Catalog

Presents... THE ISLE OF PEAZ! • Part 2 •

King Pozst's Ambush!

Having been forewarned by the cloud of smoke approaching from the horizon, King Pozst was able to arrange a suitable welcome for King Kel-Og and his Granite Dwarves. First, he sent a message for any nearby Iron Dwarf fleets to come with all speed to Castle Peaz. The 7th Iron Dwarf Submersible Squadron answered the call and were on the scene in less than 24 hours. Joining the 7th Squadron was Castle Peaz' own ships, a small and fast galliot dubbed the Peaz Porridge for no better reason than to spite King Kel-Og, and an older cog. The cog was left unmanned (or, more appropriately, undwarved) and would be used as bait. To complete the trap, the Iron Dwarfs filled the nearby waters with waterproofed barrels of gunpowder, rigged to explode if bumped.

<< Ambush!

With the Delectable in the lead, King Kel-Og ordered full speed as his fleet approached the Isle of Peaz. Sure that he had caught the garrison napping, he set a course to broadside the keep, and then bring his ships around to the small beach where his famed Granite Marines could be disembarked for an assault on the castle walls.

As the Granite Dwarf ironclads approached the castle, they spotted the cog and opened fire. Those with experience in naval battles know that the first broadside is the deadliest, and this proved true as the ironclads' cannon easily breached the older ship's hull, causing it to begin sinking. Gloating at the easy kill, King Kel-Og ordered the turrets on his ironclads swung to port so that they could begin shelling Castle Peaz in order to silence the guns on the ramparts which were firing down on his fleet.

It was about then that the Granite Dwarves discovered that the waters had been mined. The Delectable was the first to hit one, but it proved to be inadequately charged and the blast did little damage to the thick ironclad hull. The next ship in line, however, was not so lucky. The explosion stove in part of the fore, and the crew hurried to seal the small breach before it widened. Kel-Og ordered his ships to slow to a more controllable speed and had the pilots keep a sharp lookout for more mines.

That was just the first surprise. Now, the carefully hidden 7th Squadron came churning out of the Fjords along with the Peaz Porridge, its crew rowing madly in an attempt to ram one of the ironclads before it could bring its cannon to bear.

<< The Iron Dwarf subs close with King Kel-Og's ironclads!

The submersibles launched a wave of torpedoes at the ironclads. Several of the deadly missiles went wild and swerved around their targets, impacting the island, but several hit, and already damaged ironclad found itself hulled and taking on water at an alarming rate! Crew began to panic and head for the hatches in an attempt to avoid a watery death.

King Pozst smiled grimly as he watched the proceedings. Kel-Og's fleet was beginning to falter, and if the one ironclad was indeed going down, then Pozst would have a superiority in numbers to repel any landing. He had just begun organizing his warriors to meet the foe on the beach, when he heard a sound overhead...

Looking up just in time to the Pygmy aircraft buzzing by overhead, his men began to panic. Shouting words of encouragement, they managed to reform just in time for a well-tossed grenade to land in their midst, killing several of the Iron Dwarf warriors and causing the rest to run about wildly!

<< The Pygmy aircraft pulls out from its bombing run, as the Iron Dwarf garrison runs about in confusion!

Insult was added to injury when one of the Pygmies blew a dart from his blowpipe at King Pozst, striking his prized lucky tam o'shanter from his head!

Looking down at his ruined hat, Pozst vowed to make the Granite Dwarves pay!

On to the conclusion of the Battle of the Isle of Peaz!