The Battle at the Village of Wich

 On hearing reports that the Ogre Mazrug was leading a band of Orcs towards the border village of Wich, the Baron immediately sent a small force to defend the citizens. He would personally lead another force, aiming to arrive just before the enemy. (The inspiration for the game was Peter's recent Scenario which can be found Here).

The defenders would be two units of the Baron's men-at-arms and a unit of locals with bows.

Mazrug (General) arrived to the North of Wich, shortly before the Baron. A unit of Warg Riders that he had sent ahead were to the East of the river, and delayed whilst they constructed a log bridge. The Baron's force would arrive in the North East, using the existing crossing point. 

Mazrug's main force advance

The Baron's force crosses the bridge North of the ravine

The attack begins. (Wich is treated as defended so -1 to attack dice)

Casualties mount on both sides

Orcs are in the village!

The Baron's force reach Exhaustion Point and can no longer advance

Mazrug's force reach EP without securing the village

Mazrug chose to advance all his force towards the objective rather than leaving a rear guard. I decided that the Ogre had no news of the Baron's force that was approaching fast behind him. This is a nice little scenario that definitely needs to be played again.

The Baron has unfinished business with the Ogre Mazrug who has inflicted great loss of life in Wich, though the village held out against the attackers.

The Attack upon Saint Barnabas's Retreat

 Following his successful attack on the Bleakmoore supply caravan, that resulted in the death of Sir Roderick, Chief Guthrumm was emboldened and led another attack into the Barony.

His target was the Retreat of St Barnabas, a monastic complex in the hilly country near the (notional) border with Nordland on the very edge of the Northern March. The Monks of St Barnabas had established the Monastery one hundred years previously to serve as both a centre for prayer and to play a missionary role in converting the Wild Men to the true faith.

Recent raids on the Monk's farm land had resulted in the Baron sending a small force of his soldiery to defend the Monastery. As Guthrumm's force approached these men were already behind the thick walls of the Retreat...

Turn 1 sees the arrival of the Wild Men. The Bleakmoore soldiers, 1 unit of Men at Arms and 2 units of Archers are behind the walls. The Wild Men have no missile troops and are relying on a mass attack of the walls to overcome the enemy. To score a hit on the defenders the attacking men need to roll a 6. The defenders have a 360 arc of fire. To win the Wild Men need to hold the Monastery on Turn 15.  The Baron will arrive with reinforcements on Turn 4+1d6 - a roll of 4 meant he'd arrive on Turn 8.

A hail of arrows met the charging Wild Men; a few fell and did not get up. The attack on the walls was grim and some Bleakmoore men had already become casualties early in the fight. The Monks tended to the wounded inside the church.

Fearing the arrival of reinforcements, Guthrumm positioned his horsemen to the East of the Monastery. The attack continued through the morning, but the Bleakmoore men held on.

 As midday past the Baron and his horsemen rode into the valley. Sighting the enemy they charged.

Guthrumm and his men put up a staunch fight but as the afternoon wore on it was clear that they weren't going to defeat the Baron this day.

Turn 12 saw the Wild Men reach Exhaustion Point and by the end of the day Guthrumm admitted defeat and rode away with his remaining men in tow. Victory for the Baron.

Ambush in Bleakmoore

 This game was inspired by Table Top Teaser No2 Wagon Train by C S Grant that appeared in Battle for Wargamers magazine in April 1978. I played the scenario many times as a teenager using Airfix figures.

In this version, men from the Barony of Bleakmoore are bringing supplies to a small fortified camp in the Marches. They are led by Sir Roderik of Spode (name borrowed from PG Wodehouse). As they approach the fort they are attacked by mounted Wildmen. The fort garrison may not venture out but can fire and defend themselves.

The first wave of wildmen appear over the hill

The supply wagon

The wagon moves on while fighting ensues on the left side

The next wave of wildmen have struck the front of the column

Turn 13 Sir Roderik has fallen and the Bleakmoore men reach Exhaustion Point

The victorious Wildmen make off with the wagon of supplies despite a flurry of arrows from the fort.

*New* Unit type Peasants SP2 move as Infantry.

First Mini-Campaign: Part Two

 

A scene from the battle at the forests edge - Bradgrik and Gunagg meet in battle

The diminutive Dwarf force is further reduced 

Escape

*New Creature*: Cave Giant (Troglodyte) stats: SP4, Move as Giant, +1 Attack bonus, may throw rocks 2 grid squares during firing phase.

First Mini-Campaign: Part 1

 This Mini-Campaign relates to events taking place in Nordland, beyond the Barony of Bleakemoore. The text was committed to parchment by one Brother Jacques of the Abbey of Saint Bernard. 

A scene from the late stage of the battle

Beginning

 This blog is intended to document battles fought using the Fantasy variant of Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame, Swords, Sorcery and Squares. The games are set in my very generic Fantasy land; The Kingdom.

The Kingdom, ruled from Dorrienne in the far South, is a land dominated by humans. In the high mountains and dense forests, the fringes of "civilization", live other, magical creatures. The lands known as Nordland and Osterland are also the home of non-civilized men and magical creatures, and the Northern and Eastern Marches of the Kingdom are where most of the games I want to play will be set. The journey is begun...