Lunch? Of course not. What do you think I am? I'll just burn them to death.
More victims
Beersteiner forces advance on the retreating Fritz.
It was going to be very iffy. The Beersteiner relief force was composed of cavalry and a sorcerer (the turncoat, Pobis). The enemy force had strong anti-cavalry elements.
Matt deployed his forces in a strong close ranked arc. However, he anticipated the wrong place for the enemy's arrival. Most of the Beersteiners appeared behind his troops! I couldn't believe it! My cavalry could charge right into the rear ranks of his pike and others that were all facing the castle.
In another twist Mat, due to his provisional commander's superior (supposedly) battlefield Intelligence, he was able to make me re-roll the set up first and first move rolls. He still failed on the set up, which was crucial but then he made me re-roll the first move dice and Mat won. This meant he was able to turn to face the newcomers.
I did have some nice dirty tricks up my sleeve, though.
BELOW: Later in the battle the castle garrison mounted troops, confident in a change in the tide of battle, lower the drawbridge and charge out to capture an enemy cannon. (Previously they would have been mown down by archery). That's an old Warhammer flag.
The forces of Fritzerland look formidable.
The Beersteiner cavalry arrive. (Pieces of paper around the board edge indicated possible arrivals or blanks).
Beersteiner heavy cavalry (here, unusually, in blue) charge the enemy plate armored knights but are eventually destroyed after two or three moves.
On the second attempt the wizard, Pobis, transforms into a fire dragon. He suffered a wound, in the process, but as a dragon he was able to easily survive it.
The Fritz in retreat: four wagons escaped and the rest other three were captured.
Fritz pike retreat to fight another day.
Beersteiner heavy cavalry hold up both the frits plate knights and the bowmen in a frenzied melee. In the end only two of these Beersteiners survived, before fleeing. However, they had inflicted casualties on both knights and bowmen and had delayed the enemy long enough for the dragon to arrive and blowtorch the lot of them. Although, a vicious mauling, most of these Fritz escaped. I can make this seem smart now but I actually forgot about these men and left them to be charged! I was too excited by what was happening elsewhere!
Pobis Dragon grins, that his magic was so great. That he had fought for a new master,and former enemy, was incidental.
The Beersteiner garrison cheer their rescuers. The matchlock men in the tower also cheered and they had got revenge on the enemy crossbowmen as they fired, repeatedly, into their ranks.
Prince Leon proudly surveys the results of his rescue mission.
COURSE OF THE BATTLE
The appearance of a massive dragon must have been disheartening for the Fritz, more so when he flamed their mounted knights, bowmen, artillery crew and foot knights.
However, the initial fatal blow was the death of their leader, Virggo Ozlander. The relief force mounted knights charged the unit the provisional commander led, and, without plate armor, he died quickly! The Fritz army then had to dice to see the result; the army had to retreat for three moves! Those already in melee continued to fight but the rest fled and kept going even after the designated three moves. The dragon and cavalry then played rolls in harassing the fleeing troops.
CONSEQUENCES
As Virggo still had a life left he is actually now a prisoner. The Fritz wizard, who had still been unconscious, is also a captive. All Fritz artillery has been captured, along with three wagons and supplies. The escaping Fritz army is still capable but has had its strength greatly reduced with a number of units destroyed or reduced.
As the victor, the Beersteiners losses were less but included a complete cavalry unit of heavy cavalry and another almost halved. because mat's fritz army vacated the field it gets back only a quarter of casualties and the Beersteiners get half back. A complete list will be published in another post.
Meanwhile, Prince Leon has received a pigeon message that his own castle is under siege by the determined Fritz! Right now, his army must organize.
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