1880, March -- East Texas (IC)

The General Store | Horace
He hits his smoke and grins at Horace. "Tha's right. Willis Talley. Believe me when I say you won't forget it."

He holds the handbill up for Horace. "Look close. Clean your spectacles if'n you need to. His name is Kaladin, an' me and my posse know he's here. Or at least that he was last night."

Horace, the picture he holds looks fairly close to the man Kaladin you met last evening, who assisted you in chasing off the beast.

Horace examines the photo. "No I don't believe I have seen this person and my spectacles are just fine and clean thank you very much.

Staring Competition in the General Store | Horace
He squints at you, Horace, peering into your soul with a professional shootists Spirit...

...and then nods in satisfaction. "Well if you see 'im, I'd be happy to make it worth your while."

He tips his hat, then turns to walk out of the general store.

Mr. Decker looks disappointed that Willis Talley is leaving. He turns to Horace and Jeremiah an' says: "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to talk to my daughter alone. See yourself out unless you're offering me your services." He motions you toward the door, Horace.

Walking with Nathanial back to the saloon, hoping for a warm meal and a something to drink. Looking at the horses outside the saloon gives Kaladin an uneasy feeling... lots of new folks in a small out of the way town...

Seeing Kaladin lost in thought over something, "If you need me Mr. Kaladin, I'll be at the saloon helping Ms. Evans." and starts heading that way, wondering what the mysterious lady has planned for them.

Kaladin (fail)...you don't recognize any of the horses. But it'd be clear to you that the riders of these horses are prepped for confrontation. The saddles hold an assortment of shotguns, rifles, irons and manacles, and saddle bags full of provisions.

Whomever owns the gear is, obviously, also comfortable enough to leave their stuff out in the open...

In the Saloon | Nathaniel
The place is much less crowded than when you arrived last night. Nonetheless, townsfolk are starting to trickle in, to be in proximity to the protective symbol drawn on the wall.

The saloon owner is nodding at something Alta says as she touches up the symbol of Baphomet with red paint.

"...nd keep the candles burning 'til they burn themselves out. Do NOT blow 'em out."

"Right, right. I hear ya, I hear ya."

He hands over a stack of bills to Alta. "An' you say hello to your Granny for me, you got that Lucy?"

She smiles "Of course Mr. Whitehead."

She sees Nathaniel enter and waves him over. "Oh, an' Mr. Whitehead, could you please fetch that hog, and wine, for my associate here." She motions to Nathaniel.

"I left them in the kitchen for ya, Lucy. I gotta run down to the General Store an' beg some grain 'fore the sun goes down. My boy ordered less than expected..."

'Lucy' nods and motions for Nathaniel to lead the way to the kitchen, as Earnest Whitehead crosses the room to leave.

To Nathaniel, "Do you know who the beast is? Or do you have an item dear to it's human slave?"

While sort of sorry to see Willis leave and pondering for a moment the idea of a monetary reward, he still has Mr. Decker to ply his wares too and lets the man go. Opening his jacket again he motions to the glass bottles.

"Last chance to take some everlasting life elixir! Interested? I'll do you one better and throw two in for the price of one!"

The General Store | Horace
Mr. Decker ponders Horace's offer. He looks to his daughter, tryin' to ascertain her opinion.

They really are miracle elixirs, daddy. I don't know 'bout everlastin' life, but they seem more special than yer average panacea."

He rubs his chin. "Fine. I'll buy a couple to stock." He walks to the register and starts pulling coins from the drawer. "How much you askin' si--"

Benny pokes his head in the slightly ajar door. "scuse me folks..."

Mr. Decker grumbles, "What now...?"

"I don't mean ta be a bother, but I'm lookin' fer," he squints then points at Horace and Jeremiah. "Well, I think I'm lookin' fer you. Your name Horace Phinney? If so your friends are looking for you. They're at the saloon. "

Shaking his head, "I don't. Bennie went to get two others who were investigating into that further. Hopefully they have the information you need."

Horace rubs his hands together in anticipation and has to fight from licking his lips.

"Excellent then. That will be 50 cents a bottle." He sticks a thumb into his jacket pouches and then once more again as removes two of the bottles containing the mysterious magical liquid. His happy face turns into a grimace at the interruption to the transaction when a man pokes his head in through the door.

"Indeed? Ah yes. Well ... I'll be along presently."

The General Store | Horace
Mr. Decker pays your requested sum......and grabs at your sleeve as y'all make the exchange.

"You're a business man. Or at least a man who lnows how to profit."

He studies your face, only slightly unimpressed by what he sees.

"Another storms blowin' in. I've told you enough that you'd know how to help me when it arrives, if'n you know what I mean. I always pay for assistance." He winks at you.

His daughter looks uncomfortable and looks away.

The Saloon Kitchen | Nathaniel
You follow Alta into the back kitchen where a little piglet snorts in a small wooden crate. A big bottle of wine sits on the shelf nearby.

"They better, because the sun will set soon."

She points at the pig, and then the nearby butchers block. "Do in that piglet and catch some blood in the pot hanging there," she instructs Nathaniel.

"When the time comes, I need ta be without distraction,
so thats gonna be your main role. Of cource, I may make requests of you as well..."

"The former if you please sir." Horace smiles a winning smile but doesn't wink back. He's not even sure he knows how.

"I'll be getting along to the saloon now."

Horace leaves and walks to the saloon. He is pleased as punch at his sale and hopes to carry that luck over into the saloon. He has no intention of giving up Kaladin and could use a stiff drink. Then a few more sales and time to call it quits. He does wonder about sticking around in case any more cases of werewolvery arise as it seems his elixir does more than he thought it might. In fact, he is pretty sure that there are characteristics to it that have yet to manifest themselves but he risks being attacked should the results be deadly. He decides he will ponder the pros and cons at the bar with the company of some stomach warming alcohol.

The Clock on the Wall Ticks out the Hour--One Hour from Sunset...

Horace, you enter the saloon in the wake of several townsfolk--it appears the denizens of the town have begun to gather.
Bennie tips his hat at you, from where he leans against the bar.

Willis Talley looks up from talking to a group of his men. They watch you enter--Willis plus eight rough lookin' cowboys.






Nathaniel, Alta is checking the contents of her bag as she waits for you to slaughter the pig.

"Once ya gather the blood, mix it with the wine."







Kaladin, you'd have seen Wallis, then Benny, then Horace & Jeremiah all enter the saloon, one after the other.

Horace saunters in, feeling more confident than he actually is and immediately tries to relieve the tension, noting Kaladin at the back with a quick glance.

"Can I interest any of you fine people in my wonderful elixir?" With a dramatic flourish he opens his multipocketed jacket, the little bottles clinking merrily.

Nathaniel has a sickening feeling in his stomach as Ms. Evans relays the task needing to be done. I don't agree with her ways, but it's for the best of the townsfolk. And my parents. Do the job. Move on.. He regains his composure and scoops up the pig, sorry little fella.

He grabs a sharp knife, and holding the piglet firmly quickly runs it across the swine's neck. The blood sprays out, some of it collecting in the pot, the rest spraying across the block oh hell "Sorry! I'll clean this up after!" he yells out to Mr. Whitehead. He gently places the piglet back down on the block and covers it with a nearby rag. As the rag soaks in and darkens with the remaining blood the sickening feeling returns to Nathaniel. He swallows it down, goes over to fill the pot with wine, and thrusts it into Alta's hands. "There ya go."

The Saloon's Kitchen | Nathaniel
Alta notices Nathaniel's squeamishness and tut tuts at him. "It's pork for dinner an' bacon fer breakfast anyhow, so don't you fret about it."

She collects the bottle and the rest of the supplies she's prepped. "I thought it likely you weren't nothing but a city dude, but come now Mr. Bigby--how do you expect to make it in the west if'n you can't take livestock in hand without a shudder."



She heads for the door, connecting to the barroom.

"Now let's hope Mr. Hudson's located yer friends. It's time to start, so lead me to them, if you'll be so kind." She waits for Nathaniel to take the lead and introduce her to the Mr. Phinney and Co.






Meanwhile in the Saloon's Barroom...
Men an' woman turn to examine Horaces' goods, the small bottles catching the light of the fire and scattered candles. To Horace, "How many of those elixirs do you have, Horace?

"Well now I have what you see here but I can surely come back at another time, Jeremiah."

Horace removes five more bottles and smiles as he resists the urge to rub his hands together with glee.

"Receive the gift of longer life, health and happiness or give it to a coveted loved one. Just look at how the elixir glows in the light!"

The Saloon, the Tap Room | Horace
Folk do gather round to hear your pitch and view your goods. But somethin' in the delivery, or the man who's makin' it perhaps, just doesn't entice folks well enough.

You're met with many a "Sorry pardner, not tonight" and many a head shake.

Willis watches and chuckles, more amused at your tenacity than your misfortune.

"If we're all here in the mornin', I'll buy some!" Says the resident bar fly in a fit of drunkin' wheezing laughter.







~