Chapter 3 - City of 10,000 Guns

[jemmus]

Andreas, Doos, Paladin and William leave the Austin marshal's office and city lockdown jail and ask a gentleman for directions to the Drover Hotel. There's some confusion at first, until the man guesses that the travelers must mean the Drowver Hotel. It seems that Gideon McLaury didn't have the name quite right. The men follow the directions northward for around a mile and find the place. Conveniently across the street is Drowver Livery for stabling horses. The riders see to their strong but ready to rest in the evening horses. The crew in the livery stable seem honest and devoted to the job of unsaddling, rubbing down, brushing, curry combing, and feeding tired horses. The riders each check into the hotel and take to their rooms. It's been a long day and a tense evening. The hotel seems like a lively put peaceful enough one. Some guests aren't as well-groomed as others, and passing in stairwells can be a momentary olfactory challenge, but the smell from the kitchen seems wholesome. Steaks and yellow squash frying, potatoes boiling, fresh beer.

A map of his part of Austin is in the Game Setting thread, here. https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 3772[/ooc] Every PC knows that getting the sheriff, the accused, all of the witnesses, the judge, and a jury of locals together for a trial together can take a long time in country Texas towns. Given the distances, sometimes weeks. But in Austin? A week? Two, three days? If anybody wants to go out and check out the town tonight, please say. Gideon hammered on the fun of the Iron Front Saloon. But there are plenty of places all around to stroll around and explore.

[ateno]

Doos plan, now that the telegraph work is done is to stable the horses, get a room, a bath and get someone to wash his clothing before dinner and a beer or 2. Breakfast at the café across the street before showing up to the sheriffs office at 7:45am.

[jemmus]

Road-weary Judge Doos and the man with the crisp accent known only as Paladin stable their horses in the stable across the dirt street in Drowver's Livery. A stable boy takes their horse by their bridle reins and lead them to clean, well-kept private stalls. Oats he pours out raw oats for the horses. That'll be 35 centsfer the night, misters, if ya please. He smiles an honest smile, and murmurs to reassuring things to the horses. It seems that the boy observes horses better than his employer's idea of a profitable livery stable business.

Paladin, Doos, and possibly Andreas and William as well check into rooms on the second floor of Drowver's Hotel in Austin, Texas. Doos in a room on the second floor, Paladin on the third (top) floor. Andreas on the second floor and William there as well. A old women come into each room filling bathtubs with hot water. The superintendent of such thing plants her hands on her hips and watches the up and down operation with smiling satisfaction.

Y'all dint forgit to load yer pistol chambers, right? Don't ye furgit, all a y'all, See y at breakfast tamarra. 7:00 AM. If ye late, you can wait fer dinner at 12;00. Them's when most a the outlaws and Austin gun robbers start movin around.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson pays .35 cents for stabling his horse and follows Doos into the hotel. Inside, he takes note of those others currently availing themselves of the comforts the hotel provides. He takes to his room after supper and heads down to breakfast for 7am.

[redwarrior]

William does follow along with the others, and calls it an evening after a bath, clothes brushing, and a good meal. He wants to be bright eyed first thing in the morning, especially if "justice" is as rapid as he thinks it might be here in town. Better to see the sights after.

[jemmus]

The riders have a restful and uneventtful night in the Drowver Hotel. The Sun rises on another clear day in early June. In the hallway outside the hotel rooms, a boy calls out, Good mornin! It's half past six. Breakfast is at seven and goes to eight. Fresh newspapers is delivered.

At the moment, the riders’ only order of business in Austin is to serves as witnesses at trials for the rustlers, the attempted rape suspect, and possibly Gideon McLaury. Doos has his breakfast and prepares to report to the marshal’s office by 8:00 AM.

Anyone else going along? Or doing other actions? When in town and moving around in town, please state the following.
Whether you’re riding or on foot. (About everything is within walking distance in this part of town, including the marshal’s office).
How you’re armed. (For example, if you have a rifle or a shotgun, are you carrying it? That would look a little odd in town, but not too odd. People’s reactions to the PC may be a little different if they’re carrying a long arm in addition to a pistol).

[Grognardsw]

“If I knew this would be such a hassle, I would’ve hung the rustlers myself,” complained Paladin to Doos over breakfast that morning. He had abandoned any idea of helping them break the horse rustler ring and get Adler, not that they would have tried anyway.

With his usual pistols holstered, Paladin walked with Doos and the others to the sheriff’s office but stopped before before the door.

“Let me know if they have everyone on hand for the trial. I’ll come in when needed. The less I see of those corrupt lawmen the better.”

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson joins the others for breakfast and listens to Paladin.

"Zo, vhat ist de order of business today?"

[redwarrior]

“If I knew this would be such a hassle, I would’ve hung the rustlers myself,” complained Paladin to Doos over breakfast that morning. He had abandoned any idea of helping them break the horse rustler ring and get Adler, not that they would have tried anyway.

With his usual pistols holstered, Paladin walked with Doos and the others to the sheriff’s office but stopped before before the door.

“Let me know if they have everyone on hand for the trial. I’ll come in when needed. The less I see of those corrupt lawmen the better.”

William nods at Paladin's comment about the rustlers. After lingering over breakfast, and reading the newspaper cover to cover, he awaits Doos' return. Assuming there is no trial set for today, which seem a pretty safe bet, he will take a walk though town (more or less clockwise), with just his one gun in its customary holster, looking to get the lay of the land and the locations of major landmarks in his head.

[ateno]

“If I knew this would be such a hassle, I would’ve hung the rustlers myself,” complained Paladin to Doos over breakfast that morning. He had abandoned any idea of helping them break the horse rustler ring and get Adler, not that they would have tried anyway.

With his usual pistols holstered, Paladin walked with Doos and the others to the sheriff’s office but stopped before before the door.

“Let me know if they have everyone on hand for the trial. I’ll come in when needed. The less I see of those corrupt lawmen the better.”

"
I understand you thoughts and those are in among every want to be law abiding person. But if this state wants to be taken seriously by back east, we have to show that we are willing to go the extra mile. I suspect our rapist will get off, unless the sheriff's go and interview the father. I think he's guilty, spending some time with him that is, I'll do what I can. The other two will spend time, official law is Article 765. If any person shall steal any horse, gelding, mare, colt, ass, or mule, he shall be punished, by confinement in the Penitentiary, not less than two, nor more than seven years. so something there about.
Penal code, Texas, 1856

Doos will read the paper for any news and just wear his double action pistol.

[jemmus]

Thanks for the authentic law!

Notable stories from the newspaper include:
Work has begun in San Francisco on the world’s first cable railroad;
Eight men who spent six months drifting on a floe in the North Atlantic were rescued.
James Roe aboard Springbok wins the 7th Belmont Stakes in 3:01.75
In Gainesville, Texas, four cattle men were killed by a Mexican believed to be an employee.

There are also advertisements for various kinds of employment: train guards, stagecoach guards, cattle herd guards, county deputies, city policemen, Texas Rangers. And of course, cowboys.

The riders have their breakfast and head toward the city marshal's office for this part of the city. The local shops are opening up and the streets of Austin are beginning to bustle with wagons, carriages, horsemen and pedestrians. At the marshal’s office there’s a different policeman from the evening before and a worn, somber-looking man seated at a desk piled with ledgers and papers. His badge is engraved with Austin City Lieutenant Marshal. From behind the barred door at the back left of the room, there are the sounds of a men passing metal plates to prisoners and addressing their various comments.

When the lieutenant marshal learns who the visitors are, he says, So y’all are the men that brought in the rustlers and accused rapist? Thank you for that. And thank ya for checking in here. He writes down the name of the hotel in a ledger. If you change address, please let us know. I’m afraid ya’ll may need to stay in town fer a few days. Since the rustlers’ crimes happened across counties, that trial will be in state court. That might be in take two or three days. The attempted rape crime happened here in Travis County, so that one could be in county court as soon as tomorra.

By the way, I imagine the Texas Rangers might be interested in hearin how y’all come across the rustlers and how ya brought em in. You might want to call on his office, or expect a call from him at the Drowver Hotel.

Oh yeah, and that fella who was ridin with ya’ll. I’m releasing him. If we tried every man in Austin who challenged another one to a gunfight, we’d be in court day and night. And we’d be arrestin Congressmen in the Capitol buildin.

The steel grid at the back left of the office opens and two policemen escort Gideon McLaury out. He says, Lieutenant Marshal, I appreciate yore bein a sensible man. The accommodations wasn’t that bad, but I can’t say I don’t mind not stayin for breakfast. He signs in a ledger and receives his pistol, gun belt, and other belongings. Y’all stayin in the Drover like I suggested? Ah’m headed that way.

After the visit to the marshal’s office, William takes a tour of the area, taking note of its various features. One think he notes is that there sure are a lot of bars, saloons, dance halls, and liquor stores. And even a billiards parlor. The people of Austin seem to be able to support a lot of hospitality and recreation enterprises.

The map of the town in the Games setting thread (more places marked with arrows).
Please let us know your PC's general plan for spending his time until supper (dinner) time.

[jemmus]

I revised the above post. It's the Texas Rangers who have jurisdiction over the rustlers' crimes across counties, not the Travis County sheriff.

[redwarrior]

After leaving the town marshall's office William states his intention to introduce himself to the Marshalls and make a statement RE: the Rustlers. He'll either go by himself or with others who want to go as well.

His intent is to give a factual account from the horses being stolen, the town law's loaning us the nags to go after them, finding the house & the shootout. Minimizing the involvement of the Indians (who weren't all that involved), the call for surrender, initial shoot-out and the second shoot-out, and the decision to bring the rustlers here as they feared being lynched without a trial locally. He'll make a point to mention that we left one of our party (I forget the name without searching right now) to show the deputy the house and recover/bury the bodies. He'll mention the intervention with the accused rapist and the Judge's insistence that he also deserves an actual trial. On that, since it's the local's jurisdiction, and he's not really happy with the outcome, he'll gloss over and say something to the effect that "we followed the judge's learned opinion on that."

He'll also enquire what the requirements are for a Ranger, though being new to the country, he doesn't have much of an expectation that he meets them.

[ateno]

Thanks for the authentic law!

The attempted rape crime happened here in Travis County, so that one could be in county court as soon as tomorra.

"Marshall I would like to talk to you about that, privately."

Doos will fill him in on the statements he took and not available to talk to the daughter. If he could spare a man, Doos could give the info on where the farmers are and what info they can get. I also tell him of the long term interrogation I did of him and feel he is used to lying and can tell a good story and that I believe he is guilty.

Doos would like to look for piece work to earn a bit here and there, either literature or sweeping, it does not matter. Stopping at each store and asking or posting on a board somewhere if needed.

Doos

[Grognardsw]

Paladin waited outside the sheriff's office building for the others to come back out. He read the newspaper with an eye toward people who may need his services (as he often does at the Carlton in San Francisco). Not so much the routine for-hire jobs, but articles that imply that someone needs help via unofficial channels.

[jemmus]

William and the others know that the qualifications to be a Ranger are to only not be a complete jackass. Anyone is welcome if they're willing to ride hard day after day, sleep in the rough for weeks at a time, get baked by the Sun and beaten by hail, and get shot at by Comanches, Kiowas, Apaches, bandidos, and every kind of Anglo criminal with a gun there is. If the person appears to be trustworthy and reliable-- in every kind of hardship-- the Rangers will take them. It's more about personality and character than about skill. Captains are paid $100 a month; lieutenants $75; sergeants $50; corporals and privates took $40. (Compared to $30 a month for the comparatively safe occupation of cowhand). Horses, tack, and firearms are provided, at present. Provisions and salaries are always at the whim of the current Texas legislature.

[jemmus]

The newspaper readers see these other stories.

-A Wells Fargo stage from Burnet in neighboring Burnet County to the northwest did not arrive in Austin last evening as scheduled. The Wells Fargo Overland Stage Company has asked the Office of the State Police to send Texas Ranger troopers to investigate.

-Construction of the Waco and Northwestern Railroad's spur to Fredericksburg in neighboring Blanco County has again been delayed, at immeasurable cost. The railroad company says that the delays have been caused by injuries and deaths of rail laying and rail yard workers. An anonymous employee stated to the paper that a certain amount of accidents are expected due to long hours, fatigue, the great weights of equipment involved, and drunkenness. But in this case, the number of casualties seem exceptional-- and over an exceptional period of time. A Chinese worker has been detained for questioning.

-An outbreak of anthrax has been reported among the horses of the Tonkawa Indians in the San Marcos area of Hays County. The citizens of the county have demanded that the livestock be immediately exterminated to prevent the spread of infection. The Hays County sheriff Mr. John Behan is bedridden due to multiple shotgun wounds due to a controversial personal matter and the sheriff's deputy is absent while on a task of law enforcement. A member of the Hays County Cattlemen's Association has stated that the matter cannot wait, the Association itself will see to the extermination of the horses, should the Tonkawa Indians not do so immediately.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson

Not receiving an answer to his question, he just tags along behind the group and wait outside again unless and until he is called upon.

[Grognardsw]

Andreas Larson joins the others for breakfast and listens to Paladin.

"Zo, vhat ist de order of business today?"

“We’ll see if this trial can happen today,” answered Paladin as he and Andreas waited outside the sheriff’s office. “I doubt it. In the meantime, maybe find short-term work or just enjoy the pleasures of Austin. What do you think?”

[jemmus]

The witnesses are told that the Travis County sheriff's office is sending deputies to John Polk's house to talk to Edna, the alleged rapist's accuser. And that they should be prepared to appear at a trial as soon as tomorrow.

They also learn of two temporary work opportunities.
-Moving lumber at the lumber yard. 90 cents for the day's work.
-Shaving two corpses at the undertaker's to prepare them for burial. One man died of natural causes; the other didn't. $2.00 per. Must do a good job, as determined by the undertaker, or no pay.

(Requires a Strength roll not to get squeamish/nauseated, then a Coordination roll).

And that the City of Austin is sponsoring a shooting contest that will be in three days, on June 11. Three categories: Rifle, Pistol, and Quickdraw Pistol. $2.50 entry fee per category. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners take the respective pots. Overall best shooter gets a hand-crafted, finely engraved Winchester lever action rifle with a black receiver with gold inlay receiver. Donated by the Goodnight Ranch of southeast Austin, owned by Charles Goodnight of the Goodnight Trail cattle trail fame.

+1 or so to hit. And probably valuable, in terms of dollars.