The bombed out Christadelphian Hall in the heart of Longbridge was the prize in this skirmish. Take it, hold it. 100 points. Easy.
The Hunt deployed last once again - a grim constant in their campaign for Northfield. Just beyond a shed waited the fanatics of the Workers' Militia. Almost directly ahead deployed the increasingly well armed, armoured and skilled State, fresh from their latest triumph.
Time to sort those preening soldier-boys out', muttered Tigraine. Sniper Squire Arnold drew a bead on the Rok, surprisingly bereft of cover. With two clear shots, needing only a 7 - an excellent chance to put him down. In my head I was already thinking about finishing the bastard off. A double 1 later and Arnold's evidently crappy sniper rifle had jammed (just like the last time he'd had the State in his sights).
The State Heavy reacted first to the Hunt's attack, sprinting to take a shot at Tigraine herself. As the bullet whizzed past her head, Tigraine calmly shot back, taking the trooper off his feet.
For the Hunt and State the agenda was set - a bloody exchange that was to dominate their evening, both sides too transfixed with murdering the other to try too hard to win the scenario.
The same could not be said for the Militia, who thankfully abandoned their previous modus operandi of throwing themselves at the Hunt, and the Meat Eaters. The Militia sniper, hurried by his comrade-commander's orders, moved quickly across the shallow River Rea, to gain a commanding position over the Meat Eater approaches to the Hall. Moments later, the advancing Meat Eaters felt his presence as a crack rang out and one of their numbers tumbled to the ground. Luckily for the rest of the cannibals, moments later, the rotten floor boards supporting the workers' sniper gave way and he tumbled four metres and was swallowed into unconsciousness. The Meat Eaters advance on the Hall continued.
The Workers, hopeful of a final turn dash to gain possession of the ruined Hall, had their claim weakened as a watching and waiting Roc reinforced his notoriety by shooting down the Workers' scout.
Meanwhile, the Hunt was feeling ok. Time for some war-winning heroics. Magdelene dashed from cover. The waiting-watching Stater suddenly distracted, shot wide, his shot unexpectedly clipping the noble Percival - a hint of what twisted fate had in store. Magdelene, her whole life building up to this moment, could take out five staters with a well aimed-grenade. Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she could feel destiny beckoning...
The bemused Staters watched as the skinny youth threw her grenade, horror turning to relief as it sailed over their heads, exploding harmlessly in distant undergrowth. As one, they turned back to the foolish youth, who soon crumpled, a bullet in her shoulder.
Although a cold hearted killer, Lady Tigraine maintained a certain affection for young Magdelene. In a display of dashing bravery, she ran into the open to the body of fallen Magdelene, heaving her form over her shoulder, and back to the cover of the ruined house - to the cheers of the Hunt. By this stage, Squire Arnold had unjammed his dodgy weapon, and took down a Stater, soon finished off by Tigraine. Another Stater fell soon after, and it was beginning to look like the State may be routed. Brave Percival, back on his feet thanks to the ministrations of the good doctor, kept onto a ledge, above a Stater (Rick Marbury)who had set up a WAW position. Leading down, Percival lept at the Stater's unguarded back, filleting poor 'Rickman' with a haughty laugh.
From the sublime to the ridiculous, the best efforts if four Hunters were not enough to finish off the thick skulled 'Rickman', and Percival was shot down again whilst trying.
The key moments of the fight for the Hall were at hand, as Meat Eaters and Workers rushed in. The Meat Eaters were 2-1 up, and if their shaman could heal a fallen cannibal, they'd make it 3-1. He failed.
The Worker's leader and his loyal hound rushed toward the Hall, into the arc of my watching and waiting Heavy and his Rocket Launcher. To fire, or not to fire? I could fire, and if I hit the 100 points objective would go to the Meat Eaters, or I could hold and the Workers win. Given the psychopathic response last time I stole a Workers' win, I decided to hold fire.
The post match rolls for the Out of Action should have been routine. Unfortunately, for Lord Percival, the dice gods choose the moment to give me my third double 1 of the night. My howls of anguish we're met by chuckles of derision, particularly from Meat Eater Nathan, no doubt recalling Percival's heroic skewering of the Meat Eater leader in a previous encounter. It shall not be forgotten, and nor will brave Sir Percival, an immortal (although sadly not literally, it would seem) hero of the Royal Worcestershire Hunt.