The Tale of Marcus Templeton and Shane - (A Mountain man story)

[marianas_gamer]

I would love to her more of this adventure!

[Florida Tory]

I will second that wish!

Rick

[Oberstleutnant Koenig]

Sorry for leaving you Gentlemen, hanging...

I have been sidetracked over the past few months into umpiring a Dark Age campaign. Almost two months in and things are getting interesting.

Rustling five Romano-British Warlords has consumed much of my spare time.

I will endeavor to post something on Marcus and Shane in this coming week. 

Thank you for following this thread.

[Oberstleutnant Koenig]

Gents, as promised.

Game turn 4 – 2 PM

Templeton and Bulfinch untangled Bennett from the tree branch and make him comfortable after hauling him into the cover of the nearby forest. Bulfinch collects two stout sticks and started to splinting Bennett’s leg. There were a few curse words as he straightened his companion’s leg, ready for splinting. Templeton gathered two saplings to act as poles for a litter he was fashioning. 

Meanwhile, Shane knew he couldn’t continue running as he had been since the village. Deciding to move more slowly, he and his party broke into a walk. Hemmed in by cliff and escarpment, his parties path already predetermined. Shane moves from hex 10.07 to 11.06.

The slower pace bares them fruit, almost immediately.

Gibbson sights a wild turkey in a nearby ticket.

He freezes in place and looks back at Shane, slowly conducting hand signals and indicating the ticket. Mouthing the words, “Shall we have forest chicken, tonight?”
Gibbson raises his musket, ready to put an ounce of lead into the bird.

“No!” Shane responds, casting noise discipline aside in the attempt  to check Gibbson's shot. “You’ll bring those bloody heathens down on our necks, You blasted fool!”
Slowly Gibbson lowers his firearm, to which Shane adds, “we will camp soon. Hopefully we can get down to the river and get some fish.”

This was a lucky call on Shane’s part.

With only three miles separating Red Knife and his war party from the Mountain men, they would have heard the shot - Firing a firearm can be heard five hexes away for game purposes.

Saved from a possible costly error, the three mountain men continue their journey east. Unluckily, they continue leaving trail as they do so – 50% of this when walking, 100% if moving fast.

Smoke Wolf now mounted on Indian ponies, leads 11 braves east, following Red Knife and intent on catching up to him. Horses moved two hexes per turn when moving normally, ending his move in hex 06.06.

Deaf Buffalo takes the remaining nine braves on foot south. Following Templeton’s initial trail, he ends his turn in hex 04.06.

Bloody Bear, Black Eagle and Grey Deer, continue chasing phantoms in the south.

[Belisarius]

Nail bitingly good story , well told . 🤭 The basis for a good board game here .

[Oberstleutnant Koenig]

Game turn 5 – 3 PM

With Bennett’s broken leg, the situation was now dire. The only way to move Bennett was how to carry him. This would reduce the party’s movement to a walk. Templeton knew their chances of survival was now, cut in half.

Night was fast approaching, so Marcus decided it was best to remain in place and regain some of their strength. Marcus scouted the local area, hoping to bag something for them to eat. He was out of luck and came back to camp empty handed.

Meanwhile, Bulfinch went down to the river and tried his hand at a spot of fishing. He doesn’t have any luck either.

On the other side of the river, Shane and his party continue following the cliff face. They had just reached a rock fall when Moore shouts out, “Cougar!”

Perched high on one of the house sized boulders was a tan mountain loin. The big cat snarls at the intruders and shows his fangs. But he isn’t interested in engaging with three men in a life or death struggle. He turns and fades into the scattered rocks.

There was a 50% chance a predator will attack a party, otherwise they will flee. Bears having a much higher chance of aggressive behavior.

Gibbon lets out a sigh, “Phew, that was close. When do we make camp? I’m just about done!”

Gibbon’s Stamina was only one point away from being totally exhausted.

“Soon,” Shane replies. “As soon as we get over this rock slide, we will make camp.” Gibbon nods and silently they press on.

Red knife having now found trail, indicating direction of Shane’s group. He again pressed his war-party into a fast pace pursuit. Shane’s lead was being eroded quickly.
 
Smoke Wolf and his mounted war-party continue to catch-up with Red Knife.

Deaf Buffalo raced south.

Bloody Bear, Black Eagle and Grey Deer picked up the pace, but continued looking in the wrong direction.

[von Lucky]

Only catching up now - but yes, still gripping.