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contents

New Rules 10

Vespers Day 22

Joust a Plaisance 35

Melee a Pied 40

Beasts of Venery 50

Reference Section 60

ditorial
Hello history fans! Welcome to another
episode of Warheads: Medieval. Last issue
left things on a bit of a cliffhanger, with
Sir Robert languishing in the dungeons of Sir Beaure-
gard’s Castle Sudemarche, suffering the nefarious
ministrations of Brother Oswald and Toland. We pick
up the story some time later, with Sir Hugo pondering
how to get his father back. The chance presents itself
at a grand winter tournament attended by the king
himself.

In this issue you’ll get to take part in tournament events like archery contests and
single combat. There are new rules to learn and new characters to add to your
parties, and above all there’s going to be a massive battle at the end of it! And as
if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get to go on a royal hunt, pitting yourself against
such wily natural adversaries as boars, the Great Hart of Dunswold, and (ahem)
bunny rabbits.Oh, and this time the ante is upped as far as fighting goes. From
now on, characters stepping on to the field of combat may never return...

3
hree months had troughs, byres had to be mucked baked bread that acted as a sighed Hugo. “There has been no
passed since the out, and a cook’s work was never plate for Hugo’s fish stew. As news, no ransom demands, no
abduction of Sir done. was customary after the meal the attacks against us, and yet we all
Robert by Gui le Penhaligon, Friar John and Sir trencher, soaked and softened know in our hearts who it is that is
B@tard’s spies, Hugo sat together in Sir Hugo’s by the sauces and fats, would be responsible for this calumny.”
and a pall of despair hung private chamber, with the young fed to the dogs. In some castles “I fear you are being toyed with Sir
over Deangard since. Sir Hugo man sullenly picking over a break- trenchers were fed to the poor, but Hugo,” said Friar John. “It is true,
had taken over the running of the fast of white bread, stewed fish thankfully there was no need for I believe, that Gui le Bâtard is be-
estate in his father’s absence, and wine. such appalling charity at Dean- hind your father’s disappearance,
with the assistance of Friar John “It isn’t good for the humours, this gard, in spite of Gui’s destruction but his silence on the matter tells
and the experienced Sir Penhali- morning feasting. One should be of half the harvest earlier in the me he is attempting to draw you
gon. Penhaligon scarcely left Sir starved until noon to cleanse the year. Canute, the terrier that had out, to engage you on his terms.”
Hugo’s side these days, feeling earthly carriage,” remarked the arrived with Friar John, skulked “Then let it be so!” cried Hugo.
a terrible burden of responsibility priest. nearer, licking his chops. Hugo’s “I tire of this. It wears me. If he
since Sir Robert vanished follow- “Well, it’s a little bit different for bratchets (scent hounds) stirred wants this damned pile of planks
ing a visit to his estate. Outside, those of us of noble mien, broth- on the other side of the chamber, he can have it, just so long as he
snow clung to the palisade and er,” said Penhaligon good na- sensing the interloper was about returns father to me!”
the battlements like heavy icing turedly. “But nothing more lavish to gain an uncommonly fine prize. Sir Penhaligon blew out his
on a cake, and robins pierced the than a nice bit of white loaf and a “Oh friends, what am I to do?” cheeks and looked a trifle embar-
thick, frozen air with their clear, lump of hard cheese, what? Sets rassed by this display of emotion.
liquid song. The rhythms of castle a body up for the rigors of the day,
life continued unabated even in what?”
the midst of winter. Falcons had to “Never mind,” said Hugo, and
be flown, ice had to be broken in absent-mindedly pushed away his
the wells and in the beasts’ water trencher. “I’m not hungry anyway.”
The trencher was a slab of hard
“I say, steady on old chap…” he parted to admit two unlikely One of the apparitions produced culminate in a grand melee a pied
ventured. characters. A pair of raw-boned a trumpet and blew a couple of on Christmas Eve, followed by
“What Sir Penhaligon means to yet effeminate young men minced notes as if to underline the bi- feasting on Christmas Day.”
say, Sir Hugo, is that you cannot into the chamber, dressed in zarreness of the situation. The With a flourish, the messenger
afford to let Gui take your spirit scarlet tights, shoes that tapered other flamboyantly whipped out a rolled up the scroll and bowed low
from you. You have what he wants to curling points, and tabards scroll and unfurled it. He began in as he backed out of the door to
more than anything else in the displaying two lioncels Or, pas- a high clear voice. the accompaniment of more toot-
world: the estate of Deangard.” sant guardant, on a field of gules “To Sir Penhaligon of Dunswold. ing, courtesy of the trumpeter.
“I suppose you’re right, brother.” (meaning in heraldic terms that King William the Second of Eng- “Eh, what?” said Sir Penhaligon.
“Take heart, young knight. How- the tabards were red, and they land and Normandy, liberator “Yes, I absolutely second that,
ever dark the hour, you retain the featured a device of two golden of Cumberland, scourge of the Penhaligon. What?” said Sir
advantage over your foe. Do not lions, walking along and watching Danes, and repulser of the Scots, Hugo.
cast that aside. Remain vigilant, you, the viewer). They had clearly requires the use of his royal Friar John glanced over his
wait for him to make his move, just arrived at the keep, for their chases in the estate of Dunswold shoulder to make sure they were
and then respond in accordance faces were pale from the cold for the annual Boxing Day hunts. gone before he continued in a low
with the situation. Anything else and scarlet points flushed on their For the week leading up to the voice.
would be a leap of ill-judged faith.” cheeks and the tips of their noses. hunt, Sir Penhaligon is charged
“Yes but for how long…” A waft of clammy air, redolent of with providing the royal entourage
Sir Hugo was cut off as a knock horses and perfume, blew in with with entertainments in the form of
on the chamber door interrupted them. Behind them, one of Hugo’s games and displays of arms, to
his flow. guards raised his eyes
“Come in.” heavenwards.
The doors swung inwards and two
guards, clad in studded leather
hauberks and wielding halberds,
“Of course, you gentlemen will friends with whom; I have a tour- “We can use this tournament to week, he’ll just as likely hand over
be unfamiliar with the changes in nament and a hunt to challenge Gui, and it will be on Deangard to Gui to teach you a
fashion at the court in London.” organise, and only two weeks to neutral terms in front of the King, lesson for being insolent.
“Hang me if I couldn’t tell whether do it. I’ll take my leave from you so he doesn’t have the upper “Now don’t look at me like that,
those were lads or maidens!” gentlemen now, cheerio.” hand. If we do well in the tourna- and don’t take on so. It isn’t my
blustered Sir Penhaligon. He turned and toppled straight ment, the king may grant us a view and I don’t like it any more
“You see,” said Friar John deli- over a darting bratchet, keeling boon, so you can name that boon than you do that the rule of law
cately. “According to a young sideways like a pole-axed bear. as the return of your father.” has come to this. But, it has, and
deacon called Orderic Vitalis, who “Aaugh!” he wailed almost mourn- “Can’t we just ask the king for that this is the path God has set for us.
I met at Worcester last year, King fully as he went down. anyway? I mean in the interests of If we are to navigate it well, we
William Rufus is a notorious friend After the guards had helped the justice and all.” must use the brains he gave us.”
of St. Dorothy’s.” disoriented Sir Penhaligon out “Young man, you have much to “Very well, Friar John,” said Hugo
Hugo nodded sagely as he placed of the door, somehow clutch- learn about courtly protocol and resolutely. “You can issue the
his trencher on the floor, and ing Hugo’s abandoned goblet of diplomacy. The king is here for his challenge to Gui to meet us in the
Canute was on it like a shot. On breakfast wine, Friar John sud- entertainment, not to administer Tourney at Dunswold.”
the other side of the room, the denly thumped the table. justice. If you bother him with af-
brachets roused. “That’s it,” he said excitedly, his fairs of law during the Christmas
“Haven’t a blasted clue what you eyes darting as his mind raced.
mean,” huffed Penhaligon as he “What’s it? Where?” cried Hugo,
slid back his chair and eased him- no longer keeping up with any of
self upright. “Besides, I haven’t this.
got time to be going over who’s
For everyone else the following applies:
ew Rules
In addition to the basic rules you learned in the First ♦♦ If the character’s wounds value is 0 after it is incapacitated, remove the model from play and
issue of Warheads, you’ll need to know this lot in take no further action. It will make a full recovery in time for the next encounter
order to play the encounters ♦♦ If the character’s wounds value is -6 or worse after being incapacitated, I’m afraid the dam
age is fatal. That character has shuffled off the mortal coil. It is removed from play altogether.
included in this issue. You may distribute its belongings amongst the remaining party members after the battle
♦♦ If the character’s wounds value is between -1 and -5 after being incapacitated, do the
following:
Repair and Maintenance Skills • Your opponent consults the critical damage table that refers to your model’s wounds level
As you know, some of your characters have repair and maintenance skills on their rosters. Well,
(you’ll find these tables in the reference section at the back)
from now on you can use those skills in anger. To mend damaged weapons and armour use the
• The table tells you how many encounters your character has to miss while it recovers from
following rules:
the battle. Note this in the status column on your party roster
• The critical table has three columns, corresponding to the type of damage met out by your
♦♦ Repair is used to fix damaged items with less than 50% of their condition remaining
opponent’s weapon (this information is on the weapon profile in the reference section).
♦♦ Maintenance is for fixing cosmetic damage where the item has 50% or more of its condition
Your opponent rolls 1 die and reads out the result from the relevant column. Permission to
remaining
gloat is granted
• If you have suffered any permanent injuries (if your wounds level was -4 or -5 this will be
You can make one attempt to mend each damaged item. Each successful dice roll restores 1
the case), make a note of this on your party roster, and apply any effects to the character
point of condition to the item.
roster where necessary
♦♦ Only one repair attempt can be made on an item, so if there is more than one character that
Here’s what a critical table looks like (in this example, the victim’s wounds have dropped to -2):
can repair something, you must decide which one repairs the item

Critical Damage and Healing WOUNDS VALUE -2 - miss two encounters


From now on, getting injured in combat can be a big deal. Injuries
Die Roll Sharp Things Pointy Things Clumpy Things
that characters receive may prevent them taking part in future
You’ve suffered a The wound makes a hole You dislocated your kneecap
encounters, as they need time to convalesce. They may end up
deep slash to the clean through the top of when you fell in the battle.
permanently crippled, or even die. There are, fortunately, cures 1
thigh but there is no your thigh, but no serious It pops back in later, but its
and surgery available either by paying a specialist, or you can use permanent harm harm is suffered bloody sore for a while
characters in your party who have healing skill to tend to Lose a toe from a Your foot is pinned to the A broken toe puts you out of
2
casualties. low and vicious cut ground by a low strike commission for a while
The wound goes right
Critical Damage The wound has
through your forearm, The knuckles of your fist are
When a model receives wounds that incapacitate it, work out exactly what the character’s wounds 3 bitten deep into the
thankfully avoiding bones, badly crushed
value is (i.e. into negative numbers if the character takes enough damage to take their wounds flesh of your forearm
blood vessels and sinews
below 0).
Your pinkie finger The wound penetrates
Your wrist is broken by the
♦♦ For example, Norman Scum is in a fight and has 2 wounds remaining. Sir Penhaligon smites 4 has been cut off at deep into the muscle of
blow
him causing 4 points of damage. Norman is incapacitated and his wounds value is now -2 the second knuckle your shoulder
The wound is in the
You’ve been
From now on the following rules apply to models that are incapacitated: hollow between your
viciously cut across
shoulder, collar bone and Your opponent has cracked
5 the stomach. The
♦♦ If the character is Sir Hugo or Gui, remove the model from play and take no further action. chest, but luckily for you, one of your ribs
wound is big, but it’s
These two are protected from the effects of critical damage by their destinies the top of your lung isn’t
not deep
punctured
The wound leaves You’ve been got in the
you with a scar that open mouth, through your
A broken jaw leaves you eat-
6 parts your eyebrow cheek. A nasty, painful in-
ing through a straw for weeks
and traces a line jury for sure, but one with
down your cheek no permanent effects

10 11
Further injury rules are:
Item Prot Initiative Resistance Stat Cost Cond.
♦♦ Characters injured by an unarmed human opponent use the clumpy things column of the Light Armour 2 -2 Agility 80 15
critical table to determine their injuries Medium Armour 3 -3 Body 110 20
• Injuries caused by other unarmed creatures will be specified on the description of the
creature Heavy Armour* 4 -4 Body 150 25
♦♦ When a limb is injured, we don’t distinguish between left and right, we just assume that you Shield 2 -2 As per armour worn 50 15
aren’t unlucky enough to get both arms or both legs permanently injured, so subsequent
injuries with permanent effect are applied to the same limb *Heavy Armour reduces the wearer’s movement rate by 25%
♦♦ If you suffer the same injury a second time, ignore any permanent effects of the result, you
just have to miss the number of encounters listed (subject to the usual rules for healing) Item Power Skills Effect Cost Uses
♦♦ If you suffer a second wound to the same location that is more severe than the first, the ef
fects are not cumulative (e.g. if you received a wound that causes you to limp, and then sub Maintenance Used to fix damage on
Armourer’s Kit 2 50 10
sequently lose the leg, only the second result applies: amputation cures limps). Injuries that Repair heavy armour and shields
affect other stats or body parts are cumulative
♦♦ If the handler of a pack beast is injured then the beast must miss the same number of turns Leatherworker’s Maintenance Used to fix damage on
2 50 10
♦♦ If the handler is killed, so is the beast Kit Repair medium and light armour

Healing
There are various ways that you can reduce the number of encounters a character has to miss. Weaponsmith
Some characters naturally heal faster, but for the most part, medical attention, prayer and magic At the weaponsmith you can buy new weapons and ammunition for ranged weapons, sell your old
will be the way to do it. See the skills reference section for more information on abilities that weapons or get damaged weapons repaired. You can also purchase weaponsmiths kits, bowyers
reduce healing time. kits and fletchers kits. Costs are as follows:

♦♦ Only one healing attempt may be made on a character between encounters, so if your party ♦♦ The weaponsmith can automatically repair damage to any weapon at a cost of 3 silver per
has more than one character with the healing skill, you must decide who makes the attempt point
♦♦ You can sell old weapons to the weaponsmith at the following rates:
• 50% of sale value for armour in top condition
• 33% of sale value for armour with any cosmetic damage (i.e. between 50% and 99% of top
he Dunswold Tourney condition)
This takes place over three days, leading up to Christ- • 25% of sale value for damaged items
♦♦ Broken weapons can be sold as scrap for a price of 1 silver
mas feasting, and culminates in a mighty scufFle, the
melee a pied, between the retinues of Sir Hugo and Gui.

Dunswold Tourney Traders


You can visit any of the traders’ stalls that have sprung up behind the pavilions at any time. The
following shops and services are available.
You can visit the traders as many times as you like between sessions and before the tournament
starts.

Armourer
At the armourer you can buy new armour and shields, sell your old armour or shields or get dam-
aged armour or shields repaired. You can also purchase armourer’s kits and leatherworking kits.
Costs are as follows:

♦♦ The armourer can automatically repair damage to any armour or shield at a cost of 5 silver
per point
♦♦ You can sell old armour to the armourer at the following rates:
• 50% of sale value for armour in top condition
• 33% of sale value for armour with any cosmetic damage (i.e. between 50% and 99% of top
condition)
• 25% of sale value for damaged items
♦♦ Broken armour can be sold as scrap for a price of 5 silver

12 13
Critical Item Power Skills Effect Cost Uses
Item Range Dam Initiative Skill Cost Cond.
Table
Weaponsmith’s Maintenance Used to fix damage on all
2 50 10
Hand Weap- Kit Repair melee weapons
Dagger 2 1 +2 Pointy Things 30 10
ons/ Throwing
Maintenance Used to fix damage on
Bowyer’s Kit 2 50 10
Sword Touch 2 +1 Sharp Things Hand Weapons 50 10 Repair longbows and crossbows
Hand Weap- Used to make arrows and
Axe 4 3 0 Sharp Things 50 10 Fletcher’s Kit 2 Fletching 50 10
ons/ Throwing quarrels
Clumpy Quiver: 6 Arrows NA NA Ammunition for longbow 12 6
Mace Touch 2 0 Hand Weapons 30 10
Things
Box: 6 Quarrels NA NA Ammunition for crossbow 12 6
Clumpy Hand Weap-
Hammer 4 3 -1 40 10 Same stats as a dagger,
Things ons/ Throwing
but may only be used for
Bandolier: 6
Quarter- 1 Throwing throwing. Like all throwing 60 6
Touch 3 +1 Pointy Things Pole Arms 60 10 Throwing Knives
pike weapons, they can be
recovered afterwards
Pole Arms/
Spear 10 2 +2 Pointy Things 25 5
Throwing Bag: 12 Sling Ammunition for staff sling
NA NA 12 12
Bullets and slingshot
Quarter- Clumpy
Touch 1 +2 Pole Arms 30 10
staff Things
Halberd Touch 3 +1 Sharp Things Pole Arms 60 10
Bill Hook Touch 2 +1 Pointy Things Pole Arms 30 5
Greats- Two Handed
Touch 4 -2 Sharp Things 80 15
word Weapons
Great Two Handed
Touch 5 -3 Sharp Things 80 15
Axe Weapons
Great Clumpy Two Handed
Touch 6 -4 80 15
Hammer Things Weapons
Morn- Clumpy
Touch 3 0 Flail Weapons 50 10
ingstar Things
2
Clumpy
Handed Touch 6 -2 Flail Weapons 100 15
Things
Flail
Lance* Touch 6 +3 Pointy Things Jousting 50 5
Staff Clumpy Slingshot\ Pole
18 1 +2 50 10
Sling Things Arms
Sling- Clumpy
12 1 NA Slingshot 15 10
shot Things
Long-
24 2 NA Pointy Things Archery 50 10
bow
Cross-
18 3 NA Pointy Things Archery 50 10
bow

*The lance for sale here is the real thing, capped with a spear tip for war. It isn’t for use in the
tournament. Lances can only be used when the model charges into melee. If they remain in base
contact with enemy models on subsequent turns, or an enemy charges the model rather than
vice-versa, the lance cannot be used.

14 15
Herbalist Priests
At the herbalist you can pay to have injured characters patched up so they can continue compet- Friar John and Brother Oswald may not directly take part in any of the
ing in the tournament, as well as purchase healers kits and magical potions. The costs are as events except the grand melee on Day 3. However, they may attend one
follows: event during each of the day’s sessions (see later) and use one of their
prayers once to assist or upset the competitor of their choice.
♦♦ To fully heal a character that is missing encounters due to injuries costs 50 silver per encoun
ter they must miss Tourney Days
For the purposes of healing and carrying out “between encounter actions”,
each tournament day counts as a single encounter.
Item Power Skills Effect Cost Uses
Used to reduce the Neutral Characters
number of encounters an In all of the day 1 and 2 events, there are characters participating who
Healer’s Kit 2 Heal 50 10
injured character has to aren’t members of Hugo or Gui’s party. In some cases you can recruit
miss these characters to your party, but others are purely here for the tourna-
ment. The rules for using these characters are as follows:

Item Effect Cost ♦♦ You can use any models from your collection to represent these char
Use during an encounter as an action to instantly recover 1 die acters, just pick a model you think is appropriate for the characte
Healing Potion worth of wounds. May not be used if in base contact with an 50 ♦♦ If the character is engaged in a one on one contest against one of
enemy model your characters (e.g. a joust or a single combat), your opponent
plays that character
Superior Healing Use during an encounter as an action to instantly recover all lost ♦♦ If the character is engaged in a one on one bout against another
75
Potion wounds. May not be used if in base contact with an enemy model neutral character, each player picks a character and rolls dice
Use during an encounter as an action to instantly add 1 die worth for them
Body Tonic of body counters to the user. May not be used if in base contact 75 ♦♦ If the character is part of a general elimination round (e.g. an archery
with an enemy model contest), anyone can roll the dice for that character, arrange it how
ever best suits you
Use during an encounter as an action to instantly add 1 die worth
Mind Tonic of mind counters to the user. May not be used if in base contact 75
with an enemy model Competing with yourself
It is entirely possible that during the course of the
Use during an encounter as an action to instantly add 1 die worth tournament, situations will arise when characters
Agility Tonic of agility counters to the user. May not be used if in base contact 75 you control directly compete against each other
with an enemy model in a one-on-one bout (e.g. Sir Hugo may joust
Use during an encounter as an action to instantly add 1 die worth against Sir Penhaligon). When this
Personality Tonic of personality counters to the user. May not be used if in base 75 happens, the player who owns the
contact with an enemy model characters may choose which model
he or she plays, and their opponent
Use between encounters to permanently add 1 point of Body to
Elixir Vita 500 takes the part of the other contestant.
the user
Use between encounters to permanently add 1 point of Agility to ♦♦ While playing someone else’s
Elixir Celeritas 500
the user character like this you may not
Use between encounters to permanently add 1 point of Mind to the use up their limited use items
Elixir Mentis 500 (e.g. healing potions, elixirs, etc.)
user
Use between encounters to permanently add 1 point of Personality
Elixir Caritas 500
to the user

Tonic counters are placed with the character and can be used at any time during the encounter to
increase the relevant stat by the amount of counters spent. You do not need to spend them all at
once.

♦♦ A character may only use one tonic per encounter


♦♦ Unused counters are lost at the end of the encounter

16 17
he twenty-second cottages beyond the walls. It was ui stalked through the muddy paths between the
of December had made of pavilions overlooking a stalls, deep in thought. He was dressed in black velvet
arrived, bringing broad, flat meadow where the trimmed with sable, and he fretted about the mud getting
Vespers Day to entertainments and displays took spattered on the noir suede of his shoes. Gui reflected on
Dunswold. Banners and pen- place, and behind the pavilions the Mummers Play he had seen the previous evening, in which Saint
noncels snapped and thrummed were candy-striped tents and the George defeated the Turkish Knight. “But who am I?” he wondered.
along the battlements of Pen- leather awnings of traders’ stalls, “George or the Turk?” He had a romantic enough ideal to regard him-
haligon’s stone keep, and the selling everything from repairs self as the misunderstood hero, but in
murmur of lutes, drums, rebecs, and remedies to relics and rings. his rational mind he knew he was the
crumhorns and trumpets could There had already been two days aggressor. “So be it! If I’m to be
be discerned from over a mile of carousing, acrobatics and fal- cast as the villain, then never let it
away. Though the hour was early, conry displays and the audience be said that I assumed the mantle
a festival atmosphere surrounded were ready for some more serious half-heartedly.”
the castle. Outside the bailey of games. Gui snapped out of his reverie, as
Dunswold, a temporary he turned the corner and almost
town had sprung up, bumped into someone coming the
engulfing the huddle of other way. For a moment the two
simply boggled at one another.
There was Sir Hugo, munching
on a pie bought from one of the the previous days’ entertainments; In a movement too fast for the eye and started to back away from
vendors. He stopped chewing to a juggler. Bold as brass, she to follow, she snatched the each other, towards their respec-
stare, pie poised in front of his stood some distance away from daggers from air and cast them tive daggers.
chin. Gui and Hugo, in the area behind out to either side. The daggers “I know you have my father, you
“So!” cried Gui regaining his the pavilions. With one hand on thudded into the beams support- dog. I’m going to beat you into the
composure, and whipped out his her hip, she expertly twirled their ing either end of the pavilion. She dirt and force you to yield him as
dagger. daggers in the air with the other. executed a languid backflip that the king’s favour for my victory,”
“If you want to have a knife fight She was drawing a crowd of on- culminated in an ironic bow. said Hugo by way of a parting
here, like drunken brigands, then lookers, and some nearby guards “Je suis Mistral. I am at the serv- shot.
bring it!” answered Hugo, casting craned their necks to see what the ice of whichever of you “Not just your father, little brother,”
his pie into the mud and whipping commotion was. wins the most contests.” answered Gui with a crooked grin.
his own dagger from his belt. “Zis is hardly the field of honour Then with a wink she “Melee a Pied.”
At that precise moment a blur of gentlemen,” she smirked. “There was off, cartwheeling He imparted meaning to these fi-
colours and limbs darted like a will be plenty of time for zis tomor- between the thrilled, ap- nal words by deliberately drawing
kingfisher between the two men, row and ze next day, no?” plauding onlookers. his index finger across his adam’s
leaving them both empty-handed “I say, give me back my bally dag- Hugo and Gui looked at apple.
and agape. ger!” protested Hugo. each other with a mixture
It was one of the tumblers from “Excusè moi, I’m sure.” of horror and surprise, then
simultaneously shrugged
he Dunswold Tourney: Vespers Day The results for the test are as follows:

The First day of the tournament is a warm up during


No of
which commoners and squires in the knights’ retinues can Successes
Favour Effect
have a go for the entertainment of the nobs. Although
0 None NA
not the main event, there are prizes to be won. There is also an op-
1 Ribbon Adds +1 DAM for the duration of the tourney
portunity for the knights to acquire the favours of ladies (oo-er!)
on the First day. 2 Lady’s Veil Adds +1 PROT for the duration of the tourney
Adds +1 Body for the duration of the tourney (this may take
3+ Lady’s Sleeve
Acquiring Favours body above 6)
While the squires and commoners put on their displays of prowess, the knights and other serious
competitors like Gui can try out their charms on the assembled aristocratic ladies. The following
characters are eligible for this:

♦♦ Sir Hugo
♦♦ Sir Penhaligon
♦♦ Sir Beauregard the Black
♦♦ Gui le Bâtard

If the gentleman manages to find favour with a lady, she will present him with a token. Tokens are
items of the ladies’ garments, such as detachable sleeves, or ribbons of chiffon from their hats or
girdles. The knight ties the token around his arm, or adds it to the panache of his helmet to bring
him luck and strength in the tournament.

Each of the characters named above may attempt the following test once:

♦♦ Resistance 5 personality test with no modifiers to the dice rolls

22 23
The Contests Set up the playing area as shown here:
The Vespers Day contests are open to the following characters to enter:

♦♦ Eck
♦♦ Captain Jenkins
♦♦ Glynn the Bow
♦♦ Mold
♦♦ Norman Scum
♦♦ Jack Shady

There are two sessions, a morning session and an afternoon session:

♦♦ You may enter one character from your party, per event
♦♦ A character cannot enter more than one event during the same session

The morning session is made up of displays of marksmanship with various ranged weapons. In all
cases the sessions consist of elimination rounds in which the lowest scoring contestants are out.
Points are scored according the number of successes a model rolls on its shooting test. Rather
than using their own equipment, all contestants must use what is provided.

♦♦ Natural 6s count as double successes


♦♦ Natural 1s count as a failure that cancels out 1 success (including those generated by natural
6s)
♦♦ In each round, each contestant gets three shots to score points
♦♦ After each round, the lowest scoring contestant is eliminated. This continues until a winner is
determined
• In the event of ties for either winning or being eliminated, carry out three shot tiebreakers
between the models involved until you get a result

Contestants shoot at butts (quiet at the back), which are raised earthwork mounds with cloth tar-
gets hung on to them. The closer a contestant gets to the centre of a target, the more points they
score, as follows:
♦♦ Standard ranged combat rules apply No of Area of the
♦♦ The archery butt constitutes a PROT 5 Points
Successes Target
target
♦♦ Use the score sheets in the reference sec -1 or less Missed the target 0
tion to record the results of each bout 0 White ring 2
1 Black ring 4
After each round, providing it is within range
for the weapon used in the contest, move on 2 Blue ring 6 Shooters deploy along the bottom edge of the map.
to the next target range (unless a winner has If no winner has been determined by the time the contestants get to the 24 inch range target,
3 Red ring 8 remain there until someone wins.
already been determined). Targets are set up
at the following ranges: 4+ Gold ring 10

♦♦ 6 inches
♦♦ 12 inches
♦♦ 18 inches
♦♦ 24 inches
Key to the Map
Model Starting Position Target

24 25
The morning session consists of: Slingshot
In the slingshot contest everyone uses standard slingshots. The following neutral contestants
Archery have entered:
In the archery contest everyone uses standard longbows. The following neutral contestants have
entered:
Contestant 1 Contestant 2 Contestant 3
Contestant 1 Contestant 2 Contestant 3 Name Elijah Jethro Katie
Name Mistral Scathelocke Athelstan Agility 4 3 3
Agility 4 4 3 Skills Slingshot 3 Slingshot 2 Slingshot 4
Skills Throwing 2 Throwing 4 Throwing 3
The prize for the slingshot contest is 50 silver.
The prize for the knife throwing contest is 50 silver.
The afternoon session is a display of martial prowess, where men at arms, squires and other
hopefuls can show what they’re made of in hand to hand combat. The structure of these battles is
Mistral as follows:
Stand clear or I will hurt you…
♦♦ In the first round, all contestants fight each other once
Mistral is a skilled tumbler from Gascony. She seeks glory through joining the • Use the score sheets in the reference section to record the results of each bout
entourage of the mightiest knight at the tournament. Her ways seem unladylike • 3 points are scored for a win
and fey to the somewhat stuffy knights of old, with her constant juggling, back- • 1 point is scored for a draw
flips and other unnatural gymnastic manoeuvres. Furthermore, she is blessed • 0 points are scored for losing
with a sharp tongue and a lack of respect for authority. In battle she uses her • The four highest scoring contestants go through to the second round
juggling accoutrements as weapons in a baffling blur of swings, thrusts and ♦♦ In the second round repeat the process of round 1
throws calculated to unbalance opponents. • The two highest scoring contestants go through to the final
♦♦ Round three is the final, the winner of this takes the prize
♦♦ Mistral offers to join the team that
won the most points Players can yield at the beginning of any combat round, before any dice are rolled. They automati-
♦♦ She does so at the start of day cally lose the bout.
three in time for the melee a pied
Blunted, lighter weapons are being used in this contest, so all critical damage is taken from the
clumpy things column of the table. Because the weapons have been rendered less lethal, take 3
points off any critical damage that occurs (e.g. if a model is smote with a mighty wallop that takes
it to -4 wounds, this actually counts as -1 for critical damage, so use the -1 critical table to deter-
mine the damage done).
In the event of a character having to drop out of the contest due to injury when they would have
gone through to another round, you can pay the herbalist to tend this character so it can continue.
If you can’t pay, then you can’t play.

♦♦ If only one character makes it through to the final because an opponent drops out due to
injury, that character wins by default
♦♦ If, heaven forbid, no one makes it through to the final, the contest is void and no one wins the
purse

26 27
he morning Vespers nobles went to the great hall, King’s entourage, but his passion back, which bore a device that
events were con- while everyone else went to their for all things knightly surpassed showed a fish leaping straight up
cluded and the prize respective tents or purchased that of anyone here. out of the water.
giving ceremony had savouries from the vendors. “Go on mate, there’s another “Ah, now that’s called Haurient. It
been conducted by the host, A group of young men, who’d one. What’s that one then?” said means the fish is depicted verti-
Sir Penhaligon. Everyone arrived with the intention of earn- Squire Scrote, egging him on, with cally with its head towards the top
agreed that it had been a splen- ing squire service, hung about at a hand around his shoulders. of the shield.”
did display before dispersing to the front of a tent, drinking beer They were testing Henry’s knowl- “Haurient, haurient. Okay, here
their respective quarters for lunch, from wooden mugs. Some of edge of heraldry by having him comes another. What’ll this be
enthusiasts comparing the score them would be competing in the explain what the devices on pass- then?”
sheets they had filled in through- single combat and staff fighting ing knights’ shields meant. At that As Henry eagerly
out the morning, and reminiscing bouts later in the afternoon. One time heraldry was a nascent art- scanned the crowd,
over the acts that had generated bright eyed young hopeful was form, but fans of the knights like waiting for the knight to
the numbers. There was drama the centre of attention, the others Henry soaked up all the informa- pass so he could display
in these dry statistics for those crowding around to observe him tion they could about these noble- his knowledge, Scrote
who knew how to read them. The at work. Henry had travelled from men of action and battle, and their turned to the younger,
Gloucester for this, not strange symbolism. and somewhat impres-
as far as many had The knight in question had an sionable lads behind
travelled, particu- uncovered shield slung over his him. He silently made
larly those in the
complex gestures, hooking his of looking over his shoulder. and laughing so hard that his face At that point Gui stalked over to
thumbs next to his belt and thrust- “Hmm?” said Henry turning to turned purple. Squire Scrote.
ing his hands down to his knees look. “You beasts! You Philistines!” “Can I have a word with you?”
whilst furiously nodding and wink- The rest of the crew had lined up spluttered Henry, and spun smart-
ing. with their backs to Henry, bent ly on his heel and stormed out of A short while later Sir Hugo
Sir Hugo sauntered past and gave over and dropped their trousers. the tent. tracked Henry down.
the squires a wave, before con- “Oh look,” cried Scrote. “It’s a Behind him the would-be squires “I saw what happened back
tinuing on his way. row of derrieres rampant. These wrestled their breeches back there.”
“Now that shield had a stag ram- blokes are in a reverse haurient on while Scrote rocked back on “They are pigs; well the ringleader
pant on it.” attitude!” his heels, smirking from ear-to- is a pig anyway. The others are
“Very good mate, you’re a won- One of the crew of mooning ear, with tears rolling down his sheep.”
der you are. Somebody should fellows topped off the scene by creased face. “A fair analysis I reckon. There’s
write all this stuff down. Oh, wait letting off a great, quacking guff. “Wen-kaaah!” he shouted at the certainly no excuse for rudeness
a minute, what’s that behind us?” The colour drained from poor retreating Henry. and bullying. How would you like
said Scrote, making a pantomime Henry’s face and his nostrils “Oo, oo. Look at me. I’m haurient.” to be my squire?”
flared with suppressed humiliation
and rage. Scrote bent
double, pointing at him
For the afternoon session, set up a fighting area as shown on this map: ♦♦ During a single combat you may not Also joining in are Squire
throw anything at your opponent Scrote and Henry of
♦♦ You may break from combat to change Gloucester, who can be
weapons, according to the added to Gui’s and Hugo’s
rules of the tournament, your opponent parties respectively. You can
may not pursue you if you find rosters for them in the
decide to do so reference section.

The following neutral contestants have The prize for the single
entered: combat is 300 silver.

Contestant 1
Name Gaston
Body 3
Agility 3
Armour Medium
Hand Weapons 2
Skills
Dual Wield 3

Each weapon rack contains the following items:

♦♦ 3xSword ♦♦ 2xQuarterpike
♦♦ 3xAxe ♦♦ 2xHalberd
♦♦ 2xSpear ♦♦ 1xGreatsword

Damaged or broken items from the racks are replaced between each round.
The afternoon session consists of:

Single Combat
During the single combat, contestants wear their own armour, and they can select up to two items
from the weapon racks shown on the map:

♦♦ If you’re playing as a neutral character, you can choose its equipment loadout
♦♦ Characters deploy front and centre, touching the weapon rack on the controlling player’s side
of the map

32 33
Squire Scrote Staff Fighting
Blimey! You’re so bleedin’ ugly the midwife During the staff fighting contestants wear their own armour, and are supplied with standard quar-
slapped your old dear when you came aht… terstaffs.

Squire Scrote hails from Essex. As a squire his ♦♦ Damaged or broken staffs are replaced between rounds
skillset is somewhat lacking, given his natural ♦♦ If a staff breaks during a round, according to the rules of the tournament, the fight stops and
predisposition to idleness and insolence. How- the user is given a replacement
ever, he is sharp as a tack and has a smart
mouth that can devastate the sensibilities of The following neutral contestants have entered:
more virtuous folk. This is particularly useful on
the battlefield, where his spicy badinage can Contestant 1 Contestant 2 Contestant 3
be used to good effect in destroying the morale
of the enemy. Name Wulfric Beremund Farmer Welland
Body 4 3 2
♦♦ Squire Scrote may join Gui’s party at the
start of this event Agility 3 3 3
Armour Light Light Light
Skills Staff 4 Staff 3 Staff 2

The prize for the staff fighting is 200 silver.

he Dunswold Tourney:
Joust a Plaisance
The second day of the tournament is for the joust a plaisance,
or jousting elimination rounds, and single combat between the
knights. Although the jousters of the eleventh century did not
have the socketed lances of the high medieval period, they weren’t
maniacs, and the tips were blunt.

The Contests
The Joust a Plaisance contests are open to the following characters to enter:

♦♦ Sir Hugo
Henry ♦♦ Sir Penhaligon
I say, is that surcoat pattern vair, or counter- ♦♦ Gui le Bâtard
vair? ♦♦ Sir Beauregard the Black

Henry is classically educated, meaning he’s As per the Vespers Day events, you can enter one character from your party in each event (this
good at sports and fighting, and can speak can be the same character if you wish, as there are only two events, one in the morning and one
French at court, but he isn’t especially gifted in the afternoon).
at critical thinking. He’s also obsessed with the
devices, badges and mottoes of the knight- NB: For the purposes of the tournament, although Sir Hugo and Gui cannot be injured according
hood. Although heraldry isn’t a formally recog- to the critical damage rules, if they suffer enough wounds to go below zero they must miss events
nised art yet, Henry is an early proponent of just like everyone else unless they can get healed.
the study. In battle he is a stoic and competent
fighter.

♦♦ Henry may join Sir Hugo’s party at the


start of this event

34 35
Mounts During the single combat event, the player in control of the character can decide what weapons
Sir Hugo and Gui le Bâtard have each taken their prized destriers along to the tournament. he takes from the rack at the start of the bout.
Destriers are medieval horses, generally stallions, bred for their strength and stamina and trained
to deal with battle. Sir Hugo’s destrier is called Lampos, and Gui’s mount is named Abastor. The morning session consists of:

The following neutral contestants have entered both events: Joust


The rules for the joust have more in common with the ranged combat contests from Vespers Day
than the hand to hand combat contests. Set up the tilt as shown in the map below:
Contestant 1 Contestant 2 Contestant 3
Name Sir Corben Sir Baliol Sir Leofric
Body 3 4 2
Agility 3 2 4
Initiative 0 -1 +1
DAM 9 9 10
PROT 9 10 9
Lance Lance Lance
Equipment Heavy Armour Heavy Armour Heavy Armour
Shield Shield Shield
Jousting 1 Jousting 3
Jousting 2
Courage 2 Courage 1
Skills Hand Weapons 3
Hand Weapons 2 2H Weapons 2
Pole Arms 2
Dual Wield 2 Hand Weapons 1

If any of these characters suffer critical damage during the first event, they will pay the healer from
their own funds to be made ready for the next.

36 37
The rules of the joust are: The afternoon session consists of:

♦♦ The tilt rails shown in the centre of the map measure 36 inches Single Combat
♦♦ The knights deploy at opposite ends of the tilt, on opposite sides The rules for knights’ single combat are the same as the rules for the Vespers single combat. The
♦♦ A mounted knight’s normal move rate is 8 inches. With the armoured knight on the back the difference is the weapon racks, which are larger and stocked with a greater variety of arms as
horse can achieve a lumbering charge rate of 12 inches. follows:
♦♦ Natural 6s count as double successes
♦♦ Natural 1s count as a failure that cancels out 1 success (including those generated by ♦♦ 3xSword ♦♦ 2xHalberd
natural 6s) ♦♦ 3xAxe ♦♦ 1xGreatsword
♦♦ Each contestant rides three times against each of their opponents. Resolve the three tilts, as ♦♦ 3xMace ♦♦ 1xGreat Axe
they are called, before moving on to the next pairing ♦♦ 3xHammer ♦♦ 1xGreat Hammer
♦♦ Apply damage as usual, but remember, these are blunt lances, so any critical damage is ♦♦ 2xSpear ♦♦ 2xMorning Star
rolled on the clumpy things table ♦♦ 2xQuarterpike ♦♦ 1xFlail
• If a contestant is incapacitated during a round, his opponent gets 10 points for each tilt re
maining in the round (e.g. Sir Penhaligon knocks Sir Baliol off in the second tilt and inca
pacitates him. Sir Penhaligon and Sir Baliol both get whatever points they scored for the The prize for the single combat is the sword Beorteck, said to have been crafted by Weyland
second tilt. Sir Baliol can’t compete in the third tilt as he’s injured, so Penhaligon gets 10 himself for an Anglo-Saxon king of yore. Beorteck has the following stats:
points and Baliol nothing)
♦♦ Use the score sheet in the reference section to record results ♦♦ Once per encounter, as an action, the wielder can use the sword to perform the prayer
♦♦ Points are scored for how well you hit your opponent. This is based on the number of suc Blinded By the Light with +3 power
cesses you get on the dice roll ♦♦ DAM: 3
♦♦ I: +1
♦♦ Condition: 15
No of Successes Effect Points Scored
♦♦ Value: 250 silver
-1 or less Hit your opponent’s horse Disqualified from the joust
Glancing blow on your oppo-
0 2
nent’s shield. No damage
A good bunt on your oppo-
1 nent’s shield, but he remains 4
in the saddle
At the last possible moment,
swing your lance out horizon-
2 6
tally, sweeping your opponent
from his saddle
Take your opponent square in
3 8
the shield, knocking him off
Take your opponent square in
the chest, sending him over
4+ 10
the crupper (strap on the back
of a saddle)

The jousting takes place over a series of elimination rounds, as follows:

♦♦ After everyone has had three tilts against each opponent, the four highest scoring knights go
through to the next round (just like the single combats)
• If one or more of the highest scoring knights happen to have been incapacitated, they can
pay the healer to patch them up for the next round
• If they can’t or won’t pay, their place goes to the next highest scoring knight, and so on
♦♦ Repeat the process for the next round and the two highest scoring knights go through to the
final
♦♦ The highest scoring knight in the final takes the prize

38 39
he Dunswold Tourney: Melee a Pied Characters
The contest is open to all the characters in Sir Hugo and Gui’s parties.
This is the Final day of the tournament and it is when Each player rolls a die prior to placing models. Whoever rolls the lowest
the grand melee a pied, or battle on foot, takes place. must place their model first, up to 6 inches on to the tabletop from their
This contest is between the knights and retinues of Sir edge of the map, then their opponent places one. Alternate like this until no
models remain.
Hugo and Gui le B@tard. Weapons are real and there is the very
real possibility of injury in this particularly bitter grudge match.
Sir Hugo’s Party
Sir Hugo’s player should deploy Hugo and 7 other characters of his or her
The Contest choice.

Set up the battlefield with the banner dead centre of the field as shown on the map below:
Gui’s Party
Gui’s player should deploy Gui and 7 other characters of his or her choice.

Rules
The rules of the contest are as follows:

♦♦ The object of the match is to carry the banner into your opponent’s
territory
♦♦ Models use their own equipment
♦♦ Ranged weapons are banned
♦♦ A model that is in base contact with the banner can pick it up
• They may not pick up the banner if they are in base contact with an
enemy model
• While carrying the banner, place it next to the model and move it
with the model
• The model can only move at a maximum speed of their normal
move rate
• They cannot wield anything else while carrying the banner, and if
attacked, count as being unarmed
• They can drop the banner at the start of any action. If this happens,
leave they banner where it was dropped
• If a model is incapacitated while carrying the banner, leave it on the
spot the model fell
• A model can hand the banner to a friendly character as an action, if
they are in base contact with that model
♦♦ The game is won if one of the following conditions are met
• Everyone on one side is incapacitated
• One side carries the banner off the table edge that their opponent
deployed on

40 41
inally the Melee a tion on their horns. To the King’s wishes to address you both,” the open hands. The king got to his
Pied was over and right hand side, a stern looking archbishop announced airily. feet.
the weary combat- and rather jowly cleric got to his On different parts of the battle- “Boys!” he bellowed in his most
ants that could feet. field, Gui and Sir Hugo rose stiffly commanding tone, then more
still stand slumped to the Out on the battlefield, an aide from the grass and approached gently. “Stop it and come here this
ground and sat looking up at whispered to Hugo, “That’s Ran- the king’s pavilion, eying one instant.”
the pavilion as they caught ulph Flambard, the Bishop of another beneath beetling brows The pair immediately ceased
their breath. Durham and Chief Justiciar of as they converged. About twenty their scuffle and continued their
Even as leeches ran to and fro to England.” yards from the pavilion Gui progress, staring at the ground in
tend to the injured on the field of “The two young champions will dropped back a step and surrepti- chagrin until they arrived before
the Melee a Pied, the king’s her- approach the pavilion. The king tiously clipped Hugo’s heel with the monarch.
alds blew a rousing call to atten- his toe, causing him to stumble William the Second, William
slightly, but he managed to remain Rufus as he was also known, was
upright. Hugo stopped and turned a fascinatingly grotesque man.
to fix Gui with a glare, breath- Here was the tyrant responsible
ing heavily. Gui stopped too and for a slew of crippling new taxes
raised an eyebrow, mockingly and the disintegration of justice
extending his arm to indicate that throughout the land, yet his grip
Hugo should proceed ahead of on the reins of power ensured the
him. The crowd murmured. Hugo success of all his military adven-
lashed out and the two stood face tures and the defeat of a number
to face for a moment, frantically of uprisings and coups throughout
slapping at one another with their his reign. He also had a mania
for hunting and games that was As it’s Christmas, and you both “Thank you sire,” said Hugo, do- table for all involved if things said
remarkable even for the time. put on such a splendid show…” ing his best to ignore the king’s in haste here should later prove
None could honestly say in their here he fixed them with a twin- horrifically self-indulgent beam- false.”
hearts that William presented a kling leer that caused them both ing. “I have reason to believe my “Oh very well then,” sulked Gui.
regal figure, but his presence was to shuffle uncomfortably from side father is being held prisoner at “He can have the useless old
powerful and potent. He was short to side. “Rarely have I seen such Castle Sudemarche, and would coot.”
and thickset, with a protruding pot passion in a game. Anyway, I am ask that you order his immediate “There, that’s better,” said the
belly, and a florid complexion that feeling generous, and since you release, please.” king. “We can all have a pleasant
had earned him the epithet Rufus. have both impressed me so much, “No he isn’t!” cried Gui. “He’s ly- Christmas now that that’s all set-
He wore his wispy blond hair long you can both have a favour. So, ing!” tled. Kneel down Gui, it’s time for
and parted in the centre, and was what is it to be?” “Heavens above, you fellows you to receive your prize.”
attired in the height of fashion: “Sire,” blurted Gui first, eager to really know how to bring down a
scarlet tights and tunic over which seal the deal in case the strange party,” chided the king, rolling his
he had a long, deep purple, open- king changed his mind. “It is my eyes and sighing exaggeratedly.
fronted gown. He was doused in wish to become a full knight and “Now Gui, is Hugo’s father really
perfume. However, the most star- to claim my ancestral manor of at Sudemarche? If we check on
tling thing about the king were his Deangard.” this matter it could become regret-
eyes, one clear blue, the other a “My king, I must protest…” began
translucent hazel, both were filled Sir Hugo, his face white with out-
with a kaleidoscope of glittering rage. He was silenced by the king
flecks and shards. raising a hand.
“Boys, boys, boys, you are so “Now, play nice Gui. I know about
precious. So different and yet so your little dispute with Hugo,” said
alike, you are like night and day to William. “You shall be knighted,
me.” one favour is quite enough. As to
Gui and Hugo stood shoulder to the other matter, it is for you to
shoulder, their chins held high. settle with the other parties in-
Their eyes darted sideways glanc- volved. The law has no stance on
es at each other when the king this matter, so knightly virtue and
started speaking, neither sure of might shall decide, but not this
where this was going. At least week, because it’s Christmas and
their personal enmity seemed I want goodwill to all men, on pain
real, but this was pretty surreal. of death. Now Hugo, what do you
“Now, the prize for the melee a wish for?”
pied was for me to grant a favour.
The prize for the melee a pied was to ask the king for a favour. However, as he is feeling espe-
Beaky Muldoon leaned over the puffing out its feathers, then franti-
cially magnanimous in light of the splendid entertainments provided, he has decided to grant palings of the warren, squinting cally beating its wings in an at-
both participants their wishes: to see what Jake was up to in tempt to take off. Unable to do so,
♦♦ Sir Hugo secures the release of his father without any ransoms the poor light and mist. A hulking, it gaped at Beaky before darting a
♦♦ Gui is knighted by the king himself threadbare griffon vulture griped peck towards the vulturer’s good
on his arm, which was stretched eye. With its snake like neck, the
The matter is closed there, and the king will not enter into any debates or negotiations regard-
ing the rightful owners of Deangard or any other hostages. along the fence to take the weight vulture’s reach and speed were
off. Beaky winced and tried to impressive.
turn it into a smile as the warrener Jake shook his head and contin-
t the crack of dawn freezing, dewy moisture encrust-
glared up at him. The vulture ued his work. Rabbits were every-
on the twenty- ing the ends of branches with
wasn’t wearing a hood. where in the enclosure, bouncing
sixth, the staff of semi-liquid ice, like damp sea salt.
“I hope you’ve got control of that around his feet, and every now
Dunswold were out Jake, the warrener, had already
thing,” said Jake. and again, he’d quickly seize one
and about making prepara- been up for hours, wrangling
“D-d-don’t you w-worry about dat and stuff it into a wriggling sack.
tions for the day’s big hunt. conies. Those who would be hunt-
sir. P-perfectly under c-c-control. “So w-w-what are dose wee fellas
It promised to be a frightening and ing with birds of prey took special
S-sit still y’bastard!” anyway? They’re like l-l-leverets?”
mysterious hunt, for a heavy fog interest in his preparations.
As if in response, the vulture
blanketed the woods, its
bated on his arm, slowly
raising its wings and
asked Beaky when the vulture strike. It grabbed his ear with its enough for Carl to acquire a sack Carl looked incredibly exasper-
calmed down. sharp beak and chaos ensued. from the warrener to put over its ated.
“They are coney,” grunted Carl, a As Beaky turned the air blue and head. “I keep telling you people. I am
taciturn Dane who had just ar- clubbed at the bird with his fist, its Beaky was quietly furious that austringer. I fly the goshawk. No
rived to also watch the warrener jesses came loose. In an instant he’d once again been shown up, falcons. Sheesh,” he said while
at work. the vulture was in the warren but he didn’t blame the bird. He shaking his head at Beaky.
“S-s-so not y-young hares den?” sending the rabbits scattering to had a strange dependence on “There is your falcon,” Carl said
“Nej. They are different creature. the edges in panic. the creature, even affection for it, sarcastically as he drew level with
They are the coney, their young “You stupid bloody idiot!” roared despite his lack of mastery over it. Beaky and transferred the jesses
are the rabbit. Nobles bring here Jake, and ran forward to try and “So are y-y-you some kind of fu- of the now quiescent vulture to the
to hunt.” This was a positive dia- shoo the vulture out of the warren. fu-falconer?” asked Beaky. Irishman.
tribe for Carl. Carl acted with alacrity. He vault- Beaky narrowed his eyes at Carl’s
Beaky waxed thoughtful for a ed over the fence and grasped back as he stalked off.
moment, dropping his guard and the trailing jesses. The vulture
giving the vulture a window to went mental, twisting and thrash-
ing as it tried to escape, but Carl
expertly shortened the jesses and
folded the bird’s head under his
arm before it harmed itself.
The vulture calmed down long
easts of Venery
On Boxing Day, those knights and retainers sufFiciently Key to the Map
recovered from the tournament are invited to take
part in a hunt through the royal chases of Dunswold. Tree Bush Model Starting Quarry Starting
Sir Penhaligon’s staff flush game towards the hunters, who wait Position Position
with spears, bows and falcons. There are to be prizes given out for
the best catches of the day.
Characters
Set up your tabletop as shown here. Each side should measure 48 inches. This event is open to all characters except pack beasts. There are also two new characters that
can be added to your parties. Each player can pick up to 8 characters from his or her party to
participate in the hunt. Each player rolls a die prior to placing models. Whoever rolls the lowest
must place their model first, then their opponent places one. The rules for placing characters are
as follows:

♦♦ The map has positions marked on it where characters can stand, like so:
♦♦ Once a character is in position, it may not move again for the duration of
the hunt
• The exception to this rule is Canute, who can run about, chasing rabbits
♦♦ Bushes and trees block LOS, but:
• Characters can look around the trunks of trees they are in base contact with in order to
take aim, or see what is coming
• Characters can see over the tops of bushes they are in base contact with

Carl the Austringer


I am Austringer, not falconer!

Carl is a tall, rugged Dane who has devoted


his life to the flying of short-winged hawks.
This technically makes him an austringer,
not a falconer, and woe betide anyone
who makes that error in his presence,
for although he is normally quiet and
aloof, Carl is a terrible stickler on this
point. He has come to seek employment
after his former master died heirless and the
estate was broken up. In battle he uses his
beloved Goshawk, Valkyrie, to demoralise and
unbalance opponents*.

♦♦ Carl may join Sir Hugo’s party at the start


of this event

*Full rules for the use of raptors in battle will


As you can see, the tabletop is divided into a series of tracks, each approximately 6 inches be included in the next issue of Warheads. For
across. As animals move down these tracks, hunters armed with spears can attack them as they the time being they’re specifically for hunting
pass by. rabbits.

50 51
Beaky Muldoon Moving Creatures The Great Hart
Jaysus, will ye-ye-ye sit s-still, ye b-b-bloody Each turn, a player may move a creature on The great hart can be shot with arrows or
bugger! the board instead of activating one of his or her speared. It has the following stats:
own models. The rules are as follows:
Beaky Muldoon is an Irish vulturer. This is a ♦♦ Resistance 8
unique position that has been totally made ♦♦ All creatures move 10 inches per turn ♦♦ Evade 2
up because Beaky’s former master thought ♦♦ The creature must move forward its full ♦♦ Dodge 2
it would be hilarious to put a nervous Irish movement rate. They must go around ♦♦ 7 Wounds
peasant in charge of an ill-tempered Griffon trees, but they can go through bushes, as
Vulture called Susan. This has caused Beaky’s follows: To attack it with a spear, make your pole arms
pronounced stammer and collection of • Rabbit: No penalty for moving through test and refer to the following table:
scars. He’s looking for new employment bushes
since being sacked, on account of the • Wild Boar: Bushes count as difficult ter No of Successes Effect
joke getting old. In battle* the vulture is rain (half movement rate)
Knocked down
pretty much the boss in the relationship, • Great Hart: If the great hart has enough
and trampled by
with Beaky generally making up the com- movement rate to clear a bush and any
the hart. Suffer 1-3
mands to match the creature’s behaviour. models behind it, it will leap over the
-1 or less wounds (roll a die
bush, otherwise it has to go around
1-2=1 wound, 2-3=2
♦♦ Beaky may join Gui’s party at the start of ♦♦ A creature can switch to the track to the
wounds, 4-6=3
this event left or right of where it is
wounds
♦♦ If a creature (except a rabbit) passes a
model with a spear on its track, it must 0 Knocked down
stop to resolve the hunters attempt to Cause wounds to
spear it. See the rules below for more the Hart equal to the
information 1+
number of successes
♦♦ Place an activation counter on a creature you scored
after you have moved it
♦♦ A creature may not exit the tabletop to the The hart ignores any character not armed with
left or right a spear and moves around them.
♦♦ A creature escapes if it manages to exit
the tabletop along the bottom edge

Remember the forest is divided into a series of Each creature has its own rules for interacting
Rules of The Hunt tracks, with the ones in the middle marked 1-6? with the hunters, as follows. In all of the follow-
The rules are as follows: Well, now each player rolls a die to determine ing cases these rules apply to tests:
the creature’s starting position:
The Quarry ♦♦ Die rolls of natural 6 count as double
There are three types of quarry that may ♦♦ After you have rolled the die, place the successes
appear at the beginning of each turn, as the creature on the table edge at its assigned ♦♦ Die rolls of natural 1 count as failures that
beaters flush the animals towards where the spot cancel out one success (including those
hunters wait in ambush. At the beginning of • If both players roll the same spot, that’s generated by natural 6s)
each turn, each player should roll a die on the fine, put the creatures next each other ♦♦ A character knocked down by a beast
following table: ♦♦ If there aren’t enough creature models gets a knocked down counter placed on it.
available (i.e. the available model(s) is This means they must spend their next
already in play), nothing is forthcoming action getting up (remove the counter
Die Roll Creature
this turn after doing so and replace with an
1 Rabbit ♦♦ If a creature is caught or killed, remove activation counter)
2 Rabbit the model from play and record who ♦♦ A character with either a knocked down
caught it on the score sheet. The model or an activation counter on it is ignored by
3 Rabbit is now available for placement in subse creatures that pass it
4 Wild Boar quent turns ♦♦ If the creature is still alive after interacting
♦♦ If a creature escapes, remove it from play with the hunter, it may complete its move
5 Wild Boar ♦♦ The game ends when The Great Hart is
6 The Great Hart slain or escapes

52 53
Wild Boar Rabbits ♦♦ As an action you may cast the bird off Canute
Wild boars can be shot with arrows or speared. Rabbits can be shot with arrows, caught by towards a rabbit. Place your falconry Canute can chase rabbits
They have the following stats: falcons, or caught by Canute the terrier. The token anywhere within a 6 inch radius.
rabbit has the following stats: You may not attack a rabbit on the same ♦♦ If he gets to base contact with a rabbit
♦♦ Resistance 9 turn you cast off and scores more successes than failures
♦♦ Evade 1 ♦♦ Resistance 6 (to anything that can harm ♦♦ On subsequent turns the bird can move from an attack, he catches the rabbit (this
♦♦ Dodge 1 it, i.e. falconry test, shot at with an arrow, up to 12 inches includes attacks that take place within
♦♦ 5 Wounds attacked by a terrier) • It can fly over the tops of bushes, but bushes)
♦♦ Evade Skill 4 must go around trees ♦♦ He returns the rabbit to the nearest
To attack one with a spear, make your pole ♦♦ Dodge 2 • If it comes in base contact with a rabbit friendly model by moving to base contact
arms test and refer to the following table: it can attack it with that model, then he’s ready to go
Different characters have different roles on the • It can’t attack rabbits that are in bushes again
hunt. ♦♦ To attack a rabbit you must make a
No of Successes Effect
falconry test (see the skills section) when Everyone Else
Knocked down and the falconry token is in base contact with
gored. Roll a die
Falconers The following rules apply to any other
-1 or less Carl the Austringer and Beaky Muldoon can the rabbit. If you score more successes characters who enter:
and take that many than failures your bird has caught the
only go after rabbits with their respective rap-
wounds rabbit
tors. Each character gets a falconry token, like ♦♦ You may choose one of the following
0 Knocked down so: • Both Susan and Valkyrie are Power 3 weapons
birds for the purposes of the test table • Spear
Cause wounds to ♦♦ Next turn the bird can return with the prey.
the boar equal to the • Longbow & quiver of 6 arrows
1+ The bird can move 6 inches per turn when ♦♦ Character may not wear any armour on
number of successes it is carrying prey
you scored the hunt
♦♦ Carl and Beaky may not wear any armour
on the hunt and may not use any weap
Boars will attack anything in their way. Charac- ons other than their birds Prizes
ters not armed with spears must dodge boars Awards for the hunt are as follows:
as they come through. This is a test using their
Agility core stat, and the resistance is 4. They ♦♦ 50 silver for the most rabbits caught
may add their dodge skill to the dice rolls, and ♦♦ 75 silver for the most boars caught
refer to the following table: ♦♦ 75 silver for the Great Hart

No of Successes Effect In the event of any ties, the pot is shared


equally between the relevant characters
Knocked down and
gored. Roll a die
-1 or less
and take that many
wounds
0 Knocked down
1+ Successfully dodged

54 55
ess than a week on a field of sable, of course. The word of his father. Not yet. Hugo “Gui, is that you my boy?” asked
later and old King’s entourage were next to retired to his chamber with heavy the rider in a frail, querulous
father time go and they represented a flood shoulders, his father’s goblet and voice. It was his father, Sir Robert.
stepped aside as out of the estate, with the last of a skin of wine. Then the alarm bell Hugo was struck as if with a
the New Year’s stork swept the independents and the trad- started clanging vigorously. Some- paralysis, and he could only
in with its bundle. 1097 AD had ers and mummers following suit. one in the guard tower had seen watch as his staff got the man
arrived, leaving the Penhaligon Sir Hugo’s faction remained for something. down from the horse and bundled
estate with a big cleanup task and a few days more, to help clean In his haste, Hugo knocked over him inside, all the while a look of
a whopping bill for the entertain- up the mess and celebrate New the goblet, sending a red tide dismay creeping slowly across his
ments. The respective factions Year’s Eve with their neighbours, racing across the mahogany stupefied face.
had departed in dribs and drabs, and then they too hit the road for table. He ignored it and ran for Pinned to the old man’s breast
returning to their various places Deangard. the door. He arrived at the gate was an elegantly penned note:
of origin. First a trickle of inde- Sir Hugo’s party arrived back at to find guards hauling it open to
pendents, then Sir Gui’s faction the motte and bailey in the dark of admit a rider. The horse ambled One useless old coot, as ordered.
had left after Gui had spent some the evening, with Hugo in sombre along unhurriedly, and the figure
time designing his new coat of and reflective mood. He asked on its back was curiously stiff and Happy New Year,
arms—a dragon rampant gules the staff if there had been any swaying. He was tied upright in
the saddle. Sir Gui
he injuries to Sir the physical injuries that were of “What are you talking about fa- “Now Hugo, don’t be jealous of
Robert’s body were paramount concern to his son. ther? That monster tortured you! your big brother,” piped up Sir
extensive, though Hugo was by his side when Sir How can you be asking for him?” Robert. “After all, one day he’ll
mostly treatable. Robert awoke, after fainting dead The leech leaned in and placed a inherit all of this.”
He had many scars and welts away while being carried into the hand on Hugo’s arm.
to remember his time at keep. There was also a leech on “I’ve seen this sort of thing before
Sudemarche by. The most seri- hand, dabbing ointment on Sir with prisoners,” said the physi-
ous physical injuries he had sus- Robert’s scabbed over wounds. cian. “They identify with their
tained would leave him partially Sir Robert weakly shooed him off. captors. Perhaps he should speak
blinded in one eye and he would “Ah, Hugo my boy, how splendid with a priest.”
forever after have to walk with the to see you. Is Gui around?”
assistance of a stick. But it wasn’t

59
eference Section
Here are the score sheets to use on Vespers Day and in
the Joust. If an event runs over you’ll have to continue
on another sheet.

Permission to photocopy these sheets is granted for non-commercial purposes

60 61
Permission to photocopy these sheets is granted for non-commercial purposes

62 63
Skills WOUNDS VALUE -2 - miss two encounters
Descriptions for all the skills you need to play this issue’s adventure.
Die
Sharp Things Pointy Things Clumpy Things
Roll

Die Roll You’ve suffered a deep slash to The wound makes a hole clean You dislocated your kneecap when you
Skill Effect Power Resistance Usage Range 1 the thigh but there is no perma- through the top of your thigh, but no fell in the battle. It pops back in later,
ModiFier
nent harm serious harm is suffered but its bloody sore for a while
Each success
rolled puts -4 if the target Lose a toe from a low and vicious Your foot is pinned to the ground by A broken toe puts you out of commis-
During Encoun- 2
a distraction is in melee cut a low strike sion for a while
ters. Target must
counter on The wound goes right through your
have LOS to the The wound has bitten deep into The knuckles of your fist are badly
a single en- After 2 inches, 3 forearm, thankfully avoiding bones,
Distraction Agility + Tools Mind + Tools user. Remove any 8 the flesh of your forearm crushed
emy model. A -2 for ever 2 blood vessels and sinews
unused counters
counter can be inches up to
at the end of the
spent to reduce the maximum Your pinkie finger has been cut off The wound penetrates deep into the
turn 4 Your wrist is broken by the blow
the target’s range at the second knuckle muscle of your shoulder
PROT by 1
The wound is in the hollow between
You’ve been viciously cut across
If more suc- your shoulder, collar bone and Your opponent has cracked one of
During Encounters 5 the stomach. The wound is big,
cesses than chest, but luckily for you, the top of your ribs
Personality + Target evade and but it’s not deep
Falconry* failures are Target PROT NA your lung isn’t punctured
Bird Value skill Between Encoun-
scored, the
ters You’ve been got in the open mouth,
rabbit is caught The wound leaves you with a
through your cheek. A nasty, painful A broken jaw leaves you eating through
6 scar that parts your eyebrow and
injury for sure, but one with no a straw for weeks
*These rules only apply to hunting rabbits in the scenario in this issue. Further rules for using traces a line down your cheek
permanent effects
falcons in combat to appear in next issue.

WOUNDS VALUE -3 - miss three encounters


Critical Damage Tables
Die
Sharp Things Pointy Things Clumpy Things
WOUNDS VALUE -1 - miss one encounter Roll

Die The slash almost severs a tendon The wound goes deep into your Your coccyx (tail bone) is fractured.
Sharp Things Pointy Things Clumpy Things 1 behind your knee, but it eventually thigh and bleeds like a stuck pig, but On top of everything else you can’t sit
Roll
recovers you make a full recovery down for a week
The point pierces the meat of your
A nasty cut on your leg will require You sprained your ankle when you went A chunk of flesh is carved from
1 calf, but whilst painful, the injury is You have been grievously pranged
stitches down in the battle your calf, but fortunately it is only Your opponent broke your ankle when
superficial 2 in the rump. Fortunately, the injury
muscle that is damaged and not he felled you
threatens merely dignity and not life
A scroll of skin has been neatly re- You have suffered a chipped shin The battle has left you with severe bone or sinew
2
moved from the front of your shin bone in the encounter bruising on your calf muscle
Your wrist is slashed and you lose The wound bites to the bone of your
You have suffered a superficial 3 a lot of blood before the flow is upper arm, going clean through your Your wrist is broken in the assault
You are stuck in the shoulder, but
3 but nasty, ragged tear across the The impact dislocates your shoulder staunched biceps. Not very humerus
you will soon make a full recovery
back of your hand
You are pierced through the armpit.
The meaty part of your forearm is Your upper arm is cleanly broken by the
You receive a minor flesh wound You are pierced through the triceps Your thumb is badly staved, and juts 4 It’s painful, but fortunately no vital
4 brutally hacked to the bone blow, but you make a full recovery
to the shoulder muscle, but it is only a flesh wound out at a jaunty angle for over a week structures are harmed

A slash across the side stings You receive a small puncture wound You suffer a deep gash along the You are stuck right in the sternum,
The blow to your midriff has left you A broken collar bone is the painful
5 your ribs, but doesn’t enter your to the abdomen that bleeds a lot, but 5 side. It’s a bloody injury, but not but the breastbone holds, protecting
with internal bruising outcome of your encounter
body isn’t deep life threatening your heart

The attack glances along your A gouge is taken out of your


You have been taken through the A hairline fracture of the skull renders
A deep cut across your forehead cheekbone and you narrowly avoid You’re left with a bad concussion and a scalp, exposing bone beneath, but
6 6 throat. Miraculously no major blood you unconscious for days. It’s touch
will leave an interesting scar being skewered right through the cracked cheekbone following the fight the skull is not damaged, so you
vessels or structures are harmed and go for a while.
middle of the face make a full recovery

64 65
WOUNDS VALUE -4 - miss four encounters and suffer a permanent injury haracter Rosters
Die
Sharp Things Pointy Things Clumpy Things
The following characters are available to join the parties of Sir
Roll Hugo and Gui.
You have lost several toes in the The wound penetrates to your hip
Your shin is broken by the blow. You
fracas. You are left with a slight joint. You are left with a slight limp
1 are left with a slight limp that reduces
limp that reduces your movement that reduces your movement rates
your movement rates by a quarter
rates by a quarter by a quarter

The cut slices you to the bone,


Your knee joint is pierced, injuring
just above the knee, damaging the The arch of your foot is completely
the cruciate ligaments. You are left
2 tendon there. You are left with a broken. You are left with a limp that
with a limp that reduces your move-
limp that reduces your movement reduces your movement rates by a third
ment rates by a third
rates by a third

Your hand is transfixed, breaking


You have lost two fingers. From A fractured radius leaves your arm stiff
the phalanges. From now on if you
now on if you use 2H weapons, and painful. From now on if you use 2H
3 use 2H weapons, pole arms or dual
pole arms or dual wield, dam is -1, weapons, pole arms or dual wield, dam
wield, dam is -1, and shields are
and shields are prot -1 is -1, and shields are prot -1
prot -1

Damage to your shoulder joint


Your hand has been chopped off
leaves it stiff and unresponsive. Your thumb is completely crushed. You
at the wrist. You cannot use a
4 You cannot use a shield, dual wield, cannot use a shield, dual wield, or use
shield, dual wield, or use any item
or use any item that requires two any item that requires two hands
that requires two hands
hands

The injury to your abdomen


A deep chest wound leaves you A crushing blow to your back leaves
leaves you permanently ill. Your
5 sickly and drawn. Your wounds stat you with chronic pain. Your wounds stat
wounds stat is permanently
is permanently reduced by 1 is permanently reduced by 1
reduced by 1
Neutral Characters
The attack removes part of your
The injury just fails to penetrate The impact dislodges part of your Neutral character may join either party. Circumstances of joining are detailed in the relevant
ear. The scars are neither charac-
6 terful, nor terrifying: merely ugly.
your skull. Though not fatal, lasting retina, resulting in partial loss of vision. encounter section.
damage is done. Suffer a -1 modifier Suffer a -1 modifier to all ranged com-
Suffer a -1 modifier to all tests
to all tests involving Mind bat attack rolls
involving Personality

WOUNDS VALUE -5 - miss five encounters and suffer a permanent injury

Die
Sharp Things Pointy Things Clumpy Things
Roll

Ouch! Right in the Achilles tendon,


He’s only gone and chopped your The blow has torn away your kneecap,
leaving you with a permanent limp.
bleedin’ leg off! From now on all of leaving the leg unable to bend properly.
From now on all of your movement
1 your movement actions are limited From now on all of your movement
actions are limited to normal move
to normal move rate, and you may actions are limited to normal move rate,
rate, and you may not move and
not move and shoot. Peggy and you may not move and shoot
shoot

You have been left with a severed A punctured groin is never a good A compound fracture of your femur
2 hamstring. All of your movement thing. All of your movement rates leaves you with all of your movement
rates are halved from now on are halved from now on rates halved from now on

He’s had your arm off! Further- Severed nerves in the arm render The bones in the arm are shattered,
more you cannot use a shield, the limb useless. You cannot use a leaving it twisted and ineffectual. You
3
dual wield, or use any item that shield, dual wield, or use any item cannot use a shield, dual wield, or use
requires two hands that requires two hands any item that requires two hands

4
Slashed tendons in your wrist
leave you lacking grip. Lose 1
Your elbow joint is pierced, perma-
nently damaging ligaments. Lose 1
A badly broken shoulder leaves your
manual dexterity impaired. Lose 1 point
10 Silver
point of Agility point of Agility of Agility
In battle Mistral uses her 12 juggling items: If Mistral causes critical damage with
The wound has left you with a ♦♦ Juggling items can be thrown and have a range of 6 inches a juggling item roll a die to determine
Perforated vitals mean your consti- The injury has left you with broken ribs
nasty hernia that will trouble you ♦♦ Because of her unusual style, she doesn’t get to add a run which critical table to use:
5 tution isn’t what it used to be. Lose 1 that never quite set properly. Lose 1
for the rest of your days. Lose 1 up to this like normal throwing weapons 1-2. Sharp Things
point of Body, sieve features point of Body
point of Body ♦♦ Thrown items count as dropped items 3-4. Pointy Things
♦♦ As long as she has at least two items in play her melee 5-6. Clumpy Things
You’re left with a scar running Oh dear, your opponent has had Clonk! After a mighty, teeth loosening combat style is dual wield
from your temple to your jaw line, your eye out with that thing. Lose blow to the noggin, you’re never quite ♦♦ uggling items are +2 initiative and use Agility as the core stat.
6
exposing the gums and teeth. 1 point of Agility and wear a patch the same again. Lose 1 point of Mind,
Lose 1 point of Personality from now on duh!

66 67
Sir Hugo’s Party Gui le Bat@rd’s Party
The following characters may join Sir Hugo’s party: The following characters may join Gui’s party:

10 Silver 10 Silver

10 Silver 10 Silver

68 69
Coming Soone
Issue: The Thirde

Calamity has befallen the estate of Deangard! Sir Robert


has lost his marbles and dastardly Gui is taking full
advantage of the situation. Sir Hugo takes off on a quest
to Find a way to ease the old man’s addled pate, with Gui
in hot pursuit. In the wild woods they run into bandits and
strange and awful monsters.

Competition Time
Here hare, here…
Every issue we’re giving away some fabulous prizes to eagle eyed-readers that can spot the
elusive hare! First prize is a boxed set of miniatures of your choice and the next issue of
Warheads: Medieval Tales, and five runners up will win copies of the next magazine.
To be in with a chance of winning, email us with the page number you saw the hare on and your name
and address at hareiam@warheadsthegame.com or fill in the competition form on the website.
Good luck!
The closing date for entries is 30/09/2010.

70
Each of these boxed sets of
Warheads: Medieval Tales miniatures
contains Finely detailed 28mm scale
wargaming models.
Miniatures come unpainted and are
cast in white metal.

Issue 2 20102

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