Colonial Games: Lassenwelt Station, Pt.1

Lassenwelt Station
A Sticky Wicket Up the Old Ouazu

David and Alan came up with this scenario on a south Texas road trip during Alan's Christmas visit of 1998. Steve was out of town, so it fell to Max to be the unsuspecting British commander. Alan officered the natives and the Fellahin, subject to Max's orders; he could take no part in strategic planning, being aware of the hidden features of the scenario. The resulting game was one of the most enjoyable in a long time.

The rules used were The Sword and the Flame (First Edition, Revision 1), with the exceptions noted in the full scenario description (at end of battle).

The Tabletop
The lake takes the Eastern side of the table. There is a faint white line separating the shallow water along the shore from the deep water in which the steamer can navigate.

The German experimental base at Lassenwelt is made of a mine building, a barracks and two smaller buildings with low wall segments between them. It is snug against a mountain face which is pierced by a large cave. There is a tall, strong palisade across the front of the cave with a large barred gate and several prominent signs saying things like "Secretisch - Keepen sie outen" and "Ja, dieses meansen you." A short road leads to a pier extending into deep water. A narrow gauge railroad line runs from the mine to a tunnel in the mountains. There is a steam engine and passenger carriage at the mine, as well as a steam lorry (truck).

On the north end of the table is a jungle area containing a stream and the Ouazulu village. There are four canoes at the village. The British forces enter at that end on a steamer, a launch and several rowboats.

Table size is 42 x 58" (1.1 x 1.5m), with round ends. Scenery construction details can be found after the battle description.

The Scenario
Firkitoudl, a remote outpost of British Ouargistan, is located at the juncture of the mighty Ouazu's two main tributaries. The Young Ouazu meanders southwest through the arid veldt, while the Old Ouazu plunges deep into the jungles, swamps and uncharted mountains of Deutschouargen (German Ouargistan). Upriver on Turok, a large volcanic island in Lake Schweinteufel in the land of the Ouazulu, there has been unprecedented German activity, and rumors of a great discovery have filtered downriver to the British garrison, but the details vary wildly. What is known is that the Kaiser's military presence has increased markedly.

Major Bunton Overpass, the British commander at Firkitoudl, has received a petition from King Potrzebi, the Ouazulu chief on the island, begging for the Queen-Empress' protection from the oppression of the cruel German invaders, made even more horrible since the Germans have "brought forth the Thing Which May Not Be Mentioned."

After much telegraphic consultation, Maj. Overpass has received the orders to proceed up the Old Ouazu to Lassenwelt with Imperial infantry and colonial Fellahin, to "free the oppressed native peoples from the iron grip of the Kaiser, and, incidentally, find out what the blue-devil the Huns are up to out there." Not to be shown up on the technology front by the Gerries, he is assigned the pride of the Ouargistan command, a steam-powered Webley-Vickers Mk I Rotary Ornithopter with twin Congreve rocket tubes.

British/Native Objectives - Capture the German research station at Lassenwelt and bring back any secrets of military or scientific importance. Capture any scientists or technicians for interrogation.

German Objectives - Retain control of the base and its secrets. Use secret methods/devices only if necessary to save the base. Safeguard or evacuate the lab director and three scientists. If possible, capture the Rotary Ornithopter.

The Battle
Major Overpass reaches the Ouazulu village and stops to confer with King Potrzebi. On the steamer is a company (20 figures) of Imperial rifles and a field piece with crew. A company of Highlanders is in the launch, and the small boats are manned by the sturdy Fellahin and a half-company of the Naval Brigade. The experimental Rotary Ornithopter is being prepared for takeoff from the roof of the steamer.

The King summons two iviyos (20 figures each) of spearmen and orders them to attack the base from the jungle's edge when the British assault begins.

The Rotary Ornithopter is equipped with two Congreve rockets in tubes and the cavalry officer at the helm has five hand-bombs in addition to his service revolver. The Rotary Ornithopter lifts uncertainly from the steamer's roof, as the Fellahin and Naval Brigade go ashore to lend their rifles in support of the Ouazulu warriors.

The natives quickly filter through the jungle, but the Fellahin following them find the going a bit rougher.

Meanwhile, the Kommandant at Lassenwelt Station, Maj. Siegfried Tannhauser von Schwann, seeing the smoke columns downriver, puts the base on alert. Two companies of Imperial rifles man the low walls and form a reserve near the white barracks building. A Gatling gun commands the courtyard from the corner of the barracks.

Suddenly a strange device appears, chugging, hissing, and hovering in the air near the edge of the lake.

There is a roar of white smoke and the first rocket streaks erratically toward the outpost. Though aimed at the stone blockhouse, it strikes in the courtyard, showering Leutnant Manfred von Strickland with dirt clods and hissing sparks as a splinter of shrapnel whizzes through his helmet, barely clearing his close-cropped scalp. But does he flinch? Nein! However he does conclude that a stately offizierlisch stride to the side wall of the barracks will put him in closer communication with von Schwann on the building's roof.

As von Schwann's fears of enemy attack are confirmed, he sends an orderly to roust the scientists from their work in case an evacuation by rail is required. Two scientists comply at once, but Herr Professor Spatstosser is not to be found.

GO ON to Part Two of
Lassenwelt Station

RETURN to the Battles Page

The Rotary Ornithopter is equipped with two Congreve rockets in tubes and the cavalry officer at the helm has five hand-bombs in addition to his service revolver.	The Rotary Ornithopter lifts uncertainly from the steamer's roof, as the Fellahin and Naval Brigade go ashore to lend their rifles in support of the Ouazulu warriors.