A Festive Surprise

The Midlish plan was to surprise the Valdurians, spoil their New Year's Eve and Day and make up for all of their defeats over the last decade......  

But the heavily armoured column just might have been spotted by villagers and foresters since there was a force of Valdurian levies and Horse Guards deployed upon a ridge. 

"Deploy the column! Cavalry on the right, archers on the left!"

"Where are those bloody archers!?! Cavalry, prepare to charge!"

A Raven's Eye view of the battle.

"Reform and Charge Again!"

"Is that the time? How many casualties have we taken?"....."That many!? How about them?"....."hmm..too much wine last night perhaps......not worth a 3rd charge really...."    "Trumpeter! Sound Retire!" 
".......mumble..basttards..mumble....we'll get them next time...."

Happy New Year To All! 

.....The Hosts Will Gather Again in 2026...

Midlanders! You Shall Not Pass

 ........< Coming very soon to this blog page > .....

...............

Surprise Attack

Having heard that the Wild Folk had raided the Valdur portion of the Federation, the Midlish border barons decided to hit them while they were recovering in hopes they would revenge their previous defeats.

"Milord? The scouts have reported an enemy battle line atop the next ridge."

"Well, this should save us a march or two. Deploy the column into a battle line!"

 

Odds are on a Boxing Day battle!

Warriors of Valdur!

"The Wild Woods Folk have broken the ancient pact!  You have sent them fleeing back to the woods, but is that enough?  Shall we not march and make them even more sorry that they broke their oaths? "

What say you?

"Vengence! March! March!"

To be continued....

Battle of Long Ridge

While the local levies occupied a prominent hill, hoping to stop the enemy's forces, the Duke gathered whatever reinforcements were in reach and forced march them to the battlefield. They took a short rest over night in a small village in sight of the ridge, then set out to reinforce the local levies at dawn.

As the reinforcements began to form up for the last march, the sound of trumpets from the hill meant that the enemy was in sight. 

The cavalry pushed their way through the infantry and rode at full speed to meet the enemy.

The armies were soon in contact and despite the advantage of defending the crest, the numbers were against them and the advanced guard was pushed back in several places.

The remaining defenders did not have the strength to try to retake the ridge but they formed up to block any further attack and waited for their reinforcements which were close behind them. The infantry battle soon settled into a shooting competition while the cavalry deployed and set out to sweep around the hill, driving off the wild horsemen of the invaders and then flanking their army while the infantry reinforcements stormed the ridge.   

The Valdurian cavalry swept back the invading light troops, only to find the Great Beast, supported by light troops. There was a short calm as the armies prepared for the crisis.

The Great Beastie was an intimidating foe, but the Valdurian cavalry were brave men. Charge followed charge with the cavalry being forced to give a bit of ground after each charge but the young beast had received several wounds and its escort was also taking losses. Beside them, the Valdurian infantry was deployed and preparing for a last ditch assault on the ridge. Could their shield wall force the enemy back?

The loose formations of the woods folk and their habit of fighting as individuals could not hold back the Valdurian shieldwalls and armour. The day was not yet over though. 

Slowly the Valdurian infantry pushed the wood folk back across the hill but the cavalry on the flank were taking heavy loses and forced to give ground. Things looked bleak but one unit of the woods folk warriors suddenly broke. The Valdurians pursued and suddenly found themselves surrounding the Forest Witch.

 

The Valdurian captain did not hesitate to cut her down! The sky grew dark and and waves of fear came across the warriors of both armies. Suddenly there was a rush of wind and a blood chilling cry from the sky as a giant shadow fell upon the battlefield. The Woodsfolk turned and fled back to their woods while the Valdurians cowered behind their shields. 

To a rocky hill amid the forest, the Chief of the Eagles bore the Enchantress and laid her at the feet of the old hags who began at once to weave their spells to restore the life to the Queen of the Forest. 

RUN!!! The Wildfolk have come to Valdur!

 Gruach Mor is with them!!!! Runnnn!

It had been in the age of their grandfathers that the woods folk had raided the farmers on the edge of the wild West Forest. When the Midlish Kingdom began pushing North and West, the Valdurians and the Wild Wood folk made an agreement to a boundary and pledged to not raid each other. 

It seems that their ambush of the Midlish army last year has given them courage, and a taste for plunder, but they feel that the Valdurian farmers might be an easier target than Midlish fortresses and armoured knights. 

Can the Valdurian farmers muster a fighting force in time to blunt and repel this raid before too much damage is done ? Will their Prince and his warriors come in time to defend them?  

<to be continued>

 

If You Go Down To The Woods Today.......

It was already afternoon when the column came into view of the border tower.  The eerie quiet put the old soldiers on their guard.

Suddenly the Queen's curse broken the silence, followed by a screaming charge of painted warriors and beasts from all sides.

Before the spearmen could react, a horde of men and beasts was upon them upon both sides. Around the edges, arrows flew in both directions, when an open target presented itself.

Fierce fighting broke out as the column of squares struggled to reform from from marching order to squares but discipline and armour helped to hold the squares together despite the ferocious attack. Soon the lack of armour and discipline had their enemy at a disadvantage. Even the great apes were reluctant to plunge in. (ie lousy dice!) 

Losses were heavy on both sides and the woods folk fell back then regrouped, ready to throw themselves onto the pikes again when the call came. But with dusk drawing in, the Queen saw no reason to sacrifice more of her subjects when the enemy had been scarred and was obviously just wanting to go home. She ordered the horns to call the warriors back. Even the body of crossbowmen cowering in the edge of the great wood where the road runs through it, would be allowed to go. They had not chosen to come and fight. 

Night falls. Many were dead or wounded but the army was nowhere near broken, just eager to get home alive. 

The Great Revenge Raid was over and the survivors would soon be home while the spirits of the rest would wander the woods and hills for all time.

The Long And Hazardous Road Home

After the bloody battle against the Farmers, the Duke decided that he could report to the King that he had punished the enemy, even if he had intended to burn their crops and stores and hadn't come closer than a few outlying farms. What he had done is lose a bloody awful number of horses and more than a few noble knights had been wounded or killed, at least the Hillmen didn't take prisoners so there was no question of ransoms to be paid.  

"There we are lads! That's the border post, you'll have hot food tonight."

Oh, and of course he had lost a shocking number of men and a lot of their armour but both of these could be replaced, but no, none of that was going to keep him awake at night. It had been trying to think of a way to get safely past the woods and swamps folk on the way home that had been on his mind, but here they were at the border. 

"Wait, who is that on the high rock across the river? What is she calling out?"
"The evil ones have come! I curse them and their children!"

 Supper may be late......

To be continued......

Go Home Iron Men, Go Home or Die!

With the dawn, the Earl's army arrayed themselves for battle, and advanced.

The spears formed into two blocks while archers advanced on either flack to flush out any ambushes and the cavalry followed behind until their time arrived.

As expected, there were light troops lurking in woods and marshes or on the rocky hills but these did not stop the spears in the center from scaling the ridge and throwing themselves against the defending spearmen. The ensuing melee was fierce and prolonged.

On the flanks, the fighting was fierce for a short while but both sides were both more focused on protecting the flanks of their own center than on trying to expose the enemy's flanks.

The Midlish pikemen struggled to climb the hill and push back the defenders and as the day grew shorter, the Midlish line started to shrink despite the commitment of a reserve body of spearmen. The only hope was that the battered defenders had been weakened enough for the knights to break them.

Charge followed charge and the casualties were heavy on both sides but as the defenders right flank appeared to be open, stout body of armoured soldiers shaking their axes and two handled swords in defiance moved up from their hidden reserve position to fill the gap, while the defenders skirmishers finally drove off the last of the Midlish mounted crossbowmen on their right flank and started working around the open Midlish right flank. 

As the sun began to sink, there was time for one last desperate cavalry charge but it also was repelled and the battered Midlish spearmen began to fallback without orders. Fortunately for them, the enemy was too badly cut up and weary to pursue and were glad to rest on their spears and jeer their retreating enemy.

Note: The figures are 25mm from Garrison, Revenge (via Old Glory), a few Minifigs and various individuals from all sorts of places. Some of these were painted and started fighting for me in the 70's, others were painted here and then over the years with a few more still in waiting. Many of the figures have been converted or modified in some fashion

Rules: Gathering of Hosts (2024 version). 

Now the Hurley Burly's Done

 Now the Battle's Lost and Won.....

Report tomorrow!

Enemy In Sight Milord!

The Duke's outriders had reported frequent sightings of enemy scouts along their line of march but there had been no sight of any force of note, until that Saturday evening.

As usual, the "Farmers", men from the fertile valleys on the southern coast of the western peninsula, formed their shieldwall in the open with difficult terrain to guard their flanks. (eg see  Battle of Argentium Bridge ) This time, on a ridge for good measure.

The Duke surveyed the terrain and his old enemy, then issued his orders: "The day is getting late, we'll camp here and attack in the morning. Send out scouts and a screen of cavalry and archers to make our camp safe. Scrounge whatever food you can find, and in the morning we will burn these farms. I will set up my headquarters here."

To be continued......

The Armies Gather.

After the Free Peoples of the West had recovered their Sacred  Dalag Naomh (see 4 post series inc prelude and a fierce battle)  several years went by while the Midlands were preoccupied by the latest war with the Federation. (See 8 posts in 2020 starting: here)

After a period of calm, the King at last saw fit to punish the forest folk for their raid to recover their deity.

Once again the Earl of Cowcross leads an army into the hills and forests of  Old Valdur. Already the foresters have been sent forward to ensure that the enemy does not spot then until it's too late.

The eagle has spotted the Midland intruders and brought the news to the Watcher who immediately sends forth her messengers to alert the Westfolk..

War has come again to the hills and forests.

They Shall Not Pass!

OOPS!  I just discovered that I did not finish this battle report from last June! Well, hopefully late is better than never. Good thing I have some pictures at least.

This game was a revenge attack from the Great Raid launched in the previous year against the Midlish Kingdom's Eastern Frontier. (See Fight at the Ford and the stop motion video report on the following clash).

This game followed a year later when the Midlands launched a revenge raid against the Valdurian province of the Northern Federation. In expectations of a counter raid, border guards were posted along the frontier to watch and raise the alarm if, or when, it came, and to hold until relieved. 

ALARM! SOUND THE HORNS! TO ARMS!

LIGHT THE BEACONS!

 The Northern Federation Horse Guards and some of the local Valdurian tribesmen were first to arrive.

The Valdurian light troops relied on ambush and missile fire to slow down the invaders until help  arrived.

After a fierce and bloody fight, the Black Knight, Captain of the Pass and Commander of the expedition, fell prisoner to the Captain of the Federation Horse Guards and the battle was over.

Legend has it that the ghosts of the fallen rise and fight amongst the woods and fields each year on the night of the anniversary of the battle.

The Watchers in the Pass

After last year's raid into the East Watch of the Midlands, the Federation had been waiting and watching for a response from the Midlands. In the woods at the mouth of the Black Pass, the Old Ones watched the roads that the Steel Men might take. Long before the Midlish riders emerged, the word had been passed. 

"Hurry! They are coming!"

 to be continued........

(Note: The archers in the wood are home cast Prince August orcs. I originally painted these weird, hairless, brutes a greenish hue but they never looked right to me. Yesterday I decided to fix them so repainted their flesh and added shaggy hair and beard. Now they fit in! )

To Arms! The Beacons Are Lit!

Who will answer?

Prince Wyngnuht, 8th of his name, and the Valdurians!

"(Oh great, the 50 year veterans.....)"......."ANYONE ELSE?......"

"The Men of Dale and 2 Squadrons of the Horse Guards!"

"(Well, more would have been better, but that's something anyway.")

 

Brave Men! The Foe is upon us! The enemy desires to cross  the Duck River, burn your farms and drag your families into slavery! It is up to YOU to STOP THEM!.

Revenge!

It has been 18 months since the Great Raid on the Eastern March of the Midlands. When his anger is fresh and hot, a warrior's anger may cloud his judgement. 

Now, tempers have cooled and the damage made good. With summer approaching, the Duke's messengers have been dispatched to his nobles.......

" The dish is cold, it is time to eat!"

A Bit of Whimsy

 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! 

Call The Banners!

 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.)

There's likely to be a battle soon.

Fight For The Ford

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!