Based on the scenario "Death from the North"
Unknown Author
Chimène finally emerges victorious from the power struggle at Ardon, the chronicles of the Aifreweia recording her single-handed courage in standing up to the tyrant, and her tireless efforts to save both the physical treasure of Ardon, and the treasure that is its children, from his hands. The warrior-nun was acclaimed in the hall by the assembled nobles, and Gawayn cast into ignominy.
The Pillar of the North is, however, greatly weakened. Chimène herself to begin with, troubled by wounds that refuse to heal [she has 5 wounds under the Campaign System, which is particularly difficult to recover from]. She faces a difficult and exhausting pregnancy, but must carry the child to term if Ardon is not to plunge back into chaos.
One of the women that has become her closest friend and advisor, Ygritte, is not only impopular in Ardon - she slew a child during the attempt to rescue Zoraya from Gawayn's clutches - but an embassy from the Aifreweia is also seeking retribution for the death of their abbot, Rashar, at her hands. Pressure for a trial is growing.
If Chimène can count on both noble and popular support for the moment, neither see her other friend, Zoraya of Turan, with a good eye, despite the diplomat being the key to an unexpected alliance with the Sultan himself against the Hyperborean threat.
There is also Gawayn himself, of course, although for the present time he seems to be merely brooding over his defeat. Despite the urgings of her council, Chimène refuses to punish him, as he was only acting out of concern for Ardon, even if his poor choice of allies was his undoing. Speaking of his allies, Chimène has been unable to remove Constantius from the court; for now, she has managed to keep distance from his brutish methods, but it is making her look weak.
She does not, however, stand alone. If both Zoraya and Ygritte are both somewhat difficult friends to have, the Lady of Ardon can also count on Kerim of the Watch, even if he is rarely within the walls, and Eadric. As well, of course, as another Nemedian : faithful Brude whom she has named her Captain of the Guard.
The Hyperboreans are closely apprised of this troubled situation. It is why they have sent one of their dread Emissaries, in secret, to the Brythunian stronghold.
Although Gawayn is not totally insensitive to her whisperings, the perverted Northwoman finds a readier ally in Constantius. The mercenary manages to smuggle her, and a cloaked and hooded accomplice, into the hall of Ardon, where the fragile Chimène and her unborn child will be within her reach. Not even the brutal Constantius expects the calamity to come, when the Emissary's companion shrugs off its shapeshifter charm....
In my campaign, the previous events have had an important effect on this scenario, as Chimène, one of the heroes, must not only play heavily wounded, but must avoid any further harm if she hopes one day to recover.
Objectives
- The Heroes win if they kill the Hyperborean Emissary, or prevent the Overlord from killing all of the Militia, the Brythunian Spearmen and the Brythunian Crossbowmen before the end of turn 9.
- The Overlord triumphs otherwise.
Game length
The scenario lasts 9 turns. The Overlord plays first.
Scenario Map
As the action takes place indoors, it is recommended using the Tavern map and following the set-up of the official scenario.
Heroes
In the campaign setting, the following heroes take part in the adventure, with any equipment they had or have acquired, and spells selected using the campaign game method.
Chimène (set up in ..). As additional equipment, she has a set of Scale Mail that a guard hastily hands her when the enemy appears. Her Turanian Sword is laid out in one of the rooms (see later).
As allies, Chimène controls 5 Militia (use the Grey Pirate tile), and 5 Brythunian Crossbowmen (use the Purple Bossonian Archers tile). Only Chimène can command them.
Brude (set up in..). His Hyrkanian Sword is laid out in one of the rooms (see later).
As allies, Brude controls 5 Brythunian Spearmen (use the Red Bossonian Guards tile). Only Brude can command them.
Zoraya (set up in..). As additional equipment, she has a Tribal Shield, a relic of an ancient raid that she snatches off the wall. She does not have her Ornamental Spear with her. Her Sword is laid out in one of the rooms (see later).
All heroes begin with 6 Energy Gems in the Fatigue Zone.
If any heroes are bearing wounds from previous adventures, the effects of this is now taken into account.
Several weeks have gone by since An Ape, a Few Kegs and a Hostage, so Recovery is possible [this has already been rolled for the scenario, with no success].
The Overlord
The Overlord's forces are as follows :
Hyperborean Emissary (set up in ...), with Pestilential Swarm and Withering.
A Dynwocor (set up in ..)
Grey Skeletons (use the tile with Armour of 1)
Purple Skeletons (use the tile with Armour of 1)
Red Skeletons (use the tile with Armour of 0)
The Overlord begins with 6 Energy Gems in the Available Energy Zone, and 0 in the Fatigue Zone. He or she recovers 3 each turn.
Ravens
When an Event is played, the Overlord resolves each of the following events in order :
Gaining Ground : see SSR
Reinforcements : 5 Reinforcement Points
The River
1 : Hperborean Emissary (6 wounds)
2 : Dynwocor (8 wounds)
3 : Event 1
4 : Empty
5 : Empty
6 : Empty
7 : Empty
8 : Empty
Reinforcement Zones
There are no reinforcement zones (.., .., ..).
Equipment Cards
There are no Treasure Chests (.., ...), each needing a Complex Manipulation with 2 successes to open. The Equipment Deck is empty.
There are however a Hyrkanian Sword (belonging to Brude), a Pictish Drink, a Sword (belonging to Zoraya), a Life Potion, a Turanian Sword (belonging to Chimène), a Pictish Drink placed in the battle zone as per the set-up map (in clockwise order).
Terrain
If the game is played on 3D terrain, the House Rules for this apply.
All doors are unlocked.
Doors and Interior walls are vulnerable to the Wall Breaker skill. Exterior walls are not.
Heros may not leave the board by any board edge zone.
Other House Rules
If players are in agreement, any or all of the other House Rules may apply
SSRs
- Dawn of the Dead
Whenever a Militia, a Brythunian Spearman or a Brythunian Crossbowman is killed, the Overlord replaces its model in that area with a laid down skeleton model (or a marker), that retains the same base colour (Grey, Purple or Red). They do not Hinder.
- Skeletons
The three skeleton tiles are not placed in the river at the beginning of the scenario, but set aside for later use (see SSR "Gaining Ground").
When a skeleton is killed, it is not removed from the board, but instead laid down (or replaced with a marker), retaining its colour. They do not Hinder.
If a skeleton tile is dredged from the River, it is permanently removed from the game and cannot be recalled through the SSR "Gaining Ground".
- Amulet
When the Dynwocor is killed, the Overlord places an Amulet (use the Stygian Artefact card) in the area it fell in.
The Amulet pulses with magical energy. If an Overlord figure is in the same area as the Hero carrying the amulet, he or she can only pass the Amulet to another hero through a Complex Manipulation requiring 2 successes.
- Hyperborean Emissary
The Hyperborean Emissary can only be wounded by a hero who is carrying the Amulet.
- Allies
Each hero can only activate the Allies assigned to it. Allies can only move, they cannot attack. A Hero cannot use Energy Gems to defend an Ally.
- Gaining Ground
Before the scenario begins, the Overlord builds an Additional Gem Reserve of 6 energy gems.
When the Overlord activates the Event 1, and resolves the Gaining Ground event, the following things occur in order :
i) The Overlord adds 2 gems from his Additional Gem Reserve, if any remain, to his Fatigue Zone.
ii) The Recovery Value of the Overlord is increased, from 3 to 5, or from 5 to 7.
iii) The Overlord now chooses one of the Skeleton tiles available to him, if any, and adds it to the end of the River, as long as there is at least one laying down Skeleton figure or marker of that colour.
- Reinforcement
The Overlord can only Reinforce units whose tiles are in the River. When the Overlord uses a reinforcement point, he or she stands up one of the laid down skeleton models / markers on the board.
A laid down skeleton model / marker cannot benefit from reinforcement, if the area is also occupied by a Hero.
- Pictish Drink
A hero may discard this item to move 2 gems from their Fatigue Zone to their Reserve Zone, but must also suffer 1 wound.
- Constantius
The vile Constantius is added to the battle zone, in the room in the bottom left corner. He uses the Constantius tile and has 4 wounds. He is totally passive during the scenario, cannot be activated and cannot be defended by a player. His eventual demise serves only the campaign narrative.
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