Del Lobos

## Introduction

The **Del Lobos** is a notorious and violent gang that roams the Western part of Odessa and are primarily seen in New Austin between Thieves Landing and Tumbleweed.

## History

The Del Lobo Gang consists of mostly Mexican men who are outlaws, exiles, or opportunists. The dispute between Mexico and America has brought this gang to the town of Thieves' Landing, which they use as their main base. Here, they steal, fight, and often kill people.

Though the gang is mostly comprised of Mexicans, and seem to be in conflict with the US Government over long-standing tensions after the Mexican-American War (somewhat parallel to the Lemoyne Raiders, who are similarly at odds with the government over the Civil War), they appear to allow Americans into their ranks. American members can sometimes be seen throughout New Austin, alongside their Mexican counterparts.

While their main base is the notorious Thieves' Landing, they also operate out of Fort Mercer, a long-abandoned American military base in Río Bravo, the village of Twin Rocks, the old mining settlement known as Gaptooth Breach, and the abandoned farm of Solomon's Folly.

## 1899

As of 1899 Del Lobos are scattered all over New Austin and West Odessa. However the gang is split into small roaming bands/posses. One posse is recently formed and led by a long time member of the Del Lobos, Francisco "El Cascabel" Gonzalez. Gonzalez was pushed to create his own posse and away from the larger groups of Del Lobos due to their fear of him. Gonzalez banded several other Lobos together along with various other criminals from the West. Men like Miguel Lopez, Javier Osorio, Pancho "El Cucuy" Zapata, Jose Carza, and Lazaro "Coyote" Santiago. Francisco led these men deep into New Austin and swiftly laid claim to the small farming town of Tumbleweed just east of Gaptooth Breach and west of Armadillo. No one in town dared oppose the new occupiers.

## The Law

Within a very short period of time, the new posse began sweeping across New Austin and bringing with them a wave of violence and criminal acts. A robbery of the Blackwater Bank resulted in a shoot out with the deputies there as the gang rode out of town. However the act that seemed to spark true contention with the Law was the humiliating robbery of Sheriff Thomas Hoop of the Strawberry Sheriff's Office. El Cascabel and the Del Lobos robbed him and a man named Kidd Kash of their money, but more importantly Hoop's brand new rifle. They left the men hogtied in the woods north of Strawberry and fled. However, not before leaving Hoop with the name of his robbers, and doing so with pride.

Several days later, Sheriff Hoop with the help of several deputies and men from the Blackwater Sheriff's Office rode to Tumbleweed to confront the Del Lobos and hopefully take Cascabel into custody for the theft. However, the end result was a gunfight with a few Del Lobos, resulting in all but 2 Deputies being gunned down and only Miguel escaping. Cascabel was not present for the exchange and learned of the shootout a day later. Cascabel ran into Hoop outside the Armadillo Bank where he surprised Hoop. Hoop realized he was unable to take him in then and there as they both were alone in an infected town and they rode in opposite directions, subtly vowing that this was not over.

## Lines In The Sand

With Cascabel's Del Lobos faction firmly founded in the far west of New Austin, they began to roam and raid where they saw fit. He and his men hit banks and travelers through West and East Odessa.

Sometime later when he was yet again on a trail ride out of state, Cascabel's men robbed many of the banks in Odessa including Blackwater again. Deputy Jackson from Blackwater was furious as a rough agreement had been made to leave Blackwater alone in exchange the law would leave Del Lobos alone. Cascabel again rode for Blackwater to speak to Jackson on the matter as he learned warrants and bounties were being posted for him specifically. Jackson informed Cascabel that Coyote was wanted for the robbery and if the Del Lobos didn't pay him $30 for the bounty/warrant, he would have no choice but to arrest Coyote. Jackson stood toe-to-toe with Cascabel and his men as he declared this. Cascabel let Coyote make the decision regarding the payment to which he told Jackson he could shove it. Cascabel was the solitary man that visibly showed regret with this decision.

The Del Lobos returned west and began preparations for what they knew would be an armed conflict. However, instead, Jackson quietly wrote to Cascabel to vie for peace. Urging Cascabel to simply pay the $30 and have this be over in the letter. Coyote would not budge and stated he would not pay the bounty and if they wanted him, they knew where to find him. Cascabel and the others told him no matter what, they would protect him.

Late that night, as the group milled around their town discussing plans for an inevitable defense, a group of men were spotted in the stables. Before anyone know what was happening a posse of lawmen rushed at them from the stables and a full on gunfight exploded in the town. The shootout lasted only moments, and when it was over and the dust settled, only Cucuy was injured from the Del Lobos and all 5 lawmen were bleeding into the desert sand.

Sheriff Hoop, Deputy Jameson, Deputy Shepard, Deputy Slice, and Deputy Holtz were brought to the doctor's office and patched up by the local doctor. The Del Lobos then hog tied each of them and began questioning the lawmen. While all this was happening, a wanderer that had just recently stopped by Tumbleweed returned, Mr. Higgins. He was asked to stand by and wait as the questioning took place, however Higgins offered to dispatch all the lawmen for the Del Lobos as proof of his metal so they would let him join or at least live there. Before he could do anything, the lawmen announced Higgins was with them and in the blink of an eye Coyote shot him down.

After much questioning and discussion, the Del Lobos rode all 5 men, plus a patched up Higgins to Armadillo to be dumped there. Senior Deputy Baker arrived in Armadillo at the same time as the group and simply watched in amazement as the Del Lobos offloaded their hog tied lawmen.

As Cascabel left he reminded Hoop of the original deal made with Deputy Jackson. "Stay out of Tumbleweed. If we see a badge or lawmen there or nearby we will kill them and come back to Blackwater and make it our play-thing". The lawmen understood and Cascabel led his men back west.

## Armadillo Ambush

Sheriff Hoop and 5 other lawmen from the state headed to Armadillo after hearing from a group passing by that Del Lobos were spotted there. Coyote realized this after noticing that one of the people in the group passing by was a bounty hunter he ran into before. Coyote informed Cascabel that the bounty hunter headed back east instead of continuing west. Coyote and an other Del Lobo hid on roofs as lookouts, as Cascabel continued discussion with Emily in the saloon. Moments later the group of 6 lawmen showed up to Armadillo. Sheriff Hoop in panic saw Cucuy and fired a shot at him, which then erupted into a shootout against the 3 Del Lobos. All Del Lobos and Lawmen were shot down except for Sheriff Hoop and Coyote who had a lasting gunfight. Coyote was eventually shot down by Sheriff Hoop. Robert "Bobby" LaBeef, who had a friendship forming with Coyote and Asesino saw Hoop carrying Coyote and took the opportunity to shoot Hoop down to help the Del Lobos.

The Lawmen were grouped up together, hurt, and bleeding. Bobby helped the Del Lobos to the local medical office where their wounds were treated and later rode off. Only Cucuy went missing, and later it was found that Charles Hudson, the bounty hunter, captured him and ran off back to Strawberry where Cucuy was being prepared to be taken to the Fort. Cucuy ended up in the Fort, and right after the law prepare an other group of men to go after the rest of Del Lobos. After some deals that went on behind the scenes with Del Lobos and an other people, Coyote and Cascabel decided to turn themselves in. They made a deal with Under Sheriff Biggs, that they will do their time, and pay their fines as long as they are spared their life and are left alone in Tumbleweed. A promise for peace between Sheriff Hoop and his lawmen in Strawberry, as well as leaving Rhodes alone.

While Cascabel, Coyote, Cucuy, and Bobby LaBeef; who also turned himself in; A still free Del Lobo snuck around the Strawberry Welcome Center where he sneakily got inside and shot Sheriff Hoop down with a shotgun. Sheriff Hoop was left barely surviving the attack. It was never confirmed which of the Del Lobos it was. The rest of Del Lobos never confirmed or denied who it was, but suspicions were that Asesino was the culprit. Asesino left to Mexico and has not been seen since.

## Inactive Members

**Name, Nickname, Rank/Status**

* Miguel Lopez (El Asesino), Member
* Jose Carza (El Toro), Member
* Javier Osorio (Suerte), Member
* Bug (Mariposa), Member

## Deceased

* Francisco Gonzalez (El Cascabel) † , Founder / Leader
* Pancho Zapata (El Cucuy) † , Second in Command
* Lazaro Santiago (Coyote) † , Leader

## Former Members

* Robert LeBeef (Asada) , Former Second in Command - Sometime in August, 1899 left Del Lobos gang to take care of daughter.