"Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign

[Skorda]

Great game and report. Surely a fun game for all ...

[giorgio]

THE BATTLE part 3 - end

On the left the Ghazi are routed by Sikh fire

And now 2  Sikh units are confronted by Lohani infantry and sharpshooters.

On the right Col Storm take the command of Gurkhas and they rout the Niazi and that is a great success for Raj column, against all odds. Saidal Khan must run under Ghafur Khan’s safe protection.


At this very point the Raj has lost 2 units (Sikh small unit and English one) while Abdullah has lost 3 units, the tide is going to take a direction…which one?
It is decided by the great Mulehead Khan that after the 6th turno you must roll more than your routed unit and then if you fail your whole army routs. Both players pass the roll!

Saidal Khan encourage artillerymen and Ghafur Khan’s fire disorders the Raj artillery


Abdullah cries his pray: “oh Almighty El Warlord please lead your followers to victory!” and run in fornt of the last Niazi unit. These warriors see the Khan charging and follow him “glory to El Warlord, glory to Mulehead, Abdullah Khan lead us to triumph, death to Ferengi! Have at it boyos!”
The Ghazi fall on the artillery unit as wolfes in a breed and get their prey, after that the gun shoot ineffectively its last fire.


Now the situation seems very balanced and the tide seems inexorably towards Storm’s victory: on Afghans left 2 Lohani face 2 Sikh units, on the right 1 artillery per side, but gourkha are regrouping and redeploying to hit Ghazi on the back.
But at this very point, with 3 units lost, both players need a 4 at least. Abdullah cries his prey and toss 5. Lt.Col Storm sees that the road in fornt of him is unsafe and he must quickly retreat his units to save them: he tosses just 2 and leaves the table, retreating into Shewa trenches protection, ready to fight another day.
Abdullah can now rejoin the rest of his army with a great trophy, the conquered gun whose capture gave to his men the day.


Peshwar Tribune is happy to wish Merry X-mas to all his readers and inform that all “new campaign” old episodes are available with a simple and cheap subscription to new year issues.
North West Frontier “New Faith” Battle Scenarios already issued:
v  Episode 01: “It's never the dog's fault!” a Reconnaissance Force Combat
v  Episode 02: “If you want something good, get it from yourself.” a Tactical Withdrawal under Furtinghs Lead Colonel Bartholomeus Furtinghs
v  Episode 03: “Meanwhile at Kurram Pass” a fights for priority objectives
v  Episode 04: “Where the hell did the others go?”  bad encounter in the middle of nowhere for the Raj Re-serve Force
Next episode a skirmish among the Shewa houses … Shewa’s Slash
New season that you can comfortably read sat in your armchair, sipping your brandy while our gallant boys defend the Empire holy borders in Genoa Garibaidi Club!
Please contact administration for details…
Sincerely yours
Robert Winkle

[giorgio]

Shewa’s slash prologue

Afterwards…
“After a well-deserved bath Colonel Bartholomeus Furtinghs thinks: All's well that ends well.
The return to Shewa ended without further problems.
The first brigade Reconnaissance Force has surprised several hostile forces, new fanatics are moving in the area and the information has made the activities of Major Steve Holder, head of the Intelligence office, feverish.
With the support of the Chief of Staff Colonel T. MacDonald of the North Column Command the new situation was analyzed, but the absence of the commander Major General G Blackwood, still on convalescent leave, makes the decision-making process long and difficult.

But all this is absolutely secondary for our Colonel Bartholomeus Furtinghs: after months of waiting, a private arrived with the news of the arrival of a courier from Bannu. The letter to formalize his appointment to the grade of Brigadier General has come at last. Now for Bartholomeus it is the time to organize a glorious party for his appointment.


General Blackwood's absence makes him the de facto commanding officer, certainly Brigadier General Enfield of the sec-ond brigade would have superior seniority but he is south of the Kurram Pass and will not easily have a word in decisions here in Shewa.

The party will be held in the mosque gardens and all the officers of the Column and Brigade commands will be present, also lovely Lady Barrington will be present without her husband, who is engaged in an urgent mission at the Kurram pass.
It will be a night to celebrate both his successes and conquests, even in love. It will definitely be a night to remember.”

 
Who is not cheating whom in North West Frontier? At the end of the month during Genoa wargame club Garibaldi open day you can verify it, under Pulp Alley rule… yes another rule change, but before do not miss Furtingh’s party report by your faithful Winkle, only on Peshwar Tribune of course. Do not miss subscribing!
 

[Umra Khan]

Mahbub Ali

Mahbub Ali is a famous horse trader known very well on the Frontier, all people in the caravanserais narrate his deeds and the beauty of his horses.


But Mahbub Ali has always hidden his secret, he is an agent of the British Government;
his traces had been lost for some years, and stories were circulating about him... who claimed to have seen him  in the markets of Samarkand, who at the head of a caravan walking the passes  of the Hindu Kush…who saw him in Kandia killed by Kohistani’s brigands..
But where is the truth ?  remember…never trust anyone on the Frontier !
Mahbub Ali is actually searching for a mighty cache ….the treasure of Sikander Khan! and he’s actually in the north of India …in the Kanjuts river area, wandering among passes, ravines, and rushing rivers…

…until he runs into Zibbib, Flashy and the merry company.....
To be continued.

[Umra Khan]

Here is the link, useful to remember the story of the adventures of Zibbib Khan.
HUNZA CAMPAIGN


https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=131610.msg1801047#msg1801047

[giorgio]

The Party
The evening air, balmy and sweet, draped the gardens of the Shewa Mosque in an almost preter-natural calm. It was a night crafted for celebration, the perfect backdrop for Brigadier General Furtinghs’ nomination party. The newly appointed General, resplendent in his fresh uniform, moved through the throng of guests with practiced hauteur. A mix of Brigade officers, command staff from the Column, and a vibrant tapestry of local notables from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had gathered to pay him homage.
 

Among them stood Abdul Ghafoor, known as “the Merciful,” a powerful Khan and a valuable potential ally to the Crown. He was a figure of considerable influence, commanding over six hundred ghazis. He stood amidst a sea of titles – Ghazi, Amir, Komandon, Dagerwal, Jenral, Jagran, Malik, Padishah, Ustaz, Safi, Sardar – a living testament to the region’s complex social hierarchy. Yet, it wasn't the presence of the Khan that truly swelled Furtinghs’ chest with pride. It was the woman at his side: Lady Barrington, or Christine, as he had begun to call her in the intimacy of their private moments.
 

Christine was a vision. Her dress, a delicate shade of mauve, shimmered in the soft light. Her brilliance was as captivating as her beauty. She moved with effortless grace, conversing fluently in French and Polish, with a respectable knowledge of German and Italian. And now, astonish-ingly, she was engaged in animated conversation with Abdul Ghafoor in Pashto.
“What an amazing woman,” Furtinghs thought, a warm feeling blossoming in his chest. “And it seems she’s truly very fond of me.”
 
The evening unfolded like a dream, a memory in the making. But just moments before the General was due to deliver his official address – a speech meticulously crafted by his attendant, Lieutenant Caldwin – the idyllic scene shattered. A piercing scream ripped through the air, tearing the fabric of the perfect night. It came from behind the General, just outside the elegantly decorated pavil-ion. Christine’s voice, raw with terror.
Instinctively, Furtinghs reacted. He was closest, the only one who could intervene immediately. He rushed towards the source of the scream, his heart pounding in his chest.
The scene that confronted him was horrifying. Christine stood with her beautiful dress shamefully torn, her face a mask of fear and distress. Towering over her was Abdul Ghafoor. Christine’s eyes, brimming with tears, locked onto Furtinghs, pleading for ... just two simple chilly words comes out of Kristina's mouth: "KILL HIM".
 

The Malik, clearly taken aback by the sudden outburst and the General’s swift arrival, instinctively recoiled, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. But the swift movement wasn't enough to escape entirely; a crimson gash bloomed across his cheek. This single, violent act would forever brand the night: “Shewa’s Slash.”

The carefully constructed illusion of the evening dissolved into chaos. Screams echoed through the gardens, panic spread like wildfire, and the air crackled with the threat of violence. Blood stained the ground, and the faint scent of smoke began to mingle with the perfume of the night blossoms. The order was given: retreat to the safety of the barracks, to the sanctuary of the British quarter. But the unwritten code of honor, the unwavering commitment to their own, prevented the bravest heroes of the Crown from leaving behind even a single British officer.
Amidst the pandemonium, one crucial question hung in the air, unanswered, chilling: Where was Furtinghs?
The answer will arrive after completing action played in Genoa wargaming club Garibaldi during January 26th Open day, in a skirmish using Pulp Alley rule.
Scenario and characters in next post. Stay tuned!
 

[NickNascati]

Seems like an awful lot of figures for a Pulp Alley game.  How many players were there?

[giorgio]

Seems like an awful lot of figures for a Pulp Alley game.  How many players were there?

4 teams, in next post details will be issued...

[giorgio]

Pulp Alley scenario
“THE DANGEROUS SEARCH FOR THE LOST GENERAL”

Her Majesty Heroes: “…on this inauspicious night that will be remembered as the “Shewa’s Slash”, panic and confusion reign supreme. The new Brigadier General has disappeared, he must be found and saved.”
Shewa Glorious Rebels: “…on this blessed night that will be remembered as the “Shewa’s Slash”, revenge and rebellion reign supreme. The infamous Furtinghs has escaped, he must be tracked down and punished.”
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Who will succeed? And which will be the aftermath?
 

[CPT Shanks]

For those who wish to challenge the might of Abdul and Sharif and attempt to rescue the Brigadier, the pdf of the scenario as delivered to the offices of the Peshawar Tribune by one claiming to be emmisaries from Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.

W. Esq.

[giorgio]

Our Pulp Alley scenario saw four players fight to find our newly appointed General Furtinghs, who had disappeared in the confusion of the riot he himself caused.
As you may know in Pulp Alley resolving Plot Points is the key to getting closer to winning a scenario, and our scenario is no different. But our players forgot that.
 
 
 
 

MacDonald's Undaunted Force distracted by Abdul's horde of warriors, although victorious, excluded themselves from the fight for the real objective, our Scottish Chief of Staffs proved to be a courageous, ruthless and efficient fighter but too far from the real objective. And the obstinacy of the young lieutenant Caldwin, Furtinghs's personal attendant, in fighting Abdul himself in close combat had the result of excluding both from resolving the major plot point of the sce-nario.
 
 
 
 

The fighting was violent, neither faction avoided the clash with the result that their ranks were quickly decimated. The turning point was the sacrifice of Sharif's Ghazi who blocked Lady Barrington's group by eliminating the leader Major Holder head of the Intelligence office, a loss that will be felt in the near future. But above all thanks to the violence of Khair Habibullah the Butcher our Russian spy, Katerina, was unable to resolve the plot point due to a ferocious dog de-fending it, an action that would have repositioned General Furtinghs and prevented the radical Ghazi Sharif leader from victory, but with her shooting skill (3 d8) was able to decimate the Ghazi before running away.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The cries of the wounded mingled with the triumphant shouts of the Ghazi.
Lady Catherine, or Katrina as someone called her in St. Petersburg, moves through the alleys, wounded and battered, try-ing to decide what will be the best move for the great mother Russia. The capture of General Furthings by the blood-thirsty ghazi was a significant coup, one that would undoubtedly disrupt British operations in the region. Her escape with Major Holder had been a close call.
She replayed the chaotic moments in her mind: the desperate scramble through streets, the sudden ambush by the Ghazi warriors. Holder, had fought bravely, but it was Katrina’s ruthless efficiency that had saved them. Accurate shots from her concealed pistol had silenced their attackers. In those chaotic seconds, she had seen a flicker of suspicion in Hold-er’s eyes. A problem. Then, the chilling encounter with Khair Habibullah, “the Butcher,” a man whose reputation for brutal-ity preceded him. It was he who had inflicted the serious injuries on Holder, a vicious gash across his shoulder. Katrina had to face him, narrowly dodging the Butcher's furious slashes. Fortunately, Major Holder had wounded the warrior and his finesse was compromised. In the end Katerina came out of that unpleasant encounter alive. Back to the alley she had found the British officer, Holder, weakened by his wound, lay propped against a crumbling mud wall, close a killed Ghazi. Katrina had checked his injury with surprising competence. Now, Holder raised a trembling hand, his voice hoarse. “Who are you?” he croaked. Katrina didn’t respond. He had seen too much. He knew. Her expression remained impassive while holding the choora of the dead Ghazi. Holder looked at Katrina, searching for any sign of the woman he thought he knew, but found only a mask of icy resolve…
 Lady Catherine's secret is safe again, for now (*). She can return to British quarters as a surviving heroine.
Now we have a dilemma, the victory of the most violent group, in our Pulp Alley Scenario, leaves little margin for bar-gaining, What will the English do? Colonel MacDonald must take a decision, negotiation or repression?
Will Malik Abdul Ghafoor accept the desire of the most extremists to make General Furthings a gore warning to all for-eign invaders? And how Mulehead will react?
 
(*) someone knows the true.
 

Now Furtinghs is in the hands of one of the most unreasonable leaders in the region, for Sharif the flame lit by "Shewa's Slash" must not go out. What will he be willing to do to turn that flame into a fire?
How will MacDonald react? Repression or compromise? In any case it is urgent to warn the 2nd Infantry Brigade south of the Kurram Pass and hope that Brigadier General Enfield has a solution for the North West Frontier Province.
Abdul the Merciful has only gained a scar on his face from that unfortunate night, he is about to lose control of the city and does not know how to react to the events taking place. But the answer to his indecision comes from a man who moves in the shadows, a man who knows what is best for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, a man who loves mules...

Do not miss next episodes at Genoa wargame club Garibaldi subscribing to Peshwar Tribune, the magazine most read by the discerning khans…

[Umra Khan]

from last post of Giorgio just two sentences....

".....a man who loves mules "

"......, the magazine most read by the discerning khans "

Who is the man who loves mules ?, and who are the discerning khans ?

Are you talking about that pestilential man who lives in Waziristan? he who proclaims himself the head of the Mule dynasty?
He or those who are invading the peaceful and heavenly region of the Northwest Frontier, where peace and love reign supreme, with false regulations ?

[Mad Guru]

Alas, poor Umra, they are one and the same -- when "discerning" is defined as EVIL!  Gaze on him below, in all his Mule-Loving glory/ignominy:



...and then upon his "beloved" mules and the merciless suffering to which he condemns them:

[Umra Khan]

In the peaceful Northwest Frontier, in the village of Darra Adam Khel, a large order has arrived to the gunsmith Mahmud Aziz for Martini Henry rifles, and a million cartridges in .577/450 caliber.
The client is a powerful Afridi Lord .....

[Rhingyll]

Photo of Martini Henry Cartridge and cardboard box containing 10 bullets. I have ammo but no rifle.Story of my life I guess.