The (Solo) Adventures of Solomon Kane
Chapter 2 continued
After this second Talk action, things are resolving. Notice the "Shadow" close to Kane, this reduces his test score by -1 (cumulative if more are present). However he still passes fully and draws a second Roundhead card. Everything now changes. Villages are removed and Kane's objective is to defeat the Puritan, Hopkins.Kane talks to the villagers and it is clear that the Puritan Hopkins is not a God fearing man, but a charlatan using his authority, it is is real, to pursue a strange dislike of females, with wild accusations of witchcraft. His purpose is clear. This man must be defeated else more innocent women are killed by this wild and evil person. The fight continues anew with a determined ambition to bring God’s truth to bear on this unholy man who disgraces the Puritan spirit.
Oh Dear! When a Shadow enters the same space as Kane it is removed from the board BUT it instigates an Event. In this case it's a bad one. A "sin" is revealed which remains permanently for the Chapter UNLESS it can be subdued with a "Light token. So this will mean using one Virtue turn to negate the impact of the Sin. On the plus side a "Blessing" was also revealed, which in this case allows a Virtue to be placed on the board without the dice, so that's a good thingHopkins rushes through the throng to attack Kane with a fever in his eye and a wild swing of his rapier.
Resolving Fights used specific Fight cards. These are drawn as identified by the Discovery card. As with other random tests, they use the numbers on an Event card. There are three types of character who use one of the three test scores.
Heroes (e.g. Kane and “Nemesis” characters) use the Right hand score, which is the highest with an average score of 4. In this case, Hopkins is classified as a Nemesis (an anti-Hero) and scores 5, this is the lowest result on his fight card and two effect cards are drawn. In this case Virtues remove a saved die (our choice) but receive a die in return.
Perhaps I should mention the dice at this point. There are 5 possible results. Two are the same, a cross which can be used as a “wild” dice result, although no more that one Wild die can be used for a single action. There are one of each other result. Bravery vs Fear; and Determination vs Pain.
So in conclusion, this first fight had little effect on anyone.
Kane flies into the battle on the side of the young Roundhead officer. He wishes to see off this false Puritan, the one they call the Witchfinder General and his thugs before any lives are lost. Kane clashes steel with the guards and his presence turns the tide of battle effectively.
Kane pushes through to face the Puritan himself, the so called Witchfinder General. He is proficient enough, but Kane parries the wild swing of Hopkins blade and drives his own rapier in a quick repost, striking the man with a slash across his arm. Moving quickly aside he sees an opportunity to strike at one of Hopkins’ allies and delivers a blow to a thug close at hand. The man grunts as Kane strikes his leg, slowing the man down.
But Hopkins is not out of the game and closes in once more to drive Kane back. He attacks without thought or skill and Kane easily parries and block his unthinking attacks.
Driving forward with the advantage, Kane pushes Hopkin back and strikes another fierce blow against this immoral Puritan. As he stumbles back, Kane knocks the fight out of him with a strike of the basket grip of his rapier and the man falls to the ground, defeated, albeit still alive.
No one is seriously wounded and none lie dead, thanks be to God, muttered Kane looking around at the chaos this pointless fight had created.
“I name you traitor!” screams Hopkins, rising slowly from the ground where he lay. “Heretic! You shame our Puritan brethren” he shouts as he is led away.
Kane turns to the young officer who greets him.
“My gratitude, sir, especially since you are also of the Puritan faith, but clearly a man of honour, unlike that cur Hopkins. I am Thomas Downes, at your service”.
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