Have Gun Will Travel - Ozarks and Arkies

[jemmus]

Noted, last GM post revised. Please pardon any formatting errors. Seems the boards get unwieldy and default to blue dialog text a
lot of characters in a post. The just stick their fingers in their ears and start saying "blah, blah, blah."

[Grognardsw]

Yes, threats of violence are a crime.

Paladin asked the lawmen, ”Aren’t threats of violence to children and their families a crime for which he can be arrested? Three separate children as witnesses. A gun which if found would conclusively prove it. That seems firm ground for arresting McClaw and holding him until the gun is found.”

[jemmus]

Blunt and Caudel look at each other. Caudel shakes his head. He says, Yes, a threat of violence is a crime. But we can't arrest a man based on an accusation of a threat unless we have some evidence. We can arrest a man if he's in the act of committing a crime. For instance, most commonly public drunkenness or disorderly conduct. If we're goin to arrest a man based on a suspicion, then the sheriff's office has to ready to take it to the county prosecutor for charges and a trial. The county prosecutor won't bring charges unless he's pretty sure they'll stick. And for that, he wants evidence of a crime that was committed, or is about to be committed.

Blunt says, We need that gun. If you're worried about McLaw hurtin the boys or their families, he'd have to be a crazy to do that. The finger would be immediately pointed right at him. I don't think McLaw is crazy. Of course, in this line of work, ya learn that ya never can know what kind of crazy unexpected things people might do.

Hollis says, Mr. Paladin, you mentioned finding out if McLaw had any connection with the murdered businessman Cullen Bryant. Deputies, can you question him about that? Caudel and Blunt look at each. Blunt says, I suppose we can do that, Mr. Hollis. The city marshal's office is investigatin that crime, it happenin in the City of Little Rock, of course. But McLaw bein the hog sale barn manager, and Bryant bein big in the swine business, it would make sense that the sheriff's office might be interested in information he had about him. Y'all will have to stay here though. Ya can't listen in on the sheriff's office questions about a separate matter. Y'all wait here, please. The deputies go back into the sale barn.

A quarter hour they return. Caudel says, Mr. Hollis, Mr. Paladin, we'll have your word that ya won't go spreadin this around. Alright. McLaw says he had a contract with Cullen Bryant and regularly bought hogs from him. And that he has a quite a few contracts with other swine producers, and everybody in the business knows that. And that he already told the marshal's office all about this. He was fairly hostile.

Blunt says, Mr. Hollis, I'll be around in the morning to take ya and whoever ya can bring to search Little Maunette Creek for a gun. If I can't get off work and can't make it, I'll let you know today or this evenin. He turns to Paladin. Mr. Paladin, do ya want us to drop those firearms off at your hotel for ya? We'll be ridin with ya back across the city limits line. Or if ya want to hold onto them, there's a hotel-boarding house in Cammack, about a half hour's ride northwest of here along the river.

[Grognardsw]

“Mr. Blunt, we need to get the gun now. McClaw will go after it before tomorrow. It could be a key piece of evidence, and also place the boys there where the threats were made.”

[jemmus]

Blunt and Caudel look at each other. Caudel shakes his head. I'm sorry, Mr. Paladin, we already have business waitin for us out in the county today. We can't tell ya what it is, but it's important and it can't be put off. If you and Mr. Hollis want to do the search now, you can.
But I'd repeat that one man has to been on land at all times. Little Maunette Creek ain't very wide or deep, but it ought to be up after all that rain last night. Could be over head high in the middle. A drownin is the last thing anyone wants right now.

Caudel puts in, Or you can wait until tomorra mornin. If the sheriff let's Blunt change shifts, and I expect he will. He might approve me changin too, if I can find somebody to swap with. If yer concerned about McLaw tryin to retrieve the gun, ya could stand guard at the creek. He might have a hard time finding it all by hisself. Of course, I guess he'd know better than anyone where he threw it. I've never heard that McLaw has a history of bein a fighter or a gunfighter. Of course, everybody around here knows how to handle a gun. He's about the age to have been in the War. If not, more than likely he grew up in a cabin on a farm, like most folks around here. And as ya know farm boys know about guns.

Mr. Hollis, I'll come by and check on y'all and the other boys' families this evening. He and Blunt look at each other. I expect Deputy Sheriff Blunt will too. If he ain't workin.

I just wanted to mention that the rainstorm in Ft. Smith happened on the RL calendar before Hurricanes Helene and Milton. I don't know of any GMs who'd cheaply work RL disasters into their games....

[Grognardsw]

Paladin looked at Mr. Hollis. “Do you want to go out there with me now, with Oliver? On two horses and rope.”

To the deputy, Paladin answered: “Thanks for the offer, but I have a sack to keep the guns in back to Mr. Hollis’ store, where they’ll be kept.”

So that was a real rainstorm then. That comes from a historical weather calendar?

[jemmus]

Hollis replies, Alright. And if we don't find it today, I'll see about getting those teenage boys to come along tomorrow. He and Paladin ride muddy streets under overcast summer skies back to the Hollis house. After some discussion with Mrs. Hollis, he brings Oliver. At his shed, he takes two coils of rope and hands one to Paladin. The two men and the boy ride to Little Maunette Creek, Oliver riding behind his dad.

The three dismount by the creek. Paladin checks his watch. 2:35 PM. Around six hours until dark. The creek's waters are brown with washed away topsoil and they carry floating bits of wood and an occasional small tree branch. The men and boy can see by the speed of their movement downstream that the water is moving fast. And it's obvious that the creek has overflown its bed, with water up where there would normally be the roots of bushes and grass. Hollis comments, I haven't seen the creek up like this in a few years. We'll have to be careful. But I don't expect the creek is over head height, even in the middle. Little Maunette Creek isn't much over chest-high in the middle, except for in a few holes. Now, Oliver, son. Where did the man throw the gun?

Oliver says, The creek looks all different today, daddy. But I'm pretty sure know from that rock and that willow tree where our muskrat trap was. The man was over there-- he points to the left, And he threw it in the middle of the creek. Hollis looks at Paladin. Pretty imprecise information indeed. He says, Alright Oliver. It's good that ya know the muskrat trap spot. Let's walk over to where the man was standin when he threw the gun. Oliver replies, Alright, Daddy. He starts walking up the creek bank, looking to the left and right. It looks all different today, Daddy. But presently he stops. He looks out at the creek, then back where they came from. He walks 10 feet back, turns around, looks for a while toward where he'd stopped. Then he comes back. I think it was right here, Daddy. I'm pretty sure. Hollis says, What makes ya say so, Son? Oliver looks at Paladin, embarrassed, and replies, Daddy, when I think about what happened that day, I see this place. And when I have dreams about it, I see that black gun with the white handles and gold splashin in the water. Right there where that branch is about to cross. He points to a spot a little past the middle of the creek. A wet branch slowly rotates counter-clockwise as it crosses it.

A character will have to make an Observation roll at -9 to find the gun standing and with their feet . If they dive and swim, then the modifier is -5. But then the swimming rules (below) are in effect. Each search/roll takes 30 minutes. (The creek is long and over 15 yards wide. Its bottom is muddy, and today it's churned up and the water is murky with silt).

Swimming
Surprisingly few Westerners actually knew how to swim. Anyone with this skill can swim automatically under normal circumstances, but must make a skill check in turbulent water or rapids, if seriously wounded , or if weighted down with heavy clothing, guns, gold, etc.

Characters without this skill must make a skill check against one-half their Strength score, rounded up, anytime they get dunked. If this roll fails, they are going down. They get one more chance to make a Luck check this time. Success means they drag themselves to the bank, half drowned. Failure means they can't get out without help, and will drown in 30 seconds (five turns ) unless rescued.

This Arkansas rainstorm was GM stuff. But the phases of the Moon are historical, and weather in the Texas thread are based weather and temperature data from 1926 or so.

[Grognardsw]

“I’ll go in,” offered Paladin. He tied the rope they brought around his waist in case he got in trouble. He tied the other end to one of the horses.

“If I appear to be drowning, or you feel a pull on the rope, haul me out quick.” He had Mr. Hollis hold the slack, so a pull could be felt, at which point he’d have the horse move out and drag Paladin out lickity split.

The gunslinger took his shirt and hat and gun belt off. He waded into the flowing creek to the middle, held his breath, and went under to feel about for the gun.



Swim - 1/2 Str (7) [1d20]=7

Observation (13) [1d20+5]=12+5=17

[jemmus]

Paladin searches the silty bottom of the creek. Visibility is bad from all of the dirt suspended in the storm water, and the creek bottom is mostly featureless, making it hard to know if he has already searched this area are not. And he's not as good at swimming as he is at many other things.
It wasn't something he especially took to or was in his list of priorities when he was growing up. But every time he comes up for air, he sees Hollis and Oliver standing and watching attentively.

He moves over more toward the center of the creek and swirl in the current sweeps him off of his feet. His head goes under and inhales water. He comes up coughing violently-- and finds that his feet won't touch the bottom. He needs time to clear his lungs and catch his breath, his upraised face is going under the water again. He flails his arms, trying to push up out of the water.... And is jerked by the rope around him a yard, two yards... and his feet touch bottom again. He sees Hollis walking the horse away from the creek bank, his concerned face looking back at Paladin. Seeing him standing on his feet, Hollis stops the horse and yells, Come take a rest, Mr. Paladin. I'll take a turn now. I've swum a creek like this many a time. We'll see if I still remember how. When Paladin is seated in the grass, he takes a tin cup and a blue glass bottle stoppered with a cork out of a saddle bag. He pours into the cup and hands it to Paladin. Coffee, Mr. Paladin. It's not hot anymore, and I hope you don't mind cream and sugar. He takes off his shoes, strips down to his undershirt and longjohns, ties the rope around his chest, and heads toward the spot in the creek Oliver indicated.

Observation [1d20]=20 A bad roll, but per the rules, no critical failure. (Could be a misfire if it were a roll for a shot).
Swimming (in somewhat turbulent water, so at +2) [1d20]=20
Two 30-minute turns have passed. It's 3:35 PM.

[Grognardsw]

“Thanks for the coffee,” said Paladin as he sat and rested. He watched Mr. Hollis’ search efforts.

After Mr. Hollis came out with no gun, Paladin stood up. “I’ll try again.”

Swim - 1/2 Str (7) [1d20]=19, Observation (13) [1d20+5]=6+5=11

[jemmus]

Refreshed somewhat by the caffeine, sweet energy, and calf-mother's nutrition of the tepid coffee, Paladin ties the rope around himself again and readies for another round of tries under flooded Little Maunette Creek. Oliver says, Mr. Paladin, see that tree branch floatin down the creek? In another couple of seconds it'll pass by the spot. He waits. There, Mr. Paladin! It passed about a yard to this side of it. He points an arm and a finger. Do ya see it?

Paladin wades out to the indicated place and dives, and dives. And dives again. On the fourth tries he sees something glowing while through the murk. It's upstream. He kicks and he paddles against the current, holding his breath and afraid to rise to the top for air, for fear of losing sight of when he goes back down again. He blows the air out of his lungs, so as not to have to fight against buoyancy and bobbing up to the surface. At last he reaches the spot, out of energy and most of all out of air. The white blob is the ivory handles of a black pistol. Its barrel is angled into the soft silt of the creek's bottom. Even from here, he can see the gold tracings below its cylinder. A fine handcrafted weapon, like no other. He grasps the handle and extracts it from the mud... And the world goes black.

When he come to, he's lying on his side by the creek bank. Two unsaddled horses are looking at him, heads down. They're unsaddled, and thick warm horse-smelling horse blankets cover his shoulders and feet. He sees Hollis crouch before him. He's holding the black gun and admiring it, sighting an imaginary shot at a target. He says, Oh, Mr. Paladin, ya got it. That's the evidence. Oliver and the boys were right. How are ya doin? Ya weren't out more than a minute or so, but ya coughed enough water.

Paladin sits up and sees Oliver looking at him, the Hollis, a look of grim consternation on his face. That gun's bad, Daddy. I wish you'd put it down, or throw it back in the creek. Let some ole big catfish swallow it and spit it out somewhere else.
Hollis answers, You're right, son. Your dad admires well-crafted things. Always have. He lays the gun on the turf at the edge of the overflowing creek.

The boy continues. You too, Mr. Paladin! You're a gunfighter, but that gun is no good! It'll kill ya, Mr. Paladin. Same as it made that man kill his friend over money. Mr. Paladin, don't touch it. I wish we'd just left it in creek for them ole catfish and turtles to swim around and swallow, when things get back to right on Little Maunette Creek.

[jemmus]

Oh, sorry, long RL week. Yes, Paladin hit the required Swimming 7 with a 7 the first try. And then hit the required Observation roll on the second try. No harm, no foul? The first round of Swimming being RP stuff and only the Observation roll and second set of Swimming and Observation rolls counted?

[Grognardsw]

[Grognardsw]

Oh, sorry, long RL week… No harm, no foul?

Water under the bridge

Paladin sighed in relief and patted the horse. The roped steed had pulled him to safety.

The gunslinger held the gun, admiring its gold etching and ivory handle. He couldn’t recall seeing a more finely crafted piece. He sighted along the barrel, spun it, holstered and fast drew it. The balance seemed perfect. He checked the chamber to see how many bullets were left.

If it wasn’t evidence in a possible robbery and murder case, Paladin may have considered keeping it. Though for speed and familiarity, the gun fighter still thought his fast draw revolver with custom oiled leather holster gave him a better edge.

“Guns aren’t evil, its the men who wield them,” Paladin replied to Oliver, smiling at the boy’s superstition.

“Let’s turn this in to the deputy,” Paladin said to Mr. Hollis.

As the three rode back, Paladin’s thoughts were drawn back to the gun. What would happen to it after the McClaw case was resolved? It was a pretty gun. McClaw threw it away; legally he may have given up ownership. It was a pretty gun; one might even say… precious.

He wondered where it came from. Had McClaw bought it, or been given it, found it, stole it?

[jemmus]

The black revolver has three spent shells and three unfired cartridges in the chambers. It doesn't look any worse for wear after having spent two weeks in the water and mud. Paladin wonders how McLaw-- a hog sale barn manager and swine arbitrage trader-- ended up with it. He wonders if he might have a right to ownership of it, once it has served its use as evidence in the justice system. Or if, at the very least, he could borrow it as model for a master gunsmith to replicate.

The three ride to Hollis's store to deposit Paladin's firearms in his safe. He gives the dial a spin and says, Any time you need them, day or night, just let me know, Mr. Paladin. I'll open the safe for ya. They then proceed to the Pulaski County sheriff's office. Caudel and Blunt aren't there, they must be out on the business they spoke of. The two men and a boy find instead two other deputies and the sheriff himself. He's seated at his desk, which is piled with papers and has In and Out trays pencils and fountain pens in a tin can on it. The man looks to be in his late 50s and to have had his share of hardships and predicaments along the way. He stands and shakes the men's hands. and Oliver's too. Nate Wright, Pulaski County sheriff. He hears their story: Oliver's report; the visit to McLaw; retrieving the gun from the creek.

Deputy Sheriffs Caudel and Blunt did report on visiting Mr. McLaw. We all knew that there wasn't much to go on, but now that this gun has been found, an investigation is called for. Can I see it, Mr. Paladin? He takes the black gun from Paladin. He turns it over in his hands, observing the gold-filled engraving and crafted elephant tusk grips, examining the precision machine tooling of the cylinder and the hammer works. Sure is a fine piece, ain't it? He breaks it open pulls the cartridges and spent shells out one by one, placing them on clean sheet of paper. Neither of y'all have fired this weapon, right? When Paladin and Hollis reply in the negative, he thinks and rubs his chin for a moment. Three shots..., He calls to one of the deputies, Abner, I need some evidence registered, catalogued, and stored. The young deputy comes over, and whistles when he sees the pistol. Whew! That's one fine-lookin sidearm!/dialog] Wright looks at him and reconsiders. Abner, this time I'm goin to do thethe intake of evidence myself, with you as the witness. Abner doesn't object, but he seems highly puzzled. Wright opens a drawer and takes out two paper tags, each with two thin steel wires projecting from an eye.

He says, Mr. Hollis, Deputies Caudel and Blunt report that you own the hardware store on Commerce Street, not far from the railroad station. If we have any questions-- which we probably will in the next few days-- we'll visit ya there. If ya wouldn't mind, we'd really appreciate it if you'd let us know if you're goin to leave the county. Ya see, what commonly happens is, when we question a man or woman, they come back accusin the person who reported them. And if that man or woman is absent from the county and can't be found... it makes complications.

Mr. Paladin, I understand you're a rail passenger from Texas passin through Little Rock. Deputies Caudel and Blunt seem confident about your honesty and integrity. And after meetin ya and hearin about y'all's retrievin' the evidence, I believe the same. You're free to get on the next train north to Missouri. If ya need to go back to Texas for some reason, I'll ask that you come to the sheriff's office and explain why.
That's for the same reasons I explained to Mr. Hollis. The accusing man can pretty quick become the accused man. And he might be out of county or out of state, and not even know it.

He ends with, Mr. Oliver Hollis, you and your friends did good. Y'all are brave boys. Real brave boys. Y'all did real good. Wright smiles[/color] and shakes Oliver's hand. Oliver smiles, for the first time since Paladin has met him.

Outside Hollis says, Mr. Paladin,it's been a long day since sunup. Come and have supper with us, if ya would. I don't know what's up for supper tonight. But Harriet and Ruby will put up a hot supper. Oliver can sleep on a palette in the livin room. Oliver looks up at Mr. Paladin, hoping he'll come and stay as company. And finish the long and eventful day.

[Grognardsw]

“Good to meet you Sheriff Wright,” said Paladin.

“Were three shots fired in that murder a few weeks ago?” Paladin asked as he saw Wright thinking about the number of shots.

Paladin was a little uneasy leaving with the case still open. Though it seemed to be heading in the right direction, one could never tell what a desperate man might do. McLaw’s threats against Oliver and his family still weighed on Paladin’s mind.

“Though I’m traveling, you can reach me by telegraph at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco.” As he said this, Paladin gave Sheriff Wright his businesscard. “I check by wire regularly. If there is important cause for me to testify, I may be able to come back. I can write out an affidavit now giving what I know and the recovery of the gun in front of witnesses.”

“McLaw made threats against the boys and their families. With him exposed, you’d figure he wouldn’t do that. But who knows? More likely he’d run if he figures he’ll be caught. Is it possible to put a watch on him, or detain him?”

“Thank you Mr. Hollis, I could do with a home-cooked meal and good company.”

[jemmus]

Wright replies, Yes sir, three .44 caliber shots were fired in Cullen Bryant's office. Two straight through his heart, and a third one shot up close through the head. Real good shots with a pistol. With maybe a real good gun.

On the way from the sheriff's office, Hollis says, Do ya mind if we make a stop at my store on the way to the house, Mr. Paladin?
When they're there, he says, The family and I would like to show ya our appreciation to ya with a small gift. If ya would, please select $40 worth of any merchandise you'd like. Or if you prefer cash, we have a $20 bill for your travels. Or ya can take a combination of the two, at the ratio of $2 merchandise equaling $1 cash. Paladin sees that quiet Hollis is indeed a merchant and a manager of stock and finances by trade. Fair enough, and honest line of work, and he's got Mrs. Hollis's, Ruby's and Oliver's heads to keep a roof over. In addition to tools, farming and logging implements, rope, chain of various gauges, fencing wire, nails, screws and the like, it has firearms, knives of various sizes (including several hand-forged variations of the "Arkansas toothpick" Bowie knife), ammunition and even dynamite.

Paladin enjoys a late dinner with the Hollises, then a fine supper finished with a fresh cherry pie ruby made. He notices that Hollis doesn't offer any whiskey or other drink, only coffee. A teetotaller and maybe a church man. Paladin enjoys a good night's sleep in Oliver's room in the home of good, salt of the earth people.

The next morning he packs his saddlebags, bids his farewells to each member of the Hollis family, and makes his way toward the train station. A mounted city deputy marshal stops him and confronts him about his sheathed rifle, but hearing that he's leaving town, escorts him to the station. A chalkboard on the wall reads, Trains north to St. Louis through Corning are running on schedule. Trains to Cairo are delayed up to 4 hours. The tickets clerk says, St. Louis is around 22 hours train ride away. Some people break the trip in two and stay overnight in Corning, Arkansas. Others just ride the train through the night. Some say train robbery is more likely during daylight, other during the night. From the records on that line, nighttime robberies are about a quarter more common. Either way, the fare's $13.88.

XP calcuations coming. They'll be posted in the main Experience Points thread.

[Grognardsw]

"Thank you Mr. Hollis, I appreciate that," said Paladin to the offer of a gift. He surveyed the goods in the store. Given his traveling status, the gun fighter didn't have a particular use for the store stock. "That $20 will help alot in my train travels."

"This dinner is mighty fine, Mrs. Hollis," said Paladin that evening. He shared stories of his travels with the family, not dwelling on the violent aspects so as to not glorify such things in the eyes of young Oliver. He asked the boy what he was studying in school, and the importance of his finishing school. He asked how Mr. Hollis' business was, and the prospects and growth in Little Rock.

Paladin had two servings of Ruby's cherry pie. "You bake a sumptuous pie Ruby."

The next morning...


"Goodbye Mr. Hollis, and Ruby. I'm glad I could help."

At the train station, Paladin decided to take the ride to St. Louis through the night and sleep on the train. He paid the $20.82 for the seat and sleeper, and boarded. He looked for a middle car, with a window seat at the back. He practiced his usual instinctive observances of the environment (number of cars, types), fellow passengers, etc. He read and looked out the window, unless Lady Luck graced him with compansionship of the feminine persuasion.

[jemmus]

Sleeper cars are $20.82.
But they earn XP.

[Grognardsw]

Edited post to reflect sleeper car ticket.