The heroes take time to scan the area for clues and information in this valley, in addition to what Red Shirt had already indicated.

Richardsen sees the continuation of a trail across the valley, descending to the west-northwest and perhaps into the narrow, smaller canyon as drawn on the professor's map. He would need to get closer or use the glasses to get a better idea about it, but it seems clear that it is the only viable path out of the valley for the likes of livestock, other than the way the heroes had come in.

Windham sees some of the horse tracks moving towards a sheltered grove to the south of their initial position ... similar to the one where the heroes had hidden their own horses the previous morning. Leading Gus closer, the investigator notices the remains of a small fire which was carefully extinguished, although the fact that someone had a made a camp here was not completely eradicated -- at least to his trained eye. The Californian doesn't spy anything like a yellow bandana, or much else in particular. Nonetheless, the evidence of a recent fire and campsite is undeniable, with tracks from a half-dozen or so horses also identifiable near the camp area.

Walker casts his eyes around the general area, and focuses his ears on listening for any sounds of nearby activity that might indicate an ambush. While he convinces himself that there are no bodies near enough for such a bushwhack -- high or low -- the herbalist does notice some signs of livestock trampling the brush around the continuation of the trail across the valley, that is, the same trail that Jacob had noted was probably the only other way out of this valley for anything on four legs, anyway.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 17):

As Red Shirt spoke, the Texan's wandering gaze swept here and there, then swung back to focus on what appeared to be a trail descending to the west-northwest, mayhap leading into the narrow, smaller canyon depicted on the Perfesser's map.

Jacob raised his field-glasses, and took a long look. After a moment he removed his hat, pulled the leather strap from around his neck, and then replaced his Stetson.

Handing the field-glasses to the Paiute, Jake pointed in the direction of the trail that he had been studying. "Have a look right yonder," he suggested.

"Might be that's the way into the canyon we're a-seekin'. Waal . . . the front door, any way."

---

OOC: 17:45, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 5 using 2d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Notice Check: Using Field Glasses.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 17):

Earnest uses their pause to check the map and then to use his binoculars to look over the two sandstone rises and then the entrance to the small canyon.

17:02, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 5,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1.  Notice: Binocular scanning.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Wed 31 July 2019.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 18):

The Texan's additional look through the field glasses does nothing to change his mind about what he saw. It's clearly another path out of the valley, but he would still need to get closer to judge the difficulty of it. Still, he notices the same signs of trampled underbrush as observed by Walker, so it stands to reason that the trail must be suitable for their mounts.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 18):

Guiding his horse back to Richardsen, the Paiute accepts the field glasses and peers through them for several moments.

"Seems so. Maybe into the canyon, maybe not," says Red Shirt, returning the binoculars to the rifleman.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 19):

Earnest examines the map and then surveys the landscape with his field glasses. A closer inspection makes it no more clear as to whether the path ahead is taking them into the canyon, away from it, or even around the rim of it. The professor, too, spies the trampled the brush around the entrance to the path, just before it descends from view.

While some of the other men had focused their attention on the trail on the other side of the valley, Daniel Knight had led his small remuda towards the camp ground where Tracy Windham had explored.

Reaching the area and dismounting, the young Knight sees to the kids, first, then watches as the investigator pokes around the campfire.

"I reckon God-the-Father has brought us where we need to be. We are close, do you agree Mister Windham?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:20, Thu 01 Aug 2019.

In reply to Daniel Knight (msg # 23):

Tracy remained quiet for a moment, considering his response to the young Knight. While the investigator had been encouraged by their progress, his experiences in this field made him wary of believing he neared the end of an inquiry. You never know what waits around the next bend, whether it be the young Elizabeth Knight you seek, yet another clue, or the realization that you've been following the wrong path the whole time.

However, he didn't want to discourage Daniel. They were seeking his sister after all. Now speaking, he chose his words carefully.

"As far as how close we are to finding your sister, it is difficult to tell. I prefer to simply follow the evidence until the trail ends, rather than think about how much more trail remains. I think it keeps my mind the clearest and lets me do my best work."  He paused a moment.

"That being said, we've definitely found some good leads the last couple of days. It is certain that someone leading cattle camped here very recently, and it could very well have been our targets. It seems to me that we're likely on the right track to finding Elizabeth, as long as we keep up our focus on the task at hand."

Still listening for a reply from Daniel, Tracy walked toward the sheltered grove where the cattle may have been kept recently. He wondered if any evidence of the cattle's next move could be found.

OOC:

10:50, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 13,5 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,3.  Notice, evidence in grove.

Dice hand running hot...

In reply to Red Shirt (msg # 21):

"This is our best lead at this point right? What are we waitin' for?"

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 25):

"You tell me," says the Paiute, probably answering the second question rather than the first.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 24):

Daniel Knight replies in verse.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

In reply to Red Shirt (msg # 26):

Earnest lowers his binoculars and sighs.

I agree... there's nothing for it but to go and look. But let's make sure to watch for sentries.

Earnest rubs his chin as he looks around.

One thing's for sure; they'd never have heard our shots from yesterday down here... so unless those riders I saw did, they shouldn't have any warning that we are here.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 24):

Tracy Windham doesn't find anything new or different than any of the other signs he and his pards had discovered in the valley. The cattle and horse tracks clearly head towards the exit that the others had located.

OOC: The Judge is going to move forward at this point, based on all the PC posts and actions.

The heroes reassemble, resuming their riding order with Red Shirt at the lead as they approach the path that gives egress from the valley. They find that it quickly begins to narrow and descend, as they had surmised from their previous views through field glasses and via the naked eye. Indeed, as they already noticed, signs of livestock trampling the brush are readily evident. The trail twists and turns, similar to the switchbacks by the Narrows but not nearly as difficult -- the turns sweeping and remaining viable for the mounts and riders.

Red Shirt slows down to negotiate a wide, steep turn around a sandstone outcropping and just as you clear it, you see another span of relatively flat land stretching out between rock walls on the right and a precipitous drop into Echo Canyon on the left. Toward the far end of the flat, more than 100 yards distant and penned in near a cul-de-sac of rising sandstone, the heroes see a small herd of cattle and several horses grazing. At the southern edge of the herd, about 60 yards away and to your left, you see about a half-dozen cowpokes resting around a small campfire.

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

OOC: The heroes have Surprise. All of the PCs are on Hold to start this encounter. That means they can all act whenever they want to act, while the cowpokes are not dealt in for the initial round. The Judge dealt action cards anyway, because it was possible that one of the characters would get the Joker, which is even better than Surprise; however, no one drew the Joker.

All PCs should post actions whenever they are ready to do so. Any conflicts will be resolved by the Judge taking into account the initiative order.

Daniel  Five Spades  Third
Dave  Three Spades  Sixth
Earnest  Jack Diamonds  First
Jake Five Diamonds Fourth
Red Shirt Ten Spades, Three Clubs   Second
Tracy  Four Hearts  Fifth

EDIT: Fixed typo and added emphasis.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:56, Sat 03 Aug 2019.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 30):

Earnest pauses to raise his binoculars and observe the men.

12:18, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 1,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Notice: Men at campfire.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:19, Sat 03 Aug 2019.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 30):

The moment the other party of men came into view, Tracy readied his Colt. While the investigator was not yet prepared to fire, he wanted to take advantage of his leg up on them.

Now ready for a firefight, pistol in his right hand, Tracy withdrew his spyglass from his bags without removing his eyes from the cowpokes. Lifting the glass to his left eye, the Californian studied the group, hoping to spot a yellow bandana or any other indication of potential hostility.

OOC:

09:25, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 13,3 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+6+3)15,5.  Notice, cowpokes.

Told y'all, dice are red hot right now...

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 32):

Walker readies his rifle and keeps his eyes on the group of men, looking around at his friends with the binoculars for any sign...

"It doesn't look like Elizabeth is there does it?"

Due to the fact that Jake had been busy using his field glasses and handing them off to Red Shirt, he had his rifle slung across his back, with its leather strap running diagonally across his chest.

Noticing that some of his pards were using their own field glasses to take a closer look at the bunch whom the Texan was pretty damned sure were owlhoots of some stripe, the rifleman readied his Winchester and awaited word from those who had taken a closer look at the men they had just now happened upon.

Between that and the just-around-the-corner reaction of the other men to their having caught sight of the posse, Jake figured that things were about to become very clear, very fast.

Hearing Mister Walker's comment, Jacob drawled "Naw, but I'm supposin' they got plenty of other mens' beeves."

Red Shirt draws his carbine from its scabbard, continuing to move his mount away from the canyon ledge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:56, Sun 04 Aug 2019.

The young Knight stops and reins in the three horses in tow. Still at the rear of the formation and seeing the other riders turning to the right as the trail opens into a plateau overlooking the canyon, Daniel has the horse-sense to stop all movement. After a moment, he coaxes Rex to back up a few steps -- and the other three kids follow the leader's example.

The mounted heroes allow their horses, which were already moving slowly per the guide's lead, to continue their momentum forward into the valley, coming almost to a natural stop as they readied weapons or set their sights on the men around the morning campfire.

Both Ringgenber and Windham spy a cowpoke wearing a grubby yellow neckerchief. For the moment, neither of the two pards knows whether the other one has spied the same bandit or a different bandit.

Richardsen and Walker exchange words, while the Texan readies his Winchester and the Paiute readies his carbine and the young Knight keeps his attention focused on the kids -- at least until he hears one of the men speak of "Elizabeth." The herbalist fails to located anyone that fits the description of Elizabeth Knight.

A seventh cowpoke's head pops up on a small rise not far from Red Shirt. "HOWDY!" he announces, in a loud voice that alerts the six cowpokes around the campfire.

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

OOC: Because only Earnest specifically stated that he paused, and Red Shirt who was leading continued his slow ride (RS had slowed down per Judge's narrative when navigating the turn into the valley), the Judge is ruling that most of the men let their horses momentum continue forward to some extent.

See the slightly updated map at the end of R1.

New initiative order for R2:
The Judge is drawing individually for the PCs and as a group for the cowpokes in the valley. We will proceed from here in initiative order.

Daniel  Three Hearts  Last
Dave  Seven Hearts  Fourth
Earnest  Jack Clubs  Third
Jake Six Hearts Fifth
Red Shirt Five Hearts, Ace Spades   First
Tracy  Queen Spades  Second
Opponents  Four Diamonds Sixth

It is Tracy Windham's turn.

The Paiute holds his actions, Spencer at the ready.

EDIT: changed word to accuracy
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:08, Mon 05 Aug 2019.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 37):

OOC: Apologies if it was confusing to state that it is Tracy's turn, when RS had the Initiative. As just posted, the Paiute is holding and waiting for the lead of the PCs.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 37):

Spotting the yellow cloth was enough to ready Tracy to fire, especially in the situation where he may need to protect his friends. When he heard the cowpoke ahead of Red Shirt alert the others as to their arrival, he knew that he couldn’t waste any precious moments.

The investigator fired a round at the cowpoke a split second later, hoping to hit him before he dove back down under his cover.

OOC:

12:13, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 9,17 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(6+6+5)17.  Shooting, cowpoke on watch.

Since I am not sure what type of raises this might generate due to cover, I will wait for the Judge’s guidance on damage.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 40):

OOC: That will be a hit and a raise, so +1d6 to normal damage because of the raise. Regardless of how many raises one gets on an attack hit, the maximum added damage is +1d6.