WesternOutlaw

Thanks everyone for waiting patiently to not get too far ahead of the story. I usually post once in the early morning (my time zone), and a few times later in the evening. Today I realize some of you had to wait a little longer, but definately better late than never. Sorry about the blooper regarding Jim Butcher. I was rushing this AM to get the still picture posted before I left the house. In my efforts, I wrote Jim indstead of Bulldog. Sorry Bulldog, but tag your it! There's 24 participants, with just 1-2 not posting regularly. I think that's pretty good. In any case, the mystery continues, this time with Max during his climb up the dark stairs.

Snitchman slowly walks up the stairs in the dark, followed by Max after a minutes or two. Lorraine, seeing that Snithman left the lobby, begins running up the stairs followed by Grill'n George. All is quiet and dark... Conductor Max decides to turn around and go back down just before Snitchman feels a door handle toward the top. As he opens a heavy wooden door, a fresh breeze of air flows down the stairs as well as a bright light from the windows of the second floor. Max suddenly feels something incredibly painful in his chest and can't seem to breath very well. He falls down the stairs. Everyone gathers at the base of the stairs around Max who has a meat clever stuck in his chest. He sustains 4 Life Points of damage and is bleeding profusely...

BLOOPER ALERT! Bulldog, NOT Jim Butcher. Sorry 'bout that. After things quiet down a bit, Jeb provides Herman with a set of crutches on account of his injured leg/ankle. He also takes some time to look at Bulldog and Austin. Both individuals are pretty disorientated, but their injuries could have been much worse. The trees around the still helped create a funnel force causing both individuals to be pushed backwards, away from most of the explosion. "Lucky for those City boys"! Jeb adds. He points out that it is getting a bit late, and everyone can stay the night in the barn, if they'd like.

The group has decided to go to the hotel and attempt to get a good nights rest, as well as possible in the strange town of Willoughby. After leaving the town hall with relief that the Mayor's car was not booby trapped, the group of six enter the small 2-floor hotel. The Mayor indicates that the Willoughby Hotel is under renovation and is actually closed, but since they are guests in the town, they may stay the night. "It may not be the best place right now, but it should provide you a warm bed and a relaxing evening", the Mayor adds. Inside is a small guest counter with a worn guest register. The mayor recommends that each of the group take a moment and sign in "just for the record" before selecting one of eight rooms within the hotel. "Please write your name and select a room number (1-8). I believe room #6 is the only room that you can't stay in (renovation and all)", the Mayor instructs.

Good question Pete. You've got a sharp eye for detail. Most would think that these parts are interchangeable, but only someone that has a train engineering background specializing in proprietary parts would truly know. They look pretty similar to me, but I don't know for sure. With flashlight in hand, the group shines the light into the darkness and proceeds cautiously...

Jim Butcher Bulldog and Austin approach the still. Jim Bulldog finds a handle which he begins to turn... Creak... Creak... Creak... Clear liquid comes out of the still for just a brief moment, then the still explodes! Jim Bulldog and Austin are thrown a few feet and suffer 4 Life Point damage each. Everyone comes out of the house to see what has occured.

Pete and Greaseman look back through the boxes along the side of the shed (near the sliding door). Inside, they find a number of old parts including something that looks like a gear. Grease holds it up asking if the part may be something you need? Brakes, looking at the part, says, "I think that may be of value". Small writing along the side says, "N1 Vertical Drive Gear". (What would you like to do next?)

I am now looking for Striker™ who is the only one that has not posted (Chapter 6A).

Everyone looks as Snitchman as he starts climbing the stairs. (Does anyone want to go with him?)

I've got one on my tool belt, but I guess you guys don't carry them with you like us construction folks (at least me).

Gim'me someth'n to clean this wound out while I hold 'em down boy - what'you daft?

Please welcome our latest mystery participant, Adam, who will be playing the role of Pete Smith, a resident in the town of Willoughby. He will be replacing EB member Kill Bill, who has failed to post in Chapter 6A, Looking For Repair Parts.

The car is registered in the name of William Brown. The sun has set. It is now dark outside, with the exception of a tall classic-style lamp post outside the door to the town hall.

The sun has set. It is dark outside.

The sun has gone down. Eleanor walks up to the locked door, asks the others to stand back, then pulls out her revolver aiming it at the door handle. BANG! She fires a hole through the door. It creaks open revealing a staircase that leads up into pitch darkness... (None of you have a light source but anyone can attempt to climb the staircase in the dark)

You slowly enter a quaint little farm house with dim kerosene lanterns to find a warm and cozy home. Jeb and Jethro help Herman onto the couch where he rests his bloody leg. Jeb unties the tight sling he made from his handkerchief as it continues to ooze blood. He then puts pressure on the leg feeling it tightly and says, "doesn't look likes it's broken, but we needs to clean it out before we sling it again. Jethro, give me a hand boy"!

Although a little sore from the collapsing beam, Brakes opens the small/medium sized box with the trip wire to discover a train part. Ich looks liken a parts that you can use. A small label inside the box reads "N1 Horizontal Drive Gear".

Mayor Brown opens the hood of the car. It's a... a.... a "4-banger" engine. This car is obviously at least 30 years old, but yet it looks like it has never been driven. Continuing the brief show of his car, he then opens the passenger door. It opens without even a squeak and you notice the fine Corinthian lether in red, yellow, and black colors. He then opens the glove box as requested. Inside is an auto registration that expired in 1979. The mayor chuckles, "don't really need her registered belonging to Willoughby. We only have a few other cars on our roads. Can you imagine? a town without traffic or pollution. That's Willoughby"!

Mark Williams walks slowly toward the ticket counter and begins pilfering through very aged and dusty travel documents. They include passenger lists, manifests, invoices, and stacks of unused tickets. There doesn't seem to be anything of interest. Eleanor walks toward the corner of the lobby where she sees the stack of old train posters and signs. As she attempts to pick one up, a large rat jumps out nearly biting her on the hand! It then scurries away toward the entrance of the station. Very relieved the rat did not bite her, Eleanor begins looking at the posters. There's one of a BNSF, a Santa Fe Super Chief, a small narrow gauge steam train, and a Swiss Crocodile locomotive, all displaying the beauty and grandeur of these classic trains. Judging by the posters/signs, it appears that all of the engines had at one time visited the town of Willoughby. Lorraine runs over to the water fountain, which fortunately still works, and begins drinking the cold water. A key to the second floor does not seem to be located within the lobby.

Everyone stares blindly at the hood of the little yellow classic, like frightened deer in the headlights...

With the help of Han's brute strength and Greasman's lube, Brakes is able to slip out from under the metal beam. Luckily, his leg was not broken or more seriously injured. The group realizes that they will need to be extra careful as they explore the mysteries of Willoughby.

Jeb has asked if everyone wants to go to the house where he can tend to Herman's leg? It may be a good idea for the group to stay together.

With help from the group, Herman is able to successfully remove his leg from the bear trap. Jeb grabs a clean hankie from his pocket and begins tying the wound. "We're go'n have to clean this out, else you'll be gett'n an infection quick. I was look'n for that old trap just the other day. We do get a number of big black bears, as well as brown ones in these parts", Jeb tells, "but I know I didn't leave it in here". "And to think, I voted you most likely to get a belly stick'n (chuckles) Stay with us city boy"! he adds.

Steve walks slowly toward the boxes along the side as Brakes follows close behind. "What's this small/medium box that seems out of place"? Brakes asks as he leans over to open it. Just as he lifts the top of the box, a heavy metal beam comes crashing down from the ceiling. Brakes is pinned under the beam that inflicts 3 Life Points of damage. The box appears to have been rigged with a trip wire.

Excellent! I'm glad you're enjoying it.