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At the rail construction camp, the crews go about their labors of hauling rails, ties, and gravel ballast, driving steel spikes, constructing the trestle span, and stoking the locomotive's steam engine. The piledriver continues its monotonous thumping. Andreas and Doos keep an eye on the locomotive, piledriver, Larry, Curly and Moe, and the situation in camp in general. One mounted camp guard is across the gully with the rail-laying crews, the other at the Austin end of the camp. It seems that the crews are in better spirits today, after a good supper and a full night's rest.

Suddenly, Curly calls out, Comanches! He's looking toward the prairie to the north, and he raises his old revolving cylinder rifle to his eye.

Please make Observation rolls at +2 to the Attribute's score.

Doos heads with Andreas, trying to see if it looks like a raiding party or interested locals.

Obs 13. [1d20+2]=11+2=13

Doos

Doos and Andreas see three riders carrying Sharps single shot rifles. One is wearing a blue Army jacket with the two yellow chevrons of a corporal on the sleeve. They very much appear like the Tonkawa trackers that lead the group to the rustlers' house. The men raise their open hands in greeting and to sign peace, then trot their horses up. The two camp guards lope their horses toward the indians, Andreas, Doos and Curly. The man in the Army jacket says, Hello. We Army scouts look for Comanche. Maybe 15, 20. You see any?

Doos heads up with the group to talk.

Does he recognize them?

Doos

Doos doesn't recognize any of the men. But he spots facial features, physical builds, and mannerisms that seem similar to the ones he knows. And the accent of the man's English is very similar.

Doos can make an Indian Contact roll if you'd like. It might provide some benefit with the interaction.

Doos will speak up.

"Nʉmʉnʉʉ, I and my compatriot here, worked with about a dozen counting women and children about 2 weeks ago, are those the ones you mean.
He will also describe the sgt scout we worked with.

Indian Contact vs. 16. [1d20]=2

Doos

The scout smiles at Doos greeting. He replies, Don't understand. You worked with Comanches? With their women and their children? Which way? How far?

Doos will get within a respectable distance and will ask Andres to come with him to help as best he can and do our best to help.

Doos

The Tonkawa scouts are not big men, but their bodies look be as tough and rawhide and as strong a sinew. The seem to share more of the thinking of a wolf than that of a man of a town. The lead Tonkawa scout listens closely to make out Andreas English. He replies, You work with Tonkawa? Good man. Good! We Tonkawa. You.... He sweeps his hand across the whole camp. ...Watch for bad Comanches. They like summer Moon. Make hard trouble for railroad, stagecoach, rancher, town. Kill everbody. He holds his left hand flat and palm down, and the right index finger passes along the palm under it continues down in a curving, stabbing motion.

Another scout points with nose toward the mess tent. We drink, horses drink. Army scouts, we eat. We smoke railroad tabacca. He points an index finger to the ground and circles it, possibly to indicate "all" or "everyone."

The third scout says, You have present fer scouts, Tonkawa woman, kid, mother, we take. They turn their horses heads and walking them toward the cook tent. The cook's assistant's assistant Gao observes the incoming men with curious, almost scholarly or tactical interest.

You can roll Indian Contact rolls if you'd like, at +5 to your score in the skill. A PC without the skill would succeed on a d20 roll of 5 or lower.

With the Well Fargo business done, Paladin rode out to the rail camp.

He greeted Doos and Andrea. "How have you been? All normal at the camp this morning?"

Paladin gave them each their $3 pay for the day. "Today is our last day. We'll keep watch through the night. We have a job with Wells Fargo to try to catch the stage robbers, who we think are tied in with the horse rustlers."

Paladin explained in detail (read main thread.) "Do you want in? It's $5 a day for two weeks, maybe longer depending on how things go. And a $35 advance."

Afterwards, Paladin checked in with the foreman Mr. Behrens.

"It seems the camp is back at full efficiency. Thanks for your leadership. Today is our last day, we'll stay through the night and monitor."

Paladin made the rounds of the camp site equipment and guards. "Larry, Moe and Curley - thanks for your help." He paid them today's money. "Today is the last day. We'll keep watch through tonight. The railroad has offered you railroad work, if you'd like a change of pace with reliable pay."

"Mr. Gao, you can go home tonight after dinner! Have you heard any rumors or discontent among the men?"

Grognardsw wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:09 pm Paladin greeted Doos and Andrea. "How have you been? All normal at the camp this morning?"
Paladin gave them each their $3 pay for the day. "Today is our last day. We'll keep watch through the night. We have a job with Wells Fargo to try to catch the stage robbers, who we think are tied in with the horse rustlers."
Paladin explained in detail (read main thread.) "Do you want in? It's $5 a day for two weeks, maybe longer depending on how things go. And a $35 advance."

Andreas Larson "Ja, all ist gut. Tonkawa scouts visited, lookink for der Comanches." Andreas pauses, apparently deep in thought. "I vhas der army scout. I kan halp in die venture."

“Good to hear, Andreas,” replied Paladin.

“How about you Doos?”

Paladin rode out to the farthest track extension to view the work,



Wondering if Comanchees may be watching the camp, late in the afternoon Paladin took Larry and Moe and scouted the perimeter and beyond looking for any signs of such. Scouting (9) [1d20]=16

Doos pockets the $3.

"Quiet, nothing to report except the loss of of a good soldier, a bottle of Red Eye to the gentlemen last night while talking and story telling. Im ok woth working with what you mention, i need a day in the city for a bath and a good bed for a night. But ither than that, i agree we are done here.

Doos

ateno wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 3:33 pm Doos pockets the $3.

"Quiet, nothing to report except the loss of of a good soldier, a bottle of Red Eye to the gentlemen last night while talking and story telling. Im ok woth working with what you mention, i need a day in the city for a bath and a good bed for a night. But ither than that, i agree we are done here.

Doos

“Good.”

Paladin gave Doos and Andreas $17.50 in advance money. “Doc has the rest when he gets here.”

“Tomorrow you can get that bed and bath. I have to make a run over to San Marcos to bring back Virginia Cummins. The others may start on the stage robbers investigation tomorrow if they can get anything from the prisoner Mark Davidson today.”

Grognardsw wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 4:54 am “Tomorrow you can get that bed and bath. I have to make a run over to San Marcos to bring back Virginia Cummins. The others may start on the stage robbers investigation tomorrow if they can get anything from the prisoner Mark Davidson today.”[/dialog]

"Sounds good, I will sleep in and get a couple good meals in me, appreciate the advance. I'm getting promoted out of hand to mouth it seems."

Doos