Randi Ram campaign setup notes

Oh Captain Whitmore Sir,

           This is Rangit of the Ram, known to all Britishers as the Randi Ram, and if I may say well known to yourself sir.  I have once again paid the exceedingly good Mr Kipling to write down my words.  Since I was once honourably employed as your Houseboy sir, I feel that I can tell you that your brother Mr Quentin has returned to India.  The terrible business of Miss Parker and the bibles is all forgotten and once more he is the tall hero.

Madras Cavalry under Ram Dittin clear the docks

Except that he is not so tall and is still wearing the high camp boots.

The 2nd Madras has been rebuilt here in Fort George.  Our brave Britisher Officers are with us, from the Company of the East Indians.  

Colonel Reynolds, that indecisive man of the pink gins is our Master, with Captain Ashworth, he of the enormous Cricket bat trousers, as our Adjutant.

Your brother, Mr Quentin Whitemore is a new Lieutenant, with Mr Quilp and a drunken Irishman called the O'Finnigan.  Lt Miss Gloria is back among us, as well as my own Master the very baldy and brainy Lt Gunnar Grahame.  The swearing Scotchman Lt Macintosh and Lt Parkin are our last Officer Britishers.  The dice of Fate have not been kind to some of these proud gentlemen.  Our Jemhadar and the other NCOs are still as tough as ever.

We have raised only seven Companies from the remains of our catastrophic defeat by the Typhoo Sultan.  The Muster book records that I, the Randi Ram, remain a manservant to Mr Grahame.  This means that I must hold his enormous shooting stick, and arrange the lower caste servants I employ to actually do the work.  

Our enemies are still on the frontiers Captain Whitmore sir.  The Bhuna and his vile goat loving son the Little Bhuna still raid into Madras.  The Fekkar brothers of the unwashed clan steal and murder almost up to the gates of Fort George.  Our Great enemy however is the Typhoo Sultan.  The thought of those green turban guards, with their big choppers makes my loincloth shrink to the size of bootlaces.

Add to this the news that the Frenchmen have sent a pair of Ducks to India.  This is the Duck of Pommes-Frites and the Duck of Orange.  Frenchmen here!  Poor news for a man with a nervous bladder, such as the Randi Ram.

I must finish this letter.  Mr Lt Grahame requires me to massage his bald head again.  I must find a copper pot for his "essential oils."  Life has cruel turns I think.

Well has it been said, when an elephant is in trouble, even a frog will kick him.

Yours, 

The Randi Ram

Randi will soon be back in "Randi Ram and the Frenchie Ducks."

Randi and the planned 18 scenarios

Randi Ram

The planned 18 scenarios 

Randi and the Sacred Goat of Bhuna

Oh gentle reader, sitting in your Britisher coffee shop, let me take you back to the Raj, to the hero of the Ram, a man of humble and pretty useless beginnings.  Let me tell you the tale of the Randi Ram.

Randi and the Fort at Pornomalee

Where Mr Lt. Grahame takes his company to the outpost at Pornomalee to evict Tante Tooh and his Badmasher rebels.

Randi and the Return to Pornomalee

Randi and the Typhoo Sultan's Big Choppers

Randi and the Mad Fakir

Randi and the Sergeants three

the 2nd Madras had among their  establishment three Britisher Sergeants.  Sgt. Grant, Sgt. McLaglan and Junior Sergeant Fairbanks.  They were the doers of dirty jobs.  The boys sent out whilst the Officers drank pink gin.  It`s Randi Ram meets Gunda Din!

Randi and the defence of Nookie's Emporium 

Randi and the dirty Fekkars

Randi and the saucy mare

Randi and the Typhoo Sultan's Guard

Randi and the sacred goat

Randi and the Madras Mutiny

Randi and the Thuggee menace

Randi and the siege of Gwalihur

Randi and the Colonel's sacred cow

Randi and the battle of the pink gin

Randi and the undercover dobie-wallah

Randi and the curse of the bare Yogi

Randi and the Badass Village

Greetings Sahibs,
from Randi Ram,

Sepoy of the 2nd Madras regiment of the honourable East India Company.  Mr Kipling from Glorious England, journalist for the Queeg herself, has  agreed to write my story down.

I joined the regiment in 1784 at the youthful age of 15.  My real name was Ranji, but the Sergeant called me Randi after seeing me chase a  goat from the parade ground at Fort George one morning. It is a sahib joke I think.

My first real skirmish was under the sahib Ensign Beaumont, who we all
called Gloria.

ur section of ten were escorting a gun being taken into Bhuna, to a fort
the Glorious British had built.  The Dahl of Bhuna was much annoyed at this place and
as we approached a village just inside the madras borders we were traitorously attacked. 

Badmash villians attacked us.

Ensign Gloria

Forces Involved

The 2nd Madras are led by Ensign Gloria, of whom there are dire rumours.  He is said to wear a sari in his spare time and his irresolute nature translates to his men.  Still Gloria is a British Officer and a little madness always impresses the rankers of the 2nd Madras.  He is a Level 2 big man.  the Ensign commands a single section of ten men, but is supported by a Havildar, Haidar Sikh, Level 1 Big Man.

The gun crew are under a Lance Naik, Jaymin Gost, five men, a driver and four bullocks, with an additional bullock cart for ammunition.

The Native forces are commanded by the bandit chief Tante Tooh, an old enemy of the 2nd Madras. He is a follower of the "Sacred Goat," an odd cult local to the western border of Madras.  he is a level 2 Big man.  he is less than ably assisted by the Little Bhuna, son of a local ruler.  There is much competition from his fourteen brothers for this rank, and the 2nd madras have to this date killed four previous Little Bhunas.  He is a Level 1 Big man

After Turn 3 reinforcements may arrive in the form of The Bhuna of Dahl himself, from the road to the west leading ten native horse.

The Terrain

The tiny village of Badass has a walled tope on the approach road, and three buildings, two tiny and one larger.  The Badmashes may hide in any of these, or in the tope itself.  The village is in a valley and the Badmashes may choose to appear on a hilltop, but this is difficult going.   

The game ended with the Bhuna facing down the barrel of the cannon.  his horse were smashed by cannister.  Mr Gloria was wounded, and placed in a Dhoolie for transport back to ft George.  The Havidar saved the day.  He was later promoted to Jemadar. 

What a shot!

Scenario six: Randi and the Havildars Three.

Scenario Six: Randi and the Havildars Three.

The 2nd Madras Battalion have amongst  their establishment three particularly notorious Havildars, good friends, but a nightmare  for the discipline of the Colonel. Havildar Charu Granht, Havildar Victra Manucaglan and Junior Havildar Dilip Fairbanks (an Anglo Indian) These men were the doers of dirty jobs, the leaders sent out while Officers enjoyed pink gin in the mess.  It's Randi Ram meets Gunda Din!

Anglo Indian Briefing

The orders of Colonel Reynolds were never simple to understand.  His morning bottle of pink gin made sure of that.  "I say chaps what-ho Havildar chaps, we've gone and lost contact with the outpost at Tantrapur.  Off you jolly well toddle and take half of young Beaumont's company.  It will keep them fit whilst he's on sick.  Can't risk an Officer and all that, what, what?"

The mission is to march to Tantrapur with 30 men of Beaumont's Company, and discover why no messengers have been reporting from the outpost.  

Characters

Havildar Vikta Manucaglan is a huge and strong man.  A natural battle leader.  He wields a bayoneted musket in a deadly fashion, using double the normal dice.  He is level III.   If he survives this battle he will end his career as a Sgt-Major in the US Cavalry.

Havildar Vikta Manucaglan

Havildar Charu Granht, is a cad, a drinker and in a fight he is a slasher.

His men think him a very humorous fellow. If he survives this battle he will end his career as a Manhattan socialite. He is a Level II big man

Junior Havildar Dilip Fairbanks is thinking only of matrimony.  His wedding has been arranged by his family and this mission is delaying it.  He intends to leave the army and join the family tea business. Consequently he is only a Level I big man. In battle he is extremely athletic gaining an extra dice of movement.  If he survives the battle he will end his career as Sinbad the sailor.

Gunga Din, a bhisti water carrier is one of the servants accompanying the mission.

Randi Ram, a sepoy in the 2nd Madras is in the second platoon.  He is not a Big man, but has an extraordinary gift for survival. 

Native Briefing

The Guru of the Goat is the local Native leader.  Head of the sinister goat cult he rules from the Temple of the Golden Goat of Doom.  For years the people of Madras have heard rumours of the Temple, but it's exact location has never been discovered.

The Guru is a fanatical Level III leader.  

Pandu Lal is the Guru's right hand man.  He is a level II leader.  He commands two groups of twelve fanatical Ghazis, all drunk on fermented goat's milk.  These are dangerous opponents gaining double bonus dice on any first round of hand combat due to their ferocious drunken nature.  After that round they will half any dice as they lose their wind.  

Chota the lonely goatherd (there is a song about this guy) is another level II big man.  He commands two groups of eight jezail men.  These are local hillmen who serve the Temple. They now occupy the  hills to the south of the terrrain.  Chota the Goater is notorious for his evil laugh.

Umpires notes.

The Outpost in located in the hills west of Madras.  Once a stronghold of the notorious Goat cult it has been in the East India Company's hands for two years.  In that time the old outpost, a single tower, has been repaired but little else has been done.  The garrison is a Lance-Naik from the 2nd Madras and five Sepoys.

A track crosses the terrain east-west, but a second track leads of table to the hills just south of here. (A rope bridge can be seen crossing a gully up this track, but that is a game for another day.)

The ambushers are hiding inside the buildings or one the hills to the north.  The Guru must judge the propitious moment for his attack.  he has captured the outpost and set it on fire to deliberately draw in the British.  The captured Sepoys from the Outpost have been sent up to the Hidden temple, to suffer unspeakable tortures.

Whilst the Guru is alive his Badmashes followers will all benefit from the "Din, Din" rule.

If any of the Havildars are killed or wounded they will be unavailable for "Scenario Seven: Randi, the Havidars three and the Chasm of the Rope Bridge," the second of the three Havildar scenarios.

Game Cards

British	Mysoreans	General
Havildar Vikta Manucaglan	The Guru of the Goat a fanatical Level III leader.	Tiffin
Havildar Charu Granht	Pandu Lal level II	Blank Card
Junior Havildar Dilip Fairbanks	Chota the  goater level II	"Din, Din"
Two Grasp the Nettle II	Two Grasp the Chapatti I
One Grasp the Nettle 1                                                      Sharpe Practice	One Grasp the Chapatti II One Grasp the Chapatti III

Scenario Three: Randi and the Bhuna of Dahl

Scenario Three:

Randi and the Bhuna of Dahl

Greetings Sahibs from Randi Ram.  Once again Mr Kipling has agreed to write down my story, and I have to eat only a few of his most praiseworthy cakes.

I am sending you the tale as a most proper Englishman

"The fight against the Bhuna of Dahl had not been going well. Our Officer, Mr Gloria was shot in the Dhoolie, and now we had a bald and Brainy Officer called Mr Gunnar Grahame. When he was asked about the name "Gunnar" he gave a laugh and said that "some raw work was being done at the font these days." He seemed to think that I Randi Ram, of the Ram caste, would make a good soldier-servant. I could only agree, and am now promoted to be his manservant. He calls me Randi Jeeves, and laughs like a very large mule at this wit."

Anglo Indian Briefing

Orders from Colonel Reynolds:

"Now Listen here Grahame, none of that sarcasm mind you. Take your company up to Dahl and give that rotter the Bhuna a damn good spanking, what?"  The Colonel paused only to sip at his pink gin.  "Use your full company, and take young Sugden with you, little fellow needs some exercise, eh? What?"

Graham Commands his own 3rd Company, four platoons of ten men, as well as a 6pdr gun under Lance-Naik Gost (who does not count as a big man in this game.  He is probably polishing his trunnions.)

Characters

Lieutenant Gunnar Grahame commands the third Company of the 2nd Madras. he is by far the most intelligent of Reynold's Officers, bu suffers from sever bouts of sarcasm.  He is loved by the sepoys for his brains, and his shining bald head  He is a Level 3 big man.  He commands four platoons of ten men, and will assign them as needed to his subordinate big men.

Havildar, Haidar Sikh, Level 2 Big Man is a resolute man, of steely eye and lacking any sense of humour whatsoever.  He is a born soldier, a drill sergeant's drill sergeant.  

Ensign Lofty Sugden, is a small and rotund Officer, who is eats chapattis day and night.  The 2nd Madras call him "the cannonball" because of his spherical shape.  His tiny voice is really insufficient for command, and he is a level 1 big man

Native Briefing

The British are coming here.  Nookie Noor the information seller has sold you the news, a company of redcoats.  You have faced this sort of situation before.  They will send some earnest and brave young soldier, and after that an agent from the company will turn up for his bribe.   You have some of the Typhoo Sultan`s guards here in the palace, come to sound you out.  If you can inflict a defeat on the British you will gain political approval from the Sultan.

Native Characters

The Bhuna of Dahl is the local Nabob. He is immediately recognisable since he rides Buttercup, his favourite camel, and he dresses as the

Sudanese Mahdist Khalifa.  He has also taken to speaking in a nasal Kenneth Williams style.  The Bhuna is a Lvl III big man. The Bhuna Commands a force of two bands of native Cavalry.

The Bandit chief Tante Tooh, an old enemy of the 2nd Madras commands two mobs of badmashes. He is a follower of the "Sacred Goat," an odd cult local followed only in the lands of the Bhuna.  He is a level 2 Big man. 

The Little Bhuna, son of the local Nabob remains a massive idiot.    There is much competition from his eleven brothers for this rank, and the 2nd Madras have to this date killed six previous Little Bhunas.  He is a Level 1 Big man.  He controls a single mob of badmashes,  and even that is probably too much for him!

The Princess Jelli is the Bhuna`s daughter.  She hates the British and all they stand for.  She is within the City in the Palace, and if the city is captured will be taken as hostage for the Bhuna`s good behaviour.

There are only three groups of twelve Badmashes in the city. up the ambush, but with two big men it should be effective, even if one of them is the Little Bhuna.

The Terrain

The City of Dahl

Umpires notes.

The 2nd Madras will appear at point A on the road, marching towards the city.  

The native response has already been set, with the Bhuna able to launch a sally with his horsemen from a hidden gate at C, or from the rear gate of the city, entering the map at B.  

Badmashes may attempt to use the tope to ambush, or perhaps the ruins.  Alternately they can hide in the city itself. 

Game Cards

British	Mysoreans	General
Lieutenant Grahame   Lvl3	The Bhuna of Dahl Lvl 3	Tiffin
Havildar, Haidar Sikh  Lvl 2	The Little Bhuna Lvl1	Blank Card
Lance Naik, Jaymin Gost Lvl 1	Bandit chief Tante Tooh  Lvl 2	Random event card
Ensign Lofty Sugden Lvl 1	Two Grasp the Chapatti I	Sharp Practice
One Grasp the Nettle I Two Grasp the Nettle II Two Grasp the Nettle III	One Grasp the Chapatti II One Grasp the Chapatti III

From the Tale of Randi Ram

"Groups of Badmashes raced from the city and we could see that Tante Tooh, that vile chaser of the goat, was leading them. Mr Grahame was insensible, for he had believed this Tooh dead. With a shout of "I say... you goaty buggar!" Mr Grahame charged at him. (Mr Grahame has some ready wit) The Badmashes ran away, of course, and we marched into the city like true Britishmen."

"Here we found the Princess Jelli, with Brother Belcher her spiritual advisor. She informed us that the Bhuna, her father had fled to the Typhoo Sultan, and that he would be returning with regulars from the Typhoo guard. Mr Grahame said that the Typhoo would not strain himself, but that trouble was brewing, and that it was trouble with a capital Tea."

Scenario two: Randi and the Fort at Pornomalee

Scenario Two: Randi and the Fort at Pornomalee

Reinforced by two further platoons after the ambush at Badass Village Ensign "Gloria" Beaumont marched on towards the Fort at Pornomalee.  This size of force should merit a lieutenant, but the 2nd Madras is short on Britisher officers.   That is how "Gloria" got his job in the first place.

The Ensign halted his force before they entered the village.  Mr Gloria is a man who loves soldiering, especially drummer boys.  Scandalous rumour says he dresses in a sari when off duty.  The 2nd Madras lined up ready to receive a charge, but thought that their Officer must be sun touched. 

This was however another ambush.  Soon the cries of "Din, Din" could be heard, and the Sepoys saw the glint of sunlight on poorly improvised weapons. 

Tante Tooh, one of the Bhuna's own men had hidden in the tiny village beside the fort.  When he saw that the British would not be marching blindly into another ambush he came out in a furious charge, chasing a sacred goat (the Bhuna's men are a funny lot - especially when it comes to goats) This would give heart to his Badmashes and wallahs followers. 

A battle of lines was about to occur.  A game in which the disciplined fire of the 2nd Madras would surely prevail.

Anglo Indian Briefing

You have not been drawn into the trap within the village.  Unfortunately the place can now be seen to be crawling with the enemy, and they appear to want to come out and get you.  

The Havildar Haidar Sikh gives his advice, "shall we form our lines Sahib Beaumont?  The cannon too perhaps? We are badly outnumbered, and that looks like one angry goat!"

Characters

Ensign "Gloria" Beaumont has grown in confidence.  He remains a level II big man, but he will now use his Havildar and Naiks to help him command in the action.  Gloria has also discovered that he is a slasher in action.  He now commands three platoons of ten sepoys each, as well as the gun and bullock carts.

Havildar, Haidar Sikh, Level 2 Big Man is the real commander of the platoon.  He is a resolute man, of steely eye and lacking any sense of humour whatsoever.  He is a born soldier, the one that the Sepoys look to.  He is a man with a huge and impressive moustache, in a battalion where the size of one`s moustache is a matter of honour.

Haidar Sihk pictured beside a bullock cart on the advance from Fort George.

Lance Naik, Jaymin Gost still commands the gun crew of five sepoys, five drivers and four bullocks, with an additional bullock cart for ammunition.  He too has grown in confidence.   A level 1 Big man 'Jay' has a real talent for artillery duty.  He still spends a suspicious amount of time polishing 'Jamilla the Killer,' his 6pdr gun, and has taken to sleeping with her at night.

Randi Ram, a sepoy in the 2nd Madras, is in the second platoon. He is not a Big man, but has an extraordinary gift for survival.  Even if the platoon is wiped out Randi will somehow, comically, make his way home.

Native Briefing

The ambush has failed.  The British are forming into their lines outside the village.  They can see our men gathering to attack.  We must drive them back. Win back India for her own peoples, not these thieving interlopers.  

The emblem of the Bhuna is a sacred Goat.  The animal has been brought here from the hidden temple and will be chased into the British Line as a symbolic act that will give your men courage.  The Goat represents the victim, and you the avengers of the innocent.  It is a metaphor for cleansing India of the hated ferenghi.

"Din, Din!"

Native Characters

The Bhuna of Dahl is the local Nabob. He rides Buttercup, his favourite camel, and he dresses as the Sudanese Mahdist Khalifa.  He gives orders in a nasal Kenneth Williams voice.  The Bhuna is a Lvl III big man.  He fights for the freedom of india, and so that he can tell the Typhoo Sultan, his neighbour to the west that he has captured a Britisher cannon.   For this battle he controls two mobs of twelve badmashes.

The Bandit chief Tante Tooh  is an old enemy of the 2nd Madras.  Like his master, the Bhuna he is a follower of the "Sacred Goat," an odd cult local on the south-western border of Madras.  He is a level 2 Big man.  For this battle he has two mobs of twelve Badmashes.

The Little Bhuna, son of the local Nabob is a huge dissapointment to anyone who meets him.  There remains much competition from his thirteen brothers for the rank of Little Bhuna, and the 2nd Madras have to this date killed five previous Little Bhunas.  He is a Level 1 Big man commanding only a single group of Wallahs, but these are the jezail armed Dirty Fekkar Brothers, local bandits who are crack shots.  Like the Bhuna however they are distinctly cowardly  nature and run away if an enemy closes within 4 inches..

Terrain

Umpire Notes

The fort is set on a raised earth platform allowing it to dominate the area.  The Village is quite small, but has a Temple and a traders store, Nookie Noor`s Emporium."  Nookie keeps his valuable carpets on the roof so it is immediately identifiable on the map.  He employs two large ex wrestlers, Max and Paddy, as his bodyguards.  Nookie sells information and is a valuable contact.
The Amubshers may set up anywhere within the village or on the hill to the north.  

The Goat begins with Tante Tooh.  On the turn of the random event card the Sacred Goat will head for D6 inches in a random direction.  I use an arrow dice.  Capturing the goat for use as a regimental mascot for the 2nd Madras would earn Gloria his Lieutenancy.

The Hill to the north is rough going.

The Fort has only one gate, facing the road.  To win this game Gloria and the 2nd Madras must capture that fort. 

Game Cards

British	Mysoreans	General
Ensign "Gloria" Beaumont  Lvl 2	The Bhuna of Dahl Lvl 3	Tiffin
Havildar, Haidar Sikh  Lvl 2	Tante Tooh Bandit chief Lvl 2	Blank Card
Lance Naik, Jaymin Gost Lvl 1	The Little Bhuna Lvl1	Random event card
TwoGrasp the Nettle II	Two Grasp the Chapatti I
Sharp Practice	One Grasp the Chapatti II One Grasp the Chapatti III