Lewis251

Bellum Numquam Mutat (B.N.M.)

Reserving Oregon/Washington NCR territory

Hider

name: The NCR 4th Division- The Mechanized Division

Flag: The standard NCR flag but with Tank behind the Bear

Population:

Territory: West Oregon. Headquarters in the town of Eugene

History:

The youngest of the NCR divisons, the mechanzied divison orginally starting out as an Branch of the Supply core but as more vehicles (both per-war and in a few cases post war) where found, repair and pushed into service it was decided to make proper Division to organise the effecive use of the NCR Vehicles.

By the time of the second battle of the Hoover dam the Mechanized Division was an small force to be reckoned with over [record redacted] units. However after the first few units sent to the mojave began to suffer mechincal flaws due to sand and dirt intake it was decided not to field them in mojave- espically after the hopevilie supply line blew up.

instead the order was given to spread the bulk of Mechanized Division out along the I-15, ready to pretty much slaughter the legion should they succed at hoover.... Or would have slaughtered with couriers nuke dashing any chance of an Quick mechanized counter-victory.

Colonel Alex Kimball, the black sheep of the kimball family had been scouting out territory up north Oregon and thus avoided the fate of his fellow officers. As the highest ranking Mechanized officer to survive Alex was recalled to the capital, he learned enroute that he had been promoted to general... and that his older brother had shot himself.

Government:

Notable People:

Colonel/General Alex Kimball

Captain Skylar- Hates communists

Economy:

Culture:

Religion: Atheists

Technology:

Military: (be reasonable).

200 Mechanized Division troopers- You tend have an staffing issues after most of your army is nuked.

17 motorcycles- An collection of Per-war "lone wanderer" Motorbikes and post-war handmade "motorbikes" of various degrees of qaulity. Fast, easy to fix and fuel (fusion cells) they are useful for getting around quickly.

2 Post-war buggies- Post war production buggies

12 Automobiles- An collection of per-war Civilian Cars that the Mechanized Division seized from NCR elite ruling class has access to. Supposedly Highwayman #5 belonged to someone famous long ago.

7 IVF'S- The infantry fighting vehicle (the APC from Fallout4 ) Would be useful for carrying troopers to the front and providing covering fire.... if the Mechanized Division had the Men to transport in these.

2 military flatbed trucks- Simple nuclear power trucks for carrying stuff around on.

1- Vetibird- on permanent loan from the air force Along with the pilot, Captain Skylar

3 - NCR tanks - The Per-war united states of American and NCR frontline two barrel battle tank- Heavy armoured and with considerable firepower it can take on pretty much anything the wasteland has to offer (provided it's well supplied and looked after)

1- AT APA (Anti-power armour) experimental Puma vehicle - With the development of power armour soon came the fear that rival nations would soon invent their own.

One such proposed countermeasure was the Puma- an lightly armoured but quick & agile all-terrain Willys MX200 Jeep but with an powerful (and experimental) Anti-power armour Gauss rifle (F4 model) mounted in the Turret slot. The Great war and an argument over what to call the vehicle prevented the project from ever leaving prototype stage per war but the NCR has since improved design most notably not having engine die every time it was fired although it is still single shot.

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

John Blackburn- The Plan

"Not looking for work mister. Looking for Lilly. That waitress, you seen her? I, I fucked up. I have a thing for her. Tell her, if you see her, tell her that I'm sorry. I fucked up. I spended the morning waiting on her at the train station. She never showed."

“oh… well I’ll keep an eye out for her, If she has any brains in her head she would prepare first for trip instead of just jumping on the first available train…..You almost always end up regretting that.” John chuckled as he remembered an particular bloody train ride.

"You say $10 dollars and $2 a day on top of that?" a dirty man with a needful look asks.

"I've got some fellas could take you out that way. Don't know exactly where you unnerstand, but we seen abouts where he were goin' with all that gear."

Dreadful English these colonials speak…. Better than French I guess

John chuckled “well in that case let’s make it into a completion! Gather up your friends and meet me and the bed & breakfast... Once we reach the area whoever finds the mine first get’s the $10 bonus!”

Leaving the two locals John returned to the bed and breakfast by now his companions along with solider boy and Miss Aveline had awoken and where awaiting/eating breakfast.

“Good morning” John said as he sat down in few spot and opened his briefcase to take out some Birtish Grey tea.

For a few brief movements John’s suitcase was open and anyone nearby curious to look inside (skill check perhaps?) could notice that for an “business man” John had some rather odd things inside: A very sharp looking steel… stake? what appeared to be silver… bullets? an opium flower, some sort of badge, similar to a sheriff but differently sharped and a small vial with a red liquid inside… why would John have these things?

Closing the case John began to prepare some Birtish grey tea for everyone has he spoke “I’ve hired some local… labours to carry the mining equipment and take us to Charlie’s mine

or well the general area

“Once we finish Breakfast I suggest we head out there, locate the mine and hopefully unaltered Ghost rock.” John said as he finished making the tea and began handing it out to those who wanted some. “We may even be able to find out what Charlie in the process.”

“Likewise, once down in the Mine I doubt will we need Leblanc’s… Skills so he can use the time to hunt down the escaping Panther, I know you need the money.” John added on as he turned to the solider boy “Speaking of which we could use another Guard... Pay’s $2 dollars a day if you interested.”

“I’d also like you to come Miss Aveline…” John said as he turned to Young women and took a slip of his tea “Mines can be dangerous places and we could use someone with medical knowledge”

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

John Blackburn- The general store.

Following the Father, the group made its way to the general store. A rather plain and sparsely stocked store but if they needed to replace some mining/scouting equipment it looked like most of it was here...

What really matters though is the price.

The father then spouting the typical religious nonsense about things they didn’t know. “It’s not natural I don’t believe. Everything is of the Father of course, and I have never read anything about it in the Good Book, but I read plenty enough about temptation and that Ghost Rock she is a temptation. You’ll see.”

“I wouldn’t rely on that book for everything father.” John reply “After all it says nothing about the people of Indian or china yet you don’t think they are magic, do you?

Taking out a notepad and pencil John jotted down some notes and observation as the father opened up a locked box which housed the Ghost rock. Despite the boxes size giving the impression of an large object it was instead an large number of rags bunched up filling the majority of the box. There is an immediate magnetism as the lid opens. A desire to see that object laid bare, to examine it intimately.

It’s magnetic? interesting

That was went the father said something rather… odd “Don’t mean to say you boys are fools now. I know well enough how much money these things bring and how much they’re driving the expansion out West. I suppose everyone knows that. Just. It just. It feels to me like the thing for a mind of its own. Feels to me like it killed Charles and it know’d what it was doing.”
Rocks can’t be alive, can they? Could be possessed but why would a something posse a rock?

Putting his glove back on he brushes aside the rags to reveal the a rather large piece of cratered white rock, presumably the Ghost rock. “Looks a bit like coal at first don’t it? Like white coal?”

It did indeed look like white coal but looking closer John noticed it had Sharp edged mini little craters. At first, he though these could have caused by the mining but he noticed several of them where almost identical and not something accidently caused. perhaps this piece had been craved? Especially if the old miner had decided to keep it.

Flipping to an empty page in his notebook John drew a rough sketch of the Ghost rock and it's craved mini craters. Could be useful if they had to describe the rock to some native Americans. “Is it possible to meet the mine owner?”

---- The graveyard----

When John asked to meet the miner owner he didn’t expect this. The father had taken the group to back to chapel to freshly filled in grave with a rather modest headstone compared to some of the others, several of which had that odd flag on them.

Standing by the grave the father procced to tell the story on the mine owner. Supposedly he was a Good man who’d help build sellina and that it was only a few months that he’d found the ghost rock. However, after finding the rock something had happen to Charlie he came back “real quiet” and didn’t want to talk about the mine, or the rock, or the fortune. Didn't bother to try to sell all that equipment. Was always nervous and always hungry."

What the father descripted happen to Charlie reminded john of a few soldiers he seen or heard about “losing it” rather bad battle experiences although those men never died… They went… crazy, imagining themselves back in the battle and attacked their fellow soldiers when they went to help them.

The solider man then asked the question of the day “Was it the rock that did this to him.”

"That's the question isn't it? It's one that's been ticking in the back of my head." He rubs his wrists in thought, trying to figure out how honest he should really be but deciding to just unburden himself. "I'm a Father, you understand yes? I've devoted my life to the Good Book. I believe deeply in the Lord. In his power and his wisdom. In his central goodness. And this entire experience, it has thrown me for a loop."

“We are missing a piece of the Puzzle… what happened at the mine.” John replied “but it’s getting bloody late now and there is still one of the panthers lurking about… let’s continuing this in the morning.”

The next day- The bed and breakfast.

John awoke earlier smell of sizzling bacon. The father may have been deluded fool believing in some false sky god but atleast he or someone he hired cooked good food. Getting dressed in black suit (although today he decided not to put on the vest) John picked up his suitcase and went outside.

Looking around for an toady to recruit John noticed the guy that been beaten up yesterday in the bar by Frenchie. His nose already healing well though still swollen. “You there." John said as he approached the man. "I apologise for what happen yesterday, the Frog can take things to the extreme sometimes.”

“Anyway, I assume you are looking for work correct? Well I may be able to help you, for today atleast.” John added on as he handed the man an Union American dollar bill “Me and friends are looking for the father’s friend Charlie’s ghost rock mine”

“I am willing to pay 10 dollars to anyone who can take us there. Additionally, at 2 dollars per day I’m also looking for two labours to carry some equipment for us and likely some mining depending on the state of the mine….”

Is 2 dollars enough? Let’s see what says.

“please spread word of this around town. If you can find all three: the guide and two labours there’s an extra dollar in it for you.."

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

Sir John Blackburn - Heading to the church

"Oh," the Sheriff reacts with a genuine grin, "More prospectors out to make their fortune? How droll. "

do we look like prospectors? okay many the frog does....

"Prospectors? "John chuckled "Somewhat Sir but we have not crossed the ocean for quick profit but for Science! this "Ghost Rock" is recent discovered. From what I understand it can used fuel but what else can it? can it be smeltered and worked with for example"

As John spoke to the sheriff the quite woman had finished treating the uncultured swine and had stood back up. Disgracefully wiping her bloody hands on her dress she picked up the small board she had been carrying and seeming wrote something. when she was finished the mute woman moved over to the men, waving her hand slightly to get their attention. She turned the board around, and there written in clean handwriting reads: "I might know someone who can tell you about someone who owns an active mine!"

John was confused why the cute woman had used an Board, could she not speak or something? but before he could the sheriff countined "The woman, I believe she is referring to the Father's friend. Had a claim out someways, suppose it's lost now. Not sure what he found, but he didn't seem quite as excited as I would have expected."

Probably something wrong with it then.... should find out more.

"Aveline," he calls out in an unnecessarily loud voice, "Be a good girl and show these men to the Father won't you."

The cute woman, seeming called Aveline. Glanced at the Europeans and smiled at them before seeming day dreaming, John turned to the sheriff "I know it's rude for an gentlemen to ask but is....uh... Okay?" he quietly and awkwardly asked.

A few movement later Aveline stopped day dreaming, curtising she gave little wave and ushered the men to follow her out of the Bar and a short distance down to the street to town's Catholic church.Reaching Aveline knocked on the door as John looked up at the Church bell "A church... been an long time since I went to one of these.. Not since Zoya died."

Reaching into his Jacket John took out small sliver pocket watch. Opening it there was small & sight faded now picture of himself (back when he was in the Army) and heavily pregnant Indian woman, his wife. She had died slowly after this picture was taken during childbirth, never getting to see their little daughter grow up although after happened to her perhaps that was a good thing..

it had to be done to keep her alive...

"well atleast I can still enter these places."John muttered to himself as he put the watch away as an elderly priest open the door and introduced himself as Father O'Flanagan.

"Hello Father, My name is Sir John Blackburn and these are my associates Franz Kaufmann & Constantin LeBlanc. The town sheriff and lovely Miss Aveline? said you could tell us where we could find some this marvellous new "ghost rock" mineral."

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

Dragonbud: maybe a [Healing] Check?

OOC: Also John speaks with an Yorkshire (think Sean Bean) accent.

Sir John Blackburn- A Frenchman walks into an Bar

"Hold onto this for me, will you..." the Frenchman stated as he pressed his inferior French garbage, Gras model 1874 rifle into John's hand..

no wonder they keep on losing with shit like this...

"Umm Okay?" John replied interested to see if Constrain would follow though with John's request.

Without another word, he stepped into the establishment with John watching from the door. "You there! Hold up a moment...let me help you.." His steps were calm, as he approached man who had insulted the waitress "Here we go..." Offering his hand, he helped him up, only to smash his left fist right into his face. A kick into his side followed, before Constantin would reach for the head, holding it into his hands, before smashing his knee into the visage.

"Interesting... Even with me he's willing to perform "jobs" John muttered to himself as he watch Leblanc scream "SIT YOUR ASS DOWN..." to one of the local who was about to help his friend... only to have second thoughts after the Frenchman yelled at him.
very intimidating could be useful when I can't persuade someone
"You still have something on your arm. You spilled your drink? Wait, I help you...fils de pute!" the rabid Frenchman declared as he stomped on man's arm attempting to dislocate a shoulder...

"Hmm... maybe abit to brutal, will have to specific." John muttered to himself again as another man stood up. This man had the whole "cowboy" look going on with his double revolvers, the dusty Trench coat and large black hat but a different accent to most of people John had heard in frontier.

[investigation] [knowledge] John attempt to recall where that accent came from.

“I think he had enough? How bout you lay off him?”

this man looks like he could actually put up... how will the dog handle this?

turning around the Frenchman glared at the "cowboy" "Take your fucking hand off, Yankee.." as he Breathed heavy, seeming attempting control himself and not ruthless beat this man like he had done with the other.
so he does have some control.

suddenly the bar doors swung open, John turned and looked at the rather well groomed sheriff enter the Bar. For someone living out the bloody desert this man was rather well clean, looking more like an London gentleman and an frontier town sheriff. His sheriff badge however was rather nice looking. Why couldn't John's department get badges like that?

"Calvin Higgins," he said quickly and to no one in particular, "Sheriff in these parts." he followed up as he looked at man on floor "Looks like he's learned his lesson don't you agree Mr? Well I suppose I missed your names. I'm Calvin Higgins."
Back in the UK Leblanc would have been arrested on the spot.. interesting

"Constantin LeBlanc! I dont take kindly to the abuse of women, nor do the people where i come from! But i agree, sir! He has learned his lesson."

"Miss Aveline."

that was John and Leblanc noticed a silent women entering the establishment, it was women John had seen outside not helping with the coachman but before he say anything the French's Grin moved on his lip. ""Mademoiselle..."

Goddam it... why can't there be a married woman here when you need one.

the wannable seducer LeBlanc a step closer, reached for her hand, and placed a kiss on it. "LeBlanc, at your service, Mademoiselle!" he said as he place his hand on hers, leaving a light trail of blood.

"God dam it LeBlanc, you got blood all over the young lady hand!" John said as he left the shadows of the doorway, reaching into his Jacket pocket john pulled out a crimson red handkerchief from his Jacket pocket and offered it to the lady.

"here take this gar-rifle back" John said as he handed LeBlanc his inferior French Rifle before turning to the sheriff "Sir John Blackburn at your service." he said before giving an small gentleman bow.

"Me, LeBlanc and our companion Kaufman, have to American to investage this new ghost rock material we have hearing all about cross the pond. If anyone here can help or has any information that leads to finding an sizeable source, that we can use I'm willing to pay a commission…"

John then remember these where Americans he was talking to "No wait what do they call it here... ah yes, a Finders fee?"

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

ooc: Updated to include correct bounty price ($50) instead of $500

Sir John Blackburn- Selina

Never again would John underestimate coach driving.

With the coachman injured, the driver dead and the three euros made an 45minute - 1 hour coach ride to town into an painstaking two hours, any long and horses would have dropped down dead from exhaustion, the coachman following them not long afterwards. Helping the coachman exiting the coach it appeared the town was coming out in full force to greet them, seeming gasping at the sight of the dead Panther strapped to the coach.

There attention quickly turned however when they noticed the injured coachman, within a few minutes several town folk, a elderly catholic priest and stretcher had come and took the injured man to church which is likely doubled as the town "clinic" a common feature in small towns like Selina which lacked an proper European trained Doctor.

Note to self: Do not get injured in this town.

Despite the commotion John noticed one town's people, an young woman carrying some sort of board was looking at them "Howdy Ma'dam"

Just then however John was distracted by Franz calling to him and the Frenchman. "This man has our bounty and drink. Let’s go.”

Following the short man (ooc: what does Zeke look like?) John & Franz followed him into a bar and then across a walkway into a taxidermy shop. John was unsure how successful this man was but judging by roaring Bear and perched Eagle he was atleast a very skilled taxidermist. Have them jump out at you'd be half convinced it was real bear attacking you.
what's someone as skilled as him doing in middle of the bloody desert?

"Name's Zeke, Zeke Ritter. My parents you see, they were from Germany too," he pulls out a flyer announcing the bounty and slips it over to Franz who he had seeming confused for an german... "Come to America for a new life"

could use this to our advantage.
With Zeke being happy and perhaps more likely to talk in the company of an fellow "German" John remained silent and hoped Franz would too.
turning back he looked at Franz, seeming looking him up before continued. "I fought for the Union you know. You got that look about you too. Hard to see sometimes, like that feller you saved? You know he was a Rebel? Well a Reb Deserter but a Rebel jus' the same."

"well technically both sides are rebels to Great Britain." John joked as he noticed Zeke's hand was shaking. "alas that was settled long before any of us where born."

"About your money though," zeke stated as he counts out a large pile of American money dollars into two lines on his counter, pushing some of the coins out of the way to make room. "Now then as you can see the reward offered were five hunnerd, but since y'all only killed the one..." he gathers one line and returns it to the register.

"You and Constantin injured the panther did you not?" John asked Franz "Possible that it's aready bleed to death."

"Them critters been botherin' the town fer some time now. You and yer boys go out and hunt the other'n and I'll give the rest of the money, even though I'd say now with just one a them damn things the town could probably handle it...but I'm gonna offer you a deal"
I'm sure they could but good chance someone would die, why not use the courageous outsiders who no-one gives a shit about.

"Go on." John repilled

"I'll work my magic on this here kitty, you let me display her here for a few month, and then you can have it. That's free taxidermy now and I ain't no slouch." he stated as he gestures out at his shop and the various critters he aready had stuffed. "Don't answer yet now. Take a look. It's a good deal fer both of us why you'll get a beautifully stuffed critter and I'll..."

Before Zeke could finish his strange sales pitch there something appear to happen to Bar, with what sounded like someone falling over and followed up by cute waitress John had spotted earlier pooking her head through the doorway "I've had enough of this shit Zeke, I quit. I'll be on the first train back to Virginia!" before storming out.

"Shit, I figured this day were comin' but she were my best waitress yet. Fine specimen too." Zeke says with a whistle after Lilly heads off on her way. "Anyway, what do you say? I know a few folk in town would be willin' to go back out there with you and get that puma's mate. Another $25 in it for y'all. Me an' you could talk about the old country, share stories. Ain't too many make it out this far."

"excuse me for an movement." John said as he picked up his pile of cash and walked outside, leaving the German and the Non-German to discuss the "Old country." although John reckoned Franz could keep him busy just talking about Prussian little war with France.

porbably be happy to hear about Germany becoming it's own country and everything.

leaving the Bar John went outside and found Constantin "I know I was the one to shot the panther but I want you to have this." John said as he handled the French Frog half of the money "If you hadn't of spotted it.. well it might not have just be the driver we lost."

John then held up the other half of the money and pointed to the Bar "Someone in there just violated the young waitress, teach that uncultured swine a lession and you may have the rest."

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

Hero John Blackburn - The Bloody Chisholm Trail

John charged behind the wagon, sword raised like he had done years before in the Birtish Royal Army. As he rounded the corner he saw that coach driver was dead, his throat had been torn open by the vile panther. The coachman however was still alive but wouldn't be for long with the panther maw engulf around his head, looking to bite him like it had done with driver.

need to get the critters attention

"Unhand him you savage beast," the Englishman yelled, "or Face My Wrath!"

it appears wild vicious critters could be persuaded as the panther released the coachman from it's deadly Maw. With the coachman haltering out of way John didn't waste this golden opportunity. Aiming his Howdah Pistol at panther he fired and then fired again to ensure he did not forfeit this opportunity to gun down the critter in one go.

the first .476 Enfield bullet found home in panther heads whilst second shot unfortunately only grazed the panther's head. Fearing he was about to get pounced on John aimed and prepared to fire again only for panther to shudder and fall over dead...

ha-haw! Another critter falls to the Howdah

The coachman John had saved slowly stood up, clear shaking he walked over to dead panther and fired his coachgun... having momentarily forgotten that he'd fired both shots.

"Rest easy coachman, the Vile beast is dead unfortunately I was unable to save your friend however." John stated as he looked at dead driver body... John himself was not an religious man like his wife had been but everyone... well most non-French people atleast deserved a good burial.

take the body to town and bury it there..

The coachman kicks the body and nearly trips over it, weakened as he is. "Gotta get out here," he says wiping blood and thick cougar saliva from his face, "all that racket an' all this blood'll bring other critters. Reckon I ought to get sewed up too."

"Yes, hopefully there is an doctor Selina or atleast some who can patch up enough to get the local city... Dodge city I believe it's called

He leans against the coach resting his bloody head on the wood panelling, "Bounty," he mutters now becoming harder to understand, "on the c..at. Just gotta drive it back," then reaches up to climb into the driver's seat and falls over.

"your in no position to drive or shoot for that matter, take seat inside and rest, we shall handle it from here." John said as he opened the coach door and helped the man climb inside.

man is panicking... needs to rest and calm down

sheathing his sword John walked around coach to Franz and Crapaud who had since killed or scared away the first Panther "Franz, F-Constantin... The coach driver is dead but I have saved coachman and killed a second panther.."

"the coachman seemed to suggest there is an reward for kill panthers and it's good meat so can you help me load up the body along with driver? the least we can do is take him to town for a proper burial."

John Reloaded his howdah pistol as he continued speaking "Once that's done however let's get the bloody hell out of here. Not sure about you gentlemen but I've just about had enough bloody Trail."

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

Sir John Blackburn - Chisholm Trail or Thereabouts

One key... "Traits" to be an mercenary (or atleast an successful one) was an imitating look so John was unsurprised when the Frenchmen began to glare coldly at him before blabbering some nonsense in his native tongue. A pointless language in john's mind that only useful for two things: insulting Frenchmen like the Frog and seducing married women.

However halfway though what John assumed was threat or an insult the Crapaud suddeny stopped and looked over to the bushes. "Merde..."

Huh?

whatever the Frog has spotted Franz also saw as he sheated his knife and drew his Massive Gasser pistol. "Kaufman, Anglais! Over here!" The frog then shout before turning to the driver. "Get back into the carriage! You two..."

"What the devil is going on? have you spotted something?" John asked as he unsheathed his sword and also drew his Howdah Pistol.

suddenly a deep rolling growl, porbably from a panther-like critter came from Bush the Crapaud pointing towards. the Frog didn't even hesitate befoe shooting. "SHOT THE FUCKING THING!" He cried as franz also fired off two shots from his revolver too.

John himself did not fire... His Howdah pistol was rather deadly to critters (indeed that's what it design for) but he had limited ammo and there a good chance the frog and Franz shooting had aready killed the critter which had since gone quiet....

Then out of nowhere was a scream and the sound of clothes...tearing? but even worst it appeared to be coming from the coach!

A second beast?

John turned to see coach driver get dragged behind, the coachman fired his shotgun at the beast, a panther from the looks it before attempting climb out of savage beasts reach but it was too late and man was quickly dragged back behind the coach by the second Panther

[Persuasion!] "unhand him you savage beast or Face my wrath!" John shouted before charging towards the back of wagon, Sword and pistol ready [Fighting] [Shooting] Hopefully he could shoot the panther before it could kill the men.

ooc: Persuasion check is more of a joke but would sort of be funny if it worked.

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

ooc: Tags added and proved by Bango so include passes aswell

Sir John Blackburn - Chisholm Trail or Thereabouts

“Besides, I figured you’d be used to fighting around the world. I still have that Qing coin you mailed me from China.”

Not the only thing he picked up in china... still can't believe we fought a war over that.

"Keep that magic shit out of my face, Austrian, and i am happy to earn my pay!" The frog replied seemlying almost spitting out the word "magic" in utter hated.

"what that matter Leblanc? afraid of an little...(Pause)...Magic" John chuckled as he finished off his morning Tea..

only have an limited amount of leaves... shamefully I must spread out my supplies.

Emptying out the tea pot John was in the middle of packing up the portable tea kit when the coach suddenly stopped. Whilst Franz and the frog quickly drew their guns John patiently continued packing up his tea kit....The lack of screaming or shooting suggested it wasn't immediately bad and John would have time to finish his task.

Okay lets see going on outside...

Despite not drawing his pistol John look up at Franz and nodded that he was ready, when outside the carriage John would draw his sword. Movements later Franz open the carriage door and rushed out with Crapaud.

Drawing his sword John stepped out carriage himself and looked around.. No bandits, feral critters or undead... everything was seemlying fine and dandy so why had the driver stopped?

“Let’s go see what’s wrong.”

John turned and noticed the driver and Guard Franz hired where standing in front of something. Walking towards them john could see it was body of an young woman who had violently attacked but what had attacked her?

“steh zurück” Franz muttered but then realising Crapaud didn't speak German continued in English “stand back!”. He kept his gun on what remained of her head as he slowly circled her and began searching her purse, presumably for some sort of identification or some clue.

"Dont german me, Kaufman, you know that i hate that!"

John chuckled "Es ist in Ordnung, Franz. Ich kann deutsch sprechen, ignoriere diese Kröte"

kneeling a safe distance away from the woman corpse. John studied the woman's wounds...[investigation] her Midsection had been torn open, left arm appeared to have been torn off and her face was gnawed..

From John's experience [knowledge] he knew they weren’t made with a knife nor were the bones broken cleanly as with a hammer or some such. The cuts are clean as though they happened with one cut and the breaks are ragged. Most likely the work of a large local critter or perhaps one of several monster John knew about?

What large critters do they have in Kansas?... Those large cats things.. panthers maybe?

"They mostly hold onto their belts when they die! Check below her, or cut her belt open, some hide their money in there..."

"Typical Frog" John said as he stood back up "You really have no shame do you? I understand looting from soldiers in battle or worthy foes but an poor peasant women? what could she possibly have to be worth defiling her corpse over?"

"Anyway I'm afraid we there is not much we do for this woman." John said approached woman's head and drove his 1845 Pattern Infantry Officer's Sword though the woman's skull before looking at his companions "Better safe and sorry."

sheathing his sword John slowly walked back to the carriage "I'm not 100% sure what killed than woman but I believe it would be in our best interest to be gone when it returns."

"and yes it porbably will return"

or some other critter might be attracted to the fresh meat.

-----

German line: It's okay, Franz. I can speak German, ignore this toad

Deadlands - A Supernatural Western

Oh shit, didn't realize this was up

@War

It only went up today/last night so no need to worry