Steel, Sand, and Sunsets: The Tournament

My recollection of some of these things is fuzzy. If I've misremembered something, let me know. I don't want to overlook anyone's achievements. Episode 1: The Tournament Coughinstone travels to Dodge City on the orders of Ma Torel. He's looking for a tinkerer, one Professor Blue Cloud. He owes her money and she intends to collect. Blue Cloud is a notorious gambler, so when Coughinstone hears there's a poker tournament in town, he begins looking for a way in.

Meanwhile, an eccentric Confederate by the name of Simmons gives Kaliska the opportunity to avenge her dead villagers on Sharitar, a Pawnee warrior and survivor of an attack which wiped out his entire village. He offers her an ancient quiver with a single arrow in it. According to legend, it cannot pierce the heart of the innocent, but will unerringly find the heart of the guilty. She may use the arrow to put her mind at ease over his guilt.

In the employ of Simmons is Anthony Peter Coleman, a Confederate expat. He and Kaliska discuss the implications of the arrow and what others would do with such a weapon.

Michael Cavanaugh and Nathaniel Cavanaugh III arrive in Dodge City on the same train as Coughinstone. They meet a man by the name of Hickok, who invites them to the poker tournament. Michael, however, is in town on business. Simmons plans on selling the arrow the next day and Cavanaugh intends to steal it while it's being prepared for transit.

Coughinstone finds Blue Cloud, only to find that he's broke. He pleads with Coughinstone, telling him the only thing he has of value, a compass he constructed, was used to buy him entry into the poker tournament. Coughinstone takes his entry and prepares to win the tournament for the compass.

He's accosted shortly thereafter by the tall, reedy, Agent James and the burly, bearded, Agent Anderson. They rough up Coughinstone, but Coleman happens by and intercedes before any real damage is done. The two share some terse words and words of thanks before going their separate directions.

Later that afternoon, Kaliska and Coleman take the shot, but it's fouled as it buries itself in the wall beside Sharitar. Before they realize that it's homed in on the hiding Michael Cavanaugh, Agents James and Anderson burst into the room. A brief standoff ensues before Cavanaugh is revealed, Nathaniel arrives to save his brother, and Simmons finally arrives. He explains that the quiver has the real value because it's been blessed in an ancient native font. Blue Cloud has made a device to find that source and its part of the pot at the poker tournament. As James and Anderson dash off to weasel their way into the tourney, Simmons offers the four of them, Kaliska, Coleman, and the Cavanaugh brothers, an honest job finding the secrets of the quiver and, if possible, bringing it back to him.

Simmons spots them the price of one entry into the tournament. They put up the quiver for another and enter Nathaniel Cavanaugh into the wildcard slot for a third.

In the first few rounds, Coughinstone meets General Enomoto, a general from The California Republic who is only in the tournament to recover his sword, lost during the Destruction of Kansa City. Coughinstone says he'll return the sword if Enomoto concedes. The general agrees.

Coleman plays against Ambassador Backpfeifengesicht, an offensive, racist, rude jackass of a Southerner, who uses his irritating nature to provoke his opponents. Nathaniel Cavanaugh faces off with "Doc" Williamson, a professional card player and Northerner. Coleman later plays against Hickok and Agent James. Hickok goads James into violent action, for which the Confederate is expelled. I believe Coleman is eliminated here too.

Michael Cavanaugh plays against "Hidden Bolt" Dalton, a known outlaw in The Adobe Walls Council who's been granted special dispensation to take part in the tournament. It's a trap to capture him, but he feels confident that he can escape. With the help of his friends, Cavanaugh learns how Dalton is cheating and threatens him with exposure to force him to quit.

Coughinstone, Hickok, and the Cavanaughs are the final contestants. As they break before the final game, Kaliska and Coleman approach Coughinstone and offer him a paid position with their expedition. He agrees and their only remaining hurdle is beating Hickok. However, before they can complete the hand, Agent James bursts in (Confederate agents practice bursting into a great many things). He says, "Damn you! Take that!" at Hickok, but he's arrested by Coleman and Nathaniel Cavanaugh before any harm is done. In gratitude, Hickok drops his hand and concedes the tournament.

As the players rise to take their loot, they find it is gone; stolen by Hidden Bolt Dalton as he rides off into the sunrise. They saddle up and give chase.