We're keeping that artifact. It will definitely help us through the hard times.
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SoupNazi
Guest
Quick new introductions are made, an the shepherd agrees to join the posse of despedaros for reasons that are between him and his God. Together, the trio and seven sheep make their way back to Santa Fe, but their arrival is interrupted. While they're hitching the horses back at the stables, Isaac hears a familiar name and alerts Bill to the sound coming out of an alleyway nearby.
"... so yah pissed Bugbear off, 'n cost 'im, and therefore us, a lotta money, and now yah think yah can just ditch town and fight again? Boy, you got it wrong. We got hands everywhere..."
When the group decides to investigate the monologue, they come upon a scene fairly typical in the West: a rough-looking man sitting down in a back alley, probably trying to enjoy some firewater, getting accosted by unfair numbers standing above him. Two obviously fellow brawlers, what they determine as their boss, and most oddly, a fancy-dressed woman with a poncho, a cowboy hat and a rifle that seems too big for her. The man in the chair seems unphased, as one of the thugs continue talking.
"Now, yah gots' two choices; yah come wit' us now calm and easy, pay us back, wit' interest, OR we improve yah' looks a lil', keep yah docile but alive, until Idrique arrives, and then he does to yah' what Bugbear would've, but knowin'em, probably a lotta slower. What yah think, Tencount? Ha-har."
The man in the chair just narrows his eyes, making the crooked nose and scars on his face even more defined.
"... so yah pissed Bugbear off, 'n cost 'im, and therefore us, a lotta money, and now yah think yah can just ditch town and fight again? Boy, you got it wrong. We got hands everywhere..."
When the group decides to investigate the monologue, they come upon a scene fairly typical in the West: a rough-looking man sitting down in a back alley, probably trying to enjoy some firewater, getting accosted by unfair numbers standing above him. Two obviously fellow brawlers, what they determine as their boss, and most oddly, a fancy-dressed woman with a poncho, a cowboy hat and a rifle that seems too big for her. The man in the chair seems unphased, as one of the thugs continue talking.
"Now, yah gots' two choices; yah come wit' us now calm and easy, pay us back, wit' interest, OR we improve yah' looks a lil', keep yah docile but alive, until Idrique arrives, and then he does to yah' what Bugbear would've, but knowin'em, probably a lotta slower. What yah think, Tencount? Ha-har."
The man in the chair just narrows his eyes, making the crooked nose and scars on his face even more defined.
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"Do yer worst, ya no good flea-bitten yellow-bellied no-count dandy. If you wants the priv'lij o' licking Bugbear's boot like the little lick-spittle ye are, yer gonna hafta earn it." Cormac merely brings his arms up in a steady guard all too familiar to him.
Stella Brando
Arcane
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"We should help this poor soul." Ewan offers, sheepishly. "He may be ugly, but he's one of God's flock. Don't you think so, Sunday?"
“Baaa," Sunday replies.
Wolsely readies his shillelagh.
“Baaa," Sunday replies.
Wolsely readies his shillelagh.
SoupNazi
Guest
And so the posse does help the (not so) poor soul. They engage the brawler group in close combat but it quickly becomes a lot more than they bargained for. While one of the brawlers is dispatched and the other two are turned to flee by Isaac's sharp tongue, the Mysterious Woman who was keeping watch becomes a worthy opponent even to the newcomer, Tencount Cormac, who fins that wrestling with her for her rifle is as tough as wrestling a similar-sized man. The Woman turns out cunning, as well, putting distance between herself and the posse and taking shots with her rifle when possible. Other than strong and cunning, Isaac also tests her toughness, as he empties a full blast of his shotgun from a fairly close distance, but somehow, despite flying back about 15 feet from the kinetic energy alone, she survives and stays conscious. One by one, she first takes down Bill, then Ewan, and nearly removes Tencount from the fight as well, before Sheriff Weller comes in to help, which allows Tencount to finally knock her out.
It's at that moment Tencount finally notices the woman has the mysterious Ace of Spades tattoo on her wrist... he definitely knows he has seen it somewhere before, but can't quite place it. Either way, the Sheriff picks her up and carries her to his office, while Isaac and Tencount handle their wounded.
Unfortunately, during the fight, the sheep run off in various distances and escape the town.
It's at that moment Tencount finally notices the woman has the mysterious Ace of Spades tattoo on her wrist... he definitely knows he has seen it somewhere before, but can't quite place it. Either way, the Sheriff picks her up and carries her to his office, while Isaac and Tencount handle their wounded.
Unfortunately, during the fight, the sheep run off in various distances and escape the town.
Sorry was working all morning like crazy. What did I miss?
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Your first ever KO
Killed or knocked out?
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Knocked out. Don't worry, you got doctored to full.
Bill Williamson regains consciousness slowly. His eyes flitter open, and it's as if he's blinded by a bright light. He shuts them, blinking reactively, and blinding white fades to the dim glow brought on by a burning lantern, a peaceable golden yellow. Shadows nearby seem to take form and shape, blurred and unrecognizable save for becoming human-like in shape.
"Be I amongst tha' livin', I says thankee fer savin' my life. Be I amongst tha dead an' departed, kiss my ass Bear Claw Rourke, I done won tha' poker game fair an' squares, ya ignern't Ma'souree outrider."
A sudden pain washes over him and his body aches horrifically. That slow throb turns to a stinging which turns to a harsh burning, and Bill grabs his shoulder reactively.
"Gawd be damned, I's livin. Ain' nearly 'nough pain fer whar's I's headed onst I eats dirt."
"Be I amongst tha' livin', I says thankee fer savin' my life. Be I amongst tha dead an' departed, kiss my ass Bear Claw Rourke, I done won tha' poker game fair an' squares, ya ignern't Ma'souree outrider."
A sudden pain washes over him and his body aches horrifically. That slow throb turns to a stinging which turns to a harsh burning, and Bill grabs his shoulder reactively.
"Gawd be damned, I's livin. Ain' nearly 'nough pain fer whar's I's headed onst I eats dirt."
SoupNazi
Guest
I was hoping Windwir would resurface to take care of this, but since apparently not:
- Lady Annabelle arrived about a month or two ago, the locals remember that the previous casino proprietor just left on the next train. They can't really say if he was distressed or not, but he did say farewell to people he knew personally.
- The casino really flourished against her management, she spent a lot of time on the floor and was really involved in the business. She also hired a lot more security than the previous proprietor ever had.
- She got involved with the town's affairs from the get go, and used her position as the biggest employer in town quite often.
- The only thing of note they can share that was "odd" was how she handled three of the town's drunks with just a derringer when they bothered her late one day. All three men survived but never bothered any woman in town ever again
- Lady Annabelle arrived about a month or two ago, the locals remember that the previous casino proprietor just left on the next train. They can't really say if he was distressed or not, but he did say farewell to people he knew personally.
- The casino really flourished against her management, she spent a lot of time on the floor and was really involved in the business. She also hired a lot more security than the previous proprietor ever had.
- She got involved with the town's affairs from the get go, and used her position as the biggest employer in town quite often.
- The only thing of note they can share that was "odd" was how she handled three of the town's drunks with just a derringer when they bothered her late one day. All three men survived but never bothered any woman in town ever again
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'Tarn't many who can say that after being shot like they were the broadside'na barn. What say we look in at the woman who damn near kilt you and ask her a thing or two?"
Bill Williamson grunts and sits up slowly. He takes a good look at the man before him, but doesn't recognize much.
"Fergive my foolishness thar, but yer name seems ta 'scape my mos' recent memrees. I don' 'member much, but gots a feelin' tha' we ain' been proparly intreduced none. Names Bill Williamson. Come outta Bleedin' Kansas original, liv'd in the Rockies fer a time ta 'scape the free niggers an' fools dyin' fer 'em. Got a name frien'?"
Bill winces as he holds out his hand for the big man.
"Fergive my foolishness thar, but yer name seems ta 'scape my mos' recent memrees. I don' 'member much, but gots a feelin' tha' we ain' been proparly intreduced none. Names Bill Williamson. Come outta Bleedin' Kansas original, liv'd in the Rockies fer a time ta 'scape the free niggers an' fools dyin' fer 'em. Got a name frien'?"
Bill winces as he holds out his hand for the big man.
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"Yes indeedy. Name's Cormac. Tencount Cormac in the bare knuckle ring. But this ain't no ring here."
He shakes the offered hand, slowly.
"I thank ye fer yer kindness on accoun' a' my shoulder. Bein' truthful, I's like ta talk might private wiv that thar she-devil that done this. Good shooter, tha' one thar. Still, I ain' the best feller fer this, on accoun' a me hatin' ta rooin a woman like I don' ta Injuns, White Men, an Mexi's."
Bill stands with some shakiness and grins almost sheepishly.
"Tencount, if'n ya don' mind none, I's think ya be a better feller ta questshun a woman than meself. Lord knows the Sharf won' like me none the ways I ast."
Bill stands with some shakiness and grins almost sheepishly.
"Tencount, if'n ya don' mind none, I's think ya be a better feller ta questshun a woman than meself. Lord knows the Sharf won' like me none the ways I ast."
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"Well if that's how it is then that's how it be. Could use a smarter head than mine to asks the right questions but hell, might as well."
Cormac heads over to the Sheriff to see if he will permit an examination of the confiscated possessions as well a visitation upon the prisoners.
Cormac heads over to the Sheriff to see if he will permit an examination of the confiscated possessions as well a visitation upon the prisoners.
SoupNazi
Guest
"Howdy, ... even more strangers. I see there're some new faces."
The man takes stock of Ewan and Cormac then rubs his beard, giving Cormac a second look. "Though I have seen you in the pits of Denver, I think. Interesting. Either way," he gestures towards Isaac and Bill, "I see y'all lost some people. I am genuinely sorry about that. This town owes you a great debt, both for the willingness to fight for it, as well as your woman's sacrifice at the fight at the train station. Now tell me - why are y'all here?"
He hears out Cormac's plea to see the prisoners and their possessions, then folds his arms.
"It ain't in my habit to let strangers without deputization talk to the prisoners. But the folks here have already come to call y'all the Heroes of Santa Fe, and I'm inclined to make an exception. But there's gots to be balance."
He turns to the four individual cells behind himself, three of them currently occupied. One by the marauder who attacked Bill with bowie knives, one by another marauder from the train attack that didn't make it back to the train, and of course, the mysterious woman from the scuffle before. The Sheriff turns back to the posse and nods.
"Y'all get ten minutes, and I want all weapons on the table here before I let y'all come close to the cells. Sound fair?"
When you observe the cells, three distinct images come up:
The knife-wielding marauder has his back turned to the bars, and periodically hits his forehead against the brick all. Slowly and not strongly enough for any of you to guess he's trying to kill himself - but there's enough impact for you to hear the noise. Sheriff Weller points out: "All I got from him is a name: Dancing Blades. He doesn't speak, otherwise. Think the boy's slow in the head, or somethin'."
The gunslinging marauder is just sitting down on the cell's rudimentary straw and wire bed, staring at the floor. Sheriff Weller's comment: "He's the most fearful. But I don't think he's afraid of me, or gettin' hanged. Gots myself a feelin' he's afraid what happens to him if Skull gets his mittens on him for gettin' captured. Name's Seth Jones. Quivers and shakes of the hands from that one whenever the marauders are mentioned. Jones' are a family out of Albuquerque. Dunno if he's related, but I do know they had their sons go missin' a few years ago. Got a telegram 'bout it back when I took the Star."
The mysterious woman is staring outside, through the barred, tiny window in her cell. She seems completely unflinching. "Got nothin' outta her. Reminds me of a legend I heard of as a kid: the Woman With No Name. Story has it she was a ranch girl who for one or t'other reason ended up alone as a kid, and trainin' herself to become an outlaw. Terrorized the trails in Arizona for many years, years ago. But her, she's much too young to be that legendary desperado. Just... gots' the same energy, I guess."
The Sheriff then points out a set of items on a separate table, on the opposite side of the cells.
"As for their possessions, it ain't much. A few silver dollars, their weapons of course - the curved knives outta the retard, revolver from the other marauder, and the woman's rifle. The rifle is definitely special - seems to have been modified. Well maintained, too - y'don't see that often with bandits."
He walks over to the table and shows a rolled up piece of parchment to you all - to everyone's surprise, it's a copy of a wanted poster that has a pretty bad, but still recognizable, portrait of Hardtack. His bounty was 50 dollars for desertion. The Sheriff shrugs. "I suppose there ain't no need to discuss it further, but - this Costigan man ditched y'all, or died?"
If the party accepts, you guys will have exactly 10 questions to ask, suspect of your choosing, but it's 10 questions / minutes total, so choose wisely. No matter how short or long the questions/answers are, we'll approximate that it takes 1 minut per dialog on average, hence 10 questions. After that, the Sheriff interrupts you. Whether you want to ask question by question, or post 10 questions straight away and have me answer them in one go, if you want to talk about it beforehand IC/OOC... totally up to you.
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Stella Brando
Arcane
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Ewan, despairing of ever finding his lost sheep, turns to drink. He spends the day laying plastered in the main street, ocassionally moaning 'Monday... Monday...' and crying aloud. A few kind souls throw change at him.
Something like this, but without the bench or the grass.
Something like this, but without the bench or the grass.
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- Okay, does checking for tattoos count as a question, or as several or what? Plus one of us might have to check the Sheriff for tattoos- I don't think he has one but paranoia demands its due.
- That, I think Jones would be easier to interrogate if we can scare him. I mean Skull ran from this town, so there is a good chance that we could use that as an advantage on this here Jones.
- I want to know the connection between the marauders and the Aces gang. If there is one.
- Next I want to know where this Idriques fellow that they mentioned is. We could head him off and interrogate him to tell us where to find Carter, Bugbear. And Wheeler burg, maybe.
- Also want to know where Skullface operates from. If Aces and the Marauders are connected, handling Skullface(when we are good and ready) will give us another trail to follow. And taking Skullface out of the equation should present us a strategic advantage in these parts if we pursue it.
These I can think of right now. Major_Blackhart , 'Stella Brando' now? , Windwir and when you get to this bit, Helly , let me know what else we want to do.
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Stella Brando
Arcane
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Buuurp.
So far I like this. I want us to be the ones to volunteer to take the woman to Denver for her hanging. We can do one of three things: torture her for information, free her, or deliver her without issue, though I'm sure we'll be ambushed either way.
SoupNazi
Guest
The party has settled on the following questions so far:
To the Mysterious Woman:
Are the aces and marauders linked up
What is the size of Carter's organization
Where were they gonna take Tencount
When is Idriques expected and where is he now
To Seth Jones
What can you tell us that is good enough to get you a pardon?
In the interest of expediency, we'll start with these.
To the Mysterious Woman:
Are the aces and marauders linked up
What is the size of Carter's organization
Where were they gonna take Tencount
When is Idriques expected and where is he now
To Seth Jones
What can you tell us that is good enough to get you a pardon?
In the interest of expediency, we'll start with these.
After about an hour or so of conferring together, as well as with the Sheriff, in the privacy of his office, the posse crosses the dusty room and enter the cell block. It's loosely separated from he rest of the Sheriff's building with wooden planks that were added at a point where the building itself was already finished, a necessary modification to the blueprints as everyone who enters notices immediately - the cells themselves have no amenities, and a bucket is in each room to serve as a toilet. The smell hits everyone immediately upon opening the door, and seems to be another sign of the Sheriff not really managing to keep his office functional without the two deputies at his side.
To the immediate right is a cell holding Seth Jones, who seems to be very nervous as he paces back and forth in the 10 square feet large cell.
The second and last cell on the right is occupied by the Mysterious Woman, and she's completely unphased by the posse's arrival - as before, she continues staring out of her cell window, but not in a deflated way. She almost seems... hopeful? As she holds her hands behind her back, with a side, confident stance, the Ace of Spades tattoo on her wrist is on display.
Dancing Blades, in the last cell on the left, emanates a similar sort of energy; he's sat on the dirty floor with his eyes closed, almost as if he was meditating. In contrast to Seth Jones, the other two captives appear very calm.
The fourth cell on the immediate left is currently empty.
Isaac is chosen to be the interrogator, judged by the party to have a silver tongue and the faculties necessary to pick up on clues and cues the prisoners might give out involuntarily. When he approaches the Mysterious Woman, to their surprise, she turns around by herself and ends up the first on to speak.
"Ah, has the good Sheriff hired new deputies? What are you here for, boy? Questions?"
She does not seem to react to the first part of Isaac's question, and "the Aces Gang" is accepted by her as something she can be a part of, without giving any exception. When the idea of Marauders being an ally is brought up, however, she laughs - loudly, and with a cackle, almost like how you'd imagine a crow would laugh if it could.
"There is nothing and no one that would want to associate themselves with those crazy psychos, you fool. They do nothing but pass through the land and ravage; no nuance, no goal other than brutal violence. If it were up to me, they'd be put down like the rabid dogs they are. And we certainly don't need a pack of idiots as friends."
Isaac notes that she is eloquent and well spoken - she almost seems educated, which would be unheard of. He then asks about the size of the Aces Gang, since she does not seem to refute the name.
"You'll never know. Never be able to count. You'll be dead sooner or later, and it won't matter if it's five, ten, or a thousand."
She says this very confidently, and a chill runs up Isaac's spine when he hears - and most importantly, watches - her say it. There is a cold look in her eyes, as if it was a promise, not merely a threat. Either way, he moves to questioning her around Tencount. As Isaac does so, the Mysterious Woman turns her head and shifts her gaze at Tencount.
"You'll find out soon." She offers no further clues and Isaac can tell - the way she puts emphasis on soon motivates him to quickly move on to the next question, about the man the posse knows as "Idrique". When the question is posed, the Mysterious Woman not so subtly walks over to the cell door, close enough so that instead of the street, she can see up to the sky, and glares at the setting sun poking up from above the buildings and horizon.
"Soon, I think. Then again, Phillip has never been punctual. But I'd sleep with one eye open if I were you." the woman chuckles and turns back to the posse. She walks across her cell towards Isaac, but her gait is different; instead of calm, cool, and collected, she swings her hips and puts one foot in front of the other in small, calculated, slow steps, and all the men in the room have a hard time remembering the woman is an enemy.
"So, I've answered all of your questions, like a good girl. What do I get out of it? Does anyone have some tobacco?"
The rest of the posse notes during the interrogation that Seth Jones had stopped pacing, and was listening intently to what was going on in the next cell. He doesn't offer up much in terms of reaction to what the Mysterious Woman says, and then takes a few distraught steps back when Bill and Tencount approach his cell, using their imposing looks to play on the young man's fears. Bill has no quarrel threatening the boy and asks for information in as intimidating a way as possible, ending his demand with calling Jones a "shitstain". That's the soft-spoken Preacher's cue to step in, as amateur hour is up, and Ewan Woolsey steps up to Jones' cell. He offers up that the Sheriff owes them a favor, and if Jones provides useful information, they'll speak to the Sheriff in his favor.
"I-I- ain't got nothin'!! It's uh --" he seems to think long and hard about what he can offer "I ain't even a Marauder proper - I was recruited in El Paso, like, two weeks ago, we was asked by this sonovubitch days before the second attack to be, er, on the inside -- and when it came thru, I was jus' put on the train and sent down-- Skull ain't even talk t'a me in person!!"
The man visibly shakes, as he lowers his voice, glimpsing towards Dancing Blades, who seems to have opened one eye during his "meditation".
"Only useful thing t'a tell, me thinks, is that Skull 'imself never stays with the main troop. When we's pillagin' and robbin' a town of his choosin', he disappears fo' a day, two at a time, with two a'his lieutenants or whatevers, an'they only come back when he's ready to give more orders, or an attack is imminent, or when we was supposed t'a be movin' the train... I saw him one evenin' in Albuequerque, comin' back on 'is horse from the West, I remember that 'cause in the sun in his back gave me the heeby jeebies, seein' him ride in like some demon figure with the fiery sun 'hind 'im... I can't tell yah' more, I swear, please help me out..."
The young man almost breaks into tears as he finishes telling the posse what he knows.
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Anyone think it worthwhile to persuade the Sharf to deputize this here boy?
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Major_Blackhart what say you?
Sorry about being awol last few days. Got a shot or two and have been insane with work. Can we roll to detect if he's full of shit with us or what? Don't get me wrong, but I'm not keen on letting somebody off the hook that quickly. Plus, I'd like to see if we can get that woman on her lonesome, that way I can ast her properly/
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