For three months' he had languished in prison, his status as minor nobility sparing him either the noose or the salt mines his few remaining crew who had not been willing to shift martial allegiance had been bestowed. His damp roomings permitted him views only of hilly country outside the small castle serving as his brig, and the conditions of ransom negotiation had meant he had exchanged but three letters with the outside world, to confirm his status and to hear news of home.
And thanks to the devious codes of Gebrovian espionage, to inform him of the plan to release him.
The captain of the Aleste Doi Cheznavoy received word that on the eve of the winter festival bribed guards would bring him a new uniform, and he would slip out of the castle as part of the relieved shift. Thence he was to make to the west, under his own initiative to a point on the border where he could be escorted to safety.
Tensions and attention eased by the celebrations, it proved easy for a military man to slip away as part of a military procedure, and once outside of the fortress that had served as his temporary lodgings, Captain Ustaskyivye discarded his disguise, revealing his own clothes beneath, and made good for the border.
Alarm raised, the chastened prison guards were soon out in force searching for their former ward, but in the next few days nothing was heard, despite offers of reward. It would later transpire that the daring Captain spent many of the following nights charming his way to full stomachs, and other sated appetites at the welcome of the deserted farmers wives of the region; their husbands away in the army, militia or otherwise engaged in the hue and cry for the reward on the naval heroes head. So it was that the Captain lounged at the bosom of hospitality on a small farm near the border, awaiting rescue more than seeking it actively.
Plutendorf Farm and environs |
Laird Conniert leads a small band |
Clementinian Hussars and their own Jaegers |
Discovered, by the right side. |
Charge! |
Have at them |
Still one of the horsemen circled around this fight, spotting the fugitive in the gloom. He galloped down upon him, sensing an opportunity to cut down a defenceless villain. Fortunately for the captain, the entire affair was watched from above by the Jaegers and Laird Conniert; who spurred his horse to a gallop to intercept, and make a fair fight of it.
The naval captain watched with a mix of horror and relief as the Hussar looming over him slumped in the saddle, his head tumbling to the Captains feet, as the Ionians' horse barreled past, a glint of moonlight catching his bloodstained blade as he passed.
Numbers may have been small in the skirmish, but the losses were galling for Clementia, several soldiers dead, several others badly wounded, and the prisoner escaped to freedom. The bodies of two Ionians were small compensation, and even these were not left behind by their comrades and so gave no trophy.
The naval Captain returned a hero, in so far as one could after recent defeat at sea. His sensational escape, and the limited intelligence he returned with would stand him in good stead however. Clementia was embarrassed, Gebrovia triumphant.
And Gebrovia would soon plan new raids on the Clementines, to make them pay for the perceived slights served upon it.
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This was another game in mine and James' Imaginations Campaign, this time being a Skirmish devised by James - having won the initiative in the last game with his victory - using the En Garde rules from Osprey miniatures
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Very nice little game and back story.
ReplyDeleteA nice little scenario and game 👍
ReplyDeleteThanks, great story. I thought I was reading history till the end.
ReplyDelete