*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 11:03:39 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Donate

We Appreciate Your Support

Recent

Author Topic: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them  (Read 6965 times)

Offline Patrice

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1769
  • Breizh / Brittany
    • "Argad!"
[Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« on: April 30, 2017, 07:25:53 PM »
On 8-9 Avril we ran a two-days game in a miniature models convention in Séné (near Vannes, southern Brittany) on an "arthurian" theme. Some of the player characters had already appeared in previous games (as PCs or NPCs). The most recent game in this campaign was: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=89551.msg1105616#msg1105616

First day

In the late 5th century, somewhere in the north of Britain…

This village is between the lands of Sub-Roman British (romanised Britons) and the lands of the Picts. It is considered neutral; the villagers trade wine from Gaul brought from the south (by Drustan's clan) for the Pictish famous dairy sheep products and wool cloth.



South of a small river, another village which belonged to Marwena a Sub-Roman British lady. This village fell under control of Grima an Treitour, a Sub-Roman British chief of bad reputation, in a previous game. This displeased to Owain, another Sub-Roman British chief who is a friend of Marwena. Owain himself was not playing this week-end but Drustan one of his followers was present with his warriors.



In the north, the fortress of Nectan mac Uirp a Pictish petty king.









Nectan mac Uirp had news that his brother Talorc mac Uirp, with whom he was in very bad terms, has recently been killed by Scot (Irish) pirates who are now installed not far away.

The whole table! (um, but the castle in the desert in the background belongs to another game…)



Drustan's main concern is to protect the trade route with the north; and, if possible, he would like to retake control of the southern village on behalf of Lady Marwena (to please his chief Owain).



Maun, a British monk, has built a monastery on the coast. He wants to evangelize the Picts, beginning with the village between Christian lands and the Pagans. He knows that the British clans will support him if he can make peace between them.



Grima is already planning to expand his power north of the river and to control the trade route. He says it's only to protect the monks.



Lady Marwena, deprived of her domains, lives in the border village with her son Gueltaz who has married Gweninn the daughter of the Pictish chief. She is worried because the young couple still have no children; she goes with them for advice to an old female healer who lives in a wood.


Offline Patrice

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1769
  • Breizh / Brittany
    • "Argad!"
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2017, 07:26:20 PM »
Two Picts bring trade goods from their fortress to the village:



Life in this lovely countryside would be very nice …without two unexpected invaders!

Eogan mac Fintain, a Scot (Irish) chieftain who acquired some boggy lands in a previous game when he defeated Talorc mac Uirp (brother of Nectan mac Uirp the Pictish chief). However the lands near the border village seem more fertile and not well defended; and his men are complaining about the lack of women. He also heard of a monastery near the coast, he knows that Christian priests often have golden artifacts.

Scot-Irish pony riders and skirmishers come soon near the village; but Eogan hesitates a long time before bringing his main force to attack the inhabitants (he wants to understand first what the other chiefs are doing – and that's not easy).



Edwin and his troop of Angles enter the valley from the south-east, looking for adventure, for gold, and for lands to conquer if the British clans stay divided. Most Angle warriors are on foot, a few are mounted (but not well trained to fight on horseback). They pass near a pond where an old carved statue stands; they decide to to ignore the idol, but they catch and kill two British bowmen who were patrolling the area.



Some time later the Pictish druid comes to pray the Goddess of Water. The Pictish chief, Nectan, is under a magical obligation to protect the sacred springs: if he fails the wine he drinks will for ever turn to vinegar and his mead will taste like piss.



In his travel the druid visits the village healer, an old woman in the forest. They are good friends since a very long time and when they meet they have important and secret magical matters to talk about.



 Three little red hearts above the forest probably mean a three-game-turns blessing of the ancient gods.



The two Sub-Roman British chieftains are watching each other. Drustan manages to convince Grima to cross the wooden bridge first with all his troop. Then he places his own troop on the bridge and tells Grima there is no way back.



After short clashes with Irish-Scot scouts near the monastery, Edwin see monks walking in the plain undefended. The monks let the Angles come towards them. The Angles capture the monks and push them before their first rank as human shields towards Grima's men.



A cloaked man in Grima's troop moves his hands and a wall of fog appears around the monks, who try to run away from the Angles (some very limited "legendary magic" was authorized in the game, only once per magic-user each day). The Angles kill some of the monks, others can escape.

The Angles then go to the monastery to pillage it. They don't find much, it's only a very modest monastery. Edwin says that religious architectural names are too complicated, he believed it could be a rich cathedral or something. lol

Grima attacks the Angles at the monastery, thinking that Drustan would come too. But Drustan doesn't want to help him! Grima fights a duel with Edwin, and is killed. Edwin cuts his head and is happy to embellish the monastery with ...a player's head display.



Unexpected events also happen elsewhere.

The Scots-Irish attack the village, defended by its inhabitants and by Pictish warriors led by Nectan mac Uirp who comes hastily from his fortress. The Scots-Irish are cautious and move very slowly, waiting for an opening which happens when Nectan and his pony cavalry boldly pass too close of the few Scots-Irish bowmen and lose some men. The Picts must retreat; the Scots-Irish enter the village. The inhabitants run into the houses, but the Scots-Irish threaten to burn the houses if they are not given money and women. The inhabitants try to gain time; they give trade goods, but it's not enough; then some money; and later, female slaves.

Gueltaz and Gweninn (NPCs played by "Marwena" player, Gueltaz's mother) had been told by the healer that to have children they must go to pray the idol at the pond; they do it; and also that they should rub themselves to a standing stone on the moor in the north. As they walk on the northern moor with only two guards, a small group of mounted Picts (but not Nectan's men) arrive and surround them. They tell Gueltaz and Gweninn to follow them. One of Nectan's men, who was passing by, wants to interfere. The mounted Picts tell him that they belong to Bran mac Taloirc the son of Talorc mac Uirp (late brother of Nectan mac Uirp) and that he must tell Nectan that Gueltaz and Gweninn are now his prisoners, because the clan of Bran needs land to live on, so they will be released only if Nectan gives his fortress to Bran (who thinks his father Talorc should have inherited it) or if he helps Bran to take the broch from the Scots-Irish.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2017, 10:47:03 PM by Patrice »

Offline Patrice

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1769
  • Breizh / Brittany
    • "Argad!"
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2017, 07:26:55 PM »
Second day (late morning)

The terrain has shifted to the north. The two villages are no more there. The Pictish fort is still on the table, but we now see lands north of it, and the old broch occupied by the Scots-Irish since a previous game.



Edwin the Angle had lost many men the previous day. He receives some reinforcement and he decides to attack boldly the Pictish fortress. The Picts try to talk with him, but he would not listen:





Bran mac Taloirc wants to take the broch occupied by the Scots-Irish:



The Scots-Irish are ready to defend it (and they want to keep the booty and slaves they had taken in the village).



The Angles fail to take the Pictish fortress, they pass the first walls but they are repelled with heavy losses. They have underestimated the Pictish hunting crossbows, not effective on a large battlefield but deadly at very short range in the narrow passages. Many Pictish warriors (male and female) have also been killed. The old druid died too – he was cornered near a low wall and he preferred to throw himself on the rocks far below.



The Pictish chief, Nectan mac Uirp, had just rode out of the fortress with a few men on ponies when the attack began, on his way to meet his nephew Bran mac Taloirc (who had taken his daughter and his son-in-law as hostages). Seeing the attack from a distance he rides back for flank actions, beats the Angle mounted warriors, but falls – almost dead. The retreating Angles take his body; a short time later they negociate with Drustan and Marwena for a truce between Britons and Angles, and they give them the unconscious body of the Pictish chief. A healing test is only half-successful: Nectan is not dead but he has a severe head wound, he lost an eye and he seems out of his mind.

Later in the day


The only Pictish noble remaining in the fortress goes to meet Bran and asks him to release Gweninn and Gueltaz. So many men died fighting the Angles that he can only lend him one single warrior to fight the Scots-Irish as he asked! After some thought, Bran (apparently not so wicked as his father was) releases his prisoners.

Bran mac Taloirc is still fighting the Scots-Irish on the outer walls of the broch. Edwin's Angles (with new reinforcements again…) appear in the valley. Drustan's Britons take position on the other hill.



The Scots-Irish see all these enemies coming from different sides; after some more fighting, they decide to leave the place. They return to the sea, taking their booty and captured women with them. They say they will come back in greater numbers.



The Angles enter the broch and decide to stay. Drustan has no objection, he has no real interest there (he had already reached his goals on the first day, now he just supports the interests of Marwena to strengthen his position).

Drustan
, Lady Marwena, and Nectan mac Uirp enter the Pictish fortress. Gweninn and her husband join them with joy.

Sadly, they see that Nectan mac Uirp is half-mad. The council of the Pictish clan decides that his daughter Gweninn will be their new chief, and offers to Bran mac Taloirc and his followers to live with them if they accept her as chief (after all it was the same clan before the two brothers, Nectan and Talorc, disagreed). Both groups have lost many warriors and the clan must be reunited if they all want to survive. Bran agrees.


There were 7 players (and a GM/referee taking the picture):


"Drustan map Fergus"; "Maun the monk" on Saturday / "Bran mac Taloirc" on Sunday; "Grima an Treitour"; "Edwin of Anglia"; "Nectan mac Uirp"; "Eogan mac Fintain"; "Lady Marwena".

Local journalists are often attracted by our gaming table!

« Last Edit: April 30, 2017, 10:45:40 PM by Patrice »

Offline Phil Robinson

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3469
    • http://newsfromthefront-phil.blogspot.com/
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2017, 07:34:48 PM »
Wonderful stuff and a fine narrative, I particularly like your hill fort.

Offline cram

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 943
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2017, 07:50:09 PM »
Great stuff!! I really like the hillfort as well. scratch built I assume!

Offline OSHIROmodels

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 27708
  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2017, 08:34:29 PM »
Cracking work and I'll echo the sentiments on the hill fort, very effective  :)

cheers

James
cheers

James

https://www.oshiromodels.co.uk/

Twitter account -     @OSHIROmodels
Instagram account - oshiromodels

http://redplanetminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/
http://jimbibblyblog.blogspot.com/

Offline Duke Donald

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1000
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2017, 09:13:51 PM »
Amazing! A fantastic read.

Offline Captain Blood

  • Global Moderator
  • Elder God
  • Posts: 19308
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2017, 09:20:40 PM »
Superb Patrice. Lovely buildings and a great read too. I have to get a hillfort now What a great model.
James - ever made a hillfort?  :D

Offline Jacksarge

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 350
    • Jacksarge Painting
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2017, 12:08:54 AM »
Wow!  :-* Amazing looking game, well done indeed.

Offline Hu Rhu

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • *
  • Posts: 3408
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2017, 08:06:25 AM »
Brilliant looking table. Thanks for sharing.

Offline bong-67

  • Librarian
  • Posts: 143
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2017, 08:58:40 AM »
Simply superb!  Great looking figures and terrain.  I love the hill fort and the broch.  I've been to Dunadd and your hill fort looks quite like the painting of how it might have looked which is on the site.  The battle report was really entertaining as well and very inspiring.  After reading it I have to game with my Arthurian collection again!

Offline Romark

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Galactic Brain
  • *
  • Posts: 4473
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2017, 09:43:31 AM »
Lovely,especially like the extras,the idol,the witch and the sheep flock  :)


Offline Ragnar

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Mastermind
  • *
  • Posts: 1352
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2017, 10:09:44 AM »
Excellent stuff!
Gods, monsters and men,
Will die together in the end.

Offline Barry S

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Mad Scientist
  • *
  • Posts: 905
    • http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/LeadBear/
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2017, 01:12:55 AM »
Wonderful stuff! Thanks for posting this  :D

 
Barry

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/LeadBear/

Offline levied troop

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1451
Re: [Argad arthurian AAR] A Village between them
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2017, 05:09:10 AM »
Inspiring looking game and fantastic scenario- top marks!
The League of Gentlemen Anti Alchemists
(We Turn Gold into Lead)

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
10 Replies
8372 Views
Last post July 08, 2015, 01:12:30 PM
by Atheling
22 Replies
6790 Views
Last post October 01, 2022, 09:52:10 PM
by Patrice
9 Replies
3020 Views
Last post November 27, 2015, 12:52:16 PM
by FAB
16 Replies
5343 Views
Last post April 20, 2016, 03:27:19 PM
by Rob_bresnen
17 Replies
2717 Views
Last post August 05, 2017, 04:11:32 PM
by GamesPoet