The Road Over the Mountains

[Black Wyvern]

It is late October and their is a fall chill to the air that many say is unusual for this far south. You have spent a couple weeks in town recovering and enjoying the adoration of the people of Mad Mesa. The town has settled down and many of the ranchers that were forced off their land have recovered their parcels. The Sheriff, without the support of the Russells, was run off and has been replaced by an honest enough fellow. Those of you who came to Mad Mesa to participate in the fight have determined it is time to move on. Though each of you have different plans there is a high mountain pass and many miles of rugged country before you reach more open country so you decide to stay together at least until Promise City, about 100 miles away. There is a single road leading out of town and you will follow it out bright and early tomorrow morning. Within four days you should make Burned Bush Wells on the other side of the mountains. Promise City is another two or three beyond that.

Note: If you need to buy anything IC here let me know. Otherwise we will jump into the journey. This will be a short chapter. Hooks will follow in Burned Bush Wells as will the introduction on replacements.

[Rex]

Nahum

Heads to the general store right after getting paid and purchases or orders a fast draw revolver.

Sheet updated.

[Zhym]

The Wichita Kid, having seen how ineffective he is with his revolvers in a fight, buys a scatter gun and some shells before heading out of town realizes he's been holding his guns wrong. "Hey, wait, I get it! You point this end at the guy you want to kill!"

Added to sheet (with money deducted:
Scatter gun: $40
Shotgun loads, 25 shells x 2: $4

Does a scatter gun use a rifle sheath?

Edited to reflect new house rule on accuracy and undo scatter gun purchase.

[Scott308]

Samuel "Shootout" Stokes

Now that he has some brass in pocket, Stokes will head to the local stores to purchase a few new items for himself.

First thing, he purchases a 14 Karat watch ($12), a quality suit in blue ($10), to counter the black suit he already has, a string tie (25¢)and two more pairs of woolen underwear ($2.20). No point to trying to dress nice and look good if he is just going to wear the same clothes every day. He will also purchase a Bowie knife ($1). When he is finished with his shopping, he will avail himself of the personal care services in town, getting a fresh-water bath ($1), followed by a shave and haircut (25¢). He will wear his new, blue suit and the string tie for the upcoming journey out of town.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sawbones McCoy

Reveling in the attention of being a small town hero, even if it is only for a few days, the good (bad) doctor sashays around the town, meeting the people and looking for any bargains he might find.

He purchases a horse, though not a very good one, and all the necessary accoutrements for riding. (bags, bridle, blanket, saddle) He also picks up a spyglass and a straight razor for the upcoming trip into Promise City. ($45.35 deducted from sheet)

Before heading out of town, Sawbones asks around to any folks that might have traveled that way before, inquiring about the weather in the mountains and if they can offer any advice for the long trail.

[Black Wyvern]

"Yeaha, This tima year that thar pass can be a might trickay. Snow can come anytime it pleases and leave ya neck deep. Be mighty careful a' tha signs that weath'rs changin' an ya'll be okay." Says a salty looking older chap dressed in roughed out leather and a tall buffalo hide hat.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sawbones looks around at the others.

"Im thinkin we might just want to bring a few provisions an some cold weather gear along with us on this here trip. Wadda the resta ya think?"

[Scott308]

Samuel "Shootout" Stokes

Doc, I think you might be on to something there. I don't exactly have gear for cold weather. Think I'll pick something up.

Stokes returns to the General Store to acquire a few items to enable him to deal with cold, snowy weather better. He purchases wool mittens (13¢), two pairs of wool socks (36¢), a flannel shirt ($1), work pants ($1), a buffalo hide coat ($10)and a bedroll ($1). He looks at a pair of plow shoes trying to determine whether they would be useful. Are plow shoes similar to snow shoes?

[OGRE MAGE]

Feeling like he probably should, Sawbones fills his "doctors bag" with a few supplies the group might need. He then finds a good winter coat, mittens, and a warm bedroll for the trip.

Rat Poison
Cough Syrup
Microbe Killer
Quinine
Soap

Wool Mittens
Heavy Coat
Bedroll

All added to inventory and $3.82 subtracted from sheet.

The pretend doctor is ready to ride. I hope!

[Zhym]

Before leaving town, the Wichita Kid buys himself an spare set of trousers ($2), a bedroll ($1), and treats himself to a bath ($1) and a shave and a haircut ($.25).

Sheet updated.

[Rex]

Nahum

"All set and ready to ride."

[Black Wyvern]

A day out of Mad Mesa your small pack train leaves the main road to Santa Fe and heads North over the mountain pass. The trail is well marked and by the plan you should be eating lunch at the cafe in Burned Bush Wells tomorrow. The air begins to quickly cool as you ascend. By noon you can see your breath and everyone digs out coats and gloves to fight off the growing cold. A couple hours before dark you reach the crest of the pass and begin the descent as clouds gather around you and a light snow begins dusting the ground. A half hour or so later you enter a high mountain valley with a small line shack, stable and corral. The loft of the stable is stacked with this year's grass hay and there is a good pile of firewood but the winter crew hasn't arrived yet. The cloud cover and snow makes the late afternoon much darker than the time of day would dictate. Those of you who have ridden line in the winter know that you will be well past dark before coming to another shack, if you are fortunate enough to find another one on this trail. None of you have passed this way before so it is impossible to tell when the smooth down slope will turn into a sudden cliff in the snow and growing darkness.

[Scott308]

Samuel "Shootout" Stokes

Noting the growing darkness, Samuel opines that this appears to be a good place to spend the night. I don't really like the idea of trying to go down the mountain in the dark, not knowing how far we are from another shack. I think we should call it a day, boys, and hunker down here for the night.

[Zhym]

"Works for me," agrees the Wichita Kid.

[Rex]

Nahum

"Agreed, maybe we should take turns standing guard just in case."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sawbones rubs his sore back and ass, never one to turn down a promising piece of good fortune.

”We’d be right useless after dark on the mountain trail. Especially if’n it snows any worse than this. I agree. We could use a good rest, and so could theses horses. Best not to overdo it though. This ain’t exactly our stash.”

The doctor agrees to take a watch, happy to take first or second, if he gets a choice. The dapper gentlemen needs his beauty rest, after all.

[Black Wyvern]

You stop and start taking care of your horses when the brewing storm cuts loose. Before you can get a fire going in the pot belly stove there are a couple inches of snow on the ground. The wind picks up and is howling down the valley, making you grateful that you chose to stop rather than get caught outside on a night like this. Before long you have hot grub and coffee in your guts and all feel much better about the sudden change in the weather.

The line shack is cozy for five. There are two bunks so the remainder have to throw their bedrolls out of the floor, not that one is any softer than the other. The stove does a fine job of heating the room but the trip to the outhouse is brutal. By morning there are drifts of snow piled man high all around and visibility is poor at best, though the wind does seem to be calming as the sun starts to give some light to the now white environment. There doesn't seem to be an immediate end to the storm in sight. Those of you who have experience with cattle know that this can be a sticky time. Had the shack drovers been here they would venture out to check the valley to make sure the stock around had safely found cover.

[wapsii]

"It was a good decision to stop when we did last night, should we stay here another night or until the storm ends? We would still have difficulty finding the trail while it is snowing." Rusty say as he helps prepare the trail rations.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sawbones keeps a sharp eye out for any trouble approaching through the snow.

"Might not be a bad ider, Rusty, though I aint xactly sure how much longer it'll take to get to where were going. If its just a few more miles to Burned Bush Wells, might be we could make it by sundown. Even through this fresh snow."

The doc checks on the animals when he can, to see if they survived the worst of the storm over night.

[Rex]

Nahum

"I think we may be better off riding the storm out another day." Nahum will check the animals and supplies to make sure everything is good.

OOC reminder: Nahum grew up a sheep farmer.