Upon a Pale Horse [Deadlands]

[ybn1197]

"No one ever done accused the Clancy brothers of being smart," the sheriff says matter of factly. "As for going alone, I reckon I don't have no choice. Folk around here ain't much for strapping on iron and courting danger. I ain't gonna get a posse out of them. Don't get me wrong, I can't say I can argue with them over it, it's dangerous business and they all got family to look out for."

[GimliFett]

Father Adam Guiteau

Adam purses his lips and strokes his chin. "I'd be glad to give you a hand, Sheriff. It seems you could use it. Besides, a man of the cloth can often have a strong effect on those of a criminal bent."

[Ditto]

((I've been around town a little while.. any chance I could get a little background on the Clancy brothers?))

[ybn1197]

((OCC: Slight problem but nothing major. I keep all my character sheets (both mine and those from the games I run) on an external hard drive. That hard drive crashed over the holiday. The adventure notes, luckily, where kept on another system and are still accessable. If everyone could please PM me a copy of their character sheets. Ditto - I will reply to your question once I have your character sheet.))

((OCC: Strike that. Forgot I had everyone post their characters to the OCC thread.))

Debit
Even though you have been in town for a little while, you haven't heard much about the Clancy Brothers. It seems the Sheriff is more familiar with them than you are. What you have heard though is they are a small gang, usually three or four of them and only two are actually brothers.

[Ditto]

(I didn't even know external hard drives *could* crash. Thought they were just big jump drives. Who knew!)

Debit

"If the townsfolk gotta do right by their families, that's their prerogative, but I've got a rifle upstairs that says these Clancys ought'n't be able to shoot a lawman like this. Haven't been huntin' rats lately."

[ybn1197]

(I didn't even know external hard drives *could* crash. Thought they were just big jump drives. Who knew!)

((They look like big jump drives, but what they are, or at least what mine was, is simply a regular hard drive in a powered and cooled enclosure box.))

[Ceridan]

Jake

OOC: Sorry the holidays have been hectic.

Jake reigns in Traveler, a slow anger burning in his gut. He had seen first hand what bandits were capable of, yet Jim had a point. They were reacting as Texas Ranger should to a threat to his fellow country men.Then again this was not the good old C.S. of A. was it? Best to avoid the trouble if possible and be about the mission.

Nodding, Jake said "This isn't our fight. We came out here to complete a mission, not get drawn into something that does not concern us. Lets go. Oh and Jim, stop calling me captain. The locals might pick up on that and think it a might odd. Jake will do." He turned Traveler back the way they had come, it would not be a good idea to come riding into town from the same direction the trouble makers had just rode off in. They back tracked back to what had been their camp the night before and then turned toward town.

[ybn1197]

The sheriff seems to take a long hard look at Father Adam, indescision clearly etched in his eyes. Finally he simply nods his head. "Thanks for the offer, padre. But I'll warn ya up front. I'd prefer to take them in peaceful like, but if that ain't possible, don't try and stop me when the lead starts to fly." He then looks over at Debit. "Ma'am, I ain't sure the fairer sex should be involved in nasty business such as this. I ain't got the strength nor the time to stop ya, if'n ya get a head a steam to go." He then looks the two of you over. "I reckon ya both might want to get changed a'fore we go, but we ain't got time to waste."
You both go to your rooms and grab your gear, returning to find the sheriff already astride a horse, holding the reins to two others. "I know the padre don't have one and I took the assumption ma'am that you didn't either. We'll need them to catch up to the Clancys. Now come'on; we ain't got another minute to loose." Without waiting for you to mount your horses, the sheriff turns and sends his steed into a run out of town.
Within minutes, you catch up with the sheriff outside of town. He has slowed his horse to a trot at the approach of two men coming towards town. "Gentlemen," he calls out to the two. "What brings ya to town?" His wording is clipped as he is obviously hurried, but its still stable. The last thing he wants is more trouble this morning.

Fate Chips
Captain Jake Johnston 1R, 2W
Private James Piltsen 1R, 2W
Father Adam Guiteau 1R, 1W
Joanne Hearst 1R, 2W

Spoiler

Show

Once again, my apologies to everyone. It seems like 2008 is going to start the same way 2007 ended. My paternal grandfather passed away Saturday evening. Once I get off work tonight, I heading to my parents' house where I will be staying the rest of the week. As they do not have internet access, I will not be on the boards until Monday. I will try to address anything in-game until this evening; but after that, it will have to wait till next week.

[Ceridan]

Jake

Jake watched as the small group approached from the direction of town. As they neared one was clearly wearing a badge. As the sheriff hailed them, Jake silently reminded himself that he was on a mission and that these were not two bit slimy Yankee scum who played at being honorable soldiers because they wore a blue uniform. A calm head would be required.

"Morning too yah. We are looking for a decent meal and a cold drink. We would be abliged if you would point us to the local inn."

[ybn1197]

The man on the lead horse nods his head to you. "There's an inn on the main thoroughfair. Can get yourself a hot meal if'n that's what ya'll are lookin' fer. Wish I could escort you in, but we're after some sidewinders that robbed the bank earlier and nearly done my deputy in."

[GimliFett]

Father Adam Guiteau

The preacher sits his horse with practiced ease. He tips his hat in acknowledgement of the newcomers, but lets the sheriff do the talking, since it's his town.

[technophile]

Jim takes the captain's rebuke silently. A single slip of the tongue could get them both killed, or worse--jeopardize their mission.

At the sheriff's words, Jim feels his blood surge, anxious to be out on the trail after the criminals, but he forces himself to calmness. His horse shies a moment, picking up his emotion, but he reins it back to stillness easily. "We heard the ruckus this morning, sheriff." He glances dubiously over the sheriff's party. "Kind of a mismatched posse you got there, if you don't mind my sayin' so," he continues. "Jake, you think it's worth delayin' the breakin' of our fast to lend some support to the lawman here?" He sits casually, but his horse's frisking again gives away his eagerness before he reins it in.

[ybn1197]

((OCC: Hopefully third time is a charm. Problems with internet connection.))

The sheriff glances back at the two others following him and nods at Jim. "You can call it mis-matched. I call 'em brave volunteers. Rest of the town-folk are simply unable or unwilling to put their lives on the line. Specially seeing how them sidewinders aren't scart enough not to shoot on a lawman. They reckon they'll get shot at too, and since most of them couldn't hit the broad side of the barn standing right in front of it, thats even more people I need to bury needlessly. If'n you're offering to help, I'd gladly take it."

[GimliFett]

Father Adam Guiteau

The preacher nods in agreement. "It would be nice to have such seasoned hands as yourselves join us, gentlemen," he says with a smile in his New Orleans drawl. "I am Father Adam Guiteau."

[Ceridan]

Jake

Jake looks over the volunteers and is not impressed. He makes up his mind to go with them, as it would at least let him git the measure of the town sheriff. "If you need a hand we are willing to help. Thieves shouldn't be running off with decent hard working folks money any how. My name is Jake, this is Jim. Pleased to meet yah."

[ybn1197]

((Any other introductions? Anyone else still around?))

[Ditto]

Debit

Debit inclines her head prettily, slanting the front of her ancient wide-brimmed hat. Matched against the relatively well-kept ash-colored duster she wore, the beat-up & faded surface might lead one to believe that the hat held itself together with nothing but character. "Genn'lmen. I'm Joanne Hearst. Call me Debit. Shall we git to rat huntin'?"

[ybn1197]

((OCC: Sorry. Had trouble accessing the site again on Friday. Is it just our access here or is anyone else having problems?))

The sheriff nods at Jake and Jim, the best thanks for helping you figure you're going to get from the man at this time. He wheels his horse back around and breaks into a gallop, heading towards some mountainous terrain.

He's riding his horse hard, trying to make up for lost time, but you have little trouble catching back up to him. By the time you reach the foothills, he slows his horse and eventually jumps off. Holding his hand up, you signals everyone to stop as he scans the ground looking for tracks. The wind has kicked up some of the dirt and dust, obscuring the tracks and making it slightly more difficult to proceed.

((Anyone want to make a Trackin' roll along with the sheriff or do you want to accept his results?))

[technophile]

Jim dismounts his horse crisply, letting the reins fall to the ground so the horse will stay put, and scans the ground along with the sheriff--obviously being very careful where he puts his feet so as not to disturb any remaining tracks.

[ooc edit: Removed dice roll since I didn't think to use rollv for busts/raises, one sec.../ooc]

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[technophile]

Roll for Trackin': (2d12)[5][6](11)

[ybn1197]

Jim and the sheriff both agree on the trail taken by the Clancys and remount their horses. The trail the Clancys took leads further and further into the mountains. As you travel along, you all notice the sky turning grey and foreboding.

After three hours of riding (everyone make a Horse Ridin' or Vigor roll) the trail leads you towards a small mine halfway up one of the mountains. As the you've been riding, they skey has moved from grey to reach the point where a storm is been building - it looks about to break as you catch sight of an abandoned mine entrance.

The sheriff takes a gander at the storm clouds overhead and suggests shelter in the mine rather than risk the storm and mudslides in the mountains - the Clancy's will have to wait. After an uneventful ride, you reach the mine just as the storm breaks. Three horses are tied inside the entrance - the sheriff recognizes them as belonging to the Clancy's.

[GimliFett]

Father Adam Guiteau

The preacher looks to have managed the ride fairly well. As he dismounts and the sheriff notes the horses, he smiles as he looks at the others. "Looks like your suggestion will work out, Sheriff," Adam says quietly.

Spoiler

Show

Ridin': (2d8)[7][3](10)

[technophile]

Jim dismounts his horse, suppressing a sigh of relief at being off the crowhopping flea-bitten beast again. His rifle in his left hand, he touches the grip of his pistol, making sure of its location before he returns his right hand to the grip of the rifle.

"That's a stroke of luck and no mistake, Sheriff. O'course, could get a mite unpleasant out here if they decline to invite us in..."

He begins scanning the immediate area, looking for cover and avenues of fire into the mine's mouth, just in case there's an ambush waiting.

Spoiler

Show

Ridin': (2d6)[6][1](7)

[ybn1197]

Posse

Spoiler

Show

Search
Jake: (2d8)[4]
James: (1d12)[1]
Father Adam: (1d8)[6]
Debit: (1d12)[6]

As the posse prepare for trouble from within the entrance of the mine, Father Adam and Debit catch notice of someone following the path you just climbed. He is a younger man who looks worn from a long travel and if he were trying to sneak up on you, he's doing a terrible job. Looking towards the sheriff, you see he does not recognize the man.

Miguel Arteaga
You have come to Paradise Valley not so much willingly but following a call. Something is deadfully wrong and your particular talents are needed. As you approach the valley, the sky is beginning to darken and hints at read. In the distance, you see a small group riding away from town and into the mountains, obviously very intent on something based on the speed at which they are pushing their horses. Something deep inside you presses you to follow them.
Make a Horse Ridin' or Vigor roll.

[Felistor]

Miguel looks at the ominous signs in the sky and checks his pistols before spurring his horse onward.

Spoiler

Show

Vigor: (4d6)[4][3][6][4](17)

[Felistor]

... attempting to catch up to the other riders.

Spoiler

Show

Adding the extra roll for the 6 (apparently I can't edit a post with rolls) (1d6)[3]
(But I can edit it to add results)
Total Vigor roll = 9

[ybn1197]

((OCC: Was waiting to see if there was any response, but movin' on instead.))

Coming over the trail, Miguel finds the posse preparing to move towards the mouth of the cave. Near the head of the group, and furtherest away, is an aging man. He is lean of build, weathered in appearance and hints of grey streak his dark hair. A tin star adorns the front of his brown jacket. Scattered around him are four others, three men and one women. Two of the men appear to be fresh off the trail, the other a man of the cloth.

[Felistor]

"Buenos dias" Miguel says as he doffs his sombrero, "am I interrupting something?"

[ybn1197]

At the sound of conversation, a deranged looking man in a pressed black suit with a dramatically elongated tailed jacket stands from behind a outcropping of rock away from the cave entrance. The wild unkempt hair beneath his black top hat is matched only by the feral look of intensity in his gray-blue eyes. He examines you carefully through dark tinted goggles. A playing card, the Ace of hearts, sits in his hat-band at an awkward angle, and he carries an ornate cane in his right hand.

“Ah! Fellow sophisticates at last!” (He examines the group for a moment)… “or at the very least none of you appear to be the walking dead… In any case, I am the renowned Dr. Thaddeus T. Eliot,” (He removes his top hat and bows, flourishing his hat and cane dramatically before returning to his original position. From the tilted angle of the hat as he bows you can see that it is full of interlocking spinning circles, complex clockwork, copper tubing, and glass bulbs full of green smoke and moving liquids) “but as long as were not at a formal dinner party feel free to call me Eliot. This might seem forward of me to ask, but might I trouble you for the year?” (He quickly references his pocket watch) “I seem to have completely lost track of the time. The summer heat you see.” (Now he speaks more urgently and in not quite so formal a tone) “You wouldn’t happen to be willing to spare a bit of water for a fellow traveler would you? I’ve been stuck out there for several days and I’m beginning to become dreadfully parched.”

[technophile]

With a muffled curse, Jim spins round to face the odd-looking fellow, while keeping the other newcomer visible in the corner of his eye.

Damn your eyes, James Piltsen, if you don't keep a better lookout than that a six-year-old girl could slit your throat with a rusty spoon at midday. His irritation with himself lends a bit of an edge to his voice.

"What're you doin' hidin' behind that rock, friend? A more suspicious man might think you were considering an ambush."