Meanwhile in the deeps of Germania

A battle was fought...





Skirmish 22-10-09


In the smoky hall of a German noble’s farm Marcus Nepos looks at Juba and Gloáugiz, “This is serious, our enemies have forced me to act and I must get to safety as soon as possible. Will your chief, Áigiláz, shelter us and thus go against Ulvar?” Gloáugiz ponders a bit before answering, “I think he will not, it would break the alliance with the other tribes. No, we must find a way to get you out of here. My friendship with you forces me to help you. There is revenge for my grandfather and much honour to win should I defeat him. I have longed to face him, for he and his men are reckoned the best of our lands and his uncle deposed my grandfather as chief of our tribes. Go to Marcus Sextus Agelastus and he and my tracker there will get you to the Langobardii,” Juba, the Numidian sneers, “Pfftt, we shall teach them a lesson these Germans before we follow the Boss. Now we fight!”



At the edge of the forest Ulvar and his men rein in their lathered horses looking across the stream at the farm and the rise behind where fleeing figures can just be discerned on horseback for a few moments before the forest seems to swallow them up again.

“There he goes, the bastard”, says Jábátiz, “still ahead. And it seems we shall be delayed even further”, he points at the men streaming out of the longhouse and towards the ford, obviously intent on hindering any passage. “I find it hard to believe that Gloáugiz will support our enemies like that. Has he no honour?” Answers Ulvar, “Seems not”, says Jábátiz, “and”, adds Wágnijo, “People say that he claims to be your better and longs to best you.” “Well…” says Ulvár, “he shall probably have his chance, for I spot Romans there with them. They shall have the chance of letting us pass, I prefer to not cause strife in the tribe, but if they want it they get it. I will let nothing delay my passage!”

He gets off the exhausted horse and walks out the edge of the forest to shout, “Hail Gloáugiz! What is this I see? Do you intend to bar my rightful pursuit of that treasonous Roman pig? I ask you to step aside and I shall forget this breach of peace and honour, but if you oppose me, I shall force my way through.”

“Your uncle was ever the enemy of my grandfather, even stealing his power when I was a child. Now I will avenge myself, and my new Roman friends will help and support me!” Comes the answering shout from across the stream, “I long to test my sword against you, come on if you dare!”

“May your new friends be deserving of such a nidding then!” shouts Ulvár in reply, “but not for long, for ere eve I shall see you dead!” He turns, “Forwards men! After me!”



Player One starts in position in the farm and along the stream as he wishes.



Player Three starts at the East edge of the map.

Player Three’s reinforcements come on at Round 10 + 1d6.



Player one and two wins by preventing Player Three from winning or downing his Officer.



Player Three wins by exiting more than 15 units off the West Edge of the map by Round 30.







Player Three- Ulvar and some of his household, Jan.

Ulvar War (E) (Of) with 1½-hand La Tène sword and buckler or Rhomphaia. Is in a hurry to catch the fleeing Roman who has something of importance to him and the tribe. He wants to defeat the delaying force as quickly as possible and preserve as many of his men as possible. They are after all his personal friends and he needs them later.



2 2-hand axemen, War (E).

Ulfhednir and 2-weapon wielder, War (E) + scares I & O troops.

3 Speutagardaz Pikemen with shield (E)

4 Herthaganautoz /Thegnoz, War (E).

4 Archers 1 (S), 3 (O), buckler, no arm.



Despite lack of armour on figures all except are supposed to be armoured as they are the absolute elite of their society. Armoured Germans are hard to come by though.



Reinforcements



Druhtiz Skandzisku War (E)

Speutagardaz

Herthaganautoz /Thegnoz

Herunautoz War (S)

Dugunthiz War/Spear (S)

Skutjanz Arch (O)

50 in total, they will tip the balance.





Player One- Gloáugiz, Palle

Gloáugiz, War (S) (Of), chain shirt, will try to seek out Ulvar (enemy officer) and defeat him, though he does not mind creating a situation where he has friends helping.

2 Herthaganautoz /Thegnoz with twohanded axes War (S) chain shirt

4 Herunautoz War (S)

2 Dugunthiz with axes War (S)

4 Gaizoz Frije, Spear (O)

3 Thralls Crew (S)

1 archer (O)

3 bad archers (I)



Player Two- Juba with a mixed band of Evocatii, Bodyguards and Bandits all hired as Merc by his boss. Rasmus.

Juba, War (S) (Of) Will try to sneak round and backstab someone already engaged, but is no coward. He relishes combat and the kill, but likes to outsmart the enemy.

3 Evocatii, Sol (E) quality chain shirt (+2 total)

Unarmoured Evocatii, Sol (E)

3 Gaeroas, Spear (O)

Falxman 2-handed, War (S)

Bataroas with axe and shield, War (S)

2 Gaesetai, War (E), Naked Fanatic.



Tactical Notes, mostly for the benefit of Rasmus and Goeg.



Player Three is badly outnumbered at start, but should not let that slow him. His hird is accounted the best in the tribe and he is in a hurry to catch his prey. Further, reinforcements are on the way as the rest of his men catch up, so push on!! But know that each man you loose is one less for later use.



Player Two has the troops that conquered the known world and crushed any enemy met in open battle, Roman legionaries. Unfortunately only eight are present in armour and the German elite approaching are their match and more. Equally trained Warriors in equal equipment will defeat Soldiers 9 times out of 10, fortunately there are few Germans equal to The Legions, unfortunately 12 of them are coming your way. Be careful of your core troops and try to gang up on individual warriors rushing forwards, use support and trolltraps.



Player One has a nice German warband and pines to try it against the best. Unfortunately he is about to find that the best are better than what he has. Lead with your best and support with the others.



Roleplay is encouraged. Ulvár is a heroic barbarian warchief with much tactical acumen. Juba a villainous Numidian, Gloáugiz a young warchief longing for glory and full of hatred of his enemy as well as hope of new strong friends helping him.







The Battle.





Gloáugiz and Juba charge out to take up defensive positions along the stream, with Gloáugiz in front of his followers leading and Juba encouraging his motley band from behind taking the rear.

Eager for Glory, Gloáugiz soon gave up the strong positions along the stream. Incensed by Ulvár’s insults he led his Hird, Huskarls and thralls in a charge towards the woods where Ulvár had taken up position with his main force Right of the path and a blocking force of four men supported by archers from the wood across the path a bit behind, who started by killing one Gaesetai with a well-placed shot to… well you guess where, this is a polite blog.



Encouraged by his inferior archers’ success as they shot down Ulvár’s four, Gloáugiz charged off the path to the left to engage Ulvár himself and avenge his family’s wrongs at the latter’s hands. Juba cautiously hid while his band, sans Evocatii, moved forwards to engage the blocking force. With odds at almost two to one in the allies’ favour the battle looked to soon be over.



However, soon the superior skill of Ulvar’s Hird began to tell as the battle deteriorated into a chaotic brawl swirling back and forth with the two Warlords battling it out in the middle for the entire engagement and Gloáugiz’ archers being largely useless in the chaotic struggle as they had no initiative or roders (Mov Pts) to move up and support on a flank. First to go down was the second Gaesetai as the heat of battle and a glancing blow made him OD and black out.





As the reinforcements turned up and decided the battle by their mere presence (Making Juba beat a hasty retreat with his survivors), the battle was already swinging Ulvár’s way with his surrounded men beating their enemies back and him finally besting Gloáugiz in an epic duel (I was inattentive and chose wrong combat first so Gloáugiz could not retreat- my bad, very bad), his reinforcements cheered though, as he downed his opponent with a mighty stroke; mistiming his dodge so he got tangled up with one of his own men, Gloáugiz took it full force and was skewered from collarbone down through the heart, dying instantly in a fountain of blood. Battle was over and the bodycount was undertaken by his army while Ulvár pushed on with his remaining men despite fatigue, to try and catch the fleeing Roman and elusive Numidian as he figured they would have a meeting point.



Player One, probably lost the most as his forces was involved in the heaviest fighting against the larger part of the enemies and they went full force, and many fought to the last (even after we stopped some would have to be killed in combat). He (I) lost his general and 7 other elements from a fleeing thrall cut down by his own to Gloáugiz himself. 2 of his warriors will survive to be honourably included in Ulvár’s secondary warband. 2 flees to join Juba and 6 (including 2 thralls flee elsewhere).



Player Two lost as well, but his cautious play ensured that he got away with the core part of his force, his Evocatii, Falxman and two spearmen. The rest were either killed during the battle or captured as they tried to flee. As Jábátiz says, “Gauls are fierce in the onset, but as fast to flee”.



Player Three won the battle as his reinforcements turned up and tipped the balance. But the scales were already swinging his way before that as his superior quality forces and my inattentiveness- eehhh… Gloáugiz’ clumsiness and lack of tactical awareness got Gloáugiz and large portions of the allies’ forces cut down.



However, Players One and Two inflicted severe casualties on his force and Juba got away with parts (the most expensive part) of his band.