Overlord's Orders! XIII,

[Izeroth]

 I'm terribly sorry about what happened, but the fellow who came to meet me was an old friend. Naturally, I trusted the man. It turned out that the guy was actually my old friend's twin brother, but that isn't important. The important part is that he locked me up in prison.

As for the irresponsible behavior of Delthion and Soren, I can personally attest to that. Not only did they do everything James mentioned, but they also mocked my mustache.

[Hickory]

Yo boss, erm, abbut those drinks. So I saw the man you wanted captured dealing with Izzy's fella a coupla packets of this white stuff. I uses my spy glass and sees that it's modified nicotine, doesn't have a permanent effect on you. I left quickly and went to the saloon with the rest. I figgered that thedrinks would have the nicotine in 'em and I only pretends to drink 'em. I saw the rest act funny and choose to play along, better safe then sorry. I did see Soren messin' with Delthy right before we met the Injuns, though. Ya' never know, maybe he had some of his own nicotine.

[Søren]

Sir, I wasn't putting Del up to anything! In fact, he had told me his vile plans in a drunken manner. I was only trying to persuade him to NOT insult the Indians.
The ONLY reason that we drank from the drinks that got us in jail is because we trusted Izeroth and didn't have any reason to doubt him. We aren't always suspicious like James is.

[Lady Ashenwyte]

Sire, the reason I doused the hinges in alcohol was because Soren had insisted we all bring alcohol and when I objected he almost shot me in the face. So when I went to get the water Delthion replaced the water with alcohol as a "prank". Since the jail was dark, I didn't see it wasn't water and splashed it on the door.

[Delthion]

OOC: Gryphon, I feel I minor part of your pain in the previous round!

Sir, all of these things are true. But I shall start from the beginning, I was first complaining of sneezing, wheezing and coughing. Gryphon told me that he was a doctor and diagnosed me with allergies to the cedar wood that makes up the entirety of the former town, he gave me some medicine, but forgot to tell me that one of the side effects was intense and almost instantaneous intoxication. When I drank the water I also took the recommended dosage, two pills. WHen I was mocking Izeroth's mustache, I was still in my drunken stupor, and wasn't in control of my actions. Then I instantly became drunk, it lasted until the next morning when we were in the jail, then Gryphon said that he was very sorry that he had given me the wrong medication, the stuff that he gave me was for pain. He gave something in a different bottle, but this also was nearly instantly intoxicating, I then replaced the water with alcohol laughing in my drunken stupor. But then I was not responsible for anything else in the entire debacle, neither was Soren as a matter of fact.

[Søren]

Sir, Delthion speaks the truth. But, I'm afraid Ash doesn't speak the WHOLE truth.
You see, he neglected to tell you that the alcohal that I suggested we bring was for medicinal purposes. Everyone knew that James was no top-shelf surgeon, and we needed SOMETHING to ease the pain the patients would no doubt have from various bullut wounds and the like. And also, Ash had initially objected because he's on his 60 day chip and is trying to end the habit of tippin' the bottle a little too often. He didn't want temptation. But I told him, if he didn't let me pack medical supplies because of his lack of self control, he would be the one that would need the doctor.

[James Gryphon]

Gryph scowled at Soren. "Watch yer mouth, boy. Maybe I ain't no Doc Holliday, but I know plenty about bein' a sawbones. Ya think you can do better?"

He continued speaking, not waiting for a response.

"Alcohol is the most common part o' any medicine, as any expert will tell ya. Well, we got two per-scribed doses, one for normal and one for that type that can't hold no liquor. If I'd known Delthy couldn't hold liquor I'd have adjusted for that, but Izzy claimed that Delthy can "drink a barrel dry" and never get drunk. Delthy was listenin' and didn't disagree, so I took Izzy's word for it and gave him a normal dose. And the medication I gave Delthion in jail woulda been fine, if he hadn't grabbed it outta my hand and drank the whole thing down, sayin' that he was in awful shape and needed as much help he can get."

[LT Sandpaw]

A sickening chuckling resounded though out the room, Spattereye picked up a nearby bottle of whisky taking a massive swig he growled and laughed at the same time causing a ear wrenching sound.

Grunting he lifted his shirt too show a fresh bullet wound. The hole was black and purple with puckered edges like dead lips.

"Ya'll failed yer task." He spat out pulling his shirt back down. "It was a simple task an I, your leader took the fall. Now I'm wounded an incapable of doing some of the simplest tasks. But do I fail such a simple task even in great pain? Do I get drunk for no reason when my boss was in danger? No, no I would do my upmost, something ya'll are incapable of."

He clapped his hands together and the door banged open. A fierce Indian warrior stomped in fingering his tomahawk.

"I can't waste men no matter how useless they are but when I was speaking too, what was it you called him? Chief Big Head, he agreed to a new pact if'n I was willing to give him one of the men that insulted him. Seein how you he believes all o' ya are guilty this is an easy choice."

He motioned at Izeroth, the Indian moved quickly grabbing him by the back of the hair and raised his tomahawk.

"Not in here." Spattereye said quickly motioning for the man to leave. "I'm sure the chief would love to meet him alive first." The Indian grinned before dragging the yelling Izeroth out the door.

"No man risks my life with foolish shooting in the air and yelling my very instructions at people who hate me. Maybe ya'll don't know it so I'll tell ya. Those people hate me an they would do almost anything to be rid of me an anyone who associates with me."

Banging the table suddenly he made them all jump a evil leer on his face. "Seeing how you lot are useless in regard for any kinds of battle I have something else to keep yer busy. I have sixteen hundred heads o' cattle that need to be led down the River too the little town o' San Anton.

"Once there yew will sell them an come straight back here. remember it's a long trek so pack some good supplies."

Leaning forward Spattereye handed out tiny slips of paper to each one glaring angrily. Take this slip o' paper an when yew reach San Antonio give them to a lady by the name Mary B. Ya'll are then to protect her with yer very lives if necessary, on the return trip ya hear. Now go, and heed my warning, if something is to happen to her there will be hell to pay."

Two months later

The returning members of Spattereye's gang shuddered when they heard his cry of anger and pain. There was a moment of silence when the door burst open and he entered his face livid.

"I told you to protect her with yer lives if ya had too. An now she's dead, dead ya'll hear." He collapsed into his chair head in his hands before looking ferociously at them.

"Before she died she told me a few of the things that went on, but not the whole story. She told me ya'll lost half the herd in the water trying to make them walk upstream in the middle of a deep rough river. Then you had the gall to gamble all the money I provided then when ya'll lost all that ya'll all gambled my messages to Mary as well, losing them to a bunch o' mountain men."

"When ya'll actually reached the town yew like fools saw Davy Crocket an were to busy trying to get Ya'll's guns signed to notice the Mexican army stealing what's left of the cattle. When you finally found Mary ya'll were being chased down by a few hundred angry Mexicans because you stole all their tacos for revenge."

"Now Mary is dead by a Mexican bullet an ya'll have returned with no money my daughter dead and we are now surrounded by an avenging army o' Mexicans. So, maybe ya would like to shed some light on this little issue. An speak up, I want to hear every word."

[James Gryphon]

Gryph sighed. "We headed to San Antonio, following a map that Delthion had with him. There was supposed to be a fertile valley next to the end of a river; we planned on stopping there overnight, watering the cattle, and continuing on."

"Somehow, our fearless leader Ash was off course. We were about forty miles south of where we should have been. Soren said that we couldn't lose any time going up, and that we needed to make a crossing. Delthion backed him up, saying the cattle could swim if need be. I thought that the river looked too high and fast for a safe crossing, and said so, but Soren said that I was just a worrywart and needed to get over my suspicious nature. They all agreed to that plan."

"Well, you know how that went. We took the remaining half of the herd to the next town, a little village next to the mountains. Ash was desperate. He knew you would be upset, and that, having set himself up as the head man in this trip, he though he'd take the fall for it. Other cattlemen were in town, having sizable herds of their own, so Ash talked them and some of the locals into a game of high-stakes poker. He started out well, winning the equivalent of four hundred cows, but Delthion said that it was time that he got to play, instead of Ash. Delthion has no poker face, and lost all of our winnings. Soren replaced him and was even worse, blowing through a lot of money. Finally, Sage took over, betting everything and "some messages to a right pretty girl". By a monumental feat of luck, he had a royal flush. It seemed a sure thing, and he stood to gain everything we had lost on the trip, and then some. But Soren, who had an ace hidden up his sleeve, said "Look over there, a flying monkey!" Everyone but me 'n Soren looked outside, and while Sage was distracted Soren swapped his card for part of Sage's hand. I tried to stop him, but he threatened me with his gun. Anyway, this ruined the flush. A mountain man called Sage's hand. All our money was lost."

"After that, we got to San Antonio. Delthion saw Davy Crockett and insisted that we get all of our guns signed, for good luck. He said that if any of us stayed to guard the cattle, we would have only bad luck. The others believed it and forced me, at gunpoint, to go with them. The Mexican army stole the cattle. Ash wanted revenge, and so him and Sage snuck into their camp and stole their tacos in the night. But they lingered too long, and started laughing and cuttin' up about their success. The Mexicans spotted them and started chasing us. We went to light out of town, and literally stumbled into Miss Mary going out. I said, "Sorry, Miss -- ". She said her name. Then we knew it was her, and got her to come along with us."

"Delthion was supposed to cover our tracks, but we woke up one morning, and the army was all around us. We tried to escape, with Mary on our fastest horse. With her ridin' surrounded by us on every side, it seemed like it'd be a fair chance, but some cavalry came out in front of us, and one of them got a clean shot off before we could kill them...an', well."

"That's the story, boss. I did everything I could, but it weren't enough."

OOC: Finally done editing. Sorry for any inconvenience.

[Søren]

Unfortunately sir, James isn't tell the whole truth.
At the time when I suggested we make a crossing, it hadn't rained for several days and the river bed was barley two feet deep. But James and his suspicions thought we should cut down all the trees, even though we had no axe. And use them to make a raft to float downstream for a few miles so he can "rest up a bit." But he hated all of us and wanted us to make the raft. Well, that plan was about as stupid as James is. So we refused to do it.
For some reason, some people up at the court house thought it be a good idea to "test the flood gates." So they let the water go and it flooded the creek, making it a river. So you see sir, it was a good plan at first.
Then when we were in town, they tried to win back some of our  herd the townsmen lost. So we had a game of poker going on. Ash wouldn't stop making faces when I had a good hand going, he was telling the other ranchers what kind of cards I had. So I ended up losing the money because Ash couldn't contrail his doggon face!
I pocketed a ace, because we all know Sage is an awful poker player and we needed that herd. And I saw Delthion in the window, outside for somereason. He jumped of the picket rail screaming like a monkey. I laughed and told everyone about him, but Ash took it upon himself to jump up to see, because Ash is so short. He slapped that card outta my sleeve. I tried to grab it back, but James for some reason bit my shoulder, yelling "TASTY!!!!". My hand hit the royal flush and messed up the deck. It was all Ashes and James fault for being idiots and messing up the plan.
Unfortunately, I couldn't help Miss Mary, sir. That Sage, he's no good with a six shooter. I was riding behind him trying to get away from the army and he let out a yell and just fired several rounds behind him. One of them hit me. I slumped on my horse, hurten' real bad. Then one of the army men shot the rifle at Sage. He ducked and it took Miss Mary in the back, bless her heart.
I'm sorry for what happened here sir, but it wasn't my fault. I couldn't fight anymore after Sage shot me.

[Hickory]

Hehe, boss, I only shot Soren 'cause the army men were confronting us. After pulling off a few rounds, my horse stumbled and my aim went off even more, hitting Soren. It wasn't entirely my aim, if at all.

[Delthion]

Sir, actually, Gryphon made it sound as if the Mexican army was stealing the cattle during the signing of our guns by Crockett. But he managed to word this so that he wouldn't actually be lying if he was wrong, well, the reason I was outside, screaming like a monkey was because of them stealing the cattle during the poker game, no one would listen to me. The reason I lost all of the money was because of Sage making all sorts of remarks about how terrible I was, so that made me, as all people do when insulted frown, I had been bluffing for the entire game so I instantly lost the game. With Crockett, I saw him, but actually, the reason I said it would be bad luck was because I had hired several hundred mercenaries with my own funds to guard the cattle while we were doing this, once again Sage foiled the plan, he actually paid them using the rest of your money, which hadn't been completely lost, to go chasing after the half of the cattle that we lost. I was unaware of this and thought nothing of it until we got back to where the cattle used to be. With Mary B. I had a six-shooter and a rifle, I had blown through several dozen of the Mexican army with the help of Soren, but then Sage went berserk and shot Soren, I motioned for us to close up around Mary B. while I was still firing at the Mexicans, but then someone shot at Sage, who was tasked to be the one who guarded Mary B. from the rear, unfortunately he was very scared of loud noises, so he instantly ducked when he heard the noise. Sir I am dreadfully sorry for the loss of your cattle, your funds, and the life of your trusted comrade.

[Hickory]

Meh, the only reason I insulted Del is 'cause he ruined the entire plan from the start. Y'see, he's that one who told the natives to keep the locks down, , making it easy to cross. He made sure they let it up again, after  he gave the signal, a gunshot. I only foiled the plan since I smelled a coup, I was sure the mercenaries were going to backstab us and it was wise to let them get our cattle. (badrang an clogg there, hehhe). Soren also did a backstab of his one, by hiring a seperate set of mercanaries to counter the first. He really just wanted to cut and run once the chaos broke out.

[Delthion]

OOC: Is that reading my mind? He doesn't know why I fired the gunshot!

Hah! Sir, we have the culprit on the run! It was not to signal the townspeople to flood the river, and is was all because of Sage threatening that if we made it all the way to the watering hole with the cows, he would stage a coup against you! He said that he already had a large army, and that was a direct quote, no other language was used, I checked. So Sage forced me to talk to the natives, to try and stop us from getting to the watering hole, I wasn't sure who I could trust, so I didn't say anything. I fired aiming at a deer that we might eat that night, We had run out of supplies by then, the townspeople followed my signal, but it was all because of Sage planning to take your place as Overlord!

[Hickory]

*bows low* O powerful spattereye, I would never challenge your position. I myself had hoped to water the cows at the river, but Del had blocked it! I only had Del talk to the natives since he is the best at their tongue and they might know where another watering hole was. (del's a good negotiater). I myself have navigated the land around here an I knew the water hole Del wanted to go to was dry.