Dry Gulch Bugle

Jack, Louis, Royce, Ezra and Shady, perhaps better known as The Oak Hill Boys, ride into Hardy, looking for the Four Aces. They were gonna head to the saloon to further investigate a transaction that may or may not have already taken place there: a Horton Reyes was to bring a map to an “AM.” 

They found Hardy to be abuzz with excitement. The Bailey Circus circus was in town!

Before wetting their whistles at the Four Aces, the OHB took a stroll through the venue. They saw a shooting booth, a soothsayer’s tent, a temporary boxing ring and more. Jugglers and stilt walkers engaged the crowd. 

In the center of the circus was a medium sized tent, housing the strange beast mentioned in the sign. But unfortunately, the exhibition had been hastily and temporarily closed. The boys learned from the circus manager Lafayette Dwyer that the beast, a camel, Humpy, had been taken from the tent a week ago. Could the boys help find it? 

A quick investigation revealed few clues. Seems like someone cleanly cut through the tent in the middle of the night and walked off with Humpy. Eventually Dwyer offers up the use of a hot air balloon for some aerial recon. 

The boys clamor aboard the The Intrepid, piloted by Edith Halverstadt. As the group climbs into the air, Edith explains The Intrepid was used by Union forces during the Seven Days Battles (among others). She has retrofitted the contraption with steam based technology to enable rudimentary flight. Flying is a new sensation for the Oak Hill Boys. And when asked later, Louis will tell you it was one of the most unique experiences he’s had. 

Edith proves to be a capable pilot. The balloon starts moving in concentric, ever-expanding circles to spot the camel. A short while later, using his extraordinarily expensive telescope, Jack sees a stronghold at the base of the Tusacana Mountains. They fly towards it. 

As they get closer, something flies towards them…

The long-range sniper of the group, Ezra gets a few shots off. The red colored ribbon at the end of his rifle dances in the wind. A reminder of his sister Ruth. While the shots hit their target, they don’t seem to faze the flying lizard. Wisps of smoke flare from its nostrils as he roars and accelerates. 

“You best land this thing,” Jack says to Edith as she frantically works the controls. “We don’t wanna be up in the air when we tangle with this lizard.”

The balloon races to the ground and is just a few feet from terra firma when the flying lizard strikes, breathing a cone of fire on the gondola. 

The  gondola crashes to the ground, now engulfed in flames. Jack quickly escorts Edith to safety as the rest of The Oak Hill Boys scramble out and find cover in nearby desert trees and rocks. 

An intense fight ensues. The adventurers keep scattered to minimize the damage from the lizard’s fire breathing. The lizard takes advantage of the air. And at one point, nearly kills Ezra and Royce with vicious claw, bite and tail attacks. But don’t think for a minute Jack, Louis and Shady were safe. They, too, suffered the lizard’s wrath. 

In the end, it was Ezra’s shot that felled the beast. 

Edith makes repairs to the ballon. And Royce plays his guitar, which heals the group. Louis finds his toe tapping and feels a request coming on…

Now slightly charred, the Intrepid ascends back into the air, making its way towards the mountain stronghold…

Jack Kollath, one of The Oak Hill Boys, gets a message from Lydia Wright in Clearwater.

The boys finish up their drinks, saddle up and ride to Clearwater.

Upon arrival at the general store Lydia now runs, the widow tells Jack and the rest of the Oak Hill Boys that she’s worried. “Sunny” (AKA Sunders Copperstone) hasn’t come by for two weeks. Sunny is an old and friendly miner, working a claim all by himself, about a half day’s ride from town. He typically comes by every Monday for supplies before heading back to his claim.

She took her concern to Deputy Bosock. But he won’t do anything until Sunny misses a third week. And Lydia doesn’t want to wait. She’s worried that something has happened to her friend. So she asks the boys to investigate. And gives them directions on how to get to Sunny’s claim.

En route to the claim, the OHB see some strange tracks.

Something, indeed, has happened to Sunny. Upon approaching the small cabin, the boys see a donkey lazily grazing nearby. It feels eerily quiet.

Inside the shack is poor Sunny. He is dead, slumped over a table. The boys investigate, and find the man was slain by a single, weird, burned gunshot in the center of his forehead. This method feels familiar to the Oak Hill Boys. They saw the same manner of death with Harry Jenkins, the man they saw in the buckboard wagon outside Winslow (on the way to the Dog’s Head Mine).

Further investigation reveals the miner might have been working on something when he died. But what?

Seeing nothing else of interest or value, the men ride back to Clearwater. On the way to town they fight a large centipede-type critter that made those strange tracks.

Upon arrival, they immediately head to the store and break the news to the widow Lydia. Ezra also takes a closer look at the ledger that had been found close to Harry Jenkin’s body. He notices another name and location crossed off: “S. Copperstone, Clearwater, $750.”

One mystery solved. The only name not crossed off in the book is “C.D. Ward, Clearwater, $49” Asking around, the OHB learn there’s a Charley Ward who runs the H&S Saloon.

Charley is surprised to learn about the book. And while it’s not known why Charley was on the list, what is known is his life’s in danger. And the boys aim – pun intended – to do what they can to save him.

They take up positions both in the bar and in the rooms on the second floor. The second floor is simply laid out: a hallway and two bedrooms. A balcony lies just north of Charley’s bedroom.

The bar patrons eventually disperse. Charley, now three sheets to the wind, is escorted to a room, where he promptly passes out. Not in his bed, mind you, but in the bedroom just south of where he normally sleeps. 

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” Jack says, as he takes two pillows and makes it look like Charley’s fast asleep in his original bed in the northern-most room.

The Oak Hill Boys wait in the darkness.

Louis eventually hears something. A soft footfall. He sees a figure outside the window on the balcony. Jack’s ears perk up, too. The lawyer turned railroad agent hears a creaking stairstep. Jack readies his double-barreled shotgun. Ezra and Royce, stationed in the hallway, see two Indians come in through a back window. They must have used a ladder. 

From the shadows, ever so slowly and quietly, Louis extends his arm, pistol in hand. He watches as the darkened figure silently jimmies open the window and makes his way through it. The intruder takes out a knife and approaches the figure lying in the bed…

Gunshots and curses pierce the night as the Oak Hill Boys spring their trap. The Indians, however, didn’t go down easily. But Ezra’s own shotgun work and Royce’s quick tactical moves in the hallway help pave the Indians’ journeys to their ultimate hunting grounds. 

Four Indians were killed that night, along with another man: a Mexican, dressed all in black and seeming to be the group’s leader. On his body was a letter. The missive was written to a Hector Reyes from a mysterious “AM,” telling Reyes to kill Sunny Copperstone, get his map, and bring it to the Four Aces Saloon in Hardy.

After reassuring Charley that he was now safe and explaining what had happened to Deputy Peyton Bosock, the Oak Hill Boys set off for Hardy…

 

Following the trail of the bank robbers, the Oak Hill Boys ride out to the long abandoned Dog’s Head Mine, so named because the mine entrance looks like the head of a large dog.

Near one of the buildings, Jack and Royce see a man leaning back in a chair, his feet on a barrel, whittling. Jack and Royce sneak up behind him and with a loud click, the man is only too happy to tell his tale.

The man with the gun pointed at his head is Billy Ranton. He, his brothers and some other men robbed the bank in Winslow. But were surprised when after blowing open the safe, they discovered NO money in the bank! In frustration, the Ranton Gang killed a guard, and hightailed it to the mine.

Ultimately, much to the chagrin of Deputy Jacob Munz, the Oak Hill Boys ended up letting some of the Ranton gang escape. As they rode into Winston with Billy, a train was arriving. And curiously, the boys see the bank president, Russell Sherwood, leaving the hotel and walking to the train station, carrying two large, full satchels. Hmmm…

Upon seeing Jack, Louis, Royce, Ezra, the banker loudly proclaimed that THEY were the robbers. And immediately offered a $500 bounty to anyone for killing the Oak Hill Boys.

This got the attention of several passersby. People began taking cover. And things were tense for a moment or two. Sherwood ran back into the Grand Winslow Hotel.

Jack and the rest of the OHB suggested that they were working with the law to apprehend the true robbers. And it was curious that the bank president was suddenly trying to leave town.

Looking down the barrel of his rifle, Ezra warned potential bounty hunters that there were going to be consequences should anyone get any ideas.

But greed got the best of a few Winslow citizens. And they paid with their lives as the Oak Hill Boys defended themselves. Once the smoke cleared, three citizens were dead. And while Royce, Jack and Ezra were wounded, it wasn’t too bad.

After searching the Grand Winslow, Louis found Sherwood hiding under a bed, along with the bank’s money. Well, and the boy’s $12,500. Sherwood is taken into custody. Sheriff Caruthers gets the real story from his deputy.

And as the Oak Hill Boys reflect on their most recent adventures over a whiskey or three, a telegram arrives for Jack…

(NOTE: this adventure is a version of Grindoctor’s A Series of Unfortunate Events)

The Oak Hill Boys ride to Winston to tell Sheriff Caruthers what happened to Buck Thompson. Looking forward to a good night’s sleep, they check into the Grand Winslow. But are roused in the wee hours of the morning as an explosion booms.

Grabbing their gunbelts and only partially dressed, they hustle to the hotel balcony. A gunshot rings out. Just down the street, by the moonlight, they see five men run out of the bank towards horses. Their guns are drawn and they’re looking to giddy up.

From the balcony, Ezra takes aim. And the second gunshot of the night is heard. One of the bandits winces in pain as Ezra catches him in the shoulder. Shots are exchanged between the robbers and The Boys. But it seems as though the robbers are more intent on leaving than getting shot up. One robber is killed. And the man Ezra wounds is thrown from his horse. Three men escape, their horses moving faster than normal.

The Boys close on the scene and enter the bank. They see a guard with a single bullet in his head. And an empty safe that’s been blown open, which made all the noise. While a bank robbery wouldn’t normally faze The Oak Hill Boys, this one is different. As they had $12,500 in the bank for safekeeping. (How they came into this money is a different story.)

The law arrives, as does Russell Sherwood, the bank’s president. The dead guard in the bank is identified and the group determines what to do next. The guard was hired because there was an unusually high amount of money in the safe. Prospector Angus McAvoy recently struck it rich in Colorado and had come to Winslow to buy a ranch. His $25,000 was in the bank. This…with some regular deposits…and the OHB’s $12,500… Seems quite the payday for the robbers!

The wounded man is taken to jail after learning the robbers may be heading to Dog’s Head Mine, a deserted silver mine (and perfect place to lay low for a few days). A discussion ensues on what to do next. Sherwood suggests a posse leave immediately in the morning. And Jack, Shady, Ezra, Louis and Royce agree to be a part of the posse. After all, they have a vested interest in finding the money. But the discussion to figure all this out ruffles some of the boy’s feathers. And a different plan is hatched.

Once the banker, sheriff and others retire to get a few hours sleep before heading out… The Boys saddle up, following the trail left by the escaping robbers. At 3AM, the trail is a little hard to come by. As they make their way along the trail northwest of Winslow, they hear galloping behind them. It’s Deputy Jacob Munz. He suspected The Boys weren’t happy with the discussion in town and they just might try to get one over on the posse. He insists on joining. Not wanting to be on the wrong side of the law, the OHB have little choice but accept the decision. They move on.

After a few hours, something catches Royce’s eye just off the trail. The group sees a buckboard wagon, covered with spruce branches. In the wagon is a dead man. “That’s Harry Jenkins,” says Munz. The deputy goes on to say that Jenkins lives, well, lived, nearby on a small farm. He worked at The Grand Winslow. And that he was always “a little slow.” So slow, in fact, he had to write down everything to remember it.

Royce finds a slip of paper on the dead man with, “Sunday, 1:30 at night” scrawled on it. This was just a few hours ago. About when the robbery happened. And yet, the man has been dead for several days. Was this simple man somehow part of the bank job?

Investigating further, Jack finds a small book near the buckboard.

In it are names, towns and amounts. Most of the names are crossed off, including the name Harry Jenkins. One name still remains on the list: C.D. Ward.

What could all this mean?

The Oak Hill Boys ride to Winslow, Arizona Territory. They immediately head to the jail to clear up Jack’s good name, as he was mentioned in an article in the Winslow Gazette. Jack and Company were referred to the Grand Winslow, the largest commercial enterprise of the town.

Indeed, the Grand Winslow lived up to its name. It was a fine establishment, serving up rooms, food, and a variety of other entertainment, including women and whiskey. No one was there for a prayer circle.

Upon entering the place, they find Sheriff Caruthers having a drink with a man they later learn is Granville Hardisty, editor of the Gazette. The sheriff suggests the boys are in trouble, as Jack was the last to see Buck Thompson before Buck mysteriously escaped. Buck and a few men had unsuccessfully tried to rob the Winslow Savings & Loan a couple of weeks ago.

As Jack and the rest of the fellas explain what they were doing with Thompson, the doors of the saloon swing open. Four men enter, several of whom the Oak Hill Boys recognize from Clearwater. The rough looking men set eyes on the fellas. And one of them draws his pistol, aiming directly at Royce. “You killed my brother Zach! So you ain’t gettin’ outta here alive!”

Seems the remaining Hensley Clan had revenge on their mind. Getting the drop on The Boys, the Hensley’s got a round of shots off before the fellas could even put their drinks down.

Patrons scattered. Tables were pushed over, becoming improvised barriers. Lead flew. And as you would imagine, the Oak Hill Boys weren’t the only armed patrons at the Grand Winslow. Several others also opened fire on the Hensley Clan. While the saloon ended up getting shot all to pieces – and one innocent bystander killed – only one member of the Hensley Clan survived. Trying to escape, Hank Hensley was caught by Deputy Jacob Munz.

As the bartender began digging out bullets from the bar, it was clear for all to see that Royce, Jack, Ezra, Shady and Louis were acting in self defense. The Hensley Clan shot first. Sheriff Caruthers immediately saw that frontier justice indeed had been properly dispensed. And Granville Hardisty had a heckuva story.

After taking down everyone’s accounts of what happened, the Sheriff asked the boys to help him find Buck Thompson to help clear Jack’s name. Not particularly happy with how the Sheriff had treated the men before the shootout, and insisting they had nothing to do with Thompson’s jail break, the boys said they’d keep an eye out for the escaped convict. But wouldn’t necessarily go out of their way to find him.

The truth of the matter is Ezra had a pretty good idea of where Thompson might be. Because Buck was one third of the gang that robbed the Winslow bank 25 years ago and got away with $25,000. The Boys were very familiar with this story. Once they were out of earshot of Caruthers, Ezra suggested they go to the Thompson farm near Privilegio.

They rode for hours. The landscape became less flat, giving way to rolling foothills as they skirted the Tusacanas.

Jack held up a hand and pulled up on the reins of his horse. Louis, Shady, Royce and Ezra came up beside him. The five men looked over a small valley. Their trail went down, through, and up to the other side about 60 yards away. But it was occupied. Four men ride up on horses and line up opposite them.

Three of them are dressed almost identically. The fourth man is someone the Oak Hill Boys recognize.

A bird is perched one of the identical men’s shoulders. Buck Thompson says something to that man. With the wave of a hand, the mysterious person sends the bird high up into the air flying towards Jack & Company.

< crack >

A rifle shot from Ezra brings down the bird. The Boys see it was clutching a small bag.

Buck looks over at another identical man. That man waves his hand. And a bird appears on the man’s shoulder. The second bird takes off. And once it gets above The Boys, it releases its cargo. The bag hits the desert floor in front of them. Royce dismounts and investigates the bag’s contents. It contains a scrap of paper and a small pencil. He reads the paper and hands it to Louis, who glances at it, then hands it to Ezra. Who then gives it to Jack…

I only want what’s mine

Jack looks at his friends. Then crumples up the paper and lets the wind take it from his hand.

The bird nearly made it all the way back to the opposing force before things escalated.

This particular altercation was challenging for the fellas. Maybe it was the multiple exploding fireballs. Or maybe it was the magic that seemed to turn one of the identical men into four men.

But there was some success; Buck Thompson ended up dead, as did two of the identical men. The third magician ended up disappearing, though, in not even a cloud of dust.

Once they got some rest and healed up, listening to Royce’s guitar, the Oak Hill Boys rode back to Winston. So they could let Sheriff Caruthers know what happened to Buck Thompson.

Seems like that murdering bastard isn’t in Clearwater.

Once Shady (and Ma Hensley) are feeling a bit better, Deputy Bosock asks the Oak Hill Boys to find Zach Hensley, wanted for killing Gus Stanton. The young lawman suggests the fellas ask around several of the businesses near Hensley Meats. The cartwright and Chinese laundry are owned by members of the Hensley clan.

As they head over to that part of town, the boys spy a nervous looking woman loading up supplies into a buckboard wagon, just outside Hensley Meats. Curious, they investigate. And the woman’s story comes gushing out.

Her name’s Lorena Letterfield. And she needs help. Her daughter and husband are prisoners back at her homestead. A stranger came to their home a few days ago. He pistol-whipped her husband, Andrew, and scared Lorena’s daughter, Beatrix, nearly to death. The man has taken over the place, threatening to kill Andrew if anyone gets out of line.

The man sent Lorena into town for supplies and she is to head straight back once she gets them, talking with no one.

Seeing that this thug is perhaps their elusive target, Zach Hensley, the Oak Hill Boys quickly hatch a plan.

And for once, it seems to go off without a hitch.

Upon arrival to the homestead, they see Andrew trussed up in the bedroom. Zach is sprawled out in front of the fireplace. The Boys make their move at dinnertime, when they know that Zach will be at the dinner table and Lorena and Beatrix will be in the kitchen. This gives the women enough time to escape just as Louis and Royce enter the home through the kitchen, while Ezra and Jack breach the front door.

But Zach doesn’t go down without a fight. And he ends up dying from a well-placed rifle shot from Ezra.

Zach’s body is taken back to Clearwater and all is explained to Deputy Bosock, who appreciates The Boys efforts to bring some measure of justice to Gus and the town.

Just as they are preparing to leave Clearwater, Jack gets a handwritten invitation from Lydia, the beautiful – and now fairly well off – Widow Wright. She formally asks for him to accompany her to her dear, departed brother’s funeral. The service takes place at the Church of Our Redeemer, on the outskirts of town.

Jack accepts. After all, what could go wrong?

That next afternoon, under the heat of the Arizona sun, a small crowd gathers to say goodbye to the town’s slow, but well-meaning citizen, Gus Stanton. All seem to be wearing their Sunday best.

Louis, Royce and Ezra seem to be a little uncomfortable in their duds. Ezra adjusts his collar. Royce swallows as a bead of sweat trickle down his shirt. And Louis thinks of the whiskey he will be enjoying at the Crystal Palace.

Looking magnificent, Jack stands by Lydia near the freshly dug hole. A gravedigger sits on the edge of a wagon nearby, clearly bored and hot.

The preacher begins the service…

And a gunshot rings out.

More gunfire erupts from the church roof, a mausoleum and from behind a tree southeast of the mourners.

The shots find their marks as the preacher is hit, a citizen drops and bullets fly near Lydia’s feet.

The Oak Hill Boys spring into action. Jack pushes Lydia into the grave and urges her to stay put. Royce finds cover between two sarcophagi and returns fire. Ezra leaps behind a grave marker and focuses his marksmanship on the two men on the church roof. While Louis gets cover near the gravedigger’s wagon, focusing on the shooter north of them, by the mausoleum.

Townspeople scatter as more gunfire is exchanged. And eventually, after getting a little shot up themselves, Ezra, Royc, Jack and Louis emerge the victors, defending the funeral party and killing the snipers.

It is never clear why the would-be killers were there. But the Boys had had just about enough of Clearwater.

They needed to return to Winslow to clear their names. From a newspaper story, they found out Jack is wanted for questioning. Seems he was one of the last man seeing a prisoner in the Winslow jail before the man escaped…

Trail notes from Royce Hyatt…

Having just learned their dynamite-loving friend Shady McCoy had been poisoned, with just days to live, The Oak Hill Boys knew they had to get an antidote from a nearby Mormon settlement.

But how had Shady been poisoned?

The group began comparing their activities and couldn’t figure out any differences. Until they searched Shady’s saddlebags and found some sausages. Food no one but Shady had eaten. From his deathbed in the doc’s office, Shady confirmed The Boys suspicion: that he picked up the food from Hensley Meats for the ride to Winslow.

With this news, they quickly talk with Deputy Bosock and then with him in tow, confront Ma Hensley. She claims not to know anything. Thinking quickly, Jack asks her to eat one of the sausages. And under everyone’s watchful eyes, Ma eats one. Louis notices she’s not so keen on the snack.

The Boys leave town for the Mormon Settlement, two days away.

There, they meet with Caleb Young, the leader of the religious pioneers. Caleb and his brother, Brigham, had travelled west from Nebraska, separating in Utah Territory. Caleb headed south and ended up near Clearwater, Arizona Territory.

Caleb had, in fact, some antidote. And was happy to give it to the Oak Hill Boys. But could they help the settlement out first? Caleb’s boy, Joshua, was missing. He was last seen just southeast of the settlement.

The Boys saddle up and ride in that direction. Eventually, they hear the howls of something – or some things – seemingly unnatural. Snarls echo and bounce from the rock pillars around them as they see what’s become of young Joshua…

The child is surrounded by five deadly chupacabra. They’re moderately sized, canine-like creatures with leathery skin and a row of spikes that run from the back of their heads to a tail. With sharp teeth and claws, they’re no match for a man, let alone a ten-year-old boy.

But the combined firepower and tactics of the Oak Hill Boys is another matter entirely. The beasts are dispatched. The boy is returned to the settlement. And Ezra, Royce, Jack and Louis get their antidote for Shady.

They race back to Clearwater to find not one, put now two patients in Doc O’Leary’s care. Shady. And it turns out Ma Hensley is now sick, too. With the understanding she may also have some of the antidote, Hensley admits that Zach did, in fact, kill Gus Stanton. Bludgeoned him with a shovel that can be found in the cartwright’s workyard. But Ma Hensley has no idea where Zach has gone.

Where is that murdering bastard?

Notes from Shady’s Journal…

The Oak Hill Boys were feeling pretty good about themselves. They had just finished The Ivory Trail, and had found the $25,000 that Cole Wright, Buck Thompson and West Ribbon stole from the Winslow Savings & Loan 25 years ago.

Being men of their word, they traveled to Clearwater to give Lydia Wright, Cole’s widow, her half of the robbery proceeds.

Lydia was happy to see them. She seemed to take a liking in particular to Jack Kollath. And of course, she was very surprised to receive $12,500. Her brother, Gus Stanton, was also excited.

The Boys retired to the Grand Winslow for some much needed drinks, card playing and additional respite.

Early the next morning, they were roused with troubling news: Gus Stanton was dead. He was found a few short hours ago behind an outhouse by The Crystal Palace Saloon. Seems his head had been bashed in.

What happened?

The local law, Marshal Jesper Hawkins, had gone out to see family in Las Calamitas, California. This left a young deputy in charge, Payton Bosock. After talking with them, it became clear to the boys that Bosock clearly didn’t know how to investigate and was out of sorts. Royce befriended the local law enforcement officer and the fellas were able to get themselves deputized to find out what happened to slow, but well-meaning, Gus Stanton.

The Oak Hill Boys carefully investigated the site and found no discernible clues. But it seems pretty clear something had happened. They ask around the Crystal Palace and learn that last night, Gus was seen and heard talking to a local man, Zachary Hensley. The bartender recalls that Gus was running his mouth off a little too much and that his sister just got a big inheritance from her now dead husband Cole. Maybe this Zach character would know more.

The Boys head over to Hensley Cartwrights, where Zach worked with his uncle Hank. But Hank said Zach wasn’t there and sent them across the street to Hensley’s Meats. Zach’s mother runs the store. Maybe she knows where Zach is.

Ma Hensley and two of her other sons sell fresh beef, pork and a variety of game, but the bestsellers are the cured ham and Ma’s exquisite sausages. The Boys find Ma Hensley to be a plump, sweet lady in her late fifties. She is accompanied by a son.

When asked about Zach’s whereabouts, though, the family’s disposition turns. They become uncooperative. Frustrated, Ezra takes out a bundle from his pack, and carefully unrolls it on the meat counter, revealing several cut fingers. “Do you want me to add to my collection?” Under this threat, Ma Hensley reveals that Zach and one of his brothers had traveled to nearby Winslow to make some deliveries to the store’s restaurant customers.

Satisfied with the answer, but chafing at their temporary authority, the newly deputized Oak Hill Boys ride up to Winston.

But after visiting just two of the restaurants, they learn no one from Hensley Meats has made any recent deliveries. Ezra, Royce, Jack, Louis and Shady ride back to Clearwater. But on the way back, Shady falls ill.

Doc Ian O’Leary in Clearwater suggests Shady has been poisoned and has just days to live. And unfortunately, he has no antidote. But suggests there may be one at a nearby Mormon settlement…  

The Oak Hill Boys – Jack, Royce, Ezra, Louis and Shady – head over to the Winslow jail to visit with Buck Thompson. Their goal is to get Buck’s ivory handled Colt peacemaker, upon which is etched the other half of the clues they need to find $25,000. (The boys already have the other half of the clues, which were etched on a matching pistol). 

After talking their way past Deputy Jacob Munz and Sheriff Gus Caruthers, they talk with Buck. 

Buck was in the pokey for his part in a failed attempt to rob the Winslow Savings & Loan a few days ago. The boys confirm this, as well as the idea that Buck robbed the same bank 25 years ago. He tried again recently because he was in desperate need of funds and couldn’t find his friend Cole Wright. Buck needed money for his farm near Privilegio, which has seen better days. Buck bought the homestead from Bill Cooley, but has fallen behind in his payments. He’s now deeply in debt and doesn’t want to lose the farm. The prisoner no longer has his gun. Sheriff Caruthers took it.

Jack then learns Caruthers sold the weapon to a colorful man in town named Count Bartasz. The Count is from Germany and on an extended vacation, taking in parts of the American Wild West. The wealthy man is something of a tourist. But if the Boys want to talk with the Count, they should hurry. He’s leaving on the next train out of town. 

The Boys quickly leave and just catch the train. They make their way back to the private rail car and have a “conversation” at gunpoint with the Count. Seems as though the Count is very surprised, a bit foppish, and ultimately quite taken by the Boys, seeing them as genuine American cowboys. 

Bartasz and his entourage seem quite harmless and the Yankee Westerners learn the gun is in the storage boxcar. Leaving the Count, they head back through the train. And as they enter the boxcar, see four men rummaging around. The Oak Hill gang isn’t the only crew looking for the gun. During the ensuing gunfight, two men race off with the silver Colt, moving through the door at the other end of the boxcar. Jack and Royce eventually kill one of the men after facing off with him on the train’s roof, leaping from car to car as the landscape whizzes by them. The last man is found by Ezra and Louis in the stable car, hiding away in the Count’s carriage. The second pistol is now theirs! They now have the complete “map” on how to find the money.

Turns out the $25,000 is not so easily found. The Oak Hill Boys follow a series of clues that lead them digging up graves and finding what seems to be a key that then needs to be inserted into a rock formation called “The Finger of God” on the outskirts of the Tusacana Mountains.

The key points out a well hidden entrance to a cave – and another series of tests for the men. They make their way through quicksand, a strange turning room and collapsing pillar platforms…only to come into a large cavern to battle a large, fire-breathing lizard. Many shots, fire breaths and curse words later, the lizard is defeated. And finally, the saddlebags containing the money are located.

As the Oak Hill Boys leave the caverns, they’re surprised to see a large posse of hardened men, taking cover in the rocks and hills below them. They’re all wearing black bandanas. It’s Wes Ribbon’s men, being lead by Wes himself. See, he ended up surviving being shot by Buck Thompson and Cole Wright 25 years ago after they all robbed the Winslow Savings & Loan. And Wes aimed – literally – to get his money back.

A prolonged and fierce gun battle took place.

But once the smoke cleared, the Oak Hill Boys ended up with the money. Wes ended up dead. And now, all Jack and Company needed do was follow the last wish of a dying man – get Cole Wright’s half of the money to his wife, Lydia, in Clearwater…

Note

The Ivory Trail is actually a module. Written by grindoctor. Thanks for the great adventure! Players loved it.

 

The Oak Hill Boys ride to Clearwater, in search of Buck Thompson. For Buck has the other ivory-handled Colt peacemaker, upon which is inscribed clues to the location of $25,000, stolen 25 years ago by Buck Thompson, Cole Wright and Wes Ribbon. 

They find Wright’s General Store easily enough, its sign creaking in the wind as the Oak Hill Boys come into town. Upon entering the store, the Oak Hill Boys see a group of women gossiping. The chattering stops as soon as Jack, Ezra, Royce and Louis enter the premises. A large, brawny man is also seen stocking shelves. 

The youngest of the group comes over and introduces herself as Lydia Wright. And she’s as pretty as a speckled pup. The boys suggest they have business to discuss and move to the back room to deliver the fateful news that Lydia is now a widow. They are joined by the brawny stockman, who introduces himself as Gus Stanton, Lydia’s brother.

The boys tell Lydia what happened on the stagecoach and how Cole died. Lydia is devastated by the news that her May-September romance with Cole is now a memory. As the boys console her, they learn that Buck indeed did come to the store a couple of weeks ago to discuss urgent news with his long-lost friend. But Buck had just missed Cole, who was on a business trip to Cow Spring. Buck could not wait, and suggested that Cole was to find Buck in Winslow upon return.

Lydia and Gus are surprised to hear of Cole’s larcenous past and Gus seems keen to help the boys get the money. It is immediately clear to the boys that as well meaning as Gus may be, he wasn’t the sharpest knife. So dull he wouldn’t cut hot butter. But none-the-less, he’s invited to ride with the Oak Hill Boys to nearby Winslow, Arizona. 

They head due north, about a day’s ride, to Winslow. As they enter town, they pass Flatbed Ford’s Cartage, but see no women there.

The Oak Hill Boys wet their whistles at the Grand Winslow, the nicest bar and hotel in town. As they refresh themselves, they learn the town is abuzz with news of the bank robbery. Well, attempted robbery. Just a few days ago, the Winslow Savings & Loan had trouble. Men as poor as church mice tried an unlawful withdrawal of funds. But it all went south. Two men ended up being killed by the Sheriff, Caruthers. And the leader of the gang, Buck Thompson, was now in the hoosegow, awaiting trial. 

Upon hearing this news, the boys decide a visit to the local jail would be in order. Well, after they finish their drinks.