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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 morc 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 Rifles (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 touched by the hand of Mordred himself. Sharke was widely hailed as a hero for capturing this prize, a standard that had been the first ever Elven Eagle to be captured. 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. The Action at Tel'n'Vera Refighting the seizure of the Elven Eagle is a fairly straightforward process. I would suggest that the scenario is played as a solo game using the Solo Play Table. Alternatively if you have a regular opponent, both players could take part of the Orc force (see below). If using the Solo Play Table, I would suggest that for a D result, change the result to withdraw 50% of walking movement towards own line and add a +% modifier to any roll should the orcs actually get hold of the Eagle. To win the Orcs must get the Eagle off the table to the west. They lose if the Elves get it off to the east. 
The Orcs The Orc force comprises of Lieutenant Sharke and his five Orc Rifles as outlined in the box. Additionally there are a group of volunteers of the South Mordor 's Light Company in support (use packs 34841 & 34884). These volunteers consist as follows Lieutenant Gybbers - a Raw Regular. Armed with a sword and pistol. Not exactly Sharke's bosom buddy. Ensign Dunny - a Raw Regular. Armed with a sword and pistol. Looks at Sharke as a role model. Sergeant Mazniak - a Veteran Regular. Armed with a Line Sergeant's Halberd. Wonders what the hell he's doing in this madness... Privates Hoarer, Penbletunn and Ricse - Average Regulars armed with muskets. Privates Kaliath, Cresacre, Gitaka and Ibbutsun - Raw Regulars armed with muskets. Second Orc Player Option If you intend to have a second player involved, then one player should take Sharke and the Rifles, the other Gybbers and the Redcoats. The player taking the role of Sharke should NOT READ THE FOLLOWING BRIEFING! 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 whorc 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. Only the Gybbers 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 whatever). The Elves The Elves should be put on automatic pilot using the Solo Play Table or controlled by an Umpire. Their are eight Garde Grenadiers (use packs 31881 & 31841) and ten Garde Voltigeurs (use the figures in the box). They are from an Elite unit and are randomly worked out prior to the start of the scenario as experienced, average and raw as per the rules. Webmaster's Notes
This scenario was first published in Orcs in the Hills, Issue 3 in the Summer of 1996.
If you're looking for the Flintloque Reloaded version including troop breakdowns, points costs and set objectives then click here. |
