Irregular Wars Wargaming

Join Mark as he returns to Pattayavium for another episode of Song of Shadows and Dust . There is a problem with pickpockets in the streets of Pattayavium. It wouldn’t matter too much if it affected only the lower orders, but some prominent citizens have found themselves unexpectedly without cash at embarrassing moments, and they and some of the traders and merchants have petitioned the Prefect for more effective enforcement action. The thief-taker Kymmes and his underlings have been ordered to initiate a crackdown. Pattayavium loves a crackdown. Still does. Here they are (Photo #1). L to R: Kymmes Q3 C3; Determined, Disarm, Leader, Stealth. Luke & Solon Q4 C3; Bellicose. In fact, unknown to almost everyone, most of the crime is attributable to Sulpicious and his gang of professionals. But it seems they are becoming too successful. Kymmes gets a tip-off that Helios Street would be a good place to stake out, around the Ides of the month when a religious festival will bring even more...

Mark returns to 17th century Rutlandshire for a troll hunt with Devilry Afoot ! The long-abandoned plague village of Dedmere has been taken over by a pair of Trolls, who plan to sniff out the mass burial pit and grind the bones from it to make their bread. But they were interrupted by the noted antiquarian (and professional hunter) John Aubrey and his colleague Will Bunbury, who were in the area searching for a Druid temple and allowed enthusiasm to overcome caution as dusk fell. Aubrey and Bunbury are both in my Character Progression Roster and are profiled accordingly (Photo #1). John Aubrey: Scholar (Erudite, Astrologer) Flagellant. Astrologer casts are: 7,8. Equipped with: sword, holy item, lantern. Adds this time: Holy water x3. Funds in pocket 18s. William Bunbury: Goodman (Penitent, Strong) Backslider. Equipped with: blunderbuss, sword. Adds this time: silver shot x3, dog (named Ratter). Funds in pocket 5s Here is the scene of action, with the Trolls (upper L) and Hunters (l...

We return once again to our man in the Indies, Mark, for another dispatch. ***** Encouraged by the success of the Maluku Strait operation (Sep 2025) An-te Hai (Admiral of the Tribute-Bearing Fleets, Ming commander in the Indies) started a blockade of the KhiNok Islands. With the mothership Peony Pavilion parked at a convenient but hidden location he can keep one submersible on station at a time. Malakka had anticipated the Chinese move and augmented the small naval presence at the KhiNoks with some experimental aerial units which can - up to a point - spot and bomb submersibles in these clear shallow waters. The arrival of the Santa Isabella da Goa, inbound from the Moluccas laden with spices, brought matters to a head. The Ming blockading force (62 points) comprised - Zuhong Liyu (Vermilion Carp) (62) (Captain Wang Yi) Q3 C3: Ramming, Sluggish, Submersible, Unarmed, Unorthodox 3 x blinds, marking the possible positions of the submersible while submerged. The Portuguese defensive f...

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