The Good, the Bad, and the Undead

[Bozwevial]

Bones stops abruptly when he steps into the observation car. Maybe it's normal for preachers to disappear into thin air, but certainly not for everyone else. The car rocked, sending Bones stumbling a step before he grabbed a pole to brace himself. A quick glance around the car turned up only the passenger who he'd just revived. "Did you see who pulled that brake? And where'd the preacher go?"

[j0lt]

Frank

Your shot takes him square in the back and causes him to stumble, his cry of surprise and pain echoing back to you.  Seconds later he disappears into the winding canyons of the desert.  The preacher still isn't moving.

Cedric

As the smoke begins to dissipate, the figure behind you slowly becomes more clear.  It's the man in black.  He looks at you with fury in his eyes.  "We need to go, now!  There will be too many questions that we won't have answers for if the authorities get to us before we're gone!  Help me get the horses!

Bones

Your question is greeted with wide-eyed stares.  A young man wearing a bowler cap stammers out before bursting into tears. "H-he...  He ain't here, mister.  Oh god, what's happening?"

[MasterVega]

"Right," Cedric acknowledges and shoves his hat back on his head while making his way back down the car for a moment. He hadn't thought of the consequences of chasing and firing upon the bearded man, but now the threat of being questioned and then locked up in a loony bin was very clear. Deciding that moving through the dining car was not going to be his quickest route, he chooses to travel the roofs a bit longer.
The former soldier spins around toward the dining car again and starts running toward the front end of the observation car, making sure to steer clear of the man in black. He then leaps the gap and lands unceremoniously on the other car.

Move action to walk 20ft back [hoping putting my hat back on is a combined action? ] Move action to make a running jump 5ft across the gap.
Check: 1d20+3=13. Didn't beat the DC by 5 and I'm untrained... so I landed prone. >_>
This is all barring circumstantial modifiers, of course.

[j0lt]

The train cars are in this order: Engine, coal car, baggage car, horse car, second class, first class, dining car, observation car.
You're currently standing at the front of the observation car.  The dining car in front of you is more or less impassable unless you get off the train and walk around.

[Bozwevial]

Bones pauses briefly. "Listen to me, son. Sooner or later, you'll run into something like this that maybe you can't explain. On that day, remember this: Some things don't have to make sense. Just keep your head up and your doctor well-paid, you'll be fine." He nods to the other passengers, then dashes towards the car with the horses by the fastest route possible. Someone was going to be left holding the bag and it sure as hell wasn't him...Besides, no one just disappears like that.

Saddling up (so to speak), grabbing my gear, and...er, skedaddling?

Also, Spot check along the way to see if I can find any of the group that chased after the bearded man and/or Zeke: Spot check. (1d20+9=20)

[BowenSilverclaw]

Frank climbs down the ladder at the front of the observation car and jumps of onto the ground, looking for the fallen preacher.

Jump: 9
Spot: 14

Next round I'll move over to Jace's character and drag him to the train. If he's KO and I can't wake him up I'll look for Bones, otherwise I'm heading for the horses.

[j0lt]

Cedric & Bones

The two of you meet as you both get out/off of the train between the two rear cars.  The man in black disappears into the observation car for a moment, then reemerges carrying his black doctor's bag.  "Let's move.  If we're quick enough, we may be able to head that thing off before it gets too far ahead of us."

Frank

You find the preacher lying unconscious on the ground about two or three hundred feet behind the back of the train.  He has a few scratches and bruises from the fall, but as far as you can tell he's alive.

The fire in the dining car has started to burn through the roof.  Hungry orange flames leap up through the black smoke pouring from the hole in the center of the car.  Passengers are pouring out of the the train in bewilderment at what was going on.

[BowenSilverclaw]

"Are you okay, preacher?" Frank asks after he arrives, patting him on the cheek and pouring some water on his face.

"Come on, we gotta get to the horses before that thing is to far ahead for us to catch up."

[jacemachine]

I was a boy once more. At my parents funeral service. The weather was beautiful, and I didn't want it to be. It should be stormy... dark... like how it felt inside.

I watched as the wooden caskets were put into the ground side by side.
"Ezekiel.  Rise, my son.  You have work to do." a bold voice told me. I began to turn to see who had spoken...



...ar ahead for us to catch up... It was a different voice this time. I managed to open my eyes, but the world began to spin. so I sealed them tight once more. My head kept spinning though, even with my eyes shut.

What had happened. I remember being on a train...
My head hurt. My ears were ringing like chapel bells. Suddenly I felt sick... and rolled to my side and vomited. Regurgitated alcohol, and stomach acid rushed to meet the dusty ground.

"Wha-" I began to say, but my head was spinning and my ability to concentrate was shot. "What am I doing here?"

I had been on a burning train, and there was some crazy that everyone kept calling 'Jack'. Now though.. I was here. I looked up and saw the man who had spoken to me. "I think I may need a hand, fella."


The crazy had horns.
I was so confused.

[BowenSilverclaw]

"Up you go father." Frank said as he handed the preacher a hand to drag him on his feet. No time to be gentle, no time to lose.

"If you wanna know what's going on I suggest you follow me. We might be able to use your assistance, although it would be nice if you knew how to handle a gun."

[jacemachine]

I found that my worn leather satchel was still hooked around me, the straps still closed firm. Good. The last thing I needed was to lose all the possessions that I had in this world.

I staggered as I walked, and my head swam. I sat back down and threw up again, less alcohol, but the stomach acid burned my esophagus just as readily.

"I own a pistol." I said weakly.

There was a doctor on the train I suddenly recalled. At least I was pretty certain that he was a doctor. "Fella," I said. "If'n you could fetch the doc, I'd be mighty grateful."

[Bozwevial]

Bones turned to the man in black. "That thing won't stop. If I were a crazy murderin' psycho spook--and I'm not--I wouldn't wait up when I'd run into people who knew what I was and how to hurt me." He pauses for a second.

I could just turn around and go back to the train, start patching up the passengers. No one suspects a doctor. Let these guys take care of it. No more Shadows. No more killing. Go back to the bottle full-time.

...Aww, son of a bitch.

The doctor coughed vigorously, then took a slight pull of the whiskey in his bottle. Well, one sip wouldn't hurt much.

"Well, what the hell are you waitin' for? Flowers and a box of candy?" Bones took a step and then froze, boot still hovering above the ground. "Damn, you guys are a mess! Hold still a second, I've got something for that." Within seconds, bandages and liniments had appeared in his hands as if by magic.

I'm getting my horse, but first, a Treat Injury check to restore hitpoints on Cedric (and the MiB, if necessary). DC is 15, so I'll take 10 again.
Cedric and the MiB's healing received. (1d4=2, 1d4=2)
Well, it's not great, but it's better than nothing.

[BowenSilverclaw]

As he supports the priest who's still staggering even after they arrive at the train, Frank calls out "Bones, you there? I got a patient for ya!


Sorry if I'm a bit rough on ya preacher, but I can't afford to lose much time."

[MasterVega]

"Thanks, doc. I think you got the worst of it." Cedric nods to the man when he finishes. He rubs the covered burn softly to test it, and then starts jogging toward the horse car. "Come on, we need to catch that horn-faced bastard!"

What the hell can I do even when we catch them? The guy's got legs like a grasshopper, how'm I supposed to pin that down?

We're still beside the dining car (and observation car, I guess?), right, or did you fast-forward us to the horse car? I'm confused!

[Bozwevial]

Assuming we're either a) not on the initiative order...if not, feel free to delay this to fit into the count.

Bones turns from his work to see Frank half-carrying the preacher towards him. A low whistle escapes his lips, and he shakes his head as he walks briskly over to inspect the man. "Moderate to severe bruising in the space of a few minutes, scrapes with dirt and small pebbles stuck in them, and judging by your eyes, a concussion as well. Do you feel nauseous?" His satchel is off in a twinkling and more medical tools are produced.

More TI checks! If he's taken damage as a result of the fall, I'll take 10 to heal (1d4=3) damage. That vomiting and dizziness won't do any good, either, so let's get rid of them also.

Remove a persistent condition (1d20+15=17). Assuming this is the DC 15 version, that should be sufficient, but if not, I'll take 10 and try again.

[j0lt]

Bones
You finish patching up the few minor burns and bruises that Cedric had sustained, but the man in black waves you off when you approach.  "I'm fine, we have more pressin' matters to attend to."

He then follows Cedric towards the horses as you look over the preacher and apply a few ointments and bandages.

Cedric
As you move up towards the horse car with the man in black, more and more passengers disembark to gawk at the conflagration.  Conductors have already begun unloading the horses, you can see your horse standing nervously beside the train, the reins looped around a small rock.

Frank
You hurriedly but gently set the preacher down for the sawbones to take a look at him and head for the horses.

Zeke
You feel slightly better after the treatment.  While your bruises are likely going to ache for a few days, the spinning in your head has subsided.

We're no longer on initiative, take any actions you feel are necessary to get ready to leave, but don't post that you've ridden away quite yet. 

[MasterVega]

Cedric walks over to his horse and pets its muzzle once before untying its reigns, being sure to keep a tight hold on them. He speaks to his mount quietly while preparing to hop into the saddle, "It's alright boy. We're just leaving a little early."

If Cedric's horse doesn't have the saddle/saddle blanket on right now, he's going to retrieve his horse gear from the car and start prepping the horse.

[Bozwevial]

Bones finishes wrapping the last bandage around Zeke's head. "Alright, that should do it. I'd say to take it easy for the next few days, but I know you won't. You got lucky there, preacher. Not many people who fall off trains wind up in as good shape...My guess is that you landed on our bearded friend instead of cracking open your skull on a rock." He absently tugs the bandage slightly tighter, then repacks his satchel. "We'll be needing this again before too long, I can tell."

The doctor strides past Cedric's horse and stops at the boniest, meanest horse of the group. His face looks grimmer than it did in the train. Slowly, his hand inches to his pocket and emerges with a lump of sugar.

Shortly afterwards, Bones returns to the group mounted on the horse and with yet another bandage wrapped around his hand. Not a word escapes his lips.

[j0lt]

The man in black approaches a large dark chestnut Clydesdale, which is still saddled.  Stowing his bag on the back of the animal, he climbs up and slowly rides over to the others.  Looking towards Frank and the priest, he asks.  "You guys have horses?"

[jacemachine]

"No sir. I reckon I'd need one, but I ain't obliged to steal one to remedy that."
Whatever the doc had done for me had more than taken the edge off of most of what I felt at the moment. A little nip at my flask a little later. I didn't want to let any more go to waste in case I decided to get sick again, even though at the moment I felt fine. I was a man of precaution. And with a Preacher's income, I couldn't afford to let a drop go to waste. Not when I couldn't enjoy it at the least.

"I was gonna get myself a horse once I arrived in San Fransisco. I didn't figure I'd need one for my train ride there." I gave a wry grin. Still I was sorry for the immediate inconvenience.

I settled my hat upon my head over the bandages.