Dead Man's Promise Session 1: Bounty Phase
Alfonso Puma arrives at Dead Man's Cross
Dead Man’s Promise: Bounty Hunter is available at https://darkmirrormedia.itch.io/dead-mans-promise-bounty-hunter
2D6 roll: 5+6
Charming Escaped Prisoner
2D6 roll: 5+5
Reward: 1000 Gold
With sand in his throat and stinky sweat over his body, Alfonso Puma dragged his feet to Dead Man’s Cross. A crow, perched on the town’s welcome sign, won a staring contest against him. A reminder of his curse, perhaps.
Seven days of traveling—three since his horse had died—was what his body could take before his almost 40-year-old joints and tendons cracked and torn beyond repair.
He prayed it was far enough. Nobody should know his disgraced name in this Podunk town that expanded around the Outpost.
The scorching sun turned each step into a battle. Thirst and hunger threatened to overcome him, but Alfonso pulled his hat for shade and plodded to the Dead Man’s Outpost.
He halted at the bounty board by the entrance, resting the right hand on the gun in the holster. His eyes twitched and locked on a poster.
Penelope “The Rose” Grimes
Dead or Alive
1000
His dry lips parted in a scoff. My punishment is far from over. The name meant nothing to him, but her image on the poster… how could there be so much resemblance? Why would a loving God torture him like that?
The photograph of the escaped prisoner smiled and winked at him. Alfonso shook his head. The thirst, the heat, and the lack of sleep were taking its toll on his already debilitated mind.
He snatched the poster and put it inside his beaten duster, trudging away to the saloon a street over. Alfonso pushed the batwing doors of The Silver Bullet and took in the smell of tobacco, grease, and cheap whiskey. A couple of patrons glanced disinterestedly at him, returning their focus to the cards on the table.
Alfonso shuffled through curling smoke up to the counter. When his hamstring cramped, he threw himself on a stool to keep from falling. He tried to order, but his voice broke and a cough racked his body.
“Beer,” he managed. The bartender, an enormous man with a vast mustache, limped to fill a glass with their piss-colored ale.
Alfonso gulped it down, some dribbling down his mouth. Warm, weak, and almost clean. Delicious.
He put the glass down and wiped his face. “Another.”
“Maybe some coin first.”
Alfonso, conscious of his sorry state—unshaven, coated in thick dust, and smelling of week-old carcass—played around with the glass, avoiding the giant’s stare. “I’m a hunter. On a job. Wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping a fellow in a tight spot.”
The man scowled. “Should’ve opened with that, don’t you think?”
He mumbled and cussed, making his mustache bounce, but in the end reached for a ledger and a pen. Feykillers often had goodwill from the people, even when they were destitute drifters.
“Name?”
“Alfonso.”
The bartender raised an eyebrow and waited.
“Puma,” he muttered, waiting for the inevitable.
But the inevitable never came. The man didn’t know him or didn’t care. He just wrote on the page.
“Mister Puma—”
“Alfonso, please.”
“Alfonso, we care for each other in Cross. If you’re against the fey, you’re for us. But we don’t take kindly to people who abuse our trust, understand?”
Alfonso nodded.
“Between the fey and the wastes, you’ll find it’s nice to have a place to rest without a threat at every damn corner.”
The giant had eyes of steel and a demeanor that exuded quiet confidence and power. Alfonso was very aware of the shotgun hanging on the wall, but wondered if the man ever saw the need to use it.
The bartender picked a grilled lizard on a stick and refilled the glass with beer, offering to Alfonso. Then he extended a hand. Alfonso shook it, feeling a grip that could smash a skull like an egg.
“I’m Holt Silver. Welcome to Cross.”
Notes
Dead Man’s Promise: Bounty Hunter is a fun little game for quick solo sessions. It’s one of the first solo RPGs I’ve ever tried and I’m really liking the experience.
Hopefully the fun I’m having will be transported into the story.
The sessions are short and sweet, and you don’t actually have to journal anything. Tailor it to your style. Check out more about the game here and support the creator.
I’m trying to find a balance between moving the story along and fleshing out characters and setting. Let’s see how it goes.
All feedback is very much welcome.
A cool setting, cowboys and Fey seem like a fun combo and I'm interested to see the gameplay loop!