Further Adventures in The Scarlands - part 17, No Mercy

As Krashhart walked out from the crumbling tower, into the overgrown courtyard, he took off his broad-brimmed hat and sighed. He wasn't happy about what had to be done. He wiped the sweat of his head (it was unseasonably hot here) and put the hat firmly back in place. He had no choice, best to just get on with it he supposed.

"Mates." he said, not loudly or forcefully, but the gathered crew of the Swordfysh all stopped their work and chatter and looked to him immediately.

"Not only has we been pushed out of the swamps what we tried to dry-out. Not only has the Ironforged Ogors has now claimed the new-expanded swamps and wetlands as their territory. And them ogors are clear dead-set on the further expanding of that same territory." 

There was rumbled agreement and frustration from the crew. He held a hand up for quiet and continued.

"Not only all that, but now it looks like they has Badrok Anchorage in their sights." the noise erupted again - they were getting really angry now.

"We is not going to sit back and give them it mind. I have an idea to two to give them a bloody nose for the audacity."

So Krashhart laid out plans for an organised counter attack, deep into the Ogor's swamplands. But that was not popular with the crew. They didn't refuse, but it was clear there was no kind of enthusiasm for it.

So he outlined his thoughts for, at the very least, a solid defence. But there was little appetite to tangle with the monstrous creatures at all now, if it could be avoided. 

"No sense is sailing directly into a storm, time and time again, if all ya gonna get is struck by lightning!" one of them had said. And there was general agreement. 

Seeing the way the wind was blowing, Krashhart changed tack. "Right then, if that be the way it be. We just need long enough to pack. Listen, I've got another idea..."

~ ⦽ ~

A day or two later Krashhart, Old Mudgob and Docker Goff had been patrolling the woods around Badrok Anchorage, giving the defences a final check, when they found themselves ambushed - Krashhart swore loudly - they had only walked into a blasted trap!

Storming out of the forest, Skargat and Cargo pounced on the orruk pirates. Skargat's massive axe made short work of Docker Goff.

Krashhart replied in kind as best he could - sparks of green energy flared around the Gristle Grinder as it thundered into Cargo's head and knocked him out cold.

Krashhart roared at Mudgob to leg it: The Shaman did as he was told!

Leeway, Battendown and Lugger arrived. Alerted by all the shouting and the recognisable noise of the Gristle Grinder hitting something, hard.

But so was the ogor Maneater Barag, who also turned up at that moment.

Skargat barrelled into Krashhart, swept his legs from under him, and sent the Warchanter flying. He landed hard and all the wind was knocked out of him.

Then Skargat went after Old Mudgob; He was on a rampage!

The crew charged in to help Mudgob, who managed to narrowly escape the Tyrant's axe, just as Hrothgur turned up.

Skargat charged into the Swordfyshes with Barag, who took out Battendown. Leeway and Lugger hacked at the Tyrant.

As Hook and Yardarm came to help but they knew it was already too late as soon as they got there.

Old Mudgob saw the plight his crewmates were in and summoned a Foot of Gork to stomp on the ogors. But Leeway fell and that meant half the crew were out of action already. It really was time to leave!

More ogors were on the way too, just in case there was any remaining doubt.

The orruk survivors grabbed their wounded mates and dragged them off to safety, leaving victory celebrations to the ogors.

~ ⦽ ~

In the time that remained before they boarded, Mainstay explored the woods nearby and found a good amount of the sparkling powder known as Switfwind Dust. Dakmeff explored the deeper, most timeworn, ruins of Badrok Anchorage but he found a horribly be-toothed beastie and only just escaped with a minor flesh wound.

When his gut wound had finally healed Mr Flea explored the woods and searched a dead Gnarloak grove; in the hollow of a tree he found an unsettling Sacrificial Dagger made of carved obsidian.

~ ⦽ ~

Krashhart, Old Mudgob and the most seasoned crew spent a long night discussing the next course they were to set. 

They came to the conclusion that the treasures of the Prowling Forest were probably not worth all the trouble. As much as they had enjoyed getting into the scraps they'd had with the Ironforged Ogors during their time here, there were bound to be easier ways to find loot.

It did not take long to pack up all the gear stowed in Badrok Anchorage. The Swordfysh had not been moored there long and the mess that surrounded the pirates' camp had not had time to grow to its usual sprawling dimensions. They were practically minded and left behind everything that was too big to fit below-decks and anything that would not be useful aboard ship, or in their coming adventures.

A short time later, with the crew all aboard a heavily-loaded Swordfysh, the anchor weighed and mainsail unfurled, they set a heading out of the Scarlands and into the unknown.

~ ⦽ ~

Showdown at Blubberfen

Deployment: Outflank

Victory: No Mercy

Twist: Gaze of the Dark Gods

This was the last game of the campaign. And, hooh boy, I could not see any way I could win: I knew that both my reserve Battlegroups would have to use at least one Move activation (to get out of the 4" zone of death at the edge of the board) and that they would be far from my other fighters, who would be under heavy pressure and in dire need of their help.

My plan was to use movement to avoid the ogors as much as possible and try to only get into fights when I could stack the odds in my favour a bit. Krashhart used the Gristle Grinder to good effect and took down Cargo but it left him at the mercy of Skargat, and the title of the Victory card clearly said how that would go!

I should have put the two Ardboyz in the Hammer Battlegroup (rather than one each in the Dagger and Shield). Knowing that group would come on last meant they should not have had to weather the storm of ogor assaults for the first one or two Rounds! Viktor knew they have less Wounds and lower Toughness than Brutes so he wisely focused attacks on them whenever he could.

In the Aftermath Sequence Mudgob and Leeway earned a point of Renown each. Mainstay and Mr Flea found some small treasures. And then Mr Flea finally recovered from the gut wound that has dogged him for over half the campaign. (Some might say his recovery now was suspiciously convenient...)

Viktor's side of this final tale is here.

Dramatis Personae

The Swordfyshes, a crew of pirate Ironjawz

The watch on deck:

• Lord Krashhart - Warchanter Explorer
  3 Renown, Agile Warrior, The Gristle Grinder, Broken Leg (-1 Movement)
• Old Mudgob - Weirdnob Shaman
  3 Renown, Idol of Mork
• Lugger Dag - Orruk Brute with Pair of Brute Choppas (2 swords)
  3 Renown, Aqua Ghyranis, red bandana
• Hook - Orruk Brute with Pair of Brute Choppas (axe and hook hand)
  3 Renown, Greater Itxi Grub
• Yardarm Gark - Orruk Brute with Pair of Brute Choppas (axe and sword)
  3 Renown, Jabberslythe Blood, blue bandana
• Leeway Ruk - Orruk Brute with a Jagged Gore-hacka
  1 Renown, Itxi Grub, Fractured Arm, red bandana
• Kaptain Battendown - Orruk Ardboy with Ardboy Choppas
  3 Renown, red cloak and squig-parrot
• Docker Goff - Ardboy with Big Choppa
  Blight Serpent Venom, black top hat and red shoulder-plate

The watch below:

• Flotsam - Orruk Brute with Pair of Brute Choppas (axe and sword)
  2 Renown, Carnosaur Fang Elixir, blue bandana
• Bulkhead Krug - Orruk Brute with a Jagged Gore-hacka
  Itxi Grub, broad-brimmed hat, beard.
• Mr Flea - Orruk Ardboy with Ardboy Choppas
  Sacrificial Dagger (Perishable. Once per battle. Action. D6 damage to one visible enemy within 1"), drummer
• Dakmeff - Orruk Ardboy with Ardboy Choppas
  1 Renown, barrel on his back
• Barnacle Nog - Orruk Ardboy with Ardboy Choppas
  3 Renown, backpack of bones
• Mainstay - Orruk Ardboy with Ardboy Choppas
  Switfwind Dust (Consumable. Bonus Action. +1 Move to end of activation), Red shoulder-plate and red bandana

Reputation: 7

Glory: 0

Quest Progress: Explore the Gnarlwood - ongoing

Encampment: Badrok Anchorage (a Timeworn Ruin), Secure

~ ⦽ ~

All good things...

As well as being the end of this campaign it is, very sadly, also the end of an era: Viktor is moving away from Manchester and leaving the UK, to live in Sicily! So the stories of our lunchtime games at his house have reached their last chapter.

Viktor has easily been my favourite Warhammer opponent I have ever had the pleasure to play with. Our expectations and preferred styles of gaming are aligned so closely that we have always enjoyed the experience when we face each other across the battlefield, no matter what the setting.

And there have been quite a few settings over the years: The Harrowmark, The Bleeding Wilds, The Scarlands, The Prime Dominion, Low Commorragh, Duskhaven, the Piremoor, Phos, Tor Megiddo, Malfactus Rift, Sal's Ford, Vercuso on Sartosa, and many more. Some were only briefly visited, some we lived in for months on end and returned to time and again. Many of them were conceived and realised cooperatively between me and Viktor. With significant input from David, Rob, Lee, Ade and Tommy - who joined us as often as they could make it (and there is continuous hobby chatter between the whole group on Messenger) but many campaigns have just been the two of us meeting up nearly every week to play a game or two.

For the last 15 years Viktor and I have always seemed to want the same thing from our games and I have definitely found my unfolding narratives enriched by writing them in parallel with Viktor; we have both enjoyed bouncing ideas off each other and passing story threads back and forth.

I don't know how many games I will be able to get now they aren't available at lunchtime, so close to my office. My evenings and weekends have usually been pretty tied-up with family stuff, so finding time for gaming (not to mention finding new opponents!) will definitely be a challenge for 2023 and beyond.

Viktor; I'll really miss you mate! I wish you all the very best for the next phase of your adventure in the Med. I really hope we get to play each other at the Warhammer Fest Warcry Rumble in April!

Buona fortuna e buon viaggio!

Update: Viktor has posted his farewell to Manchester here.