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Author Topic: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign  (Read 96046 times)

Offline CPT Shanks

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  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #585 on: April 15, 2022, 11:22:55 PM »
Salvation at Seri

Seri, the Black Mountains, the Northwest Frontier, 9 October, 1890. The village has stood for hundreds of years, the great game will determine whether it will survive this latest round of invaders.  It was also the scene of betrayal when BG Channers was kidnapped during a jirga not long ago. Now a punitive expedition was about to descend upon the village, the time for jirgas was over. After the kidnapping of the Brigadier and the ambuscade at Parbal Gali, the column dispatched from Tilli to capture any belligerents and deny them safe haven by destroying the village had arrived.


The original plan had been to block the  nullah to the north and the Fusiliers block the eastern trail to Oghi, while the 11th Bengal Lancers swept west through the village.  Terrain dictated that the cavalry sweep around and block the eastern trail while the 59th and the 2nd swept through the village searching for belligerents and setting fire to the compounds and towers.


The Fusiliers searched the first tower and found it unoccupied. The 59th approached the main compound...  the village looked serene enough.



Suddenly a group of white clad Ghazi fanatics poured from the tower and charged into the lancers. The Ghazis closed on the startled lancers who were just establishing their blocking position.  Unable to countercharge they took the brunt of ghazis full force. Tulwar slashed through lance and flesh alike, the lancers were able to kill some of their foe before they were overwhelmed and slaughtered to the man. Even Sher Khan, the Colonel's hound was driven back under the assault.


Rifles surreptitiously poked from loopholes and over the walled roof of the compound.  The pathans fired on the hapless 59th wounding two of them. Return fire dropped two of the embrasured warriors, while undeterred the 59th moved forward into the fire.


 The 2nd Fusiliers set fire to the western tower, and advanced on the village.


A second group of fanatics charged from the northern house into 59th, but were met with fire from the bloodied regiment as well as the 2nd Fusiliers. Their numbers cut in half, they were unable to close with the 59th and broke for the cover of the hills.  Undaunted by the destruction of their fellow warriors Mohmod Ghazi Khan focused his attack on the 59th. They closed the gap and clashing tulwars with bayonets into the heart of the 59th striking down Captain Smythers before he could draw his sword.

The Pathans from inside the compound fired another salvo into the 59th while the ghazis hacked at them without quarter. Mohmod Ghazi personally cutting down three of the britishers. Finally the beleaguered leaderless troops fell back toward their initial lines.


Finding nothing in the second house the fusiliers set it alight and moved to the southern compound.



They poured fire into the western compound, breaking the remaining pathans who slinked out of a hidden door and made for the nullah.



Mohmad and the last of his ghazis charged into the men of the 2nd,  Mohmad attacking Captain Geoffrey Marks in personal combat. The captain obliged him with a solid thrashing from his emptied webley upside his head followed with a saber slash.


The lone ghazi now too broke for the safety of the nullah.


Entering the compound the intrepid soldiers of her majesty saw a disheveled, crumpled,and bloodied Britisher on the floor amongst the dead pathans. Turning him over it was discovered to be none other none other than their own brigadier BG Channers. Quickly assessing him they found him beaten and cut but still very much alive.

At this they set alight the remaining buildings and eastern tower.




The light fading they established a tight encampment with fifty percent watch. The pathans who had been so eager to protect their prize though had had enough for one day and the night passed without incident.   The following day the patrol returned to Tilli, finding Sher Ali had already straggled back.

« Last Edit: April 15, 2022, 11:35:56 PM by CPT Shanks »
"welcome to the world of cascading failure"


Offline Umra Khan

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Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #586 on: April 16, 2022, 05:18:24 AM »
To BG Channers

great and epic battle, Her Majesty's forces fought with honor. I am happy that you have returned to civilization. BiBi

Offline George

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Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #587 on: April 16, 2022, 10:26:55 AM »
Thrilling stuff. As ever. 8)

Offline giorgio

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Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #588 on: April 19, 2022, 07:58:54 AM »
Mulehead ‘s dream
Wana suburbs, in a little house on the road to Jandola pass, Mulehead is designing his next moves
 
Don’t be fooled by the dull noise coming from the khan, while thinking to his future actions, lulled by the rhythmic sound produced by a skilled tribeman, sit close to him, he is not snoring, he thinks loudly.
 
Drumming Drumming Drumming… the hypnotic  and mesmerizing sounds of drum wrap Mulehead’s brain and soon…
 
“Oh great Amir, the mighty Mulehead, the greatest Khan of all Punjab” the crowd cries out of the wall of Kandahar. A superb figure in a rich uniform exits from the gates on an impressive stallion.
 
Zooming at the mounted Amir, Mulehead discovers that he is himelf! Mighty and magnificent!
 
And now he was joined as devoted followers by Mullah Powinda, leader of the waziri of Kostwal,  with the jihad flag and Muhammad Alì who after the death of Taras khan, has taken the lead of the Waziris of the Tochi valley.
 
They both cried “Hurraz our Mighty Amir! Defensor of True Rule, torch for the pilgrims, light for the martyrs”
 
“Great vizir, Mighty Amir, Blessed by El Osprey”
 
“great Khan mighty Mulehead”
“Yes I’m the great Amir…”
“great Mulehead wake , wake up!”
Now a new horseman had joined the followers and proclaimed him the mightiest of the mighty khans, the new prophet of true rule. He is an unknown mullah on a splendid mare, and sings he saved the loser and traitor Gul Akbar. But he is well accepted between Powinda and Muhammad and the former waves the holy flag of jihad over his beehive hat
 
“Hosoor wake up”
“Uh? What?” Mulehead said slowly rising from deep sleep
 
“Mulehead Khan,  messengers are coming, please wake up, stop sleeping”
“Oh? I was not sleeping, I had a prophetic message, I will be Amir!”
“please come and see” the sentinel insisted not giving importance to the prophecy message “horsemen are arriving at full gallop!”
 
What important message is brought by the arriving warriors? Their flag says they are coming from Black Mountain…
To be continued...
« Last Edit: April 19, 2022, 09:34:02 AM by giorgio »

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #589 on: April 20, 2022, 05:44:44 AM »
...everyone betrays everyone


October 6th 1890 Sir I respectfully send to you the summary of the messages between  the bandit Mulehead Khan and the infamous Umra Khan and were read and briefly reported by our spy still hidden in the roof of Mulehead's tower. The messages were also intercepted by Mad Guru's followers and brought to his attention.
Your Humble servant   Tanas Singh, Subedar 2 Sikh company of Guides PFF.
in a fortified tower in Waziristan:

Umra :...the horsemen coming from the Black Mountain bring the news of the conversion of Gul Akbar...that news kills Mulehead's dreams!! Story finished.

Mulehead: Not so fast, Uncle. Frontier hides more secrets and betrayals than your little brain can imagine...and I didn't get the title of Evil Khan without deserving it...
Umra: Just in your dreams
Mulehead: wait and do not pray my pardon cause no mercy will be provided

Umra: No mercy asked...no mercy given...Umra says !
Mulehead: wargames atlantic will release new russians and cossacks and no mercy will be requested ‘cause no one will be granted.
Umra: They are for WW1...Useless

Mulehead: no they are good also for end century and beginning (Japan war)
Umra: Who said? El Osprey, Mr Babbage or Mulehead ?

Mulehead: Heretics cannot sleep, they keep watching to see what news the message brings! And they are awake in terror and fear

Umra: I thought that Mulehead during his dream fall out from his bed knocking his head on the floor.

What is there in the letter from Black Mountains??? The suspense is growing now also in British Headquarters!!!

« Last Edit: April 20, 2022, 05:49:58 AM by giorgio »

Offline CPT Shanks

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #590 on: April 21, 2022, 11:34:36 PM »
In the village of Baio, North West Frontier, west of the Indus River the leaders of the Akazai hold a jirga under the light of a raging fire. They have gathered together to celebrate the return of Gul Akbar Khan and his spreading of jihad against the ferenghees in the west. And also to discuss the recent unsanctioned attacks over the frontier into India by the Chargazai tribes which was even now bringing the hated Britishers and their lackeys into the TorGhar. The council was called by the senior elder and spiritual leader of the tribe, Mullah Hashim Ali of Darband





Out of the darkness Gul Akbar Khan emerged
"My dear uncle Hashim Ali, I have seen the light, and it resides within me.  Our lineage has forever fought according to TMWWBK,  but when I fought at Dargai and in the Valley of the Hathi Dara I fought to an older code, TSATF.  This code allowed me to redress my grievances with the ferenghi dogs of Ruff-Husband Sahib.  They were distraction enough at Dargai that my sister's family could be spirited away right under the Britishers' noses. And again two days later I witnessed as we used them, allied with the Yusafzai Malik Jamal Shah Baba, to turn the tide of Britishers back over the pass and allow us to escape into the lands of the Swati tribes.  So I say to you my belived uncle and gathered brothers, let us consider following this older, surer code amongst the tribes in the TorGhar."



Hashim Ali sipped at his chai and considered his young nephew, freshly returned from battling the ferenghi and the kafirs of the west.  He marveled at the audacity of the youth, the exuberance of the returned warrior.
"Gul, our tribes have fought many battles defending our precious mountains and valleys according to the TMWWBK.  The battles you have fought were not in the TorGhar range. They were not fought with only the tribes of our kin, protecting our homes, our fields, our lives from outsiders and their desire to steal from us, or force from us, what is ours. I cannot believe your faith so easily shaken over two battles. That you would abandon all that you know to adopt the older, clunkier ways of those in the west. Please regale us with your latest battle that I might better understand where your head and your heart is coming from."



Offline Umra Khan

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  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #591 on: April 22, 2022, 07:43:11 AM »
From Umra Khan Mogala Tirah
To Gul Akbar Tor Ghar

Habibi Gul
May the Light of the True guide your steps;
The beautiful news of your conversion has reached my modest palace in Mogala.
The Bagh of the Consciousness has seen a new flower blossom.
The time has come for the wicked to perish under the blows of the Righteous.
I have just returned from a Hajj done in the far West, a Sacred place surrounded by a Great Water, where I met the spiritual essence of The One who created everything.
The time has come for the wicked to perish under the blows of the Righteous.
A new flag with this sentence is bring by a pious warrior at  the head of my armies.
The whole Frontier will be crossed by a wave that will drown all the blasphemers.
Sharpen your Tulwar oh great Khan and together with Mad Guru the Holy Man, and Sgt. Brom the Fated we will defeat the  Evil.

Signed
Umra Khan
So be it written , so be it done.

« Last Edit: April 22, 2022, 08:58:50 AM by Umra Khan »

Offline CPT Shanks

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #592 on: April 22, 2022, 03:00:09 PM »
GHQ, Rawalpindi
Attention General B. Blood
15 October 1890
BG Channers' debriefing continues as he recovers in Abbottabad. He has information about a jihad being planned among emissaries of Mullah Hashim Ali in the Black Mountains and Mulehead Khan in Waziristan. He reports that he was captured by Akazai but soon sold to the Chagharzais for one hundred Lee-Metford rifles. I have men now tracking down where those came from, either purchased in Lahore by disreputable arms dealers, former company men, or if they were counterfeits made in the back alley  armories of Karachi, as deadly to the user as to the target. But I digress.

BG Channers' knowledge of pashtun is extensive, but his captors being  unaware of this spoke freely in front of him and he became privey to much information . There is great unrest in the north. Inter tribal rivalries may cause more frequent attacks against against friendly villages within our influences as an attempt to draw us north.  The attack at Parbal Gali, carried out by Chagharzais, was intended to foment our ire against the Akazais, however  we were fully aware if this ploy when we targeted our punitive raid.  It was dumb luck that BG Channers had just been moved to Seri a few days prior to our raid, that information we did not have  We were also able to recover the fifty rifles and one heliograph taken at Parbal Gali. It is likely that the tribes will continue to use this tactic and try to bait us into fighting their battles for them.

He also stated there are rumors that Gul Akbar Khan was converted during his battles at Dargai and Shakot pass. That he renounced TMWWBK and took a vow to spread TSATF back to his home in the Black Mountains. This information was relayed to the tribes from a minor Bunerwhal clan head, Mullah Abdullah. If this is true, and he is successful, this could mark a major shift in alliances between the Black Mountain tribes and the Afridis and Waziris. It could also result in increased sectarian conflict as the tribes have been very reticent to accept change since their conversion. Mullah Abdullah has also sworn a blood oath against Gul Akbar and this may all end with Gul Akbar's head being returned to the Buner Valley. That seems least likely however as he is a beloved hero, a fierce fighter, and above all quite lucky.

This brings me to the BLAB, bottom line at bottom. Mulehead Khan has sent for a great mullah from Ghuzni to reinforce the adherence to TMWWBK in the Black Mountains. It is said he will travel with a small escort through the Bolan Pass and to Waziristan where he will be picked up by guides of Mulehead Khan and taken north to Darband or Takot. We don't have this mullahs name, but he apparently fought at Ahmed Khel and is a respected warrior as well as spiritual leader.

This situation is continuing to develop as we verify the information reported and continue BG Channers' debriefing. I would humbly recommend that BG Davenport be on watch for any jirgas or rumors of holy men travelling east. I have placed a cordon of informants and operatives along the southern sector of my area of operations watching for said same.

Respectfully

BG MCQUEEN
« Last Edit: April 22, 2022, 04:56:44 PM by CPT Shanks »

Offline CPT Shanks

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #593 on: April 24, 2022, 09:39:13 PM »
Gul joined his uncle by the fire and began telling his story of the battle of Hathi Dara.
It is not that I went into these fights without my faith...

but I found myself surrounded by the kafirs and thought it best if I fought them in accordance to their ways.

We sat in our encampment,  under the shadow of Burj Shakot, recovering from the battle of Dargai, telling stories of personal bravery and celebrating the martyred before we returned to our villages in the TorGhar and Buner Valley. News delivered by a goatherd revealed a strong force of Britishers were rapidly approaching the Hathi Dara.
 "TO ARMS! TO ARMS!" Went the shouts of the faithful. Word was sent to ready our gun on the Baachaka Dheri and for our cavalry that had camped at Shakot Bandai to return and prepare to defend the valley. Malik Jamal Shah Baba also sent word to his villages to assemble for the defense.

First to crest the pass was a group of Punjabi infidels. Tell me how can one serve the Britishers, and still be considered faithful. These were followed by guns that in short order fired on our field piece, wounding all but one of the crew.



I withdrew my forces further up the valley to await Jamals forces and draw the Britishers deeper into the valley where we would destroy them piecemeal as they slowly fed more chattel into the fray.



To our chagrin, the hated Goorkhas and Sikhs poured through the woods and over the mountain, ignoring the passes. My how these devils moved like pathans over those crags.

The devils in skirts moved around their guns at the pass and brought with them an infernal rapid fire gatling gun. My warriors were at first concerned by this fire spitting demon but watched with contempt as it continued to malfunction and jam.



The rest of the infidels' guns were manhandled up the pass and the mountain slope and begin to fire on Jamal Shah Baba ensconced in Burj Shakhot. The fire nearly martyred him and drove his men into cover.



I split my forces sending one clan down the mountain range to get behind the Britisher guns and cut them off. I led a unit to protect the village of Zalam Khot and one unit to stall the jackals' advance up the center. Within that unit was one of the captured Bunerwhal chieftains. Mullah Abdullah. Through his cowardice he survived the charge against the Punjabis, and tried to surrender the banner to them. As the Punjabis reloaded he ran off to the mountains in the east.  I understand he has now sworn a blood oath against me. It is unfortunate he was not among the martyred.





The Goorkhas and Sikhs poured off of the western slopes of the mountain and tried to flank the burj while the cavalry, devils in skirts, and punjabis continued to press up the center valley supported by the guns.   While the Sikhs attacked the village the Goorkhas attacked the burj. The Ghazis screamed down the hill and into Goorkhas steal clashed with steel in the end the Ghazis drove off the devils. In the village of Zalam Khot the Sikhs attacked from the south while their lancers attacked from the west. These assaults were met with fire and steel and the attempts were thwarted. The Sikhs too were killed or driven back. And we held firm in the village of Zalam Khot.








Of the clan that circled behind the infidels they must have gained their advantage for a time as the fire slackened from the guns and the Britishers' commander abandoned the field of battle to his aide de camp, colonel Slattery. They in turn must have been martyred where they stood as the Britishers withdrew down the same path, and I heard nothing further if them.



At this the Britishers' bugles and pipes sounded and the infidels fell back under fire to the other side of the pass. We had survived yet again under the rules of the kafirs. We could see the fires burning as the cowards burned Thanra. Jamal's gathered lashkar fired down from the ridges on them while I gathered our forces and moved to cross the Shakot Pass into Swat, our way to Buner and home now blocked.  That journy back to TorGhar istelf frought with danger from Swati and Bunerwhal dacoits, beset on exacting tribute for our passage. So it was that we were again delivered by the way of the kafirs, TSATF.

« Last Edit: April 24, 2022, 09:53:48 PM by CPT Shanks »

Offline Umra Khan

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #594 on: April 25, 2022, 06:09:09 PM »
20 October 1890
from General Bindon Blood Rawalpindi
To BG Mc Queen Abbottabad.

Dear friend,

I received with pleasure your exhaustive letter, the B.Gen. Channer is a smart man and a great connoisseur of the frontier. His advices are very important. Unfortunately, some of his colleagues in the south think only of waging war by constantly requesting reinforcements ...

I am worried about the situation in the North, where McGuinness's column unfortunately encounters difficulties on the road to Chitral, his task is a most difficult one, miles and miles  without roads in wild country.
I would not like this delay to favor Russian agents who have sights in those lands.

In Malakand our soldiers under Ruffy fought valiantly by pushing back the warriors of Gul Akbar, a guy to be taken with a grain of salt, a foe to be reckoned. But his conversion could push him into Umra Khan's arms and become our good ally and thwart the rise of this Mullah Hashim Ali.
As for Mulehead Khan, that old goat will never repudiate his belief, but I'm about to play an important card, a highly skilled secret agent is on the trail of his son. With the son in our hands, even the boorish one will come down to milder advice.

My friend a bottle of Cognac is waiting for you in Pindi.
BiBi

« Last Edit: April 25, 2022, 06:42:44 PM by Umra Khan »

Offline JBaumal

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 743
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #595 on: April 27, 2022, 01:57:12 AM »
Excellent reports gentlemen! Exciting games indeed.

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #596 on: May 02, 2022, 01:33:44 PM »
The old havildar
After many pressing letters by Br Gen Davenport, reinforcements are coming from Tank, for kind decision by Br Gen “Mandrake” C. Aubrey-Smith, stressed by all this correspondence.

The leader of the column is a very well-known character: Political officer colonel John Nicholson.

Nicholson is leading a mighty force with the task to push back Powinda’s khostwali waziris and give strategic breath to Col Fullerton to drive north his forces, with the west side safe after he had already pacified the south with the victory against Taras Khan.
See link: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=131610.525

The column is made by a unit of yellow boys led by Major Robert Sicon, a sporting umpire,

 a unit of Sikh pioneer under Capt Stephen Saltfish, an idiot at the best,

and two Sikh units of Ferozepore and Lhudiana, under LT Percival Doisdy,poor leadership,

 and LT Randy Turnside, a young officer,  a brave gentleman destined to greatness, if not stopped before by a Pathan tulwar.

To one havildar of this column, our bard of the frontier, R.Winkle, wrote one of his most famous poem, in his “ballads from the barracks” and that will be copied after WWI to celebrate Sikh proud value:

The old Havildar
Beneath an ancient bodhi-tree,
Fast by the Kabul's tide,
In silent thought sat Paramjit Singh,
A Khalsa havildar of the Queen;
He mused on things now done and past,
For he had reached his home at last,
His empty sleeve his pride.
Ten years before a  Ludhiana lout,
beneath the self same tree,
He met an officer on a horse with creamy mare,
who’d come with honeyed words
and the intriguing beat of drum,
Cajoling all who glory sought,
and telling how the regiments fought
The Waziri and the Afridi clans
With shouts of victory.
WaheGuru Ji ! Rang in his ears,

The famous battlecry  of war
And since those day Paramjit, getting higher rank
On Punjabi plains, from Peshawar
To fierce Bannu and mighty Tank
‘Mid festering bogs and scenery of hell
Now I’m havildar he said and I learnt
How Khalsa soldiers died and fell.
And a sorrow grim fades his sight
But all they witness how Khalsa can fight
And he knows his village brothers have seen
He got a medal with the name of the Queen!
And now he rides a creamy mare horse
And cajols in the villages with honeyed words “of course
No one got more glory than Khalsa force!”



 
« Last Edit: May 08, 2022, 09:14:53 AM by giorgio »

Offline Umra Khan

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #597 on: May 02, 2022, 06:43:52 PM »
Beautiful post oh Evil King .
The Winkie's poem is marvellous !
...anyway the Sword of the True Rule will hit you !

Offline Umra Khan

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #598 on: May 03, 2022, 11:56:27 AM »
Postcards from the Frontier


Somewhere on the Frontier...


Further east in Peshawar



Meanwhile in the north..our heroes Zibbib Khan and  Flashy with  the Field Force are  marching to Nilt  .


The Stronghold...


A new foe enters the scene...




To be continued...

Offline CPT Shanks

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #599 on: May 03, 2022, 10:57:35 PM »
The new moon rises over the Indus River. A mullah and a Khan raise their tulwar together, the fast has ended.



Hashim Ali, Light of the Akazais, deliverer of Truth, wazir to the pious forgive my indellicacies. When I was among the kafir I behaved as a kafir, I took on the visage of the kafir, I adopted their way of warfare. Do not think me so weak as to turn my back on TMWWBK and adopt so easily a life lived by the ways of the kafir.

Remember my oath and the day of my oath from my place in the west "For today, I Gul Akbar break from supporting the One True Rule, and embrace TSATF, may the sun set on a new dacoit."  It was for but one day I adopted the life of a dacoit of TSATF, by my oath.
Never would I abandon my heart and turn from the true path. I bid pray, sheath your tulwar, your copy of the TMWWBK and the sweet air of the Torghar is all the succor I need.



Together we can now begin to drive the infidels from our home and send them back to Abbottabad and Rawalpindi. May their shadow never fall on Torghar and if it does may their blood slake our fields.




 

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