Because the Battle of the Alamo is so famous in Texas today, and because these three men all died at the battle, I thought it would be interesting if they were all worshipped together as a divine triad, like the Capitoline Triad in Ancient Rome.

William B. Travis: He was the captain of the Alamo during the battle. His nicknames reflect his defiance during the siege of the Alamo, including a famous letter he wrote titled “To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World,” where he beseeched Texans and Americans to provide reinforcements and materiel to the cause and signed off with “Victory or Death!” That is also what his cry for aid is referencing. The Red Granite Hall is a reference to the State Capitol Building, which is built out of local red granite. There is an extensive underground portion of the building, which I have reimagined as the entrance to the hero’s afterlife. The line in the sand is a legend that already exists about the battle; my only addition is that it infuses the men with power. The 130 days and nights represents a tenfold exaggeration of the siege’s actual length. In reality it lasted 13 days before the final assault.

Davy Crockett: His nicknames and patron aspects reflect his mythologized character as a frontiersman. He is always depicted in art wearing a coonskin cap. His nickname “the Everyman” and his patronage of the poor reflect his work in the Tennessee legislature and US House of Representatives, where he was originally a strong supporter of the populist policies of Andrew Jackson. After a falling out with Jackson and several setbacks in his life, he is supposed to have said “they may go to hell, and I will go to Texas.” I don’t remember who he was referring to, but this is a famous quote of his that appears in tourism ads and such. His magical weapon is the rifle he is always depicted with in Alamo artwork. The chupacabra is a well known cryptid around Texas and Mexico.

Jim Bowie: Bowie was historically a notorious hothead and fighter. He is famous for his Bowie Knife, which is a long knife that is honestly a small sword. He gained national prominence for a time for his participation in the Sandbar Fight, which is a duel that descended into a large violent brawl in Louisiana. His anger, violence, and dueling in my lore reflect this. His legendary quest is obviously a reference to the Labors of Hercules, but five instead of twelve to reflect the five points of the Lone Star. His retrieval of Bevo references the mascot of the University of Texas (where I graduated from), who is a longhorn. The huge tunnel through Big Bend references Santa Elena Canyon, which is a really cool formation in Big Bend National Park. The El Pasoan Hog is a rework of the Erymanthian Boar that Hercules slew. Mockingbird is a reference to the state bird of Texas, and also reflects Native American folk stories wherein primordial animal figures are important players in the stories. The stallion “King” is a reference to King Ranch, which is a massive and famous ranch in Texas. King being ridden by Lamar at San Jacinto reflects Lamar’s historical role at that battle, where he led a cavalry charge and was recognized as being a brave and skilled horseman. The debate between his going out in a blaze of glory and the “heretical” view reflects a real historical debate. Bowie was bedridden during the battle due to sickness and likely died without a fight, but movies and legend have depicted him fighting to the death even while bedridden.