Dispatches from the Front: April 2020

Major Elmore and Lady Linda hacked their way through the underbrush. All around them birds called out and monkeys scurried overhead through the trees. And as they passed into the clearing they made a discovery of a lifetime. Which for some in the expedition wouldn't last much past this moment....

I played my first game today in my Imagi-Nation of Butawanto. The rules I used were "Fortunes Won and Lost" from Two Hour Wargames.

   Appearing in this adventure we have :
     Major Elmore. A Star, Reputation 5
     Lady Linda. A Star, Rep 4
   2 Askari and 2 Bearers. All Grunts. I will determine their Rep when I need to. Adds a little "Are they feel'n it today?" to the game.

The setting for the game. The party is following an animal trail and heading for a clearing. There are 3 "Possible Enemy Forces" on the board. The blue chips are markers to divide the boards into 9 1'x1' sections.

The game will begin with the party entering the board in section '7' (lower left corner) and moving to section '3' (upper right corner) for the win.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!!

With Major Elmore in the lead and Lady Linda close behind the party followed an animal trail. Not well worn, the Major used his machete often, removing the odd limb or vine that blocked their paths. Close behind were Lady Linda's Bearers. The two Askari that had come along kept a eye out on their right flank and behind.

     As the group moved into the clearing and into Line of Sight on the center PEF it turned out to be nothing. The PEF nearest them moved away, and the PEF along the top board edge moved to it's left.

   "I say Major, I swore I spotted something moving in the clearing. But now it's gone..."
   "Just a random bit of wildlife, my Dear" Major Elmore replied. "But would you get a look at that!". The two Explorers and their party stood looking in wonder at their discovery. Surely this had to be previously undiscovered . Nothing the pair of Adventurers had read about Butawanto had ever mentioned a Civilization advanced enough to build something like this!

   The Party moved toward the ruins to get a better look. As they did so the left most PEF moved toward them into Line of Sight. The PEF along the top edge of the board moved to replace it. And another PEF appear behind them!!! (This PEF appeared do to doubles being rolled on iniative. The rules state that it should be placed in an unexplored section of the board. And so since this is a game of ADVENTURE and EXCITEMENT I put it behind my intrepid band to make this day more dangerous!).

   As the PEF burst from the trees into sight the Lady Linda shouldered her rifle and said, "Major, why on Earth are those monkeys throwing their poo at us?!"
   "First Lady Linda," he replied, "those are not Monkeys. They are Chimpanzees, and thus are members of the Ape family. And my guess is something must have driven them out of the trees, otherwise they never would have exposed themselves to strangers".
   "Apes, Monkeys, whatever they are, that behavior is simple disgusting..."
   Bringing his rifle up too the Major replied, "Personally, I'm more worried about what drove them into the open."
   "Major," one of the Askari shouted, "I think there is something behind us....."

   "What?" the Major said turning, taking his eyes off the far treeline. And the trap is sprung!

Winning the initiative, out of the treeline charged a group of 6 Butiwanto natives. All armed with rifles. At this point I rolled Reputations for those 6 plus for the four Askari and Bearers in my party.

A bullet whizzed past the head of the Major. He Ducked Back into cover shouting, "Lady Linda, get down!" "What?" she replied, and a moment later was struck by a bullet putting her Out of the Fight. A close round sent the Askari in blue Ducking Back for cover. Before he could react, the Askari in white was also hit and went Out of the Fight. Since the armed Party members were screening the Bearers all the Native fire in the first round was against them. Returning fire the Major hit a Native who received an Obviously Dead result. The Blue Askari also hit one, putting him Out of the Fight.

   Both sides passed their "Will to Fight" rolls, the Natives again winning initiative. In the next round of shooting the four members of the Major's party were each targeted by one Native. The Major and his Askari were both missed, but the same could not be said for the two Bearers. Both were hit, one put Out of the Fight, the other Obviously Dead. Again, the Major and his Askari's marksmanship rung true and they both hit; two more attackers falling Out of the Fight.

   Neither side was willing to quite the fight yet though, and this time the Explorers won the Initiative. The Major fired first causing one of the two Natives to Duck Back into the cover of the tree line. The Askari scored a more telling wound, causing his target to be Obviously Dead. Rattled the remaining Native's fire went wild.

   "Manwon," shouted the Major, "can you still see Lady Linda and Mantwo?"
   "Yes Major! The Lady appears to be trying to get up and Mantwo is crawling for the bush!"
   "Very good Manwon. Try to reach Mantwo, see if you can move him. I'll get to Lady Linda. I believe there is still one out there and I think there are more Ambushers coming up behind us. I'll check on our Bearers." The two men broke cover and moved at a crouch to their fallen friends.
     "Let us go Lady Linda, it's is time to make our departure," the Major said as he helped the Lady to her feet.
   "I'll be fine, Major. Really I will be," she replied, cradling her rifle in one arm while holding her right hand over the wound in her shoulder. The Major looked to his Bearers. It was quite apparent that one was dead. The other appeared to be breathing. But with himself helping Lady Linda and Manwon helping Mantwo to his feet, they wouldn't be able to assist the injured Bearer.
   "I'm sure you will be fine Lady Linda, but only if we can get you out of this place. Come now, we must go before other trouble shows up. Manwon, can you manage there?"
   "Yes Major. Mantwo has been hit in the leg. But with my help, we can get along. I'm afraid for the others though"
   "I see that Manwon. But there is nothing we can do at this point. Follow us, if you would please." With that the Major began to move again into the brush making sure that the remaining armed Native couldn't get a clear shot at them. And keeping that unknown group way to their rear.

   "Major, what of my Bearers?" asked Lady Linda.
   "One poor bugger has bought it. The other is hurt but there is nothing we can do at the moment. Once we get you back and have your wounds attended to, then we can look for the Native Village and see if we can find him. I promise you this.......

Something I've been wanting to do is create my own Imagi-Nation. I kicked this idea around, I kicked that idea around. The ideas always seemed to be based in Europe. Then I decided on doing something in Africa...and the country of Butiwanto was born.

To game my adventures in Butiwanto I have a number of rules to play with:

The Sword and the Flame (more specifically The Sword in Africa)
Fortunes Won and Lost
Colonial Adventures
The Men who would be Kings

To get things kicked off I have the Warlord Games Rorke's Drift battle set. That would be a good start for colonial battles against the Native population. Then I picked up some Darkest Africa figures off Ebay, these could be used for skirmish games. An acquisition of Azande warriors from TMP member Rdfraf added to the skirmish figures. I acquired and painted the figures for Lady Linda and her Baggage Bearers. In February I made a killing, purchasing 143 colonial era figures for $50 from a friend. They are a mixtures of nations....and once I touched them up, the "Colonial Coalition War of 1900" was born.

Throw in some jungle terrain I have, add in some "appropriate looking" buildings and the Adventures in turn of the Century Africa began!!

A little Historical, Demographic and Geographic data of Butiwanto.

Butiwanto was discovered by the English Explorers Major Elmore and his wife the Lady Linda Wadsworth Pennington Smythe Elmore. Little is known of the Major's military past; when questioned the story of his exploits flow freely (at least as freely as the whiskey flows). It seems his exploits have him fighting everywhere in the British Empire, but no official records of his service have ever been found. Likewise, no one has been able to locate the records of Lady Linda's Noble linage. But with her charm, brains and the way she handles her fists, Webley service pistol and Elephant gun, no one presses the issue too hard.

Not much of Butiwanto has been officially mapped; it is known to be on the East coast of Africa, next to the Republic of Bongolesia. The largest city is it's Capital, the Port of Rutherfordtown. Rutherfordtown was the first Colonial settlement founded in Butiwanto and was the scene of much fighting during the Colonial Coalition War of 1900.

Leading into the interior of Butiwanto is the Itzweta River. The river is large enough for boat and canoe travel, but major watercraft are prohibited from traveling far upstream.

Three Native tribes have been discovered in Butiwanto; the Donwana, the Candoo and the Dowahavta. Their allegiances to the various Nations that came to Butiwanto can be best described as "flexible".

With the inconvenience and Social Distancing of the COVID-19 virus no actual gaming in Butiwanto has happened, but I took a few moments for a small Photo Op....

Major Elmore, Lady Linda, two Askari and Baggage Bearers move into Butawanto's interior. In the background can be seen a tributary of the Itzweta River.