Just written the background.
Couple of things i've tried to incorporate in the background- I needed a reason that the main objective (the human) couldn't be killed straight away. I decided he had information, and he's unconscious. So this makes the evil army (me) have the same objective as the good army.. "get him back to my table edge"
- I wanted it to feel like part of a much bigger battle.
- I needed the neutral army to attack anyone that approached. So the village starts out as a potential ally, but they turn traitor.
Here's the background for tomorrow's game. Sorry it's a bit long, i got carried away
The Mithril Paladin
The sacred chamber of St. Cuthbert holds many Bretonnian artefacts, the staff of the magi and the shield of Gilles le Breton are rumoured to rest within its’ many vaults. The chamber is hidden beneath the Bretonnian city Bordeleaux, heavily guarded day and night.
Making it impossible to enter the sacred chamber are a set of mithril doors, warded with glyphs of protection. A small elite group of Bretonnian heroes (known as the Mithril Paladins) are the only people that know the secret words required to open the doors, and bypass the glyphs.
Under the cover of darkness a Dark Elf army has managed to assassinate Brettonnian patrols, and sneak right up to the walls of Bordeleaux. In the middle of the night a brutal attack was launched. Within a day Bordeleaux was defeated and many of it’s townfolk were taken as slaves. The Dark Elves discovered the passageways and followed them until they were blocked by the mithril doors. After torturing many nobles they soon found out about the Mithril Paladins.
Four of the Mithril Paladins were killed in the battle. The fifth was injured, but managed to escape Bordeleaux and ride south. His intention was to pass on his secret words to a Bretonnian Duke. Realising the importance of the last Mithril Paladin, Dark Elf trackers have found his trail and lead an army in pursuit. Three quarters of the Dark Elf army have stayed in Bordeleaux, they know the Bretonnians will send a larger army to redeem Bordeleaux and have given the smaller army 3 days to find and torture the Paladin.
Losing blood from a cut to his head, the journey has been difficult for Vardek, the last of the Mithril Paladins. Twice he’s passed out on his horse, but he knows he’s being pursued so must press on. Forty miles south of Bordeleaux Vardek comes across a small hamlet called Durwin. Deciding he can travel no further, he’s paid for a messenger to deliver news of his location to nearest Bretonnian Duke.
Desperate for help Vardek then rings a bell in the centre of Durwin to attract the attention of all the villagers. Once gathered he addresses them all. In his speech he explains that he needs to hire mercenary fighters, the reward would be all the gold he’s carrying plus he will pardon any fighters for sins they’ve committed in the past.
Durwin is a hamlet with an ill reputation. Rogues, bandits and cutthroats are banished here, left to fend for themselves outside of Bretonnian law. As soon as Vardek mentions money the crowd attack him and knock him unconscious. Vardek is then stripped of armour, weapons and money. The thieves grappling each other for his possessions.
The next day the villagers decide what to do. They suspect a few knights will come looking for Vardek. Their plan is to take Vardek out to some rocky terrain called Dead Man’s Pass, there they will hold him for ransom. A small group of woodsmen are sent north of Durwin to keep lookout. It’s these men that are captured by Dark Elf scouts. The cruel elves whip and strike at the petty humans, enjoying their cries of agony. The woodsmen soon tell the Dark Elves all they need to know, crying out “Dead Mans Pass!!†just before they succumb to their wounds.
Not far away the newly arrived Bretonnian scouts have also heard Vardeks’ location, and sent a runner back to their Duke. Battle cries erupt and the two opposing scouting forces clash. The two armies appear on the horizon, stretching as far as the eye can see. There will be no diplomacy, no ground will be given, no prisoners will be taken. The carrion crows have gathered, the blood red sky speaks of bad omens. War is imminent.
