Sidhe Tautha vs Sparkerei
During the Winter months before the war began, the Sidhe raided all along the Aryidannan
coastline, burning and pillaging the outerlying settlements, even as far north as
the Sparkerei holdings.
Eager to get at grips with the new enemy, and to teach them a lesson for destroying
tribal property, the Heroine Kymita has lead a small but elite army of Hoplites 1st
Class to find the elusive banshee, and destroy them.
The Sparkerei Army
|
Unit 1 |
2 x Hoplite 1st Class |
30 Points
|
|
Unit 2 |
2 x Hoplite 1st Class |
30 Points |
|
Unit 3 |
2 x Hoplite 1st Class |
30 Points |
|
Unit 4 |
1 x Chariot |
20 Points |
|
Total |
|
110 Points |
|
Heroines |
Kymita |
15 Points |
|
Items |
Luck Charm - Kymita |
2 Points |
|
|
Couture 1 - Kymita |
2 Points |
|
|
Stalwart - Unit 1 |
5 Points |
|
|
Stalwart - Unit 2 |
5 Points |
|
|
Shield Drapes - Unit 3 |
10 Points |
|
Total |
|
19 Heroine Points
20 Item Points |
The Sidhe Tautha Army
|
Unit 1 |
3 x Archers |
30 Points
|
|
Unit 2 |
5 x Gaeas Maidens |
40 Points |
|
Unit 3 |
2 x Swift Fae |
40 Points |
|
Total |
|
110 Points |
|
Heroines |
Helwaih |
12 Points |
|
|
Avenuiel |
8 Points |
|
Items |
Succubi - Unit 3 |
10 Points |
|
|
War Paint - Unit 2 |
10 Points |
|
Total |
|
20 Heroine Points
20 Item Points |
The Meadow of Glamour
Kymita managed to converge her army with the Sidhe at the ruins of a recently destroyed
farmstead. The Sidhe arrive on the right near a pond and rock heap. The farmstead
is on a hill and occupies the centre of the meadow, while at thetop left is the beginning
of the forest - where the Sidhe will find impeneterable protection. Kymita does not
want a single banshee to reach the trees.
The deployment of the opposing armies. The ruin of the farmstead occupies the
centre of the meadow.
Turn 1
The Sidhe have the Initiative and advance rapidly. The Swift Fae have little
open ground to set up a perfect charge but see an opportunity in the space between
the forest and the smoking farmstead. The Gaeas Maidens lead by Helwaih move around
the rock head and the Archers and Avenuiel skirt the edge of the pond, opening a widening
gap between their sisters.
With in time steps, the three Phalanxes of Sparkeries finest advance. Two group with
Kymita in command head towards the desecrated statue of Aryiki. The third moves to
cover the flank of the others by blocking gap the Swift Fae have chosen for their
charge. At the rear the lone Chariot trundles behind Kymita, waiting for orders as
to which flank to support.
At long range and partially obscured by a hill the Sidhe Archers loose a volley and
manage to push some Hoplites back a little.
Turn 2
The Sidhe continue to move into position, their formations turning into long columns
of eager damsels jostling for position at the head of the formation. It almost seems
that the two Sidhe Heroines wish to outdo each other and reach the enemy first instead
of concentrating their lighter armoured forces. The Swift Fae gallop across the meadow
without a incorpreal hoove disturbing a single blade of grass.
The Sparkerei stick to their plan and keep moving forward. Kymita sends the Chariot
to the right flank, seeing that the banshee archers are unsupported.
This round the Sidhe bow fire has no effect.
Turn 3
The Swift Fae swing around into the narrow pass, just in charge range of the Phalanx
ready to meet them. Avenuiel orders her Archers to deploy into combat formation, ready
to unleash a withering barrage on the Hoplites. Still to distant to even see the shield
designs on the Hoplites, Helwaih urges her maidens to move faster. She does not want
the battle to be won and over without her having shed any blood from the flame-haired.
Against the mounted banshees the third Hoplite Phalanx thins out into line and set
their long spears to receive the charge. Couragous maidens, they are not afraid of
the blood red steeds and the howling women who ride them. Otherwise the Sparkerie
advance to the hill, hearts burning for revenge as the acrid smell of ruin meets their
flaring noses.
Avenueil cries 'fire!' and the volley of long shafts pierce sheild, helm and corset,
scoring an amazing 5 hits (needing 5+ on 8 dice). Four elite Hoplite maidens are cut
down and the rest recoil under the hailstorm. Helwaih's fear might be realised if
the Archers continue to shoot accurately.
Five hits out of eight force the Hoplites back and kill a Stand.
Turn 4
Uttering dreadful shrieks the Swift Fae fall upon the thin line of Hoplites. Avenueil
keeps her Archers in place ready to cut down more of the enemy. Helwaih and her maidens
make their way up the hill as the sounds of destruction reach their ears.
As the Swift Fae thunder into the defensive line, Klymita swings her Phalanx around
to catch the banshee in the flank. But the ponderous Hoplites fall short. Seeing that
disaster could be immediate, the Sparkeri Heroine calls for the Chariot. Hopefully
her damsels will hold.
The bow fire is less effective, only forcing the Hoplites back twice.
All eyes then turned to the impact of the charge, hoping and cringing at the same
time. Aryiki answered Klymita's prayer as the first Stand of Swift Fae roled only
two hits, and six ones! The Hoplite stand facing them also only scored two hits. Fortune
favoured the Sparkerie during the second combat as well. The Hoplites were pushed
back twice but the Fae only managed to follow up once, a 1 being the only chance to
fail.
Turn 5
Kicking, stomping and slashing the Fae are stuck in melee, not having broken through
as they had impetuously sought to do. Elsewhere the Sidhe rush to the sound of fighting.
Klymita sighs in relief at her luck and the hand of providence before lunging into
the combat againt the spirits. The rest of her foce not engaged moves to block the
quickly approaching banshees, their objective to stop them from interferring before
the Fae have been slain.
Archery again blasts Hoplites backwards.
Klymita hurls her spear and topples one of the Fae from its steed, dead. Encouraged
by the valourous act the Sparkerei maidens slash and stab and then the Fae are flying
before them, leaving half their number strewn on the meadow. The banshees are routed!
But not finished, more are comming.
Klymita encourages her maidens to charge the flank of the spirits
Turn 6
Helwaih screams in frustration - this was not how her plan was supposed to be unfolding.
She stops her maidens in the ruins, the wals will offer protection. Looking at Avenuiel
the Sidhe Heroine hopes that her Archers will be able to drive more of the enemy away.
Klymita quickly reorganises her disorganised line, glad that the banshees give some
respite. With the dreaded spirits gone there is a chance of victory. Her eyes fall
on the banshee Heroine...
The archery does not bring down any more Hoplites or the Chariot, but succeed in pushing
it back out of charge range.
Turn 7
The Sidhe remain where they are, waiting the attack in defensive positions.
The Sparkerei are not ones to deny and advance just short of the farmsteads ruins.
Klymita tells her damsels that they will slaughter the banshees in the ruins of the
farmstead, just as the banshees murdered their kin.
The Chariot is brought down as quickfire shafts tear through the horses and passengers.
Turn 8
Helwaih accepts Klymita's challenge as the Holites charge the defended ruins.
Avenuiel's Archers Rout the last of the Hoplites before them, so far the only Sidhe
to kill any enemies. Both armies now only have to loose one Unit for their Army to
Break.
With a single thrust of her spear Klymita pierce's the breast of Helwaih and ruins
her beating heart. Blood runs out of the terrible wound like rivers before the Sidhe
Heroine collapses amidst the rubble. Klymita cries in truimph and leaps into the farmstead
seeking a trophy. Her Hoplites follow behind.
Instead of being heart broken at the loss of their Heroine, the Gaeas Maidens are
engraged and force the Hoplites from the blackened walls, almost destroying a Stand.
Turn 9
The Sidhe Archers rush forward to add their numbers to the battle-deciding combat.
Except for the battle Klymita is involved in the lines hold steady, sword on shield,
spear jabbing at bare skin, save mystic tattoos.
Yet the tattoos are not enough to protect one Stand of Gaeas Maidens from the frightening
Klymita. Leading her damsels she adds three more blood stained maidens to lie with
the dead Helwaih.
Turn 10
The Archers move onto the flank of the Sparkerie, but won't be able to shoot their
deadly darts as the bloody hand to hand combat continues.
This time the Gaeas Maidens get the upper hand, killing a Stand of Hoplites. Over
the bodies of their slain sisters, more Sidhe Maidens keep Klymita away from her trophy.
Turn 11
Like a pack of wild animals the Sidhe fall upon Klymita and surround her. In desperation
the Heroine calls out to Avenuiel in challenge, but the wry Sidhe declines seeing
no need to risk her life when that of her foes is soon to be over.
Klymita is surrounded
Single handedly Klymita fights her way out of the encirclement, killing a Stand. Away
from the brutal fighting another stand of Gaeas Maidens are killed by Hoplites.
Both armies tetter on the brink of ruin.
Turn 12
A Stand of Gaeas Maidens flees the Hoplites to the north of the ruin seeking to return
to their comrades. The Hoplites follow for that is where the bloody encounter will
be decided. Avenuiel joins the fray, drawing her brilliant knives. Klymita fals on
the archers who try to fighter her off with their daggers, bodies completely bare
to the sharp point of the Heroine's deadly spear.
Klymita triumphs and three more banshees fall to the ground around her blood spattered
feet.
Tragedy strikes behind the Sparkerei Heroine however. Surrounded the Hoplites are
unable to fight off twice their number and fall as one to the combined asault of Gaeas
Maidens and Avenuiel (who rolled 3 sixes on her attack).
Klymita routs a Sidhe Unit, breaking the army but she is unable to stop the shattering
of her own.
Then, on both sides, the wind of defeat passes through the heart of all standing maidens.
Around them lie the bloody forms of their sisters and friends and the sight is too
much. For all the battle has only brought misery and pain.
As the gloom of night decends the Sidhe pick up their dead, including unspoilt Helwaih
and return to their forest to mourn, leaving Klymita in command of the meadow, but
feeling hollow. For both sides there is no sense of victory.
The Result
The battle is a draw, both armies breaking at the end of the turn. Klymita killing
two Stands of Archers over two turns kept her army from defeat but the draw is just
as painful. Only one Unit of Hoplites remain.
Avenuiel also has little to fight on with. Three Stands remain of the Gaeas Maidens
out of five, and she is smart enough to know that she is no match for Klymita in a
duel.
It was exciting to see that the farmstead ruin became the focus of the battle, drawing
in Units from both armies for a climatic melee that moved back and forth and caused
losses to all. The duel was one sided, Klymita is one of the most powerful Heroines
in the game and she would have killed Avenuiel as well if she had not declined, smartly
letting her maidens fight instead.
The Swift Fae were unlucky, inflicting no casualties. If their charge had worked the
Sparkerie would have been quickly defeated and probably without the need for Helwaih
and her Gaeas Maidens. But it does show how capable and tough Hoplites are.
Overall, a draw was a good result for a hard fought battle. Lessons will be learnt
by both sides.
The losses for both sides here heavy.
|