Tales from Aumera

[Spinal Tap]

After a number of false starts last year where I was unhappy with the world and/or mechanics I finally got things to work how I wanted them in the past few months.

I've created my continent, Aumera, split into 4 countries, of which my parties are currently adventuring in Alban. I have diaried  all their adventures in a journal to date but am now happy to commit to posting AAR's without fear of the whole project collapsing.

Ruleset is predominantly Sellswords and Spellslingers with bits bolted (or even gaffer taped) on.



Aumera:



20240821_165712 by markndebs, on Flickr


Alban:


20240927_120601 by markndebs, on Flickr


20250415_142002 by markndebs, on Flickr




I'm using the random procedurally rules for the world as detailed in this thread-

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=148368.0


Apologies to those who have seen these miniatures in another thread of mine.


Currently my warband consists of L to R:

20240522_174238 by markndebs, on Flickr


Taran Drust – Powerful and quick to anger, Taran has worked as a guard on the merchant caravans and baggage trails across Aumera.

Not very talkative at the best of times he is a dour companion yet respected and liked by those he works for and with.


Logan Roe -  A merchant and adventurer, employer of Taran and Mostyn.

 Roe not only carries his own goods for sale but will transport for others, either selling their wares for a commission or simply delivering them as contracted.

However, his preference is adventuring jobs as they offer not only better reward but more excitement.


Mostyn Non – Mostyn is from an affluent and well educated background. His father was a rich merchant and his mother an accomplished Talker able to improve the fertility of land and encourage crops to grow both speedily and fruitfully.

When his parents were murdered traveling to Lindisfarna Mostyn was only 10 years old and he was raised by the family’s loyal housekeeper, Mared Drust.

As Mostyn grew he wanted nothing more than to hunt down his parent’s killers and would have set off alone, with few skills, into the wilds.

Mared, fearful of Mostyn’s fate, persuaded her younger brother, Taran, to take him under his wing, teach him the necessary skills and protect him until he was proficient.


Dorganna Verlin – daughter of a farmer, Dorganna is skilled in growing things, raising stock and some healing arts with herbs. She is also an exceptionally good shot with her bow and also excels at hand to hand fighting; much to the surprise of many a young man.

Despite her prowess in farming and healing her greatest desire is to travel the world, seeking fortune where she can.

The farm will, once her father cannot manage any longer, pass to her brother, Deson, so, reluctantly, he has given her leave to approach an adventuring company.


Amphis Baena – Works as a hunter, messenger and, occasionally, bodyguard. He is fleet of foot with his equine legs and would be even quicker if one wasn’t fore and the other hind.

He has two heads, one snake and the other gnomic in appearance, who bicker and argue constantly but still work together extremely well when the situation requires.



As well as:


Maelgwn Hawkfoot – for many years Maelgwn worked the mines to the Northern edge of the Bleakmoor before realising his skills as a Talker.

He eventually gave up the toil of mining to work as a travelling adventurer specialising in clearing out undesirable creatures and beasts, whether mortal or magical.


20240522_174005 by markndebs, on Flickr


Lain- A maturing Mongrelman who met with Maelgwn a few years previous and has worked with him since. He is deceptively quick, handy with his Glaive and can pull into his armoured shell quickly to avoid harm.


20240522_174046 by markndebs, on Flickr



The party finds itself at the city of Umber, the capitol of Alban, set on the East coast, after nearly a half season of travel, again seeking employment and quests.



Local Map of the area (again created as per my worldbuilding rules - https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=148368.0



20250415_141505 by markndebs, on Flickr



After scouring the city they are offered a job clearing a witch from the High Tower of Umber, aid a village to the North with a Swampfolk problem and transporting a wealthy merchant to the City of Tyr.

Maelgwn, always eager to help those in need, chose to aid the village; Logan convinced him they should take the merchant to Tyr as the village of Little Spyte was on route.

Setting out on the 27th day of Lesser Aweaxe they arrived at the town of Helgrym 2 days later; they were offered 2 quests in Helgrym but decided not to pursue them at this time - they have promised to reconsider the tasks when they next pass through the town.

Another three days of uninterupted travel find them approaching the outskirts of Little Spyte, and hearing yells and screams from the village.

Quickly hiding the merchant and his cart they prepare to enter the village and deal with the attacking Swampfolk.



AAR to follow.

[snitcythedog]

I completely forgot about your mongrel men!  They are still lovely to behold. 

[Padrissimus]

Fascinating stuff. I wish I had invented my own world for our campaign. I used to do so, in the 80s, and should have stuck with it!

Excuse my ignorance, but 'AAR' means ??

[anevilgiraffe]

Excuse my ignorance, but 'AAR' means ??

After Action Report I think - it's battle reports is how I've always taken it.

[mikedemana]

Those are some really cool miniatures! I look forward to reading about their adventures. What is your system for them being offered quests and jobs? Do you make it up based on what seems most likely, or do you have a system of rolling (kind of like Five Leagues from the Borderlands)?

More SS&SS AARs -- woo-hoo! Tossing in more abbreviations than the DOD! 

Mike Demana

[Spinal Tap]

After Action Report I think - it's battle reports is how I've always taken it.

Yes, just a battle report really.

[Spinal Tap]

Those are some really cool miniatures! I look forward to reading about their adventures. What is your system for them being offered quests and jobs? Do you make it up based on what seems most likely, or do you have a system of rolling (kind of like Five Leagues from the Borderlands)?

More SS&SS AARs -- woo-hoo! Tossing in more abbreviations than the DOD! 

Mike Demana

Thanks Mike.

I use a homebred system for where the party travels and the quests they are offered and accepted.

It seems a bit convoluted but is actually simple, and fun, to use.

Means my solo games are as random as possible, makes narrative really interesting.

I explain the system on this thread:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=148368.0

[Frugalmax]

Awesome work! Love those mashed-up minis. And maps. Maps are so fun. I had a bit of a breakthrough with maps a while back in our campaign when I realized maps didn't have to be accurate- for us the maps are "in world" so can be full of inaccuracies. This was quite liberating!

Looking forward to seeing more!

[Padrissimus]

The 'actual' map, the accurate map, for our campaign is seen by the GM, covered in coloured pins. The players have an accurate map of their own realm and the surroundings, a general 'game' map of elsewhere and an 'in world' version. As rulers, generals (etc) if the PCs ask for more information, then their clerks/servants/officers will found out more, although that is an 'in world' exercise and so is not guaranteed to be fully authentic.

[Spinal Tap]

The 'actual' map, the accurate map, for our campaign is seen by the GM, covered in coloured pins. The players have an accurate map of their own realm and the surroundings, a general 'game' map of elsewhere and an 'in world' version. As rulers, generals (etc) if the PCs ask for more information, then their clerks/servants/officers will found out more, although that is an 'in world' exercise and so is not gauranteed to to fully authentic.

Your worldbuilding is on another level and is part of why went looking on how to do a little of it myself.

[Spinal Tap]

Little Spyte


20250418_141045 by markndebs, on Flickr


20250415_142120 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250421_134216 by markndebs, on Flickr




As the screaming of the villagers intensifies Maelgwn and Logan’s crews enter from the Eastern side of the village, close to a raised house defended by three archers.

They also become aware of numerous Silures (Swampmen) running into the village from all sides, some obviously Talkers, as they too have Fenbeasts of the lesser sort Silures can summon.

An archer yells that they will hold the building while the Mongrelfolk move forward and save as many villagers as possibly, guiding or ordering them to the safehouse.


20250418_141053 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_142630 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_143353 by markndebs, on Flickr




Maelgwn summons a tall Fenbeast and orders it to advance on a nearby Silures warrior which falls to the first blow delivered. As that Silures falls Dorganna advances, nocking an arrow and killing another.

Lain does not follow Dorganna but starts to move towards the village centre then gasps as even more Swampfolk enter the village from all sides.


As all the foes act in unison, advancing and attacking, Logan, Taran and Mostyn start towards them and the villagers. Amphis fires an aimed shot and kills a Silures dangerously close to one of the villagers. Flushed with success he makes a hurried shot, merely resulting in his bowstring snapping; fortunately he is carrying spares and will be able to restring it when he gets a moment.

Whilst the sound of the snap still reverberates in the air a Fenbeast rushes Maelgwn from behind and inflicts a wound. Two others, already summoned rush into two villagers, snarling and biting. Surprisingly, these villagers are fairly tough and fight back, each delivering a wound to their attackers.

The village archers are unable to get a shot off and move to a slightly more favourable position while Maelgwn’s Fenbeast moves to aid it’s master.


20250418_141411 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_141513 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_143339 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_144237 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_145408 by markndebs, on Flickr




Maelgwn commands his Fenbeast to attack and it swiftly destroys the lesser beast of the Silures, allowing Maelgwn to move towards the villagers. Dorganna is of a similar mind and despatches two Silures before moving towards a stranded villager, Lain merely moves forwards as the mana fields intensify (+2) and an Ogre enters from the North.

Logan and Taran advance slowly, Logan attracting an ambusher who is dealt with swiftly. The two Silures Fenbeasts to the South West both attack the villages again and,  miracle of miracles, the villagers slay them both.

Amphis declines to repair his bow as he sees a chance to run a great distance to aid a villager, giving them instructions to head towards the raised house.

Mostyn also move forward, engages a villager and shout for them to move to the house.

While the village archers cause two wounds to the encroaching Ogre, Maelgwn’s Fenbeast moves to intercept it and the two villagers follow their commands and move towards safety.

20250418_144945 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_145730 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_150700 by markndebs, on Flickr




The battle rages on between Fenbeast and Ogre as Maelgwn cautiously advances, with Dorganna running towards another villager. Lain, seeing that Amphis is exposed and has still not restrung his bow, moves around the chicken hut to cover him.


Mostyn moves into contact with two panicking villages and orders them to start moving towards the stronghold as all the foes attack in unison, a Fenbeast attacking Amphis is killed despite inflicting a wound on him. Two hordes of Silures attack other fleeing villagers, again the villagers surprise both their attackers and the party by killing two each. Taran and Logan take up station on the route to the stronghold to defend villagers as they move by.

The Ogre is finally felled by the roaring Fenbeast as a Swampman kills a villager. He, in turn, is shot by the village archers along with another three of his kind, and four villagers run towards the safehouse.

At this point the village is clear of enemy Fenbeasts and the Silures number only four; their morale is now so low that they flee the field.






20250418_151800 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_142635 by markndebs, on Flickr

2025-04-19_07-03-14 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_152452 by markndebs, on Flickr

20250418_151635 by markndebs, on Flickr



Despite being a short battle, and the majority of killing being done by the villagers,  the village elder thanks the party and offers them a healing scroll worth 50 Silver in reward. They are also offered bed and board for the night allowing them to recover from their minor wounds before continuing on.

Mostyn runs to find the merchant, still hidden on the outskirts of town and returns shortly with him and his cart.

[Burgundavia]

That is a fun reskinning of Last Stand at Mistham and a lovely table. I do like the swamp things.

[mikedemana]

Those miniatures are amazing! I love the world you've created...

Mike Demana

[Little Odo]

Those miniatures are amazing! I love the world you've created...

Mike Demana

Agreed - you have created a fabulous world here. I know you mentioned elsewhere that some of the minis are your own work, but where do the Silures/swampmen and giant four-legged skeleton beasts come from?

[Spinal Tap]

Thank you all for the comments.

Agreed - you have created a fabulous world here. I know you mentioned elsewhere that some of the minis are your own work, but where do the Silures/swampmen and giant four-legged skeleton beasts come from?

The Silures are Games Workshop Hobgrots whilst the skeleton beasts were converted from some cheap plastic toys.

20230321_122222 by markndebs, on Flickr


Also the large Fenbeast was also sculpted by me onto cheap ogre miniatures.

20231110_105646 by markndebs, on Flickr

20231113_083730 by markndebs, on Flickr



If you get bored then I have a long thread on here detailing all my work from late 2022 except my Wizards Mobile Home which is currently viewable in the Build Something Comp alongside some spectacular pieces from many LAF regulars.

Link to my Workbench thread: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=139036.0