It seems the four gentlemen playing Texas Hold 'Em used to be miners at one time, and seem very interested in new and exciting fundaments. They eye Robert.

"Ghost rock for sale? Where would you find ghost rock out here?"

"Gabby said he found ghost rock."

"Gabby says a lot of things."

"He's always got a few nuggets of gold on him, don't he?"

"Fool's gold, most like. The mine's closed, and there ain't enough gold left in the creek to fill a thimble."

"I believe the gnetlemen doesn't give a rat's patootie about this hypothetical gold in the creek. I believe he's offering something more substantial?"

"Well, it'd certainly be worth it. Provided it's real, of course."

"Well, sir? I do believe you've been called out. Care to show us any of this hypothetical ghost rock you claim to be sellin'?"

Robert takes the piece out of his pocket and shows them.  "I found this on a dead man, so I don't rightly know where it came from, but it probably was around here.  And where there's some, there's more.  I think this is worth at least $25, adn I can show you where the body was, in case you gen'nelmen want to try to backtrack him."

"Robbin' from a dead man? That's bad mojo."

"Why? The dead man ain't got much use for it no more."

"How do we know the man weren't still alive before he met this gentleman here?"

"Now Dutch, that's just plumb rude, accusing a man of banditry."

"Would you like to swing from a gallows for receiving stolen goods?"

"Ha! Can you picture Evans hanging anyone? The very thought, it is to laugh."

"Twenty-five dollars?  A tidy sum, that. But sure, I'll bite."

"Clem, you ain't got $25."

"I sure do! I'll just remove my stake from the pot."

"Hell no! You ain't removing nothing. You got ten dollars in chips, you get ten dollars back from the stake. That's how we've been playing it for eight years, and I ain't going to have you welsh out now. You got ten dollars to your name right now, and that's the way it's gonna stay until you win it back!"

"I have a suggestion. Sir, would you, perhaps, be willing to wager your chunk of ghost rock? It would be a fair way of you collecting money from us poor sods, and you would lose nothing you earned with the sweat of your brow."

"Hey, now, that ain't a bad idea. But he could just wait until we're finished up here."

"Yeah, Dutch. I'm interested, and Clem's certainly interested."

"Well, I'm not going to purchase potentially stolen goods."

"And I don't need no lump o' rock, ghost or not."

"Well, I suppose that's up for the stranger here to decide. What do you want to do, sir? Play for the chance to win more than you're asking price, or wait till we're done here and see if the winner's in a position to make a purchase?"

Robert looks affronted at the first comment.  "I'll have you know some of that money will be going to pay for the deceased's funeral.  As for the rest, why I'm an old man, I almost through my back out getting him up on my horse, and in this weather!"

Robert considers their offer
OOC: argh.  No gamble skill

"How about this, gentlemen.  I owe the undertaker five dollars for the funeral.  If'n I lose, why, the winner covers that, and the laundry bill for my poor suit.  If'n I win, I'll share this bottle of fine kentucky burbon with you gentlemen.  What say you?"

15:33, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 7,5 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. persuation.

"That sounds a little backwards to me. Reverse it, and You got a deal. You win, we'll foot your bill, and we'll throw in a couple bucks for a hotel room. We win, and you share your bourbon. I think that's fair, don't you?"

[[OOC: They've only got d4's in Gambling, so you're not that far behind. You also have you wild die, while these guys are Extras. You aren't that far behind.]]

"So if I come out dead last, I don't have no money from the rock, I still owe the undertaker five dollars, AND i got to give up this here bottle?  Something ain't right... hold on now, you boys said it was 10 dollars in chips to buy in.  this here chunk is worth 25, easy.  Hows that going t'work?  Shoot, this bottle's worth 10 dollars by itself."

OOC: even with that, odds are I won't beat all of them, but I (hopefully) won't be dead last.  I just read the SW gambling rules, we all roll gambling, and the bottom guy pays the top guy X times the difference, and so on.
so my thought is, whoevern ends up with the most pays the funeral, and if that guys is me, I kick in the bottle to not annoy them by coming in as a total stranger and winning all their money.

"That's why they call it gambling, sir."

"It's twenty dollars in chips to buy in. The only reason Clem there's got ten is because he's a fool who can't bluff worth a crap."

"Says you. Anyhow, I'm still interested in buying the rock if I do come out ahead."

"Big if there, Clem. I got most your money right here. Of course, I want that rock, too. Always did want to see some ghost rock up close. You use that rock as your stake, we'll give you twenty five in chips. You can play on from there. Or you can wait a while, see which of us comes out on top. heck, if you want you can stake both the rock and your bourbon...Lord knows I could use some good liquor right about now."

[[OOC: Makes sense, but you didn't present it that way to them, so they, naturally, think you were trying to use your debt as your stake. Rephrase it, and they might go for it. Remember, these guys are playing with what amounts to almost a month's wage each. They're a bit choosy about whom they play with.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:04, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

"Oh i see..  I'll buy in for $25 and play from there.  If I lose it all, well, how about I give the winner the bottle, in exchange for he pays the funeral?  that's a nice bottle for a five dollar funeral."

OOC: basically, want to make sure deader get's planted.  And robert's hoping he won't come out dead last.  Plus if these guys follow up and find a mind, well, it could be useful if they remember me kindly.

"Sounds good to me. Take a seat then. I'm Mike, by the way. Glad to meet you." He counts out 25 chips for Robert.

'Over there is Clem,"

"Howdy."

"Dutch,"

"Charmed, I'm sure."

"And Greg."

"Hrumph."

"And what's your name, stranger?"

[[OOC: These guys have already been playing a while. Clem has $10, Mike has $30, Dutch has $15, and Greg has $25. You're staked in for $25. Let the games begin!]]

"Howdy boys.  I got saddled with Robert Micklethwais, you can call me Rob."

Robert wins some and loses some, and comes out slightly ahead after some time.

OOC:
I was going to suggest $1 stakes?  but maybe $2 would be more like it

[Private to GM:
17:17, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 3,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5,3. Playing for a couple of hours.
17:16, Today: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Greg's Gamling Roll.
17:15, Today: The Stray rolled 5 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5. Dutch's Gambling roll.
17:15, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Mike's Gambling roll.
17:15, Today: The Stray rolled 7 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7. Clem's Gambling Roll.

with the hope of being helpful and not presumptions:

Clem 7
ME 5
Dutch 5
Greg 3
Mike 1

Mike pays Clem 6x
Greg owes someone 2x, maybe Dutch and I split it?
where x = stakes
]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:22, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

You play for half an hour. In an astounding display of either luck or skill (probably luck) Clem manages to sweep much of his money back from Mike, with a couple extra dollars. Robert and Dutch dance around each other, with Gre winding up the ultimate loser. Robert manages to wind up with $27 in chips, all told.

"Well played, sir. Well played." Dutch says. "Still, I find myself edging closer to owning a rock I have no interest in. Do you wish to keep going, Rob?"

[[OOC: Well, I was going to do that, but hey, less work for me. Clem's now at $22, Mike has dropped to $18, Greg's down to $21, and Dutch is at $17. That leaves you with $27, the highest amount currently at the table. Do you wish to keep going, or take the money and run?]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

While they play, Robert asks if there were ever ghost rock strikes in these parts (wondering aloud where it came from) etc.

his luck turns sour, and even firing up a lucky cigar doesn't help.

OOC: I'll do one more round, then quit.  Blech, maybe not

17:46, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled 1,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. bennie.
17:46, Today: Robert Micklethwait rolled -1,0 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. fnial hours of the game.
a 1.  should'a quit while I was ahead.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:48, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

Robert isn't the only one playing poorly. Mike keeps bleeding chips to Clem, and Dutch lost big to Greg. Over all, Robert's doing average.

As for information, there was a mine around these parts, but it was a silver mine that closed up after the price of silver crashed and a horrible accident made the mine too expensive to operate. The Wendell Mining Company left town, taking most of Blackthorn's profits with it.

"If it weren't for Doctor Ward and his ranch, I reckon we'd be a ghost town by now." Greg observes.

There's also mention of a "Gabby," who claims to have struck a vein of ghost rock recently, but none of the players seem to take him very seriously.

"Gabby's a bit touched. The silver mine was his strike to begin with, 'till the Wendell people came and bought it out from under him for pennies. Ever since then, he's gone bitter and crazy, thinking he'll find another strike out there to make him rich. He's claimed he's found gold, more silver, oil, and half a dozen other things in the last five years, but none of them ever panned out to anything. This ghost rock he's on about won't amount to a hill of beans, mark my words."

[[OOC: Wow. This was breathtaking:


18:54, Today: The Stray rolled 6 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6. Greg's Gambling Roll.
18:53, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Dutch's Gambling roll.
18:53, Today: The Stray rolled 1 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Mike's Gambling roll.
18:52, Today: The Stray rolled 6 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6. Clem's Gambling Roll.

I'll say you broke even, since you spent a Benny on a craptastic roll. You can walk away with the $25 dollars from your stake.

meanwhile, Clem's at $32, Mike's down to $8, Dutch is down to $9, and Greg's up to $31]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:09, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

OOC: that sounds good.  I play, lose some, recuop and quite while I'm even.

"Lady luck was frowning on me tonight.  I think the night is no longer young, and neither am I.  Good even'in boys." With a tip of his hat Robert cashes in his chips and goes to his room.  if he can flag down the saloon gal, he'll ask her if there's laundry in town.

[[OOC: Done a bit of editing to the post above, so you have some more information to work with]]

OOC: thanks

Charging Bull enters the Grand Bull.

The interior of the saloon is wooden and crowded. Wagon wheels festooned with candles form chandeliers above the tables crowded with men and women taking dinner. Behind the bar, above the rows of liquor, is an impressively wide mirror, reflecting the whole room back at visitors. In one corner is a compact piano, with a negro piano player plinking out "The Maple Leaf Rag." There's a game of poker being played to the right, and a stairwell heading up to the Saloon's rooms for rent on the left. A man with curly brown hair wipes glasses and fills orders, while a busty blonde swirls around the crowd delivering drinks and meals and skillfully avoids errant hands.

The most interesting sight in the room, though, is a strange mechanical device. It resembles a humanoid bird made of tooled brass, lovingly constructed. As Charging Bear watches, the thing moves, examining itself in the large mirror behind the bar. It's not something you see every day, and most of the people in the bar aren't paying attention to new arrivals because of it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:39, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

"Priest...silent query/alternate: priest vanish?" The automaton touches O'Rouke's reflection as though pressing the man's spirit firmly into the town. "Other angel exist Town, Texas? Query: outside Town, Texas?"

It appears to consider the name, looking to the priest. "Self response/future: respond...to 'Alouette'."

Charging Bear looks at the brass human bird thingie for a moment, then with a shake of his head walks to the bar. He raises his hand and when the bartender notices him simply says "Whiskey... make it a double."

August Colby and John Smith enter the Grand Bull.

The interior of the saloon is wooden and crowded. Wagon wheels festooned with candles form chandeliers above the tables crowded with men and women taking dinner. Behind the bar, above the rows of liquor, is an impressively wide mirror, reflecting the whole room back at visitors. In one corner is a compact piano, with a negro piano player plinking out "The Maple Leaf Rag." There's a game of poker being played to the right, and a stairwell heading up to the Saloon's rooms for rent on the left. A man with curly brown hair wipes glasses and fills orders, while a busty blonde swirls around the crowd delivering drinks and meals and skillfully avoids errant hands. An Indian brave wearing a beat up confederate soldier jacket orders a double whiskey.

The most interesting sight in the room, though, is a strange mechanical device. It resembles a humanoid bird made of tooled brass, lovingly constructed. The thing seems to be speaking to a preacher at the edge of the bar. It's not something you see every day, and most of the people in the bar aren't paying attention to new arrivals because of it.

The barkeep smiles.



The barkeep tears his eyes from the construct, and nods. "But of course!" he says in a Creole accent. He looks vaguely familiar for some reason. "A double whiskey, coming up! That will be 10 cents."

Charging Bear slaps down a quarter and slides it to the bartender, "Then I'll have two and a single neighbor. You look familiar, not sure why... what's your name?"

[copies quarter-slapping from its side of the bar, its slight leaning in apparently bringing it into a patch of heavy static, voice strange and distant like one heard on the wind] "Blood, cageless...not only the human dead-" *ssss* it twitches itself out of it, vocalisation snapping into androgenous clarity "-static error."

Apparently oblivious to its own ramblings of doom, the construct watches the preparation of alcohol with fascination. It points at the tumbler. "Why?"
Having large dark lenses for 'eyes', it's hard to tell who should quite be clarifying this remark.

"I cannot imagine why...I do not often have the opportunity to serve your people here." he says as he pours the drinks. He sets three glasses down before Charging Bear. "As for your humble barkeep, I am Roland. Pleased to meet you."

[Private to Charging Bear: Make a Smarts check to get more information on his familiarity.]

"Why? Why what?"

John entered the saloon and grinned as he surveyed the various folks and people. His eyes scanned over all sorts not seeming to pay much heed to anyone in particular though when they fell on Alouette he blinked and looked to his companion who followed in after him. "Well, I thought I was ready for anything after earlier." he said with a grin and moved to stake out a table.