Session 6 — Mystery 3, Part 2

What Happened

The Ringers in the Saloon

The session resumes ninety minutes before noon. Two Hatchett gang members have arrived early and are already drinking at the Randy Saloon: Retta — a tall, broad-shouldered woman with curly hair — and Merv, a small, pale-blond man who turns out to be a Hatchett cousin. Earl recognises them and slinks away.

Alfie greets the pair with a cheerful "Guten Morgen", which puts an on-edge Retta on immediate alert. He corrects himself to "Morgen." She turns on the rest of the room.

RETTA, to other bar patrons: What are you looking at?

Recruiting Belinda

Alfie and Cuthbert head upstairs to Belinda's room.

BELINDA, from inside, with a strong French accent: Bonjour! I am not decent.

She drops the accent when she realises it is Alfie.

ALFIE: We have a problem.
BELINDA: Honey, I've got lots of problems.
ALFIE: Yes, but this is of a violent persuasion.

Belinda has acted as a honeypot before fights on previous occasions. Alfie convinces her to help from within the saloon, saying she can participate by "waving a handkerchief or whatever it is you do." He learns that Belinda has three derringer pistols strapped to her leg. She will talk to her girls — Ellie Mae and Fine Fairweather — about the scheme.

ALFIE: Danger just seems to follow me around, I guess.
BELINDA: You and me both, honey.

Keeping Retta and Merv Distracted

Alfie will play piano to keep the pair occupied; Cuthbert will drink with them. Alfie tells Dan Randy he will start playing earlier than usual — Dan approves. Cuthbert produces whiskey and three glasses, ingratiating himself by commiserating about how hard Dan makes it to get served.

CUTHBERT: I don't know about you but time, I find, easiest thing to kill.
RETTA: Whatever.

The rest of the saloon patrons give Retta and Merv a wide berth. Cuthbert plays innocent — noting the obvious ("people seem scared of you") while chatting amiably. The pair gradually relax. Cuthbert learns their names and successfully navigates a question about whether he knows Earl — he is new to Hole and doesn't know many people. Truthful enough.

Cuthbert has successfully liquored up Retta and Merv — for now.

The Oompah Incident

Alfie attempts to capitalise on the mood by switching to an oompah tune that would absolutely kill back home in Germany. In Hole, it kills the room completely. The dance music alienates both the patrons and the two gang members.

KATE: I'm just going to put in my notes 'failure to dance'.

Retta and Merv are no longer distracted. They are getting antsy.

MERV: We got to get out to do what we set out to do.

The Dynamite, the Mine, and the Gun Store

Meanwhile, Ms March and Doctor Webb retrieve the dynamite sample from a building near the stables and blacksmiths. Ms March adds it to her inventory with her matches.

Old Dynamite — 4 Harm, area, messy, loud. Requires 3 separate rolls: Act Under Pressure to lay it, then a chance roll (1d6, explodes on 3+), then Kick Some Ass. A success on the first roll gives +1 on the last; a 6 or under gives −1.

Earl is spotted doing comedy sneaking near an outhouse. Ms March calls him on it — she knows he only pisses once a day, and that it usually happens in the evening. Earl admits he is scared.

MS MARCH: There's been some weird wolves around here lately.

Doctor Webb and Ms March convince Earl to tell them where the boy is hidden: near the mines North of Hole, at the base of a mountain, in a crevice near a cave that is not inhabited by animals.

EARL to MS MARCH: Every time I see you, [a] gun comes out a couple of times.

(He is not wrong. She took out her gun on their wedding day.)

On their way back to the saloon, the pair stop at Colin Whipsmart's gun store — building number 13. Colin has done deals with Ms March before; he is interested in acquiring semiautomatic guns, which Ms March will aim to source in exchange. For now, he offers Doctor Webb a choice: varmint rifle, Colt Peacemaker, or hunting rifle. Doctor Webb selects the varmint rifle — he is familiar with these from his farming days.

NAT: I would like the opportunity to say 'varmint' more, let me say that.

The gun store transaction does not go unnoticed by Merv and Retta inside the saloon.

Belinda Springs the Trap

Back in the saloon, things are deteriorating. Belinda, Ellie Mae, and Fine Fairweather lean on the mezzanine railing, ready for a signal. Alfie burns a Luck point to subtly signal the trio that their target is Merv.

The Luck burn triggers an ability from his playbook: a hidden compartment in the piano springs open, revealing a bottle of whiskey.

The three working women catch Merv's eye. Retta slaps him to snap him out of it. It does not work.

MERV: This ain't fun. Fuck this.

Belinda adopts her French accent and offers Merv "a very good time in Hole" — taking Alfie's whiskey bottle with her. Ellie Mae and Fine are whooping.

MERV: I don't fancy much getting killed today but I do fancy more whiskey and some private time for ole Merv.

Retta punches Merv in the face for being weak. Belinda takes him upstairs regardless. She will join the gunfight later if she can.

Retta Flips

Without Merv to moderate her, Retta flips a table and pulls weapons. She demands to be directed to Earl Sumner. Alfie and Cuthbert try to calm her. Cuthbert steps between Alfie and Retta.

She punches Cuthbert in the face. Cuthbert is now Unstable.

RETTA: Nobody else talk unless I talks directly to you.

Alfie calms Retta enough that she storms out without further violence — heading right as she exits.

RETTA: Well, y'all done wasted my time.

Doctor Webb and Ms March arrive at the saloon just as Retta storms out. Ms March does not recognise her. Earl has slipped away again.

Ms March and the Toe

The rest of the gang regroups in the now-emptied saloon. The remaining patrons — those who didn't flee during the commotion — are given the choice by Cuthbert to leave or stay and fight. They all gradually leave. Dan Randy boards up windows; Doctor Webb and Alfie help. Doctor Webb uses the downtime to refamiliarise himself with the varmint rifle.

Ms March heads upstairs alone to deal with Merv.

She recognises Merv as a Hatchett cousin — the family has a distinctive pale blond hair and fair complexion. She enters Belinda's room immediately, throws Merv's gun out the door, and locks it. Belinda is unhappy (she is unaware Ms March is with Alfie) but sends her girls out.

BELINDA: This room is my livelihood so don't fuck it up.
MS MARCH: I'll do my best.

Merv has his shirt off and one boot off. He has been tickled with feathers.

MS MARCH: Howdy Merv.

(She slaps him.)

MERV: I keep getting hit today. I'm just trying to have a good time…

Ms March needs information from Merv about what happened in the mine. She borrows a Luck point to ensure the signal to Belinda was clean. She asks about August — Merv does not remember him. She points her gun at his unshoed foot and counts to three.

MERV: They're coming any second and they'll kill you.

Ms March uses Sunday Morning to shoot off Merv's toe. The team hears a gunshot and a scream from downstairs. Belinda knocks on the door.

BELINDA: What's going on in there? What did I say about my room?
MS MARCH: Oops!

MERV: My toe is gone! My toe is gone!

MS MARCH, as Merv chugs whiskey: You might want to save some of that to disinfect your goddamn toe.

What Happened in the Mine

Merv recounts his memory of the Hatchett gang's meeting with Ms March's brother August in the mines North of Hole.

Jed told the gang they could get guns and money from August — who was not Ms March. The gang met with August. August asked for Ms March's cut of the money. Jed said they did not have it. Guns were pulled. August ran. The Hatchetts chased him deeper into the mine.

They began to hear a pulsating hum.

The Hatchetts found themselves outside the mine. August was not there.

Something Wrong with Merv

Ms March notices something strange happening to Merv's eyes — a weird glare. He shakes it off. She calls for Cuthbert.

MS MARCH: Cuthbert, look at his damn eyes.

Merv did not do anything to August. He does not remember seeing anything in the mine — only that he wanted to go towards the noise. Is something fighting or repressing his memory?

Cuthbert attempts to banish or dispel whatever is affecting Merv, acting without knowing what it is. The spell does nothing. Cuthbert learns that Merv is not subject to a spell or curse — but something else is happening. Is a chunk of his memory simply missing?

A side effect of Cuthbert's magic: Merv becomes sympathetic to the party. Creeped out by the chanting, he will nevertheless help the quartet if they leave him in the room.

MERV, sobbing: Sorry, I was thinking how I used to have a toe.
MS MARCH: And I was thinking of how I used to have a brother.

Merv is the smallest of the Hatchett cousins. He has no family of his own — "I've got a cat I feed sometimes." His great-grandpappy used to be Hole's doctor.

MS MARCH, re the cat: We all know cats can't look after themselves. That ain't the most damn famous thing about them.

Noon

The clock strikes noon.

NAT: That was fun. Now let's kick some ass!

The Mystery

Clues Found

• The boy is hidden near the mines North of Hole: at the base of a mountain, in a crevice near a cave not inhabited by animals
• The Hatchetts met with August March (Ms March's brother) in the mines — Jed told the gang about him; August asked for Ms March's cut; guns were pulled; August ran; the Hatchetts heard a pulsating hum; they emerged from the mine — August was gone
• Merv is not under a spell or curse, but something is wrong with his memory around the mine — possibly a missing chunk
• The Hatchetts have a distinctive pale blond hair and fair complexion — a recognisable family trait
• Two early ringers: Retta (armed; stormed out heading right) and Merv (neutralised upstairs; sympathetic to the party; missing a toe)
• Merv's great-grandpappy was Hole's doctor — a possible connection to Doctor Curt Hatchett's lineage

Outcome

Unresolved — the clock has struck noon.

Key Characters Met

Loose Threads

• What happened to August in the mine? The Hatchetts chased him in, heard a pulsating hum, and emerged to find August gone
• What is the pulsating hum in the mines North of Hole? Is it connected to the mine phenomenon and August's disappearance?
• What is wrong with Merv's memory and eyes? Not a spell — is a chunk of memory simply missing?
• The boy is near the mines North of Hole — he needs to be retrieved safely
• Retta stormed out heading right — what does she do next?
• Cuthbert is Unstable — needs attention
• The main Hatchett gang (Jed, Cord, Crystal, possibly Max) is still incoming — noon has struck
• Ms March aims to source semiautomatic guns to trade with Colin Whipsmart — future thread
• Alfie's Luck point spent — Luck-related consequences may follow
• Are the Durgins chummy with the Hatchett gang?

Moves & Highlights

• Alfie — greeted the gang ringers with "Guten Morgen" (adjusted to "Morgen" when Retta bristled); played piano to distract; oompah music failed spectacularly; burned a Luck point to subtly signal Belinda — piano compartment sprung open revealing whiskey; calmed Retta enough to get her out of the saloon; "Danger just seems to follow me around, I guess"
• Cuthbert — produced whiskey and got Retta and Merv talking; learned their names; successfully deflected the Earl question; stepped between Alfie and Retta; punched in the face by Retta (now Unstable); attempted to dispel Merv's memory block — failed but made Merv sympathetic; "I mean, you can make him poop his pants if you want" (Kate, on additional spell effects)
• Doctor Webb — retrieved the dynamite; selected a varmint rifle from Colin Whipsmart's; helped Dan Randy board up windows; refamiliarised himself with the rifle; found Ms March's plan upstairs did not require him; "Much to my chagrin, he [Webb] will try to keep people safe" (Ms March vouching for him)
• Ms March — retrieved the dynamite; extracted the boy's location from Earl; acquired Doctor Webb's rifle from Colin Whipsmart; pushed upstream through the fleeing crowd; went upstairs and locked Merv in Belinda's room; threw his gun out the door; shot off his toe with Sunday Morning; learned what happened to August in the mine; "And I was thinking of how I used to have a brother."

XP & Advances

• XP gained:
• Advances taken:

Notes

Memorable quotes:

BELINDA, from inside: Bonjour! I am not decent.

ALFIE: We have a problem.
BELINDA: Honey, I've got lots of problems.
ALFIE: Yes, but this is of a violent persuasion.

ALFIE: Danger just seems to follow me around, I guess.
BELINDA: You and me both, honey.

CUTHBERT: I don't know about you but time, I find, easiest thing to kill.
RETTA: Whatever.

MERV: We got to get out to do what we set out to do.

MERV: This ain't fun. Fuck this.

MERV: I don't fancy much getting killed today but I do fancy more whiskey and some private time for ole Merv.

RETTA: Nobody else talk unless I talks directly to you.

RETTA: Well, y'all done wasted my time.

BELINDA: This room is my livelihood so don't fuck it up.
MS MARCH: I'll do my best.

MS MARCH: Howdy Merv.

MERV: I keep getting hit today. I'm just trying to have a good time…

MERV: My toe is gone! My toe is gone!

MS MARCH: You might want to save some of that to disinfect your goddamn toe.

MERV, sobbing: Sorry, I was thinking how I used to have a toe.
MS MARCH: And I was thinking of how I used to have a brother.

MERV: I've got a cat I feed sometimes.

MS MARCH: We all know cats can't look after themselves. That ain't the most damn famous thing about them.

NAT: That was fun. Now let's kick some ass!

Other notes:

• Alfie's oompah tune is a known quantity in Germany; it is not a known quantity in Hole, Nevada
• Ms March took out her gun on her and Earl's wedding day — Earl's comment "Every time I see you, a gun comes out a couple of times" is a documented pattern
• The Hatchett family trait: pale blond hair, fair complexion — confirmed as recognisable on Merv
• Merv's great-grandpappy was Hole's doctor — potential connection to Doctor Curt Hatchett's family line
• Fine Fairweather is named for the first time this session
• Colin Whipsmart's gun store is building #13 on the town map
• Alfie's burned Luck point unlocked a hidden whiskey compartment in the Randy Saloon piano — not something Dan Randy seems to have known about
• Ms March's gun fired in an enclosed room where someone was being tickled with feathers; Belinda was understandably not thrilled