Chapter 2 - Cash Dollars on the Hoof

[jemmus]

We have an outstanding reply to a private threads post, then we'll continue.

"Slim" - Sebastian and Paladin know that the mustached man the younger, shorter, chubbier, baby-face man "Davidson." As in "Shut up, Davidson." That may or may not matter later. It will depend on what the PCs do and the outcomes of things.

[jemmus]

Under the clear, quiet sky and the prairie lit by the stars and the half moon, the sound of horse hooves walking on dry sod are heard. Coming from the direction of where the voice calling out was last heard. It sounds like quite a few horses, over five or six, walking along at a brisker, alert pace. The posse riders have spent enough time in the saddle along their lives to know such things. Without thinking much about it. But most horses behave pretty much the same-- with some notable exceptions. A man or a woman though... you never can tell.

The deep voice from right on the sound of the hooves calls out again, but a little more quietly, and still distant out in the night. We're comin in. And keep yer fingers off of yer triggers. Don't start gol-blane shootin again. I'm leading the horses myself to the corral and ready to put the ropes in yer hand. As soon as ya'll turn them boys ya'll got loose. The sounds of horse hooves walking along the prairie get closer, headed toward the direction of the isolated and abandoned farmstead's little corral. And is little dried boards house. Perfect spot to shelter for a night or two and move on. A little close to Comanches raiding land, but not too close for worry and a night's sleep....

I have map of how far every PC and NPC can see, and how soon each can spot each other in sequence. I'll figure out how to tell all of you what you need to expect tomorrow.

[jemmus]

Posts are up in everyone's private threads. The PCs see the men (except one, who hasn't seen them yet) approaching from the northeast. However, they don't see them at the same times. The timing depends on their nighttime vision range (Observation x 2.5 in yards), and how close to their approach from the northeast they are.

This creates an interesting situation, but one that's kind of complicated to handle in tabletop. The PCs that see the men first should logically act first. That would be in this order:
William
Doos
Charlie
Sebastian
Paladin
Gideon
Andreas
Players posting in exactly that order is impracticable. So let's try an experiment. Please post using if-then (unless your character is going to do something for sure, no matter what). For example, here's Gideon's:
If anyone starts shooting, Gideon will shoot at the big man crouching in the grass. If no one before him shoots, he'll raise the barrel of his Navy Colt and sight down the barrel at the man.
Another example: X will yell, "Drop your guns!" But is someone has already started shooting, he'll yell, "Wait! Stop shooting!"

In the end, we'll determine the sequence of events according the order of spotting the men.

[ateno]

Doos posted in private thread.

[Rex]

Charlie posted in his private thread.

[Grognardsw]

..."We need to finish this here." whispered Paladin to those around him.

Paladin's action has been posted in his private thread.

[Bluetongue]

Sebastian

"Davidson's here, by the fence.", he pokes the guy in the back encouraging him to acknowledge his presence.

At point blank range, a shotgun in the back would be the outcome for him if any guns go off. While I won't start firing, if the rustlers do, I will not hesitate.

[jemmus]

Have posts back in all private forums but one so far... and at a nice quick Boot Hill Texas of 1873 shootout pace! Private posts messages have been posted to a couple of players we need clarifications or more details from before proceeding through this 6-second Combat Turn round.

[jemmus]

From the backdoor of the house, Paladin fires his fast draw revolver at the moonlit horseman at long range. There's a dull thud of lead hitting flesh square in the chest, and the man is thrown back in the saddle. The horse rears and the rider drops to the ground, face up and unmoving.

Out alone in the night, William fires his Colt single-action at the crouching dismounted man from behind. The bullet finds its mark, and the man is twisted around and a loud gasp escapes his mouth.

Charlie aims at the dismounted man, his rifle resting on a rough spot of the shed's wall. He squeezes the trigger, but the shot goes wide.

Sebastian puts his finger on the trigger he holds to the bound and gagged shorter young man's back. When the firing starts, the man drops to his belly on the grass.

Gideon aims at the horseman, but the man drops from the saddle before he fires. He changes targets, his long Navy Colt barks, and the man is rocked back by a shot to the chest.

Andreas waits under the tree, hearing rapid shots from his side in the dark.

Paladin rapidly shoots again, this time with his derringer, and extreme range. The small bullet punches into the right arm of the man on a knee in the grass. The bloody man stands, dashes a pace to his horse, swings up into the saddle of his horse, and turns its head northeast. He spurs his horse into a gallop.

The bound and gagged moustached cooly stands. He doesn't flinch, even as Gideon's pistol roars and its bullet flies half a foot two inches from his ear on its way to its target.

I'll post again with information on who can still see the rider. He moved 8 yards. (32 yds for mounted movement /2 for night = 12 yds, /2 for mounting before moving = 8 yds.

[jemmus]

By the way, the rider failed his Bravery check and ran without shooting back. Note that movement happens after shooting or brawling in Boot Hill. Not before or during. That can make some odd, counter-intuitive results. For example, the PCs, including Gideon, shot. The shooting round ended, and Gideon's prisoner the moustached rustler could have then run 12 yds (24 /2 for night), without Gideon being able to do anything about it.

Only Doos can see the rider next turn, which will be another combat turn (6 seconds, two Careful shots). Actions?

[Grognardsw]

Paladin shook his head at the rustler’s attempted escape. Al least the man saw no one’s face. Still…

“Take him down!” yelled Paladin.

Can Paladin get a shot at the retreating rustler?

Paladin watched for other rustlers in the darkness.

[Bluetongue]

Sebastian

"Stay right there boys. Don't want no needless deaths." he will say to the two rustlers we have prisoner.

Not sure I can see anyone so will wait.

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie can't see the rider?

[jemmus]

No, the rider is a little beyond Charlie's nighttime visibility range. Anyone who can't see the target can literally take "a shot in the dark" though.
-4 darkness
-2 concealed
-4 galloping
- Any range modifiers (I would determine those and let you know after you roll)
A 1 roll always hits, but then you need a successful Luck roll also.

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie wouldn't risk a completely blind shot since he has friends out there and doesn't know exactly where they are.

[ateno]

Doos posted in pm.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson remains hidden by the tree, gun ready. Not quite sure what happened, it is obvious to him there were more rustlers than the voice said there were. He holds his ground and waits for any others to show themselves or approach the house.

[jemmus]

I missed a detail in the last IC post. Recapping and adding it.
Paladin's slug knocked the rider back on his horse's back. The horse reared up, and the man and his rifle feel to the ground. The horse and the six bareback horses he was leading gallop away the way they came and disappear into the darkness.

Doos draws his bowstring to his ear and looses an arrow at the other man galloping into the darkness. He sees it hit, and the posse hear a yelp. The former judge and captain looses another arrow and sees it fly wide. The man gallops away into the darkness. Gideon McLaury says to Doos, Shore sounds you put an arra in that hightailin jasper. Nice shootin.

The PCs other than Andreas and Doos are up for actions.

[redwarrior]

William posted in PM.

[Bluetongue]

Sebastian

With the cowboy rustlers riding in, how close were the horses they were bringing. I wonder if either Gideon or I can herd them into the corral proper. One of us do that while the other guards the two captive rustlers.

My horse skills are probably on the low side (8 Riding), so maybe Gideon can do that.