The Fall of Briskhill

The Earl of Fernbeck (aka Count Mikhail) had gradually continued with his plan to create a defensive ring of "plague villages" around Fernbeck House. After King Charle's misguided "Scottish War", the Earl is worried about the increasing levels of religious and political unrest affecting the country, which could well affect his safety if he relied solely on maintaining The Masquerade. This means he needs to take over the last adjoining village as soon as possible and fill it with walking corpses.
This rough map shows the plague infected areas shaded in red, and the green scribble denotes the extent of a waterlogged valley known locally as the "Suff Marshes" - a natural obstacle that helps to protect the eastern and southern approaches to Fernbeck House.
Once Briskhill completes the ring, Fernbeck House should be isolated from any wandering unwanted visitors.

Unknown to Mikhail, some of his Transylvanian mercenaries have been visiting the village of Briskhill - can't blame 'em, it's the last place where they can get a decent drink, but unfortunately, trooper Vasile ended up in a drunken brawl with a couple of locals and shot one of them.
He was duly arrested and tried for his crime where he received a suspended sentence - he's to be hanged at dawn tomorrow.
Miriana, the Earl's spy, was evesdropping on the proceedings and duly slipped away to report the incident to her master.

Mikhail is furious and despatches Nicholas Delcroix with a squad of guards to bring back trooper Vasile, and subjugate the village. He sends Mirianna to enlist the help of some of the local coven.
The 'plague bearers' will be let loose in the village as soon as the job is done - not only is he intent on keeping unwanted strangers out, but also errant members of his retinue IN!

Early the following morning, the militia provide an escort for the prisoner to protect him from the angry locals as he takes the short walk to the long drop

The Briskhill Volunteers have to get Vasile to the gallows, where his charge will be read out, a noose placed around his neck, a preacher will read from the good book, and the ladder will be kicked from under the prisoners feet.
Meanwhile, the family and friends of Vasile's victim will be trying to extract their own revenge and get through to the captive........

and of course, at some point Vasile's 'rescuers' are going to show up - which they did on turn two!
Nicholas Delcroix with his squad of guards approached unseen by the road from the south,

while two members of the Ladygate coven launch an aerial assault from the west.

The militia are taken completely by surprise and the leading musketeers fall prey to the razor sharp sickles. The rest of the matchlock armed troops fire wild shots at the fast moving targets but the witches are unharmed,

and complete their "fly by" with an elegant left banking manouvre.

Meanwhile, the Earl's troops have reached the edge of the cover provided by the market hall and the leading trio give fire with their pistols, killing two of the villagers.
Nicholas has made his way through the open hall....

and shoots Vasile's guard at point blank range - things are going very badly for the escort party......

...... and none too rosy for the gallows detail, as they now come under airborne attack from the broom riding witches!

While his mates frantically try and reload their muskets, one brave chap charges Nicholas, swinging his firearm as a club, while everyone else is attempting to flee for their lives and attempting to find cover.

Nicholas calmly raises the second of his brace of pistols and fires into the face of his attacker,

and his unfortunate assailant lies dead at his feet.

As quickly as the action started, it's all over, and Vasile is led away.
"Can I get my shoes back?"
"I wouldn't want to be in them - and anyway, Mikhail wants you back in time for dinner, and he said you could attend informally"

The rest of the defenceless villagers were either cut down or rounded up by Mikhail's squad, who held their prisoners for the arrival of the "plague cart".
To the outside world, Briskhill was now just another of the villages stricken with the strange sickness.
The rumours say it's down to a pestilence emanating from the Suff Marshes, but of course, that's just what the Count  Earl wants people to think!

On reflection, having the "angry mob" slowing down the hanging procession was perhaps a mistake.
The vampyre's forces were going to arrive on a random turn after turn one, and have to 'race' to the gallows (probably would have been the witches job).
Ah well, we have to play the cards we're dealt, so the action at Briskhill was short and bloody - I'm going to try a different set of rules for the next game in the campaign.

Hope you've had an enjoyable Easter weekend, and many thanks for dropping by.
As always your comments, suggestions and criticisms are most welcome.