It all started with a comment from my son Lewis, about The Ancient Pyramids in Egypt being as ancient to Cleopatra as Cleopatra is to us.
As a long term Pulp Alley fan having a huge interest in all things Roman (real and fictional) It occurred to me that it could be a lot of fun to re-run the classic 1st Edition Pulp Alley, Tomb of the Serpent campaign set in the 1st Century Roman Empire. As an avid fan of Lindsay Davis and her fictional Informer, Marcus Didius Falco (a 1st century gumshoe / private investigator) I decided to theme my league around Falco, his relatives and associates.
The other players in the campaign are Mike Strong who is fielding a league themed on Falco’s rival / nemesis Chief Spy, Anacrites. John Morrison is fielding Lucius’s Gladiators, a league led by a particularly brutal retired Centurion, and my son Lewis is fielding another league led by a retired Centurion who has left his mustering out villa in Gaul with some Gaulish mates to seek fame and fortune.
We played the first scenario (Eventus I) yesterday. Lucius, troubled by a dream where a foreign god from the Province of Aegyptus appeared and warned him of the rise of a Dark God who would bring down the Empire. The dream ended with an image of an ancient relic hidden in the Circus Maximus. It just so happened that a troop of travelling performers were camped out at one end of Circus Maximus, preparing a performance as it was several weeks until the next chariot racing fixture.
Dramatis Personae – Lucius’ Mob
Left to right: Gladiator Claudius (follower), Gladius Marcus (ally), Lucius (Leader), Fabius (Sidekick), Gladiator Julius (follower), Gladius Decima (ally)
Dramatis Personae – Servants of Apothis
The scenarios in the first chapter of Tomb of the Serpent are played with one player league and a servants league played by the other player, randomly selected as part of scenario set up. Lucius is being opposed by a Serpent Priest (leader), 4 x militant cultists (ally) – this are locals brainwashed by the cult armed with missile weapons and 1 x fierce cultist (ally).
Dramatis Personae – The Plot Points
Cleopatra; the exotic snake charmer, Albeus; the circus owner, two fisted Marcus; a local scribe, the horrific scorpion thrower and Rufus the drunk.
Cleopatra, Rufus and the scorpion thrower are set up inside tents. Albeus and Marcus are set up outside and wander around between turns.
The Circus
The action took place within one of Rome’s Circuses or chariot racing arenas. The troop of entertainers had been give leave to camp in the Circus and were busy rehearsing a play. As well as the stands for the spectators, there were several tents and cages for the entertainers animals and piles of stores. The minor plot points could be set up anywhere as long as they were at least 6″ from the table edge and other plot points.
The player league started the scenario as the director. John set up Lucius and his mob anywhere on the table, as long as they were at least 6″ away from any plot points.
Lucius deployed his mob in two groups. The Servants of Apothis then deployed. They were allowed to deploy any where on the table as long as they were more than 6″ away from any plot points and at least 1″ away from any enemy models. The Serpent Priest positioned himself to make his way to talk to Cleopatra as soon as he could and deployed his missile armed Miltant Cultists where they would have a good field of fire with three hiding among the crowds in the stadium.
There were no perilous areas on the table, but as soon as a character placed a burst or rolled a shoot or brawl dice the whole table became a perilous area as the Vigils attempt to apprehend them.
The Serpent Priest uses a blast to try to slow down Fabius & Marcus
The Serpent Priest has made it inside Cleopatra’s tent and has avoided the perils of her pet snakes. Before long he has used his oily charm and has discovered the whereabouts of the ancient relic that is being searched for. The player who resolves the first plot point can nominate which of the remaining plot points is the major plot point, the ancient relic.
Once we had discovered that the ancient relic was in the Scorpion Throwers tent, both Lucius and the Serpent Priest rushed towards it. Lucius got there first, but the Serpent Priest attacks him from behind to slow him down. A vicious brawl develops. In the meantime Fabius is having a chat with Two Fisted Marcus. He eventually persuades him that they are the good guys, and Marcus agrees to help them out by joining there league for the rest of the scenario.
The Militant Cultists mingle with the crowd and reign down a largely ineffective barrage of thrown weapons and bow fire on Lucus’ Mob.
Outside the tent of the Scorpion Thrower the melee continues. The Serpent priest lands a blow on Two Fist Marcus that has him crashing to the sand before Lucius fells him with a sharp undercut. Neither men get up.
Lucius pulls back the tent flaps and strides inside carefully avoiding the scorpions and other horrors within the tent. Before long the Scorpion Thrower is spilling the beans and reveals that the Wand of Destiny is in fact hidden at the bottom of her scorpions basket.
The Campaign so far:
Handy Links:
Pulp Alley: Two fisted adventure gaming rules for any genre!
The Might of Rome: Sally 4th’s range of Roman soldiers & citizens
Gangs of Rome: An exciting game of gang conflict in Ancient Rome
Lindsay Davis: Author of the Marcus Didius Falco and Albia series of novels set in 1st Century Rome. Highly recommended inspiration for 1st Century adventuring. Lindsay hosts a ‘Listen with Lindsay’ Zoom reading once a month on a Tuesday evening which is highly recommended.
What a brilliant idea for a Tomb of the Serpent campaign. Can’t wait for future reports. Fantastic Terrain and figures. A lot of work has gone into this.
P.S. Love the Pulp Alley U.K. facebook group you’ve set up.