Horror on the River of No Return Chapter 1 Recruitment-

[welsh]

Intro-

Up the River of No Return, a desolate stretch of highland far to the north of the Oregon Trail, winter comes early. Mountain men gather at a small wood and stone trading post as a sudden snow falls, blanketing the land in a deathly stillness.

These are the last of the mountain men. Some continue to search for the elusive and rare beaver, or hunt other game for pelts, but there is little left of the fur trade and they continue out of force of habit rather than pecuniary gain, reluctant to give up a way of life. Some of the men have abandoned the fur trade to lead settlers coming over mountain passes once crossed by Lewis and Clark. Others lead prospectors looking for gold in these desolate mountains while a few trade with local Indians. Among those at the trading post are a small group of soldiers who are mapping and surveying the region, filling the empty spaces on the maps of America.

In a few decades, someone will establish the town of Challis not so far away from the trading post. But that time is still 20 years in the future.

By the middle 1850s, the beaver are virtually trapped out and the old fort is slowing falling into disrepair. It is a lonely outpost in a region of dense forests, rugged mountains, long winters and short summers, and desolation. Only a few souls travel so far into the wilderness.

To the east, the Mormons have abandoned their settlement at Lemhi Pass to return to the Great Salt Lake. They say they have left because of the threat of Indians. But perhaps the Mormons knew something else was in the air. The great fur companies have already left the region. Fall Hall, to the Southeast, will soon be abandoned. The Hudson Bay company has let Fort Boise turn ruin.

The mountain men are ever more distant from civilization.

Through the woods glide American Indians. Sometimes they pass the post in silence, their feet barely a whisper on the new fallen snow. Those that come into the post to trade tell of something moving through the dark woods.

They speak of strange tracks in the snow.

Slaughtered animals.

An empty village.

The stillness haunts them. They talk of strangers in the forest.

Perhaps, offers one of the mountainmen, they are raiding Blackfoot indians. Or perhaps the Shoshone are at war with one another or with the Nez Perce.

But the Indians talk of a ghost, a monster. The hand of death is sweeping through this land.

They are afraid of something older and more sinister.

At night there is a howling unlike anything the small group has heard before.

The mountain men wait and listen, expecting something to come through the snow.

Black smoke rises over the trees, a wagon lies burning, the bodies of settlers slaughtered. Wolves circle nearby, but something else has been feeding on their corpses.

A miner, have mad, wanders into the post, telling fragments of a horror.

There is something in the dark woods.

And it is feeding.

From the Keeper-

- I am thinking of running a wild west adventure set in Idaho in the late 1850s. We'll be using Wild West Cthulhu rules and a few supplements. This campaign will be the first of probably two parts. The first part will involve a group of mountain men at a trading post up in the highlands of Idaho, along the Salmon River (The River of No Return). Its a pretty barren and tough land, even now. There will be Indians and assorted wickedness.

If you want an idea of the game- think of Ravenous meets the [ur=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/]Thing[/url] meets Jeremiah Johnson and Death Hunt.

Note to historical purists- I will be playing a bit fast and loose with some of the history of the time, but not much. The Fur trade has come to a virtual end by this time and much of the business of mountain men is working as guides. The US government has sent out its Corps of Topographical Engineers and there are prospectors in the area, and its very desolate. The Indians are restless. Both Fort Boise and Fort Hall are being abandoned, and the Mormon camp at Fort Lemhi will be abandoned, if only in a few more years from when this story takes place. The layout of the fort was an actual fort, but in a different location.

The forum has already been created "Horror on the River of No Return". http://www.callofcthulhu.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=155

There are lots of links and attached pdfs covering everything from historical notes, to Wild West Cthulhu rules, to firearms for the adventure.

We will be adapting some of the rules. A number of the characters below have already been chosen by those interested in this campaign when it was first proposed. There are other characters to be added to the list below.

The below list is a group of characters who will be in the adventure. If you want to play them, than they are yours. We will talk about character creation and rules, but generally I will leave it up to you to create the character (provided it conforms with the description below). If you want to play a new character, by all means, propose a character and he or she will be considered.

So post if you are interested. We have lots of room for lots of players.

A note on character creation. The list of characters and general format of this game is based on a form similar to the early chapter of Zombie Apocalypse. Again, players will choose characters, can adapt them, will learn their personal secrets and information. I will limit the players to 1 character per person. At least the early chapter of this game will probably not have quite the amount of bloodshed as Zombie Apocalypse. Well... not quite.

Peltierre’s Fort-

Location and Cast of Characters-
Peltierre’s Fort was built by members of the Hudson Bay Company in 1833 because the company sought to establish a small but temporary presence on southern fork of the Salmon River (The River of No Return) to both trap local beaver but also to establish friendly relations with local Shoshoni, Nez Pierce and Bannock Indians. The initial brigade of HBC trappers was composed of 18 men, and established the first trading post and its first walls. Each year since, the compound expanded to include a bunkhouse, a blacksmith’s forge, a coral and barn for livestock. This work continued slowly because the remote location of the trading post and the difficulty faced in reaching it limited more extensive development. The principle purpose of the fort was to maintain a permanent winter refuge for HBC trappers working the region.

When faced with competition from the Rocky Mountain Company, and the American Fur Company, HBC changed its plans for the region. The HBC’s strategy sought to trap out the Salmon river and tributaries to deny the region to competition. As the local beaver were slowly wiped out, the number of trappers working at the fort declined until only a small group of a half dozen trappers remained. Among them was Jacque Peltierre, one of the founding members who had developed close relations with local Indians, marrying one of the daughters, Glowing Moon (known to the whites as Alice Moonglow Peltierre, of a local Shoshoni chief. Peltierre and Alice would have 2 sons, Charles and Michael, and a daughter Simone. The HBC eventually evacuated the region as the beaver disappeared but Peltierre and his family, and a few other decided to remain at the Fort and continue to trade with the Indians. Peltierre disregarded HBC orders to destroy the fort and have since remained, taking possession of it as their own.

Note- Peltierre’s decision to keep the fort and disobey HBC orders to destroy it risk potential HBC retaliation.

Peltierre’s Fort- Is a fortified enclosure that has been in slow decline. It is a stone and wood construction designed to be defended by a group of 20 men, not the handful that remain. The builders sought to prevent theft of horses and livestock by Indians and built a fortified trade house (built primarily of stone) capable of withstanding Indian attack. The stone trade house continues to serve as an inner keeper, the last defense of the building. The house is used as the trading post as well as Peltierre’s home. The Fort also also maintains two gates, a large front gate that is wide enough for a wagon, and a smaller back gate large enough for a man to pass. The fort is encircled by a wood and rock wall stockade roughly 3 feet thick and 20 feet high, with walkway, that surrounds the camp and three block towers for defense. Within the yard are bunk houses for the visitors, more comfortable dwellings for the permanent resident, store houses, a barn, an inner corral and a blacksmith’s shed. A number of permanent lodges are kept just outside the main gate and are served by Indian residents. Further surrounding the camp is a lower outer wall that is used, from Spring to Fall, to graze animals during the day with the animals being brought in at night. During the winter, the animals remain inside the stockade.

Since the departure of the HBC, the fort has received little attention. Too far from the Oregon Trail, it receives little business from passing settlers. Those who visit often learn of it either from other mountain men, from Indians, or discover it by accident. Insufficiently manned to keep it maintained or defended, the fort has continued to exist primarily because local Shoshoni and Nez Pierce Indians have allowed it to survive. It has been a few years since the camp was challenged by hostile Indians, although hostile bands of Indians (including Crow, Blackfeet and Utes) have frequently ventured near the fort. The current visitors include mountain men who trade with local Indians, a military mission to map the region, a preacher, and prospectors exploring the area of resources.

Residents-

Jacque Peltierre- the oldest resident of these parts and, with the except of Alex Slim McGee, the only mountain man who remain since the founding of the settlement wonders what the future of his home will be. He fears that his children, half-breeds, will not be accepted by White society but he also fears the future of Indians. With the passing of the fur trade, he has welcomed the neglect with which the Whites have treated the region. However since the Gold Rush of 1849 in California, he has already seen prospectors explore the region. Some believe that he and his family have kept a secret of a local treasure of a gold- why else would they remain? But his current venture has been in sheep, and he has been planning to leave the fort with two others to try to sell wool to the Mormon community to his south or perhaps to Fort Bridger settlement. He leaves tomorrow, anticipating an early winter. Available

Alice “Glowing Moon”/ Moonglow Peltierre - Wife of Jacque Peltierre, she has helped keep Jacque and the Fort since her marriage. She has been a happy woman here. Her marriage established Jacque’s prestige with the Shoshoni and Nez Pierce and helped keep the Fort safe from local Indian attacks. Talented in many of Indian crafts, her products where widely bought and attracted many to the fort to trade in her crafted goods, in the processes helping maintain the fort’s prosperity. She continues to play an important role in the fort, often acting as the surrogate of her husband when he was gone, a position she has gracefully begun to differ to her oldest son. She continues to prepare goods for sale and maintain the accounts of the shop. She also instructs the other women in Indian skills and has generously shared her knowledge of crafts to other permanent residents. Available

Charles Pelltiere- Charles Peltierre – oldest son of Jacque and Soft Moon, Charles has spent much of his early days working in the region as a mountain man with local furriers and trappers. Few know the region better than Charles, who normally returns to the Fort only in winter. Charles is widely regarded by mountain men as a guide and for his good relationship with Shoshoni Indians. He is also known as a good and fearless fighter and carries with him the long scar of a fight he had with a Grizzly. Taken

Michael Pelltiere- Second son of Jacque and Glowing Moon, he is soft spoken and not as knowledgeable of the local area as Charles, Michael is an accomplished tracker and explorer who has traveled to California, St Louis, the Oregon coast and to Canada. He tends to get along well with Whites and has a fine business sense. Over the past two years he has remained at the Fort, recovering from a wound given him by raiding Crows. Many believe that he will eventually take over the Fort, although his older brother Charles has been given more of the responsibility over the Fort, especially when Jacque is away. Still, Michael is known to get along better with Whites and shows promise as a trader and negotiator. Taken

Simone Peltierre- the youngest of Jacque and Soft Moon, Simone is more the beauty than her mother was at her age. Simone has learned many of the Indian crafts from her mother and has also learned much of Western Civilization from the trappers who frequent the fort. She has been the object of many suitors- both Indian and among the mountain men, but her father has forbidden her to marry, claiming she is too young. Unlike her brothers she has never left the region, only spending a few months with her mother’s family. She spends most of her time helping around the Fort and her mother, or talking to visitors. Available

Alex “Slim” McGee- is Jacque Peltierre’s oldest and most loyal friend. Indeed, there is no one that Jacque Peltierre would trust more. It was Jacque who found Alex captured by Crow Indians on the upper Missouri and was able to negotiate his release. Since then, the two men have worked together in the mountains, trapping beaver and exploring the territory. McGee is about as widely known as Jacque in the region and would often care over the fort while Jacque traveled to cities in the East or West to trade. McGee has fairly good relations with the distant Nez Pierce. Available

One Legged Lou - One Legged Lou is another older mountain man who continues to reside at the Fort with his Indian wife, Sally Smallfeathers. One Legged Lou lost his leg to Blackfoot Indians nearly 30 years ago. Supposedly, he was a member of a brigade of mountain me who were in prime beaver country but which, unfortunately, was controlled by Blackfoot Indians. While scouting ahead, he was attacked by hostiles and received an arrow in the leg. The wound became infected and the leg gangrene. However, no other members of the brigade would remove the leg so Lou had to do the job himself. Furthermore, he refused to cauterize the leg, but used Indian remedies to heal it. Nevertheless, the loss of blood led to a coma, and the rest of the brigade, fearing he had died, left him behind. However, Lou didn’t die but continued to live on his own in Indian country for over a year, recovering from his wound and even making his own wooden leg which he continues to use. Lou was found by McGee and 2 other mountain men and was convinced to travel to Fort Peltierre, where he has since married and resided. He spends much of his time cooking and working with the horses and hunting. Taken

Sally Smallfeathers- is the Indian wife of One Legged Lou and daughter of a Shoshoni medicine man. She believes Lou to be a medicine man of his own and is generally happy, although she doesn’t know why they have not had children. Sally spends much of her time tending to the animals, cleaning the fort, and helping Alice Moonglow. Available

Other residents-

Old George Sly Otter - Old George Sly Otter lives outside the camp in one of the Indian lodges but has been such a regular member of the community that he has general access to the entire Fort. No one knows exactly where Old George comes from, but most of the trappers and mountain men think George originated from one of the Eastern tribes and seemed to have been on some kind of vision quest when he ended up at the Fort. When he first arrived he was already famous among the Indians for his knowledge of the region, and his explorations have helped the local mountain men explore the area. He has since remained at the fort his entire life and, when a younger man, would do odd jobs for the residents or serve as a scout for white trappers. In the early 1840s he took ill and nearly died after experiencing numerous delusions. However he overcame the illness and married, had a daughter, and then, when his daughter was barely 9, his wife died and he suffered prolonged grief. It is also known that Old George frequently performs rituals that are distinct from local Indian practices. Nevertheless, he has gotten along well with local Indian groups and has often served as an intermediary between Whites and Indians. Since his wife died, he has continued to remain but has been a largely disinterested father to his daughter./ Consequently, his daughter has been raised primarily by the women of the fort and his been virtually adopted by the residents. Old George has aged quickly since the death of his wife and many believe that he will not live through another winter. Keeper COntrolled

Kassa- daughter of Old George- she spends much of her time caring for her father and helping out around the trading post. She has spent much of her short life at the trading post and knows the people who live there quite well. Her father, however, has remained distant since the death of her mother and she fears that he will be passing on soon. However, she learned numerous skills from her mother and father, including knowledge of Indian herbal medicines. (Character played by Phil) Taken


Army Corps of Topographical Engineers - Capt. John “Jack” Emery Group

The Army Corps of Topographical Engineers was assigned the mission to map out and explore the American West before the settlement of those regions in the early-mid 19th century. As such, small groups of explorers traveled through out the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains collecting information about natural fauna, mineral resources, and creating maps. They also negotiated with local Indians and frequently interacted with fur traders and other settlers.

Emery’s group has been assigned to explore the Montana, Wyoming and Idaho regions, negotiate with local Indians to maintain peaceful, identify likely places to set a fort, conduct soil samples, map out potential roads and trails, and identify mineral deposits. Emery’s group is to conduct one of the first comprehensive efforts to carefully survey the region as well as create detailed maps.

US Army soldiers with the Engineers are armed with Calvary sabers, Spencer rifles or carbines and a pair of Colt Dragoon pistols- paid for by Emery. Additionally, Debs and Emery also keep Hawkins Mountain Rifles. The Mountain men and Indian scouts are armed as they wish. Caitlin and Merritt may be armed (at their player’s discretion). Each member has a horse and a second mount. The group also includes a 2 dozen pack mules for supplies. The Indian scouts are normally scouting far ahead of the group, while the mountain men ride closer.

Capt. John “Capt. Jack” Emery, earned his stripes during the Mexican War were he participated in campaigns to liberate Southern California from Mexican rule. Although trained to be an engineer, he spent most of his initial military career as a cavalry officer until he made a strong impression for building and planning a network of military fortress to defend the frontier. He has since served on the frontier and has participated in numerous border campaigns. Born in Pennsylvania and a graduate of West Point, he studied surveying and engineering while in school, but has spent much of his life in the army. He has personally chosen to outfit his men with the most modern arms and is testing their utility on the frontier. Emery is part soldier, part cartographer and naturalist. He has recently married and has a child, but was willing to accept this commission to see the frontier before he decides to settle down to duty in California. Emery is the only officer who is a member of the Topographical Engineers. Taken

Lt. Jeffery “LT” Paige- Lt. Jeffrey Paige is a relatively new soldier on the frontier and, despite his relative lack of experience, he has proven to be a valuable member of the expedition due to his skills as a naturalists, especially in the study of rocks and minerals. Of course, Paige comes from a family that made its fortune through mineral exploration. Paige was sent to West Point to develop a career in the army. He has lived a charmed career as an officer and there are rumors that he is destined for high promotion. Despite his privileged upbringing, Paige has managed to ‘rough it’ with the men and has shown himself to be a bright and capable officer. Charming and Charismatic, Paige forms close friendships with his men and moves quickly through Washington social circles. This is his first time out into the frontier and so far it appears he will have a promising career with the military. Although nominally the group’s executive officer, he recognizes that most of the men defer to Walker’s leadership. Because of his experience with minerals, Paige is also is responsible for collecting and preparing the expeditions minerals survey. Although temporarily attached to the expedition as second officer, Paige is technically a Dragoon officer and will likely return to Dragoons when the expedition ends. Taken

2nd Lt. Frederick “Tic” Tickert – Tickert is a medical officer and nominally third officer of the expedition (although he like the others recognize Walker as the true executive officer). Tickert was given the assignment because of his experience as a medical doctor as well as his interests in science. Although he did not serve in the Mexican War, Tickert has served with past expeditions during which he acquired both his interests in medicine and in science. Few expect that Tickert will amount to much as an officer or a soldier, but he has an insatiable intellectual curious nature and has shown skill as a surgeon. He frequently spends much of his time with “Doc” Merritt, collecting scientific samples and taking scientific recordings. Captain Emery has generally allowed Tickert to skirt many of the normal duties and accompany Doc Everritt and Caitlin, feeling confident that Tickert is becoming a more capable doctor and scientist and trusting that Tickert, who keeps a pair of Remington pistols, will safe guard the civilians. Free

Sgt Ian “Irish” McGee – Ian McGee is perhaps the oldest soldier on this operation and Emery’s most trusted subordinate. Originally from Ireland (hence the nickname) McGee joined the army as a private in order to ensure that he had a meal and a roof, behavior similar to many of the members of the US Army at this time. The army has since been his home. He first fought with Emery during the Mexican War after serving briefly together on the frontier. Since then, Emery has continued to trust McGee as his principle non-com. McGee runs a tight outfit, but has shown the flexibility needed for a frontier expedition. Even so, McGee anticipates that he will soon retire and plans to take residence the San Francisco Bay area. Free

Private Eugene “Bayou” Debs – Private Eugene Debs hails for New Orleans and spent much of his formative years in the bayous of Louisiana where he learned to hunt and fish. He is perhaps the groups best marksman and trapper, but that’s not the primary reason he was chosen for this assignment. Debs is also a gifted drawer and painter, and Emery looks to Debs to help create a visual record of the expedition and to assist in the recording of the group’s findings. Debs has frequently been taking instruction and advice from Caitlin, and is frequently discussing art with the civilian. Free

Private Herman “Shitbird” Schwartz – Schwartz was once a sergeant but was demoted for drunkenness and for fighting with other soldiers. He wasn’t the ideal choice for this trip either, but he is good with animals and his is well qualified to be the groups leading teamster. Schwartz, a German immigrant, is often given many of the tasks of caring for the camp’s animals and gear, takes care of the groups mounts and mules performs the upkeep for the camp. He is also the group’s cook. Free

Private Ron “Poland” Rogowski- Like many soldiers, Rogowski chose army life in order to assure himself of a meal and a roof. A large man or remarkable strength, Rogowski has also developed a name for himself as a wrestler and boxer. He primarily serves as the second teamster of the group and provides much of the brute strength that the group frequently needs. Prior to leaving Poland, Rogowski worked as a carpenter and a blacksmith, skills that the team frequently has need of. Free

James “Lonesome” Walker- Scout- Walker is an older mountain man who has been worked the Rockies originally as a member of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, but gave up the company to work as a Free trapper, until the trapping industry collapsed. As a trapper, Walker had limited success. Instead, he tended to explore often in the company of Charles Bonaville, a former captain of the US Army who had temporarily resigned his commission to see the West shortly before the outbreak of the Mexican War. Walker served the US Army as a scout in California, New Mexico and Mexico during the war, until the war ended. After a brief return to working as a scout for pioneers heading to Oregon, he returned to working as a scout for the army. Steady, capable and fierce, Walker has a nose for the local forest and encyclopedic knowledge about the region. Walker is the lead scout in the expedition and, for all intensive purposes, seen by the others as second-in-command. Free

Albert “Sharp” Seaver, Mountain man/ Scout/ trader- Seaver is an older mountain man, scout and trader but is relatively new to these mountains. Known to Emery since the Mexican campaigns, Seaver has spent much of his life in Texas and the Southwest and had participated in earlier expeditions demarcating the border between Mexico and the United States. Seaver is known as a capable tracker, hunter and Indian fighter, but his greatest skill is perhaps his capacity to bargain and negotiate with Indians. That skill may be tested as he ventures into new lands. Free

Lawrence “Red Balls” LeRouge – Mountainman/Scout- The son of a Quebec trapper Maurice LeRouge and a Sioux Indian, Le Rouge has spend much of his life cross the cultural divides between white society and Indian. Although his father once worked for the Hudson Bay Company, he has always been a free trapper. Younger than the other mountain men, he has the experience of growing up in the Rocky Mountain wilds and brings the skills of an Indian. His nickname originated in a rendezvous experience he prefers not to discuss. Free

Rabbit Tail- Scout- Rabbit Tail is an Indian scout recruited for this mission. A Shoshone Indian, he has frequently provided valuable services in negotiating with local Indians. Fleet, fast, Rabbit Tail moves stealthily through the brush and leaves little trace of his passing. Rumor is that before he became a scout for the army he became famous for his ability to steal horses from the Blackfeet, often stealing them from Blackfoot villages during the middle of the night. Rabbit Tail rarely is found with the group, but is often scouting far ahead of the camp. Rabbit Tail often paints himself in black and communicates with the mountain men. Free

Bloody Knife- Scout, - Bloody Knife is the nickname given to a Delaware Indian whose name is otherwise forgotten. Originally one of the Delaware Indians that served as John Fremont’s personal bodyguard during the conquest of California, Bloody Knife has spent most of the years since the war working as a frontier scout in the Southwest. His nickname comes from the many scalps he has collected and his skill with the Bowie Knife. Like Seaver, Bloody Knife is new to this region although he has worked with Seaver on past occasions when assigned the task of tracking down renegade Indians. On this expedition he has often travelled with Rabbit Tail as an advanced scout and rarely sleeps with the camp. Taken

Dr. Theodore D. “Doc” Merritt- Theodore D. Merritt is a naturalist and a scholar. A civilian, he has been asked by Emery to join the expedition because of his study of the natural world. Although a competent shot, he frequently moves beyond camp to explore the natural world on his own and without a rifle. This is Merritt’s third trip to the region. He is widely respected by the Indians as a medicine man both because of his curious fascination with the natural world, his skills as a healer, and his amazing bravery (for who else but a medicine man could walk in the forest among hostile Indians without weapons!) Merritt spends much of his time collecting samples of animals and plants and studying soil. He has also been studying local medicinal practices. Merritt keeps the scholarly and scientific journal of the group. When he is not in the field, he teaches at a major university of the Northeast. Taken

Christopher “Painter” Caitlin- Artist – Naturalist. This is Caitlin’s third trip with Doctor Merritt and serves as a illustrater/painter and map maker for the group. Merritt first met Caitlin when the artist was wandering along the banks of the upper Missouri collecting samples. An amateur collector and naturalist, Cailtin joined Merritt and the expedition and served as the senior man’s aide and, later, became the principle illustrator of the expedition. When not serving on expeditions, Cailtin has been hired as an illustrator, making copies of his works for publication and public display. Like Merritt, Caitlin has developed a reputation among the Indians for being a rather odd individual and perhaps a medicine man. Many Indians have been fascinated with Caitlin’s capacity to illustrate them and he has gained some fame as “Painter” among Indians and Mountain men. Taken

Visiting Folks-

Pike Bishop- Bishop is a solitary trapper turned prospector who, with an Indian wife, lives a few miles from Fort Pelltierre in a cabin he constructed shortly after the end of the Mexican War. Little is known of Bishop, despite being the fort’s closest neighbor. A few times a year, Bishop will stop by the fort for supplies and exchange a few words, but otherwise, the man spends most of his time at his cabin and the tunnels he has been digging behind it. It is believed, based on the guns he has used and the cavalry coat he sometimes wears, that Bishop was once a soldier in the army. His wife Virginia Bishop, is a half Indian/half white and is rarely seen. Free

Virginia Bishop- The half white/Indian woman was brought by Pike Bishop to the cabin about ten years ago. She is sometimes seen around the house hunting for game, but has never been to the fort. Little is known of her. Free

Dutch Engstrom- It is believed that Dutch was once a handsome man, but that he was tortured by Commanche Indians in Texas. His face remains horribly scared for a burn wound. Also believed to be a veteran of the War, Dutch has recently arrived at the camp having travelled north from Texas.
Free

Deke Thornton- Half Black/Half White, Deke Thornton is one of the most experienced and older mountain men in the region, a capable tracker and hunter and a skilled negotiator and trader. Thornton is especially noted for having lived and worked among Plains Indians. It is believed that, due to his darkness, he has frequently managed to avoid fighting the Indians, who distinguished him from whites. As a result, Thornton managed to be among the most productive of the region’s mountain men and one those with the fewest scars. He is also known as something of a womanizer in his younger years and would spend much of his money from trapping on one of his Indian wives. Thornton normally works the wilds on the east side of the Continental Divide. He is, at this point, traveling in the valley NE of the camp. With him is Feddie Sykes. Free


Freddie Sykes- Sykes is a black man who many believe was an escaped slave who fled into the wilds in the hope of reaching Canada and to elude those in pursuit. Little is known about Sykes but that he travels with Thornton and appears to be serving as older Thornton’s pupil. It is possible that Sykes is trying to make his way west, to Oregon to start a new life or perhaps to Canada, where he can finally be free of bondage. Sykes is about half the age of Thornton, strong and competent. Free

Tector Gorch- Prospector- Older of the two Gorch brothers, Tector and his brother were in California during the 1849 gold rush working on the docks of San Francisco. Like many in the city, they went gold prospecting and did fairly well at it for a short time, panning stream beds until they thought they had found a vein of Gold. Sadly, Tector’s brother Lyle gambled away his stake in the mine and Tector was forced to sell his remaining half to the new owner at a reduced price. Since then, the two brothers have continued prospecting but without much luck. They have joined up with Angel Sanchez and Pat Harringan to prospect in the Salmon River Mountains in hope of being the first of the prospectors to strike it rich. Tector is generally the more reserved of the two brothers, more methodical and hard working. He continues to hold a grudge with his younger brother for losing their stake in California. They are moving towards Fort Pelltierre for supplies and perhaps to establish a winter camp. Free

Lyle Gorch – Prospector. Member of the Torch party. The younger of the Gorch Brothers, he has spent much of his time drinking and whoring and considerably less time on prospecting. Lyle lost the brother’s stake in California in a gambling bet and has been nursing his folly ever since. Lyle hopes to make amends to brother Tector by finding a new stake in the mountains. Free


Angel Sanchez- Sanchez is a Californian who hired on with the Gorch’s to help find a new stake. Having missed out on the California gold, Sanchez believes that more stakes to claim exist that will make him a very wealthy man, if one can find them. A rather small man, his father was once a rather powerful property owner who lost his lands after California was won by the US and Sanchez was raised in poverty but hungry for social prominence. It is believed Sanchez seeks to wed the daughter of another wealthy land owner, but to do so, he must prove he is a man of financial substance. Free


Pat Harrigan- Harrigan has been leading wagon trains over the Oregon Trail in California, taking with him many of those that would prospect for Gold. An old mountain man, he trapped the mountains of Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and has travelled across Utah and Nevada when he was a younger man. During that time, furs were more valuable than gold, but he remembered a story from another trapper, Jim Meeks, about finding a vein of silver in the Salmon Mountain regions. The man had told Harrigan before he died of a wound taken from hostile Indians. Harrigan never thought to go for the silver and with time, forgot about it. Then, after bringing a group of settlers into California, he had gotten into a serious drunk, when he mentioned the silver to Lyle Gorch and Angel Sanchez. After he realized what he had done, he found he had few options but to venture in the mountains to reclaim the silver prize. Only problem, he’s not sure of the exact location. Free


Dub Wainscoat- a Missionary preacher, he has nearly arrived at the Fort in the company of Coffer and Lee, mountain men who have apparently taken to his preaching. Wainscoat is newly arrived in the West and, at first, adopted a poor relationship with the local mountain men who served as guides. He has been supposedly shunned from parts of California (where rumor has it he was once tarred and feathered) and has been forced out of the Mormon camps near the great Salt Lake. Wainscoat, the child of a merchant captain, sailed much of the world as a younger man, and he says he was touched by God while in the company of a missionary bringing the gospel to native peoples of the Pacific Isles. He took to land in San Francisco has been traveling as a poor preacher ever since, recently speaking the gospel (as he believes it) to the native peoples of California, Oregon and Utah. Moust of the mountain men think he’s touched in the head. Free


Strother Coffer – Supposedly Coffer was a whoring drunk when he met Wainscoat, and it is Wainscoat that Coffer praises for putting him on “the straight and narrow.” Before meeting Wainscoat, Coffer had briefly worked as a trapper, than a fisherman, before ending up a drunk after the death of his wife and child in a fire in San Diego. Since meeting Wainscoat, Coffer has remained with the preacher as a faithful aid. Free


Clarence “Crazy” Lee- No one quite knows the past of Crazy Lee, but many have recognized by the many scars on the man that he was once captured and tortured by Indians. According to a legend, he was discovered by Wainscoat in the company of Apache Indians, and it was Wainscoat’s intervention that saved the man. Since then, Lee has remained as a companion to Wainscoat, will faithfully listen to the preacher’s sermons and will do most of the hunting and cooking for the reverend. In others company, Lee has shown a violent and ill temperament, little patience. He is frequently found mumbling to himself, howling at the moon, stripping himself naked and hunting local wildlife. Free

[Voodoo]

Welsh, This game sounds very interesting and I'd love to play Christopher “Painter” Caitlin if he's still available.

[welsh]

Hey Voodoo-

I am checking to see if the person who wanted an artist/naturalist is in, but so far no word. So that means he's yours if you want him. Feel free to start writing up the stats. Use 110 points for primary. We are doing things a bit different, rewarding Int with X20 skill points and Edu with X10 points. You can start with the bio given and work it up a bit. Send it to me with the skills when you need them. Let me know if you need help figuring out what skills you need.

[Tabs]

Bloody Knife, is he available?

One of my favourite books is Flashman and the Redskins, which mentions: Bent's Fort, Wootton, Carson, Sitting Bull etc.; so the theme is irresistable to me.

I've not read the rules yet, but are the stats as per CoC, 3d6 STR and so on? And skills, 110 + INTx20 + EDUx10?

[welsh]

I think so. Suaside expressed an interest in Bloody Knife of Rabbit Tail, so I think I can give you Bloody Knife.

[welsh]

Folks, if you choose a character let me know. Then you can "customize" your character- Take 110 points and distribute them among the primary skills. Then look at the Call of Cthulhu Wild West Rules (see the forum- they are attached), and find the character that most suits your character and begin to develop the character based on their suggestions. Note that character backgrounds (is he an Indian, an immigrant?) matters. Use the historical sketch offered with the character as a base, but feel free to expand that character's history. Shoot me a pm when you are done and before you distribute skill points. Chances are I will give you skill bonus points to improve your character a bit.

[welsh]

Hey Folks-
I am hoping to get a few more recruits before we start. At moment I have about 4-6 players interested, but I could use a few more.

[Casimir]

Hi!

This game sounds very interesting... and mixes two of my favorite genres - the Old West and Call of Cthulhu / Horror. If still available, I'd like to play Charles Pelltiere.

Thanks!

[welsh]

Hey Casimir-

You are now the owner of Charles Pelliere. I will forward you the character's secrets. In the interim, feel free to draft up the character consistent with the historical squib attached and then begin to distribute the scores. Your character is a half-breed characters. Don't commit the skill points on the CoCWW rules needed for 'buying"' a half-breed character, but incorporate both the bonuses and penalties. Distribute the character points in the way you feel best (consistent with the character history). When done, shoot me a pm with the write up and any thoughts you might have regarding the character's backstory you might think work. We'll discuss and get you on the way.

Great!

Who else?

[welsh]

Ok, Cassimer, I think you are about set.
I think we have a player for Painter, Charles Pelltier, Emery, Bloody Knife, Rabbit Tail, Lt Paige, and a few characters that are not on the list above. I would like to recruit a few more.

That said, I would also like to get this moving sooner than later.

[normski]

Hey there Welsh,

Is there any room left for lil' ol' me? Not 100% sure about Wild West Cthulhu, but at the end of the day Cthulhu is as Cthulhu does (Somehow I cannot see Tom Hanks sitting at a bus-stop saying that)

I was thinking of Dutch Engstrom. I could do a Piorot-esque I'm Belgian = not Dutch. Possibly a part time bounty hunter after the escaped slave Sykes who it is believed killed a close relative .... hmmm maybe! Or how about Painter Debs, I can work around what the part needs, do you have a medic for example ....

Norm

[MjStrwy]

Hi Welsh!

If "One-legged" Lou is still available, I'd like to play him. I'm currently working in Idaho, so this setting is definitely something that caught my eye!


Cheers!

-MjStrwy

[welsh]

Hey gents-

Yes, One-Legged Lou, Dutch, Painter Debs and many of the others are available. However, I believe Caitlin is gone.

I have done the write up and will provide you with some more of the character's original backstories and secrets when you decide on a character. I ask that you apply 110 points to basic skills. I will provide secrets. Note that derived stats (lasso, rifle, track) should only be allowed to go past 80% with the keeper's permission- although that's fairly liberally granted. Many of these characters come with some skill bonuses tossed in, but we can discuss that via pm. Let me know when you decide who you want.

MjStrwy- you got One legged Lou! Based on a real life mountain man who cut off his own leg and survived, working with a peg leg much of the rest of his life. Send me a PM when you have done the first cut at stats.

[welsh]

Still looking for warm bodies. We won't start this until after the first week of Sept, but we've got a pretty good group already and they are nicely spread out.

Still, the more the merrier. Those already in, please be patient a bit longer.

[welsh]

Still recruiting! Anyone want in?

[Dave Syrinx]

Howdy, Welsh!
I´ve been reading about an explorer who travelled to the boiling lake of Dominica in 1876. I´d like to let my character continue the travel for strange geological sights. Is there a way to do this by joining the river of no return? My character would be a photographer and novelist.


Or am I going about this the wrong way? Should I pick a character from the character pool?
Then I´d go with Christopher Caitlin.
Just stating my interest in trekking up the river .

/Dave

[welsh]

Hey Syrinx/Dave.

I think we have room for a character that generally fits the description, although Caitlin is taken. Not sure about Eugene Debs and I am pretty sure Doc Merritt are free. No photographer's for this journey but we do have artists. If you want to create your own, you're welcome. But we'd need to find a way to fit you in. A journalists coming along for the trip- maybe.

[welsh]

Ok, game has begun. We're still recruiting as there are lots of holes- lots of characters free. Shoot me a pm if you want to join, we probably have a spot for you.

[welsh]

Game is in process- Many of the characters have been taken, but a lot are free. If you want in, just shoot me a message.