The Bloody Canal

The Tunnocks of Grantly, a Minor House loyal to Riddick Craven, Warden of the Riding, were in the Royal Capital having escorted the Riding's tax levy for the quarter. They were billeted in the House of the Cravens - while some of them are dispersed in local taverns.

A large force of armsmen of House Casterly, led by Lord Tarquil Casterly, march on the Craven House, attacking any Tunnocks they meet. A running street battle ensued as the Tunnocks hack their way through the Casterlys towards the Great Canal Gate....

Some isolated Tunnocks are attacked at the Sword of Brass - a particularly seedy dive. Lord Tarquil can be seen in the midst of the fray.

More Tunnocks arrive,finding their fellows cut down, they realise they have to get past the Casterlys to get out of the City. Some head off on a different route to flank the Casterlys....

A lone Tunnock makes his stand, cut off from his cousins. A common fate today for the sons of the North...

The Tunnocks leap a canal to escape, Murdo son of Mungo turns and buys time for the rest.....

Casterlys close in from all directions, dashing through the Great Bazaar and along the side of the Floating Market (where a few Tunnock weapons are already being sold, one err careful owner?)

The Great Bridge is in sight but the Blackcloaks have been bought off and turn on the Tunnocks....

The last axe swinging Tunnock is engulfed by a horde of Casterlys and Blackcloaks.....

.........................................................

This was a nasty little game, inspired by the narco ambush in the backstreets in "Clear & Present Danger", played out purely to see if GW LOTR figures could look Game Of Thrones eneough or at least sufficiently non LOTR for my purposes. I think the answer is YES.

I used "IN HER MAJESTY'S NAME" - whch is a Victorian set of rules but has axes, chainmail, plate, all the stuff my figures had and I rather think it worked. I decided that as more Tunnocks were cut down, the "Pluck" of the survivors would increase - reflecting desperation and a hint of northern stroppiness. In fact, Murdo Tunnock was actually still standing at the end of the game - he proved unkillable. He is now a Named Man of the North and a bitter foe of the southern jessies of House Casterly.

Just why has Lord Tarquil committed such a heinous act? Is it just because he has a goatee?

And will the North Remember? All this will be answered, probably quicker than we'll find out if Jon Snow if really alive, dead or turned into a wolf.

Cheers!

 Maff



A missive to the Baron

To Eddard, Baron Brocas of Torh, from Trocero, Captain-Seneschal of the Keep in the Wallow, greetings.

My Lord, I write in haste, returned from a skirmish. Mistday last, a runner arrived from the fisherfolk who warned us of "dire heathen monsters" approaching from the north. I took a patol of men out on the next day, being Foxday and as it was all too possible that this was a ruse to have us engage a snark, took a number of longbowmen, in the heavy savoyard armour recently arrived. We reached the Old North Bastion just to find a band of skeletons some yards from marching out onto the sward. I sent half the men to line the rubble, while taking the rest along the right hand wall to arrive on the flank of the undead. The armour slowed us down but the men held their line until we, having had to fight a goodly number on the flank, fell upon them and broke their line. The undead were either hacked down or crumbled as if some dweomer had been shattered. No sign was found of a leader of any form. None of our men were hurt, though some had been cornered by two or more skeletons. My compliments to the Armourer. We scouted around and found some 30 gold quadroons of dubious vintage which are added to the warchest, as ever, taxation of the fisherfolk seems nigh pointless and cruel. We then crossed some snark tracks but returned to the Keep much to the cheer of the villagers as we past through their hovels. Stopping to rest in an unusually cheery glade, I found a curious stone, possibly a charmstone, I believe.

The weather here remains dank and cold, with a heavy frost and some ice in the channels. Were we not so far from their fastnesses, I'd look to see frost giants or winter kobolds lurking hereabouts in the coming weeks as winter settles in. I will shortly sent a patrol of horse to ensure the road is open to the Rampant Griffin and to enquire of rumours from mine host Billings.

As to supplies we are well found, though as ever more arrows and men of veteran service are much needed; further, if undead are to be an occurence here, a man of priestly order (a Brother Militant mayhap) would be invaluable.

This is being sent by fast rider this day,

Trocero, Capt