise, so nothing seems to be bothering them at the moment. That's cold comfort if whatever he saw is sneaking up on them instead their steeds, but it's something.

Joel nods and sticks his scattergun out the door. He stands at attention, but his hands shake.

"Please! Help us!" says Emma from the back. "I think she's getting worse...no baby, don't bite, it's Mama..."

"You keep your eyes on the window Joel... watch for them savages!"

Murphy crosses himself, then goes into the next room.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS2-CktchfM">some mood music</a>

There's a rank smell in the tiny room. Emma kneels down at the bed, trying to comfort her little girl. She's frazzled, her normally perfect hair in disarray, and one of her hands is bandaged.

And little Sally...

Sally Robertson thrashes about, her teeth snapping and grinding as she strains against the ropes tied around her wrists to keep her in the bed. Her dark hair is matted, her skin is pallid save for the blood caked around her lips, and her eyes are sunken and bloodshot.

"There, there, sweetie..." Emma whispers. Her bandaged hand caresses Sally's brow, though she pulls it away sharply as the little girl's teeth snap at her wrist. "It's ok...help is here!"

((OOC: Make a Fear check, + Grit, -4 for the Fear Level. This is against Fear/Nausea, not terror.))

09:11, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 18,8 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (10+9)19,(6+3)9. Fear check.

"Holy Jesus..." he whispers.
"Emma - when did she bite ya?

He nods at the answer. "Good, we'll have the Marshal have take a look at that, too. Get me something to gag her - a wooden spoon or something. Can't have her bite everybody or spook the horses. We'll need to bind her, too, wrap her in blankets, most like. Can you get all that? I'll stay with her."

He knew, of course, that Sally was beyond saving. But Emma and Joel might not be. He didn't know if the infection - or whatever it was - could be stopped in Emma, but it was worth a try.

What if that here was little Rose?
No, not even think that.

"It...it was...she got so still, and then she just started thrashing..." Emma says. "The sun hadn't gone down yet, I think..."



"A spoon..." she says absently, then nods, and hurries out of the room.

Leaving Murphy all alone with the creature that had once been little Sally Robertson, age 9.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:06, Fri 04 May 2012.

Murphy pulls his pistol from the holster and aims betwern the eyes of the thing that used to be Sally.
His hand trembles for a long moment, then he sighs, and shoves the pistol back in his belt.

"I'm sorry this happened to you."

What had the world come to? Dead people runnin around? Comanche on the war path. He'd need to talk to Father O'Rourke about that.
He knew he should put an end to this - but what would he tell their parents? What would he do to Joel if he came to him and told him his daughter was beyond saving?

"St. Patrick, give me strength."

He made sure that Sally couldn't get out of bed, then went back to the other room.
Joel, put down the shotgun and have a seat with me. You too, Emma. Sally will be fine for a minute."

He waited for them to sit down, unsure on what he could tell them to convince them.

"I've got the spoon!" Emma says, waving a wooden ladle around as she takes a seat.

"I don't feel comfortable letting this go." Joel mutters. "I could swear something's out there, just out of sight. What if it's come back? What if it's the Indians?"

"Joel, Emma- you know I'm your friend, right? I'll never forget that you were very kind to Flora and me, back when we came here. Joel, you got me that job at the Circle W. And Emma, you were a friend for Flora from the beginning and introduced her to the others in town. And you were a big help when Rose came, we didn't know anything. I'm telling you all that so you know that I'm not talking lightly and:  don't want to hurt you.

He sighs again. Their pain and grief  fills the room like smoke and makes it hard to breathe. Or so he imagines.

"I've seen  that before, what Sally has. Seen it in the war up North. Seen it in the old country, too. There is nothing anybody can do to help, I'm sorry. The best you could do is ease her suffering. But you, Emma, we must go and get that bite wound treated before the infection spreads."

There. It wasn't quite true what he told them, but how do you tell a parent that that thing in the other room was not Sally anymore? That their daughter died and they never knew it?

((OOC: Make a Persuasion check, please.))

Sorry, forgot about that.
06:49, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. persuasion.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJNGCpGp00o">some mood music</a>

There is silence in the tiny cabin. The wind whistles outside as Murphy's words begin to sink in.

"No!" Emma screams "No! I won't leave my baby! There has to be something, anything we can do! You're not a doctor...you can't say what can and can't be cured! No!"

"Emma..." Joel says quietly. He sags against the wall, looking for all the world as if he'd been punched in the gut. "Emma...he's right. Our baby...it's rabies for sure. Never seen it come on so fast, but she's so little...there's no cure. Emma, if we don't get you treated right now..."

"NO!!!" Emma shrieks, and runs back to Sally's room. A door slams, a bolt is thrown.

Joel looks at Murphy. The first tears are beginning to stream down his face. "Oh god...what do I do? I've failed her...failed my little girl...and if it's rabies, and Emma has it too..." He states Murphy straight in the eye. "I can't lose them both, Paddy. I can't."

Why the hell is there a bolt on that door!?

"You won't, if I can help it. Wr gotta get that door open and drag Emma out. It's spreading too fast to get one."

He gets up and hammers his fist against the door.

"Emma! Emma open up, I'm sorry. Open the door and we'll take you and the girl to the doc. Come on, open!"

OOC: 08:21, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. persuasion.
Hell, I don't believe that myself...

There's noting but silence on the other side of the door for a few tense minutes...

Until the sound of breaking glass shatters the quiet.

"Emma?!"
Murphy throws himself against the door, trying to force it open.

OOC: 10:07, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 9,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,5. Strength.

some mood music

The bolt isn't very strong, and the door pops right open.

The room, however, is empty. The window has been broken, and there are a few scraps of cloth stuck to the shards. There's also a trail of blood from the bed to the windowsill. Nothing large, just a few droplets...but the fact it's there at all is worrisome.

And the horses are beginning to whinny...something's disturbing them.

"Christ on his cross!" Murphy yells, then backs out of the room, almost running into Joel.
"They're out through the window and I think Emma might have cut herself. Hurry, mate!"

Murphy hurries outside, towards the horses and searches for Emma and Sally.

OOC: 11:07, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,2. notice.

Emma has made it to Embarr and is busy trying to untie him, though the bundle in her arm is slowing her down. Embarr does not seem happy in the least, and is bucking away from the woman and her infected child as best he can.

"Emma!" Joel shouts as he follows Murphy out. "Emma, wait!"

Then he screams and falls to the ground, an arrow poking out the back of his calf. A grey skinned figure runs into the lamplight from the cabin, another arrow already knocked and drawn!

"Oh, bloody hell!"

Grey warpaint? I thought them savages are more into reds... the idle thought trails through Murphy's head as if he saw a play in Dublin.
He pulls his pistol, then kneels down next to Joel to see if there's anything he can do to help.

"Emma, Joel's been hit. Please come to your senses woman!"

07:24, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+1)7. persuasion, calming emma down. 07:24, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. notice, checking joel.

The wound is shallow, though that arrow's going to have to come out. Joel seems more in shock than in pain, and he's trying to turn around and face the oncoming attacker.

Emma, on the other hand, is still trying to unhitch Embarr. "Hold them off!" She cries. "I'll get Ward! Everything will be fine if we get to Ward!"

She probably believes a doctor is the only way of helping her family...but if she heads to the Circle W, she'll run right past that undead soldier!

((OOC: Draw initiative cards for me, please.

Joel is currently Shaken by the wound.))

---

Turn Order
Emma: AD
Joel: JS
Comanche Raider: 2C
Murphy: Not drawn yet

08:59, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 3S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

"Damn it, Emma, there's Comanche about, the road to the ranch is blocked!"

Emma finishes untying the horse and leaps on...but Embarr begins to buck wildly. She screams as the horse tosses her off and canters a short distance away. She lands hard, the bundle spilling open.

Little Sally rises and snarls, eying her mother with hunger in her dead eyes.

"Emma!" Joel cries, and starts crawling toward her and away from the Comanche. He's still in incredible pain, though, and doesn't get far.

((OOC: Emma tries to ride, but the horse doesn't like the zombie baby, so she has to make a Ride check at -2 to remain horsed. She's an extra, so she has no Wild Die.

Emma's ride: 08:02, Today: The Stray rolled -1 using 1d4-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Emma's ride. Ouch. That's a fail. Since the horse was not moving at the time, she takes 1d6 damage from the fall.

08:06, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. falling damage. She's not seriously hurt, but she's prone and Sally is out of her grip and able to start attacking. Sally will be dealt in Next Round.

Joel attempts to unshake: 08:08, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Recover from Shaken. He fails to Unshake, so he can only take free actions. His action is to crawl half his Pace closer to his wife.

Cards for next round:
Joel: AD
Emma: QD
Sally: 4C))

---

Murphy's up next!

OOC: No card for the indian?

Murphy grabs Joel by the arm and pulls him up, taking a quick shot at the indian.

20:23, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+4)10. Shooting
20:24, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 23 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3,(6+6+5)17. Damage.

((OOC: *points a couple posts up* The Indian is on 2C, right after Murphy. What's your card for next round, BTW?))

The Indian pitches back. That was right between the eyes, enough to kill any man...normally.

But something's not right. The raider is actually getting up again!

And William realizes it's not quite warpaint...the man's skin and clothing have no color at all, not even from the glow of the lamplight. He looks as if he'd just stepped out of a photograph.

And then he knocks his bow again and fires. The arrow whizzes past Murphy's ear.

They call the Comanche Ever-Fighters. This one's living up to that name.

((OOC: The Comanche is Shaken by the shot. But since he has magic on him that makes him Invulnerable to Bullets, he's only Shaken.

does he recover this turn? 15:46, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 13 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13. Recover from Shaken. That's a success and Raise, so he gets his action, which is to shoot an arrow at William.

15:47, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Shooting.

Card for next round: 7H))

---

Please draw your card for the next round!

OOC: sorry, forgot about the card. 08:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: QH using the Deadlands system. initiative.

Murphy curses, breathlessly. Then a thought forms in his brain...

What destroys photographs...?

08:19, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+1)7. smarts.

As Murphy racks his brains, Joel crawls closer to the horse, his wife, and his rotting daughter.

"Emma! Get back in the house! Please!"

Emma nods, rather in shock by her fall from the horse, and tries to grab up Sally again...but the little deadder slips her grasp and crouches, ready to pounce...

As Murphy considers options of destroying photographs (burning, solvents, tearing, running water) a thought came to mind. He'd heard somewhere that a few Indian tribes didn't want to be photographed because they thought it would steal their souls. If he's come across the work of an actual soul-stealing camera, the image would have to be destroyed to release it. This would mean trouble, as until that was done the best Murphy would be able to do would be to incapacitate the raider somehow...


((OOC: Joel tries to Unshake again. 02:06, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Recover from Shaken. Nope. He can still do free actions, though.

Emma will try to Grapple Sally:

Emma: 02:09, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Emma's grab.

Sally: 02:09, Today: The Stray rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Sally's escape attempt.

Sally ain't gonna be held, but Emma's in a perfect spot to get bit now...Though Murphy gets his turn.

Cards for next round:

Joel: 8D
Emma: 4S))

---

Murphy's up next, followed by Sally and The Comanche Raider.

Why didn't I take the road to Blackthorn? Murphy ponders

Because you didn't want to go past the undead soldier on the road, remember? his father's voice answers in his head. He had little talks with his father ever since he died in the aftermath of that failed bombing attack in Tralee.

Oh, right.

Whatya gonna do now, lad? That had been one of the last things his dad had to him.

Well, what am I gonna do now?

If he shot Sally, Emma - and Joel - would think he'd killed her. If he did nothing, Sally would bite Emma. Again.
Then there was the dead indian. The whole thing was enough to make his head spin.

That is quite the conundrum, my dear fellow. The chippy voice of the British officer who had interrogated him after the Chester raid. That sentence had stayed with him as well. That and the faint scar on his left wrist were the bastard had put out his cigar.

"Fock the conundrum", he says, incidentally the same reply he had given to the bloody Saxon.

Murphy turns away from the indian, offering a quick prayer to Jesus to shield him against an arrow in his back, then grabs Sally from behind careful to stay away from her teeth.

10:28, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Fighting attack. Grappling attack. Want to throw her towards the indian next round.

At this point I'd like to point out my Dodge edge, too. ;-)

10:30, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 8S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 08:47, Thu 10 May 2012.

The littlest deadder struggles in Murphy's grip, thrashing about, teeth snapping as it tries to bit down, but Murphy's grip is strong and sure, and it remains held.

The Indian comes to his feet at last, still groggy from the wound, and shoots an arrow at Murphy. The shot goes wide, streaks off into the night without effect.

((OOC: 10:10, Today: The Stray rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. opposing Grapple. That means you got a Raise on her, so she's Shaken.

On her turn she attempts to Unshake: 10:11, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Recover from Shaken. She loses her action.

The Comanche Raider attempts to unshake as well: 10:15, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 6 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6. Recover from Shaken. He's no longer Shaken, and may attempt an action at -2.

He will, in fact, fire his bow at Murphy again, since Murphy is armed and active right now.

10:16, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 0 using 1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Shooting. It comes nowhere close to hitting anyone, and doesn't even invoke Innocent Bystander because it's a natural 2.))

---

Turn Order for next round:
Murphy: 8S
Sally: 8D
Joel: 8D
Comanche 6C
Emma: 4S

Holding his head back and high, Murphy takes a few steps backwards, towards the indian, his gait like that of a drunken sailor on land leave.
He turns, quickly, then let's go of the dead girl, sending her towards the grey indian!


22:11, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Nobody tosses a zombie!
Well, Murphy just might.

22:13, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 2H using the Deadlands system. Crap. Hope the gamble works out.

Only then does the thought occur to him that Sally's parent might not take to kindly to him throwing their daughter toward the indian.
Well, all happened pretty fast, and she was trying to bite him...
But one thing at a time.

The little dead girl goes flying at the Comanche, who was certainly not expecting anything like this when he woke up this morning. Sally hits him square in the chest, and they both tumble over in a heap.

Joel shouts in shock, but the girl looks up and snarls. Joel looks at Murphy, wild-eyed, then back at his little Sally. "Oh...oh baby, no, please..."

The Indian slowly collects himself, looks at the girl, then at Murphy, then at the girl again.

Then he makes some sort of warding gesture, says something in Comanche, turns tail and runs back into the night. Apparently being Immortal doesn't make you immune to soiling your delicates.

Emma, though, screams in horror and rage. "You bastard!" she screams at Murphy. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

So saying, she pulls the Winchester from Embarr's saddle and chambers a round.

Joel, on the other hand, slowly stands, and raises his shotgun. A tear streams down his face. "I'm so sorry, baby..." he says, and pulls the trigger...

The gun misfires.

Murphy's rifle doesn't, and the Irishman feels the kick of a rifle slug graze his shoulder...

((OOC: Sally rolls to resist being flung: 19:58, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Sally goes sailing. Yes she does. That's a Success and Raise on your fling, so she'll be Shaken as well as Tricked (though she was Shaken anyhow).

Can the Comanche get out of the way

20:00, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Agility.

No. no he does not. He's also Shaken and Tricked.

Both Sally and the Comanche Raider have -2 Parry until their next actions.

Of course, Sally gets to go first. She attempts to unshake: 20:06, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Recover from Shaken. No.

Joel gets to go. Does he unshake? 20:06, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Recover from Shaken. No again.

does the Comanche unshake? 20:07, Today: Comanche Raiders rolled 7 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Recover from Shaken.

So yes, he does recover.  But he's had enough of this...dead babies being tossed his way freaks him out enough to Withdraw, and he moves his pace away from the mad Irish guy who chucks little girls around.

Emma, being a little pertebed at her baby being used as a shot-put, grabs murphy's Winchester rifle from Embarr's saddle and aims it at him.

Next round:

Sally: JS
Joel: 5H
Emma: 3H
Murphy: 2H

All of them get to go again.

Sally attempts to unshake: 20:12, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4. Recover from Shaken. No. I'll probably have to spend a Chip to unshake her, but I can wait on that.

Joel: 20:13, Today: The Stray rolled 4 using 1d6. Recover from Shaken.

Now he unshakes...and he's going to try and put his little girl out of her misery.

Head shot -4, buckshot +2 = net -2 on Shooting. 20:14, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4-2. Shooting. No.

Emma, unhinged, takes a pot shot at Murphy; 20:15, Today: The Stray rolled 4 using 1d4. Shooting. Hit.

Damage: 20:16, Today: The Stray rolled 5 using 2d8. Damage. Murphy is Shaken.

The Comanche is still running. He's 12 squares away from the cottage now, and out of the lamplight (-1 darkness penalty).))

---

Up Next: Murphy!

Next round:
Emma: QH
Joel: 10S
Sally: 2h

Murphy ducks at the last moment, out of pure instinct it seems, then wheels about and runs back to Emma, grabing the rifle.

"Give me that before you hurt someone!"
OOC: not shaken! she misses on account of my Dodge edge!

 09:07, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. disarm damage.
09:06, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,10 using d8,d6,

09:12, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 7C using the Deadlands system. initiative.

"No!" Emma screams, trying to wrest the gun away from him. "I won't let you hurt my baby anymore! I won't!"

((OOC: Why, so you do. Lucky skunk.

Did you forget about your Raise damage? You rolled a 10 (down to 8 because disarming is a -2 penalty, but still a raise because her Parry is 4), so you get the extra d6 damage.

Which is important, because she rolled a 4 to resist dropping the gun. Roll your Raise damage and we'll see how it compares. if you roll anything other than a 1, you win. If you roll a 1, you're still grappling with her over it. Once we resolve this, I'll get into her turn.))

OOC: A raise, sweet! Wasn't expecting that.

10:24, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Raising the damage. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"You bastard!" She shrieks, and kicks Murphy square in the family jewels...

((OOC: That's why the call it the Luck o' the Irish...

Emma attempts an Agility trick by kicking for the groin.

01:43, Today: The Stray rolled 29 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+6+6+5)29. Agility Trick.

O_O

...I think that's a hit. Want to try to resist, just in case?))

10:49, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Resisting that Agility Trick. yeah right.

Murphy falls to his knees, the air pressed from his lungs.

Chrrrriiisssssttttt.... he manages.


10:51, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 9,5 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5. Recover from Shaken. Well, at least I'll be back on my feet quickly.

While Murphy lies on the ground wondering when God will be merciful and end his pain, another shot rings out...it's Joel. But the growl of the feral Sally still reaches Murphy's ears...apparently he flinched at the last second. Just doesn't quite have the nerve.

((OOC: While this hilarity is going on, Joel attempts to put down Sally again.

01:58, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Mercy Kill. Another bad roll.

Cards for next round:
Emma: BJ!
Joel: JS))

---

Up Next: Murphy, then Sally. Since you already rolled your Recovery (and got a raise), you get a full action on your turn.

OOC: Joel just shot twice at his daughter, but missed - so now he's empty, right?

"Bloody hell, woman, that hurt!" He staggers up and grabs the rifle again, prying it from Emma's fingers...

Or so I hope!
11:15, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+5)11. Fighting, again.
11:15, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 18 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,(6+5)11. Damage to grab the rifle.
11:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 8D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

((OOC: That's correct.

That's another Raise, so add another d6 to the damage, please...also, is this damage lethal or nonlethal?))

OOC: The raise is already factored in in the damage roll - and my apologies, I need to be more clear: that was another disarm maneuver, trying to grab the rifle from her.

Emma struggles with Murphy, but the butt of the rifle strikes her in the temple as he pulls and she goes down in a heap.

While they're struggling, the little deader finds her feet and leaps at her father, teeth gnashing as they try to rip his flesh. He screams as the girl bears him to the ground, but none of the teeth find their mark. He's too panicked to do anything but hold her at bay...

((OOC: Ah, ok then.

Just a note, though: Disarming still does damage to the person...it's basically a Called Shot with the additional effect of also causing the person to drop what they're holding. You can choose to deal nonlethal damage automatically with a melee weapon, but it's still damage and still can cause Wounds.

In this case 18 damage is more than what's needed to knock Emma right out, so even if she were to roll to resist she'd be unconscious. Or dead. Depends on how vicious you were being pulling the gun away.

Sally gets a roll to unshake: 22:14, Today: The Stray rolled 7 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7. It would figure that NOw would be the time she gets loose. She uses her action to try and take a chomp out of Joel.

22:15, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Fighting! That's a miss.

Sally: 2C

It's Joel's turn, but he's out of ammo and has just failed a Fear check, so he's Shaken and unable to do anything except scream.))

---

Turn Order:
Murphy: 8D
Sally: 2D
Joel: Shaken!
Emma: unconscious

OOC: Got ya - Nonlethal damage to Emma!

Patrick watches horrified as Emma crumbles to the ground - he hadn't want to hurt her, after all - but Joel's scream and Sally's snarl refocuses his attention immediately.

He takes a few steps forwars and swings the rifle like a club,

Trying to knock her off her father... by hitting her over the head!
-4 head, +2 wild
07:36, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Fighting, red chip. Out of Chips again.
07:35, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,-1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Fighting, wild, headshot.
Damage? I guess d4 for the rifle butt?
07:37, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2,3 using d6,d4+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. damage. +2 for the wild attack, and I'm not sure how much damage for the called shot to the head... if there is any bonus.
Not going for Nonlethal this time

In reply to Mad Irish Murphy (msg #62):

((OOC: Damage is Str+d6 (it's a Medium improvised weapon), +2 Wild Attack, +4 Head Shot, +2 Weakness. Total damage is Str+d6+8.))

08:04, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the single card: 5S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.
08:05, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max. Ace on damage roll.
08:05, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3,14 using d6,d6+8. (3,6) damage...
soooo...21 total

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70GINGcOIMs">some mood music</a>

Sally Robertson has just enough time to look up at Murphy before the rifle butt falls. Murphy could be imagining it, but for the briefest instant there's a look of peace on her twisted face before the stock cracks her skull and she falls to the ground, lifeless again.

Then there's just him, Joel, and the bitter chill of the night wind.

Murphy takes a few deep breaths, crouching down.

"Joel... I'm sorry." He manages, finally, after a long moment.

He helps Joel up and they both look down at Sally. Murphy takes off his hat.
"We should get Emma to the Marshal, make sure the infection is looked. Should we put Sally back in the house? So that, ye know, she'll be safe. Before we can give her a proper burial?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Fri 11 May 2012.

Joel is quiet. Very, very quiet. He's just sitting there, looking at the remains of his daughter.

Murphy walks back into the house and grabs a blanket from Sally's bed and a bottle of liquor he finds after rummaging through a few closets.
Back outside, he gently puts the blanket over her body, then sits down next to Joel, offering him the bottle.

"Joel... we need to get Emma to a doctor. Then we need to get back and take care of your daughter. Come on, mate."

OOC: 18:41, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7. persuasion.

Joel is still quiet, but he nods and stands. He's a bit listless, and he obviously started crying while Murphy was in the house.

Murphy is glad of having two horses now...Hoss can hold both Joel and Emma with ease.

As murphy and Joel ride away from the cabin and into town, Murphy notices a single crow land on the rooftop of the Robertson's place and caw.

((OOC: This thread is now closed. Please resume posting on the "Chapter 14.3: A Long Ride To Hell" thread.))