Battle at Mearcred creek

[GM Craig]

The beaten spearmen withdraw from you, turning and running towards their own lines. Sir Amig belows, "Hold your positions!" Then, you see a gap open before you. The fleeing spearmen start to run afoul of their own lines and get bogged down. Then, unexpectedly, Sir Amig bellows, "Charge! Charge them!"

The other knights spur their steeds on, and you advance over the field littered with bodies towards the fleeing spearmen.

As you break into a charge, a unit of Javeliners steps up to support the spearmen.


Battle Zone Chart

Zone	Zone Name	Intensity Modifier
4	First Rank	+5

Army Intensity
Opening Intensity: 27
Player Unit Triumph: -2
Battlefield Events: +2
Overall Army Intensity: 27

Unit Intensity
Army Intensity: 27
Battle Zone: +10
Unit Cohesion: 0 (Normal)
Terrain (creek): +5
Actions last round: -2
Total Unit Intensity: 40

Opponent	Combat Info	Armor, Shield	MW	Glory	Notes
Spearmen in red armour	Great Spear 10 (6d6)	4 Leather	16	10	-
javelineers	Javelin 15 (3d6)	none	14	8	They run if attacked, Dex 9

You are charging, giving an additional +5 to your spear expertise skill.

Decide how to split your attack skill. The javelineers are behind the spearmen, so you must attack the spearmen first. The spearmen are running away, so have not set for a charge.

Rolls Required:
Attack Roll (Spear Expertise): +10 to effective skill (cannot get a charge bonus with sword, so keep that in mind if you use your sword)
Damage if you succeed (use steed damage)
Horsemanship roll: You are leaving the creek, so the -5 is gone. (Rodric is -5 due to having a passenger on his mount).
[/quote]

[Cedwyn]

At the orders charge, Cedwyn took a spear from his Squire and spurred Peredur into a full gallop. He leveled the spear at the Saxon spearman to run him through. He planne to use the momentum of the charge to run through a javelineer as well.

As Cedwyn felt the wind running through his hair he called out, "die Saxon dogs! "

[Split attack. 5 Split Base (15) on the Spearman. Roll=20 (Fail). 5 Split Base (15 total) on the javelineer. Javelineer role=6. Success! Javelineer damage roll = 25. Horsemanship = 6.]

[GM Craig]

Remember, bonuses apply after the split. So, you split your 15, then add the charge bonus and mounted bonus to each.

[Geoffrey]

Rodric spurred on his mount at the call to charge.

"Hold on!" he said to his squire as he lowered his spear.

[OOC: Splitting attacks, 6 to the first, 5 to the second so rolling against 16 & 15.
Roll 1 result: 15 (success), Damage 13
Roll 2 result: 3 (success), Damage 16
Horsemanship roll: 14]

[GM Craig]

Round 6

Player	Roll	Roll	Target	Player Result
Rodric	15	19 (fail)	Spearmen in red armour	Spearman takes (13-8) 5 damage
Rodric	3	11 (win)	Javalineer	Rodric takes (13-4) 8 damage
Cedwyn	20 (fumble)	18 (fail)	Spearmen in red armour	Cedwyn's spear breaks
Cedwyn	6	3	Javalineer	Javlineer hit for 25 damage
Gwyn	18 (fail)	15 (fail)	Spearmen in red armour	Both miss
Gwyn	15	9	Javalineer	Javelin miss, javelineer hit for 20 damage

The javelins fly. Rodric gets hit, but manages to stay in the saddle (barely). Given the damage he is taken, Sir Rodric is very nearly beaten senseless. Still, he surges forward and hits the fleeing spearman. This fellow appears injured from your previous bout with them, and goes down. [14 Glory]

Cedwyn is missed by a javelin, and charges the fleeing spearman. He misses the strike, and shatters his spear. Fortunately, the fleeing spearman is too worried about his own life to mount an effective counter attack, and misses. Cedwyn carries past the spearman to slam into suddenly fleeing javelineer, and takes him down easily. [13 Glory]

Gwyn is narrowly missed by a javelin, and it throws him off so he misses the mark on the fleeing spearman. The counterattack goes wide, and Gwyn carries on to the javelineer, running him through. The javelineer goes down. [15 Glory]

[OOC: Status:
Gwyn 17/25 hp
Rodric 7/26

If Rodric falls below 7, he will be unconscious. If he falls below zero, he's dead.]

I'll post the next round shortly. You've been fighting for 6 hours.

[GM Craig]

Sir Amig's charge carried you farther into the Saxon army. You are past their front-line units, which spells some relief for you.

Elsewhere, the battle grinds to a standstill, which given your recent reversals, is actually good news. Tattered lines start to firm up, and Uther's forces hold their ground. Your lines still look like a rolling wave, but at least they have stopped being pushed back. For your part, Sir Amig's bold charge has driven a wedge deep into the Saxon lines. Your unit is in danger of being cut off and surrounded, but enemy resistance has definitely been reduced.

Sir Amig waves his spear and orders you to press the attack. The hapless spearman you have been engaged with for over an hour now continue to be your target. This time however, the spearmen are being reinforced by an oddity - saxon warriors carrying shields and words. Sir Amig points his spear at Sir Rodric. "Take only one, Sir Rodric!" It chafes a little to be told to hold back, but Sir Rodric must admit his strength is nearly spent.

Battle Zone Chart

Zone	Zone Name	Intensity Modifier
7	Enemy 3rd Rank	+5

Army Intensity
Opening Intensity: 27
Player Unit Win: -1
Battlefield Events: +1
Overall Army Intensity: 27

Unit Intensity
Army Intensity: 27
Battle Zone: +5
Unit Cohesion: 0 (Normal)
Terrain (creek): 0
Actions last round: -1
Total Unit Intensity: 31

Opponent	Combat Info	Armor, Shield	MW	Glory	Notes
Spearmen in red armour	Great Spear 10 (6d6)	4 Leather	16	10	-
Shield Warriors	Sword 5 (5d6)	Cuirbouilli (8 ) Shield (6)	18	10	-

Sir Amig will take three opponents to cover off Rodric only taking one. Ken, pick which opponent you want Rodric to fight - a spearman or a shield warrior.

The rest of you are fighting two opponents. The injured spearmen, and a shield warrior. Split your attack skill appropriately.

Tactical Notes:
1. You do not have to attack both your targets, but you will be attacked by 2. Note the shield warrior skill - you might be OK ignoring them.
2. If your effective skill is 20 or better, you cannot miss. If your effective skill is greater than 20, add the surplus beyond 20 to the die roll. Any result equal to or greater than 20 is a crit.

Rolls Required:
Attack Roll (Spear Expertise or Sword): +5 to effective skill (after you split your skill if you choose to split it)
Damage if you succeed (use steed damage for spear, use personal damage for sword)
Horsemanship roll: (Rodric is -5 due to having a passenger on his mount).

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn charged forward yelling yet another battle cry, sword aloft in his hand and gleaming in the mid-day sun. Fortunately, God was with Cedwyn this time, and he able to strike against the filthy, vile Saxons invading the land of the Britons. He managed to get what felt like a satisfying hit on the spearman. He continued but was unable to connect against sword holder.

[Rolls: Split sword skill: base 10 (15) to spearman; 5 (10) to sword-holders. Spearman attack: 11. Success. Sword-Holder: 15. Failure. DMG to Spearman: 16. Horsemanship: 9]

[Geoffrey]

Rodric wasn't exactly pleased to have been ordered to only go after one opponent, it meant Sir Amig had to pick up his slack.  But he understood, he would need a long while to heal from his injuries already, and above all, he was a knight and would follow the orders of his superior.

Drawing his sword he held it high as they rode into the line of saxons.

[OOC: Attack on Spearman: 11 (success), Damage: 19, Horsemanship roll: 2]

[GM Craig]

Round 7

Player	Roll	Roll	Target	Player Result
Rodric	11	2	Spearmen in red armour	Spearman takes (19-4) 15 damage
Cedwyn	11	6	Spearmen in red armour	Spearman takes (16-4) 12 damage
Cedwyn	15 (fail)	5 (crit)	Shield Warriors	Cedwyn takes (22-8) 14 damage
Gwyn	6	16 (fail)	Spearmen in red armour	Spearman takes (26-4) 22 damage
Gwyn	15 (fail)	16 (fail)	Shield Warriors	both miss

Rodric gets a good, solid swing in and brings down the wounded spearman. Cedwyn likewise brings down the spearman, but in so doing the shield warrior catches him on a flank and scores a serious hit. Cedwyn manages to stay in the saddle, however. Gwyn brings down his spearman, and both Gwyn and the shield warrior miss their attacks.

Elsewhere, your unit does very well, despite facing off against two opponents. Overwall, this engagement has been a triumph. Sir Amig orders you to advance, and the wedge you have driven into the Saxon lines goes deeper, but the risk of you becoming encircled increases! "On, forward!" he orders.

[OOC: Status:
Gwyn 17/25 hp
Rodric 7/26 hp
Cedwyn 14/28 hp

I'll post the next round shortly. You've been fighting for 7 hours.

Rodric gets 10 Glory. Cedwyn gets 15 Glory. Gwyn gets 15 Glory

[GM Craig]

Sir Amig's daring move has driven your wedge through the Saxon lines into their rear! Your success has helped bolster the rest of the army. Though they remains bogged down fighting the Saxons, their lines firm up a little, and the tatters begin to repair. For the first time, it appears you have room to breathe. You are still engaged, but the pressure has lessened significantly.

Sir Amig, suddenly free to manoeuvre somewhat, orders you to wheel tot he right. "Turn around! Attack their rear! Hold on knights! We'll break them yet!"

As a unit, you wheel to the right and move to engage the enemy rear rank, where you see a group of lightly armed javelineers throwing their weapons into the general melee.

Battle Zone Chart

Zone	Zone Name	Intensity Modifier
8	Enemy rear	+5

Army Intensity
Opening Intensity: 27
Player Unit Triumph: -3
Battlefield Events: -1
Overall Army Intensity: 23

Unit Intensity
Army Intensity: 23
Battle Zone: +0
Unit Cohesion: 0 (Normal)
Terrain: 0
Actions last round: -3
Total Unit Intensity: 20

Opponent	Combat Info	Armor, Shield	MW	Glory	Notes
Javelineer	Dex 9	None	14	8	-

These guys are only equipped with javelins, and you're in melee range. Their only option is to sprint away, with a 9 dex. You cannot charge at this point, because you are still engaged.

Rolls Required:
Attack Roll (Spear Expertise or Sword): +5 to effective skill (after you split your skill if you choose to split it)
Damage if you succeed (use steed damage for spear, use personal damage for sword)
Horsemanship roll: (Rodric is -5 due to having a passenger on his mount).

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn stuck with his sword, blood dripping from the sharp-edged weapon.

He swung at the first javelineer he could reach and felt a satisfying snick and meaty slicing sound as his sword bit deep.

[sword: 15 skill plus 5 bonus. Roll: 8. success! Dmg=18. Horsemanship: 13]

[Geoffrey]

Rodric swung his sword at one the javelineers, his sword singing as it moved through the air towards his target.

[OOC: Attack on Javelineer: 20 (success, crit!), Damage: 18 (*2 = 36), Horsemanship: 1 (a critical success?)]

[GM Craig]

Round 8

Player	Roll	Roll	Target	Player Result
Rodric	20 (crit)	6	Javelineer	Javelineer takes 36 damage
Cedwyn	8	4	Javelineer	Javelineer takes 18 damage
Gwyn	10	15 (fail)	Javelineer	Javelineer takes 22 damage

Your unit ploughs into the javelineers. Only peasants, they turn and try to run away, but get bogged down in their own troops and start to panic. You unit hits them hard, and decimates their formation in a triumph.

[OOC: Status:
Gwyn 17/25 hp
Rodric 7/26 hp
Cedwyn 14/28 hp

I'll post the next round shortly. You've been fighting for 8 hours.

Rodric gets 8 Glory. Cedwyn gets 8 Glory. Gwyn gets 8 Glory

[GM Craig]

Battle Zone Chart

Zone	Zone Name	Intensity Modifier
7	Enemy 3rd Rank	+5

Army Intensity
Opening Intensity: 23
Player Unit Triumph: -10
Battlefield Events: -4
Overall Army Intensity: 9

Unit Intensity
Army Intensity: 9
Battle Zone: +5
Unit Cohesion: 0 (Normal)
Terrain: 0
Total Unit Intensity: 14

The panic of the fleeing Javelineers spreads like ripples through the Saxon army, as warriors all over the battle start to look to their rear for fear of being attacked from behind. Uthers troops respond, and your lines firm up and even begin advancing. Your unit is still dangerously exposed. Sir Amig, sensing the way the wind of battle is blowing, waves his spear. "Pull back! Hold the line and pull back!"

If this is successful, you will be able to charge the enemy rear. However, if this fails, you'll be behind enemy lines and cut off from support.

As you pull back, a group of spearmen follow you, keeping you engaged.

Opponent	Combat Info	Armor, Shield	MW	Glory	Notes
Spearmen	Great Spear 20 (5d6)	Leather (4)	17	10	-

Because you are executing a "Pull Back" manoeuvre, all combat skills have a -5 penalty to the effective skill, which cancels out your +5 mounted bonus. However, if you win or triumph, you'll be able to charge into the enemy rear next round.

Rolls Required:
Attack Roll (Spear Expertise or Sword)
Damage if you succeed (use steed damage for spear, use personal damage for sword)
Horsemanship roll: (Rodric is -5 due to having a passenger on his mount).

[Geoffrey]

Rodric took a swing as his mount pulled back, but the movement was enough to throw the knight off balance slightly and cause his swing to go wide.

[OOC: Attack result:18 (failure), Horsemanship roll:1.  Great roll if he get's hit, but too bad if Rodric so much as sneezes he'll go unconscious. ]