Deadlands - Classic - Adventure - Canyon de Chelly.pdf - Scenariusze - sensei_13

THE LAND

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Canyon de Chelly

By ERIC AVEDISSIAN

Comprised of weathered yellow sandstone gorges, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced duh-shay) rivals the Grand

Canyon as one of nature’s most spectacular works. Located in northeastern Arizona, Canyon de Chelly is a series

of small canyons filled with dazzling rock formations, caves housing ancient ruins and a wealth of horrors beyond

imagining.

See, despite the canyon’s overwhelming natural beauty, it’s as haunted as a cemetery on Halloween.

Nobody knows for sure what’s down in the canyons, but the Navajo who’ve inhabited the region for centuries

aren’t talking.

THE

LAND

The

land

around

Four

Corners

large

and

diverse,

stretching

from

the

Mogollon

Rim

Arizona

to the

Rocky

Mountains

Colorado.

It is

both

hilly

and

flat,

with

barren

deserts, thick pine forests, towering mountains, and deep canyons. The vegetation is mostly scrub, cactus, pinon

and juniper bushes, and the wildlife includes coyotes, eagles, badgers, lizards, ravens and rattlesnakes.

Temperatures range from hot and humid in summer months to bitter cold in the winter, especially in higher

elevations.

Before we get to the locales themselves, an introduction to the area’s current inhabitants, the Navajo, is in

order.

THE DINEH

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The Navajos refer to themselves as Dineh, “The People,” and their native lands are called Dinehtah, “The Land

of the People.”

Dinehtah encompasses lands throughout the Four Corners region, from San Francisco Peaks in Arizona, to Mt.

Taylor in New Mexico, and Mt. Hesperus in Colorado.

The Navajo eke out their living as herdsmen raising sheep, goats and cattle and as farmers growing corn,

squash and pumpkins. They are also skilled artisans, working in silver and turquoise jewelry and woven rugs. A

really detailed Navajo rug can fetch upwards of $50 to $100 Back East.

The Navajo are a deeply spiritual people. Their religion and daily lives are indistinguishable. They view their

world and themselves as part of a greater whole, a communion with nature.

The centerpiece to Navajo life is the hogan, a traditional shelter resembling a six-sided hut constructed of poles

lined with logs and mud and a dome-shaped roof with a smoke hole. The north side of the hogan belongs to the

man and the south side to the woman. The hogan’s door always faces east to greet the rising sun.

Some Navajo families, particularly ones raising sheep and goats, have several hogans and even a sweat hogan

for rituals.

Navajo society is comprised of several different clans. When a Navajo baby is born, it belongs to the clan of its

mother, as clan names are passed through matriarchal lines. It is considered “incest” to marry into one ’s own clan.

Some Navajo clans include the Salt Clan, Paiute People, Folded Arms People, Mud Clan, Red House People,

Sand Hogan People, Deer People, Waters Edge Clan, Turning Mountain People and the Bitter Water Clan.

The Navajo are peaceful people and have at one time acted as protectors of all southwestern tribes, but their

contact with Spaniards and, more recently, Americans, has put them on the defensive.

DAMN YANKEES!

In 1849, U.S. forces under Lt. Colonel John Washington, accompanied by Territorial Governor James S.

Calhoun, met with Navajo chiefs at the mouth of Canyon de Chelly to hammer out a peace treaty. Everything was

running smoothly between the Yankees and Navajo chiefs Narbona, Archuleta and Jose Largo, when a terrible

incident occurred on August 31, 1849.

A New Mexican aligned with the Yanks spotted a horse ridden by a Navajo he recognized as stolen property.

The Navajos refused to surrender the horse and attempted to flee but Washington ordered his troops to fire.

Narbona, the Navajo peace chief, died on the spot, shot in the head. Six other Navajos suffered the same fate,

their bodies discarded in a nearby crevice. For the Navajos, it became a day of mourning. Despite losing their

respected Narbona, the remaining chiefs signed the peace treaty, but anger prevailed and the Navajo began a

campaign of raiding settlements in New Mexico.

CARLETON’S ORDERS

During the opening years of the Civil War, legions comprised of New Mexicans and Utes, enemies of the

Navajo, raided Dinehtah.

General James H. Carleton of the Union Army arrived on the scene with the idea that the Navajo should be

rounded up and turned into humble, Christian farmers, or be killed if they resisted.

Carleton handpicked Colonel Kit Carson to lead the attack on the Mescaleros, a local tribe. Over 400

Mescaleros were imprisoned while the rest fled west or into Mexico.

What happened to the Mescaleros was what Carelton hoped would befall the Navajos.

Carson marched 1,000 men from Los Pinos, New Mexico into Navajo country on July 1, 1863. Carleton

ordered Carson to consider any Navajo hostile if they resisted. Carson, not wanting any more innocent blood on

his hands, tenured his resignation to Carleton, who refused it.

Carleton planned to round up every Navajo in the Canyon de Chelly area and forcibly march them to Ft.

Sumner, New Mexico, 300 miles from their ancestral home.

Unbeknownst to the military, the Reckoners had their own plans.

After July 3, 1863, thanks to a little nudge from the Reckoning, Navajo medicine men found the spirits

receptive and stronger. Elderly Navajo had visions of ancient gods seeking to protect the Navajo from these

atrocious enemies.

Nature spirits and warriors whose strength increased tenfold viciously attacked Carson’s men as they rode into

Navajo territory. Using their powers on the invaders, the Navajo expelled the Union raiders, setting their forts

ablaze and pushing the white men further east.

In January 1864, Carleton, viewed as a failure and blamed for the death of 700 soldiers, resigned in disgrace.

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The Union’s defeat left the southwest open to the Confederates, who easily took New Mexico and Arizona.

MEET THE NEW BOSS…

The Confederates didn’t want to make the same mistake the Yankees made. Confederate dealings with the

Navajo are courteous and civil. The Rebels are pretty fair neighbors and give the Navajo well-deserved breathing

room.

The Confederate presence in the Four Corners region is next to nil; while they occupy forts in Arizona and

New Mexico, the Confederates leave the Four Corners to the Navajo.

Captain Jeb Tucker commands the Confederate post at Fort Defiance, Arizona. He makes it his business to

know what the Navajo are up to, and to recruit local natives for guerilla attacks against the marauding Apaches

whenever the need arises.

CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH WORLD

Navajo have no word for “religion,” but their lives are religious in nature. They honor the Earth and the spirits

around them and safeguard themselves from unlucky taboos.

Navajo myths tell of two types of beings; the Earth Surface People, representing the living and the dead, and

the Holy People, representing powerful, arcane spirits. Other spirits, called Yeis, represent natural forces, and act

as intermediaries between the Earth Surface People and Holy People.

According to the Navajo creation story, the Holy People dwelt in four netherworlds and were ejected from

each one for adultery and quarreling. A great flood forced them to flee to this world, the fifth world, through a

giant reed.

Changing Woman, principal figure among Navajo, was created and impregnated by a waterfall and the rays of

the sun. She bore two sons, the Hero Twins, called Monster Slayer and Child of Water. The Hero Twins went on

many adventures and killed monsters, known as Dreadful Ones. The twins are referred to especially in rituals for

manhood and war.

ENCOUNTERING THE NAVAJO

The Navajo are peaceful people, keeping to themselves and avoiding confrontation whenever possible. This

doesn’t mean if you pick a fight with a Navajo, they’ll roll on over. More than one sorry cowpoke learned not to

abuse the Navajo – the hard way.

Navajo view the land as sacred. Suffice to say, if cowpokes abuse Navajo territory, The People will take

offense.

Since Navajo are nomadic, they tend to move with their sheep, goats or horses from place to place. Many still

live in Canyon de Chelly in Arizona and northwestern New Mexico.

Navajo speak their native tongue, a similar language to the Apaches, and communication with them can be

difficult, if not impossible. Those with a concentration in Indian sign language can understand the Navajo,

although some of the messages are likely to be garbled.

Navajo who speak English or Spanish are an asset, provided the posse understands those languages.

They follow the Old Ways (see the Ghost Dancers sourcebook for more info) and don’t rely on guns for

fighting.

Use the following stats for Navajo found in the Canyon de Chelly region.

PROFILE: TYPICAL NAVAJO

Corporeal: D:3d8, N:3d8, Q:3d6, S:2d6, V:2d8

Shootin’: bow 3d8, fightin’: brawlin' 2d8, horse ridin’ 3d8, sneak 4d8

Mental: C:3d8, K3d8, M:2d6, Sm:2d6, Sp:2d12

Trackin’: 3d8, area knowledge: Canyon de Chelly 4d8, language: native tongue 3d8, language: Indian sign

2d8, tribal customs 3d8, survival: canyon 3d6, faith 2d12, guts 1d12

Edges: Keen, Veteran o’ the Weird West, Guardian spirit: Coyote

Hindrances: Old Ways vow, superstitious

Gear: Bow and arrows (STR+1d6), silver jewelry, hunting knife, buckskin moccasins.

PLAYING A NAVAJO

Navajo characters are generated from the rules found in Ghost Dancers , with a few additions. Most Navajo

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characters have the Old Ways oath and superstitious Hindrances, and are graced (or cursed) with the Veteran

o’ the Weird West Edge.

Navajo characters must also have tribal customs and area knowledge: Canyon de Chelly aptitudes.

Navajo shaman characters get an added bonus. Besides traditional favors listed in Ghost Dancers , they have

access to some new favors and one ritual, as described below. A Navajo shaman may have the following rituals:

dance, music, paint, pledge, sand painting and sweat lodge . They can utilize any ritual listed in Ghost Dancers ,

but those listed here are especially favored by the Navajo.

NAVAJO RITUALS AND FAVORS

The Dineh move to the spirits a little differently than most. Thus, they have access to some new favors,

particularly around the spiritually-charged rocks in Canyon de Chelly.

Navajo Singers, or Shamen, can have access to the Night Chant ritual and the Kokopelli’s Flute, Monster

Slayer and Water Monster’s Fury favors.

Each is described below:

NIGHT CHANT

Speed: Varies

TN: Varies

Appeasement: Varies

Trait: Knowledge

Ritual Items: mask, sacred corn pollen, colored sand

The Night Chant is a major ceremony which must be executed perfectly. Any errors nullify the ceremony’s

intent and cause damage to the participants. The Night Chant commonly takes a few days to complete, but

positive effects from the spirits usually manifest after only one day. The ceremony involves complex

chants, ritual dancing and creating intricate sand paintings. A Singer generates Appeasement through the

Night Chant based on the ceremony’s length. The longer the Singer participates, the more appeasement

points generated. Use the chart below to make a Knowledge roll and compare that roll with the TN. If the

Singer goes bust on this roll, he actually loses 1 appeasement point. If the Singer doesn’t have an

appeasement point, he loses 1d6 in wind.

NIGHT CHANT

Chant Time TN Appeasement

1 hour 11 1

5 hours 9 2

12 hours 7 5

24 hours 5 7

KOKOPELLI’S FLUTE

Blessing Medicine Way

Appeasement: Varies

Duration: Varies

Range: 10 yard radius

Seen in Hopi and Anasazi petroglyphs, Kokopelli, the hunched-backed flutist, is a fertility spirit who

taught the Navajos how to plant corn. A wandering minstrel, Kokopelli has a penchant for mischief as a

seducer of women. A shaman calling upon this spirit summons Kokopelli’s sweet flute music. Any

Navajo, Hopi or Zuni within a 10 yard radius of the caster hears it; characters from other backgrounds do

not. For as long as the targets hear Kokopelli’s music, they are +3 to any mental Aptitude check. The

duration of the music depends upon the number of appeasement points used by the caster.

KOKOPELLI’S FLUTE

Appeasement Music Duration

1 1 minute

2 3 minutes

3 5 minutes

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MONSTER SLAYER

War Medicine Way

Appeasement: 2 or more

Duration: 2 rounds

Range: Self

Navajo warriors admire the mythical Hero Twins for their bravery in facing down the world’s monsters,

or “Alien Gods.” Monster Slayer enables the shaman to summon the essence of one of the Twins:

Monster Slayer. Imbibed with Monster Slayer ’s force, the shaman receives a +3 to his fightin’ rolls and

becomes immune to supernatural attacks for two rounds. For each additional appeasement point, the

shaman may add +1 to their fightin’ rolls. Note that these rolls include fightin’ with or without weapons.

4 7 minutes

WATER MONSTER’S FURY

Earth Medicine Way

Appeasement: Varies

Duration: Instant

Range: 50 yards

In Navajo legend, Water Monster caused a flood, driving the Dineh from the fourth world into this one.

This favor enables the shaman to summon Water Monster ’s essence in any small body of water like lakes,

streams or ponds. Swimmers or boats have the potential of winding up under water.

The rougher the water gets depends upon the amount of appeasement points used.

WATER MONSTER’S FURY

Appeasement Effect

1 Turbulent, choppy waves. Swimmers in water lose 1d6 wind.

3 Medium waves. Swimmers must make an Onerous (7)

Swimmin’ roll to stay afloat.

6 Rough waves. Swimmers are sucked under water unless they

make a hard (9) swimmin’ roll. Small boats tossed around.

10 Small boats and canoes capsize, spilling everyone in the drink.

11 Whirlpool forms, sucking all swimmers into it.

Swimmers

must make two Incredible (11) swimmin’ rolls in a row to keep

from being engulfed into the whirlpool.

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON…

Before delving into the mysteries and terrors of Canyon de Chelly, it’s good to know a little bit about the

place.

The Anasazi have called the canyon home from 900 to 1300 AD, when they up and vanished without a trace.

From the bits of pottery, baskets and adobe pueblos found high in the canyon’s sandstone cliffs, the Anasazi were

an ingenious people.

The name Anasazi is taken from the Navajo word meaning “ancient enemy,” indicating the Navajo didn’t get

along with them when the Anasazi hung their hats here. Archeologists are stumped at the reason for the tribe’s

departure, and no evidence has been found to indicate a struggle or fight in the canyons to oust the Anasazi.

After the Anasazi pulled up stakes and shuffled off into wherever they went, the Navajo moved in.

Many Navajo have hogans in Canyon de Chelly’s green, fertile floor and raise sheep and plant corn and

squash. They resist confrontation with strangers and are so superstitious, they don’t venture near the Anasazi

ruins.

Their caution in approaching strangers is well-founded. A bloody skirmish between Spanish soldiers in 1805

laid the seeds for misery and malevolence. More on that later, pardner…

NOW A GEOGRAPHY LESSON …

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