Characters

"Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band." -- "Black Velvet Band", traditional ballad
Characters of almost any type can be used in this game. The characters will belong to a small unit of agents of the United States Congress. More specifically, they are agents of the Joint Committee On The Conduct Of The War, one of the last strongholds of the Republicans. The Pinkertons, in contrast, are controlled by the War Department, in addition to having an organizational myopia that staggers the mind, is chiefly looking out for the best interests of the War Department, not the nation, and possesses institutional race, gender and anti-magical bias that makes it incapable of coping with some of the serious problems of the West.

The purpose of this unit is to pursue the best interests of the U.S. in "the territories". This includes, in practice, the Confederate state of Texas, the Sioux territories, the Republic of California, and other delicate areas.

Thus there will be some degree of espionage work. However, espionage in a lawless and largely uninhabited land is a very different sort of work than the typical spy usually does.

Obligation levels will be restricted. (Everyone will be considered to have a 1-point obligation to the Committee.) The Committee cannot grant Law Man or Rank levels (and it would somewhat defeat the point of being relatively covert if it could), however, it is allowed.

Player Characters

January 9, 1876

Senator -

I beg by this letter to introduce you to some of my friends. I am sure you will treat it with the privacy it requires and reduce it to ashes after you have finished with it.

[ Picture of Darnell during his Army days ] First among them is William Darnell. Mr. Darnell is a former officer of the Quartermaster's Corps who, upon return to Ohio, took up a number of jobs before settling on work for the Party. He is an amiable and pleasant man who is motivated by a deep curiosity and self-interest, balanced with a brave interest for the well-being of the community and the nation. Once dedicated to a task he keeps to it stubbornly. His talents were partly going to waste in entertaining the powerful and wealthy for the Party, and so I asked him to assist us. I will vouch for him fully.

Next is the young lady Larkspur Norton. Ms. Norton attended medical school in your own state before enlisting as a surgeon, and so she and her family may be known to you. She was caught in the Confederate offensive of 1871 at the end of her enrolment and saw front-line action. After her enrolment expired, she assisted military police in locating fugitives and bringing them to justice, gathering some reputation as a hunter of bounties. She is tremendously loyal to the Union and has helped arrest several Copperheads and saboteurs. After you recommended me to her, I checked into her background and found it exemplary. I concur with you regarding her suitability in all respects for our purposes.

Finally I commend to your attention Ms. Silent Fox, late a scout attached to the 4th Cavalry in the Missouri campaign. A Sioux Nation citizen, Ms. Fox nonetheless has been instrumental and loyal in the success of her unit. She comes highly recommended. I concur that the presence of a Sioux Nation personage to accompany the team can only enhance our chances of success.

I think with friends like these, our just cause cannot fail.

Sincerely yours,
Benjamin Wade

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