Bluebeard Scenario 4. The Hanging of Captain Moreau

Bluebeard Scenario 4.  The Hanging of Captain Moreau

• Public execution and a rescue attempt.
• Moreau claims he was Bluebeard—or knew him..

Nassau, Bahamas – 1715

Background

Captain  Jacques Moreau was captured in game two.  Justice works swiftly and he faces public execution in Nassau. 

The Governor has declared that he will hang at noon as an example to every rogue in the Caribbean.

Rumours spread through Nassau:

"Moreau sailed with Bluebeard."

Others insist:

"He was Bluebeard."

Others whisper:

"Bluebeard never existed... it was several captains using the same name."

Only Moreau knows the truth.

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The Forces

Government

• Marines
• Militia
• Sheriff
• Governor
• Executioner

Their objective: Hang Moreau before he escapes.

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Raiders

A mixture of:

• Moreau's former crew lead by his girlfriend 
• Unknown masked pirates
• Mercenaries hired by a mysterious patron

Their objective: Free Moreau—or silence him forever.

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Special Rules

The Crowd

Every turn place D6 civilian markers.

Units cannot fire through civilians without risking panic.

If civilians are hit:

• Crowd scatters
• Visibility changes
• Units may become separated

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The Noose

Beginning Turn 4 the execution starts.

Each turn:

1. Priest finishes prayer.
2. Final confession.
3. Hood placed.
4. Rope tightened.
5. Trap opens.

If Moreau survives to Step Five...

...he dies.

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Moreau's Port Royal card

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Campaign Rewards

If Moreau survives:

• Gain The Captain's Testimony clue.
• Learn the location of the next scenario.

If he dies:

The Militia Officer finds a scrap of paper sewn inside his coat.

On it is written only:

"Dead Men Tell No Tales. The Bell Tolls at Devil's Reef."

That clue leads naturally into Scenario 5.

I particularly like making Moreau a genuinely charismatic rogue. As he's led to the gallows he laughs at the crowd and calls out:

"You've all come to watch the wrong pirate die!"

Government Forces

Lieutenant Blessington

Officer: Veteran Royal Marine

• Excellent Leadership
• Steady Under Fire
• May reroll one failed Morale test for Marines each turn.

Commands

• 6 Royal Marines (muskets & bayonets)

Role: Hold the gallows and maintain discipline.

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Lt Fairweather RN

Officer: Royal Navy Sailing Master

• Reliable
• Inspires Sailors
• Skilled with pistol and cutlass

Accompanied by:

Surgeon Crane

• Loyal
• Tough fighter
• Adds +1 in boarding or melee actions involving sailors.

Commands

• 4 Royal Navy Sailors

Role: Flexible reserve. They reinforce weak points, pursue escaping pirates, or escort Captain Moreau.

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Militia Group A

• 8 Colonial Militia
• Muskets
• Green troops

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Militia Group B

• 6 Colonial Militia
• Muskets
• Green troops

Role: Guard streets, escort civilians, and provide supporting fire.

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Civilians

Treat the crowd as several groups of unarmed civilians.

Suggested special rules:

• Civilians block line of sight.
• Panic if fired upon.
• When panicked, they move randomly each turn, potentially blocking movement or exposing hidden troops.

This makes the square feel alive and unpredictable.

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Pirate Forces

Mad" Nell Rackham – The Widow of the Wind

Officer Type: Pirate Captain (Cunning)

Traits

Master of deception.

Once per game may redeploy one pirate group before it activates.

Nearby pirate units may ignore one failed Morale test.

Preferred Troops:

Sailors

Militia

Buccaneers

Weapon:

Brace of pistols

Fine cutlass

"Pirate Group 1

• 4 Pirates
• Cutlasses & pistols

Role: Assault the gallows.

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Pirate Group 2

• 4 Pirates
• Cutlasses & pistols

Role: Support the main attack or rescue Captain Moreau.

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Pirate Group 3

• 4 Pirates
• Muskets

Role: Rooftop marksmen or covering fire.

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Pirate Group 4

• 4 Pirates
• Muskets

Role: Ambush from alleyways and suppress the Marines.

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Victory Conditions

Government Victory

• Captain Moreau is hanged or remains securely in custody when the game ends.

Pirate Victory

• Captain Moreau escapes via one of the table edges.

Major Pirate Victory

• Moreau escapes and Lieutenant Blessington is killed or captured.

Major Government Victory

• Moreau is executed and Mad Nell Rackham is killed or captured.

A sunny day in Nassau.  Bressington and the Marines march the prisoner from the Gaol.

The Militia parade under "Major" Elias Crawley.  He appointed himself and gave himself that rank.  He has 14 men in three groups.

The Sergeant at Arms leads Captain Moreau to the gallows.  It's turn one so the prayers start.

Four pirate groups dice to come on table, 8" from the baseline

And the poor Militia gets 4 hits, 4 killed.  It also fails it's resolved by 4 dice.  
The buccaneers guns are mighty!

Mad Nell Leads a Charge into the Militia Major's group.  She kills two.

And Eager Lt Bressington gets in on the action, charging the musket armed pirates to zero effect.

And like the idiot getting is he pushes a second attack, earning a Fatigue, but inflicting only a fatigue.

Seeing trouble brewing the Governor calls for his carriage.

The Buccaneers kill another two militia and break them.

The Marines batter at the cutlass armed pirates.

Mad Nell hammers at the Militia Officer. Some deadly fighting going on. The Militia break.

An event, it's a 7 a free action for Nell, 

The Molitia rout and Nell races to the scaffold in a move.

The goven9r and the routed Militia "Major" leave in the coach.

The Navy shoot it out with another Buccaneer group.

Two strike points
The Major having fled I roll for Alfred Fairweathers resolve, and 8 is a fair pass.

According to schedul the rope was about to be tightened on turn four for our condemned man.  Luckily Mad Nell rescues him.

Turn 5 Nell and her pirates rush 8" clear.

Its a win for pira y everywhere.  I must admit that was a surprise to me.