Boer vs. Avan #63

[DM B]

Kaven requests the presence of him and the cavalry he's leading in any major confrontations. His knowledge of the surrounding area is probably better than Kaven's, so would be a major asset. The fact that the army will have a major cavalry presence another.

You didn't answer the question. Is he to join with the main army as it marches towards Carrida?

[DM B]

Forcing a siege near a friendly castle, would also be a notable asset. Is it in any way possible to break the siege before enemy reinforcements arrive?

What enemy reinforcements? You only know Boer's army went west to join with the army besieging Carrida. So far that is the ONLY enemy force you have track on...and you light cav reports that they are all gathered in Carrida now, not far from the Baron's castle (and not far from the bridge either)

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

You didn't answer the question. Is he to join with the main army as it marches towards Carrida?

Yes. That was just my odd way of formulating that.

What enemy reinforcements? You only know Boer's army went west to join with the army besieging Carrida. So far that is the ONLY enemy force you have track on...and you light cav reports that they are all gathered in Carrida now, not far from the Baron's castle (and not far from the bridge either)

I'm just preparing for the worst, y'know.
Let's fight the enemy near the castle if possible.

[DM B]

Things work out pretty much as planned:

Ser Tael joins his cavalry to the main army, greatly augmenting your cavalry contingent (it is not BIG or anything, but at least you have SOME cavalry now).

The outriders/scouts report back; there are no enemy detachments or armies hidden elsewhere in the province.

Ser Maelcom manages to secure the bridge after some fierce fighting with Brosen regulars who eventually retreat to the southern bank.

The main battle takes place on the plain northeast of Caer Carr. Unlike your previous engagement, this one offers no special advantages to either side in terms of terrain. THe enemy has constructed some siege works facing the castle, but has yet to build very many field fortifications facing outwards, so they gain no special benefit from them (other than that they make a sally much more difficult).

The enemy has close to sixty units now that he's joined is field army with his besieging force, but those sixty include some pretty banged-up units from your previous engagement (and some of those units have fought two major battle before THAT). But don't get too optimistic, as the enemy took fewer casualties in Barisen than did your own side.

The enemy army is still commanded by Baron Bacaele; no sign of the Boer standard, nor that standard of Khaiarén (of Rivien). Primarily infantry as before, with a tendency to heavy and shock type infantry. A small cavalry force is held in reserve (it is about half the size of your cavalry now that you have Ser Brosuine).

The enemy deployment is fairly traditional and defensively minded, well suited for a retreat towards the north or west.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Ser Maelcom instructs for the provision of defensive measures at the bridge with both the securing of the access across the bridge but also the fortification of the northern bank in case of an attempt to use it by retreating forces. He also considers the possibility of, and starts to arrange for, destroying and/or damaging the bridge should it be required in order to pin or hold enemy forces in position, specifically with fire to remove wooden support structures or the such like, though this will not be utilised yet, merely prepared.

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

1st Echelon Left Flank:
Ser Tael Brosuine (Commander):
Dragoons Vet Diemed
Dragoons Vet Diemed
Lion Outriders 1st Ghieste Mercs W
Lion Outriders 2nd Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Scouts Ghieste Mercs E

Left Wing:
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Pikes skilled Avanil merc W
Pikes skilled Avanil merc OK
Pikes Veteran Avanil (NEW) OK
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc E
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) OK
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) OK

Center:
Baron Kaven Enlien (General): Field marshal (i.e. acting battlefield commander)
Halberdiers Veteran Avanil (NEW) OK
Regulars skilled Avanil merc OK
Pikes skilled Avanil merc E
Pikes Skilled Endier E
Crossbowmen Skilled Endier E
Lion Crossbows 1st Ghieste Merc E
Lion Crossbows 2nd Ghieste Merc E
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc W
Crossbows Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Crossbows Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Crossbows Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) OK
 
Right Wing:
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) OK
Pikes Diemed Mercs W
Pikes Veteran Roesone W
Pikes Veteran Avanil (NEW) OK
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc E
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) OK
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) OK

Right Flank:
Ser Hadrian (Commander): Veteran Avanese commander (Prince's own guards)
Knights Legendary Avanil (NEW) OK In the reserve
Dragoons Diemed Mercs
Dragoons Diemed Mercs
Outriders Diemed Mercs
Outriders Diemed Mercs

2nd Echelon Left Wing:
Regulars skilled Avanil merc W
Regulars skilled Avanil (NEW) W
Lion Regular 2nd Ghieste Mercs E


Center:
Balistae Raw Ilien OK
Artillerists Elite Avanil (NEW) W - Ordered to "assisst the Balistae" (take control and add their bonuses)
Archers Veteran Medoere OK
Lion Armsmen 1st Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Armsmen 2nd Ghieste Mercs W
Lion Regular 5th Ghieste Mercs W

Right Wing:
Regulars skilled Avanil (NEW) W
Regulars skilled Avanil (NEW) W
Halberdiers Skilled Endier E
Swordsmen Veteran Roesoen E

3rd Echelon Center
Prince Darien Avan (General): Supreme commander (Does he fight?)
Regulars Green Diemed E
Regulars Diemed Mercs E
Lion Regular 3rd Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Regular 6th Ghieste Mercs E
Regulars skilled Avanil merc E
Regulars skilled Avanil merc E


Detachment (Bridge) - Ordered secure/destroy bridge and link up with main army after the completion of their mission:
Ser Maelcom (General): Ghieste contingent commander.
Archers Diemed Mercs W
Archers Diemed Mercs W
Lion Mt. Armsmen Ghieste Mercs B
Mounted Armsmen Veteran Avanil E
Mounted Armsmen Crack Avanil (NEW) OK In the reserve


Arraying the forces to meet the Boer's men, Kaven orders crossbowmen to take to the front, while the sides are made up of the fresh Partisans and pikemen.
Behind them, regulars form up, ready to storm to the fore, when the enemy closes, or a line appears close to the breaking point.

It is the wish of the Field Marshal, that the center closes distance, while irregulars harrass the enemy, and then keep up a steady rate of crossbowfire, focusing on the enemy center trying to pin them down or cause so many casualties, that a counter-assault from the enemy can be succesfully contained. Kaven will join the halberdiers attempting to assist the crossbowmen.
Since he understands the right flank to be the one closest to enemy territory, the legendary knights attack there should hopefully help create panic, as the foe now knows retreat into Brosengae is barred and loosing the right flank (our right) means there's no retreat into Boeruine either, the will be forced to the coast.

Click here for map.

EDIT:
Mistook Irregulars as skirmishers... they are not to act as cannonfodder, and have been redeployed in the 1st ranks instead.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Under the new orders, with the bridge secured and the battle due to commence, Ser Maelcom makes all haste to damage the bridge, utilising the horsepower with him to pull down supports and pillars if necessary, before returning with alacrity to the field.

[DM B]

Avan orders his knights and mounted armsmen into the Reserve; he's seen what YOU do with Knights, send them without support into rough terrain. Anyway, he is a prince, and must have his guard.

Other than that...good to go.

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

Kaven asks permission from the Prince, to offer the foe a chance to surrender and leave the battlefield unharmed (not that he's counting on it), as well as offer any Brosen lords the opportunity to renew their fealty to the Prince.

[DM B]

The Westerners are not interested; and none of the men of Brosengae is in any position to bow out. Perhaps you'll have more success away from the battlefield.

The armies clash together...

[DM B]

I like your maps, but do use the Cavalry symbol for cav...current your using the infantry X to represent cav. Slightly confusing.

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

Most certainly. I couldn't remember if it was one or two diagonal lines... I'll amend that in the future.

[DM B]

Deployment:

The enemy sends out some light infantry to harass the deployment of the army, but they are quickly discouraged by crossbow fire and fall back to their own lines.

Opening moves:

The Avanese (i.e. the Ghieste/Roesone/Diemed/Avanil army) advance steadily towards the enemy, firing heavy barrages of crossbow bolts as they advance. Despite the volume of fire you fail to do much damage to the formed ranks of the enemy's regulars and armsmen.

Losses among your own 1st echelon is rather heavier as the enemy goes to rapid fire and sustained with their longbows, a feat possible only because they must have stockpiled extra arrows here for the siege. Losses are particularly bad among the units of the Left Wing, causing its advance to lose momentum and fall behind the rest of the army. Ser Brosuine, rather than see his light cavalry cut down by longbow fire orders his horse to fall back behind the Left Wing, creating a gap in the lines between the left and the river/Maelcom's bridge force.

In the center and the right losses are much lighter, due to a lack of archers in the enemy ranks. THere seems to be quite a few skirmishers in the enemy left, but their firepower is not on the level of Baron Bacaele's elite longbows.

[DM B]

Contact:

The two centers clash and start the steady work of killing and pushing. There will be no decision here.

The Avanese right proves most capable, having suffered comparatively little from missile fire, they more or less immediately gain the upper hand. Moreover the Avanese cavalry quickly envelops the enemy flank, adding to the enemy's hardship.

The Avanese left wing is shattered by a strong Boer counter-charge. Already weakened by heavy losses their morale gives and they break and flee, abandoning much of their equipment in their hast to be away.

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

"Hold firm men of Avanil, men of the east!" Kaven shouts, bashing a probing spear into the earth with his shield and severing the shaft with a quick chop from his sword, before stepping back into the ranks of the halberdiers to allow for better time to get an overview while their polearms holds the enemy at bay.
With orders, he attempts to direct fire from the archers into Boer's unit on his left, waving his sword to indicate the need for reinforcement to box up the center and avoid being overrun on the flank.

Bawling to the sergeants behind him to relay his words, he attempts tp order the cavalry under Ser Brosuine to race to tha aid of the cavalry on the right and overrun the enemy flank, then he turns to the fight once more raising his voice to the sky as he prays for Haelyns blessing to support the men around him, as they hold the enemy at bay.

Click here for map.