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Sharke's Eagle - Reloaded |
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Written by Steve Blease
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Thursday, 01 November 2007 00:00 |
Sharke walked in front of his Orcs and looked at them. They squatted on the grass, their faces filthy, their eyes bloodshot and sunken from the powder smoke and the strain of battle. They had done morc than well. They looked at him expectantly.
"You've done well. You were good and I'm proud of you". They grinned, embarrassed at the praise, pleased by it. "I'm not asking a thing more of you. The Regiment's on its way here and in a minute Ensign Dunny will take you back and form you up on the left as usual". They were puzzled, their grins gone. "Sergeant Harpy and I are not coming. We think it's bad that our Regiment only has one colour so we're going to fetch another. That one".
He pointed at the broken Elf Regiment. Two hundred yards away, in the centre of the Elf line, was an Eagle. It flashed gold in the light, its outstretched wings shadowing the pole on which it was mounted. Harpy stared at the backs of the Elf infantry who fired as an unseen target in the smoke beyond. "It would make a great story, so it would".
(apologies to Bernard Cornwell)
As a game, Flintloque is geared towards small skirmishes arising out of raids, patrols etc, etc. However it can also be used to create part of a much larger action, a key event or whatever, something that forms part of a whole. The ability to allow the gamer to create a microcosm of a much larger event opens up whole new world of Flintloque scenarios. This is just one idea...
The Battle of Tel'n'Vera
Following the flight of the outnumbered Orc army at Kooruna, the Iron Duke had been keen to have another crack at Mordred's legions, though with better odds. This opportunity came quickly as the High Elves invaded the Goblin realm of Al-Garvey.
Alongside the important River Tagur which runs through Cataluccia into Al-Garvey, then the sea, is the major Dark Elf city of Tel'n'Vera. In a masterly move, the Orc army outflanked the Elves, forcing them to retreat back into Cataluccia. Wheeling-Turn continued his advance and joined one of the few remaining Dark Elf armies under the command of Generalissimo Don Gergorio de la Composto at Tel'n'Vera where they met the forces of Mordred's army under the command of General Jean-Bastarde Jourdanniare.
Although the Orc/ Dark Elf combined force outnumbered the High Elves, the Orcs formed the minority of the combined army and the Iron Duke knew that he could not rely on the Dark Elves to' put up much of a fight. Consequently, Wheeling-Turn ordered the Dark Elves into an abandoned fort on his southern flank and took up position on the hills to the north; the Cerro de Mandolin.
Jourdanniare ordered his troops to attack the Orc positions throughout the day in their famous massed columns that had defeated countless armies throughout Valon. Hard pressed throughout the line lines of red coated Orcs managed to repel wave after wave of Elf attacks, until, eventually the Elves retreated from the field leaving nearly 20% of their force lying dead.
So decisive was this first major victory over the Elves that the Iron Duke was much lauded in Albion and as a reward ennobled as Viscount Wheeling-Turn of Tel'n'Vera.
The Battle of Tel'n'Vera
The Taking of the Eagle
During one part of the battle, Lieutenant Sharke of the Orc Ryfles (currently attached with his men to the Light Company of the 67th South Mordor Foot), captured an Elven Eagle from a Grenadiers of the Gardes Regiment which they had broken with their precisely timed volleys of musket fire. The first ever Elven Eagle to be captured, Sharke was hailed as a hero for capturing ththis prize, a standard that had been touched by the hand of Mordred himself. In reward, the Iron Duke gazetted Sharke to the rank of Captain and gave him command of the Light Company of the South Mordor Foot.
This small battle within the battle, to capture the Eagle, forms the basis of this scenario.
Map and Setup
Scenario Objectives
Here are the objectives for each force in the Scenario:
The Orcs
The Orcs need to capture the Eagle, to do such a thing would be a huge blow to Elven morale.
The Elves
The Elves must ensure the Eagle does not fall into Orcish hands.
Game Length
This game scenario lasts automatically upon the completion of the objective of either force in the game.
Victory Conditions
To Orcs win if they get the Eagle off the table to the west. The Elves win if they retain the Eagle and get it off the table to the east.
Scenario Forces
Sharke's Ryfles
Full rules for Sharke's Ryfles can be found in the Alternative Armies supplement “JOV#09 - Sharke's Ryfles” which can be found in the files section of Alternative Armies Notables Yahoo group.
Total Force: 1 Half-Orc, 1 Bog Orc, 4 Orcs and 288 Points
Gybber's South Mordor Light Company
Lieutenant Gybbers [Raw Orc] 23 Points
Standard Pistol, Sword (+2)
Not exactly Sharke's bosom buddy.
Ensign Dunny [Raw Orc] 23 Points
Standard Pistol, Sword (+2)
Looks at Sharke as a role model.
Sergeant Mazniak [Veteran Orc] 32 Points
Halberd (+3)
Wonders what the hell he's doing in this madness...
Private Hoarer [Average Orc] 24 Points
Standard Musket
Private Penbletunn [Average Orc] 24 Points
Standard Musket
Private Ricse [Average Orc] 24 Points
Standard Musket
Privates Kaliath [Raw Orc] 20 Points
Standard Musket
Private Cresacre [Raw Orc] 20 Points
Standard Musket
Private Gitaka [Raw Orc] 20 Points
Standard Musket
Private Ibbutsun [Raw Orc] 20 Points
Standard Musket
Total Force: 10 Orcs and 230 Points.
The Ferach Voltigeurs
Major Antoine Silvestre [Elite Experienced Ferach Elf] 32 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket, Sword (+2)
Corporal Tweitei [Elite Experienced Ferach Elf] 28 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Bourgon [Elite Average Ferach Elf] 24 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Darcie [Elite Average Ferach Elf] 24 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Faltoine [Elite Average Ferach Elf] 24 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Hercley [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Grande [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Ennuie [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Caltraine [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Asquot [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Total Force: 10 Elves and 232 Points.
The Ferach Grenadiers
Sergent Babin [Elite Experienced Ferach Elf] 27 Points
Sword (+2)
Soldat Depaul [Elite Average Ferach Elf] 22 Points
Standard Bearers Pole (+1)
Depaul is carrying the Elven Eagle.
Soldat Fortescue [Elite Average Ferach Elf] 19 Points
Drum (-1)
As drummer assigned to the squad with the Eagle, Fortescue did not expect to see combat.
Soldat Haineau [Elite Average Ferach Elf] 24 Points
Halberd (+3)
Soldat Girard [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Elandry [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Chevalier [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Soldat Arcenau [Elite Raw Ferach Elf] 20 Points
Elf (Ferach) Musket
Total Force: 8 Elves and 172 Points.
Scenario Special Rules
Adding more variety to a standard battle this scenario uses the follow quirky and unique special rules.
The Three player Option: The three player option involves a seprate third player taking control of the 67th South Mordor Volunteer section. The briefing is written in full in and the end of the Scenario Notes section. If you are intending to play this with two players, the player playing Sharke should not read Gybber's Briefing.
Controlling the Elves: The Elves should be put on automatic pilot using the Solo Play rules supplement (or controlled by an Umpire). When using the Solo Play Table, for a D result, change the result to withdraw 50% of walking movement towards own line and add a +2 modifier to any roll should the Orcs actually get hold of the Eagle.
Wylde Magicke: All of the Ferach Elf sections and the Dark Elf section 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 here in the files section of Alternative Armies Notables Yahoo group.
Webmaster's Notes
This scenario was first published in Orcs in the Hills, Issue 3 in the Summer of 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.
Lieutenant Gybbers Briefing:
You are a noble and well bred pure blooded orc from a respectable lineage of high ranking orc warriors. Sharke is a jumped up half breed orc, pure gutter scum from the poxed rookeries of Londinium. Since being attached to the South Mordor he has humiliated you and your uncle the Regiment's commander. Most recently he stole your Goblin whore and you suspect he murdered your gambling buddy Lieutenant Berri undercover of last night's skirmish with the Elves. In addition he has been appointed as commander of the Light Company ahead of you! You are determined to dispose of Sharke with either a bullet or sword in the back using the confusion of the following fight. Stealing the Eagle from him would make you feel even better.
Note: Only the Gybber's figure will actually undertake this foul deed. The other Redcoats cannot be involved in any capacity (though they will follow Gybbers orders to the extent that they could be the other side of the board or looking the other way). If the deed is done within 24cm of Ensign Dunny immediately give control of that figure to the Sharke player. |
