Thanks guys. Next installment ...
Part 2The fastest of the troops had already begun moving up, the Middenland hounds loping forwards and bursting out of the little lane to find the enemy’s Winged Lancers had moved just as quickly and were already formed up, fierce and ready.
On the other far flank the Ungol Horsemen had also made a bold dash forwards to bring themselves close to the semi-concealed Forstjaegar. They did not halt there, however, but moved onwards so that they would be well placed to launch a charge at the isolated handgunners. None seemed to care that said handgunners had already swung the muzzles of their weapons to aim at them.
The lone Ostland Wizard (
magic 9:8 - enhanced +3 dispel dice due to the two priests on Middenland side) cast Throne of Vines, hoping thus to ward off the damaging effects of any future miscasts, although he then failed to summon his second spell into existence. Meanwhile the main fighting regiments moved steadily forwards, the Ulrician Priest warding the unit of Warriors of Ulric with Shield of Frost (
-1 to hit for enemy missile).
Manoeuvring with obvious contempt for the baying bunch of hounds, the winged lancers also moved forwards, each one of them cocking their pistols as ordered by the Prince of Ostland leading them.
A moment later a thunderous volley echoed around the edge of Grunaackeren, to be replaced by an awful whining now that seven of the hounds lay dead or dying. The remaining three were so frightened by this sudden and bloody turn of events that they fled back the way they had come.
Seven turned out to be a troublesome number for the Middenlanders, for that was also how many Forstjaegar died when the Ribaudequin sent a hail of shot into the hedges and trees. The three survivors were stunned, unsurprisingly, but they were made of sterner stuff than the hounds and stood their ground, even with their comrades lying torn and bloodied all around. One, in his shock, could not help but notice how pretty the cloud of leaf flakes was at it settled around him. “Green snow!” he thought, trying not to look down to where the sound of groaning could be heard.
The Northern League’s artillery took aim at the massive Middenland Carroccio, knowing that its destruction would really sting the foe, what with their army standard flying from its parapet. Yet their efforts proved in vain, for the huge ball launched from the siege cannon ploughed harmlessly into the damp earth, merely spattering the wagon with mud, and the more accurate lighter ball from the war wagon failed to cause any harm.
As the Boyar and the Ungol Horse Archers (
with all of 28 arrows - using ‘quickshot’) killed only two handgunners, the Forstjaegar in the barn only three of the River Pirates and the crossbowmen only three Warriors of Ulric, the Middenlanders’ main battle line remained almost entirely unharmed.
It seemed that luck was on the Middenlanders’ side. Perhaps the god of winter had chosen whom to smile upon after all? Not all the soldiers thought so, however. The Halberdiers, now for the first time hearing the words of the enemy’s battle hymns, were mildly surprised to recognise the refrain - it was their very own battle hymn! For the first time that day, doubt began to creep into some of their souls. Was there really honour in fighting Ulricians? The forest was said to be rife with greenskins and the foul spawn of chaos, yet here those who should be brothers in arms were about to slay each other. Was this in fact an act of fratricide? (
Hey, that’s alliteration gone crazy)
The warlord-priest of Ulric, Lord Boris Vandol of Lindenheim, steadied his men, for so hungry for battle were they (in their frenzy) that many would have charged the Winged Lancers at the first opportunity. But Boris knew that to do so would break the Middenland line, and show his regiment’s flank to two huge enemy units, which would be suicide. At the same moment in time his acolyte, the lesser priest of Ulric leading the knights on the far side of the battlefield, could think of nothing better to do than chase after the Ungols, and led his steel-clad nobles between the trees accordingly.
What he had not yet realised was just how slippery such light cavalry could be. His own men had little real chance of catching them, unless the Ungols let them. And why would they do that?
The Carroccio trundled a little way forwards, halting behind a detachment of handgunners, between the pikemen and halberdiers. The handgunners riding it hefted their guns and ‘blew on their coals’ in readiness to shoot.
The Middenlanders’ attempts to employ magic proved disappointing, although the Shield of Frost did descend on the Warriors of Ulric mirroring what the northern league soldiers’ protection exactly. Their shooting, however, was a little more effective. The isolated handgunners and three surviving Forstaegar killed three of the Ungols, while the handgunners in the centre of the field (detachments and wagon riders) took down two of the League’s knights. The cannons failed badly, one exploding in a disastrous misfire, the other slaying only one enemy footsoldier. While one mortar also misfired, the second landed a grenado right between the two massed foot regiments - killing thirteen soldiers all told.
In truth, this did not shake the foe at all. Apart from a faltered word or two in their hymn, one would not even know they had been so bloodied.
Having seen off the dogs with ease, the Prince of Ostland ordered his men to charge at the River Pirates (
‘Buccaneers’ in the EoW list). Although they were behind a wall the skirmishing fellows thought it best to flee, hoping the screeching attackers would fail to reach them. And indeed they ran. Yet they never came to halt - they simply fled the field.
(
Game note: I knew the Lancers would have to take a Dangerous Terrain test to get over the first wall on one side of the yard, but was not sure whether they would then take another test to attack the pirates behind the second wall. I certainly know that in 8th the lancers would be at -1 to hit against the defended foe. Had I known these things I would certainly have had the pirates stand, for two terrain tests would have meant a good risk of fatalities, without armour saves or ward saves! Also the Lancers’ ‘charging shot’ pistols would have been at -2 for hard cover, taking their chances to 9+. Thus the pirates might well actually have held the Lancers at bay, at least buying me time. My opponent was also very ‘hazy’ on these particular rules!)
So, their target having fled, the lancers turned their attention to the flank of the Halberdiers, and (despite having to leap two walls, with the Prince wounding himself in the process and another rider thrown from his horse) they successfully charged home.
As they came in, the Winged Lancers once more employed their pistols (
Game note:EoW list rule ‘Charging Shot’ allowing the use of such weapons in the charge. But they needed 7+, what with cover, long range, multi-shot & Shield of Frost and so 20 shots killed all of one!) Could the frenzied Warriors stand against such an unexpected blow? Lord Boris had no doubt, and pushed his way to the flank, swords in hand, to do what he could. Even in his battle rage, he knew that if his men failed here, the whole of the Middenland army would be in danger.
Unsurprisingly, the Ungol Archers charged the handgunners, giving them no time to counterfire, their attack killing five of them and sending the rest fleeing. They then pursued and so moved beyond the sight of the knights behind them (
off table), who were now beginning to realise what a fool’s errand they were embarked upon.
The Northern League’s magic users were busy (
magic 9:9) though once more to little effect. At least the Amber Spear did manifest and went hurling from the wizard into the Middenland knights. Luckily their leader bore an Obsidian Amulet and its magical protection proved sufficient, stopping the (
Str 10) missile penetrating even the first noble knight.
Now came the Northern League’s next bout of artillery shots. The ribaudequin, perhaps over hastily loaded, exploded and killed its crew, but the siege cannon did no such thing. Its huge iron round-shot tore the Carroccio to pieces, destroying it completely. (
Game note: Apart from the unlikely even of a misfire, what with an ‘artillerist’ with it, the cannon was unable to miss the Carroccio due to my kit-bashed model’s base size. Why oh why do I not think of such things when making models?) This caused the crew of one mortar to run around in confusion, but much worse than this it sent the entire pike regiment (
no Ld re-roll as Battle Standard gone) fleeing right through the entire Middenland line and out the other side!
This was a truly disastrous turn of events for the Middenlanders, for their line was now a ragged mess of ill-supported units, while the enemy came on still intact. The Middenland army’s back was truly broken, and from here on in it would be, without doubt, a desperate struggle if they were even to survive.
(
Note: I almost felt like conceding at this point, for I could not see how to get out of this one at all - the only unit that had been well placed for the fight, the pikemen, had fled to an awful position. Without them, I could only thrive through sheer dumb luck. Still, I decided to see just how dumb and lucky I could be! And there was a report to write.)
The Winged Lancers suddenly found themselves halted by the warriors of Ulric. Much blood was spilled, with the Prince being wounded once more and two more riders falling, while seven (
There’s that number again!) warriors died. This did not, however, dismay the Middenlanders, who stood their ground and reformed to face the horsemen. Admittedly their fury had been somewhat lessened (
lost frenzy) but they were not yet ready to run.
As this fight broiled, the three last Forstaegar ran out of the trees and shot at the lone wizard, wounding him. Cursing his own impetuousness for leaving the trees himself, he set about thinking how he might not only come out of this battle alive, but also continue his magical attempts to harm the enemy.
Seventeen handgunners now fired at the knights to no effect. The mortar failed even to fire, but the cannon did achieve a shot and sent a single knight quite definitely to the afterlife. On the Middenland left flank Lord Boris butchered the Elector Prince of Ostland in single combat, an act which so inspired his own men and so dismayed the Ostlanders that the Winged Lancers turned and ran. Perhaps they were hindered by the wall behind them, but whatever the reason, the Warriors of Ulric ran after them, caught them and cut each and every one of them down.
The pikemen reformed and did what they could to face the enemy …
… while the two huge regiments of the Northern League Foot now briefly pondered where to deliver their own heavy blow.
(
End of turn 2. Rest to follow as time permits)
