This is not one of my games, but a new game from Two Hour Wargames that I recently received. I remember reading the novel Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea and watching the films (I think there was more than one; it's been a while.). However, my fondest memory was the ride at Walt Disney World.
However, in the past decade or so, that and a number of my other favorites have disappeared, to be replaced by, at least in my view, lesser attractions. For that reason, I saw playing this game as my revenge against Disney. Now I understand the idea of out with the old and in with the new; I just choose not to accept it. As such, a number of characters on my Star's side are named after rides, attractions, and shops at Disney that I loved and now miss.
Let the voyage begin . . .
I awoken on a cot inside a vessel of some kind. My clothes were missing, replaced with standard attire for a navel crew. This was strange.
Stumbling out of the room, I found myself in a large room with various devices smoking, rotating, and humming.
"So, you're back from the dead," said a voice to my right.
Turning, I saw an older gentleman leaning against a post with his arms crossed.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"You're aboard the Nautilus," he answered, standing straight and spreading his arms.
"The Nautilus?" I knew that name. "You're Captain Nemo! I thought you were dead."
"Not quite yet," he responded. "And you are?"
"Jakob Kare," I answered. "I was aboard the Minne, a passenger ship out of Oslo."
Nemo nodded. "We found you adrift in a longboat. It seems your vessel was attacked."
"It was," I said. "A British ship mistook us for an enemy ship and attacked before we could identify ourselves."
"Unfortunately," he continued, "you were the only survivor. Did you have any family aboard?"
I nodded, tightening my fists. "My dog, Merlin. He and I were rushing for the longboat when he vanished in a ball of fire right before my eyes." I raised my eyes to his. "Hey, you're on a mission of revenge against them, aren't you? If so, I'm in!"
"Actually," Nemo said, "I'm retiring soon."
"But you can't retire!" I glared at the legendary captain. "Those cods haven't learned their lesson yet!"
A smirk appeared as he watched me. "Which is why I'm looking for a captain to replace me. Now I like your fire, but I don't know if you have what it takes."
"Follow me."
He led me through the corridor and to a room. Opening the door we entered his personal cabin. He took a seat behind his desk and pointed to a map. "I'm want to see, Jakob Kare, if you have what is required to command this ship. So I'm going to sending you on a series of missions, directing you from here. Complete these missions to my satisfaction, and this ship will be yours to do with as you please. Do you accept?"
I didn't even hesitate. "When do we start?"
"First, I sending you to Kasur to collect food for the crew."
"Food?" I asked. "I can more prove myself by sinking a ship or two."
He smiled as one would to a student who failed a test. "Your crew cannot fight on empty stomachs. Gather food, and then we'll talk next."
Jakob Kare (Star): Rep 5: Crack Shot (rolled at random), Quick Reflexes (chosen), SAR.
Mr. Toad (Grunt): Rep 4: Agile (Random), SAR.
Mr. Mars (Grunt): Rep 4: Logical (Random), SAR.
A few hours later, I made landfall in search of food. I brought with me two of Nemo's crew; a short but seemingly agile man named Mr. Toad, and a tall, thin, introspective man named Mr. Merlin.
While searching, Toad noticed three individuals approaching us.
After studying them, Mars pointed. "They're Berber Militia."
We tried talking with them, but they ignored us. Some time later, we had gather enough food and returned to the Nautilus.
"Well done," Nemo said to me. "Although that was an easy mission. While we're here, explore the rest of the island. It might become a useful base."
I set off again with Toad and Mars as we traveled inland from the coast.
It didn't take long for us to run into trouble as three drake lizards charged us. Toad shot two of them while Mars killed the last. My shots missed completely, and I grew concerned. Fortunately, my crew expressed respect for my courage and continued to follow me.
Some time later, we ran into more Berbers. Apparently they were following us to see if we were a threat. Upon learning that we weren't, they greeted us and vanished into a brush.
An hour later, we found three more Berbers who were gathering food. They showed us the best places to extract food, and we thanked them and moved on.
Returning to the Nautilus, I reported back to Captain Nemo.
"The island is inhabited by a group called the Berbers. They didn't give us any trouble and possibly we can form an alliance with them if we are to use the island as a base."
"Well done," he said. "But again, an easy challenge. Perhaps next-"
"Captain to the bridge. British vessel in the vicinity."
We heard the call Mars and Nemo looked to me. "You wanted to face a British ship. Here's your chance. But if you fail and damage my vessel, I'll bury you in Atlantis . . . alive!"
"Yes sir."
I rushed to the bridge and faced Mars. "Captain Nemo gave me the bridge. Report."
"One vessel," he answered. "It looks like a cargo transport."
I saw it through the periscope. It looked like it was shipping guns and supplies to one of their many forts.
Smiling, I turned to my helm officer. "Charge that ship."
Bringing the Nautilus just below the water's surface, we lunged ahead. Suddenly, the ship turned at the last second and we flew right past it.
"Are they fleeing?" I asked.
"Negative," came the answer. "They're arming cannons."
"Dive, bring us just out of the line of sight and circle them."
Once they lost sight of us we charged again.
Direct hit! We blew through the ship like paper, and I grinned widely as I watched the hull, along with its cargo, sunk below the waves.
"For you, Merlin."
Afterwards, I rolled Increasing d6 (Since the first two encounters were pretty short, I waited until the Navel Battle before rolling).
Jakob improved to Rep 6.
Toad improved to Rep 5.
Mars did not improve.
The adventure will continue next time.
Adventures with Captain Nemo is available now from Two Hour Wargames.
