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[orchid blossom]

This story hour continues the campaign in "Wizards, Whiskey, and Wonderful Things."

The first two modules are still being posted, and can be found at:
Revenge, Renewal, and the Promise of a New Year
Wizards, Whiskey, and Wonderful Things

This story begins on Sunday, April 2nd 1882, in the American southwest of an alternative earth, a historically based world that is also populated with D&D races, magic, spells and deities.

Primary Cast of Characters
Jake Cook – “The Gambler”, male human rogue/fighter (Baradtgnome)
Minerva Florencia - "The Priestess", female human cleric (moon dancer)
Katherine Kale - “The Lady”, female human expert/wizard (orchid blossom)
Chester Martin - “The Ex-Soldier”, male human fighter/ranger (SteveJung)
Nanuet – “The Indian”, male high elf ranger/cleric (Dire Wolf)
Ruby West - “The Singer”, female human bard/rogue (Queenie)

Secondary Cast of Characters
Sonoma – “The Senorita”, female wood elf druid/bard (Kriskrafts)
Ginnie Flaherty - “The Kid”, female human rogue/wizard (Kriskrafts)


Prelude: Afternoon, Sunday April 2nd, 1882. "Summoned"

Niles Hoover, co-owner of the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon is still busy restocking his bar when is his business partner Jake Cook appears downstairs. Once Jake gets close enough Niles speaks softly to him. "Marshall Berg was in here earlier. They found a dead body out behind the Lady this morning. They don't suspect us but I guess there were some unusual circumstances surrounding the death. He wanted to talk to you and Chester when you had a moment. Just to see if you noticed anything."

"Haven't we had enough dead bodies around this town?" Jake asks Niles rhetorically. Niles just shrugs imitating Jake's now famous response. Jake points an accusing finger at Niles and says, "Hey, watch that." Laughing he makes his way to Berg's office. On the way he puts his last two special rounds from his long barrel Colt at one end of the back of his gun belt and reloads it with normal rounds. Settling both pistols in their holsters he moves to button up the duster but stops. No, we are safe now. Aren't we?

At the Marshall's office he knocks twice and lets himself in, "Marshall? Jake here."

"Cmon in Jake, shut the door behind you if you don't mind. Guess Niles filled you in?" Berg says, from his seat at a large oak desk.

"Told me to talk to you about a body behind my saloon if that is what you mean."

The Marshall replies, "Yeah, a miner from out of town, Gus Thomas. Must have been here for the festival. Found him early this morning. We don't suspect anyone at your saloon, just wondered if you might have seen anyone strange. The cause of death is a bit unusual." Berg gets up from his chair and pushes the seat in slowly.

"Strange? Stranger than all the other things that happened here this past weekend you mean? Besides that I haven't seen anything. Although I was only at the Lady for a few hours last night as most of it was spent either at the festival or out of town with the posse." Jake takes off his hat and runs a hand through his hair. "Unusual how?"

Berg takes his hat off and fidgets with it, turning it around in both hands which are shaking slightly. "Unusual like I have never seen before. The body was strangely pale and Doc Eaton is confounded as to the cause." He pauses and shakes his head before continuing. "Look, I'm not going to talk about particulars at this point out of respect. We still have to get in touch with his family and sort some things out. Just wanted to let you know because it was close to your place and I figured you might have seen something. Just keep your eyes and ears open, still a lot of strangers in town with the festival going on."

Jake watches Berg's hands while the man is talking. "Fine Marshall, we'll keep an eye out for anything strange. I'll talk to you later." Jake leaves the Marshall’s office thinking, He wants to know about strange, maybe he should look in the mirror. He didn't look that afraid when trouble was about and he should have. Silver Jake Cook whistles on his way back to the Lucky Lady, walking slowly and enjoying not having to be anywhere.

Once back, he speaks with Niles and tells him what Berg said. "Make sure you let Jeff Mills and Deputy Chester Martin know what happened so they can keep their eyes open for I don't know what."