The Earl of Lonsdale and the secret papers : IHMN

Having made off with the Earl's new arc weapon blueprints Justice Blackborough had his engineers working through the night to construct the new weapon. He knew it would give him the edge when carrying out illegal activities or if it didn't work he could sell it for a good profit anyway. Whilst contemplating his future profits, one of his Ruffian henchmen entered his private chambers all in a fluster. He had been on a mission but had been forced to hide the secret papers he had been carrying. In a few minutes 'the Mask' set out with the Botchergate Ruffians carrying with them the new untested Arc Weapon.

The Mask and the Botchergate Ruffians start their search

The Ruffians spread out on the edge of town Comrade
Smirnov takes up a position looking down the main road.

From the other end of Town the Earl and the Fops start to look
 for the crates as well but they aren't all really concentrating !

The Ruffians move across the allotments

Both groups spread out and start searching, but with the dependable Comrade Smirnov already locked and loaded it is the fops who take the first casualty. Blood in the streets of Carlisle but there will be more before the day is out.

One of the fops climbs up the gas tower but forgets to
take his glasses with him

Ed: As per the scenario in the rule book the two companies are looking for 3 objectives but there are also 3 dummy objectives hidden under crates as well. The small pink pieces of paper are the secret plans. We felt it appropriate to spend a full turn at each location before the plans could be found.

The Earl and Obediah search crates around the
gas tower. Lady Violet makes a run for it but Smirnov
has her in his sights

Much of the action was taking place around the allotments and the gas tower, but in the distance Lady Violet had already located some of the plans. She immediately made a dash for home but found it hard to run in her expensive finery. (although close up she has a special rule making it -1 to hit her due to her breathtaking/beguiling beauty this doesn't work at long range) and sadly Comrade Smirnov is no lover of the British aristocracy. CRACK went his sniper rifle .......and she fell.(the normal standards of British decency clearly not applying i have chosen to blank out the undignified scene above) Thankfully although she dropped the plans I believe she made it home, cross that the lovely green dress was torn and covered in blood !

Mrs Bowman on the other side of the Road brings a Ruffian
 to the ground with her shotgun.

Arnold with the Arc weapon walks slowly forward, anxious
that it hasn't been properly tested yet !

With all this gun fire on the outskirts of Carlisle it was bound to draw the attention of the Authorities and suddenly from the now where the Peelers arrived armed with new all British electric-truncheons. (these would be an independent company charging and arresting the nearest visible figures)

Having come on in the Allotments the Peelers make straight for
Charlie Hickmen who is squaring up to one of the Fops

Back on the main street 'The Mask' has made his way to where Lady Violet had been shot where he has picked up the plans. The Earl by now realizes he is in trouble and is keen not to be caught by the Carlisle Police as this would require a lot of explaining.

Back on the main street Arnold is still winding up the Arc gun

Things were going from bad to worse for the Earl and his Fops. Geoffrey Cuthbert-Smythe having climbed up the gas tower with his rifle realizes that he didn't bring his shooting glasses. Seeing a scuffle in the allotments he assumes it is the Ruffians making off with the plans and takes a shot. Unfortunately for Geoffrey he has shot his fellow Fop, well at least he has saved him from the Peelers.

A badly aimed shot takes out his hunting companion

Justice Blackborough hearing the police whistles picks up the plans and make a run for the safety, the Earl also decides it is time to make a run, But what is this .........Arnold has finally charged the Arc weapon, closing his eyes and fearful for his own safety he discharges a powerful electric arc across the road, hitting the lamppost but then striking the Earl in the back ! luckily the Earl has an excellent pluck roll........... (ED. at this point it should be mentioned that the Fops seemed to roll nothing but 1's for their pluck rolls and they somehow managed again for the Earl) when Obediah finally picked him up, the Earl although still alive, his hair standing on end and smelling faintly of burning , was shaking and mumbling incoherently about lighting and maps ?

Both the Earl and the Mask attempt to get away.

The final scene in the days' activities took place in the allotments, Charlie still stunned from seeming the man he was about to smash in the face shot in front of him had no time to react and four of the peelers were straight on him, he had no chance and after a slightly excessive beating he was led away in cuffs. Comrade Smirnov made sure they paid a heavy price.......

Charlie Hickman is captured by the Peelers but the rest
of the gang run for it covered by Smirnov.

Postscript : A very enjoyable encounter...although the Earl rolled really badly through out surely the law of averages means you can't always roll a 1. Now getting into the swing with the rules, the companies above are 220 points, but i have a few more figures to add in, we are planning lots more adventures. You will note that the secret papers are in fact the parts of a map ! But before then the next scenario has written itself as the Botchergate Ruffians will have to rescue Charlie.......off to make the prison. Honestly.