[DL] Cattle Barons - Marshal looking for help

[Munch Wolf <munchwolf@yahoo.com>]

So I think I'm finally getting my campaign started
next saturday.  For my first adventure I'm keeping the
supernatural to a minimun (I have one NPC MS involved)
and the idea I was going to run involved feuding
cattle barons.  The problem is I really don't know
anything about cattle barons.  Assuming two ranches,
one much larger than the other, what would be a good
number of cows on each ranch?  How many helpers would
each ranch have?  Where would the helpers live? 
Finally if you were to dispose of several dead cows
without anyone finding out, what is the easiest way?

I've seen some old movies and it appears that the
helpers live in the ranch house, which works for me. 
The only other experience I have is listening to
stories about a friend of a friend who is a pig farmer
(yes, I live in Indiana).  It was just 2 people, and
they had about 200 pigs ... and in a tragic accident,
about 80 of them got buried in the septic system. 
Cows are a bit bigger ... so the situation doesn't
help me much.

Other notes, less important, when was the first
milking machine invented ... yes I know dairy cows are
different than range cows ... I'm just looking for a
non-weapon MS invention for my MS.

Basic plot of the adventure:

Story so far:  Since his father became ill, Morgan's
Cattle ranch has been run by his eldest son, Jake. 
Jake unfortunately has a gambling problem which has
significantly drained the family coffers.  The
family's lawyer, Bob Firsttobekilledguy (name to be
changed later), is getting suspicious. 

Meanwhile the only other local rival, McCreary's
Ranch, a significantly smaller company, is also
suffering from money problems.  They've come up with a
rather underhanded solution to fix their problem. 
Papa McCreary has hired Typhoid Mary (name to change
later), a harrowed who enjoys spreading diseases, to
wipe out a significant portion of Morgan's herd.  Why?
 When it comes time for market, McCreary's cows will
be worth more, and or easier to sell with a decrease
in the local competition.  

After the dastardly deed is done Typh M leaves (to
reappear in later adventures), and Jake Morgan is up a
creak.  Jake knows McCreary was behind it, and didn't
have a solution until his friend Martin the MS shows
his a handy dandy invention which can remove the brand
off a cow.  Morgan raids McCreary's farm, stealing an
equal ammount of cows as had died, and set about
re-branding them.


Where the adventure starts:

The PCs already know each other and have a reason for
being together (will be worked out in character
creation).  They are also waiting for Bob
Firsttobekilledguy to show up.  Bob has hired some
out-of-town types (the players) to investigate Jake
Morgan.  He knows something is going on, but not what.

Unfortunately as he is heading to the salon to meet
the players, a bank robber occurs.  Bob, and the local
Sherif both die in the gun fight outside the bank. 
The players have the option of joining in to test out
the combat system, but the robbers will most likely
get away.  The robbers work for Jake Morgan and were
really there to kill Bob and the Sherif, but to make
it look less suspicious (the sherif was on the take,
but was upping his price to much).  The players
recognise Dead Bob and if they search his briefcase
will find some clues, but no real lead as to what they
were to be hired for.

Let the players mull for a bit.

Later that day, or next day Jake offers an invite to
hire the players.  He knew about the meeting, and
wants to know what the players know.  If they decline
the job (just regular ranch hand positions), McCreary
comes in with an offer, only because he knew Jake
wanted them, and he needs help getting his cattle
back.  McCreary already has the deputy on his side,
and he's trying to put together a posse to take on
Morgan.

Players do some investigating stuff.

Within a few days, the players should be on one side
or another.  If they haven't already figured out
what's happened and have found their own creative
solution then we move to the big gunfight finale. 
McCreary and his Posse try to take on Morgan's group
at Morgan's ranch.  This gives the posse a forum to
say what's going on .. or to blast things.


As you can see, details are still needed.  I can fudge
by saying only some of Morgans helpers are around at
the end fight, but it would be nice to have an
estimation of how many helpers he'd have.  It would
also be nice to figure out how many cows were involved
and how big the ranches would be.  It would also be
nice if I received some feedback on the idea ... is it
too confusing?  Too combat heavy?  Too combat light? 
I'm trying to make it a one session event, but it
might stretch to two.

-Munch "Thanks for help" Wolf

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