"Jesus fucking Christ!" Matt shouted as Hickok went up in flames. He stood up and jumped back from the table.

Belle whispered to him furiously, and he turned to her, "Who? What? I dont-"

Sighing wearily, he turned to Logan.

"West, what's the play here? You came in with the Ranger, and I have no idea what's going on."

He looked to Wells and Coot.

"What's the upshot here? He can be captured? Great. You say it's been done before, or will be done, or something. Didn't seem to help you folks. What's happening now? I don't see how Custer and his crusade are tied up with Raven. I told you, war is not coming to the Nations."

"Marshal don't tell me you mean to entertain this nonsense..."  Belle recoiled, horrified.  "These people are crazy and they are talking about kidnapping someone who doesn't exist, but they will most likely substitute someone who does!  And when this person tends out to not fulfill their delusional fantasies of some magical villain, they will prosecute another!  This is lynch mob mentality!  Occam's Razor!  The Salem Witch Trials Marshal!  Think!  There is no such thing as magic, magical places, magical people, magical statues or magical guns!  You know that!  You all know that, what is wrong with everyone!?"

Wild Bill continues to burn, though he makes a point of keeping his arm away from the table and anything else flammable.

Jackie sighs. "Marshal Broaddale, in the timeline I came from, Grant loses the Republican nomination to James A. Garfield. Garfield reinforces Custer, and, after a bloody war over the summer, thirty thousand federal troops grind The Sioux into paste and force them onto reservations. With the Federal Army distracted, The Confederacy tries to stake a claim on Kansas, Colorado, Oaklahoma, and the Coyote Confederation, breaking the ceasefire and reigniting the War Between The Sates. The war lasts another four years, until a new president is elected and cooler heads prevail." She shakes her head. "That then leads to centuries of bad blood, and an arms race between your county and mine that eventually creates weapons so damn powerful they break the barrier between our world and The Hunting Grounds. That allows The Reckoners to cross over, and the world is laid waste."

She leans back. "You don't think that maybe, just maybe, Raven, bein' War's poncy little bitch boy, has somethin' to do with this?"

Coot swallows. "I think maybe it's time we heard your story."

"Reckon it is." Jackie says. "Alright. So, here is what I lived through..."

In reply to Jackie Wells (msg # 104):

Needless to say, Zek is not surprised that fire does not harm Bill. He knew there was only thing that could harm him, and burning was not it. He does sigh when the Marshall and Belle keep making up odder and odder things to explain it.

"It's all done with mirrors." He says, rolling his eyes. However when Jackie tell the story about the future, he looks over at her. "So...knowing that - if Custer where to die now...that none of that can happen, right?"

"Give me a moment with a standard chemistry set and I can easily recreate the effect."  Belle pointed out.  "I have created a similar compound many times working in industrial conditions where open flame was a concern."

Katy nodded at Coot's thoughts on Raven's use breaking of the bonds of the six. "I'd thoughta that. Hoping it ain't true. If it is, then someone's already got that power. And is probably doin' what they can ta shape the world. As fer bein' able ta ignore burning, I ain't sure that's enough ta use the mystical properties that those weapons possess. But it ain't a comfortin' thought. Still, if Raven gets the sixth gun - Checkmate."

She looked over to Zek. "Did dyin' stop you? And if he's killed - that'll jus' bout guarantee Garfield'll win. Won't it?"

Wild Bill stares at Belle evenly. "You want to set me on fire your own self? Choose your own fuel, and let's get to it."

Jackie nods. "It'd make Custer a martyr for sure. Nothin' makes people sing a person's praises like an untimely death at the hands of an assassin. Especially an assassin with your pro-Injun sympathies. And what if you fail? Then things get really fucked." Jackie sighs. "I've had this discussion before, 'bout whether we should strangle a fella named Hitler in the crib if one of us lived long enough. The trouble is, it ain't just one man. There's a whole host of things to take into account. Changin' the past is hard. Ever hear o' somethin' called the Butterfly Effect?" Jackie quiets. "How do I explain...Alright."

She closes her eyes and recites an old nursery rhyme, something from Poor Richard's Almanac

"For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of a horse, the rider was lost;
For want of a rider, the message was lost;
For want of the message, the battle was lost;
For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail."

She leans back. "See, it's like this. History is like the weather. It's a huge, complicated system affected by a million billion little things, all of which then chain into bigger events, until suddenly a butterfly flappin' its wings in Lost Angels means you get rain instead o' sunshine in Richmond. Every action has a reaction, and those reactions ain't always predictable. Unintended consequences abound when you go muckin' about the past. Me and my friends? We're four Butterflies o' Doom flappin' our way through history. I'm hopin' -- oh God, every day I'm hopin' -- that the net result is a better world than the one I left. But I ain't ever gonna know for sure. So I'm very wary about the changes I do make. I'm talkin' with y'all because I think you folks might have a better sense o' the repercussions, and killin' Custer is not a tiny change."

In reply to Jackie Wells (msg # 108):

Zek narrowed his eyes when Jackie said what she did. "Why do you get to change history for the better...and we don't?  No offense, but you don't seem like the all knowing type. Hell, by your definition,  any thing you do could make things worse. Granted it's hard to imagine, but you don't seem to be sure about anything."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

"HA!"  Belle called back, pointing straight at the man.  "Oh you have a deal sir!  I will show everyone here precisely how absolutely anyone could do what you have just done!"

She left the bar room momentarily, on a mission.

Belle is fetching her chemistry set and upon returning will make a potion or two of Environmental Protection.  Wild Bill ain't shit XD

"Because you don't care a good goddamn about the consequences of your actions!" Jackie snaps. "You give no thought at all to what might happen when you do things. You think you have some guidin' light that makes whatever you want to do just and true, because you can't possibly be wrong. How many times have I heard you mouthin' off to the Marshals and the Ranger here about your disdain for the law? And then you have the nerve to question my judgement?"

((OOC: Well, that certainly set her off...))

In reply to Belle Ivers (msg # 110):

Wild Bill blinks. "Um..." He says. "I do believe this will not end well."

In reply to Jackie Wells (msg # 111):

"You just TOLD me the consequences! An entire people wiped from the earth!" He clenched his fists. "Do they not count? Does the future disregard the suffering of people in the past! ? Only the history makers get a pass, and the little folks get to watch their children die!?"

"My god, I actually wish The Professor were here to explain this." Jackie rubs the bridge of her nose. "Never thought I'd see the day." She sighs. "Look, Zeke. Your heart's in the right place. And yeah, I do want to stop The Black Hills War, The Great Wasting, The Great Depression, all four Wold Wars, and Judgement Day itself. But I just explained to you why I don't think killin' Custer is a sure bet at stoppin' this."

"I know one thing that definitely changed -- Col. Brooke Manning is alive. In my original timeline, he died during the battle of Ten Thousand Arrows. He's the officer President Grant sent to arrest Custer. I have no idea how he lived. No idea what changed to make that so. But it's a change. There's already one change that might ripple outwards. Maybe Manning can complete his mission and Custer goes home in disgrace -- or maybe some dumbass kills Custer, the news gets hold of it, and there's calls for Sioux blood like there was after the Little Bighorn and Grant promotes Manning to see to the eradication of the Sioux."

In reply to Jackie Wells (msg # 114):

Zek stares at her, his fingers digging holes into his palms. "Well...its sounds the gods of time are as big a bunch of bastards as the manitous. And let me guess, if I try to help Manning I will just make things worse, right?" He spits off to his left.  "Or is it only the pure of heart are allowed to reshape history they way they want to - and to literal hell to everybody else?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

"You ain't exactly wrong." Jackie says. "Look. I wouldn't be tellin' you folks this stuff if I didn't think you might be able to do somethin' to change it." She flick Zeke in the forehead. "You, though, aren't the only one inside your skull listening to me. Tell me -- can you honestly say that 'let's kill Custer!' was your idea, free and clear, and not planted by the demon keepin' your daisy fresh hide up and movin'?"

In reply to Jackie Wells (msg # 116):

Zek stares at her for a bit. "The thing that I carry around with me Loves men Like Custer. They are not sacred of whites, and their ghost rock toys. They know what manged to lock them up before.  That's why they love all the Custers of the world. They do their work for them. And once the last of the true people of this land are cut down...those things have nothing to be afraid of anymore. "
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

Logan listened carefully to everything that was happening around him. There were moments where he felt an inclination to chime in, even when Marshal Broaddale had asked him straight out for his opinion, but he had held himself back. He didn't, in truth, know what to say to his fellow lawman. To top it all off, the vigilante was spitting and clenching his fists and getting into an argument with Jackie Wells again. Well, he'd let the man be her problem for a bit.

He turned to the man sitting hear him.

"Broaddale, we just met today, but I'd ask you to show me a little trust, for the association we both bear through our office," he said.

"Best case scenario, what we heard today was a hell of a good yarn. But since I got off that train in Deadwood, I haven't seen anything remotely resembling 'best case scenario' take place quite yet. Let's just say that I've seen all kinds of shit that I've never seen before. And I've seen some shit before. Down in Kansas, out in Colorado, back in Europe. I think it's time for you to broaden your horizons slightly. Don't buy into the whole thing if you don't want to, but open your mind a little bit to a few things workin' differently than you thought they did. If this is the first time hearin' some o' this stuff, I reckon' you just got your star. This ain't like lawin' back East. Things out here in the west are just downright weird."

"For the rest, I trust Ranger Cox. Different colors an' all but we grew up together. She's trustworthy, and liable to do the right thing. And despite what Miss Ivers is goin' on about, she seems crazier than the rest with all that jibber jabber she's spoutin'."

---

OOC:

Holy shit. One long day at work (which blocks RPOL) and I'm buried in a sea of 32 posts!

Matthew stared at West like he'd grown a second head that spoke French.

"I've had my star a while," he said, calming himself, "long enough to know how to do my job. You're sitting next to a Confederate Ranger, whose job it is to see to it her country triumphs over ours. I'm a bit...confused."

When Belle ran off, he sighed with relief, then tensed at Jackie's argument with Zek.

"Here's my take, Starkweather, Wells. Assume, for a crazy second, that I do broaden my horizons and take what you say as truth. I agree with Wells that killing Custer is liable to exacerbate any sympathy he may get from Garfield -If Garfield wins, of course. Once the United States Army marches into the Sioux Nations, the only way to get them out is to rout them. The Ranger can testify to the stubbornness of Bluebellies.

"So, you can't kill Custer, and you can't let the Union trample the Sioux. So what then?"

He looked around the room.

"I count a handful of law dogs, braves, gun hands and..." he looked at Coot, Moses, and the door Belle had left through, "...and a couple of loco hombres. The big man says you have the answers, Wells. Wells says the Prospector has the answers. Coot says there's a Reckoning afoot that has an unstoppable Shaman at it's core."

He paused.

"Got our work cut out for us, I'll say that much."

Zek looked over at the lady Ranger, and tipped his hat. "Yes-but Garfield ain't known for the slaughter of the native peoples. I am sure he has killed a few-but not women and children-at least in massive numbers that I am aware of." Zek does not comment of the dying part of her question. He never wants to talk about that if he can get away with it...

He listens to Broddale speak on the matter of Garfield, but just frowns. As far as he was concerned-Ranger Cox had summed it up. He was not sure which side was worse-given the end of slavery, but neither side was for anyone Zek cared about.

"Garfield doesn't have to have killed anyone personally to order a slaughter." Jackie says. "He ain't been in a position yet where that's an option, and I'm guessin' you ain't read any of his speeches." She sighs at Matt's assessment. "Yeah, I reckon we do, at that. But hell, I had this exact conversation before. It ain't like we got to stop Raven himself. Just foul up his plans. Listen...I'm not some sort of clairvoyant. I'm just a gal who has more info than most." She looks over at Moses. "And he wanted my story of Judgement Day. Maybe knowin' what the stakes are, you can see why I'm so keen on stoppin' it without makin' it worse."

Katy turned to regard Matt as he spoke. "Been a long time since the Union has been the Rangers concern. I've worked with quite a few lawmen from the North over the years who were more concerned with gettin' help catchin' bad folk than what uniform either of us wear. As fer the stubbornness of bluebellies, I ain't never fought in battle with 'em. 'Course that might change real fast if Garfield is elected."

Katy looked over to Zek. "No, Garfield ain't known for the slaughter of native peoples. Yet. But he's runnin' on a platform that includes support for goin' inta the Sioux nations with force. He's also against the Union's Secret Service Agency. While I may not be able ta say much 'bout the bluebellies themselves, I certainly can about those fine folk. The agents of the Secret Service have my utmost respect. Any president wantin' ta dismantle 'em ain't gonna be a good thing."

She turned back toward Matt. "Yer kinda missin' the point 'bout Garfield, though. He already sympathizes with Custer. If Custer gets killed, he'll get a lotta sympathy from the people. And that means votes fer Garfield who supports him. And that means Garfield wins. An' that means war starts again. An' it's possible it may mean the Rangers, instead o' keeping the peace, end up as cavalry in some pointless conflict. And yeah, that would prolly include me."

Art looked at the Woman who Remembers the Future for a few heartbeats when she mentioned this detail, and thought on it for a bit. "I mebbe have some perspective on tha'. Raven, or a powerful shaman doin' his will, was at the camp after the battle where Manning was mortally wounded. Raven mebbe had some hand in keepin' me and some o' the Cheyenne from escapin', and we were there ta heal Manning. Wit' all dis talk of seein' th' future, mebbe Raven wanted ta change somethin' - and he inadvertently ended up allowin' the colonel ta be saved."

Art furrowed his brow for a moment. "O' course tha' would mean Raven has some ability ta see future events so he can try ta change 'em, which be a fearsome prospect at best." He pondered a moment longer. "Sounds like most any change from what ya remember migh' be a good sign."

He looked around at those gathered. "Now tha' we're done wit the past and the future, mebbe it be time fer me ta mention a few more tings 'bout why we be here in the present, and why we be seekin' Miss Jackie Wells, the Woman who Remembers the Future. It don't be because we need ta know 'bout the future, least not in any kinda particular detail. 'Cept ta know tha' what she knows has gotta be changed. The work we got cut out fer us mebbe ain't what yer tinkin', Marshal Broaddale." He looked over at Jackie. "See, I been told tha' ya know a bit more'n wha' the future holds. Ya know 'bout the Path o' Stone. And ya know 'bout the Lodge o' the Grizzly. We be here, Miss Jackie Wells, ta ask ya ta help us get ta the Huntin' Grounds. There be somethin' there tha' we need ta find tha' is the key to closin' up the gate again. We migh' be able ta reseal the Reckoners, an return things back ta the way they were."

He looked around at those gathered. "Course ta do tha', we could certainly use some help. Miss Wells be able ta get us there, but survivin' and findin' what we gotta find, well, tha'll be a tough task. Bu' the knowledge we gain migh' be the thing tha'll save humanity."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

"Maybe. Maybe he gives a speech in rain and dies 30 days into office. We don't know! What I do know is none of us here are smart enough to be gods! I know my future is not gonna be impacted in any real way by what we do...but thiers is!"

He points at the three native people in the room. "What do you want us to do? It's your future."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

Sitting next to? The only people he was sitting with were Broaddale and von Steinhof.

"You even know what a Ranger is, Broaddale? They're law dogs, not soldiers," he said. For all his experience as a Marshal, Broaddale seemed to have little understanding of the role of his counterparts in the Confederacy. Perhaps Logan had offended him, and he was exaggerating his experience as a show of pride. He probably had just gotten his star. Or...he was somehow compromised. Logan would have to be careful with him. "They're Johnny Reb's version of us, with a little Pinkerton thrown in. Anyway, do what you gotta do, Broaddale. Best open your eyes now, or you might not get the chance later."

At that point Belle returned with a few pieces of equipment, not the whole set, but enough to make do.

"You sir!"  She pointed at Wild Bill.  "I am about to make a point!  But I need a witness, and as this was from your inspiration, I require your services!  Sit! Watch!"

She went to work quickly, diffusing a solution from a complex array of chemicals.

So Environmental protection in the trapping of a fire retardant solution spread over the skin should work against being set on fire, but not on a damaging power like bolt or blast with a fire trapping, I presume setting one's arm on fire is more of the former.

So, as an additional precaution, would it be plausible to create a "Fire extinguisher" in a test tube with the often maligned/ignored Elemental Manipulation Power?  I think so by reading it but it's Marshal discretion.