Cestria by Gaslight

Cestria, 1880.  Inspector Rumpo of The North Durham Constabulary has taken command of the demoralised Chester le Street detachment.  He has been ordered to sort out this lawless town, victimised for years by the Likely Lads, an armed criminal gang.

Inspector Kenneth Rumpo
Sergeant Sidney James
Senior Constable Ronald Corbett
Constable James Dale
Constable Bernie Cribbins
Constable Chas Hawtrey, with Police dog "Flash."
Probationary Constable Les Phillips 

CID

Detective Inspector Theodore Ray
Detective Sergeant Ronald Barker

(Constable Philips is a wildcard.  He is dice controlled and will spend any game following a lady, usually any lady.  Ding dong!). Ted Ray had been intended for the part of the Sergeant in Carry on Constable but because of studio politics Sid James played the role instead.  The two Ronnies are added to my complement with a few other Carry on stalwarts making up the numbers.

The North Durham Likey Lads

The Likely Lads are yet another of those late Victorian criminal gangs.  Gateshead to the north has it's Pervy Blinkers, Sunderland has its Dirty Cats and Durham has the Tattsyrup Locals.

Gang leader Bad Bob Bewes is a local legend and the only thing he is afraid of is his wife, Thelma.

Bad Bob Bewes
Terry Bolam
Thirsty Gazza
Timmy Healy
Bobby the Rob
Big Ant
Wee Dec
Hardcase Cherl
Jimmy the Nail

Jimmy is a wildcard.  He is a drunk barred from the Fighting Cocks who constantly tries to get back inside, circling the building if he comes into play.  He will only join in with the gang 's activities if Hardcase Cherl is within 10 squares.

The Public
Miss Scarlett
Reverend Quincy Green
Dr Plum
Mrs White
Mrs Peacock
Corporal Mustard

Cestria Market Square

The Objectives

The Likely Lads objectives and whereabouts will be unknown to me at the start of the game, but as play progresses the Law will activate plot points for clues.  The Constables move on beats, around the town footpaths drawing "incidents" as they cross plot points. Police reinforcements and open movement only begin, if a whistle card is played. 

Gang members appear and draw a crime card.  If seen near the scene of the crime they become "suspicious," eliciting a Police reaction roll.

The game ends when the Likely Lads are in custody, or a last orders and time gentlemen please have been played in order.

Where was that then?  Plot point roll.

1. D6 of the gang seen drinking in the Joiners arms

2. A pair of the gang leave the Bridge Inn

3. A gang member seen in the Red Lion

4. A fight reported on Corporation street

5. Jimmy the Nail is back in the Fighting Cocks

6. Suspicious activity at the North Burn Yard

The "intended crime" cards

Lead from the church roof

Stealing a pub's takings

"Braying" a local dignitary

Stealing coal bags

Kicking Miss Scarlett's customer

Assaulting Mr Utterson, the solicitor

Police reaction cards

Just a minute!

Here, I want a word with you!

Get stuck in son.

I seen nuthin' Sarge

Take a bribe? Me?

Three x whistle cards.

Call in CID 

"Shots fired" armed response

Let me bloody at 'im

Last orders

Time gentlemen please (returned to the deck of Last orders is not in play)

The major plot point - (or the final insult!)

1. The Raspberry Blower of old Cestria town

2. Eddie Tattsyrup comes calling

3. Reverend Quincy Green, a latter day Dr Syn!

4. Solicitor Utterson's briefs

5. Mr Satterthwaite's cash box

6. Thelma Bewes appears and ushers her husband and his gang home.

The first game

Early evening in Cestria.

⁹

Constable Dale has words with Bob Bewes and his mate Terry 

Gazza and Healy leave the Red Lion, and are seen by PC Phillips, but he ignores them

Gazza fires a shotgun into the air.  A proper headbanger that boy.

Whistles blow.  The Inspector leads reinforcements into the Market Square

Sergeant Corbett fires a round at Gazza, who on that shock roll of one runs for it.

The plot point produces Miss Scarlett.  PC Phillips gives chase at a fast walk.

"Ding Dong"

Bob and Terry leave the Joiners arms, having drawn a "steal lead from the church roof" crime card,  but PC Cribbins has a cautious moment.

But disaster for Bob as his wife appears.  The Likely Lads run for it and peace breaks out.

So I need to sort out my cards, but a good little first run.  Rematch tomorrow.