The Rani Strikes Back

The Rani or was she a Begum? Saw the Mutiny as an opportunity to redress the many oppressions and exactions put upon her and her people by the Company.  As a hereditary prince she could rely on the support of her people if she went to war.  Gallant horsemen would follow her banner and her tripartite guard of hereditary soldiers, oath bound Ghilzais and Baluchi swordsmen would fight and if necessary die for her.  Her artillery though was ancient and probably could not be moved from the city walls.  Latterly the Wahhabis of the city had offered themselves as holy warriors willing to destroy any Ferenghees she cared to name.  All in all, it was not enough and as a British column approached with the intention of garrisoning her city she reviewed her forces.

Unit	Armament	Combat Die	Defence Die	Short Range	Medium Range	Long Range
Matchlocks	Musket	D8	D10	0-2	2-4	4-6
Ghilzais	Jezzail	D12+1	D10	0-4	4-6	6-8
Baluchi	Swords	D10	D8	0-2	0	0
Wahhabis	Swords	D10	D8	0	0	0
Zemindaris’	Carbine	D10	D6	0-1	1-2	2-3
Zemindaris’	Carbine	D10	D8	0-1	1-2	2-3

The long range Jezzail of the Ghilzais would be an advantage and from behind the walls her matchlock men would fight effectively.  The Baluchi and Wahhabis would charge bravely but without artillery there was little hope of success.

Then the Sowars and Sepoys entered the city proclaiming their allegiance to her family and begging her to lead them against the British.

 

Since their leader Ahmed Khan had looted the treasury before leaving his life with the Company the Rani graciously accepted the money and his services and decided to fight.

Unit	Armament	Combat Die	Defence Die	Short Range	Medium Range	Long Range
Sowars	Carbine	D10	D6	0-1	1-2	2-3
Sepoys	Musket	D10	D6	0-2	2-4	4-6
Sepoys	Musket	D8	D6	0-2	2-4	4-6
Battery	9lb Smoothbore	D12	D8	0-5	5-10	11-18
Battery	9lb Smoothbore	D12+1	D8	0-4	4-8	9-16

The Sepoys and Sowars were trained soldiers and the artillery men were perhaps more skilled than the British. Still she would take no chances.