The (Solo) Adventures of Solomon Kane

In the centre of Manningtree, Matthew Hopkins has gathered a crowd to hear him speak. Surrounded by his guards, he proceeds to denounce Solomon Kane and the Roundheads.

“A false Puritan has entered thy midst, friends. Let not this charlatan, this devil in the guise of the faithful sway you from the path of righteousness. This county is rife with witchcraft and the machinations of Lucifer, and at the centre of it all is the accursed Solomon Kane and his Roundhead allies. Be not deceived that these soldiers represent the will of the Parliamentary army. Why, liver Cromwell himself is a good Puritan man, and would regard this scum as rogues and heretics, were he aware of how they abuse there office.

:And here they come now, the Devil’s Troupe, come to cloud they better judgement with their lies. Pray with me good people, pray for courage to stand with me against evil.”

And sure enough, Solomon Kane approaches the square accompanied by Thomas Downes and his Roundheads, the magistrate and such villagers who dare oppose the Witchfinder General.

Well, I may have got this slightly wrong as there is a Talk option with Hopkins, so maximum Compassion (which I have) together with the bonus from the Virtue, Providence, should be enough to get the higher level required which is 12+. We will see.

Kane speaks with the villagers and asks them if they have any reason to think any of these women had anything to do with witchcraft before the accusations.

He feels a doubt rising among those who had seemingly pledged their allegiance to Hopkins. In return, the Witchfinder General begins to look abut him with growing alarms as he sees the crowd being swayed by Kane’s declarations.

The more Kane speaks the more the crowd grow restless and turn their ire against this false Puritan, the man who condemned their friends and created such a fear in the village.

Solomon Kane completes his testimony against the Witchfinder General and the mood of the crowd changes tangibly.

“This is a heretic bearing false witness”, splutters Hopkins desperately. “If you believe this liar, you’re doing the Devil’s work!”

“Get ‘I’m”, shouts someone from the crowd, and as one they surge forward. The Witchfnder’s guards are pummeled and kicked, and beat a hasty retreat. Hopkins draws his sword and slashes at a villager lunging for him, but the blow is deflected by Solomon Kane’s blade. the Roundheads and the magistrate’s guards push through the throng and seize Hopkins.

“What shall we do with him?” the magistrate asks Kane.

Kane turns to Thomas, “Well?”

“My Jessica was ducked in the pond by this monster, I say we give him a taste of his own medicine”.

The verdict is popular and a protesting Hopkins is dragged to the pond and ducked below the surface thrice. His sodden, semi-sensate body is hauled from the water and dumped at the county border. Kane moves on to his next adventure, where some weeks later the news reaches him that the Witchfinder General had died from a flux of the lungs, likely brought about by his ducking. Justice has been served.

New adventures await our indomitable Puritan.