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The train station at the Heartland Oil Fields came into view, and Caleb saw that its location slowly revealed on the map before turning south. The road stretched out before him, winding through rolling hills and open plains. The scenery was breathtaking, and Caleb couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom as he rode.
When he reached Twin Stack Pass, Caleb turned southwest, following the road as it led him through a somewhat dense forest. The trees towered overhead, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the ground.
Caleb recognized the outline of the forest and realized that to his left, just beyond the trees, was Horseshoe Overlook, the camp of the Van der Linde gang. He made a mental note of its location, careful not to linger too long in case any of the gang members were nearby.
Continuing forward, Caleb passed through a three-way intersection and followed the road as it descended into lower ground. The terrain changed, becoming more rugged and rocky as he approached Caliban's Seat.
He turned right at the intersection, following the road as it curved along the edge of a cliff. The Dakota River came into view on his left, its waters glistening in the sunlight. Caleb slowed Morgan to a walk, taking in the serene beauty of the river and the lush plantations that lined its banks.
As he rode along the river, Caleb felt a sense of peace wash over him. The world seemed quieter here, far removed from the chaos of Valentine and the dangers of the gang.
He followed the road until he reached Cumberland Falls, where the river widened and the water flowed more gently. Caleb guided Morgan through the shallow part of the river, the horse's hooves splashing in the cool water as they crossed to the other side.
Once on the opposite bank, Caleb continued forward, the road leading him toward Wallace Station. The journey had taken him nearly two hours, and he decided it was time to take a break.
He found a suitable spot near the station, dismounted Morgan, and set up a small campfire. Using the canned food he had brought, a canned meat and canned vegetables, he prepared a simple meal, heating the contents over the fire.
As he ate, Caleb let Morgan graze on the nearby grass, while giving her an apple and a sugar cube as a treat. The horse seemed content, and Caleb took the opportunity to rest and reflect on his journey so far. The Map function had proven to be incredibly useful, and he was pleased with how much of the surrounding area he had already uncovered.
After a 30 minute well needed break, Caleb extinguished the campfire and mounted Morgan once more. He made a U-turn and headed back the way he had come, turning left at the intersection and riding north upward.
The road was quiet, with only the occasional birdcall breaking the silence. Caleb enjoyed the solitude, using the time to think about his next steps.
When he reached the area known as Cattail Pond, Caleb turned right at the three way intersection, heading northeast. The road led him through a picturesque valley, with towering cliffs on either side.
As he rode, he noticed three distinct landmarks up ahead, Window Rock, Whinyard Strait, and Granite Pass. The sight was awe inspiring, and Caleb couldn't help but marvel at the natural beauty of the landscape.
He dismounted Morgan and took a moment to explore the area on foot. Window Rock, with its distinctive arch, offered a stunning view of the valley below.
Whinyard Strait, a narrow passage between two cliffs, was equally impressive, its walls rising high above him. Granite Pass, with its rugged terrain and scattered boulders alongside the train tracks, felt almost otherworldly.
Caleb continued his journey, following the road southward until he arrived at Cotorra Springs. The area was serene, with steam rising from the natural hot springs and the sound of bubbling water filling the air.
As he explored, the Map function updated, revealing that this was the location of the legendary wolf. Caleb's memory stirred as he recalled the legendary animals he had hunted in the game, the bear, alligator, buck, and elk.
He hunted the legendary bear and alligator because he found them through the main mission, while the legendary buck and elk he hunted as their trinket had a very good effect.
He had never gotten the chance to hunt the legendary wolf, but he remembered its location from videos and forums he had watched and read during his time playing the game trying to find requirements for achieving a gold trophy for completing missions.
The thought of hunting the legendary wolf intrigued him, but for now, Caleb decided to focus on his current exploration. He made a mental note to return to Cotorra Springs later, perhaps after he had gathered more supplies and prepared himself for the hunt.
Leaving Cotorra Springs, Caleb headed south, veering off the main road and making his way toward the train tracks. The scenery was breathtaking, with towering cliffs and the Dakota River winding through the valley below.
As he approached the train track bridge, Caleb dismounted Morgan and walked to the edge, taking in the view. The ravine below was deep, and he noticed the remnants of a train wreck scattered across the rocky terrain.
His memory skill kicked in, recalling a Red Dead Redemption 2 forum post he had read long ago. The post mentioned hidden gold bars scattered throughout the world, some of which could be found without the use of treasure maps.
Caleb's instincts told him that the train wreck below might hold something valuable. Determined to investigate, he guided Morgan down the rocky hills, taking a detour to find a safe path to the ravine.
After a careful descent, Caleb arrived at the site of the train wreck. The wreckage was old, with rusted metal and broken wood scattered across the ground. He activated his Eagle Eye skill, scanning the area for any hidden clues. At first, he found nothing of interest on the outside of the wreckage, but his attention was drawn to one of the cargo cars that had an open side.
Caleb entered the cargo car, stepping over broken wood and scattered debris. The interior was a mess, filled with clothes, stones, and dirty cans. As he searched, he noticed a large chest partially hidden beneath a pile of broken boards.
He cleared the debris and pulled the chest out, opening it to reveal a bag filled with jewelry, a stack of dollar bills totaling 20 dollars, and a coin sack containing 13 dollars and 19 cents. Caleb smiled, pleased with the find. He placed the items in his satchel, adding 33 dollars and 19 cents to his funds.
Leaving the first cargo car, Caleb turned his attention to another one that was positioned vertically. The opening was high up, and Caleb knew it would be risky to climb. He searched the area and found several barrels and the chest he had just emptied. Using the barrels and chest as stepping stones, he carefully climbed up to the opening and entered the cargo car.
Inside, the space was cluttered with clothes and miscellaneous items, most of which were worthless. However, as Caleb jumped down to the bottom of the car, he spotted two gold bars gleaming in the dim light.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but laugh with delight. He quickly stored the gold bars in his satchel, feeling the weight of his newfound wealth, not figuratively but physically as well. Alongside the gold bars, he found a bottle of rum and a tonic labeled "Valerian," which he also took.
Climbing out of the cargo car, Caleb felt a sense of accomplishment. The train wreck had yielded more than he had expected, and he was eager to see what else he might find. As he made his way back to Morgan, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of optimism.
After his successful exploration and the discovery of the gold bars at the train wreck, Caleb took a moment to tend to Morgan. He patted her affectionately, fed her a sugar cube as a treat, and brushed her coat with the horse brush he carried inside Morgan's saddlebags.
Morgan responded with a gentle snort, nuzzling Caleb's hand as if to thank him for the care. Once Morgan was groomed and ready, Caleb mounted her and carefully guided her up the rocky hills, taking his time to ensure a safe ascent back to the road.
When they reached the top, Caleb paused to take in the view. The landscape stretched out before him, a patchwork of rolling hills, dense forests, and winding rivers. The Map function updated as he rode, revealing new locations and landmarks.
Caleb felt a sense of accomplishment as he saw the areas he had explored fill in with detail, as it would help him massively. He turned northeast, following the road from Cotorra Springs, eager to uncover more of the world.
As he rode, the name Waipiti Indian Reservation appeared on his map. Caleb's memory stirred, recalling the characters Rains Falls and his son, Eagle Flies, from the game.
He remembered how Dutch's manipulation had led to tragedy for the Wapiti tribe, and how Eagle Flies had been driven to desperate actions against Cornwall's oil company.
Caleb felt a pang of sympathy for Rains Falls, who had lost his son due to Dutch's growing instability and Micah's poisonous influence that eroded Dutch, either showing the true nature he had or causing the egomaniac to snap.
He resolved to keep an eye on the situation and, if possible, help the Wapiti tribe avoid the fate he knew awaited them and maybe even work alongside them.
Continuing his journey, Caleb passed through Calumet Ravine, a rugged area with steep cliffs and narrow paths. The road led him over a bridge, and he followed it southward until he reached Donner Falls.
The sight of the waterfall was breathtaking, the water cascading down into a misty pool below. Caleb took a moment to appreciate the natural beauty before pressing on.
Eventually, he arrived at Bacchus Station, a small train station nestled in the wilderness. The nearby Bacchus Bridge spanned a deep ravine, its iron structure weathered but sturdy.
Caleb decided to take a break here, setting up a small campfire near the station. He heated another pair of canned meals, meat, and vegetables, and ate while drinking from his water canteen.
Morgan grazed nearby, and Caleb made sure to give her water as well. The sun was high in the sky and, signaling that it was well past noon. Caleb hadn't realized how much time had passed, but he was pleased with the progress he had made and also made a mental note to buy a pocket watch at the general store.
After his meal, Caleb extinguished the campfire and mounted Morgan once more. He continued south, passing Fort Wallace, the old military outpost that stood as a reminder of the conflicts that had shaped the region and was still active military outpost.
The fort was quiet, its walls weathered by time but still stood strong, and Caleb didn't longer a long time because he knew guards were patrolling the wall of the fort.
He followed the road until he reached an intersection and turned right, entering Cumberland Forest. The dense trees provided shade from the afternoon sun, and the air was filled with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves.
Caleb took the left road and followed it through the forest, the Map function updating as he went. The road eventually led him to another intersection, where he turned left and headed south. As he rode, the landscape began to change, the dense forest giving way to open plains. In the distance, he saw the familiar outlines of Valentine's buildings. He had come full circle, returning to the town he now called home.
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Name:Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 6/10
- Charm: 4/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 1)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 1)
- Poker (Lvl 1)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 0)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)
Money: 262 dollars and 44 cents