Giant Raid on the Dwarven Caravan, Great Battle #1

Redd, Dwarven Paladin

From the Chronology:

25  Readying (February) 590 CY The dwarves of Badaxe Mine send their first caravan of the season towards the Keep with a load of steel and weapons. A band of hill giants attacked the caravan and forced it back to the mine. The giants besiege Badaxe Mine. 

The Narrative: 

Kordan Badaxe

The Giants had made several small raids upon villages in the Little Hills, culminating in the destruction of the halfling village of Kilm on the 15th. The raids seemed to be focused on those lands unaligned or owing allegiance to Keoland, rather then those whose fealty was to the Yeomanry or Sterich. Then the first caravan of the season set out from Badaxe Mine loaded with weapons and ore, heading for the Keep and then Cryllor.  

Badaxe Mine was a dwarfhold led by the legendary Kordan Badaxe. Three dwarves who would later join the adventuring band fought as warriors in this battle: Redd, Olga, and Morbor. 

Less than a day's journey from the mine a small army of hill giants, gnolls, orcs, and bugbears ambushed the caravan...

A large dwarven warband escorted the wagons, carts and mules through the passes. 
The ambush began when the hill giant kennel aster led his pack of wargs down the mountainside into the caravan's rear quarter. 

Some dwarves turned to face the wolves, while others on the left spotted a band of bugbears and turned to face them with bows. Meanwhile, the caravan hurried forward to clear the ambush.

In the broad valley beyond hill giants appeared on the caravan's right on the mountain's shoulder while orcs came from the front and a gnoll warband rushed from the right. 

The wolves were driven off, while the spear dwarves formed a shield wall to the front.
The caravan bunched together as the dwarven warriors surrounded the pack animals. 

The gnolls attempted to outflank the dwarves while the giants rained boulders down,
causing chaos and panic in the dwarven ranks. Meanwhile, the bugbears are driven off the flanks.

The caravan reformed and began moving as quickly as possible back to the Mines, as the giants ttacked the rear of the caravan, slaying many dwarves.

Though many brave dwarven warriors were slain, they managed to kill a giant as well as many wargs and bugbears. The caravan was forced back to the Badaxe Mine under attack the entire trip, and the giant army proceeded to besiege the dwarves in their underground fortress.  

This was played using Battlesystem 2nd edition rules on 1 April 2022.

Disclaimer: This blog recounts the fictional events of a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Views expressed by characters within the blog are those of the characters, not the players, dungeon master, nor the blog's author. All other views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.

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