Being at loose ends, I decided that it was time to add a few more 1/72nd figures to round off my portable, card table, ancient/medieval/fantasy collection. But, before the gaming comes the painting and before that comes the choosing and sorting from the box of stray pre-gunpowder little plastic soldiers.
The Valdurian tribes and the Men of the Sea face off with the army of the Duke of Dale in a long ago age. A truce has been agreed upon until all the soldiers on both sides are dressed.
There just might be a game before the year is done.
Today Rob (Sharp End of the Brush blog) and I played a remote game to test the draft of the Gathering of Hosts rules. There were a few little hitches like a case of contradicting information appearing in two different places having been missed during proofreading, situations which had yet to be covered or where a where something was lacking, and so on, but overall it had the sort of feel I wanted. A good start.
Unfortunately, I haven't fixed my issues with using the webcam I bought so I once again used my phone and we were using Discord and on the mobile version, I couldn't figure out on the fly how to do screen shots, and hadn't lined up an alternate camera, so......no pics. Sorry.
I was going to stage some photos afterword but in a sudden flash of silliness, I decided to try making a quick stop motion battle report video, My first attempt at first stop motion ever, and without proper preparation, like a script and a plan etc as well as some technical glitches such as thinking I had successfully hit pause but hadn't allowing the Friendly Giant's hand to appear)! But it was fun.
Here's part 1, the beginning. (The video turned into 3 because I twice hit stop instead of pause and I can't seem to use any of the software I have to edit videos.)
Part 2: Attack on the hill:
Part 3: The end.
I need to figure out how to use the equipment I have until I can get something better and sit down and plan it out with scripts etc rather than improvising but you never know, there could be some more and better animated battle videos in the future!
Word has spread, the barbarians from the north are loose in the Midlands. All nobles and knights are to muster their fighting men, prepare their strongholds and send their pledged contingent to the Earl's muster.
Sir Peter Phlathead musters his veterans. (1/2 my old Prince August and Ral Partha figures, 1/2 my brother-in-law's old Ral Partha's from the '80's. All being repaired and touched up where needed.)
It did not take long for the Federation scouts to find fords and begin crossing the river, but it was long enough for Sir John of Raven's Wood Tower, Captain of the Pass, to arrive with a detachment of the Black Guards.
Sir John had led the detachment from the Black Tower to the Eastern Frontier as soon as word came from spies about the raid, but it was by chance that they arrived at the right place at the right time. The addition of a company of heavily armoured knights supported by both mounted and foot crossbowmen was a major boost to the garrison and local levies but they were faced by twice their numbers of Federation Horse Guards and horse archers wading across the river.
At the main ford where the road crossed the river, 4 companies of archers, supported by the Horse Lord with two companies of lancers, began a long range duel with the two companies of local levies that defended the palisade. Two more companies of horse archers spread out to the south to look for a ford which would let them outflank the fort.
By the northern ford, the Black Company initially drove back the Federate light cavalry with heavy casualties, but they couldn't stem the flow of enemy cavalry entirely. Once the Horse Guards crossed over, their fierce charge drove the Black Company cavalry with heavy losses with the young Captain Theodora proving her ability to lead and to fight.
While the Black Company was holding back the upstream raiders, Lord Neville had arrived with his levies and driven off the Federate light cavalry who had crossed downriver. The garrison behind their palisade was slowly taking losses but appeared to be winning the exchange of arrows.
The sun was starting to slip for the horizon and it seemed like it might be possible to hold back the invaders till more of the local forces arrived.
The Horse Lord was not one to be easily dismayed though and he commanded a picked force. The assault was renewed with effect, sweeping away most of the remaining Midlish cavalry. There was nothing left for the defenders but to retreat behind their palisade and watch the raiders march past. In the woods to the north, the veteran Black Company crossbowmen did their best to form a rallying point for the surviving cavalrymen whose units had been shattered. When night fell, they retreated back through the woods.
The prolonged defence had been overcome with heavy losses, but it had slowed the raiders long enough to give the countryside time to prepare. The raiders would have to fight for their plunder!
Rumours are constant on the frontier. Few are true but none can be ignored so the garrison at Eastford has been on alert for a week. A call for reinforcements has gone out, and mounted patrols of the river have been doubled. Then one day.....
Alarm! Enemy in sight!
The local frontier garrisons are used to small raiding parties but this looks like an army marching towards them. The men peer over the palisade and some could be seen clenching their fists, shaking them and then opening them like men throwing bones in a tavern while muttering: "Lady Luck be with us".
