The Fall Of The Bogavanian Capital Map Move 10

 The siege of the Bogavanian capital came to its conclusion. The forces of commander Tobia and Prince Leon received reinforcements as the arm of wizard, White Beard arrived from the East, after infiltrating Bogavanian territory.

BOGAVANIAN FORCES                                                     Survivors (including recovered wounded)

King Mathias                                                                          POW

Prince Vucic (brought back with POW exchange)                 POW

Commander Moldoff (still POW)                                           POW
9 Heavy Foot                                                                             0
8 Longbow                                                                              1 POW

14 Longbow                                                                              0
14 Matchlock                                                                            0
24 Crossbow                                                                             5 POW

8 Heavy Cavalry                                                                       0
8 Mounted Mercenary Bow                                                      0

5 Fezian Plate with halberds                                                     0

BEERSTEIN
Commander Tobias

Prince Leon

17 Pike                                                                                       17
17 Pike                                                                                       17

21 Matchlock                                                                             19

14 Matchlock                                                                               7

15 Musket                                                                                    9

8 Chainmail Cavalry                                                                    8

10 Mounted Plate Knights                                                          10

5 Cannons                                                                                     4 

2 Siege guns 24 crew for combined artillery                                2   (combined 20 artillerymen)

Wizard                                                                                         unconscious

WHITE BEARD

All units complete (24 infantry and 12 cavalry)

Matchlock                                                                                  24
Matchlock                                                                                  22
Matchlock                                                                                  22

Pike                                                                                            24

Pike                                                                                            24
Lobsters                                                                                     12

Hillmen Spears                                                                          22
Hillmen Two Handed axes                                                        22

The battle began with the Beersteiner forces winning the set up rule, making the Bogavanians set up first. The Bogavanian cavalry were outside the castle South wall. Other forces were on the battlements and in the courtyard, with most missile troops on the walls. Two cannons on the SW and NE towers were manned by a mix of artillerymen and infantry drawn from their regiments. (Other artillerymen were killed last battle).

  The Beersteiners then won the dice roll for first turn. The muskets and artillery commenced raking the castle battlements and quickly put the cannons out of use and reduced the enemy missile troops. Commander Tobias wizard promptly turned himself into a Mountain dragon (as he had for the last two battles).

Below: The King, Prince Vucic and a mixed force of heavy infantry fight the dragon.

 

                                          The Bogavanian flag flies proudly on the battlement.

                                                              Bogavanian crossbows

                                                  Bogavanian supply wagons block the gate.

   A lone last artilleryman mans a cannon but is shot down before he can get in a last shot. The dragon approaches.

                                          White Beard's army, including Hillmen mercenaries

                                            and Lobsters and pike

                                                Diminished crossbows on the Southern wall

                                          Longbows on the Eastern wall

                                                      White Beard's army

                               Beerstein artillery target the gate after mauling enemy crossbows

                     The Western wall. Beerstein muskets are reduced by Bogavanian shooting.

                                                             Bogavanian matchlock men

   The Bogavanian King and Prince Vucic charge the dragon. Vucic had been badly mauled by the same dragon in an earlier battle. This had led to him becoming a POW before being brought back in a prisoner exchange. He can be seen second from left. His complete plate armor conceals the burn marks from his earlier dragon encounter. King Matias is on the left. Together they weakened the dragon, penetrating his scales and cutting through the beast's ankle. the astonished wizard/creature stumbled, and the men rushed to stab and hack at it until it fell dead. (As the wizard has an extra life) he is just unconscious and will recover as a wizard).

This was a stirring and heroic fight but even as the dragon was slain White Beard's pikemen climbed over the wagons. The gate had been destroyed by Beersteiner artillery and the pikemen carried a portable bridge to cross the moat). (On the Northern wall artillery had created a breech in the wall but the troops there did not have the means of crossing the moat.
   The few survivors were captured as the battle ended on move thirteen. A number were skewered by Beersteiner pikes before White Beard called a halt to the carnage. He honored the brave leaders that were now his prisoners.

  Beersteiner casualties were relatively light although one of Prince Leon's musket units fled after suffering more than most. One cannon also misfired and blew up. killing the three crewmen.

  Forty Bogavanian credits and seven wagons also fell into Beerstein hands.