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Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Posted by The StrayFor group 0
The Stray
GM, 2521 posts
The Marshal
'round these parts
Mon 20 Apr 2015
at 22:18
  • msg #1

Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Between 4 and 5 am Holy Saturday, April 12th, 1879. The Wendell Mine

Charging Bear, Augustus Spotswood, Carl Allens, Mad Irish Murphy, and Wildcat Hawkins make their way through the twisting tunnels, following both the mining cart rails and the seams of Ghost Rock in the tunnel walls. As they go deeper, flashes of silver gleam from the wall. Small veins of silver-lined quartz peak out of the chiseled walls of the mine. Combined with the Ghost Rock deposits, there's plenty of wealth for the town -- if it can ever be taken advantage of.

In a flash of foresight, Dr. Ward had thoughtfully left marks in the walls, allowing the group to track him and the Dust Adders.

Eventually, the man-made tunnels end, opening up into a natural cavern. Ward and the Dust Adders stand in the middle of the cavern, examining what appears to be a skeleton.
Carl Allans
player, 533 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Tue 21 Apr 2015
at 18:21
  • msg #2

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl scans the ceiling, tensed, trying to forget the weight of rock above it, then glances to the others to check they're seeing what he is. His nostrils flare at the odd scent of the place, deep underground.

Wildcat just calls across to Ward, striding over as she does so. "What's the holdup, Doc?"
Charging Bear
player, 1125 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W-R2B8
Tue 21 Apr 2015
at 19:33
  • msg #3

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Charging Bear's eyes kept scanning the tunnel as the group had proceed through waiting for something to jump out. A slightly shiver ran up his spine, but it was ignored. He'd been having a lot of such feelings of late and they weren't much help at telling him what was truly happening around him.

"Skeleton ... takes a lot to rot the flesh from a man in a short time."
Dr. Dexter Ward
NPC, 158 posts
Southern Gentleman
P4 T5 W0 F0 B2 Cha+4
Wed 22 Apr 2015
at 17:21
  • msg #4

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"It is fortunate, then, that this poor fellow was not reduced to bones in a short time." Ward says as he examines the corpse.

The skeleton does, indeed, seem to have been a while. It is dusty, clad in scraps of long-dried buckskin. A second skeleton, that of some large serpent, is wrapped around it, the skull caught on the buckskin around the first skeleton's shoulder.

"I believe this may have been one of the Karankawa warriors who fought Our Enemy back in the distant mists of time." Ward says. "I do not want to disturb the poor devil, but he may have clues as to how the Karankawa defeated the Brood in the first place."
Carl Allans
player, 534 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Wed 22 Apr 2015
at 19:40
  • msg #5

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl jerks his head to suggest they head onward, uneasy. "..."

"We did git some snake venom on our sharps,"
Wildcat says, patting her blocky coffin-handled knife, then bends to peer at the semi-mummified bones. "Ah tell ya, I ain't right keen ter mess with more injun magic...an' this fella weren't exactly one o' th' winners ennyhow."
Dr. Dexter Ward
NPC, 159 posts
Southern Gentleman
P4 T5 W0 F0 B2 Cha+4
Wed 22 Apr 2015
at 20:56
  • msg #6

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

The skeleton has a bow and a quiver of five arrows, as well as a knife that is plunged into the snake. The dagger looks to have been made from an ancient fang, even larger than the fangs of the serpents already encountered.

"Ah, but this Indian magic was employed along our aims." Ward says. "And unless you brought enough venom-coated weapons for each of us, then we will need all that we can carry."
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1268 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Wed 22 Apr 2015
at 22:00
  • msg #7

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Wildcat looks over the Dust Adders with some perplexity. "Then what are y'all waitin' fer?"

Noting that Carl hasn't come up, she looks back and catches his gesture - two fingers pressed meaningfully to the forehead. (I want corpses shot, so's even if they try to walk, they cain't git no-one.)

The Ranger sighs. "I guess there's no harm takin' their heads off afore gettin' them weapons, if'n we put them back after careful-like. I'm sorry, Injun, I really am. Hey, Festively Plump - get the snake's, willya?" She reaches to work the man's skull off and set it aside.
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 264 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R3B3
Thu 23 Apr 2015
at 18:11
  • msg #8

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Murphy looks up at the mine ceiling.
"Forgive us, Jesus.", then he crosses himself.
Heavy Henry
NPC, 22 posts
Fat Dust Adder
P5 T6 F0 Cha -1 Hench
Sun 17 May 2015
at 16:36
  • msg #9

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Henry nods, and goes about pulling the snake skeletons free of the Indian skeleton, then pulls the fang knife from the dead man's hand. "Huh." he says as he looks it over. "Feels warm, and there's a squishy bit wrapped here. Wonder why it's like that..."

{{BANG! AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!}}

The gunshot screams out of the darkness, accompanied by an unholy wailing. Heavy Henry pitches backward, propelled by the force of the shot, blood spurting from his shoulder as he collapses in a heap.

"Well, well, well..." says a chuckling voice from out of the darkness. "Ain't this all convenient? All my friends and enemies, gathered up in one place! How y'all doin', friends? Miss me yet?"

That's the voice of Nathanial Frost!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Sun 17 May 2015.
Carl Allans
player, 536 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Sun 17 May 2015
at 18:19
  • msg #10

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl walks evenly out between the voice and the rest of the Dust Adders, knife in hand, heading towards the killing darkness. He gives it the finger, with an air of being very bored of this shit.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Sun 17 May 2015.
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1269 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Sun 17 May 2015
at 18:20
  • msg #11

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Praying between gritted teeth that the Adder knew what he was doing, Wildcat takes advantage of the shielded moment to wrest the fallen man's clothing away from his wound and see if anything can be done.
Carl Allans
player, 537 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Sun 17 May 2015
at 18:21
  • msg #12

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl paces, tired, half-naked and very much alive, his lifted curse and continued heartbeat a challenge. Hopefully one that would distract the damn twisted ghost long enough for Jeb to get a stab in.
Augustus Spotswood
NPC, 363 posts
Scientist! 1W2R5B2L
P2 T6 F/ W-0 C -2
Tue 19 May 2015
at 03:05
  • msg #13

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Augustus's eyes narrowed, but he dropped to one knee behind Henry.
Charging Bear
player, 1131 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W-R2B8
Tue 19 May 2015
at 19:31
  • msg #14

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

OOC: Is Frost visible? What's the currently layout/area configuration?
If CB can see Frost, then Frost is going to get shot.

Mad Irish Murphy
player, 265 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R3B3
Wed 20 May 2015
at 11:27
  • msg #15

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Murphy rushes to Henry's side as well.
"It's alright, it's alright, mate. Piece a'cake, you big baby, here, here, let the lady see... Jesus Christ, that is a nice bullet hole, Henry! That'll be a boon with the ladies when it's all nice and healed up."

He gently slaps Henry's face. "Hey, stay with me, mate, alright, focus now!"

He looks over his shoulder towards Carl... and Nathaniel. Nathaniel Bloody Frost. Nobody ever had the decency to stay dead and quiet in this town. He would have to talk to his Flora about it. Maybe they'd move away after all this, maybe a nicer place. Like a snake-filled island in a sea of shit.
Murphy barks out a quick laughter, but brings it down to a chuckle, then slaps Henry a bit harder.
"You'll be fucking alright, I tell ya!"
Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 31 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 00:35
  • msg #16

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Henry groans under Murphy's minstrations. He's still alive, but barely.

((OOC: Murphy, you can tell that Henry needs immediate medical attention, but he's still alive. You can either try a healing roll to stabilize him yourself, or you can try to get one of those who actually have healing abilities to help out))

The cavern is as large as a barn, but no figures are visible in the gloom. Nathanial's voice echoes off the cavern walls.

"Aw, Carl, have I made you mad? I'm terribly sorry. Wait, no I ain't. You want to square down with me? Fine. But you ain't gonna punk me like you did last time. It's almost over now, anyhow. Soon the snake will wake, and that will be that. My brother, you, your worthless drunkard of a father, every son-of-a-bitch who wouldn't give me my due when I was alive--all will go down his gullet. Hell, I don't even have to kill you. All I gotta do is make sure none of leave here."

There's an audible *click* of a cocking hammer.

"Of course, it's more fun for me to shoot you like fish in a barrel, with you never seeing which one I'm aiming at, wondering which of you is gonna get it next. I like that plan a lot."

((OOC: The cavern is a big, irregular oblong, roughly fifty feet long and about twenty five feet wide (10 squares by 5 squares, though picture it shaped like a jellybean rather than a box). The skeleton is near the cave mouth you came from, maybe about 15 feet from the cave. There's another exit on the other side of the chamber--it looks like a tight squeeze.

Nathanial Frost is not visible at the moment...anyone who wants to try locating him will need to make a Notice roll at -6 to pinpoint him. Charging Bear, I'd like you to roll me a d6 to represent Jeb's attempt at sneaking up on Nathanial. He's an Extra, so he doesn't have a Wild Die.))

Charging Bear
player, 1136 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W-R2B8
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 15:28
  • msg #17

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Jeb wasn't stealthy in life and that followed him into ghost hood

Charging Bear drew his cursed pistol and closed his eyes. The noise in the place was what he wanted to focus on, with Frost being hidden from view he needed to let his ears do the heavy lifting.

OOC:
11:22, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Jeb - Notice.

11:23, Today: Charging Bear rolled -4,-1 using d6-6,d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. Notice (-6 invisible).

Burn a blue chip to add to that -1
11:24, Today: Charging Bear rolled 9 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7. Blue Chip (+2 Elan).
1-+9 = 8!
If I can shoot before Frost I will.. or will roll to see if I can :)

Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 32 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 16:24
  • msg #18

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

((OOC: That's a raise, so yeah, you know exactly where the spirit is. Go ahead and make your shot. Remember that Frost is undead, so your bonus applies. The raise from Notice roll will cancel out some of the penalty from him being invisible. So make your shooting roll, -4 for him being in pitch black, +the bonus from the gun--I think it cancels it out, making it a straight roll.))
Charging Bear
player, 1137 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W-R2B6
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 17:21
  • msg #19

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Charging Bear smiles ever so slightly then spins slightly on his heels. A single shot roars from the big damned dragoon in his hand echoing through the cave.

OOC: 13:13, Today: Charging Bear rolled 2,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Shootin'.
Burn a blue to get a +d6
13:13, Today: Charging Bear rolled 7 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Blue Chip (+2 Elan).
10 is a hit w/ raise unless noted otherwise.
13:17, Today: Charging Bear rolled 11,5 using 2d6+6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4,5. Damage (Gun +4 Undead +1 Grim, Raise).
11 (1 wound) or 16 (2 wounds) if a raise
Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 33 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Tue 11 Aug 2015
at 02:56
  • msg #20

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

There's an inhuman wail from the area Charging Bear aimed at, followed by more wailing as specteral shouts scream out of the darkness.One of the ghostly bullets wings Charging Bear in the side.

((OOC: Yup, that's a Raise alright, so he has to soak 2 wounds.

He soaks only one leaving him with 1 wound. As a ghost that doesn't throw his aim off any, but it's a definite hurt.

He's going to return fire at Charging Bear, and he's pissed off enough at being interrupted that he's going to Fan The Hammer.

Out of 6 shots, only one hits Charging Bear. I messed up while imputting stuff into the die roller (I hate posting from phones) so ignore that first damage roll--he hits CB for 13 damage, which is 1 wound unless he soaks. none of his other shots roll low enough to trigger Innocent Bystander hits. If you want Jeb to make an attack, he has a d6 fighting, a Strength od d6, and a knife that deals str+d4 damage. Otherwise, someonelese gets an action.

Jeb has no attack penalties, the rest of you have a -4 to hit him because he's still mostly invisble (though his shouts give you a pretty good idea of the gneral direction to aim at.) ))

Dr. Dexter Ward
NPC, 160 posts
Southern Gentleman
P4 T5 W0 F0 B2 Cha+4
Tue 11 Aug 2015
at 04:27
  • msg #21

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

As the spirit wails and shoots, a dark look passes over Ward's face."Frost," he mutters, grbbing his black bag and opening it, "You should have had the good sense to stay dead. But then, you always were a hot-headed, monumental idiot."

He pulls a large bowl, a tube filled with salt, and a box of matches. He reaches into one of his pockets and removes a small nugget of black coal flecked with white impurities.

"But I would have thought," he says as he begins pouring the salt out in a wide circle, "even in the depths of your idiocy, that you'd have remembered one simple, vital fact about myself before you thought to sell your soul and haunt me and mine."

He placed the nugget of Ghost Rock in the tiny silver bowl, lit a match, and tossed it in. The shriek of the burning rock filled the room. Ward knelt by the burning censure and began a low chant.

"NATHANIAL FROST! I name you! He shouted, wafting the smoke into the circle of salt.

The ghostly gunman stopped wailing.

"NATHANIAL FROST! I Summon you!" Ward shouted again.

Inside the circle of salt a figure began to form. Ethereal at first, it grew more and more solid, the smoke coalescing into the form of a dark-haired, black-clad gunslinger, eyes burning blue, a hole through the center of his head oozing black blood, another, fresher wound on his arm.

The ghost began screaming, though no sound came from it. It thrashed and threw itself at the boundaries of the circle, bouncing off as if the ring of salt were a solid wall.

"NATHANIAL FROST!" Ward shouted, triumph gleaming in his eyes, a feral grin on his face. "I BIND you!

THe ghost of Nathanial Frost stiffened, rigid. Ward laughed.

"What an imbicile  you are, Mr. Frost." Ward said. "Why, the very first techniques I mastered were meant to find and call to the souls of the dead.  I can hardly beleive...."

THe ghost began to chuckle. Ward stopped speking, confused.

"...that I wouldn't have thought of your mojo when I made my pact with Tezcatlcoatl?" Nathanial Frost said, laugs openly now. he moved, unstiffening and reaching down to flick the line of salt, scattering it and breaking the circle as easily as anyone living might have. "Well, as it turns out, I would have, and did. And I was countin' on you bein' so arrogant that you'd try that on me down here. In the snake's very own lair."

THe cavern began to rumble.

"Oh. Oh dear." Ward gasped.

((OOC: Ward attempts to use his Contact Spirit World power to bind Nathanial's ghost into service. He makes his roll, but Nathanial gets a lucky roll on the opposed spirit check and breaks the binding. Nathanial Frost is currently manifested, but uncontrolled. They banter a bit, and now...now not-so-good things are happening.

WArd, nathanial, and Charging Bear have all gone. The rest of you (nd Jeb) still have actions.))

Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1270 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Tue 11 Aug 2015
at 07:16
  • msg #22

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Wildcat scowled back at the ghost a moment, but belayed the remonstrance welling up in her chest. "O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters."

She shook her head, pausing to tug off her right glove and press the bared palm to the wound. "R'peat this after me, Adder: 'Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.'"

Wildcat pressed hard against the welling blood, shuddering a moment as pure, cold grace channeled through her. When she took her hand away, there was only the faintest scar under the smears.


[[Wildcat Hawkins, rolled 12,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (10+2)12,3. holy healing, Batman! ]]
Carl Allans
player, 539 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Tue 11 Aug 2015
at 07:35
  • msg #23

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl had automatically twitched away from Charging Bear's shot and tensed at the binding attempt, disliking it even if the Nate's ghost had been twisted by the Snake into an echo of all the worst in the man.

The rumbling in the walls, however, caused his breath to bate on the indraw with sheer terror, an instant of paralysis. Cave-in!

The aches of his body were starting to drift through the drug-haze; on the next instant the twinge across his ribs told him there was still air, still space, and he could breathe.

Keep moving
.

Carl motions the others urgently back towards the walls and starts heading up to the far exit, ready to stand against anything disturbed by the tremors whilst those with magics dealt with Nate. If the ghost took the shift of attention as a slight, so much the better.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Tue 11 Aug 2015.
Charging Bear
player, 1138 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W-R1B6
Tue 11 Aug 2015
at 13:38
  • msg #24

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Charging Bear manages to shift towards the wall to get out of the way of the rain of bullet coming towards him

OOC: Red chip to soak the wound
09:34, Today: Charging Bear rolled 8,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,2. Soak (+2 Elan).
soak w/o issue
Jeb moves to behind Frost and slashes at the other specter. His knife comes up rather short.

OOC: 09:37, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Jeb - Fightin'.
Epic fail!
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 266 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B4
Mon 17 Aug 2015
at 11:40
  • msg #25

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Stay with me, big guy, stay with me", Murphy keeps saying to Henry.
He takes one of Henry's hands and presses it down on his wound, then pulls his own bloody hands away.
"You'll be alright, mate, I just need to get someone, just hang on, mate..."

He slips away, toward the commotion with Frost and yells: "Could you all just fucking stop for a fucking second?!? I'm not gonna let fucking Henry bleed the fuck out and carry his fucking corpse back up for his fucking buriel! Not a guy of his fucking size!"


((Unsure if I should roll something here... I also have the Turncoat adventure card that could be useful here.))
Heavy Henry
NPC, 23 posts
Fat Dust Adder
P5 T6 F0 Cha -1 Hench
Tue 25 Aug 2015
at 19:19
  • msg #26

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Paddy..." the big man struggles to sit up, gingerly taking his bloody hand away from his chest. "...Paddy, I'm fine. She done made it better." He stares up at the Ranger, touching the new-healed skin like he can't quite believe it himself.

[[Wildcat fixed him! I'd do a Wildcat Yelling post, but I'd like to see if Nate listens to Murphs at all first.]]


Carl flattens himself beside the small exit passage and gestures to the others to guard Tex.
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 267 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B4
Mon 7 Sep 2015
at 09:12
  • msg #27

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Then what the fuck are you sitting around for, you big baby?"

Murphy sounds more relieved than angry, though and he nods a quick "Thanks!" to Wildcat.
Tex
NPC, 33 posts
Giant Muscle
P7 T11(2) W0 F0 B1 Cha-4
Wed 30 Sep 2015
at 21:51
  • msg #28

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"You shot Henry!" Tex bellows. "I'ma kill you!" he leaps towards the specter and whales about with his massive red fists. The attack doesn't seem to affect the ghost at all.

The rumbling continues. It doesn't quite sound like the roar of a cave in, more like the movement of something massive.

((OOC: If you want to try a Test of Wills against Nathanial Frost, that would be an Intimidate or Taunt check. Turncoat might work if you can convince Nathanial to leave, but Nathanial's Vengeful hindrance and the fact that most of the people he wanted vengeance on are right here in this cavern will make that difficult without good RP.))
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 269 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B4
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 11:01
  • msg #29

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

((Playing the Turncoat card. I'm guessing we'll go through a little back-and-forth to roleplay this?))

"Jesus, Tex, hold it together, will you?" Murphy pushes past the rest of the men, facing Frost.

He clears his throat, his posture somewhat awkward. "Uhm, hello Nathanial. Would you mind letting us pass? We have something of an urgent, uhm, situation, here."
Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 34 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 19:23
  • msg #30

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Dark blood pours down Nathanial's ears from the hole in the back of his head as he tips his head back to laugh in Murphy's face. "Hell yes I do! The snake demon Tezcatlcoatl is gonna wake up and swallow this damn shithole of a town and all those I hate along with it! Why the Hell would I let you pass? You're only down here to muck the whole thing up! I want to see Blackthorn burn, Irish. Aside from killing those that killed me, it's all I exist for now, and I won't rest until everyone is dead, dead, dead!"

((OOC: Sure, though getting him to let you pass is something more than a minor favor unless you phrase it right.))
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 270 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B4
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 19:56
  • msg #31

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Murphy nods along at the tirade and scratches his chin.
"Sure, Nathaniel, I get that. I mean, the killing your killers part. You always had a great sense of justice.
'Twas what made you a great leader of the Dust Adders."


He shrugs. "But, wanting the whole town to burn? That's harsh, mate. When you led us, you made us a promise. You promised us we'd be safe. Promised us you'd take care of us. If you didn't intend to keep that promise, why not kill us back then?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Thu 01 Oct 2015.
Carl Allans
player, 540 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 20:02
  • msg #32

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

[[20:48, Today: Carl Allans rolled 4,4 using d6-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  sneakin'.
20:49, Today: Carl Allans rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  red chippit.
20:51, Today: Carl Allans rolled 8 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2,2.  impulsive white. -> 7 Stealth versus anything poking its head out here...hey, he tried.]]


Carl gives only half a mind to the proceedings, trusting to Paddy's gifts and Nate's arrogance to keep the ghost talking rather than shooting awhile. Agile despite the night's toll, he leans to scoop up rock dust left-handed and almost idly smears it across his bloody, sweat-stained neck and chest, swiping the last over his face.

It wasn't much disguise to his scent, but perhaps enough, with the others here, to give him an edge. Carl shifts his bare feet on the rock and flattens himself to the wall beside the narrow exit, venomen knife ready.
Charging Bear
player, 1143 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W2R2B6
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 20:04
  • msg #33

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Charging Bear ponders for a moment shooting the specter but hoped that the Adder's words would convince the dead man to let them move along.

OOC: still alive ;)
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1271 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 20:10
  • msg #34

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

The Ranger has her arms tightly crossed with the look of something about to go off like a half-dozen sticks of dynamite.

[[Wildcat's biting her tongue...so far.]]

Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 35 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Sun 4 Oct 2015
at 20:13
  • msg #35

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

In reply to Mad Irish Murphy (msg # 31):

The specter laughs. "That's easy. When we were the kings of the town, we could do any damn thing we wanted. As long as we toed the Enlightened Society's line, we were the kings.  And things were going so well until you fuckers all turned on me. Me! You failed to take down that peckerwood Evans, you let the redskin walk around town, you couldn't even break a stupid walking tin can. And then you turned on me. You all turned on me! If any one of you sons of bitches had been any true friends of mine, you'd have hidden me from Evans. You'd have at least let me get out of town. Where was our promise when I needed it, huh? When I was the one needing protection?"

The ghost glares at Ward. "Instead, he sticks a death curse on me, and then you all decide to roll over and join the marshal's posse and blow me away. Some friends you all were."
Carl Allans
player, 542 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Sun 4 Oct 2015
at 21:56
  • msg #36

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Back still to the wall, Carl joins the rest of the Dust Adders in giving Ward a 'you did what?' look, brow creasing as he tries to work out whether it's another trick of the Snake's.

Ward wouldn't do that to one of theirs, would he? Surely not to Nate, who'd looked up to Ward as a kind of paternal figure despite himself and even worked his way in with the Moonies. Carl tries to read the ghost's face and body language for truth, troubled, then looks back to Ward, resting the back of his skull against the rock behind him to keep track of those vibrations.
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 271 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W4R1B5
Mon 5 Oct 2015
at 07:13
  • msg #37

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Murphy nods, seemingly not too surprised by any of this.
"Yeah, mate, look, I know it looks bad, but none of this was really anyone's intention. Except possibly that death curse thing, I don't know." Murphy looks over at Ward, his brow furrowed.
"We'll have some words, later."

He looks back at Nathaniel.
"Everything has been going to shit, recently, what with the dead not staying dead and all that. Indians not being put down by a head shot. Fuck, mate, I was stopped on the road by a bloody union sergeant. Bloody dead he was, too. So, aye, few folks made a lot of really bad decisions.
But you can't blame everybody else for that."


The Irishman shrugs. "What about Nancy, you want her to die horribly, too? I thought you had a thing for her? Me Flora told me she was devastated when you got, you know, killed, in that duel."
Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 36 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Tue 6 Oct 2015
at 15:26
  • msg #38

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Nathaniel waves his hand dismissively. "So what? She was nothing more than a bed-warmer for me anyway. If she's too stupid to run, she deserves to get swallowed with the rest. And yeah, I know everything's going to shit. That there is what happens when you make deals the Devil. If you want to blame anyone for this mess, blame Ward there. Ain't none of this would be happening without him"

Dr. Ward frowns. "A skewed perspective, but not wholly inaccurate, which is why I have come here in the first place--to rectify those mistakes."

Nathaniel laughs out loud. "Are you Jesus now? Can you raise me from the dead? Ain't nothing you can do to right that wrong, Ward. You cursed me, and the next day, lo and behold, I died! Hey Carl!" He says, looking around. he doesn't spot the quiet Dust Adder in the darkness. "Tell me, Carl...are you sure your decision to gun me down was your own? Or was there maybe some slight nudge, something he 'asked you kindly,' that maybe tipped you into gunning down your boss?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:10, Tue 06 Oct 2015.
Carl Allans
player, 544 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Tue 6 Oct 2015
at 22:01
  • msg #39

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

The idea gets a faint snort from Carl. He'd stated his reasons for calling on the duel whilst Ward was lying in a pool of blood behind a horse, with several witnesses. He concentrates on listening to the movement up-track.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Tue 06 Oct 2015.
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1272 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Tue 6 Oct 2015
at 22:09
  • msg #40

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Wildcat picks up what Carl doesn't say, however, and she has had it - had it - with holding her piece. The Ranger marches over to the spectre, grabs her hat and backands it, well, through the ghost's face. "Dagnabbit I am sick of hearing you jaw, you low-down legless lizard!"

"You done attacked innocent people, includin yer own brother! Yer mama loved him jest as well as yourself, what kind of respect does that show fer a woman? An' I figger you're an orphan now, but that's jest it, ain't it?"
Her gaze is intense as the apex of a summer sky.

"I ha'nt rightly put it all together 'til now. See, th' quiet feller told me about his Pa and I figured he was tellin' me that were why he got in trouble with th' Law, on account of he got treated bad once an' went off thinkin' that were how th' world went, why should he be bothered t'be better? Only that weren't it at all. His Pa is here, an' he tole me that acause that shit happened and he survived an' kept going, an' it don't hurt no more...th' town's been tellin me that too but I bin too thick t'hear it. An' that's it. Blackthorn has been fightin' so damn hard jes' survivin' I dint figger it was tryin' t'git better at all...but if some people would put down th' bottle - whatever kind o' addict'in they got, in youre case this dumb blamin' on everybody else 'cause you're too yeller ter man up to your mistakes - an' quit bein' afraid a hope...y'all could make a go of it."

"You ain't special for havin' shit happen to yer, Frost. My Pa got shot, Carl's Ma died, I heard Ward's folks got lost in th' war...pro'lly there ain't no-one here that's not lost someone they care 'bout, to wars or disease or bad dumb luck."

"You never did make yerself special, yer jes' a snake all lyin' in the dust waitin' fer somethin' t'come close so's you could bite it an' claim it were gonna tread on ya. But you got somethin' most folks'd give th' world fer - you got t'come back. An' if you're really goin' to waste that with the same ol' stupid games, never bein' anythin' acause you're too scared t'make yer own decisions an' grow the hell up...you really are nothing, not even worm dirt, an' you c'n strike me down...strike all of us down jes' to prove you never could hurt anyone who weren't reachin' out t'you...an' we'll die knowing it. That you're nothing. Forever."


She takes a deep breath, living colour still high in her cheeks. "Or you could quit lickin' them raisins you call balls, turn this all around. All your strength cain't change our mind, but it c'n change yours, an' you can listen to what Murphy's sayin' there, still tryin' ter be your friend. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."


[[Didja miss them walls o' blue text? I missed them walls of blue text. *puts Wildcat Speech in own post*]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:13, Tue 06 Oct 2015.
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 272 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B3
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 10:06
  • msg #41

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Murphy sighs. Couldn't people just get along?

"Look, Nathaniel, what do you really want? Say you stop us, we don't stop that snake, the whole town burns down, everybody dies... Do you really want to spend all eternity with the rest of the dead folks dying here? I reckon nobody's going to Heaven, bless the Virgin Mary, you know, on account of all the bad things going on here. So we'd all be stuck here, forever. That's a damn long time."

He shrugs.
"You know, why don't you let it go? All your anger, justified it may be? And we'll deal with Ward, too. Put him on trial or something. You know, like you would've handled it. I promise you, you will get justice."


Okay... so let's see. That's a 7 from the re-roll (6+1), plus another 5 from the extra d6, total of 12

12:05, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Blue chip on top.
12:04, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 6,4,1 using d8,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4,1.  white chip complete re-roll.
12:04, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Blue chip on top.
12:04, Today: Mad Irish Murphy rolled 4,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Persuasion.

Charging Bear
player, 1146 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W-R-B7
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 12:59
  • msg #42

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Charging Bear continues pondering just shooting Frost ... for old times' sake ... or earlier that day sake.
Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 37 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Thu 8 Oct 2015
at 21:48
  • msg #43

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

The spirit looks a little dumbfounded to be swatted at with a hat and ranted at. He takes a step or two back, even though the hat really just moves through him with no effect.

He frowns at Murphy. "You have a point. I don't reckon I need you all here forever and ever and ever. You want to go? I can get behind that...but I want to watch the man that killed me get his right now." He points at Ward. "Shoot him dead and you can all go and do whatever damnfool thing you think you can against Tezcatlcoatl. Ward's the one I want dead most anyhow. None o' this would have happened without his curse tipping things."
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 273 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B3
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 09:36
  • msg #44

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Whatya gonna do now, lad?
I'm not saying that often, but Da, I'd wish you'd be here right now.

That is quite the conundrum, my dear fellow.
Oh, fock the conundrum and fock you too. Bloody focking bastard.

Murphy slowly shakes his head. "Don't take this the wrong way, mate - but we need him to stop the Tess..cat...coat." He shrugs, the foreign words tripping over his tongue.

"Besides, you know I'm not a killer! Nor executioner. Why'd you turn me into one? And a bullet to the head ain't no trial. Not even here.
I get if you don't to give him a fair trial, too, but at least you oughta give him a fae trial!"

Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1273 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 22:12
  • msg #45

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Wildcat's eyebrows nearly meet as she tries to follow Murphy's logic. "Th' cave may be gettin' to Murphy there, but he's right: Ward deserves a fair trial."

Her look softens just a bit. "You deserved a fair trial, too. Ev'ry citizen of th' Confedrated States does, or it comes down to jest free-for-alls, an' that's no way to build a safe country - a free country. He's 'countable to more'n you. More'n all of you," she adds, giving the other Dust Adders a good look at her scowl just in case they were thinking of trying something.
Noises off
Fri 23 Oct 2015
at 19:31
  • msg #46

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

*BANG! BANG!* ... *BANG! BANG!*

Sounds like someone further on and somewhat lower has a kind of ghost-gun, too.
Charging Bear
player, 1149 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W1R-B7
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 13:16
  • msg #47

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"We should probably move." Charging Bear suggested, a pistol in one hand and a tomahawk in the other. He glanced down towards the gun sounds.
Ol' Snake Eyes
NPC, 38 posts
Spectral Gunman
P6 T7 W0 F0 B0 Cha+2
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 16:25
  • msg #48

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Nathaniel looks up at the gunshots. He frowns. "I'm gonna hold you to that, Irish. You get this fucker what he deserves, or I'm going to come after you."

He begins to fade away.
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1274 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 19:21
  • msg #49

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"'Bout time!" Wildcat says, checking her weaponry once more. She only gets two steps before the thought occurs that she's left some dead people jumbled. "Oh...reckon we ought to lay the feller there out proper?" she asks as Mike leans to put the skull back on.
Mike Bennett
NPC, 47 posts
Lean Dust Adder
P5 T5 F0 Hench W5R3B2
Tue 3 Nov 2015
at 18:47
  • msg #50

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"I'm not gonna mess with heathen bones more than I can help," Mike answers, shaking his head. "Enough ghosts around here already."
Dr. Dexter Ward
NPC, 161 posts
Southern Gentleman
P4 T5 W0 F0 B2 Cha+4
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 03:35
  • msg #51

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"I concur with Charging Bear." Dr. Ward says. "We should move, now that the phantom is no longer blocking our way."

"Wait...just...a minute, Doc..." Heavy Henry wheezed as he pulled himself up. "What was...all that...about a death curse?"

Dr. Ward sighs and rubs his temple. "A mistake, done in a moment of anger, with a man who had had not only disobeyed direct orders to not interfere with Marshal Evans, but one whose actions got Charles Landers killed. My specific words to him were that he would be dead in a week unless he unmade the mess he'd created. It was always my intention to lift said curse if he'd at least made a show of making amends. Instead, it looks like he made a pact with Tezcatlcoatl for life after death as that...shade." He shakes his head. "We have no time for these recriminations. We must press onward. If by some happenstance I happen to survive the next few hours, then I will accept whatever the consequences of my actions bring. Leave the native's corpse. As Mr. Bennett suggests, we have more than enough problems already without inviting more."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:54, Wed 04 Nov 2015.
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1275 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 18:59
  • msg #52

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"You surely will," Wildcat assures the arch-witch, stepping up to the way out, "-but it won't be no 'ranch justice'. Y'all bin maverick so long y'all done fergot what th' rule o' Law is...now what?"

This last is addressed to Carl, who throws her one of those flat stares and then throws his hat into the dark of the tunnel beyond before following it, barefoot-silent and as close to the wall as he can bear.

[[I...trick the darkness? More stealthing? Carl hasn't forgotten that rumbling and the movement-tremors in the stone and is aiming to be less of a wonderful target moving from semi-lit open area to dark confined one, with the hat-movement confusing his outline.]]

Wildcat watches this with great bemusement.
Carl Allans
player, 546 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Thu 5 Nov 2015
at 22:45
  • msg #53

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Darkness. Carl crouches, feeling for his hat, and listens. His bare soles tell him of that sliding movement heading away, but when he sees light heading towards him he holds his position, silently standing up.

Behind him, Wildcat beckons Deputy Bear up and steps into the passage mouth herself, doing her best to cover the Dust Adder in the lead in proper police fashion. A remonstration is cut off by Carl's indication of the approaching light with his knife.




Adrian edges cautiously onward. The tunnels are dark and quiet save for the odd sinister vibration underfoot. Then the light finds a human figure standing stock-still, tensed and waiting in the dark...at first glance Adrian almost takes him for a Comanche without the mirror-ward, but the red band through the dark hair is only a bandage, the skin a shade too light under its smears of rock dirt, and the eyes far too pale.

It's Carl Allans, even if he seems to have been through a war or so and lost most of his clothing on the way. He relaxes a fraction on recognition, but movement behind him draws Adrian's attention to the tunnel wall there and he realises the Ranger's just taken her aim off him, her grey duster and the gleam of her weapon showing up from some light source in the chamber behind.

"Deputy Vega! How'd you- no, nevermind how ya done got here, did you bring th' Law?"
Wildcat asks.
Adrian Vega
player, 1080 posts
Serpentbane
P4 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0 2W3R3B
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 00:57
  • msg #54

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Ranger, Carl," he tipped his head in greeting to the both of them. "I suppose you can say I did. We managed to rescue the good Father here, and I've got Marshal Evans with me. Further behind, we've got Bitter Waters, William Pierce, and Harry Lazarus. Also, we've managed to make an alliance with some of the Comanche," he said.

"Who are y'all rollin' with, and what are y'all aspirin' to, if I might ask, Ranger?"
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1276 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 09:02
  • msg #55

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Ah, dang, I'd be right good t'have th' angel clank in a hole like this'n - it's deeper'n it looks, an' that's somethin' ter say!" The Ranger reaches for a cigar, realises she's out and that's suicidal anyway, and just drums her fingers on her belt.

"Some Coyote-type feller who weren't a Comanche tol' me as we got t'be sneakier'n a mouse at a cat-lovin' spinster's stoveside an' git back thet photergraph what's turnin' 'em all grey, otherwise this Pale Moon feller'll break it an' wake Th-Cat-Ass-El-Coat-Ull-"
Carl looks at her. "-Teth Cattle-Kettle...th' Big Snake - an' man I have heard he's mighty huge an' might jes' be the Dragon o' Revalations, don't want none o' that jes' yet!

"But if he don't give th' souls to th' Serpent, an' we break th' plate, then we all go boom an' so does the rest a Texas, so stealin' it an' keepin' him busy's all I know ter do. I got Deputy Bear. Doctor Ward, some fancy feller with a big ol' sound machine he seems keen ter blast around, Lord help us, an' a passel o' Dust Adders," she indicates Carl then behind her. "'Cludin' Tex. I hope you've met him already, 'cause he don't take kind ter strangers. We jes' finished makin' some kind o' deal with th' unrested specter of Nate Frost, but I figger if you done made nice with them not-'zactly-lilly-whites - hip'crit as that is, given him dealin' with th' Snake - he might be riled at y'all."


She tilts her head at the newcomers in response to a slight eyebrow-raise from Carl. "Weren't you guys headed t'guard the ranch?"
Adrian Vega
player, 1081 posts
Serpentbane
P4 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0 2W3R3B
Sat 7 Nov 2015
at 22:18
  • msg #56

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"As far as the ranch goes, we did go over there. Long story. We were attacked by some regular vampires, a Chinese vampire, and some watermelons. Don't ask. Then a herd o' demon cows, and a snake demon were up in the house too somehow. Well, a woman named Sister Sarah was there with us, and she made a bargain with the snake demon to leave alone her flock. It agreed, and then took her supposedly to make his wife, and took the Father here too."

"So we all set out to rescue the Father and Sister Sarah. Harry Lazarus and I rescued the Father from a snake demon, but apparently killing that snake demon was part of a ritual that summoned two more snake demons. I killed one more of them snake demons, but one more of them is in here somewhere. A real big fuckin' snake, Ranger. When I killed them demons, I got some kinda powers too. To control some kinda bone monster. So we have a bone monster fighting on our side too."

"So now I suppose Sister Sarah is somewhere down here and Pale Moon too, tryin' to summon a bigger snake demon. We do have the clank with us. Alouette is back with the Comanches, who seem to have some reverence for her. We figure that her presence might rile up some of the Dust Adders if she was the first thing they saw. The Comanches are lead by a man named Ghost Wolf. I helped convince him that Pale Moon ain't doin' the right, thing, and he's agreed to help stop him. We can join forces, possibly, if you think that'll work. If Tex can't control himself around strangers, then it'll be hard going introducing him to the Comanche,"
he said.

"If we join forces, we'll be quite a team. Law dogs, Dust Adders, Moonies, Comanches, a clank, a bone monster, and a few others. I reckon between us all we can stop this Pale Moon feller."
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1278 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Sat 7 Nov 2015
at 23:58
  • msg #57

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Wildcat gives a low whistle. "That's some story an' I sure hope so," she says. "Are all them vampires put down good?" she asks, clearly wanting to ask about the melons but restraining her curiousity.

"I ain't seen this Sister Sarah, we've jest had waves o' snake critters an' I think the Dust Adders did for a couple o' th' Comanch'...oh, an' we got us a ghost, too, only he cain't go through the walls on 'count of the Rock,"
she indicates the thin, dimly phosphorescent traces of Ghost rock veining the tunnel walls. "-'parently it sucks in spirits or somesuch."

Carl glances at the Ranger, back at Adrian, then settles his hat and turns to go handle the Dust Adders.

"Hang on," O'Rourke says, slipping past Adrian to go have a quiet word with Carl.

"You trust these Comanch'?"
Wildcat asks, then tips her hat to Evans as the Marshal appears, apparently unpeturbed by the pantslessness as though it's normal around here.
Carl Allans
player, 547 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Sat 7 Nov 2015
at 23:58
  • msg #58

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl listened to what O'Rourke had to say and closed his eyes hard a moment, drawing breath.

Keep moving.


He gives the priest a small nod and drops back/down into the chamber he'd just left, leaning his way around Charging Bear coming up. He swallows, scrapes the sounds together, and tries to breathe.

"Marshal 'n some of his deputies are up 'head; they got them a bone beast an' some Comanch',"
he reports as the priest shows up behind him. Loss hammers with every beat of his heart.

The men had probably died bravely as best they could in the face of things no man was meant to know of, much less die from. The horses would have been slaughtered screaming, penned in and without comprehension of their fate. I'm sorry, he thinks back at their ghosts. For all of you. Carl moves over to Murphy, weighing when he'll tell the others.

He indicates Tex, then gestures backing up a bit. "..."  Wincing a little, Carl swallows and adds to those Dust Adders close enough to hear: "...'s a snake bigger'n those six-footers we jes' kilt loose down here somewheres."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Mon 09 Nov 2015.
Adrian Vega
player, 1082 posts
Serpentbane
P4 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0 2W3R3B
Mon 9 Nov 2015
at 20:53
  • msg #59

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"I don't know if all o' them vamps are dead, but a damn lot of 'em are put down." He listened to her story about the ghost. It seemed to make as much sense as everything else did, which was none at all, but he had no reason to disbelieve it all the same. Shit didn't have to make sense no more.

"Trust is a scarce commodity around here. As long as we're workin' with Dust Adders and Moonies, I can't see no reason why we can't work with Comanche. They don't trust us much, and we don't trust them. I believe Ghost Wolf wants the best for his people, and he's willing to set his hatred of white people aside and trust us after a fashion so we can work together on this. I don't think that amounts to sayin' I trust 'em, but I trust him to keep to his word. The rest of 'em are kinda wild, but they seem to be in line for now," he said.

After a moment's pause he looked her in the eye. "And I'm glad to see you again, Ranger. We could use your help. Hey, you figure after this is all over, maybe the Rangers'd take someone like me?"
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1279 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Mon 9 Nov 2015
at 22:22
  • msg #60

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Wildcat frowns. "We'll jes' have to alert Austin ter mosquiter-net ennything we done missed, I guess. Show me this Ghost Wolf feller an' we can git moving on Pale Moon - he's had long enough already an' I figger he'll be through with chantin' and onto the sacrificin' by sunup. It'll prolly take Carl and th' priest a few moments ter convince th' Dust Adders," she says, glancing back at the lit area.

"Deputy Bear, is Chair-keys a kind o'...indiginnus person what gets on with Comanch', or should we keep you out th' way of them folks?"
Wildcat asks the newly-arrived deputy, who is sporting even less clothing than Carl: boots, the world's ugliest gunbelt and short underwear.

Adrian's last question gets a genuine if tired smile. "Dep'ty, we are trained to deal with folks like you one way or another, jes' those two: Shoot It or Recruit It."

"I count you a brother-in-arms as an off'cer of the Law an' will testify to your character an' control of yer...spirit friend if you figger work with th' Rangers is what you aim ter do."
Wildcat absently rubs under her eye left-handed. "Truth is they'd probably set you ter overseein' Blackthorn 'longside Marshal Evans and I'd be mighty grateful fer that."
The Amazing Evans
NPC, 520 posts
Dodgy Marshal
P2 T5 W0 F0 B2
Mon 9 Nov 2015
at 22:54
  • msg #61

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Oh, they might make him the new Sheriff, once I tender my resignation after all this nonsense is put paid." Evans says mildly. "I am going to want a long, long vacation after this. And I apparently have some family I should check in on."
Adrian Vega
player, 1083 posts
Serpentbane
P4 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0 2W3R3B
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 19:23
  • msg #62

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Well, I suppose we best see how all this shakes out first," he said. He had waited for Charging Bear to respond to the Ranger's questions, but was getting impatient as they were short on time. He figured that the Cherokee Deputy could answer as they walked. He'd probably figure out for himself how close he wanted to be to the Comanche. Adrian hoped that if they could momentarily tolerate some whites, that at the worst, the Cherokee wouldn't be too bad. He thought he remembered hearing that Cherokee were part of the Coyote Confederation alongside the Comanche, but he wasn't sure.

"I don't know about bein' Marshal, though I suppose bein' in Blackthorn wouldn't be too bad if all this demon snake shit is put paid to. I still remember the first day I was makin' my way in here. Silas Underhill was ridin' out like a bat outta hell. He tried to convince me that goin' in was the wrong way about it, and that I needed to get as far away as I could. Maybe I shoulda listened to him. Then again, probably for the best that I didn't."
Tex
NPC, 34 posts
Giant Muscle
P7 T11(2) W0 F0 B1 Cha-4
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 19:32
  • msg #63

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Don' wanna go near no Injuns." Tex rumbles. "Thems red niggers. Alla them oughta be blowed up."
Charging Bear
player, 1152 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W1R1B7
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 19:33
  • msg #64

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Glancing up at Tex, Charging Bear gave the slab of beef a puzzled look.
Dr. Dexter Ward
NPC, 162 posts
Southern Gentleman
P4 T5 W0 F0 B2 Cha+4
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 19:46
  • msg #65

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Ah, yes." Ward says. "That...that may be a problem. If we are to treat with the Comanche against their kin, we ought to figure out if such an alliance is feasible with the members we have here. Mr. Charging Bear, what are your relations like with the Comanche?" He rubs his jaw. "And how are we to handle our friend Mr. Shaw's justifiable, if severe, grievances with the natives?"

Spanish Joe slides up to Changing Bear. "I know the feeling, my friend." he says in a low voice. "I am not Spanish. I am Mestizo. Half my blood is Apache. I do not draw attention to that around him."
Mad Irish Murphy
player, 277 posts
Irish Dust Adder
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W5R1B3
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 20:16
  • msg #66

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Tex:
"Don' wanna go near no Injuns." Tex rumbles. "Thems red niggers. Alla them oughta be blowed up."


"Easy, Tex. Don't imagine them wanting to go near you, either. Which is a bloddy shame, them missing out on yer cheerful charm and all that. Probably best if you stay in the back, you know. Just so that we can show you how happy you'll be if they try anything funny."
Charging Bear
player, 1153 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W1R1B7
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 20:16
  • msg #67

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Spanish Joe:
Spanish Joe slides up to Changing Bear. "I know the feeling, my friend." he says in a low voice. "I am not Spanish. I am Mestizo. Half my blood is Apache. I do not draw attention to that around him."
Charging Bear shifted his eyes down to Spanish Joe  "..." and gave the man a long ponderous look before saying, "I've a feelin' he'll notice you and I soon enough."
Mike Bennett
NPC, 48 posts
Lean Dust Adder
P5 T5 F0 Hench W5R3B2
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 22:00
  • msg #68

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"No blowing 'em up whilst we're down here, Tex. Since they're all silver and don't blow up proper anyhow, might as well git 'em to take us to those that do. How 'bout we all go in front there, so you don't even have to smell 'em?"

[[Mike Bennett rolled 5,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7,3.  persuadin'.]]
Carl Allans
player, 548 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 22:00
  • msg #69

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

The wrangler, meanwhile, rubs the rough stubble on his chin and takes a moment to pull together thoughts that slither away like so many serpents. There had been something out there.

Unless the Snake's still messing with my mind
... Carl shakes his head, forcing himself to unclench his fists, then looks at Ward. He'd tell him about the ranch when the men were moving again.

Carl looks to Joe at Charging Bear's ponderous comment, motioning the others to stay wary but head onward. "?"
Wildcat Hawkins
player, 1280 posts
Texas Ranger
P5 T6 W0 F0 W3R1B3L Cha 2
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 22:21
  • msg #70

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Adrian Vega:
"I don't know about bein' Marshal, though I suppose bein' in Blackthorn wouldn't be too bad if all this demon snake shit is put paid to. I still remember the first day I was makin' my way in here. Silas Underhill was ridin' out like a bat outta hell. He tried to convince me that goin' in was the wrong way about it, and that I needed to get as far away as I could. Maybe I shoulda listened to him. Then again, probably for the best that I didn't."


"Underhill done skipped town?"
Wildcat asks, her surprise not even lasting all the way through the question. "Dang...well, I guess if you ain't up fer Marshal undertakin' might be jest as excitin, 'leastways 'til all this snake demon beef gets sorted out. We'll have ter talk some later if we survive all this," she adds to Evans as Adrian heads back, casting a bemused look at where Deputy Bear decided to step back down.

[[Adrian and Evans, as you go back you're effectively moving into a new thread (and a new chapter, huzzah!); this will arrive as soon as CB and the Dust Adders decide to join you (or to bugger off and do something else, but I hope not).]]

Charging Bear
player, 1154 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W1R1B7
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 22:26
  • msg #71

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"Big man is prone to blood lust and violence I'm guessing and soon all hells gonna break loose ... he'll forget friend and foe and just start killin. Someone's gonna have to deal with him, doubt any it y'all are wanting to stand in his way." the native son's words are stated as one might a list of facts and figures.
Charging Bear
player, 1155 posts
Native Warrior
P8(1)T7 W- F1 FC:W1R1B7
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 22:57
  • msg #72

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

"My relationship with the Comanche is complicated. Before and during the war I'd've found dealing with them easy enough but as one of this groups number stole my name and committed horrible acts while in its possession ... I'm not sure how they might react to me."
Carl Allans
player, 549 posts
The Quiet One
P6 T6 Cha 0
Sat 14 Nov 2015
at 16:18
  • msg #73

Re: Chapter 18.3 - Way Down In This Hole ((Wendell Mine))

Carl bristles a little at the deputy's assessment, but simply waves the man on and sets to herding his charges towards the Comanche...and the Snake.
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