The Farnham Outerbridge Feud
Background
Gawen Outerbridge’s son, Corin, is missing. Gawen believes Pipin Farnham is responsible. Gawen kidnaps Pipin’s son, Digory, as retribution and locks him in his cellar.
Gawen’s daughter, Tamsin, is in a romantic relationship with Digory. She wants to see him freed, but is afraid her father will suspect her involvement and hurt her.
Pipin Farnham has no proof but, correctly, assume Gawen Outerbridge has kidnapped his son. Pipin demands the Guard take action against Gawen Outerbridge.
Corin is dead. He was killed by a skunk trying to steal wild strawberries from the Farnhams’ land.
Mission Intro
While traveling through Ivydale (or another settlement of your choice) the patrol is approached by Pipin Farnham, who demands the Guard take action against the Outerbridge family.
”I demand justice! The Outerbridge family is a blight upon the Territories! They must be punished! My son Digory is missing. How can there be any doubt the Outerbridges’ are to blame? You Guardsmice are good for nothing but talk! I shall only wait so long before I take action on my own!”
Someone in the patrol has a relationship to one of the involved characters, either Tamsin (daughter of wealthy mouse), or Pipin or Gawen (wealthy mice), or Digory (son of wealthy mouse gone missing).
Mission: Gawen Outerbridge is accused of kidnapping Digory Farnham, and Pipin Farnham is anxious to start a fight if his son is not returned to him soon.
GM’s Turn
Hazard #1 – Investigation (Complex Hazard)
Gawen Outerbridge
Ob 4 Persuader/Deciever
The patrol goes to see Gawen at the Outerbridge estate. This is what he has to say on the following subjects:
Feud: ”Many years ago I brought my family here to avoid the crush of mice in Ironwood. Soon after we settled here, the Farnhams arrived. And they have been a plague upon my house ever since!”
Digory Farnham: ”I feel great sorrow at the young Farnham heir’s disappearance, but they are not the only family to suffer such a tragedy. The Territories is a dangerous place. I know nothing about his disappearance.”
P: ”Very well. I can see you are not the blubbering fools I first took you for. I have the Farnham boy, but I am well within my rights. My own son Corin has been missing for some time now. Surely, he and Digory share a similar fate. I will release Digory as soon as Pipin Farnham returns my son to me.” [Go to Pipin Farnham]
F: ”I brought my family here to find peace and safety – not to be harassed and treated like common criminals! Your Guard has no authority here, and I respectfully ask you to leave this property at once. I trust you will show yourselves out. If not, my security will be sure to deal with you.” [Go to Twist #1]
Twist #1
Ob 4 Circles
The patrol is approached by Gawen Outerbridge’s daughter, Tamsin.
”You are from the Guard, are you not? You’re looking for Digory Farnham? My name is Tamsin – Gawen is my father. He has not been himself since my brother Corin disappeared. He is mad with greif, and he is convinced the Farnhams are responsible. He is not thinking rationally.”
Digory Farnham: ”It is true what you have heard. My father has kidnapped Digory Farnham. He is holding him prisoner in the cellar. He feels this is a way to get back at the Farnhams, a way to get even for the disappearance of my brother Corin.”
P: ”You must understand that father has been under a terrible strain. I have no wish to disobey him, but there are matters where even my father’s authority is not absolute. Here, take this key; It will unlock the door to the cellar. Take it and get Digory out of here.” [Go to Pipin Farnham]
F: [Go to Twist #2]
Twist #2
Fighter vs Fighter 5/Scout vs Nature 5
”Since Corin went missing my father has become unstable, he might hurt Digory if you don’t rescue him at once. He no longer even cares if the Farnhams are responsible for what happened to Corin. I am afriad my father will simply kill Digory out of a mad, misguided lust for vengeance. Please, you must go to the cellar right away and get him out of here!”
Notice that if this twist is invoked, Tamsin does not possess the key to the cellar, and hired muscle guards the path. The patrol must either fight through the guards to get to Digory, or sneak their way past.
P: The patrol finds Digory and successfully extract him from the Outerbridge estate.
F: The patrol finds Digory and successfully extract him from the Outerbridge estate, but they get the Injured/Angry conditions.
Pipin Farnham
Ob 5 Scout
If asked about Corin, Pipin will deny any allegations, as he is innocent.
”I’m not surprised Gawen thinks I have him however, considering how much time his son spends on my land. I have told him numerous times to stay away, but that lad is a trouble maker. He comes here every now and then to steal my wild strawberries. They grow throughout my land but not on the Outerbridges’.”
Armed with this new information the patrol can test Scout to locate Corin.
P: The patrol finds a rucksack amidst some wild strawberry bushes, as well as signs of a struggle, blood, and large animal tracks. They conclude that he is dead.
F: Twist [Go to Twist #3]
Twist #3
Fight Animal Conflict
Corin has fallen victim of a hungry skunk wandering the countryside. Unfortunately for the patrol, it is still hungry, still in the area. The skunks goal is to eat the mice.
Skunk Nature 6
Waddling, Scavenging, Stubbornly Not Doing What You Want It to Do
Musk Spray - +3D to Maneuver, Missile
Assuming the entire patrol is not eaten by the skunk then, pass or fail, they move on to Hazard #2.
Hazard #2 – Diplomacy (Conflict)
Argument Conflict
Patrol vs Angry Mob
After either Digory has been saved, or proof of Corin’s death been discovered, Pipin and Gawen finally decide to take the feud to the streets. They rustle up all the muscle they can get and face each other in the middle of Ivydale.
The angry mob, consisting of Gawen and Pipin and all their supporters are itching for a fight. If the patrol does not succeed in calming them down, they will do battle, risking their own lives and those of unlucky bystanders.
Angry Mob Goal: ”This has gone on long enough; Time to settle this. Ivydale is only big enough for one of our families! We don’t want to hear any of your excuses; Now we will get revenge for your transgressions!”
Some things the angry mob will shout to each other and the patrol during the argument:
”You took my Corin long before I took your son. You started it!”
”Why should I listen to the Guard? If they had done their jobs my son would not have been eaten by predators!”
”It is your fault Gawen! You were always too violent for your own good!”
”ME? You were the one who rushed out here with your muscle!”
”Do not tell me what to do, Guardmouse! The Matriarch will hear of the trouble you caused here today!”
Player’s Turn
Possible things for the players to do during Players Turn:
[ul]
[li]Search for Corin (if he was not found during GM’s Turn)
[/li][/ul]
Edit: Woops! That flowchart is not entirely correct. Twist #1 is an Ob 4 Circles test, not Persuader/Deciever.