SSD: the Bake-Off - a squabble within the Fraternity of Bakers gets out of hand

Mark returns to ancient Pattayavium for some Song of Shadows and Dust...

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The Fraternity of Bakers in Pattayavium is not a large body. In fact it is restricted to only two families, headed by the brothers Autolycus and Lysias, who are responsible for baking bread for those Helleno-Roman expats who have not gone native culinary-wise. They and their families and workers live in a close knit community near the potteries, clustered around the grain stores and large ovens which obviously are central to the business (Photo #1, looking NE).

Unfortunately things are not well between the brothers. Lysias, the younger, who has always been aggressive and impulsive, has taken to heavy drinking and gambling. He is deep in debt to shady characters who have encouraged him to believe Autolycus is planning to cut him out of the trade.

Things come to a head one morning around dawn, when not many civilians are yet on the streets but obviously the bakers are hard at work. Lysias shows up with a gang of assorted thugs (5 figures, 206 points) thoughtfully provided by his “friends” who plan to end up in control of the bakery. They aim to kill Autolycus and cow his workers thus placing their catspaw Lysias in nominal charge (Photo #2).

The gang comprises (L to R): Lysias (Q3 C3: Determined, Heavy drinker (clumsy), Leader, Streetfighter), Alketas, Evander (Q4 C3: Belicose), Luke, Solon (Q4 C3: Bludgeon).

There are also 8 Civilians out and about (112 points) (Q4 C2: Plebeian, Rabble) scattered around the table ready to play their parts if called by circumstances. Lysias is certain they will come to his aid, as he has convinced himself of the widespread unpopularity of his brother (Photo #3).

Autolycus has barely enough time to ensure he and his workmen (7 figures, 203 points) grasp whatever weapons are ready to hand to defend themselves (Photo #4).

They count as Q4 C2: Armed, Plebeian. Autolycus does not count as a Leader. He’s the figure at R, in a white tunic holding a pitchfork, looking tentative. But he knows in his heart that to resolve this matter his unfortunate brother must die. Snap.

Here is a view of the starting positions. Lysias and his gang come in at the SE corner (lower L). They have initiative and count as the attackers. Autolycus and his workmen are grouped just to the L of the large ovens. Everyone else in sight is a civilian (Photo #5).

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Turn 1. Lysias the drunkard led his men forward as a group move, but cautiously, as though he had some reluctance to cross his Rubicon. A few civilians got out of the way. The defenders stayed where they were, as the first man to attempt activation failed completely (Photo #6).

Turn 2. This time the thugs backing Lysias would not listen to orders, if in fact there were any. Alketas charged into contact with one of Autolycus’s men, and recoiled the defender. Evander and Solon followed, but both lacked an AP to actually start fights. Then Luke rolled turnover and action passed to the defenders (Photo #7).

The defenders rose to the occasion and all three thugs were recoiled. Then turnover and so it’s Turn 3.

So far all the biffo has been at >1S distance from any civilian, so none have had to decide whether to join in. This turn the thugs who were recoiled all jumped back into combat contact, but there were no recoils or knockdowns. I wonder if they’re really trying? Lysias tried to get a group move going so he and the last thug, Solon, could move around behind the large pots and attack from a flank, but the activation roll was a total fail.

The defenders kept up the fight, and in their bound of turn 3 Alketas and one defender were KD, and another defender was recoiled (Photo #8).

Turn 4. Alketas recovered from his KD but when he attacked his opponent he was KD again. Evander charged back into action against his recoiled opponent … and was killed. A lucky scythe blade into the chest will do that. Then Luke managed to off the KD defender, with a bludgeon to the side of the head. Luke, who has been hanging back near Lysias, charged into combat against the defender who had killed Evander, and KD him. This last fight was within 1S of a civilian, who however decided not to get involved and moved away. Lysias moved forward, hovering indecisively behind the thugs who have been doing all the fighting for him (Photo #9).

Both sides have lost one man, and both have a man KD.

Now it’s Autolycus and his men to activate. The KD workman recovers but can do no more this time. Then another defender has an attack of the jitters, and rolls turnover.

Turn 5. Alketas get up from his KD but that’s all he can do. Luke keeps fighting his opponent, and the workman falls. Solon, who killed his opponent last time, has his blood up (powerful attack) charges and KD another defender. And Lysias sees his opportunity at last. He charges through the gap that has opened between the ovens and the scrimmage, and attacks another of the defenders who is also KD (Photo #10).

Now the defenders take their bound. The workman fighting Alketas recoils him. The KD workman stands up and continues fighting Solon, and recoils him too. The unengaged workman in the rear of the defending line moves into contact with Luke but cannot start a fight.

Autolycus isn’t an educated man, but some of his customers are hard men, ex-soldiers from the Prefect‘s guard. So he has picked up some tips over the years, as you do in casual conversations. And he recognises a critical moment when he sees one. He moves to join the fight between Lysias and the workman behind the ovens. Lysias is KD and then killed. Autolycus’s pitchfork is stained with his brother’s blood (Photo #11).

With Lysias dead the surviving thugs must take a Death of Leader morale test. Alketas and Solon stand their ground, but Luke turns to flee and is killed in a free hack (Photo #12)

So now the surviving thugs must test for More Dead Than Alive. They both flee 1-2M, and as they’re only hired muscle we’ll let them go and not see if they are up to any further heroics (Photo #13).

Autolycus and his surviving men celebrate the win, and mourn the two they have lost. But not for long. The bodies and blood need to be tidied away, they’re bad for business. And there is bread to be baked (Photo #14).

Later there will be time for Autolycus to thank the Gods, and reflect on the loss of his brother. And pay a call on Zephrinus, the local fixer, who doubtless will be able to square things at City Hall.