Tuesday 21 February 2017

Rules used for games...

I forgot to update the rules link when my ISP pulled my free webpage storage space. I have now moved the rules to my google drive, full path link is ...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwW7pyxbU9oVZERWSUQ4VG9lcG8/view?usp=sharing

The rules link in the side panel has been fixed as well. I'm pretty sure I've got the permissions right right for all to see the file.

Sunday 19 February 2017

The Island of Brunsee.

Sven and his party have finally reached the land of Pul and landed on the shores of the Island of Brunsee, in the distance they can see the ruins of an old castle or temple.
 
 They hurry forward, but not without incident, Leofric leads the way, an arrow nocked and ready, but he fails to see a large serpent hidden at the edges of the marsh.

He goes down screaming, racked with spasms of agony, then lies still.
The serpent disappears back into the marsh and Sven has difficulty keeping his men moving.
A rustling in the marsh brings them to a halt, as a herd of Wild boar rush across their path.

 Movement behind the marsh catches their attention, they halt again, It is Ragnar, how did he get here?

All Svens efforts to keep his men moving are in vain, he has to harry them forward.

Ragnar has no such problems and his men race across the grass, to reach the ruin.

Some are detached to keep Sven away whilst the rest attack the defenders.
The women beat off attack after attack, and Ragnar seeing the best of his men fall wounded, sends a small group around to attack from the rear.
  Svens' party is still embroiled with the boars, two men have been gored and one driven into the marsh.

Finally Sven gets his men moving forward, they reach a gap between the rocks to be assault by Ragnars archers to the front and a pack of wolves to their flank.

They manage to drive off the wolves and advance towards the tower, where Ragnars' men are still struggling to overcome the defenders.

Attacked from both sides the second defender falls and the lone survivor is driven off into the woods

Sven drives the wolves towards the enemy and hurls his men forward.

But they are driven back.

As the Skald enters the ruins he tells the raiders that they are looking for a Grecian urn.
 Whats a Grecian urn? mumbles Cedric, about 4 marks replies his brother.

The skald shakes his head in wonder, Fighters they may be, but Thinkers?

 As they search in the corners and under piles of rubble the Skald spots it resting on a ruined plinth in front of the statue.

A successful day for Ragnar and a poor one for Sven,

 The two parties, battered and bloody make their way  back to their ships.




Leaving the Valkyrie to gather the slain and lead them to Valhalla.


This lead to a discussion on Norse Mythology, with my young assistant who wanted to know

"Why haven't those ladies have any clothes on Grandad?"


The story pauses as we paint the Teddy Bear pirates for "Adventures in Eclectica"

Monday 13 February 2017

Lost scrolls The Saga of Eric Redbeard.

Ragnars Homestead.
Ragnar Brown Eyes has learnt of Sven's search and his intention to sail to the Isles of Per Beck.
Hoping to steal a march on his rival he calls for his men to join him and sets about equipping his ship for the journey, supplies are gathered and loading commences whilst he waits for two other ships to join him.

   But other eyes are watching the preparations.
Sven has learnt of the preparations and sent scouts to discover the state of Ragnars ships.
They report that supplies for a long voyage of probably more than one ship have been gathered and loading has commenced, He decides to strike and waiting till the midday meal, when few men are left on guard he prepares his forces.
 Whilst the sentries on the headland are busily scanning the horizon for the forces that are expected to join them that day, a large hunting party has been sent out to gather food for the great feast planned for the evening.
Svens men move down to the boat and piled provisions, ready to destroy everything.
Two of the ship guards fall to the advancing archers as Sven and his men sweep down on their unsuspecting foe.
A shepherd spots the enemy and the alarm is sounded.
Ragnar is the first from the hall, to see Eric, the sole remaining Boatguard facing the enemy horde, whilst old Hagar the shepherd holds the palisade.
Svens men reach the piled stores and immediately smoke rises as they commence the destruction.
But Ragnars men are pouring from the houses and forming up to see off the attackers, if Eric can just hold on the ship could be saved.
 Eric continues to defend the longship, three of the foe go down beneath his spear, his tale will be sung in the great hall tonight.
  Hagar has fallen and Svens men start dumping stores into the sea.
The slaughter of the livestock begins, as more of Svens men storm the longship, Eric fights on attacked from all sides, he is helpless to stop the ship being fired.
 Eric falls as the ship catches light and drifts away from the shore, some of Svens men are still aboard and are forced to swim for it to avoid a true viking funeral.
The shield walls meet, Svens men have the advantage and force back the defenders.
Everything is ablaze and Sven gives the signal to fall back, His men break off the attack and head back to their own ship moored a few miles down the coast.
Whilst the rearguard holds off Ragnars men, the bulk of the attackers retreat.
The Rearguard break away, leaving Ragnar to call his men to salvage what they can.

Svens forces halt at the rise and survey the results of their raid, a good days work Ragnar will be unable to follow to the Isle of Brun See and the temple of the Phoenicians.
A horn is heard in the distance, and as the hunting party returns, Sven leads the rest of his men away to the ship.
The sentries on the headland can only watch as their lords longship drifts past on fire and sinking.
Ragnar will not be pleased.

Sunday 5 February 2017

Offa's Ford

Sven is  searching for plunder, and is worried about his flank. Scouts report a ford ahead. Advance parties are sent to secure the ford by Offas' farm, but as they come in sight they find Ragnars' men already in position.
There are only a few men, so Sven decides to seize the ford quickly and then leave a small party behind defences to secure his flank.
His men rush forward, ignoring the hail of missiles.
And swiftly destroy them. Ragnar falls, but lies ignored amongst the reeds.
Sven stands back as his men gain the opposite bank. and form a shield wall, as more of Ragnars men appear.
The two sides clash and Svens men get the worst of it.
More of Ragnars forces appear, Sven begins to worry.
But as his own reinforcements arrive his troops break the opposing shield wall, and Ragnars men flee in disorder.
As the light begins to go, Sven holds the ford and decides to make camp for the night. He has wounded to attend to, before continuing his raid.
Ragnar, badly bruised but only lightly wounded, crawls from the reeds and makes his escape
He will get his revenge.