[The time: mid afternoon. The place: the base of a low plateau with a shack at the top. The situation: sandgators attacked, you defeated them, but not without Suzunosuke and Ralph (your driver) getting nasty bites on their legs. They're likely bleeding all over the place.] [The old man seems to have hid in his shack. Smart old man.] [Session Start.] * Suzunosuke attempts to bleed stoicly. * Millie 's still pointing her rifle at the last gator, not willing to let down her guard until she's sure it's down, then slowly raises her rifle to her left shoulder and wipes her brow. * MaryAnne rushes over to Ralph, produces a bottle of liquid from her hand bag, opens it up, and puts it to his lips encourageing him to drink it "Oh, dear, drink this Mister Lewis. Mister CrazyFeathers said his healing elixor would heal injuries. I do hope this works." * John rides up, surveying the damage. He goes to work reloading his pistols. * Ralph pushes the thing away. "What're you crazy, miss? I ain't drinkin' somethin' if I dunno what's in it." He looks down at his leg, which is bleeding profusely. "'Sides, it ain't that bad. Ow." * Mikoto seems to 'unfreeze' from a very determined look as the falcon-thing settles on his arm. He smiles and ruffles its feathers, to speak. "Thank you, Mirabel." It fades away after giving a small cry. * Tairan walks over to Suzunosuke, reloading his pistol as he eyes the wound. "How bad?" ...might someone have something to wrap this with? "Don't be such a child!" she trys harder to have him drink it. ( good question! ) * Jinx puts his shotgun away and walks over to Mikoto. "That's a neat trick." * Ralph pushes it away, then makes his way to the back and pulls out some bandages, wrapping his bite the old-fashioned way. * Millie looks around. "Be careful with that stuff..." Her eyes catch John and she suddenly narrows her eyebrows and starts stomping towards him. "You!" * Mikoto rubs the back of his neck embarassedly. "Just something I picked up in my travels. Keeps me safe from bandits." If Ralph doesn't want it, ma'am, Suzunosuke could prolly use it. * Suzunosuke hobbles over to Ralph's stash of bandages. (Sun: It hurts a *lot*. You didn't expect the gator to just nibble, didja?) ( Brief image of Suz as Sun Quan. Thanks, Ard. "Well, I knew we were intercepting bandits. So I brought these 100,000,000 archers..." ) * Jinx raises an eyebrow. "Uh huh. Well, I suppose in the future I won't need to offer you a gun." He grins as he finishes speaking. (Sun Quan was raised by archers as a child...) ( Wild archers :P ) * John finishes with his pistols and holsters them. He rides over to the carrage. "Just drink it like a man." * MaryAnne stands up, her hands to her sides "Humph. be that way then." * Suzunosuke sits down heavily. * Mikoto laughs and shakes his head. "It was a well-appreciated offer, Mr. Jinx, to be certain. I appreciate it, even if I didn't need to take you up on it." (They were the only ones who understood him. :P) I am afraid I need some assistance with this. * Jinx nods. "Right, but remember, just Jinx will do." He then heads over to Suzunosuke. "Anything I can do to help?" * MaryAnne hands the elixor out at Suzunosuke "Here!" * Suzunosuke reaches up and takes it. "What is this?" * Suzunosuke sniffs at the mixture? * MaryAnne puts her hands on her hips "Drink!" [It smells like perfume.] Shall I drink all of it, or should I save some? * Tairan finishes reloading, then reholsters his pistol. * Mikoto follows Jinx over to Suzunosuke, glancing around but not being of much help in the medical department. [It's a fairly small bottle. You won't get much more than a gulp from it.] * Suzunosuke looks for a label on the bottle. "All of it!" * Millie points a finger underneath John's nose and looks him square in the eyes, narrowed and hard. * Suzunosuke shrugs and slugs it down, hard. ... What'd I say this time? * MaryAnne stands over Suzunosuke in an almost dominering posture. * Millie slowly breaks into a grin and thrusts her hand out. "That was some nice shootin' there." [Suz's wound begins to close rapidly until it's completely healed.] ...that is impressive. * Tairan hrms at Suz. "Well, he hasn't keeled over yet... woah. That's some good stuff." * Suzunosuke feels gingerly at the former wound. "Very impressive." * John takes her hand and he shakes it this time. "Thanks, you were pretty good yourself." * Mikoto blinks. "For all the faults Miss Reinhardt credited him with, Crazy Feather's products appear to speak for themselves." Where did you obtain this miracle elixir? She shopped crazy. * Millie shakes it back and waves her other finger at Mikoto. "Yeah. But it's still way too durned expensive. * Tairan nods at Mikoto. "Charges an arm and a leg... but appears to help maintain the remaining limbs." It is almost as good as... * Mikoto laughs. "You can't put a price on good health, Miss Reinhardt." * MaryAnne turns her head towards Ralph and looks at him with a 'I told you so sort of expression' "Humph." and then turns around and walks back towards the cabin taking a determined and forceful stride. Well, you can't put a price on your good health. No, but if we can bandage, we should take advantage of it. We STILL haven't come up to the bandits yet. ( *hi-five's John ) * Jinx nods. "So, shall we get the information and move on." * Ralph shrugs, leaning against the coach. * Tairan follows MaryAnne a few steps behind, still doing his scanning-the-area thing. (*hi-five's Mikoto back) * MaryAnne strides up to the cabin and knocks on the door with an obvious determination. * Suzunosuke stands up and follows MaryAnne. I guess we're gonna meet that old coot 'gain. * Oldman peeks out of his cabin as you approach, shotgun first. "Them gators all dead?" * MaryAnne knocks again, louder with more determination. "Yes!" * Mikoto sighs, muttering to the people nearby, "I wish we didn't have to deal with a reticent old man. In my own way, I'd prefer the sandgators." * Jinx follows MaryAnne and looks at the old man, "Yeah. How about some gratitude." All dead. * John stays back by the coach this time. Crazy gators will probably attack again. * Oldman opens the door fully. "Yeah yeah. Thanks. Ain't like I couldn't deal with 'em myself, though. You get used to it livin' out here." * MaryAnne walks directly in front of him says "Well? What do you know about the train robbery, Mister Hermit?" * Jinx nods. "Course, don't doubt it, but as I see it, we just saved you quite a few shotgun shells, consider that our barter." * Oldman peers at MaryAnne. "Can I still have them matches?" * MaryAnne has her hands on her hips and seems quit determined to get an answer. * Ralph offers John a cigarette. "Yes." Okay, then we got a deal. * Jinx steps back a bit and awaits the information. * MaryAnne turns to Millie "Miss Reinhart, go to the coach supplies and get some matches for Mister Hermit." * John turns it down. "Never got anywhere smokin' those sticks." * MaryAnne turns to Millie "Miss Reinhart, go to the coach supplies and get some matches for Mister Hermit." * John smiles, showing his pearly whites. There's your anti-drug message right there. * Ralph shrugs and lights up himself. He's obviously ignoring the anti-drug message. (Aaaaaiii! We're all blind!) [*Ting!*] * Millie shrugs. "Will cook the gators up quite nicely." She goes to get some matches from the coach. * MaryAnne turns back to the old man "Well?" * Suzunosuke stands calmly, arms folded. * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "I'm all for adapting to the situation, but is it safe to eat sandgator meat?" (The judges give the smile a 9.5, 9.0, 8.6, 8.9, 9.2, and a 6.3 from the Eastern European judge.) Alright. Few nights back, I saw a campfire down by the tracks. Kept my distance, 'cause I didn't wanna deal with no people. (Damn Europeans.) * Millie comes back with the matches in question, her rifle still stretched across her shoulders. "We passed that part already." When the train came along, whistlin' like it always does, I saw them leave from the camp. Musta been six or eight. Them folkes were quick, knew what they was doin'. * Millie tosses the box underhanded over to the old man, grinning. "Catch." * Jinx nods and looks thoughtful. * MaryAnne stands listening "Yes, go on." * Tairan listens intently. Were they on foot or did they have horses with 'em? Well, right after they stole whatever it is they stoled, they... oh, horses, yeah. * MaryAnne starts tapping her foot. * Millie nods and bends her back to stretch it, looking up at the sky. Anyways, they came right up this way. I was sure them bandits were comin' for my home next. But they didn't they just rode right past an' went north. * Mikoto mms. "What's to the north of here, if you don't mind my asking?" *mutters* About where the tracks leading from the site were going... That's the funny thing. There's nothin' north of here, save the cactus forest. * Jinx nods, and then grimaces. A forest of cactus? Truly? "I so do dislike cacti." Yessiree. * Mikoto frowns. "Not easy land to navigate... but a great place to hide and avoid pursuit. Our bandits aren't as stupid as we thought they were." * MaryAnne puts her hands back down to her sides and stops tapping her foot. * Suzunosuke smiles, intersted. Nope, but horses leave a trail. * MaryAnne smiles at the old man "Well, that wasn't so bad now was it?" * Tairan turns and heads back for the coach. * Millie looks off to the north off the edge of the plateau to see if she can spot it from here. Anyhow, I went down to the remains of their camp early this morn', to see what they mighta left, but there wa' n't much. Well, looks like we're going to have to earn our money. How'd it go Tairan? * MaryAnne says "Good day to you kind sir." and then turns around and walks over towards the coach at her normal walking pace. Ya didn't think it'd be easy in the first place, didja Jinxy? Wait, there was somethin' else, too. Guy saw six or eight guys attack the train, then head straight north. * MaryAnne pauses and turns her head "Yes?" * John nods. "North it is then." * Jinx chuckles. "Well, actually... Yeah, I was expecting something easier than at least a matching number of professionals. Least it shouldn't be boring." [Millie sees a tall patch of green in the distant north. It stretches on a good distance.] (flat?) (Yes.) * MaryAnne waits for the old man to mention the 'something else' * Millie hmms and turns back around towards the old man, cocking her head to one side, still stretching her rifle over her shoulders. Well, I don' deal with folkes much, but even still I know what's what. "Yes, what was the something else?" An' it was dark, so I didn't get a good look. But I think I saw one of the bandits. An' worse, I think it was Calamity Jan. [Westerners: Calamity Jan is probably the most wanted bandit in Teck.] "Is that someone famous?" "I'm afraid I really don't know much about that sort of thing." Think so. 'S what I dun herd. * Mikoto blinks, looking quite shocked. "Calamity Jan... I don't know much about her since I mostly travel the border, but..." "Very good, Mister Hermit. Thank you." * MaryAnne turns and makes her way back to the coach. Yah... I have not heard the name. Is this person important? * Jinx laughs. "This shouldn't be boring at all." * Ralph climbs back into the driver's seat with a bit of difficulty. * Tairan eyes the returning folks as he gets up into the passanger seat. "What else did the old guy have to say?" * Jinx tries to remember the current bounty on Calamity Jan, if one is offered. * MaryAnne takes her set within the coach, her umbrella at her side. * Mikoto looks thoughtful as he walks toward the coach in silence, waiting until the others have gotten in before getting in himself. * Oldman returns to his solitary shack. * Millie walks slowly towards the coach, thinking a bit as she reslings Greenpeace over her shoulders. * Suzunosuke nods politely to the old man, then strides back to the coach. 'ey. Figure out what y'all needed ta know? Anything other than we're following six or so bandits? * Millie nods slightly. "Calamity Jan." "Well, for completeness, he said that there were perhaps 6 to 8 persons and they headed North into the Cactus forests and the leader was someone named Clamity Jan. Apparently someone famous." * Millie looks up at Ralph with concern. "You gonna be alright for this ride?" * Ralph whistles. "Calamity Jan, huh? She's got a major price on her head." * Ralph laughs. Calamity Jan? Oh boy... I'll be fine, miss. Little gator bite never stopped me before. She some kinda big time bandit out here? * Millie grins a little. "Bonus money, raight? It'll probably split better.." * John sighs. "Let's get goin'." ( Yeah. He's got 8 more bites on his other leg :P ) * Jinx rides up next to the stage coach. "Remember how much?" (Yup!) "Certainly if any if these individuls have additional bounties, they are yours to split among yourselves." Them forests are flat though...I mean..with mountains an' such there'd be hills to hide...and it looked pretty tight quarters too." * Ralph considers as he starts back towards Rand McNallyton. *turns to Ralph* We're headin' straight north, towards a cactus forest. * Ralph chuckles. No, I don't think we are. I ain't goin' in there. "Pardon?" * Ralph turns back to Jinx. "Thirty-five thou, last I looked." * Millie assumes she got in the coach then. ^_^; I ain't goin' in the cactus forest. You ever try driving a coach through a cactus forest? * Mikoto sighs and glances at Mary Anne. "Calamity Jan is a very famous bandit, probably the most wanted in the west. That's all I know." He sighs. * Jinx grins. "Alright! That makes the odds worth playing!" I did, once. Lost me the coach and both horses. No way, no how. I would think the horses might object. * John rides along-side the coach. "At least it'll pay better." * MaryAnne sticks her head out of the window and says to Ralph "You shall drive us there to it's parameter." Its what? * Millie leans back and sighs. "Yeah. I wonder..." What about just to the edge of the fo- yeah, what she said. * MaryAnne continues "and then we shall continue on while you wait for us to return." * Millie goes up to the window. "That forest looked pretty dense.." She calls out louder. "You two might be on foot for this if it's too thick ya realize." * Ralph stops the coach and raises an eyebrow, looking back at Mary Anne. "How do I know if yer comin' back." I'm not stranding myself and my horses in the desert for days. * Jinx looks over at Millie. "Just as well, Lightning hasn't been having much luck with cactus lately." If you have your horses, you're hardly stranded. "There are supplies for a few days her. You may partake of them until they get low and then if we aren't back, it would be understandable for you to return back to town and gather a missing person search party." * Millie frowns a bit. "Come on, Ralphy. Don'tcha trust us?" * Ralph snorts. "Haven't been in the forest, have ya, Easterner?" I trust my own experiences more, thanks. * Millie calls up. "Well, d'ya know the forest then? Is it too dense ta ride single? Maybe we can go with some rentals or somethin'" * Mikoto puts his hand to his chin. "There's no reason to make the coachman wait forever... if we aren't back by a certain time, we shall simply have to forfeit our 'ride' and walk back." You can get a single ride, sure. Can't run a coach through, but a good horseman can ride in. No time to go back to get horses... trail's cold as is. It's dense, though. And they ain't trees, they're cacti. Gonna hurt if you step wrong. That and critters live in there like you've never seen. * Millie sighs slightly and falls back in the coach, thumping onto the seat and crossing her arms. "Yeah. Foot then. An' we just hope that some had ta leave their horses behind." * MaryAnne waits Ralphs response to her demands "Well?" * Jinx thinks for a bit. * Mikoto mmms. "Our esteemed coach driver can always send back help. It's not as if we haven't passed a number of landmarks on our way here." He laughs a little. "It's not really possible to lose an entire cactus forest, after all." That an' I swear, some of the cacti are alive. I mean, like, reach out and touch you alive. ( If they're carrying little knives, too, I swear I'll kill you both. ) * John pats Hazel. "Hazel could get through there. And I really don't believe there are living cacti in there." Lovely. So Ralph, willing to wait a few extra days, half of the payment up front, half when we return? * Ralph shrugs. "Suit yerself. Tell ya what." "I really don't care for cacti, but we must retrieve the tablet." I'm already bein' paid by the society. This'll cost ya a bit extra; I'm not s'posed to be bitin' into my supplies on this trip. Detour's all well and good, but we're talkin' about a while here. This is hardly a detour. It's enough of one. ( We can't offend the coach teamsters. Cement shoes! ) Alright, so Ralph gets more money. Let's get going. The longer we wait, the less chance we have of catching them. Let's go already. * Ralph nods and changes course towards the cactus forest. * Mikoto leans back in his coach seat and hums to himself thoughtfully. "If a famous bandit is after the tablet, it *must* be important." He smiles. "If I know how the average bandit's mind works, anyway. Why would a great thief steal something unimportant?" * Jinx draws his revolver and inspects it as he rides along, peparing to return to guard duty. * MaryAnne sits back down in the coach I'll charge ya thirty a day, thirty up front. Sound good? Could probably be makin' more considering I risk my neck bringin' people like you through the desert, but hell. Thieves *can* be stupid. Maybe she wants a challenge? Probably involves whatever we aren't being told because we're hired guns. But for my share of forty thousand, I don't really mind. * John nods. "Fine." * Millie shakes her head and just doesn't respond, staying strangely quiet as her arms are folded over her chest. That's more than six and a half thousand a piece. And that's assuming we all survive. ::Jinx gives a morbid grin and cocks his gun, returning to guard duty:: * Mikoto laughs and glances out the window in John's general direction. "That's true! They can... but the good ones aren't, I think. As a rule." * Millie blinks then glares out of the coach, her hat almost fluttering away with how fast she does it, but she puts her hand to hold it. "What do ya MEAN "people like us???" 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 8. * Suzunosuke looks back at the old man's hut as it recedes. * Tairan looks back at Millie. "I think he means 'people with lots of weapons whom trouble seems to seek out.' " * Millie turns towards Tairan and pouts. "It's not MY fault that trouble follows a pretty face." A-yup. Sensibles take the train. It's the crazies that I handle. "In my mountain hamlet / Winter is ever more lonely / And forlorn, for man / And grass both wither." * Ralph chuckles. "'m pretty crazy myself, though." 's not my fault either, but it does. * Tairan has no adequate response for Millie's comment that wouldn't get him shot, and so turns back around, ties his bandana to cover his mouth, and goes about doing his job. * Suzunosuke shakes his head, and looks back north. Will we be able to track them in this... forest? * Jinx laughs. "Funny, the scars I've accumulated have left me less than pretty, but trouble seems to keep coming." * Mikoto tilts his head at Suzunosuke curiously. "An original, or another citation?" He looks a little embarassed. "My education didn't involve much of the classics of Shomuran literature." Oh, I am no poet. "It is possible for someone to believe something to be of value, even if it's not." * Tairan looks back at Suz. "I've never been in a cactus forest, but if it's anything like a normal forest, I can track 'em." "And it is of value, but of academic value rather than monitary value." * John looks at Jinx, his scar showing in the sun. "Sometimes the scar doesn't make you look any worse though." * Mikoto smiles a little. "Well, no poet is a poet from birth, are they? It is possible you might be a poet someday." He blinks, looking contrite suddenly. "Unless it's not your wish. I speak a little too frankly sometimes." I have tried, but it always comes out sounding childish. My ambitions are martial in nature - poetry is merely an obsession. * Jinx has a fair number of faded scars on his face, and the visible parts of his body. "I think the trouble is you stopped at one John." * John laughs. "Maybe I should keep going. Might keep the ladies off my back." * Millie rolls her eyes a bit at the outside banter and goes back to sitting. (Yeah, Millie doesn't do the talking thing.) (Not this session apparently. :P) * Tairan eyes Jinx and John with a grin. "A warrior without scars is no warrior at all. Or a really damn good one." * Mikoto coughs. "Well, it is certainly your choice. If travelling in the west has taught me anything, it's that perhaps in the east we let tradition control what we can and cannot be." * John flicks his hat up. "Maybe I am no warrior then." Or good at not getting shot. * Jinx chuckles. "Quite true Tairan, although a fair number of these were acquired, not in war, but in retrieving highly trapped treasure. I course of action I recommend to you John if the ladies get to troublesome." [You near the cactus forest. It's quite a sight, and a 'forest' in the true sense of the word, as the cacti are fairly densely packed with just enough room for a horse to maeuver through (if you pick the correct path, anyway). The cacti themselves rise to a good nine or so feet high.] * Tairan resumes his looking for tracks and such. * MaryAnne looks out the window "Quite impressive." (Tairan, give me that tracking roll you're so fond of.) * John takes a look. "Yup, that's the forest all right." * Jinx looks it over. "Yeah, really is impressive, although I fear we're going to tire of the sight all too soon." * Mikoto blinks out the window, distracted from the conversation by the sight of the cactus. "...impressive indeed, but part of me wishes I weren't seeing it." Pretty to look at, ain't it? Those spines aren't for show, let me tell ya. * Suzunosuke stares, fascinated. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 3. * Millie peeks out the window and winces a bit. "You're sure that thing about the cacti reachin' out is just a legend, right?" ( Made it. ) Yeah, it's probably just the wind. Course, with 'em this big and dense, I don't think it'd matter much if they were alive or not If it's any comfort, they'll probably go for me first. In a place such as this, anything seems possible. Knowin' how lucky you are? Definetly. For once, I feel better NOT bein' on a horse...if one of 'em gets spooked, you could be in for an awful scratchin' * Mikoto furrows his brow. "The reports of 'critters' are more of concern to me. The sandgators were bad enough." * Tairan hrms. "No tracks here, but that's not surprising... wind and the sand. Might have more luck in the forest... cacti shield the wind some." Eh, it thins out inside. Doesn't mean it's any less dangerous, though. * Suzunosuke flinches. Perhaps we should leave the horses with our driver? It seems cruel to force them into this thorny tangle. * Ralph brings the coach to a stop right outside the forest. * John pats his horse. "What do you think?" I'll wait for y'all right here. Who's payin' the thirty up front? Well, I say we bandage when we can though. Those potions are expensive and limited, so they should only be for emergencies. * Jinx thinks for a moment and switches to his shotgun. "Perhaps, although we may discover need for them. I'll defer to John's horse though." (It was midafternoon when we started, about what time is it now?) * Millie opens up the door to the coach and steps out. (Late afternoon.) * MaryAnne steps out and hands Ralph $30 * Mikoto makes absolute sure to take his gun and sword this time. * Ralph takes the money and counts it. He tips his hat. "Pleasure doin' business with ya, miss." ( /me deducts $30 from Mary Anne. *ka-ching!* ) * Tairan hops out, puts the bandana back in his pack, and starts slowly into the forest, doin' his thing. * Millie looks up at Jinx concerned. "Ya sure? There probably won't be much maneuverin' room once we get in there..horses might actually be a burden." * Ralph looks to the others. "Come back alive now, got that?" He grins. "Hate to lose the rest 'a my pay." * Mikoto salutes Ralph jauntily. "It has been a pleasure travelling in your company, so I'll be sure to try and return for a second helping. My thanks." * Jinx looks back at Millie. "Not sure at all. But when it thins out, the bandits will have horses. And I find it pays to be prepared. Hard to say really." * Suzunosuke gets out, slings his rucksack behind him, and follos Tairan carefully. "And I hope your leg feels better, Mister Lewis." she gets her travel bag and makes ready to enter the forest of cacti. * Millie turns to Ralph and flicks up her hat with two fingers, grinning. "Ol' Millie Reinhart's still 'round now, she'll still be 'round when you're tellin' your grandkids 'bout us." * John looks at the forest. "'m goin' in with Hazel. Don't wanna get caught unprepared." "As you like, Mister John." * Jinx nods and dismounts. "Right then, I'll take in Lightning as well. Although I think I'll lead her on foot until the forest thins out a bit." * Jinx does just that and heads into the forest, he waves goodbye to Ralph over his shoulder as he goes. * John nods. "Let's go." * MaryAnne looks at the others "We shall take along a bit of food and water." * John dismounts and gets ready to lead his horse in. "Afterall, we may not reach them by nightfall." * Mikoto nods. "A sensible precaution." * Millie looks at the horses carefully, rubbing her chin. "They don't spook easy, do they?" Not after all we've been through. I think the same's for Lightnin' o'er there. * Jinx puts away his pistol and draws his shotgun. "That's wise, feel free to load extra supplies on Lightning." He then nods in agreement with John. I can take some over here too. * Millie nods and smiles. "Good temperment is important." * Millie turns back towards the forest, seeing if there's a few ways in or just one safe way to go. * MaryAnne waits for the others to gather the supplies. * Suzunosuke threads his way into the forest, using his drawn sword to nudge cacti out of the way when necessary. He's still following Tairan. [There's a few ways in. The widest, however, is large enough for two horses walking side by side.] * Mikoto thinks to remove the flapping duster he's wearing and fold it up, carrying it under one arm. * Tairan has not gone too far in yet... mostly just getting a feel for the terrain, the consistancy of the ground, etc. * Millie blinks as she watches Suz. "Anxious fella." She shrugs and goes quickly to get some food in her pack before following. * Jinx notices MaryAnne isn't doing the supply gathering and goes to load up Lightning. When he's done he then proceeds to follow Tairan. * Suzunosuke finally catches up. "Have you found their trail?" * John draws his repeater and loads up Hazel. Following Tairan sounds like a good idea, so he does. [Tairan: It seems easier to track here. There's sand, but it's more firmly packed while still leaving a trail of your own steps.] * MaryAnne opens her umbrella after the supplies are gathered and follows long with the group. [You all enter the cactus forest! Watch your step.] ( *snickers* As a WA3 song pops up on winamp. ) * MaryAnne watches her steps as she walks along. * Jinx looks back to John. "Alright, I can watch our left and you our right if you like, in case someone breaks through the cactus. And Mary Anne, perhaps you should not trail the group, lest an attack comes from behind." * Millie looks up at the cacti as she walks through, looking from top to top, glaring at them a bit. "Why'd it have ta be a dang thistle patch anywhos?" Hmmmm. "The highway to Shinano / Is newly opened. / Mind you do not trip / Over stumps of trees. / Wear your sandals, hus-" ...never mind. * John nods. "Let's." * Tairan kneels down and rubs a bit of the sand between his fingers. "More like the soil back east... it'll carry a trail easier." *gets up and starts walking along the trail* * Mikoto grins and glances at Suzunosuke slyly, but says nothing. * John chuckles at Suzunosuke's poetry. "You're gettin' better." Where's Shinano though? I rather thought that quote was less appropriate. (Tairan: Wilderness Tracking (forest) roll, -1) "Well, it is not as if I am intentionally the last person in the group, but rather it just worked out that way." * Suzunosuke drops back behind MaryAnne, as he'll be of absolutely no use tracking anything. Eh. We could probably switch up if need be. It'll be tight squeezin' though. * Jinx concentrates on the left of the trail as he walks along, gun leveled. Lightning led behind him. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-4) and gets 7. * Millie narrows her focus, keeping her eyes set straight ahead, since Tairan'll probably be looking at the ground. ( Not even close. =P ) (Ha! Tairan sees NOTHING!) * John walks on the right. He's leading Hazel, but his gun is slung over his back. (Tairan misses a cactus spine that he failed to track and goes blind. x.O) * MaryAnne walks along "I can not say that I am really suited for all this treking though the wilderness, but I will do my best not to slow everyone down." * Mikoto mmms as he walks along, glancing about. "I wonder if they know we're here. If the old man's report was right, I doubt it... he said they were in a hurry." Just remember not to fall down or get eaten, and you'll be fine. Doesn't look like they covered their tracks very well either. How you doin' Tairan? How many days ago were they here? I fear we will only catch them if they suffered some misfortune. * Tairan grunts. "Nothing definitive yet." "I rather fancy not being eatten." * Millie looks over her shoulder just slightly. "Geez, optimistic sort aren't ya Suz? If ya keep that attitude, then there's no point in bein' here, and I'd hate ta come out here for nothin'" We'll find 'em. Millie's sure of it. * Mikoto glances at Millie. "It's a fair question, Miss Reinhardt. I have to wonder why they came in here in the first place. It's good temporary cover, but in the long term... would YOU want to camp here for days on end?" They may be planning to meet their employer here. I've never heard that Calamity Jan was an academic. * Millie sighs deeply. "I was wonderin' the same thing. I mean..a tablet'd slow 'em down. And if there are creatures, that's a pretty bad idea to bring so many horses AND be weighted down. It'd make more sense ta go to some place rocky." "Well if this Calamity Jan person infact does have such a large bounty out for her, it would makes sense that they would try to be as out of the way as possible." * Tairan looks back. "If you don't want to be found, you go someplace nobody likes going. Like the middle of a big cactus forest." "Quite my point." * Mikoto smiles at Tairan. "That's true." He hmms. "Does Calamity Jan work on contract, does anyone know? Could someone be hiring her to steal it for himself?" I can't say I know, never met her. Yeah, but there are places that people don't like goin' that don't slow ya down as much...or you'd lose horses with." "And I do not believe that the tablet would slow them down very much, as it really isn't huge." (Anyone tracking, give me Wilderness Tracking (forest). Tairan, same for you, but you get a -1 (since you've been at it this whole time).) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-4) and gets -1. ( Better. ) * Millie frowns suddenly as she walks forward. "An' what about that campsite? Still no clues about that..an' you said the person leavin' went on foot, didn'tcha Tairan?" ( Here's the trail! Just follow the GM's roll requests! ) Last person was the hermit. I'd bet. [To his right, Tairan spots recently fired bullets, as well as what may be horse tracks.] But he said he don't know people..the site was bigger for more than jus' one person... Somethin's fishy... * Tairan holds up a hand for the others to stop, and skitters over to the right. "Bullets. Fired not too long ago.." Somethin's always fishy. No job in this business is run-of-the-mill. Horse tracks too, looks like. * Millie kneels and picks up some of the bullets. Naw. The bandits left a while ago, tracks were wiped out by the wind, it makes sense. Oh... We may want to quite down a bit then. * Mikoto stops, looking around. "Fighting with each other? Or something else..." [Millie now has used bullets :P] "Perhaps they ran into something unpleasant." (^_^_v) * Tairan looks back and grins at Jinx, then goes back to inspecting the tracks. * Millie looks at the bullet and scowls a bit, tossing it aside. "Revolver. Damned powerful one too..." Model? * Millie grins at John a bit. "Does it matter?" * John smiles back. "Not if you hit." * Jinx grins and quietly comments. "Don't suppose I could call dibs. I'd pay for it out of my share of course." What use would I have for a gun? We'll see what it is first, then we divide any spoils. * Jinx nods, and keeps a quiet tone. "Right, although if they hear us coming, our possessions may be the spoils." * John nods and quiets down. * Millie chuckles a little. "Probably." She gets quiet and stands back up. * Mikoto mmms and glances around again. * MaryAnne trys to be quite. * Mikoto walks a little faster, wanting to get close to Tairan. * Suzunosuke walks with his sword on his shoulder. * John continues, rifle slung across his back. * Jinx keeps his pace, with his shotgun acting as a deterant to any Cacti on the left that feel like getting out of line. * Tairan stands back up and turns back to the group. "Can't be sure, but looks like the old guy's counting was pretty good. Tracks head down this way, veering a bit to the right." * MaryAnne walks along quitely with her umbrella open and slung over her shoulder. * Mikoto mms, then smiles at Tairan appreciatively, speaking quietly. "I'm really impressed with your tracking skill... it's not a common field of study where I'm from. Where did you pick it up?" * Millie chuckles a bit. "It's useful, that's for sure." She keeps looking around at her surroundings, mmming a bit as she scratches her chin. Bandit hunting, mostly. And these tracks are kinda old... few days, at least. * Mikoto nods, then looks around. "I suppose there's nowhere to go but forward." * MaryAnne says politely "Let us continue on then." * Jinx keeps a quiet tone. "So, when we get to this camp, if we still have surpise on our side. What's the plan? The extent of my tactics training is to being used as bait for an ambush." * Tairan continues. "Gotta be blunt, though... if we don't start seeing fresher tracks, it might be that they've got too much of a lead on us." * Millie nods a little and looks alert. "At least we saved some time with the train." [Walkin' through the forest, the cactus forest o/~ Cacti start thinning right about now; you've got more room to maneuver. Every once in a while, you even spot a stump or two.] "Well, are you sure the tracks are that old? A few days seems an awefully long time to be treking on foot." He said they had horses, Miss Mary. But..yeah, there are foot tracks too? * Tairan looks back at Jinx with a small grin. "I learned my trade hunting bandits, Jinx. If we find 'em, we'll figure something' out." "They were probably moving at a similar pace to us." Just horse tracks, at the moment. * Jinx returns the grin. "I've heard that before, but then it always worked out for me, so who am I to complain." * Tairan goes back to the track... ing. * Millie spreads out a little, now that she can and sighs, looking ahead even more cautiously now that there's more clearing. * Suzunosuke ponders slicing up a couple of cacti just for exercise, then thinks batter of it. * Jinx then glances over at John, still quiet. "Think we should mount up? It would raise our profile a bit..." "In anycase, I doubt they were moving slower than us. Therefore, logically, if the tracks are a 'few days' old, then they are atleast that far ahead of us and if their pace is greater, then they are further ahead still and, infact, we are losing ground." * Millie frowns and looks out, turning from side to side. "We're sittin' ducks out here if they're prepared.." Have some patience - have we not just started? [Awareness check! Heightened Senses and Hearing count.] * John looks around. "Staying down would be our best bet right now." [Erm, Heightened Awareness. :P] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 4. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 4. [Everyone who makes it hears hacking in the distance. Rather like the sound of a tree being cut.] "Hmmm...a lumberjack out here? That seems odd." Shhh. Hmm? * Millie stops and turns towards MaryAnne. "What?" * Mikoto blinks and his steps falter. He whispers, "...someone's cutting down the cacti?" He rubs his chin. "For a campsite, maybe?" * John whispers. "Aye." * MaryAnne looks the direction the sound came from, but remains quite as she looks. * Jinx whispers. "That'd explain the stumps out here. So Tairan, I believe this is where you take charge." * Millie looks over at Mikoto and slowly unslings her rifle, whispering. "Think it's them?" (Not that he isn't in charge already. ^^) * Tairan looks up from the ground, narrows his eyes, and turns back to the others. "Anyone here particularly good at being sneaky?" * Mikoto shrugs and glances over his shoulder at Millie. "I don't know anyone else it could be, Miss Reinhardt." ( Sadly, I had to give up Stealth. ;_; I have Burglary though! ) * John unslings his rifle. "I would not presume to be 'sneaky'." * Jinx prepares to mount, but keeps his eyes on Tairan, he stays quiet, "Nope, but I'm great at distractions while someone else sneaks." Not I. * Millie whispers a little harshly to Mikoto. "Could be another group after her. If the reward's as big as they say, there's no tellin' that we're the only one after these bandits." * Mikoto mms. "I might be able to manage, but I doubt it." [Awareness check. Heightened Awareness counts.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 5. * Tairan shrugs. "Old fashioned way, then. As a group, quiet as you can." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6-2 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 7. (John goes deaf from the sawing. :P) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 9. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 5. [Mary Anne, Millie, Mikoto, Jinx: You could swear you feel something watching you. Furthermore, if you were looking to your right or your left, you see something move out of the corner of your eye, behind you.] * MaryAnne turns around and looks. * Millie goes slowly and almost starts, drawing her barrel up level as she turns towards the movement, scowling. * Mikoto frowns, the hairs on the back of his neck rising, and he starts looking around. "We're not alone here, I can feel it." He doesn't bother keeping his voice too quiet at this point. * Jinx mounts up and turns around when he has the chance. Eh? [Any silly people looking behind, give me Mind +2.] * Tairan frowns, and starts looking around. "So much for the stealthy assault..." Sure. * Suzunosuke spins as he sees MA turn around. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6+2) and gets 6. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 7. * John mounts up, gun at the ready. (dr) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6+2) and gets 7. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 6. (dr) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 6. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6+2) and gets 4, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I hate these guys. Give 'em one for me." ( liker there was ANY chance I'd make that ) (I'm just not supposed to make that one) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6+2) and gets 10. ( Wow. Dicey, my hatred of you abates for tonight. My thanks. ) ( Not even gonna bother o/~ ) * Mikoto blinks and suddenly takes a small hop forward, turning around as he does so. "The cactus... moved." He points at one that was formerly behind him. "I'm absolutely sure of it." That's...that's just silly... ... well crap. * Millie doesn't seem to believe her own words though. [You guys still hear chopping. It's getting closer to you now, in fact.] * John looks back. "How many times to I have to tell you. There are no such things as moving cactii." Why not? "It was probably a bat." A bat? * Mikoto glances at John, surprisingly calm but still obviously a little spooked. "Do I seem the type to lie about such a thing?" "Not that I like bat mind you." ...you don't s'pose this forest is haunted..do ya? Well, with enough bullets, it will stop moving. ::He levels a gun at the one Mikoto pointed at:: ( ...I like your style, mister. ) ... okay. We got chopping to the front and cacti to the rear. I say we head for the chopping and keep an eye out for the cacti. Sound reasonable? "Yes." [The cactus ain't movin', no sir.] Or just go to the chopping? Definetly. * Millie nods to Tairan. "Choppin's somethin' we're sure of..an' they'll hear any shots.." * Mikoto nods, keeping an eye on the cactus warily. "I somehow doubt we can be outrun by a cactus, no matter how mobile." He glances around, trailing off. "outnumbered and surrounded, though..." * Jinx nods and sighs. "Right, but understand Cactus: I believe in you and so does my shotgun here. Let's go." Okay then. Someone or someones make sure no evil cacti jump us from behind. Let's go... *starts walking towards the choppin'* We don't harm the cacti, they don't hurt us..raight? * Millie turns back towards the chopping. * John sighs. I can't BELIEVE you people. ( There's no such thing as evil cacti. Now that that's decided... let's split up, gang!) (Ain't been out much, have ya Johnny? ^^) * Mikoto nods and keeps walking toward the chopping... but also keeps checking over his shoulder. * Suzunosuke doesn't eye the cactus behind him. He eyes the hundreds in front of him. (Maybe I've been out too long. ~_^) * Jinx plays rear guard. * John continues along, keeping an eye out for the choppers. (On his horse, in case that wasn't clear, he is ducking a bit though) * Millie gets to the rear of the advancing group..if that makes sense. It's in front of the horses if that's any help. (Same here.) [The cacti all swarm Suzunosuke! Just kidding.] "I have heard of Cacti creatures before, although I have never seen one personally, so Mister Mikoto may have very well seen a cactus-like creature." * Millie sighs. "Could be someone hidin' in cactus camoflauge too, y'know. Not that Millie believes in any of that stuff.." * Mikoto blinks, glancing back at Mary Anne. "Why didn't you mention this before, Miss Pippin?" He looks... a little embarassed. (Millie dresses like a cactus and poses for a beauty cream commercial.) (Yay!) "Well, it's only a rumor. I can't be sure." ( I want cactus candy now. ) ( tried that, hated it ) ( Those cacti models... always so prickly. ) * MaryAnne continues "There are many places not fully explored and many things that we humans know little about, dispite our best efforts." * Jinx shrugs. "If Mikoto said the cactus moved, the cactus moved. We can debate the improbabilities later." * Millie whispers harshly. "Oy, fellas? Choppers? Today (Great, now I'mg getting images of the Jungle Book where Baloo is teaching Mooglie how to eat prickly pears...) ?" [Heading onwards, you come across the source of the hacking: four double-bladed axes are flying around, choping at nearby cacti. Upon further examination, they're not actually axes, but creatures. Their bodies are flexible like dragonflies, their wings are razor sharp around the edges. Between the wings are big round eyes on either side of the blade. And they swoop down to eat cacti chuncks in their mouths (on the end of their bodies between the eyes).] ( Ok. Roll init ^^ ) d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (d6+5) and gets 8. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (d6+7) and gets 13. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (d6+6) and gets 9. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (d6+6) and gets 8. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (d6+7) and gets 11. 1d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (1d6+5) and gets 8. ( Man, why's it always got to be stuff I can't fight barehanded? x.x ) * Millie blinks. "Now that's just plain weird.." d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (d6+7) and gets 13. * MaryAnne agrees with Millie "I concure." Man, mother nature screwed up on that one. * Mikoto eyebrow-twitches a little. "Well... at least they're less mysterious than mobile cacti." [One of the dragonfly-axes spot you and screeches, flying forwards. The others follow suit almost immediately.] "Odd, I don't believe we look like cacti and we certainly wouldn't taste like cacti." Maybe they're up for new taste experiences. * Millie scowls. "But we're definitely lookin' tasty to those things..." [Order: Millie, Tairan, Hacker1, Hacker2, Suzunosuke, Hacker3, John, Jinx, Mikoto, MaryAnne, Hacker4] [Millie's turn!] * Millie looks at the things with narrowed eyes, raising her barrel, but not firing just yet. "Go on. Shoo." (hold) [Tairan's turn] * Tairan draws his sword from it's sheath on his left side and his pistol from its holster on his right side. Charging, he fires at Hacker1 to cover his advance, then slashes at it when he gets close. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-3) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 7. ( Made both. ) [Tairan cuts a good chunk off the hacker's body, and his bullet pierces its wing. It still flies, but barely.] [The first two hackers attack almost at random, targetting...] 2 d7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (2 d7) and gets 5 5. [Uh... Both of them attack Millie.] (x.x) (It's 'cause she's so cute.) (+2 penalty for the second dodge?) (It's not easy being pretty, I know.) ( Yeah ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6+2) and gets 11. [The hackers charge right by Millie. One cuts a nasty gash in her side, while the other cuts across her shoulder.] * Millie screams out. [Suzu's turn] * Suzunosuke lifts his sword from his shoulder, and leaps for one of the two chewing on Millie. * Suzunosuke hasn't met a flying ax=thing before, so he's not trying for any vitals - sliced in half will do fine, thank you. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-2) and gets 8. ( And Suz sux again. ;_; ) [Suzu misses as the axe zips around, preparing it's next attack.] [Millie's turn] * Millie grits her teeth and winces, raising the barrel again. "That's what Millie gets for bein' nice..." She fires at the unwounded one that attacked her. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-3) and gets 0. (A hit. A most palpable hit!) [Millie shoots a goot chunk off of it, but it's still going.] [Hacker3's turn] Ha! See how you like it! [The axe-like creature dives for...] d7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (d7) and gets 3. [Mary Anne.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 11. * MaryAnne will deflect the attack with her open umbrella. [The hacker actually is deflected by the umbrella, believe it or not.] [John's turn] * John takes aim at hacker1's "head" and fires. (Called Shot.) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 4. (Made it.) [John shoots the hacker and it falls over dead.] [Jinx's turn] * John cocks his gun. "Who else want's some?" * Jinx had been watching Millie, but with John's success he rides over to attack hacker3. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-3) and gets 6. Them? (dr) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-3) and gets 4. (hit) (double hit even. :P ) [The hacker dodges a bit of the buckshot, but not all of it.] Hope you Cacti are grateful! [Mikoto's turn] * Mikoto grits his teeth. "They could be cacti, anyway..." and lashes out with a snap kick at the injured hacker, praying he doesn't misjudge and slice his own foot off. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-4) and gets 2. ( Hallelujah, I hit. o_o_v Hopefully no foot-slicey. ) [Makoto manages to throw his kick between the blades of the hacker, so no, he doesn't slice his foot off. The hacker nearly falls, but manages to keep in the air.] ( Wai. *_* ) [MaryAnne's turn] * MaryAnne shouts "You terrible bad creatures you!" and points her umbrella at the one that swooped at her and... 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-2) and gets 9. a bolt of lightning fires out from the center of Mary's umbrella and misses the beast (probably zapping a defenseless cacti) * Millie just...stares at MaryAnne, holding her side. [Hacker4's turn] [This hacker decides to attack...] d7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (d7) and gets 2. [John! John is attacked!] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 8. (Hahaha... No.) [The hacker flies close to John, cutting his arm as it goes by.] * Mikoto sighs and stands with his back to Millie, attempting to protect her. "We do seem to have the worst luck with local fauna." Don't need ta tell me twice... [The hacker that flew past John pulls up and begins another dive, but is suddenly swatted by a nearby cactus.] [Millie's turn] ... * Jinx laughs. "They are grateful after all." * Mikoto POINTS. "I told you!" ... magic umbrellas, now this. What the hell do they put in the soil here out wast? [The cactus goes after Hacker2, before Suzu] * Millie scowls and slides her hands down the barrel of Greenpeace, growling at the one left that attacked her. "I SAID shoo!" She swings the rifle trying to hit the hacker still close to her with the stock. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 5. ("Told you! I'm not crazy! I'm not!" "I'm tellin' ya, there's no such thing as moving cacti. Now moving cactus monsters, on the other hand..." "Shut up, John.") [Millie swats the hacker, and it falls to the ground limply.] [Tairan's turn] * Millie grins proudly and lets out a breath, leaning on the gun for support as she wipes her brow. * Tairan shoots and chops at one of the remaining flying thingees. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-3) and gets 3. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 4. ( Made both. ) [Tairan finishes it off.] [Cactus's turn] [The cactus goes after the closest target: John.] It's not a Cactus. It's a cactus-like monster. (John says just before he's beaten to a bloody pulp.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 8. [John gets swatted off his feet and to the side.] [Suzu's turn] ...or not thankful after all. * John gets up, resting on one knee. "Cactus or no cactus, it's getting blasted." [John's hurting *real* badly. That swat was powerful, and he likely has a ton of needles sticking in his side.] * Mikoto glances at John, a little worried. "Is it wise to attack a cactus when so many of its brethren are our surroundings? Even if you were hurt badly." * Millie looks over at John and just stares at that too. "That cactus is definitely mobile...and doesn't look happy. If a cactus can look unhappy.." [The cactus responds to Millie by looking like a cactus.] * Suzunosuke spins or dashes or whatever and attacks. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-2) and gets 4. ( What are you attacking? The hacker or the cactus? ) ( I attack the darkness! ) ( The hacker. ) [Suzu hacks the hacker in half.] [John's turn] * John drops his rifle, pulls out his shotgun and blasts the cactus thing. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-4) and gets 4. (Double hit. ^^) ( Bigger gun! I need a bigger gun!) (Millie's is bigger ^_~) [John does a good deal of damage to the cactus, despite that the shells don't penetrate it very well.] [Jinx's turn] * Jinx watches the cactus, he puts away his shotgun and takes out his revolver, but doesn't have time to fire. "Don't say I didn't warn you cactus." [Mikoto's turn] * Mikoto sighs. "Not even I'm foolish enough to punch a cactus..." He draws his revolver also, still surrounding Millie. "Why do we have to do this? Can't man and cactus get along?" [Mary Anne's turn] The cactii don't think so. (A cactus is a man's best friend! Too bad they go rabid.) * MaryAnne points her umbrella at the anthropomorphic cactus and attempts to blacst it. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-2) and gets 5. [A smallish lightning bold flies from Mary's umbrella, striking the cactus.] [Millie's turn] "Take that, you prickly foe!" * Millie chuckles weakly at the cactus. "Hey..didn't we help ya earlier? Aren't we on the same side?" She cracks her rifle barrel forward and sets in another bullet. [Tairan's turn] * Tairan sighs. "I do this only in self-defense..." *shoot'n slash* 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-3) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 7. [Tairan hacks and slashes the cactus. His weapons get a good deal of penetration on its think... um bark? Hide? I dunno.] [Cactus's turn!] [The cactus tries to pound Tairan in response!] ( And does unless he defends ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 5. ( Made it. ) [Tairan hops out of the way as the cactus slams into the ground where he was standing an instant ago.] [Suzu's turn] * Suzunosuke leaps for the cactus and attempts to slice off its head... waitaminnit. Well, he tries to slice off a part of it, anyway. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-2) and gets 8. (You like those 10's don't you?) ( Crazy. @_@ ) [Suzu misses the cactus. Dear me.] [John's turn] * John drops the shotgun, draws both his pistols, and fires. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 5. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 2. Just die already! [John kills it dead. It falls forwards with a whump.] * Suzunosuke steps calmly out of the way. * Millie shifts her rifle barrel back and forth, keeping the site up at the rest of the cacti. [None of the cacti move. Honest.] (Whump! There it is! Whump! There it is!) * Mikoto breathes out and holsters his pistol, then turns around and eyes Millie critically. "How are your injuries, Miss Reinhardt?" * Millie lowers her rifle slowly and gives a small pat to her side. She winces slightly and falters but tries to hide it. "Just fine.." And Millie's fine. * John stays standing, making sure NOT to sit down on those needles. * Millie pouts cutely, trying to hide the pain. "But I may need a new vest after this..." ( You know, you talk in 3rd person occasionally and I had to stop and think that over before I knew what you meant. ) * Jinx dismounts and walks up to the fallen cactus, puts his revolver right up against it, aiming down, and fires. "Object lesson Cacti, avoid me." * MaryAnne puts her umbrella back over her shoulder and looks towards Millie "Oh, yes. Miss Reinhart and Mister John too." (^_^;) ... well that's just about the most screwed up fight I've ever been a part of. [The cactus gets plugged. It'd care if it weren't dead.] * John starts pulling the needles out of his person. ouch... ouch... ouch... * Tairan reloads his pistol. * Mikoto nods at Tairan. "Agreed. It doesn't make me feel good about being here..." He eyes the cactus on the ground. "Is there a way to tell them apart from, er, 'real' cacti?" * Jinx reloads his revolver then his shotgun. "I've seen worse, but this ranks up there." * Millie sighs slightly and rubs her head. "You said the fauna? The flora ain't much better." * John finishes with the needles, and picks up his firearms. He begins the proccess of reloading them all. I think I'm gonna keep Greenpeace in both my hands till we're outta here. * MaryAnne looks at Millie, seemlingly impressed "Miss Reinhart, you certainly are quite durable." * Jinx remounts his horse. "Worst I've dealt with is fighting off some voltures that don't wait til your dead in the midst of a sandstorm. But this comes close." [Session End!]