[RPG] [AT] [Falasan] Skat, Pies and Battle in Aja

[psymann]

[Various of the below RPs from Mark Aubrey (Tinsley Family) and Kelley 
Clements (Kindon Family)]
[Viewable with better formatting on the wiki at:
http://wiki.battlemaster.org/index.php/Grindle_Family/CripRP/Ash_Sea_Islands_War/Skat_and_a_Chat
and then
http://wiki.battlemaster.org/index.php/Grindle_Family/CripRP/Ash_Sea_Islands_War
sections 1.1 - 1.3]
[It may also help if you are familiar with Skat:
http://wiki.battlemaster.org/index.php/Skat
although you can only be so familiar with it before your head explodes.]

===============
Skat and a Chat before Battle
26-27 Feb 2008
Roleplay from Crip Grindle

Crip smiles. It seems to be a good day, and he's looking forward to good 
food, good brandy, and good Skat.

Crip: Good morning, Lerati! Yuji! Is anyone else here yet?

Crip's men look surprised at his enthusiasm, though they do know that 
Sir Crip enjoys Skat with a passion.

Lerati: Sorry, sir, no, sir, no-one here yet.

Crip: No need to apologise, Lerati, why should they be? It is early yet. 
I am sure we will see some soon. Right, where is Haragh with the tables? 
Ah!

Haragh appears, dragging two square card-tables out into the open. The 
weather is fine, and the wind is calm, so should be good to be outside 
in the fresh air. Haragh sets the tables up, and goes back to fetch some 
chairs.

Crip: Now, we still have some of Uncle Stanley's Cherry Brandy?

Liert nods, and produces a bottle and a glass. Crip takes a seat as 
Haragh brings it to him, pours himself a glass, takes a sip, smiles, 
leans back, and starts shuffling a pack of cards, before calling to his 
captain.

Crip: Werner! I could do with a reminder of the rules for declaring 
scheider in advance...

Werner gives part of an explanation until he's interrupted...

Crip: Ah! We have our first guests...

=====
Roleplay from Ain Kindon

Ain wandered over to Sir Crip’s camp so she could enjoy the confusion of 
his card game. She carried a bulging pack of supplies, because her 
father had always told her it was rude to go visiting empty handed, and 
besides... she would get hungry... what if there weren’t any snacks?

She noted a gentleman seated at a table placed outside and went in his 
direction.

"Hello there!" she greeted him cheerily, holding out her hand, "Are you 
Sir Crip, the Skat-chappy? I’m Ain. I brought food."

=====
Roleplay from Crip Grindle

Crip: Yes, I am Crip, hello Ain, good to meet you. Would you care for a 
brandy? This is some fine cherry brandy made by my Uncle Stanley in Elroth.

Crip passes her a glass, not waiting to find out if she actually wanted 
any, and beckons her to sit.

Crip: So - you've not played Skat before? I will be kind then, and we 
shall not play for money. Werner there... [beckons over to his captain] 
...will happily fleece you for every gold coin you have, if you ever 
play against him.

Crip spends a few minutes explaining the main rules - the matadores, the 
differences between tournee and solo, the scoring - and is corrected 
every other sentence by Werner, keen to make sure that the game is 
understood correctly.

Werner: If I may, Lady Ain? [leans over and helps show her where to deal 
in the right order] Very good. Is there anything I can bring you? A 
snack? A cushion for the chair? You seem to have brought a fair amount 
of posessions with you. [smiles and looks at Ain's pack]

Crip: Werner - you may fetch us some more brandy. And then have a look 
around and see if we have any other guests to play with. We need at 
least one more. Can't have a three-player game with two people, can we?

Ain: Or four or five, I should think.

Crip: Ah, well, you would think so, wouldn't you - but the beauty of 
Skat is that you can indeed play it with four or five, you just...

Crip descends into a quick explanation, puncuated by tiny sips of brandy.

Crip: So there we are - the game of Skat. I am sure you will grow to 
like it. In the meantime, while we wait for others to arrive, you must 
tell me what brought you to Falasan.

=====
Roleplay from Ain Kindon

Ain’s head was spinning from the back and forth explanations of Sir Crip 
and his man Werner, not that she thought a single explainer would have 
made it clearer. Actually, she wasn’t sure that it would matter. No one 
could possibly understand this game. So, she sipped her cherry brandy... 
which wasn’t bad, though she would have rather had ale... and enjoyed 
watching their interplay.

She considered Crip’s question, "Well, mostly I got here by boat across 
the ocean from the South West Island, but then, once I got to the land 
bit, I had to ride. Well, I could have walked, I guess. Or bounced about 
in a cart, but, anyway, I rode."

Ain hopped up to retrieve her pack. Opening it, she began to empty its 
contents onto the other table, "Well, I brought cheese and apples and 
crusty bread and some meat pies... which are not as good as the ones 
they have at the tourney... so if you know anyplace I can get meat pies 
like that, I’d really like to know, because those are my favourite," she 
grinned at Crip, "Would you like something?"

=====
Roleplay from Crip Grindle

Crip smiles and puts the cards down.

Crip: Oh, some of that bread and cheese would be lovely. And then I'll 
see if I have room for any of the meat pie, which looks good too. I have 
some more food somewhere. Where is that boy? Haragh!

Crip: I've not been to the tournaments, so I haven't sampled the pies 
there. I can't say I'm well educated in the ways of pies. There were 
some palatable pies in Barad Falas, but - well, these look just as good 
if not better.

Crip munches on some bread and cheese, while looking around for any sign 
of Haragh with the rest of the food. Where had he got to this time?

Crip: South-West Island, you say? I hear stories of wars there, but 
little more than rumours. Is it much different from Falasan?

=====
Roleplay from Ain Kindon

Ain grinned at Crip, swallowing down a bit of pie, "I didn’t even know 
you could get these pies outside of tournaments until just last week. 
These are all right. There’s just something different about them... 
maybe it’s the meat."

She took a swallow of brandy, wishing mournfully that she had thought to 
bring some ale. Ale went so well with bread and cheese and meat-pies. 
Not apples though, she thought, apples went better with cider... 
understandably, as cider was apples... or at least it was before they 
squished them and waited a bit. Hmmm, what would this brandy be really 
good with?

Crip was asking her a question... Ain shook her head, "Oh, well, I 
wasn’t actually on the South-West Isle for very long before it started 
falling apart, so I didn’t get to know it that well... my family home is 
on the East Continent. Best I can tell, though, is that they were all 
mad. They worshipped some kind of bloodthirsty goddess and, for no 
apparent reason, were obsessed with squirrels..." she looked 
thoughtfully at her meat pie... hmm... squirrel? "I just paid no 
attention and went to battle. I guess that’s the big difference... I 
haven’t had a battle here, yet, except with monsters; but, I reckon 
that’s about to change, so then, I guess the biggest difference will be 
that the people aren’t mad... well... not all of them, anyway."

She picked up a couple of apples, "Have you always lived here?"

=====
Roleplay from Crip Grindle

Crip: Yes, I've always lived in Falasan. Grew up in Elroth, where my 
family still live. Can't imagine ever living anywhere else, it's so 
beautiful there, with the lake and the hills so close. And not far from 
Barad Gardor, which is useful. Oh! Our new King is here to play! We are 
honoured! Werner! Get the best cards out!

King Jambo comes nearby, but Crip is soon disappointed. He hasn't the 
slightest interest in Skat, it turns out, he had come to improve morale 
among the many Falasan soldiers. And that he did, with a brief but solid 
speech.

Crip: Looks as if we'll have a big battle before long. No better army to 
be in, though - the Black Army is strong, so strong. We should come out 
of it well, I think. Haragh's not back with the spare brandy, I can only 
offer you some ale, if that is to your liking, sorry.

=====
Roleplay from Freidroch Tinsley

Freidroch wanders the streets with a look of wonderment on his face. He 
has just come from the Temple of Magna Serpaensism, where he has joined 
that religion.

Following the King of Falasan, he spies Sir Crip from the corner of his 
eye.

- Sir Crip, you aren't actually trying to get this pretty young lady to 
learn Skat, are you?

He turns and looks at Crip's companion.

- Ah, Dame Ain. I see that you've brought some food. Might I have a bite 
or two?

=====
Roleplay from Crip Grindle

Crip: Sir Freidroch! Do come and join us. I'm very sorry, but we're out 
of brandy just at the moment - might I interest you in some ale? I was 
indeed just explaining Skat to Lady Ain. She shows promise. More so than 
you, I might say; I always felt your brother Willem had more of a feel 
for the game.

Crip: Anyway, we need not play just this moment if you like, let us get 
to know each other better, for we will be fighting together before long, 
it would seem. You've not seen Haragh on your travels, have you?

=====
Roleplay from Ain Kindon

"Oh, Ale! Thank the gods!" Ain didn’t mean to seem quite so 
enthusiastic, "The brandy was swell, but ale really washes down nicely 
with this cheese," and gratefully, so gratefully, she accepted a 
brimming mug and took a happy swig.

"And here, if it isn’t our fine archer, Sir Friedroch. Stop calling me 
dame and have some cheese... or maybe a meat pie and then tell me what 
kind of meat you think that is..." she grinned up at him, "Battle at 
dawn, eh? Will you shoot all the enemy before my men and I get a whack 
at them?"

Ain took another good swallow, "Now this is a decent ale, Sir Skat; but 
don’t exaggerate... just because I can say double ordinary gucki nullo, 
Schneider, and Schwartz... doesn’t mean that I actually understand them."

=====
Roleplay from Freidroch Tinsley

Freidroch looked at the cards, the food and the drinks that were on the 
tables.

- I'd play the 7 and the 9, hoping to draw better cards the next time. 
No, hold the 9, drop the 7, and shift those two there, over. No. The 
other two. No. I remember the time when Sir Diodorus cleaned me out of 
25 gold in less than fifteen minutes playing Skat. The last time I 
played was with Crip and our King, our former King, Reilwin, in Nazia. 
If you remember Crip, I haven't improved at all.

Crip nods and smiles.

- Haragh? No I haven't seen him for quite some time. Sir Loronzo's tent 
is just a bit over, I imagine he'd be loitering around there. Ain, 
thanks for the meat pie. I can't quite place the flavor.

They discussed the upcoming battle and strategies into the night, 
disagreeing on the role of archers and special infantry, but agreeing 
that the sunrise would bring death to Aja.

===============
Just Before Battle in Aja
28 Feb 2008

Crip has plenty to think about.

Where is Haragh?

Where is the rest of the Brandy?

How many enemy troops are yet to appear on the horizon?

What lies ahead in my Falasan career?

Will I survive this battle?

Is it right and proper that the smallest troop in the Black Army is that 
of the new King?

What's inside this pyramid?

Why didn't I wonder about what was inside this pyramid before now?

Are my newer recruits going to be as strong in battle as the veteran 
soldiers from the Eston war?

When you refuse the first skat card in tournee, what are the options if 
you then turn up one of the wentzels?

His thoughts drift on randomly, as the enemy soldiers come ever closer 
to his defensive position.


===============
Battle in Aja
28 Feb 2008

[This refers to the battle in Aja, the first major battle of Falasan's 
involvement in the Ash Sea Islands War.  Battle report is at:
http://uk.geocities.com/psymann@btinternet.com/games/battlemaster/battleInAja280208.html
it may also help if you are familiar with some of Crip's troop:
http://wiki.battlemaster.org/index.php/Grindle_Family/CripRP#The_Cast:
During the battle, Crip got some honour and improved his leadership and 
swordfighting skills.  He, Lady Ain and Sir Friedroch - all present for 
the pies the day before - were all wounded in the battle, as was Sir 
Loronzo "of the Mist" Grey.]

Crip's thoughts soon focus on the troops appearing on the horizon. So 
many of them. And so many siege engines in their midst. Crip looks at 
his sword. Not bad, but he could have done with Haragh's expertise on 
the blade today. Talking of Haragh, where was he?

But no - no time to worry about him now - he could make out the familiar 
Talerium banners, and saw a few others he recognised to be Taran and 
Darkan. Even a couple of Eston ones in the mix, though they seemed to be 
off to one side. Probably Arturius, off to hide somewhere.

The approaching army is immense, and the arrows start to rain in. Crip 
stands on one side of the pyramid, leaving the archers to do some damage 
back, and wonders how strong the structure is. And what is it? Who built 
this enormous thing right here, and how long has it...

Werner: Charge!

Crip's captain runs forward with the men, and Crip goes with them, as 
his mind turns to his belly. Hungry? At a time like this? No - not 
hunger, more a slight sickness. Nervousness? Him? Surely not.

Werner: Sir!

Crip is jolted back to the fight, and just has time to duck from a Taran 
sword. So far, so good, the army is holding together well, only one 
casualty, one of the new recruits, too slow with his lunge. Crip's brain 
links from swords to sword-sharpeners to Haragh. Where can he have got 
to. And with the brandy too, and... damn, where did they come from.

Crip: To me! Regroup!

Crip expertly brings his men back into line, just in time, and they deal 
a big blow to the advancing lines of the enemy, without sustaining any 
more casualties. But the enemy keep coming. Soldier after soldier, 
appearing through the siege engines, through the barrage of swords, 
arrows and stones. Stones? Where are they coming from? Crip looks for 
the source, and almost swallows his tongue.

Crip: Haragh!

Sir Loronzo's cavalry have come up right next to his position, and 
there, lurking at the back on his excuse for an animal, is Haragh. With 
a whole sack of stones he's clearly been collecting, hurling them at the 
enemy.

Crip: Haragh, come here and...

Oh, never mind, he's actually quite a good shot with those rocks. Crip 
has to let out a grin as a Darkan warrior is stunned on the head by one 
of Haragh's rocks for long enough for one of Loronzo's men to cut him 
down. Crip looks to his right, expecting to see his King, but there's a 
gap where they used to be. Crip hopes the King is ok, for he can't see 
any of his small troop of men still standing. That would be the shortest 
even reign of a King, or indeed any council member. Talking of council 
members...

Werner: Sir! Left!

Crip: Oh? Oh! Left! Turn!

Crip's men turn to their left, but too late to prevent damage. Five men 
go down as a Talerium assault knocks them flying. Right, time to prove 
why you're in the Black Army, Crip, he tells himself.

Crip: To me! Prutu, Lerati, cover the rear. The rest of you, hold... 
hold... Now!

The eight remaining men run headlong into a flurry of Taran swords, 
cutting a path through the men. He looks to his right, and is shocked to 
see the number of Talerium forces still standing, and heading for 
Loronzo. He hears some unnatural horse sounds as he keeps his attention 
on his Taran opponents, and is relieved to see many of them lying dead, 
and his remaining men still standing, with Prutu and Lerati fending off 
a couple of eager young Talerium soldiers. He looks back to Loronzo's 
men. They've been less fortunate - the huge bunch of Talerium soldiers 
have slaughtered the horses, and, oh!

Crip: Haragh! Take him! Go!!

Crip motions to Haragh to leave the stones, and tend to Sir Loronzo, 
though he needn't have bothered, Haragh was already on his way. Crip 
turns back to the fight. Damn his stomach. He pauses a moment, unsure of 
whether he's going to vomit, but fortunately the moment passes. Can't be 
nervousness, surely, not in the middle of battle. Hmm... I wonder what 
_was_ in those pies...

Crip's men finish off the group of Tarans that they had surprised, and 
leave them all dead or retreating. Only one more of the newer recruits 
had been wounded; the rest were ready for more. Crip takes a moment to 
look around. So many dead and wounded everywhere; the battle is looking 
to be won by the attackers, and only five other troops of infantry still 
seem to be functioning. And yet still there are a few more troops coming 
through the siege engines. A never-ending supply of reinforcements.

Crip: Werner! We have to group together with Sir Lasten's men - too few 
of us here!

Crip's heart pounds, and his stomach gurgles unplesantly, as he rushes 
to try to move towards Sir Lasten before he's cut off. But he's not in 
time. Too long spent finishing off the Tarans, he didn't leave enough 
time to regroup to the rest of the army. He curses himself, and makes a 
note not to make the same mistake again. If he gets a chance to.

The huge mob of Talerium soldiers, finished with Sir Loronzo's troop, 
block his path. Prutu and Lerati give warning of some Darkan troops 
coming in to reinforce their Taran comrades from Crip's rear. And Crip 
and Werner can't go forward any further. Trapped, Crip can't see a way out.

Yuji, blood dripping from his sword, runs from the ranks, right into the 
Talerium soldiers. With his huge strength, he lifts one soldier clean 
off his feet, and dumps him on top of another. Taken aback by the 
ferocity, the Talerium soldiers pause for just long enough for Crip's 
men to try an escape. Werner leads them on, with Crip and Yuji bringing 
up the rear. Yugi, trying to protect his leader, takes on one too many, 
and like ants attacking a large spider, the Talerium soldiers finally 
get in the fatal blow they've been threatening.

Crip is only twenty metres away from Sir Lasten when the Talerium 
soldiers close in on them. Only the threat of Lasten's troops cause them 
to leave quickly, just wounding Crip and his men, rather than adding 
them to the total of the deceased.

Crip feels the pain in his stomach. And the pain in his leg. And his 
head starts to throb, as he sees some of Sir Freidroch's men's arrows 
passing over his head, the only things he can see other than clouds, as 
he's carried away to safety. Yet he he is content with his honourable 
performance. And those wentzels, probably would have the options of 
declaring that suit the trump, or going for grand tournee. And must 
remember not to eat squirrel ever again, if that's what it was, and... 
quite comfortable this...