Cairo Adventure - Part 1

The heat of the Cairo afternoon was oppressive. However, Robert Talbot remained unaware of the stifling conditions. He still lay on his hospital bed, trapped in his bed as the invisible snake coils entrapped him. Abruptly, he was aware of a presence in the room. A woman’s face suddenly appeared before his eyes. He blinked, but the face was still there, bedecked in artefacts from more ancient times. She smiled, and he was enthralled as the coils that held him tight loosened. She moved her hand forward and took his. Robert slowly rose from his bed and followed this vision of beauty and unspoken desire.
Extract from New Age Comics 2 (1937)

Tomb of the Serpent

This is the second instalment of my Tomb of the Serpent campaign. After their adventures in Italy, our team from the Mace Institute sailed from Brindisi to Alexandria, where they travelled to the British Archaeological Society's (BAS) mansion on the outskirts of Cairo.  Here the team found a package of papers waiting for them with the help of local experts from BAS; their mission turned to hunt down three artefacts from the Hyksos period that would help them locate the tomb of Apophis.

Not far from the BAS's colonial mansion was an archaeological dig led by the French School that had uncovered structures from the Hyksos period, including several tombs. To this site, our intrepid team now go, searching for its buried secrets.

The Dig

The excavations were about fifteen miles from the centre of Cairo. The journey there was hot and dusty, with clouds of sand being dislodged by the small convoy of cars. Not wishing to announce their arrival, Sir Frances ordered the vehicles left in a small hollow a half hour's walk from the archaeologist’s camp. Our adventurers approach the site from the rocky high ground from the east. Standing on a rocky outcrop, our heroes could see the location below. The camp was quiet, with a couple of men walking around the bases, tidying things up and preparing some food for the evening meal. Archaeologists huddled around a trench on the hill to the north, seemingly discussing its contents. Further in the distance, shapes could be seen near the main tomb entrance. However, it was impossible to work out what they were because they were in the shadow of the tomb. 

Plans of Mice and Men

Initially, the team decided to stay together due to their experiences in Italy. However, this plan was soon abandoned because they needed to cover the site before sunset. Therefore, Slade, Sir Francis and Daphne found themselves in the camp, trying to obtain information from the Arab servants. 

Still, as Daphne was examining the tents, some figures near the tomb began to run in her direction. A feeling of dread descended on her as the sickly smell of death and decay also emanated from that direction.

Meanwhile, Honey, Thwaites, and Archie had climbed the small hill to interrogate the archaeologist, only to be met with a Gaelic shrunk and told they had no business to be on the site. As all seemed lost when a French archaeologist recognised Thwaites from the war, the conversation suddenly became more amenable, and they got permission to examine some pots. However, as success was possibly in their grasp, Archie spotted several men running towards them with swords drawn. Archie let off a few shots but to little avail, as he told Honey to speed up her search. 

Pots, Shots and Scorpions

As Archie’s shots echoed across the valley, several shambling creatures had entered the camp, only to be met by several rounds from Sir Francis’ trusted old Welby. The dig site was now the site of several minor skirmishes. Honey and Thwaites seem stuck on the hill fighting off some cultists. Unlucky, Alfie was stung by a scorpion hiding in one of the pots and was now out of the game. Meanwhile, the undead creatures that had entered the camp were now joined by a living mummy, whom Slade was having difficulty containing.

Only Daphne and Sir Francis continued searching for the clue as they had managed to eliminate the undead horde, but the light was deteriorating. Finally, Sir Francis entered one of the tents and discovered the lead archaeologist hiding behind some storage jars, fearing for his life. The archaeologist shaking and wanting it all to stop, pointed to some papyrus scrolls and artefacts.

‘Take them’, he screamed, ‘just get these creatures away from me’.

The team started a fighting retreat with the artefacts in the procession. As the shadows deepened and lengthened, the group finally returned to their transport. As they began to pull away, they could hear a strange hissing sound, almost musical, coming from the tomb, and suddenly, the valley and the dig site were silent. Not even the sound of a bird could be heard.

Adventures in Cairo Continue

What was the mysterious artefact? Why is the fabric between the dead and the living disintegrating, and will the unlucky Alfie survive the scorpion's sting? See the next chapter

 

Britcon August 2023

Something a bit different is a brief report on my adventures in Nottingham, where I met Robin Hood and his merry men, and some ugly sea monsters. All these weird tales occurred at this year's Lard Day held at Britcon.

Britcon 2023 at Nottingham Trent University. 

This was my first visit to this event and my baptism into a Two Fat Lardies Workshop. More about my adventures in Lardland later. For a large wargames show, the venue was excellent. Light and airy with plenty of space, despite the numbers and its own conference beer. Britcon was different from previous shows I attended because it focused on playing games rather than adding to your collection. Despite that, I have to confess that a few boxes of plastics strangely got added to my return luggage. 

A large area was given over to competition games, with most of the favourites being represented, Bolt, Saga, DBMM, DBA. MeG, and FOG, just to name a few. 

Two Fat Lardies' Workshop

I am not a great fan of completion games, so I signed up for the Two Fat Lardies’ Gaming Day for the first time. This was held downstairs in the chemistry area, where a fantastic concoction of games had been assembled. You could choose from thirteen games covering the Lard library of adventure, including Chain of Command, Dux Britanniarum, Kiss Me Hardy and What a Cowboy, with many being played in unusual settings. The tables on offer were rounded off by games in development. Here the players helped to play test and to fashion the final product. I let these few pictures talk for themselves, but they show the cinematic quality of these terrain boards, which were accompanied by fantastic miniatures and were enjoyable and fun. 

Madness in Lardsmouth

In the morning, I played a gangster version of What a Cowboy, set in the world of H. P. Lovecraft. Both teams were given the same story but with different hidden objectives. The sleepy fishing village of Lardsmouth sits on the US east coast, it's 1925, and prohibition is in force. Government Agents have been sent in to find a reported illegal Liquor operation. Enforcers from the neighbouring town's criminal liquor producers have also been sent to stop it. They all find more than they bargained for. 

Despite the occasional change of shots, both sides soon found out their main objective was to survive as the mist slowly rolled in from the harbour area. Soon visibility was reduced, and only shapes could be seen moving in the fog. My agent had been given the task of getting to the old lighthouse. After fighting some thugs, he managed to scramble to the top. However, by that time, madness had overtaken him. After completing his objective, he threw himself into the sea and the monster's clutches. My other agent survived being blown up (twice), killed a deep one and survived the experience if slightly singed. 

Tax, Mead and a Drunken Priest

Again the background set the scene of this Dux Britanniarum adaptation. Archbishop Roundwood has run out of mead, and Good King John is planning an imminent whirlwind tour of the Northern Baronies. However, all is not lost, as it is well known that the best mead is produced by the friars in Larddingham. Here, the Archbishop despatches the erstwhile Sheriff to secure as many barrels as possible. However, Robin and his band of Merry Men ( I wonder why they were merry?) set out to thwart the Archbishop's plans.

Again fun and surprises. From kids showing their bottoms to my bishop spending most of the game in the pub, where he tasted the delights of Laddington mead. In the meantime, the Sheriff, who may be a dastardly character but was no fool, had used his knights to disrupt Robin's plans. The game was close, and in the final turn, both sides had one point of morale left and an objective point each. However, Archbishop Roundwood was happy as he most to the mead in his stomach. 

Thanks and a Curry - When the Next One?

I must thank the game umpires and story masters, Mike and Jeremy, for making the games so much fun. Also, to all the organises who struggled with the monumental task of putting everyone's choices into a spreadsheet.

The day ended with a curry, a few pints and loads of conversation. My enthusiasm renewed, and I returned home with more project ideas and a mission to improve my scatter terrain. I will be looking out for the next Lard Gaming Day.

Phalanxes are Coming

A long-term project is to re-fight the struggles between Alexander the Great’s Successors, including Rome’s eventual conquest of the Greek East. Mark Backhouse is working on this supplement that will cover the early part of this period, but it’s not likely available until later this year. In the meantime, I thought getting experience handling a phalanx-based army would be helpful.

Chaeronea 86BC

The basic rules of Strength and Honour include one such engagement, Sulla’s victory over Mithridates’ army at Chaeronea 86BC. In this battle, the Pontic army led by Archelaus deployed four phalanx bases, forming the core Mithridatic force against Sulla’s five legions supported by their allies.

Like most ancient battles, very little is known of the order of battle, and the reports of the fight itself need to be clarified over the sequence of events. However, we have two primary sources. Appian and Plutarch provide a reasonable commentary on the battle., In addition, there are modern interpretations of Chaeronea in Philip Matyszak's book ‘Mithradates the Great’ and in Adrienne Mayor’s’.‘Poison King'.

Reconstructing the BattleAs I wanted to test out the strengths and weaknesses of the phalanx army, I decided to re-fight the battle as close as possible to the original. Therefore, I changed the Strength and Honour scenario’s deployment. I moved the river from behind the Pontic forces to the Roman right flank, but it would have little on the battle itself.

Matyszak’s reconstruction

1. The battle opens on his left flank; Murena, Sulla’s flank commander, attacked the Pontic right wing.
2. The Pontic chariots charged the Roman legions in the centre of the Sulla line. The chariots' failure led to a general Roman advance.
3. The phalanxes pinned the legion, a typical Hellenistic tactic, and the action moved to the wings.
4. The Pontic sub-Commander, Taxiles, extended the left wing and tried to outflank the Romans. Murena's cavalry struggled now struggled against the superior numbers and required support from some unengaged cohorts and the cavalry on the Roman right led by Sulla himself.
5. The movement of Sulla cavalry from the right led to the Pontic attacking the Roman right wing, forcing Sulla to return.
6. Finally, the legions began to get the upper hand against the phalanxes, and the Pontic attack on the flanks disintegrated, and the wing commands crumbled. This led to the phalanxes being exposed, and the battle was lost.

My Reconstruction

My recreation followed roughly this series of events. The Roman attack on the left was initially successful but was pushed back by the Pontic counterattack. Meanwhile, the chariots proved as ineffectual as in the actual battle and quickly disappeared from the field. The legions now advanced but became pinned by the phalanxes.

Murena and the god of dice

In the reconstruction, the Pontic attack on the Roman left wings never had a significant impact, mainly because Murena’s cavalry had the god of dice riding with him. His success in combat was quickly followed up by some awful discipline test by the Pontic left wing, which promptly collapsed. Sulla's help was never required, and the Pontic attack against the Roman right failed to make any headway. The Pontic general was now using up his command board chits to hold some form of force on the left, but in the end, it routed.

Homunculus Eat

The phalanxes now found themselves pinned by the legions, and a series of inclusive melees occurred between them across the centre. Meanwhile, the Pontic left finally collapsed. Sulla called Homunculus Est, but unfortunately for him too early, by one point. However, the Pontic army was now fatigued and running out of command chits and options. The game was effectually won despite removing a five-card from the Pontic setback/disaster hand. The phalanxes, now isolated in the centre, became prey to the Roman flank forces.

Some Thoughts

Overall, another enjoyable battle, and it did follow the historical sequence of events as I could reconstruct them. For me, more phalanx practice is required. The phalanx is an excellent defensive unit, but I must learn to use them more aggressively. I need to know to time the use of the supporting cavalry better. Finally, next time I leave the chariots in the garage.

Anyway, until the supplement arrives, I plan to recreate some more of Mithradates’ battles.