[WW] Dunkirk

[Soothsprayer <hercubadger@yahoo.com>]

[Dunkirk]

This idea is more orientated towards Commonwealth
soldiers but there is no real reason why a few yanks
couldn't be thrown in if wanted.

Dunkirk, where the British Expedition Force (BEF) was
forced back to the English Channel and surrounded by
German Forces. Faced with certain extinction, the BEF
were rescued by the brave deeds of their countrymen
and the sheer arrogance of their enemy. With the
Panzers called off and the Luftwaffe left to finish
the deed (a task they certainly did not seem prepared
for), the BEF were given the luxury of time to escape.

Yet this is Weird Wars. So why were Panzer legions put
on a short leash and the BEF allowed to continue its
tenuous existence? Perhaps because with victory
against the BEF certain, the opportunity to use the
situation as an open air laboratory could not be
ignored.

The Luftwaffe were never tasked with destroying the
BEF. Instead their role was to keep the BEF contained
within the area and continually under pressure.
Harassment rather than destruction. The Panzer
divisions were there to act as security against any
form of breakout, no matter how unlikely, and to
present themselves as a credible threat.

Perhaps the German High Command took this opportunity
to test bed a few of their more esoteric weapon
designs. The weapons that work best out of the light
of day and had so far seen only limited action. 

Perhaps the Blood Mages were able to practice their
arts against a relatively captive audience. Machines
and constructs. Abominations and  demonic desires. In
this controlled situation the German High Command
could observe and judge which weapons were best suited
to the battlefields. The research conducted here would
be put to good use against the Russians in a years
time. 

How does this relate to the PCs? This is more of a
hook for the WM's who want to go along the lines of
more Weird and less Wars. Have the PC's be part of the
retreating units as they're forced back to Dunkirk.
The mishmash of units allows the PC's to come from
many different branches of the military (including
pilots) while still being given the opportunity to
interact with one another.

Trapped on the beaches, low on everything including
hope, the PC's are confronted with things that just
should not be. Creatures, designs, phenomena. Let your
imagination as WM go wild.

Inter-mix the encounters with air raids and false
leads towards a Panzer assault. The PC's should have
no knowledge that the armoured divisions have been put
on hold for the time being. Let the lack of sleep, the
fear, the uncertainty, and the apparent hopelessness
of the situation take hold. Keep the encounters coming
but without really intending to harm the PC's at this
time. Just keep an eye on their reactions and
judgements. Could be some good roleplaying in there.
Feel free to wipeout a few NPC's just to keep the game
honest. A little carnage now and again does the soul
good.

Next comes the Allied reaction. As you're no doubt
aware a small fleet of boats arrived to withdrawal the
desperate soldiers. Along with the boats throw in the
Allied equivalent to the Blood Mages. Let them conjure
a great fog to conceal the battlefield allowing the
withdrawal to occur without overt Luftwaffe
interference.

Once the withdrawal has been completed have the now
exhausted and utterly demoralised PC's thrown into the
stockade. They've seen too much and would hurt the war
effort with their tales of the fantastic. They have to
be kept isolated from the common contingent. 

Perhaps they "volunteer" to join the infant OSI. The
choice is simple, join or sit the war out as
prisoners. 

So Dunkirk could be an introduction to the game for
WM's wanting things fast and furious along the Weird
angle. Good chance to scare the buggery out of your
PC's at the very least.

Cheers,
Mr. B

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