Ambush at Keepitta Way

 Another game report....i know, i'm as amazed as you guys!. But first:

Lets all have some noisy punk shall we?.

I decided to give the new rules another try but this time to use them for a narrative scenario. While i was setting up Sprinkling three: the revenge stuck his head around the corner with the immortal phrase 'Daddy can i play?'. Ah i thought, an excuse to introduce him to the wonderful world of narrative gaming! (since he kicked my behind last time!). So yes, yes he could indeed play. We had loads of fun developing characters and a story as the game went on, not playing one side to win but playing both sides to see what happens. It was great and judging by his ideas and reaction to the game i think he might fancy another go. But enough blathering from me, On with the story!.

AN AMBUSH AT KEEPITTA WAY, or the timely interception of Lord Nesway Coddestrappe.

Lord Arbour was sweating, panic written large on his face. He hated dealing with this class of 'people', he hated the thought of the noose more.'So you see my problem Sir, and the need for haste' he asked the grim faced scarred individuals seated across the vast polished oak table. 'If that report reaches the King my goose and the geese of my whole estate will be well and truly plucked, stuffed and burnt to a bloody crisp!' he finished, dabbing his sodden silk handkerchief across his face for the upteenth time since lord Coddestrappe, the kings auditeer had left that morning. The large grey haired man in the middle of the three sat opposite exhaled loudly and relaxed in his chair with his arms folded. 'We can help' he boomed, 'But you will need to understand this service wont come cheep'. 'Yes yes' replied Arbour 'we need to hurry this along they will be miles from here by now'. 'Thats why i insist on the gold package for this particular task. I assume you want no one left alive?' He gestured to the young man at his left who grabbed a slate and started to write notes and figures. 'You also need to get the job done before they can get to the castle. You need this to be done with no evidence to link this to you and you need a 'report' is it?' he looked to Arbour for conformation 'Yes, a tax audit he called it' the Lord replied. 'And you want that brought back here not burned or destroyed in the battle?'. 'Yes i wont rest until it is in my hand'. 'Right well that will be extra...with manpower required, wear and tear on the horses, upkeep of weapons, miles covered and an assurance of our silence that will be....oh....he looked at the slate that was now filled with a dizzying amount of figures...say with a this day discount its one thousand gold coins. In advance'. Lord Arbour turned a special shade of purple 'A THOUSAND GOLD PIECES....ONE THOUSAND ARE YOU...' he trailed off as the two younger men flanking the grizzled mercenary bristled and made to stand up with malice of forethought. 'I mean...its a little outside the figure i was thinking' he finished meekly. 'Thats fine sir' laughed the older man in an alarmingly friendly manor 'there will always be room for negotiation'. Lord Arbour relaxed 'oh good, how about..' 'fifteen hundred' interrupted the mercenary. 'wha..fift..err..wha...' stumbled Arbour. 'It was a thousand a moment ago'. 'Yes sir that was our introductory offer, that has expired and now we are on to the normal pricing plan'. He smiled at Arbour with a shark like grin. 'Arbour began sweating again. Well cant we negotiate downwards?, is'nt that how it works?' 'The young man with the slate lent over to the older man a whispered in his ear, the older mans grin widened. 'Always room for movement sir, always room'. he stated in a calm manor 'for example it has been brought to my attention that we are being asked to deal with a royal agent...the errr...auditeer you called him, thats an extra five hundred and now we have more ground to make up as they are further away than when we started this meeting so we need to chuck in another two hundred for that'. Lord Arbour sprang to his feet 'Now you just look here my good man, i am employing you to..' The mercenary also stood and leaned towards Arbour, his knuckles planted on the table. ''You are employing us to murder an entire party of royal troops and a royal official and to make sure it never gets back to you correct?' he demanded through gritted teeth. Arbour cowered before him 'yes' he managed. 'And we are the only men close enough beside your own, who you cant use in case they bollocks it up and let survivors get back to the king that can get to the target within the time am i right?'. 'Well yes' managed Arbour. 'And we know all about your plan to kill this Auditeer and cover up your years of tax avoidance and can just as well take your miserable hide to the palace and claim whatever bounty the King deems your sorry sniveling behind to be worth'. The mercenary let the last statement hang in the air before he continued 'so that will be an even four thousand in advance if you please sir'. He spat on his hand and offered it to Arbour who had now turned white and shrunk into his chair. He spat weakly on his own hand and slowly gripped the offered hand. 'With of course five hundred extra for admin costs, pleasure doing business with you sir, just leave it to us, we will leave not a single witness or my names not C.C.Bathion'.

 The battle takes place along the secluded road of Keepitta Way, Lord Nesway Coddestrappe, high Auditeer of the king is making his way back to the castle having gone through the records of the Arbour estate with a fine tooth comb and found some very interesting evidence of tax avoidance. Little does he know that the infamous Black Rats mercenary company (royal tax operative interception task force) lay in ambush....

A nice tranquil picture of the royal tax auditeer and his company of royal bodyguards making their way along the road ay Keepitta Way. Suddenly the trap is sprung!.

 From the rear of the line skirmishers burst forth from the trees arrows flying!.

 The dread mercenary captain C.C Bathion leads his knights and horsemen on the attack.

Bow armed mercs block the road to close the trap!.

 Royal horse archers spring into action, sniping from the saddle at a group of brigands.

Wiping them out to a man!.

 Further up the road at the head of the column the horse charge headlong at the emerging crossbows.

While a force is dispatched to intercept the charge of the ambushing horse.

 At the rear of the royal position the horse archers continue to snipe at the skirmishers, who loose their cool and charge headlong into combat!.

 Operation 'contain the ambushing horsemen' begins as it all kicks off!.

But more mercenary horsemen enter from the opposite side, was the first attack just a rouse?.

 The charge of the Black Rats lancers breaks the royal foot.

 While the giant has more luck in forcing the enemy horse to retire.

However the royal line of defense has been broken and the Black rats form up for the charge!.

 The royal troops prepare to face the charge, will they stand?.

 The first charge hits home...

Followed by the rest of the horse roaring in!.

 Lord Coddestrappe sees a chance to turn the tide and charges into a distracted C.C.Bathion!.

 The effects of the charge begin to be felt as the royal foot break.

 And the royal taxation office foot Knights retire to lick their wounds.

 Leading to a massed mele kicking off lead by the forces leaders!.

 Who will loose their nerve first?.

 Victory!, Lord Coddestrappe turns to run and is cut down by the evil Bathion!.

Sprinkling three: The revenge gives his opinion of the game.

 Well that was fun, the story really came through while we played and both of us had fun trying to roll play the opposing forces. The rules also kept things nice and smooth, one thing that stood out is that Sprinkling three: the revenge remembered most of them from last time out which is one of my 'design objectives' (to coin a very wanky phrase) well and truly met, which is to make them quick to learn. Will we be doing this again?, i think so, he is even taking about setting up his own game with his troops (he always comes and begs any spare minis i may have left over from various projects) which sounds like fun......

....'till next time.....