Fistful of Lead: Gold and Gunfire

With the passing of our good friend and fellow Basement General, Bill McHarg, we decided it was only appropriate to play one of his favorite games in his honor. After an irreverent toast with Kentucky Bourbon, the game began.

The Law

Baby Face Fenster, leader and sole survivor of the Finnigan-Fenster gang is sitting in the Lesterville county jail. He and he alone knows the location of last payroll his gang buried out in the desert. He has sent word out through the criminal underworld he will share its location if somebody will break him out before his transfer to the notorious Yucca prison tomorrow.
Also at at state is a rather large gold nugget sitting, mostly unguarded in the First National Bank across the street. Marshal Bill Bastardsen and his group of mostly deputized townsfolk are all that stand between the Badguys and their goals. His only hope is a small detachment of US Cavalry camped just outside of town, and possibly a mysterious stranger arriving on the noon stage....

 The Cav

 The Dixons

 The Left-Overs

El Guappo

Facing the Marshal are the worst the territory has. El Guappo has once again slunk across the border in search of plunder, while the filthy Dixon Gang road their flea-bitten nags into town under of darkness the night before. Joining the fray were the so-called Society of Gentlemen Gunfighters, a high-faluting name for a group hired guns. Finally, the Left-Over gang, possibly the lowest of the low, a gang of scoundrels banded together because nobody else would take them. Led by Johnny One-Leg, Confederate soldier who just won't give up the Cause.

 Cover that back door!

"Hey everybody! I'm up here!"

As usual, the first few turns saw the various factions maneuvering around town, skulking in alleys and staying behind cover. The Marshal (played by son, Marshal) spotted Johnny One-Leg creeping down the street and unleashed a hail of poorly aimed gunfire from atop the hotel. He was quickly met by return fire that forced him, pinned, to the roof top. All this shooting attracted the attention of the Cavalry. Bugles were tooted, gear assembled and off they went to investigate.
The Gentle Gunfighter broke into the bank, guns ready, only to find it deserted and no way to open the safe without either a bank manager or some TNT. I frightened citizen informed them that the Bank manager was across the street have "lunch" at the saloon, but the Mining company was next door..
The Mining company was quickly taken over by the Cavalry.

 The Dixons skulking about

 Shot right out of the winders!

Blasting away in the jail

Meanwhile, El Guappo and his bandits had come under considerable fire from both the Left-Overs and the Law. Half his gang was down. Seeking cover in the second floor of the bathhouse proved a bad idea when the Left-Overs charged in a down two of his men.
The dirty Dioxins had been making their way down back alleys and were in position to rush the jail. They lost a couple of men getting there, but they busted into the jail about the time the stage arrived.
Out stepped the gunslinger turned law man, and brother to the Marshal, Matt Bastardsen. Under blistering gunfire, he assessed the situation and entered the jail.
The Jail. like the yard behind the bank, had become a bloodbath. Bodies littered the ground. The Gentlemen Gunfighters had tried a break-out after the Bank Manager arrived and had been forced to open the vault. The Cavalry gunned them down as they emerged.
In the jail and on rooftops, the Marshal's men battled it out at close range. Most ended up at Boot Hill. The Marshal himself bled out on the roof he started at, while his brother lay dying in the jail.

Blood Alley. There's always one.

The Dixons escaped with Fenster, while the Cavalry "liberated" the gold.
A great game with, as usual a "Blood Alley", a hilarious storyline that wrote itself and fitting game to dedicate to a lost friend. In honor of Bill, the Lesterville Post Office and Telegraph station will be renamed the McHarg Post Office in honor of Bill's many years as a mailman.