JAI HO SINGH’S RIDE
JAI HO SINGH’S RIDE
by Reginald Winkie
(with apologies to Henry Wodsworth Longfellow)
LISTEN, my children, as to you I sing
Of the three day ride of Jai Ho Singh,
On the fifth of August in eighteen-nine-oh:
Hardly a man is still on the go
Who remembers that event occurring.
He said to his sister, Maryam, ––“If the Iron Amir has conveyed
Breechloaders to the Yusufzais, as you say
Then I must ride to the sahibs and spread the alarm,
Before the Tribesmen strike with those modern arms!”
Then he climbed on his horse and said farewell
To his beloved Habibi, with whom he did dwell.
His comrade-in-arms wished him Godspeed,
He hoped & prayed Jai Ho would succeed,
And return home alive, a living monument to Khalsa pride.
For three days on rode Jai Ho Singh,
While jezails and Sniders took shots at him,
A wound he sustained, yet he stayed on his game–
Then from one jagged cliff a Ghazi charged,
Hoping from his saddle Jai Ho to dislodge,
“Allah Akbar!” the Ghazi cried as he raised his Tulwar over his head,
But Jai Ho thrust his saber up and his own eyes saw red,
And before his Tulwar could strike, that Ghazi dropped dead.
Jai Ho Singh rode, under cliff and over hill,
Still bleeding from his bullet wound until–
A kindly local took pity on him,
And gave him thirst-quenching water to regain his trim,
And then on August the 8th, at long last,
Jai Ho reached the Malakand Pass!
Then thanks to that same uniform which drew the foe,
The picquets of 9th Gurkhas waved for him to go through,
To the Dargai Cantonments of 2nd Brigade Peshawar Field Force,
Where with little ado he made his report,
Concerning news from the Iron Amir’s court,
Of trading rifles for a prisoner he could use to extort,
To which Brigadier Stewart Ruff-Husband did retort:
“Jemadar Jai Ho Singh, 2nd Punjab Cavalry, Piffers, Retired…
I salute you—truly you are the Khalsa’s pride!”
A report that shall echo on into time!
For borne on the hot-wind of the Past,
From the dawn of the Raj, until the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
Sepoys and sowars, both active and retire-eed,
Shall accomplish their mission, on foot or by steed,
No matter the odds, no matter how slim,
They will get the job done–just like Jai Ho Singh.
* * * * * *
SPECIAL RULES FOR THIS SOLO GAME:
Jai Ho Singh has to cross 3 tables (each 10′ long) worth of ground before reaching the North end of Malakand Pass.
Flip 3 cards per table for POTENTIAL EVENTS with following results:
RED card = no interference, Jai Ho Singh RIDES ON
BLACK card = some form of enemy presence/interference/action
LOW # BLACK CARD (2-6) = low threat (1-3 shooters)
HIGH # card (7-10) = moderate threat (1-6 shooters)
FACE card = severe threat (2-12 tribesmen or Ghazis or tribal cavalry, depending on further die roll)
Black low threat = die roll-off, one black die vs. 2 red dice, if Black wins, triggers an AMBUSH
Black moderate threat = die roll-off, black die vs. red die, if Black wins, triggers an AMBUSH
Black high threat = die roll-off, two black dice vs. 1 red die, if Black wins, triggers an AMBUSH
BLACK JOKER = ADDITIONAL EXTREME THREAT (avalanche or quicksand or blunder into Afghan Regular Army unit or Mullah’s caravan, depending on further die roll)
RED JOKER = SOME SURPRISE HELP/RELIEF (lost patrol of British or Indian troops, horse farm with sympathetic Native owner who provides fresh horse, sympathetic Native Healer who helps tend a wound, depending on further die roll)
AMBUSH = roll D6 (2 D6 for severe threat) for number of tribal ambushers (all shooters unless rolling 2xD6 for „severe threat“, then 50/50 shooters/sword-&-shield)
BRIGADIER RUFF-HUSBAND: „And you’re quite sure about this?“
JAI HO SINGH: I wouldn’t be here otherwise, sir. I trust the source as if they were my own family — and they are placed within the Arg Palace in Kabul.“
BRIGADIER RUFF-HUSBAND: „Good god, man… this will complicate things! Still, you’ve certainly earned supper on the Queen Empress tonight — and a look-see from old Doc Watson our old regimental surgeon and now my brigade medical officer for that shoulder!“
JAI HO SINGH: „Thank you, my Colonel — sorry, General.“
BRIGADIER RUFF-HUSBAND: „No, Jai Ho Singh, thank you!“
* * * * * *
SUMMARY OF THE GAME:
Out of 10 potential events, Jai Ho Singh was shot at twice by 2 shooters each time.
He was hit once, sustaining a LIGHT WOUND.
He was Charged by one Ghazi. He chose to countercharge and in the resulting melee he killed the Ghazi – melee dice: 4 vs. 1.
On his very last event card (red joker) he was then aided by a kindly local who gave him water, which helped him recover from his light wound and continue on to the Malakand Pass.
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Autor: Mad Guru / MAIWAND DAY
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