Chapter 2 - Cash Dollars on the Hoof

[jemmus]

Sorry, the post above was edited after posting. No initial content was changed, but additional content was added.

[Grognardsw]

“Deputy, do you think it could be the friends of the convicted cowboys that stole the horses? What ranch do they work for?”

Paladin eats breakfast at Hoffman’s, making small talk with the others.

“What’s all that German you’re speaking?” he inquires of Andreas.

“Where are you from?” Paladin asks William.

After breakfast, for the trip Paladin buys food, drink, a bedroll and extra ammunition at the general store.

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie will avoid the cowpokes and try and rest up.

[ateno]

Dood will ask Andreas if he can borrow his telescope for the posse.

He will gather his stuff in his room and come downstairs with his equipment. the only visable difference is that he has a indian bow and a indian made quiver of arrows.

He has plenty of food and coffee, but he requires outdoor sleeping material. So a couple blankets and
a box of matches is what he would like at the general store.

Doos

[jemmus]

Blankets are 75 cents. A box of matches is 5 cents. Per the rules, survival rations are $1.50 per day.

[jemmus]

Given a fair horse would cost $50, Paladin figured it was worth accompanying the deputy.

With a nod and tip of his hat, he said: “I’ll join you deputy. My name is Paladin.”

While it could be random horse thieves, Paladin wondered if it was someone else. Could it be the cowboys or their friends trying to get revenge?

“Deputy, do you think it could be the friends of the convicted cowboys that stole the horses? What ranch do they work for?”

It could be. The could have taken the dead cowboys horses and just took the rest of em too. But them cowboys is driving a herd from south Texas to a railhead in Kansas.
Usually trail cowboys don't steal horses, because the trail boss and other cowboys would question them about the extra horses. I'm thinkin we might start by checkin on Harold Wiley's boys. They kind of fit the description of some boys that robbed a prisoner in the jail. Them boys always been wild. Since they was little they been caught several times stealin from the store and around town. Their daddy ain't a thief, but he's a widower and there was no ma around to raise them boys right. Whoever it was, they took everthing that fella had, except for his clothes and his hat.

But if we don't learn anything from the Wileys, we might check on them cowboys' at their herd. But they said it's a pretty good ride from here, about 20 miles west out in the open prairie.

[Bluetongue]

Sebastian

In the stockade until released. If he can he will stay close with Charlie since we are wrapped up in this together and steer clear of the cowboys, unless I get a chance to rough one up. Unlikely in my condition.

I will use the time if I can in the yard while breaking rocks or laying new train tracks in the press gang to mix and mingle with other career criminals.

Who is in here and for what. Who is planning an escape, another heist, a poker game. Who is digging a tunnel or planning on jumping a guard to make a break for it? Here are some rolls to cover the time.

Day 1: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=18 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=18

Day 2: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=5 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=16

Day 3: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=4 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=9

Day 4: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=14 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=14

Day 5: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=10 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=11

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson inside Hofmann's

To Herr Hofmann, he says "Vielen Dank. Das ist sehr nett. Ich werde es Ihnen zurückzahlen, entweder in Form von Sachleistungen oder wenn ich irgendeine Form von Arbeit sichere."

"Ah, breakfast. Let us zit togeder und discuss de coming days." He takes a seat at a table. "Ah, Herr Hofmann comes from a neighboring state. It ist mostly small talk or home, but he offered to lend me money to rent a horse und join de posse."

are canned beans available?

[ateno]

"Ah, breakfast. Let us zit togeder und discuss de coming days." He takes a seat at a table. "Ah, Herr Hofmann comes from a neighboring state. It ist mostly small talk or home, but he offered to lend me money to rent a horse und join de posse."
[/color]

"Thats terrific, now I don't have to worry I would break your telescope if I borrowed it."

money removed.


Doos

[jemmus]

Andreas Larson inside Hofmann's

To Herr Hofmann, he says "Vielen Dank. Das ist sehr nett. Ich werde es Ihnen zurückzahlen, entweder in Form von Sachleistungen oder wenn ich irgendeine Form von Arbeit sichere."

"Ah, breakfast. Let us zit togeder und discuss de coming days." He takes a seat at a table. "Ah, Herr Hofmann comes from a neighboring state. It ist mostly small talk or home, but he offered to lend me money to rent a horse und join de posse."

are canned beans available?

Yes, I checked and canned food was available from the 1810s. Survival rations in the rulebook include "hardtack, jerky, beans, etc." $1.50 per day. Did Andreas roll for 6d6 extra dollars, as the house rule allowed?

[jemmus]

Sebastian

In the stockade until released. If he can he will stay close with Charlie since we are wrapped up in this together and steer clear of the cowboys, unless I get a chance to rough one up. Unlikely in my condition.

I will use the time if I can in the yard while breaking rocks or laying new train tracks in the press gang to mix and mingle with other career criminals.

Who is in here and for what. Who is planning an escape, another heist, a poker game. Who is digging a tunnel or planning on jumping a guard to make a break for it? Here are some rolls to cover the time.

Day 1: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=18 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=18

Day 2: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=5 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=16

Day 3: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=4 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=9

Day 4: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=14 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=14

Day 5: Sebastian: Luck roll vs 8 [1d20]=10 Stature vs 7 [1d20]=11

The cowboys are surly, but they generally don't want no more trouble. They just want to sober up, reflect on events and mistakes, and get back to their herd.
Well, we done hurrahed that town pretty good.
It was dumb, and no denying that. Maybe when we reach Dodge City or Abilene, we can be all sheets and spurs to the wind. But ridin horses into a saloon jist 20 miles or so of Austin, Texas. That was dumb.
Well, we still got to drive the herd to the Red River, cross it, cross the Indian Territory, and git to Kansas, don't we? Them settled Indian tribes ain't goin to like that much. Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks and Seminoles. Even the Cherokees. And then there's the settled Comanches, and them boys will give you a real close haircut and leave you with no skin fer growin it back out along the way. The cowboy spits into their nighttime fire inside the stockade and the sputum sizzles. Honest to say, I don't blame em. I'd do the same if it were me.

All is silent around cowboys' nighttime campfire in the stockade for a while.
I'd like to kick them scrawny dogs' scrawny butts, while we're at it. Pistol-whuppin catfish! Let's just do it and be done with it! We're in the stockade, nobody's goin to know or care, after all.

Sit down, Tiny. I'll tell ya what's going to happen next. Yeah, I wish I had a chaw too, this is what's goin to happen-- the trail boss is goin wire the herd about the situation. And sure as ya know it, we'll be tarned loose, To git them cattle back on the trail to Kansas. Ya better think about crossin the Red River and cowboying up, Tiny. And then gitting all the way to Kansas with a herd.

There's another another spit into a stockade campfire and hiss. Tiny, all y'all boys-- I think the trail boss they owner will pay to git us out of this creek stream town's bumdumb stockade and keep the hard moving. We move the herd across all the rivers and take it to Kansas. Come on, y'all boys! Cowboy up! You'll be out of this stockade and trying to hold onto yer hats and haircuts in no time!

[redwarrior]

Paladin eats breakfast at Hoffman’s, making small talk with the others.

“Where are you from?” Paladin asks William.

After breakfast, for the trip Paladin buys food, drink, a bedroll and extra ammunition at the general store.

Good to meet you Mr. Paladin. I’m from back east. I studied the law, but got pulled into working for the department of state and foreign service during the late war. But with the end of the war, came. he trails off for a moment a change in circumstances, so I’ve come to Texas to start a new life. Not even one day in this town, and I’m already down one horse. Quite the start!

[Grognardsw]

“Deputy, do you think it could be the friends of the convicted cowboys that stole the horses? What ranch do they work for?”

"It could be. They could have taken the dead cowboys horses and just took the rest of em too. But them cowboys is driving a herd from south Texas to a railhead in Kansas. Usually trail cowboys don't steal horses, because the trail boss and other cowboys would question them about the extra horses. I'm thinkin we might start by checkin on Harold Wiley's boys. They kind of fit the description of some boys that robbed a prisoner in the jail. Them boys always been wild. Since they was little they been caught several times stealin from the store and around town. Their daddy ain't a thief, but he's a widower and there was no ma around to raise them boys right. Whoever it was, they took everthing that fella had, except for his clothes and his hat.

But if we don't learn anything from the Wileys, we might check on them cowboys' at their herd. But they said it's a pretty good ride from here, about 20 miles west out in the open prairie.

Paladin nodded at the deputy.

"That sounds like a plan."

Paladin wondered if the Wiley boys may have been the ones who robbed the jail prisoner along the road.

While eating breakfast Paladin spoke with William.

Good to meet you Mr. Paladin. I’m from back east. I studied the law, but got pulled into working for the department of state and foreign service during the late war. But with the end of the war, came. he trails off for a moment a change in circumstances, so I’ve come to Texas to start a new life. Not even one day in this town, and I’m already down one horse. Quite the start!

"Where abouts East? I studied at West Point, and spent some time in Boston, before heading West."

[cybersavant]

are canned beans available?

[/color]

Yes, I checked and canned food was available from the 1810s. Survival rations in the rulebook include "hardtack, jerky, beans, etc." $1.50 per day. Did Andreas roll for 6d6 extra dollars, as the house rule allowed?

i asked about the beans - thinking just the beans would be cheaper - get a can for each day
i did roll viewtopic.php?p=632588#p632588 had court fines to pay
he has a few dollars left - but to spend it all would be stupid

[redwarrior]

Good to meet you Mr. Paladin. I’m from back east. I studied the law, but got pulled into working for the department of state and foreign service during the late war. But with the end of the war, came. he trails off for a moment a change in circumstances, so I’ve come to Texas to start a new life. Not even one day in this town, and I’m already down one horse. Quite the start!

"Where abouts East? I studied at West Point, and spent some time in Boston, before heading West."

I'm of the Moores of Boston. I took my law degree in Harvard before the late unpleasantness saw me in service of the union, mostly across the ocean. Now I hope to make a new life in this Texas Republic.

I haven't gotten around to figuring out what sort of scandal hit Pa Moore, but it would probably be well known in Boston as he went from "important person" to "in jail & family poor" right as the war ended.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson enjoys the meal and listens to the table conversation. He accompanies those who go to the store and buys 10 cans of beans.

[jemmus]

Thrifty Andreas isn't going for a Stature increase as a big spender, is he? (There's no rule about that that I know of, BTW).

[Grognardsw]

"Where abouts East?” said Paladin to William. “I studied at West Point, and spent some time in Boston, before heading West."

“I'm of the Moores of Boston,” replied William. “I took my law degree in Harvard before the late unpleasantness saw me in service of the union, mostly across the ocean. Now I hope to make a new life in this Texas Republic.”

“Harvard is a fine school,” said Paladin, drinking his beer. “I know a few graduates. Haven’t heard of the Moores, but I wasn’t raised in Boston.”

“Service across the ocean? That sounds intriguing. I served the Union myself in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry for a time before joining the 2nd Massachusetts Sharpshooters as part of the Army of the Potomac."

Paladin turned to the other out-of-towner.

“Whereabouts are you from Andreas?”

[jemmus]

(Deleted - Accidentally posted the post below twice).

[jemmus]

At 8:30 AM the deputy rides up with the stable man, the two of them leading six saddled horses. Theirs another mounted man with them. Paladin recognizes as the prisoner at the jail. He has a belt now and is wearing a pair of old shoes, but they look like they're a couple of sizes too big. There's an old cap-and-ball revolver stuck through his belt, and he's sitting a thin old horse with a sunken waist. Well, Mr. Deputy, you didn't tell me I'd be ridin with ole Mr. Blackheart hisself. But I guess ya ain't so bad after all, mister. Ya did send the minister around to give me a loan, some old shoes, and a belt. I take back my promise to shoot ya on sight. But don't expect me to offer you a loan, the way you wouldn't me. Or any help other than me tellin somebody about your troubles. He spits from the saddle onto the dusty street. The rest of y'all fellas, good to meet ya. Gideon McLaury at yer service. He tips his hat.

The led horses aren't much better to look at than McLaury's. A couple of the old veterans are swaybacked, one's got a bullet or arrow hole scar on its flank, one has cataracts, one is missing an eye, and all are thin. They all have US brands. The saddles and bridles are old, but serviceable. Mr. McLaury is coming with us to try to recover his own horse, which was robbed from him. And maybe help identify the robbers, if they're the same bunch as the horse thieves. I excused the stable owner from joining us, because he was good enough to curry comb these horses and de-tick them, git em ready for ridin. He also provided the tack and filled the saddle bags with grain. And he's got the only stable in town, we don't need him gettin shot at. He hands out the horses' reins to the travelers. They notice that there are two extra horses when he's done. Mr. McLaury, if you don't mind leadin this horse. Alright then, let's go.[/dialog]

The stable owner says, Good luck to ya, gentlemen. Be careful. A man who will steal a man's horse is a man who will do anythang else at all.

The riders set off toward the west, the deputy riding and leading a the one-eyed horse, McLaury leading the filmy-eyed one. They soon reach an stockade made of straight pine and crooked live oak logs. The deputy draws a Winchest rifle from a saddle sheathe, dismounts, lift a heavy bar from the gate, and swings one door open. He takes a look into the courtyard and sees that the prisoners are all still intact. They're earnestly hoeing weeds and saplings on the grounds. Y'all young men don't seem to have been very enthusiastic about yer yard work. My ma and five little sisters would have this place cleaned up and beets sprouting by now. I guess we should have found an old ma to lead you and oversee ya in yer work.

Mr. Charlie! Mr. Sebastian! Come to the gate please. Somebody stole yer horses, and I'm givin you a chance to try to git em back. You can serve the rest of yer sentences later. We got some old U.S. Army horses ya can borrow. But you'll have to give yer word not to flee, and you'll have sign parole documents. Oh yeah, and there's a five dollar deposit for the horse. But yer money is already locked up in the sheriff's office, so we'll deduct that from it if it comes up. Mr. Sebastian, yer all shot up, ya don't have to ride if yer not up to it. If you'll describe it down to the detail, including any brands, we'll return it to ya if we git it. The same for you, Mr. Charlie. He takes two folded sheets of paper and a pencil from his coat pocket. Ya can sign or ya can write down yer description. If ya can't write, say it and I'll write it.


Horses - Attributes are in order of Strength, Coordination, Intelligence and Luck. Army horses are known to have the Gun skill, from their long experience with firearms being discharged around them. What level of skill each has isn't known as yet.

Charlie - one eye 11 7 4 3
Paladin – swaybacked 10 8 6 5
Sebastian – cataracts 9 5 4 5
Doos – thin 12 9 5 6
Andreas – bullet wound, limps 10 7 5 5
Moore – swaybacked 11 8 5 5
Gideon McLaury – thin 9 9 6 9

McLaury got assigned to lead a horse because he has the lowest Stature. The deputy may or may not have assigned horses according to the PCs' Stature.

Sebastian's good Luck roll probably influenced events somewhat.

By the way, I checked and the first wood pencil was made in 1790. Automation of pencil manufacturing began in the U.S. in 1850. I'm sure you guys were pretty concerned about that possible anachronism.

Need actions for Sebastian and Charlie. Anyone else can post an action too, of course.