Chapter 1: Prudence

[Faanku]

Watching her go, Amalia speaks to those remaining. "And there be the truth. I deem this woman no servant of evil, and if she hangs for such a sin her murderer's souls be forfeit. Whether her killin' of that man was a crime or self defence, that be a decision for the sheriff to make. I'm sure he's got enough to worry about right now though than to prioritise punishing this woman. See that no harm befalls her until then."

She moves in to speak to Zoe in a quiet voice. "It wouldn't do ye no harm to take y'self to church once in a while. Folks take a care about such things, and He watches all besides."

[Enoch]

Shadrach pushes off the wall to stand straight as Sister Anja brushes past. He listens respectfully as Sister Amalia passes judgment, though his eyes, full of curiosity, remain fixed on The Handmaiden. Finally he speaks to Lira in a low voice. "That's that, then. Personally, I've seen many a strange thing out this close to the Badlands, and been responsible for more'n a few myself. Glad you're bringin' the light of civilization out to these parts, Judge, but not everything out here's like to agree."

[jemmus]

Talina walks over to the bars to chat with Taavi.

"Pleased to meet you Taavi. If you plan to represent me I hope you can find a way to get me out of this town. The bounty is from a previous employer who was a little upset over losing my services. How much do you really want to know?"

She looks around to see if anyone can hear this conversation.

"My best guess about Teo is he is as greedy as the next bounty hunter. I don't know anything about him."

I see, Taavi says. One moment, please. He pulls up Talina's warrant on his compad, looks it for a while. He contemplates, while slowly pinching at his chin whiskers.

Ms. Talina, I must ask you a very frank question. To your knowledge, are you an android, or in some way technologically or genetically enhanced by another party? Says in a solemn, sympathetic voice, I ask because this warrant treats you as chattel. That is, the property of a person or a company.

[Marullus]

In the Chapel...

Shadrach pushes off the wall to stand straight as Sister Anja brushes past.

Watching her go, Amalia speaks to those remaining - Lira, Shadrach, and the Handmaiden. "And there be the truth. I deem this woman no servant of evil, and if she hangs for such a sin her murderer's soul be forfeit. Whether her killin' of that man was a crime or self defense, that be a decision for the sheriff to make. I'm sure he's got enough to worry about right now though than to prioritize punishing this woman. See that no harm befalls her until then."

Shadrach listens respectfully as Sister Amalia passes judgment, though his eyes, full of curiosity, remain fixed on The Handmaiden. When she's done, he turns and speaks to Lira in a low voice. "That's that, then. Personally, I've seen many a strange thing out this close to the Badlands, and been responsible for more'n a few myself. Glad you're bringin' the light of civilization out to these parts, Judge, but not everything out here's like to agree."

Amalia moves in to speak to Zoe in a quiet voice. "It wouldn't do ye no harm to take y'self to church once in a while. Folks take a care about such things, and He watches all besides."

Zoe continues to sob relentlessly on the floor, her forehead and knees touching the wood planks, her hands still bound behind her with sturdy rope. Her weeping now has a hint of relief rather than all despair, however. The Handmaiden smiles pleasantly as she stands watching the bound woman's pain and sorrow with an odd intensity.


In the Sheriff's Office...
Taavi talks at the cell. "...But four or perhaps five deaths appear to have been directly or indirectly caused because of your presence. And there is a warrant for your arrest, and Mr. Hansel intends to collect the bounty. So my first questions are, who issued the warrant for your arrest and capture? And for what reason? The bounty reward is pretty substantial, it seems that someone wants you pretty badly. And my other question is, do you know of any reason that Teo Hrsak would want to kill you? My impression was that he went directly for you when he entered the room. Again, you only need to reply if you consent to my representing you.

Talina walks over to the bars to chat with Taavi. "Pleased to meet you Taavi. If you plan to represent me I hope you can find a way to get me out of this town. The bounty is from a previous employer who was a little upset over losing my services. How much do you really want to know?"

She looks around to see if anyone can hear this conversation, ascertaining that they are quite alone in the open office. The Deputy and Hansel sit in chairs outside on the front porch and the only closed-off area is the closet next to the coffeemaker.

"I see," Taavi says. "One moment, please." He pulls up Talina's warrant on his compad, looking at it for a while. He contemplates, while slowly pinching at his chin whiskers.

"...My best guess about Teo is he is as greedy as the next bounty hunter. I don't know anything about him," Talina adds as the lawyer reads.

"Ms. Talina, I must ask you a very frank question. To your knowledge, are you an android, or in some way technologically or genetically enhanced by another party?" Says in a solemn, sympathetic voice, "I ask because this warrant treats you as chattel. That is, the property of a person or company."

OOC: Facts on electronics.

Ubiquitous use of electronics is true in cities, but not universal in outlying towns or Badlands. While in a city, there us sufficient wifi to use computers, do research, etc. Outside the city, data is received via one-way transmission: the cities broadcast radio signals with audio content, but also with a data layer for information they wish to promulgate.

There are two major forms of electronics in SWN: The Compad, meant to be a tablet-like personal device that operates on wifi, or the Dataslab which is a full laptop with robust capability (including for coding or hacking). In our setting, you can be a TL2 transistor radio, a TL3 (real world) tablet, or a TL4 hi-tech holo display, at your option. While out here, it is a receive-only device no matter its parameters. You can describe it playing music from radio stations and if it has a data screen, you can avail yourself of plot information broadcast from the city that I provide, like below.
If you need to get a communication from an outlying area back to the city, it requires a major radio broadcast rig to transmit it, which is often available in towns (think a Wild West telegraph office). This is true for the judge reporting rulings, bounty hunters certifying a claim on a bounty, or administration checks to requisition goods/favors from allies, etc.
If you purchase a Dataslab instead of a compad, then you have the extra advantages of computing power and data storage - if you want a portable database that can operate outside of a city (a law library, star charts and ship registries, blueprints for fixing things, etc) that requires a Dataslab that and a reasonable expectation that you downloaded the repository while in a city, ship, or place where such a thing would have been available.

OOC: For those with compads.

Bounties are commonly broadcast at least monthly from the cities in the radio transmissions. Those with compads (and willing to deal with batteries for them) receive these updates directly. They also are received at Telegraph offices in outlying towns (which is presumably where the group of bounty-hunters got the printed out paper copy they displayed.)

It is no difficulty for Hansel to identify the party of card players as fellow bounty hunters, if sloppy ones -- he has the same bounty sheet regarding Talina Mannifer on his own compad (a bit more secure than the folded and worn print-out). A picture of a relatively unassuming girl, but a reward of 50 gold chits (5,000 credits) only if returned alive and undamaged. He followed the same trail of rumors to find the girl here that they did.

The Bounty for Talina Mannifer has the following additional details for those who care about such things:

• The bounty is issued by the Kumenha regional government (not city, not private corporation)
• It is a civil warrant for stolen property, not criminal charges
• Talina is classified as "corporate property" in the warrant, not as a person

In the Saloon...

In the aftermath of all that has happened, the Saloon falls into a more somber and quiet mood. The presence of a half-dozen bodies lying against the broken south wall (even with most of them wrapped in white sheets, the blood beginning to ooze through) a sobering reminder of all that just happened as people continue to get drunk. The old speakers hung along the ceiling somberly continue to play the scratchy music streaming from the nearest radio tower.

Emile, Farraday, and Doc Volokh drink quietly at the bar, Mirko falling into a moody silence as well, keeping their glasses filled.

Dima sighs heavily, her work complete, easing slowly back into a wooden chair with a wicker back not far from the north end of the bar. She produces two long steel needs from her carpet bag. click-t'click. click-t'click. click-t'click. Her knitting adds an unnerving syncopation to the music's rhythm.

A shadow darkens the northern doorway. Sister Anja stands there, pausing and straightening herself up as her gaze passes over all those in the room. Most turn away, studiously regarding the insides of their mugs. Without making any pronouncement, she steps in and crosses the room, the wooden heels of her tall boots loudly clacking on the floor in the room's silence. She bends down over the body of Teo Hrsak, then kneels next to him, a hand on the side of his face. She is murmuring something, but no one is close enough to overhear.

One pair of eyes that conspicuously does not avert belong to Valentin. The large technician settled in with a group of a half-dozen other locals at a round table near the western wall, the far side away from the bar. The men continue to converse in low tones, casting the occasional unhappy glance at Sister Anja and her ministrations.

I want to make sure we get at least one more post from Lira and for Faraday. Anyone else who has more to do, chime in as well. If there's no objections then, I'll move forward to the next beat (the following morning) by Monday. If you don't specify where you're sleeping, I'll charge you the 10 credits for the Saloon when Mirko closes up.

[shroomofinsanity]

Having been quiet after her initial outburst, Lira addresses those still in the Chapel: I do beg ya pardon, I honestly believed that this might end in a more...terminal manner before the girl could be questioned by my associate and put to trial. I was obviously mistaken and I thank you for permitting my continued attendance. Mr. Shadrach was it? I wouldn't like to bother these women and their duties any longer, but you seem to know a thing or two about these parts. Might I convince you to have a sit down either before the saloon closes or tomorrow morning, as there are things I am sure we could discuss. Until then, I'll be waiting in the saloon till closing time then I think I might try out the boarding house for the evening. Lira, looking more worn out than even the day's events would justify makes the appropriate gestures of respect for the church towards the women, then departs for the saloon slowly, finally taking the chance to look around and get the lay of the town.


Lira will be taking things easy for the rest of the day, she figures everything else can wait for tomorrow but is also interested in what happened out in the streets earlier in possible connection to the events of the saloon.

[Enoch]

Shadrach shakes his head and responds in a quiet voice. "Why don't we compare notes now? There's a strangeness in this town; I feel it in my gut. That sheriff was pretty laid-back about demon-spawn rampaging in his town. I've killed my fair share of demons, but I don't think I've ever been so resigned to it. I suspect Zoe over there-" he nods in the direction of the weeping girl- "may know something about it, an' just maybe she's in a mood to talk, having just avoided damnation an' all. An' you, Judge...well, I suspect you've some skill at getting people to talk. What do you say?"

If Lira wants, Shadrach would be happy to help a Talk check (or whatever) with Connect.

[shroomofinsanity]

rewinding a bit, still plan on going to the bar then boarding house but I'll play this out before I head out.

Lira stops before leaving the church, heeds the advice and wearily speaks again: Miss, I don't think we have been introduced, My name is Lira Bunt, circuit court judge of this region. You're name is Zoe right? While this is normally Taavi's job, I'm no stranger to talking to those in your position. Lira takes a few cautious steps forward towards the sweeping girl and continues speaking So miss, my friend and I were wondering if you were free to chat about some of the goings on in this town?

[Marullus]

Lira CHA+Talk [2d6+2]=7+2=9

Shadrach and Lira close the distance to the middle of the church sanctuary, joining where Zoe sobs on the floor. Amalia stands adjacent while the Handmaiden watches raptly with a placid smile.

Lira wearily speaks again: "Miss, I don't think we have been introduced, My name is Lira Bunt, circuit court judge of this region. You're name is Zoe right? While this is normally Taavi's job, I'm no stranger to talking to those in your position." Lira takes a few cautious steps forward towards the weeping woman and continues speaking "So miss, my friend and I were wondering if you were free to chat about some of the goings on in this town?

"It's... It's Madame," Zoe says, composing herself. She pushes her graying hair back and straightens her bun as she tries make herself more presentable. "Oui, it is an honor, Madame Judge. I swear I was... I was just in défense..." After redirection, and finding you wish to know about the town that just tried to lynch her, she looks nervous, her eyes passing to Amalia, the Handmaiden, Shadrach. She is uncomfortable in the Mandate English and, upon learning Lira understands her, continues in her native patois. "J'espérais être en sécurité ici, vivre tranquillement, mais cette ville a négocié avec le diable. Le shérif ... il rencontre dans la nuit Teo Hrsak et les frères Ramljak. Il les protège et ils ne volent pas les enfants d'ici. Dans le Saloon, les citadins parlent de leur passé ensemble lorsqu'ils ont trop bu, les Hrsaks et les Skenders. Je pensais que c'était des préjugés, ces familles étant pauvres. Mais cet homme ... Deux Hrsak n'était pas humain, il était surnaturel, il était maudit avec le sang du loup-garou." She trails off, looking frightened again, her age showing deep in the lines on her face. "There are good people, though, as well. Do not hurt them. Do not hurt me. Please, I beg of you."
Lira:

"I hoped to be safe here, to live quietly, but this town has bargained with the devil. The Sheriff... he meets in the night with Teo Hrsak and the brothers Ramljak. He protects them and they do not steal the children from here. In the Saloon, townsfolk talk of how their past together when they have drunk too much, the Hrsaks and Skenders. I thought it prejudice, those families being poor. But that man... Two Hrsak was not human, he was supernatural, he was cursed with the blood of the werewolf."

rewinding a bit, still plan on going to the bar then boarding house but I'll play this out before I head out.

For scene management, I asked each PC to visit at most two of the three scenes. She went to the Sheriff and the Church. When this scene is over, I'll wrap the evening (time is up before she goes to the Saloon) and you can begin the next scene in the morning at the Boardinghouse.

[Marullus]

I want to make sure we get at least one more post from Lira and for Faraday. Anyone else who has more to do, chime in as well. If there's no objections then, I'll move forward to the next beat (the following morning) by Monday. If you don't specify where you're sleeping, I'll charge you the 10 credits for the Saloon when Mirko closes up.

Last call - I'm going to try to update by tonight/tomorrow morning.

[Enoch]

Shadrach will wander over to the boarding house and arrange for two rooms for himself and Amalia.

[Marullus]

Wrap-ups:

• Talina should backdate a response to Taavi to answer this.
• Hoping Mister-Kent is feeling better. I'll reintegrate Faraday when he's back.

Ambiance: Hells Kitchen

The intense afternoon winds down into evening. At the church, Zoe Sadoul composes herself and heads to her home. Lira goes to Anica's Boarding House to get her dinner. Shadrach sees to Amalia and the Handmaiden, arranging rooms for them as well, leaving the church in the hands of a young docent who ties her hair back and sets about scrubbing the flecks of blood from the hardwood floor. Dinner conversation between the two potent women is polite and reserved before everyone heads to their rooms to wash and settle in. (25 credits each, includes Good food, wifi access, and recharges batteries) Finishing with Talina at the Sheriff's office and getting the basics of Hansel's case for defense as well, Taavi heads back to the Saloon and orders some of the stew, contenting with common fare. Talina and Hansel, both returned to the holding cell, are provided a simple but filling dinner by Deputy Karlo and two wooden cots, having little choice in their own accommodations for the night. The somber, dark mood of the Saloon persists. Eventually, with everyone fed and most quiet and a little drunk, Mirko shoos the out-of-towners upstairs to the common room and the locals out to go find their own beds. Faraday, Emile, and Taavi head upstairs and find open bunks with wool blankets, the best spot already claimed by Báleygr. (10 credits, includes food and common room bed [Poor])

Deep In the Night...
Deep in the badlands, a thunderhead grumbles, a distant storm providing an oppressive humidity to the dark and gloomy night. Hansel and Talina are locked in the cells and left alone for several hours since Karlo left and the Sheriff had yet to return. Sometime in the long dark night, the door thumps and the Sheriff's boots clump across the floor. He smells like a whiskey still, even at a distance. He enters the closet and closes the door behind him.

Lira and Shadrach, either up late in their rooms or roused from light sleep, hear a creaking, thumping outside. Going to their second floor windows at the boarding house, they're able to have a clear view of Main Street - they see Sister Anja struggling with a wooden handcart, a single wrapped body not quite fitting within. She tries repeatedly to get it up the steps to the front of the church, then to fit it through the front doors, until the whole axle snaps and the wheel falls out. The cart doesn't fit through the doorjam, so she wrestles the body off to just inside the sanctuary, leaving the broken cart on the steps outside.

From her window, Lira's eyes see the flow of radio transmissions more clearly against the night sky, like a purple and blue aurora borealis wafting from the city to the northeast. It is peaceful, soothing. She then throws up her hand to shield her eyes as a burst of violet energy bursts from the nearby Sheriff's office, blaring like a spotlight, shooting deep into the Badlands to the south. She blinks to clear the dots from her vision, and it happens again. Three blasts in total, streaming from the office southward away from town.

Mirko cleared the Saloon, but that didn't mean the drunk and disgruntled townsfolk went home. The murmuring of a crowd outside disturbs both Emile and Faraday in the common room above; looking out the windows, they see about ten men who didn't go home, passing a few bottles and talking with animated gestures in the back field, the gnarled mesquite tree silhouetted in the starlight behind them. Eventually they wander around the corner towards the gas station and out of sight.

The Darkness just before Dawn...

Blood Red Sky.jpg (4.12 KiB) Viewed 758 times

The sky dims a blood red before the sun crests the horizon. Hansel and Talina are startled awake by a loud clattering thump and some cursing, presumably the sheriff falling off his chair in the closed closet. You hear the muffled sound of a voice on the radio. About two minutes later, Sheriff Skender emerges and smiles broadly at you, holding his set of iron keys. He is wearing yesterday's clothes and the smell of whiskey is still heavy, but he otherwise seems fine and in good spirits. "Well!" he exclaims, unlocking the cell and throwing it open. "I did my part, holding you overnight for, what was it? 'Disturbing the Peace.' I reckon my jurisdiction is done. You go on and get outta here." Leaving the cell door open, he sniffs, wiping his nose on the back of his hand, and presses the button to make a cup of coffee. "If that Judge wants you for her jurisdiction, I reckon she'll catch up, but I'd say you're best not to sit around and wait for it, you know?" He turns his back and watches the coffeemaker studiously, pointedly not watching you.

At the Saloon, Emile is the first up and awakens the others. An ominous crowd, now almost two dozen men, is approaching town from the northwest, coming across the fields from some homesteads visible in the distance. They look armed, perhaps with rifles, maybe pitchforks, coming towards the north end of Main Street.

The smell of blueberry muffins and bacon wafts through Anica's Boarding House, tempting the boarders to wake. The soft feather mattresses are comfortable, but something niggles at your consciousness, some ill omen for a dark morning to come. Shadrach awakens to a low growling noise, a familiar spectral hound protectively by the edge of his bed. Lira's hi-tech receiver chirps awake, beeping every few seconds for attention...

Actions?

[Enoch]

Shadrach's eyes snap open, a product of many years in combat zones fighting other men's battles. As he sits up, he sees the hound and instantly reaches for his rifle before his mind has processed the scene. His brow furrows in concern as he swings his legs out of bed and takes several quick steps over to the window, clad only in his smallclothes.

He glances in irritation at the creature next to him. "Quiet, Grim. Don't go forgetting who holds your leash."

He returns to the bed and quickly pulls on a pair of pants, throwing open the door to the hallway. Barechested and barefoot, he settles the butt of his rifle into the pocket of his shoulder, the muzzle pointed at the floor. He balls his left hand into a fist and bangs it several times into Amalia's door, the dull boom echoing inside. "Wake up, Sister; there's trouble afoot." He doesn't dally, but quickly descends the stairs, the hound bounding down swiftly but eerily silently ahead of him. With a quick glance out the door, Shadrach steps into the street, the servomotors in his joints already emitting a low buzz.

He spares another quick glance at the hound beside him. "What do you smell, boy?"

I'm activating the twitchlock actuators.
Unless the crowd is nearby (or Grim leads elsewhere), he's going to be watching the chapel intently and approaching quickly but quietly. If there are appropriate rolls for Grim to make, I'm happy to make those. Otherwise, use these as appropriate:
Notice (-1 Wis, -1 for no skill): [2d6-2]=6-2=4 I suspect Shadrach is tough because he gets ambushed a lot.
Sneak (-1 for no skill): [2d6-1]=8-1=7 Better.

[cybersavant]

The somber, dark mood of the Saloon persists. Eventually, with everyone fed and most quiet and a little drunk, Mirko shoos the out-of-towners upstairs to the common room and the locals out to go find their own beds. Faraday, Emile, and Taavi head upstairs and find open bunks with wool blankets, the best spot already claimed by Báleygr. (10 credits, includes food and common room bed [Poor])

Deep In the Night...
Deep in the badlands, a thunderhead grumbles, a distant storm providing an oppressive humidity to the dark and gloomy night.

Mirko cleared the Saloon, but that didn't mean the drunk and disgruntled townsfolk went home. The murmuring of a crowd outside disturbs both Emile and Faraday in the common room above; looking out the windows, they see about ten men who didn't go home, passing a few bottles and talking with animated gestures in the back field, the gnarled mesquite tree silhouetted in the starlight behind them. Eventually they wander around the corner towards the gas station and out of sight.

At the Saloon, Emile is the first up and awakens the others. An ominous crowd, now almost two dozen men, is approaching town from the northwest, coming across the fields from some homesteads visible in the distance. They look armed, perhaps with rifles, maybe pitchforks, coming towards the north end of Main Street.

Báleygr Gangleri gets us, dresses, grabs his bags, and heads downstairs for bereakfast.

[Craigers07]

"Ms. Talina, I must ask you a very frank question. To your knowledge, are you an android, or in some way technologically or genetically enhanced by another party?" Says in a solemn, sympathetic voice, "I ask because this warrant treats you as chattel. That is, the property of a person or company."

Talina

"I'm not anyone's property now and don't intend to be. What they're seeking isn't part of me, but what I know. There's definitely been enough profit lost to try to get me back."

I'll sleep at the Sheriff's office tonight.

[Marullus]

Thanks! I appreciate you posting that for Taavi.
You can go ahead and post for the morning - what do you and Hansel do when the Sheriff opens the door?

[jemmus]

Taavi
To Talina, prior to departing for the boarding house.
Ah, I see. Unfortunately the warrant for your capture was issued by the state and is valid. And Mr. Shatner and Mr. Chuck Harris appear to have valid claims to the reward. Which has the better claim remains to be seen. However, either of their roles in today's violence may constitute crimes which may limit their freedom to claim the reward. In other words, a person in jail or prison isn't physically able to deliver another person and claim a reward.

Ms. Talina, it seems that there is nothing to be done for your defense here in Prudence. I would recommend that you retain legal counsel in the city to try to have the warrant cancelled. There are laws against retaliation against former employees and false imprisonment. That's is, illegally restricting another person's physical liberty. It would be a hard fight, but not impossible. A thought occurs to him. Perhaps even Judge Bunt has authority to annul the warrant.

Later, at the boarding house.
Taavi senses something is wrong outside. He gets out of bed, dresses, hangs his state shield/electronic ID around his neck and his rifle from his shoulder. He heads downstairs and onto the street.

[Marullus]

*Bump* We're at a week.
Looking for Faraday, Lira, Emile, Hansel, and Amalia.

[redwarrior]

Hansel will casually saunter over to the cabinet where he saw his and Talina's gear get stored, saying If we're not being charged, I assume we are free to reclaim our property. I'd like to thank you, Sheriff, for your hospitality and for taking the time to listen to my side of the story. I was right to believe that you are an upstanding man! Assuming he isn't stopped (talk roll), Hansel will grab his own gear, and pass Talina's along to her.

Once we have our gear, Hansel, will take a deep breath and open the door, stepping smoothly into the street. (notice roll)

Talk roll if needed to help convince the sheriff to allow us to take our stuff.
Talk [2d6+1]=4+1=5
Notice roll for stepping out on the street and seeing if there's an ambush.
Notice [3d6c1+1]=10+1=11

Hansel totally thinks this is a setup for a shoot-out on main street. That's what he thinks the radio in the closet was about. Without weapons, it's just a shoot-down, which he has no interest in, and would rather just stay in the cell to await the judge. If the sheriff won't let him retrieve his gear, he'll just head back to the cell, counting on the sheriff not being good with straight-up murder.

[greyarea]

After waking everyone, Emile heads out to the incoming crowd.

[Faanku]

Amalia wakes quickly, briefly dazed but quickly recovers. After communing with the Handmaiden for a brief moment, she pulls on her boots and follows her bodyguard outside.