Thread #100679

ooc thread >>100672 →

last time:
the team found where archie and co went and are off to find him with the help of george, a local arapahoe dude

Thomas presumably awakens in bed again?
(I believe we stopped when we went back to the place?)
Then he's leaving!

how the fuck
you were leaving

Thomas is currently located within the back of a carriage.

It is early in the morning, the sun is just rising! The heat is not too bad, but the desert-like wastes look like they go on for miles and miles.
The carriage is bumpy and it feels a little anachronistic to be in the back of a covered wagon instead of a car or truck. Seems like the team ends up in the back of vehicles with an indian guy fairly often these days. The Indian guy looks back at the town on Lander as it grows smaller and smaller behind the cart.

"I hope you folks are ready for this."

"I hope we are too."

"It can' t be any worse than climbing up and down trees carrying human organs," I mutter to myself. "How far away is this reservation, George?"

"Are we sure about that?"

George looks ahead. "Will take some time. We will stop in a town along the way for supplies and then continue. We should arrive by sundown."

"This problem of people being sucked dry of their blood wouldn't be happening to plaguing all the towns near here, and not just Lander, would it?"

"Are they immortal-type things like that stinky knees with the organs or are they actually killable by conventional means? Your spear from earlier makes me think the latter."

"I do not know if they can be killed," George laughs. "The spear is for hunting. As for the problem, it is plaguing most towns. But it only happens at night, so there is no need for worry."

"Why don't people just lock their doors?"

"I imagine that doesn't stop spooky shadow things."

"It is no shadow but indeed, a lock has no means of stopping it."

"Heck, nowadays, a lock can't even stop little old me!"

"You do not appear to be very old," George observes.

"I-It's a figure of speech..."

"The problem began recently. The man called Jeffery began this. He has unleashed terrors across the state of Wyoming. You will stop him, yes?"

"Naturally. He probably ... never mind. But more than likely stopping him will take care of our own business too."

"What is your business, Old man?"

Thomas looks at the other party members to tell him whether or not - well it looks like VV's got some of it covered so he just shrugs and lets her take over.

"We're searching for our employer. He left for Wyoming without telling anyone why."

George laughs. "You mean to say he is looking for a book, yes? As are you? You do not need to hide it from me. I am a friend."

"Oh, that works out wonderfully then."

"Though it's no lie we are looking for our employer as well. "

"The seer saw of your arrival. You will be meeting him when we arrive. Though some of you, I understand, have already met."

Thomas puts his hands to his cheeks in what might be known as a "kyaa"-type pose.

"A great journey awaits you. It will be dangerous, but you have overcome many hardships."
The hours pass slowly as conversation drones on. Up ahead, it appears a small town can be seen. "We will be stopping here to gather supplies. We will need water. And alcohol."
Sicily perks up when he mentions alcohol but says nothing.

A //
"A drink might actually be nice."

George seems to become alert as the horses enter the town. "Lie down in the back of the cart for me."
The horses come to a stop and some voices can be heard outside the carriage. It sounds like bandits.

Thomas lays down.

lies

No thomas doesn't lie.

I take one of the guns from my bag--the veteran handgun--and follow his orders.

VV does as instructed, clutching on to her axe.

George puts his hands up. "There's nothing back there. Just supplies. Taking it to the Res." As George tries to talk his way out of the situation unfolding out of sight, a man slowly peers over the side of the cart into it and gets a good luck at everyone inside - for a split second.
A large explosion is heard and his head seems to evaporate. It seems Sicily has fired a shotgun blast into his head at point-blank. She's grinning.
Everyone starts running away, getting into position. George jumps into the back of the cart, visibly upset.

Everyone rolls stability after seeing that guy's head disappear.

Thomas shivers at "explosion"

#d6 (3)

(Figured. #d6 (4))

#d6 (3)

"I guess negotiations have broken down, then?"

"Why would you do that!"

"I mean, if it was bandits it was bandits."

Sicily laughs.

George pulls out a revolver and hands it to VV, who is holding an axe.
"Shoot anyone that gets close. I'm going to get up and get our horses going. You folks should try to target anyone going after me or the horses. Understand? Good." Without waiting for an answer, he jumps back up and the horses take off.

Two people are aiming at George, clear as day.
difficulty 4 firearms rolls to stop them from taking the shot

"You guys know by now that I've got explosions if we need 'em, but maybe more surefire strikes would be ideal?
"

"I don't really know how to use one of these...but okay"
#d6 (3)

VV's shot rings out, missing the first shooter by a mile.

I take a shot at the one Victoria was not aiming at.
#d6 (3)

Again, the bullet flies off the mark!

VV sighs.
#d6+1 (5 + 1 = 6)
Athletics to throw the axe at him.

"Shit"
I fire again at the same man.
#d6 (1)

Felicity's shot misses, but VV's axe flies across the large gap between them, straight into the first man's head. He slumps over. The second man, seeing this insane feat is terrified and distracted. He fires, missing the cart.

Thomas readies an explosive but notices the situation and holds his fire.

#d6 (5)
a stick of dynamite is thrown into the cart by a bandit. It's lit.

"BUBHUBHBUHBHUB"
Thomas tries to pick it up and throw it right back.
#d6 (4)

It flies back at the original thrower who screams and disappears into smoke.

#d6 (3)
VV shoots at the second guy!

VV misses the mark.

"I think you're supposed to use the sight, but seeing how you threw that axe I dunno if I should give you advice..."

I take a third shot at the gunman still alive.
#d6 (3)

Felicity misses!

A bandit on a horse, carrying an axe and a revolver rides up next to the team. He's readying a fight!

VV can steal the horse with riding 2 point spend

Well of course she's going to steal the horse!

Stowing the handgun with three shots remaining, I pull out the revolver and ready it at the remaining gunman, taking a shot.
#d6 (6)

feel free to hijack that man's horse then

Felicity's shot flies straight through the second gunman's face, sending him tumbling to the ground.

"Maybe I just needed an appropriate weapon for the scenery."

VV pushes the man off the horse and takes control of it!
and #d6 (4)
Athletics trying to grab the axe too.

Thomas gives a light clap to his pals

VV successfully takes the horse and the axe!
The man falls from his horse and you hear a loud crack. He doesn't appear to be getting back up.
George shouts something in Arapahoe. You don't know what he's saying, but it sounds excited.

Using the down time, I scrounge through the packs to find some spare munitions, loading an extra bullet into the revolver.

As they do, /// As she does, the next round of bandits seem to be getting ready ahead.

"I suppose it would have been too easy if there was just the one wave, huh."

"Maybe we'll let one close enough for you to throw something too, this time."

Sicily seems bored. Having only a shotgun, she is unable to fight as well.
She gives Thomas a look, signaling "you know my plight"

Thomas nods sagely.

VV rides up to the side of the cart and tosses her revolver to Sicily. She can't use it well, anyway.

"Know how to use one of these, tweaky dude?" she asks Thomas.

"I've never really used one but as far as I know neither had VV until today so."

"I-I guess when I think about it, guns are just objects that use little tiny explosions to shoot things."

She hands it to Thomas. "Knock yourself out. Not literally."

"I'll do my best."

I give a wary glance over at the exchange. "Maybe we'd all be better if he knocked himself out."

A man aims his rifle towards the riding VV. Another is readying a stick of dynamite to throw in front of the horses.

Thomas is going to aim and fire at the dynamite-fellow.
#d6 (3)

spend 2 explosion and i'll let you turn that into a four

Thomas really believes in the little explosions inside this steel prison and wants them to be free.
-2 explosions

The explosion escapes its steel prison and the bullet flies directly into the dynamite man's dynamite. He explodes really bigly.

VV is going to ride really evasively so she's hard to git.
hit
too
#d6+3 (4 + 3 = 7)

VV is too fast for eyes, the man tries to fire but he only hits her after-images.

Turning my attention to the living gunman, I shoot.
#d6 (6)

The bullet goes through him like a flaming sword through butter. He crumples and the horses pass his corpse, leaving it in the dust.

A man on a horse comes up from behind! He holds a machete and and he's gaining on VV.
#d6 (1)
But he fails to make up enough distance.

VV slows a bit and instructs her horse to buck and kick him.
#d6+1 (4 + 1 = 5) riding

He gets excited to see he is getting closer. He raises his machete to strike and is met with hooves to the face. He flies off his horse and his own horse runs off in another direction.
He's probably dead.

The end of the town is near! A man with a revolver stands in the middle, trying to block the path out of town. As you can easily tell from his colorful poncho and the way he's standing, he must be the bandit leader. He fires a shot at George. #2d6 (5, 3 = 8)
George is hit in the arm but he keeps going. It doesn't look like he can take another hit.

Thomas shifts his position towards presumably the front of the wagon and is going to take a shot at the leader.
#d6 (4)

Thomas hits the leader in leg. He falls to one knee but does not fall dead yet. He levels his revolver towards George again. He's preparing to to shoot!

Thomas gives a look towards Felicity!

"There's still bullets in your gun you imbecile!" I shout at him, but I take aim at the head honcho's shoulder, on the side holding the gun.
#d6 (6)

"I thought it'd be a cool combination attack!"

Felicity's devil's luck propels the bullet straight into the lead bandit's shoulder as intended and he drops his revolver. He falls to the ground in pain and the horses run straight through him.
He's probably dead.

Climbing towards the front of the cart, I shout at George, "I suppose there's no stopping for supplies then?"

The town grows smaller and smaller in the distance.
George grimaces as he looks towards Felicity. His arm is bleeding a lot. "Don't think that's a good idea."

"Either way, pull over as soon as you can, we need to get that arm looked at."

He brings the horses to a stop far from the town. "Hurts like a bitch."

"Hey VV, could you give George a look-over?"

VV takes out her first aid kit.
#d6+2 (1 + 2 = 3) first aid

VV manages to stop the bleeding but it doesn't look like that bullet is coming out. It hurts, but there's not much that can be done right now. Despite that, he looks satisfied with just not bleeding to death. "Thanks. You lot did good work."
Sicily looks proud to have done good work.

I reach back into the back of the wagon, looking for something with drinkable water in it.

There is a decent amount of water in the back of the wagon, luckily.

"Nice shooting, Tex."

"Which one of you is Tex?" George asks.

"He's just talking to himself, don't mind him." I take a swig from the unspecified water-carrying vessel I pulled out, and pass it around.

A rattling sound starts to go off, but nothing seems to be around.
Maybe it's the imagination.

George happily takes a sip when it reaches him.

Thomas also takes a drink.

(Sense Trouble #d6 (3))

It feels like it's probably your imagination.

Thomas remembers that there are no babies nearby and sense danger.
#d6 (6)

One of the most venomous snakes in the US could be nearby, Thomas' snake senses tell him.

"Guys there is probably a snek reeeeeeeeal close right now." Thomas begins searching for the snek

"The hell's a snek?"

VV doesn't know anything about American snakes.

"You know, a snek! They go hiss and sometimes fizzlerattle."

"They can bite, can be poisonous, sometimes live in waterholes, a snek!"

*fizzlerattle fizzlerattle*

George looks worried. "Sounds like a midget faded rattlesnake, as the whites call them."

"I think they prefer 'tiny snek'."

George squints at Thomas.

VV looks puzzled.
"So where is it?"

"Rattlesnak-oh." I glare at Thomas. "Could you be any less obtuse?"

I climb back into the back of the wagon, checking to see if the snake had climbed in--

"Yes."

Felicity is greeted in the back of the wagon by a rattlesnake, about 2/3rds of a meter long.

"Oh there's the snek."

--
(Athletics #d6+3 (6 + 3 = 9))
And immediately back out of the wagon as fast as possible.

Sicily looks amazing by Felicity's speed.
George watches curiously.
"Is it in the wagon?"

"Yeah."

"I guess we've lost the wagon." says George.

"I could explode the snek if you want."

"That will kill the wagon. You, axe girl. Perhaps you can end it."
He turns to >>101039 Thomas. "That may work as well."

"Or, or, or... I could use a smoke type one. Maybe spook it off."

"VV peers into the wagon from a safe distance.
also disregard that quotation mark

"I'm not very familiar with this sort of creature. We don't have anything like it in the U.K."

"You don't have snakes at all in the UK?"

"Perhaps you can do another throw."

Thomas casually tosses a smelly vial into the back of the wagon.

"We don't have giant poisonous snakes in the U.K., no..."

#d6 (2)
The snake jumps out. It heads towards Thomas.

(I'm spending one of those small explosives"
)

Thomas recoils and lets out a girlish squeal.

VV screams.
"Why did you do that!"

"I thought it would help!"

George jumps up. The horses start freaking out.

VV throws the axe at the horse.
nooo
the snake
VV thows the axe at the snake.

#d6 (5)

The axe slices the snake's head off and falls down to the ground.

VV sighs.
"That was not a very good idea. Of course it was going to run from the smoke!"

VV picks her axe back up, taking care to keep away from the snake and its parts.

Also the wagon smells terrible now.

Specifically it smells like way too much garlic and then some vinegar on top

George seems upset that the wagon smells so bad.

"One of the voices in my head says you can eat the snake if youw ant."

I wrinkle my nose as I climb--much more carefully this time--into the wagon.
"I thought this was supposed to be smoke, not stench, Thomas."

Thomas shrugs. "That's what I thought too."

George climbs back up. "Are we ready?"

"I suppose we're ready. This has been quite an eventful trip. Is this place really this dangerous?"

Sicily climbs back in.
"It's not that dangerous, this stuff is probably just a coincidence!"

"Coincidences don't make it any less stressful." I gag slightly at the stench. "Let's hope the remaining leg of this journey doesn't have us stuck in this wagon much longer.

"How does one coincidentally be attacked by bandits?"

George nods. "This is why we had to wait until morning to leave. We are halfway to the res. Come." The horses take off once again.

Thomas flaps his lab coat to try and propel the smell away

#d6 (5)

Thomas successfully looks very silly.
Sicily raises an eyebrow.

Hours pass and the sun in the sky grows dim. The stench lingers on as the water begins to run short.
"Is everyone doing well?" George asks.

Sicily moans. She's bored and uncomfortable.

"It stinks, these trails can barely be called roads, there has't been an interesting sight since that cactus shaped like a--there's no water, it stinks, and it stinks."
"Other than that, I'm fine."

"Want to play cards?"

George nods, looking back. "Shall I teach you an ancient Arapahoe method of surviving horrid odors?"

"All ears, red man."

"The key is to ask your guardian animal to cut off your sense of smell."

"What's your guardian animal then?"

"It is a mighty coyote."

"What's yours, Felicity?"

I slump deeper into the seat. "I dunno, something like a coon or a squirrel I bet."

"And yours, old man?"

"Hmm... is there a type of blowfish that fully explodes?"

"I do not know this blow fish."

to be continued