Border Board games was pleased to see the return of the Mikes and Dennis to the monthly board game night on December 17th. With the addition of Homer, Kim and Alexis to the mix, we boasted eight players on the evening.
First to hit the table was a favorite of St. Jay Mike and Dennis: Power Grid. Some savvy moves and the establishment of a reliable nuclear network enabled St. Jay Mike was able to overcome his rivals for control of the French power market. It was a closely contested game until the very end.
It is highly likely that either of Agricola or Le Havre will hit the tables next month. If we can again draw eight or more participants, that likelihood increases exponentially.
Next up were several rounds of the wild west themed Bang! It was the first time for several of the players but, given the inherent nature of the game, was quickly embraced by all players. In the first game Sheriff Homer came to a bad end as the outlaws efficiently eliminated his deputies and marched to victory. In the second game Sheriff Dennis fared little better. His deputies struggled to acquire the gear necessary to defend him while the renegades and outlaws launched savage attacks on he and his allies. Though close to a renegade win, the outlaws again triumphed on the evening.
The next Border Board Games game night is scheduled for January 21st at 6 p.m. The week prior a Border Board Games contingent will trek south to Winter Weirdness in Barre for a day filled with gaming mayhem.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The Profits of Disaster
When last we looked in on House Drake the prospects appeared dim. Lady Ella barely survived an assassination attempt, Torrhen was taken captive by the petulant Buckwells, the Drake army was defeated on the field and the Drake Household faced the onerous task of hosting a tourney commemorating the first official visit by Oberyn Martell.
the biggest challenges lay in completing the marriage pact with thedric and House Cafferen, freeing Torrhen from bondage and somehow gathering the resources to not only host the Martell tourney but, also to strengthen Drake's own forces. Fortunately Garth's plundering of the Buckwell baggage train alleviated some of the financial pressure facing the Drake household. Determined not to lose face, Lady Ella vowed to fulfill her obligations and restore the family honor.
Given her precarious state of health, the burden of managing the house during Ella's convalescence fell on Maester Gyles, the Drake house poisoner (though he denies his studies in that area with uncharacteristic vehemence). As expected, the house fortunes flagged despite the opening on the new marketplace. This was due in no small part to Gyles' insistence on continuing treatment of Ella leaving the running of the house to others during the mid-summer months.
Meanwhile, Torrhen began his captivity on a tour of the ravaged Buckwell lands. Though the Buckwells triumphed at Pembroke, it did not come at little cost. Indeed, Torrhen saw the untilled fields and the unharvested foods caused by excessive call on the region's peasant levies. Sensing a weakness, Torrhen began a series of subtle jabs at the worthiness of a Buckwell suitor to a Selmy bride. Though unskilled in the area of diplomacy, Torrhen's honorable behavior earned him the respect of his captors among the Boors and Selmy households. At the same time Buckwell continued to rant and rave, exposing the flaws in his character that prevented him from earning his knighthood.
Garth, meanwhile, decided to employ some of the tactics that made his guerrilla soldiers infamous. he encouraged banditry, working alongside some of the larger bands of brigands, hoping to further undermine Buckwell influence in the region. he continued to shadow the party holding his half-brother hostage, inciting rebellion at every turn. despite his best efforts, however, he found himself unable to make off with the ransom paid to Buckwell. Though the source of the ransom remained unclear, suspicions point toward the involvement of Highgarden.
In spite of some philandering and a mysterious death of his newly betrothed, the youngest of the Selmy ladies, Torrhen managed to not only extricate himself from his captors but also land numerous marriage proposals in so doing. Buckwell betrayed his base nature by becoming implicit in the death of Lady Selmy earning him a trial by combat against Torrhen. Torrhen's skill at arms outclassed his foe and the last of the Buckwell heirs was duly slain in the name of justice. he thereby earned his freedom on the eve of the Martell tourney.
Back at Castle Drake (colloquially referred to as castle Greyskull), Ella recovered and attended the marriage of her half-brother thedric. At the same time she won a considerable victory against Lady Buckwell earning her the respect of the illustrious guests at the wedding celebration. She was likewise popular among the visiting nobles of Dorne who attended the tournament held to celebrate Oberyn's assumption of his place on King Joffrey's small council. Torrhen's victory in the lists likewise earned House Drake no small measure of influence from among the visiting noble families.
Having gone from the brink of disaster to the darlings of Sunspear, House Drake appears poised once more as a force to be reckoned with. Lady Ella's dalliance with the Viper only enhanced her standing as a desirable match. Garth managed to cement a friendship with the Martell spymaster Otho providing new avenues of revenue for his growing smuggling network. With a stronger network of alliances brewing, House Drake continues to plot against their Buckwell rivals with their eyes set on taking Summerhall for their own.
the biggest challenges lay in completing the marriage pact with thedric and House Cafferen, freeing Torrhen from bondage and somehow gathering the resources to not only host the Martell tourney but, also to strengthen Drake's own forces. Fortunately Garth's plundering of the Buckwell baggage train alleviated some of the financial pressure facing the Drake household. Determined not to lose face, Lady Ella vowed to fulfill her obligations and restore the family honor.
Given her precarious state of health, the burden of managing the house during Ella's convalescence fell on Maester Gyles, the Drake house poisoner (though he denies his studies in that area with uncharacteristic vehemence). As expected, the house fortunes flagged despite the opening on the new marketplace. This was due in no small part to Gyles' insistence on continuing treatment of Ella leaving the running of the house to others during the mid-summer months.
Meanwhile, Torrhen began his captivity on a tour of the ravaged Buckwell lands. Though the Buckwells triumphed at Pembroke, it did not come at little cost. Indeed, Torrhen saw the untilled fields and the unharvested foods caused by excessive call on the region's peasant levies. Sensing a weakness, Torrhen began a series of subtle jabs at the worthiness of a Buckwell suitor to a Selmy bride. Though unskilled in the area of diplomacy, Torrhen's honorable behavior earned him the respect of his captors among the Boors and Selmy households. At the same time Buckwell continued to rant and rave, exposing the flaws in his character that prevented him from earning his knighthood.
Garth, meanwhile, decided to employ some of the tactics that made his guerrilla soldiers infamous. he encouraged banditry, working alongside some of the larger bands of brigands, hoping to further undermine Buckwell influence in the region. he continued to shadow the party holding his half-brother hostage, inciting rebellion at every turn. despite his best efforts, however, he found himself unable to make off with the ransom paid to Buckwell. Though the source of the ransom remained unclear, suspicions point toward the involvement of Highgarden.
In spite of some philandering and a mysterious death of his newly betrothed, the youngest of the Selmy ladies, Torrhen managed to not only extricate himself from his captors but also land numerous marriage proposals in so doing. Buckwell betrayed his base nature by becoming implicit in the death of Lady Selmy earning him a trial by combat against Torrhen. Torrhen's skill at arms outclassed his foe and the last of the Buckwell heirs was duly slain in the name of justice. he thereby earned his freedom on the eve of the Martell tourney.
Back at Castle Drake (colloquially referred to as castle Greyskull), Ella recovered and attended the marriage of her half-brother thedric. At the same time she won a considerable victory against Lady Buckwell earning her the respect of the illustrious guests at the wedding celebration. She was likewise popular among the visiting nobles of Dorne who attended the tournament held to celebrate Oberyn's assumption of his place on King Joffrey's small council. Torrhen's victory in the lists likewise earned House Drake no small measure of influence from among the visiting noble families.
Having gone from the brink of disaster to the darlings of Sunspear, House Drake appears poised once more as a force to be reckoned with. Lady Ella's dalliance with the Viper only enhanced her standing as a desirable match. Garth managed to cement a friendship with the Martell spymaster Otho providing new avenues of revenue for his growing smuggling network. With a stronger network of alliances brewing, House Drake continues to plot against their Buckwell rivals with their eyes set on taking Summerhall for their own.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The shit storm hits Shitville
The fortunes of House Drake were on the line as the forces Lady Ella Drake brought to Pembroke aligned on the hills west of town. Arrayed against them were the combined forces of Houses Buckwell, Selmy and Hightower as well as a mercenary force of pikemen.
Not only did Drake's enemies possess superior numbers, they sought to stave off the conflict by first sending an assassin against Ella Drake. Though Ella was able to fight off her attacker, she sustained grievous injuries in the process. Sensing that the fortunes of the Drake household were at stake, Maester Gyles intervened, offering Ella a gruesome ticket to freedom if she should so choose. Already things looked bad for the newfound house.
With Ella removed from the equation, Torrhen represented the house in a parlay with the attacking forces. Though both sides had come prepared for a prisoner exchange, Torrhen's implacable attitude and the confidence of their foemen precluded an amicable cessation of hostilities. The battle lines were drawn.
Drakes forces took the high ground but their lack of footmen would prove their undoing on this day. The enemy launched a wild assault against the wooded hill with the scum from Hightower's jails pitted against the newly formed foot of House Fitzdrake. The thin line broke and, despite terrible losses from the Drake archers, Torrhen's cavalry was forced to commit much earlier than anticipated.
Even as the cavalry routed the last of the convict brigade, they became enmeshed in vicious hand to hand with the mercenary pikemen. Torrhen roused his battered troopers and took a Selmy commander prisoner shortly before his own horse was forced to disengage.
Garth and his irregulars held the long, low slope to the north and broke the peasant levies thrown against them but not before their own forces were broken in the melee. As the ebnemy cavalry rode on Pembroke to take Ella and the unguarded Drake train, the Drake archers were forced to yield and the Drake cavalry broke to engage the new threat.
It was all down hill from there. The enemy forces were badly abused in the attack but the lack of field commanders hindered the Drakes' ability to rally their men. The irregulars disengaged and made for the woodlands where their superior stalking skills would have caused the enemy to pay dearly. The handful of battered troopers remaining in the Drake cavalry were soon outnumbered and disarmed, unable to prevent the enemy from seizing the undercroft where Ella convalesced.
Seeing only death and dishonor, Torrhen surrendered his person in exchange for the freedom of Lady Ella Drake. meanwhile, the irregulars circled back to sack the allied train, seizing the ransom which, hopefully, might help buy back Torrhen's freedom. Even as the guerrillas returned to castle Greyskull with their booty, Garth set off to follow the enemy and his captured half brother.
Though free and, much to her surprise, still in charge of an intact army, Ella headed back home to try and salvage the house's fortunes. With word having come that a retinue from House Martell was making a tour of the borderlands, Ella had to consider how best to position her house to restore its soiled honor. She not only vowed to go ahead with the marriage of Thedric to Lydia Cafferen but also to work to free Torrhen from her enemies.
It will take skill, courage and more than a little luck to prevent the house from falling into ruin. It would also take additional allies but would any house remain willing to hitch its fortunes to Drake's wobbling chariot?
Not only did Drake's enemies possess superior numbers, they sought to stave off the conflict by first sending an assassin against Ella Drake. Though Ella was able to fight off her attacker, she sustained grievous injuries in the process. Sensing that the fortunes of the Drake household were at stake, Maester Gyles intervened, offering Ella a gruesome ticket to freedom if she should so choose. Already things looked bad for the newfound house.
With Ella removed from the equation, Torrhen represented the house in a parlay with the attacking forces. Though both sides had come prepared for a prisoner exchange, Torrhen's implacable attitude and the confidence of their foemen precluded an amicable cessation of hostilities. The battle lines were drawn.
Drakes forces took the high ground but their lack of footmen would prove their undoing on this day. The enemy launched a wild assault against the wooded hill with the scum from Hightower's jails pitted against the newly formed foot of House Fitzdrake. The thin line broke and, despite terrible losses from the Drake archers, Torrhen's cavalry was forced to commit much earlier than anticipated.
Even as the cavalry routed the last of the convict brigade, they became enmeshed in vicious hand to hand with the mercenary pikemen. Torrhen roused his battered troopers and took a Selmy commander prisoner shortly before his own horse was forced to disengage.
Garth and his irregulars held the long, low slope to the north and broke the peasant levies thrown against them but not before their own forces were broken in the melee. As the ebnemy cavalry rode on Pembroke to take Ella and the unguarded Drake train, the Drake archers were forced to yield and the Drake cavalry broke to engage the new threat.
It was all down hill from there. The enemy forces were badly abused in the attack but the lack of field commanders hindered the Drakes' ability to rally their men. The irregulars disengaged and made for the woodlands where their superior stalking skills would have caused the enemy to pay dearly. The handful of battered troopers remaining in the Drake cavalry were soon outnumbered and disarmed, unable to prevent the enemy from seizing the undercroft where Ella convalesced.
Seeing only death and dishonor, Torrhen surrendered his person in exchange for the freedom of Lady Ella Drake. meanwhile, the irregulars circled back to sack the allied train, seizing the ransom which, hopefully, might help buy back Torrhen's freedom. Even as the guerrillas returned to castle Greyskull with their booty, Garth set off to follow the enemy and his captured half brother.
Though free and, much to her surprise, still in charge of an intact army, Ella headed back home to try and salvage the house's fortunes. With word having come that a retinue from House Martell was making a tour of the borderlands, Ella had to consider how best to position her house to restore its soiled honor. She not only vowed to go ahead with the marriage of Thedric to Lydia Cafferen but also to work to free Torrhen from her enemies.
It will take skill, courage and more than a little luck to prevent the house from falling into ruin. It would also take additional allies but would any house remain willing to hitch its fortunes to Drake's wobbling chariot?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)