"So...we get things stored, and get these cattle delivered?"
Agreed, lets get packed up and the cattle on the trail.
Rufus puts actions to words, and goes over to help the cook pack up his barrels and baskets that were thrown everywhere.
Winona takes a moment to pour some water on a kerchief and wipe down her face. The last couple of days on the trail have been hard and mostly sleepless.
"I s'pose you boys deserve to know now," she says as she pulls open one lapel of her coat, revealing a shiny star badge. "Territorial Marshal."
"Marshal service isn't part of the military so I couldn't directly throw around any weight in that little tussle. Nevertheless, I reckon that it's best in the long run that those papers are out of our hands and no longer givin' us any trouble."
Welp, agreed. and as I said to that cap'n that the only reason I grabbed them papers, was to see if there was some way to identify the bloke. After all, I would think someone would be missing him
Luke nods to flying Eagle "The boss was supposed to stop by the Fort to see if the army was interested in many of the cattle. Sometimes they are" He watches the Troops ride off, covering the land in dust. "I don't think he will have much luck now. He shakes his head in disgusts Lets get things back in order!
His words turn out to be all too true, Sutter comes back that evening and it spreads though the camp the Fort is not interested and no one really wants to hang around the area. So as soon as everyone is ready, you had back to the trail.
Rufus puts in a hard days work, stowing food, equipment, checking his guns, and otherwise helping to get the drive back underway.
He takes a couple of turns around the herd, keeping it bunched.
The Next few days are hot and dry but not as bad as it has been. Sutter is in a foul mood and many of the men grumble still over the rough treatment by the bluecoats. No one blames your three although Roden never returned to camp and gossip flies around the fire each night over maybe he was the spy.
As you sit around the fire as the night gets colder Antonio asks Rufus and Flying eagle "You reckon ol Roden works for the Mormons?" You see John nod with him "Aye, I hear they found that Mormon money stashed in the wagon."
Across the fire Abigail leans over and asks Winona"Is it true you're a Marshal?"
"I did not know Roden well enough to form an opinion. But does not your own system of law presume a man to be innocent until proven guilty?"
They may have found that money, but give the man the benefit of doubt. We had a hard enough time getting back here.
He dismounts and gives Abacus a drink of water and then takes a swig himself.
After all, There are a lot of reasons someone may not make it somewhere out here.
"I had a hard enough time just getting back to camp," says Winona. "Entirely possible that Roden met with some other fate out there. The prairie is vast and there are all number of troubles."
She addresses Abigail and says, "Aye, it's true. Been tasked with keepin' the territory safe, whether that's from cattle rustlers or range wars."
Antonio kinda nods "I reckon so, who knows what can happen out there in the dark. No one expected the dead not to stay dead>' He says, looking haunted. Clearly thinking about the attack that killed so many on this drive.
Abigail responds to Winona "W have not had much of those yet, but having a Marshal along might be helpful'
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About a week later you come across your first major river crossing, the Canadian river in the new Mexico territory. Late in the season this river is swelled by snow melt and is swift as it is wide. Sutter and Luke Scouted ahead of the herd. They found a shallow ford , but it still will take some work to get the herd across.
= 2
= 2
= 1
Rufus dismounts upstream, as he lets Devil drink.
He fills his canteens as he looks across the river
Well, This will not be a treat to cross, the cows will be scattered down stream as the water pushes them.
After Devil has drank, he then mounts up and moves to the drag position and starts to push.
Totals:
1. 6 (success)
2. 3 (fail)
3. 7 (success)
While it is hard work, most of you manage it fairly well, Flying Eagle spends most of the day chasing cattle. His always seems to run the other way, down the river bank, back the other way, one of them really seemed like they wanted to eat his boot. Most of the other cattlemen found it funny.
Sometime after noon however, Flying eagle, soaked to the bone notice one of his cattle is stuck in the mud and sinking. Its thrashing and panicking and without aid it will drown when it sinks deep enough. Getting near the beast may be dangerous.
Flying Eagle concentrates for a moment :
= 29
The grass at the edge of the river quickly starts to "grow" in length, approaching the stuck cow and wrapping entirely around its body. Then, the grass starts to retreat back to the bank, slowly but steadily pulling the cow loose from the mud its hooves are stuck in. Once the cow is on solid ground in the river, the grass lets go of the cow and shrinks back to its original size. Then Flying Eagle goes over to the cow, making soothing noises, staying with it for a little while to make sure it doesn't get stuck again.
No one seems to notice Flying Eagles use of magic, but he is able to get the cow from the mud and get it moving. After crossing the Canadian, things seem to go very routine. That night you make camp with the shadow of the Sanger de Cristo mountains.
As you sit around the fire that night Sutter lays out his plans [b]"Most move into the great plains by Raton Pass, but a man put up a troll road there a few years back. The price for a heard this size would cost too much so I plan to take us though Trincheras Pass"[b]
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That night as you settle down for bed, an unease settle upon the camp, even the cattle seem restless.
[/ooc] Give me a fear roll[/ooc]
"Hey boss, is there anything...difficult or dangerous about Trincheras Pass?"
= 7
Rufus comes back after grabbing another plate of food.
I never even heard of that pass.
Rufus pauses to hear the response from the boss about the possible difficulties.
Luke speaks up "No reason you should have heard it it, no one uses that pass" He says to Rufus. A couple of the other hands mumble agreement around the fire before Sutter speak up, addressing Flying Eagle.
"I don't expect any trouble, but its farther out of the way a longer and slightly steeper pass. It is just more out of the way and for a lone traveler the toll would be worth the faster trip"
The night passes with no danger, but an unease settles over the camp. While none of you seems to be bothered, many in the camp slept poorly and seem a bit out of sorts the next morning. Even the cattle seem more skittish than normal, making getting the heard moving as a single group a harder task. Still the day and evening pass without trouble, other than the skittish cattle and the tired cowhands.
Total 6
During a quick stop and grabbing a breather from pushing the cows, Rufus comments.
I am getting a bad feeling about the area were in, anyone else
= 7, Success
"Maybe a little, but nothing I can put my finger on..."
= 15
The evening passes with an uneasy feel and the cattle themselves seem restless as well. The night passes without issue but most of the others did not sleep well, people seem tired and irritable.
Flying Eagle does not think there are any lost sacred lands near here. He does know there may be some tribes in this area however.
Getting the bad feeling, Rufus saddles up Devil.
He then pulls out and checks all his guns, including his sleeve gun.
Once they are checked, he fully loads them and sets the hammers down on the spot between chambers, then reholsters them all.
after that he puts both his rifle and shotgun scabbards on Devil, after that he goes for breakfast.
Sitting beside Wynona
I am getting a really bad feeling about this pass. thinking we will play hell getting the cows through in a day or so
Winona stifles a yawn and rubs her forehead with the back of her hand, then says, "This feels like a bunch of strange events strung together. I'm wondering what's the overarching commonality holding them in place. The pass is probably a literal transition to some kind of final reckoning."
She pauses, then says, "Not to be too superstitious about it." She stifles another yawn and says, "Think more'n anything else, it'll be a good night's sleep that makes all the difference in the end."
You might be good, but I am starting to feel like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs
Rufus gets up and washes up, and gets ready to face the day, and whatever that brings.
Most of the hands seem irritable and tried, no one really seems to be sleeping well, the cattle seem to be skittish and a bit harder to keep under control, slowing your pace a bit. However, according to Sutter, you should be clear of the pass in a day or two, even with this slowed pace. As you hunker down for the evening meal, everyone seems jumpy and tired. And unease settles over the camp for a 3rd night in a row
Rufus approaches Sutter.
Boss I am getting a really bad feeling about whats ahead. i am notwanting to push on.
"I know some Indian tribes consider this their territory. Maybe they're watching us?"
The night is once more one of unease, a few of the men seem to have cracked, screams fill the night as someone takes off running into the darkness. As the camp reacts, Andrew draws his gun, running into the night screaming about being eaten. The cattle are restless and when Andrew starts firing at something, the herd starts to move and scatter! But so many in camp seem stunted or frightened as Luke and Sutter starts yelling commands and trying to make sense of things as the cattle start to stamped.
Figuring that everyone's awake from all the ruckus, Flying Eagle shouts "All men who aren't scared out of their minds come to me!"
How many show up?
Hearing Flying Eagle trying to rally everyone, Bill and Luke head your way Yelling for everyone to grab gear and join up. Abby, Alfred, Antonio , John, Jacob and Bart joins you. After a moment Javier and Owen join you as well.
That only leaves Charles and Andrew panicking among the cattle and if something is not down, the gunfire will lead to a full on stampead.
"Ladies too!" shouts Winona. "C'mon, let's rope some of these head and see if we can get the gunfighting down to keep them from panicking."
Rufus saddles Devil Eyes up and mounts up.
Aye, lets get them settled down. But I think we will need to look as to why even I am gettin scared spitless
Bill and Luke split the men up, Bill, Abby, Jacob and Bart heading for the Horses as Luke, Alfred, John and Antonio follow Winona's lead and start trying to rope some of the cattle. Mostly it seems Andrew is the only one shooting and screaming, which seems to be what is setting off the already skittish cattle.
Flying Eagle concentrates for a moment, with one arm raised and making a circling motion with it :
A rope seems to appear in his hands, and he swings his arm towards Andrew. The rope flies towards him, and wraps around his arms and chest. He cannot move his arms.
Flying Eagle walks over to him and says "Now calm down, pardner, no more need for yelling and shooting, ok?"
= 11, a Raise
Andrew hits the grown, his gun entangled or last in the darkness. Somewhere out there Charles still run and the cattle are still uneasy and close to stampeding, but the gunfire at lest has stopped. Andrew is clearly panicked, his eyes large and breathing heavy. He yells, Although he is at least talking and looking a bit less wild. Flying Eagles words seem to get though."They gunna eat us! they gonna peak out our eyes and eats ours souls!" He looks around in the dark as if searching "They been fallowing us for days, I hear them in the dark!
Winona wrestles one of the lowing cows to the ground to keep it from stampeding and then stands up and brushes her gloves together. "This is crap. Get everyone who's out of their wits over to the bonfire and stoke it up a bit. Either there's nothing out there and we won't see anything in the firelight, or if there is, we'll spot it and we can deal with it straight and forward like."
"I think we should get all these cattle under control first, or else this entire job will have been for nothing."
With something to think on other than the feeling of dread, Rufus tries to keep busy.
only to have the feeling sneak up on him a couple of times during the day.
Winona only knows of two out of their minds right now. Andrew is on the ground screaming about something taking his eyes and eating him. Charles is somewhere in the dark. You have Abby, Alfred, Antonio , John, Jacob, Javier and Owen with you. Abby nods to "Antonio, John, See if you can find Charles in this. Owen, do as she says and Drag Andrew by the fire. Flying eagle is right, we need these cattle under control."