A Western Adventure - Big Iron

Big Iron – the game is based on a song I heard sung by Johnny Cash whose version I prefer to the classic Marty Robbins one.

I posted this on the LAF early last year and so if you've read it and can remember then your memories better than mine. I now have two more follow on games that I want to "follow on" so anyone interested probably needs to read this first.

Whiskey Jack had bribed the Wells Fargo Agent responsible for route planning on the new trail over the Desperate Mountain Range in Montana. This would now go through Big Whiskey and Whiskey Jack was in the process of building a way station for changing the horses on the stagecoach as it stopped at his place.

There had been a couple of log cabins here when Jack conceived his grand plan, he had paid the trappers who lived in the larger cabin more than it was worth and had moved in Jim Smith as a roustabout to do the work while he made the money. The Saloon also an old building was almost refurbished, it only needed tables, chairs, a bar and a sign over the door, maybe a veranda, but it did have whiskey and a few barrels of rather shaken up beer and a bar keep.

The way station of Big Whiskey, the first stage has just arrived, and the passengers have disembarked. Rose is the combined driver and guard, a high risk strategy to save money on the new line as there is a strong box on the stage. The passenger list is also bit of a worry to her, there is Sheriff English Bob escorting his prisoner the notorious outlaw Bill Samuelson, along with the local Indian Agent and his wife. (Shades of Hombre)

Jim Smith has just come out of his cabin (centre left) to change the horses, and J.J.Tucker an Arizona Ranger is riding in from the left hand side. 

In the Saloon (centre right) there is the barman Ruben White, with the only drinker The Undertaker a small time Bounty Hunter with delusions of grandeur. The dilapidated cabin (lower right) is inhabited temporarily by Texas Red, wanted in 3 States, but not Montana.
 

Another overview of the station.

Game objectives
J.J. the Arizona Ranger is here to take back Texas Red, dead or alive – it really doesn’t matter which.

Texas Red has to get away on horse back, a saddled horse, not one off the stage coach, J.J. has the only saddle horse.

Rose has to protect the stage, strongbox and passengers.

English Bob has to keep his prisoner, and leave on the stage.

Jim Smith has to change the horses and has to stay alive firstly, but will protect the stage. He is unarmed but has a shotgun in his cabin.

Bill Samuelson the prisoner has to stay alive and also escape. His gang of outlaws will be a help.

The Outlaws have to rescue Bill Samuelson. Secondary objective is to rob the stage and the Indian Agent.

The Indian Agent and wife have to stay alive, with their money and leave on the stage.


A slightly out of focus shot of the saloon and stagecoach.

 J.J. Tucker has dismounted and asked Jim is he knows the whereabouts of Texas Red, some money changes hands and he has the information he needs and is on his way to the dilapidated shack. Meanwhile Rose leads the passengers into the saloon.

J.J. walking down the street, shouting “Red get out here, I don’t want no trouble - come quietly and they will go easy on you, trust me”

Red can just be seen lurking in the cabin, thinking “That’s easy for you to say lawdog but I ain’t doing time (or worse) and why should I trust YOU”

At the same time Bill Samuelson’s gang of outlaws arrive. From left to right Snakeyed Pete, Sneaky Steve, Frank MacAulay their leader until Bill takes his rightful place, Dangerous Dave with the shotgun and Nick Nasty. They look grim and gritty but that is the Army Painter Gloss Varnish, I think I was a bit heavy handed with it, so the only time I used it.

Texas Red emerges from the cabin. “You ain’t going to take me alive lawman” and they both go for their guns. There is a slapping sound as two pistols leave their holsters simultaneously followed by shots, loud in the quiet mountain air. J.J. falls to the ground – gutshot, - and out of the fight. Red takes a bullet in the left leg. A flesh wound – she stays on her feet but it will slow her down.

Ha I bet you didn’t expect Texas Red to be a girl did you. Well I can tell you she's one tough hombre.

Inside the bar there is stunned silence following the gun shots. No one sees the outlaws walking past the window. Lousy dice rolls. Jim who is unhitching the horses decides that this is a good time to carry on working and not get involved. Note the absence of furniture in the bar, it’s on the slow wagon from the nearest big town, days away.

English Bob levels his shotgun on Bill and he stays in the saloon with his prisoner but Rose and The Undertaker go outside to see what is happening. Neither of them recognise Red otherwise The Undertaker would have gone for the bounty (poor dice again) “He drew first” shouts Red and J.J. just groans in agony.

Rose responds “We have a sheriff here in the bar, we need to see what he says” but just then Jim shouts “look out there’s Samuelson’s gang behind you”

Rose swings round and takes cover behind a barrel of beer, Red legs it away from the street towards J.J.’s horse, Jim jumps behind the stagecoach and thinks that shouting a warning might not have been a bright idea. The Undertaker jumps back into the Saloon and English Bob glowers at Bill.

Red looks back as the outlaws come round the side of the saloon, everyone reacts but she is fastest and recognises Frank MacAulay, there is bad blood between the two that I forgot to mention earlier, she gets off a couple of shots and he goes down, also gut shot and also out of the fight.

The others are all a little slower, Dangerous Dave with the shotgun didn’t react at all but the other 3 outlaws and Rose all fired together. Jim is there by the horses thinking I’m never going to go to work without a gun again.

Rose unloaded both barrels into Dave. At short range with a shotgun - that had the desired effect, he was dead before he hit the ground. Pete and Steve both fired, fortunately the beer barrel provided enough protection for Rose but not for the beer, spurts of beer hit the ground and were soaked up by the dry earth – what a waste. Nick Nasty’s gun misfired and he was out of ammo.

With two of their number down including the boss the outlaws took to their heels, running quickly back to their horses and off down the trail. If they hadn’t failed their bottle test things would have gone badly for Rose as she only had the empty shotgun and a boot knife.

Texas Red hobbled over to J.J.’s horse and made an escape.

English Bob now has 2 prisoners, and Whiskey Jack has a wounded Ranger on his hands.
 

 The men and women either on the stage or working at the way station.

 The outlaw gang including Bill Samuelson.

The Undertaker, Texas Red under her Confederate cavalry hat and J.J. the Arizona Ranger.

If there's anybody out there please let me know and if you are still here - thanks for reading.