Assault on Sigis Hold
Sigis Hold Attack accounts
To Grand Duchess Maudette of Bara 26th Sixth Moon
Your Royal Highness,,
Yesterday we embarked all our forces onto our vessels and sailed back to Tegalon through the night. After breakfast Queen Parsifa called a meeting to plan our attack on the Sigis Hold. Grand Mistress Melisand said Dame Rose had drawn a rough sketch of the Sigis Hold as she remembered it. The quay is directly to the east side of the Hold. This has the Engine tower at the north end and a round tower beside the gate at the south end. She reckoned that some five het ladders would be suitable for the towers and three het ladders for the walls. So Count Morven of Cogwile said that he would have some made ready plus a ram for the gate. Queen Ephemera said that she had some hay bales that could be used for burning the vessels in the port. Count Morven said that he would supply some oil firepots and also some oil for making the hay bales more effective. I said that I had a pebble of Powani and perhaps could swim in and try to inveigle my way so as to try and open the gate? Lady Hildegarde objected, saying it would be suicide especially as I was wounded! Dame Phreanda also objected, saying that such an attempt might very likely remove the element of surprise, whoever did it! So then we decided to apportion our forces for their respective tasks. Queen Ephemera’s hanoes, covered by the larger vessels were to set fire to the fishing vessels. The Thentian squadron, reinforced by Sir Bulley’s pikemen and Queen Parsifa’s menie would burn the two long ships.
I remain your obedient Servant Marshal Morgana Lefey
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With the wind strong behind us we made rapid progress through the night to mouth of the Rillo. We turned to sail up it, encountering its strong current which cut our speed to a snail’s pace. The Amelian Doma Binka kept us clear of any sand banks. The three hanoes were each grapnelled to a sailing vessel to save the paddlers until they were close to the port. All was dark around us as we silently neared the Sigis Hold. Soon I could see some marshes to our right meaning that we must be very close. Then there was a great clanging of gongs as the enemy awoke. We now went a little faster as the current slackened and we heard the thud of a mangonel being fired at us. Then we hove too, close sternwards of the Sir Richard. This involved hauling ropes round the sail to reduce its size. This allowed me to see the Sir Richard and the actions ahead of us. A fire pot burst against one of the packed half elf archers, killing him instantly and engulfing three others with flame. I am sure I saw these Belmanians beating out the flames with the bodies of their slain comrades! Then it was time for them to swarm ashore. A springald dart glanced off my side and another skewered Lady Hildegarde. I examined her with little hope but she was dead. With our vessel over laden I had given the order that any slain should be immediately cast overboard to help ease the weight. So reluctantly Lady Clarisse and I cast her off. Sir Puscule also had his thigh plate smashed by a dart. Taziz Sebag immediately bandaged it up so he could lean against the cabin door watching the fight. Another casualty was the thiefess Senorita Agridor who should have been hanged long ago! Wounded at Bilia she was struck and rendered unconscious but it seems she will become fully recovered in time. The archers massed against the Engine Tower and East Wall of the castle, sending showers of arrows upwards. Unfortunately showers of handstones hurled down by the defenders caused such casualties, that they lost their nerve and fled back into the Nef’s hold. This disaster caused the Brutyr’s from their own county on their left, to route in sympathy! I had been relying on them with the Faraese knights to at least breach the gate and take the Gate Tower! Realising that any hopes of taking the castle now were gone I shouted ‘Pole Off! We retire!” I knew that to leave the port we would have to pole away from the dock, using the current to back us away out into mid river, as to try to go forward meant having to cross the wind! In my career I have sailed the whole length of the River Arwyn, in all the types of vessels, so I admit to being versed in sailing technicalities. Looking to port I could see the Thentian Squadron just level with us on its way to burn the Longships, our main objective!
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At first those in some disarray on the Sir Richard did nothing whilst the Dame Morgana began poling in order to jibe across the wind. Seeing a mob of Norsemen on the quay I expected them to storm the Sir Richard with a good chance of taking it. However, they sheered away to man their long ships and those on the stern castle of the Sir Richard, starting poling her astern. Even aided by the current it took us a long time for us to get away into the darkness and all the while the enemy loosed stones, darts and quarrels at us. Our remaining missile men replied as best they could but against the fortification I doubt they achieved much! Meanwhile the Amelian Hanoes and the Thentian Lymphads attacked the enemy vessels. The elves burnt one fishing Smack but abandoned one of their own Hanoes. The decision of the Norsemen was a wise one as they managed to fight off the Lymphad’s. They destroyed the Springald of the Sir Oswald with a fire pot and effectively won the ships side melees. The losses were such on the Sir Oswald that Queen Parsifa ordered it to row away and the St. Eadburgh followed suite.
We all met up at dawn out on the Deepwater Lake and held a conference. Our losses were: Dead, Librarian Royal of Fara Enrico Nioso,, Sir Lito Dublo, Dame Prominencia Bucolo, Captain Melville, Lady Hildegarde Glance, Lady Ostrana {wife of the Clerk of the Provender of Regalis} Lady Renata Saddlemaker {wife of Sir Carlo Cornacchio} Father Mazim, Sergeant Stare, Abigail Ramenda, 4 Tempanian pikemen, 13 Belmanian half elf bowmen, 2 Amelian Elfess archers, 1 Azeladian longbowman, 2 Brutyrs, 3 engineers, 2 crossbowmen and 1 sailor totalling 40. Wounded included Grand Mistress Messalinda of the Swartze Schwesterin, Librarian Royal Eloise du Rheine, Commander Hogwynd , Sir Louis Cocodil, Dame Rose, Senorita Agridor, 1 pikeman and 1 crossbowman, totalling eight , plus 3 wounded half elf bowmen and a Brutyr left on the quay! So total Casualties 52 for what in retrospect was an unmitigated disaster alas! At least we did not lose a ship! We will now return home.
I remain your obedient Servant Marshal Morgana Lefey
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To King Anghered of Azelad 27th Sixth Moon 707ATN
Your Royal Highness,
Since I fear my earlier letters may have gone amiss I give my report from the arrival of our delegation here in Belmain. In the Deepwater Lake we aboard the Dame Morgana Urca, failed trying to stop two Longships from Nor carry troops to the Sigis Hold. That is held by supporters of the rebel Queen Indrana. We came ashore at the land stage of Bilia. This is in Emilia, a province of the Elf Queendom of Amelia. Queen Gimawl had had a road built and supplied us with wagons to help us travel to the Capital of Regalis. There we were provided with a camp outside the walls with the other delegations. On the coronation day we proceeded in a procession through the streets to the Great Hall. There we witnessed the crowning of Queen Gimawl by Bishop Trier and the swearing of the oaths of allegiance by the Counts and Countesses of Belmain. Unfortunately outside, many of the citizens of Regalis rose in revolt, joined by a large army under Queen Indrana. There were casualties and the Marshal of Narchad was killed and the Sektarar captured. Since our escape was cut off Queen Gimawl abdicated under terms which allowed us and Gimawl’s supporters to leave unmolested. We marched all the way to the ruined College of Palandork in Aschponte. There Queens Gimawl and Phaedra and the Countess Gramarena began re-building it. I re-opened the Palantyte Quarry and filed a wagon with ore. Whilst the two Queens stayed loyal to their agreement with Indrana, the delegations with five of the counties decided to support Queen Parsifa’s claim. Accordingly we assembled an army to block Regalis from one of its main food supplies near Atilo. Queen Indrana brought an army down to face us on the 24th of the Sixth Moon. Alas the Belmainian militias broke and we had to flee for our lives back to Bilia. There Queen Ephemera of Amelia and Count Morven of Cogwile parleyed with us. There we decided that our best course would be to attack the Sigis Hold whilst most of its militia would be away. If we could burn the two Longships it would stop the Chaotic High Command from sending troops to Indrana from the north. Of course if we could take the castle as well, that would be even better! So our five ships sailed away to Tegalon. There I left my wagon of Palantyte ore. We bought a ram, ladders and firepots in preparation for the attack. We were in the third ship of the Baratrean Squadron, having the objective of taking the castle. The two lymphads of the Thentian Squadron were to burn the Longships and the three Amelian hanoes were to burn any fishing boats there. The wind blew fair and strong on the evening of the 26th so we set forth. They used the Nebuchair palantyte orb aboard the Sir Richard to take us safely close to the port as it was dark. Because of the strong current our approach was very slow. Then we heard the alarm sounding in the castle but crept ever closer. We hove too, right at the end of the quay, where our missile men could loose at the top of the Engine Tower! We heard rather than saw the noises of conflict in the dark ahead of us. Then there was a flash of lightening which struck the Engine Tower, whether natural or induced by magic I cannot say. Alack, soon the troops landed from the Sir Richard and the Oeririr, were routed back to their ships and we heard Marshal Morgana order “Pole off! We retire!”
Captain Bakshin declared “Man the poles! Clew up the sail. We must jibe across the wind from this position!”
Whilst I regretted this position I knew that we had too few men to try an attack on our own. Admiral Albert was subject to Marshal Morgana’s orders so there would have been no point to arguing with him anyway. So we turned across the wind and sailed into the safety of the darkness. Royal longbowman Linholt was killed in this action. Losses by the other ships have been heavy. Queen Parsifa has decided to return to her Millien County via Narchad as all our delegations intend to go back home.
Contesa Pomodora, Querida of Azelad
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To Grand Duke Cosimo of Fara 27th Sixth Moon 707ATN
Your Royal Highness,
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this letter, for our delegation sent to witness a coronation, has been smitten sorely. Enrico Nioso who would have chronicled our experiences is dead, slain by a mangonel stone. He had been wounded by an arrow in the skirmish we had with two Longships on the Deepwater Lake. Thus he was left aboard the Sir Richard blockading them in the Sigis Hold Port. The rest of us under my husband’s Command proceeded up to Regalis in ox carts. They gave us a day to recover this endurance test in a camp without the city wall. We with the other delegations went in a great procession through the streets to their Great Hall. We showed as fine a display as any! In the Hall we witnessed the crowning of Queen Gimawl with many other exalted personages. As sundry Counts and Countesses were swearing allegiance we heard a great bell ringing and were told that some of the citizens were in revolt. Not only that but they were supported by an army led by the rebel Queen Indrana. She is a ruthless amazon from Durgan. These forces trapped us all in the Hall so that Queen Gimawl had to abdicate so that the delegations and her supporters could march out free. Some of the delegations went away but most of us marched with Queen Gimawl all the long way to the ruins of Palandork way up in the mountains. There Gimawl and the dowager Queen Phaedra were to retire under the terms of the agreement with Indrana. However the Belmanian Counts and Countesses decided to throw in their lot with another rebel Queen named Parsifa. This despite their having sworn not to bear arms against Indrana! But they are after all Chaotics. So we did a lot more marching and eventually wound up fighting a battle near a river port named Antilo. Most of us were on a little hill beside Parsifa’s banner but mine husband Commandare Eusebio Querci got himself killed by joining in the fighting. The Belmanians on our left wing fled so that we on the hill had to make a hasty retreat from the field also. Then followed a most exhausting march long into the night, until we crossed the border into Emilia. That is a province of Amelia and its Queen Ephemera held a council there. Our knights voted Sir Carlo Cornacchio the dragon slayer to represent us. With his enthusiastic support the Council decided that we should attack the Sigis Hold. The intention was to burn the two Longships and possibly capture the castle. First however we sailed to Tegalon to buy ladders and fire pots. There Marshal Morgana left her three remaining blue unicorns. She had had four but one was slain in the battle. Anyway we waited until the wind was favourable and then sailed off into the night. We in the Sir Richard Urca led the way using the great palantyte orb plus the guidance of an elfess in the Hanoe tied to us. It was pitch black as we crept towards the Hold. There was a strong wind athwart us but the river current slowed us down awfully. I on the stern castle I had just made out the bulk of the castle when the alarm gongs sounded. Because of our slow approach the enemy were all ready and at their stations when we hove too beside the quay. A fire ball hit the Nef behind, slaying many, On our waist Sir Louis Cocodil was struck on the helmet by a dart which tore both his ears off! It is doubtful that he will ever hear again! Sir Carlo led our knights and a horde of Belmanian Brutyrs ashore, carrying ladders and a ram. From the Nef Oeririr behind us swarmed a host of half elf bowmen. The castle was well provided with stone and dart firing engines with which they bombarded us. Most came from the first large tower, so Enrico Nioso beside me, called down a bolt of lightening onto it. He then waited for his Magh Pozum to return before casting any more magic. Our Brutyrs now had their ladders up and were about to use the ram against the gate when the bowmen broke and fled. They had lost half their number from quarrels and handstones thrown down from above. This panicked our Brutyrs and they fled back onto the ship and into the hold and our people on the Forecastle joined them. It was then that the mangonel stone crushed Enrico! I could see foes issuing from the castle gate and feared they might storm the ship. Marshal Morgana on the Oeririr ordered ‘Pole off! We retire!’ but at that moment we were too disordered to comply. In the waist to defend us we had only Sir Carlo, Sir Dino, Sir Lito and Commander Hogwynd who was wounded. Fortunately the foes headed off to defend their long ships. The Thentian squadron should have been attacking them but due to the strong current they had only just come level with us. I was one of us helping to man the long poles, pushing us along the quay, now aided somewhat by the current. The two ships astern made their escape faster so we received most of the enemy’s fire. Commander Hogwynd was wounded a second time, Sir Lito was slain and so was Lady Renata Saddlemaker, all by springald darts! She was a merchant’s daughter but under my guidance she was learning to act like a real lady. Later we cast her body with the others into the lake and I gave her effects to her husband Sir Carlo Cornacchio. They included her engagement ring with the rare blue pearl which Carlo had captured in the storming of Tor Cadwel in Elysia. Behind us as we escaped into the dark the Thentians were failing to burn the two Longships! The elves did manage to burn one fishing boat but really this attack was one dreadful disaster. Sir Carlo has agreed that it is best we now return home.
Your most obedient subject Donna Pomposita Querci
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To King Eudes Chateaumont of Thentis 27th Sixth Moon 707ATN
Most beloved Royal Highness,,
As you will know after our defeat at Atilo Queen Parsifa and her supporters mostly retreated to Bilia. At the Council meeting which included Queen Ephemeras of Amelia and Count Morven of Cogwile it was decided that our ships be used to attack the Sigis Hold. It was thought that if we could burn the two long ships there it would stop serious numbers of Chaotics arriving from the north. If we could take the castle it would greatly enhance Queen Parsifa’s cause. Accordingly we went to Tegalon to purchase ladders and fire missiles. We then had to wait a day for the wind to turn favourable. It had to easterly for it to be suitable for us to sail both to and from Sigis. It came strongly on in the evening of Hopeday the 26th so we sailed out into the Deepwater Lake. The Baratreans had a magic device for seeing obstacles in the dark and they were aided by an Amelian elfess who knew these waters. Queen Ephemera accompanied us with three hanoes whom were tied to larger vessels in the approach. The plan was for the Baratrean squadron to attack the castle whilst our two Lymphads would try to burn the Longships. The current of the Rillo was strong against us and the Baratreans were fully engaged before we drew near to our prey. In fact they were soon repulsed though we knew it not at the time. The two Longships were moored side by side so it was only the outer Klaw that we could get at. However we thought that our oil impregnated hay bales would be enough because the wind was blowing strongly across them. Alack by the time we reached them they were well defended and the Norsemen overcame the Tempanian pikemen attacking them. A fire ball destroyed the springald mounted on the St. Oswald and I received a bolt through my right thigh! The recently widowed Lady Rebecca Lefey treated it but it was very painful! With the meleeing going so badly Queen Parsifa ordered us all to retreat so we had to comply. Queen Ephemera’s elves burnt one fishing boat but lost one of their Hanoes captured. Father Mazin was knocked senseless and has lost his sight as a result. We lost around fifty casualties for almost nothing and are much disheartened as a consequence. Marshal Morgana and I have decided there is little point in maintaining the blockade. Queen Parsifa intends to return to Millien via Narchad. She hopes to obtain Narchadian support to maintain her claim.
Your most devoted servant Eloise du Rheine
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To Count Sharda 27th Sixth Moon 707ATN
Beloved Husband,
We have been attacked by the Tarkghs during the early hours in the darkness! I was awakened by the gongs sounding and ordered our people to their defensive positions. I heard the thud of our first mangonel shot, so I knew that the Engine Tower in the place of most danger was now prepared. Cnut Stetson had marshalled his men from the Barrack in the courtyard below us. He soon sent off detachments to man the East Wall and reinforce the Gate Tower. Soon I saw two large round ships hove too against the quay, with troops pouring out of them. Fortunately Cnut’s men reached the wall in time and with the handstones, routed them back into their ships. These foes had a powerful magician amongst them, for a bolt of lightning destroyed a springald on the Engine Tower, killing both its crew. Meanwhile Seer Godam and Sergeant Blown had brought the village militia to reinforce those guarding the long ships.
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But then they saw that elf hanoes were threatening their own smacks and so headed to them instead. Some of the Norsemen sortied out of the castle gate and I thought they might capture the lead Tarkgh ship, whose fore castle men had fled below. However Steersman Smail decided that protecting their own vessels was more important and diverted them to the long ships. All of the three big closest Tarkgh ships began poling astern trying to escape. It was a slow business for them and we kept up our fire from engines and crossbows upon them as long as we could. I saw several good hits on their stern castles where their officers would be concentrated. Meanwhile the main fighting was done against the elves and two Thentian Lymphads who were attacking our vessels. A firepot destroyed the springald on the lead ship whilst one from the elves burnt out the ‘Water Flea’ smack. However when our militiamen tried to melee the elvesses in a Hanoe, they preferred to abandon it, swimming away! Two other hanoes rescued their swimmers and exchanged missile fire with our militia. There was a protracted melee between the Norsemen and those on the sterncastle of the lead Tarkgh ship in which we bested them. This led both vessels to put out their sweeps and sheer away. The elf hanoes then sped away aided by the current.
So I am glad to report that we have successfully repulsed the attack with both our castle and the two Longships safe. Our losses were the Smack ‘Water Flea’, one springald, two women engineers and one militiaman dead, two militia women wounded. The Norsemen lost four dead and four wounded. A total of only thirteen in all for which mighty Hathoth be thanked. We reckon that the foes must have lost three score including three wounded half elves and a Brutyr from Millien left on the quay. We captured the Hanoe, four ladders and a ram, which will help ease the shortage of fire wood problem. I hope you ensure that the units from the north, composed of undesirables as they are do most of the fighting in taking Shone!
Your affectionate wife Missifah
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To Jarl Odd Gaffmaker 27th Sixth Moon 707ATN
Hail Countryman,
You will be grateful to know that my brave warriors have saved your ship from being destroyed by the Tarkghs. Sending the engineers from the Hold meant that only fourteen men remained in the garrison. However the women managed the engines well enough. The Tarkgh fleet came in the middle of the night, hoping to surprise us. They landed a host on the quay but my warriors managed to man the wall. They with the garrison people slew so many with missiles, that the host fled back to their ships and sailed away. Yet two more ships essayed at the Klaw. I had sent Steersman Smail with some men sortieing out of the gate and rather than harrying the attackers he chose to reinforce our ships. As a result our men prevailed in the shipboard fights and the two vessels sheered away. Meanwhile some elves burnt one of the fishing Smacks but were chased off by the Village militia, half of whom were shield maidens! Whether or not the Tarkghs will make another attempt, time will tell. We lost four dead and four wounded and the Belmanians three dead and two wounded.
I hope you will not tarry too long in Queen Indrana’s war. My men need to be back in time for the harvest.
As ever Jarl Cnut Stetson
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Games Master
After the disaster at Antilo to my surprise this turned out to be another from the Lawic side. I really expected that at least the two long ships would have been burnt. Unfortunately there was a dispute about the wording of the Fire Rules which resulted in the Lawic player using only two fire missiles. The Lawic player, dismayed by his low dice throwing at Antilo brought his own D10s and if anything had worse luck than before! The strong river current against the diced for wind strength meant that the Defenders were ready by the time the Lawic ships arrived. Then the above average missile dicing of the Chaotic player caused enough casualties to need a morale test. The 2 and 0 thrown meant that the assault on the castle was driven off despite the weakness of the garrison. The Lawic player was lucky not to have lost the Sir Richard Urca.
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