Lockdown 2.0 Project Log Day 115: Battle for Redforge

 Hi!

As promised, I've managed to play out the first of my mini campaign featuring the Boar Company's search to bring the rogue sorcerer Marik Goldhelm to justice.

The Background

As the fiercest winter in living memory eases and the snowbound Axeblade mountains become navigable, Grimli Ironholm, leader of the Boar Company prepares his force to venture out into the frontier to reconnect communication between the many small settlements dotted around the region and ensure their safety from marauding beasts. He also has a personal quest, to track down his nemesis, Marik Goldhelm and remove his head.

The Boar Company departs early in the morning and after several days trek, stop at one of the Order of the Tower's way stations on their way to Pinecliff, the largest settlement in the area but whilst swapping tales over an ale next to a blazing fire that evening, Grimli discovers Marik has been spotted at a nearby settlement called Redforge. The settlement is small and what reason would Marik have for visiting it but for the purpose of doing evil?

Summoning his battle brothers, Flint and Gunnar, the three decide to set out before dawn the next morning to catch up with Marik and bring the full weight of the Boar Company's justice upon him and his foul followers for too many times has the rogue dogged their path and performed evil upon the inhabitants of the border. Swearing a mighty oath, the three dedicate their lives to the death of Marik and the remaining Boar Company troops do likewise. Now only death will prevent them from their task.

Departing the way station in the cold pre-dawn, the Boar Company marches with all haste towards Redforge and the coming confrontation. As they approach, they can see smoke rising above the settlement and beyond, Marik and his warband preparing to depart. 

Bellowing a challenge, the Boar Company surges forward. It will be a day of swords and sorrows but by the ancestors, they will settle accounts with Marik!

The Forces

The Boar Company consists of Grimli Ironholm, Gunnar Beastspeaker and Flint Dragonbane and are accompanied by a Razorback Rider, hunter with crossbow, Wildling with javelins and six Boar Company troopers including their Banner Bearer who carries a Spelleater rune to counter any malign magics.

Marik is accompanied by his undead Knight, Kull, a Horned Folk warrior named Crimsonhoof, a combat golem, an archer and four minions. He has also summoned a pair of giant bats, three Cavern Dwellers and a sizeable swarm of Giant Spiders.

The Setup

The Settlement of Redforge lies at the centre of the board with woods and newly grown fungal patches surrounding it on three sides. The Boar Company deploys from the south table edge with Mariks forces on the northern edge. Grimli, Flint and Gunnar are all accompanied by two troopers whilst the Hunter, Wildling and Razorback rider deploy along the edge of the trees to the east, preparing to move out towards whatever they see.

The Game

Turn one has both forces moving rapidly towards the settlement, keen to get to grips with their hated foes but things don't go Marik's way as the summoned spiders and Cavern Dwellers mill around and refuse to activate. On the eastern flank, the Razorback rider thunders out of the treeline and sees a group of giant bats moving towards him in the distance.

Marik moves forward, accompanied by a hulking wargolem he's recently acquired from the now deceased inhabitants of Redforge, keen to unleash it upon his pursuers. Seeing the unmistakable form of Flint Dragonbane at the opposite edge of town, he raises his staff, preparing to strike the Dwarf down with a mighty show of his power but something is wrong and he cannot summon enough Earthpower to cast at the Dwarf. Could the Spelleater rune the Boar Company banner is bearing be affecting the rogue?

Meanwhile on the western flank, Crimsonhoof spots movement and issuing a bellow of bloodthirsty rage begins to lumber towards the distant troops. Responding in kind, Gunnar leads his companions forward shouting curses and insults at the Horned Folk beast in its own tongue.

Grimli, accompanied by the banner bearer and a trooper with a flail, spies Marik in the distance and begins a song of battle which his companions take up and soon the stirring tune resounds across the battlefield as the Company gives voice.

Turn two has the giant bats flap forward toward the Razorback rider but are targeted by the sturdy Wildling who hefts a javelin at one, wounding the beast but failing to bring it down, the hunter with the crossbow, now safely ensconced in the wood, draws a bead and fires. His bolt flies true and one of the bats is sent crashing to the ground, dead.

Seizing the moment, the Razorback rider barrels into the wounded bat and dispatches it with his lance but he is now dangerously exposed to a countercharge from the minions accompanying Kull, the dread knights sword glowing a sickly green orders his minions to attack the Dwarf but their charge falls short!

Meanwhile the Boar Company has reached the edge of the town and Flint's party storms in through a narrow alleyway only to see Marik. Uttering a curse, Flint issues a challenge but the sorcerer disdains such scum and attempts to cast a bolt of eldritch lighting at the Dwarves but is shocked to find the spell misfiring and singeing himself. Shaking his head woozily, he can feel the Spelleater rune sapping his power and in a fit of pique, orders his Wargolem to open fire. The clanking monstrosity lets rip with it's blackpowder cannon and the alleyway is filled with fire and fury but when the smoke clears, Flint and co are still standing, their armour pitted but unhurt and the plucky Dwarves rush forward, keen to get to grips with their tormentor.

As Grimli's party moves into the settlement, they come under fire from Marik's archer who manages to score Grimli's breastplate with his barbed arrow but fails to damage the furious Dwarf.

Seeing the Minion's failed charge, the Razorback rider digs his spurs into his mount's flank and crouches his lance as the squealing beast bucks wildly before hurtling into the unit. His lance strikes true, lifting one of the minions off his feet whilst a second is gored by the Razorback but his attack is ended by the ensorcelled blade of the undead knight chopping at his head forcing him to parry wildly.

Turn three begins with the Dwarf hunter taking a potshot at Marik who happens to be just within range but the sorcerer swats the bolt out of the air and unleashes a bolt of his own at Flints party but the stalwart Dwarf emerges unhurt. The Golem once again sends forth a torrent of fire but its aim is off and it manages to destroy a building front instead of its intended target.

Marik's archer transfers his attention to Flint's party and manages to knock over one of the troopers but fails to injure him. 

Meanwhile the spider swarm rushes forward towards the town, finally answering Marik's summons but will it arrive in time?

Meanwhile on the western edge of the settlement, Gunnar's party and Crimsonhoof clash with the mighty Horned Folk shrugging off the blows rained down on it and badly goring Gunnar but the Beastspeaker has dealt with wild beasts before and continues to fight.

Turn four begins with Flint's party being charged by the Wargolem. The magitech beast swings a mighty fist and crashes it into Flint's breastplate, crushing it and seriously wounding the Dwarf. While his bodyguard deals with the closest party, Marik spies the third trooper who is pulling himself to his feet. Sneering under his helm Marik once again tries to cast a bolt of Earthpower but has it rebound upon himself. 

Cursing in pain, he glances to his left and sees the reason. Emerging from the buildings marches Grimli and his party. The Spelleater rune glowing warmly. Knowing he's now outnumbered, Marik begins to move back into the alleyway and safety as the commander of the Boar Company roars a challenge to the craven coward but see's his companion Flint is badly hurt, Grimli rushes forward to provide aid.

 

Uttering his clans battlecry, Grimli launches himself onto the Golem and cleaves it with his trusty broadsword. The rusty machine shudders to a halt, it's magitech core breached and Marik feels a chill as he sees the grizzled Boar Company leader best his vaunted machine. The two lock eyes but before Grimli can move, a barbed arrow from Marik's archer sinks into the back of his banner bearer. The brave Dwarf lets out a groan and sinks to the ground, blood pouring from the jagged wound. 

To the east, the black knight, Kull exchanges a flurry of blows with the Razorback rider, badly wounding him but failing to dispatch the sturdy Dwarf. In response, his Razorback knocks the skeletal knight off his feet, rolling its eyes and frothing at the mouth at the nearness of the terrible being. 

The Wildling rushes in to support the Razorback rider and his timely assistance sees one minion fall gurgling with a javelin through his throat and with renewed energy, the Razorback rider lops off the skeleton's head and the final minion breaks from the swirling combat, fleeing for the safety of the woods.

In the settlement, the spiders surge over the Boar Company Dwarves, killing one and wounding Grimli before the survivors put them to the sword.

Finally over on the western flank of the settlement, Crimsonhoof, seizes up one of the Boar Company troopers and hurls him into a building, the impact breaking the troopers neck. Uttering a roar of outrage, Gunnar, throws himself back into the fray and with the assistance of the remaining trooper succeeds in slaying the beast.

As Grimli painfully pulls himself to his feet, dizzy as the spider venom courses through his body he is dimly aware of the form of Marik dashing from the battlefield into the forest with his surviving minions. 

Conclusion

The battle was over and once again Marik had escaped. Grimli feebly cursed as his brave companions bound their wounds, buried their dead and strapped him onto a crude stretcher. The spider venom would kill him if they didn't make for Pinecliff and the Order of the Tower whose skilled medics would be able to cure him but even in his fever, Grimli cursed and swore vengeance. 

Placing a supportive hand upon his friend and leader's shoulder, the battered and pale Flint exchanged a worried glance with Gunnar. The burly Dwarf was swathed in bandages but stoically ignoring his wounds but the spider venom was beyond his skills to deal with so their vendetta would have to wait. Grimli would live and Marik would get what was coming to him. 

With that the surviving Boar Company marched out towards Pinecliff.

Whee! As usual, a game between Marik and the Boar Company results in a proper grudge match and once again the oily rogue sorcerer has avoided his just desserts but this is only the first game in the campaign. Will the company reach Pinecliff and receive the aid they need to cure Grimli? What will Marik's response to his Golem's destruction and the death of his two most powerful minions be? 

Only time will tell but until then, All the best!