Spring 995 - Campaign Update

Spring is here and the Amulet of Sorbrowane has returned. This time it arrives in the hands of The Abyss. With the discovery of the Amulet, a rogue dragon turns up in Northern Tropilium. Worse yet, the demon Axzzzargallbargh has emerged in the former realm of Naz Goth and driven the ungrateful Orcs into a frenzy of revolt against their benevolent and kindly king.

Magic User Availability
Mirish recruits 2 L1 Magic-Users and 1 L2 Magic-User.
Stygustan recruits 1 L3 Magic-User and 1 L2 Magic-User.
Tropilium recruits 1 L1 Magic-User.

Hero Availability
No new heroes were recruited

Mercenary Availability
The Abyss recruits one company of Riatan Warriors.
Treyine recruits two companies of Brethren.
Tereken recruits one Drum Dwarven Artillery company.

Going to War
Black Moon Incarnate invades Treyine
Mirish invades The Abyss
Stygustan invades Treyine
Treyine invades Altengard
Tropilium invades Treyine
Rogue dragon invades Northern Tropilium

Talomir at the start of  Spring 995

Other News
Beastmen have emerged from their underground lairs in Barylistan to try to claim a place in the sun.

Winter 994 - Campaign Update

The year 994 was eventful. Altengard saw its first reverse of fortune, although not a serious one. Stygustan's star seems to be rising as it trounced Tropilium. Mangu's elite horsemen have learnt the dangers of facing the Mirish army. The Capalan League is no more, as Tereken destroyed their last hold. The Abyss suffered the fate of many as it assaulted Treyine and lost. Tereken felt the wrath of Altengard. The Orcs of Naz Goth were finally subjugated by Treyine and are no more.

Talomir at the end of Winter 994

With two nations totally destroyed and many others teetering on the brink, the coming year promises to be eventful. The wheel of fate turns inexorably and the nations must continue their efforts.

Leader Death Checks
The King of Altengard has died. His son has replaced him on the throne (WR3). There were no suspicious circumstances.
Mirish Hero has died of an infection due to wounds sustained in combat against the Mangu.
The Treyine mage Dansforth has died in a freak wagon crash accident. The Watch is looking for a weaselly looking Altengardian, who was seen fleeing the scene of the crash.

National Morale
Both Altengard and Treyine pass 1 die and morale decreases by 1 point. The war will continue in the Spring.

Magic Items
The Pipes of the Dead have been found in Northern Tropilium.

Artefacts
The War Horn of Naz Goth has been found in Altengard.

Holy Relics
The Book of the Hungry Moon has reappeared in the hands of The Abyss.

Autumn 994 Tropilium vs Stygustan - Final Countdown?

In this installment I will let the comics speak for the narrative and will include game notes in italics in the body text.

Once again Tropilium's generalship and high die rolls had them turning the tables on Stygustan and becoming the attacker.

Because Tropilium needs to get to grips with their enemies I had them charge out, I did not reveal Fladnag until he was forced to reveal himself intervening during Stygustan's magic phase. I should have revealed him straight away. I also should have sat the Tropilium army in the woods, in cover, until the Stygustanis had marched to within bow range. They then would have been able to charge out and give them what for.

The idea to suck the flank in and then jump them was good, but my execution left something to be desired. Equites are not very heavy Knights and charging anything that is un-wounded frontally is generally risky. My horrible die rolling for the received fire test and Leader Risk tables didn't help. This was compounded by high rolls for Leader Lost when Gracchus Armisurplus rolled OOF.

So Stygustan was not hampered by its low War Rating of 2 by keeping only 4 bodies. On the field Tropilium ended up not using their full War Rating of 6 as they held bodies back. War Rating points are used to activate bodies of troops. They remain active until stopped by a leader, a reaction test or closing to their combat range.

In this battle I used the red beads to remind myself who was active. You'll note I forgot to mark the Stygustan left flank chariots in a couple of pictures. At the end I used the beads to mark who had been lost in pursuit.

An effective level of 6 for Stygustan's mages also proved too much for Tropiliums level 3. Fladnag failed every opportunity to intervene and couldn't get anything off himself. The Amulet of Sorbrowane and Drums of Doom cancelled each other out again and the Brazier only affects Dwarves so I thought I'd have a little fun with Fladnag banging on it like a television set, trying to get it to intervene against Wartchemakalit's magic.

Hope you enjoyed it.