((OOC: My bad. You're up there, then. I'll fix the map on MapTool, but I'm too lazy to crop another picture right now.))

Murphy stops singing, for a moment. "Carl and I were looking for the indian shaman. He's got a photograph we need. Tracks led down here, so we did what needed be done."


Murphy'll use his joker once he has a target, I.e, I plan to interrupt the dead miners.

Tex curses, picks up a large stone and tries to crush heap of bones in one go.


09:30, Today: Tex rolled 11,7 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5. Fighting to attack the heap of bones.
Do I get a raise/bonus damage die out of that?

09:31, Today: Tex rolled 4,6 using d12+3,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Rock damage (figure it's d6).
Tex is quite the weakling.
09:32, Today: Tex rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. bonus damage, if available.
So that's either 10 or 13. Laughable.

09:32, Today: Tex drew the single card: JS using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

((OOC: Laughable or not, 10 damage (no Raise damage on inanimate objects) is plenty to smash a few bones to powder.))

---

up Next: Augustus and the Dust Adders!

Augustus blinked a bit at the sudden shattering of the creature, the ensuing dust forcing him to reach for his handkerchief and cough hackingly for a few moments.   The scientist does manage to catch Dr. Ward's warning and suggestion that the true source of the problem will be found further in.   The Irishman's singing comes as a bit of a surprise though.  "I agree, but its often said they are a musical people...   Poets and such...  But, yes, I agree that this does seem to take it too far....."   Mike's arrival with the lantern forces a narrowing of the eyes against the sudden brightness and, for just a moment, a very observant sort might have caught a flashing glint of red in the scientist's eyes.  Probably nothing.  This tunnel did tend to make things somewhat spookier than they likely were after all.  Stuffing his handkerchief away again, Augustus began to head deeper into the dark tunnel, "You both heard the Doctor and I fear your addled friend will need a touch more assistance than a song or two.  Forward!"  Before too long, he spied yet more of the aetheric animates and lets loose another triple-toned screaming blast.

__________

Ned was as shocked as anybody at the effectiveness of his pistol shot.   Only to have his seeming victory shattered when Dr. Ward warned that it wasn't really gone.   Frankly, that such a beast would just...stop...   Was more frightening.   He gladly handed Mike the light and headed back to the Doctor.  He was done with stupid heroics....

Henry, on the other hand, wasn't so easily put off and followed along after Mike trying to unjam his shotgun.

Joe remains on guard, but likely nervy enough to bolt at the first sign of real threat down this way.

OOC - Augustus moves up the tunnel and fires a Med. AoE Entangle on the pair of horribles to the right.  Total to Resist - 13.  After 2 rerolls...  Total Entangle PP spent - 8

Ned moves back with the Doc.  Joe remains Shaken for mow.  Henry sticks with Mike as Backup.  Is his Shotgun out of commission?

14:21, Today: Dust Adders rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Joe Unshake.
14:19, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 13,6 using D6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,4. 2nd White Reroll.
14:18, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 5,3 using D6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. White Chip Reroll.
14:18, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 3,5 using D6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Entangle Shot! AoE!

some mood music

Augustus barrels ahead of the more sane members of the party, following the rail into the gloom. His eyes pick up the faint lantern light, and he steps forward and sees...Hell.

There's little else it could be. The chamber is vast, cut from the living stone and earth. Ghost rock outcroppings take the shape of human faces frozen in silent screams. Heaps of bones obscure the floor and make moving around treacherous.

Worst of all are the tunnel mouths. Each of the tunnels that lead deeper on into the darkness has taken on the aspect of a giant snake's head, stalactite fangs dripping bilious water onto the floor below.

A half-dozen skeletons aren't confined to the heaps on the floor, though. The bloody, gnawed things turn to gaze at the scientist approaching them and, as one, begin to laugh and lurch toward him.

((OOC: Augustus moves close enough to see into the chamber, though it's still gloomy and dark. It's enough, though...Augustus, with the help of his Cat's Eyes, is the first to see the Deadland at the heart of the Wendell Mine.

If you want to finish your action as intended, you need to make a Fear check for me. -6 (Deadland), -1 (Fear penalty of the monsters), -2 (Doubting Thomas), + Grit.

As for Henry's gun, he just needs to reload it, which will take up his action there.))
This message was last edited by the player at 09:37, Wed 12 Dec 2012.

Augustus pauses for a second at the horrible twisted sight.....but, he's quite in too deep to start thinking about things too much.  Sometimes, being a bit too easily focused on a task at hand meant that most other facts, especially contradicting or frightening ones, fell right to the absent-minded wayside.   Likely the scientist would think through it all later and really have questions for himself, but for now....   The game remained afoot!

OOC - Fear check total - 5.  Rolled a 5.  -6 for Deadland -1 for monsters - 2 Not Believing, +3 Grit, +2 Joker, +4 Blue Chippit.    Yay for the Joker!

06:18, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Blue Chip Add.
06:17, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 1,1 using D6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Fear!
This message was last edited by the player at 11:28, Wed 12 Dec 2012.

The skeletons pause as Augustus points his sonic cannon at them, and then rattle around as the triple tone washes over them.

Carl, limping away from his tormentors, can clearly hear the sound generated by Spotswood's device, and can make out the faint glow of a lantern up ahead...

Back in the cave-in chamber, Dr. Ward again measures out water into his silver dish. Again, the water bubbles as he performs his divination.

"Ah!" He cries in delight. "Excellent! I have you now!"

The water splashes him again, but he pays it no mind. Instead, he heads up into the tunnel, motioning for the Dust Adders to follow.

"Gentlemen, we have a new target!" he calls to the group further up the tunnel. "Find the black skull in that pile of bones. If we find it and destroy it, our ossified antagonist will be unable to manifest again!"

((OOC: 03:01, Today: Dead Miners rolled 2,3 using d10,d10, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Agility. That will catch both of them with Raises, so the two skeletons Augustus hit are well and truly entangled.

Dr. Ward again uses Analyze Foe against the Bone 'Glom

03:04, Today: Dr. Dexter Ward rolled 8,11 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,(6+5)11. Spellcasting.

03:05, Today: Bone 'Glom rolled 4,9 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+3)9. Opposed Spirit roll.

At last, he gets a success. He gets +1 on Trait Rolls against the critter, it gets -1 on Trait rolls against him, and he learns one Weakness, Immunity, or Invulnerability.

He relays the info to Ned and Spanish Joe.

Card: 3S))

---

Up Next, Carl!

Light. Carl stumbles out into the main chamber and pauses less than half a heartbeat at the sight, licking blood off his teeth and brushing the stuff out of his eyes. Blinded by the contrast and aware there are more walkers around Carl plunges off along the edge of the cavern, keeping his eyes low and his injured right side nearer the wall. He's lost all plan but movement, which is a dull, silent frustration, but perhaps if he can get the light behind him and see...

[[more movement and defensiveness for now, as much as possible of both.
init. 8H]]

The skeletal dead not hit with Augustus' weapon begin to move to surround the cowboy...

---

Murphy, you wanted to interrupt them?

For a moment, Murphy hesitates, scanning the bone heap for the black skull.

No... Tex can do that. Or Mike. Or anybody else. Got to help Carl.

So he follows Augustus into the dark, closer towards Carl.
He keeps singing to give Carl some sort of beacon to home in on - at least until Carl finds Augustus' light.

As he hears the creepy laughter coming from up ahead, he stops, mid-tune.

"Fuck. Forgot about the bloody miners."
He mutters.
The he clears his throat and yells: "Oy! There's nothing to gain for you here! I'm terrible sorry for what happened to you, but wasn't my fault. Wasn't Carl's fault. Was only the fucking bone thing's and the snake's fault! You want to take revenge, you oughta take it out on them!"

Trying another round of persuasion... Or would you count that as a Smarts trick? The dice are the same. Mostly trying to win time for Carl...

09:21, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Smarts or Persuasion.

09:22, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the 2 cards: AC, JH using the Deadlands system. Initiative, Level Headed.

The dead miners turn at Murphy's call...and begin to laugh.

"There's only one thing we crave now, Irish." Whispers a voice in Murphy's ear. "More bones!"

Three of the skeletons turn towards Murphy, shamble into the pile of bones...and then fall apart. The skeletons collapse back into the scattered pile of human remains...but the bones still twitch.

The two stung by Augustus's device continue to twitch and shake.

One of the skeletal monsters, the only one not dispersed or epileptic, follows Carl. It moves incredibly fast, blocking his path toward the light and spring ing at him. Bone fingers wrap around Carl's neck once again...

((OOC: That would be a Smarts trick. If you want Persuasion usable as a Test of Will, you'll want to pick up the Snake-oil Salesman edge.

Since Murphy doesn't have any edges that allow him to make tricks affecting an area, I'll roll randomly to see how many of the dead miners pay any attention to him.

03:18, Today: The Stray rolled 4 using 1d6. That's a goodly chunk of them. I'll ignore the ones Augustus hit...they've got ringing in their skulls from his Entangle power.

03:20, Today: The Stray rolled 6,6,3,19 using d8,d8,d8,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6,6,3,(8+8+3)19. Resisting trick. Three fail, one by 4 (meaning it's Shaken). That gives them all -2 Parry until Murphy's next action. One of them succeeds and is unaffected.

The Dead Miners get their turn.

2 of the Miners are Shaken (one from Carl's Trick, one from Murphy's), two are Entangled (from Augustus), and two are just fine.

I roll for the two that are Shaken (they get a +2 bonus to recover, being Undead): 03:26, Today: Dead Miners rolled 4,11 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+3)9. Recover from Shaken. Both succeed, one gets a Raise.

The two Entangled Skeletons try to escape Augustus' sonic attack: 03:34, Today: Dead Miners rolled 2,1 using d10,d10, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. Agility. They remain trapped.

The ones nearest to Murphy move into the bone pile...and Burrow into it. Murphy, make a Notice check. This is opposed by their Stealth, which I've rolled in secret. If you fail, well...we'll get to that. }:D.


The other one Murphy got the attention of moves into the bone pile and hides, too...but it can't move any further, so there's no possibility of a surprise attack from it.

The one that wasn't affected attacks Carl. It has Improved Frenzy, so it gets two attacks.

03:40, Today: Dead Miners rolled 8,5 using d10,d10, rerolling max with rolls of 8,5. Frenzy! That's one hit.

03:41, Today: Dead Miners rolled 6,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4. Damage. That's 10 Damage total, which is a Shaken and 1 Wound for Carl.

The Miners aren't done yet, so I'll wait on Murphy and Carl to resolve their rolls before continuing on with this action.))

13:17, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. and a blue chip.
13:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 7,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Notice, white chipped again.
13:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3,6 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Notice, white chipped.
13:16, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4,3 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1. Notice!

Sooo... that's 7 plus 2, total of 9.
I also got Danger Sense. Just sayin'. :-)

Carl's fingers hook through the dead man's ribcage as he's bourne over, grin to grin.

[[er...what do you want Carl to roll? He's Shaken until his turn, can't soak without chips, and that's a trapping of the attack rather than an actual grapple...]]

Murphy only gets a half-second of warning before the skeletons rise again...from the floor next to him!

The skeletons now seem to be formed of rock and earth, with black Ghost Rock teeth and claws. They blast out of the ground, tearing at him and the scientist next to him, attempting to rip them both apart...

((OOC: Oh? Has Carl blown through all the chips he got through The Joker's Wild?

Since Murphy is getting a Notice Check to avoid a surprise attack, Danger Sense doesn't apply. It's not like you want a sudden penalty on this roll you just made, right?

But 9 is enough to catch them, as they rolled 7 on their Stealth check. Success but no raise. Thus, while you catch the movement in enough time that their sudden attack doesn't get any bonuses, they still give you the screaming heebie-jeebies as they appear right out of the naked rock. Give me a Fear check for Fear/Nausea (-6 Deadland, -1 Fear penalty, + Grit).

Augustus, you also need to make a Fear Check vs. Fear/Nausea (-6 Deadland, -1 Fear Penalty, -2 Doubting Thomas, + Grit). Seeing skeletons is one thing. Seeing them suddenly spring out of the rock at you is quite another.

The two Dead Miners attack the Scientist and the Dust Adder. They both have Improved Frenzy, and they have a gang-up bonus of +1. They also Wild Attack, for an additional +2 bonus (and +2 damage, but their Parry drops to 5 until their next action). There's two attacks vs. Murphy and two attacks vs. Augustus.

Murphy: 11:51, Today: Dead Miners rolled 19,12 using d10+3,d10+3, rerolling max with rolls of (10+6)16,9. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack). Two hits with Raises.

Damage: 7, 11. That's a Shaken and 1 Wound for Murphy (the other Shaken result doesn't matter).

Augustus: 11:52, Today: Dead Miners rolled 12,10 using d10+3,d10+3, rerolling max with rolls of 9,7. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack). That's also 2 hits with Raises.

Damage: 9, 19(!). That's a Shaken and 3 Wounds for Augustus.

Card for next round: 10S))

---

Mike is up next!

Good thing we're still in the Joker-round... :-)
Fear... -7, +3 Grit +2 Joker, total -2

21:36, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 3,8 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+4)10. Fear, white chip.
21:36, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled -1,2 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Fear check.

21:37, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 6,6 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. White chip to soak.

"Jesus on his cross!" Murphy exclaims as the skeletons burst out of the ground, but he manages to duck under the swinging claws, his small frame apparently making him that much harder to hit.

"Why d'we need a photo- Dammit, Je- Murphy!" Mike calls after Murphs as the latter hares off behind the mad Moonie with his singing device.

He looks back at Tex, the others, and the bones now behind them as well, sighs and runs after Murphy, lantern swinging. Fortunately, since the first thing he sees is Murphy being attacked by something. Mike fires at whatever it is without stopping but doesn't seem to hit anything.

Just out of the light, Carl wonders if that was a gunshot or the crack of his skull against the rock, fighting not to black out.

[[Moving after (and thus losing any Aim help)
13:03, Today: Mike Bennett rolled 2,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. shootin'. 'Least he didn't hit Murphy...
init. KC

...and yes, Carl used those for unshaking and rolling something decently into the positive on that Agility trick, can you blame him?]]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Tue 18 Dec 2012.

The tinhorn scientist was not quite so lucky as the Irishman.  Dirty, ragged claws of bone tear through his coat...shirt...likely more.   Dark stains spread across what's left of the clothing.   The force of it all spins him around and back to slam into the wall of the mine.  Somehow he's still standing, but, from the looks of him....not for long....

OOC - Fear Check 11.  Soak 9, reduces attack to Shaken w/ 1 Wound.  I think I forgot init, so, AC is the draw.

Also, as a side note, Augustus has no light with him and doesn't seem to mind.  As far as I know, Mike's lantern is te only nearby light.

14:31, Today: Augustus Spotswood drew the single card: AC using the Deadlands system. Forgotten Init.
14:29, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Red Chip Add d6.
14:29, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 6,6 using D8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Red Chip -  Reroll.
14:23, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled 7,6 using D8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. White Chip Soak vs.  3 wnds.
14:19, Today: Augustus Spotswood rolled -1,7 using D6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+5)11. Fear Redux!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:15, Sat 22 Dec 2012.

---

Turn Order:
Augustus and friends: AC
Murphy: AC
Mike: KC
Tex: JS
Dead Miners: 10C
Carl: 8H
Charging Bear: 4S
Ward: 3S
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:33, Sat 22 Dec 2012.

Murphy wrestles with the skeleton in front of him.
He thinks for a moment to pull his pistol - but again, where should he aim his pistol.
Then he remembers his earlier promise to Carl, if there turned out to be another passage.
He ducks another swing from the thing and picks up a nice, sizeable rock. Gripping it tight, he lunges forward, aiming for the skull.
But Boney blocks his fist, preparing the counterattack.

Well. Now let's hope Mike's a better shot than Henry.

Alright... -2 for "drawing a weapon" and attacking in the same round...
Headshot would be -4, I guess? So that's a total of -6.
20:03, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled -2,-5 using d8-6,d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Skullbashery.
Uhm, no. Maybe better luck next time.


20:05, Today: Mad Irish Murphy drew the 2 cards: 2H, 7H using the Deadlands system. Initiative, Level headed.

((OOC: I'm placing Augustus On Hold. I'll roll to unshake the Dust Adders:

10:41, Today: The Stray, on behalf of Dust Adders, rolled 8,15 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,(6+6+3)15. unshake. Both Ned and Spanish Joe are no longer Shaken, so when Augustus gets back, he can have all of them act normally.))

---

Up Next: Mike!

Mike presses back to the tunnel wall to steady his light and fires again.

[[18:58, Today: Mike Bennett rolled 9,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,2. shootin'. Hit, with raise if he counts as not in flaily range...
19:00, Today: Mike Bennett rolled 6 using 1d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5. hit.
*dope* Mike Bennett rolled 4 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. other die and raise. -> 11 damage
init 2D]]

The shot breaks several of the skeleton's rock ribs, but it otherwise doesn't hamper it much.

((OOC: 11 damage is just shy of causing a wound, so the thing is Shaken.))

---

Up next: Tex!

21:01, Today: Tex rolled 2,4 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Notice.

Tex digs in through the bones, throwing splinters and bone fragments here and there until his huge hands close around a blackened skull.

I got it!
He lifts his hand high and then smashes the skull down on the ground!

21:07, Today: Tex rolled 10,4 using d12+1,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,4. Strength.

In reply to Tex (msg # 107):

The dusty skull cracks in half, but it's soon clear that this is not, in fact, the right skull...there's no brain matter inside, and the initial darkness of the skull was mere dust.

((OOC: Actually, that Notice check would discover that there isn't any black skulls in this pile. That strength check will pulverize the skull he found, though.))