A Powder Keg in Blood Ax

A Powder Keg in Blood Ax

  The air in the frontier town of Blood Ax is thick with tension. In the local jail, two men await uncertain fates, their lives entangled with powerful, rival factions.

Nolan Hardin, a known member of the ruthless Cowboys criminal confederacy, stands accused of the cold-blooded murder of Marvin Gilliam. Nolan isn’t just any outlaw; he’s the cousin of John Wesley Hardin, the formidable leader of the Hanged Men gang—an elite subgroup within the Cowboys. While Nolan remains silent, his notorious family ties dominate local gossip, and many believe he’s already a marked man. Supporting his defense are the sworn statements of fellow Cowboys Jude Austin, Billy Spencer, and Oakley Tate—men the townsfolk suspect are all too willing to perjure themselves to secure his release.

Sharing the cramped jailhouse is Ethan Davidson, arrested for disturbing the peace. Whispers circulate that Ethan is a secret member of the Blood Ax Justice Board, a clandestine group of vigilantes determined to oppose both the Cowboys and the influential Stockman Association. Ethan was set to testify that he witnessed Nolan and Marvin Gilliam in a heated argument over Evelyn Rivera, a striking young woman both men hoped to court. Rumors have now emerged that Ethan himself was competing for Evelyn’s attention, further muddying his position. Making matters worse, Ethan’s alibi for the Gilliam murder—provided by a man named Cody Grant—has come under scrutiny, as Cody has mysteriously vanished from town.

Caught in the Crossfire

Sheriff Tomas DeRook, a genial halfling known for his diplomacy, finds himself squarely in the middle of this explosive conflict. As the cousin of Sam DeRook, the prosperous leader of the local Stockman Association, Tomas has little desire to confront either the Cowboys or the Justice Board. He anxiously awaits Judge Edward Chapman, hoping the judge's arrival will defuse the mounting unrest. But the judge’s travel has been deliberately delayed by the Stockman Association, leaving the fate of Blood Ax hanging in the balance.

The Cowboys refuse to sit idle. Their plan is set: a group will ignite fires along the riverside docks, drawing the town’s attention away from the jail. At the same time, a smaller, seasoned band of Cowboys will ride in from the east, prepared to assault the jail and liberate Nolan by force.

Blood Ax is poised on the edge of disaster. With powerful groups pulling in every direction and a host of outlaws on the move, the frontier town stands as a powder keg—one spark away from chaos.