Margana,the second Battle of Mudwater

 

A swampy field in Mudwater, the River Slimus wends its weary way across the Southern edge of the field, two dense patches of swampy marshland, dominate the terrain in the North and West. There is a small grove of stunted, gnarled Thornspike trees at the Eastern edge. It’s  a neglected place, a quiet corner of the world, the only sound the interminable whine of biting insects and the constant croaking of frogs.

 

As they say, once you have visited Mudwater everywhere else feels like home.

Oh and there is a small lake, Stagnis. Legend has it that the lake is enchanted, that deep within its fetid depths lives a merprincess, the Schlurpee, a creature that is half fish, half damsel.  The legend is old and none that walk the world in these days can say which half is damsel and which is fish.

If a character spends an action at the lake side they may summon her and she may grant a boon. Roll a d6

1= doubly cursed, opponent gains two Prerolls 2= cursed, Opponent gains one Preroll 3-5 = Blessed, gain one Preroll 6= gain two Prerolls

Prerolls are used in exactly the same way as the Prophecy spell

 

Morrod will be the attacker in this game and use the Red tokens, Harno defends using the Blue tokens

The River Slimus and the dense swamps that border this field preclude the opportunity for flank attacks

 

Objectives- Dragon slayer for the Horsemen, they will have to eliminate the Trolls

Morrod roll Damsel in Distress for a third time! Gozason has got himself captured again, this time by Randenberk’s men. What is it with that boy? It seems he couldn’t find his head with a map.

 Denoeth is keen to avenge the death of his nephew Emero. He has 14 companies totalling 574 points. He has His Royal Guard, the Riders of Harno are now commanded by Randenberk and Thordeed has the Outriders. The Unproven Youth are attached to Thordeed’s command.

Goza has a much bigger force at 823 points and 18 companies.

With his elite Uruks, Trolls and berserkers he is feeling rather confident. Now where is that dratted boy!

Mishaps Occur Except they don’t to the forces of Harno who despite having a minus 1 modifier have no Mishaps at all.

The orc berserkers arrive late and the Black wolves arrive diseased, must be something they ate.

Turn 1 no random events

No shooting, all advance

 

 

 

The Riders are fired up for this fight. They wish to avenge their liege lord Emero.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ds

 

 

 

 

Turn 2 The Black Wolves have made the mistake of deploying behind the trolls in the spindly wood and now can’t get past them

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gagbor arrives at Lake Stagnis, will he be blessed by the Maiden?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not blessed so much as cursed….with stupidity. He has forgotten the King and his Royal Guard and has moved into charge range

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chaaaaaaaarge! Denoeth and his noble Guard wipe out the unfortunate Horrid Mask 14 hits v 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 3 no random event

Shooting -Snaga’s shoot at the Royal Guard with 7 dice and roll 4 x 6’s! The Whole army of Orcs advance before Harno draw a chip!

 The Royal Guard charge into the Berserkers

 Randenberk follows the example of his King and charges into the Uruks

Desperate was the fighting and great the slaughter that day as straight steel met crooked scimitar and the foul mire of Mudwater was stained with the blood of friend and foe alike.

The Kings Guard proved the mightier though and the few Berserkers that survived the fight quickly fled the field

17 hits v 5 the Berserkers disperse

Randenberk fared less well causing 9 hits on the Uruks and sustaining 6

 

 

 

 

Turn 4 Random Event! A Good Day to Die!

Randenberks Riders gain plus one melee and Berserk! Very thematic!

Shooting- Snagas cause 3 more hits on the Royal Guard

The Royal Guard charge the Snagas, a fight that can only go one way!

 

 

 

 

On the Northern edge of the field the Trolls, wolf riders and Outriders are in a bit of a stand-off situation, no one wants to reveal a flank

The Royal Guard and the Snagas engage in a bitter, bloody struggle and when the dust settles, all have died or fled the field. Both units disperse

The riders cause 6 hits on the Uruks and sustain 5. They will remain locked in combat for another turn.

Turn 5 No random events

The Black Wolves, wolf riders, finally look like getting near the action as they wheel into the swamp to get on the flank of the Unproven Youth who charge them and are in turn charged in the flank by the trolls

 

 

 

 Unproven Youth take 12 hits from Trolls and Wolf Riders combined and cause 6 hits on wolf riders in return

 Unproven Youth, Wolf Riders, Riders of Harno and Uruks all disperse

 Both armies have reached their Rout level simultaneously. Neither side can declare a victory. Mudwater reverts to it’s independent status and remains a prize to be fought over

 

 

Post Battle It was indeed a good day to Die for Thordeed as he died, crushed by a troll hammer

The Kings Guard and the Untried Youth are both bloodied, not that it matters in the last battle of the season.

Goza has also died.He has had a fine run as Orc warlord and there will be another stepping up to take his place int the time honoured way of Orcs.

The Snagas and Bersekers are bloodied. The Uruks and the Black Wolves have rolled sod this but as Winter is drawing in and they have a whole season to recover it makes no nevermind.

 As for the Merprincess ,the Schlurpee, Gagbor did not get to to summon her before he was trampled under foot by all the Kings horse and all the Kings men and Denoeth never even slowed as he passed the fetid Mere. So still no man has gazed upon her imperfect symmetry or answered the ancient question:which half is fish? Mudwater- it's where dreams go to die.