The mountain remains quiet as the riders continue their trek, Roberts, Castillo, and Kansas Kate in the lead. The patches of forest that shadow portions of the narrow trail retain the same dead pallor that the posse has witnessed at lower elevations, the tree trunks the color of slate, flowering plants drained of their vibrant hues, their fragile forms appearing as though they would crumble at the slightest touch. Here and there, the jagged rocks are frosted with a light dusting of snow.

After an hour, the path abruptly snakes to the northeast, leading up a rocky rise that terminates in a plateau which is thick with tall grey pines. Through the dense cover, the riders can see that the level table of rock stretches out into an open flat, dotted with structures that are difficult to identify through the foliage.

Several members of the posse find their attention drawn to a spot just right of the path. There, between the trunks of two dead pines, a single blue spruce has sprouted, just over knee high, its needles rich with blue green coloration. At its base, a handful of harebells, their petals the color of a clear morning sky, have bloomed.

The wind whispers amongst the trees, a sharp chill accompanying its hushed voice.

OOC: Everyone kindly provide me a Notice roll. If you possess the Tracking skill, you can give a roll with that as well.

This whole episode had Kansas Kate on edge.  She was even more surly and sour than usual, but on the upside, it meant she was on the very precipice of the razor.


21:42, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 13,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+1)13,2.  Notice.

Jacinta kept a wary eye out for danger as they ascended the mountain, searching for more mottled tracks or other indication that they weren't alone.  Her keen senses rarely let her down, though her dealings with the supernatural were still rare enough that she didn't know exactly what to expect.


Notice: 5
Tracking: 7

22:34, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 4,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+1)7.  Tracking.
22:34, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 5,3 using D8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Notice.

21:05, Today: Tamsin River rolled 4,2 using D8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Knowledge: Herbalist.
21:03, Today: Tamsin River rolled 3,9 using D6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9.  Notice.

Tamsin stops at the sudden sign of life in the plants, dismounting her horse hurriedly to inspect the sapling and its friends. “Well, this is a good sign. This brings good fortune,” she says as her fingers touch the needles. ”But how are you here when everything around you is dead?”

"Hm." Albert was slightly perplexed at the blue spruce. It probably meant something, but he wasn't exactly sure what.

00:00, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 2,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Notice.<
This message was last edited by the player at 08:02, Fri 28 Feb 2020.

The Ranger's thoughts were distracted since leaving that cabin. The events of the last few days had taken their toll on him, and he wasn't paying as much attention as he should've been as he tried to think through what all information he had access to. He stared absent mindedly at Kansas Kate's hat as a landmark as he followed along.

OOC:

15:50, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 1,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.

Examining the plants, River can see that both the spruce and the flowers are healthy, all showing signs of having successfully weathered the cold temperatures of the mountain heights. Glancing down, the herbalist's attention is drawn to the earth in which the plants are growing. She can see that, unlike the hard, gray terrain that makes up much of the riders' surroundings, the patch of soil where these specimens have found purchase is dark and rich, able to be turned by hand.


Kansas Kate sights motion within the trees to the right of the trail, shifting that Albert Cooper notices as well a split second later. Something in the fleeting movement suggests to both observers that what is concealed within the trees is human, not any sort of wild animal.

Castillo catches sight of a similar motion on the left of the path, a glimpse of a dark form keeping low to the ground, changing position from one vantage point to another.

Albert removed the gun from his holster as he noted the movement. He considered calling out, but hoped that his movement would quietly alert the others.

Kansas Kate likewise did not let on.  She could have a gun in her hand at a moment's notice, the problem was firing a lot of rounds on horseback was... not a great idea.  Spooking your transportation was a terrible idea.  Instead she drew rein, just enough to nudge up against...

Who was right behind Double Kay at the moment?

Jacinta nodded, rifle at the ready.  Her eyes flitted over the ground briefly, catching sight of tracks like they'd seen below.  Frowning, her eyes narrowed as she refocused on the wood.

Tamsin stopped and thought for a moment. “If this Owl Witch is reflecting what she sees, there will always be spots like this!” she said excitedly, gesturing to the trees. “She’s reflecting the bad things but there is always something good in a person which she also reflects.”

She turned to get back on her horse.

Albert nodded at Tamsin's commentary. "That...hm. Will be interestin'."

He couldn't help but wonder what sort of reflection would come from his heart.

Kansas Kate couldn't help herself.  She was trying to counter ambush, but that talk made her snort with bitter laughter.

The figures on either side of the trail remain low to the ground, largely cloaked in the shadows of the grey trees, apparently watching the riders closely. If either are aware they have been spotted, they give no indication.

After a moment, the figure on the right quietly shifts position. As it does, one of the thin strands of illumination that has pressed through the thick canopy glints off of what is unmistakably the barrel of a firearm.

OOC: Kansas Kate, I’ll say that it is Shabbakasha who is directly behind you.

Kansas Kate quickly gestured to the Wolf Who Walks, pointing silently with her fingers, and then at the ambushee.

And just as soon as the glint shown, Kansas Kate whirred into motion and drew iron.

And the intent there if it's not clear from IC is to Quick Draw the repeater and shoot the would-be sniper before he shoots us.

OOC: Everyone kindly provide me with an initiative draw.

Kansas Kate, since you're starting the festivities, should you happen to draw anything under a 9, redraw your initiative card.

Initiative: 10C

02:45, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: 10C using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

KC for Albert.

19:36, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: KC using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

09:27, Today: Tamsin River drew the single card: 8H using the Deadlands system.

18:28, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: AD using a deck of 54 cards.  next.

18:28, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: 2C using a deck of 54 cards.

lol it's a good thing you said that

21:24, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, drew the single card: BJ! using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

21:25, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Bryan Lee, drew the single card: 5C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

21:30, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 8H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Bushwhackers.

21:51, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 9C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
AD - Kansas Kate
KC - Albert Cooper
10C - Jacinta Castillo
9C - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, Shabbakasha)
8H - Tamsin River
8H - Bushwhackers
5C - Bryan Lee

Please note that both figures in the woods are effectively in medium cover, so shooting rolls will incur a -2 penalty.

Dr. Wayland is going to hold his action.

Kansas Kate, it’s your turn.

Kansas Kate did draw her rifle as proffered, but at the last minute another idea came across her.

"Get out here ya yellow bellied limpdicked whoreson a'fore ah write mah damn name in yer saggy ass wit' this Winchester.  Ya don't fool no one.  Come out now an' we might not cut yer nards off.  Ah will not ask twixt."

18:49, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 22,9 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+4)20,(6+1)7.  Intimidation Test Of Will.

18:49, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: 3S using the Deadlands system.

Both of the crouching figures stir as Kansas Kate's words shatter the relative quiet. At her challenge, each of them seems to press further back into the cover of the trees, seemingly rattled by the outlaw's fearlessness.

20:07, Today: Marshal rolled 4,2,3,3 using 1d8,1d6,1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2,3,3.  Bushwhackers - Spirit.

Neither ambusher is able to win the Test of Wills. Kansas Kate's success entitles her to a +2 bonus on her next combat action against either of the crouching figures. In addition, both of the would be bushwhackers are shaken.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland - Holding
AD - Kansas Kate
KC - Albert Cooper
10C - Jacinta Castillo
9C - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, Shabbakasha)
8H - Tamsin River
8H - Bushwhackers
5C - Bryan Lee

Mr. Cooper, you have the floor.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:50, Fri 13 Mar 2020.

Albert pointed his gun toward one of the Bushwhackers but otherwise waited to see if they would obey Katie's command.

OOC: Albert will hold.

”Tu pendejos need to turn around. Go back the way you came,” the figure on left calls down, the voice that of a woman, ”Last chance. You push on, there’s no coming back.”

Initiative Order

BJ! - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland - Holding
AD - Kansas Kate
KC - Albert Cooper - Holding
10C - Jacinta Castillo
9C - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, Shabbakasha)
8H - Tamsin River
8H - Bushwhackers
5C - Bryan Lee

Señorita Castillo, your turn.

"Aye!  You don't call them pendejos!  Only I can call them pendejos!"  Jacinta yelled back in a voice that sounded eerily similar to the bushwacker.  Aiming through the trees, she squinted and squeezed off a shot.



OOC:  Not sure what sort of cover they're in, so tweak accordingly if needed.

Shooting: 11
Damage: 11 (w/ Raise)


23:34, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 4,11 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+3)9.  Shooting.
23:41, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 11 using 2d8+1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3,1.  Damage w/ Raise.

Castillo sees the woman she targeted stagger out of her hiding place, plainly hurt by the scout’s well placed shot. She curses in Spanish as she falls against the trunk of one of the pines, sliding down into a crouch.

As the bushwhacker was already shaken, Castillo’s shot inflicts 2 wounds.

The NPC allies will hold their actions in deference to the PCs.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland - Holding
AD - Kansas Kate
KC - Albert Cooper - Holding
10C - Jacinta Castillo
9C - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, Shabbakasha) - Holding
8H - Tamsin River
8H - Bushwhackers
5C - Bryan Lee

Your turn, Miss River.

Tamsin doesn’t draw her gun. “We aren’t intending to kill them, yes?” she says, taking a look around.

Tamsin will hold.

Albert squeezed off a shot toward the other of the hidden targets, but the coverage from the bushes may have been too much. He offered instruction in support of Kate. "You heard the lady. Out with yer hands up. Yer pardner ain't gonna be much help no more."

OOC: 3 to hit. Only way that hits is if there is no cover penalty and Marksmanship comes into play. If both of those are the case, let me know. Otherwise it's a straight up miss.

2D for the next round.

17:17, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: 2D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

17:15, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 1,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Shooting.

20:41, Today: Marshal rolled 2,2 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Spirit - Bushwhacker 1.

20:41, Today: Marshal rolled 5,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Spirit - Bushwhacker 2.

The second bushwhacker's Spirit roll enables him to lose the shaken condition.

The first bushwhacker failed her roll. She'll attempt to soak her recent wounds.

20:47, Today: Marshal rolled 2,-1 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Soak Roll - Bushwhacker.

She doesn't. So I'll throw a white chip in to undo her shaken condition.

Cooper's shot slices through the foliage, prompting the figure on the right to duck. As best the gunslinger can tell, the bullet misses the mark.

The figure returns fire, the shot slamming into Buckshot Roberts' shoulder.

20:50, Today: Marshal rolled 7,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1.  Shooting - Bushwhacker.

20:54, Today: Marshal rolled 13,3 using 3d6+1,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4,3,3.  Damage (Loaded for Bear).

Total Damage: 16

That will leave Roberts shaken with 2 wounds.

20:57, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 2,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3.  Riding.

Robert grunts in pain as he tumbles out of the saddle, his mount wheeling around and charging back down the trail, galloping south.

From the other side of the path comes the crack of a rifle, as the second of the figures fires at the riders.

21:01, Today: Marshal rolled 5,3 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5.  Shooting - Bushwhacker.

21:03, Today: Marshal rolled 22 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,7.  Damage.

The shot strikes Bauer's mount in the side of the head, just left of the horse's eye. It topples onto one side, dead before it reaches the stony earth.

21:05, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 1,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Riding.

Bauer is taken completely off guard by the attack and is thrown to the edge of the woods, landing hard on her side.

Bauer takes on level of Fatigue and is Shaken.

21:08, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 9S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Bushwhackers.

As threats were being exchanged, Dr. Wayland had drawn his voltaic emitter from the holster on his saddle. The weapon whined to life just as Roberts fell from his mount. The bounty hunter fired in the direction of Roberts' attacker, the scent of ozone overtaking the trail as blue energy tore into the forest.

21:10, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 8,7 using 1d8+2,1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  Shooting.

With the -2 modifier for the bushwhacker's cover, that's a hit (no raise).

21:20, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 10 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4.  Damage.

Total Damage: 10

That will leave the bushwhacker shaken with 1 wound.

Pieces of charred wood sail into the air as the weapon discharges with the sound of a thunderclap, the blast shattering the foliage the gunman was using for cover. As the air begins to clear, all of the riders immediately recognize their attacker. It is, impossibly, Albert Cooper.

21:25, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, drew the single card: JS using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Lee swings down from the saddle. Moving swiftly, he clears the gathered riders and charges up the slope toward Cooper's doppleganger.

The dismount and move up the slope will consume Lee's action. He will be able to attack on the next round.

21:28, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Bryan Lee, drew the single card: 5H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Roving Wolf dismounts, rushing over to render aid to the wounded Roberts.

Kearney, her pistol in hand, takes aim as soon as she can sight the posse's attacker through the swirl of debris created by Wayland's invention. Her face registers shock as she recognizes Cooper's face, her shot going wide to the right.

21:32, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled 3,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Shooting.

21:35, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 9D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

21:39, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Jacinta Castillo, drew the single card: QH using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Initiative Order

Tamsin River - Holding from Previous Round
QH - Jacinta Castillo
JS - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
9S - Bushwhackers
9D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
5H - Bryan Lee
3S - Kansas Kate
2D - Albert Cooper

Miss River, you can act at any point you choose to.

Senorita Castillo, it's your turn.

Jacinta racked another round in her rifle, still aiming for the same target.  As chaos erupted about her, she squeezed the trigger and sent another bullet flying with a loud crack.


Shooting: 8
Damage: 11 (w/ Raise)

Initiative: BJ!

01:06, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 8,5 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  Shooting.
01:07, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 11 using 2d8+1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,5.  Damage w/ Raise.
01:09, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: BJ! using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

The female shooter stands an instant after Castillo fires, her rifle tumbling to the ground as she clutches her throat, her vain struggle to find breath audible even in the wake of gun's report. She stumbles backwards, slumping against the trunk of a pine, growing completely still within a matter of moments.

The female bushwhacker dies.

As Lee is rushing up the hill, Dr. Wayland is going to hold his action, not wanting to unleash a torrent of lightning in his ally's direction.

Likewise, the allies will hold.

The figure wearing Albert Cooper's form scowls as he spies the Ranger approaching, snapping off a shot at the lawman. The bullet whistles past Lee's ear, thudding into one of the trees behind him. An instant after the impact, ice envelops the pine's trunk, coating even the low hanging branches in clear crystal.

19:41, Today: Marshal rolled 1,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Shooting - Bushwhacker.

19:51, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 4S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Bushwhacker.

Initiative Order

Tamsin River - Holding from Previous Round
QH - Jacinta Castillo
JS - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland - Holding
9S - Bushwhackers
9D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)- Holding
5H - Bryan Lee
3S - Kansas Kate
2D - Albert Cooper

Your turn, Ranger Lee.

Bryan surged up the hill towards Coop's doppleganger. The dead giveaway was that the man didn't seem nearly as capable as Coop with that gun of his. He flew into an attack, nearly breathless but relentlessly focused and filled with calm despite the flurry of motion that he became upon his arrival there.

His fist cracked into the man's face once, then into his ribcage and once into his gut, pulling back and seeing if he was ready for more.

OOC:

TLDR: Bryan takes his standard series of attacks.
Attacks: 17, 13, 13
Damage 1: 22 (17 if no raise)
Damage 2: 19 (18 if no raise)
Damage 3: 12 (9 if no raise)
Initiative: 9D

Being a little rusty, I didn't check the record each die box. I had assumed the three were raises. If the guy has a Parry of 10+, they won't be, so if it works for you, we can just subtract d6 from each of those damage values (rolled below) which would take them down to 17, 18, 9.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
21:31, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 12 using d8+d4+2+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 3 (STR+d4+2+Raise).
21:31, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 19 using d8+d4+2+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 2 (STR+d4+2+Raise).
21:31, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 22 using d8+d4+2+d6, rerolling max.  Damage (STR+d4+2+Raise).
21:29, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 13,9 using d10+4,d6+4, rerolling max.  Frenzy (Wild Attack, Unarmed Defender).
21:29, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 13,5 using d10+4,d6+4, rerolling max.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack, Unarmed Defender).
21:29, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 17,12 using d10+4,d6+4, rerolling max.  Fighting (Wild Attack, Unarmed Defender).
21:41, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 5,1,3 using d6,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,3.
21:43, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: 9D using the Deadlands system.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Wed 18 Mar 2020.

The three blows strike in rapid succession, almost defying any of those watching to perceive them. The crack of breaking bones accompanies the second punch, while the third sends a spray of blood from the doppelgänger’s mouth. The gun sliding out of his hand, the mirror image of Cooper drops to the pine needle carpeted ground, as still as a stone.

OOC: Combat over.

Bauer retrieves her hat, but does not bother to put in on. Walking on her knees, she approaches her fallen horse, pain etched on her face. Putting a hand on the animal’s flank, she whispers, ”I’m so sorry, Blackjack.”

Andrew Roberts grips his wounded shoulder, his jaw clenched tightly. From where he kneels beside the injured man, Shabbakasha looks back at the group of riders. ”Miss Winter, could you help him?” he asks, “The wound is a serious one.”

Lee leaned down and took the fallen man's gun as the tree enveloped in ice that the bullet had hit instead of him came into view, and he very nearly shuddered.

"Fella couldn't shoot for shit, Coop," he said.

Lee patted him down to see if he had anything else useful on his person, but didn't seem to find anything. He studied the man's face, wondering how he had done such a great impression of Cooper, and wondered whether this was sort of the enchantment that might fade. He looked at the gun as well to see if there was something special about it.

---

OOC:


14:11, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Knowledge:Occult.
14:11, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 2,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.

Albert shook his head at Bryan's commentary. "That's how ya knew it weren't really me, right?" That and the fact that the doppleganger was shooting at the posse. But hey, also that he was a much poorer shot than Albert usually was.

That the 'ganger seemed to have the ability to create magic bullets was surprising and disturbing. But hopefully they wouldn't see any more of these sorts of things. "Though if ya had any reason ta need ta take out some frustrations with ol' Coop, well, that should be satisfied, eh, General?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:51, Fri 20 Mar 2020.

Kansas Kate just shook her head.  This place was messing with them and it would continue to mess with them.  It was the kind of thing that made her very angry, just come out and get your killing done and be done with it one way or the other, that was her way.

She just grunted.  Realizing they'd lost a horse, she was even more pissed off.  She walked close enough to make sure the poor beast was actually dead.

04:31, Today: Tamsin River rolled 6,6 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max ((4,4)).

Tamsin takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. There are many things to be sad about, but she has work to do.

“Of course,”  she said, making her way over to Roberts. “This will hurt,” she murmurs.

He offered Coop a wry smile.

"There's only one genuine article, that's the truth of it. But hey, I don't really have much need for these. Just in case your jams up, I figure you might could use this." He offered Coop the Doppleganger's pistol.

Albert slid his own pistol into the holster and took a good, close look at the one that Bryan handed to him. "Thanks, General." It was hard to imagine a copycat-creature being able to create a weapon as special as Albert's, but his imagination had expanded in recent years.

OOC: Let me know if I need to roll anything to determine if this is a Hexslinger's weapon or not.

Even before Lee picks the shapeshifter's weapon up, he can see that there are odd markings on the pistol, runic etchings that readily point to arcane power. The gun itself appears poorly cared for. Dirt fills many of its contours, and Lee can see small spots of rust on the barrel and trigger guard. Handling it, the Ranger notices that it feels noticeably cold, as if it had been left out in the mountain air, untouched, for hours.


Cooper has the same sensation when the pistol is passed to him. Unnervingly, the gun looks like a close replica of his own, and is assuredly the weapon of a hexslinger, but the etchings on the weapon are crude, as if carved by one who is inexperienced, or clumsy. The gun's condition, of course, reflects a state that Cooper would never allow his own pistol to fall into.


Roberts clenches his teeth as River removes the bullet from his shoulder. He lets out a sigh of relief when the task is complete and the herbalist dresses his wound with a clean bandage and a selection of herbs.

OOC: Taking into account River's edges, her efforts are sufficient to heal both of Roberts' wounds and remove his shaken condition.

Bauer does not look up when Kansas Kate approaches, her watering eyes focused solely on her fallen mount. One look at the horse informs the outlaw that the animal is dead, the shot having shattered one side of the faithful creature's skull.

Glancing around, Kansas Kate notes that there is no sign of Andrew Roberts' horse either. The bounty hunter's mount appears to have truly fled down the mountain.

A brief, chill breeze rustles the pine needles in the canopy above. From somewhere north, a trio of howls, the calls of wolves, drift through the stillness.

"We'll hafta double up on th' hosses."  Kansas Kate surmised.  She was a strange creature.  Kill a hundred men and she wouldn't blink, but she felt bad about the horse, even if she'd never show it.

"We need ta get a move on."  She was being relatively gentle.  Relatively.

Though there was something squeamish about seeing yourself shot up by your own rifle, Jacinta felt she needed to check on her own kill -- primarily to confirm that the creature *was* dead, but also to satisfy some strange morbid curiosity.  Had it really stolen her face?  She approached cautiously and nudged the body with her rifle, prodding for signs of life.

The dead woman's face is partially concealed beneath the brim of a leather fedora, the material cracked by age, its once brown color growing gray. Lifting the hat, Castillo is confronted with her own visage, the dark eyes empty, staring forward but seeing nothing.

The rifle at dead woman's side looks almost identical to Castillo's own, save for the fact that it is crusted with dirt, rust having almost claimed the trigger guard. The scout notices a few wisps of cobwebs clinging to the weapon's stock.

Another group of howls echoes through the trees.

There were times in life when unlikable, gruff people who weren't considerate of others' feelings were useful to have around.

"Shake a leg while we're still above snakes.  Come on."  Since the proximity to Bauer was established she put her boot in the other woman's vision.  "To horse."

"Huh. That's...weird. This dirt that's on this here gun - seems almost like it was buried before. Time isself seems ta be a little strange here." He pointed to the gun. "This looks sorta like mine, but wasn't created by nobody with th' actual skill ta do so." Which essentially made it worthless junk, unless there were any clues that it provided.

He pointed to where the ice bullet had landed. "Bullet makin' ice, well, that's a might peculiar. Means that this...creature...were able ta copy my tricks." Albert was obviously perplexed at the implications.

"Course mebbe it all don't matter if we don't see no more like these two. On the other hand, if the General there has a double, well, we might not be so lucky as this time."

Albert put a hand on Brandy, ready to mount and move. In his leaner years he would have offered to have someone double up with him. But poor Brandy was already carrying double.

Having seen enough, Jacinta left her double to lie and returned to her horse, swinging a leg up and over.  She quickly added rounds to her rifle to replace those she'd spent and looked around at the others.  "Roberts, you can ride with me if you can still ride," she offered.  The scout was slight and her horse still hale enough to carry two.

"If it ain't no use, then it ain't no use. Looks a mite...childish, the way it was carved into. Not like yours, Coop. I think maybe it was just part of the appearance of bein' you, and whatever made all that ice back there, that power came from somethin' else." He looked towards their destination.

"And I hope I don't have a doppleganger either. That wallopin' I gave Dolan, I don't wanna be on the receiving end. If he can't do that snake shake thing we agreed on, put him down."

He made a move to mount, and to see if anyone else needed a ride. If it was rough terrain, he might rather offer to be on foot but he didn't want to fall behind or hold up the group if it was easy going ahorse.

Roberts nods gratefully at Castillo's offer. "I'm obliged, ma'am," he tells the scout as he climbs up behind her, his rifle in his right hand, pointed to the sky.

"Keep a sharp lookout once we pass out of the forest. Unless things have changed since I last made this climb, there ain't much up ahead in terms of cover."

The sight of Kansas Kate's boot shakes Bauer from her seeming trance. "Right," she answers. Mechanically, she collects her carbine and saddlebags, draping the latter over one shoulder.

Standing, she notices Lee's pause. Approaching the ranger, she says, "If you wouldn't mind an extra rider, I'd sure be appreciative. I don't take up much room."

If the forest holds any more secrets, it does not reveal them. The pine trees offer only whispers, prompted by the mountain breeze stirring their branches overhead.

In a short distance, the riders reach the edge of the woods, the soil becoming hard and packed, in spots, replaced completely by stretches of weathered gray stone. Ahead, just as Roberts had warned, lies an open expanse of gently sloping terrain, patched intermittently with clumps of snow. Only a few skeletal trees mark the ground, along with a meager collection of boulders to the east.

In the center of the expanse, perhaps fifty yards from the treeline, is what most of the riders recognize as a burial ground. Many of the graves are wooden pallets raised several feet above the ground by wooden poles, a burial method used by both the Apache and Comanche peoples. There are a number of such monuments, easily forty or more, the ancient ornaments that hang from some of them shifting quietly in the breeze. Mingled with the pole mounted graves are a large number of cairns, simple stacks of stones that mark a site of burial. A few paces west of the graveyard stand the broken remains of several covered wagons, each one empty and reduced to a mere framework by the elements.

Besides the breeze, nothing moves within the graveyard. After a moment, the silence is broken again by a group of distant howls.

Lee nodded solemnly, understanding the loss of a mount.

"Of course," he said simply.He leaned down to give Bauer a hand, and freed up a stirrup for her to use in getting up, and the two rode quietly toward their destination.

When they arrived, he dismounted, handing her the reins as he surveyed the situation on foot.

"I knew those wolves were followin' me," he muttered under his breath as he looked about.

OOC:

Notice: 8

Getting a sense of what kind of trouble might be afoot, particularly with respect to

10:38, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 8,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 03 Apr 2020.

"Don't tech enny of this mess."  Kansas Kate grumbled without even meaning to, but it just struck her that disturbing any of these structures was probably just the worst idea ever.  The admonition was meant for herself but perhaps it was good advice for anybody.

The wolf howls had her head on a swivel though.  Scattergun in hand, she slid down, and started scanning for an ambush.

Albert grunted at what he saw. He pulled his gun from its holster and frowned as Bryan dismounted and started to look about.

While the general was commenting on the wolves, Albert considered what he knew about the burial rituals and how it might affect this particular location.

OOC: Not a bust!

09:53, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 2,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Knowledge (Occult).

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to come up with anything useful. Instead he just gave a standard warning. "Careful, General."

Bauer and Kearney join Kansas Kate in surveying the open ground around the graveyard, but none see any wolves nearby. By appearances, the riders are alone on the mountain.

Buckshot Roberts swings down from Castillo’s horse, his eyes narrowing as he studies the collection of monuments. ”The wagons weren’t here the last time, naturally. But everythin’ else was.” Those in close proximity to the bounty hunter notice him shudder.

Several moments pass, but no more howls echo down the mountain.


Shabbakasha climbs down from his horse and joins Lee as the Ranger examines the scene before the riders. After a moment, the Comanche shaman looks to the lawman and nods grimly, clearly having observed the same things that Lee has.

The wind stirs, rustling the trees behind the gathered posse and sending a fresh chill through all of them. For an instant, each of the riders has the unsettling, momentary sensation that the breeze carries voices, a collection of whispers, the words of which cannot be fully perceived.

OOC: Everyone kindly provide me with a Spirit roll.

21:08, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 2,6 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Spirit! Some people fear it!

FWIW If this is actually a Fear check my result would be an 8, or even an 11 with Grit.

"Hmmm." Albert frowned as he listened to see if he could discern the voices on the wind. At least it didn't unsettle him terribly.

OOC: 9 Spirit


19:21, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 9,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,5.  Spirit.

A Texas Ranger and a Comanche working side by side was a strange sight at any time, but up here, with all they had seen and done in the last few weeks, it seemed a perfectly normal thing. He shook his head a the sight. They may not be his people, but he understood and respected their ways, so he couldn't like what had come to pass here.

"The sanctity of this place has been fouled," he said. "Each grave defiled. The protection from the medicine of these people's shamans taken away."

He pointed out the footprints for those that seemed not to have found them. "Ten sets of footprints up here. Two went down that way, way we came. I'm guessin' those were the dopplegangers we've seen. All y'all stay close. Maybe more doubles out here somewhere."

He shivered for just a moment as the breeze took him and then stared in a very peculiar fashion into nowhere as he seemed to whisper back at the wind, scowling.

OOC:

Spirit: 8 (10 if for fear)

13:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 8,8 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Spirit.

Jacinta joined the shifter on the ground, leaving her mare tied at the treeline.  Gaze narrowing as she peered about the burial ground, she took a few steps forward to study the area in search of a trail or path to follow but saw nothing of note beyond what Bryan had pointed out.  Her head tilted slightly as the breeze passed through the group, eyes narrowing slightly in concentration.


Tracking: 2
Spirit or Fear: 4 or 6

11:35, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 2,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Tracking.
11:33, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 6,6 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Spirit (Fear).

As the breeze passes over the riders, it seems to find a greater strength, the chill it carries deepening, the cold sharp enough to sting. The noise of murmurs, of whispers, grows as well, leaving most that are present with the conviction that the voices they perceive are not merely a trick of sound.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:24, Thu 09 Apr 2020.

"The stories sung by my people say that this place was once a battlefield," Roving Wolf says, his gaze not straying from the nearby graves, "That many braves fell to hold back the shadows raised here by those consumed by anger. By pride. Those that died were buried here. That they might keep watch, should the darkness ever awaken again."

03:15, Today: Tamsin River rolled 1,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max ((1,5)).
03:16, Today: Tamsin River rolled 3,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max ((3,4)). (+2 if Fear test)

Tamsin’s eyes sweep the burial grounds when they arrive, frowning as she thinks. She stays silent, her brow furrowing deeper as the wind passes.

"Stay on your guard. Whether or not we can see it yet, I can feel trouble brewin' anytime now," he advised his friends as he scanned the surroundings actively, watching for something to go wrong. They had all known it would after a fashion, but it was better to have a sense or a premonition of trouble even a moment before it happened than none at all.

Kansas Kate looked unsettled.  That wasn't too common for her.  Oh there were occasions, like the time she found out what the Dobbs Brothers did to those orphans.  She'd regretted she'd only been able to shoot them they deserved so much worse.  But this was different.

She grunted, pistol in hand, stepping about.

Albert grunted and frowned at what he heard. He committed the words to memory even though he didn't entirely trust the origin of them. It seemed like something intended to divisive. But there could be a grain of truth to it.

After the pause due to introspection, Albert agreed with the Ranger. "Yup. Sure does feel that way, General." Like Kate, his pistol was in his hand even though there wasn't any obvious target for it.

Jacinta hesitated, uneasy at the passing wind and feeling of waiting, anticipation.  She shook her head.  "We shouldn't be here," she said quietly.  "Better if we went around to not disturb those that linger."

The wind gains strength, its chilling hand rattling the standing graves and loosing pine needles from the nearby trees. Its howl is joined by the same trio of wolves that have sounded their mournful cries previously, the animals’ calls even more distant than before.

In the graveyard, a post yields to the wind’s pressure, leaning forward with a dry crack, the platform it supports taking on an awkward angle that causes the bones that it holds to slide partially onto the stony ground. Several of the other monuments creak and sway, the fragility of their age readily apparent. With a groan, one of the wagon rolls forward unsteadily for a few feet.

OOC: Everyone kindly provide me a Notice roll.

Kansas Kate trundled along, uneasily and disquieted.

12:41, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Notice.

Lee continued to scan the area, on edge.

OOC:

Notice: 6

Albert looked around at his companions, eyes briefly narrowed, before he again looked at the graveyard and its unwelcome movement.

OOC: I got doubles! Do I get to roll again?

15:45, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 5,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Notice.

The scout's fingers tightened about her weapon as she took a solitary step backward, not in retreat but to secure her footing.  Her keen gaze flitted over the burial ground.


Notice: 10

00:05, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 10,9 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  Notice.

Castillo is the first to see them, but the remainder of the riders catch sight of their approach only seconds later. Even as they become visible another group of distant howls sounds, the apparent deception of experienced predators seeking to fool their prey into a false sense of safety.

It is a pack of wolves that charge down the upgrade north of the graveyard. Their pace is fast, faster than would be expected from animals of their kind, though a number of the riders are able to see that most of the canines are missing patches of fur and flesh, their yellowed bones exposed to the cold air. Their eyes, milky and white as chalk, burn with something akin to hatred. Two of the creatures in the lead unleash howls in unison, the eerily hollow sound carried forward by the strengthening wind.

In all, the riders count twenty of the beasts, the pack’s charge leading them straight toward the burial ground.

OOC: I don’t need an initiative draw from anyone yet. The wolves are still a sufficient distance away where they cannot attack any members of the posse. Given their pace, it’s likely that those at the head of the pack could reach the group by the following round.

For now, those wishing to shoot at the wolves, or to change positions (or both), can do so.

The only immediate sources of cover/interfering terrain are the group of boulders to the east of the group’s position, the tree line behind them, or the collection of graves. This evening, I’ll do my best to put together a map that more clearly illustrates the current geography.

"Y'all get ready!" Jacinta shouted.  Rifle already at her shoulder, she squeezed the trigger and sent a bullet hurtling toward the leader of the pack.


Shooting: 13
Damage: 18

23:38, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 18 using 2d8+1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(8+7)15,1.  Damage w/ Raise.
23:36, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 9,13 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+5)11.  Shooting.

Reminder: Jacinta has the DODGE Edge if and when it applies.

Kansas Kate realized if they lost the horses, they were boned.  She dismounted hers and smacked its haunch.  "Git!"  Hopefully the horse would be found after.  Hopefully.

On her feet, she snapped the Winchester into action, not really having time to get a proper sight picture, but real gunfights were messy.

So adjudicating for myself a bit, I assume shooing the hoss would be considered an action.  Readying the rifle would be a second action, but Quickdraw.  So my second action is actually taking the shot, a -2 MAP.

06:23, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 1,-1 using d12-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Shooting.  Wow, glad I got that roll out of my system.

As she predicted the shot went well wide,  but she wasn't upset about it.  Yet.  She might be here in a moment.  At least the noise would encourage the horse.

"Well...shit." Albert hopped down off his horse and settled himself into balanced stance before he raised his pistol and squeezed off a shot.

OOC: Dismount. Free action to boost shooting (got a raise and then some) 1 PP expended, shooting goes from d8-->d12.

Shoot a bullet. 7 to hit. 9 damage (AP 1). Ordinary (non-magical) damage.

Initiative (making an assumption here) BJ.

14:59, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: BJ! using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

14:59, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 9 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4.  Damage (AP1).

14:58, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 7,2 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2.  Shooting.

14:57, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 14,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,3.  Boost Shooting.

Finally vindicated in his constant worry over these wolves, Lee grinned confidently.

"Finally gonna get these sons of bitches," he said.

He made his way toward the place the wolves seemed to be heading to present himself as a target. He leaned down towards one of the defiled cairns.
"I beg your pardon for the disrespect but I promise to do my best to take down whatevers disturbing your rest."

He climbed up onto the rocks, just above ground, and prepared his mind for a calm execution of his training to take on the wolves that were always coming.

OOC:

Just before they arrive in melee range, Lee will invoke Quickness with a success and Damage Field with a raise.

01:43, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 13,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Damage Field.

01:43, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Quickness.

01:55, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: JD using the Deadlands system.

Tamsin hopped down from her horse and made sure she was ready. Gun out and loaded. “It’s always the wolves.”

Bauer dismounts as Lee moves toward the collection of graves. She squeezes off a shot with her carbine, but misses the charging creatures, the round kicking up fragments of stone as it strikes the ground.

10:27, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 1,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  Shooting.

”Dear Lord,” Kearney mutters. Remaining mounted, she draws her pistol, draws a bead on one of the approaching wolves, and fires.

10:28, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled 2,10 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+4)10.  Shooting.

10:53, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled 7,3 using 2d6+1,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,3.  Damage.

As Castillo takes aim, Roberts swings out of the saddle, dropping to the ground. Shouldering his rifle, the bounty hunter fires at one of the lead wolves.

10:59, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 7,1 using 2d6+1,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5,1.  Shooting.

11:00, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 13 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7,6.  Damage.

Roving Wolf begins to intone a soft chant, the words in the language of his people, the tone solemn and prayerful. Without pausing, he lifts his bow, loosing an arrow at the approaching swarm of predators.

11:02, Today: Shabbakasha rolled 2,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Shooting.

Dr. Wayland mutters a few words, thoughts about canines that are drowned out by the nearby reports of firearms. Drawing his Voltaic Emitter from its case, he activates the weapon, the crackle of electricity and the scent of ozone filling the air as the lightning gun surges to life.

As shots ring out, three of the beasts are felled by Castillo, Kearney, and Roberts, each of the undead creatures collapsing in the midst of their charge, creating rolling clouds of ruined fur, bone, and grave dust. Cooper’s shot finds its mark as well, the targeted wolf letting out a yowl as fragments of bone are blasted free from its flank. Its charge slows, its faltering pace forcing it to the rear of the approaching pack.

OOC: Three of the wolves are killed. One is left shaken.

The wolves cross into the graveyard, agilely snaking through the collection of monuments as they rush toward their prey. As they do, an unearthly shriek rises from the earth, a noise of mingled rage and torment. Jagged cracks tear across the gray soil, the cold in the air redoubling as wisps of shadow, like black smoke, begin to rise from the sundered ground.

11:09, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 4S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Wolves.

11:09, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 9H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

11:12, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Jacinta Castillo, drew the single card: 7D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

11:13, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Tamsin River, drew the single card: 8C using a deck of 54 cards.

11:13, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, drew the single card: 6C using a deck of 54 cards.

12:40, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Kansas Kate, drew the single card: QC using a deck of 54 cards.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Albert Cooper
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Bryan Lee
9H - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
8C - Tamsin River
7D - Jacinta Castillo
4S - Wolves

17 wolves remain. 1 is shaken. The wolves have a Toughness of 6 and a Parry of 6. They are not considered unarmed.

Ranger Lee, despite the quaking beneath your feet and the black fumes rising from the earth, no harm has come to you. Whether you wish to remain where you are during the next round is entirely your prerogative.

Also, Ranger, for your purposes, the wolves are in melee range.

At their current pace, the wolves will cross the graveyard and reach the posse’s current position on the following round.

Due to the wolves being among the various grave monuments, they will be considered to have light cover (-1 to shooting rolls) during the current round.

Mr. Cooper, you have the floor.

Albert spun the revolver on his finger as the gussied-up weapon became bathed in white light. He took a slow steady breath and squeezed the trigger again at the end of his exhalation. The bullet trailed sparks behind it as it flew true, blowing a hole in one of the wolves.

Hopefully he'd be able to keep his shoes on to count the living ones pretty soon. Or at least the animated ones. Or whatever it is one called undead wolves that were still able to cause trouble.

OOC: Cast Smite, got a 9, which is a raise. Only costs 1 and provides +4 damage. PP 3/10

13 to hit (with joker, marksman and cover) which is a raise.

17 damage, AP1 (should be plenty)

9H initiative.

Go KK!

14:51, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: 9H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

14:51, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 17 using 3d6+5, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3,4.  Damage (AP1, magic, raise).

14:50, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 13,5 using d12+3,d8+3, rerolling max with rolls of 10,2.  Shooting (joker,marksman,cover).

14:49, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 9,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5.  Hexslinging (Smite).
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

Kansas Kate didn't debate much about what to do.  That there was a lot of mean ornery wolves.  What weren't alive.  Pot and the kettle?

She got the strangest ideas in her head when her Schofield was barking.

So, Quickdraw!  One Schofield Revolver Please!

Time for everyone's favorite game, Fanning the Hammer!  With new and improved penalties!  But I'm sitting a lot of chippers too.

All right here goes one hell of a gamble.

20:27, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 8,5,8,12,0,5,0 using d12-3,d12-3,d12-3,d12-3,d12-3,d12-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 11,8,11,(12+3)15,3,8,3.  Spray and Pray the Wolves Away.

Wow.  That came out pretty well actually.

Hit with Raise
Hit
Hit with Raise
Hit with Raise
Miss =C
Hit

But wait there's more

20:31, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Red Cheep.

20:31, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  2nd Red Cheep.

Well, I was going to try to upgrade two of the hits, but that 1 stopped me, so I'll turn the miss into a hit.  Unfortunately +1 won't turn my other non Raise hit into a Raise.

So now we have:

1 - Hit with Raise
2 - Hit
3 - Hit with Raise
4 - Hit with Raise
5 - Hit
6 - Hit

I coded them so this roll's easier to decipher:

20:35, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 12,5,9,21,7,7 using 3d6+1,2d6+1,3d6+1,3d6+1,2d6+1,2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4,4,2,2,4,1,3,(6+6+2)14,3,3,1,5,2,4.  Damage 1, Damage 2, Damage 3, Damage 4, Damage 5, Damage 6.

So:

1 - 12 damage  Hooyeah!
2 - 5 damage  *sad trumpet sound*
3 - 9 damage Mejor Que Nada
4 - 21 damage Hooyeah!
5 - 7 damage Mejor Que Nada
6 - 7 damage Mejor Que Nada

"Th' gray one!  What wit' th' clipped ear!  One wit' th' one eye!"  She hoped that would be sufficient for others to call their own shots.  Kansas Kate's quick hands released the latch and the sparkling brass fell down around her, but it did not reach the ground before fresh ammunition was already loaded.

Speed Load!  Who abuses her Edges to take too many actions in a round? I do!

Next round!

20:40, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: QC using the Deadlands system.

The wolf that Cooper targets bursts into fragments of white light, embers that quickly fade as they scatter across the ancient burial ground.

The thunder of shots from Kansas Kate’s Schofield puts down two more of the wolves in an instant, reducing both to broken bones and ash. The rest of the shots are not wasted, the hailstorm of bullets wounding several of the approaching predators, some grievously, as bone is torn free from flanks and muzzles and eyes are darkened. A chorus of ghostly yowls arises from the graveyard.

OOC: Between Cooper and Kansas Kate, three more wolves are killed. Kansas Kate’s torrent of bullets also inflicts shaken conditions on three of the surviving beasts.

All told, 14 wolves remain. 4 of them are shaken.

The wolves have a Toughness of 6 and a Parry of 6. They are not considered unarmed.

A sincere “Thank You” to our resident outlaw for the way you broke your post down. It made my job enormously easier.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Albert Cooper
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Bryan Lee
9H - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
8C - Tamsin River
7D - Jacinta Castillo
4S - Wolves

Ranger Lee, it is your turn.

Drawing himself into a stance suitable for launching an immediate attack, he held his hand out, beckoning the wolves to come at him as the pack began to make its way into the cemetery.

"This is just the opening volley; the real threat is yet to come," he called out to his friends.

When the wolves closed in, before they could make a move for him, he closed the distance, spinning into the fight fists striking bone and fur as he whirled between each of them, exacting vengeance for the stagecoach driver with each blow.

OOC:

Bryan is facing off against four wolves, and between Quickness, Superior Kung Fu, and Improved Frenzy, he's got six attacks. Of them, only four hit, three with a raise (14, 20, 9, 10) against Parry 6. Damage results with the raised version of Damage Field up and Wild Attacks, and raises when appropriate.

Damage 1: 23
Damage 2: 18
Damage 3: 33
Damage 4: 28

Initiative: KS

That should take care of those four wolves. Then he's going to back up and scurry to the right to get out of the way for the shooters, sort of between the current posse and the boulders.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
15:21, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: KS using a deck of 54 cards.
14:16, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 28 using d8+d4+2+2d8+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 4.
14:15, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 33 using d8+d4+2+2d8, rerolling max.  Damage 3.
14:15, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 18 using d8+d4+2+2d8+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 2.
14:15, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 23 using d8+d4+2+2d8+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 1.
13:17, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 3,3 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max.  Frenzy (Wild Attack) 2.
13:16, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack) 2.
13:16, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,10 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max.  Fighting (Wild Attack) 2.
13:16, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 9,5 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max.  Frenzy (Wild Attack).
13:16, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 20,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack).
13:16, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 14,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max.  Fighting (Wild Attack).

---

Not moving from where he stands, Roberts lets out a slow breath and fires another shot, blasting one of the wolves’ heads into a shower of dust.

12:09, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 2,7 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+2)8.  Shooting.

12:10, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 10 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 4,6.  Damage.

Bauer pauses, tracking one of the approaching predators with her carbine. Sure of her shot, she takes it, the bullet shattering the beast’s chest, reducing it to a heap of rotted fur.

12:11, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 2,4 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.  Shooting.

12:13, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 11 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,6.  Damage.

Kearney snaps off another shot at one of the wolves. The bullet blasts away a portion of the creature’s skull in a spray of yellow bone, sending it tumbling onto its side as it is reduced to tatters.

12:14, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled 9,0 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,1.  Shooting.

21:45, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled 10,5 using 2d6+1,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,2,5.  Damage.

Lowering his bow, Roving Wolf sings a few soft words before extending his right hand and shouting a sharp command. [Language unknown: “Hoiou latdayons netho ilrat itevos!”]

The soil bursts upward in front of two of the rightmost wolves. The shower of dirt and rocks appears to blind the two creatures, their pace slowing, their gait wobbly and uncertain.

Cast: Elemental Manipulation

Power points: 1

12:25, Today: Shabbakasha rolled 2,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Tribal Medicine.

12:27, Today: Marshal rolled -1,-1 using 1d8-2,1d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Agility.

The two leading wolves on the right side of the pack are blinded. As part of that condition, both are shaken.

Lee is blur of motion, his attacks swift and certain. For an instant, his form is lost from the riders’ sight as several of the wolves are reduced to clouds of grave dust by the Ranger’s brutal strikes. Lee emerges from the haze a moment later, backing away from the tremor filled graveyard toward the nearby collection of boulders.

Five wolves remain. All of those that have survived to this point are shaken. Two are blinded.

Initiative Order

BJ! - Albert Cooper
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Bryan Lee
9H - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
8C - Tamsin River
7D - Jacinta Castillo
6C - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
4S - Wolves

Miss River, Señorita Castillo, you can each take your turn.

Jacinta squinted, following one of the wolves with the sight of her rifle.  The beast was clearly shaken by earlier attacks, so her next shot hit easily and put the creature down.  She cranked the lever to chamber another round, immediately in search of another target.


Shooting: 5
Damage: 14
Initiative: QS

22:56, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 3,5 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4.  Shooting.
22:56, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 14 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(8+4)12.  Damage.
22:56, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: QS using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

Dr. Wayland's lightning gun roars to life, a fan of blue electricity ripping through the cold air, scorching the hard, gray earth as it travels. The bolts find three of the charging wolves, igniting each of them like patches of dry grass. Their yowls are momentarily deafening as each one succumbs to the flames, their gaunt forms quickly reduced to ash.

15:35, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 6,6 using 1d8-1,1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+1)7.  Shooting.

16:24, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 13 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7,6.  Damage.

Castillo's rifle shot literally splits the wolf she targeted in two, both halves sliding to a stop as the creature's remains rapidly crumble.

The lone surviving wolf, suddenly aware that all of its packmates have been slain, halts, momentarily uncertain of its course. Beneath its paws, the dead earth of High Lonesome continues to tremor, the cracks formed in and around the graveyard widening and lengthening, black smoke beginning to overtake the air, concealing many of the monuments from easy view.

The air grows colder, the riders' breaths steaming. The scent of the grave rolls down the stony slope.

The wolf takes a pair of tentative steps back before something unseen pulls it down into the earth with brutal force. The creature vanishes in the blink of an eye.

A lone voice, both close and far away, strong but hollow, arising from beneath the earth and traveling on the wind, asks a single question.

"Why are we awakened?"

OOC: Combat paused.

"We've come to call on your aid. To free this place from the presence that defiles it," he said. It was a guess. He hoped that this was the voice of the spirits that lingered within that place, and not that of those which sided with the Owl Witch.

Either way, he'd find out. He looked at the Comanche to see if he could get a read on him.

Kansas Kate grumbled.  She would have just said because some fool was being a dumbarse and she needed to know which of his orifices to land her bullet in.  But she wasn't stupid, she knew this approach would probably play as well as anything could.

Albert lowered his weapon a fraction of an inch to watch and listen.

Bryan's response sounded reasonable and appropriate, so he didn't have anything to add. His eyeballs flicked toward J-Lo to see if she might, though he quickly regained his focus on the wolves.

The black smoke grows thicker, rising to shroud most of the grave memorials from sight, rolling outward in every direction like a dark bank of fog. Within the murk, the riders can glimpse motion, the vague suggestion of figures within the haze, their movements chaotic, sometimes rapid, other times frozen in place, as thought they are out of step with time itself.

”You seek the heart. That is why you have journeyed here.” the voice responds.

The ever wordy Kansas Kate responded.  "Yeeep."  Truly a fount of deep running commentary on current events, that Kansas Kate.

She casually slipped her Schofield back into its leather.  It could come out again fast enough if it needed to.

There is a brief rumble, both heard and felt by the assembled riders. Each of them instinctively recognize the sensation as the equivalent of a soft chuckle.

”The heart is not here. The beast, the wendigo took it down from the mountain after he discovered it. He caged it and keeps it near, so that the source of his power will always be close.”

Another tremor, this one violent and powerful, overtakes the mountainside, the trees swaying and loose stones rising in the air. With a sudden surge, the black smoke rushes outward in every direction, a circular wave that envelops all that can be seen.

Color inverts. The sky becomes black as midnight, the trees white as bone; barren, skeletal ghosts.



The cairns, wagons, and raised monuments that comprise the graveyard have become spectral, their forms hazy, like illusions formed of a mirage that will vanish when approached.

Gathered at the cemetery are a host of the dead. Each figure is black as coal, skeletal limbs and unnaturally bent postures affirming that none of them belong to the living. Some hold weapons wielded by the natives of the territory, those here long before the coming of immigrants from other continents. A few are clad in the ragged dress of frontier settlers. Their numbers are great. Perhaps thirty. Perhaps more. All appear to immediately focus on the gathered riders, hateful, airless hisses rising from their ranks.

”The wendigo wished for you to believe that the heart remained here. That you could destroy him by coming to this place.”

“He sent you here to join us. He sent you here to die.”

OOC: If anyone neglected to make a fresh initiative draw during the last round of the wolves’ attack, please make one now.

Anyone that wants to take a move action prior to beginning of combat may do so.

08:15, Today: Tamsin River drew the single card: RJ! using the Deadlands system.

“If the life that hides here is given room, death will depart. And all that sleeps here will awaken once more...” she mutters to herself. “Perhaps that was intended to be a warning.”

She glances around at the others, more to reassure herself that they’re there than anything else, shifting herself out of the way of the more apt shooters.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:37, Sat 02 May 2020.

"Oh, of fucking course."  Kansas Kate swore and sighed deeply.  "A'ight, ah know th' tune ta this here song but ya'll gonna hafta teach me th' words."

I don't know there's a particularly good vantage point to assume here.

And as previously predicted the Schofield was back in play again.

"That....Ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng.....Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh ur-tze" He swore under his breath in the language of his parents, a rare occurence for the lawman who otherwise did his best to blend in as much as was possible for a man visibly an outsider in many places.

If it was true, they'd walked into a trap that had been set for them, but the voices in the wind had spoken truth to him.

OOC:

If there's a position that's not in the way of all the gun folk, and maybe able to wade into the fray a little bit on his next action to take a swipe at a few of these things, he'd take it.

Jacinta just shook her head sadly.  She'd warned them, and should have listened to her own advice.  Now there was nothing for it except to shoot their way out and hope to escape with their lives.  Reloading her rifle to replenish her used shots, her gaze narrowed at the approaching dead.

Albert took another deep breath and let it out slowly. Just another day at the office, really.

OOC: Albert know anything about these spectral spooks? Weaknesses? Ways to hurt them? The need for everyone to run away right now if we're going to survive to see the sun again?

Occult roll of 5 - will chip if necessary to get some answers.

09:06, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 4,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5.  Knowledge (Occult).

The mass of dark figures surge forward. Though some of their forms appear to be little but skeletal remains, they move with the speed of those who are healthy and alive, their murmurs and hisses taking over the noise of the wind as they draw close.

21:29, Today: Marshal drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

21:30, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, drew the single card: 4C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.


21:35, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 2C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Shadows.

Initiative Order

RJ! - Tamsin River
KS - Bryan Lee
QS - Jacinta Castillo
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
9H - Albert Cooper
4C - Dr. Exekiel Wayland
2C - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. At the moment, most are positioned at the area marked as the graveyard. At their current pace, the front rank could reach the posse's position on the following round.

Miss River, you can act at any point in the round that you choose, including now.

Ranger Lee, you have the floor.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Mon 04 May 2020.

Albert squinted into the gloom. "These fine folk seem like them we saw in Angus. Meanin' they particularly dislike fire, holy blessins, and bein' shot in th' head. Course they shouldn't like bein' shot anywhere, but head most of all. Anyone that can make a buncha bright light might also be able ta slow em down."

The Ranger flung himself into battle with a wild cry, seeming to nearly float across a stretch of ground as he moved so quickly to find the enemy. He took them from the corner position he occupied, seeking to wade into their ranks and force the battle to him without getting in the way of his allies thinning out the ranks of these strange creatures. As always, he attacked without fear or hesitation, flowing in and out of adapted forms he had devised while studying in Shan Fan.

Three deft blows in quick succession formed Maze Dragon Sweeps Its Tail flowed smoothly into the fury of Angry Drunken Miner that seemed to pour his will into his hands, moving back and forth between them and setting himself up as a target for more. Still, he did not snarl with anger or rage, his face a mask of calmness.

He held out his hand, beckoning.

"Come if you dare, or flee back to where you came from."

OOC:

Quickness and Damage Field are still up. Between Quickness, Superior Kung Fu: Wing Chun, and Frenzy, Lee makes six attacks. At Parry 5, all six are successful, four with raises (6, 23, 14, 9, 10, 5).

Damage is as follows: 25, 24, 16, 24, 32, 30. 08:55, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: 8S using a deck of 54 cards.
 take out 5 of them, at least without Chips.

Lee is at Parry 5 because of the Wild Attacks. Also, anything that strikes him successfully takes 2d8 damage because of Damage Field.

08:55, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: 8S using a deck of 54 cards.



This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Tue 05 May 2020.

In a flurry of motion that is almost lost to the sight of his companions, the Ranger moves into the approaching ranks of the dead, cutting down six of the shadowed corpses with deadly strikes that shatter their brittle forms, fragments of bone and desiccated flesh tumbling to the ground, each of the undead entirely destroyed by the terrible force of each blow.

But the fragments do not remain. Within an instant of reaching the lifeless ground, they are transmuted into a bone colored mist, its pale hue easily seen amidst the overwhelming storm of shadow. The wisps coalesce, forming a stream that rises upward, enveloping one of the dead that still approaches in a tight funnel, vanishing a moment later, the smoke seemingly absorbed by the walking corpse.

The dead man that was surrounded by the mist stops, regarding Lee with a head that briefly cocks to one side. Halting its steps, its movements become smooth and certain, as though it possesses a grace that arises from long training. Keeping its focus on the lawman, it clenches its fists, assuming a stance that mirrors Lee’s own.

Initiative Order

RJ! - Tamsin River
KS - Bryan Lee
QS - Jacinta Castillo
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
9H - Albert Cooper
4C - Dr. Exekiel Wayland
2C - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. At the moment, most are positioned at the area marked as the graveyard. At their current pace, those surviving in the front rank could reach the posse's position on the following round.

Señorita Castillo, it is your turn.

Kansas Kate, feel free to take your turn after hers.

Miss River, you are free to act at any point during the round that you choose.

"Señorita," he called out, pointing to the one that had seemed to somehow change and transmute into something that seemed somehow...more threatening.

"If you wouldn't mind performing a little rifle surgery, I'd be much obliged."

Jacinta's rifle swiveled in Bryan's general direction, targeting the undead monstrosity that plagued him.  Squinting one eye, she squeezed off her first round at the creature.


Shooting: 19
Damage: 8
Initiative: QC


20:38, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 19,5 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+1)17,3.  Shooting.
20:39, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 8 using 2d8+1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,2.  Damage w/ Raise.
20:41, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: QC using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

Castillo’s shot is well placed, striking the dead creature that is emulating Lee’s stance in the left side of its chest, a wound that would doubtlessly be fatal to one who was living. The creature staggers momentarily, before finding its footing once again.

OOC: The shadow is shaken.

Gray smoke pours from the dead man’s injury, the tendrils of mist encircling another of the advancing dead that is a few paces behind him. The creature that absorbs the gray fumes slows, its gait becoming more graceful and sure footed. It extends its right hand, the shadows coalescing there to form a weapon: a dark simulacrum of a lever action rifle. With movements that reflect practice and efficiency, the dead creature works the lever of the firearm and shoulders it, leveling the weapon at the living riders.

Initiative Order

RJ! - Tamsin River
KS - Bryan Lee
QS - Jacinta Castillo
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
9H - Albert Cooper
4C - Dr. Exekiel Wayland
2C - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. At the moment, most are positioned at the area marked as the graveyard. At their current pace, those surviving in the front rank could reach the posse's position on the following round.

Kansas Kate, the floor belongs to you.

Miss River, you are free to act at any point during the round that you choose.

Playing Arcane Inspiration card so Tamsin can use Blast. Centred on the cemetery.
Blast Results: 07:24, Today: Tamsin River rolled 8,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,2.  Tribal Medicine roll

Rifle surgery? He’s already dead, no need for that. But we are alive, and we need to stay alive, so...

Tamsin holstered her gun. They were already dead, it wasn’t like her gun was going to make them any deader.

Tree. Tree. Any tree. She put her bare hands on cold bark and looked. Looked at the dead approaching. No. Looked at the graveyard they had come from. Yes.

She closed her eyes.

It’s dark. So I need to make it light. Most plants don’t grow without sunlight.

Roots. Roots in the tree intertwined, under everything, in the dirt under everyone’s feet- she could pull a little bit from everything and everyone and that way no one would be hurt. Deep breath in, deep breath out. “If I can grow a vine, I can make a light. Right in the centre, so no one is left behind. Sorry, plants, today I need you to give the sun back.”

Kansas Kate honestly wasn't sure anything she could actually do here was going to be effective.  It took some kind of special ability to do much against these things it seemed.

Well, to hell with that.  If nothing else she'd make a hell of a noise.  She figured she was about to be overrun by the damn things in a hot second anyway.

Okay, taking for granted they can't all be in combat with the Ranger as there's still too many of them...

No cover noted this time.  That's gud, dat's real gud.  All right, let's see how this goes!

16:58, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 3,0,5,0,2,7,2 using d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2,7,2,4,9,4.  Make 'em dance!

Hmmm that is actually not terrible as it could be, but let's see what we can do.  First, Imma red.

16:59, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  teh red chippeh.

Now I'm not going to bother to declare what I do with that because next is a white chip.  Last die is the red bonus die rerolled.

17:01, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 7,16,4,5,2,0,1,10 using d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d6-2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(12+6)18,6,7,4,2,3,(6+4)10.  wyt chippeh.

Oh that's much better.

7 - is a hit
16 - is a hit with a Raise
4 - is a hit
5 - is a hit
2 - is a miss
1 - is a miss

I threw out the 0 and replaced it with the 1.  I will add the 10 to the 1 to get an 11.  And to hell with it, another red.

17:03, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Red Dead Redemption.

I will add that to the 4 and get an 8 for a hit with a Raise.  So now I have:

7 - is a hit
16 - is a hit with a Raise
8 - is a hit with a Raise (added the red)
5 - is a hit
2 - is a miss
11 - is a hit with a Raise

Results in:

2d6+1 damage
3d6+1 damage
3d6+1 damage
2d6+1 damage
No damage
3d6+1 damage

17:06, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 17,7,9,8,8 using 2d6+1,3d6+1,3d6+1,2d6+1,3d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,(6+1)7,3,2,1,3,4,1,5,2,3, 1,3.  Damage 1, Damage 2, Damage 3, Damage 4, Damage 6.

Ugh that is massively disappointing.  But such is the life of the gunslinger.

Speed Load, reset!

17:08, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: 5S using a deck of 54 cards.  well poo here's next round.

Insult to injury!

The bullets from the outlaw’s pistol tear through the cold air, most finding a mark amongst the ranks of the advancing dead. One of the shots blasts a dead man’s throat into ruin, the head tumbling to the earth, the rest of the corpse crumpling without a sound. Four more shots slam into other shadow figures nearby, opening wounds in chests and limbs. The injured dead halt their advance, two of them struggling to retain their footing. Hisses arise from those damaged by Kansa Kate’s gunfire.

Notably, none of the wounds inflicted by the outlaw bring about the appearance of the pale gray mist that has arisen from the other injured shadows.

OOC: One of the shadows is killed outright. Four are shaken.

---

For reference, the card played by Tamsin River:

8S - Arcane Inspiration
“I have no idea how I managed that.”
A character with any sort of Arcane Background can either use one of his powers as a free action or use a power he doesn’t have. The Marshal gets a draw from the fate pot.

River reaches deep into the soil with her will, stretching out to locate every living plant, root, and seed in the vicinity. Far more than she expected answer, along with trees that have stubbornly clung to the last vestiges of life for centuries. All willingly yield the force of their being to the healer. As they do so, the earth shifts beneath the riders’ feet.

The gathered life force finds its focus within the ancient graveyard, a lance of pure light surging upward, out of the broken earth, before detonating with a blinding flash and a terrible roar.

OOC: River casts Blast at a cost of 6 power points.

21:41, Today: Marshal rolled 14 using 1d12+10, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Blast Radius.

A total of 14 shadows are caught within the blast’s circumference.

21:41, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Tamsin River, rolled 29 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+5)17,5,(6+1)7.  Blast Damage.

And each one takes...that.

The burst of light swallows up almost half of the risen dead, reducing each one it consumes to mere ashes. At the edges of the blast, small fires burn, fed by dry branches, pine needles, and fragments from the ancient graves.

OOC: Fourteen shadows are destroyed. Most of those that remain are in the front ranks of the dead.

Something akin to pure rage brings a snarling scowl to Roberts’ face. The bounty hunter breathes a few words before his form shifts and he transforms into a mountain lion. The great cat crouches, preparing to spring at the closet of the shadows.

Cast: Shape Change

Power points used: 5

Seeing Roberts transform, Roving Wolf steps in his path, even as he dips the head of his arrow into one of the nearby pockets of flame.

 ”Take care!” he tells the bounty hunter. ”These must be purified, not simply slain. They must be burned with fire, or that which is sacred. Or their heads, the seat of their spirits, must be destroyed.”

He looses his arrow as he speaks.

22:05, Today: Shabbakasha rolled 5,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Shooting.

 22:07, Today: Shabbakasha rolled 11 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+1)7.  Damage.

The flaming missile buries itself in the forehead of one of the advancing dead. The undead creature topples, transmuting into ash an instant before it strikes the ground.

Initiative Order

RJ! - Tamsin River
KS - Bryan Lee
QS - Jacinta Castillo
QC - Kansas Kate
JD - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha) (Bauer and Kearney are holding their actions.)
9H - Albert Cooper
4C - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
2C - Shadows

11 of the shadows remain. Of those, 5 are shaken. 2 of the shadows (the one with the rifle and the one emulating Lee) are effectively Wild Cards.

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. At the moment, most are positioned at the area marked as the graveyard. At their current pace, those surviving in the front rank could reach the posse's position on the following round.

If anyone wishes to set something on fire prior to attacking a shadow with it, they may do so as a free action.

Your turn, Mr. Cooper.

”Quite a busy little spot, for such an isolated stretch of country,”“ Dr. Wayland mutters. Taking aim at the advancing dead, he fires his voltaic emitter. The blast of lightning is aimed low, the blue energy falling just short of reaching the walking corpses in the front rank.

11:33, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 3,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Shooting.

11:36, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative .
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 20:01, Fri 08 May 2020.

The shadow that has taken on Lee’s stance draws closer to the Ranger, its hands moving in a swift pattern of strikes and blocks that the lawman finds chillingly familiar. The shadow steps within a few paces of Lee, but does not immediately move to strike him.

12:07, Today: Marshal rolled 1,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Activate - Damage Field.

Power Points Used: 4

Success: 2d6 Touch Damage; +2d6 Damage to Unarmed Attacks

The shadow with the rifle focuses its attention on a target and fires.

12:18, Today: Marshal rolled 4,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Shooting.

12:19, Today: Marshal rolled 20 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,7.  Damage.

The shot spears Lena Bauer in the chest. The deputy staggers backwards without making a sound, finding a barren tree to support her as blood darkens her shirt.

Bauer receives 3 wounds and is shaken.

The remainder of the dead continue to press forward, moving toward the gathered riders at a steady, implacable pace.

OOC: The shadows will enter melee range on their next turn.

12:48, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 2,4 using 1d6-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+1)7.  Spirit.

12:48, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 0,1 using 1d8-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  White Chip - Soak Roll.

Bauer is able to overcome the shaken condition, but retains the 3 wounds.

Holding herself as steady as she can manage, Bauer fires a shot at the oncoming shadows.

12:58, Today: Lena Bauer rolled -2,-4 using 1d8-7,1d6-7, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Shooting - Called Shot: Head.

The shot goes wide.

Kearney also squeezes off a shot at another of the shadows, but misses, the bullet whizzing past of one of the corpses’ ear.

13:31, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled 0,1 using 1d8-4,1d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5.  Shooting Called Shot: Head

13:37, Today: Marshal drew the single card: 3D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

13:41, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Tamsin River, drew the single card: 3H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Initiative Order

QC -Jacinta Castillo
JD - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
9H - Albert Cooper (Holding from previous round)
8S - Bryan Lee
5S - Kansas Kate
3H - Tamsin River
3D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
3D - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. Several will enter melee range with the posse when their turn arrives this round.

Your turn, Señorita Castillo.

OOC: Well, damn, looks like I missed an update here. I think with a hold I can go anytime?

Albert took aim with his gun and let the biggest of his slugs fly toward the head of the shadow that was in front of Bryan. He was glad to see that his aim was still pretty damned good.

OOC: It's pretty damn good with a bunch of rerolls. Spent 2W and 1B.

16 to hit with a called shot to the head. I'll assume that's a raise.

Damage of 17 for the loaded for bear round (AP1). Includes 4 damage for Smite. 9 more damage for the raise. Plus 5 if there is an additional d6 for a headshot? So 26 or 31? Or maybe more if headshots are really awesome?

Next initiative is 7H.

13:05, Today: Albert Cooper drew the single card: 7H using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

13:04, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 17,9,5 using 3d6+5,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3,(6+2)8,(6+3)9,5.  Yay! Now damages (LFB,R,HS).

13:03, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 7,5,9 using d12-2,d8-2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,7,(6+3)9.  Let's try that again?

13:03, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 0,-1,1 using d12-2,d8-2,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1,1.  white chip.

13:02, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Blue Chip.

13:01, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 2,5 using d12-2,d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,7.  Shoot (HS, LFB, Marksman).

OOC:  I'll hold for Albert's turn and will go when his is resolved.

OOC: I’d certainly agree. That shot leaves Lee’s imitator shaken with 6 wounds.

It will make an attempt to soak...

18:12, Today: Marshal rolled -2,4 using 1d6-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7.  Red Chip - Soak Roll.

Yeah, that roll will enable it to shed one wound, leaving it with five...

With a flash of blazing light, Cooper’s shot spears the head of the shadow facing Bryan Lee, the round slamming into the dead creature’s temple. A heartbeat passes, and the undead monster’s head explodes with a burst of illumination, the fragments of its skull burning up completely before they can find the ground. An instant later, the shadow’s body becomes ash, pouring onto the stone beneath it like falling sand.

Initiative Order

QC -Jacinta Castillo
JD - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
9H - Albert Cooper (Holding from previous round)
8S - Bryan Lee
5S - Kansas Kate
3H - Tamsin River
3D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
3D - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. The shadow carrying the rifle is considered a Wild Card. Several of the undead will enter melee range with the posse when their turn arrives this round.

The floor is yours, Señorita Castillo.

Jacinta knew how much damage rifles could do.  Seeing Bauer hit and rocked made the scout grit her teeth.  Her rifle swung in the direction of the shadowy creature that emulated her, and she squeezed the trigger, aiming to put a round in the thing's head.



Shooting: 4 (Called headshot + Marksman + Blue chip)
Damage: 15 (11 +4 bonus for headshot)
Initiative: 6S

00:10, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 3,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Shooting - Called headshot.
00:11, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Blue Chip.
00:13, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 11 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 4,7.  Damage.
00:16, Today: Jacinta Castillo drew the single card: 6S using the Deadlands system.  Initiative.

In effect:
Dodge - Attackers must subtract 1 when targeting Jacinta

OOC: Castillo's shot leaves the rifle wielding shadow shaken with 2 wounds. The creature will try to soak some of that damage:

16:38, Today: Marshal rolled 2,0 using 1d6-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Red Chip - Soak Roll.

It doesn't happen. The shadow remains shaken with 2 wounds.

Castillo's carefully aimed shot blasts a portion of the rifle wielding shadow's skull away, destroying most of the creature's head above its left eye. The undead monster visibly staggers, its grip on its weapon faltering as it struggles to find its footing once more.

No pale mist emerges from the grievous wound.

Dr. Wayland fires another blast from his Voltaic Emitter, aiming at the left side of the cemetery.

16:56, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 4,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Shooting.

16:58, Today: Marshal rolled 1,1,5 using 1d6,1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1,5.  Shadows - Agility.

17:00, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, rolled 6 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Damage.

One of the targeted shadows apparently perceives the doctor's intent and moves out of the way of the cone of blue energy. The two that are caught in the blast are bathed in lightning, but aside from a brief pause in their advance, neither appears to be injured by the burst of electricity.

17:07, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland, drew the single card: 10D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

Initiative Order

QC -Jacinta Castillo
JD - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
9H - Albert Cooper (Holding from previous round)
8S - Bryan Lee
5S - Kansas Kate
3H - Tamsin River
3D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
3D - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. The shadow carrying the rifle is considered a Wild Card. Several of the undead will enter melee range with the posse when their turn arrives this round.

Ranger Lee, it's your turn.

Initiative Order

QC -Jacinta Castillo
JD - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
9H - Albert Cooper (Holding from previous round)
8S - Bryan Lee (Holding)
5S - Kansas Kate
3H - Tamsin River
3D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
3D - Shadows

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed. The shadow carrying the rifle is considered a Wild Card. Several of the undead will enter melee range with the posse when their turn arrives this round.

Kansas Kate, you have the floor.

"Thanks!" he called out to Coop and Jacinta before finding his way across the field to wade into another group of...whatever these things were. He skirted around the edges so he would not be too surrounded, but wanted still to keep within range of his allies. One Ranger might be able to quell a riot, but this was a sight more than that and he was gonna need all the help he could get.

That said, he made his way in, striking out with fists at each target that he could reach, hoping to pull back from them at the last to clear some room.

OOC:

Lee finds a cluster to attack if such exists, hoping to use his movement to back up before their essence creates a stronger version of him. If it forms immediately, I'll have him risk the free strike.

Attack: Miss (4), Raise (9), Hit(7), Raise (24), Raise (10), Hit (7)
Damage: 0, 22, 23, 24, 35, 20

Initiative: 3S

Parry 5 until his next action.

PS: Please ignore that "Damage 1" roll; I forgot that I missed the first attack when I was rolling.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
15:56, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 20 using d8+d4+2+2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3,2,7.  Damage 6 (No Raise).
15:56, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 35 using d8+d4+2+2d8+d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3,2,(8+8+4)20,5.  Damage 5 (Raise).
15:56, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 24 using d8+d4+2+2d8+d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,3,1,7,1.  Damage 4 (Raise).
15:55, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 23 using d8+d4+2+2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1,6,7.  Damage 3 (No Raise).
15:54, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 22 using d8+d4+2+2d8+d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,3,2,1,2.  Damage 2 (Raise).
15:54, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 15 using d8+d4+2+2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3,5,1.  Damage 1 (No Raise).
15:52, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 7,7 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Frenzy (Wild Attack) 2.
15:52, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 10,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,2.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack) 2.
15:52, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 24,5 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (10+10+2)22,3.  Fighting (Wild Attack) 2.
15:52, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 7,5 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Frenzy (Wild Attack).
15:52, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 9,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack).
15:51, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,4 using d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Fighting (Wild Attack).

---

This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Tue 12 May 2020.

Kansas Kate swore a blue streak.  Yeah, you could sort of empty a pistol into a critter from point blank range, but it was not as effective.  She did her best.

All right here we gooooo!

I always feel like I've put $50 on a roulette wheel before I roll one of these.

19:28, Today: Kansas Kate rolled -1,4,7,4,5,2,11 using d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6,9,6,7,4,(6+6+1)13.  Fanning the Hammer.

Well, I'm not sure how the Innocent bystander rule comes into play here if it does at all, but otherwise that's actually a good roll relatively speaking

11 - Hit (substituted wild die)
4 - Hit
7 - Hit
4 - Hit
5 - Hit
2 - Miss

Only one with a Raise, but without any chips on the roll that's about right

19:32, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 8,10,10,14,7 using 3d6+1,2d6+1,2d6+1,2d6+1,2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2,3,4,5,5,4,(6+5)11,2,4,2.  Damage 1, Damage 2, Damage 3, Damage 4, Damage 5.

Okay.  We'll take it.  Speed Load, Quick Draw...

Kansas Kate sensed they were coming in close.  She reloaded, but she came up with the Toothpick in her hand and gritted her teeth.

"Come on an' come get ya sum, ya basterds!"

19:35, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: AD using a deck of 54 cards.

Lee presses his attack against the shadows, moving quickly into another group of them, striking the corrupted dead with precise blows as he weaves through their ranks. In what seems an instant, five of the creatures fall, their dark bodies crumbling, pale mist arising from each. The filaments of mist snake through the cold air, finding one of the surviving shadows and enveloping it. The undead figure slows its pace, its steps becoming more measured and deliberate.

But even as it does, a salvo of shots tears through the remaining dead, unleashed by Kansas Kate. Most of the bullets find their mark, and though only one of the dead fall under the assault, the others that are struck are clearly injured, each one halting its advance as it tries to retain its balance.

After the flurry of strikes and gunshots, only four of the shadows remain.

OOC: Two of the surviving shadows are extras. Both are shaken.

The other two are Wild Cards. The rifle wielding shadow is now shaken with three wounds. The other Wild Card, the shadow that just absorbed the pale mist from its compatriots who fell to Lee's attacks, is shaken.

The dead have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. They are not considered unarmed.

Initiative Order

QC -Jacinta Castillo
JD - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
9H - Albert Cooper (Holding from previous round)
8S - Bryan Lee
5S - Kansas Kate
3H - Tamsin River
3D - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
3D - Shadows

It's your turn, Miss River.

Tamsin moves to where Bauer stands. “Not much I can do right this second, but...” She eyes the four advancing shadows warily.

Assuming I’m close enough to her, I’ll spend a fate chip to use Greater Healing.

Even amidst the chaos, River is able to halt the worst of Bauer's bleeding. The deputy nods to her gratefully. "I'm sure obliged to you, Miz River," she says.

River heals one of Bauer's wounds.

Doing her best to take steady aim, Bauer fires another shot at the approaching dead.

17:00, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 9,-4 using 1d8-6,1d6-6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,2.  Shooting - Called Shot: Head.

17:04, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 13,5 using 2d8+4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4,5.  Damage.

The shot blasts the head off of the shadow with the rifle, its body turning into a shower of ash a moment later.

Kearney fires again, aiming for another of the shadows' head as they draw closer, her shot passing harmlessly over its shoulder.

17:06, Today: Aileen Kearney rolled -3,0 using 1d8-4,1d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Shooting - Called Shot: Head.

The mountain lion that is Andrew Roberts springs toward the closest shadow, slashing at it with his claws. Despite the vicious melee, the shadow manages to remain standing, warding off Roberts' attacks.

17:11, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 0,-2 using 1d8-4,1d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Fighting.

Dipping the head of another arrow in flame, Roving Wolf looses the missile at another of the dead.

17:15, Today: Shabbakasha rolled 1,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Shooting.

17:16, Today: Shabbakasha rolled 7 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Damage.

The arrow buries itself in one of the dead creatures' chests, the fire filling its empty rib cage. Its limbs locking in place, the shadow falls to one side, a hiss escaping it before it is reduced to a pool of ash.

17:23, Today: Marshal rolled 4 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Spirit - Shadow.

17:26, Today: Marshal rolled 15,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,1.  Spirit - Shadow.

The two remaining shadows are able to shed their shaken conditions

The shadow entangled with Andrew Roberts lashes out at the mountain lion with its skeletal claws.

17:32, Today: Marshal rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Fighting.

The shadow's attacks appear to be in vain, inflicting no apparent harm on the bounty hunter.

The last of the shadows, which absorbed the last of the pale mist, moves to engage the Ranger, attacking him with a series of seemingly well practiced hand strikes.

17:38, Today: Marshal rolled 7,11,5,20,7,1 using 1d10,1d6,1d10,1d6,1d10,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+5)11,5,(6+6+6+2)20,7,1.  Fighting.

First Strike: Hit w/Raise
Second Strike: Hit w/Raise
Third Strike: Hit

17:42, Today: Marshal rolled 2,3,4 using 1d8,1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3,4.  Damage.

17:44, Today: Marshal rolled 7,2,5 using 1d8,1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2,5.  Damage.

17:45, Today: Marshal rolled 6,7 using 1d8,1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(4+3)7.  Damage.

First Strike: 9
Second Strike: 14
Third Strike: 13

Ranger, that combination of hits will leave you shaken with 5 wounds.

17:48, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Bryan Lee, rolled 8 using 2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Damage Field.

By engaging with Lee, the shadow is once more placed in a shaken state by virtue of the Ranger's Damage Field.

---

17:57, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Tamsin River, drew the single card: KD using a deck of 54 cards.

17:58, Today: Marshal drew the single card: QD using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Allies.

17:58, Today: Marshal drew the single card: QS using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative - Shadows.

Initiative Order

AD - Kansas Kate
KD - Tamsin River
QS - Shadows
QD - Allies (Bauer, Kearney, Roberts, and Shabbakasha)
10D - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
7H - Albert Cooper
6S - Jacinta Castillo
3S - Bryan Lee

Two shadows remain.

The shadow attacking Roberts has a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 7. It is an extra.

The shadow attacking Lee has a Parry of 7 and a Toughness of 7. It is a wild card. It is currently shaken.

Anyone making a shooting attack at either of the shadows will be firing into a melee, and will have to account for an innocent bystander. If any shooting die comes up as a natural 1, the attack will hit an ally fighting the targeted shadow.

Kansas Kate, it's your turn.

Kansas Kate was a bit surprised to not be overrun herself by a shadow.  She had a notion some fire would be necessary, but they had to get this under control first.

She put the Toothpick back and came up with her rifle.  She was tempted to help the manbeast Roberts, but he seemed to be okay and the Ranger was in the shit.  If he crumpled Kansas Kate would have to get after it with her Toothpick and she wouldn't fare so well, so best to take a shot at it now while she could.

20:50, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 8,2 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,2.  Pew Pew.

That may even be a raise.

12 or possibly 16 damage - 20:51, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 12,4 using 2d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5,4.  Rifle Damage, Raise.

20:54, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: KC using the Deadlands system.

Lee finally felt like what it must feel like to be on the other side of a fight from him, furiously moving his hands in a dance that consisted of blocks, trying to strike out where he could find openings but finding himself on the defensive more often than not as the blows struck him. Even a blocked blow still hurt, but he fought to stay in this for a time longer.

OOC:

Marshal, I'll get to the particulars of my soak roll momentarily, but I believe the Ranger's shadowy assailant should take two more damage rolls of 2d8 for striking him. He made three successful attacks against Lee, but there's only a damage roll for the first one.

As for the soak, I rolled better than average, but an explosion woulda been nice :)

Vigor: 21 - Spent 1W4R - should be enough to soak the 5 wounds and be unshaken

23:43, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Red Chip to boost Vigor.
23:42, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Red Chip to boost Vigor.
23:40, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  Red Chip to boost Vigor.
23:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Red Chip to boost Vigor.
23:37, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 3,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max.  Vigor to Soak.

OOC: Right you are, Ranger. Apologies. I would’ve mistakenly let the bad guy off easy.

07:28, Today: Marshal, on behalf of Bryan Lee, rolled 10,9 using 2d8,2d8, rerolling max with rolls of 4,6,5,4.  Damage Field.

As the shadow was shaken by the first hit it took from the damage field, those additional two hits will leave it with two wounds.

Which leads me to Kansas Kate’s rifle shot, which inflicts an additional three wounds.

As the undead creature seemingly prepares to redouble its assault on the Ranger, the report of Kansas Kate’s rifle sounds, the shot blasting a gaping hole in the shadow’s chest. It takes a couple of staggering steps forward, its hands reaching for the terrible injury and finding only emptiness. As it starts to fall, it becomes ash, most of it carried away by the cold wind.

The lone surviving shadow makes another desperate attack against Roberts, but the great cat easily dodges its bony claws.

12:04, Today: Marshal rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Fighting.

Circling away from the lone shadow’s assault, Roberts springs at the undead creature a second time, claws extended.

12:12, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 6,13 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+6+1)13.  Fighting.

12:17, Today: Andrew Roberts rolled 8,1,5 using 1d12,1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,1,5.  Damage.

The cougar almost tears the shadow in two, pulling most of its shoulders free from the rest of its torso. The undead creature falls heavily on its back, weakly raising its arms in an effort at retaliation before becoming ashes, the gray remnants of it spreading across the hard packed earth. A wisp of pale smoke rises from the fallen monster, but finding no shadows to empower, it quickly dissipates, vanishing from sight.

OOC: Combat over.

Still supported by the tree behind her, Bauer slides down into a sitting position. Laying her carbine across her legs, she says, ”If ya’ll don’t mind, I’m just gonna...rest here a bit.”

The surrounding darkness fades, the sky shifting from the black of midnight to one that is brightly overcast, slivers of blue peeking through the curtain of iron colored clouds. Paces away, the graveyard is as it once was, its cairns and tall memorials still enduring against the persistent elements. The ruined wagons have returned to their places, mere skeletons that the breeze whistles through on its journey down High Lonesome. The only evidence of the battle are patches of ash which cling stubbornly to the sloping stone.

The mountain is still. As the echoes of gunfire fade from the riders’ ears, they become aware of the sound of running water, the gurgling of a nearby stream.

OOC: Everyone kindly provide me with a Notice roll.

Kansas Kate reloaded her rifle and kept it in hand.  She didn't trust this situation, and was considering whether she should continue with her plan to Molotov cocktail this place.

12:47, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 4,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Notice.

Dr. Wayland cautiously tilted his emitter off to the side.  He cradled it in one arm to free one hand.  That hand calmly patted his pockets until it finally withdrew a large brass key.  The sort of key one used to wind clockworks.  Which is what he, in fact, began doing with said key.  Winding the spring of the emitter's electrical generator with a steady clicking noise.  He did  itall with practiced ease and without looking.

Instead, he gave over his attention to looking around for whatever horrible thing might choose this moment to strike.  It might not be a horrible thing, but chances were low that it wouldn't be.  As his gaze passed over each companion, he did give them a bit of a narrow eyed look, muttering, "...shadows...shadows where they should be...hmm..."

15:30, Today: Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland rolled 9,11 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,(6+5)11.  Notice!

Albert spun his pistol on his finger, though the wisps of power that often accompanied his flourishes were notably absent. He finished the spinning with the barrel pointing generally upward and he again grabbed the grip before blowing at imaginary smoke coming from the barrel.

He briefly looked over to see if Lena was okay, but it seemed like the Deputy didn't need any more attention than she was already receiving. He scanned the immediate vicinity to see if there was anything else of note nearby.

His fingers went to his gun belt to carefully retrieve some stored bullets. Might be good to reload.

OOC: Notice of 9.

12:36, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 9,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+3)9,(6+1)7.  Notice.

As the field clears and none of the other shadow creatures emerge, Jacinta quickly reloaded her rifle to replace the spent ammunition as her gaze scanned the clearing.  The scout wasn't about to let her guard down until they were well and truly safe.  She also didn't step another foot into the burial ground.

Notice: 4

22:57, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 4,3 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Notice.

Kearney opens her revolver and begins to slowly reload it, pacing as she does so, her gaze fixed on the graveyard.

Roberts resumes his human form. The bounty hunter regards the ashes at his feet with a troubled frown, as though he is disturbed by the savagery he demonstrated moments before. Rubbing his hands together, he turns his attention to the wagons beside the cemetery, taking a few steps forward to get a better look at the vehicles, but remaining a respectful distance from them.

Roving Wolf puts his bow around his shoulders. Closing his eyes, he lifts his hands, palms open, quietly intoning a chant in his native tongue.

Bauer pulls her poke from her belt and, with some effort, digs out a creased cigarette paper. Spreading the paper out, she begins to haltingly pour tobacco from the bag onto it. As she does, her eyes continue to flick up to the ancient cemetery, watchful for any new threat that might emerge from there. ”Dammit,” she mutters softly as a clump of tobacco lands in her lap.

A shaft of sunlight escapes the gray canopy above, briefly lighting the tall forest south of the graveyard. Within moments, it vanishes, concealed behind the shifting rain clouds. The breeze continues steadily, a hint of frost in its touch.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:56, Tue 19 May 2020.

"What in tarnation."  Kansas Kate heaved a sigh completely unnecessarily.  She debated going after the horse she'd sent away, but figured it should wait a bit longer.

She took about ten steps and surveyed the new sight through rifle sights, then looked back to see if she was alone in seeing this.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Tue 19 May 2020.

Albert shrugged his shoulders at Kate as she looked back. "Looks interestin' ta me. S'pose that's our next step."

He looked around again. "Mount up an' keep goin'? Seems ta be a path off yonder." Albert gestured to the newly opened trail.

Dr. Wayland leaned slightly closer to Kate as she asked her question, offering, "Ah believe its cawled a trail...  Maybe a path, if you prefeah."  He looked back again at the newly revealed track.  His key was shoved back into a pocket and he stepped closer, eyeing the trace, "One might also cawl it...a clue..."  He paused, head tilting back and forth with consideration, his voice dropping quieter, "Trap. It could also be a trap, of coahse..."  Back in the direction of Cooper, "It doesn't seem all that fah.  Pehaps, just a quick reconnoitah before we move in force?  Ah'd hate for everyone to ride into the trap all at once..."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:09, Wed 20 May 2020.

Jacinta crossed herself and kissed the cross she wore about her neck.  Turning, she moved to fetch her horse, though didn't mount.  Instead, she followed Kate upon the trail, leading the horse behind. Her head cocked at the soft music.  From the looks on the faces of her friends, she wasn't the only one that could hear it, so at least she wasn't going crazy.

The outlaw opted to continue to advance, rifle in hand, for in her hands any weapon could be brought to bear as need be, not bothering with horse retrieval yet.  She felt very strange, very keenly aware of her... state.

06:02, Today: Tamsin River rolled 2,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max ((2,1)).

“Yes, rest,” Tamsin says to Lena Bauer. ”Who else- Mr. Lee, how are you doing?”
This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Wed 20 May 2020.

"As well as I can be, I suppose, Miss River," he said, looking about, taking it all in. He looked a bit perplexed by the entire situation.

"I think you have the right of it, Dr. Wayland. A quick reconnoiter is what's called for, and it looks like it's already in progress. But I think we should try to follow a bit behind so we're in range." It was all well and good to have the others going up ahead, but he didn't want to be too far off should they need any help.

OOC:

Notice: 4

11:19, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.

"Yea, though ah dun walk' through th' valley o'th' shadder'o death like a damn fool, ah will fear not, for ah am th' meanest cuss what ever walked through this here valley."

The outlaw murmured, resolving to see if this path terminated quickly or not.  If not, she'd have to go find the hoss again.

As the riders approach the newly discovered trail, each can clearly see the wide band of ashes that crosses it, mute evidence of the barrier that once concealed the pathway, now somehow destroyed in the wake of the posse’s stand against the dead. As the remaining riders notice the group’s discovery, they join them in approaching the trail. Even Bauer forces herself to her feet with the help of her carbine to join the others. Something in Roberts’ demeanor informs his companions that this newly found place is entirely unknown to the bounty hunter. Kearney, in particular, regards the path with caution, keeping her pistol drawn.

Reaching the slope, the group can clearly see that all of the vegetation lining the trail is living. Spruce, piñon trees, and several hardy wildflowers are thriving here. The soil itself appears different; dark and loamy. The sudden flapping of wings from a nearby pine signals the presence of birds, stirred by the riders’ presence. The sound of water grows stronger, as does the the whistled tune, the self made music of one keeping their own spirits up while working, or contentedly filling the quiet as the hours pass.

The trail curves around a thick stand of spruce, their green needles suffused with hints of blue. Stepping around the collection of trees, the riders are confronted with the sight of a stream which cuts across the trail. A footbridge, built from pine timbers, provides an easy crossing. The water’s current is strong, splashing over numerous stones that have been made smooth by its countless years of travel.

Across the stream, the members of the posse see two figures: a middle aged man with a graying beard and an adolescent boy, perhaps fourteen years old. Both are filling buckets in the stream. It is the older man who is the source of the whistled hymn. Beside the pair, a bay horse hitched to a small wagon waits patiently.

The boy notices the posse first, tugging at the older man’s sleeve as soon as he sees them. The bearded man regards the group with surprise, his whistling trailing off, his eyes wide as he takes them in. After a speechless pause, he waves with one hand and calls, ”Hello! Hello there! How...I mean, where’d you folks come from?”

Albert was a little surprised at what greeted them. Only he wasn't too surprised. He'd seen some weird stuff in his life. This was up there, though. He waved at the pair. "Howdy, folks. We, uh, came from thataway." Albert tossed his thumb over his shoulder as if that explained everything. "Y'all havin' a good day?"

"Whut in th' blue hell."  Kansas Kate wondered, trying to decide if these two were going to turn into devils or something else and attack them.  She let some of the more... palatable individuals handle the initial discussion however.

The man steps over to the footbridge, his expression one of amazement. ”That’s...well that’s really somethin’. Nobody’s come here from that direction in...well, in a long, long time.”

He looks over the gathered riders. ”Ya’ll look like you’ve just come from some kind of ruckus. Any of you hurt? Need a place to rest or some food? If you want to follow me just a little piece...”

His voice trails off and his complexion pales. When he finds his voice again, he speaks hesitantly. ”Andrew? Andrew Roberts? Is that you?”

Roberts takes a few steps forward, studying the man with narrowed eyes. After a moment, he blinks, shaking his head in disbelief. “Tate Bridges? That you under that beard?”

“Tate how...how are you here? How are you alive? I thought you and your whole family were...lost.”

”We thought the same of you, Andrew. Figured you for dead.”

He looks uncertainly at the rest of the riders. ”As to how we came to be here...well, that’s somethin’ of a story. One I’m not certain you and your friends might believe.”

Dr. Wayland suddenly relaxed a bit at the sight of it all.  The lightning gun is tilted back against his shoulder as though he just had no need of it here.  It also freed a hand to fish around in his pockets for his small bag of lemon drop candies.  Which he finds with a rumpling crumple of brown paper.  He let his attention wander, taking the lovely sight in to remember it by.  Certainly the nicest of the traps he has found himself in and not a bad place to go out really. At the assertion that they might not believe the old man's story, the doctor gave a wan grin, "Ah find myself believing awl sorts of things these days, sah."

"This is a time for unbelievable stories. If you don't mind sharing, I think some of us would be most interested in your tale."

"I think all of us could do with a rest and some water for the horses," Jacinta added to the sentiment of the others.  "And we probably have a few unbelievable stories that we could tell in exchange.  It's taken a toll getting to this place."

"Ain't nothin' ya could say that would be beyond ennything ah could tell ya."  Kansas Kate piled on, not letting on any more than that.

"Does anyone else need tending to or should I focus on Ms. Bauer while the story is told?" Tamsin asks. "I'm sure whatever story you have to tell, we've seen stranger."

Bridges seems comforted by the riders’ willingness to believe him. When Castillo mentions the need for rest, he says, ”Your horses could water here at the stream. As to a place to rest...if you want to follow me, I can offer you a spot. And show you what I’m tryin’ to explain.”

He looks back to Roberts. ”Truth is Andrew, I’m still not entirely sure how my family and I were saved. In the moments where those...things, the shadows tore through the wagons...I thought it was over. That all was lost. That the next time I opened my eyes it would be to meet my Maker. Thankfully, I was mistaken.”

“But me and my family, we weren’t the only ones were rescued. Not everyone in the wagon train was saved, but a lot of us were.”

He points to the trail behind him. ”We made a home here. The wife and I, our house isn’t large...but we’ve got a big barn with a loft. It’s clean and warm.”

Kansas Kate wasn't sure what that meant.  That could either be good, or horrible.

But it didn't matter, Kansas Kate wanted to see what was in there regardless.  She put one foot out toward the destination, then the other.

You get steppin' ya two-bit whore!

Kansas Kate is Stubborn!

Jacinta nodded her thanks and started forward again, continuing down the path that led to the stream.  She left the horse untethered as it bent to drink deeply and gave the beast a pat on the flank.  Her mare was smart enough not to drink herself sick and loyal enough not to bolt unless her life was threatened.  As they seemed they might be staying for a bit, she removed her saddle and bags to give the mustang a little break.  The journey up the mountain had been taxing for them all.

Saddle on the grass and blanket spread out to dry, she carried her bags over her shoulder as she moved back to the trail, intent on following the stranger wherever he wished to lead so she could hear his story.

At the friendliness of their new acquaintances, Albert finally slid his gun back in its holster. He dismounted and followed Jacinta's lead, caring for Brandy in a similar way.

Satisfied that Brandy would be fine getting water and taking a rest, he made to follow along with the rest of the posse.

Dr. Wayland had no particular attachment to the borrowed horse he had been riding, other than having a horse out in the wilderness is probably handy.  But it seemed safe enough now with the other horses.  Besides, once he had resigned himself to the idea that this would be his final resting place, there was very little to worry about.  Not that he /wanted/ to die...but the trees really are quite lovely...

The Doctor's internal train of thought continued to clickety clack down his mental tracks to his own doom, belied by his relaxed grin.  As he followed the others, he offered out the bag of lemon drops to the Ranger.

Bridges’ son loads the last of the full buckets into the wagon. Patting the horse on the neck, he leads it to the trail which continues beyond the footbridge. Tate Bridges motions for the posse to follow him.

The pathway continues down a gentle slope, clusters of pine trees shading the trail on either side. From a nearby branch, a yellow breasted kingbird chatters its high pitched song.

“My family, and a bunch of others, we traveled up here on a wagon train. The train was the idea of a fella that was once in the Army, name of Lawrence Murphy. He told everyone that he’d scouted the Capitan Pass. That if we took a wagon train up through it, it was a fast route into the Arizona Territory, then California. We’d all heard the stories about California. Rich land that was free for the taking. Wild steer waiting to be caught. Gold. Ghost rock. Seemed like an easy path to a better life.”

He looks back at the riders following him, shaking his head in regret. ”We shouldn’t have gone. Not a one of us. Those promises of an easy life...they were just talk. Every one of us let Murphy talk us into leaving something that was better behind. Most of us had homes, farms down there in the valley. We had something real. Or at least the beginning of something. It would’ve taken work. Always does, but...it would’ve led to a good life. Sometimes, I guess it’s just real easy to lose sight of what you already have.”

“Mr. Murphy...he was after something up here. Something...bad. I’ve had a lot of years to think about it and I recall seeing Murphy struggle to get up on his horse. How he walked like a fella twice his age. He’d been hurt real bad. Maybe in the war, or some other time. I’ve wondered if he thought this darkness that lived up here could make him whole again.”

He pauses, reaching out to pat his son’s shoulder. ”Whatever it was, he was willing to give us up to it to get what he was after. All of us.”

“When we drew close to High Lonesome, Murphy said he was going to ride ahead a piece. Told us there was tricky country up ahead. When we caught up to him, we found him standin’ in the middle of an old burial ground. The sort where Indian folk bury their kin. The graves, they were up on poles, and Murphy was cutting down some of things that were tied to them. Beads and such. And he’d smeared blood all over the place. He was singing...or chanting. I don’t really know what you’d call it. But it’s plain to me now that he was waking the darkness up.”

“All of a sudden, it was like nighttime. And all these things came for us. Out of the dark.”

“I tried to turn my wagon around. Thought maybe I could outrun it all. But the horses spooked and the wagon slid into a ditch. All I could do was pull my wife and my boy to me and...just wait.”

The trail winds around a group of ancient boulders, each one turned almost white by the elements and the passage of time. Past the massive stones, the pathway levels and the riders find themselves gazing at a wide clearing. Much of it is covered in knee high grana grass, but here and there, ruts have formed in the earth where feet and animals have frequently trod. Scattered throughout the plain are homes, more than a dozen, most having been built from raw timbers, giving them the appearance of large trapper’s cabins. Smoke rises from the chimneys of a few of them. The group can also spot a few stables and barns paired with several of the houses. Here and there, rectangular sections of land have been plowed and cultivated, and various vegetables and fruit grow there.

The homes form a very rough circle. At its center is an area that appears to be an approximation of a town square. Several cut logs have been placed for seating and flowers grow in neatly planted circles. A short distance from the square, a lone structure stands, built from adobe. Unlike the homes that are its neighbors, the square building is clearly very old, its walls and timbers deeply weathered.

”I closed my eyes tight, and then there came a noise, like a windstorm,” Bridges says, ”When I opened them again, I was here. Along with my family, and a lot of the others we traveled with. Of course, most of this wasn’t here yet.” He points to the adobe hut. ”Except for her home.”

With a nod of thanks, he accepted a lemon drop from Dr. Wayland, letting the sweet, citrus notes melt away while they followed on where they were being taken. There was a lot that he was thinking, perhaps wanted to say, but he had learned the better part of patience and taking the time to find the right words. At the moment, he didn't have them, so listening was best.

"Who would she be?" he asked. Obvious questions sometimes needed asking, or sometimes were meant to be asked.

Kansas Kate looked at these figures with some pity.  They weren't here.  Well, not in the sense the others were here anyway.

Echoes and shadows, is this all there is any more?

She stared at Bridges a moment, but her gaze soon went to the adobe.  She wished she had dynamite.

”Sara Gallardo...she and her family live there,” Bridges says, pointing out one of the homes on the western side. ”She was raised around the Mescalero. She used to translate for the garrison at Roswell.”

“Sara said that her name means something like ”Owl Mother”, but the language she speaks isn’t precisely like that of the Apaches. It’s...older, Sara thinks.”

“Most of us, we can understand her when she speaks to us. Not because of her words, but because you get...feelings, pictures in your head when she talks. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but I promise, it’s so.”

Roving Wolf approaches Bridges and places a hand on the man’s shoulder, gazing at him piercingly for a long, silent moment.

When he finally speaks, it is slowly, with great deliberation. ”Her power. It restored you to life. You and all those here. Being in this place, the winters have passed more slowly. She has...protected each of you.”

Bridges nods. ”If it had been up to Murphy, we all would have died. That was his plan, best I can grasp it. We were like some kind of sacrifice. For whatever created all those shadows. The fact that she kept us alive...it slowed his plan down. Kept him from gainin’ all the power he was after.”

“The Owl Mother...she's more than just a medicine woman. She’s, well, part of the mountain itself. It’s like...she is the mountain. But she’s not the only one up here. There’s something else. Like her sister. And that other thing, it don’t mean good for anybody.”

“It’s sort of like rain. You don’t have it, the streams dry up and the crops die. It gives life. But some storms, they just tear up everything in their path. Like a twister touching down in the middle of a town. Those bad storms...that’s the Owl Mother’s sister.”

A man and woman emerge from one of the nearby homes, each carrying empty wooden boxes. They see Bridges and wave, but pause as they notice the newcomers.

”Sometimes, the wrong kind of people can wake her up. Happened a long time ago, between some of the tribes that first lived here. Young men that wanted to take over, do away with their chiefs. They carried the sister’s power..the witch’s power with them into battle. But they failed. And the witch...the storm sister...she and her shadows went to sleep.”

“Murphy woke her. But more than that...he found her essence, her heart, and stole it. Took it down from the mountain. He doesn’t want her help. He wants her power for his own.”

As Bridges continues to speak, Bauer frowns, reaching up to touch her chest, the spot where she was shot. Checking the wound, she sees that it has somehow healed, only the ghost of a mark left on her skin.

Bridges gestures to the adobe hut. “The Owl Mother’s kept us here, hidden. She knew if Murphy knew we were still living, he’d come for us. But..”

He looks back at the riders. ”Her power...it’s fading. A lot of us...we think she’s dying. She and her sister are a balance. You can’t have one without the other. You can’t have rain clouds without lightning. They keep each other in check..but they also keep each other alive. Murphy taking the witch’s heart, it’s damaged everything. The mountains. The valley. Before long, I imagine it’ll all be dead. Dead and empty. I’m not sure Murphy knows that. Or if he would care if he did. But eventually, our home here will be gone. And he’ll find us.”

Albert nodded throughout the story, his attention fully on the man as he told the tale of the mountain. He kept hoping the answer at some point would be 'and then you need to shoot it with a magic bullet' but that never came up, unfortunately.

"So....sounds like we gotta find this storm witch's heart and return it ta put all back in balance?"

"How do we find it and take it away from Murphy?"  Kansas Kate, as usual, cut to the quick in the matter.  She didn't particularly care about this village, but she wasn't going to bother to blow it up either after listening to Bridges.

Jacinta gestured to the woman's house.  "Will she speak with us?  We wish to help restore this balance and put down Murphy in the process, if we can."

Tamsin, of course, had to touch every live plant she came across. ”If we can? After everything else we’ve had to deal with, wolves, pumpkins, spiders, this,“ she said, making a circle gesture, ”Murphy shouldn’t be a problem for us.”

Two other couples, one with three children, emerge from their homes, all regarding the newly arrived riders with open curiosity.

"I think that's the way of it," Bridges tells Cooper, "If ya'll were able to bring the heart back up here, bury it near the old cemetery, I think it would bring things back to the way they were meant to be. It would put the witch back to sleep. Put her under the care of her sister again."

Bridges frowns thoughtfully at Kate's question. "I can tell you this much. Wherever the witch's heart is, the land will be changed. It might not be drastic, but you'll be able to see the signs. Some of the plants and trees will probably be gray as charcoal, the soil hard as stone. It'll feel...different. It'll feel dead."

"Obviously, I haven't set foot in Lincoln since joining the wagon train. Back then, Mr. Murphy lived in town. Had an office in one of the front rooms of his house. But I'd be surprised if he kept it there. Lincoln would change too much. People would know something was wrong. Maybe he's got a second home somewhere? Or even a hideout? That's where I'd guess it would be."

"How about a ranch house? About half a days ride, southwest of town?" Roberts asks.

Bridges nods. "That sure sounds like a possibility to me." He shakes his head. "So, I guess Mr. Murphy went and made himself a cattle baron, after he got rid of all of us."

Looking to Castillo, he says, "I'm sure she'd be pleased to speak to any of you that wants to talk, ma'am. I reckon she knows you're here. Knows why you came." He grins. "You don't have to worry about introducing yourself or being real polite. She doesn't concern herself with such things. If you were raised out in the country...it's a little like talking with your grandmother."

"One thing...if you're expecting to see some sort of magic, or a big display of power, you might be a little disappointed."

Kansas Kate kept asking the important questions.  "Can th' heart be damaged by ennythin' ordinary?  Like'n if'n ah shot it wit' good ol' lead, would it suffer enny?"

She would need that dynamite.  Just not here.

Bridges blinks at Kansas Kate as though he does not understand her question. Then, comprehension dawning, he shakes his head. ”No, ma’am, I don’t figure it would. It’s kind of akin to trying to shoot the wind dead. Or thunder. I don’t imagine it would accomplish too much.”

Dr. Wayland had been simply enjoying the pleasant walk towards his certain doom.  Likely another lemon drop or two.  Just to pass the time before the inevitable destruction, you know.  He had little to add to the commentary, content to observe and listen for the time being.  Only occasionally muttering some odd comment or question to himself.

It really was a lovely day.

But something in Mr. Bridges answer to Kate drew him out of the doomed -but-content reverie and he suggested, "Well, cehtainly one cannot shoot the wind, but one can counteract the fohces at play.  Wind, being the movement of aiah due to tempahture change, could be made to "suffah", as she said, by denying the tempahture changes that cause it...   Or by countahacting it with a greatah movement of aiah.  Thundah is produced by aiah rushing back in to the vacuum created by the passage of a bolt of lightning through the medium of aiah.  Ah am uncertain how one might countahact that foahce, but I suppose one could, instead, focus on countahacting the pressah wave, which is really all the "sound" of thundah is.  Much like with the wind, you countahact the fohces with equal, but opposite fohces...."  The Doctor trailed off a bit, glancing around at those nearby, somewhat sheepishly, "Ah apologize... That may not have been helpful in the current circumstance...  Please, do go on."

Kansas Kate certainly did not look amused or educated by any of the discussion, but she seemed to tolerate it for as long as it went (who knows for how much longer though).

She put it curtly.  "Ah need somethin' that'll level that house an' destroy everythin' an' every 'un inside.  Destroy it good, ya hear me."

"You wanna blow up Murphy's ranch house, then go back and get the heart after the fact? I mean, I suppose it would work - but I don't know that Murphy's gonna let us get close enough that easy. If we make it back down, he'll know we know, and I'm guessin' he'll be tellin' his people to tool up."

He looked over at the old house nearby.

"I suppose I'm gonna wanna talk to this Owl Mother, if anyone wants to come with."

The Ranger took off his hat as he approached the house and knocked.

"Hello there," he said. He didn't know how exactly he was supposed to greet someone without introducing himself or being polite, but he figured just saying hello wouldn't do no harm.

Albert listened to the thoughts of some of the others, though hadn't really come to any conclusions himself. The cowboy nodded at Bryan as he asked if anyone wanted to join in the chatting.

Dr. Wayland actually smiled a bit at Kate's curt response.  He waited patiently for the Ranger to offer his take on it, before answering himself, "Oh theah ah a numbah of ways to destroy a house or other structcha.  Fiah is easy enough and, if applied correctly, would turn the house and its contents to ash.  Time may be a factah though....  You also might need to barricade and set up a perimetah to ensure that no one escaped before the fiah had completed the task.  An explosive would be quickah, but there would be quite a bit of uncertainty in precisely how much damage would be done...  That uncertainty would be lessened by the application of more explosives, but the size of the bomb would increase and thus slow your ability to set it..."  The Doctor does not seem all that bothered by the notion of firebombing or regular bombing of a residence with people inside it.  Probably just caught up in the details of the thought experiment....  Probably...

"Ranger's right on both counts.  Gotta be somethin' small where it could be run up on it easy.  Needs to be handy, small, but mighty pow'r'ful.  Needs ta make that house go 'way.  Ken ya do it?  Pack some ghostrock innit?"

Kansas Kate paced slowly.  She did think they should talk to that Owl Mother, it just occurred to her there may be an opportunity here.  If you have this tinkering fop with his two dollar words and (probably) a chemistry set tucked into his petticoats, why not take advantage of him?  But for now, as usual, she'd let less... horrible people break the ice.

Kearney watches Lee approach the adobe hut with a frown. Turning her attention back to the conversation between Kansas Kate and Dr. Wayland, she says, ”If the Doc here isn’t able to put together something that suits, I know of a group of prospectors that work the foothills and lower Capitan Mountains, north of Lincoln. They’re still convinced there’s gold to be found there. Came across ‘em while I was mustanging. They do some blasting up there. Might be willing to sell us some dynamite.”

She shrugs. ”So far as I know, in Lincoln, the only place to buy the stuff is at Murphy’s store.”

The door to the adobe home is built from rough cut boards, the uneven slats not providing a complete barrier against the elements. It swings open at Lee’s polite knock, revealing a single room beyond.

The room’s furnishings are homemade, each piece crafted from what the mountain has been able to provide. Against one wall are a set of crudely constructed shelves which hold a number of earthen containers and several colorful, hand woven blankets. Beside the shelves sits a small bed, its mattress filled with straw. A few chairs and stools are arranged around a hearth, in which a bright fire crackles. To the right of the fireplace sits a short table and two chairs. Light streams into the room through open windows in the eastern and western walls.

Seated at the table, weaving a piece of cloth which is bright blue, is a short, plump woman with silver hair tied in a braid. She is wearing a simple, clay colored dress, her dark eyes fixated on the task before her.

”Come in, Bryan,” she tells the Ranger, though the lawman is uncertain whether he heard her voice, or felt the words within his thoughts.

He walked in as he was bidden to do. It seemed like what she was doing here for these people was good, but it was no less unsettling, though it matched up with what the man had said.

"Well, seems like you already know the score here, so there's no point in me telling you what we're about here. You've done good for these people. I'd like to do the same for the area. What do we need to do to make that happen?" he asked.

Albert heard Bryan being called forth but stayed put as he wasn't asked to join. This was one of those times when the cowboy felt that the invitation or lack thereof was rather important. He kept his eye on the ranger though didn't join his advance choosing instead to linger by the door.

Jacinta had joined the Ranger as she wanted to see the Owl Mother for herself.  With her rifle hanging loosely in one hand, she took off her hat as she followed Bryan inside and threw a glance about the room.

Tamsin followed to the house. How could she not- the Owl Mother, right in front of her?

Fascinated as she is, Tamsin is still polite and that means to be quiet when others were speaking. She looks around the room, and ends up watching the woman’s hands as they weave.

"Hello, Jacinta. Hello, Tamsin." Both women perceive the words, warm with genuine welcome, as they enter the humble dwelling, but, like Lee, each is uncertain whether they have heard them, or if they somehow blossomed within their thoughts.

Outside, Cooper experiences the same sensation. "Please come inside, Albert. It is important that I speak with you before you depart."

The Owl Mother continues to work on her weaving, her hands seemingly working through each of the careful motions of their own, long practiced, accord. Tamsin can see, in the center of the blue fabric, an design taking shape, something like a tangle of vines, or roots.

"Bryan, the warrior way that you have chosen...you can sense when your movements are in harmony with the realm of spirit. Just as Jacinta can find the safe path through the wilderness, even in country she has never traveled before. Or as Tamsin can know which bloom among her beloved plants will carry the strongest dose of healing medicine."

"Each of us is able to sense, to know, what is right. What will protect life and enable it to thrive. Many times, the correct course is actually very easy to find."

She pauses in her weaving, regarding each of the riders that have joined her. "My sister is not the kind portion of nature. She is the storm that sweeps away what is old to make way for what is new. The quaking in the earth that swallows up what is not needed any longer. The lightning that claims the dead trees so that new growth may arise in their place."

"She is death, the passing that comes to make way for new life."

She resumes her weaving. "Her power, it only becomes twisted when it is seized upon by those that would use it to further their own aims. Those, like Lawrence Murphy, who believe they can control her for their own ends."

"Murphy, in the end, will only bring destruction upon himself and all he touches. But he is too proud, too arrogant, to see the truth. He chooses to be blind. And because of this, it falls to such as you to bring a halt to his folly."

Her expression becomes somber. "Murphy had willingly become something else, something less than human, even before he stole my sister's heart from its place."

"Murphy keeps the heart with him, so its power is never far from his grasp. Part of what you must do, to return the mountains and the valley to what they were meant to be, is to retrieve the heart and bring it here. To the hard plain marked with the graves. Returning it to the earth there will restore much of what was lost."

"But Murphy...he is truly a monster. One beyond saving. For there to be lasting peace, he cannot remain."

Dr. Wayland had gone oddly quiet for an uncomfortable moment while Kate waited for his confirmation and Aileen suggested a way to get dynamite.  He looked like he was listening to something...or someone...else during the pause.  Then, he snapped back to the conversation at hand as though nothing at all had happened, "Yes.  Ah can absolutely put something togethah...  Need a few things from around town.  Nothing that should raise any suspicions...  Of coahse, the dynamite wouldn't hurt eitha.  Sometimes, a thing worth doing is worth ovahdoin'.  This ceahtainly seems like one of those times."  Wayland glanced around, noting the absence of the others.

"Ah saved they boy."  Kansas Kate replied in a low growl.  She used a different voice almost.  She heightened her inflection and pronounced her words a little more clearly when under the supervision of the others, but the ones she masqueraded for were indulging right now.  She did have one question for this enigmatic figure, but Kansas Kate could be patient when it suited her, after all she still had a question for Buckshot.  "They may be 'fraid o' Murphy if'n they got half th' wits God gave a spider, but they see where his men used they boy fer an okie doke."

She spat, though no moisture was in it.  "Am-tures.  What kind of country is this gettin' ta be we got sech chickenshit outlaws?  No matter we'll get the dinny-mite.  Only thin' ah'm 'fraid of is th' monster got wise an' packed his house wit' chitlins.  But we'll still need it ennyhow, ah ain't leavin' that place a standin'."

Jacinta nodded in response and dipped her head in recognition.  "We intend to send him from this world, Abuelita, but if he is more than human, ordinary bullets will not stop him.  Will you tell us how we can end his rule of terror?  Does he ignore some weakness that we may exploit?"

Albert nodded at the request and moved into the room with the others.

He watched and listened as the woman did her weaving and spoke to them. He nodded along to what she had to say, having his own thoughts about death and how it had touched his life. He had known too many people that were old tree stumps, the dead remnants of grass, or the flower petals that had fallen to the ground of their own accord. Those sorts of things did need to be cleaned up. Of course he wouldn't necessarily label those as death, either.

But he could understand the twisting of the power that was to seep aside the old and diseased to allow for new growth. "Well, if Murphy's fallen to somethin' less'n human, s'pose it's only right we sweep him out like them things yer sister cleans away."

He waited to hear how the woman responded to Jacinta, sending up a small prayer that the answer to her question would be magic bullets.

”Murphy...he took the name of a dead man. An army officer he murdered not long after he came here. Before, he was called William Longley. He was a murderer and a thief, who did many of his terrible deeds in the place you call Tejas. He was fleeing those who pursued him when he came here. He took shelter with a woman in a small town. And it was there he learned of the legends of the mountains.”

“He had long sought a way to escape death. Tried to trick such secrets from the manitou. After he learned of my sister, he and the men who escaped Tejas with him rode up here to find her. They were foolish. It was the edge of winter. My sister destroyed most of them. Longley and two others survived, alone, lost, and without food.”

“Longley...Murphy killed his friends and fed on them to survive. It made him a monster. A wendigo. A creature that must consume the flesh of men in order to satiate its terrible hunger.”

She pauses to examine her weaving, the resumes it. ”Murphy was able to find his way back down the mountain. The magic he had learned before enabled him to disguise his true nature. But he has always preferred to show himself at night. His kind need the cold to thrive.”

“He robbed a stagecoach delivering money to soldiers, then came to your town, your Lincoln, pretending to be a man of business. Seeking a way to California. When the wagon train traveled up here, Murphy rode ahead and did his best to enrage my sister. The others stumbled into her wrath. And as her fury was let loose, Murphy found where her heart was hidden.”

She lays her weaving in her lap. ”Part of the leavings of the animals that surrender their lives so that men and women may survive and grow strong is tallow. For a very long time, people have used tallow to make candles, to bring light into darkness. Were you to pour heated tallow down a wendigo’s throat, it is like filling them with light. It will destroy them from the inside out, killing them forever.

She smiles. ”But this is no easy task. He must be weakened first. Any weapon can harm them, though wendigo are very strong.” She turns her attention to Cooper. ”You, Albert. You can fill your weapons with power. Carve blessings on them. I can give you something that will help.”

Albert took off his hat and straightened his hair a bit as he was addressed. Just felt right somehow. The cowboy nodded at the accusation while holding his beat-up old hat in his left hand. "That I can, ma'am. And we will take any help we can get."

Somewhere inside of Albert there was some amount of joy as it seemed that magic bullets might be part of the answer.

Dr. Wayland was, by now, at least at the doorway to Owl Mother's house.  He had leaned his lightning gun against the wall so he could pull his little notebook and pencil.  He scribbled a bit, muttered a bit, crosses out a bit...muttered excitedly and scribbled a bit more.  He paused suddenly, tapping the pencil against his forehead, "Tallow... fat...  Hot?  Heat... Butcher... slaughter?... hmm..."

The Owl Mother motions for Cooper to approach her. Turning the weaving in her lap over, she draws up one corner of the cloth to show the gunfighter. On the woven cloth, Cooper sees a pair of symbols; one is a black arrow, the shaft of which is jagged a like a lightning bolt; the other is a white arrow with a wide shaft, marked with regularly spaced vertical lines.

”Carve these on your bullets,” the Owl Mother instructs, ”But be wise in your use of them. They will do great harm to Murphy and others that carry his curse. But to anyone else, they will be little more than wasp stings.”

OOC: Cooper would prepare rounds etched with the two symbols in the same manner that he would craft any other bullets with his Shootist edge. The Power Point cost for each round is 2.

Against a wendigo, such bullets inflict 3d6+2 damage and are AP 3. Any wendigo struck with one must make a successful Vigor roll or take 2d6 burning damage on the following round. The additional damage will continue until a successful Vigor roll is made.

Against any other target, the bullets only inflict 1d4 damage and have no armor piercing properties.

Note that if carved on a rifle cartridge, the initial damage would be 3d8+2. The burning damage and damage versus non-wendigo targets would remain the same.

Outside, Bauer approaches the families that have been watching the riders' arrival with curiosity. Bridges follows her. Falling into her role as a keeper of the law, she introduces herself with a smile, assuring those that have gathered that she and her companions mean no harm. She is quickly met with questions about the posse's journey and the state of the outside world.

Shabbakasha gazes at the adobe hut in silence for several moments. Then, turning his attention to Kansas Kate, he says simply, "You should go and speak to her."

Having given Cooper the symbol that can aid him, the Owl Mother shifts her piece of weaving, showing the gathered riders its center. Woven in the middle of the blanket's blue field is a spherical knot of thorn bearing vines, the strands the color of sand.

"My sister's heart," she explains, "By now, it is likely black, like coal. But its shape will remain the same."

"Murphy keeps it with him. He hides at the home he has made for himself. He has many men. Men who believe he will give them wealth and power."

Having sorted the details of her bomb plot, Kansas Kate nodded, she hadn't intended to ignore the strange figure, she just figured she wasn't the best person to make introductions.

Putting herself where she wanted to be, she pushed through and asked the Owl Mother without asking.  "That helps with' a' hurtin' him, but he got some bad mojo.  I want his ass ta stay dead."

The Ranger listened calmly, patiently to the story woven by the Owl Mother, and the advice she gave for dealing with this...wendigo.

"We thank you for this advice and information. I suppose we can manage to shove some tallow down his throat, retrieve your sister's heart, and bring it back up here to her. When we return, is there something you can share that will aid in safe passage getting back here?"

Albert approached when the Owl Mother beckoned him forth, and he studied the symbols carefully, memorizing every little aspect of the runes. He nodded at her instructions. "Thank you. Thank you so very much. We will make good use of this." Or die trying. That was always the way with these things.

Albert was looking forward to a bit of a break when this was all over. In the mean time, the answer to some part of their issue seemed to be magic bullets. This certainly energized the gun wizard.

He did listen to the rest of it in case he was needed to perform any part of the tallowing or retrieval.

The Owl Mother studies Kansas Kate for a moment. “The tallow. When it is poured down his throat, Murphy will be no more.”

“When I am finished talking with your friends. I would ask that you remain here, for a time,” she tells the outlaw, ”I need to speak with you alone.”

She returns her attention to Lee. ”Once you have my sister’s heart in your possession, you will have nothing to fear from the mountain. You will be able to come and go freely. Nothing that is here will harm you, even after you have returned the heart to its place.”

Her expression becomes sorrowful as she surveys the gathering. “I am sorry that you must do this thing. That there are those that make war a necessity. But I am truly thankful for your courage. For your willingness to protect others who cannot protect themselves.”

Bridges appears at the door of the hut, as if he had been called there by the Owl Mother. ”If y’all wouldn’t object, there’s some of us that have got together to scare up a proper supper for you. And between all of us, we’ll find a place for each of you to sleep, if you want to do that before riding back to Lincoln.”

Provided they are willing, he leads the riders to one of the homes on the far side of the circle, from which they catch the tempting scent of baking bread and simmering food.

Only Kansas Kate remains behind, as requested by the wizened woman with the weaving.

When the last of the riders have departed, the Owl Mother sets her weaving down and regards Kansas Kate with her dark eyes. ”Siobhan,” she says, ”do you want to remain as you are, with one foot in each world? Or do you want to be among the living once more?”

Kansas Kate looked at the Owl Mother with genuine horror.

Her hair had been lighter as a child, she remembered.  She still had her dark brown eyes, but they were vibrant and lively, not evil and cold.



The plea fell on deaf ears.  Tilly Miller had gotten her hands on, of all the damn things in this world, a genuine hickory walking cane that some fool had managed to break in half.  How that happened is a mystery to never be solved, and one not relevant to little Siobhan as she feels it come down on her.

It hurts.  It hurts a lot.  It hurts as much emotionally for Mommy to hit you with it as it does physically.



The broken implement rises and falls twice, each impact hitting with a sickening thud.  One of the other 'soiled doves', one with a heart anyway, would sneak in the room after the laudunum took Tilly Miller out and take the little girl to a doctor.  She'd need stitches, and her wrist was broken too.  That prostitute would also steal $15 from Tilly Miller's not-so-secret stash, but little Siobhan would never say a word.

The present day Kansas Kate does not stand there and take it however.

"YEeeeeeAAArgh!"

The outlaw kicked a small clay pot, which pulverized it into dust.  The interior was mostly saved because there's not much to interact with here in an immensely satisfying way.

"Don't ya call me that.  Don't no one call me that!  Not no more.  It ain't mah name no more, an it ain't been fer a coon's age."

If her heart still beat, it would be pounding right now, but even without it Kansas Kate was wound up emotionally.



But talk about mood whiplash.  Kansas Kate began to laugh, that bitter, hollow, mocking laugh of hers.  That laugh which her raspy, smokey voice made terrible.

"What ah want?  What ah want?"

She rasped some more.

"Ain't nobody give no damn 'bout what ah want.  Ah'm here cuz yer ornery kin, an' ah ain't count you as one of th' devils, yer just too alien to th' concept of good 'n evil as men see it, cuz there ain't no sech things nohow cept for what ya make up fer yerself.  What ah want is meaningless.  Mah life was meaningless.  Mah existence now, is meaningless.  The lives and decisions of everyone you seen ta-day, they don't amount to white crust on a dog shit.

"Ah already seen it.  Ah seen what's beyond th' pale, what's at th' end.  There ain't no good in it, there ain't even just nothin', because just nothin' would be a mercy.  No, this universe don't have no mercy.  No matter what ah ever done, this is how it ended.  They done showed me good."

She shook her head, her tone changed yet again, this time to sincere, and as least abrasive as she ever got.

"Ya think ah didn't try?  Ya think ah don't wish it could be diff'rent?  Ah tried everythin' ta make it diff'rent, but it ain't never no diff'rent.  What in the hell are ya'll gonna do against that?  An' why me?  They's better people'n me what winds up dead 'fore their time, or at least innocent ones.  Ah'm a piece of shit and th' very right hand of the Devil.  Me bein' alive again, that would just lead to more evil in the world.  Ya, ah'm evil now, but ah'm evil by nature, that don't really count, there ain't no choice no more.  Why help me even if ya could?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:06, Sun 21 June 2020.

Once they were all gathered back where the aforementioned supper was, excepting the company of Kansas Kate who had remained behind at the Owl Mother's request, the Ranger looked at the rest of the gathered folks that he had ascended with.

"I think that as we go forward with whatever plan we've got, we're gonna need a little more help. My recommendation is that we head over to the Tunstall Ranch and speak with Mr. Bonney and the Regulators. I have a feeling it won't be as hard to persuade them of the need to come and help us deal with Murphy."

Albert nodded. "I mostly agree. More help we can get the better. So long as we can trust they won't try ta take the power of the heart fer themselves." He looked around at those in their immediate vicinity. "It's not that they ain't mebbe great allies. Jus' every person we add ta our circle, well, that heart needs ta end up back where it needs ta end up. And it's got power. And power corrupts."

Dr. Wayland finished scribbling in his notebook as everyone stepped outside.  Note pad away.  Lightning gun back in hand, he draws out the key to span the clockworks again so that the system can continue to charge.  "Well, if we prove able to destroy Murphy and find this heaht," began the Doctor, helpfully,"Suhely we would be able to do the same to any foolish enough to attempt to make use of said powah."

”The heart needs to go back where it belongs,” Tamsin agrees. ”If we find it, maybe I should guard it, so to speak. From the Regulators, anyways, if necessary. People generally don’t want to kill the healer, and if that’s what it takes to get the heart it might deter them.”

The Owl Mother regards Kansas Kate with earnest compassion. ”Perhaps I see possibilities within you that you yourself cannot. Perhaps I am not convinced that all of your existence will be devoted to destruction.”

“No matter what I see, what I offer to you is real. If you wish to walk among the living again, you may. Should you choose life, I believe you will possess a wisdom, an understanding that very few are able to take hold of. It is impossible not to be changed when one tastes death, then life again.”

Kansas Kate listened, and after a long, silent moment answered.  "Well, ah ain't never been one ta like doin' what some feller done told me.  An' that includes mah little ghosty friend.  How do ah make it move out, granny?"

”I think you all are well aware that me and the Regulators haven’t always seen eye to eye,” Roberts says, ”but I don’t really see them bein’ much interested in the heart. Those boys want what happened to John Tunstall made right. And they might jump to conclusions here and there. But there’s not a one of ‘em who want to turn into the kind of monster Murphy is.”

”I can’t say that all the law in Lincoln is clean,” Bauer offers, ”but some of ‘em can be trusted. I’m sure I could round up the honest ones to help with the fight.”

The Owl Mother extends her withered hands to Kansas Kate. ”You take my hands. And you trust me,” she answers.

Kansas Kate looked at the strange being critically, but judged she could whump her ass if she tried anything, especially if she already had her hands in a grip.

"All right, this better be good."

The old woman's grip is surprisingly firm. The Owl Mother gazes intently at the outlaw for a moment, before saying simply, "Murphy...he had no right to take you from this world."

Suddenly, Kansas Kate is in the darkened schoolhouse, the last shots of Murphy's henchmen echoing through the small space, the scent of gunsmoke and her own blood filling the outlaw's senses. She is tumbling to the floor, fighting to keep her grip on life with every bit of fleeting strength she can find. Crimson pools beneath her and she is able to get one last glimpse of Murphy, his stony features bearing an expression of disgust.

And then pain, pain greater than even the wounds that stole her life, fills Kansas Kate's chest, her vision going white as her withered heart somehow surges to life again, the lifeless tissue straining to cast off its former atrophy. Blood and warmth invade the outlaw's limbs and she draws in a deep breath, suddenly aware that she has only needed air in recent days to lend strength to her voice.

Somewhere within her, something rabid and inhuman lets out a piercing shriek, a monstrous protest at being forced from its newly claimed vessel. Kansas Kate feels it abandon her, clawing at some hidden place within her as it is torn free. As it departs, it carries the last of the cemetery cold with it, loosening the last of death's hold on the outlaw completely.

And then Kansas Kate is in the hut again, her hands still held by the Owl Mother. Her breath calms. Her heart slows to an even rhythm. And she is alive.

That was a jolt.  There are many motions to living, but they usually go on automatically so they are not considered, but when the whole apparatus restarts at once, it's quite painful.  When there is suddenly blood pressure where there was none a moment before, interesting things happen.

She fell, wheezed, coughed.  When she sat up at last and looked up at the Owl Mother, she began to weep.  No weep was too weak a word.  Her body wracked and convulsed with the sobs.

Siobhan Miller had just stopped crying at some point.  She wasn't sure if she'd been eleven or fourteen or if she'd just stopped all at once or it had just gradually tapered away.  And now it all came out at once.  All of it.  Everything her mother'd done to her.  Everything her mother'd become.  That time she wanted to cry for abandoning her mother.  That time she wanted to cry when she learned her mother was dead.  All the times she'd been afraid.  All the times she'd hurt someone else.  Anything, everything, it all came out at once.

The Owl Mother didn't stand a chance.  Kansas Kate leaned forward on her legs, grabbed them and wept a river.

The Owl Mother is silent for a long time, holding Kansas Kate as though the outlaw were her grandchild, broken by the cruelty of the world and in need of shelter and comfort. She is unhurried, content to give Kansas Kate all of the time she requires, aware that the outlaw’s weeping is the outpouring of countless wounds of the soul, which have lain dormant for years beneath an all consuming rage.

After a time, the Owl Mother speaks quietly, a kind smile on her lined face.”I am so glad you did not choose to remain in shadow. You are meant to be here. Among those who are living.”

“Life...it has given you little reason for faith. But what follows, it can be different than all that has come before.”