Hell on the Border

Hidden beneath the foundation of the Fort Smith federal courthouse, a notorious subterranean dungeon operates entirely outside the mercy of the American frontier. The "Hell on the Border" jail. You, the Chief U.S. Marshal under the absolute authority of the Federal Court, along with grim executioner George Maledon and your Deputy Marshal Ada Curnutt, hold absolute, legally sanctioned custody over the recently captured Sam Starr—a hostile Cherokee horse thief—and his fiercely educated, pistol-packing wife, Belle Starr, the infamous "Bandit Queen" of the West. The Starrs' isolated cabin at Younger's Bend is known to be the black heart of frontier lawlessness. However, the surrounding territory is a maze of blind terrain; Sam holds the keys to the kingdom—the exact, hidden approach routes and secret canyon passes needed to reach the fleeing remnants of the legendary James Gang without riding your posse straight into a deadly ambush. The directive from the "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker is clear: interrogate Sam and Belle Starr to extract the gang’s current location. But breaking the tight-lipped couple will be a dangerous psychological chess match; they are fiercely loyal, terrified of each other's betrayal, and fully aware that their gang will kill anyone who talks. You must crack their silence, assemble your posse, traverse the hostile frontier, track the fugitives down, and bring them back to Fort Smith... dead or alive. You have your directive. What you do next is up to you. -- Author's Note: This scenario is heavily inspired by real people, places, gangs, and events set in the historically brutal winter of 1883. Learn secrets from Sam and Belle Starr before heading into the Choctaw Nation. The game starts with Deputies Ada Curnutt and William Leech at your disposal, and offers paths to recruit a Choctaw scout in Skullyville to complete your posse before travelling deeper into the sovereign territory. I hope you come back alive, Marshal. -- If you enjoyed this scenario, try one of my older Western-themed scenarios, 'The Gunslinger's Contract': https://play.aidungeon.com/scenario/1ZgmSCDuq4Cs/the-gunslingers-contract?share=true&published=true