In the Aristrax Marches – Ep31
Previously in the Aristrax Marches, the Ravens of Gadun hunted down and defeated a duskling warband in a cave complex near Langecliffe.
Turn 47
For Town Events I rolled Supportive Locals. The Upkeep was at 1 Gold Mark. For Campaign Activities we Meet the Locals and had a Brief Chat. Gerk went to Pray while Rina Trained. We sold Camp Gear.
The Ravens of Gadun had been on the road for some time, and the opportunity to rest and resupply in Langecliffe was a welcome one. As they made their way through the village, they were greeted by friendly locals who offered to lend them a hand.
Bolga, the leader of the warband, stopped to chat with a group of farmers who were busy tending to their crops. “Fine day for a harvest,” he remarked, nodding to the fields of wheat and corn that stretched out as far as the eye could see.
“Aye, that it is,” one of the farmers replied. “We’re grateful for the rain we’ve had these past few weeks. Makes for a bountiful crop.”
Caldas, the halfling warrior, was approached by a group of children who were playing a game of tag in the village square. “Hey, mister, do you want to play with us?” one of the children asked.
Caldas grinned and pulled out his sling. “Sure thing, kiddos. Let’s see if I can keep up with you.”
Myrick, the rogue, spotted a group of locals gathered around a blacksmith’s forge. He made his way over to see what was going on. “What’s the excitement?” he asked.
The blacksmith, Eadric, looked up from his work and smiled. “Just finishing up a commission for a local farmer. Nothing too exciting, I’m afraid.”
Rina, the fey-blooded outsider, headed to an open field outside the village where she could train with her war spear and longbow. She spent a few hours honing her skills, working on her footwork and her aim.
Meanwhile, Gerk, the Preen warrior, headed to the temple to offer a prayer to his deity. He bowed his head in reverence as he approached the altar, his short sword strapped to his belt.
As the day wore on, the warband decided to sell some of their camping gear in the market. They set up a stall and began hawking their wares, drawing the attention of several curious locals.
“Fine swords and camping gear for sale!” Bolga shouted, holding up a finely crafted longsword. “Come and get ’em while they’re hot!”
One villager approached the stall and eyed the equipment suspiciously. “Where’d you get all this gear?” he asked.
Bolga smirked. “Let’s just say we came across it in our travels. Trust me, it’s all of the highest quality.”
In the end, the warband was able to sell most of their gear and make a tidy profit. As the sun began to set, they made their way back to their lodgings, grateful for the hospitality of the friendly locals in Langecliffe.
For Adventuring we will Travel to the Duskling Hideout to Raid it and eliminate the Duskling Warbands Threat. Travel was Uneventful.
The warband sits around a small table in the common room of The Weary Knave inn, deep in discussion about their next move. Bolga, the Butcher, takes the lead.
“We’ve spent enough time in Langecliffe. It’s time to finish what we started and take out that duskling warband once and for all,” he declares, slamming his hand on the table for emphasis.
Myrick, the Hood, nods in agreement. “We can’t let them keep terrorizing the countryside. It’s time to put an end to it.”
Rina, who has been sharpening her war spear, speaks up. “We’ll need a plan. They won’t be easy to take down.”
Bolga nods. “Agreed. We’ll need to scout out their hideout and see what we’re dealing with. Once we have a plan, we strike.”
Caldas, Boots, leans back in his chair. “I have a contact in a nearby town who might be able to give us some information. I can reach out to him and see what he knows.”
Gerk, who had been quietly listening, speaks up. “And what about the villagers here? We could use their help. They owe us a debt for protecting them.”
Myrick scoffs. “They’re farmers and bakers, not warriors. They’ll only get in the way.”
Bolga glares at him. “We’ll take all the help we can get. We’ll approach them cautiously, see if any of them are willing to lend their aid.”
With their plan in place, the warband finishes their drinks and prepares to set out on their mission. They gather their weapons and gear, making sure they have everything they need for the journey ahead.
As they step outside, the sun is setting, casting long shadows across the village square. The villagers look up at them with a mix of fear and admiration, grateful for their protection but wary of their reputation.
Bolga addresses them, his voice booming. “We’re leaving now, but we’ll be back. And when we return, we’ll have rid this land of the duskling warband for good.”
The villagers nod their heads, some murmuring words of encouragement. As the warband makes their way out of the village and into the darkening forest, they know that the road ahead will be fraught with danger. But they are ready to face whatever lies ahead, for the sake of the people they have sworn to protect.
The enemy was rolled to be 8 Prowling Renegades and a Captain.
As the Ravens of Gadun approach the duskling hideout, they keep their guard up and move cautiously. The hideout is nestled in a rocky outcropping, with a narrow entrance that is easily defended. The warband takes a moment to observe the perimeter and notice several patrolling renegades, some of them dragging weapons behind them while they scout for potential enemies.
Bolga turns to his companions and speaks in a low voice, “Looks like there’s a fair number of them, but we can take them. We’ll need to be careful though, they’re bound to have traps set up.”
Myrick nods in agreement, “We’ll need to find a way to lure them out, or take them out one by one.”
Caldas adds, “I could try to sneak in and take out their captain, that might help.”
Rina nods, “We’ll have to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that they’ll catch onto us.”
Gerk interjects, “Let’s not forget that we’ve got Kael with us. He could prove useful in a surprise attack.”
The warband spends a few more moments observing the duskling hideout and devising a plan. They note the location of the traps and possible points of entry, then head back a safe distance to finalize their strategy.
Bolga looks at his companions and says, “Alright, let’s do this. We’ll take them by surprise and hit them hard. Stay alert and watch each other’s backs.”
The warband nods in agreement, then sets off towards the duskling hideout, ready to engage in battle.
Combat
As the sun begins to set, the Ravens of Gadun approach the duskling hideout, moving quietly and with purpose. Caldas and Kael slink off to the east, making their way through the cover of trees and underbrush. Bolga and Myrick, meanwhile, make their way to the southern rock outcropping, taking care not to make a sound as they climb up and survey the hideout below.
Sneak Round
Once they’re all in position, Caldas manages to find a hidden passage leading into the heart of the hideout. He moves quickly and quietly, but one of the duskling archer guards spots him and sounds the alarm. The rest of the warband hears the signal and begins to move quickly towards the source of the disturbance.
“Damn it,” Caldas hisses to himself as he draws his sword, ready for whatever comes next. “I was hoping to avoid this.”
Bolga and Myrick exchange a quick glance before silently nodding to each other and heading towards the commotion. They move with practiced ease, their weapons at the ready, prepared to take down whatever stands in their way.
As they move closer to the sound of the alarm, they can see the rest of the duskling warband starting to gather, weapons drawn, and ready for a fight. The Ravens of Gadun are outnumbered, but they’re not afraid. They’ve fought against worse odds before and come out on top.
“Looks like we’re in for a bit of a scrap,” Myrick says with a grin, unsheathing his Heartseeker blade. “Let’s give ’em hell.”
Bolga nods, his face a mask of determination. “We finish this today, once and for all,” he says. “No more hiding in the shadows. It’s time to take the fight to them.”
And with that, the warband charges forward, ready to face whatever dangers await them in the duskling hideout.
Caldas moved swiftly through the passage and found himself face to face with the duskling leader, a towering figure covered in scars and tattoos. With a fierce battle cry, Caldas charged at the enemy leader, his fencing sword at the ready. But the duskling was not easily defeated, and he swung his axe with deadly precision, striking Caldas with a heavy blow that sent the halfling flying to the ground, unconscious and bleeding.
Round 1
Meanwhile, Bolga was trying to push through the enemy lines to reach the leader. He was blocked by several duskling warriors, but his sheer determination allowed him to climb the rock outcropping and attack one of the enemy from behind. His cleaver sliced through the duskling’s back, killing him instantly. Myrick followed closely behind Bolga, keeping his blade ready to strike, but the duskling warriors kept their distance and tried to shoot arrows at the two heroes. However, the arrows bounced harmlessly off their armor.
As the fight intensified, the duskling leader showed his strength and combat prowess by taking on Myrick with two of his warriors at once. Myrick dodged and parried the duskling’s strikes, but the enemy leader was relentless. Rina fired her longbow from the south, trying to hit the duskling archer, but her aim was off and the arrow missed.
On the eastern side, Kael charged at a duskling guard, hoping to break through the enemy lines. However, the duskling was ready for him and pushed Kael back with a powerful bash. Despite the heroes’ bravery, the duskling warband refused to retreat.
The duskling leader was a fearsome sight, covered in scars and tattoos. He wore a chainmail shirt and carried a battle axe with deadly precision. His eyes glowed with a fierce red light, revealing the power of his fey blood.
Bolga cuts down a duskling warrior who stands in his way, his cleaver slicing through the enemy’s flesh and bone. With a path cleared, Myrick charges towards the duskling leader, his Heartseeker blade glinting in the dim light of the hideout. The duskling leader tries to defend himself, but Myrick’s sword finds its mark twice, cutting through the leader’s armour and bringing him down dead.
Round 2
Meanwhile, Rina fires her longbow at a duskling archer, but the arrow is stopped by the thick hide armor. The other duskling archer shoots at Myrick, but his Stout Defender magical armor saves him from harm. Two duskling warriors try to attack Bolga and Myrick, but they are quickly dispatched by the heroes.
On the eastern flank, Kael fends off a duskling’s attack and finds the distance to shoot his crossbow at the enemy, the bolt killing the duskling with a well-placed shot. Rina shoots her bow again, aiming at the duskling archer who had broken his bowstring, but her arrow misses the mark.
Seeing his comrades defeated, the last duskling archer flees, leaving only the duskling with the broken bowstring standing in the battlefield against the warband. The duskling looks around, realizing he is the only one left. He drops his bow and draws his sword, preparing for a fight.
“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,” Bolga says, grinning at the duskling. “But it’s time to face your fate.”
The duskling snarls, lunging forward with his sword. Bolga parries the attack with his cleaver, and Myrick follows up with a thrust from his Heartseeker blade, piercing the duskling’s armor and ending his life. The warband stands victorious, their enemies defeated.
Round 3
Resolution
We rolled 2 Adventure Points earned for being Victorious against an Enemy Threat and got 1 Adventure Point for slaying an enemy Captain. 6 Adventure Points were spent directly on reducing the Duskling Threat by 1, going to 0 and effectively eliminating them.
Caldas was merely Dead but I spent a Story Point and he was Moderately Injured for 1 Turn of Recovery.
Caldas earned 1 XP, while the rest of the warband 2 XP each, and Myrick 3 XP. Rina advanced to Level 3 and earned a Combat Skill increase.
We had 2 Loot rolls for achieving the Objective which was a Maille of Shadows, going to Gerk and a set of Throwing Knives. Also for Holding the Field we got 2 Unusual Finds which were a Captive from Fey Wall and a Key Individual Slain earning us 2 Adventure Points more.
On News Events rolled, a virulent disease is at *Langecliffe.
For clearing a Threat we earned 1 Story Point and a Loot roll which was another set of Throwing Knives.
For the overall Victory we rolled 4 Story Points and 8 Gold Marks.
The Ravens of Gadun emerged victorious from the bloody battle against the duskling warbands, but not without taking some casualties. Caldas was lucky to have survived the skirmish, albeit with some moderate injuries.
As the warband began looting the battlefield, they found a valuable enchanted armour, the Maille of Shadows, and a set of throwing knives. Myrick inspected the Maille of Shadows and confirmed its magical properties, while Bolga examined the throwing knives with great interest.
“Looks like we’ve hit the jackpot, lads!” Bolga exclaimed with a grin. “These throwing knives will come in handy on our next adventure.”
But the most valuable find was the slain duskling leader, who turned out to be a key figure among the enemy warbands. The warband knew that this victory would weaken the enemy’s morale and give them an advantage in future battles.
As they continued to search the battlefield, they came across a captive villager from Fey Wall. Myrick approached the prisoner, his Heartseeker blade still in hand, and asked, “What’s your name, lad?”
The villager looked up at Myrick, his eyes wide with fear. “M-My name is… is E-Edric, sir.”
Myrick sheathed his blade and helped Edric to his feet. “You’re safe now, Edric. We’ll take you back to your village.”
The warband made their way back to Langecliffe, but news of a virulent disease in the village had reached their ears. They decided it was best not to risk infection and made camp outside the village.
“We’ll wait until the disease has passed before we head in,” Kael said. “We don’t want to risk bringing it back.”
The warband settled in for the night, exhausted but victorious. They knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but they were prepared for whatever lay ahead.The warband of Ravens of Gadun, weary and wounded, emerged victorious from the final battle against the Duskling Warbands, and their spirits were lifted by the news that the Aristrax Marches were finally safe. The weight of their accomplishments and the memories of their fallen friends weighed heavy on them, but they found solace in the fact that their mission was finally complete.
Bolga, the Butcher, led the group in a small celebration. They lit a bonfire and drank ale and wine that they had plundered from the enemy’s stores. They shared stories of their battles and the fallen, remembering their bravery and sacrifice.
“We did it, my friends!” Bolga declared, raising his mug of ale. “We have secured the Aristrax Marches from all major organized threats. The villagers are safe, and the lands are secure. We have achieved what Omac set out to do, and we did it together.”
Caldas, the halfling, sat quietly beside the fire, his leg propped up on a log. “But at what cost?” he muttered to himself, gazing into the flames.
Myrick, the Hood, noticed the halfling’s somber mood and sat beside him. “What’s troubling you, Caldas?” he asked.
Caldas sighed heavily. “So many of our friends are dead, and for what? To secure a piece of land that will never truly be safe? There will always be threats, always be battles. Is it worth it?”
Myrick placed a hand on the halfling’s shoulder. “We did what we had to do to protect the innocent. That’s all that matters. We can’t control what the future holds, but we can be proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
Rina, Gerk, and Kael nodded in agreement, raising their own mugs to toast the fallen.
The warband spent the rest of the night reminiscing and honoring their dead. The next morning, they would need to decide on their next steps, but for now, they were content to celebrate their victory and the memories of those who had fallen along the way.As the Ravens of Gadun recollect their accomplishments and the memories of their fallen comrades, a solemn silence falls over the warband. Bolga, the Butcher, stands tall and proud, surveying the battlefield with a mixture of pride and sorrow.
“We have fought well,” he says, his voice booming across the clearing. “Our mission is complete, and the Aristrax Marches are safe once more. But we cannot forget the sacrifices that were made. Our fallen comrades will be forever remembered.”
Caldas nods in agreement, his wounds nearly healed. “We could not have done it without each other,” he says. “We have all played our part in this.”
Myrick, the Hood, steps forward, his eyes flickering with a mischievous light. “And let’s not forget the treasures we found,” he says. “These will come in handy for future battles.”
Rina, the fey-blooded outsider, steps forward as well, her war spear at her side. “But what of our next move?” she asks. “Do we continue on, searching for new threats to vanquish? Or do we return home, to rest and regroup?”
Gerk, the Preen warrior, speaks up. “I say we stay together. We have been through too much to simply disband now. There are always new threats to be found.”
Kael, the Feral outsider, nods in agreement. “I am with Gerk. We stay together, and we continue our mission. The Aristrax Marches may be safe for now, but there are other lands that need us.”
The warband falls silent, each member lost in thought. Bolga looks around at his companions, seeing the determination in their eyes.
“Very well,” he says, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “We will continue on. The Ravens of Gadun ride once more.”
As the warband sets off into the distance, their path uncertain but their spirits high, they know that they will face many more challenges in the future. But they also know that they are stronger together, and that their bond of brotherhood will see them through whatever trials may come.
And so, the Ravens of Gadun ride on, their legacy secure, their name feared by their enemies and celebrated by their allies.
Campaign Review
It’s done!!!
And with this battle, 31 Session Episodes and 47 Turns, the Aristrax Marches campaign in Five Leagues from the Borderlands is at long last complete.
Feelings are positively mixed, the long grind made it difficult at times, and I risked burn out, but on the other hand I wanted a long campaign and the accomplishment now is under my belt.
What I liked:
- A vivid world. All the different tables connect together and provide more than ample feedback for prover narrative. Combat is fun and fast. Characters are unique. Enemies require different tactics. A great experience.
What could be better:
- An option to have the campaign driven by the rulebook. At the moment it’s all up to the player to decide how the story will go. I’d like it better if the player’s hand was forced more often than not, and the player choice to be a welcome respite. The framework to do this is there.
What was the difficulty:
- The game is not inherently balanced, but I have a slight feeling that for non-mystic characters, the Combat Skill increase is weighed heavily, and this can lead to a quick increase to CS +3 which can move the scales in favor of the warband. Once you’re well equipped with armor and weapons, combat can easily be in your favor.
Overall this was a very enjoyable experience, but I am also relieved that I can let myself free to try out something else now, since I had focused on the campaign finish task and I didn’t want to deviate from it (though I did a few times) until it was complete. I decided to do it this way mainly to ensure that I would finish the campaign within a logical time frame (I’d hate for it to draw longer than one year, and it was already almost 14 months in), and to avoid forgetting the narrative due to other concurrent stories from other campaigns.
As I wrote in a previous post, perhaps if I worked through the campaign in a slower pace, with more focus on the story and what made sense, this could be even more fun, but as I was nearing the finish I just wanted to have it done.
ChatGPT has really helped me with the narrative texts, as the story becomes an interesting read to me also. I doubt I’d be able to keep up with the story in such a detailed manner if it wasn’t for AI support.
With this complete, I’ll be focusing a bit on miniatures painting. As for the next choice for gaming, I think it will be either shorter or less intensive. I’m leaning towards sci-fi themes now, but I haven’t settled on anything yet, nor have I decided if it will be RPG or skirmish.
Solo, Pen, Paper and Dice 
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