The 4 Corners Campaign - Batrep 2 - The Mausoleum
- johnjsalango1
- Nov 23
- 15 min read
Deployment saw the Northlands crew once again entering from the North in two groups each built around a Mage. The Wizard Turi headed one group which had an Archer, a Ranger and the Man at arms as well as a thief whilst the Apprentice took the rest. There were 3 probable targets for the Northlands and two possibles if all went well. Spoiler - it did not.
On the Eastern board edge the Occidental crew was also split into two groups with again three possible targets but as usual they were more concerned with being conservative and getting just two as they lack the hitting power of the other warbands at this stage. Lamballe the Wizard lead the section to the South which face the Orient warband and was accompanied by two thugs, a thief and an infantryman. Auclair the Apprentice had a thief , a Tracker, a crossbowman and the Thug who was playing instead of the Apothecary who was at base nursing both wounds and a grudge from game one.
From the Southern edge came the Oriental crew who before setting out had successfully cast Reveal in their Tower base which made every treasure potentially more valuable. They were coming on in mob formation tbh as they planned on moving up and consolidating before deciding on which side to bully. Alot would depend on their opening casting rolls to summon as to their approach.
Finally edging in from the east came the Southlands Necromantic crew. They had not shone in game one and were low in confidence and advance in two groups divided by the high tower. In the northern group the Wizard had with him an Archer, Infantryman, a Thug and a Thief whilst the Apprentice had the rest of the Crew, notably the Tracker and Treasure hunter.
Turn One
Wizard Phase
Probably the most impressive Wizard Phase I have played to date with every Wizard succeeding.
Oriental - Miko went big casting Summon Demon, rolling high and then empowering to get a Major demon. This was massive as at this stage of the campaign only the Northlanders had anything which could affect the Demon without massive luck and even then would do well to get a Control Demon spell off against a major Demon. Fortunately for both Warbands they were at opposite ends of the board and it was unlikely to be an issue. What a start!
Occidental - Similarly impressive Lamballe went for style points and Transposed a Thief with one of the skeletons placing a thief right next to a treasure and the confused Skeleton by the rest of her crew.
Southlands - A much less showy affair as a Bone Dart took out a Skeleton. Less style but quite effective
Northlands - A similarly practical approach using Telekinesis to pull a treasure closer and guarantee a score.
Apprentice Phase
Inspired by Miko, Yuki the Apprentice cast Summon and rolled up an ....Imp! Not quite as impressive but useful nontheless. Also inspired Auclair also attempted a Transpose but failed miserably taking a couple of damage which was not the plan. The Southlands Apprentice popped out another Bone Dart which killed another Skeleton and finally the Northlands Apprentice tried a second telekinesis and failed.
Soldier Phase
Orient - Where else to start but with a massive Demon? The Demon walked over to a skeleton and rolled 23 for damage against a 1 damage creature! Overkill as he reduced it to fertiliser. The Tracker moved and popped off a hopeful shot against the Occidental Tracker and against the odds pushed through 4 damage. In the lst notable move the Imp summoned by Yuki moved up and took possession of the treasure previously held by fertiliser skeleton. This was to have consequences for the Northlands as two armoured skeletons appeared behind them! The rest of the warband fanned out taking positions for turn two but also inherently committing themselves to either side of the Mausoleum.
Occidental - Chesty, the Thief transposed with the skeleton, picked up the vacant treasure and moved towards safety. The Tug in contact with the transposed and surprised skeleton hit it and killed it easily. The new Thug in for the Apothecary moved up to cover Chesty. Everyone else who could took shots at skeletons and missed and moved closer to the treasure or into blocking positions. The last thug moved up to be the nearest Occidental figure to the uninjured skeletons as bait in the creature phase.
Southlands - A quiet start as they considered what to do faced with a great big Demon! In the end they all just moved into position reckoning on trying to grab and go rather than fight. The archer and the tracker both shot at the Bad Boy but only 2 damage got through and to be honest this was a waste of time they should have spent moving.
Northlands - the arrival of two armoured skeletons just behind them was not a good start for the Northlands who now had to spend time killing them before the creature phase.. This became a shambles quickly. The Archers did manage to kill one of the creatures but after the Ranger missed it meant committing figures better used elsewhwere or endager the Mages. In future in a similar situation I would leave one thug as bait and get on with Life but here the Northlanders ended up committing three figures against the skeleton who put 4 damage on a Thug and 8 on a Man at Arms before finally being killed. The only useful thing accomplished was a thief moved and picked up a treasure - fortunately not activating any more creatures!
Creature phase - loads!
One skeleton moved and attacked the Northlands thief with the treasure but to no effect. Skeleton performance in all the combats was dismal. Only when two skeletons attacked the Bait Thug left out by the Occidental crew did one of them get 4 damage through. Every other skeleton (5 in total) was killed. In no particular order by said Occidental Thug, the second occidental thug, the Imp, the Major Demon and the Southlands Treasure Hunter. Bad day to be a skeleton. Tbh is there a good day?
End Turn 1 / Start Turn 2 (Orange counters represent Treasure chests which have been picked up)
Turn 2
Wizard phase
In aggressive mode Oriental Miko telekinesised a second treasure into contact and picked it up (no creature) - no messing around although empowerment 3 was needed! Lamballe in similar skill mode transposed Chesty the Thief with the treasure for a Thug pretty much ensuring at least one treasure away. The Northern Wizard Turi cast the first of many Elemental balls at a skeleton removing it instantly. Finally the Southlands wizard attempted Telekinesis but failed which was disappointing.
Apprentice phase
Yuki for the Orient attampted a Telekinesis but failed. Auclair in a repeat of his game one move Healed Lamballe for 5 curing all the empowerment losses from her first two spells. The most spectacular spell was cast by the Northlands apprentice who essentially ruined the game for Southlands by using Elemental Ball against a Southlands Infantryman which missed him but killed the Thief and Thug within 1". This was gutting for the Southlands who were now playing defence the rest of the game. It looked possible they might leave with nothing. The Southland apprentice with little valuable to contribute Bone Darted Yuki for a couple of damage but did not do anything impactful.
Soldier phase
Orient - Big Bad Demon moved menacingly into contact with a Southlands Thug and hit him hard without quite killing him. Joining him a Thug moved into contact with a Southlands Thief to pin him and stop a Treasure run. The Infantryman also moved up to the attack ready for turn 3. Lastly on the west side of the Mausoleum the Knight moved up...slowly.
On the eastern side of the Mausoleum the Samurai moved and hit the Occidental Thug transposed for Chesty inflicting 4 damage The Tracker missed her shot against Occidental Thug 3 and the rest of the crew either moved up to cover (Thief), away with a treasure (Imp), or to support the Samurai (Thug).
Occidental - Chesty ended his short but eventful game by exiting with a treasure! Thief two moved and picked up a second treasure unwittingly but happily bringing on an Ice Toad behind the rather too cocky Oriental Crew! The Tracker took down another skeleton allowing the Xbow guy to move move up to a possible third treasure now the skeleton guard was dead. Deader.... The tracker moved to run cover for the thief with the treasure. In other action the Thug shot at by the Oriental Tracker ran up and attacked the Samurai but was killed for his troubles! The Infantryman moved and hit the Oriental Thug for 7 damage. This was becoming a proper melee. In the last action Bait Thug attacked the skeleton in contact and managed to push himself out of combat and up to the treasure by the Crossbowman providing some cover against Northlands archery.
Northlands - The Thief with the treasure moved to the board edge and was as close to being off as made no difference. The archers then both took long range shots either side of the Mausoleum but both missed. A far cry from their game one dominance. The Ranger also missed again against the lucky Occidental Thug. The rest of the crew marooned at the rear after the Armoured Skeleton shambles double moved out into play for turn 3.
Southlands - with morale low the Treasure Hunter who had done literally nothing in game one managed to interact with a treasure and activated a Zombie behind the Occidental lines. The sole survivor from the northern attack came down south and attacked the Oriental thief but took 4 damage which further depressed morale. Depressed necromantic crew are really depressed.
In better news the Archer moved and also picked up a treasure under the noses of the Onrushing Orientals but might struggle to get away. However he did bring on a Ghoul behind the Northlands in revenge for the action of the Northlands apprentice. Lastly the tracker who had realised the futility of shooting at the Demon drew a line of fire on the Oriental Infantryman and got lucky doing 6 damage. Against the odds they had two treasures but it was hard to see them getting away with any!
Creature phase
The Ghoul randomly heade east and attacked the Northlands Apprentice who in a change to the expected outcome killed it with one blow! Also not in line with expectations the Zombie moved and contacted the Occidental Apprentice doing 8 damage. In retrospect this may heve been an error as I may have misread it.s speed which would have made an attack impossible. As it turned out no real impact was caused but it could have been. Finally the Toad hopped in but contacted nothing.
End Turn 2 / Start of Turn 3
Turn 3
Wizard Phase
The Southlands wizard wanted to Slow the Demonic Juggernaut but the chance of getting it passed it's high Will was too small and instead decided to just feed it warband members to slow it! Instead it was cast on the clanking Oriental Knight but failed anyway...To support the melee on the western side Miko cast Heal on the Infantryman but failed taking a couple of damage. Continuing to pick on the Southlands another Elemental ball headed towards the Southlands treasure Hunter and Masaii infantry but did next to nothing this time. Finally keen for the chance to try out the new new Blink spell Lamballe Blinked the Apprentice out of trouble which was quite cool.
Apprentice phase
In retaliation the Southlands Apprentice fired off a Bone Dart at the Northlands thief doing enough damage to make him consider his future. Yuki moved and tried to Heal but ended up taking more damage which was the definition of ironic. From the Northlands Apprentice came...another Elemental ball at the Southlands Treasure Hunter / Masaii this time doing 6 on the treasure Hunter..Finally the Blinked Apprentice moved out of harm's way as far as possible then Healed himself back up.
Soldier phase
Southland - The diminished Southlanders all moved where they could either to pin or block creating a narrow runway through which the Archer and Treasure hunter could pass as far as possible. It still looked fragile but was better than nothing.
Oriental - Just how fragile was quickly revealed as the Oriental Intantryman moved into contact with the Archer with the treasure pinning him.. The Imp with the treasure ran off making Summon available again to the Apprentice. The Big Demon hit the Oriental Thug again scoring 23 but the Thug did his best scoring 21 - and still died! The Tief moved in to attack the Southlands Treasure Hunter but was driven off suffering no damage. Worse the Thug attacked the Southlands Thief and was surprisingly killed outright. The Southlanders were putting up a fierce defence. Finally on the western side the Knight continued trundling into position to cut off the retreat of the treasures if he could ever get there!
On the western side where it felt a bit under resourced there was a bit of a Thug-off as two opposing Thugs faced off with the Occidental Thug taking 4 damage. The Tracker shot and missed again. Against the other Occidental Thug the Man at arms despatched him and then on moving was forced into combat by the Occidental Infantryman and took 5 damage which was unhelpful as he was again pinned and also wounded. Finally the Thief ran into the Occidental Thief making off with a treasure and did no damage but pinned him in place.
Northlands
The Archers both fired at the Thug blocking the nearest treasure. He had escaped last turn but was eventually killed now! The world's worst Ranger shot again and missed again. Loser. A Thug then ran into the space vacated by the arrow filled Thug next to the treasure within an inch of the Occidental Archer who did not force combat. Remaining figures moved up into position to block or prep for Turn 4.
Occidental
All action turn. The Crossbowman who had declined combat calmly loaded his empty since turn 1 bow and killed the Northlands Thug. If the Occidental crew went first next turn he might start running with the treasure or just run away! The Tracker moved up to the Oriental thief who was pinning the treasure holdin thief and just killed him. Things had become bloody on this side of the Mausoleum! The freed up thief legged it with the treasure! The Infantryman in combat with the Samurai decided to do nothing and just wait for support holding the Samurai in combat.
Creature phase
One Skeleton moved into contact with a Northlands Thug and was killed. If nothing else the Northlands were racking up XP on creature kills. The Ghoul on the western side double moved into position with the Tracker followed by the Giant Toad who did not quite make contact. Looking bleak for the Tracker. Lastly another skeleton attacked the Oriental Thief on the eastern side and was again killed. The skeletons need to take a good look at themselves as they have been poor.
Turn 4
Wizard phase
The Occidental wizard transposed herself with the treasure Thief to aid his escape which was quite clever as then she moved back to almost her original position of safety having forwarded the Thief 6" closer to the edge and hopefully able to escape in the Soldier phase.
The Southlands Wizard had a big decision to make. The Oriental Infantryman who was pinning the Archer with the treasure was effectively stopping both the Archer and Treasure Hunter escaping. If he shot a Bone Dart at him it was 50/50 that he might hit the Archer but if he did not no treasure would escape. He shot the dart and hit the Infantryman for 5 killing him. Huzzah! He then moved out of immediate danger.
The Northlands wizard did not Elemental Ball but instead Telekinesised the treasure unclaimed between the Occidental Crossbowman and Man at Arms into contact with the useless Ranger though this required empowerment 4.
Lastly miko tried to kill the Southlands Archer with an Elemental Bolt which she nearly did getting 5 damage through the cover in between. She then moved to the edge dangerously low on health.
Apprentice phase
Occidental Apprentice Auclair successfully Blinked the Tracker out of the Ghoul's claws but at a cost of 4 health and moved edgewards.
The Southlands apprentice also empowered 4 to Summon up an Imp into the gap where the Oriental Infantryman had stood to force combat on anyone trying to block the escape route.
The Northlands Apprentice with nothing useful to do but wanting 10XP successfully sent an Elemental Ball at the Oriental Thief on the western side of the Mausoleum and finished him off! This turned out to be a massive help to the Southlands as it freed up the Southlands Thief albeit at a cost of 3 health. I imagine the Apprentice wandering off whistling having inflicted random carnage for 10xp! Lastly with no better options the Oriental Apprentice Healed up the Samurai for his onging combat.
Soldier phase
Occidental with nothing else to do the Crossbowman double moved with the Northlands Man at arms allowing him to run rather than risk a pointless fight with no treasure now at stake and having significant damage from the turn one armoured skeleton fracas. Only the Infantryman remained in combat as the Thief moved off and the tracker into a blocking position should the Orientals try to move against the Mages.
Southlands - taking advantage of the dead Oriental Thief the Southland Thief moved into pin the big Demon which along with the summoned Imp would effectively stop the Big Demon interfering in the escape of the Archer and Treasure Hunter with their treasure. The Tracker moved to block the Oriental Knight's outflanking movement and once again missed his shot at the Knight. Both Archer and Treasure hunter double moved through the covered runway to probable escape.
Northlands - with little to do but get the treasure off everyone double moved except the Archers who took potshots at the Ghoul for xp! One hit caused 7 damage but did not kill it.
Oriental - The big demon unsurprisingly killed the thief but was unable to pass the blocking Imp, this now seemed like a waste of effort as obviously the Southlands Mages were just going to spam Demons to block his attempt to catch a treasure at any cost in empowering. Seeing this the Knight who had done literally nothing wandered off the board edge! On the eastern side the Tracker finally did something joining the attack onthe Occidental Infantryman and pushing him back with a successful but non lethal attack. This freed up the Samaurai who double moved away seeing how the wind was blowing.
Creature Phase
A skeleton contacted a Northlands Thug doing some damage which was essentially irrelevant at this point. The wounded Ghoul closed on the Oriental Tracker who finished it off with elan. A wild dog who had appeared in the Northern end zone at some point was also killed!
End of Turn 4 / Start of turn 5
Realistically this was the end of the game as everyone escaped in Turn 5 except the Summoned Imp who would be killed by the greater demon but who in turn was pinned by another Imp successfully summoned by the Southland mages. The Northland Mage took a final opportunity to Elemental ball the Skeleton pinning the Thug. This was a win win as nobody cared if the Thug was killed! In the event the Skeleton was killed and the Thug released to escape. Elsewhere everybody else just headed off
Post Game Phase
Northlands
Both Mages did well this game with few spell failures but the unfortunate appearance of creatures on their baseline combined with the initial poor efforts to deal with them left the Northlanders chasing the game a bit and they were lucky to end up with two treasures. Essentially it was the decision of the Occidental Crossbowman to abandon a treasure in favour of escaping that gave them a second. The Ranger could not hit a barn door with a hand full of gravel this game!
The post game rolls were also less than impressive with another random Grimoire found in the Library base with a spell of Awareness which will join the Quill of Uselessness in the vault plus 3 scrolls all of which were useless as already known and sold for 90gc. All in all treasure was a spell they did not want and 60gc. Total in treasury is now 270 gc Hopefully they might get enough for a choice of Grimoire after the next game.
In terms of experience things went better with lots of successful casts and kills of creatures adding up to a respectable 284xp so a two level rise plus change. Health was again improved to 16 now and once again he put the hours in practising Telekinesis bringing it down to a 10.
Oriental
Before the game Miko used Reveal successfully rolling 18 which would help with treasures post game as it enabled her to obtain a grimoire which luckily was Planar Tear ( a summoning spell) and a couple of potions both of which were sold. This resulted in a total of 230gc in the treasury after adding to the existing 20gc.
The casting rolls had been weak apart from the first and had needed empowerment leading to both mages ending on 5 and 4 health! However the first had been a winner with Miko empowering an already big roll to get a major Demon. This dominated the game forcing the unfortunate Southlanders to spend all their efforts on holding it up. In the end they did only get two treasures when at one point it looked like four might be possible. As a result Miko went up two levels choosing to learn Planar Tear and to improve Summon Demon as the chance of having another big Demon was too good to pass. In hindsight they should have put all their force to the western side and finished off the Southlands as they gained nothing versus the Occidentals.
Southlands
The game was a battle to survive. From the Oriental warband came a Major Demon and from the Northlanders an elemental blasting. It looked at one point as if they would get no treasures but a helpful kill by a bored Northland Apprentice and the luckiest of Bone Darts into a melee saved their skin, In the ensuing rolls they did well with a wand of power (1) and a grimoire with Call Storm plus 100gc. They did reasonably on XP though and with 3 creature kills the extra 15 just took them up two levels. Health was improved to help empower and Telekinesis also lowered again making it feasible on a regular basis. In the Library roll they were also lucky and found a Raise Zombie scroll
Occidental
Creature kills ensured they squeaked past the 200 xp mark and Lamballe learned Telekinesis from the grimoire that came in their treasure and added another Health point for empowerment purposes. The rest of the treasure was minimal but a scroll of Invisibility would be handy and in the ruined Library a scroll of Petrify was found as well. Treasure money only went up by 40 to 190gc but as no 'Paid Crew' were lost and the Apothecary is now recovered there was no need to buy new soldiers. It was notable in this battle that only the Northlanders got away without losing all their Thugs!
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