Condemned to die. Hopeless. Whatever your crime, whatever your circumstance, you have had your fates intertwined, all destined to lose your lives to the hangman's noose. That was, until, you were offered a lifeline. A chance to redeem yourselves in the eyes of society and to earn your freedom. It's too good to be true, you think to yourself. That is, until, you hear of your task, should you accept.
Approached by an ageing Marshal of the United States, with a large gut and slight hunch, you are offered the chance to escape this noose and certain death in exchange for your co-operation in bringing in known fugitives, infamous for terrorising settlements across the west and creating a law unto themselves. Unable to contain this growing threat, the United States Government has turned to you. Criminals. All of you skilled in your craft, be it exceptional skill with your sidearm or a penchant for explosives, you can hold your own.
Those you must hunt, however, are members of no ordinary gang. To try and reign in Hammond's Gang is almost as certain to lead to your demise as taking the hangman's noose is, only you will be subjected to much greater pain by Hammond's Gang. You, however, have a unique insight into the gang, being that you have had run-ins with them before. Perhaps they terrorised your own village - maybe you were even a member. It is, however, this insight that has led the Government of the United States to you. It is this insight, that maybe, will have you succeed where the authorities have failed.
Hiya folks.
I'm glad you've read as far as you have, and I hope I can keep your interest! Firstly, a little about me. Looking at my post count, you can probably tell I'm rather new, and while I've been roleplaying for a number of years now, I have only recently joined this particular site, so please do bare with me!
In any case - onto the roleplay! You will play a criminal arrested for a crime, the details of which will be left up to you. Don't feel it absolutely necessary to create bloodthirsty killer, however. The justice system at this time was certainly not perfect. Are you an ex-member of Hammond's Gang who was looking to right their wrongs, before the Government arrested them as one of the few members of the gang they actually could get to? Maybe you murdered a man to protect your family. Maybe you were just drunk. The choice is entirely up to you.
One thing is certain however, and that is that should your character refuse the lifeline thrown to them by this mysterious marshal, they will hang. Arguably, to chase down Hammond's Gang is also certain death. They are infamous for their cruelty and barbarism. Whole villages have been raised, and a new kind of fear has struck the Wild West. This far west, the Marshals have little authority, and reinforcements from the more civilised East come few and far between. They have been unable to stop the rampage of this gang, and that is where you come in.
As a result of your experience in the past with this gang (be it through being a member, or simply witnessing their acts first hand) you have been chosen to aid this Marshal in finally putting Earl Hammond (known as 'Grim', referencing the Grim Reaper) and his gang to rest.
Character's in this roleplay may very well die - and this roleplay is about survival, redemption, morality and the gritty, dark reality of life in this somewhat fictionalised version of Western America. I won't go into much more detail at the moment, as this is merely to see if there is any interest out there, and if so, I will begin to flesh the idea out. Please do ask any questions, however, and let me know if this is something you'd be interested in. Cheers!
