Dannan vs Tir Tautha II
Two large armies, foreign invader and native defender, fight a brutal battle of no
finese in a meadow between a Fae Totem and an Aryidannan farmstead. Unfortunately
some of the photos are blury.
The Tir and Fae Tautha Army
|
Unit 1 |
2 x Javelineer
1 x Archer |
30 Points |
|
Unit 2 |
2 x Javelineer
1 x Archer |
30 Points |
|
Unit 3 |
4 x Sidhe Ravers |
24 Points |
|
Unit 5 |
2 x Swift Fae |
40 Points |
|
Unit 6 |
3 x Tir Rangers |
30 Points |
|
Unit 7 |
3 x Manifest Fae |
45 Points |
|
Total |
|
195 Points |
|
Heroines |
Gwellyn |
12 Points |
|
|
Athweian |
12 Points |
|
Totals |
|
24 Heroine Points
|
Gwellyn's Tautha Warband has defensive and offensive capabilities. The Tir provide
a strong line and missile support to the wild Fae charge.
The Dannan Army
|
Unit 1 |
2 x Hoplite 1st Class |
30 Points |
|
Unit 2 |
2 x Hoplite 1st Class
1 x Priestess |
35 Points |
|
Unit 3 |
2 x Hoplite 2nd Class |
24 Points |
|
Unit 4 |
3 x Slingers |
15 Points |
|
Unit 5 |
3 x Cult Slingers |
24 Points |
|
Unit 6 |
4 x Peltae |
40 Points |
|
Unit 7 |
1 x Chariot
+1 Runner |
20 Points |
|
Total |
|
188 Points
|
|
Heroines |
Myrmidia |
10 Points |
|
|
Allaeki |
10 Points |
|
|
Arolae |
10 Points |
|
Total |
|
30 Heroine Points |
Myrmidia has learnt the hard lessons of fighting the swift banshees and their deadly
rain. Heavy armed Hoplite maidens backed by Slingers to keep the advance resolutely
moving forward.
The Meadow of Glamour
The Meadow is flat with only two tilled fields marring the soft green grass. One
one side is a Fae totem pole staring at the enchroaching Aryidannan civilisation
opposite - a farmstead.
The meadow is barely wide enough to fit either army.
Turn 1
Both armies move towards each other. The impulsive Swift Fae radiply close the distance
to ready themselves for the charge next turn. The Tir Rangers move up to the edge
of the tilled field ahead of the corpreal Fae and Dryads behind them who'se blue and
pink painted lips grin in anticipation.
Like a silent wall the entire Aryidannan army advances in standard battle formation:
Hoplites to the fore and juvenile Slingers behind in support.
The once deadly Tir hail storm causes only minor bruising and disordering of the line.
In retaliation the ordinary Slingers hurl their stones and strike down four Tir Rangers.
The remaining two maidens quickly flee the meadow in fright. How can mere girls defeat
them?
Turn 2
Screeching like the driven wind the Swift Fae crash into the Aryidannan Hoplites and
Chariot. Their wicked knives slash down and spear tips stab up at them.
The other Fae rush over the field towards the Peltae. On the hills the Tir maidens
continue to fire at more Hoplites and take blessed stones at their bare chests in
return, courtesy of the Aryiki Cultists.
With horses neighing in pain and timber splinting the Chariot crumples to the grass
with its heroic damsels brutally slain. Their white eyes stare lifelessly up at the
midday sun.
Elsewhere the Slingers contiue to drive the Fae and Tir back and slow their aggressive
and uncharacteristic advance.
Turn 3
The Fae having burst a hole in the fire-haired lines the Sidhe Ravers rush
to join the battle with inspired wildness. Even the Tir Javelineers and Athewian
are caught up in the exictment of battle and charge down the hill. If the Fae are
not supported the attack will fail.
In response the Aryidannan steady their lines, still slightly off guard at having
to fight in such a defensive manner. Their three Heroines wait nervously
for the mist-coloured Fae to reach them. Fortunately the accuracy of the Slingers
have kept them at a distance and disordered.
Missile fire is ineffective for both sides, driving maidens back but causing no casualties.
Only the unlucky and unprotected Rangers have been struck down so far. In the open
their soft skin is no protection against a bone-breaking stone or lead pellet.
Hoplites of the 1st Class present an inpeneterable wall against the Swift Fae whilst
the other trio of spirit riders crash into the flank of the Peltae. However their
attack is blunted by Myrmidia and Allaeki.
Turn 4
The Manifest Fae's speed finally sees them crashing into the Peltae and tearing at
their flimsy shields and tunics as the Artemae damsel's desperately try to fend the
immortal fiends off with their long spears.
The Swift Fae and Sidhe Ravers continue to push and shove against sturdy Hoplite Phalanxs.
Only the Cultists and Javelineers fire at each other; the rest of both Armies are
locked in a desperate melee. Neither's shooting causes any casualties.
The Aryidannan Heroines get the advantage of the Fae and destroy one Stand of the
beasts. The Raver's continue to batter themselves hoplessly against Hoplite shields
and one is caught in the breast by a spear and slain.
Turn 5
The discipline and armour of the Hoplites have blunted another banshee attack. Athewian
quickly urges her maidens forward to pressure the enemy more. Otherwise the battle
will be lost if the Fae are overwhelmed.
And that is what is happening as Aryiki Priestesses flank the surviving Swift Fae
and Slingers and Peltae try to surround and rout the Manifest Fae. Tired, Arolae and
Myrmidia can't reach the fight in time to add their bloodied swords.
The Tir Javelineers are required to fight to ensure victory as the Fae begin to
fail.
Gwellyn chooses to aid the Fae instead of the Raver's, delivering them certain doom
as their scrambling attacks cannot penetrate the shield wall. Two more fall to
the Hoplite's and the last runs in panic, golden hair streaming like tears in
the sunlight.
The Tir Heroine's choice does not break the enemy Hoplites. The battle is still a
stalemate.
The Manifest Fae however are full of vigour and finding their mana massacre the Peltae
to the last maiden, darkening their orange hair blood red. The nude Slingers quake
before the carnage and realise that they are next.
Turn 6
Slinger supported Hoplites, bristling with spears, crash into the deep black stocking
Javelineers. Shafts thrust and stab. Shields punch. The two dozen mortal enemies grind
against each other seeking to overpower the other and turn them in flight.
Victorious and full of blood lust the Manifest Fae pounce on the trembling Slingers.
Myrmidia and Arolae rush in to aid, but they are only two against nine.
The Ravers routed, one Unit of Hoplites swings onto the Javelineer's flank.
All along the meadow maidens are struck down senseless or cleaved by cold metal. Arolae
valiantely tries to protect her charges only to join them on the red grass, dying
on the knotted arm of a Dryad. The Aryidannan right flank has been oblitereated.
However all is not lost as nine Tir maidens are put to the feet of the Hoplites. The
remaining Tir shudder. So many of their sisters have been slain and few remain.
Athewian calls for one last effort and is rewarded. Her nine of three by three, the
sacred triple troika of bonding, get through the shields of the Hoplite 2nd Class
and rout them.
The Result
Both armies suddenly feel a chill and pause their slaying. They stare around them,
at their fallen kin and victims and the red haze lifts from their eyes. Allaeki lets
her spear fall to the ground and she knees and lifts the lifeless body of her close
friend Arolae. Around her her Hoplites do the same and strangely so do the Tir. Already
the Fae begin to dissapate into nothingness leaving only a third of the original number
of Tir on the meadow. Neither side's maidens look into the eyes of the other side.
Quietly both collect their dead and wounded and withdraw. The meadow will be fought
over another day.
A climatic battle that swung both ways until it reached a draw as both armies had
lost four Units each. Looking at the troops remaining and their position it would
have been hard for the Tir to win as Athewian and her Tir are facing the remainder
of the Aryidannan army and the Fae are too far away to arrive in time to help. Still,
she might hold long enough as the Hoplites did against the Swift Fae, who despite
their tremendous speed and ferocity couldn't break the Phalanx.
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