The Battle Of Totting Tower, Hex 144

A Fezian force under General Vorbis had got past the Beerstein outposts and was preparing to attack Totting Tower. A Beersteiner force under Tobias 'The Slow, which was finally moving towards the Fezian and Bogavanian border in the East came across, and captured, Vorbis's baggage wagons. Then Tobias turned his army to attack Vorbis's army.

Vorbis was known for his battlefield intelligence (although the strategic order to penetrate far into Beerstein territory to assault Totting Tower is a different matter). Vortis was able to predict Tonias's army placement and to intiate combat in his army's assaut on the Beersteiner positions. This was also on the reckless side but the only way to get back to Fezia; options were running out as he was np longer able to feed his army. 

On the other hand Vorbis lacked charisma or inspiration to his warriors. Add to that that part of his army included resentful conscripts from Aztecia and there were the dangers of cracks in army confidence showing.

BELOW: The Beerstein force has arrived after capturing the enemy wagons and cannons. (It is seen here around the outside of the gap - which is crossable. The force is kept tight and defensive until an opening can be found but the plate armoured Lobsters move forward. There is a unit of mounted knights in reserve on the field and a reserve unit of matchlock men off field guarding the recently captured booty and artillery; they never arrive as the battle ended on move five. Also in the force was a unit of mercenary Hill men spearmen, one of pike men, and a unit of matchlock men. In the tower was another unit of matchlock men and a cannon. These last played no role in the battle except for one shooting from the cannon which missed its target. In fact the Fezians mainly remained out of range of the tower.

To the left are the Fezians, consisting of four light infantry regiments, a unit of chainmail armoured spear men and two units of plate armoured horsemen..

                           The Beerstiener lines look strong.

                  When the Fezians won the initiative (due to re-rolls forced by Vorbis's superior battlefield intelligence) they charged forward. Seen here are Aztecs and Ebons.

                                                                Fezian Chainmail troops

                   After the Fezian cavalry makes a half move the Hill men charge them to protect the archers but after initial success the plate armoured Fezians push them back!

                       Chainmailed spearmen drive back the heavy, but less armoured pike.

   Then the Ebons and Aztecs piled in on the matchlock men. They were eager for revenge after their                                                     comrades had been shot down by matchlocks.

                                             Chainmail troops and Ebons both charge the Hill men who are savaged and a small remainder are forced to retreat.

     After some initial effective arrow volleys the archers had difficulty finding targets die to the melees in front of them.

                                   The matchlock men are in danger of being overwhelmed; even though they drove off the Ebons the Aztecs were ferocious and persistent. Then, the depleted and formerly defeated pike men rallied and charged in to save the musket men. This not the only turn of battle as the mounted knights charge the Fezian spear men from the flank and the Lobsters charge a unit of lights.

            The map shows 144 the site of Totting Tower. To the right at H 108 was the site for three battles with other Fezian forces. (The first was a minor Fezian victory, the second a Beerstein victory which drove the fezians away and the third a Fezian victory which drove off the Beerstiners after their commander was killed by a mini-comet).

                                When the Fezians lost well over half their forces the general fled. A small force of Fezians, with the general, flee the battlefield towards an ungarrisoned Beerstein village in H 162. 

                                                        The Beerstein Commander Tobias

                                                                   Vorbis (in white turban)

                                                                       A Beerstein flag

                                                             The view from Totting Tower

 AFTERMATH:

As the Fezians saw their commander flee a multitude of his warriors surrendered. Their future is uncertain.

Vorbis and a handful of plate armoured cavalry and light Ebons flee. They are lucky enough to head for a village presently without a garrison. How will the peasants welcome them? Are they seeking a way to the Bogavanian capital or perhaps they will cut through Fritzerland. Will the Fritz respnd aggressively to such an incursion through their neutral country?