Sidhe Tautha vs Dannan
A 100 Point battle between a Sidhe warband probing the Dannan defences.
The Sidhe Tautha
|
Unit 1 |
3 x Gaeas Maidens |
24 Points |
|
Unit 2 |
3 x Gaeas Maidens |
24 Points |
|
Unit 3 |
3 x Archers |
30 Points |
|
Unit 4 |
2 x Archers |
20 Points |
|
Total |
|
98 Points |
|
Heroines |
Athewain |
12 Points |
|
|
Avenuiel |
8 Points |
|
Items |
War Paint - Unit 1 |
10 Points |
|
|
Tautha Long Bow - Unit 3 |
10 Points |
|
Total |
|
20 Points Heroines
20 Points Items |
The Dannan
|
Unit 1 |
2 x Hoplite 1st Class |
30 Points |
|
Unit 2 |
4 x Hoplite 2nd Class
1 x Priestess |
53 Points |
|
Unit 3 |
3 x Psiloi - sling |
18 Points |
|
Total |
|
99 Points |
|
Heroines |
Allaeki - chariot |
15 Points |
|
Items |
Aryiki Chant - Priestess |
5 Points |
|
|
Lead Slingshot - Unit 3 |
5 Points |
|
|
Shield Drapes - Unit 2 |
10 Points |
|
|
Couture 2 - Allaeki |
5 Points |
|
Total |
|
20 Points Heroines
20 Points Items |
The Meadow of Glamour
On the edge of Dannan controlled lands, the meadow has terrain for all sides. The
left has a large hill and pond, on the right a small enclove of hedges. A forest is
at the top, from where the Sidhe will come. The battle is fought under a clear blue
sky. The Sidhe have the Initiative, and start with the Rotating Initiative..
Turn 1
Both the Sidhe and Dannan Maidens recognise the importance of the hill and concentrate
heavily on that flank. The Gaeas Maidens and their glamour-lit Heroines skirt around
the pond towards the hill while the archers move closer to their targets so they can
rain down a deadly hail of long-shafted arrows.
Not wanted to let the banshees reach the slope of the hill without a wall of Hoplite
damsels to spear them into the dirt, the Priestesses urge the Hoplites 2nd Class quickly
forward. In her chariot, Allaeki gets her drive to pull hard on the reins of the team
and turn them towards the hill: the Heroine has seen the lofted countenance of Athewain
and wants the glory of striking her down. The Hoplites 1st Class advance towards the
unarmoured archers while the Psiloi rush into cover.
The Sidhe Archers unleash their first volley into the heavily armoured Hoplites, pushing
them back a little.
Turn 2
The Gaeas Maidens speed sees them at the bottom of the hill and ready to ascend. A
Unit of Archers realigns to fire at the Hoplites on the hill in support of the attack
whilst the second Unit moves to the edge of the forest to fire on the closing Hoplites
1st Class.
The Hoplites all continue their advance to contact. Allaeki heads towards the extreme
left flank of the army and the oncoming banshee hordes. The Psiloi move to the next
hedgerow taking them into sling range of some Archers.
The Dannan player has the Rotating Initiative this turn and decides which combats
are worked out first. The eager Psiloi, with no one shooting at them hurl their lead
shot at the Archers in the trees and score four hits, killing one Stand and Routing
the Unit. The young girls cry out in joy at seeing their hated foe die and flee from
them.
The Sidhe are close in getting revenge with their own fire, almost scoring enough
hits to kill one of the Hoplites 2nd Class Stands, if it were not for their leather
shield drapes. Instead they recoil but remain in formation.
Turn 3
Whooping war cries and banshee screams signal the Gaeas Maidens to spread out read
to surround the enemy. Both Athewain and Aveuniel move to the centre of the Gaeas
Maidens ready for the charge. The Archers again shift their fire, concerned as the
bronze-faced Hoplites close in on them.
Seeing so many fearsome damsels to their front even the dauntless Priestess and her
Acolytes falter in their determination. The Hoplites 2nd Class redress their line
but go no further forward. Emboldened by their prowress and lack of enemies, the Psiloi
leave the cover of the hedges, wanting more targets.
Sidhe bowfire drives the Hoplites 1st Class back but they can't pierce the thick armour
and kill.
Turn 4
The Sidhe line charges into the Dannan Hoplites and hack with their wicked blades
infused with the strength of the Fae they try to emulate. Both Sidhe Heroines are
at the forefront of the battle urging their maidens and sisters onwards through the
stabbing spearpoints of the enemy.
Engaged the Hoplites can only defend themselves, sparing scant moments to glance at
their exposed flanks. Seeing this Allaeki rushes her chariot into the left side of
the Phalanx as the Priestess heads to the right. Not distracted by the large battle
the other Hoplites and Psiloi continue towards the remaining Archers, easy prey if
they can reach them.
The Psiloi continue their accurate fire and kill another Stand. Sidhe fire breaks
up the Hoplite 1st Class line, but again can't bring enough firepower to bear on one Stand
to kill it.
Allaeki's charge pushes the Sidhe before her back. Mixing with the strong smell of
horse and maiden sweat the air crackles with powerful magics. The war paint covering
the Gaeas Maidens protects them from much harm.
The Sidhe Heroines force Hoplites far back with the strength of their blows, but fall
just short of killing a Stand. Maidens next to them are not so lucky and one Stand
of Gaeas Maidens dies leaving a hole in the centre of their line.
Turn 5
The Sidhe continue to press the attack and flank Allaeki. Athwain and Aveuneil rush
headless and their devoted kinswoman follow them without hesitation. They must break
the Phalanx and then victory is assured! Almost in contrast to this fantacil behaviour,
the Archers back away and pick the dangerous Psiloi as their targets. The girls need
to be tought a lesson...
Again the Dannan can only stand and receive. The Priestess points her divine staff
at the enemy and rushes into the fray, her acolytes close behind. All are unafraid
of the presence of the banshee Heroines; they know the importance of their role in
this battle.
The Sidhe Archers do indeed teach the Psiloi girls the true nature of war, slaughtering
two Stands; the last flees in blind panic and tears but not after their own fire,
true aimed until their own started falling faster than the stars. The Archers are
pushed back, lucky that the return fire was spread otherwise they too would have scurried
away in terror.
More misfortune greets the Dannan. Under the sharp knives of a Gaeas Maiden their
ordained Priestess is cut down and her crimson hair scalped and held aloft to chilling
screams of delight.
Striking to the front and to the left with blood stained javelins, Allaeki keeps the
banshees at bay and holds the line. But seeing her Priestess fall and desecrated she
is torn between maddening hate and dispair, unable to retire and find revenge against
a banshee Heroine.
Turn 6
The battle for the hill rages with little deployment. Marching as fast as they can
the Hoplites 1st Class head to the melee.
But turning away from the Sidhe Archers was a mistake and their long shafts penetrate
through the leather cosets, killing a Stand and sending the others back in confusion.
And the horror continues. Allaeki is pulled from her chariot, the bloody hands of
her driver unable to pull her back in, and is hacked to death by the painted damsels.
The combined glamour of the Sidhe Heroines overwhelm the Hoplites who also have to
fend on their weakened flank and are all cut down before they can escape, Routing
them amd tearing the hearts of the reamaining Dannan maidens as the trophie's of their
once beautiful Allaeki and Priestess are paraded before them.
The Sidhe triumph fills the sky, and is joyously chorused by the creatures of the
forest.
The Result
A short battle that swung both ways! The early success of the Psiloi and the ineffectiveness
of the Sidhe's saw them in danger of being defeated.
The initial round of combat for the hill also saw Sidhe casualties and little progress;
double deep the Hoplite Phalanx is nearly indestructibile. Aveuniel, Athewain and
two Stands of Gaeas Maidens put 14 dice against 6 and only managed to win when they
had a flank and the Hoplites were pushed back along it (taking extra hits while still
touching an enemies base). The Dannan were able to kill a Stand from each Gaeas Maiden
Unit, the second which would have routed either eluded them; not even Allaeki could
prevail against the odds she have to face. The Dannan should have used the Hoplites
1st Class more aggressively, instead of being too far from the fighting and not supporting
the main battle where their resilience and high Attack would have probably turned
the tide.
But the battle was not one sided at the end. If any one Stand of Sidhe had been killed
a Unit would have Routed and the army defeated. It was a little luck and perserverance
that gave them victory.
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