Devilry Afoot: Samhain (All Hallows) 1626 - Visions of Horror

Mark returns to 17th century Frommage for some seasonally appropriate Devilry Afoot!

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Bodies are being found dug up in Frommage churchyard, and there are reports of spectral apparitions. Mistress Prudence and Father Ted investigate, reluctantly helped by the village Reeve, Uriah Heep. The Watch are absent, all away attending DEI training at Loughborough.

All three protagonists are in my character progression table, and today they enter the fray with the following profiles.

Mistress Prudence: Scholar, Backslider.
Astrologer (7, 8), Hunter, Steady Aim.
Sword, Buff coat, Cuirass, Crossbow, Wooden stakes x3, Holy water.

Father Ted (Rev Edward Beare): Religious, Wolf-bitten.
Devout, Theologian.
Sword stick, Holy item, Holy water x3.

Uriah Heep: Goodman, Covetous.
Devout, Penitent.
Sword, Buckler, Holy item, Holy water.

Tonight's cast also features Innocents appearing at random places and times, and Revenants and Spectres ditto. Think of it as a variation on the Dance Macabre scenario on pp76-77 of the DA rulebook. A feast for young and old. But who will be the guests, and who the bill of fare?

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Here is a bat's-eye view of the churchyard and surrounding area. The three hunters are standing just outside the perimeter wall (Photo #1).

I thought about special rules for the church building (no shadows to hide monsters, offers sanctuary for Innocents etc) but in the end decided not to add these complications.

Turn 1. The chit pull was HHRRH
At the start of each turn I rolled to see what Innocents, Revenants, or Spectres have arrived to interest the Hunters, and if so where they are to be placed. The appropriate activation chits are then added to the pull box. This time a single Revenant appeared, in the lower L corner under the orange trees.

The Hunters didn't start off with much confidence. Mris Prudence & Heep failed activation, and Fr Ted got only 1 success, which he used to sprinkle himself with holy water. The Revenant did much better, with Stalk and Attack actions that brought it into the churchyard with only the stone wall between it and the hapless hunters (Photo #2).

Turn 2. The chit pull was RHH
Luckily for the hunters no more monsters, nor any Innocents, appeared. The Revenant wasn't waiting for backup however, leaping over the stone wall and attacking Heep, and immediately inflicting 3W, a mortal wound it turned out. Mistress Prudence reacted at once, tho with only 1 success. She used her Astrologer '8' foresight, and her Steady Aim skill, to shoot a wooden stake at the Revenant. It took 6W and was killed. Fr Ted also activated, but stayed where he was (Photo #3).

I tidied up the carnage, less visually appealing but more practical. Practicality is an underrated virtue I feel.

Turn 3. The chit pull was SRHSSRHI
This time 4 Innocents, 1 Revenant, and 1 Spectre all arrived. The Innocents appeared at lower L, on either side of the churchyard wall. The Revenant appeared under the orange trees, same as its predecessor. The Spectre appeared outside the church (Photo #4).

The Spectre moved forwards towards the Hunters, and the Revenant, like its predecessor, advanced enthusiastically into the churchyard. Then Fr Ted activated, moved towards the Spectre, and threw holy water over it. The ghost took 1W and fled howling, into the shadows of the church building, but then reappeared at once, coming towards Fr Ted and tried to intimidate him, but with God's aid he manfully resisted the threat.

Then the Revenant stalked into contact with Mris Prudence, who swapped her crossbow for her sword, striking the monster a serious blow, 2W.

Last of all the Innocents activated. All are Unaware of any monster danger and hold their positions (Photo #5).

Turn 4. The chit pull was HHRRI
No more extras appeared. Fr Ted opened the turn by throwing his last vial of Holy water at the Spectre, which took a further 2W and disappeared in a momentary flash of fire, as Hell reached upwards to reclaim it. Then Mris Prudence, with only 1 success, attacked the Revenant with her sword and gave it another 3W, taking it it 5/6W. The Revenant attacked back but Mris Prudence's buff coat and cuirass deflected all blows. It tried again, but failed to land a hit, and was killed in Mris Prudence's opportunity attack. The Innocents, still Unaware, continued whatever it is they are doing in the churchyard corner in the deepest night (Photo #6).

Turn 5. The chit pull was IHHRR
Two more innocents appeared, right next to Fr Ted, as did 1 more Revenant, over on the R in the gap between the hedge and the churchyard wall. I also unilaterally moved all the previous Innocents into the centre of the churchyard. I should have been moving them randomly each turn, but forgot (Photo #7).

All the innocents in the churchyard were in LOS of the Revenant, but only one was close enough to spot it and flee. The others all moved in random directions. Now Mris Prudence got two activation successes. She sheathed her sword and reloaded her crossbow. Fr Ted went next, also two successes, and moved towards the Revenant, sword in one hand and Holy Item in the other.

The Revenant got two activations in succession. It attacked Fr Ted and inflicted 2W. Ted is seriously wounded. Then it attacked again, and Fr Ted took another 2W and is OOA. Not 3W in one hit tho, so not necessarily mortally wounded. We shall see (Photo #8).

Turn 6. The chit pull was HIRR
No new Revenants or Innocents are available, and no Spectre rolled well enough to pop up from Hell. Mris Prudence prepared to shoot at the Revenant, once again a wooden stake guided by her Steady aim and Astrologer '7' foresight. She scored a hit, the Revenant took 5W, and is 1W away from falling. The Innocents remain mostly Unaware, and continued to scatter as they moved randomly around.

Once again the Revenant got two successive activations. It attacked Mris Prudence, the nearest figure, and hit but caused 0W as her armour saved her again. Its second attacked failed to hit. Her opportunity attack hit the monster, causing 1W and killing it. A crossbow wielded like a club can still be deadly. (Photo #9).

A final bats-eye view (Photo #10).

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The Hunters have won and evil has fled the Frommage churchyard. Tho, that doesn't explain why so many maidens, many of them nubile, were frequenting the place in the small hours. I suspect the bishop and religious courts will be taking an interest in this.

Uriah Heep did not survive the fight. Fr Ted was seriously wounded but he survived, traumatised, so his Resolve score goes up by 1. Mris Prudence emerged unscathed thanks to her defensive armour.

The Hunters destroyed 1 Spectre & 3 Revenants, and so the two survivors will split a total bounty of 150 shillings. They also gain Experience Points. Fr Ted gets 4EXP and Mris Prudence gets 6EXP. These can be accumulated towards character upgrades such as new skills or traits, and even healing injuries. Both already have EXP in hand so I'll have to think about how to apply them.

Cheers from Pattaya
Mark