[It's mid-afternoon, the same day you all left the Injun village and that delicious meal of bison. Running Cloud, working on John's foolish promise to undergo some ceremony or another, agreed to lead you to a tawp sekrit tunnel through the Salamanders, which will most prove to be your doom- er, a shortcut.] [The desert has gradually changed to plains, and now, instead of being surrounded by sand, you're surrounded by grass! Isn't Teck fun? Jinx and Running Cloud are ahead of you, scouting.] [Session Start.] (So the GM is saying that the short cut will lead to our trip to being cut short? Will we all become midgets then, or is this just going to be an SD scene? =P) (Yes.) ( Mary, hon. Get some ritalin. ) * MaryAnne is walking along, her umbrella acting as a sunscreen. * Millie shifts her rifle over her shoulder and looks around a bit, feet flexing in the grass and smiling. "Mmm..some nice pastures here..gotta pass along the word." * Tairan walks along, a little more relaxed than usual, since his tracking skills aren't really needed at the moment." * Mikoto is strolling with his arms crossed behind his head. He doesn't look overimpressed with the plains at the moment. This begins to look more familiar - I had worried that all of Teck was desert. * John rides Hazel at a slow pace. He hasn't talked to anyone at all since noon and doesn't seem like he's going to start now. I could do without more desert time. Tough to track in sand. * Millie looks over her shoulder at John, whistling a bit. "Ya feed your horse lately? Might be a good time." Wouldn't want anyone feelin' neglected by your lack of attention, eh Johnny? ( You can lead a horse to grass, but you can't make him smoke the bong.) (*gong*) ( *hurls gophers at Tairan* ) * John looks at Millie, then turns his attention to the surroundings. ( Iiee! x_x ) Yes, it always pays to be nice to your horse. * Mikoto sighs faintly. "East through the Salamanders... does that mean they headed into Shomura?" He frowns, clearly deeply puzzled. [Depending on the direction John looks, he sees grass, grass, grass, grass, or the sky!] * Millie shrugs and wraps her arms to interlock her fingers behind the back of her head. "What if they did? S'not unheard of is it?" (Yes but what KIND of grass?) (Feeling descriptive, aren't you?) (Millie: The kind that doesn't want to eat you, as opposed to the kind that does.) (I can live with that ^^;) (Figured you'd say that. ^^) Why shouldn't some resourceful thieves cross the border? Maybe their employer's in Shomura. Or they have a hideout there. Who knows? (Wise man say: Don't walk on people eating grass.) (Yes, that can be taken many ways.) * MaryAnne offers "Or perhaps they are working for someone and that someone is across the border." Certainly easier to hide in the mountains or the forests than on the plains. * Mikoto sighs and puts his arms down. "It's not that it's *troubling* that they'd be in Shomura... it just seems like a long way to go AND a roundabout way to do it from where the tablet was stolen." Yeah..but why cut through the forest is what bothers me? Was it really just a shortcut? Discourage pursuit. * Millie shakes her head. "Millie doesn't like it, that's all I'm sayin'" Not many people would wanna follow into that forest. And fewer still would be able to pick up the trail. We did. * Mikoto sighs. "But we're insane." * Millie grins slightly at Mikoto. "Is that a bad thing?" "I find that remark rather offense, Mister Mikoto." Speak for yourself. Not for others. Hmmph. * Millie rolls her shoulders and lowers her arms, then cups her hand under the brim of her hat to see better towards the Sallies. * MaryAnne says "Right Miss Reinhart. 'Hmph' is quite appropriate." A little insanity is a good thing when you're hunting bandits. s'not a job for the well-adjusted. Some of us don't have much choice in the matter. * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "Touchy subject?" He glances out at the grass. "We are, in our own ways. It depends on what your definition of 'sane' is." * Tairan grins. "Never said you have to be insane to do the job. Just that it ain't necessarily a bad thing." * Millie stops and folds one arm across her stomach, putting her other hand over it on the elbow and flicking her index and middle fingers against her cheek, tapping it a bit. "Never been this close to the mountains before.." * MaryAnne says "I rather expect will be much closer before we have reached our goal, Miss Reinhart." [The grass is yellow! A lot dryer than... well, just about anywhere in Shomura.] * Millie turns slowly towards Mary, a contemplative look on her face. "S'jus' wierd is all...seems every little bit brought me closer and closer to this place. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was Millie's destiny." Only been in the mountains a coupla times, myself... nice, except for the whole 'possibility of falling to your death' thing. * MaryAnne smiles "Perhaps it is, Miss Reinhart" They're just mountains. (Millie: You have so. The game started in Redrock. ^_~) * Suzunosuke looks closer. Nice mountains. * John looks off torwards the mountains. "Let's not turn into philisophical travelers again." * Mikoto eyes John carefully, then shrugs his shoulders. "It's fine with me. I don't have much to say, I guess." * Tairan grins at John. "What's philosophical about 'falling off mountain BAD'?" =P * Millie grins blankly at Mary, her eyes twinkling a bit. "Uh-huh. Fate's a crock." She turns away and whistles. "They are nice mountains though." (Redrock's a city, these are plains. Different ^^;) * John smiles for the first time since... well, it's been a while. "You were just heading in that direction, that's all." (Redrock's practically on top of the mountains. ^^ You guys have a few days' travel before you even reach them.) (You're just making up geography as you go along and you know it ^_~) (Yes, well, Redrock *is* practically on top of the mountains. It's why it's called Redrock. ;P) * MaryAnne smiles at Millie "Of course, I was only teasing you Miss Reinhart. I don't believe in a preordained fate." I didn't think ya the type ta tease, Miss Mary. Perhaps a bit of ol' Millie's rubbin' off on ya. ( Need map ;_; ) (I'll draw one for ya if you want.) * Millie grins and nudges Mary with her elbow playfully a bit. ( Score! ) (Score!) (But I'm gonna have to bug Ard a lot for detials.) * MaryAnne smiles. (... Oh, crap.) ( ... eh, doesn't bother me. :P ) (And you too, Brett. ^_^) ( Damn ) * Tairan nods. "Not much for philosophizin', really." (heh) (Just take the easy way out. "Here be Cacti") I read a book of philosophy once. Didn't understand it. I read one, understood it, and decided it didn't apply. * Millie keeps her eyes on the mountains. If you notice, it looks like she's picking up the pace. * John easily keeps Hazel's speed at the same rate Millie's going. * Suzunosuke is in good shape, and doesn't notice. * MaryAnne says "Well, I must say that I am plesantly surprised that so many of you are able to read. The illiteracy rate is still unfortunately quite high in our area." * Mikoto raises an eyebrow at Mary Anne. "You wound me, Ms. Pippin." * Millie looks up at Hazel and smiles. "Care ta give a lady a lift?" * Hazel slows down. I think that's a yes.. * MaryAnne says "I do beg your pardon, Mister Makoto. I certainly ment no offense." * Millie smiles a bit. "Well, your horse sure is well-mannered." * Mikoto furrows his brow, then shakes his head. "Of course you didn't. My apologies." He glances east. "I wish I knew why I felt so edgy." * Millie hops on in back, not bothering to ask for any help. * MaryAnne looks at Millie and John and smiles slightly. * Hazel continues at the pace Millie set earlier. John looks back at Millie. So, what are you going to do with the reward? [Tumbleweed blows by, along with a sudden burst of wind. Body rolls -1.] Eh? Y'know, I hadn't thought much of it..probably first thing's gonna be gettin' a horse of my own. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-1) and gets 1, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I love the smell of a crit in the morning." 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-1) and gets 3. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-1) and gets 6. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-1) and gets 7. ( Poor me. I fail. I had to have a bad stat, though. ^_^ ) * MaryAnne thinks .oO(**giggle** "Miss Running Cloud looks to be having a competitor.") 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-1) and gets 7. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-1) and gets 7. ( Attack of the Tumbleweed? ) (When Tumbleweeds Attack! Part III) ( The wind came sweeping down the plains... are we in Oklahoma? ) (Nah, Wyoming.) ("This ain't Kansas anymore!") [Millie keeps her hat on her head, and most everyone else manages to catch theirs before it gets far. Mikoto's practically bowled over, and his hair's in disarray, and the same happens to Mary Anne, whose umbrella goes flying.] ( I have short hair. :P ) (You can mess up short hair. >.>) (Yeah, I've done it. ^_^) ( I also use official BishounenMousse(tm) ) * Millie blinks and narrows her eyes, looking around. "What the hell..?" * John looks around as well. "Unnaturally windy, wouldn't you say?" * Mikoto gets up, dusting off one knee and rubbing the other. "Ow..." He glances around quickly. "What was that all about?" [Mary holds onto her umbrella so tightly (or maybe it's strapped to her hand) that *she* goes flying. Fly, Mary Anne Pippins, fly!] Dammit all..don't tell me there's more magic about.. * Suzunosuke stands firm, an unmovable object to the wind's resistable force. * MaryAnne says startled "Oh my goodness gracious!" * Tairan eyes MaryAnne. "... s'not good." *goes to try to ground her* * John looks up at Mary. "Not good at all." [Unarmed Attacks (grabs) -2, Tairan!] 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 6. ...why does our employer simply not let go? ( Made it. ) * Tairan calls back. "Would you let go of an umbrella that shoots lightning?" [Tairan runs and barely manages to catch Mary's ankle before she takes off. The wind dies just as suddenly, and Mary falls on top of Tairan. Whoops.] If it were dragging me to my doom, yes. * Millie slaps her forehead. "Nice save, Tairan." Ack! * MaryAnne says "Oh dear. Are you alright, Mister Tairan? My, I wasn't expecting such a sudden strong breeze." * John rides around and pulls out a whip just as Mary falls on Tairan. "Nice." * Suzunosuke manages not to chuckle at the pileup. (Indiana John and the Injun of Doom!) * Tairan winces and helps MaryAnne get off of him. "I'm fine. Just got the wind knocked out of me... no pun intended." * MaryAnne sits up and off of Tairan "Oh my, Mister Tairan. That was most embarrising." * John stops Hazel and puts his whip back at his side. "If there's magic at work, they're going to be that much easier to find." (John is *clearly* not Injun.) * MaryAnne puts her hand up to her mouth and her cheeks are blushing. (No, the Injun of Doom is Millie.) * Mikoto stops and looks around in all directions, trying to find something suspicious. (^_^v) (Oh, well then. ^_^_v) * Tairan stands and dusts himself off. "Better to be a bit embarassed than a bit airborne." *adjusts his hat; starts looking around* * MaryAnne smiles and tilts her head slightly to one side "Well..." as if she is thinking something. [Mikoto spots all sorts of suspicious things, if you count dry grass.] * Millie looks out ahead to RunningCloud and Jinx to see if either of them noticed. [The tumbleweed tumbles off into the distance. Go, tumbleweed, go.] * MaryAnne smiles and curties "I do thank you so much for your concern and aid, Mister Tairan." (Well, just RC obviously at the moment ^^;) [Millie can see Jinx and Running Cloud; they're little more than specks, really, so it's hard to tell.] * Tairan shrugs. "Wasn't about to let the lady paying the bills just fly away." *grin* * Millie scowls a bit at that. "Well, we're gonna lose them if we dally here, ya know.." (Running Cloud and Jinx don't notice. They are hiding in the grass.) (=) ) * John nods. "Let's keep moving." * MaryAnne smiles and turns back around and starts walking that way "Oh yes, quite right. Let's contonue on." Yes, it would be a shame to lose our quarry after such an arduous journey. * Millie tilts her head to regard John for a moment. "So..whatcha gonna do yourself? With the reward I mean." * Tairan starts walking again. * MaryAnne says cheerfully "Well, I must admit, dispite everything, that I rather am enjoying our trip." I don't know... What I do with most things of that sort. Pay for food and lodging, most likely. The kind of thing I want... doesn't have a price tag. * Millie grins wildly and slaps John on the back. "Ayup. I can't wait ta meet all this feller's girl friends." ( Oh. John wants a golden house. ) (He wants to marry all his hawt girlfriends!) Yes, you can. Running Cloud's probably the most normal. * Millie 's eyes twinkle a bit. "So you're thinkin' the next one won't want me ta jus' shoot ya in the leg?" ... my condolances. Your luck with women rivals mine. ( I HEARD THAT!) You mean bad luck? * Millie smiles back at Tairan. "That's a pity really. Not that settlin' down's anything important." Exactly. Don't be in such a rush...live a little. [Body rolls -1. Again!] 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-1) and gets 7. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-1) and gets 4. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-1) and gets 8. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-1) and gets 5. Would it not be better to have nothing to do with women, if this is the... 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-1) and gets 2. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-1) and gets 5. First, I want to clear my name. Then, maybe. [The sudden wind occurs again, a little more fiercely this time. Mary Anne had the sense to close her umbrella before it sent her flying (again), Mikoto falls over this time, and Millie's hat goes soaring away as she falls, too! Lookit it go, folks.] * Mikoto oofs as he hits the ground on his back, and just lays there for a second. "...ow." * Millie screams, one hand going for her hat, the other clutching on to grab John's waist by reflex. * MaryAnne says, holding down her hat on her head "Such a terribly strong breeze." [John, body roll!] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 4. * Tairan offers Mikoto a hand up. "No luck today, eh?" [Riding check too, John. ^^] * Suzunosuke crosses his arms and leans delicately into the wind, letting it surge by him. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 1. [John manages to stay on the horse and keep Millie from falling at the same time. Impressive. Too bad the hat's tumbling off.] * John rides after the hat! ( John's horse is blown into the air! Hold on, John! ) [John catches up to the hat! It's tumbling with the tumbleweeds! What does he do?] * Mikoto rubs his temples and accepts Tairan's hand. "My aunt would say it means I don't eat enough." (Grab it, duh.) * John reaches down to grab the hat. [Riding check +2, John.] 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-1) and gets 4. [John looks *good* as he snatches the hapless hat from the tumbleweed. He'll look even better if he sets it on Millie's head without looking.] * John does just that. Perhaps we should get you some lead weights to carry. [John does that, because the GMs don't feel like making him roll for it.] * Mikoto laughs. "It just means I should have trained harder..." He dusts off his coat. "Supposedly the great masters can find a foothold on a single leaf floating on a pond." ...is it always so windy here? * John rides back to the rest of the group. "Well, lets try to keep our hats on our heads this time." He smiles, pearly whites glinting * Millie oofs, still clinging onto John, righting herself on the horse, then righting her hat and narrowing her eyes. "Millie's startin' ta get peeved.." . [*ting* says John's teeth.] * Tairan snerks. "And supposedly the great masters could shoot fire from their ass and lightning from the other side. Don't put too much stock in those kinda stories." (BraveHeart!) * MaryAnne keeps her umbrella folded up and uses it to help brace herself against further such breezy surprises. * Millie unslings Greenpeace and looks around. I have heard those stories as well, though my father always said they were exaggeration. * Tairan peers around for anything unusual. What are you guys talking about? The Eastern masters? Of what? [Millie sees grass, sky, grass, grass, and tumbleweed.] * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "I must have missed those stories growing up." He cracks his knuckles. "On the other hand, I cannot stand on a single leaf, but I can defend myself. IN the end, that's perhaps the more important goal." He glances at John. "The martial arts." ( Of everything, duh. ) * Millie peers at the tumbleweed. "Is that thing followin' us?" ( The martial arts ARE everything :P ) ( Silly Brett - Kirby is everything. ) Ah, right. * John glares back at the tumbleweed. ( We are all Kars- er, Kirby. ) [The tumblweed might glare if it had eyes. Instead, it tumbles.] Not anymore. * Millie keeps watching it carefully, following its tumbling. * Tairan shrugs, and keeps walking. * Mikoto walks fairly slowly, preparing himself for the next windgust. [It tumbles with the wind!] * John has Hazel take a reasonable pace. * Millie sighs a bit, keeping Greenpeace prepared in her lap, looking very carefully around. * MaryAnne trudges along. * Suzunosuke pulls his loos-fitting garb closer around him to reduce his drag coefficient. Though he'd run screaming from the calculation of said figure if it ever came up. * Tairan decides to stick his hat in his pack for now. He idly runs a hand through his hair to straighten in a bit. * John does no such thing. He's gotta keep his looks after all. [Tairan's hair turned green since the last time he took his hat off! No, not really.] ( Yeah. It's really purple. ) (It was that spinich he ate recently - should avoid that vegatble unless you're Popeye.) * Millie doesn't do anything either, because she just wouldn't look cute and Millie-ish if she did. * Tairan has straight, medium length black hair parted down the middle, for the record. * MaryAnne continues to trudge along. So, as far as the reward, it would probably be used so I'd be able to concentrate on things other than finding work. (Kinda like that American Indian on that 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' film?) * Millie grins. "Like fundin' a wedding?" ( No, kinda like stereotypical "unmussing Asian hair" =P ) * MaryAnne giggles at Millie. (ah =) ) * John looks at Millie with an 'Are you kidding' look. "Not anytime soon. Too many people are out to get me." * Millie pats John on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You're definitely not my type, so there'll be at least one girl who'll give ya a break." * MaryAnne says with a smile "Yes, and many of then female, it seems Mister Rogers." * John sighs. "Well, at least you two aren't after me." * MaryAnne winks at John "Can you really be sure, Mister Rogers?" If it's any consolation, I'm not trying to marry you, John. * MaryAnne seems to be in a rather deliteful and teasing mood. * John looks at MaryAnne. "Well, okay, one of you. And if you were I'd kill you now." * Millie looks down at Tairan and gives him a wide grin. "Now that'd be an interestin' sight." * John smirks at Tairan. Neither am I. Though I'm sure you knew that. Yeah. I hope I don't have to go through this conversation with Jinx. * MaryAnne giggles. Jinxy'd probably lose ya in a card game anyhow. * MaryAnne says with a slight smile "I'd imagine that you are quite safe in that regards, mister Rogers." * Millie whistles slightly and looks up at the sky. "Sides, I'm savin' 'im for mahself." Gettin' a horse? I know you can ride one. (Millie wants to marry Jinx!) Yeah..it's a real hassle gettin' yer boots fulla sand. But ya gotta do what ya gotta. Train's easier ta get your hands on anyhows. * John snickers. "You're goin' afta Jinx?" * MaryAnne smiles "Looks to me, Miss Reinhart, that Miss Running Cloud has a bit of a head start on you." * Millie flexes her fingers a bit, looking at them without regard to much of anyone else. "Oh don'tchu worry. Millie Reinhart has her way.." * Mikoto keeps his pace slow, walking a decent stretch behind everyone else. * MaryAnne smiles. * John rolls his eyes. * Millie grins and edges her cute widdle face towards John's. "What'sa matter, Johnny?" Just that I know at least three women who would kill you right now for getting this close to me. * MaryAnne thinks .oO("My goodness, Miss Reinhart certainly is working on Mister Rogers.") Mmm. Then all you need to do is get them together, right? ( But didn't Mister Rogers die? ;-; ) (;_;) * Millie grins even wider and tips his hat down over his eyes with her fingertip. "Yeah. An' a lotta guys who'd try an' kill you for bein' this close ta me too. 'Course you're used ta people tryin' ta kill ya eh?' I think the one up ahead likes me anyhow. An' she knows I'm not after ya. If she don't, then well, I'll make sure she does. * Tairan mutters. "And some people would try'n kill themselves for being too close to this conversation..." I'd rather they stop, but that's never gonna happen. Once I somehow clear my name, I know punks are gonna try shootin me down anyways. * Millie backs away slowly. "'Sides, I'm jus' in it for your rifle ya know." What'dja name it? * MaryAnne says "For shame, Miss Reinhart." Name? I... don't really name my weapons. * Millie pouts. "It's gotta have a name. It's got personality, it gots ta have a name." Real warriors do not. * MaryAnne offers "Um...'rifle'?" Boom stick. * John grins. * Millie rolls her eyes. "Seriously. Ya name your horse don'tcha? Ya think the horse cares one way or the other?" Most of my family's swords have no name. Well, maybe you can help me come up with a name. I think Hazel's rather pretty.. * Millie taps her lips with her finger, thinking and looking at John's rifle. "How 'bout "Silent Sue"?" * John pats Hazel. "She's a good horse. Silent what?" Name it Shooty. Well, ya never shoot it. So's I figure it's a Silent Sue. Ain't nothin' silent about a rifle. * Millie lets out a wide grin. * John just looks at Millie. "Maybe not." * Millie thinks a little longer. "How's 'bout...Sidewinder then?" * MaryAnne says "I can safely say that I have never before been involved in a conversation concerning anthropomorphic weaponry." * Tairan hrms. "I've heard of a few weapons back East with names... overly dramatic names, unfortunately." Sidewinder? Sure, I guess so. I'm probably gonna forget what it's called though, unless it's engraved on it or somethin'" Often it's the historians or the storytellers who are responsible for that. S'good name for a Wall Painter. Thems are quite reliable. Seems a bit silly to me. I'd feel like an idiot calling my sword "Stabby". * Millie eyes Tairan. "Ya WOULD be an idiot for callin' it "Stabby"" My point exactly. Call it something overdramatic, like Soul Spike or something. * Millie puts her hand to her forehead and sighs, shaking her head. "Ya jus' don't get it at all..." * Tairan hmms. "Actually, now that I think of it, I think I remember hearing somewhere that my sword did have a nickname of some sort... Stalagmite Katana, I think. Not that I'd ever call it that." * MaryAnne says "Miss Reinhart, I must say that I find you to be quite an interesting person." * Millie tips her hat down in respect, letting out a bright cheery smile. "Lotsa people say that." But I find that most people who name their weapons are overconfident in their abilities. I must've ran into at least ten guys who each named their gun 'Betsy' and then had their gun shot straight out of their hands. ... I question the mental stability of men who give their weapons female names. * Millie gets a serious pouty look and looks at John. "What are ya sayin' exactly..?" I'm sayin' most people who do that don't know what their doin'. Not all. Hmmph. I think I'll walk now. Stop Hazel for me, willya? * John stops Hazel. "If ya say so. No offense or anythin'." * Millie hops off delicately off of Hazel, turning her back away from John and lifting her nose in the air slightly as she stomps off ahead. * Tairan rolls his eyes and keeps walking. * MaryAnne watches Millie storm off ahead. * John shrugs. "Some people can't take a joke." * Suzunosuke shrugs. * MaryAnne says "My, she certainly is spirited." It's a reasonable point - a man who gives his weapon a female name is in love with that weapon. * John nods. ...a man in love with his weapon is not a true warrior. (Wonder what that says about Millie. Her gun's female ^^;) (...) ( Less than you think. ) ( I solve this problem by fighting barehanded. ^_^_v ) A man in love with a weapon needs to find a human to be in love with. Kissing a sword can be dangerous, after all. [You all hear a gunshot over the wind.] * MaryAnne looks that direction * John looks around to see where it came from. * Tairan freezes in his tracks, his hands going to his sides as he scans the horizon. * Suzunosuke pulls his (unnamed) sword out of midair. * Millie settles Greenpeace in front of her and whirls around towards the shot. [It's from ahead of you. Perception checks.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-2) and gets 1. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-2) and gets 8. [To most of you, what's going on is hard to make out. Mary Anne and Mikoto, however, manage to pick out what must be Jinx and Running Cloud being assaulted by three men, women, something like that.] * MaryAnne puts her hand up to her eyes, shielding them from the sun, and looks that way "Oh dear, Mister Jinx and Miss Running Cloud are under attack! We must make haste and aid them!" * Mikoto speaks for the first time in a long while, as he runs through the group and ahead. "Trouble," is all he says, however. Huh? Where? * Millie peers on ahead, trying to make it out. I think... There. * John rides ahead at full speed. * Suzunosuke runs after Mikoto. * MaryAnne lifts up her dress slightly to aid her running and runs towards that direction. * Millie sticks where she is, levelling her rifle towards the one attacking RC. * Tairan draws his sword and pistol and runruns to catch up with the action. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (d6+7) and gets 8. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (d6+6) and gets 7. 1d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (1d6+5) and gets 9. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (d6+7) and gets 10. (I hate you too Dicey) d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (d6+5) and gets 10. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (d6+6) and gets 11. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (d6+7) and gets 13. d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (d6+5) and gets 10. * Spanky is now known as RunningCloud [Order: Taira, Mikoto, enemy #1, Suzunosuke, Jinx, Running Cloud, enemy #2, Mary Anne, enemy #3, Millie, John] [Tairan, Mikoto, Suzunosuke, and Mary Anne, I need Body rolls at +4.] 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6+4) and gets 16, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "The gods giveth, and the gods taketh away. This time, they taketh away." 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6+4) and gets 11. 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6+4) and gets 12. 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6+4) and gets 7. [Jinx and Running Cloud are mounted. Jinx's pistol is aimed directly at one of the men - the one with knives and wearing armor - while Running Cloud's holding a smoking pistol pointed at the sky. The men themselves wear dirty brown masks over their eyes. The other two have a sword and shotgun, respectively, though they're wearing ordinary clothes.] [They don't say a word as they advance on Jinx and Running Cloud. RC looks more than a bit scared, though she doesn't look like she's about to run.] * Jinx smirks down at the men. "Wow, Slayers that don't stink. Guess we're dealing with a bunch of Prairie flowers here." [Due to the distance, you guys don't get there until round 3 (except John; he's on horseback). Rifles can reach that range, however.] ( But not pistols. ) * Tairan runs to try to close the distance, then. * Suzunosuke waggles his sword. * MaryAnne will continue to close distance until she arrives within targeting range or something happens to her. [Slayer1's turn!] [The Slayer runs right at Jinx and swings the dagger in his left hand at his horse, but misses.] [Jinx's turn!] ( Attacking a horse! Someone call Greenpeace! ) (... I'll kill you later.) ( You rang?) * Jinx fires his revolver at the slayer that just charged him. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 4. [Jinx shoots the man in the chest, but the bullet is mostly deflected by his armor.] [RC's turn!] * RunningCloud swallows, compsing herself, then rears her horse back, its hooves hitting the ground and causing it to shake. "Shifting Lands!" she yells as she focuses on the slayer with the shotgun. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 9. [The ground does shake, and a large crack opens up near one of the men, but it's a bit too far from him to affect him.] [Slayer #2 takes a shot at RC, while #3 slashes at Jinx.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 8. (dr) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 8. (sticking with that) [RC takes a bullet to her leg, and Jinx's arm gets cut.] [Millie's turn!] * RunningCloud screams. * Millie keeps full composure, setting her stance to brace her against the recoil of the rifle, resting her cheek against the stock as she sights. "Greenpeace, don't fail me now." She cracks a shot at the slayer who shot RC. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Jinx grimaces as he gains yet another scar. [The bullet pierces the man's shoulder.] [Slayer1 strikes at Jinx with his knife! Jinx needs another def. roll.] 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 10. (dr) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 10. (dr) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 11. (I'll be giving up now) (Man, Dicey wants to kill you.) [Jinx's leg is cut!] [Jinx's turn!] * Jinx rides past the slayer with the shotgun, trying to put distance between himself and the guys with blades. He takes a potshot at the shotgun weilding slayer. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 10, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "My momma always said, you gotta take the good with the bad. Have a little bad." (dr) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 3. [Jinx hits the man. He's clearly injured, but doesn't seem to care.] [RC's turn!] * Jinx shouts out as he rides. "I'll take on the three of you, betcha can't slash me again bastards!" * RunningCloud eases her horse back, grimacing at the pain. However, she focuses on the gun guy again and grits out, "Shifting Lands." [The ground quakes, and the fissure opens up directly in front of the guy. He doesn't seem to notice, and walks right into it, falling out of sight.] (Sweet!) (Moron.) (It's the mask. He was wearing it the wrong way.) (And I would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for you meddling kids, and your dog too.) [Slayer #3 chases after Jinx. Slayer #2 is in the hole, so you dunno what he's doing.] ( Jinx, gimme a riding check. ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 3. [Jinx rides faster than the slayer can move.] [Millie's turn!] * Millie blinks slightly at the slayer falling in. "Well I'll be.." She keeps an eye on the commotion as she snaps open her rifle and sets up another shot. [Meanwhile, John rides into the fray, and it's his turn!] * John has his pistols in his hands in an instant and takes two shots at slayer #3 as he rides past. (What checks do I need? ^_^) ( A riding check and two attacks ) (Riding check) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 2. (Made by a lot. Attacks, Right-hand, then left.) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 4. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets -1, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "A WINNER IS YOU!" (...nicely done) (Thanks. ^_^) [John shoots him twice as he runs by: once in the arm, once in the lungs, yet despite that he should be on the ground gurgling to his death, he makes an effort to keep going.] [He doesn't look in good shape, though.] [Meanwhile, everyone else gets there! Except Mary Anne; she trips and falls flat on her face.] **SPLAT!** [Tairan's turn] * Tairan charges the guy in armor, firing his pistol at the guy's head to cover his advance, then stabbing at the guy's neck. (Both called shots) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 5. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-1) and gets 3. [Tairan wings a bullet off the side of the guy's head, but he brings up crossed daggers to deflect the stab.] [Mikoto's turn!] * Mikoto runs up from behind Tairan fairly closely and aims a kick square at armor boy's torso. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-4) and gets 4. [Mikoto kicks the man in the torso, and it looks like he felt it, but he's still not down.] [He strikes with his knife at Tairan, who needs a def roll!] 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 8. ( Nope! ) [The Slayer cuts Tairan's sword arm near the elbow.] [Suzu's turn] * Suzunosuke runs headlong into the melee, sword held at head height. He uses his momentum to make a powerful cleaving attack at Slayer1 just behind Mikoto's kick. (Called shot) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-1) and gets 6. [Suzu sends the guy's head flying.] [Jinx's turn!] ( Yah. About time I had something roll right in combat... ) * Jinx takes a shot at the still standing sword slayer. "Nice of you gents to join us." 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 2. (yup) * John smirks. "Can't let you have all the fun, can we?" [Jinx shoots him and he falls over.] * Millie reslings her rifle and runs up to join the rest of them. * Tairan eyes his arm. "Crap. Anyone have some bandage I can borrow?" * Suzunosuke examines the cutting edge of his sword for nicks. Vertebrae can do the darndest things to a blade... * RunningCloud looks around, lets out a deep breath, and ignores her bleeding leg as she rides over to the fissure and empties five shots at the slayer at the bottom. * Mikoto eyes Tairan and smiles a little. "Just the belt for my coat, but that seems more appropriate for a tourniquet." [If he wasn't dead before, he is now.] You guys alright? * Jinx puts his gun away and dismounts he leans against his horse once he's on the ground. * Suzunosuke finishes, then looks around. * John rides back to the fissure. "Man, you guys took a beating. Ya need help patching that up?" * Mikoto then suddenly looks a little shocked and bends down to rub his foot. "Armor! Ow." He walks over and kicks armor guy's body somewhere soft. "Maybe I should have taken up the sword instead." What happened to our esteemed employer? I thought she was with you. * Millie points behind to where Mary tripped. "Think that's her there." * RunningCloud grimaces again. "Someone help me off my horse." * Tairan mutters, then reaches into his pack, tearing a strip of cloth off of one of his spare shirts and using it to bandage the wound. * MaryAnne gets off of her face that she fell onto. She dusts off and 'straightens up' herself and clothing "That was rather unpleasent. I'll really not cut out for all this running about." * John dismounts and helps Running Cloud off her horse. * Suzunosuke goes over to help Running Cloud. Y'okay Jinx? Running Cloud? * Millie looks over at Jinx and looks him over critically. * RunningCloud is helped, managing not to cry out in pain as she hits the ground. She rolls up her pant leg. "Help me get the bullet out of my leg, and I'll see what I can do about injuries. Jinx, get over here." * MaryAnne walks at a more reasonable rate and looks over the situation. * Jinx groans and using his unwounded arm scratches around the area of his neck. I've had worse. * John hmmms. "Anyone know how to remove bullets?" * MaryAnne looks concerned for the injured persons well being. * Millie sighs and digs through her pack, keeping one eye on Running Cloud. "Say Running. This look familiar to ya?" She takes out one of the potions from her pack. "Think it'd help?" * Mikoto sighs, seeming oddly preoccupied with the attackers. "Slayers..." * RunningCloud looks annoyed. "Get me tweasers, then. I hate Slayers." I haven't had to deal much with them... They seemed surprisingly formidable. It's okay, I can heal myself. I just need to get this bullet out of my leg. * RunningCloud looks at John critically, then grabs him by the arm and hauls him down to sit next to her. * Mikoto looks at Running Cloud. "You're a 'shaman', aren't you?" * John is hauled. @_@ * Jinx groans again and fiddles with the turquoise bracelet on his hand, doesn't remove it though. * Millie nods just a bit, tilting her head. "Seems so...and don't seem to have lost TOO much strength there.." * MaryAnne looks away as the injured are attended to, apparently bit squimish, pulls out her hand fan, and fans her face. I've been wonderin' somethin'...what wouldja say this potion would sell for on the market? * Jinx then puts his unwounded arm over Lightning, using his horse to take most of the effort out of standing up. I didn't notice it before, John, but you're not looking so hot. Hold still. Ummm... * RunningCloud puts a hand on John's chest, whispers a few words, and there's a faint white glow. It fades before long. * Millie raises an eyebrow, then tries to keep down her smirk. "Jus' do what the lady says.." [John feels much better now! Not perfect, but hey.] * Mikoto glances at Cloud curiously for a moment, then smiles a little to himself, then starts looking over the corpses for anything useful or interesting. * Millie grins at RunningCloud. "Y'know, I'm surprised frankly. Why not jus' open up a fissure an' keep 'im from runnin' 'way that way?" ( Wow. It's been so long since I looted a corpse ICly in a game. Ah, nostalgia. ) Healer. Useful skill, that. *small grin* They got the jump on us. It was so loud because of the wind that we didn't hear them coming. * Millie walks over and sits down around them. * John looks himself over. "That... thanks. I'll check if we have any tweasers now." He gets up and walks over to Hazel. [There's nothing to loot, frankly. Their equipment is low-quality, and they have no money.] ( Well, not just looking for something to keep, but alright. ) ( Scavenge their organs for the black market! ) (You find brown masks! You, too, can wear one and be a Slayer!) ( You can take their weapons or armor, but it won't hold up for long. ) ( Actually... ) * Jinx nods. "Bit embarrassing really. I should have been keeping a closer eye out. Fortunately my luck returned in time." * Mikoto takes one of the Slayers' masks and slips it into a pocket of his coat, then walks back to the group. * John walks back with a pair of tweasers. "Do you want someone else to do this? I've never had to extract a bullet once. Well, there was that one time, but..." * Millie whistles out to Jinx, swishing the potion. "Ya need this, Jinxy? I feel it's only fair since ya paid for the antivenom back there." ... in that case, I owe Jinx a potion more than you do. * RunningCloud snatches the tweasers. "It's fine, I'll do it." And she does, without much difficulty at all. This is followed by her placing her free hand over her wound and whispering some words, and after the light fades, she looks good as new. * Tairan holds out his potion to Jinx. **FAN FAN** Nah. What ya owe us is thanks. * Millie grins at Tairan. "Don't worry 'bout it really." * John blinks a few times. "That's really effective." * Jinx waves the potions off, slightly weakly but definatively. "No need, I've survived far worse without overpriced potions." * Millie shrugs. "Suit yourself." * Millie slips the potion back in her pack. [Jinx actually looks a bit better already, and is improving by the moment.] Maybe I'll let ya try ta win it off me in a game. * Tairan shrugs. "Okay then." * Jinx turns around for a moment, with his back to the group, and goes to work covering his wounds. * RunningCloud gets to her feet and looks around. She blinks at Jinx, then shakes her head. * RunningCloud waves Tairan over. "You, Easterner. Get over here." [Millie herself is still injured a bit.] * Millie glances at RunningCloud evenly. "His name's Tairan." * Tairan flexes his arm a bit. "Not too deep... okay. Don't gotta ask me twice." *jogs over* (Woah! She's really Scorpion of MK in disquise! Watch out!) * Mikoto stands off to the side somewhere, looking east toward the mountains, considering Running Cloud seems to have everyone's health securely in hand. * RunningCloud glances at Millie. "Tairan, then." She puts her hand to Tairan's arm and murmurs. There's the light, and he's feeling considerably better, as well. * Jinx looks over his shoulder to grin at Millie. "Maybe, I'll take you up on that." * Millie shrugs a little, looking over her shoulder. "Gotta take offers when they come up, Jinxy. I change my mind fast." * Tairan tips his hat to RunningCloud. "Many thanks." * Jinx smiles. "I meant the game, not the healing. I'm not so concerned about the stakes really." * RunningCloud nods, checks everyone over again, then sighs. She starts reloading her pistol. "We still have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall." * Millie shifts her arms then stretches them behind her head as she slowly drops to lay on the grass. "Let's rest here a bit, why don't we? All this runnin' 'bout...I dunno." * John nods. "I'll say. Slayers weren't in our travel plan." * Tairan flexes his arm again. "That we do... mmm. Good healing." (While people may not like magic, EVERYONE loves a healer.) * Tairan idly replaces the spent round in his pistol. I was under the impression that you had wanted to gain ground on these bandits, but if you'd rather take a break, that's fine. * Jinx turns around and reloads his pistol, the way he's rearranged his grab the cuts no longer align with his wounds, although a bit of blood stains the new areas that cover them. * Mikoto half-turns. "Perhaps Miss Pippin could ride on someone's horse, if we're going to continue." * John reloads his pistol near Hazel. "We do need to gain ground on them, and waiting is not an option." * Millie sits up, grumbling a bit. "Fine, let's go then...but I'd like ta have at least one pleasant night on this trip." * Jinx nods. "She can ride on Lightning if she likes. A bit of walking could be a pleasant change." "Well, I'm not really versed in riding beast of burden, " she blushes "and well, it would be a little embarrising." * Millie rubs her side a bit. "Woulda gone faster if we were all able to ride..but unless two of those horses can carry 3 people, I don't think that's an option... Pleasant nights can wait for after we cash in the huge bounty. * Mikoto smiles. "It's very simple. I'll walk alongside and keep the horse calm for you." * RunningCloud glances at Millie, then shrugs. "We can stop at a town for the night. But only if we manage to get there in time." ( The actual question here is, if Mary Anne's wearing a dress, CAN she ride a horse without being sidesaddle? ^_^ ) * RunningCloud mounts her horse again. And 3 people on a horse'd probably weigh it down ta walking pace anyhow..it's cruel to the animals, that is. (nothing wrong with her sitting side saddle - it's very lady-like ;)) * Millie snaps up to her feet, looking very ready and energized for someone who wanted a nap a moment ago. * John inspects his pistols, then holsters them. He mounts up. "Well, we're not getting anyware just by standing here. " "Well, I would be willing to give it a try." * Mikoto turns to Jinx. "If you'd rather lead her, feel free, it's your horse... but I'd be happy to if you'd rather not." * Jinx leads Lightning over to Maryann, and the holds the reins out to Mikoto. Ya say there's a town nearby though? Wonder if they stopped off there too... Let's go. * MaryAnne excepts any offered assistance in getting up to sit on the horse. * Jinx nods. "Doesn't really matter to me." He then seems to remember something and grimaces. "Right, lets move." * John looks over the group. Are they ready to move? * Tairan starts walking. [And so, you all ride off into the sunset. Well, not really, considering it's not close to dark yet and you're riding east... ANYWAY, you ride/walk off.] [Session End.]