Juan Manolo

Juan Manolo was the leader of the Manolo Guerillas, a small band of rebels who sought to retake land from the New Mexico Territory for Mexico in the 1870s. He is perhaps most famous for delegating a façade of leadership to his general Andreas Cassinello, while disguising himself as a Chinese merchant. Their hub of operations were centered in Quemado, which was also the site one of their infamous razing raids.

During Manolo's reign, his name was often passed around at funerals and many people in New Mexico feared the infamous razings that the guerillas wrought across the land. While his general, (who most thought to be Manolo), was more advert and passionate, Manolo himself was more subverted and conniving.

Manolo was a decorated military commander from Mexico, and once conducted a sailing expedition to Portugal and back.

## Early History

Manolo was born in Mexico City, and brought many of the stones from there to Quemado to build the Casa Estrella. He would later lease out the palais de chance to Lydia Monteran.

## Quemado

At the end of his six month terror, Manolo had sent word for the settlers in Quemado to leave within a week, and when they failed to do so he burned their village in a hit and run. The settlers got the message, and were in the process of leaving when James West arrived in the TR Edward. Manolo's haste was because of his transportation of arms and supplies over the next day in preparation of an immediate revolution. The arms in Quemado were reportedly significant enough to start a war and lose the Western Territories. West's objective was to capture Manolo within the next day and bring him back to Washington, or to kill him if all else failed.

### Meeting West

The destruction of Quemado was grievingly clear when James arrived, with only the Cold Bell Saloon and an apparently "Chinese" merchandise shop surviving amidst the wreckage of burned homes. Many settlers were leaving the town in wagons and caravans, with a small boy and his dog apparently staying behind with his grandparents. On the porch of the "Wing Fat" merchandise shop, an overweight and soft-spoken "Chinese" man spoke concerning West's "aura". Wing assumed that he was an ordinary traveler seeking merchandise, but West corrected that he's seeking to purchase information. Visibly interested, Wing invited West into his office.

West immediately noticed that Wing was oversized for an oriental, but Wing replied that they are "versatile". The lumbering Wing made his vices quite clear as he entered the shop, treating himself to a candy and pipe "a comfort in disaster", the latter of which West declined to share. West explained that Wing would receive a percentage of an offer being made to Manolo if Wing could bring him to him. Wing instead recommended a supposed friend of Manolo: the owner of the local palais de chance, Casa Estrella. After explaining that Lydia Monteran was the owner, Wing could tell that West knew her to which he admitted. It was indeed "fortunate" that both the shop and palace were spared in the recent raid. Wing gave West a card to give to Manolo in case the meeting is successfully arranged, defending the strange instruction as a sign of his cowardice and tendency for philosophy rather than confrontation.

### Travelling to Casa Estrella

Leaving the shop and entering Wing's carriage, Artemus was disguised as a Mexican usher to help keep an eye on the situation, and Wing asked West to tip him. Paul, the butler of the palais immediately recognized Wing at the door and while admitting that the establishment was closed, added that the salon was always open to him. There was no doubt that Wing was a consistent customer, and confessed that he enjoyed partaking in all kinds of gambling. While waiting to be introduced to the lady of the house, Wing commented that he "heard" that every stone in the palace was brought from the plaza of Mexico City, the knowledge being a hint to his true identity. West said little while waiting, and petted a caged cockatoo.

Paul and one other unidentified butler then brought the two upstairs to Monteran. Wing introduced West, and then left to play the little game which Paul had prepared for him. Monteran excused her other butler Bedford, and then became candid with West.

## "Wing Fat"

> *"You're the biggest Chinese I've ever seen." - James West*
> "We're a remarkably versatile race." - Juan Manolo
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## Death

> *"And so I die, and an invasion dies with me. For you, West, you get nothing. You're a fool!"*
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## Personality

Manolo was impulsive, and had vices for sweets, smoking, and gambling. He was enough of a gambler that he often gambled for anything and in any way. Being underspoken and relatively weak in physical confrontation, Manolo considered himself a "philosopher".

## Quotes

"Unfortunately, Mr. West, I am a coward as well as a philosopher. I will be satisfied with a generous percentage."

"Gambling is a passion with me, any kind of gambling."

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