The Shotgun Gospel

THE TERRITORY

• The Narrator wrote:

  The territory of New Alexandria is a hard place. The only things in abundance are poverty and guns. Combine that with human greed and you wind up with a dreary land of sin and death. Most of the ground is too arid or too dry for farming, making cattle ranching a preferable choice; more popular than hard work, however, is outlawing, and the way of the gun is the way of life for many. Beyond the few cities that dot the landscape are numerous little towns and villages, some no more than a collection of wooden shacks. These communities, isolated from the rest of the world, act on laws of their own making. Fear and superstition result in outlandish practices and horrific crimes. Abuse of power is more common than religion. It is said that the Devil walks the earth, here, and that is why God has turned a blind eye on New Alexandria.
  
  The territory is between Arizona and New Mexico and is split into three counties: Victoria in the northeast, Perdition in the northwest and Barren (the largest of them) everywhere else. Not much changes from county to county except your proximity to the American-Mexican border.

  

• VICTORIA COUNTY

  The Narrator wrote:

  Supposedly the most civilized of the three counties, Victoria is located in the northeast of the territory. While the comment about civilization is questionable at best it is definitely the most lush. Starting in the far northeast where the territory begins, and ending about halfway through the county, it isn't uncommon to spot rolling grasslands and pinon trees. Victoria has the largest presence of lawmen in New Alexandria but they're mostly isolated to the city of Charming.

  CHARMING
  Charming is often called the 'Eastern Western City' due to it being head and shoulders above the rest of the territory in terms of law, order and modernism. The buildings here are taller, the streets are paved with cobblestone and a few automobiles are present, owned by the richer members of the population. The city itself is built on the Blackwater River, the largest body of water in New Alexandria. A swimming tournament is held twice a year.

• BARREN COUNTY

  CALVARY
  Touted as the meanest city in the west, Calvary is a den of conniving thieves, corrupt lawmen and soulless politicians. It boasts a population of around 10,000 and has everything a person could ever need or want: a bowling alley, three churches, an ice house, a school, two banks, two newspapers, an ice-cream parlor, one-hundred saloons,sixteen gambling halls, a slew of general stores, gunsmiths, tailors, dancing halls and more brothels than you could count on both your fingers and toes. Several gangs call the city home, some barely contained by the law, others who the law doesn't apply to.
  
  It was first platted in 1875 but had functioned as a trading point since at least 1870. A post office has been in operation for just as long. In 1882 it was the site of the infamous Calvary Massacre, when the youngest of the three Butcher Brothers, a gang of outlaws noted for their severe brutality, was shot over a game of cards. In retaliation the remaining brothers assaulted the gambling hall, resulting in the death of twelve civilians, nine lawmen and ultimately, the brothers themselves.
  
  Legend says the city sits on haunted land, the site of some forgotten battle. It might explain why nothing ever seems to go right for the locals.
  
  

  LOCALS JOHN HENRY ARLISS: a former bounty hunter who cut his teeth chasing outlaws. When he strolled into Calvary in 1882 he became famous for his involvement in the Calvary Massacre, where he cut down the Butcher Brothers. Seduced by his newfound fame he decided to stay, eventually running for public office. He is the mayor. LOTTIE HOLCOMB: the madame of the Honeyed Cat. Given she runs the rowdiest brothel slash gambling hall slash saloon slash entertainment venue in the city, she has become a strict, shrewd woman who takes nothing from anyone. Because of her fierce nature she has earned the respect of many. Even the men who come in and whisper and make jokes behind her back ultimately turn pale when she confronts them. HANS JÄGER: a wealthy German-born arms dealer who splits his time between his gun store in Calvary and his obligations in Mexico. He is known as a rough, no-nonsense man that can acquire any form of ordinance his customers might desire. He is fluent in both English and German and can speak well enough in Spanish. BERNARD 'THE BULL' REILLY: rumored to be a former train robber who quit the dangerous trade when he shot several marshals dead, Bernard is the usual bartender at the Marigold Saloon. He is a font of knowledge and gossip. His nickname The Bull comes from his intimidating physical form and also because when a man ran into Marigold Saloon with gun in the air declaring it was a robbery, Bernard ran at the man and tackled him from the middle of the saloon all the way out into the street. DAVE BAKER: a veteran of the Civil War, where he served as a field doctor, Dave Baker is one of many but perhaps the best-known doctor in Calvary. Rumor is he struggles with being too fond of the drink. KATE 'DOC' PARRISH: a skilled surgeon who struggles to find work due to the color of her skin. Because of this, she runs a freelance medical office out of her home, often stitching up people who can't go through proper channels for one reason or another.

  LOCALES THE PAINTED STALLION: one of the more prominent saloons in the city, the Painted Stallion is known for its lengthy poker games which can take place either in the bar area or, if you can afford it, the VIP room upstairs, where it's rumored many prominent figures go to avoid being spotted by the common chaff. THE HONEYED CAT THEATRE: a theater, saloon, gambling parlor and brothel, the Honeyed Cat is perhaps the most notorious place in all of New Alexandria, known far and wide for its outrageous shows and backroom dealings. The owner has some kind of arrangement with the law that makes the theater practically it's own sovereign state. It's a favorite hangout spot of many gang members and other questionable individuals. FIRST NATIONAL BANK: the premier bank for New Alexandria, First National has a large building in Calvary that is heavily guarded at all hours after too many robberies to count. Still, people try. THE CALVARY CHRONICLE: one of two newspapers local to the city but by far the more popular, the Calvary Chronicle has subscribers all over the territory. Its offices are small and crowded but workable. THE IMPERIAL HOTEL: one of the classiest places to stay in the whole city, the Imperial is where you might find visiting celebrities or politicians. It has a fancy restaurant on-site.

  
  LITTLE HOPE
  If you take the southwest road out Charming or the train, you'll pass into the desert and invariably end up in the dusty trading post of Little Hope. It's small and scarcely populated but serves as common ground for all the local ranches in the area as well as several mining operations. Because of its remote location, the settlement sees it's fair share of troubles from both outlaws and nature alike, more than the law can ever hope to deal with. Many say it's the last stop for civilization before you enter Barren County.
  
  

  LOCALS VIRGIL BRIGGS: the town marshal. He is a famously blunt and no-nonsense individual who takes his job as protector of Little Hope very seriously. He isn't very old by some standards but is experienced beyond his years. CYRUS MCCARTHY: the quiet, shotgun-wielding deputy in Virgil's service. He is seldom far from the man. He has a past as an outlaw which, funnily enough, is how he and the marshal met. HARLAN NASH: the barkeep at the Desert Lily Saloon. Harlan's a massive man with a good enough sense of humor until someone pisses him off. Besides his size, he's immediately identifiable by his neatly kept hair, his bushy muttonchops and his bushier mustache. REVEREND AVERY: the local preacher, Gordon Avery is a quiet, reserved man who spends much of his free time by himself. It is a hotly debated rumor that he has a fondness for one of the working girls at the Desert Lily. LEE SHAW: the local gunsmith. A young, cocksure man with a wife and more kids than he knows what to do with. CARL COTTON: the county sheriff. He's an old man, now, worn down by years of trying to maintain peace and justice. His wife's relatively recent death has left him more or less catatonic. He spends most of his time drinking in his office. AMELIA THICKET: the mistress of the school, Ms. Amelia Thicket is the wife of the blacksmith Angus and is notoriously judgemental of others. She has an addiction to laudanum she believes is under wraps. FRANKLIN KELLER: the undertaker. He's a strange, quiet man who keeps to himself. He has many tattoos adorning his skin. AARON MCGRATH: the wealthiest man in Little Hope, Aaron is in his late thirties. He came from 'out east' and bought the bank in Little Hope shortly after arriving. He's a smoothtalking businessman who has elected himself as a mayor of sorts, often trying to interfere with the marshals and 'help out.' JOSEPHINE AMATT: the madame of the Black Dove, she is a self-made woman whose past is shrouded in mystery. She takes good care of her girls and isn't afraid to shoot a man dead if he should harm one of them. EFFIE: a working girl at the Black Dove, Effie is an oft-rumored about individual. She's intelligent and literate and wandered into the town dirty and starving from the desert. It's said her real name is Euphemia Blackburn and that she shot her husband forty-eight times before fleeing the law. KATELYN GREEN: a tall, thickset woman in her mid-thirties, Katelyn is Little Hope's butcher. Between her serious demeanor and her skill with a cleaver, she's mostly left alone by the other townsfolk. LLOYD KIRKLAND: the effeminate tailor. He's clearly come to Little Hope running from something but is very tight-lipped about his life before New Alexandria.

  LOCALES THE DESERT LILY SALOON: Little Hope's premier (and only!) saloon, the Desert Lily is the social center of the Barren region of New Alexandria. With card games, cheap booze and soiled doves galore, it courts business with rancher, lawman and criminal alike. The bartender shoots people who cause trouble, the piano player never stops playing and the booze is as cheap as it can be. A room is five dollars per night and includes a meal. THE BLACK DOVE: owned and operated by Josephine Amatt, the Black Dove is Little Hope's only brothel, located behind the saloon and next to the boarding house. It's open twenty-four hours, catering to locals and travelers alike. PALE'S CHAPEL: an abandoned chapel north of Little Hope. Years ago it is said that the members of the church there succumbed to devil worship and were eventually wiped out by Carl Cotton and a posse he had rounded up. The events which took place prior to the purging, however, are oft-whispered about: human sacrifice, copulation with animals, the summoning of demons. It still stands, left to rot. Those who know of its origins tend to give the place a wide berth. FORT BLAISDELL: an old military fort to the northeast, it was abandoned following the conclusion of the war. Nowadays it's mostly used as a hideout for bandits. THE OLD STANTON MINE: southwest of the town is an old mining camp. It's abandoned and sees more activity from bandits than anyone else. DAVENPORT'S STEAD: the closest ranch to Little Hope. It's large, employing a number of individuals to maintain it and deals primarily in livestock. It is overseen by the Patterson family.

• PERDITION COUNTY

• THE DEADLANDS

  A sizable chunk of the Sonoran Desert passes through the New Alexandria territory on its way into Mexico. This inhospitable stretch of land is popularly known as the Deadlands, where the Wild West is still alive and kicking even if in recent years it's been put on life support elsewhere. If the coyotes and rattlesnakes don't kill you, the roaming bands of outlaws will.
  
  

  LOCALS DR. IVAN SOKOLOFF: a wandering 'doctor' who specializes in miracle cures and obscure, often macabre items. Ivan Sokoloff is a snake oil salesman through and through but has one trait which sets him apart from the rest: he wears a heavy iron mask which appears bolted into the skin. It's a wonder he hasn't cooked in the New Alexandria sun as he travels from town to town peddling his wares. MOSES FARQUHAR: a photographer who travels around taking pictures of people and scenery alike. He is known to be a finicky, nervous and anal man. His tinkering nature tends to annoy others. THE CROSSROADS MAN: a few miles outside of the town of Little Hope there is a crossroads. Here it is said a man dressed in black will walk barefoot out of the desert and greet you. For a price, he will grant you great and terrible power. It is alleged that this man is the Devil himself. But this is, of course, all urban legend; whether or not the Crossroads Man really exists is a hotly debated topic.

  LOCALES