More Bugs...

 Another little Bug Hunt...

In between bigger projects; another quick bug hunt...

As before, the Professor is out for butterflies, this time in N'Gombi country; guided by respected "White Hunter" James "Eagle Eye" Matheson.

As before "Events" are tested for each move per each "detached" set of bods, and a card-driven Encounter Table consulted.

I "play" as Matheson - trying to keep the party together and safe.  The Professor is likely to go haring off to investigate any "blinds" that may turn out to be his elusive prey. One of his companions, Major Murphy, is after bigger game - and may also prove to be a loose cannon....

Thins go off smoothly enough to start as the group meander across the countryside, but soon the Major gets restless and decides go looking for something interesting. 

This doubles the chances for an Encounter, so when the Major's friend Colonel Cole, decides to follow him Matheson also dispatches his right hand man, Guinea Tom, to go along too, to keep an eye on things..... 



Matters progress.. The main party follows the wandering Professor..

 
Suddenly a "Blind" appears... The Professor chases this possible sighting, sneaks up on it and,yes, catches a butterfly... It turns out to be The Real Thing - Wilmott's Yellow Flitter.. Success number One...








Beyond the ridge, out of sight, the Major's group wander about - but see no game..

Matheson decides on a good camping spot, and the tents go up...




Suddenly another "Possible" appears. The Professor rushes off to catch it...

Another success... The Prof is as pleased as Punch....

However, shortly afterwards ANOTHER blind appears. The Professor is in the camp with his trophies, so Matheson goes to investigate....

It slinks off behind the nearby buildings... Matheson follows....

 

And it turns out to be cheeky monkeys...

Matheson sees them off....

While all this is going on, the Professors' daughter, Cecily, finds a curious document hidden in a pile of rocks next to the camp (Event-driven incident). What CAN this be...?  (The maguffin for a future adventure, or something to seek on the table?)

Meanwhile the Major's party return to the camp - without incident despite wandering close to the Ju-Ju hut. They see some movement in the distance but, as it getting dark, decide not to investigate.

(Technical note: all these "decisions" are simple, ad hoc dice tests.)  

The sun goes down and the camp goes to sleep. The "Blind" seen by the Major gets closer to the camp, but does not approach. There are no incidents in the nighttime...  

In the morning everyone is up bright and early.. The Major wants go go off hunting again, and sets off...




However, when he gets to the top of the rocky ridge he sees the Blind from last evening - a large body of locals just getting up after a night's rest - a N'Gombi warband in fact.... They see him... 



Guinea Tom rushes back to the camp, with the Major and the Colonel backing towards up. The warband follows....

Matheson's party do not panic at the news (tests for all - especially the bearers) and he forms them up in a line just the other side of the tents as the N'Gombi breast the rocky ridge to look down on the camp. 

There is a tense stand off. Nobody knows what will happen next....

Matheson walks forward, to speak to the warband leader. This is Akosa, a minor N'Gombi chief.

He has no particular axe to grind, but would take advantage of any Target of opportunity. However, more to the point; he knows "Eagle Eye" - and his reputation as a crack shot.

There is an exchange of formalities. Matheson is asked to explain his presence in N'Gombi territory. Meanwhile Akosa notes the rifle in Matheson's hand.

He notes the line of rifles and shotguns (The Major, The Colonel, Guinea Tom, Matheson's three armed guards - and gun-toting Cecily) all prepared and standing steady beyond the tents...

He notes that even the bearers aren't panicking...

He particularly notes Matheson's vague indication that were there to be any unnecessary unpleasantness he, Matheson, would be personally affronted..
So affronted in fact that the person Matheson regarded as responsible for any unpleasantness would be the first to go down....  

There is a certain amount of laughter, and mutual chaffing - and, with a polite farewell, and no loss of face, Akosa leads his men back beyond the cover of the ridge. 

As soon as the warband is are out of sight Matheson pulls his party back to the nearby buildings.  But this precaution proves unnecessary as Akosa (after testing his aggression factor) moves his men off towards the north. 

The crisis over, and with the professor happy with his two captures, Matheson swiftly strikes camp and moves the party off to safer ground.....

Conclusion

Another swift little exercise which kept me guessing. Again, events and "Blinds"  to keep interest. Again, a number of ad hoc decision throws.  The "discussion" between Akosa and Matheson was decided by a table (below - open image in new tab for bigger image). Things COULD have gone very differently...




Finally, this uncovered one of the perils of recycling a battlefield; Art imitating Life - since it looks like nobody told Private Takahashi the war is over.....