AAR: Treason! - a 15th century skirmish

A battle report using the Lord of the Rings ruleset depicting
a 15th century surprise attack on a castle

Introduction

After some time focusing on other periods and rulesets it was long overdue to get a game or two in of our late medieval Swedish civil war campaign. As suspected other commitments delayed the AAR but here it is, and hopefully it was worth the wait.

The scene is late 15th century Sweden that suffered from civil war as different families and factions struggled for power. Later historians could describe it the end of a rather long, although not peaceful, Nordic union (”Kalmarunionen”, 1397-1523) with Sweden breaking away from Danish influence.

With the Rebel Bishop involuntary isolated in the sanctuary of the church (see how that happened in the AAR HERE) the Rebels now plotted their revenge and next move. During the fall more bad news arrived as it became clear that some factions of the Thott family negotiated with the Unionists. Being pragmatic a young lord of the powerful Thott family apparently had noticed the weakened rebel cause and now looked into other options. Rebel spies informed that a Unionist leader, the local Sheriff, now secretly visited the Thott lord at his castle to negotiate future collaborations. The long hated Sheriff was a man who just refused to die! Only a year or so earlier he miraculously survived a close encounter with two rebel crossbow bolts! (see how that happened in the AAR HERE).

The Rebels realized they had to act decisively in order to stop more men from leaving their ranks. What better way to fight the traitor of the Thott family than with treason? To fight fire with fire. By old loyalty - and promise of lots of gold - one of the Thott soldiers was ready to betray his master and open the castle gates for the rebel attackers. A plan was made and the Rebel knights rallied their men and the allmoge peasant soldiers loyal to their cause. The castle should burn – and the traitors and Sheriff with it!

The scenario start with the castle gates being opened by the rebel traitor at dawn to allow a small group of selected rebel soldiers, having snuck up to the castle walls during the dark hours of the night, to enter the caste. They are tasked with holding the gatehouse - and keep the gates open and portcullis up - giving time for the rest of attackers to leave cover and charge across the open ground to the castle. As the remaining castle guards are sure to raise the alarm the defenders will wake up and randomly arrive to try and repulse the attackers.

The game was played using a slightly adapted version of GW’s Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game with 28mm miniatures from Perry miniatures on a 6x4' table.

The opposing forces

The Castle Retinue (Unionists)

Castle Warband 1

1 Sheriff (Non-playing Character)

Castle Warband 2

1 Knight on foot (the young Lord Tott)

12 Soldiers with halberds and spears

Castle Warband 3

1 Veteran Captain in full plate

Castle Warband 4

1 Veteran Captain

8 Soldiers with crossbows and handguns

Castle Warband 5

1 Veteran Captain in full plate

5 Castle Guard Soldiers (including 2 handgunners and 1 archer)

The Attackers (Rebels)

Rebel with a cause 1

1 Traitor

Rebel Warband 2 

1 Knight Captain on Warhors

8 Men-at-arms on Warhorses

Rebel Warband 3

1 Rebel Noble

10 Peasants Allmoge Soldiers with halberds

Rebel Warband 4

1 Peasant Veteran Captain

10 Peasants Allmoge Soldiers with crossbows

Rebel Warband 5

1 Peasant Levy Leader

10 Peasant Levy with spears

Initial set up

A 6x4 table.

Deployment

Red = Rebel Deployment.
Blue = Union Deployment.
Green = Difficult Ground.

The Game

Dawn broke over the Thott castle. The castle was protected by a marsh that not only covered its rear and sides but also passed between the front of the castle and the firm ground of the close by forrest. A road from the forrest and a wooden bridge gave dry passage to the castle gate.

As the first rays of sun hit the castle the traitor guard, loyal to the rebels, uncermoniously dispatched his fellow guard at the gatehouse, took the stairs down and opened the castle gate. 

"I never liked him anyway." The traitor kills his guard colleague at dawn.

Outside a small group of chosen rebel soldiers waited. They had carefully moved into position at the darkest hours of the night and now quickly advanced into the castle. As they did so they put custom made poles up against the portculis, blocking it and making it impossible to release unless you entered the vault and removed the poles.

"Psst! Let's go!" The rebel assault group gets moving as the traitor open the gate.

As they entered the courtyard the armoured men came face to face with a monk on his way to Matins, the morning prayers. Pausing momentarily they were still looking at each other when shots and calls of alarm rang out from the main tower. The intruders were detected!

"Pax vobiscum? No?" As the monk finds out
the intruders are not men of peace. At all.

The guards in the main tower raise the alarm and open fire...

...killing a rebel intruder.

Now many things happened at once. The rebel main force who had been waiting in the tree line broke cover and started their advance across the marshy ground before the castle. More shots were fired from the tower. Also, shouting were heard as the change of the guards, already dressed, were about to enter the court yard.

Rebels in the woods.

The attack is lauched.

The mounted rebels took the lead as they spurred their horses across the wooden bridge. They galloped along the road to get to the now open gates.  They had to get there before the small group of rebels holding the castle entrance were overwhelmed and the portcullis dropped. The rebels on foot carrying ladders were not as fast. In particular the rebels tasked with flanking the castle had to wade through the boggy ground losing momentum - and getting very wet.

The mounted rebels gallop across the bridge...

...while the rebel infantry has a long way to go.

In the courtyard the small group of intruders held their ground. At least for the moment as more and more defenders poured into the yard. With them the young Thott lord in his white feathered helmet.

"Who dares to attack my castle?"
The young Lord Thott arrives on the scene.

The Unionist defenders advance against
the intruders holding the open gate.

The exchange of bullets, crossbow bolts and arrows intensified both in- and outside the walls. As the fight for control of the gatehouse continued the rest of the rebels closed on the castle. The defenders was now getting more men on the walls as the guards of the main tower also kept firing.  Although some bullets found their mark, overall it had little effect on the rebels so far.

The Unionists man the walls and open fire.

Rebels closing in on the castle,
wading through the boggy ground.

The fight for the gatehouse intensifies as more defenders arrive.

The defending unionist now started to find their mark. Some rebel peasants fell dead from unionist shooting and one mounted men at arm fell from his sadle as the road forced the cavarly dangerously close to the ramparts. 

The rebels take casualties as they advance through the boggy ground.

More and more defenders arrived in the yard and the rebel intruders were forced back. The rebel traitor learned the price of treason as he was cut down during the melee.

A traitor's reward. The rebel sympathiser is cut down.

The small group of rebel soldiers holding the gate house were now hard pressed and were forced back yet again, their backs literally against the wall. Almost all of them lay dead in the mud as the last three survivors fought like mad men to hold off the unionists. The wooden poles blocking the portcullis was only a few steps away for the young Thott Lord as he alarmed saw the rebel men at arms dismounting outside the still open gates. In a last attempt to get the portcullis to drop he furiously hacked his opponent down, but before he could remove the poles he was himself attacked by no other than the Lord Sture himself. The opportunity to drop the portcullis was lost.

White feathered young Lord Thott is almost at the gate!

The few rebel intruders are hard pressed - three
against thirteen! - but help is on the way.

The cavalry arrives at the gate, dismounts and storms through the gateway.

"For Sture!" The water lily pads of the Sture family banner fly
inside the castle. Bad news for the defending unionists!

The bad news continued for the defenders as the rebels were now also at the walls raising their siege ladders. Also, some rebels had taken up positions and was showering the walls and tower with crossbow bolts. The defenders were not giving up however and killed the first man up a ladder and more rebels were shot from the tower. In the end though a rebel leader was able to gain the first foothold on the castle walls. 

The rebels get the ladders to the walls, paying in blood.

Rebel fire support from the bridge...

...as the rebels scale the walls.

First rebel on the ramparts. The Rebel Levy Captain attack.

"This is not looking good."
The Sheriff in the window is considering his options.

At the gate house the fight continued as rebels poured through the gatehouse. The exhausted rebel men at arm who led the first group of intruders was killed just as the rebels were beginning to get the upper hand at the castle entrance.

The rebels gains more ground at the castle entrance.

With the rebels now up on the ramparts on two different places and the rebel men at arms in firm posession of the castle entrance it certainly looked bad for the unionists. The unionists still fought on but they could not turn the tide. Men fell on both sides as the fight continued none the less. But step by step the unionists were pushed back, down from the ramparts and into the yard itself.

The sly union Sheriff realized he had to act in order not to be caught by the rebels. There was fierce hand to hand combat almost all over the castle as the sheriff unnoticed climbed up the rampart overlooking the vast swamp on the back of the castle. With assistance of one of the union loyal monks he go hold of a ladder and sliped over the wall. He was gone.

"Let's get out of here!"

"He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day."
The Sheriff leaves the fight to others but is really good at the running away bit.

The Sheriff flees into the swamp.

As more unionist fell and the rest got cornered in the yard the young Lord Thott realised all was lost. The unionists laid down their weapons and surrendered the castle to the rebels.

The Rebels had won!

Surrounded and outnumbered the unionists surrender.

"Monk, are you sure this is the way?" As night falls the monk continues
to lead the Sheriff on hidden paths through the swamp.

Conclusion

In the end the unionist defenders were overwhelmed but it was some really close moments during the game. The young Thott Lord was only one turn away from being able to remove the wooden poles blocking the portcullis. Had it droped the outcome would have been something else completly. As it now was the rebels were not able to resist the attack at three places at once.

Interestingly the castle itself helped the attacking rebels in the fight for the gatehouse. Being build to help the defenders withstand a larger attacking force the passage inside the gatehouse is quite narrow. This now worked to the attackers advantage as the unionist could not benefit from their initial advantage in numbers. That, and a bit of luck, helped the rebels in holding the gate until the Sture cavalry arrived.

The castle was also very much the prime motivator for the scenario itself. We wanted a battle that took place both in and around our newly finished castle model. The treason concept and narrative then followed naturally and gave us a great game and part of our continued campaign.

AAR: Sanctuary - a 15th century skirmish

A battle report using the Lord of the Rings ruleset depicting a 15th century peasant ambush on a bishop and his retinue.

 

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Introduction

With a teaser being posted earlier it is now time for yet another installment of our late 15th century campaign using the rules from the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game.

As in earlier battles the scene is 15^th century Sweden which at the time was torn asunder in what is maybe best described as a civil war with foreign (i e Danish) interference. Peasant soldiers as well as full time professionals were found on both sides with noble families forming (and breaking!) alliances as they saw fit through-out the war.

This time a rebel bishop is on the road with a small retinue of mounted men-at-arms and mercenary Lübeck soldiers when some Unionist peasant allmoge soldiers attack.

For this fight we played most of the Unionist allmoge peasants as seasoned warriors. So even though the bishop’s retinue included some high quality troops the peasant allmoge could almost match them man to man in fighting skill. In gaming terms both sides were about 500+ points.

The scenario we played was a slightly modified “Take the High Ground” scenario. We played it as an ambush with both sides trying to rout the other, with extra points being given for controlling the high ground in front of the church at the end of the game. The latter as we had a hunch that the cowardly bishop would claim asylum (“sanctuary”) in the nearby church straight away if things got dangerous…

The opposing forces

The Bishop and his retinue (Rebels)

Non-playing Character
1 Bishop

Rebel Warband 1 (R1)

1 Rebel Noble

Rebel Warband 2 (R2)

1 Knight Captain on Warhorse

8 Men-at-arms on Warhorses

Rebel Warband 3 (R3)
1 Veteran Captain in full plate

5 Lübeck Mercenary Soldiers (including 2 handgunners and 1 archer)

Rebel Warband 4 (R4)

1 Veteran Captain in full plate

9 Lübeck Mercenary Pikemen

The Bishop and Noble together with the retinue of men-at-arms and Lübeck mercenaries.

The Peasant Allmoge (Unionists)

Unionist Warband 1 (U1)
1 Unionist Knight on Warhorse

Unionist Warband 2 (U2)

1 Peasant Veteran Captain

10 Peasants Allmoge Soldiers with halberds

Unionist Warband 3 (U3)

1 Peasant Veteran Captain

10 Peasants Allmoge Soldiers with crossbows

Unionist Warband 4 (U4)
1 Peasant Levy Leader

10 Peasant Levy with spears

The Unionist Peasant Soldiers with their Captains.

The initial set up

A 6x4' table.

Deployment

Deployment with the Rebel and Unionist Warbands, and the High Ground marked in yellow.

Men-at-arms in the front of the Bishop's column...

...with Lübeck pikemen forming up the rear.

The Unionist peasant soldiers lying in ambush.

The Game

Turn 1 (Peasant priority)

The Peasant Allmoge suddenly appeared on the right flank of the retinue’s column and started to advance up the hill.

With a yell of warning the Knight Captain of the Sture family led his mounted men-at-arms to counter the threat. The men-at-arms spurred their horses and turned on the lowly peasants, galloping across the open area in front of the church.

"We are under attack! Monks, please care for our most honourable bishop while we sort out this small interference."

The men-at-arms charge across the hilltop...

...against the waiting peasant soldiers.

However, the veteran allmoge peasant soldiers steadily held their ground, took aim with their heavy crossbows and let loose against the men-at-arms with horrifying results. Two men-at-arms fell with crossbow bolts punched though their armour while two others had their horses shot from under them, throwing the riders to the ground.

The peasants' crossbows seriously thins the ranks of the men-at-arms.

The bishop lifted his long robes and moved as fast as he could towards the safety of the church while his retinue advanced on the peasants. Getting a glimpse of the advancing peasant levy the Lübeck archer shot one peasant dead.

The bishop is rather safe than sorry and run for the church.

Turn 2 (Retinue priority)

The men-at-arms’ charge was in disarray from the peasant crossbow volley. Realizing that they would suffer more of the same before they could reach the unsportsmanlike crossbowmen the men-at-arms turned on an closer and easier target. With the Lübeck pikemen moving up in support the men-at-arms charged downhill towards the peasant levy. Their bad luck continued, however, as one of the horses took a wrong step jumping down the hill side throwing yet another armoured rider crashing to the ground.

The men-at-arms shy away from the deadly crossbow bolts looking for easier targets.

The two men-at-arms previously having their horses killed struggled to their feet only to be killed by yet another volley from the allmoge crossbowmen.

Yet two more of the men-at-arms suffer the effect of the peasants' crossbows.

In return, the retinue’s handgunners shot the Unionist Knight’s horse from under him as he was moving to meet the retinue’s cavalry charge.

As some of the (now few!) remaining men-at-arms crashed into the peasant levy yet another rider was killed by peasant spearmen as the two Captains fought each other with no conclusive result.

The men-at-arms clash with the peasant levy.

The peace and quiet of the countyside is no more. 

Turn 3 (Peasant priority)

The Bishop was welcomed by the monks who offered him sanctuary in their church, which he hurriedly accepted.

"Pax vobiscum and all that. Can you take me inside?"

Trying to get the upper hand the Pikemens' Captain yelled “with me!” and charged the peasants. Not being caught out the opposing Peasant Levy Leader wrestled the initiative back, however, and led his men in a charge against the Lübeck pikemen.

The peasant levy takes the fight to Lübeck pikemen.

The Peasant Levy took advantage of their leaders’s initiative and also charged the men-at-arms who had trouble negotiating the steep hillside.

As both sides advanced the Lübeck mercenary handgunners again fired but this time to no effect.

Both sides advance under fire.

The Peasant Levy now pressed between both pikemen and men-at-arms fought bravely. Two peasants died fighting the professional pikemen but the Peasant Levy Leader got through and killed a pikeman up close and personal. Also the Levy managed to keep the men-at-arms at bay.

The Peasant Levy stand up to the men-at-arms.

Turn 4 (Retinue priority)

Although in small numbers the men-at-arms' superior skill and armament started to make itself felt as they fought down the hillside hacking at the Peasants Levy at their feet. They were joined by the Lübeck Captain and a few of his pikemen who left the others behind to charge the Unionist Knight. Being attacked from many directions the Unionist Knight, earlier unhorsed, was killed together with two of the peasant levy. For a moment it looked like the peasant left wing would collapse but the Peasant Levy Leader in his outdated armour fought furiously killing one of the six(!) pikemen surrounding him and keeping the others from advancing.    

The Unionist Knight is killed.

"Is this all you've got?" The Levy Leader laugh at the odds.

Time was of an essence for the retinue’s men-at-arms as the Veteran Peasant Soldiers was advancing on them, halberds ready. One halberdier fell to the Lübeck handgunners but that could not stop them from closing in on the pre-occupied men-at-arms.

The Peasant Veteran Soldiers close in on the men-at-arms.

Turn 5 (Retinue priority)

The Unionist crossbowmen had their field of fire blocked by the swirling melee and the high ground and started to move up the hill.

The men-at-arms used their gained momentum to attack the peasant halberdiers and remaining levy while some pikemen returned to where they came from to try and take care of that most troublesome Peasant Levy Leader. Trying to get to grips with the men of the retinue one peasant halberdier leaped down the rocky hillside but as others before him lost balance and fell on his face. A very treacherous hillside indeed!

Again the ranged combat was sporadic with one peasant halberdier being killed by a handgunner’s bullet.

Lübeck gunners reloading.

Although completely surrounded the Peasant Levy Leader again won the upper hand, this time against seven opponents! The peasants’ good fortune continued as a single peasant of the levy fighting a man-at arm standard bearer, the Pikemen's Captain, and a pikeman not only held them off but managed to get his spear though a weak spot of the standard bearer’s armour, killing him instantly. Simultaneously, peasant halberdiers managed to drag the other standard bearer, carrying the Sture heraldry, from his saddle and unceremoniously killed him on the ground. In rage from seeing his family banner on the ground the Knight Captain fought on, decapitating a peasant halberdier.

The peasant soldiers drag the rebels' banners in the mud, and their bearers with them. 

Turn 6 (Peasant priority)

The unionist crossbowmen took position on the hilltop, dominating the area in front of the church.

More peasant halberdiers continued to pour into combat with the retinue as the Rebel Noble and his small group of hardened warriors closed in on the Peasant Levy Leader holding up the rebels advance.

The Lübeck archer managed to fell a lone peasant halberdier on the hill while his companions failed to find their mark.

The Peasant Levy Leader facing impossible odds. Again.

The Peasant Levy Leader standing next to the plowed field finally found some worthy opponents in the Rebel Noble, a Veteran Captain in full plate armour and one of the men-at-arms. Never the less he still came out on top with a supreme display of swordsmanship, pushing his opponents back!

The peasants fighting the Knight Captain and pikemen weren’t as lucky though as three of them fell with mortal wounds.



The battle on the hillside in full swing.

Turn 7 (Retinue priority)

The fully armoured Peasant Captain failed to sieze the initiative as his retinue counterpart together with the mounted Knight Captain once again charged into the peasants. As the last peasant crossbowmen took position on the hill the Peasant Levy Leader again found himself surrounded by retinue warriors.

The Lübeck handgunners and archer opened fire on the peasant crossbowmen on the hill but failed to find their mark. In return a devastating volley of peasant crossbow bolts flew across the hilltop killing two out of the three mercenaries.




Arrows, bolts and bullets fly over the open ground.

Having fought overwhelming numbers at the peasants' left wing for quite some time the Peasant Levy Leader’s time was finally up. Surrounded by high quality fighters the Rebel Noble found an opening and brought the Unionist to his knees where he was hacked to death.

On the hillside the Knight Captain together with some pikemen held their own against the peasants, killing a halberdier.

Both sides were now getting dangerously low in numbers.

The Man of the Match is finally brought down by the rebels.

The Knigh Captain of the Sture family fights on against a seemingly never ending tide of peasant soldiers.

Turn 8 (Peasant priority)

With all but a few soldiers now locked in combat the fighting swayed back and forth on the crest of the hill and on the hillside down towards the farmstead and plowed field.

The peasant crossbowmen now firmly in position shot down the last Lübeck handgunner opposing them across the open hilltop, now being in total control of the area in front of the church.

In a swirling melee with both sides desperately trying to get the other to flee the battlefield a peasant halberdier was killed together with two pikemen from the retinue. Also, the Knight Captain having been in the thick of it all battle finally run out of steam and was dragged from his saddle, wrestled to the ground and killed.  

The Knight Captain goes down.

Turn 9 (Peasant priority)

With the Knight Captain dead the Bishop’s retinue was now below its breaking point. All was not lost however as they still had three capable leaders in the field. As the men looked towards their captains for encouraging calls to stand fast all three of them instead promptly turned tail and fled!

Running away? Not very inspiring leaders.

Now leaderless and outnumbered the remnants of the Bishop’s retinue fled the field of battle leaving the Bishop locked up in the church, only protected by the laws of sanctuary.

The Unionist Peasants had won!

"My Lord Bishop. It looks like you might have to stay in here for quite some time."

Conclusion

What a blast! A great game with many feats of courage and cowardry along the way. Early on it looked like it would be a walk in the park for the ambushing peasant soldiers as their crossbows seriously weakened the men-at-arms charge with their devastating first volley. Also, with the Peasant Levy Leader(certainly the Man of the Match!) holding up the advance of the Lübeck mercenary pikemen and others for ages it looked like the retinue would fail to come to serious grips with the peasants, leaving the few surviving men-at-arms to take on the peasants by themselves. As battle was joined the slightly higher quality of the retinue fighters made its mark however and at the end the peasants were only a few casualties away from their break point. But with the retinue below their break point in what turned out to be the last turn all three of the retinues remaining leaders - quite chocking - failed their break tests so the unionist peasants never had to see what their morale would stand for. Also, with the hilltop in the firm grip of the peasant soldier crossbowmen it ended as quite a solid victory for the unionist peasants.

Now, if only the Bishop would come out and play…

"Bishop, come out! We just want to talk to you! Promise!"