L
Ldy_Sea
Guest
OOC: Please post your character in this thread before posting here. Also read the first post in that thread to know the rules for this zombie survival thread.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Raging Wolf lead the dancers...
One day lead to two, two to three, finally on the fifth day the Ghost Dance was complete. The dancers were exhausted...but pleased. Now they just needed to know if they succeeded. There was only one way to find out...
Chief Raging Wolf nodded to his War Chief, Crazy Bear, who approaches the hapless prisoner. The prisoner was half dead having no food and little water since he was captured several days ago. There was no fight left in him. He had been told not to go into the mountains prospecting alone, but his greed overcame his common sense, and here he was, at the mercy of the Hekawi, mercy was not something they were known for.
Crazy Bear Stood in front of the prisoner and held his stone knife up for all to see. All the Indians present started to let out war cries, as the knife was slashed across the prospectors throat. Blood spurted out onto Crazy Horse who held up his now bloody knife as the crowd grew silent and watched the life force drain out of the hated white man.
Soon he was dead, but none of the Indians moved. They all hoped something would happen, something that would help them drive the white man, the black man, the yellow man, and the brown man from their lands.
Soon the prospector started to moan, the Indians all stepped forward to watch, as he struggled against the deer sinew holding him to the tree. As they watched the prospector clumsily got to his feet and began to try and walk but he fell when he tried to go further than his restraints allowed.
Crazy Bear cut the deer sinew off the manaha, and it rose to it's feet. Everyone jumped back at it's appearance. Its skin was the ash gray of death, and pulled tautly over its bones, which appeared ready to burst out at any moment. It was emaciated and descciated, looking more like a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave than the living person it was just minutes ago. The eyes were pushed back deep into their sockets, and the lips were were tattered and bloody. All the visible flesh was covered with suppurations. It moaned loudly as the smell of decay and decompositon washed over the assembly.
I took one, then two halting steps and swung one of its arms at Crazy Bear. Crazy Bear stepped back and shouted “Stop, I am your master. You will obey me.” The manaha froze, waiting for a command. “Go West,” he said pointing “you will find a hunting cabin. Destroy all inside.” The manaha began to walk towards the setting sun. A loud cheer went up from all present, it was a moment they would never forget.
Just a few miles away “Black” Jack Hollingsworth and Luke Johnson were cleaning and field dressing the deer they had killed that day. They had just arrived in Au-Mine and hadn't even staked a claim. They had no money and were down to their last few bullets for their winchesters. “Black” Jack still had his Colt Peacemaker, and a few dozen rounds for it. Luke had lost his six shooter in a poker game trying to bluff.
“Did you hear something?” Luke asked looking at Black Jack, feeling uneasy being in Indian country without his Colt.
“Naw” he says spitting his chaw on the floor. “Jus da wind. Nottin' ta worry 'bout.” Black Jack replies
Shrugging his shoulders at his more experienced companion, he went back to gutting the six point buck , wondering when the rabbit stew they had cooking would be ready.
About an hour later, they were done with the deer, and hung the meat in the smokehouse to let it cure, and settled in to eat their dinner. While they ate and shared stories of places they'd been and people they knew, there horses started whinying in fright. Grabbing their winchesters they looked out the window, and couldn't see anything in the moonless night.
As Luke peered out into the darkness, a hand grabbed him by the neck and pulled him out of the cabin. Black Jack screamed “Luke!” and ran to the window. Unable to see anything, he started firing blindly until he was out of ammo, and then ran...
The Hekawi were ecstatic. The first part of their plan was a success. The manaha did as it was told and was able to kill. Those who had followed to witness the attack watched as the manaha feasted on the remains of the hated white man. Soon they would be ready to launch a large scale attack on the town and kill or drive out the rest of them.
Black Jack got into town several days later, and told the sheriff about the attack and how he ran. A posse was formed and rode to the cabin. All they found was a lot of blood, and an empty smoke house.
**********
Winter was fast approaching, and it was time to send in a compnay of calvary to Au-Mine from Fort Steadfast. Col. Parmenter called Captain Lou Albano into his office. “Captain, time to relieve the men in Au-Mine for the Winter. Your company will depart here in 3 days. Draw all the supplies you'll need, and move out.”
“Yes sir.” he replied and saluted.
**********
On the appointed day Captain Albano and his men formed up at sunrise. It was an impressive sight to see over a hundred calvary troopers on their steeds, and two dozen wagons loaded with food and gear to support them for the next six months. The rest of the division turned out and cheered as they rode out of the fort.
They camped the first night on the outside of the pass, not wanting to make camp in the pass having gotten some unsubstantiated reports that the Hekawi were on the warpath. At first light they entered the pass and rode in a single column, with scouts riding ahead of the main body. Nothing out of the ordinary happened until they stopped for lunch near a waterfall. The troopers lead their horses to the pool at the foot of the falls so they could drink, as they ate biscuits and hardtack.
Suddenly there was a scream and one trooper fell over dead with an arrow in his back. Before anyone could react, the air was filled with Indian war cries and arrows. Captain Albano ordered his bugler to sound charge, climbed on his horse and led his men deeper into the pass.
The rest of the journey was a nightmare for the troopers. They were constantly attacked until they were in sight of Au-Mine. Riding into town, Captain Albano lead 25 men, only 12 of them didn't have an arrow stuck somewhere in their body. None of the wagons made it.
The townspeople gathered around the filthy, exhausted troopers, and helped them off their horses. Getting the wonded to the towns only two doctors, the rest were brought to the nearest saloon for a drink or 12.
Capt. Albano refused any liquor and headed for the towns calvary barracks. When he walked in Sgt. Slaughter, the leader of troops currently in Au-Mine was talking with Sheriff Hogan and Marshall Steele about the attack on Black Jack. When he told the others how he was attacked on his way into town, they all grew serious.
“I'm going to send a squad to look for survivors, and see if they can get any of the supplies.” Sgt Slaughter said.
“No. Sargent. Anyone that didn't make it is dead now and the supplies are lost. Our duty now is to fortify the town, and prepare for attack.” Turning to the Marshall, he says “Marshall, I suggest you call a town meeting for all the men and tell them what's happened, and ask for volunteers to help defend the town.”
“What can I do?” Sheriff Hogan asks.
“You and your men can ride out to all the homes, mines and anyplce else where there are people, and tell them what happened. Warn them to be on guard at all times, or they can come into town.”
“Captain, we should send riders to Fort Steadfast to get reinforcements, or at least let them know what happened.” Sargent Slaughter says.
“Send your two best riders on your two fastest horses. Send a written note in the saddlebags. If the riders are killed the horses may get to the fort.” Captain Albano says after a moments thought.
The three men disperse to do their jobs as Captain Albano sits down and starts to draw up plans to defend the town.
**********
One week later, a riderless horse with a US brand arrives at the fort. When they unpack it, a letter is found addressed to Col. Parminter. After reading the letter, he has the Division bugler sound assembly. Telling his men the Hekawi are on the warpath and killed most of Capt. Albanos men, they were riding to Au-Mine to help fight the Hekawi. They left that night after loading all the supplies they could.
The snows beat them to the pass by 12 hours. There was no help for the town now until spring...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Raging Wolf lead the dancers...
One day lead to two, two to three, finally on the fifth day the Ghost Dance was complete. The dancers were exhausted...but pleased. Now they just needed to know if they succeeded. There was only one way to find out...
Chief Raging Wolf nodded to his War Chief, Crazy Bear, who approaches the hapless prisoner. The prisoner was half dead having no food and little water since he was captured several days ago. There was no fight left in him. He had been told not to go into the mountains prospecting alone, but his greed overcame his common sense, and here he was, at the mercy of the Hekawi, mercy was not something they were known for.
Crazy Bear Stood in front of the prisoner and held his stone knife up for all to see. All the Indians present started to let out war cries, as the knife was slashed across the prospectors throat. Blood spurted out onto Crazy Horse who held up his now bloody knife as the crowd grew silent and watched the life force drain out of the hated white man.
Soon he was dead, but none of the Indians moved. They all hoped something would happen, something that would help them drive the white man, the black man, the yellow man, and the brown man from their lands.
Soon the prospector started to moan, the Indians all stepped forward to watch, as he struggled against the deer sinew holding him to the tree. As they watched the prospector clumsily got to his feet and began to try and walk but he fell when he tried to go further than his restraints allowed.
Crazy Bear cut the deer sinew off the manaha, and it rose to it's feet. Everyone jumped back at it's appearance. Its skin was the ash gray of death, and pulled tautly over its bones, which appeared ready to burst out at any moment. It was emaciated and descciated, looking more like a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave than the living person it was just minutes ago. The eyes were pushed back deep into their sockets, and the lips were were tattered and bloody. All the visible flesh was covered with suppurations. It moaned loudly as the smell of decay and decompositon washed over the assembly.
I took one, then two halting steps and swung one of its arms at Crazy Bear. Crazy Bear stepped back and shouted “Stop, I am your master. You will obey me.” The manaha froze, waiting for a command. “Go West,” he said pointing “you will find a hunting cabin. Destroy all inside.” The manaha began to walk towards the setting sun. A loud cheer went up from all present, it was a moment they would never forget.
Just a few miles away “Black” Jack Hollingsworth and Luke Johnson were cleaning and field dressing the deer they had killed that day. They had just arrived in Au-Mine and hadn't even staked a claim. They had no money and were down to their last few bullets for their winchesters. “Black” Jack still had his Colt Peacemaker, and a few dozen rounds for it. Luke had lost his six shooter in a poker game trying to bluff.
“Did you hear something?” Luke asked looking at Black Jack, feeling uneasy being in Indian country without his Colt.
“Naw” he says spitting his chaw on the floor. “Jus da wind. Nottin' ta worry 'bout.” Black Jack replies
Shrugging his shoulders at his more experienced companion, he went back to gutting the six point buck , wondering when the rabbit stew they had cooking would be ready.
About an hour later, they were done with the deer, and hung the meat in the smokehouse to let it cure, and settled in to eat their dinner. While they ate and shared stories of places they'd been and people they knew, there horses started whinying in fright. Grabbing their winchesters they looked out the window, and couldn't see anything in the moonless night.
As Luke peered out into the darkness, a hand grabbed him by the neck and pulled him out of the cabin. Black Jack screamed “Luke!” and ran to the window. Unable to see anything, he started firing blindly until he was out of ammo, and then ran...
The Hekawi were ecstatic. The first part of their plan was a success. The manaha did as it was told and was able to kill. Those who had followed to witness the attack watched as the manaha feasted on the remains of the hated white man. Soon they would be ready to launch a large scale attack on the town and kill or drive out the rest of them.
Black Jack got into town several days later, and told the sheriff about the attack and how he ran. A posse was formed and rode to the cabin. All they found was a lot of blood, and an empty smoke house.
**********
Winter was fast approaching, and it was time to send in a compnay of calvary to Au-Mine from Fort Steadfast. Col. Parmenter called Captain Lou Albano into his office. “Captain, time to relieve the men in Au-Mine for the Winter. Your company will depart here in 3 days. Draw all the supplies you'll need, and move out.”
“Yes sir.” he replied and saluted.
**********
On the appointed day Captain Albano and his men formed up at sunrise. It was an impressive sight to see over a hundred calvary troopers on their steeds, and two dozen wagons loaded with food and gear to support them for the next six months. The rest of the division turned out and cheered as they rode out of the fort.
They camped the first night on the outside of the pass, not wanting to make camp in the pass having gotten some unsubstantiated reports that the Hekawi were on the warpath. At first light they entered the pass and rode in a single column, with scouts riding ahead of the main body. Nothing out of the ordinary happened until they stopped for lunch near a waterfall. The troopers lead their horses to the pool at the foot of the falls so they could drink, as they ate biscuits and hardtack.
Suddenly there was a scream and one trooper fell over dead with an arrow in his back. Before anyone could react, the air was filled with Indian war cries and arrows. Captain Albano ordered his bugler to sound charge, climbed on his horse and led his men deeper into the pass.
The rest of the journey was a nightmare for the troopers. They were constantly attacked until they were in sight of Au-Mine. Riding into town, Captain Albano lead 25 men, only 12 of them didn't have an arrow stuck somewhere in their body. None of the wagons made it.
The townspeople gathered around the filthy, exhausted troopers, and helped them off their horses. Getting the wonded to the towns only two doctors, the rest were brought to the nearest saloon for a drink or 12.
Capt. Albano refused any liquor and headed for the towns calvary barracks. When he walked in Sgt. Slaughter, the leader of troops currently in Au-Mine was talking with Sheriff Hogan and Marshall Steele about the attack on Black Jack. When he told the others how he was attacked on his way into town, they all grew serious.
“I'm going to send a squad to look for survivors, and see if they can get any of the supplies.” Sgt Slaughter said.
“No. Sargent. Anyone that didn't make it is dead now and the supplies are lost. Our duty now is to fortify the town, and prepare for attack.” Turning to the Marshall, he says “Marshall, I suggest you call a town meeting for all the men and tell them what's happened, and ask for volunteers to help defend the town.”
“What can I do?” Sheriff Hogan asks.
“You and your men can ride out to all the homes, mines and anyplce else where there are people, and tell them what happened. Warn them to be on guard at all times, or they can come into town.”
“Captain, we should send riders to Fort Steadfast to get reinforcements, or at least let them know what happened.” Sargent Slaughter says.
“Send your two best riders on your two fastest horses. Send a written note in the saddlebags. If the riders are killed the horses may get to the fort.” Captain Albano says after a moments thought.
The three men disperse to do their jobs as Captain Albano sits down and starts to draw up plans to defend the town.
**********
One week later, a riderless horse with a US brand arrives at the fort. When they unpack it, a letter is found addressed to Col. Parminter. After reading the letter, he has the Division bugler sound assembly. Telling his men the Hekawi are on the warpath and killed most of Capt. Albanos men, they were riding to Au-Mine to help fight the Hekawi. They left that night after loading all the supplies they could.
The snows beat them to the pass by 12 hours. There was no help for the town now until spring...