Revenge for a village

[Patrice]

Some pics and story of an "arthurian" adventure we played  three weeks ago at the "Salon de la maquette et de la figurine de Lorient".

It followed another game I mentioned here some months ago: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=45190.0

In the previous game, a village belonging to a SubRoman British lady had been taken and destroyed by an alliance of Saxons and Picts. Now the SubRoman British want revenge. After some diplomacy (off table…by internet… in the previous days) they decide to attack the Saxons, which are building a small fort near the coast.

SubRoman British players were "Owein Map Riwalaon", "The Lady", and "Octavius Gracius" a cavalry leader born in SubRoman Gaul; the Saxons were played by me (organizer/game master) and a new player "Aethelfrith".

Octavius and his cavalry enter table and quickly gallop along a forest edge. Owein's cavalry explore the plain, followed by Owein's infantry, carts and mules.





Owein's warriors capture Saxon civilians (random encounters in terrain elements).







The cavalry comes to a farm; the farmer had been reduced to slavery by the Saxons.
Some Saxon warriors run away.











The cavalry comes in view of the coast.
Now that they can see it, a small fort is then placed on the table by the game master.

Pictures of the whole table:





On a hill, a Saxon warrior in a watchtower blows an alarm horn.
Another horn answers in the fort, and the Saxon leader gives orders to his few men.






A new group of Saxons arrives on the table, behind a forest; and another small group on the old Roman road.
Some of Owein's and Octavius' warriors turn to face them.







The newly arrived Saxons enter a small wood, protected by their luggage;
Owein's cavalry hesitates to attack the other group in the large wood.

[Patrice]

Meanwhile, some of Owein's men have installed a "scorpio" dart-thrower at the farm edge,
and begin shooting at the small fort.
The Lady watches the machine with approbation.



Other men lead a mysterious cart to a hill not far from the fort...





…and they build an onager!



Some Saxons come out of the fort to attack this machine, but they are charged and destroyed by some of Octavius cavalry.





At the other end of the table, a small group of mounted Picts is coming.
Some SubRoman British cavalrymen go to meet them.



The Picts come in peace, and are escorted to the farm. They seem to have some diplomacy in mind.
Nobody will help the Saxons today!



Fightings in the woods near the farm.
Cavalrymen of Octavius charge the bigger Saxon group, go back, charge again…
each time a few Saxons fell, they cannot defend themselves effectively because some of Owein's infantry is on the flanks.







The other Saxon group, facing Owein's cavalry, decides to quit the table.



"Owein map Riwalaon" feels victory is near.



The onager still throw projectiles on the fort, without much effect…



…but the main body of the SubRoman British army walks to the fort!





They bring a cart full of dry wood, to set fire to the doors!
Not many Saxons are still alive in the fort; they cannot do anything,
the scorpio and the bowmen shoot at them if they appear on the battlements.







The desperate Saxon chief asks to fight a duel with Owein.
Owein accepts; all warriors form a circle to watch the fight.





Owein and the Saxon chief fight with courage.

Behind Owein, a celtic bard and a christian priest are chanting and praying…



Is there something in the chant, and the praying?
(it seems that Owein gains a slight advantage …to the dice…)
The Saxon chief is wounded and he must surrender.

[Sixmilletoe]

Excellent scenario! Love the climactic ending dual between the leaders, very believable. Thanks for sharing!

Chris

[axabrax]

Very cool! Are there larger pictures anywhere?

[magokiron]

Great AAR.

Looks like a fun and tense game.

Thanks for sharing.

[Patrice]

Are there larger pictures anywhere?

Larger pictures of the previous battle are here
https://plus.google.com/photos/104553899327656870315/albums/5778650225800940881
but the pictures also downloaded there for this second battle are already downsized.

One of the players put some larger pics here:
http://argad.forumculture.net/t598-reconquete-bretonne-en-pays-dumnonee

Anyway you'll be disappointed, most of our miniatures have been painted for battle, not for close-up pics!

[Croaker343]

That was a great battle report.   I can't wait for the next one.

[max]

Nice battle with a narrative, always more interesting.