Night. April 11th, 1879. The local church, Blackthorn, Texas. Good Friday.
some mood music

---

Turn Order:
Itza-Chu: 8S
Father O'Rourke: 7H
Vampire girls: 3H

---

The crazed Apache takes his eyes off the preacher and on to the screaming, swooning vampire. "So. Little mosquito girl get'em free, huh? Looks like'm you need a better swattin', Darlin'."

He swing his spear wildly, lashing at first the preacher, then the girl. His weapon is long enough that he doesn't actually have to move much to endanger both his targets. Of course, the wild flailing doesn't help much.

"Monster!" The preacher shouts, rosary in one hand. "This is the house of GOD! He provides sanctuary to all who ask, and YOU WILL NOT VIOLATE THAT!"

And with that the father begins to recite something, a verse which Darla felt weigh heavy on her.

"And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning! From every beast I will require it and from man! From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man! Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image!"

And though his concentration seemed to slip, just for a moment, Darla felt the Eyes of Heaven turn to her. Turn and glare, yes, but turn and watch out for her as well...

((OOC: Itza-chu leads off with an attack against both the preacher and the vampire girl. He knows the vampire is Not Human, since he killed one of the troupe when he was nailing them to the wagon wheels on the hilltop. his spear gives him enough reach that he doesn't actually have to move to reach both combatants.

Itza-Chu is using Frenzy (two attacks, -2 to each) with a Wild Attack (+2 to attacks, -2 to his Parry until his next action). This cancels out the bonuses and penalties and will leave him with a Parry of 6. The order of attacks is Father O'Rourke, Darla, Wild die.

Itza-Chu rolled 3,2,2 using d10,d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2,2. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack). No. Going to spend a Chip on this...

Itza-Chu rolled 2,2,1 using d10,d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2,1. white chip. Even worse! Looks like a no-hitter for Itza-chu this round.

Father O'Rourke is Shaken, so he needs to deal with that first. He spends a White Chip to get a full action without a roll. He attemtps to cast Deflection on the "poor, helpless woman" being assaulted by the crazed Apache.

Father William O'Rourke rolled 1,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Faith! That's a success, but it's also a Crisis of Faith for the poor reverend. I'll spend O'Rourke's other chip on this.

03:03, Today: Father William O'Rourke rolled 4,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. white chip. Success!

Darla gets protection from attacks for 3 turns. Any incoming attack suffers a -2 penalty while it lasts.

Cards:
Itza-chu: QS
Father O'Rourke: QS))

---

Vampire Girls up next!

Darla squeaks, letting herself fall to the floor, then gasps and shudders briefly at the blessing. It hurt, somewhere...but that just helped her focus.

Darla scrambles back onto the outer step, not wholly faking the fear but with enough presence of mind to make not-quite-wholly-effective attempts to cover her pale thighs, pressing her petticoats down between in a manner that just highlights how little cloth there is between her and nudity.

"N-not on the altar...not even you, you wicked bastard - the earth'd crack an' the lightning strike you down, y'hear? Haven't you done enough to me? What more can you want?" she hisses in a fine show of helpless bravado.

[[Aiming to use the ability Seduce to draw him out/switch him from 'kill outright' to 'pursue and play with' - any rolls for that? Otherwise:
Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. foul trickery!

The others continue to sneak and may well be on either side of the door by now.
init. 5C]]

In reply to Vampire Dance Hall Girl (msg # 2):

((OOC: I think you could use Persuasion as a Test of Will, with the penalty applying to his resistance check. Do you want to do that instead?))

[[Sure...oo, they even have Persuasion, nice.

17:12, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 10 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+4)10. persuasive briar patchin'. ...aaand I keep forgetting Darla hasn't been fed yet, so 9.]]

"Want? What more can I want?" The psychotic Apache leers, then laughs, a high, blood-curdling screech that claws at the ears and freezes the blood. "I am calamity! I am ruin! I am rage and terror and fear! I am brother to ravens, companion to owls! My skin is red, my bones burn with the heat of the white god's Hell! Pain! Pain! I want to watch'em you writhe, squirming, screaming, as I take'em you apart! I want to break'em you down, down to base blood and bone! I am Crying Shrike! No man or spirit or god may hinder me! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

With that, he turns fully to face Darla, his piercing laugh stabbing to heaven.

---

As Jake, Danny, and William head toward the church, they hear a woman screaming, and then a strange, screeching laughter...

---

((OOC: 14:12, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 3,2 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. Resisting Seduction. That's a Success and Raise for the vampire. Now, since this isn't a normal ToW, he won't be shaken, but he will focus his efforts on Darla.

That's the end of this round, BTW...I'm going to wait until Jake, Danny, and William draw their cards to see where they are in this fight.))

---

Turn Order:
Danny Boy: BJ!
Itza-chu: QS
Father O'Rourke: QS
Jake Lawrence: 9S
William Pierce: 9D
Vampire Girls: 5C
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Mon 17 Sept 2012.

OOC: Card card who's got a card
18:14, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 9S using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

00:29, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 9D using the Deadlands system. William Initiative.

"Oh, for God's sake!" Danny curses as he hears the screaming, and begins running toward the church, ducking down an alley to shave some distance.

((OOC: Danny boy starts running toward the church. He has a Black Joker, so he gets +2 to his run die. Kind of a waste of a joker, but eh.

Danny Boy rolled 8 using 1d6+2. Running! Max movement!

Card for next round: 2S. eek.))

With that shrieking laugh, Itza-chu springs forward, thrusting his spear forth. Darla feels the shaft pierce her belly, despite the preacher's spell of protection, sliding through her guts and out her back, the tip digging into the door behind her.

((OOC: Itza-chu and Father O'Rourke have the same initiative, so they roll opposed Agility checks to see which one acts first. Itza-chu beats out O'Rourke, so I resolve his action first.

Thanks to Darla's ToW, Itza-Chu is now focused on her. He tries to strike her with Frenzy, and another Wild Attack (lowering his Parry again). His modifiers are -2 (Frenzy), -2 (Vampire Seduction), -2 (deflection), +2 (Wild Attack). That's a total of -4 to his attack. If he DOES hit, though, his spear is a wooden weapon and will really, really hurt Darla. he's aiming to wound, not to kill.

Attack: Itza-Chu rolled 5,3,0 using d10-4,d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 9,7,4. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack). Hit!

His damage is +4 (Weakness), +2 (Wild Attack). Ouch.

Damage: Itza-Chu rolled 8,10 using d10,d6+6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,4. 18 Damage total. That's a Shaken and 2 Wounds for Darla, who is an Extra and will be Incapacitated if she doesn't soak.

Father O'Rourke is going to hold his action to see if Darla soaks. He has healing power, after all.

Itza-chu's card: 7S))

---

Darla needs to Soak. O'Rourke is On Hold. Jake Lawrence is up next.

[[00:13, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 0,4 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. epic soak attempt.
00:14, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 0,1 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. last chippit. ...even worse. Sorry, girls...somehow I think holy healing'd do her more harm than good, too.]]

The men down the street hear the woman's frantic screams go from fear to raw agony, cutting off with a kind of sobbing groan.

"NO!" the preacher screams as the girl collapses. He rushes past the surprised indian, places his hands over the girls' belly, and pulls on the spear, attempting to yank it free. As he does this, he prays.

"Almighty and merciful Father, by the power of your command, drive away from this poor woman all forms of sickness, disease, and injury. I ask you to mend all that is broken, root out every sickness and disease, open all blocked arteries and veins, restore my internal organs, rebuild damaged tissues, remove all inflammation and cleanse her of all infections, viruses and destructive forms of bacteria. Restore strength to her body and joy to her spirit, so that in her renewed health she may bless and serve you, now and forevermore..."

((OOC: You soak 1 Wound of the two, but yeah, the healing might make that worse...

Father O'Rourke move up to Darla and attempts to Heal her. He doesn't have any penalties, because Wounds on Extras drop them directly to Incapacitated without going through the penalty track. If he heals the Incapacitation, she can act as normal.

However, because she's a vampire, this might actually kill her. She will need to succeed on a Vigor roll, otherwise the magic will be fatal.

Father William O'Rourke rolled 2,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+5)11. Faith! Success and Raise!

Darla, roll Vigor. You get a +2 bonus from O'Rourke's raise. If you succeed, the healing works as intended and Darla can act as normal. If not, then the magic destroys her.

Card: 7S. Tied with Itza-chu again.))

---

Darla needs to resolve a roll. Jake Lawrence's action is up!

Darla jerks convulsively like she's been stabbed again, a long, whimpering wail that sounds like nothing human torn from her throat as the tears break out. Her belly is cold and the tears strangely tinted. Her gaze, however, in that instant hazed with pain as she reaches to touch the priest's face, is almost human.

"oh, sugar...I'm so sorry..."


[[00:40, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 8,6 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. staying (un)alive! Go Darla! ]]

Jake runs after Danny Boy, though he's not as fast.

OOC: Running closer, trying to get a line of sight.
07:26, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Running.
9 squares closer

07:27, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 2D using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

William followed the other two, but then took a turn to the right. He hadn'tbeen in too many churches, but he knew that usually there was a back entrance near the altar. And O'Rourke had seemed to be the kind of priest who stuck to traditions. Hopefully, that included basic layouts and arcchitecture of churches, too...


13:42, Today: William Pierce rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. running.

13:43, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 10H using the Deadlands system. initiative.

Cool fingers trace briefly down the padre's cheek before Darla turns, faster than she should be able to, catching the spear at the point and midshaft and using it as a lever to fling their attacker stumbling through the doorway.

[[Reckon that'd be either an opposed strength roll or an Agility Trick:
13:23, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 3,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. strength!
or
13:23, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 7,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3. agility!

...if Itza-Chu gets past the doorpost, the others will attack.
Their next init.'s 7H regardless.]]

The wild Apache's face is comical as the girl catches him off balance and sends him stumbling across the threshold of the church...

((OOC: Itza-Chu rolled 2,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. Agility. That's a fail, so Itza-chu goes stumbling out the door. The girls will get a +1 Gang-Up bonus on their attacks against him, and his Parry is currently 6 thanks to his Wild Attacks.))

[[what, no surprise bonus for the sneaky girls? Ah well.]]

There's a pale flash across the doorway, bearing the Apache fully to the ground and trapping his spear under him. Itza-Chu feels a lithe, cold form sitting on his upper back and slender hands pressing him down. "Hi honey."

The girl who made a wild swing at him with something shiny stalks round into his field of vision, testing the edge of her cleaver. "We'd like to take you somewhere...for dinner."

Meanwhile, Darla hugs the priest whilst she still hurts enough to do anything platonic.

[[20:07, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girls rolled 25,2. Wampairs! *dope* forgot the +1
Bella: Grapples w/26
Carmilla: has a cleaver! ...and a 3!]]
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 19:28, Wed 19 Sept 2012.

The insane Indian is too winded from the fall to make an appropraitely clever come-back.

---

((OOC: Not enough to get the drop...he was wondering where the other two were, in fact. Itza-chu will attempt to resist the grab, but I think he's caught. Itza-Chu rolled 9,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2. Grab? Yeah, he's caught and Shaken.))

---

Turn Order:
William Pierce: 10H
Itza-Chu: 7S
Father O'Rourke: 7S
Vampire Girls: 7D
Danny Boy: 2S
Jake Lawrence: 2D
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Thu 20 Sept 2012.

12:45, Today: William Pierce rolled 9 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9. run, billy run. Ok, the running die doesn't ace, so it's just a six. Still good enough.
Shooting: Quickdraw cancels the MAP for drawing, but still running. Also, one wound.
12:48, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,1 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4. red chip re-roll.
12:47, Today: William Pierce rolled -2,1 using d10-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Shooting.
...and I'm outta chips.

12:52, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 8D using the Deadlands system. initiative



William burst through the backdoor. In a split-second, he saw the priest, the girls, the indian and as if by itself his pistol sprang into his right hand.
But as he raised the barrel of the colt, he realized he knew those girls. Oh, that could be interesting. Thus distracted, the bullet intended for the indian splinters the door frame instead.

The bullet catches Bella's attention for a fraction of an instant, and Itza-chu immediately begins to squirm. He pulls his arms in, gets them under, and pushes up sharply, getting enough leverage to get his knees beneath him as well as he attempt to toss the girl off of him.

((OOC: Itza-chu spends a chip to Unshake, then attempts a Strength check to escape the grapple, and is willing to burn through a lot of my stored red chips to succeed.

Itza-Chu rolled 6,11 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+5)11. Strength.

Red chip 1: 4
Red chip 2: 3

That's 18 total for Itza-chu's escape attempt. Bella needs to roll Strength or Agility to keep hold. If Itza-chu scores a raise, he also gets his full action. If not, he can still move away, though he'll provoke some attacks if he does.))

"Eep!" Bella gets thrown forward as Itza-Chu bucks to his knees, but rolls to a crouch alarmingly fast.

[[3, with her white in.]]

Itza-chu begins to giggle as he stands, spear in hand. Then he stabs forward once, twice, spearing both the girls attacking him through the chest...

((OOC: That means Itza-chu gets his full action, which he's going to use to Frenzy on both the girls. Again, he's willing to blow through my chip stack to do this.

He Wild Attacks to counter his Frenzy penalty. One attack against Bella, one attack against Carmilla.

Itza-Chu rolled 3,2,13 using d10,d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2,(6+6+1)13. Stabbity stabbity stabbity!

Itza-chu will hit one of them (it's on the wild die, so I get to choose which roll to replace) but wants to kill both, so he spends a red chip to bump the other roll. Itza-Chu rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. red chip. That leaves him with a 13 and a 7, which is a hit and raise against Bella and a normal hit on Carmilla.

For damage, he gets +2 (from the Wild attack) and +4 (from their weakness to wooden weapons).

Damage (Bella): 15 damage total, which is a Shaken and one Wound for Bella (which will kill her if she doesn't soak).

Damage (Carmilla): 11 Damage total, which is only a Shaken for Carmilla.

I want to resolve the damage before I move on to Father O'Rourke's turn.

Card: 4S))

The spear catches Bella as she springs, punching through her breastbone and shearing into her vitals. By the time the point emerges from her back a split second later it's splintering the edge of naked vertebrae made friable by age, ribs and outstretched forearms crashing into Itza-Chu in a cascade of metacarpals and phalanges. Her skull bounces off his shoulder, then off the doorframe with a dull *bonk* before shattering to dust and rocking pieces on the church threshold.

[[It's like being at work...
I rolled that soak just 'cause I feel kinda responsable for the li'l ladies, but 1 it was...]]

Carmilla's stood shocked at how fast her sister crossed the threshold of existence and only manages to knock the spear coming for her slightly aside, snarling as the head gashes a deep rut all the way across her chest.

The demented Indian, still giggling about his handiwork, takes the opportunity to run toward the graveyard.

((OOC: He doesn't get far, because it cost him some movement to stand up, but now he's further down the street.))

---

Father O'Rourke is going On Hold, so it's the Vampire Girls turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Sun 23 Sept 2012.

Carmilla lunges vaguely for the big man's back as he passes, but misses entirely, brain still struggling as it tries to deal with a surge of emotion it's no longer really got.

[[22:09, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 7 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7. unshake Carmilla.
22:11, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Carmilla, bite! (-2 MAP/unshake, +2 bite) Carmilla no bite.
init. JS

As for Darla, I need at least a vague idea of what the priest's doing - kicking her out on her arse, trying to hold and talk to her, flailing in shock, staying still like a potential meal to remove that fatigue etc. etc.]]

Inside the church, Father O'Rourke holds Darla close, still a little numb from what he's just seen. "No no...it's alright. You have nothing to be sorry for...you poor dear..." He looks her in the eyes. "Do you want me to end your suffering, child?" he whispers.

((OOC: Father O'Rourke is still On Hold))

---

"Oh for fuck's sake!" Danny gasps as he hears the commotion in the church. He changes direction, and runs around the building. He spots the half-naked girl and the running indian, and gives chase.

"Oi! You! Fuckin' stop!" He shouts, leaping for Itza-chu. He catches the flapping edge of the Indian's torn jeans, but the wild man backhands him across the face, shocking Danny long enough for Itza-chu to pull free.

((OOC: Danny runs to catch up with Itza'chu. He rolls a 4, which is enough to get him within range. He attempts a tackle against the warrior, who still has a lowered Parry from his Wild Attack. That doesn't matter to grapples, but I rule that it will give Itza-chu -2 on his opposed roll.

Danny Boy rolled 1,6 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+2)8. Flying tackle! not bad.

Itza-Chu rolled 5,2 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. get off me! He is still burning through my Red Chips, so he spends one to try and keep Danny off him.

Itza-Chu rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. red chip. 8, which beats Danny's 6. Itza-chu is still free.

Danny Boy's next card: 8S))

---

Jake Lawrence is up next! Darla is still on hold, but now has the Preacher reacting to her.

Jake continues to run after Danny Boy, this time making it to the church. The huckster readies his pistol, while he tries to figure out what exactly is going on.

OOC: Running some more!
08:02, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Running.
that's 9 squares which should put me right by the church.

08:15, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: AH using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

Jake'll come up to find nothing but a pair of torn and bloodied knickers and little granules of some hard but spongy-textured substance outside the church. The priest is kneeling a pace or so inside the doorway with a distraught half-clothed woman clinging to him as though she fears to drown, murmuring to her as she sobs.

Darla can't hold O'Rourke's gaze. She shuts her eyes, fresh tears coming from beneath the lashes. The muscles under the soft curves of her flesh are inhumanly, terrifyingly strong, but her attitude is one of surrender. "...m-more'n anything," she half-hiccups, and presses the back of her wrist to her mouth a moment before looking at the priest. "-when I c'n think...but it don't matter what I - we want, mistress fixed it so's we're mostly happy to be used over and over, we don't got much will t'be violated...but them real people...did the Ranger bring in that little girl?" She reads in his face that she did.

"Jes' about broke my heart," she murmurs, leaning in and brushing her skull over his chest like a cat. "Was that big buck an' we mean to get him, 's well as Ranger ordered us to leave the righteous...but I'm still so weak, and holy power can't fix it," tenderly, Darla pushes the priest's sleeve back from the shallow cut over the top of his arm, "'cause Jhh...jeee...'cause He gave His blood an' life for that, an' what I am-" a couple of cautious laps sees the wound cleaned, and the girl looking up again "-is jest the opposite."

Oblivious to her onlookers, Darla shifts, nuzzling at the holy man's neck to whisper in his ear: "Please..."


[[farmer, viper. Roll if desired (does Seduction bonus apply here?):
20:56, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 3,4 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Darla is persuasive.]]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Wed 26 Sept 2012.

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg # 27):

Aside from the remains, Jake also sees Danny facing down a wild-haired Apache man with a gap-toothed, psychotic grin further up the street.

Jake remembers his vision, and the Shaman's words to him.



one look at the mad Apache's grinning face, at the red warpaint with the dots fashioned to look like tears, and Jake knows which one this is.

---

In the chapel, Father O'Rourke sighs. "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."

He holds his wounded arm up. "Take only what you must. When you are done with your task, return here, that I may help you out of this hellish existence of yours and find salvation."

---

Down the street, at City Hall, the gunfire had attracted attention. Word passed from the sentries down to the defenders below, and one took up the call. It was time to defend the women and children.

The door of the building flew open, and a huge figure stepped out into the night, eyes fixed on the commotion down the street.

"Hey Injun!" he bellows. "Ya'll oughta run for the hills now, 'cause ol' Jericho Cantrell's here to whip the grey off your skins and leave it black and blue! You think you're immortal, you sons o' bitches? Come and take me if you think you're hard enough!"

---

((OOC: Yeah, the Seduction applies, but I'll mark that as a penalty to his Smarts roll to save time.

Father William O'Rourke rolled 1,0 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. resisitng persuasion. Yup, he goes for it.

Meanwhile, Jericho Cantrell joins the action and pulls a card. Would someone like to take control of Cantrell for the duration of this fight, since he's an Ally?))

---

Turn Order:
Jake Lawrence: AH
Jericho Cantrell: QC (If someone wants to grab him for this fight, I'd be much obliged)
Vampire Girls: JS
Danny Boy: 8S
William Pierce: 8D
Itza-Chu: 4S
Father O'Rourke: Still on hold.

Jake levels his pistol on the crazed Indian. Better make this count he thinks as he lets himself slip into the happy hunting ground to deal with the spirits.

OOC: Going to cast a 3d6 bolt with a deal with the devil to make it even more fun!
12:10, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 4,3 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Spellcasting (3d6Bolt).
12:11, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the 9 cards: 6C, 2S, 9C, 6H, RJ!, AD, 8C, 7D, JS using a deck of 54 cards. Deal with the Devil (2 power points).
Success on the casting and good for 2 power points with a pair of 6's

Damage
12:16, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 12 using 3d6. Damage.
That should be a Wound

12:24, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: QH using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

The screaming, ghostly bullet rips through the Indian's side, spraying blood on the street behind him, but much to Jake's surprise the wound begins closing, scabbing over with alarming speed. The Apache still looks pained from the shot.

Back at Town Hall, Cantrell raises his two massive hand cannons, calculating the range. With a little Kentucky Windage, he should hit the man without hitting the guy tackling him. If not, well...that was just a risk he'd have to take.

His guns bark, and Itza-chu staggers again as the bullet grazes his temple. But the gash heals as fast as it bleeds, scabbing over instantly even as real blood joins the red tear tattoos down the left side of his face.

((OOC: That is a wound, yes. Itza-chu will attempt to soak, because he likes burning through all my chips.

Itza-Chu rolled 3,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Soak! Fail. Itza-chu is Shaken with one wound.

Meanwhile, Jericho Cantrell will take two potshots from his position by City Hall. He's at Long Range (-4) but is Two-fisted (no MAP), though not Ambidetrous (-2 off-hand). He's not moving, so he gets his Marksman bonus (+2). Final penalties: -2 main hand, -2 off-hand.

Main hand: Jericho Cantrell rolled 1,0 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Main-hand shooting! Miss.

Off hand: Jericho Cantrell rolled 4,-1 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3. Off-hand Shooting. Hit!

Damage: 7. That will be a Shaken. Itza-chu has the Hardy trait, so that will NOT be another wound.

Cantrell's Card: 2C))

---

Vampire Girls are up!

The lady with the ragged skirts pauses to help Danny up, cleaver held demurely at her hip. She ducks at the shots, but takes advantage of the big native's stumbling to run up and make a grab for him - one that's quickly seen off with the slam of a spearbuttt.

[[19:24, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 6 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Carmilla, bite! Nope.]]

Inside the church, the harlot snuggles her back to the priest, drawing his injured arm over her shoulder and settling his left across her partly-bare midriff. Her dampened cheek rests against the exposed skin near his elbow a moment. "No...just an ending. There ain't nothin' left to save an' I was damned before they killed me."

Darla licks the preacher's arm, the points of her fangs just barely brushing the flesh. "I swear I will try, though it gets hard to think when I ain't hurtin', an' if Miss Marina comes back I won't even know you, though you can have me for a couple dollars all the same." Darla sighs, and pulls her dark tresses aside so as not to get in her food, giving O'Rourke a fine view of the slender arch of her neck. "You're a good man, preacher."


[[It'll take Darla at least this round to drink herself out of fatigue, I think.
init. 8H]]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Thu 27 Sept 2012.

As the Apache reels from the shots, Danny growls. "Thought I was the only one could do that 'round here," he mutters as he makes a few quick, ineffective jabs at Itza-chu.

((OOC: Danny Boy rolled 2,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. Fighting! Nope. Danny why are you so useless?

Card: 2H.))

---

William Pierce is up next!

William takes a deep, albeit unnecessary breath to calm himself down.
Don't waste any bullets, he tells himself and briskly walks forward.

As he nears O'Rourke and the girl, he grins in evil satisfaction.
"Remember me, girl?" he growls, then draws his second pistol, the one he took off of Jenny and presses it against her temple.
"You take one drop too much and I'll spill your brains all over the church floor. It's not gonna kill you, I know, but it will be mightily inconvenient."


He waits for a nod of understanding from the girl, then looks after the scarred indian.
"I'll be damned..." he mutters to himself as he sees the other's wounds close.

He looks around, searching for his "friends", as the damn clank... Alouette had called them.
Why don't you stop fucking judge me all the time and make yourself useful? How do I kill something that can't be wounded?

The soft little pleased noises from Darla drinking become a grunt of protest as she gets a gun to the head.

The vampire girl looks up, licking the blood from her front teeth with deliberate slowness as she studies William. There's a terrible vacancy in her eyes...the gunslinger might just remember Vincent's disparaging remarks about the 'hired help' being something less than the kind of revenant he was, the kind with free will and mind intact. "Not a clue, sugar."

Darla bends her head back to her meal, not troubling to bat away the pistol. "...you don't want me dead-like bad enough to break the law of sanctuary, hon, or you'd a done it." She reconsiders, and looks up a moment, all sullen annoyance, blood-red lips and dark curls, exposed shoulder and breast as pale and perfect as the flesh of the newly drowned. "You want to fuck me at gunpoint you're jes' goin' to have to wait, an' don't think that'll make me remember anything about you, either." She goes back to licking the priest.

[[in case you were waiting on any reaction from Darla, since talking is free...]]

The four ghosts are there, near the statue of Christ on the Cross than hangs on the far wall. William can hear them babbling in his mind.



Father O'Rourke lays a hand on the pistol, pushing it to the side. "No, son. Not here. I know what I'm doing. Please, help Danial and Bitter Waters stop that madman."

At William's unspoken question, the ghosts speak up.



They are quiet a moment, apparently deliberating among themselves. Then, as one, they turn to William and say, "Give us your gun."

"We'll talk later, girl." Williamgrowls, then walks toward the far wall to the largr cross. He pushes Jenny's gun into his belt, then flips his other gun, in his right hand, around, holding it grip first out toward the cross, an expectant lok on his face.


09:18, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: RJ! using the Deadlands system. Initiative

Nice!

Itza-chu follows up the spearblock with another quick series of stabs, catching Carmilla in the leg and Danny across the throat. The two fighters stumble, and the wily Apache turns to run.

But Danny boy lunges at him as his back is turned. "Ha! got ye!" he shouts...but Itza-chu catches him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, driving the breath from Danny's dead lungs and sending the boy sprawling.

"Stay'em down! Good doggie!" The Apache laughs, then makes a quick series of mocking howls before running up to the iron fence at the end of the street and pulling on the chain. "Rise up!" he shouts as he rattles the black wrought-iron fence. "Rise'em up, you fiends! Get a move on! We got'em a city to burn!"

From beyond the fence comes the sound of earth shifting, and unearthly moaning...

((OOC: Itza-chu needs to Regenerate the wound he's taken and recover from being Shaken:

After eating through a couple of my chips, Itza-chu gets an 18 on his regen, which puts him back at full health.

Then he goes to work. He Frenzies and Wild Attacks, splitting one attack per character facing him.

Itza-Chu rolled 4,5,2 using d10,d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5,2. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack). That's a miss vs. Danny and a hit vs. The Vampire girl.

Since he's still chip hunger, he spends a red to try and turn that miss into a hit. Itza-Chu rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. red chip. That makes his total 8 Vs. Danny, which is enough to hit but not enough for a raise.

Damage (Danny): 9. Shaken and 1 Wound. Danny attempts to soak: Danny Boy rolled 4,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Soak! Success.

Damage (Vampire Girl):  6 rolled, 10 with her weakness. That's a Shaken for the vampire girl.

Itza-chu attempts to run again. Danny gets a free attack. Danny Boy rolled 2,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Attack! Even considering Itza-chu's lowered Parry, that's a miss. Why are you so useless!?

Itza-chu moves 6 squares up, and now he's dangerously close to the cemetery gates.

Card for next round: 10D))

---

Turn Order:
William Pierce: RJ!
Jake Lawerence: QD
Itza-Chu: 10D
Vampire Girls: 8H
The 'Glom: 3D
Danny Boy: 2H
Jericho Cantrell: 2C
Father William O'Rourke: On hold

Up Next: A special interlude for William Pierce, and then William Pierce himself. NOTE! Itza-chu is now in Darkness (-2 penalty to ranged attacks)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:53, Tue 02 Oct 2012.

The ghosts each touch the gun.

William hears something. It's a hideous sound, felt like unendurable pressure in the skull, a twisting in the gut, harmonics outside the mortal plane scraping like nails down the soul. It's the sound of something that should no longer be able to feel pain in helpless, thought-destroying agony.

Father O'Rourke grabs his head, jerking his arm away from the vampire girl licking him at the sound, which isn't heard so much as felt.

William's own body is wracked with the pain from the sound, which is intense enough to blind him for a few seconds...

And when he opens his eyes, the ghosts have vanished. he can still feel their presance, watching him from...somewhere, but they don't appear to his sight anymore.

And the gun in his hand has changed. The metal has shifted from black matte to an eerie grey...almost, but not quite, the color of Ghost Steel. Fancy engravings crawl across the metals surface, depicting four souls writhing in torment...and all four bear William's likeness!

The gun is heavy in his hand, potent, like a coiled snake ready to strike.

William nods, grimly.
"Thank you." he says, apparently to Christ on his cross, then spins around, past the priest and just out the door.

His eyes glow with an eerie red and he stares directly at the indian rattling the cemetery's fence.

"INDIAN! YOUR SOUL IS REQUIRED IN HELL!"
He yells, his hand already raised. As the indian turns, William fires two shots in quick succession.


Multi-action!
First, intimidation. +2 for Joker, -2 for Multiaction. +4 due to various edges/hindrances. -1 for wound, net total of +3
12:31, Today: William Pierce rolled 8,6 using d6+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Intimidation.

Second, shooting. -1 for wound, +1 for double-shot, +2 for Joker. Unsure about distance, so I'll leave it at 0.

Total shooting result: 14
12:33, Today: William Pierce rolled 8 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8. blue chip to add on, I really want to get a raise on this. Potentially the Intimidation success could give me one, but what the heck.
12:32, Today: William Pierce rolled 6,5 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Shooting.

Damage: +2 from Joker, plus 1d6 from raise. Should've aimed at the head, but forgot.
12:35, Today: William Pierce rolled 23 using 4d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+4)10,4,2. Gun damage. Actually 24, as the double-shot adds another +1 to damage

If he's not going down now, I'm contemplating to play the High Noon adventure card.

Oh, and next round initiative: William has Quick.

12:38, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: QC using the Deadlands system. Initiative.
12:38, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 2D using the Deadlands system. Initiative.


This message was last edited by the player at 10:39, Sun 30 Sept 2012.

Itza-chu looks up at the shout just long enough to look shocked and horrified as William's wailing gun screams death at him. Two massive holes are blown through the Indian's torso -- one through his upper chest near his neck, the other through his belly.

The wounds soak the gate behind him with blood and viscera, and he slumps over. But yet the Apache is still moving, albeit weakly.

The gate behind him rattles. There's a hissing, and a red steam rises from the iron grille, which begins to glow a dull, fiery red...

Itza-chu draws a long, rattling breath. "It's...it's-a comin'...it's-a comin'..." he mumbles, teeth bloody from internal ruptures. Then he lets out a burbling giggle as he lays on the ground and bleeds...

A sign on the iron gate catches fire, and anyone looking can see the words "Rattler Hill Cemetery" on the wood as it burns. And in the center of the gate, just above the white-hot and melting chain holding it closed, William can see the sigil of the Enlightened Society of The Weeping Moon.

((OOC: 03:59, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 3,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. Resisiting Intimidate. That's a success for William, but not a raise, so William just gets the +2.

Don't forget...your shiny new Grim Servant o' Death hindrance gives you an additional +1 to damage, so your damage total was actually 25. not that it changes things...he's already facing a Shaken and 4 wounds, which will make him Incapacitated if he doesn't soak.

He spends one of my (very few) remaining chips for a Soak attempt.

Itza-Chu rolled 5,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Soak! That soaks 1 wound. He winds up Shaken with 3 Wounds from that hit...but he was going to bleed himself anyway...

The blood from Itza-chu sprays on the fence, defiling the ward that had been put in place. As the Harbinger dies elsewhere in Blackthorn, a new abomination rises.

The 'Glom is now dealt in to the round! Card: 3H))

---

Jake Lawrence is up!

Not one to like priests getting threatened, Jake fires at the dancing girl...

Ooc:
Alright I messed up my dice rolls thanks to doing them via my tablet. In the end I burned a white and red chip for a 4 on a head shot with a 3d6 bolt.

Deal with the devil netted me 8C, 6C, AC, 9D, JS, AH, 7H, 4S, AS
3 of a kind give me 5pp, so success!

Now damage ... 9 points

7D for next round
OOC Holding action!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Mon 01 Oct 2012.

[[@Jake ...are you sure? I mean, William had her at point-blank just a moment ago and the priest asked him to leave her alone, it should be pretty clear to Jake that their interaction's consensual (or at least as consensual as it's going to get, given she's basically a living/dead sex toy and can't help being manipulative) and not aggressive.

Not that it'll hurt her much, but there're likely better things to do with your chips and action. ]]

((OOC: I'll echo the Vampire Girl's sentiment...she's clearly not a threat at the moment, and the priest is not under attack or being threatened. Whatever is trying to break out of the cemetery, on the other hand...))

In reply to Vampire Dance Hall Girl (msg # 43):

OOC: Missed that... oops.... alright Jake will be holding his action

some mood music

The gate rattles again. It starts to bend from the force.

The grinning Apache lets out another burbling giggle. "And I heard'em noise...of thunder." He babbles, staggering up to his feet. The huge holes William blew in him are beginning to close. "One of 'em four beasts sayin' 'come and see'. And I saw! And I saw..."

He raises his spear, and bashes the blunt end down on the heated chain. once! Twice! Thrice!

The chain {{snaps}}, and Itza-chu grabs the gate and flings it open. "And behold! A Pale horse! Him that sat on'em is Death! And Hell follows with him!"

And then he's grabbed by a half-dozen arms, as the seething mass of flesh and limbs screams three discordant roars from a trio of mouths. Itza-chu joins in the screams as the mass raises him into the air...



((OOC: Itza-chu attempts to regenerate: 00:54, Today:
Itza-Chu rolled 2,1 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. Regeneration.
Itza-Chu rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. red chip.

That's a total of 6, so he's slowly getting better. He heals one wound, and has 2 wounds remaining.

He's still Shaken, though.

00:57, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 4,1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3. unshake. Well, that's a success. He gets an action, though at -2. he attempts to bash the lock open. It has a parry of 2.

01:06, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 1,1 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Bash! He spend the very last GM Red chip I have.

01:06, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. red chip.

That's a 2, which is enough to hit an inanimate object. he still has to damage it, though...the Lock has a normal toughness of 8, reduced to 6 by the heat from the magic of the ward giving way. Itza-chu can't Ace on damage against the lock, but he doesn't need a Raise to break it, either.

Itza-Chu rolled 10,3 using d10,d6 with rolls of 10,3. Itza-chu smash! That's 13 damage, which is enough to crack the chain holding the gate closed.

Card for next round: JS))

---

Everyone looking at the thing make a Fear check (-4 for the Fear Level, -2 for the thing's fear penalty, + Grit))

Vampire Girls are up!

11:32, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,12 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+6+4)16. white chip.
11:31, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,1 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. white whitechip.
11:31, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,-2 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2. fear check.

Out of chips, but cool as a cucumber

William stares at this new horror, shaking his head in disbelief. He looks down at his gun, wondering if it packs enough heat against this thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:37, Tue 02 Oct 2012.

[[13:05, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled -2 using 1d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Fear!]]

OOC:
08:08, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled -2,0 using 1d8-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Fear (+3 Grit,-6 other).
That won't do... burning a white chip to re-roll that mess
08:09, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 2,6 using 1d8-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+3)9. Fear (+3 Grit,-6 other) - white chip.
That'll do it

---

Jake keeps his cool but foolishly reaches for the power he's used in the past. He unleashes a trio of ghostly bullets at the mass but not without some misfortune happening to himself. The spirits demand their pound of "flesh" causing the huckester slump against the church, "Can't be helped..." he mutters to himself as sweat forms on his now paler forehead.

OOC: Alright trying for 3x2d6 bolts
First the spell casting
08:15, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 6,4,7,1 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4,7,1. Spell Casting (3x2d6 bolts - 3pps).
All three successed without issue... now the deal
08:16, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the 9 cards: 3D, 5H, 9H, 6C, 5S, 4H, BJ!, QS, AD using a deck of 54 cards. Deal with the Devil (3 power points).
Well that's crap... going to have to use the Joker to make anything happen, if I don't I suffer the same effects... so damned if I do... damned if I don't. So pair of aces and I'll roll for my back lash after doing damage.
08:24, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 6,13,5 using 2d6,2d6,2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2,(6+3)9,4,4,1. Damage.
Not exactly exciting damage there...

Now for the backlash
08:25, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 12 using 1d20, rerolling max with rolls of 12. Backlash.
12 is Spirit Sap! Vigor or be incap
08:26, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 1,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Vigor.
Success but still take a level of Fatigue!

08:30, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 6H using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

The thing staggers under the spectral assault, but doesn't seem too injured by the attack. It does drop the squirming Apache, who lands roughly at the thing's feet. It looks down the street and screams, it's three voices mingling at different pitches. At least one of those horrible voices was once female.

((OOC: That makes the 'Glom Shaken. Before it's action, I need to resolve the Vampire Girls. Darla still has to make, her action, and Carmilla failed her check. Carmilla will be Panicked, running her Pace away from the thing and then be Shaken. She can attempt to Unshake on her action. Darla will still need to make her own fear check when she sees the thing, but she's filling quite full now.))

14:50, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: QC using the Deadlands system. Card!

Darla slowly uncurls and takes her fingers out of her ears. "What...?"

"I got a bad feeling 'bout that," she mentions, standing with no care for the way shredded petticoats leave long lines of leg exposed, then heads doorwards. She looks at the skull fragments on the threshold like someone trying to recall their shopping list, then turns to say something to the priest, but at that moment Carmilla sprints past waving her hands in the air.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

Perplexed, Darla looks out.


[[one failed fear check from the other gritless wonder if necessary/she can see the big nasty from there:
21:14, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled -2,-4 using d6-6,d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. fear. ]]

((OOC: Yes, the 'glom is visible from where Darla is...but she actually should have 2 grit (1 for being a Novice character, one for being an Abomination herself). Still a fail, though.))

[[still a fail with her blue in, so go ahead and roll for her...]]

Carmilla stops a little way down the road and looks confused.

[[Carmilla, on the other hand, unshakes impressively with a 12 . She may act when Darla's resolved or just stay there, depending]]

((OOC: The Stray rolled 3 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 1. Fear!

1-4 Adrenaline Surge: The hero’s “fight” response takes over. He adds +2 to all Trait and damage rolls on his next action.))

"Oh my, I never did see such a big monster before," Darla remarks, then spots her quarry at the mottled thing's "feet".

"Come on!" she calls to Carmilla, hieing over there.

[[Darla goes and tries to grab Itza-Chu in case the 'Glom doesn't, damagingly if possible. Unless he managed to keep hold of his spear through all that, in which case she'll grab that instead.
19:08, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 4,5 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. get 'im, Darla!
Carmilla moves back towards the fight:
19:15, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 2 using 1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4. attack! attack! ]]

Itza-chu is able to roll out of Darla's grip. He looks at her and giggles. "Dumb bunny..." he points at the writhing mound of flesh right next to him, but it's too late for her or Carmilla to run as the thing strikes.

Six arms reach out, and Darla finds herself up in the air...the thing slams her and Itza-chu together, driving the wind from them both but not otherwise harming them.

Carmilla is not so lucky. The mass of flesh and limbs grabs the squealing vampire girl.

"joIn...wIth...uS..." The thing gurgles through three different mouths, and it's flesh begins to ripple as it presses the vampire to it.

"NO!" Danny shouts, and runs at the thing. He leaps, burying his pitifully small blade into one of the bodies that make up the thing. The monster doesn't really seem to feel it.

Father O'Rourke mutters a quick prayer, then steps outside.

"Mary, mother of God..." He mutters as he sees the thing at the end of the street, but he sets his face. "It seems we have our work cut out for us."

((OOC: Itza-chu slips out of Darla's grip: 17:12, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 5,3 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. resisting grapple.

Danny boy needs to make a Fear Check. Jericho Cantrell is too far away to see the thing clearly...I'll be posting for him next, since that will also introduce Adrian and Gus to this fight.

17:18, Today: Danny Boy rolled 4,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5. Fear Check. He passes his check. Having 4 grit helps.

The 'Glom goes. It spends one of it's chips to unshake. The Vampire Girls have put themselves in harm's way...

The Glom gets 3 attacks per round. It suffers no multi-action penalty until it takes more than 3 actions.

First attack - Slamming Itza-chu around: 'Glom rolled 10,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,2. Glom Smash #1. Hit.

Damage: 5. Not enough to really hurt him.

Second Attack - slamming Darla around: 'Glom rolled 5,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Glom Smash #2. Hit.

Damage: 7. Again, not enough to seriously hurt her.

Third Attack - Grappling Carmilla: 'Glom rolled 19,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+3)19,4. Glom Grapple! Carmilla need to beat that in an opposed Fighting check or be grabbed. If she can't, well...it won't be pretty.

Glom Card:  7C

Danny gets to go now.

Danny will run up to the thing and try to stab it. he gets a Gang-up bonus for all the unshaken people adjacent to it other than him. That's just Darla right now, so he gets a +1 Gang-Up bonus.

Danny Boy rolled 6,16 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+3)15. Fighting! Yay! Danny's finally Not Useless! That's a hit and Raise

Damage: 10. That would be really impressive if the 'glom didn't have 11 Toughness...

Danny's Card: 6H

Father o'Rouke will spend the round casting Armor on himself. Father William O'Rourke rolled 4,6 using d8,d6. Faith!

He moves out and sees the thing, and has to make a Fear check. Father William O'Rourke rolled 4,-3 using d8-4,d6-4. Fear!

O'rouke's card: JH))

((OOC: Once the Vampire Girl resolves the grapple and draws for the next round, I'll move on to Jericho Cantrell's action and start the new round))

[[Oops.
 12:46, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 3 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 3. flail! Nope, Carmilla gets et.
init. KS]]

Back at City hall, Jericho Cantrell starts a bit as Adrian and Gus arrive.

"What's the situation?" Gus says, hoisting his borrowed flamethrower.

The bounty hunter frowns, and looks over into the darkness. "Can't quite say. Only seen the one Indian so far. Took a shot at him, and he didn't go down. Now there's shootin' and screamin', and I can't quite see what's goin' on over that that graveyard there, but I think the gate's open."

"Shit. We're too late!" Gus says, and turns to Adrian. "We oughta get up there. Quick!"

((OOC: Jericho Cantrell is going On Hold))

---

Turn Order:
Vampire Girls: KS
William Pierce: QC
Adrian Vega: QC
Itza-chu: JS
Father William O'Rourke: JH
Jake Lawrence: 6H
Gus Shaw: 7S
Jericho Cantrell: On Hold
The 'Glom: 7C
Danny Boy: 6H

Carmilla shakes herself and starts struggling and kicking to get away.

[[08:57, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 12 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+4)10. unshake Carmilla. She's super-unshaken!
08:57, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled rolls of 9. squirm!]]

Darla, meanwhile, tries to hook her feet on a grabby arm or so and wrest herself onto the main bulk of the grabby mass.

[[09:02, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. climb! She has no idea what she's doing, by the way, but then she doesn't have a great deal of brain...
init.QC ]]

The squirming of vampire girl proves effective, and Carmilla's able to get out of the thing's grasp just as Darla makes it to the top of the creature's mass.

((OOC: 01:22, Today: 'Glom rolled 6,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. Keep hold! That's a fail on the 'glom's part.))

---

It's William Pierce's turn. Adrian Vega can also go...they have the same initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:26, Sat 06 Oct 2012.

For a second, William is unsure what to do. Shoot the monster or the man that had summoned it?
Then he scoffs.
Finish one thing off, then move on he tells himself.
Quickly, he draws his second pistol, readying it on the huge creature.

His gun screams, quite literally, and two more bullets tear through the indians' body.

Got quick draw, so no map for drawing the second gun.

11:07, Today: William Pierce rolled 22 using 3d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1,(6+6+3)15. ghost gun damage.
11:06, Today: William Pierce rolled 7,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2. double shot!

Good thing that william is quick!
11:10, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: JD using the Deadlands system. initiative.
11:10, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 5H using the Deadlands system. Initiative .


"Somebody bring a spade or a hatchet!" he yells.

The psychotic Apache grunts as the bullets blow him backward into the fence. He slumps, unmoving, next to the giant flesh monster.

((OOC: Itza-chu has burned through all my GM chips, so he can't attempt to soak. That means that 22 damage deals 3 wounds to Itza-chu, which Incapacitates him. He can still regenerate, but until then he's helpless.))

---

Adrian Vega is up next!

Note: Visibility is quite poor. The only lights are from the Church and from city hall itself. It sounds like there's movement on the roof, probably the defenders setting up for an imminent attack (this is where Wildcat and Seven of Spades are right now, if you're curious.

---

OOC:
After surveying the situation, I'm going to Hold this action for the moment.

The preacher lays his hands on William's ghostly pistol and whispers a few words. Then he looks up at William and Jake.

"I believe you should aim for the heads or the hearts...one of those contains the essence of the demon that makes that thing walk. Render the vessel useless, and the demon will depart."

((OOC: Itza-chu spends his action attempting to Regenerate. he has to remove the Incapacitated before he can get to his actual wounds.

02:07, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 2,8 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+5)11. Regeneration. That heals his Incapacitation and 1 wound, but he's still Shaken.

02:09, Today: Itza-Chu rolled -1,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Recover from Shaken. So for his turn, Itza-chu plays dead.

Father O'Rourke casts smite on William's gun.

02:10, Today: Father William O'Rourke rolled 5,9 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+3)9. Faith! Success and Raise. William gets a +4 bonus to damage for the next 6 actions.

Cards:
Itza-chu: 9D
Father O'Rourke: 7S.))

---

Jake Lawrence is next!

In a moment of semi-brillance, Jake realizes he's got a rather large tomb of occult and arcane lore in hand and probably should use it for well something useful. He begins going through the pages. His eyes scanning, and fingers flipping as the huckster trying to find something useful against this creature.

OOC: Knowledge Occult!
07:41, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 12,10 using 1d4+1,1d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of (4+4+3)11,(6+3)9. Know (Occult) +1 Book.
woot! 2 raises!

07:43, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 4D using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

Gus takes stock of the situation. His eyes fall on a barrel set off to one side in the crossroads. "Say...Adrian, I spy me one o' the traps we done set up." He points to the barrel. "That there has some old dynamite and a bunch o' flour in it...set it off, and it'll great a good boom. Might be enough to ward off an army o' deaders, or at least get them lit up so we can see 'em to shoot 'em...wanna help me grab it?"

Adrian had been contemplating making a rush towards the graveyard, but had hesitated because he didn't know what was there. He knew it was probably something he could handle, he just liked to better know what he was getting into. He listened to the suggestion from Gus, and gave him a nod.

"Sure, I can roll with that plan," he said, and started to make his way over to the location of said barrel, hoping to help carefully bring it back and set it up somewhere. And then hopefully get away from it.

---

10:00, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: 8S using the Deadlands system.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Tue 16 Oct 2012.

Attempting to get peoples attention Jake lets out a loud whistle, like someone calling kids in for dinner. He then shouts "Shot the blasted thing in the heads!"

Jericho watches the pair run to the barrel, which isn't heavy so much as bulky and unwieldy.

"Be careful with this." Gus says. "It's got flour and three sticks o' sweaty dynamite. Strong jostlin' could set it off, and then we'd be in for a world o' hurt."

---

Meanwhile, up the street, the 'Glom looks over the fallen body of Itza-chu. his wounds are closing, but the Indian isn't moving.

Instinct takes over, and the fleshy mass picks up the psychotic Apache. Itza-chu screams as the thing presses him to it. Dead flesh melds with living flesh with a sickening sucking noise, and suddenly the thing seems larger...

"Mighty Christ!" Danny shouts, and leaps at the melded body of Itza-chu. He drives his knife deep into the Apache's eye, up into what must be his brain...but when Danny pulls the knife out, the flesh seals over and begins to knit, just as Itza-chu had been doing the entire fight.

"Oh...oh Jesus..." Danny gasps as the hole fills back in and a new eyeball forms in the destroyed socket.

((OOC: Jericho Cantrell remains On Hold, while Gus and Adrian use their action to grab the Dynamite barrel.

The 'Glom grabs Itza-chu, who is currently in no condition to resist, and spends it's action incorporating him into its mass. There's no roll for this.

This means the 'Glom gets bigger, as it now has 4 bodies instead of 3. That bumps up its Strength, Vigor, and Size. Itza-chu and the spirit animating the 'glom war for control, like a harrowed:

23:00, Today: Itza-Chu rolled 1,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Opposed Dominion.
23:00, Today: 'Glom rolled 3,3 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Dominion.

Lucky for you all, the 'Glom remains in control. But unluckily for you all, the 'Glom now has Itza-chu's Fast Regeneration. Unless you kill it with a head shot (and it has to be the right head), it will heal damage taken. And since it's undead, it doesn't have to worry about Wound Penalties like Itza-chu did. The thing has 4 heads (2 white male, one white female, and Itza-chu), so you'll need to make a Notice Check (-3) to find the right one to target.

For instance, it's now Danny's turn.

He attempts to find the right head: 23:07, Today: Danny Boy rolled 2,1 using d6-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. Notice to find the right head.

That's a fail, so he has to chose a head at random. He goes for Itza'chu's head.

23:09, Today: Danny Boy rolled 10,0 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,4. Stab 'em in the eye! That's a hit with a Raise. Go Danny!

Damage: 7 damage. ...aaaaand the Danny Boy Fail Trail rolls along. That's not even enough to tickle the thing. Time for the next round.))

---

Turn Order:
Vampire Girls: QC
William Pierce: JD
Adrian: 8S
Gus: Goes on Adrian's initiative
Father O'Rourke: 7S
Itza-chu 'Glom: 5S
Jake: 4D
Danny Boy: 2C
Jericho: On Hold

"C'mon sugar, it's got him," Carmilla says, trying to pull Danny away from the thing before it adds their mass to the bulk.

[[full defense for Carmilla, trying to retreat]]

Darla, still sitting on top of the thing, dutifully tries to smash the nearest head but is forced to concentrate her efforts on holding on.

[[09:04, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 1,1 using d6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Darla smash! Nope.
Init. 3D]]

"Well. Guess we can forget about that hatchet."
William deadpans.

With two pistols in his hands, he trails the heads of the thrashing monstrosity.

Shoot in the head... but which one?

That crazy indian was a new addition. So probably not him. Three whites, one girl, one two men.
His first instinct was to shoot the male heads. But then again, he had experienced first-hand how dangerous a woman could be.

He wished his former gang was here with him. They'd have split up the heads between them and taken them out. Hell, Mad Irish might have been able to figure this out on a hunch. He'd been a smart kid, but insane. He remembered how he beat up Three-Fingers Johnson for saying he could have been english... when actually what Frankie hat meant was that if Murphy had been an Englishman, he'd have had the brains to be a doctor.

While his trail of thought galloped on, his eyes cooly considered the targets, then he noticed something... a slight glimmer of intelligence maybe, in one of the 4 pair of eyes. Of course, it could be a trick of the light...

Only one way to fing out, I s'pose...

He fires off two more rounds from the eerie gun and the bullets fly shrieking toward the target, burying themselves deep in the skull of the targeted head.

Notice! +4 from Edges, -3 circumstances, -1 wound.
16:00, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Notice.

Modifiers's completely off. It's -1 for the wound, +1 for the doubleshot, -4 (I guess) for the headshot. So it's a 3.
16:02, Today: William Pierce rolled 5,6 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+1)7. Headshot, doubleshot.

Ooookkkayyy... Out of chips, but I did check my adventure cards just now. Playing ACE - giving me automatically a success and a raise on the shooting.

On to damage:
4d6+1, not sure about head bonus damage.
16:06, Today: William Pierce rolled 25 using 4d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,2,1,(6+4)10. Ghost Gun damage.

If needed: 16:11, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: KC using the Deadlands system. Initiative.
16:11, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 4C using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Wed 17 Oct 2012.

The woman's head blows apart like rotten fruit, and the thing screams from it's three remaining mouths...then falls to pieces, the corpses separating from each other into a putrid mass.

((OOC: The headshot deals +4 damage, with an additional +2 from the critter's Weakness, so that's a final total of 31 damage. Even with the creaturee's high toughness that's a Shaken and 4 wounds, so down it goes.))

---

Combat over.

Darla lands quite squarely on her arse, but is very quickly up to a crouching crawl, searching the corpses for the Apache.

[[Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 4,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Notice?]]

Carmilla avoids the falling zombie-gobbets, but doesn't let go of Danny. In fact, she steps in and holds closer, voice soft by his ear. "...are we safe?"

"Don't worry, I'll be careful. I done been 'round dynamite before. Shit ain't right when it gets sweaty," he said, listening to the sudden sounds of gunfire that came from nearby.

Darla pulls the corpse pile apart, looking for Itza-chu, but there's only three corpses in the pile and a long, bloody streak leading into the graveyard.

"Er, uh, uh..." Danny stutters as the half-naked girl cozies up to him. He doesn't seem quite able to form a coherent reply.

Father O'Rourke surveys the scene. "Well. It seems we are safe, for now." he says to Jake and William. "Blessed be."

Gus and Adrian head up the street, as quickly as they can without jostling the barrel. They see a group up near the door of the chapel, and, dimly, some people picking at a pile of something over near the gates of the graveyard. Gus frowns. "Looks like we done missed the party."

"Hey!" Darla calls to the others, seeking squickly for the cleaver Carmilla dropped in her panic. "The immortal's still movin'!"

[[19:51, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. more noticement, for whatever purpose]]

Adrian felt something of a swagger in his step now that he was wandering around dressed like the Harbinger, though he let his hood down so that people would see it was him. Scythe-tipped pistols hung in the special holsters at his waist, and he still had one more gun that more properly belonged with Marshal Evans.

"I think it's a party I'm glad to have missed, Gus."

William pushes Jenny's gun back into his belt and draws his bowie knife.
"Then let's find him and chop him up. Maybe he likes spending eternity in a few pickle jars."

His eyes glow with an unholy light, reflected in the frame of his pistol - which should be empty now, but William seems unconcerned.


Selected the wrong auto-completion suggestion: It's actually +3, not -3.
So that comes out at 5 and 8.
21:09, Today: William Pierce rolled -1,2 using d6-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. Super-Notice. But one wound.

In reply to The Stray (msg # 77):

"Don't figure that'll last long," the huckster says gravely.

"We all clear?" comes a shout from down the street.

"Ain't for sure yet!" Gus hollers back. "Here. I got this." he says to Adrian as he takes the barrel and sets it down. "Look for the damn injun."

Meanwhile, Darla and William search the graveyard, but come up empty. There are a couple of disturbed graves, and the bloody trail leads to one of them, but the grave is empty. It's as if he'd vanished into thin air.

"A temporary respite is better than none at all." The reverend replies to Jake.

It's about this time that Alouette, a wounded Evans, and John Smith arrive at the church.

"Howdy Shepherd, Deputy Vega, Gus Shaw, Bitter Waters, Danny Albatross, Shredded Clothes Lady!" the clank greets those it can easily see, then presents Evans to the priest.

"Fix please! -Ambrose was sleeping in the street because he had leaked lots, but John John Smith fixed him a bit after self told the Comanches to shoo so he can walk now. Do you have an axe?"

---

In the graveyard, Darla makes a loud noise of frustration. "RRrrh! He's gone! Vanished-gone!" she calls over the wall, then swears. "Satan's balls...damn, poot'n fucklesticks. Well, thanks for helpin', sugar..."

The vampire harlot looks at William, pushing back her fall of dark hair. "Who are you, anyway?" The question comes with barely the recognition of meeting him five minutes ago.

---

"Guess it is over...thank you for bein' so brave - you're quite the hero, honey. I'm real grateful." Carmilla murmurs, tone velvety, then looks over at Alouette and frowns in confusion. "Bird...armour...thing...talks?"

William eyes the vampire whore. Hired help, Vincent had called them. He wondered if he should put her out of her misery.
"I'm the last man Marina killed. As soon as I track her down, I'll end her." he says, matter of factly, showing his fangs to the girl.
With his pistol, he points at the empty grave.
"Bastard's gone. Healed up faster than I thought. Not a mistake I intend to repeat."
He holsters his gun.
"Now, what am I to do with you?"

Darla does frown, trying to pull one evening of murder from another by the light of her low-burning life force. Something seems to surface. "Weren't...that a woman?"

The latter question gets a sensuous smile, Darla sashaying forward and dropping the cleaver as a sign of good faith, bellying up to William and seeing if he'll let her snake a pale arm around his neck.
"Why, sugar...anything you like."

William regards her like an insect. Surprising, really. Apart from the fact that she had been part of the group that killed him and Jenny, she is still a beauty. And a scantily-clad one at that. He waits for lust in him to stir, but there was nothing. He looks over Darla's shoulder, where his "friends" would be, just at the edge of his field of vision. Then he remembers that they are now much closer. Then he feels a cold presence in his mind snicker and stretch and knows that this part of his life is over.
He catches Darla's arm by her wrist - a memory flashes before him, he had done the same with Marina, had squeezed the fanged bitch's wrist a little harder than necessary in a failed -  and fatal - attempt to intimidate her. This time, he is more gentle.
"There was a girl with me, yes. She got turned, too. She's on the loose. She was a murderer before. She'll be much better at that now.
Do you know where I can find Marina? Do you know how can I kill her?"

The vampire looks at her wrist in William's grip with a faint, pretty frown, then tries to press up to him anyway. She has to be able to smell he's dead, but she just won't stop coming on to him. Or can't. Little wonder Vincent hated these things, living with them day in, day out. "We must not let harm come to the Mistress," she tells him. There's a strange sing-song quality to her voice, like a child repeating something learned by rote.

"The Mistress is as our Mother and our Light. We will end gladly for the Mistress if she...if she so..." Darla leans back, expression immobile but free hand shaking as though with great effort as it rises to pry at William's fingers, shift his grip down a little. "...commands it..." There's a nail through the girl's arm where the longbones meet, metal colder than her skin: she presses his hand to it. "...f-for we love the Mistress..ss..." The pressure brings a little blood.

"...she did so command, on the road, that way," Darla whispers, swift and pained "Injuns took us, and they...and they....but they did not take the Mistress, O, praise be, she was safe. She...ran...but she is not so far, I feel the Mistress, she is as our Mother and our warmth," the whore makes a small, hurt noise, the nail rasping against bone under their hands. "Cowboys came, before the Ranger...cut us down..." whatever she's trying to tell him runs dry, her body relaxing. "...wouldn't you rather stay here with me, sugar?"

William glances outside the cemetary, toward the church.
"Promised the priest to help out here. But Marina's still on my list. You say you feel her... why don't you stay with me. I will not abandon you, not like your mistress did."

A thought occurs to him. Marina had bound these girls to her. Would he be able to do the same? Could he break her spell or would he have to turn another human being? No, that was out of the question.

He fingers the nail embedded in her wrist.
"Want me to pull this out?"

Darla just looks confused, like there's something she wants to remember just out of reach. "...but she had to run away, or they'd have caught her..."

The offer to remove the nail brings a sudden tensing and bared teeth: just feeling the tendons at her wrist go taut it's clear she's at least as strong as he is. "No." her eyes catch the moonlight like an animal's, a moment of bright blankness before she calms down. "No...if I'm hurtin', I can think a little. We...ought to find the Ranger, to help."

[[You want them? *proffers* I warn you, Darla's got just enough self-awareness to be intermittently suicidal, Marina's programmed them loyal, and they'll probably hump your furniture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24czSl30EmA]]

In reply to Alouette (msg # 83):

Father O'Rourke nods. "I shall do my best." He says, and directs Alouette to bring the Marshal indoors. He begins to work, calling on the Healing power of the Lord, then bring out more traditional tweezers, bandages, and sutures. after about 20 minutes, Evans is patched up, with only a little wincing from the wounds.

"Yes!" Danny gasps, pulling away from the girl and toward the lifeline that Alouette's presence provided. "Talky bird armor! Alouette, meet...er, this girl. Girl, meet Alouette. I'll leave the two of you to chat." He stands and rushes over for William.

"Sorry t' interrupt your lover's chat," he says, "but shouldn't we be tellin' the preacher what we learned at the Lodge? That's why ye were there, right?"

((OOC: Now that the fight is over, Father O'Rourke can go to work on Evans. He gets to put his new Healer edge to work

22:13, Today: Father William O'Rourke rolled 5,1 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. Faith! That will heal 1 wound. Not a lot, but it gets him in a better position to use normal healing on Evans.

22:13, Today: Father William O'Rourke rolled 7,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,4. Healing! Almost enough to remove the last couple wounds...he adds one of the chips I got from William's card.

22:14, Today: Father William O'Rourke rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. red chip. There we go. Evans is right as rain again.))

In reply to The Stray (msg # 90):

"We're coming." William calls back over his shoulder towards Danny, then pulls Darla closer.
"Let's go."

"Howdy, Girl!" Alouette chirps, left with Carmilla.

The vampire looks utterly perplexed. "...my name is Carmilla," she offers, clearly having trouble with the concept of 'clank'. The two stand and look at each other for a bit before Alouette's attention is caught elsewhere and patters down towards the Town Hall.

"Howdy Town Hall, howdy Cantrell!" it announces, tilting its head to try and see the people moving about on the roof. "Fear not! Self done told the Comanches to shoo - the ones that didn't shoo are under arrest now, and we won't let them go until they're sorry. Did y'all arrest Itza-Chu?"

Darla looks up at William, her full lips just slightly parted like she's forgotten what she might have said. Then she looks towards the church (indirectly) and shifts her hold to William's waist, moving with steel surety until they get out into the less shadowed street, where her steps falter and she leans in to half-support herself on William like a human woman who's been assaulted, tortured, then somehow found the courage to get up and fight a zombie-glom.

It makes the man in black look rather heroic.

William walks past the staring Danny, Darla hugging him tight.9
"Better shut your mouth, Irish, 'less you want flies to build a nest there. Let's tell the priest."

He stops near O'Rourke. "Father, we've found some disturbing things in that mansion.
They were shipping bodies in crates there. Then did some unspeakable things to them. Reanimating was most likely the least blasphemous.
What was the name on the address label?" He asks, looking at Jake and Danny.

"And... Alouette found some notes, too." He gestures at the clank.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:40, Sat 20 Oct 2012.

"Goddamn it!" Jericho growls. "He's here!? Was that who was running up the damn street!?"

"The address didn't mean much t' me, but I heard it's supposed t' belong to a dead man. The address was Caleb Feigenbaum, 221a Barber Street." he looks for the clank...but it's not at the church. It's currently wandering down the street toward city hall. Danny pokes his head out the church door.

"Oi! You!" he shouts after the clank. "We got pen and ink here, so ye can write down that stuff ye done ate at the Lodge!"  he looks over to the preacher. "Er, we do have pen and ink here, right?"

The reverend frown. "I have not been in town long enough to know where that is, I'm afraid..."

Gus, who had been standing nearby, takes the moment to speak up. He's standing well outside the church door, leaning on the barrel bomb. "Barber Street's just up the way. Moonies built the Lodge there. 221 should be right across from it. That's were the Jew lived, I think. What's all this about, anyhow? You sayin' the Moonies had soemthin' to do with the deaders there?" he hikes a thumb back toward the cemetery.

"Many folks were running up the street, Cantrell," Alouette informs him, and ambles back down towards Danny. "Howdy!"

"Arthur buried a lady in a box that he left in a cellar with all the skitter demons and plus plus witchery in the Lodge of the Witches," it adds to the conversation with Gus, "But she was not there: high probability clay of lady was rendered undead by witchcraft." Then it points at him. "Repent."

"Oh, fuck you." Gus rolls his eyes at the clank. "Git out o' my face afore I have ta shoot you again."

"Ye best not be talkin' to Alouette that way." Danny growls, flipping his knife back to the ready.

"Or you'll do what, Mick?" Gus yawns, his hand tapping the handle of his bowie knife. "You know, we done got some unfinished business, you and me. But seein' as I'm tryin' to make nice on account oh trying to save my whole fuckin' town from immortal injuns, I'm gonna give you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stop remindin' me how much I hate you by shuttin' your fuckin' lip. Now, it seems you done figgered out how to heal up nice and quick from all the shit that should o' killed you up to now, but I reckon you don't want to test me, boy. 'Cause I've been at the unkillable game longer than you, and I know how to make you fuckin' wish for death. You come at me, Mick, I won't stop with just your curls...I'll take your whole fuckin' head, see how well you heal up from that."

"Really? How gracious o' ye." Danny spits. "O' course, I didn't think ye'd be so fuckin' stupid, seein' as you're outnumbered by the likes o' them as seen Hell itself."

"Sounds like someone here's a slow fuckin' learner." Gus growls, his stance shifting into a fighting stance. "You think you can take me, you pissant Yankee piece of Irish shit? Then step up. Step up or go crawl into a hole like the worm I know you are."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Mon 22 Oct 2012.

Gently, William pushes Darla away. Then he takes a few steps closer and to Danny's left.
"Careful, snake. The boy's with me. And I know a thing or two about the Irish. You don't want to get him riled. But on the off chance you do get lucky and win against him, then the two of us shall have a little dance. I've had quite a few of them."


EDIT: Adding an intimidation roll for good measure.
10:54, Today: William Pierce rolled 7,3 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Intimidation.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:54, Mon 22 Oct 2012.

The clank had been chiding about the bad language, but in the quiet after William's words there's a faint but distinct crackle of static.

Jake let the others talk about various things. The huckster moves a little ways away from everyone and took a seat on a overturned bucket. He slowly begins looking over the book that he'd found. His eyes and hands lightly dancing over the cover and spin before leafing through the pages.

OOC: Going to go with my hunch - looking for significant events to do with the book and what's happening in the town at present.
11:01, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 6,4 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4. Hunch.

Adrian Vega, dressed in the vestments of the Harbinger and with its two scythe-tipped guns holstered, walked slowly into the church building. Part of his slow gait came from hesitance. The recent revelations about his condition made him wary to churches and church folks and he didn't want to spend any more time within this establishment than he needed to. As a member of the Lady Luck Society, Adrian had a little knowledge about his sort of condition and the way it was viewed by the God fearing citizens of the world. And what they could do to him if they were of a mind. He had nothing against them, but was pretty sure they wouldn't see him the same way.

The other part of his gait came from a certain swagger he had picked up ever since donning the Harbinger's cape and cowl, and holstering its weapons. He had always liked guns, but he felt a special connection with these and felt almost like by using them in Blackthorn's defense he could somehow redeem himself. The huckster didn't feel much guilt over the things he'd done in his life, but in his awareness of his state of death he seemed to feel a constant need for redemption.

"Glad to see you're alright, Marshal," he said. The weapon the Marshal had given him earlier, he set down beside the town's lawman. "Sorry I done ran away with your gun. Things got crazy back there. It's good to see you too, Alouette. Nice work with that thing out there." Too casually, he stepped just out of the door of the church building, as if that made a difference. Somehow it did. Somehow, it made him feel safer.

Then he caught wind of the conversation between Gus, William and Danny. He listened, and let it play on for some time before interjecting. "We all just stood together on this thing here, so how about we all just calm down a quick minute and save this shit for another time."

---

11:07, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. Persuasion.

In the background, Darla hugs Camilla, tight, and whispers something in her ear, throwing a glance or two toward William.
Camilla has a doubting look on her face, but nods, eventually.



William raises an eyebrow, his eyes never leaving Gus.
"Your move, snake."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:23, Mon 22 Oct 2012.

some mood music for the vision

Evans takes the pistol, and shrugs. "It would have been of precious little use to me in my weakened state anyway." He says, holstering it. "Though I am glad to have it back." he follows Adrian toward the gathering trouble, frowning.

Gus glares at William. "Tough talk for the coward I saw tryin' to hide behind that metal coat rack there a few hours ago." he says. "And yer lookin' remarkably healthsome for someone who was supposed ta have been scalped by the Injuns. Mighty healthsome indeed. Why, how do we know you weren't workin' with 'em?"



"Do you really wanna stick up for this son of a bitch?" Gus shoots back. "I do seem to recall that last time he crossed our paths, he was tryin' to shoot you. Ain't he pals with that Creole fucker that plugged you in the back and left you for dead? And now he's tryin' to step between me and the Mick. That Mick's a cattle rustler and a cold-blooded killer, Adrian. He shot Slim Jenkins, who ain't never done nothin' to nobody. Then he went apeshit and tried to fry half the townsfolk earlier today. Killed three people. How many more we gonna let him get away with killin' afore we end it?"

As he speaks, the air fills with the buzz of a rattler's tail.



"If I may interject..." Evans says, stepping up to the group. "This is not the time for this. Tensions are running high, and none of us here can be called innocent of any wrongdoing. Not you, not the boy, not even myself. But if we are going to let recriminations fly and tempers run wild, right on the very doorstep of the house of God, then might I suggest that the one without any blood on their hands be the first to cast stones?"

Gus snarls at him, but though his snake-eyes narrow, he seems to be visibly restraining himself.

"Thank you. Now, Mr. Pierce," The marshal says, this time looking squarely at William, "dumping kerosene on an open flame is not how you extinguish it. You might wish to remember that you are on probation in my town, released on bail only because we have larger issues at hand to deal with. That state of blessed freedom is currently in jeopardy."

"Marshal..." Father O'Rourke says, joining the group around the threshold. "This man just single-handedly saved us all from an unholy abomination of twisted flesh and death."

"...I helped some..." Danny whines, but shuts up at the withering glares from just about everyone else.

"*ahem* As I was saying, this man has just done this town a tremendous deed, and you should be congratulating him, not excoriating him."

((OOC: And now I pause to let anyone else who wants to get a word in...))

William keeps watching Gus.
Soonet or later we'll face off each other. Maybe we should get this over with...

"Just trying to help,  Father. No need to congratulate me. And Marshal,  I was just trying to defuse the situation here. He was talking down to my friend.  So I just gave him a fair warning of the consequences. Glad that it helped.”

His eyes clearly convey the message that this isn't ober.

"Done a bit of marshaling myself,  Marshal. Guess he smells that."

"Danny Albatross did not cause death of mortals, Gus Shaw: John John Smith, Shepherd and self fixed them: they are in the Town Hall now."

Alouette, who then pattered off with a faint "okay!" about mid-point in Evans' speech, returns with a couple of stray roof tiles.

The automaton halts, looks from Gus to William, then back at Gus, then steps up to the latter and sort of mostly drops the tiles at him like someone who's heard of casting stones in malice but hasn't quite grasped the principle.

"Unable to locate stones," it chirps at Evans.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:15, Tue 23 Oct 2012.

Adrian's voice was filled with the calm of the grave, and he spoke not in anger but simply in fact. "Gus, I was just trying to calm shit down. I ain't forgotten that I owe you one, and I got your back," he said, gesturing to Pierce offhandedly, "especially when it comes to incinerating pieces of shit like that."

Ah. The man without a heartbeat. Another man, actually.
The amount of people who wouldn't stay down for good was suprising. He'd had heard rumors about these things, before, but this cursed town was like a honeypot for flies. Dead flies.

"Afraid of fire, are you? Don't play with matches, then." he retorts.

Two girls flank William, suddenly, both scantily clad.

"Oh, sugar... don't you go and do something stupid when we were all... soo... nice... a minute... ago..." one of them says in a husky voice, batting her eyes toward Adrian.

"Yes...", the other chimes in but leaning forward and presenting her ample cleavage to Gus, "why don't you try and relax a little..."


19:19, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 2,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Darla, assisting.
19:19, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Camilla, Persuasion.

"Howdy, Minus Clothes Woman!" Alouette greets Darla, not having encountered her before.

"Somebody should write that down and put it in a dime novel," he said, then watching with idle curiosity as the two women flanked his would-be murderer.

He chuckled dryly at the mechanical marvel's chirpy greeting for the scantily clad woman. Back in his living days, which seemed not so long ago, the display of such a fine bosom might have stirred some type of desire within him. Probably on account of being dead, but that didn't really seem to be much of a motivation anymore. Now that he was free of it, in retrospect it seemed that such a paralyzing appetite for temptations of the flesh was indeed a weakness. So easily he had been exploited so many times on account of his susceptibility to that very same bait that was being offered now so freely. So powerful was the call of that pleasure to a man that even devoid of such inclinations as he was at present, he yet almost wished that he still wanted it. And if that wasn't foolish, he didn't very well know what was.

"Well you're doing a damn poor job of it." Evans says. "That Danial O'Conner there is not in a cell is a representation of just how troublesome our situation is. I will only warn you once more...stop making the situation worse. Or by heaven I will stick you both in the vault in the Mining Affairs Office and let you shoot it out until only one walks out. Are we clear?"

Gus locks his serpent eyes on William. "The only thing I'm smellin' off you is blood and death, hombre, and I'll be goddamned before I let you do any killin' here. This is my town, shit-for-brains."

"Mr. Shaw." Evans says, a warning note creeping into his voice. "I can handle this.

"I don't take orders from you." Gus responds, not taking his eyes off William.

"Can you at least take suggestions? Save this for latter..." Evans says, but he trails off as the girls arrive and start trying to woo the two local boys.

"Aw, shucks!" Gus says with a grin as the two women. "I reckon we don't need to do this right now, girls..."

"Step away! Everyone!" Evans shouts. He's holding what looks like a sharpened chair leg, brandishing it like a knife. And he's pointing it at Darla. "Mr. Peirce, if you value your life, I must insist that you remain absolutely still!"

((OOC: Gus rolls to resist: 23:05, Today: Gus Shaw rolled -1,-1 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Resisting Persuasion. Yeah, that's a critical fail.

Evans, on the other hand, has faced these girls before, and knows what they are.))

The clank, recognising at least one instance of threatening behaviour, endeavours to get in everyone's way.

"Cease!"

"It's okay, Alouette." William slowly raises his left hand and focuses now on the marshal. His right hand is still near the shiny gun in his holster.


"No need for that, Marshal. The girls are with me. And seeing as we're all good friends now again, there's no need to escalate this further.
Father O'Rourke will back me up on this.
Won't you, father?"

"Yes, we're good girls now. Promised the ranger."

"No townsfolk. But Comanche are fair game she said."

"Especially that annoying immortal one. He got away real fast..."

Seeing the Marshal go into a defensive mode, Adrian leaned casually against the wall, still wreathed in the vestments of the Harbinger. He very slowly and obviously drew those one of the two scythe tipped weapons, though held it downwards, aiming it at no one in particular. To be honest, he didn't really know who the threat was at the moment.

"What seems to be the matter, Marshal?" he asked, in the languid, lazy way of speaking that he had sort of always had. It had been bad, here, though living in New Orleans certainly hadn't helped.

In reply to The Stray (msg # 104):

Jake's shoulders slumped, as though he were the baseball player who just swung at the last pitch of the game, missed and lost his team the game. His eyes look at the book in his hands but don't seem to be focusing on anything. The huckster wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry about what was going on, so his body did both.

"Vampires, Mr. Vega." Evans replies. "The same vampires who lured poor Mr. Micklethwait in and bit him, causing him to rise again. The same that infected the Jellicle gang, and may have infected Mr. Cantrell, Miss Hawkins, and poor deputy Charging Bear. The same vampires I now see trying to spread their taint around here."

He glares at William. "And if they are with you, That makes you suspect, as well. We figured that the vampire girls at the Oriental may have had a male accomplice we were never able to catch...well, it seems that accomplice has handily revealed himself!"

He pulls a strange device with his free hand, a red box filled with dials and knobs, with some sort of indicator on the top. He fumbles with it for a moment, and an arc of electricity sparks along the metal ring at the top. Those around the device can feel the hair on their arms rise from the ambient static.



Evans spares a glance at the readout on the dials, and nods once, grimly. "I thought so." He looks at Gus. "Mr. Shaw, I know you won't take orders from me, but please consider this - What we have here is a unique opportunity to end one of our supernatural menaces. It appears Mr. Pierce here has a similar Aetheric Resonance to the two parasites currently clinging to him. I would not be surprised if he were the parent source of those resonances."

"Huh?"

"Mr. Pierce here is a vampire, Mr. Shaw. A bloodsucking scourge on Blackthorn. If you still wish to pursue an altercation with him, I will not hinder you. Indeed," He returns his glare to William, "I will assist."

"You mean I can kill 'em without you gettin' in my face about it?" Gus says, and evil grin spreading across his face as he raises the nozzle of the flamethrower.

"That is precisely what I mean." He looks at Alouette. "Please stand aside, Deputy Alouette. We have monsters to slay."

And right then, Jake begins his laughing sob...

((OOC: Congrats, William. You just tripped right over Evans' Evil Deeds Dementia...William has a knack for saying just the wrong thing to NPCs, doesn't he?

Evans activates his Detect Arcana power to confirm his suspicions.

11:42, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 5,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+5)11. Weird Science!))

The clank takes up a stance very reminiscent of Wildcat and folds its arms, though it does seem to be protecting the Marshal from the others more than the other way about.

"Pierce William Pierce is a good vampire, Ambrose - he has not harmed a mortal, and is taking care of some lost souls...he went out of the town with Not Suspicious Man who was also a vampire, but came back after he stabbed a Pure Blooded Comanche to go to church and repent, which is also a Good Thing. Y'all should go to church more often, and do listening, especially Gus Shaw - he is a Bad Man."

There's a short, ticking pause. "Y'all can shoot Gus Shaw to be minus violence if desired: it will not harm him or make him dangerous with minus-humanity hunger."

It looks over at Jake. "Is Bitter Waters broken?"

"No more than usual." James muttered as his eyes shift to the others.

"Interesting. It's true, I've been hunted by the law before, but only for things I'd done. Never for what I am."
William replies, surveying the men before him.

That man with the scythed pistols... he didn't have them before, probably put them on to scare away them indians. Neat trick, but the added weight would be taking their toll on his accuracy. The marshal... he seemed to be in bad shape. The snake, though, he was the dangerous one and the first he should take down. If he had to.

"I've been in town a couple of hours, marshal. Got turned into what I am now by Marina. The girls belonged to her, but have been abandoned by their mistress. Now they're helping me to find her, so that I can end her. The ranger girl will back me up on this, I'm sure.

So you want to kill me for having been killed? Or how do you plan on justifying this?"

Adrian didn't quite know how to feel about the person he just learned was a vampire. On the one hand, he had in cold blood tried to murder Adrian earlier without cause or conflict. On the other hand, Adrian had already been dead at that point, so was it really a murder? It was an odd question. It still felt like it though. At the time, Adrian himself hadn't known he was already dead. Even the man that killed him had barely known it, and the man that walked into the door and pulled a gun and shot him without reason - there's no way he coulda known it.

It was the intent that counted. The man had tried to murder him, and for all the shooter knew, he coulda very well been alive. That was as good as murder.

"Likely story. All we know is that you walked me into a room, and despite having not known me, despite having no conflict with me, you shot me - you tried to murder a lawfully ordained deputy of Blackthorn while he was attempting to apprehend a criminal. You're a ruthless killer, proven by your own actions - and now besides a cold blooded murderer, we know you're a fuckin' vampire to boot."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:09, Fri 26 Oct 2012.

"What you are is a danger to ever single person in Blackthorn who still breathes." Evans says evenly. "Your kind is a plague. You vampires have committed at least four murders in town - plus you own, if what you say is true - and most of those have risen as more murderous monsters shortly thereafter. I don't particularly care to see this infection spread any further. Now, I can believe you when you say that you'd be willing to limit your murders to the Comanches, but that simply leaves us with the potential for Comanche vampires, who will be no less dangerous than white ones."



"That is an excellent point!" Evans nods. "Even if I were willing to consider letting you run around, you've already proven your ill-intent!"

"Now, wait just a minute!" Danny says, springing up to William's side. "You're goning to blame him fer things he done, when ye have a monster like Gus Fuckin' Shaw standin' at ye side!? William's ten times the man he is! he's just saved your worthless bloody town from that giant dead thing! Maybe he shoulda just stood aside, if this is how ye reward him!"

Father O'Rourke also takes a stance. he stands in front of William. "We all have done things we are not proud of in our lives...I know that more than most. And I can vouch for Mr. Pierce, who came to me this very evening for holy confession. He is right with God, and is trying, trying so hard, to change his ways, to atone for finding himself condemned to the curse of living death. Would you throw his salvation away?"

"Step out o' the way, preacher man." Gus rumbles. "We've given those there too many damn chances, and it's bitten us every time. You all wanna point fingers at me? I ain't done nothin' 'cept work my ass off, bleed and sweat and yes, even kill, for this town, while you ain't done shit but try to destroy it!"

"Did done you murder the Comanche?" Alouette asks William sternly.

To Adrian, it explains: "Number Seven Man had a recognition error and thought you were undead, not differently alive - y'all have to do 'discreet' about that: Pierce William Pierce went to remove mortal in danger, but all the people started shooting."

Then lastly to Gus: "The Shepherd has saved many people, including women and men injured by Danny Albatross' bird, which was angered by the Mayor who is a witch, and Carl, who had somewhere else venom in and was leaking lots. You killed Danny Albatross twice, making him minus minus humanity, and shot self whilst defending a mortal...Blackthorn, Texas, and also the world would done be in much danger if it was minus angels now. Repent."

"Logic error, Alouette. I didn't fire a shot before the vamp fired at me. I was in the middle of an arrest and hadn't fired a bullet, even though I had the man that would have ended me - right before me. In the middle of a peaceable arrest, the vampire walked into the room and shot a deputy without provocation. I had not threatened Number Seven Man or whatever with any kind of harm, besides that of facing justice for his crimes."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:34, Fri 26 Oct 2012.

Not caring about the present argument over whatever it is about, Jake walked past everyone and into the church. His mind running through the few options left to him. He ignored everyone inside the church and walked to the front most pew, where he sat down and looked at the book again. This time however he didn't open it only looked at the cover and slowly let what was happening to him sink in.

The book felt like a lead weight around his neck. He'd made a deal, one unlike any he'd done in the past. The spirits in and around Blackthorn were worse than those he'd encountered else where. Power gained too easily and taken without thought had bought him to this point.

"Trismestigus." the huckster muttered, the word came out harsh and hateful. "What do you have to say about our friend the snake?"

OOC: Intel is intel right?
08:09, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 7,6 using 1d4+2,1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5,4. Know (Occult) +2 Book.
That's good enough for some info.
08:09, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 6,21 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+6+6+3)21. Spirit.

This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:10, Fri 26 Oct 2012.

The clank ticks a bit more, apparently going over events. "Number Seven Man was...going off all crazy eights like a coyote who done swallered some rope: self entered building to tell him to fear not. Pierce William Pierce was going out of town with Not Suspicious Man, did not know Deputy Vega, heard Number Seven Man being plus eight crazy minus information...vampires do not see the same way as angels, only what has blood in and what is inside-shiny, therefore Pierce William Pierce could not detect the recognition error of Number Seven Man immediately, and believed the mortal in danger."

To William, it adds: "Deputy Vega points smokewagons at folks a lot but he is not dangerous to mortals when he is not doing witchcraft; witching is bad for all alive things and plus plus bad for differently alive things. Fear not! Self has instructed him to repent," it chirps. Then it abruptly raises its metal head, a flicker of brightness sparking in the depths of its lenses as static sighs strongly somewhere within.

"You with me, Irish?" William asks softly.

"So what's it gonna be, marshal? You're going to kill me in cold blood?"
The fingers of his right hand twitch in anticipation.

If this would be a few months ago, you'd all be already dead and I'd be getting a drink at the saloon.


He looked over the three targets. He hadn't really recognised the Deputy he shot in the back. He'd been distracted by that coat and those scythed pistols. He had... shot bolts of light or something from his guns. So he wasn't just dead, he had some unnatural powers as well.
The snake.
And the marshal might actually know how to kill him.
I could use another gun or two.

"I ain't aiming at killing whatever law is left in this place. Even if you have a curious selection of deputies. I was about to leave town when Father O'Rourke asked me to help in the defense of this town. Since I already did that and you no longer seem to be needing me, I'll be happy to hit the trail. Go after Marina. Make sure she doesn't turn more folks. What do you say, Marshal?"

To say John was lost in thought would have been a misnomer. He was damn well swimming in it. He tried to remain alert but his thoughts were jumping from event to event he had experienced in the past few days. He had never been a smart man, not book smart anyway, though he seemed to have sense when it mattered. Unfortunately it wasn't helping him make sense of everything he had been witness to.

His Master, his companions, the tenuous and shaky alliances of this town on the edge, witnessing Adrien picking up the garb of that... thing did little to sooth his worries. There was something wrong about wearing that which had adorned something so terrible. Now he seemed to find himself in the company of vampires, of the living dead, of tin can angels, of... whatever the hell Danny and Gus were. He could kick air and send a man ten yards away flying as though he had connected with his skull and he seemed to be the least strange person here. Now all of the others were about to explode into violence at any minute.

"This is not what this town needs right now." he said aloud, more to himself than to anyone present, though it was loud enough to hear. "Folks, given the heap o' crap that has struck this town of late, isn't there something better we can be doing than tearing into each other like idjits?"

He laughed and shook his head in spite of the tense situation. "I swear, we have some ancient snake god messing with things, some strange Society, a bunch of assassins apparently, walking corpses, Apaches, there fear those things are filling this town with just makes it all worse without you lot fixin' to kill one another. Heck, we actually pull our heads out of our asses work together it'd be them shakin' in their boots. Look at us. Work together and we could terrorize the damn terrors." He spat. "Or you all can act like fools and weaken the best hope this damned town has."

A thought occurs to William.
"Also, if you kill me, who will help you deal with the infected people? Tell you how to prevent them from turning?"

"To be honest, I'd rather all of this not come to violence. I've had my share of violence for one day. I think we all have. But this man here...William Pierce as you call him, shot me in the back without provocation, and Gus stood by my side. If he's going to try and take Gus down, I stand with Gus even if it means I die again. I've lost a lot recently, so I don't have much to live for. If I can keep one thing, that's loyalty."

"Take him down?"
William raises an eyebrow.
"You're the only ones with guns drawn. And your... friend was heckling my friend just now.
As for shooting you in the back... you were about to take a shot at the only man I knew in this god-forsaken town. Don't deny it. From all I knew, I was acting in the defense of a man."

Also, getting shot in the back kinda seems to be a theme of this dirthole place anyway. he thought.

He felt the ogre in the back of his skull shift in unease at the continuing situation.

"I know, it's pretty unbelievable that I feel the need to be armed in the presence of vampire that not only shot me in the back but thinks he can read minds, but I guess we all have our quirks," he said.

Trismestigus on the topic of snakes:
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Fri 02 Nov 2012.

"You have a poor taste in friends, Mr. Pierce." Evans snaps back. "Your 'friend' Seven of Spades is guilty of at least one murder - we have an eye witness for that." he gestures at Adrain with the hand holding his detection device. "Your other 'friend' Danny O'Conner is a jayhawking bushwhacker and cattle thief who is host to a demon that nearly killed three people today. The two girls clinging to you like barnacles are responsible for the death of god knows how many people through their vile infection! I quite think Mr. Shaw's beef is legitimate!"

"Ambrose..." Father O'Rourke says. "John is right. We have to work together if we are to deal with the troubles that face us. Let William finish telling me what he's learned. Then he can take the girls, and Mr. O'Conner as well, and they can all skip town together."

"And cause trouble in some other township!" Evans says back. "No! I will not have it! I will not allow this to spread beyond Blackthorn's borders! The threat must be neutralized now! And unless the vampires are willing to submit to several hours beneath a pair of dental pliers, then I don't see any way this cannot end badly!"

"Just say the word, Marshal." Gus growls. "Me an' Adrian will back your play."

((OOC: Oy. Anybody got a way of breaking the stalemate? Any cards or clever ideas? Because I think the situation is about to degenerate without something stepping in...))

The automaton refocuses on the argument around it after a minute or so spent staring at something inside the church, static hissing softly.

"Gus Shaw caused Danny Albatross to be minus humanity and has not repented," it points out to Evans. "Danny Albatross is trying very hard and hasn't stabbed anyone for approximately one hour, twelve minutes."

There's some ticking. "Vampires, promise not to cause people minus green vegetables to become infected with biting. Pierce William Pierce, hand weapon to self." Clearly the clank has what it considers a Plan, though whether it hinges on the same reality as everyone else's may be up for debate.

Before William can get too angry or Adrian too smug, the tin-can angel holds out a hand in that direction, too. "Deputy Vega, also hand weapons to self: you are causing negative energies, which are bad for y'all, also high probability attracting plus demons to immediate area."

[[I think it's time for Wildcat to come down to see what's up and shout some sergeant-like sense into the boys]]

PM

Adrian sat there with one of the Harbinger's guns pointed at William Pierce, the bloody bastard that shot him in the back. He wasn't planning on firing, but something inside of him urged him to do so. Something was pulling at him, and he was fighting it. To all outward appearances his face was fixed in a mask of torment, contorted as he struggled mightily to control what was trying to take him over and drive him to act based on this primal urge to kill. He almost wanted to surrender to it; it would feel good to get a little revenge, and that feeling was just one more thing he had to fight. He knew, though that if he let it out, he didn't know where it would stop or what else it would do after shooting Pierce - and he just wasn't willing to take that chance. Despite having to wrangle many motivations and purposes, the native son of Blackthorn managed to put it all away - bottle it up for another day. A day that he wished would never come, but knew better.

"Marshal Evans, this is your call," he said, after a few tense and mind wrenching moments, echoing Gus Shaw's sentiment.


OOC:
15:12, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 14,7 using d12+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 11,4. Dominion.

Evans frowns, considering the situation.

"Surrender your weapons to Deputy Alouette." he says at last. "Both of you. Mr. Shaw, I would appreciate it if you returned my flame thrower to me."

John breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure what he would have done had violence broken out. Tried to knock the senseless people senseless perhaps, if he could even manage, he was good in a brawl but he wasn't invulnerable and it'd likely just piss people off a might bit further rather than do anything. He'd watch the exchange of weapons in silence, provided no one did anything stupid he'd eventually speak up again. "So, present trouble aside, what's our tally of plagues tonight?" he asked, moving to take a seat wherever he could. It had been a long long long day, to say the absolute least.

William waits for the others surrendering their Weapons first.
No sense in getting shot because I drew blank...

"What about you, Marshal? You're going to burn me once I'm unarmed? Or do I have your word you'll kep the truce?"

Evans frowns. "You are the one whose trustworthiness is in doubt here, Mr. Pierce. If you want this to remain a truce rather than an arrest, be the first to show you deserve some trust."

"Speed and strength of vampire minus weapon equals speed and strength of mortal plus weapon," the clank points out, mechanically patient.

It doesn't seem to have an answer to John John's question. "Temporal calculation error: incalculable amount."

For a long minute, William just stands there. Then his right hand clutches the grip of the pistol in his holster and he pulls it from it, turning it smoothly around so that the handle looks forward. Still, for a second, it seems that William will turn the gun around once more, emptying it into the three men before him.
Then his left pulls his other pistol from his belt, repeating the maneuver.
He holds the guns out toward Alouette.
"I'm trusting them to you, Alouette. Take care of my friends", he nods slightly toward the right gun "and I expect them back. Soon."

Then he looks back at the marshal, expecting betrayal and death.

"Okay!" the clank chirps, taking the weapons in a firm if decidedly unsafe one-handed bunch, still in the way with the other hand still held out towards Adrian.

In reply to The Stray (msg # 134):

Slowly Jake closed the book and set a hand on it. "Not much help. I guess we know more than we did but what use is it?" As he got up, Jake glanced around to see who was still in the church as he'd completely ignored the interior of the building previously.

OOC: Going outside to find Evans but figured Jake might notice someone/something important in the church... or not

After Pierce handed his gun in, the man had after all shot him in the back, he handed the scythe-tipped pistol to Alouette. "Here you go," he said. Then he drew and handed the second scythe-tip pistol to the clank.

Weapons were a comfort to Adrian, and it felt disquieting to be rid of them, but he did so out of respect for the Marshal - even though it was something of a pointless charade. The vampire likely didn't need weapons to try and kill him again. Fortunately for Adrian, his capacity for self defense against such unnatural things was fairly strong without weapons as it stood.

"Self has all the guns!" Alouette announces brightly, awkwardly clutching its armload of assorted lethal weapons.

It turns its attention to Gus. "Now give Ambrose his flame-thrower back."

This thread is continued on the Chapter 16.2 Thread. Please resume posting there.