The Averlander war of succession (a bit of background) - by B
Averland, one of the most southern states of the Empire, has for many years been a turbulent province in which rich and powerful countries have vied for power.
Several decades ago Ludmilla von Alptraum, elector countess of Averland, died. However, the throne, instead of passing to her daughter, Marlene von Alptraum, the Iron Countess, was usurped by the head of the other most powerful family in Averland; Marius Leitdorf. Leitdorf was at the time supported by the Imperial Court in Altdorf. Thus did Leitdorf take power in Averland.
However several years later he was killed by an Orc warlord at the Battle of Black Fire pass, and the throne was again up for grabs. His sons were both illegitimate, while the eldest, Leopold, was killed in the Storm of Chaos, and the youngest was a drunkard.
His next of kin was thus his nephew, the far nobler Baron Kastor Leitdorf, however Marlene von Alptraum was still at large, and currently sheltering in the walled port-city of Hardenburg, on blue reach in south-east Striland, under the protection of its princes; the Vyshnevtsky's. Unlike Kastor Marlene had a son, Fenrec, and thus her succession also guaranteed future stability, but Kastor was still the favourite of many of the nobles.
Its this struggle strode the Vyshnvetsky's. Having poured money into expeditions to Ulthuan and Lustria, both of which ventures had been costly and unrewarding, they are now in considerable financial difficulty. To make this worse their main source of revenue, a monopoly over trade with the Dwarves on Blue Reach and up much of the river Aver, is threatened by the possibility of continued Leitdorf rule in Averland. With Marlene under their protection, they declare the forces of Hardenburg in support of her and, with Altdorf silent, cross Blue Reach.
Much of Marlene's support comes from the more rural gentry of the eastern towns and villages, many of the older noble families in Averland's main cities are also sympathetic towards her cause, while Kastor's support is mainly amongst the urban and commercial-riverside populace, as well as from much of Averland's most powerful nobles.
To add to this the two most powerful knightly orders in the region have also used the conflict to bring their rivalry to the field. The knights of the Blazing Sun, based in Nuln, and with chapterhouses in Averheim, support Kastor, while the knights of the Black Bear, allies of Hardenburg (their grandmaster Pietr, being heir to the Vyshnevtsky's throne) and with their chapterhouse in the Black Bear pub in Grenzstadt (in eastern Averland), support the von Alptraum claim.
Outside of the Empire the vast commercial and trade connections of Hardenburg and Averheim, have led to many foreign princes lending financial support to the two cause. Many Tilean and Estalian princes support the Leitdorf claim, while the border princes, south of Averland, are split more or less evenly.
Fording the river the Hardenburger force divides into two, the main section heading south towards Grenzstadt to join with the Black Bear knights and raise support among the eastern villages, while the other force, Hardenburg's famed marines, has headed for Pfungzig.
For this first game, simulating a clash between the vanguards of both armies, we would be using Lion Rampant rules, playing the scenario hold on tight' from the main rulesbook.
Forces
Averlander's under Baron Kastor Leitdorf
Baron Kastor....mounted men at arms
Knight's of the blazing sun....6 mounted men at arms
Town Garrison....12 foot sergants
Averland Halberdiers....12 foot sergants
Averland Crossbows....12 crossbowmen
Forces of Hardenburg
Hardenburg Greatswords with commander...6 foot men at arms
Hardenburg Greatswords....6 foot men at arms
Knight's of the Black Bear....6 mounted men at arms
Stirland Halberdiers....12 yeomen
Free company mercenarys....12 yeomen
The suburbs of the large town of Pfungzig, on the borders of Stirland and the Moot, were to be the first battle ground of the Averland war of succession.
The Hardenburg army had crossed Blue Reach and begun to march on Pfungzig, in late summer, thus making the first move in the war. Baron Kastor quickly rushed to the aide of the town, gathering support as he marched. Arriving just in time to hear that a small force where about to take the main road into the town.
The Hardenburger's arrived in the early morning, and looked at the quiet fields and houses suspiciously, no one was about, no workers coming out to the fields or traffic going into the town. The Knight's of the Black Bear where the first to move, riding straight down the road to the crossing. The spell was broken.
Immediately as they halted, a troop of the knight's of the blazing sun charged out from the town and thundered into them. The knights of the black bear tried to counter charge but just as they where about to, Baron Kastor on his griffon swooped out of the sky and crashed in among them, his griffon grabbing a knight and his horse and flinging both to the ground!
Three more where cut down by the knight's of the blazing sun, though one overreached himself and was killed by the two remaining knight's of the black bear before they retreated down the road.
Meanwhile the rest of the Averlander's had appeared, halberdiers on either flank and a troop of crossbows on the left. The free company had advanced over a wall into a field, when a hail of crossbow bolts struck them, killing two of them and sending them into a panic and running back over the wall.
The two knights of the black bear then charged into the baron and the knights, inflicting a wound on his griffon and killing one of the knight's of the blazing sun, sending them back over a field before they could reform. Baron Kastor on the other hand did not flee but killed both of them single handed (well and with his griffon!) lancing one out of the saddle while his mount tore up the other rider!
The baron had gained a good deal of time holding the crossroad and that made it hard for the Hardenbuger's to have the time to take it back! (he gained 1 glory point for holding the crossroads at the beginning of the turn)
The Stirland halberdiers then made a rush from the trees at the Baron, in the hope of killing him and ending the battle! Kastor did not try to counter-charge encase he found himself behind enemy lines and was charged by them. Holding his ground he fought them off, but was wounded a few times in the process.
The Averland halberdiers then made a run across a ploughed field and charged into the Stirlanders, Kastor following up!
The Averlanders hacked them to pieces with their halberds. Only one Stirlander, wounded and bloody, tore himself away and ran for it.
But now the fresh and unbattled greatswords, with their commander, Captain Karayagin the Kislevite, charged at Kastor. Their greatswords wounding the griffon and sending him back across the fields.
The Baron, although badly wounded, was never one to run from the battle, and charged back into the greatswords, killing one of the battle hardened soldiers before he was hacked out of his saddle and fell to the ground. His wounded griffon fled back to the town suburbs.
Although their leader was down the Averlanders held on and did not flee the field.
The halberdiers charged into the greatswords and killed another of their number before being pushed back battered. The knight's of the the blazing sun had made a foolish charge into the other unit of greatswords and had all but one of their number killed.
Time was running out, and the unit of greatswords had gained time on the crossroads (making the battle even in glory points)
The free company had been sent from the battle by the crossbows, who had done well in holding them off. The broken halberdiers on the ploughed field, had rallied and reformed, but the greatswords on the crossroads still had control. They had only lost two of their men to the charge of the knights of the blazing sun, and were now joined by the other unit.
All rested on the one knight of the blazing sun and the fresh unit of halberdiers on the right. If they could push the greatswords off they might have a chance. The last knight charged and killed one of the greatswords before he had his horse cut down from under him, then the halberdiers charged! they killed anther of the greatswords and pushed the rest off the road, ending the battle!
Glory points
Avlerand:1
Hardenburg:1
A blood filled Draw!
The remains of the Hardenbuger force left the field, only the greatswords having held, the rest fleeing to re-join the main force and regroup. Their leader, Captain Karayagin, was given another medal for his valiant hand to hand fighting in the action.
The Averlander halberdiers returned to the town relatively intact. The crossbowmen caught their leader's griffon and carried their leader's body from the field, he had proved himself a brave leader, but whether he would survive his wounds was hard to say. They had beaten back the Hardenburger van, but been forced themselves to abandon the suburbs.
by M
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