Reuniting the Aragonian Empire - A classic Wargame AAR

[SirFozzie]

Twenty years ago, Aladda was a miserably poor land, a pale reflection of its former glory as capital of the once-mighty Aragonian Empire. Its people were terror stricken, though the land itself was rich in resources, fertile soils, abundant forests and varied mineral assets graced the surrounding area.

Aladda was also an easy mark for an array of monsters who periodically raided its territory, stripping the land of its sustenance. On the rare occurrences that the Aladdans resisted these incursions, bravery met evil.. and was overcome.

Then one day, the humiliations came to an end. A band of fiendish goblins ransacked the village with plunderers glee. Pillaging and looting, publicly humiliating residents, the horde prepared to leave with its ill-gotten gains.

Suddenly, two outsiders appeared on a hill south of the village. A knight and his squire. The tall knight rode a giant warhorse, and both he and his horse were draped in dusty, worn, and sturdy mail armor.

For a few moments, the knight, and his loyal squire sat motionless. Both raiders and peasants were transfixed by the site. The knight lowered his lance and put spurs to his mount's flank. He charged down the slope directly at the startled mob.

At first, the foul Goblins did nothing, paralyzed at the sight of the attacker on his furious charger. Once they realized that the man was for real, they drew their weapons, to no avail. The marauders fate was already sealed. The villaggers watched in amazed delight as their mysterious champion cut a swath through the Goblin horde. Few were spared the knight's wrath that day.

In gratitude, the villagers cared for the knight's wounds and the needs of his squire. When the knight recovered, a delegation from the village approached him with a proposal. They offered their undying allegiance in return for the knight's pledge to lead and protect the village.

The brave young knight accepted the villager's proposal. Some say it was a sacred vow to protect all who were weak. Others believe that the young maid who nursed him back to health was truer inspiration for the knight's decision. The maid eventually became his bride.. and after a proper amount of time had passed, the noble pair were blessed with a child.

That child?

I am that child.

[SirFozzie]

The knight began his work in earnest, but soon found that slaying a horde of goblins is easier than dealing with the multitude of daily problems that confound a land. There were many frustration and many setbacks. There were more raids by creatures that roamed the wilderness, but my father and his small but growing force of soldiers repulsed them. Under my father's leadership, Aladda moved towards a happier reality. Before long, the people began to call my father "The Duke" of Aladda.

As I approached adulthood, the Duke provided me with a formal, well-rounded education, along with intensive military training. He provided me a number of teachers from distant lands to instruct me in the arts of diplomacy and leadership. My father's personal example amply reinforced my scholar's efforts. It was training on the job.

Over time, my father's plans and dreams have been gradually revealed. It was his fondest hope that Aladda would lead Aragon into regaining the glory of bygone days when the blessings of civilization were known to the people of the realm. Cities prospered, their residents were free from the encroachment of marauding creatures.

However, my father will not fufill his dream. An Orc raiding party surprised my father's forces, pressing into Aladda itself. At the critical moment, the Duke arose in fury, surpassing his previous martial deeds. Orc after Orc fell before his blade.

The battle was nearly won, when a priest of some hideous, orcish deity managed to cast an evil enchantment upon my father, fatally wounding him. As the remnants of the orcs withdrew, presumably to find reinforcements for a final battle against Aladda and its people.

In his final hours, my mother helped my father remove his armor, for the last time, and he told me his story.

He told me that he was a knight under Baron Strumberg of Sothold, and was attacked by three men. He killed two and wounded the third. When he questioned the third man, he found to his chagrin that Lucinian III, the new "Emperor" of Tetrada, the largest city on the continent, had placed a 5,000 Gold Piece bounty on my head, as a decendant of the ruling family of Aladda. he fled, and made his way to Aladda.

His final words were:" I have always dreamed of the day when a rebuilt Army of Aladda would venture forth to avenge our family and permanently loosen Lucinian's grip on Tetrada. As a young knight, I was vain enough to think I would live to see that day. However, that will never happen for me now. With God's help, you will do what I was not able to."

Last night, my father passed away, and I became Duke of Aladda.

This evening, my friend Dalin, son of my father's squire Harrod, helped me into my father's armor, for there is a great need.

The orcs have returned, and with only a hundred men under arms, it will be up to me to rally the army of Aladda to victory, if my father's dream is to be fufilled.

[SirFozzie]

The Army of Aladda as of April, 871 QJ

Characters
Gallan- Lord of Aladda (Knight, level 5)
Dalin - Gallan's squire (Warrior, Level 1)
Gerald - Head of the City Watch (Warrior, Level 2)
Ferr- Aladdan Mage In Residence (Mage, Level 2)
Durova - Ducal Household Healer (Priest, Level 1)

Units
1st Aladdan Infantry (35, Level 0)
2nd Aladdan Infantry (35, Level 0)
1st Ducal Cavalry (30, Level 0)

We see almost 400 orcs in the distance. Our scouts in the distance report welcome news. The Orcs are poorly disciplined. Obviously they believe that with the death of my father, the city is ripe for the sacking. It will be my pleasure to kill every last one of them, and claim the first bit of vengeance for my father

[SirFozzie]

The battle.. The battle is not something I think will become routine, although if I am to build my father's dream. The orcs nearly routed one of our units of infantry, but somehow, they held, and they pinned the orcs into place. They held long enough for the cavalry, along with myself, Dalan and Gerald, to crush the stragglers of the battle, and from there, it was a matter of beating them piecemeal. Aladda is safe.

Death Count:

1st Aladdan Infantry 10 Killed (25)
1st Ducal Cav, 4 Killed (26)

Many more are injured, but they should return to duty soon.

I recovered my father's lance, the Lance of Skewering, which he dropped when struck during that final battle.

A Knight, Trent, has joined our service from the battle (Level 2)

[SirFozzie]

July, 871

We hear rumors of a foul creature, to the northeast of the city. If the rumors are true, a foul minotaur lives in the forest, and has attacked several caravans in the area. We cannot take an army, for the foul creature would surely hear us coming and flee. If we are to slay this beast, it must be a small group that takes the minotaur out. I hire a warrior, Banyon, into my service.

[SirFozzie]

We battled the creature, the seven of us, and it was very strong. It killed Ferr with a swipe of its axe, but our swords eventually brought it down. This minotaur will not menace trade any more.

We find a great treasure the beast had kept, almost 7,500 gold! This would help rebuild our armies and help gather more forces to our side!

[Izulde]

Not to sound like a moron, but what game is this?

[SirFozzie]

We sink the reward into hiring a new mage (Deren), and starting an ambitious plan of expansion. If Aladda is to become the jewel of the West, it must grow, and quickly.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Not to sound like a moron, but what game is this?

Sword Of Aragon, from SSI, released in 1989

http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=1110

it's basically the first fantasy wargame of the era, and still considered the best by a lot of folks. I found my copy, and found it still ran via DosBox

[SirFozzie]

October 871

Word has reached us that the corrupt Emperor of Tetrada, Lucinian III has finally died. However, his son, Lucinian IV may be even more trouble then his father. At his coronation, he was heard to say:

"I promise to restore Tetrada to its proper place in Aragon! I shall make the "Jewel of the Eastrealm" shine once again! Tetrada will regain its position as the center of the known world once again!"

[SirFozzie]

Our city has enough recruits and conscripts to form another unit, the Aladdan Guard, and it forms a month before we are attacked by Goblins.

They did more damage then the orcs, but not much

Deaths:
2nd Aladdan 3 (32 left)
1st Aladdan 9 (26 Left)
1st Ducal Cav 6 (24)
Aladdan Guard 7 (23)

Levels gained
Gallan (L6)
Dalin (L2)
Gerald (L3)
1st Ducal Cav (L2)
A Warrior, Boris, distinguishes himself in battle, and signs on as a member of my Royal Household (L1)

[SirFozzie]

December 871

It's not all battles, as Duke of Aladda, I have the duty of administering High Justice. Literally, by my word, criminals can be pardoned or sentenced to death.

A blacksmith in Aladda, Olaf, was accused by two travelers of robbing one of their friends, killing him by smashing his head in, and dumping his body into the river. While there was two eyewitness accounts of the murder, the town was outraged, nearly 100 townmembers signed a petition, asking me not to sentence Olaf to death, as it was sworn he could not have killed a man, because Olaf was not the type to kill. He could not even train in the town's militia, due to his extreme clumsiness.

I had to decide, and decided that while he was certainly strong enough to have done the deed, his lack of training and ability with weapons made the story shaky enough that I could not condemn a man to death without further evidence.

This outraged the travelers, who left the town the next day, swearing vengeance for their dead comrade.

[SirFozzie]

January, 872

It turns out that the "missing" merchant was ambushed.. but not by Olaf, as was thought. The merchant was ambushed by the two travelers who left us so quickly, and left for dead! He had made his way to a nearby farmhouse where he recovered enough to travel. The city is very happy, and my soul is eased that I did not sentence in innocent man to death!

[SirFozzie]

February, 872

We hear rumors that Malacon, one of the army commanders of the city of Marinia, north of Aladda, has been sent on patrol constantly, to keep him from rallying the peasants against the corrupt army, who has taken over the running (more like ruining) of the city.

Perhaps he can be persuaded to make a deal...

[SirFozzie]

March 872

We have decided to see if we can connect with Malacon, and make a deal to keep our northern neighbors from causing trouble. I hire a warrior (Gray) and knight (Hector), and leave them the Aladdan Guard and one unit of Infantry, while we go north to discuss things with Malacon.

[SirFozzie]

April, 872

Success! With order disappearing in the city of Marinia, Malacon asked us to help him in taking the city from the corrupted army lords who prey on its residents! After negotiating, we settle on a promise that he would become our loyal vassal, and pay us 250 GP a month in tribute.

Now all we have to do is take the city..

[SirFozzie]

I am young, but I am quickly learning the ways of battle. My impetuosity cost me good men today.

I rushed my units forward, and piecemeal, and paid the price. Deles died of his wounds, and will be mourned. Our other units were hurt, but they will recover.

Malacon though, used the disruption to great ability, leading his cavalry forward and routing the spearmen and javelinmen who wounded us so greatly. Hours later, the city of Marinia was free, and we had our first vassal!

Deaths
Deles
2nd Aladdan Inf 8 (24)
1st Ducal Cav 3 (21)

Levels/Spells
Durova: Gained a Spell (Light)
Banyon: Gained a Level (2)
2nd Aladdan Infantry (2)

We also found a wandering knight (Norton, Lv3) who had been injustly imprisoned in Marinia's jail, and he agreed to serve with us.

[Blade6119]

What game is this?

Great read so far foz, keep it up!

[SirFozzie]

Sword of Aragon (see post 9 for where you can download it )

[Blade6119]

and now i feel like an idiot for skipping the comment posts to read the story..sorry mate