The ghost grins as the ripple bounces off the wall and down the mineshaft. "For a man o' science, you really are dumber than a bag o' hammers, ain't ya? Got a hankerin' to bring this whole place down on your ears, save me the trouble? I can oblige ya. But I ain't gonna let you off that easy, Spotswood. One ill turn deserves another." he stalks toward the scientist, his pistol raised.

"You read the bible, Spotswood? Well, I got this passage memorized. Sort o' fits the occasion." The ghost sets the phantom gun against August's temple. "If you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain." The hammer cocks back. "For he is the minister of GOD, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil!"

The gun screams like burning ghost rock, and Augustus can feel the phantom bullet snap his head back...

((OOC: Ol' Snake eyes attempts to curse Augustus!

Touch Attack: 18:52, Today: Ol' Snake Eyes rolled 8,3 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. doom touch! Hit and Raise vs. Augustus' pathetic Parry score. Since this is not a damaging attack, though, the Raise doesn't do him much good.

Curse: 18:53, Today: Ol' Snake Eyes rolled 11,8 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (10+1)11,(6+2)8. Curse! ouch. That's high.

Still, it's an opposed roll. Augustus, make a Spirit check vs. 11, or else suffer the slow wasting curse that will ultimately kill you a second time. You get a +2 bonus because your "spirit pal" can help resist. Oh, and make a Dominion check as well...this is the sort of thing that prompts a fight or flight reaction from the manitou.

Ol' Snake Eyes's card: QH, AC (level headed).))

The scientist's head snaps back....for a moment his mind is filled with blackness.  A hissing darkness.  Then, quite surprisingly, something pushes it out.  Very little other way to describe it.  Blinking, Augustus brings his head back forward and stares at the vengeful spirit uncomprehendingly....

OOC - Anti-curse total 11.  Spent Red Chip to do it.

Still have a Blue and a White.

The other roll totaled a 7.  So I gain 1?

21:24, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 4,7 using D6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+1)7. That other thing!
21:23, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Red Chip Add to Anti-Curse!
21:20, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 12,33,7 using D36,d36,d36, rerolling max with rolls of 12,33,7. Chips!

But the spirit is already moving toward Mike, ignoring the scientist. "And you know what the Good Book says about false friends, don't ya? 'Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.'"

He sets the barrel of the phantom gun against Mike's head. Mike starts whispering the Lord's Prayer beneath his breath in short, terrified bursts.

The gun screeches again...Mike's head snaps back...

((OOC: It's an opposed roll that I make in secret, so that may or may not be enough. Fortunately, though, the Manitou didn't beat 7, so you do, in fact, gain that point of Dominion.

Ol' Snake Eyes doesn't realize his curse didn't take, so he's going on to hit his next target, which is Mike.

10:32, Today: Ol' Snake Eyes rolled 4,6 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. doom touch!

10:33, Today: Ol' Snake Eyes rolled 1,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Curse!

Mike rolls Spirit to resist the curse: 10:34, Today: Mike Bennett rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Resisting Curse. I'm going to chip it with the Red I got from Adrian's spending a Red Chip in another thread. 10:36, Today: Mike Bennett rolled 8 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8. red chip. Nice. Mike also resists the curse, though he's still Shaken from the initial Fear check.

Card: 4S, 3C))

---

up next: Augustus Spotswood!

Augustus was never what one might think of as the bravest soul.  Rational to the core until this town had begun to shake that sturdy foundation.  The sight of this cold, deliberate spectral gunman is almost too much to bear.  But, self preservation is a powerful thing.  His strange weapon is lifted to his shoulder, to brace against the shakiness of his hands.  This time, more careful aim is taken...

OOC - Aim action.  Black Joker for next round!

Mike curls into a ball, still muttering the Lord's Prayer, over and over like a mantra. Ol' Snake Eyes turns his attention to Mr. Lazarus. "And now it's your turn."

"Yup." The gambler agrees, and flings another glowing card at him. It hits the ghost square in the chest, exploding in a shower of multicolored sparks.

The ghost howls. It doesn't exactly stagger like a living person would, but it seems faintly diminished. It definitely seems to be in pain as it flickers in and out of view for a few seconds.

((OOC: Mike gets to go next, then Harry.

Mike attempts to unshake. He got spared the curse, but he's still terrified. 10:33, Today: Mike Bennett rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. unshake. nope. He remains Shaken.

Harry is still suffering from the Backfire. He attempts to Unshake as well. 10:36, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Harry Lazarus, rolled 9,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,3. unshake. Success and Raise! He gets an action without penalty.

He's going to do a single Bolt this time around, and needs only a Pair to pull it off.

Deal with the Devil: 8D, 2H, 3C, 7C, 8S, 4D, 5D, KC, QD. That will do it.

He casts: 10:41, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Harry Lazarus, rolled 3,16 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+6+4)16. Spellcasting. Nice. Raise.

Damage: 10:41, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Harry Lazarus, rolled 10 using 4d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2,1,3. Damage. That makes Ol' Snake Eyes Shaken.

Cards:

Harry: 9H
Mike 8D))

---

Next turn:
Augustus: BJ! (+2 to all trait rolls and damage)
Harry: 9H
Mike: 8D
Ol' Snake Eyes: 4S (oh that's all manner o' bad for him)

Augustus takes a quick breath....and pulls the trigger.  A whirling triple-toned harmonic pulse sings out from the strange weapon rippling towards the spectral villain!

OOC - Entangle.  Got a 7.  Resist?  Does it even have an effect?  It's what he has, so it's what he uses.

And...hmm...  Red Joker for next initiative.  Interesting.

The blast ripples through the air, striking the ghost, who screams in agony as the burst of concentrated sound rips through him. The ghost seems to dissolve into mist as the burst passes through him, and vanishes. his screams still echo in Augustus's mind.

((OOC: Ol' Snake eyes will attempt to resist. It does affect him, because it's magic (not that Augustus would accept that as such). He gets an Agility roll to avoid it, but because you have a Joker and this is a non-damaging effect, instead of +2 damage I'll provide him with a -2 penalty to avoid the initial burst.

10:38, Today: Ol' Snake Eyes rolled 0,1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Resisting Entangle. That's a fail. Moreover, Augustus gets a Raise. Heck, it would have been a Raise even without the penalty

now, since he's not totally corporeal, here's what happens: the sound waves disrupt his ability to manifest. Until he recovers from the effect, he discorporates. He's still technically "there," but he's back to being invisible and intangible.

Congrats, ghostbuster. this fight is over until he escape the restraints.))

Augustus slowly, cautiously opens his eyes wider and peers around for the specter.  His left eye continues to twitch even so, especially as he starts to think through everything.  "Interesting...  While I've never believed in ghosts, it becomes apparent that energetic aetheric resonances of our biological impulses can continue as Professor Wilhelm posited..."  He glances at the cave walls, "Perhaps some mineral...and the storm...focused the resonance...  Very interestin...umm... phenomena..... indeed."  His scientific babble does seem to make him feel better, but with that twitch it makes it difficult to tell wether he truly believes it.

Mike pulls himself to his feet and rubs his forehead. There's no trace of the spectral gunman's shot, but he continues to rub his head as if making sure nothing was damaged. "Spotswood? How're...how're ya feelin'?"

"A little shaken," offers Augustus with a wan smile that he hopes seems brave, but the twitch ruins it.  He just looks a bit mad really.  "And you, sirs?"  he asks more out of politeness than any real concern as he presses right on without waiting, "Perhaps...  We should go...  Whatever causes this resonance seems quite focused here and we could have yet more post-corporeal bioelectric resonances attached to us.  As much as I would like to investigate the phenomena..  There was someone to save, yes?  Um...whoever was it..."  The scientist begins muttering to himself as he tries to remember and heads for the cave mouth.

"I reckon I'll be alright." Mike says, absently rubbing his cross. "Seems I really do have a friend in Jesus. Nate came for Carl yesterday. Poor man's been feelin' like he's got one foot in the grave since."

"Wait, you knew about our specrtal guest?" Mr. Lazarus says aghast.

Mike nodded. "I'm sorry. I thought he'd come for me sooner or later, but I thought he'd come at me alone. Didn't think he'd put anyone else in danger." he looks up at August. "You're right, though. Can't stay here. I wouldn't bet my granny's wooden teeth that he won't be back, all the meaner for gettin' blasted the first time."

"Well, if we can get to my friend Dr. Franklin...he knows all manner of things about ghosts and spirits. It's why the Lodge sent him here in the first place. We've got to rescue him now...not just 'cause he's my friend, but because he'll surely know a way to stop this horrible thing."

The two follow Augustus to the cave mouth. It's still raining, but it's become a light drizzle.

Mike sighs. "I reckon you're right. I don't like it, though. I don't want to tackle a whole Comanche warband just by ourselves. We oughta at least make for the ranch, get the boys riled."

The two look at Augustus, apparently expecting him to be the tie breaker.

The scientist, standing at the mouth of the cave, was busy muttering to himself, "Of course I remember how to get back there....What?  That's just silly...  They said we were going....um..."  He looked out through the wide rainy expanse out in front of the old mineshaft.  It, quite frankly, looked like almost every part of Texas he had seen.  He never was very good with directions.  Maybe the other two gentlemen knew.  Turning back around, he caught the tail of the discussion and the expectant looks.  So, he went with whatever was last said.  They'd think him rude if he admitted he wasn't listening, "Yes.  Right.  Let's go....rile some of the boys....  Which way is it again?"

The trio make tracks east, away from the mine. The rain beats down on them, but the thought of the ghost waiting for them keeps them moving.

After about an hour of hoofing it next to the swollen stream, Augustus spots a trio of dusty riders heading their way through the rain, leading a couple of extra horses behind them.

Augustus stops in his tracks at the sight of the riders.  The stress of the past few days has been getting to him, his instinct NE to wind up his Interruptor at the first sign of trouble.  Hissing between his teeth, somewhat quietly, he warns, "Ware!  Comanche!"

One of the riders, a black man in cowboy gear, looks around. "Comanche? Where?" he asks nervously.

Mike looks at Augustus, then back at the riders, then laughs. "No, it's alright! It's just Nick and Ned and Eddy. We're saved!"

"Some savin'." Another rider, an older man, says between chomps of chaw. "Whole ranch is up an' riled. Gus come back, said you an' some fancy pants been shot at. Then Carl went an' run oft to town, an' Gus lead a whole bunch o' the boys there. Said somethin' about Comanche comin' to attack the place. Been all hectic e'er since. Ward wants to see the fancy pants right away. Says he was expectin' 'em, wahts to know the score."

Mr. Lazarus pales. "But...but my friend Dr. Franklin! He's still in the Indian's clutches!"

"Reckon that's his problem." The older chap says. "Ward says now, we do it now. Gotta get prepared in case them Comanches come here next." He indicates the horses. "We only brought the two...on o' you is gonna be on the heel-toe express. Which is it?"

Augustus relaxes upon realization that the riders were not, in fact, Comanches.  Though he leaves his weapon wound....just in case.  There were actual Comanche out here after all.  As he peers out into the mist, a wracking cough overtakes him and he just manages to catch it with his kerchief.  He does manage to hear about Dr. Ward's request.  A very fine idea.  He'll know what to do.  Bringing himself under control, he is able to answer the question, "I'll...ahem...  I'll take the express, thank you.  Time is of the essence."

The "Heel-Toe Express" turns out to be walking, as Augustus learns to his shock when both Mike and Mr. Lazarus mount and he himself is left to hoof it. It's another 20 minutes before they reach the ranch because they have to go slow to keep pace with him.

The Ranch is busy. It looks like the Dust Adders are setting up barricades and digging trenches. Ward is there, supervising the preparations. He looks up at the arrving riders.

"Ah. Excellent." He says. "It is good to see you at last." he looks at Mr. Lazarus. "I assume you are the representative from the Dallas Lodge? I was expecting you some days ago..."

"I'm afraid we got unavoidably detained. Train Robbery outside Edna." Mr. Lazarus says, stepping forward to shake Ward's hand. "I'm Harry Lazarus, Walker in Dusk. My traveling companion, Dr. Oswald Franklin, was captured by the Comanche. If we hurry, we can..."

Ward shakes his head and cuts him off with a curt wave. "No, I'm afraid that's impossible at the moment. As much as I grieve for your friend, we have a very serious situation on our hands, and while normally I would not for an instant hesitate to assist anyone in the clutches of the vile heathens on our doorstep, time is not on our side. I'm calling an emergency meeting of the Lodge here in Blackthorn, and you are invited to lend your insights to it, but I cannot leave the grounds at the moment. They will be here within the hour, with any luck, and I must be here to greet them."

"But...!"

"Mr. Lazarus, I will help you save your colleague if I can. But now is not the time. At the very least, I can help you divine his conditions. Do you have a personal item of his? Something with sympathetic resonance?"

The gamble nods, and pulls out a pair of crushed and twisted spectacles. "Found these after our fight. He's half-blind without 'em."

Ward takes the spectacles, examines them, and nods. "This will do." Then he looks over at Augustus, and starts. "OH! Dear me, Mr. Spostswood! Forgive me, I didn't see you standing there. I trust nothing has gone awry with your, ahem, emergency accommodations?"

The scientist in question was a bit busy trying to regain control of a coughing fit.  No doubt exacerbated by his trip on the "hell-toe express."  which is not an express at all.  Wiping at his lips, Augustus straightens, "Ahem..  Excuse me..  No, no Dr Ward.  It was quite nice, under the circumstances, although the aetheric resonance was a bit of a surprise."  Eye twitch.  "No, I've come to assist in...um...  Dr...something-or-other's rescue from the Cherokee."  He looks to Mr. Lazarus expectantly, hoping /he/ recalls the name.  The captive is his friend after all.  Glancing around, he takes note of the fortifying and inquires, "But...  You may need my assistance here...  Cheyenne war party?  Or...?"

"Aetheric Resonance?" ward asks quizzically.

"He means the ghost that attacked us." Mr. Lazarus says.

"Ghost?" Ward says sharply, then stares hard at the trio. "Mr. Bennet, was it Frost?"

Mike looks aghast. "You mean you knew he was back?"

"Not until this very day. He attacked the young Bradshaw."

"Percy!?" Mike squawks. "Where is he? Is he alright? What did that bastard do to him!?"

Ward sighs. "Sadly, he is not all right. I'm still trying to figure out what it was the specter did to him." He looks at Augustus. "Did he attack you as well?"

"He tried to get all 'o us." Mike says. "I was saved by a prayer to the lord...He attacked Mr. Spotswood here, too, but it didn't seem to stick fer some reason."

"Come inside. We need to discuss this further, and we shouldn't do it in front of the rest of the men. There's no sense in alarming them, not with the dangers we're already facing." He looks at Augustus. "I'm afraid that this matter supersedes that one, at least for the time being. I will try to divine the whereabouts of...what was your colleague's name again?"

"Franklin. Dr. Oswald Franklin."

Ward nods. "Yes. Dr. Franklin. I shall divine his location presently, but first we need to get to the bottom of our specter phenomenon."

He leads the trio into his mansion, up to the library. "Please. Sit." he says once they are there. "Mr. Spotswood, I'm going to need you to tell me everything you remember about your encounter with the late Nathanial Frost. It is vitally important that you spare not even the smallest detail."

Augustus was grateful to be back under a roof again and, of course, Dr. Ward's library was a wonder.  His inventions are settled safely by the wall.  He himself is settled into a comfy chair, as long as others are sitting as well.  At the Doctor's urgent inquiry, he concentrates.  Should be simple, but things are getting so...muddled... These days.  He mutters to himself back and forth for a minute, before offering, "Well...  An aetheric resonance, an echo if you will, of the late Mr. Frost was made manifest in the cave.  No doubt due to some interesting mineral quality in the area.  My hypotheses is that this mineral brings focus to bio-electric resonances trapped in ther aetheric wavefront surrounding each of us.  Based, of course, on Dr...um...  Well, it was a paper I had read...  I forget, but, it would explain so-called hauntings."  He pauses again, eye twitching as he thinks through, muttering still more, "Yes...ghosts would explain it as well...  But such spirits don't exist...  Hush...nothing but fancy..."  Looking up again, he adds, "So...  Minerals resonanating with residual bio-electric energy.  Further experimentation will confirm that."

Dr. Ward shakes his head. "I'm afraid you're quite wrong, Mr. Spotswood. Remember our discussion on the nature of Aether? Spirits, or rather aetheric entities, DO exist. It was my intention to demonstrate this for you by capturing one and forcing it to manifest, but, alas, the situation got out of hand and no opportunity for this demonstration in safe conditions presented itself. But for you to understand the very grave nature of the danger, you must accept this premise: discreet entities within the aether exist. Sometimes these entities are created when a person dies. It has the likeness and personality of the former human who birthed it, and perhaps even the memories, but it is a whole and separate being, devoid of whatever mortal thought processes may have been possessed by the original. And it is out to kill us."

He pauses, stands, and heads over to a small caraffe of brandy. He pours himself a glass, then offers one to his guests. "Drink?"

Once accepted (or declined), he continues. "I have spent the last ten years of my life studying aetheric entities, Mr. Spotswood. Most of my research is based on on contacting, calling up, and bind to my will various entities. I have had some success, but I have also learned just how dangerous these beings can be. You're right about certain places having more aetheric resonance than others...locations tied to places with strong emotions strengthens the Aether, makes it easier to contact such entries." He takes a sip of his brandy and considers. "Your mineral theory is an interesting one--we've made a discovery in the deeper reaches of the mine that supports it--but the reason Mr. Frost's specter visited you there was because the mine had an emotional resonance conducive to manifestation. Fifty people died in the cave-in in '74. The town still grieves for their loss. That resonance is what allowed him to manifest there, and for that I am sorry. I inadvertently put you in harm's way. Had I known Frost would be retuning from the dead bent on vengeance, I would never have sent you there. Tell me, how have your own studies been progressing?"

Augustus looked a bit perplexed as the Dr. Ward began to explain, trying to sort it out.  He did recall something of the conversation on aetheric entities.  Had that been Dr. Ward?  No matter.  He did in fact accept a drink, perhaps it would calm the nerves and give his mind focus.  He had been so terribly distracted of late.  Mention of his quick theory coinciding with the Doctor's own brought a small, relieved smile.  The good Doctor's theory did seem to be plausible.  His mind strays along those lines further, trying to reconcile scientific fact to theory to evidence.  It's a moment before he realizes he was asked a question, "Pardon?  My studies?  Well...  A cave is hardly a proper laboratory, but I did stumble upon a method of momentarily focusing my sonic tone into a semi-sonic waveform pulse."  A pause, a slow realization, "Oh!  And I did discover that the resonance allowing for the manifestation of your aetheric entities is interruptible through application of a sonic dissonance.  A burst from my Interruptor effected the entities immediate dissolution.  Presumably back to the aether."  A thoughtful sip of brandy follows.

"Excellent." Ward says, pleased. "That may prove very useful indeed in the hours ahead. And I suspect the mine may have had more use to you than you suspect. We were talking about mineral resonance before. Our discovery, well...it seems to affect many of scientific bent. It seems to make certain aetheric manipulations easier. It brings more ideas to the surface. And, of course, it has similar effects on those who manipulate energies but do not know the scientific underpinnings of what they do. What do you know of witches? Warlocks? Indian Shamans? Those who profess to gain 'magical' powers through entreaty with the spirits? And, as a corollary, what do you know about Ghost Rock?"

Augustus seems quite taken aback by the rapid escalation of occultism.  Warlocks?  Witches?  Shamans?  It would be easy enough to see that he was retreating to the safety of scientific act again, losing ground on his acceptance of D. Ward's theories.  So, reasonably, he settled on the only question to which he had much ability (or care) to answer, "A complex carbon mineral of high density.  It's formation under great pressures left porous channels within, which produce a rather keening whistle as the material is burned.   Some uneducated sort felt the whistle was somehow ghostly.  The name caught on...like....well...  Like a ghost rock fire.  You don't mean to say that ghost rock is the minerall-of-resonance?"

"I do indeed. The cave-in in '74 was a horrible disaster, but it also uncovered some seams of the mineral which lay untapped and unknown to the Wendell Mining Corporation when they abandoned the site. They threw away a potential fortune." He leans back. "Now, I have not had the resources to fully exploit this. Most of my fortune is bound up in my cattle stock, and I purchased the land around the mine strictly for access to the creek--water resources are important for cattle herds. Still, I purchased the mine itself with the intention of clearing it and returning it to prosperity. Blackthorn did not deserve to be so cruelly tossed aside, and the people here deserved better. I made some initial explorations of the site...and chanced upon one of the area affected by the cave-in. Whatever happened on that day opened seams heretofore glimpsed. Now, there are several problems with the mine itself, which is why I have been moving cautiously these years. But the fact remains. There is Ghost Rock in Blackthorn, and a lot of it. So I have been able to obtain samples to use in my other experiments."

"Now, it is my theory that those who profess to have 'Magical' powers are simply able to acts that modern science has not yet managed to replicate. Aetheric Theory is an exciting new branch which may explain the abilities of these people. They contact Aetheric entities, entreat them for boons, and layers of mysticism are draped over the details that occlude them from the rigors of the scientific method. Are you with me so far?"

"One of these mystic trappings is often the burning of offerings in order to 'appease the spirits.' In reality, this is nothing more than releasing the aetheric resonance of specific elements, resonance which allow the entities the ability to manifest in our realm. Ghost Rock is one of these substances. It is heavily resonant with the Aether. The energy produced by burning Ghost Rock is immense. A pound of unprocessed ore will burn for over a week at temperatures that will liquify most metals. This is what makes it a fantastic fuel source. However, it also aids in many so-called 'mystical' rituals because it releases not only physical energy, but aetheric energy. This release draws Aetheric entities to the sites where ghost rock is present, which is why many scientists who work closely with the mineral report haunting, hearing voices, or sudden flashes of inspiration from beyond. Have you ever experienced anything of this nature in your work?"