InvitationToBuckland

Gentlemen Adventurers : Chapter One : Europe 1839

Session 002: An Invitation to Buckland Abbey February 1839

GentlemenAdventurers

The Party

ArnoldTodgersHamelton - DaveF

WallaceTiffinSmythe - PeteN

GladstoneArchiboldThynne - TimE

LadyMacBeth? - CathyE

RevGabrielSpooner - AdrianW

Events

Returning to the Inn after a hard day shooting ChartistRebels Gladstone is met by the 'man' of the local Baliff Name? inviting him and his illustrious companions for supper, which he graciously accepts. The others return late, and on hearing the news hire 3 horses and a guide from the Inn keeeper for the chilly 10 mile dash across the snowy moor. Arriving in the historic Buckland Abbey frozen and weary they are treated to a 'regional' supper, and some interesting discourse with the owner and his house guests. Including the adventuress LadyMacBeth?, younger daughter of the Thane of Cawdor. Invited for a days' shooting the party stay over at the abbey and meet the other 'house guest' the worthy victorian naturalist RevGabrielSpooner, who performs the evening sermon and then joins the party for some conversation. The following day the party shoot winter grouse; it becomes a competition in excellence of shooting between Todgers and LadyMacBeth?. Todgers 'elects' to loose but it was not always certain that it was his victory to give! After the days' shooting is completed the party discuss their mission with the house guests and all agree to investigate the gorge the following day. The party make it back to the Inn to collect their gear and re-employ JohnnyMay to guide them to the cave. 'Misguided' Johnny guides them to a small and dissapointing cave, but Walla notices he did not follow the same path as before and suspects a ruse. JohnnyMay is sent home and Wallace uses his unerring sense of direction to find an interesting trail that leads up to a cleft in the side of the gorge. 'Distracted' As they climb they hear the crys of a wounded man, and around the next turn find a wood-cutter bleeding profusely from his hand, and asking for aid in getting back to the village. Again the party suspect a ruse and give first aid to the woodsman - revealing the cut is not as bad as first thought. They send the woodsman on his way and press on up th hill. 'Guarded' As they get to the cleft the party find and entrance to a larger cave, and from within they hear an ominous growling. Carefully approaching Wallace sees two chained guard dogs in the entrance, which Gladstone shoots at (grazing one), nearly deafening both him and Wallace. Wallace withdraws from the cave 'awkwardly' bashing Gladstone, who carries on blasting until the dogs are dead. The party enter and find a well used cave with a 15' drop at the end, with a well mounted rope to allow easy decent. 'Ambush'

Sources

• www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk Buckland Abbey Picture et.al.
• link