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11:20, 26th April 2024 (GMT+0)

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

Posted by The StrayFor group 0
Alouette
GM, 1446 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 08:50
  • msg #58

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

"If y'all have something that belongs to another person, y'all should give it back," Alouette points out, fortunately missing the implication of sympathetic witchcraft about to be performed. The priest just gives Jake an odd look.
Jake Lawrence
player, 355 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW2R3B3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 13:33
  • msg #59

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

Jake couldn't help but roll his eyes at the simple nature of the clank.
William Pierce
player, 512 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 15:01
  • msg #60

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

Adrian Vega:
"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).


"Fine. Then you do the examining and I'll do the watching."
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 323 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 17:38
  • msg #61

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

Evans, at O'Rourke's suggestion, begins picking through the wreckage of his wagon for splinters suitable for using as stakes. He picks up the headboard proclaiming "Evans & Jones'", the rest of the sign having cracked in the explosion and fallen elsewhere.

"You know, he never would admit that poker game was honest..." He mutters to himself, then sighs and tosses it away, picking up wood shards and various other bits, including an old, fancy suit that (thanks to the blast) was just rags. He began tearing the jacket to strips and wrapping them around the various stakes he'd collected.

"I don't think so." He says in reply to Jake. "My former partner Phineas Jones could do what you can, you know. It's why I know so much about Hoyle's methods. He'd have thought to collect something of the kind for sympathetic divination. Of course, he also wasn't fool enough to stick around more than a week after we'd arrived and faced down that first dead uprising. No, that was my particular brand of idiocy. And even if I had something, it's probably been scattered to kingdom come...wait." Evans thinks. "Did anyone pull a badge from the Enlightened Society lodge? The only other thing I can think of is my own badge, which the mayor presented to me when I took office."

((OOC: Evans rolls notice in the remains of his wagon to see if he might have something useful.

10:30, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 5,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7,3. Notice. Well, thank you, exploding die.

Didn't Jake grab an Enlightened Society badge from somewhere? Also, you have that book from the Society hall...could be useful for finding the other members.))
Alouette
GM, 1447 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 17:48
  • msg #62

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

"Who is Hoyle?" the clank asks, then looks curiously at the stakes.

"Are those hickory sticks?"

[[The badge is McAvity's...I have no idea where the Jellicles are at present. Probably halfway to Houston, if they're smart.]]
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 324 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 18:04
  • msg #63

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

"A man who wrote a book on card games." Evans says simply. He ponders the sakes. "I don't kn...Sure. Why not?" He holds one of the stakes out. "Have a hickory stick, Alouette."
Jake Lawrence
player, 356 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW2R3B3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 18:33
  • msg #64

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

Jake nodded, "I did ..." He paused and took the badge from his coat pocket. "Unfortunately things sometimes can lose ownership quickly but perhaps a night might not be too long."

The hucksters looked at the badge and for an instant his hand glowed a light blue. The glow doesn't amount to much more than the light of a match before disputing. "Hmm ... no luck."

OOC: Jake really doesn't want to TOUCH that book if he can help it.
13:24, Today: Jake Lawrence rolled 5,5 using 1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Spellcasting - Mind Rider.
13:24, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the 10 cards: 2H, RJ!, JH, 7D, 6D, 10C, 3S, QC, 3C, KC using a deck of 54 cards. Deal with the Devil.
How the heck can you pull 10 cards and no get better than a pair of 3s... ugh.

The Stray
GM, 2324 posts
The Marshal
'round these parts
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 18:51
  • msg #65

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

Suddenly, the badge in his hand glows too, too brightly, and a ripple of power rips up from it and surrounds Jake. The crackle of power rips across him, and Jake feels his muscles spasm...

((OOC: Ooo, failure to pull enough power for the hex on a DwtD, AND a Joker. That means it's Backfire time for Jake, whether he uses the Joker or not. I swear, Jake has the worst luck with hex backfire.

The backfire roll comes up damage, and I roll 7 damage. That makes Jake Shaken.

Knowing that you're going to take the damage either way, do you want to in fact use that Joker, make it 3 of a kind, and actually get some use out of the power?))
Jake Lawrence
player, 357 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW2R3B3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:01
  • msg #66

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

"Son of ..." the huckster started to shout but stopped short his eyes seemed to glaze over.

OOC: Note to self stop using DwtD for Huckster stuff ...

Sure let's use the joker ... so I can get a Straight - RJ!, JH, 10C, QC, KC
Alouette
GM, 1448 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:16
  • msg #67

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

The clank giggles, pleased to get a real hickory stick, but the sound is soon cut off by a wash of static apparently related to the badge's glow.

[[which badge you got there, Jake? McAvity's or Evans'?]]
McCavity
NPC, 6 posts
The Mastermind
P5 T5 W2 F0 Cha +2
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:26
  • msg #68

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

((OOC: Aw, almost a straight flush...you almost had another power you could use for free. Remember that you still can use hunch without spending pp, and will do until around noon on April 12th (it's currently just before midnight, April 11th).

Alouette, he took the badge from his coat, so it's going to be McCavity's.))

quote:
The chase was on. The cool night air was tinged with excitement, suspense, terror as McCavity and Jenny Anydots ran across the Texas prairie. They laughed in delight together. McCavity couldn't remember when he'd felt more powerful, more potent. The strength rushed through his veins as he and his girl chased the fleeing, screaming figure. If only he weren't so...hungry. The hunger gnawed at him, chipping away his sanity, turning him from man to instinct-driven beast. This wasn't right. He'd gone to the College of William & Mary. He'd had a bright future in law ahead of him, before that regrettable incident that had turned him into an outlaw. He shouldn't be exulting in tearing across a plain like a wolf, hungry for blood.

But that's exactly what he was doing. Their quarry turned and fired a few rounds from his copper-plated LeMat. McCavity laughed as the bullets sank into his flesh. They couldn't hurt him any more. Not now. He was immune to bullets, to pain...he was a god!

"Sorry, Rum!" he laughed as he closed in. The man in the floppy hat shouted as he slipped in a patch of mud and went down. in an instant, McCavity and Jenny were on him.

"So sorry, old friend." he said again. "But one has to feed the beast, as it were."

And then his canines lengthened, pushing the gums away as he extended them. And then he and Jenny bent down to feed...

Jake Lawrence
player, 358 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW3R3B3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:27
  • msg #69

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

OOC: The Enlightened Society badge which was McCavity's, given to Jake by Dr. Oswald Franklin over here -> link to a message in this game

Alouette
GM, 1449 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:33
  • msg #70

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

[['k, I missed the coat bit. Please excuse me a moment. { {{puffs up to look bigger at Stray}} ) ]]
The Stray
GM, 2326 posts
The Marshal
'round these parts
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:36
  • msg #71

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

((OOC: Actually, you got the badge of McCavity himself, way back when you helped capture him when Jake joined the game. Regardless, it's McCavity's, and that's what he's doing right now. *points upthread*.))
Jake Lawrence
player, 359 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW3R3B3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:42
  • msg #72

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

The huckster spit, it was mix of blood and saliva. "Not what I was expecting  ..." he muttered as his hands shook. His eyes shifted to the others before shaking his head, "Not much useful information there ... unless we're after  McCavity, Jenny and what's left of Rum."

OOC: Sorry, was trying to find where Jake got the thing and only found that ... oops

Hat tip to Stray for bridging this game's Rum with the character in my failed DL Noir game
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 325 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 19:51
  • msg #73

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

"I'm afraid to ask, but what did you see? I don't enjoy the thought of those bloodthirsty maniacs sneaking back up on us while we're out here. Or worse, slipping back into town."

((OOC: Heh, I'd always meant for his fate to be canon, actually. Ever since CB and William let the Jellicles go.))
Alouette
GM, 1450 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 20:04
  • msg #74

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



There's a sharp crackle from the clank, its lenses blazing. "Trails away away the lightning," it says, then reaches out, brass fingertips just barely brushing Jake's throat.

The thing tilts its head with a movement fine as living flesh, breaking the contact as something apparently distracts it. "Five swift forks, black-light striking here-ways, once-wolves." The clank's glance flashes over the huckster again.

"Learn to whistle."
Jake Lawrence
player, 360 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW3R3B3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 21:37
  • msg #75

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

The badge in Jake's hand fell to the ground with a thud. His eyes seemed to focus on nothing as though his mind else where, the huckster's gaze shifted to lock with the clank's but still his eyes weren't focused. He spoke, it seemed as though in response to Evan, but the words sounded like they were coming from a distance, "McCavity and Jenny were or are eating Rum ... rather brutally."

After a moment longer, he shook his head and his eyes seemed to focus again. He shoving away the clank from him shouting "Don't you EVER touch me again!" He stopped and looked around quickly and almost at random as though in search of something or perhaps being watched. "Crows ... ... snakes ... hawks ...  KEEP AWAY CURSED SPIRITS!" Jake dove behind a large piece of debris in a failed attempt to hide.
Alouette
GM, 1452 posts
Automaton/Angel
P4 T8(2) W0 F0 B3 Cha -3
Wed 4 Dec 2013
at 22:30
  • msg #76

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

The voice from the static laughs, pained but wild. The automaton backs a pace then turns with that grace it shouldn't have and takes two more steps to the edge of the road, abruptly dropping to a crouch and making soft bird sounds to itself or something no-one else can see, one brass hand flat against the dirt.

Father O'Rourke gives it a puzzled frown and goes after Jake, a little warily since he hasn't forgotten the man threatening to shoot him point blank. "Come, man," he says softly, crouching and offering a shoulder the way he had to so many during the war. "She'll not hurt you. Perhaps for the others 'tis best to leave well enough alone, hm? Let God shelter and protect you." The priest's tone is gentle, as is his grip on the crowbar in his other hand.
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 326 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Thu 5 Dec 2013
at 07:45
  • msg #77

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

Evans backed away from the conflict. He wasn't very god at comforting folk. Selling to them, yes. But not offering words of wisdom that didn't end with some sort of sales pitch. So instead, he turned and began looking in the direction Alouette had glanced at when something had caught its attention. "What did you mean, black lightning strikes and once wolves?" he asked the automaton as he peered into the darkness. He hefted his gyrostabilized pistol and pulled out his Etheric Disturbance Indicator. The device began to humm and spark as he took a reading...

((OOC: Activating Detect Arcana.

00:43, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 2,10 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+4)10. Mad Science!))
Jake Lawrence
player, 361 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW4R-B4
Thu 5 Dec 2013
at 18:10
  • msg #78

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

"We're all going to die here Father in this little nothing backwater town. All cause of the clank and the rest of the cursed spirits of this place." Jake said solemnly then an instant later his head whipped around like he'd just heard something. "Crows ... " he muttered softly as he narrowed his eyes trying to look into the dark.
Aetheric Disturbance Indicator
Thu 5 Dec 2013
at 23:24
  • msg #79

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

[[ cue <a href=http://youtu.be/-3CPtTd1fqI>music</a>;]]

At first Evans' device is overwhelmed by the field generated by the clank, the needles pointing off the scale with each surge and crackle of static...then the hissing fades as the clank straightens, leaving Evans with a reading that's becoming depressingly familiar. A reanimate.

Two reanimates.

Three, four, five reanimates, fanned out, approaching faster than any man could run. The signal is unmistakeable, but scanning the horizon shows nothing until Evans moves the device back and forth to pinpoint the signals and catches sight of one lurching through the scrub at knee height, head carried low like a wolf's. They were cowdogs, once.

Powerful limbs carry the things forward in a hideously swift rush, the only sound from them the soft brush of paws and fur through sage and grasses, lost under the breeze. They'll be on Evans in seconds.



[[initiative, gentlemen, please.

William and Adrian, please note you're too far away to be immediately aware of this fight/involved without a round or so of sprinting, but please draw init. in case. Notice rolls will still be helpful.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:35, Thu 05 Dec 2013.
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 327 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Fri 6 Dec 2013
at 02:14
  • msg #80

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

"Of course." Evans sighs. "Naturally, the Hounds of Hell would attack right when half the team is either away or having nervous breakdowns. Why did I expect any different?"

((OOC: 19:12, Today: The Amazing Evans drew the single card: 4S using the Deadlands system.))
Jake Lawrence
player, 362 posts
Huckster/Bitter Waters
P4 T5 W- F- FCW4R-B5
Fri 6 Dec 2013
at 13:56
  • msg #81

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

"... we're all going to die out here ..."

OOC:
08:55, Today: Jake Lawrence drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative .
William Pierce
player, 514 posts
Notorious Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 W0R0B0
Fri 6 Dec 2013
at 20:47
  • msg #82

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

21:45, Today: William Pierce drew the single card: AS using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

How far away are we? Medium range?



William half-turns.
"What's going on back there?"
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