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01:51, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

IIA - Hiding Places.

Posted by MarshalFor group 0
Marshal
GM, 248 posts
W6 R3 B0
Thu 12 Jul 2018
at 02:36
  • msg #1

IIA - Hiding Places

Prior to her departing the Patron House, Ike Ellis had stopped Jacinta Castillo. ”Ma’am, Quinn Murdock, the stage driver had asked after you earlier this evening, Wanted to know if he could interest you in a spot of work, doing some scouting for him. He went down to San Patricio before sundown. There was a fella there with some stage guard experience hunting work that Quinn wanted to talk to. But he’ll be back in the morning, if you want to meet him up at the livery.”

When she arrives at the Ellis Store shortly after sunup, she finds Ike walking a bay pony in one of the corrals. Nearby, she can hear the ring of a hammer as it shapes a new horseshoe. Ellis waves and points out Quinn Murdock, who is loitering on a bench beside the entrance to Ellis’ shop, cleaning his rifle. The stagecoach driver looks up as Castillo approaches. ”Morning, ma’am,” he says, tipping his hat, ”You come real highly recommended as a scout. I was wondering if I could hire you out for the day. I’m willing to pay well for your help.”
Jacinta Castillo
player, 107 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Thu 12 Jul 2018
at 05:26
  • msg #2

IIA - Hiding Places

"Morning," she said in friendly greeting, resting her rifle on her shoulder.  "I'm amiable to the job, if the pay is fair.  Been lookin' for work." She rested her hip against the hitching post.  "What sort of scouting you need done?  Need to get my horse from Ellis if I'm traveling a piece.  Give me the details, amigo."
Quinn Murdock
NPC, 6 posts
Fri 13 Jul 2018
at 16:39
  • msg #3

IIA - Hiding Places

”Little after sundown yesterday, I found out some packers using the same route I use for the stage got held up and robbed blind. Taken for almost all they had.” He spits in the dirt. ”Some of it’s Jesse Evans and his gang. Some of its others that have been made more bold because of Evans. People are less and less afraid of the law around here.”

“Worst of it’s been within two or three miles of Lincoln. Way I see it, if there’s trouble, I need a spot or two along the route, where I can either wait out danger or make a stand.”

“Aileen Kearney says she’s seen a couple of possibilities while she’s been out hunting mustangs, but she’s not a scout. Not like you. She’s not gonna see all ways a place could be defended, or taken advantage of. I want you to ride the route I normally take, check the spots she’s found, along with any others you come across. Me and the new guard I just hired on will come along.”

“Ten dollars for your trouble. I’ll make it twenty if you can find me a couple of spots to keep from getting robbed.”

Jacinta Castillo
player, 108 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Sat 14 Jul 2018
at 01:45
  • msg #4

IIA - Hiding Places

"Sure, Mr. Murdock.  I'm amiable.  Can scout you out a few locations, no problem.  Just let me get my horse, and I'll be with you shortly."  She ambled off to get her mare from Ellis and gear up for the trail.  When she returned, she was riding a black mustang and had on her chaps and poncho.  She carried her rifle in one hand, resting it on her leg as she rode.  "Ready when you are."
Quinn Murdock
NPC, 7 posts
Sat 14 Jul 2018
at 15:34
  • msg #5

IIA - Hiding Places

Murdock has gathered his own horse, a palomino, while waiting for Castillo’s return. ”I’m real appreciative of your help, ma’am,” he tells her. Taking the lead, he rides out onto the Main Street, heading east of Lincoln at a trot.

The pair reach a clearing where another pair of riders are waiting. One, Castillo recognizes immediately as Aileen Kearney. The mustanger smiles and tugs on the brim of her straw hat when she sees the scout. The other figure is a dark haired man with a mustache astride a dapple gray. A Peacemaker is holstered at his hip and a Winchester rifle hangs from a scabbard on his saddle.

”I think you and Miss Kearney already know each other,” Murdock says, gesturing to the the stranger, “This fella’s my new stage guard.”
Jacinta Castillo
player, 109 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Sat 14 Jul 2018
at 19:16
  • msg #6

IIA - Hiding Places

"My pleasure, Mr. Murdock.  Always good to be out riding free on the trail." Her horse broke into a trot to keep pace.  When they met their trail partners, she touched the brim of her hat in greeting.

"Miss Kearney, nice ta see you again," Jacinta said to Aileen before looking to the stranger.  "Hola, amigo.  I'm Jacinta Castillo."
Tom Horn
NPC, 1 post
Sun 15 Jul 2018
at 18:10
  • msg #7

IIA - Hiding Places

The guard nods and offers a gloved hand. ”Thomas Horn,” he answers, ”Pleasure.”
Quinn Murdock
NPC, 8 posts
Sun 15 Jul 2018
at 18:10
  • msg #8

IIA - Hiding Places

Murdock indicates the trail, which can be easily discerned by the well worn rivets in the soil, carved by the passage of coaches and carts. ”About a mile down the trail, there was a spot that looked promising to me,” he explains to Castillo, ”I’m sure you’ll see it when we get there. It slopes down off the main trail into the trees. There’s some deadfall around it that’s created a clear enough path that I think I could get the coach through. I’m just not sure what’s further back. You object to riding up front with me? Leading the way?”

OOC: Please go ahead and provide me with Tracking and Knowledge: Wilderness Lore rolls.
Jacinta Castillo
player, 110 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Sun 15 Jul 2018
at 19:47
  • msg #9

IIA - Hiding Places

She shook the guard's hand with a smile, taking an instant liking to him.  He seemed an amiable, stable sort of fellow, not at all prone to homicidal tendencies or irrational killing.  Giving Murdock a nod, she turned her horse to the trail and started off alongside him, keeping her eyes open to the surrounding area, searching for places that would be safe for the coach.

"Teamster seems a dangerous profession in these times," she commented as they rode.  Her mind turned to their own harrowing ride into Lincoln. "You been hit a lot?"



Rolls are a bust.

12:45, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 1,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  Knowledge: Wilderness Lore.
12:45, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 2,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Tracking.

Quinn Murdock
NPC, 9 posts
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 02:46
  • msg #10

IIA - Hiding Places

”Only once or twice,” Murdock says, ”but let’s say let’s say I’m not eager to make it a habit. The packers and wagons that use the same trail...they haven’t fared as well. Listening to the stories, you can tell that the bandits are getting bolder. It’s only a matter of time before they try their luck.’

He frowns. ”And problems like those damned wolves we ran into during your trip up here, they’re becoming a lot more common.”

The pines grow taller as the riders proceed, the trail losing some of its light despite ithe morning sun. After a trio of wide turns, Castillo sights the deadfall that Murdock had mentioned, along with the clear slope that leads away from the main trail into the shelter of the trees. The opening is wide enough, to the scout’s estimation, for the stagecoach to enter, but only just. From her vantage point astride her mustang, Castillo cannot see how far back the clearing leads.

The buzz of a few insects fills the quiet. ”Not sure how you work. Want any of us to go with you to have a look?” Murdock asks.
Jacinta Castillo
player, 114 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 03:02
  • msg #11

IIA - Hiding Places

"If you want to come along, I won't say no.  Two sets of eyes are better than one."  She rose in her stirrups and waved her hat at the others with a smile.  "Going off trail.  If you hear shootin', come quick."  Turning her mare toward the forest, she set off to have a look at the clearing.


20:01, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 9,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5.  Notice.
Aileen Kearney
NPC, 10 posts
Wed 18 Jul 2018
at 16:23
  • msg #12

IIA - Hiding Places

"I'll go with her," Kearney tells Murdock, "I'm used to squeezing through the brush, chasin' wild horses."

Clicking her tongue, she urges her mount to follow Castillo.
Marshal
GM, 255 posts
W6 R3 B0
Wed 18 Jul 2018
at 16:24
  • msg #13

IIA - Hiding Places

Venturing down the slope, Casillo finds herself on a pathway where the air is notably cooler, the tall pines on either side of the trail casting deep shadows that give it the appearance of being an hour ahead of the dawn. Castillo is able to pick out a few animal tracks on the ground, deer and coyote, but nothing that suggests that men or horses have traveled it recently.

The clearing travels back for perhaps a hundred feet before shtifting to the right at a diagonal angle for several paces, then halting abruptly at a large pile of gray deadfall. Looking about, Castillo feels certain that some kind of tree blight infected some of the pines here decades ago.

Tactically, she understands that the spot would be of limited use to Murdock. The stage driver could maneuver the coach in and out of the narrow trail, provided he was careful, But entering and exiting is a one way trip. Defensively, it would favor attackers on foot. It could serve as a hiding spot, especially at dusk or nighttime, but only if pursuers did not see the stagecoach enter the place beforehand.
Jacinta Castillo
player, 115 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 01:14
  • msg #14

IIA - Hiding Places

"Don't like it," Jacinta told Aileen.  "Maybe good for hiding, but not when under duress.  Too much of a death trap. Too hard to get into and out of without being seen."  She set her mare to walk about the place, exploring, but a second look told her nothing else of use.  Tilting her head back toward the trail, she nudged her mount back in that direction.  "Let's go see if the next site is better."
Aileen Kearney
NPC, 11 posts
Sat 21 Jul 2018
at 15:48
  • msg #15

IIA - Hiding Places

Kearney nods as she looks about. ”I see what you’re sayin’. You got that coach worked back into this spot, you’d be stuck. At the mercy of whoever was chasin’ you.”

The two return to the main trail, where Castillo shares her opinion with Murdock, who accepts her assessment without question.

Kearney points. ”A bit further down, I came across a clearing while I was out huntin’ Phantom one morning. I didn’t end up exploring it too much, but it looked promising. I’m going by memory, but it looked big enough for the coach.”

The group continues their ride, sunlight glinting through the gaps in the pines, an occasional breeze prompting their needled limbs to whisper softly. After half a mile, the mustanger identifies a gap on the left of the trail that slants off into the trees. A quick glance tells Castillo that Kearney’s memory was correct, the opening is easily wide enough to permit passage of the stagecoach. After a few feet, the area becomes shadowed by the thick foliage surrounding it.

OOC: Please give me a Notice and a Tracking roll.
Jacinta Castillo
player, 116 posts
Half-breed Scout
P4 T5 W0 F0 W3 R1 B2 L0
Mon 23 Jul 2018
at 05:54
  • msg #16

IIA - Hiding Places

Jacinta turned her mare to the trail found by Aileen, and leaned on her pommel as she rode, glancing at the foliage and the ground.  Her eyes swept over the trees surrounding them, head slightly cocked to listen.



22:50, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 7,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Notice.
22:51, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 3,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Trakcing.

Marshal
GM, 262 posts
W6 R3 B0
Wed 25 Jul 2018
at 00:27
  • msg #17

IIA - Hiding Places

As Castillo and Kearney advance a few paces in, the scout notices that the shaded soil has been recently trod by a pair of horses. Shoed horses. The two riders advanced further back into the clearing, following the path southward, before descending another short slope that curves to the west under the cover of several tall piƱon trees.
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