Lion Rampant: Håtunaleken - River crossing

This week there was another game played in our Håtunaleken project. This was the fifth game in the series but only the second that I have been able to attend.

So far the kings side has not had the best luck, and most of the games has ended in failure for the true king. So my character Torgils Knutsson has so far had his daughter kidnapped and married to one non other than the contender Valdemar.

Look to Dalaupprors blogg for AARs for these battles (Battle #2, #3 and #4)
For his depicting of this battle look there as well

For some more pictures please check out the blog Wargamin in Sverige as well for his report.

However as Torgils himself has finally recovered from his wounds he received at Mora Stenar, he led the forces again against the contenders.
This time the house of Ulvåsa has been left at home, there are some questions about his true allegiance as battles with them on the field has ended in defeat.

Now we are to take and hold some river crossings, one bridge and two fords, the fords are marked by the little island in the middle of the stream.
The goal was to have a unit on the opponents side, giving the side that manages this one point for each ford and turn and two points for the bridge. The goal was to accumulate a total of ten points.

The side that controls the crossings will have control of the lands nearby and be able to move any forces to where they are needed. Also they would take control of the lucrative salmon fishing in the river.

The forces used are as follows

Fighting for the King

House of Tre Rosor
1x6 Foot Men-at-Arms* @6pts
1x12 Foot Sergeants with Mixed Weapons @6pts

The House of Torgils Knutsson
1x6 Foot Men-at-Arms* @6pts
1x12 Foot Sergeants @4pts
1x6 Bidowers @2pts

House of Trolle
1x6 Mounted Men-at-Arms* @6pts
1x12 Foot Sergeants @4pts
1x6 Bidowers @2pts

Fighting for the contenders

House of Finsta
1x6 Foot Men-at-Arms* @6pts
1x12 Foot Sergeants @4pts
1x6 Bidowers @2pts

House of Bjälbo - Valdemar Magnusson
1x6 Mounted Men-at-Arms* @6pts
1x6 Foot Men-at-Arms @6pts

House of Bjälbo - Erik Magnusson
1x6 Foot Men-at-Arms* @6pts
1x12 Foot Sergeants with Mixed Weapons @6pts

Deployment of the contenders, to the left you have Erik, in the center Valdemar and to the right Finsta.

The kings forces deployed a bit more mixed up, but mostly Trolle was on the left, Torgils in the center and Tre Rosor to the right

Tre Rosor

House of Finsta

Erik

Torgils and his knights and most of Trolles forces

The battle starts and there is a general advance from all forces in the beginning, and not much else.

Trolle has his knights behind my foot sergeants, and they are holding to be able to hit later

My foot moves up to the bridge and pre-pairs to form a shield wall to stop any advances over to our side.

The rebels moves up with all forces

Me and Trolle are stopped a bit by the fence, but makes ready to move on next turn

Still the both our forces are taking it slow, and watching each others movements

The shield wall has been formed and ready to receive the impetus knights with Valdemar in the lead.

And they are not slow to move up to take the bridge, the peasants on it are quite scared now, and contemplating jumping into the water to get away...

The left ford has been reached by Torgils himself as well as Trolles sergeants and crossbowmen, we are ready to take it on.

At the bridge Valdemar can't contain his anger any longer and charges headlong into my wall.

At this time the peasants jumps of the bridge to get way from the thundering horses 

Valdemar has to retreat, leaving two of his knights behind with spears jammed though them

At the left ford things are heating up as the first of Eriks forces falls to some crossbow bolts

The men are not slow to start crossing

Valdemar redirects his foot knights to help contain this intrusion as Trolle surges forward

At the bridge my sergeants taunt the failure of Valdemar

At the ford then, what happens there? Well, Erik got his act together and charges the sergeants, taking a bloody toll, and pushing them back in disorder.

The the bridge Valdemar bellows a challenge to Trolle, and he is not one to stand down a challenge.
In the end though, blows are exchange but no victor could be declared and they both retire.

After this, my bidowers gets a great shot on Valdemar and his knight, killing the two remaining, leaving Valdemar alone, and my sergeants takes the opportunity to revenge the marriage and charges..

Throwing him from his horse into the cold river, bleeding and immobile he drifts away

There is more or less a stand off at the right ford

Back to the left ford, where Erik advances though the bodies of the sergeants, getting close to our side of the ford

Chasing away the bidowers

But getting counter charged by Torgils and his knights

Trading one to two, Torgils retires a bit, feeling a bit smug.

By the bridge things are heating up again as Tre Rosor and Finsta duke it out in the cold waters, but no winner is found.

Torgils on the other hand gets challenged by Erik

But doesn't fare well and has to be carried of the field again, I thing I should decline challenges in the future... Single combat is for younger men...

My remaining knights gets a bit upset on Erik and charges into him and his knights. Giving them a good whooping, leaving only a fleeing Erik

In the meantime Trolle and his mounted knights splash into the waters right in front of Eriks now VERY nervous sergeants

So they retreat a bit, so that they wont be ridden down

A little overview where you can see that Valdemars remaining forces advances over the bridge to avenge their fallen leader.

Then Finsta and Tre Rosor has a little duke out in the waters, when this happens Dalauppror that GMs the fight remembers that you accualy get reduced armour when you are in rough going as the waters are and well the result of the combat is quite bloody.

This did not however stop them from having another challenge...

...But this time the result was not one to favour Tre Rosor.

In the centre my sergeants was run over by Valdemars remaining knights, leaving them in control of the bridge, netting the rebels first points to this scenario.

My knights moved over the ford and gained our first point as well. My knights was to remain here for the rest of the battle, gaining points each turn.

A bit of an overview, on the rebel side Eriks sergeants took a devastating volley from Trolles bidowers, forcing them to retreat, at the same time Trolles knights changed direction and rod back towards the bridge to take care of Valdemars troops. At the right ford we have shoot out with no real casualties.

Trolle has his way with Valdemars last troops

Leaving none alive

Tre Rosors knight still has some fight in him and advances towards Finsta on the bridge

Not that he had any time to show everyone how brave he is

With this the rebels army are beaten into the dust, all that remains is Finstas sergeants and bidowers, and they are ridden down by the remaining knights from Trolle. So here the game ended with a long overdue victory over the rebellious brothers and their pawns.

The game itself was excellent, and the fortunes swung back and forth several times, and just a few lucky rolls here and there made all the difference.

As usual Dalauppror who set the game up did a great job of setting the terrain, managing us players and if you look at his blog, took some really good pictures as well.

I look forward to the next time that I can tag along to a game.