Perseverance Tale – Horn and Blood - I
Part 1: The Tale and the Clan
"A man can own land, herd, and name – but out here, it's the land that owns him back."
– Harlan Coyle, Plainsfather of the Coyle Ranch
Cinematic Opening
The golden plains stretch beyond the horizon, wind rippling through tall thundergrass. A herd of ironhorns – massive beasts with glinting horn-plates – stampedes across the frame, kicking up dust.
An aging man on a ridge, silhouetted against the lowering sun. He watches the herd below. His hand rests on the grip of a plasma rifle slung low on his hip, more out of habit than intent. Behind him, a younger woman approaches, hard-eyed and sunburnt, wiping blood from a branding tool.
“Harlan,” she says. “They found fresh brands. Someone’s marking our calves.”
He doesn’t turn. Just spits into the dust.
“I knew this year’d be blood,” he mutters. “I just didn’t know whose.”
What This Tale Is About
Horn and Blood is a grounded, character-driven Tale rooted in the great plains of Perseverance. The protagonists are members of a ranching clan, caught between tradition, survival, and change, as they struggle to maintain their claim over a vast grazing territory while facing threats from nature, politics, predators, and kin.
This Tale shifts the spotlight away from smugglers and frontier sheriffs toward the slow-burn tension of land stewardship, intergenerational drama, and the cost of legacy. Whether you're raising ironhorns, fending off rustlers, or negotiating with a trade syndicate that wants your hide and your herd, every choice cuts deep – because here, family is everything.
Core Themes
- Legacy and Land: The land remembers. What your ancestors built – or broke – lives on in you.
- Family and Fracture: Loyalty to kin, rivalry among siblings, the burden of carrying the brand.
- Identity in Place: You are your land, your herd, your name. Lose one, and the others tremble.
- Predators and Prey: On Perseverance's plains, it's not always clear which is which.
- Unwritten Rules: A thousand spoken and unspoken customs shape your survival. Break them – or rewrite them – and watch what follows.
Structure of Play
Horn and Blood is designed to be seasonal and cyclical, echoing the rhythm of life on the plains – planting, growing, branding, harvesting, grieving, enduring. It's not a campaign about a single protagonist, but about a family, a clan, and the land that binds them. Characters rise, fall, age, and die – but the ranch endures.
Generational Play: The Clan Is the Character
Inspired by the long campaigns of Pendragon, where years pass between episodes and players adopt new generations, this Tale treats the clan itself as the true protagonist. PCs might begin as siblings and cousins, rival heirs, ranch hands or in-laws. But over time:
- They marry, feud, break away, or reconcile.
- They have children, raise them, and one day play them.
- They grow old, become mentors or ghosts, or fall in the dust.
Each generation reflects the scars and choices of the last, shaping how the ranch and the world remember them.
Campaign Phases: The Rhythm of the Land
The campaign is structured in seasonal arcs, each one defined by frontier cycles and turning points. Sessions may span days or months, with offscreen time between them.
Each season might feature:
- Spring: Calving season, birth and growth, old wounds reopening
- Summer: Branding, raids, feuds, courtships, high heat and high stakes
- Autumn: Trade, decisions, reckonings, harvest of both crops and consequences
- Winter: Death, ghosts, reflection, scarcity, stories by the fire
Between arcs, you may fast-forward a year or more, checking in on how relationships evolved, lands changed hands, or children came of age.
Troupe Play: Multiple Generations, Multiple Angles
Troupe-style play fits perfectly here. Players can:
- Control one main PC per generation, rotating focus between arcs.
- Take on secondary roles – a cousin, a rival, a worker – when needed.
- Explore stories from multiple perspectives: ranch life, offworld suitors, estranged branches, even the local town.
- Let characters retire, die, or fade, while keeping the campaign going.
Influences
- Pendragon (Chaosium): For the idea of yearly progression, dynastic legacies, and emotional consequences rippling across decades.
- Dallas / Dynasty / Yellowstone: For political family sagas, generational grudges, land as legacy, and the drama of blood ties vs. ambition.
- The Godfather (I & II): For shifting centers of power inside a family as its world changes around it.
- Dune (novels & film): For the deep ties between land, lineage, and responsibility – and the sacrifices demanded to keep them.
- Stories of Clan-Based Societies: From Celtic sagas to southern gothic to Andean ayllus – societies where family is destiny.
When the Seasons Turn
Time on the plains doesn’t rush. It circles. Each branding, each first frost, each calf born and kin buried – it leaves a mark. Not just on the land, but on the people who live from it. In Horn and Blood, time isn’t just background. It’s the crucible that forges generations.
The Season Turn
At the end of a seasonal arc – or whenever the story takes a breath – the table can pause and ask: what changed during the time we didn’t see?
This isn’t bookkeeping. It’s storytelling.
Reflect together on a few or all of these:
-
What changed in the clan this season?
- Who was born, married, buried, or exiled?
- Did the family grow tighter – or fracture further?
-
What shifted in the land?
- New storms, predators, laws, settlers, or ruins uncovered?
-
Who rose – or fell – in power?
- Within the clan, or in the neighboring ranches and factions?
-
What story seeds were sown?
- Old vendettas rekindled? A strange dream passed through generations?
Answer only what inspires you. Leave gaps. Let the dust reveal its truths in time.
Seasonal Advances
After each Season Turn, players may choose one personal advance per character. These don’t represent skill checks or training – they represent life lived:
- Grow: Add +1 to a key ability, or define a new breakout.
- Evolve: Rewrite an ability that no longer reflects who you are.
- Pass the Torch: Retire your PC and introduce a new generation – an heir, apprentice, or successor.
- Forge Ties: Add or change a Relationship or Reputation keyword.
- Change Role: Step back as a secondary character, or step forward into focus.
The GM can evolve the broader world too: new laws, shifting alliances, rising threats, fading traditions.
Growing the Clan
As part of the Season Turn, take a moment to ask: How did the ranch change?
You can express this narratively, or choose a clan development – a symbolic tag, keyword, or advantage to reflect how the family has grown (or paid for growth):
- Stronger Reach: The clan gains influence – through alliances, trade routes, or marriages.
- New Assets: A new pasture, fortified barn, hybrid herd, or black-market partner.
- Tighter Bonds: Internal trust, loyalty, or ritual strengthens.
- Legacy Rekindled: A forgotten ancestor, prophecy, or rival reasserts themselves.
- Cost Paid: Something was lost – a family member, a field, a tradition – to secure something else.
These can manifest as Community Keywords, tags, or simply truths everyone at the table respects.
Generational Tags
When you create a new PC from a later generation, give them a Generational Tag – a short phrase rooted in the world their predecessors shaped:
- “Born during the drought”
- “Heir to the fracture”
- “Never knew a united clan”
- “Blood of the outlaw brother”
These tags can be used like temporary narrative modifiers: grant a +5 (or –5) when they shape a contest.
The Land Remembers
In Horn and Blood, the dust keeps stories. Whether your campaign spans five seasons or five generations, the land and the family carry every mark you leave.
Play to find out:
- Who inherits your brand?
- What truths will be remembered – or buried?
- And what will the land demand in return?
The Clan at the Center
At the heart of Horn and Blood is a family. Not a happy one, not a united one – but a real one. The Coyle Ranch is an old, stubborn holding on the southern edge of the Thundergrass Expanse. It has survived three generations of drought, raiders, predatory syndicates, and internal betrayal. It’s not the biggest ranch on the plains – but it’s one of the few that still holds to its own damn code.
The land is lean. The ironhorns are fierce. The neighbors are watching.
And the Coyles are cracking.
History of the Coyle Ranch
- Founded 70 years ago by Salvadora "Sal" Coyle, a pioneer matriarch and ex-ice runner who traded a broken leg and half a mining claim for a herd of six ironhorns and the deed to a cursed stretch of grassland.
- Sal’s “iron rule” held the family together through the Scarfire Winter and the Morgan Range Feud. She branded with her own hand until the day she died – then burned her brand into her own coffin.
- The ranch passed to her son, Harlan Coyle, who expanded the territory but failed to hold the family together.
- Today, the Coyles are respected – but not feared. Rich in land, lean in bodies, and fractured within.
The Coyle Holding
- Location: Just west of the Hollow Knife River, hugging the boundary of Commonwealth-sanctioned territory and independent ranchlands.
- Terrain: Thundergrass plains, prone to flashfires and ironhorn stampedes. Rich seasonal graze – but frequent rustling and predator activity.
- Assets: Two major herds (totalling 1300+ head), a fortified main house, outlying bunkhouses, a flooded quarry-turned-irrigation pond, and an aging repair skiff with no working stealth systems.
- Challenges: Rot in the east pasture fencing, half a dozen uncollected bounties on rustlers, and the quiet rumor that a Virelli envoy was seen drinking with Joen.
Members of the Clan
Here’s the immediate circle of Coyles and key hands – all playable, modifiable, or expandable into their own drama arcs:
🧓 Harlan Coyle – “The Plainsfather”
Sal’s only surviving child. Gruff, methodical, and deeply tired. Once a sharp shot and a fair leader, now half-lame from a skiff crash and unable to admit the world’s moved on. Sleeps in his chair more than his bed. Trusts no one with the brand.
- Keywords: Ranch Patriarch, Ironhorn Breeder, Broken Legacy
- Breakouts: “Knows every hoof by name,” “Stared down stormclaws,” “Ritual morning dust-raking”
- Flaw: “Keeps the peace by never choosing a side”
🔥 Mira Coyle – “The One Who Stayed”
Eldest daughter. Former Commonwealth cadet – left before graduation under quiet scandal. Runs most day-to-day ranch operations. Respected by the hands. Fears she’s becoming her father but won't say it aloud. Deep loyalty to the land, not the name.
- Keywords: Ranch Boss, Ex-Commonwealth Brat, Hard-Eyed Strategist
- Breakouts: “Knows the ledger and the terrain,” “Steel in her voice,” “Shoots to warn – then not again”
- Flaw: “Distrusts kin more than strangers”
🃏 Joen Coyle – “The Prodigal”
Younger brother. Charismatic, slippery, dangerous. Spends half his time at the ranch, half among smugglers and rust runners. Everyone’s sure he’s working a side deal – no one knows with who. Still claims a stake in the ranch he’s never worked.
- Keywords: Rogue Son, Plains Diplomat, Rustler Kin
- Breakouts: “Laughs in the face of buyouts,” “Knows every trail and every sin,” “Could lie to a thunderbeast”
- Flaw: “Never met a bridge he didn’t burn”
🌒 Ash – “The Wild-Blood”
Adopted after being found in a collapsed canyon shelter as a child, with no name and a silver pendant no one recognizes. Raised by Mira. Speaks to the ironhorns like they listen. Keeps ritual scars hidden beneath the work shirt. Maybe not who they think they are.
- Keywords: Ironhorn Whisperer, Plains Tracker, Unanswered Question
- Breakouts: “Never seen spooked,” “Walks through herd stampedes,” “Tells stories to calves in the dark”
- Flaw: “Trusts beasts more than people”
🐍 Davin Locke – “The Fixer in the Barn”
Former trader who stayed after losing everything in a bad syndicate deal. Now he runs logistics, moonshines on the side, and knows too many secrets. Mira trusts him. Harlan doesn’t. Probably has at least two escape plans.
- Keywords: Ranch Quartermaster, Debt-Buried, Half-Retired Smuggler
- Breakouts: “Knows every supply route,” “Can rig anything with rust and prayer,” “Lies better than he trades”
- Flaw: “Saves himself first”
🐴 Thorn – “The Last Horn”
An ancient bull ironhorn. Sal’s favorite, long past prime but kept alive for tradition and fear. Rumors say he’s killed more rustlers than any ranch hand – and once trampled a Commonwealth skiff. Too big to breed, too mean to put down.
- Tags: “Doesn’t fear fire,” “Remembers who fed him,” “Sheds blood on the full moon”
- Function in play: A living legend, a timebomb, or a guardian spirit – depending on how you treat him.
Creating Your Own Clan
Maybe your story starts in the shadow of the Coyles. Or maybe it doesn’t. On the plains of Perseverance, every brand has its story – every clan its scars. Yours will be no different.
This section helps you create a custom ranching clan at the center of your Horn and Blood campaign.
Step 1 – Define the Legacy
Ask the group:
- 🪦 Who founded the ranch – and what did it cost them?
- 🏚 What’s been lost, and what has never changed?
- 🤝 Who do they owe – a debt, a grudge, or a promise?
- 🗺 Where is the ranch located? Near riverland, in predator territory, on a contested border?
Write a short paragraph of history. Keep it grounded, with 1 or 2 pivotal moments the family never forgot.
"The Darrow clan settled the east ridge after a Commonwealth patrol abandoned the frontier post. They kept the land, the weapons, and the guilt."
Step 2 – Name the Clan and the Brand
Choose a family name (or earned title), and design their cattle brand:
- Simple symbols: ⚡ 🔺 ⬙
- Two initials intertwined (e.g., “RC” for Redclay Clan)
- Mythic iconography: burning tree, open eye, twin suns
Your brand symbol becomes a totem – and a battlefield.
Step 3 – Assign a Clan Keyword
Choose or create a Community Keyword for the clan. This acts like a shared cultural, historical, or spiritual trait all members carry.
Sample Clan Keywords:
-
Dust-Bound Legacy “The land took our blood – so now it knows our name.” Breakouts: Unshakable endurance, family lore, stubbornness as armor
-
Old Warblood “We came here as soldiers. We never learned to stop.” Breakouts: Tactical instinct, military discipline, unresolved trauma
-
Wildland Adherents “The herds aren’t tamed. Neither are we.” Breakouts: Ironhorn empathy, ritual branding, animal combat
-
Trade-Bred Survivors “We never had much land – but we knew how to deal.” Breakouts: Fast talkers, river trade contacts, black market ties
-
Shattered but Standing “They burned our old house. We built a better one in the ashes.” Breakouts: Clan unity, rebuilding skills, vengeance held close
Each player can invoke the Clan Keyword when it fits a roll – or rewrite it as the story evolves.
Step 4 – Sketch the Web
As a group, name 4–6 key figures in or around the clan. Not all need to be PCs. Include:
- One aging authority (e.g., a matriarch/patriarch, or a rival who refuses to die)
- One next-generation lightning rod (rebellious, uncertain, too ambitious)
- One outsider or adopted member
- One antagonist within the family (or a secret traitor)
These characters should have strong ties (positive or painful) to at least two other people at the table.
Optional: Add a Generational Tag
Start with a clan-wide Generational Tag, such as:
- “Born after the Fall”
- “Raised under the Debt”
- “Children of the Storm Year”
Players can customize their own tags or inherit the shared one as part of their backstory.
Troupe Play and Character Creation
Horn and Blood is a perfect match for troupe-style play, where the story follows not a single hero, but a living community – one that changes, fractures, and regenerates over time. The ranch isn’t just a place. It’s a shared anchor, a stage, and a memory.
The Ranch Is a Character
The ranch itself – whether it’s the Coyle holding or a clan of your own design – serves as:
- A persistent narrative space across seasons and generations
- A repository of legacy, tradition, scars, and reputation
- A mechanical and emotional center through Community Keywords, relationships, and shared resources
Players can move fluidly between characters, zoom in and out of focus, and even retire PCs mid-campaign when the story demands it. What matters is the story of the clan – not just who’s holding the branding iron this season.
Types of Characters
Below are some of the roles most often found in the clan’s orbit. Any of them can be central, supporting, or slowly take the spotlight as the story unfolds.
🐂 Ranchers, Wranglers, and Traders
These are the ones born or bonded to the brand – the people who know every hoof in the herd, every fencepost on the range, and every cost of keeping the land. Some are loyal hands, carrying the weight of expectation with quiet pride. Others are heirs who never asked for the burden. A few are already half out the door, bitter but unable to let go.
🐾 Scouts, Trappers, and Rustler Hunters
Living half a life out in the wild, these characters are the eyes and teeth of the ranch. They’re the ones who ride the perimeter, know the signs of a storm coming, and can smell trouble before it crests the hill. Some are solitary survivalists. Others are respected for their grit. And some are barely tolerated – too wild for comfort, too useful to dismiss.
🧨 Outlaw Cousins and Wandering Kin
Blood ties run deep, but not always clean. These characters are family by name, but carry scandal, betrayal, or exile in their shadow. Maybe they were run off years ago for something they did – or something they refused to do. Maybe they show up with debts, lovers, or old wounds trailing behind them. They bring danger, memory, and the chance for redemption – or a second betrayal.
🔧 Workers with Their Own Agendas
Not everyone at the ranch is family. These characters are mechanics, hands, drivers, brewers, or cooks – the people who keep the ranch running and have their own reasons for staying. Some are fiercely loyal. Others are opportunists watching the balance of power. They may be more trusted than kin – or the first to walk when trouble hits.
🗣 Community Allies and Enemies
These characters live outside the ranch, but are drawn into its gravity: a fence-mender from Breakstone with a long memory, a preacher who sees omens in the ironhorns, a Commonwealth defector who wants a quiet life but carries a tracker. Whether they’re friends, rivals, or something in between, they represent the world pressing in – and the choices the family must make to survive it.
Rotating Spotlight
Players can switch focus between sessions or arcs:
- A PC ages out, and their child steps in
- A side character becomes central in a Crucible Moment
- The heir leaves for five years, and someone else steps up
You can even frame some arcs from the perspective of the ranch’s rivals, or introduce flashback episodes with long-dead ancestors shaping the current conflicts.
Community Keywords at the Core
Each character should tie into the ranch’s Community Keyword (or one of its branches):
- Old Warblood – Characters carry scars or instincts shaped by a militant past
- Dust-Bound Legacy – Characters inherit burdens, responsibilities, and pride
- Shattered but Standing – Characters know what rebuilding takes – and what it costs
Breakouts can reflect personal traits, roles, or subcultures (e.g., Born in the Dry Years, Too Young to Remember Sal, Fence Watch Veteran).
Character Growth Through Time
With every Season Turn, PCs may:
- Advance, retire, or reinvent
- Shift into mentorship or memory
- Pass the spotlight to a new generation
Characters can evolve across decades, not just mechanically but thematically. Their beliefs change. Their relationships fracture or deepen. Their stories echo in the next.
One day you’re the wild cousin sneaking off to Breakstone. Five seasons later, you’re the tired hand warning your own nephew not to do the same.
Closing Thoughts
Horn and Blood begins with dust, blood, and silence — not with explosions or battles, but with the weight of what came before. It’s a Tale about staying put, about what happens when you don’t run, when you choose to hold the line even as the land shifts beneath your boots.
Whether your players are heirs to a proud legacy or bastards clinging to the edges of one, they’ll shape the ranch as much as it shapes them. The land remembers every deal, every betrayal, every footstep in the tall grass. And it’s waiting to see what kind of mark your clan will leave behind.
In Part 2, we leave the homestead and ride into the world beyond — to face rival brands, quiet betrayals, and the long shadow of the Commonwealth.
The plains don’t care what your last name is. But they never forget it.