Bonvair vs Tautha
When the Bonvair first arrived on the island off the eastern spur of Tuatha the few
Tir tribes in the area were not seriously alarmed. They sent rangers to
find out about the sunset haired aliens and patrolled the causeway between
the island and the mainland stopping any large incursion. However, with the arrival
of a new year and the large scale battles occuring on the other
side of the continent between the all Tautha and the flameheads, the Princesses
of the Tautha council have decided to eradicate the isolated eastern encroachment
before it becomes too difficult to dislodge. A combined warband of Tir and Sidhe maidens
armed in the new style has been sent to clear the causeway in preparation of a greater
assault with the waxing of the Moon.
The Tir and Sidhe Army
A 100 Point Maiden Rules list.
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Tir Warband |
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Unit 1 |
3 x Tir Pike Phalanx |
24 Points |
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Unit 2 |
2 x Javelineers |
20 Points |
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Sidhe Warband |
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Unit 3 |
4 x Gaias Maiden |
36 Points |
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Unit 4 |
2 x Archers |
20 Points |
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100 Points |
The Bonvair Army
A 100 Point Maiden Rules list.
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Bonvair Warband |
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Unit 1 |
2 x Chosen Band |
26 Points |
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Unit 2 |
3 x Juveniles |
15 Points |
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Unit 3 |
3 x Philli |
30 Points |
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Unit 4 |
3 x Philli |
30 Points |
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101 Points |
The Meadow of Glamour
The Bonvair patrols guarding the causeway did not have enough strenght to resist the
Tautha warband as it crossed at lowtide. Runners sent back to the nearest camp quickly
brought reenforcements and battle was joined as the sandy causeway sloped upwards
to the rock strewn hills.
The Tautha do not want to waste any time and become outnumbered by the Bonvair and
attack his force immediately, planning to use both the Gaias Maidens and the Phalanx
to smash the Philli off the hill.
The Bonvair don't make the Movement Initiative roll and so the Tautha have both the
Movement and Rotating Initiative at the first turn.
Turn 1
The Tautha maidens on each side of the unweildly Phalanx rush ahead of the Phalanx
who grip the shafts tightly in their hands, already beginning to sweat with unease.
Will the long pole work and bring victory to their race? The Sidhe maidens slip sideways,
the Gaias Maidens forming into a column allowing the Archers an unobstructed field
of fire against the enemy.
In response the Philli occupy the crest of the hill and shout down taunts at their
golden-haired foes. The Juveniles eager to proove them selves lope forward supported
by the experienced Chosen Band.
The fighting begins with the two missile armed Units of damsels shooting at each
other, the Javelineers not yet in range. The Juveniles get D+1 (D3) for firing
back which throws the aim of one Stand of Archers off, yet one Stand is destroyed
and another pushed back into a line of Philli. The Juveniles own slingshot
can only push an Archer Stand back one depth firing at D4 (D+1 for greater than
1/2 range, D+1 for being shot at).
Turn 2
The Tautha press forward again. It is unlikely that the Bonvair will come down the
hill to fight on the flat. The Phalanx is allowed to catch up presenting a solid line
of glinting Pike heads. The Archers swing to the left to occupy the rocky ground and
protect the flank of the Gaias Maidens.
The Bonvair Princess has a different plan to that the Tautha think they have! With
a shrill whistle she swings her Phillix around her head before pointing at the enemy
below. Around her the eager damsels scream out 'Varia!' and heaving their long blades
into position hurtle down the hill at the surprised Tautha knowing that even if they
are repulsed they will still have the hill to fall back upon.
The Juvelines scamper out of the way allowing the Chosen Band to fall into the line
as well to assist the struggle and to be in a position to flank the enemy and take
them from two sides.
The Sidhe Archers take carefull aim at the Chosen Band and five of their six darts
strike true. The front rank of Bonvair damels collapse with the missiles penetrating
deep into their unprotected bodies and the remainder are pushed far back taking some
Juveniles with them in the disorganised retreat.
The Juveniles can do nothing but watch as the two lines of maidens crash into each
other with a terrific noise of the impact of flesh on flesh.
The Bonvair have the Rotating Initiative so decided in what order Melee combats take
place. Having this played an important part in the Princesses decision to charge.
The Bonvair Princesss decides that the first combat will be where a Philli Stand has
charged downhill into a Stand of Javelineers (D-1). It is A5 D2 vs A3 D2 and both
Stands only miss once each. The Javelineers are pushed back twice (4-2) and the Philli
in their impetuous charge roll for two Follow Ups with a target of 3 (the Rush trait
giving -1 to the target number, or equivalently +1 to the die roll) and make them
both. The Javelineers are scattered or slain. The Javelineers to the right of the
melee fight back harder and are only pushed back but upon seeing how their sisters
fared lose heart and flee the Meadow.
The battle next swings to the other end of the line where the second Unit of Philli
charge the Gaias Maidens. This fight is more difficult for the Bonvair damsels as
the Sidhe hurl their Tomahawks before the two lines clash (A+2).
The Tomahawks are thrown widly and few even graze a Bonvain maiden. They in turn smash
apart the Gaias Maidens and send them reeling back into the Archers, destroying the
Gaias Maiden Stand on the Follow Up.
But the next Stand of Philli can't make any headway against three rank of Gaias Maidens
and the two columns are locked in heart pounding melee, sweat pouring from their bronzed
forms as the fight to the death continues.
The last Melee is against the Tir Pike Phalanx. Its resiliance holds and it shoves
the Philli Stand back up the hill with the points of their Pikes.
Turn 3
The Tautha regain the Rotating Initative. For them the battle is not lost but neither
is it turning out as they had expected. One Unit is already lost and the Gaias Maidens
locked in melee. Without orders the Phalanx continues up the hill hoping to create
a breakthrough. The column of Gaias Maidens breaks formation assaulting the Philli
that broke through their sisters and are supported by the Archers.
Bonvair Philli hurtle their bodies into the flank of the Phalanx. Having routed the
Javelineers the Phalanx is completely exposed to their sharp blades. The Chosen Band
advances as quickly as they can to get back into the fight and the Juveniles reform
on the crest of the hill as a last reserve.
The Sidhe Archers take aim at the Chosen Band again and drive them back again but
this time without loss.
The Tautha Princess now chooses the order of her Melee attacks with care. Not only
must she inflict as many casualties on the Bonvair as possible she cannot afford to
let her Warband suffer any more casualties or it will disintergrate and the assault
to destroy the invaders would have to be called off.
She selectes a Philli Stand for revenge first. With two Assisting Units flanking the
Gaias Maidens whom also moved into Melee receiving the Tomahawk bonus it is a total
of A8 D2 (A+2 Tomahawk, A+1 for each Assisting Stand) against A5 D2. The Gaias
Maidens get 7 hits and take 4 from the Philli but it is enough to destroy them. Two
of the three Follow Ups are successful but this is not enough to catch and destroy
another Philli Stand behind.
Extending the success the next Gaias Maiden stand attacks another Philli Stand but
is driven back on base depth. The Philli fail to follow up.
The important Tir Phalanx melee takes place next and last. Its result could decide
the fate of the Tautha attack. The Phalanx decides that attempting to preserve its
self is best and splits if A against each Stand fighting it. Even so it barely survives
taking a total of 7 Hits that destroys the sees the front rank fall.
Turn 4
The Tautha inflicted casualties but took them in return and are even more shakier
than earlier. The Gaias Maidens, still seeking victory, charge into the Philli before
them again. The Archers once again take aim at the Chosen Band hoping to shoot the
last Stand down and the Phalanx charges the flank of the Philli that had almost destroyed
it.
The Bonvair respond with the few unengaged Stands they have moving into positions
where they can provide Assists to the Stands in Melee. The Chosen Band falls just
short of engaging the Archers and will have to endure another hail of arrows.
And are unable. The Sidhe arrows cut the last of them down quickly. The Chosen Band,
a pile of beautiful bloodied corpses were unable to affect the battle at all.
The first Melee are the two Stands of maidens that have been in close combat from
the beginning. Exhausted the sparkling bodies heave at each other yet again with equal
ability and it is the Philli who are Pushed back once to the hill. The next fight
is also inclusive as Phillix clashes agains hand ax.
The Phalanx also can do nothing against the Philli who'se extra numbers draw the combat.
Turn 5
The Tautha Princess feels that this is her last hope at routing the flame hairs. A
Stand of Gaias Maidens flanks a Philli Stand and the Archers support another fighting
it. The Phalanx decides to stand firm having few other options available. If it spread
out and allowed each Stand to be engaged separately the long Pikes would avail them
little.
Only the Juvenlies move for the Bonvair, deciding to Assist a better chance at routing
the Gaias Maidens. The Philli flanked by the Tir continue to struggle.
The Gaias Maidens shatter the Philli before them, pushing the bodies of the Bonvair
damsels beneath their feet. Victory is now close...
The Phalanx is pushed back and the Bonvair use the respite to reorganise their line
Turn 6
The pursuit by the Gaias Maidens means that they cannot get into Melee and instead
reform into a battle line. The Phalanx retires as well allowing the Archers to move
to where they can shoot.
Again the Bonvair Princess catches the Tautha off guard and orders an attack. She
wants to take as many accursed golden-heads with her as possible is she is going to
lose.
The Archers destroy a Stand of Philli and completely disorganise their formation by
driving another back. In response the Juvenile's stones strike down a trio of Gaias
Maidens and the others flee.
Both armies have now lost two Units and the first to lose the next will break. Yet
the Bonvair position is disorganised and they wont be able to get into melee.
Turn 7
Both armies reform almost to their original positions but this is an advantage to
the Sidhe Archers. They are now over half range of the Juvenile's slingshots and need
only to strike one down to finish them off. However they are in the same position
themselves. The attack that opened the battle could be the one that decides its end!
The exchange of missiles sees the Archers recoil but their own arrows fly true and
strike down a Juvenile Stand and Rout the Unit which in turn Breaks the Bonvair army.
The remaining Philli quickly retreat over the hill leaving the combined Tautha force,
much weakened, in posession of the Meadow of Glamour.
The Result
Even though Melee began on the second turn the high A factors of both sides and low
D mean that it was difficult for either to get an advantage. However new Gaias Maidens
did perform better than their previous incarnation no armed with the Tomahawk. The
charge down the hill by the Philli improved their chances but it was only against
Javelineers that they were really succesful but were unable to exploit and destroy
the Pike Phalanx which would have probably won them the battle. The resilience of
the Phalanx even when flanked saved the Tautha from a terrible defeat.
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