Ensayo en lazo abierto

The people of the dual city of Grant’s Pass (Xin Huihuang) are as varied and diverse as the town itself. Although the town seems to have a split personality, most folk roam from the northern to the southern parts of the city, and back again, with no concerns.

A number are willing members of the city militia under Simon Colin, as the siege mentality engendered by living so near Indian Lands builds a strong bond among the residents. It’s that very sense of community that has kept the city together despite the machinations of the Rail Barons.

Here are a few of the city’s leading lights:

Anna Quaini

Anna Quaini is a thick woman with a pompous air. She is often seen around the south side of town (never the north, heaven forbid!) dressing someone down for “improper” activity.

Points of Interest

Here are some notable places in Grant’s Pass and Xin Huihuang, as shown on the nearby map.

Law Office: From this base of operations and place of incarceration, Simon Colin maintains the peace.

Pony Express Station: Here Johnny Gomes oversees the Pony Express riders constantly coming in and out.

He’s got a finger on the pulse of news round these parts—because he’s a spy for Kang!

Rail Depot: Though the tracks still don’t go anywhere except south, hopes for a link-up with Union Blue abide in many of the townsfolk’s hearts.

Rusted Spike Saloon: A popular watering hole and meeting place among local miners and former railroad workers.

Yüan Cai’s House: A large residence constructed in traditional Chinese style, walled and well-guarded against intrusion, serves as home to the great hero (and to some, villain) of Grant’s Pass, Yüan Cai. The place sits roughly at the center of the north part of town, Xin Huihuang.

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Highest on her personal list of sins is mixing with “those people,” although she won’t say directly who “those people” are. She’s a rabble-rouser capable of swaying people with her brute force of will—or simply brute force. She’s most recently been seen objecting to the fact that there’s no “good, proper marshal” to keep Grant’s Pass in line. Simon writes off her tantrums to her having “an Italian temper,” a statement that visibly angers her if she overhears it.

Of course, all this bluster is a cover.

Anna is a plant for Mina Devlin, who hasn’t forgiven the slight against her by Cai. Mina sent one of her best witches to Grant’s Pass to help fracture the populace.

The hope is that once the people turn on each other, Anna will be in position to burn down the town in front of Cai.

Anna hitches on to any opportunity to sow dissent. She’s openly sympathetic to

visitors who end up on the wrong side of Simon’s suspicions.

• Anna Quaini: Use Cult Leader stats in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook. Tack on Intimidation d8, Taunt d8, the Strong Willed Edge, and the bolt, deflection, and fly powers.

(We did say she’s one of Mina’s best, after all.) Johnny Gomes

As manager of the local Pony Express

“Home Station,” Gomes is either found delivering the newest packages, or tending to horses waiting for their turn to run.

At first glance, Gomes looks like a more down-to-earth version of Simon Colin. Dressed simply, Gomes has garnered quite a bit of trust and loyalty in the southern side of town as a fair and practical arbiter of disputes. He always has a kind word for everyone, even cantankerous locals like Anna.

Being such a likable sort, no one suspects Johnny of being a spy for Warlord Kang—but that’s exactly what he is. Seeing everything that goes in or out of the city allows him access to privileged information. It also makes it unlikely for anyone to see the messages Johnny gets from Kang, leaving people unsuspecting of his loyalties. At the same time, Johnny’s not above using his position to make sure something gets “lost” if doing so would strengthen the city.

Lately, though, messages from Kang have been few, far between, and less inquisitive.

Gomes is a little jumpy out of fear Kang is planning a massive retribution, and has left Gomes out of the loop.

• Johnny Gomes: Use Townsfolk stats in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook, but add the Charismatic Edge.

kangi yuhamani,

“Crow Carries Walker”

Kangi Yuhamani is living proof that the Sioux have not forgotten about this city, built near territory the wicasas claim as their own. Attempts to take the city by force have failed for the Sioux as much as for Kang or Devlin (although Indians can claim partial credit for a few of those, as the Sioux unwittingly attacked groups headed to wreak vengeance on Grant’s Pass).

Crow Carries Walker is a proud young brave with a clever plan. Having infiltrated the city, he stays in the northern part of town, using the white man’s ignorance to conceal himself amongst the Chinese.

Although most of the Chinese residents have spotted him, they pay him little attention. This allows him to spy on the movements of the entire city, reporting back to his allies when he can.

But Crow isn’t just a Sioux, he’s also a Ravenite. Living in the city gives him significant opportunity to acquire the white man’s weapons without the wicasas catching on to the source. Even more

shrewdly, he’s apprenticed to a Chinese gunsmith near the center of town. Not only is he learning how to make the very weapons he wants to supply to other Ravenites, he often gets a chance to handle (or acquire) some of the more powerful weapons that make their way into town.

Lately Crow has taken to getting travel information from visitors to feed back to a waiting raiding group. Together they haven’t been preventing people from entering the city, but they make it very difficult to leave.

• Kangi Yuhamani: Use Indian Brave (Veteran) stats in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook. Add Climbing d6, Lockpicking d6, and the Thief Edge, and replace the Old Ways Oath with the Vow (Serve the Order of the Raven) Hindrance.

Liwei Jin

Jin is one of Cai’s men who remained standing after the walkin’ dead ravaged Grant’s Pass. But Jin no longer considers himself one of “Cai’s men,” instead professing loyalty to himself and his patients. Taking a vow of pacifism, he has left behind his previous life, devoted only to the present.

He’s uncharacteristically tall for someone of Chinese descent. Combined with a brawny build, he cuts quite an intimidating figure. He is also the best doctor in the city, combining influences from multiple cultures to care for his patients. Even the outspoken Anna Quaini has been known to begrudgingly turn to Jin in times of need.

A devout Taoist, Jin often shares his beliefs with patients. He rambles on about how the Jade Emperor formed humans out of clay, leaving them to bake in the sun.

Rain caused some of the clay men to become misshapen, thereby allowing sickness and abnormality to enter. Jin keeps a respectable number of shrines in a cellar beneath his office, showcasing many of the departments

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of Heaven. Show enough interest in his stories, and he may even let a cowpoke see a few of the more interesting ones.

He’s begun to suspect a few things about the townsfolk, namely Yuhamani and Quaini. If he were to speak out about his feelings, he’d likely be instrumental in uncovering one of the many plots to ruin Grant’s Pass. For now he keeps silent, shrewdly observing the ever-growing town, while his sword and traditional armor gather dust.

• Liwei Jin: Use Rail Warrior (Iron Dragon) stats in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook, but add Healing d8, the Brawny Edge (for a Toughness of 7), and replace Mean with the Pacifist (Major) Hindrance.

Simon Colin

Simon Colin was one of the few Union Blue security men to survive the Battle of Grant’s Pass. Now he’s Cai’s right-hand man, acting in what could easily be seen as a marshal’s role as the head of the city militia. Between the two of them they’ve managed to keep the peace for the past few years. Cai may be well-known for his unrivaled hand-to-hand fighting ability, but Simon Colin is unmatched with a shooting iron ’round these parts.

A tall, lanky man, Colin looks every bit the British gentleman his great-grandfathers were, right down to his waxed moustache. He’s polite, well-mannered, and will fill you full of lead (with an apology) for breaking the peace or attacking the city. Colin is so loyal to Cai, one might think he came with him to Grant’s Pass.

Simon’s diplomatic nature has smoothed out a number of squabbles, but recent tensions have seen him sometimes ignored. A lawman that feels impotent is not a pretty sight, so he’s been harder than he should be on visitors—suspecting fomenters of revolt in every saddle. Sadly,

he’s not too far from the truth, as agents of discord lie in wait hoping to destabilize the fragile peace.

• Simon Colin: Use Gunman (Veteran) stats in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook.

yüan Cai

Cai has undergone a spiritual transformation since his arrival at Grant’s Pass. No longer the young man he was when he settled here, he keeps himself in fighting form. But he’s grown a palpable presence that extends beyond his athletic, five-foot-eight-inch frame. When he decided to settle down, he had a vision that rivaled Warlord Kang’s, though more pure. His dream of a home where people of many races worked and lived cooperatively turned him from the path of thug to that of leader.

The troubles of recent years have taken their toll on Cai. He is plagued by the sad realization that the early years of Xin Huihuang may have been its glory years, his dream of peace already spiraling into a decline as people begin to distrust each other. Adding to his stress is the constant paranoia generated from fending off plots from agents of the Rail Barons and occasional attacks from the Sioux.

Less virtuous men would have become embittered, but Cai still holds out hope he can turn things around.

• Yuan Cai: Use Martial Artist (Superior) stats in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook, but add the Celestial Kung Fu (Eagle Claw) and Celestial Kung Fu (Mantis) Edges, and the Vow (Bring peace to Xin Huihuang) Hindrance.

TALk O’ THE TOWN

A number of story opportunities hide within the twin cities of Grant’s Pass and Xin Huihuang. Here’s a short Savage Tale to get started with, Marshal.