Chapter I : The Temple of Ibis - The Adventure

My daughters played the heroes in this one, whilst I was the evil overlord... 

The scenario is here. 

True to herself, Ethelglyth no sooner saw the Stygian soldiers coming over the wall, than she chucked her axe at them, charged into their midst and despatched two, before sprinting back to safety.  Brude was more cautious, seeking refuge in the central building and picking the lock on the chest there, which proved to be empty.

Nuala and her wolf sprinted upstairs, where she found a healing potion, and then the much sought after censer in a sarcophagus.

The Stygian archers on the walls proved bothersome throughout the tense minutes that followed, but for now their shower of arrows bounced off the walls of the central building, or stuck in Brude's shield.

Led by their captain, the Stygian infantry swarmed around the priestess Icilia [which also allowed the Overlord to play the Event and receive reinforcements].  This forced Ethelglyth out into the open, wreaking havoc in the Stygian ranks with her broadaxe, and severely wounding the captain.  Nuala, not yet knowing who these brave warriors were, but grateful for their help, sent her wolf, who had already taken down two archers, to assist the Brythunian.

Just as well, for at that very moment a Stygian archer, who had been tracking Ethelgylth, unleashed an arrow that would have struck her low [five hits on three yellow dice !].  Nuala's wolf bravely leapt to intercept the shaft, which buried itself deep in its side.  Other arrows rained down on Ethelgylth, one wounding her.  Brude in the meanwhile dashed out and pulled the Priestess of Ibis into shelter (whilst cunningly using her to shield him...).

Ethelgylth and the Stygian captain squared off, the Brythunian was wounded, but sent her adversary to the afterlife and managed to escape back into the central building.  Nuala's wolf, finishing off its enemies, was slain by another hail of arrows.

During a lull in the fighting, Nuala ran through the central courtyard to the sanctuary, just as Aetulla came over the wall with his men.  Brude ran to join her and managed to force his way into the sanctuary where the sacred treasure - a great tome of sacred knowledge, worth a fortune in the learned cities of Nemedia - lay open before him.

Ethelglyth was now in great danger, alone with Icilia and with Stygian infantry swarming around her.  Fighting back ferociously, she nonetheless received dreadful wounds.  It was then that a mighty act of heroism tipped the scales.  Nuala cast her "Recall" spell on Ethelglyth; as the Brythunian was pulled to safety, she threw her axe to bring down an enemy soldier.  Following on the heels of that blow, Brude charged out of the sanctuary, laid low the Stygians, knocked out Icilia with a blow to the chin (well, this is Conan !) and unceremoniously carted her off towards the temple door.

The Stygian archers tried desperately to stop him, but to no avail.  Aetulla decided it was time to pull back an rally his men.  He would have to pursue these unforeseen enemies through the desert and slay them in the wilderness.

A great time was had by all.  The Heroes won a clear victory.  Nuala and Brude gain +1 XP, Ethelglyth +2 XP (or having slain the Stygian Captain).  She has however a severe wound (one energy gem in the Wound Zone, until Recovery is possible).  No equipment was recovered.

Some comments on game balance for future scenarios :
 All of the 3D terrain rules worked just fine !

The game balance was good overall, but did not really allow Aetulla to take part in the action (it gave a "Darth Vader at the beginning of Episode IV" style entrance, however, once most of the fighting was done...).  Having the big baddy start at the edge of a fairly large board, at the end of the river, makes him less likely to intervene, especially as it is best not to send him off alone. This is even more so when he is a spell-caster, who has to spend additional gems to act.  Then again I used a lot of gems to give the soldiers extra movement, perhaps that was not the wisest choice although it nearly killed Ethelglyth.