The Empire of Texas - Session #2 Notes

 

Players
CosmicOrrery is Captain Kelly Branson of the Texas Imperial Army.
My friend Jack is Chuck Dalton, Ignacio Marquez (and Leandra).

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NPCs
Eight from Cinnal, their purposes unknown.

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Day 4 (42.11 - Shrublands - Storm)
Found shelter in destroyed grain silo.

Day 5 (41.11 - Shrublands - Overcast)
Eight from nearby settlement of Cinnal found investigating a wagon with trade goods. Captain Kelly gives the order - ambush successful with minimal casualties on the troupe's part: Jessica Reynolds is killed, Ignacio Marquez, Lola, Esteban Esther injured. Three of the strangers killed on the spot, four left to die in the sun. Inside the wagon was a plague corpse who had been in contact with one from Cinnal, though the party is not aware of who might have been in contact by proxy.

Day 6 (40.12 - Shrublands - Overcast)
Chuck's condition is not stabilizing. Some concerns about rations. Reached the edge of the Dirt Snake.

Day 7 (39.12 - Dirt Snake - Morning Mist)
Uneventful descent into and throughout the canyon.

Day 8 (39.12 - Dirt Snake - Overcast)
Charge of crazed not-exactly-cows. Eighteen rifle rounds brought the things down, Leandra vaulted over one of the bulls and stabbed it to death, noone got injured, extra food was warmly received. Butchered three horses to make up for dwindling rations.

Day 9 (38.13 - Dirty Snake - Hot)
Finally left the canyon into a bit more shrublands, reached Low Ahua, the desert is near. All clear.

Day 10 (37.13 - Shrublands - Hot)
Ran out of food and water, in the night, party of four (Kelly, Leandra, Ignacio, Karl) ride north after finding the corpse of a deer. Stumble upon a destroyed caravan and the site of a shootout...

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The Dead
Sister Jessica Wiley - killed by Donovan Langley on day 3.
Donovan "Donnie" Langley - shot by Chuck Dalton, Private Solomon & Father Finch on day 3.
Jessica "Jessie" Reynolds - killed in the skirmish on day 5.
John R. Solomon - killed in the skirmish on day 5.
Eight from Cinnal, four of them women - killed in the skirmish or left to die in its aftermath on day 5.

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Notes for the Session
Logistics and the involved yet simple mechanics of violence bring a lot of texture to roleplay off of, some gruesome descriptions to try and get further into the horror aspect was well-received. The omnipresence of weapons and ammunition contrasted with the dwindling supplies mean the further in they go, the more chaotic and violent things get. Everyone's got rifles now, the social hierarchy is much simpler than before - Kelly is still the boss but prisoner and soldier is a blurred line, and from a meta perspective, they're turning into murderhobos but in a way that reinforces the themes and ludonarrative harmony of the game/campaign rather than distancing ourselves from it, which is cool.

Excited for next session which will begin during the night of Day 10. Hex 36.12 is super cool.

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Cosmic's Logistics Notes
3x wagons (four horses each)
250 doses of Amber Fluid
0 food
0 water
12 lances
15 revolvers
9 rifles
160 rifle rounds
211 revolver rounds
1x jerrycan of gasoline
4x crates of expensive clothing
~ low on medical supplies
20x horses
3 horses are starving
3x soldiers
6x convicts
Everyone is starving (count as injured)
In total : 29 mouths to feed & water per day

Each soldier has : lance, sabre, 2x revolver, rifle
Each convict has : lance, 2x revolver, rifle