Spodilicious
  • News
    • Home
    • Contents
  • Rage Virus
    • Part 1 - A police story
    • Part 2 - Attrition
    • Part 3 - Going nowhere
    • Part 4 - Special Weapons and Tactics
    • Part 5 - Tactical retrograde
    • Part 6 - Mission accomplished
    • Part 7 - It's pretty much all downhill from here
    • Part 8 - Hollerton Field
    • Part 9 - Out of the frying-pan
    • Part 10 - How few remain
  • Five Men in Ukraine
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 30 October 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 05 November 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 14 November 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 29 November 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 13 December 1943
  • First Bishops' War
  • DBA
    • Mongols v Georgians
    • Timurids v Georgians
    • Mongols v Il-khanids
    • Mongols v Il-khanids II
    • Pre-feudal Scots v Anglo-Danish
    • Caledonians v Scots-Irish
    • Vikings v Saxons
    • Mongol campaign
    • Ming v Mongols campaign
    • Picts v Strathclyde Britons
    • Mongols v Russians
    • Russians v Swedes
    • Danes v Prussians
    • Kaykhusraw & the Mongols
    • Köse Dağ
    • Mongols in Korea
    • Mongols in Korea II
    • Yuan v Koreans
    • The Danes in Estonia
    • Danes v Estonians
    • Norwegians v Scots 1263
  • SF
    • Sladden >
      • Sladden - chapter 0
      • Sladden - chapter 1
      • Sladden - chapter 2
      • Sladden - interlude I
      • Sladden - chapter 3
      • Sladden - chapter 4
      • Sladden - chapter 5
      • Sladden - interlude II
      • Sladden - chapter 6
    • Dunhold >
      • Dunhold I - the raid
      • Dunhold II - the Guffinsson device
      • Dunhold III - a walk in the country
      • Dunhold IV - assassin's greed
      • Dunhold V - assault on precinct XIII
      • Dunhold VI - hostage & rescue
      • Dunhold VII - the gun
      • Dunhold VIII - tank shock
      • Dunhold IX - raid on Beteneb
      • Dunhold X - firebase Ragnhild
      • Dunhold XI - hit and run
      • Dunhold XII - just-in-time logistics
      • Dunhold XIII - infiltration
      • Dunhold XIV - Applewhite & Nettles
      • Dunhold XV - 'They've got a cave troll!'
      • Dunhold XVI - The bridges at Itrook
    • Dalek Invasion >
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 1
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 2
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 3
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 4
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 5: Bob's story
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 6: Bob's story (2)
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 7: Dalek hunters
      • Dalek invasion - cast
    • Voyage of the USS Minotaur
    • Mutants & Death Ray Guns >
      • From Dust: Introduction >
        • From Dust: Prologue
        • From Dust: Chapter 1 - the Trademaster
        • From Dust: Chapter 2 - the Wretched
        • From Dust: Chapter 3 - the Device
        • From Dust: Chapter 4 - Tucamari
      • Big Dode in the wastelands >
        • 1 - The ordeal
        • 2 - The rats
        • 3 - An ally
        • 4 - Scorpion!
        • 5 - Water! Water!
        • 6 - Cornered rats
        • 7 - The river
        • 8 - R-10-T
        • 9 - The pilgrims
        • 10 Hostile contacts
        • Appendix 1 - Bestiary
      • Don Chimpanzino
      • Therianthropes are go!
      • Against the Wretched >
        • Against the Wretched - 1
        • Against the Wretched - 2
        • Against the Wretched - 3
      • Rangers of the wasteland >
        • RotW scene I
        • RotW scene II
    • Five Parsecs from Home: The Independent Scout part 1
    • Five Parsecs from Home: The Independent Scout part 2
    • Five Parsecs from Home: Jot the Jawa
    • Five Parsecs from Home - Arcadian Phoenix
    • Schar's World
    • Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Goats, Rats and Pigs >
      • Chapter 1
    • Marines v Aliens
    • Fallout >
      • Fallout - part 1
      • Fallout - part 2
      • Fallout - Resistance part 1
      • Fallout - Resistance part 2
    • England Invaded! >
      • Ottoman airship raiders
      • A sharp action at Fawkham
      • On the road to Canterbury
    • Gangs of New Neasden >
      • Gangs of New Neasden part 2
    • Post-Brexit Gangs of Middlesborough
    • Operation Last Train
    • Silver Thorn
    • Goblin Civil War
  • Dark Ages skirmish
    • Dark Ages skirmish: Chapter 1
    • Dark Ages skirmish: Chapter 2
    • Dark Ages skirmish: Chapter 3
  • Douglas of the 92nd.
    • Douglas of the 92nd. - the supply column
    • Douglas of the 92nd. - the heliograph station
  • The First World War
    • Mesopotamia
    • Trench raiding
    • Panzer Angst September 15th 1916
    • Freikorps
    • Biplane Barmy
    • 1914
    • 1914 - Opening Moves
    • Night falls over Jutland
    • 1919
    • Zeppelin L33 over England
    • Journey's End
  • Horse & Musket
    • Meyvaci Ali and the British invasion
    • Meyvaci Ali and the troublesome dervish
    • Meyvaci Ali and the Albanian raiders
    • Meyvaci Ali and the caravan
    • Meyvaci Ali and the tax collector
    • Meyvaci Ali and the customs-house
    • Meyvaci Ali and the revolting Martolos
    • Meyvaci Ali and the Albanian menace
    • Napoleonic Ottomans
    • Late 17th century >
      • Kirk o Shotts
      • Covenanters at Pitlochry
      • Auchtermuchty
    • Jacobites
    • O Brien's Farm
    • Turks v Russians
    • Turks v Russians 2
    • The Peninsula
    • Altdorf April 23rd 1813
    • Alcuesta
    • The Old West
  • Samurai
    • Lord Sugiyama and the ten ronin
    • Neshikocho 1618
    • Ikko-ikki
  • One Hour Wargames
    • China 1937
    • 16th century Japan
  • Arty farty
    • Aberlemno
    • Acharn
    • Aikey Brae
    • Aquhorthies
    • Auld Bourtreebush
    • Balgorkar (Castle Fraser)
    • Barpa Langais
    • Barra Hill
    • Binghill
    • Brandsbutt stone
    • Broomend of Crichie
    • Clune
    • Croft Moraig
    • Cullerlie
    • Cuween Hill
    • Dunnideer
    • Clach an Tiompain / Eagle Stone
    • Cnoc Freiceadain
    • Eassie
    • Easter Aquhorthies
    • Glassel
    • Inveravon
    • Kilmartin Glen
    • Kintore stone
    • Kirkton of Bourtie
    • Lenabo
    • Leuchar Moss
    • Loanhead of Daviot
    • Loch Kinord
    • Machrie Moor
    • Maiden Stone
    • Meigle
    • Midmar Kirk
    • Migvie
    • Mulloch
    • Piobull Fhinn
    • Sunhoney
    • Tollohill
    • Tomnaverie
    • Auchindoun
    • Fedderate castle
    • Fowlsheugh
    • Slains castle
    • Bullers o Buchan
    • Camster
    • Coire Fraoichidh / Corrichie
    • Cruden Bay
    • Gourdon
    • Kinclaven
    • Loch Eich
    • Nairn beach
    • Newburgh
    • Perwinnes Moss (Scotstown Moor)
    • St. Fillans
    • Cairn o Mounth
    • Animals
    • Interesting rocks
    • And quiet flows the Dee
    • Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry
    • Strange skies
    • Covid-19 lockdown
    • One tree, one year
    • The trees
  • Fantasy
    • Song of Blades & Heroes >
      • A cautionary tale
      • Song of Arthur & Merlin
      • Succession
      • The short-lived adventures of Yark the kobold
      • Gondor v Orcs
      • Cormyr - introduction >
        • Cormyr - the watchtower
        • Cormyr - the ambush
        • Cormyr - the outpost
      • The adventures of Zou Kov >
        • The palace of Covidius I
        • The palace of Covidius II
        • The palace of Covidius III
        • The palace of Covidius IV
        • The howling
        • The beacon
        • The castle
        • Assassination
        • Run out of town
        • A new start
        • Kobold caves
      • The Dark Company
      • Alquin of Barrowdale
      • The Young Kingdoms
      • Zothique
      • Hyperborea
      • Vadagh
    • The Sword Coast
    • The Sword Coast - Zook Turen's story I
    • The Sword Coast - Theophylact the Tendentious I
    • Lord of the Rings >
      • Mahud & Haradrim v Gondor
      • Hobbits v goblins
      • Rohan v Dunlendings
      • Gondor v Haradrim & Mahud
      • Gondor v Dunlendings
      • Faramir at Osgiliath
    • Five Leagues from the Borderlands
  • Second World War
    • Atlantic Convoy SC41
    • Burma 1943
    • Martelange
    • Dzyatlava
    • Monopoly Blitz
    • Ten minutes on a Burmese afternoon
    • Neil Thomas
    • Manchuria
    • D-Day
    • Bolt Action >
      • Encounter at Villages Pas Vrai
      • Manhunt
      • The secret agent
      • Envelopment
  • Irish independence
  • Who thought this was a good idea?
  • Modern
    • Afghanistan 2009
    • AK47 Republic
  • Terrain
    • Terrain showcase
  • Back catalogue
    • Aberdeen Beyond 2000
    • MDRG four-way scrap
    • Published articles
  • Le salon des spods
    • Semi-random scenario generation
  • Extended universe
    • Spodlight
    • Spodcast
    • There Will Be Spods
    • Spodify
  • All Under One Banner
    • All Under One Banner 03 June 2017
    • All Under One Banner 05 May 2018
    • All Under One Banner 04 May 2019
    • All Under One Banner 17 August 2019
    • All Under One Banner 07 October 2019
    • All Under One Banner 11 January 2020
    • All Under One Banner 02 April 2022
  • Scrapbook
  • Fear & Faith
  • Gaslands
Picture

For several hours Big Dode and Hastrog rested, drinking all they could and filling both Dode's flasks.  Towards evening, as they began to think of where to spend the night, Hastrog suddenly sat up and held up a finger for attention.  He turned his head this way and that, his ears standing up.  At length he pointed, and cupped his ear, indicating for Dode to listen carefully.  Carried on the wind Dode could hear a rhythmic popping sound which after a moment resolved itself into gunfire.  Hastrog got to his feet and limped in the direction of the firing, after a time stopping and looking impatiently at Dode who was very slowly stowing his equipment in his various bags.

The two climbed a rocky hill and once at the summit the gunfore sounded very close.  Below they could see a building of some sort with twists of smoke rising from it, and nearby a group of dune-bugs crouching in a clump of large rocks.  Between Dode and the building were several patches of spine-bush.   Without hesitation Hastog set off down the hill making for the cover of the bushes and Dode hesitantly followed.

Dode and Hastrog crept through a thicket to get a good look at was happening.  Dode could now see that two rat-like creatures with extremely long muskets were sniping at the dune-bugs in the rocks with the apparent intention of discouraging them from attacking.  As Dode watched there was an outburst of loud chittering from the bugs and they dashed from cover towards the building.  Hastrog drew out his axe and clicked some switches and levers on his gun.  With a heavy heart Dode spanned and loaded his crossbow and loosened his sword in its sheath.



Rat musketeers
Quality 4+ Combat 3
Musket (=Crossbow), Humanoid, Strong Constitution
Points 38 x 2

Big Dode

Quality 3+ Combat 2
Crossbow, Opportunistic 
Points 34

Hastrog
Quality 4+ Combat 3
Humanoid, Laser Gun, Slow
Points 33
(He is usually Quality 4+ Combat 3 Points 41 Humanoid, Laser Gun)

Dune bugs
Quality 3+
Combat 3
Super-leap
Heavy armour
​64 points x 3



The two musketeers keep up a steady fire on the bugs.
Big Dode and Hastrog creep through the undergrowth to see what is happening.
The dune bugs prepare to rush the musketeers.
One bug is hit twice but the balls ricochet off its armoured head and carapace.
Hastrog urges Dode to intervene.
The bugs spring to the attack through a cloud of powder smoke.
One is beaten back . . .
. . . but another fells one of the musketeers.
Against the odds the remaining musketeer knocks a bug to the ground.
In the nick of time Big Dode joins the melee . . .
. . . backstabbing one bug through a joint in its carapace. At the same time another springs on Hastrog who swats it to the ground and kills it.
The remaining bug escapes into the rocks.

Dode was quite pleased with himself.  His propensity for opportunistic backstabbing had once again been very useful and he though he had done nearly as well as Hastrog who had very skillfully knocked a leaping bug to the ground and finished it as it lay stunned.  Dode and Hastrog looked at the surviving musketeer, expecting a show of gratitude, but the rat held his open hand out in an unmistakable "don't move" sign and chirped at Dode and Hastrog.  The rat then went to his fallen comrade and examined them.  There was a prolonged stream of relieved-sounding chirping and Dode could see the other rat moving feebly.  Dode plucked up his courage and approached the two rats, holding out his water flask and showing a rather forced smile.  The standing rat rounded on him, baring long teeth and screeching, but with an effort controlled himself and took the flask with a nod. 

As the sun began to go down Dode and Hastrog were still standing patiently by as the fallen rat was finally able to stand with the assistance of the other.  Hastrog gave what Dode thought was intended as a polite cough but sounded more like a cross between a burp and a grunt.  Getting the attention of the rats Hastrog pointed to the sun, now dropping below the hills to the west, to the building, made a clasped-hands-to-head gesture for sleeping, and shrugged.  Dode was again impressed by Hastrog's mime skills.  The uninjured rat looked at them for a moment, then at the other rat, then looked around the area as if for somewhere else for them to stay.  After another long moment the rat nodded and made a sweeping gesture towards the door.  

The building was of ancient construction and had clearly been long disused, with a thick layer of sand on the floor and only a pile of backpacks and blankets, presumably belonging to the rats, inside.  Once his eyes adjusted to the dark Dode saw the two rats huddled in one corner, one with his musket to hand, and Hastrog standing in another.  Dode picked another corner, closer to the door than he would have liked, and took off his various bags and pouches.  Hastrog again tried to communicate. This time he pointed to the other three and mimed sleep, then to himself and to his gun, now on the floor by his feet.  Then he pointed to the rats, to himself, and mimed sleep, and to Dode.  The uninjured rat caught the meaning and pointed to Hastog and Dode, made the sleep sign, and then to himself and patted his musket.   Sentry-go for overnight having apparently been organised, Dode settled down to sleep.  He slept only fitfully, waking often to find the rat either watching him or watching the other rat sleep, until Hastrog woke him for his turn.  An uneventful few hours passed until he judged it was time to wake the rat for his turn.  When Dode went back inside the rat was awake and watching and reluctantly got to his feet, cheeping softly to the other rat and pointedly laying a musket by its hand. 


http://www.spodilicious.com/1---the-ordeal.html
http://www.spodilicious.com/2---the-rats.html
http://www.spodilicious.com/3---an-ally.html
http://www.spodilicious.com/4---scorpion.html

http://www.spodilicious.com/5---water-water.html
http://www.spodilicious.com/6---cornered-rats.html
http://www.spodilicious.com/7---the-river.html

http://www.spodilicious.com/8---r-10-t.html
http://www.spodilicious.com/9---the-pilgrims.html

http://www.spodilicious.com/appendix-1---bestiary.html​



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