Continuing continuing on.

It took some considerable time to contact the local garage and arrange for the car to be taken away. Whilst the adults waited in the farmhouse kitchen for a taxi they pondered what had happened. Why had the Lofts been abducted? By whom? Where had they been taken? The subject was talked round and round without answer until the young man,who had been walking his dog around the steading reappeared, in his hand was a scrap of paper. "Excuse me Colonel, but i think this might help" "Why should that possibly be of any use"replied Colonel Coleman. "Well sir,It has been raining heavily here abouts for a few days by the look of the puddles, but this is bone dry. and I believe the C in a heart,drawn in lipstick on the back indicates who dropped it" "You're right by jove, Well done young man" The Colonel took the piece of paper and scanned it eagerly, but it appeared to be nothing more than an old invoice, seeing nothing he passed it round. An invoice dated some months ago from Si Los' Oriental Trading Company,observed Greaves. At which the naval man raised his head " Wharf Street, Limehouse? a true den of iniquity" It was little enough to go on,but there was nothing else. Swiftly the Colonel made some phone calls, finishing just as the taxi arrived to take the party to the station. There they seperated, the Colonel and Greaves taking the fast train to London, the youth and his companions leaving by car.

The chase is on.

Continued from the previous post...

Utilising the Quick car chase rules from Modus Operandi (see here), with scenario specific additions....

---oXo---

(Moves 1-4 ) The kidnappers take the captured professor and his daughter to a car and van; the professor is put in the car and the daughter in the van..

Meanwhile (move 4) the Colonel and his party arrive in sight of the stones, apart from Greaves the butler, all are pretty puffed after the uphill scramble and it takes them 8 moves to get to the campsite and learn of the abduction.

Greaves is promptly sent back to the Manor to get a vehicle for the pursuit. His skills as regimental cross-country champion would be called on today, along with his skill as a getaway driver from his dim and shady past.

The Colonel and his party head to Houghton woods to await his return, while the youth and his companions return to their own vehicle to join them.

The Colonel paces restlessly waiting but it is another 8 moves before the vehicles arrive by the farm buildings...

He learns from Mellors that there were two grey vehicles of foreign make there earlier, so they at least know what they are searching for. They will be miles away.

It is not until move 22 that they reach the end of the track and are faced with the problem of which way to go, Right for London, Left for the North.

Muddy tracks indicate that Left is the correct choice and they are soon racing along the country lanes.

Meanwhile driving slowly along northwards, the kidnappers think they have made a safe getaway ....

Fortunately there is little or no traffic on the road and they are soon entering the village, but at the crossroads by The White Dragon the decision must be made which road to take.

Spotting Gypsy John, the Vagabond King, Greaves winds down the window and enquires if the foreign cars have been seen.

Learning which road is a relief to them, and learning that they are only 15 moves behind, spurs the party on.

 There is still little traffic on the road and Greaves has his foot flat to the floor, they must be gaining surely.

 They pass various side roads and through villages at dangerously high speeds, a series of sharp bends has them braking sharply, only the skill of the driver keeping them on the road.but just ahead at the top of a steep hill they spot their quarry.

Accelerating rapidly they are fortunate to spot a police car parked by the side of the road, before the police spot them, and drive sedately past before accelerating again, even the Colonel is gripping the edge of his seat. They must be miles behind.

Over the brow they can see their quarry, but in between is a queue of stationery traffic.

'Damned Roadworks!' screams the Colonel.

Impatiently they wait to move, it seems like hours, but finally the queue moves on.

Greaves in a series of manoeuvres that would not be out of place on a racetrack has them past the traffic and accelerating fast to catch the kidnappers.  Soon they are barely 10 car lengths behind, then 6, then 3....

The kidnappers realising that the cars racing up behind are chasing them, belatedly accelerate in an attempt to escape.

But ahead racing towards them is a police car, blue light flashing and bells ringing. Desperately the kidnappers' drivers swing right into a farm track, Greaves is close behind them.....

The criminals barely keep control of their vehicles. Greaves, still travelling at over 50 is not as lucky, brushing an overgrown hedge on the left he strikes a stone wall concealed within. The vehicle is brought to an abrupt halt, steam pouring from the radiator.

No one is seriously hurt, but all are deeply frustrated.

They've lost them!

The police?

Sail gaily past, ignoring them on route to a 'serious' incident.

---------------

Trouble in Tiddleton

Somewhere on Tiddlington Moor......

Professor Hugo Loft and his daughter Clara are exploring the Tiddlington stones, They have been joined by Lady Agatha and her guests from nearby Tidlington Hall, Professor Pewse and Doctor Black, O'Donnell, the gardener waits patiently.

T

Clara and Lady Agatha study the circle with its sacrificial central slab, whilst the others listen to Professor Lofts' theories about the stepped obelisk and its quartz skull.

 

They are not alone, from nearby Houghton woods seven men are watching.

Walter Malificent and his group have been employed by members of The 19 Crows Tong to abduct Professor Loft and take him to an address in Limehouse. If they cannot achieve this they are to kidnap the daughter who will be used to force the professor to assist them.

Others are abroad on the moor this April morning. Members of The Feral Hunt are intending to practise 

their Stick and Bucket Dance for the upcoming May Day celebrations.

As they approach, music playing they see others are already there.

Not losing step they discuss the matter, before dancing off to The White Dragon. A pint or two will no doubt help.

Their decision is reinforced by the sight of yet another group on the fringes of Houghton Woods.

Had they moved closer they would have seen the newcomers skulking towards the tents of the Archaeologists

Professor Loft and his party were equally unaware, engrossed in their conversations.

The dancers move off...... 

A fox, disturbed by the music moves away.

As the dancers make their way to the pub, the Malificent seven creep into position. Strict warnings of 'No firing' ring in their minds.

O'Donnel, not being a party to the discussions gazes round and spots the intruders.

'Hoi! What are you up to' he yells. Then has to defend himself as the attackers move in.

He goes down in a flurry of blows as does Professor Loft and Lady Agatha.

The others stand watching for a moment before turning and running.

They turn and rush to rescue their friends, Lady Agatha is back on her feet, handbag swinging, a danger to all about her.

A confused melee develops, people are knocked to the ground, but regain their feet and fight on, for a while it looks as if they will beat off the attackers, but laying on the ground with a rifle pointed in their faces soon convinces them to stay down.

Whats this? Is help at hand? The local beagle hunt is exercising nearby.

But no. Lady Agatha finally goes down attacked front and rear. Professor Pewse soon follows.

Resistance ends, Just as another group enters the scene. 

The Gods can only look on in amazement as, oblivious to what has just transpired the dancers move blithely away.

As they skirt the edge of the campsite they are unaware that inside, trussed and gagged lie the witnesses to the abduction of the Lofts, father and daughter.

Swiftly the villains escort the prisoners to their vehicles in nearby Houghton woods. Clara fighting every inch of the way.

Only a short while later, Mellors, ex gardener turned gamekeeper arrives on the scene, he has arranged to meet Colonel Coleman and his shooting party at the stones.

Glancing inside one of the tents, he sees Lady Agatha trussed like a christmas turkey. Swiftly he ducks outside and fires six spaced shots, The Alarm Call ; before untying Lady Agatha from her bonds.

The shots attract the attention of a young boy and his three adult companions who are walking a small white dog nearby. They join him in untying the captives and learning their story whilst they wait for the Colonel.  The naval captain being especially useful with some of the trickier knots.

Why had the Professor and his daughter been taken???

---oXo---

Notes on mechanisms:

The appearance or not and actions of all third parties was controlled by chance cards and dice.

Whilst there was a chance of an accidental shot by the attackers it was expected to be a matter of fisticuffs. A set of Scissors, Paper and Stone dice was used for the fight.

Cattle for Africa .....

 A small herd of cattle finished off (North Star figures)...

Cattle need somewhere to be kept, so made up a small enclosure - hibachi skewers and cocktail sticks stuck into some foam packing strips stuck onto a cardboard base...

completed enclosure, with a gate (with frame of wire)

painted up and in place next to a large settlement....

Jungle Man and ....

 Can't do without a Tarzan style set of figs for games in Africa  ... (from North Star)..

Tribal Chief ...

A chief and his entourage completed, look good with the new hut....

Chiefs Hut ....

A nice chiefs hut added to the scenics ...

this is the J G Miniatures large Zulu hut (code N11), a lovely model.  Perhaps a tad high as really for use with larger figures, but looks the part.