Frontier Scum, Scene II: Horsehead Ranch

[Stormbringer]

Roach, Cumflutter and Doc are now all crouched near the north-east corner of the perimeter fence, next to the shelter in the corral.

Roach directs their attention to the barn and tells them about the four clowns within, and their cruel sport.

[Sly Boots]

Doc lets out an uneasy breath. "I don't claim to be an expert on the various criminal fraternities inhabitin' these parts, but unless them clowns display a hitherto unseen ferocity that resulted in them killin' and eatin' that there lookout, I feel like there's something even worse lurking somewhere within. I'd sure like to get a look at what we're dealing with before we fix on headin' on in."

[Animalmother]

"What say we barricade those barn doors and lock those bloodthirsty harlequin devils inside? If they get uppity about their situation, then we can set the barn alight"

[Wrathbone]

I'll circle back to the others and report in.

"What say we barricade those barn doors and lock those bloodthirsty harlequin devils inside? If they get uppity about their situation, then we can set the barn alight"

"Not a bad idea. What say we kill two birdies with one stone, though? We lock 'em in, we set fire to the barn, draw out whoever's makin' that ruckus, then we sneak in real quiet like from behind, via the chimney."

[Mantis]

"Sounds like a plan to me. Though I ain't too strong, like. You might need to give me a push from behind if we've got some climbing to do."

[Sly Boots]

Doc lights a smoke and considers the ranch thoughtfully a moment.

"P'raps the changing circumstances we find ourselves in need to be reconsidered some," he says eventually. "We came here seeking three miscreants whose hides were worth a pretty penny, guarding a safe to which they alone knew the combination.

"Now," he says, breathing out a grey plume, "it seems to me that those three miscreants are either dead or soon to be so, rendering said safe no longer accessible to us... unless you count yourself as being part of the esteemed safe-cracking fraternity, which I surely do not.

"With all that being said, is there still a way we can profit from this scenario without endangering our own hides?"

A smile breaks out slowly across his face. "Maybe the best thing we could do is wait for these clowns to get bored and move on of their own accord. How much did you say these Loudmouth corpses were worth, Kid?"

[Wrathbone]

“$580 all told - enough to keep us whistling Dixie for a good long while. But what’s in that safe could be the big tamale. Iffn we let the clown boys do their dirty work and leave, could be there won’t be enough of the Loudmouths left breathing enough for us to hustle the combination out of ‘em.”

[Sly Boots]

Out of character, I assumed the hanged man in the stable was one of the Loudmouths, is that not the case? I guess it wasn't overtly stated in Doug's info...

We need all three of them alive to give us the combination, right, as each one only knows a third of the code?

[Animalmother]

"We find out what's inside the ranch first. If we can handle it, we do. If we can't, then we at least grab what we can of the bodies and hightail it. Sound good?"

[Stormbringer]

Out of character, I assumed the hanged man in the stable was one of the Loudmouths, is that not the case? I guess it wasn't overtly stated in Doug's info...

We need all three of them alive to give us the combination, right, as each one only knows a third of the code?

Well, what I said was that there are three Loudmouth leaders, but the gang is more than the leaders.

The Rodeo Clowns are known to be a rival gang to the Loudmouths...so, given the way they're treating him, the hanged man is likely a Loudmouth. But not necessarily a leader.

[Sly Boots]

Out of character, I assumed the hanged man in the stable was one of the Loudmouths, is that not the case? I guess it wasn't overtly stated in Doug's info...

We need all three of them alive to give us the combination, right, as each one only knows a third of the code?

Well, what I said was that there are three Loudmouth leaders, but the gang is more than the leaders.

The Rodeo Clowns are known to be a rival gang to the Loudmouths...so, given the way they're treating him, the hanged man is likely a Loudmouth. But not necessarily a leader.

Ah, ok, I assumed it was just going to be the three guys here!

[Sly Boots]

With that in mind, Doc acquiesces with the 'lock em in, light em up' plan...

"If nothing else, a fire will surely get the others running out to see what's what, so maybe we could take advantage of that by laying a little ambush while one of us sets the blaze..."

[Stormbringer]

Now, if you don't mind me speakin' plainly, before you execute this plan, I think it might be important to say, the only way I can perceive you could set the stables alight with the tools you have is by turning Doc's bottle of laudanum into an improvised Molotov and hurling it into the dry straw the mules are chewin' on.

Holdin' a match to the outside of the building I don't think is gonna get very far...


EDIT: Ah, but Doc has a lighter, don't he? That would also work if thrown into the straw...

[Mantis]

I bought matches with the last of my change.

[Stormbringer]

Many people have matches, yes, but you need more than matches to burn a building down is my point.