Riding the open plains, setting up a homestead… and losing it all to disease, bandits, or the whim of nature’s unkind hand. Ah, yes, that ‘s what the West is all about!
Western Concepts
- search for gold, better land, furs, resources,
- battle, go to war, fight, feud with neighbours,
- protect the homestead, village, camp, rail line, rail town,
- explore a river, new land, prairie, island, forest, valley, mesa, coastline, lake, bay, mountain range,
- stake a claim, title, deed,
- stand up for your rights, the rights of your people, your land,
- stop the cattle rustlers, encroachment of the white man, raids on your farm,
- rob a stagecoach, bank,
- drive cattle, move a herd, round up the herd,
- be the best bronc rider, calf roper, cowboy, bareback rider, rodeo man, brave, warrior,
- take a vision quest, follow the elders’ advice, smudge, participate in a ceremony,
- take the Chisholm Trail, wagon train,
- root out the bandits, thieves,
- ride the rails in a boxcar,
- blaze a trail, scout the territory, adventure deeper into the continent,
- hold an outpost,
- make first contact
- traverse the mountains, desert, wasteland,
- break the land,
- lead the hunt,
- check the trap line,
- make enough money to buy the new rifle, ask her to marry you, stake a claim,
- prove your strength, live down your father’s derision, get her to marry you, restore the family honour,
- run some whisky, operate the still,
- restore law and order, impose law and order, defy law and order,
- go get the sheriff, marshal, police, NWMP, RCMP, cavalry, army, soldiers, officer,
Environments and Settings for Westerns
- desert, hills, high mountain vale, canyon, arroyo, mesa, draw, gully, gulch, gorge, pine woods, alpine, waterfall,
- main street, dusty road,
- old trail, track, road, route, corduroy road, railroad, turnpike,
- ancient city, ghost town, buried village, burnt out homestead, cursed hamlet,
- Pinewood Road, Spruce Hill, Alder Grove, Cedar Ridge, Lonepine Bluff,
- birch woods, poplar, aspen, oak, pine, larch, spruce, dogwood, hazelnut, chokecherry,
- bayou, swamp, bog, mangrove swamp,
- saloon, bar, tavern, pub, Ellery’s House of Libation, The Thirsty Calf,
- hotel, inn, hostel, boarding house,
- casino, gambling house, cardhouse, pool hall, gameroom,
- redlight district, bordello, whore house, bawdy house, brothel, massage parlour, cathouse,
- train station, way station, stage coach home station, swing station,
- mine, mine shaft,
- gold claim,
- section, quarter section, division,
- frontier,
- fur trading fort, military fort, police post,
- trap line,
- bridge, covered bridge, ferry, chain ferry, raft, ford crossing point, stone bridge, wooden bridge, rope bridge, swinging bridge over a gorge,
- camp, encampment,
- summer camp, winter camp,
- long house, lodge, wigwam, tipi, igloo, cedar longhouse, pit house, plank house, hide tent, lean to, reed home, winter house, shed house, wetu, birchbark house, grass hut, wattle and daub home (asi), pueblo, adobe, chickee hut, stilt house, wikiup, earthen lodge,
- sacred land, burial ground, burial mound,
- homestead, burdei, sod house, wattle and daub pioneer home,
- still house, distillery,
- fishing village, hunting village,
- civil war battleground, abandoned army encampment, remnants of a raided village,
- cafe, coffee house, tea shop,
- laundry, bath house, wash house,
- stable, hostler’s,
- jail, prison, chain gang encampment,
Characters for Westerns
- hoedown band members, minstrel,
- rancher, farmer, herder, shepherd, cowboy, cowhand, ranch hand,
- outlaw, brigand, thief, horse thief, rustler,
- sheriff, marshal, deputy, lawman, peace keeper, captain, soldier, corporal, lieutenant,
- mayor, chief, reeve, magistrate, judge, commissioner,
- native, aboriginal, Cree, Apache, Blackfoot,
- chief, shaman, elder, warrior, healer, clan matriarch, medicine man, brave, hunter, council member,
- corrupt politician, evil small town mayor, warlord, greedy rich rancher,
- gold panner, prospector, claimstaker, grubstaker,
- hawker, snake oil salesman, peddler,
- merchant, shop owner,
- posse, mob, band, group, gang, lynch mob, search party, detachment, outfit, throng,
- tailor, baker,
- undertaker, mortician, doctor, barber, barber-surgeon, dentist,
- banker, investor, money lender,
- raiding party, scouting party,
- Puritans, Quakers,
- slave trader,
- plantation owner,
- slaves, indentured servants, serfs, habitants,
- cafe operator,
- escapee, former captive, torture survivor, escaped conflict, fleeing slave,