Ghouls and Gunslingers

[Chambers]

Sometimes you can miss the forest for the trees or so this necromancer is thinking as he arrives to the Ghouls and Gunslingers ghost tour Surely if any of these ghosts were real they would have been identified along time ago. But maybe just maybe every mage that came through thought the same. And I haven't been having any luck anywhere else. So he dressed for the part Unusally dark and gothic for him, but representing his path colour something he rarely does. The mage trepidatiously gets ready for what he suspects will be a corny, out of season, ghost tour with a few jump scares at most.

[Corn]

Corn was on an exploration mission to scout potential out-of-season spook places for those people in his social group that still had time and energy to go to such places in Hallowing - an overworked father with a double life like him prefers out of season tours and he would bring his experience here and opinion to others closer to Hallowing. The price of admission was not unreasonable. The prospects to explore "under the city" was also of interest. Dressed in dark but casual clothes appropriate for the season, Corn went to buy a ticket. He is pretty sure places like this have their own mystical history that the Sleepers are not aware of, but he can't turn on sight to see what the Sleepers don't... Chambers? Ohh... what are the odds?

Corn waves to his fellow Moros as he moves closer. "Hey! It's Jacob from the company! How are you? I am not surprised to find you here, to be honest. Do you want to catch a ride in the same group? "

[Eidolon]

Eidolon approached the tour, having learned about it from a local who visited the bookstore. He was confident it would be entertaining, yet with such tours, there was always the chance of a real ghostly encounter. Like that one penitentiary in New Mexico. Dressed in his usual attire, he noticed the mages named Chambers and Corn. Unsure of how they expected him to approach, he decided to walk up to them and reintroduce himself.

"Good evening, gentlemen. The name is Marcus Hawthorne, at your service. May I inquire who will be gracing me with their presence on this fine tour tonight?" Eidolon speaks with a trace of ego in his voice, striving to strike a balance between not appearing as a complete brute and not seeming overly timid.

[Sonnie Wu]

GHOST TOUR??!! Let's fuckin' GOOOOOOOOO!

At least, that's what Sonnie Wu was thinking as she showed up for this thing. Dressed for summer in blue denim cut-offs and a white tank top with the Golden State Warriors logo, purple sneakers and a black baseball cap, she was smiling happily as she paid for her ticket. A messenger bag was slung over her shoulder. It had a cute monkey image on it.

Of course, she had Hardened her Mask, as she'd be spending quite a bit of time around mortals. Plus, her shoes fit better like this.

She was excited for this, even if it was way too early for Halloween stuff. The woman bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited for the tour to begin. Lot of energy in this girl.

[Helen Kingsley]

Ghost tour, eh ? Helen'd been sceptical as Dave pitched the idea. With their history, it might turn out as it mostly does.

Yeah, he has stood her up. Yet again.

She wonders sometimes why she bothers with that kind of shit, but hey. Got a ticket for some tour out of it, so why let that thing go to waste ? So she heads to the place indicated as the starting point. No luggage, dressed in her jeans, trainers and a Seattle Seahawks t-shirt, haqnds in her pockets. Well, looks like some folks are already- wait...

Her eyes narrow a little as she scans the folks waiting. Two of those spark some recognition, even if she doesn't recall the name of one of the two... Damn, when did they... ? Anyway.
She waves at Chambers and takes up position among the fellow waitees. Is that ecven a word ? Who cares.

"Evening, folks ! This the 'Ghost Tours Anonymous' meeting I've been warned about ?"

[Chambers]

As people began to arrive he turns as he is addressed. A gentle smile offered as part of the return greeting. ''Jacob, good to see. I'm a little surprised to see you here I must confess, night off from your duties?'' Leaving exactly what those duties were vague but a little curious none the less. The smile takes on a wry quality. Seems I might not be the only one out determining truth tonight.

It takes him a moment to recognise the new Mastigos, there had been a decent number of new faces recently but he cottons on quick enough. ''And a good evening to you Marcus.'' The question not unexpected but still one of those irksome complications. You should better then to ask a fellow awakened in public. ''Mason.'' Not a total lie.

Out of season as it was and with plenty more to do with the longer summer days the group was small enough that it was easy enough to see someone standing by themselves. And different perspectives are important in establishing truth after all. Taking in the mischievous high energy lady he calls over. ''Ms. You certainly don't look afraid of no ghost.'' A gentle chuckle to show it was meant as joke, trying to break the ice, well aware that a group that seems to know each other can come across as a little intimidating.

And then someone is waving at him? Oh. He waves back. ''Hello again, the Freidman lecture if I recall correctly?'' The after party conversation had ended up eclipsing the lecture itself. ''A little less geopolitics in tonight's talk I'll wager.'' Pausing. ''Though that might depends on the ghosts in question.'' Another chuckle.

To no one in particular and thus those within earshot. ''Looks like were away.'' Following the guide the short walk to the first stop.
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(Tour Guide narration for first stop: The Delta King)

''The Delta King is a hotel converted from an old river boat. Located on the Sacramento River in Old Town, the hotel includes a restaurant, the Pilothouse, and banquet, conference, and meeting rooms.''

''The main ghost said to haunt the Delta King is that of a little girl. She appears to be about 9 to 10 years old with dirty blonde hair who wears a full length dress. Several crew members say that she is only seen by men. She mostly manifests as giggling heard in the hallways or as footprints in the morning dew on the deck of the boat. One waiter on the boat saw the little girl by the dry storage room that was once the boiler/engine room. He saw her bouncing a ball, but when he looked back she was gone. The explanation for her death and haunting given to us by the employees was that she was raped and murdered by a crewmember. The girl has a name, but she could not remember it.''


''Another spirit that still lingers aboard the Delta King is that of a man. He appears wearing a light shirt, dark pants, and some sort of hat. He has been seen walking along the lobby wall like he is going to the office door, but he doesn’t go through; he turns and walks away.''


''Other manifestations that have not been attributed to a specific spirit include the random breaking of unattended glasses in the lounge. A staff member we interviewed told us about a time when she found a chair in the elevator that belonged in the theatre which was locked at the time.''

[Corn]

Eidolon eh? Interesting. And ... he knew the second woman! He had played arcade with her and Aurora in the past. He just... doesn't remember her name. She seems to know Chambers though.

To Eidolon he replies "Ah, Marcus, we have passed each other by the canteen a couple of times. Jacob; I think we didn't have the time to properly introduce ourselves so I will forgive you for not remembering my name if you also forgive me for forgetting yours. " He says with a friendly expression. Eidolon seemed OK. Perhaps his recently single cousin would... no. No mixing with other mages.

To the woman from the arcade he said, "Greetings! We have met... a couple of years ago in an arcade. You beat us. " with a smile.

He doesn't recognize the pretty and carefree woman Chambers greets in passing.

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Corn has been schooled to keep his expression as is when sleepers say their thing. Thus, he fights the urge to groan when "spirit" and "ghost" are used interchangably. Not the tour's fault that he hasn't talk to a ghost or spirit.

[Eidolon]

Getting Chambers and Corns mundane names makes it easier for him to not slip up. "Well nice to meet you Mason and Jacob." And before he could say more, he is interrupted by a little firecracker of a woman. And a cute one at that. Speaking to Sonne Wu, "Ah yes like my companion said you are welcome to join us, we do not bite. Unless you ask nicely that is." And just like that they became five, and it seemed that Chambers and Corn knew her. But before he could speak, he caught something weird out the corner of his eye. But when he went to look it was just her shadow. Come on man the tour has not even started and you are already seeing things.

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Eidolon trailed the group, contemplating whether to use his magic to discern the authenticity of the ghosts. As the guide recounted the tale of the girl, it seemed plausible. Eidolon resolved to wait for a definitive occurrence before acting.

[Sonnie Wu]

She was, of course, observing the other tour goers with curiosity. People watching could be fun! The group of friends(?) had caught her attention, and they seemed friendly enough. She focused on Chambers and smiled, "Well, bustin' does make me feel good. Sadly, I left my proton pack at home, so I'll have to settle for just looking at them!"

Turning to Eidolon, the athletic girl laughed, "Not until at least the third date. My momma raised me with standards."

Sonnie had not intended on joining a group, per se, as her own friends were busy tonight, as far as she knew. It was nice to have someone to talk to, though. And...

Oh, the tour was starting! Let's go!

Now they learned the history of the Delta King and the... "Child ghosts are the creepiest!" she said softly, her tone amazed. She was totally buying into the story. In fact, she was listening carefully for the telltale giggles!

[Circe]

Ghosts and Gunslingers Tour? That had given Circe ideas. Hence her attire for the evening. The duster had the prior bullet holes replaced but the old timey vest helped to hide the protective vest beneath. The hat was just a nice match for the jacket.


Circe did recognize one of the voices. She rushed over, moving at an angle, so she'd come up behind Sonja Wu. "You left it at home?!" Circe shouts as she gets behind Sonja. Then Larcenist Summer wags her finger in the negative at the Steep Scrambler Spring, "For shame. Here I came," she waves her arms wide, showing off the outfit more and hamming it up in her Jersey accent, "Ready ta duel the Gunslingers in style, but who shall challenge the ghosts?"


She shakes her head with an exaggerated sigh. Then holds up a ticket for her own participation in the tour. She casts a smirk at the tour guide, "$50 tip if ya don't complain about me being late," and the Fairest winks at the tour guide. She'll follow through anyway. She had funds.