Vergus of Torga - Actual Play 8

A new ally...

For the previous installment of the story, click here.

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HEX 9 – Day 5

Weather – Clear Skies

Forage – 20

Encounter – (Day – Yes – Dangerous Beast – Friendly, Night – No)

Vergus and his troops awoke to clear skies – a refreshing break from the driving winter snowstorms. If he were indeed a Lord, Ketra, Rogra, Tark, Oswin, and Caldron would be his field commanders.

They met as a war council and put everyone to work.

The unskilled but strong were set to building earthworks. Fletchers made arrows, smiths repaired arms as well as they could, and those who knew the ways of healing tended to the wounded. Riders were sent in all directions to scout for enemies and forage supplies.

Archers and horsemen stood ready as a giant, hairy mammoth plodded towards the camp. But they held, and it did not engage.

The night passed without incident, and morale ran high.

HEX 9 – Day 6

Weather – Blizzard

No Forage

Encounter – Day – No, Night – No

The force spent the next day huddled together for warmth from the driving snow. At Vergus’ command, guard duty continued despite the horrible conditions. He would not be surprised.

HEX 9 – Day 7

Weather – Freezing Fog

Forage – 15

Encounter – Day – 9 Yellow Wyrm Riders – Attack, Night – No)

A dense fog had settled over the Kyrg when Tark and two tribesmen rode back from picket duty. They’d spotted nine more riders bearing the Yellow Wyrm banner.

“They come seeking their friends,” remarked Vergus, “and they will find them in death.”

Preparations were made around the camp – every man and woman with sword, bow, and sling was ready to kill or die. As before, they hid their true strength behind fortifications. Snow had covered the remnants of the previous Yellow Wyrm slaver’s demise.

However, Vergus and his commanders mounted and rode a few paces out, taunting the riders.

They took the bait and charged in recklessly.

The archers sent two volleys into their midst when they were in range.

As in the previous battle, I am condensing the mechanics into outcomes. I had not yet decided on a mass combat system for this fight, so I ran it blow by blow. For the upcoming battle I will be using the Warlord! mass combat system from Castle Grief’s Black Ziggurat supplement.

Sample page of the combat. One of three. Lots of rolls on this.

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Yellow Wyrm Riders

HP 9, 5, 10, 8, 8, 6, 11, 9, 8

First Volley – 4 hits, minor damage

Second Volly – 6 hits, mostly minor damage but one killed

Morale Check – Success

Arrows rained down as the riders surged through the snow towards Vergus and his retinue. The first volley was largely ineffective, and they continued at full speed. A second volley did more damage, and one fell dead from his horse, an arrow buried in his eyesocket.

Vergus raised his sword, “Kill them all!”

His horsemen poured from behind wagons and wooden walls. Vergus formed the tip of the formation with 15 mounted troops behind him.

Morale Check – Success

Though he hated the slavers, he admired their courage. Even against such odds, they moved with grim determination, never breaking their stride. A determination that sealed their fate.

Vergus, Ketra, Rogra, Tark, Oswin, and Caldon fought ferociously with spear, sword, and shield. Gradually, the Yellow Wyrm slavers were whittled away and surrounded to the last man.

The man, bloodied from battle, did not attempt retreat or surrender.

Vergus yelled above the shouting. “Stop! This one is mine!”

His troops backed away into a loose circle around the remaining slaver, and Vergus rode into the center.

Final Slaver HP 8/10

Vergus 10/12 HP

Initiative – Roll 9 – Win

Vergus attacks with spear – Roll 8 – Hit! - DMG 4-3 Armor = 1

Slaver attacks with sword – Roll 7 Miss

They charged one another, and Vergus’s spear tip found flesh beneath the armor. The slaver replied with a slash that crashed off Vergus’s shield.

Initiative – Roll 6 – Lose

Slaver attacks with sword – Roll 10 – Hit! - DMG 5-3 Armor = 2

Vergus attacks with sword – Roll 9 – Hit! DMG 12 (exploding dice) – 3 Armor = 8 – Dead!

The slaver quickly spun his horse around and landed a heavy blow to Vergus’ side. He reeled in the saddle and answered with a short, precisely aimed thrust. The spear tip ripped through the rider's stomach, and he fell bleeding into the snow.

Vergus raised his sword.

“They are brave, but they are weak! Soon, we take the fight to their very walls. It is said a sorcerer with dark magic leads them. They believe they are invincible.” Vergus dismounted and walked to the dying slaver.

“All I see are men who will die. And this dark magician, whoever he may be, will be slaughtered like dogs along with them!”

With one clean stroke, Vergus removed the man’s head and held it aloft.

“Where is your magic now?” he inquired of the head.

His troops laughed as he tossed it aside.

They looted the dead. More horses, more armor, more shields, and more silver.

Loot

9 Horses

9 Sets of Chainmail

9 Swords

9 Shields

9 Daggers

35s

Vergus and his army celebrated another victory, and morale ran high. He had the full trust and loyalty of his warriors…they called him Lord without second thought.

It was another night of feasting and celebration, but Vergus knew the worst was yet to come.

They would move towards the fort tomorrow.

HEX 9 – Day 8

Weather – Clear Skies

Forage – Sufficient (enough people foraging to find adequate food)

Not Lost

Encounter – Day – Champion Pit Fighter w/10 admirers – Friendly

At dawn, they broke camp. Leaving the fortifications in place in case they needed to fall back, the wagons were loaded, and they began to move.

On the road, they saw more riders in the distance headed in the same direction. Vergus and his commanders turned and rode to meet them.

There was no hostility. The leader wore a unique suit of armor decorated with bones and carried an axe-like weapon that Vergus had not seen. His skin and eyes were dark, an unusual sight on the Kyrg. His men were all armed and armored with mail.

“Halt,” said Vergus, “state your name and purpose. I am Lord Vergus of Torga.”

Though the man spoke the common tongue, he did so with a foreign accent. “Ag-Ratha from the jungles of Lhar. I am a champion of the pits of the Outer Steppes, the Fringes, and have even slain men in the Great Arena. Yet, I tired of the game. I slew my Stablemaster and left.”

“What is your business here?”

“I fight no longer for the entertainment of others. I seek true glory, power, and land. The great Jaguar spoke to me in a dream and told me my fortune lay on the Kyrg.”

“We ride to the fort of the Yellow Wyrm slavers. I ride to avenge my people. Follow us. You’ve proven yourself in the pits, now do it on the field. Either we kill them to a man or we die in the attempt. There will be no quarter.”

Ag-Ratha rode closer to Vergus and extended his hand in friendship.

He laughed, “I think we will be good friends, Lord Vergus. You can depend on us.”

Ag-Ratha motioned to his followers, and the small army grew larger…

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