[Last session, you guys met Will and he stalled you enough so you ran! And so did your Injun friends (Jinx included, as it happens). You're still running! Hopefully you'll meet somewhere, or you're going to be in a bit of trouble.] [It's still night. The two Injuns who you're sure survived (they ran, too) are currently nowhere to be found.] [Ready set session start!] * Jinx and Tairan meet up outside of town, in sight of the train station. Jinx is scowling. * Jinx and Tairan are both on Lightning, assuming Tairan didn't jump off. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-3) and gets 4. 2d6-7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-7) and gets -1. The military term for this little operation is 'clusterfuck'. The cardplayer's term for this is '52 card pickup.' I do not believe that is a real term. ( Military science rolls! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 6. ( I believe SNAFU also applies. :P) ( Specialization? ) ( Or FUBAR) (FUBAR!) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 4. [Whoever makes it realizes no, that's not technically the term for that operation. :P] (So is it SNAFU or FUBAR? I think FUBAR, this goes beyond situation normal. :P) (Did we REALLY need to roll for that? That just seemed goofy.) ( Well, what did you think? ) (*looks in* ...what the hell. c.c;) Right, so, we failed, he's probably going to be heavily guarded for at least a week to come. So, I say we fold. Well, yes. The main purpose of going after Will was to free John. John's free, somehow. So now we wait to go after Will until the right opportunity presents itself. * Jinx stretches. "And if John doesn't actually have a good plan, and a crew ready to follow that plan, I'll be sure to wish him the best of luck as he goes off to implement it." * Jinx checks over his shotgun, making sure that it's loaded and such. This entire thing... ergh. Bandit hunting was easy. Find 'em in the forest, meet up with your reinforcements, capture who you can, kill who you have to. Hunting the tablet, this... used to a better success rate. * Jinx nods. "I don't even mind hunting the tablet. I mean you find it, and attack the people who possess it, or negotiate with the implied threat of force. Simple really." The finding it... I mean, right now, we've got no leads on it. The whole John thing just killed it back in Redrock. Yeah, and this saving John stuff, that's been a, what's that term, clusterfuck from the start. Only thing that went right was rescuing those slaves. Ain't never had this much trouble finding everyone... s'like they were just toying with us, repeatedly leading us into trap after trap. * Tairan nods. "There is that. s'something to feel good about at the end of the day." Of course, with John having escaped, we can't very well escort them back to Redrock for a well-deserved pat on the back. * Jinx snorts. "Didn't make any money off it, but, well I suppose that's my heroism for the year." So what do you want to do now? Some of use could go back into town and check with Mary Anne. We see if there's any leads and if there aren't I guess I'm unemployed again. Problem is, with John escaped... I doubt the law is gonna be too happy with us wandering Redrock. * John walks calmly over to Jinx. "The law's after me, not you guys. And Mary Anne is someone I can trust, so you can at least discuss with her the situation." * Jinx shrugs. "I didn't break him out.. Will might be a problem, but I figure that bastard is bright enough not to put bounties on us just to get us to come after him again." Yes, but the law sees us as your friends. You broke out. If I were them, I'd wanna talk to me for a while about that, regardless of whether or not we had anything to do with it. ... and how the hell *did* you get out? * Sakura is silent, as this is not a discussion about stabbing bandits in the face. You'll find out if you talk to anyone who witnessed it. I hoped not to use that trick, though... They'll be ready next time. * Jinx shrugs. "They hastle me, I'll ask where my bounty was for bringing in John in the first place." Blinded them with your painfully shiny teeth? And Jinx is right. Hell, I could probably walk back a week from now and they wouldn't give me a second glance as long as I don't cause any trouble. * Jinx looks over to John with a hint of a smile. "Although how about a straight answer, I haven't had enough information on a damn thing I've done since leaving Redrock." * John looks back, a slight smile on his face. "Magic." * Jinx grins. "You're a mage? I'd never have guessed that." Wouldn't say I'm a mage. But I must have picked up something along the way. * Jinx then frowns. "I do hope Will doesn't actually have Running Clowd, but she's a smart girl and she's got powers, she can probably handle herself." * Jinx nods. "Nice edge if you can get it." * John frowns. "There isn't any way to find out if he does or not. He's certainly not going to tell you." He's a creepy little bastard. ... not that I'm one to talk about screwed up siblings. I could have told you that. Most scumbags I've met are only too happy to trumpet their actions... he kept on denying it all. * Tairan removes his hat and scratches his head. "That confused me, I gotta admit." And we should have asked, man that was a mess. Anyways, some of the slaves saw the people that were responsible, they can testify to that. Perhaps he is not responsible. It's what makes him dangerous. He's too smart and dishonorable to ever incriminate himself... * Jinx shrugs. "Simple, he's smart and knows how to turn a bad situation to his advantage. You don't have muscle like that as a treasurer unless you're up to no good. Guy not only dodged a point-blank shotgun blast, but pulled Will outta the way. That's some kinda skill. Anyways, the slaves can testify against him, or more likely some of his lackies he sent to coordinate them. That'll screw him up for a while. (Perception: Hearing or sight roll.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I love you. Do you love me too? Y_ N_" 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 9. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 9. [Sakura hears something approaching. Probably a horse, and it's from the city.] Otherwise, only thing is to kill him, doubt you'll ever get that conviction lifted John, I'm sorry to say. Unless you find some mage to rig the game. I could care less. * Jinx then blink. "And here come the girls." Right then. Do the world a favor and kill him or get together with some of the easterners and hire one of those sneaky types to do it. Are you sure it is them? * Jinx nods. "20:1 in favor." * Tairan looks over to where Jins was looking. "Good eyes." * Millie gallops along towards the group, slowing down Pepper, Fanfan on the back. She stops to dismount and looks around at the group gathered. Especially John. * John looks back at the rest of the group. "Good evening ladies." * Fanfan dismounts, her hair in a knot on the back of her neck, void of ornaments, wearing a dark blue cloak over her normal wear. * Jinx nods in acknowledgement to Millie. * Millie gives John Pretty Smile #21(Smiling without really meaning it). "Good evening." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 4. * Tairan tips his cap to the ladies. * Millie then takes a swing at John's face. (John, give me CR def (unarmed).) * Fanfan blinks and steps back. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-2) and gets 7. * Jinx snorts and looks amused. [John takes the punch right in the face. There's a crack that might mean his pretty nose broke.] * Sakura draws her sword. ... nice form. Might wanna throw your hips into a bit more, though. Get better power. (... Break my nose? <.<) * Millie smirks and cracks her knuckles. "Welcome back Johnny! I hope ya enjoyed your stay in prison." She narrows her eyes and scowls at him. "Because ya got alotta explainin' ta do." Relax Sakura, I think Millie was just making a point. (You get punched in the face recently? :P) She attacked him. * Millie hmmphs. You may want to lump up all her offenses and save them for that duel, Sakura. After this business is concluded. Now what the hell was that? * Jinx grins over to Sakura. "Consider that a western means of reconciling disagreements." ... though that wasn't especially ladylike. *grins* * John takes it and stays standing, stepping back a step to keep balance. "I enjoyed it very much, no thanks to you." No, it wasn't. It wasn't meant ta be. Didja know I went all the way outta my way jus' ta try an' bust ya out, we ALL did, an' ya have nerve enough ta just show UP here!? In the middle of tryin' ta capture your fool of a brother. Whom, I might add, ya never told us was yer YOUNGER brother." Oh, okay. I suppose you'd rather have me *dead* in Redrock, hmm? An' because we screwed up so horribly, Running Cloud is STILL captured somewhere. * Millie sighs and lets her hands fall limply to her sides. "Ya jus' don't get it Johnny. I mean...couldn'tcha have laid low for a while at least...? * Millie steps forward and brushes John's cheek with the back of her hand. "But it is good ta see ya." * Sakura leans over to Tairan. "Does she want to hit him or kiss him? I am confused." * Fanfan suppresses, barely, a snicker. * Jinx grins to Sakura. "This is the eternal question, one you need not worry about, as you don't date Western women." * Millie blushes bright red and swirls around. "Kiss him?! HIM?!? Why I--I've never...Gah!" Possibly both. * Millie turns away from John, obviously embarrassed. * John smiles, then looks over at Sakura and stifles a chuckle. But then, the ways of Western women frighten and confuse me. ... much like the ways of Eastern women, actually. * Jinx snorts and comments in a straight tone. "Damn, I was in jail for a while and didn't get a brush on the cheek, maybe I should have had some charges trumped up." * Millie sighs slightly and then looks over everyone. "But the question still remains. What are we gonna do about Running Cloud...and the tablet..?" [*ting* There's no light, but you know.] * John puts his hand on Millie's shoulder. "Look, I'm back. You guys don't have to deal with Will right now... He's my demon to deal with. First we need to find the tablet and Running Cloud. You say Will captured her?" I can't jus' leave her here. Millie don't run from no pansy kidnappers. That is hard to believe. Well, they said the slavers got her when they sacked the village. Presumably he's got her but... We got beat Millie, beat bad, he'll probably be under heavy guard for the next few weeks. He might keep her at the capital, might in his house, we just don't have any information to go on. * John nods and folds his hands behind his, thinking.... * Millie hmmphs and shrugs off John's hand. "Who said ya could do that? Jus' cuz I'm nice ta ya." [Y'all hear the sound of a train approaching. It's coming from the south.] (Watch me not bother with perception. It's a TRAIN.) So yer jus' gonna leave her here, Jinxy? * Millie turns to look at Jinx with careful eyes. ( Since you didn't bother with perception, it runs everyone over. ) I don't see where we have a choice. My vote is that we regroup, take care of some business with the tablet, see if we can pick up the trail, and take another shot at Will sometime when the heat ain't quite so high. * Todd is now known as Mikoto (Choo choo!) * Jinx looks back at Millie. "And what the hell am I supposed to do? I don't do hostage rescue, and he's going to have most of the town guard watching him for a few weeks I'd bet." We got no leads on that either. Besides, no tellin' where she'll end up in that time. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Jinx sighs. "There's no telling where she is now." You could always force entry into the house. * Millie growls at Jinx. "Well we've gotta find out about it SOMEHOW. Jus' because YOU got yer tail licked don't mean I hafta take it." [The train pulls up to the station and comes to a stop. Soon after, there's the muffled roar of a small flood of people getting off.] ( Followed by a much larger flood of syrup. ) ... I'm gonna move to this side of the horse, and stay out of this conversation. * Jinx looks back. "Just because you want to do something don't mean you CAN do something. You got a plan?" * Tairan scoots back about an inch. We can go to the police station. Unless ya think Will's got them in his pocket too. He does. * Mikoto is dimly visible in the distance, retrieving his horse from the animal car handler and walking her out of the crowd. In your general direction, in fact. * Fanfan follows Tairan's strategy. * Jinx nods. "He's smart, we've got to assume that." * Millie sighs. "Well, I don't know. Is there anyone he ain't seen that askin' about a purdy Injun gal won't cause too much interest?" * Fanfan turns around, blinks, and points at Mikoto. "Him." * Tairan points a thumb over at Mikoto in the distance. "What she said." That works. * Millie looks over at Mikoto and blinks, then smirks. "Perfect." * Fanfan goes over to Mikoto. "Back so soon?" * Jinx shakes his head. "Will holds all the cards here. If he had Running Cloud, he wouldn't show her off to anyone he couldn't trust." * Mikoto stops, tilting his head curiosily. "For why am I being looked at? Also, why is John not dead?" Yeah, but we also got a scout in him too. Because he escaped, of course. Because you weren't here for our rather impressive failure to capture Will, and because John has secret powers. Presumably because he loves Millie as well, as would be cliched and appropriate. * Jinx looks over to Mikoto. "You ever ask those slaves what the hell those slavers looked like?" Yeah. What girl didja charm this time, Johnny? * John rolls his eyes. "Please, I have enough trouble with that." Besides his ability to attract vaguely psychotic women. * Millie coughs at Sakura's comment. Seems to be choking in fact. Millie seems to fit that description. * Fanfan blinks again at Sakura. * Fanfan then snerks. * Jinx looks over to Sakura, fairly surprised and a tad puzzled, he then looks back to Millie. "Scout.. damn, a good idea, almost forgot what they sounded like." ... I ain't touchin' that one with a ten foot pole. * Millie grins at Jinx. "I get 'em once and a while, y'know." * Mikoto looks confused. He raises a finger to say something, then stops, pauses again, and speaks. "No, I didn't, but they and Alexis are continuing to make a slow trek toward Redrock. They should arrive any decade now. What kind of special power does John have? And why is it you couldn't beat Will?" Magic, and a very capable bodyguard coupled with the town guard. Because he called a bluff an' stalled like the rat he is. Millie's right. What I don't get is how he successfully called our bluff when we weren't supposed to be bluffing in the first place. Why do you think he's still alive? Because we weren't trying to kill him, particularly. We wanted him aliveish. * Mikoto drinks that all in, then pauses again. "Well, I guess that leaves us free to resume looking for the tablet." For the information. And he wouldn't give it up. * Millie looks at John. "What I wanna know is how did he end up framin' ya Johnny? I mean...how old was he when this whole thing happened?" No, but we were trying to kill the bodyguard. Well, I was. Obviously I didn't do a good job of it. * Millie eyes Mikoto. "What about Running Cloud?" Few years back. So that'd make him what? * Mikoto blinks. "I'm sure she's fine and eventually capable of breaking out on her own. Though I do have to say, John being freshly wanted really is a poser." Mmm... Yeah, he was sixteen at the time. * Jinx shrugs. "I'd outwitted a fair number of men by that age, and Will's damn sure smarter than I am." * Jinx looks over to Mikoto. "On the off chance that saving Running Cloud's easy, could you send that magical bird of yours to scout Will's house. It'll be the one under guard." * Millie eyes John. "Are you sure 'bout that?" * Mikoto has the deceny to look mildly affronted. "Her name is Mirabel, and while she could certainly scout, I'd need to be nearby, and she can't talk which makes deciphering the reconnaisance a little challenging." ( Let's just blow up his house. :D ) (I've got dynamite!) (I'm down with that.) ( No, all the money, I mean Running cloud, would blow up with it!) I hope I'd know the age of my own brother. * Jinx has the deceny not to care. "How nearby, and can she, and can Mirabel understand you and step with her claw or nod in response? Lost some money when I saw a horse do that once, figure she's smarter than that horse." Yeah. * Millie rubs her forehead. "I guess." ...she is considerably smarter than a horse. She understands yes or no questions. (She might be smarter than John. I dunno.) (Probably smarter than Jinx. :P) * Millie rubs her chin. "An' if we grab a map of the town, could she point out where she went maybe?" (I dunno. GMs? She has Mind 4. Yet she also can't act autonomously in combat, so I dunno where to draw the line.) ( She's at least as smart as me, then. =P ) (Eh, she's not smarter than John. I know that.) And whether Running Cloud was there. And maybe the number of men, that'd be nice. ::he looks at Millie:: And I'm still going to want at least another good idea, and my share of the contents of his safe, err, the evidence, if I'm in on this. ( .. the bird is as smart as Sakura. That bothers me. ) (That's saying a lot.) (She can understand you, certainly. It's just she can't *talk*. So if you have some sort of system, go for it.) * Millie rolls her eyes. "Ever the charitable one, eh Jinxy?" * Mikoto puts up a finger. "Let me question for the moment the necessity of saving Running Cloud from a recent post-pubescent?" * Millie eyes Mikoto. "Ya didn't see the state the village was left in, didja?" * Jinx grins back. "Do tell me what my percentage is on anything I've done in the last week, and I'll answer that question." * Mikoto looks completely neutral. "No, I didn't. Do you have a *plan*? Intel? Something of that necessary nature? And why are we having this conversation in (choose one: a train station, the street)?" (We're out of town, some distance from the train station.) * Millie sighs. "In the meantime, if the rest of ya wanna go look for some clues on the tablet, I have no objections. * Mikoto rubs his temples. "Technically speaking, clearing John's name will make looking for the tablet a lot easier, but..." He eyes John. "Suddenly you're a magician and you were duped by your brother and framed when he was 16? Even I'm having a hard time believing it all." I asked you to. I didn't say you have to... I can just go off on my own again. * Millie eyes Mikoto and starts to speak, then looks at John. "At least I'm not the only one who thinks so." Children can be cunning too. Maybe John is just an idiot. Look, Mikoto, the kid is the treasurer of Garson city and has his own bodyguard, a big guy whose faster than my shotgun. John meanwhile is an outlaw chased by women throughout the world, that hangs out with us. Which one of the two do you think is the evil genius of the family. So ya got some explainin' ta do, Johnny. Spill it. Is there anything ELSE ya didn't tell us? And when we saw him...he seemed knowledgeable, at least in the ways of economics. Might he not also be knowledgeable in other ways? Anything else about what? ...So what you're saying is, someone in a steady job but who would be prone to robbery has an excellent bodyguard, and this makes him an evil genius? Other than he wet his bed until he was 6. * Millie looks at Sakura and blinks, then back to the group, pointing at her. "Well I'll be damned. This is the first time I agree with her." (The fact that John hangs out with you sold me Jinx's argument. ;P) I did not say that. I said there was a possibility. * Jinx shrugs. "Look, if Mirabel can scout, let her scout, if she's at his house, Will's a slaver, and it is worth killing him for that alone." Jinx's got a point. * Mikoto shrugs back. "A reasonable enough request. I'll need a street map, and a nearby vantage point." * Millie digs through her pack, seeing if she happens to have a street map of Garson. * John nods. * Jinx nods. "And afterwards you'll get your fair share of any evidenc we find in his house. Cause Sakura can open safes with a swing of her sword." * Fanfan blinks, her eyes semi-shielded. (Day or evening right now?) (Evening. It's early morning.) Framing his brother for murder and running a slavery operation qualifies one for evil, if not genius. * Jinx scowls. "He talked his way out of having a blade at his throat. Trust me, that's not easy, I know." * Fanfan doesn't look happy at that reminder either. * Millie sighs and shakes her head. "Ain't got one. Wonder where we could get one. Or I'll try ta remember what I can an' draw up a crude one...your call." (For good reason. :P) * Mikoto mms. "A city development office might have one, provided Garson has such a thing, but... to find if Running Cloud is there or not probably won't require a map." Raight, but ta get your bird ta tell us where she went and where might be best to approach from will.. * Millie takes a short breath and looks at Mikoto. "Sorry. Mirabel." * Mikoto smiles pleasantly. "My sincerest thanks for your consideration." * Millie thinks a little, then looks at John. "I'm tryin' ta remember. Does Garson have somethin' like that?" Yeah, we should get what direction to approach from, a count on the men, and whether Running Cloud was inside. * Mikoto shakes his head. "I think the best I can do is find out if she's there. More than that... she is my partner, and she's quite bright, but she is still an animal." Well, it's better than nothin'. Not last I was here three years ago. But a bit has changed, so... I wouldn't be surprised. * Millie looks at John. "Alright. Where would Will be most likely?" * Jinx smiles. "Well, don't say I don't give Mirabel sufficient credit." I wouldn't be surprised if he left, or stayed holed up at home. Raight. Can ya give directions to where he'd go home then? At least we can check there. * Jinx looks at John. "And a layout of the place after that, though he's probably made some changes. Hmm.. and a secret entrance, that'd be helpful as well." A secret entrance would be trapped. * Jinx smiles at Sakura. "Charity, can't help you there; plans, mine are worse than nothing; pursuing justice, even worse; but traps I could handle." * Mikoto looks non-plussed. "I still say this is a bit extraneous, but if it expedites getting on with our goal, then let's get it done and over with." * Jinx looks over to Mikoto. "If it makes you feel any better, if we do this, Will won't have access to a a secret way under the mountains for acquiring Eastern slaves." * Mikoto looks around. "How about we find somewhere to stay and then get started in the morning?" ...um. Considering that all of us that Will saw are highly recognizable, and that our descriptions are probably being circulated even now, getting someplace to stay in the city may not be such a good idea. Outside of town. * Fanfan nods. "Has to be." * Millie nods to Fanfan a little. Will seems to work late. We can camp outside of town, and at dusk scout the place, get in before he gets home. * John nods. Sides, I could use a day of sleeping in. Heh. * Mikoto nods. "Alright, then." * Jinx looks to Millie. "And I'm still counting on you to have a real plan once we get that scouting report." * Millie sighs. "Me too." * Millie grins at Jinx. "Don't worry 'bout that part. If she's there, we're goin' after him." * Jinx eyes her. "Alright, but if there's no plan, there better really be no plan. None of this talking and not shooting people on sight." I can live with that. * Fanfan nods at Jinx. "It is rather...discomfiting." * Millie eyes Jinx right back. "Tell me when you gave me a signal." * Jinx doesn't break eye contact with Millie. "Won't make that mistake twice. I give the signal now, shoot him first chance you get." Gotcha. See, it's that simple. * Millie goes to find a spot to set up camp. ... that bodyguard of his has a good eye. We better watch that. * Jinx nods and grins. "Right.. simple, that's all I ask for." As he walks after Millie he adds. "That and a cut of his ill gotten gains." * Jinx says the last part quietly. :P * Fanfan nods at Tairan. [And so, you went to camp. Outside of town, 'cause you ain't welcome there.] [Session End!]