Texas John Slaughter, the Lawman of the Southwest

“Legendary Lawman Turned Cattle King: The Remarkable Life of John Slaughter!”

• Alias: Texas John Slaughter
• Gender: Male
• Race: Caucasian
• Occupation: Texas Ranger,
  • Cowboy
  • Lawman
  • Poker Player
  • Rancher
• Religion: Not specified in historical records
• Allies: Various law enforcement officials, ranching associates
• Enemies: Outlaws and criminal elements of the Wild West
• Abode/Base of Operations: San Bernardino Ranch, Douglas, Arizona
• Nationality: American
• Languages: English, Spanish
• Alignment: Lawful Good
• Affiliation(s):
  • Confederate States Army
  • Texas Rangers
  • Cochise County Sheriff’s Office
• Significant Others:
  • Eliza Adeline Harris Slaughter (First Wife, deceased)
  • Cora Viola Howell Slaughter (Second Wife, until his death)
  • Apache May Slaughter (Adopted Daughter)

John Slaughter, an iconic figure of the American Wild West, emerges as a man of unwavering determination and rugged resolve. Hailing from the Southern plains, he’s shaped by a childhood amidst horses and cattle, learning the ropes from Mexican vaqueros and mastering their language. His early years, marked by skirmishes with hostile Comanche and service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, foreshadowed his destiny on the frontier.

Slaughter’s journey is one of grit and ambition. Alongside his brother, he becomes a cattle driver, navigating the treacherous Chisholm Trail. In the dusty winds of Atascosa County, he forms the San Antonio Ranch Company, a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit.

The call of untamed lands pulls him westward to the Arizona Territory, where he cements his place as a legendary lawman. Elected sheriff of Cochise County, he takes on the mantle of justice, tracking down outlaws like the Jack Taylor Gang and confronting the indomitable Apache chief, Geronimo. Armed with his trusty six-shooter, shotgun, and Henry rifle, he becomes a symbol of law and order.

Yet, Slaughter’s character holds more than just a badge and a gun. He’s a formidable poker player, known for his skill in bluffing. His games, often stretching through the night, are played with high-stakes cattle barons like John Chisum. In a legendary showdown, he pursues and brings justice to a cheating cattle rustler, epitomizing his unwavering commitment to fairness.

On a personal front, Slaughter’s life is marked by both joy and sorrow. His first marriage bears fruit with four children, but only two survive into adulthood. Tragedy strikes with the loss of his wife to smallpox. Yet, love finds him again in the form of Cora Viola Howell, and their union brings not only companionship but also adoption. Apache May, a young soul he encounters during a pursuit in Mexico, becomes a cherished part of their family.

As time weathers his body, the Slaughters settle in Douglas, Arizona, embracing a quieter life. And it’s here, in the twilight of his years, that the legacy of John Slaughter, the frontier hero who sought justice, battled outlaws, and played his cards right, remains etched in the annals of the Wild West.

Texas John Slaughter, the Lawman of the Southwest

Medium humanoid (human), Lawful Good

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Armor Class 16 (leather duster) Hit Points 130 (20d8 + 40) Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	18 (+4)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +6 Skills Animal Handling +6, Insight +6, Perception +6, Persuasion +5 Senses passive Perception 16 Languages English, Spanish Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

Actions

Multiattack. John Slaughter makes two attacks with his Colt Peacemaker or one with his Henry Repeating Rifle.

• Colt Peacemaker. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 30/90 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10+4) piercing damage.
• Henry Repeating Rifle. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 80/240 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) piercing damage. Can fire 10 rounds before needing to reload.
• Lawman’s Authority (3/Day). John Slaughter uses his commanding presence to demand order and compliance. Each creature of his choice within 30 feet that can hear him must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, a creature is frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Reactions

Quick Draw. When an enemy within 30 feet of John Slaughter makes a ranged attack against him or an ally, he can use his reaction to make a Colt Peacemaker attack against that enemy if they are within range.

Legendary Actions

John Slaughter can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. He regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Colt’s Precision Shot (Costs 2 Actions). John Slaughter makes one Colt Peacemaker attack.
• Inspiring Presence (Costs 3 Actions). John Slaughter shouts words of encouragement or wisdom to inspire his allies. Up to three allies within 30 feet gain advantage on their next attack roll or saving throw.
• Quick Reload (Costs 2 Actions). If John Slaughter has fired his Henry Repeating Rifle and needs to reload, he can use this action to reload it instantly.

Equipment

• Leather duster
• Colt Peacemaker (x2): Six-shooter revolvers known for their accuracy.
• Henry Repeating Rifle: A lever-action rifle with a high rate of fire.
• Sheriff’s Badge: Symbol of authority, grants advantage on Persuasion checks.
• Lucky Poker Chip: A token from his poker days, allows the use of “Bend Luck” (as the sorcerer’s Tides of Chaos ability) once per long rest.
• Marshal’s Duster: Stylish duster coat with hidden pockets.
• Amulet of Courage: Grants immunity to fear effects.
• San Bernardino Ranch Deed: Proof of ownership of his ranch.
• Canteen of Endless Whiskey: Can produce an endless supply of whiskey (limited uses per day).

Description

John Slaughter is a weathered, middle-aged man with piercing blue eyes and a determined countenance. He wears a well-worn studded leather duster over his clothing, and his trusty Colt Peacemakers rest comfortably in holsters at his hips. His Henry Repeating Rifle is slung over his back, and a worn sheriff’s badge glimmers on his chest. He stands confidently, surveying his surroundings with a watchful eye.

Current Situation: John Slaughter is seated on a porch chair outside his ranch house on the San Bernardino Ranch. His ranch hands are busy tending to the cattle in the distance, and the sun is setting over the Arizona-Mexico border. Slaughter appears calm and vigilant, ever ready to defend his land and maintain law and order in Cochise County.

Mood: Resolute and watchful, Slaughter’s gaze never wavers from his responsibilities as a protector of the frontier.

Currently in the World

John Slaughter is a tall, weathered man in his later years. He stands at about 6 feet, with a sturdy build that speaks to a lifetime of hard work in the rugged American West. His skin, once fair, is now tanned and etched with the lines of experience, evidence of his countless days under the unforgiving sun. His salt-and-pepper hair, tinged with silver, is neatly combed and well-kept, suggesting a man of discipline.

Currently, he dons the attire of a respected rancher and lawman. Slaughter wears a faded but well-maintained beige Stetson hat, a symbol of his authority and a shield against the desert sun. His clothing consists of a worn leather vest over a white cotton shirt, both bearing the stains of sweat and dust from a hard day’s work. He sports durable brown leather chaps over denim pants, signs of a man who has spent a lifetime in the saddle.

Slaughter’s brown leather boots, caked with mud and dust, indicate his readiness for a long ride. At his side, a well-worn holster cradles a six-shooter Colt revolver, a testament to his law enforcement duties. He carries an air of quiet determination, as if ever prepared for the unexpected, a quality born from years of facing danger on the wild frontier.

In the backdrop, the San Bernardino Ranch stretches out, a vast expanse of arid desert and rolling plains. Dust swirls in the hot breeze, and the sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. Despite the harshness of his surroundings, Slaughter’s eyes, beneath the shade of his Stetson, exude a sense of vigilance and commitment.

John Slaughter’s mood is one of solemn responsibility. He surveys his ranch, a symbol of his life’s work, with a mixture of pride and concern. There’s a steely resolve in his gaze, for he knows that maintaining law and order in this untamed land requires unwavering dedication. His every action reflects his commitment to justice, a duty he carries with the weight of a man who has seen both the best and worst of the Wild West.