An epilogue.....
The French survivors of the massacre at Ganash, led by the indomitable sergeant Lafarge from the foreign legion and the Comte D'Artois have managed to evade their Prussian pursuers and various monsters/ Drune raiders to make the epic 300 km trek across the inhospitable Crater Desert and into an area called 'The Claims'. This is an uncontrolled area of relatively lawless mining communities made up of multiple nationalities owing allegiance to no-one and bearing little interest in the outside world.
The first town (if you could describe a festering sweat hole of rusting dereliction as such) they have come across is Irontown, lorded over by the Russian renegade Ivan 'the Terrible'.The French survivors have managed to send an aether telegraph to the nearest possible source of rescue, the British at Fort Gordon. This telegraph has been received, and realising the importance of the political benefits to be gained from rescuing such an important ally the British have despatched a long range patrol nef with a naval boarding party .
However, undeterred by their chase through the wastes and low on coal and supplies, the remaining Prussian guard now under the control of the fearful secret agent Spiegler have arrived on the outskirts of town. Their objective is to see that the rescue mission cannot succeed and to also capture enough coal and fuel supplies to be able to return to friendly territory and a heroic welcome. They also retain the artefact stolen from the French archeologists...a key with strange properties that must at all costs return with them. Realising they no longer possess the strength to achieve their objective alone they have communicated with their nearest allies, the Japanese, to assist in the capture of the town. The Japanese have responded cautiously by sending the patrol nef 'Mikasa' with a detachment of Japanese naval forces. However, unfortunatley for the Japanese their vessel has been sabotaged by three rather strange looking geisha who have mysteriously vanished, leaving lip gloss explosive devices in their fuel stores. The ship has been partly damaged and the remeining fuel stores have had to be jettisoned to prevent a catastrophic explosion.
In Irontown, Ivan rules as a warlord, controlling trade routes and supplies to the smaller mines and offering a coaling station for both Russian and Caliphate convoys to the outer foundries....all for a price of course. A towering man of bear like proportions, he has put together a force of mainly Russian escaped convicts and army deserters into a paramilitary and leads from the front on his suit of steam armour.
He has currently seen it in his best interests to pander to the French, knowing that a reward may be coming his way for his honourable assistances... but if someone else were to offer him a higher price? Ivan lives with his men and collected harem in the old Drune dwelling in the middle of town, which is also used as a caravanserei and market point, as well as court and place of execution . Ivan will attack any forces attacking him or seeking to steal from him. He has also overheard one of the French mention the key stolen by the Prussians. Should the chance come his way he will attempt to seize it. He may also switch sides if two or more British or French units suffer 50 % casualties or are routed within 15" or him. And he may just switch sides anyway.
A very rough list of forces (yes, some are still on the painting table..):
Forces of Unforgiveable Evil:
30 Japanese Navy
30 Prussians
Plus characters...evil agent, Japanese officer, Ships Captain, Prussian Sergeant
1 Prussian Armoured Car
The Ship 'Mikasa'
Forces of Stiff Upper Lip Derring-Do:
20 British Naval Landing Party
10 British Marines
12 French Foreign Legion
Plus Characters....Raymond O'Keefe, Henri..Comte D'Artois, Sergeant Lafarge, Captain Norris of the Naval boarding party and Lieutenant Rich of the Naval patrol vessel 'Hermes'.
Forces of the Untrustworthy Cut-throats:
Ivan the Terrible in power suit
30 mercenaries
1 old and untrustworthy artillery piece
Should be played out in a couple days....introducing a couple more armies into the campaign!
31 March 2008, 04:08:48 PM