This is the second instalment of our
Nibelungen campaign using Rattrap’s
Broadsword Adventures – for the first part
click here.
After his narrow success at the Rhine, Giffo is taken into Siegfried’s service. Thus he accompanies his master to Worms, capital of the kingdom of Burgundy, where Siegfried wants to woo princess Kriemhild, King Gunther’s beautiful sister. No one knows: Is it for love or does Siegfried try to seize the crown? Consequently Gaidemar, still holding a grudge against his rival Giffo, joins the allegiance of Hagen, prince Siegfried’s saturnine contender at the Burgundian court.
Intrigues unfold, and perhaps to distract from these conflicts, in early summer 430 AD, King Gunther embattles for a major raid into the Roman province of Belgica I. [
Historical note: In fact a certain Gundahar, leader of the Burgundians, repeatedly raided Roman territory in the 430’s and eventually provoked a counterstrike annihilating his tribe.]
However, the province’s governor tries to trap the Burgundian army as he withdraws and concentrates his own forces for a massive counterattack. Far off the main lines, Giffo and Gaidemar are the first to encounter a Roman vanguard. They must hold out and kill as many enemies in order to conceal their army’s position until the main body arrives. Here’s glory to gain – and whoever performs best will take the prize.
[
Player’s note: Each player controls his heroes’ party and a body of enemy troops randomly joining the battle. Each enemy killed or taken prisoner is worth his Grade in points. There are no encounters only event cards.]
The calm before the storm: To the local peasantry’s delight the Burgundians have no time to loose by pillaging and plundering their farmstead. Hopefully the governor will save the day!
To the west of the farm Giffo and his henchmen Amalrich (green shield) and Hadubrandt don’t want to do things by halves and immediately engage an advanced Roman patrol.
On the eastern side Gaidemar, followed by Gundrhaban (helmeted) and Hiuto, decides to hold position so that reinforcements could be easily brought up to combat.
In the meantime, Giffo challenges the patrol’s leader. Both deal out heavy blows, but there’s no gap in each one’s defence. Hadubrandt and Amalrich don’t perform any better, so the brawl remains indecisive.
The situation worsens as Roman reinforcements enter the scene on Giffo’s side. And, by Odin, they also have archers! As one would expect from those cowards, they fire into the mêlée, willingly endangering their leader’s live. That gives an asterisk, guys…
Gaidemar is doing better: His liege sends Allowin and Ragnfrid for aid. The latter still has to pick a bone with those Romans…
On the other side the mêlée grows to a full-scale combat. Hadubrandt makes mincemeat of his opponent only to be engaged by a trooper of the second wave. Merunas (brown cloak) joins the fighting – he introduces himself by throwing his spear from a distance and goring an enemy, right through his shield. Full marks!
Finally Gaidemar’s men overwhelm and grind their enemies immediately (apart from Gaidemar himself). Unfortunately, poor Hiuto gets caught by a Roman gladius as well and drops out – so much the worse as Roman reinforcements are on their way.
The tide is turning for Giffo. His side is now at superior numbers and finally fells the Roman leader. Enemy morale crumbles, although another Roman top banana enters the stage. But it’s too late; Giffo and his men are now in a state of bloodthirstiness, cutting their opponents down where they stand. The survivors turn in horror, and…
The following scene is missing, due to a striking finale which made us forget about taking pictures.
In short: Gaidemar’s last reserves arrive late, whereas on his side more and more Romans are rushing in. The odds are against him and his men have to fall back to avoid further casualties. Giffo saves the day by a daring chase, rolling up the Romans, until Siegfried and Hagen finally come up with the main army [
driven by a series of event cards].
Scenario’s outcome:
We call this one a clear victory for Giffo with four enemy henchmen and one leader taken out of action against Gaidemar’s fiddling two Roman soldiers.
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April 26, 2024, 08:42:50 PM
November 13, 2008, 02:41:33 PM