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John Godric Broyles was born in Galveston, Texas, in 1837. His parents were early American pioneers to the

newly established city. Having heard of the new Republic and the many opportunities available in Texas, they

moved there from Virginia just as interim President Burnet relocated the capital to the fledgling island town.

Growing up fast, John was a patriotic Texan, proud of his Lone Star Republic and fiercely defending its

independent spirit as it stood between Mexico and the United States. Once annexed, he remained a staunch

Sectionalist, wary of the northern-aligned Federal government during his formative teenage years.

Portrait of John Godrics parents, John and Marian Broyles,

found among his final possessions.

When the Civil War broke out, Federal troops remained in occupation of the naval base at Galveston, much

to the local populations dismay. For two years, his father worked hard to undermine the federal authority in

the area. At 24, John joined the Confederate army hoping to defend Texas against Union incursions. He was

an expert marksman. Fellow recruits marveled at his accuracyparticularly with a pistol. He was proud to

participate in Galvestons liberation under Major General Magruders campaign in 1863. During a brief leave

granted for gallant service in the field, John learned of his fathers execution under a federal indictment of

espionage. He was devastated. His mother died of grief a few short years later. John, without siblings, was

alone. He grew hateful and would later blame his curse for the death of his parents.

Only known photograph of Lt. John Godric Broyles, 1862.

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After the passing of his mother and the end of the war, the troubles began. It started with some rather

mundane ill lucka bad run of gambling losses, a small fire at a local tavern he often frequented. Then

things simply escalated. Galveston was hit by two consecutive hurricanes just after he had made some vital

repairs to his familys home. After the second storm, the house would never rise again. He left Galveston

then, but the misfortunes followed. After the train he was travelling on derailed, John rode on horseback

toward Santa Fe, itching for a fresh start. The horse went lame a day into the overland trail. He walked therest of the way.

A string of poor relationships with what appeared to be promising young women truly affected John. He

sought advice from a local Catholic priest. The priest had a heart attack the following day. John felt the curse

strongest then. He visited a medicine man of the Navaho tribes nearby. The man reluctantly offered him

advice: he should see a healer he knew of in Mexico. He would have his answers.

Leaving promptly, John managed to arrive in Mexico without too much issue, only to bring upon the

unfortunate populace a minor earthquake, occurring just as he had checked into the local inn. He did not

stay long.

After some time, he found the healera Juan Vicente Chapultec. The native informed him of the spellslinger

legend and the curse associated with it. John had always wondered how he had become so proficient with

his pistol. At the time, the healer informed him there was no way he knew of to break the curse. Perhaps

the seeking of justice was the keyit was what motivated earlier spellslingers of legend, so there could be

something to that. Under Chapultecs guidance, John made some modifications to his .45 caliber Dragoon

Colt. He prayed with the healer. After a harrowing Aztec ritual involving the inhaling of grounded lapis lazuli

and the ingesting of boiled California condor dung, the transformation to spellslinger was complete.

Moments after the Aztec ritual, 1867, painted by Chapultec.

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Throughout his life, John would seek justice and an end to his curse. Knowing misfortune followed wherever

he went meant he never remained at any one place for long, nor did he wish anyones company for any

extended period. Not that he ever minded the lack of contact with others. John Godric was never very good

at socializing. His frustrations in life along with the company of soldiers he kept for a time led to a sour

disposition that bordered on vulgar and abrasive on a good day. He was a loner, and it seemed that most

people who got the inkling of who or what he was, preferred it that way.

John met up with his most long standing associates while leaving Mexico in the hopes of returning to Texas.

A machete-wielding priest by the name of Padre Montoya was fighting off what he claimed were demons in

the mission town of San Marcos. He was caught up in the struggle and agreed to help protect the orphan

Asian boy left alive after the towns utter devastation. At the moment, and for some time to come, John

believed, if the priest was devoted to fighting the injustices caused by supernatural entities, he would need

the help of some supernatural powers of his own. Plus, John could always provide his sharpshooting skills.

The three left the smoldering San Marcos and crossed the border to the United States.

John Godric Broyles (in black), circa 1870, artist unknown.

There, they met up with an Apache scout and a rich academic patrona curious pair who had reasons of

their own to document the strange occurrences that would follow the spellslinger, the violent priest, and theChinese orphan they protected. Together, they hoped to bring the insane brand of justice only a spellslinger

and his motley crew could provide the Old West.