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Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

Posted by The StrayFor group 0
Jake Lawrence
player, 352 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW1 R3 B3
Thu 26 Sep 2013
at 15:18
  • msg #33

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

Jake nodded, "Alright ... I'll see what I can find." the Huckster picked up a burning piece of lumber and used it as a light as he began looking for Evan's tools.

OOC: 11:11, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 3,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Notice.
11:11, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 7,29 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+6+6+6+5)29. Notice - white chip.

Um ... yeah 29!

Adrian Vega
player, 574 posts
I'm dead...and I'm pissed
P4 T8 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R2B2
Fri 27 Sep 2013
at 23:06
  • msg #34

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

Adrian didn't know much about tools or mechanics, at least not in the sort of way that Marshal Evans probably did, but he thought he saw a few things that looked like something the Marshal could use to repair the clank. He gathered up a few promising looking items and dropped them over by Evans. "Stuff like this?" he asked.



OOC:

Notice: 11

18:04, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 1,11 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+5)11. Notice.

John Smith
player, 330 posts
Bennies W:5 R:1 B:0
P: 7/8 T: 6 W: 0 F; 0
Sat 28 Sep 2013
at 23:02
  • msg #35

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

John looked around trying to see if there were any other threats when he realized that the bulls were no longer attacking. He didn't relax, necessarily, he simply went from ready to lash out at the first thing that moved near him to a calm and somehow coiled tension. He moved about the surrounding field trying to assist in the search for scattered tools.

John Smith rolled 2,5 using d6,d4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(4+1)5. Notice.
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 318 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 04:18
  • msg #36

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

The tools are found in short order. "Now, let's have a look..." Evans mutters as he begins tinkering with the fantastic construct. It takes him a few minutes to look at the problem. "Hmm...this isn't too bad...I wonder if I can nudge that module into something at least semi-functional..."

((OOC: 21:12, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 5,8 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+3)9. Repair. That should heal up 2 wounds on Alouette's chassis.

GM, can I apply the Raise to Alouette's Healing power, since there was only one wound to begin with?))

Father William O'Rourke
NPC, 78 posts
Itinerant Priest
P4 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 10:47
  • msg #37

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

[[Sure, it's to your benefit.]]

John, William and Adrian quickly gather all the nuts, bolts and tools they may. Jake finds a considerable cache of tools caught under their box, fortunately shielding the unclaimed holy hand grenades.

The priest barrels up as Alouette's being fixed, taking a moment to count heads before bracing his hands on his knees to get his breath back. "Thank Christ..." he gasps, seeing they're all there and apparently unhurt.

"Thank you Christ!" the automaton chirps, disturbingly at the ground.

O'Rourke straightens and looks around at the crater and the dead cattle, confused but not asking, and reports to Evans and/or Alouette. "The boy's secure for now. I think he'll be out a while longer, God willing." Although by no means an unfit man, he takes another few moments to breathe, then scans the horizon for Comanches. "How close are we to the ranch?"
William Pierce
player, 502 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 14:55
  • msg #38

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

William drums his fingers on his pistol grip.
"Close enough to have noticed all this commotion?" he adds.
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 319 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 15:21
  • msg #39

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

Evans frowns and looks around. "We should have seen lights from the ranch by now. We've passed the creek, so we can't be more than a quarter of a mile away." He picks up the makeshift grenades. He looks at William. "But yes, close enough for them to have hard the explosion, at least."
William Pierce
player, 503 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 17:13
  • msg #40

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"They'll be expecting us, then."
He shrugs. "Someone... or something at least."

He scratches his beard. "Might make them nervous. You should get used to the idea that this ain't be done by talking, Marshal."
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 320 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 17:29
  • msg #41

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"The lights were out before we got here...perhaps they were just...asleep." Evans says. He doesn't look as though he believes it.
Father William O'Rourke
NPC, 79 posts
Itinerant Priest
P4 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 17:36
  • msg #42

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

Evans' frown is echoed by the priest as the other men stir themselves to start walking.

"They might have simply gone to bed, if Ward found some...unconventional means of repelling the Comanche there," he suggests, then turns the frown on the skull-shaped clouds leering their way across the silvered sky. "-though even in that happy circumstance, the bang may have alarmed them. Question is, do we stand more of a chance o' being shot our own selves if we go in with a lantern, or without?"

"Self can go tell them to fear not!" the clank offers brightly. "Self has warned them not to shoot at self: high danger of injuries from shrapnel, scalding, noxious fumes and/or disfavour of God," it adds.
William Pierce
player, 504 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 18:10
  • msg #43

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

William stares ahead into the night, his unnaturally glowing eyes scanning the road.
Without turning to the priest he replies: "If they're scared, they'll start shooting at the lantern. If they're level headed, or their leader is, they'll shout a challenge first, then shoot at the lantern, if they don't like the answer."
Then he does turn.
"If it was me up there I'd aim about six inches down and then six inches to the left. That'll keep the lantern burning, but it'll drop the man carrying it. If he's right-handed."
He shrugs.
"Maybe a second shot 12 inches to the right. Just in case he's a leftie."

He looks up ahead again. "Reckon' we can try to scare them into submission or appeal to their good will. You know these folks better, Marshal. Vega. How good's their will, you think?"

There was, of course, the not-too-unlikely chance that Marina had turned them into bloodsuckers already.
Alouette
GM, 1440 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 18:21
  • msg #44

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

[[are you actually giving the road a good look? There might be a thing to see with a Notice roll for you cat-eyed folk...]]
William Pierce
player, 505 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 18:24
  • msg #45

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

19:24, Today: William Pierce rolled 7,8 using d6+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4. Notice (Cats Eyes, Alertness).
The road
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 18:36
  • msg #46

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

The moonlight might as well be noon to William's heightened senses.
William Pierce
player, 506 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 19:00
  • msg #47

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

William drums his fingers on his pistol grip again.
"How many of them sun-bombs we got? And are they dangerous to... well, normal folk? We Light might be useful after all, if it's on their side and not ours. Awfully hard to see into the dark."
Alouette
GM, 1441 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 19:12
  • msg #48

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"Exploding is harmful to mortals, Pierce William Pierce," Alouette informs him, in case he didn't know.
William Pierce
player, 507 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 19:24
  • msg #49

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"I'll just check out the road up ahead. Vega, you want to come?"
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 321 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 19:27
  • msg #50

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"I would trust that Ward, at least, would not start shooting without a challenge." Evans says. "And The Widow Bradshaw baked me cookies and was always more than cordial. But if Arthur's there, things might get troublesome, seeing how I shot him. There might be some resentment there. Of course, he was directing a giant corpse-golem to attack one of the Dust Adders at the time, so I feel my decision was justified. The mayor and I have never seen eye-to-eye, but I always assumed he was just a simple politician right up until he ordered that mob to attack us. It's something of a toss-up, and it depends on who would be hailing us." He trails off. "My god. When did my life get so insane?"

He stops and looks at William. "Trouble?" he pulls the whiskey bottles out. The bottles are half full of some clear liquid solution, and half full of a mix of powders separated from the fluid by what looks like a cardboard divider. The top of the contraption has what looks like a gun hammer, a small-caliber bullet, a trigger mechanism, and gum to keep everything in place. "Three. And they will hurt anything the mixture comes into contact with when the bottle bursts, after a short delay. The sunlight glow comes from a chemical reaction heating the holy water to several thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Any light that comes afterward will be because the grass is on fire."

((OOC: For reference, here are the stats for the sunlight grenades: Sunlight Bombs (Blast power, uses Throwing; 6/12/24, 3d6 damage, Large Burst Template, acts as natural sunlight, sets fire on 1 on a d6, subjects affected glow (negating darkness penalties) and take an additional 2d6 damage on the round after the initial burst).))
William Pierce
player, 508 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 19:48
  • msg #51

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"Might be trouble, might be nothing. Won't know until we check it out."
Adrian Vega
player, 578 posts
I'm dead...and I'm pissed
P4 T8 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R2B2
Mon 2 Dec 2013
at 18:09
  • msg #52

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"I'm with the Marshal on that one," he said casually, having given the matter some thought before speaking, as was his manner. Adrian seemed more taciturn than usual since the explosion and the attack; before, he seemed to be winning his battle with self doubt and the beast within. While he seemed like he had the latter in check, he wasn't as sure of himself.

"Ward ain't stupid, at least from what I've heard. Don't know the man myself, but it seems that he'd know better than to light us up just for the hell of it without hearin' a word about it first. As for the so-called Dust Adders," he paused to spit almost casually, "some that I know that ride by that name ain't as bright, and some are. The ones that are hate the Marshal somethin' fierce, and the clank too. Alouette, I mean, pardon. And I think for them, we're all as guilty by association."

When asked by Pierce if he wanted to go ahead, he hesitated for a moment. He wanted to doubt the man, and the Deputy had good reason to do so, but he didn't think that it would really serve Pierce's purpose to shoot him in the back again this time. He gave him a tight nod, taking his oddly shaped guns in hand. "Let's see what's goin' on."
Father William O'Rourke
NPC, 80 posts
Itinerant Priest
P4 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0
Mon 2 Dec 2013
at 20:52
  • msg #53

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

[[Have some soundtrack]]

William leads on. A cool wind prickles over dead skin and shivers through the grass and scrub, bringing with it a storm-scent and a tinny taste akin to blood.

After a little under a minute's walk Adrian can see what the vampire's aiming for - a collection of deathly still lumps in the road, indistinct in shape. Closer still, the cloud-flickered moonlight begins to pick out details: a dog corpse stretched on its side, head drawn back in the dust. A wet, unravelled pile of viscera. A hoof, shod and pointing madly skywards from an orphaned leg and pelvis.

[[Feel free to strategise/bicker a bit if you're minded. Plenty to Notice here, though you'll have to go a bit closer to really make anything out.]]





Father O'Rourke sighs. "Perhaps we could persuade them to accept you and our resident angel for the common good if one of us-" he gestures at everyone who isn't Evans, the clank or differently alive, "were to make the approach."

"!" The clank straightens at this, patters a little way away, and returns with Evans' crowbar. It proffers this to the priest.

The priest looks at the crowbar, then the clank. "What would this be for, Alouette?"

"It is a metal stick, so y'all can hold lanterns plus far away, because you can put the lantern on the stick, and if the cowboys are frightened and shoot six inches away, then they won't hurt your hand and do sinning," Alouette explains.

O'Rourke weighs the metal in his hands and tries a short, experimental swing from the forearm, almost automatically, before catching himself. "Thank you, that's a good idea," he says, and goes to look for the carriage's other lantern, glancing across at John and Jake. "Perhaps some wooden sticks would be a good idea as well, while we're out here. I can bless them if you feel the need."

[[guys?]]
William Pierce
player, 509 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Tue 3 Dec 2013
at 11:00
  • msg #54

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

quote:
William leads on. A cool wind prickles over dead skin and shivers through the grass and scrub, bringing with it a storm-scent and a tinny taste akin to blood.

After a little under a minute's walk Adrian can see what the vampire's aiming for - a collection of deathly still lumps in the road, indistinct in shape. Closer still, the cloud-flickered moonlight begins to pick out details: a dog corpse stretched on its side, head drawn back in the dust. A wet, unravelled pile of viscera. A hoof, shod and pointing madly skywards from an orphaned leg and pelvis.

[[Feel free to strategise/bicker a bit if you're minded. Plenty to Notice here, though you'll have to go a bit closer to really make anything out.]]


"I don't like that. You watch the left, I'll check out what this is. If you gotta warn me about something, make it specific, alright? Like 'run' or 'drop'"
Adrian Vega
player, 580 posts
I'm dead...and I'm pissed
P4 T8 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R3B2
Tue 3 Dec 2013
at 17:20
  • msg #55

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

"I'll keep my eyes and ears open and stay a step or two behind if you want, but I'm gonna come with and get a closer look as well. This kinda thing falls under my area of expertise, in a way," he said.

"Hard to tell from here. May just be...hell, I don't know what else it would be, but maybe some sorta ritual sacrifice."


OOC:
Knowledge (Arcana): 7

11:17, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2,7 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+1)7. Knowledge (Arcana).

Pony 'splode
Tue 3 Dec 2013
at 17:44
  • msg #56

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

The only pattern to the distribution that can be guessed at at this distance seems the front end of the animal being generally scattered nearer, with the middle and back bits further away. Adrian has an odd certainty it didn't die of old age.

The dog's completeness is an odd contrast, but it doesn't appear to be a solid colour or specific breed such as might be called for in a ritual. From the way it's lying, however, its cause of death will require a closer look.
Jake Lawrence
player, 354 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW2R3B3
Tue 3 Dec 2013
at 18:05
  • msg #57

Re: Chapter 17.2: The Hollow Men ((Group with Evans))

Jake checks his Dragoon as the others talks. "Pretty sure this isn't going to end well regardless..." the huckster mutters to himself.

He looks up and inquires, "Do we have anything belonging to someone out there?"
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