tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18858418510532542112024-03-06T00:12:47.116-08:00Eclectic Expanding EmpiresWelcome to the Eclectic Expanding Empires of a wargaming butterfly, in here you will see a little bit of this and probably a lot of that.Mahotsukaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00157474177221485824noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885841851053254211.post-39177375390157794342011-10-23T07:49:00.000-07:002011-10-23T07:49:20.490-07:00Extract from the Journal of Col. Sterling Moustache (ret.)It was not without some trepidation that, in the summer of 1910, your humble correspondent, Col. Sterling Moustache (<i>ret.</i>) set out on safari into the hinterlands of southern Kenya. <br />
Although our intentions were noble – manly sport, the honest & lawful acquisition of ivory, and the protection of the simple natives from dangerous brutes – our company was somewhat of a mixed bag. <br />
My companion on the expedition was old ‘Peachy’ Keen, manager of the District Commissioner’s office in Randini. Peachy has become notorious locally for his readiness to regard anything that isn’t wearing a hat as ‘wildlife’, and a fair target. If you will address your attention to my chum Lawrence’s rather splendid photographs, you will see that Peachy is the fellow in the wideawake hat with the shabby weskit that makes him look like some sort of tradesman. <br />
Our expedition manager was found under dubious circumstances in a dockside tavern. One Albert O’Balsam, late of county Fermanagh, who boasted of his years of experience organizing expeditions. You could actually see mosquitoes fall from the air as they entered the haze of gin fumes which surrounded him. (He’s the fellow going about in his shirtsleeves, wearing a pith helmet which looks decidedly ‘army issue, other ranks’.) <br />
I myself am the chap in the bush hat with the rather rakish turned-up side brim – a feature which I found most effective at getting badly sunburned on one side of your face. <br />
We had been led into the UmBongo river valley by our Bantu scout, who informed us that this minor tributary of the Gallana river was the territory of a large and active pride of lions. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AGjMINXz7iNiJlEhpvpgq0Kg_y3GVINYCkDe-_O4lIePGV270HiYL0fPJ5IiyQgNQTma-Z3d4G5q-9BiJ578wp5u_ZlcDmNU_PqYL3vojJGt5iJ-DAiByjbcux13PtteaYQFkP4vkhIV/s1600-h/101_2450%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2450" border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagJl4s-wqUCTN9heOrrRykjayvIIEHvQH63b-WtJy_gTyU8n6hHh9_LPhIUv29WtsBtZm6ufKnnfx_Rga7mGm7zSL2vha_-7QfQ1PyYRyWmiDC3qAjJhICy0Z06Vjr3hCJvYjc9ZdigjX/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2450" width="470" /></a> <br />
Our safari came over the northern rim of the shallow valley just after sunrise, and stopped to take stock. The river flowed west-to-east, from right to left, as it were, with a significant bend around the base of a formidable hill which commanded the whole valley. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdmzZhD_LCvRS3ppyLjswgERU4pviTPWoDJtQWuxJMb3RC8VXHesTsigiaf3e7ofVA8kLNeZS1cM9uD1QYapho5coLTJDJEhZStil5FiFXoXEkWseCsWh7lE_AC2jp2pJAlTUq2ModJZ_/s1600-h/101_2449%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2449" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hgAJ4BogEX3MYl37lvic0sSA5gy82eXtsVx7uHzhgzlMVjpr86KtIjUuYGzTfbY2FqIUgsxpiSPWpITZdO_IPJSuTTcFuQ7T7QW6pu2QjUfeMCXaM2Bxk8MggN3PXl08DxDTiMqR1GaA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2449" width="471" /></a> <br />
To the east, the far bank of the river was obscured by a large swath of the most dense and forbidding jungle. It was plainly very bad country indeed, and I did not give much for the chances of anyone attempting to cross it. I determined that we should look for a crossing place at the river as close as possible to the hill, in order to ascend and take advantage of the view from the top. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdugOXrdAuBfBBSrBAxMmrwGdURuVpu6wRa3r3qrrIbhNzhaQQSrlxSAYcZ0EjO-VQZJhM1wNwmeNGgrsuKDG29-Han0-hIsY_4p4plXUzX5f5JrWx9m0p0M0Vl8Jb4nh9-5y6taWMqEjd/s1600-h/Image1%25255B11%25255D.png"><img alt="Image1" border="0" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMb_1r3GvbDxr1ntbwzMhvo9eFJKc6VoKPYXf3ZecgQvk3IURg98sly6xtzwdVD_hHC8pbnCbsXzgukKdMmunir4l3NMGaD9p1OS9XZOQx07QxvAPV2h2ObXHBUMqB2TemIHPGZ8SdSCi/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image1" width="473" /></a> <br />
Our order of march was somewhat unconventional. Our two ‘Guns’, Peachy and myself, proceeded ahead, myself on the left & Peachy on the right, each of us accompanied by three Askaris, with our scout in between both groups, close enough to indicate targets to either. <br />
The rest of the safari, however, was less well-organized. O’Balsam proved to have no command whatsoever of our thirteen native bearers, and relied on four armed Askaris to herd the poor fellows like sheep, in no particular order at all. <br />
As we descended the valley’s gentle slope, our scout drew our attention to a brace of fine gazelles. Wind direction must have favoured us, because they showed no alarm at our approach. I allowed Peachy first shot, and he dropped his mark cleanly – the pelt only somewhat marred by his preference for excessive calibre! The remaining creature took off like a rocket, my own shot going nowhere near it. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j0jx7mMC4Ycj0du8LYODSxjEAwwUwqL5xPVGzeLocAULGNGf8EFqw-djTZ6jEJE-tY523RXz0CH1RM67LX4wVk9ItuEjSOj86350LrsJ-Ls2IJMQMtKVsuf_1SSJEEyGzVGJtVAtWmE4/s1600-h/Image3%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="Image3" border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Glc6sz4uj5oA_xt9vEsTb8SfYlryGRg7YaW3jPtFoGtELWqKure0D4_gogm9snc6STs7onph5wkLJjhhLue8up1rO6ZhPJ6BpbS9LixokkFDGfWMhzQQn616IEPyX-I6JmoMcCxl-FG/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image3" width="475" /></a> <br />
Deciding to wait for the bearers to come up and collect the trophy, we were perturbed to find that they had stopped moving entirely and gone into a huddle, and O’Balsam & his Askaris were scampering about trying to chivvy them on. After some time he managed to restore a semblance of order and Peachy’s prize was secured. <br />
Reaching the riverbank, we turned east in search of a crossing place, with Peachy & his Askaris in the lead, and soon reached some shoals which were as good as a natural ford. The moment the group set foot in the water, however, a scaly brute of a crocodile launched itself from the shallows and seized the hindmost man, a Zanzibari by the name of Mustafa. After a brief and confused scramble, Mustafa was dragged into the river, and all reservations about firing into the struggle had to be put aside. Shot after shot struck the beast, protected by its armour plating, before it finally expired. By this time its jaws had done their dreadful work and there was no hope for Mustafa. Sinister movement in the water made it clear that both bodies were beyond recovery, however. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6ZfuIKjiTcYTREccvpg7FoyqKyRVqYnuTTndHlp1R07pHFfNDuXnIziriODI7qjRjDJLBWYSPJEcF_YnKfJvT556b-h4vBkpWFITI4jFRQp2M71HIXMjY4MceYT_wUHyFuDFXTnc8MCN/s1600-h/101_2464%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2464" border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliCPH8WqrsYpAnSUK_TQpeeP-ru7PenVScMXfK5rVPJk92sOz5GKSGQm8UkqR6K8dS69xvdF2k80GTzbYF0GRn937hBloKgfG1zhnkcsvsjHGix8URecg6wYC-6iZ82GX2TxPZY7Da9eC/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2464" width="474" /></a> <br />
Undaunted, we pressed on, Peachy and his group crossing the shoal and starting up the hill. I myself was in midstream with my Askaris, when, with a start, I realised that we were not alone! Not twenty yards away, on the bank we had just left, stood a group of fearsomely adorned savages armed with shield and spear! Whilst we were on the north bank, they had been hidden from us by the undergrowth and the curve of the river. Now they were to our rear, and in position to separate us from the bearers. There was nothing for it but to put a brave face on and introduce ourselves. Taking our scout to translate, I sauntered over to bid them good morning. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANn4c65be4wzUAE9mvSZcAMUm8aaKNpj6NBW2PTBbg0CJJ0__YdZ3RiE3VbMzjf5TutARKpnHI-tv7KmmY5Hl7cV2rpB1ZJ_3dlkSzFt1edsg4n3jAFUuJGWW5DibgogKayAh91aEHxOs/s1600-h/Image4%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="Image4" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNQa0GWkElaU_WW9eQiikdNXErSLU4m8fnuHz0XQAcnM99sQXsyOBknK-jFT2kDhZKoXTXEJ_sfvzTfnf23AM-1ojTVd8bZH2UvMNWngfp6l_V6lGs9B_Ricd3QCbBuagZx55OibWGXtO/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image4" width="476" /></a> <br />
Things were pretty tense on both sides, when O’Balsam and his travelling circus reached the crossing place. Immediately, the bearers froze with fear, and when O’Balsam and his lads set about them, they broke and ran, dumping their packs on the bank and splashing through the shallows, straight for that daunting patch of thick jungle I had been so concerned about! I quickly detailed my Askaris to get the bearers back in order, and they, together with O’Balsam’s mob, soon had them shepherded back in column. <br />
This comedy of errors broke the ice with our new neighbours, who turned out to be Masai, and splendid fellows they were. They bestowed upon me a Masai name, which means “He-Who-Can’t –Get-Good-Staff”, and told us that a notorious rogue lion, grown old and usurped from the pride by younger males, haunted the south-east fringes of the pride territory. The conversation had turned to the merits of ostrich-feather headdresses, when we were interrupted by shouts of alarm from across the river! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r-k62axHA9BtkSkbX3PZ-8fMXws28MFXYBpTPsA0j6VfhPucBXnpvIuN_TrvexjyNQfT5Ri03AV1AqxKbI2tGJ6S9dywOg2ZNMmk4ZNNFZ9mqi5a9yMRA1rgUCpwvhCcB2rRve8Ur7ge/s1600-h/101_2472%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2472" border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfc0XAygY7GhTWAHnWKsmKphPNwV_zDdIrm5D_eyKhi3RLhwqjJsAKeNsmm1rVRNe41Bh7CWxvJQhvSRMhrvpCZ8x3INudp-h124vETwUAmUHf_IfOp5lPzctb3gBLqF_2Vuf9jiRhhzj/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2472" width="475" /></a> <br />
Peachy and his Askaris had reached the brow of the hill... and had been immediately confronted by a large group of Samburu tribesmen rushing towards them, waving their spears and yelling like banshees! Peachy and his Askaris opened fire at the natives, killing one outright and wounding another. They only had time for the one volley, however, before the natives reached them... <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr9pCTV0tSwYL_NZ8MF6E_EpD1t27lEIQLnBQWSd5mnbwXCKRpvA4SPr_P3AWvn7p829IjZidiMZdeU8ftCii6V8ayNOkYbvqQWYncgKXFLVVTw_qrNN15cGwgS1s60JJog-j06uAyUTc/s1600-h/101_2476%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2476" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpaNHs_cFJ41rVdh6XzRof4mTfccCSMwhy8QJeokezEyAwyjCEjIF_f_pdkFynIEhube0WMq08CGDPa2VPNd12JX_ubq6rf6ddP6dCnIlkGJaLaExFVHgD6Dg30Bah55WcgePw3L2cIN2/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2476" width="478" /></a> <br />
and continued running! Behind the natives, Peachy could now make out the cause of their panic: two lionesses the Samburu had surprised while hunting, now in hot pursuit of the unfortunate natives! <br />
Behind Peachy, the fleeing Samburu came over the brow of the hill. Predictably, the bearers took off like rabbits, back across the river. Politely excusing myself to the Masai, (who prudently withdrew) I sent my Askaris after the bearers, as O’Balsam and his group had more urgent matters to attend to. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQI7MuaJH-2WAb5ZvokfTb9y2VCAyj9xla78z8MqNXmJKwCqy7e-VEcoTwCMOB5DMVXv3OUugxVxiX-QOi1uLEQgsV1y_euJw7ZkW40TGHjh3csh9AT94qBm4aFgAhAW7p1uAdG7_um8iN/s1600-h/101_2478%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2478" border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcBHpZP5nBYuRF1BXOQHju5p7ZinV-WxrNlsN6IIKcMoQkAkwYc5XhSEEGscEZ8R42lcufEMacUqK364onkoL7j1F00G0uNSZAK_3Fk_q0aVhqoRDJazx_xOmhvkp8Jz6uf5qt94PUxaR/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2478" width="475" /></a> <br />
O’Balsam and his men made the same assumption Peachy had, and fired into the mob of Samburu, dropping two and wounding another. Finding themselves between the frying pan and the fire, the remaining Samburu split left and right, those on the left jumping down the sheer side of the hill into the reed beds, those on the right plunging into the jungle. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0fMd0sHaJF06kbC1rj3sNDhgwlLJWHfwS5IOwKnbvSM9OC2IXhbaXWF83IBZFAqDbA3ZBN9C3wrsh4cOwRCpxr-nqAWd5BcAXbC1VBAjhtO51BuoOrQekwIPIw47bKeJ6ZI2kS3A7Iod/s1600-h/101_2485%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2485" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFjNHvKpFQVkkMJDdT6JBOSDs-WEEx_QTJlFA6PKASdEPBChgGDglP_5VTjRdYr2_oSSPQi9RDfnQ1imvZ2CJhoLsrLDG4dEjxAtSZpk3CPakIBY6S9dJS0tMZzdTkbKCjwZ2gXbrbw4j/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2485" width="478" /></a> <br />
Meanwhile, back on the hilltop, Peachy and his Askaris turned their guns on the lionesses, managing only to graze them & infuriate them further. The beasts hurled themselves at two of the Askaris. One was immediately dragged down and fatally mauled, but the other managed to draw his bush knife and plunge it into the brute’s heart! By now, O’Balsam and myself were running toward the hilltop, and every gun was turned on the surviving lioness. But the fatal shot came from the same Askari who’d despatched the first beast! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtftcMoPvl7k2Ts7F7hT5AKb1z8bZIdm-nZOBtOr_9SMd9MRwhJG9X16pnHIDBEcqhn8NINiXsGA95gKkJhPnU04PE6XUhkta0MG_osvhb1HLzvGwIEIsYdQoWARt3CTS7U_KT1myZuIq8/s1600-h/101_2488%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2488" border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qjIGvacxzarOO3oQmzehycxp8ExHR-dH8WbnBBlBQuR20TfO1qmQbIA3PTkMD2SjTZDl66wpqxMUxsrC0ZZyogFsXLj-aceXNj1KxZlQP0nQNxf7KNoQTDD_JpMgQIGIRQ4L-0zm4M-N/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2488" width="473" /></a> <br />
The group reassembled on the hilltop to reorganize and to skin the lion carcasses. A great fuss was made of our doughty lion-slaying Askari, his comrades awarding him the titles ‘Simba’ & ‘Simbakuu’ for the single-handed slaying of first one, then two lions. <br />
After a fortifying tot of brandy we surveyed the lands to the south of the river from the hilltop. I determined to go east - to our left - from the foot of the hill, exploring the region the Masai said the Rogue Male had been seen around. <br />
With Peachy eagerly pressing on ahead, accompanied by Simbakuu & our scout, we moved out. At the foot of the slope, we spotted a group of four lions basking in the sun. Peachy wanted to “run down the hill and shoot one of those lions!” I reminded him that we were British sportsmen, and that the correct thing to do was to <i>walk </i>down the hill and shoot <i>all </i>of those lions. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWuhcGDmkBQ82IhF5qUYfoIE6oexv0DFplZJvrBgO2TEYjr8zgCj03Hr3YiQsFw__7LMTV8UZ565I_-Nelq93slX0j0uDjpPS9WIANux9kx6iaYAJ0NlxItBuvWuVZL-xkqhQUNW2marT/s1600-h/101_2489%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2489" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1sdrcuN8Gx2SF9n8sugvpmmk-AY5J3q1KA-5XakdqCVxCxwZpaCMuzSDthKUPyYL5C5DhHPmpscUyrn_9bzF-sGTwiTpUmobnIP1MJ9RIY5VzSKGRENFYBoUJET7TXX_dKr38CRZ4ha_/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2489" width="477" /></a> <br />
The lions, though, had no such reservations, and rushed Peachy’s group! I took aim at one of the beasts and fired – much to my annoyance, so did O’Balsam’s Askaris, from the top of the hill! (<i>I took the opportunity after the dust had settled to remind O’Balsam that the Askari’s were there to protect the safari, not to blaze away at every target and spoil the gentlemen’s chances of getting a trophy!)</i> <br />
Our bullets told, though: two lions fell dead – one to Simbakuu’s rifle - and one was wounded before they reached our chaps. One beast leapt at Peachy, while the other, already wounded, had foolishly chosen Simbakuu as its prey. My Askaris and I joined the fight, and I managed to brain Simbakuu’s beast with the brass butt plate of my Westley Richards .450. We had the most dreadful struggle to wrestle the remaining lion off Peachy, and when it finally succumbed, the poor chap was in rags. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9_tOM9PVmlrxa5PLGhHVRd5zCJA7eekYegPnlOgD1c6wk-JgYYdt-t3AaONUSSJOA9Fy8CQlou8VXX5cwvXvX_7qRClYoZQaCbAcvrzZ8MCKbyLLiIjAyWbHHn22iK-RH-cKP0WzByde/s1600-h/101_2492%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2492" border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvZGz3EQ9wWy1GQnaKY8qnnCtn7ew9s4-ZsyCOZ90vQj9c-S2CUz6w3b6PqPKB7sg749HKG71c9tc3Q2OhjIwI4sjlu0d0tKmpz1OccxWF7RnCZTIlMto41k46HBhBcaKg9Jp7PC1l0Ni/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2492" width="476" /></a> <br />
I enquired whether there was a traditional name for one who slayed <i>three </i>lions single-handedly. It turned out that there was: ‘The Long-Awaited One Who Will Drive the White Devils into the Sea’. Awkward moment, really. We decided to stick with Simbakuu. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsmtDvAsIrYXZf4oBO8HEFxAbLBq3DWt8YLlelOF3XlI5GfKZ7whU2p_ltp8lylo9FGrUnUrHeUWqtPcrfeS45B4Q-95_zEg6IoeTGa7tpvxWfTDhDIAG4oikBIGGBf7lMHEgsTolRnU4/s1600-h/101_2497%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2497" border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9u5Z8TBu1geX04e0WbmH6AK9WqX0EIg1HSDurDSAAyEaU3bAI_EPH_LIPLd-P1jswoRfkIRJNcNt1XMe1gdQz501Ff5b1R-2XhhdoJKCtm9sVuWN5GICMHO7HJajGA455V3H3Vg7qG9sL/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2497" width="473" /></a> <br />
With the day drawing to a close, we used the last of the afternoon to scout thickets and patches of rough ground further to the south-east. We started a handsome pair of gazelles, and invited O’Balsam to try a shot, as his chaps seemed to have everything under control for once. Using a double-barrelled 10-bore, he blew his delicate target to smithereens in a hail of buckshot. I myself pulled the trigger on a dud round! Thankful that I had heard the <i>‘Dead Man’s Click’ </i>while facing nothing more threatening than a Gazelle, I reloaded. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8f8d09kn7pwGMrmuhEYPZz7DhtOJRz2SGBYTj4EJ1txDUDaFZqYxc5M5xTg2essn7OwpA7xBJ5pGzx-MV-MnUMfk7QC5VHUJglEeE4DRvb9C1YFKy7d-POD3aDqpIxg1-qAUdc5dppEI/s1600-h/101_2499%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="101_2499" border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrz9li5eyEkYX9egv4m44YFbdyDJzoJjs_1NVD__aSpFmwGUsjWw-cwUIXOwKfQuWg6NhoMaevt5jcLkOghjlJLJlSrGreM8gboO-TXNR5CZCqoI-CAYWyhC-1kFECw6r2cQAMfhPR5pO/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="101_2499" width="476" /></a> <br />
At that moment, O’Balsam was once again required to go and bully the bearers, who had begun to inch back up the trail while he was otherwise engaged. Realising that we would have to make camp soon anyway, Peachy and I decided to beat one last thicket before calling it a day. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ6DwooZecKH7ZRz7x4mKZgL-ip9wO8QNx1LVIAY6iFgggfo1DoDcSSPQ_Dzn2t3rUsGEP7gLZuEe4SLsBjqtwAHm7EM4ia_6wUCSeiB21uFH5IbNaooogktXh4nonMObORyN8nN7OZjb/s1600-h/Image2%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="Image2" border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13bcgbEPzdzyfAPyzcGCFAzPVGT2vOmNNTc8bTMMo4yaBh0jidJn5DXaEDwCe_IdW7s4AV40bcl3jKRXSLjDEnUDH29IpBxFwnIGQU5_2IEJcRSiUZ9PaJa3ArrEuGHwO-VCoZsRpM0xG/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image2" width="478" /></a><br />
Approaching a dense patch of bush, we were faced by a huge, scarred, grizzled visage – it could be none other than the Rogue lion! We threw our guns to our shoulders and fired – Peachy missed altogether, while I made my only really good shot of the day, and dropped the brute stone dead.<br />
As we sat around the campfire, we reflected on a fine day’s sport, at the cost of only two dead Askaris. (Mustafa and that other fellow.) We had established friendly relations with the Masai, and shown the Samburu that it ain’t sensible to go running about and shouting native jibber-jabber at heavily-armed Englishmen. Pax Britannica, what? But... what if we hadn’t decided to try that last patch of bush, and had made camp within spitting distance of the old man-eater? What if we’d come across him <i>before </i>the gazelles, & me with a dud round in the breech? Well, that’s what makes it sporting, I suppose. And so to bed, lulled to golden slumbers by the sound of O’Balsam drunkenly cursing the bearers. <br />
<br />
Pictures by Lawrence (Mahotsukai) <br />
Commentary by Phil Hope (Norman D Landings)Mahotsukaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00157474177221485824noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885841851053254211.post-73524496221833687862011-03-17T13:09:00.000-07:002011-03-17T13:21:28.068-07:00Einardammerung!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NQKyjwxCVEwtH5jEc9_wdVOiyh7eVKUfjDPzB2snexsP6_tbrudYVyROX7zsb1lGpfJY92859cI2JwhO3bFTIHOPAvhZIEyJpailKgwKDyfOnce8XnGlPDwtIqZ4_gSilQFv-VTHJuEp/s400/101_2037.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cold grey dawn crept over the headland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one-eyed man drew his bearskin cloak around him and stared out at an empty sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a single sail broke the horizon.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Treachery, circumstance, or fate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It mattered not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ships weren’t coming.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He stood, shrugged off the bearskin and stretched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His breath was a thick white mist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few short cycles of the moon... and it would have been over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His pursuers cheated of their prey, his reputation enhanced by a year of victory after victory, the banners of his enemies hung in his hall.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But time had run out for Einar the Perpetrator.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bleak, isolated promontory - intended as an escape route- had become a trap and everything would be decided here, today...</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...at the point of a sword.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Campaign Background:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This game formed the climax of an ongoing campaign chronicling the blood feud between two Viking Jarls : Gunnar the Aggrieved, and Einar the Perpetrator. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(editor’s note: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://blog.tynesidewargames.co.uk/2010/06/viking-game-29th-june-2010.html">First Encounter</a> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://herkybird-richardbradley.blogspot.com/2010/11/einar-strikes-back.html">Second Encounter</a>)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Viking law, a man with an outstanding accusation of murder against him could be hunted down and slain with impunity for a year from the date of the accusation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he could escape justice for that long, the Fates were assumed to have judged in his favour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar’s year of outlawry was almost over,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and he’d thrived on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At large and undefeated, this was to be his pursuer’s last attempt to have their vengeance.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Rules:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were using ‘Sword & Dagger’, our club rules, by Richard (AKA ‘Gunnar’) available to download from Tyneside Wargames Club website.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They’re 1:1 skirmish rules for Dark Age –High Medieval forces of around 40 men per warband/retinue.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The points system and army lists had been substantially revised since our previous game, with drastic results for our force composition!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dramatis Personae:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar (Norman D Landings)</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwGAdPP92roGoh3SYRtLHoRzrhyphenhyphenHAq7V2Y1pdpdeYcYOwPb2zH67ndTJlQY0jgW0coICFuKVKFp1__Cmvbpg09VhIYoyvrE0Mec88Q0jCBDUQB9DY0s3ODcWo2AbbzZCWEd4S5M8wpICW/s1600/Image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwGAdPP92roGoh3SYRtLHoRzrhyphenhyphenHAq7V2Y1pdpdeYcYOwPb2zH67ndTJlQY0jgW0coICFuKVKFp1__Cmvbpg09VhIYoyvrE0Mec88Q0jCBDUQB9DY0s3ODcWo2AbbzZCWEd4S5M8wpICW/s400/Image2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A swashbuckling villain unashamedly modelled after Kirk Douglas’ character in “The Vikings”.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">His retinue had always been based around a solid core unit of armoured hirdmen with two-handed axes – but the rules revision had introduced random rolling for different troop and weapon types, and I had lost almost all my hirdmen on the turn of the dice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fielded two units of spearmen (one my faithful Saxon mercenaries, who had distinguished themselves in the last outing) half-a-dozen Baresarks, a handful of archers, and a large mixed mob of raiders with swords and hand-axes in varying armour.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guthrum (Mahotsukai)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmL41ozJkY8X7bOCOFdgpnqH4XfVeJfsvpiXeNyO3pp2xnu9LynN_WcPWYnDaLPIkeSd9y7qCIGV-vz04HLfJs4jmN7AIq8A0LCVS3j8CTtpUXWrTZT-57Csg3N52x9YPrZkcN1m3HT8v5/s1600/Image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmL41ozJkY8X7bOCOFdgpnqH4XfVeJfsvpiXeNyO3pp2xnu9LynN_WcPWYnDaLPIkeSd9y7qCIGV-vz04HLfJs4jmN7AIq8A0LCVS3j8CTtpUXWrTZT-57Csg3N52x9YPrZkcN1m3HT8v5/s400/Image3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar’s kinsman, therefore duty-bound to support him in the feud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be told, I got the sneaking<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>suspicion Guthrum disapproved of some of Einar’s more reckless exploits... but no-one could say he’d ever hesitated to take his place in the shieldwall!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guthrum was leading a scratch force of locals – mainly spearmen with a handful of slingers and two wandering Bezerkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Presumably his own warband was engaged elsewhere.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(in game terms, Mahotsukai had to organize his force on the day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at short notice.)</span></i></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunnar the Aggrieved (Herkybird)</span></span></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxImFwhv9Pq_bSYYsVew6iQX6JalukTwjzc5oK2xyD82FNnys6Hrog5yIYs_wz4sj1e1vwmGC_2vO1meCwz3E1phqhrDOWg1qen5LnBXf64OCK7o_ECLh3yQ9BfKywPamG1gNYKNtajgrg/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxImFwhv9Pq_bSYYsVew6iQX6JalukTwjzc5oK2xyD82FNnys6Hrog5yIYs_wz4sj1e1vwmGC_2vO1meCwz3E1phqhrDOWg1qen5LnBXf64OCK7o_ECLh3yQ9BfKywPamG1gNYKNtajgrg/s400/Image5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMSAr6YgYLzWpiGieC3F-gTpkmYMBvu6VUEKki1d6sBoy1xFLqKvv_JxXK6aIevlAVTKsd2iAeaqWAwydMBQ5Vu4kdcFSPglWpywxuTWRhvGQcGip9mkITC4vIKw8ETjCl-SPThjUUyZD/s1600/101_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMSAr6YgYLzWpiGieC3F-gTpkmYMBvu6VUEKki1d6sBoy1xFLqKvv_JxXK6aIevlAVTKsd2iAeaqWAwydMBQ5Vu4kdcFSPglWpywxuTWRhvGQcGip9mkITC4vIKw8ETjCl-SPThjUUyZD/s400/101_2044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still whinging a year later... tch, I ask you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If ‘Trisha’ was around in CE870, he’d have been on her show telling everyone how Einar done him wrong. Still, he’s a wrathful, hate-fuelled avenger in fine Nordic tradition, so it’s hard not to like the guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and since he went to Novogrod he hasn’t stopped wearing ridiculous baggy pants.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His force was composed of two solid spear units, with half-a-dozen slingers, a handful of armoured hirdmen accompanying Gunnar and his standard-bearer, and a handful of scouts.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trygg Olafsson (Ian)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXp7-jlJeALGqcYOOK0q4a0xe6Mxrt_zHqJMn124ovKbUCnX9eT2I4QZDoxTVrna6OSSLLMskFP5zbOSWOtn72Tcz5oDkG50EmAf_2ry0QFyIJU5ajx6w60LYFW3y_G7IBk0258lW_3BO/s1600/101_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXp7-jlJeALGqcYOOK0q4a0xe6Mxrt_zHqJMn124ovKbUCnX9eT2I4QZDoxTVrna6OSSLLMskFP5zbOSWOtn72Tcz5oDkG50EmAf_2ry0QFyIJU5ajx6w60LYFW3y_G7IBk0258lW_3BO/s400/101_2064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunnars kinsman, he had arguably suffered more in the pursuit of Einar than Gunnar himself, bearing the brunt of the combat in previous engagements – and coming out of it badly bloodied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brother Thorgrim accompanied the warband to avenge his son, (Trygg’s standard bearer) cut down in the last battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(to which Einar responded: “Take a number, and get in line....”)</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Trygg fielded the surprise of the day – his core unit of hirdmen were all mounted, with the majority of the rest of his force being light skirmish types, with good numbers of archers and slingers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Terrain:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We played on a table roughly 4”x8”, with the long edges being N & S, the short edges E & W.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The terrain represented a low headland where Einar had been intending to take ship for Aengland, but had instead been trapped by Gunnar’s pursuing force.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The westward end only was the landward edge; the rest of the table was surrounded by sea.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The point of the set-up was to force Einar into an attacking strategy – a tough call, but only fair, since he had been able to dictate tactics in all the previous engagements.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As seemed to make sense for any headland, the ground rose from the sea to its high point in the middle of the table, then sloped back down again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The low areas around the edges of the table were mostly salt-marsh, rough ground and reed-beds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2XP3DKHMeRABu4ZyvM2vuq7z-pCfdrKgZ__lFXzUDBwdXv5Rqz0O0E3OaGcz9xLRni9hn-vAwHvldiHWVimcYY6SQY-zzrRk6p_X3CO1gNZNUfCsgVICbOrYT7WO1sVJE5Wm2wWmW0Nk/s1600/Richard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2XP3DKHMeRABu4ZyvM2vuq7z-pCfdrKgZ__lFXzUDBwdXv5Rqz0O0E3OaGcz9xLRni9hn-vAwHvldiHWVimcYY6SQY-zzrRk6p_X3CO1gNZNUfCsgVICbOrYT7WO1sVJE5Wm2wWmW0Nk/s200/Richard.jpg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOhTLhUi56gro3qzbJ4eLqq-dENEglftT0DrfEUuJSU4gWqf3icB0fypzGwVpP9AJSCLLYvDNJdmtX6qGpodnI8-kA-cCFgN5AtZqenXOSRoqOmaZ1kBU4KaHawnc-T1ah0NzugS48oty/s1600/Ian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOhTLhUi56gro3qzbJ4eLqq-dENEglftT0DrfEUuJSU4gWqf3icB0fypzGwVpP9AJSCLLYvDNJdmtX6qGpodnI8-kA-cCFgN5AtZqenXOSRoqOmaZ1kBU4KaHawnc-T1ah0NzugS48oty/s200/Ian.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunnar & Trygg deployed at the Western edge – Gunnar toward the SW, & Trygg toward the NW.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einer’s band ranked-up opposite Gunnar, and Guthrum opposite Trygg.</span></span></div><br />
</div><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Battle!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Turns 1-3:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All factions advance! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">All commanders decide to ‘go with the flow’ and follow the path dictated by the terrain – Einar and Gunnar marching toward each other in the stretch of open ground along the southern shore, Trygg and Guthrum heading for the open ground to the north.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuh_7RaorHkxoMlxxkz77ccwsOMT5iy-leTcxHgwdJx4GGwReNntB8phK-uLShITPd_ZplP9a3ViRaeAER5TJO0CsQ-n3exKCsche9dhCfU8oHlpIn2We_MSTeUkZONpNtKzSW3y3PPd4/s1600/101_2056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuh_7RaorHkxoMlxxkz77ccwsOMT5iy-leTcxHgwdJx4GGwReNntB8phK-uLShITPd_ZplP9a3ViRaeAER5TJO0CsQ-n3exKCsche9dhCfU8oHlpIn2We_MSTeUkZONpNtKzSW3y3PPd4/s400/101_2056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Gunnar’s two groups of spearmen form into a shieldwall and advance in purposeful order,</span> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoHfMya90b2ftwSyhbKpCtfc61R6AGHaPYhVQvH6LbQWgIHeLBr3f8lvC68jIHVMErNCi0UwAuCOoUZL9hbkNtlCYVjqOGJvzqdUzyI_tsf1uAocq26vzs8NU_hXr7eaR8pztATXXz3-j/s1600/101_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoHfMya90b2ftwSyhbKpCtfc61R6AGHaPYhVQvH6LbQWgIHeLBr3f8lvC68jIHVMErNCi0UwAuCOoUZL9hbkNtlCYVjqOGJvzqdUzyI_tsf1uAocq26vzs8NU_hXr7eaR8pztATXXz3-j/s400/101_2068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">while his scouts and command group skirt the rougher ground toward the middle of the table.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(already, Einar thinks the spearmen look like a blocking force, intended to hold up his escape while the rest of his enemies close in... however, the only way to go is straight over their gutted corpses, so there’s no point worrying about it!)</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKSpwVhKBU3YHKA7UG0Ont-yDncYfjMVj-A_R18pBuPAhyphenhyphenb8V-5vUid8-QjRG-XQNJAOTu6uSuVCxKkBUfstfMnd8v7jlHOiF2NUwPE6CmxZ67-J9U5zZThoCwWI4Rr9L6lJmL7H0KkZB/s1600/101_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKSpwVhKBU3YHKA7UG0Ont-yDncYfjMVj-A_R18pBuPAhyphenhyphenb8V-5vUid8-QjRG-XQNJAOTu6uSuVCxKkBUfstfMnd8v7jlHOiF2NUwPE6CmxZ67-J9U5zZThoCwWI4Rr9L6lJmL7H0KkZB/s400/101_2071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Gunnar’s scouts advance, his slingers split off from the main group, and head for a dense patch of rough ground.</span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6HxkBCbUHKdzq_PacjW4B6DpX1wclH37wLuUPYKN-ofVFLONnETW67F-F1N8KP5ghUWo5QZkMX8QuA8nWJEGxMHu3LqN0e0jKtxbJbqByj6doQGRGS4aosFh_TvZ7kdRqkvxqUEfjY3D/s1600/Einar+Advance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6HxkBCbUHKdzq_PacjW4B6DpX1wclH37wLuUPYKN-ofVFLONnETW67F-F1N8KP5ghUWo5QZkMX8QuA8nWJEGxMHu3LqN0e0jKtxbJbqByj6doQGRGS4aosFh_TvZ7kdRqkvxqUEfjY3D/s400/Einar+Advance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Einar’s raiders advanced in loose mobs, seeing no point in close-order drill while still so far from the foe.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p7wkUaaW7M5kt6Oa71Vxqb6OF3Rkp3NedHTnfY0oqmUNPbaoz1Mrf9Wc2ztIFn8uU4ZfVmWI5G0CKTT6PnZsKm3HkiILI043bS2F0uY2xERbfq8c0oAKLEAi5TIQ6UvDBEynBefgaG_z/s1600/101_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p7wkUaaW7M5kt6Oa71Vxqb6OF3Rkp3NedHTnfY0oqmUNPbaoz1Mrf9Wc2ztIFn8uU4ZfVmWI5G0CKTT6PnZsKm3HkiILI043bS2F0uY2xERbfq8c0oAKLEAi5TIQ6UvDBEynBefgaG_z/s400/101_2093.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trygg’s initial advance sees his forces skirting some rough terrain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His highly mobile warband flows easily around the broken ground and forms up facing the widest stretch of open ground on the table:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a potential killing ground for his cavalry and archers!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkV7gMmsF5O9vLx3iRELgIBKIwQXJ3foICK6ZZMhuhhWyt-LVHTJx6Fw5-lJQJ7By85IhmhnuTyNncL7hZTvL1t0c8kg7oQmFZVlr3pXOW9se7nowwQkb_chDcLNKOVD8IlQiW7oWW1Ix/s1600/101_2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkV7gMmsF5O9vLx3iRELgIBKIwQXJ3foICK6ZZMhuhhWyt-LVHTJx6Fw5-lJQJ7By85IhmhnuTyNncL7hZTvL1t0c8kg7oQmFZVlr3pXOW9se7nowwQkb_chDcLNKOVD8IlQiW7oWW1Ix/s400/101_2082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guthrum, however, is no fool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slows the advance of his main body, </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsl9nBY-QqUfoOTC3djW_uuThR37xk4YhpFNwKjK5-OUdw6aLAF9a0Rjly6tDs1DLguqs7drS4hhLGENmrX1HjkmDGrKz9TaMkS9rWUJ_3OjndOOlpfbbpi-NB-2unBYhSIIJOxSKbXww/s1600/101_2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsl9nBY-QqUfoOTC3djW_uuThR37xk4YhpFNwKjK5-OUdw6aLAF9a0Rjly6tDs1DLguqs7drS4hhLGENmrX1HjkmDGrKz9TaMkS9rWUJ_3OjndOOlpfbbpi-NB-2unBYhSIIJOxSKbXww/s400/101_2092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">sending his archers into the dense reed-beds which border the open ground.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 4: Form Ranks!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The general advance continues...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXucg2sO-bM9c8C0R6JjyB8hdJNimK-c-sptFSajIeobYdurnJHLg5dl6Ot8AxiOptzNO_XALxq6cXGUrYEy11BuOeEiy1GfePOMPEpg2LAVMpd23mSrC64fzwRQou05eBlGe44zbLh6aG/s1600/101_2105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXucg2sO-bM9c8C0R6JjyB8hdJNimK-c-sptFSajIeobYdurnJHLg5dl6Ot8AxiOptzNO_XALxq6cXGUrYEy11BuOeEiy1GfePOMPEpg2LAVMpd23mSrC64fzwRQou05eBlGe44zbLh6aG/s400/101_2105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar’s warband organize themselves – his Viking raiders, best armoured of his men, will lead the advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His archers form the second rank of this unit, and he slows his advance to half-speed to allow them to move-and-shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although they score no hits, their shafts do make Gunnar think twice about leaving his men standing out in the open!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turns <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5 & 6: The Slings and Arrows of outrageous fortune!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjyvMzoMRVNPoH7bZm7wU8v741moBX39b5e8da8knBV-1dAlOFMagE5BhsGs0VYSmJNJf8nuGfl8NWb9aYdOWfNgGPev4KMYrpOqp0HWvkkuGcL2SqqQDmTQz9G31dMKlj5IL6s4F8eGM/s1600/101_2116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjyvMzoMRVNPoH7bZm7wU8v741moBX39b5e8da8knBV-1dAlOFMagE5BhsGs0VYSmJNJf8nuGfl8NWb9aYdOWfNgGPev4KMYrpOqp0HWvkkuGcL2SqqQDmTQz9G31dMKlj5IL6s4F8eGM/s400/101_2116.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunnar’s men abandon their shieldwall and crowd into the margins of the rough ground to the North – their left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, they cease their advance, content to wait for Einar to come to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some shuffling in Gunnar’s ranks sees his slingers come to the fore, peppering Einar’s lead elements for a couple of Light Wounds. </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PJv8ibSko9bKriAhmvU0XFKC81blhFlOsxCAC6uiQED8LA5Gzs8t62xQEfUjouDyj3sthu8VDCj80nt9b-rJ8LZaNmt4n6sbh2N_ePovlxSeOWfUdaOQplYct6OuPYUFYLXBde9TzBUI/s1600/101_2126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PJv8ibSko9bKriAhmvU0XFKC81blhFlOsxCAC6uiQED8LA5Gzs8t62xQEfUjouDyj3sthu8VDCj80nt9b-rJ8LZaNmt4n6sbh2N_ePovlxSeOWfUdaOQplYct6OuPYUFYLXBde9TzBUI/s400/101_2126.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His scouts press forward through some light woods and onto the slope of a small rise to Einar’s right.</span></span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNiI744cn1lwTFebB65ApIzaLWkPUtHPhwWWG9CsrYRPKTs4FtpqXWjNwDJbor2bPYniZaTwBF60xmuaGRjg4Cxwrm_freiyadm4mYxzzOfRcdTRyIY_eEZihmpAE2x7mkxTKNcBDVBpL/s1600/101_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNiI744cn1lwTFebB65ApIzaLWkPUtHPhwWWG9CsrYRPKTs4FtpqXWjNwDJbor2bPYniZaTwBF60xmuaGRjg4Cxwrm_freiyadm4mYxzzOfRcdTRyIY_eEZihmpAE2x7mkxTKNcBDVBpL/s400/101_2118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trygg has established his slingers in a dense patch of rough ground and continues to advance the rest of his men. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continues to vex Guthrum’s scouts with hopeful long-range shots into the reeds, wounding a slinger in turn 5 and another in turn 6.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPYan7XYxouYVK8cgoqlz_SoJNk88QlxTH7C5sXmxK4ccDQ_xaG1n8bniCL9VBOJyg0ncHtw0n0VjeG7e3viRGvSCl3MSbTNq_GvwvfhXc_EqiGSqwetWk_U1JhIyCfJWSA_QV0FO6Avo/s1600/101_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPYan7XYxouYVK8cgoqlz_SoJNk88QlxTH7C5sXmxK4ccDQ_xaG1n8bniCL9VBOJyg0ncHtw0n0VjeG7e3viRGvSCl3MSbTNq_GvwvfhXc_EqiGSqwetWk_U1JhIyCfJWSA_QV0FO6Avo/s400/101_2120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guthrum continues to push forwards through the reed-beds, but has reached an impasse:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there’s no way to get any closer to the enemy without breaking cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He halts his men in some broken ground and rethinks his options....</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar keeps pressing forward at a slow enough pace to allow his archers to keep shooting, taking a toll on Gunnar’s slingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although this will allow time for Gunnar’s scouts to close from the north, there seems little point in rushing forward – no matter how fast the outlaws march, they won’t outrun the enemy horse!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(At this point, I, playing as Einar, discovered that my peasant archers have fallen foul of the new rules!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Viking peasantry are no longer allowed to be bow-armed in the revised army lists. A quick recalculation promotes them to Sergeants [the rules use generic medieval terminology]which increases my warband’s point total to 254 – still well within acceptable leeway for a 250pt game.)</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 7: Into the woods!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTx1C9VC-g2sgR91o-J0iWhcgUdb-oIxHuSZ4pDOCkudCgnHvuWfOwF6S808kaCRz_R030s8OiovT0C2ZVDdOkD1mMXpTpH9TroDXtU9PHPkqNUtZQjkyJRLe9OtymQiGMwtSlPNxhTOr/s1600/101_2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTx1C9VC-g2sgR91o-J0iWhcgUdb-oIxHuSZ4pDOCkudCgnHvuWfOwF6S808kaCRz_R030s8OiovT0C2ZVDdOkD1mMXpTpH9TroDXtU9PHPkqNUtZQjkyJRLe9OtymQiGMwtSlPNxhTOr/s400/101_2138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunnar decides to deploy for battle<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the rough ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His men, taking cover at its edges, are redeployed across it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Einar’s flank, Gunnar’s scouts come within range of the outlaws and their lone archer looses an arrow, scoring a Light Wound.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ__SKyHF5R1IAD44Cjycz_n3Ui7L_sFq5btwxbsRiayfuWfrEjDxePpGCD0ODYiSH5jUYglcHKCO2Rd2vh86EGG9a3F5UHyBMUCUd-f7N4tlHh6yHsTW7AF5QcjrnXoFo7mgohkjRZNQ2/s1600/101_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ__SKyHF5R1IAD44Cjycz_n3Ui7L_sFq5btwxbsRiayfuWfrEjDxePpGCD0ODYiSH5jUYglcHKCO2Rd2vh86EGG9a3F5UHyBMUCUd-f7N4tlHh6yHsTW7AF5QcjrnXoFo7mgohkjRZNQ2/s400/101_2117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Trygg’s tactics seem to be working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leaves his skirmishers to whittle down Guthrum’s advance elements, and inclines his column of horse south – to his right – toward the impending clash between Gunnar and Einar!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs6HpoSG-v5pW_CY2wIX1Ec7IUJY06-qzSItjm84LLjC2EkmgxRVQ8UGCkBBPzfMq7FK8o3_-Jxanw7dA3YpLOle-0M_ceY4B2Zl1V8kHxdc_yuu0BIFp6Djoxi6rC8CbAuQOCgz2zuks/s1600/101_2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs6HpoSG-v5pW_CY2wIX1Ec7IUJY06-qzSItjm84LLjC2EkmgxRVQ8UGCkBBPzfMq7FK8o3_-Jxanw7dA3YpLOle-0M_ceY4B2Zl1V8kHxdc_yuu0BIFp6Djoxi6rC8CbAuQOCgz2zuks/s400/101_2163.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guthrum has also made the decision to head south – but Trygg’s forces are still too close to ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sends some light troops to the south, into rough terrain, but his main body use the round to redeploy with the stronger warriors to the right, to counter the threat of a charge.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXCxI8YnAtkksAQ1o_deV1dyo7Pc3L_LmixQh-su3MBkNYaj-C_yLa1Ctzy_FamKEpQPu-g9-dh_0sVIIZwfs8sj7r343CMBYFBrdDdgfLf2p5v9gMUrdc74JGkIEgNoUjLloFE2HXFTR/s1600/101_2146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXCxI8YnAtkksAQ1o_deV1dyo7Pc3L_LmixQh-su3MBkNYaj-C_yLa1Ctzy_FamKEpQPu-g9-dh_0sVIIZwfs8sj7r343CMBYFBrdDdgfLf2p5v9gMUrdc74JGkIEgNoUjLloFE2HXFTR/s400/101_2146.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Einar presses forward!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continued archery from his advancing ranks forces a morale test from Gunnar’s slingers – they fail dismally and scatter!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5RXHJsLgWjt10E8E4jjI_EpDXJ9Z-6UFYUIorJ0pEqfFjEVPUhZ3D3V41-vY90CSW6zqXre3I0ixcm7CH7E3FT6GeHlmK_CYlVnrJZQvQueSf1NUO6xAyjx01pbASqzuD6yfu4YsxNRL/s1600/101_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5RXHJsLgWjt10E8E4jjI_EpDXJ9Z-6UFYUIorJ0pEqfFjEVPUhZ3D3V41-vY90CSW6zqXre3I0ixcm7CH7E3FT6GeHlmK_CYlVnrJZQvQueSf1NUO6xAyjx01pbASqzuD6yfu4YsxNRL/s400/101_2149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar diverts his Viking spearmen to charge Gunnar’s scouts. Although they pose no major threat, the narrow front on which Einar and Gunnar’s forces will meet means there’s no advantage to be gained by everyone getting there at once – therefore, nothing to be lost by a small diversion!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gunnar’s scouts, predictably, choose to evade the charge – only just managing to do so.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 8: Finally, the Clash of Arms!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJruiWBXzBQtUaeW-hW9-EJnmN1Hgxx0rfku8OX0jLoIWUd3c-TGcJ6-AnFHNBOuCSCoE9ChyzhX3Q9rbDq8QzZYkMbSxQP2Nl4DtFP0PG7MOF02CGMUpxZ5BzAFT21niy7thOlTRASOq/s1600/101_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJruiWBXzBQtUaeW-hW9-EJnmN1Hgxx0rfku8OX0jLoIWUd3c-TGcJ6-AnFHNBOuCSCoE9ChyzhX3Q9rbDq8QzZYkMbSxQP2Nl4DtFP0PG7MOF02CGMUpxZ5BzAFT21niy7thOlTRASOq/s400/101_2152.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Realising that Guthrum is slipping his net, Trygg turns the screen of light troops which was holding him into a very orderly column, which follows his cavalry’s trail to the south.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa6-RyBYDlZtSE75udBdbaUn2sbzItVi18pWxw7o3mx42Zp5qH4YhkDlsFNS5L_ESAP5PatBQxgBthVxAJUazhUNhUAD-hOPntQoydAN-qMgYWswkV5xfw2ekUHej3ZmWBdr2z3QuA73b/s1600/101_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa6-RyBYDlZtSE75udBdbaUn2sbzItVi18pWxw7o3mx42Zp5qH4YhkDlsFNS5L_ESAP5PatBQxgBthVxAJUazhUNhUAD-hOPntQoydAN-qMgYWswkV5xfw2ekUHej3ZmWBdr2z3QuA73b/s400/101_2175.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eager to make up for lost time, Guthrum’s scouts rush through the broken ground to harry the flanks of Tyrgg’s column!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnWhZ03K_1EN7hRT5GRKeIUPJU9eLQR7CnW4Z92F9dwOs4_DD_tQaOlxRQo1KbvnKzw6DqUQpMjqWUMrJd0Y25wg_zOwZFhBXy5KPlxFlLUA2NWkzxzFYbboijUmJDhY5pjZvRPKZxQ1K/s1600/101_2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnWhZ03K_1EN7hRT5GRKeIUPJU9eLQR7CnW4Z92F9dwOs4_DD_tQaOlxRQo1KbvnKzw6DqUQpMjqWUMrJd0Y25wg_zOwZFhBXy5KPlxFlLUA2NWkzxzFYbboijUmJDhY5pjZvRPKZxQ1K/s400/101_2169.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back at the southern edge of the headland, Einar’s spearmen again charge Gunnar’s scouts, this time, caught against the edge of a thicket, they have little choice but to stand, and battle is joined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The melee is inconclusive, with Gunnar’s archer the only casualty.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Turn 9: The Main Event!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvS9bjzSblWq8uHpEoZrOWmoThEyl-Sm7xrXlyhnp3MRtEowramMB64CZRM4x4SbO1S_wouT_mHxcYm37qSCvhJFMtVLSFHW6g9K64joqk36yjLqlACO4xPFtbXCmRHiLCCwxj2rh2mW7/s1600/101_2189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvS9bjzSblWq8uHpEoZrOWmoThEyl-Sm7xrXlyhnp3MRtEowramMB64CZRM4x4SbO1S_wouT_mHxcYm37qSCvhJFMtVLSFHW6g9K64joqk36yjLqlACO4xPFtbXCmRHiLCCwxj2rh2mW7/s400/101_2189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunnar’s spearmen launch their attack from the rough ground, against Einar’s large mixed unit.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The combat is absolutely brutal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dice are merciless and wound after wound is dished out!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2-Z7v7S9yOIrZcfzog14RImkZZ_Q70rM_-He73odv1H5L4ory1riXpEHMZyt3VGJEM1xxmaeZjpeDRyxhJtbU4X6eiVVfZsVWfeglNpsWia5_iOE4MygLx8uJDXxaRbuqtXGkm_XIrtr/s1600/101_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2-Z7v7S9yOIrZcfzog14RImkZZ_Q70rM_-He73odv1H5L4ory1riXpEHMZyt3VGJEM1xxmaeZjpeDRyxhJtbU4X6eiVVfZsVWfeglNpsWia5_iOE4MygLx8uJDXxaRbuqtXGkm_XIrtr/s400/101_2182.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Einar’s men respond by charging in their turn – the Saxon mercenary spearmen charge Gunnar’s command group, pinning them to prevent them joining the main fight, while Einar and his Berserkirs pitch into the flank of Gunnar’s spearmen!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-pA0iboFUOtNkq2bZ5xiO4csKvWGI9IsI2WW2Be8XfO0IFF4ENIjU4uqQ1pzweYFzWgcIadgt_SZctblI4LV5hFk7wVB1MHpL03KXMYCw_Noz0sKiO06DlXA5iBSJyx710PkvN0Rtb7e/s1600/101_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-pA0iboFUOtNkq2bZ5xiO4csKvWGI9IsI2WW2Be8XfO0IFF4ENIjU4uqQ1pzweYFzWgcIadgt_SZctblI4LV5hFk7wVB1MHpL03KXMYCw_Noz0sKiO06DlXA5iBSJyx710PkvN0Rtb7e/s400/101_2181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trygg’s column rides toward the sound of battle, with Guthrum’s skirmishers still worrying at their flank; while Guthrum’s main force presses on some way behind.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Turn 10: Einardammerung!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREoq04uqyi0WHBfmi0xlEpl8qDfoPdyI4hBEvE_uRz1rTIbqbJg4bej6c7C52zigubaMROLZzy16AA1WXIb0nzf0hmVYF3bRlAJ7OoEDbRnCeTug5R4mUu0O8wGFD6e5iK86vJQlN1Kp0/s1600/101_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREoq04uqyi0WHBfmi0xlEpl8qDfoPdyI4hBEvE_uRz1rTIbqbJg4bej6c7C52zigubaMROLZzy16AA1WXIb0nzf0hmVYF3bRlAJ7OoEDbRnCeTug5R4mUu0O8wGFD6e5iK86vJQlN1Kp0/s400/101_2185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">In the press of melee, Gunnar finds himself face-to-face with Einar!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, like many before him, has second thoughts when it comes down to it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He steps aside and waves his archers forward – such arrant cowardice comes to naught as Einar parries with his shield.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Einar, too, has archers at his side – but he is made of sterner stuff!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Einar charges into single combat!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">(It may seem reckless, but there is, in fact, a cunning plan: Stab Gunnar in the face ‘til he dies!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mTOWf1Gsag7zZe8swSOleb28zfkYteGXJdPjjAheMo8UncgRv9UFqPAaa3_Vkvar7XzITWjlB_uymrjwPHd72pabXjPx4SzvuJnPj8yh8lneNLgBUBmOlyiLqoTqmctB78YYWA2Qx1gc/s1600/101_2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mTOWf1Gsag7zZe8swSOleb28zfkYteGXJdPjjAheMo8UncgRv9UFqPAaa3_Vkvar7XzITWjlB_uymrjwPHd72pabXjPx4SzvuJnPj8yh8lneNLgBUBmOlyiLqoTqmctB78YYWA2Qx1gc/s400/101_2191.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">But the Gods of battle have other plans.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Not for Einar the straw death!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the face of the outlaw leader’s onslaught, Gunnar’s greataxe strikes home </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eEFmdOUXdXHc_r-uiqLW1DDF96moUmr2TXLZqb151442qbnTeMep4Iq9-pCy-h7dEWLOWuV3HGq3h_a-git0BabRevqTLwMp9oPBYrMm-ESQLNPdF4nHcOoO5u1ssGo8jfeHR9D4Wqrv/s1600/101_2194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eEFmdOUXdXHc_r-uiqLW1DDF96moUmr2TXLZqb151442qbnTeMep4Iq9-pCy-h7dEWLOWuV3HGq3h_a-git0BabRevqTLwMp9oPBYrMm-ESQLNPdF4nHcOoO5u1ssGo8jfeHR9D4Wqrv/s400/101_2194.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">and again! </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a year of constant pursuit, and repeated failure, on this bleak, marshy headland, Gunnar the Aggrieved has become Gunnar the Avenger.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even in death, Einar manages to cheat Trygg, who seethes at missing the kill! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guthrum has won renown for standing by his wayward kinsman against all comers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The warriors of rank from both sides of the feud gather as a Viking funeral is prepared, and flames leap into the grey sky to Wagnerian strains!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8fmUmbHeX2PON_BkeutKTKjiVRclmdhUDXXMO7uQ89885g81nKquoKyEZbkHctRMa4UMt1Wkp-23h-0tRUlr4wrINRuCnidNWOoYsjVUt2z8OrSEiGKSENh_VkWrkKwi2EBAfMQ0Rh8O/s1600/101_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8fmUmbHeX2PON_BkeutKTKjiVRclmdhUDXXMO7uQ89885g81nKquoKyEZbkHctRMa4UMt1Wkp-23h-0tRUlr4wrINRuCnidNWOoYsjVUt2z8OrSEiGKSENh_VkWrkKwi2EBAfMQ0Rh8O/s400/101_2198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Today’s victory belongs to Gunnar... but all present know that as long as this tale is told, men will know it as Einar’s Saga!</span></div><br />
Gunnars version of events can be found <a href="http://herkybird-richardbradley.blogspot.com/2011/03/lay-of-gunnar.html">Here</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pictures by Lawrence (Mahotsukai) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Commentary by Phil Hope (Norman D Landings)</span></div><br />
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</div>Mahotsukaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00157474177221485824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885841851053254211.post-80197446888771037742011-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:002011-03-04T16:03:54.354-08:00WelcomeWelcome to the Eclectic Expanding Empires of a wargaming butterfly, in here you will see a little bit of this and probably a lot of that.<br /><br />The first thing I have for your delectation and delight is a write up of a game played at the Tyneside Wargames Club last Saturday. Richard(herkybird) was working and Ian was sick.<br /><br />So that left Phil (norman d landings) and myself (mahotsukai) to work something out.<br /><br />and this is what we did...<br /><br />Over to you Phil.Mahotsukaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00157474177221485824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885841851053254211.post-83890101560711053562011-03-02T18:50:00.001-08:002011-03-13T06:46:23.938-07:00The Cardoza Jailbreak – July 1867“He never once introduced himself, come to think of it. But the Mexican he rode with called him ‘Joe’, and if that wasn’t his name... well, he didn’t bother correctin’ nobody. Didn’t bother with much of anythin’... just set hisself at the bar an’ kept one eye on the jailhouse... almost like he knew what was comin’...”<br />
Short a couple of our usual complement of players, Lawrence and I played a session of 2-hour Wargames’ “Six-Gun Sound”.<br />
The rules we used were the 1<sup>st</sup> edition – based on 2HW’s ‘Mayhem’ skirmish system. We played the basic system with none of the advanced or optional rules.<br />
Lawrence rolled up a character – a professional gunfighter with a Combat Value of 5, and Coolness of 4. His choice of profession gave him a constitution of 6.<br />
Characters in 6GS have the option to recruit sidekicks and gang members, who are randomly generated from appropriate tables. The advantage of numbers is offset by having to share your victory points; the fewer the men, the greater the glory! Lawrence’s gunslinger chose to ride with one sidekick, a pistolero named Chico, CV4, Cool 4.<br />
6GS campaigns begin in the summer of 1867. We randomly determined the locale (The Southwest) and the scenario – jailbreak!<br />
The game contains a town layout plan, but since Lawrence had been busy making some Whitewash City card buildings, we set the town up according to what we had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAcHRBsvBXeDdjLdygiu2CuD4nYFViSgcq_ISPqL6-NBAKddS0ARPkOriIx9eqSK28PqDT5bSy76XnpgRyfPZ4yHO4GD6o0V8a7iIlhzxs1-LFCCrQJOPLto_TqmP_ydaea3tzaK3mo3M/s1600/Image0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAcHRBsvBXeDdjLdygiu2CuD4nYFViSgcq_ISPqL6-NBAKddS0ARPkOriIx9eqSK28PqDT5bSy76XnpgRyfPZ4yHO4GD6o0V8a7iIlhzxs1-LFCCrQJOPLto_TqmP_ydaea3tzaK3mo3M/s400/Image0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Cardoza (‘Card’, geddit? See what I did there? Tch... suit yerselves.) boasted one main street which angled across the tabletop. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWh09Ytl0sek10YrrOvQMNau0Q-T3keidJ8BFMMV_N47hxEbo9zbQaSz685ym9KcrF5ZdvlzSvC0xubEwvLFcG9aXFWhuL1EaAjw6f0QK8HTXRTZZllmdVo8C3SlZwr_ZmzOVU2S5VyLT/s1600/Image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWh09Ytl0sek10YrrOvQMNau0Q-T3keidJ8BFMMV_N47hxEbo9zbQaSz685ym9KcrF5ZdvlzSvC0xubEwvLFcG9aXFWhuL1EaAjw6f0QK8HTXRTZZllmdVo8C3SlZwr_ZmzOVU2S5VyLT/s400/Image1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>North of the town the ground rose steeply and became broken, rocky foothills with a scattering of Scrub Oak and Chaparral. Among the high ground north of Cardoza sat the town’s clapboard church and its dusty graveyard. <br />
<br />
We assigned occupants to buildings according to what we had available. (the figures we used were a real mixture, from Warrior, Dixons, Grenadier/Mirliton, Artizan and Old Glory.)<br />
A nattily suited gent was appointed bank manager... the general store got a cantankerous one-legged proprietor and a customer, the saloon got a bartender, a saloon girl, and a thirsty cowhand, the hardware store got a respectable-looking owner and a customer, and the Sheriff’s Office was staffed by a sturdy peace officer and his deputy.<br />
(The townspeople would be run as a single faction.)<br />
We began the scenario with the villain of the piece -Tomas ‘Tequila’ Torres, scourge of the Four Corners territory- behind bars in the Sheriff’s office, having been brought in by two bounty-hunters.<br />
These sinister types were now lounging around the saloon, hoping that Tequila’s gang would attempt a jailbreak, and hoping to profit from the mayhem.<br />
The Sheriff started inside the office, while his deputy stood watch on the stoop outside.<br />
The Torres gang approached from the north, led by Tequila’s formidable right-hand-man, Jorge.<br />
Their stats and weaponry were randomly generated:<br />
Jorge: CV5, Con6, Cool4. (Trapdoor carbine)<br />
Enrique: CV4, Con5, Cool5. (Pistol)<br />
Jaime: CV3,Con4, Cool4. (Shotgun)<br />
Xavier: CV4, Con5, Cool4. (Trapdoor Carbine)<br />
A competent and well-armed bunch!<br />
<br />
TURNS 1-3:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4OPkkCKxqW7CumxK1GWKnvU3lDcpqqH3oUY05Cmob3k5DW_tdsWoQMr9aAni-4ZCZu_hmXuAF-kzyt4RdvQACoNn5x7k0E_KcBSzKZ6vAvXxGbQhrVxn20qOqjhLqcOXcwr9ce8PAKHm/s1600/Image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4OPkkCKxqW7CumxK1GWKnvU3lDcpqqH3oUY05Cmob3k5DW_tdsWoQMr9aAni-4ZCZu_hmXuAF-kzyt4RdvQACoNn5x7k0E_KcBSzKZ6vAvXxGbQhrVxn20qOqjhLqcOXcwr9ce8PAKHm/s400/Image2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>They assembled behind the church an hour before sundown and dismounted. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu0-_095FlkGIgZ-hTsL7zn4z3AZwxKwGPJWRPrVLGXA_C2_FR_ej8CDK9A8BWcUtHIWVW4reEv0ANlS6UHeQIMOIjpALjgc1B0S2z5r4hMjs8sF5Dxs2WBiLLoe5wNoiN_hF7vzymGkn/s1600/Image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu0-_095FlkGIgZ-hTsL7zn4z3AZwxKwGPJWRPrVLGXA_C2_FR_ej8CDK9A8BWcUtHIWVW4reEv0ANlS6UHeQIMOIjpALjgc1B0S2z5r4hMjs8sF5Dxs2WBiLLoe5wNoiN_hF7vzymGkn/s400/Image3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Leaving Xavier to guard the horses, the other three bandidos began to close in on the sheriff’s office under cover of the broken ground.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGZpcnwQm1oOseRynIbrLFzRqKJeyK1fUlrVz5PZSJvNH6rUNiH3f7bEfDUcKrXhKS7PxZRvGQLVT-7VPytqia9EVOeBFstwPupNkOy73h0S0hYU_bGVlhs684Y8bq4pE5NmXwn0wGaFL/s1600/Image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGZpcnwQm1oOseRynIbrLFzRqKJeyK1fUlrVz5PZSJvNH6rUNiH3f7bEfDUcKrXhKS7PxZRvGQLVT-7VPytqia9EVOeBFstwPupNkOy73h0S0hYU_bGVlhs684Y8bq4pE5NmXwn0wGaFL/s400/Image4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Gang acted unopposed for these three turns, with none of the other characters having any chance to spot or reason to activate. They crept toward Cardoza, keeping behind a shallow ridge.<br />
TURN 4:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0QbL8b766W_AiyUrTQjmvP3q0LyhX7VMyfIqCHRg3g41PBiBW5yFrcoYEXRlB7ttYtbqd5vi_-gcdw0P36MTcy_UfbymhVExe9Q8LID5_eodzKHUI5Sth-HSFGljEU0S8i1UTKZLdIrt/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0QbL8b766W_AiyUrTQjmvP3q0LyhX7VMyfIqCHRg3g41PBiBW5yFrcoYEXRlB7ttYtbqd5vi_-gcdw0P36MTcy_UfbymhVExe9Q8LID5_eodzKHUI5Sth-HSFGljEU0S8i1UTKZLdIrt/s400/Image5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The gang’s movement takes them to the edge of the broken ground, and into the deputy’s line-of-sight... he rolls to spot, but notices nothing. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlYWNUg80ySy_M8v-mMvfFrecjdUy0TXb4PpcPA0xWg0QL3q3ELyEGXb3koW7C59bF0EC7Bz-afqr0KYQKhGYblsqYLubSFJJVcN9kOzRZcO5nDnCHei2Opw5xTlsW3uv672G3ujrK4TM/s1600/Image6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlYWNUg80ySy_M8v-mMvfFrecjdUy0TXb4PpcPA0xWg0QL3q3ELyEGXb3koW7C59bF0EC7Bz-afqr0KYQKhGYblsqYLubSFJJVcN9kOzRZcO5nDnCHei2Opw5xTlsW3uv672G3ujrK4TM/s400/Image6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>An instant later, Jorge ‘pops up’ from behind the ridge, and puts a .45-70 round through the deputy’s chest as casually as if he were putting down a snake-bit mule. <br />
<br />
<i>(In game terms, Jorge rolled 2D6 as he drew a bead on the deputy, and, with 2 successes, neither flinched nor rushed his shot. In 6GS, men who can keep their heads in a gunfight are lethal!)</i><br />
The deputy topples off the boardwalk, dead before he hits the ground.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoChN3KVBbNWKAg7oQ0WDeWtpnLqtq3o4RtGqb79Uh9fgoO0WTtOX6_0io6xQ7lU-CX-oRWIGa2O4xc3bojNaGODICo_iU1ku49FGxaqqAzzv6yRNlqe403opTsbzaaorZ8pZ3lt8RirA/s1600/image7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoChN3KVBbNWKAg7oQ0WDeWtpnLqtq3o4RtGqb79Uh9fgoO0WTtOX6_0io6xQ7lU-CX-oRWIGa2O4xc3bojNaGODICo_iU1ku49FGxaqqAzzv6yRNlqe403opTsbzaaorZ8pZ3lt8RirA/s400/image7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Enrique dashes across the open ground at the end of the street, intending to pass a gun through the jailhouse bars to Tequila! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39-sTj23P4dgXFBLk__b3eBW8oIahT0fSMJNT8DzEpCmFAmR0D2STf_zp8v2iPzIOlNt1DTK_UZwmvfIufwuPaDweyQyfxEl77xVAheIGuHhnILS94bhdmGZMonvaF4LXiD4IQTP1Zk2K/s1600/Image8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39-sTj23P4dgXFBLk__b3eBW8oIahT0fSMJNT8DzEpCmFAmR0D2STf_zp8v2iPzIOlNt1DTK_UZwmvfIufwuPaDweyQyfxEl77xVAheIGuHhnILS94bhdmGZMonvaF4LXiD4IQTP1Zk2K/s400/Image8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Joe & Chico get a chance to react to the gunshot – both men pass 2D6, and get to act. <br />
<br />
Flattening themselves in the saloon doorway, they see Enrique run across the end of the street... Joe tries a snapshot with his Henry rifle, but hesitates ... and only manages to wound the running outlaw.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigSzCHfYklClD9rKFHMX-R79XJzSSL-5JHA9T4zQLuY00lNV_d97iK3Lhzcix3TBGgK15129BR9SF4hP2Q-8nqgWOI4Xg6aQmQEYteCPebSD-d3LgNbcuPKaKrnGh_57z1TPORNUVnT1p/s1600/Image9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigSzCHfYklClD9rKFHMX-R79XJzSSL-5JHA9T4zQLuY00lNV_d97iK3Lhzcix3TBGgK15129BR9SF4hP2Q-8nqgWOI4Xg6aQmQEYteCPebSD-d3LgNbcuPKaKrnGh_57z1TPORNUVnT1p/s400/Image9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Enrique takes a “Shot At” test for coming under fire. He passes one dice, and must “Duck Down”. Out in the open, that would plainly be suicide... Enrique about turns and throws himself back into the broken ground!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxQJn3YwLz89GJaqW_8zI20x07jNKZmA1FyIQbu-LmuB_9Fe9DFYH8i_BF1Pp775wu6O0rFnQGKXDAjK23glq71O7NAaBIgvp0GjPbBFBaViATX8QVQQ7e2v22qPPNl19QzZtlX8rAmv6/s1600/Image10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxQJn3YwLz89GJaqW_8zI20x07jNKZmA1FyIQbu-LmuB_9Fe9DFYH8i_BF1Pp775wu6O0rFnQGKXDAjK23glq71O7NAaBIgvp0GjPbBFBaViATX8QVQQ7e2v22qPPNl19QzZtlX8rAmv6/s400/Image10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jorge takes a “Got a Shot” reaction test because, although the bandits aren’t the active party, Joe & Chico have entered his line of sight. Passing both dice, he coolly levels his carbine and fires... incapacitating Chico! <br />
<br />
The townspeople get a chance to react to the mayhem outside... the Sheriff fails to spot that his deputy is down, and keeps his gun on Tequila.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDAdsutLPb3Vro8Quy-_BzcHYzL8r9MezDXAIgz9a-MNq24X4019dNw-Cp74xeea8L9g731yjKJHpAD3nOoyI29RJvqD8crwVXwCQRRLUK3ZyrShna5RhqteMj0yiQiBt598mFA2rCxLa/s1600/Image11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDAdsutLPb3Vro8Quy-_BzcHYzL8r9MezDXAIgz9a-MNq24X4019dNw-Cp74xeea8L9g731yjKJHpAD3nOoyI29RJvqD8crwVXwCQRRLUK3ZyrShna5RhqteMj0yiQiBt598mFA2rCxLa/s400/Image11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The customer- who had just left the Hardware store when the shooting started -dashes for the corner of the saloon to take cover. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jm4UW6OtTTZjJGJ9JGSPg_JH4TlkY6J2kW7nVjHb_hUn2UZ_bAHZ13hXPYMB2G_wdeDGxgyH5UNE0dWYV24QhSb1dsjQAMu2cAVhx9ouKw1WRGk29LTx-3lO37ULVcVZLRnSKTYbpzVp/s1600/Image12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jm4UW6OtTTZjJGJ9JGSPg_JH4TlkY6J2kW7nVjHb_hUn2UZ_bAHZ13hXPYMB2G_wdeDGxgyH5UNE0dWYV24QhSb1dsjQAMu2cAVhx9ouKw1WRGk29LTx-3lO37ULVcVZLRnSKTYbpzVp/s400/Image12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>While Mr. J. C. Forester, proprietor of the hardware store, grabs his Sharps Cavalry Carbine and heads for the street. <br />
<br />
<br />
TURN 5:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ol_LuClac5Q3voTE6DWahAjgalVM8zMGkUaAr91b5Tq5R-GmY0ZrxwU9bAC_xeWLxFGUyoBVD8TMYSb0L9yqByuQBMZ7nZ52Qomta3zX4VJRf3jt2NIxBSqkVPGFjRN0BoeR_pJ-R9t3/s1600/Image13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ol_LuClac5Q3voTE6DWahAjgalVM8zMGkUaAr91b5Tq5R-GmY0ZrxwU9bAC_xeWLxFGUyoBVD8TMYSb0L9yqByuQBMZ7nZ52Qomta3zX4VJRf3jt2NIxBSqkVPGFjRN0BoeR_pJ-R9t3/s400/Image13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Winning initiative, Joe bursts out of the saloon doorway and throws himself into more solid cover behind a stack of lumber outside the hardware store, Jorge firing – but missing- as he goes. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kOB29RfzXlgyewIuNB_0oOCKY79rC3GQQRquSl9X0ozEE4z-6M17hzCDMqsBaO5Cqn-IXfYIKqjIjk4yDWXWIksrLmU6wzE6Us_Kt_98i5NDRIgBEZgb2D0fw4WEzi8YC7Dm_wF-Z1Wp/s1600/Image14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kOB29RfzXlgyewIuNB_0oOCKY79rC3GQQRquSl9X0ozEE4z-6M17hzCDMqsBaO5Cqn-IXfYIKqjIjk4yDWXWIksrLmU6wzE6Us_Kt_98i5NDRIgBEZgb2D0fw4WEzi8YC7Dm_wF-Z1Wp/s400/Image14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The gang act next... cursing Enrique for a coward, Jaime sprints toward the jail in a second attempt to pass Tequila a weapon. <br />
<br />
<br />
Both Joe & J.C. Forester get a “Got a Shot” reaction test... and both pass! Two bullets kick up dirt at Jaime’s feet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6ON4NthY6q6MMDo1zDiLKGnVOplIy_Vp7kWPPY4z1zD_1HF4galX5Wch3eJCbPdEEULldDoEUbRD00zeoFKJ8mY32L1eFyy9mWRASIID9Tud0A-jjP1pU_dXYRfF_unEx6aLXLziTJG9/s1600/Image15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6ON4NthY6q6MMDo1zDiLKGnVOplIy_Vp7kWPPY4z1zD_1HF4galX5Wch3eJCbPdEEULldDoEUbRD00zeoFKJ8mY32L1eFyy9mWRASIID9Tud0A-jjP1pU_dXYRfF_unEx6aLXLziTJG9/s400/Image15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Failing his “Shot At” test, Jaime cowers round the corner of the jail... unfortunately for Tequila, the <i>wrong </i>corner. <br />
<br />
<br />
Jorge takes a deep breath and does his best to blow Joe’s head off – missing again.<br />
TURN 6:<br />
The Gang win initiative, and Jaime spends another fruitless round attempting to pass a gun through the bars of Tequila’s cell, but being driven back round the corner by near-misses from Joe and the West’s hardest hardware merchant.<br />
In their respective actions, Joe and Jorge try to shoot one another, but succeed only in increasing the lead content of the local topsoil.<br />
Meanwhile, at the far end of the street, both the owner of the general store and his customer have decided enough is enough, and prepare to defend the town. Unfortunately, neither has a long-range weapon (shotgun & handgun respectively) and both are out of effective range.<br />
TURN 7:<br />
Again, Initiative favours the gang.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k5fHv2POXuUOHOGiZxarocZCeTJOOg_0PCDUA2lmO7vnOJF4t0KTMEZHCiodxOoa8EKM75sJoKJbvgMwy6ALTcUSWGwii946dxnmRtgLKIdBlPTS55XIErY1fldxaEmExKAKH7l5OD-g/s1600/Image16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k5fHv2POXuUOHOGiZxarocZCeTJOOg_0PCDUA2lmO7vnOJF4t0KTMEZHCiodxOoa8EKM75sJoKJbvgMwy6ALTcUSWGwii946dxnmRtgLKIdBlPTS55XIErY1fldxaEmExKAKH7l5OD-g/s400/Image16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jorge turns his gun on J. C. Forester and shoots him down like a dog. <br />
<br />
<br />
Jaime again exposes himself to Joe’s fire, this time holding his nerve, and passing a pistol through the jailhouse window.<br />
(The Sheriff gets a roll to spot this, but fails!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnpPl1yeFgCRLK9cGz8xJjqPojBUvryeN5qaPiKNDERxDuLMsefBwmNJftyLnPvSpeDDZmY2XuQD18CB7u7YumBoWGDsvdaV05-LQPSD6D5ZUVcGCPHsJqDL05woDUc-fHeGEdygSPn7j/s1600/Image17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnpPl1yeFgCRLK9cGz8xJjqPojBUvryeN5qaPiKNDERxDuLMsefBwmNJftyLnPvSpeDDZmY2XuQD18CB7u7YumBoWGDsvdaV05-LQPSD6D5ZUVcGCPHsJqDL05woDUc-fHeGEdygSPn7j/s400/Image17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It’s Joe’s action next, and Jaime’s luck has run out. As the bandit stands reaching up to the window, he makes a perfect target... Joe shoots him dead. <br />
<br />
<br />
TURN 8:<br />
The tide of battle has turned against the forces of law and order!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgch2CLGVR0eU3oBOmbgNDx524F-ZVMIa0UsR-OE8QkcsMidfTCkyXtaRxc8sveW7AvoPcc4psXget3I4KSHQtQP4jG30lFXKmouU0ERJh5t9RB9h_qrTPyl4TLTs9GGjpBfC-7pRqb8a/s1600/Image18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgch2CLGVR0eU3oBOmbgNDx524F-ZVMIa0UsR-OE8QkcsMidfTCkyXtaRxc8sveW7AvoPcc4psXget3I4KSHQtQP4jG30lFXKmouU0ERJh5t9RB9h_qrTPyl4TLTs9GGjpBfC-7pRqb8a/s400/Image18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Winning initiative, Jorge fires another shot at Joe – who drops like a stone! <br />
<br />
<br />
Is this the end for our hero?<br />
Meanwhile, we roll to determine Tequila’s course of action... will he back-shoot the Sheriff, and take the chance that he can shoot the lock off the cell door? Or will he try to force the Sheriff to release him at gunpoint?<br />
He tries the latter, cocking his pistol to get the Sheriff’s attention: “The key, gringo... eef joo won’ to leeve!”<br />
We give the Sheriff a reaction test... uncharacteristically for such a stalwart character, he fails – and turns his gun on Tequila!<br />
It’s a “Draw” reaction test... both men roll 1D6 & add their CV: the Draw... is a draw!<br />
The character with the highest Coolness will fire first.<br />
A hammer falls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5EMeGkBygPa2QxorHz9tbuzYzK3PjDbHRQcbC-nkeShiNFJFBuik5KKJ7Qio54s8RljhIkaFAHxjtCcljHh04sYDbIp5_8YkoJX7JtzaoHkvehMBA0PFT9x_JNkJAvM_liKWoX1QCfk-/s1600/Image19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5EMeGkBygPa2QxorHz9tbuzYzK3PjDbHRQcbC-nkeShiNFJFBuik5KKJ7Qio54s8RljhIkaFAHxjtCcljHh04sYDbIp5_8YkoJX7JtzaoHkvehMBA0PFT9x_JNkJAvM_liKWoX1QCfk-/s400/Image19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Tequila slides down his cell wall... his pistol falls, forgotten. <br />
<br />
<br />
TURNS 9+:<br />
During the drawing of cards for initiative, a 10th Court card comes up... 6GS’s mechanism for determining nightfall.<br />
We’re near to a conclusion and decide to play out the last moves, with suitable penalties to range and spotting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOg5IeD9Hv35A-HAcLjL1lc61tbxkjNO6fx93LHqgYd18CpXJh5uqX2AMH2zuWrldsWr_C5KDcpEJKvKka3oB8vDomh5sO4VGtY5oZqg31R17nnWKZJGJe1z_2hpSzrAqK2kgJArr56yG/s1600/Image20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOg5IeD9Hv35A-HAcLjL1lc61tbxkjNO6fx93LHqgYd18CpXJh5uqX2AMH2zuWrldsWr_C5KDcpEJKvKka3oB8vDomh5sO4VGtY5oZqg31R17nnWKZJGJe1z_2hpSzrAqK2kgJArr56yG/s400/Image20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Sheriff eases open the back door and peers around the corner of the building. <br />
<br />
<br />
He spots Jorge (and the useless Enrique, who, lacking a long-range weapon, couldn’t contribute anything to the firefight from his position.)<br />
Jorge sees only the gathering darkness.<br />
He waits. The town is silent. Tequila doesn’t appear.<br />
Both he and Enrique get reaction tests every round to determine their actions.<br />
Predictably, after a couple of rounds, Enrique starts to get antsy and slides away.<br />
With a final glance at the darkened jailhouse, Jorge follows.<br />
AFTERMATH:<br />
Joe & Chico both survive, incapacitated rather than killed.<br />
Joe earns 120 campaign points for a scenario victory – halved because he ended the scenario out-of-action, halved again because the victory points are shared with the Cardoza Sheriff’s Office.<br />
He splits the points with one sidekick, but earns 10 solo points for a gunfight kill (Jaime).<br />
Joe: 25pts, Chico: 15pts.<br />
<i>Because the scenario played out in... well... about two hours... we had time for a quick:</i><br />
EPILOGUE – TWO MONTHS LATER:<br />
Joe & Chico both spend a month’s campaign time recovering from their wounds.<br />
(6GS uses 1-month time intervals)<br />
The next month of campaign time turns up a ‘Capture’ scenario.<br />
Anything for an easy life, we have the Cardoza County Sheriff receive word that the surviving members of the Torres Gang are holed up in an abandoned Mennonite Mission in the badlands.<br />
Joe & Chico agree to help, but decline to be deputized... Deputies don’t get bounty!<br />
(Speaking of which, the Sheriff does have a new deputy... looks a heck of a lot like the old one, too.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-9rPuFVnDcBvbw6frpxWtJtqVXo1BN5G1BjHf7xqyUfwmwX-yPa1mI-M84i6LXhyphenhypheniXSzYRUeYilw9UWzzwB9CiQzlg_SSqhdz_daCsogxhOz4ryIBvoi_tQWwgbY0UDR2Orkiv6fa-pz/s1600/Image21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-9rPuFVnDcBvbw6frpxWtJtqVXo1BN5G1BjHf7xqyUfwmwX-yPa1mI-M84i6LXhyphenhypheniXSzYRUeYilw9UWzzwB9CiQzlg_SSqhdz_daCsogxhOz4ryIBvoi_tQWwgbY0UDR2Orkiv6fa-pz/s400/Image21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Mission building sits on a low rise in the middle of the table, surrounded by a broken terrain of hills and arroyos. <br />
<br />
<br />
I randomly determined who would be inside, who would be on guard, and where they would be positioned.<br />
Lawrence nominated his preferred table-edge for set-up and approach, and we diced for it: 1, 2, & 3 – the other table edges, 4, 5 or 6 – the chosen side.<br />
With a roll of one, the posse approached from the East, leaving their horses out of sight and approaching on foot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEArYMRW6lLqaTHt3fGKyZOtdJ-9t513WafTP-7o9AcYAiIsOk8uw_YR6ueddH2n9MUk9I4Ajy-J13KWyjT3pO89_q4T1T4NWN2nMKxrfPZ2NKXvRKZmm-Sz1AE19LACxdQTXSZqmQsX-E/s1600/Image22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEArYMRW6lLqaTHt3fGKyZOtdJ-9t513WafTP-7o9AcYAiIsOk8uw_YR6ueddH2n9MUk9I4Ajy-J13KWyjT3pO89_q4T1T4NWN2nMKxrfPZ2NKXvRKZmm-Sz1AE19LACxdQTXSZqmQsX-E/s400/Image22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The group split up, with the peace officers inclining toward the front of the building, and the gunfighters toward the back. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA79CCARy7WDCNgN00JWRrJE-MMhosIZM-4xl1WbjEblGfqqYbq0N-xPJeh1hU_7Mw0qKTq6sj13dJh730QaTSjIOw0HKMjjLjcTmKHtU0-HU6dU5ncTGr7_IO8aoP5QL0QGUhGDJmVwUx/s1600/Image23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA79CCARy7WDCNgN00JWRrJE-MMhosIZM-4xl1WbjEblGfqqYbq0N-xPJeh1hU_7Mw0qKTq6sj13dJh730QaTSjIOw0HKMjjLjcTmKHtU0-HU6dU5ncTGr7_IO8aoP5QL0QGUhGDJmVwUx/s400/Image23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Initially, luck was with them. Enrique, standing guard, was on the far side of the building. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4-NG-WtHlDrWhzIE0zur_ggcBkenDf_m96GfTLsZG6oJsH9P1_4efX8-bby3t24dEjPvJ0p-HQYPGvxENeKhNNJcohLERuIP6ZIx7DYFRwVqeEmTJxI3Za6yUzkCYIB0_K4PGDJrNMHR/s1600/Image24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4-NG-WtHlDrWhzIE0zur_ggcBkenDf_m96GfTLsZG6oJsH9P1_4efX8-bby3t24dEjPvJ0p-HQYPGvxENeKhNNJcohLERuIP6ZIx7DYFRwVqeEmTJxI3Za6yUzkCYIB0_K4PGDJrNMHR/s400/Image24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So their first moves went unnoticed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNxoNC_kWjWR6znYn0hnDRfQZE52itJwGaqzdqDA6LSO_aEg6xCWJI3VpOFXz_Vzjbhku0EUuFbK219d1Qk-_LvYK9UH5jRfEM46YkAZtjN8whSBeSA4c-C7vAlwWwjNzL2Up3sc30uma/s1600/Image25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNxoNC_kWjWR6znYn0hnDRfQZE52itJwGaqzdqDA6LSO_aEg6xCWJI3VpOFXz_Vzjbhku0EUuFbK219d1Qk-_LvYK9UH5jRfEM46YkAZtjN8whSBeSA4c-C7vAlwWwjNzL2Up3sc30uma/s400/Image25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The fearsome Jorge, however, was on-form as usual. <br />
<br />
<br />
Having randomly determined his position in the building, he had a line-of-sight to the peace officers... and he’s not the sort to fail a spot roll!<br />
Reacting, he broke the nearest window with the butt of his carbine – which alerted Enrique, who began to race around to that side of the building.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDODSZqyQ_c-7Q1_sfx_x31kAsqbzfr2maA2jhw69-xxZW-K1r199BBWNbgxomxz3DusxBwA0-PCds2XIeXEmr-hhxvbP7Q7YBUdh68sMmzF4MWuelLlQZefyP3OHsL-rJSA7YCt5mWGxI/s1600/Image26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDODSZqyQ_c-7Q1_sfx_x31kAsqbzfr2maA2jhw69-xxZW-K1r199BBWNbgxomxz3DusxBwA0-PCds2XIeXEmr-hhxvbP7Q7YBUdh68sMmzF4MWuelLlQZefyP3OHsL-rJSA7YCt5mWGxI/s400/Image26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Rounding the corner, Enrique finds he has a shot at the deputy, and takes it... only to find the lawman was <i>j-u-s-t </i>out of range! (Neither he nor the deputy could have known that, so we let it play out.) The wasted shot turned out to be deadly enough, though, as the deputy lost his nerve and headed for the hills! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFRj5zrPiqTyedWPb1kIthFS1s2sAAOhYHooNHy4d2wFbhijtDs0NI7WomY2YrOsXb3jYsJsg_E86bHLeIEikDkGdTqr30jhdtud1pLYyog9wBWo_WaYOC4I4-3rJ1wmtA-nLWuzKB-8b/s1600/Image27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFRj5zrPiqTyedWPb1kIthFS1s2sAAOhYHooNHy4d2wFbhijtDs0NI7WomY2YrOsXb3jYsJsg_E86bHLeIEikDkGdTqr30jhdtud1pLYyog9wBWo_WaYOC4I4-3rJ1wmtA-nLWuzKB-8b/s400/Image27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Never one to let the chance of a good old back-shooting pass him by, Jorge put a bullet between the fleeing deputy’s shoulder blades, killing him outright. <br />
<br />
<br />
(If there’s a third brother in that family, I’m betting he doesn’t go into law enforcement!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKOdljFIoX1Sw9Fi1t7H5KIS3Ri6f4V6EsRz7ufd2hp2HCaRwTH253FT9_P_7SaxyqlX3WXpfPXPL-XM93dzWfvPuN5eaIZQUI6oiPC7VlCu4nezey8mb8zdorqHAMlWDxfh4b60b2zoR/s1600/Image28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKOdljFIoX1Sw9Fi1t7H5KIS3Ri6f4V6EsRz7ufd2hp2HCaRwTH253FT9_P_7SaxyqlX3WXpfPXPL-XM93dzWfvPuN5eaIZQUI6oiPC7VlCu4nezey8mb8zdorqHAMlWDxfh4b60b2zoR/s400/Image28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Joe & Chico took advantage of the activity on the side of the Mission to creep up to the rear unnoticed, and positioned themselves – Joe by the window, Chico by the door. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKdOvYSeCmTuqHgtT5OXi9EYltHwqLK1RhIgcaiWODPjpunF-PGYt4R7JxhZC89U8MMjyKhRPk9YhE2UEEQhWaMadOYsQExiXx38kYF6AXgzsCzkC0T52wHoACLyO-tP0IvmP0YIi3AA-/s1600/Image29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKdOvYSeCmTuqHgtT5OXi9EYltHwqLK1RhIgcaiWODPjpunF-PGYt4R7JxhZC89U8MMjyKhRPk9YhE2UEEQhWaMadOYsQExiXx38kYF6AXgzsCzkC0T52wHoACLyO-tP0IvmP0YIi3AA-/s400/Image29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The first the bandits knew of their presence was the bang as Chico kicked the door in, fanning his pistol as he burst into the church. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>(In 6GS you can fire up to three pistol rounds at up to three targets – providing they’re no more than 4” apart.)</i><br />
Chico had decided to fire twice at the nearer man – Xavier – and once at the farther – Jorge.<br />
His bullets threw Xavier dead across the pews; but missed Jorge.<br />
Joe, too, had declared Xavier as his target... that right there is one dead bandido!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKDviT9as39gaXaa4mZ9z_QdK6kI1dPHRyNW-jEgFK_gfnrT2qRhz6MkHWEnSkVU05qUKvY_C8gqS3ApGLmtCJvWiioPerNtygcWiDKjM2QGyeq7G5onVCDbUyHx4YfIatZHco13s3yMm/s1600/Image30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKDviT9as39gaXaa4mZ9z_QdK6kI1dPHRyNW-jEgFK_gfnrT2qRhz6MkHWEnSkVU05qUKvY_C8gqS3ApGLmtCJvWiioPerNtygcWiDKjM2QGyeq7G5onVCDbUyHx4YfIatZHco13s3yMm/s400/Image30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jorge’s reaction, though, was devastating – despite penalties for being attacked from behind, he passed his reaction test and shot Chico clean through the heart. <br />
<br />
<br />
Enrique chose that moment to burst into the mission, eliciting a “Got a Shot” reaction from Joe, who blew him right back out of the door again – dead.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSXmD8msB0vtMdUx4lgc9vKTkM5C1qRQcH9F9yrsdjNEG8NlBlU-qqR4cjNw-XYj2aUFyrnBMoe0khrBp1oStdHFG_1_aOSGBDsiGUxwUqcNP7VyJZKozn7sbd_ZTXw72c0DS_9peUZpY/s1600/Image31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSXmD8msB0vtMdUx4lgc9vKTkM5C1qRQcH9F9yrsdjNEG8NlBlU-qqR4cjNw-XYj2aUFyrnBMoe0khrBp1oStdHFG_1_aOSGBDsiGUxwUqcNP7VyJZKozn7sbd_ZTXw72c0DS_9peUZpY/s400/Image31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>At close range, Joe and Jorge blazed away at each other... and for the second scenario running, Joe was incapacitated by Jorge’s deadly-accurate fire. <br />
<br />
<br />
Enough was enough, though. Jorge had no way of knowing who was out there, and decided to make good his escape, grabbing his saddlebags and heading for the gang’s horses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQUoBshZsEmKu94fzOVkWzweyTCLXy3PvLfQrHURl_-CTAf24q9GexODNMnHNQolHklO4cDGRzNfQDN-hs6ZOjuPO6oq_Q3xEzmiWZFosu9TbHSeeA__54vvlAspoSqFL9NIA7FxHqdvG/s1600/Image32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQUoBshZsEmKu94fzOVkWzweyTCLXy3PvLfQrHURl_-CTAf24q9GexODNMnHNQolHklO4cDGRzNfQDN-hs6ZOjuPO6oq_Q3xEzmiWZFosu9TbHSeeA__54vvlAspoSqFL9NIA7FxHqdvG/s400/Image32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ePQBANEKY2WzPZf8_AKm0o28dgwH88Cdjtz3Y27amDU9sr0qnqLvozWoyyu0zxmNuOC3I5t3aDeIbr1levMFk2iIbOl-RIbBu8UAK24GlN4Mi0UKnbipTbYlg2eAVbyD6zOQJvHdHHCg/s1600/Image33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ePQBANEKY2WzPZf8_AKm0o28dgwH88Cdjtz3Y27amDU9sr0qnqLvozWoyyu0zxmNuOC3I5t3aDeIbr1levMFk2iIbOl-RIbBu8UAK24GlN4Mi0UKnbipTbYlg2eAVbyD6zOQJvHdHHCg/s400/Image33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HK1chtgiU26-As3DsDEVq9U1v2hqvnuIYvbip66sv4VWV02ARARDt0WvW_pbJF48QMWzw_F2rTHl1fsB155A_esuLifZLC8bp866VTRO2qzw2g9SR0TrdneiW8lVEfBn7z8MbOsZdKFd/s1600/Image34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HK1chtgiU26-As3DsDEVq9U1v2hqvnuIYvbip66sv4VWV02ARARDt0WvW_pbJF48QMWzw_F2rTHl1fsB155A_esuLifZLC8bp866VTRO2qzw2g9SR0TrdneiW8lVEfBn7z8MbOsZdKFd/s400/Image34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>He was almost there when a shot from the Sheriff’s revolver sent him sprawling in the dust.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9es0MP79bQ5jmBg4rW40CElP-8k8WB2_SyYt_Op8aSkCQAv-Qrc4Z3WhW19N60gOcYID3c6QsDf47ALBJh6l-qW8FsK5uK7FmzRyOnzGSlgW4q9dozRUN7dKDQZTBMrQAChwJkdgkN80J/s1600/Image35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9es0MP79bQ5jmBg4rW40CElP-8k8WB2_SyYt_Op8aSkCQAv-Qrc4Z3WhW19N60gOcYID3c6QsDf47ALBJh6l-qW8FsK5uK7FmzRyOnzGSlgW4q9dozRUN7dKDQZTBMrQAChwJkdgkN80J/s400/Image35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The ‘Code of the West’ is all very well... but Jorge was just too darn dangerous to take any chances with. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Again, Joe had survived, and if he hadn’t exactly won, at least been on the winning side. <br />
<br />
<br />
More recovery time lies ahead... and after that, perhaps a rethink about how many sidekicks to take along on a job!<br />
Pictures by Lawrence (mahotsukai) and Richard (herkybird)<br />
Commentary by Phil Hope<br />
<br />
Rules: THW’s 1<sup>st</sup> edition Six Gun Sound.Mahotsukaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00157474177221485824noreply@blogger.com3