Into the Woods...

...A Silver Bayonet Solo Scenario.

As the long summer holiday comes crashing to an end I decided to spend the last couple of days working through the first solo mission for The Silver Bayonet, the Wolf Pack. Now from the outset I should stress that I find playing any new game initially overwhelming. I seem to struggle with the amount of numbers be they modifiers or character stats and can often feel myself becoming incredibly agitated when constantly having to stop and check something in the rules. Given that I have spent an inordinate amount of time painting miniatures and creating terrain I do find this hard to come to terms with. Then there is the nagging thought in the back of my mind that I should be somehow documenting this encounter, perhaps to share on this most humblest of weblogs. However taking photographs only adds to the stop, start nature that I am desperately trying to avoid. Anyway, I stuck with it and played the scenario twice, slowly learning from my mistakes and becoming more familiar with the rules. I can see why they are so popular as they naturally build in intensity and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters that I have invested time in creating. As the Saintly Mrs. Awdry was out playing golf, I took the opportunity to dictate each turn into my phone and as I become more confident in what I was doing I started to notice that the narrative was becoming more involved. I have now spent some time tidying up the commentary, making sure that the odd misheard phrase is corrected and sprinkled in some stardust to help enhance the atmosphere. The result is, I hope, a more enjoyable retelling, more as a story as opposed to a roll by roll account. There is nothing new in this, but it was something that I was keen to try for myself. I should stress that I went back and set up the photographs at a later date, taking a little more time with their composition to serve as illustrations for the piece rather than documentary evidence that would only have continued to slow the pace of the adventure. So presented below is the first scenario, the introduction to which owes more than an nod to the original author, Joseph A. McCullough...

***

Scenario One: The Wolf Pack

Two weeks earlier, a specialist unit had disappeared in the depths of the forest.  Their orders had been simple enough, find the lost chapel, investigate the surrounding area and report back; yet the patrol had never returned.  Now Captain Jim Blunt and his small band had been sent to follow their trail; to discover the fate of the missing men and, if possible, to recover their orders before they fell into enemy hands.

For three days they had followed the tracks deeper into the woods. The trail itself proved surprisingly easy to follow. The previous expedition had left a clear path through the undergrowth and there had been little rain to wash away the evidence of their passing.  With every mile, however, the forest seemed to close around them.  By the third evening, the light was already beginning to fail when they came upon a scene of utter carnage; they had found the missing unit, or at least, what was left of it.

Before anyone could investigate further, a howl echoed through the trees. It was answered by another, then another. The sound seemed to come from every direction.  In the gathering darkness, bright eyes began to appear amongst the trees; the wolves had found them.

Turn 1

Lt. Johnny Elton, known to his companions as The Rocket Man, wasted little time.  Leading from the front, he pushed ahead and quickly reached the first object half concealed amongst the undergrowth. The clue proved to be the Queen of Spades; a silver knife, perhaps not the most dramatic discovery, but a most welcome one nonetheless.  Johnny was already carrying silver shot and the addition of a silver blade meant that he was now rather well equipped for whatever unpleasantness the forest intended to offer.

Phil McCracken was rather more cautious.  He edged forward, musket at the ready, when a rustle in the trees brought him up sharply.  Turning towards the sound, he caught sight of a Dark Wolf moving through the shadows at the very edge of his range.  Phil steadied himself, the shot rang out.  The wolf yelped as the ball struck home, disappearing briefly into the undergrowth, badly wounded but very much alive.

Myfanwy moved forward to join Phil and Johnny, whilst Ben Doon came around a low rise in the ground and immediately spotted another of the creatures.  He brought his musket to his shoulder and fired.  This time there was no need for a second shot as the wolf collapsed where it stood.  Then the moon broke through the clouds and a long, chilling howl pierced the night. Something much larger moved amongst the trees; a werewolf had entered the hunt.

Almost simultaneously, another Dark Wolf burst from the bushes and hurled itself directly at Johnny. Teeth and claws flashed in the moonlight as the creature drove him backwards.  Somehow, Johnny held his ground, keeping the beast at bay, but when the opportunity came to strike back, his soldierly instincts appeared to abandon him completely.  Johnny swung, but missed.  The wolf lunged and Johnny dodged; for the moment, the two remained locked in combat.

Captain Blunt decided that it was time to intervene.  Raising his trusted Baker rifle, he took aim at the nearest Dark Wolf. His first attempt was poor, but a second, more determined effort proved considerably more successful.  The shot smashed through the animal's ribs, leaving it grievously wounded.

Lord Byron, the unit's Supernatural Investigator, followed his Captain's example.  Unfortunately, his pistol shot disappeared harmlessly into a nearby tree.  The wolf, however, was not to enjoy its good fortune for long as Dr. ‘Saw Bones' McCoy calmly removed his pistol from its holster, took careful aim and shot the wounded creature squarely between the eyes.  He lowered the pistol, muttered, “He’s dead, Jim” and continued on his way.

Between the two groups stood Conor McLeod, the Highlander drew his mighty claymore and strode deliberately into the open, his sporran swinging from side to side as he confronted another Dark Wolf; it was difficult to decide which of the two appeared more alarmed.  In the distance, more howling began, the pack was gathering.

Turn 2

Lt. Johnny Elton was still engaged in his private struggle with the wolf when he finally regained his composure.  This time his strike was decisive and the beast fell, and Johnny, breathing heavily from the exertion, withdrew to form a second line behind McLeod.

The Highlander, meanwhile, was already advancing.  Directly ahead lay another clue marker and, beyond it, another snarling wolf. McLeod reached the object first and uncovered the Jack of Spades; a silver Saint's medallion, a very welcome discovery.  The medallion promised further protection against the unnatural creatures now stalking the party, and the company needed all the assistance it could find.

Ben Doon looked up from reloading his musket and saw the great Highlander striding forward. Inspired, perhaps unwisely, by the sight, Ben advanced to confront the wolf before him.  His bayonet struck home and the wound it caused was a serious one, but the wolf's response was immediate and ferocious.  It hurled itself upon Ben, forcing him backwards and leaving him badly mauled.

Phil saw his mess mate fall back, bleeding heavily and immediately began moving towards him.  Before he could arrive, however, the wounded wolf chose a new opponent.  It charged McLeod, but the Highlander stood his ground.  Just as the wolf attacked, McLeod swung the enormous claymore crashing it down and the creature collapsed at his feet.

No sooner had the Highlander dispatched one wolf than another burst from cover and launched itself at Captain Blunt.  Savage claws searched for his throat, but Jim held firm.  The rifleman forced the creature back and struck it hard, leaving it barely clinging to life.  Jim then advanced to finish the job and with a quick, flashing strike, the wolf was dispatched.  Whether he was then entirely entitled to reload his rifle in the manner he did remained a question for another day.  The important thing, for the moment, was that the wolf was dead and Jim was not.

Elsewhere, Lord Byron noticed a glint in the undergrowth, the King of Spades; a bag of silver shot.  Under normal circumstances, this would have been a fortunate discovery, but given that a werewolf was now roaming the forest, it seemed almost providential.

Dr. McCoy moved towards the wounded Ben, hoping to be close enough to treat him at the next opportunity and for a brief moment, the situation appeared almost manageable.  Two clues had been investigated with one corner of the forest clear of wolves.  Yet, that fleeting sense of victory bred a dangerous hubris, masking the growls echoing from the shadows ahead.  Another werewolf appeared; the creature threw back its head and howled at the moon.  Two of the great beasts were now abroad.

Ben was seriously wounded and the wolves were closing in and the remaining clues, including the missing orders, lay somewhere on the far side of the board.  The company would have to fight their way through the forest.

Byron decided that there was no time to waste and loading his pistol with silver shot, he stepped forward to confront one of the werewolves. He raised his weapon and fired.  The shot was magnificent, the silver ball struck the creature with devastating force, tearing through its supernatural defences and leaving the huge beast almost destroyed.

The werewolf looked back at Byron, Byron looked down at his empty pistol. There was, perhaps, a brief moment when neither was entirely certain what should happen next. Johnny Elton attempted to assist, but his own shot whistled harmlessly past the creature's ear startling an owl that was watching the adventure unfold. Captain Blunt, meanwhile, had spotted another wolf closing in on his companions. His rifle cracked and the creature dropped immediately at their feet. Jim then moved forward, placing himself between his friends and the advancing werewolf.

Ben, bleeding and exhausted, limped towards the Doctor; he had survived the first onslaught, but only just.

Turn 3

The forest had become a place of howls, musket smoke and flashing steel.  One of the werewolves advanced purposefully towards Captain Blunt.  Jim met it head on and as tooth and claw clashed against his great sword the two struggled in the darkness.  Jim held firm, but neither combatant could gain the advantage and they remained locked together.

Lord Byron's difficulties were rather more immediate.  A Dark Wolf suddenly burst from cover and crashed into him, leaving the Supernatural Investigator badly wounded.  With only the narrowest margin between survival and disaster, Byron struck back, his fencing blade flashed and the wolf fell.

Myfanwy now moved towards another of the clue markers, manipulating the strange currents of fate that surrounded the encounter. The distinction between exactly how these powers should operate in a solo expedition would become clearer later; for the moment, everyone involved was simply grateful for any assistance they could get.

Dr. McCoy finally reached Ben and began tending to his wounds.  McLeod strode towards the second werewolf, determined to finish what he had begun. Drawing back his blood soaked claymore, he struck.  The great beast gave one final howl to the moon before collapsing.

Phil McCracken, seeing the Doctor and Myfanwy moving towards the next clue, hurried after them; there was still work to be done.  The trees seemed to gather behind them, swallowing the smoke from their muskets and concealing whatever still moved amongst the shadows.

Turn 4

Captain Blunt and the remaining werewolf were still standing toe to toe.  This time Jim had the advantage, his silver blade flashed repeatedly in the darkness and, after a desperate exchange, the werewolf finally fell.  The immediate danger around him removed, Jim began moving back towards the rest of the party.  Lord Byron also withdrew, reloading one of his pistols.  Johnny did the same, strengthening the group's defensive position and preparing for whatever came next.  Ben Doon, still feeling the effects of his earlier mauling, took aim at a wolf following through the trees; the shot went wide.

The wolves, however, were not yet finished with Captain Blunt.  The first creature charged him and was swiftly dispatched.  A second immediately followed, but this one proved rather more dangerous.  The wolf's attack left Jim reeling, badly wounded and in no position to take another, similar blow.  Nevertheless, the brave Captain fought back furiously, finally dispatching the creature and sending it to whatever particularly unpleasant corner of Hell had been set aside for werewolves and their smaller cousins.

Two wolves now emerged from the gloom and began moving towards the smaller group of stragglers; they had smelt blood and they were coming closer.  Myfanwy and Phil pressed on towards the next clue, whilst Dr. McCoy tended to Byron's wounds.  McLeod turned back towards the others, once again assuming his increasingly familiar role as a very large Scottish defensive wall.

Another wolf appeared at the far side of the forest, fortunately, it was some distance away, for the moment.

Then Myfanwy reached the next marker, the Ten of Spades, an ornate silver ramrod.  Useful, certainly, but not the missing orders; the search continued.  Phil McCracken, sensing the urgency of the situation, moved ahead.  Ben and Lord Byron reloaded their weapons and followed him, whilst the remaining wolves circled through the trees.  The party was moving forward again, but Myfanwy had become isolated.  For the moment she was safe, but in this forest, however, that could change very quickly.

Turn 5

Phil McCracken saw something in a thicket ahead and moved towards it quickly. There, half concealed beneath the branches, were the missing orders. At last, the mission was complete! For the first time since entering the forest, escape seemed possible. The woods, however, had not finished with them yet. Myfanwy immediately made for the edge of the forest and was the first to reach safety. Lt. Johnny Elton and Dr. McCoy followed, although the Doctor paused briefly to tend once more to Ben before continuing his retreat.

The remaining group had stayed in the forest just a moment too long, a wolf came crashing into the rear of Lord Byron. Caught by surprise, the Supernatural Investigator nevertheless recovered quickly. His fencing weapon parried the creature's attack before he struck back, leaving the wolf barely alive. A second wolf followed and again Byron defended himself, pushing the beast back and leaving it badly wounded.

Ben Doon now stepped forward, taking careful aim, he fired at the wolf threatening the retreating party. The shot was devastating and the creature disappeared from the fight and the path towards safety was suddenly clear. Perhaps, at last, the forest was beginning to release them. Byron, Jim and McLeod turned and ran for the edge of the table, behind them, the howling continued.

Turn 6

Only three members of the party remained to activate in the first phase of the retreat.  Johnny Elton disappeared from the forest to join Myfanwy.  Phil McCracken hurried forward to join Ben, who stood guard near the edge, musket reloaded and ready to assist any of his comrades who emerged from the trees.  Behind them, the rearguard was still fighting.

A Dark Wolf charged McLeod, but the great Scotsman turned, brought his claymore around and removed the creature's head with considerable efficiency.  He barely had time to appreciate his handiwork before another wolf attacked.  This one failed to capitalise on the surprise, but McLeod also missed his mark and the two remained locked together.

Elsewhere, the final wolf charged Captain Blunt. Jim turned and blocked the attack, but his response did little more than wound the creature. Neither he nor McLeod had yet escaped. From the edge of the forest, the rest of the company could hear the fighting but see little through the trees. All they could do was wait and hope. Mercifully, the next strange turn of fate brought no fresh disaster with no more wolves appearing in the forest; at this stage, nobody was inclined to complain.

Turn 7

McLeod was still fighting, the wolf came at him once more.  This time the Highlander struck first and the creature fell leaving McLeod to begin  his final, weary withdrawal from the forest.  Ben Doon and Phil McCracken put their arms around each other and, apparently finding something enormously amusing that nobody else had witnessed, chortled quietly as they stepped from danger.

Dr. McCoy checked his bag, presumably ensuring that all his medical supplies were in order before making his own escape leaving only Jim remaining in serious danger.  The final wolf came for him, had it developed a personal grievance?  The creature hurled itself at the Captain, slashing and biting with renewed fury, Jim was left reeling from the attack.

There was, admittedly, some later discussion regarding precisely how many wounds Captain Blunt ought already to have been carrying at this point. Certain records suggest that the situation may have been somewhat more serious than first realised.  Nevertheless, in the interests of allowing the expedition to continue, the Captain fought on.

Jim struck back, driving the wolf away and leaving it clinging to life.  Then came his opportunity.  He raised his rifle calmly to his shoulder with the wounded creature only a short distance away.  Jim fired and the wolf fell.  At last, the rifleman turned, glanced back briefly and staggered from the forest to join the others.  Behind him, the forest grew quiet once more, for now.

***

And so ended the first expedition. The missing orders had been recovered, nobody had been permanently inconvenienced and the newly formed band had discovered that the forests of whatever benighted corner of Europe they currently occupied contained an entirely unreasonable number of wolves. More importantly, their commander had learnt a little about the rules, their chronicler had learnt that photographs need not be taken in the middle of the action and Captain Blunt had developed what can only be described as an unhealthy relationship with the local wildlife.