Session Start: Fri Sep 22 18:34:56 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
03[18:34] * Now talking in #arkham
[18:35] <@Keeper> The snow covering the ground lightly crunches beneath your boots as you trudge through Billington’s Woods. It’s a dark and immense forest, much of it untouched by axe or saw though you are relatively close to the edge of it. Most of the trees are bare, just gnarled pointed branches laced white with snow, with the occasional grove of evergreens huddled together to provide the only green...
[18:35] <@Keeper> ...visible.
[18:35] <@Keeper> You walk in groups of four, starting in a line but fanning out as you pass the treeline. The groups to your left and right gradually fade into obscurity from the concealment offered by the trees and after a few minutes you begin to feel truly alone in your little group. Nichols, old but vigorous and apparently in high spirits, hums ‘The Japanese Sandman’ as he hikes.
03[18:38] * Keeper changes topic to 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skYOrGgROCs'
03[18:38] * Keeper sets mode: +o Beckman
01[18:44] <@Beckman> Hmm. What a swinging tune.
06[18:45] * @Albert motions silently to the other men that game may be ahead.
[18:46] <@Keeper> Nichols stops humming and his posture becomes more alert. Now that you've been alerted you can all hear it. A sort of chirping from up ahead.
06[18:48] * @Andrew_Bachmann quietly checks his borrowed weapon, and attempts to creep closer to get line-of-sight on the birds.
06[18:48] * @Beckman swishes his eyes around. Damn it. Can't tell where they are.
06[18:49] * @Albert watches intently, his weapon ready as he points to the brush ahead with an eager smile.
[18:49] <@Keeper> Creeping up and around the brush you see a small clearing on the other side with a small group of quail.
[18:51] <@Albert> "So, who wants to be first?" Albert whispers.
06[18:53] * @Andrew_Bachmann continues creeping, getting into the zone as he approaches. He shoulders his shotgun, taking aim in the air where he suspects they'll fly. With a soft whistle, he alerts the birds to his presence.
[18:54] <@Keeper> At the sound of the whistle they panic, flapping their wings and clumsily trying to take flight.
06[18:55] * @Andrew_Bachmann with careful aim (and not a small amount of luck) Andrew finds one in his sights, squeezing the trigger at just the right moment.
[18:58] <@Keeper> The slowest two quails are caught right in the center of the birdshot's spread and their flight turns into a tumble as they fall to earth. "Well shot!" Asa congratulates Bachmann.
06[18:58] * @Albert whistles, amused. "Two for one."
06[18:59] * @Andrew_Bachmann exhales, lowering his shotgun, pleased with himself and not willing to admit it was pure luck.
06[19:00] * @Beckman grumbles slightly. Had no idea they were even there until they were running.
[19:01] <@Keeper> Nichols trots up and slaps him on the back "Next time those anarchists come out of their holes you'll be around to show them what-for."
[19:01] <@Albert> "They shouldn't have flown far, shall we?"
[19:02] <@Keeper> "Yes, let's pursue! Ach, I should have brought my saber."
06[19:02] * @Andrew_Bachmann stumbles a bit, not having expected the hearty slap on the back. He laughs a bit nervously. "Next time anarchists fly, be sure to call me." He jokes.
06[19:04] * @Albert looks around the area, uncertain. He takes a few tentative steps, but thinks better of it and falls back.
01[19:05] <@Beckman> Clearly upset but the earlier embarrassment, Beckman doubles down and follows the flock's arc, while paying attention to signs of birds having frequented the area.
[19:07] <@Keeper> They only veered slightly from the course they were on last you saw them, and what deviation there was is corrected for by the feathers they left on the ground. Soon you come upon them again, resting in the shadow of an old oak.
06[19:10] * @Beckman creeps in closer, hoping to make up for the bad showing earlier.
[19:10] <@Keeper> They're wary now, one of them catches sight of Beckman and the flight is on once again!
06[19:16] * @Beckman fires his shotgun at the birds, and despite his childhood joys being "shooting buckshot at the old house," fails miserably in setting his aim, and fires.
06[19:16] * @Albert clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "You'll get them next time."
[19:18] <@Keeper> "Ah, shucks. Let's press on!"
01[19:19] <@Beckman> "Ah, drat."
06[19:20] * @Albert ambles around without direction, scanning the trees.
[19:20] <@Keeper> You walk for some distance, unable to locate that group. The birds are safe...for now. The hiking is still pleasant, the air has a bite to it that's invigorating somehow.
[19:21] <@Keeper> Nichols leans over to Bachmann "So, any luck tracking down that Irishman who skipped town?"
06[19:22] * @Andrew_Bachmann shakes his head. "Nothing yet. He's off the grid, probably laying low."
[19:23] <@Keeper> Nichols props his shotgun over his shoulder "He's our man, mark my words. The Irish have always been trouble."
[19:24] <@Keeper> "You know they're signing a treaty to give them a free state now?"
[19:25] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Really? I hadn't heard. I'm sure some would be delighted to see the irish return home, but I know other irishmen would prefer to call America home. It's going to cause a lot of barroom brawls, unfortunately."
[19:26] <@Keeper> "Ah, but let me ask you this? All of you. Can you really be a true American if you have loyalty to a foreign Pope?"
06[19:28] * @Albert peers over his shoulder, giving a non-commital grunt as he walks on.
[19:28] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Technically Jesus Christ wasn't American either, though I see what you mean. Christ wasn't also just a man like the Pope is."
06[19:32] * @Beckman looks somewhat uncomfortable at the topic. "Eh, we all believe in God, right? I mean, the Puritans fucked off because they thought the Church of England was too soft, right? They wanted to break all the crosses or something, no more images of the saints, and so on. So that means the Puritans were just another kind of thing like the Orthodox are. But most Americans, we're not Puritans, we're Protestants. So we can't really judge the Catholics in that sense."
[19:40] <@Keeper> "Mr. Beckman, language please!" Nichols looks aghast. "And I don't know that I follow your meaning. But we should be like Puritans! Things were better then, look at what we have now. The greatest war in history and it's white men killing white men. When I was in the 2nd Cavalry we killed Indians! And now women are voting and all this tragedy last November..."
[19:41] <@Keeper> "That's why I voted for a Harding. We need a return to normalcy."
[19:41] <@Keeper> You hear a cooing from up ahead.
06[19:42] * @Albert motions that it's his turn, eagerly hefting the shotgun at the ready.
[19:42] <@Keeper> Forging ahead a little more the quail are visible.
06[19:43] * @Albert is overly eager, tripping himself up on a snow-covered rock. He stifles a yell of surprise as he falls to a knee.
[19:44] <@Albert> "Bloody-"
[19:44] <@Keeper> The quail scatter, taking to the air!
06[19:44] * @Albert scrambles back to his feet, ignoring the grime on his knees as he lines up a shot and fires recklessly.
[19:45] <@Keeper> It connects and one of the quail goes into a tailspin, slamming into the snow and flapping a few times before expiring.
[19:45] <@Keeper> "Good show!"
06[19:46] * @Albert turns to his companions, bowing dramatically. His pantleg soaked by the snow.
[19:47] <@Keeper> "Chief! Chief!" cries a familiar voice through the woods. It sounds distressed.
[19:48] <@Keeper> Mickey Harrigan sprints towards you through the woods, athletically vaulting of over logs and weaving around obstacles. He's breathing heavily when he finally makes it to your hunting party.
06[19:50] * @Beckman pauses. "Wait... I know this guy. Detective... right?"
[19:51] <@Keeper> "H-Harrigan" he clarifies while panting.
[19:52] <@Keeper> "Well, what is it then lad?" Nichols asks, concern darkening his generally pleasant attitude.
[19:52] <@Keeper> "There's been a kidnapping! Lucas Strong's daughter!"
01[19:54] <@Beckman> !! "Christ! Not Jane!"
[19:55] <@Albert> "Who? What's going on?" Albert asks, a bloody bird in his hand.
[19:56] <@Keeper> "Come with me. I have a car waiting up on Aylesbury Pike!" he points up towards the road he's talking about. "I'll explain on the way."
06[19:58] * @Andrew_Bachmann nods, huffing a bit as he follows Harrigan through the snow.
[19:58] <@Keeper> You jog up a hill and down the other side, following Harrigan through trees and hopping over creeks as you make your way quickly towards the road.
[19:58] <@Keeper> You finally reach the police car and pile in, Harrigan starts it and begins his explanation as he drives.
[20:01] <@Keeper> "Two days ago a gang of hoods caught Jane at the pump at a filling station. Just grabbed her and drove off, then contacted her father for ransom. He's scared, waffles for a while, and then this morning comes into the police station and reports it."
[20:02] <@Keeper> "He's willing to pay the ransom but he waited right up until the meetup time to tell us. Now the time to pay up is in little under an hour."
[20:03] <@Keeper> "Where is the exchange supposed to happen?" asks Nichols.
[20:04] <@Keeper> "The dead end on Jamison Road" Harrigan answers. The road isn't far from here, you passed it on your way out of town.
[20:07] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "How much is the ransom?"
[20:07] <@Keeper> The vehicle speeds down the road, a yawning expanse of woods to your left and sedate rolling farmlands on your right. Eventually you his Jamison road and make a left down it.
[20:08] <@Keeper> Harrigan tries to keep a stoic face on as he reports the ludicrous sum "Ten thousand dollars."
01[20:09] <@Beckman> "Craziness!"
06[20:10] * @Albert glances out the window, wondering why his day off is now being used like this. "So what are you going to do?"
[20:11] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "We can't let criminals walk all over us..."
[20:12] <@Keeper> "Mm. They're just down the road" he points to what you can see is a cluster of vehicles a ways down the road at the dead end. "They have Jane somewhere in the woods. We deliver the money to them here and she is released from wherever she's being held."
[20:12] <@Keeper> "They flee and we find Jane with search parties combing the woods for her wandering around."
[20:13] <@Keeper> Nichols nods sympathetically "It's distasteful, but the father wants to pay the ransom. If they don't leave us an opening until then we'll just have to get them after they've released Jane."
[20:16] <@Keeper> The car rolls to a stop near a couple other police vehicles. Detectives Stuckey and Harden are already on the scene as well as many other patrol officers. There is a wooden fence row that the two detectives are crouched behind, sat at the foot of a hill that is being covered with riflemen using the cars to stabilize their aim.
[20:17] <@Keeper> Nichols turns back to Beckman and Albert "Sorry you all got caught up in this. Looks like you drew the short straw when you got teamed up with me!"
[20:19] <@Keeper> "You can stay in the car or get out as you like. Just keep your head down and you'll be safe" he assures the two of them.
01[20:19] <@Beckman> "Ha. Well, it's grotesquely interesting, in a voyeuristic way."
[20:19] <@Albert> "I should probably be ready to deal with any wounded, though hopefully it won't come to that." Albert remarks.
[20:19] <@Albert> "Are there any other medical personnel here?"
[20:21] <@Keeper> "We have a car running back into town to fetch us back a couple of doctors, but it'll be a minute" Harrigan answers. He and the Chief get out of the car and begin to head up to the fence row.
06[20:23] * @Andrew_Bachmann sighs at the sorry state of the world, getting out of the car and following the two.
06[20:24] * @Beckman follows as well, hoping that the poor girl isn't molested in any horrible way.
[20:24] <@Keeper> "Hey, look who made it" coos Stuckey. Luther just nod at Nichols with a curt "Sir."
06[20:24] * @Albert sits in the car, tapping his thighs for a few moments. He sighs, finally getting out after them.
[20:25] <@Albert> "Swear to god this is how it always starts."
[20:25] <@Keeper> Then Stuckey's eyes lock onto Beckman "Oh, of course. What crime scene would be complete without James Beckman?"
01[20:28] <@Beckman> "Fuck off."
06[20:29] * @Albert stifles a burst of laughter, turning.
[20:30] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Easy fellas, Beckman isn't involved in this one." He pauses, contemplating it for a moment. "That I'm aware of."
[20:33] <@Keeper> Stuckey is interrupted before he can retorts. "Say there!" shouts a voice from up above, on the hill. "I don't suppose you folks have our money?" Looking up, a man with messy brown hair and overalls stand half in cover behind a boulder, holding a scoped rifle.
[20:33] <@Keeper> Harrigan nudges a bag with his foot.
[20:35] <@Keeper> "We've got your dirty money, boy!" Nichols calls back. "And if you've harmed a hair on that little girl's head then we'll see you hung instead of just in prison for the rest of your days."
[20:38] <@Keeper> "Toss it up then and I'll race ya ta Canada!" the man jeers.
06[20:41] * @Beckman takes the bag, after looking at the cops. Of course Stuckey would be in a place with loose money being exchanged. Prick. "I'm throwing it up, should land right next to you!"
01[20:42] <@Beckman> He lets it swing to get some momentum, then underhand throws it up by the rock.
[20:43] <@Keeper> It's a beautiful throw and it lands crisply right where Beckman was aiming. The miscreant darts out and snatches up the bag.
[20:45] <@Keeper> A shot rings out when the criminal makes his move and it lands just as the criminals hands clasp firmly on the bag's handle. The shot tears into his side, staggering the criminal but not dropping him.
[20:45] <@Keeper> He scrambles away, fleeing back into cover.
[20:47] <@Albert> "The hell?" Albert yells.
[20:47] <@Keeper> Then there is more movement on the hill. Several people moving into position behind trees, carrying weapons and taking cover.
03[20:52] * Keeper changes topic to 'Albert 130, Stuckey 125,  Harrigan 120, Kidnappers 112, Harden 110, Beckman 105, Nichols 100, Bachmann 85'
[20:56] <@Keeper> ,dr
[20:58] <@Keeper> Stuckey takes hasty aim at one of the gunners getting into position, but the shot hits the tree the kidnapper is using as cover instead.
[20:58] <@Keeper> Harrigan does no better, his bullet hitting the snowy ground wide of his target.
[21:03] <@Keeper> Two of the gunmen take aim at Beckman. One shot, from a man with a pistol, goes wide. The second armed with a shotgun takes better aim and hits Beckman though luckily the distance disperses the shot.
[21:04] <@Keeper> Two more shots, pistols, rings out and strike the fence near Stuckey and Harden.
[21:05] <@Keeper> Harden waits for a lull in the fire and then rises up out of cover, taking aim with his .45 and dropping one of the gunman.
06[21:07] * @Beckman scrambles behind a tree, cursing loudly at the chunk of flesh he just got perforated, and fires at the nearest enemy.
[21:09] <@Keeper> The shot goes wide, as does one from Nichols.
06[21:10] * @Andrew_Bachmann huffs as he leaves the shotgun on the snow, drawing his sidearm in the lull between shots. Seeing the shooters starting to aim again at the group, he gracelessly falls forward behind a stump.
06[21:11] * @Albert makes a dash for a tree not far off from Bachmann's, tripping up on every upraised root and stone he scrambles nearly on hand and foot before crashing behind cover. His shotgun in both hands as he curls up.
[21:12] <@Keeper> Stuckey also darts forward, seeking cover at a more ideal range for his .45. Harrigan does the same.
[21:18] <@Keeper> The gunmen don't waste the opportunity to take shots at the men advancing out of cover momentarily. The first shot rings out and sends Harrigan sprawling into the dirt. The second pass somewhat close to Stuckey and the third against a tree near Bachmann. A worried "Shit!" comes from up above after the third shot.
[21:18] <@Keeper> Harden takes this opportunity to sprint forward his own self.
06[21:19] * @Albert looks out at Harrigan laying in the snow. He tries to get the man's attention. "Harrigan! Harrigan!"
[21:20] <@Keeper> He groans. The lad is not dead yet, it seems.
06[21:20] * @Beckman plucks shells out of the vest and refills the shotgun, hoping he can kill these sons of bitches soon.
[21:20] <@Keeper> Nichols darts out from behind the fence, trying to get over towards Harrigan and help the boy.
06[21:21] * @Andrew_Bachmann catches his breath, and times the shooting once again, finding a sturdy looking tree somewhat close to the gunmen to hide himself behind.
06[21:23] * @Albert bides his time, waiting for his moment. When it comes he dashes out like a madman and reaches for Harrigan, grabbing the man under his armpits and dragging him to the cover of a large tree, leaning him up against it.
[21:23] <@Keeper> One of the gunmen leans out of cover, keen to take a shot on Albert and Harrigan, only to be bowled over by Stuckey's .45.
[21:29] <@Keeper> He fires back at Stuckey and only hits tree. Another, seeing Nichols in a less than advantageous position, rakes him clean across the side with Buckshot and staggering him. To the old dog's credit he keeps his feet. The third takes what seems like a well placed shot at Bachmann, but the hard boiled Detective ducks back into cover in the nick of time.
02[21:30] * @Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-pvg743.dyn.suddenlink.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 121 seconds)
03[21:40] * Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-pvg743.dyn.suddenlink.net) has joined #arkham
[21:41] <@Keeper> Harden attempts to finish off the man on the ground, but his shot fails to connect.
02[21:46] * Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-pvg743.dyn.suddenlink.net) Quit (Connection closed)
06[21:52] * @Beckman fires again, but again fails to land a hit.
03[21:56] * Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-h35.jra.111.75.IP) has joined #arkham
[21:58] <@Keeper> Despite being shot, Nichols manages to bring his shotgun to bear and fire a shell into the man who yelps and slumps against the tree he's using as cover.
06[22:02] * @Albert takes hold of Harrigan's hand, bundling his hankerchief in it and presses it against the wound. He motions for him to hold it there.
[22:03] <@Albert> "This is serious, we need to get you out of here." Albert yells as more gunfire rings out.
[22:03] <@Keeper> Harrigan does as he is instructed while Stuckey meanwhile takes a shot at the wounded kidnapper, dashing to new cover as he does. Unfortunately the shot fails to connect.
[22:04] <@Keeper> The kidnapper still in good condition turns around and flees into the forest.
[22:04] <@Keeper> The other two, seeing this, toss down their guns. "Uncle!" one of them cries out.
[22:05] <@Keeper> Stuckey is immediately upon the one he shot, sprinting over to him and flipping him supine before raining blows down on his face.
[22:06] <@Albert> "Hey! Stop! Stop that!" Albert yells, still watching over Harrigan.
[22:06] <@Keeper> "Shoot at me will you!?" he cries out, finally stopping and pulling back from the man. He flips him back over and cuffs his hands behind his back.
[22:07] <@Keeper> Harden runs over to the Chief, giving him a shoulder to lean on and walking him back toward Albert. He gestures to Bachmann to arrest the other wounded gunman.
06[22:08] * Andrew_Bachmann gets to work, putting them in cuffs and kicking away the guns before putting pressure on the wound so the perps don't bleed out.
[22:09] <@Albert> "Where are those ambulances you said were coming?"
[22:10] <@Albert> "Where are those doctors on wheels you said were coming??"
06[22:12] * @Beckman grimaces in anger. "Damn it all." He walks over to the other guy, "Where's the girl, you rat? Talk!"
[22:13] <@Keeper> Speak of the devil, you hear vehicles approaching. Nichols pushes himself away from Harden and stands by himself "Alright, get yourselves treated and then go home and get prepared." You notice that the sun is now setting and , especially in the forest, it'll be dark soon. "We're gonna round up a posse and comb the forest at first light!"
06[22:14] * @Albert helps Harrigan to his feet, walking him to the approaching vehicles.
[22:14] <@Albert> "Would you believe this was my day off?"
[22:15] <@Keeper> "You ain't a cop" grunts the wounded man to Beckman. "Beat it, I ain't gotta talk to you."
[22:15] <Andrew_Bachmann> "But I am."
[22:15] <@Keeper> Harrigan chuckles despite the pain "The devil is taking our little town."
[22:17] <Andrew_Bachmann> "You're looking at several attempts at killing police officers, that's enough for the chair or a rope in any town. Tell us where the girl is, and you might live the good life with three hot meals and a cot every day."
[22:18] <@Keeper> "Yeah, well, I got rights and I ain't rat. Go fly a kit, copper."
[22:18] <@Keeper> *kite
[22:19] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Well, if you don't want to talk to me." He shrugs, gesturing to Stuckey. "I guess he'll have to talk to you."
[22:21] <@Keeper> "That won't be necessary! She ain't hurt or nothin'."
[22:21] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Then where is she?"
[22:21] <@Keeper> "A cabin out in the woods with one our guys keeping an eye on her."
06[22:23] * Andrew_Bachmann frowns, helping the man up in his cuff to lead him to the cars. "Beckman. Go tell Nichols and the others we got one more perp guarding the girl."
[22:25] <@Albert> "You're becoming more scar than man at this point." Albert points out to Beckman.
06[22:27] * @Beckman marches quietly over to Nichols and Harden, stinging both from the wound and the joke. "The girl is with another perp. A cabin in the woods, and the runner might be heading there."
[22:28] <@Keeper> Harden rubs his chin "That leaves three at large then, one of them wounded. It going to be a cold night, they won't get far."
[22:29] <@Albert> "We'll have to hurry, I'm sick just thinking about what they might do to that young girl."
[22:34] <@Keeper> Wounds are treated and the police head back into town, going house to house calling up able-bodied men for the manhunt tomorrow.
[22:42] <@Keeper> When Beckman returns home he finds it unusual that his Butler, Lucas, isn't there to greet him when he is at the front door.
[22:43] <@Keeper> The door is unlocked and it's eerily silent when Beckman enters. On a single light towards the opposite side of the the house is on, it looks like the kitchen.
01[22:45] <@Beckman> ...suspicious.
06[22:46] * @Beckman walks toward the light, quietly.
[22:47] <@Keeper> As he nears he hears soft conversation coming from the kitchen. Two voices, one sounds a little off somehow.
01[22:48] <@Beckman> Closer.
[22:50] <@Keeper> Beckman hears what sounds like a chair scooting inside the kitchen.
01[22:50] <@Beckman> "Who's there?"
[22:51] <@Keeper> "It's your pal!" calls what sounds like a drunken Stuckey from the kitchen followed by a "S-sir..." from Lucas.
06[22:53] * @Beckman stops. Of all the people...
01[22:53] <@Beckman> "Stuckey, if that's you, it better be you with a warrant and a clean suit!"
[22:57] <@Keeper> "A warrant? But your guy let me in. Hey why don't you beat it Jeeves? Me and Beckman gotta have a private conversation."
[22:58] <@Keeper> "Mister Beckman is the master of this house and I'll only leave you unattended on his order, Detective" Lucas protests.
06[22:59] * @Beckman sighs. Thank goodness.
01[22:59] <@Beckman> "I'm going around into the kitchen, Stuckey."
01[22:59] <@Beckman> He does so.
[23:01] <@Keeper> It looks like they were both sat at a table in the kitchen, but Stuckey has since risen and is looming like a shadow on his end. Once Beckman enters he can smell that Stuckey reeks of booze and indeed hasn't changed into a clean suit. He's still wearing his hat and coat.
[23:02] <@Keeper> There's a glint in his hand. For a beat you worry he's drawn a gun, but when he puts it to his mouth it's obviously a flask.
[23:03] <@Keeper> "He said it was about the missing girl..." offers Lucas by way of explanation.
[23:04] <@Keeper> "Why don't you clear out the help, Beckman, so we can talk turkey?"
01[23:05] <@Beckman> "It's alright, Lucas. Go ahead and draw a glass of water for myself and Mr. Stuckey, then one for my father. I'll be fine down here."
[23:06] <@Keeper> Lucas obeys with some reluctance, keeping an eye on Stuckey for as long as he can while still complying.
[23:07] <@Keeper> "You know, Beckman, I think you ruined my life" Stuckey observes when they're alone.
01[23:08] <@Beckman> "Hmmph. You seem the type to do a good job of that yourself, Stuckey, but I'll hear you out."
[23:11] <@Keeper> "It's been a nonstop parade of weird shit ever since I met you in the hospital that day. People going mad, ending up dead..." he shakes his head "It used to just be the gambling and the booze we had to worry about. Now you and your gangster buddies bathe the town in blood and I gotta clean up the mess."
[23:15] <@Keeper> He takes a long pull from his flask, downing it contents with a wince. "Urgh. And those two hoods from Atlantic City? They were the last straw, Beckman. You and O'Bannion...you've made me cross the line."
01[23:17] <@Beckman> Poor bastard. If he wasn't such an asshole, James would almost feel sorry for him. "Setting aside whether there's any truth in that or not, I do feel for you. What's happened in this town is more than any community should bear. I mean this, Stuckey. There's been so much death and madness lately that I've considered just running and letting whatever this is sort itself out."
[23:18] <@Keeper> "That'd be for the best. Did you serve in the war?"
06[23:19] * @Beckman interrupts his inertia a bit. "No... too young when it began. Kept up my education instead. I respect every man who risked his life in the trenches and oversea."
[23:20] <@Keeper> "I served with the 26th Infantry in France. Two hundred and ten days in combat with the Huns..."
[23:21] <@Keeper> "Beckman" he takes another swig "I'm here tonight to tell you that the rules have changed."
01[23:22] <@Beckman> "Congress has rescinded the Prohibition Amendment?"
[23:23] <@Keeper> "If anyone else dies, we're going to war. Fuck O'Bannion and his money."
01[23:26] <@Beckman> "...always figured." James straightens up in his seat. "Stuckey. I know this will fall on intentionally deaf ears, but it's worth saying."
01[23:27] <@Beckman> "Not only do you have the wrong idea about me, you have the wrong idea about the events of the past few months. Hell, maybe even the wrong idea about Arkham itself."
01[23:29] <@Beckman> "Your time spent as a detective will only betray you, closing your mind to what's really been happening. I, and the other gents, are victims just as much as the people of this town are. The only difference is that we've been mostly lucky, and got away alive."
01[23:30] <@Beckman> "Patrick is dead. I saw him die. And I know, if this goes on, my luck will run out and I'll die too."
06[23:32] * @Beckman takes a sip from the water. "I and the others are alive, sure. But we're marked. You shouldn't be looking at us as perpetrators of some master scheme. You should be looking at us as next on the list of potential victims."
06[23:34] * @Beckman taps his index nail on the side of the glass. "I can feel it starting back up again. Albert was right. It always starts out like this."
[23:34] <@Keeper> "I believe you. About O'Donnell, I mean. We might know a little more than you think...I did raid Flinders's dorm personally."
[23:35] <@Keeper> "But I'll humor you. What is it that has marked you?"
06[23:39] * @Beckman looks into the glass. "I could have asked, but... we all decided it was better not to dig too deep. Forget picking sides, whatever is moving the gears behind what's been happening is too big to understand. But we've done enough, learned enough, to get noticed."
01[23:40] <@Beckman> "We don't know, and that's scary. All we can do is try to keep people from dying, but even that is hard."
[23:42] <@Keeper> "That's not good enough. I deal in justice, not metaphysics. Sounds like what you need is a priest."
[23:45] <@Keeper> "I've said my piece" Stuckey tucks the flask. "Unless you're willing to make an official, and *honest* report of what happened then we have nothing left to discuss and I'll take my leave."
[23:45] <@Keeper> *tucks the flask into his coat
06[23:48] * @Beckman smiles at Stuckey. "And that's why I said your time spent as a detective will betray you, Stuckey. Maybe you should read a certain local publication with a more open eye. Anyway, you can lead a horse to water, but, as they say, you can't make a certain bull-headed cop believe the truth."
[23:49] <@Keeper> "I'll see you at the search tomorrow, Beckman." Stuckey doffs his hat and makes his way for the door.
01[23:49] <@Beckman> "Let's both pray that I'm wrong, and that it hasn't begun again."
[23:50] <@Keeper> *pause*
02[23:50] * @Keeper (chatzilla@ihw-qtm.768.192.72.IP) Quit (Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.93 [Firefox 55.0.3/20170824053622])
02[23:50] * @Albert (Halycon@ihw-a37ouf.cable.rogers.com) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
02[23:51] * Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-h35.jra.111.75.IP) Quit (Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.93 [Firefox 55.0.3/20170824053622])
02[23:53] * Disconnected
Session Close: Fri Sep 22 23:53:41 2017

Session Start: Sat Sep 23 00:00:00 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
Session Time: Sun Sep 24 00:29:44 2017
Session Time: Mon Sep 25 00:00:00 2017
Session Time: Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 2017
Session Close: Tue Sep 26 19:14:18 2017

Session Start: Fri Oct 06 18:47:27 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
03[18:47] * Now talking in #arkham
03[18:47] * Jagenzollern sets mode: +o Beckman
[18:50] <@Jagenzollern> By 10 AM the next morning practically every able bodied man in the whole town is assembled in the Police Station. Captain William Keats, second in command behind Chief Nichols, is the one addressing the mob, with Nichols standing a short distance behind and flanking him along with a despondent Lucas Strong on the opposite side. There is a map of Essex county with a number of lines streaking...
[18:50] <@Jagenzollern> ...north and then turning west and ending somewhere north of Lake Wenham.
[18:54] <@Jagenzollern> "Our preliminary investigations have led us to believe that the suspects are Sidney Harris and Eugene Clayton along with, most likely, one or more other members of Harris's gang who stayed behind to guard Jane. Meaning, we are on a manhunt for three or more men in the woods following these routes for maximum coverage of the forest."
[18:59] <@Jagenzollern> "You will all be organized into small teams to comb the forest and deputized as a sheriff's posse. The first priority is the safety of Jane Strong, followed by the apprehension of the suspects, then finally the recovery of the ransom money. These men are armed and to be considered dangerous, but be warned - the forest is not empty. There are hunters, a group from the university, and possibly...
[18:59] <@Jagenzollern> ...others also in the forest. Make sure that no harm comes to them through misunderstanding."
[19:01] <@Jagenzollern> He steps aside, sweeping his arm aside "I've been told that Mr. Strong would like to say a few words."
[19:07] <@Jagenzollern> Lucas Strong, eyes puffy from sobbing, take the podium and grips the sides with shaky hands. "Thank you all for coming to help my little Jane..." he's only barely able to muster the energy to project to the crowd "you're good men and I know that with all of you looking for her she's in good hands."
[19:08] <@Jagenzollern> "As a show of appreciation I'm going to pay all of you who were so kind as to show up and put your lives on the line for my little girl $25 a day. And with a reward of $5000 for the team that brings her home safe."
[19:11] <@Jagenzollern> After the reward sum is announced the air leaves the room and everything is silent despite being volume of people crammed into the room. Nobody want to cheer, out of respect for the gravity of the situation, but greed dances on the eyes of men palpably throughout the mob.
[19:14] <@Jagenzollern> It's Strong who finally breaks the silence "And I would consider it a real kindness if Harris was brought back dead."
[19:15] <@Jagenzollern> "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Asa Nichols surges forward and tries to smooth that over "Do everything possible to apprehend the suspects alive and uninjured. We're a civil society gentlemen."
[19:17] <@Jagenzollern> "Manhunt begins at noon. Are there any questions?"
[19:20] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Do we know of any property in the search area? Any cabins or shacks?"
03[19:24] * Jagenzollern is now known as Keeper
[19:27] <@Keeper> "There are a couple old cabins strewn throughout the woods, but the only real concentration of buildings is a survey site that's been set up near the lake took look for precious metals. When this was announced the Water Board meant the kind of precious metals that could hazardously contaminate a water supply, but apparently Sidney Harris through it meant gold which instigated the whole thing."
01[19:28] <@Beckman> "What about roads and trails?"
[19:29] <@Keeper> "There are a couple dirt roads leading to the survey site and the general area of the lake, but during most of the search you'll be dealing with game trails at best."
01[19:31] <@Beckman> "Do we know what the current headcount we're dealing with is on both sides?"
[19:34] <@Keeper> "Three or more in Harris's gang and...eighty or so men in the posse." He guesses the last bit based on a headcount of the room.
[19:36] <@Albert> "I'd count on more showing up knowing our luck." Albert whispers to Beckman.
06[19:37] * @Andrew_Bachmann nods, liking the odds there. "We'll need to be careful. If they feel like there's no escape they might do something hasty. A cornered fox and all that." He says, mostly to himself but it's easily loud enough to be heard.
[19:40] <@Keeper> The groups are given their route in the search pattern and assembled. The teams are three men each and, by sheer coincidence, Bachmann, Beckman, and Weaver are assigned to a group. One of the first to set out, in fact.
[19:58] <@Keeper> The investigator's group begins at the site of yesterday's shootout  The site is a newly formed clearing about a hundred yards across on the edge of the forest, forming part of a wider area marked for logging. A dirt track from the main road heads over a small field to the edge of the clearing. It is littered with short stumps and a couple of piles of fallen tree-trunks, surrounded by tall,...
[19:58] <@Keeper> ...looming trees that stand close together. Scattered over the site is evidence of the events of the previous night: discarded shotgun shells and bullet casings; bullet holes in the trees and stumps; and a couple of heavy bloodstains. Otherwise the area is still and quiet, save for the occasionally pop of a tree branches straining under the weight of snow.
[19:59] <@Keeper> From here you're directed to head north northwest.
[20:00] <@Keeper> You easily manage to find two sets of footprints in the snow about where Harris and Clayton were and heading off in roughly the same direction they did. The snow makes the tracks fairly easy to follow but the light snowfall overnight prevents it from being trivial.
[20:01] <@Albert> "Guess we'd better hurry along, I don't wanna be out all night in this goddamn cold." Albert moans.
[20:21] <@Keeper> The first few hours, once you've been hiking for a while, aren't so bad. The brisk air blows through the naked trees and against you, trying to push you in the opposite direction. There is little wildlife, save for the occasional deer running through the thicket. You path at this point is downhill so the hiking is fairly easy and less than treacherous despite the lack of a clear trail. You...
[20:21] <@Keeper> ...can tell it's beginning to thicken as you proceed.
06[20:27] * @Beckman quickly puts up his off hand and swivels his aim toward the offending sound.
[20:32] <@Keeper> A shot rings out, just grazing Beckman. As far as grazes though it's a bad one and immediately starts pouring blood. A voice follows the shot "George, no!"
01[20:35] <@Beckman> "Ow! Sheriff's deputies, cease fire and come out of cover!"
01[20:35] <@Beckman> His hand clutches the arm wound, trying to stem the blood.
[20:35] <@Keeper> A man and a young boy come running out of cover looking mortified. The young boy's hand's are shaking and when gets close he flat out drops the rifle on the ground.
[20:36] <@Albert> "Ah hell..." Albert remarks, pinching the bridge of his nose.
01[20:36] <@Beckman> "Are you part of the posse?"
[20:36] <@Keeper> "Good Lord, I'm so sorry! He thought you were a deer." The father explains. "We need to get that looked at!"
[20:37] <@Keeper> "Uh, no. What posse? I'm up from Boston to teach my son to hunt."
06[20:37] * @Albert lifts away Beckman's hand, trying to get a better look at the wound.
[20:38] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "They're hunters, Beckman." He approaches the father. "There's been an incident in the woods here, a missing person. Have you seen some men and a girl?" He shows the man Jane's picture.
06[20:38] * @Albert sets to inspecting the wound, cleaning it with a damp cloth and then bandaging it. "Doesn't look too bad, at least I hope not."
[20:40] <@Keeper> Tears are welling up in the kid's eyes now "I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to!"
[20:41] <@Keeper> "Ah...you mean the artist's camp?" the man asks. "I'm Alistair by the way. Alistair Lawson. And this is my son George."
[20:41] <@Keeper> "What kind of incident? Is it safe here?"
06[20:44] * @Andrew_Bachmann shakes his head. "The men are armed and dangerous. You need to take your son out to safety, just in case. If you happen to see any other hunters, let them know as well. And what did you mean by the artist's camp?"
01[20:44] <@Beckman> "Look kid, make sure your target isn't human and you're fine. I've had worse wounds." Beckman looks at Alistair. "It's safe, but I'd move to the road and talk to the sheriff. Being an unfamiliar man in the forest isn't a safe proposition right now."
[20:48] <@Keeper> "There are other hunters! We came with here some friends of ours, Brian Hall and his son Arthur. Can't miss 'em, Brian has a big cowboy hat. They went deeper into the woods but we...uh...we turned back. Oh and the artist's camp is just a camp full of art students from the university, painting wildlife and such."
[20:49] <@Keeper> "And the truck!" the kid interjects. "There's a loud old truck that rumbles around on one of the trails around here. You can hear it."
01[20:50] <@Beckman> "That's part of the camp?"
[20:52] <@Keeper> "I don't think so. It's further west and then it goes south."
[20:54] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Either way, you two need to head back to safety. Things might get ugly." He glances at the kid, smiling a bit. "And thankfully this can be a lesson in trigger discipline for later as well."
[20:54] <@Albert> "Yeah, O
[20:55] <@Albert> "Yeah, let's make sure I don't have to bandage anyone up until we at least find something."
[20:58] <@Keeper> The kid averts his eyes and mumbles "Sorry again." Alistair puts an arm around his son "Well, we'll head on out then. Come on George, we'll hunt another time."
06[20:59] * @Albert gives Beckman a sympathetic look, "Off to a good start."
[20:59] <@Albert> "Just think about the five thousand dollars, it'll dull the pain."
01[21:04] <@Beckman> "Save it. I'm in this for the girl's sake."
06[21:05] * @Albert offers a glib smile to Bachmann. "Let's not waste any more time then."
[21:05] <@Keeper> You pick up the trail again rather easily and follow it for another couple hours before night begins to fall. When it begins to get dark it feels like it then comes on all at once and then you're suddenly trekking in the darkness amidst the ancient trees.
[21:07] <@Keeper> The eerie quiet of the woods during the day is now a distant memory and every couple of minutes you hear movement from somewhere in the darkness. Fortunately it's not difficult to find a clearing to make camp for the evening.
[21:09] <@Albert> "This is probably the longest I've spent outside in years." Albert says, stretching his legs.
[21:12] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Never gone camping before?" Andrew asks, keeping his voice quiet, though it still sounds loud to his ears in the chilly night air.
06[21:13] * @Albert shakes his head. "My old man never much cared for it." Albert bundles his jacket tighter. "I'm beginning to see why."
01[21:14] <@Beckman> "It's not so bad. When you're poor it gets to be a common recreation, though."
06[21:17] * @Albert eases his rifle sling off his shoulder, setting the rifle on his lap. "Should we start a fire... or..?"
[21:19] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "We're not going to be able to see much in this light, just as likely to end up walking into a gun as finding Ms. Strong."
[21:25] <@Keeper> After straightening out their camp, the investigators bed down for the evening.
06[21:30] * @Beckman startles awake in the dead of night.
[21:30] <@Keeper> ...
[21:32] <@Keeper> You all wake the next morning in highly varying states of exhaustion. Albert, at least, managed to sleep like a baby. The others, Andrew especially, look kind of haggard.
06[21:33] * @Albert yawns. stretching out his arms before scratching his lower back. He rises, blinking away the remainder of sleep from his eyes.
[21:34] <@Albert> "That wasn't so bad, I wonder what my old man was so afraid of." He mused, wandering off to take a morning leak.
01[21:36] <@Beckman> "Yeah yeah..."
06[21:37] * @Andrew_Bachmann rubs his eyes with one hand as he sits up, small bags under his eyes as he attempts to wake himself up. He grumbles as he reaches into his clothes, pulling out a match and a cigarette and lighting up.
06[21:37] * @Albert returns a few minutes later, ambling back to camp.
06[21:37] * @Beckman looks over at Bachmann, only briefly loathing their similar names. "Your eyes are as red as mine feel."
06[21:39] * @Andrew_Bachmann looks around tiredly for a moment, his eyes widening as he grabs his gun and looks around.
06[21:40] * @Beckman snatches his rifle and swings his head around too. "What, what?" he whispers urgently.
[21:41] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Look at the snow. There's more footprints. Someone was here, or still is." Andrew whispers, unsure if anyone can hear them, though his frantic motions don't really lend to subtlety at the moment.
06[21:42] * @Albert Albert ducks down, quickly scrambling for his rifle and looking around.
01[21:43] <@Beckman> "While we were asleep?"
06[21:43] * @Andrew_Bachmann nods.
01[21:46] <@Beckman> "Maybe I could feel it... I woke up with a nightmare..."
[21:48] <@Albert> "What do you wanna do then?" Albert keeps his head low.
[21:49] <@Keeper> You scan and don't see anything, it looks like you're alone out here.
06[21:51] * @Andrew_Bachmann thinks for a moment, slowly putting his pistol away. "I think Beckman is right. I felt something too last night."
[21:51] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "They're probably gone by now..."
06[21:52] * @Albert shakes his head, "Let's wrap this up then, and not spend another night out here..."
06[21:56] * @Andrew_Bachmann starts to pack up the camp, keeping an eye over his shoulder, a little paranoid now from the footprints.
[21:56] <@Keeper> You set out again in the dim light of the early morning, moving into the heart of the forest. There trees have begun to change from purely bare deciduous trees to having more clusters of evergreens. A short time after you've been hiking you hear a series of distant gunshots, rifle fire but too far away to pinpoint.
06[22:01] * @Andrew_Bachmann waves them over, pointing out a few fallen and broken branches. "It's over here, I think the snow covered up the tracks, but the twigs are down. C'mon."
06[22:02] * @Albert collects his pack and rifle and follows after him.
06[22:09] * @Albert raises his rifle towards a nearby bush, suddenly apprehensive. "Guys..."
06[22:09] * @Albert calls out to the bush, "If you're human speak up now or else!"
06[22:10] * @Andrew_Bachmann aims his gun. "This is the police. Come out of the bush, slowly, with your hands up."
06[22:11] * @Beckman readies his gun, but keeps eyes peeled for an ambush.
[22:13] <@Keeper> A black bear strides heavily  out of the brush on its hind legs and gives a long, hateful roar. It drops down and lowers its head, charging forward toward you like a black meaty juggernaut.
06[22:13] * @Albert fires the elephant gun immediately.
03[22:14] * Keeper changes topic to 'Albert 130, Beckman 105, Bachmann 85, Bear 50'
06[22:20] * @Albert fires wide, not even coming close to hitting the rampaging beast. Fearful of gaining it's attention he backs away, quickly scuttling off.
06[22:24] * @Beckman does the same, though with more effect. He promptly scuttles the hell away.
06[22:26] * @Andrew_Bachmann joins Beckman and Albert in the scuttling business, firing his .45 revolver into the bear as he does so.
[22:29] <@Keeper> Beckman's shot cleanly hits the bear but doesn't slow it down, and it doesn't look like it even registered Bachmann. It closes the distance between you with alarming speed and bears down on you group, focusing on Andrew and Albert.
06[22:41] * @Albert Albert suddenly realizes he died in an alternate reality and deftly falls over, dodging the bear's claw.
[22:44] <@Keeper> The bear seems surprised that it missed, so surprised that his blow whiffs Bachmann completely.
06[22:46] * @Albert aims the rifle point blank in the ugly furball's face and the rifle fires like a crack of lightning.
[22:49] <@Keeper> The elephant gun obliterates the bear's head, scooping the top half of it off entirely. The body shudder and flops backwards and then down onto its side.
06[22:49] * @Andrew_Bachmann pants, catching his breath. "Christ...I thought you were a goner..."
06[22:50] * @Albert blinks, peering down at the dead mass at his feet. "I uh, I think I did, you know?"
[22:50] <@Albert> "I sort of felt like, I did die, I mean. Uh..."
06[22:50] * @Albert just sort of gapes before pinching his cheek.
[22:51] <@Albert> "I think I get now why my father was so against camping."
01[22:51] <@Beckman> "Stop, stop, don't say that, you know we take that seriously. You're alive. Come on, up."
06[22:52] * @Albert nods somberly, a little more assured now. He gives the bear a stiff kick with his boot. "Yeah, shitty mongrel."
[22:52] <@Albert> "Let's go, I don't wanna stay here any longer than I have to."
[23:07] <@Keeper> A short walk later you come across what looks like blood splattered across the snow, amidst foliage that has clearly been disturbed with broken twigs and branches indicating something moved through quickly.
[23:08] <@Keeper> It leads off into the woods, perpendicular to your assigned search route. You'll need to make a detour to see what's down this trail.
06[23:10] * @Andrew_Bachmann points to the trail. "Someone or something is injured. Maybe our nighttime peeper ran into that bear?"
06[23:11] * @Albert nods, "Couldn't hurt to look."
01[23:12] <@Beckman> "God forbit it's another bear."
[23:15] <@Keeper> You follow the new trail for a short distance. It's not hard, whoever it was wasn't  moving very carefully. A half mile down the road you see a discarded hunting knife just laying on the ground. It's old, rusty, and covered in sticky, semi-dried blood.
[23:16] <@Albert> "Well, that can't be a good sign..."
[23:17] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "The blood's not dry all the way...it's somewhat fresh." He looks around, searching for footprints in the snow to see where the person went.
[23:20] <@Keeper> The footprints are easily visible, whoever it was clearly was staggering by this point. A little way further down the path you find what you're looking for. It's a man, dark haired a little overweight splayed prone on the ground. He's wearing a yellow shirt under a pair of overalls, both of which are torn at the man's side from a wound that's stained that material and the ground around him...
[23:20] <@Keeper> ...dead. The overalls elsewhere are also stained, but with paint rather than blood.
[23:21] <@Keeper> You get the feeling that seeing such a thing might have strained the mind of one of your earlier selves, but this degree of violence just washes over you.
06[23:22] * @Albert approaches, dropping to a knee to inspect the wound.
[23:24] <@Keeper> The man has clearly been stabbed, only a single time. Based on the size of the wound it looks to Albert like it was the knife they've just found. He probably bled to death steadily over the last day.
[23:24] <@Keeper> The is an impromptu bandage, but it was shoddy and did nothing.
06[23:24] * @Albert informs the group of his findings, adding "Bad way to go."
[23:26] <@Albert> "Looks like one of those artist kids..." Albert muses, thumbing a sploch of paint on the man's shirt. "He could lead us to their camp if we uh, wanted to tell them..."
[23:27] <@Albert> "Someone could be looking for him, sibling or friend... I'd rather they not meet his fate."
[23:29] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "We should. If he got stabbed, there might be more people in danger. It's possible our hostage takers found out about the shootout and decided to take more hostages there."
[23:34] <@Keeper> Picking up the new trail after backtracking a little you eventually stumble across a trail of tire tracks that have cut through the forest floor, snaking northwest somewhere.
[23:39] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Huh, these tracks should lead north of Bolton. Can't imagine why though...there's nothing there to even merit a road."
[23:39] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "You think that's where our kidnappers are hiding?"
[23:39] <@Albert> "You're the officer, what does your gut tell you?"
[23:41] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "That's what it's telling me." He confirms.
[23:42] <@Keeper> You hear a sound, the popping and rattling of an old engine to big truck of some kind. It sounds like it's getting closer and, looking down the road you can see it approaching in the distance. It's a large green flatbed filled to almost tipping with crates stacked upon each other.
[23:47] <@Keeper> The driver is fearless, driving quickly heedless of the narrowness of the road or the fact it's covered in snow and mud. He drives with a heavy foot on the gas and weaves between a set of trees, streaking up the road to you. He gets uncomfortably close before hits the breaks, the first indication he's even seen you. You see a young man with a strong jaw and closely cropped hair sitting in...
[23:47] <@Keeper> ...the drivers seat. He stares at you for a moment, inscrutable.
02[23:58] * @Keeper (chatzilla@ihw-ilh.07m.255.206.IP) Quit (Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.93 [Firefox 56.0/20170926190823])
02[23:58] * @Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-pvg743.dyn.suddenlink.net) Quit (Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.93 [Firefox 56.0/20170926190823])
Session Time: Sat Oct 07 00:00:00 2017
02[00:00] * @Albert (Halycon@ihw-a37ouf.cable.rogers.com) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
02[22:39] * Disconnected
Session Close: Sat Oct 07 22:39:03 2017

Session Start: Sat Oct 07 22:39:03 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
02[22:39] * Attempting to rejoin channel #arkham
03[22:39] * Rejoined channel #arkham
02[22:39] * Disconnected
Session Close: Sat Oct 07 22:39:23 2017

Session Start: Sun Oct 08 00:00:00 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
Session Time: Mon Oct 09 11:48:44 2017
Session Time: Tue Oct 10 00:00:00 2017
Session Time: Fri Oct 13 14:12:32 2017
Session Close: Fri Oct 13 16:06:52 2017

Session Start: Fri Oct 20 18:41:28 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
03[18:41] * Now talking in #arkham
03[18:42] * Keeper sets mode: +o Beckman
[18:48] <@Keeper> If the young man in the truck is annoyed or confused by your sudden presence on this overgrown forest trail then he expression doesn't let it on. He casts his gaze horizontally over each of you with a certain lethargy before he finally lifts one hand up and lays on the horn of his truck. The sudden blaring of the horn makes you realize how quiet the forest has been today; it feels like the...
[18:48] <@Keeper> ...sound echoes throughout the entire Miskatonic Valley. The man leans out the window and calls out "What is this? Ain't a stick-up is it? Fair warning - this truck is loaded with dynamite."
06[18:50] * @Beckman looks impassively at the driver. "While I don't believe it, I'll give fair warning too. We're part of a posse looking for armed criminals. Any chance you can let us check the vehicle?"
06[18:50] * @Andrew_Bachmann shows the man his badge to give validity to Beckman's statement.
[18:53] <@Keeper> "If I got a choice then I must protest. I've broken no laws and done nothing to merit you pawing through my haul" the man answers sternly.
[18:55] <@Albert> "We're looking for someone's child, come on. Just a quick peek to be sure." Albert asks.
[18:56] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Sir, I insist. Every moment you spend debating this is a moment a girl is in danger. You've got nothing to fear if no one's in there."
[18:58] <@Keeper> "I ain't a kidnapper and ain't seen a little girl. Step off the road please, so I can drive on." He's still obstinate, but at least he's not escalating things.
06[18:59] * @Albert grips the handle of his rifle a little more tightly, anticipating trouble.
[18:59] <@Albert> "Come on, stop wasting our time and open it up."
06[19:02] * @Beckman finally begins to lose his temper. "Enough of this. We're performing a manhunt under Arkham Police's jurisdiction, and you just being here provides a potential escape for people trying to evade the law."
[19:02] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Listen, you can do this while you have a choice, or I can throw the weight of the law around."
[19:03] <@Keeper> The man is protesting, sure, but something about him sounds off. He sounds bored almost like he's pantomiming this whole interaction.
[19:04] <@Keeper> "I'm not going to stop you if you insist on searching, but I want it known that I'm consenting under protest."
06[19:04] * @Beckman takes only a moment to glance meaningfully at the policeman. "I'm gonna raise my gun."
[19:05] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "It's known. Please step out of the vehicle." Andrew heads up by the driver's side, turning to Beckman. "No need to escalate, just keep your grip firm."
06[19:05] * @Albert takes that as consent and walks around to the end of the truck, looking at the crates.
[19:06] <@Keeper> "Step out? Just check the bed. Ain't nothing up here in the cab, you can see."
06[19:06] * @Keeper kills the engine "I'll hand off the keys so you know I won't gun it."
[19:06] <@Keeper> *The young man
06[19:07] * @Andrew_Bachmann takes the keys, looking inside the cab as he does so.
06[19:08] * @Albert hops up onto the flatbed, getting a closer look at the nearby crates.
01[19:08] <@Beckman> James begrudgingly holds his gun in a semi-ready position, like he's seen in pictures of soldiers and guards.
06[19:11] * @Albert gives the crates a cursory examination, frowning as he cannot search them all.
[19:12] <@Albert> "You think he'll mind if I open one, just to be sure?" Albert calls to Beckman.
01[19:13] <@Beckman> "Hey friendo, how do you open and close these crates safely?"
[19:13] <@Keeper> The crates are labeled visibly as TNT and the wood is crowded with warning about the hazards and volatility of its contents. It's hard to be sure without opening, but it looks like dynamite.
[19:14] <@Keeper> "Crowbar. It's not as dangerous as it says."
06[19:14] * @Albert looks around for something to open the crate with. "You got a crowbar then?"
[19:16] <@Keeper> The man grabs a crowbar from somewhere in the cab and flings it out the window onto the ground in a bed of pine needles. "Knock yourself out, chief."
06[19:16] * @Albert rolls his eyes. "Pass it up, please." Albert asks Beckman.
[19:18] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Alright, can I get your name for the record?" Andrew asks while keeping an eye on him, as well as the surrounding area in case this was a half-baked ambush.
[19:20] <@Keeper> "James Stanton. I'm local. I'm working on the survey team over by the lake." He points down the road in the direction he's headed "To our camp."
06[19:20] * @Beckman tosses up the bar.
[19:20] <@Keeper> *I'm headed to our camp
06[19:20] * @Albert nods gratefully and then turns his attention to a random crate, prying off the lid.
[19:23] <@Keeper> The lid pops off rather quickly and bares its contents, dynamite sure enough. "Can you just kind of lay the lid back on and slide another crate on top of it when you're done?"
[19:25] <@Albert> "It's dynamite alright." Albert tells Beckman and Andrew. He heeds the man's wishes, sliding the lid back on the case carefully.
[19:29] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Alright." Andrew hands him back his keys, stepping off of the truck. "You have a good day, and keep your eyes and ears open. These men are armed and dangerous."
[19:33] <@Keeper> James tips his hit "I hear ya. Good hunting now, gentlemen." Even now that he's been let off the hook, his disposition doesn't change. He just seems strangely tired for such a young and vital looking fellow. He starts his car and resumes his bumpy ride down the road.
[19:35] <@Albert> "Strange guy." Albert muses to no one in particular.
[19:37] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Pretty sure he's a drunkard. Were it any other time I'd have him booked, but right now we have bigger problems." Andrew gestures to where they left off. "In any case, back to the trail. Maybe we'll find that artist camp and get some answers, or at least let them know to keep their heads down."
01[19:39] <@Beckman> "No, he seemed kind of... tired? Like he was going through the motions, even though his life and freedom were on the line."
[19:40] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "So a drunkard. There's a reason that stuff's illegal now."
[19:40] <@Albert> "Maybe we should have checked the crates for moonshine. Ah well."
[19:45] <@Keeper> Fortunately the trail is easy to reacquire and you are able to continue retracing the artist's footsteps. And so you do, mile after mile until it once again starts to get late. The forest yawns around your group, threatening to swallow you whole with it's dark, endless expanse of trees. When you spy a ridge, just before dusk, your heart jumps momentarily in giddy excitement just for finally...
[19:45] <@Keeper> ...having a visible landmark in this alpine sea.
[19:50] <@Keeper> A rifle shot echoes down from the ridge. Judging by the rustle in the branches overhead, he shot very high. A warning shot.
06[19:52] * @Andrew_Bachmann ducks down reflexively, moving behind a tree as he tries to get a bead on whoever shot it. Was it a hunter, or the kidnapper?
06[19:52] * @Albert scrambles to cover behind a tree trunk.
03[19:54] * Keeper changes topic to 'Albert 130, The Gunman 112, Beckman 105, Bachmann 85'
[19:56] <@Albert> "Hey! Hold it! Stop firing!" Albert yells at the crouched figure, "Come on out!"
[19:58] <@Keeper> There's no more fire from the ridgeline, but the figure that you can faintly see above you does shift into better cover.
06[19:59] * @Beckman moves behind a tree off to the side of the main group. "What he said! Move to where we can see you!"
[20:02] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Alright..." Andrew yells. "I'm going to come out. Hands up. We're just here to talk, alright? We don't want any trouble." Andrew exhales, gathering his courage before setting his rifle on the tree, and coming out, hands in the air. "Just here to talk." He repeats, as he's now in the open, slowly approaching the ridge.
06[20:04] * @Albert steadies his aim, preparing to fire just in case.
[20:04] <@Keeper> There is no movement or noise from the ridgeline, the man seems frozen in place.
06[20:05] * @Beckman takes aim at the ridgeline, carefully peeking his head out.
[20:06] <@Keeper> Bachmann slowly advances yard after yard, everything quiet until....
[20:07] <@Keeper> Another shot rings out, whistling past Bachmann's ear. This one is clearly no warning.
06[20:10] * @Beckman fires at the source, the gunsmoke giving a clear target to aim for.
[20:11] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "CHRIST!"
[20:17] <@Keeper> The shot clearly hit home and the man slumps against the tree. He's not dead though. Well, probably not.
06[20:18] * @Andrew_Bachmann ducks for cover, pulling out his pistol in the process, sweating bullets at the bullet that very nearly took his head off.
01[20:19] <@Beckman> "Keep your eyes up, he's alive!"
[20:20] <@Albert> "Give it up, you're wounded, outgunned and if you don't stop they're gonna KILL YOU!" Albert pleads with the gunman.
[20:21] <@Keeper> The logic of Albert's words does carry some weight. The man turns and high-tails it the other direction.
06[20:24] * @Andrew_Bachmann curses, starting to chase after the man, hoping to cover the distance of a wounded man and tackle him, rather than kill.
[20:28] <@Keeper> Bachmann scrambles up the ridgeline after the man, the chase leading him up to crest the hill and down the other side towards a brook the separates it from the next forested hill.
[20:31] <@Keeper> The man is wounded and doesn't manage to clear the brook in the least, plopping down in the middle of it and barely keeping his footing as he sloshes out to the other side.
06[20:33] * @Andrew_Bachmann attempts to leap the brook to close the distance. He stumbles a bit on a hidden branch, sending him plummeting forward in an attempt to keep from tripping. He regains his balance, the near-slip's forward momentum helping him clear the gap with a surprisingly well.
[20:35] <@Keeper> The man, now recognizably one of the men from the shootout. Eugene Clayton as he was identified to you at the briefing. He casts a look backwards to gauge Bachmann's progress and is mortified to see how fast Bachmann is closing in. Clayton manages to reach the incline of the next hill, laden thick with mud. He practically dives into it in a desperate attempt to climb up it and escape.
06[20:37] * @Albert rushes ahead, a little winded as he tries to run while balancing the large rifle in both hands, with an awkward leap he manages to clear the brook without falling in.
06[20:39] * @Andrew_Bachmann follows on Clayton's heels, literally as he attempts to reach up in front of him while climbing up the muddy slope and snatch him by the ankles.
06[20:41] * @Albert cannot climb up the steep slope with the rifle in both hands, slipping before he can even get halfway. "Oh shit."
[20:46] <@Keeper> The man cries out in panic and whip around, rearing back the butt of his rifle and slamming it square into Bachmann's jaw.
06[20:49] * @Beckman takes aim with his rifle, hoping for another sweet-spot shot like before.
06[20:52] * @Albert watches as Bachmann falls, fearing that he is dead, Albert cannot steady himself, missing the shot.
06[20:52] * @Albert panics, running for cover.
[20:53] <@Keeper> Clayton steadies himself, then Albert's shot immediately throws him back into confusion. He snaps off a shot in the direction of the fire, but it misses Albert by a mile and Clayton begins cursing his weapon.
01[20:57] <@Beckman> Enough is enough. The fool is exposed and James' aim is steady. No time to hesitate. He fires at the man, aiming at his neck.
[21:00] <@Keeper> The buckshot, even firing uphill from a slight distance, holds miraculously close as it arcs cleanly into and through Clayton's neck. In an almost absurd twist of violence, the force and damage is enough to rip Clayton's head cleanly from his neck and send it tumbling down into the snow.
06[21:00] * @Albert gawks in disbelief as the head rolls past him all the way down to the brook where it catches.
[21:01] <@Albert> "Jesus Christ." he mutters simply.
06[21:03] * @Albert suddenly remembers Bachmann, rushing up the hill to find him.
[21:03] <@Albert> "Beckman!"
01[21:03] <@Beckman> "What?"
06[21:04] * @Albert rushes over to Bachmann, immediately dropping to his knees in the snow and checking for signs of life.
06[21:07] * @Albert begins to tend to Bachmann frantically.
[21:09] <@Keeper> It's a nasty hit. He probably has a concussion and certainly has a dislocated jaw. The repair of which jars Bachmann back into painful consciousness.
06[21:11] * @Andrew_Bachmann grunts in pain, reaching up reflexively to hold his jaw.
[21:11] <@Albert> "Easy, he clocked you good." Albert warns, keeping a hand on the man's shoulder.
[21:13] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Hrrrnggg, where ish he?" Andrew tries to get up, grunting and talking through clenched teeth, one hand helping him up while the other cradles his jaw.
01[21:14] <@Beckman> "Ever read Hamlet?"
06[21:15] * @Andrew_Bachmann looks angry and puzzled (But mainly puzzled) at Beckman's seemingly nonsensical answer.
[21:15] <@Albert> "Mr. Bachmann, it's very likely you're concussed. I think it best if we abandon the search, for now." Albert tries to be diplomatic.
06[21:19] * @Andrew_Bachmann shakes his head, wincing at the pain as muscles he didn't even know he had twitch in response to the damage in his jaw. "Nnn nnn...can't. Her life's on th' line. I c'n't let those m'nsters get away wiff this."
06[21:20] * @Albert gives Beckman a worried glance, unsure how to proceed.
01[21:22] <@Beckman> "...normally, I'd agree with him, but he'll be a liability if he's loopy. Can't trust him with a gun like this. Let's finish our patrol and get him to a room."
06[21:24] * @Albert still looks unconvinced, but relents. "This is not going to go well, he's liable to collapse again and we can't carry him out in the middle of a firefight..."
01[21:25] <@Beckman> "Wait, so we leave right now?"
[21:26] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "I'm fine." Andrew tries to straighten himself. "Now what did y'mean by that Hamlet thing?"
06[21:26] * @Albert stands himself up, sighing. "This'll all end in tears..."
06[21:27] * @Beckman points at the lopped head with the barrel of his carbine. "Yeah..."
06[21:29] * @Andrew_Bachmann looks at it for a moment, before recognizing what it exactly was. He gets in closer to confirm, frowning heavily and stepping back.
[21:29] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "You cut his head off?"
06[21:30] * @Beckman lifts his gun in a shrug. "My carbine round. I think it hit something and shattered. Looked like shrapnel taking his head. Damndest thing I ever saw."
[21:33] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Really?" He heads over to Beckman, looking around in the snow before finding the spent casing to judge if a bullet of that size could do such a thing. He gives Beckman an odd look before looking at Albert. "Well, we're on the right track, meaning the others are nearby."
[21:34] <@Albert> "Maybe he left tracks back where we first found him?"
06[21:37] * @Andrew_Bachmann nods in agreement.
[21:38] <@Albert> "If we're doing this we need to hurry." Albert remarks, taking the lead awkwardly as he stumbles back down the hill.
[21:39] <@Keeper> You reorient yourselves back on the dead artist's trail and follow it for some time before nightfall and the tracking becomes tedious.
[21:40] <@Keeper> Eventually, you manage to find a clearing that would be ideal to make camp. But after Clayton it feels like there is blood in the water and the whole forest seems to be leaning in to come feast on you. It might be difficult to sleep.
06[21:42] * @Albert holds up three fingers towards Bachmann, "How many?"
[21:43] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Three?"
[21:43] <@Albert> "Full name?"
[21:44] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Andrew Bachmann, alright alright. I'm fine. I told you."
06[21:45] * @Albert nods, satisfied. "Eyes look alright, and you've been steady on your feet."
[21:45] <@Albert> "Should we camp or press on?"
06[21:46] * @Andrew_Bachmann sighs. "We're not going to see too well in the dark, and we could very well stumble upon other man shooting us in the night."
[21:46] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Might be best to camp."
06[21:50] * @Albert nods, seconding the idea.
[21:54] <@Keeper> You spread out to make camp for the evening, busying yourself with chores to keep idles thoughts at bay. Bachmann does seem to be coming out of his concussion and it's a good a time as any to get some sleep.
[22:04] <@Keeper> Beckman sleeps like a baby once he manages to finally slip into the arms of Morpheus, but Bachmann tosses and turns all night wracked by terrible and life-like dreams. They each wake up, in their respective conditions, alarmed to find that Albert is missing from camp.
06[22:06] * @Andrew_Bachmann wakes up in a cold sweat, feeling his chest. He looks around a bit, before shaking Beckman awake. "Get up. Albert is missing."
06[22:06] * @Beckman looks up. "Went to piss, I'll bet."
[22:07] <@Keeper> The only tracks in camp are from the three of you and there is a clear set of prints that lead along the artist's trail. It's like Albert got up and left but all his gear has been left in his tent.
[22:08] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "He would've...or rather should've woken us up first. Especially considering where we are." Andrew gets ready quickly, hoping to set out and catch up to wherever Albert wandered off to.
[22:11] <@Keeper> The ground starts to rumble.
[22:15] <@Keeper> Then you hear it. Some distance to the north, as if it were the western front, a thunderous explosion rocks the valley. The hills tremble and snows falls from the trees all around you, though strangely no birds take to the air. The echoes reverberate through the valley what feels like several seconds.
[22:17] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "What...the...hell?!"
06[22:17] * @Andrew_Bachmann picks up his pace, double-timing it.
[22:20] <@Keeper> Whatever the purpose was behind the explosion that just disrupted this quiet sunrise, it was far to big to be anything a survey team would be doing. You meanwhile slog through snow which seems like it's getting deeper by the yard. Your adrenaline is almost spent and your body is begging to slow down just as you catch sight of your destination.
[22:24] <@Keeper> The artist's camp has six tents, four sleeping tents, a communal tent for cooking and eating judging by what's inside, and one that seems to serve as a painting studio. This is clearly the site of a struggle of some kind, a small scale skirmish. There are no bodies, but there are bloodstains here and their staining the snow red. The tents are ripped and their contents dragged through the...
[22:24] <@Keeper> ...camp in the chaos. There are busted easels and art supplies, as long as more simple items like clothing and camping gear outside of the tents by the dead campfire.
[22:28] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Jesus..." Andrew mutters, searching around for the bodies, weapons, at the very least footprints in and out of the camp.
[22:33] <@Keeper> From what Bachmann can tell the camp was attacked by a small squad of men, five of them minimum, experienced woodsmen and bushwhackers using blades of some kind. There are now bodies, but Bachmann does find a discarded rifle and texan hat in a bush nearby.
06[22:37] * @Andrew_Bachmann checks the rifle, seeing what kind it was, and if it was Albert's.
[22:38] <@Keeper> It's a .30-06 Bolt-action Rifle, not Albert's. Something about the hat though....
[22:41] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Christ almighty." Andrew stands up from the gun and the hat, clenching his own weapon tightly. He searches the place to see if there was any sign of where the perpetrators (or Albert) could've gone.
[22:45] <@Keeper> A search of the sleeping tents reveals a notebook, various art pads, and some partly completed oil canvases. The art pads and canvases show a range of paintings, mostly of landscapes and woodland scenes. There an owl perched on a branch, peering out into the dark twilight in one painting and a deer looking through the trees in a deserted wood in another.
06[22:47] * @Andrew_Bachmann thumbs quickly through the notebooks, seeing if any clues were left.
[22:47] <@Keeper> The next is simply the moon shining down from above. But the next depicts a familiar path snaking it way through the trees, the ground covered in dead, yellow leaves. The next a dilapidated old cabin, the door open and the dark outline a figure within. The last a figure seen from behind, looking out onto the black waters as something horrible rises up out of the lake.
[22:50] <@Keeper> A creeping horror dawns on your as you sift through the paintings. The path, the cabin, the figure in the threshold, and the great, terrible thing rising up from the lake...they're all scenes you've seen in your dreams!
06[22:52] * @Andrew_Bachmann lets the half-thumbed through notebook fall from his hands as he stares at the paintings. There's a moment where he tries to rationalize this, but that quickly fails. He takes a few steps back, as if the paintings would come alive and strike him like a viper. "What the hell? What the hell?!" he mutters, clearly disturbed by this.
01[22:56] <@Beckman> "Ha... ha ha... well, when he's right, he's right."
[22:56] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "W-what? What do you mean 'when he's right'? What are you talking about?"
06[22:57] * @Beckman looks around. "Yeah, looks just like that dream I had two nights ago..."
06[22:57] * @Beckman whips around.
01[22:58] <@Beckman> "No one gonna backstab me this time, right?"
[23:04] <@Keeper> Once you finally regain your bearings you continue your search of the camp. The kitchen has little of interest, save some provisions that are still salvageable. As you near the art studio tent you hear something coming from inside, it sounds like restrained movement and quiet murmuring. It's barely carrying outside the tent.
06[23:06] * @Andrew_Bachmann swallows, giving Beckman the sign of "shush" before slowly approaching and swapping his rifle to his pistol. When he gets in range, he quickly throws open the tent.
[23:10] <@Keeper> Inside you Albert hunched over several canvases laying faceup on the ground. There is paining spilled all around them, used completely making a primitive symbols repeatedly all over every canvas. Evidently once he ran out of paint the expedient thing to do became to use his own blood because Albert has opened a gash on his hand which he is now using to continue his feverish art.
03[23:10] * Keeper changes topic to 'http://www.5z8.info/taliban-meetup_p8d1vv_snufffilms'
06[23:12] * @Andrew_Bachmann readies his gun. "Albert?"
01[23:13] <@Beckman> "What in the hell...?"
[23:15] <@Keeper> He doesn't react to you, remaining completely engrossed in his paintings. His movements seem almost desperate.
06[23:16] * @Andrew_Bachmann looks at Beckman, wary. "Cover me. If he tries anything...and I mean anything...do what you have to do." Andrew slowly moves forward, putting his hand gently on Albert's shoulder, gently trying to pry him from his feverish painting.
06[23:17] * @Beckman just looks at Albert with pity. Why do things have to keep happening like this?
06[23:18] * @Albert slowly turns to the hand on his shoulder. From there he looks up the arm and finally stares directly at Bachmann, expressionless.
[23:20] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "Albert? You need to calm down, alright? Come on. It's time to go, okay?"
06[23:21] * @Andrew_Bachmann turns back to Beckman. "We need to head back. I can risk myself but I think the pressure has gotten to him...to all of us."
06[23:21] * @Albert continues looking at Bachmann, unblinking. Finally he sags a little.
[23:22] <@Albert> "I cut my hand, I think I had a nightmare..." He says dumbly. His voice is ragged, but it's still Albert's.
06[23:23] * @Albert looks around slowly, uncertain. "This isn't my tent..."
[23:23] <@Andrew_Bachmann> "C'mon." He tries to help Albert up.
06[23:25] * @Albert stands with Bachmann's aid, he opens his mouth to speak but thinks better of it.
[23:28] <@Keeper> After a moment the three of you stagger back out into the morning sun. You notice how the trees look yellowed and curled up, gnarling their branches in a facsimile of pain. It's as if there has been a splinter driven into the heart of the forest and the whole ecosystem is bucking in feral agony.
[23:28] <@Keeper> You stand in the heart of it all, amidst the ancient trees.
[23:29] <@Keeper> *pause*
02[23:31] * @Keeper (chatzilla@ihw-ilh.07m.255.206.IP) Quit (Connection closed)
02[23:31] * @Albert (Halycon@ihw-a37ouf.cable.rogers.com) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
02[23:36] * Disconnected
Session Close: Fri Oct 20 23:36:46 2017

Session Start: Sat Oct 21 00:00:00 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
Session Time: Sun Oct 22 00:00:00 2017
Session Time: Mon Oct 23 00:00:00 2017
Session Time: Tue Oct 24 00:00:00 2017
Session Close: Tue Oct 24 11:18:51 2017

Session Start: Fri Oct 27 18:26:32 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
03[18:26] * Now talking in #arkham
Session Close: Fri Oct 27 18:26:35 2017

Session Start: Fri Nov 10 19:26:11 2017
Session Ident: #arkham
03[19:26] * Now talking in #arkham
03[19:26] * Halcyon (Halcyon@ihw-a37ouf.cable.rogers.com) has joined #arkham
03[19:26] * Halcyon is now known as Albert
03[19:26] * Beckman sets mode: +o Albert
03[19:35] * Jagenzollern (chatzilla@ihw-1dp.4b0.244.24.IP) has joined #arkham
03[19:35] * Andrew_Bachmann (Calmswamp@ihw-h35.jra.111.75.IP) has joined #arkham
[19:44] <Jagenzollern> A cold wind blows through the bare, gnarled trees and into the ruined artist camp. The feeling of unreality retreats from Albert's perceptions as the group staggers from the work tent filled with those uncanny paintings. The open sky fills you with little comfort this deep in the heart of the forest; there is evil here.
[19:45] <Jagenzollern> Your divergence from the search route has led you here, but has only raised more questions. Who attacked this place and why? What became of the corpses?
[19:49] <Jagenzollern> There has not been a fresh snowfall since the attack and there are tracks all throughout the camp. The animal tracks that usually would muddle this sort of search are also conspicuously absent.
06[19:52] * Andrew_Bachmann shifts uneasily, reaching up to rub at his headwound in a nervous tick before pulling his hand away. "This is strange. This is very strange. Unnatural, even. Listen, we need to get you some clothes, Albert, you'll catch your death out in this cold, then let's continue the search back here. Something clearly *wrong* went down."
06[19:52] * @Albert nods simply, still unsure. He takes a few more moments to check his surroundings before he notices his hand.
[19:52] <@Albert> "Christ, did I do this?"
06[19:54] * @Beckman glances around nervously. "I don't know. This is probably *that* sort of thing again. Let's just keep our euyes open and our wits about us."
06[19:54] * Andrew_Bachmann nods grimly. "Some of it. But not all."
06[19:56] * @Albert bundles his hands under his armpits, shivering. "Let's go then, I don't want to stay here without a weapon."
06[19:56] * Andrew_Bachmann takes off his jacket, giving it to Albert.
[19:57] <@Albert> "We've been out here how long?" Albert asks, draping the jacket over himself. "You think she's still alive?"
[19:58] <Jagenzollern> Heading back to last night's camp and returning necessitates a two hour round trip, but once Albert is back in warm clothes it seems worth it. The camp is full of boot prints, there was clearly many people here and the difference between the two parties is distinct. Most of the tracks are what you would expect from a hiking boot, what looks like a rubber soled print with gripping indentations. Oth
[19:58] <Jagenzollern> ers are clearly made from a less yielding material and have only indentations from nails about the edges.
[20:02] <Jagenzollern> The smooth soled prints are also the only ones that leave the camp.
06[20:03] * @Albert secures his belongings, thankful that nothing is apparently missing. He glances at the footprints for a few moments before making a face.
[20:06] <Andrew_Bachmann> "What's this?" Andrew examines the stranger footprints after getting his jacket back. "Snow shoes, perhaps?"
[20:07] <@Albert> As he wraps his hand with a bandage he comments on it "If I'm not mistaken it's an older boot, civil war even."
[20:08] <@Albert> "To be honest it's the second strangest thing that's happened today so far so I'm willing to let it be."
[20:09] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Someone must be miserly indeed to still be using Civil War boots." Andrew stands up again. "Not sure who came by our camp, probably the folks that showed up last night. At any rate, we should head back to the artist camp and search from there. How're you holding up, Albert?"
06[20:10] * @Albert hefts up his rifle. "Better now. But ah, I think this is it for me, Gentlemen. We don't find her today... Well..."
[20:10] <@Albert> He lets the pause hang.
06[20:11] * Andrew_Bachmann works his jaw in consternation. "I'm afraid I'll have to agree. I don't want that girl injured or worse, but we'll be no good to help if we're dead."
[20:12] <Andrew_Bachmann> "So let's double-time it, we need to find these perps yesterday."
[20:12] <Jagenzollern> It was a small group, five people you're easily able to determine, and tracking them in the snow is not difficult. You weave through trees for a little over two hours. just following the tracks through the blighted forest until the scenery changes up ahead. The tracks forest suddenly breaks beside the muddy road the you recall meeting the truck on yesterday, though you're now considerably...
[20:12] <Jagenzollern> ...further north. The prints join tire tracks and begin following the road north.
[20:18] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Looks like it's north again." Andrew runs a hand across his head, wincing in pain when he touches his headwound. "I just hope that driver wasn't a part of this operation..."
06[20:20] * @Albert shrugs. "If they've got a car she may be half-way out of the state by now..."
[20:20] <Jagenzollern> You fall in step behind your quarry and continue the pursuit. The mud, churned frequently by heavy truck traffic, has been pushed into slippery mounds that snake up the trail with you forming an outline of sorts for your journey. Then the road starts to get wider on the eastern side with no change in the mud, finally hooking into a foot trail cutting east...
01[20:21] <@Beckman> "It's odd, isn't it? Those trees... I wasn't the only one who recognized them, right?"
[20:23] <@Albert> "How do you mean?"
01[20:25] <@Beckman> "They were... I thought I had a dream about something like them."
06[20:25] * Andrew_Bachmann hesitates, looking behind himself. He suddenly looks very concerned.
[20:27] <Jagenzollern> The prints veer off the main road and head down this foot path. There is no wind. There is no sound. Everything is dead, save you.
06[20:27] * @Albert nods, the realization returning. "I remember a voice too, a man, I think... Hell."
06[20:27] * @Albert takes a moment, trying to recall it and he presses a finger to his chin.
[20:28] <@Albert> *as he
[20:31] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Listen...you hear that? Nothing..." Andrew slowly draws his pistol. "I think...I think they're nearby. Waiting in ambush."
06[20:32] * @Albert stiffens, his posture rigid as he grips the rifle tighter, eyes darting. "Come with us." He mumbles, "That was it..."
[20:33] <@Albert> "The cabin... I think she's in a cabin... I'll know it when I see it... I just."
03[20:33] * Jagenzollern is now known as Keeper
06[20:35] * @Beckman perks up. "A cabin? There's a start. Was it the same kind of dream I assume we all had?"
06[20:36] * @Albert continues to glance around, unsure if there really is an ambush, he keeps his voice low. "I'll know it when I see it... trust me. Let's just... deal with whatever this is..."
[20:39] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Right..." Andrew doesn't really question Albert's comment. "Let's go then." He proceeds with the others, making sure to look behind himself every few steps.
[20:53] <Keeper> This dirt trail is narrower, but well-trod, and the trees crowd especially thick towards it's periphery. Their twisted branches hang over it and impose themselves claustrophobically overhead, making the march especially dark. You continue nonetheless until you begin to see sunlight ahead on the left, but it seems cool and offers little comfort. The clearing stretches a ways independently of...
[20:53] <Keeper> ...the trail, which continues. Your eyes follow it a moment, and see some sort of glimmer, but what lies to the north commands far more attention. Just as Albert described, a run-down old log cabin sits like a great black tumor in the middle of the clearing.
01[20:54] <@Beckman> "Unreal..."
[20:56] <@Albert> "This is it... I'm sure of it." Albert mutters in disbelief.
[20:57] <@Albert> "Whatever is inside there, it's not human." He looks over to Bachmann, realizing he's likely not prepared.
01[21:02] <@Beckman> "That's probably where whatever the center of all this is. Mr. Detective, it's pointless to use words to give you advice, but here's a guideline. Guns DO work, and do whatever comes naturally."
01[21:03] <@Beckman> “What you feel at the spur of the moment is usually right.”
[21:04] <@Albert> "Should have stolen some dynamite off the truck. Oh well." Albert laments, checking over his rifle quickly.
06[21:05] * Andrew_Bachmann gives Beckman a look. "We're here to save the girl, not...whatever this nonsense is. We get her, we get out."
[21:05] <@Albert> "You're an officer, trained for this, right? How should we proceed?"
[21:07] <Andrew_Bachmann> "If we had more men I'd say surround the cabin, but as we are we're injured and outnumbered. Best to stick together, and approach quietly. See if we can get eyes on the girl and any perps before our cover is blown."
[21:09] <@Albert> "Then let's do it fast and get the hell out." Albert agrees.
06[21:19] * Andrew_Bachmann quietly approaches the cabin, his gun drawn and ready.
06[21:24] * @Beckman does the same, moving in as close as he can manage.
06[21:28] * @Albert follows suit, bringing up the rear as quietly as he can manage.
[21:29] <Keeper> The three of you approach the cabin through the overgrowth like phantoms, stepping up onto the porch and stacking up on the door. Everything is going smoothly until a section of the porch suddenly gives way under Bachmann's weight. There's a loud crack and suddenly he falls over sideways, accidentally squeezing the trigger on his gun and firing a round into the door.
[21:29] <Keeper> When he tries to pull his leg out, he finds it stuck.
[21:31] <Andrew_Bachmann> "Goddamnit!" Bachmann yells, adding to the aural calamity. He braces himself with his gunless hand, wiggling his leg in trying to get it free.
06[21:34] * Andrew_Bachmann scrambles away from the door off to the side, knowing that whoever was inside DEFINITELY heard his gunshot and outburst.
[21:36] <@Albert> "Get away from the goddamn door. Something's coming." Albert backs off putting as much distance between whatever it is as he can.
[21:40] <Keeper> You put some distance between yourself and the door, guns trained on the threshold. You wait for whatever is inside to emerge and after about thirty seconds...nothing has happened.
06[21:42] * @Albert peeks out from behind cover, rifle at the ready. He gives Beckman an uneasy glance, "What the hell?" he whispers.
01[21:46] <@Beckman> "Be ready for anything."
06[21:49] * Andrew_Bachmann gets up from his awkward, prone position, gun in hand. He hesitates, aiming at the door for a few moments before creeping closer...and checking the door with his free hand.
[21:51] <Keeper> The old knob turns, it's unlocked.
06[21:52] * Andrew_Bachmann mutters a silent prayer under his breath, and pulls the door open, ready to spring into action if someone's waiting for him on the other side...though his chances of outrunning a bullet are admittedly slim.
[21:58] <Keeper> The inside is one room and sparsely furnished, with a grotesque display hanging from the ceiling. Animals, some fresh and some long dead, hang suspended from ropes throughout the room. They all appear to have been violently stabbed, but none have been butchered. In fact, a rabbit lays on a table in the middle of the room eviscerated next to a bloody hunting knife. The wall next to the door...
[21:58] <Keeper> ...has begs on it, from which hang a row of Union Army uniforms, with a rusted old rifle in the corner. There is no evidence of cooking or beds, though from the state of the dust you can tell this place gets frequent traffic.
06[21:59] * @Beckman advances to nearly behind Bachman, craning his neck to get a look.
06[22:00] * @Albert keeps at the rear again, not keen on entering the cabin at all.
06[22:01] * @Beckman sees something, and his eyes go wide. He sticks his gun forward and points at the floor of the cabin. He mouths silently. "Floorboards. Light."
[22:02] <Keeper> It's barely visible with sunlight beating into the room, but there is a pale blue light emanating from beneath the floorboards. Your eyes follow it and soon they rest upon a tucked away trap door on the other side of the cabin.
06[22:04] * Andrew_Bachmann suppresses a groan, remembering the last time he went into a basement. Still, he steps inside, checking his corners as he moves over to the trap door.
06[22:05] * @Albert grimaces, now standing still. He readies his weapon, aiming at the trap door.
[22:09] <Keeper> Corners are clear and all is quiet, save for Bachmann's footsteps creaking the floor noisely.
06[22:11] * @Albert motions for silence and for Bachmann to stop in his tracks.
06[22:14] * Andrew_Bachmann does so, looking around.
06[22:15] * @Albert tries gesturing with his free hand, two fingers 'walking' before he pulls one finger in and points down at the trapdoor
06[22:18] * @Albert tries to aim at the source as best he can before giving Bachmann a nod, now ready.
06[22:18] * Andrew_Bachmann slowly heads to the trap door, and opens it.
06[22:18] * @Beckman shrugs and points directly down into the floor with his rifle, preparing to take aim.
[22:22] <Keeper> The blue light spills out of the trap door, playing eerily across Bachmann's features. He sees a short drop to a dirt floor, about seven feet, with a ladder leading down.
[22:23] <Keeper> From this angle you can't see the source of the light or any signs of life, though there are footprints in the dirt by the ladder
06[22:24] * Andrew_Bachmann steels himself, giving himself a few lungfuls of preparatory air before making his descent, an affair made more difficult by the gun in his hand.
06[22:25] * @Albert gives Beckman a look "Nostalgic, isn't it?" he whispers before following after.
01[22:29] <@Beckman> "God sure loves testing us..." Down the door, gun first.
[22:29] <Keeper> Bachmann reaches the bottom and turns, seeing the basement of the cabin. The light emanates from five stone coffins that are clustered in the center of the room. In each case the lid is ajar and propped up on the floor by the side of the container. It's brightness stings your eyes for a second and then Bachmann is able to make out two silhouettes crouched down behind the coffins with rifles.
[22:29] <Keeper> One speaks his voice like ice "
[22:29] <Keeper> "Stop right there."
06[22:30] * Andrew_Bachmann does so, raising his hands up slowly, in sight of the trap door.
[22:35] <Keeper> One of the figures stands upright, still indiscernible from the backlighting. "Tell whoever is up there to drop their weapons down" he orders, his voice quiet but firm.
01[22:40] <@Beckman> Hearing an unfamiliar voice and assuming the worst, Beckman makes a judgment call.
01[22:42] <@Beckman> "I HOPE YOU'VE ALL GOT SANDWICHES DOWN THERE, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE EATING WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE HOLDING IN SHORT ORDER."
01[22:43] <@Beckman> "WE'RE COMING DOWN. YOU BETTER BE UNARMED AND PLEASANT!"
[22:55] <Keeper> The figures down there exchange a glance and then they both step out of cover, approaching Bachmann and Albert with their weapons trained on them. They step into more favorable lighting and you finally get a good look at them. Their skin is sunken and pale, even in the cold lighting, clinging tightly to their skin like a shriveled corpse. Their eyes too have the milky coloration of a dead...
[22:55] <Keeper> ...creature, and you can now see wounds in their torso. They are both impaled by a great spike of some kind that juts from their chest, sticking though the blue Union Army uniforms they are dressed in. Their guns are civil war muskets, kept in good order unlike the one resting in the corner above.
[22:59] <Keeper> "Turn around! Hands on your head!" one orders, forcing some volume into his voice with some strain.
[23:00] <Keeper> About that time, the sounds of a heavy truck engine becomes audible to the north. It sounds like it's approaching.
03[23:03] * Beckman sets mode: +o Keeper
03[23:03] * Beckman sets mode: +o Andrew_Bachmann
03[23:05] * Keeper changes topic to 'Albert 130, Beckman 105, Bachmann 85, Civil War Veterans 65'
06[23:08] * @Albert takes advantage of the commotion and opens fire at the nearest monstrosity. He nearly topples backwards from the recoil but manages to use the momentum to fall back behind a coffin for cover.
06[23:18] * @Beckman thinking quickly, rushes to the edge of the trapdoor and turns the wrong way. He secures his legs to the ground and flips his upper half down through the trap door, giving him vantage. He takes aim and fires at the wounded IS THAT A CIVIL WAR SOLDIER?
01[23:18] <@Beckman> He brushes the troublesome thought away and squeezes a round out.
[23:19] <@Keeper> The bullet punches cleanly through the soldier's heart, making a fist sized hole and then hitting the dirt floor on the opposite side of the basement. The hit is so clean that it barely staggers him. He stays upright, his expressionless face hardening before it's destroyed utterly by Beckman's shot. It falls to the ground dead.
06[23:21] * @Andrew_Bachmann fires at the remaining soldier, backing up as he does so before scrambling back behind one of the other coffins to shield himself from the inevitable return fire.
[23:30] <@Keeper> It doesn't come, instead the soldier launches into a silent charge. He rushes forward and slams into Albert, driving the bayonet into Albert's pec, thrusting between his heart and lungs and sending the two of them nearly sprawling to the dirt.
06[23:34] * @Albert pushes off, acting on pure adrenaline and panic. It takes him several seconds hiding behind Beckman and Bachmann to for him to release the severity of his wound, he nearly collapses.
06[23:34] * @Albert instead manages to fire a shot off, quickly.
06[23:36] * @Beckman worriedly fires another shot at the man-thing. Hopefully it's not as bad as it looks.
06[23:41] * @Andrew_Bachmann takes careful aim, now that the thing was recovering from his charge, and fired a single, controlled shot at it, even as his foot slipped and his aim shook.
[23:43] <@Keeper> One after another, the two bullet strike the dead veteran. It stands stock still after absorbing the shot, seemingly unharmed. It begins turning its musket barrel on Bachmann, nearly getting it lined up before his body twists and all strength seems to leave it. He crumples to the dirt and dies with a long sigh.
[23:43] <@Keeper> The crackle of the dirt road under tire tracks is getting very close at this point.
06[23:44] * @Andrew_Bachmann checks the inside of one of the coffins, seeing what the blue light was all about, even as he tries to suppress a freak-out as to what he just shot at.
06[23:44] * @Albert slumps down against the wall, sitting on his ass as his chest bleeds.
06[23:47] * @Beckman shifts into a sitting position, and goes down the ladder, closing the trapdoor behind him.
06[23:49] * @Albert coughs hoarsely as he struggles to fish out the necessary medical supplies. "Christ, he really got me-" He coughs, "-good!"
[23:49] <@Keeper> There doesn't seem to be a light source, just light spilling out of the bottom of the coffin as if it were a very low power sun. Some of the coffins have stuff in them, one of them is full of trinkets. Lockets, pictures, old rings and mementos from before the civil war. There are exposed picture, badly faded except the ones kept in the lockets. Mostly women, probably sweethearts, and a...
[23:49] <@Keeper> ...couple kids. Another is one of the glistening, metallic-looking spikes like the ones driven into the chests of the soldiers. A third coffin has a diary with the name 'Joseph Turner' inscribed on the front.
[23:50] <@Keeper> Each coffin also has a small dusting of some manner of green powder on the inside.
[23:52] <@Albert> "Stop looking at that shit, more are coming upstairs." Albert hisses between clenched teeth.
01[23:53] <@Beckman> "Ambush, ambush. Just get the guns ready."
[23:53] <@Keeper> You hear the truck come close and the engine dies.
06[23:53] * @Beckman quickly reloads his carbine.
06[23:54] * @Albert nearly falls onto his side as he reaches for his rifle and reloads it. His wound barely attended to.
[23:54] <@Keeper> Somebody knocks on the door above and shouts something.
[23:55] <@Keeper> Then it creaks open and you hear the same voice say more distinctly "Is anyone here?"
[23:56] <@Keeper> "There's a bullet hole in the door" a second voice observes "and it smells like gunsmoke. Somebody is here."
[23:57] <@Keeper> "August! Jacob!"
[23:58] <@Keeper> Slow, heavy footsteps begin to cross the room.
[23:59] <@Keeper> The clink of a lighter being opened.
06[23:59] * @Andrew_Bachmann slowly, carefully reloads his revolver.
[23:59] <@Keeper> The sound of metal scraping on flint.
[23:59] <@Keeper> The hiss of a fuse.
Session Time: Sat Nov 11 00:00:00 2017
[00:00] <@Keeper> Something drops down, spewing sparks.
06[00:12] * @Albert fires off a reactionary round at the man above the trapdoor, "Motherfucker!" The rifle thunders.
06[00:18] * @Beckman runs toward the dynamite. What went through his head?
01[00:18] <@Beckman> Who knows.
01[00:18] <@Beckman> He heaves the dynamite.
01[00:18] <@Beckman> It fails/
[00:21] <@Keeper> The dynamite launches up, but hooks the wrong way and hits the lid of the trapdoor. It explodes halfway through its descent, as Albert's bullet hits the man by the trapdoor. His scream is lost in the roar of the dynamite, as is James Beckman who is overwhelmed by the pressure of the explosion in the dash for safety. It sends him tumbling to the dirt as the floor above the trapdoor caves in...
[00:21] <@Keeper> ...and another dead man plummets into the basement with you.
[00:22] <@Keeper> There's a clamor from above, distantly. It's difficult to hear over the tinnitus.
06[00:22] * @Albert winces, his ears ringing madly. He peeks his head out, horrified when Beckman is no longer standing there.
03[00:24] * Keeper changes topic to 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdjbk_G6pw'
[00:24] <@Keeper> *pause*
02[00:30] * @Albert (Halcyon@ihw-a37ouf.cable.rogers.com) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
02[00:38] * Disconnected
Session Close: Sat Nov 11 00:38:26 2017