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Rebellion in the Colonies |
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Written by Steve Blease
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Thursday, 15 November 2007 00:00 |
"The tensions that hath recently explodeth amongst thee populace of the rebellious landth in Eastern Valon, plunging thee states there into a violent civil war, hath no doubt captured thee interest of all of our regular readers. The unprecedented fighting between Orc, Rat, Elf and Dwarf, standing side by side, brother against brother mayhap be beyond the compression of any fine upstanding orc of Albion (such as you dear reader). Howbe, a careful study of the history of Eastern Valon over recent years doth explain much of the recent fractions between the Union of Secessionist Albionites and their neighbours the Confederation of Separatist Amoricans.
At thee start of thee Mordredian Wars, the lands of Eastern Valonia were quickly colonised by mighty Albion and thee Elves of Amorica and Catalucia. Unfortunateth the wars in Valon, ledth to many beings of varied races migrating to these lands and settling in the colony lands there. Includeth in these peoples were many Bog Orcs, Dwarves, Rats, Imperial Elves and even a none inconsiderable number of Ogres. As can be seen from this list, therebe many uppity and malcontenth types, set only an spreading their venomous ideas and influence amongst the many loyal citizens already populating these lands.
In Albion’s colony, cesspits of discontent soon didth spring up in the major city slums of the colonies, notably Neü Ork and Bozzturn. This discontenth did erupt into outright sedition fallowing an incident nowth reknown as thee Bozzturn Grog Party. Drunken colonists, fired up, no doubt, by Mordred's agent provocateurs, did attack a Crown vessel laden with supplies, in protest of the Grog Tax, required to finance the war against the Elves. Thee mob didth attack a Crown Customs Officer, blood was spilt before thee Yeomanry was called in to crack a few heads and restore order.
This incident soon led to outright revolt as seditionists took advantage of the situation in Catalucia, and raised an "army" with which they attacked our gallant Yeomanry and Militia forces in the colony. Mayhap our brave lads, with the help of many loyal colonists, would have extinguished the flames of thee sedition, were it not for the direct intervention of the Amorican colony and its regular Elf infantry. Many a brave battle was fought and our lads equitted themselves valiantly, battle honours gained in actions such as Bonka Hill, Orctown and Chaztun, will never fade as long as the sun doth shine an Albion.
With our army valiantly resisting Mordred's machinations in the lands of Southern Catalucia, Londinium was at first farced to abandon the colony to the seditionists, however fallowing the crushing defeat the Ferach suffered in thee Witchlands, Albion was able to launch an expedition back into the colony under the command of Major-General Broque.
Assisted by thee veterans of the war against Mordred, native irregulars from thee Great Isles and dissension amongst the Ferach and the Loyalist Elves in the Northern Elven colony, the noble forces of Albion did th score many a fine victory against the rebel army, trouncing them majestically at many a battle. However given the logistical problems and continued requirements of the war in Catalucia and Al-Garvey, and with Albion's own borders threatened by the Usurper Mordred, the expedition didth find it impossible to subjugate the sedition.
A mighty battle was fought between the rebels and the expedition outside the gates of the city of Nawlins, in the northern swamplands, and although there be no clear victor (the cowardly rebels hiding behind their ramparts all day), the casualties suffered by the army under the command of the Iron Duke's cousin, didth mean that it be no longer practical to continue the prosecution of the war.
As a consequence the Crown decided to recognise the independence of the colony from Albion, the rebels naming their lands the Union of Secessionist Albionites. However thee Crown still retained the lands of the Great Isles to the south, having defeated Mordred's forces in these forested lands.
Albion be not the only power to suffer from the rebellious ideas of the seditionists. Mordred himself lost his colony, as Elven exiles loyal to Morgana, waged a vicious guerrilla campaign in the swamps and bayou of Arkanloriana. Aided and abetted by rebellious elements form the other colonies, the Ferach found themselves under attack by Goblins, Orcs, Rats and Dwarves in addition to the Loyalist Elves.
Given the losses in the Witchlands campaign and the continuing wars against Albion and her allies, Mordred doth have no recourse, but to also abandon his colony, Thee mixed races doth set up a separate state, initially closely allied to the Union of Secessionist Albionites, which they doth call the Confederation of Separatist Amoricans.
The Dark Elves of Catalucia also lost all their lands following the invasion of their homeland by Mordred. Manyeth the tyme that Catalucians allies didth despair that thee Dark Elves didth seem more concerned about retaining their possessions in Eastern Valonia rather than use their troops to liberate their home. Mayhap this be true, but despite this all, thee Dark Elves were unable to hold their lands which they hath named Eldorado, losing the Teczaco province to rebel forces under the command of the legendary frontier Orc Davi Krokkitt at the Battle of the Alamorque. Further north other provinces were lost to other rebel groups, Orc rebel General Bovrilar, leading a small rebel force against overwhelming odds and heavily defeating the Dark Elves before setting up his own state called Bovrilia. The rise of the great bandito Aston Villa also occurred during this time of strife.
Eldorado didth split into a number of lands and some formed relationships with Old Worlde powers, whilst others (such as Teczaco) doth ally themselves with the newly formed rebel nations to the south of them.
Giventh their violent birth, no reader of this august journal, caneth be surprised that there be dissension between these malcontenth nations, and the issue of the Emancipation of the Halflings in the Confederation, now looketh if the Union and Confederation will soon plunge into violent, though not unexpected conflagilation."
Excerpted from the Illustrated Londinium Tymes Val. 62 No. 861
Gaming the Eastern Valonian Rebellions
Although the above extract from the Illustrated Londinium Tymes only gives a very brief and basic outline of the history of the various wars and rebellions in Eastern Valon, the potential depth of these campaigns is such that both Alternative and Orcs fully intend to explore them as fully as the Mordredian Wars in Southern Valon, Hopefully the above will inspire you as well!
Although we will have to wait a while for figures such as Davi Krokkitt to become available, it is still possible to game many of the conflicts by using existing Flintloque figures and a touch of imagination. These ideas may be of use.
The Bozzturn Grog Party and Subsequent Rebellion
Much of the early fighting against the Militia is not so easy to play and until the Yeomanry/Militia figures in tricorns are released (along with the Hasslebum Dwarf Mercenaries), you will have to use regular uniformed troops and treat them as militia. The rebels are easy enough, and I would suggest using Guinelian Rebels, Elf Deserters and Freebooters, Dark Elf Guerrillas etc, to make up a mixed racial bunch of rebels.
The Amorican interventionist forces can be taken from existing High Elf lines, though the tunics should be the white ones used by colonial units, not the blue used in Catalucia etc.
General Broque's Expedition
This part of the war is easier to recreate using existing Flintloque miniatures, Orcs line infantry both in stovepipes and belgics will do for the regular forces of either side, just paint the Union forces in blue tunics (see Orcs 1). A company of the 105th Rifles also fought in East Valon, so feel free to introduce them.
The Alamorque and Teczaco War of Independence
Again we need to wait here for the promised Dark Elves in bicornes, however suitably painted High Elf Chasseurs will work admirably instead. The rebels will need to be converted from existing lines (see above).
Bovrilar's Revolution
Same comments apply as for the Alamorque; however Bovrilar's Army of Liberation did contain many Orc mercenaries including ex-Rifles and Line troops. Consequently Albion uniformed troops can be employed under Bovrilar's banners.
As for bandito's like Aston Villa, we will have to wait until Mikey turns his Green Stuff way down Mexico way however, if you cannot wait, your best bet is to add sombreros and blankets to Dark Elf Guerrillas. Steve has also been thinking about converting the Orcs of the Line into Apaches, but we've given him a sedative...
Webmaster's Note
Originally published in Orcs in the Hills, Issue 4. |
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