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12:19, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

XII - A Heart of Thorns.

Posted by MarshalFor group 0
Patrick Garrett
NPC, 31 posts
Tue 23 Feb 2021
at 18:22
  • msg #183

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Garrett follows the brawler’s movement, preparing to fire another shot at him. Abruptly, the Sheriff’s head turns, his attention drawn to the second floor landing, presumably by a noise. Scowling, Garrett quickly ascends the stairs.
Marshal
GM, 908 posts
W0 R0 B3
Tue 23 Feb 2021
at 18:22
  • msg #184

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Initiative Order

AS - Tamsin River - Holding
JC - Lena Bauer
9H - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
8S - Chambers
5S - Patrick Garrett

5H - Kansas Kate
4D - Maria Barcelo
4C - Bryan Lee

Barcelo has a Parry of 6 and a Toughness of 8. Two points of Barcelo’s Toughness are due to armor. She is shaken and carrying three wounds.

Chambers has a Parry of 8 and a Toughness of 8. He is carrying two wounds.

It’s your turn, Kansas Kate.

Kansas Kate
player, 588 posts
Hot words and cold slabs
P6 T5 W2 F0 W0 R1 B0 L#
Tue 23 Feb 2021
at 18:46
  • msg #185

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Hat tip to the Marshal for clarifying the positions of the characters and what I can and cannot do before I even asked lol.  First though, 6 damage is enough to be Shaken as Kansas Kate is the proverbial glass cannon, so let's see if she sheds the Shaken naturally.  This will be difficult...

12:30, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 1,2 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Spirit.

Predictable, but not the end of the world.  Spending a Red as a White to slough off the Shaken effect. And Quick Draw the sixgun!

And just like that, Kansas Kate saw her chance.  Battered and bloody as she was, the mutual antics of the Fancy Man and the erstwhile outlaw had put a dangerous opponent on the edge, and he had committed a grave error.  The question was, could she make him pay for it.

She had to reach deep into a reserve that was already running low, but it had to be now or never.  With a surprisingly agile lunge, she faded to one side, and then came up in perfect duelist form.

The staccato rhythm of the shots made her ears ring, and the smell of the black powder smoke wafted throughout.

Right, so the good news is, last round's trick cancels out Double Kay's wound penalties, meaning this is just the usual Fanning the Hammer roll and not a statistical impossibility lol.

12:36, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 6,4,0,20,5,0,-1 using d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d12-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,6,2,(12+10)22,7,2,1.  Fan the Hammer!

Huh, an interesting result that.  I'm going to gamble here and see if I cannot turn that 6 into an 8.

12:37, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Blue.

Got it.

2 Hits with a Raise, 2 Regular Hits

12:39, Today: Kansas Kate rolled 9,5,8,18 using 2d6+1,2d6+1,3d6+1,3d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4,1,3,2,4,1,(6+3)9,5,3.  Damage Roll of Truth!

Right, so (edit, had them in wrong order initially)


8 damage
9 damage
18 damage
5 damage - does nothing


12:42, Today: Kansas Kate drew the single card: 6C using the Deadlands system.

Our great initiative luck continues!


Though the pistol was as hot as a coal by this point, she had dropped the empty metal casings onto the floor before Chambers even registered if he'd been hit or not.  The reloads actually had smears of her own blood on them, which might have amused her in another time and place.

Speeeeeed Looooooad, lol that was a lot of cheeps in 2 rounds
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Tue 23 Feb 2021.
Chambers
NPC, 6 posts
Wed 24 Feb 2021
at 01:05
  • msg #186

XII - A Heart of Thorns

OOC: Kansas Kate’s third shot will leave Chambers shaken with two wounds. It’s possible that there is a third wound lurking in there, depending on how he fared on his Spirit rolls to address the shaken conditions imposed by the first two shots.

Third wound or no, it gets the job done.


The storm of gunfire opens fresh injuries on the brawler’s right arm and left leg. But one of the bullets slams into his chest, just left of his breastbone. The man’s eyes widen in shock. His balance faltering, he sinks to his knees, looking up at Kansas Kate with undisguised disbelief. Taking a final, shuddering breath, he slumps onto the floor on his side, his eyes suddenly vacant.

OOC: Chambers is dead.
Maria Barcelo
NPC, 6 posts
Wed 24 Feb 2021
at 01:05
  • msg #187

XII - A Heart of Thorns

OOC: Barcelo is still suffering from two shaken conditions.

17:15, Today: Maria Barcelo rolled 6,0 using 1d10-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 9,3.

17:16, Today: Maria Barcelo rolled 0,4 using 1d10-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+1)7.

She is able to do away with both.


Blood trickling from her nose across her lips, the card witch glares at Lee, an expression of pure hatred. From the deck that she clasps, tendrils of darkness emerge, resembling thick streams of dense smoke. She raises her free hand and snaps her fingers.

17:28, Today: Maria Barcelo rolled 4,2 using 1d10-3,1d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Spellcasting.

Cast: Obscure

Power Points expended: 2


With a suddenness that is breathtaking, Lee finds himself plunged into total darkness.

Those in other parts of the entry find that a sphere of blackness has overtaken a portion of the room, including the front door and the lower half of the staircase. River, Bauer, and Dr. Wayland all find themselves right at the border of the field of shifting shadows. Try as they might, they can see nothing within it, only impenetrable gloom.

OOC: The area of obscurement imposes conditions of total darkness. Any attacks made into, through, or while within the field receive a -6 penalty.

17:46, Today: Maria Barcelo drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Wed 24 Feb 2021.
Marshal
GM, 910 posts
W0 R0 B3
Wed 24 Feb 2021
at 01:05
  • msg #188

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Initiative Order

AS - Tamsin River - Holding
JC - Lena Bauer
9H - Dr. Ezekiel Wayland
8S - Chambers
5S - Patrick Garrett
5H - Kansas Kate
4D - Maria Barcelo

4C - Bryan Lee

Barcelo has a Parry of 6 and a Toughness of 8. Two points of Barcelo’s Toughness are due to armor. She is carrying three wounds.

You have the floor, Ranger Lee.

Bryan Lee
player, 525 posts
Texas Ranger (8/20 PP)
P7 T6 W0 F1 W2 R0 B0 L1
Wed 24 Feb 2021
at 03:55
  • msg #189

XII - A Heart of Thorns

It came back to him. Fighting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Great Maze, not far outside of Shan Fan, in the cold early hours of the morning. He was blindfolded, and his master was not. It was one of his final tests, and he had taken more blows than he had been proud to admit, but had kept his balance and won the fight. A fall would have cost him more than his pride. The next fight added another pupil. The next yet another. He wore the only blindfold among them.

Now the darkness was a bit more disturbing, though the stakes were even higher. When one sense went, the others flared up. He remained centered, freeing his mind from any external distractions. The sounds of her movement and breathing, the scent of her perfume...they weren't perfect clues but they were what he'd have to work with now.

He lashed out with six guesses. Four of them were wrong, but it were the two that were right which mattered most.



OOC:

So with a +2 Wild Attack Penalty, and a -6 lighting penalty for blind fighting, he's going to take all his attacks anyway and just hope for some exploding dice. Gotta love Savage Worlds sometimes.

Attacks: 10, 13 (Success and raise on both counts)
Damage: 14, 31 (Shaken with 1 Wound, Shaken with 5 Wounds)

Initiative: Red Joker!


Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
20:45, Today: Bryan Lee drew the single card: RJ! using a deck of 54 cards.  Gimme the loot.
20:42, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 31 using d8+d4+4+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 2 (Martial Artist, Brawler, Wild Attack, Raise).
20:42, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 14 using d8+d4+4+d6, rerolling max.  Damage 1 (Martial Artist, Brawler, Wild Attack, Raise).
20:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 1,-1 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack, Darkness).
20:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 3,-1 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max.  Frenzy (Wild Attack, Darkness).
20:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 13,0 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max.  Fighting (Wild Attack, Darkness).
20:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 2,-1 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max.  Wing Chun (Wild Attack, Darkness).
20:39, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 10,-3 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max.  Frenzy (Wild Attack, Darkness).
20:38, Today: Bryan Lee rolled -1,-2 using d10-4,d6-4, rerolling max.  Fighting (Wild Attack, Darkness).


Marshal
GM, 911 posts
W0 R0 B3
Thu 25 Feb 2021
at 15:27
  • msg #190

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Lee feels one of his strikes slam into something especially hard, doubtlessly some manner of armor that the card witch wore. A second later, a second blow found the mark, and though Lee’s fist undoubtedly struck his opponent, he feels something envelop his hand and forearm, the solidity he sensed a moment before abruptly vanishing.

At once, the darkness recedes. all trace of the obscuring shadows vanishing from sight. The Ranger sees that his arm is entangled in the dress that the witch wore. From every opening in the garment, gray ash spills out in a steady stream onto the hardwood floor.

The posse members are suddenly aware of a pervasive quiet in the wake of the card witch’s death. The gunfire that filled the grounds of Lawrence Murphy’s ranch house has ceased, the only noise that can be perceived outside that of smoldering buildings previously set alight.

Glancing about, none of those gathered in the entry see any sign of Patrick Garrett.

OOC: Combat over.
Bryan Lee
player, 527 posts
Texas Ranger (8/20 PP)
P7 T6 W0 F1 W2 R0 B0 L1
Thu 25 Feb 2021
at 15:47
  • msg #191

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Lee staggered about, his vision continuing to blur slightly. He looked around from figure to figure, momentarily unable to make out who was who.

"Poisoned...Miss River..." He stumbled briefly in the direction of someone who may or may not be Tamsin. Instead, he decided to lean against the wall for support, attempting to blink away the bleary eyedness, hoping that she'd come to him.

"There's a fella in the other room...not quite done for," he said. "Need to finish...one between the eyes..." His hand grasped weakly at his holster.
Kansas Kate
player, 589 posts
Hot words and cold slabs
P6 T5 W2 F0 W0 R1 B0 L#
Thu 25 Feb 2021
at 16:10
  • msg #192

XII - A Heart of Thorns

As she watched Chambers fall, Kansas Kate couldn't help but think about it.

When you're dealing with two people who can both kill you, you can't try to fight them both at once.  It's better to kill one of them and hope for the best.

There was a time, not long ago, she not only would have said that out loud, she would have taken pleasure in watching him die.  But now, she felt hollow and a little sick.  She'd just killed how many people to get this far in here?  And for what did they die, what here was worth this?  Literally anything else would have been a better use of their time, even whittling a stick.

She realized that for once in her life, this was different.  Circumstances, motivations, and facts all mattered.  Killing was killing but not all killing was equal in terms of the sense of culpability and guilt.

When she looked at Chambers she had to wonder what he and the rest of his ilk were willing to do to people, and for what.  Well, she didn't have to wonder, she knew, because she was his ilk and she hated herself for it.  That wasn't new, but her reaction to it, to want to cry instead of just be even meaner and more bitter, that was new.

She never could have imagined dying, then rising from death, then undying.  That was crazy enough.  But the change in perspective was far harder to deal with.  Things were simple before.  Now she felt things about the consequences of her actions that she hadn't before because she understood.  She didn't have the academic capability of expressing her thoughts coherently, but she understood she had unraveled one of the great mysteries of human existence and she wanted to do something with it, but didn't know what or how.

She looked at the Schofield.  For everything that had happened to her, for all these new thoughts and feelings and insights, was it all for nothing?  She was still here killing people with a gun like always.

She hid all that though, looking at the Doctor Wayland and smiled a bloody, cheeky smile at him.  She coughed, spraying a few blood droplets, then smiled again.  "We have gawt ta quit a'meetin' like this Doc, folk's are gonna gossip."

It was a surprisingly light hearted, if bad, joke.  She walked, stumbling, obviously hurt but not complaining about it because she wasn't the worst off after that dust up.

"Yeah yeah ah got it Ranger, ya'll just try not to die there.  Someone's gonna hafta arrest Murphy's sorry ass an' it shure ain't gonna be me ah'll just kill his ass."  She walked forward, drawing the Toothpick.  She still had enough ammunition for another fight like that, but she was going to conserve it for, well another fight like that.  The Toothpick would do the job.

Just a little bit of the acid was gone out of her voice though.
Tamsin River
player, 243 posts
Flower Power
P4 T5 W0 F0 W1 R2 B3 L0
Thu 25 Feb 2021
at 17:46
  • msg #193

XII - A Heart of Thorns

I’m not entirely clear on how many wounds Ranger Lee has beyond the poison so I couldn’t do the math.
09:39, Today: Tamsin River rolled 9,7 using D8+2,D6+2, rerolling max ((7,5)).
I’ll spend a fate chip on healing Ranger Lee regardless (unless he has no need for healing after the poison is gone).



Tamsin snorted at the interaction between Ranger Lee and Kansas Kate.

“Yes, Ranger Lee, it’s Miss Rivers.”

With Bauer stable at the moment, she steps up to help Lee, grasping his hands. “Why don’t we sit down and get you fixed up?”
Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland
player, 206 posts
Have Science.Will Travel.
P4 T5/7 W0 F0 W3 R2 B0 L0
Fri 26 Feb 2021
at 04:01
  • msg #194

XII - A Heart of Thorns


Dr. Wayland calmly rolled the dial back to full charge with his thumb as the fighter and the card witch fell.  He set it back to his shoulder and proceeded to sweep the barrel up and around...  Looking for the next threat...  To Kate's comment, he deadpanned, "Let them talk...  Ah am not ashamed..."  The only glance away from his watchguarding was to assess the state of Ranger Lee and the effect of Miss River's skills...
Marshal
GM, 913 posts
W0 R0 B3
Mon 1 Mar 2021
at 04:44
  • msg #195

XII - A Heart of Thorns

River administers a careful selection of herbs to the Ranger’s injury and, after a matter of moments, the lawman feels the weakening effects of the card witch’s poison recede.

OOC: Lee loses his level of fatigue. Miss River, hang onto your chip. The Ranger was not carrying any wounds.

A moment later, Andrew Roberts and Desiree Thornton suddenly emerge from the study, expressions of concern on both of their faces. Both appear injured. Although Roberts bears a burn on his left arm, Thornton is clearly in worse condition. Her clothes are torn, her face bruised, and she has multiple lacerations on her shoulder and side.
Andrew Roberts
NPC, 50 posts
Buckshot
Mon 1 Mar 2021
at 04:49
  • msg #196

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Roberts’ gaze briefly goes to the fallen form of Chambers. ”Ya’ll make it through alright?”
Tamsin River
player, 245 posts
Flower Power
P4 T5 W0 F0 W1 R2 B3 L0
Mon 1 Mar 2021
at 15:51
  • msg #197

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Tamsin stands up, her eyes sweeping the room. “Dr. Wayland or maybe Kate, can you fetch me Mr. Garrett from upstairs? I imagine he will need some fixing up as well,” she asks, looking back as she moves to help the new arrivals. <seagreen>”Ranger Lee, you said something about someone still being alive in the next room, is that right?”

All speaking is done as she moves, picking which remedies from her bag to use for which ailment. ”Ms. Thornton, come here, let me see,” she says even as she walks up to the woman.
Bryan Lee
player, 528 posts
Texas Ranger (8/20 PP)
P7 T6 W0 F0 W2 R0 B0 L1
Mon 1 Mar 2021
at 16:43
  • msg #198

XII - A Heart of Thorns

"Thank you Miss River. I owe you one. As to the other room, I can confirm that there's definitely nobody alive in there," he said.

"Nothin' for you to concern yourself with at the moment. I think the wounded need your help here. Myself and Kate will see to the other."

He followed Kate into the room where he had left Crawford, finding steadier footing after Tamsin had seen to reviving him.

OOC: Removing the Fatigue
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Mon 01 Mar 2021.
Albert Cooper
player, 522 posts
Gun Wizzerd
P5 T6 W0 F0 W4 R1 B5 L0
Mon 1 Mar 2021
at 18:26
  • msg #199

XII - A Heart of Thorns

A moment after Thornton and Roberts emerge, Albert does as well. His gun is in hand as he looks around quickly, then nods at the rest of the posse. "Howdy, folks. Everyone doin' okay?" He was glad to see Tamsin there and able to tend to Roberts and Thornton.
Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland
player, 207 posts
Have Science.Will Travel.
P4 T5/7 W0 F0 W3 R2 B0 L0
Tue 2 Mar 2021
at 04:35
  • msg #200

XII - A Heart of Thorns


Dr. Wayland gave an easy nod to Miss Rivers suggestion and moved for the stairs, which was the last place he saw the Sheriff during the battle.  The arrival of Roberts and Desiree give him pause and he only levels the lightning gun there way for a moment...  An uncomfortable moment for those under that aim...  But he lifts the business end up and safely away again.

He started again for the stairs, only to pause again as Cooper stepped in.  The same wary treatment, the same uncomfortable moment....then the bounty hunter's brain once again decides not to loose the lightning on a friend.

The emitter aimed now at the roof, for safety in this increasingly crowded space, while the bounty hunter continued to make his way up.  To the recent arrivals, he tips his top hat in a somewhat ostentatious fashion, "Welcome to the house...  Ah am well, thank you."
Marshal
GM, 915 posts
W0 R0 B3
Wed 3 Mar 2021
at 03:18
  • msg #201

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Lee and Kansas Kate find the study just as the Ranger left it. The body of the mysterious ranch hand, his gray skin still shifting with the movement of phantom faces and hands that are seemingly trapped beneath it, still lies where he fell, showing no signs of consciousness.

Jacinta Castillo and Tom Horn step into the entry alongside Albert Cooper.

Desiree Thornton acquiesces to River’s ministrations without protest, the concerned frown on her face fading, replaced with an expression of weariness. Roberts kneels beside the body of the brawler, studying the dead man’s face as though he might recognize him.

From his position on the staircase, Dr. Wayland sees a group of eight men, all but one carrying lever action rifles at the ready, file onto the upstairs landing from the adjoining eastern hallway. Aside from the rifles, each is wearing a gun belt. One of the men is leading Patrick Garrett, who is walking with his hands raised, his pistol apparently confiscated.
John Kinney
NPC, 1 post
Wed 3 Mar 2021
at 03:18
  • msg #202

XII - A Heart of Thorns

The lone man who is not carrying a rifle has a lined face and hair the color of iron. His wide brimmed hat sits low on his brow. He looks at Dr. Wayland, then at the others that he can see gathered below, before addressing the bounty hunter.

”I think it’s best you leave, now. There’s been enough killin’ here today, wouldn’t you agree?”

He pauses, letting out a bitter sigh.”You go, no one else gets hurt. That’s not me threatening you. Part of the reason I let myself get roped into this damned mess is because I don’t want to see anyone else in the valley lose their lives. Lot of good people in Lincoln.” He nods at Garrett. ”Sheriff’s one of ‘em. Everyone I’ve spoken to says he’s a man of his word. Deals fairly with all he meets. Wish I’d had the chance to know him under different circumstances.”

“You keep this up, more innocent folks are gonna die. It shouldn’t be so, but the way that bastard Murphy sees it, you’ll have forced his hand. That may not matter much to you. This ain’t your home. But it’s mine. And it will be long after you’ve put it behind you.”

“So go. You dealt with some bad people. Gave ‘em what they surely had comin’. But you press on, folks that ain’t done any wrong will get killed. And I can’t have that.”

“Sheriff can leave with you, of course. As I said, I’ve nothin’ against him.”

Kansas Kate
player, 590 posts
Hot words and cold slabs
P6 T5 W2 F0 W0 R1 B0 L#
Wed 3 Mar 2021
at 20:41
  • msg #203

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Kansas Kate looked grim.  That was weirdly impressive for something to make her look so disgusted.

After staring at it a moment her resolve hadn't wavered.  Whatever in the blue hell that was, it was evil and it needed to die.

She kneeled over the prone figure and took the Toothpick in both hands and lined up her stab.  She intended to shove the blade right through at the temple.  It was going to be brutal but efficient, the way she'd want to die if someone killed her with a knife.
Albert Cooper
player, 523 posts
Gun Wizzerd
P5 T6 W0 F0 W4 R1 B5 L0
Thu 4 Mar 2021
at 02:50
  • msg #204

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Albert pushed his hat up a little higher on his head as he looked up at the man who was addressing them. He nodded once. "The sheriff seems a good fella, on that we can agree. But this is my home. And as such, I feel like I oughta do some good here. Much as I can 'fore the inevitable. I owe that to...let's just say a lotta people."

He raised an eyebrow. "An' while I agree there's mebbe been too much killin', also mebbe there's gotta be one more. Aint' gotta be more'n that, though. So mebbe y'all should take yer own advice. Decide that no more folk that don't deserve it don't get killed." Albert mentally counted the negatives, but decided he'd probably be understood, regardless.

"If yer really interested in Lincoln, you prolly gotta purty good idea of what's best fer it, if ya think real hard."
Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland
player, 208 posts
Have Science.Will Travel.
P4 T5/7 W0 F0 W3 R2 B0 L0
Fri 5 Mar 2021
at 04:30
  • msg #205

XII - A Heart of Thorns


Dr. Wayland, having found the Sheriff, decided this was far enough up the stairs for now.  He took note of the many rifles now pointing towards him and his companions.  In fairness, he decided that they likely wouldn't mind him aiming the lightning gun back at them.  Fair is fair.  His opinion on what more killing might need to be done and to whom he kept to himself.  Too many cooks spoil the soup...
Bryan Lee
player, 530 posts
Texas Ranger (8/20 PP)
P7 T6 W0 F0 W2 R0 B0 L1
Fri 5 Mar 2021
at 05:13
  • msg #206

XII - A Heart of Thorns

Lee drew his pistol. He didn't remember the last time he had used it, but if Kansas Kate seemed to waver or hesitate, he wouldn't. Still, she had come here as asked and he wouldn't interfere unless things were taking too long.

"Best get a move on it, Kate," he said. "Sounds like there's some company out there, and in this place, company ain't good."
Kansas Kate
player, 591 posts
Hot words and cold slabs
P6 T5 W2 F0 W0 R1 B0 L#
Sat 6 Mar 2021
at 01:28
  • msg #207

XII - A Heart of Thorns

She looked at it in utter disgust for a split second longer.

Then the Toothpick descended and bit.  Once.  Twice.  Three times.  Over and over again in a powerful staccato rhythm, even strokes, both hands on the hilt.
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