Hungry Hearts

The Lady Eleanor and Felstadt have almost made it to Bleudingle, and have sent a messenger ahead to Mordain. The Baron, hearing of their ambush at the hands of Sir Eagan, and knowing they are heading through lizard territory, mounts up and gathers his men to meet them on their way. Above is a view of the field: We find the party on the western edge of the map, a lizard cave to the north, and a lake in the center.

The scenario’s special adjustments: Lady Eleanor must get from the western edge of the map to the eastern edge. On a black suit number card, the appropriate amount of Lizardmen spawn from the cave entrance. If any humans come within 6” of the black blip (pictured above), an ogre spawns! He moves on the drawing of a black suit face card. Finally, Baron Mordain and his force of soldiers arrive after 20 turns (easily kept track of by a d20).

On the second turn, a pair of troglodyte archers pop out of the cavern entrance. This spells trouble for the small retinue!

On the third turn, a full group of Lizardmen warriors join the fray, and the enemy archers slay the only pikemen in Eleanor’s retinue, leaving only Felstadt and the two Bleudingler Marksmen to protect her!

The Baron’s faithful archers go to to work, felling two lizards as they charge forth toward the wagon.

The Retinue maneuvers the ox-cart to provide cover for the lone marksman, who successfully slays a Lizardman every turn for several turns. His efforts thin the horde out enough for Felstadt to have a strong position protecting the left flank! But how long must they hold out until the Baron arrives?

The Lizards continue to steadily stream from the cave, and the red-scaled clubber on the right flank moves ever closer, endangering the archer who is holding the enemy at bay.

Luckily, there is but one turn remaining until the Baron and his men arrive to help Felstadt and rescue the Lady Eleanor!

Mordain enters the eastern edge of the field with a company of troops from Bleudingle and Hopsburgh. Desperation clenches his heart simultaneously with relief at the sight of his bride-to-be and his good friend Felstadt still alive and holding their own.

The reinforcements begin to move in, but the noise of battle and smell of blood has attracted…an ogre!!! The lumbering beast moves toward centerfield and the Baron’s troops.

The gap between the forces closes. Mordain’s archers are hindered by the amount of trees and friendly units between them and the monsters, while his infantry surround the ogre and engage the troglodytes at the cave.

The ogre makes short work of the two bill men engaging him, but the swordsman holds his own, while the lizardmen have a give and take for control with the Hopsburgher infantry and their mounted yeoman archer. Meanwhile, Mordain is stalled by a lack of face cards being drawn.

Two billmen and one archer later, the ogre finally goes down! The lone swordsman stands victorious after a series of fantastically lucky dice rolls.

Mordain and Eleanor move to meet in the center of the field as the lizard folk are dwindled down by the remaining Barony troopers.

Mordain falls in to lead the Lady’s retinue home.

As Felstadt and Eleanor reach the edge of the map, more Lizardmen spill from the mouth of the cave, shooting down the brave archer that had accompanied them the whole journey, and had slain countless foes to protect her Ladyship.

But ever the hero, the Baron would not allow this valiant archer to be turned into feed for the scaled hordes that haunt the caverns! He turns back once his bride and Felstadt had reached safety, and delivers the wounded man from the field of battle to a hero’s welcome back home!

I finally got some new fabric to build a bigger battlefield, and this time I actually measured distances! The deck of cards is still working well for initiative and this battle was lively because of it. It seems a wedding is in order in the Barony, now that the bride and groom have been united in Bleudingle! A medal may be in order for Felstadt and the archer, who may just become a character himself? If anyone has any name suggestions, they are welcome! Thanks for sticking through the long post, I hope it was enjoyable!