Kill or be Killed, or Kill and Learn SKills (Taskmaster)

[Hoots Rowlet]

TM wisely picked the Schultz bounty.

[Manah]

There was no indication of where the man had been on the document, so looked like he'd have to ask around and investigate on his own.

[Hoots Rowlet]

He decided to go and ask around town for any sightings.

4 stones in social skills to go asking around.

[Manah]

Asking around, he was told various stories, weird reports, and strange claims by the locals.

Some say the cattle killed by Schultz have been found without a drop of blood left in their bodies.

Some claim the bodies he left behind were partly eaten.

Some say the man made a pact with the Devil.

Some say the man is the Devil itself.

Others are more dismissive, and call bulls**t on most of the stories, but do agree that the guy's a dangerous murderer. At the very least, they say he's one deadly gunslinger; he's apparently killed a dozen men in various duels and gunfights alone, not mentioning his other murders, and has a reputation as a very swift and lethally accurate gunman.

And then, there's a stagecoach driver...

"I seen the man. I was passing by Dead Man's Gulch on my way to town a few days back. It was late in the night, but I saw a gang of fellers attacking a farmhouse in the fields over there, old Mr. Finnegan and his family. They were too busy exchanging lead with'em, so I made sure to keep my distance and press on... but I saw him. I saw his eyes... glowing in the dark like two orbs right outta hell. The farm is gone, but it's the last place I seen'em at. Half a day on horseback, follow the road southeast of town. Just look for the burned remains of the estate, and maybe you'll find some traces of 'em."

[Hoots Rowlet]

"Alright. Thanks for the advice." He said passing the driver a few double bucks before heading off.

2 in social skills to procure a horse and head out.

[Manah]

He managed to get himself an average-looking steed with brown coat and black mane and tail. (OOC: Stats are same as a regular horse in the Spidey guide.)

He traveled for a few hours before the sun would begin to set, plunging the land around him in darkness quickly.

[Hoots Rowlet]

TM proceeded to hitch and feed the horse before setting up camp for the night.

4 stones in Int to prepare a camp to rest at.

[Manah]

He quickly prepared the camp, his horse stepping a bit closer to the fire he lit up as the cool air of the night surrounded them. The moon above them was full, providing a surprising amount of light for such late a time.

[Hoots Rowlet]

Taskmaster ate down a few emergency combat rations before turning in for some sleep.

[Manah]

He ate his fill before going to bed.

However, his rest was not as peaceful as he might have hoped. About two hours later... he awakened, feeling an overwhelming and extremely discomforting feeling of a prey being stalked by a predator.

[Hoots Rowlet]

He drew and cocked his pistol, getting read to roll away from any attack.

4 stones in acrobatics shifted to defense in case of an attack.

[Manah]

He soon managed to notice shapes moving in the darkness... a large pack of jackals!

...With red eyes glowing in the night.

[Hoots Rowlet]

TM wasted no time aiming down the two closest and shooting them in the heads.

4 eff in ranged combat +2 from Handgun, and +2 from targeting split 5/5 vs 2 Jackals.

4 eff in close combat +3 from billy club shifted to defense.

H: 4/4
E: 10/18
D: 15

[Manah]

Taskmaster expertly shot two of them, blowing their brains out instantly, and then he was put on the defensive, using his billy club to keep the pack at a distance. And he did a mighty fine job of it... but there were just too many, and their attacks were extremely aggressive, violent and... unnaturally strong. Eventually, one of them did manage to bite him in the leg, ripping off a not-insignificant chunk of flesh! (OOC: Lost 1w, or 2r.)

...However, he soon heard more gunshots, not of his own, as three more of the monstrous jackals were killed. A lone figure on a black horse further away in the dark was wilding a pair of six shooters and coming to his aid, distracting half of the pack and confusing the other half!

[Hoots Rowlet]

He drew his bow and another explosive arrow and fired into the center of the pack before collapsing from the injury.

7 eff in Hawkeye's RC +2 from Bow, and +2 from Trick Arrow vs the pack.