“The way back home will be your main challenge, young Knights”, the Abbot had said as he sent them on their way.
Sir Flint was beginning to understand what he meant.
His group of three young and eager Knights had trekked across mile upon mile of the least eventful stretches of land they had ever seen. If any scoundrels in the hinterlands knew of their return journey to Bebbanburg, they did not seem to care.
For their first mission, the Knights certainly didn’t want to end up as pelts on the floor of some rogue’s den. However, the week-long trek along the old roads had not provided them with any excitement whatsoever.
“So. What do you think is inside? You still haven’t taken your guess.”
Sir Squeak had immediately volunteered to carry the locked iron chest as they received it from the Abbot. The chest was being kept in an abbey, not a wealthy lord’s estate, and it was casually entrusted to the care of three young and inexperienced Knights. Nonetheless, the Mouse Knight’s imagination was running wild with the exciting treasures it might hold.
“Leave it be”, Sir Gluttony the Border Terrier Knight barked. “We’re just delivering the chest to Bebbanburg, so it’s none of our business. Also Church things are never that exciting.”
“But what if it’s a priceless relic, or something magical, or something that is priceless but not a relic, but still inlaid with diamonds? Maybe we’ll get a reward when we deliver it? Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
“No. We’re on a job. Just walk.”
As the two other Knights bickered about the nature of what they were carrying, Sir Flint stopped. They were now at their waypoint at the crossroads near the abandoned Cloister Hill. However, at a distance the road ahead was crudely barricaded.
“Get off the road!” was all Sir Flint had time to say.
A massive arrow, so large it could have been shot from a siege engine, split the signpost next to him clean in two.
Being ambushed, it turns out, is very exciting.
The game
Turn 1
With the Fox Kindred Knight’s lead, the ambush was sprung. He and the massive Badger unleashed a long-range volley of arrows from their war bows, and Sir Gluttony was wounded by one of the sharp-eyed Fox’s arrows (2 damage). The Jackdaw and the Mouse advanced to better firing positions, waiting for the Royalists to get within range.
The Royalists quickly took what cover they could reach. Sir Flint took a forward position behind some rocks and trees, eagerly closing the distance while staying out of the ambushers’ sights.
As Sir Gluttony looked for a hiding place, his keen nose smelled something interesting in the crates piled up along the old road. The Border Terrier Knight took cover behind them, ready to investigate.
From behind his tree, Sir Flint looked over his shoulder to see how his companions were doing. The hare was a little surprised that Sir Gluttony hadn’t taken the straightest route to the enemy, but he couldn’t help but gasp as Sir Squeak ran full pelt past him toward their ambushers.
The Mouse knight dove behind the stone wall lining the road and unslung his crossbow.
“Now that’s the spirit”, thought Sir Flint.
Even so, if he hadn’t seen the Mouse Knight pull reckless stunts before and somehow emerge without a scratch, he would have thought taking on four Kindred on his own was suicidal.
“Yes, Sir Squeak has this sorted.”
Turn 2
Sir Squeak viewed the huge and scary Badger, thinking it would make a nice prize to carry home. He fired his crossbow but missed, and readied his weapon for the next chance of glory.
The Kindred responded with massed bowfire. The Fox and the Jackdaw scrambled up the rocky hillside for a height advantage, but only the Jackdaw reached a better position. Nevertheless, none of the arrows found their mark, and the Mouse Knight remained safe behind his stone wall as.
Meanwhile, Sir Flint kept up his advance behind the trees under Cloister Hill, hoping Sir Squeak would leave some Kindred for him as well. Sir Gluttony took a look inside the intact crate he was using as cover. It mostly contained useless junk, but also a dose of chemicals that smelled so strong that they would surely mask even the smelliest beast from snooping foes. Curious about how they got there in the uninhabited wilderness and his tracking instinct piqued, the Border Terrier continued to the next pile of crates.
Turn 3
While most of the Kindred kept throwing everything they had at Sir Squeak without success, the Fox spotted Sir Gluttony rummaging through the crates in search of something tasty. Climbing to a vantage point on the cliffs, he loosed an extreme-range shot which severely wounded the distracted Border Terrier Knight (11 damage, total 13).
Sir Gluttony took a quick look at the contents of the crates in front of him and found a sack containing some very unusual-looking seeds that gave a curious, vitalizing scent. He grabbed a handful, stuffed them into his pouch, and quickly scampered behind some trees before the sharp-eyed Fox had time to nock another arrow.
In retaliation, Sir Squeak took advantage of the Fox’s exposed position on the hillside, and wounded him with his crossbow (4 damage). The Mouse Knight then reloaded, looking to finish his target with his next shot. The Badger would have to wait.
However, Sir Squeak had neglected to pay attention to the Jackdaw Kindred Knight up on the hill. The bird sent an arrow at a weak spot in the Mouse Knight’s armour, but the Mouse unwittingly ducked down to pick up a four-leaf clover at the exact right moment (use of Lucky skill to avoid damage) and the shot sailed into the trees. Cawing in anger and disbelief, the Jackdaw guarded himself in case Sir Squeak decided to also add him to his hit list.
Seeing his comrades-in-arms dangerously under fire and weighing his options, Sir Flint wove a path through the treeline to get to the cover of the ruined cloister. Inside he found something he didn’t expect.
A small mouse, wearing pure white robes and clutching a large tome, was hiding in the corner.
The hare looked around to make sure it would be safe enough to let his guard down, and asked the Mouse about what she was doing in such a dangerous place.
The Mouse told him that the shrine had been an important site of respite for travelers before it was damaged in a war. She felt that the shrine was a sacred place even in its current state, and had made it her duty to act as its keeper and to make sure it could still serve its original purpose.
However, the Mouse continued that the area had become restless, and that she has started to fear for my safety.
“You were following the old road, so you must be headed North? Would you be so kind as to take a detour and escort me to the company of someone I know? He is engaged in research in an area across the bridge just behind my shrine.”
She continued,
“In return I will help you any way I can as long as we travel together. I know some healing magic, though I reckon it is not much, but I also have hidden some wares in the crates over there that you could use. I even have some very special healing seeds I managed to grow, though it was a lot of trouble!”
“Err, thank you”, responded Sir Flint abashedly. “I’m sure my comrade-in-arms Sir Gluttony will be happy to hear that since he has already gotten hurt.”
“And also since it seems he has already helped himself to some your wares – my apologies on his behalf.”
With that, the Hare promised that the Knights would change their plans and help the Mouse reach safety.
With a new member and with a new objective for his band, Sir Flint got on his way toward the bridge. He froze in place as he saw what was on the other side.
He had spotted a Water Vole and a Mouse acting as the Kindred’s rearguard. They hadn’t seen the Hare Knight yet, as they were busy arguing about whose favourite shinty team would win the next game they played.
The Mouse Shrine Keeper told Sir Flint that her name was Eve, and strode down the hill. She found the sorely wounded Sir Gluttony hiding in the woods and attempted to cast her Cure spell at the hiding Knight, but failed to properly connect the magic with her new ally.
Turn 4
The exchange of missile fire on the main road was finally turning sour for Sir Squeak. The Jackdaw managed to penetrate his defences with a focused shot from his elevated position (2 damage). The Mouse Knight retaliated, but despite focusing the nimble bird dodged it, now gleefully cackling from his success. The Fox Kindred Knight rejoined the attack, and managed to hit him with a focused shot from his war bow (3 damage, total 5).
Sir Squeak’s ability to defend himself was now impeded by his wounds, and things took another turn for the worse as the Badger also hit him with a focused arrow (4 damage, total 9). The Mouse’s luck seemed to be finally running out. The Kindred Mouse Ranger piled on even more pressure on him, but missed even after focusing on his shot.
Luckily, the Royalists were recovering elsewhere. Hiding in the woods and bleeding from his wounds, Sir Gluttony heard a rustle from the direction the three Knights were traveling from when the Kindred sprang their ambush. However, he didn’t see or smell anything out of place, so he stumbled forward across the rocky ground.
Feeling the weight of his wounds and encouraged by the vitalizing scent of the seeds he had found in the crates, the border terrier dared to taste them. This gave him some much-needed first aid (Counts as healing potion; 5 points healed). Eve then focused and re-cast her healing spell, managing to miraculously Cure all the damage on him (perfect cast roll), affording the beleaguered Royalists a bit of relief.
Behind the ruined cloister, Sir Flint bravely stepped on the stone bridge and raised his shield. Feeling it his responsibility to get some pressure off his wounded comrades-in-arms, he taunted the Kindred rearguard.
“Wake up you curs! I’m taking my companions on the path you are guarding. If you wish to stop us, get over here and start with me!”
This drew the rearguard’s attention to him, though Sir Gluttony wondered what was wrong with being a cur. The two Kindred Knights prepared to test if the Hare’s prowess was up to the level of his taunts. The Water Vole moved to block his advance on the road and raised his shield, while the Mouse loosed a focused shot at him but failed to cause any damage.
Turn 5
On the far side of the bridge, Sir Flint launched his attack on the Kindred rearguard blocking his way. Eager to prove himself in combat now that he finally got the chance, he charged the Water Vole. He smashed through his shield with a mighty overhead strike (6 damage). Even so, the wounds his fellow Knights had taken reminded the Hare to preserve his health, the Hare then guarded against his opponent’s response. The wounded Water Vole indeed failed to land his counterblow, and likewise guarded against any further attacks.
The nimble Jackdaw again fired a focused shot at Sir Squeak, but failed to connect. The Mouse Knight was wounded, facing several angry Kindred looking to finish him off, and now starting to doubt his ability to beat them all in a ranged fight right now. He finally abandoned his position and ran into cover behind the trees under Cloister Hill, though he told himself he was just letting the Kindred get away with a warning for the time being. Surely they had learned their lesson already.
Seeing his intended target disappear from view, the Fox Kindred Knight backed down the hillside. Despite the risk of hitting his Water Vole ally (who appeared to be doomed anyway) he tried a long-range shot at Sir Flint with his war bow, but missed. The Badger Ranger likewise backed down toward the rearmost barricades and fired the Hare Knight, but to no effect.
Now back in perfect health and full of vigor, Sir Gluttony left the safety of the forest he was hiding in to try and catch up with his leader.
Seeing Sir Squeak scamper away from his glorious conquest of the Kindred in a bad shape, Eve went to meet him and magically Cured the worst of his wounds. Even so the Mouse Knight was still quite badly wounded (2 points Cured; 7 damage left).
At this point the Water Vole Kindred Knight wasn’t too optimistic about leaving the battlefield on his own two paws, as he was facing not only Sir Flint himself but also the arrows of his comrades trying to hit the Hare Knight. His fellow rearguard Mouse showed solidarity by bravely charging into the fight, but failed to damage the guarding Hare.
Now that Sir Squeak had scurried to safety from behind the stone wall, the Kindred blocking the main shifted positions to get within an arrow’s flight of the bridge, as the Royalists would have to cross it. The Mouse Ranger and the Jackdaw set direction toward the small copse of trees behind the barricades, but the Mouse got entangled in the first branch on his way, and only the winged Jackdaw reached the cover.
Turn 6
The fight between Sir Flint and the Kindred rearguard continued on the far side of the bridge. The Water Vole took the initiative to try and get a hit on the Hare before he could get his guard up. However, even with his Mouse companion helping distract the Knight, he failed to scratch his opponent.
He then guarded against the inevitable retaliation, but it was not enough to save him as the Sir Flint took him out of action with an unstoppable perfect sword strike. Aware of the numerous Kindred bows now pointed at him, the Hare then raised his shield. The Mouse Ranger moved toward the rocky cliff edge and was the first to try his luck, but missed.
Sir Gluttony kept on his way to the combat to support his leader (who had been doing perfectly well on his own so far) and guarded. This gave the Fox Kindred Knight the choice to target either of the Royalists with his war bow. He chose to start the task of wearing the Hare down from full strength, and managed a wounding hit (2 damage). The Fox was proving to be quite deadly with his bow.
Eve was proving to be no worse at keeping the Royalist Knights in the fight, as she focused and successfully Cured Sir Squeak of all the damage he had suffered. It looked like he would need it, since crossing the bridge in view of all the Kindred bows had presented a dangerous task even to his tougher and more sizable companions.
In fighting strength again, The Mouse Knight moved behind the tree at the cliff edge and guarded, taking a strong position with an elevated view over the Kindred barricades as well as some cover against the inevitable return fire.
The Mouse Kindred Knight now fighting Sir Flint on his own chose to contribute to the effectiveness of the Kindred bowfire by getting out of the way, and escaped the Hare’s sword slash as he broke off. Turning around, the Mouse tried to get his revenge and took the first shot at the Hare Knight harrassing him, but failed to cause any damage.
The Badger Ranger joined the attack on the Hare, getting off a carefully-aimed arrow. However, his target was lucky enough to dodge at the last moment to avoid harm that would impair his fighting ability (Fate re-roll on the Block dice, avoiding the 3 damage). The Jackdaw couldn’t see the Royalist leader so he took a focused shot at Sir Squeak instead, but missed.
The cause of the rustling that Sir Gluttony heard earlier appeared at the treeline at the Southeast corner of the battlefield. Another Fox had been following the Royalists, and slowly and carefully snuck forward in the woods nearby.
Turn 7
The Kindred around the barricades kept up their bowfire against the Royalists who were breaking through their rearguard. The Badger Ranger continued his attempts to skewer Sir Flint with an arrow from his huge war bow, but the Hare avoided the shot. Still focused on the (minor) threat of the Mouse Kindred Knight who had just escaped combat with him, he charged the Mouse and managed a grazing hit with his sword (1 damage).
The Mouse Ranger crept further along the rocky forest floor in the barricaded valley, and likewise loosed an arrow at Sir Gluttony but failed to hit. In turn, the Border Terrier Knight charged into the Mouse Kindred Knight who was already cornered by the Royalist leader, but his enemy escaped further harm.
Facing even more dire odds than before, the Mouse Kindred Knight again ran rather than take his chances. He nimbly avoided the sword slashes of the two annoyed Royalist Knights as he turned tail. As he reached the trees he sent another arrow at Sir flint, but without success.
Two of the Royalists had now crossed the bridge, and held a relatively safe position obscured by the trees on the edge of the hill. The two mice, however, still had to reach the other side.
The Fox Kindred Knight turned his attention to Sir Squeak, but even after taking careful aim, he missed the Mouse Knight hiding behind a tree as well as his shield. Sir Squeak immediately returned fire with his crossbow but missed, and guarded against return fire.
The fight was heating up again. Eve followed the Knights up Cloister Hill to be ready when her healing services would inevitably be needed again, carefully staying out of sight of the Kindred bows. Nonetheless, she would still have to cross the bridge, a dangerous prospect for the delicate and unarmoured Mouse.
On the opposite end of the battlefield, the lone Fox kept sneaking unseen through the woods, silently carrying out his mission.
Turn 8
The Royalists had the momentum, and pushed on with their escape. Eve too reached the far side of the bridge with a long-distance run. The hilltop was now quite strongly occupied by Royalists, so the Mouse Kindred Knight took the opportunity to back further away from danger to the other side of the trees on the crest of the hill. As he did so he found an unobstructed shot at Sir Squeak who was hiding behind a tree from the Kindred down in the valley, but failed to make the opportunity count.
Eve was now very exposed on the hilltop, and an easy target for the Kindred archers. However, Sir Gluttony hadn’t forgotten about her curing his grievous wounds (and was maybe a little ashamed of swiping her special healing seeds, though they were delicious). Chivalrously he stepped in front of the Mouse, putting his own body between his new tiny unarmoured companion and the dangerous Kindred bows. He raised his shield, as if taunting his enemies to try and hit him.
Sir Flint had also sobered up to the reality that the Kindred bowfire presented a real danger. Nonetheless, he had to admit that Sir Gluttony had indeed found a knightly and somewhat functional solution to the problem of preventing Eve from being skewered by the Kindred arrows. Dutifully he raised his shield, stepped shoulder to shoulder with the Border Terrier knight, and joined him in protecting the Shrine Keeper with their lives.
At the foot of the slope on the North side of the ravine, the Jackdaw Kindred Knight snuck through the undergrowth. He nocked an arrow, ready to shoot in case Sir Squeak decided to leave his cover. However, the Mouse Knight just reloaded his crossbow and gave covering fire to his comrades-in-arms, but missed the hulking Badger behind the barricades. With no good opportunity to shoot, the Jackdaw then snuck deeper into the small copse instead.
Despite the efforts of the two Knights to shield Eve with their bodies, the Fox Kindred Knight was able to climb the cliffs to a position that allowed him to spot her. The Fox’s aim was good, but being obscured by Sir Gluttony still protected the Shrine Keeper from most of the damage (1 point suffered). The Badger Ranger also aimed carefully and sent an arrow at Sir Gluttony, but failed to harm the Knight.
At the far South side of the battlefield, the crept forward among the crates, unseen by the Royalists.
Turn 9
In the effort to get the smallest Royalists across the bridge safely, Sir Flint and Sir Gluttony had successfully shielded Eve the Shrine Keeper as she crossed. However, in order to do so, they had to leave alone the Mouse Kindred Knight hiding behind the nearby trees nearby. The Mouse again had an unobstructed shot at Sir Squeak, and after aiming carefully, scored a perfect hit (11 damage).
Sir Squeak was now severely wounded again, which presented an additional problem. He had yet to cross the bridge, which would expose him to all the Kindred bows. Eve tried to help with the worst of it with a successfully cast Cure spell (healing 1 point of damage), but she then had to retreat behind a tree for fear of her own life. Nevertheless, Sir Squeak had to cross the bridge eventually, and he decided now was as good a time as any. He managed to just get to the other side in one sprint, taking cover behind Sir Gluttony.
The Kindred Mouse Ranger crept further through the woods and sent an arrow toward Sir Flint. The shot missed, and the Hare backed off the cliff edge to resume his task of keeping Eve safe.
The Jackdaw Kindred Knight saw this as an opportunity to try and finish off the grievously wounded Sir Squeak, who had turned his back on the bird. His attempt was frustrated again, as his arrow incredibly embedded itself in the stock of the Mouse Knight’s crossbow slung across his back (use of Lucky skill).
Unfortunately, Sir Squeak’s continuing good fortune seemed to be getting to his head. Even as he was bleeding from his wounds, he told Sir Gluttony to go and shield Eve instead of him. The Border Terrier Knight was reluctant, but having seen Sir Squeak survive impossible odds time and again, he agreed against his instincts. Blocking another arrow from the Badger Ranger with his shield in his stride, the Hound Knight joined Sir Flint in protecting Eve.
This decision proved disastrous immediately, as the sharp-eyed Fox Kindred Knight had been waiting for an opportunity exactly like this. Mere seconds after Sir Gluttony had gotten out of the way, he sent a well-aimed shot at Sir Squeak. Pierced by yet another arrow and his luck finally spent, the Mouse Knight fell.
The Fox stalking through the woods saw this, but he kept on quietly following the Royalists. His work wasn’t done yet.
Turn 10
Sir Gluttony was regretful for his decision to bet his companion’s survival on luck, and as angry at himself as he was at his enemies. He set to take revenge on the Fox, even if it meant facing all the Kindred bows.
Luckily Sir Flint managed to calm his comrade-in-arms down, reminding him that they still had their duties toward Eve and the Abbot, which would require them to not be dead. The Hare Knight also pointed out that Sir Squeak may still be alive, and they would return soon to recover him and the locked iron chest he was carrying.*
Sir Gluttony managed to calm his roused fighting spirit enough to see the wisdom in his leader’s words. Grudgingly, he left the battlefield to secure the path ahead for the others, and hoped Sir Squeak could hold on until they returned.
The Royalists mournfully set about making their escape, but seeing that her brave protector was still in danger, Eve focused and Cured Sir Flint of his wounds (5 points healed).
Meanwhile, the rest of the Kindred were were starting to encircle them. The Mouse Ranger sought to scale the cliffside of Cloister Hill to draw line of sight to Sir Flint, but couldn’t get a solid foothold on the rocks. The Jackdaw managed to reach the top of Cloister Hill, and fired an arrow that went wide of Sir Flint. The Badger Ranger, on the other hand, took aim and inflicted a serious wound on the Hare Knight (9 damage).
Aware that he too was now at risk of falling, Sir Vikke had to swallow his martial pride. He quickly made sure that Eve was not in immediate danger, and followed Sir Gluttony on the trail away from the battlefield.
The rest of the Kindred did what they could to draw shots on the Mouse Shrine Keeper tucked behind the trees. The Mouse Kindred Knight sneaked back into the treeline on the edge of the hill, while their leader Fox shifted position trying find another shot while not going too far from the barricades under his command.
The Fox who had been following behind the Royalists could smell that there was still another mouse nearby. Keeping out of sight, he sneaked right next to the cliffside on the far side of the bridge.
*As an entirely minor observation, Sir Flint may also have pointed it out to Sir Gluttony that breaking cover would almost certainly be the end of the Hound Knight himself as well.
Turn 11
Seeing the Royalists about to make their escape, the lightly built Jackdaw scaled up the sheer slope of the Cloister Hill. He quickly fired one last arrow toward Eve the Shrine Keeper, but missed.
After successfully Curing the wound she received earlier from the Fox Kindred Knight’s arrow (1 damage), Eve followed Sir Vikke and Sir Gluttony down the path and left the battlefield.
Sir Squeak had to be left behind for now., but the two other Royalist Knights and their new ally Eve managed to leave the battlefield. The Royalists succeeded in their mission, but not without cost.