"Ambrose will allow Shepherd to bless water supply of cows, humans, grown crops," the clank puts in seriously. "Not that. Those are Bad Words."

There's a distinct *crackle* and electric flicker of brightness as the automaton looks at Gus, the air taking on a sort of tinny taste and a closeness that makes the low vampires instinctively whimper and press nearer the priest like chickens in the shadow of a hawk.

"Out." One brass hand is raised in a warding fashion as it steps towards Gus. It's unarmed, and if Gus doesn't back up/out the door he'll just get prodded in the face, but somehow the idea of being touched by the insane, inhuman thing is utterly abhorrent and sets something writhing frantically in his chest.

[[17:56, Today: Alouette rolled 11,16 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,(6+6+4)16. Intimidating Gus.]]

Now that's interesting. The marshal's on his own.
William watches the confrontation. Having been on the receiving end of Alouette's wrath he almost feels pity for the snake. Almost.

Even though it wasn't directed at him presently, he could feel a chilling sensation from Alouette, and he didn't envy Gus. Full of piss and vinegar as he was, even he had to feel some sense of trepidation. "Look, instead of killing cows, how about we kill the Comanches first. Then we can kill the bone thing in the mine. And then we can figure out what we do with the cows. I mean, Gus does kinda have a point, as much as I know y'all don't like him. That ranch is kinda what's been keepin' the town together since the mine was closed."

He didn't even convince himself. "Actually, I think I'm just gonna shut up now," he muttered.

OOC:
21:16, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 1,1 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. Persuasion.

Jake manged to hold in the laughter he so desperately wanted to unleash at Evans. Apparently he's not made the connection between his own scientific inventions and the spirits I contact for power. What I wouldn't give for Doc Frost to be here.

The huckster was quiet as the others argued. His eyes shifted between each as they spoke or shouted but not with any apparent interest. Perhaps Doc won't mind me tell him the tin can got obliterated before I got here.

Gus Shaw snarls at the clank. For one, brief moment it seems like he'd whip out this knife and leap at the clank...

But then he pivots, and stalks out the door.

"Ain't done with you yet..." He says as he takes his leave.

There's a moment of silence, and then Evans sighs and looks at Adrian. "You're right, of course. Shaw has a point. What are we going to do? I don't wish to cause hardships for the folk of Blackthorn, but something has to be done..."

he's interrupted by a shouting coming from outside.

"Slim! Get the boys! Evans' gone crazy, wants to shoot up the damn herd! We gotta stop him and that crazy clank once and fer all!"

"Oh." Evans says, deflating a bit. "Oh dear."

((OOC: Gus Shaw attempts to resist the Intimidate attempt...

23:36, Yesterday: Gus Shaw rolled 6,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. resisting Intimidate. Not enough. I'll burn a red.

23:36, Yesterday: Gus Shaw rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. red chip. Still not enough. I'll spend a White to reroll all of it.

23:36, Yesterday: Gus Shaw rolled 7,8,2 using d8,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+2)8,2. white chip. That's a 10, which is still a fail and a raise for Alouette. He's going to slink off for now.))

The clank follows him to the door and points after him. "Repent!"

"Self will go to Doctor Ward and tell him to repent, and Shepherd can start blessing the waters of the land around Blackthorn, Texas," the automaton repeats patiently.

"Then the cows and the other things will drink, because they do want to drink, and everything will be fixed. You all can tell the cattlehands Gus Shaw is lying and that he is a Bad Man, then they will not shoot you," it reassures the party, "Especially if y'all are minus weaponry."

"Alouette, I'd like those shootin' irons back," he called out loudly as the clank wandered off to chastise Gus further, as if it would do any good. Removing the Harbinger's cloak, as the thing seemed to have outlived its usefulness in a scheme that never came to fruition, he folded it and kept it to the side on a windowsill.

"Marshal, I think it might be best to avoid mentioning plans about doing in the ranch around the ranch hands, if that's what you're planning. In fact, if we're going to do anything in, it shouldn't be talked about in front of people that value the thing we're going to do in. Especially when those people are Dust Adders. You know better than I do that like some folks with baser instincts, they shoot first before they really know what's goin' on, and use what passes for their brainpans later." He very deliberately did not look at William while saying that last part.

"I'll have my guns back as well, then, Alouette."

He strokes his beard.
"That doesn't sound like a man who's listening to reason, Marshal. That sounds like a man who's forming a posse."

I should be able to tell, I've been hunted by a few, he thinks, but keeps that part to himself.

"Girls... watch the other entrances. Wouldn't serve us if they got to surround us."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Mon 19 Nov 2012.

"Increased probability y'all will be shot minus church plus weaponry," the clank points out, though it doesn't hinder either of them from approaching the priest and the armful of weapons.

There follow a few moments of ticking and soft static murmurs.

"Ranger Hawkins said not to leave Danny Albatross alone," it informs the men, then adds: "Y'all should protect the Shepherd also: he can fix the cows with the right words in. Advise remaining in church and being excellent to each other."

It goes over to Danny of all people, apparently trusting his achievement of not attempting to randomly stab his teammates for a full hour or more signals some kind of moral awakening. "Help the other differently alive people not become minus humanity," it charges him, then picks up the broom and asks the priest:

"What kind of stick is the stick of the sweeping implement?"

William carefully checks his guns before putting them back into holster and belt.
"Don't worry, Alouette. Not intending to leave the church and endanger the priest. I figure the snake will find a few friends, then come back and, in the snake's words, 'stop him once and for all'. His kind always needs friends."

He nods at Danny. "You're good with a knife, Irish, can you handle a gun, too? I guess us Yankees need to stick together. I'd include you in that, marshal, but I guess your principles won't allow you to stand with us."

His left fingers play with the handle of Jenny's gun in his belt, his right hand hanging by his side, when he turns to Adrian.
"When the snake returns... will you be with him or with us? If it's the former, I'd rather have you step out of the church now. Not itching for a fight in here and I guess you could say I owe you one for shooting you. You were trying to take out my friend, though. Don't deny it, I've been in enough gunfights to recognise a man getting ready to shoot someone."
He licks his lips. "Be it by pistol or... other means."

"You need to pick better friends. Whatever his real name is, if he goes by the Seven of Spades, he's a member of an organization known as the Royal Court. It's a well known name if you've ever been down New Orleans way though most people don't know nothin' but rumors. My bad luck that I happened to stumble upon their wicked devilry once when I was in New Orleans and it's nothing but pure black hearted evil and wickedness possessed by the kinda folk that sell their souls to the devil. But I saw what they were up to, and that's why they sent that fucker to kill me," he said.

"Now, if you name that sorta man a friend…then I'll give you the benefit of the doubt - though you sure don't deserve it - surely he’s done you some kinda favor. Try to understand the position I'm in. I come back to town, get shot by some asshole I never done wrong to, then later while I'm trying to arrest the first asshole that shot me, a second asshole - no offense - comes in and shoots me again. Whatever remains of my life is saved by Gus Shaw and Marshal Evans. That's not the first time they did me a kindness today either. I'm a deputy in Blackthorn, for whatever that's worth, and I'm not gonna stand against either the Marshal or my fellow deputies. But I can't see right to let Gus get killed, so I gotta make sure that doesn't happen. I don't have much left after what your friend took from me earlier today, but I've still got loyalty. At least I can still have that.”

Evans sighs. "For the record, I had no plans for shooting or blowing up anything. I just wanted to talk to Ward, see what could be done..." He looks out the window. "Not that it would seem to make much difference now."

Danny looks up at Alouette. "I'm...I...I can't promise anything. I..." He grabs at his chest. "ARRRRRGH!" He cries as he topples over.

He's not alone. Both the vampire girls grab their heads and shriek, while William, Adrian, and Jake feel something stirring within them...
This message was last edited by the player at 07:21, Tue 20 Nov 2012.

"Y'all can shoot Gus Shaw many times," the automaton assures them. "It will not done harm him."

Static crackles as things get crazy in the church; Danny's shriek brings the clank to his side at once, brass fingers brushing his cheek in bizarrely human-like concern. Then it straightens, looks around at the others affected and calls to the priest:

"Father! Help hug everyone! They need more God in!"

[[Aiming to get some holy blessin' on all y'all for a decent bonus to dominion - Stray, can Alouette help with this, besides coralling everyone into a group hug?]]

This message was last edited by the player at 13:24, Tue 20 Nov 2012.

Total roll: 8.

10:29, Today: William Pierce rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Red chip on top of that.
10:29, Today: William Pierce rolled 2,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Dominion roll, white chip.
10:29, Today: William Pierce rolled 2,0 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Dominion roll.

William's about to give a reply to Adrian, when his vision starts to blurr and he sees Adrian's eyes take on an evil yellow glow, with bloody tears running down from them. His canines seem to grow a few inches with a sickly pulsating sensation.

Then a slap across his face with a belt buckle from his bastard father and he's in back in the little alley, a rusty knife in his hand, snow falling softly around him.

The slap actually helps clear his mind, just a little, but it's all William needs to regain his composure. His father lashes his belt once more toward William, but this time, he catches the belt and pulls, hard, making his father lose his balance.
"I told you to go and fuck yourself, you bastard. Do I have to kill you again and again?!" He yells at him, spittle flying from his lips. Then he takes a quick step forward, then another and jams the rusty knife into one of his father's eyes, gleaming yellow, like Adrian's. He twists and turns the knife, black blood gushing over his hand.

Then he's back in church, steadying his pace. His right hand dart for his pistol as he quickly checks first on Danny - Alouette has him, good - then on to Jake and Adrian.
I'll take care of your passenger, boy, if you can't do it yourself.

Jake appears to be in deep concentration, a bead of sweat breaks on his brow.

OOC: 08:02, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 19,3 using 1d10-4,1d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of (10+10+3)23,(6+1)7. Spirit (-4 GM).
YES!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Tue 20 Nov 2012.

His hands clenched themselves into fists as some shred of humanity that remained within him fought with all its might for control, for salvation from the horror that lived within him. A wave of darkness washed over him, the sounds of death and bleak laughter. A flood of sheer pleasure and exhilaration and exultation from the prospect of power rose up within him, and a stomach wrenching sickness came up from inside to meet it. A voice whispered to him, telling him to hurt everyone and everything around him. An image in his head of clawing his way out from the dirt, and a feeling of desperation and overwhelming failure threatened to overcome him.

He gave himself a shake, and blinked, and looked at the tense scene around him. "What hell is goin' on?" he said, as he cautiously backed away from Pierce, planting his back against the wall. His voice was low and taut, laden with emotion, exhaustion and the mantle of ever-present wariness he had taken up since returning to town. In another, quieter voice laced with doubt and resignation, meant only for himself, he mused, "and what the hell is wrong with me?" He had never been afraid of death, no more than most people, though he never expected it to be like this. This was in some ways worse than being dead for true. Maybe it was his own special hell. Maybe the clank was right, and what he did was witchcraft, and God had punished him with this condition. Was any salvation possible for him? Any repentance for the sinful life he'd lead? Could he give up his dark arts? Would he want to?

---

09:37, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6,2 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. Dominion.

My Dominion+4 cancels out the -4, leaving me with the 6

some mood music

Danny yanks the clanks hand away from his face. "Get away from me!" He snarls, grinding the brass beneath his fingers. The metal begins to bubble and corrode in his grip. "I am not your hatchling!" Electrical sparks snap along the brass casing of the clank's arm as the corrosion spreads. "I am my own creature! I do as I will! I name myself Wendigo, eater of man flesh, and pledge myself to Tezcatlcoatl the Mirror Serpent! Flee, Grandmother Thunderbird! Flee this place forever, or be destroyed!"

Black talons slide from his fingers, and his eyes turn dark and empty, like the eyes of some great bird of prey. Sparks ripple through the boy's hair, standing it on end as his face assumes a more hawkish countenance.

The vampire girls stop their screaming, and turn their eyes toward the group, snarling, showing lots of pointy teeth.

From outside the church, there's a gunshot. "Listen up in there!" comes Gus's voice. "Let's all make this real easy. Toss out the clank and the marshal, and no one else has to get hurt! Defend them, and we'll kill you all! You got ten seconds to make up your minds!"

((OOC: Danny fails his roll, and the Spirit within him gets loose. The spirit in Danny, though, is angry and volatile. The spirit uses its Wither ability on Alouette.

23:23, Today: Danny Boy rolled 7,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. Wither.

Alouette, roll Spirit to resist. If you fail, you permanently lose a die type of Strength. If Danny scores a Raise over you, you lose a die type of Strength and Vigor.

We are in combat now. Draw cards for initiative. Those of you who are Shaken may attempt to Unshake.))

---

Turn Order:

The Vampire Girls: KD
Danny Boy: QS, 2S (he gets to go twice per round)
Gus and the Dust Adders: 4S

Adrian Vega: Not Drawn Yet
John Smith: Not Drawn Yet
Alouette: Not Drawn Yet
Jake Lawrence: Not Drawn Yet

Father O'Rourke: Someone please take control of this Wild Card. He will go on your action.
The Amazing Evans: Someone please take control of this Wild Card. He will go on your action.

09:43, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: 10S using the Deadlands system. Initiative

I'll be happy to control the priest.

"Danny Al-?" *tssh* Sparks run down those complex patterns of scrollwork, leaving golden streaks amid the dull green-brown of corrosion. Static murmurs, building.

[[08:54, Today: Alouette rolled 1,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+4)10. go go gadget incorruptability.
init. 4H]]

John watches the display before him from a distance. Everything was so tense, so... wrong. His Master had taught him harmony in the most mundane of tasks, well, as mundane as mining ghost rock could be, and this was anything but. He had begun to make his way to the door, what Gus was up to could ruin everything and he was almost to the door before the commotion began, he looked back and scowled and then towards the door trying to decide what the best course of action to take might be...

OOC: John Smith drew the single card: 9H using the Deadlands system.

OOC: 07:52, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 1 using 1d35, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Fate Chip.
That's a white chip
07:53, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: 3S using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
And going slowly today

---

Jake seems to be slightly groggy or perhaps overly tired.

OOC:
09:26, Today: Adrian Vega drew the single card: 3D using the Deadlands system.

Are there windows looking out from the church to where the Dust Adders are?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:33, Wed 21 Nov 2012.

OOC:

@Adrian: Nope. There are windows, to be sure, but there's also a building in between city hall (where Gus is gathering his troops) and the church.

I've posted a map with the initial positions of everybody. I'll post actions for all those NPCs tomorrow, but does anyone want to take Evans for this before I do?

---

Turn Order:
The Vampire Girls: KD
Danny Boy: QS, 2S (he gets to go twice per round)
The Amazing Evans: QH
William and Father O'Rourke: 10S (William starts the fight Shaken)
John Smith: 9H
Gus and the Dust Adders: 4S
Alouette: 4H
Jake Lawrence: 3S (Starts the fight Shaken)
Adrian Vega: 3D (Starts the fight Shaken)

some mood music

The vampire girls leap at Evans, and he screams as they bite down. He's able to shake them away before they get more than a mouthful of his blood, and fumbles for his flamethrower. He brings the nozzle of the weapon up.

"Back! Back, both of you, or so help me I'll do what I've been longing to do since I saw the pair of you writhing about in the Oriental! I shall purge you with flame if you do not disperse!"

The two half-naked vampires giggle at him.

"Go ahead." Darla says.

"Try it." Carmilla echoes.

"The Mistress would be scared of that..."

"But we're made of hardier stuff!"

Evans' face goes pale.

Meanwhile, Danny beings to rise into the air. Static crackles as his eyes glow, and then the room shudders as a bolt of lighting explodes from the boy's eyes, lancing through the clank and into the wall behind. The stained windows burst away from the clap of thunder that rattles the wooden building...

((OOC: I hate it when NPC actions clump like this. Alrighty.

The two Vampire girls attack Evans, which means each gets a +1 Gang-up bonus against him. Darla is a Henchman, while Carmilla is an Extra.

They both attempt to bite, since that's a Touch Attack.

00:39, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 6,5 using d6+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. she bites! (Darla). Hit.

00:40, Today: Vampire Dance Hall Girl rolled 4 using 1d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 1. she bites! (Carmilla). Also a hit. Evans has Crap for Parry, not having invested in any Fighting whatsoever.

Evans rolls vigor to resist.

00:41, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 4,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.
00:41, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 14,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+2)14,5. Vigor.

Success on both. He manages to fight them off.

Danny Boy shoots a bolt of Lightning at Alouette. He opts for one Bolt at 3d6. he has to roll vs. Alouette's Parry, since he's in Melee Range.

00:44, Today: Danny Boy rolled 7,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. Hit, but Danny Boy is going to spend a Red chip to make that a Raise.

00:46, Today: Danny Boy rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. red chip. That's all he needed.

Damage: 00:47, Today: Danny Boy rolled 22 using 4d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+1)13,4,2,3. 22 Damage total. That's a Shaken and 3 wounds for Alouette, and Alouette also needs to roll Vigor or suffer a -2 penalty to Parry from the Electricity messing up the clank's clockworks.

Evans has crap for melee and a further -2 to hit with any stake...but he does have other options. He spends his action drawing his flamethrower and making a Persuasion Test of Wills against the vampire girls. He has a -2 MAP penalty, a +1 Charisma bonus, and no bonus from his Snake-oil Salesman edge because this is a Combat use of Persuasion.

00:54, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 2,2 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Persuasion ToW.

Not even going to roll. The two vampire girls are not Vulnerable against fire. They laugh in his face.

Cards for next round
Evans: 3S
Vampires: 4D
Danny: Still has an action (2S).))

---

Up next: William and Father O'Rourke!
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:11, Sun 25 Nov 2012.

The majority of the lightning acts according to nature, travelling over the clank's brass surface and down to earth. There's a smell of charred wood from the boards below the heated metal.

[[09:49, Today: Alouette rolled 3,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+1)7. epic soak attempt
09:50, Today: Alouette rolled 9 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9. red chippit. -> 16
Oh, and Vigour.
09:55, Today: Alouette rolled 6,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. resistivity.]]