DLR Ruckus at Worm Creek

RUCKUS AT WORM CREEK
A Savage Worlds One Sheet™ by Matthew Cutter

for use with Deadlands: The Weird West
Perilous parcels! A delivery to Preston, Idaho takes the posse into contested territory.
THE STORY SO FAR Gravitic Intensification Field Generator: This

Doctor Edmund Rickabaugh was a scientist in device is about the size of a small safe (3’×3’×3’) and
Smith & Robards’s Research & Development division weighs roughly 350 lbs. When activated with a Weird
from 1871–1877 (precisely six years, six months, and Science roll, it intensifies gravity in an Large Burst
six days). He was responsible for several enduring Template centered on itself. Within the area, all Trait
designs. Over his term of service, however, Dr. rolls suffer a –4 penalty, Pace is halved, and everyone
Rickabaugh’s brilliance caught up with him in the makes a Vigor roll each round to avoid a level of
form of several persistent dementias. When his designs Fatigue. Exhausted characters fall prone and stay that
began to turn continuously to the spirits of the dead, way for the duration of 10 minutes, or until the gizmo
despite reprimands by his managers, Rickabaugh was is shut off. If a Malfunction takes place, the effects are
deemed “insubordinate” and dismissed. He was also the same except a Strength roll is required to move any
blacklisted; he could never again work for Smith & Pace at all, Vigor rolls are at –2, and the gizmo can only
Robards or order merchandise from the catalog. be shut off with a Repair roll (–2). Flimsy objects and
structures may collapse at the Marshal’s discretion.
Disgraced and exiled from the City o’ Gloom, Dr.
Rickabaugh traveled across the border into Idaho Preston, Idaho
and set up shop near the tiny Mormon settlement Fear Level: 3
of Preston. He became interested in the site where
the Bear River Massacre took place in January, 1863. Preston was known as “Worm Creek” until 1881,
Over time, he became convinced that altering gravitic for the rattler the first Mormon settlers killed just after
conditions in the area would allow him to view and they arrived. Then Brother Brigham found out about
communicate with the restless dead. Without access to the less-than-flattering name and asked them kindly to
necessary parts or ghost rock, he was forced to turn
to Smith & Robards—using a pseudonym, of course.
Meanwhile, Preston’s Mormon residents are just
now undertaking an orderly survey of the town in
order to lay out lots and streets. And wouldn’t you
just know it? That process has drawn other interested
parties to the scene: Iron Dragon and Wasatch survey
teams looking to lock up any railroad right-of-way
that might become available. It should come as no
surprise that they’ve already started fightin’ like
catamounts and devil dogs.
THE SETUP
The posse gets involved in this convoluted tale while
performing their typical duties as Smith & Robards
express delivery agents. Their latest assignment seems
straightforward: Deliver an Epitaph camera, a Gravitic
Intensification Field Generator, and 10 lbs of ghost
rock to Preston, Idaho (about 100 miles from the City
o’ Gloom, and 80 miles from Fort Bridger, Wyoming)
to a recipient named Pleasant Colligan.
See the Deadlands Player’s Guide for details on the
Epitaph camera. The gravitic generator is described
below. The shipment is heavy and expensive, worth
$5,850 total.
© 2016 Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Savage Worlds, Deadlands, and

all related original characters, marks and logos are trademarks of Pinnacle
Entertainment Group. All rights reserved.
change it. And when Brother Brigham asks nicely, you the shipment—the gravitic intensifier is equipped with
best do what he says, amigo! a wheelbarrow-like chassis for ease of transport.
The town consists of only a few buildings and homes Whether Rickabaugh makes off with the shipment
near Cub River in the Cache Valley, with a population under cover of darkness, or convinces the posse to
of 47 Mormon settlers and local trappers. Surveying hand it over to him or accompany him, he takes it along
stakes are laid out in orderly patterns all around the a northwest trail to his one-room cabin and workshop.
flyspeck burg, promising new development. Once he has inspected the gizmos, he takes them a few
• Brazzleton Shebang: The town has no saloon more miles northwest to the Bear River Massacre site.
(due to the Mormon inhabitants’ beliefs), so Peep If the posse awakens the following morning to find
Brazzleton’s general store serves as meeting place, the shipment stolen, a telegraph from Smith & Robards
post office, town hall, jail, telegraph office, and most arrives in short order:
other civic functions. It stocks a wide array of gear FORMER S&R EMPLOYEE EDMUND RICKABAUGH KNOWN
and goods suited to frontier life. Peep is a garrulous TO RESIDE NEAR PRESTON STOP VERY DANGEROUS AND
sort, friendly and bright-eyed with a big beard. UNPREDICTABLE STOP DO NOT ALLOW HIM TO CLAIM SHIPMENT
STOP RETURN GOODS TO HQ ON SIR ROBARDS ORDERS STOP
• Farmhouses: Eight homes and farmsteads are
located near the shebang in no discernible pattern. In this case the sodbusters’ course of action is clear.
Delivery Complications
CASCADING TROUBLES
Here’s where things get complex. An Iron Dragon
Brazzleton Shebang is the shipment’s destination,
survey team and a Wasatch X-squad are encamped
and Peep is happy to see newcomers. A few nondescript
near Preston. Each of them notices the posse’s arrival,
locals are gathered around the cracker barrel gossiping
and they observe anyone leaving town with the goods.
and sipping tea. Peep offers free refreshments and
food, but when he inspects the bill of lading he says, Rail War!
“You folks got the right place, that’s for sure, but this Neither group is willing to let a valuable, useful,
recipient—Pleasant Colligan?—there ain’t nobody in or destructive Smith & Robards shipment get away.
Preston goes by that name. Not that I heard of.” They begin stalking Rickabaugh and/or the posse in
None of the other locals have heard the name before, an attempt to take it—by force, if they have to.
either. Peep offers the use of his telegraph if the posse • Iron Dragon Surveyors (2 per hero): Use Rail
wants to wire headquarters for instructions. Warrior (Faction: Iron Dragon) in the Deadlands
Unknown to the heroes, one of the townsfolk isn’t Marshal’s Handbook. They ride velocipedes.
what he claims to be. This is Dr. Edmund Rickabaugh, • Wasatch X-Squad (2 per hero): Use Rail Warrior
who’s been loitering around Peep’s place waiting for (Faction: Wasatch) in the Marshal’s Handbook. They
his precious shipment to arrive. If the posse opts to have a steam wagon armed with a Gatling gun.
wire for instructions, Rickabaugh bides his time; if they
make like they’re going to depart with the shipment, Bear River Massacre
he speaks up (with a Persuasion roll): If the gizmos end up at the massacre site (Fear
Level 4; almost 250 Indians were killed by Union
“I say, did you mention Mr. Colligan? He’s a drifter
soldiers there in January 1863), Rickabaugh activates
who’s been doing odd jobs at my cabin. I can ensure the
the gravitic intensifier and readies the Epitaph camera
shipment reaches him if it’s helpful to you.”
to photograph the ghosts of murdered Indian men,
If an opposed Notice roll by a posse member women, and children. Unfortunately, he only succeeds
surpasses Rickabaugh’s Persuasion roll, she suspects in waking up a whole mess of walkin’ dead. When the
this fellow may not be telling the whole truth. rail warriors arrive on the scene a free-for-all ensues!
• Peep Brazzleton & Local Folks (5): Use Townsfolk • Walkin’ Dead (5 per hero): See the Deadlands
profile in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook. Marshal’s Handbook.
Dr. Edmund Rickabaugh: Use the Mad Scientist
profile in the Deadlands Marshal’s Handbook, but he has
AFTERMATH
There are myriad ways this tale can play out, Marshal,
the bolt (death ray) and boost/lower Trait powers.
based on chance and your posse’s actions. The action
Thief in the Night might never reach the massacre site, or the heroes may
If the posse opts to wire Smith & Robards for further foil Rickabaugh’s attempt to steal the shipment. In
direction, Peep says they can bed down in the stable either case, the rail warriors and Rickabaugh do their
(a return telegraph doesn’t come through until the level best to ensure the posse doesn’t leave Preston
following morning). In that case, Dr. Rickabaugh with goods intact. And they’re all spoilin’ for a fight!
breaks into the general store after midnight and steals

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RUCKUS AT WORM CREEK

A Savage Worlds One Sheet™ by Matthew Cutter

THE STORY SO FAR Gravitic Intensification Field Generator: This

© 2016 Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Savage Worlds, Deadlands, and

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