Fools Gold

DeletedUser31931

" Ahh, so you know something about Brandt. 2 things, Did this guy have any connections to Brandt? And who the hell is Brandt?" Ben asked pleased to be getting somewhere "Also did you know that Brandt. is now a bandit and the reason most of us are here is to save the village he's terrorising." A couple of other guys nodded their agreement.
Ben looked outside, it was night time now. "After you tell me I'm going to bed and I suggest anyone who's heading to Santa Rosa do the same." Ben said to the bar. Then he leant on the bar, folded his arms and waited.
 

DeletedUser

"So I take it that was a mass telegram. Well, I already know what you want so I think its safe to tell you how I know Brandt. You see I was a Colonel during the War of Southern Independence in the proud army of the great state of Louisiana. Brandt was a corporal in my unit. He was a real wild-cat sort of fellow and I think he put quite a few blue bellies six feet under. When the war ended most of the old unit broke up. I obtained a telegram containing the "unfortunate" story of Santa Rosa from a, a fellow... Ahh, a fellow shootist. He didn't part with it easy..." Jean smiled, so these were the sad saps who were going to try to guard Santa Rosa. He was sure Brandt would love to have his old colonel visit him.
 

DeletedUser31931

"Well thanks for that. Names Ben Andrews Mercenary. Fought for no-one in the war. Kept my head down as I knew the South would lose. Anyway I kind of supported the North. I was a justice mercenary. I did Texas and Mexico. You could get my services for two things. Money or to help innocent people. If bandits heard I was coming they used to run in terror promising to never return. If they did I'd come and kill them all. It was a lonely business. I couldn't trust many people and I couldn't get married in case a bandit came and killed them while I was gone.After being shot in my right leg I had to give up the lifestyle. I couldn't carry on riding all the time with my leg it would have been to bad for it. I just had to hope it recovered. In the meanwhile using the money I had I bought a farm just outside of a little village. I made friends there. Friends I knew I could trust. My town would probably be like Santa Rosa. Except for the fact that me and my friends could fight off bandits. When I heard of Santa Rosa from one of my friends from my old life I decided I would do the same if it was my village. My leg had healed a couple of months back but I had decided that I could be a farmer now. Anyway I was to attached to my village to leave. I went on a mission maybe every two or three months just for some extra money if I needed it. When I heard of Santa Rosa I felt honour-bound to help. So here I am." Ben said. "Ben Andrews revealed".
" And now gentle-men I'm going to head to the barman's rooms (As he owns some basic bedrooms upstairs) and retire for the night. It's getting late so I suggest you do the same. Good night" and He walked up to the barman paid for a room and took the keys.
 

DeletedUser28032

Doc surveyed the carnage they'd wrought in the saloon the three wounded limped out as fast as they could leaving their dead comrades behind. Replacing his pistol in its holster and collecting his bag Doc headed for the door "I don't know about the rest of you but i came to do a job and i intend to do it...Also I don't want to be here when the marshall arrives" three dead bodies was enough to warrant an armed posse and a hasty hanging from the nearest tree out in these parts.
It didn't take Doc long to find a horse, a black mare he'd bought from the mortician its previous owner a customer of his.
Saddling up Doc set off towards Santa Rosa with luck he'd get there before dark
 

DeletedUser31931

As Ben lay in bed he tossed and turned and then he fell asleep. He woke up suddenly at mid-night and walked down the steps with his clothes on. Unarmed except for Hunting knife. The barman was asleep in his back room, Ben could hear his snoring. He heard two men arrive and Ben ran and hid behind the bar. The two men walked in talking. They obviously expected everyone to be asleep. Ben could hear some of their conversation both men where Texan. In fact they both probably came from one of the most bandit-infested part of Texas there was. Ben had been there once, he didn't want to ever go back. "Do you think he's asleep?" one asked.
"Of course, it's blooming midnight, you fool, of course he's asleep." The other said. Ben assumed this guy was the leader of the pair. "Yeah but Ben Andrews is known for his instinct." the first man said.
"But he isn't that good" said the leader.
"Let's just get this over and done with. Anyway how did Brandt's men know that all people who where going to help the Small Town. How?" said the First man "and why did he need us to kill them. If his men where could enough to take our fort surely they would be good enough to kill them all."
"Yeah" said the leader. "But they can't be seen in the city it would be bad for his business. Bad publicity and he doesn't want people to know his gold is
a) being stolen from people
B) fake and
C) He's having to kill people to get it."
At this point they walked past the bar and the leader began to climb the stairs.
"Stay here and guard Sam. I don't want anyone coming up and disturbing me." said the leader. So Sam walked to the bottom of the stairs and waited. Ben crept along to the edge of the bar. He was right behind Sam. Ben silently unsheathed his knife and Stabbed Sam in the back of the neck. Sam uttered a small moan and hit the floor with a small thud. Ben saw a revolver and grabbed it. He climbed up the stairs as fast as he could and walked out onto the top just as the leader exited Ben's room. Ben raised the revolver and fired twice into the man's stomach. He fell to the floor. Ben ran into his room and grabbed all his stuff. He didn't want to be here when the sheriff arrived. With everything packed he left the key on the bar along with a small note. "To all headed to Santa Rosa. I have left now, Go as soon as you can. Trust no-one. People have been sent to kill all of us. I killed the one's after me.
Ben Andrews."
Left it on top of the bar with his keys and left. He took lightning and Rode into the night headed for Santa Rosa.
 

DeletedUser

With business folded up and everyone scattering to the four winds Jean followed suit and retreated to where the rest of his men were staying. All of the men except for a fellow named Bill were sleeping.

"What happened colonel?" "Not much a little shooting. Saw a few of our old pals, found some men on a trip to kill Brandt I believe. Or something of that nature." "Shouldn't we get rid of them?" "No, they're all over town and some of them are already headed to Santa Rosa." "What do we do now?" "Wake the men, we shall start riding for Santa Rosa." "Yes sir." Bill set about waking the rest of the crew and all seven of them were mounted as the first loose beams of light started to illuminate the far horizon. They were seven, seven magnificent men armed with sabres, carbines, rifles, and pistols, they rode for a cause long lost. They rode for a companion of the past. Or at least they hoped he was the friend from the past.
 

DeletedUser31931

Ben rode into Santa Rosa about an hour after first light. He had ridden the whole night without stopping. He'd gotten into a fight with two bandits at one point. He was exhausted and needed some sleep. A local ran up to him and asked his name "Ben Andrews" he replied "And I'm here to help defend Santa Rosa". The man gasped.
"Right this way sir" he said in Spanish, which Ben spoke, and lead him to a building. "This is where you will stay sir" the man said in Spanish "I will go tell Emanuel that someone has arrived he will be here shortly."
"Tell him not to come." Ben said "I'll be asleep by then"
He tethered lightning and walked in the house. Swing his stuff onto a near by chair he fell on the bed and was asleep instantly.
 

DeletedUser

Gabe looked arround his coach gun in his left and his Le mat in his other hand. The journey had just begun and there was already been blood shed. He sighed and looked at Doc who had decided to make a hastly departure.
"I don't know about the rest of you but i came to do a job and i intend to do it...Also I don't want to be here when the marshall arrives."
Gabe nodded with a grin and followed Doc out the door. He made his way to the merchant to fill his ammo supply and water. He mounted his horse just in time to see the marshall coming his way with armed deputies. "I guess the bartender complained about our going away party..." He rode off spurring his horse, almost losing his hat. It was getting darker and it still was a fair distance to Santa Rosa. Maybe he could catch up with some of the others. What a bunch they are....
 

DeletedUser

They threw up a huge cloud of dust as they rode for Santa Rosa.

One of the men yelled above the clatter of hooves, "How much further to Santa Rosa?" "A, quite a few more miles I think," Jean yelled above the din. After several miles of wide open terrain the land became icreasingly craggy and rocky as they got closer to Mexico. As Jean squinted through the cloud of dust they were casting into the air he spotted another dust cloud, headed straight for them. He gave the signal to stop and attempted to study the distant cloud. What he saw made him smile. Ten men dressed in butternut were coming for them, Jean removed his coat to show his uniform as did the others. Then Jarvis unfurled their old battleflag and attatched it to a lance. He lifted it so it could be seen easily by the distant figures. The group of ten got closer one of them yelled something and they slowed down. When they finally reached Jean and his six other men they were going at the trot. A man, apparently their leader, he was too heavily covered with dust to see his rankings, trotted out from among them and rode to Jean whose ranking could clearly be seen.

"I see that I'm addressing a colonel of the Louisina cavalry. My names Grigory, Grigory Nelson. Major, Texas Rifles." "My names Jean Lafitte fine sir. We were heading out this way to see an old friend of ours." "Oh, a friend?" "Yes, a Mr. Brandt. He was in my outfit during the war you see." A smile grew on Grigory's face, "Mr. Brandt, why I work for him." "Really, what do you do?" "Odd jobs, whatever kind of help he needs me and the boys provide." "Could you show us the way-" The large dirty man with his thick beard gave Jean a whack on the back. "Lead you? See'in as your Mr. Brandt's old Colonel I'll stay with you fellas until you get to your place." "Sounds good, what do you say boys?" Jean's men gave a roar of approval. "Well, Mr. Grigory looks like we'll be riding with you."

They rode off in the direction of Mr. Brandt's home.
 

DeletedUser31931

As Ben walked onto the viewing platform of Santa Rosa he saw a dust cloud rise up. He pulled out a pair of Binoculars and looked. It was Jean Laffitte. He was with about 5 others. The where also a group of cavalry wearing Louisiana Cavalry. He had heard from one of the locals that they worked for Mr. Brandt and told him who came to Santa Rosa. Ben watched as they rode up to Jean. There was a brief exchange and then Jeans friends all shouted. They rode off together. "Curse Him!" Ben thought " He's working for Mr. Brandt not us! Mr Brandt must have sent him to try and intercept us. I bet he told those guys I was staying at the bar. When I get my hands on him he's dead!". Ben turned around and walked off the tower and headed back to his room. He was going to follow Jean and his Friends and he was going to kill them all.
 

DeletedUser

They finally arrived at Brandt's ranch.

"Well Mr. Nelson, thanks for guiding us here. Can I just go in." "Well," Nelson indicated his men to dismount, "I'll escort you and your men in there. Mr. Brandt can be jumpy sometimes and it would be terrible for his guards to shoot such an honorable man like yourself." Nelson, Jean, and Jean's men approached the front of the house and Nelson knocked. The door opened, a guard peeked from behind looked over Mr. Nelson and had a short exchange with him. Jean and his band were beckoned forward. They were led into the house and escorted into a fine room.

They took off their hats and looked across the room at a beautiful chair with a swiveling base, it turned and Jean smiled at a face he hadn't seen in several years. "Well hello their Corporal Brandt."

(OOC: Well, this is the thread's main antagonist. I will leave it to Braetwalda to craft a response.)
 

DeletedUser28032

NPC Script
As Jean entered the ranch he can't have missed the large number of men and horse gathered within its walls or the two 6pdr cannons propped up against the wall. The walls had been reinforced and an abatis of thorn bushes had been laid along its base to deter any would be assaulters.
Corporal Elial Brandt or Colonel Brandt as he prefferd to be called these days sat in the high back chair smiling at his old comerade in arms "Well if it isn't Colonel Lafitte, its been too long" he laughed standing up so as to shake his old colonels hand vigourously.
Brandt was a short man with dark brown hair and quick brown eyes dressed in full colonels uniform complete with Austrian braid Brandt looked the part of the perfect leader "Come Lafitte let me show you my operation you'd be suprised at how many wish to see old dixie again" striding around the desk he ushered jean out into the courtyard where he began talking enthuisastically about his plans to restart the war against the Yankee's, pointing out the guns and men he'd gathered thus far.
After about an hour or so of this the two of the sat down in the shade, the Mexican sun high in the sky "No doubt you're wondering about how I am going to pay for all this? well i'll tell you how" rummaging around within his grey uniform jacket Brandt produced a single gold coin the size of a hard tack biscuit "Aztec gold Lafitte...Aztec gold all i have to do is get the map from those damn Mexicans and then it is ours"
----------------------------------
Doc sat in the shade of the old church his hat pulled low to shield his eyes from the sun when Ben caming running from the church with murder in his eyes "Whats the hurry Ben?" he enquired of the man "You act like someone just stole your horse?"
 

DeletedUser31931

As Doc asked his question Ben swore. "it's that D--- Lafitte person. He's working for the corporal. Someone attacked me before I left. I bet he was behind it! I'm going after him and he will die!" Ben ran off with the locals shouting. Two men joined him, "we are going to come with you. You look like you need help." Ben was grateful and they set off heading after Jean. Ben saw them arrive and watched the gates open. He had to play this carefully. "so then" he said "here's the plan but first what are your names?"
"I'm James and this is Matthew." one said
"Ok then here it is..." Ben said
 

DeletedUser

Colonel Brandt huh, well he certainly had quite an army. Jean could certainly see that after their tour. Then Brandt had shown him a huge piece of gold, apparently it wasn't a legend.

Jean collected himself and responded to Brandt. "Well, just so you know there is a rabble of gunfighters that has set out to defend Santa Rosa. Some of them seemed like pretty good shootists and I don't think you want to use those cannons to turn that town into a pile of rubble. Perhaps we could steal the map? After all where is it exactly?"
 

DeletedUser28032

Colonel Brandt
"If I knew where it was do you think I wouldn't have taken it? no, the old man...Emanuel... has it stashed somwhere" Colonel Brandt sulked, one old man stood between him and his visions of glory and a unified south.
He sat in the shade quietly thinking until an idea hit him "These gunfighters...do they know about the treasure?...maybe we can get them to steal the map for us"
Just then a shout came from the walls followed by a hail of gun fire "What the hell is going on? Nelson speak to me dammit!" the crackle of firearms ceased as quickly as it had happened "a couple of the villagers were trying to sneak up on us sir, we managed to slot one and wing the other third got clean away" Brandt turned to face Jean "Sounds like your gunfighters are stirring trouble care to lead a little raid?"
 

DeletedUser

"Well, I'd hate to run into a trap. But, with 20 men and one of your cannons I think we could cause a far amount of havoc and get out. So, I'd be honored to lead a raid. After all there's nothing I despise more than those who threaten the future of Dixie."
 

DeletedUser31931

The plan was working. James had died though and Ben hadn't wanted that. They lay in wait. They knew Brandt wouldn't stand for it and would send out a raid party to attack for some payback. That was almost definite considering they had killed three men. As the party rode out men looked for Jean. He couldn't spot him but he might be there. As the cannon was lead out Ben swore. He had an idea. Matthew was carrying a stick of dynamite. He outlined the plan and set it into action. Ben grabbed the stick and some matches and matthew took his scoped rifle and set up. He shot the front man which caused panic and then he shot another man and two more. Then they all turned tail and left but the horses were slow to turn. Ben pulled out his repeater and rode in all guns blazing. By then there were only five of them and Ben shot them all quickly. He lit his stick of dynamite and chucked it underneath the cannon and he rode off as fast as he could. It blew up in a fireball and Ben looked back to see small bits of cannon lying everywhere. He rod back with Matthew as fast as he could. When he arrived he ran and told Doc what was going on. Then he ran and told the leader of the village "Emanuel". He told them to ready the defences and asked if anyone had turned up. Without waiting for a reply he ran up to the tower and pulled out a scoped rifle he had got. It was going to come in useful.
 
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