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Orcs in the Hills
Issue 2 - Online Edition Return to the Contents Page
Go Back to the Previous Article - Continue on to the Next Article Wheeling-Turn's Orcs have to defend a group of settlers in the wild tundra to the South against the attacks of the native Trolls and Trollka in this Flintloque scenario for two players. The sun beat mercilessly down on the column of Orcs, though the cold south wind cut through them as sharp as an Elvish blade. Major Grizniak stopped his horse, pulled a wineskin from his saddle and poured some of its contents down his throat. A cheap goblin brew, his mouth winced at its sour taste, still it warmed his belly and for that he was grateful. As he drank he observed his command, a section of Orc mounted dragoons, their red coats patched and faded, their bicorne hats battered and mishappen. "Scum of the earth" he'd heard the Iron Duke call them, but he'd still rather have this bunch of "scum" with him here in the Southern wilds rather than some of the dandified ponces of the Palace Lifeguard. Orcs or not, Grizniak sneered to himself, the Lifeguard still looked like poofs... "Tragmurz, you slovenly git!" Grizniak bellowed at one of his troops. "Bloody well sit up straight in your saddle, you useless bugger! Sergeant Horrin?!" "Sir?" Horrin reigned his horse in alongside his officer. "Put that bleedin' reprobate on a charge! He's a disgrace to the sodding army!" "Aye sir!" Horrin replied, glaring menacingly at the unfortunate Private Tragmurz. The Dragoon commander cast his eye down the rest of the column. Gods teeth, he cursed silently. What on Valon had he done to deserve being lumbered with these bleeding civilians? The scum and waste of Londinium's Rookeries, now calling themselves settlers as they attempted to colonise the unexplored lands to the south of Albion. Grizniak was of the personal opinion to let the bastards take their own bloody chances out here in this Gods foresaken tundra, but his masters decreed otherwise. Scum they may be, he'd been told, but they are Ores and citizens of Albion at that. It was the army's duty to protect them from any uncivilised threat in these new lands, and as Grizniak knew, there were some pretty bloody uncivilised threats out here. Taking a final swig from his wineskin, he tugged at the reigns of his mount and rejoined the column. As his horse reached the front of his command, a terrible scream ripped the air. Grizniak reached for his pistol and inwardly cursed. Would those bloody trolls never give up? He turned in his saddle and once again issued his orders: "Sergeant, troop form rank and get those bleedin' civilians organised... Seems like the natives are still restless. Into the Troll-lands Since the successful capture of Dresda by the Duke of Wheeling-Turn and his redcoat Orcs, Albion has embarked on an expansive programme of building its own empire by colonising various wild lands of Valon, notably to the East, but also to the South. The tundra lands to the South of Albion and Jockia are sparsely populated by the Troll races and have been seen by the Orcs as territory ripe for exploitation. Consequently financial incentives and the promise of land have circulated the slum ridden rookeries of all the major Orc cities including Londinium, Port Bristle and Orkchesta. These over populated centres of despair have seen no end of volunteers eager to journey to the promised lands to the south and east. The army has been charged with ostensively protecting the settlers in these new lands (although given the problems that occurred in eastern Valon it may also be true that their role includes policing the settlers too). This scenario concerns a small settler convoy and its army escort entering the Troll lands and introduces the Trolls into Flintloque... The Orcs The Orcs are pretty much standard fare. Eight mounted Orc Dragoons escorting a settlers train. The Dragoons are regular troops comprising of one mounted average officer, one mounted experienced sergeant and six mounted privates, one experienced, two average and three raw.
The train consist of two wagons each drawn by two horses (they can move at 50% of heavy cavalry rate). The settlers count as raw militia in a fight and each wagon has five settlers of military ability each (also three non-combatants who serve no function in the scenario other than to be protected). The fighting settlers have between them three muskets, two blunderbusses, two bows and three spears (allocate as you see fit). In the wagons there is an unlimited supply of barrels and other improvised weapons. To win the scenario the Orc Dragoons must either beat off the Troll attacks or escort both wagons and 70% of the settlers off the opposite side of the board. The Trolls The Troll Gods watched the changes in Valon following Mordred's seizure of the power-ring with limited interest. The rise of the new gods affected them and their children little so they were content in their simple way to continue with the old ways. They have ignored the spread of gun powder and the new styles of warfare sweeping Valon, the inter-tribal wars of the Trolls being decided as they have for centuries by sword, spear and brute strength. 
The incursions by the Orcs into the Troll-lands have come as something of a shock for the Troll Gods. Geared only towards their traditional old fashioned style of warfare, the Trolls had limited and varying success against the Orcs, most of the time failing against the "sticks that spit unknown fire". Slowly (as is their nature) the Troll Gods realised the danger of the new Gods and eventually approached the God of the Iron Star, Blookha for help. However in the meantime the Trolls have had to resist the Orc invasions by traditional means. Despite the wide variety of types of the Troll species, Rock Trolls, Snow Trolls, Mountain Trolls etc, differences between their abilities are minimal. The major difference is between Trolls and their smaller cousins the Trollka. Trolls are large, mean and nasty creatures. Bulky, but surprisingly agile nevertheless, Trolls are a minimum of ten foot tall, usually between twelve and fifteen feet in height. The Trollka are smaller than their Troll cousins, but still quite large compared to the other Valon races. Generally between six and eight foot tall, the Trollka are extremely quick and cunning, and very nasty creatures. In appearance they essentially look like smaller Trolls (though less bulky) and as with Trolls their are different types eg. Stone, Snow, Mountain, as well as the increasingly numerous Wood Trollka. Troll War Parties usually comprise of a mix of Trolls and Trollka, often at a 1:2 ratio. The combination of the large brutish Trolls and the canny Trollka is generally very effective. The Troll War Party in our scenario consists of five Trolls and ten Trollka. The Trolls are armed with one two handed sword, two heavy axes, one heavy mace and one morning star. The Trollka are armed with three swords, two axes, two maces, one morning star and two spears.
All the Trollka and Trolls are Average troop except when fired at by black powder weapon when they should be treated as Raw. To win the Trolls must stop Orcs or fore them back off side they entered. Trolls & Trollka in Flintloque The following stats are to be used Trolls am Trollka in this scenario (and others player may wish to create), prior to Blookha' involvement. Trolls: treat as Militia except for Morale then treat as Regular. Movement Crawl: 4cm
Walk: 16cm
Run: 24cm
Defence Factor: 4
Wounds: 6
Hand to Hand Combat Modifier: +3
Morale Modifier: +2 Special Rules: cannot use black powder weapons. However they also use a selection of other weapons listed below. Modifiers fc these are as follows: Two-Handed Sword: + 4
Heavy Axe: +4
Heavy Mace: +3
Morning Star: +2 Trollka: treat as Guerrillas. Movement Crawl: 6cm
Walk: 22cm
Run: 32cm
Defence Factor/Wounds: +3
Hand to Hand Combat Modifier: +2
Morale Modifier: +1 Special Rules: cannot use black powder weapons. However they also use a selection of other weapons as well as those hand weapons listed in Flintloqiie. Modifiers for these as follows: Mace: +3
Morning Star: +2 Troll Magic With their Gods still following the old ways Troll Magic is still of the old school. There is a 10% chance a Troll has magical attributes and 15% that a Trollka has. Any character that rolls magical attributes rolls on the following table for two spells. If they roll the same spell twice then they loose the second spell. 01 -10% Speedy Attack - a character can roll twice in hand to hand combat, the opponent treating the second attack as a side attack.
11 - 20% Heal Wound - can heal one wound of the characters own at the end of each turn (if still alive!)
21 - 30% Power Attack - roll two D6 in Hand to Hand combat and ignore the lower one.
31 - 45% Steady Nerves - Calm yourself inwardly and add +2 to your first morale check.
46 - 60% Hard target - attacker applies -10% modifier when being fired at by a missile weapon.
61 - 80% Light Fire - Start fire immediately.
81 - 100% Vault - takes no time to cross low wall and only half a move for a high wall. Figures Anyone who has read my miniatures reviews in Valkyrie or Role-Player Independent will know I am something of a 'troll snob' and hate the GW inspired comic troll image. Not many manufacturers (including it must be said Alternative Armies) have treated the Troll with the dignity it deserves. A Troll is a big mean nasty piece of work and more likely to rip your arm off than look at you. They are not silly comic buffoons! The best Trolls on the market are Mithril Miniatures Lord of the Rings Trolls and perfect for this scenario. Their Orcs would also make very good Trollka. Heartbreaker do an excellent Snow Troll in their Earthdawn range, but their other efforts are terrible from a naffness point of view. Hopefully when AA introduce musket armed trolls into the Flintloque range as they intend to, they will give them the serious nasty look they deserve (I'll get off my soapbox now!). The Troll-Lands 
To the South and East of Albion, the Troll-Lands of Valon are a vast area of largely unpopulated tundra lands regarded by the Orcs as perfect territory for their dreams of empire along Elven lines. Orcs in the Hills
Issue 2 - Online Edition Return to the Contents Page
Go Back to the Previous Article - Continue on to the Next Article Webmaster's Notes
This was originally published in the second issue Orcs in the Hills in the Spring of 1996.
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