Chronica Iohannes: Combat at Blar a'callaid

We had another game in our Dux Campaign, Thursday week. This time Adam called for a battle. I usually arrive at the Hobby Bunker first and set up the terrain. I really try to set up a symmetric battlefield that does not favour either side. We then dice for which edge we want. This time I set up the field with a fence with two major gaps and two gates running along the long axis of the board. When Adam arrived we added some stone walls to it to give some hard cover. It was an interesting game which was a little more tactical and less bloody then our recent games. A usual you can see an excellent AR with photos on Adam's blog the Fencing Frog.

I have been having a tough time with the pre-battle phase in our last two games and again my Champion Cyneric came out wounded, giving Adam a boost in his morale and some extra combat dice.

The Saxons rapidly advanced their warriors to the wall, while try to flank the Britons to their right and get over the wall. Fortunately the Britons were able to bring up their levies and for a quick sheildwall.

Towards the middle the Saxons had some initial success but my elites and warriors were able to counter attack and drive them back. A battle of attrition ensued in the middle with attack and counterattack. The Britons got the better of this but the outcome was still in doubt. By now the Saxons were able to get their elites over the fence and threaten my warriors flank from their left. I slowly wheeled them backwards and was able to form a shield wall.

By this time the Saxons centre was undone and they decided to withdraw. The Britons contested the withdrawal. The retreat-pursuit cards were equal. I had a slight advantage in men lost and had two points for the victory. But more importantly I had killed two Saxon nobles giving me the magic 5+ victory. I am now allowed to upgrade one of my units. Certainly this will be a unit of warriors so I now have two units of elites.

We then went into the post-battle process. Adam threw a 3, so his men will take 6 months to recover their full strength. As the Britons had lost the province of Caterick the previous summer, I decided to lay siege to my lost province. I threw a 2, so Caterick was recaptured in October 554, 15 months after it was originally captured.

Iohannes returned to his great hall, to celebrate he hires a bard to sing his praises and strengthens his province with a hill fort.

On to March 555, with a much strengthened force of "Men of the North".