Battle of the Endless Woods Part 1

There are a lot of woods in Bogavania so maybe it should be called Woodavania!
The Beersteiners have been slogging through the forest and the Bogavanians have been seeking crossings for the River Mooton. Both armies have been slowed, although the Bogavanian deployment was somewhat staggered as a result of the river crossing.

The photos show where we are at move seven. Matt and I have decided on 18 moves and a dice roll to decide if it continues D6 extra moves. At this point Matt's halberd armed knights have pushed the Beersteiner knights out of the heavy forest and his Easterner heavy mounted archers are inflicting superior casualties on my crusaders. My berserkers are chafing at the bit as they have been stymied by the charge of my mounted crusaders which has stopped them getting into battle. On the other flank my foot crusaders have suffered casualties from the Bogavanian archers that have just entered the forest. This has occurred despite the cover of the forest.

Both sides have been nervous about the behaviousr of the Sell Swords. Matt's Bogavanian army included two units of mercenary Hill Men (Vikings) who have been behaving disloyally. His Hill Men bowmen came back to the fold but a large unit of sword and shiled men are marching to join the enemy. The Beersteiner's far more numerous Hill men have so far remained true to their salt, which is a nice change.
                                                     Bogavanian forces cross the river.

                                          Beerstein forces march trhough the woods/

                                         Matt's Bogavanians search for crossings.

                                          beersteiners

           View from the Beersteiners. (The forest is represented by only a few trees to allow movement).

                                            Bogavanian river crossing

                                          Beersteiners

                                            Bogavanians cross the river.

                                   

                                       
                                       

                                          Beersteiners move forward to intercept the Bogavanians.

                                             Bogavanians

                                          Beersteiners

             Bogavanian Fezian heavy mounted archers on the hill and Beersteiners in the foreground.

                                         Clash between fezians and Beersteiner crusaders

       Beersteiner Hill Men spear men in the centre disgracefully about faced and marched off the field.

                                          Bogavanians

                                       Heavies clash, inthis case Beersteiners on the left.

                                          Fezians win their melee.

                 Hill Men axe men slice and dice Fezian halberd men but they are eventually overwhelmed/

                            The heavies push each other back one way and then the other way.

      Beersteiner foot make short work of light arhers but are then destroyed by Bogavanian mounted.

                 Bogavanian survivors of the stoush in the forest are about to be wiped out.

                         Bogavanian peasants flee Hill men beserkers who are now busy escorting Fezian prisoners, the Hill men's rage apparently abated.

                                           Bogavanian archers refrain from further shooting to avoid hitting captives of the Hill Men.

                                          beersteiner captives led away by Bogavanian mounted knights.

                                         Beersteiner archers prepare their position.

Matt and I decided to wind up the game after 15 moves and over four hours play. We decided victory would be based on points for each unit off the board rather than counting individual figures and territory acquired. Matt had narrowly more points for units destroyed although he had many greatly diminished units left. We each had had two units of mercenaries desert including one of mat;s which marched to join my army and which he destroyed with mounted knights. Matt had one quarter of the board, I had two and one quarter was in dispute. In the end we were virtually identical in points and the battle was declared a draw with a second battle of these armies to take place next week.