Author: SwordAndSorceryRPG

Battle of Turlin

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The men of North Gautria gathered outside the town of Turlin to meet the massed forces from the League of Nil-ith Horn.

For this battle, my husband did double duty as referee and bad guy. He joined the League’s side and played the Grunevaldians with their elite heavy cavalry, a unit of elite heavy infantry Gautrian Guardsmen, and a unit of orc heavy infantry. His compatriots kept their armies from their earlier encounters of the event; Graf Stukkin with his three units of heavy orc infantry, and Alarun with two units of heavy and one medium infantry. Each had two urog heroes as well.

Turlin_101Bleddyn and I shared command of the North Gautrian army. Bleddyn took the King’s elite cavalry and elite heavy infantry, a unit of light infantry, and a unit of light ulfhednar. I played 3 units of heavy cavalry, and one heavy and one light infantry.

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The League of Nil-ith Horn carefully plotted their strategy, while Jarl Kvig provided a morale boost to the Gautrians.

 

On the hilltop against the forest wall, Jarl Skalla Grimmson’s light bondi eagerly closed with the League of Nil-ith Horn heavy infantry elite Gautrian Guardsmen.

The bondi took high casualties and routed in the first combat round, which allowed the Gautrian Guardsmen to rush forward and pin Skalla’s cavalry in the next round. Adjacent to them, the two heavy infantry units of blue and green clash.

Poor rolling prevented the cavalry from taking down many orcs, while the League of Nil-ith Horn forces were able to rout a second unit of Gautrian infantry, also in the first round.

turlin_013Gautrians fell on the field at every combat roll. King Gorm himself was lost to an urog’s sword. It seemed the gods were not with the Gautrians this day.

turlin_015Jarl Skalla’s heavy troops battled on, but the last orc units were closing on them.

With the odds overwhelmingly against him, Jarl Skalla took his cavalry and fled south to his keep in Jarlin. By days end the League of Nil-ith Horn army had won a decisive victory at Turlin and were later able to establish a winter camp and beachhead on the coast at Larbro.

Kingdom Under SiegeKingdom Under Siege

Skirmish on the Northern Plains

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Plains_Battle_Map Some of the League of Nil-ith Horn troops crossed over the mouth of the Torgova river and marched overland in an attempt to link up with the landing parties. King Gorm’s outriders caught one such band as the orcs left the cover of the forest. Plains_Skirmish_02_003 Our second Fantasy Warriors battle of the day (now turned to evening) saw Bleddyn command the riders, supported by a unit of heavy  infantry, and a unit of ulfhednar: light infantry with fast movement.

Graf Stukkin led the Nil-ith Horn orcs with their own heavy unit, 2 units of Vangen orc heavy infantry and 2 urog heroes. Plains_Skirmish_02_004Bleddyn brought his ulfhednar across the field and through the trees, and engaged the League of Nil-ith Horn unit. Plains_Skirmish_02_006The urogs attacked the horsemen, while the battle leader Graf Stukkin joined with the heavy infantry of valdgraf and continued to close with the humans. Plains_Skirmish_02_005The fighting was fierce and bloody, as the valdgraf heavy infantry joined the 2 urogs in their slaughter of the cavalry.

Bleddyn’s ulfhednar routed the League orc unit and sprinted to attack the remaining orcs. Blows were dealt back and forth.

Only the orc leader and the human bannnerman remained. They each got a saving throw. Plains_Skirmish_02_012The bloodbath came down to the last dice roll. Would anyone walk away from this battlefield? Plains_Skirmish_02_014The lone bannerman would! Bleddyn made his save and assured the people of North Gautria would be safe from these wretched orcs. Plains_Skirmish_02_015

Kingdom Under SiegeKingdom Under Siege

Raid on Larbro

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The first scenario featured our daughter as battle leader of the human village Larbro defending her people against the raiding orcs. She had to get a unit of women and children away from the sod huts, across the coast and into the woods.

Alarun rowed his forces in to quickly close with the warriors and attempt to capture the women.

This battle was to resolve what happened here in North Gautria while main characters were elsewhere on the map, and answer the age-old gaming question, “If a village is sacked and no player-character is there to witness it, does it really burn?”Larbro_Raid_01_002_4x6

Our daughter was an extremely good sport, as this was not a “fair” fight. She had 3 units of light infantry for the defense of Larbro and needed to hold for about 10 rounds to allow her civilians to escape. The orcs’ 3 units wore heavy armor and were outfitted for raiding, but one unit had to remain with the boats.

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The orcs also had 2 urog heroes to Meav’s one bondi leader, who seemed a bit overwhelmed with his command.

Larbro_Raid_01_008She sent 2 units to the beach and kept her best unit back to screen the women and children, unwittingly leaving her battle leader unprotected after he issued the orders. (Mom’s bad! It was our daughter’s first Fantasy Warriors battle.)

Larbro_Raid_01_012The orcs disembarked while the urogs sprinted ahead to attack the human’s leader.

Larbro_Raid_01_011Alarun told my daughter all the bad things that would happen to that leader if she lost initiative next round.

Larbro_Raid_01_013And our youngest rolled lucky!

Larbro_Raid_01_014Meav moved her second bondi unit to intercept the charging urogs.

Larbro_Raid_01_015Her first unit engaged with the Nil-ith Horn (green & black) orcs took heavy losses and was destroyed. The veteran bondi stepped forward to confront the Valdgraf (red & black) unit and their ugly two-handed weapons, but the unruly Great Northern (brown) berserk orcs crashed through their line from behind, eager to fight the humans.

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The women continued their fearful trek as the Nil-ith Horn soldiers marched on them. The human bondi and their battle leader fought the urogs with valor.

Larbro_Raid_01_017The bondi veterans faced an onslaught.

Larbro_Raid_01_018They slew many.

Larbro_Raid_01_019But the humans were overwhelmed, as both her remaining units routed.

Larbro_Raid_01_020The League of Nil-ith Horn orc forces secured plunder and a beachhead due to the success of the Raid on Larbro.

Kingdom Under SiegeKingdom Under Siege

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #42- King of the Bonders

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After the bonders had their voices heard in declaration for Kvig as king, many a man boasted of Kvig’s glorious battle deeds. Eventually, Kvig retired to the large tent with Halvdan, Roth, and a few of the other important bondi when word was brought of betrayal: a small group of the bonders from King Magnus’ clan were looking to make away in the night to warn the King of Kvig’s “treason”.

Wynston and Bleddyn quickly arrived behind the tent of the treacherous bonders to find several packing their belongings. Halvdan and Kvig approached from the front and accused Steinvar of Aremark. He spoke for the bonders from the King’s clan and admitted their plans, but no wrongdoing. He argued they were within their rights to leave out of duty to the true king. While he confronted Kvig, two of his men tried to slip out of the tent and into the stormy night. One evaded Wynston but Bleddyn captured, interrogated and slew the other.

With 10 traitorous bonders in his custody, Kvig and the bonders from Kvig’s fief of Strek returned to that village.

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There was, as always, a warm welcome for Kvig from the adoring peasants of Strek. His wife-in-Strek was especially happy for him to see his young daughter.

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As the village feasted, orc deserters from the Untak division of Valden’s army (Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40) sprung an attack.

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Kvig and his companions handily defended Strek from the unorganized orcs, and continued the celebrations.

The bonders were eager to fight for Kvig, but next year, after the planting. Kvig seemed content to winter with them, however Wynston argued they needed to garner support now, while their victory at Skarken River was on everyone’s minds.

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Wynston knew the jarls north over the lake would likely not give their loyalties to Kvig, but Kvig could still gain political prestige and military advantage if he had the support of Timlin’s many Kildarian knights who had fought under his banner at Skarken River. Wynston went to speak with the powerful Kildarian barons of Timlin, reminding them how Kvig kept the orcs out of their lands, and convincing the barons to come to Kvig in his hall at Strek.

First came Baron Vulmar, lord of Rathus and Herstal, leader of 50 Kildarian knights; he was bought with silver and the promise of the Barony of Timlin when the war was won.

The next baron Kvig courted was Austerchild Conley.

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Austerchild felt Kvig’s choice of Vulmar for Baron of Timlin was foolish, but he would support Kvig if Kvig would marry Austerchild’s sister, Etterna.

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Kvig declinced the proposition, but countered that he would find Etterna a Kildarian husband of proper station, say Vulmar, the future Baron of Timlin? Austerchild agreed and threw in with Kvig.

Unfortunately for Kvig, his eldest brother Hegg, the current jarl of Timlin, was not consulted on whether he would give up Timlin once all of Gautria was united under King Kvig’s banner! In fact, Hegg thought it was folly to challenge King Magnus. Once Hegg’s spies told him of the meetings going on at Strek, he began to fear for himself. On Hegg’s orders, Reinhard rode on Strek with 30 knights and escorted Kvig back to Timlin.

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There Jarl Hegg berated Kvig for his ambitions and promised to deliver him up to King Magnus as a wedding present. Hegg demanded Kvig surrender his keen Thuringian warsword.

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After handing over his heirloom sword, Kvig was unceremoniously dumped in the dungeon. That night, Wynston and Bleddyn came on 3 fast horses to the keep at Timlin.

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Wynston infiltrated Hegg’s chambers undetected.

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However, Bleddyn was discovered in the courtyard. Bleddyn surrendered, unwilling to shed the blood of those men who had fought Valden’s orc forces with him.

Wynston slipped away into the dark, leaving her jarl Kvig and his champion Bleddyn together in the dungeons of Timlin’s keep.

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #43- Fit for a King>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #41- The Crows of Skarken

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #41- The Crows of Skarken

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The dead from the Battle of Skarken River (SGK#40) were not so many as at first feared. The greivously wounded were tended with hemus healing potions, and slowly recovered. Those on their feet set about to looting and burning the orc corpses. Under the direction of their commanders, the more disciplined troops gathered the goods together to be split according to custom. While Kvig Melgarson and the other jarls made plans to break the army for the winter, the bonders demanded their immediate release and payment equal to that of the thanes.

Jarl Kvig came to the commotion and found in favor of the bonders, delivering a full share to those lowly troops and angering some amongst the thanes. Kvig then lead his victorious forces across the river and back to Timlin Town for the feasting!

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There were many with favors to ask of the champion Bleddyn after the battle.

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One of those who came to Bleddyn’s inn was the giant bonder Halvdan, who told Bleddyn of the Bonders’ Thing. Halvdan sought Bleddyn’s word he would get Jarl Kvig to attend.

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The Thing was held at Alnar, the site of Kvig’s first victory over the orcs. Bonders from all clans were present, those from the lands of Timlin as well as those from across the lake. Kvig and his companions came disguised through the camp, and listened to Halvdan call for a king who would not run scared from the orcs, as King Magnus had intended for their armies to do. “The clans of Gautria need a king who will keep the orcs from invading the lands of men,” roared Halvdan. “A king who can lead us in triumphant battle against the orcs. We have such a man who should be our king. The man who defeated Valden the Ruthless at the Battle of Skarken River. The man who has fought to keep our homes safe: Kvig Melgarson!”

With the bonders in a frenzy, Kvig revealed himself. The chants of “King Kvig” began from the crowd, and Kvig felt the full might of the bonders surround him.
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Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #42- King of the Bonders>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River Conclusion

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River Conclusion

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After the Gautrian champion Bleddyn Yorath defeated the urog Untak in single combat, our Jarl Kvig was quite enthused, and rallied his men.
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The orcs deployed to meet our forces along the hill. The stalwart League of Nil-ith Horn orc heavy infantry were lined to the left, and the tribal orcs and urogs in front of Valden to our right.
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The Kildarian Knights lead the charge and thunder towards the line.
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The Gautrian infantry follows close on the horses hooves.
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At the last moment, the cavalry shifts to the center, revealing the imposing spears and heavy armor of the Kildarian infantry.
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On our right flank, the light infantry hidden in the forest crashes into a unit of wild orcs.
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The cavalry refuses battle again and rushes behind the Nil-ith Horn Orc heroes, seeking a weakness in the League formation.
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The Kildarian Knights draw out a lesser unit, and close for the attack.
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Bleddyn’s light infantry’s numbers are reduced by bowfire from the high hill, but still they fight on against the wild orcs.
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Infantry and cavalry alike attack the orcs’ well-organized line.
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The bloodshed is heavy on both sides. And the heroes from the League of Nil-ith Horn begin to decimate the Gautrian infantry.
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Jarl Kvig leads his heroic companions through the melee in an attempt to bolster the failing left flank.
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The Gautrian infantry falls to the swords of the Nil-ith Horn orc heroes. A doomed unit of light infantry rush the orcs, and are slaughtered as well.
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Jarl Kvig orders his heroes to attack the huge orcs.
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From astride his warhorse, Jarl Kvig makes swift work of three of them.
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While our party finally wears down the Nil-ith Horn heroes, the League orc infantry start to falter, and with that, the less disciplined tribal orc units begin to rout.
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Valden the Ruthless, King of the Vangen orcs, and his greatest urog warriors are surrounded by the remains of the cavalry.
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The giant urogs take many knights down with them.
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The strength of the knights is too much for the urogs and King Valden is slain! The men are victorious!

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Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #41- The Crows of Skarken>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River

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Jarl Kvig Melgarson sends Bleddyn and Wynston to scout the Vangen orc camp.
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They find wild orc scout patrols in the woods nearby.

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As Valden’s war council stretches into the night, Bleddyn and Wynston return to Kvig and urge an attack at dawn. Kvig agrees and the humans prepare for battle. First light reveals the Gautrian army opposite the orc camp, a muddy field between them.

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Jarl Kvig takes the center of the field. Most of his personal retinue is a unit of heavy thanes that has followed him since he left Helvik over 6 years ago, and the rest a unit of faithful bonders from Timlin Town. Also in his command are a unit of the king’s heavy cavalry. Under the yellow-on-blue banner on Kvig’s left, Baron Vulmar (Jevenkah) leads his own heavy knights, along with one unit of heavy infantry and one unit of bonders belonging to the king.

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Fading into the forest on the right flank is Bleddyn. Bleddyn hides his Utvalgte men and a unit of light bonders called from outlying villages of the king. They remain in the safety of the woods until…

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…the orcs call to Jarl Kvig to send out a champion! Only the mighty Bleddyn Yorath has the fighting prowess to answer the urog that lurches across the battlefield.

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The forces of Gautria crowd behind Bleddyn, his hero and bannerman.

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If Bleddyn can slay this urog, perhaps that will inspire the troops.

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The armies on both sides form up as the champions meet each other.

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The orcs shout fiercely for their champion Untak.

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But it is the Gautrian cheers that echo on the field as Bleddyn lands the final blow, severing Untak’s head from his shoulders and routing Untak’s unit of orc warriors.

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Bleddyn stands victorious for the Gautrians in their first engagement. Will it be enough momentum to hearten the outnumbered humans?
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Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River Concludes>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River Prologue

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- Prologue

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This is the climactic fight Kvig Melgarson has been looking- some say unwisely- to have out with Valden the Ruthless and his horde of Vangen orcs. Valden’s forces number almost a third again more than the Gautrians. However, the Gautrian army consists of a larger percentage of better armored troops.

Just days before ( in Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #39), the Gautrian army was on the verge of sailing away from these lands under the banner of their king, Magnus, until Magnus was badly injured in an assassination attempt by the orcs. Wynston slew 2 of the attackers to keep Magnus alive and was the only one to hear his last whispered words before he succumbed to unconsciouness. Wynston proclaimed to the gathered jarls that Magnus wished Kvig to be his Champion and lead the army against the orcs. She was met with suspicious glances from a few, but her word went unquestioned.

Valden’s army has encamped and is underway reconstructing a bridge to cross the Skarken River into the South Gautrian Lands of Timlin.  Kvig’s scouts bring him back preliminary reports from the orc camp.

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At the central fire pit, Valden and his Vangen urogs hold council with Ursio Erembald, the Nil-ith Horn high priest of the Temple of the One God.

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The Nil-ith Horn units of the army drill in their section of the camps.

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Their Priests of the One God use their battle-magics on the warriors.

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The Vangen orcs  ready for battle as well.

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The Vangen drummer has the honor of getting his clan worked up.

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And the war council continues as the men march ever closer.

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The battle is joined in: Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- The Battle of Skarken River>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #39- Wynston’s Gambit

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #39- Wynston’s Gambit

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Entering our home, our players were greeted by the new gaming table top covered in new hills.

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Upon the just-finished surface sat the remnants of the swamp fort of Skara from the conclusion of Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #38 . The smoldering ruins were surrounded by the Vangen orc horde led by the mighty urog King, Valden the Ruthless. Our players’ characters watched the destruction on horseback from a nearby hilltop.

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Bleddyn, the champion and scout, spotted a group of urogs who looked threatening, just as a Kildarian horn blast sounded from inside what was left of the stockade fence. A small force of human cavalry were attempting to break through the orc army and out of the carnage that was Skara.

Kvig led his own cavalry charge to engage the urogs and give the Kildarians time to win free of the siege.

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As Kvig’s Gautrian cavalry pounded over a hill, they were surprised by a second group of orcs, ready for the cavalry charge. Kvig with his superior horsemanship smashed through the line and led a few riders along towards the escaping Kildarians. Other Gautrian riders were forced to stop and fight the orcs.

Bleddyn had his horse cut out from beneath him. Wynston dismounted in the churning confusion of bodies and blood and slipped behind the battling orcs to do her damage.

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Meanwhile, Kvig and his riders closed with the urogs to create a screening force for the Kildarians to ride past.

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Kvig himself slew 2 urogs while occupying that force, gaining the humans needed time to retreat.

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Bleddyn and Wynston were able to mount up double and the joined cavalry thundered away, leaving the smoking hulk of Skara behind them.

Intermission

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Kvig Melgarson led the troops north to King Magnus’ camp on the lakeside.

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20 boats waited in the water to ferry the King and his troops back to Gautria and out of these contested lands.

Kvig continuously argued to press Valden and his Vangen orc horde now, while the Gautrian forces are massed. King Magnus was more wary; he would prefer to take the troops home and defend Gautria from their strongholds. Wynston tried to convince the King of the merits of Kvig’s plan.

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Just then, the camp was attacked! A goblin exploded 5 of the King’s ships in the lake, while a Nil-ith Horn strike force tried to assassinate the King. Fortunately for King Magnus, Wynston hid in his tent and slew 2 assassins before the King was blooded. Jarl Storolf, the father of the King’s betrothed, was also there and fought fiercely against the other 3 orcs once Wynston fell. The King too was grievously wounded. Kvig and Bleddyn crashed into the tent to finish the orcs.

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The King was left half-senseless and fragile, even after being treated for his wounds. Kvig urged King Magnus to name a champion. In his injured state, the King whispered fiercely to Wynston, then fell unconscious.

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Wynston declared to the assembled Jarls that the King had named Kvig Champion and Marshall of the Gautrian forces. Further, the King was to be sent to recover at his stronghold. At next light, 2 boats and 50 men took King Magnus out onto Lake Sund towards safer lands.

Now Kvig has the Gautrian forces at his back, and hundreds of orcs waiting in the front. Where will the battle be joined?

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Find out next adventure!

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #40- Prologue>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #38- Skara Will Burn

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #38- Skara Will Burn

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The contested swamp fort of Skara, currently held by Kildarian vassals of King Magnus, was under siege by the vicious urog King Valden the Ruthless. Young King Magnus was reluctant to take his lesser forces against such a mighty orc army. He sat on the shore of Lake Sund some miles to the north of Skara, with enough ships to ferry his loyal Gautrian warriors back home. Kvig Melgarson and his elder brother Hegg argued they should push their troops now and take the field against Valden. King Magnus refused, but allowed any of the knights who wished to ride with the Melgarsons into the destruction and doom at Skara.

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With Hegg’s loyal cavalry at the core, Kvig convinced his ally (and father of the King’s betrothed) Jarl Storolf to lend an equal number of knights to the cause.

Their heavy cavalry were too few to hope to turn Valden’s army and break the siege of Skara, but perhaps in the right place they could inflict crucial damage. By the time the riders arrived at the fort, the attack was underway.

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An enclave of Priests of the One God from the League of Nil-ith Horn set the gate ablaze. Kvig led his cavalry on a devastating charge through their ranks, trampling priests and orc warriors. The elite orc squad protecting the priests inflicted losses on the Gautrians in turn.

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Meanwhile, the Kildarians bravely tried to hold the gap against the closing Nil-ith Horn heavy infantry. 

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Kvig brought his cavalry around and crashed into the flanks of the Nil-ith Horn at the gate.

Kvig led one last attack at the priests, then the retreat was sounded and the cavalry stampeded out of range.

 

Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #39- Wynston’s Gambit>>

<<Sagas of the Gautrian Kings #37- Kednvald Bridge