Collaborative Campaign Year 19: Part 3

 Autumn in the Year of the Hyena witnessed a large horde of mounted raiders moving from the steppe lands of the territory known in the "civilised" world as Inconnu. Their purpose unknown, the horde arrived in the small Northern province of Qushia. The local Satrap, Rostam Anoraq, had had a peaceful life up to this point, paying the minimum amount of tax he felt he could get away with, and avoiding being dragged into State politics, wars etc. Having prudently eschewed the demands of the real world for many years, suddenly the real world had turned up on his doorstep in the form of a few thousand, hairy, smelly barbarians on horseback.

Progress of the not so golden horde

The following battles were fought using Dominion of the Spear with a 2 Hit variation for some units, an idea that was kindly sent to me by Mark Cordone (published originally on Facebook?). All of the units of the Horde are mounted, but two have the "ferocious" bonus; this gives them +1 in combat. If these units are hit, they remain in combat but lose their bonus (they are shaken) for the rest of the battle. If hit again they are eliminated in the usual way. I like this variant as it makes special units a little less vulnerable as benefits their status as exceptionable warriors.

Battle 1 - The Oasis of Shapoor

The Horde has arrived at a watering hole and settled down for a week or so, plundering the local flocks and farmsteads for victuals and scaring away the caravan traffic that uses the oasis. The Satrap, fearing a loss of revenue from the caravans not to mention the tedious complaints from his people, orders the Headman at the nearby town of Baqusra to send the town garrison to chase off the invaders.

The Zigurans put up a good fight but are bested and driven off.

Battle 2 - The Battle of Baqusra

Having consumed all the local flocks, the Horde rolls on to the little town of Baqusra. The remaining town garrison, bolstered by some Provincial troops, has had a little time to set up temporary defences (strangely the tax money that has been put aside for the construction of town walls has disappeared).

The Horde's luck runs out at Baqusra, and those lucky enough to avoid the arrows judiciously turn tail and head back to the steppes. On hearing the reports, Satrap Anoraq breathes a sigh of relief and puts his curly toed slippers back up on a nice comfy cushion.