Vergus of Torga - Kal Arath Actual Play 7
First taste of vengeance
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Hex 9
Weather – Blizzard (no travel, no forage)
Lost
No POI
Encounter – (Day – Yes – Lost Child – Angered/Hostile, Night – No)Harsh weather kicked up again on the Kyrg – snow covered everything. Vergus and his party circled their wagons near a small hill and decided to ride out the storm. There was nothing else to do.
Someone was moving in the distance.
The pickets, further out from the main camp, saw him first. A young boy of perhaps ten struggling through the deep snow.
Two of Oswin’s men rush to his aid. At first, he struggled, but the men dragged him into the camp. Anger turned quickly to gratitude as the fire warmed him.
“Who are you, boy?” Vergus said and took a knee beside him.
“Ler…they call me Ler. I slipped away from the slave fort up north. They still have my mother; the guards caught her trying to escape.” Tears streamed down his windburned face.
“My name is Vergus, and we will find or avenge your mother.”
Vergus, Ketra, Oswin, Caldon, and the other heads of the expedition spoke with Ler after he’d rested. He knew the location and design of the fort, had seen the patrols they sent, and knew by what gate they came and went.
Once Ler had fallen asleep, they discussed plans.
“They may send troops after him if they know he’s missing. Perhaps we can ambush them.”
“When the weather lets up, we could send a small scouting party to the fort.”
“I say we lay siege to the fort and burn it down.”
“We could pose as slavers ourselves – perhaps get inside and take them by surprise.”
Vergus listened to the wise council of his fellow warriors. “Let’s not be rash. We’ll hold here and fortify for the moment. Should any patrols come this way, we will crush them.”
Hex 9 – Day 2
Weather – Blizzard (no travel, no forage)
Not lost
No POI
Encounter – (Day – Yes – 7 Steppe Jackals - Friendly, Night – No)The next day saw no break in the storm.
Vergus oversaw the construction of several chevaux de frise on the cardinal points of the camp about 50 yards out. They weren’t much but would slow down any cavalry advance and provide some cover for the archers.
Trees were felled to improve the conditions against the weather. The falling snow provided a reasonable degree of concealment.
A pack of steppe jackals wandered close during the work, but our numbers frightened them away.
Hex 9 – Day 3
Weather – Heavy Snow
Lost
Forage – 15 total
Encounter – (Day – Yes – 10 Yellow Wyrm Riders – Attack, Night – No)Vergus, Rogra, and Ketra had just eaten breakfast when the videttes posted on the north side of camp hurried back to camp.
“Yellow Wyrm riders. Coming from the East. We count ten. What are your orders?”
Vergus addressed the warriors.
“Conceal yourselves in the tents and behind the wagons. Caldon, take your men into the trees. If they'll fight, we can draw them in, then swing behind and surround them. No retreat, no mercy, no prisoners.”
“Archers and slingers! Move forward and find a position behind the spikes. Greet them with volleys if they come in range. Fall back when we charge.”
The Yellow Wyrm riders halted about 75 yards away, and the leader looked over the partially hidden camp.
Yellow Wyrm Riders (2 hit die opponents)
HP 3, 10, 2, 4, 5, 8, 4, 7, 6
Chainmail (Medium Armor), Shields, Swords, DaggersJust a note on the battle mechanics: I ran this and another battle in an upcoming write-up by rolling for every single hit and damage point. This took a long time. I’ll find a simpler way to resolve combats with this many people in the future.
Round 1
Volley 1 – Missile weapons – 5 bows, 3 slings, 1 javelin attack
Four hits, minimal damage due to armor
Morale check: Roll 9, Pass!The first volley landed in their midst, but their mail and shields protected them. Vergus, Ketra, Oswin, Rogra, and Tark rode out to harangue them.
They were outnumbered, but knew not by how much. Their leader pointed his sword forward, and their horses picked up speed.
Round 2
Volley 2 – Missile weapons – bows, 3 slings
2 hits, minimal damageAgain, arrows and stones bounced off their armor, increasing their resolve. They were briefly bogged down in deep snow, and the archers moved back. Vergus raised his spear, and the entire camp surged forward, some on horseback and others on foot.
Caldon remained hidden in the trees and waited to circle behind.
Round 3 – Initiative Roll 6, Win!
Vergus’ troops – Inflict moderate damage on the riders
Black Wyrm cavalry – Inflict light damage on Vergus’s menThe fight was furious. Sword and spear clashed against mail and shield. Metal met flesh; blood reddened the snow. Two of the Yellow Wyrm riders fell.
Caldon’s riders completed their circle and formed up behind the Yellos Wyrm riders.
Round 4 – Initiative Roll 4, Win!
Morale Check: 5 Fail!The two forces continued their desperate battle, and another of the foul riders went down. Unable to breach their armor, the tribal warriors in the group began dragging the horseman to the ground.
The Yellow Wyrm soldiers broke, but there was nowhere to run. Caldon’s soldiers had encircled them from behind. There would be no survivors today.
Round 3 – Initiative Roll 3, Lose!
Vergus's forces take some damage, none killed. All of the Black Wyrm riders were slaughtered.Though impressed by his enemy's skill, Vergus fought with pure rage. His forces finally whittled away the last of them. Ketra’s blade slipped beneath the breastplate and found flesh, toppling one from his horse while Oswin finished off the surrounded leader with a crushing blow to the skull.
Vergus raised his spear and shouted, “Victory!” His troops returned the call, “Hail Lord Vergus!”
As the bodies were looted and everyone returned to camp, he thought about the title. Lord Vergus. He smiled. Yes, he would be a Lord. He would conquer, and he would rule.
But he would not rest until every rider of the Yellow Wyrm was finished.
He ordered the slavers’ heads mounted on spikes around the camp, then spent the evening celebrating by the fire.
Loot
10 Horses
10 Sets of Chainmail
10 Swords
10 Shields
10 Daggers
30sHex 9 – Day 4
Weather – Snowstorm
POI – None
Forage – 40 (Total)
Encounters – (Day – None, Night – None)Vergus and his war council (Ketra, Rogra, Tark, Oswin, and Caldon) agreed they should hunker down and create stronger fortifications. Though they’d just won an overwhelming victory against the Yellow Wyrm riders, they were fearsome warriors…and they had only faced a small patrol.
Taking their fort would not be easy.
The group worked in shifts all day as the snow fell on them. Trees were cut to form covered firing positions in all directions. Some of the tribesmen set about constructing much-needed arrows.
It was likely that when the patrol failed to return, they would send more riders to investigate.
Vergus and his warriors would be ready…
If you’re interested in Kal Arath by Castle Grief, pick up a copy here.
That was a very satisfying battle write up! I like the inclusion of the pic of the rolls for this battle and look forward to your thoughts on streamlining it in the future.
All those rolls show your dedication hahah. Great write up on the battle.