This was our first IHMN game and, to make things more complicated, we also designed the White Snake Company from scratch using Lady Kate’s Marvellous Maniacal Enumerator. For whatever reason – probably the fact that they have no projectile weapons? – the White Snakes got trashed. That being said, Mesmerism managed to snag Mohan a good few times, as well as a few Incorrigibles, and Lord Curr was nearly killed by a Snakeman. We’ll have to try balance things out a bit for Chapter 2! Does anyone know of any useful attribute/rules for large monstrous creatures?April, 189-:Summoned by a letter from a distant colleague – the mysterious Oxford University Professor of Esoterica, Dr. Leonidas Ophiuchus – a young Lord Curr and his band of Incorrigibles depart from London in order to investigate strange occurrences in the abandoned hamlet of Hobbsbottom. Accompanying Lord Curr is his trusty manservant Modan Singh; Lady Felicia Oxbridge, an airy socialite known for pistol tricks; her older brother Gonville Oxbridge, a veteran of the Nile Campaign of 1884-85; and three handpicked Incorrigibles.
After arriving, the first thing the Company notices is how empty Hobbsbottom is… A town this old (it dates back to the English Civil War, at least) should have more residents. As they explore the hamlet’s edge, however, the sound of a distant accordion draws their attention to a nearby ancient stone circle.
It is the White Snake Company, a band of dark Morris dancers known for their involvement in arcane and unsavory practices!
The Incorrigibles and the White Snakes prepare for imminent conflict.
After taunting the Incorrigibles (“The coils of destiny tighten blindly around you!”) Angus Overdale, the team squire, darts up a ladder into an old brick general house, throwing a gas grenade directly at Lord Curr and two of his Incorrigibles.
Lord Curr returns the favor by blasting his elephant gun up the stairs at Angus, although he narrowly misses.
Meanwhile, the Charming Man, a mesmerist of some repute, works his strange magic over Mohan, who – overwhelmed by the mystical force – promptly pushes Lady Felicia back against the well, knocking her temporarily unconscious.
After first blood is drawn – a Morris dancer, shot dead in the hamlet center – two hideous Snakemen slither onto the battlefield, shocking Gonville to his core (“Great Scott!”).
Mohan, recovered and overcome by rage at his actions while mesmerized, turns to strike one down with his machine gun.
Three Incorrigibles volley fire at the dark Morris dancers, causing bloody chaos.
Crouched behind a haycart, the Charming Man continues to chant his dark spell.
A terrifying Snakeman and a Morris dancer charge Lord Curr and his Incorrigibles directly! But the line holds steady.
Having dispatched the first Snakeman, Mohan, an Incorrigible, and the groggy, but recovering Lady Felicia turn on Angus Overdale. He hasn’t a chance, and a mournful squawk from his accordion announces his passing.
As the final Snakeman shrieks in rage, the Incorrigibles regroup in order to remove its license to slither.
At the last possible moment, however, the Snakeman grabs the nearest Incorrigible – Lady Felicia – and drags her into the well. There is a scream and a thud. Lord Curr and his companion rush to the structure, looking down into the darkness, where all they see is a huge, glinting eye, cold and reptilian…
To be continued...
