Splintered Band: Bloody Harvest in the Fields

 

    Badger mage Jemmy Tar & Yo-dee the Coyote barbarian catch sight ahead of an armored ratman

It has been too long since the Splintered Band took to the field in my solo Sellswords & Spellslingers campaign. If you'll remember, these were adventures following four of my Splintered Light Miniatures anthropomorphic animals. In the first mission, they escorted a wagon from the river town of Porthewn to the forest monastery of Brother Barnibus. The way through the Great Forest had been nearly cut off by the ravages of a large warband of rats, but Jemmy Tar's band fought their way through -- barely!

    My scenario featured 5 objective markers that the Splintered Band (starting at bottom) must reach

Meanwhile, preparing for a string of spring gaming conventions had kept me from following up their initial adventure with a second mission (even though it had been written and ready for months!). However, with Origins Game Fair done, it was time to return what was going on in the perilous Great Forest...

    True to his barbarian nature, Yo-dee howled and sprinted forward to attack the ratman

Fortunately, the healing powers of Brother Barnibus and the Monks of the Emerald Robe were able to nurse the nearly lifeless Yo-dee back to health. The gratitude of the mice monks and their students upon the band's arrival with a wagon full of food and supplies was boisterous and welcoming. 

    As Abraxis the armadillo scurries ahead, the pine marten ranger Woodbine is ambushed by a ratling

Brother Barnibus explained to Jemmy that they were the first wagon to arrive from Porthewn in weeks. What's more, the horde of rats plaguing the area had kept the monastery from harvesting any of their crops or orchards. Monks or workers sent out were captured by the rats and dragged off squealing into the woods, likely to a grim fate. Quite simply, the mice of the monastery were starving. The rats had also twice attempted to swarm their walls, but Brother Barnibus' hastily-armed monks, students, and workers had driven them off, though with grievous losses. The fate of the monastery hung in the balance. As the inhabitants got weaker, they would likely not be strong enough to repel the next attack. The Splintered Band had arrived just in time.

    An overview in the early turns showing where the advance of the Splintered Band 

Jemmy talked to Abraxis and Woodbine about what Brother Barnibus had said, while unwinding from the horrors of the forest over an ale in the monastery's brewery. They let Yo-dee sleep, and hopefully recover quickly from his deep wounds sustained fighting the powerful Bearman. Woodbine and Abraxis agreed that the band should do all in their power to help the monastery. Payment was irrelevant when the lives of the mice scholars and their young students were at stake! The next morning, the three approached the elderly abbot of the monastery and told him their skills were at his disposal. The monk bowed his head in prayer, and then quietly blessed each of the three. He asked if at least one of the three could help stand watch on the walls, rotating shifts, so they were there at all times? Jemmy nodded, but asked, "Surely, there is more we can do?"

    Ratling 'horde' arrives on board in response to the character's activation failures

Barnibus said they should wait for several days, and let his folk recover their strength by feasting on the supplies they had brought through safely. "Then, when your companion has recovered, perhaps we can better utilize your skills...?" The abbot explained his plan. Jemmy and his friends would burst out from the monastery's gate and scour the nearby treeline, driving off or killing any rat sentries spying upon the monastery. While Jemmy and his friends were fighting the rats, Barnibus' folk would rush out from the gates, as well. They would begin hurriedly harvesting all they could carry from the fields, protected by the adventurers. Once they had gathered enough food to last for a week or so, he would ring the monastery's bell, and Jemmy and his friends could withdraw back through the gate. 

    The arrival of those ratlings aroused a huge, angry bear -- bad news for the rats!

"A clever plan, Brother Barnibus!" Jemmy nodded. "We will see that your folk have their time to harvest, though we pay with our blood." The abbot said he would give each of the four a healing potion to use if they were wounded while out protecting the fields. "If you need it not, it is still yours to keep. The Emerald Robes will never be able to repay your generosity and stout hearts!" 

    Other event cards in the game would cause ratlings to leap out of ambush and attack the band

This solo game would be the second scenario of my campaign. The 3'x3' battlefield would have four fields nearest the edge of the battlefield where the characters would start. The other three board edges would be bordered by thick woods, forming an upside down "U-shape" facing the Splintered Band. Inside the woods would be five objective markers, each within 6"-10" of their respective table edges. A member of the party would have to contact each objective marker and roll on a table to see what enemies lurked nearby. This would simulate the band scouring the woods edges and springing any ambushes the rats may have laid for unwary monks. 

    One of the mouse monks scurries out of the monastery to 'help' the characters defeat the rats

Once the marker was touched, there was a 1 in 6 chance there would be no enemies near the marker. However, in all five cases I rolled up either a horde of ratlings or a wildcat legionary. The fact that the Wildcat Legion was now in the hire of the rats would be dire news for the mice of the Great Forest. The legion was the force that initially drove the rat army out of the forest, many years ago. To find that they had betrayed the trust of the mice would worry Brother Barnibus and his folk greatly.

    Yo-dee out in front nears the first objective marker on the left, approaching cautiously

I decided to split the four members of my band into two groups of two, each starting near opposite side edges of the battlefield. The stout armadillo fighter Abraxis would partner with the Pine Marten ranger Woodbine on the right. Jemmy Tar, the badger mage, and his bodyguard Yo-dee, the coyote barbarian, would take the left. I figured that I needed a fighter and a missile-armed character on each side. Woodbine's arrows and Jemmy Tar's magic darts would doubtless come in handy, keeping the rats and other enemies at a distance or killing as many as possible before they closed to contact.

    Meanwhile, Abraxis moves with uncharacteristic speed and closes in on the first marker on the right

There was a complication, though. Two cards in the event deck would lead to monks appearing in the fields ontable in their work harvesting. There was also a card representing a brave but foolhardy mouse monk rushing from the table edge to join the Splintered Band in their dangerous job. The adventurers would have to prevent them from being killed by enemies, in addition to investigating all five objective markers.

    The angry bear charges into a ratling slinger that unwisely did not flee in terror as it should have!

I decided my order of activation would begin with Abraxis and Woodbine, followed by Yo-dee and Jemmy. At the end of my turn, any monk harvesters or would-be warriors would move. Abraxis took off like a shot, not failing an activation roll for his first three turns! His haste belied his slower 3" move compared to the others. In Sellswords & Spellslingers, characters choose to roll 1, 2, or 3 twenty-sided dice to activate. Each failure leads to a draw of an event card, which can bring on new enemies or activate those already on table. To make up for Abraxis' unexpected speed and successes, Woodbine rolled his share of failures (less than an 8 on 1d20). 

    Touching the objective marker triggers a roll on a table, this one bringing on a horde of 5 ratlings

The game began with three rats deployed randomly on the tabletop. One, an armored ratman, began in the field nearest Yo-dee and Jemmy Tar. On turn one, Yo-dee saw him and let out a long howl. Rolling four successes on three dice ("20" on 1d20 = two actions), he charged towards the rat, leapt the fence, and eventually cut him down. An auspicious start for the Splintered Band!

    Battle on the right: Woodbine (bottom) shoots arrows, Abraxis strikes down enemy, & the bear rages

Abraxis continued to scurry ahead, with Woodbine shaking his head at his companion's recklessness. His sharp eyes spotted a group of three ratlings emerging from the trees near the two ratling slingers that he had noticed earlier in the distance. The ranger paused, seeing a darker form moving through the trees. The roar confirmed what his eyes thought he had spotted -- a huge, angry bear! He noticed the ratlings cringe, surprised by the bear's appearance nearby. Woodbine chuckled -- the foolish creatures must have disturbed it somehow. Once they moved to attack he and Abraxis, the bear charged. They would keep the bear busy for awhile! His own attention diverted, he was himself startled as a ratling leapt out from behind the gate to the field he was moving along. The creature leveled a spear and charged. Woodbine turned and fired quickly and the ratling dropped, an arrow in its chest.

    Yo-dee triggers the objective marker on the left and unveils a wildcat legionary...employed by rats??

On the left, Yo-dee charged off towards the first patch of woods and objective marker. Following behind him, Jemmy noticed the bulging pouch at the belt of the armored ratman, who lay covered in blood, felled by the coyote's two-handed sword. "This will buy a few ales," Jemmy laughed as he snatched it from the lifeless creature's belt, hearing the satisfying jingle. He knew his band wouldn't have time to loot the slain for the most part on this mission, but no harm in taking what was all but shoved into his hands! Thinking similarly, Woodbine snatched a pouch from the ratling his arrow had killed. 

    Jemmy Tar tells Yo-dee to clear out & unleashes a flurry of magic darts at the treacherous mercenary

Woodbine heard scurrying feet behind him, and saw one of the brother monks puffing along down the path from the monastery towards them. He was carrying a staff in both hands like a weapon. Woodbine sighed. He saw more movement to his right and noticed a harvester with a spade enter the field, digging up potatoes and putting them in his burlap sack. He imitated a birdsong that he knew would catch Jemmy's attention. When the badger looked over, he pointed to the two monks, so he could help keep an eye on them.

    Wounded, Abraxis continues to hammer his way through hordes of ratlings with his mace

Up ahead, the ranger noticed Abraxis nearing the edge of the woods. He also saw the three ratlings running towards the armadillo -- or were they running away from the bear? Left behind, the ratling slinger squeaked and whirled his leather sling over his head and loosed a stone at the charging bear. It missed and the bear leapt upon the slinger. The bear's jaws closed and the slinger gave one final, urgent squeak and went limp and lifeless. Woodbine jogged forward as Abraxis entered the edge of the woods. He was waddling forward faster than he'd ever seen the armadillo move before! The ranger saw movement deeper in the woods. Dark forms were creeping towards Abraxis. The ranger counted five shapes, and shouted at Abraxis to back out of the woods to where his bow could cover him. The armadillo hefted his mace and looked about to protest, but finally saw the ratlings edging towards him. He began backing into the meadow. Satisfied, Woodbine sighted his bow and sent a shaft hurtling towards the ratlings running from the bear, seeing one stumble and go down.

    Hearing the shouts of his master, the barbarian coyote returns to strike down the wounded wildcat

On the left, Yo-dee slowed down and crept cautiously beneath the trees. He saw a glint of steel through the trunks. Out of the gloom, a wildcat walked towards him, pulling its sword from its sheath. He wore a steel breastplate, bronze helmet, and long red cloak. Far behind him, he hurried Jemmy Tar gasp. "It can't be...the Wildcat Legion -- fighting for the rats? What treachery!" Yo-dee looked from the armored wildcat to Jemmy. He was unafraid, but something about this creature bothered his master. He growled low and deep in his throat. Jemmy shouted to him, "I will deal with this traitor, Yo-dee! Search the next woods!" Red blasts of magic crackled past Yo-dee's head, rebounding from the red shield of the wildcat. Yo-dee looked back at Jemmy again and heard him shout, "Hurry, we haven't much time!" 

    The bear, wounded by Woodbine's arrows, turns to face a new threat -- a very upset giant boar!

Yo-dee darted out of the woods and to the next treeline, advancing stealthily. He heard before he saw the chittering of a group of ratmen. As his eyes picked out their forms, he saw them whirring slings over their heads, their black eyes intent upon him. Behind him, the coyote heard the Wildcat hiss in pain as one of Jemmy's magic bolts struck home. Yo-dee heard it snarl a challenge, and wavered. He was bloodguard -- sworn to protect the life of Jemmy Tar! He bolted back into the woods he'd just left and charged the Wildcat, who saw him coming. Swords clanged. The wildcat was fast, his sword cut the coyote's side. Yo-dee howled in anger and battered his two hand sword down upon the bronze helmet. The creature reeled, then Yo-dee's followed up with a two handed slice which struck home. It fell, nearly cut in two. Good armor, Yo-dee thought, but not enough to protect against "Rat-Cleaver" -- the name Abraxis had given Yo-dee's huge, curving sword. The coyote howled in triumph as the wildcat lay still.

    Midway through the game and only two objective markers remain for the Splintered Band to search

Back on the right, Woodbine fired three arrows and watched ratlings fall beneath the trees. Meanwhile, the four running from the bear crashed into Abraxis, who swung his spiked mace to the left and right, crushing a ratling lifeless with each stroke. Woodbine called, "To me, Abraxis! There is a more dangerous enemy than rats on the prowl!" The ranger paused, breathed slowly, and aimed at the bear and let an arrow fly. A roar told him his shot had struck home. But why was it not charging? It had dispatched the two hapless ratling slingers. Instead, it was snuffling and glancing back at the trees the ratlings had emerged from. Woodbine squinted his eyes and saw movement in the greenery. "What now?" he thought. He gasped when the creature emerged from the woods, its red eyes intent on the wounded bear. It was the largest boar he'd ever seen, with huge curving tusks and hooves that pawed the ground. 

    The cruelly curved tusks of the boar and its fury are enough to overcome the powerful bear

The boar charged the bear and the two swirled in combat, curved tusks against claws and teeth. Woodbine tore his eyes away from the swirling melee. He had enemies of his own to worry about. He sent shaft after shaft into the ratlings, as Abraxis swung his mace at all that came into contact. After a moment, all the ratlings lay fallen, feathered or smashed to the ground. "Abraxis -- hurry! Over the fence of that field. I will join you! We have only a moment before one or the other of those forest creatures charge us." Sure enough, just as Abraxis clambered over the wooden fence and propped his shield against it, he heard the enraged squeal of the giant boar. It stood over the motionless bear, its head swaying back and forth, tusks dripping blood. Then it caught sight of the armadillo. It let out another terrifying squeal and charged. Abraxis wisely shifted position behind the stoutest fence post he could find, bracing his shield and weight against it. The boar took the bait and crashed into the fence. Braced by Abraxis, the post held. The fighter swung his mace overhead, cracking it down on the boar's head. Woodbine raced to his companion's side and swung his axe, aiming for its neck. The two battered at the creature until it finally let out an explosive snort and sagged to the ground.

    Tragedy! One of the monk harvesters is pounced upon by a prowling mountain lion

The roaring of the bear and boar had drawn the attention of other predators of the woods, though. Creeping silently through the trees was a large mountain lion. It saw one of the monk harvesters digging plants from the ground and then placing them in its sack, oblivious to the feline's presence. When it had crept close enough, it sprang from cover and raced noiselessly towards the unsuspecting mouse. It leapt the fence and only when almost upon its prey did it roar, paralyzing the monk with fright. The lion crashed upon him and drove him to the ground. Claws and teeth rent the mouse's form, who never had a chance to cry out. Jemmy Tar, at the opposite end of the field, heard the lion's roar. "Oh, laddie no!" he cried, as the mouse went down. Hands waving with arcane gestures, the badger summoned up his red bolts again and hurled them, one after another, at the lion. It roared in pain, and then again when it was struck a second time. Finally, it sprang towards the badger, closing the distance rapidly. However, Jemmy did not panic and waited till it was close and he could not miss. The final bolt of red pierced the lion, and it tumbled through a patch of pumpkins and then lay still.

    Abraxis & Woodbine use the fence to help hold off the explosive charge of the giant boar

Jemmy looked from the fallen monk to where Yo-dee waged battle with two different groups of ratling slingers. He hesistated, unsure which way to go, when he heard his friend Abraxis shout, "I've got the wee poor mousie! You help Yo-dee!!" The badger smiled as Abraxis stumbled through the pumpkin patch,  pumping his short legs as fast as they would go. Jemmy turned and began hurling magic darts at the slingers, who had obviously struck the coyote once or twice. He called over his shoulder, "Get these mice back to the monastery, Abraxis! The rest of us will finish this!" Jemmy jogged forward towards Yo-dee, as did Woodbine. The three companions whittled away at the ratlings. Suddenly, the monastery bell began to clang. 

    Woodbine advances beneath the trees & triggers the final objective marker, revealing another wildcat

"That's the sign," Jemmy shouted. "Let's go -- make sure all the monks are out of the fields. We don't leave any behind." As they retreated, Jemmy saw the monk that the lion had pounced on supported between Abraxis and another monk carrying a staff. He thought he saw the bloody mouse open its mouth and squeak in pain. "Alive...how?" Abraxis saw him looking and held up the empty healing potion. He nodded his head and smiled at his friend. Soon, the entire Splintered Band, along with four mouse monks, were hurrying through the paths between the fields. Up ahead, Jemmy saw the monks waving from the open gate, urging them to hurry. He didn't have turn to be able to tell the rats were following them. He could hear their angry chittering at his backs. Errant sling stones fell around them, but they were too far away to be accurate. They'd made it! Jemmy smiled and knew exactly which of the monastery's ales he would celebrate with!

    Another bear prowled onto the board (the first's mate?), but it was dispatched by Yo-dee's sword

This was an epic length game of Sellswords & Spellslingers. It lasted 17 turns. I'd started out rolling fairly well, but hit a stretch where I failed well move half of my activations. Several times, I had characters fail all three activations they rolled for! The larger predators showed up on the "Wandering Monster" event card. I didn't mention it in my story, but there were actually two more that showed up. One was another bear slain by Yo-dee and the other was another boar that arrived directly behind a horde of six very surprised and disappointed ratlings...ha, ha! Do I want that many "wandering monsters" in this scenario? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll change the scenario rules I've written to have the player roll each time after one appears. First time, remove the card on a "6" on 1d6. Second time, on a 5-6. Third time, 4-6, and so on. That seems like it will make more sense (though this is a fantasy campaign...ha, ha!). 

    Abraxis and the brave monk helper tend to the monk harvester, administering a healing potion

I had fun playing the game, though. The rules do an amazing job of creating an unfolding story, and the cards play off of each other well. The frequent shuffling of the event deck means it remains unpredictable with occurrences like the giant boar showing up to gore the angry bear. I will now begin brainstorming Scenario 3. I'm thinking that Jemmy and Brother Barnibus will be interested in investigating the mystery of the Wildcat Legion fighting on behalf of the rats. Stay tuned, and we'll see...! 

    With the monastery's bell clanging, the Splintered Band & their helpers hurry off the battlefield

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

• Miniatures acquired in 2025: 232
  
• Miniatures painted in 2025: 117 

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

• Terrain acquired in 2025: 21
  
• Terrain painted in 2025: 40

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

• Scatter acquired in 2025: 93
  
• Scatter painted in 2025: 100