A Battle in the Forest

Once again I'm locked up in Melbourne which has been deemed Plague Capital of Australia. Oh well, what can I do?

I can have a battle in my garage. That's what I can do!

The army of the Erlking: being bright eyed elves and other faerie folk defending their realm from a force of evil orcs, ogres and werewolves lead by the arch werewolf: Black Maugwr himself.

By the banks of the swift river Silverwash in an open dell stands a sacred she-oak of ancient lineage and mystical virtue. The last survivor of a once great grove. Black Maugwr, that spirit of the vilest wickedness, craved only two things: The corruption of the spirit and the power to bring about that corruption. On this day Black Maugwr bent his malice to the destruction of the ancient she-oak for no better reason than destruction itself.

But nothing happens in the the Erlking's realm that is not reported to the Erlking's ears. And hearing of this venture into his lands he sent forth elves, fauns and centaurs led by The Rosy Knight and the dragon Bluefang, along with the fairy Hellebore and the Daoine Sidhe.

Wearing the shape of a great werewolf, Black Maugwr looks with contempt at the forces arrayed before him. They will die this day and the life-magic of the old tree will be devoured by nightfall.

 On the flank faun scouts enter the woods and prepare to hold their ground against the enemy.

On the opposite flank on the banks of the Silverwash a band of ferocious werewolves dash forward full of the wild killing lust.

 Orcish scouts enter the forest to be met with the sharp arrows of the fauns.

Black Maugwr's ogres make straight for the she-oak and start swinging their axes and clubs, gashing the tough old bark.

The werewolves make their way towards a company of elfin archers only to be met by Bluefang and the Rosy Knight. They are driven back scorched by the dragons' fire and pierced by the knights' lance.

The elves cannot let the ogres continue with their hacking and charge forth with their spears leveled. The ogres are made of hard stuff but the elfin spears hurl them back leaving one of their number dead in the grass. But Black Maugwr, himself charges into the elfin ranks driving them back with great carnage.

The centaurs charge into the great wolf form but they are no match for a creature of such malice and evil and are themselves forced to retreat.

With the Daeine Sidhe holding back the werewolves with their spells The Rosy Knight prepares to duel with the great black wolf.

The ogres, now with the blood rage surging through their veins, charge another band of elfin spears. But their captain is prepared. With spears set and shields locked they stand solid against the ogres. Another dies and the last of the hulking creatures runs from the field bleeding from a dozen wounds.

 Before dragon, knight and wolf can duel a band of orcs moves up distracting both dragon and rider.

In the woods the orcs have tried to penetrate and have been pushed back. A second attempt to oust the fauns also fails but not before the second band of orcish scouts shoot their poisoned darts at the centaurs from the cover of the woods driving the sylvan cavalry from the field of battle.

With the Rosy Knight distracted the orcs drive froward towards the dragon but as they get close Bluefang lets forth a roar and a blast of blue fire that sends the orcs running.

In the center, Black Maugwr had his orcs charge the elfin spears who stood fast and throwing the orcs back. But they could not abide the assault of the great wolf and fled in terror. But the fight was not all one sided and Black Maugwr was sorely wounded and stood panting amongst the bodies of the slain. Seeing the foe worsted the captain of the elfin archers ordered a volley that brought down the great black wolf. With a great cry of despair Black Maugwr fell as an oily black smoke rose from the fallen creatures' carcass and took the the air.

With their captain gone the orcs and their remaining allies fled. Why should they stay to die when their mighty captain was no longer alive to scourge their hides.

And so the day was won. The danger had passed and the she-oak still stood: wounded but still alive. But where was the corpse of the black wolf? Where the great body fell only grass, blackened and turned to ash by the spilling of it's blood remained.

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This was just a spur of the moment solo game using Dragon Rampant. I just wanted to set things up and put figures on the table. I already had the lists worked out from a couple of month ago. I decided to treat the she-oak as a unit of Elite Foot (armour 4 with 6 hits). It had no fighting ability just the toughness that comes with age. The ogres managed to inflict 2 wounds.

I've been thinking of creating a short campaign for a bit of narrative fun and to give some meaning to a few solo games. I might have a look online to see if I can find something ready made.

I hope you enjoyed it.
Cheers.