And then!
Only two of the privateers/pirate crews had been going towards the Spanish fort. The third crew had apparently gone back to his ship which was still anchored near the coast.
And this player was not looking much at the gaming table, giving for a moment the impression that he was more interested to watch other activities on other tables – and in the rules the players must be present when the simultaneous moves are made, otherwise it's assumed that their characters stand idle or do something else.It was a diversion! The third privateer suddenly says that his crew, with a small hand-drawn cannon, now is in front of the bank in New Orleans and orders to open the doors! After examining this it can be accepted, there was a long narrow street near the table edge allowing to walk around the city centre without being noticed, the Governor's troop and one of the local militia were far away; another militia (in uniforms but not very reactive) was in town but in a far suburb.
The privateers take a cart, load all that was in the bank, and go to their ship as fast as possible.
A moment later, the Governor hears what has happened and comes back to town with his own troop, furious.
The other privateer crews, the civilian militia, and Toulvarère cousins who do not want to miss the fun, arrive near the Spanish fort. They see that it's almost abandoned, there is an officer having lunch with some other people, and some idle soldiers. A drunk soldier who was dancing on top of the fort is killed by a first shot, the defenders morale falls. The privateers attack the main door, the militia climb the walls with ladders borrowed from the plantation.
One of the Toulvarère, sitting on a ruined building not too close of the fight, makes drawings of the action:
Other family members, more daring and shouting their old motto “If you don't come to Toulvarère, Toulvarère will come to you!“ join the attack. Amongst them, a French hussar officer on exceptional leave, a French Navy officer also on leave, and an old veteran.
The fort is invaded from the entrance and from the top, and taken with no difficulty. An American flag is hoisted.
...Then the hussar officer shouts: “Oh no! Not him, again!“
Another French hussar officier (who had travelled on the other small boat) climbs on the fort battery and tells him: “We have fought in Strasbourg, and in Germany, and in Russia. Here we meet again. You will duel with me again, now!“
A duel happens immediately, it only lasts a short moment and shows that both are very good swordsmen. The newcomer is wounded.
...Inspired by Joseph Conrad's novel “The Duel“ (1908) as was Ridley Scott's film “Duellists“ (1977)...The Governor is back in New-Orleans and tells everyone that it's Lafitte who attacked the bank.
The two privateers come back from the ex-Spanish fort and pretend not to know anything about the bank attack. They meet the Governor and tell him they have heard an information: Lafitte could be hidden in a house north of town. They say that they will help to find him, if they get a reward. The Governor surrounds a few houses with his soldiers and orders to search everywhere.
They do not find Lafitte. The privateers begin to search all neighbouring houses too, sometimes taking valuable things. The Governor sees he cannot stop them; inhabitants complain loudly that the Governor has given permission to unknown sailors to search private property...
And BOOOM! The powder house in the town center explodes, some people are killed.
The other militia, who had been parading in French style uniforms, decides to arrest the Governor. They tell him he will be judged by federal authorities.
With the only protection a lone (although very strong) bodyguard, the Governor must obey.
...and sees that one militia member is Lafitte in disguise!
It's difficult to understand now who was tricked by whom.
After all these events, the Toulvarère family is happy to live a peaceful moment.
The view is magnificent from the top of the hill, near old indigo vats. The oldest member of Toulvarère family tells one more time his battles and wounds, the Chouannerie in the FRW, his other trips to America, the AWI following French general La Rouërie, the FIW when, young officer, he had a passionate affair with the last of the Mohicans. He also tells, once more, that he had hidden a treasure during one of these American wars, but he doesn't remember where, and nobody had the time to listen carefully to his ramblings nor to search for it in this game.
26 March 2012, 03:52:48 PM