Thormopparokay: The Attackers

Following on from Thormopparokay: The Defenders,  its time to unveil the attackers.

The rules of the scenario, Pass Clearance, from Charles Grants' Programmed War Games Scenarios, calls for my having drawn up my defensive plans before knowing what forces I will face.

A defence in depth. The first line is composed of the guns and Royul Navye detachment. They will hold the line of the two woods either side of the valley, until the enemy closes at which point they will withdraw to the main line of resistance.

The second, or main, line consists of one unit of Trolka line flanked by the two units of Trolka light infantry.

The reserve consists of the Guards in the ruined tower and the Mooseketeers.  The Guard are to serve as a final rally point for the defense should the main line be pierced.

The Mooseketteers are meant to cover the retreat of the guns if they are pressed, or to counter any mounted assault by the enemy. No idea at the time just how much cavalry the enemy would field so best to be careful.

That out of the way here is what I will be facing:

Ferach General de Division Xerxes is bringing a multinational force to the pass.

General Xerxes has a very limited staff in the form of a single werewolf ADC.

The division consists of three brigades. The Coltzen Legion, The Finkelstein Field Force, and the Guinalean contingent.

The Coltzen Legion consists of a unit of Centaur lancers, two battalions of werewolf foot, and a werewolf battery led by Josef Ponyatowski.

The Finklestein Field Force consists of three battalions of dwarf line infantry supported by a battery, led by Heinrich Schulman.

The Guinalean Contingent consists of the 1/1 Guinalean Legion Line, and Reille's Irregular Corps of Light Infantry, led by Wolfe Toon.

The division's battery of Ferach Elf Artillery has been attached to the Guinalean Legion for support.

All told that's one unit of cavalry, one of light infantry,  six battalions of line and three batteries of artillery. The force includes Elves, Centaurs, Werewolves, Dwarves, Bog Orcs, and a lone Wee-folk, the Serjeant of the Irregulars.

Most of the figures were painted by the in house staff at Alternative Armies. The Guinalean contingent was mostly painted by the author.  Wolfe Toon is a converted figure.

Thormopparokay: The Defenders

Following on from 18, Duke Lars Dynydisson of Slaegga gathered his retinue, and prepared to defend the pass of Thormopparokay.

The 18

Having already suffered severe losses in the Witchlands campaign the "army" of Slaegga has been reduced to 18 Trolka organized in four battalions of infantry and two squadrons of cavalry.

Duke Lars Dynydisson and the Royal Banner of Slaegga.

From left to right, (front row), the Royal Slaegga Regiment of Guards, the 1st Light Battalion, the 2nd, Line Battalion, The 2nd Light Battalion, (Second Row), 1st Squadron, The Mooseketeer Regiment, Duke Lars Dynydisson, the Royal Banner of Slaegga, the 2nd Squadron, The Mooseketeer Regiment.

Some notes on Slaeggan organization

Following the injunction lain down in  Sång av den gamla trollet, infantry battalions maintain a ratio of two firearms to three Trolka. Given the raw power, and admittedly somewhat limited intellect of all Troll kind, the Trolka feel that this armament is sufficient as all combat must inevitably come to hammer blows. The Royal Slaegga Regiment of Guards is an exception to this rule, formed of only the brightest and most loyal followers of the Duke.

Further while it may seem odd to outsiderse that the Duke fights on foot rather than astride a moose, the old Trolkan saying "Ett troll måste vara galen för att rida en älg", applies.

The Landing Party from HMS Gladden Fields

The 18 have received timely aid from Sir Sydney Smiff of HMS Gladden Fields in the form of a small landing party of two guns, and a detachment of Royul Marines and Sailors.

Sir Sydney Smiff.

Sir Sydney has been an ardent foe of Mordred's regime ever since he, Smiff, was jailed during Mordred's revolution. Having made his escape, Sir Sydney has managed to get wind of every Ferach weakness, and been able to place himself at the center of every campaign that borders the sea. From Toolong where Sir Sydney was responsible for the burning of five Ferach ships of the line, to Aegypt, where he claims the credit for Mordred's defeat before the walls of Aker, and at Murda, where troops under his command defeated a larger Ferach force on the Nepoloese coast.

Just how Sir Sydney always manages to be at the right place at the right time is something a mystery and perhaps a tale for another time.

As it happens Sir Sydney is already acquainted with Duke Lars, having met the Duke while secunded to the Trolkan Navy before the current unpleasantness with Mordred began. In fact Sir Sydney is something of a hero among the Trolka, having received the Royul Order of the Stone with Moss Clusters for his service against the Star Wraith at the naval battle of Svensko.

In aid of Duke Lars' defence of Thormopparokay, Sir Sydney has landed two shippe's gunnes with crew and a dozen marines and sailors to protect them.

Will it be enough?

All figures pictured are from Alternative Armies and have been painted by their talented in-house staff.

18

Valon.

The Fourth Age.

The Emperor Mordred's Witchlands campaign has all but ruined his allies, draining them of supplies, treasure, lives.

As Mordred's coalition unravels, Dwarves, Dogs,  and Ogres of the Confederation of Finklestein as well as the Trolka of Skandavia refuse to take further part in the war.

Mordred knows he must stop this rot before it spreads and hastily organizes an expedition to quell the unrest.

The first Trolkan Duchy entered is Slaegga, ruled by Duke Lars Dynydisson.

A heated exchange ensues.

Ferach messenger: Listen carefully, Lars Dynydisson. Mordred conquers and controls everything he rests his eyes upon. He leads an army so massive it shakes the ground with its march, so vast it drinks the rivers dry. All the God-Emperor Mordred requires is this: a simple offering of earth, water, and troops. A token of Slaegga's submission to the will of Mordred.

Lars Dynydisson: Submission. Well, that's a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it that the Hundfolk have already turned you down. And if those philosophers and... bone-lovers have found that kind of nerve—

Trolka Diplomat: We must be diplomatic—

Lars Dynydisson: [cutting him off] And of course  Trolka... have their reputation to consider.

Ferach messenger: Choose your next words carefully, Lars Dynydisson. They may be your last as Duke.

[Lars Dynydisson turns and ponders the offer. He looks at various folk standing around, watching him nervously, the last of whom is Gottfrida.]

Lars Dynydisson: [in his head] Earth, water, troops... [having made up his mind, he draws his hammer on the Ferach messenger, whose back is to a sheer drop. The Trolka guards follow suit and point their kannonderbusses at the other messengers.]

Ferach messenger: Madtroll... You're a madtroll!

Lars Dynydisson: Earth and water... You'll find plenty of both down there. Urrrahh no troops though. Sorry about that [indicates the cliff with his hammer]

Ferach messenger: [nervous] No one, Elf or Trolka, no one threatens a messenger!

Lars Dynydisson: You bring the crowns and heads of conquered  folk to my city's steps! You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Ferach. Perhaps you should have done the same.

Ferach messenger: This is blasphemy! This is madness! [Lars Dynydisson lowers his hammer and looks toward Gottfrida, who nods]

Lars Dynydisson: [facing the Ferach messenger] Madness? THIS IS SLAEGGA! [kicks the Ferach messenger off of the cliff]

Note all figures are from Alternative Armies and painted by their in house painters.