The Rajputs, Return to the Howzat Pass

The Rajputs, Blood and Steel Mini Campaign, Return to the Howzat Pass

Game One, Ambush at the Karakar

The Garrison of the northernmost fort in the Fwaart Valley at Shitral has sent word that it is under siege by revolting locals.  Captain Seymour Butts and 100 men of the Guides will only be able to hold out for a limited time. (an edna roll on a d10)  Gentlemen we have a maximum of ten days!

In a fit of sterling Victorian Imperialism the General has directed the 11th Rajputs from their base at Jawar up the Howzat pass to relieve the fort.

What could go wrong?

Based loosely on the Chitral expedition fought solo against a programmed Pathan force.

Unit draw cards for the Pathans.

Plotted map forces for the Imperials.

11th Rajputs

4 Companies of 12 Infantry.
1 attached Mountain gun from Prince Albert's Own Bengal Artillery, on mules. 
Attached pioneers & cart.

Major Willie Stroker, SM. VD

Drunkard - Brave

Capt Myles S. Long (Miles Schlong to the ladies)

Wobbly kneed - Short sighted

Lt Drew Peacock, BBQ. Guides Platoon

Tactician - Brutal

2nd Lt Hugh Jeers PDQ, 

Nom de Guerre - Lucky

2nd Lieutenant "Spotty" Herbert Farthingdale, CBA, (dogsbody)

Unlucky - Bullet proof bumbler

Artillery Attached

Prince Albert's Own Bengal Artillery, Mountain Gun

2nd Lt Barkinge-Madly FA, Certified.

Big bore advocate - steady

Subedar Major A (Andy) D Pandi 

Peacock - Steady

Havildar Major Vikram McSingh

Feared - Ugly

Havildar Charu Graunt

The favoured nephew - lucky

Havildar Dilip Fairbanks Jr

Inspirational - Swordsman

Each platoon has a Naik and 12 figures

Subedar "Blood Letter" Pant, Battalion Surgeon 

Feared - Ugly

Commisary Officer 2nd Lt Cosmo Smallpiece

Unlucky - idiot

Commisary Havildar Rangit Ram

(Randi was cursed by the Mad Fakir to serve the British until the Raj comes to an end.  He is either an immortal existence, or a massive liar.)

Mule train.

The Rajputs battle cry is " Bajrang Bali ki Jai"  a prayer to Hanuman, the Monkey God, to move a mountain... ie perform a heavy task.  

Pathans

The Howzaat Pathanis are ruled by the enigmatic Afzul Fatti Khan, Lord of the Fly Swaat.

One tribal grouping is lead by the Notorious Fekkar brothers, the "unwashed" universally known as the dirty Mo Fekkars, infamous snipers.

Shah Ali Bongo Wasir of Dir, notorious side swapper.

Raja Khan, Tiger of Jandrai, famous Warrior.

Mahomed Rafi, Mullah of Dripsh

2 x 10 Tribal Pathans with sword

2 x Pathan Irreg Inf with breachloaders

8 Snipers and skirmishers with Jezail muzzleloaders 
1 Mountain gun 3 crew.
1 x 8 The Holy Man and his followers.

Scenarios

Ambush

Patrol

Forage

Defend

Vanguard

Raid

Tactical situation
A Just passing by
B Seek and Destroy
C To the last bullet
D Get off my land
E Run to the hills
F Take the High road
G It's awfully quiet out there
H A sigh of relief

The promotion system Rebels and Patriots is the basis for a campaign.  The Company starts with a 2nd Lieutenant in charge.  New Officers have d20 honour, a zero Tactical value and begin with one Trait.  Earning honour points allows an officer to climb the ranks in recognition of his deeds of glory.

Honour - Rank Table

0         -  sent home in disgrace or offered the "Gentleman's way out."

1-20    -  Second Lieutenant - 1 trait 0 tactical value

21-30  -  Lieutenant  -  +1 Trait  +1 tactical value

31-45  -  Captain  -  +1 Trait  +1 tactical value

46-60  -  Major  -  +1 Trait  +1 tactical value

61+     -  Transferred to command a battalion as Colonel.

1st Game, Ambush in the Karakar Pass

200 supply crates/sacks with the main column

Day one!  The advance party is ambushed, less than ten miles from base.

2 force cards drawn.

2 Scenario cards drawn, Ambush vs Patrol

Pathan Scenario

AMBUSH (1)

YOUR FORCE SEEKS TO DESTROY THE ENEMY AND DENY ACCESS TO THIS AREA.

OBJECTIVES: The 3 objective markers are not important to your mission, but may or may not be important to your opponent.

Your opponent gains an Attrition Point for each of their first 2 units to be completely eliminated.

DEPLOYMENT: Units enter the table on turn 1, using an Advance

or Run to Ground action, from any point along your baseline.  One unit can start the game within or against terrain and no more than 16” away from your table edge. Place this unit, as its first action, 

on your last activation of the first turn. Hidden Setup is allowed for units with that trait.

RESTRICTIONS: A unit cannot enter the battlefield within 8” of an enemy

Rajput Scenario

PATROL (2)

YOUR FORCE SEARCHES FOR THE ENEMY IN THIS AREA

OBJECTIVES: The 3 objective markers are not important to your mission but may or may not be important to your opponent.

Your opponent gains an Attrition Point for each of their first 2 units to be completely eliminated.

DEPLOYMENT: Units are placed on the table, within the marked deployment area (12” from your baseline), as their first action of turn 1. 

RESTRICTIONS: No Hidden Setup

The Game:

The Pass

The solo mechanism for the Pathan, Ambush points 1 -6

Force cards drawn

The Pathans occupy a Sangar line

A strong position but a little isolated

And some good shooting with those Jezails

The Rajputs rifle fire is heavier and alarmingly more accurate 

The Amir and his lads turn up.  Swarms of them!

Yet more Pathan appear,  

But the Rajputs have cleared the Sangars at bayonet point.  Great dice!

And the Pathan rifle fire is disgraceful.

The Indian Army Mountain gun flattens the Pathan artillery piece,  

From the captured Sangars the Rajputs put serious rifle fire onto the enemy.

Another Pathan unit breaks.  The Amir starts to panic.

A last bayonet charge clears the pass.

Amir Fatti calls the retreat.  If he can weaken the Rajputs on the road to the fort he may just be able to win this.

Game 2

The advance to the Pakora River.