In the beginning
In the dusty town of Perfection, a group of unlikely heroes—Rose Ramone, The “Colonel” Sanders, Qayin Abraham, and Joaquin Brighton—formed a posse after investigating a bizarre outbreak linked to tainted alcohol. The contaminated drink caused the townsfolk to devolve into feral, monstrous versions of themselves, attacking without mercy. Forced to flee, the posse made their escape by train, leaving Perfection in ruins behind them.
Their pursuit of the truth behind the pathogen led them across the Weird West, encountering new horrors at every turn. They came upon a desert town plagued by Desert Stalks, lost a harrowed child named Samuel Huckleberry—who vanished back into the twisted wilds—and witnessed a small hilltop community torn apart by paranoia and bloodshed. The corruption left its mark: Joaquin Brighton eventually succumbed to madness, turning violently on the posse without regret.
The trail brought them to the town of Goldfield, where they encountered Alphonse Mysterio, a charismatic figure who had used the power of the Red Ring to enthrall the townsfolk, creating a loyal “flock.” Though the posse tried to reason with him, tensions reached a boiling point when Joaquin shot Alphonse during his surrender. Mysterio died before his followers, and though the Red Ring was recovered, most of the townsfolk either forgot the incident entirely or dismissed it as a bad dream.
Their journey then took them into the wastes, to the Gravedust - Mesa Mining Operation, a place that would signal the beginning of the end for the so-called Ring Hunters. Joaquin, increasingly volatile, was expelled from the group after drunkenly threatening locals in a saloon with dynamite.
Learning of a monster halting the mining efforts, the posse hired a boastful traveling hunter, Ferrisford McBungleton, who claimed to be the greatest hunter in the States. During the expedition, however, they were ambushed by a Wendigo, which tore McBungleton apart in a gruesome attack.
Barely escaping, the group discovered a small cabin atop the mesa containing the diary of a mysterious figure who had sealed the Wendigo away. This turned out to be Helushka (Wendigo) the Brave, a harrowed who had gained control over his manitou but had been corrupted by the Blue Ring. His mind and body had been twisted by its power.
With the Blue Ring secured, a decision was made: The Mesa Shaman (formerly a member of the posse) chose to remain atop the mesa, devoting herself to maintaining the seals and aiding The Brave in keeping his darker nature suppressed.
Soon after, the posse dissolved.
Rose Ramone, disturbed by the group’s desire to destroy the Rings, became fascinated with their power. After encountering a massive homunculus composed of steam-powered machinery and stitched flesh, her growing madness took hold. She vanished into the wilderness, seeking a place to continue her experiments in solitude.
Joaquin Brighton, now operating solo as a bounty hunter, quickly racked up a long list of crimes, earning a substantial bounty on his own head.
Qayin Abraham, the blessed, began wandering the West alone, searching for knowledge that could lead to the destruction of the Rings of the Dead and cleanse their influence from the land.
The Mesa Shaman remained in her cabin at the summit, dedicating herself to aiding The Brave and guarding the world from the Wendigo’s wrath.
The “Colonel” Sanders chose a quieter life, settling at the Mesa Mining Operation and overseeing the secure storage of the rings in a sealed cavern beneath the mesa.
One year has passed…