Luis was in an expensive hotel room, he guessed it was the nicest one they had there. It was all very strange--didn't anyone recognise him from the wanted posters? Just the other day he had been a wanted criminal, now he was a guest of honor at this hotel..
In any case, he had just taken a bath and was sitting in front of a mirror combing his hair and trimming his mustache and beard. They had also given him a brand new set of clothes, complete with a Stetson hat of the finest quality felt.
Originally posted by SpikeSpiegel
Leo remembered the names on the posters. One of them was Buddy Reno, and he hadn't seemed like too bad of a man. Anyway Sanders seemed crazier than Reno, it was obvious who to side with.
"How will they be executed, may I ask?" Leo asked, keeping in character.
It was about this time that Sanders had to go check the progress of things, so he invited Leo to accompany him to the arena.
"Hangin'... " he answered Leo's question. "Or, God forbid, the gallows fail, there's always firing squad on stand-by. He pointed across the square from the gallows, toward the garrison buildings, where the 50-caliber Gatling gun repeater stood, manned and ready in a horse drawn wagon. The base of the gatling gun was set into a '5th-wheel' of the wagon, a wheel that lay flat and made up much of the cargo bay of the wagon. In essence, the wheel acted as a pivot, with a series of 3 metal clamps acting as locks to hold the gun in place aimng in any direction around the 360-degree arc it could pivot upon. At the moment, the gun was trained up on the gallows area, over the side of the wagon, manned by 2 Army soldiers, with 2 more soldiers seated in the wagon, holding the horses fast.
Sanders tested the gallows and the ropes, noded and congratulated the Army men on a job well done.
"That's about it... BRING OUT THE CONVICTS!" the order was given, the convicts were brought out, and the execution of Buddy Reno's renegades began...
Originally posted by Darth Revan
Luis was in an expensive hotel room, he guessed it was the nicest one they had there. It was all very strange--didn't anyone recognise him from the wanted posters? Just the other day he had been a wanted criminal, now he was a guest of honor at this hotel..In any case, he had just taken a bath and was sitting in front of a mirror combing his hair and trimming his mustache and beard. They had also given him a brand new set of clothes, complete with a Stetson hat of the finest quality felt.
There came a knock upon the door, and, even before he would answer, the pretty lady-of-the-evening poked her head inside, and smiled at Luis.
"Drat!! You are dressed and decent! tee-hee!" she laughed. "Master Cavendish will be with you shortly, Mr Pasillas... my my, you do clean up well! Mmmm hmmmmm... is there anything you would like? a drink from the bar, perhaps?"
"Now, now, Maria..." a deep drawl of a voice quieted the woman, as a distinguished older gent in a deep blue pin-stripe suit, with frilly off-white cravat and kerchief and a smart-looking deep gray bowler hat strolled into the room, tapping the hard-wood floors with his gnarled but heavily-lacquered walking stick. "Mr. Pasillas shall need all his wits about him in order to mull over the proposition I should be making..."
The old man smiled, extending a hand to meet and greet the Mexican, though there was obviously only need for a one-way introduction in this case. "Milford Alexander Cavendish, son... I do hope the accommodations were to your liking, Mister Pasillas... it was all we could manage to wrangle on the short notice we were given of the festivities of the day..."
...it seemed all calm and cordial, except for the 4 no-neck thumb-breaker goons who filed in behind the older man, and the 2 Luis could plainly see posted outside the door as it was closed.
Originally posted by XornonJay
Greg made his way to one of the hotels and walked in the back door. He needed to get to the top of the building, and then he would have a good view of the gallows, and have a clean shot to break the rope if needed.((I'll let u tell me where exatly the snipers, and other dudes are in this hotel, Rick))
((The only one of the hotels on the town square is the common one, the one that now holds Luis, the Canvendish party, Lily/Sunia/Holly/Ghiu/Shaka-Zulu or whoever she really is, Catori, Buddy (who went with Catori when the opportunity presented itself, rather than waiting under the stair for Leo). Of course, Leo is not a registered guest, and Lily/Holly/Sunia has so many names you probably wouldn't know her if you read it in the ledger, so...))
At first, there appears to be no external access to the roof that Greg can see. But, as he walks around the building, very obvious signs of rifle barrels and uniformed arms and elbows can bee seen poking out over the roof's edge. Army snipers are in place, but how did they get up there? Then it hits him: a make-shift 'bench' sits between the hotel and saloon, but the bench is actually a long ladder propped on several kegs. The ends of the bench-ladder are occupied by 2 soldiers, and the rest of the bench is filled with curious townsfolk. Too many people to politely and covertly ask to vacate the area, especially considering the price on Greg's head as it is...
...the hotel roof was probably out, and most likely the garrison roof would be similarly defended, being another 3-story building... the other choices were the bank and the livery and stables, which were 2 stories tall, or at least 1 and 1/2 story, as the livery roof didn't rise near as high off the ground as the bank did. Upstairs of the livery was a hayloft, which was connected to a larger barn with more hay and straw and feed and materials. A simple rope and pulley system attached the livery loft to a full 2-story barn out back across the holding pen from the livery, for quick and easy delivery of hay bales and other assorted what-not from the barn to the livery. In fact, if the livery buildings weren't in the way, the view and angle on the town square from the back barn was even better than that on the livery roof. hmmm....
Originally posted by SlickRick69
((The only one of the hotels on the town square is the common one, the one that now holds Luis, the Canvendish party, Lily/Sunia/Holly/Ghiu/Shaka-Zulu or whoever she really is, Catori, Buddy (who went with Catori when the opportunity presented itself, rather than waiting under the stair for Leo). Of course, Leo is not a registered guest,
I meant Luis is not a registered guest... Leo is, but none of us really knows Leo at this point... unless Lily does, or Holly... or someone else with some mysterious prior connection... any way... etc etc...))
((WOW! 11 hours later and no follow-ups... I hope it's not getting boring or cliched or too twisted to follow...
let's recap:
Lily and Victoria are going to be hanged in Abilene, in a stunt supposedly organized by Commander Jericho and the Army.
Actually, small-no-name-town law dog, Deputy Steven Sanders, son of the small-town sheriff, is working behind the scenes to discredit the Army and the big city Abilene law enforcement and justice officials, in order to catapult himself and his band of Scorpion mercenaries into positions of power in the region.
Luis and Greg were forced out of Abilene after fleeing capture.
Buddy and Catori also fled capture, but hid out in town, in an effort to somehow rescue Lily and Victoria, who had sacrificed themselves in order to save Buddy and Catori.
Leo came to town and got involved with some underhandedness by the Army in the outskirts, and stumbled onto his past, thru a connection with Steve Sanders bands of mercenaries, of which Leo was once a member.
Luis helped some folks, who turned out to be rich folk who invited Luis to town as their guest, to watch the hangings.
Greg realized someone of his new pals would also be hanged, and headed back to town.
Holly Sanders came to town. Actually, Holly has switched places with Lily and Lily sent Holly and Victoria to save Buddy and Catori, so Holly and Victoria are going to be hung instead.
Catori found Lily, who is pretending to be Holly.
Holly/Lily rented a room at the hotel. (205, second floor, facing town square)
Leo rented a room at the hotel. (101, ground floor, easy escape, facing town square)
Luis was invited to a room at the hotel. (303, top floor, facing town square) Cavendish offers Luis a job...
Greg is stumbling around outside the hotel, looking for a good vantage point. Closest, best possible high-perch access is a barn behind the livery/stables.
Leo finds Buddy and Catori hiding out.
Leo is invited to attend hanging as guest of Steve Sanders, mercenary force leader.
9:00 am HANGING FESTIVITIES BEGIN!!!
12 NOON- HANGINGS COMMENCE
1:00pm AFTER PARTY, guns, knives, bows, arrows, bloodshed, pain and death... BYOB (Bring Your Own Bullets! 😱 )
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
...and, the clock strikes 9...
"BRING OUT THE CONVICTS!!"
Leo knew his skills as a Gunslinger could save Buddy's friends, but he didn't know what the slippery deputy could do. He had got all he needed out of the Deputy, a name of who to seek out and a revelation about himself. Leo hoped that he wouldn't be the only one trying to save the Holly and Victoria.
Two prisoners are led from the Army garrison building to the gallows, flanked by 2 rows of 6 soldiers, 4 carrying rifles, the other 2 carrying sabres, with rifles slung over shoulders, and all have dual sidearms holstered on each hip. The prisoners are dressed in baggy brown military issue underwear tops and bottoms, barefoot, and shackled wrists, ankles and waistbelts, holding their arms down at their sides.
Heavy burlap bags are draped over the heads of each prisoner, but a rope is strung around the lead prisoner's neck as a leash, held by the lead soldier, leading them to the gallows.
Sanders steps to the podium, along with Commander Jericho; Sanders speaks a few words to the Commander, and Jericho nods, smiles and steps away, snarling and glaring as he passes the prisoners, who cannot see him any way. Jericho takes a position behind the Gatling Gun at the rear of the town square, barking orders to the gunman as he steps into place.
Sanders speaks, as the crowd mumbles, hisses and boos at the convict prisoners.
"Good morning, fine citizens of Abilene and distinguished visitors from all regions of this great state of Texas!"
The crowd cheers some, and Sanders continues.
"Today, we make an effort to enliven and enlighten that greatness, by stomping out some dire darkness which has taken root in our midst, in the form of a band of outlaws, recently captured by your Commander Geoffrey Jericho and his Army...
more cheers
"This ruthless gang of thieves and murderers have exploited the weakness and good nature of the fine folk of Texas, stealing services from local area blacksmiths, and mercantile exchange proprietors, extorting hard-earned profits from those businesses, then resorting to murder whenever any of the business owners would resist or refuse their demands!
Today, there will be equal justice!!"
more cheers
"Catori!" cried Lily as she rushed out of the hotel. "It's time!" Lily pushed through the crowd to the front pulling up a hood around her face. Her hand slipped on her brother's dagger that was in her old gun holster. The Sanders had a thing with fighting with daggers. "It's a hangin' oh how I never saw two girls hung before!" Her western accented voice was thick so only the person who best knew her(not her bro because he hardly spends anytime w/her.) at this hangin'.
"That's good so were going to start and you an shut up," said Steve before he turned to make a final sweet speech. Lily knew she needed Catori's plan to work or Holly and Vic would really hand tonight!
((Buddy is with Catori and Lily... I was waiting and wondering what happened to Greg... I guess we go on without him??)
Greg was worried, making a last ditch effort to find roof access from inside the hotel, and met Catori, Lily and Buddy on the stairs, Greg was going up to the roof, the others were going down to the lobby.
"We gotta try to get to the roof!" Greg said. Buddy agreed, as it would keep his famous face off the street as well as give them a decent vantage point of the whole event.
"I need a rifle..." Buddy sighed.
"Army snipers on the roof!!" Greg explained, and Buddy brightened just a bit. Buddy sent the girls out onto the street, they were women, they were dudded up as nicely as time allowed, they wouldn't be recognized as the renegades they supposedly were.
Buddy and Greg made way to the 3rd floor, in search of roof access.
On the third floor, while scouring the level for another flight of stairs or a ladder up to the roof, Buddy and Greg were recognized and summoned... -GULP!-
... by the Cavendish lady-in-waiting!
"You're Greg Dobson, the gun-slinger from the WANTED posters!" the jig was up, they were caught again, and Buddy knew it.
"Yes ma'am... " Buddy agreed, and Greg smiled, waiting for Buddy to spin such a web of lies and deception that would confound that confuse and distract the simple call girl.
"And I'm Buddy Reno, renegade, rebel, and rogue leader of Reno's Renegades..."
...uhh, that wasn't exactly what Greg had in mind...