The Unseen Servant forums

Lira, not one to let legal matters rest without due process follows the Sheriff and listens to Hansel's impassioned speech, and while it may be passion of one who is soon to be hanged, it was passion none the less, and honestly, he has a pretty good head on his shoulders. Maybe I should recruit him to be prosecutor opposite Taavi, that would be quite the show, but I suppose that is for later.

Now Sheriff, I have been ever so polite this entire time, and I have tried to allow for the truth that things spiraled out of control rather quickly, but here I must make a statement. You are the local law in this town, that's a fact. You have kept a version of order intact as well, but as others have said, you continue to treat symptoms when the actual disease runs rampant. I hear about this family that has plagued your town for generations, I hear about cults, and shadows and witches. I feel you have let things spiral out of control yourself. IF you ignore me today, let the church just take a woman for who knows what, either kill or release a man without trial, you are simply perpetuating the corruption I am seeing all over this town. If you continue to follow this path, whether you kill the lawyer and myself or not, the cat will come to the tiny door.

Conversely, I give you a chance, right now, to give me control of this situation, let me try all that have possibly committed crimes and all will see you are part of this State. And I will say, those that work within the state, receive aid from higher authority when it is needed most. I do not doubt that you have been trying to keep this town together, but what the public defender says is very apt, your town, in this hellish desert, is drowning, and it is only a matter of time before you and all the good people here are underwater. Lira says all this, thinks a moment, and adds:

I'll give you the sweet short and direct version. I will try the men and women in this town that require a legal judgement, I will then send for assistance to root out any kind of cult, and most likely investigate this family with tech and a wish for murder. IF you insist on hampering me or even worse, pulling a weapon on me, I will have you stripped of your power here and now, promote someone who will do the State's work and keep this town at peace, and have you tried yourself for obstruction of justice. Oh, and don't think killing me will save you, Lira taps a finger next to her eyes, as they smolder, my eyes do more than just see in the dark Sheriff, and there are others that know what they see. After saying all this, Lira stands confidently, locking eyes with the Sheriff, not moving to raise her weapon or make an aggressive move, for the law is her shield and sword in times like this, and taking a town by murdering the sheriff is not the correct way to do things.

Sheriff's Office

Iniative:[1d8+1]=1+1=2

Talina nods at Hansel.

"It's hard to believe anyone back there wanted me alive. I would like to know myself why they think I'm so valuable."

"Do you have any idea why everyone in your town is after me Sheriff?"

Emile assists with body clean-up. As he does so, he asks whomever he is working with, These things are normal 'round here? The sheriff didn't seem plussed by the events: more that there are outsiders here. What can you tell me about recent goings on?

Emile Cha+Talk [2d6r2+2]=9+2=11

Ambiance: Broken Bones

Inside the Chapel...

• The Chapel (Witches to the Question) [Sister Anja, Zoe, Two Sweaty Farmers; presumably Amalia, Shadrach]

The Sheriff releases his tension and lowers the barrel of his rifle. "Alright, sister. That's up to you an' the Church," he says, his tone measured as he looks between Amalia and Sister Anja. "You take her for confessions an' whatever you like."

With Amalia's assent, a chastened Sister Anja and her two sweaty farmers lead the way out of the saloon and half-way down Main Street to the plain beige stucco chapel, its bell rocking in the breeze in the tower above the double front doors. Anja pushes open the right-hand door and Zoe is escorted in. Inside is a rectangular sanctuary, two rows of pews leading to a raised vestibule at the front, an ornate wooden pulpit in the center on the front edge. A set of narrow stairs to the left of the entryway leads down to a dark lower level and a plain wooden door on the vestibule leads to a back room. Windows line the two long side walls, about a third of them open to allow a breeze to blow through.

"Used to have air conditioning, they say. Broke down maybe twenty years ago," Sister Anja says apologetically. "Folks are used to it now." She gestures to the wide room, inviting Amalia in.

I'm assuming this move of locations is acceptable - Amalia has veto rights (she asserted control) if she wants to air church laundry in the public saloon, though. Waiting for Amalia, then addtional from Shadrach. Plus anyone else who comes along.

Inside the Sheriff's Office...

• The Sheriff's Office (Establishing Legal Jurisdictions) [Sheriff Goran, Deputy Karlo, Hansel, Talina; presumably Lira]

Sheriff Goran and Deputy Karlo escort Hansel and Talina respectively out of the saloon, across the street, and into the Sheriff's office. Talina walks along quietly, but Hansel begins chattering immediately with the Deputy. "Well, that was a bit more tension than I like, at least while handcuffed and unarmed. I'm glad shooting didn't start again, say, I've been in town a week or so and don't think I've had the opportunity to talk with you before! The name's Hansel and...." Hansel prattles along with his recent exploits, but Deputy Karlo Miletic interrupts. "I am familiar with you, Mr. Shatner. Taty spoke of you." His tone is flat. You of course remember Tatyana Miletic, mostly because the young teen girl was barely more than a child and the most moon-eyed lovestruck thing you've ever seen. You brought in Ilya Kirnikov, wounded but alive, who was the older-teen brigand who was the object of her infatuation. The girl played innocent and shot you. You almost lost your leg. It still twinges sometimes. You didn't stick around for the trial.

Entering the office, it is a plain wood building with little interior decoration - Hansel and Talina are ushered unceremoniously past the small round table and its pair of mismatched wooden chairs and directly through the iron bars of the holding cells along the back wall. Once the heavy iron door lock clunks into place, Deputy Karlo uncuffs Hansel while Sheriff Goran presses a button on an electric appliance standing near the front window. With an aromatic hiss, dark coffee fills his plain ceramic mug. He nudges the closet shut with his toe and takes a sip, turning to regard Judge Lira as her footfalls herald her approach on the rickety front porch, Chuck right behind her.

"Sheriff Goran, I am a bounty hunter, here are my credentials, and I was getting ready to collect a bounty of 50 gold chits – quite a bit of money – placed on the return of this lady..." Hansel launches into a well-spoken argument, both the Sheriff and Lira as audience.

Lira, not one to let legal matters rest without due process follows the Sheriff and listens to Hansel's impassioned speech, and while it may be passion of one who is soon to be hanged, it was passion none the less, and honestly, he has a pretty good head on his shoulders. "Now Sheriff, you are the local law in this town, that's a fact. You have kept a version of order intact as well, but as others have said, you continue to treat symptoms when the actual disease runs rampant. I hear about this family that has plagued your town for generations, I hear about cults, and shadows and witches. I feel you have let things spiral out of control yourself. I give you a chance, right now, to give me control of this situation, let me try all that have possibly committed crimes and all will see you are part of this State. I will try the men and women in this town that require a legal judgement, I will then send for assistance to root out any kind of cult, and most likely investigate this family with tech and a wish for murder."

Sheriff Goran stares a long time into his mug of coffee, not lifting his eyes to make eye contact with either of them during their speeches. "Now, boy... you got a righteous tale. But I can't say that you wanting to collect a bounty gives you the right t' shoot everyone else trying to do the same thing. If you got a permit that says that, well..." he finally looks up, offering a smile. "That's a Kumenha warrant out of the city, and ain' really my problem."

"But Sheriff, you KNOW that we had a claim to the bounty first, an'..." interrupts Chuck.

"No, no Chuck," the Sheriff lowers his head deferentially and raises a hand. "I have to respect the Greater Kumenha powers and those they have sent to descend upon me. I have no choice but to let this man go, and it's this fine young lady - and her fancy rifle - that has to take them to her court back in the city to determine the truth of these matters. It may take months with these lawyers, Chuck, but I know that you got it in you to perservere... for the sake of Art and Ed and Henry, am I right? Who am I to say the rights of bounty hunters operating under license, or the fate of this girl who the law has bound, or who gets paid for her between you fine gentlemen? Yep. That's all to be decided in they city." He nods firmly, pleased with his own compromise. He turns to the Judge. "Now, you had quite the long day. Why don't you go have a nice bath, rest your pretty little head. I'll hold these two overnight for disturbing the peace, a local issue, and you're welcome to put them on your truck and leave with them in the morning. I reckon Chuck will want to ride with you, too, until this is decided."

Chuck glowers darkly at Hansel. "This ain't over." He turns and stomps out of the Office.

"Now, as for Zoe, she's a nice enough girl, but the devil hides all kinds, I hear." he says, returning to Lira. "The Devil is a Church matter, and I ain't interceding. It won't be the first or last witch hung for the good of this town, and I suggest you leave it alone. You just head on back with the cases you need to handle, and leave that here." He tips up his mug, draining the last of his coffee and tipping his chair back against the wall with a satisfied sigh.

Once that conversation has worn down, Hansel turns to Talina and ask her "So... that bounty was a bit vague on exactly what you were wanted for. Though it did indicate 'alive and undamaged' which isn't what I think those folks planned on doing. What did you do to be worth so much money to those folks?"

Talina nods at Hansel. "It's hard to believe anyone back there wanted me alive. I would like to know myself why they think I'm so valuable. Do you have any idea why everyone in your town is after me Sheriff?" The Sheriff tips his hat down over his eyes and grunts.

"A valid warrant for that much money brings everyone, miss," offers Deputy Karlo, sliding two metal cups of water onto the tray in the bars. "This one will tell you that," he indicates Hansel. "Ain't nobody involved in that tussle who belongs here. Not one." He looks askance at the Sheriff, musing. "If we're letting you go free come morning, that's good news for you both. Lessen the Judge here gets designs on holding you and a way to do so. I've got some stew on, and I'll give you both a good free dinner, anyways." He pauses awkwardly. "An' two decent cots. Least I can do."


Inside the Saloon...

• The Saloon (Talking/Gathering Information, Body Clean-up) [Mirko, Doc Volokh, Chuck, Martin, the old couple; presumably everyone else?]

Looking for input from Faraday, who's presumably being bandaged by Doc Volokh .

"The REST of you..." the Sheriff turns to the Saloon with an encompassing gesture, then looks down at the sprawled bodies and blood stains. "stop runnin' your mouths and help clean that up. Bunch of busybodies." He snaps his fingers at Deputy Karlo who jumps like he's been stung. "Karlo, with me. We put these two in the holding cells." He motions Karlo and Hansel to the door and he steps over to put his hands on Talina to escort her out, too.

Báleygr Gangleri shakes his head after all the commotion is over and people have left the saloon. Great place he's in, trying to pass incognito. Best to leave town at the first opportunity. He looks around at those still inside.

Taavi lets out a breath of relief. Twice it looks like he's about to address Zoe before she's taken out of the room, but both times decides better and looks down instead. He retrieves his handgun from the floor and puts it in its shoulder holster. He goes over to the bar. To Mirko, "Sir, a cold beer please. Quite a mess, eh? I wonder what he wanted? Why he did that?" Indicates Teo Hrsak's body.

"Vukodlak," replies Mirko, sliding a full beer across the bar, his expression grim. "...they're werewolves. Been servants of the devil so long its in their blood. Makes 'em fierce, the pacts they've made." He nods once, his eyes flitting to Teo Hrsak's body, then away, afraid to linger too long upon it. "...but I didn't tell you that. They usually make noise, just scare people every month or so, but cause no trouble in Prudence." He wipes the bar studiously, keeping his eyes on the spilled stew that has clearly been dried there for a long time. "Not in Prudence. If he came in here like that for that girl, she's got to be the Devil's bride herself." He crosses himself.

...

Emile assists with body clean-up. He finds that he's setting about the gruesome tasks with two locals - Valentin Peshkov, a strongly-built local plumber and electrician, and Dima Kavelin, an old woman but nonetheless willing to help. "Careful, lift from his arms, less blood will drip," offers Dima as the other two heft the body of the mustached Art Taylor. "some white vingar will clean this right up... for all the good it does. Just not safe with those folks in charge."

Emile asks, "These things are normal 'round here? The sheriff didn't seem plussed by the events: more that there are outsiders here. What can you tell me about recent goings on?"

"The Skenders are as bad as Hrsaks," grumbles Valintin under his breath, hiding the glance he gives across the room to Mirko. "Even if you put a badge on 'em."

"That Anja, though," tsks Dima, pulling her black shawl around her head. "She preaches doctrines she knows to be untrue to men she knows to be idiots. But you didn't hear it from me."

Next moves?

OOC:

Mirko nods and replies to Báleygr. "Lots of folks pass through. Upstairs here is a public house - you can pick a bed in the big room and get dinner down here. Simplest way to rest. If you prefer a more upscale offering then Anica's Boarding House is the blue house on your left. She's got private rooms and amenities."

Continue in freeform conversations. You can engage and answer each other, I'll reply for NPCs.
If you finish in one of the three scenes, you can feel free to move to and join a second (but not a third).
When you're done, find your way to one of the two accomodations.
- Upstairs at the Saloon (Poor, 10 credits, includes food)
- Anica's Boarding House (Good, 25 credits, includes food, wifi access, and recharges batteries)
- Hansel and Talina have cots in the jail and food for free but can't change scenes.
The next scene cut will be the morning.

Shadrach turns to Amalia. "I'll catch up with you in a bit; I'm going to see the doc about this bite. Whistle if you need anything."

He will turn his twitchlock actuators off as soon as the sheriff declares that Amalia and Anja can work out the details of the "witch".

Healing:

Taavi thinks, Werewolves. For a little town, Prudence has a lot going on. And a whole family of them, who may not be happy about one being killed. But why go after the woman with the bounty? She's the focus of all of this, if not of what happened outside. He pays bartender Mirko for his beer and adds 10 credits. For the bullet I put in your bar. Sorry about that.
Thank you sir, it's good to make your acquaintance. I hope the rest of your day is better.

He goes to the truck, reloads his pistol and puts an extra clip in his coat pocket. He'd like to take his rifle, but he's headed to the sheriff's office, and coming in with extra arms wouldn't look good. At the sheriff's office he picks up the gist of the sheriff's plan to have the defendants tried in the city. That is very reasonable of you, sheriff, and we appreciate it. I'm glad we've come to an agreement and can cooperate with each other. To Lira, Your Honor, I'd propose having the trial here, instead of in the city. The witnesses are all here. And sheriff, I for one would like for you and the people of Prudence to see the proceedings. So that you see that things are done fairly and the truth is found out in the end.

I didn't make a Talk roll because it's more of an idea for Lira's thoughts than trying to convince someone of something.

Nodding to the departing Shadrach, Amalia strides into the church and takes stock of her surroundings. The heat didn't bother her at all; if anything, it made her remember the sermons of her childhood, the ramshackle ruins of the badlands where the intensity of the local's fervour was flamed into a roaring, zealous inferno. Amalia smiles. Aside from the demonic attack she had just survived, this would be her first real test as an ordained Sister of Saint Chrysostom, and the thought was exhilarating.

"You, sister." Amalia gestures to Anja, her face stern but not too unkind. "You've gone and called witchcraft on this here woman, goes by the name Zoe. You go ahead and tell me why."

In the saloon, Doc Volokh crouches with his medical bag at his side, tending to the vicious stab wound on Faraday (+4) and the ragged bite-wound on Shadrach's leg (+2). "Tsk. A gut wound like this'll take some time to heal, prijatelju. Get some rest, fluids. Back in the day, I could count on a sterile vac for this ruptured section of intestine and good medicine to make sure you felt nothing, but today is not that day." He applied a topical anesthetic, at least, as he performed the stitching, but it is already wearing off. "If you have the money, I do have a small amount to help you not feel the pain, eh? Or if not, then a little vodka will at least help you forget it." He pats Faraday's arm. "It was a brave thing, standing up to Teo. Nobody else in this town did that. I... I'm glad you saved Zoe."

Turning to Shadrach's leg, the old Doctor cuts away the shredded pant leg and shakes his head. "Thought I was done with these bites when I left Windfall." Getting out his smallest needles with shaking hands, he turns to Mirko. "A double please," he asks, and the bartender passes a glass of vodka. He turns to Shadrach, then downs the drink himself. "You can get one, too, if it will help you." He rubs his large, red nose and sets to work on the tiny sutures. "So... you and your imposing lady friend, you're not going to hang Zoe, are you?" He holds his voice steady, despite its attempt to quaver. "Never knew she had that in her, of course, but..." he trails off to silence, knotting the thread.

Shadrach waves off the proferred drink but grimaces as the doctor begins his stitching. Grunting with the pain, he replies, "Don't intend to, but Sister Amalia's got the authority with the Church, not me. My job is mostly to get between the things that did this-" he gestures to his wounded calf- "and the Sister."

He takes a deep breath when the doctor finishes, letting it out in a rush. "Thanks, doc. Don't heal quite as quick as I did when I was younger." He bends down to examine the stitchwork and nods, apparently satisfied.

Emile thanks them as he finishes with his grim task and then goes to clean up. He will then go to the bar and order a sarsaparilla and asks, So tell me, does Anja spend all of her time with her condemnations?

Faanku wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:01 pm"You, sister." Amalia gestures to Anja, her face stern but not too unkind. "You've gone and called witchcraft on this here woman, goes by the name Zoe. You go ahead and tell me why."

In the Chapel, Sister Anja looks anxious, then realizes Amalia came late and did not bear witness to the events. She begins telling of them, then, with open fervor. "This woman, known as Zoé Sadoul, is a foreigner come to these lands. She avoids the house of worship and refuses the community of the faithful. I myself have tried - oh, how I have tried! - to bring her into the flock, to help her find salvation, but she has always turned away from the Lord. It was today, Sister, today that she revealed the marks of the unholy, the abilities that open to the devil! In the Saloon, this stranac called upon unholy power and hurled a local boy across the room to break the very wall open, the man collapsing to his death."

Standing only about 15 feet away, Zoe keeps her head down, staring at her own shoes, completely still.

"You KNOW that the very nature of these powers, misunderstood and mislead by the Dark One, led to the destruction of the universe! The madness that followed the work of the Devil upon the minds of every person who dabbled in and opened themselves up to it! I..." she straightens herself up, "I have seen the evil and madness inflicted by these dark gifts, over and over, as have all who live out here, all who fought in the Wars, all who bear the scars they inflicted. There's no safety in this world while those who open themselves to the powers of Satan are allowed to walk freely among the faithful! This woman," she looks directly at Zoe, "Displayed unholy and abberant powers before all in the Saloon. Her guilt is without question. We know... we ALL know, that those who open themselves to these devil's powers are damned in this life and the next, ever moreso since the Heresy led to the Great Fall. There is one path for them, and our choice is to let them descend into madness and to harm others, or act swiftly to save all."

Pleased with how it is going, she now looks back to Amalia. She gets riled as she goes, a sermon that seems quite familiar to her. "You know the Scriptures, as well as I! When the Apostle Paul met a Soothsayer at Thyatira, even though she cried aloud to acknowledge him as the blessed of the Lord, he rebuked her because her accepting of unholy powers was an affront to God's eyes, even as the town rose up against him for doing so, because the mob valued her powers from Satan. So it is, no matter how much sentiment there may be in this town, it is our duty to see God's will done at the Hanging Tree, even at personal risk by the example of Paul. It is in the book of Malachi that the Lord God himself says that he will draw near for judgment and swiftest against the Sorcerers! We are God's People, and have seen God's Judgment upon those who use these detestable gifts, the psi of the old ways! The Laws of Deuteronomy, the Laws of the Lord, are clear that we should not imitate the detestable things of other nations, those who use these sorcereries among them. Are we not, as God's People, to draw the line of condemnation against those who embrace the madness-inducing gifts of that fallen kingdom, already judged? Having seen the fire fall on Sodom and Gomorrah, would we embrace their ways of living?"

Hansel will bum a deck of cards and play hands of solitaire while talking with Talina, and the deputy & Sherrif, and Lira if they're willing. Just passing the time, no particular objective. He will ask if his battery can be recharged, as he expects that he will eventually be given it back, and it's a tool of his trade - and who knows how tomorrow's trip will go...

Enoch wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:15 pm Shadrach waves off the proferred drink but grimaces as the doctor begins his stitching. Grunting with the pain, he replies, "Don't intend to, but Sister Amalia's got the authority with the Church, not me. My job is mostly to get between the things that did this-" he gestures to his wounded calf- "and the Sister."

"Ever Dutiful," the old man chuckles, citing the motto of the Guardsmen who fought for Kummenha in the Wars. "We all got jobs, and keepin' someone from harm ain't the worst of them. I hope your Sister is clear-sighted enough to not do harm... especially to Zoe." Doc Volokh orders another double. "Not all wolves have four legs," he comments as he packs up his medical bag. "a lot of things would be better if you fixed that."

greyarea wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:21 pmEmile thanks them as he finishes with his grim task and then goes to clean up.

Valentin wipes his hands repeatedly on a small towel, a simple nod acknowledging Emile's grattitude. "If they're attacking us in Prudence now," he pauses, looking Emile straight in the eye, "I'm not going to let my little girls get taken. Not like Windfall." The tense moment is broken by Dima chortling next to him. "You keep fixin' the pipes and fixing the wiring, like we ain't all living on the edge of death anyway. Another generation and we won't even be a stop on the road anymore, and wolves 'll have all our bones." Valentin grumps at her. "I liked it better when you just taught trigonometry." They devolve into their own banter as Emile heads off to the bar.

greyarea wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:21 pmEmile will then go to the bar and order a sarsaparilla and asks, "So tell me, does Anja spend all of her time with her condemnations?"

"I tell ya, that Sister saved my life, sure as I'm standing before you," says Mirko as he serves the sarsparilla. "I was a sinner, sure as I was born, and believed I was beyond any redemption. If not for her teaching me... but for the Grace of God go I." He nods solemnly. "Now I'm cleaned up and respectable," he motions broadly to the bar, "and I owe it to her. My life of sinning is behind me."

That's amazing, says Emile. Tell me more. How did she affect you? Is this whole town converted? Is it only outsiders that need to find God these days?

"Converted?" Malko gives Emile a quizzical look, looking over at the adjacent Doc Volokh, Shadrach, and Faraday as well. "I mean, we're a Christian town, but not everyone is church-going, I suppose." He picks up Doc's empty glasses and washes them under the tap. "My family, we weren't really the church going type, it's fair to say." He chooses the words carefully. "My brother and I, well, we were rough-and-tumble. And everyone knows I was a lost sheep, strayed from the flock. Followed the wrong shepherd, you could say." He wipes the glasses dry with a white bar towel, a thoughtful, rueful expression. "Anja, she showed a kindness where others saw just, well, another drunk brigand they didn't want to look at. She taught me about Grace. You know, forgiveness you don't deserve, extending from the hand of God? I knew I didn't deserve it, but I didn't know I could be forgiven anyway. Made all the difference. Now," he smiles at the Saloon, "I live my pennance every day here, grateful for the Grace I got. You'll never see ME drink again, though. I don't rough people up anymore, either. I'm a friendly ear to those who find their way to the bottom of this barrel." He looks at the bodies stacked like cordwood, now under a white sheet near the broken southern wall. "She really didn't like those outsiders, though. They mocked the Good Lord, gambled, and propositioned her discourteously. Sometimes she gets the brimstone up at times like that. Everyone has got their pennance to bear, in the end, and it's better to serve it early than in Hell."