Blog Entry: High Noon on Rustwater Row

The wind carried dust down Rustwater Row, rattling tin signs and half-buried bottles. Damien stood alone in the street, boots planted, coat hanging open just enough to show the worn leather of his holster. The town had gone quiet the way it always did before violence—doors shut, shutters barred, the world holding its breath.

Across from him, a stranger stepped into the light.

He wasn’t local. That much was obvious. Clean gunbelt. Fresh iron. A man who hadn’t yet learned that Rustwater chewed people up.

“Damien,” the stranger called, voice steady but tight. “They said you’d come.”

“They say a lotta things,” Damien replied, eyes never leaving the man’s hands. “Most of ’em don’t live long enough to say ’em twice.”

The clock tower rang once.

The stranger moved first.

Steel cleared leather in a blur—Damien felt the whistle before the shot cracked. The round punched into a water barrel behind him, exploding it in a sheet of splinters and spray. Damien rolled, came up on one knee, and fired back. Boom. The street flashed white.

The stranger ducked, barely—Damien’s shot tore past his ear and shattered a window clear down the block. Glass rained like hail.

They repositioned fast, circling broken crates and hitching posts, the space between them shrinking. Another shot rang out. Damien took it in the shoulder—leather tore, blood blossomed—but he didn’t fall. He snarled instead and fired point‑blank.

The stranger screamed as the bullet punched through his thigh, spinning him into the dirt.

Silence followed, thick and heavy.

Damien approached slowly, revolver still trained. The stranger clawed at the ground, breath ragged, eyes wide with the realization that legends weren’t exaggerations—they were warnings.

“You had reach,” Damien said, standing over him. “Good draw, clean aim.”

He lowered the gun slightly.

“But you didn’t know when to stop.”

The stranger dropped his weapon. It clattered against the stones.

Damien turned away before the town could start breathing again.

Behind boarded windows, muffled whispers spread like wildfire.

That’s Damien. He’s still alive. Rustwater’s his. Character Sheet:

Damien “Deadeye” Cross Valbane

Role: Gunslinger Archetype: Veteran Duelist Level / Rank: Seasoned (Mid‑Tier PC) Reputation: Feared Alignment / Code: Personal honor, selective mercy Background: Drifter, Ex‑Lawgun, Wanted in Three Territories

Core Attributes

Attribute	Score	Modifier	Description
Agility	17	+3	Reflexes, draw speed, dodging
Aim	18	+4	Firearms accuracy, called shots
Brawn	14	+2	Toughness, melee, carrying capacity
Grit	16	+3	Nerve, pain tolerance, special maneuvers
Wits	13	+1	Awareness, tactics, perception
Presence	12	+1	Intimidation, reputation, social pressure

Derived Statistics

• Health: 28

• Wound Threshold: 7 per hit

• Defense: 15 (Agility + gear)

• Initiative: +3 (Agility)

• Grit Points: 6 (Grit score ÷ 3, rounded up)

• Movement: 30 ft / 6 squares

• Encumbrance Limit: Moderate
  

Combat Skills

Skill	Rank
Pistols	Expert (+4)
Rifles	Skilled (+2)
Quickdraw	Expert (+4)
Melee (Knife)	Trained (+1)
Brawling	Trained (+1)
Dodge	Skilled (+2)
Iron Will	Skilled (+2)

Signature Abilities

Deadeye Draw Once per combat, Damien may act before initiative is rolled if he is aware of the threat.

Grit-Fueled Shot Spend 1 Grit Point to:

• Ignore partial cover or

• Reroll a missed firearm attack
  

Stay Standing When reduced to 0 Health, Damien may spend 2 Grit Points to remain conscious at 1 Health.

Reputation: “The Name Carries” NPC gunslingers must pass a morale check or take disadvantage on their first action against Damien.

Weapons & Gear

Custom Revolver – “Ashmaker”

• Damage: 1d10 + Aim

• Range: Medium

• Reload: 6 shots

• Traits: Reliable, Loud

• Mod: +1 to Quickdraw tests
  

Boot Knife

• Damage: 1d6 + Brawn

• Concealable

Duster Coat

• Light armor (+1 Defense)

• Soaks first point of bleed damage per combat
  

Other Gear

• Spare ammunition (24 rounds)

• Powder flask

• Wanted poster (his own, outdated)

• Iron flask (whiskey or water, depending on the day)
  

Injuries & Scars (Narrative Hooks)

• Old bullet wound in left shoulder (weather aches)

• Knife scar along ribs (never talks about it)

• Partial hearing loss in right ear after a misfire years ago

Personality Notes

• Speaks little, observes constantly

• Never draws first unless paid or provoked

• Believes every fight should end decisively
  

GM / Blog Notes

Combat Role: High‑accuracy duelist with strong survivability Weaknesses: Limited crowd control, stamina management Story Use:

• Solo encounter

• Rival gunslinger benchmark

• Mentor or looming legend NPC Combat Log: High Noon on Rustwater Row
  

  Encounter Type: Solo Duel Location: Rustwater Row, open street with scattered cover Combatants:

  • Damien “Deadeye” Cross (PC)

  • NPC: Elias Vane, Bounty Gun (Skilled Gunslinger)
    

  NPC Snapshot: Elias Vane (Opponent)

  • Health: 20

  • Defense: 14

  • Initiative: +2

  • Primary Weapon: Service Revolver (1d10+2)

  • Grit: 3

  • Notable Trait: Desperate Shot (spend 1 Grit to add +2 damage)
    

  Pre‑Combat

  Both combatants are aware of each other.

  ✅ Damien activates Deadeye Draw

Damien may act before initiative is rolled.

❍ Opening Action — Deadeye Draw

Attack Roll:

• d20 = 12

• +4 (Aim)

• +4 (Pistols Expert)

  
  

  Total: 20 vs Defense 14 → HIT

Damage:

• 1d10 = 7

• +4 (Aim)

  
  

  Total Damage: 11

NPC Health: 20 → 9

Narrative:Before the clock tower finishes its chime, Damien’s revolver clears leather. The shot hits Vane square in the chest, spinning him backward but not dropping him.

🎲 Initiative Roll

• Damien: d20 +3 = 14

• Vane: d20 +2 = 11

Order: Damien → Vane

🔁 ROUND 1

Damien’s Turn

Damien presses the advantage.

Action: Standard Firearm Attack

Attack Roll:

• d20 = 8

• +8 total modifiers

  
  

  Total: 16 → HIT

Damage:

• d10 = 4

• +4

  
  

  Total Damage: 8

NPC Health: 9 → 1

Narrative:The second shot tears through Vane’s side. He stumbles, barely staying upright, blood soaking his coat.

Vane’s Turn

Desperation kicks in.

Grit Spend: 1 (Desperate Shot)

Attack Roll:

• d20 = 15

• +2

  
  

  Total: 17 vs Defense 15 → HIT

Damage:

• d10 = 6

• +2

• +2 (Desperate Shot)

  
  

  Total Damage: 10

Damien Health: 28 → 18

Narrative:Vane fires back wildly. The bullet clips Damien’s shoulder, tearing through leather and flesh. Damien grunts—but doesn’t fall.

🔁 ROUND 2

Damien’s Turn

Damien does not retreat.

Action: Firearm AttackHe chooses not to spend Grit—confidence over flash.

Attack Roll:

• d20 = 5

• +8

  
  

  Total: 13 vs Defense 14 → MISS

The shot skims past Vane’s head, shattering a window behind him.

Vane’s Turn

Vane tries to reposition, limping toward partial cover.

Action: Move + Fire

Attack Roll:

• d20 = 7

• +2

  
  

  Total: 9 → MISS

The shot kicks dust near Damien’s boots.

🔁 ROUND 3

Damien’s Turn

Enough.

Grit Spend: 1 (Grit‑Fueled Shot → Reroll Miss)

Attack Roll (Reroll):

• d20 = 16

• +8

  
  

  Total: 24 → HIT

Damage:

• d10 = 9

• +4

  
  

  Total Damage: 13

NPC Health: 1 → –12 (Incapacitated)

✅ Combat Resolution

Elias Vane collapses, weapon slipping from his grasp. He is alive but incapacitated, bleeding heavily and unable to continue.

Damien stands over him, revolver steady.

Vane chooses to surrender.

📊 Resource Summary

Damien “Deadeye” Cross

• Health: 18 / 28

• Grit Remaining: 5 / 6

• Ammo Used: 4 rounds

• Status: Wounded, standing

Elias Vane

• Status: Incapacitated

• Outcome: Captured or left behind (GM choice)

Blog Notes / Designer Commentary

• Demonstrates Deadeye Draw effectiveness in duels

• Shows Grit as a narrative‑mechanical bridge

• Illustrates how even skilled NPCs remain dangerous

• Reinforces Damien’s role as a decisive, momentum‑based combatant