Colonel d'Algrave shivered as the flurries of snow flustered and swirled about him like demonic sprites. He drew his coarse homespun cloak tighter around him and wished again that it was summer. Pausing his march, he turned his back into the wind and glanced to the rear. Nothing. The snow obliterated his view, but he knew that it also wiped out any sign of the passing of his Goblin Cacadores and thus as much as he wished for the sun, commonsense told him that this unusually harsh winter was as much an ally as it was an enemy to his strength.
As his unit trudged past heads bowed into the wind, d'Algrave reflected on the situation that had led to him and his troops making this desperate march through the bleak Rigamellina highlands in deep winter. Only one month before, he had received orders from the Junta of the Regency of Al-Garvey ordering him to make haste to the Catalucian town of Badajobz . The invasion of Mordred's Elves had thrown the Dark Elf Kingdom into turmoil as the Amorican Elves smashed the once vaunted Dark Elf armies and occupied the ancient Kingdom. From this turmoil came evidence that an ancient Goblin religious icon, lost for centuries had in fact been in the possession of the Dark Elf Shivlian Inquisition...
The icon - the Zepecimoir, is a large precious stone brought to the Kingdom of Al-Garvey centuries before from distant conquered lands and venerated as a symbol of the Goblin Deity Moiritatra. A pulsing red jewel, its colour gained from a millennium of sacrifices held over it, the Zepecmoir possesses arcane powers and deep cultural significance to the Goblins.
D'Algrave and his troops had been fortunate to recover the stone, ambushing an Inquisition convoy attempting to smuggle religious material out of Badajobz, before Mordred's troops descended on the city. However since then, matters had deteriorated. The Dark Elves themselves held great store in the stone and at the behest of the Inquisition, Dark Elf Regulars have been chasing the Goblins for over a week now, once nearly catching them in an ambush south of Sallymanky, the Cacadore unit leaving six dead behind them. If that was not enough, d'Algrave pondered, he now had Mordred's forces to consider, for the last three days his flight to Al-Garvey had been driven by High Elf Voltigeurs also apparently intent on capturing the hard won icon.
Yet now the flight was nearing its end. D'Algrave turned back into the driving snow and squinted at the final rise of hills, beyond which laid the lines of the Goblin's Orc allies. Gringoes with strange beliefs they maybe, mused d'Algrave, but they spelt safety.
Suddenly his thoughts were shattered. A smattered crack of musket fire sounded above the wind and a Goblin beside d'Algrave dropped to the ground, his face blown away by a musket ball.
D'Algrave dropped to the ground with his troops. Another blast of musket fire sounded and d'Algrave winced as his hat was plucked off his head. He glanced down at his shako and the hole which if a couple of inches lower would have spelt his doom. To his left two of the Cacadores returned fire at the ambushers, and d'Algrave was gratified to see the marksmanship of his troops, as a splendidly uniformed Dark Elf fell out of a crop of rocks, blood soaking his white tunic.
Pulling his pistol from under his cloak, d'Algrave thanked Moiritatra that he was not facing the Voltigeurs that had been chasing him of late, but his original enemy the Dark Elves.
The Flight from Badajobz
Since the capture (theft or liberation, dependent on your racial persuasion) of the Zepecmoir, the Goblins have been hounded first by Dark Elf forces and more recently Imperial Elves. However, having almost reached the safety of the allied Orc lines in the Rigamellina highlands of northern Al-Garvey, the Cacadores have been caught by Dark Elf regulars under Inquisition command.
With High Elf Voltigeurs in the immediate vicinity as well, the position for the Goblins is grim, although not hopeless. What follows is a three player scenario for Flintloque Reloaded.
Map and Setup
There is no map provided for this scenario. The gaming table should be set out to represent a typical battlefield during the Mordredian Wars. Players should take turns placing scenery on the tabletop (a few peninsular type buildings maybe, a small wood, perhaps a frozen river). Despite the snowstorms, only a light covering is present over most of the highlands and it does not restrict movement in any way. It is however snowing for the first D6 moves of the game and this effects firing as per the rules.
The Goblin player should set-up first on the Western edge of the table, the Dark Elf player should then set-up at the East end of the table and finally the Ferach Elf player's force arrives from the Western edge of the table D3 + 3 moves after the first move.
Scenario Objectives
Here are the objectives for each force in the Scenario:
The Goblins
You are Colonel d'Algrave of the 1st Battalion Goblin Cacadores. Sent on a secret mission to recover an important religious icon from the Dark Elf city of Badajobz , you have almost reached the safety of allied Orc lines. Over the last week or so you have in turn been chased by Dark Elf Regulars and High Elf Voltigeurs. Of the sixteen Cacadores that accompanied you to Badajobz only nine have survived the flight.
Now within sight of safety the Dark Elves have caught you again. A concerted effort on your part should see you able to smash through them and reach Orc lines.
The Zepecmoir is being carried in your pouch. Should you fall before reaching safety the unit is under strict instructions to recover the stone and get it to safety.
The Dark Elves
You are the Marquis de Badajobz el Grande y Mellina i Tel'n'Vera. A pious and important Dark Elf you have been instructed by the God Shivilia (through his servants on Valon the noble Inquisition) to recover an important religious icon stolen from the Temple at Badajobz by heretic Goblin soldiers.
With a section of infantry from the Regular Guard Infantry Regiment; Regimenta de Rosimonta y Inquisitato you nearly succeeded when the Goblins stumbled into a carefully devised ambush south of the city of Sallymanky. Six of the heretics died that day but under the cover of darkness the rest escaped. Since then due to the incompetence of your senior Sergeant you have been unable to catch the goblins as they fled through the desolate Rigamellina highlands.
The situation has now been further exacerbated as reports have reached you that the Amorican Emperor Mordred has dispatched troops to recover the icon for his own foul needs and a unit of High Elf Voltigeurs are in your immediate vicinity.
However the righteousness of the God Shivilia has smiled benevolent fortune on your cause and your unit has managed to intercept the goblin heretics before they reached the lines of their worthless Orc allies and you through considerable military skill and planning have interjected your force between them and safety. Recovery of the icon by one so skilled as yourself has never really been in doubt and it is now just a matter of time.
The Ferach Elves
You are Lieutenant Athien Constantine of His Imperial Majesty's 64e de Ligne, a Regular Foot Regiment. Your commission in the Regiment places you in command of a platoon of Voltigeurs and your current orders are to take a Section of your Platoon into the Rigamellina Highlands and intercept a Goblin Cacadore unit fleeing to the nearby Orc lines with a treasure of cultural and religious importance to both Goblins and Dark Elves.
Your Colonel has explained that capture of the treasure by the Emperor's forces will allow Mordred to play off the Goblins and Dark Elves against each other and thus shatter the fragile alliance carefully built up by the Orcs of Albion. Should you succeed then promotion to Captain and the Emperor's thanks will be yours.
Three days ago you intercepted the Goblins and in a brief skirmish killed three and possibly wounded others. Unfortunately a snowstorm swept the area and allowed the Goblins to escape. However you have continued to track them and believe yourself to be less than an hour behind.
You have been advised that the Dark Elves are also hunting the Goblins and they also, if encountered, must be prevented from capturing the treasure. Hearing firing nearby, you march to the sound of the fight.
Game Length
This game scenario ends automatically upon the completion of either sides objectives. Victory Conditions
The Dark Elves win by taking possession of the icon and fleeing the board on any side except the east.
Scenario Forces
The Goblins
Colonel d'Algrave [Experienced Goblin]
Standard Pistol, Sword (+2) 23 Points
Flaw: Absence of Power
d'Algrave carries the Zepecmoir in a pouch about his person.
Corporal Abarrca [Experienced Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 30 Points
Atirador Bauza [Experienced Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 30 Points
Atirador Coelho [Experienced Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 30 Points
Atirador Diago [Experienced Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 30 Points
Atirador Enciso [Average Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 26 Points
Atirador Fuentes [Average Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 26 Points
Atirador Gallego [Average Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 26 Points
Atirador Herrera [Average Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 26 Points
Atirador Ivarra [Raw Goblin]
Bakur Ryfle 24 Points
Total Force: 10 Goblins and 245 Points
The Dark Elves
Marquis de Badajobz el Grande y Mellina i Tel'n'Vera [Average Dark Elf Militia]
Sword (+2) 16 Points
Skill: Duellist
Magical Ability (1)
Sergeant Alves [Experienced Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 19 Points
Corporal Baptista [Average Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 16 Points
Private de Cabral [Experienced Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 19 Points
Private Dias [Experienced Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 19 Points
Private Faria [Average Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 16 Points
Private Ganarita [Average Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 16 Points
Private Jardim [Average Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 16 Points
Private Leal [Average Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 16 Points
Private Macedo [Raw Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Private Neves [Raw Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Private Oliveira [Raw Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Private Pacheco [Raw Dark Elf] Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Private Quintal [Raw Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Private dos Ramos [Raw Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Private Sabino [Raw Dark Elf Militia]
Standard Musket 13 Points
Total Force: 16 Dark Elves and 244 Points
The Ferach Elves
Lieutenant Athien Constantine [Elite Experienced Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket, Sword (+2) 32 Points
Flaw: Absence of Power
Corporal Torren [Elite Experienced Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 28 Points
Soldat Glamir [Elite Average Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 24 Points
Soldat Eärebrin [Elite Average Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 24 Points
Soldat Delildur [Elite Average Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 24 Points
Soldat Róldor [Elite Raw Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 20 Points
Soldat Galadrieldor [Elite Raw Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 20 Points
Soldat Madriend [Elite Raw Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 20 Points
Soldat Rarion [Elite Raw Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 20 Points
Soldat Galioldur [Elite Raw Ferach Elf]
Elf (Ferach) Musket 20 Points
Total Force: 10 Elves and 232 Points.
Scenario Special Rules
Adding more variety to a standard battle this scenario uses the follow quirky and unique special rules.
Flaw: Absence of Power: Characters with this flaw do not roll for Magical Abilities.
Searching: It takes one character one move to search a body for the treasure. The Goblins only take half a turn to search thier commander as they all know exactly what they are looking for.
Skill: Duellist: Characters with this skill get +1 to thier melee roll when using a sword.
Wylde Magicke: Each player should roll for magical abilities for each of their soldiers as per Alternative Armies supplement “Optional Rules for Magicke in Flintloque” which can be found in the files section of Alternative Armies Notables Yahoo group.
Painting and Uniform Guide
These guidelines are purely optional and should you wish to do something different feel free, after all Flintloque is a fantasy game:
Cacadores (1st Battalion)
Like the elite Orc Ryfles, the Goblin Cacadores wear a totally different uniform to their Line Infantry cousins. The jacket is brown (burnt sienna) and the trousers either white or brown (often a mix was seen and occasionally any colour as supplies got mixed up). 1st Battalion Collars and turnbacks are also brown but are piped with green with sky blue cuffs. The shako is black with a green tuft. Leather accoutrements are all black.
Regimenta de Rosimonta y Inquisitato
Dark Elf Regular Infantry wear a largely white uniform with a white jacket, white trousers, white epaulets and white leather accoutrements (except the cartridge pouch which is black). The cuffs, breast and tailcoat turnbacks differ from Regiment to Regiment and those of the Regimenta de Rosimonta y Inquisitato are Mid Green. Gaiters (if worn) and bicorne hat are black, the hat having a red plume.
Voltigeurs (64e de Ligne)
Imperial Elf Line infantry wear blue coats with white breasts (trimmed red) and tailcoat turnbacks. Trousers are either white or (often on campaign) beige. Leather accoutrements are white except the cartridge pouch and sword scabbards which are black. Epaulets are red for Grenadiers, blue trimmed red for Fusiliers and green trimmed yellow for Voltigeurs. Cuffs are red trimmed white for all. Shakos are black (trimmed red for Grenadiers). Only Grenadiers and Voltigeurs have plumes, red for Grenadiers and yellow topped green for Voltigeurs. Fusiliers only have the bottom pom pom coloured variously to indicate their company. All shakos sport a cockade beneath the plume/pom pom being blue on red on white.
Webmaster's Notes
This was originally published in the second Flintloque Digest in August 1996.
I have added to the original text and also have made changes to the scenario in order to match Alternative Armies new scenario format and make the scenario more accessible to players of Flintloque Reloaded. |
