The Ruin of Mimsie Hawley - Turn 6 - Shocking Developments!

I was intending to post each time a turn was completed. However, so much has happened that I felt this time I will post turn 6's shooting and movement and add the expected combat as a second post. Absolutely shocking events, dear reader, have occurred in Higgleford-cum-Wortlebury-beneath-the-Hill. Innocent blood spilled carelessly like spoilt milk on the cobbles of that peaceful village.

Bottom spent the last move aiming so gets a +1 which cancels out the -1 for a matchlock which is listed as ‘inaccurate’. He lets fly at Sir John Falstaff and the lead ball creases the side of Sir John’s head, leaving him stunned. Or it would do, but Sir John has the attribute 'Tough' which means he can ignore light wounds (although the effects still mount cumulatively to cause a grievous wound).

Puck uses his halberd to chop off the Cardinal’s head and makes a short move to bung it over the wall of Gusset House. On his way up the lane Sir Francis shouts through the railings to the barbeque party "We have killed a Catholic Cardinal and will throw his head over to you for disposal. There are more of the Catholic bastards here. They have kidnapped my daughter and we are going to kill every last one of them. Come and help join in the fun."

Capitaine-General Montmorency Kenwood-Chef is as deaf as a post! He hasn’t heard most of the shouting that has taken place over the last three moves or so, so nothing happens there, except the Purple Hood (for it is he) gives the head a kick as it flies past and expertly slots it through the door of the pig sty! “Goooaaal!” he shouts.

Sir Francis is within 6” of Sir Jaspar and challenges him to single combat.  "Jasper thou craven sheep-biting miscreant, adulterate spawn of a toad-spotted hedge-pig, offspring of a goatish half-faced leprous witch! I, Sir Francis Hawley challenge you to a duel thou mewling craven rough-hewn, hugger-mugger!" 

Stirrup has a shot at Sir Guffington. He fires and the heavy lead ball bounces harmlessly off of Sir Guffington’s morion. Hearing Sir Francis’s challenge to single combat, Sir Jaspar replies in the affirmative but as he accepts the challenge, at the very same moment, Sir John draws a pistole from his voluminous breeches and discharges it at Sir Francis. Sir Francis is hit in the arm, a light wound. However, it will affect his performance in the coming duel to the death!

Mimsie, having been left to her own devices starts to make a move towards Hanging Cross with the intention of turning right and heading towards Nether Transom and home. Unfortunately for her, the treacherous Sir Jaspar has dispatched Wrench to give her a blow from his mighty weapon. Wrench catches her in the centre of the crossroads and with one blow cleaves her in twain from neck to waist, in full view of the horrified villagers! “Well, she’s no bloody use now, is she?!” shouts Sir Jaspar. So the casualty score at present is one dead unarmed Jesuit Cardinal and one dead unarmed female innocent. Who said the days of chivalry were long gone (well, whoever it was, he was bloody well right)?

Following that, those members of the Cowie retinue who can advance, move into combat. Sir Jaspar and Sir Francis come face to face, close enough to smell the sweat and last night’s curry. This is a Duel and as such, no other figure can interfere until one of the two combatants falls to the ground with a mortal wound. Sir Nathaniel Toastrack moves to engage Lord Melchett and Lord Percy Percy engages Sir Guffington. At this point, Sir Miles cannot get into the fight.

 En Garde, gentlemen!

You should see the insults being exchanged on our Whatsapp group between Sir Jaspar and Sir Francis!

To be continued...