Inside the Iron Keep

Derval moved a coloured stone, his last Cadier, on the traveling sized game board.

"I've got you now!"

Nog tapped his snout thoughtfully. "Hmm.... perhaps." He picked up a stone, his Chancellor, and moved it three spaces. "Perhaps not."

Just then, the rhythmic swaying of the compartment stopped, jolting the rhyflers into each other and waking the sleepers with inarticulate questions. Derval's hands grabbed at the board and pieces.

Their Yawdryl, seated by the ramp, jumped up. "Prepare for instruction!" A pykpyk appeared at the end of the message tube and squeaked at them. The Yawdryl pulled the rodent to him, extracted a roll of paper from the tube on it's back and shoved it back in the tube with a nut. He unrolled the message flimsy and scanned it by the dim electric light. 

"Right. Pykpyk brains up top has dropped a signal flag and we need to sort it out." He hit the latch and the ramp dropped with a rattle of chains. "Derval! You're up!"

Derval buckled on his helmet and grabbed his harlech from the rack. As he approached the square of bright sunshine and fresh air the Yawdryl caught his eye. "About 100 meters back, starboard side. Advance isn't stopping so come up the side ladder."

Derval sighed.  "Yes Yawdryl."

"Good kit. Off you go!"

Derval was barely on the grass when the ramp started clattering up behind him. He set off following the deep gouges left by the heavy tracks, scanning left and right for a flash of colour. With a deep roar the vehicle behind him lurched away.

Derval trotted along, enjoying being outside, but archly aware of the need for haste. There it was! A yellow and red square of cloth about a half meter square on a short pole. He ran towards it, angrily waving off a Chyweethl that was about to run it over.

The scout tractor clattered past, the commander shaking his fist at him. Derval gave his back a rude gesture, picked up the flag and turned to see the massive bulk of the command vehicle pulling slowly away from him. He began to run.

Fortunately, the Iron Keep was slow and he steadily gained on it. Huffing and puffing he ran along the port side. A couple of the machine gunners leaned out of their firing ports. "Ayyy, go on Derval lad!" "C'mon kit! I've got five crowns on ye!"

Derval slung his harlech and tucked the flag into his belt as he pulled alongside the lumbering wall of iron. The rungs of the ladder were tantalizingly close. 

"C'mon kit!" somequar yelled. "JUMP!"

Derval jumped.

With boths hands outstretched he jumped. He jumped like it was school Games Day. He jumped like a pykpyk fleeing a predator. He jumped like he was running the obstacle course in Basic and being chased by a screaming Drill Yawdryl. 

He grabbed the lower rung and began hauling himself up, legs swinging, praying to the Ancestors that his grip wouldn't slip or his leg get grabbed by the moving tracks.

He managed to shove his boot into a toe hold cut into the side skirt. A cheer went up from the watching portholes. He smiled and waved as he caught a breath before climbing up the rungs running up the tall, armoured side to a hatch on the third deck.

The hatch swung open and hands grabbed him to pull him in. "Oooo look at you! All out of breath." Rupal the cook clucked over him like a mother pig. "Right! Off you go! Best to not keep His Snout waiting!" Rupal steered him through the tiny galley to another ladder with an open hatch and sky above.

Derval emerged onto the observation deck at the top of the vehicle. Ancestors! It was high up. Caernerol Prince Cwyfn-fouks, General Officer Commanding First Guards Tractor Division and Prince Royal, stood legs apart, swaying with the pitching of the deck as the vehicle lumbered along, resplendent in a deep blue coat and gold braid. He snapped to attention and saluted.

The Caernerol dropped his binoculars and turned. He spoke to the Signals Caerten, desperately clutching at the rail. "Has Paedwyn acknowledged the signal?"

"Yes m'Lord!"

"Good. Send the flare up...." He consulted a gold pocket watch. Derval held his salute, and the Signals Caerten waited, both swaying with the pitching, lurching deck. "Now!"

The Caerten lifted a double barreled, Crusader made, Grifkin and fired both barrels. One red and one green flare arcing away over the plain.

The Caernerol snapped his pocket watch closed and finally noticed Derval. He returned the salute. Derval relaxed. "Yes, youngster. What is it?"

The Royal Personage smiled with the calm beneficence of one who knows that he is the Most Important Quar for several day's journey around.

Derval pulled the signal flag from his belt. "I retrieved this, sir."

"Ah yes. Well done! You ran quite the race. I gather the radio room were laying three to one against. Give it to Smyks here." The Signals Caerten quickly snatched it away and stowed it in a compartment under one of the seats. "Do try to hang on to them, Smyks."

Silently, Smyks lifted his own binoculars and scanned the horizon.

Prince Cwyfn-fouks regarded Derval. "Ever been up top before, kit?"

"Uh... no sir."

He gestured Derval to come closer and then pointed to the south where brown and black clouds roiled on the horizon. "That's Clardwhg's 10th Rhyfle Division grabbing the Greens by the snout."

"Flare m'Lord!" Smyks pointed to the north.

"And that is Paedwyn's 5th Cavalry Division launching a flanking attack along side our tractor wedges, which will kick the Greens hard in the rump! Should split the line wide open!"

Derval was stunned and silent. He thought that silence was probably the smartest thing to do in the circumstances. 

The Caernerol looked at Smyks. "See that this fine quar is taken care of, would you?"

Smyks opened the message tube. One deck down voice would carry. But three decks into the troop hold, a squirrel was needed. Smyk spoke. "Rupal? The Prince's compliments and would you take care of Yawdryl Vegh and his rhyflers." He gave a sideways jerk of his snout at Derval indicating the hatch in the floor. The Prince had already turned back to survey the battle unfolding. Sensing that he was dismissed, Derval climbed back down. 

In the galley, Rupal was busy filling flasks of tea. These were slung around Derval's neck and a sack was shoved in his hands. "Here's some fresh fried worm sarnies, pet." Derval was steered to another ladder. "Off you go! Shoo! And mind your head, luv!"

He caught a machine gunner watching him with amusement as he carefully climbed down the ladder,  flasks catching at hatch edges, and past the radio room. A radio operator handed a piece of paper to a Staff Yawdryl who confered with an Is-Caerten. Together they updated markings on a map table. 

Clanking and clattering he climbed past ammunition storage, food lockers and a net holding some Mhudd-ball gear.

Finally he dropped down into the troop compartment in the belly of the great towering machine. Yawdryl Vegh glared. "Took your bloody time! Stop to play some Mhudd-ball?"

"Better'n 'at, Yawdryl!" He held up the paper sack triumphantly. "Stopped at Galley. Compliments of His Princelyness."

The rhyflers cheered as he handed around the sarnies and tea. He stowed his harlech and sank into his seat, suddenly aware of how tired and hungry he was.

Nog gestured with half a sandwich. "Want another game?"

Derval shook his head, chewing on his sandwich. He thought about boiling black clouds and flares. "I don't think we're going to have time, Nog mate. And I'm asleep in me boots. Of course, that's the only way you'll beat me, innit?"

*************

This started out as a 1/35th scale Tiger I that someone abandoned at the Hot Lead Bring and Buy many years ago. I'd put it back in every couple of years but never any takers.

I had vague ideas to turn it into a VSF landship with gun turrets, smoke stack, signal flags and sailors. But never got to it. 

Then along came the Quar. 

In Western Iron we're introduced to the Arnyaran Iron Houses. I figure a Croftyran senior commander encountering one on the battlefield would say "Yes, I like that. I'll take one for my headquarters."

Trying to do something suitably Quaresque intimidated me. My friend Dan offered to see if he could achieve something. He sent WIP photos and we exchanged emails and phone calls and he even drove over so we could consult. He was so excited for me to get it painted that he delivered it on a weeknight with the grey primer still tacky. 

The results are, as you can see, totally over the top, completely bonkers and rather mad.

I love it.

Rhyflers in the Mist

 

"...and that was Four Angry Pykpyks with 'Grubs! Grubs! Grubs!' Up next we've got the Dung Shovelers with their soulful rendition of 'Quar of Constant Sorrow.'"

Milwer Clwngher took a drink of his tea as he listened to the wireless. They were far enough behind the front that complete sound discipline at night wasn't enforced. With his other hand he stirred the grub porridge cooking on top of the mobile field kitchen. It was mostly oatmeal to be honest, with just enough grubs for flavour, but mill the oats fine enough and no quar could tell. The rhyflers would need something hot and filling on this cold, foggy morning. 

A cold sentry

Thumping drums joined the wail of bagpipes, then guitars picked up and he heard Brgyd Cwynfn's strong, unmistakable vocals:

I-I-I-I am a quar of constant sorrowww!

I seen trouble allll my days...

Maeb pulled more termite buns from the oven hatch. "Oooh I love the Dung Shovelers! They played at the Midsummer Festival in my village once."

Clwngher nodded absently and took another drink of his tea. "Nice."

Morning breakfast prep 

Clwngher sniffed the cold air and noted that the fog was getting lighter.  "We ready? Folk'll be up soon."

Just then they heard a sharp challenge from the southern sentry post. "Halt! Who goes there!"

"Halt! Who goes there!"

A shot rang out. It was answered by the chatter of automatic rifles and the bang of multiple grenades. 

Bombers assault the first house 

Rhyflers moving up on left flank

Positions at start of the attack. Carrier and rhyflers on left not quite in position 

Ryzzo swore and ducked. They had thought that the area was safe and had left their weapons in the house. 

The tree line near the farmyard erupted with flame as machine gun fire tore into the barn. A heavy shotgun added its dull rhythmic thumping. Splinters flew and screams of pain mixed with the explosions. 

LMG squad and Heavy Shotgun move into position 

Clwngher and Maeb saw Rhyflers running down the lane and a frantic melee erupted in the grain field.

Tractor crew tumbles out of bed and engages carrier and rhyfler squad

They ducked behind the kitchen as bullets whizzed past like angry bees. A louder drone added to the din as a Kite swooped low over the trees. Clwngher watched as the pilot dropped a bomb on the barn, then circled around to drop another on the big house.

Kite makes passes over farm, bombing barn and house

The survivors of the squad from the barn ran out to take position behind the wood pile as Crusaders rushed forward, firing from the hip.

Rhyflers from barn put up a brave defense 

The carrier has damaged the tractor, but the Royalist HSG in the big house has it in a crossfire, causing it to withdraw 

LMG squad captures the field kitchen. HSG has moved up to the barn to pour HE shells into fourth house

Is-Caerten and remains of his squad flee as their billet collapses in flame

They were surrounded by green uniforms. A Bogen automatic rifle poked Clwngher in the ribs. He and Maeb and Ryzzo carefully stood up. A young Is-Caerten was reloading his Grifkin, nodding along to the wireless, which was still playing. The Andwyn Sisters were admonishing an absent lover to not sit under the Pykpyk tree with anyone else but me. He snapped the chamber shut and smiled at them as he holstered his weapon.

"I'm terribly sorry to drop in for breakfast uninvited." He lifted a pot lid curiously. "Is there any honey for the porridge?"

And so ended a fast and bloody solo game of Xenos Rampant played on a week night. The Royalists were billeted among the buildings and would have to roll to activate even on free actions when the shooting started. Each Crusader foot unit rolled a d6 for how many free moves they got before Turn 1. Most rolled a '2' the LMG squad rolled '3'. The carrier and the kite stayed off table until Turn 1. Victory conditions were 1 point for each building captured or destroyed and 2 points for the field kitchen. 

The scenario was terribly lopsided, but I wanted to try some ideas (the joy of playing solo). It also made me rethink how I'm portraying the different troops. I like a busy table with lots of cover, which should have an effect. Many games seem to assume more open, stereotypical tables. So maybe starting everyone with the light infantry profile might help.  It also prompted me to download the notes for adapting Chain of Command to Quar and print out This Quar's War. Which will hopefully give me some ideas for better utilizing the cook and the squirrel handler as more than table decorations or objectives. 

This Band of Quar

To reward myself for getting so much painted, and spending 5 hours on the highway Saturday, I set up a game for the Quar Saturday evening after Mrs. Rabbitman and I had returned home and eaten dinner. 

I used "The Village" scenario/map from Wargames Soldiers & Strategy issue 125. Just a straight forward equal points meeting engagement with the objectives to: 1. get figures on the table, 2. roll some dice, and 3. try out the unit profiles I had worked up.

Piece of dowel marks table edge

Croftyrans enter this edge

The Croftyrans had 22 points, but rolled a "Logistician" for a leader trait, so I let them take a squad of rhyflers that aren't flocked yet.

The Crusaders had 23 points and rolled "timid" for their leadership trait. So I put their Is-Caerten into the LMG squad instead of the bombers squad. 

I suppose if I was going to break my rules and let unflocked bases into a game I could have also let the Croftyrans have their heavy shotgun team and then the Crusaders could have their Kite.

Croftyran sniper infiltrates into the tree line on the right flank

Tractor and 3x rhyfler squads move into the village

Crusaders cross the worm fields

Sniper, followed by bomber section in the center

Heavy shotgun follows

Bombers clear the first farmhouse

Rhyflers sweep along the right flank

Sniper starts taking shots at the tractor, hoping his AP might do some damage

MG team and bonus rhyfle squad take Croftyran left flank

Sniper moves forward to hide in the grain, effectively locking down the right flank

Crusader LMG squad holds the Crusader left

HSG starts engaging the tractor

Crusader rhyfle squad makes a tactical error hoping to sneak up on tractor

Tractor takes the easy target, killing 2 Crusaders

Bombers advance, LMG section occupies the house they've just left to get a better field of fire. Bombers, assisted by sniper fire, will storm the house on the right

HSG keeps pounding on the tractor, eventually causing the crew to bail out. (They failed their courage test and should flee, but I couldn't see them getting their tractor turned or backed out of where it was, so I marked it with some smoke as abandoned)

"Ssssh... be very, very quiet."

Crusaders do an flank move, after a couple of turns of shooting the MG team breaks them.

Fighting in the lane. Royalists assault farmhouse occupied by Bomber squad

Bombers counter attack but get driven back!

After this things rather fizzled out. The HSG team finished off the Royalist squad. The Royalists were down the tractor and two rhyfle squads wiped out, including their commander. The Crusaders had two very depleted squads. One would evaporate if it failed the next Rally test.

Slight Crusader victory, but only just.

Lessons learned: Crusaders need more cheap, bog standard Rhyfler sections for numbers. Heavy Shotguns should maybe have Anti-Tank as well. I should think of something cool for the cook and pigs. Just using them as another squad doesn't look/feel right.

It was fun just moving toys around. I am pleased with how my Napoleonic terrain looks with the Quar. I'm already wondering how this would play with Through the Mud and the Blood or Chain of Command. I am also now thinking an awful lot about vermiculture and what a Quar farm would look like. I think I need some more haystacks from 6Squared Studio and I should build some bee hives/worm bins/ termite boxes and dung heaps.