Shadowbrook

And they set off into the wood.

The enemy closes in.

 

Caleb attacks the Vampire but only wounds it once. The Vampire strikes back but Caleb dodges the claws.

There was a blooper and the scene was left on the cutting room floor so it seems this star and these extras didn't move.

A rewrite of the script resolves the unfairness and the good guys extras are 'scared'

End of scene 3, act1.
Caleb has killed the vampire but the crows sweep in the hold up the escape. 

Caleb has been engaged by one of the Corn Dolls who wounds him, and the Sergeant and Soldiers are scared.
The Crow King moves closer, pleased that things appear in hand.

Things look grim!

Big break for Winthorpe

but the Succubus sweeps in to attack him!

The Corn Doll makes a second wound on Caleb as Whitmore attacks the Corn Doll only slashing his coat.

The Sergeant and soldier, shrugging off their fear, attack de Freis and the Cult Leader leaving the way open for Zachariah to escort the girl to safety

With that, the Crow King sweeps angrily away. His followers devoid of leadership withdraw.

The forlorn cast. Will we see them again?

Quite a surprise there.

The Vampire and Succubus were not as deadly as I thought they would be. Threatening, yes. Deadly? Not this time.

The Corn Dolls perhaps took up too many plot points to move in the initial movements, but they were useful in pushing the band towards the tougher opponents of the Crow King, Vampire and de Freis with the Cult Leader.

Now the girl is safe what next for the band?

Shadowbrook

 

Episode: The Escape.

The band have to exit the enemy side of the table. At least get the girl off that edge

Expecting the roads to be watched the band decided to take the girl to safety through the woods. Not the Olde Woods by the crossroads rumoured to be used for coven meetings, but one the villagers use to forage for herbs, berries and mushrooms.

The band. Soldiers x 2, 38 points

Looks quiet and peaceful

An eclectic band

Crow King, Murder of Crows and Vampire

Anne de Freis and Cult Leader

5 Corn Dolls

Succubus and Murder of Crows

How were the evil band chosen?

I drew up a list of 14 characters excluding the Crow King and Anne de Freis who were the backbone of the group. One murder of Crows was free which is by the Crow King.

I used a D20 to randomise the picks up to 38 points which is the total of the good guys. The last choice, the Succubus i.e Slasher, bumped up the total to 45.

The locations for any character besides Crow King and de Freis were randomised using a D6, a 6 being besides one of the 2 main characters. Which  happened with the Cult Leader and Vampire.

The Corn Dolls total was diced for using a D6 and was 5.

Quite a formidable bunch I would say.

The script is written. Everyone knows their parts, hopefully.

Quiet on set!

Roll sound. Sound rolling.

Roll camera. Camera rolling.

Marker!

Set!

Action!

And now for something completely different....

 It's games Workshop time.

My youngest son bought the Aeldari Combat Patrol box about 14 months ago to play with a friend. That friend must be very patient as he hadn't even put most of them together.

 I said bring them over and I'll do them. Which I have.

He wanted them painted as Ulthwe, which is basically black. I can do that!

And to be different from my own figures I varnished them.

Here is how they turned out.

Shadowbrook

 part 3

It was early when Caleb, our leader, called out in his sleep in some alarm.

'Must go quickly to the Mill! 

'Save the girl, save the world!'

Without hesitation I, Eli Witworth, called our band together. I sent Joshua out to ascertain the whereabouts of the mill in the area. As he went we got dressed and prepared ourselves.

Sadly, Caleb couldn't go. The psychic vision had left him weak and in no shape to accompany us. (To make the casts equal. Would it be a mistake?).

When Joshua came back we gathered for a short prayer asking the Lord's protection and help in the coming hours. We made our way out forgoing breakfast so urgent was the need.

1 sergeant & 2 Soldiers

We hastened towards the mill. The directions Joshua had been given were the most direct and easily followed. As we neared we espied through the trees a clump of people dressed in yellow and a fellow dressed in black. Were these the ones coming to harm the girl?

3 Murder of Crows & 4 cultists

No!

Dastardly deeds! One of the foul servants of evil appears as if by magic by the girl!

and she hypnotises the girl to do her will

We hasten towards the windmill

Crows fly towards us as the cultists move to intercept.

I dominate the Cult leader and turn her onto her brethren

First casualty!

We move to block the escape and are attacked by the crows

They swirl around but neither they nor we can cause any hurt.

The Crow King 

The Crow King flourishes his Fevered Feathers at Joshua, the Sergeant, and he falls, stunned.

More attacks between the birds and soldiers and neither can gain an edge.

Zachariah dominates Yvonne de Freis and she attacks the Crow King causing one health damage

The rebound

de Freis shakes off the effect and attacks Zachariah putting him out!

Although they put Zachariah and Winthorpe out of action things are turning against the cultists, and when they have less than half of the force they started with the cast is axed. The credits roll and they are left bereft. 

The End

The evil minions nearly pulled it off. After the check for being axed the die roll showed the four remaining cast were all axed in one fell swoop.

The remnants with the girl they saved.

It was a fun game.

The quality of the good guys didn't match their rather poor performance in the game. The soldiers with bladed weapon and 1'' reach only managed to kill the crows after many attempts.

Disappointing too were the murder of crows although they were tough to beat because of their defence starting at 9.

The Crow Kings 'Fevered Feathers' is a very powerful weapon even though it only stuns.

It was a crushing victory 8-2. Each concentrating on the enemy neither picked up the objective tokens.

The only one which really counted was the girl (she was an objective). Yvonne de Freis got to her but dropped her when dominated. No one picked her up afterwards.

Shadowbrook

part 2

After some little while we came upon our destination. 

We saw how pleasant the place looked, much cleaner than many similar places.

People going about their business without apprehension despite the tidings of woe we had been foretold of.

We came upon the Blackstar Inn, our lodgings for the duration of our investigation.

A rather surly fellow stood at the door, hired to stop trouble no doubt.

We spoke and he said we were expected and welcomed us. His name is Brutus, well named I'm sure.

We took the three rooms at the front of the inn.

Our goods, such as they are, were taken to our rooms and we settled in the tavern for ale and food. We spoke of things in general and looked forward to a good nights sleep. Tomorrow the men will wander the town to see how things look while I will go to the preacher for his story.

Shadowbrook

 Caleb ''Come, Friends. We must be off to Shadowbrook. Evil signs and portents have have been reported by the church elders there''

Gideon ''I knew it was too good to last, Caleb. This past year has been the quietest for a generation. I hope I'm still up to it!''

Caleb ''Experience like ours helps us through the dark, Gideon. And who else is going to do the churches bidding in these parts?''

Gideon 'You don't have to be right all the time you know.''

The cart hired and loaded, with Abraham the driver to take care of it, the band set off for Shadowbrook to see what disturbs the peace of mind of the church elders there.

Joshua ''I don't know about you but this crossroads and woods feel a bit off.''

Noah ''Anyone else thinks we should dig around for evidence of Devil's pacts?''

Caleb 'We don't want to bring suspicion on us before we even start investigating though it might come soon enough''

(Event card drawn and nothing happened)

With that the Caleb led the them on.

Joshua ''And this bridge gives me the collywobbles too!''

They could all feel it. That off-putting feeling of something lurking in the dark tunnel of the bridge.

Uriel 'Lucky it is daylight then''. ''Let's be about it'' 

He slapped the driver on the shoulder and the cart jerked forward towards they knew not what.

The bridge is haunted. (Event card drawn but nothing happened.)

Uriel ''That went well, then''.

Gideon ''I have no doubt we will be back here to find out what darkness occurred here and what haunts this place''

And the band trooped on to Shadowbrook and its dark secrets.

A reminder of Shadowbrook and its environs

Witchin' Hour/A Touch of Evil

 I've done numerous buildings last year and this for the Witchin' hour/Touch of Evil game I'm cobbling together.

I'd like some more but storage is a problem.

Narrow house  and Market Hall

I have two narrow houses and one wide house plus 3 cottages. 

Blacksmith

The Black Star coach house/tavern

Pop in my dears!

The Manor House. Needs a lick of paint as I just finished building it on the 6th

The shops

I was thinking of having two or three streets on the table but I'm re-thinking it. Looking at a map of Stony Stratford (Buckinghamshire) it was mainly one street. The houses/businesses had long enclosed spaces behind, we might call them gardens if that suffices.

That would make it easier. and cheaper, to do.

I have some of the wattle fences from Renedra for separation of these gardens but will likely need more.

The manor house might be useful for the civic buildings like the court if characters find themselves going there for some reason.

Besides the buildings I've photocopied some of the cards to use in the game. Copied because I'm going to give the board game to one of my sons when I've seen how my patchwork game goes.

17thc map of Stony Stratford