Ghost Walkers (An ongoing story of survival in the Old West)

Dawn , Texas, February 16th 1881. The cowhands, maids, and cooks start work in the pale morning sun light at Big Jake's Ranch. Another day of toil and drudgery.

Suddenly a blood curdling war cry shatters the calm. From the surrounding scrub, Victorio's renegade Apache warband race towards the homestead.

Victorio himself, leading one half of the warriors, rushes towards the corral eager to seize the horses from the white eyes. Ulzana leads the others towards the stone walled cattle pen; food is needed to feed the hungry warriors and their families. The women folk and children of the ranch scatter for cover.

The warrior Yuma takes careful aim and strikes down one of the fleeing women. The lust for revenge for the injustice heaped up his people clouds his vision, all are enemies here.

Having reached the corral a fierce gun battle enrupts across the paddock has the homesteaders fight hard to defend themselves. Then disaster strikes...
 

Yuma falls knocked senseless by a lucky shot.

Ulzana's half of the band is more successful. The warriors have seized the cattle and begin to lead them away. In the far distance the warriors Nana and Kuruk give covering fire to drive off more of the white eyes who have emerged from the buildings.

But are they to late to stop the Apaches? Meanwhile at the corral the gun fight is getting desparate. Neither side is able to gain the upper hand.

Dahana using the rail fence as cover draws closer to his enemy. Gripping his prized Winchester rifle tightly he opens fire on the enemy and one bullet flies true.

The cowhand crumples into the dust never to fight again. But then the thunder of hooves can be heard fast approaching.

Prospectors have heard the sound of gunfire and ride to the aid of the beleaguered defenders. Or perhaps they are motivated more by the chance of collecting a bounty from each Apache scalp they take? Now it is the Apaches who are under pressure.

Out numbered brave Dahana is gunned down in a hail of bullets, never to rise again. But the stubborn battle at the corral has not been in vain.

Ulzana and his warriors have taken the cattle, and retire into the surrounding scrub. Victorio mourning the loss of his brother warrior, leads his men away.

The white eyes sensing an easy victory give chase but their bravado comes too late to stop the warparty escaping.


This was the third game in which my Apache warparty have taken part in. The first saw a minor victory to the Apache, the second was a close run thing, from which Victorio and this warriors just managed to escape from a party of scalp hunters, after giving them a blood nose. My opponent 'The Secret Wargamers Friend' has decided to draw up a campaign of sorts with a certain element of role playing. He will be DM and my actions across the game map will determine the next encounter. This was the first official game using the campaign map, so the first one documented.

Rules used 'Legends of the Old West', figures by Foundry, Artizan, Dixon and others. Terrain bought and scratchbuilt.