"Well then, I suppose I can trust you. You seem like a man of your word." A heavy sigh escapes Samuel's lips. "You mentioned the unliving. I carry a taint of such in my veins. My birth was an experiment of sorts, conducted by a-" He hesitates, partially out of fear of Many Clouds' response and partially because he's told so few souls this secret. "Vampire. I am half man, half abomination."
Many Clouds steps back, startled. Then he slows down and thinks. "This was not your choice? And you are alive. But you...have the tonwan of death in you. ...does it make you do evil things?"
Samuel's face darkens and his voice takes a solemn tone. "It did. Once. I am stronger now." He takes a deep breath, regaining an amiable demeanor. "This curse has haunted me for as long as I have memories. Part of the reason I set out west in the first place was to distance myself from my past. I suppose that in one way or another, many of our friends have similar motivations for their own journeys."
Many Clouds laughs. "You are better than I am, then. I saw my people put into a reservation and I flew into a rage. I left them where they were. Now I have no home. That was less than a week ago." He chuckles. "So, I clearly have much to learn before I, too, am stronger."
He points to Samuel's skin. "You are not really Wasicun, then. When we say "white man" we do not mean white. White to the Lakota is a holy color. It is the color of the Sun in the Southern sky, and of the spirit world. Perhaps it is not a curse." The Oglala looks serious, then a grin slowly spreads across his face. " 'White men' look more like pink skinned pigs to me." He laughs again.
Clementine takes up position in the street across the from the Red Velvet, idly looking through the wares of a shop but keeping an eye out on the passers-by and the saloon.
Wilson can't get a good read on Sarah other than she might be the proprietor of the establishment. Samuel doesn't see anything out of place in the back alley, but Many Clouds does notice three men walking down the back alley toward them about thirty yards away.
Clementine nudges the professor and nods at the approaching box wagon
She reaches into her bag and moves towards a convenient pile of barrels behind which she might be able to hide. Doing her best all the while to remain inconspicuous.
Many Clouds nudges Samuel. He pulls out his bow. "Three men. There."
Samuel turns toward the strangers Many Clouds alerted him to. "Interesting." He focuses on the men, hoping learn their intentions and procure a battlefield advantage, should it come to that.
Detect Thoughts (DC 16 Will save)
The man leading the other two walking hurriedly towards you is angry about an "Indian" being in town.
The wagon seems almost out of control as its driver frantically attempts to slow the horses of the hand-painted freight wagon. A Jack Russell terrier flies out of nowhere barking and simultaneously chasing the wagon wheel until an erratic calculation on the part of the dog flips it under the wheel, leaving the creature motionless in the street.
A young boy quickly follows as the wagon is beginning to finally slow down.
"My dog! My dog! You killed my dog mister!" the boy yells at the driver who stops the wagon and begins to walk back toward the boy.
Inside, Winona and Wilson, watch the exchange between the sheriff and what they deem to be the proprietor of the place. She insists that Bly has left last evening, late. The sheriff has some words with her, then thanks her and heads out to the street where there is a loud commotion going on involving a young boy screaming about his dog.
Samuel speaks to Many Clouds without taking his eyes off the approaching trio. "I have a feeling they are unhappy with your presence in their settlement. I believe they perfectly fit your description of Wasicun."
"Hoy!" shouts Edward, taking his rifle back from the saloon wardrobe. "What's with all the racket o'er here?"
Winona keeps one eye on her hand of cards and another peeled for sudden action.
Many Clouds nods. "We can speak to them, then." He shoulders his bow and puts a hand on his gunstock war club, a fine piece of wood sculpted to look something like a rifle gunstock.
The men coming up the alley are about twenty yards out and walking in an angry manner.
Meanwhile, on the street, the boy scoops up his limp dog and runs to the sheriff, yelling,"Sheriff, sheriff, my dog, that man killed my dog. he says frantically and pointing at the easterner stepping down from his brightly painted box wagon.
" Sheriff, I'm truly sorry. I lost control of my horses and the dog started chasing the wheel. I can offer recompense in coin only. I am truly sorry,' he repeats to the sheriff and then to the boy. He offers the boy two silver dollars, that the boy throws on the ground in anger.
"Come on now, Tommy, I will help you bury him behind the house. I'm sorry son, but this is all that we can do." The sheriff picked up the coins for the boy as the stranger promptly introduced himself.
" I am sorry to meet under these circumstances, but the name's Wendell T. Flynt, Esquire, MD, JD, at your service." He says shaking the sheriff's reluctant hand.
The sherriff responds, "Well, welcome to Cawk's Hill, please stay out of trouble."
The stranger seems taken aback at the comment but replies,"Will do.' then smiles.
The sheriff says to the others, "let me help Tommy bury his dog and we will devise a new plan to find our stranger." Then he makes off to get a shovel.
The men are now just thirty feet away from Samuel and Many Clouds. They stop. The tall one is the first to speak," Hey you! Injun! What are you doing in town?"
Many Clouds is silent. Several knives were pulled on him while he was in New York City just for replying to a question. He knows he cannot give any answer that will satisfy these men.
Clementine watches the scene unfold, involuntarily giving a small cry as the dog disappears beneath the wheels of the carriage. Angry, she moves over towards the scene, storming right up too the new arrival.
"What the heck do you think you were about? You've no business riding around on that thing if you can't even control it! Now look what's happened! That could just as easily have been a child!" she dresses the man down, punctuating each point with a firm poke in the chest.
Edward scowls, looking over the scene as Clementine scolds the man with too many titles. Quaint little place.
Maybe I can distract them.. Samuel does not address his aggressors. Instead, he focuses on a pebble laying on the ground just behind them. Suddenly, it jumps up and flies towards the back of one of the men's head.
One of the side kicks coming down the alley lets out a yell and falls to his knees with blood running through his fingers. The other two men take their focus off of Samuel and Many Clouds to look around them as if being ambushed. After almost a minute, the leader turns his attention back toward you, staring straight at Many Clouds and asks, " How did you do that sneaky Injun trick?" he unsnappeds his holster as he comes slowly toward you both. " I knowed that you dunnit, I jus don't know how."
"I'm truly sorry ma'am, I gave the poor lad two silver, what more do you want from me." the stranger says.
The sheriff requests that Clem and Wilson meet him back at the jail to devise a new plan while he helps Tommy bury his dog.
Samuel addresses the man approaching them. "I don't think you should stick your nose in matters beyond your comprehension."
Many Clouds draws and nocks an arrow at the man.
"Come closer and I will show you another trick," says Many Clouds.
[/dice]
After a strange feeling, the loud mouth focuses his attention on the indian's accomplice. He draws his revolver and takes aim at the man. "Imma shoot yer friend first, Injun!"
The shot rings throughout the alley and goes above Mr. Levin's head. "Aw hell! the man curses.
The shot draws the attention of everyone nearby. A man is kneeling on the ground, holding his head. A tall moustached man dressed in black leather aims again. The shot catches the ear of the sheriff and the rest of the party as coming from behind the Red Velvet. The sheriff rushes off to investigate. Tommy hurries away to the hill behind the church to bury his dog instead behind his house.
Rex deserves a proper burial at the house of God, not behind some rat-infested barn.
As the shot rings out, Winona starts from her card game, glances around to see who else reacts (besides her allies), and pushes her chair back from the table.
" 'scuze me, gents, but I think this show's over and the next one is starting."
Acting on cue, and seeing Many Clouds threatened, Edward acts on instinct, raising his rifle and shooting a single bullet towards the mustachioed man's leg.
Many Clouds shoots two arrows rapidly...and both miss their mark. His face shows no concern at the egregious misses.
Shin bone shattered and writhing in pain, the mustached ring leader manages to get off a shot. Not seeing Wilson, he maintains his aggression to his perceived threat, Many Clouds.
His shot goes up into the roof of the Red Velvet itself. Sheriff Ford comes running and yelling for everyone to cease fire. " Baker! Knock it off fore I shoot off your other leg. These folks are with me, including the Indian. I deputized him as a scout. You are shooting at an officer of the law!" the sheriff demands.
Baker replies,"Ain't right Sheriff, having that Injun in town, much less a deputy. Lot of folks lost loved ones on account of them savages."
Many Clouds, knowing his place, keeps quiet. His thoughts are his own.
Samuel raises an eyebrow at Baker's statement. "Lot of folks lost loved ones on account of buffoons like you shooting with no concern for safety." Samuel's mocking tone is punctuated by his pointing to the roof of the building behind him.
Edward walks towards the men, rifle pointed forward and a fresh shot in the chamber. "An' mahself, I ain't too keen on people shootin' on people withou' reason. Care ta gimme one?"
Clementine lifts her skirts clear of the muddy street and hastily follows the sheriff to the scene. As the shots ring out, she pulls out her six-shooter and turns the corner just as another shot buries itself in the Red Velvet above her. Quickly she brings up her gun towards one of the goons and sends a shot at him, aiming at his legs.
Winona scoots out the back door, looking carefully from side to side to see where the shooting is happening.
Clementine's shot shatters the leg of the accompanying rifleman, who suddenly have no problem laying down their firearms and surrendering to the sheriff, all bloodied and in great pain. The felons are stupefied at the gun fighting expertise shown by the "easterners."
The sheriff directs his deputy to get the doctor once they are all cuffed.
Sheriff Ford turns to Many Clouds and requests," Many Clouds, I apologize for the Baker brothers. They have always been trouble for me. They seem to let whiskey do most of their talking and thinking, an generally in that order."
The doctor tells the sheriff that he will need some whiskey and help in the matter of trying to patch up the brothers.
"My wife will bandage the rock head, but I will need help performing surgery on the two other boys. If I can get the bullet out and set the leg, there is no guarantee that gangrene won't set in. If that be the case why we will have to take those legs off. I imagine their father will be very upset, sheriff."
The sheriff looks dismayed. He asks you to wait for him back at the jailhouse and directs one of his deputies to grab some sandwiches and apples for the journey out to the Starrett Ranch.
Samuel follows the sheriff's direction and makes his way back to the jailhouse.
He addresses his allies, his brow furrowed and his mouth forming a faint scowl. "I hope this altercation does not serve as preview of coming attractions."
Winona rejoins the other travelers outside. "Terrible timing. My luck on the river was about to change. I hope that's all the shootin' for tonight."
Many Clouds is a little confused by the sheriff. Did a Wasicun just apologize to me? "I...thank you, Sheriff. My friends were here to protect me." Friends? Thoughts are racing through Many Clouds' head. Everything has changed since the Shadow World, Otomakhpiya.
While at the jailhouse, he looks at the others, and says, a little shamefacedly, "You defended me. I owe you a debt. But I do think we will have more opportunities to shoot at things before this is over." His final sentence is concluded with a dark grin.
Unloading the rifle and packing it on his back, Edward relaxes his posture. "Ah, 'twas nothin'. But ah ain't too eager to shoot any more folks, got enough o'that in the war. Ah'll get Copper back 'fore we head to the ranch."
He heads towards the stables to get his horse back.
Many Clouds follows Edward towards the stables. He cocks his ear toward Edward. "You fought in the war of the states?"
"Yeah, ah did. On the wrong side, not like I had a choice in the matter. Got drafted, giv'n a rifle, a jacket and a kick in the backside, told to shoot th' Yanks or get shot for cowardice. An' a bloody affair 'twas. Ne'er seen so many men wasted so badly."
Winona falls into step with the men and her face twists into a grimace. She looks out at the horizon and hefts her traveling pack up higher on to her shoulders.
Clementine quickly darts back to change (again) into her traveling clothes and then joins the others at the stables, mounting Rascal as they prepare to leave.
The sheriff returns after about thirty minutes and has a box wagon brought around front.
"It's not lookin good for those Baker boys. Their pa is a prominent rancher. I'm sure that we have not heard the last of this one," he states plainly. " If you have a horse, grab it. I have some extra rifles in the cabinet, Winchester lever action. We'll head on out to the Starrett place. See what that easterner wanted. No offense Professor," he says to Hutton.
The group heads northeast a bit passing the tall white steeple and the church attached to it as well as the town cemetery and the unusually shaped mound of earth just behind it. The dirt road appears to head toward some rolling hills.
About thirty minutes out of town, the sheriff stops the wagon to point out a decaying circle of broken box wagon remnants and chassis.
"That there is the site of the Circled Wagon standoff. Some early settlers were able to fend off nearly fifty Crow warriors there. Wonder if that writer came to see it?" The sheriff muses out loud. "Hyipp!" he yells and whips the reins gently to get the horses started again.
About another fifteen minutes before the group comes to a halt. There is a body laying face down in the road.
The wind softly blows the tufts of prairie grass where you can find em amongst the foothills.
Once the body comes into view, Samuel launches himself off the wagon toward it.
I'm no doctor, and he's more than likely dead, but I should see what I can do.