Keera the Sunderer 3: the departure of Beltros

An Ironsworn solo campaign, with battles fought with the Commands and Colors Ancients and Scenario-X boardgame rules. I have reduced armies to 10 units (instead of the standard 12 in Scenario-X) and set the end of the game to 5 victory points (aka Banners) instead of 6. Hex-Crawling is based on the Macchiato Monsters Map Generator by Eric Nieudan. See campaign set-up here. [This is a gaming campaign: please do not expect historical accuracy]

Previous Events: Keera is the leader of a Gallic clan: the Sunderers. She allies with the Wind-Riders, lead by Mogurix, in order to march South towards the richest lands that once were Gallic and are now controlled by the Romans. But when the two clans are ready to move, they are attacked by a Roman army. They win the battle, but all their war chariots are destroyed.

NPCs:

Mogurix; the leader of the Wind-Riders, a clan allied with Keera’s Sunderers

Lavinia:  Mogurix’ wife. A Healer who was born a Roman but was adopted by the Gauls when a child.

Beltros: a Druid and the oldest member of Keera’s Sunderers. He disapproves the expedition South, believing that the risks of war should be avoided whenever possible.

---

The Sunderers and the Wind-Riders leave their plain they inhabited, moving South. They reach a lightly wooded region.
Undertake a Journey: C:4,8 A:2+1(Wits)=3 MISS

Pay the Price: The scouts report a Roman Legion camped near a farm. The battle appears inevitable and the best course of action seems to attack now, rather then risking being ambushed later.

Mogurix and the Wind-Riders deploy on the left wing. Keera is at the centre with most of the Gallic warriors. On the right side, the field is hilly: not much action will happen here.

The Gallic cavalry takes a hard blow and is forced to retreat

The Gallic cavalry is the first to take initiative: they destroy a Roman infantry unit on their first charge [G:1 R:0], but the Roman leader puts one of the attacking units to flight (two flags). Mogurix cavalry, now isolated, is completely destroyed [G:1 R:1].
Mogurix retreats and the damaged Gallic infantry on the left wing will soon be destroyed [G:1 R:2]. Keera and the Sunderers are advancing at the centre.

Mogurix joins the warriors immediately on the left of Keera and the two leaders clash against the main body of the Roman infantry: they outnumber them, three units to four. This will finally grant four victory points to the Sunderers. In the first clash, a Roman infantry unit is destroyed [G:2 R:2].

The Romans, however in clear inferiority, attempt a final attack, almost destroying Keera’s warriors. But the Gauls are not completely defeated: they fight back, destroy the two already damaged infantry units [G:4 R:2] and kill the Roman leader [G:5 R:2].

A clear victory for Keera! The Gauls can move on.

The woods are thicker now.
Undertake a Journey: C:5,8 A:3+1(Wits)=4 MISS
Pay the Price: [oracle] you are separated from something or someone

Beltros leaves the clan. Why? [50/50 choice between A and B]
A: he has a vision where the gods ask him to stay alone in the forest
B: he vaguely hints to a quest he has to follow alone

Does Lavinia take the place of Beltros? [50/50 oracle] NO
Beltros indicates Anunna (a [oracle: young and honest] priestess) to replace him during his absence.

Advertisements

Keera the Sunderer 2: the Gauls lose their chariots

An Ironsworn solo campaign, with battles fight with the Commands and Colors Ancients boardgame rules. Battles are won by the first side who destroys six enemy units. See campaign set-up here. [This is a gaming campaign: please do not expect historic accuracy]

Previous Events: Keera is the leader of a Gallic clan: the Sunderers. She allies with the Wind-Riders, lead by Mogurix, in order to march South towards the richest lands that once were Gallic and are now controlled by the Romans. But when the two clans are ready to move, they are attacked by a Roman army.

NPCs:

Mogurix; the leader of the Wind-Riders, a clan allied with Keera’s Sunderers

Lavinia:  Mogurix’ wife. A Healer who was born a Roman but was adopted by the Gauls when a child.

Beltros: a Druid and the oldest member of Keera’s Sunderers. He disapproves the expedition South, believing that the risks of war should be avoided whenever possible.

Keera and Mogurix lead their clans in the battle against a Roman legion. Mogurix leads the chariots and cavalry of the Wind Riders on the left wing; Keera is at the centre of the line, with the main body of the Gallic warriors.

The two wings are the first to engage combat, while the warriors wait behind. The chariots are destroyed in the first impact [G:0 R:1], but the cavalry opens a gap in the Roman line and rushes through it.

Yet, the now isolated unit is doomed: the Romans surround it and destroy it [G:0 R:2]. The Gauls also lose a Warrior unit on their right flank [G:0 R:3].

Mogurix falls back and joins the leftmost group of warriors. The Roman line advances at Double Time and the two main bodies of infantry engage a furious fight.

The Roman elite soldiers attack the centre of the Gallic line

Keera is initially successful, destroying the two Roman Heavy Infantry units and a Medium Infantry unit [G:3 R:3]; one of the Roman leaders is now alone in the middle of the battlefield. But also Keera’s men are now in bad shape.

The second Roman leader comes to the aid of his colleague with his cavalry, but this counter-attack is only partly a success, with heavy losses on both sides [G:5 R:5].

The Roman Cavalry charges Keera

While Keera is forced to retreat, Mogurix drives the final blow by killing the isolated Roman leader. [G:6 R:5]

 
This Battle is only a Weak Hit for the Gauls (Pay the Price). They are now able to begin their Southward journey, but all their chariots have been destroyed in the battle and they will fight with only 11 units instead of 12 until they can rebuild them.

 

Keera’s current situation:

Stats – Edge:1 Heart:2 Iron:2 Shadow:3 Wits:1
Health:5 Spirit:5 Supply:5 Momentum:0
Vow: find the tomb of Dag in the South (Dangerous) – Progress:0
Background Vow: plunder a major Roman city (Extreme) Progress:0

Keera the Sunderer 1: Campaign Set-up

For my second Commands and Colors Ancients solo campaign, I will use Ironsworn to drive the story-telling elements.

Keera, the main character, is a Gallic chief fighting the Romans. For the other details, I used the “Semi-Random Campaign Setup” from the Ironsworn book: I started by choosing assets, before deciding how to allocate stats.

2-4) Assets (I randomly selected five assets and discarded two).
Loyalist – Path
Sunderer – Combat Talent
Shadow Walker – Ritual

1) Character Stats: Edge:1 Heart:2 Iron:2 Shadow:3 Wits:1
[I used the assets as a broad description of the character; this suggested me to give Shadow, Iron and Heart the highest values]

5) Background Vow: [Oracle] Enrich Themselves. Keera’s ultimate goal is to plunder a major Roman city and avenge the misery her kin has suffered for generations.

6) Bonds:
6.1 Mogurix: [Oracle] a Generous and Resourceful Warrior. He is the leader of the Wind-Riders, a clan allied with Keera’s Sunderers (the “Loyalist” asset inspired me to defined the Gallic army as the result of an alliance between different clans)
6.2 Lavinia: [Oracle] a Quiet and Powerful Healer. She is Mogurix’ wife. She was born a Roman; she remained an orphan as a child and was adopted by the Wind-Riders.
6.3 Beltros: [Oracle] a Stingy and Hostile Druid. Beltros is the oldest member of the clan. He is well respected as a wise man and depositary of tribal lore. He is a conservator and thinks that the risks of war should be avoided whenever possible.

7) Inciting Incident – [Oracle] nature strikes back
The area where the Sunderers and the Wind-Riders live has been flooded again. Keera and Mogurix decide that, next spring, they will lead their clans South, towards the lands where the fathers of their fathers lived, before they were pushed North by the advance of the Romans.

Keera swears to find the tomb of Dag, her legendary ancestor who ruled in the South and was the last to defeat the Romans.

Swear an Iron Vow: Challenge:7,8 / Action:1+2(Heart)+1(Bond) MISS
-2 Momentum (now 0)
The clans are making ready to move South, when they are attacked by the Romans!

---

Keera’s current situation:

Stats – Edge:1 Heart:2 Iron:2 Shadow:3 Wits:1
Health:5 Spirit:5 Supply:5 Momentum:0
Vow: find the tomb of Dag in the South (Dangerous) – Progress:0
Background Vow: plunder a major Roman city (Extreme) Progress:0

Pyros Island 4 – Lilith’s triumph

A Commands and Colors Ancients solo campaign, with RPG elements based on Biviusand the free subset of the Game Master’s Apprentice (GMA) Deck. The campaign will end one one of two sides wins its third victory. See setup here.

 

Previous events: Neos, the son of the tyrant of Syracuse, has broken his marriage vow with the Carthaginian Bastet. His father exiled him to the island of Pyros (a Syracusan colony) where he became the lover of the ruler Zenon. Bastet and her mother Lilith attack Pyros to force Neos to marry Bastet or take revenge upon him. They occupy the Southern part of the island without encountering opposition, and defeat the Syracusan army in the Sika Valley. As the invaders push West towards the sea-side village of Ormiskos, they are defeated by Zenon, who also captures Bastet. Zenon’s proposals of an agreement are rejected by Lilith. Neos now refuses to fight: Bastet has been captured and he wants the battle against Lilith to be fair. The Carthaginian leader takes advantage of the situation and defeats Zenon at Lofos. She is now ready to attack Zenon’s stronghold at Kastro.

---

Story-telling prelude: the Carthaginian have put Kastro under siege. Something unexpected happens.

GMA: convince arrogant merchant
[I interpret this as “a convincing and arrogant mercenary”]
Cordolix, a Gallic veteran mercenary, deserts Zenon to join Lilith’s army. He tells her he has fought for the Carthaginian before, in Sicily, and he knows how superior they are to the Greek.

Has Cordolix freed Bastet and carried her with him? NO

How does Cordolix convince Lilith to let him lead her Heavy Infantry? [Two options a-la Bivius]
A. Cordolix seduces Lilith
B. Cordolix swears he will kill Zenon in battle

Cordolix, Lilith, Bastet, Neos, Zenon

Having found out of Cordolix desertion, Neos decides he will fight again. Each army will have two leaders.

The Cavarly of Neos and Lilith are soon engaged in a fight. The Syracusan prevails and Lilith is forced to retreat and join a Medium Infantry unit: both her cavalry units are destroyed [C:0 S:2]
Neos charges again, but this time Lilith battles back and forces him to retreat.

Lilith resists Neos’ charge

At the centre of the battlefield, Cordolix and Zenon also engage in Combat. The first destroyed unit is Carthaginian Auxilia [C:0 S:3] and the Carthaginian infantry must retreat.

But Cordolix seems to want to fulfil his promise: he attacks Zenon and scatters both his Heavy Infantry and the Medium Infantry backup. Zenon is alone, retreating towards the fortifications of Kastro. [C:2 S:3]

Lilith sees that the time is favourable and launches a Coordinated Attack. On the Carthaginian left flank, a cavalry unit tries to kill the fugitive Zenon, but fails. At the centre, Cordolix charges the Carthagenian infantry that had already been hit in the previous fight: he destroys two units. [C:4 S:3]
Lilith does the same on the right-flank, finishing two badly damaged Syracusan units [C:6 S:3]

Campaign score:
Carthaginian – Victories:3 Banners:21
Syracusan – Victories:1 Banners:14

This is the third victory for the Carthaginian, hence the end of the Campaign. Kastro falls, Lilith conquers the island of Pyros and frees her daughter Bastet.

How does it end for the main characters? [Again, a-la Bivius]

A. Neos marries Bastet, with whom he will rule on the island of Pyros. But he requires that Zenon joins in the government has his private counsellor.
B. Neos manages to escape: he cannot be found anywhere. Lilith sentences Zenon to death. Bastet marries Cordolix and the couple will now rule on the island of Pyros.

Great! Lilith and Neos can meet again in the future for a second campaign!

Pyros Island 3 – The Fall of Lofos

 

A Commands and Colors Ancients solo campaign, with RPG elements based on Biviusand the free subset of the Game Master’s Apprentice (GMA) Deck. The campaign will end one one of two sides wins its third victory. See setup here.

Previous events: Neos, the son of the tyrant of Syracuse, has broken his marriage vow with the Carthaginian Bastet. His father exiled him to the island of Pyros (a Syracusan colony) where he became the lover of the ruler Zenon. Bastet and her mother Lilith attack Pyros to force Neos to marry Bastet or take revenge upon him. They occupy the Southern part of the island without encountering opposition, and defeat the Syracusan army in the Sika Valley. As the invaders push West towards the sea-side village of Ormiskos, they are defeated by Zenon, who also captures Bastet. Lilith still refuses any agreement and Neos now refuses to fight: Bastet has been captured and he wants the battle against Lilith to be fair.

Lilith thinks of trying the Northern route that leads from Sika to Kastro. The two armies meet again near Lofos.

Only the two leaders Zenon and Lilith take part to the fight. I rolled for some wooded area and I also included two camps: capturing one counts as a banner i.e. victory point. As usual, Zenon is attached to a Heavy Infantry unit and Lilith to a Medium Cavalry one.

Lilith and the Carthaginian on the left; Zenon and the Syracusan on the right

Zenon’s infantry advances at the centre of the battlefield. The Carthaginian Cavarly tries to outflank him on both sides.

But the Light Cavarly unit on the left of the Carthaginian army is first beaten by the Syracusan Medium Infantry and then destroyed by a Light Infantry ranged attack [C:0 S:1].

On the opposite flank, Lilith is pushing forward with her Cavalry and three infantry units.

Lilith leading forward her Heavy Infantry and Auxilia

Her advance pushes a Syracusan infantry unit out of the battlefield [C:1 S.1]. But she is now isolated, with only an Auxilia unit in support. Her Heavy Infantry, even more isolated at the centre of the battlefield, will be destroyed by Zenon [C:1 S:2]. The Syracusan army is close to the Carthaginian camp, defended by a badly damaged cavalry unit: yet the defenders repel an attack by the Syracusan Light Infantry and destroy the unit [C:2 S:2].

But Lilith is on fire: she clashes with the Syracusan cavalry. Her horsemen are initially dispersed, but they soon rally and destroy the Syracusan cavalry [C:3 S:2]. Her charge does not stop before she also removes a light infantry unit from the battlefield [C:4 S:2].

Lilith pushes forward, while her camp is under siege

 

The Carthaginian camp is under continuous attacks, but it strenuously resists. The Carthaginian Auxilia near Lilith engage a fight with the Infantry at the left of Zenon: the Syracusan take considerable damage. Finally Lilith charges the two weakened units and destroys both of them [C:6 S.2].

This was an outstanding win for the Carthaginians!

The Campaign score is now the following:
Carthaginian – Victories:2 Banners:15
Syracusan – Victories:1 Banners:11

With the next battle, Lilith will have a chance to win the campaign. She will launch an attack against Kastro, Zenon’s capital town.

Pyros Island 2 – Battle for Ormiskos

A Commands and Colors Ancients solo campaign, with RPG elements based on Bivius and the free subset of the Game Master’s Apprentice (GMA) Deck. See setup here.

Previous events: Neos, the son of the tyrant of Syracuse, has broken his marriage vow with the Carthaginian Bastet. His father exiled him to the island of Pyros (a Syracusan colony) where he became the lover of the ruler Zenon. Bastet and her mother Lilith attack Pyros to force Neos to marry Bastet or take revenge upon him. They occupy the Southern part of the island without encountering opposition, and defeat the Syracusan army in the Sika Valley.

The second battle takes place in the area between Lofos and Ormiskos.
[I randomly chose a terrain type: woods. And randomly placed a few tiles on the board]

Initial deployment is similar to that of the first Battle: Zenon and Bastet lead the main forces of the two sides. both leaders attached to Heavy Infantry units. Neos and Lilith face each other on the left-side of the Syracusan army: both are attached to Medium Infantry units.

The fight is hard on the wings lead by Lilith and Neos. Once again, Neos charges too boldly with his horsemen and his unit is destroyed [C:1 S:0]. He falls back to join a Light Infantry unit in a wooded area.

Neos’ cavalry is destroyed

Soon after, Zenon and Lilith meet at the center of the battlefield. The Syrancusan are the first to take damage: Zenon’s unit is reduced to half strength and a Medium Infantry unit at his right is almost destroyed. But he conquers his first banner, thanks to the destruction of an Auxilia Carthaginian unit. [C:1 S:1]

The Carthaginians rally and counter-attack, they destroy both Zenon’s light cavalry and the damaged Medium Infantry unit. [C:3 S:1]

Bastet’s soldiers rally and defeat a Syracusan infantry unit

But Zenon’s reply is devastating: his elite Infanty, flanked by two Medium Infantry units. attacks Bastet frontally. An Auxilia unit is swiped away. Zenon’s veteran destroy Bastet’s Heavy Infantry [four “square” results], she herself is unable to escape [“helmet”]. The infantry unit to the left of Zenon are also effective and destroy an already damaged Carthaginian Medium Infantry unit. Four banners conquered by Zenon in a single turn: 3 units + 1 leader [C:3 S:5]

Zenon’s attack. The Syracusan infantry on the left will also destroy its opponent.

The Carthaginian cavalry tries a desperate attack to avenge their leader: they outflank the Syracusans and attack Zenon from behind! His Heavy Infantry barely survives, but they immediately battle back conquering the sixth banner. [C:3 S:6]

The desperate attack by an isolated Carthaginian Cavalry unit

Final score: Carthaginian:3 banners, Syracusan:9 banners

The Campaign score is in perfect balance:
Carthaginian – Victories:1 Banners:9
Syracusan – Victories:1 Banners:9

---

RPG interlude.

Was Bastet captured by the Syracusan? YES

Zenon offers Lilith to free Bastet, if their army leaves the island. But Lilith seems much more concerned with her honour than with her daughter’s life and promptly refuses.

For the next battle:
A. Lilith finds a replacement for Bastet’s leadership (both armies have two leaders)
B. Neos refuses to fight (both armies have one leader)

B: Neos feels that it would not be fair if he continued to fight, now that Bastet has been captured. He will let Zenon and Lilith set the issue.

Pyros Island – Battle 1 – Sika Valley

A Commands and Colors Ancients solo campaign, with RPG elements based on Bivius and the free subset of the Game Master’s Apprentice (GMA) Deck. See setup here.

Previous events: Neos, the son of the tyrant of Syracuse, has broken his marriage vow with the Carthaginian Bastet. His father exiled him to the island of Pyros (a Syracusan colony) where he became the lover of the ruler Zenon. Bastet and her mother Lilith attach Pyros to force Neos to marry Bastet or take revenge upon him. They occupied the Southern part of the island without encountering opposition, but the Syracusan army will face them in the Sika Valley.

---

The two armies face each other. Zenon leads the main Syracusan body: he is attached to a Heavy Infantry unit. Neos leads the left wing: one Light Cavalry unit, one Light Infantry, two Medium Infantry.
The main body of the Carthaginian army, facing Zenon, is lead by Bastet, who is also attached to the Carthaginian Heavy Infantry. Lilith faces Neos on the right wing, with two cavalry and three infantry units.

Lilith and Neos advance boldly and they are soon engaged in direct combat. Zenon awaits in reserve, launching his cavalry against Lilith. But the Syracusan horses are too isolated and one of the two units is soon destroyed.

The fight between Neos and Lilith favours the Syracusan, but the Carthaginian leader is quick to evade the decisive attack and moves to a safer position.

Lilith’s cavarly is badly damaged: she takes cover behind her light infantry

Bastet advances: her army is deployed in a solid line and occupies the centre of the battlefield. Zenon still does not join the battle.

On the other wing, Neos’ cavalry has also been hit hard, but he holds his position. This will cost him the destruction of both his cavalry unit. Later, the Carthaginian cavalry will outflank and destroy an isolated infantry unit.

Neon’s cavarly still in the front line

But the decisive fight is lead by Lilith’s infantry: they completely destroy the Syracusan right wing, finally conquering the sixth banner.

The last Syracusan cavalry unit is defeated

Final score. Carthaginian:6 banners, Syracusan:3 banners

---

RPG interlude.
Does the scene involve Zenon? NO
Which characters are involved? Neos and Bastet

GMA: delay tender companion
Neos arranges a secret meeting with Bastet. He swears that he will marry her in a year, if the Carthaginian leave Pyros.
Is Bastet interested in the proposal? (unlikely: 25% chance) YES
But when Bastet speaks of the idea with her mother, Lilith says she is determined to see the question solved without further delays. Lilith proposes to lead the army by herself alone, if Bastet is not willing to fight against the Syracusans. Bastet immediately replies that she will do her part.