The King of Santa Fe Session One
So, we worked through sessions zero and two, but now we are stepping into 1873 New Mexico to take on the King of Santa Fe.
This is a campaign for the Year Zero Engine game Tales of the Old West, from the Effekt Boys. This is not Weird West, no undead, no magic, just straightforward grit and guile as you try and survive and thrive in the wilds.
All of the PCs live in Steaming Rock, located near the Black Mountains and somewhat isolated from major cities. The town survives on lumber, mining, and a bit of cattle ranching, plus the patronage of passersby.
The Players
We have Diago Carter, ex-gang boss, murderer, but he’s served his time and found God, hoping to set up a church, but frustrated by Revered Carmody, who seems to have the religious angle all tied up.
Next is Cody Joyce, unfairly jailed and up to their eyeballs in debt, they are handy with a gun and have secured a role as the deputy for the largely ineffective Sheriff Fletcher, but his money lenders, people like Michael O’Sullivan, have plans for him.
Cody is pals with Winston Pye, a grifter to the core; he and card sharp Brody Anaheim are never too far from the gambling table or looking for a fresh mark.
Seemingly a cut above the rest is Danny Solo, a man of means, a homestead, a mining claim and puts up Dutch and Diago in return for work, but is a straight life for him? Money can come easily if you know what to look for, usually, weaknesses in others.
Lastly is Willem ‘Dutch’ Vander, from a poor family of immigrants. He’s been involved with the worst, robbing trains and causing havoc, but is desperate to settle down; he has a real affinity for the wilds and figures the time is right to find a wife, start a family. He’s at a crossroads. Will his past let him take the right road?
The Calm before the Deal
William Moyer, the owner of The Homestead Inn, has a plan, a high-stakes poker game, the night before Founder’s Day; he’ll make a lot of money, and the reputation of the Inn will rise, or so he hopes. He’s invited Danny Solo and two out-of-towners, Howard Ross, a businessman from Santa Fe and Michael O’Sullivan, a money man from Albuquerque. Joining them will be Brody Anaheim, a professional card player, and Eddie Tyler, the owner of the local whiskey distillery.
Before the game, Cody spies the sheriff talking to Ross; it seems Ross is the boss of that conversation. If anything, the sheriff looks a might nervous, and that Ross, he’s for sure a gunslinger, a bounty hunter, a lawman, or something - he knows how to handle a pistol.
Brody and Winston have a deal going. Winston will count cards and give Brody the nod when he thinks he has a good hand. There’s a percentage in the winnings for Winston if things work out well. Winston tries to get Cody involved to act as muscle if things go awry, but Cody already has his services paid for that evening. Cody has been called by the money lender, Michael O’Sullivan, to protect his back during the game. In return, he’ll reduce some of the debt, just a little.
Meanwhile, Diago is talking to Francisco, who wants to cut a deal in return for disrupting his rival Moyer’s game. Francisco will put out the word to the Mexican population that Diago is their saviour; he’ll go further, he will line up a crowd for a sermon at tomorrow’s Founder’s Day celebrations - they agree, and a black bag is passed to Diago.
Dutch has been roped in as protection for Father Carmody. Carmody is leafleting the Homestead Inn, in the hope of turning a few sinners to the one true path. Dutch tries to draw the line with Carmody, telling him he’s not just a guard dog, but his words get muddled, and he leaves more confused than before.
The Turn of the Cards
In a sweaty room fused with the smell of cigars and stale whiskey, the first cards are dealt. The stakes $50 each are high, and Brody plays it safe, while Danny has nothing, as does Eddie and between O’Sullivan and Ross, they take the majority of the pot. Round two and Ross leans in, his voice barely audible, ‘Let’s make this real. $100 stake.’ They go around the table, agreeing to this, but Danny refuses, ‘Thank you gentlemen, but that is a little too rich for my blood, I’ll bid you good…’.
‘No!’ Ross raises his voice, ‘Sit the hell down and we’ll deal, I’ve come a long way for a game.’ Danny rises from his seat, and Ross puts a meaty hand on his shoulder, ‘SIT!’ At this, Cody leans in, ‘Mr Solo wants to leave, and last time I looked, this was a free country, so I suggest we let him leave.’ Ross looks like he’s about to explode, but with a few choice words, he kicks back his chair and leaves. William Moyer runs after him to no avail.
O’Sullivan sits back, ‘Well, shall we return to a more palatable $50 stake?’ They all agree. Eddie is again out quickly, and Danny manages to stay in; he’s got no cards, but some clever bluffing sees him get his stake back. Meanwhile, Winston gives Brody the sign; he’s got a good hand, some tense moments, Winston and O’Sullivan turn over their cards, both have pairs of aces with the same kicker, they split the pot. O’Sullivan pauses, ‘You’re a clever man, Brody. Very clever.’ They put down for a third game.
“Gunfire” explodes nearby, the card players dive to the floor, O’Sullivan pulls out the largest barreled pistol Cody has ever seen. Cody looks up from the floor, puzzled that he can see no holes in the wall or obvious signs of attack. He crawls to the window, peering out, on the ground, a black bag, full of firecrackers, lighting up the outside of the Inn. Cody announces, ‘It’s okay, someone is having a joke at our expense.’ As Cody looks around, he sees O’Sullivan is already at the door, about to leave, ‘Thank you, gentlemen, but this is all quite enough excitement for one evening.’ As he opens the door, Dutch is leaning across it, and he smiles. Danny calls back, ‘Well, sir, it seems you’ve inadvertently picked up all the money in the confusion, would you be so kind…’ O’Sullivan grins and places the pot back on the table, tipping his hat, he pushes past Dutch and out the door.
Bradley O’Reilly, the town drunk, comes bursting into The Homestead Inn, ‘I saw’d him, a big hat, he tried to blow up ma inn, he’s running down to the river, come on…’ There is a rush as people down whiskey and grab guns, pushing out the door looking for some more drunken fun.
Meanwhile, Diago puts on another spurt, as he sprints through the dark towards the river, the sound of whoops and hollers behind him…
