Escape to Bleudingle

Lord Wellsley defended his estate long enough for his servants to evacuate the women and children and send them ahead with a guard, as well as gather the household items and prepare to move out. He knew word would get back to Latchwell soon enough of Sir Lawrence’s defeat. He also knew that Sir Lawrence’s father, Lord Heath would not well accept the death of his second son; for all that the Lords of Latchwell lacked in intelligence, they made up for in zealous wrath toward any imagined wrong!

Burying Sir Lawrence with the honor he likely didn’t deserve, and setting fire to his own manor that it might not fall into enemy hands, Lord Wellsley leads his remaining men on their journey to Bleudingle.

Lord Wellsley and his squire, Willikin lead their small caravan to safety. They carry a pair of famed Wellsley pumpkins (a nod to Thanksgiving here in the States**) in their wagon, destined to make pies for the wedding of Baron Mordain and Lady Eleanor. Willikin has the Deadeye trait, giving him +1 to Missile rolls.

A Latchwell vanguard  pursue the Wellsleys…

…But what’s this? Hopsburgher soldiers bolstering their numbers?! Those traitorous scoundrels!

The Latchwell-Hopsburgh Coalition has horrible activation for the first 10-12 turns! Half their archers are cut down and the rest burn up their ammo to little effect. Lord Wellsley soon reaches the bridge and awaits his men and merchandise.

The enemy finally begins to advance…slowly…

Wellsley’s men mount the bridge—when suddenly, a troll comes out demanding a toll in flesh!

The pursuers finally get their activations going, hoping to sandwich Lord Wellsley between a troll and some hard steel!

The troll flails his way into the Wellsley boys’ line…

…and is cut down at the cost of two men and several turns!

The Latchwell infantry trudge ever closer as the lead wagon begins to cross the bridge…very…slowly.

A chance card is drawn, and a Hopsburgh archer finds himself fully stocked on arrows again! Perhaps one of the wagons dropped a bundle in the haste of the moment?

The Hopsburgh archer begins loosing as the Latchwell infantry catch up to the rear wagon with Hopsburgh soldiers close behind!

Somehow, the ox handler survives the melee that ensued while the Wellsley archer nearby took his foe to the grave with him! Then, a chance card is drawn (the third in 5 turns!) and a rainstorm begins.

This rainstorm proves a saving miracle for the ox handler, as he was the only target of the Hopsburgh archer who was just itching to dump his ammo into his foe’s back, and maybe the ox too!

Lord Wellsley and his men cross the bridge and narrowly escape, meeting the victory condition.

Victory conditions for the game required Lord Wellsley and his wagons to cross the bridge, while their foes needed to Slay Wellsley and/or capture the loot. You can probably see where partial/total victories would have been achieved. 

I’m super happy that Lord Wellsley survived, and that I didn’t paint a miniature for a single game! Willikin, his squire didn’t end up needing that +1 to Missile rolls very much, he either rolled 1’s and 2’s, or perfect 6’s. I’m looking forward to gaming with Willikin in the future, we’ll likely see him leading a force of peasant archers, or some such…

*Willikin of the Weald

**This battle and the peculiar food item in the caravan was heavily inspired by Maudlin Jack Tar’s Fish Stew battle. After two years I still hop over and reread it because it’s so fun.