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Barker's Trail
BARKER'S TRAIL - A NEW SWEENEY TODD RPG.
PLEASE READ THIS SCENARIO CAREFULLY
Benjamin Barker has been transported to
After a number of years of imprisonment and hard labour at Port Jackson near
We now know, of course, that Barker later changes his name to Sweeney Todd and ends up on a ship with Anthony Hope – but what were the series of events which brought him through
Although the authorities were not normally too concerned about the escape of a prisoner (the harsh Australian environment and wildlife normally dealt with them) this case is different. Barker is skilled with a blade, intelligent and driven by a desire for revenge. The Prison Governor orders immediate action by the police to re-capture Barker.
And so begins Barker’s Trail. Where did he go, what did he do? Who did he meet? How did he meet Anthony? How and why did they end up on the “
These are the main characters:
Benjamin Barker
Harper, The Prison Governor
McBride, The Chief of Police
Potts, The Detective in charge of finding Barker
Lewis, The Captain of the
Anthony Hope
The story so far...
Just to whet your appetite, here is the story as it is developing over on Barker's Trail.
If you want to be a part of the story, please sign up and choose your character (or make your own!)
PORT JACKSON PRISON COLONY, AUSTRALIA, 1852.
Benjamin Barker sat forlornly in his cell. He had been awake for about ten minutes, and contemplated another day with growing despair. He had awoken in exactly the same manner for over four long years now following his transportation to the Australian penal colony at the behest of that evil wretch Judge Turpin back in London. He never got used to the unspeakable sights, disgusting smells, inedible food and all the other interminable discomforts which had become an indelible part of his everyday life. The best he could do was think - they could take away anything from him, but they could not take away his mind.
Although he hailed from what might be described as the "lower" classes, Barker had discovered as he grew into adulthood that he had a quick wit, sharp eye and a skillful pair of hands on him. He soon found that his peers regarded him as something as a leader and he made a name for himself as one of the finest young barbers of his generation. Everything seemed to be going so well - a burgeoning business with an increasingly respectable list of clients, a beautiful young wife and daughter (ah, his gorgeous Lucy and Johanna - how he doted on them) and a reasonably nice place to live. Then all of a sudden - everything changed.
Yes - every morning was miserable for Ben. But this one was worse than normal. He had been placed in solitary confinement for twelve days for fighting with another convict who had dared imply that Lucy must have been a sleeper.
A commotion outside his cell door caused Ben to look up....
Rowan was having another frightening argument with the guard who watched over the prisoners in solitary confinment.
"Sir, If I could just have a quick look and make sure that all is well I can be on my way!" She pleaded. Her father may not have been able to make the guard as little as look in his direction, but a young teeneage girl her age would not have a problem.
The guard snorted. "Let you, in there? And why would i do that?" He fumbled around to find his keys.
Rowan forced a plastered smile. "Please sir. It would only take a moment."
She was never afraid of the prisoners here. In fact she took quite well to some of them. Her father wasnt around here much anymore, but that didnt bother her. She knew too much about the place to really leave it. She knew how many of the prisoners had no right to be there, and treated the way they were, but what could she do about it?
Ben, looking up, gave a smile as he recognised the raised voice outside his door. It was Rowan, whose father worked in the prison. She was quite often around, which intrigued Ben because the prison did not really seem a very suitable environment for such a young girl. He had a soft spot for Rowan. She had that same mixture of feistiness and vulnerability that his own beloved Lucy had. And at least she was a welcome relief from the prison staff - rough and vulgar men, little more than criminals themselves, who treated the prisoners with brutality.
Rowan was at the age when Lucy and Ben had been chilldhood sweethearts a lifetime ago. Rowan had the same eyes as Lucy and, despite her red hair, could almost be the same flesh and blood. The smile disappeared from Ben's face as he realised that his own daughter, Johanna, would soon be around the same age as Rowan. Would he ever set eyes on her again? Ben felt despair as he contemplated just how many thousands of miles separated him from London. As the voices outside the door became more angry, Ben felt a new surge of determination. I will escape from this hell hole, he thought. And I will return to London to take my revenge on Judge Turpin and reclaim my darling wife and daughter.
He had no idea how he was going to achieve it, but he had no doubt that achieve it he would, or die in the attempt. He also felt sure that Rowan would somehow feature in the events to come....
Rowan, finally persuading the guard to let her in, stood outside the door to Benjamin's cell. The guard fumbled with the keys trying to find the one that matched. He finally unlocked it and opened it just enough for her to squeeze inside.
"Well, thank you," she said and forced her way into the cell with a small bucket of clean (Well, as clean as you would get) water. The guard slammed the door closed behind her. She heard him lock it back up. Her eyes adjusted to the light. She smiled at the familiar figure across from her.
"Hello Benjamin." She said almost delighted to see him.
"Hello Rowan. Any news from the outside?" Ben asked as he moved on the bench for Rowan to sit.
Rowan sat on the bench next to him, setting her bucket carelessly on the floor next to her.
"None really." She said and smiled. "How are you feeling?" She felt terrible for him. She wanted to get him out very badly and was willing to anything to help him.
"Same as always." said Ben. "What's in the bucket?" he asked curiously.
She glanced at the almost overflowing murky water. She rolled up her sleeve and pulled out a small money purse. It was heavy with all the money she could find.
"I don't know how helpful this will be, but here." She said handing him the bag. The amount seemed measly to her, but she really wanted to help.
Ben took the bag.
"Thank you. It will let me buy some stationery and send a letter to me Lucy."
She nodded. She didnt know really what she was going to do, or how she was going to do it.
"So, how's that escape plan coming along?" She joked in a low voice, so the guard outside the door wouldn't hear them. She snickered a bit at her own joke. Escaping here, was sure to be difficult.
Ben looked up at her.
"Well," he said in a hushed tone, "You knock out the guard... That's all I could come up with."
