tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66823898603434494222024-03-18T18:14:32.313+01:00The Ooh Shiny ComplexTrying to take life one project at a time and failingRuaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-4852608129961189772024-03-18T18:14:00.001+01:002024-03-18T18:14:00.155+01:00Turn 53: The Thrappled Lemmings Help the Beer Flow (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> Wido woke one morning with a sore shoulder. By the end of breakfast, everyone else was sick of his complaining, but still it went on. To get away from the moaning, Drogo and Fulrad headed off to train until the group was ready for today's patrol. Sigrid the Beggar was in Fikaby at this point and she told Lysanthir something useful about the surrounding area. Her travels gave her access to a lot of information, and it was quite likely, Lysanthir surmised, that she was more than just a poor beggar. Nevertheless, he gave her a few gold pieces to tide her over and keep her on side.</p><p>With the business of the day sorted, the Thrappled Lemmings headed out on patrol once more.</p><p>"The beer must flow," was Lysanthir's explanation.</p><p>"The beer must flow," chorused the others.</p><p>Their patrol began well, and they encountered Arngrim the Priest who told them that the roads seemed much safer already, but that he had seen some dodgy people on his journey. He directed the Thrappled Lemmings to the place where he had seen them. The party headed off in that direction. It was heartening that Arngrim had not mentioned seeing any Orcs at all, so these must just be the usual run of the mill robbers.</p><p>As they patrolled up the road, they heard cries from up ahead.</p><p>"Stand and deliver! Your money or your life!"</p><p>"Ah, no, please, I don't have anything of value. I am just a poor merchant!"</p><p>"Ha! A 'poor' merchant? Yes, I have heard that one before. And, of course, you always pay your taxes on time and in full! Hah! Right! Hand it over! All of it! We are tax collectors, not robbers, and we are here to ensure that Jarl Bodvarr receives his rightful share, so that he can continue to protect people like you from robbers and brigands and bandits."</p><p>The Thrappled Lemmings needed to hear no more. They raced forward, splitting up to cover both sides of the road.</p><p>"Ware Lemmings!" cried a look-out, who had seen them approaching at the last minute.</p><p>The bandit leader ordered his men into position. The merchant, who did not look that poor after all, took the opportunity to race off to safety in the woods.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqaaHqZKoErgb8-1ST-mv7r9Qe5G7XNfgKW2_EwYbLIvm7Ld6Sd6N9_tPUARTULHP-U2OTg_FRBxnzpstHodl1NsPTG0fGCZTJZeoXYEQRZe-XmN0gRdVD7dqVpzAuQnK48QgWelZluDgmtc5P4o-IJPMXS3mwgSgvvcJp_LNGUe1A8XYNLtt7sCdWO0x/s3880/P1020941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2166" data-original-width="3880" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqaaHqZKoErgb8-1ST-mv7r9Qe5G7XNfgKW2_EwYbLIvm7Ld6Sd6N9_tPUARTULHP-U2OTg_FRBxnzpstHodl1NsPTG0fGCZTJZeoXYEQRZe-XmN0gRdVD7dqVpzAuQnK48QgWelZluDgmtc5P4o-IJPMXS3mwgSgvvcJp_LNGUe1A8XYNLtt7sCdWO0x/w640-h358/P1020941.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>"I really don't need this," moaned Wido, "My shoulder hurts."</p><p>Onesipe started the fight by firing at the armoured bandit who had given the warning.</p><p>"Tis but a flesh wound," cried the bandit.</p><p>One of the bandit crossbowmen fired at Onesipe and wounded him. Onesipe returned fire and wounded the bandit, who fired back again and laid Onesipe out.</p><p>The bandit leader and his sidekick attacked Fulrad and Wido, but were pushed back and Wido wounded the sidekick before killing him. The wounded crossbowman took to his heels at this point. He had done his bit and someone needed to survive to tell Jarl Bodvarr what had happened to his taxes.</p><p>Wido and Fulrad attacked the bandit leader and it was not long before the leader had fallen. Drogo and Sir Thiebault did the same on their side of the battlefield and slew a bandit. As the bandits fell one by one, it became too much, and the last two bandits fled for home, both wounded. The Thrappled Lemmings held the field once more and were now certain that the beer would flow, as it must. The crossbow bolt that had felled Onesipe had merely knocked him out, and he was soon up and complaining about his headache just as much, and just as irritatingly, as Wido was complaining about his bad shoulder.</p><p>The merchant had fled leaving a bag of elegant triptyches that the Thrappled Lemmings would sell well and another sack of fine cheeses and bottles of wine, so the Lemmings could count the day a proper victory. They returned to Fikaby for a celebratory ale.</p><p>"Well, that's the roads open again. What say we head back to the Temple and plunder it for all it's worth?" Lysanthir asked the group. A hefty debate ensued as they considered their options.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-59281961459541673372024-03-17T10:57:00.002+01:002024-03-17T10:57:22.303+01:00Turn 52: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Bad Wolves (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> Once more the Thrappled Lemmings were feted by a tavern keeper. This time it was the owner of The Brimming Stein who paid their bills and benefited from their presence. Even with the cost of the various breakages, the owner came out ahead on this deal. Wido spent a Mark on getting the dent removed from his helmet, while the others spent time meeting and drinking with the locals. Based on the tales told in the tavern that day, it was a wonder the Lemmings were not each 10 feet tall, so great was their prowess in battle. Then it was time for a trip to the market, where more Tonic was purchased and they sold as much loot as they could. Lysanthir also spent some time researching the tales of monsters in the fog. He identified this monster lair as being near Haitabu.</p><p>With the business of the day seen to, the Thrappled Lemmings chose to go on patrol in a bid to make the area safe for beer deliveries everywhere. As they patrolled the area around Fikaby, they chanced upon some unsavoury types making life hard for a humble pie maker.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLIvjCHSsNu7kvXAvMu51q6V5Vd2h9dsNGnydp82_zEbEMITzFPStZNYeJp_fcfPi5jws0bTNd_01LsP5JWDODAXhS4SnfiO6yqqN2wzuCNHsDMh8j82mE7rEcbAtumlFNHK-qU7qAGDntOuxkDljeKr3xI-KZKcFzMcO6NedI_0aygmwfvsr-HYRaNJN/s3611/P1020934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="3611" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLIvjCHSsNu7kvXAvMu51q6V5Vd2h9dsNGnydp82_zEbEMITzFPStZNYeJp_fcfPi5jws0bTNd_01LsP5JWDODAXhS4SnfiO6yqqN2wzuCNHsDMh8j82mE7rEcbAtumlFNHK-qU7qAGDntOuxkDljeKr3xI-KZKcFzMcO6NedI_0aygmwfvsr-HYRaNJN/w640-h382/P1020934.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>"Wolves," announced Fulrad, "and they have an Orc champion with them. Can't allow that, can we?"</p><p>The Thrappled Lemmings split into two groups to cover more ground. They needed to scout the area to make sure they had cleared out all the wolves before they were done. Lysanthir, Onesipe and Wido took the left flank and the others the right.</p><p>Fulrad, Drogo and Sir Thiebault advanced quickly through a wooded grove and made sure it was clear. They could hear the wolves ahead of them, but could not see them yet. The area was covered in small copses and low hills, so it was not possible to see far at all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRvKHOYiivPwGoPm687h3JvkxzpUUWX7BjHF0yVDqu-zRk9d7EgTIohpnUoczTsf6WYu8JoHe2baIqQxkdxy3mhAKXk7gRZwO0AmvGGJvg3raKS1t5GcmtaPSdqkmfsQbz8zk04e028BeMHLqajED9uJJ6Eb80qgaFseWQbafOadZMpwa6xaQqyk5sF1G/s1834/P1020937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1834" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRvKHOYiivPwGoPm687h3JvkxzpUUWX7BjHF0yVDqu-zRk9d7EgTIohpnUoczTsf6WYu8JoHe2baIqQxkdxy3mhAKXk7gRZwO0AmvGGJvg3raKS1t5GcmtaPSdqkmfsQbz8zk04e028BeMHLqajED9uJJ6Eb80qgaFseWQbafOadZMpwa6xaQqyk5sF1G/w400-h276/P1020937.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Onesipe and Wido were the first to see wolves, as they crested a low rise. They paused and took aim. Onesipe's crossbow shot wounded a wolf, and Wido finished it off with a bow shot. The remaining wolves charged forwards and were soon snapping at our heroes. As a wolf came rushing forward, Fulrad wounded it with an arrow, then Sir Thiebault stepped in and cut it down. Onesipe wounded the champion with a crossbow shot, and Wido finished him off with an arrow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZILKy98qzhwomiiMD2rBiSOtYwa8MmZjRClalPVODEmj1ytZ-8veXZb9tUw-amqIWm1pwKmW8C6mc4up_4iwe_bqKfH3qWtDoXIeIynjcY0wiojxvu46_wsTXE7L2LQOhyphenhyphen5w9PRLgx9no3UYT1HOtUMzQcgQcDRZq5uLMwx7kP_dl_Fldb11d07ZGEWc/s3484/P1020940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3195" data-original-width="3484" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZILKy98qzhwomiiMD2rBiSOtYwa8MmZjRClalPVODEmj1ytZ-8veXZb9tUw-amqIWm1pwKmW8C6mc4up_4iwe_bqKfH3qWtDoXIeIynjcY0wiojxvu46_wsTXE7L2LQOhyphenhyphen5w9PRLgx9no3UYT1HOtUMzQcgQcDRZq5uLMwx7kP_dl_Fldb11d07ZGEWc/w400-h366/P1020940.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Suddenly four more wolves burst out from the top of a wooded hill nearby. They charged the Thrappled Lemmings and soon Wido and Drogo were in a desperate fight for their lives. Wido drove back his attackers and wounded one of them. Drogo was wounded himself. Lysanthir cast a quick healing spell on him. Fulrad shot one of the wolves and this loss was too much for another of them which fled with its tail between its legs. With the wolves' numbers much reduced, the Thrappled Lemmings were quickly able to defeat the rest of them. Barring minor cuts, none of them were hurt, so they looted the corpses and headed back to the Elf's Rest for a hearty dinner and a post-prandial drink or three.</p><p>From scouting the corpses and from a crude map in the pouch of the Orc champion, the party leared of two areas that could bear exploration and might be sources of loot. They also found a bottle that Lysanthir identified as Fiery Wine, a magical potion that allowed a person to breathe fire for a short while.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-35077498588484222152024-03-16T20:05:00.003+01:002024-03-16T20:05:37.427+01:00Turn 51: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Bandits' Trap of Inescapable Doom (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> It was harvest time and Fikaby was a hive of activity, as the Thrappled Lemmings could clearly see. They were fascinated by this and were offered pay if they would help out, but they decided that watching other people work was hard enough without actually exerting themselves to do it too. This created a bit of bad feeling, and they found themselves being charged a supplement for their dinner. Drogo spent part of his time at the healer, being ministered to and declared himself fit to fight shortly after. Meanwhile, Lysanthir spent time practising his spells and doing research. He soon discovered that one of the monsters in the fog had its lair to the west of Elsfjord Kloster (-6 Adventure Points). While this was going on, Onesipe was at the market buying more Tonic. It was pretty much a certainty that it would be needed again soon.</p><p>Later, the Thrappled Lemmings prepared to march out of Fikaby. Their plan was to patrol the area for the last remnants of the Orcs, who were hindering trade and robbing people. Their secondary goal was to find a small chest that one of the village elders had been robbed of. It did not take long for them to chance upon a likely group of unsavoury Orcish robbers who were up to no good. The robbers challenged the Thrappled Lemmings to hand over their worldly wealth, but the Thrappled Lemmings were reluctant to do so. And that is how the fight started.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1esEjNSiWww6XRifRptg8AoIBqW-PzKZj9TOj-2YAr5Vk_GkW-eVF8aWerSmEkSnxa7Ljds9zl-21vnbY7zIW9NUVwsJznmkAMzmE5CdYL0zO-lGIeC5YmDql09Srrr_wKnhA2OZtuYTTxG_x-WcHQEfDGKG8KOZcAHAwp_a_WUNQcUoAuYxygik_D-R/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1esEjNSiWww6XRifRptg8AoIBqW-PzKZj9TOj-2YAr5Vk_GkW-eVF8aWerSmEkSnxa7Ljds9zl-21vnbY7zIW9NUVwsJznmkAMzmE5CdYL0zO-lGIeC5YmDql09Srrr_wKnhA2OZtuYTTxG_x-WcHQEfDGKG8KOZcAHAwp_a_WUNQcUoAuYxygik_D-R/w640-h446/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red arrows show Orcish movements. Blue show the Thrappled Lemmings</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Wido raced over to the nearest bandit and was promptly wounded. Driven back, he gave the bandit time to fire a shot at him and he was taken out of the fight. The bandit sergeant raced up the hill towards Fulrad. Sir Thiebault charged. The bandit sergeant died. A new group of bandits appeared as Lysanthir recovered the box. Fulrad and Onesipe fired as fast as they could but their shots did not count for anything. Drogo raced to the fray in the field and slew two bandits in quick succession. Soon there was nothing to see but dead bandits near the road and the dust from the two who chose discretion over valour. Wido was unwounded, but his helmet had taken a solid hit and was damaged.</p><p>The Thrappled Lemmings returned to town, where they learned that monsters had taken up residence in some old ruins near Haitabu. They toasted this potential new source of income and drank the night away together, happy that Wido was unharmed.</p><p><i>That went a lot quicker than expected. The only problem was Wido getting carried away and charging on ahead of the others. He will know better next time, we hope. As it happened, Drogo just carved his way through the bandits who arrived as a result of the Unknown Enemy marker. My missile troops were rubbish though. There is now a new delve on the map, and we have identified a previously unexplored area as a monster lair. It would be really quite easy to continue this campaign until the map is completely full of adventure sites with the way the random events go. So many side quests, so little time!</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-44497781080517227182024-03-10T19:12:00.004+01:002024-03-10T19:12:52.719+01:00Turns 49-50: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Mist-Clad Warband (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> The day dawned bright and full of promise, in part because Drogo was still alive. Fulrad had found a nearby cave that seemed dry and they had all camped there for the night. Sir Thiebault had spotted a large stag and had gone off in pursuit, and Lysanthir was out looking for herbs and medicinal plants. Onesipe's first job was to feed Drogo some Tonic to help his healing. He would still not be able to fight on this raid, but he would live and they could collect him from the cave on their way back from the raid.</p><p>Sir Thiebault retured a short while later. Jarnhauss the Mule was laden with animal pelts that could be sold for a goodly sum at market. Lysanthir returned with two portions of Springwind Berries. He and Sir Thiebault ate them as the party headed out to the Orc camp.</p><p>Fulrad reported back to the party, "Doesn't look like there are many of them, but there is some kind of Hellbeast with them. I don't like it!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGLm0pPOiHuO_gJcMGQf5CgH8QYzRuh928jNbXitWSMQPoInpG3bwVh2KXtF-yR4GXs5Mx5rg139_SzWO8gDOmihVjlfhhMfRpU_8PxP3Y6i9C7pkdNTRDaw77iR-AYvheyvG46VI8fB8n-rmCX3m5wZVNmI9cfv3mYPMhKXyqHAScm445xcWCWVMZKDs/s2386/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="2386" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGLm0pPOiHuO_gJcMGQf5CgH8QYzRuh928jNbXitWSMQPoInpG3bwVh2KXtF-yR4GXs5Mx5rg139_SzWO8gDOmihVjlfhhMfRpU_8PxP3Y6i9C7pkdNTRDaw77iR-AYvheyvG46VI8fB8n-rmCX3m5wZVNmI9cfv3mYPMhKXyqHAScm445xcWCWVMZKDs/w400-h265/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The party made good use of cover and it was only when Fulrad crested a rise on a low wooded hill and had a view to the camp that they were spotted and the alarm was called. Fulrad's first shot only annoyed the Infernal Spawn and it responded by charging up the hill at him. As this action unfolded, Lysanthir called out a warning.</p><p>"There's more of them coming!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SOTC4ZQGzbC7nCGQGKcVe2e1E6xGY6uGOh8l1PVbUB8JYH_BzTCvKazz2-fjbTCGIaroRX8wWZTycKQHUVmd4P7YGleBlH15E5Hr_SrEmsviDmRu8KVpngP-v8eQd2MfL13N-iPDVidKAajAafIOqd0Va2uod1LseXCkE3L_A0z1YmaqK215hK6lPFE0/s2361/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="2361" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SOTC4ZQGzbC7nCGQGKcVe2e1E6xGY6uGOh8l1PVbUB8JYH_BzTCvKazz2-fjbTCGIaroRX8wWZTycKQHUVmd4P7YGleBlH15E5Hr_SrEmsviDmRu8KVpngP-v8eQd2MfL13N-iPDVidKAajAafIOqd0Va2uod1LseXCkE3L_A0z1YmaqK215hK6lPFE0/w400-h286/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>He had spotted a new group of Orcs returning to the camp. As he called out this warning, Wido raced to join the melee. The Trollslayer engaged the Infernal Spawn and cut it down with two strikes of his trusty war spear. He quickly drew his bow and loosed a shot at an Orc archer, wounding it. A rapid melee followed. Two Orcs died and one discovered that it wanted to be somewhere else instead and took rapid steps in that direction. Of the remaining Orcs, two were wounded, including their commander who bellowed at them to attack the Lemmings. The last of the Orcs attacked and were quickly cut down. Even the Orc lieutenant proved no match for Sir Thiebault, who dispatched him easily.</p><p>With none of their number hurt this time, the Lemmings had plenty of time to loot the Orcs' camp. The loot was good too. A pair of magical boots, some camp gear and a decent hoard of gold Marks were added to documents indicating the summoning site for the Infernal Spawn, a place that might be worth investigating further.</p><p>"Well, I reckon those Orcs are not going to be bothering us again any time soon," commented Sir Thiebault.</p><p>"There will be songs sung in the taverns about us now, right enough," said Lysanthir.</p><p>"Yup, I'm looking forward to hearing The Ballad of Wido the Hellspawnslayer," Wido agreed.</p><p>Lysanthir gave Wido a sour look and then The Thrappled Lemmings gathered everything up and headed back to where they had left Drogo. They would leave for Fikaby in the morning.</p><p>As it turned out, the following day was miserable. Still, they fed Drogo more Tonic and prepared to set out. As they did so, a humble priest begged leave of them to shelter in their cave. He introduced himself as Godi Jon, a godi without Hof or home but who roamed Utavoll to wherever his services were needed. The Thrappled Lemmings shared their breakfast with him, told him their tale and then each parted in different directions as friends.</p><p>On the way to Fikaby, Sir Thiebault hunted and returned with two large wild boar that would feed the Lemmings for ages if they preserved the meat. Lysanthir foraged for herbs and found a single dose of Springwind Berries.</p><p>Upon their arrival in Fikaby, all the talk was about a monster that had been spotted in the fog. It appeared that spotting monsters in the fog was fashionable now.</p><p><i>That's a lot of </i>Five Leagues from the Borderlands<i> this weekend! The Orc threat has been destroyed and I can see an end point in sight for the campaign. There are a few levels of The Temple delve to complete, and I feel like the Lemmings would ride patrol so that new trade can come in to the settlements. Beyond that, it is tempting to clear out all these monster lairs. There is likely to be a lot of treasure in these places, so the Lemmings would gravitate towards them. That could mean a dozen more turns, depending how badly Drogo gets injured each time, but I do not see the current arc continuing beyond that. I have made mistakes with the rules along the way, and still find myself missing things occasionally in the heat of battle, but I am happy with how it has all gone so far, and do not feel like the mistakes have advantaged or disadvantaged me in the long run. I wonder if all of the Lemmings will survive to the end of the arc though. Drogo seems to be getting hurt more and more. On the other hand, Wido is really turning into a monster killing machine, so maybe he can keep Drogo alive if I run out of Story Points for that purpose.</i></p><p><i>I do not have </i>The Ancient Land of Dust<i> supplement, so it is tempting to get that, but I prefer physical books to pdfs, which leaves me on the fence, even if it would provide a new direction for the next arc. Ah well, there is still time, and I do plan to focus on something else for a while after this campaign reaches a natural stopping point.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-34844863392546318542024-03-10T16:45:00.002+01:002024-03-10T16:45:17.419+01:00Turn 48: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Ravening Man-Beast (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> With their recent victories over the Orcs, the Thrappled Lemmings found themselves being feted in the Drunken Kobold and did not have to put their hands in their purses for a while. They made the most of this, but the tavern keeper still came out ahead as the locals flocked to the tavern to meet the heroes of the hour. Despite the free beer, Sir Thiebault and Drogo spent time training, while Lysanthir talk their most recent haul of loot to the market to sell it. He also took the opportunity to buy more Tonic. He had a feeling they would need it again, so best to stockpile. With the business done, the Lemmings reluctantly left the tavern and hit the road. They had heard of an Orc camp to the north in Orkheim and were going to burn it to the ground. The Orcs were causing a lot of trouble for the locals and hindering both trade and beer deliveries.</p><p>The journey to the camp was uneventful. It rained a bit and Wido complained a bit, but this was normal. The mountains of Orkheim were hard going, The advantage to them was that there was plenty of cover, so sneaking up to scout the camp was easier than usual. The main body of the Orc force was gathered around a camp fire in the ruins of an old mountain person's hut. Other Orcs were on heights around the place as sentries.</p><p>"Bad news," announced Fulrad, who was the Thrappled Lemmings' designated scout, "They are Orc main force warriors and they have a Ravening Beast Form with them."</p><p>"A what?" asked Onesipe.</p><p>"A werewolf, dumbass!" replied Fulrad, "Don't get bit!"</p><p>Onesipe muttered at that but held his peace. He knew better than to squabble when they were preparing to attack someone.</p><p>"Right, follow me. I think I have found a way to get close to them without being seen too soon," declared Fulrad.</p><p>He led the way. The party wormed their way around the hills and across the rocky ground. They had got as far as a rocky hill before Fulrad was spotted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-67brBtp4PwddB2Su23jZMcG2byYwnuYdhCNoJbRoGN13kFr6vzma0IN5FpYsCS7Z6jDkdgvwEMIJtYgutkqjWTJuPfAPuwUFaDretrIAQfz4ptw-07uvx-NhXdwnf-6vYcKx1WIaf8vBiJ9PNK4KH3TREwcwIjKYcGJPNUA2P1cOemruT7yPensH20-V/s2659/P1020924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="2457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-67brBtp4PwddB2Su23jZMcG2byYwnuYdhCNoJbRoGN13kFr6vzma0IN5FpYsCS7Z6jDkdgvwEMIJtYgutkqjWTJuPfAPuwUFaDretrIAQfz4ptw-07uvx-NhXdwnf-6vYcKx1WIaf8vBiJ9PNK4KH3TREwcwIjKYcGJPNUA2P1cOemruT7yPensH20-V/w370-h400/P1020924.JPG" width="370" /></a></div><p>"CHARGE!" yelled Sir Thiebault, because it was now tradition that he do so.</p><p>Suddenly, there was a horde of Orcs charging towards the rocky knoll that Fulrad was standing on.</p><p>"Orcs, lads! Fahsands of 'em!"</p><p>As the Orcs raced towards them, the bulk of the party took up a position on the rocky knoll that made it hard for the Orcs to reach them easily. The archers of the party loosed arrow after arrow, but only Onesipe wounded an Orc. Sir Thiebault charged the flank of the Orcish advance and slew the first hostile. The Orcs were not made of stern stuff, and this caused one of their number to flee. Lysanthir took this opportunity to race for the Orcish camp.</p><p>"I'll check and see if there are more of them there!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsq93nXxjJSfOhCcOba3squHrRy50lzYEhCMvHN4NCKhpM59n2NGrahUQ4WXacBF16JCLQW8fdFihaeSI6R3fBhW39dsaXKuQS93ZbiNYtyNKe6GLL9KIZo8yE4w1bmvTzVtEvDv8KqHSmLee3f4M-RKaD210qCim4SuXHaFdX_C0AYRePbOp4Vj3uR3/s4608/P1020925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsq93nXxjJSfOhCcOba3squHrRy50lzYEhCMvHN4NCKhpM59n2NGrahUQ4WXacBF16JCLQW8fdFihaeSI6R3fBhW39dsaXKuQS93ZbiNYtyNKe6GLL9KIZo8yE4w1bmvTzVtEvDv8KqHSmLee3f4M-RKaD210qCim4SuXHaFdX_C0AYRePbOp4Vj3uR3/w400-h300/P1020925.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>As the Orcs swarmed the hill, Fulrad was wounded, but his Harness of Vengeance inflicted a wound on his opponent and he pushed it back. The werewolf assaulted Drogo and cut him down as if he wasn't there. It's bloodlust up, it immediately leapt at Wido who fended it off for a moment and then thrust his spear through it. This was more than its regenerative powers could handle and it died impaled by Wido's spear. With their leader dead, the Orcs were demoralised. That did not stop three of them charging Sir Thiebault, who cut each down in turn, although he was wounded in the process. Wido slew another Orc and Lysanthir looted the Orc camp. The remaining Orc looked at the corpses of its comrades and fled.</p><p>"That's another Orc camp pacified," announced Sir Thiebault as he and the others bandaged their wounds and checked on Drogo who was very badly hurt and would clearly take a while to heal.</p><p>As they did this, Fulrad was checking around. He returned to the group a short while later.</p><p>"Hey, I found tracks leading away. I followed them and there is another camp with more Orcs nearby. I know we have weakened the Orcs considerably, but we should probably do something about that now."</p><p><i>So, the final random event of the turn turned up another Orc camp in the same area. I guess this is the dice's way of telling me to finish off the Orcs!</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-80876857427971650562024-03-09T18:49:00.001+01:002024-03-09T18:49:00.142+01:00Turns 46-47: The Thrappled Lemmings Recover (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> It took a couple of weeks for the rest of the party to start talking to Lysanthir again. It helped that Lysanthir found a wandering healer to help Fulrad. Between the Tonic they fed him, trips to the healer and plenty of rest, Fulrad was soon ready to get his revenge on the Orcs. While it cost them half their savings, they reckoned it was for the best, and they would recoup the money soon enough.</p><p>As soon as Fulrad was better, the Lemmings sat down to plan their next raid. There was an Orc hideout to the north of Fikaby and within a half day's travel. This would be their target. They set out. Many a black look was directed at Lysanthir, who knew to take the hint. He would not run this time.</p><p>The Orc hideout was well defended and well fortified. Large Orcs massed on the battlements with archers and there were sentries all over. The rocky hills here provided some cover, but the last part of the approach would be over open ground. This could get messy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgXAtlcVnn6kC1TGYtduAIBWWo-BeDnu0l2QY7H4VsRZ4-ylAfruJ5ELiP4j9ZOo2ttlQwwCdAISEt1w5xlAwHvc1v3FJ_Nq9_qc5hO3iojC2kGp3HYnE7DKaf_gpaksGbGR3YcodD66o-HT8VQ1euQw3k1Fpf9jBvcLKe5OXTKbAwChU88WERkLxifrg/s3400/P1020921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="3400" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgXAtlcVnn6kC1TGYtduAIBWWo-BeDnu0l2QY7H4VsRZ4-ylAfruJ5ELiP4j9ZOo2ttlQwwCdAISEt1w5xlAwHvc1v3FJ_Nq9_qc5hO3iojC2kGp3HYnE7DKaf_gpaksGbGR3YcodD66o-HT8VQ1euQw3k1Fpf9jBvcLKe5OXTKbAwChU88WERkLxifrg/w640-h338/P1020921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Thrappled Lemmings took up position on a hill overlooking the Orc's hideout. Lysanthir, determined to prove himself, raced off from their position towards one of the sentries. He was spotted immediately.</p><p>"CHARGE!" yelled Sir Thiebault unnecessarily; the Thrappled Lemmings knew the drill.</p><p>Arrows flew. An Orc was wounded. And suddenly Orcs were swarming from all over towards the Thrappled Lemmings. Sir Thiebault was the first to engage an Orc with his sword and soon found that these Orcs were tougher than average. Fortunately, his armour held. Drogo raced to aid Lysanthir, whose desire to right the previous wrong had got him into real trouble.</p><p>Drogo ploughed into the side of an Orc. Several blows later, it lay dead. Sir Thiebault was wounded by the Orc he faced. Onesipe and Wido quickly ran out of ammunition without hurting any Orcs. Lysanthir fought furiously against the Orc but the only thing that kept him alive was his Ring of Protection which warded off the blows. Eventually, he managed to sneak a blow in below the Orc's guard and it fell, but it had been close. Meanwhile, the remaining Orcs were storming towards the Thrapple Lemmings and their archers were firing from the battlements, wounding Drogo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-B1y_IpHlHBrofvAFG0bqVxZUwJnYcnjmNeG6pKDFukPiKY6lQExv3-ogkL471xikzYWWmKYje0NPFzT3VWfS6SZCjU7D9MG9CHtoFPcF3emgfNWSdr42VTKzkJMUp65G_kpaNtgqdOuVsQnmFwfSV261syCKSSMezipxSC-cOBYbd76eBQ1z8CUoEw0p/s3703/P1020922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2694" data-original-width="3703" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-B1y_IpHlHBrofvAFG0bqVxZUwJnYcnjmNeG6pKDFukPiKY6lQExv3-ogkL471xikzYWWmKYje0NPFzT3VWfS6SZCjU7D9MG9CHtoFPcF3emgfNWSdr42VTKzkJMUp65G_kpaNtgqdOuVsQnmFwfSV261syCKSSMezipxSC-cOBYbd76eBQ1z8CUoEw0p/w400-h291/P1020922.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Wido charged in to aid Sir Thiebault. The Orc died, caught unawares by the flank attack. In a lull in the fight, Sir Thiebault and Drogo both bandaged their wounds, only for Drogo to be wounded again as one of the Orc captains assaulted him. The other captain attacked Wido and was driven back. An Orc soldier then died at Wido's hands.</p><p>The Orc archers concentrated their fire on Lysanthir, who was nearest them. Luckily, his pocket diary took the hit for him as one of the arrows struck his chest. However, it was too much for one of the archers, who ran upon seeing his comrades falling.</p><p>Then Fulrad put an arrow straight through the ears of one of the Orc captains. He pumped his fist and turned to find a new target. Sir Thiebault and Wido worked together and soon Wido was able to slay the captain. With their captains dead, the remaining Orcs were quickly slain or fled as fast as they could. The Thrappled Lemmings held the field and the supplies that the Orcs had been stockpiling. They took the valuables, destroyed the rest and returned to Fikaby for dinner. While eating their dinner, they learned that a monster had been spotted in the fog. No one knew where its lair was though.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-62105147301029733922024-03-09T12:49:00.001+01:002024-03-09T12:49:10.487+01:00Turn 45: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Massing Orcish Horde<p> The day dawned, as it always did for the Thrappled Lemmings, with a slight hangover and an emptier purse. This time, though, the Lemmings' funds were lighter than usual. Someone had robbed them in the night, or perhaps while they were drinking and not paying attention. Either way, 2 Marks were missing. A further 2 Marks bought them food for a while and a visit to the healer for Drogo cost 1 Mark more. The Lemmings were feeling flush, so they did not worry too much about the missing money. They could find the culprits and give them a good thrashing later. Lysanthir took time out to pray to the gods of the Fey. He felt that lately the Thrappled Lemmings needed a bit more help than usual. Afterwards, he felt blessed, as though the communion had had a positive effect.</p><p>While Drogo was at the healer and Lysanthir was praying, the others headed to the market. Pickings were slim, but they managed to sell all their loot and buy some Tonic for the next time that Drogo got injured.</p><p>With everything that was going on and Orcs massing close to Fikaby, the choice of what to do next was easy for the Lemmings. They packed up their gear and headed off to the Orc camp that had sprung up near Fikaby. With any luck, they could scatter the Orcs and be back in time for last orders at the Tankard and Turtle.</p><p>They found the camp in the sparsely wooded, rocky hills to the north-west of the village. The Orcs had set up camp on a hill with good views across the landscape. It would be hard to get close to the main camp where the Orc leader was haranguing his minions with a voice like a drill sergeant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_G7gvIbGUJ-cIx4227pfpBloc25K-bCt7M3BHbRD-K4H0aHira325-1ovlU_bsRHfyy6uRdK7KiqMO5lWe5STE3l4NNEmgtRmFHTV8w2G0LMlV7sSWD43C6t7DJW_edDVvsdL0MdtX_7Rgqrx2DMy4QmLpUhXyS_sKH5_TEDMhIyK5DVsF3ylNLv71og/s3144/P1020918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="3144" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_G7gvIbGUJ-cIx4227pfpBloc25K-bCt7M3BHbRD-K4H0aHira325-1ovlU_bsRHfyy6uRdK7KiqMO5lWe5STE3l4NNEmgtRmFHTV8w2G0LMlV7sSWD43C6t7DJW_edDVvsdL0MdtX_7Rgqrx2DMy4QmLpUhXyS_sKH5_TEDMhIyK5DVsF3ylNLv71og/w640-h368/P1020918.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Thrappled Lemmings split into two groups. They would try a pincer movement to roll up the enemy force. All went well until Fulrad reached the edge of a wooded grove. Suddenly a previously unseen Orc sentry shouted the alarm.</p><p>"CHARGE!" yelled Sir Thiebault. He liked yelling "CHARGE!" It made him feel in charge.</p><p>Fulrad opened the engagement by shooting an Orc in the back. Well, he tried anyway, and realised that he had forgotten to restock his quiver. He only had two arrows left. Onesipe shot an Orc sentry, and the others advanced. The Orcs round the camp fire spotted Lysanthir and all charged him. Overwhelmed, he staggered back, bleeding. Drogo charged the Orc leader after Fulrad's second last arrow bounced off his armour. The leader drove Drogo back. Lysanthir retreated and bandaged his wounds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlNXaUgImiNoBwfLi4182_gaELysH39siLVQ4y1x06DelvjwoE0qNPZ3XotWf6bt_0-ZV0_DvyJLQmpda9KgVIIS_09S4jO00qWhCBhpAmBUENV9zvF_oza66emLbQ0PTpQovPD924F3iRZiI9dS4XkkNl-_3ZOy0mix6lgW2JDxN1S5MBYuPSa7XmCmx/s1633/P1020919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1633" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlNXaUgImiNoBwfLi4182_gaELysH39siLVQ4y1x06DelvjwoE0qNPZ3XotWf6bt_0-ZV0_DvyJLQmpda9KgVIIS_09S4jO00qWhCBhpAmBUENV9zvF_oza66emLbQ0PTpQovPD924F3iRZiI9dS4XkkNl-_3ZOy0mix6lgW2JDxN1S5MBYuPSa7XmCmx/s320/P1020919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile, Wido shot one of the Orc archers by the fire and wounded it. The Orc leader stepped forward and cut Fulrad down without even breaking a sweat, only to fall himself as the curse on Fulrad's Harness of Vengeance took its toll. Lysanthir now stood along against three Orc hunters.</p><p>Wido shot and killed an archer. Sir Thiebault charged the camp but the Orc was made of tough stuff and all his blows did little more than stun it. The wounded Orc shot Sir Thiebault and wounded him. Beset by three Orcs, Lysanthir was slowly driven back. In a brief pause in the fight, he took the opportunity to flee.</p><p>"I knew these Thief's Boots would come in handy one day," he muttered as his legs carried him back to Fikaby and a restorative ale.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkOAbp3Gq2zxvqNrRLuIrcIj7Ky4D48nD38xutf5AgmsfEZgXwiD87Onrlc4bjof0kq9lL2jcgmveXYGEZPaMDEEqAIhAJzKXNb51GHSbnaoyibClUZAtTaFhKmXQJSL46SOZfJg4l0nMWWc8ne7qEPC30dKN4N8JC0JiHFZOb8aoCI15lsj8gCe8kU5w/s2977/P1020920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="2977" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkOAbp3Gq2zxvqNrRLuIrcIj7Ky4D48nD38xutf5AgmsfEZgXwiD87Onrlc4bjof0kq9lL2jcgmveXYGEZPaMDEEqAIhAJzKXNb51GHSbnaoyibClUZAtTaFhKmXQJSL46SOZfJg4l0nMWWc8ne7qEPC30dKN4N8JC0JiHFZOb8aoCI15lsj8gCe8kU5w/s320/P1020920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Orcs that had been chasing him turned their attention to Sir Thiebault, whom Wido was racing to support. With that, the fight was soon over. Sir Thiebault and Wido slew the remaining Orcs in short order and the remaining Lemmings set about plundering the camp and checking their comrades in that order of importance. Drogo had just been knocked out, but Fulrad was seriously injured and would be out of the fight for a while.</p><p>As they searched, they realised that the Orc leader was a key member of the horde and that his death would hinder the Orcs efforts against the village.</p><p>The Lemmings returned to Fikaby in time for a hearty meal and some good ale. They did not speak to Lysanthir, but did learn from the innkeeper that a plague had broken out at Elstein Kloster.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-92119317147181608562024-03-07T18:31:00.001+01:002024-03-07T18:31:26.993+01:00Deadly Woman Yie: Pilot Episode (Warfighter: Shadow War)<p> I've been playing a bit of <i><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/261624/warfighter-shadow-war-modern-night-combat-card-gam" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Warfighter: Shadow War</a></i> lately to try to get my head around the night rules. They are not that difficult, but they require you to track more things and it feels like my brain is ossifying lately. I mentioned the game to my poor, long-suffering friend Steve, because I thought it was quite cool tooling around in an SAS Land Rover with the <i><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/333413/warfighter-shadow-war-expansion-63-desert-storm-op" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Desert Storm: Operation Granby</a></i> mission pack, as I have done for the last few games. His reluctance to play a Gulf War themed game is understandable, and I share it to some extent, but I got carried away with Land Rovers. So, I have decided to start a new military-themed K-drama to try to persuade him that <i>Warfighter</i> has merit and could be something we play at some point. I know he likes K-dramas.</p><p><i>Shadow War</i> does not include a lot of player nations. Fortunately, it is 100% compatible with the main <i>Warfighter</i> game and the hostiles in the base game are North Korean. So, I grabbed the <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/299693/warfighter-expansion-53-south-korea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">South Korea pack</a> and set up a quick mission. Very quick, as it turned out. I picked the mission GO GO GO! because it is short but I did not expect it to be as short as it was. The mission card told me how many points I had. I then chose the objective which was to stop an escaping VIP by destroying his helicopter. After that, I picked the insertion and extraction method, in this case entrance and exit by Zodiac, with a view to what skills I would need for my soldier. I knew it would only be one soldier because 27 points does not buy you a lot, especially when you have to pay for night skills and gear.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsz4HS0wq73KB38W6pfAr_ZGoFRvvzfA1-rZ8rUsYXodiDmI74idY9ZgyvQ3Dxj8IaZRIMVe5rPt26eir-2DyeLrphT9g60BP4BSfYj-0I_LJzLGKdU_PZXHPXfpJ7HUMmiQfmz153lyCFtiBovf3YsXNflBuwxWE6FS_pUPrtC0Ns2H5xfqi0pxUCGVJh/s1256/Yie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1256" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsz4HS0wq73KB38W6pfAr_ZGoFRvvzfA1-rZ8rUsYXodiDmI74idY9ZgyvQ3Dxj8IaZRIMVe5rPt26eir-2DyeLrphT9g60BP4BSfYj-0I_LJzLGKdU_PZXHPXfpJ7HUMmiQfmz153lyCFtiBovf3YsXNflBuwxWE6FS_pUPrtC0Ns2H5xfqi0pxUCGVJh/w400-h253/Yie.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sergeant Yie is ready for action</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The soldiers in the base game do not have <i>Shadows</i> skill or night vision goggles, which is the main difference between the two sets. Given that the game is about sneaking, I chose <i>Shadows 8+</i> skill (the best you can get in the game) and a set of <i>3rd Gen Night Goggles</i> for my soldier. I also picked out a suppressed K7 SMG and equipped it with 3 mags of heavy, subsonic ammo (Black Ammo: it makes less noise so you know it makes sense). Then I chose my soldier when I knew how many points I had left. Yie fit the bill nicely and there were a few points left over to buy a couple of grenades in case things went south and some covert gear to improve her chances of things not going south.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKmEMDKxKZQUqP9o7Eg7ng5W5QhOq8LbdBiBSvv25ELNOD5eeX3TF3dQsj-BjXoW_ZBeJl7SNbfewezICxYeAPrKzdClL1kiyggVZ7eDDeD1OrFQqeEqTAE2MOLf4v002E9BeU-Pqkwb-hy8cwDP-4Akq2_BJMvJYQZtLjUmh__0zTJDos2Itrkgra7I_/s3437/P1020894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3068" data-original-width="3437" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKmEMDKxKZQUqP9o7Eg7ng5W5QhOq8LbdBiBSvv25ELNOD5eeX3TF3dQsj-BjXoW_ZBeJl7SNbfewezICxYeAPrKzdClL1kiyggVZ7eDDeD1OrFQqeEqTAE2MOLf4v002E9BeU-Pqkwb-hy8cwDP-4Akq2_BJMvJYQZtLjUmh__0zTJDos2Itrkgra7I_/w400-h358/P1020894.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game setup. Dice tower to the right. My team at the bottom. Cards to draw at the top and the mission, objective, insertion and extraction cards on the game mat.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After that, it was time to see how the mission went. The chosen insertion method reduced the game length by two turns, so I would have to keep moving to succeed.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Deadly Woman Yie (Pilot episode)</h3><p><i>Scene: A briefing room. An angry Major in army uniform is yelling at a young woman wearing the stripes of a sergeant.</i></p><p>"You're all we have, Sergeant Yie! If there were anyone else, I would use them! You're a maverick and a danger to all those around you! I don't even know how you have avoided being dismissed from the army so far! Well, don't mess this up! Your mission is to head to [REDACTED] Airfield and intercept General Vega M. Elk. We know he has been meeting with his North Korean counterpart to coordinate the activities of his Shadow Corps with their own actions to destabilise the Republic of Korea and our allies. GO THERE! GET HIM! AND DON'T MESS THIS UP!"</p><p>Spittle flew from Major E. Vent's mouth as he yelled this last. Yie was unmoved. She had heard it all before.</p><p>"Yes, Sir!" She affirmed and turned to go off and pack her gear, assuming that she was dismissed. Major Vent watched her back balefully.</p><p><i>Scene: A river bank. Text on the screen tells us this is [REDACTED], North Korea. A black rubber raiding craft approaches silently across the water. Understated music builds tension.</i></p><p>Sergeant Yie piloted her Zodiac into the reeds beside the river bank. She slipped stealthily over the side of the small boat into the shallow water and moved confidently but quietly forward. Ahead she could see the lights of a small airfield. She scanned the area carefully with her nightvision goggles, and spent a moment to consider the open field ahead of her. It was quiet. Too quiet. As she paused, hostiles approached.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrRwJms6xfJCLOTPtJifvBfrtEfA_-dCR9V9V2KKagp_Y957zEK1PK5Ln8gseBHYYwsm6wctOe6t7bf8mOw4QKTVQrzfHC-N5iSTMjlh7yQI8rAPIPNOiC3_pX29b2jAeznCo-UHuIzCXnu3s0NQwxXl3pwp-3obCUbqawyLKjII74vEQFfT5hn1OuHHh/s3014/P1020896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="3014" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrRwJms6xfJCLOTPtJifvBfrtEfA_-dCR9V9V2KKagp_Y957zEK1PK5Ln8gseBHYYwsm6wctOe6t7bf8mOw4QKTVQrzfHC-N5iSTMjlh7yQI8rAPIPNOiC3_pX29b2jAeznCo-UHuIzCXnu3s0NQwxXl3pwp-3obCUbqawyLKjII74vEQFfT5hn1OuHHh/w400-h198/P1020896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p> She had been right not to head out immediately. She sank back into the river bank and waited. The hostiles approached and she flipped on her goggles. It was a patrol of soldiers. They were sharing a cigarette and seemed oblivious to her presence. As she watched, they approached her position. She was ready to shoot if she had to, but she hoped they would pass her by ... for their sake.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3br7GbA4oMb93qkuTP5BowEJ_fsdnoi34mXhN08OZr4d02N-Hzdtd94whyphenhyphen8Gp9oYCzgIBvs9kxmB8kedmbhGSP5GF-d8TBiAPS3xrM6HX_1JDYD04egGUEvNS1a_e-gw-d-gzDh0ee_uVMGLP4DSdnYDZJnSs5MEqw4eGi49kUeaDvsRDJ2O7oiamUTm/s3666/P1020900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="3666" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3br7GbA4oMb93qkuTP5BowEJ_fsdnoi34mXhN08OZr4d02N-Hzdtd94whyphenhyphen8Gp9oYCzgIBvs9kxmB8kedmbhGSP5GF-d8TBiAPS3xrM6HX_1JDYD04egGUEvNS1a_e-gw-d-gzDh0ee_uVMGLP4DSdnYDZJnSs5MEqw4eGi49kUeaDvsRDJ2O7oiamUTm/w400-h143/P1020900.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Luckily for the hapless and careless soldiers, they just walked right past her. She moved out into the field, keeping low. Ahead she could see a black helicopter with the maroon Elk horns logo of General Elk on it. The pilot was doing pre-flight checks. Nearby she could make out more hostiles. She moved in and prepared to engage.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokMHGHk0tPQ6SrrAnK-tU4QMDCstSyNgtxobpYxBtOgwfXXWX2RVn0QLX4CnjFYP7Ve2rkFvpZUei3teq5bEGsElhO2NW4o5sndJOeIzQ-2qkz5NAdGAF4A4lyyGCb17IGVRShw3lGAG-V4skc7We_oZHsVFFs6pwjHoBrwW_YzHWgaqyp_330CGm-qsZ/s3582/P1020903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1897" data-original-width="3582" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokMHGHk0tPQ6SrrAnK-tU4QMDCstSyNgtxobpYxBtOgwfXXWX2RVn0QLX4CnjFYP7Ve2rkFvpZUei3teq5bEGsElhO2NW4o5sndJOeIzQ-2qkz5NAdGAF4A4lyyGCb17IGVRShw3lGAG-V4skc7We_oZHsVFFs6pwjHoBrwW_YzHWgaqyp_330CGm-qsZ/w400-h211/P1020903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>As she approached the hostiles, she got a better look at them. A trace of annoyance at herself flashed across her face.</p><p>"You're getting too jumpy, Yie," she muttered to herself, "Don't let what happened at [REDACTED] get to you. Focus! That was a bad time but you need to be here and now, not distracted by then."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbxXcB6mn-PYwnbVD_wbAmEDty2aQDpUik_moG4Nk88KpDeXpBS_dc6O0YlMNK1Zsk2o6-yUG87IXfnAkOSArQFsvHo1C3Mxzxpc4uHjbCp8UpDKjDE4Fb5L8D0FCQwAKfQOBHEJzHpvEucrJTxLDkTaqeSz-ydsqbSZKqrByrygVI_8BM6nC1YmL6U1i/s3590/P1020904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="3590" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbxXcB6mn-PYwnbVD_wbAmEDty2aQDpUik_moG4Nk88KpDeXpBS_dc6O0YlMNK1Zsk2o6-yUG87IXfnAkOSArQFsvHo1C3Mxzxpc4uHjbCp8UpDKjDE4Fb5L8D0FCQwAKfQOBHEJzHpvEucrJTxLDkTaqeSz-ydsqbSZKqrByrygVI_8BM6nC1YmL6U1i/w400-h205/P1020904.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>What she had thought were hostiles turned out to be fuel drums stacked near the helipad. Just shadows. Not real.</p><p>She inched forward to just a few metres from the helicopter. From the cover of a tarpaulin-covered supply stack, she could see the hulking figure of General Elk in the back of the helicopter. She swung her K9 round and fired off a burst of rounds. The glass of the helicopter's windows shattered. General Elk twitched in the back. She was certain she had hit him. The pilot lifted the helicopter off and managed to get 20 metres up before she shifted aim from the General to him. A single snap shot killed him instantly and the helicopter plunged back to the helipad out of control spraying fuel all over.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhAIvazMOSzmnE-YtFsH4uE-5t22IZog8KQBX0egp4YxS1vHWz5E1mMT_IB3M8nh7orM0ODCqs6rSLm5_5dnNt2r3MHp8Br9A8XNbwMqynIrfiPCiXvNIi5xdUMod-qne1y4ODXqyWJQiPDOrsIfKdslPFUTcTEaKCylmH5gBwen2xSok-rZWRmyJXd10/s4525/P1020907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1943" data-original-width="4525" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhAIvazMOSzmnE-YtFsH4uE-5t22IZog8KQBX0egp4YxS1vHWz5E1mMT_IB3M8nh7orM0ODCqs6rSLm5_5dnNt2r3MHp8Br9A8XNbwMqynIrfiPCiXvNIi5xdUMod-qne1y4ODXqyWJQiPDOrsIfKdslPFUTcTEaKCylmH5gBwen2xSok-rZWRmyJXd10/w400-h171/P1020907.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>A moment later the helicopter exploded.</p><p>"Mission complete," Yie told herself and moved swiftly but silently back to her Zodiac, the way lit by the glare of burning aviation fuel. She climbed into the raft and paddled quietly away.</p><p><i>Credits roll</i></p><p><i>Post credits scene: The camera focuses on the burning helicopter. A hulking, burning figure crawls from the wreckage, obviously hurt. A scarred face turns to camera as the figure lies on the ground and snarls at us.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><p>That went a lot more smoothly than the games I played over the past few nights. The biggest hiccup was not drawing any location cards at the start, so my first turn involved using all my actions to draw cards. A single hostile who just walked right past my soldier was little threat. Having the helicopter only guarded by shadows was a serious bonus. The objective card only gave me 2 turns to destroy the helicopter, and you have to eliminate the hostiles first, because they screen it. Drawing cards that meant I automatically defeated the helicopter's defence rating was very handy. No reinforcements turned up, and being able to illuminate my exit point made it easier to get out. All in all, that went about as smoothly as a mission can, and the noise level never even got close to waking all the bad guys.</p><p>Let's hope the studios enjoyed this pilot episode and buy the series, so that Deadly Woman Yie can return in a new feature: <i>Army of One</i>.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-61688303335742914492024-03-03T14:55:00.000+01:002024-03-03T14:55:13.217+01:00The Faceless Kingdom: An invading regular military force for Five Leagues from the Borderlands<p>No one knows where the Faceless Kingdom originated. All they know is that it is not from round here. The Faceless Kingdom represents the military forces of a neighbouring kingdom that has decided it wants to take possession of Utavoll and make its inhabitants subjects of The King on the High Throne.</p><p><i>I have chosen to use my Normans for The Faceless Kingdom. They have sat unpainted for decades now, and this was just the push I needed to get more of them painted. All the figures here are 15mm Two Dragons Productions figures. Some of them I bought back when Two Dragons was still a company in its own right.</i></p><p>The weakest of the Legions are the Unmarked. With only basic weapons and no armour, they have yet to prove themselves on the battlefield.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq-gD1jd6KGg-q6IkjGu83uSQNQoGzna9od7ANeSzAYS8pKHPuBsRPEajlHA91gm0Sr35qjZd6Du59p7DSythUDIteN5ECm6JseJEizJIuKOQ-4oliqBf5vbHXPjlfvS8-H8ITZ1PiCqz57K0DVrBGBvtPHNI55tzZwi7NAdftWdmmnrl_T46WSwfpFDA/s2609/P1020886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1915" data-original-width="2609" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq-gD1jd6KGg-q6IkjGu83uSQNQoGzna9od7ANeSzAYS8pKHPuBsRPEajlHA91gm0Sr35qjZd6Du59p7DSythUDIteN5ECm6JseJEizJIuKOQ-4oliqBf5vbHXPjlfvS8-H8ITZ1PiCqz57K0DVrBGBvtPHNI55tzZwi7NAdftWdmmnrl_T46WSwfpFDA/s320/P1020886.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unarmoured Soldiers</td></tr></tbody></table><p>If the members of the Unmarked Legion survive, they may be recruited into the Legions of the Weasel, Owl, Raven or Swine. These are soldiers who have survived a battle or two and are equipped with padded hauberks, decent shields and better weapons.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKu1IohhmULr7tnERzQFiKUAlbRah-3Jy3H4lIfMtmSQDeYpKRm1C8-O8brVyOo23vgmFPmJvM7ARhQr72PVbwKUUMDiRk_naBPZ8LQC6_HbDm0yf_s5Aeuq8KgMqmQbSCnVlDBLN2wdCVTGUXCaO5_P-hbs4aup869UpjBpRB6Ts0u719-Ufcn4eyzZV/s2722/P1020888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2170" data-original-width="2722" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKu1IohhmULr7tnERzQFiKUAlbRah-3Jy3H4lIfMtmSQDeYpKRm1C8-O8brVyOo23vgmFPmJvM7ARhQr72PVbwKUUMDiRk_naBPZ8LQC6_HbDm0yf_s5Aeuq8KgMqmQbSCnVlDBLN2wdCVTGUXCaO5_P-hbs4aup869UpjBpRB6Ts0u719-Ufcn4eyzZV/s320/P1020888.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soldiers in padded hauberks</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Legions of the Ox, Lion, Viper, Wolverine, Mole, Eagle and Iron are all proven soldiers. They have mail coats and the best weapons.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipA7ZJFEuxOEnDr6aW7QQRklYYv-crEL-hLVo39fbSjnb4zQmFP3Mo1EHfJOgaadjjz-Md_g4qW21aXz64LQTtv3S5ebFN46CV1hgUT-t1Djka25SiQywJ3AqXsJCi1MNWzl6skdJ2katudDYSyiCP_kkeMKutKapEaG618C-uP3AJbA3gOfeEhnqbE5jO/s2670/P1020887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="2670" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipA7ZJFEuxOEnDr6aW7QQRklYYv-crEL-hLVo39fbSjnb4zQmFP3Mo1EHfJOgaadjjz-Md_g4qW21aXz64LQTtv3S5ebFN46CV1hgUT-t1Djka25SiQywJ3AqXsJCi1MNWzl6skdJ2katudDYSyiCP_kkeMKutKapEaG618C-uP3AJbA3gOfeEhnqbE5jO/s320/P1020887.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armoured soldiers</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Missile support is provided by slingers for the Unmarked Legion and the Legion of the Weasel. They are the least of the legions and there is little point in giving them the best weapons.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOdeYLEO0VODd8jqLAo7mJBGwVkqkhbo4PB6P-bjvf3Dd4BlsUVPxt7w3qYTmAQ4O4izEcyL9KanDixxbMaGkUKFwBsNk8Tx6xAniPXmeaRGNQmtQbowtgt74bJpNfOygBuweo5zqTS_c-9HJcCVtiVac5rC668I5G3pVyA3lHtpgJ_86S5AS9ekgKvDy/s1220/P1020890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1220" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOdeYLEO0VODd8jqLAo7mJBGwVkqkhbo4PB6P-bjvf3Dd4BlsUVPxt7w3qYTmAQ4O4izEcyL9KanDixxbMaGkUKFwBsNk8Tx6xAniPXmeaRGNQmtQbowtgt74bJpNfOygBuweo5zqTS_c-9HJcCVtiVac5rC668I5G3pVyA3lHtpgJ_86S5AS9ekgKvDy/s320/P1020890.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slingers of the Legions</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Missile support for all the other legions is provided by crossbowmen.</p><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64WOYtPi6SXjTzqt4EZS-XnE7i6hOqE2StSjK_dWFQrl9tDsfYFVtGST0ehacJMdUN9gPZjvxE-yvbzvtfGiZNr7zqjWSrI7AiSYJpv2opk0DsFx_HNqvaw3Wit9QiBAm330IL-l69qCFeaJpvUprBb4KKdo-xcPPCVr8EfGmPp0sM9_wdBRNBR0UFC1L/s1883/P1020889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1883" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64WOYtPi6SXjTzqt4EZS-XnE7i6hOqE2StSjK_dWFQrl9tDsfYFVtGST0ehacJMdUN9gPZjvxE-yvbzvtfGiZNr7zqjWSrI7AiSYJpv2opk0DsFx_HNqvaw3Wit9QiBAm330IL-l69qCFeaJpvUprBb4KKdo-xcPPCVr8EfGmPp0sM9_wdBRNBR0UFC1L/s320/P1020889.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossbowmen of the Legions</td></tr></tbody></table></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-24307216895535246442024-03-03T14:13:00.002+01:002024-03-03T14:13:00.133+01:00Turns 43-44: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Temple of Elemental Evil, Level 2 (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> The trip into the midden had been bad for Onesipe. His armour was damaged, so he took some armour that the Lemmings had found after the fight with the Orcs. It turned out to be better, so he was very happy. He and Fulrad then spent a little time sparring (+1 XP each) and learned a bit from the exercise. Meanwhile, Lysanthir pored over his scrolls and books.</p><p>"Hey, guys," he announced suddenly, "This map I found seems to indicate that the Orcish hideout is actually near Fikaby. We should probably do something about that now that we have invested so heavily in the settlement."</p><p><i>The Orc Hideout has been located at hex 1806 (-6 Adventure Points).</i></p><p>"Right, let's get moving. We can deal with the Orcs when we need to travel back to Fikaby to sell all the loot."</p><p>The Lemmings moved off through the entrance to the mound that stood in the centre of the stone circle. There were two routes down, so they split into two groups and were soon moving slowly through stone halls that reeked of patchouli oil and incense. Fulrad scouted ahead and reported to Lysanthir that the place was much bigger than seemed reasonable, which suggested good chances for finding loot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK5w-gzxO-D0-iZTxjTiBXnnck_ZdjKGWsxpQ7Qi30uuud3-X8obVGIe1j52PZ7kEsPL_AfySHqYA4TIzSHXkiOM1uX-RY1Ft6BIBCJ1mmGKaXUb6-hQkzm9h4RhYibg-NJRSh8-pujcryAKWyeXUfRPv8L0pEYtOr1FsP4yEFxfmKoihFKyUdL_T_XI9/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="2048" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK5w-gzxO-D0-iZTxjTiBXnnck_ZdjKGWsxpQ7Qi30uuud3-X8obVGIe1j52PZ7kEsPL_AfySHqYA4TIzSHXkiOM1uX-RY1Ft6BIBCJ1mmGKaXUb6-hQkzm9h4RhYibg-NJRSh8-pujcryAKWyeXUfRPv8L0pEYtOr1FsP4yEFxfmKoihFKyUdL_T_XI9/w640-h444/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Going olde skoole with this scenario and the other levels in the delve. I bought the pdf for The Temple of Elemental Evil from DriveThruRPG ages ago and have printed off the map to use as a battlemat. I shall do the same for the other levels in this dungeon. Each square on this map is 15mm across. This is about half scale which will make fighting in the passages cramped, but that works for me. I shall print off the other levels from this dungeon too and use them for the rest of it, if this level works out ok. I was tempted to redraw the maps in Campaign Cartographer but just couldn't be arsed. I wanted to play instead.</i></p><p>As they made their way through the tunnels, the Lemmings could hear the chanting getting louder. Suddenly, a small group of cultists appeared round the corner and started throwing stones at Onesipe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVufku_51j-dbCAfJWWShrXbMzOgs-lCYMGBSuJvlVliUXPupl9sU9roqXagGfhH765JqxPPE_cXD9qr360YrAXw9_wDL6wRCDhifxNPIcS5odmAjjQ7h1Nv_xoaXn4BPj8rzMefe1wHfqAwlIs9axSr5uLA-t7iPH0KNpqjAemLpDZO22_3Do5YMlgtSV/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="2048" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVufku_51j-dbCAfJWWShrXbMzOgs-lCYMGBSuJvlVliUXPupl9sU9roqXagGfhH765JqxPPE_cXD9qr360YrAXw9_wDL6wRCDhifxNPIcS5odmAjjQ7h1Nv_xoaXn4BPj8rzMefe1wHfqAwlIs9axSr5uLA-t7iPH0KNpqjAemLpDZO22_3Do5YMlgtSV/w640-h234/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The woman following this small group of cultists saw Onesipe and her eyes grew wide.</p><p>"Ha! I have found you. You Thrappled Lemmings will not leave this delve alive, I promise you that!"</p><p>"I guess she is here for us," muttered Onesipe to Sir Thiebault, who was just behind him.</p><p>He stepped back a pace and Sir Thiebault took up station in front of him. The oncoming cultist fought viciously and it was only his armour that saved Sir Thiebault from harm as he was driven back by the frothing madman's assault. Wido stepped into the breech and wounded the gibbering lunatic but was driven back in turn.</p><p>The cultist's next onslaught was even more frenzied, but Wido had got his measure. The cultist died and the slinger with him bolted. The female warrior stepped up and drove Wido back further. There was little that Onesipe and Sir Thiebault could do in the narrow confines of these passages, but they aided as best they could. Wido had soon wounded the warrior, but her armour was strong and many of his blows failed to pierce it. The exchange of blows went on for an age. Both warriors were sweating and heaving for breath, their armour being the only thing that saved them time and time again. Eventually, the warrior paused at the wrong moment and Wido sank his spear into her throat. She collapsed to the floor dead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OpMPIxF3KiEfCNVu1ZQXfIN7ktoo9s1RAJfXveHsIIoAXkVkKbDc85k-O4xw0tz7Y1XwEWzmwFb6Sy-HtJY-SLl9Vu4TaCFaW7gkEPmEb-FKrRNORr4idg0GhskND8YAB183R6_w9DUEnLGG3udEOsurwB_H-GkOhitmd_Y1J_ypOmspM_ieJU5HNNl3/s2048/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OpMPIxF3KiEfCNVu1ZQXfIN7ktoo9s1RAJfXveHsIIoAXkVkKbDc85k-O4xw0tz7Y1XwEWzmwFb6Sy-HtJY-SLl9Vu4TaCFaW7gkEPmEb-FKrRNORr4idg0GhskND8YAB183R6_w9DUEnLGG3udEOsurwB_H-GkOhitmd_Y1J_ypOmspM_ieJU5HNNl3/w640-h200/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Elsewhere, Fulrad was drawing a blank in his search for treasure, while Drogo had found some armour and a shield they could sell. He and Lysanthir were just leaving that chamber when a column of cultists appeared round the corner. Flustered, Drogo's first attack was driven back. It was fortunate that he had invested in heavy armour else he could have been dead on the floor now. Wounded and bleeding, Drogo was driven back as each cultist pushed past and attacked in succession. Lysanthir stepped up and quickly bandaged Drogo's wounds as the combatants paused a second to catch their breath. In the end, though, it was too much. A cultist got through Drogo's defences and laid him flat on the floor.</p><p>As the cultists advanced on Lysanthir and Fulrad, they retreated into the chamber behind them to give themselves more space. Fulrad had time to fire a shot that hit one cultist right in the heart. The others howled vengeance. A second shot bounced off a cultist's armour. Lysanthir leapt into the fray, only to be driven straight back by the cultists. Fortunately, his ring of protection held and he was not hurt.</p><p>Fulrad then cut down a howling cultist, but harsh chanting could be heard as another cultist approached from the Temple entrance, and the remaining cultist wounded Fulrad. Lysanthir used his magic to heal Fulrad, and the pair prepared for a renewed onslaught. As Fulrad and Lysanthir slowly whittled down the cultists, finally one broke and ran. In the ensuring quiet, they had time to pause for a breath but not for long. They could hear more chanting and footsteps approaching.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6kv3kbmFgjqCNhxQXsuUvh_Lz7rFJMnAzZJIeLzZaPxkAYkxsAgTg0Ve-RoBO7Npmx0UrMJ1gms-Rk1pbq0z4DxOX80BxRWwYTTyoTGgV5qIHHMLTJnr5rjoDXyQmtTq4trJGGYsz-mFnho2s8VZGu9mPb_ULeWK1MEzMqMlDvJHHtloCcEHoP5tK-OQ/s2048/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6kv3kbmFgjqCNhxQXsuUvh_Lz7rFJMnAzZJIeLzZaPxkAYkxsAgTg0Ve-RoBO7Npmx0UrMJ1gms-Rk1pbq0z4DxOX80BxRWwYTTyoTGgV5qIHHMLTJnr5rjoDXyQmtTq4trJGGYsz-mFnho2s8VZGu9mPb_ULeWK1MEzMqMlDvJHHtloCcEHoP5tK-OQ/w640-h246/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile, Wido was excited because he had found a stash of loot. He was about to plunder it when he heard more cultists coming up behind him. Sir Thiebault's shout of surprise as he rounded a corner and almost bumped into them in his hurry to catch up with Wido was the alarm Wido needed. He took the opportunity to plunder the stash of weapons he had found before turning to face the cultists.</p><p>The clash of arms filled the delve. Two cultists fell and another fled for his life. Onesipe sniped a cultist from a side passage. Sir Thiebault was wounded but wounded his attacker in turn. More cultists fell and another fled. The fight was hard and none of the Lemmings was unhurt by the end. They caught their breath before searching the Temple thoroughly. As they did so, Wido opened a door and stepped into a haze of greenish gas. With a sigh, he collapsed.</p><p>The Thrappled Lemmings gatherered their loot and their fallen comrades and returned to the fresh air above. The Cultists were definitely storing weapons here, judging by the wide array that the party had found.</p><p>Once up in the fresh air, they found that Drogo's wounds were moderately serious (2 turns). He would require bed rest for a while to recover. Wido was lightly wounded but would not be able to fight for a short while either (1 turn).</p><p>As they rested up before returning to Fikaby with their wounded, Sigrid the Beggar dropped by. She told them about the new Orc camp near Fikaby and increased Orcish activities in the area.</p><p>"This is getting serious. The Orcs are massing for an attack and it looks like Fikaby will be the target," she informed them.</p><p>The Thrappled Lemmings nodded as one. They could take a hint. They would have to take a break from looting the Temple to sort the Orcs out. Well, they were good at that sort of thing and the Orc camps might be full of loot, so it would not be a pointless exercise.</p><p>That night, the Lemmings told their story to Sigrid and it got bigger with every telling. Suddenly the cultists had tentacles and eldritch powers and were allied with unspeakable evil. It was a great tale and Sigrid was sure to spread it. After a hearty breakfast of salt pork and beans, the group prepared to travel back to Fikaby. They fed Drogo and Wido a dose of Tonic each to help the healing process. As they travelled, Onesipe and Fulrad practiced shooting at anything that moved and a few things that did not. It was a quick journey because they had mapped out a safe route and they were soon drinking ale in the Mucky Duck and planning how best to proceed with dealing with the Orc threat.</p><p><i>Phew, that dungeon delve was a bit rough. It cost me several Story Points to keep Lysanthir on his feet and things could have gone a lot worse with Drogo and Wido. The map worked quite well, although it felt a bit large for the game. The narrow passages made it feel very claustrophobic, especially when a character got wounded and I had decided that being in combat prevented figures from squeezing past each other. I'll make up the next map for the next level soon, but the Lemmings now have a reason to deal with the Orcish threat, so they need to do that first. With all the characters levelling up at a point that generated Enemy Threat rolls to see what plans were afoot, it made for interesting times. I was particularly interested to see the dice focusing on Fikaby, which is also the Lemmings' focus. It's almost as if the dice were cooperating in the storytelling!</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-44209386594987930112024-03-02T13:35:00.004+01:002024-03-02T13:35:47.715+01:00Turn 42: The Thrappled Lemmings Make A Decision (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> As the Thrappled Lemmings were sitting around in the Dirty Robber, Volstad the Smith approached their table.</p><p>"Thank you for all you have done for our community. This is a gift that I have been working on for you. I hope you will find it useful."</p><p>He presented them with a good quality short sword and helped cover their bar tab so their food bill came to only 1 Mark. After breakfast, Lysanthir and Drogo trained, while Onesipe headed off to the market to sell Volstad's gift. A merchant was there selling diverse rare goods and Onesipe picked up a map-making kit. He figured it would come in handy if they needed to travel regularly between two places.</p><p>Later, as they drank their dinner, the group conferred about their plans. Lysanthir led the discussion.</p><p>"So, we have found the Temple and all the wealth that should entail will be ours, but I there is a monster lair north of here that might also contain treasure. On top of that, I have heard rumours of a Macguffin of Indescribable Usefulness that could help us take the treasure out of the Temple. We could seek that out to make our lives easier in the long run. I've heard of other delves in the area too, so we rescue the treasure from those. The Cartographer's Guild is keen for people to map unexplored areas of the wilderness, but I really don't fancy that. Sounds like too much camping in the rain for my liking. What do you reckon we should do?"</p><p>"So, this Macguffin," queried Sir Thiebault, "Why do you think it will be useful?"</p><p>"Umm, did you not hear the bit where its usefulness is indescribable?"</p><p>"Oh ..."</p><p>The discussion circled around as it usually did with the Lemmings. Drogo was all for clearing out the monster lair to the north of Fikaby and recovering all the treasure he was sure would be there. Lysanthir and Fulrad felt that the Macguffin of Indescribable Usefulness was a quest worth following, but the other three were unconvinced by its indescribable nature and preferred the very much more describable feel of gold in their hands. With a small majority of the party favouring this last course of action, the Lemmings chose to head into the mountains to raid the Temple. No doubt the Macguffin and the monster would still be there to be plundered later.</p><p>The journey north was utterly uneventful thanks to the patrols led by local warlords and it was not long before the Lemmings stood before the gates of an ancient temple. The map-making kit had come in handy on the way. They had used it to chart a safe passage between the Fikaby and the Temple. This could come in handy if they needed to return to Fikaby for supplies. Meanwhile, wealth beyond the dreams of avarice awaited them. All they had to do was defeat its current possessors and get back to civilisation in one piece.</p><p>The current possessors turned out to be Orcs, robed cultists and robed cultist Orcs. The Orcs and cultists were clearly up to something. It was a given that they were aiming to summon unspeakable horrors. But what more might they be up to? The Thrappled Lemmings were all agreed that they needed to look into this. Their first task would be to storm the small village over the entrance to the delve. It was built up around an ancient stone circle that glowed with eerie, eldritch light. The area had clearly been warped by the cultists' activities because weird fungi had sprouted all over and strange crystal formations had erupted through the roads. Reality was being twisted into an insane elder god's dreams.</p><p><i>As I have built this delve up in my head as a Temple, I am going to use the Whispers from Beyond lists for the bad dudes in here instead of using the Lurking Foes table which is the usual list for generating dungeon monsters in Five Leagues from the Borderlands, but the cultists are working with the Orcs, so the first part of the delve will feature Orcs instead. I'm stepping away from the rules as written for this because it suits the story better.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-MIdDPEgVhT0Cwb1uz2P2i4xr4aH9diwH9gD6wyk2aGkVoCpkhEy8PwGdXPdlZLo9gh0pxuaW3k46JVO6G03QyjKQWyKuRaiP2mBYIFNt7DkE5wgI141QqoU1WMEprWLC_J-xBjtcSieOM9yXmSoms3P4YMoRqFXI5sdbutE7xlbXO1ecBCiufiu7f8g/s2048/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-MIdDPEgVhT0Cwb1uz2P2i4xr4aH9diwH9gD6wyk2aGkVoCpkhEy8PwGdXPdlZLo9gh0pxuaW3k46JVO6G03QyjKQWyKuRaiP2mBYIFNt7DkE5wgI141QqoU1WMEprWLC_J-xBjtcSieOM9yXmSoms3P4YMoRqFXI5sdbutE7xlbXO1ecBCiufiu7f8g/w640-h482/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>As usual, Fulrad was tasked to scout ahead. He moved out a short distance ahead of the rest of the party. After surveying the scene for a moment, he waved the others forward.</p><p>"Ok, looks like we found a quiet route in. There's Orcs and some nasty-looking Cultist with a massive, great sword. They seem quite pally. Reckon the Orcs are working with that big dude."</p><p>The big dude was a be-robed cultist with a massive sword who was standing on a mound in the centre of the stone circle. As the Lemmings sneaked slowly through the narrow streets of the village, the Orcs pursued their everyday tasks, unaware of the approaching fight. Fulrad was the first to be spotted and let fly an arrow that wounded an Orc. A cry went up as the Orcs spotted Fulrad, Lysanthir and Drogo. Meanwhile, Onesipe, Sir Thiebault and Wido were sneaking around behind the Orcs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaTTYU50MQt1Ui9zzEM8a5Y-cwORMeuTAgeEDfIRIcCSnRwQuraOX6zY8xDsdH-H28jNA9DemFxarjU8TJi4Qw8wKZ14Senx4YoZXj7Q40b0uke18lV0oDyXunptmnGx-4YgO9FoNOX-Mod_K1aUpAz8hfYqjfCoUwFtYakZOe29K0Lx9OCbWlLCmfl1j/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="2048" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaTTYU50MQt1Ui9zzEM8a5Y-cwORMeuTAgeEDfIRIcCSnRwQuraOX6zY8xDsdH-H28jNA9DemFxarjU8TJi4Qw8wKZ14Senx4YoZXj7Q40b0uke18lV0oDyXunptmnGx-4YgO9FoNOX-Mod_K1aUpAz8hfYqjfCoUwFtYakZOe29K0Lx9OCbWlLCmfl1j/w640-h518/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>"Hey, I think I found something," hissed Onesipe to his two companions. He leapt over the low fence beside the largest structure in the village and promptly fell into a huge midden. There was a loud crunch and he lay still.</p><p>Fulrad cursed as he realised that he had forgotten to fill his quiver. He had only one arrow left. Drog leapt past him and crushed the skull of the wounded Orc. Fulrad took careful aim at an Orcish archer and wounded it. Lysanthir cast a Fog spell to obscure the Orc's line of sight.</p><p>The Orcs howled! There was magic afoot and they hated it. Several Orcs charged towards Lysanthir. Fortunately, Drogo was in the way and blocking a narrow alley. As the Orcs charged he cut one down and drove another back.</p><p>Sir Thiebault then raced up and attacked that Orc from behind. It fell lifeless to the ground as Wido shot another Orc, wounding it. Fulrad and Drogo tag teamed the Orc archer and another Orc, both of whom were cut down. Meanwhile Lysanthir cast Meekness on the Ruthless Killer leading the Orcs. The carnage was too much for the Orcs, one of which fled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb9uKtToAnNq75WEg9cKwTejgH7cvG-9GIIfTQm01wHczy72ieEhpN49IGGg6LZKlJXFGwbpyEIX6ksGuQVNGPpxkV9RjczV-4ZHxj9wWhsE6vbbOqI6lrJcVaGrm8maH9lzH0BgOEZkRfcJbatNS7-4GvoXmLDwY_0vvj_9RhgDVQURUt5ia6q-GOZvZ/s2048/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="2048" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb9uKtToAnNq75WEg9cKwTejgH7cvG-9GIIfTQm01wHczy72ieEhpN49IGGg6LZKlJXFGwbpyEIX6ksGuQVNGPpxkV9RjczV-4ZHxj9wWhsE6vbbOqI6lrJcVaGrm8maH9lzH0BgOEZkRfcJbatNS7-4GvoXmLDwY_0vvj_9RhgDVQURUt5ia6q-GOZvZ/w640-h506/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Weakened by the spell, the Killer was no match for Drogo whose axe cleaved the person in two. He did not even break a sweat doing so. As the others fought, Lysanthir wandered off to investigate something of interest that he had spotted. He triggered a trap and loud bells started ringing. This distracted the remaining Orcs and Wido and Sir Thiebault were able to defeat them quickly. Wido shut off the alarm trap and the Lemmings began their exploration of the village after pulling Onesipe out of the midden and checking him over. He had only been knocked out, which was just as well because he stank and none of the others was going to go near him until he had taken a bath.</p><p>The haul of loot was satisfying and the Lemmings settled in for the night while Onesipe bathed and scrubbed himself until he no longer stank worse than usual. Meanwhile, unknown to the Lemmings, the Orcs had moved their hideout and had set up a new camp near Fikaby, where they were gathering weapons in readiness for assaulting the village.</p><p><i>The dice are cooperating in the story for a change. The Orcs are the remnants of a warband and they are led by a unique foe, the Ruthless Killer, whose goals apparently align with those of the Orcs.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-37221828227126696502024-02-25T19:35:00.000+01:002024-02-25T19:35:05.423+01:00Assault on Bad Reinigung (Oathmark)<p> <i>My experiments with Oathmark continue. This time, I am adding character figures to the mix, specifically commanders and champions. I have finished painting enough figures to field fully painted units(!) and have made some movement trays to ease movement. Now my troops can slide around the battlefield as if on rails. The trays are a little off in places, because I am not good at measuring and cutting as accurately as I could wish, or it might just be the bases of the figures that I did not cut precisely enough when I did them originally. However, they are all made from scrap materials and only cost me time, so I am happy enough. I have plans to add magnetic sheet to the trays if I can find a relatively cheap source here in Norway. That and some steel paper will sort the main issues with keeping the figures securely on the movement trays.</i></p><p><i>I have also made some unit cards for the game. These have the stats for the units listed on them, and those units with a champion or captain leading them have that character listed on them too. They are playing card sized and should do quite nicely instead of a roster. Putting them in card protectors means that I can use wipeable markers to mark them up if I need to make changes during a battle.</i></p><p>Smarting from their previous defeats at the hands of the humans, the Orcs have descended on the picturesque village of Bad Reinigung. This time, they have brought two of their most fearsome warriors and one of their greatest minor commanders. Captain Bloodnok of Bloodnok's Marauders has high hopes, especially because he has managed to recruit some giant spiders to his force. Surely that will be enough to put an end to the hegemony of the Human heavy cavalry.</p><p>On the Human side, Captain Nedbart Seagoon, commander of Seagoon's Doorsmashers, hopes to end Orcish incursions into his district. Let that fop General Bluebottle or one of the other district commanders deal with the Orcs instead. He is fed up of it. All he wants is to sit on his verandah in Bad Reinigung and enjoy the view across the valley to the River Vaskelv, a view that takes in his steadily growing herd of hairy pigs. He will be relying on Sir Ferax the Trampler and his unit of heavy cavalry to trample the Orcs under foot and scatter them to the winds. He also hopes the Sir Edric Doomsayer will speak the doom of many an Orc this day.</p><p><i>I diced randomly to see how much terrain to set out and where to place it. The dice decided on 5 pieces of terrain. They also chose to place 3 of those in the Human centre and the village of Bad Reinigung on the Human right. Only a single hill found its way into the Orcish set-up zone. I also diced for deployment, applying a little common sense as needed. The Orcs concentrated their forces around the hill in their centre and on their left flank. The humans spread out a bit, but with their two wings separated by a marsh and a forested hill.</i></p><p>The villagers of Bad Reinigung had fled their idyllic village and headed into the hills. It was safer that way. Now their fields were about to be trampled by the two armies facing each other across the valley.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwThXBSk3jPJ6CbJRL5EqXzudG6Dx7CeuSvDtAzRO7v-j3phgxBpsocyNqWXZu8tiO6Zn-tbw59vmbY4NYMorkfIO2R9GpCgOIro2JNfGDrIsXz-BVN-ADYRD1RhQ2Jt32TViROCbYuCCdslDIQiJ3dokvAcMN69xAGFN0Ojn_aiEkqHQ9Wj4lQbm1WeY/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="2048" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwThXBSk3jPJ6CbJRL5EqXzudG6Dx7CeuSvDtAzRO7v-j3phgxBpsocyNqWXZu8tiO6Zn-tbw59vmbY4NYMorkfIO2R9GpCgOIro2JNfGDrIsXz-BVN-ADYRD1RhQ2Jt32TViROCbYuCCdslDIQiJ3dokvAcMN69xAGFN0Ojn_aiEkqHQ9Wj4lQbm1WeY/w640-h280/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Orcish lines</td></tr></tbody></table><div><p>The Orcs had deployed their units to give them a numerical advantage in manoeuvring. The Humans had deployed in depth to try to stay the course.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfkYikV4yYDJsI-ZWyqPIV5SxhFYghXWqYzYVH-Uou3mA6R2hXT0NWnKeUoUZhF8uKVIXd4HVICSvxyeI8PWMsLrOg6JMnt0cgdi7sT2J-2Mbzebu6L2XIupE9rRY56gIkhWSMHB_xd-520kLUQFLMlSx7RTRnHIojpIp5dq2VQE0tcH8oI-6_z87ZPAZ/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfkYikV4yYDJsI-ZWyqPIV5SxhFYghXWqYzYVH-Uou3mA6R2hXT0NWnKeUoUZhF8uKVIXd4HVICSvxyeI8PWMsLrOg6JMnt0cgdi7sT2J-2Mbzebu6L2XIupE9rRY56gIkhWSMHB_xd-520kLUQFLMlSx7RTRnHIojpIp5dq2VQE0tcH8oI-6_z87ZPAZ/w640-h240/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The armies manoeuvred towards each other. Captain Seagoon planned to take the weaker flank of the Orcs out and then to fall on the remainder. Captain Bloodnok planned to walk straight over the puny Humans, although he had learned respect for the Human cavalry in previous battles. As they closed, Captain Seagoon raised his sword into the air and uttered the battle cry of his ancestors.</p><p>"DID YOU SPILL MY PINT?"</p><p>Captain Bloodnok gave the time-honoured reply: an Orcish battle cry of great antiquity.</p><p>"DID YOU EAT MY DOU-BLA BURGER?"</p><p>The Orcish archers let fly their arrows and scored first blood. An enemy archer would not be going home tonight. The Human response was to shoot the Orcish soldiers. The Rememberers would be singing of those soldiers.</p><p>Then the battle lines clashed.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH-Ehu1gVZM-zKaX_M_t1e5RvfYC6351auWBTre2eNiLmJH1UYLYqCgw8jbDiOyjWoHyKxXCIScKI_yKs_cywhscjnQQ4t7EVGNs75-unqTAJD3tnJRp9H9S9fKOLLwaG1FfyBK3BHI8fx55MDlEVKIXSeVFuTNbEmvN62VRvPEQoQnq7OffBSXFbzcr5/s2048/3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="2048" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH-Ehu1gVZM-zKaX_M_t1e5RvfYC6351auWBTre2eNiLmJH1UYLYqCgw8jbDiOyjWoHyKxXCIScKI_yKs_cywhscjnQQ4t7EVGNs75-unqTAJD3tnJRp9H9S9fKOLLwaG1FfyBK3BHI8fx55MDlEVKIXSeVFuTNbEmvN62VRvPEQoQnq7OffBSXFbzcr5/w640-h222/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The early fighting saw casualties falling on both sides and gaps appearing in the lines. The archers were effective and whittled away at the enemy. The warriors fought hard and Orcish soldiers fell alongside their Human counterparts. Sir Ferax the Trampler's cavalry fared poorly in these early clashes as Captain Bloodnok's Marauders cut them down and left them disordered. The Orcs were sworn to vengeance and held steady even as their dead piled up. The Humans were less sure and seemed to be wavering.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vExRTIBBwc__sbd2MwtXwSdiSS13RLzGmAMAJLi18-3E9GAg4qFW6oGkKDH3jbMjeMGjWOnu3KBuLywNKqaZt3wDZmkt8_PRfiIKQNcOb239C3g9pv5WRahwBEcUifknpuhIOikkVg1B6edajVNkaB9Dqv3eI8WzCDTHtPPqA8-IVoAEpwUsQmXxPe_P/s2048/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2029" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vExRTIBBwc__sbd2MwtXwSdiSS13RLzGmAMAJLi18-3E9GAg4qFW6oGkKDH3jbMjeMGjWOnu3KBuLywNKqaZt3wDZmkt8_PRfiIKQNcOb239C3g9pv5WRahwBEcUifknpuhIOikkVg1B6edajVNkaB9Dqv3eI8WzCDTHtPPqA8-IVoAEpwUsQmXxPe_P/w396-h400/4.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolves score 5 hits on the archers but suffer 3 in return. This was a bloody combat indeed!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Wolves joined the fray and suddenly the Human archers were puppy chow! But, it was at a cost to the Wolves. They were all slaughtered by Seagoon's Doorsmashers, who wheeled round and attacked the Wolves in the rear.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnmmBHP-CHa95fhAI-8g1nFpZQcQJtUxe0PdlUjjuruqAEN8zeta4WVIFzAxhwAtkKCfDrX9TAhdIajBPMmQQP4pXQnhXEZtizwIdAwAvqpzQ-esMNmVXA59Ju-5ROiwhUXAT0qFOs2mOrNzDOadont5xrRbjJ4-jLlpctaYL9U_gEldcFWf4WB7gEmPB/s2048/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="2048" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnmmBHP-CHa95fhAI-8g1nFpZQcQJtUxe0PdlUjjuruqAEN8zeta4WVIFzAxhwAtkKCfDrX9TAhdIajBPMmQQP4pXQnhXEZtizwIdAwAvqpzQ-esMNmVXA59Ju-5ROiwhUXAT0qFOs2mOrNzDOadont5xrRbjJ4-jLlpctaYL9U_gEldcFWf4WB7gEmPB/w640-h290/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the battle progressed and the casualties increased, the Spiders joined the fray, and Argrabad the Irascible proved that an Orc mounted on a giant bear was the equal of a unit of human soldiers if he could only get the bear turned in time to attack the humans in the flank.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPq9YZAFF0BaHowdFNp20S2w3ONEoRKTGshvygM_CGU8s1jk00jhpIJ4ZslGJnP5Zoze4O3ZrvhfFRe6WtTFO_m0CJpZebA0G3BH1I8cpLLWizqoUEKSeJa56FhLVMbhYTV6egGbax4jjfwEGI6jYb9UPErQwke7HL5KwjZyfPAKqhx9xPbn3AGX9yy5E/s2048/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPq9YZAFF0BaHowdFNp20S2w3ONEoRKTGshvygM_CGU8s1jk00jhpIJ4ZslGJnP5Zoze4O3ZrvhfFRe6WtTFO_m0CJpZebA0G3BH1I8cpLLWizqoUEKSeJa56FhLVMbhYTV6egGbax4jjfwEGI6jYb9UPErQwke7HL5KwjZyfPAKqhx9xPbn3AGX9yy5E/w640-h400/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">With total collapse of the Orcish and Human right wings, the remaining forces wheeled to charge straight down the valley. Unfortunately, the Orcs were too much for the Humans. There were just too many Orcs attacking from too many different directions and the Humans were cut down almost to a man.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTqxJkeZVLsEhAcZX4iae2YZBWOFwKMqYB1ManQj7GeoO4u-SWeZjBBlWNJ3kYtnY-jxRQ8R-n4pnQSdlFEKNK4Hj5rBj8BujcY73p1vTKtKlI_50szODEsRT1us9Njnjx4loZl4DcUJYXzF90tiRngK22lGdoBtgVXm6BDAkHbchCacl1twLamPI-pH/s2048/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="2048" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTqxJkeZVLsEhAcZX4iae2YZBWOFwKMqYB1ManQj7GeoO4u-SWeZjBBlWNJ3kYtnY-jxRQ8R-n4pnQSdlFEKNK4Hj5rBj8BujcY73p1vTKtKlI_50szODEsRT1us9Njnjx4loZl4DcUJYXzF90tiRngK22lGdoBtgVXm6BDAkHbchCacl1twLamPI-pH/w640-h310/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lone archer surveys the oncoming Orcish horde</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Only a single archer remained. Even though the Orcish horde had been cut in half, it was not enough. He prepared to sell his life dearly as he gathered arrows from his fallen comrades, for he had used all those in his quiver. Bad Reinigung would be an Orcish village for now. Its jam buttie mines would feed the Orcs, not the Humans, and the clear waters of the River Vaskelv would refresh Orcish throats not Human ones. For now anyway. No doubt the skalds would sing of the archer's stand and it would inspire future generations to retake the valley.</p><p><i>Well, that went completely the other way from previous games. Part of the issue was set-up, part was having so many fewer units than the Orcs, and part was poor activation rolls by the Humans. They did as badly as the Orcs had in previous games. It was good fun though, and the addition of champions and commanders changed the dynamic of the game. Being able to coordinate attacks by using the commanders was very useful. I need to read the champions and commanders rules again to make sure I am doing it all correctly before I add spellcasters, but this definitely seems to take some of the sting out of the Human Heavy Cavalry. I think I am going to mix up the Human army a bit for the next game though. They need more units to counter the Orc hordes, maybe by deploying in less depth, and it might be fun to add a monster to their side too.</i></p></div>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-39778756050500842872024-02-25T15:04:00.005+01:002024-02-25T15:04:00.129+01:00Turn 41: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Cunning Outlaws (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> The Thrappled Lemmings were woken at the ungodly hour of noon by an unaccustomed noise. Fikaby had acquired a town crier thanks to its increased prosperity, and now that demon in humanoid form was disturbing their rest and making their hangovers worse with his racket. It was something about the local priests involving themselves in things in the area. The Lemmings to a man rolled over and covered their ears.</p><p>Later, after a hearty repast and a bit of training for Lysanthir and Sir Thiebault, they planned their next excursion. They were going to break the back of the Hooded Men once and for all, if all went as it should. They had heard of an outlaw group that was plaguing the foresters to the north-west of Fikaby. It sounded like the outlaws were planning a major incursion against them soon. The location was nearby and easily reached, so the Lemmings set out the next morning and were soon approaching the location where a Charismatic Leader was recruiting new outlaws.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqU0wTPkAtvC1FkYJ2aHqVPesUnXZRJ5YbgXpqenej5rSXCcfL4Dw5KLOfE9v1J3yhBTAu-mOjq0r-QK2totvcnVqgIvVSy7uKeRP9h3FgjkDwQQywugI_hQQz348snIbWfWbU0HUFoVQW1PytksLBBRqklLjMw-UKyQxUV5MRWUzHxBu14hEC7R2HE5B/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="2048" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqU0wTPkAtvC1FkYJ2aHqVPesUnXZRJ5YbgXpqenej5rSXCcfL4Dw5KLOfE9v1J3yhBTAu-mOjq0r-QK2totvcnVqgIvVSy7uKeRP9h3FgjkDwQQywugI_hQQz348snIbWfWbU0HUFoVQW1PytksLBBRqklLjMw-UKyQxUV5MRWUzHxBu14hEC7R2HE5B/w640-h206/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The enemy is gathering near a site of Ancient Power</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Lemmings formed up in line and headed towards where they could see the leader of this outlaw gang preparing for combat. The bandits were caught unawares and the Lemmings were almost on them before they reacted. As one, the Lemmings charged. Drogo and Wido reached the enemy leader and her lacky before the others. The lackey was driven back, but Wido's spear pierced the breast of the enemy leader and she died instantly in front of him. Meanwhile, Fulrad's arrow killed an enemy slinger. Onesipe wounded the other enemy slinger who fled the field.</p><p>As Drogo slew the leader's lackey, another outlaw decided to pursue a different life path and fled. There was just one left. Outnumbered 6 to 1, it took no time before Fulrad had flanked the outlaw and killed him with a well-placed arrow. The area was quiet once more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h9whMfXXmZP6JLQmoNHuNr5qAX2Ic6eDzxqytbF5h3O-6fQY3bJkeU-4BPh_WHCmro9Bb0btwypYC3fH1JfAy2m3i12QFaK6PPMuKlc2YKR5A3VcphYjz8GAuWDFddtGND1B1knoV72dhli7G-P8laykedNdBkFDbIm_BCZFG2LZWaF5iEhJU8QbMAS3/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="2048" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h9whMfXXmZP6JLQmoNHuNr5qAX2Ic6eDzxqytbF5h3O-6fQY3bJkeU-4BPh_WHCmro9Bb0btwypYC3fH1JfAy2m3i12QFaK6PPMuKlc2YKR5A3VcphYjz8GAuWDFddtGND1B1knoV72dhli7G-P8laykedNdBkFDbIm_BCZFG2LZWaF5iEhJU8QbMAS3/w640-h274/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all over bar the arguing over the loot</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The leader had a particularly fine bastard sword, which Sir Thiebault claimed by right of social hierarchy and the Lemmings found a handful of coins that would cover their bar tab for a while. They were also gratified to find that there was a bounty on the head of Lady Cassiopoeia de Gris, the leader of this group of outlaws.</p><p>Upon their return to Fikaby, they confirmed that the Hooded Men were no more. The Thrappled Lemmings had thrashed them and organised crime in Utavoll was on a definite downturn. Moreover, local troops had been increasing their patrols now that the wilderness was safer, so it should be easier to travel for a little while.</p><p><i>Another battle where a lucky roll killed the big bad before they could get going. Wido's first attack was enough to pierce her armour and kill her. That was very lucky. I am also quite pleased that I had various bits of vital information to use to negate enemy plans rolls. There will be a few of those in the upcoming turns as all my characters reach level 8. No idea if the intention is to make one roll per character or one roll per turn, but I shall make my mind up when it happens.</i></p><p><i>And that is the end of the Hooded Men faction. Scattered to the winds by the Thrappled Lemmings, they are no more. Only the Dusklings remain to be dealt with. I cannot think of a real reason why the Lemmings would choose to attack them though. They have done nothing to the Lemmings yet. I'll think about the Lemmings' next action. I'm tempted to try the quest mechanic, but I also wonder about delving into the Temple that is the main reason for the Lemmings to be here. I had planned to make the delve the grand finale with new dungeon terrain based on the module, but am thinking about changing that plan. It really depends upon whether I have the energy to build the dungeon, or whether I just use the tiles I already have in a spirit of "make do and mend".</i></p><p><i>In other news, I really need to make a less shiny battle board, or play somewhere else where the light does not reflect as much.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-38248406922186735272024-02-24T15:04:00.004+01:002024-02-24T15:04:35.834+01:00Turn 40: The Thrappled Lemmings Hunt Some Rebel Scum (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> After the journey back to Fikaby, the Thrappled Lemmings organised themselves for their next foray against the Hooded Men. They took time to drink with the older men of Fikaby and learned some useful information from one of the hamlet's Elders (+1 Adventure Point).</p><p>Sir Thiebault and Drogo spent their time sparring (+1 XP each) while Lysanthir headed to the market to sell what he could. He successfully sold all their spare gear for 7 Marks and was most gratified to find that the Lemming's investment in Fikaby was reaping rewards as more people were moving in and that meant more and better merchants in future (-6 Adventure Points). The place was large enough to be called a village now.</p><p>Lysanthir called the group together after they had all run their errands to discuss their next move.</p><p>"Right, lads, there's a monster lair north of here that we could raid and be back in time for dinner, or we can deal with these Hooded Men once and for all. What do you think?"</p><p>The others quickly divided into two camps. Sir Thiebault, Drogo and Fulrad were all for kicking the bandits while they were, while Onesipe and Wido preferred the chance for proper loot in the monster's lair.</p><p>Lysanthir expressed a preference for attacking the monster but deferred to Sir Thiebault's preference given that it was an even split between the group.</p><p>"Ok, Hooded Men it is," he announced after all had stated their case, "We'll come back for that monster another time. I'm sure it will still be there, and it might have gathered even more loot by then. The local elders say that there is bandit activity near here, so we can sort them out and be back in time for last orders. Apparently, they are regrouping and seem to be preparing an assault or something. Grab your gear and let's go!"</p><p>The village elder had told the Lemmings that she had heard that the bandits were massing in the wooded hills to the north, near the ruins of an old farm. Her intelligence proved accurate and the Thrappled Lemmings were soon moving stealthily from cover to cover as they tried to sneak up on the grim-faced Hooded Men they could see just ahead.</p><p>"By Odin's hairy bollocks," muttered Drogo, "Would you look at the size of that guy!"</p><p>The others concurred with his assessment. Although there were not many bandits in this group, one of them was huge with arms like tree trunks. He looked like the type who would not be inclined to see reason at all and for whom every problem could be solved by breaking things. The party had got as far as it could reasonably sneak, so Sir Thiebault gave the order: "CHARGE!"</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXJVwrJ0cDbY1wdUIlg3rq2ViRaMZ4ThWHO10tGkY0GsqUdhKjNdWs3pgYZ3zxHlCJQJRu2iPZtUbwhspYztBpbvw7dk9NKvel3kl43oyJuNAkmDN_FEWtrppbHp4kpHoKOoGj_KL2yC0n4j82JBLP_9nD9KdpDiO7BQ-XjguVBNe2LteytfLGr6lrxEN/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXJVwrJ0cDbY1wdUIlg3rq2ViRaMZ4ThWHO10tGkY0GsqUdhKjNdWs3pgYZ3zxHlCJQJRu2iPZtUbwhspYztBpbvw7dk9NKvel3kl43oyJuNAkmDN_FEWtrppbHp4kpHoKOoGj_KL2yC0n4j82JBLP_9nD9KdpDiO7BQ-XjguVBNe2LteytfLGr6lrxEN/w640-h268/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lemmings' movements in blue, bandits in red</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Lemmings raced forward, using cover to keep out of sight of the enemy archers. The enemy did the same and the Unreasoning Brute was soon flailing at Drogo with his axe and sword. It was a hard fight but Drogo held the beast off, then Sir Thiebault stepped in and lopped the guy's head off with a single blow.</p><p>"That's how you do it, Drogo!"</p><p>Onesipe and Fulrad opened fire on approaching bandits as the others got stuck in. Soon three more bandits lay dead on the floor and the remaining archer had fled. A single bandit was left, who did not seem to realise that his comrades were no longer beside him and that the Thrappled Lemmings were all converging on him. Fulrad beat off his desperate attack and then Wido ran up behind the bandit and ran him through. Peace fell over the old farm, disturbed only by the sound of the Thrappled Lemmings ransacking the bandits' possessions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6CRjalFpWV_WkEPjYk8eMoypkm3Cp0KEj8g628ZHihKnPguI4cW9hyphenhyphenUAQi-yOCSCAXd3705dQz9HwSKof3IOF762fsqf_sAkRcgHvTZ3912O_dVgup6LOCjvrwq-eM3IwPmOooHCaheaKXP76ikQKsr5ADnunfx1Z_t-MpQ2_yZ7CcU37VB9llQinbVp/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6CRjalFpWV_WkEPjYk8eMoypkm3Cp0KEj8g628ZHihKnPguI4cW9hyphenhyphenUAQi-yOCSCAXd3705dQz9HwSKof3IOF762fsqf_sAkRcgHvTZ3912O_dVgup6LOCjvrwq-eM3IwPmOooHCaheaKXP76ikQKsr5ADnunfx1Z_t-MpQ2_yZ7CcU37VB9llQinbVp/w640-h458/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>"Hey, men," shouted Sir Thiebault, "Look at this."</p><p>He had been ransacking some barrels and found documents and plans in the bottom of them.</p><p>"This looks like directions to a secret lair for these Hooded Men. I bet that is where they stash all their loot."</p><p>The lair looked to be in the foothills at the end of the River Hait. One of the Hooded Men's biggest camps had been located along that river and this seemed not to be a coincidence.</p><p>This attack had further weakened the Hooded Men (-6 Adventure Points) and the end was in sight for that group. They were being scattered and would soon be too scattered to be a threat. Unfortunately for the Lemmings, pickings were meagre here. A small icon and the remains of someone the bandits had slain were all they found. The victim had on them a letter addressed to Fleur the Milliner in Fikaby and a wedding ring. The Lemmings took these and quickly found Fleur on their return to the village. She was distraught at the death of her husband (+1 Story Point).</p><p>"Oh, thank you for bringing these to me," she cried, "I was so worried about him. Now, at least, I know. It is better than never knowing, even if it is the news I feared. I am forever in your debt and will give you discount should you ever need to purchase impressive hats from me."</p><p>As they settled in to drink their evening meal, the Lemmings chatted with merchants in the tavern.</p><p>"So, I was in Haitabu last week and it was rumoured that the Hooded Men were planning to attack you directly and were building up their strength to do so," Honest Odd the Tinker told them, "but it seems from what I heard most recently that you managed to scupper their plans by killing someone vital to them. Nicely done, chaps. Let me buy your a drink." (-1 Vital Information to cancel enemy plans roll)</p><p><i>Well, that went better than expected. The Unreasoning Brute is nasty, and I was expecting casualties, but he was not nasty enough to stand against sixes on armour penetration and toughness rolls. The Lemmings did not earn much treasure, but I spent 6 Adventure Points for a guaranteed upgrade from Hamlet to Village, and 6 more to guarantee reducing the Hooded Men. One more successful attack on them and they are history. I also finally got a use for some of the Vital Information I have gathered, because the final random event in the village was an enemy plans roll that I could negate with it. The effect would not have been bad, because it was just 1 extra bad guy in the next fight agains the Hooded Men, but it makes for a better story to see these battles have additional effects.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-56159499762151147722024-02-24T13:25:00.001+01:002024-02-24T13:25:35.202+01:00Turn 39: The Thrappled Lemmings Take A Hike (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> "Right lads," announced Lysanthir, "We're not far from Fikaby and it's on our way to the Temple of Elemental Evil, so we can grab a beer or three on our way. What say you?"</p><p>There was a loud chorus of agreement. Beer was the magic word, after all. As they prepared to set off for the small hamlet, Fulrad and Sir Thiebault did a bit of scouting from the highest of the nearby hills. That helped them get the lay of the land (+2 Adventure Points). Then they scarfed down a chunk of the meat that Sir Thiebault had caught with some green leaves that Drogo said were edible (-1 Rations) before they marched off in the general direction of Fikaby.</p><p>As they travelled, Sir Thiebault hunted ahead of them. He reported back that he had found suspicious looking tracks, perhaps more bandits were active in the area. Maybe they should consider a slight detour before the delve to deal with these hoodlums (+1 Adventure Point). Fulrad continued to practice his archery and learned a thing or two (+1 XP).</p><p>The journey to Fikaby was uneventful and the Lemmings were in time for the closing of the market where they sold their spare Scout's Cloak for 1 Mark. They also learned that Elsfjord Kloster was in need of supplies. They could earn their keep and maybe learn something new by travelling there soon (If they travel there within the next two campaign turns, they can skip the next upkeep costs and gain 2 Adventure Points).</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-18231184142374580342024-02-19T16:19:00.001+01:002024-02-19T16:19:12.671+01:00Getting to Grips with Oathmark<p> I got another game of <i>Oathmark</i> in over the weekend. This time I expanded the armies to 1000 points and set up on my dining table with an area equivalent to 4'x4' marked out. I still only used the basic rules (no characters and no monsters, for example) and the armies were Orcs/Goblins versus Humans.</p><p>First things first. On setting up, I felt that the playing area was too narrow which meant the Goblin wolves could not run around the flanks, as I feel they should be able to do because they are more like light cavalry than anything else. I should have used the whole dining table for an area equivalent to 6'x4'. Lesson learned. I'll do that for all future games. Be nice if I had a terrain cloth for it too. It's on the shopping list.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sUkiwKCmfkt21NDaLmMlYezbHjTXSTgEeAmY3JARA_o0cl9qPHigMPwB5m1wGPbELkZEfvKd1vM98RRCiquWmV8oNML10kqJC7wgTjAM3pG3h85a7eecPlPz2PrLt5o70iV_t6Yw2BDT8L73LHfsdYBFWNttei6a4HY7So7LipzTFoTEA9KpCeo9CDuq/s1024/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1024" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sUkiwKCmfkt21NDaLmMlYezbHjTXSTgEeAmY3JARA_o0cl9qPHigMPwB5m1wGPbELkZEfvKd1vM98RRCiquWmV8oNML10kqJC7wgTjAM3pG3h85a7eecPlPz2PrLt5o70iV_t6Yw2BDT8L73LHfsdYBFWNttei6a4HY7So7LipzTFoTEA9KpCeo9CDuq/w640-h430/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Human lines</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The rules recommend 2-4 terrain pieces for a 4'x4' playing area so I diced and got three terrain pieces. I diced again based on what is in my terrain box and got a grave mound with stone circle (one of the hills had fallen inside the stone circle and I thought it looked good so I left it like that), a ruined building and a wooded hill. I diced again and they were set up in three corners of the battlefield. A further dice roll saw the Orcs setting up between the grave mound and the ruin, while the humans set up ready to occupy the wooded hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmahrcG13UAKD-d46OQOFPdITgO5fEYsi_eXoilAK8tabzsqswv60EAyUfmqgfucWZ5UD2NHO7GdrgeEYsUFnmUlPZA9qJFquOw91xIciCzTMvffM1vzc0VZ1M2dDMvmIzeLaTxmTbRXsPL2puA0gke6kAi9Eo5WekM06n6D7949xuAK6rz0d1apKTbsVV/s1024/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1024" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmahrcG13UAKD-d46OQOFPdITgO5fEYsi_eXoilAK8tabzsqswv60EAyUfmqgfucWZ5UD2NHO7GdrgeEYsUFnmUlPZA9qJFquOw91xIciCzTMvffM1vzc0VZ1M2dDMvmIzeLaTxmTbRXsPL2puA0gke6kAi9Eo5WekM06n6D7949xuAK6rz0d1apKTbsVV/w640-h414/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Orcish lines</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Due to numbers, the Orcs had to set up in depth, which I thought they might be able to use to their advantage with the Fire Over ability of their archers, but it turned out that it worked against them instead, because they wound up starting shooting later than the humans and did not have space to really use their numbers. The humans deployed archers on the wooded hill, planning to snipe from cover and the rest of their force set up across the field.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgCtYsezgt8IIoaQ_RhTKYbkUMZccF8Sl4zATMNFQ3Wsz8UwX07lzslehOnFW8fwaJ-vPI-ogXMymyPDL0F7SgP3OuJgY92snWBAUgzZGFmBg7NXRbgHQtj-xhjLEoegYqZ_K_sYII6uChjjAbtTtD_c-EP_UkPf_0lGYy1WwogBHH9VZya4hQ38ikzZX/s2048/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="2048" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgCtYsezgt8IIoaQ_RhTKYbkUMZccF8Sl4zATMNFQ3Wsz8UwX07lzslehOnFW8fwaJ-vPI-ogXMymyPDL0F7SgP3OuJgY92snWBAUgzZGFmBg7NXRbgHQtj-xhjLEoegYqZ_K_sYII6uChjjAbtTtD_c-EP_UkPf_0lGYy1WwogBHH9VZya4hQ38ikzZX/w640-h84/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The heroic Orc and Goblin Alliance</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The main focus of the battle was in the centre where units wheeled and pivoted and charged until there were almost no troops left. There was little attempt to hold a line, which seems like a most non-Orcish thing to try to do anyway. On the flanks, the Goblin archers did sterling service, while the Human heavy cavalry rode down almost everything it came across. Even sandwiching it between two units and attacking from front and rear was not enough to send it fleeing from the field. In the end, the heavy cavalry told and the Humans won.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI0KqWRrXxcO6-tAuAbgv_sdOPE8RjezwHcy1ZZUO8_gISToyBZl_AJY-XyJkMpL5hJntaQZvLRIg-6-tLXLtIvzsFmm_QK5H8P98ZuILhjNuTZPzJ8iD_ST_zuoSv9gQwcDCxHSYLvdLsBgPSUSLOQolsZG7IMuZuQ4iDAqVDkbE3NC2wwhzCtf3SQnd/s1024/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="1024" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI0KqWRrXxcO6-tAuAbgv_sdOPE8RjezwHcy1ZZUO8_gISToyBZl_AJY-XyJkMpL5hJntaQZvLRIg-6-tLXLtIvzsFmm_QK5H8P98ZuILhjNuTZPzJ8iD_ST_zuoSv9gQwcDCxHSYLvdLsBgPSUSLOQolsZG7IMuZuQ4iDAqVDkbE3NC2wwhzCtf3SQnd/w640-h298/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both sides starting to get stuck in</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Of course, if the Orcs had activated properly more often, things might have been different.</p><p>It was a fun game, and the activation system lends itself well to solo play. I supplemented that with dice rolls to determine which unit should activate next, based on where I saw the need to act. Once combat was joined, there were few obvious choices as priorities and need changed. For example, at one point one heavy cavalry unit was surrounded and needed to act, but there were other opportunities for taking out Orc units by charging or by missile fire. The dice decided the general's priorities in this situation: should the general sacrifice the cavalry to destroy Orcs on the other part of the battlefield, or not?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJUXKLam5uSLOeyD1ToEc4rZbTC6-RhGtEB4yx2JfJFWyGUZkm1SB_QkaWzoj6wnBplHAPkVQZv_WZSEs5NE9VFobDGMVG22HVMIjnnDmHYLuilLFXNslA8zELsL3qP-o-psuzYBtkCR-iZ_ASMO1vmcRKh3pYkRQqLHjfwr_58nBlR0H45QcZnwqomJ/s1024/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="1024" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AJUXKLam5uSLOeyD1ToEc4rZbTC6-RhGtEB4yx2JfJFWyGUZkm1SB_QkaWzoj6wnBplHAPkVQZv_WZSEs5NE9VFobDGMVG22HVMIjnnDmHYLuilLFXNslA8zELsL3qP-o-psuzYBtkCR-iZ_ASMO1vmcRKh3pYkRQqLHjfwr_58nBlR0H45QcZnwqomJ/w640-h370/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducking and diving, wheeling and pivoting in the middle of the battle. Orange beads mark Disordered units</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'll read the advanced rules properly for the next game and introduce the other figure types. Let's see what an Orc shaman or champion can do to that heavy cavalry. Or maybe the Unseelie Court (Elf/Orc alliance) can take to the field against those horrible Humans and show them that the Hidden Folk are not happy with them. We'll see. I'm looking forward to finding out and experimenting with the rules some more. It's a nice change of pace from Five Leagues from the Borderlands and I can see me using <i>Oathmark</i> as a way to get more usage out of my existing figures.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-75920195163005625592024-02-18T14:05:00.009+01:002024-02-18T14:05:00.132+01:00Turn 38: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Haunted Ruins (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> It had been a terrible week. The rain had got everywhere and got into everything.</p><p>"So much for camping," complained Onesipe. "What kind of idiot would think it was good fun to sleep under the stars? More like under the clouds! And look at my crossbow. It's knackered. I'm going to have to replace the string and the trigger mechanism! Sod camping. I hate it."</p><p>He stomped off to get a repair kit from Jarnhauss the Mule's pack saddle, chewing on a soggy piece of dried fish from their rations. The others were in better mood, if only because they were not total townies like Onesipe and had experienced worse in their own lives. Sir Thiebault was off hunting at this point or Onesipe might have caught the sharp edge of his tongue, and Fulrad was scouting the area.</p><p>"Ha!" exclaimed Sir Thiebault as he returned to camp, "Look at this."</p><p>"This" was a small deer that would feed the Lemmings for a while. About the same time, Fulrad returned with no new news and just a comment that there was a spooky tree to their north in the hills, that might be worth checking out. The group agreed that marching off to check this new place out was better than sitting around while Onesipe griped and moaned, so they packed their things together and set off.</p><p>Onesipe griped even more as he discovered that the route they were following led through marshes that soaked his feet and boots even more. They reached the location that had seemed interesting to Fulrad quite quickly though. There was a small ruin there with an uncanny air about it, and the vegetation seemed warped by whatever powers had been unleashed here. The vegetation was warped and grew close together. It seemed to be trying to strangle the Lemmings even as they moved in to check the place out. This looked like it had once been a rich settlement, but now it was ruined and overgrown and almost certainly haunted. The Thrappled Lemmings moved through the bone-chilling fog that had arisen from the ground as they approached and advanced into the ruins.</p><p>There were several obvious routes into the ruins, so the Lemmings chose to split into pairs and advance on several fronts. The plan was to meet in the middle of the settlement having dealt with whatever they found on the way. As Drogo and Onesipe crept up the road, past uncanny crystalline formations that had sprouted in the middle of it, a group of shambling undead appeared out of the mist. Moaning gently, the maddened revenants altered direction towards the pair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9noNaPicDLWiPOHzyoZ7zp_ycOyw4Czl-QzxBpdrDHTlvnaC32tnrwT7y689LLGrnMbVlLc1bCbVnkGUKj_2EqrBRQSwU-2E69p4K0e-h_iqolESDH7RC8j2XebJFQ0xkeTJO8bhI9g2llVLDPYNAcI4U-QVR8ipOawxA6yP5snzhEIbrGmmsORFN8xvL/s1024/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1024" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9noNaPicDLWiPOHzyoZ7zp_ycOyw4Czl-QzxBpdrDHTlvnaC32tnrwT7y689LLGrnMbVlLc1bCbVnkGUKj_2EqrBRQSwU-2E69p4K0e-h_iqolESDH7RC8j2XebJFQ0xkeTJO8bhI9g2llVLDPYNAcI4U-QVR8ipOawxA6yP5snzhEIbrGmmsORFN8xvL/w640-h388/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Fulrad advanced into a low ruined building and leapt back at twice the speed as the floor beneath his feet gave way and tumbled into an abyss below. The ruin was clearly unsafe.</p><p>As Lysanthir and Wido moved carefully forward, they spotted more of the undead horrors. Another group of revenants appeared to Onesipe's right. He and Drogo were going to have a hard time of it shortly and the others were too far away to help. Drogo dashed up a nearby hill to distract the revenants and took up a position between two giant toadstools. As the revenants advanced on him, he slew one and drove the other back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK0s-tKzwmPdnMjJELQ0KBc3WH0Azq1FKVjLnOvTbG767aFsDk4q5khMCSXMHIucuUaBqLCVsIA7O7U0D82ZH3z8K6GfujsV76E0Ogv1WqucQ5iMFhgx8YOWFmQjyb8bgVOe2VVDQ6YejmU_URuXaX2CIl9Ijsm2YyEFM1OT0VgoDJTuUIF2WszANnCpK/s1024/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK0s-tKzwmPdnMjJELQ0KBc3WH0Azq1FKVjLnOvTbG767aFsDk4q5khMCSXMHIucuUaBqLCVsIA7O7U0D82ZH3z8K6GfujsV76E0Ogv1WqucQ5iMFhgx8YOWFmQjyb8bgVOe2VVDQ6YejmU_URuXaX2CIl9Ijsm2YyEFM1OT0VgoDJTuUIF2WszANnCpK/w640-h336/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile, in a hard fight, Wido had slain too more and Lysanthir found that the area near them was full of fallen logs that were partially hidden beneath rubble and moss. They made the ground around them treacherous.</p><p>Onesipe raced into the woods. Three revenants were chasing him. Drogo dealt with the one that was focused on him and raced off to aid Onesipe. Hearing Onesipe's cries, Sir Thiebault also rushed off to help him, leaving Fulrad to search a stash, where he found some Springwind Berries. Suddenly, another revenant emerged from the mists behind him, as the others converged on Onesipe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8TeGfZFmMHxw3aDUMls8IuJ7DaPotfdEtEx3g9ge13csB4oqFwqmap3HotD6fAAD1T750l1d_m0ZtiLNzcLzvvp7zlVgc6toAVz5WYGFaNuX84F2-RC5C-P_T6z0WMUDKUZqtDT0F6U6f_fO36ZmSTF6ihNsSJ9RMsrZ1jIIW-xZJ0xL4bCW7J4MQAXW/s1024/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8TeGfZFmMHxw3aDUMls8IuJ7DaPotfdEtEx3g9ge13csB4oqFwqmap3HotD6fAAD1T750l1d_m0ZtiLNzcLzvvp7zlVgc6toAVz5WYGFaNuX84F2-RC5C-P_T6z0WMUDKUZqtDT0F6U6f_fO36ZmSTF6ihNsSJ9RMsrZ1jIIW-xZJ0xL4bCW7J4MQAXW/w640-h470/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The fight was hard, but eventually, the revenants were defeated, although Wido was hurt in the process.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTNixlJpB6GrYGrCvKdcL75ydjZdMdOCleAvKqoz7GtWNkJ-Rsg48RH2G83mQg0LgByApsGveeLoijTKC74ynHwDv86WGn0Fc0bNgoktj2krKqOQYM9cWYQeSCrX0KsaGn-Ysf6xK77ksweHcjuNQdYI-S41bGfVH0eSO1WnpucSa_ka2y_Xrs1mJjP5e/s1024/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1024" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTNixlJpB6GrYGrCvKdcL75ydjZdMdOCleAvKqoz7GtWNkJ-Rsg48RH2G83mQg0LgByApsGveeLoijTKC74ynHwDv86WGn0Fc0bNgoktj2krKqOQYM9cWYQeSCrX0KsaGn-Ysf6xK77ksweHcjuNQdYI-S41bGfVH0eSO1WnpucSa_ka2y_Xrs1mJjP5e/w640-h494/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p> Fortunately, it was an easy wound to clean and he was otherwise unaffected. The Lemmings started their search in earnest and it was then that their problems began as they disturbed numerous revenants. The haul of loot was nice but in the process Sir Thiebault and Drogo were both put out of the fight by the revenants. As the fog cleared, the Lemmings found a camp site at a safe distance from the haunted ruins. Both warriors soon came too in the camp and were little the worse for their encounter with the revenants but some of their equipment had taken a beating and would need repairing.</p><p><i>That was a good haul of treasure, but it cost me a Story Point to keep Drogo alive. Those guarded stashes are nice but can be problematic as they generate more enemies. The Maddened Revenants are tough too. Generally speaking, they require 2 hits to kill them. Your chances of killing them with one blow are low, and even lower if you roll as many 1s as I do for the armour checks and find your blows bouncing off them! I guess the Lemmings will have to get back to defeating the Hooded Men next, but they might need a trip into town to sell their loot, because the poor mule is starting to complain.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-90707745601850558992024-02-17T14:03:00.002+01:002024-02-17T14:03:34.491+01:00Turn 37: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Secret of the Slavers' Stockade (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> The mood in Haitabu was strange. Suddenly everyone was gambling in all the taverns. It made no sense to the Thrappled Lemmings, who knew better than to gamble hard-earned beer tokens. Well, for the most part anyway. Of course, that did not stop Onesipe getting sucked into a high stakes Diamondback game while Fulrad trained with his bow. Nor did it stop the rest of the Thrappled Lemmings giving him what for when he lost 3 Marks over the course of a few evenings. Fortunately, the Lemmings were able to sell a few things to restock the communal purse before they headed east to raid a bandit camp that they knew about.</p><p>The journey to the camp was uneventful. Fulrad scouted the camp and reported that the bandits' ramshackle huts were build amid the overgrown ruins of an ancient village. This group looked to be slave raiders. There were not many of them, but they were led by a woman he recognised, Autolyca, Princess of Thieves. She was a downright slippery customer and it would behove the Lemmings not to take chances with her or she would be back for revenge. Worse yet, there were several villagers and foresters in chains.</p><p>Fulrad spat, "Slavers! Death's too good for them!"</p><p>The Thrappled Lemmings used the cover well. Fulrad and Onesipe took up position where they could see the centre of the camp, ready to fire when given the command. The others sneaked through the woods and were within spitting distance of Autolyca and her crew before they were spotted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkYtQW6NY_K5Kdd4_D1ocApRHjOu9x0ct4_hCQN8EVtSQ7RLdpgvicP9_aWWxxBrHa25czCf1m1Mg64vzALUbQO5b45LqPi4PxMfq1QfGWfk5GRY0x3r5eQOdXkYDOnSWps9y9BvSFeEvyBw-CZtMfelkMA895OdOktdRXbympKw2UvdbkIIwxdAsI9QY/s1024/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1024" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkYtQW6NY_K5Kdd4_D1ocApRHjOu9x0ct4_hCQN8EVtSQ7RLdpgvicP9_aWWxxBrHa25czCf1m1Mg64vzALUbQO5b45LqPi4PxMfq1QfGWfk5GRY0x3r5eQOdXkYDOnSWps9y9BvSFeEvyBw-CZtMfelkMA895OdOktdRXbympKw2UvdbkIIwxdAsI9QY/w640-h382/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Onesipe opened fire but his shot was deflected by the bandit's armour. Sir Thiebault charged a bandit near the camp fire and wounded him. Drogo shot and wounded a bandit slinger. Wido charged Autolyca herself. It was no contest. She had barely lifted her sword to defend herself before Wido had spitted her on his spear. Fulrad then killed the wounded slinger as more bandits emerged from the surrounding area and attacked.</p><p>In very short order, all the bandits bar one slinger were slain. That bandit chose discretion and melted into the forest around the camp as Wido, Drogo and Lysanthir closed on him.</p><p>In the ensuing calm, the Thrappled Lemmings freed the captured locals. One of them, Tovi the Forester, promised to help the Lemmings in any way he could before departing back to his hut in the woods. He led the others off with him while the Lemmings plundered the camp.</p><p>They were very satisfied with the results of their plundering, especially Fulrad who claimed the <i>Harness of Vengeance</i> that they found. Looking through all the documents in Autolyca's backpack quickly revealed that she had been a key individual in the Hooded Men's plans. The Thrappled Lemmings could give themselves a pat on the back for disrupting the Hooded Men even more.</p><p>The Lemmings settled in to camp for the night before heading on to their next destination. As they did so, Tovi returned with a letter for them. Sigrid the Beggar had been passing and had given it to him to deliver. The news she imparted was welcome and would aid the Lemmings in the next phase of their adventure.</p><p><i>Well, that went quickly after the initial sneaking. Three turns to kill all but one of the slavers and the Cunning Infiltrator unique foe fell on the first attack roll. I guess that is what happens when you use a newly painted figure for the first time. It was kind of disappointing in some respects that it was not a tougher fight, but I am sure those will come. The magic armour was a nice find though. There have not been many enchanted items found in this campaign so far.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-48674581830217836392024-02-14T16:18:00.001+01:002024-02-14T16:18:27.230+01:00Unique foes for Five Leagues from the Borderlands<p> Occasionally, while out travelling, you will encounter particularly tough individuals, who are somewhat hostile to you. You will have to deal with them as best you can.</p><p>These figures are mostly from existing factions, although it is tempting to collect a set of them purely for use as unique foes in the campaign. This is also an excuse to buy and paint the Tabletop Fantasy range from Alternative Armies. I no longer have the original ones I owned, but the 15mm fantasy figures from Tabletop Games, that were often delivered wrapped in tissue inside an old cigarette packet, were the earliest 15mm fantasy figures I bought, so the ones here reek of nostalgia. They are not bad figures either.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Grim Knight</h3><p>The Grim Knight is both upper class and humourless. Life has gifted him with the best weapons and armour money can buy, thews of steel and a strong desire to occupy bridges or crossroads or other places where people might pass. He will most certainly take offence at your banter and will most certainly either challenge you to a duel or kill you for being a peasant and offending his nostrils with your smell.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0wzK2wWWrMVVdBmNfo4iKXV0RN6YqVOabhLQNl-piQ6ogAJP4EvePE2U5FfnJhCgObvFzR5ZFU1BsykgLy26eF1Az3UOyYjT-GuxExlrTMAyj-xbwaxuaNHtYDYE1-rMRnre080WDkNQfBggVC_ZvLdJJzFEaSaMc-cO54GPdjbHVs3i4UZY6oLaODyp/s1893/Grim%20Knight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1893" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0wzK2wWWrMVVdBmNfo4iKXV0RN6YqVOabhLQNl-piQ6ogAJP4EvePE2U5FfnJhCgObvFzR5ZFU1BsykgLy26eF1Az3UOyYjT-GuxExlrTMAyj-xbwaxuaNHtYDYE1-rMRnre080WDkNQfBggVC_ZvLdJJzFEaSaMc-cO54GPdjbHVs3i4UZY6oLaODyp/s320/Grim%20Knight.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grim Knights do not all have to have skulz(tm) everywhere. Sometimes the grimness is on the inside. (Two Dragons Normans)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Corrupt Sorcerer</h3><p>The Corrupt Sorcerer is a necromancer of renown capable of summoning the dead to their side at a moment's notice. No one is quite sure why the Corrupt Sorcerer is known as such in common parlance. I mean, the Corrupt Sorcerer is a Necromancer, so why not call them that? I guess the people of Utavoll are just too nice about such things.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pePiiw1J5zSfo-gnB77wbSJOV1rzx-U-z5OE98nF0_jx2Vtz_smqqoi3sO9vLxqsoHVkMt2yRMGGrR14AFedqOaZB2EgmchzCK2-7XvdDJ-2s2zDsAQ68pDl-2rsHjXIvNFjVS_nGtNBXMgF57hSOEoFqKL--czKgKobx6Jvmxs07rsbSskKXkaVSmlc/s1649/Sorcerer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="1590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pePiiw1J5zSfo-gnB77wbSJOV1rzx-U-z5OE98nF0_jx2Vtz_smqqoi3sO9vLxqsoHVkMt2yRMGGrR14AFedqOaZB2EgmchzCK2-7XvdDJ-2s2zDsAQ68pDl-2rsHjXIvNFjVS_nGtNBXMgF57hSOEoFqKL--czKgKobx6Jvmxs07rsbSskKXkaVSmlc/s320/Sorcerer.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sorcerer corrupted by forbidden knowledge (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Cunning Infiltrator</h3><p>Sometimes stealth is needed over brains or brute force. The Cunning Infiltrator is a specialist in sowing discord in the enemy camp. Unfortunately, this time you are the enemy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk6Bnx2vYzghbZBhyBgtpBoCBb1khjm_cp7_WQx9arGyTBnZuJA6wXZwdQHVyN2TJ4-dVPj3DAokHycjwjEV0eScL8SdpUivwBS7cgknj-4kN9OTSVTrGnI-HMRK3G8PdXHwGIlS_O47LJT4zO9cxyVIz4JZ3_T6vaUaSAuYuD3p1_BfS2WdRx8T6B7si/s749/Infiltrator.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk6Bnx2vYzghbZBhyBgtpBoCBb1khjm_cp7_WQx9arGyTBnZuJA6wXZwdQHVyN2TJ4-dVPj3DAokHycjwjEV0eScL8SdpUivwBS7cgknj-4kN9OTSVTrGnI-HMRK3G8PdXHwGIlS_O47LJT4zO9cxyVIz4JZ3_T6vaUaSAuYuD3p1_BfS2WdRx8T6B7si/s320/Infiltrator.JPG" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You won't see her until it is too late! (Alternative Armies TTF range)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Unreasoning Brute</h3><p>If life gives you muscles like iron and a huge sword, then every problem looks like something to slay. The Unreasoning Brute does not know of any way to deal with life other than to smash it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU5SK0AVjzffOOgIzVmo-Hl6y32R7a-HEfZZXicreUNobp652pLAHIAGJMcNsaw0bDK2rMFBjnPFfua5oSzCVjod8PGRVjYmZrvNUCeiFmRNFS0x1VpYeEW6XuLb0VujhnuUcKF-kaj8RZCY4Rw0oKLFngHV4Fl9-TMNvT51rNZFL-FNwjKRpSSYtzwYy/s1474/P1020839.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="979" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU5SK0AVjzffOOgIzVmo-Hl6y32R7a-HEfZZXicreUNobp652pLAHIAGJMcNsaw0bDK2rMFBjnPFfua5oSzCVjod8PGRVjYmZrvNUCeiFmRNFS0x1VpYeEW6XuLb0VujhnuUcKF-kaj8RZCY4Rw0oKLFngHV4Fl9-TMNvT51rNZFL-FNwjKRpSSYtzwYy/s320/P1020839.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A warrior with might thews and a bad attitude (Alternative Armies Tabletop Fantasy range)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Charismatic Leader</h3><p>Sometimes the enemy is better organised than you and has more resources to draw upon. The Charismatic Leader is that foe. Worse yet, the Charismatic Leader is very good at attracting other people to their cause.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbTPuGpqmfsZBZXY1nGbVWDZQZQWow791fCR8CWoEomQqXdqCtM2gbJFt2xVeMTbwvWbv7ybZAB7jsJCvler7KW2ScqBM7gaAv07sdiTy29hyphenhyphenc_nefecgfSi-4EQbWweLwF5r-FErVE-4uwscl57Ou6NZXmzAFGtM60rh4na8TZKh0S_dj90Ot3WRjd8f/s959/Charismatic%20Leader.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="603" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbTPuGpqmfsZBZXY1nGbVWDZQZQWow791fCR8CWoEomQqXdqCtM2gbJFt2xVeMTbwvWbv7ybZAB7jsJCvler7KW2ScqBM7gaAv07sdiTy29hyphenhyphenc_nefecgfSi-4EQbWweLwF5r-FErVE-4uwscl57Ou6NZXmzAFGtM60rh4na8TZKh0S_dj90Ot3WRjd8f/s320/Charismatic%20Leader.JPG" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Charismatic Leader ready to set her minions on you (Alternative Armies TTF range)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ruthless Killer</h3><div>The Synod of Reason causes many problems in Utavoll. One of those is the way it seems to attract and foster Ruthless Killers. These cultists seek to cause the maximum amount of carnage they can and few can stop them. It really plays havoc with the Synod's social events.</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgKWKhdOfNmUg2CQxPun3dneTN-RTLOv31irSED4J-o5JOVsgUcNd3sHPL-_eMTyNd10aKGeGtVcxUzEyWYI22vKqJw28_lmvlRPxVd9-FBXsoUBDqAHue11jlXBFiqS0_JerV3fWlvm2x11YNAOP4nKh57dMtXM1-ouf4vkvWXvLrwuCfZqcMJrAw6Q5/s1365/Deranged%20Cultist.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="998" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgKWKhdOfNmUg2CQxPun3dneTN-RTLOv31irSED4J-o5JOVsgUcNd3sHPL-_eMTyNd10aKGeGtVcxUzEyWYI22vKqJw28_lmvlRPxVd9-FBXsoUBDqAHue11jlXBFiqS0_JerV3fWlvm2x11YNAOP4nKh57dMtXM1-ouf4vkvWXvLrwuCfZqcMJrAw6Q5/s320/Deranged%20Cultist.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Ruthless Killer bent on wreaking havoc (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Mighty Warrior</h3><p>Many is the foe who has laughed at the mighty warrior but it is she who has the last laugh as she holds your severed head in her hands. The mighty warrior wanders the land and may join with your cause or take pay from your enemies.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRSBt9qOOTX0hENgOHE9p7cN-AVswgGLuBiY8L96czAI6vC-M1VSnkRAUsu1X0eNW4hePyR-pHMvCOAoC5mzPCyp-wcWcYKAPpscerQJBhvg8Z7p9EDTnaOdEoGnEtM8vs6Wl91nyURiCDVeMrPu1d8PoLbMI70GfK8ffs_41KdKSMFS58e71Gb10cbuz/s822/Mighty%20warrior.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="753" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRSBt9qOOTX0hENgOHE9p7cN-AVswgGLuBiY8L96czAI6vC-M1VSnkRAUsu1X0eNW4hePyR-pHMvCOAoC5mzPCyp-wcWcYKAPpscerQJBhvg8Z7p9EDTnaOdEoGnEtM8vs6Wl91nyURiCDVeMrPu1d8PoLbMI70GfK8ffs_41KdKSMFS58e71Gb10cbuz/s320/Mighty%20warrior.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the only mighty warrior in Utavoll, but certainly one who has survived longer than you (Alternative Armies TTF range)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Deranged Cultist</h3><p>Calling a cultist deranged seems like a tautology, but even other cultists notice how deranged this particular cultist is. I mean, most cultists got into it for the social life and secret meetings, but this one got her hands on a book of unspeakable knowledge and has cranked her cultishness up to 11. Her summoning of infernal powers has warped her mind, spoilt her social life, and made everyone else too scared to suggest she might like to stop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qP8ZePf2EYI1RMZpVuiVpOUSJHc8ruhz2CbN5e5iXYR9W0JPtN5uhoEjpe2GJQfRVPjP80l4MW_pyIRcPH7jOxaLcNr84pQP7bv0EmU0gcQrv4K48biggO2PsybjFuOETFQTLUJ7Jny8KTGoLZPnDkvOMw_AotkKzxOBXuO5-QsSVm1tOte1yk2l1Wd0/s1413/Cultist.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qP8ZePf2EYI1RMZpVuiVpOUSJHc8ruhz2CbN5e5iXYR9W0JPtN5uhoEjpe2GJQfRVPjP80l4MW_pyIRcPH7jOxaLcNr84pQP7bv0EmU0gcQrv4K48biggO2PsybjFuOETFQTLUJ7Jny8KTGoLZPnDkvOMw_AotkKzxOBXuO5-QsSVm1tOte1yk2l1Wd0/s320/Cultist.JPG" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She is not interested in your argument. She has heard it all before, or so the voices in her head say. (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Scheming Heretic</h3><p>The Scheming Heretic has spent too long in the rituals and forbidden knowledge section of the library. he has learnt how to take over the minds of others and warp them to his will. Sure he seems like a nice guy, but that is just the spells talking.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5X35_jOdHQIT2npulTQdWi59mlh2O4TmfvBU-pukytoHRf1or-CQHJNFqC1EPRWOOpSjJP0-QKboA3pEgEMAKmpfSHaPtWk7qzbvLk4KGLUlfEG6VLNmSWjhqX_rRTEV5VoVxnpVnGdigAnamRLruBDf_MmJyT_uxldPkAjXxSROZxiz3GtHVxBky1Ru/s582/Heretic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5X35_jOdHQIT2npulTQdWi59mlh2O4TmfvBU-pukytoHRf1or-CQHJNFqC1EPRWOOpSjJP0-QKboA3pEgEMAKmpfSHaPtWk7qzbvLk4KGLUlfEG6VLNmSWjhqX_rRTEV5VoVxnpVnGdigAnamRLruBDf_MmJyT_uxldPkAjXxSROZxiz3GtHVxBky1Ru/s320/Heretic.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scheming Heretics are just the sort to make a face mask from your skull (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ravening Beast-form</h3><p>I mean, ravening is just a perspective, isn't it? This poor soul is just hangry and they have been through a lot lately, but I guess if you are the bitee and not the biter then you might consider their behaviour over the top. The Ravening Beast-form is a cultist whose congress with unspeakable cults has driven them to the edge of sanity and mutated their body into some kind of man-beast hybrid.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3On2zE7C6mRvCHtXskNnKQxHAPPYr8rTC-GR7ObrAhyphenhyphen4TyaU8VUSPEOyJ9SzkYlUfViNWRlhOjZschGCspmuXuhajH0e5iuUOi-VsomKpXvh8pHShTNljACTG2vjOMTF-ByTNvjVpEtCAqoMvYFFdSR2BaSwHijbcm7iHmk5CaEo42dCuqWRmUUqUUss/s2025/P1020840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="1389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3On2zE7C6mRvCHtXskNnKQxHAPPYr8rTC-GR7ObrAhyphenhyphen4TyaU8VUSPEOyJ9SzkYlUfViNWRlhOjZschGCspmuXuhajH0e5iuUOi-VsomKpXvh8pHShTNljACTG2vjOMTF-ByTNvjVpEtCAqoMvYFFdSR2BaSwHijbcm7iHmk5CaEo42dCuqWRmUUqUUss/s320/P1020840.JPG" width="219" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the entire animal kingdom to choose from, it is surprising how many Ravening Beast-forms resemble wolves! (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Infernal Spawn</h3><p>The barriers between the worlds have been weakened by the carnage and this denizen of another dimension has decided to pay you a visit and to feed on your fear.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuyjKOTUlMy2FFKz6wUThSuzBNtRiSu6Mr3fvbNd1OtA09W2rZDJsgC06RcwwD8rHBFEBZ3boWvpqLb9mVFJfxAilN6rOY8lbj1sIi9Qjagxm1tAQvHlSe-wmmtukPq20Todu7jRlHyPW146SW3w89Zew75sk4Px-X2-RetcfD1yJwxpa9a9YAwuaXAry/s1161/Spawn.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1148" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuyjKOTUlMy2FFKz6wUThSuzBNtRiSu6Mr3fvbNd1OtA09W2rZDJsgC06RcwwD8rHBFEBZ3boWvpqLb9mVFJfxAilN6rOY8lbj1sIi9Qjagxm1tAQvHlSe-wmmtukPq20Todu7jRlHyPW146SW3w89Zew75sk4Px-X2-RetcfD1yJwxpa9a9YAwuaXAry/s320/Spawn.JPG" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infernal Spawn (D&D Miniatures)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Feral Mercenary</h3><p>The Beastmen of Utavoll are not often seen at the moment, but you can occasionally encounter a Feral Mercenary in the service of the other factions or perhaps pursuing their own agenda.</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><blockquote><i>I am using RPE Demonworld Beastmen for the Ferals and Gnawling Horde, but have not painted any yet, so no pictures for now. I'll upload a photo when they have reached the painting table.</i></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Duskling Champion</h3><p>This lone warrior has survived in his tribe longer than any other. He knows all the tricks of the trade and is willing to ignore the rules and to fight dirty.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXeVTAvbTF8actMk3qIhwvfojGrHiJz3Os6qqwNdJC9rnukPaHEC508ZZVvSQaD30bjssRCHXeSx8yPvcFJsIUuEwDfNnBcaYJPJdXaLQXimCZ4NTZ-9kDfTVKFpvD6tUOhcz-LX2ik9DRsSQ016blLiH8Iik2Ahw2aZ92edPYVL9ubfY7UD4jwBUGQcF/s1216/Champion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXeVTAvbTF8actMk3qIhwvfojGrHiJz3Os6qqwNdJC9rnukPaHEC508ZZVvSQaD30bjssRCHXeSx8yPvcFJsIUuEwDfNnBcaYJPJdXaLQXimCZ4NTZ-9kDfTVKFpvD6tUOhcz-LX2ik9DRsSQ016blLiH8Iik2Ahw2aZ92edPYVL9ubfY7UD4jwBUGQcF/s320/Champion.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duskling Champion will beat you to death with your own leg bone (RPE)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Fey Reaver</h3><p>Like all the other humanoids, the Fey can be encountered as friends and as foes. The Fey Reaver is a foe. They have a tendency to kill first and noth bother with questions because they are too busy rescuing the gold from your purse.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC-3xPwAiqDLnSAiUp1VF7zWcKyxVfcEOE8-d_0oOkRZj4AnWEdt5hgDLUZbx_V77swMDwyCBawZox2D4kNYIvB9gyu1AbcVnrMqR8CqAhXtQW11ac5YIYVBUhZniuqO31xsOFhIJMDW7vsLpEh29Is9LcPcWeZFsUJUNcvvOne9gjXz43PWDXVH6XeBx/s1942/P1020844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1942" data-original-width="1221" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC-3xPwAiqDLnSAiUp1VF7zWcKyxVfcEOE8-d_0oOkRZj4AnWEdt5hgDLUZbx_V77swMDwyCBawZox2D4kNYIvB9gyu1AbcVnrMqR8CqAhXtQW11ac5YIYVBUhZniuqO31xsOFhIJMDW7vsLpEh29Is9LcPcWeZFsUJUNcvvOne9gjXz43PWDXVH6XeBx/s320/P1020844.JPG" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fey Reaver is the dandy highwayman you're to scared to mention. He is stylish, well-equipped and well-groomed. (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Enemy Marshal</h3><p>The enemy marshal is a strategist par excellence. She has lived through a thousand battles and led her forces to victory in most of them.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaMHOQCDjhpgNQXjryWDUg8-LZZIgmP_I-E2cc_Fx_ZpDMD8_pEgu_HFU3lP7X1I6ufg4jBDpWu1wY3JLSpgF9ow8dm7ExJmPIKuXGhxkarN-C8C4zJqBuO2kx1NgyfJQJw514WxuzEC7-zjuIcZ2l5tH_dNd__-d3bA3dcx1DnOp5OAD3rCBN_g0hmjM/s934/P1020835.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaMHOQCDjhpgNQXjryWDUg8-LZZIgmP_I-E2cc_Fx_ZpDMD8_pEgu_HFU3lP7X1I6ufg4jBDpWu1wY3JLSpgF9ow8dm7ExJmPIKuXGhxkarN-C8C4zJqBuO2kx1NgyfJQJw514WxuzEC7-zjuIcZ2l5tH_dNd__-d3bA3dcx1DnOp5OAD3rCBN_g0hmjM/s320/P1020835.JPG" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The enemy marshal surveys the field and sees your weaknesses (Alternative Armies TTF range)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Master Thief</h3><p>The Master Thief prefers to work alone and stealthily, but occasionally they can be encountered with others. If you are lucky, you will see them before they attack, but most are not so lucky at all.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXGFaC8f19cbsOvgemqaXVAStPPyFJvl7V7Fva0fQ7Z-Scnqvhm0kYJZUYDwtW1jNL_UxzWUmN0JeUixs-qcVertlLxJfIvdyv2OE2bjRXkR_tCN-p3IohAACdBYixT7gZTiK1uY1e1X6wknYaAgJRQN6bYNg88nRkSVx-0cbEIcrdRLKFiTEta-2vtN1/s1692/P1020841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="1128" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXGFaC8f19cbsOvgemqaXVAStPPyFJvl7V7Fva0fQ7Z-Scnqvhm0kYJZUYDwtW1jNL_UxzWUmN0JeUixs-qcVertlLxJfIvdyv2OE2bjRXkR_tCN-p3IohAACdBYixT7gZTiK1uY1e1X6wknYaAgJRQN6bYNg88nRkSVx-0cbEIcrdRLKFiTEta-2vtN1/s320/P1020841.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rarely seen portrait of a Master Thief. (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Craven Hex-chanter</h3><div>The Craven Hex-chant is known for their ability to weaken the minds of others. The Craven Hex-chanter has also learnt how to transform their body into a beast, but at a cost to their sanity, which was tenuous at best to begin with.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcpVox3A5_fKJP5_mKZE7lf7cTAlF70Vai8CO7HLo6bMGg3kr1SR30arQnZQikXdamRZIsaeDAbKUYPpoBBt7_KTc6DpGfT06dvJCvgS8AxcgVuVEaov3bsFi3FXAaNY3BZq3Ey5fOl88ILg_8L161t7Q588dJQLQxzk6aWS-CoTwrvwirwow3QpFh6Eu/s1854/Craven%20HexChanter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcpVox3A5_fKJP5_mKZE7lf7cTAlF70Vai8CO7HLo6bMGg3kr1SR30arQnZQikXdamRZIsaeDAbKUYPpoBBt7_KTc6DpGfT06dvJCvgS8AxcgVuVEaov3bsFi3FXAaNY3BZq3Ey5fOl88ILg_8L161t7Q588dJQLQxzk6aWS-CoTwrvwirwow3QpFh6Eu/s320/Craven%20HexChanter.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Craven Hex-chanter from a Duskling tribe. Other Craven Hex-chanters are available. (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-54018820073786179642024-02-13T18:24:00.004+01:002024-02-13T18:34:15.867+01:00The Curse of War: Ghouls and war cultists for Five Leagues from the Borderlands<p> The Curse of War faction is not part of my main campaign, but I appear to have accidentally painted enough figures to field it, if I need to. As with my bandits, the figures are largely Vikings and Normans from my wider collection divided according to armour type. That gives me three main groups of unarmoured, lightly armoured and armoured troops with missile support. All of the human figures can and will be used as whichever faction is on the table and suits their armour and equipment, but separating them out and painting them as individual factions helps keep me focused and painting, a focus that I lost in the rather shitty end to 2023.</p><p>The human factions are those who have deserted, or those who have been betrayed by their commanders and left for dead. Driven half or even wholly mad by their experiences, they roam the countryside with little purpose other than to fight. There are also undead arisen after the battle is over and fiends that seek out battlefields to feed on the dead. There is much conflict in Utavoll for them to feast on.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Craven Deserters</h3><p>Craven Deserters are the least of the human groups, Pressed into service by unfeeling overlords, they have sought to escape but find themselves in a situation where they must simply fight to survive with what little they have, which is very little indeed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrddMpxyuJYoyGxwP96ZwbvuyF-1Q-Q25EUADUF-ye1A7Vv8FDnEgNl2CgW0N6wEILwfbwuTzVo4YVe6xAA-MT5I22GNDT4oODi0lJlbhb4rz1cmkXkObtnA_aCIF4Q9Ra6j1SbktTbepANUzYS1rqc-ona1XL5W2SPaTBqqXdoI8S-Dqr2ioV61c5n5A/s4067/P1020824.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="4067" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrddMpxyuJYoyGxwP96ZwbvuyF-1Q-Q25EUADUF-ye1A7Vv8FDnEgNl2CgW0N6wEILwfbwuTzVo4YVe6xAA-MT5I22GNDT4oODi0lJlbhb4rz1cmkXkObtnA_aCIF4Q9Ra6j1SbktTbepANUzYS1rqc-ona1XL5W2SPaTBqqXdoI8S-Dqr2ioV61c5n5A/w640-h156/P1020824.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Dragons peasants and slingers are a useful stand-in for pretty much all of the unarmoured, poorly equipped troops in Five Leagues from the Borderlands</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Opportunistic Pillagers, Cruel Deserters, Torch Bearers and Forsaken Infantry</h3><p>Opportunistic Pillagers, Cruel Deserters, Torch Bearers and Forsaken Infantry are regular soldiers whose experiences have broken their minds. With light armour and a bit more experience, they are one step above the Craven Deserters. They know only that they must fight to survive but lack direction in their madness.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-Pb309iBC00e39vhcGLdzF39K9YjMSWFOL3HCEukvY7djH92xGlmNpoXy1rOlHF7N7w-Ou1kzUU7TWeJPmhx1jojjz77NDQzU6IeJh2XtQzGeEGsaadfs1Xih036UftsrjMuul81Qf27pFbgD3Y9Hbo8O-CpwTgoOTjSlkib69oq8CC-OKCUJ2SQN1Oe/s2181/P1020826.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2181" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-Pb309iBC00e39vhcGLdzF39K9YjMSWFOL3HCEukvY7djH92xGlmNpoXy1rOlHF7N7w-Ou1kzUU7TWeJPmhx1jojjz77NDQzU6IeJh2XtQzGeEGsaadfs1Xih036UftsrjMuul81Qf27pFbgD3Y9Hbo8O-CpwTgoOTjSlkib69oq8CC-OKCUJ2SQN1Oe/w640-h328/P1020826.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Dragons Vikings and Normans provide the right mix of light armoured warriors for these groups</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">War-mad Roamers, Torn Flags and Forsaken Elite</h3><p>War-mad Roamers, Torn Flags and Forsaken Elite are warriors born and bred, who find themselves consumed by blood lust and well enough equipped to slake their bloodthirsty obsession. They fight because in their battle madness is the only time they are truly alive.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs0kE8xkJAoufrLDo-VBvy5joOVy8sLGeM_wONZrnsiARZWCwxXHY1n2Xp-xPUYPUrhAV9HnyJW4H7aendymRh1xiE-09lmVGePZ2Hriv249HN16ks4KZhWU7Z3jsye37LtmPwixe7y2U8iuNpdwniwBtufJeL_bkCoiC1jDA6tktK49hOm7J3TsXgCpO/s2435/P1020828.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2435" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs0kE8xkJAoufrLDo-VBvy5joOVy8sLGeM_wONZrnsiARZWCwxXHY1n2Xp-xPUYPUrhAV9HnyJW4H7aendymRh1xiE-09lmVGePZ2Hriv249HN16ks4KZhWU7Z3jsye37LtmPwixe7y2U8iuNpdwniwBtufJeL_bkCoiC1jDA6tktK49hOm7J3TsXgCpO/w640-h372/P1020828.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Two Dragons Vikings and Normans, this time in mail to represent the best equipped reavers</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>War Cultists</h3><p>War Cultists are among the strangest of the blood-crazed human bands. They worship the battlefield itself. Their cry of "Blood for the Blood Gods" is the prelude to carnage that can only be stopped by killing them all. Their god gives them the power to summon powerful half-man, half-bull warbeasts to aid them in this.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9nx3wdg3n0d0N-NenAyTRgScT5W2Fjyjilxt3SUQeFUfWjtQ7MB84QhlHnQuNZ5WLLP4HhFtczGYdu6hFKeTk19AX3bO1i_BAw31BG1LumCqgIOgTP9-VJM2oH1iHcgmN3Gq-1XbLSbAzJYuQFBVcOKA2PibJGTLMS-DQrWLfIfa6XGuH3ONLqhas7zV/s1024/Cultists.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1024" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9nx3wdg3n0d0N-NenAyTRgScT5W2Fjyjilxt3SUQeFUfWjtQ7MB84QhlHnQuNZ5WLLP4HhFtczGYdu6hFKeTk19AX3bO1i_BAw31BG1LumCqgIOgTP9-VJM2oH1iHcgmN3Gq-1XbLSbAzJYuQFBVcOKA2PibJGTLMS-DQrWLfIfa6XGuH3ONLqhas7zV/w640-h366/Cultists.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brothers of Battering Blows led by their most fearsome captain, Friar Chuck (Essex Miniatures monks and warrior monks)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSM7CBihCjyq-IRB-MhkWVwvfyWV6FxNWAzuXsUQxgSOhtwN7hl4V81lscX1fkV5tm6t_xXRfJNhz2hopWewigsnyklBnMm6aojwYJLzj9wvPnV2amOxMjnJZHgyN8LlxrkXgVLgxP64sBMsUqkIZiO27WJNxaB99adfFFofjtC9ZH91bAaYUOGkE8ig5/s1081/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSM7CBihCjyq-IRB-MhkWVwvfyWV6FxNWAzuXsUQxgSOhtwN7hl4V81lscX1fkV5tm6t_xXRfJNhz2hopWewigsnyklBnMm6aojwYJLzj9wvPnV2amOxMjnJZHgyN8LlxrkXgVLgxP64sBMsUqkIZiO27WJNxaB99adfFFofjtC9ZH91bAaYUOGkE8ig5/s320/3.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A powerful half-man, half-bull warbeast (</span>Alternative Armies Tabletop Fantasy Minotaur 578)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Gibbering Corpse Crawlers and Battlefield Stalkers</h3><p>The battlefields of Utavoll are also populated with Gibbering Corpse-Crawlers and Battlefield Stalkers, undead monstrosities raised by evil necromancers for the sole purpose of wreaking carnage wherever they roam.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsQwLg8fa3c_uHQMozVWIEyj0IsN7sxxZ-vIPCbEPTkpP2iDL8Rd1qHhuDc-1kS-tNZMF2Y11LZ7cPDAoUEzhyI4QA5EZ8KMD5RT7fK4I4RyhDppGDR7pPi_LduhFy90wd9F-TC3UthhGDuhxbKlggVdwbdRgO6o_-ynqJ-O8qAd_GEfZtOL-NZswp3RN/s3455/P1020401.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="3455" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsQwLg8fa3c_uHQMozVWIEyj0IsN7sxxZ-vIPCbEPTkpP2iDL8Rd1qHhuDc-1kS-tNZMF2Y11LZ7cPDAoUEzhyI4QA5EZ8KMD5RT7fK4I4RyhDppGDR7pPi_LduhFy90wd9F-TC3UthhGDuhxbKlggVdwbdRgO6o_-ynqJ-O8qAd_GEfZtOL-NZswp3RN/w640-h276/P1020401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibbering Corpse-Crawlers (Alternative Armies and RPE Demonworld)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBAwaUWX7cA0G4X2Tha14NdKSmKHq8OmPcM65SYZuLbRFEzLpWTLBSHfrHIEiTVu-pM7gCSyIwv7VnvRuiXdOBtr5ZMhETWYobM9zEzouFTC4b-a27x1hMgvoKMJOw6AjLUSQ18cUBIElX3N68Y1t7ZNmpUaFDgS4F7ZNRNTKQ-BG-55zPwExOyWN5-tz/s4375/P1020399.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="4375" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBAwaUWX7cA0G4X2Tha14NdKSmKHq8OmPcM65SYZuLbRFEzLpWTLBSHfrHIEiTVu-pM7gCSyIwv7VnvRuiXdOBtr5ZMhETWYobM9zEzouFTC4b-a27x1hMgvoKMJOw6AjLUSQ18cUBIElX3N68Y1t7ZNmpUaFDgS4F7ZNRNTKQ-BG-55zPwExOyWN5-tz/w640-h250/P1020399.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battlefield Stalkers (RPE Demonworld)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Soot-Stained Fiends</h3><p>Soot-Stained Fiends are demonic flies attracted to the battlefields of Utavoll, where they feast on the bodies and souls of the slain.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5vqk4m3iOUcfgEOeW9wTps9nO7s-KFxnOQdd_NHJhoSD33vrxT9ErjzLSWmQAMNMlt2DlzzYfUT8kLa3ti7HeX3Vq7q3dYGWvN3tKmaZSqnNh7sDFHskjO0DZcUldyrcM-W880mQsU4cjO2RwrcX1bzZc68O7sOvfIFlNCfrKMt5qELrtqZo7hSoEUAg/s1718/P1020827.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1718" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5vqk4m3iOUcfgEOeW9wTps9nO7s-KFxnOQdd_NHJhoSD33vrxT9ErjzLSWmQAMNMlt2DlzzYfUT8kLa3ti7HeX3Vq7q3dYGWvN3tKmaZSqnNh7sDFHskjO0DZcUldyrcM-W880mQsU4cjO2RwrcX1bzZc68O7sOvfIFlNCfrKMt5qELrtqZo7hSoEUAg/w640-h424/P1020827.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween flies. The golden ones are the leaders. In Utavoll, demons often take on the form of flies and other nuisance creatures to torment the inhabitants and drive them mad</td></tr></tbody></table>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-65776022333963648402024-02-12T18:30:00.014+01:002024-02-12T18:30:00.265+01:00Oathmark: Training Wheels<p> I bought <i><a href="https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/oathmark-9781472833044/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oathmark</a></i> in a sale at the local bookshop back end of last year and am finally getting around to trying them. Like with a lot of other rules, I am playing with 15/18mm figures at 60% scale using a printable ruler scaled down to 60% when I printed it out. This makes my normal 70cm x 50cm gameboard the equivalent of 46" x 33" which is a small table for Oathmark. At this scale my 5'x3' dining table will be more than large enough for a large game if I ever get around to that.</p><p> The armies for this test game are cobbled together from the stuff I have been painting for <i>Five Leagues from the Borderlands</i>. They are far from optimised armies, but my opponent is cool with that, so it's ok. I am also not using the kingdom building rules which offer significant and exciting opportunities for cobbling together unusual fantasy army combinations. If I get on with the rules then that will be the next step to add, along with bigger monsters and spellcasters, plus the rules from the expansion books.</p><p>Not every battle in Utavoll involves the Thrappled Lemmings, despite what the Lemmings themselves will tell you. Sometimes local warlords fight or the Dusklings (Orcs) come down from their mountain fastnesses in larger numbers and attack the settlements in the flat lands. This happened recently in the large valley north of Fikaby. The village quickly mustered every able-bodied fighter and set out to stop the Duskling rampage before it started. The humans (502 points) managed to muster:</p><ul><li>1 unit of 11 Soldiers</li><li>1 unit of 10 Archers</li><li>1 unit of 5 Heavy Cavalry</li></ul><div>Facing them was a Duskling horde (500 points) with:</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 unit of 20 SpearOrcs</li><li>1 unit of 10 BowOrcs</li><li>1 unit of 10 Wolves</li></ul><p></p><p>The Dusklings had the advantage of the ground and outnumbered the humans. Their archers occupied a hill on their left flank. The spear phalanx was deployed with the archers on one side and a rocky spire on the other, thus ensuring they could not easily be flanked. The wolves were deployed between the rocky spire and a woods. The humans were wholly in the open with their heavy cavalry ready to take on the wolves, their archers in the centre and their soldiers facing the Duskling archers.</p><p>I diced to see how much terrain to use (2-4 pieces) and where to place it. The dice favoured the Orcs. I then diced for deployment and placed the units appropriately. The deployment actually kind of makes sense. The BowOrcs will try to shoot up the human soldiers so that the phalanx can easily take them out. The wolves will try to stop the human cavalry. They have numbers but the cavalry will be fearsome if it charges first. I'm not sure how the archers and infantry will cope with each other, but I shall find out. The armies are starting closer together than they would on a full-sized table so the action will start sooner and there will be less manoeuvring.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4e3m8idBRBtyTPjA_g0DI3u21qmNjYbD10nfA-0TaOLxjKLgS4wiN4P4VRZ6zuur-qzYhHJKsFQqVYrTFD2JdiGFOkPWj0n59ERtly-1lmHccm_B30q4zS0FDHchWGhPXkcd_4Rl5w1GRYWw4ak-_IN8fdLaKym5A6vSksvVks0w4UDmjkBAEKDxegFq/s1024/1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1024" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4e3m8idBRBtyTPjA_g0DI3u21qmNjYbD10nfA-0TaOLxjKLgS4wiN4P4VRZ6zuur-qzYhHJKsFQqVYrTFD2JdiGFOkPWj0n59ERtly-1lmHccm_B30q4zS0FDHchWGhPXkcd_4Rl5w1GRYWw4ak-_IN8fdLaKym5A6vSksvVks0w4UDmjkBAEKDxegFq/w400-h263/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusklings/Orcs at the top of the photo. The blue beads mark unactivated units</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h3><p>Humans win the initiative.</p><p>The human archers activate successfully and fire at the Duskling archers who are just in range. 2 hits.</p><p>Duskling archers fail to activate but still get to shoot at the human soldiers. The humans form shieldwall but still take 1 hit.</p><p>The human soldiers fail to activate and march forward with their shields held up to defend themselves.</p><p>The Duskling phalanx fails to activate and marches straight forward towards the human archers.</p><p>The heavy cavalry races forward towards the wolves.</p><p>The wolves fail to activate and edge slowly towards the heavy cavalry.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDH6awLwgRcQJ9RwMm_Aqn143og_wQy53mVUcIF08BSmPmmo1OApc4St1M042jmF7QIe3RlsTNoXC-VYwaKzyN-UIuoItfmRVDGc23MdEAyFHVr4Ocd1kmNH6_5NjYvi-Zx80oOksZer_-6HrgO2lT_gStFutXKdTbmhe_Od2qrnxbXxyX1zRLOLXMRRS/s1024/2.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1024" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDH6awLwgRcQJ9RwMm_Aqn143og_wQy53mVUcIF08BSmPmmo1OApc4St1M042jmF7QIe3RlsTNoXC-VYwaKzyN-UIuoItfmRVDGc23MdEAyFHVr4Ocd1kmNH6_5NjYvi-Zx80oOksZer_-6HrgO2lT_gStFutXKdTbmhe_Od2qrnxbXxyX1zRLOLXMRRS/w400-h274/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h3><p>Dusklings win initiative.</p><p>Duskling archers fail to activate and shoot at the human soldiers. The humans form shieldwall. 1 hit.</p><p>The heavy cavalry charges the wolves and scores 8(!!!!!) hits. The wolves score 0 hits in return. Despite the horrendous damage, they pass their morale but are pushed back 1"!</p><p>The Duskling phalanx fails to activate and moves straight forward towards the human archers.</p><p>The human archers activate and shoot at the phalanx. 2 hits.</p><p>The Dusklings have nothing left to activate, so the human soldiers activate and pivot on their officer before marching towards the flank of the Duskling phalanx.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo37_ASsv6TIYnRmtXyyUeugwL70Irf7tfZOPRBYIRAGLgZW-tVkC1btp4C29xkaVBnh2A9SSNesPR9M9gJyoF-BWqsjiYa8wsEuzbBb8N3BmfXu7JhA4qW2qe_tNRTjrEPAPGLNbxE1ua9iUBk4BlXuG9hDvfaO_S2v9sPDwE1uT849WY8jGDCLGTdpK/s1024/3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo37_ASsv6TIYnRmtXyyUeugwL70Irf7tfZOPRBYIRAGLgZW-tVkC1btp4C29xkaVBnh2A9SSNesPR9M9gJyoF-BWqsjiYa8wsEuzbBb8N3BmfXu7JhA4qW2qe_tNRTjrEPAPGLNbxE1ua9iUBk4BlXuG9hDvfaO_S2v9sPDwE1uT849WY8jGDCLGTdpK/w400-h266/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h3><p>Humans win the initiative</p><p>The human soldiers charge the Duskling phalanx in the flank. 4 hits. The Dusklings score 1 hit in return. Both units become disordered and the phalanx is pushed back 1".</p><p>The Duskling archers activate and shoot at the human soldiers. 2 hits. This is enough to break the soldiers who flee the field. The human archers watch their fleeing comrades with contempt as the Duskling archers advance off their hill to support their own phalanx.</p><p>The human archers activate and shoot at the Duskling phalanx. 2 hits.</p><p>The wolves activate, pivot on their leader and race off in an attempt to flee the heavy cavalry.</p><p>The heavy cavalry activates, wheels to face the wolves and charges them in the rear. 9 hits. The wolves are roadkill and fail to hit back in return.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-aauP2FdsYSvNw3MRDfsbPf_hUctTg0LQGIAqJBTTopybAoXtFxlGmE6NiMarnEc5Do6O3QPCYBJSnh_2wrHx-LWx1vUZRfJR5uADoMo3xcfdhp6sGyUujfWyQXQqNJHCE0KwasWNd6kkVqpjxhoMdgTRWIdU3RCfOOycqgTcseBYaLg8xySvWpxPVtu/s1024/4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1024" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-aauP2FdsYSvNw3MRDfsbPf_hUctTg0LQGIAqJBTTopybAoXtFxlGmE6NiMarnEc5Do6O3QPCYBJSnh_2wrHx-LWx1vUZRfJR5uADoMo3xcfdhp6sGyUujfWyQXQqNJHCE0KwasWNd6kkVqpjxhoMdgTRWIdU3RCfOOycqgTcseBYaLg8xySvWpxPVtu/w400-h356/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amber bead marks disorder, which is not a Good Thing</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 4</h3><p>Dusklings win the initiative.</p><p>The phalanx fails to activate and ambles towards the human archers.</p><p>The heavy cavalry moves forward and then wheels to attack the Duskling archers in the flank.</p><p>The Duskling archers fail to activate. They pivot on their leader to face the oncoming heavy cavalry. With any luck, they will get a good shot off before they are trampled underfoot.</p><p>The human archers activate and shoot at the phalanx. 3 hits. This is too much for the phalanx, which disintegrates and flees.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 5</h3><p>Humans win the initiative.</p><p>The heavy cavalry activates and charges the Duskling archers. 10 hits (!!!!!). The archers are roadkill and are so busy dying that they fail to hit the cavalry at all.</p><p>Game over. The humans win.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOs_yUWs7uo45kDbZx71b8h8QNLchfNzrWK7Pdt6I1lZOZJ4qU10YSXd7en84iDHlmLt_jatbRCPBDn-rAicScUIai7rziWpbWkXuIN_v7168iyU2UUnk4OoScZfI0pZkyHBPwWHpdcH1Jv1H4595VS_cF1B4-WrHHjdNwAibokxHPRJ7T-L8OCJgFlSq/s1070/5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOs_yUWs7uo45kDbZx71b8h8QNLchfNzrWK7Pdt6I1lZOZJ4qU10YSXd7en84iDHlmLt_jatbRCPBDn-rAicScUIai7rziWpbWkXuIN_v7168iyU2UUnk4OoScZfI0pZkyHBPwWHpdcH1Jv1H4595VS_cF1B4-WrHHjdNwAibokxHPRJ7T-L8OCJgFlSq/w383-h400/5.JPG" width="383" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They think it's all over...</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusions</h3><p>That was fun. The basic system seems simple enough. I like the use of two dice for activations and morale tests, with success being if either die rolls high enough. That reduces the randomness of the game a bit. Of course, it still did not help the poor Duskling/Orc force who failed more activations than they passed.</p><p>The fixed number of dice for combat was a bit weird. I took an age checking it up, because the heavy cavalry get 2 dice per figure, but even then, they only get to roll 5 of them and all adjustments start from that 5, so defenders with a shield then reduce that to 4 dice. They still stomped everything they faced, and their high armour rating meant that they took no casualties at all.</p><p>Morale is a two step process: first disordered and then destroyed. Passing activation means that you lose the disordered status, which is where the Duskling phalanx went wrong. I like this process and I like that morale recovery is built into the activation system. It's simple and neat.</p><p>I am sure I got things wrong, so I shall read the rules again and try another game before moving on to adding characters and spellcasters to the game. This looks like a good way to use more of the figures I have painted for <i>Five Leagues from the Borderlands</i> and to encourage me to paint yet more of my unpainted lead pile. It also looks like a system that will work well solo, possibly with the Charles Grant <i>Programmed Wargames Scenarios</i> book, which has lain untouched on my shelf for an absolute age. It could even form the basis of a mini-campaign.</p><p>Speaking of campaigns, another element I particularly like is the move away from monoracial armies. Sure, you can build an Orc/Goblin force or an Elf force, but the campaign system is built around territory instead. Your capital defines the dominant race in the area but you then choose other territories to fill out your kingdom and it is your territories that decide who is in your army, not your leader's race. Maybe your human capital city is ringed around by Orc and Elf suburbs, and then you have a Dwarven city outside that. As the leader of your kingdom, you can then recruit soldiers of any of those races., so Elves could be standing alongside Orcs and Dwarves in a total subversion of more usual fantasy tropes. This is neato!</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-68118455723071225772024-02-11T13:04:00.005+01:002024-02-11T13:04:50.215+01:00Turn 36: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Ungrateful Dead (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> Following their success against the Hooded Men, Geir the Smith gave the Thrappled Lemmings a Fine Shortsword. The locals also charged the Lemmings less for their food than usual (1 Mark). With little else to do and a lot of gold in their purses, Sir Thiebault drilled Fulrad while the others prepared for their expedition against the undead on the edge of town (+1 XP each). The party also made 2 Marks selling excess gear and bought a Fine Shield for Wido as well as more Bandages and Tonic (-12 Marks total). As they were about to set off, Griselda the Baker's Daughter turned up and gave each of them one of her famous Apple Cream Pies (+1 Adventure Point).</p><p>Half an hour later, the Thrappled Lemmings were sneaking up on the centre of the zombie infestation. They could see seven normal zombies and two much fresher and stronger zombies. No doubt there were more around, but these would do to start with.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5XwXa1TUWqNK_3SldzK455vb9gzTj5J0GKg0NPI69NXXF3CX3nIxYLZNydM4SjRCpufjoIUpW5mLSVqWWSKyEfaPns6bgU1vgYM-jaIdjtqvN52pZgiDNqq-89KbbvNpXR7y5jbUuWUfDdiWqbtl_sdOlXp9D1lbeizoVPDbT1QeFYG1ApD2D_0aBNiE/s1024/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1024" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5XwXa1TUWqNK_3SldzK455vb9gzTj5J0GKg0NPI69NXXF3CX3nIxYLZNydM4SjRCpufjoIUpW5mLSVqWWSKyEfaPns6bgU1vgYM-jaIdjtqvN52pZgiDNqq-89KbbvNpXR7y5jbUuWUfDdiWqbtl_sdOlXp9D1lbeizoVPDbT1QeFYG1ApD2D_0aBNiE/w640-h482/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Thrappled Lemmings began their approach towards the zombies. Wido, Fulrad and Sir Thiebault advanced towards a low hill overlooking the stone circle. Onesipe took up position at the corner of a building where he had a decent line of sight for sniping. Lysanthir and Drogo headed off towards a wooded copse on the left flank. They could vaguely see movement in there and did not want their party to be flanked by the zombies. They were almost all in position before the zombies spotted Sir Thiebault on the low hill. Onesipe opened the battle by wounding a zombie. Then the zombies lurched into action, shambling towards the Thrappled Lemmings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvStXQ5mOjFx9zcii4DBrdzOVR_DNfk92OQybHfsNFRUuJXUxQBBScx-3gWz-VFk-rh3JKnQv7c3B82ah6EJAVGzo5VlJGpMGTZlawein_r30u0r0budz75Xusmg15bsUbrOOncbUb-7RHOAqsk3wUH0m7FFvDXEGNkxHHnOFZqDW-5edECiOr4PrgH8Qi/s1024/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1024" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvStXQ5mOjFx9zcii4DBrdzOVR_DNfk92OQybHfsNFRUuJXUxQBBScx-3gWz-VFk-rh3JKnQv7c3B82ah6EJAVGzo5VlJGpMGTZlawein_r30u0r0budz75Xusmg15bsUbrOOncbUb-7RHOAqsk3wUH0m7FFvDXEGNkxHHnOFZqDW-5edECiOr4PrgH8Qi/w640-h430/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Wido rushed forward and finished off the wounded zombie. Sir Thiebault charged down the hill and sliced the head off another zombie. As he did so, a new zombie lurched into view on the Lemmings' left flank. Drogo and Sir Thiebault slew two more zombies, but yet another zombie appeared, this time from their right flank.</p><p>Onesipe's sniping was proving ineffectual, but Wido managed to put an arrow right through the brain of one of the leader zombies. At the same time, Drogo cleaved a zombie in two and then cleaved a zombie lieutenant in two a moment later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLYEQ3lkayJ-0CdSD7Af0lI6zGJ5IfpeEEbMd05JtmLZKLYHVpCLp_HvlnTS5BRKAEFZAtyWir18z-OOewKtlqgdL_H7aRonO9tQTG1snhu8NHjWO6w_sQJvAtAuJ1lriX0pW4pyqknibSi6VbzMxzRW3pjZ30TqrwHinyKKGWBaBam-VJgy_2Hjx3Shu/s1024/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1024" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLYEQ3lkayJ-0CdSD7Af0lI6zGJ5IfpeEEbMd05JtmLZKLYHVpCLp_HvlnTS5BRKAEFZAtyWir18z-OOewKtlqgdL_H7aRonO9tQTG1snhu8NHjWO6w_sQJvAtAuJ1lriX0pW4pyqknibSi6VbzMxzRW3pjZ30TqrwHinyKKGWBaBam-VJgy_2Hjx3Shu/w640-h370/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sir Thiebault charged the last zombie but was puffing too hard to do any damage. Wido trotted up beside him.</p><p>"You need to lay off Griselda's buns," he commented as he slew the zombie. All was quiet. The zombie menace had been dealt with.</p><p>The search of the camp turned up a magical Talisman that Sir Thiebault immediately took charge of and a good quantity of gold plus some jars of valuable spices that they could sell. There was also a satchel of letters detailing the plans of a local warlord to strengthen his grip on the area. That would be worth a few marks to the right person.</p><p>They headed home to report to Sigrid the Beggar, who gave them a large purse of gold and information that could help them in the future.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-82628745341634628332024-02-10T16:56:00.002+01:002024-02-10T16:56:18.234+01:00Turn 35: The Thrappled Lemmings and the Manly Men in Tights (Five Leagues from the Borderlands<p> A renowned magus was in Haitabu when the Thrappled Lemmings arrived and all the talk was about her. The Lemmings felt thoroughly put out after how they had been feted in Utstein Marknad. Fortunately, they felt better after the merchant covered their food and drink costs for helping him reach Haitabu without untoward events along the way. Fulrad and Drogo took time to spar together and both learned a little. Lysanthir headed to the market where he sold the remaining gold bars and bought a bottle of Tonic. It would come in handy at some point soon, he mused. While at the market, he met up with Griselda the baker's daughter, who had been travelling on deliveries and had passed near the Hooded Men's "secret" base. The Hooded Men had been dancing and singing, as was their wont, which gave her time to scout a bit. She passed on this intelligence to Lysanthir.</p><p>With all the chores done, Lysanthir rounded up the Thrappled Lemmings and they headed out. Time to make the town safer for beer and baked goods deliveries. With any luck, they could have the hideout destroyed and be back in The Unicorn and Lion by teatime.</p><p>As they approached the hideout, it became clear that the bandits in it were the least of their ilk. The others must be out doing evil wherever they were. Still, the lead bandit looked like a tough cookie, so perhaps it would not be as simple as all that. And the hideout was fortified, which would make it more difficult too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0IelutwzqdNZ4VgKjz-nNp5avGOBjuQ-hquPyerNaWPm9YAblVCXePeYKg0XW261U5rFZpeoiWASb74t9kfR4Qkua9tUxW4HMxwWN0NqDke8VG_r1q6Z-aAkKKM-h59NeYcsqyqAkvWAM6MiJN-D3Ct1Wm36wqNxGwKEnxf-YWATNoizj_kT5OSiAz0G/s1024/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="1024" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0IelutwzqdNZ4VgKjz-nNp5avGOBjuQ-hquPyerNaWPm9YAblVCXePeYKg0XW261U5rFZpeoiWASb74t9kfR4Qkua9tUxW4HMxwWN0NqDke8VG_r1q6Z-aAkKKM-h59NeYcsqyqAkvWAM6MiJN-D3Ct1Wm36wqNxGwKEnxf-YWATNoizj_kT5OSiAz0G/w640-h306/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bandits line the walls of a stockade (Dave Graffam city walls)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>"Right, lads," announced Sir Thiebault, "Here's the plan. Most of you have bows. We're going to use them. First one to hit the bandit captain gets an extra tankard of ale. The one who kills him drinks free for the whole night. Once he's dead we charge."</p><p>A chorus of "Yup" and "Yeah" from the rest of the Thrappled Lemmings acknowledge the tactical astuteness of, and agreement with, the plan. They moved out and were quickly lining the woods nearest the bandit fort. Lysanthir decided to push on ahead because he had no bow. He was within knife strike of the elderly bandit on the Lemmings' left flank before the man spotted him and raised a shout.</p><p>"Oh ho!" cried the bandit leader, slapping his thigh, "What have we here? By the pricking of my thumbs, 'tis a motley crew of ne'erd-do-wells and chancers. At them, chaps!"</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q6v-ZjbknC4hwR8lDT5Tc6UeiHeY1b2x8mJRfCfg3stJJKdYSRJz-0Dd3K4Z8UzhN_tX0tMXpKbywbWhkOJi8E6H1rwTacFNegz16M6eJ4ebLACo26v-14YHc1b6jvAqbkMoKVKH-GPzbQrWAKPchnfRoQMQO1g9rPEPw13fdHb0Pa4E8rV0e-_4y55_/s1024/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1024" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q6v-ZjbknC4hwR8lDT5Tc6UeiHeY1b2x8mJRfCfg3stJJKdYSRJz-0Dd3K4Z8UzhN_tX0tMXpKbywbWhkOJi8E6H1rwTacFNegz16M6eJ4ebLACo26v-14YHc1b6jvAqbkMoKVKH-GPzbQrWAKPchnfRoQMQO1g9rPEPw13fdHb0Pa4E8rV0e-_4y55_/w640-h394/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alas the jovial bandit captain would never slap his thigh again</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Onesipe and Fulrad sighted carefully at the jovial bandit captain. They paused, breathed out slowly and then shot. Their shots were nigh simultaneous, and nigh simultaneously they missed by a country mile.</p><p>"Feh, it's a long shot," grumbled Onesipe.</p><p>Wido shot and put his arrow straight through the bandit captain's heart, despite the range and the cover afforded by the fort.</p><p>"Luck!" grumbled Onesipe.</p><p>Drogo sighted and fired. A bandit slinger fell from the stockade.</p><p>"More luck," grumbled Onesipe bitterly.</p><p>Lysanthir leapt the last yard at his target and struck hard, but the elderly bandit fought back hard and was only driven back. The bandit then attacked back and drove Lysanthir back in turn. Lysanthir returned to the fray. This time he had the measure of his foe, who was soon stretched out full length on the ground never to move again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNggU3HhTrPZZErA7p_LvGcqzjJcUIqqBeTfVn1y48UzrGnFglq_UthA9D6o83jWi1t80lLwsw7yhdcbff7YCaRhDkoojFs6c-w5Z1CPiUOXh8YzQht5-Id1RcV3MGKgt6iiHZ4H5r-A4nyDmPl6fgOhHGiqIj9DwhHFKTxOMhigJm7BNAKS-4Q8lMkHi/s1024/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNggU3HhTrPZZErA7p_LvGcqzjJcUIqqBeTfVn1y48UzrGnFglq_UthA9D6o83jWi1t80lLwsw7yhdcbff7YCaRhDkoojFs6c-w5Z1CPiUOXh8YzQht5-Id1RcV3MGKgt6iiHZ4H5r-A4nyDmPl6fgOhHGiqIj9DwhHFKTxOMhigJm7BNAKS-4Q8lMkHi/w640-h400/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Onesipe finally had his crossbow sighted in and killed a bandit slinger on the battlements. In short order, two more bandits lay dead as Sir Thiebault and Drogo attacked and slew them. This was all too much for the remaining two bandits, who took to their heels and fled as fast as they could. The Lemmings let them run. The threat posed by the Hooded Men was weakened, and there must be some treasure worth seizing in that stockade.</p><p>The Lemmings found two letters that hinted at great treasure ahead if one followed the clues. Their search quickly revealed that the jovial bandit was none other than the Dread Bandit Barold. Searching his hut in the stockade produced documents that gave the Lemmings a headstart on the Hooded Men's plans. The Scout's Cloak and Repair Kit they found seemed small potatoes in contrast to all this.</p><p>The whole battle had taken less than half an hour, the haul of loot was satisfying and they had struck a blow against the Hooded Men. All in all, mused the Lemmings as they quaffed ale in the Mucky Duck back at Haitabu, it had not been a bad day's work. Lysanthir was particularly satisfied because he had found a scroll from which he had learnt the spell <i>Meekness</i>. That would come in useful for humbling his enemies.</p><p>While they drank, Sigrid the Beggar entered the tavern and approached the party. For form's sake, she demanded 1 Mark from them for the information she was about to give them. They paid up and she informed them that a horde of Stumbling Dead had set up camp on the road into town. She would pay them to kill the zombies within 3 weeks.</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-73753023678988889012024-02-04T15:05:00.001+01:002024-02-04T15:10:02.684+01:00Turn 34: The Thrappled Lemmings have a Boring Day (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> The Lemmings regaled the regulars at The Battered Broo with tales of Drogo's heroics in Gamla Utstein and soon found that the locals were repeating the story with ever more embellishments (+1 Story Point)</p><p>"We really need to hire a bard," declared Lysanthir.</p><p>Food cost them 2 Marks and they spent another Mark on a healer for Drogo, while Fulrad practised his trick shots (+1 XP). Selling the treasure netted the party 11 Marks, 4 of which they used to buy a bottle of Tonic for Drogo. He complained bitterly about the taste, but at least his wounds healed more quickly because of it. The Lemmings also spent 6 Marks on more Silvertree Leaf.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5BHepiCvfHU-BZWW7Fxxb3TJLJnROcC2md_48N1ONRDr82mYu7BxYdJ4apNQNTZO-1OAvwmMpFytBgHZGbZFko8wl44Xx_jeMkEi6mRBpMmoRhBhZucKX8JvpkuLHmT_a9jzkMHFN2-6DniT82EVl_8528HlIZ8Xoicds9UMJilTmD6xmOF59D1U0xs9/s3072/Turn%2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5BHepiCvfHU-BZWW7Fxxb3TJLJnROcC2md_48N1ONRDr82mYu7BxYdJ4apNQNTZO-1OAvwmMpFytBgHZGbZFko8wl44Xx_jeMkEi6mRBpMmoRhBhZucKX8JvpkuLHmT_a9jzkMHFN2-6DniT82EVl_8528HlIZ8Xoicds9UMJilTmD6xmOF59D1U0xs9/w640-h640/Turn%2034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Then they were ready and headed out with the merchant towards Haitabu. The journey was uneventful and they were soon being rewarded for their help in getting the supplies to Haitabu (+2 Adventure Points). With Drogo now fully healed, the Lemmings were ready to take the fight to the Hooded Men. But first, they were thirsty!</p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682389860343449422.post-66836415223567500592024-02-04T14:45:00.003+01:002024-02-04T14:45:58.431+01:00Turn 33: The Thrappled Lemmings and an Infestation of Goblins (Five Leagues from the Borderlands)<p> The Thrappled Lemmings were feted by the owner of The Battered Broo after dealing with the sneaky thieves. Apparently, the thieves had been making a nuisance of themselves and everyone wanted to buy the Lemmings a drink for their help. The Lemmings were very happy to let others pick up their bar tab for a while. The Lemmings took this opportunity to get to know the locals and to let their story grow. Each time it was retold, there were more and bigger bandits being defeated, and this suited the Lemmings nicely. Meanwhile, Fulrad spent time practising. He did not want a headache like last time. Fulrad aslo went to the market to sell some of the loot they had acquired, and promptly spent his earnings on a fine shield. He figured he needed better armour than he currently had after last time.</p><p>"Right, lads," announced Sir Thiebault as they all sipped a restorative ale early one morning, "We're heading back to Gamla Utstein. We made a good haul last time and I think we need more of that sort of thing. Once we have everything we can from there, I think we should deal with the Hooded Men, but first we need a nice little nest egg to see us through."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_QyADFOjo6m1omd_Itj_hSjr5Q35MRwcAHXDq8A_RQuEZeBOMDLa78o0-rAePAefXO0TWmbOKilUijy16JGF3FqDwsoDNORJ5tl_io8XuvMl8krNcas3neqGnPZ7wZ0udbWS9KKhtIQSyQ6ofwt84bPXt1wlkciFROzpP7Q_Xkp3OB-ZQB-FK2FE8Mx_/s1024/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1024" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_QyADFOjo6m1omd_Itj_hSjr5Q35MRwcAHXDq8A_RQuEZeBOMDLa78o0-rAePAefXO0TWmbOKilUijy16JGF3FqDwsoDNORJ5tl_io8XuvMl8krNcas3neqGnPZ7wZ0udbWS9KKhtIQSyQ6ofwt84bPXt1wlkciFROzpP7Q_Xkp3OB-ZQB-FK2FE8Mx_/w640-h352/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole dungeon. Thrappled Lemmings entering from the left. The dice indicate which exploration marker each Goblin group is heading towards.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Thrappled Lemmings packed up their gear and made their way to the old ruins, where they quickly descended through the crypts to the levels below. Fulrad scouted ahead of the group. The crypt was quiet but for the faint, squeaky tones of Goblins. The occupants were clearly not on their guard. He waved the others forward humming to himself as he moved to take up a guard position.</p><p></p><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><i>"See the little Goblin.<br />See his little feet.<br />See his little nosey, wosey.<br />Isn't the Goblin sweet?"</i></blockquote></div></blockquote><p></p><p>Fulrad soon caught sight of a group of Goblins with a leader. He loosed a shot that went wide as the others moved quickly to catch up with him.</p><p>Fulrad and Onesipe shot but only stunned the Goblin leader, and then the melee began. It was a hard fight and the Goblins were tougher than expected, but eventually Wido's war spear pierced the breast of one of the Goblins and it bled out on the ground in front of him. He followed up by killing the Goblin leader and then the remaining Goblin in the group in very quick succession.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4hRm0VEJIwP05HojMZDFfte_4VsKVFsezqmPq-GJj20F1lgBjgGd3sEm8nXpwF-QVmobb-cYxSZ6b5wG-3OnyNv7Mr3QpdA-kpB6ISwXcDIO63Q_a3kyOKoMinw5NQIWY-bED28ShOyl0E_vYfqYSZ6xVsO_TUkQ3NqxrUwP-o9NceRtykEpdRo4xE1P/s1024/2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="1024" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4hRm0VEJIwP05HojMZDFfte_4VsKVFsezqmPq-GJj20F1lgBjgGd3sEm8nXpwF-QVmobb-cYxSZ6b5wG-3OnyNv7Mr3QpdA-kpB6ISwXcDIO63Q_a3kyOKoMinw5NQIWY-bED28ShOyl0E_vYfqYSZ6xVsO_TUkQ3NqxrUwP-o9NceRtykEpdRo4xE1P/w640-h290/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goblins guarding a stash of treasure and about to be scragged</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sir Thiebault moved quickly forward to examine something glinting in the dark and quickly found himself facing a group of Goblin guards. Clearly this was a stash worth protecting. Sir Thiebault and Drogo charged and cut down the guards in seconds. Lysanthir took this opportunity to race forward and check the treasure which comprised fine light armour, a large quiver and a balanced staff. Not exactly great, but Fulrad could use the quiver and the rest could be sold.</p><p>More Goblins were now approaching so Sir Thiebault charged and cut one down. Lysanthir raced around them towards an interesting looking chamber but soon found himself facing and wounded by a Goblin. The others moved up to support their comrades.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXVwS6TSWhzkjMqcz185j-URzvduq9B42PnBEn1MTJ0N8bBELUOzxldLq18StVC3s_1b8BoQTZLA7szcho0Eys6CJlkl1GJtLRgWsRWZ1X0t0opIJhQktLyWFsYBoMmHSbEKz0OhXiJ4zld1TTEzrYtWLl8OYMq7p_80e11IEzJH0BkmZVeV7Ig_1OkPf/s1024/3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXVwS6TSWhzkjMqcz185j-URzvduq9B42PnBEn1MTJ0N8bBELUOzxldLq18StVC3s_1b8BoQTZLA7szcho0Eys6CJlkl1GJtLRgWsRWZ1X0t0opIJhQktLyWFsYBoMmHSbEKz0OhXiJ4zld1TTEzrYtWLl8OYMq7p_80e11IEzJH0BkmZVeV7Ig_1OkPf/w640-h400/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groups of Goblins converge on the Thrappled Lemmings' position. The cotton wool marks the noxious gas cloud that Drogo triggered</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Lysanthir retreated to bandage his wounds and Drogo charged in to face the Goblin which put up a tough fight. The Lemmings could hear the chatter of even more Goblins approaching. It was about to get hairy! Sir Thiebault raced in and slew the Goblin Drogo was fighting. Drogo took up a position to face the oncoming Goblins that conveniently allowed him to check out the chamber Lysanthir had spotted. As he stepped closer, a stone clicked under his foot and suddenly the area was filled with noxious gas. He leapt back just in time, as Fulrad moved up and, in an unprecedented display of accuracy, put a shot straight through the eye of the closest Goblin, alerting its comrades to his presence.</p><p>The subsequent fight saw all of the remaining visible Goblins flee the fight. The Lemmings advanced further to explore and find the beautiful beer tokens they sought. Lysanthir and Wido split off from the others to explore a large chamber that one group of Goblins had emerged from. The others headed further into the tunnels. A lone Goblin challenged them, eager for revenge for its fellows. Unfortunately for the poor wee fellow, it was outmatched and outnumbered. It died there and then.</p><p>With the tunnels to themselves, the Thrappled Lemmings began to explore methodically, splitting up to cover more ground more quickly and gathering up their loot. As Drogo moved towards a promising looking crypt, he suddenly realised that it was guarded by a group of Goblins. The Goblins cackled as they ganged up on Drogo and quickly felled him. Unfortunately for them, Onesipe and Sir Thiebault had heard Drogo's cry and raced to the scene of the crime. Onesipe shot two of them in quick succession and Sir Thiebault slew the third. They checked their comrade-in-arms to see how he fared and were relieved to see that he was not dead.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvUrS0ZezEgIC-EV6hWHGKj1ZF0ri4g_IvRyAroQrV0yOfWm57zDzMkJcJAD8Ym62B_LVOGcHxPrNaZOtpVQmiroFVyA6wBLzi2qmaMQVboxqN7Z-JX2JgPs6LVJQjzQeJCh1ZWUTNLj3kuCIhF8w1irKcdnjhUg3dLgGV6uM1q8wti7Y9iAv6DLLLVbf/s1024/4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvUrS0ZezEgIC-EV6hWHGKj1ZF0ri4g_IvRyAroQrV0yOfWm57zDzMkJcJAD8Ym62B_LVOGcHxPrNaZOtpVQmiroFVyA6wBLzi2qmaMQVboxqN7Z-JX2JgPs6LVJQjzQeJCh1ZWUTNLj3kuCIhF8w1irKcdnjhUg3dLgGV6uM1q8wti7Y9iAv6DLLLVbf/w640-h300/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drogo has fallen!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There were no further routes deeper into this delve, so there was nothing left to do but take Drogo home to tend to his wounds, grab the treasure the Goblins were guarding and return to raise a horn of ale or three in their own honour. As they did so, a merchant approached them to ask if they would help guard his wagons. Haitabu was short of supplies and he was planning on heading there to profit from their need. The deal sounded sweet and the Lemmings were already planning on heading in that direction anyway, so it made sense to get paid for it.</p><p><i>Drogo was nearly the first fatality of the campaign! I used the Silvertree Leaf that they Lemmings found in the dungeon for a reroll that was also a Dead result, and then spent a Story Point for another reroll on the injuries table which resulted in Light Wounds instead. Phew, that was close!</i></p><p><i>I've been using these dungeon episodes to edge the dungeon tiles as I go along, trying to choose ones I have not finished, so that they will all eventually get done. We'll be returning to the wilderness next, I think, so I should aim to get more terrain made for that. I've started by making some rock pillars that looked like nothing so much as several wee jobbies on my painting table after the base coat. Sigh! Hopefully they will look better with a few shades and highlights applied. Either that or there will be Jurassic Park sized dragon poos on my gaming table.</i></p>Ruaridhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com0