Scenario 7, Setup and Scene 1; The march of armies

Scenario 7 – the march of armies

So Dart and Kayla have arrived back at the Fort with news of an Army of Warforged making camp within marching distance of Brelands border. War is immanent. The Fort prepares its meagre defences, and word is sent to outlying cities to rally reinforcements. If they can however, the Fort must turn the Warforged back.

Suspicion immediately falls on the Refugees of course, and so Verden calls up a platoon of refugee militia to the forts defence. Dart meanwhile takes charge of the few rangers the fort has on hand, organising them into patrols to scour the countryside for signs of the approaching army.

House Jolander is responsible for siege preparations, and Jolene is tasked with both gaining intelligence about the likelihood of the siege actually happening and acting in whatever manner necessary to ensure that it is ended quickly.

Kayla returns to find that the Captain of the airship has made a formal complant against her for assaulting him with magic. Her actions in discovering the army have put her in good stead, however to keep the peace (and maintain the valuable services of an airship in scouting for enemy movements) the commander retasks her from airship maintenance to maintaining and enhancing the forts formidable array of siege weaponry.

In short, everybody is involved in the preparations for war.

It is weeks before contact is made. Dart coordinates scout patrols and eventually they clash with warforged patrols not far from the location where the skyship went down. Steadily skirmishes become more common as the warforged host begins to move, and then word comes that they are approaching the Brelish border. Orders are issued and a detatchment of men heads out to meet them led by Captain Heagen.

Is Heagen a veteran of the Last war? No, but his father was. He gained his commission through family reputation. Who is he? Banal Ascendant. Slightly weaker than the party. Conquor compassion, institute patience, and access the government.

His father was a hero in the Last war, and Heagen has capitolised on his reputation to get him where he is. Unfortunately he lacks his fathers flair, and is both cold and dull lackingeither the charisma or the vision to inspire his men but determined to work his way into a position in the Brelish government. He sees this warforged uprising as little more than a convenient stepping stone from which to begin building his own reputation.

I am going to use the mass combat rules from Tianxia, and he is a little weaker than the party, so lets give him a single peak skill of good and 2 stunts.

Captain Heager

Captain of the Border Fort

Social Climber

Riding on my fathers reputation

Good                      Politics 

Fair                         Contacts, Resources

Average                 Provoke, Lore, Rapport

I know who might Know Once per scenario, use contacts instead of Lore, Magic, or Nature to overcome representing someone you can ask for advice

Social Circle +2 to contacts when operating within the circles of Nobility within Breland

Long Sword w2, With Two Hands I Hit Harder   Free Boost: Binding With Opponent

Light Armour a2

Heagers Border Watch

Fight: 1

Rangers (Rank 0)

Elemental Artillery (Rank 0)

Fort Regulars (Rank 0)

Refugee Militia (Rank 0)

Unfortunately Heager is not an inspiring General, and while he has all the resources of the fort at his disposal he is not adept in their use.

Scene 1

The army has been marching for two days and Verden is proud of his developing Militia. Survivors to a man, they have made their way out of hell to find a home where they can live peacefully and now despite the suspicion and discrimination they have faced they are willing to march straight back in to hell and fight to defend that home.

He inspects his men as they march, giving occasional praise to bolster their spirits and offering advice and correction where necessary. He knows them all to a man. And that is why the addition of a Halfling to their ranks causes him some concern, especially when that Halfling introduces herself.

“This is no place for a civilian. I respect your ability to handle yourself in the city but this is war. It is dangerous here – in and out of battle.”

“That is why I am here.” Jolene says, irritably cheerful despite the long march, “I want this war over with as soon as possible, and preferably without it coming close to our beloved city. Besides you need me.”

“Need you? I am a soldier this is what I do. I am grateful for the help you gave me at the fort but war is not about skulking in shadows.”

“On the contrary. War is all about skulking in shadows. You are forgetting that not all danger comes from the enemy – your men are not entirely welcome in this army. Half the soldiers here are veterans of the Last War, and half of those would slit your throat in your sleep just for the crime of being Cyran. I think the only reason the general himself tolerates you is because of your connections with the church.”

“Fine, I’ll watch my back.”

“No, I’ll watch your back. You need a squire anyway so who better but me. I’ll defend you from knives in the shadows and you win this war for us. Deal?”