October 3 to 20, Caudex Annales 70 AUP
The Savage Reaches, a windswept tableland above the cliffs of the Mottled Cliffs,have long been outside the reach of Durnovar maritime power. The wild mountains to the south breed great numbers of warring beastmen tribes, and rivers from the region flow mostly north and parallel to the coast, through densely forested land, for hundreds of miles. Undaunted by wind or warbands, venturers supplied out of the river harbor of Saddleport resolved to march south along the precipice, drawing supplies up the rising cliff face from boats below with winched ropes and pulleys.
 |
| Scale: 1 hex = approx 250 miles ("Nebraska") |
A privately funded enterprise of Thorley Acquisitions and Trade, some 29 platoons of mercenaries styling themselves "The Briarwood Irregulars" arrived at the cliffside camp of Fort Diffident, a makeshift supply depot carved into a partially excavated hillside left from some ancient quarry operation, and newly reinforced with a barricade of cypress timbers. A force of nearly 1400 men set off eastward toward the mountains, portaging overland an assortment of disassembled light artillery pieces.
Cavalry scouts of the Second Cavalry Company under Sir Charles Thorgood reported observations of trampled vegetation, grazed meadows, and cut wood to the northeast, of varying ages and thereby suggesting the periodic passage of patrols of horsemen around some designated perimeter. A cautious advance through the mouth of a forested valley confirmed habitations extending up the valley, a meager collection of badly maintained hovels overcrowded with many ill-treated serfs.
Upon the arrival of such a splendidly-armed and gaily-bannered knight as Sir Charles, the local populace at once saw an opportunity to accelerate the schedule of a long-planned revolt against their lords. Taking up modified forks and scythes, they rushed from house to house, announcing the urgency of the hour with bells and horns. Gathering in the valley, they presented their host to the Briarwood riders as fellows in arms, and insisted on a swift assault against the longhouses of Baron Vosskoff and his half-breed mercenaries, before they could send for aid from their allies to the south.
Bolstered by the arrival of the armored First Cavalry Company under personal command of expedition financier Adrian Thorley, the force surrounded the walled battlements of the Vosskoff estate, and prepared for the arrival of artillery to reduce the walls. The progress of artillery was greatly slowed by the dense woodland, but proved to be unnecessary in any event. Unwilling to die as rats cornered in a crib, the hobgoblins swarmed forth en masse, eager to put the long-subjugated peasants back in their rightful place.
A brief but furious engagement saw several hundred peasants fall before the hobgoblin cavalry, but the waves of opposition from all directs proved too overwhelming for the center of the hobgoblin lines. Collapsing backward toward the fortress proved to be of no avail, as elements of heavy cavalry moved to isolate the troops and drive them further into the mountains. A daylong pursuit of the final remnants of the fleeing Vosskoff cavalry force left no survivors, aside from a few prisoners from among the officer corps who were retained for questioning. Many peasants took great delight in turning the tools of their long servitude into implements for the harvest of necks instead of grain.
With many of the local workmen being of third generation from the original captives of hobgoblin raids, most of the liberated peasants had nowhere to return, and requested that they be allowed to remain in the Clutch under free rule. A magistrate was appointed from among the household servants of Vosskoff, and Thorley Acquisitions offered a trade pact on favorable terms to supply the region with many crafted goods previously available only to the hobgoblin rulers by participation in the slave trade. Of the close to 40,000 gold in the longhouse coffers, nearly a third was left to the new administration to disburse to the survivors of the battle.
In addition to the balance of funds, Thorley and his officers divided amongst themselves the various personal treasures of Baron Vosskoff, including an Atlantean dagger of unknown provenance but with the name "Thornkiss" engraved on the scabbard. The Briarwood company then turned to pondering fresh rumors of a saurian force mustering from the southern swamps...
Order of Battle - Briarwood Irregulars
 |
| Scale: 1 hex = 6 miles ("Manhattan") |
- 1st Cavalry Company (Sir Humphrey Wilson, 5th level venturer), four platoons: 3x Heavy Cavalry (1 destroyed), 1x Horse Archers
- Peasant uprising (Adrian Thorley), forty platoons: 40x Militia (12 destroyed)
Scouting Group:
- 2nd Cavalry Company (Sir Charles Thorgood, 5th level fighter), four platoons: 3x Light Cavalry, 1x Horse Archers
Order of Battle - The Vosskoff Clutch
- Mobile Company (Borys Vosskoff, 9th level thief), four platoons: 2x Hobgoblin Light Cavalry, 1x Hobgoblin Horse Archers, 1x Hobgoblin Medium Cavalry (all destroyed)
- Garrison Company (Chief Grelb, 5 HD hobgoblin), five platoons: 3x Hobgoblin Light Infantry, 2x Hobgoblin Longbow (all destroyed)
- The dagger Thornkiss (dagger +2), Leather Armor +1, Longsword +1, and a Ring of Protection +1
- Battlefield spoils worth 6495 gold: 3247 divided by troops, 1623 to each officer (Adrian Thorley and Humphrey Wilson)
- Stronghold spoils worth 40,000 gold: 20,000 divided by troops, 10,000 to each officer
- Treasure experience of 46495 experience points: 4 exp to each soldier, and 11,623 exp to each officer
- Command experience worth an additional 5445 experience points: 2722 to each officer
- Adrian Thorley
- Thornkiss (dagger +2), Leather Armor +1
- 11,623 gold
- 14,345 experience (26,545 / 24,400) -> Level 6
- Humphrey Wilson
- Ring of Protection +1
- 11,623 gold
- 14,345 experience (30,345 / 32,000)
- Charles Thorgood
- Longsword +1
Excellent write up! However, I need to clarify some things that may not have been apparent in my notes. I only had one company of cavalry involved in the conflict. It was the company commanded by Humphrey. (if I remember his name) This was the company of 3 Heavy Cav and One Horse Archer. With them was Adrian Thorley. Thus the total forces involved were only 3 Hvy cav, 1 Horse Arch, and 40 peasants. These were the forces I based my calculations around.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I sent Thorgood back was that he was needed to protect the main body from possible counter-attack, and the previously mentioned saurian. However, I imagine that Thorgood is a more dashing figure and personality than his Heavy Cavalry counterpart. Thus, despite Thorgood's absence from the battle, I imagine he will hold the position of liberator in the peasant's hearts and minds.
I approve of the narrative concerning the aftermath. I would give Thorgood's loot to [Humphrey], except for the longsword. Thorgood will keep the +1 longsword once he is able to meet up with the separated Cav force and acquire it.
Since you recorded the map data will we continue the scenario at this point? Also, are there any rules for asking/paying the peasants to build a road through the forest? Anything that could speed travel through the woods during the scope of this scenario?
Sorry about any mix-up! I was already confused about the fact that I couldn't get the actual divisions you listed to add up to the total that you had purchased. In the end, I just listed the ones I *thought* were in the battle!
ReplyDeleteI probably don't have enough time to update the map to reflect the extra maneuvers, but I'll retcon the write-up. You should have included some personality details too, so I could add more flavor without making it up off the top of my head.
Fair enough. My army list underwent several last minute on-the-fly changes, in the interest of starting to play. I would like to sit down with the army list rules and write an electronic version, with additional background and stuff.
DeleteThat's my fault.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to give you a typed template to use, instead of having to write it all out long-hand. That would have saved us a good chunk of an hour.