Chapter 6 - Open Roads to Anywhere

[jemmus]

7:30 AM, Saturday, August 7, 1873
Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, State of Texas
Sunny, hot, muggy
Moon waxing to gibbous

The riders settle their bills at the Prinz Freidrich hotel and check out. They notice that Gideon gets Ingrid away for a private discussion. He tries to hand her a little box with a bow, but she blushes, looks apologetic, and doesn't take it. They talk a little more, he tips his hat to her, and returns to the group looking dejected. But says, Well, looks like ah overplayed mah hand a little thar. But ah think she'll come around, over time. Ah have the patience a Job. And a little of the good looks of David. But unfortunately not the strength a Samson nor the wisdom a Solomon.

Ingrid comes to the group looking a little like she's about to cry. She says, It has been a pleasure serving you gentlemen your meals and drinks. Thank you fur staying at the Prinz Friedrich, and come again to Fredericksburg! As the men leave, she stands at the door and waves.

From post #213 in "Prince Frederick's Town"
The Wells Fargo office in either Fredericksburg or Austin owes the men pay.
The riders have broken one part of a suspected horse rustling ring. Or perhaps a looser confederation of thieves, buyers and sellers. There's not much information to go on, other than mention of an influential rancher named Harvey Adler south of San Marcos. But that was weeks ago.
The papers have reported that Sam Bass has been captured by their friend Paladin and jailed in Waco. One member of his gang escaped, though, and his $60,000 in silver dollars has never been found. Did he somehow manage to spend it all around his home base around Denton, north of Dallas? Or had it been stolen or robbed from him, so that he came to South Texas to replenish his wealth by robbing trains? And maybe a stagecoach?
The friends have read about themselves in the newspapers, and how they busted the heretofore unknown Shepherd gang of horse rustlers and stagecoach robbers. The Texas Rangers would probably be more than interested in having their services. A Ranger's life is hard, and the pay is low. But the cause is good-- spreading safety and civilization into the wild frontiers.
And of course, the papers have reported crimes of robbery and rustling all around the state. Some attributed to well-known outlaws with prices on their heads.
And then there's always also all of Texas and the entire wild, rambunctious West, with all of its hazards and opportunities for rewards, to explore.

Where to next?

[Thumper]

I motion we go sell our excess horses and tack, pistols, and rifles (that DT cleaned up) in Austin.The gun shops in Austin should value the cap n ball revolvers at full market value as they are modifiable to cartridge rounds, and the gun smiths should not recognize them as being recovered from bandits…cleaned and oiled as they are now.

Then I think we go see Mr Fox. We still have a contract to settle, and it seemed Wells Fargo had some more possible investigation.

We can also go investigate Harvey Adler’s rustling hideout for which we have a rough map position and terrain description. Maybe in conjunction with another job?

[Rex]

Charlie

All good with me.

[redwarrior]

William After reading the story about themselves in the latest newspaper the morning after the party, looks at the others present at the breakfast table.

I agree, we need to sell these guns and extra horses. I wouldn't mind keeping one of these fine animals, but I don't think we can really afford such a luxury at this time. We should definitely head into Austin, so that we can get top dollar, and maybe pick up more information. We can definitely use the money we have coming to us from the fine folks at Wells Fargo, and maybe they have larger reserves in Austin as well. I'd be more than happy to earn some more of the Wells Fargo company's fine money, if they have more work for us. But we need to deal with this horse theft ring, and sooner rather than later. Adler, and I'm sure he's involved - whether witting or otherwise - in the ring, and the rest of those associated with the ring, at least those that read, have been reading the same stories in the same newspapers about our exploits against the horse thieves. Whether we were interested in going after them or not, they're going to assume we are and will be coming after us. It's too dangerous to their reputation to do nothing when challenged. They will have to respond to us, unless we oblige them by getting out of Texas and laying low. I kinda like it here.

Vote for go to austin, sell stuff, try to get our money from WF, keep on the trail of horse thieves, pick up additional work from WF as long as it doesn't conflict with that.

[ateno]

"Sounds good, and I am good with William choosing a new horse and selling the rest."

Doos

[Thumper]

DT:
I definitely wouldn’t mind going after the remaining network of horse thieves and rustlers. They’ll just get replaced by more, but I gotta believe we can get the bandits who victimized y’all. Then there’s the card in the bush. Somebody else out there deserves a butt kicking!! I wouldn’t mind running that to ground, but we need more info on that 5th stage robbery. Nimitz ain’t giving it.

I have a feeling Gidean is going to be anchoring around Fredericksburg for a bit…

And he gives a nod toward Ingrid for all to see…

[redwarrior]

"Sounds good, and I am good with William choosing a new horse and selling the rest."

Doos

William is happy with his current horse. Was just saying it would be nice to ALSO have an excellent remount, but that's quite an investment.

[Thumper]

A packhorse or two (spare mounts, should they be needed) might be a good idea if the crew think they’ll go off-roading again, I’d support it.

[Thumper]

Seeing as August is stifling hot in August, DT will recommend a ride (and leading unladen horses which I’m making an assumption can move as fast/far as mounted horses of a level one or two higher in quality…there is no rule in the book for unladen horse strategic movement).

At 80 miles distance from Fredericksburg to Austin, DT will recommend running their horses for two hours then walking until we find a source of water and shade under which to rest for an hour each stop. With two one-hour rest breaks, the team should complete the journey in less than 9 hours. He’ll recommend they leave Fredericksburg immediately after breakfast to take advantage of the coolest part of the day…which may not be actually cool in Texas in August).

[jemmus]

The inventory list is here.
#595 viewtopic.php?p=741172#p741172
A new house rule for unladen and heavily laden horse movement is here.
#31 viewtopic.php?p=758483#p758483

I assume you're taking all of the firearms. How to you distribute the 46 lbs weight? If you need saddle bags for the extra horses, they're $5 for a pair (book price).
Do you take the saddles and bridles? They're $40 per set (book price).

[Thumper]

Looks like our non-encumbered fair horse is our Linda’s, giving us a “good” strategic movement rate. It’ll add a couple more hours to our ride.

There are 4 sets of tack in the loot list to accompany the 4 rustled horses from the Shepherd gang. We have discussed the extra tack items as well in the past…such as Doos’ new-to-him long arm sheath was one instance. Were there any saddle bags in the mix with the 4 saddles?

If not, we could always secure one of our personal sacks (DT has a satchel) to a rider-less saddle (where the bedrolls are normally secured) and stuff the pistols in it (each wrapped in a cloth to prevent scratching). We could tie rifles to rider-less saddles using saddle thongs.

I’d be ok with William’s suggestion of keeping one extra excellent horse and tack as a spare mount. When not used as spares, it can be used as a makeshift pack horse.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson saddles up his horse, gathers his things, says goodbye to his family and rides into town to join the group on the ride to Austin.

[jemmus]

There weren't any saddlebags, but the PCs can rig up what you described. However, you need two more bridles. Those come to $8 total.

[jemmus]

Leading their six horses, the riders head east on the Austin-Frederickburg highway, passing at first fenced ranches, then open range. After around six hours of riding they've covered 40 miles and are year the midpoint of the ride. A half mile ahead they see a wisp of smoke rising above a rise in the road. As they top the rise they see the source of smoke-- a quarter mile away is the charred and smoking remains of a structure that has burned to the ground. The body of bloody naked man lies in the road before it.

Actions?

[Thumper]

There weren't any saddlebags, but the PCs can rig up what you described. However, you need two more bridles. Those come to $8 total.

Split the cost among the old gang.

DT previously offered Charlie gunfighter pay for two days to assist them into Austin. After that, full party member. So he’s excluded from the cost split.

[Thumper]

Leading their six horses, the riders head east on the Austin-Frederickburg highway, passing at first fenced ranches, then open range. After around six hours of riding they've covered 40 miles and are year the midpoint of the ride. A half mile ahead they see a wisp of smoke rising above a rise in the road. As they top the rise they see the source of smoke-- a quarter mile away is the charred and smoking remains of a structure that has burned to the ground. The body of bloody naked man lies in the road before it.

Actions?

DT pulls his Henry’s Rifle from its sheath and loops his lead horse’s reigns over his saddle horn. When a hand is free, he retrieves his telescope from the saddle bag and scopes the scene. After scoping the main scene, he’ll look for good ambush spots and scope those out. Lastly, he’ll scope the surrounding area in general.

I just read Charlie’s frontier thread. He now has a telescope, too.

[jemmus]

Posting in DT's private thread about what he can see with his telescope.

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie readies his rifle.

[ateno]

Doos takes out his field glasses and does a 360 around the group, looking for any other signs.

Doos

[Thumper]

There weren't any saddlebags, but the PCs can rig up what you described. However, you need two more bridles. Those come to $8 total.

I usually led horses with a halter vs a bridle. About 25% the cost because no bit and no reigns. Just clip or tie a lead rope to a halter ring and go. Not as controllable but still effective.

DT will pay his share for a couple bridles and for Charlie’s two-days rof horse transport services. $3.60 (18/5=3.60)