High Stakes at Coyote Bluff (Wild West RP)

Kate hesitated for a moment. Maybe she was aiming to high?

"And the other bounty?" She asked after a moment.

 

„Vallette brothers. There is no evidence of them killing anyone and they usually used their muscles to intimidate their prey”. Sheriff said and pointed three points on the map on the North East from the city.
„Here they been seen riding with stolen goods. In this valley there was their camp, they left behind a lot of empty bottles and half eaten pig. And there they robbed farmer of his vegetables and break his legs. So make no mistake, they are dangerously but it’s chance for you to survive encounter”.

 

Kate hummed and nodded.

"Are they wanted dead or alive?" She asked. Dead was soo much easier.

 

„All this bounties are wanted dead or alive. We give bonus of 5$ for bringing them alive, but we know that is not always possible. Just keep in mind that if you bring them dead, be careful to not damage their faces too much of there will be no bounty. They must be recognised”.

 

Kate nodded.

"And should I bring them alive, what happens with them?" She asked curious.

 

"There will judment in the saloon, with Justice. He will arrive from neighbour city, so to this time I will keep them locked. In such city trials are less about letter of law and more about emotion of the crowd, so it is impossible to tell what happen with them. There is enough evidence against them to hang them, but I seen stranger things". Sheriff pull out his pipe and make circle from smoke.
"Anything else?"

 

@Tjf

Frieherr Jakub von Wurmser arrived to his new home, nice peace of land on the south from Coyote Bluff. He can give to this ranch new name, since last owner die on some sickness and he left no one to inheirit these lands.
Jabub see before himself simple wooden fence, with three buildings behind it. In the front there was one floor wooden house, nothing like mansions in Europe, but still better than most men could afford. Behind the house, there was stable and barn, for horses and cows. From one of the building comes to Jakub young men, no older than 25, carring pitchfork in hand and getting off his hair straw and heavy yawing.

"Aahh... Good morning sir. You must be new owner of this ranch. I'm Tomas, stableboy of the last owner, mr-"? He said in lazy tone.

 

"Call me Jakub." The Bohemian smiles, holding out a hand. "I see my new home is in good shape."

 

„Sure it is sir. I keep everything in shape and order”. Tomas shakes his hand.
„Most of animals were sold to locals farmers and owners of the lands, but there is still here some. Betsy, milkfish cow, wasn’t bought by anyone since it’s old and not gives too much milk. In this season it should be put under blade for meat and skin. And we still have rooster, old one so no one takes interest in it”.
There was quiet meowing behind Jakob, as brown fur cat circled around his legs.
„And of course Aunty Polly, our ratcatcher, since 12 years”. Tomas smiled and pet cat.
„So, mr Jakub, what are your plans for this ranch?”

 

"Well firstly, I'm planning to get some more cattle. I have my eye on a herd." He smirks, thinking of La Mancha's cows across the border - and the cash that'll come in once he sells them.

 

"How... Unique." Kate hummed as she heard about the strange brand of justice. "No, that will be all. Thank you." She shook her head as she left. She made her way to her horse. Brothers or female bounty~ Choices choices.

She got on horse and left the town, stopping for a moment.

Female bounty and her gang.

Kate made her decision and started riding in the direction the gang was last seen.

 

„Oh? That is good news, there is enough land in this ranch for 50 cattle, not whole season of course, but there should be no problem with making deal with neighbours. Last owner had good relations with everyone in this area, so most of them should be open for coexistence”.
Tomas yawns, covering his mouth with hand.
„Do you need me for anything else mr Jacob or I can return to my work? Oh, and by the way, old men used to pay me 1$ weekly”.

 

Despite sheriff warnings, Kate decided to take a risk to hunt for bigger bounty. She headed to south west from the city, where bandits where last seen, under leadership of Sarah O’Hara. After few hours of riding she noticed big pack of cattle, guarded by group of cowboys. Kate reminded herself that gang killed two cattle, so maybe these cowboys knew something? They spotted her and put hands on their weapons, more like warming to not come closer until she stated her business.

 

Kate put her hands up, showing that they were empty.

"Hello there!" She called as she rode little closer, slowly. "I am looking for information about the cattle robbers!" He called as she took in the looks and behaviour of two men.

 

They lowered their weapons, but still watched her with wary.
„Cattle robbers, ha! More like cattle killers if you ask me! This cursed O’Hara and her gang two days ago killed two cattle, without taking any alive. They must take pleasure in destroying others property, with no gains for themselves”. Angry cowboy splits on the ground. His companion continues.
„They headed west, in the direction of mountain, where it’s hard for horses to ride and plenty of potential hideouts. Be careful, they will sooner find you than you find them”.

 

Kate thought for a moment.

Oh, she could work with that information. A trap would allow her to cut their numbers.

"Thanks!" She tipped her hat.

She turned her horse and rode in the direction of mountain. Once she was close, she set up a camp. She made sure the position of the camp was in a small valley in the open, making it good place to be trapped. She started a fire and ate something. Once it was becoming dark, she left her sleeping bag, filled it with branches and covered with her coat and hat.

She then made under darkness to elevated position, using cover on elevated ground, on the rocks, so she had a good view of the camp. She then prepared her rifle and waited.

 

( Roll for trap d100: 72 success)
(Rations 3-1=2)
Clever tactic used by Kate bring fruit. As she waited for bandits she soon noticed some shady figures coming to her camp. They become visible to her in the light of campfire as they reached her sleeping bag. She could easily say which one of them is O’Hara, as she was only one in the group who had long hair. They surrounded sleeping bag and pointed their guns, while their leader speaks something. Kate has completely advantage over them.

 

Kate smiled as she counted gang members. They were all lighted by the fire, while she was in the darkness. She could easily pick them up, before they even realised the direction she was firing from. In darkness, in this distance, she had the advantage.

She aimed at the closest one and pulled the trigger, firing.

 

(Roll d20 +2 for Accurate aim +2 for ambush: 7+2+2 success https://www.rolldicewithfriends.com/rooms/highstakesatcoyotebluffwi )
As bandit pulled off cloak from mistification, showing rest of gang banches and empty camp. Then men behind him fall down on his knees, screaming from pain from the guts.
"Ambush, spread out!!!" O'Hara called her men.
(Perception 5 x d20 - 4 darkness: 13- 4=9, 3-4=-1, 17-4=13, 15-4=11, 16-4=12
failure, critical failure, success, success, success)
First men hide behind broken wood, complety open from Kate point of view. Secend one missed small hole in the ground and he fall down on face, getting mud in eyes. O'Hara and her two men managed to spot Kate and cover themself behind rocks. They began shooting to Kate.
(Roll for shooting, 3 x d20 - 4 darkness: d20: 13-4=9, 6-4=2, 9-4=5 all failure)
But shooting in the darkness at hidden target it isn't easy one and they all missed.

 

How lucky that they even shoot in a correct direction. But they shoot to often, to wildly. The fire she made, illuminated the band nicely~

Five to go~

She slid a bullet into the chamber, aimed at the open bandit, an easy target, and pulled the trigger.