Winona turns her mount and is just barely able to fight her way out of the water before the snakes are upon her.
Rufus's looks at the snakes as they are getting closer and he continues to push Devil Eyes.
Come on, we got to get out of the water afore they get to us.
But being deep in the water, pushing the cows, they didn't get clear of the water.
Rodan still tries to keep the cows moving. But many of the ones he pushed so easily have now become stubborn.
Moving fast and with the mystical aid from Flying Eagle, Rufus, Rodan and Winona manage to get the cattle clear of the snakes, However, that cost Rufus speed and him and and Devil eyes did not get clear of the river before a mass of hundreds of snakes descend on them. Moving like living vines, man and horse is covered in the coiling, biting Mass.
Winona(Jc)
Roden (8C)
Rufus( 6S)
Snakes (3c)
Flying Eagle (2h)
Winona isn't really sure if she can do much about such a massive wave of varmints, but finally she pulls the lever-action shotgun from her saddle holster and decides to take a shot at the snakes.
Winona Levels her shotgun and blasts at the swarm, killing dozens and seeming to make it split into smaller swarms., Rufus tries to get Devil eyes moving and out of the river and the biting snakes. With Luck he makes it to sure and the few snakes traveling with him can be shaken off.
Shotgun damage
"Well, do we have to cross this river to continue? If so, what are our options?"
Rodan tries to keep the heard moving away from the water.
"I want to keep the heard safe. On land we might be able to light a fire to ring the snakes in it and burn them out."
[b]"Maybe those with shotguns could take care of the rest while they're still in the water. It looks like only a couple more well-aimed shots ought to do it."[b]
Winona pumps the lever on her shotgun and fires again.
"Alrighty pard, we will do it your way. Blasting we will do."
And he pulls his LeMat Pistol and a quick flick of a lever he pulls the trigger.
Winona takes aim at one balled swarm of snakes and utterly decimates it with buckshot. Even though some snakes might be left, that swarm ceases to exist as a swarming threat. Rodan rides slightly forward and he too sends a load of buckshot to the last small swarm, killing some but not enough to break the swarm.
You are left with the option of trying to go down river to avoid the swarm, or trying to kill the small swarm that is left.
Winona Shotgun
Extra dice as needed
Wanting some of his own back. Rufus unlimbers his shotgun and opens fire on the snakes.
Only to put the charge of buckshot into the water missing everything.
Rodan reloads his pistol. Guiding his horse by his knees to keep his distance from the snakes.
Rodan reloads as Rufus puts more shot into the water. He may have killed a few or just hit water, the swarm is still taming at the edge of the river.
Flying Eagle addresses the group : "Do you have enough ammo to continue trying to shoot the snakes? I could try to increase your accuracy by using my...magic." Inwardly, he hates using that word, but it's what most of the white men would call it.
No need. But i do have enough ammo
"Not runnin' out today," says Winona as she cranks the lever and lets loose another blast.
In between shots she says, "We have to get the herd across the river, right? So we got no real choice."
"Nope just opened a fresh box."
He takes aim at the swarm and fires.
Rodan opens fire, killing a few snakes, not enough to end the swarm, but it does hurt it
Click-click BOOM!
Tufus decides to ride further from the river bed.
He dismounts and gives devil eyes a check to ensure she is not hurt.
As Rufus checks his horse, Winona kills enough of the snakes to make them a non threat to most of you. Devil eyes seem to be fine, nothing but a few scratches. The gunshots have got the cattle moving however, they are damned near panicking and the other hands are trying their best to keep control.Now that the threat is over you might want to help the other hands get the drive back under control.
"Dang it," mutters Winona. She shoves the shotgun back in the side of the saddle and pulls herself up on to her mare, but in her tired state she misses the mount and winds up dropping back down and having to try again two more times before she can even get into the saddle.
= Success
Flying Eagle manages to make enough whoops and shouts to get some of the cattle back in the group.
Damn it. Rufus curses as he remounts and he starts to ride to control the herd while pulling out his lasso.
Although not fast, some of you just have to hard a time gathering up some of the wayward cattle, you do manage to get things going. It does make for a long day, but at lest you have full water barrels and canteens when night falls.
Javier puts on a supper of beans and corncake. John and Antiono dress out some of the cattle that did not make it or where too sickly from thirst, which adds some beef to the menu. The men sit around the fire and enjoy the well earned food.
Owen sits next to you " Bit of excitement at the river"
"Blasted get them cows controlled! Says Rodan as he holsters his pistol and grabs his lariat to help get the cows under control.
+6+6=14
Rodan starts to get the cows moving with some fancy rope work.
+10=16
Then using some more expert rope and ridding skills he cuts the heard off to guide the herd in the right direction.
"Yup pard, some nasty water snakes came after the herd. But we made short work of them with with some well placed shotgun blasts.
But them cattle got spooked and it took a long while to round them up."
My nerves are still on edge from those snakes.
Rufus finishes a couple of plates, washes up, then goes to his sleeping bag.
Maybe a good sleep will make me feel better
Owen Nods "Yeah, those looked like a nasty bit of business. Most water we find in a week and its full of snakes!"
Rodan takes his turn on night watch. He keeps his new rifle cradled in his arms as he walks around the encampment.
"Noteworthy," says Winona as she stifles a yawn. "Haven't seen that many snakes in one place in... well I think the last time was a rattler's den, few years back. Dark hole in the ground with a bunch o' them squirmin' and hissin' all over each other. Left that one alone."
After cleaning her dishes she reloads her shotgun and then settles in for a little sleep, though she's awake a few hours later and goes to find Rodan. She brings with her a small piece of leather with a few grass embers in it.
"C'n add some twigs to this and at least keep your hands warm for a bit," she says as she puts down the piece of leather. Cradling her shotgun in her arms she says, "Rest your eyes for a spell. I'll keep lookout a bit."
Both Rodan and Winona notice a wolf trailing the herd. Winona thinks its dealt with humans before as it keep well out of rifle range and just seems to be stalking from afar. A long wolf perhaps, just looking for a straggler.
The next morning you move out, still supplied but still in dry country. But things look to be looking up as the oppressive heat lets up over the next few days. Its still dry and dusty, but better.
= 11, a Raise
Still shaken from the snakes, Rufus is more concerned about keeping the herd bunched.
so this makes 2 raises?
Close to evening, as you rode the tail of the herd toward the nights camp, Rodan and Flying Eagle spot someone following off in the distance. It seems like a single rider and they do not seem to be trying to hide, but are clearly following you.
"There appears to be someone following us, way back there", Flying Eagle says, pointing in his direction. "They are making no attempt to avoid notice. What should we do?"
Well, if they is not making an effort to hide. We should give him some hospitality.
"I agree with Rufus. When it hit daylight, we should find out what our tail wants."
"Fine with me," says Winona agreeably.
The man seems to follow you, but stay a distance. As the camp sets up he clearly has seen you watching him and rides closer. He looks like a man who has been traveling a bit, you can see the bedroll behind his saddle and he seems to have a rifle holstered on the horse. He keeps his arms clear of his weapons and the rifle as he approaches. "Howdy" He says with a nod "I couldn't help but notice your herd, you seem a bit light on hands. I know my way around a cattle drive and could use the work."
"Hodwy pard. My handle is Rodan. What's your name friend? And what are you doing way out here? Want some coffee?" Rodan offers his hand to the new comer.
The man rides closer to Rodand shakes his hand. "Thomas Booker my name. As to why I am out this way, Had a cattle Job until I didn't recently. The Boss decides to sell his herd and not drive it for a better price" The man shrugs "I figured I would try my luck in the New Mexico Territory. The I saw your herd and thought you might be needing another hand"