Retribution City

The Battle

Retribution City is one of those unfortunate towns cursed to be ‘tween tracks." Isolated between rail lines feeding the growing cities "westward" it survives as best it can. There are few reasons to be in these towns and are mostly a place on the way somewhere else. Those who end up staying there are often the flotsam and jetsum shrugged off by "civilized" towns, boom towns on a main line. Despite this fact Retribution City somehow survives and flourishes.

This Twisted Tale is designed as a sidebar distraction from the rigors of an ongoing campaign. It’s designed to introduce new players and includes factions not currently featured in Rail Wars. Should players wish to incorporate this scenario into an ongoing campaign they can use conventional factions, modifying the scenario briefings as required.

The Setup

Setup your table similar to the illustration shown. The most important terrain pieces are the Jail, the meteor and the mine shack. Position the Jail on the opposite side of town from the Tong Gang entry side. The rest of the buildings can be whatever you have on hand. A water tower would be nice. The meteor can be easily made from a ping pong ball, cut it in half, placed in a mash of paper mache to create a crater. The mesas can be quickly and easily constructed with some cardboard, a sharp craft knife and a glue gun. All the buildings should be of wood construction, none of which should be able to sustain more than 25-50 points of damage from explosives depending on the size.

Troops

Consult the appropriate briefings for a description of each player’s motives and background. Suggestions for troop point strength and compositon are given in the briefing as well.

Deployment

The entry points for this battle are fixed. The Apache begin in the foothills of the mesa (A). The Wasatch enter in the northeast corner (C). The Imperial Mexican Army begins from the Southwest (D). TheTexas Ranger and deputies can be setup anywhere in the town. (F). The Chinese railworkers enter on the southeast corner of the board (E). The Walkin' Dead Deploy due east of town (B).

Bonus

Troops receive a bonus of 50 bounty points for accomplishing their missions. These points are dispensed at the end of the scenario and are used to determine the winners, between pairs and placement of all the players. There should be, when the event is over, 3 winners and 3 losers. Alliances are possible but will waste valuable time.

Some players will be defending while others will be attacking them. Attackers will always get more troops since they will be attacking and typically on the move through open terrain.

No bounty points are awarded to players which attack and kill troops that are not their designated opposition. This may and will happen since most Rail Wars players are dirty bloodthirsty rats that can’t resist an easy shot.

Briefings

Troops should consult their appropriate briefings for suggested troop composition, motives, goals and points.

Apache: - 1, Bayou Vermillion: -7, Wasatch:- 2, Mexican Army: - 3, Texas Ranger: – 4, Iron Dragon: - 5

Briefing 1

The Apache are still found wandering near Retribution City as they stubbornly keep to their ritual ways. They continue to follow the hunting trails of their long dead ancestors.

Chief Foul Wind is clever in keeping his tribe beyond suspicion. He has a special talent, an uncanny ability to cover the tracks of his occasional raids as he liberates the white man of his livestock, women, and other chattels. His son Squeaking Hinge has been urging his father relentlessly to be more aggressive and finally decided to make an excursion of his own.

Sqeeking Hinge has his eye on stealing some Ghost Rock from those stinking Wakin’Dead. Apparently they’ve have been animated by Baron Simone LaCroix. How the Baron taught them to be miners was a clever trick and he knew he’d never understand. Sure, they were slow and stupid, but they were also tireless, working day and night. Besides, the inky darkness of those deep, dank passages appealed to them as well. They had been at it now for months now and they must have mined enough Ghost Rock to make a bit of thievery very profitable. Being familiar with the powers of the Manitu, there were ways of dealing with these creatures just as with any other creature. The venture he was up to now would surely lead to trouble; for the Tribe, Retribution City, the Baron or perhaps all three.

Apache Warparty (240 points)

Squeeking Hinge (Hero): Per "Rail Wars" - Sioux Shaman stats. (45 points)

3 Posse of Apache Braves: Per "Rail Wars" - Sioux Scouts stats. (3 @ 65 points)

Briefing 2

Dr. Hellstromme had been suffering some serious setbacks in deploying his Automatons. He was convinced he needed a stronger, lighter alloy to make his creations a more formidable weapon. Observing the routine arrival of the Ecclesiates meteor shower the Dr. noticed a meteor fall to earth off in the direction of Retribution City. The next day he dispatched an enthusiastic if somewhat inept associate known as "The Perfesser" to the scene. Having sent all his resources into the field on other missions Dr. Hellstromme decided the best he could do was to send a contingent of Automatons to assist "The Perfesser."

Slowly he pivoted his great brass telescope as he scanned the horizon until he caught light glinting off the steel skin of his Automatons off in the distance. They passed out of view as they slowly ambled between mesas in the direction of Retribution City.

Dr. Hellstromme’s Expedition (190 points)

"The Perfesser" (Hero): Per "Rail Wars" - Mad Scientist stats. (40 points)

Automatons: Per "Rail Wars" - Automaton stats. (5 @ 30 points)

Briefing 3

Captain Juan Diego Suerta Jose Miguel Rodriguez, otherwise known to his enemies as El Guapo, was determined to correct an injustice in the topographical map that placed Retribution City on the ‘other side of the border." The Captain had been relentless in his schemes to change this unfortunate accident, no matter what the cost. With governments locked in endless debate and bureaucracy the Captain Rodriguez advocated a more direct approach. Through an indiscretion with one of the Captain’s more resourceful and well endowed agents "El Guapo" discovered Dr. Hellstromme’s plan to visit Retribution City. Determined to turn this possible discovery to his own ends or at least foil Dr. Hellsromme the Captain decided to lead a clandestine venture to Retribution City as well. All he needed was a few handpicked troops and he could easily dispatch those miserable, walking ash cans. A quick dash across the border, a few well-directed volleys, a quick dash back and his superiors would never notice he was missing.

El Guapo’s Forces (215 points)

El Guapo (Hero): Per "A Fist Full ‘o Ghost Rock" - Union Officer Stat. (15 points)

4 Posse of troops: Per "Rail Wars" - Gunmen stats. (4 @ 50 points)

 

If you have any questions email me at: jschutt@redjak.com

Briefing 4

Texas Ranger Jack Masterson had a real problem on his hands. A Chinese rail worker, Chow Soo Ling by name, was caught scamming the locals through some ineffective Dragon Tooth elixir he was peddling in town. Not only was the potion ineffective in curing specific common ailments, it backfired in a serious way. Unfortunately, it killed a few of the more gullible residents of Retribution City including the Mayor. A good friend of the Mayor’s called in a debt to Jack and he was obliged to get involved. After a wild chase through a few box canyons the miscreant was finally captured, tried and awaited the grim reaper. Rumor had it many of the rail workers, not ambitious enough to keep up with the ever-moving railhead, are determined to free their kinsman. Without time to call in more experienced help, Jack Masterson deputized a group of townspeople, mostly relatives of the late mayor, to fend off any attempt to free Ling from jail.

A shout from the water-tower caught the Ranger’s attention. Glancing up Jack saw the lookout pointing to a dust-cloud moving between two mesas off in the distance. Shading his eyes and squinting into the distance it was hard to tell what it was.... exactly. Quickly the Texas Ranger spun on his heels and with spurs jangling shouted a few orders positioning his men before the dust cloud reached town.

Texas Ranger and Deputies (200 points)

Texas Ranger Jack Masterson (Hero): Per "Dogs o’ War" - Ranger Edward George stats. (50 points)

3 Posse of Deputies: Per "Rail Wars" - Gunmen stats. (3 @ 50 points)

Briefing 5

Dragon Tooth had been a successful remedy in China for over a thousand years. Who would have suspected things could get so far out of hand. Chow Soo Ling was just trying to make a go of it in his new adopted land. Unfortunately he had trouble reading his late grandmother’s handwriting and added just a bit too many Dragon Teeth to one of her recipes. OK, the truth is Chow Ling is the leader of the local Iron River Tong Gang and this as not his first run-in with the law. Fleeing town it didn’t take long before he was finally tracked down and thrown into jail. Ling’s men were fanatically loyal to him and were going to spring him even if it cost them their lives (there were other recipes in grandmother’s book). They sharpened their spears, and swords. They tested the bindings on their portable rocket launcher. Rockets were prepared with care and loaded with nails and railroad spikes. Wong shouted some jibberish the rest seemed to understand. The gang gestured menacingly with their weapons and followed him down the road to Retribution City, in a cloud of dust.

Iron River Troops (225/280 points)

Lee Kai-fang (Hero): Per "Rail Wars" Ronin stats (55 points)

Chow Soo Ling: Per "Rail Wars" Hanzai’s stats (once released from jail). (50 points)

5 posse of Chinese Rail Workers: Per "Rail Wars" Tong Gang stats. (5 @ 30 points)

Chinese Rocket Launcher: Per "Rail Wars" Gatling Gun stats.(25 points)

Briefing 6

While lounging on deck aboard his great paddle wheeler, Cajun River Queen, Baron Simone LaCroix was struck by an idea. Maybe his Walkin’ Dead creations were just smart enough to work a few panned-out mines left abandoned and ignored in the hills near Retribution City. They could work day and night and were definitely low maintenance. Ghost rock was an important commodity and figured prominently in his plans for the future. Getting it was the hard part. The Baron was not one to enjoy the more mundane aspects of life… and mining was definitely not attractive enough to keep his interest long. Walkin Dead miners might be just the way to get the job done. The Baron silently toasted his new plan as he held his Mint Julep at arms length. It caught the last rays of the sun as it was setting over the Bayou. Baron LaCroix scribbled a quick note and held it aloft between two fingers. One of the Baron’s men stepped from a shadow and snatched the note from his fingers and stepped back into the shadows. As soon as the ship docked his message would be sent via telegraph. His plan would be in action before his carriage brought him home that night.

A mosquito landed on the Baron’s pant leg. After a few jabs testing for a good spot the mosquito prepared to bite. With lightning quickness belied by his bulk the Baron smacked the mosquito with his riding crop. An ugly dark red smear appeared, staining his white linen pants. Nothing, thought the Baron, compared to the blood that would flow in Retribution City should anyone get in his way.

Black River Troops (225 points)

3 Posse of Walkin’ Dead: Per "Rail Wars" - Walkin’ Dead stats. (3 @ 75 points)