Thursday, July 6th, 1876

Note to players: These summaries are the product of my notes that are taken during the game and what I can remember. They are far from perfect. If you note any discrepancies or if I have missed something, please send me a telegram and I will correct the error. Thanks!

Everyone is surprised to wake up and find that there is no one on watch at 7:30am. Posse makes breakfast, and now low on supplies, heads for Denver. The walking part of the trip is uneventful. That evening at 5:00 outside of Denver, the Posse spots a group of 100 people following them. Closer examination indicates that they are undead and the people who died on the train wreak. The posse is 6 miles from Denver and they can see it from where they stand. The posse takes a wild charge towards Denver. Straw races for the top of a hill where he can see some cover and a good place to take some shots. Tera and JC race into the hills just in front of Denver. The army of undead fire cannons and charge after the posse. The posse flee from the oncoming horde. Tera takes a short cut and her mule gets killed by a nearby cannon shot. Straw races after her and picks her up off the ground while riding at a full gallop. The posse notices that the hills have a disturbing similarity to human bodies caught in a moment of writhing agony and terror.

The posse gets closer to Denver and notices that there are watch towers built at the edge of the town. The towers are manned by Union soldiers who open fire on the pursuing undead. The posse thanks the soldiers and makes for The Brown Palace and Elizabeths’ for some R&R.

Straw arrives at Elizabeths’ around 6:30pm, orders the house special, steak and potatoes, and a bottle of Mockingbird Tequila. He proceeds to get sloshed. Reg plays a couple hands of poker with Straw, loses $0.45 and declares himself ready to play. Reg goes over to the poker game and proceeds to play with the unsuspecting group at the table.

Straw reads the Rocky Mountain News. Notices a couple articles about a “Jack The Ripper” killer in Denver. 8 deaths in the last 5 months. A local gang has moved from Kansas to Denver and is claim jumping, killing, stealing, burning homesteads off their land, robbing trains and just making life hard for everyone around. Rewards are offered for higher members of the gang. They paint their faces with soot and coal before going out to play.

JC shows up having checked into The Brown Palace and taking a moment to freshen up. He sits down with Straw, orders the house special and enjoys dinner.

Tara leaves for Elizabeths’ after having a very long and hot bath. She notices that no one is out on the streets. She finds a local horse and carriage but the local refuses to take her anywhere because he won’t be inside by dark. Tara walks to Elizabeths and enters just as the streets are getting dark. She calls to the people inside and lets them know that it’s dark outside. The high stakes poker game immediately ends, the players rushing out the door to get home. Reg looks at Tara, sighs and picks up his meager winnings.

Tara orders the house special. Catching the story about the gang from Kansas she explodes into an angry fit. She explains that this group is responsible for her husband’s death and that she intends to collect her first bounty from the leader of the gang.

Straw realizes that he left his horse outside tied to the hitching post. Worried he stumbles drunkenly out into the darkness. The light of the full moon brightens the dark outside. Tara and JC eventually wander outside as well. Straw is trying to get his horse Molasses to cross the boardwalk and enter Elizabeths.’ The pose hears a scratching noise coming from under the boardwalk. Tara draws her six shooter and fires several times into the boardwalk. Whatever is under the boardwalk goes racing off underneath the wood and down the street. Tara and JC go back inside Elizabeths.’ Straw stumbles with his horse around the back of the bar to the barn.

The barn is pitch black inside. Letting Molasses lead into the barn, Straw steps inside. He can hear the other horses inside whickering nervously. The horse finds a stall and goes inside. In the pitch dark, Straw steps in something warm and gushy. Wandering around, he finds a feed back. Reaching his hand inside he finds a sticky mess. Searching a little longer, Straw finds a clean bag and some oats. He feeds his horse. He then finds some water and waters his horse. Straw then notices a scratching clawing sound from the ceiling of the barn. He realizes that there is something nasty on the second floor. He sneaks out of the barn and goes to the back kitchen door for Elizabeths.’ Straw calls to Reg, Tara and JC to come help. The posse goes back into the barn, lets the horses out and mostly avoids getting trampled. Straw looks up into the hayloft and sees a pair of red eyes glowing menacingly at him. The posse promptly removes the horses from the barn and then they set the barn on fire. After five minutes the barn is ablaze. The barn burns so well that it sets neighboring structures on fire. Straw, Tara and JC decide to vamoose and return to The Brown Palace. They return to the hotel and notice that the police are patrolling this area in groups of four. The check into the hotel, Straw realizes that his arm is covered in blood and gore and that there is a loop of intestine around his foot. Straw pays for a room, a bath and apologizes for throwing up on the floor. He then throws up on the floor of the lobby. The hotel gives everyone the royal treatment: Bath, shave, wax, clothes are cleaned, pressed and mended.

[Wednesday, July 5th, 1876] [Friday, July 7th, 1876]

Lafayette Posse