Character Statistics
Adventure Ideas
"When I met Bart Johnson in the summer of '49 he'd been plying his trade from Texas to the Pacific for nigh on 13 year," Patterson said, his Texan drawl rough from the ravages of old age and consumption. The hospital, white with death-shroud-like linen, fitted him like a comfortable suit. I could not imagine this dessicated husk, this withered shell of a man, anywhere else.
"We crossed paths a few times since then," he said. "Watched him die in that whorehouse in Texas. Could barely see the gunman who killed 'im. Transparent like. Man just walked right on through a wall and shot ol' Bart dead. Tried to warn 'im, but I was too slow. That was, what? Twenny year ago? Twenny-fi?"
"Twenty-one," I answered. My hand scribbling to capture the man's voice on paper. "He died in 1856."
"Yeah. Twenny-one year. Whoo-boy! When he walked in here yesterday I 'bout s**t m'self." My hand stopped suddenly.
"What did you say?"
"I said I 'bout s**t m'self." He pointed to the paper to make sure I was transcribing accurately.
"No. About Bart Johnson. Did you say he walked in here?" I looked round the room as if I might grasp a hint of this apparition. I could feel a chill in my stomach.
"Yep. Walked in clear as day. 'Course he didn't look like him. He was shorter and a lot younger. Waren't dead neither. But it was him, all right. Had the same slouch, same way a talkin', even had that ol' Kenwithy 1836 revolver with them squiggly lines all over it." I was finding myself intrigued, to say the least.
"What did he want?"
"To say 'thank e'," Patterson beamed. "He sat down right there in that chair and I knowed there was somethin' familiar 'bout him. He said, 'Hank Patterson?' and I said, 'Yep?'. And he smiled real broad-like. Said 'Bart Johnson. I just wanted to find ye and say thank ye fer tryin' to warn me back all them years ago. I know there waren't nothin' you coulda done.'"
"Did you believe him?"
"Not at first. He showed me the Kenwithy and then started talkin' 'bout that time me an him went bar hoppin' in Abilene and then I knowed it was him."
Mr. Patterson and I spoke at length about this new "Bart Johnson". His doctor corroborated Mr. Patterson's claim that a man named Bart Johnson did indeed visit the day previous. With the evidence at hand from Mr. Patterson and the shocking similarities between Bart Johnson and reports of a new, and remarkably successful, Spellslinger in California, I must conclude that the infamous Mr. Johnson is risen from the dead.
Though rare, this has been known to happen. Voudon practitioners in Orleans have successfully raised zombies and the Kahuna of Hawai'I have been known to bring a man from the absolute brink of death with their magick. A more disturbing possibility comes to mind, however.
When a Spellslinger is killed it is possible that his essence, his spirit if you will, may imbue his weapon. In the nomenclature of the Spellsligners this is known as a "Spook Gun". Any hapless Spellslinger who should come across this weapon will find himself with a spectral companion. In some cases the original owner of the gun may attempt to take control of the new owner.
I believe that this is what happened. The identity of the unlucky young man who is now Johnson is unknown. What is known is that this man is responsible for thirteen deaths in the last three months, leaving a trail of corpses from San Diego to Eugene. Also we know that in each case a spell gun made from a Jupiter Arms Kenwithy 1836 percussion cap revolver has been used. I believe that further study of the previous Johnson is necassary if we are to capture this man.
Merely removing the gun from the person may restore the original soul, though I fear this is unlikely. I suspect that, unless killed or captured, Mr. Johnson is with us to stay.
FILE 2216754 - Report from Allen O'Connor - Royal Californian Mounted Police - dated June 3rd, 1877. See reference files Prefix #4277-BART-XXXX from local constabularies.
NOTE: Officer O'Connor was killed by thaumaturgical means less than a week after this report was issued. It is suspected that he was killed by a man who is either claiming to be or actually is Bart Johnson. This matter has been turned over to the Imperial Security and Intelligence Service - Bureau X and reclassified as TOP PRIORITY.
| Bart's abilities with his spell gun are such that he can fan the weapon faster than any man alive (before 1856 that is) | ||
| Great | Gunslinging | There's a story of some punk kid trying to outshoot Bart in bar one time. The kid called him to draw while Bart was raising a shot glass to his lips. By the time the glass hit the floor the kid was dead. |
| Great | Renown | Bart Johnson's a name parents use to frighten little children with. |
| Good | Perception | You have to see a fly sitting on a mule's ass before you can shoot it.< |
| Poor | Fencing | Bart tried a sword once when someone challenged him to a duel in Virginia. After getting cut up he said to hell with it and burned six rounds into the man's head. |
| Possessions | Spellgun (Kenwithy 1836 percussion cap revolver), a horse with no name, bedroll | |
Bart is not a man the characters should ever want to cross. In the unfortunate likelihood that they do here are a few ways they may might do it.
Revenge - One of the character's ancestors tried to hunt down, kill or did some injustice to Bart twenty years ago. Now that he's back he's hunting the last surviving family member, and hte character is it.
Rock and a Hard Place - The characters are lawmen, or bounty hunters and are charged with bringing Bart in alive. The problem: 1) Bart will kill any who try to bring him in 2) the spectral gunman who took him out so many years ago is back and hunting him too. The characters need to get Bart alive, keep Bart alive and not get killed in the process.
The Chase - It is evident from his recent trends that Bart is moveing quickly and purposefull northward. Why? For what dark purpose? The characters find a clue that may explain his reasons and they spell certain disaster for hundreds of innocent people. They must find Bart and kill him once and for all.