The Ruin of Mimsie Hawley - Update 2nd May - The End!

[DintheDin]

DintheDin, I have to say, if you had not said that I would never have known. You write English as if it is your first language.

Thanksalot!!!
Sir, you have been instantly added to the buddy list! 
Cheers!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

TURN 7

The slaughter continues. Enraged by the sight of his leader falling to the ground, Sir John Falstaff charges into the fray to confront Sir Francis.



Lord Melchett moves around behind Sir John and attempts to take Lord Percy Percy from the rear. No doubt Percy has experience of this sort of thing, you know what these aristocrats are like! To Percy's front, Sir Miles Cholmondely-Warner gamely tramples over the body of Sir Guffington Shortcake with a cry of "Have at you, Sir!"



Wrench runs to join the combat but is too far away to engage anyone. Puck on the other hand is close enough to join his master in the combat against fat Sir John.



So, at the end of turn 7, there are two combats to resolve, both two against one in Sir Francis's retinue's favour. Sir Jaspar's men had priority and chose to resolve Sir John's combat first. Sir John gains the initiative and strikes a mighty blow at Sir Francis. Sir Francis if you recall, already has a light wound from Sir John's ball in his arm. With this affecting his fighting, Sir John runs him through and Sir Francis will never strike again, he is an ex-swashbuckler. Puck strikes with his halberd at Sir John but the fat man blocks his attack and strikes back. His rapier passes right through Puck and out the other side. Puck is mortally wounded and expires gracefully. The odds have changed rapidly with this startling development. Both leaders now dead, the side-kicks battle on. Lord Percy is facing Sir Miles but before he can do anything, Melchett has struck from behind and killed him.



The butcher's bill now stands at one dead cardinal, one dead daughter, two dead leaders, three dead side-kicks and one dead servant. Sir Francis's men need not test for morale this turn. Sir Jaspar's men need to test but with Sir John's inspiring attribute, they automatically pass their first morale test. The fight continues.

To be continued...

[Captain Blood]

That’s quite a dust-up 

[Doug ex-em4]

That’s quite a dust-up 

It got dustier

Sir Jasper (ex)

Doug

[syrinx0]

The butcher's bill here is worse than GOT!  Seems almost historical... 

[Patrice]

The butcher's bill here is worse than GOT!  Seems almost historical...

Don't mention it or he will kill a Stark.

[Doug ex-em4]

Farewell noble Sir Jaspar- he'll ne'er twirl his moustachios no more.



Doug

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Farewell to the old blackguard indeed!


TURN 8

At the start of turn 8, Sir John Falstaff challenges Lord Melchett to a Duel. Should Melchett accept this challenge, no other figure would be able to interfere following the En Garde! rules. Melchett declines the challenge and Bottom shoots at Falstaff. Bottom has obviously not been carrying out regular weapon maintenance as his ball goes flying over Sir John's head, narrowly missing the Hawley banner that Melchett so proudly carries. Falstaff charges Lord Melchett shouting "Refuse a challenge, eh? Shoot at me, eh? Well, have some of this my son, you have as little honesty as honour!"



Stirrup (remember him?) reloaded last turn and takes a long shot at Sir Miles Cholmondely-Warner. The wind must be blowing in the right direction as Stirrup scores a hit on Sir Miles and causes a light wound. Sir Miles limps in to join Melchett in combat against the massive figure of Sir John Falstaff. It was to be said (particularly in the Boars Head Inn) in later years that this was Sir John's greatest moment since hiding in the laundry basket (see The Merry Wives of Windsor). Adolf Schrödter captured Sir John in oils, showing him at his best with his page in attendance.



But I digress, back in Bloody Lane, Wrench runs at Lord Melchett and tries to cleave him in twain with his halberd. The stage is set for another round of combat in this already blood-soaked drama.



To resolve this combat, the fight was divided into two separate combats with Melchett fighting Wrench and Sir Miles taking on the mighty Sir John. Sir Miles lunges at Sir John, but the big man is able to parry. Sir John steps forward, strikes and Sir Miles sinks to the ground breathing his last. Another death in Bloody Lane.



We now turn to Melchett whose skill it seems, is more than able to overcome Wrench's mighty weapon. A well-placed thrust from Melchett and Wrench is an ex-servant, he is brown bread. Morale is tested due to the amount of bodies piling up in the road. Sir Jaspar's men start to waver but Sir Francis's men remain steady (this is where the banner comes in handy).

To be continued...

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

TURN 9 - The End!

Due to wavering morale, Sir John has now to throw a dice to see if he will engage, but the great man makes his throw, turns from the body of Sir Miles and takes on Lord Melchett. Will the big man be able, single-handedly to turn the tide of battle? Read on! As Sir John turns to face Melchett, Bottom runs into the fight swinging his matchlock. Stirrup runs towards the fight but is still some distance away.



So once again, Sir John fights for his life against two opponents. The previous combats must have told on Sir John, though. Melchett is able to pierce not only Sir John's defence but also his heart! Bloody Lane claims another victim in this feud without a cause.

'Sound trumpets! let our bloody colours wave!
And either victory, or else a grave.'

Lord Melchett and Bottom step away from the gore-soaked ground and look to the south and the solitary figure of Stirrup at Hanging Cross.



Stirrup, observing that he is the only one of Sir Jaspar's original party still alive, decides to make a run for Fannys Bottom and safety. The cart is still loaded with booze so Stirrup elects to take the cart with him and gets Muffin the mule moving at a good pace to get home in time for tea and medals.



...and there our story has to end as sadly as it begun with many a good man dead including our two main protagonists, Sir Francis and Sir Jaspar, not forgetting dear Mimsie as well! The tale may now changed from The Ruin of Mimsie Hawley to The Death of Mimsie Hawley.



There was, back at the beginning (which seems so long ago) a table of Victory Points which I will remind you of here. Relating to this we find Sir Francis scored 12 points and Sir Jaspar 10 points. But as you survey the field of battle, dear reader there appear to be no winners today.

In war whichever side may call itself victor. There are no winners. But all are losers.

I must thank Doug em4 and Vagabond for taking part in this game and playing like gentlemen (with a straight bat to the wicket) and making it so enjoyable. Even at a distance, we managed to make each other laugh. As Eric and Ernie always said at the end of their show, 'Bring me Sunshine, in your smile, Bring me Laughter, all the while,'. Adieu.

The End.

[DintheDin]

We have to greatly thank you for the whole drama unfolded so skillfully with the help of your narration and pictures in front of our very eyes! AN EPIC BRWL! Laughed with our heart and enjoyed immensely! Thank you again!!!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

We have to greatly thank you for the whole drama unfolded so skillfully with the help of your narration and pictures in front of our very eyes! AN EPIC BRWL! Laughed with our heart and enjoyed immensely! Thank you again!!!

It was very much my pleasure, DintheDin! Thank you for all your kind comments throughout.   

[has.been]

Great fun & a splendid report. Thank you.

[Hu Rhu]

Well that was bloody.  And great fun to be a spectator as it were.  It must be how the crowd felt at the Roman games, with bodies piling up all over the place.  Well done.

[dadlamassu]

Gadzooks! Verily this was a superbly related tale of honour and devilry, love and hate, heroism and tragedy tinged with humour and sadness.  The Bard would be proud!

Not my period but I loved it!

[Captain Blood]

A melodramatic triumph. Well done chaps