[Rising Sun Pioneers! Darn tootin' yay! Only it's not so darn tootin' yay for our protagonists (when have I ever seriously called them heroes?), because... well, they bleed. And one of them's dead, and another's asleep. Calamity Jan got away, the hallway's blocked by rubble, and it's the ONLY WAY OUT.] [But don't panic, they'll probably think of something. Maybe. Only one way to find out.] [Session Start.] * Mikoto looks sort of dazed. He hasn't said much. (I'm amused that we don't qualify as heroes. I tend to agree, but it's still funny. Although I have nothing to say IC.) * Sakura is leaning against the wall. She doesn't look good, not good at all. * Millie stops and looks at the wall, muttering under her breath. "This day jus' goes from bad ta worse don't it?" * MaryAnne holds the things she was asked to fetch. * Mikoto says, sort of dreamily, "Jinx's suggestion of dynamite sounds better now than it did then." * John frowns. "This is just gettin' better and better, ain't it?" * Millie looks at Mikoto and raises a delicate eyebrow. "Ya sure ya wanna risk bringin' this whole place down on us? I don't know 'bout you, but there's been enough hurtin' for t'day.." * Mikoto blinks at Millie in confusion. "...what?" * Millie lets out a small sigh and looks down softly at Jinx, not quite hearing Mikoto. "Why'd this hafta happen..? Ya still got a bet left..don'tcha know a gambler isn't supposed ta welch on a bet, either way? * Mikoto scrunches his eyes closed and slaps himself on both cheeks a few times. "Okay. Have to get it together." [Mikoto looks like a chipmunk.] * Millie kneels down and sets him on the floor, standing up slowly. "Stand aside then...this looks like a job for Millie Reinhart." She reaches in her pack and gets out the pickax, spitting on her hands and rubbing them together. * Tairan finishes wrapping his numerous bleeding wounds. He looks like crap, and not just because he's been shot and thorned all to hell. "I'd try the things with my katana, but that'd prolly do more harm than good. Again." Only exit and it's collapsed. *looks back at the handiwork.* Just what *did* happen back there, anyways? * MaryAnne tabs the corners of her eyes. * Millie stops just as she walks up the pile and looks casually over her shoulder, pickax on one shoulder. "...that's what I wanna know. How the hell did this happen..?" * Mikoto sets his jaw, and looks at least a little more together than he did before. "Their shaman downed Fanfan. We had a discussion about peaceul surrender, at Jinx's behest, but she was stringing us along." Stringin' ya along? * Millie frowns. "Ya mean, she shot in the middle of a peaceful settlement? That's not very...eh, what's the word..?" Honerable. Well, yeah. But more than that...that's not what I was lookin' for.. I'm pretty sure there's more to it. Isn't there, Mikoto? * Mikoto nods, walking over to Mary Anne and holding out his hands for his polearm and Jinx's shotgun. "The plan was to bring her in, split the reward, and help her escape. When we pointed out that it wouldn't work and she was stalling for time, things got rough. Jan made a lucky shot..." * MaryAnne hands the items to him. * MaryAnne, fortunately, isn't paying attention to the specifics in Mikoto's comments. (Especially the dishonest offer part ; ) ) .. You would help her escape? * Millie crinkles up her brow and scratches her temple underneath her hat. "That jus' don't sound raight. What wouldn't work 'bout that..?" Doesn't sound like a very good plan, but also somethin' that Jinx'd do... * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "Jinx would. I was willing to do whatever it took to get information on the tablet without a fight." He turns to millie. "Getting her to Teck. Three criminals, 'voluntarily' turning themselves in?" But...we're not in this ta catch Jan anyhow.... ... ... was an idea, but it never woulda worked. Jinx was just tryin' to find a way to get the info we needed without startin' a close-quarters brawl. * Mikoto nods. "Sadly, it didn't work out. The fight was over before it even started." * Millie looks out of the corner of her eye to Tairan. "It sounds smart. A brawl down here would have been a bad idea..." Who fired the first shot? * Sakura turns towards Mikoto. "Should I find you are helping a bandit again, I will not hesitate to take your life. I warn you of this now. I care not the reasons." * Millie blinks and looks at John, not saying a word. * Millie looks a bit confused though. That'd be me. Katana thingee. And for god's sakes, get the scabbard out of your ass, Sakura. * Sakura staggers and leans back against the wall. She doesn't look in a very life-taking positon right now. * Mikoto breathes out. "The important thing right now is getting out of here. I have..." He coughs. "I have a doctor's kit in my things. I can see to the wounds, once we're outside." * Millie slowly turns to Tairan, and her eyes narrow. "I see." * Millie turns back to the pile, completely silent, and starts picking her way through it. She seems to be swinging AWFULLY hard though. We had one person down, no numbers advantage, against opponents with unknown abilities, in close quarters. And they couldn't give us the information we needed if they were dead. It was a lousy plan, but better than the alternative. * Mikoto shakes his head. "It's nobody's fault. The situation turned sour and our luck was a little wanting." Jan seemed truly contrite about killing Jinx. Not that her contrition is worth a damn. * Mikoto shrugs. "Is anyone's?" * John eyes Tairan. "You need help with that Millie? * Millie keeps digging, speaking without looking at anyone. "So what was this "alternative"? What ended up happening. Shootout in close quarters with one of the best gunwomen in the west, a mage, and a big guy with a rifle. (John, Millie, and Mary Anne, give me a perception roll +2.) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6+2) and gets 12. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6+2) and gets 10. A useless shootout. They don't have the tablet, and don't know Kojiro's whereabouts. You're sure that woulda happened then if ya hadn't struck first? Yeah. If she seemed sorry for killin' Jinx, perhaps she *didn't* want a shootout. She is a bandit. Her only remorse is that she could not loot Jinx's body. * Millie swings the axe into the rubble. Hard. And grumbles under her breath. "Dammit. I'm surrounded by trigger happy fools." An' because of that, the only person who seemed ta be tryin' ta figure things out is dead. (Which is a funny statement from Millie =) ) (Millie, give me an ANGER ROLL!) * Millie swings again, gritting her teeth. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 7. (Millie RAGE!) * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "A bit of the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it?" He tucks the naginata under one arm and rubs his temples. (Snicker) ... talks were breaking down. At that point, violence was inevitable. It was a matter of who got off the first shot... my shot just wasn't quite good enough. Since when have I shot somethin' first without thinkin' 'bout it, hmm? [Bits of rock fly out from Millie's digging. Wow, lookit her go. Ragh.] ( Oh, must fight down nasty response. )) Well, you were gonna shoot me in the head, remember? No. I was gonna shoot near your foot. She never actually shot, remember? * Millie swings again. ( "When was the last time you thought about something?" probably would not help the situation. ;) Yeah, because we were being followed. Raight. An' if ya believe that, ya don't get me at all, Tairan. ( Tairan seems to have this problem with women wanting to shoot him in the head. ) * Mikoto eyes Millie. "You certainly do like to throw that phrase around." * Millie grunts as the pickax hits again. (Screw that, he has this problem with everyone wanting to shoot him in the head. :P) Remember? You had your gun to my head, we were bantering, then we all noticed that small army trapsing around? * Millie doesn't respond. She's doing something useful, like clearing out the passage. (Body roll, Millie.) * John rubs his head. "So from what it sounds like, you were talking at a face- off, the discussions broke down, Tairan s (Give it a -2.) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-2) and gets 1. (Rarr!) (Millie smash!) * John rubs his head. "So from what it sounds like, you were talking at a face- off, the discussions broke down, Tairan 'shot' his sword-thing, they bandits contered and killed Jinx in the process, and now we have no clue where the tablet or the bandits are. Right?" * Mikoto says quietly, sounding a bit angry, "Tairan did what he thought was best. If you want to blame someone for Jinx's death, blame Jan. She shot him." He frowns. "If you insist on tracing back culpability just to put your anger onto Tairan, why not go back to the man who invented guns? Or Mary Anne for bringing the group together?" We know Kojiro has the tablet. And we know he split up from Jan nearby. [Millie clears out a path before long. The rubble wasn't that deep.] (Go Go Millie Power! =D ) (* Sakura kills Mary Anne. "Oh, wait, that was figurative, wasn't it Mikoto." ) ( ...ha. ) * Millie sets the pickax head on the floor and wipes her brow with her forearm, her foot on the back of one of the picks. Somehow though, she doesn't seem quite as satisfied with herself as she should be. * John shrugs. "I'm only trying to get the facts. I know I've done stupid things before also." Which means, now that we have path out, that if you give me some time, I should be able to pick up Kojiro's trail. [Millie clears a path while all the men watch. Funny, that.] * Sakura is both injured and female. So neeh. [Apparently, Chivalry really is dead. Or they're just completely lacking in it. Men.] (and MaryAnne's female, but has puny muscles ; ) ) ( Or we've been SHOT RECENTLY. =P ) * Mikoto nods, reaching down, tucking the shotgun into his shorts (and looking like an idiot in the process) and grabs Jinx under the arms. "We know Kojiro is our best lead now, and that following Jan's path isn't worth our time." (Well, in John's defense, he did offer to help) (Hey, I have a non-functional hand here.) ( Body 5, Not So Strong 1. I could cheerlead, maybe. ) (Much like chivalry, Jinx is dead. That's his excuse.) (And I did offer to help. :P) [Okay, John did offer to help, which might explain why girls want him instead of want to kill him.] (Damn straight, foo'!) ( ">go millie" "You cheer on the Millie." ) * Millie puts away her pickax and nods to the rest of them. "I don't know 'bout you though, but I could use some fresh air ta think things over." * Millie heads up the stairs. Yeah. * Mikoto hauls Jinx's corpse upstairs. Alone. Only I truly loved him! * John heafts Fanfan over his shoulder and walks up. Funny, seems he's the one who remembered Fanfan was unconcious. [You go down the rest of the corridor! Into the ex-dining room. Everything is as you saw it last; there's no sign of the bandits.] ( You had her last session. I just assumed you'd get her now. :P ) (Shhh!) (And it'd be *really* sad if John had the highest body here. <.<) ( He's a bishonen cowboy. I'd be surprised if he didn't. ) * Sakura limps along. ( I am *not* bishi!) (Ting.) ( Are too :P ) ( Wah! ;_;) (Nope..he's a...what's the non-angsty bishie again...) * Tairan limps along as well. (Such a thing exists?) (There's actually another term for pretty boys who aren't angsty, homosexual, and/or effeminite) [Sakura and Tairan fall into the pit trap we forgot to mention earlier.] (Yeah. 'Fictional'.) [Just kidding.] (... *bang*.) * Mikoto keeps heading for the horses, trying his best not to damage the, uh... merchandise. * Millie heads out, to check on poor Pepper [Y'all keep going, leaving the castle before long. The horses are where you left them, and the city is as dead (haw haw) as ever. No ghosts.] * Sakura limps after! Again. * Millie looks around kind of anxiously for a second. No zomboids. Good. She goes to check on Pepper and Lightning. * MaryAnne follows along rather quitely. * Mikoto also heads for Lightning, looking for somewhere to lay the body for a bit. * John reaches Hazel and plops Fanfan down. He checks on his horse that's too lame to run over standard troopers in DW3 but will in DW4. ( John's got one of those lame brown horses. ) [Mikoto has options! Grass, wood, someone's foot... You could probably put Jinx and Fanfan in a pile.] * Sakura just kinda.. leans against a wall near Horse. ( Wouldn't that be a nice time for Fanfan to wake up? :P ) (o/~) * Mikoto sits Jinx up against a wall nearLightning, sets his things down, and goes over to pet Jinx's horse's nose a little. "I'm sorry, girl. You can probably tell. But we'll take good care of you." * Tairan finds a place to sit down, and works on bandaging his wounds a bit better. Not that he has any real skill at it, mind you... just basic "Hole oozing. Put bandage over hole" stuff." [It's late afternoon, getting close to night. The trip in the castle must have taken a while.] * Millie frowns and looks over at Jinx, patting Pepper. "I guess I can't say I never lost a partner now...dammit, why'd we have to get delayed...? If we'd shown up just a little sooner..." (Okay, people. Give me a perception roll, +4.) * Mikoto sighs and walks over to Hazel, rummaging through his things and eventually producing a briefcase-type black bag. "Even if you'd been there, it might not have been any different.," 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6+4) and gets 10. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6+2) and gets 5. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6+2) and gets 9. 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6+4) and gets 14. 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6+4) and gets 15. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6+2) and gets 7. But...we'd have at least evened things up...or maybe calmed things a little before... * Mikoto blinks as he turns to walk toward Tairan, then frowns and walks over to where he propped up Jinx, kneeling next to the body. "What..." * John puts the wooden case on the ground and starts to open it. "Eh?" * Mikoto gets a blank look on his face, then reaches into Jinx's lap and picks something up. * Millie looks from patting Pepper to raise an eyebrow at Mikoto, but not saying anything. [John unlatches the case!] [No poisoned needles. Yet.] * John opens the case! Poison this! * Mikoto tosses something shiny up into the air, then catches it and nods his head once. "Maybe a good omen." He walks over to Tairan and kneels by him, unlatching the medical kit. "I suppose 'tell me where it hurts' is cliche." * Millie keeps an eye on Mikoto as she takes care of her horse, then goes over to Lightning, whispering in her ear as she nuzzles the neck a bit. "Hey girl..." [The box is extremely cushioned - likely, the closest you're going to get to form-fitting styrofoam packaging in this world. Inside are two perfectly spherical orbs which fit easily in someone's hand: one's a clear, flawless crystal, and the other has what looks like fire swirling in it.] * John blinks. "Anyone know what ta make of these?" The two holes in my torso would be a good place to start, I think. (Roll medical, Mikoto. First Aid.) * Millie looks up for a second before reaching into Pepper's saddle bags and taking out a brush for Lightning. "I dunno...what would they be doin' in there?" * MaryAnne remains quite as the others go about taking care of things. What do you think of these things, Mary? *Pulls out the non-fire crystal and holds it up.* 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 4. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 8. ( It's not paranoia if they're really out to getcha. =P ) (Mikoto removes the bullets and staunches the bleeding without much problem.) * Mikoto pulls on a pair of white gloves and starts eyeing the wounds. "I don't think I can do much for getting the bullets out, but..." ( Bah. We coulda had you shoot yourself in the head that last critical fail. Remember that :P ) * MaryAnne says "Hmm?" and looks towards John, seeing the items in his hands, and then says "Oh, how interesting." * Mikoto holds up a pair of tweezers with a revolver bullet. "Or I could be wrong. Pleasant surprises all around." * MaryAnne comes over to John and gets a closer look (no, not at John, at the Crystals =P ) ( Well, yes. But an instant crit-fail death would've earned you a wedgie to end all wedgies. =P ) (You know why she *really* came over. :P) * MaryAnne recalls her Archaeology training and trys to recall anything likes these crystals. ( It could've richocheted off your brain and hit someone else, too! ) (*cackle*) (Okay, there's times when it's reasonable. That's not one of them. :P) * Millie doesn't seem at all interested in what anyone else is doing. Horses are more interesting. Good Lightning. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-3) and gets 3. * Tairan grits hit teeth, but manages to hold his cries down to a muffled string of curses. (Remember, even though crit-fails are one in 36, it'd have to be 1 in 10000000 for that kind of thing to happen.) * Mikoto smiles sheepishly. "If we were in a proper town, this wouldn't be so painful..." He starts dressing the wounds. "They'll take time to heal, but they won't get any worse, at least." Hey, I ain't complainin'. The bullets are out, and you didn't sever any important blood vessals. Thanks. * Mikoto grins. "My pleasure. John, come here." * John puts the crystal back in the case and walks over to Mikoto. "Since when didya play doctor?" s'odd, though... got hit in the chest twice... really shoulda done more damage than it did. * Mikoto indicates a rock for John to sit on. "I don't advertise the skill, usually. In the end, it usually just means I end up doing more medical work than I'm comfortable with. But, extreme times... Unbandage that hand." ( Tairan now has a bowtie over his wounds. They're dressed! ) * Millie speaks off-hand, brush intent on Lightning's mane. "Since I started doin' a musical number back in Redrock. Anyone know where we're headed off to?" * MaryAnne seems captivated by the orbs. I'm no pistol expert, but a heavy pistol at close range... should blown right through me. Real odd. * John unbandages his right hand. "Arrow wound. I managed ta get the thing out without splinterin' myself." * Sakura .. leans. Still. ( I'm waiting to fail a roll, so I have to try the spell. :P ) * Millie sighs and looks over to Jinx. "An' what ta do 'bout...him.." [The sun is low in the sky, now.] * Mikoto hmms and inspects John's hand. "Well, that's good, at least." * MaryAnne watches the case that John has in his posession. ( You know, sadly, I am now officially the male Raine from G-Gundam. ) (*snicker*.) * Tairan uses his scabbard to push himself slowly to his feet. "I can take a look around town, see if I can pick up a trail before it gets dark." 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 8. (So that means you'll be piloting a giant robot before sundown? Good.) (You patch it up, but it doesn't do much beyond what John already did for himself.) (Eeeexcellent.) * Millie tenses at that. "Dark?" * MaryAnne comes over to stand near John and bends down to where he has the case containing the two orbs and says "I say, they certainly seem interesting." We need ta get outta here before dark. (Perception rolls, -2.) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-2) and gets 8. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-2) and gets 3. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-4) and gets 4. * Mikoto winces. "Sorry, John. It'll heal pretty slow, but at least there won't be an infection." He motions to Sakura, looking around as he does so. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-4) and gets 8, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "My momma always said, you gotta take the good with the bad. Have a little bad." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-4) and gets 5. (...) ( Woo. Bet you're glad that I checked your hand first, eh, Kev? ) ( [Mikoto accidentally amputates John's hand!] "... whoopsie." ) ( Man, Dice is a bitch. ) (*tibang!*) [Mary Anne, John, and Tairan suddenly get the feeling that the place has turned really... still. The wind's stopped blowing, the grass almost seems... wilting. Mikoto realizes that there's a splinter in John's hand! AAAAAH!] * John frowns. "We gotta get out of here. Now." ... anyone else get the feeling we just got sucked into the Really Goddamn Creepy Zone? * MaryAnne says to John "Might I take a better look at them?" * Mikoto blinks, yanking John's hand closer and staring. "Whoa, did I miss one?" * Millie looks over at John quickly. "What..?" Yeah, the case is open over there. But we should look aft-yah! * Mikoto stares a bit, then coughs and lets go. "Uh... must be my imagination." (Perception rolls, -4.) 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-6) and gets 1. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6-4) and gets 8, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "Looks like your thread just got cut. Sorry." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-4) and gets 5. 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-6) and gets 2. * John nods and takes his hand back. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-4) and gets 5. ( Dicey? Suck. ) ( Uh oh. Dicey's feelin' frisky tonight. ) * MaryAnne comes over to the case and opens it up. ( Damn it Dicesuke, I didn't ask you to prove me right. ) 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-6) and gets -1. * MaryAnne picks up the two orbs, one in each hand, and examines them by looking at them closely and turning then around with her hands. (Ouch. Yeah, wash that out or something.) [Just as suddenly as it died, the area *springs* to life, birds chirping wildly, the breeze picking up again, and everything seems a little brighter. Jinx's body shudders. Sakura doesn't notice, unfortunately, since she's feeling a little woozy. Maybe she should sit down.] * John blinks. "Okay, maybe that was just my imagination then." * Sakura continues to lean! She ignores the GM's good advice because she is stubborn. * Millie screams and jumps back, as she's the closest to Jinx. Her rifle is in her hands FAST. (Lean or I'll make you lean. *click*.) ( And now you know the truth. Jinx was just a puppet all along. Grysar's real character is a really damn good ventriloquist. ) * Mikoto blinks, halfway to standing up. "What the hell was that?" ... what the fuck? 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 12, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman?" [Jinx takes a deep breath, and his hands grip the grass next to him. That grass seems a little taller than before, come to think of it.] * John shakes his head. "Did I just see Jinx move?" ( ... Dicesuke... ) * Millie mutters frantically. "Jezzus, Jinxy don'tchu do this to me..not this way...not now..." ( ... Aren't you glad you didn't get these rolls last session? :P ) * Mikoto slips a scalpel into his hand and turns around. Why? Who knows. ... holy fucking shit on a stick with a silver scabbard. ( No comment. ) * Sakura wobbles and clutches her sword. If Jinx is a zombie, she intends to stab his face off. * MaryAnne crys out and suddenly drops the orbs back into the case and grasps her head. * Millie 's rifle is pointed at Jinx and wavering frantically. Her eyes are wide as she takes cautious steps back. ... zombies don't breathe, right? * MaryAnne rubs her temples, not really noticing the recent situation. * John looks back at MaryAnne. "Ah shit. You guys keep watch on Jinx." He looks back at Mary and walks back to the case. [Jinx grasps his head with one hand, opens his eyes, and looks up to Millie, before he waves his hands in front of him. "Ow! Oh fuck. Not undead! All alive here!"] ( Now there's an interesting plot contrivance. -_^ ) ("IT...LIVES!") ( Not unwelcome, mind. ) * Millie doesn't shoot. Surprisingly. But her barrel is still trained on Jinx. "Don't...I...I...I saw you...you couldn't..." * John looks at the orbs then at MaryAnne. "What happened?" ... holy fucking crap in a canoe with a crafted kettle. ... Curious. * Millie shakes. "Wait...the potion. It worked after all...?" [Tairan has a wide vocabulary.] * Mikoto lets the scalpel drop out of his fingers into the dirt, dumbstruck. That's gonna need resanitizing. * Jinx keeps his hands up and waves them. "No, really, alive! Breathing, heart beating.." He then stops waving his hands. "And making no sudden moves." Ya don't...move like a...a... * Tairan GAPES at Sakura. "Curious? He's fucking ALIVE! How the fuck are you al- you're fucking ALIVE, man! Holy fucking shit on a... thing!" * Mikoto blinks, then reaches into his pocket, pulls out something in the palm of his hand, stares at it... then starts laughing hysterically, crying at the same time. * MaryAnne looks up at John and stops rubbing her temples and says "Oh, Mister Rogers. I just had a sudden headache. It seems to have gone away just as suddenly. How strange." * Millie 's barrel slowly lowers and she almost whispers. "Jinxy..is it really you?" * Jinx glances down for a second. "Potion.. yeah... must have been the potion." Hey, if that voice is any indication, I'm thinkin' that bullet wound was more superficial than anythin'. His return to life is curious. What more do you wish me to say? * Mikoto holds out his hand, a revolver bullet between his forefinger and thumb. "No joke. This is the bullet that did him in." * Jinx then glances up, now that he's not he's in imminent danger of being shot he seems to be calming down a little. "Yeah... It's me, didn't think I'd welsh on a bet did you?" * Millie 's grip slips as she stands in place. Greenpeace clatters to the ground as her eyes stare at Jinx. * Mikoto wipes his eyes with his other hand. "When I saw it, I thought it was just dumb luck. But it must have been dislodged somehow." ... I'm still going with 'Holy Fucking Shit'. * John looks back at Mikoto. "No jokin'. Lucky?" * MaryAnne says "These orbs. I've heard of things like them. If they are what I suspect they are, then they are magic orbs that grant the person that holds them an ability of some sort, although I guess they didn't like me very well." * John snickers. "Well, lesse what this one does then." He picks up the fire-orb thingie. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 6. * Tairan limps over to Jinx, and offers him a hand up. * Millie runs over and hugs Jinx tight. "I can't believe it..." [John feels warm and tingly all over. It's kind of comforting, really.] * Jinx puts his hand back on his head. "Could this discussion be a little quieter. Are their any good hangover cures in the.... Ooof." Congradulations on not being dead. * Jinx hugs back, he looks like a happy with a splitting headache. Now don'tchu ever do that again..we ain't havin' another dead... * Millie blinks and stops midsentence, then swivels around her head. Ack! Greenpeace! * MaryAnne looks towards the recent commontion as John trys the orb and notices Jinx moving about and stands up while exclaiming "OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!". She pulls her hand up to her mouth and stares towards Jinx. * John blinks at the warm & tingly sensation. "Cool. It makes ya comfortable, or somethin'." * Mikoto smiles at Jinx over Millie's shoulder, trying to suppress the expression he must be wearing. "I'm, uh... I'm glad you're safe." * Millie runs off, almost knocking Jinx back down and rushes over to cradle her gun. * John looks over his shoulder and smirks. "Lucky, lucky, lucky." [The orb in John's hand shatters with the sound of breaking glass, but the shards vanish into nothing. The fire inside it stays in his hand, then seems to... melt into it?] * Jinx closes his eyes and totters. "Yeah.. trust me, this headache is disincentive enough." He then opens his eyes and takes Tairan's hand and tries to get up. * MaryAnne looks towards the sound of shattering glass "Oh! Are you alright Mister Rogers!?" * Mikoto takes a step forward and holds out his hand, with the bullet in it. "Here. This belongs to you, I think..." * Millie kneels down and picks up her rifle, closing her eyes and nuzzling her cheek against the barrel. "I'm sorry, baby. Ya aren't hurt are ya? Mommy's here..." The hell?! Uh, yeah, I feel fine. Just be careful with that other one... * Mikoto isn't crying. Really. He saw John's teeth when he was treating his hand and his eyes water. (Yeah, sure.) (Snciker) [The warmth intensifies for a moment, then fades.] * Tairan pulls Jinx upright and gives him a big manly no-yaoi-subtext-whatsoever bearhug. "You pull that shit again, I'll fucking kill ya, okay?" *biggrins* * MaryAnne says, looking down at the other orb, "Perhaps they have been damaged or age has made them defective." * Jinx winces at the shatter and gives Tairan the appropriate no-subtext hit on the back guy hug. "I'll do my best to avoid it." If he was dead, it would be difficult to kill him again. (You'd think that...) * John walks over to Jinx. "I knew ya couldn't stay dead. You're a jinx, ya know." Smile, *ting*. * Mikoto then blinks and turns back to John. "You didn't just get shards of glass in your hand after I checked you out, did you?" ( [John's smile sets Jinx on fire. He burns to death.] ... whoopsie. ) * Millie pops back to her feet as if nothing happened and flicks her hat up. 'AlRIGHT. Who's ready ta find an ancient tablet then?" * Jinx grins back at John for a second and then gives a warm if slightly confused smile to Mikoto as he retrieves the bullet. "Thanks." * MaryAnne looks towards Millie "That the spirit Miss Millie!" Nah. It didn't hurt at all. If I did, I'd be curssin' all over right now. * Jinx then rubs his head again. "But really... anyone have a raw egg, hair of dog that bit them, that sort of thing?" I think there's a horse that might be very happy to see ya right now, Jinx. *smirks* * Mikoto coughs. "Uh, sure. Your shotgun is against the wall..." He knits his brow. "We can't leave. People need to rest, and Sakura's foot is still..." He stops, then gets a pensive look. * MaryAnne closes the case with the unbroken orb and hands it to John. "Here you are Mister Rogers. Maybe this one won't break on you" she says while smiling. I hope so. *takes the case* ( I'll trade the naginata for the other orb, if it's wind-based. ^_^ ) ( Mister Rogers give such terrifying images. ) (Heh) (Let's all go to the neiborhood. =) ) ( It's a wonderful day in my neighborhood, a wonderful day in the neighboor. Won't you be, my neighbor.) * Millie mounts up on Pepper, and gives her a little go before reaching into her pack and taking out one of the potions, testing it. "Can ya catch, sword lady?" * Tairan blinks back at the others. "Maybe the orb breakin' releases whatever power it has? Or somethin'? I dunno?" * Mikoto steps in the... more or less center of the group, and closes his eyes. "Let's see if this works..." * John shrugs. "Just shattered, really." * Jinx retrieves his shotgun from the wall and hangs it on his back. He then quickly quickly pats himself down and grins. "No looting... Impressive restraint." * MaryAnne says "Perhaps." as she walks towards Millie and Pepper. * Millie stops and looks over at Mikoto oddly. ( Now, for flashy Sailor Moon sequence. ) John, smile at something. See if it catches fire. * Tairan blinks. "Not me, please." * John grins at Tairan. *ting! no fire ting!* * Mikoto shuts his eyes and clasps his hands near his chest, muttering. The wind picks up around him, and he actually floats a little bit. "Winds, be our strength..." * MaryAnne attempts to get atop Pepper and no doubt needs Millie's helping hand to finally make it up top Millie's mount. * Jinx turns to watch Mikoto with interest. * Sakura limps over to horse, but probably can't get up. You know, shot foot and all. * Tairan blinks at Mikoto. He's experienced enough to recognize it as a spell, but... * John just stands. He's hurt, but not *that* badly. * Mikoto throws out his hands, and the windws stretch out around the area, suddenly filled with warm green motes of light. ( Mikoto is Aeris. Oh dear god. ) * Millie just watches Mikoto oddly. (No, he's Fuu) ( Just winds. Not windows. ) (Maybe he'll get a spell that'll activate all your limit breaks.) (Fury brand!) ( Wouoldn't that be nice. ) (Oh, Mikoto doesn't do windows =) ) ( I already used my Limit Break sadly. ;-; ) ( ... MaryAnne is Peach. She attacks with an umbrella. All she needs is a frying pan. ) (Then she's the twink of the game.) ( She hit the tengu with a frying pan ) (She conked the Tengu with a frying pan =) ) ( A-HA! ) [The winds swirl, and when they dissapate, you all feel much better! Even Jinx's headache is gone. Tairan's wounds don't completely close, but they're well on their way, and Sakura... well, she's still hurtin' a heckuva lot, but at least less than before.] ( ... Jesse, your life is now forfit. ) ( ^_^_v ) * Mikoto touches down on the gronud and opens his eyes, staring at his hands. "...well, then." ( No ^_^_V for you. Your life is over. ) Impressive. * Millie snaps her hands slightly on the reigns, looking lazily over at Mikoto. "Well that's..different." * Tairan pokes at his chest. "... healing magic. Niiiiiiiice." * Jinx keeps watching. "Wow... that beats the hell out of a raw egg. That air magic or life magic?" * Mikoto looks as surprised as any of you. "I... don't know." One question. Not to be ungrateful, but you couldn't have used that after the fight with the tengu? Y'know, when I had the GIANT HOLE IN MY FOOT? *grins despite himself* * Mikoto looks at Tairan, still a little dazed. "Believe me, I would have, if I'd known how." Ah. Okay then. Better late than never. * Jinx walks over to Millie. "Thanks for asking questions first and shooting later." Impressive. Well, maybe not so impressive. But, useful, at least. Let's just hope I can duplicate it, if need be, in the future. * Millie looks down from the horse and smiles slightly. "Well, yer jus' lucky I think zombies are stupider." * Tairan pokes at his chest s'more. "Don't suppose you know a spell that'll get the bloodstains out of this shirt?" *smirks* * John raises an eyebrow at Millie and smirks. "Ya sure 'bout that?" * Mikoto retrieves his medical bag and walks over to the Sakura. "Yes. It's called 'summon soap and pumice'." Excellent answer. * Millie grins over at John. "Well, try an' convince me otherwise, then I'll shoot on sight if your corpse reanimates." ( A SAKURA approaches. Command? ) * Jinx grins up at Millie, and then scowls over at John, although it seems to be a fairly good natured scowl. * Sakura looks at Mikoto. "Thank you for the healing. This does not mean I will spare your life if you should choose to aid bandits." (Talk/Fight/Flee.) ( Flee. ) * Mikoto shrugs at Sakura. "You sure you want to say that to someone who's about to be poking around in your wounds?" You'll have to take off the boot. We need to get the bullet out. If you choose to harm me, I will take your life before I die. It is as simple as that. * Millie looks over at Sakura faintly. "The world ain't so cut an' dry as ya might think, sword lady." * John shrugs. "If ya could reach me." * Sakura removes her boot. I could reach ya. First thing I'd do when ya died is take off yer guns. * Mikoto frowns. "Less talk. MOre removal of boot." * MaryAnne looks over towards Tairan and says "You're new girlfriend certainly is charming." and then giggles. * Millie cups her wrist underneath her chin and smirks at John. * Jinx takes out the bullet that at recently been in his head. "I'm going to have to remember to return to its owner. Oh, that reminds me, what happened after I went down?" Like I said, if ya could reach me. * Mikoto eyes the wound, then gets a-tweezin'. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 6. ( Hurray for success. sakura keeps her dainty toes. ) * Millie rolls her eyes and mutters under her breath. "Geez, ya really are stupid.." (Sakura does not lose toes! Mikoto, you'll have a difficult job of it, but you'll patch it up fine.) * Tairan reaches into his pack and pulls out a fresh shirt. Sitting down, he removes his old one gingerly, trying not to disturb his recently-healed wounds. He's wiry, but muscled, has a few minor scars on him... and a rather odd symbol branded between his shoulderblades that any Shomuran paying attention would recognize [cont'd] * MaryAnne says to Millie "I really would like to leave this horrid place as soon as possible." * Mikoto carefully removes the bullet, then makes with the wound closure/bandaging. "There. Don't put your full weight on it for a day or so, and it should be fine." Thank you. * Millie talks over her shoulder. "Yeah, me too, but it's still a matter of where we're goin'..." * Mikoto closes up the bag. "Threats notwithstanding, you're quite welcome." ( It's the Shomuran Mark of Shame. Branded onto people who've Betrayed the Empire or somesuch. ) ( Oooh, I'm not looking at you! And as a government assassin, thank god I'm not! ) * MaryAnne sighs and says quitely "Yes, that would be the question, although as long as it's away from here, it'd certainly be an improvement." * Tairan has his new shirt on. Too late! ( Although I'm sure in my line of work, overzealous execution of side projects is probably frowned upon. ) * Millie whispers back. "I'm inclined to agree." She calls out to the rest of them. "Oy. Any clue where this pretty-boy-swordsman's headed up?" * Tairan folds up his old one, and puts it into his pack. "Gonna hafta wash that next chance I get..." His new shirt looks exactly like his old one; a dark green short-sleeved tunic. * Jinx goes to mount Lightning, he pets the side of her next once he's up. * John nods. He packs up the case on Hazel and mounts up, and his clothes don't look any worse for the wear. How'd he manage that? "Who wants ta ride with Fanfan in tow?" * Sakura limps up and climbs onto Horse. * Mikoto ties his things to Hazel and breathes out. "Good lord, I'm tired. Try to take better care of yourselves in life or death struggles from now on." (Because where would anime be without the protagonists wearing the same thing.) (And he managed that because he got shot in the hand ;) ) ( Well-animated with a large budget? ) Not really. We know he split up from Jan nearby... best thing'd prolly be to follow the tracks back out of the city, see if we can pick up a branching point I missed before. Outta the city...that's a good idea, yep. [Aww, lookit that sunset, isn't it pretty?] * Jinx nods. "Even if we could track Jan from here, she doesn't have the tablet. Let's blow this place." (Ride into the sunset!) (You know you want to. ^_^) (And away from the legions of undead rising at dusk!) m'starting to get a feel for this terrain... though the darkness won't help matters. Anyone object to following the trail we took into the city out, then trying to pick up Kojiro's at first light? * Mikoto glances at John. "What did you do with the other orb?" Hey, Sakura. Does 'Horse' mind carrying Fanfan? Best idea I've heard all day. Oh? Still in the case. Horse is a horse. I can not promise she will not fall off however. Ah. *he pauses* May I see it? Yeah. It's probably back there. * John shrugs. "Jus' try and make sure she doesn't." ( Horse is a horse, of course. ) ( Of Course. ) * Jinx rides over to Tairan. * John shrugs. He opens the case and hands the orb to Makoto. "If ya hold on to it, I bet it'll shatter jus' like the last one." ( And Sakura can't talk to Horse, of course. Because that horse is not the famous Mr. Ed. ) ( As far as you know. ) ( What would a talking horse be anyway? Two major items? ) * Mikoto raises an eyebrow and takes the orb, looking at it. "Well, here's hoping it doesn't. Though it didn't hurt you, so it's probably safe." ( Probably servant. ) (That'd be a servant.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 7. * Millie rides back towards the tracks, out of town, off towards the sunset. Her pigtails blow behind her as the sun glistens slightly off her exposed shoulders and off Pepper's coat. * Mikoto blinks. "Huh. A bit strange, but not really harmful. Not quite sure... what it does, though." * John keeps the case open. "Ya got me." * Mikoto shrugs and puts it back in. "Maybe I'll take another look later. Or someone else is certainly welcome to." * Jinx glances down at Tairan. "Mount up and let's beat it." * John places the orb in the case and closes said case. "Let's get going, we got a tablet to find." He rides off into the sunset. * Mikoto also rides into the sunset! Because he's on John's horse. * Tairan hops up onto the horse. "Who am I to argue with a man that can look Death in the eye and stomp on its foot?" A fool. ( Good answer. ) (Yep - Tairan's getting along with his girlfirned quite well - yup ;) ( You better mean Horse, because Sakura is more likly to stab him. ) ( Jinx came back from the dead as a girl? o_O ) ( HAR. ) * Jinx grins. "You should have listened early. Like I've said before, I *always* survive." Jinx then rides Lightning into the sunset. * Mikoto sighs, speaking fairly quietly, presumably so only John can hear. "I hope I didn't make a fool of myself back there." [And so, you ride into the sunset.] [Session End.]