The street is quiet and the shadows short as the sweltering noontime sun beats down on the small gathered crowd. The smoldering rubble of the church smokes up the street, collapsed in on itself in a mess of blackened timbers. The chaos of the day's dawning still lays heavy on the town of Prudence, the streets empty of any normal daily bustle. At the far end of Main Street, the storm clouds hang, a tumbleweed bumping along until it hangs up on the rails of a storefront porch. A tension is palpable, still raw among the cluster of a dozen or so men around the Sheriff's porch.
- Deputy Karlo.png (52.53 KiB) Viewed 1325 times
"Thanks to the discoveries of these... fine townsfolk, we've uncovered information about a regional threat." His eyes move intentionally from one distrustful farmer's face to the next. "Sons of Vukodlak," he emphasizes, "Which included Teo Hrsak, born in this town but now... deceased... and also we believe includes Sara Dosen and Goran Hrsak, also of this town. These fine men," he nods again in the direction of the glowering farmers, this time not making direct eye contact but instead speaking to the five outsiders who stand on the street before the porch step, "uncovered communications between the former Sheriff Skender and this criminal group. His negotiations kept them from preying on this town proper, even as they kidnapped children from other settlements. This changed with the presence of the outlander girl, Talina Manifer, and the events we saw yesterday, which broke that truce and resulted in a brazen attack in our Saloon. Because of these communications, we know the frequency they talked on and also were able to pinpoint the transmission tower location... several days out into the Badlands." He nods in the direction of the far end of main street.
"Now:" he continues abruptly, forestalling the muttering among the soot-stained farmers, "the nature of these crimes being across the entire region, and in particular not a crime against Prudence's children, and our luck to have a regional circuit judge attending to us at this time, we can avail ourselves of the jurisprudence of the Greater Kumekhna province," he now clears his throat again, steadying his voice, and looks across the assembled farmers. "...who will send deputized official Marshalls without the need of Prudence directly." His words are met with a sullen silence.
Judge Lira Bunt steps up with a commanding mien, her own mag rifle slung conspicuously at-hand. "It is our pleasure to assist Prudence and pursue this regional issue for the benefit of Prudence, Windfall, and all other local towns who have suffered under this criminal threat. With the authority granted to me as Circuit Judge of Greater Kumekhna Province, I hereby deputize these men to seek justice and remand the criminals to trial... whether dead or alive."
The crowd goes silent as each man steps forward. The first three - Emile, Han, Shadrach - each an imposing and obviously skilled gunslinger, their hats shading their steely eyes, their long coats protecting them from the dust here under the hot sun. Báleygr is next, his non-descript, everyman face and coveralls leading to some whispered speculation. Then Taavi, Counsel for the Defense, dressed in his fresh starched white shirt. Each man is addressed by name, pinned with a metal star, and asked to pledge his service faithfully to the Regional Government until this task is complete.
"Counsel Taavi Perttu," the Judge adds after he has pledged. "You are additionally charged to see the legal conduct of this matter. Any who are able to be returned alive will stand trial, here before me in this town. Is that understood?" She waits for an affirmation. "We are a people of laws, of order. And it is by this order that we retain and restore the better nature of our society."
Marshalls of Greater Kumekhna
- Chapter Two.png (407.98 KiB) Viewed 1325 times
"But they're devils! They're of the devil!" yells one man from the back.
"What about that witch, the devil-woman Anja?" yells another.
"Up until yesterday, you went to Anja with your needs and had her pray for you to our Lord and Savior!" retorts matronly shop-woman with a apron and her grey hair in a severe bun.
"It was Anja who saved me, in the name of Jesus," adds Mirko, the bartender, a bit more humbly.
"Anja Dosen is held without bail," states Karlo, loudly, to quiet the others. "She will remain in custody until she has had a fair hearing. We ain't doing this in the streets. We got a judge and we can do testimony and the like." He clears his throat once more, then nods respectfully to Sister Amalia, perhaps blushing a little though its hard to tell in the hot midday sun, "We're lucky to have an ordained here to minister to you in the meantime. Parson Dollent has graciously offered his living room and sitting room for prayer meetings and for you to meet with the good Sister, that is until the church can be rebuilt."
There's subdued grumbling amongst the farmers. A rumble from the smoldering church causes some timbers to collapse and a cascade of sparks to fly upwards. Most, however, look on the five men standing with tin badges with at least begrudging respect.
You can all take actions or do rolls here to influence the mood or inspire confidence. This disposition will impact how things go off-camera between now and your return.
You can then array yourselves on the government truck - who's driving, who's shotgun, who's where on the back flatbed - and we'll move out down the road. You're given enough provisions for two weeks. You can request other simple supplies from the Sheriff if something specific is needed.
