Tensions in camp lead to armed standoff.

Tensions and rivalries in camp rise with the latest letter in the playtest of our new game, Kingdom and Command.

This is the third letter, from Rivas, our mage character. In it he details the reaction of the camp commander, Lucius Sextus Galvanus, when Rivas walks into his Galvanus' tent with a snake (of which Galvanus is deeply phobic) and demands the respect and command-position warranted for himself, a prince of the realm.

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Persilious Grimm (Arthur) reads the latest news "with thorough joy".

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Below is the map charles drew for an overview of the strategic situation.

Rivas tells of how a rumour in camp quickly and inadvertently turned to bad morale, which escalated to a brawl and an armed standoff.

To avoid inter-camp bloodshed, Galvanus and the young prince Rivas were forced to split their forces, exposing both to the hostile Formonians to the North. Additionally, Galvanus controls the religiously/magicly important ancient grove, while Rivas has all the mages on his side.

For now we await news from Persilious, who is facing off against the Formonians, their summoned 8ft ogres, and searching The Caves of Carras for the Sword of Mystery.



Transcript of Rivas' letter:

​Dear brother, I took your advice, and what change it has brought! I took your advice: found the mage in question, and persuaded him to part with a snake (Galvanus needn’t know it’s docile). Marched into Galvanus’ tent and left your note to him on table (he refused to take it within arm’s length, haha!). Allso demanded my rightful place in command tent, to which he angrily agreed, if no snake.

Since then everything changed quickly! A rumour spread that I had demanded supreme command (not true!). The next day officers and men came to my tent and pledged loyalty to the crown (I thought it kind). In the next few days I saw increasing indiscipline of all sorts, but mages are with me of course. A week passed and whole camp divided (even tents moved!) Two cohorts brawled yesterday. Weapons drawn, standoff, but no blood shed. Galvanus and I interceded, but he was furious. Told “rebels” and myself to leave and re-manoeuvre to new position.

Don’t know if I was commanded, banished or if it was only peaceful solution at standoff. Took ca. 40% of his men, am told. Both Galvanus and enemy is within two day’s march. Officers tell me we must watch both. Very strange situation, but got my wish for command tent, haha! Have you ever faced similar?
White Horses is now barren: fog and rain, but when clear has long, beautiful sunsets across plains. Foragers from three forces have picked area clean. Scouts tell me Galvanus’ tents shadows them at sunrise, and we see our shadows cast on his scouts at sunset. Formonians to North, no movement from them in force yet, apart from skirmish at runes, now defended only by Galvanus + without mages!

Yes, I know Freeden. Skilled mage, bookworm who didn’t return books. Threw one in anger once when he kept nagging. Regret now my harsh words.

Please keep me informed! Am intrigued by sword of mystery (enchanted weapons in tower only rarely demonstrated), and spirits are known to be knowledgeable of such things. Ogres are amazing! In mage’s tower they are 7ft max! Fascinating that these are larger! Advise to follow most, biggest and meanest into caves. Sword may have amplified Formonian magic, but Formonians could also be seeking sword, or they may simply have discovered caves as magical and convenient place to summon ogres. Do not let them get sword!