Arthur's quest for the Grail has lead him into the mysterious realm of the Ice Queen.
He is met by the stubborn Tsar Sultan, who refuses to help them in their quest.
They must fight for the grail.
Python’s Empire v Kislev – Kislev fights hard, but the dice gods favor Arthur.
2750 points
Standard Battle Scenario
Abbreviation in parenthesis is the identifier on the maps
Photos at the edn
Python’s Empire
(Art) – Arthur’s unit of knights & attached characters
Arthur (general): Excalibur (Runefang), plate, shield, barded warhorse (bwh)
Lancelot (grand master): Obsidian Blade, plate, shield, bwh
Galahad (warrior priest): Ogre Blade, heavy armor, enchanted shield, bwh
Bedevere (Army standard): hand weapon, plate, shield, bwh, talisman preservation
Dead collectors (
Lvl 1 wizard): hand weapon, war horse, van horstmann’s speculum
5x Knightly Orders: leader (Robin), great weapon, plate, bwh
(
SK) Singing Knights of Camelot
10 x knightly orders: full commands, great weapons, plate, bwh
(BK) Cult of the Black Knight
40 x Great Weapons: full command, great weapons, plate, standard of discipline
(
SL): Swamp King’s Legion
18 halberdiers in heavy armor, full command
2 x 12 man detachment of archers
(
LC): 2 x 6 man units of Light cavalry with crossbows named after color of livery/horse:
Sir Percival’s Blue Bays
Sir Ector’s Chestnut Raiders
(KN): Knights who say “Ni!” a volley gun
(BM): Brother Maynard – a volley gun with wiseman (Engineer) attached
(T): Tim the Enchanter – a level 3 fire wizard
KISLEV – from left to right
(HA) – 8 fast cavalry horse archers [AKA Croats]
(Tord) – Tordamir’s Unit
Tordamir: (Named character)
Priest: war bear, magic pistols, Gambler’s Armor
7 x Gryphon Legion: Lance, heavy Armor, shield, warhorse, Music, Banner of swiftness
(Green/Reds) – 2 units of 24 streltsi, handgun, halberd, full command
(
Gen) – Army General’s unit
Tsar Saltan (named character)
ABS: Hand weapon, heavy armor, horse, Talisman of Endurance
10 x Gryphon Legion: Lance, Heavy Armor, shield, warhorse, Holy Icon, full command
(
WL) – 5 x Winged Lancers: Lance, heavy armor, shield, full command
(BB) – 8 x Brotherhood of Bear fast cav: spear, bow [aka Cossacks]
(Yaga) – Boba Yaga – Level 4 Hag witch & Magic Hut
TURN ONE – Kislev
The Army advances – the light cavalry attempt to cover the heavies
Magic: Baba Yaga lays a curse on Arthur & his knights. They will be -1 in initiative & weapon skill for the rest of the game.
Shooting: None
Combat: None
TURN ONE – Python’s Empire
Arthur & co. declare a charge on Cossacks, they flee, but they have pulled Arthur forward. (In retrospect, it would have been better to just let Arthur kill them, and let Sultan charge in. The plan was to have them hit Arthur in the flank on turn 3. But Brother Maynard made sure that didn’t happen).
The Singing Knights & the Black Knights advance. The light cavalry maneuver
Magic: The winds are cruel, providing just enough power to stop the curse from spreading, but nothing else.
Shooting:
Blue Bays fire on the Winged Lancers without effect
Brother Maynard’s Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch kills 5 of Saltan’s Legionnaires, with the help of the Wise Man from Scene 24 offering advice.
The Swamp King’s archers kill 4 Croats.
The Knights who say Ni finish off the Croats. There are no survivors.
TURN TWO – Kislev
Tsar Saltan charges Arthur & company. The high priest separates from Tordamir to deal with the Chestnut Raiders. Tordamir decides to turn right for a possible flank attack on the Singing Knights, though at some risk from enfilade fire.
The Cossacks rally
Magic: Yaga tries to curse Arthur again, but it is dispelled by Tim. Yaga “throws a cursed pledge” at the Swamp King’s Archers. They refuse to do her bidding, but at the cost of five dead archers.
Shooting: The High Priest fires off his pistols at the Chestnut Raiders – killing two.
The Red Streltsi fires off a deadly volley – killing seven black knights
The volley of the Green Streltsi, looks to be just as deadly, but the armor of the Singing Knights reduces the casualties to one.
Combat: The lances of Saltan’s Legionnaires fail to penetrate the thick armor of Arthur & co. Although still suffering from Yaga’s curse, numbers and armor tell.
The Dead Collector’s challenge is met by the Legionary Champion. The fighting is inconclusive, but the champion does cause a wound to the collectors.
Neither Saltan, his ABS nor his remaining Legionnaires cause even a single casualty.
Arthur & Galahad combine to take out Saltan.
Bedevere & Bors combine to take out the Kislev ABS
Lancelot & the others combine to take out the last Legionnaires. There are no survivors.
TURN TWO – Python’s Empire
Arthur & Company charge Baba Yaga
The Singing Knights charge the Green Streltsi. They shoot poorly, killing only 2.
The Blue Bays fall back from the advancing Winged Lancers.
The Chestnut Raiders receive no orders (i.e., I forgot to move them).
Magic: Tim the Enchanter casts an irresistible Fireball at the Winged Lancers – killing three out of the five. The two survivors eventually panic and do not return. Tim takes a wound from the magic backblast.
Shooting: The Chestnut Raiders & the Swamp King’s Archers fail to wound.
The Knights who say Ni only manage to take out two of Tordamir’s Legionnaires.
Having used the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, Brother Maynard throws the Holy Hand Grenade of Byzantium, wiping out the Cossacks.
Combat: The Singing Knights charge uphill on the Green Streltsi. They win the fight (6 casualties to 3), but the Streltsi stand firm on the high ground.
Baba Yaga’s challenge is answered by Arthur (In retrospect, in may have been better to refuse the challenge, knowing that either Arthur or Lancelot would withdraw, but leaving the other plus the entire outfit to battle Yaga & her hut). Arthur gives Yaga one wound, but does not suffer any.
TURN THREE – Kislev
Tordamir charges the Singing Knights in the flank
Magic: Baba Yaga again tries to curse Arthur, but it is dispelled by Tim
Shooting: The Red Streltsi kill six more black knights
The high priest takes out two more Chestnut Raiders – the two survivors stand fast
Combat: The duel between Baba Yaga & Arthur continues; neither Arthur nor Yaga can cause a wound, but her hut & the Brave Concorde manage to (Arthur has one wound, Yaga two & the hut zero).
The Singing Knights continue to give more than they receive (3-1) but lose combat because of other combat bonuses. They break and flee. Tordamir lets them go; he hopes to flank the Black Knights on the next turn & figures the firepower of the Green Streltsi will finish them off anyway.
TURN THREE – Python’s Empire
The Black Knights charge home, losing four more knights to stand & shoot. With the 3rd & 4th ranks gone – they have lost all of their horde benefits.
The Singing Knights rally.
Magic: Tim the Enchanter lets off another irresistible fireball - -this one taking out Tordamir’s entire unit (save Tordamir – who stand’s firm)! However, there is a cost as Tim succumbs to the magical backblast, killing a Blue Bay & wounding Brother Maynard as well.
Shooting: None
Combat: Arthur manages to kill Yaga, without further damage to himself. Now, what to do about the hut?
A vicious fight erupts between the Red Streltsi & the Cult of the Black Knights. The Black Knight always triumphs! (8 kills to 4). The Red Streltsi break from the pressure and are overrun. The Green Streltsi decide they have done enough for tsar & Country and join their Red brothers in flight.
End Report
Another decisive victory for Arthur
Python’s Empire:
Arthur & Company – all present & accounted for.
Singing Knights – 5/12 survived
Cult of the Black Knight- 19/40
Swamp Legion – 18/18 halberdiers & 19/24 archers
Blue Bays – 5/6 survived
Chestnut Raiders – 2/6
Knights Who Say Ni - present
Brother Maynard – present (one wound)
Tim the Enchanter – dead of the Field of Honor
Kislev:
Saltana’a unit – no survivors (ABS captured)
Tordamir’s unit – Tordamir & high priest stand alone
Brotherhood of the Bear (Cossacks) – no survivors
Horse Archers (Croats) – no survivors
Red Streltsi – no survivors
Green Streltsi – 16/24 survive but fleeing field
Baba Yaga – killed, but magic hut survives
Baba Yaga & her magic hut
The battle Starts - view of left - center & right from Kislev
Saltan advances screened by Cossacks
The Cossacks flee from Arthur
Tordamir advances on the Empire right - screened by Croats
The Blue Bays keep their distance from a small unit of Winged Lancers
The duel between Arthur & Tsar Sultan
The advance of the Singing Knights of Camelot! Sing for your lives!
Having disposed of the Tsar - Arthur & company now face Baba Yaga
Tordamir flanks the Singing Knights
The steady advance of the Black Knights
Tordamir threatens the flank of the Black Knights as the Singing Knights dishonor themselves
But it is not to be as Tim the Enchanter unleashes a long range irresistible fireball
The view from the Kislev left, center & right at the end of the game
Much to his chagrin, Arthur learns this battle was totally unnecessary. Kislev does not have the grail after all - it has already moved south.
Not knowing its value, it seems the Tsar Sultan sold it to a passing company of dwarves for a mere pittance.
But in the end, the proud and bitter Tsar would rather lose the war than admit the mistake.
Arthur and his men must quest on.
