Africian Imagi-Nation "Butiwanto"

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.

 

 

Where they come across an amazing discovery!!

 

 Only to be discovered themselves........

What will happen to Major Elmore and the Lady Linda?!  Is this the beginning?! Or a tragic end?!  

Stay tuned eager readers..........