Cast of Characters

Shen Mao – White Hat Shaolin Monk
Jesse - Young White Hat Traveler, accompanying Shen Mao
Johnathan Williams – White Hat Scholar and Scientist
Buck – Grey Hat Fighting Man, and hired guard for Williams

It’s 9 years since the end of the Civil War and 5 since the valour of the 10th Cavalry Regiment and influx of investment from Chinese Merchants led the government to extend voting rights to all free men. It’s only been a few months since stories of strange animals and missing miners have made their way out from the towns south of Tuscon along the Mexico border.

Four traveling companions are making their way across the American South-West. They’ve come in search of fame, fortune, and a desire to make a difference in this land of opportunity.

Shen Mao felt a calling to these lands and made his way from Shaolin Temple in China to the great port of San Francisco and from there traveled by horse south east towards the dry arid lands of Arizona. Being a quick and resilient martial artist has come in handy more than once on his travels along the dusty trail.

Along the way he meets a scrawny runaway boy called Jesse, who’s been resourceful (and slippery) enough to survive on the Frontier on his own. The normally emotionless Mao was impressed with the boy’s spirit and took the young lad under his wing.

In Tuscon the pair met the Scientist Johnathan Williams, a well-read scholar with an interest in strange and experimental scientific inventions. Williams, who has a keen memory for details, recounts stories he’s read about interesting opportunities and discoveries to the south. Along with Buck the Sharpshooter Williams has hired to accompany him on his research expedition the group sets off towards the border region.

Setting off from Tuscon the group travels south until they reach the small town of Tharsis, Arizona. As the story begins our band of adventurers are approaching the scene of a public trial and hanging on the outskirts of town. The condemned man is wild-eyed and jeering and cursing at his captors. Before meeting his end he promises his revenge on the people of Tharsis. The travelers arrive just as the old undertaker begins to haul away the body and the assembled crowd is starting to disperse…