Artemus Carson slows his horse with his knees, following in his sights the man he targeted moments ago. All of the mounted horses are moving amidst the clouds of smoke. Knowing he might lose sight of his target, Carson squeezes the Spencer's trigger. Again, it's too far to tell for sure, but the tribesman sees the man lurch forward in the saddle.

The man with the Spencer pauses as Travis Sunday rides in front of him. JEB, aiming his own carbine for another shot at the man with the Spencer, sees his friend Travis riding between, forcing both the lawman and his opponent to pause. JEB's intended target moves his mount sideways, yelling something inaudible. The rancher's hired gun refocuses and fires another round at the same steer he has hit twice already, while JEB grits his teeth and turns to pursue the strays, firing his Spencer at that same longhorn. The two-Spencer attack takes down the running beeve; it tumbles in a massive heap of hooves and horns.

Travis continues his move west, but not before one of the ranchers fires his Loomis across his path. The report startles the man from the sixth Michigan as he attempts to pursue the closest steer. Still, nothing can deter the gunfighter from taking aim again with his Starr and firing another round, not even the need to ensure, deftly, that his revolver had advanced beyond the jammed chamber. Senor Domingo is sure the ball flies true, as the longhorn's legs buckle and its horns dig into the earth, probably breaking its neck--if indeed the combination of buckshot and bullets had not sent it to its maker first.

Guiding Amatella to the west and slowing down the filly, Major Gray raises his Spencer to his shoulder and aims, but he holds his fire. In fact, he never squeezes the trigger; rather he waits, discerning the movements of the other cowboys and maneuvering Amatella.

Ayasha, seeing other of the Major's cowboys nearby, had turned west and ridden away from the strangers helping with the herd and circling south. She sees Randy and Cole ahead, perhaps 100 yards away, alongside a group of a few dozen of the longhorns.

Slowing Cortez and pushing the mount toward the few dozen trotting strays, Randy Oldman spies a lone cowboy chasing the longhorns from behind. Still holding his lariat, the pugilist realizes he doesn't need to intercept the beeves, because they are moving toward the northeast and away from the conflict and what he now sees to the west--a group of grazing cattle. Pulling close to the lone cowboy, Randy begins to help herd the beeves, while glancing at Cole and wandering if he should stay here or ride on.

Slightly behind the big cowboy at first, Cole Trayne gains ground quickly, passing Randy, while drawing his carbine and continuing his path toward the gun battle. He sees beeves running and a number of horsemen firing weapons. The closest men he thinks are Major Gray and JEB. No clear enemy target, Cole reckons. The top hand continues his ride, noting in his periphery the lone cowboy that Randy has slowed to intercept. Cole begins to wonder if he can trust his eyes as he sees what appears to be the lawman from Missouri firing at one of the Major's beeves.

-------------------

OOC: Please state another round of actions. FYI, the Judge made two errors recently that have been corrected in this narrative (misunderstood Ayasha's intent so adjusted her position; shouldn't have rolled for the Sharps (reloading round), so in the narrative, only the cowboy with the Loomis fired across Travis' path).

http://www.doghouserules.net/d...n/shootinbeeves2.pdf

11:22, Today: Randy Oldman rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Ride Check for Dramatic Turn.

Randy and Cortez guide the many beeves back to the herd -- although, it took much less effort than he imagined.

The huge horseman now tries a dramatic turn.  He and Cortez lurch in the direction opposite to that which they were heading.  Randy hopes he and the magnificent mount are able to remain steady.

OOC: Randy's efforts are focused on turning 180°.  The parameters I am assuming are speed (2X) and difficulty.  I made the roll against those, if it is needed at all.  The rest is in Judge's hands and his will.  The Judge works in mysterious ways.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #893):

JEB rides SW in line with Travis, but holds fire while he assesses the situation.

Free Action: None.
Move Action: Normal speed.
Combat Action: None.

Free Action:
Move Action: Normal speed towards the shooter.
Combat Action: Fire Spencer at mounted shooter, or another if the first falls

16:44, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 14 using 1d20+6. To Hit.
16:47, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 4 using 1d6. AP to augment Hit roll. (18 total)

16:44, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 59 using 1d100. Fog of War.
16:43, Today: Artemus Carson rolled 14 using 2d10. Damage.

Ayasha continues riding towards the shooting in a flanking maneuver, judging her direction as best as possible under the circumstances. She still rides at 4x speed, riding in full defense.

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg #895):

Travis looks for the next set of Beeves heading towards the riders.  He hears a shot.

Confusion he thinks.

CEASE FIRE. CEASE FIRE. He uses his artillery voice: loud; strong and decisive.

Free Action: Speak

Move Action: Wheel Horse to face riders.

Combat Action: Hold/ready action in case opposing riders shoot at any of the two legged NBOers.

Cole continues to ride at his current pace to support JEB and Travis. He will focus his primary protective attentions on the one (JEB or Travis) who is furthest from the Major.

Artemus Carson continues his slow ride toward the conflict, Spencer still pressed firmly against his shoulder. The man he had sighted and fired upon was now hugging his mount's neck, giving him partial cover. Another riders turns and comes near. The survivalist squeezes; the carbine pops.

James E. Beauregard starts to ride southwest, toward his pard Travis Sunday, who was slowing his mount and scanning the area. Both hold their fire, as do the rancher's men, who are moving and re-grouping. Major Gray rides toward two of the rancher's men, to the east.

All of the men hear a weapon report from the east. Travis Sunday wheels his horse and hollers "CEASE FIRE. CEASE FIRE."

In the moonlight and black smoke, Artemus remains unsure of whether his shot took purchase, but a horse's whinny provides a clue.

Cole Trayne, racing in on Bonny Red Bess, hears the weapon report and spots Artemus Carson for the first time to the east. He sees Major Gray moving toward another horse and putting himself between the rancher's men and the approaching Caliber.

The Major repeats Travis' "CEASE FIRE" command, putting his Spencer to his shoulder and sighting the oncoming Mr. Carson.

Ayasha hears a solitary shot as she pulls close enough to see the group of cowboys to the south. To her left she is passing the beeves and the big cowboy named Randy--wait, make that two big cowboys, only one of them named Randy, as far as she knows--and ahead she spies Cole Trayne racing toward the others. She believes she sees the Major close to some other cowboys.

Randy Oldman sees the cowboy passing by; the feller is a biggun' himself and Randy can't help but nod and acknowledge the man's help with the beeves. The pugilist turns the powerful steed and catches a glimpse of the Indian woman rushing in atop Bandit. A moment later, he hears a single weapon report.

One of the rancher's men calls out. "Henry is hit!"

---------------------------------

OOC: State a single round of actions, please.

http://www.doghouserules.net/d...n/shootinbeeves3.pdf

With a quick whip of the still coiled lariat, Randy encourages Cortez to break into a full gallop.  The males of differing species are moving toward the scuffle.  He full well intends to move to the periphery of the congregated men.  Shootin' beeves is one thing, but shootin' Buffaloes is another.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #900):

JEB rides towards Major Gray. No combat.

Since there still was shooting, although a little less than she would have expected, Ayasha continues on her way south-west, but she slows down to 2x speed and starts looking for potential cover in case this still turns into a full fight.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #901):

Travis speaks loudly so he can be heard.  Lost however is the tone and sharpness of command  His voice rings sympathetic as he looks to the riders as he turns Horse toward the Major.

You all tend to Henry now.

Horse starts a trot toward the Major. Travis sees the alignment of the rifle pointing in the general direction of Art.

That won't be necessary, Boss.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #900):

As Artemus closes on the group of men – he sees beeves down - his grave fear for the lives of friends - with whom he has endured many trials and for whom he has risked his very life - gives way to complete confusion as he see the man he’d thought was one of Fielder’s - is rather the Major – aiming to shoot him down.

BETRAYED!

Aiming his carbine skyward and seizing the reins with one hand Artemus cuts Caliber hard to the North – then North East – then East and beats an evasive retreat towards a safe distance. (All the while accelerating to 4x)

Travis and JEB! What of them? They cannot be a party to a deception. Therefore they must be in danger.

"CEASE FIRE" rings in his ears and Artemus looks back,

There must be a parley of sorts!

. . .Oh my God! The Secret plan was to shoot the beeves. . . Why wouldn’t the Major have said as much?

Major fuck up, mate, that’s what this is, Artemus says to Caliber. Again his concern grows for the safety of his friends.

Dropping his speed to x1, Artemus turns Caliber Southward and looks to see his friends. . .

Cole continues at his current pace, protecting both JEB and Travis as best as he is able while he closes the distance.

The lawman from Missouri and man from the sixth Michigan ride to join ranks with the Major. As is often the case when cigars aren't involved, JEB remains silent. Senor Domingo speaks to Fielder's men and in fact spots the rancher himself for the first time; he is one of the men holding a torch--as Horse approaches Amatella's flank.

The man with the Spencer spits when Travis rides past and speaks to the ranchers about their fallen friend. Two other riders have dismounted and lowered the cowboy named Henry from his mount, doing their best to give him aid. There can be no doubt, the hired hand is bleeding out and without immediate help he is about to become somebody's darling.

The Major nods when he hears Travis' words, sheathing his Spencer. "Where is the Cheyenne?"

As if jumping his cue, Cole Trayne arrives at the flank of his old friend JEB, seeing there is nothing against which the lawman needs protection. Two heartbeats later, Ayasha rides in.

Major Gray looks to Ayasha and Cole. "Help him," he says, pointing to the man on the ground.

Meanwhile, Artemus Carson abruptly turns away, north then east, riding fast. He seems to be heading back to the main herd. Randy Oldman, riding southwest toward Major Gray and the others, sees the new man named Archie turn hard and ride fast back toward the trail. Seems odd to the big feller, seeing as all the men and even the Indian woman are gathering with the trail boss.

-----------

OOC: Need to continue round-by-round, temporarily. State actions.

http://www.doghouserules.net/d...n/shootinbeeves4.pdf

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #907):

Travis keeps his eyes on the men.  With a friend wounded tempers will tend to ride near the surface.  Travis holsters his weapon and watches over Ayasha.

Free Action: Travis Holsters his Starr

Move Action:  None

Combat Action:  Hold

With a grim look on his face, Cole immediately dismounts. He grabs his first aid kit and moves to the wounded man.

This here first aid kit ain't gonna cut it. We'll likely need a medical kit. There wasn't time for me to get one when I headed out. But, I'll see what I can do.

While tending to the wounded man, Cole glances at the strangers.

If you boys have a medical kit nearby you might want to send for it, right quick.

When Ayasha arrives at the site of the strange battle, her face clearly shows her confusion. "What is going on?", she asks to no one in particular, emphasizing how the actions of the men make little sense to her.

She hears the Major's order though, and there is a dying man on the ground. So she dismounts and joins Cole at the man's side. "Make up your mind. Shoot them or help them. Can't be both.", she mutters while she tries to help the man.

OOC: Ayasha rolled 27 using 1d20+9. Treat Injury.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #907):

JEB holsters his weapon and thinks about taking out a cigar while saying something but that may not be proper so he watches the others tend to the fallen man. He glances over at Fielder.

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg #911):

Travis does a quick check over his shoulder to make sure this is the last of the renegades threatening the peace.

With Randy upon Cortez, they sound like a full stampede themselves.

Once at the periphery of the congregation, Randy slows his mount to a trot and finally stops behind the group.

"Boss," Randy says to Major Gray.  "All them beeves is back together.  One them fellers did most all of it, too."

Cole and Ayasha dismount, both speaking as if words matter in these precious seconds, and tend to the fallen man named Henry. One of the kneeling ranch hands moves away to allow them access; the other man--another big feller--stays at his side.

In the sudden calm after the gun fire, Cole--chattering while he helps the Cheyenne to stop the man's bleeding from a wound to the neck--and the other Buffaloes recognize the big rancher as the man called Jacob. He seems genuinely concerned for the ranch hand he helped lower from the mount.

Jacob asks, "Is he going to make it?"

Keeping their eyes on Fielder and his men, the Buffaloes see that the rancher himself moved closer to Henry and was about to dismount, but stopped when the Cheyenne and Cole did so. He is now looking west, out toward his herd. Randy speaks while the Major, Travis and JEB remain silent. All of the mounts and men are now in a circle around Henry.

Finally Fielder speaks. "Is that your man out there, the one that shot Henry?" he asks, with a mix of anger and woe.

Artemus Carson slows and pulls a rearing Caliber to a halt. To the east, he catches a glimpse of hundreds of the beeves moving east, under the direction of other cowboys. Looking over his shoulder at the scene he had recently fled, he sees a group of men and mounts gathered. The shooting has stopped. To the north, he sees the last of the stray longhorns riding northeast, back toward the main herd. A solitary cowboy turns away from them and starts to ride toward Art's friends.

OOC: No need to change the map. Free flow gameplay resumes now.

The Major directs his attention to Fielder. "Yes." Turning to JEB and then Travis, he adds. "One of you should bring him in."

In reply to Major Gray (msg #915):

Recognizing Major Gray's directive as a job for a lawman, JEB answers affirmatively: "I'll bring him in."

JEB gives Fielder a cold glare and rides his horse at normal speed towards Carson. Conversation is assumed unless Carson rides away: "The major requests your presence at the gathering over yonder. I reckon you're not too keen on the idea, but I think it best to clear your name now. You did no wrong under the circumstances and I'll stand by you. Shall we go?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Sat 02 Apr 2011.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #914):

Artemus sheaths his carbine and pats Caliber’s neck trying to calm him, speaking to him in the aboriginal tongue.