And it was a great quarter for gaming! Especially if you like In Her Majesty's Name!
1. Last Man Standing. China is in turmoil in 1895; Western and Japanese Encroachment, diminished Imperial power, Warlords, ancient evils and bandits have all contributed to the chaos. Some are trying to maintain order, in their own way, and that man is General Ronglu of the Imperial Chinese Army. Unfortunately, Ronglu is a ruthless man and he has been ordered to destroy a village that will not recognize the authority of the Dowager Empress. Standing in his way is Kwai Chang Caine and the Martial Monks of Justice.
2. Tintin versus the Black Brotherhood AKA The Cult of Doom! Once again, inexplicably, North Piddle, England is the center of the horrific secret War of 1895, "The War of the Witches." It has been discovered in the ruins of the Tamblin-Goggin manor house, next to Piddle (snicker) Brook and the British Railway line to North Piddle is the secret headquarters of The Black Brotherhood AKA the Cult of Doom!!!
3. The Adventure of the Secret Lair. Sherlock Holmes vs. Fu Manchu! What more can I say?
From the Secret diaries of Dr. John Watson, MD: "Of course! That's the solution," exclaimed Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
"What's the solution?" I inquired.
"Who is behind it all! When Lord Ridgewell Hawkes Bickford-Smith was strangled in Berkshire (pp. 30, Sleeping Tiger, Rising Sun), he was strangled with a silk yellow rumal. This silk comes from China - but this was not just ordinary silk! It was silk produced by the larva of a silkmoth fed exclusively Osage orange. It is highly dependent on humans for reproduction, as a result of millennia of selective breeding conducting by the Chinese tong known as the Si-Fan. ONLY one man controls the Si-Fan, and based on the clay soil fragment found at Bickford-Smith manor it only matches the clay of the original Underground Station built in 1868 that is no longer in use and partially caved in.
The murderer must have gotten the silk rumal at this location, and this location is the Secret Lair of Fu Manchu!!!
"Hunh?" I said.
"Come Watson! The games afoot!
4. Evil vs. Sinister. The Witch King vs. Fu Mancu!
"Master! Fu Manchu has captured the famous English Investigator who you said is the only one that can lead you to the sword of Gengis Khan to replace the Sword of Curses that was broken by the King of the Beasts."
"My loyal Captain of the Ruga-ruga guard, Fu Manchu is the most
dangerous opponent (Curse that Cowardly Lion!) that we have ever faced."
"What shall we do oh Great Master of Evil?"
"Based on the powers of Page 34 of the ancient tome of IHMN, granted to
me by Craig Cartmell and Charles Marton, I'm increasing you to a pluck
of 3+, a Fighting Value of +5 and a Shooting Value of +3. In addition, I
grant you the privilege of carrying a Military Rifle and I will teach
you how to use a bayonet. Now summon the rest of the Guard and the
Troglodytes and lets go capture Sherlock Holmes form Fu Manchu for our
own evil purposes.
Here's to a great Fourth Quarter!