HoE: S01 E02

<Darkling> It's the early morning after the fire and the sky is just starting to light up. Everyone is tired and sore from last night's events, and possibly a little cranky too. There's a small staff working at cleaning up anything leftover and getting ready for repairs in the main bar room.
Imogene is more or less watching the staff as she sits at a table, sipping at a cup of coffee that looked more like black sludge. She was dressed for a day out in the wasteland, a bedroll sitting next to her chair even.
<Deane> In the... maybe not the corner, the table right beside it, Deane is sitting and fiddling with his guitar. Ecstatic when it was returned, he spent the next few minutes tuning it, before spending the rest of the time playing disconnected chords and working on his finger placement. He has his jacket draped over his back, and his sunglasses on his head as he frowns, deep into his "playing".
Nia_S yawns wide, patting her palm against her lip, finally dressed all the way and resting her head on a table.
Deane looks up, an annoyed look passing through his eyes. He sets his guitar down, fingers shaking a little. "Christ almighty, I need me a smoke."
<Darkling> Wash strolls in, bleary eyed. "Ya'll are awake early."
Deane sighs, "I hope t'not make a habit of it. Sunday's the only day a fella should be up afore sunup." He goes to his pocket to search for a cigarette, before looking around at the assembled people, "Anybody have a spare smoke?"
Nia_S digs in her pockets. "Hrm..."
Deane looks up hopefully, a small smile crossing his unshaven, stubbly face.
<Darkling> "Can't say I do." Wash replies and starts to have a look around.
<Imogene> "Depends, wotcha gimme fer a cigar?" Another sip of sludge.
Deane sighs, "Well... Shit." He looks to Imogene and sighs, "Only things I got are bullets and Jerky. The last job before this one didn't really pay." He reaches into his pocket and sets his gun on the table, safety on, slipping the magazine out to check how many bullets he had after the caravan ride.
<Imogene> "Mah cigars ain't cheap. They're classics n' ah can't exectly travel back in tahm fer more."
<Nia_S> "Don' get all wound up. Here." Nia holds out a cigarette, albeit one slightly damp and warm. Probably not worth asking where it came from.
<Deane> "Then I guess I'll just hope these Devil Dogs have sumthin' worth a buck or two on 'em, and buy my own." However, his face lights up as he takes the one Nia offers, too happy to question, "I thank you kindly miss Nia- Sorry, Nia. Got a light?"
<Darkling> Wash tuts and tosses him a matchbox.
Deane scoops it from the floor, "Thank y'kindly. Swear, if it weren't for my fingers, wouldn't be no use for me." He lights up the cigarette with a thankful drag, "Ah... So. Where're these Devil-Dogs coming from anyways?"
<Darkling> "North o' here. We've never been able to find em, and sending out parties isn't something we have the manpower for."
<Imogene> "Maybe our very own Wash 'ere knows that answer."
<Deane> He nods to Imogene and savors the cigarette, "Right... Any towns up that way? Camp-grounds? Actually, is there a map?"
<Darkling> "None. There's farmers, ranchers, scavengers, bandits, worse."
<Imogene> "Always worse."
<Nia_S> "Hnh."
<Deane> Sighing, Deane sits up, "Too true. Dark days, my friends." He blows out a billow of smoke into the air. "Well, I guess I'll try to keep track myself- no point going up there if we just get lost."
<Darkling> "Where are ya starting? If you don't mind me asking."
<Imogene> "Best bet's gonna be t' follow their tracks fer now."
Deane nods at Imogene's wisdom, "Money's on that. Prolly should find somebody with a heart a gold, or silver, to let us use a barn as a safehouse while we search the North. Gonna be fun walkin' all that way."
<Imogene> "Best case scenario we fine one 'r two out in the open n' question 'em with extreme prejudice." She makes it a point to crack her knuckles.
<Darkling> "Sounds like you've got a plan then." She starts to head for the door. "Y'all be careful. Come back in one piece."
Deane shrugs, "Two of me would just be trouble. Thanks fer the concern though." He cracks his back, standing and tapping the dust off his shoes. "Well, I guess now we make sure we're all ready to go."
Imogene glances to Nia. "Yuh really should stay 'ere."
<Nia_S> "Nah." The junker laughs, rising with a grunt.
Deane blinks, "She kin handle herself. I'd put money down that she could slug me out, but..." he laughs at himself.
<Darkling> "Most of the girls here could." Kateri comments grumpily, sweeping past him.
Deane flushes, "Ah. Hey there Darlin'." He smiles his best "please don't slap me" smile.
<Imogene> "This ain't gonna be like dealin' with johns. Yuh kilt anyone before, Nia?"
<Nia_S> "No' with m'own two hands, no." Then again, she also had looked manitous square in the eye.
<Darkling> Wash leaves without any further comment.
Imogene sighs and stands, collecting her bedroll. "Do wotcha gotta do, ah'll meet ya'll at the enterance t'town." Her spurs jingle jangle as she leaves, wind catching the tassles on her arrow coat.
Deane pulls on his jacket and shrugs it into place, pulling up his back-pack and hustling out after the Deputy and Imogene. His guitar is tied back to his backpack, and he drops his sunglasses down onto his nose as he steps out. "Actually, Deputy!"
<Darkling> "Hmm?" She stops outside in the street.
<Deane> He stops himself from running into her, "Sorry t'stop ya, but, I has a question. You wouldn't've happened t'see this old snake around, would ya?" He reaches into the back pocket of his pants and pulls out an old, crinkled... picture, it seems, of a man with a spitting similarity to Deane. He offers it to her, biting his lip in anticipation.
<Darkling> She takes a look at it, brow furrowing. "Can't say I've seen him before, sorry."
<Deane> The man in the picture was certainly a handsome fellow, at least when the picture was taken. His hair is longer, to his shoulders, tied back into a long ponytail. A long scar trails down his left cheek, and the smile is like that of the devil himself. When he hears her answer, Deane sighs, "Damn. Well, thanks anyways."
<Darkling> She tips her hat and heads back on her way.
<Darkling> ---------------
<Darkling> The road outside Logandale is fairly barren. Not much grows out here, there's a fair bit of scrap metal and rubble from ages old buildings and vehicles strewn about. The sun has raised properly into the sky now, not a cloud blocking it's glare as it beats down on the trio.
Deane looks around, groaning, "Should've gone walkin' at night."
Nia_S rests a hat on her head. She's virtually immune to sunburn, but that doesn't make it too much more comfortable. Weirder still is that little metal mannequin hanging off her shoulders like a backpack. Cobbled together out of thin beams and wires, its primary feature is a massive lense at the center of its head, replacing any other facial feature.
Deane sneaks looks at his companions, feeling rather... plain compared to them. The silence gets to  him, and he clears his throat, "So... What're you all planning to do with the reward?"
Nia_S cocks her head, looking to Imogene, since her answer would probably end the question-asking.
Imogene marches on stoicly, stopping on occasion to study the road. "Travelin' bah night is a terrible idea. Do yuh know the thangs that come out at night? Ah kin list 'em by how deadly they are, or alphabetically."
Deane sighs, "Nevermind, I've been down the road a couple times." He keeps walking, wiping the sweat away from his brow and looking down the road as far as he can see.
Nia_S chuckles. "F'r what it's worth, m'gonna spend my money on gettin' a proper stock. Scroungin' fer parts is for the birds."
<Darkling> A large bird of prey flies far overhead.
Imogene rests a hand on her grapeshot, glancing up at the passing bird.
Deane looks up, looking between the others, "Stock, huh?" His hand rests on his pocket, gun stowed away for the moment.
<Darkling> There's the wagon you got ambushed in off in the distance Deane.
Deane blinks, drawing his gun and chambering a round, "Up ahead s'where those punks jumped me and... Well, my last boss." He frowns, "Probably still has things..." he watches the bird of prey with a sick feeling in his stomach
Nia_S nods slowly, shouldering her shotgun. Careful eyes might note the mannequin peeking over her shoulder.
<Imogene> "Buzzard's feast'd be mah guess. Best not tuh look too close."
<Darkling> There's a few birds circling overhead, but none on the ground.
<Deane> He nods, shivering. "I hope not. Didn't have the time to give the man a proper burial: hope folk got to him before the buzzards." He sniffs, "We can stop by there and check it- unless somebody came along, it's still got food rations. Same time, could be bait."
<Nia_S> "If it's bait, s'gonna get someone someday. May as well be us."
<Deane> He nods, "Well... Who wants to play bait?" He looks between the two.
<Imogene> "Ah'll go. Hang back til ah hollar."
<Imogene> She draws her grapeshot and tomahawk, making for the wagon proper.
Deane blinks and nods, "Right then. Good luck." He looks for a good position to cover her from, keeping an eye on her in any case.
Nia_S lifts her rifle, dropping the little doll from her back. It--it gets up and toddles along behind her, following Nia as she circles the opposite way Deane does.
<Darkling> Not much around to get cover from. The wagon is in the middle of the road and nothing else is around except for the picked clean bones of a horse and two bandits.
Deane blinks, "Oh... The horse." A moment passes as he vaguely recalls having rode into town on a horse. Did he tie it up? He shakes his head, paying attention to the matter at hand.
<Imogene> "Ah don't see yer former boss 'round 'ere."
<Deane> He blinks, looking for the tree he dragged the body under. "Well..."
<Darkling> There's no sign of anyone or anything else around. The wagon itself has been picked clean.
Deane watches, sighing, "Well, looks like they got to it. Rest in peace, I guess.
Imogene glances around the area, looking for any signs of movement. "Go on an' git inside, we'll take a break from the heat."
<Nia_S> "Righ'." Nia and the doll scamper on up.
Deane moves up, flipping on the safety. "That's mighty nice."
<Darkling> The inside is nice and bare, but it does block out the sun nicely.
<Deane> He stops outside, and takes a moment or three to look around. "I'll be in there in a minute."
<Nia_S> "Y'sure?"
<Deane> Nodding, he looks around. "Just lookin' for some tracks or something." He sighs, giving up and getting into the wagon, "Oh, lord almighty that's nice.
Imogene stays outside the wagon, peeking around and kicking things with her boots.
Nia_S chuckles, resting her head back as she settles in.
<Imogene> She squats down at one point and takes off her hat. She stares up the road, thinkin'.
Deane opens his backpack carefully, pulling out a sliver of jerky and chewing on it. He looks to the others and tears his piece into thirds, offering them each a piece.
Nia_S accepts, casting a sideways glance at the little mannequin watching her eat.
<Imogene> Eventually she gets down on all fours and presses an ear to the road.
<Deane> Piece still offered to Imogene, Deane looks at the tiny... thing... with some worry. He looks back to Imogene, and blinks, "What in the lord's name are you doing?"
<Imogene> "Spent tahm wit' injuns back when some were still around. Picked up their language, a few tricks and souvenirs."
<Deane> He nods slowly, "Right... The worms telling you their secrets?"
<Nia_S> "Don' be a smartass. Facts is, she probably knows more about this shit th'n either of us."
<Imogene> "Don't be an ass. Ah kin tell yuh which way they done went...n' which way some'a the others went."
<Nia_S> "Mm? They split up?"
Deane is about to comment, but shuts up when they both talk. He chews his jerky in silence, listening to them.
<Imogene> "Motorcycles n' half uh dozen horses went north. Another half'a dozen went north westerly."
<Nia_S> "Any clues why? S'not like they're scared a' bein' followed."
<Imogene> "If'n ah had to guess them motorcycles 'r headin' home fer...fuel. Thats wot they run on, yeah?"
<Deane> "Different groups maybe?" He sniffs.
<Imogene> "Them other half...well...maybe goin' out to terrorize folk. Loot, pillage, rape, kill...all that."
<Imogene> "Or they got another hideout."
<Nia_S> "Spook juice, yeah."
<Imogene> "Or ah'm talkin' out mah ass."
Nia_S hops out of the wagon, the doll staying behind to look over at Deane, cocking its head.
<Nia_S> "Well...let's assume it's th'first one. Which trail d'we follow?"
Deane listens, about to comment before meeting the doll's look. There is a silence as they watch each other. Terrifying.
<Imogene> "Much as ah wanna hit their base n' be done...ah'd say we follow them other tracks north west and see wot they're up to."
Deane manages to pull his eyes away from the doll and looks to the pair, "Which one is the larger group?"
<Nia_S> Ca-Click! A shutter opens and closes, briefly obscuring the pale blue glow behind the lens. Almost like it's winking.
<Imogene> "Larger group is headin' north, Deane."
Deane shivers at the sound, "Well... Not gonna lie, I don't like the odds of the three of us takin' on a larger group. Baby steps n' all."
<Nia_S> "Mn. Northwest it is."
<Imogene> "Yeeep."
Deane climbs out and nods, chewing on the third segment. "Let's get goin' then."
<Nia_S> Click. A metal pitter-patter as the drone walks out of the wagon, following its mistress.
<Deane> "Uh... Nia? What is that thing, by the way?"
<Nia_S> "That's Otto. I was gonna introduce you guys proper but Imogene got t'talkin' about indian stuff." Otto, on hearing his name, perks up, proudly flashing the 0110 on his chestplate that apparently earned him his name.
<Deane> "Ah... Little metal man, is'e?" He gives Otto a look, and steps away, "Queer little fella."
<Nia_S> "More f'a pet. Sure thinks he's a man, though."
Deane nods, "Huh. Never saw one o' them in Polkadolk. Guess he's like a metal cat then."
<Imogene> "Ah've seen stranger thangs. Otto 'ere is alright bah me."
<Nia_S> Clambering back up to hang off Nia's back, Otto peers over her shoulder. "He'll keep a look-out for us. Got eyes like a telephoto lens. ...'Cuz that's what it is."
<Darkling> After another hour of walking in the heat, you climb over a hill to see what looks like a run down farm.
Deane wipes the sweat from his brow, "'nother honeypot."
<Nia_S> Otto leans forward, getting a good look, using his freakishly-sensitive eye to get a read on the place. "Honeypot?"
<Deane> "Yeah, like..." He frowns, "You set out sumthin' sweet, and the critters crowd around it for ya."
<Darkling> There's smoke coming from the chimney.
<Deane> "Think they're in the mood to answer questions, or...?"
<Nia_S> "If we ask loud 'nuff."
<Deane> He nods a little, "Well... Imogene went up last time. I can go up and work my magic, if you two got me covered."
<Darkling> Someone comes out from the house, taking no time at all to start relieving himself on the ground.
Deane winces, "Eugh."
<Darkling> You can see him spit, zip up and head back inside.
Deane blinks, "Well... Now we know one's in there." He looks to the other two, "I guess I'll do the knocking."
Nia_S chuckles. "Alright." Nia's rifle comes back up.
Deane starts to make his way towards the homestead. A few lyrics pass his lips, a song he's been working on, as he approaches the home carefully.
<Darkling> As you get closer you can hear two voices laughing and cussing inside the house.
Deane looks back and makes a worried face, before knocking on the door. His gun in his back pocket, he says a quick prayer after knocking.
<Deane> In his head, of course.
<Darkling> The voices shut up immediately and you can hear scrambling inside.
Deane steps back slowly, looking for cover, "Ah... Hm." His hand goes back to his pistol, but he refrains from drawing yet.
<Imogene> "That was a terrible idea...yuh know?"
<Nia_S> "He'll be fine. Otto's got eyes on 'im."
<Imogene> "Yuh don't go knockin' on doors when trackin' bandits."
<Nia_S> "You're talkin' to th'wrong girl about caution, Imogene."
<Imogene> "Ah'll be sure ta tell 'im too if'n they don't just blast 'im through the door."
<Darkling> The bottom half of the door blasts off it's hinges just as Deane jumps aside and rolls off the porch.
<Deane> "Jesus Christ!"
<Nia_S> "Hey, good guess."
<Imogene> "Run for it, yuh idjit!"
Nia_S takes off down the hill, grinning wide.
<Imogene> "Ah shoulda done this alone..." She sighs and adjusts her hat.
<Darkling> The door swings open inwards. One of the occupants, sticks his head outside with shis shotgun pointed down at the porch looking around. He sees nia running like mad and yells, ducking back inside.
<Darkling> A board on the window wiggles free as you see a second face appear in it. "What the fuck you want?"
<Nia_S> "Not gettin' shot at woul' be nice! We're jus' lookin' for some info."
<Imogene> "Not lookin' fer trouble if'n we can help it."
<Darkling> "Nobody comes out here not lookin fer trouble!"
<Nia_S> "Now jus'--hold on. Hold on, hon. Y'got us all spooked, but we really aren't af'er anythin' but a couple questions."
<Darkling> A rifle barrel slides out of the window taking aim. "Ask yer questions from where you are then, or else!"
<Imogene> "Just lookin' fer some folks come by on horses, lookin' like trouble."
<Darkling> You hear some more scrambling around inside, something clattering as it hits the floor. "Ain't no one come here! Piss off!"
<Nia_S> "Don' tell me yer protectin' those bandits."
<Darkling> "Ain't no bandits here! Already told ya that."
<Imogene> "We'll be goin' then, with our friend if'n you'd be so kind."
<Nia_S> "--we're askin' which way they passed by, tha's all." Nia holds her rifle up over her head, cocking her head to one side, giving her best doe-eyed look. "We'll get outta' yer hair, no problem if ya tell us."
<Darkling> Another head peeks around the corner of the open door, taking a long look at Nia.
Nia_S even pouts, her arms held up so high it's causing her shirt to lift, exposing a bit of panty.
<Darkling> You can see his mouth start to water, his head turns back in, some muffled talking occurs.
<Darkling> "Alright, we'll talk." The rifle draws back in the window.
Deane watches the whole situation, wide-eyed, "God damn... Uh... well done."
Nia_S lowers her arms, Otto doing likewise, letting out a long breath. "Whoo...alrigh', let's go have ourselves a chat."
Deane nods, "Yeah..." He lets out a nervous laugh, "Thanks fer yer quick-wits. I think I owe you more'n a cigarette now."
<Darkling> Both men exit from the door onto the porch, guns still in hand.
Nia_S approaches casually, pulling a dreadlock out of her face.
Imogene rests her hands on her own peacemakers, walking into firing ranger before stopping and shifting her weight off her bad leg.
<Darkling> "Now, what's a fine morsel like you doin lookin fer bandits?"
<Nia_S> 'morsel.' Not the worst thing she's been called. "They came tearin' up a ruckus near my home. Figured I'd pay 'em back a little with a swat on th'ass."
<Darkling> "Told ya, no one's been up this way." Not the worst way you've been looked at either.
<Nia_S> "Bein' honest?"
<Darkling> "'Course I'm bein honest, you think I'd be hiding a whole bunch of bandits here?" He spits a wad of yellowish crap on the ground.
Deane shifts, hands on his hips. "Small house, nowhere to really hide them. Can't be lying." He looks to Nia and shrugs.
Nia_S looks to Deane, reading how sure he is, before shrugging and flashing a winning smile. "Alrigh'. Sorry about yer door. Maybe give people a chance t'knock next time, huh?"
<Darkling> "Hmmpf." One of em grunts. "Sorry tis all you got for us?"
Deane shrugs, "Gladly take it. Sorry for the trouble mister."
<Darkling> "Y'all best get out of here now b'fore we change our minds."
<Darkling> That second guy hasn't taken his eyes off your chest Nia.
<Imogene> "C'mon you two."
<Imogene> "Like the gents say...let git goin'."
Nia_S thinks better of leaving off with a wink, turning about. Otto hops up, swiveling his head around to watch the bumpkins while they effect a retreat. "Yeah."
<Darkling> The two watch the trio until they get to the hill, before walking back to the house.
Deane nods, and follows them. Under his breath he sighs, stretching, "Yeeeeah, they're fulla more shit than my pockets're full of air."
<Imogene> Once they reach the road Imogene stops to fish a cigar out of her bedroll, striking the match on her boot to light it up.
<Imogene> "Ah ain't certain of takin' another step down this road wit' the two of yuh." She blows smoke out of her nostrils. "Seems tuh me ah'll live longer goin' back tuh the Fox."
Deane looks to the others, "They had tattoos, probably members of that gang, and there was a trap door inside." He blinks, "Wait... What?"
[11:36.05] <Imogene> "Whut ya done did there was stupid. So fuckin' stupid them bullets musta felt sorry for yuh. We're huntin' down Devil Dogs and yuh knock on a strangers door? Nuh uh. Yuh didn't check 'round back or do any sorta scoutin'."
Deane frowns, "We got out of there though, didn't we?" He crosses his arms after tilting his shades down, eyebrow raised.
<Imogene> "N' you just let 'im go." She looks to Nia, another blast of smoke out of her nose. Whats left of it.
Nia_S giggles into the back of her hand. "Present your weaker side first, Imogene."
<Nia_S> "S'why Otto didn't shoot."
<Imogene> She drops her cigar. "Yuh let him go to the door. Ah don't care whot yer doll can do that was suicidal. Ah'm goin' home."
<Imogene> She stamps out the cigar and adjusts her bedroll.
Deane blinks, and sets down his backpack. /This is a bad idea, son./ Too bad, brainer. He clears his throat, swallowing his fear for a moment, "Didn't take you for yeller, Imogene."
<Imogene> "When ah come from we shoot people fer sayin' that."
<Deane> Another swallow. "Where I come from, we don't leave other people in a rut. I think yer a better folk than that, but if you want t'prove me wrong, here's your chance."
<Imogene> She inhales sharply, hand on her grapeshot. She exhales slowly and turns away from Deane, heading off for the side of the hill opposite the farmhouse.
Nia_S slips her hands into her pockets. "Hm~"
<Deane> He watches her, "I don't... What's she up to?" he draws his gun, biting his cheek.
<Nia_S> "Relax, relax. But we're gonna want to come back come nightfall. 'Till then..."
<Imogene> "C'mon already yuh idjits. Not gonna hold yer hands this whole fuckin' trip." her voice comes from over the hill.
Nia_S chuckles, and jogs to catch up.
<Deane> Sighing thankfully, he goes to follow her, snatching up his pack.
Imogene has set herself up on her bedroll, hat over her face as she relaxes. "Listen up 'n listen close."
Deane sits back, blinking and leaning to listen.
<Imogene> "No more'a that shit yuh pulled on the farmhouse or ah walk back to the Fox, hand t' God. We scout locations and have plans in place before we even sneeze on anyone we find out 'ere. Ah'm not gonna see either of yuh die."
Deane bites his cheek and nods slowly.
<Imogene> "Now we're gonna relax and talk about whut Deane saw in there. Then like Nia said, we go in once its dark."
Nia_S grins, plopping down, that doe-eyed look from before replaced with a dangerously high level of intellect.
<Imogene> "Ah'll be punishin' yuh later fer wot yuh said." She lifts up her hat, a single eye locking on Deane.
<Nia_S> "Not too hard, I hope. We're gonna need 'im in one piece."
<Imogene> "Well...ah won't shoot 'im."
<Deane> "Sounds like a plan. And if that's all I need to pay to keep you 'round, then it can't be too high." He smiles a little and pulls down his sunglasses to wipe off an errant piece of dust. "While Nia was keepin' their gaze, I caught a bit of their tattoos. Dog heads with horns n'all. They had sum poor feller's blood on them, and I couldn't help by notice a floor-door."
<Imogene> "Probably kilt the owner. See any horses? Probly kept 'round back but..."
<Deane> "As much as I wish I could see through walls n'clothes, didn't notice. Should probably give it a look-around at night, like y'said."
<Imogene> "Good t'know how many and there. Kinda hopin' it ain't the full half dozen."
<Deane> He nods, "I'd say we try to throw a bottle of rye with a lit rag in, smoke'm out, but I don't have a bottle or a rag."
Nia_S rubs her chin, cocking her head back.
<Imogene> "We wanna git in there if'n we can. Wot's yer range with that rifle, Nia?"
<Nia_S> "Mm? Not too far. Gimme time to set up an' I could be sixty, seventy feet off, easy."
<Imogene> "Beats mah revolvers, n' mah coughin' don't make me too stealthy. Ah'm thinkin' we lure the two guards out with Otto n' you pick 'em off. Think yuh could do it?"
<Nia_S> "Easy. Trouble woul' be when th'ones down below heard the gunshot."
Deane looks down, checking his gun. "I didn't see anything about people down below, but just in case... I guess I can take cover closer to the house and keep an eye on the door?" He looks to Imogene, clearly out of his depth.
<Imogene> "Exactly. Deane n' ah close in on the house quick as we can, maybe bottle-neck 'em in the trap door while yuh catch up."
<Imogene> "Anythin' anyone else wants tuh put forward?" She setlles into her spot, ready for a nap.
<Nia_S> "I'm sure I'll dream up somethin' horrifyin'."
<Imogene> "Gotta keep one alive if'n we can. No loss if'n we can't."
Deane shakes his head, "I can keep watch until sunset."
<Imogene> "Keep an eye out fer prarie ticks...hate them thangs." She mutters.
<Deane> He blinks and nods, humming to himself.
<Darkling> =========END=========