Flying Eagle apparently knows a lot about steam wagons, Maybe an unhealthy amount of information on steam wagons really. That is a Hellstromm industries Model 4A weapon. Moves about 50 MPH, runs about 50 miles on just a pound of ghostrock, is armored and seats 5 plus the driver. It also Mounts a Gatling gun on the roof.
Bill says something to Luke who starts yelling out names, within moments you have ten cowhands grabbing rifles and side arms as they move toward you . "Go see what that bastard wants and take some backup. I am tired of this horse s#!~." Bills says angerly. You have 10 extras as back up
About 200 yards from the camp the wagon stops at the base of a hill.
You know a good steam wagon moves about the speed of a train, without the rails. As long as they have ghostrock they are going to be very hard to outrun at the speed of the drive. y'all can give me common knowledge rolls to see what you know of stream wagons and this outfit
The day moves on with little other excitement. You make camp for the night and supper is had with little fanfair. That night you along with some others take shift maintaining a watch. The night passes without trouble, but the morning sun brings some. As you prepare to break camp, you see a rolling of steam once more, headed toward the camp.
With Flying Eagles recall and Rufus and Winona leading the herd across the river, Chin heads back to check on the rest of the cowpokes. Every one is in a rush, Javier is pushing those horses for all they are worth getting the wagon to safety. Luke sends chin to help rally a few of the trailing cowboys.
After crossing the river Sutter approaches the Posse. He looks madder than a wet hen, ash on his reddened face." I don't think that was a damn act of nature!" He says fuming. "I want you on the lookout tonight, I don't trust that railman as far I can could throw this herd!
The Possy takes the lead and get the cattle moving before the other riders even see the smoke. the fire is eating up much of the plain but you get the cattle driving hard, moving at a brisk run, but fully under control. Behind you dark smoke covers the sky and those in the back of the drive can feel the heat as the fire spreads.
Do you guys wish to keep a moving or take any other actions?
roughly an hour later you on on your way and the herd is moving, but the sent of smoke hits your nostrils. Not long after flames can be seen burning across the plains! If you don't act fast the cattle might stamped!
You can give me riding check to try and move the cattle or another skill you think might help with the spreading fire
NGL, I chucked at "Why don't you file a form for that and we'll get back to you."
He frowns and looks at your badge Humm, If you say so I suppose I should do that>" He says grudgingly. He turns and climbs back into his wagon, leaving you with an unhappy stare as the wagon screams steam and rolls off.
Emmerich with an innocent tone says "I wouldn't know anything about, metal spiders did you say?" He removes he shaded glasses where you can see his green eyes. "That the story you are sticking with is it? I suppose I should ask the Union about this theft of property I suppose."
You meet the wagon a ways away from the cattle. The door opens and once more Emmerich emerges followed by another man, a 3rd leans by the door of the idling wagon. He checks his watch then approaches you."I see you are leaving so soon. I have come to see if you have had a change of heart and wish to turn over my employers secrets."
As the herd gets moving, you see smoke trails. It doesn't take long before you hear the screaming of the wagon and once more a steam wagon comes into view. It seems to be headed toward your herd.
As Winona Kicks it, it crumbles like old rust. And its clear its not just the head. Pretty much everything inside the shell is gone. Whatever acid was used was a very powerful one it seems.
Between Winona and Flying Eagle they are able to examine the spiders pretty closely. They don't see anything marking who made them, but they are very well made. Something that stands out is the "Head" is now hollow. Every single one left a wide era of dead grass where some kind of acids ate though the heads interior. You can use your fingers to push though the corroded metal.
Luke responses to you. "we'll look at em in the morning. I'm not sure we can take these with us. They seems a few hundred pounds and we just have the one wagon.
As things settle down you can get yourself some sleep. In the morning as cookie hands out some breakfast. Sutter approaches you. "Wasatch Railroad" He says like a curse. "Its always one of the damned rail lines causing trouble for honest cattlemen. I hear you want to take a look at em before we move out. Go ahead. But keep an eye out for those bastards!"
If you want to look over the spiders in daylight you can give me a notice or weird science roll
Hell yeah. Those bastards were a menace. I recall the first time I used em they swamped a Shadowhawk and it wasn't a good time for it. 3025 tech, the best they had in the whole group was a PPC.
Flying Eagle Recalls hearing some of the high end Automatons could carry out instructions. It seems to be a hallmark of Hellstrom Industries models.
Luke nods along as other cowhands arrive. "I heard you tell the boss about that run in. Its rather queer. Maybe he didn't believe you." One of the guys is poking the spider with his rifle.
Luke Yells " Okay, everyone get the cattle moving and we'll place some guards. "
You can give me some common knowledge rolls as y'all know ghost rock contraptions are a thing
Luke and a few of the old rans run up to you as you are talking. Seeing the metal spiders he asks "What's going on here and what in tarnation are those?"
Same,I just keep seeing it and the idea of doing a company on company fight in 2 hours is interesting. You recall fighting elementals when they were new?
I kinda wanna try alpha strike which is made for copay sized engagements to play in about 2 hours. Gotta be faster than the ye olden days of 8 hour games
It takes Rufus a bit to find his gun, but he does. Winona has kept the cattle from being in more danger,, but it looks like you lost at lest two cows. From the sound of it, the camp is awake and you see some lanterns headed in your direction.
Between Flying Eagle's Gunfire and the Punches of all things the last Spider goes down still tangled in grass. Winona keeps the cattle free of the area as the hissing green liquid runs from its joints.
Rufus takes down the Spider facing Chin, which clops to the ground. Chin can see the green liquids seeping from its head as it lays there in the grass. The Spiders struggles to free itself from entanglement, but utterly fails leaving it still entangled and Vulnerable .
dice:
Spiders roll to break free 1d12 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
even or odds to who Rufus attacked1d6 ⇒ 2
Ah hell man, the BT stuff is another sad lose. I lost many of my old BT minis in a move and was in another state when I found out some boxes had been left.
Flying Eagle, entangles one of the Metal spiders and takes a step out of its spiting path. Rufus, fires at another of the spiders. His bullet digs deep into the clockwork frame, is spins and lay unmoving on the ground. Chin moves to attack the 3rd kicking it so hard it seems to be stunned for a moment Its shaken
One is entangled, the 2nd is dead and number 3 is shaken
As Winona Leads most of the cattle away, the two spiders move toward the two attacks on their feet. Both get within six feet and you hear a click as they spray something toward Flying Eagle and Chin. Rufus is a good 4 yards away from his attacker, but it tries to spray him as well with a grout of hissing liquid. Only flying Eagle gets hit with the liquids, but grass burns and dies where ever it touches. 7 damage, AP 5 Flying Eagle is shaken
Covid is still hammering me a bit,, but I should be able too get back up to at lest a few posts a week.
Rufu's shotgun blast goes off, In the lighting you see not one, but for the the metal spiders. But his horse gets lose and he scrambles to not be bucked off, losing the shotgun and hat (If its hot on a string) in the darkness.
Winona seeing what's going down manages to keep most the herd out of the trouble. A few seems to panic and scatter, but not enough to case a stamped.
Flying Eagle Hits one with his revolver, sending sparks flying as the machine drops in a jumble of limbs. Chin readies himself for the upcoming fight.
The Spiders stop attacking the cattle and seem to turn to the group, with glinting glass eyes that catch the scattered light. Their metal mandibles click and you see something start to drip from it, the grass burns and blacks when the dripping liquid touches it.
I am like 5 weeks in at this point. It suuuucks lol.
Who is holding the light?
Ku Chin sees a cow dead in the ground, something as ripped it open. Dust and darkness obscure most of the area, but he can still see glints of something and movement. Flying Eagle runs toward Chin as Rufus seems to get a better look. In the light and dust he sees a arachnid shape, about the size of a dog, tearing into the cattle. It is not a creature of flesh, but some type of automaton!
As Winona starts to get a handle on some of the cattle, you hear another bellow and Ku Chin sees one fall in the dust and something shinny and metallic reflect off the light as it moves among the cattle.
sorry guys been trying to get to a more regular post but covid is kicking my ass. Like, for weeks now.
Yeah 30 yards is not far, both ways work. And Flying eagles is right,, unless your doing something extra or there are issues you normally don't need a riding check
Rufus and Winona ride toward the ruckus as flying Eagle and Chin run toward the cattle. Winona seems to get a hand on the scattering cattle, something has clearly spoked them.
Sorry guys been sick and meant to update but have been foggy headed.
You search the ground by lantern light, but everything is too scattered and overran by the cattle to pick up a trail. But even as you search cattle not 30 yards away start making a ruckus and start to scatter. Something is disturbing them and if it keeps up you might have another stamped on your hands!
You can examine them bodies, they have wounds much like those of the cattle killed by the ticks, large gapping holes. Flying eagle Takes a look. running his hands across the wounds. These did not come from the inside. Something slashed into them, rending flesh.
You can try a survival roll at a -2 to look for tracks.
feel free to roleplay that but no need for a roll for it unless you really want to. Its fine to roleplay that before responding to the scenes below
The moon is but a sliver, so you will need to grab a lantern as you rind into the cloudless night. You ride about a half a mile, the cattle are restless. in the light of the lantern you see a few unmoving forms laying among the grass. They look to be cattle.
Its a bit past midnight and Winona, Flying Eagle and Rufus are awoken by the cattle being restless. Its faint and carried by the wind but the westerns edge of the herd is unsettled. Maybe a pack of wolves or some other critter stalk that section?
Leaving you unsettled as the visit was, the rest of the day passes smoothly. You make camp many miles to the north and cookie makes a supper of beans, cornbread and some beef salvaged from the lost cattle. The evening passes like normal with some music and chatting as folks settle off to bed.
Sorry guys, had a hectic few weeks and lost track of days TBH. I should now have everything more structured.
Emmerich seems to take in what you have said "A pity you no longer have the plans." He says grudgingly, letting it hang in the air as if you might correct him. when you say nothing he just nods " Very well" And returned to the wagon, which jerks forward, and with a great amount of sound and black smoke turns around and powers back the way it came.
As you ride out toward the wagon, it stops as it nears you with a bellow of smoke. Its still running as a tall, tin man with a thin handlebar mustache and a long gray coat steps out of the passenger side. The an radiates the warmth and personality of a cold steel bar as he speaks to you in clipped, but polished tones.
" Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jurgen Emmerich and I am a representative of Wasatch Railroad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hellstrome Industries. I am sure you are familiar with my employer.
"It has come to our attention that you or one of your fellow ....'cowboys' is in possession of property of an intellectual nature that belongs to us. We believe you recovered it somewhere near Roswell New Mexico off a certain unfortunate 'rocketeer', no?
"This property is of tremendous value to my employer and he would like it returned post haste. Of course the perceived of the property warrants I render adequate remuneration on his behalf for your efforts in seeing it safely here."
The Next two days seems to go along without a hitch. Some of the cowhands seems to claim they saw watchers the first day after the river but it may just be gossip. Two days passed the river however, you see smoke. which turns out to be a large, bulky steam wagon headed toward the herd.
Winona recalls a bit more information. Not only is It owned by Hellstromme Industries but the near by Camp is called Camp Hades. It is the east most Outpost east of the city of Gloom and is heavily armed. Rightly so as she recalls it guards the eastern entrance to the Plutonian express. A tunnel running under the Rockies all the way to California!
The river looks low and gentle, On your suggestion the party starts moving the cattle across the river. Sutter find you at camp that night, others are hunkered down and you hear a fiddle playing around the camp.
"Wasatch rail has a camp not to far from here. I believe we will stay well west of it, But I would like you to keep an eye out just in case"
You can give me a common knowledge roll if you like
The weather starts to become mild as the summer starts to pass and you approach a stag coach station known as Latham Station along the South Platte river. The river does not look to bad but Luke Approaches and asks you to check the river and see if the water is safe to ford.
This would be notice or survival checks or riding checks if you choose to ford it
Luck approaches the group. "We lost more than we like but far less than it could have been. Good work here." It takes a while for all the cattle to be accounted for. As night falls, a few of the hands dig a grave for Danial, Sutter says a few words "We lay our friend to rest here on this stretch of trail. He rode hard and worked honest. Out here, a man is judged by the strength of his word and the steadiness of his hand. And Danial measured up on both accounts. The trail is long and the earth is wide, but no man is forgotten who's held in the hearts of those who have rode with him. May the good lord guide him to calmer pastures and give his soul peace" With that he is buried and a stone is found to be his grave marker. In the morning you move on, leaving behind a lonely grave.
It takes some work, and a few hours as well as Flying eagle being carried around by a cow he was trying to wrangle, but you get the job done. The cattle throw up a heap of slimy and withering ticks. Two of the cows don't survive the experience, but most will likely recover.
No, it was more for drug court. We sit up stairs just in case someone wanted a trial. No one did, they either took their sentence or made deals. That is good advice, they don't like folks asking to many questions.
Cow bites are between 230 and 250 psi, Humans bite at about 160. So yeah its may sting. Give me some strength rolls. I'll allow other skills if you think they might be useful
By this point the rider had returned with some castor oil. You are unsure if the animals can recover or not but they might. how you plan to get the castor oil into the animals however is open for debate
