Ruins of the Old City, Game 1

 In the northwest regions of the Kingdom lies an old city, destroyed by travesty and now half-conquered by all manner of fell creatures. The northern half of the city is infested with unnatural monsters, while the southern half is defended by men and acts as a buffer to keep the creatures at bay and prevent them from sweeping farther into human lands. Here, in the ruins of a city whose name is so long-forgotten that it seems a name was never thought of for it, we find Sir Edric and Baron Mordain striking out against the evils that hold the north.

The field. On the south side of the river (left) we find a party of men, led by Edric and Mordain. To the north (right) we see a profane idol to a serpent god, defended by equally serpentine warriors.

The quest: The Baron and Sir Edric’s joint strike force must make its way across the river and steal the large gem from the Dragon Idol’s grasp.The hope is that this will harm the Lizard-folk morale in the area and give Edric’s men time to setup a foothold on the northern side of the river. If the ox-cart can be delivered safely to the statue, loaded, then make it back across the bridge, the humans win.

The lizard men are seeking to kill and subsequently devour any who would harm their god’s effigy.

The view from the south.

The view from the north.

On turn 3, the lizard-folk gain the initiative  and begin sallying out to meet the man-flesh invaders.

The men have utilized their first (and very lucky) activations to their advantage and kept a relatively unified advance. Archers move to covered positions and the bills advance toward the bridge alongside Mordain.

But what is this? The small boat on the southeastern section of the river was not just for show?! A pair of dastardly, scaly ne’er-do-wells are attempting to flank the righteous forces of man!

Meanwhile, the troops reach the bridge and form a wall of steel to meet the lizard man captain and his own wall of scales.

A true melee ensues at the bridge while one of the lizard assassins attacks the archers in the eastern ruins!

Sir Edric is wounded in the fighting, but so too is the lizard-folk Captain slain! Lots of back and forth, recoiling and charging, until the lizard men who remain retreat back across the river to make a final stand (after rolling straight 6’s on both of their side’s morale checks!).

The cart makes it across the bridge.

The last two troglodytes attack the cart’s defenders. This back and forth melee would continue long enough…

…For the Baron himself to grab the gem! This was just as well, as he had already suffered a wound in the fighting and I was not looking forward to having to name a new Lord of Bleudingle.

With the lizard men dispatched and the gem secure, the cart makes its way back across the river—with the ox feeling like the wealthiest beast in all the land!

A few notes: The humans rolled very well this game. They were able to slay a lot of the lizard men early on, which is surprising, as the lizards had higher armor class than most of the humans! Also, there was a 1/6 chance of a dragon appearing when the gem was removed from the statue, which would have changed the whole game.

Next up, Game 2 in the Old City: A Counterattack!