Wild Furry West

New Providence, Arizona Territory, circa 1880s-1890s. Tired with the industrializing and urbanized mess of the eastern United States, you decide to move to the West for a more calmer life. However, life in the untamed West carries numerous predicaments, from dangerous outlaws and hostile Native Americans, to the unforgiving heat of the desert. Will you be able to form a new life in the West or fall victim to its many predicaments?

(Image made with Dreamscape, DeviantArt’s AI image generator)

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—New Providence, Arizona Territory—

New Providence, a sun-baked oasis in the Arizona Territory, clings to life on the banks of the mighty Colorado River. A motley crew of frontiersmen, pioneers, outlaws, and dreamers live here, drawn by the promise of fortune and the liberating allure of the untamed wilderness.

Life in New Providence is a constant struggle against the harsh elements like the scorching desert heat and blinding dust storms. The Colorado River, while a lifeline, can also be a deadly force that threatens the town’s very existence; its unpredictable currents and flash floods claim lives and destroy property.

Law and order are fragile in this lawless land. Outlaws roam the desert, preying on travelers and settlers alike. Vigilante justice is often the only recourse for those seeking retribution. The town's small force of lawmen, stretched thin and underfunded, struggles to maintain peace. The mayor’s office and judge’s gavel are also stained with corruption from bribes and patronage done by tycoonists that came from east of the Mississippi, seeing the vast untamed West as opportunities to tap into the untouched resources to feed their growing industrial and business empires.

The Native American tribes that have inhabited this land for centuries view the encroaching settlers with suspicion and hostility. Raids and skirmishes are common, and the threat of all-out war looms large. The settlers must constantly be on guard, ready to defend their homes and families.

Despite these challenges, the people of New Providence persevere. They are a resilient and resourceful people, determined to carve a life for themselves in this unforgiving land. They work together, sharing their knowledge and skills, to survive and thrive.

New Providence is truly a place of stark beauty and endless possibilities. It is a place where dreams are made and broken, where fortunes are won and lost, and where the line between good and bad is often blurred.

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—Rouge’s Gallery of the Wild West—

•The Colorado River Basin Sirens-

— Identity: An all-female gunslinger gang composed of women of various ages, species, and former lives who had been marginalized and oppressed by societal expectations, they sought justice and freedom through a life of outlawry.

— Crimes: Known for their daring raids on stagecoaches, banks, trains, and saloons; also committing murder and kidnappings, and always managing to escape with their loot and their lives.

•The Ghost Rider-

— Identity: A mysterious male wolf figure, always cloaked in a long, dark cloak.

— Crimes: Stagecoach robberies and bank heists. Operates under the cover of night, leaving no trace.

•The Black Widow-

— Identity: A seductive mouse woman with a deadly aim.

— Crimes: Uses her charm to distract and manipulate her victims, luring drunk lawmen and unsuspecting men into traps and demises. Suspected informant for the Colorado River Basin Sirens.

•The Luchayote-

— Identity: A mysterious male coyote of Californio origins who rides a sleek black stallion, wears a Mexican charro outfit and is equipped with a curved sword and a Colt 1851 revolver, and takes the law into his own hands. Known for his daring raids on outlaw hideouts, mansions and businesses of corrupt socialites, and his swift justice; a fair and just individual, but he is not afraid to use violence to protect the innocent. His identity remains a secret, but his legend is spread around with each successful operation.

— Crimes: Property theft on wealthy socialites and vigilantism. Despite being hunted by lawmen and bounty hunters, he always escapes from their reach like a tumbleweed in the wind.

•The Desert Devils-

— Identity: Ruthless bandits of various species who terrorize those living in the desert and Colorado River Basin.

— Crimes: Known for their cruel and sadistic nature, often torturing their victims before killing them. Their gang is a motley crew of outcasts and misfits, united by their thirst for blood and plunder; Bitter enemies of the Colorado River Basin Sirens due to their cruel acts towards women.

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—The Colorado River Basin Sirens—

The Colorado River Basin Sirens, or simply the Sirens, are a legendary all-female gunslinger gang that emerged in the late 1870s from the harsh realities of the male-dominated society in 19th Century America.

Their name is derived from the treacherous Colorado River Basin, along which they often traveled (but some reports claim that they’ve been spotted in various cities/towns outside of the basin as far as San Diego, Tijuana, Salt Lake City, Mexicali, Cheyenne, Ensenada, Denver, Hermosillo, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque), and their reputation as fearsome and alluring women is derived from the mythical sirens of Greek mythology, but instead of luring sailors to watery dooms, they lure men from wealthy and corrupt lives who commit exploitation, unfaithfulness, and acts of Chauvinism and misogyny.

The gang's formation is rooted in the shared experiences of its members; Each woman, varying in ages, species, and past lives, had faced adversity, whether it was societal expectations, domestic abuse, unfaithful husbands, economic hardship, or social ostracism. They find solace and strength in one another, united by a desire for justice and to break free from the confines of traditional social roles through a life of outlawry.

—Key Members—

As stated before, the Colorado River Basin Sirens consist of women from different lives, species, and ages, united by their resentment against the society that marginalized them and made their cries be unheard. The following names listed below are the main key leaders, nicknamed by both the members and bystanders as the “Four Horsewomen”;

•Martha Canary Jane (aka "Calamity Jane"): A larger-than-life calico cat and skilled fighter, she is known for her fearless attitude and unwavering loyalty to her fellow Sirens. She had been a victim of societal prejudice and experienced domestic abuse and sought refuge in the outlaw life. Skilled rider and sharpshooter, known for her rebellious spirit and quick wit.

•Belle Starr: A cunning and charismatic leader and husky, she used her intelligence and beauty to manipulate men and outsmart her enemies. In her past, she had been a victim of a loveless marriage and later murdered her unfaithful husband before fleeing into a life of crime.

•Annie Oakley: A tabby cat and legendary sharpshooter with unparalleled accuracy, she is driven by a desire to prove herself in a world dominated by men. She had faced discrimination and poverty, and the outlaw life offered her a chance to escape her circumstances.

•Etta Place: A mysterious hyena and elusive figure, she is a skilled fighter and strategist. Her past is largely unknown, but it was believed that she had been forced into a life of crime at a young age to survive.

These “Four Horsewomen” are always in the lead of the Colorado River Basin Sirens wherever they go. And due to their lack of fear while charging straight into the danger and thrill, they’re admired by their average-leveled members.

The Sirens are not only skilled fighters or feared outlaws, but also savvy businesswomen. They established a network of safe houses and hideouts throughout the Colorado River Basin; using their knowledge of the terrain to their advantage. They also forged alliances with Native American tribes to ensure their survival in the harsh wilderness.

—Criminal Record—

The Sirens' commit numerous criminal activities like simple chores. While listing them all would make a seemingly never-ending list, the following are their most common/favorite crimes:

•Stagecoach Robberies- The Sirens are notorious for holding up stagecoaches, stealing valuable cargo and cash.

•Bank Heists- The Sirens successfully execute several daring bank robberies, making off with substantial sums of money and leaving not a penny behind. Not even the most sturdy built iron bars nor safes of a well-defended bank can stop them.

•Train Robberies- The Sirens are known to derail trains, rob the passengers of anything valuable (only towards those whose clothing suggests a wealthy/socialite lifestyle), and steal valuable goods from the freight cars.

•Cattle Rustling- The Sirens steal livestock from unsuspecting ranchers, selling them to shady sellers, eating the livestock for food, or bartering them to obtain goods and supplies in exchange.

•Murder- In the heat of battle or to eliminate threats or instill fear, the Sirens are not afraid to resort to violence and murder. Their way of murder varies; from assassinations done discretely and murders done in-front of the public, to silent ones done in the dead of night. Their victims are left with a lipstick kiss mark on their cheeks, their trademark signature.

•Kidnapping- In their raids, the Sirens would sometimes capture a certain or random socialite and hold them hostage for ransoms. If the ransom was failed to be payed on time, the hostage would return dead and looted.

—Controversial Reputation—

The Sirens have a mixed reputation depending on who you asked;

For women, they are seen as noble pioneers, fighting for a more equitable society because of their Robin Hood-esque tendencies. They often use their ill-gotten gains from the wealthy and corrupt and redistribute their spoils to help the poor and downtrodden, protecting vulnerable communities, and standing up to powerful interests that sought to exploit the weak, especially tycoonists that came from east of the Mississippi.

Meanwhile for men, they are simply seen as outlaws that threatened the fragile law and order of the untamed West. Together, they formed a formidable force, striking fear into the hearts of outlaws and lawmen alike. Thus, they are chased by lawmen and bounty hunters, with high rewards placed on their heads if they’re captured dead or alive, but they always manage to escape with their loot and their lives.

Their exploits and actions are often romanticized back in the East by ambitious and sensationalist journalists and novelists alike, but the reality of their lives is harsh, moral-breaking, and dangerous.