BMC Miniatures: March 2023

Recent wargame at the club I ran Crom the Hyborian skirmish Game by MATAKISHI'S TEA HOUSE. I had hoped to play two scenarios but we ran out of time. This was both player's first attempt at these rules and we added loads of roleplaying character to the game which made it great fun.

Classic Barbarian Old Grenadier Fantasy miniatures are available here:

https://www.battlezone-miniatures.co.uk/shop/category/17

Crom Scenario – Into the pit

The clash between Set and Crom

"Know, oh prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars - Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its chivalry, Koth that bordered on the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet."

- The Nemedian Chronicles.

Rules

Crom - A skirmish game set in the Hyborian age. See: www.matakishi.com

Setting

An arid region west of Zamboula. Zamboula is surrounded by a ring of oases and the westernmost outpost of the Turanian Empire, Zamboula was originally settled centuries ago as a small trading post by the advancing Stygian armies. The city was populated by Stygians with their Shemite and Kushite slaves and was swiftly growing when the Turanians pushed the Stygians back a generation ago. It near one of these oasis that our scenario takes place.

Adversaries

Cimmerian mercenaries:

They are returning home. They are tired and thirsty and need food and rest after their long march through the desert. Things have not gone well for them, and they are without horses, much provision nor wealth to show for their endeavours. This situation of fatigue will weaken them, but their desperation will give them strength.

These Cimmerians are among some of the first that would ultimately lead to the Cimmerians wandering southeastward, destroyed Turan, and settled on the southwestern shores of Vilayet, which slowly dried and became the Caspian. They were joined by pastoral Nordic tribes fleeing the next cataclysm eastwards and gradually mixed with them, forming the Aryan people. Their growing population forced many of them to migrate southward, northward, and westward.

The Cimmerians' chief deity is Crom, a vengeful god who took little interest in mortal matters. He and his dark brood are said to never answer prayers, for this as seen as weak pleading since Crom would rather such supplicants die honourably in battle. Cimmerians themselves believe there is little to hope for in life or the hereafter and that the gods desire no worship, but are best left to their own indifference towards mortals. However, the Cimmerians credit their strength of arm and spirit to Crom, who allegedly grants strength and courage at birth in order to face their enemies in life. After death, Cimmerians believe after death the soul wanders around Crom's Mountain- a cheerless realm of gray clouds, cold mists, and moaning winds- for all eternity.

‘That man is no Hyborian!’ exclaimed Xaltotun. ‘No; he is a Cimmerian, one of those wild tribesmen who dwell in the gray hills of the north.’ ‘I fought his ancestors of old,’ muttered Xaltotun. ‘Not even the kings of Acheron could conquer them.’ ‘They still remain a terror to the nations of the south,’ answered Orastes. ‘He is a true son of that savage race, and has proved himself, thus far, unconquerable.’ – The Hour of the Dragon

Stygian Set stronghold (SSS):

It is disturbing that such a thing exists this far north no doubt stemming from a Stygian attempt to reclaim Zamboula.

Set, the Great Serpent, is the arch-enemy of the gods of light known as Atum, Ibis, and Mitra, as well as the ancient god revered and worshipped mainly in Stygia. He is also known and worshipped as Damballah in the Black Kingdoms. He is a cruel, jealous god who demands constant sacrifice from his subjects, and his priests are only too willing to comply as they bring naked virgins screaming to his altar to appease his blood-lust. In Stygia the snake is holy and to kill a snake is a mortal sin-as Conan himself once found out when adventuring in Stygia. If a snake slithers into the cities or to the streets, Set's subjects will lay prostrate before him, hoping to be found worthy of his bite. His priests are almost as frightening as the god they worship, and they terrify their own people almost as much as they terrify their enemies. They shave their heads and are fearsomely fanatical. Stygia is a theocracy, and the mad and corrupt clergy run the country on fear and wonder, as well as an indiscriminate willingness to sacrifice their own people. Setian cells/cults, or individual dark sorcerers can be found in other kingdoms beyond Stygia, and they are just as dangerous, although they usually must practice covertly.

Objectives

Cimmerians:

The Cimmerians are a people forged by the very harsh conditions of their land. The Cimmerians are notable among other civilizations as being an incredibly sombre people. Howard often refers to the Cimmerian people's hardiness and martial prowess, as well as to their many other impressive skills. They can climb seemingly unscalable cliffs, track humans or animals with ease, and stalk their prey without making a sound. The apparent primitiveness of the Cimmerians and their sense of justice is often juxtaposed with the corruption of the "civilized" races in Hyboria.

Cimmerian culture doesn't value materialism for avarice's sake. Although warriors are encouraged to gather wealth and glory to themselves, Cimmerians value courage, honour, respect, and pride more than treasure. It's said that none starve in Cimmeria unless all starve, for any family would care for any who need it.

· Gain honour

· Drink

· Eat

· Find shelter for the night

· Rest

Stygian Set Stronghold (SSS):

· Perform unspeakable acts of evil