The Wind and the Lion

"...a small village east of Rabat"..."It is good to know where we are going..." It is 1904 and in Morrocco, Mrs. Pedecaris and her two children have been kidnapped by Mulai Ahmed er Rasuli, Lord of the Riffian Berbers. President Roosevelt has despatched a squadron of ships with Marines to rescue her. This is the storyline of the 1975 film of the movie name above, starring Sean Connery as the Rasuli and Candace Bergen as Pedecaris and the basis for my next engagement. Here is the view of the Barbers bent on rescuing their leader; then the village itself and finally a closeup of the Marine detachment led by Captain Jarome and including the already rescued Pedecaris. They demand to see the er Rasuli...

Turn 1:

The German officer refuses to admit the party...a nervous German lets loose with a shot (and misses) and the game begins. The Marines get the initiative and gain two kills. Five Germans open fire and they all miss...good start for the rescuers! von Roerkel (in center next to his bugler) orders assembly!

One gun crew maneuvers their piece through the gateway and opens fire, but it is short. (Yes I know they are Airfix Arabs, not Berbers, but I needed the troops)

Turn 2:

Germans get initiative and they let go with five more shots at the Marines, and again all they get is a Pinned! The gun blasts away and gets the first Berber. The Marines score miss but Pedecaris drops a German. (Bergen did say in the film she had shot grouse and quail in Carolina and Scotland and it was hard to miss with the shotgun!) von Roerkel's men open up with a deadly volley however, scoring 6 kills, while the two guns add another.  Score so far: 0 US; 2 German; 7 Berber

Turn 3:

Marines gain initiative back and storm into the building where the Rasuli is hanging upside down as prisoner. The Morroccan Bashaw (brother to the Rasuli) charges Pedecaris (not a good idea when she is carrying a shotgun) and is Shaken by her shot. The Marines get a Kill and a Shaken. The Germans, firing on the charging Berbers, get another 7 kills in additional to a Shaken. One gun opens fire defensively with canister and drops 2 Berbers as well as a Shaken...ouch! The second gun is pulled back into the village to cover. But the charge strikes home on the first crew and in melee, both gunners are gone. German fire on the Marines again is for naught...where did Roosevelt get these guys?!

Turn 4:

The Marines get the initiative yet again and with it, Pedecaris finishes off the Bashaw (..."you accursed woman!") AND cuts down the Rasuli. The Marines are now safe inside. The German fire drops another 7 Berbers along with another Shaken, but the charge continues. The Berbers dismount for better fire control (and I really wanted to use my REAL Berbers who are on foot!)  The Berber fire gets 2 Shaken and a Pin. (Many of the Germans have cover on the rooftops which gives them a +1 on defense) Score: 0 US; 6 German; 26 Berber

Turn 5:

The Germans regain the initiative, and get 3 more of the Berbers, but the remaining gun fires defensively and misses! The Berbers (inc the Rasuli himself) get both gunners. (Unlike in the film, the Berbers who manhandles the captured gun missed with their one shot). The Germans by the gate add another Berber and a Shaken. Two Marines go on the roof of their position but miss their shots.

Turn 6:

Berbers keep initiative and charge through town towards von Roerkel and his men. Some German defensive fire only gets 1 Kill although in melee, two mounted Berbers fall to two Germans fighting for their lives!  The Berbers score 3 and a Shaken. von Roerkel's men then open their fire

and add another 2 Kill and 1 Shaken to the mix. The turn ends with the Marines dispatching the lone German back on the roof. 

The climatic moment (as in the film) occurs when the Rasuli charges von Roerkel and engages him in melee! It is over quickly as the Rasuli disables but does not kill. The fight to free the er Rasuli is successful. 

Score: 0 US (they did live a charmed existence in this game!) 16 German and 38 Berber. A great little recreation. Look forward to seeing how it goes next week at Genghis Con. Remember, if you have any questions or comments, please do. May your die always be in your favor! Till the next fight.