We’ve made it to Silver City and met with undertaker Gus McLeary to arrange the transfer of the body of Thomas Vance back to Steaming Rock. Whilst there, it was brought to the group’s attention that Philem Quinlivan wanted to talk to them.

They know Quinlivan as a businessman, owner of Blackrock Ventures Limited, a mining company. They do a bit of digging in the paper and try to find out more by chatting to the regulars at Becky’s Tavern, their home for the night. Nothing more comes up on Quinlivan.

The next morning, they breakfast at the Crossroads Hotel and ask the barman for Mr Quinlivan’s room. A brisk conversation and Quinlivan is blunt, a war is coming, and he wants them to choose sides, him or Ellis Rockcliffe. Money comes into the equation, a mighty sum of $500 each if they take the body back to Ellis, but the deeds must be handed to Quinlivan’s man in Steaming Rock, Hubb McGraw. This money seems to be a retainer or wages for future services to Quinlivan.

So, the group has agreed to betray Ellis and throw in their lot with Quinlivan. Quinlivan starts sketching a map, “Take this detour, Sarah Bullard wants these deeds too; she’s set up an ambush between Fort Cummings and Steaming Rock. This map will see you safely past her.”

They’ve been told about Jessie Bullard, daughter of Captain John Bullard, the founder of Silver City. She owns most of the mining interest, and everyone comes to her for advice or permission. She’s also got no love for the Apache, riding them out of the local area, on account of her father’s run-ins with them and eventual death.

Another night at Becky’s with drinks, cards, and time for Diago to reconcile with his killings.

The next morning, they head to the undertaker and find him speaking with Kuruk. Kuruk explains that he and his family are being run out of Fort Cummings, and he came to Silver City to see if there was a chance they could join the group on the way to Steaming Rock and try to find work and somewhere to live nearby.

The group consult, Kuruk expresses his wish to fight, to kill, and if need be, die for the group, citing the example of Diago.

The group make good progress and within a few days turns up at Fort Cummings. Winston is challenged by one of the soldiers there, Private Duncan Karius, but bluffs well, convincing him they were old army buddies. They learn that the army is clearing this area, forcing the Apache off the land and then the army is on manoeuvres heading north to Steaming Rock and onward to Reserve.

The party also encounters Kuruk’s “family”, about five families, around twenty-five Apache women, children, and old folks. The group is part of the Chiricahua Apache and a band known as the Chihenne, aka the Warm Springs Apache. The journey north will be tough for such a large group in swelteringly hot conditions.

Once the Apaches are packed up, they head off, taking the detour that Quinlivan gave them, putting their trust in their new boss. The old river bed is not the best for the wagon, but they continue, the sun blazing, until Kuruk says they need water and offers to scout ahead. Danny goes with him.

Kuruk takes Danny higher into the mountains. Danny queries this, whereupon Kuruk says he knows a place that will allow them to spy on the ambushers, Bullard and her men. Danny agrees. As they crawl on their bellies to the edge of a sheer drop, they look down to see a group of six, waiting on a plateau above the main road to Steaming Rock. It seems Quinlivan was right. Kuruk is keen to sneak down and kill the enemies of the group, but Danny convinces him that now is not the right time.

On the way back to the rest of the party, Kuruk spots water, and when they regroup, they can head forward, make camp, and the rest of the journey to Steaming Rock is without incident.

In Steaming Rock, Danny allows the Apaches to camp at his ranch. Diago, Cody, Winston and Dutch head to see Ellis, returning the body, but without the deeds (more on this next session). Danny takes the deeds to McGraw’s house, demanding payment from his wife, Winnie. Winnie is not impressed, chasing him off with a broom and telling him to come back once he’s learnt some manners and when Hubb returns at the end of the week.

GM Thoughts

We progressed the plot, meeting Quinlivan and finding out there are multiple sides in this battle for the soul of Steaming Rock! Not much action, but I threw in the Warm Springs Apaches and a nice interaction between Winston and his fake army buddy, a lovely bit of performin’.

The session ended on a pretty funny altercation between Danny and Winnie McGraw. Danny does not really understand that it’s Winnie who wears the trousers and no one tells her what to do, or demands $2000 off of her!

I like mixing up sessions; this was more heavy roleplaying with a few big breakout sessions to determine if they took the deal with Quinlivan and how to approach the return scene with Ellis. The group knows these are big decisions with big implications.