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Chapter 6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

Posted by The StrayFor group 0
The Stray
GM, 2084 posts
The Marshal
'round these parts
Mon 6 Mar 2017
at 19:47
  • msg #1

Chapter 6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

September 17th, 1880. Afternoon. Iron Dragon Depot, Deadwood, Sioux Nations

James and Jimmy make their way to find Maddox. They find him at the train station. A train has pulled into town, and it looks like the soldiers are inspecting everyone getting off...or trying to get through. Maddox is being questioned by a pair of soldiers.

"But look, see you, I'm tryin' to find this bastard." He snarls. He sounds fairly drunk.

"I don't care." The soldier shoves Maddox back a step. "Bounty hunters." He scowls. "We don't need your kind of scum. You want to help? Enlist. Otherwise, leave this to the proper authorities."
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:32, Wed 29 Mar 2017.
Maddox
NPC, 118 posts
Gunslinger
P7 T8 (2) W0 F0 Cha 0
Mon 6 Mar 2017
at 19:58
  • msg #2

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"You only went and ran all the proper authorities out of office first, didn't you?" Maddox snaps at the soldiers, batting the man nearest's hand away. "Or is the only 'proper authority' you'd consider the point of a bloody bayonet, you bunch of blue-coloured redcoats? I've told you who I am and where I've been, see you, now let me get on with it."
James Wilder
player, 502 posts
Gunslinger
P5 T6 F- W- FC:W3R1B0
Tue 7 Mar 2017
at 18:55
  • msg #3

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"Well glad we found 'em." James says nodding towards Maddox. The gunslinger closes the distance with a confidant stride, "Maddox come on, leave these fellas alone..."
James Lonefeather
NPC, 77 posts
Half-Breed Bountyhunter
P6 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 04:28
  • msg #4

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"You never had any proper authority here to begin with, you limey bastard." The soldier growls. "This town was a lawless hole before we got here, and someone needs to remind you who the fuck's in charge!"

Jimmy Lonefeather steps up, putting his arm around the man's shoulder. "Hey now...no need for this. Look, maybe I can show you something that will make all this easier." He pulls out his billfold. "What do you say?" he waves it for emphasis.

The soldier grunts. "Alright? What's your offer?"

Jimmy leads the solider a short ways away. With their backs to James and Maddox, it's hard to make out what Jimmy's doing. It looks like he's slipping something out of his wallet, though.

The soldier groans. "Oh, fuck. Fine. Do whatever you want. I don't even care anymore." and he stomps off.

Jimmy flips his billfold closed and comes back, grinning. "Behold the power of authority!" James has seen this trick before. Jimmy got himself a badge of some kind somewhere and flashed it when folks were being particularly uncooperative.
Maddox
NPC, 119 posts
Gunslinger
P7 T8 (2) W0 F0 Cha 0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 09:08
  • msg #5

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"Like at Peterloo, is it? Soldiers are for fighting the enemy, see you - what happens when that enemy is the public, then? Just going to cut down anyone that wants a colony without sodding tyranny, are you?" Maddox keeps up the hectoring even as the soldier is steered out of his reach, though it trails into slured Welsh by the time Lonefeather gets out a badge that sends the man packing.

The gunslinger steps back and squints from Lonefeather to Wilder. "-And where did you get to earlier?" He deflates a little. "All right, not your fault if you were drinking off another attack of that thing you have, but he -he-" he points unsteadily at Wilder, "-has some nerve coming...coming to try and cut in on my bounties again, he does. Only let fucking Carter go, didn't you?"
Union Troops
NPC, 81 posts
Bluebellies
P5 (6) T5 Cha 0 Extra
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 17:00
  • msg #6

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

Inside The Train

Trace Hargrave had had a long trip. It had taken quite a journey to reach Bismark, and from there to Deadwood, and there weren't a lot of stops along the way.

He finally had a lead, though. He'd met someone in Chicago that had seen someone matching Sibley's description and answering to her name in the company of a solicitor named Roger Sebastian. It seemed this fellow was also a gambler of some skill. Roger Sebastian worked as legal council for one of those odd secret societies common in the North -- The Enlightened Society Of Weeping Moon. It had a reputation as a club for rich eccentrics prattling on about quasi-mystical "aetheric theory" and other nonsense, but it was well-funded and widespread.

Sibley and Mr. Sebastian had left for Deadwood six months ago, according to his source. And now here he was.

But Deadwood did not feel particularly friendly. As it got closer to town, Trace had seen signs of trouble -- soldiers in Union Blue digging earthworks and hauling cannons into emplacements. The train had been stopped by soldiers once already before reaching town, and now that they'd reached the depot the soldiers were back again. They seemed to be searching for someone, judging by their terse questions. A bandit who'd shot up a saloon.

Eventually, the soldiers began calling for people to disembark...

((OOC: And you'll walk right into Maddox, James Wilder, and Jimmy Lonefeather conversing.))
James Wilder
player, 503 posts
Gunslinger
P5 T6 F- W- FC:W3R1B0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 18:18
  • msg #7

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

James shook his head at Maddox, "Yeah yeah, how bout we go get the fucker?"
Trace Hargrave
player, 102 posts
Drifter
P5 T6 W0 F0 Cha0 W2 R1 B1
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 18:52
  • msg #8

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

Hargrave squinted at the sky as he disembarked. He shifted his shoulders, working out some of the stiffness that had settled into them during the long ride. Being one that mostly took his rest under an open sky, he found the confinement of rail travel somewhat oppressive and was thankful that the extended journey had come to a close. Perhaps it would all prove worth it if he located Sibley. The lead about Sebastian was the most promising clue he'd come across in a long time. In the meanwhile, he sensed that caution was in order. The sight of so many soldiers digging emplacements and talk of someone who had shot up a saloon told him that Deadwood was a lively place, in all of the wrong ways.

Spotting a group of men nearby, he shouldered his Bullard and approached them cautiously. "Pardon me for interrupting," he said, fatigue allowing a hint of his English accent to surface, "I'm new here in town and I was hoping one of you might be able to point me to a reputable stable. And the nearest saloon."
James Wilder
player, 504 posts
Gunslinger
P5 T6 F- W- FC:W3R1B0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 19:05
  • msg #9

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

James only glanced at the newcomer for a moment as his mind was else where.

He did give the info the man asked for however, "Carmichael's Livery is that way," he pointed towards the stable. "The Mint is over there," and he gestured towards the saloon he, Jimmy and Maddox had recently vacated.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:07, Wed 08 Mar 2017.
Maddox
NPC, 120 posts
Gunslinger
P7 T8 (2) W0 F0 Cha 0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 20:46
  • msg #10

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

The tall, handsome fellow with raven-black curls looks like he might to be about to throw a punch at the man answering Trace, but looks over at the newcomer all the same with a slight suspicious frown at the accent. His eyes are a striking emerald green.

"That would be about the only bar left standing at present, save for the coloured place," Maddox says, his Welsh accent unfaded and unmistakeable as a native speaker. "Watch out for the giant preacher...oh, and there'll probably be a fight by there now this minute, just Starkweather and his vendetta against any Whateley he hears tell of, like the bastards would need antagonising."

Despite this being the logical end of the advice, he keeps going, apparently slightly drunk. "-and this town is full of 'American customs', see you, like back-shooting, fire-setting and letting bloody mass-murderers go if they ask nicely or propose a duel-" he rounds on Wilder again. "-you think I'm going to work with you again when you threatened to cut down anyone who 'got in your way', do you? So you can get extra-judicial on me, yes, and grab your willy while you shoot him in the head? Why the raw woolly fuck would I trust you again?"
Trace Hargrave
player, 103 posts
Drifter
P5 T6 W0 F0 Cha0 W2 R1 B1
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 21:06
  • msg #11

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"Thank you," Hargrave said politely. "I'll certainly stay wary for trouble." Giving the men a nod, he made his way down the length of the train until he reached the cars where the horses were being unloaded. Once he'd collected his paint stallion Rio, along with his saddle and bridle, he walked slowly to Carmichael's Livery, taking in what he could see of Deadwood as he went.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Wed 08 Mar 2017.
James Wilder
player, 505 posts
Gunslinger
P5 T6 F- W- FC:W3R1B0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 21:14
  • msg #12

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

James gave Maddox a blank look as though the man was talking out of his ass or perhaps using words that James didn't quite understand. "You don't know the shit that Carter can do. The duel defused him from the chaos back there. Get off ya damn drunk high horse with that fancy vest and realize that we're going after the fuck now."
Maddox
NPC, 121 posts
Gunslinger
P7 T8 (2) W0 F0 Cha 0
Wed 8 Mar 2017
at 21:51
  • msg #13

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"I know I had him right there, I did, and if you hadn't sided with Nicodemus fucking Whateley in hopes of a duel that was never going to happen, he'd be in custody right now the very minute!" Maddox snaps. "I know the kind of shit he is doing at this moment, he is, because of it!"

"He'll have crashed in on a family who'll be sending the soldiers away from him because otherwise he'll shoot the hostage he's probably fucking in the back room to pass the time as he does - someone's daughter, or their mum!"

"-and you don't even care! 'Oh well, I shot him, good for me, screw justice for the rest of his victims', that's how it is, isn't it? No! You can go to Hell, you can. I'm not being shot in the back by the likes of you, see you."
Maddox swallows, fairly trembling with a rage that's probably been building for months of attempting to bring some kind of equitable law to this hellhole town.

He turns away but makes a sweeping gesture up past the railyard. "Go check the warehouses. If he was hiding somewhere empty he'd be there," he growls, clearly doubting it would be of use but offering the information in case James should get lucky. "Drop my name if the Kangers interfere."
James Lonefeather
NPC, 78 posts
Half-Breed Bountyhunter
P6 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0
Thu 9 Mar 2017
at 00:30
  • msg #14

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

Jimmy coughs. "Wait a moment, Maddox." he says. "You're in no condition to take on Carter alone. I don't have a personal stake in this -- I just want to see Carter stopped. We can do that better together than we can apart." he hefts his Gatling pistol. "I can keep an eye on James, if you're worried about him. Perhaps if we hadn't gotten separated, I could have helped you finish this thing, but we're here now."


((OOC: So much for getting Trace involved in that bit, then. Ah, well.))

Trace takes Rio down main street. He suspected that normally it was a bustling hive of activity, but there was an odd sense in the air. Something that made his hair stand on end. Perhaps it was just the drizzling rain that beat down, turning the street into a stinking mire. Perhaps it had something to do with that escaped outlaw he'd heard them argue about at the station.

But then, he passed a group of gutted wrecks near the train station -- saloons that looked like they'd been in the middle of a war zone, complete with a scorched crater in the middle of the street. He saw bands of armed soldiers moving into and out of buildings. A band of armed men wearing tin badges stamped DMA passed him by, looking him up and down in an unfriendly manner.

No, maybe it wasn't just the weather after all.

He reached the Livery after a slog through the mud. There was a blacksmith attached to the corral, and a black man hammering out horseshoes.

"Howdy, suh." He says. "Sho' is a bad day fo' ridin'."
Maddox
NPC, 123 posts
Gunslinger
P7 T8 (2) W0 F0 Cha 0
Thu 9 Mar 2017
at 08:19
  • msg #15

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

Maddox looks back, fully aware of his need for allies. "Can you, though? This man betrays me when things get hot and then comes up to start giving me orders like I'm his dog, see you, and he was something keen to shoot you when you had that fit."

"I'm not having him come with me unless he swears he'll let me take Carter to the law, see you, unless there's no other choice to it."

James Wilder
player, 506 posts
Gunslinger
P5 T6 F- W- FC:W3R1B0
Thu 9 Mar 2017
at 17:18
  • msg #16

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

James shook his head as he listened to Maddox, part of the him wanted to shoot the drunk fellow and go after Carter without him. He ran through the happenings in the salon which he didn't recall as Maddox was saying it, but arguing with a drunk man is about as good as arguing with a wall. His fingers danced near his gun as his mind ran though events but he remained quiet still.
James Lonefeather
NPC, 79 posts
Half-Breed Bountyhunter
P6 T9 W0 F0 Cha 0
Thu 9 Mar 2017
at 19:42
  • msg #17

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"That...that looked bad, I admit, but there was a reason for it." Jimmy said. "But it worked out, in the end." He winces as he says that, like he just knows how not reassuring that is.
James Wilder
player, 508 posts
Gunslinger
P5 T6 F- W- FC:W3R1B0
Thu 9 Mar 2017
at 20:35
  • msg #18

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

" ... Fine ... We'll bring the fucker to the law ... " James said. "Let's go and find 'em."
Maddox
NPC, 127 posts
Gunslinger
P7 T8 (2) W0 F0 Cha 0
Thu 9 Mar 2017
at 20:43
  • msg #19

6.3.1: Shanghai Afternoon ((James Wilder))

"It's the other way that would've 'worked out' I'm concerned about, see you," Maddox reponds to Lonefeather, then gives James a suspicious and still hostile kind of squint.

"Swear that on something that means anything to you, and I might believe you,"
he says with the careful articulation of the serious but less than sober.
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