The Sorcerer
A heavy bank of roiling fog had settled upon Wortbad for days. The Rotmoons had hidden in taverns, huddled by fires to stave off its cloying cold and damp. El Doctoro was impatient to start their expedition into the forests but the preparations were going slowly. Something was howling in the fog... something big.
When the fog finally started to dissipate Kapitán da Leeva climbed to the top of Deathwatch Tower to scan the newly visible horizon with his brass spyglass. He did a full circuit of the sky just above tree tops, looking for passing sky-ships, before he started to look at the woods closer-in. Out of the receding mists a number of shrouded figures loomed into view. They moved in a strange way and, to start with, da Leeva couldn't work out why they seemed wrong. Their stilted, jerky movements looked unnatural, almost like they were puppets on string. Then as they moved toward the town and out of the fog he realised why: they were not living men; they were dark-magic-animated skeletons!
He took a silver coin out, turned it over and returned it to his pocket. Then started yelling orders at the Rotmoons, rousing them from their torpor and hurling abuse at them until they started appearing at doorways and arming themselves. When he was sure they were starting to move in the right direction he turned and ran down the stairs to join them.
~ ~ ~
The animated dead champions known as Tollich, the Gor and two nameless skeletons lurched out of the receding fog.
Percy Percy, Bold Rikk and Bortagno rushed to intercept them, heavy black powder pistols primed and ready.
Dragante, Pez and Deestro were not far behind.
Kalyustar, Rhegar and a number of skeletons appeared through the gates of a Garden of Morr. Bortagno roared his name - recognising an old and familiar enemy, behind the lines of a new warband.
Tollich rush forward, spurred on by sorcerous energies from Kalyustar, and attacked Bold Rikk.
Dragante stood guard by the signpost that marked the edge of Rotmoon territory.
The Gor took possession of another objective.
Percy Percy and Pez made toward the Gor.
Kalyustar urged his minions forward from the graveyard and through the trees.
As the Rotmoons pushed forward they failed to notice their exposed starboard flank...
Bortagno smashed into Tollich and scattered his dry bones among the tree roots.
Bold Rikk and Percy Percy both blasted Krunti with their heavy pistols and the skeletal duardin fell in a cloud of sulphurous smoke.
Deestro shot Rhegar, the halberd-armed skeleton champion, then Dragante charged him through the smoke.
Kalyustar unleashed a wave of necromantic energies at Dragante, the big orruk roared in pain.
A hideously mutated wolf-beast appeared from the forests...
Da Leeva rushed out of the tower to join his crew in the forest, with Geedo and El Doctoro in tow. They saw that a large group of skeletons was trying to encircle the Rotmoons!
Percy Percy was horrified that he hadn't noticed them earlier! A large band of skeleton warriors lurched out of the shadows beneath the trees.
Kapitán da Leeva took stock of the situation and started barking orders.
Rhegar focused the death-magic energies within his desiccated form and smashed Dragante down!
The mutated wolf-beast pounced upon Kalyustar and his minions.
It shattered one of the skeletons with a blood-curdling howl.
The Rotmoons watched with a mixture of horror and joy as the beast smashed into the skeleton warriors.
Bortagno charged a skeleton and hacked it in twain with his kutlass.
El Doctoro summoned magics that strengthened orrukish muscle and sinew, shielding them from harm.
The Kapitán charged a skeleton, it lunged at him with a spear but he turned it aside with his kutlass and hacked it to splinters then stamped on its skull.
Heavy pistols cracked and banged, lead shot whizzed through the forest, it chipped bone and shredded rotten clothing.
Percy Percy fired at close range and the skeleton fell to bits!
Pez was set-upon by the Gor, Keinrich and a nameless skeleton! But he survived, even against those odds!
Deestro shot Rhegar through the skull.
Percy Percy blasted a damaged skeleton to bits.
Both warbands pulled back from the fight - the Rotmoons did not want to tangle with the wolf-beast and the Cursed Company were running low on skeletons!
~ ~ ~
This was a great start the the campaign!
Deployment: Encircle
Victory: Drawn and Quartered
Twist: Bloodscent
The game ended as a 6:6 draw, as both of us scored 2 victory points each turn. We both grabbed two objectives in the first turn and, try as we might, neither of us was able to change that balance over the next two turns.
Narratively it felt "right" as we have established a border between our territory!
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