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By MC Gianni
© January 1998
Well, I'm back.
After half a year, the e-journal of the Atrilian Campaign is out again.
Actually, the campaign did go on during all these
months, but it involved only some players. The birth of my son
Nicola (of which I'd underrated the consequences on my gaming
life), a long working trip abroad, and our moving house definitely
kept me off the campaign.
Anyway, we're settled now; Anna's giving up work
in order to take care of Nicola full time, and Santa Claus brought
me a nice colour scanner that'll help me add plenty of maps to
the web site of the Atrilian Campaign.
So let us say all those long rainy and windy months
of the monsoon blocked the campaign. Now it's over, game and flora
are plentiful, the sun is going to shine for nine beautiful months,
and some special events are going to happen.
After their land defeat on the coast of Zandj, the Meshuesh had gone back to their ships and the fleet had left for the Xola Islands.
Due to the monsoon, the fleet would only make short
trips between the small islands of the archipelago, taking shelter
in allied islands and avoiding enemy ones.
One month after having left the coast of Zandj, the Meshuesh fleet set anchor in the bay of Bur al-Zabdiyat, the largest friendly harbour in the Xola Islands. There, the ships were repaired (the storms had taken their toll), and the water and food supplies were replenished.
A large ceremony in honour of Hammon was held with
the participation of all the Meshuesh mariners and the local Xolas.
But unbeknownst to the Meshuesh, a huge Pheacian
fleet based in Bur al-Saadat had been following them for a week,
waiting for the right time to strike.
In the morning, the Meshuesh fleet left the harbour
in its usual order: Admiral Ibrahim's large galley first, followed
by a galley from the Sultanates, then the other large galley from
Bur Hammon and the three smaller galleys from the sultanates sailing
side by side. The war ship of Abu Djafar sailed last. For once,
the weather wasn't too bad: the wind was weak, and the rain scarce.
As the fleet passed the straits of al-Zabdiyat, it
suddenly found itself facing four large Pheacian galleys, the
best of their kind.
Situation before the battle.
PHEACIAN FLEET
| Ship's name | Gaming value | Equipment | Marines | Crew quality |
| Glory of Mafia | 3 | Cor+Bal | 2 | 4 |
| Mighty Moon | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Terror of the Seas | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Glory of Q. Qaton | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Kleshites Bane | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Glory of Q. Khadash | 3 | Ballista | 2 | 3 |
| Bandogo Bane | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
MESHUESH FLEET
| Ship's name | Gaming value | Equipment | Marines | Crew quality |
| Ibrahim | 3 | Magic | 2 | 4 |
| Hammon Rules | 3 | Magic | 2 | 3 |
| Oea 1 | 2 | Corvus | 2 | 3 |
| Oea 2 | 2 | Corvus | 2 | 3 |
| Mers al-Kibar 1 | 2 | Corvus | 2 | 3 |
| Mers al-Kibar 2 | 2 | Corvus | 2 | 3 |
| Abu Djafar | 1 | Magic | 1 | 4 |
Admiral Ibrahim's ship sailed full speed towards the Pheacian Admiral ship, the Glory of Mafia, followed by the other Meshuesh ships.
The two admiral ships rammed into each other, bow to bow, and tried to oar rake the enemy ship. Ibrahim's ship managed to bring her rams to bear against the Pheacians'. The Glory of Mafia was crippled! Ibrahim's ship sailed on to board the Terror of the Seas.
Mers al-Kibar 1, that was closely following Ibrahim, then rammed into the crippled ship through her broadside. The Glory of Mafia began to sink, yet her marines managed to board Mers al-Kibar 1!
During this time, the Terror of the Seas managed to evade Ibrahim's
ship and boarded Mers al-Kibar 2, while the Glory of Qart Qaton
boarded Oea 1. Meanwhile, three other Pheacian galleys that had
been hiding behind a rocky islet appeared behind the Meshuesh
fleet.
At this moment, the four ships from the sultanates (including Mers al-Kibar 1) sailed full speed through the first Pheacian line and started change facing, while Ibrahim's ship managed to get closer to the Terror of the Seas -- and a deluge of magic wiped out most of the defenders aboard. The sailors from the Meshuesh ship then proceeded to capture the Pheacian galley. Meanwhile, the Meshuesh archers from the sultanates killed the surviving Pheacians who were trying to leave the sinking hull of the Glory of Mafia.
The Mighty Moon sailed full speed towards Abu Djafar's ship and
many of her Xola sailors died under the heavy Pheacian missile
fire. During that time, the Glory of Qart Qaton rammed into the
bow of Hammon Rules. But lo! it was the Meshuesh who crippled
the Pheacians' galley! But then the Pheacian marines from the
Glory of Qart Khadash boarded the Meshuesh ship.
The Terror of the Seas, now under Meshuesh control, took the surviving
sailors from Abu Djafar's ship while the Pheacians sailors from
the Mighty Moon captured the latter ship.
The Meshuesh ships then gathered in high sea, while the Pheacians
retreated towards Bur al-Zabdiyat.
Situation after the battle.
PHEACIAN FLEET
| Ship's name | Gaming value | Equipment | Marines | Crew quality |
| Mighty Moon | 3 | - | 1 | 3 |
| Glory of Q. Qaton | 0 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Kleshites Bane | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Glory of Q. Khadash | 3 | Ballista | 1 | 3 |
| Bandogo Bane | 3 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Hammon Rules | 3 | - | 1 | 3 |
| Abu Djafar | 1 | - | 1 | 3 |
Losses: Glory of Mafia SUNK, Terror of the Seas CAPTURED, Glory of Q. Qaton CRIPPLED.
Gains: Hammon Rules CAPTURED, Abu Djafar CAPTURED.
MESHUESH FLEET
| Ship's name | Gaming value | Equipment | Marines | Crew quality |
| Ibrahim | 3 | Magic | 1 | 4 |
| Oea 1 | 2 | Corvus | 1 | 3 |
| Oea 2 | 2 | Corvus | 2 | 3 |
| Mers al-Kibar 1 | 2 | Corvus | 1 | 3 |
| Mers al-Kibar 2 | 2 | Corvus | 1 | 3 |
| Terror of the Seas | 3 | Magic | 1 | 4 |
Losses: Hammon Rules CAPTURED, Abu Djafar CAPTURED.
Gains: Terror of the Seas CAPTURED.
So what has this battle amounted to? There is no actual winner -- the Meshuesh have sunk the largest Pheacian galley in the Siren Sea but have lost many men in the battle, and although they captured the Terror of the Seas, they lost the equally important Hammon Rules to the Pheacians. The loss of the minor Xola ship is not a big deal, except emotionally since it was Abu Djafar's very own ship.
Moreover, the Pheacians are now in a position to attack Bur al-Zabdiyat
and to have them pay dearly their support to the Hammonites.
A last word -- all the leaders are sound and safe. Admiral Yoram
managed to swim to the coast of al-Zabdiyat, and Abu Djafar's
deputy was rescued by the Meshuesh on board the Terror of the
Seas.
Princess Minu at Matu Sha, the estranged daughter of the Sultan of Oea in the Meshuesh Islands, Matu ait Hosin Sha, has eventually accepted the marriage proposal of Prince Firaz of Haran.
Firaz has pledged to reinstate Minu on the throne of Oea and to fight the Hammonite clergy that caused her exile onto the remote island of Serendib.
Minu left Dar al-Meshuesh with only two guards and two maids and her magic lab. She boarded a flying vessel from Haran and left carried by invisible air genies.
Her close advisor Sheikh Tahar remained in Dar al-Meshuesh and
became the new governor of the city.
Despite the rain and the wind brought by the monsoon, the men of mercenary leader Maummar of the Meshuesh worked tirelessly to clear the streets and the buildings of Budjumbo of rubble.
The men now live in the houses built years ago by the Bandogo.
Some of them have married with the Xola slaves that they freed
from the Gyptians' rule in Shedet.
The Dadjimalu scouts of Maummar keep the area free from marauders.
A party of invading Kwaggas were severely beaten. None has returned.
The Dadjimalu splinter clan called 'the Hump' which hadn't been heard from for months, has spectacularly resumed its actions.
A small group of 50 men led by Drahcir Skoorb have attacked Gyptian
caravans in the desert and Dadjimalu clans related to al-Khifari,
the Sheikh of the Dadjimalus and a close ally of the Gyptians'.
Drahcir has stricken all over a very large area, covering huge
distances in but a few days - magic must be at work.
Prince Nari ibn Aman, the son of Emir Aman al-Qasi of Ndaruga and Ndorogoro (two former Ndogo provinces - see Atrilian Journal issue 1), a most impetuous and popular warrior, has had enough of the rich Xolas' looting the treasures of Ndaruga and Ngorodoro for their personal profit.
These smugglers are usually former adventuring companions of his father's and know they can rely on the latter's protection.
One day, prince Nari asked his father to stop the plundering of cities for personal gain.
"Most esteemed and respected father, he said, if we are to free our people from slavery and oppression and build a home here in the verdant jungle fit for a weary people, we must gather the wealth of these fallen cities and use it to rebuild the cities, build our army, attract craftsmen and make our new nation strong. I humbly ask permission to begin this great task by stopping the smuggling of goods to the coastal cities."
To which the emir replied:
"My dearest son, blood of my blood, and light of my old years.
Youth gives a man bolder sights than he should sometimes have.
Our people were slaves under the iron rule of the haughty Bandogo. I gave them a home built where the ancestors of Lalibea ruled and lived (*). They make a living out of the jewels and goods of the Bandogo.
Why should I stop them? We fought the Bandogo, and just when we thought the war was over, they summoned the Giff, and we had to fight again.
Then Lalibea had to acknowledge his defeat. This land is now our land. Let our people do what they want with it!"
[* The former capital city of
Dogobar was Ndaruga. Lalibea's mother had to move it to Dogu because
of the wars]
Then Nari left Ndaruga collecting his most loyal followers and headed for Kwuziyo, a small village by Lake Kwuzi where he gave a passionate speech:
"The theft of 'state property' for personal
gain will be stamped out and the foundations of a just and free
kingdom built amongst the ruins of the old, corrupt state. The
Emirate will be a home for all the Haratin [Xola slaves] of the
world. The Earth Mother will be our guardian and we will give
thanks for her bounty. I publicly acknowledge my father as suzerain
and I pledge my troops to him in the event of attack on the Emirate."
On his arrival in Ngorodoro, where he'd never been before, Nari noticed the city didn't look like Ndaruga at all, and made the latter look like a bristling metropolis. It was jungle, jungle everywhere, with the constant noise of monkeys and birds screeching.
There were no roads and where the Bandogo had lain
a beautiful marble pavement it was grass and roots. The buildings
were toppled and they were looted inside. There was no social
life as one would expect in a city: no harbour, no market place,
no bazaar, no nothing. The poor just had to get fruit from the
jungle to live, and the rich partied all day and all night.
Nari swiftly changed the existing order, commandeering
the riches' property and starting a policy of making Ngorodoro
a city again. The richest family in Ngorodoro refused, starting
a brief but horrendous street war. After a few hours, there were
many dead on both sides, but Nari controlled all of Ngorodoro.
The rich fled through the jungle to Ndaruga, where they told the emir what had happened. They convinced Emir Aman he must fight back and show his son who was the ruler. But the old emir couldn't fight on two fronts.
Emir Aman al-Qasi, as a result, accepted Lalibea's offer of protection. Ndaruga and Dogu exchanged envoys, reaching the following agreement:
The Giff, the ferocious Hippo Men who live in the high jungles of Klesh and fight for the Omukama, have attacked the small village of Kwuziyo in the province of Ngorodoro whose inhabitants had supported Prince Nari's coup in Ngorodoro.
The Giff have killed indiscriminately old and young, men and women. There are few survivors.
This is the first time the Giff have attacked a village
and not a party of enemy warriors.
NEXT ISSUE
The Great Hunt, an event taking place once every four years in the vast plains and plateaux of Punt, is going to start soon.
After a week of prayer and ceremonies in honour of
the serpent god Yig, the best warriors of all the nomadic Xola
clans will leave their tribe to hunt alone for three weeks. He
who returns with the best trophy will be revered by all nomadic
Xolas until the next Hunt.
ENCYCLOPAEDIA ATRILIANA
This instalment introduces additional rules about naval battles: equipment, marines and crew quality.
EQUIPMENT:
MARINES:
They are infantry troops that are used as archers or to board the enemy ship for close combat. A ship with a corvus has a bonus for boarding attacks.
CREW QUALITY:
0 crippled
1 slave
2 poor / green
3 average
4 excellent
This figure is used to compute a ship's manoeuvrability.
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