Middenhjem Saga 2

From xulnwiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

Main: Stone Company Saga

Guarding a Caravan to Hafrafell

You spend the deluke resting and prepareing for the journey to Hafrafell as caravan guards.

  • Vollover, Gehdrunn, Gunnar, Karufald: +2HP.
  • Kvivnor was restless and didn't heal.

213 Syklus | 23 Waking Blålystid | Opening Gibbous

The Stone Company takes to the road north with a full Skygge moon and a faint blue light at their backs. In the caravan are 5 wagons, their drivers, and a head merchant and his apprentice. Travel is quite slow with the iron ore laiden wagons. You believe you will arrive sometime on a Closed Skygge in just over 4 delukes.

Vollover, Karufald, and Kvivnor try to rest and heal in the wagons. Unfortunately, travel is too rough on all of them and none seem to heal.


213 Syklus | 23 Waking Blålystid | Open Skygge

As the moon Skygge begins to close and before the full light of Blålystid erupts over Middenhjem,

Reconnaissance Test

  • Recon Skill = 16, +1 (good relation with locals), -3 (tied to a fixed road) = Total 14
  • Stone Company success by +8; Unknown Force success by +3. Stone Company wins initiative!

One of your scouts, Ragugm quickly makes a few motions from up the road. No doubt by his gesticulating that a potential hostile force has also spotted you. Quickly, you ascertain that there are 3-4 riders and 6-8 men of foot. The Stone Company begins to secure the caravan and get in formation, but you can order them instead to take immediate action against the force.

ENCOUNTER BATTLE vs. PITCHED BATTLE

  • You won initiative (no surprise, no ambush), you get to choose.
  • Encounter Battle: If you had won surprise or ambush and you chose this, the enemy would be confused.
  • Pitched Battle: You take time to get in formation, learn more about your enemy, and the winner of initiative gains DB if you choose a Defense strategy (only a +1 in this case). If you had won an ambush, the enemy would be confused.

Obviously, in this case, you choose a Pitched Battle and begin to form up. In those few seconds, you make out your scouts might have over-estimated their numbers and spot 1 heavily armed man on horseback, 2 scout riders, 3 archers, and 3 infantry. The heavily armored man on horseback appears to be hiding the heraldic crest on his armor with a plain tabard.

What other orders do you give? Specifically, what battle strategy do you choose? I'm sure you are wondering about trying to chat with them, so yes, parley is technically a "battle strategy". They may or may not accommodate. Also, what risk do you assign to specific mercs (and NPCs)? I assume you order the caravan drivers and merchants to take low risk. If you set them to less risk then you have to put your mercs at risk to protect them. In other words, your total risk mods must equal zero (including those that you are guarding). Do you target any specific enemies? To target a specific enemy you: target 1 enemy in exchange for paying less attention to 2 enemies.

The Battle

Round 1

  • Stone Company: Deliberate Defense
  • Unknown Force: Parley (They could have chosen something else prior but since they saw you using Deliberate Defense, they had an option to change. However, they could have been planning to Parley all along. You don't know.)

The Stone Company circles the wagons into a more defensible position on the flat open road. There isn't much protection in the middle of the plains except for a slight incline up to either side of the road. Three of the soldiers in the unknown force steps forward revealing bows and notching arrows. Three infantry are close behind with a Heavily Armored Knight atop a horse and two Kelgik scout riders flank either side of the small force.

Tension fills the air as the Stone Company awaits a volley of arrows. The Knight gives a command to his troops to "hold" and the archers refrain from pulling their bow strings. He calls out to the Stone Company, "It appears like we have a ragtag group of mercenaries hired to protect Herlunnsen's goods."

Bjorninion quickly shares, "I know this man, he's the son of Thane Eifiuam of Hafrafell."

Gunnar adds, "His father killed his eldest son - or so they say. Never went to trial. He probably bribed the magistrate to sweep it under the rug. This must be another son."

Bjorninion nods in agreement.

You can interrupt him if you like by saying something or ... just attacking. Alternatively, you can let him keep talking. Basically, do you accept his "request" to parley?

Battle Report

  • Stone Company: -
  • Eifiuamsen (and entourage): 1 Heavy Cavalry, 3 Archers, 3 Infantry, 2 Scout Riders
Torrthid Eifiuamsen with his father, Thane Eifiuam the Queller

The Stone Company stands their ground and awaits what this Eifiuamsen has to say.

The Son of a Thane shouts across the road at you and your men, "Actually, you look like you might be the right sort. I'm looking to hire some men. You see, I recently came across a shipment that needs safeguarding."

He smirks as a couple of his men chuckle.

"I pay well. Far better than Herlunnsen is paying you now. What, did he offer you? A measly thousand crowns? Heh, well I can double that. All you have to do is steer these wagons where I tell you."

Guhdrenn shrugs towards Gunnar and the two captains exchange a few words before Gunnar shouts down the slope towards Eifiuamsen, "We see that you value our services." Thinking twice about trying to intimidate the Thane's son and hoping to avoid conflict Gunnar keeps it short by offering the Stone Company's service for the future.

Eifiuamsen shouts back, "What would I need with a washed up and aged captain, his baby-faced son of a whore, and some ragtag undisciplined so-called soldiers. You see, I've some of the most well trained soldiers here at my side willing to die for their lord. Can you say that of your men?"

He circles his men, showing them off, "But that isn't to say that some of you don't have even the smallest amount of smarts. Tell you what, the first 4 of you to sign up to fight for me, right now, you can split the 2,000 crowns."

He throws a sack of (what you assume is 2000 crowns) to the dirt in front of him, "You have ten seconds before my marksmen take aim and you don't want to be on the wrong side of their arrows."

Within seconds, Karufald breaks to one of the wagons and grabs the box of Alchemist's Fire. Sedufleif and Herlufil notch their arrows, give each other a quick glance, and Herlufil turns his back towards Eifiuamsen's men with his arrows towards the Stone Company and begins walking backwards towards the pouch of coins. Sedifleif remains steady with his arrow now notched on Herlufil. With the attention on Herlufil and Karufald, Bjorninion is hardly noticed as he skulks around a wagon to join Eifiuamsen and his men.

Battle Report

  • Stone Company: Failed Loyalty (Karufald, Herlufil, Bjorninion) who now may be fighting for Eifiuamsen.
  • Eifiuamsen (and entourage): 1 Heavy Cavalry, 3 Archers, 3 Infantry, 2 Scout Riders

Round 2

  • Stone Company: Attack, target the Traitors
  • Eifiuamsen: Skirmish

Gunnar shakes his head in disgust as he closes the distance towards the backpedaling alchemist, Karufald. The alchemist stands no chance against the veteran warrior who slashes his sword deeply into his leg. The alchemist lets out a groan, collapses to the ground, and grabs for his now gushing leg! The box of alchemist's fire takes a tumble, bounces off the hard-packed dirt road, and finally comes to a rest underneath one of the wagons.

Herlufil and Sedufleif exchange arrows, but it's Herlufil's arrow that connects! Sedufleif takes an arrow to the gut and reels back.

While not able to catch up or deliver any blows to the other traitors, Guhdrenn, Arninn, and Hugum circle around to eliminate options for the retreating traitors.

Eifiuamsen's men harmlessly shoot a few arrows towards the Stone Company and the footmen motion as if they might attack but quickly fall back. The riders take stances as if they might attack.

Battle Report

  • Stone Company: +1 PB; Sedufleif (3/14 HP, bleeding, reeling); Box of Alchemist's Fire is on ground under wagon and will take a turn to "activate" if desired.
  • Eifiuamsen & Company: Karufald (bleeding, reeling, screaming in pain)

Round 3

  • Stone Company: Attack, Ragugm preparing Alchemist's Fire
  • Eifiuamsen: Skirmish

The Stone Company pushes the attack towards Eifiuamsen and his men down the slope from the road. The traitor, Herlufil, joins ranks with the other 3 archers and arrows rain down upon the advancing men!

Vollover takes an arrow through his left leg (-5 HP, now reeling)!

Milsar holds his shield to catch an arrow, but doesn't see the footman's mace swing around to crush his arm (-5 HP, crippled LA)!

Gehdrunn, Gunnar, Arninn, and Hugum cut a deep wedge in Eifiuamsen's ranks, effectively dividing their forces into two (+2 PB). In the midst of the fray, Gunnar takes a slash from Eifiuasmen's sword (-4 HP).

Gehdrunn, you catch a glimpse at Eifiuamsen's sword grip and riding posture and can't help but wonder how a noble has such terrible form. He does not appear to be skilled in battle. His blow to Gunnar was out of luck. You all also get a general idea of the enemy's equipment too. Eifiuamsen has good equipment, while the others seem to simply have basic gear. You are beginning to doubt the elite status of his men too. If they were elite, they wouldn't have broken ranks so easily. (I revealed some of this information on the "Current Enemy" tab.

Battle Report

  • Stone Company: +2 PB (+3 total); Ragum has a flask of Alchemist's Fire prepped and ready!; The Stone Company took injuries this round in exchange for PB; You can view injuries in the "Stone Company" tab.
  • Eifiuamsen & Company: No new injuries, but lost ground.

Round 4

  • Stone Company: Indirect Attack, Ragugm throwing Alchemist's Fire
  • Eifiuamsen: Skirmish

The enemy ranks split, Gunnar barks an order: “Hugum, Arninn, with me! Ragugm, NOW!”

With that, the Alchemist’s fire flies towards the ranks of Eifiuamsen’s archers and lands at Herlufil’s feet, sputtering and hissing, it does not explode! As the archers scatter, Herlufil kicks the bottle into the path of Gunnar’s flanking advance. Eifiumsen’s infantry form ranks to fill the hole, and the advance bogs down into melee.

Stymied on the right, Gehdrunn and Milsar press the front and close ranks with Eifiuamsen himself. The thaneson jeers at Gehdrunn and shouts, “Men! Cut down this fool!” before slashing lazily at him. For his arrogance, Gehdrunn steps in around the blade, grabs the reins, and stabs him - impaling the thaneson with a vicious blow! Staring at the sword in his guts, Eifaumsen pales and looks as if he’s about to be sick. He reels back on his horse away from Gehdrunn, but remains up.

Separated from the main battle by the sputtering Alchemist’s fire, the Kelgik riders veer wide looking for an opening. They ride past the line of the Stone Company and past the wagons; one of the wagon drivers has a moment of ill-advised bravery and lunges at the lead rider! He misses wildly, and though he dodges the blade, he is trampled by the horse. A tangled mess, he crawls beneath the wagon and collapses. Alive, but perhaps not for long.

Battle Report

  • Stone Company: Wagoneer #5 (-18 HP, crush to the torso, unconscious)
  • Eifiuamsen: +1 PB (but actually 0 as they chose Skirmish); Thaneson Eifiuamsnen (-20 HP, impaling to the torso; Reeling, holding his guts, still on horse)

Round 5

  • Stone Company: Skirmish
  • Eifiuamsen: Fighting Retreat

“Stone Company! Pick your man and crush him!”

Caked in the dust of battle, which has turned to mud in his own pouring blood, Vollover strides towards the Kelgik who are swinging wide around the caravan. Grinning wildly, he drops into a low stance to accept their charge. Both run wide of his blade, too far to give or receive harm. The second rider swings wider and wider, falling to the rear and eyeing the retreat - only to be stayed by Gehdrunn’s deadly gaze.

Under the weight of the Stone Company’s melee, Eifaumsen’s men begin to crumble. His archers and infantry fall into a semi-circle around their leader, trying to buy him precious seconds. Herlufil snaps arrows at anyone who tries to go around, protecting their flanks. In the press, one archer is driven down and bludgeoned with a shield, stumbles, and nearly snaps his leg. He leaps to one foot, screaming rage, and leans on a companion, waving a short sword.

As the net closes, Eifiuamsen decides that discretion is the better part of valor. He falls back, looks around desperately, and flees. A moment later, as Hugum and Arninn approach him, the traitor Bjorninion turns tail and runs. Arnanar grins at one of the infantrymen, and begins to give him a theological lesson focused on the divine powers of his sword. Six seconds later, the infantryman spits in Arnanar’s face and runs screaming after Bjorninion.

Surrounded, Eifaumsen’s men pause when Gunnar shouts: “Your leader is a weakling! He fights with gold because he knows his steel is pathetic! Hear us out, and you may yet live.”

Battle Report Stone Company: no damage; no PB gain Eifiuamsen: 1 Archer (-6 HP); Partial Retreat (Eifiuamsen, 1 Infantryman, Bjorninion escapes)

Parley

The remaining Kelgik rider motions for the remnants of Eifiuamsen forces to stop and listen. Leaderless and confused, they listen to the Kelgik’s commands, though you do not know for how long.

Gunnar continues, “You’ve served a fool, but many serve and we will not hold it against you. Those of you who served the thaneson at the start of this battle, you have a choice:

You may return to your servitude and live your lives out as the pawn of a coward. We will not harass you. Just remember what happened here honestly.

You may return to your bondage, and if so, may you live forever with your cowardice. Or you may join us. Join us to fight, to struggle, to suffer, and to grow strong. To grow legend. You have served a fool who thought gold stronger than steel, and steel stronger than the Stone of a warrior’s courage. Join us, join the Stone Company. Prove yourself, and may you live a warrior’s life, and die a hero's death. The choice is yours.

All you have to do is keep him, and him…” Gunnar points to the traitors. “So that we may try them for their treason.”

“And you, Kelgik.” Gunnar points to the bag of coins Eifiuamsen threw. “Hunt down the traitor who ran. He abandoned us for a third of those coins. I offer them to you - bring him to us, alive or dead, and a third of those coins are yours.”

Faced with overwhelming odds and the prospect of decent treatment, the Stone Company’s enemy surrenders. The traitor alchemist and archer are surrounded and surrender themselves to judgment. The Kelgik agrees to hunt down Biorninion.

In the aftermath, the Stone Company secures the money, the two traitors, and turns to bandage their wounded. Three of the infantry volunteer to join the company - men by the name of Age, Bjornanam, and Huge. The wounded archer, Raginast, also volunteers.

Parley Results

  • You grab the pouch with ₡2000 coins.
  • Kelgik Rider agrees to hunt the traitor for a third of ₡2000
  • The Stone Company surrounds the traitor archer and the traitor alchemist.
  • Some of Eifiaumsen's men join the Stone Company
    • Raginast (archer, crushed leg); Age, Bjornanam, Huge (3 infantry)
    • His remaining men retreat north up the road towards Hafrafell (the same direction as Eifiuamsen).
    • You learn from the new recruits that Eifiuamsen was hoping to steal the shipment of ore. He had a deal with the Kelgik and something about Strius Thium.

The Aftermath

Hafrafell. 23 Rising Blålystid, Closing Crescent

The Stone Company spends 2 delukes (phases of the moon) to heal, refit, and hire some new members.

Finished the Job
You get paid for a job well done (₡1,050).

Healing.
Many of the mercs begin to heal but Gunnar and Gehdrunn keep busy sharing that, "I ain't got time to bleed."

Inquiring About the Job in Klofningar.
You already know from the Jarl of Faereyar that Klofningar is hiring mercenaries to protect its borders from skyggemen but you now learn from a local thane in Hafrafell that Jarl Hale Thorarsen of Klofningar has been recently poisoned - no doubt by skyggemen dark magic. Without its Jarl, Klofningar cannot last long.

The Job Board.
You hire two mercenaries from the job board.

  • Aginey (Average Scout)
  • Sedredast (Inferior Pikeman)

Available Jobs

  • Escort Jarl Bjarnfin Rigesen to Klofningar. Seasoned warriors only. Departing imminently. (₡7,800 - King Mileas Sedorsen)
  • Reclaim Family Cottage in the Narfaskerwod from Ranridder (robberknight) Hallofend. 2 dels north. (₡1,500 - Thane Oiva Borastsen)

Hire Surgeon
Gunnar spends the time hiring a surgeon for the company.

  • Thalli Asgardottir. Petite woman and skilled surgeon who isn't afraid of blood or brutish men. She isn't any good with a weapon, but can patch up your troops.

Sell, Purchase, Upgrade Gear

  • Upgrade Karlovar's Heavy Infantry gear to basic.
  • Sell Kvivnor's Militia Gear. Purchase Basic Archer.
  • Sell Huge's Infantry Gear. Purchase Pikeman Gear.
  • Sell some random poor militia gear you picked up.