Deadlands - Classic - Things To Do In Denver When You're Undead.pdf - Scenariusze - sensei_13

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead

Part One

By Brandon Thorn

Art by Loston Wallace, Allen Nunice, and Paul Daly

Preface

Howdy! Welcome to the first of three articles

covering the midwestern city of Denver as it stands in

the Deadlands universe, circa 1876. Jam-packed full

of tasty tidbits (and, of course, a hefty helpin' o' meat)

on the people, places and problems to be found in the

Queen City of the Desert, "Things To Do In Denver

When You're Undead" is bound to add some

atmosphere to your Deadlands experience.

Or, at least, make good paper for the outhouse.

This first article covers Denver's background,

from an introduction by one of Denver's (un)lawful

locals to a lesson in local history, and on to what it's

like during '76.

The next two articles will further set the stage for

running adventures and campaigns in Denver.

Number two relates the many important people and

places of the city. The third article, intended for the

Marshal's eyes only, details information behind the

scenes, including the uglier side of the people and

places discussed in the second article, and ideas for

throwing the posse into the middle of things.

With that in mind, make yoruself a seat, get

comfortable, and read on...

Welcome To Denver, Partner

Hey there, fella! Glad to see yer finally awake.

Yer lucky I showed up when I did. That gunslinger

woulda pumped ya full o' lead if he'd had another

second or two. I guess mah gunshot spooked ya, eh?

Thought ya were one wit' the new bullet-filled guy?

Well, don't ya worry, feller; I made sure that fool

trigger-head's already on 'is way to the mortician.

By the look of yer suit, the broken spectacles

hangin' on yer nose, and yer amazin' way wit' people,

I'd say yer new to ta town. The fact that yer still layin'

in the dirt has kinda clued me in, too. So gimme yer

hand, and let me help ya up.

Anyhows, mah name is Ted Irvings, "Slick" to

mah friends. I've been a deputee for the Denver

Police Department for a couple weeks now, and

happened ta stumble 'pon you layin' here. From the

looks of it, I'd guess you just got off the latest Tinhorn

Express, seekin' yer fame and fortune in the West.

Ya need ta tighten up yer guts, partner, if yer

plannin' on amkin' a stay of it out here. Denver's no

place for the weak of heart. There are lotsa things ya

don't know 'bout this here city that could end up gittin'

ya kilt. Denver ain't the place it's made out ta be in

the papers.

If ya thought that feller was bad, jus' wait 'til ya

meet a few o' the locals.

All Rails Lead To Denver

Yer lookin' a little pale ag'in, mister. Don't worry;

I'll git ya wherever yer goin' nice and safe-like.

The Denver House? I can git ya there in no time at

all. If ya'd just follow me, we'll be thar in two shakes

of a lamb's tail.

Eh? Naw, the conductor musta givin' ya the wrong

directions. It's over this way.

Well, now that we're on our way, lemme fill ya in

on the real Denver. As the sayin' goes, "all rails lead

to Denver." Never heard it? Ya must be behind the

times, partner. Things out here are changin' faster than

the time o' day. Fer the worse if'n ya ask me, and the

railroad is just the beginnin'.

-1-

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead

Colorado has been a big lure fer miners lookin' ta

make 'emselves a fortune fer some time now, but it

wasn't 'til recently that things really got outta hand.

Ya see, since the Ghost Rock craze hit, Denver's

become a bustlin' boomtown. Bein' bout as far west

as ya can git by train, it's become the major stoppin'

point between the East Coast and The Maze. Miners,

gunslingers, scientists, teamsters; ya name it, and yer

sure to find someone who fits the bill. These days,

practic'ly everyone in teh city is jus' passin' through.

Trains are constantly zoomin' in an' out of the city,

bringin' with 'em people and damn near anthin' else ya

kin think of. Trouble 'cluded.

We've also been havin' our share of problems with

the Injuns. The Souix 'ave been causin' trouble 'round

here lately, and even the Rev's redskin lackeys

occasion'ly git in on the action. Not ta say all o' 'em

are bad, 'course, but I'd keep a keen eye on any that ya

happen ta spot.

Then, 'course, there's the war. Denver's stuck

betwickst the North and South, and both 'ave decided

Colorado's theirs. The Union's got the power here,

what with the Pinkertons and the Marshals, but the

Rebs have been doin' their best ta keep the situation

messy.

Thanks ta the army skimrishes and the transients,

Denver's gotten itself knee-deep in crime, violence

and corruption. Us police do our best ta keep the

situation under control, and the Marshalls and

Pinkertons occaisonally decide ta dirty their hands,

too, but it's a losin' battle. Doesn't help that half the

law is as bad as the crooks.

Speakin' o' shootouts, watch yer step; ya almost

walked over 'ole Jeb Williams. The mortician woulda

been none too pleased if ya messed 'im up any more

than he already is. I'm surprised he didn't git 'im when

he got yer buddy; Jeb never was one for soap an'

water, but that smell is jus' a lit'l too much.

Aw, shucks. There ya go lookin' sick ag'in.

The Silver Lining

It's not all bad, though. Denver's still one of the

greatest cities I've ever been ta. There are plenty o'

ways to make yerself some cash, you can find jus'

'bout anything your heart desires in the shops and on

the streets, the entertainment scene is... well,

entertainin', and, 'course, there's no better place than

Denver ta hitch yerself a ride out West.

If cash is what ya need, jus' take yerself a looksee

'round the city. The Police Department kin always use

some new deputees, if'n yer into that scene... which

I'm perty sure you ain't. The rail barons are always

lookin' fer some hard workin' fellas, as are the

teamsters and cattle drivers. 'Course, there are many

more ways ta earn a livin' partakin' in the shadier side

o' things, but bein' a deputee and all, I'm not gonna git

into that.

If goods n' services are what ya want, Denver's

got it all. Hop Alley, Denver's Chinatown, has really

grown over the last couple years, and is the perfect

place ta pick yerself up imported goods or a bit o' the

exotic. Thent here's the various shops and businesses

'round town, all of which are sure ta have somethin'

yer lookin' for... 'specially if ya've got the cash or

connections. The 'ole natorious black market's really

thivin' in Denver these days, and if ya can't convince

a storekeep ta open up his storeroom fer ya, it's a sure

bet ya kan find what yer lookin' for on the streets.

If I were ya, I'd go and git me some new

eyeglasses, ta start.

As for excitement, there are more than enough

saloons in Denver ta keep any man intoxicated fer a

good, long time. Bar fights are, 'course, frequent, and

guns are often fired... but at least it's all in fun. If

small-time card games and darts jus' don't tickle yer

fancy, the gamblin' halls are always eager ta reach

into yer pockets.

Oh... what was the last bit I was gonna bring up?

Ah yes; travellin' West. The reason yer in Denver, I

bet. Well, wagon trains are always takin' off this way

and that, and most are more than happy ta take ya

along with 'em. For a price, of course. Then ag'in, if

ya happin' ta be plannin' yer own lit'l money-seekin'

expedition, there are even more people lookin' ta find

someone ta ride along wit'.

What did ya say? Ya want ta know 'bout the

wierder stuff, eh? Well, if ya insist...

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf

There are more strange rumors 'bout things in an'

outta Denver than I've heard most anywhere else. The

Epitaph, that amusin' tall-tale tellin' paper, has even

decided ta set up shop downtown. I dunno what ya've

-2-

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead

read 'bout Denver in there, but there are some stories

I've heard mahself that ya might be interested in.

Good ol' Police Chief McCallin, shot down by a

gang o' bank robbers a month or so ago, is said ta be

back for revenge. The ghost rock-powered train that

decided ta blow up a few months back has been seen

steamin' 'round outside the city, finishin' it's route.

And there's always the big snakes that ranchers say

keep eatin' their beef. Throw in stories 'bout hordes o'

walkin' dead, monstrous grizzlies, and were-thingies

int he night, and ya've got yerself quite a jumpy

buncha people.

My Lord! Behind you!

Oops. Didn't mean ta make ya faint.

Guess I won't be doin' that joke agin' any time

soon.

Epilogue

Anyone awake in that? Hello? HEL- Oh, yer

back.

I'd really 'preciate it if ya'd stop doin' this. Yer

attractin' attention.

Anyhows, partner, we're almost there. I'm sure

you'll be jus' fine handlin' yerself in Denver wit' all

the knowledge I've learned ya today. Jus' remember

the golden rule of survivin' in Denver; "never trust

anyone."

Yeah, so ya've heard taht one before. What can I

say.

Now that ya've got yer balance back, jus' head on

down that alley over there; the Denver House is right

on the other side.

Don't worry, it's perfectly safe.

No, I didn't see any shadows moving down there.

Nor did I hear a gunshot. I thnk yer jus' lettin' yer

imagination git ta ya.

What?

I take offense at that! Of course you can trust me;

I'm with the law. Do ya think I would 'ave warned you

'bout not trustin' anyone if I wasn't ta be trusted

mahself?

'Course not. Now git goin'.

And have a nice day.

-3-

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead

Denver: Queen City Of The Plains

Compared to the other major cities of the late 19th

century, Denver was little more than an whiney infant

back in '76. Denver's origins date back to 1858, when

the first mining camp was founded at Cherry Creek.

The actual city, previously a collection of smaller

camps, wasn't even founded until April 1860.

What follows is a compressed historical account

of Denver from its beginnings through 1876. The

Reckoning, the Great Quake, Indian uprisings and the

continuance of the bloody Civil War have all had their

share in shaping the Denver of Deadlands.

Gold Fever

Until the California Gold Rush hit America,

Colorado was of little interest to anyone other than

the Native Americans who lived in the region and the

few trappers who decided to make their living there.

The ground was too arid for farmers and a treaty with

the natives made back in '51 assured them that no one

would settle their land. Other than Fort Laramie and a

few other military posts, Colorado was little more

than an expanse of desert between the east and west.

Rumors of gold found by California-bound

prospectors at Ralston Creek in 1850 quickly spread

east, but few braved the long journey to Colorado. In

1857, soldiers led by Major J. C. Sedgewick were

passing through the area when an Indian scout by the

name of Fall Leaf chanced upon a few nuggets of

gold in an area long Cherry Creek.

With Ralson Creek in mind, a prospector named

William Green Russell began planning an expedition

to Colorado. In June of 1858 the party, now

numbering over one hundred, reached the junction of

Cherry Creek and the South Platte. Their finds were

small, and after some fruitless exploration in the area,

most of the party left. Russell and a few others stayed,

however, and quickly stumbled upon a larger find at

Dry Creek's connection to the South Platte. Placer

Camp, as it had been named, temporarily held the

prospector's interest, but they soon left north in the

hope of better finds.

Shortly after the Russell party departed, more

gold-seekers from Kansas, having heard of Fall Leaf's

find, happened on Placer Camp. They settled down,

and were soon joined by others. When the Russell

party returned, having no luck to the north, a dozen or

so cabins had already popped up around Cherry Creek

and the South Platte.

Although many small towns were created in the

surrounding area, most only existing in the eyes of

their creators and inhabitants, two in particular paved

the way for the future city.

The town of Auraria, founded by members of the

Russell party and others from Lawrence, Kansas, was

created in November of '58 on the southwestern side

of Cherry Creek. A few days later an armed party led

by William H Larimer, Jr. jumped a mostly-

abandoned site across the river from Auraria. To

verify their claim, they quickly created the Denver

City Town Company. The two sites became rivals

overnight, both fighting for the same resources and

businesses that would keep them alive.

Denver Is Born

The first major business to locate itself in the area

was The Rocky Mountain News. Its founder, William

Byers, initially located the newspaper in Auraria, but

soon moved to the dry Cherry Creek riverbed

between both towns to keep everyone happy.

-4-

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead

The biggest upset to Auraria came when Denver

City won the bid on Leavenworth and Pike's Peak

Express, bringing the first stagecoach connection to

the area. Businesses, especially hotels and saloons,

quickly sprang up around the terminal, hurting

Auraria even more.

More people began flowing in to the area in '59,

again drawn west by the prospect of gold. With no

farms or industry in the area, many people made

money off of transporting goods from back east, and

shysters found a great place to earn a little cash.

Auraria, hurting badly from lack of business and

population, finally merged with Denver City on

April 6, 1860, creating the combined city of Denver.

Although only a couple of years old and having few

farms and no industry, Denver now boasted a

population of almost 5000.

Trouble, Trouble and More Trouble

The next few years turned out fairly bad for

everyone in the Denver area, both Native Americans

and settlers alike. The Arapahos had long used the

area around Cherry Creek as a campground, but had

so far only objected slightly to the intrusion. They

continued to mingle and trade freely with the settlers

up through the early 1860's. There were few problems

between the two groups at first, but as the city began

to grow, so did the problems.

Then, in late 1860, the Civil War began. Denver,

still in Kansas Territory, had little in the way of local

law support. With the outbreak of the war, the already

mostly lawless city suffered even more from

gunfights and killings. Most of the locals were from

the North which helped to keep incidents down, but

the fear of war was still present. To make matters

worse, much of the local military, having previously

been a major part of the law in the area, was now off

fighting elsewhere.

As the war raged on, the government did their

best to settle the dispute between the Indians and the

locals. Talks with the Native Americans began in

1860 in the hopes of gaining control of the Denver

area and northeastern Colorado. A new treaty was

finally signed on February 18, 1861, but many of the

chiefs involved declined to sign. Ten days later

Congress proclaimed the area Colorado Territory,

solidifying its claim to the area despite Indian protest.

Although the natives were generally peaceful,

fearful settlers kept the tension between the two

groups high. Bad hunting, both due to government

intervention and over-hunting by settlers, drove many

of the Native Americans to aggression. Attacks on

wagon trains, hunters, and farms kept the two groups

at each other's throat.

On April 19, 1863, things got even worse. Late at

night a fire started in the middle of downtown,

destroying most of the business district. Brick

buildings quickly replaced the ruins. A little over a

yearlater, Cherry Creek flooded, destroying much of

the city along its banks, including the Rocky

Mountain News building (which was, of course, built

on the riverbed itself) and City Hall. The paper

resettled eslewhere, and damaged buildings were

rebuilt, but many people were left homeless for

months to come.

When the Reckoning hit, spewing forth all sorts of

evil into the world, tensions between the Native

Americans and Settlers again reached a high point.

The whites blamed the Indians for the strangeness,

and the Indians blamed the whites for angering the

spirits. Open war broke out between the two groups,

which the government had little control over thanks to

the Civil War.

In a desperate move on the settler's part,

Colorado's Third Cavalry, commanded by Colonel

John M. Chivington and currently stationed in

Colorado, readied for action. Despite the Cheyenne

and Arapaho's neutrality towards the settlers, the

cavalry made a surprise morning raid on a large camp

at Sand Creek where many Indians from both tribes

were staying. No one in the camp was spared.

The atrocity escalated the battle between the two

groups, spurring already-angy natives to all-out war.

In the following week a tribe of Arapahos led by the

previously pacifist Chief Niwot razed nearby Boulder

City. As time wore on, the fighting weakened, both

sides running low on war supplies, but Indian raids on

mountain settlements and mining camps continued.

Denver was in a bad situation with little hope for

salvation. If guerrilla attacks from angry Sioux

weren't enough, Denver was beginning to feel the

pains of not having any railroad connections with the

rest of the continent. After much debate, locals

decided that the railroad situation was, at the least,

something they could change.

-5-

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