For our Friday night game I set up my first attempt to run the Crom rules for our group. Things looked good for a nice four or five player game. And then the texts started coming. "Oh, I fell down" or "Oh, I gamed too much this week already and there's a convention next week and the wife wants me home" "Oh!"
Pish! so much for the "Lamentations of the Women" part. lol
So Alfrik and I sat down for a bit of sword and sandal. I went a bit more Bran Mak Morn than Conan as that's what I had available.
The scenario was simple: The Wolf tribe was playing that age olde game of "Steal the Livestock" The defending team, The Mound People, were a evolutionary challenged lot that had taken to living their quiet, shepherd life amongst the barrows of the ancient kings. Objectives were fairly simple: Make contact with a livestock stand and it was a roll six or better on Special dice to get them moving towards the end of the table. As long as they were not intercepted by a defender the livestock would continue moving off the board.
In hindsight I can see that I overpowered the attackers considerably and would opt for more Mound People in a future game. The Wolf Tribe made quick work of the defenders as they were able to double team them most of the time.
So on with the slideshow:
The idyllic scene. Note the complacent shepherds tending their flocks. Completely unaware of the wrath about to visited upon them.
Cattle graze on the lush grasses and the sheep frolic on the remains of what were once warlords of a lost kingdom.
The Raiders, from right to left: Stonesmasher, Antler Dancer, The Wolf totem and his summoner the Fire Father and finally Married to Sticks, the groups archer.
Wolf Totem is first to move up, followed by Fire Father. The old man's rustling in the brush alerts the Mound Father, leader of the doomed shepherds.
Mound Father, sensing a danger to his herd, scans the grove for signs of a predator.
Married to Sticks moves to the crest of hill and seeing two of the Mound Sons proceeds to pelt them with arrows, making quick work of the pair.
Mound Father sees his sons riddled with arrows and is momentarily confused.
Mound Father asks Antler dancer if he has come to trade pointed sticks for goats. "We trade in Blood!" is the answer. With no other choice Mound Father is forced to fight. His battle cry: "Not in the Face!" rings out across the grove.
The fight goes badly for Mound Father and he is quickly slain. His last cries are for his mate, Mound Mother. She runs from the cook fire to see her husband and sons lying dead in the meadow. "Who has done this? Who has slain my family?" Her cries echo across the grove. Her mournful pleading is answered by the overwhelming assault of Antler Dancer. His charge pierces her heart and sends her to the ground…
…where Wolf Totem makes a quick finish of her.
Stone Smasher catches the last of the sons in the open. After a short fight it is all over.
The Wolf Tribe raiders have taken a great haul of cattle and sheep and their will be feasting around the fire and tales of the great deeds done this day will be passed around from tribe to tribe.
Stone Smasher reminds Married to Sticks to keep Fire Father away from the mead this night. "You know how he gets things confused when he drinks. He might make less of this fight than it truly was!"
I really enjoy the Crom rules. The game was full of action and fun and it took us less than two hours to play out. Matakishi is to be thanked.
