Cornealius Dickerson III's page

Cornelius whispers to the others. "Drunk in public, possession of a weapon in city grounds without a license, verbal assault and threatening of a citizen in good standing with the Marshall, attempt to incite a riot...I think that's grounds for arrest by duly appointed deputies. Here's my thoughts: Claire, Sam, and I post up on windows nearby, Ash sneak around behind, and the Brits flat out, unarmed, demand the man drop his weapon by legal authority. If he don't, before he can raise the thing, we put so much lead in him he'll be pissing tin for a month after if he lives and the Brits play soccer with his spleen while Ash makes a criminal-kabob out of him."

His face turns sour and he shakes his head and smiles again. "I ain't a fan of gang types persecutin' the lawful citizens and ruinin' it for people. If he drops it, the Brits take his weapon and escort him to the Marshall, all civil like."

"...and that's a bad thing? Far as I can see, just gives us justification to teach them the lesson they need a learnin'."

Meh, not really.

Round 4 - I feel lucky

Cornelius walks up and high fives Chasen, and if this were a hundred years later you'd swear he were tagging his partner in. Chasen climbs the bar while Cornelius puts a man in a full Nelson, and the private goes for the flying dropkick from the top rope bar top.

So with +1 this is -1 then?: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Wild: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Yeah, I'm gonna spend a banked raise to avoid the complication there...

Unfortunately, high flying is not Chasen's strong point, and the kick falls comically short.

I haven't watched wrestling in 20 years or so, but dang it if this description isn't a hoot to type up.

HEY, hey, hey, that post wasn't up when I started this! Look at the time stamp; one minute apart!

Cornelius and Chasen, southerners at heart, keep with the Wrestlemania theme a hundred years before it's time. Chasen ducks down to give Cornelius an ally-oop, who goes for a flying elbow against his target.

-1 from dramatic, +1 from Chasen's aid
Fighting: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 6
OOOOH YEEEEEAH (Macho-Man voice): 1d6 ⇒ 3 = Total 15 (2 raises)

Cornelius gets serious ups from Chasen's ally-oop, and performs a front somersault (with rolls like that, you bet he does) before flying into a group of men. "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-HAW!" Cornelius yells, with the 'Haw' accentuating the connection as "The Confederate Elbow" connects with the side of one man's head, sending the target staggerring into a pile of men and they spill all over the place.

Cornelius springs back unto his feet and starts to walk around the bar like king rooster of the chicken coop.

"HOT DAMN, no wonder you Brits love this stuff. That. Was. Great!"

Chasen and Cornelius link arms as a crazed brawler runs at them, and give the man a double lariat clothesline.

Attack with Aid: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Wild: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Cornelius doesn't mince words. He ain't one for martial arts or fancy moves. He grabs the rabble rouser by the hair and slams him face-first into the edge of the bar.
Fighting: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Total = 8 = raise?

Cornelius hears the sickening CRUNCH sound where the man's nose once was.

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

"Boy, maybe, if'n you couldn't tell by the uniform, or maybe you're just too drunk, stupid, and ignorant to tell what one is, sir, but I serve law of the country, not some hillbilly ass middle of nowhere country bumpkin like you, but THE country, and you can bet I got me a heck of a respect for law of the city and the men what risk their lives for it. I ain't here to take nobody over, but if you have something to say, maybe, just maybe, I can hear you much clearer outside in the street, face to face. That man you done spat at just got done savin' the lives of a many an innocent woman and child, and the way I look at it, that makes him a hero, and I don't take kindly to men spittin' on bone-fide heroes."

Cornelius stands up out of his bar seat and eyes the man coldly. "And since them gang members had a gun pulled on me when he was helpin' save those lives, I call him friend, and I certainly don't take kindly to someone spittin' on my friends. I don't take kindly to it at all. You apologize, and you do it now."

He walks slowly, determined, eyes locked with the man. "We ain't got no beef with you 'side of that fact, but sir, and you hear me clear when I say this, I got a whole Texas herd of all kinds of beef if the next three words out your mouth ain't 'I'm sorry sir'."

I should've put points into intimidate.
Intimidate: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1
Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1
That speech is totally worth spending a Benny
Intimidate: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1
Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 2 = Total 6.

Common Knowledge: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Wild: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"Wait just a goddern minute, holy crap, Claire, you are right! Wait, then that means the marshal is..."

He blinks, hops up and skee-daddles to the door, leaning a head out, and looks from one Earp brother to the other as they leave. He pulls off his uniform hat and wipes some sweat from his brow, and then pops it back on. Cornelius walks up, sits down at the bar, and checks in his LeMat, both of them, but assumes his military saber is fine until told otherwise. "Whiskey. Straight. Holy sheetbuckets, Claire, I got offered a deputization from one of the most legendary gunmen in the West, prolly brother of the most, and I thought he was a simple unknown lawman the whole time. Bartender, make that a double. That's about as heavy a ton of knowledge as a Clydesdale to drop on a man, I'll tell ya!"

When the whiskey is poured, he slings back a shot. "Well, I ain't got plans just yet until I hear back from Virginia, save for combing the town for info on my quarry. You folks?" He raises an eyebrow at the Brits, Ash, Claire, and Sam.

The stare Cornelius gives the Brits is deadpan and long. He looks then at the Marshall. He sighs, as if the next words pain him to admit. "These men are valorous in character and upstanding citizens, if a bit...overzealous...Marshall. They were the first to volunteer to assault the cowboy gang without recompense, and...They ain't so much about enforcing the law as punishing the wicked, but ten holy hells squeezed in a five hell bag, do they like to punish the wicked. My other company here seems for defending the weak as well."

Cornelius heads out to send the telegraph back to Virginia of his progress thus far. He comments that he took a minor liberty to hire a friend as a valet, Chasen, and of the assault during the arrival, and how they put down some local bandits, and the monster in the cave.

Yes, GM, this is me blatantly attempting to get the bonus for "Committing an act of conspicuous bravery witnessed by others" in and and hopefully get a promotion per the military rules in the Deadlands rules book by the soldier edge.

After the message is sent, he pays the fee (how much?) and meets the others at The Oriental.

"Sir, you forgive my language when I say this, but you can bet your goddamn ass I would be up for such a thing, provided there were no contradiction or conflict with any military orders I have. In fact, perhaps as local law of this land you can help me with such orders, and I can think of no man safer to talk to than the law. I'm looking for a man last seen round these parts...Hank Ketchum, Texas Ranger."B

In case it's needed.
Persuasion: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Ace: 1d8 ⇒ 7 = TOTAL MFING 17!!!
Wild: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Common Knowledge: 1d8 ⇒ 3
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Marshall, I'm gladly follow the law to the letter, but I question if it allows an exception to open carry for an officer of the military in good standing with the Confederacy? As I said, I will follow the letter of the law if such is not the case."

Cornelius strolls up and shakes the sheriff's hand. "Lieutenant Dickerson, private Chasen behind me. Good to see some law to meet these fine brave civilians in town. I don't know about the others, but I have not a place to rest my head yet. I also could use the location of the telegraph office, if'n you could point the way, friend."

Kept it simple. Dropped survival, upped notice, and now have at least a d6 or d8 in every skill I'm actually using. Still a talker and leader, but now actually decent with the things he does on his own own. Basically the same guy only spread less thin.

I think if I do change things around, it won't be to add an arcane background. Every Justice League needs a Batman or Green Arrow, after all.

Well, there's also the matter that in one of my games I'm a summoner and another I have a familiar, and I am thinking three games where I control multiple characters may be a bit much.

I don't really know what other direction I would take Corney, though. I have been liking the personality, but not so much the mechanics. The soldier angle hasn't played out as well as I had hoped.

It may be because I'm relatively unfamiliar with Deadlands. I've played once or twice, and I think I was a huckster both times. I think I overestimated the value of some stuff and not others.

... :-/ ...

Since nobody has said anything in main thread most of the day, it seems at least I have time to consider, in light of the new house rules and all.

I...might shift a little.

Leadership isn't panning out like I thought. No extras to lead. :-/

I get what you're doing. You basically made new skills cost the same as old.

Mainly because then I can take Flock.

But I think that's just spreading my abilities too thin and really losing focus, so for now I'll just up my Guts to d8 and Riding to d6. I am supposed to be Cavalry after all.

Shoot - does that mean if I take blessed i can start with a d4 in faith? 'cause I'd considered it, but didn't want to have to spend two levels to use powers.

"You two could always fight each other. I mean, which of you is the stronger, more manly of the two?"

Cornelius's grin is absolutely massive. This will be great.

Riding along with the people to town, Cornelius smiles.

"Man, that was intense. More intense than trainin', that's fer damn sure, an' the last time I had a moment I was riskin' my life was when someone called my sister the town horse, on account of sayin' everyone had ridden' her. Well, I up n' clocked that son of a b**** out with one swing, like on of these Brit boys, but man alive, what I done forgot was we happened to have been in a societal party, on account of my Ma and Pa trying to move up through Atlanta's social ranks, being well off due to their stores, but not actual debutantes, you get me?"

"Well, he challenged me to a duel when he came to, and this was before I had joined the military, so this fool think she is gonna shoot me right dead for learnin' him some respect about my sister. Well, that foppish little bastard had a fancy dueling pistol in a box, and he thinks I'm just some hick, but what he don't know is I been poppin' rats in the shop basements with daddy's old military pistol from the 1812 War since I was four! Man, you wanna talk about surprise when I shot that damn fool right through the hand. It was hilarious! By my rights, I was legally allowed to shoot him dead, since he called the duel and all, but he starts beggin' and cryin' like a little girl, an' so I tell him if I spare him he owes me big. Fast forward about two years, and wouldn't you believe I have a letter of recommendation to West Point when my parents' money ain't enough to get me in the door, signed by the parents of a boy who now himself writes with his off hand."

Cornelius somehow manages to, just barely, steel himself against the threat, and lowers his gun, shotgun blasting the hell out of the creature with it.

GM, I don't suppose a survival or a notice might find flammable stuff? Tumbleweed, cacti, etc, closer?

"The thought just occurred to me...what if we smoked it out? We can ride back to the train, take some lumbar from the wreckage, fill this cave up, and make it hotter than the devil's sunroom in here. If the fire don't get it, the smoke will drive it out, an' were waitin' guns, spears, an' boxing gloves in hand to mud stomp the overgrown centipede."

"Hmm...this'd be a right fine time to have had some dynamite and just collapsed this whole hunk a rock on the thing. Oh well...hindsight. We should fetch the others. We obviously ain't pulling it out. We will need lights, and to stay close to one another. Ed...Run and fetch the rest, and tell em what's going on. This ain't gonna be pleasant."

He chucks the dead critter into the center of the cave.

Notice: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Wild: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Yep, you've got a good point. Think you can chuck this deader up there and maybe piss the bugger off somethin fierce so she comes down to us?"

Damn you code of honor.

"It ain't right for a man to ask of his troops what he can't do fer himself. I'll go in."

He takes the creature corpse in his left hand, slings his carbine, and draws his grapeshot pistol, switching it to shot mode.

"If'n I'm in trouble, I'll try to make my scream loud enough to frighten you dern fools off instead of coming to save me."

He starts to head in...apparently ninja-like.
Stealth: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 4 = Total 10

Hey guys, guess what I forgot; every one one my team within five squares of me (25' or so) gets +1 to recover from shaken, what with my command edge. Should've mentioned that during the fight. Doh!

"That's a mighty nasty gash. We have a medic among any of us?"

Two mages of the only two magic types with no healing powers, ha

Cornelius grimaces at the carnage as he reloads the shotgun.

"Never saw that in basic!"

Cornelius reloads and shoots the closest threat with shotgun of shelling +1; it's super effective! Where once the target had a chest, abdomen, and neck, there is now a huge gaping hole, and a lot of blood and grime on the ground behind it.

"Actual shotguns, Miss Claire, are also rather useful for leaving shotgun sized holes in bodies...or in this case, leaving body parts in the hole, as I do believe there is more hole than body in that."

Cornelius reloads the carbine's shotgun, and blasts at one of the deaders "Well, Miss Claire, that there is an impressive means, but I do believe I prefer the old fashioned way of putting shotgun sized blasts in people. Also, with the dead walking, magic guns, and crazy bug monsters, everything I know about the universe is a lie, apparently, so this has turned out to be a heck of an afternoon!" After the shell misses by just an inch, he growls and tries to get back to back with anyone else to prevent ganging up. "Confounded foolishness!"

"H'wat in the Sam Hill Hell?!"

Cornelius saw a few things in his life, but dead men crawling from the sand was NOT one of them. He was noticeably stunned by the process. He snaps out of it, shakes his head, flips the carbine into shotgun mode and blasts the shit out of the nearest deader.

That's fine.

"I can't believe y'all spent all that time arguin' to chase down a critter that we can't even chase down!"

"Sounds like a good idea. The faster we get through this, the better. I'm not much of a tracker, Ash. Seems like this is your territory. We're right behind you, man.."

"Yer points are good. Tell you what, I'll agree, un'er two conditions. We leave the Squatpumps and chase with guns galore in the train with all of them away from the heat of the day and two, we know, an' I mean know one hunner't percent, they got enough food and water. I will not have people die of thirst while we're out galavantin' with the unknown. I think that's fair and reasonable."

"More than it coming after civilians while we're out hunting it, away from them, yes. What you propose - separating from them - is a coin toss. I'm not willing to take that risk."

Cornelius crosses his arms and stares at the others, and speaks to the posse quiet enough to not alert the civilians. "I. Gave. My. Word. I will get these people to safety, and frankly...they will be a liability hunting anything down! They could get mauled by coyotes or who knows what should we leave them unescorted. If'n this critter is so dangerous, it'll come to us; if not, it will wait. There's no logic to going after it now...beyond bravado. The certain safety of people is more important than a looming, uncertain potential threat some thing may kill them, but the thirst will certainly do so if we don't get them goin...which I plan to do."

With that he heads and mounts up.

I about cried laughing at "Miss that Kangaroo"

Nope. Code of honor, not heroic (though if we had alignments he would certainly be good). More important he gave his words to get them to town.

"The people of town have their Sheriff and deputies to protect them, and the natives can take care of 'emself. I otherwise have reasons to be in town, elsewise if'n that weren't the case I would go straightaway to do so with a posse after y'all were safe...I reckon sending a telegraph and payin' for a courier to run around and tell the smaller villages will go a long way, though, ma'am."

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

The southerner apparently notices nothing amiss with the woman's acting. Hey, Georgia isn't Tennessee isn't South Carolina isn't Alabama isn't...

"Now, I suggest we get moving. Women, children, elderly and infirm on the horses first. Double up - this ain't about speed, it's about conserving energy."

Not sure how many horses we have.

Cornelius stretches, and cracks his neck, and then listens to Chasen.

"I may bend the facts to suit interpretation, Chasen, but I ain't one for lyin', so I'll shoot straight with ya. Truth is, I ain't rightfully sure. We saw somethin', some kinda...creature...was being carried on that train. It ain't there no more, an' neither are many a body. Right now we need to get these folks to Tombstone where there's law, order, walls, food, and most importantly, water. You said you were infantry. How is you skill livin' off the land? Or navigation? I'm willin'a bet Ash can find the way to the 'Stone, or get us food, but he's only one man, and may need help. I got some training in basic, but the more hands the merrier. If not, shoot at any damn critter that moves as we go. I don't care if it's a scorpion - if it's got meat and blood we make use."

He stands up, fixes his uniform, adjusts his hat, and when everyone is awake he clears his throat to adds a the crowds.

"Ahem. Ladies, gentlemen, we have ourselves a pre'dic'ment, rest assured, but we also got ourselves a heck of a crew to deal with it, and whether yer CSA, USA, Coyote, Sioux, ot even Utah or Maze, we are 'Muricans, damnit, and cut from a group of people that don't let nothin' keep us down; not sun, heat, animal, bandit, or nothin can keep any of our people, save one 'nuther, from our goals when we get our stubborn minds set to it.

Tombstone ain't far, and we're goin' there. We got a gen-u-ine Cherokee scout with is, an them Injun can track a rabbit four days after it passed in the rain. You got two Brits with more muscles than a guerilla with a weight set, a girl what can shoot a fly off a cake without skimmin' the frosting, an', Mr. Sam I believe has more tricks up his sleeve than cards when he gambles. We will make it, but we're gonna do it as a team. As a unit. Now, if we can follow these tracks, they were goin to our destination anyway, an' if not (I'm still not clear how the train crashed - did the already finished tracks run out somehow?), then we head west. Sun's rising, so that's a good start to walk away from."

He looks at the crew.

"Any with any survival training, youre on detail combing for food and water as we go. Cacti, critters, whatever. Any without keeps the noncombatants safe. Brit boys, I'm lookin' at you. Show 'm your muscles, n' squat thrusts n' whatnot if you're bored, teach the kiddies how to curl using scrap metal, I don't care, but don't let harm come to a hair. Shootin' iron types, we blast anything what moves and ain't human. Food is food. You see an Injun, you get Ash right away, he can tell em we are friendly in their own gobbledygook language, that we ain't here to steal no land, but go to town. Do not start anything with an Injun! ...but be prepared to defend yourself. Any questions? If not, we got to move."

It happens. I just figured it was the forums as they have been buggin me of late.

Thats more or less what I did.

Still, at one point I was getting dealt like ten cards.

Aren't hucksters half core wizard rate? So one point for every two hours? There were six of us doing an eight hour shift, I was mid shift, so at least two points I'd imagine, though it's a GM call obviously.

Last time I played Deadlands IRL I made a huckster, pumped Grit as high as I could and did devil deals for every single spell.

Worked surprisingly well.

"We should find out. Chasen, you and the Squatpumps keep an eye here for trouble. Those of us that investigated the train last night will go see what trouble those two dug up. Ash, yer on point. Claire and Sam, flank the sides. Looks like the hunt ain't waiting until after we get these folks to town." He whispers to his valet. "Remember, Chasen, fire scares anything natural.If it comes at you with the fire going, get every one in the train remains and barricade the door...If you can..."

He stands up and addresses any awake noncombatants. "Ain't no bandits hurt a one of you, an' I aim to keep it that way, perfectionist I am. Private Chasen and the Squat Boys, of whom I will be putting in a good word with the Sheriff when we get to town do your protection, will assure your safety as we go hunt down a varmint. I gave my word, ladies and gentlemen, an I aim to keep it."

He raises his carbine and winks. "Let's go shoot us a varmint."

Being able to hear their conversation around the corner, because Biff is Biff, Cornelius facepalms.

"I know you're not happy," Claire mutters to Cornealius. "But that might have been a bad decision. Because you know that the instant he sees something, he's going to attack it."

"Out here, middle of nowhere, unless it's a rescue posse, odds are that's not a bad thing. Plus, with his explosive punches, we'll know there's trouble. Also, I kind of halfway hope somethin teaches him a little humility without killing him. Ya can't just charge everything...and I'm a dang cavalryman, and I know that! Anyway, if its not a threat it's more to eat."