Further Adventures in The Scarlands - part 3, Ley Lines

"Since that incident with the three-eyed dragon the Scarlands is now riddled with geoglyphs and ley lines of prodigious power." said Krashhart to the Swordfyshes as they disembarked from their sky-ship. "Kaptain Mogrum wants us to see if we can find a way of tapping into the Ghurrish energy and syphoning some of it off." 

"Which, there will also be fighting, right?" asked Barnacle Nog, with a furrowed brow. A few if the Ardboyz looked up hopefully.

"Aye lad, I reckon there will be half-a-hundredweight of wretches, curs and blaggards what will try to be stopping us." said Krashhart with a toothy grin. There were guttural laughs from the crew.

Krashhart had brought more ladz this time. He wanted a better chance of outnumbering anyone they met. So the Swordfyshes set off into Raventalon Wood, east of the Spirit Crowns, where there seemed to be a high concentration of geomantic energies. Mogrum had given them some big chunks of crystal, that he said could absorb the ley line power. They just needed to be placed in the right spots.

Krashhart could also feel the heartbeat of Ghur, drumming loud inside his head. He knew that he and the crew would spill blood that day and that it would empower and invigorate them.

~ ⦽ ~

Dramatis Personae

The Swordfyshes

• Lord Krashhart - Warchanter Explorer
• Kaptain Battendown - Ardboy with a cloak and a squig-parrot
• Sinka - Brute with red bandana
• Hook - Brute with a hook hand (!)
• Flotsum - Brute with blue bandana
• Mr Flea - Ardboy Drummer
• Dakmeff - Ardboy with a barrel on his back
• Barnacle Nog - Ardboy with a bag of bones
• Seatun Fall - Ardboy with Snappa, a mechanical choppa

~ ⦽ ~

Skargat's Ironforged Ogors were after the same power. As both warbands arrived in the valley Ghurrish energies flooded in and the central and south-eastern ley line intersections awakened. Focal points of the Ghurrish geomantic power that was flowing across the region. Another three points where ley lines crossed were still dormant but the potential for them to awaken was definitely there.

Hook, Seatun Fall and Barnacle Nog headed straight for the central intersection. Battendown and Dakmeff went to the south-western one, while Flotsum to the north-western. A fight broke out in the centre as a massive ogor announced that he was having it. The Swordfyshes disagreed!

Krashhart, Flea and Sinka crept-up on the ogor guarding the south-eastern intersection who was accompanied by an allied orruk with a crossbow.

But as they did, another pair of ogors arrived in the north-west, behind the rocks at Flotsum's back.

The north-western intersection point suddenly awakened and the fight for the central one intensified. Barnacle Nog was smashed to the floor.

The south-western nexus awakened and Battendown sent Dakmeff to help in the centre. 

Krashhart and his mates smashed into the Ironforged ogor and orruk in the south-east and another bitter fight broke out there. Mr Flea clambered up onto the rocky outcrop, ready to pounce.

After taking out Flotsum one of the ogors, from the north-western ley line nexus, charged into the centre, Hook and Seatun Fall were both brought down. just after they took out the ogor they had been fighting.

The ogor at the north-western ley line intersection struggled with a quandary - he was missing out on a fight in the centre but he was supposed to stay where he was to guard the ley line nexus.

Krashhart had moved to take control of the south-eastern intersection but the Ironforged orruk held onto it by clobbering Mr Flea, who had impetuously leapt down on him moments before.

As things came to a head Battendown abandoned the south-western intersection, safe in the knowledge the ogors couldn't touch it now.

He leapt up onto the rocks and taunted the oaf, too late to help Seatun, but he stopped the ogors taking over control of the central ley line intersection.

But the Swordfyshes couldn't secure enough ley line energy to snatch victory from the ogors. They had already siphoned off too much geomantic power for the orruks to be able to change that. The bold move by Battendown meant it remained a narrow win for Skargat's Ironforged, but that wouldn't make much difference to Kaptain Mogrum... 

~ ⦽ ~

Deployment and Victory: Ley Lines (Core rules free PDF)

Twist: Feeding Frenzy (WD473, Thondia rules)

This was a really close game - Viktor won the game but only by the margin of a single Victory Point!

In Round 1 we scored 1VP each.
In Round 2, I got 1VP and he got 2VP, so he pulled ahead by a fraction.
In Rounds 3 and 4 we both scored 2VP each.

So the final totals were 6VP to me, and 7VP to Viktor.

If he had abandoned guarding the north-western Objective and reinforced his fighter at the central one he would have scored one more VP in the final Round, and I would have scored one less, so the final total would have been 5-8 to him. On the other hand his Attack dice for the orruk attacking Mr Flea were phenomenal, with just a few worse rolls that fight could easily have gone the other way and I might have won 7-6!

~ ⦽ ~

This was our first game with Warcry 2nd edition, using just the free PDFs from downloaded from the WarCom site. I think we both really like the rules updates. We both have high hopes for 2nd ed - we are already rolling a few ideas around for a new narrative campaign.

Further Adventures in The Scarlands - part 2, Warhammer World!

The Cleavermaw crawled upwind at a frustratingly slow pace. The crew had to work hard to keep tacking hard to port and then, a few minutes later, hard to starboard. Zig-zagging for mile after mile. The winds pulled them off course or tried to send them back the way they came. It took every ounce of their seamanship to keep the ramshackle old skyship on the right heading.

Kaptain Mogrum stood on the quarterdeck, with one eye on the set of the rigging and sails and one the mood of the crew - they were getting tired and argumentative. A fight was likely to break out any minute. 

Lost Uzzog stood just behind him, holding his aetheric compass and calling out the bearings of visible landmarks while the Baron scribbled notes on an out-of-date navigational chart. The orruk at the helm concentrated hard to keep the sky-ship sailing as close to the wind as possible. The Kaptain squinted through the eye-holes of his mask into the bright sunlight, trying to keep sight of the tower in the distance.

~ ⦽ ~

Mogrum took the Cleavermaw to Murkskull Pit - they securely moored the ship at the top of the cracked and very unstable tower and the crew made their way down the stairs inside. The interior was dark and dusty, great fissures split the stonework in many places and they had to jump over gaps where daylight came through the floors, stairs and walls.

Before he followed them, Mogrum paused to look out over the battlements for a while.

He got a good look at the nearby landmarks, but the valley was too deep for the view from the top of the tower to encompass much of the surrounding wilderness.

Mogrum joined the rest of the Cleavermaws where they waited for him, outside a small door from the back of the tower, and they set off into the wilderness again. Lost Uzzog carefully watched his aetheric compass twitch and guided them on their path.

~ ⦽ ~

They soon came to a necropolis near the river, where several new Ley Lines of geomantic power intersected, and cerulean crystals glimmered with power at the convergences. Unfortunately four other bands of explorers also seemed to want to take advantage of the new Ley Lines and take control of the crystals.

Uzzog and the Baron disappeared underground into a tunnel entrance, that was hidden in the ruins.

Mogrum, Sludga and Wrekka managed to secure one of the Ley Line intersections but a Stormcast Knight Incantor and her followers tried to contest it.

Dogvane, Ropesend and Crowsnest arrived to help and Mogrum sent them running towards another intersection next to a nearby mausoleum, that some Hobgrots were trying to control.

They crowded them out easily, and swaggered about a bit and challenged anyone to shift them.

Then a mindstealer sphiranx appeared in the woods!

And she pounced on the Cleavermaws!

Lost Uzzog and the Baron re-emerged into the light and watched helplessly from afar. But Uzzog had found something, deep within the necropolis...

~ ⦽ ~

The Cleavermaws headed back toward the tower at the heart of Murkskull Pit and walked straight into another fight!

Three other parties of explorers vied for supremacy on the sands around the tower. The orruk pirates skirted round the edges of their struggles, only engaging with a few of the combatants, while a Daemons of Nurgle warband dominated the battles.

Lost Uzzog carefully carried his treasure safely back to the ship.

~ ⦽ ~

Warhammer World!

I went to Warhammer World in Nottingham for the first time in over 20 years (I think the last time was in 1998!) for the Animosity IV UK meet-up.

We played two games of Warcry "Triumph and Treachery". Nine of us met at 11:30am in Bugman's Bar and had lunch there. Some were local to Nottingham and some had come from further-afield. I had never met any of them in real life before, but as we have all known each other through the campaign Discord for over two years, and chatted on voice and text many many times, it felt like I was meeting old friends. So my usual social anxiety was not an issue (apart from seeing a few mutuals from twitter and Instagram around the hall, and not being able to get my act together enough to go and say "Hi!").

We chatted while we ate and showed each other our warbands and I passed around my Animosity IV setting notebook. Then we went to find our reserved tables.

We had reserved the two Age of Sigmar Feature Tables back in May (I think? I know that it felt like a very long way off then, but late August was the earliest the Feature tables were free!). I was hoping for the Ruins of Dras'Shiel and the Valley of Skulls - we got Valley of Skulls but the Ruins of Dras'Shiel wasn't in the gaming hall; we had the River of Souls instead. River of Souls is a very cool board but I had written the Ruins of Dras'Shiel into the Animosity IV setting as the Sanctuary Arcane, so that was a (very very) minor disappointment. It absolutely did not spoil the day though!

We randomly divided ourselves into two groups, each assigned to one of the two tables.

~ ⦽ ~

Game 1

Deployment: A Storm Gathers

Victory: Drawn and Quartered

Twist: (we forgot to draw a Twist card!)

My Hidden Agenda: The Architect

I was in the group with 5 players for Game 1, so we had to fudge the Deployment a little to fit into the 4-player set up we rolled from the book. Someone did the maths and I think we managed it! With a roughly 4'x4' board it worked out okay, though I think we might all have started too far apart.

When we rolled for Victory we got "Drawn and Quartered"; the one where every player sets up an Objective Marker. If a player controls more Objectives than anyone else at the end of a Round they score 2VP, if there is a draw for the most controlled Objectives, the players drawing score 1VP each. I definitely didn't win this game - I think I came second in VP total (I'm not actually sure now though...). I know I nearly had the most objectives in the final turn but I was crowded-out of one of them at the last moment. And I didn't get anything for my Hidden Agenda - which was 1VP for every enemy warband under half strength, but only if your own warband is over half - and my warband was the only one under half strength! The winning player also chose the same Hidden Agenda, so I gave them a victory point!

~ ⦽ ~

Interval

There was a Warhammer 40,000 Throne of Skulls tournament going on that day, so the Gaming Hall was absolutely packed. It was very noisy and pretty hot too. We had a break between games that was supposed to be about half an hour but I think it was a bit longer as we all went for drinks and several of us had a look-round the Warhammer and Forge World shops.

The painted models in the cabinets look even better in real life than they do when I'm sure you have seen them on Instagram, or Twitter, or even in White Dwarf (where I think a lot of the ones on display have appeared). Some really really lovely conversions and paint jobs!

I also got a close-up look at some of the newer Necromunda scenery components, which I am interested in for another project I'm working on. More on that in another post!

~ ⦽ ~

Game 2

Deployment: Vying Forces

Victory: No Mercy

Twist: Eerie Silence (no effect!)

My Hidden Agenda: Hidden Artefact

For the second game all players who were not local to Warhammer World swapped tables, so we all played a different mix of opponents. One player had to leave early so there were two groups of 4 this time. Deployment was much more straightforward as a result (no maths needed!) and the Victory rolled meant the player who took out the most enemy fighters each Round got 1VP and nobody got anything if there was a draw.

The winner here played a masterful game - they clearly knew their Nurgle Daemon warband's Abilities very well and got the absolute most out of them. I did manage to get my Hidden Agenda this time though, so I wasn't too far behind.

~ ⦽ ~

Reactions

I had a really really good day at the meet-up, it was great to finally meet some of my online friends face-to-face, and playing Warcry is always a good time. It was exhausting though - the noise level in the Gaming Hall during a big event was really tiring and it made it hard to follow everything that happened in the games, especially because a lot of the other players' activations didn't effect me as they were fighting each other, add this to my ADHD and it was almost impossible to keep track of what was going on sometimes!

As much as I love the idea of going to big narrative events and playing loads of games with loads of people, it turns out it really isn't my preferred way to game. I would much rather play one game per day, in a less overwhelming environment, over a longer period of time so I have time to consider (and write about) each game on its own. Playing regularly in Viktor's home gaming room has spoiled me I think.

Having said that; if there is another Animosity meet up I definitely won't say no to going again!

Further Adventures in The Scarlands - part 1, The Swordfyshes

The dry winds pulled at their hats as the pirate orruks of the Swordfysh looked around the ancient ruins. They had spent most of the day picking through the crumbled buildings, south of Murkskull Pit, paying especial attention to shady corners and hidden nooks.

Weeks ago Krashhart had argued with Kaptain Mogrum, of the Cleavermaw, about plans for what to do in the Bleeding Wilds. They had eventually come to an agreement and decided to go their separate ways rather than remain as quarrelsome consorts. Now the crews of the two ships were on much better terms - messages went back and forth between the ships at least once a week, exchanging intelligence, news and rumours.

And now, after the Bleed had dried up, and the common name of the region had changed to the Scarlands, Mogrum sent a rumour he had heard about a band of explorers that had passed through this area laden with treasures. The party had later been seen further north, but empty-handed. They had either been robbed on the way, or they had buried their ill-gotten gains for recovery later. Either way, the loot might still be somewhere along their route.

Krashhart and his crew gladly sent word back that they would "look into the matter directly".

And the Swordfyshes were pleasantly surprised - they quickly found a hidden trapdoor, covered with a thin layer of sand and a pile of stones. Bundled up in rolls of blankets, in the shallow basement below, were several items of ornate armour that looked ancient in style but very clean and polished.

The pirates were congratulating themselves as the packed it all away and getting ready to leave when a lookout called down from the top of a building:

"Ahoy on deck!" came the voice of Flotsum from above. "Ogors coming out of the hills and heading this way!"

"Where away?" called back Krashhart with a hand cupped to his mouth.

"On all sides of us!" came the reply.

~ ⦽ ~

Dramatis Personae

The Swordfyshes

• Lord Krashhart - Warchanter Explorer
• Sinka - Brute with red bandana
• Hook - Brute with a hook hand (!)
• Line - Brute with feathered hat
• Flotsum - Brute with blue bandana
• Mr Flea - Ardboy Drummer

~ ⦽ ~

Flotsum clambered down from his lookout post but Line still wanted to explore the ruins a little more when the ogors turned up and tried to ruin their day.

The ostentatious Ogor Maneater, called Cargo by his mates, pounced on Line as the orruk Brute tried to scarper.

Krashhart appeared from the trees and shouted encouragement to the crew:

"Get a move-on! Come on, come on! Back to the ship my beauties, back to the ship my lovelies. Don't let this bunch of lazy coves steal our finds. No point getting clobbered by them: Grab what you can and run."

While Mr Flea banged out the signal for "all hands on deck" on his drum to gather the crew.

Seeing to ogors gathering on the ground, Flotsum made his way across a rickety high walkway. He winced as, far below him, he saw Line fall when Cargo hit him with a rusted anchor.

Mr Flea and Krashhart headed off east, into the woods, still shouting and drumming for the others to follow them.

The Tyrant Skargat caught up with Flotsum on the walkway and gave him a mighty thump.

Sinka and Hook arrived from the west, they had been looking forward to finding their mates and talking about what they'd found. They quickly realised things were not as they expected.

Skargat took out Flotsum by flinging him off the walkway.

Then he set off after Sinka and Hook. Bullets zinged around them and they comprehended their peril. They legged it.

Skargat jumped down onto Hook and completely flattened him. Cargo gave Sinka a kick as he passed but the orruk just about kept running.

The entire ogor warband chased Sinka, bullets whizzed over his head and ricocheted off the ruined walls, showering him with dust and stone chips.

Sinka ran as fast as he could, keeping his head down.

And managed to escape!

~ ⦽ ~

Deployment: First Blood

Victory: The Gauntlet

Twist: Encircling Direflock

When we drew the cards, and I won the role for choice of attacker or defender, I wasn't sure this was possible for Viktor to win, but he made it really hard for me! I needed half my warband to escape off a board edge of his choice and because of the deployment card a third would be able to as soon as they had moved once!

But Viktor concentrated his attacks on the two Brutes who started on the board in Round 1 and took out both. That meant at least one of the two Brutes who arrived in Round 3 had to make it across the entire board (and with 3" base move) that was no mean feat! Suddenly it was not so easy for me to win.

But with a lot of luck, the judicious use of movement Abilities, and winning the roll-off for a tied Initiative (after using 2 Wild Dice to boost my score!), I just managed it in Round 5 - with a Brute with only 5 wounds left.

I've never played Ironjawz in Warcry before - they were almost as much fun as Bonesplitterz, so I will give them another try soon. I might try more Ardboyz and less Brutes next time.

Animosity IV - The Bleeding Wilds, part 12 - Leviathan

Somewhere on the eastern edge of the Prowling Forest in Lahar, the Cleavermaws cautiously made their way through the ruins of a small outpost that wasn't marked on any maps. They were on their way to meet with Bodrin Bok and the crew of the Selachii. Kaptain Mogrum knew they were shifty untrustworthy sorts but desperate times call for desperate measures.

~ ⦽ ~

The pirate crews found each other in the overgrown remains of a market square. The captains acknowledged one another with stiff formality. No friendly calls or greeting were exchanged by the crews. The last time they had met was in the Prime Dominion after the Corsair had betrayed them.

Tensions were high and both sides kept weapons close at hand; swords and pistols loosened in their belts, primed and ready.

Sludga and Ropesend were especially ready for a fight. Maybe too ready.

Lost Uzzog, Crowsnest and Wrekka held back at the top of a small stoney rise, overlooking the market place.

"Well Bok? Have you got the item what we agreed?" said Mogrum finally.

"Aye." said Bok as he unrolled a stained and dog-eared map. He held it up for the Cleavermaws to see, plain as day.

"And what about you?" he continued, "Do you have what we said we'd accept in trade for of it?"

"Well, I do. And I don't." said Mogrum, scratching his beard. "You might be a thinking what you want of the Dead Man's Chest. But it ain't going to get what you think you'll get with it."

Bodrin Bok tensed, and his men put their hands on the hilts of swords and the grips of blackpowder pistols.

"Now then, settle down all of you." said Mogrum calmly. "Just hear me out afore you try and shoot me. The Dead Man's Chest is a powerful Relic but it is bound to me and my crew. Even if I could be a giving of it to you, which I ain't sure I can, it would more an likely eat your souls and add them to it's grim cargo."

"So... what are you proposing in its stead?" said Bok gruffly.

"What I have to offer, you might not like. And I make no bones about it, I might not like it if I was in your place. But what if we took that pretty map you have in of your hand, and we joined forces and found that horrible big beastie what it is supposed to lead to?"

The Selachiis grumbled and shifted about a little. Mogrum persevered.

"Then we took it to the Stormdancer and replaced the dead leviathan, what the Storyteller pulled the head of off. What if we was, together, hailed as the ones what was able to replace the Stormdancer's motive powers... So to speak?"

~ ⦽ ~