Wild West Cthulhu - Mountain Men in frontier Idaho

[welsh]

Note on Weapons Skills-

I am not really happy with how CoC Wild West plays out Blackpowder weapons, so I think I am going to adopt the GURPs Wild West ideas here.

Generally speaking, fire arms before the Civil War require the Black Power Weapons skill. Later weapons required the guns skills. All muzzle loaders and cap-and-ball weapons will be covered in Black Powder Weapon Skill. I will allow you to specialized- pistol, rifle or shotgun- but you should all begin with a base in Black Powder Weapon, than take your Black Powder weapon skill and add additional points to specialize. I will allow up to 50 points to black powder weapons (since you can't be a specialist in everything).

So- if you want to be a rifleman specialist, you might apply up to 50 skill points to Black Powder Weapon, and then add another 30 points to rifle. You would have 50 for black powder weapons (good for pistols and shotguns) and then 80 for rifle (50 of black powder and then added 30). My thinking on this is that a lot of the use of black powder weapons comes form knowing how to load and care for the weapon, less about shooting it. That said, once you learn to shoot the thing, that knowledge should transfer pretty easy to other weapons. That said, you can also decide to specialize as a pistolero, rifleman or scattergun man.

We're going to have to do something with the rifles. Since these characters are living in the West in the late 1850s, a few of them might have breach loading Spencer Rifles and Carbines (available around 1851, I am going with Gurps on this). The soldiers, for instance, will have access to these guns. Most characters will have access to early cap and ball revolvers as well. But most of the mountain men will be relying on black powder rifles. These would include the Indian Musket .58, the Kentucky Rifle, 45 and the Plains Rifle.50. as well as the Springfield or Enfield Rifle.

Of these rifles- The Indian rifle was the basic "trade" gun. Most mountain men would be familiar with this and may use it. Barrels range from 30-42 inches, it can be used as a club, but its not of the best craftsmanship.

The Kentucky Rifle-is long-barreled, light and accurate, often made of maple.They can't take a bayonet and don't do well as a club, don't really have the power to bring down a grizzly bear or large game, but they have great range.

The Plains Rifle- is a percussion or caplock rifle, replaced many of the earlier flintlocks and had barrels of 28-38 inches and were powerful enough to bring down a grizzly (if you're lucky). Many think the best of these was the Hawken Rifle of St Louis.

Enfield and Springfield rifles were commonly used in the Civil War. Both can take a bayonet. Range isn't great.

According to CoC rules, the Sharp's rifle had a range of about 90 yards and did 2d10+3 damage. The carbine had a range of about 60 yards and did less damage 2d6+3.

Muskets, according to CoC 2d10+4 and a range of 60.
Plain's Rifle had about the same damage as the Sharps (according to Gurps) - so we'll say it gets 2d10+4. but range was almost 80% more than the musket, so we'll say the plains rifle has a range of 110 yards.
Kentucky Rifle- would have more range- 120 yards, and less damage (say 2d10)
Indian Rifle would actually have more range thean a musket (say 80) and same damage 2d10+4, but a higher malfunction rate (so malfunction at 95-100)

Ok, some infor about guns (from Gurps)-

Gurps says - Smoothbore weapons, muskets and shotguns, are relatively easy to make, clean and repair. Rifled weapons had spiral gooves in the barrel which spin the ball for a longer, more accurate flight. Carbines are the cavalry models of longarms. They have shorter barrels that make them easier to fire on horseback. Black powder is the only gunpowder available until the very end of the century. Its also commonly used for explosives (Note!). A well equipped gunner will have powder horn, cap pouch, and bullet bag, a cap pouch and over-the-shoulder cartridge box containing 40 cartridgesm or a cartridge belt with 50 cartridges.

Loading Black Powder weapons-
Loading a smoothbore with powder and ball takes 45 seconds standing, 55 second sitting or kneeling. Paper cartridges loading takes 20 seconds standing and 35 seconds kneeling. Loading on horseback requires an additional roll against one's riding skill. Time is as for sitting.

Loading a rifled weapon with loose powder, ball, and greased patches takes about 40 seconds. Without patching about 60 seconds. Cartridges take 30 seconds.

Loading a flintlock with a paper cartridge takes 20 seconds, a rifled weapon takes 30 seconds, a percussion weapon loads in 15 seconds (note that a plains rifles is a percussion weapon).

Problem with paper cartridges- they get wet and useless. Chances are you won't carry too many of these.

Breach loading long arms- (Sharps rifle and carbine)- can be loaded in 4-6 seconds. Paper cartridges load in about 6 seconds.
For the sake of our game- the army troops will be outfitted with breach loading spencer carbines and revolvers. Mountain men will be assumed to have a Plains/Mountain rifle)

Using a rifle in a melee weapon- note that these weapons can break or be damaged. Use as a club or mace.

Now, your characters aren't rich and we'll need to work out arrangements for equipment. That you are mountain men and need to pack accordingly means that you will probably each have to carry your gear. Most mountain men will be looking for range

As its fairly normal for characters to have additional weapons, I will allow your characters to chose additional weapons (but lets not get carried away- 1-2 long-arms, 1-2 pistols, a knife, a tomahawk would be a max load). Foolish to go into the wilderness with only 1 fire iron!

[Mi-Go Agent]

I've sent Tobias Wright via e-mail (not p.m.).

[Philulhu]

Hi Welsh,

I've PM'd you my character but i'm not sure it's gone as it looks like it's just sat in my Outbox. Can you let me know if you receive it?

Cheers,

Phil.

[welsh]

@ Phil- Got it- I have responded twice- with some changes to the character's back story and a bit of knowledge about your character's father- some minor changes.

@ Mi-Go- Thanks Mi-Go. Sorry for being a bit slow on responding. Let me think about some of the changes and I will get back to you.

@ Everyone-
Sorry this is going a bit slow. I plan to set up a new sub-board so we can work out more of the details. This will include character histories, timelines, locations, maps, and history of the region, etc. At the moment I am working on the characters.

What I would like to do is to map out a general and limited introduction to the characters. If you want to play the character, I will allow you to do create the character sheet (110 points for primary skills) and then make suggestions for changing the character a bit to fit him into the game a bit more.

I will be introducing these characters over the next week or so, therefore feel free to consider the characters.

As mentioned, there are quite a few characters, including some that are not at the trading post as we start the adventure. These include- the permanent residents, mountain men and other visitors (prospectors/missionaries), and a group of army topographical engineers, visiting Indians.

So the first group-

Peltierre’s Fort-

Peltierre’s Fort was built by members of the Hudson Bay Company in 1837 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

[Milly LeCrique]

A preacher? That could be fun. What if he's a former mountain man who got religion and has come back to bring the heathen to the Light?

[welsh]

@ Milly-
Yes, we could have one of those. We can also attach him to a number of groups-

He could be a Mormon spreading their faith to the north, a mountain man with the army who found God.

Lots of possiblities- send over the character.

@ Everyone- Sorry for the slow pace of this. I got lots of real life stuff going on.

[Mr Zombie killer]

Welsh,
I am intersted in playing. This sounds like a blast. You still looking for players? If so I am thinking of playing a mountian man/guide who is married to an Indian woman. If you are still open for players can you send me how to create a character for this one since it sounds a bit different then usual character creation?

[welsh]

Hey Zombie- Yes, we have a lot of room. In fact, I have one more set of characters I want to post here, in addition to this crew, before setting down to actual business.

@ Everyone-

If you don't have the CoC Wild West Rules or some of the other attachments, let me know so I can email them out to you. The time of the game will be winter of 59- that gives you a little improvement with some of the firearms of the time. The US is rapidly approaching the Civil War, local Indians are a bit restless, things are a bit tense.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Mr Zombie killer]

Welsh,
Take your time I know how life works. I would need a copy of those rules you talked about however. At this point I am waiting for the third group you meantioned to be introduced so I can have the complete list to pick from for ideas.

[welsh]

Hey ZOmb- A lot of the characters in the third group are player generated ideas. These are locals or mountain men passing through. Some will be player gens and others will be keeper gens. So if you have an idea distinct from all of these, let me know.

One of the things we did with zombie apocalypse is vest the characters with secrets and goals. There will be a bit of that going on here.

[Mr Zombie killer]

Welsh,
Ok I am a bit confused. The lists above are they keeper generated already or just ideas and then we roll stats and ect for them based on the rules you are sending me? And the third group is that all player gen? Because right now I am looking for ideas to start with and if I can roll stats that is cool or if I need to accept a keeper gen that is fine as well.

[welsh]

Good question-

The lists above are characters of the story that are definitely part of the adventure. Whether they become player characters or not, depends on the players. If you want to play one of those characters, feel free to roll them up and make them yours. I will offer a few bonuses depending on the character and consult with you on the character creation so the character "fits" the story, but the character's creation and play will primarily be your own.

The third group will be a mix of player gens and keeper gens.

So if you see something there that you like, go for it. If you don't and still want to play, fine. I am going to update the list probably by the end of the week, and that will include all other player and keeper generated characters. We can add to the list, but once the characters are set, I think we should be ready to start. I will get the board up and see about setting up attachements- there are a few pdfs that I still want to share with the group.

Note that the characters generally have their own secrets. So each character should be unique. This was an idea we used in zombie apocalypse that I really liked and am putting together here. The goal is to promote the dynamics of the group. Winning or losing will depend, largely, on your capacity to achieve your goals.

Does that help explain things? In short, if you want to play a character- say Bloody Knife or Walker, than you can use the 110 points to create the character. Then use that character's history to help establish and further develop that character history. Send that to me. I will offer you some bonus base scores that are consistent with the history, and then you can distribute your skills as you see fit.

Cool? Note, I think I am a fairly generous keeper when it comes to scores and most of your characters may not be new CoC characters, but most are older and more established individuals, in some cases experts in your fields. I will give points based on that experience.

[Mr Zombie killer]

Welsh,
After much consideration I wish to play Lt. Jeffery “LT” Paige. Can you send me the rules on how to roll the character up please? Or is it similar to Call of Cthulhu sixth edition?

[welsh]

Hey Zombie- Sixth ed is fine. I will post of the CoC Wild West rules when we get the game going. I can also send you the CoC WIld West Rules via pdf, but will need your email.

As for Paige- give him 110 points to spread around primaries. Remember, Int works for Edu. Given that he's a west point grad, he should have about a 15-16 education score (I'll give you a bonus for military science).

[Mr Zombie killer]

Welsh,
Actually now that I got the rules...and you stated that they are similar to sixth edition, let me try and if I screw it up too much then you can walk me through it ok?
-steve

[Mr Zombie killer]

I sent you the character sheet in a pm welsh. Did you get it and were there any problems with it?

[Mi-Go Agent]

I've sent the brief public bio of Tobias Wright in by Gmail.

[welsh]

OCC- Thanks guys. Sorry been away for a few days-

Ok, here are a few more of the folks who will participate in our adventure. Remember, some of these are NPCs and some can be player characters. Note- with the exception of name, the rest of these characters get their names from a Western classic. Name the film for bonus points!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


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.

[welsh]

Ok, I think we have a few of the Characters listed above taken. We have a few characters who are being added as Character created. I am going to move this to the Game Recruitment thread by the end of the week and get the game forum up. Traveling a lot this week, so sorry for the delays.

Also, I have more attachments to send, but hope to put the PDFs up on the game forum.

hasta!

[Mi-Go Agent]

The film is "The Wild Bunch".