2021 The year that wasn't

 Welcome, at this time of the year a lot of bloggers will do a review of the year gone by, as I myself have done on many occasions, but this year was kind of different. When I put out a post on new years day entitled A grim dark new-year, I could not have guessed how dark this blog would be but on the bright side at least it wasn't grim.

No the post was about Necromunda, a game by Gamesworkshop that I was going to take up playing in the club, so I set about painting up models & making up different gangs, to be ready to take part in a campaign when lock down finally ended. 

While also getting some terrain ready, as Necromunda is a game that uses a lot of terrain.

So why no posts on what I was working on ? good question I guess & the truth of it is that doing all this didn't inspire me to do posts on it, plus I think half of me felt that that kind of thing is not really what this blog is about.

While I am not the worst modeller or painter in the world, its not what I take most pleasure from in the hobby. 

But what about the campaign? Yes I did go out into the real world & play some games, which while I enjoyed, it still didn't inspire me to do posts. 

I don't know, did I just spend to long doing my own silly little things that I was no longer a gamer? I think the answer might be yes.

So after about 5 games into the campaign I left, at this point I was at a bit of a loose end, where next with my hobby? 

I'd spent so much time painting & modelling that at that point I was burnt out, so for a while I just played some solo Space hulk, which I enjoyed but still wasn't inspired to do some posts on it. 

I then turned to Pulp Alley, made up a couple of leagues & set about doing a solo Vice Alley campaign, I'd even explored different types of leagues to give it more flavour but again I was not inspired to post anything. At this point I was wondering was my blogging days behind me after I think about 8 years. 

A lot of other people seemed to have quite & utube channels seemed to be the thing these days, maybe like video record's, blogs where going the way of the Dodo? 

Yet for what I do a utube channel would be of little use, sure you can add all kinds of special effects were as the most I can do is add a bit of snow 😢

Special effects do not a good move grantee, which is why for me the best King Kong movie is still the 1933 one. 

I needed to find inspiration & get the show back on the road, so I asked myself a question, why did I change over from If it wasn't for Ones to N&D? 

The reason was I wanted to do something a bit different, I wanted to tell stories, I no longer wanted to do things like battle report & have to explain why when I needed to make 5 2+sv's I rolled 4 1's & a 4 😂

Now in fairness I'd already started to go down that road on the old blog, but I didn't want to stop modelling. No what I wanted to do was tell stories using models. 

Remember those two ? it is of curse none other then Taylor & Connemara from the Heart stone of Africa.

It was the first of it kind for me, where I told a store & set up scenes to go with it for I think it was the first 12 episodes, after that I started using a game called Jimsland (Thanks Joe) which took the story in away I couldn't have imagined, although not given me the ending I would have liked.

Which brings me to a point I've struggled with at times, the perils of rolling dice. In nearly all wargames or RPG's people roll dice to figure out what happened, in an RPG setting you might come up with some brilliant idea of how to kill / defeat the big bad villain, but the DM/GM will still make you roll to see if this idea will work.

Now I've rolled enough dice in my time to know that you won't always get the result you'd except no matter what the odds, which is great for gaming but not so for making movies/stories, that's why you have in movies/books what I like to call the stormtrooper syndrome, you know these crack troops who are great shots, untill that is they shoot at the hero's & then couldn't hit the side of a barn from ten feet away.  That's why in some of the movies I might never roll any dice, as do you real think all of those stormtroopers shots would miss if they rolled for them ? 😂

So that's a look back at the year that wasn't but what about the year to come ?

Well yes there will be movies but movies take time to make & over a year, I would see the studio putting out no more then four & four would be a very good year, two or three would be more likely.

Now even giving that they would be made up of somewhere between 2-6 parts that could at worse be only four posts over a year & at best, but very unlikely twenty-four posts.

My guess would be somewhere between 12-15, given I do three movies with an average of five parts to each one, that's not really a lot of posts now is it ?

I guess you lot will just have to put up with things like interviews with stars, dress rehearsals where I go over what I'm doing or did to drive a story, or behind the scenes where I show you what I'm working on modelling wise.

I'm going to wrap things up at that, but before I go I like to wish you all a Happy Newyear from all at N&D & as always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed.    

                                        

As always

The Illuminati Treasure Act 2

                    Nickel & Dime Productions, proudly presents, The Illuminati Tresure

               Starring Donny Wayne as Karl Timperman & Mary Coyne as Easther Leballe

They made the train with little time to spare & the trip would take just over an hour, which would give them enough time to have dinner & for Karl to tell Esther where he believed they might find the treasure.

Karl "As I see it Esther there are two possibilities where we might find what we're looking for" He was careful not to mention the word treasure as the dinning carriage was fairly full & you just never knew who might be listening. "It will either be in  Philadelphia or Montrose as those are the places the two were at the time they would have been President's homes.. Now by the time we arrive in Philadelphia tonight it will be to late to find out anything of use, so we'll just book into a hotel. But by coming tonight instead of the morning it means if we don't find what we're looking for there we can take the morning train on to D.C. & from there head on to Montrose"

Esther "Is this some kind of a sly plan to get me to spend the night in a hotel with you Karl ?" Karl was a bit taken back by this, but upon seen the mischievous grin on Esther face replied, " Absolutely  Esther & I can assure you my intensions are completely dishonourable." At this they both had a good laugh    

They stayed the night at a hotel near the train station, getting two comfortable rooms & the next morning after an early breakfast got a bus downtown to Franklin Court, where Franklin’s house and print shop once stood at Market and 4th Street. The area is mostly shops, warehouses, and a recreation of a Colonial-period bar. Independence Hall is just down the way. 

Inside Independence Hall, they find a park guide who informs them that Franklin lived in the area from 1785, when he became President of Pennsylvania, until his death in 1790. Also on the same street as his house was his print shop, from which he produced the Philadelphia Aurora newspaper. They are gone now, torn down in 1812 to make way for more profitable real estate. However, President Taft suggested the whole area should be turned into a national park! Who knows? Maybe one day there will be a recreation of the house… There is nothing under the area where Franklin’s house stood; of that the guide is sure. As they made their way back to bus stop they failed to notice the two men that were following them.

A dead end! Back at the train station they catch the Morning Congressional to Washington, While there Karl phones  Schultz to report their progress & to see if the Detective as any more information that might be of help to them. Schultz tells Karl they pick up one of the man that shot him & took the book but that he's shut up tighter then a clam & that they haven't recovered the book. They then rented  an automobile from Hertz Rent-a-Car & set out for Montrose, Virginia, not long after they leave the city they're driving on dirt roads that are decently-maintained, but are currently frozen solid, they hope to reach Stratford hall in two hours. Stratford Hall is the family seat of the Lee family. President Richard Lee lived here, and so did his esteemed descendent, General Robert E. Lee. The current occupier is Jorden T Lee, a retired army Major.

About 10 miles out of Washington. Esther " Karl I think we're been followed" Karl " What , are you sure Esther ? after all its a busy enough road still" Esther "Fairly sure, there's a gray car behind us that's been there for a while now & seems to be staying back just enough to keep us in sight but not to be noticed" Karl " Speed up a touch & see if they stay with us" Esther "Okay, but these roads are frozen" Karl "Esther your the best driver I know I'm sure you can handle it" Esther brought the speed up to 40mph & held it there only slowing down once to take a turn off, but the gray car stayed with them & had even closed the gap a bit.

Esther "Their still there Karl" Karl "So I see, okay Esther lets see if we we can shake them, this road seems to have more bends in it so it shouldn't be to hard" Karl wasn't kidding when he said Esther was the best driver he knew, she was in fact a very skilled driver & one of her past times was in fact car racing, something that she had won no small number of titles at. 

As Esther pushed down on the accelerator the speedometer started rising, 50, 60 as they headed into a bend in the road, with all the confidence of a skilled driver, Esther left it to the last moment to reduce their speed, lightly put a foot on the breaks while at the same time working her way down though the gears, then quickly working back up through the gears & accelerating as they shot out of the bend. While the distance between the two cars was growing the gray car was still on their tail as the miles raced by.

While Esther's face showed she was fully concentrated on the road, Karl also noticed there was a glint in her eye's. Karl " Your enjoying this aren't you ?" Esther "It is kind of trilling Karl, hold on there's some bends ahead" Once again applying only light pressure on the brakes & moving down through the gears, Esther guided the car safely around the bends with only the slightest of a wobble on the traceries surface. The gray car however came unstuck as it tried to make the bend & went skidding off the road, coming to a halt as the side of the car slammed into a tree.          

Karl "Well done Esther, that should take care of them" Esther "I hope their alright Karl, I feel kind of bad driving off & leaving them there" Karl " They'll be Fine, I can see some of them getting out of the car & the fact that they hit the tree side on instead of head on should help" The rest of the trip passed uneventfully & just over two hours after setting off they arrived at Stratford Hall.

After parking the car they made their way up the steps to the hall door, which after they'd knocked was answered by an old butler, who surprised them by telling them the Master of the house was expecting them & if they would be so kind as to follow him.  

Major Jorden T Lee retired, turned out to be a kindly old gentleman, now confined to a wheelchair in his later days but who's mind seemed to be as bright as a polished button. "Welcome, welcome" the Major greeted them warmly, " Schultz phone to say you were on your way, I do hope the journey wasn't to taxing with the icy roads" Karl " Not at all Major, Esther here is a first class driver"   

The Major " Now please sit-down & tell me what it is I can do to help you young folk?"

Esther & Karl spent the next 10 minute or so telling the Major what had happen & what they found out since the night of the party, when Karl had been shot & the book be taken. 

The Major "Nasty business been shot believe me I know but good to see you seem to be on the mend, now as for this treasure whatever it is, do you really thing it could be here somewhere ? oh how exciting"

Karl "We hope so Major, or if not that there might be some clue as to where it might be found, I know this was President Richard Lee family home at the time & Franklin did say in a correspondence that it was safe in the President's house, so even if its not here now I truely believe that it was here at some point"

The Major "Well this old house is still very much the same as it was in those times, so I would guess that the best place to start would be the library which has a little study attached to it, I'll get Williams to show you where it is & if there's anything else you need to ask or see please feel free to do so"

The library was very much the kind that you would expect to find in a house from this era, with bookshelves lining all four walls from floor to ceiling.

Esther "Oh Karl how are we ever going to find anything in here, it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack"

Karl "It will be quite a challenge Esther, but you'll find after we've looked around a bit it will narrow our search down to a smaller area"

It was as Karl said but still a few hours had passed & they had found nothing of help, it was however in the study that they got their little bit of good fortune, while looking through an old notebook belonging to the former President, that Esther came across a passage in Latin, translated it read

The Father is moved some time before the Son.

The Carpenter is moved some time after the Father

The Mother is moved immediately before the Son

The Carpenter is not moved after Mother. 

Esther "What do you think it means Karl? 

Karl" It means we need to find a church Esther, ring the bell & we'll ask Williams if there's a church on the estate"

Williams " A church sir, no there hasn't been a church on the estate in quite a while, there is however the ruins of one."

Karl " Could you point us in the direction of it Williams ?" & then noticing it was starting to get dark outside added "Would there be a couple of torches in the house we could borrow please."

Williams "If you give a moment sir I'll locate some torches & then I'll point you in the direction of the old ruin" 

At the hall door Williams "If you take that little pathway through the little wood it will lead you to the ruin"

Thanking Williams, they set off & as they entered the woods turned on the torches, after a couple of minutes they came to a small clearing where the remains of the old church stood.

The church was in such a state of ruin, that it was with sinking hearths that they entered it, thinking that if this was where the clues had lead them, then it was very unlikely that they would find anything.

However in a corner stood  what they were looking for, "Bingo" said Karl as the beam of his torch picked it out, 4 statues.  Karl " Right Esther give a hand to see if we can move these in the right order"

It was tough going as the statues hadn't be moves in a long time, but as they moved the last one they heard a load click behind them & turning around seen an opening in the floor with some steps leading down.

At the base of the steps they found they were in some kind of a natural passage, how far it went on for they couldn't guess, for beyond the limits of the light from their torches was total darkness. 

Karl " Well its no paved pathway Esther, but we may as well follow it."

It was not what she wanted to hear, but knew Karl was right, they'd come a long way to get here & there was no point in turning back now when as she hoped the end was in sight, even if that end was hidden by the darkness.

On & on in silence, each lost it their own thoughts,  they followed the passage, untill at last they came to a pair of  big steel doors, shining their torches around Esther noticed a leaver built into the wall on one side of the doors. Karl" Hold my torch for me Esther" handing the torch to her Karl moved over to the leaver & grabbing it with both hands pulled down on it, at first it didn't budge but as Karl put all of his strength into it the lever finally gave & started to move downwards, & as it did so the doors swung open.

Stepping inside it was not what they had expected, while the walls were still the natural stone, the floor was of smooth stone slabs, while about a quarter of the way across the room was a small wall of stone with a stone ballast rail with some step in the middle leading up to anther stone slab floor, but the room looked empty.

Esther "Oh Karl its empty all of this afford for nothing" But as they stepped up onto the upper level they seen crates stacked in a corner.

Their joy however was short lived, as a voice called out from behind. "Thank you Miss Leballe & Mr Timperman, we'll take it from here" Turning around they were faced by four men in robes.

Karl whispering "Esther back up to the wall so they can get behind you" & then in a louder voice "You don't except us to just let you take the creates & walk out of here ?"

One of the men "That's exactly what's going to happen" then to his friends "Lets get them" With that they rushed forward, two of them going for Esther, with the other two going for Karl.  

Esther truth be told was as bad at fighting as she was good at driving, but the fact that two of the men went for Esther gave Karl a fighting chance, noticing one of the men had pulled out a knife Karl smashed the brolly he'd been using as a walking stick across the mans hand sending the blade spinning from it.

A blow landing on Esther sent her head smacking against the wall & she collapsed in a heap on the floor, but by that time Karl had already dispatched of one of his assailants & as the two who had attacked Esther turn on him a sharp right on the side of the head of the other paid an end to him.

Unless these two were better fighters then their friends Karl was fairlly confident it was a fight he could win, even though he was tiring from haven fought the other two men.  

As it turned out these two were no better in a fight then their pals, after he laid one of them out with a upper cut, the last man turned to run, but quick as a flash Karl spun the brolly in his hand & hooked the man around an ankle, as the man went sprawling he came down chin first on the floor.

With the fight finish Karl went over to Esther & helping her gain her feet said "Come on we've got to get out of here"

Esther " What about them Karl, what's to stop them making off with the crates when we're gone ?"

Karl "Don't worry Esther, their not going to be going anywhere, now come on"

Esther was still confused by what Karl meant but as they stepped out of the room all was revealed, as Karl went over & pulled the leaver up closing the doors.

Karl "You might not have noticed Esther, but there's no way to open the doors from the inside, so our friends will be nice & safe in there until we return"

Once back at the house Karl phoned  Schultz & filled him in on all that had happened since he'd last spoken to him,  Schultz then told Karl to remain at the house until he arranged for help to come to them. 

While waiting Karl & Esther told Major what had happened, he really was amazed & said "To think its been here all of this time,"

When the local police arrived Karl lead them down to where the secret room was with the crates & now four man, as Karl pulled down on the leaver the police stood ready to rush in & apprehend the men inside.

The men inside where back on their feet but seen the police officers with their night sticks at the ready decided to not put up a fight.

The police sergeant "Ok boys take them away"

Karl closed the doors to the room as they left & when they reached the top of the stairs back in to the church one of the policemen stay on watch until members of the Illuminati arrived to take procession of the crates.   

 Its Christmas eve & Karl & Esther are enjoying a meal in one of Newyork's better restaurants.

Esther " Well I don't think its a bit fair, that they don't tells us what was in all of those crates Karl, after all we went through to find them for them"

Karl "Like all societies Esther they have their secrets & they did reward us well for finding them, which reminds me here's your half of the reward" & as he hands her a cheque he added " Marry Christmas Esther" 

                                                                 Fin

Authors note, the above story is loosely base on a RPG adventure written by Scott Rhymer & all rights to the story are belonging to Black Campbell Entertainment, LLC & are used here without the owner's permission.

As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed :) 

  

THE ILLUMINATI TREASURE,ACT1

                    Nickel & Dime Productions, proudly presents, The Illuminati Treasure

               Starring Donny Wayne as Karl Timperman & Mary Coyne as Easther Leballe

New York City (December 1937)

It is a cold and snowy night as Jack McMahon is throwing a Christmas party for his friends.

The party is in an elegant four-story brownstone with wrought-iron fencing around it. A few yards away is Central Park, which can be seen through the large windows in the reception room. Hugging the inside of the park wall is a Hooverville, a small neighbourhood of tents and improvised shelters made out of crates, boxes, tarps — anything to protect the people from the elements. There are small fires around which people are huddled. 

The party is a big do for many of the younger members of New York society. McMahon’s family has ties to city government, and his father is in the House of Representatives — wealth, power, elegance, they are all on display here, and in the line of lovely cars parked along the curb. Among those in attendance are Karl Timperman & Esther Leballe.

The party is is full swing when everyone's attention is captured by the sound of a car crash from outside. One of the new “streamlined” Lincoln Zephyrs has crashed into a parked car just outside! 

As the party goers head outside, it is immediately apparent there is a problem: the car isn’t just dented from the impact with one of the guest’s DeSoto, but there are bullet holes in the door of the car! The man inside is injured, dazed, and when they open the door, he immediately grabs a hold of Karl and say, “The journal! Don’t let them get the journal…got to get it to the Grand Master…” He hands a book, a small leather-bound journal, blood stained and possessing a bullet hole in it, to Karl.

Before they can do any questioning or first aid, however, a late-model Dodge D-series touring sedan whips around the corner from Central Park West, sliding around in the snow and stops. Two men, armed with revolvers & hostility, & a woman jumps out of the Dodge and race toward the Lincoln Zephyrs.

One of the men "Hand over that book Mister, or else"

Karl "Hang on a moment, wha......"

A shot rings out in the chilled night air & Karl falls to the ground blood poring from the wound in his leg, "Grab the book" the man barks at the woman, while he & the other man keep the crowd covered, but the sight of Karl on the ground with the snow around him turning red with his blood is enough to ensure that no one wants to be a hero, while the woman retrieves the book.

Man "Right lets split before the cops show up"

As the Dodge speed away the sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance, kneeling at Karl's side as he tried to get up, Esther with tears in her eye's "Karl lay still help will be here soon" 

Karl" Stop fussing Esther, it's only a flash wound, how is the guy in the car doing?"

One of the party goers "Sadly not to well"

Karl "Esther help to my feet please"

Esther "Karl I real...," but the look on Karl face told her all she needed to know & with her help he stood up & gingerly looked into the car. The man was laying across the two seats unconcise, his breathing shallow, Karl noticed he was wearing a ring with the symbol of a pyramid with an eye in it inscribed on it.

Just then a police car pulled up & a heavy set man wearing a mac & fedora got out from the passenger side while a cop in uniform got out from behind the wheel. Making his way through the party goers & on lookers who where now gathered around the Lincoln Zephyr, the man in the mac called out "Move aside there folks move aside " in a guff Newyork accent & on reaching the car " Minns radio in for an ambulance & then get this crowd back"

Reaching into the car he checked the drivers pulse, then shaking head slowly he took out a badge & introduced himself. "Detective Schultz, now can someone tell me what happen here ?"

Jack McMahon " I can give you the details Detective"

Schultz "And you are sir ?"

McMahon " Jack McMahon, I live across the street & was giving a party when we heard a crash & rushed out to see if we could give any assistance, Karl here was the first to reach the car & as he open the door the driver handed him a book. No sooner had he done this when a yellow dodge pulled up & two men & a woman got out, the men had revolvers & started demanding the book, when Karl tried to ask them what it was all about one of the men shot him, told the woman to grab the book & then they took off." 

At this point the ambulance & another police car arrived.

Schultz turning to Karl " Are you alright sir "

Karl " I'll live I'd guess"

Schultz "Glad to hear that, one corpse is enough for one night" & handing Karl a card added " You might come see me in the morning if you're ok to do so"

Then in a loud voice called out " If any of you folks that witnessed anything would be so good as to give your names to the officers, we won't keep you out in the cold any longer then is necessary"

He then walked over to Minns, said something to him got into the car & drove away.

Esther insisted on going in the ambulance with Karl, although he told her there really wasn't any need to do so, & as it made its way to the hospital, Karl & Esther had a chance to talk.

Esther " What do you think that was all about Karl ? & that poor man losing his life like that it terrible"

Tears started to well up in her eyes & Karl giving her a hug, "I think I have an idea but lets leave it until tomorrow"

Esther " Oh Karl you poor thing, here you are after been shot & silly old me pestering you, can you forgive me ?"

Karl "I'm sure I can, but only because I'm going to need you to drive me around for the next week or so" & then gave her a wink.

 At close to 3am with a couple of stiches & a dressing on his thigh, Karl & Esther left the hospital & took a taxi back to Esther house which was the closest. It was nearing mid-day by the time Karl rose from bad & made his way down to the kitchen, where Esther was pouring them both steaming mugs of coffee.

Esther "I thought I heard you up & about, how is the leg ?"

Karl, as he made his over to the table & sat down, " A bit stiff but not so bad" 

Esther brought the coffees over & set down before asking, "Karl the events of last night do you really think you know what it was about ? & please tell me its not something your going to get involved in as those men obviosity dangerous, I mean they killed that poor man & shot you in front of many witness's without giving it a second thought"

Karl "Yes but they didn't kill me Esther & I don't think they meant to kill that guy either, but your right they are dangerous but I don't believe their the ones responsible for the events of last night, no my guess would be that they were just hired tugs who's job was to get that book, which is at the heart of what happened."

Esther "What makes you think that ?"

Karl " Well there's a couple of things Esther, the man had a ring that had the same symbol on it as the book, a pyramid with an eye at the top of it, then there's what he said, “The journal! Don’t let them get the journal…got to get it to the Grand Master…"

This all points to the Illuminati "

Esther "The who ?"

Karl "The a Illuminati, there a group of freemasons"

Esther "You mean like one of of those secret societies "

Laughing Karl "That's all a misconception Esther, there is really nothing secret about them at all, sure like all societies there might be thing about them that only members know, but they don't go around hiding in the shadows like a lot of people believe. Now we better get moving & go see this detective"  

After stopping off briefly at Karl's apartment, they arrived at the police station just before 1.30 pm, where they were brought into an office belonging to Schultz.

Schultz " Thanks of coming, please be seated."

As Esther & Karl set down.  Schultz "How's the leg ?"

Karl " A bit stiff but ok, thanks"

Schultz "I been over the statements that were taken last night so have a good idea of what went on, but as you were first to the car, I was wondering if there is anything else you can add ?" 

Karl" Well there isn't a lot to tell really, as everything happened so fast, when I opened the door the man handed me a book & said, "The journal! Don’t let them get the journal…got to get it to the Grand Master…” Then the guys that were chasing him turned up, shot me grabbed the book & took off"

Schultz "I see" & then noticing that Esther was looking at the ring on his finger add. "Look I going to be straight with you guys as I think you've already figured some of this out & having looked into your background Mr Timperman I think you might be able to help us out"

Karl" No need for the Mr Timperman detective, just call me Karl & in what way do you thing we could help ?"

Schultz "Well judging from the way Miss Labelle here has been searing at my ring, I take it you guys have already made the Illuminati connection ?

At this Esther's face went the same colour as her suit

Karl laughing "Really Esther you need to develop a poker face" & then more seriously added "Yes detective we had, the man that was killed was wearing the same ring as yourself & the book also had the same symbol on it's cover, but I fail to see how we can be of any help ?"

Schultz, taking a deep breath "Lately there has been some disagreement with in the lodge over something that was lost a long time ago. On the one hand there are those that believe it should remain lost, at least for the time been. While there are others who want it found & have in fact started looking for it."

"The man that was murdered last night, Mark Roosevelt, yes a dissented of the great man, while didn't think now was the time to recover it, was worried that if found it might fall into the wrong hands & so had start to look for it himself in the hope of keeping it safe."

"After I left you last night, I went to see the Grandmaster & informed him of what had happened, needlessly to say he was both deeply upset & worried about it." Mark was a well liked & trusted member of our society, & to think that another member of the society might be responsible for his murder just doesn't bear thinking of to be honest."

Karl" So where do we fit into all of this ?"

Schultz "Well given your academic back round & history the Grandmaster believes you might be able to find it for us & stop it falling into the wrong hands"

Karl "What ? surly there are those in the Freemasons that would be better suited to doing this then we would, & what exactly would we be looking for ?"

Schultz" I'm afraid I can't tell you that" & seen the look on Karl's face quickly added "Not because I don't want to' or because its some big secret, no the truth is I don't know nor does the Grandmaster, but if  Benjamin Roosevelt believed that whatever it is was best left hidden then I sure there was a good reason for it"

"Now will you help us ? You would of course be rewarded for your efforts whether your successful or not & would always have the gratitude of the society"

Karl" Well now I'm intrigued by what you've just told us detective, so yes I'll look into it but is there anymore you can tell us that might be of help ?"

Schultz "Other then what I've just told you not a lot, but having been a public servant Benjamin Roosevelt's life will be be well documented, I will of course check the lodges records & let you know what I find, but a word of warning whoever is behind this is dangerous so please be careful & if you need help just let me know & thank you"

So at that Karl & Esther took their leave of Detective Schultz. 

"Were to now? "asked Esther as they left the police station.

Karl "The library & Hall of records Esther, We've got a bit of research to do " 

It wasn't that far to the library but at this hour of the day the down town traffic was heavy & while Karl would have liked to use the time to think over what Schultz had told them, Esther wasn't the type of girl to give you the peace & quite you need for deep thought & seemed to have an endless supply of questions, few of which Karl had the answers to.

                                      

Where to start & what to look for ? was the biggest problem as Karl seen it, while Karl was sure there would be stuff on the history of the Illuminati he was of the belief that researching Franklin might be the better bet, but either way he was sure they would need to do both, so after asking the Liberian were they could find both,  he sent Esther off to find all she could on the Freemasons while he set about Franklin. After a couple of hours for pure book worming that involved plenty of cross refencing this it what they had pieced together.

The “Illuminati Treasure.” This treasure was hidden after a 1784 crackdown by the government in Hanover and the collapse of the Areopagus (the Illuminati’s leading council) by none other than Ambassador Benjamin Franklin! One of the letters between Franklin is dated 1784, when he was the Ambassador to France, and was written to a “Aldoph Krigge” in Hanover, telling him that “the papers are safe in the president’s house…” The letter also states that Franklin is returning to the United States and his new appointment in Philadelphia. Krigge was a lawyer and human rights advocate in Hanover about that time, and a member of this alleged Bavarian Illuminati. 

Esther “President’s house”…what could that mean Karl? Does that mean that this treasure whatever it is is in the Whitehouse ?"    

Karl "Franklin was “President of Pennsylvania” in 1785.  As this is the period of the Congress of the Confederation, before the Untied States adopted the Constitution. The “president” probably refers to the man in office at the time. The President of the Confederate Congress was Richard Hay Lee at the time. He lived in Manhattan and his office was in Federal Hall — now a repository for the Federal Reserve!, but his family home was in Montrose Virginia"

Esther with a glum look on her face "The Federal Reserve, well that makes things so much easier Karl I'm sure we can just walk in there & ask them of it."

Karl couldn't help but laugh at this & then said "Esther a lot has changed since those days & if I remember rightly the building that was there then was demolished  & rebuilt, I'm fairly sure that's not where it is" 

Esther with an angary look on her face "Alright then cleaver clogs, where do you think it is ?Karl " I'll tell you on the way Esther, come we've got a train to catch & do cheer up, your not as pretty looking when your angary" 

                                             

To be continued  

Authors note, the above story is loosely base on a RPG adventure written by Scott Rhymer & all rights to the story are belonging to Black Campbell Entertainment, LLC & are used here without the owner's permission.

As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed :)          

 

 

Update

 Due to circumstances beyond me control I've not been posting or getting to do the blog rounds of late, but just to let people know I am well & hope to be back on track in the next fortnight or so.

So thanks for dropping in & stay safe all 😊

A Grim Dark Newyear

With that title I could very well be talking about real life at the moment for many of us, but fear not :)

The grim dark I'm speaking for is GW 40K universe & my return to it, but that return however will not be 40K but in a game that for me betters captures life in the far distance future, Necromunda. GW rereleased Necromunda a few years back & while I did play a couple of games of the original Necromunda I never got into it. 

With a lot of the guys in the club playing it & putting together a campaign I thought to myself why not give it another go, so about this time last year I picked up the Underhive box set, which contains two gangs ( that's what the forces are called in the game ) the Goliath's who are big muscle guys & the Escher's who are a female gang.

Now with me been a former Sisters of Battle player you would be forgiven for thinker I play the Escher's but I instead decided to go with the Goliath's, who had just had their gang book released, so I picked up the book, worked out a 1'000 credits list (aka points) set about building the models & started painting them.

Now as most of you know I've no love for painting & having gotten use to painting more simpler models then GW very high detailed ones I found it to be a real struggle & had not in fact got my gang ready by the time the campaign kicked off, but just after it started came a whole world life changing event that still holds so many of us in its grip even today.

Necromunda was put back on the shelf & forgotten all about, so what's all of that got to do with A grim Dark Newyear Frank ? you may well ask, well over the Christmas hols I decided to take another look at Necromunda & have to say I was blown away by what I seen. I don't know if I mentioned it before but a few month's back I got a gift of Gloomhaven, but have not opened the box as I feared it as a Pandora's type that I might get sucked into & never return.

Well it looks like I might have changed one Pandora's box for another, but I'm skipping ahead a bit, like I said over the hols I took another look at Necromunda & liking what I seen took the box off the shelf & tried out a few games, as I'd only made some of the Goliath's & none of the Escher models I had to look for something else I could use.

Luckily enough I'd Genestealer Cult models from Overkill another GW game, so I put together a gang from them & played out a few games, much to my shame using mostly unpainted models & terrain, but in my defence, I didn't want to go through painting if I didn't like the game, but as it turned out I loved it, even giving the fact that its not designed for solo play, I then done something else that I've not done for a long time in that I played a game against another person in the form of my son-inlaw who's still a 40K player & even losing I still had a ball.

I've since been painting getting things done for the game & at time of posting, I've most of the terrain that came with the game painted, I've built the rest of the Goliath's & done some more painting on them (still not enjoy it) & have built the Eschers, I've also test painted two of the Genestealer cult models & these oddly enough I did enjoy painting. Those are the two strange looking chaps above for those not into GW stuff.

So what have I found in Necromunda that has giving me the bug for it ? Well lots tbh, firstly Necromunda is very campaign orientated, also I discovered that outside of the house gangs & the law enforcer gang that are standard to the game from way back when, you can now make you own bounty hunter's gang & a chaos gang, this gives me plenty of options & lets me use a lot of models I already have.

Another big bonus for me is the chance to use many different models from across many different gaming systems, like the last picture above which is a female pirate from Black Scorpion, but with an Escher sword & a Mechanicus pistol, she's now right at home in the Underhive as a Bounty hunter.

Well that's it for this post, as ever my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed 😊