Devilry Afoot: Lughnasa (Lammas) 1625 - the Frommage Werewolf (1)
Part 1 - Everdene Farm
I turned on the overhead room light for the last shot, as dawn is now breaking. All the hunters are OOA, we’ll learn their fates shortly. Only one mundane Wolf, badly wounded, remains on the Monster side. I ruled it would slink off rather than try and kill the 4 Innocents (pigs) remaining on the table.
The hunters have killed 1 Barghest (by Dogberry) and 1 wolf (by Turncoat). Total bounty 60s to be split between any/all surviving hunters.
Turncoat and Dogberry both die from their 3W. Turncoat might have pulled through but his injuries were exacerbated by the poisonous saliva of the Barghest.
Everdene recovers from her 3W but takes a lasting arm wound. But she can pocket the whole 60s bounty, and gains 1 Experience Point for participating in the hunt.
The hunters have failed to kill the Monsters but have prevented the slaughter of Innocents. Overall however they have not achieved their objectives.
An hour or so after the last Wolf had slunk away, the harvest workers arrived to be confronted with the scene of carnage. A messenger was despatched to warn the people of Frommage, and the necessary gruesome tidying up began. Then the harvest must go on.
Join us anon, for part 2!
Everdene Farm is a couple of miles from Frommage, in south Rutlandshire. With the start of the harvest season only a week or so off, and the usual band of seasonal workers expected, the farm instead received a less welcome visit. But although surprised it was not unprepared. Bathsheba, the tenant farmer, is an experienced hunter. Her farm workers Dogberry and Turncoat are both former soldiers and members of the Watch, tho rostered off duty this month because of the imminent harvest.
When some of the farm’s flock of sheep were found one morning torn to pieces, and the sheep dogs terrified, the three of them knew what they were up against and prepared for the fray.
Here are the Hunters as portrayed in the anonymous pamphlet Ye Devil went into Rutland Shire (c1642). Everdene was portrayed as a man (Woodcut #1) and her Christian name was suppressed, so readers wouldn’t be scandalised or imbibe any socially dangerous ideas.
Bathsheba Everdene
Goodwife: Lustful, Devout, Swift. Blunderbus, Dagger, Wolfsbane.
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There are also 7 pigs, which count as Innocents.
The objective of the hunters is to (1) destroy all three Monsters without losing any of their own party, and (2) ensure at least 4 pigs survive the onslaught. No pressure. Dawn is after five turns, when the Barghest must flee if still in play.
Here is a raven’s eye view of the farm. The Hunters are grouped in the Centre. The Innocents (pigs) are partly in the fenced enclosure and partly scattered foraging. The Monsters will enter as a group at a randomly selected point on the table edge (Woodcut #3).
Turn 1
The chit pull was WHIBHBWBHWB (Hunters, Innocents, Barghest, Wolves).
The Monsters came in through the gap in the hedge on the E side of the farm.
The first wolf went for the foraging Innocents but wasn’t able to actually kill any of them, failing on one attack and later getting intimidate actions, which helped the Innocents to run away. As animals they have to exit the table through gaps, being unable to jump or burst through the hedges. Same with the Innocents in the enclosure.
Meanwhile after some faffing about - Hide actions - the other Wolf and the Barghest attacked the Hunters, who formed a line, put away their lanterns, grasped their weapons resolutely, and stood to receive the monstrous onslaught.
The Barghest and one of the Wolves attacked. The Barghest went for Turncoat and inflicted 1W, but then was shot by Everdene and took 2W. A second round of attacking yielded nothing, and an intimidate attempt triggered Everdene to run off (she evaded the Wolf’s opportunity attack as she broke contact), but the other Hunters stood their ground (Woodcut #4).
Turn 2
The chit pull was IBHWBHWHW
The Innocents milled about. The two Aware pigs are running for an exit in the NW corner as fast as their little legs will carry them. One pig in the enclosure is aware, and understandably panicking. The two foraging Unaware pigs luckily both are heading in the general direction of an exit point along the S side (Woodcut #5).
The Barghest attacked Turncoat again, but missed because of his Wolfsbane. Turncoat fought back, wielding his polearm and causing a 3rdW to the hellhound. Then the nearby Wolf attacked Turncoat too, but failed, and the other wolf raced towards the Hunter line but can’t get there yet. The Barghest attacked again, giving Turncoat another 2W. He is wounded, OOA.
Dogberry steps up, attacking the Barghest with his polearm. He hits, with a savage thrust taking the monster to 5W. It falls, dead (Woodcut #6).
Then the Wolves went again. The one that had attacked Turncoat got cold feet and fled into the nearest shadows. The other was braver, and howled intimidatingly. Dogberry was the only Hunter close enough to react, he ignored the threat.
Everdene reloaded her blunderbuss and moved over towards Dogberry. Then the Wolves activated again. The one that fled into shadows fled again. The intimidating packmate however is made of sterner stuff and attacked Everdene, inflicting 1W (Woodcut #7).
Turn 3
The chit pull was IWHWHW
One Aware pig has escaped in the NW, the other isn’t far behind. The foraging Unaware pigs however are blundering about in the SW by the enclosures with standing crops. The pigs in the pig pen are also now all Aware, but cannot escape.
The Wolf in contact with Everdene renewed its attack, a she took a 2ndW. The timid Wolf tried Intimidation, but no-one heard (no humans or pigs within 6”).
Everdene attacked the Wolf, swinging her blunderbuss like a club and inflicting 1W. But then the Wolves returned, both getting Attack actions. Everdene took a 3rdW and is OOA. The timid Wolf attacked towards, but could not quite reach, Dogberry.
Dogberry activated next, with one success, and is within polearm reach of the timid Wolf. He attacked, but failed to hit. Then the Wolf onslaught continued, a bit. The timid Wolf ran back to again hide in the shadows of the barn. The Wolf that had finished off Everdene now attacked Dogberry from the rear. He was lucky to receive only 1W (Woodcut #8).
Dogberry is up against it now, fighting alone and wounded against two Wolves.
Turn 4
The chit pull was IWWHW
A second Aware pig exited the farm in the NW corner.
The Wolf that had been attacking Dogberry kept going. It inflicted a 2ndW. The other timid Wolf stayed in the shadows. Then the Wolves got a second activation. Unaccountably the ferocious one fled into the shadows of the farmhouse, and Dogberry couldn’t do an opportunity attack as he is facing the wrong way. The timid one attacked this time! It succeeded but caused no W, so Dogberry opportunity attacked, killing the timid Wolf with 2W by impaling it on his polearm.
Then Dogberry activated with only 1 success, so turned to face the presumed direction of the remaining Wolf. It attacked, but failed to hit (Woodcut #9).
Turn 5
The chit pull was WWI
The last Wolf turned and fled back into the farmhouse shadows. Dogberry opportunity attacked as it broke contact, but missed. Then the Wolf came charging back into the attack, and caused Dogberry another W, taking him OOA with 3W.
The Innocents activated next. One of the Unaware pigs stumbled off the table on the W side.
Then the last Wolf, carrying 1/2W, activated, and once again sought the nearest shadows (Woodcut #10).
When some of the farm’s flock of sheep were found one morning torn to pieces, and the sheep dogs terrified, the three of them knew what they were up against and prepared for the fray.
Here are the Hunters as portrayed in the anonymous pamphlet Ye Devil went into Rutland Shire (c1642). Everdene was portrayed as a man (Woodcut #1) and her Christian name was suppressed, so readers wouldn’t be scandalised or imbibe any socially dangerous ideas.
Bathsheba Everdene
Goodwife: Lustful, Devout, Swift. Blunderbus, Dagger, Wolfsbane.
Will Dogberry
Soldier: Secret witch, Charismatic. Sword, Polearm, Lantern, Wolfsbane.
Soldier: Secret witch, Charismatic. Sword, Polearm, Lantern, Wolfsbane.
Jno Turncoat
Soldier: Sadist, Charge. Sword, Polearm, Lantern, Wolfsbane.
The farm was attacked by a Barghest (hellhound) accompanied by a pair of mundane Wolves (Woodcut #2).
Soldier: Sadist, Charge. Sword, Polearm, Lantern, Wolfsbane.
The farm was attacked by a Barghest (hellhound) accompanied by a pair of mundane Wolves (Woodcut #2).
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There are also 7 pigs, which count as Innocents.
The objective of the hunters is to (1) destroy all three Monsters without losing any of their own party, and (2) ensure at least 4 pigs survive the onslaught. No pressure. Dawn is after five turns, when the Barghest must flee if still in play.
Here is a raven’s eye view of the farm. The Hunters are grouped in the Centre. The Innocents (pigs) are partly in the fenced enclosure and partly scattered foraging. The Monsters will enter as a group at a randomly selected point on the table edge (Woodcut #3).
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Turn 1
The chit pull was WHIBHBWBHWB (Hunters, Innocents, Barghest, Wolves).
The Monsters came in through the gap in the hedge on the E side of the farm.
The first wolf went for the foraging Innocents but wasn’t able to actually kill any of them, failing on one attack and later getting intimidate actions, which helped the Innocents to run away. As animals they have to exit the table through gaps, being unable to jump or burst through the hedges. Same with the Innocents in the enclosure.
Meanwhile after some faffing about - Hide actions - the other Wolf and the Barghest attacked the Hunters, who formed a line, put away their lanterns, grasped their weapons resolutely, and stood to receive the monstrous onslaught.
The Barghest and one of the Wolves attacked. The Barghest went for Turncoat and inflicted 1W, but then was shot by Everdene and took 2W. A second round of attacking yielded nothing, and an intimidate attempt triggered Everdene to run off (she evaded the Wolf’s opportunity attack as she broke contact), but the other Hunters stood their ground (Woodcut #4).
Turn 2
The chit pull was IBHWBHWHW
The Innocents milled about. The two Aware pigs are running for an exit in the NW corner as fast as their little legs will carry them. One pig in the enclosure is aware, and understandably panicking. The two foraging Unaware pigs luckily both are heading in the general direction of an exit point along the S side (Woodcut #5).
The Barghest attacked Turncoat again, but missed because of his Wolfsbane. Turncoat fought back, wielding his polearm and causing a 3rdW to the hellhound. Then the nearby Wolf attacked Turncoat too, but failed, and the other wolf raced towards the Hunter line but can’t get there yet. The Barghest attacked again, giving Turncoat another 2W. He is wounded, OOA.
Dogberry steps up, attacking the Barghest with his polearm. He hits, with a savage thrust taking the monster to 5W. It falls, dead (Woodcut #6).
Then the Wolves went again. The one that had attacked Turncoat got cold feet and fled into the nearest shadows. The other was braver, and howled intimidatingly. Dogberry was the only Hunter close enough to react, he ignored the threat.
Everdene reloaded her blunderbuss and moved over towards Dogberry. Then the Wolves activated again. The one that fled into shadows fled again. The intimidating packmate however is made of sterner stuff and attacked Everdene, inflicting 1W (Woodcut #7).
Turn 3
The chit pull was IWHWHW
One Aware pig has escaped in the NW, the other isn’t far behind. The foraging Unaware pigs however are blundering about in the SW by the enclosures with standing crops. The pigs in the pig pen are also now all Aware, but cannot escape.
The Wolf in contact with Everdene renewed its attack, a she took a 2ndW. The timid Wolf tried Intimidation, but no-one heard (no humans or pigs within 6”).
Everdene attacked the Wolf, swinging her blunderbuss like a club and inflicting 1W. But then the Wolves returned, both getting Attack actions. Everdene took a 3rdW and is OOA. The timid Wolf attacked towards, but could not quite reach, Dogberry.
Dogberry activated next, with one success, and is within polearm reach of the timid Wolf. He attacked, but failed to hit. Then the Wolf onslaught continued, a bit. The timid Wolf ran back to again hide in the shadows of the barn. The Wolf that had finished off Everdene now attacked Dogberry from the rear. He was lucky to receive only 1W (Woodcut #8).
Dogberry is up against it now, fighting alone and wounded against two Wolves.
Turn 4
The chit pull was IWWHW
A second Aware pig exited the farm in the NW corner.
The Wolf that had been attacking Dogberry kept going. It inflicted a 2ndW. The other timid Wolf stayed in the shadows. Then the Wolves got a second activation. Unaccountably the ferocious one fled into the shadows of the farmhouse, and Dogberry couldn’t do an opportunity attack as he is facing the wrong way. The timid one attacked this time! It succeeded but caused no W, so Dogberry opportunity attacked, killing the timid Wolf with 2W by impaling it on his polearm.
Then Dogberry activated with only 1 success, so turned to face the presumed direction of the remaining Wolf. It attacked, but failed to hit (Woodcut #9).
Turn 5
The chit pull was WWI
The last Wolf turned and fled back into the farmhouse shadows. Dogberry opportunity attacked as it broke contact, but missed. Then the Wolf came charging back into the attack, and caused Dogberry another W, taking him OOA with 3W.
The Innocents activated next. One of the Unaware pigs stumbled off the table on the W side.
Then the last Wolf, carrying 1/2W, activated, and once again sought the nearest shadows (Woodcut #10).
I turned on the overhead room light for the last shot, as dawn is now breaking. All the hunters are OOA, we’ll learn their fates shortly. Only one mundane Wolf, badly wounded, remains on the Monster side. I ruled it would slink off rather than try and kill the 4 Innocents (pigs) remaining on the table.
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The hunters have killed 1 Barghest (by Dogberry) and 1 wolf (by Turncoat). Total bounty 60s to be split between any/all surviving hunters.
Turncoat and Dogberry both die from their 3W. Turncoat might have pulled through but his injuries were exacerbated by the poisonous saliva of the Barghest.
Everdene recovers from her 3W but takes a lasting arm wound. But she can pocket the whole 60s bounty, and gains 1 Experience Point for participating in the hunt.
The hunters have failed to kill the Monsters but have prevented the slaughter of Innocents. Overall however they have not achieved their objectives.
*************
An hour or so after the last Wolf had slunk away, the harvest workers arrived to be confronted with the scene of carnage. A messenger was despatched to warn the people of Frommage, and the necessary gruesome tidying up began. Then the harvest must go on.
Join us anon, for part 2!