Aeon Flixx and the Imperilled Prince

For Chronomancers, time does not move in a neat, evenly spaced line. Days and adventures may whizz by at speed and then, seemingly, it is a whole year since the last expedition into the frozen city.

Or perhaps it just took that damn long to decipher the hieroglyphics copied down from the mystical pillars.

Either way, the work was now done and the location, time and date of the terrible ritual that would summon forth the evil demon Tszisirain was ascertained. The time had come to venture forth once more and put a stop to such blasphemy, for if Aeon Flixx were to sit by and do nothing, then the rapacious appetite of the monster would be unleashed upon the world, both in the present and the future…

And so, as Giles and I met up to play the 'Rescue the Prince!' scenario from Forgotten Pacts, Aeon Flixx finally stepped back onto Felstatian ground after about a year’s wait! The table was duly laid, with the barbarian Summoner Balkren and his princely captive in the centre, while a 6” square is marked off at each corner by a sinister Chilopendra.

Aeon Flixx led some of her warband through the rubble on the left. If they were to stop Balkren, they must first destroy the demons that formed the cornerstones of a protective forcefield. If they took too long, then the ritual would be completed, unleashing the terrible monster.

Brunhilde the apprentice also advanced, from roughly the centre of the board edge. On the far right, the two archers were poised to climb up the only elevated part of the battlefield. Hopefully this would give them a good line of sight, not only to the demons, but also the Illusionist Shazam and his band, which deployed opposite.

However Balkren had already arranged for some backup in the form of some formidable barbarian berserkers. These would come on from a random table edge at the beginning of each creature phase (regular readers will know that I use Bugbears for my berserkers).

Of course there was also treasure to be had (including revealed secrets and fool’s gold). Such trinkets were always jealously guarded by wandering creatures and today was no exception. A Grakyura waddled onto the table, looking for victims to smash. To make matters worse it was soon joined by another minor demon – both creatures appearing on the right-hand edge.

Aeon’s warriors , in this case a thug and the captain Grey Leopard, slew a berserker, enabling one of the thieves to claim the treasure nearby. The Chronomancer’s aim was to free up an area of space so that she could pick off the Chilopendra.

Shazam’s men also advanced, but ran into the combined threat of the Grakyura and berserker. For their part, the Chilopendra stood motionless, maintaining the forcefield that protected Balkren.

The Illusionist’s band tried their best to put a stop to this, attacking one of the demons. Alas to the cost of one of their number (who was also carrying treasure).

Aeon went for a less direct approach, although she had kitted out all her warriors with magical weapons, first blood (or ichor) went to the demon hunter, who shot down a Chilopendra, thus breaking the forcefield.

After a tense battle, Shazam’s men evened the score by slaying another demon. The way to the central altar was open, but who would get there first?

Things became a little more complicated when a berserker charged in from the left, threatening the Chronomancer’s position. It was up the the captain and the apothecary to fight off the barbarian.

The opposite side was also having issues, as the Grakyura and berserker combo continued to make trouble as they ploughed their way through Shazam’s band.

The Illusionist himself, however, was unperturbed. Racing forward with his templar, the pair attacked the evil wizard Balkren, slaying him before he could plunge his magic dagger into the hapless prince. The monstrous Tszisirain would not be making an appearance today!

It would be but a small matter to untie the prince and claim complete victory, but Aeon had other ideas. As the thug she had dispatched to carry the fellow off would not make it in time, she resorted to telekinesis to rescue him (I must confess to being a bit ‘gamey’ here. The scenario stated that the prince should be treated as treasure, so why not use telekinesis?)

Shazam, having slain Balkren, could now at least claim his magical Blade of Feasting. To cover his movements, he laid down a blanket of fog to screen himself from any pesky arrows or elemental bolts.

Freed from maintaining the forcefield, a Chilopendra charged at Brunhilde and her team, hoping to gore the apprentice with it’s horns. Thankfully it did not succeed in this.

With a spectacular thrust of is sword, the enemy captain took the honour of finishing off the final Chilopendra, although other monsters lurked threateningly nearby.

The battle was joined around the now vacant altar. Could both sides disengage themselves from the carnage with a decent amount of treasure? As the fighting raged, more berserkers poured in.

One of Aeon’s thugs dispatched the enemy treasure hunter with spectacular ease! However, with barbarian berserkers and demons rampaging around, it was time to begin a withdrawal.

Grey Leopard the captain fell under the barbarian onslaught, leaving the plucky apothecary to fight the ruffians alone until reinforcements arrived.

Shazam’s fighters were also holding their own against the barbarian tide. Magnificent victories were won, but they still could not defeat that pesky Grakyura.

Having failed to hit anything throughout the game, the archers descended to ground level to help clear the right flank of demons, raising their daggers in support of the lone thug.

Eventually the apothecary succumbed to the violent blows of the berserkers, so it was up to the warhound to finish the battle. All that remained was for both sides to make their escape and tend to their wounded.

It was a great game, with both warbands suffering casualties. While dispatching the Chilopendra and killing Balkren happened well within the time limit, the constant trickle of berserkers made the game a very tricky one. While Aeon could claim to have rescued the prince (and thus earn a nice reward in gold), Shazam(!) was declared the winner for having not only slayed the evil Summoner, thus preventing the cataclysm that would result in the major demon’s appearance, but also taking his magical blade.

“A great deed has been done this day. The monster that would consume it’s way through the centuries has not been summoned. Your task, dear Aeon, is at an end…”

“…but alas,” Mother Synchronous shook her head, “it is clear by your continued presence that returning to your own time is not as simple as we had hoped.”

“Yes… so it seems…” Aeon sighed, flopping down into her armchair and helping herself to a generous glass of wine. “And my own time capsule is, I fear, beyond repair…”

The air grew still and silent, until:

“Perhaps I can be of assistance, noble sorceresses.”

It was the prince, who, sitting up, swung his legs woozily off the bed on which he rested.

“My people know of a legend – a tale of a great tower.” He ignored their sceptical looks. “Not just any tower mind you, but a place reported to hold many marvels, including, it is said, strange portals to other worlds…” 

He paused, making sure that all eyes were on him.

”… and other times…”