Secret of the Sands 

Table d'hôte 

Sequence

Movement

Combat

Mode

Conscious

Vogue

Catalogue

Chanel

Bazaar

He had tracked the band of Brontos for a day, curious as to what the desertmen were up to. When they spread out amongst the rocky outcrops and hid he knew that there was going to be an ambush. With nothing better to do he lay behind the crest of a large dune.

A caravan appeared. There were guards mounted and on foot. Beasts pulled carriages and carried cargo. In the middle of the caravan was a little and beside it rode a proud woman armed with a sword and spear. A Tai Jun warrior. He smiled. Who ever was in the litter was very important.

The ambush was sprung. The better shots of the Brontos fired at the mounted bodyguards whilst the rest charged out from their cover screaming. Ahead of them viscious boney Desert Urchins shrieked and ran at the closest living creature. The ambushers outnumbered the caravan and swiftly slew the guards although a few of their own number were killed. Most of the Tai Jun as she skillfully defended the litter.

But the Tai Jun was outnumbered and the Brontos having killed the rest began to grativate towards her or rather the litter. The Tai Jun took the sensible option and ordered her charge to exit and attempt escape.

His throat caught when she emerged from the litter. Frightened but composed and holding a small laster pistol; a Princess and of exceptional beauty. He could not let her fall into the hands of the savages. Primal urges resurfaced after millenia of repression. He stood, the ochre sand raining from his worn black environment suit. In his hand, created from the sands around appeared a blade. It would have do to until he had killed many of the savages and drained their life force and could regenerate proprely.

He smiled. He would kill and have the Princess. Just as it had been...

Princess Alalia was on her way from Jebesh to her arranged marriage with the Heir Apparant Sibin Muhn of Kabaka. A Brontos warband has ambushed the party and already killed the guards and officials. The only pair that remain are the Princess and her Tai Jun bodyguard and a hoard of Brontos closing in. It looks like the Princess will be captured...

Protagonists

This scenario is played with 2 players: the Brontos and the Gackt. The Princess and Tai Jun Bodyguard move and act according to their own guidelines.

Brontos Warband

The player starts with 12 Brontos warriors and 4 Desert Urchins arranged in a circle around the Princess and Bodyguard. All the models must be 4-8 squares away from then.

Any model killed during a turn will appear together on a random map edge the start of the next turn. There is no limit to the number of reappereances.

Brontos Warrior (Savage)

face

cap

1. M(ind) 4
v

Brontos Rifle 10/6/1, Health 2. Melee attachment: 2/2xH/2 melee, Double Strike.

^
2. H(ealth)3

CP: 1

4. Sh(ield)0
>

^
3. B(ody) 2

5. A(rsenal) -
<

Stride: 1

^
6. Sp(eed) 
6

Size: 2

Desert Urchin (small creature)

face

cap

1. M(ind) 5
v

Teeth and Claws 1/4/1

^
2. H(ealth)1

CP: 1

4. Sh(ield)0
>

^
3. B(ody) 1

5. A(rsenal) -
<

Stride: 2

^
6. Sp(eed) 
10

Size: 1

Gackt

The player starts with 1 Gackt called Crisis. He starts anywhere on one of the table edges.

Crisis (Gackt)

face

cap

1. M(ind) 10
v

Silicon Blade 2/H/3 Health 1 melee

The Claiming (psi:latent) When a character kills another it can add the slains Health or Mind to its Claiming Health or Mind Pool.
Health Pool can be used to: stop 1 damage/HP, or increase melee Power by 1/HP for an attack, B+1/(old B + new B)HP, Power+1/(old Power + new Power /3)HP.
Mind Pool can be used to: remove 1 Power from attack/MP, Sh +1/2MP, CP+1/4MP.

Quicken (psi:active): Mode test of X to increase Stride and M by X.

^
2. H(ealth)
5

CP: 4

4. Sh(ield)
0

>

^
3. B(ody) 2

5. A(rsenal)
-
<

Stride: 1

^
6. Sp(eed) 
10

Size: 2

Princess & Tai Jun

Both characters start next to each other in the centre of the battle map. They will move towards the table edge with the least enemies near it and fire at any Brontos model that could get into melee range that turn. The Tai Jun will position herself to protect the Princess.

The Princess is captured and can be moved by that player if one of their models is within Reach 2 of her unless the Tai Jun Bodyguard also is. The mode has to stay within Reach otherwise the Princess is freed. If both players have a model within Reach neither has control.

Princess Alalia (Jebesh Royalty)

face

cap

1. M(ind) 5
v

Laser Pistol  6/5/3 Health 1

^
2. H(ealth)
2
 

CP: 1

4. Sh(ield)
2

>

^
3. B(ody) 2

5. A(rsenal)
-
<

Stride: 1

^
6. Sp(eed) 
6

Size: 2

Tai Jun Bodyguard (Hireling)

face

cap

1. M(ind) 5
v

Tai Jun Sword 1/7/3 melee, Health 2, Parry 2

Wailing Spear 2/6/3, Health 2. Character attacked must pass a Mode test with Difficulty 2 or lose its next Action. Difficulty is 3 if was damaged in the attack.

^
2. H(ealth)
3

CP: 2

4. Sh(ield)
3
 
>

^
3. B(ody) 3

5. A(rsenal)
-
<

Stride: 1

^
6. Sp(eed) 
6

Size: 2

Combat Zone

The Battle Map is 25 x 21 squares (A3). When Brontos reappear they do so randomly. Long edges are 1,2 and 5,6 on a D6 respectively and the short edges 3 and 4.

Victory

The player who escorts the Princess off their table edge wins. The Gackt player picks one edge next to his deployment edge as his table edge; the Brontos player's edge are the other three.