Wesrock,The Bogavanian Capital, Teeters

King Long Shanks has entered the territory around the Bogavanian capital, Wesrock. His aim is to cross the River Mathgrad with a section of his force. There they are to build the siege tower to assault the castle. In the meantime the five cannon are to take positions on the North side of the River, along with the archers to provide cover fire and to begin firing on the castle. The se latter are out of range of the castle archers and matchlock men but not out of range of the castle's two cannons.

Longshank's plan is to establish his force and weaken the castle walls until an additional army, forom the Beersteiner capital, arrives in support. The other army has been marching along the coast of the Emerald Sea and has been resupplied by ship.

Below: The Bogavanians have their own plan and two columns charge forward to prevent the Beersteiners from crossing the river. A Beersteiner unit of Hillmen narrowly escapes being overwhelmed as it crosses the river and moves to the East away from the castle archers who have now found hem in range. Meanwhile the Beersteiner foot knights are attacked whilst still on the bridge. They fend off a charge of mounted knights and then an attack from Bogavanian Hillmen. Whilst, resolute in their defence of the bridge the melee has still held up the advance of the Bogavanian column.

                                         While this furious activity was ongoing a unit of Beerstein allied Mongol mounted archers rode close to the castle and let fly their arrows, killing the crew of a cannon in the West tower.

                                      Bogavanian peasant archers, after being repelled by the Beersteeiner Hillmen and enemy archersseeks refuge in their village.

                      Beersteiner artillery finally arrives on the filed and takes up position.

         The Son of the Hound led a column of medium knights. Despite his bravery the beerstiner archery proved too much and he retreated with the few remaining men.

                             Beersteiner forces are now positioned on the South side of the river.

                                     The siege tower wagons, after crossing the bridge comes under fire, resulting in two horses and two drivers killed, The dwarfs manage to push them clear of the bridge to enable  more troops to cross. They also suffer two casualties.

                            Beersteiner archers shoot at the castle archers, reducing their numbers.

                                           The pesky Mongols

                   Beersteiner cannon fire over the siege wagons and  reduce the castle wall to one structure point.

                               Darkness approaches: The view from the Bogavanian archers

                   The castle welcomes the approach of darkness but fears what the morrow will bring.

Conclusion: The Bogavanians could have waited in their castle but wished to prevent the Beersteiners gaining a foothold. The gamble did not come off as the beersteiners, largely out of range of enemy missile fire were sthen able to target the approaching Bogavanians who suffered severe casualties. Even the presence, in the battle of the Son of the Hound and the king's brother, Rylan, failed to turn the tide.  Bogavanian forces were also severely depleted by their attempt to dislodge the Beersteiners.

The remaining hope of the Bogavanians is a courier sent to the South to bring reinforcements from another army. In the meantime, however, other Beersteiner armies are converging on Castle Wesrock.


Game length: 15 moves that took four hours.

Game mechanics and scenario; All wheeled transport - supply wagons and siege weapons had to arrive by road and came on from reserve. This meant that the melee on the bridge delayed the Beersteiner advance. However, the Beersteiner forces, although outnumbering the Bogavanians, did not do so in such numbers as to countenance a successful assault on the castle. It was necessary to gain a foothold in preparation for he arrival of another army.