SPF - The HypnoMechanical Theater, in Brazil

[J.K.Mosher]

Richards is carefully scaning the ground looking for the spore of his quarry.
His mind thinks back to his landing, and how quickly he got roped into this little
side job. Shaking his head at speaking before thinking he moved on down the trail.

Something was preying on the Rail workers . . . Richards knew it was one of the big cats,
just not sure which one, but what he could tell this cat had a taste for man.

Sorry finally clued in . . . we're in BRAZIL!!!

As he methodically worked his way down the trail; motion to his left grabs his attention.
Using the pre-arranged hand signal for spy-glass his porter/guide quickly hands him the
requested item . . .

"Oh crap!" Tossing the spy-glass to the porter Richards quickly unshoulders his Sharps
and lines up his shot . . .

Skills: Methods
Arithmetic: Calculation +1(Intelligence); Probability +1(Intelligence);
Marksmanship: Focus +1(Will); Aim +2 (Perception); Wait For It +2(Will)

Skills:Tricks
Calm Nerves (Add Will to Agility)

[J.K.Mosher]

I should have probably mentioned . . .
The Skill/Methods/Tricks are to see if I bag the "cat" stalking the hero.
I'm fairly sure that the report of the rifle will scare it off I miss.

[Onix]

I wrote up some in general just now, may need some tweaking. The cat is stalking so It's actually trying to beat Brisbane's Perception score but that might work out for the cat.

Since you already wrote down your methods and tricks I don't need to hide the cat's. The cat's response is. . .
Stalk - Agility +1 Perception +1
Smell - Perception +1
Observation - Perception +1
Pounce - Strength +3
Trick - Cat's Eyes "A cat can often disappear from sight and still stalk it's prey. It can also use it's heightened senses to avoid harm.
If the cat's perception score is higher than that of their opponent's, subtract the cat's perception score from their opponent's and add it to their agility score while this trick is in play."

Final scores
Agility 8
Perception 6
Strength 5

I'll post this, then compare the scores and figure out what happened.

[Onix]

Inexplicably the cat turns at the last moment into the brush, the 50 Cal thunders with Richards hoping the mass of the round would carry it through to the cat.

Brisbane jumps, startled from his solitude. The rest of his party comes running. Not expecting gunshots, they are very worried that someone is firing on Brisbane.

The cat lost the Agility duel head (9 to 8 ) on but with the Cat's Eyes trick it's Perception is 5 higher than Richards' so it's final score was 13 for Agility.

At this point Richards thinks that the cat will leave, especially now that the rest of Brisbane's crew has come running. He could go out and explain himself to the others so they don't start firing back, but he could wait and see if he gets another shot at the cat as it tries to slink away.

If you do want another shot, you could either try overwhelming the cat's Agility score or up your perception score with methods which will lower it's Perception advantage. The next turn however only two methods or tricks can be swapped out (for you and the cat). Also you used six slots (dagnabit I need a better descriptive name for that) Only 5 would be allowed (if you were looking at advanced rules, I'll address that. If not, there's no reason to muddy the water with explinations).

[J.K.Mosher]

Wasn't even looking at the rules to be honest Missed the whole 5 limit. Sorry

Side Note may want to add some "Tricks/Methods" for Hunters as Hunting is a skill
gained through practice.

Cursing his luck Richards reloads and signals his guide to head down. Knowing full well the cat will be
somewhere around Richards also makes sure his Colt is ready.

The man in the ludicrous hat watches Richards come fully into view from the brush, followed by and equally
well armed guide a few yards to the right. Shouldering his Sharps Richards eyes the man and his crew before
pulling his Colt and nodding to his guide to keep watching.

Walking past the man, Richards speaks, though his attention never leaves the surrounding brush,
"Real Tender Foot you are sir. A few beats more and you'd just be another one of those, walked into
the bush but never came back stories they write up in them monthlies sold to the youngin's at the general store."

Richards turns his attention to the man and gives him a nasty look, before returning his full attention to any
sign of the cat, "Better thank your lucky stars I was out here on a side job and not up in the mountains looking
for what I really wants." Richards looks at the man again, "Real lucky."

Deciding that the noise of the man's party is more then enough to keep the cat scarce Richards holsters his
Colt and waves in his guide. Pulling out a map Richards and the guide start pointing at various locations, all with
in easy walking distance as possible sites to check.

[Onix]

I'll let ES respond to that. . .

The cat seems to be gone, must've been a cougar of some kind, doesn't seem to be the animal that you've been hearing about. A cougar wouldn't have the strength to do what this other animal has done. No, the animal you want must be some kind of Jaguar.

[J.K.Mosher]

With his guide taking the map and pulling out a compass to get a bearing; Richards
fishes a weathered pouch from his satchel and proceeds to roll a smoke. Noticing the man
and his crew looking at him with more then a look of slight annoyance, Richards offers
the pouch of tobacco and rolling papers around but with no takers he shrugs his shoulders.

Putting the pouch away he pulls out some matches and thumbnail strikes one to light
the rolled smoke. Inhaling deeply and then exhaling the smoke through his nose he returns
his attention to the direction and location his guide is pointing to.

"You sure?" the guide bobs his heads yes, as Richards looks at his watch and then
the sky. "Its gonna get dark soon. Have to check that site out in the morning."

[Onix]

One of the guides in Brisbane's group looks over your shoulder as this is going on. "You're going up there in the morning? Haha. That's further than it looks, it will take you two days to get there. Trust me I've taken three parties up that way. There are swamps all through there. Lost a horse in a hole on one trip. It's better to go around by steamboat. We are going that way, Mr. Brisbane may get you a ticket if you ask him."

[Evil Scientist]

Sometimes when you are concentrating on something small as a butterfly, you ignore the huge things like feline carnovires. This happened to Brisbane - he was so consumed by his own hunt, that he ended up before somebody's gun. He got lucky though, he could hve ended up in a jaguar's gut. After the shock was gone, he turned to the unknown hunter:

"Holy smoke, dear Sir, you saved my life!"

He shook his hand.

"I can't believe I got lost in the jungle... never happened before. Never when I was out with a gun, and not a butterfly net. I'm David Brisbane. And of course I can get you a ticket to the ship. Even more...I'd like to invite you to join our journey up further the rivet."

If Richards's interested, Brisbane explains in a few words the goal of their trip.

[J.K.Mosher]

Richards gives Brisbane's guide what one could only describe as 'the gunfighter's eye', before
speaking, "Everything is always farther then it looks, but thanks for the heads up."

Richards tries to suppress a laugh, but ends up giving himself a coughing fit at Brisbane's 'lost' comment.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Brisbane. The name's Kevin Richards." Richards notices the gathering has basically
turned into a social, so he pulls out his tobacco again and rolls a fresh smoke. "Up river huh? How far?"

Richards interest is perked. Things have been a little tight this trip, hence him taking the Rail Company
Hunt, but if Brisbane and crew are going far enough up river, closer to the mountains even; it would
be worth the side excursion to get with in a couple days range of his dream hunt.