Thud & Blunder; Chronicles of the Border Gates
Last night saw the beginnings proper of my Thud & Blunder gaming; the initial aim of which is to build a narrative background to my little corner of a fantasy world (many who know me might raise their eyebrows at this statement as I am sure they think that I already inhabit my own wee fantasy world...but I digress..😁 ) where my games of Thud & Blunder will be set as well as to learn the game and, last but by no means least, to introduce other folk to it.
In brief my games will, mostly, be centred upon the borders of the Duchy of Langenwanger, in particular the garrison of the Border Keep of Tor Senke who protect the duchy's borders and the local towns, villages and farmsteads from marauding bands of orcs, brigands etc etc. All the usual plagues that beset the hardy, earnest folk of fantasy worlds . I won't lie, my fantasy setting is heavily influenced by my love of the Anglo-Scottish Borders but there's also a hint of the Transdanubian and Sachsische Schweiz in there too with vast forest covered mountains, hills and deep, hidden valleys which are home to all sorts of hidden nasties.
But as well as lots of mountains, hills, valleys and dales I plan to factor a very large river into this fantasy setting as the Thud & Blunder rules allow for fighting ship to ship and I'd like to make some small harbour terrain pieces for setting games in too as well as trying out a rolling river battle scenario....I'm frothing again, aren't I?...stay focussed, Jim Bob..
So, the garrison of Tor Senke is under the command of Kapitan Leopold Bittefeld ably assisted by Serjeant-At-Arms Georgi Dudak and the Cleric Cornelius Coloredo (who, besides his quill pushing and parchment blotting, also possesses Magical Talents). More about these doughty warriors in a later post as for the moment this post is about their first recorded chronicle
But as well as lots of mountains, hills, valleys and dales I plan to factor a very large river into this fantasy setting as the Thud & Blunder rules allow for fighting ship to ship and I'd like to make some small harbour terrain pieces for setting games in too as well as trying out a rolling river battle scenario....I'm frothing again, aren't I?...stay focussed, Jim Bob..
So, the garrison of Tor Senke is under the command of Kapitan Leopold Bittefeld ably assisted by Serjeant-At-Arms Georgi Dudak and the Cleric Cornelius Coloredo (who, besides his quill pushing and parchment blotting, also possesses Magical Talents). More about these doughty warriors in a later post as for the moment this post is about their first recorded chronicle
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| Border Kompanie Tor-Senke, left to right, archer, three Border Guard, Serjeant-At-Arms Dudak, Borderguard, Kapitan Bittefeld, Borderguard, Cleric Cornelius Coloredo, archer and Border Guard |
Being keen to get started with the game I put together three warbands from what figures I had available and came up with these three . The Duchy of Langenwanger Border Guard as seen above) and..
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| From left to right; crossbowman..erm..orc, Big Gladdizz, Berrarrz on direwolf, Buggalugz on direwolf, orc warriors and crossbow orc |
An Orc warband led by Berrarrz and accompanied by an orc shaman, Buggalugz, and the warbands champion, Big Gladdizz.
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| Left to right, Mercenary wizard Beppo, two caliver armed brigands, Tomaz the Bastard, mounted brigand, Big Willy, mounted brigand, three more brigands |
A Brigands warband, Raedjer's Reavers, led by Grosse Willy Raedjer and his right hand man, Tomaz the Bastard with a mercenary wizard, Beppo (who is available for children's parties for parents who don't particularly like their kids) to bring a little magical something to their warband. The rules don't allow for black powder weapons but as I don't have any Reavers with bows or crossbows I substituted two Reavers armed with calivers and used the same profile as a heavy crossbow just for this game as this was going to be a "learning" game and felt that each warband should have some ranged fire, a magician, a couple of leaders/heroes and a variety of amour. It's a pity I didn't pay more heed to the rules for mounts in combat but hey ho, you live and learn.
So those were the warbands. Next the scenario; we played the Ambush & Escort scenario. This entails one warband escorting an important person along a road from one table edge to another with the road running diagonally from one corner to another. In the Movement phase the Important Person will move or run with any figure that it is in base-to-base contact with it provided they are not engaged in combat. We played on a 4'x4' table and, just for a change with my set ups, there was only one building, a small, abandoned cottage, on the table. And so the doughty Kapitan Bittefeld and his small detachment set off to escort Lembick the Sage through a supposedly quiet forest which was in fact thick with roving brigands and marauding orcs; cue much mayhem, mirth and bloody combat.......
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| Travellin' Man. Lembick the Sage. |
"Very good" he said looking at the young, suave, smartly uniformed cavalry ensign who had handed him the document, doubtless the offspring of one of those damned aristocrats at the Ducal Court "And so, Ensign Lomb, we are now to escort this gentleman, this sage, Lembick to Tarenhausen, to his meeting with the Grand Cleric, as you and your men have been recalled to Erdenburg; is that right? Ensign Lomb sighed and smiled his most charming smile "Yes, Kapitan, that, as they say, is the long and short of it; there appears to be some, shall we say, more pressing business to be dealt with back towards Erdenburg and they need us poor cavalry types to assist them and so you must escort Master Lembick here" and here he nodded to the elderly man who sat with them in Bittefeld's rather cramped room "on this final stage; duty calls us both, eh? Us poor cavalry types to the fray back along the road and you, Bittefeld, to take over our dull escort duty, begging your pardon, Master Lembick." Bittefeld bridled at the casual tone of the young ensign. "Kapitan Bittefeld; Ensign Lomb; and stand to attention, don't slouch, man! I'll beg you to remember that I am a Kapitan in the Duke's Border Guard" The smile fell from Lomb's face and he straightened up. "Certainly we shall take over the duty assigned to us" continued Bittefeld "Now let's see there's still a good two hours of daylight and your men and horses will have been rested enough by now so I will now take over responsibility for Master Lembick here and you and your men can depart on your way back up the road to Erdenburg; dismissed!" Ensign Lomb gaped, made to say something, thought better of it and, saluting the kapitan, he left the room.
Bittefeld turned to the wizened old man "Well, Master Lembick, we must get you a bed sorted. It's not very comfortable here in Tor Senke but we'll do our best; beside we must be on the road at first light." The old man nodded in response "Most kind" he said in a quiet, husky voice. "And I should be honoured if you would join me for dinner this evening" continued Bittefeld "The local tavern, The Bishop's Mitre; serves up a decent meal on occasion". "Bishop's Mitre; that's an unusual name" said Lembick "Is the inn keeper a former cleric?" Bittefeld coughed "Former cleric? Eh no, I think the land may have been donated by a former bishop in these parts; be that as it may their fare is far better than our humble soldiers rations here in the Keep" Master Lembick nodded and said "That would be splendid; a nice meal washed down with some ale would be a most pleasant change from the rations of the road; seven days we have been travelling now and I am afraid that I am not such a good horseman as those young fellows of the cavalry arm. And we travelled fast; rarely stopping at an inn or place of hospitality so your offer is most welcome" Leopold frowned "A cavalry troop that didn't stop at an inn or place of hospitality; your journey must be of the utmost importance; would it be anything to do with your baggage?" and he indicated the large, waxed cotton bag that Lembick had on his lap. Lembick placed a protective hand on the bag and drew it closer. Realising he had discomforted his guest with such a thoughtless question Bittefeld brightened, smiling at the sage "Not that that really matters; the long, wearisome journey is all the more reason for a morsel of good food and a tankard of ale, that is settled: I will send a runner to inform the inn keeper of our plans. In the meantime I have much to do so if you will excuse me, my cleric, Colordeo, will organise sleeping quarters for you and show you were the other facilities are" And so saying he gave a curt bow to his guest and left.
"Serjeant Dudak!" shouted Bittefeld as he exited his room. The call was taken up by some of the other soldiers in the keep and presently a voice came up through the hatch in the floor of the accommodation "Coming sir!" followed quickly by the head, shoulders then the stocky frame of Serjeant Dudak. He trotted over to the officer and stood to attention "Ah there you are, Serjeant Dudak; at ease" Bittefeld grinned knowingly at his master-at-arms "we have a mission to carry out tomorrow; we must escort the elderly gentleman who arrived this afternoon onto Tarenhausen. Let's see, that's only eight miles so we can be there and back in a day. We will leave ten men to man the post under Junior Serjeant Mersk; as well as our three sick, lame and lazy and take the remainder. Ensign Julias is due back with his mounted patrol tomorrow afternoon so the Keep won't be short of men for too long" Dudak nodded " Select eight men and get them ready; take only two of the archers; the rest stay here. Those men you select are to be spared sentry duty this night. We; you, myself and our good cleric, Coloredo, will also go; understood?" Dudak nodded once more and said "Understood, sir. I'll get the lads organised this minute" and saluting smartly he left.
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Above the wall of the Keep the eastern sky was brightening as the dawn approached. Beneath the wooden walkway were the sentry stood looking vigalantly outwards, any thought of slouching in the shadow of tower wall and having a sneaky pipe banished with the presence of the kapitan and the rest of his escort now forming up in the courtyard. Serjeant Dudak carried out a last, quick check of the men and their equipment before reporting "Detail ready for inspection, sir" in a hushed tone to Bittefeld. Bittefeld returned the master-at-arms salute before carrying out his own inspection. Standing once more in front of his men he spoke in a low voice "Right men, this appears an easy duty; eight miles to Tarenhausen and eight back; we should be back in time for a game of skittles in the Bishop's Mitre and a tankard or two before curfew. Beyond our little scuffle with that group of smugglers three weeks ago it's been pretty quiet here. That, however, is no reason for slackness; keep your eyes and ears open! Now form up in file; archers out in front, Master Lembick will march with you and I, Cleric Coleredo and, you, Serjeant Dudak will bring up the rear of the file; we march in open file, let's go!" So saying he signalled the waiting gateman who swung open one of the large gates of the Keep and they marched out in step along the road towards the forest and on to Tarenhausen.
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Despite their burdens the two huge wolves padded noiselessly through the pine woods, following barely perceptible paths. Behind them a large, lithe she-orc strode followed by a group of smaller orcs carrying a variety of crude weapons. Perched on the back of one of the two dire wolves sat a large orc carrying a totem covered with human heads in various states of decay and occasionally he would halt his mount and converse with the silent, gaping heads, nod as if they had spoken in reply with him and then he would point out the way forward. "We's gettin' close, Berrarrzz" he muttered to his fellow rider "the 'edz told me so". Berrarrzz, the groups leader grunted in acknowledgment; already he could see the edge of the the clearing where they planned to ambush the soldiers. He was looking forward to this. It had been an age since they had raided the oomanz and there would be rich pickings as well as the loot the old 'un was carrying; that would be treasure worth having. Silently they approached the clearing...
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| Orcs! |
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| Only one way to deal with an ambush...charge!! |
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| A desperate battle ensues with men and orcs swiftly succumbing to deadly blows |
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| Bittefeld keeps Berrarrzz and Buggalugz occupied |
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| The combat swayed one way then the other till only one orc crossbowman(?) and Cleric Coloredo remained on their feet |
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| Grosse Willy Raedjer spurs his mounted men forward |
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| Meanwhile the rest of the brigands and Beppo the sometime wizard advance towards the desperate fight between the soldiers and orcs |
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| Serjeant Dudak has been laid low and his two comrades prepare to defend Lembick from the charging brigands |
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| Out of the frying pan and into the fire for Bittefeld as he weighs into the combat. Beside him one soldier is cut down by, of all things, an orc crossbow bolt fired into the press of bodies |
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| It's very exciting looking, isn't it... |
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| Defeating the remaining guard, Buggalugz the Shaman attempts to cast a magical dart at the brigands who are firing at him |
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| ...with little success |
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| The second soldier is knocked down by Grosse Willy but swiftly regains his feet and continues the fight only to be dealt a deadly blow |
In the press of the battle, one of the mounted brigands grabbed Lembick by his hood. The old man let out a loud shriek of terror as he was dragged out of the fight and the brigand, still clutching him, spurred his horse into a trot and led the poor sage away. Bittefeld, exhausted but enraged, parried a lance blow with his shield and forcing the shield into the horse's face he pushed past the shying beast and ran once more, this time after Lembick and his captor. Catching up with them he was swiftly surrounded by the brigands on foot. He parried a spear thrust from one brigand and ducked as another swung a large club at him. As he did so, the rider's lance caught him in the side...
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| back into the frying pan but this time with the heat turned up! Bittefeld takes on four enemies at once; what a guy!! |
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| ...and keeps them at bay!! Hero!! |
The cleric, trailing the fighting, caught up with the crowd that now surrounded Kapitan Bittefeld. Muttering a quick incantation he swung his quarter staff at the nearest brigand....and missed!! Cursing he slid his hand up the quarterstaff to reverse the swing. As he did so he saw Kapitan Bittefeld fall to the ground under a flurry of blows. Distracted he didn't see the weapon that sent him reeling into unconsciousness..
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| A good afternoon's work. The brigands have Lembick and the orcs and Border Guard are left to count the cost |
Willy urged his horse past the brigands who were busily rifling the soldiers packs, taking whatever they thought was of value. "Leave them!" he cried "The Duchy's horsemen are on their way; can't you hear their horns?" At this the brigands stopped their pilfering and listened. Sure enough a horn blast sounded through the trees from the direction of Tor-Senke. "Bloody hell they were quick!" said one of them "we'd best be off, lads; lets go". Grabbing up their weapons and what booty they could safely carry, one or two of them gave the inert bodies a parting kick before melting back into the treeline.
Ensign Lomb helped the battered kapitan sit up. The kapitan's face was bloodied and bruised with one eye swollen shut. Lomb pulled the cork stopper from his flask and held it to Bittefeld's lips. Bittefeld winced then drank some of the contents. The brandy burned his throat and he coughed and spluttered "Bloody hell, Ensign Lomb, haven't I had enough trouble today without you trying to choke me: you could have warned me it was brandy!" Bittefeld coughed for a few more seconds then, with Lomb's help, he struggled to his feet. "But I am glad to see you, Lomb, but for you and your men we would have been dead meat. But how did you get here so quickly; I thought you had other duties to attend?" Lomb took a swig of the brandy, wiped his mouth and looked the bloodied kapitan in the eye "We did. However after our swift denture from Tor-Senke last night we met a messenger this morning, enroute to Tor-Senke with fresh orders to cancel to escort duty. Realising something must be up we made haste to catch up with you and just in the nick of time; it appears we have a traitor somewhere in the court; you and your men were set up, Kapitan...."
to be continued...
And there the game ended the game; well not really, it ended in the turn that Bittefeld was brought low as there was no way Coloredo or the Buggalugz would get Lembick out of Grosse Willy's clutches. We..okay, I got a few things wrong; in my efforts to get everything physically prepared I didn't pay enough attention to some of the rules, the main one being the fact that mounts; wolfs and horses, can fight in the combat phase which probably meant Allan who played the orcs missed out on a few attacks that might have been crucial (but given his luck with the dice, maybe not 😃) and also giving the brigands too much armour, in particular Willy. Rather than give them the armour rating of the armour they were wearing I should have rated it as something lighter. Finally I made the error of not downloading and printing out reference sheets; they would have been very, very useful and the game would have flowed better. But there you go, it was a learning game and I like to think I learned a lot. I am just gagging to put what I have learned into practice now.
Thanks to Allan and Dave for being both patient and sporting. I'd like to think that I have hooked them both into playing Thud & Blunder, despite my best efforts 😀
Hope you enjoyed that wee write up as much as we enjoyed the game,
pip pip,
Jim Bob
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