A fairly quiet Year across the known world, with Picenia still getting used to the idea of internal strife and the loss of Therissa (more on Picenia below) and Zigura adjusting to a new King of Kings.
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| Map at the end of Turn 20 |
In early Spring there was the regular incursion of "barbarians" from Inconnu into Northern Zigura. Fortune favoured the Zigurans as the region was being visited by General Evaskiwk. On receiving news of the barbarian's arrival in the region, Evaskiwk marched his force to their camp and attacked at dawn. The barbarian's scouts raised the alarm just in time and the two sides gave battle (apologies for the pictures that are rather dark - the sun was just coming up after all).
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Early in the action the Ziguran regulars had the upper hand and it looked like they would roll straight over the invaders
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Fate had other ideas and General Evaskiwk was serious injured leading from the front and had to be taken from the field
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The Zigurans fought on and as the sun came up it was the barbarians who suffered defeat and fled.
Most valuable unit in this battle were the (recently added) Ziguran Cataphracts. The game was played with Dominion of the Spear (with In House rule for Commander Units)..jpg)
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***
News from Picenia (courtesy of Mark Cordone):
Although there was nominal peace in the north, it was only a temporary pause in hostilities as all parties tried to improve their positions.
Picenia: Multiflavus reluctantly accept the dictatorship for the year of the Tenacious Bee as there was much work to do if Picenia's fortunes were to be restored. The first order of business was the reorganization of the army, and the recruitment of new troops. He forged ahead with this task with tireless determination, and succeeded in getting the Senate to vote heavy, but one time only taxes to pay for it. This met with only minimal resistance, even though he insisted the Patrician class should bear the bulk of the burden.
With the funds thus raised he replaced the loses of the past few years, and began the process of building a new fleet.
The Senate also voted him a Triumph, he delayed celebrating it for as long as possible, but it took place in the Eighth month of the year. He also had the unpleasant and difficult problem of what to do about Rionach. Personally, he was quite taken by her courage, intelligence and tenaciousness, but this was to prove to be her undoing.
He offered her the opportunity to submit, and be granted an estate outside the city and citizenship and patrician status if she accepted. This she refused to do, but not until she asked for time to consider the offer, then attempted unsuccessfully to escape. The offer was made again, and it was made clear to her that refusal would mean her death. She refused. Multiflavus then offered her the opportunity to avoid execution by suicide. Again she refused. Although Multiflavus was saddened by her actions, he had tremendous respect for her courage and honor. Rather than have her strangled at his triumph, he granted her the highest honor possible and sentenced her to beheading. She was placed in a guilded chariot right behind his and secured with golden chains. At the end of the procession she ascended the scaffold with her head held high. Before placing her head on the block she pronounced a curse for Picenia and all her people, then met her death with honor. Needless to say, this put a damper on the celebrations, but this suited Multiflavus as he then made a memorable speech about the difficult road ahead, and the need for Picenia to put aside it's internal differences and pull together in this time of great trial and hardship.
Elsewhere, Anaxander and Gauius Epidus Marullus, former governor and now self appointed king of Therissa met and hammered out a defensive alliance. Although neither really trusted the other, both felt it would be mutually beneficial when Picenia resumed hostilities. Both felt Therissa would be the target, and Marullus felt a second front would be an advantage, and Anaxander hoped it could be used as leverage to draw the rest of the Tetrapolis into the war.
Picenia: Multiflavus reluctantly accept the dictatorship for the year of the Tenacious Bee as there was much work to do if Picenia's fortunes were to be restored. The first order of business was the reorganization of the army, and the recruitment of new troops. He forged ahead with this task with tireless determination, and succeeded in getting the Senate to vote heavy, but one time only taxes to pay for it. This met with only minimal resistance, even though he insisted the Patrician class should bear the bulk of the burden.
With the funds thus raised he replaced the loses of the past few years, and began the process of building a new fleet.
The Senate also voted him a Triumph, he delayed celebrating it for as long as possible, but it took place in the Eighth month of the year. He also had the unpleasant and difficult problem of what to do about Rionach. Personally, he was quite taken by her courage, intelligence and tenaciousness, but this was to prove to be her undoing.
He offered her the opportunity to submit, and be granted an estate outside the city and citizenship and patrician status if she accepted. This she refused to do, but not until she asked for time to consider the offer, then attempted unsuccessfully to escape. The offer was made again, and it was made clear to her that refusal would mean her death. She refused. Multiflavus then offered her the opportunity to avoid execution by suicide. Again she refused. Although Multiflavus was saddened by her actions, he had tremendous respect for her courage and honor. Rather than have her strangled at his triumph, he granted her the highest honor possible and sentenced her to beheading. She was placed in a guilded chariot right behind his and secured with golden chains. At the end of the procession she ascended the scaffold with her head held high. Before placing her head on the block she pronounced a curse for Picenia and all her people, then met her death with honor. Needless to say, this put a damper on the celebrations, but this suited Multiflavus as he then made a memorable speech about the difficult road ahead, and the need for Picenia to put aside it's internal differences and pull together in this time of great trial and hardship.
Elsewhere, Anaxander and Gauius Epidus Marullus, former governor and now self appointed king of Therissa met and hammered out a defensive alliance. Although neither really trusted the other, both felt it would be mutually beneficial when Picenia resumed hostilities. Both felt Therissa would be the target, and Marullus felt a second front would be an advantage, and Anaxander hoped it could be used as leverage to draw the rest of the Tetrapolis into the war.
***
A grislily end for the unfortunate Rionach. What happens next is in the hands of the dice, and kind contributors!
Another fine battle with your micro armies. I especially liked your creative use of bad lighting.
ReplyDeleteAlways the consummate professional when it comes to FX...
DeleteYear 21…!! Tempus fugit etc Great reports. Wonder if Rionach’s Curse will have consequences for Picenia?
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, to date about 16 more turns than I'd imagined it would go!
DeleteA good curse might achieve its results, if enough people believe it - a bit like offering the electorate a big bribe that can't possibly be paid...
Only time, and the dice will determine the effectiveness of the curse. I was hoping Rionach would survive, and I asked a number of questions of the Oracle die but fate was having none of it. There would have been a number of possible interesting plot complications if she had, but the dice have spoken. By any definition, this has been an extremely successful and long running campaign.
DeleteYou have some very harsh dice Mark!
DeleteI can only add, the success of the Campaign is due to the contributors!
My RPG group agrees about my Oracle die. 😁. Your campaign has been alot of fun!
DeleteThose 10mm Irregular Miniatures look nice (and relatively cheap too). Clearly a well armoured cataphract is a challenge for any enemy to face.
ReplyDeleteRionach met her fate bravely. I wonder whether her curse will mean a dice advantage/disadvantage to future throws? Then again, when/if ever Picenia suffers a defeat in battle, that may simply be enough for the superstitious plebs to blame it upon Rionach and her curse. Who can tell?
Cheers,
Geoff
Thanks Geoff - The new iteration of Irregular Minis, selling the 2mm, 6mm and 10mm figures has, to date, turned the (two) small orders around very fast for me. Good service.
DeleteI'm not sure if Mark has anything specific planned for the curse - we'll see in his next game(s)
Nothing specific, it will depend on your (MJT) dice, but it is likely any calamity will be attributed by the Picenians to the curse. All of this will help to drive the narrative, and that's A good thing.
DeleteIt looks like a storm is coming up
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! It's a bit stormy here again today, though that may be because a certain POTUS has decided to visit the country (at great expense to the locals!)
Delete