A second fight in the Queen's head...

My second game of En Garde! in a series of warm up games before I start a solo campaign.  I have added more figures, all converted from 54mm plastics, as well as making a good start on the Inn (the cardboard box I nicked from a skip!)

The floor of the box in now tiled and undercoated burnt umber, as are the inner walls.  Two of the walls had wooden beams added to give a flavour of the Renaissance.  

The County Palatine of Durham has been the seat of some of the worst religious fighting in England.  Catholic agents move through the county on their way from Scotland and France.  One of the very worst of these is Sir Patrick of Troughton, a former Doctor, disgraced Lawyer and defrocked priest.  He was knighted by Old King James, but since those days his loyalties have been suspect.

The scene of the action is once again the Queen's Head Inn.  Mistress Quickly and her girls are hosting Captain Lee and his Bishop's Guard.  The ale is flowing and Lee's men are enjoying themselves.  As for Lee himself, well its difficult to say.  He hasn`t enjoyed himself since the last mass Catholic burning.

 As part of the Inn have added some chairs, a table and bench, although for the look of it I probably need to double the number of these.  

As the door is flung open the guard turn to see Troughton, the Bishop's old adversary and his men entering the Inn.  Game on...

Lee is level 4.  He has with him Corporal Nym (3), Kinsky the hunchback dwarf (2), Ned and Blunt (1).  Blunt is carrying his Arquebus!

Troughton (5), has Lawrence Chaney (3) as his very hairy second in command, the swordsmen Lorre and Carradine, as well as Burr, an Arquebus man, all level (1)

Troughton wins priority, and charges in.  Movement is alternate as the figures jostle for position, choosing which fights to join.  

Lee finds himself with Nym facing Lorre.  Troughton and Chaney attack Ned, but Kinsky is agile, and vaults the table to join Ned in combat.

 

Burr moves off to the left, looking to outflank the fight and fire his Arquebus into the melee.  Blunt simply stands up and shoots across the room at Burr.  The range is all of eleven inches.  Blunt rolls 4+5, plus his shoot skill of 1 for a score of 10.  As the target Burr starts at -6, and -1 for his leather coat giving a final hit score of 8.  He receives a grevious wound.

 In his melee Sir Patrick wins the initiative.  Kinsky successfully defends.  Chaney attacks Ned, killing him outright.  

Kinsky attacks Troughton with a "Mighty Blow" ploy, using his two Combat pool attacks.  He rolls 1+5+6, discarding the one he adds his fight skill of 3 for a mighty 14.  Troughton parrys rolling 2+3. Even his Buff coat can`t save him and Troughton drops to the floor unconscious.

For a hunchback dwarf that boy can fight!

 Chaney takes another cut at Kinsky, but fails, and Kinsky himself uses his dagger to strike left handed at Chaney.  He rolls the Doublé, a double six means that he regains that attack dice.  in any event it is devastating.  Chaney rolls 1 +2 and is killed.

 Blunt tries again, having actually managed to reload!  He rolls double one.  Misfire. 

 Across the room Captain Lee wins the initiative and uses an extra attack dice from his combat pool to attempt a mighty blow ploy.  He rolls 2+4+5 and discards the low dice (9) plus his fight score of 4 is a high score of 13.  Lorre spends aadefence combat pool countercou parry.   He rolls a 2+3, and his fight score of 1 for a 6. With aadifference of seven he  is spitted on Lee's blade.   In true Lee fashion the Captain runs him through again with his remaining attack dice... just to make sure!

Troughtons men are wavering, rolling 5 on 2d6  (to pass a morale roll they needed 7)

Lee wins priority for the second turn.  Kinsky charges into Blunt.  The Dwarf rolls 6+3, plus his fight score of 2 (11) Blunt rolls 2+3 plus his fight 1 (6). He has a light wound already so this greivous wound renders him unconscious.

The game is a forgone conclusion; Troughton's warband is routed (although it should be noted that the only actual survivor was Carradine, who took no part in the fighting and used his movement phase to move out of reach, so he was probably routing anyway)

The unconscious Troughton was picked up and transferred to the castle dungeons to await the Bishops  pleasure...

On Troughton's body Lee discovers the plot point... "A Purloined Letter!"
It is addressed to the infamous duelist Basil Rathbone, another of Lee's enemies.