Photo by Jim Pitts
There's no snow in Mississippi! Here is what everyone in central Mississippi awoke to on the morning of this game. It had melted by noon, and did not accumulate on the roads in Jackson - but it was pretty while it lasted!
Jackson Gamers' 25mm Medieval Battle The Grove of the Badger King
This game was played with parts of the 25mm armies of Jim Pitts, Robert Whitfield and Jay Stribling. During the time of Charlemagne, groups of Druids came together in an attempt to save their religion from the Christian government of Charlemagne and also to keep his tax collectors away from their land. They rallied around their sacred grove of trees (Druids worshipped trees) known as "The Grove of the Badger King." Charlemagne brought in the forces of his local Frankish barons to smash these "tree-huggers."
We used the "Rules by Ral" to play this game. Sean Pitts devised the scenario and was the Game-master.
Photo by Ed Sansing
The Frankish commanders
Photo by Ed Sansing
A closer shot of some of Bill's troops
Photo by Ed Sansing
Some of Jay's forces lined up ready for the attack.
Photo by Ed Sansing
A close shot of one of my units.
Photo by Ed Sansing
About 2 turns into the fight. 2 of my units move around from behind the hill and face Bill's archers. 1 of my 2 peasant units occupying the sacred can be seen at the far left.
Photo by Ed Sansing
On our far right Jim's troops successfully hold the river against Bill's pikemen and cavalry.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Fighting around the sacred grove
Photo by Ed Sansing
Fighting on the Saxon right. Jim is holding Bill's forces at the river.
Photo by Ed Sansing
A close-up of the fighting. The casualties were heavy on both sides.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Some of Jay's peasant's wait at the bottom of the hill, taunting my peasants who are holding the grove. Some of Jay's yeomen are finishing the destruction of Larry Reeves' units.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Jay's forces sweep around the flank and begin to assault the hill.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Jay's peasant's attack the sacred grove. In this rules set, only peasants can enter woods. Fortunately, one of the two units garding the sacred woods was tempted by an open Frankish flank (Frank flankish?) and charged out of the woods, where it was cut up by the Frank yeomanry. Yeomen make up the majority of the armies in this rules set.
There were two carefully horded Frankish peasant units that, after the supporting Saxon yeomen had be cleared out of the way, were sent into the woods and routed the last Druids out, giving victory to the great king, Charlemagne.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The Saxon battleline including the hill containing the sacred Grove to the Badger King. Jim Pitts commanded the Saxon right flank; Ed Sansing the center; and Larry Reeves the left flank.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The Frankish battleline. Jay Stribling commanded Franks' the right wing and Bill Hamilton commanded the left wing.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Action on the Saxon right flank as Frankish cavalry and infantry attempt to cross the Badger Stream. This started a long slugfest that turned the stream waters red with the mingled blood of Frankish and Saxon warriors.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The slugfest on the Saxon right continues as more units are thrown into the fray, only to fall beneath the swords and spears of their foes.
Photo by Jim Pitts
In a final push, some Frankish infantry and cavalry finally get across, bu they are slaughtered almost to a man. Of course the Saxons don't fare much better
Photo by Jim Pitts
At the bitter end, the last of the Franks fall to the last of the Saxons. But while this fight was going on, the Saxon left wing, under the command of Larry Reeves, was slaughtered to the last man and the Franks captured the sacred hill and grove.
Gamemaster -- Sean Pitts
So - Who won this game?
Franks -- Jay Stribling and Bill Hamilton
Saxons -- Ed Sansing, Larry Reeves, and Jim Pitts
This was a blood bath so both sides were really the losers. It will take generations to replace the dead. But, the Franks captured the hill containing the "Grove of the Badger King" which was a sacred place to the Saxon druids, so they won.
This game pointed out one thing that is not in the rules set that we use, the Rules by Ral. That thing is a "Major Morale" rule to force the withdrawal of units that are reduced to a few men, and to force the withdrawal or capitulation of an army, similarly reduced to only a few unit.
Go to the first game in this mini-campaign.
Go to the third game in this mini-campaign.
Go to the last game in this mini-campaign.
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