The Trapped Naiad
Kielika grunted as she pulled on the rope, honoured first in line by the Priestess
Xeloaphone, the sweat in her eyes not dimming the heart lifting view of the granite
statue of Aryiki, mother-goddess, rising like a tower. Behind her heaved a dozen maidens,
her close friends, and her younger sister Eureleida. Like hers, their sun bronzed
bodies shone under the hot rays of Summer, tunics, armour and weapons lying a little
aside where camp had been made.
"Pull! Pull!" Kielika heard the Priestess urge and she strained her muscles, feet
dug into the soft turf, her sun-fire hair free and hanging to the knees of Seluk,
her shield-mate of the First Class, who was behind her.
The mother-goddess was raised and shouting her joy, Kielika let go of the rope,
her hands bleeding and aching, as her muscles did. Seluk grabbed her from behind,
Kielika could feel the beat of her friends heart against her back. They were happy,
joyous.
The Priestess congragulated them for their work and wine and grape were passed
around. Wood for a nearby copse of trees fuelled a terrific bonfire that lit
the night and drove away fears of the Banshees.
Until the rising of Dawn, when their screams rent the silent air and woke Kielika
with terror striking her heart.
"Hurry, arm yourselves!" Seluk shouted. She held a long thrusting spear in her
hand and stared into the distance. Kielika hurried on her armour, donned her helmet
of bronze and took up her own shield.
"Courage maidens!" the Priestess shouted above the noise, "The Goddess is with
us and will protect her statue."
Kielika took heart at the Priestess' presence, and that of her friend. At the
order of their Captain she fell into line and presented her heavy shield towards the
direction of the growing wails of the banshees. They were approaching!
Quickly, Kielika looked over her shoulder to her sister, who smiled, nervous but
confident at her. Like the other young girls she was furthest back and near the protection
of the woods. Large stones were in her hands, ready to be slung. The Priestess then
blocked Kielika's view, face betraying no fear.
"There!" came a shout and Kielika turned back to the front and she too saw the
fast approaching shapes of the banshees, a horde of screaming half-women holding silver
knives or with arms deformed and pointed like spikes. Reflexively, she raised her
shield and aimed her spear over the top rim, ready to thrust down when the terrors
were in range.
An explosion, like the sound of a boulder falling into a river errupted behind
her, followed by a trumpeting below that was too close behind. Kielika turned again
and saw, rising out of the waters of the pond behind, a huge sinuous creature, blue
and grey.
It was a trap!
Forces
The battle can be played on a small table, about the size of a coffee table, as the
forces are only a little more than 100 points each.
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Dannan
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Fae Tautha
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Core:
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A Hoplite 1st Class x 4 (1 x 4) 60
B Hopelite 2nd Class x 2 (1 x 2) 24
C Psiloi - slinger x 3 (1 x 3) 18
Priestess x 1 (w/A) 5
107 points
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1 Naiad x 1 (1 x 1)
2 Fae Banshees x6 (2 x 3) 90
110 Points
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Special:
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Music (A) x 1, 5
Luck Charm (A,C) x 1, 5
Sacrifice (A,C) x 1, 10
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Dryads (3) x 1, 10
Succubus x 2, 10
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Special Rules
The Naiad, because it is a Monster, will move and attack the nearest enemy Unit right
away, it is not in Ambush.
Music: Unit gets M+1".
Luck Charm: Unit can reroll once in the game any test, or one Stand in the Unit can
reroll its combat dice.
Sacrifice: Unit can either a) need to loose one addition Stand before it Routs, or
b) get A+1.
Dryads: Once per game, any enemy Stands in a wood must roll 1-4 on a D6 or be destroyed.
Any number of Stands with half their base or more must test.
Succubus: Close combat target of Stand gets D-1. Non cumulative.
If the Priestess is killed, the effects of Luck Charm and Sacrifice are lost the next
phase.
Deployment
All the Dannan must set up within 6" of the Pond.
The Fae Tautha have the initiative and go first.
The Fae Tautha can set up 4" from their table edge.
Kielika punched her shield like she had practices a hundred times into the face
of the screaming Banshee. It recoiled back and she thrust with her spear, skewering
the malign spirit on her spearhead. What passed for the creatures blood spewed out
of the wound and it collapsed on the ground.
"They're retreating!" Seluk yelled.
It was true. The Banshees, their cries now pitiful, were scamping back to the
forest, leaving half their number dead at the feet of the maidens like Kielika. Behind
her she had seen was the dead Naiad, killed by the heroic Priestess herself. That
act, before the Banshee rush had reached their line, had probably saved them all from
death. Kielika knelt down at the Priestess' feet and kissed the holy legs.
"Rise, brave daughter," the Priestess said, and Kielika did so. Seluk was beside
her, but she looked strange. As did the Priestess.
"You should be happy, we were victorious!" Kielika said.
"Kielika..." Seluk said, holding from behind.
"It is time for you to mourn, daughter." said the Priestess.
"What?"
"Your sister,Kiel. A Dryad took your sister."
Kielika's joy vanished, leaving only a large hole, cold and dark. Trembling, she
stared up at the Priestess, who read her mood.
"You shall have revenge for your sister, and your slain friends. Aryiki will give
you strength."
Outcome
The Naiad burst into the Priestess from behind. Surprised, the Priestess and her Acolytes
managed to hold the large spirit at bay until some Hoplites attacked it in the flank.
Harried, the Priestess herself slew the Naiad and desecrated its corpse.
The Fae, witnessing the desecration had been too far away to help, they had expected
the Naiad to be killed. Enraged they charged at the main line of Hoplites will another
force headed towards the trees where only six Dannan girls with slings were defending.
The Psiloi entered the wood and another Fae trap was sprung. With charm filled words
and alluring motion, Dryads, spirits of the trees, lured two of the girls into their
deadly embrace. The others, lucky to be alive retreated.
The Fae crashed into the double ranked Hoplites but could make no impression. They
were pushed back or killed. Yet a flank attack from the second group almost broke
through and slew the Priestess. But the steady Hoplites held and with pellets striking
them in the back the remaining Fae fled, their mission already failed.
The Dannan lost 1Hoplite 1st Class Stand, and one Stand of Psiloi. The Fae Tautha
lost the Naiad and two Stands of Fae.
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