29 October, 2009

Escape from Dahomey




Night Attack on the British Camp:

The British have taken fearful losses during the expedition so far. They have decided to cut their losses and make their way back down river. They set up camp in open ground next to the river, post sentries and prepare to march out at dawn.

Sentries guard British camp

A Spinosaurus has wandered past and with preternatural speed [during the first turn, on his five cards he managed to move from the starting position to the camp and attack!] it launches itself at Turner, the sentry who has been joined by Simpson who has just woken up.

Spinosaurus charges into camp

The attack destroys Turner's rifle, and both he and Simpson run for their lives through the camp.

Fearsome Spinosaurus

Meanwhile two groups of Raptors sneak towards the camp, intent on retrieving their eggs, stolen recently by the British adventurers.

Raptors sneak towards camp

Finally all of the British have gotten out of the tents and while they are concentrating their firepower on the Spinosaurus, a second group of Raptors comes into camp from the other side. Chaos ensues but none of the British are harmed and the Spinosaurus is shot dead. Simpson even rushes to help out Turner who's been cornered by a Raptor - cold steel sorts him out!

Second group of Raptors rush British

A Raptor sneaks into the third British tent and is retrieving eggs, when there is a curious stand-off between it and Turner holding his pistol. Turner suspects some kind of intelligence in the creature, but Faulkner fears the worst and blows him away with his shotgun, unfortunately also destroying the egg. Mopping up in good order comes next, the British forming a thin Khaki line and destroying every last lizard.

Thin Khaki Line

The Relief Missions:

Both American and British expeditions are leaving the dangerous highlands, and relief columns have been sent. The British have sent a cavalry column, while the Americans have sent a convoy of vehicles.

American Relief Column winds through valley

A pair of Tyrannosaur lie in wait, skulking in the high grasses along one of the main routes to the river crossing.

Pair of Tyrannosaurs skulk in grasses

The American convoy ignores the threat and continues at best speed to reach their boys across the river.

Vehicles ignore threat to their right

The convoy has bunched up, as Jorgensen in the lead truck has jumped out to view some grisly remains to attempt to identify them. But as he does Raptors emerge from nearby cover to attack Brown in his touring car.

Raptors charge Brown in Touring Car

As the touring car skids out of control and the armoured car brings its machine to bear on the Raptors, they race back into the grass. But behind the chaos of the threatened convoy, the two Tyrannosaurs emerge from their hiding place.

Tyrannosaurs emerge from grass behind column

When suddenly, a Spinosaurus races up to attack Brown, now at the rear of the convoy

Spinosaurus comes out of nowhere

Miraculously the giant dinosaur is brought down by the luckiest of all shots from Brown as he attempts to start the car up!

Brought down by pinpoint pistol shot

Meanwhile, the British mounted relief column trots on through the narrow valleys, wary of any danger nearby

British mounted Relief Column reaches ford

Simpson has galloped ahead to confer with Porter, and they agree on the plan of action.

Simpson relays plan to Porter

Raptors have attacked the armoured car en masse, and somehow the fuel tank has exploded, killing the crew and taking the vehicle out of action.

Raptors tear armoured car apart

The dinosaur converge on the remaining vehicles, and Brown is forced to abandon his car. The nearby truck, holding Bradley has accelerated away, but waits for a moment to allow Brown to jump aboard.

Mass attack on Car and Truck

The Americans on foot cross at the ford, and the field gun takes up position to start aiming shells at the mass of dinosaurs attacking the convoy.

Field Gun takes up position at ford to suppress attack on convoy

Porter leads the main British column across the river, passing by the relief contingent as it takes up a blocking position. The others can see Simpson considering a sabre charge on the Raptors ahead of them...

Main British Column crosses river

The American relief column is looking after number one and returns back up a different valley towards their start line at breakneck pace.

Americans in trucks flee

The British relief contingent dismount, and draw their rifles, forming a firing line and driving the Raptors back into cover.

British Relief dismount and form firing line

Faulkner, who has been sent ahead to make sure the path is safe, quickly realises that it is not, but he manages to hold out against the attack and sensing no weakness, the Raptor flees.

Faulkner scouts for British column

Having secured the rear, the mounted contingent rejoins the main British column and makes its way calmly out of the valley. Simpson is severly injured by a giant snake just as they reach safety, but he is carried out by his trusty native porters.

British column makes it way out of valley

The Americans on foot are attacked by a Tyrannosaur and several Raptors and they panic. The field gun is unable to aid them in their defence.

Attack on Americans causes panic

It would seem that their comrades have left them behind...

American group left to their own devices

The Dahomey Expeditions have learnt the fate of Dr Gaspard de Chateaubriant, and have returned with marvellous tales of their adventures and even with some proof of their exploits.
But who knows the fate of those left behind...

28 October, 2009

The Hunting Begins in Dahomey



An American Safari:

Sibley leads the vehicles in to a series of ravines where his instincts tell him there'll be good hunting. With him is a Lanchester armoured car, surely it'll be of use against these brutish beasts?

American armoured car drives through broken ground

Hearing sound nearby, but unable to get a good look because of the difficult terrain, Torres leaves his touring car behind in search of the tall Iguanadons.

Torres leaves his touring car behind in search of the Iguanadons

They spot a pair of armoured dinosaurs in the distance, moving silently across a gap in the ravine.

American spot Edmontons in distance

Heading to the right of a large copse of trees, the armoured car encounters a fierce opponent, the Tyrannosaur which surges out of the high grass towards it.

Tyrannosaur surges out of high grass towards armoured car

Torres and Sibley, moving towards the Edmontons on foot avoid a terrifying-looking entangling plant.

Torres and Sibley avoid entanglement

Behind them, jumping out of his truck, Shearer stumbles upon what look like the remains of Dr. Gaspard de Chateaubriant! (or at least someone with his sword)

Shearer stumbles upon remains of Gaspard de Chateaubriant

A herd of mixed Edmontons and Iguanadons move along the ridge line, hidden from danger for the moment.

Dinosaurs quietly move along ridge

A Triceratops, previously unnoticed by any of the adventurers [literally not noticed by the adventurer player at that side of the board!] storms out of the forest having contemplating ramming the armoured car in the side, but instead running for the ravine.

Triceratops exits forest away from armoured car

The Tyrannosaur attacks Porter, knocking him to the ground and leaving him concussed and defenceless. Miraculously the Tyrannosaur leaves him alone and moves around the rocky ground to consider the armoured car.

Tyrannosaur attacks Porter, knocking him unconscious

Torres scrambles across the ridge to discover the herd of dinosaurs creeping along.

Torres scrambles across ridge to discover herd of dinosaurs

The Tyrannosaur charges towards the armoured car, and shudders into it. Trying to bite off the turret doesn't work out so well, taking a belt of machine gun ammo in the throat.

Tyrannosaur torn apart as it attempts to bite off turret

Meanwhile the Triceratops ambles up the valley floor, despite rifle fire and eventually scampers to safety.

Triceratops ambles up valley despite shooting

Seeing its dead pack mate, the second Tyrannosaur leaps over the rocks but is grievously wounded as it crosses the open ground.

Second Tyrranosaur grievously wounded as it charges across open ground

The Americans have taken up position on top of the ridgeline and take the Iguanadon down as well.

American snipe from top of ridge bringing down Iguanadon

The Americans have taken an Iguanadon and two Tyrannosaurs today. A fine day of hunting!


British Easter Egg Hunt:

Having spotted a series of nests in the badlands, Aylward leads a column with some trusty native porters to attempt to bring back some valuable dinosaur eggs.

Aylward leads column past muddy flats

Raptors have spotted the column approaching and lie in wait amongst the tall grasses.

Raptors lie in wait amongst grasses

Bailey rides ahead to investigate uneasily, not trusted in his heavy-duty revolver to bring down much of anything.

Bailey rides ahead to investigate

MacLeod's reliable Lee Enfield shoots down the Raptors like rabid dogs.

MacLeod shoots Raptors down

Aylward and MacLeod surround second a second group of Raptors, destroying them without too much trouble while Bailey tries to deal with Pterodactyl

Aylward and MacLeod surround second group of Raptors while Bailey tries to deal with Pterodactyl

The Pterodactyl circles around and shockingly bites Aylward's head clean off.

Pterodactyl bites Aylward's head off

The column on foot continues after seeing off the Pterodactyl up to a high column which holds a nest full of Pterodactyl eggs. The group is beset by even more Raptors and a second Pterodactyl swoops in. The group is decimated.

Group on foot beset by even more Raptors and a second Pterodactyl swoops in

Trusty native porters recover the Pterodactyl eggs having killed the last remaining beasts with their tent poles and make way back to camp, surely to get a extra large bag of shiny beads and a few feet of copper wire for their trouble.

Trust Native Porters make way back to camp

27 October, 2009

Incursion into Dahomey




Simpson's Expedition:

Abraham Simpson, DSO (Commander, RN) sent two parralel columns upriver towards the last known location of Dr. Gaspard de Chateaubriant. These columns, under Doherty and Nash were tasked to set up camp beyond the valleys.
There had been some signs that everything was not completely normal, and they had spotted giant lizards in the distance, the sort naturalists had convinced the world had been long extinct.

Nevertheless, when Doherty saw a pair of large armoured lizards ahead of his column, he took it upon himself to ride ahead to take a closer look. His pistol had no effect on its armoured hide, and he waited for his men to catch up.

Doherty advances to take a closer look at the Edmontons

Advancing past a large forested area Nash spooks two large bipedal lizards which he identifies as Iguanadons and therefore no threat whatsoever.

Nash spooks the Iguanadon

Nash's activity attracts the attention of a far more dangerous creature, the Tyrannosaur.

Nash attracts the attention of the Tyrannosaur

The first Iguanadon runs into some high grass nearby and takes cover from both the Tyrannosaur and Nash's column.

Iguanadon moves into the high grasses

Meanwhile Doherty's column advances through high grass, attempting to stay out of sight, and hoping that Doherty removes himself from danger quickly.

Main British column advances

For Doherty has more than the armoured quadrapeds to worry about. Another Tyrannosaur has been hunting them, and has taken an interest in Doherty instead.

Other Tyrannosaur is hunting the Edmontons

Taking his cue from the second Iguanadon Nash rides into the forest to avoid the Tyrannosaur. To no avail! Skillfully avoiding the attack of the terrible Tyrannosaur on his horse, Nash hides in the bushes keeping his horse calm despite the close attentions of the giant predator.

Nash follows the Iguanadon into the forest

Doherty is stuck in a similar quandry but is unable to flee, and his heavy revolver has little effect on the beast.

Doherty's pistol has effect on the Tyrannosaur

Doherty is plucked out of the saddle by the Tyrannosaur, his upper body landing in front of his column which scatters at this grisly sight.

British column scatters at the grisly sight of Doherty's death

Recovering, they take up position to fire at the Tyrannosaur driving it away, at least temporarily.

Column recovers to take aim at the Tyrannosaur

The armoured Edmontons charge the line knocking some of the brave men aside (but thankfully to little permanent damage)

Edmonton charges the line

Meanwhile the other British column marches on through the forest, avoiding the Tyrannosaur which has gone after the Iguanadon.

Other British column marches through forest

The Iguanadon have evaded their predator, making their way past the scattered native porters and across the ford to safety.

Iguanadon moves past scattered native porters

Vanderbolt's Expedition:

Several dozen miles away the first group of American adventurers have been led by H. Jack Vanderbolt to meet up with their vehicles and supplies which are being disembarked from river boat.
They must make their way through badlands and ravines to cross at a safe ford, as they have a field gun in their possession.

American columns approach river ford

Danger lurks! A Spinosaurus has been preparing to attack other dinosaur who are making their way to a nearby lake, but it spots the adventurers.

Spinosaurus lurks behind rock formations

Seeing this gigantic beast approach, the Americans manhandle their field gun up to one of the heights overlooking the river ford and indeed the ravine they are about to move into. But can it get into position before the dinosaur charges?

Field Gun manhandled up onto plateau

It charges indeed, but as it lunges towards the Americans on foot they scamper out of the way (most skillful and fortuitous!)

Spinosaurus charges Americans

Concerted fire from all sides sees the Spinosaurus fall, dreadfully wounded to the ground, the coup-de-grace being administered by Vanderbolt with his shotgun.

Concerted fire from group and field gun above brings it down

The armoured beasts, oblivious to either danger nearby continue to the watering hole. They are obscured by the large rocks on the shore of the watering hole and Vanderbolt send Rosenfeld across the river to get a better line of sight on them while he and Hannigan cover the ford.

Edmontons slowly move to water

Rosenfeld find himself in trouble immediately, barely avoiding the fatal sweep of the dinosaur's mace-like tail.

Rosenfeld avoids sweep of Edmonton's tail#

As the Edmonton flees back to its pasture, Rosenfeld shoots it in the spine and it thrashes around, only yards from safety.

Edmonton shot through spine as it flees back to its pasture

At the fork in the river. Vanderbolt discovered the long-dead carcass of an unknown creature, within which are human remains.

Vanderbolt discovers carcass of unknown creature with human remains inside#

The field gun is brought across the ford, safely covered by the others.

Field Gun brought across ford

The second Edmonton, its speed belying it size, makes it back to the cover of its pasture.

Other Edmonton reaches safety

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