In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 4):

Tommy wounds healed slowly but well enough that he now felt like his old self. He spent his time in town with the pards, sharing a drink or two each evening and as always trading stories. It was also chance to get to know the town and some of the townsfolk as well. Tommy worked when he could to make ends meet. He lent his skill as a mechanic to help one of the ranches with a broken pump. He got to know the locals working to build the church and helped them with the raising of the bell into the tower. It was a short enjoyable period of living a more domestic life but as they assembled to head out he felt the familiar excitement of being on the move once again.

As they entered into Echo Canyon he reimagined the scenes of the gunfight as if he were sitting high on the canyon walls and looking down as the battle played out. Today it was quiet except for the wind twisting around canyon walls and past their faces.

"Agreed" he said to Tracy " I imagine it's surely easier to manage in the daylight"  "

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 4):

~Ain't bad, but ain't nuthin' speshall, neither,~ Jake concluded. Now that he was getting on in years -- at least a little . . . whenever he thought back on it, he realized that it had been over 16 years since he had enlisted, and over 12 since General Lee had surrendered -- the Texican had been studying everywhere he visited, with an eye towards needing to put down some roots, sooner or later.

From time to time he thought about how he was better off than some -- hell, just bein' above snakes put him in better shape than many of the men he had known over the years. But when it came right down to it, all that he could claim as his own after all his years on earth were the clothes on his back, some weapons and gear -- and now, a horse. He was no better than what some folks called a "saddle tramp".

Jacob rubbed his chin-whiskers as he rode into the canyon where they had had the shoot-out with the Yella Bandanna Boys. There were surely some good things about the Towns -- Mon-shure Pwa-reh-eh and his airship were interesting, Taylor seemed like a good fellow (if a little odd), Sheriff Anderson seemed to know his bizness, Mister Knight and the other ranchers seemed like solid people, Miz Larsen ran a good boarding-house . . . but it all just seemed to run along the lines of "Ho-Hum." Jake could think of nothing abut this area that exploded in his head like a 4th of July firework and yelled at him "This is it, boy! This is the place for you, sure enough!"

The Texican has just about concluded that he had seen nothing thus far to make him want to sink roots into the area when Mister Windham asked his question about making their night-camp in the canyon. All of the others seemed to think that it was a good idea not to try and press on into difficult terrain with the daylight fading, and Jacob did not disagree.

"Fine by me," the rifleman added. Then, glancing over at the Californian, he added. "Good job of nav-igae-shunn gettin' us here, Mister Windham. Red Shirt hisself couldn't have done it no better."

OOC: Since there are now only 4 heroes with no extras or nonplayer Wild Cards, the Judge will ask the players to set a night watch plan. Additionally, whenever they move on, they won't be able to take their horses, so the Judge requests some kind of instructions. Feel free to roleplay discussion, talk around the campfire, whatever. Once a night watch is set, the Judge will adjudicate any overnight encounters (should they occur) or narrate the passage of time until morning.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 7):

Tracy nods to the Texican, appreciating the compliment. “Thanks, Jake, but in some way Red Shirt did help get us here. I learned a lot of what I know from him.”

Turning to the others, the investigator offers some more thoughts about their current situation. “We won’t be able to take our horses with us tomorrow. I guess we’ll have to find a good place to hide them in the morning. I’ll scout around and look for a spot while you all decide the night watch. Give me any open spot; I don’t have a preference.”

Tracy and Brownie ride a short distance away, seeking a good spot for the group’s mounts.

OOC:

00:37, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 1,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Notice; hiding spot.

Off to a good start...

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 9):

OOC: Consider it getting the CF out of the way.
------------------------

Tracy looks around the valley, remembering the secluded dale's limitations. He feels a mite embarrassed, wasting time looking for a place to hide the horses when he already knew there was none. The kids could be left here in the valley to graze, same as the first time the group, with Dave Walker, made the trek to the bandit hideout. Otherwise, any attempt to hide them probably means taking them back out of the valley, farther away from the heroes and no safer. The only danger is if someone or something enters the valley. The investigator returns to the camp, sheepishly.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 10):

Earnest walks Patches over to the pasture area and begins unsaddling him.

I believe we can just leave the kids here tomorrow, but do we want to tie them or hobble them so they don't wander off? That wasn't a problem last time, but if we get to the cave unmolested, I'm not sure how long we'll be there...

After a moment of thought, he adds: I can take the last watch, if no one objects.

OOC: Any results from Earnest's earlier notice roll?

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 11):

OOC: My apologies, Earnest.
---------------------------

The professor looks for signs of recent activity in the valley, but he finds none. Alas, he is no tracker, so he knows all he might find are obvious telltales, such as warm embers in the fire pit or swaths of pasture grass eaten down. The campfire seems long cold and the professor and the others had already seen that the grass had grown in the last two months.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 12):

~Perhaps I’m a bit too excited to be back in the canyon,~ Tracy thinks to himself, shaking his head. “I’ll take first watch, after some more thought. I think I need to wind down a bit longer.”

He noticed the Professor searching for signs of recent travel in the area, so the investigator put his improved tracking skills to the test once again.

OOC:

22:59, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 3,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1.  Survival, recent tracks in area.

23:00, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 4,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Survival 2.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 8):

and

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 11):

and

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 13):

Jake had set about removing the saddle and tack from Roan, having already concluded that they would be leaving their horses behind for the next leg of their journey.  He heard Mister Windham voice the same conclusion, and the Texican added "Reckon this is a right good place for 'em -- it's pretty eye-so-laeted, so's they oughtta be fine 'less one of them big cats gets after 'em . . . or some more Yella Bandanna Boys show up, I s'pose. But I don't see no way 'round leavin' em here."

After removing the saddle and tack, Jacob set them over to the side, and removed a small camp shovel from his saddlebags. Then he set about digging a fire pit.

After hearing the Perfesser and Mister Windham call out their preferences for when they would stand Watch, Jake said "Don't matter much to me. Reckon I'll taeke second Watch, so you can waeke me when you're ready to stand down, Mister Windham -- if'n I ain't already awaeke, that is."

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 14):

Tommy follows suit and unloads his gear and tack from Lad. He gives him an apple

"That's the last of the goodies my friend, you'll have to make due with grass for a while"

He packs as much of his gear as he can fit into his duffel bag and bedroll. Using rope he will be able to fashion an awkward but serviceable pack which can be carried on his back. For now he throws the bedroll down and joins the others near the fire pit

"Guess I'll take last watch along with the professor."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Wed 25 Nov 2020.

Windham detects the sign of some four-footed wildlife. Probably mule deer and mountain lions, as the men have encountered both on the buttes and mesas in their travels. Nothing recent, that is, not in the last few days, he believes.

The investigator notices Jake looking at the spring. Another aspect of learning from Red Shirt involved an improvement in the Californian's ability to hunt and forage. Tracy finds himself estimating the number of creatures this spring can water in a day. Probably several if nature were left to attend to herself. Maybe a dozen or more if a body had the notion to collect water from the spring.

At which point, both the Texican and the Californian notice two wooden buckets near the spring. Funny that they had never noticed these before, although both are tucked away near the edge of the rocky canyon walls. So perhaps they just never noticed, or maybe the buckets weren't there two months ago. No tellin'.

The men settle in for their night of rest. Windham takes the first watch, which passess uneventfully. He wakes Richardsen for the second stint. The Texican heard noises in the night ... wildlife he reckons, although he spies no creatures. Jake rouses Pearce next, advising him to wake the professor a little later on. Finally, as the sun rises to the east, spilling light into the dale, the heroes break their fasts with rations, fill their canteens from the spring and make sure the horses are watered.

Eager to use the full light of this day, the men make their final preparations before tackling the rockslide climb. The Irishman's duffle bag reminds everyone of Dave Walker, who carried his belongings in a similar way.

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

OOC: The Judge needs final "consensus" or agreement on whether the horses are hobbled or left to graze freely. Pearce gave some notes about preparation...anyone else who wants to make special notes here or in PM should do so.
See the game map for Group 2. The Judge is proceeding with the idea that the heroes, once their preparation is sorted, will travel down the passage and into the rockslide area.

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

The four heroes squeeze through the narrow passage, with Windham in the lead. Jake, Tracy, and Earnest remember the first time they came here, with Red Shirt guiding them. If Pearce had harbored questions about why the horses couldn't proceed, or any of the other three hadn't remembered, those questions were soon answered by a sharp turn early in the passage. It requires each man to turn sideways for a few seconds, slowing down to navigate the turn. It is no hardship for a man, but impassable for anything larger than a mountain lion.

Now, having passed through the twisting rocky passage, the heroes come to a dead end  ... a wide, almost circular open space at least 20 yards in diameter at the end of the passage. Stopping just beyond the entrance to the circle, the men take in the sandstone walls rising high around them, except for straight ahead, where a sizable gap opens above a small rockslide about 50 or 60 feet up. It looks steep ... and high enough to the trail above to require some kind of climbing effort upwards.

The professor points out the two paths upwards, each of which has two spikes embedded in the rocks for tying rope -- one roughly halfway up and one near the top -- although no ropes are affixed, presently. Jake remembers the trail at the top; he and Red Shirt had shot down a couple of bandits there after the YBB's ambush. The rifleman reminds everyone of the trail at the top of the slide, stretching generally to the north and south, but neither of them can discern anything more about that trail, from this vantage point. The trio who had traversed the trail before remember that the path to left ended in a dead end, while the one to the right took them, eventually, to the bandit's hideout.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 16):

After surveying the area for signs of ambush, Earnest unslings a loop of rope and prepares it for the stakes.

I'm afraid that with my weakened arm, someone else will have to climb to attach this rope to those stakes... but it will make it easier for the rest!

Earnest had made sure that they were prepared for this foray, with plenty of rope and lanterns for both the cave and the path along the way.

Whoever does climb should do so cautiously... I wouldn't but it past those bandits to have left behind some traps.

---

OOC: With regard to the buckets, Earnest inspects them for signs of recent use (i.e., moisture inside or an accumulation of blown-in debris indicating non-use).

11:36, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 3,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Notice: Inspect buckets.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Fri 27 Nov 2020.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 17):

In Earnest's opinion, no one has used these buckets in a some time. One of them is turned upside down, somewhat settled into the earth around it. After turning it upright, the professor sees it is mostly dry inside. The other sits upright, it's interior slightly damp, which Ringgenberg believes resulted from natural rain. A bit of moss grows in the bottom.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 18):

Before leaving Tommy wasn't sure about hobbling the horses. He'd seen them used once or twice back in Ireland on the local farms but had no idea if it was really advisable here.

"We don't want them getting spooked and running off in a thunderstorm, maybe even falling into the canyon but if there's mountain lions here they won't have a chance constricted that way..still maybe a mountain lion wouldn't attack a horse, not really their natural prey...but if it was particularly hungry maybe it would fancy a go.."

He looked around at the pards as he debated it with himself and finally reached his own personal conclusion..."I guess I'd hobble them and hope there's enough mule deer to keep the mountain lions fed"

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

Arriving at the dead end Tommy looks up at the high walls and the rock fall. He'd scrambled up a few craggy rock piles in his time and although it was a decent climb he felt he could make it,

"I'll give it a try professor unless anyone else feels strongly about going up "

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 19):

Tracy nods at Pearce’s assessment of hobbling the horses. “I agree.”

Now through the passage, Tracy stares at the rock face before them. His mind flashes back to their previous trip; the investigator is excited to give it another go.

“I’ll do it,” he replies to Tommy. Taking the rope from the Professor, Windham readies himself for his ascent. He takes a deep breath.

OOC:

13:12, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 5,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Athletics, climbing.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 20):

The Californian makes the climb up to the first spike. Like Red Shirt more than two months ago, he tests the rocks, finding them mostly stable. He pulls himself up with hand holds while carefully lifting and placing one foot after the other in a position to push upwards, yard by yard and in no hurry.

The rockslide, while steep, is not as treacherous as the face of one of the sandstone canyon walls. Windham moves a little more slowly once he is is within 5-10 feet of the first piton, which is roughly halfway up. He finds a good hand hold and pulls himself atop a boulder just above the spike. Now, jabbing a few times with his right foot, he searches for a foothold to launch himself upwards. He pushes off and scrambles to the boulder, sitting atop it like the Paiute.

The investigator slips the rope from his shoulder. He eyes the piton and the length of the rope. Long enough to tie and drop down for others to use. Not long enough to tie halfway. Looks like someone else needs to climb up with another coil of rope, before he ascends to the top.

OOC: Tracy succeeded. Anyone who uses the rope he sends down from the first piton gets +2 to Athletics for climbing. Someone needs to climb up with more rope, if the group wants to continue this strategy with another rope affixed to the 2nd piton at the top of the rockslide. The Judge rules Tracy could not ascend with more than one coil of rope without taking a penalty, therefore the current situation.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 21):

Tommy grabs the end of rope sent down by Tracy and starts climbing up with his own rope over his shoulder

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:05, Today: Thomas Pearce rolled 13,3 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,1.  Athletics roll -climbing

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 22):

Earnest watches Tracy and Tommy climb with a look of slight concern.

Watch out for traps... make sure those pitons are secure too!

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 22):

Pearce follows the same path upwards taken by Windham. With the rope, the mechanic finds relatively easygoing. Always amazing what the right tool can do, he thinks to himself as he plants his feet firmly on an outcropping and wedges his back against the rocks, just beneath the investigator.

The Irishman feels confident in his position, as he hoists up the coil of rope to the investigator. The Californian takes the coil, slings it over his shoulder, and readies himself for the second half of the climb.

OOC: Tommy's raise will allow him to easily assume Tracy's place on the boulder just above the spike, as soon as Tracy begins to climb up. Tracy needs to make another Athletics check for the next stage of the climb. Please alert the Judge if any additional precautions are taken.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 24):

Emboldened by he and Tommy’s successful first climbs, Tracy scales the next section with incredible ease. In fact, the investigator even surprises himself when he reaches the next outcropping; it still felt like he had just started climbing. The climb complete, Windham fixes the rope and drops it down to Pearce.

OOC:

00:30, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 12,20 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12,(6+6+6+2)20.  Athletics, climbing 2nd leg.

There aren’t any radioactive spiders around, are there?

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 25):

Jake stood down at the bottom of the steep-faced rock slide and looked on as his pards made the tying off of the ropes look easy. He found himself wondering what the Yella Bandanna Boys were doing, now that El Presidente' was going to be in the hoosegow for a good long while. He was sure that they were still in the area, having seen two men that he would have bet good money on as being part of the gang, back in the Towns.

~Wonder if'n Mister Tan Stetson has stepped into El Presidente's boots? He looked to be pretty high up amongst 'em back durin' them dust-ups we had -- mayhap even their segundo.~

The Texican laid his Winchester atop his right shoulder, with the barrel pointing back behind him. It could be that they were being observed at this very moment. He felt certain that the Yella Bandanna Boys knew the area better than he and his pards did, which meant that they probably knew all the best hidey-holes and observation points.

Jacob thought about saying something to his pards about what was on his mind, but decided not to. They were fully-growed men, and surely knew to be on the alert -- after all, all of them had traded lead with the gang of hardcases twice now, and everyone knew how dangerous they were.

~Waal, it ain't like none uhv us ain't seen the Elephant afore our own damnselves,~ the rifleman thought to himself. ~We ain't 'zackly a passel uhv greenhorns just wanderin' 'round out here.~

---

OOC: Edit: Fixed a typo and added a little descriptive wording -- no substantive changes.

Edit #2:
11:44, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 4,9 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+3)9.  Notice Check re: Noticin' Anything Whilst Standin' Round.

I decided to add a Notice Check, just in case there is anything worth noticing while Jake is standing around at the foot of the rock slide, waiting for his pards to get the ropes rigged. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 25) and Jacob Richardsen (msg # 26:)

Windham scurries up the rockslide to the uppermost spike, easily finding a secure spot to brace himself while he ties the second rope. So far, the task has proven easy, perhaps because the heroes have experience with this rockslide under their belt. Despite the professor's warning, neither Tracy nor Tommy experience or even notice anything like a trap.

The investigator can hold his current position, or climb a few more feet to pull himself over the top and onto the ledge on the other side.

Meanwhile, Richardsen muses to himself and scans the area for any signs of the YBBs—or anything else hereabouts. He looks up to the top of the rockslide and around the rising walls that form this open space. He sees nothing of particular interest in the canyon terrain, although he notices what might be rain clouds overhead. The rifleman is no expert on the weather, but he has seen a rainstorm or three in his time ... so anytime he sees dark clouds he wonders if they might bring rain.

OOC: Radioactive spiders, hmm ... well, the professor did warn everyone about traps, so who knows?

Character who wish to climb may make two rolls (one more for Tommy) for the ascent, gaining +2 to the Athletics roll by using the rope for each section of the climb. For Earnest, the +2 will offset his -2 penalty for actions requiring the use of two arms. Tracy doesn't have to make any rolls to pull himself over the top, but the Judge isn't making any assumptions about such actions at this time. Tracy should post what he's doing while others climb, and each climber should narrate the ascent including whether they pull themselves over the top, go to the next level, or stay in place for a time. There is enough space/footholds/handholds for two people at each "spike point" on the climb (e.g., like when Tommy and Tracy did the hand-off), so please post your narrative to mesh with those that go before you or after you (for example, if Tommy goes up and Tracy stays where he is, then no one else can climb to the second spike until one of them goes over the top, and same with the first spike, if Tommy stays, then Jake and Earnest must join him one at a time until one of the two moves up).

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 27):

Earnest watches both Tracy and Tommy's climbs carefully, knowing he'll need every advantage with his weak arm. Once Tracy gets to the top and starts securing the upper rope, he advances.

Well, may as well get this over...

His initial climb to Tommy's level goes well. Since he seemed on a roll, he decides to carry on up to Tracy; that climb goes a bit slower, but is equally uneventful.

17:39, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 7,2 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7,2.  Athletics - Climb.

17:43, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 1,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Athletics - 2nd climb leg.

Once at the top with Tracy, he squeezes by him and slides to the ledge on the other side then looks up to Tracy.

Remember to drop the rope on this side to make it easier to get back up... I'm going to scout down the dead-end path while the others get up... I'll be right back.

Earnest draws his pistol and walks carefully down the path that leads to the dead-end, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

17:50, Today: Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg rolled 11,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,5.  Notice - Observing path to dead-end.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:51, Fri 04 Dec 2020.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 28):

Earnest meets his first significant challenge requiring both hands. Surely, he felt at least a twinge of anxiety as he started to climb, but clearly the rope makes a difference. Ringgenberg proves to himself that while his disability may make some things a mite more difficult, it cannot stop him from enjoying further adventures.

He travels down the way to the dead end. Same as it appeared more than two months ago, it seems nothing more than a natural endpoint. Despite taking his time and scanning the area thoroughly, the professor finds nothing out of the ordinary.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 28):

Tracy simply nods to the Professor as the latter turns down the path.

He stays at the second spike for now, just in case Tommy requires assistance with his ascent. Once the Irishman reached the spike, Windham planned to lift himself over the final ledge.

OOC:

This action feels like Support. Should I make the roll now or wait until Tommy’s Athletics roll?