Wedding Bells, pt. 2

 This is the second part of the previous post.

The state of the game last post. Eleanor and Lord Wellsley have almost made it to the gate (and now await a seemingly missing red activation card). The Lizardfolk have assaulted the Baron Mordain’s eastern flank (top of field) and the Baron’s southern battle line is being charged by Lord Heath and his bills.

After five or six turns of black activation (the Latchwell-Hopsburgh-Lizard side), a red card is drawn. Lady Eleanor and her father make it into the safety of the castle walls. The major goal of the Baron’s forces is a success, now it’s just trying to keep the Baron himself alive, along with everyone else!

The Barony archers are decimated in a mutually destructive shootout with the Latchwell-Hopsburgh Coalition archers, as well as multiple assaults by the lizard men. Lord Stenbrook charges into the lizard men, slaying one and pushing back two more, while the Barony bill men stand in the middle of the field, unsure where to go.

A brutal combat sees Felstadt receive a wound while pushing a hoard of infantry away from his friend and lord. Sir Edric and Mordain face down Lord Heath.

Mordain is recoiled by a strong blow, and watches as his two closest friends, Edric and Felstadt, are slain and surrounded.

Felstadt fights hard, but falls to a flurry of blows as well. The soldier who outlived both Reginald I and Reginald II, finally meets his demise protecting his new lord to the last breath! He succeeds in slaying and pushing back several foes, however.

Lord Heath and Sir Gareth descend upon Mordain who receives a wound. One more, and his line will end! In equity, however, it should be noted that his attackers had each already suffered a wound earlier in the battle.

In a sadly un-photographed moment, the Coalition activated again, surrounding the Baron much the same as happened to Felstadt. Amazingly, through very lucky dice rolls, Mordain is able to slay two of his attackers (including Sir Gareth), and is not wounded, but recoiled…into his own company of bill men!

Lord Stenbrook comes to his aid, along with several infantrymen, and the Baron takes a place behind the force to lick his wounds.

At this point, the dead figures were removed (not pictured was the utter destruction of the lizards by Lord Stenbrook before he rushed to the aid of Mordain), and a morale check was rolled for the Coalition. The three remaining soldiers, including a lone archer who had been part of the devastating firefight between the two bow companies, decide to flee.

Lord Heath, seeing his men flee, knowing his allies lie slain behind him and his sons captured or slain, channels the famed Latchwellian wrath and charges the Barony forces, in a final, almost suicidal attempt to slay Mordain.

He is stopped up by Lord Stenbrook and an axe man (who does fall, unfortunately), then surrounded by bills in much the same way as he surrounded Felstadt, and put to death with quite liberal pokes, jabs, and chops.

The Lords of Latchwell and Hopsburgh lie dead in the avenue of Bleudingle, their wretched surprise attack stopped. Mordain’s friends, Sir Edric, and Felstadt lie with them, as well as Willikin, Lord Wellsley’s marksman squire. It was a costly battle, but perhaps the Barony of Bleudingle might exist in peace…for a time. After all, there is now new land just been annexed into the Barony, and the distant threats of Goblins, Ogres, and the Mother Queen of the Lizards draw ever closer. Not to mention that dragon what slayed Sir Reginald I, so long ago.

Thanks for reading the exciting conclusion to what really has been a campaign of games. It’s exciting to see what happens next in the Barony, and to have the opportunity to feel a sense of completeness to a story. Hope you enjoyed it!