Gentlemen Vs Werewolves
"Right then does everyone know what to do?" Sebastian Drogue looked round at the gathered members of the Carver Street Irregulars. Mrs Chancery nodded as she checked her grappling hook, Mr Verne and Mr Talleyrand merely grunted as they checked their pistols. Mr Malmsbury meanwhile nodded and smiled as he patted the stock of his fine Shotgun, purchased just that morning from Hallams in the strand.
As Mr Folsam the butler poured out each of them a shot of Brandy against the cold of the night they watched and waited for their prey, Sebastian's Exo skeleton ticking softly as the boiler strapped to his back bubbled and shook. They had spent the evening wandering round the pubs of Woldchapel, seeking out information on the strange beasts that were plagueing the northern town from the French Gypsy caravan. Indeed stood nearby to the irregulars was a large group of angry looking mill workers, toting racking pins, and dolly rods and grumbling about the Frenchies.
Drogue watched, and hoped that all would be well.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Last nights game of Empire of the Dead was REALLY close, in fact it basically came down to 1mm of clearance under a die (which meant it was technically cocked :P meaning it needed a reroll). The forces were:
The Carver St Irregulars
President with Steampowered Exoskeleton, heavy pistol, sword, bullseye lantern and half armour.
Vice president with hunting rifle, knife, telescopic sight, and grappling hook
Member with knife and shotgun
Member with Heavy pistol and axe.
Member with Light Pistol and sword.
Member... with a tray of drinks :P
Werewolves
Beastlord
Packmaster
2 Wolves.
One Wolfskin with claws of the Wulfen, half armour, flaming torch.
One Wolfskin Crossbow, knife, half armour, flaming torch.
The Scenario was Fracas, with corners for deployment. We also decided to take 3 influences each, and most of these were used in the first maintenance phase, with the Gentlemen summoning up a mob of angry factory workers, and the Werewolves making it the full moon. This left me with one influence left.
In the Left corner was Drogue the President, Malmsbury with the shotgun, Falsom the unarmed butler, and the mob facing off against the Packmaster and 2 wolfskins. On the otherside Mrs Chancery the vice president, headed towards the clock tower to try and get the height to really use her hunting rifle. Mr Verne and Mr Tallyrand got ready near the building just outside the deployment zone.
The Wolfskins moved down towards the mob staying in cover from the trees as did the Packmaster. On the other side two Wolves headed straight towards Mr Verne while the Bestlord wandered across the main road. If it hadn't been nighttime Mrs Chancery would have had a clear shot, but without a lantern she had no idea he was there.
The next round the Gentlemen got initiative, so Mr Verne shot and discombobulated White-Ear the wolf while MR Tallyrand climbed onto the building then ran over to be in position to help with the other one. Mrs Chancery got to the base of the clock tower, ready to grappling hook up next round. Mr Malmsbury promptly shot and discombobulated the Wolfskin with a crossbow, and then the mob marched in front of him to cover him. Drogue slowly walked forward followed by the Butler.
With 2 Discombobulated, the werewolves moved them into cover, with the Packmaster and the other Werewolf diving into the nearby pub. The Beastlord headed towards the middle of the table, and Scarred Nose the unwounded wolf charged towards Mr Verne. If he didn't get initiative he would likely get mauled.
The next initiative roll was tied... so I used my remaining influence to seize the initiative (this may be wrong by the RAW we weren't sure) and Mr Verne and Mr Tallyrand opened fire on Scarred Nose, Verne Downed him, then Tallyrand double-downed him taking him out.
On the otherside of the battlefield Malmsbury moved right out to the edge and shot down the Wolfskin who had thought he was in full cover behind the tree. Mrs Chancery finally scaled the clock tower, but would still have to move to the other side of the tower to get a good shot. The Mob moved towards the door to the pub making sure the packmaster wouldn't be able to charge Drogue as Folsam moved away from him to prevent the fullmoon allowing the blood thirsty werewolves and easy way into combat with him.
On the werewolves side the Packmaster and Wolfskin moved through the pub ready to erupt out next round, the Beastlord having been illuminated by Drogues lantern rushed to get out of Mrs Chancery's line of sight, heading into the Bell tower. White Ear headed towards the gentlemen choosing not to worry about cover.
The next round again the gentlemen got initiative, but Tallyrand and Verne could only manage to discombobulate White ear, while Drogue and Malmsbury moved and got into watch and shoot, with the mob blocking the charge on Drogue. Mrs Chancery got into position to shoot.. despite the Werewolf charging up towards her.
White ear chose NOT to go into cover still moving towards Mr Verne hoping for initiative next round. The Beastlord rocketed up through the Belltower, not quite able to reach the roof and mrs Chancery. Then the Pack master rushed out of the pub to escape the mob, but got shot by Drogue and ended up discombobulated, the wolfskin followed with Malmsbury missing his shot.
The Gentlemen got initiative, but the Packmaster was out of Drogues charge range, so he shot him and discombobulated him again. Seeing the enemy in trouble, Mr Folsam had a sudden attack of the Braves and charged into combat. Malmsbury was unable to shoot the Wolfskin, and even Mrs Chancery missed, Verne and Tallyrand also failed to hit White ear.
The Wolfskin countercharged the Butler, and White Ear finally got to charge Mr Verne. The Beastlord managed to get to the top of the Belltower but not having known where Mrs Chancery was, couldn't charge her.
The combats started. Folsam managed to beat and wound the packmaster, but sadly only discombobulated him again, then he was taken out by the Wolfskin, who then moved further away from the mob. White Ear and Verne failed to damage each other and remained locked in combat.
Grabbing initiative the Gentlemen realised that they had nearly reduced the pack to their halfway point and could start forcing break tests... Determined to ensure this Mrs Chancery chose not to flee down the building with her grappling hook, instead shooting the Wolfskin and killing him. Drogue still couldn't quite reach the Packmaster but took a shot, which went wide. Malmsbury couldn't fire as the mob was in the way and the Mob itself couldn't get at the packmaster, but followed him. Seeing Verne assaulted by a wolf Tallyrand vaulted off the roof into combat.
The Beastlord attacked Mrs Chancery then put her out with a double down, White Ear downed Mr Verne and suffered a flesh wound from Tallyrand, the Packmaster, realising Drogue, the Mob, and Malmsbury was heading after him decided to run.
The next round saw the Gentlemen also having to take bravado tests which most passed, and the werewolves also passing. Tallyrand managed to put White Ear down, but Verne went out. the two werewolves mainly ran away from people.
Next round... well Malmsbury and Drogue Failed their bravado check, but the Werewolves rolled and got a slightly cocked 1... I allowed a reroll and this time they made it. Seeing as Tallyrand and the Mob were the only ones left the Gentlemen conceded.
We did run through the post game process even though it wasn't a campaign game. Falsom the butler died while the other Gentlemen were fine, The President increased his Marksmanship, hired a new butler with a weapons, while Mrs Chancery became a Zealot. All of the Werewolf casualties survived although one Wolfskin got a leg wound, and the other became unhinged. They increased the Packmasters Attacks (OUCH) and the Beastlord became a Zealot as well.
All in all it was an excellent game although I will definitely be altering my list.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sebastian Drogue unhooked the straps on the exoskeleton and looked down at the remains of his Butler, the other members of the Carver Street Irregulars had returned to the scene of the battle when the dawn came. There they had found the corpse of the courageous butler, but no sign of the Werewolves who had obviously fled.
"This didn't work," Drogue growled, "But next time will be different".
The others nodded, and he left the Exoskeleton next to the corpse.