A long time ago, in a far off and whimsical land, the evil Pi-Rat Baron Cluny the Invincible heard of a beautiful and prosperous coastal city, WaterSpire. A city of deep murky canals and elegant souring spires and the home of the industrious town mice and repository of untold gold, jewels and other trinkets.

Cluny, after an arduous campaign season attempting minor acts of brutality up and down the Italio Coast, declared that the riches of WaterSpire were going to be his before summer was out. Rallying his band of Pi-Rats and other verminous low life, a course was set for WaterSpire Sound. The town mice had been warned of the approach of these bandits by The Long Patrol, a band of veteran badgers, rabbits, foxes and other forest dwellers, commissioned by The High King to patrol and assist his citizens in times of danger. The town mice militia, stood to and took up defensive positions around the harbour and quayside. The most able archers, mainly shrews as they are fabled to have the keenest of eye sight were stationed on the bridge to cover most approaches.

The town mice militia (and The Long Patrol) deploy to guard likely landing places.

Before long Cluny’s Pi-Rat ship is upon them. The crazy rat makes landfal under canvas wedging the prow across the canal entrance. His raty slingers move forwar’d and rain down a shower of stinging pebbles upon the defenders.

The archers on the bridge find that they are in an advantageous position to sweep the decks of Cluny’s ship with there thistle prickle arrows.

Cluny had sent the Jolly Boat out, commanded by his untrusted Lieutenant (rats are like that), White Fang and a boatload of very expendable comrades to perform a flanking manoeuvre to surprise the garrison with a two pronged assault. The Long Patrol could see that coming and redeployed to the end of the quay.

Both Cluny and the defenders were bolstered by magical aid. Here we see Mirabella the Mouse Mage preparing an incantation that will glue the attackers to the deck of there verminous hulk.

Cluny, wonders why his shipmates have not followed him as he swarms ashore, (alone). He is not feared, and hardly notices the storm of arrows landing in and around him in response to his charge.

The rest of the ships company eventually decide it would be better to help the boss out, just in case he survives. They swarm ashore with a ‘Huzzah’ and before long the harbour is writhing in a swirling mass of fur, tails and claws.

Back at the quayside, the tide had turned and it seemed to take an age for the Jolly Boat to make it to the landing, now lined with Long Patrol soldiers.

In the end good prevailed, the mice and there friends pulled together, and many sacrifice’s were made for the greater good (… of someone else!). Cluny’s raid was repulsed and peace once again came to WaterSpire.

This was a game that I played with my son Lewis a couple of weeks ago, using the excellent Feudal Patrol rules written by Buck Surdu. Feudal Patrol is a skirmish level game that can be used for historical periods from Ancients to Late Medieval plus swords and sorcery style fantasy games.

The terrain shown is designed by Iain Lovecraft and will be available shortly as part of the WaterSpire Kickstarter. The campaign is due to launch on 25th April. Click here to sign up for notification, there are sure to be lots of early bird bargains available.

The miniatures used are all conversions using Sally 4th Critter Conversion Kits to supply the animal heads and tails to convert a wide range of plastic miniatures from Frost Grave, Gripping Beast, Wargames Atlantic, Perry Miniatures and many more!