In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 641):

08:03, Today: Judge Messalen rolled 8,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  RS Tracking.

OOC: Last call for PCs to clearly state anything that they want to take from the outlaws or the campsite. Either IC narrative or OOC shopping list is fine. If you have already stated explicitly, no need to repeat. PCs should feel free to provide narrative that goes along with the Judge's movement ahead to the horses. As noted earlier, the Judge needed to know what the PCs were going to do, but we don't need to belabor this step-by-step now that the encounter in the switchbacks has concluded.

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

The six men had departed the outlaws' campsite and ascended via the natural staircase where Windham had shot the hard case. Red Shirt led them through the narrow gap, so narrow that the men had to turn sideways ... and tapering to the point where the men with rifles had to hold them outstretched in one hand in front of or behind them as they navigated the upward slope through the gap.

The heroes recognize the area. They had camped nearby last night and hidden their horses not far away. Now, the guide and the investigator begin to search for any sign of horses -- other than their own, of course. Knowing where they had camped and secluded their own mounts, the two trackers split up and search to the southwest and southeast, around the Narrows switchbacks.

Meanwhile, Daniel Knight suggests that someone join him to retrieve the horses. The men divide themselves up to their various tasks, agreeing not to spend too long doing any of them.

Before long, maybe 20 minutes by the professor's watch, Red Shirt finds sign of what he believes are just a couple of horses. He finds Windham and asks his opinion. The Californian concurs: two sets of hooves. They follow it into some brush and then a small grove of trees. Two horses, hobbled in a similar fashion to the heroes' mounts, near some edible vegetation.

The men find nothing of particular interest on the two kids. Both are outfitted for the trail, with full tack including saddlebags and rifle scabbards, one of which is empty and one which holds a weathered Sharps carbine. Searching the saddlebags, the investigator is disappointed to find nothing in the way of a clue as he had hoped. Nevertheless, all of the men can agree with the rifleman's earlier statement about rounding up the kids ... in fact, perhaps saving their lives as they were hobbled and reasonably well-hidden from view amidst the difficult terrain around Zion Canyon.

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

OOC: Per the above narrative and OOC, the PCs should feel free to add their own narrative, dialogue, thoughts, etc. Fill in gaps or elaborate on the Judge's text.

Regardless, at this time the Judge is declaring this "session" completed. All bennies are re-set to starting numbers for each PC and the Judge (and NPC Wildcards). The adventure continues, but this would be about the end time of a tabletop gaming session in SW and therefore the Judge is treating it as such.

The Judge now expects the PCs to move the plot forward by stating their next actions. It is roughly 9:30 a.m.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 642):

Walker is contemplative as they get ready to resume their mission. Life seems cheap out here, maybe that is the lesson of life - live it and don't look back. Some live life in a virtuous manner, hoping for some great reward. Many squander their life on things that just don't matter.

~ I gbet you've got it all figured out now don't you Darla? ~

Walker took no pleasure in the death of the men back at the camp. He didn't even want any of their possessions...

~ It doesn't matter does it Darla? ~
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Wed 10 July 2019.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 642):

Jake had carried off the two extra long-arms, as well as the jerky and spices that had been in the dead men's rucksack. Everything else seemed unhelpful, given the way that the members of the posse were equipped.

"Good eye," the Texan remarked to Mister Windham and Red Shirt, after the twosome had worked together to find the two extra horses without too much wasted time or effort. Jacob slid the extra rifle that he was carrying into the empty saddle-scabbard. He planned on wrapping the second carbine in his own sleeping-blanket, which during the day was rolled up and tied behind his saddle.

Turning to Red Shirt, Jake drawled "I reckon you got a suh-spishunn 'bout whaere this bunch is holdin' Elizabeth. How close do you reckon we are?"

---

OOC: Added a word, as marked.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Wed 10 July 2019.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 644):

The Paiute casts a sidelong glance at the Texan, shaking his head gently when Jake voices his suspicion.

"No. We all saw the smoke across the canyon. We can get there before nightfall."

In reply to Red Shirt (msg # 645):

Earnest helps Daniel gather their horses and return to their previous campsite. As they wait for Tracy and Red Shirt to return, he takes the time to reload his Colt and the Starr that he had retrieved from the first dead man. When done he holsters the Colt and finds a way to secure the Starr in his belt.

When the two return, he joins the discussion, map in hand.

So you think we should continue around the other side of this canyon and head down it back towards Springdale? That sounds reasonable... and I'd prefer to stay on higher ground until we know better about where this gang is.

---

OOC: As implied above, before they left the other camp Earnest retrieves the Starr and whatever ammo he can find from the first man. At the time he thought ~ Travis always carried multiple guns... considering what we might be coming up against it's probably a good time for me to start as well... ~

In reply to Red Shirt (msg # 645):

Jake grunted. He had been hoping for more than a "we all saw the smoke" answer from Red Shirt. Clearly, the Paiute scout had been to this area before, and knew the terrain well.

That being the case, he figured that Red Shirt had a pretty fair idea where the outlaws were holed up, and might have said so -- "Given whaere we saw the smoke, I think that they are prob'ly in thus-an'-such a spot, because . . ."

In turn, that might have lead to a discussion of the terrain near that area, and the tactical considerations involved in an assault on the spot where Red Shirt suspicioned the yalla-bandannas to be hunkered down.

Jacob thought about trying to make his thoughts plainer, but he didn't wish to delay the group's getting under way . . .

---

OOC: Tweaked Jake's diction a mite to add a smidgeon more of a Texas drawl in one spot. No substantive edits.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Thu 11 July 2019.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 646):

Red Shirt mounts his horse while replying to Ringgenberg, stingy with his words, as usual. He add a sweeping gesture starting towards the north with a bending turn to the east.

"Yes. North and around to Great White Throne."

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 647):

Daniel Knight mounts Lucy. He has been inspecting the two new horses since Red Shirt and Windham brought them back to camp.

He sidles over to Richardsen, having heard the Texan's question, followed by the rifleman's grunt in reaction to the guide's answer.

"That is all you are going to get from him. You will notice, Mr. Richardsen, that I do not ask him many questions. He speaks better English than any Indian I have ever met, and yet he keeps his thoughts to himself."

The young Knight continues. "Ecclesiastes tells us there is 'a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.'  I must trust in the Lord that Red Shirt is here to help us find our path, just as He has sent you to help us rescue Elizabeth."

To everyone, Daniel asks: "I suppose I should be in charge of the remuda. I have already gotten to know Gus and Gem," he adds, pointing at the gelding and the mare the heroes had liberated from outlaws.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 12:56, Thu 11 July 2019.

In reply to Daniel Knight (msg # 649):

"Thanks, Mister Knight," Jake replied to the younger man. "As a useta-be soldier soljer, my mind just nat'rally turns to con-sid-eraeshunns that mayhap don't occur to most other people."

"Thing is, I learnt the hard waey back durin' the War that usin' the terrain right an' how men go about their bizness in a fight can maeke a big difference in who gits kilt an' who don't. I was hopin' to pick Red Shirt's brain a mite on the matter, to try to taeke ad-vantage of his knowledge of the area."

The Texan shrugged. Not everything worked out the way a man planned it . . .

---

OOC: Minor edit as marked.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Thu 11 July 2019.

In reply to Daniel Knight (msg # 649):

"Gus and Gem, huh?" Tracy eyed the two horses for a moment. "You've got quite a knack for naming horses it seems. Those seem right proper for them."

The investigator got to work preparing his gear for the journey. Before long, he had Lefty all set to head out. Windham removed an apple from his saddlebags and fed it to his trusty gelding.

"Here you go, boy."

OOC:

I'm pretty set to head out to the Throne whenever everyone is ready.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:43, Thu 11 July 2019.

OOC: Based on IC posts by PCs, and PMs between the PCs and the Judge, the Judge sees the current situation thusly:

Windham, Walker and Ricardsen are ready to continue. Ringgenberg may or may not be ready at this moment, but is in general agreement with the idea of resuming travel to the Great White Throne. Richardsen would prefer to discuss battle tactics, but no one else seems particularly interested, at least not at this time. Perhaps others would engage in such a conversation during the journey.

Therefore, the Judge is giving the PCs 24 hours to make posts before he advances the plot via Judge narrative. If any PC believes the Judge has misread the situation, please state your clarifications or objections,
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:31, Fri 12 July 2019.

OOC: See above. Please re-set your Bennies total in the character bio line.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 650):

"Maybe he will surprise, Mr. Richardsen." The young Knight looks to the heavens, ready to ride.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 650):

Walker is also interested in the upcoming battle, but Red seems tight lipped as usual.

"I guess we'll just have to figure out a plan when we get there. In any case, I am concerned that our gun fire this mornin' may have alerted the others."

"I'm expecting that we are most likely to be ambushed, instead of the other way around..."

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 655):

Earnest puts the map away and mounts up, taking a moment to give Sweet Pea a treat from the saddle bag. He moves up to Jacob.

I guess we'll locate them first, then talk tactics, eh Jacob? But I'm with you... I'd rather not dive in without a plan!

Following the Paiute's lead once again, the heroes ride north under cloudy skies. Staying on the higher elevation around the northern rim of the canyon in the first hour or so, Red Shirt tells the men he is heading towards a pass along the narrows, a safe place to cross and make some time on the mesa. The Great White Throne remains a visible landmark as they travel, rising above the rest of the landscape as they party navigates around and towards it.

Daniel Knight changes the riding order of his own volition, having taken on the mantle of the remuda boss. Atop Lucy, he takes up the rear, guiding the other kids and ensuring they stay with the group. That puts Walker in the middle anytime the horses need to travel single file, with Ringgenberg the closest to the remuda should Daniel need any assistance. Adopting a single file formation is needed from time to time, but through most of the morning, the riders find it possible to fan out or ride a few abreast to converse, if they desire.

A rain shower drenches the heroes for roughly twenty minutes, before the sun peeks through the dispersing clouds. Shortly thereafter, roughly 11:30 a.m by the professor's watch, Red Shirt turns the the east. The heroes find themselves once again in single file navigating a downward gap towards the river crossing, with the young knight at the tail of the line  and Rex, Gem and Gus between him and the professor.

So far, there has been every indication that the terrain on the east side is similar to that on the west. Mountains, crags, valleys, mesas, and generally uneven rocky terrain. It is a mite less uneven here at the northern pass, but the men have already glimpsed more of the same to the east, as the Throne now looms to the southeast.

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

OOC: Riding and Vigor checks are needed for all, same as we did earlier in the travel. The Riding check, as before, isn't for a single immediate effect, although a failure will mean the group needs to slow down, and at least the man who fails the check will need to dismount and walk his horse for some time.

The PCs should feel free continue to conversations about tactics, terrain, etc., as the Judge continues to narrate travel. This is the first pause for that purpose along with some travel-related rolls.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 657):

Jake found that he had let his mind wander more so than he should when he noticed Jack drifting out of their tight single-file line -- a result, he soon concluded, of his keeping too tight a hand on the reins instead of letting the kid have more leeway to pick his own path.

Luckily, however, the Texan noticed his error and corrected it before any harm was done.

He spotted the fast-moving clouds before the rain-shower hit them, and judged that it would blow over quickly. He would have to suffer through a short drenching, but in his opinion it the rain was not going to stick around long enough to justify his halting Jack and pulling his Fish out of his saddlebags, then reversing the process once the rain-shower had ended.

---

OOC:

14:25, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 2 using 2d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Riding Check.

14:29, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 2,8 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+2)8.  Benny Re-Roll for Riding Check.


14:29, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 4,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1.  Vigor Test (Riding).

Notes: Jake's Biography has been edited to account for a Benny being used. Easy come, easy go.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 657):

Earnest started feeling some fatigue but managed to rally through it. Unfortunately, Sweet Pea acted up a bit during the rain so he had to dismount and lead her for a while.

12:44, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 2,1 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Riding check.

12:44, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 5,16 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+6+4)16.  Vigor check Bennie re-roll.

12:43, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 3,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Vigor check.

OOC: Both Walker and Windham asked the Judge, in PM, for confirmation on the unskilled Riding attempt. Awaiting their rolls before continuing.

Remember, this pause was also to allow PCs to converse, if desired.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 657), Jacob Richardsen (msg # 658):

Tracy felt more comfortable atop Lefty this time around, guiding him more naturally along the uneven ground.

To Jake, Tracy posed a question.

"It seemed you might have wanted to discuss some battle tactics earlier. What do you think we might have to worry about?"

OOC:

11:34, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 4,0 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6,2.  Riding check.

11:34, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 1,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Vigor check.

11:35, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 5,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1.  Vigor check (2).


This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Sun 14 July 2019.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 657):

Walker is starting to really enjoy riding with Ned. He has had horses before but there is something about this horse that is special. He loves talking to Ned, comforting him with kindness and soft sounds, along with the occasional vigorous pat on the neck and heartfelt encouragement.

It's almost like for the first time he has established a connection with such a wonderful animal.

Overhearing Tracy's question to the Texan Walker chimes in... "I'm worried about getting ambushed, keep your eyes peeled gentlemen...I have a feeling we won't have the opportunity to strategize."

OOC:

Riding check:

12:08, Today: Dave Walker rolled 3,5 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5,(6+1)7.  Riding check.

Vigor check:

12:09, Today: Dave Walker rolled 8,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,2.  Vigor check.

While the topic of what lay ahead had arisen during the morning's travel, for the most part the heroes had ridden in silence, each man preoccupied with his own thoughts or with the journey itself. Everyone had to slow down at one point, not long after the morning rain, as the professor and Sweet Pea were having trouble along one of the narrow downward stretches. Daniel Knight offers to change horses, but truly there is nothing to be done about it presently because of the current terrain.

Deciding in favor of discretion, Earnest dismounts and walks the kid. Daniel follows suit, saying for all to hear that he is finding it difficult to handle the remuda on the narrow passes. He ties the horses together in a line with Lucy in the lead and walks alongside the mare. The riders ahead, ultimately including the guide, realize that they are gaining distance on their pards at the end of the line and so everyone must slow down in order to avoid separation. Finally, all of the men dismount, continuing the winding stretch downward toward the river.

Although their progress is slower than hoped-for, the men reach another mesa near the river. The crossing that Red Shirt has in mind becomes clear, ahead. Daniel decides to switch horses as the men re-mount with a flat space in front of them leading to the fjord. He recommends that others give their horses a rest, as well, if not today, then tomorrow. The young Knight wonders aloud about whether they should keep the other kids mounted, or leave behind the saddles belonging the horses previous outlaw owners. Daniel concludes that it is a decision to be made at their next camp.

The crossing proves easy enough. Now on the eastern side, the Paiute continues to lead the heroes across the difficult terrain. Ups and downs and twists and turns become the norm. Two more rain showers soak the riders during the early afternoon. Walking the horses from time-to-time, the party gradually makes ground to the east. The Throne rises directly to their south for an hour or so, before Red Shirt begins to cut a path to the southeast, bending around the mountain. By late afternoon, the heroes have ridden away from the rain.

The guide begins to tell the men to start looking for a place to camp unless they find something . . . at which point Red Shirt slows down and dismounts, looking more closely at the ground.

OOC: If any of the PCs wants to change horses, he should state that, including whether he switched saddles or just mounted a different one.

PCs may pause for conversation or any trait tests they desire to make.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 663):

"Tracks. Cattle and horses. Maybe one day old."

Even with some rain having passed through this area, the number of hooves and the traffic seems clear once the others have gathered near the Paiute and spied what he has found.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 661):

and

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 662):

and

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 663):

"Waal, it warn't so much a worry as 'twas hopin' to git a leg up on thinkin' ahead as to how we might want to go at these rascals," Jake had replied to Mister Windham's inquiry.

When Mister Walker spoke of the possibility of their getting ambushed, the Texan nodded. "Could be. We already got caught with our trousers down around our ankles by them last two. 'Course, when all was said an' done, it din't turn out so good for them. But it could be that we was a mite lucky. Hope our run of good luck holds."

---

By now, Jake was more or less used to the slow going over the winding, difficult terrain, and had decided that patience was the better part of valor. He breathed a sigh of relief that the river-crossing was accomplished without incident -- he had seen some that would give a brave man pause.

The rain showers came and went, which was another good thing. Jake had first thought of it as a "blessing", but shied away from that line of thinking. ~Hell, I'd best watch myself. I don't want to turn into another Bible-thumper like young Knight, yonder.~

When Red Shirt spotted the sign, Jake halted Jack alongside him. He could see marks on the ground, but insofar as he could see, a herd of chickens might have passed this way.

"How many of the horses was bein' rid?" he asked the Paiute.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 665):

Earnest looks at the signs and is about as clueless as Jacob.

Which direction were they going? Do either of you locals know if any ranchers make use of this area either for grazing or transport to market?