(OOC: Apologies for the lack of updates in VBCW
Herefordshire. I’m busy with my Frostgrave stuff at the moment, having pretty
much painted everything I need for VBCW. However, this post by erstwhileVBCW gamer ‘Leadboy’ requires some kind of retort…)
Who is the ‘Scarlet Lady’?
Decent law-abiding listeners throughout the county have been
shocked and scandalised by the recent output from a traitorous radio station,
the ‘Bishop’s Broadcasting Service’.
Transmitting from rebel-held Ludlow, their so-called news program
claims to have uncovered the identity of the ‘Scarlet Lady’ – an unfortunate
young woman, who is rumoured to appear in a number of photographs from the
collection of the late gadabout, Colonel Patrick Mustard.
These frightful derrogutypes, the rebels claim, are of none
other than Lady de Braose, supposed wife of our dear Governor!
Until now this noble Baron has refused to lower himself and
answer such ludicrous claims, but at the urging of his press secretary, has
released the following statement: “What utter rot! It just goes to show how
desperate these fellows are, to cast aspersions on a man’s wife, especially when
that man is not actually married! Silly b-s!”
Indeed, as everyone in proper Herefordshire society knows,
Baron de Braose is a confirmed bachelor, who’s only mistress is his job!
Manuscript still in Rebel Hands
The salacious memoirs of the aforementioned Mustard is still
thought to be in rebel hands, being last seen in the grubby oil-stained hands
of a socialist rabble-rouser.
As is the habit of these unscrupulous reds, excerpts have
been leaked to the more disreputable organs of the press (see above), however
most of these have been dismissed as the perverted workings of an unbalanced
hack by experts.
Many however are still taking this work of fiction
seriously, and have expressed an interest in securing the manuscript. Shady
deals are thought to have been made, although the authorities have disavowed
any involvement, merely warning individuals against making private agreements
with such unpleasant characters.
Fighting Near Aconbury
After a period of calm, fresh fighting has erupted around
the Aconbury front around the Hereford-Ross road. Our correspondent Mr.
Morrison has phoned in this report from Shell village:
A BUF lorry carrying fuel had broken down and been hidden in
a barn near Shell village. The BUF/Royalist forces were tasked with recovering
the fuel. The Anglican League forces were ordered to sweep the village and farm
for rumoured hidden fuel supplies. Both sides were under strict orders NOT to
destroy the fuel.
Unknown to both sides the ruined village was occupied by the
remnants of the Shell LDV, who had been decimated in a previous battle after
being deserted by their Anglican allies. Now nursing a bitter hatred of both
sides they were determined to fight to the last to defend their village against
all-comers.
As the Hereford Small
Traders advanced into the village on the Anglican left flank and Lord
Scudamore’s Loyal Legion did likewise on
the Royalist right both suffered casualties when ambushed by the Shell LDV, who
knocked out an Anglican armoured car with grenades.
In the centre the BUF reached the barn, where they were
inadvertently joined by Lord Scudamore’s Legion seeking cover, and the Gas
Street Irregulars seeking loot. With 75%
of the King’s men in the barn the Anglican commander, unaware the barn
contained the vital fuel, decided it made too tempting a target for his mortar
team to ignore. As spectators held their breath the mortar scored a direct hit,
but to the disappointment of the onlookers the bomb turned out to be a dud and
failed to explode!
Meanwhile the avaricious tendencies of the Gas Street
Irregulars had left the Royalist left flank held by only the BUF Company
Sergeant, who now faced the Archenfield Young Farmers and an armoured car
advancing along the road through a wood. In an act of seemingly suicidal
bravery he charged the Farmers, who failed their morale test and fled. He then
survived a machine-gunning attempt by the armoured car and charged it in
return. The raw crew also failed their morale test and drove off. Sgt.’ Mad Wullie’ MacFeeble has been
recommended for the Cross of St.George (Iron Class).
A desperate charge towards the barn by the Forest of Dean
Free Miners and the Bishop of Hereford’s Suffragen Militia was met with a hail
of fire from the BUF HMG and artillery, and repulsed with heavy
casualties. The Shell LDV were finally
wiped out by the Royalist cricketers of Lord Smedley’s Gentlemen’s Second XI,
and the game ended with the Royalist/BUF forces triumphant, having had the best
of luck. If only that mortar shell had exploded...........!
Mr. Morrison was also on the present during a BUF punitive expedition
against malcontents on Windy Ridge:
Both sides were tasked with investigating suspicious lights
from the church tower and checking the village for spies. The BUF had also
assembled a demolition team to destroy the Bishop’s Broadcasting Corporation
transmitter on Windy Ridge, which was guarded by the Archenfield Young Farmers.
A cautious approach by both sides uncovered a number of
malcontents and deserters lurking in the woods and houses, some of whom
surrendered quietly but a few decided to fight and put up a ferocious
resistance, causing casualties on both sides, before being eliminated. This
diversion basically bogged down the whole centre of the battlefield.
On the Anglican left wing the Forest of Dean Free Miners
were driven back from the church by the Cheltenham Ladies College and Gas
Street Irregulars, who occupied the tower, but found nothing untoward.
On Windy Ridge the firepower of the BUF supported by an
armoured car forced the Archenfield Young Farmers to fall back, but time ran
out before the demolition of the transmitter could be carried out.
Kington on the Verge!
Welsh nationalists holding the market town of Kington are on
the verge of surrendering, a military spokesman has revealed:
“With the railways cleared of rebel saboteurs, we have been
able to transport heavy siege guns from Royalist bases in the West Midlands,
and are currently using them to great effect against the Taffies,” he said.
There can be no doubt that Joubert’s men and our brave
Territorials have their tails up now, and soon they will have liberated Kington
and, with the rebels in full flight back across into Wales, will have secured
the border within days!
Ex-Bishop Attacked!
An attempt has been made on the life of the former Bishop of
Hereford, currently staying in the city at a guest of Baron de Braose.
At 3 a.m. last Wednesday, an intruder broke into the
ex-Bishop’s lodgings in the Green Dragon Hotel and lunged at the stricken
cleric with a kitchen knife. Thankfully the noise alerted a section of de
Braose’s personal guard, who were also staying at the hotel. These stalwart
fellows managed to apprehend the would-be assassin before he could fulfil his
gruesome intent.
A man, thought to be a crazed anarchist agitator escaped
from nearby Burghill Asylum, is currently being held under arrest at Hereford
city gaol.
In order to protect the former Bishop, orders have been
given to fly him to an undisclosed location for his personal safety. Captain
Arrowsmith’s air flotilla is currently on standby at Hereford Racecourse in
readiness for this transportation.
Society News
Sir Barrington Patchpole, QC, is delighted to announce his
engagement to Lady Deirdre Ffaines-Muir of Wigmore Manor.
The couple, both long-standing widowers, are believed to
have developed a close attachment during their work with the Landowners’
Protection Association, branches of which they both lead.
