Thar be Zombies in dem dere hills IC

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OOC: Please post your character in this thread before posting here. Also read the first post in that thread to know the rules for this zombie survival thread.
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Chief Raging Wolf lead the dancers...

One day lead to two, two to three, finally on the fifth day the Ghost Dance was complete. The dancers were exhausted...but pleased. Now they just needed to know if they succeeded. There was only one way to find out...

Chief Raging Wolf nodded to his War Chief, Crazy Bear, who approaches the hapless prisoner. The prisoner was half dead having no food and little water since he was captured several days ago. There was no fight left in him. He had been told not to go into the mountains prospecting alone, but his greed overcame his common sense, and here he was, at the mercy of the Hekawi, mercy was not something they were known for.

Crazy Bear Stood in front of the prisoner and held his stone knife up for all to see. All the Indians present started to let out war cries, as the knife was slashed across the prospectors throat. Blood spurted out onto Crazy Horse who held up his now bloody knife as the crowd grew silent and watched the life force drain out of the hated white man.

Soon he was dead, but none of the Indians moved. They all hoped something would happen, something that would help them drive the white man, the black man, the yellow man, and the brown man from their lands.

Soon the prospector started to moan, the Indians all stepped forward to watch, as he struggled against the deer sinew holding him to the tree. As they watched the prospector clumsily got to his feet and began to try and walk but he fell when he tried to go further than his restraints allowed.

Crazy Bear cut the deer sinew off the manaha, and it rose to it's feet. Everyone jumped back at it's appearance. Its skin was the ash gray of death, and pulled tautly over its bones, which appeared ready to burst out at any moment. It was emaciated and descciated, looking more like a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave than the living person it was just minutes ago. The eyes were pushed back deep into their sockets, and the lips were were tattered and bloody. All the visible flesh was covered with suppurations. It moaned loudly as the smell of decay and decompositon washed over the assembly.

I took one, then two halting steps and swung one of its arms at Crazy Bear. Crazy Bear stepped back and shouted “Stop, I am your master. You will obey me.” The manaha froze, waiting for a command. “Go West,” he said pointing “you will find a hunting cabin. Destroy all inside.” The manaha began to walk towards the setting sun. A loud cheer went up from all present, it was a moment they would never forget.

Just a few miles away “Black” Jack Hollingsworth and Luke Johnson were cleaning and field dressing the deer they had killed that day. They had just arrived in Au-Mine and hadn't even staked a claim. They had no money and were down to their last few bullets for their winchesters. “Black” Jack still had his Colt Peacemaker, and a few dozen rounds for it. Luke had lost his six shooter in a poker game trying to bluff.

“Did you hear something?” Luke asked looking at Black Jack, feeling uneasy being in Indian country without his Colt.

“Naw” he says spitting his chaw on the floor. “Jus da wind. Nottin' ta worry 'bout.” Black Jack replies
Shrugging his shoulders at his more experienced companion, he went back to gutting the six point buck , wondering when the rabbit stew they had cooking would be ready.

About an hour later, they were done with the deer, and hung the meat in the smokehouse to let it cure, and settled in to eat their dinner. While they ate and shared stories of places they'd been and people they knew, there horses started whinying in fright. Grabbing their winchesters they looked out the window, and couldn't see anything in the moonless night.

As Luke peered out into the darkness, a hand grabbed him by the neck and pulled him out of the cabin. Black Jack screamed “Luke!” and ran to the window. Unable to see anything, he started firing blindly until he was out of ammo, and then ran...

The Hekawi were ecstatic. The first part of their plan was a success. The manaha did as it was told and was able to kill. Those who had followed to witness the attack watched as the manaha feasted on the remains of the hated white man. Soon they would be ready to launch a large scale attack on the town and kill or drive out the rest of them.

Black Jack got into town several days later, and told the sheriff about the attack and how he ran. A posse was formed and rode to the cabin. All they found was a lot of blood, and an empty smoke house.
**********

Winter was fast approaching, and it was time to send in a compnay of calvary to Au-Mine from Fort Steadfast. Col. Parmenter called Captain Lou Albano into his office. “Captain, time to relieve the men in Au-Mine for the Winter. Your company will depart here in 3 days. Draw all the supplies you'll need, and move out.”

“Yes sir.” he replied and saluted.
**********

On the appointed day Captain Albano and his men formed up at sunrise. It was an impressive sight to see over a hundred calvary troopers on their steeds, and two dozen wagons loaded with food and gear to support them for the next six months. The rest of the division turned out and cheered as they rode out of the fort.

They camped the first night on the outside of the pass, not wanting to make camp in the pass having gotten some unsubstantiated reports that the Hekawi were on the warpath. At first light they entered the pass and rode in a single column, with scouts riding ahead of the main body. Nothing out of the ordinary happened until they stopped for lunch near a waterfall. The troopers lead their horses to the pool at the foot of the falls so they could drink, as they ate biscuits and hardtack.

Suddenly there was a scream and one trooper fell over dead with an arrow in his back. Before anyone could react, the air was filled with Indian war cries and arrows. Captain Albano ordered his bugler to sound charge, climbed on his horse and led his men deeper into the pass.

The rest of the journey was a nightmare for the troopers. They were constantly attacked until they were in sight of Au-Mine. Riding into town, Captain Albano lead 25 men, only 12 of them didn't have an arrow stuck somewhere in their body. None of the wagons made it.

The townspeople gathered around the filthy, exhausted troopers, and helped them off their horses. Getting the wonded to the towns only two doctors, the rest were brought to the nearest saloon for a drink or 12.

Capt. Albano refused any liquor and headed for the towns calvary barracks. When he walked in Sgt. Slaughter, the leader of troops currently in Au-Mine was talking with Sheriff Hogan and Marshall Steele about the attack on Black Jack. When he told the others how he was attacked on his way into town, they all grew serious.

“I'm going to send a squad to look for survivors, and see if they can get any of the supplies.” Sgt Slaughter said.

“No. Sargent. Anyone that didn't make it is dead now and the supplies are lost. Our duty now is to fortify the town, and prepare for attack.” Turning to the Marshall, he says “Marshall, I suggest you call a town meeting for all the men and tell them what's happened, and ask for volunteers to help defend the town.”

“What can I do?” Sheriff Hogan asks.

“You and your men can ride out to all the homes, mines and anyplce else where there are people, and tell them what happened. Warn them to be on guard at all times, or they can come into town.”

“Captain, we should send riders to Fort Steadfast to get reinforcements, or at least let them know what happened.” Sargent Slaughter says.

“Send your two best riders on your two fastest horses. Send a written note in the saddlebags. If the riders are killed the horses may get to the fort.” Captain Albano says after a moments thought.

The three men disperse to do their jobs as Captain Albano sits down and starts to draw up plans to defend the town.
**********

One week later, a riderless horse with a US brand arrives at the fort. When they unpack it, a letter is found addressed to Col. Parminter. After reading the letter, he has the Division bugler sound assembly. Telling his men the Hekawi are on the warpath and killed most of Capt. Albanos men, they were riding to Au-Mine to help fight the Hekawi. They left that night after loading all the supplies they could.

The snows beat them to the pass by 12 hours. There was no help for the town now until spring...
 
Jack had heard about the attack on the cavalry, but quite frankly? He was just too drunk to care. Most days he didn't even leave the saloon and when he did it was usually just to go to the brothel or to the sheriff's office to see what bounties there were. And even more rarely was he sober, but you couldn't say the main wasn't at least a functioning drunk, he could still shoot a twenty-five piece out of the sky with only a single, sometimes two bullets with one of his navy colts, he'd even proven it more than once to some of the other men that frequented the saloon on a bet. When he learned of the Hekawi's involvement in the affair, however, he did begin to sober up, and dramatically so, to the point where he even shaved and purchased new clean clothes.

On one particularly sober day he made his way into the marshal's office, I side he tipped his hat to the man on duty, "I come to see if there're any new bounties posted and see what's being done about them Hekawi, 'm thinking maybe I can lend ya'll a hand if needs be."
 
The Dynamite Kid was sitting at a desk reading the town paper. The front page story was still about the Hekawi attack on the calvary. When he heard teh door open he looked up to see Jack Daniels walk in.

"Howdy Jack" he said in a guarded manner. Since The Dynamite kid was the only law in town as the others were out rounding up some stragglers on farms and small mines, or supervising the building of defensive walls.

Casually resting his hand on his gun, he listened as Jack Daniels asked about bounties and offered to help. "Welp, I done think that dem solider boys could use some extra hands." He said wondering if the half breed was really going to side with white folks against injuns. "Maybe the bossman over at the barraacks could use you as a scout or tracker."
 
Jack simply parted his coat as he rested his hands on the Butta of his own navy sixes, "Best be taking your hand off that firearm, son. Boy puts his hands on something like that a man could get the wrong impression, think his life is at stake and aim to defend it, ya hear?" With that he slowly backed out of the marshall's office and headed for the army barracks. Once there he found himself a soldier, "I'm looking for the commanding officer, hear tell ya'll could use some help fightin' indians and such. I happen to be a good shot and an excellent tracker."
 
The dirty and tired trooper looked at the man standing in front of him. Spitting near his feet, the trooper scratched his scraggly beard. "Well now there ain't no need for no half breeds round bout here..." as we was suddenly knocked onto his ass.

"Get yer ass to yer post, Johanssen." Sargent Slaughter said to the trooper sprawled on the floor. "We can use all the guns we can get." He says turning to the well known bounty hunter. "There ain't no money in this fight, it's gonna be a fight fer our lives and everyone else in town. You ready fer that?"
 
"Seeings as how I'm stuck here 'till spring thaw, I'll lend ya my irons. Any o' yer boys give me trouble on account of my blood I'm liable to take an ear from then though, we clear?" He gently patted the large buck knife hanging on his belt with that last comment as he looked around, "ya'll boys head out you let me know, I'll work as yer forward scout if I can manage it and try to keep anything from hittin' yer flanks."
 
THe sargeent looks him over. "If my boys give you any trouble you can kick there ass up and down main street, but if you cut them, then you'll deal with me. As for yer offer, lets take ya ta the Capt."

He leads the new scout through the barracks to the Captains office. Knocking on the door, a gruff voice calls enter.

"The the sgt steps in salutes and says new volunteer for your approval sir."

The Capt returns the salute and waves the gun slinger in. "Dismissed, sgt."
 
He gives a slight tip of his hat and a nod of his head, "Cap'n. Seems like you and yours could use a bit of help and as I'm stuck here until spring I figured I'd offer ya the services of my irons. I've scouted for the union before, and them others during the war unofficially down Texas and Arizona way. Way I see it you don't have much room to gripe about my bloodline either." He stood there waiting for a response as he pulled a silver inlay flask from an inside pocket of his duster then offered the strong whiskey to the captain.
 
Looking up at the stranger, he sized him up. "The way I see it, we need evey gun we can get, skin color be damned. I just have one question. How do I know you won't sell us out to the other red skins if things start going bad for us, to save your own hide?"
 
"They ain't comanche fer starters. Lemme pose you the same question though, how do I know one yer blue coats ain't gonna put a bullet in the back of my head on a count of me being half comanche? Besides cap'n if it really comes down to it, just make it worth a man's while, either with gold or green backs."
 
"Fair point. Although my man may dislike half breeds, none of 'em would shoot one in the back. Beat the hell out of 'em yea, but outright murder, not in my command. Not unless they wanna swing on a rope. If you fight with us and survive, the only thing I can promise, is your life. Any reward will come from the owners of the mines, and I'm sure there will be enough to go around. I'll make certain everyone that fights get their share. Deal?"
 
He had been waiting all day, actually all week. Lucky ducky's home was the target. Wind wasn't a burglar but circumstances had led him into the act. And it was his first, now he had been caught again.
"Well, well, if it isn't our famous friend Mr Wind. Now down to robbing a farmer's house eh?" a tardy corporal mocked as he was being tied to a horse.
"Nay, me just doing casual visit. Scraggy old lucky ducky is an acquintance of mine savvy? Ain't no way me be burgling his house now would i?" Wind Shiver-me Timberly replied sneakingly working on the rope.
The corporal walked up closer to Arrow forcing him to quit his assault on the rope. "Keep it to yourself Arrow, ya goin before the sheriff and i don't think ya hide is going anywhere this time."
"Aye matey. Me hide stay with me, savvy? Wouldn't want to lose them to 'em flesh munching creatures would i?"
The corporal climbed the horse and rode slowly towards the station with Wind being dragged behind, where he hoped to find the sherrif.
 
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Most of the soliders and towmsfolk were fortifying the town, Blocking off streets and boarding up windows. The snow hadn't reached the Valley yet, but it was only a matter of time. Now it was just a waiting game to see what came first, the snow, or the Hekawi.

Sheriff Hogan was just returning from town bringing in several Nuns from a convent near the old mill stream. Checking in with the Trooper assigned with assigning quarters to anyone who came into town, he put the 5 nuns into The Trough, which was the most notorious Cathouse in town. It was the only building with an empty bedroom.Once the nuns had been shown to their rooms Hogan went to his room above the jail house and took off his boots to take a nap.
 
The police on reaching the station were redirected to the jail house where sheriff Hogan had bunked up the stairs.
"Me hate being dragged around savvy?" Arrow complained as he trudged up the stairs of the jail house, hand still bounded together.
The men stopped him in front of a room and the corporal subtly knocked on the door.
 
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Wishing, not for the firsttime that he hadn't sent his deputies out to the damn Hellmouth mine to get some dynamite and men to help defend the town, Hogan sat up and pulled on his pants. "COme in" He shouted, looking longingly at the half empty bottle of whiskey on the table. Too bad he swore off the stuff until the fightin was over.
 
"Come in" the sherrif had bellowed. They opened the door and the man behind shoved him in. The three men saluted and after receiving a simple nod from the sherrif relaxed their stance.
"Sir we found him at Lucky ducky's house, he was stealing the man's chicken." the corporal stated.
"Stealing eh? I was only borrowing besides ain't chicken won't be lasting longer in the days to come. Not now that 'em cannibals are around savvy?" Arrow defended eyeing greedily the half full bottle of whisky on the table. He finally tore his gaze from the bottle to sherrif Hogan. He beamed a sly smile, "Yay hulk, me eyes were among those on the field, saw what mawed on them deer skinners. I can describe em for you but me hands itch from being tied." he bargained motioning to his bounded hands.
 
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Hogan scratched his beard, and stood up pulling on his shirt with his badge still pinned to it. "Cannibals? What teh fuck are you talking about. The Hekawi are many things but they're not Cannibals."
 
Wind blinked and blinked again. He then spoke up in his non-chalant tone.
"Eh me hands, still tied they are...its itch and its affect me mouth eh savvy?"
 
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"I don't have time for this nonsense. Lock him up and let Judge Parker deal with him." He tosses the keys to the jail to the trooper as he pours himself a drink.

"Cannibals, yeah next he'll be telling me about mermaids and other seamonsters. Goddamn pirate." Sherriff Hogan finishes the drink, and buttons up his shirt and pulls on his boots, when there is a cry of alarm from outside. "What now?" he asked strapping on his gun and putting on his hat.

Sgt Slaughter was siting ouside the barracks smoking a cigar relaxing for the first time in days, when a young trooper came running Breathlessly the trooper said "Hurt trooper comin' in"

Looking out where he was pointing, Sgt could see a figure moving oddly in the distance. picking up a spyglass he took off a Reb officer he killed he looked and saw the figure was wearing a calvary uniform and had several arrows sticking out of his body.

Jumping on his horse and riding out to get his wounded comrade, Slaughter quickly got to the man. Stopping his horse several feet away he jumped off and asked "Trooper are you okay holding out a canteen offering him a drink.

The Trooper knocked the Sgts hand away and raised his arms to attack. The Sgt quickly moved away from the trooper. He took a lariat off his horse and quickly lassoed and hogtied the Trooper.

Carefully picking him up he put the trooper on his horse and began leading it back to town. When he arrived Capt. Albano Sheriff Hogan, and Marshal Steele were all waiting for him. WIthout a word they all went to Doc Holms office. Brining the patient in while he kept trying to bite them was difficult but they succeeded in doing it without any injuries.

Doc Holms saw the wounded and dehydrated trooper and quickly began to examine him. A worried and puzzled look cam across his face, as the trooper tried to bite his hand when Doc Holms tried to look into his eyes.

Leving his patient on the table, Doc waived the group into another room.

"Gentleman, this man is dead." The Doc told them.

The sudden cacphony of sounds was impossible to decipher, but the general sentiment was that Doc Holms was drunk or crazy.

A looud whistle pierced the air and everyone quieted down. "I lnow hes moving and walking, but there's no heart beat, no breathing. If you know someone who is alive without a heartbeat or breathing I'd like to know about it."

"SO what yer sayin' is we got a real live vcampire on our hands?" Sgt Slaughter said as all the other men laughed.

"NOt at all gentleman. I don't believe in that campfire hogwash... I do believe in science and that man..." he says pointing to the exam room "...has one arrow in his heart, another in his lungs, and even if he didn't die right away, he would have bleed to death, froze to death, died of dehydration, or been so weak from stravation that he shouldn't be able to move much if at all. Whatever that man is, he is not alive."

The men in the room all looked at each other not saying anything.

"Aww Bullshit Doc!" Sgt Slaughter exclaimed, "his brains just addeled from blood loss and lack of food and water. He'll be right as rain once we feed him and get those arrows out of him." Sgt walked in to find the trooper had chewed threw the lariat and that was the last thing Sgt Slaughter saw.

Capt. Albano drew his revolver and shot the trooper six times without any effect. Seeing the trooper take six rounds of .45 to his chest, the Hogan and Steele both drew their weapoins and fired until the trooper stopped moving.

Cautiously they entered the room, after reloading, and Sheriff Hogan kicked the now still corpse off of Sgt Slaughters body. They could see the Sgt had a wound on his arm and was bleeding. Picking up the inconcious man they set him on the table as the Doc began to look at the Sgt's arm. Marshall Steele was looking at the dead trooper and pulled something from his mouth as the DOc said "He was bit. The trooper bit his armn and tore out a chunk of flesh."

Sheriff Hogan looked at the dead trooper and then asked "Are you sure Doc? The Trooper bit Slaughter like a south seas cannabal?"

The doc nodded as he tried to staunch the bleeding. Sherriff Hogan signaled the other men to com over to him and held a whispered conversation.

"Earlier today one of calvary troopers caught that damn pirate tryin to rob some farmhouse. He said he had some information about Cannablas. I thought he was spinning one of his sea stories. But Now..."

Capt Albano asks "What pirate? We're hundreds of miles from the ocean."

"He goes by Arrow. How he got here, or if he has ever been to sea is anyones guess, but he acts like and claims to have been a pirate. He's a petty thief and is wanted for a slew of crimes, but he always manages to break out of jail before trial." Hogan says.

"I think I would like to talk to this Arrow." Capt Albano says the others nod in agreement. "I'll send in some troopers to collect the body he tells Doc Holms as they leave.

When they walk out the door, there is a contingent of soliders satnding by the door and a few townsfolk. "Private O'Rourke was not in his right mind. He tried to attack Sgt Slaughter and almost killed him. We were regrettably forced to shoot him dead." Capt Albano announces to the assembled crowd. "You two..." he says pointing to two troopers "get his body and bring him over to the undertaker. Funeral will be held in the morning."

The three men quicly walked over to the jailhouse and Capt. Albano saw two prisioners. Seeing one was dressed like a sailor he asked "WHo's the other prisoner?"

"That's Jesse James." Sheriff Hogan says

"The famous outlaw?" Capt Albano asks in surprise. "I hadn't heard the hole in the wall gang had made it here."

"Not that Jesse James," Sheriff Hogan says "He just has the same name, and he tried to use it to intimidate some people. One thing lead to another, and he killed four men in cold blood. He's got an appointment with the noose at first light."

Capt Albano shakes his head in pity as he turns to the landlocked sailor. "I hear you have some information about cannabals. Tell me what you know."
 
"Aye, informations. But i won't tell you nothing more than the numbers of ye grey hairs. Not when me is locked up here like a filthy Cuba Whore." he bargained. At the very least he might get a chance to be free of the hideous cuffs binding him and at the very most he get to breathe fresh air. Even if its not the sea air, it would be better than the stench that was brandishing his face.
 
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"I'll tell you what, under current US law pirates are to be executed without trial, so..." Capt Albano draws his six shooter and pulls back the hammer, pointing it at the sea dog. "...Tell us what you know and you get to live."
 
Wind Shiver-me stared intently at the gun, then at the man wielding it. He arched his brow then swallowed hard.
"Aye! Them chains fit fine on me wrist, even think it to be a jewelry. Quite beautiful." he said then laughed dryly, he stopped abruptly as he noticed no one was smiling.
"On that moonless night," Arrow began pacing the cell, "i was taking a walk in the outskirt field near the Hekawi's territory. As you do know i love danger" no need to tell him that he was dumped there to die in the hands of the red men by the people he lost his bet and horse to. "Aye the risk, the thrill we get from near death experiences is the greatest treasure a pirate can ever sail for. While me legs trodded away from the red men's boundary, me ears picked up something, a movement coming out of their small forest. I ducked away and covered myself in the underbush, making no sound and holding my breath. Then i beheld a creature seemingly like a man, aye a man, his skin was as the dead's and he moved slowly like a heavy..
 
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....load was on him. He approached them deer skinners cabin and he mawed on em. Me eyes bulged then shrank into socket, Aye he feasted on the body like a desert vulture do to a corpse."
Wind Shiver-me then paused to look at his audience. He had tried to make it as real and scary as it happened. Even added some few heroics to his role.
He was expecting to see faces mashed in fear but all he was greeted with was calculating ones.
"I have told you every thing i know savvy? You get to let me go as promised eh?" he asked the captain.
 
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Sgt Slaughter walks in unsteadily as the pirate is talking. Standing behind his captain, he listens to the ramblings of the landlocked sailor. Muttering to himself "Yeah you went out there voluntarily...right."
 
"Aye, and i didn't return with any part of me flesh missing. The wind does help the sail of bad news sergeant. And the ears of Shiver-me Timberly did pick up that it was a pale skinned man that could barely stand on his feet that left you scarred. Almost dead they said he was." He countered then faced Captain Albano, waiting for an answer.
 
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