Loosely based on the Siege of Casale and the War of the Mantuan Sucession "the Flashing Blade" is quite an odd TV show for a childrens Tv Saturday morning serial. For one thing there is a lot of focus on the Papal Envoy, who will become Cardinal Mazaran, and the peace talks. Our hero, the Bladé, runs around the countryside bumping into the locals, one step ahead of the Spanish.
My map resembles a Pacman grid, with towns and encounter points the Bladé must pass through. Two groups of Spanish pursue him around the map, but he can get into trouble simply meeting civilians on the road- witness his swordfight after he called Cyrano de Depardieu "big nose."
The basic premise of the Bladé's mission is to get to the peace talks and bring back assistance to General Déspair and the beleaguered French garrison of Casale.
The game is up to Episode 9. The Bladé has discovered the location of the Peace talks, and is heading there. In the TV show the final episode has our hero lead the Kings Musketeers to the rescue, and a climactic battle with the Spanish trying to block his way.
I've extended my original idea to use the En Garde! rules and enlarged the games to accommodate Pikeman's Lament.
Character List
The Chevalier "Flasque" de Bladé, and his faithful manservant Lurkio.
The Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Poncé
Brother Quentin, the Confessor (admits to everything).
Geno, Compte de Campo
Isabella The Marquisa Campo, his daughter
Captain Quim, Spanish Captain with goatee beard
The Scarecrow, aka Friar Syn, notorious overacting Rabble Rouser
Father Baskerville, The Crime Fighting Monk.
General Ignorancé of Turin
General Déspair of Mantua
Das Gross Baron de Weiner
Milady de Weiner, Spy
Tarquin, La Compte de Monte Pubis
Captain Diego Vigo Alatriste, in the Army of His Most Catholic Majesty of Spain.
Rupprecht di Orso, Captain of the Duke of Savoy's Guards
Colonel of the 1st Turin Musketeers
Alberto Bertorelli, Captain of the Papal Nuncio 's Swiss Guard Pikemen
On meeting a civilian the Blade rolls 2d6, with scores towards 12 being favourable, and scores towards 2 probably resulting in a fight.
Episode 9, the Flashing Blade and the Mercenaries
The Bladé has learned that the top secret peace conference in the presence of the Papal Noncio, Cardinal Poncé, is to be held at the ancient Monastery of St Ignacious of the Fallen Nuns. Having reached the Duchy of Milan he has joined up with a gaily clad company of mercenaries in the pay of the Geno, Compté di Campo, serving in their Forlorn Hope, a unit of Adventurous French Gentlemen.
Outside the city of Valenza the Company encounter yet more Spaniards, this time it's the magnificent goatee of Capitán Quim, with his Tercio. Can the Bladé be defeated by the goatee of Quim? Will General Ignorancé send reinforcements from the city to assist his Spanish allies?
Worse still, Diego Vigo Alatriste is still on the track of the Bladé and may intervene with his usual devastating effectiveness.
The Company of Di Campo
1 Mounted Gallopers
1 Mounted Pistoleers
1 Forlorn Hope of French Gentlemen
2 groups of Shot
1 group of Pikemen
1 Regimental Gonne.
The Tercio of Capitán Quim
2 groups of Mounted Gallopers
1 Forlorn Hope of Spanish Swordsmen
1 group of Shot
2 groups of Pikemen
1 Regimental Gonne.
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