Seasonal Greeting

 

Wishing all readers of this blog a Joyous and, above all, Peaceful Christmas.

Collaborative Campaign Year 8

 Year 8 of the Campaign (The Year of the Lizard) witnessed an assassination attempt in Zigura - poison had been secreted in the light lunch (22 courses) of King Xeroz, praised be his name. Agents of the King’s brother, Toshibbaz (who is thought to be hiding somewhere in Inconnu), have been blamed. Fortunately a diligent food-taster (RIP) got to the dish before the King of Kings did.

Picenia consolidated further its grip on Luss, however there has been another rebellion…

We go over to our regular Picenian correspondent, Mark Cordone, who provides the text and photographs.

Events in the North, year of the Lizard.

The previous year had seen an embassy from the new high king of the Thulians, Adawulf, to the Wend king Hedwyn.  Some years ago, A younger Hedwyn had gone north over the mountains to seek adventure, glory and wealth, the things he would need to build a following of his own.  While there he met Adawulf, A prominent Thulian warlord and took service with him.  They became fast friends and comrades in arms, and when Hedwyn departed for home they both made an oath that should either come to power there would be a place for the other in their realm, and should both be so blessed they would make an alliance and together conquer the world.

Now that the gods had so blessed both of them they fulfilled their oath.  Hadwyn offered his sister Ifeielda, who had recently come of age to Adawulf in marriage.  He put his first wife, who was barren, aside and married her.  At the wedding Rionach was revealed to be with child and the following spring she gave birth to a healthy baby boy they named Idamund.  To celebrate these happy events a major raid into Lussatia was planned, to be led by Adawulf's right hand man Annar called Ironhand.

The battle of Dunar

I used the Dominion of the Spear rules along with my initiative, events and new expendable units variants.

The raiders were composed of a loose alliance (designated A for their turns on the pics) of about 500 Luss, 200 of whom were cavalry and the rest unreliable warbands.  200 Wend cavalry and a sizable contingent of Thulians, 200 cavalry, 300 warriors, 300 unreliable warband and about 200 Ulfhednar, berserkers believed to be able to shape shift into wolves.

Their target was the town of Dunar, located near some ancient cyclopean ruins from which it got its name.  The ruins had become something of a tourist attraction since the Picenian conquest.  Nearby was an extensive villa and plantation owned by none other than senator Galenus, architect of the Picenian conquest.

Picenian agents among the Luss nobility learned of the coming raid and it's target and governor Auteus was able to take steps to counter it.  He ordered general Illius Ince, Legate of the sixth Legion to take his command to the town as quickly as possible and destroy the raiders.  By dint of several grueling forced marches he was able to win the race by about half a day, arriving with the 1st - 4th cohorts of 6th legion (1200 men in all), where he met up with the local limitari, 300 archers and 200 unreliable reserves which included all of his 100 cavalry.  He evacuated the villa and prepared to meet the raiders with the town forming the center of his line, occupied by the first cohort.  The second was in the right hand sector and his archers on the left.  The rest of his force in hand formed the reserve.  The reminder of sixth Legion was on the road and was expected by nightfall.

The raiders, led by the Thulian warlord Annar Ironhand, were surprised to find the enemy present in force and deployed for battle when they arrived.  Undeterred, Annar deployed his men as well.  The 300 Thulian warriors quickly occupied the villa while his Thulian horsemen took post in the center.  On the left the fearsome Ulfhednar began to work themselves up into a frenzy as the rest of the raiders formed a second line to act as the reserve.

It was just after noon on the 15th day of the sixth month of the year of the Lizard when the Ulfhednar surged forward to attack the Picenian archers.  The archers let several volleys of arrows fly, but to no effect.  As the screaming Northmen continued their charge the Bowman broke and fled and were pursued off of the field by the berserkers and slaughtered.  Their places taken by the Wend cavalry and 4th cohort. 

Meanwhile on the right the Thulian axemen and the second cohort began a melee that started tentatively as both sides felt each other out, then increased in intensity until both sides were completely spent.  As this was happening the Annar's cavalry quickly routed the exhausted men of the 4th cohort and then did the same to the limitari that replaced them in the battle line.  They then turned on the first cohort in the town, already engaged from the front, and attacked them from the flank.

This sparked an epic defensive stand as the outnumbered defenders held off the barbarian cavalry for several hours allowing the 3rd cohort to claim an even greater share of the glory.  They advanced on the defenders of the villa, routed them and captured it, then advanced to attack Annar's reserves in the rear.  (Since the villa was a strong point that offered defensive advantage and the unreliable Thulian warband failed to activate I decided to allow the Picenians to occupy it and have that flank forward). 

The Thulian warband fled, then the Luss warband was destroyed in turn.  As dusk was just beginning the brave defenders of the town were finally defeated.  Technically, this gave the allies the victory, but with the Picenian reinforcements set to arrive on their turn (the cavalry), I decided to call the game a draw, with the allies withdrawing in the growing twilight.

This was another close battle which featured some enjoyable swings in momentum and was a lot of fun to play.  I liked the way things went when I introduced the 3x3: element by allowing the Picenians to occupy the villa. The Dominion rules, as in 3x3 games, are actually area movement games and by allowing the advance I think I enhanced the narrative.

***

Thanks again to Mark for a splendid game report and some really nice pictures. 

Collaborative Campaign Year 7: Part 2

 Once again attention turns Southward, to ancient and dusty Pylonia, where the expansionist Zigurans are continuing their land grab...

Text and pictures are courtesy (and copyright) of Martin Smith:

The Battle of the Wastelands

Sent west by mighty Xeroz, King of Kings and Favoured One of Taran, General Amukar knew he had a tough task ahead of him. Only two years before a Ziguran force sent on a similar mission had encountered stiff Pylonian opposition on the shores of the Great Sea near Raphan, ending in a rapid retreat and the shaming of Zatrab Balshezbu, commander of the Army of the Magreeb, and, by default, of all Zigura’s nobility.

Now, in the Year of the Petulant Pony, it was Amukar’s chance to take his revenge. Avoiding the coastal route, with its boneyard reminders of a former failure, he chose instead to approach across the wastelands to the south. Desert tribesmen had assured him that water could be found, and that they would remain undetected, raising the possibility of a certain level of surprise, and a greater chance of wrong-footing the godless Pylonians. But water had proven scarce, and the tribesmen, as unreliable as ever, melted away as the days dragged on, thirst and indiscipline soon spreading among the Ziguran soldiery.

In Raphan, Governor Hepu received early warning of the movements of his adversary. Payments to the camel-riders of the desert had secured much useful information, with regular reports on the delayed progress of the Ziguran invaders, buying him time to assemble a force to intervene. Some of the assembled throng, around one third, were of unknown loyalty, being bowmen and spearmen from the southern borders with Maraway, but others were true Pylonians, veterans of the Battle of Raphan and firm supporters of their Governor. God-King Hipohap having given his blessing, Hepu now marched out to meet his foe. 

Approaching the encamped Zigurans from the west with much haste, Governor Hepu aimed to break them before they could fully deploy. The fleet footed Maraway contingent would lead the attack, while Pylonians would support and bolster them. Noting the wheel-clogging sand dunes further south, Hepu also ordered his cavalry and chariots to redeploy towards the left, to form up north of the bow-wielding tribesmen. Staunch Pylonian spearmen would follow on, filling any gaps which might appear, and preventing any rearward movement by their untested allies.

But General Amukar had placed his pickets well, and warnings soon arrived of the Pylonians’ advance. Cursing the fickle men of the desert, Amukar now arrayed his force with admirable professionalism. His dishevelled and demoralised spearmen to the far left rested secure against a large expanse of dunes, avoiding any outflanking risk from the Pylonians’ feared chariotry. To the immediate north of the spears, his centre of archers continued the line, leaving a small patch of rough ground to their rear as they deployed. Issuing last from the army’s camp, Amukar led out his heavy chariots, with them forming a formidable right flank. 

So as the heat of the day increased and the Maraway tribesmen moved into range, a deadly duel commencing with the Ziguran regulars. These latter proved more stalwart than the tribesmen opposite, who were outclassed and soon fell into disarray. Seeing his Maraway contingent in disorder, ruining his plan for a rapid win against an unprepared foe, Governor Hepu faced a dilemma….either to fall back, at the risk of retreat becoming a rout, or to roll the dice and attack. 

Fear of his master the God-King may have driven him on, for as his repositioned cavalry formed up about his chariot squadron he offered a silent prayer, ordered the Battle Standard of Raphan to be waved and, risking all, led them on to death or glory.

Watching from his command chariot at the right of the Ziguran lines, General Amukar and his escort looked on in amazement as, out of the dust and confusion, the Pylonian cavalry and chariots surged forward, the standard of Pylonia at their head in the unmistakable battle-wagon of his opposite number. Despite his plan to hold, and let the decadent Pylonians dash themselves fruitlessly against his forces, he could not let such affrontery go unpunished, and immediately commanded his charioteers to attack, and with all speed. As the lines met, confusion reigned: poorly mounted Pylonian battle cavalry fell to stinging volleys from Ziguran hill men, and the skirmishing horse to Amukar’s front fell back before his charge, drawing him on in pursuit. 

But Governor Hepu’s squadron were less easily dealt with, and his onwards rushing chariots now crashed into the dense but yielding mass of Ziguran bowmen, breaking them and driving them in flight into the rough ground behind. Showing the self-control which had earned him his most trusted position, Hepu halted and turned his squadron, before unleashing them upon the exposed and unprotected right flank of the remaining Ziguran archers. 

Chaos spread, chariot horses trampled Ziguran infantry and the invaders’ centre wavered and then broke in rout. Despite his local success, with the Pylonians before him in retreat, Amukar felt an icy chill as the realisation began to sink in that this battle in the wastelands was lost. More and more of his weary foot soldiers were succumbing to the spreading panic, as pursuing Pylonians rode them down. Despite their initial repulse of the Maraway many Zigurans were now feeling the burning need to be elsewhere, away from Pylonian arrows, away from the shrieking axles of the wheeled bringers of death and destruction.

Defeated once more, the invading host fled with all speed into the desert whence they had come, and set course for the safety of the Ziguran border, preferring to face the wrath of Xeroz, and the feared pronouncements of the High Priests of Taran than the pitiless swords and arrows of their Pylonian enemies. Many of them would not arrive…

***

Many thanks to Martin for another splendiferous (apologies, I'm running out of superlatives) battle report. Ziguran expansion may have reached its high-water mark? Perhaps it's time for Pylonia to strike back...? 

Collaborative Campaign Year 6 and Year 7: Part 1

 Campaign Year 6, the Year of the Dormouse, according to the Martarian Calendar*, was the first game turn in which no moves or random events took place; a rare year of peace that has allowed the expanding empires of Picenia and Zigura a chance to recruit and train forces and consolidate their grip over the territories they have taken. (*Marta is the Earth-Mother Goddess worshipped by the Picenians) 

Here's the Map as it currently stands.

 Year 7, the Year of the Petulant Pony, was to be more active...

Mark has documented events in Luss (text and game photos copyright Mark Cordone)

Events in the North:

The year of the Dormouse saw the Picenians consolidate their hold on the new provinces of Northern and Southern Lussatia by founding a large number of villas and plantations. 

Meanwhile Hadwyn had to fend off a number of challenges following his defeat at the battle of Bibracate. 

During the course of the year Rionach was treated with the utmost kindness and respect.  Once her period of mourning was over Hadwyn began a formal courtship.  He was a handsome and charismatic leader and Rionach gradually found herself yielding to his suit.  On New Years Day of the year of the Petulant Pony the two were wed.

Meanwhile, A high king had arisen among the Thulians, savage barbarians dwelling in the frozen lands north of the mountains.  Their new king, Odalric, sent an embassy south to meet with Hadwyn......

An old French educational poster borrowed
from the Internet (early 20th Century)

The battle of Hasta

The game was played using the Dominion of the Spear rules and my initiative, random activation and rally rules.

The year of the Petulant Pony saw a major raid into Picenian occupied Luss by the Wend chieftain Adalwulf.  His force was composed of some 1000 warriors and 200 cavalry.  Around 600 Luss, half of whom were slingers and javelin men.  (4 foot, 1 cavalry and 1 archers, all regular).  After a successful raid that saw a number of Picenian villas and plantations thoroughly sacked they were on their way home laden with the spoils of their victories when the Tribune Caius Atinius caught up with them at the strategic crossroads near the town of Hasta.  He had managed to cobble together a force of three cohorts (1,2,5) of the 8th legion, some 1000 men in all.  In addition he had about 300 limitari archers, also experienced and reliable. The 2 local limitari cohorts, unreliable troops, totaling about 500 men 100:of whom were cavalry were also present.

On the 4th day of the 8th month of the year of the Petulant Pony the two armies deployed for battle.  In the right sector Caius placed his archers on the fields only significant hill.  In the center the 5th cohort and on the left the 2nd.  In reserve he had the 1st cohort and the 3rd and 6th limitari cohorts.

Adalwulf placed his slingers opposite the archers and Wend warbands in the center and to the left.  In reserve he had his cavalry and a Wend and Luss warband.

The merciless sun beat down on both armies as the Luss slingers were routed by the accurate shooting of the archers on the hill.  On the left, the Wend warband were wiped out by the veterans of the 2nd cohort.  Things had not started well for Adalwulf!

A pattern of attacks on the hill, each beaten off by a hail of arrows then began on the right.  It was to continue for the rest of the day without a significant result.  On the right reinforcements from Adalwulf's reserve renewed the fight with both units being spent in the combat.  Adalwulf rallied some of his warriors but Caius was unable to bring any of his men back into the fight. 

Adalwulf then launched his cavalry at the Picenian center, and both units were virtually wiped out as a result.  Caius then ordered the 3rd limitari cohort to fill the gap in the center, but they refused to advance.  On the left, attacked from the front and flank, the 1st cohort gave way. The 5th limitari cohort took their place, but the 3rd still refused to budge.  As a result the 5th met the same fate as the unfortunate first and the battle was lost.

Adalwulf returned in triumph having added a great deal of Picenian war gear to his booty.

***

Thanks once again to Mark for another wonderfully narrated DotS game. In the next post we head South to see how the Zigurans have fared in their latest attempt at subjugating Pylonia... 

Continuing War with the 4th Coalition: Eylau

 Having defeated the Prussians in our last Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte game, the Emperor is disappointed to find that the Imperial Russian Army is still loitering in East Prussia...

For this game you'll have to imagine that the bare pine board is the snowy fields around Eylau. The town is now to the rear of the attacking French Army.

The Armies face each other on Day 2 of the battle

The fight starts off fairly evenly - the Russians
commit some unreliable infantry on their right

The French appear to get the upper hand, quickly
defeating the unreliables

The Russians' hold on: the Emperor unleashes Murat
and the cavalry

The Russian centre collapses!

but the frost-bitten French can't yet take advantage

Finally the day is won!

Like the real battle, this was a costly affair for both sides, and the cold weather doesn't help. Glory to the Emperor! On to the Battle of Friedland, and thank the Lord it'll be fought in June; Vive l'ete!

Collaborative Campaign Year 5: Part 2

 For the second part of the action during the Year of the Fox, attention turns South again.

Martin Smith has kindly played and reported on the latest invasion of Pylonia by the Ziguran Empire... 

Battle on the Plain east of Raphan

In the High Temple of Zigura in Issisha, the High Priest of Taran has read the entrails and declared that the War God demands more territory should be taken for the empire. To that end the Ziguran Lord Balshezbu, Zatrab of the Magreeb, has been despatched westwards, and has invaded the province of Raphan, which contains the current capital city of Pylonia (after the recent loss of Nyos).

Balshezbu  leads a moderately sized army, and is content that his expeditionary force emphasises quality over quantity. At its heart is a body of Zigura’s finest heavy chariots, every man an expert archer, supported by Ziguran infantry archers from the regular army, and a body of mercenary armoured spearmen, these being Cyraenians from the nearer parts of the Pentapolis, under one Kratonas of Heralion. 

Additionally, to boost numbers, the Zatrab commands a number of Ziguran peasant bowmen and has also, against his better judgement, enlisted the aid of a rabble of fanatical camel-riding desert tribesmen from the interior, with a reputation for being ferocious but fickle, valuing pillage over prowess in battle.

To meet this existential threat to his homeland, God-King Hipohap XXXVI has hurriedly assembled all available Pylonian males at a muster outside of the city of Raphan, trusting command to General Hepu, Governor of that city and province.

Hepu leads the chariot-borne archer nobles of the Pylonian Standing Army, one unit of mercenaries, (Cyraenian armoured spearmen based at Raphan, under Mercenary Captain-General Imbrios), regular bowmen from the Raphan garrison, and four bodies of spearmen, provincial Pylonian levies.

Advancing eastwards along the shoreline before dawn, Governor Hepu arrays his forces with the regular archers covering the coast road, noble charioteers to their right and with the inland flank held by Pylonian levy spearmen, between his chariots and sand dunes. He holds in reserve the highly valued Cyraenian armoured spearmen, renowned throughout Pylonia for their stoutness in battle. These he plans will plug any gaps that appear, should the frontline units show signs of weakness. Also available to the general are three more bodies of levied troops, which he also keeps back in reserve, mostly from concern over their willingness to fight.

As the Sacred Sun breaks through the dust on the horizon, with hand-shielded eyes Hepu’s gaze falls upon a quickly advancing Ziguran force: Inland, somewhat behind the front, unmistakable with their glinting brazen shields, march slow moving Cyraenian spearmen in tight formation. Nearer still are a milling swarm of camel-riders, filling the centre of the enemy array, while to either side of the coast road trot the horses of the feared Ziguran heavy chariotry, massed into a dense and deadly block of horseflesh and archers.

From behind his own front line, Lord Balshezbu gives the order, and the Ziguran charioteers whip their horses forward, directly at the Pylonian regular bowmen covering the shoreward flank. As this animated mass of death and destruction rumbles towards them from out of the sunrise, despite years of training the archers’ resolve rapidly fails, and they break and run from their frightening opponents. Seeing the bowmen break, Hepu now calls upon his Cyraenian mercenaries to earn their pay, sending them left to block the jubilant advance of Zigura’s finest. The spears of the bronze-clad men lower, and a long, drawn out contest for the beachward flanks of both armies begins in earnest, from the surf to the coast-road, advantage going from one side to the other in a closely matched tussle between the best in their sphere.

Now the Zatrab takes a gamble. Having deployed the camel-mounted desert tribesmen in the centre, to preclude any escape south into the dunes, he commands them to attack. His hopes are raised as with wild cries the nomads immediately lurch forwards to attack those Pylonian charioteers opposite them……only to be dashed as the camel-riders are instantly scattered by the stinging volleys of arrows which meet them at close range. Racing past Balshezbu in flight, the desert dwellers head east. Their formless throng parts to skirt the more resolute Ziguran peasant archers, who move up to take their place before beginning an archery exchange with the Pylonian charioteers opposite, who fall back under pressure.

But where are Kratonas and the Heralionic spearmen of the King of Kings? Will these foreign mercenaries not earn their pay and prove their worth? Can Kratonas be trusted?

The southern flank has yet to be contested, when a climax is reached in the struggle between Pylonia’s  Cyraenians and the Ziguran nobility on the shore. Ordered for one more attack by Captain Imbrios, Pylonia’s battered and bruised men of bronze can take no more and begin to fall back in disorder. The Ziguran charioteers, opposite, are also spent and are unable to resist the advance of spear-wielding Pylonian levies who march up the coast road to face them.

Finally, Kratonas and his mercenaries reach the southern part of the battle line, engaging and driving off the Pylonians before them…but too late. With the retreat of the Ziguran chariotry and the flight of the desert tribes, the weakened Ziguran line begins to falter and break, first on the shoreward flank and then in the centre, where Pylonian levies press forward, scattering Ziguran archers before them.

Kratonas thus finds his right flank badly exposed, and with the last remaining viable force under his command, begins a slow and measured retreat, maintaining order and praying for nightfall. It will be a long march back to Zigura, harried all the way by exultant Pylonians.

***

What an Epic! The shifting sands of Pylonia have once again produced a battle fit to include Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas! Thank you, Martin for the wonderful report and visuals. 

Ziguran expansion has been halted, at least temporarily, and the God King Hipohap can put his feet up on a eunuch and rest easily.