Vikings Vanquished! More Midgard Madness!

 

The ravaging host of vicious Vikings having defeated the Southron Empire on it’s Northern Border, found the Arid lands of the far South altogether too hot for their pale complexions and heading West they met and completely destroyed the Barbarian Horde of Grey Hame at the Glen of Tears. Little loot did the Tribes of Grey Hame possess and such as it was it was soon squandered and Phwoar, Energetic God of Excess, did not think it too much, for his thirst was great and he would slake it where he could.

The restless Host continued West in search of plunder, beer, women and beer and so returned to the borders of Lamedon and there, in the Ringlo Vale were met by a gathering of the Fiefdoms of Gondor led by the valiant Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth.

The two armies met on a flat plain in a clearing where the dense forests of Ringlo did not dominate the landscape but did provide, rather conveniently, some areas of woodland on the flanks such as would be suitable for skirmishing troops.

Prince Imrahil, of noble brow and bright eye, in whom the line of distant Numenor can clearly be discerned, led his Swan Knights to the far left flank, with two units of Men at Arms in support. Angbor the Fearless took the centre of the line with his Hearthguard and the Spearmen and the majority of the infantry, leaving the right flank of three formed archer units and a unit of javelin armed light riders to be commanded by Duinhir of Morthond a lowly Captain of archers! 

Omens are sought by both sides soothsayers. Over the heads of the Vikings a dark cloud grows and thunder rumbles ominously as Magnus Madmansson reads in the entrails of a small partridge a portent of Doom! He rolled a one! Sensing disaster, the Vikings lose two Reputation

Meanwhile Cerdric the Unbelievable raises a smiling face from his small pyre of dandelions and personal sacrifice of a quart of strong wine, above his head the clouds roll back, a bright beam of sunlight shines down on Imrahil and his gallant men.  He has rolled a six! The fiefdoms gain three Reputation and Imrahil becomes Fated!

Both armies’ advance! The Vikings are an extremely aggressive force with a fair smattering of brutal heroes and units. Can they be contained?

An anxious Mark chews his nails, has he just noticed Imrahil’s rapid advance, the bright armour shining, the sunlight glinting from many spear points and the whole troop singing songs of Glory in bright clear voices?

Or has he found a bit of Big Jim’s Famous Bacon Sarnies ‘tween his molars

For Gondor! Amroth for Gondor! I converted these knights a long time ago from GW Knights of Minas Tirith. The GW/PJ/Weta aesthetic has never sat well with me and although the Knights of Dol Amroth are not represented in the film, the GW take on them is just far too much Warhammer for me. Nor does the recent “All Tolkien is Dark Age Technology“ vibe particularly float my boat. I believe Tolkien’s world does not sit in Earth’s history at all, it is for want of a better term, anachronistic. I have always tried to create the world that opened in my mind when I first read Lord of the Rings. And my eleven-year-old self saw Knights in shining plate armour!

On the Northern flank, Gondor’s right flank, heavy skirmishing occurred between the Noble Light Riders of Lamedon and the hairy mob of stick throwers.

Each took casualties, the cavalry retreated back to their lines.

Having advanced to within range the Archers of Morthond retreated each turn, ensuring they got a shot in during the shooting phase but not risking contact with the Vikings who marched with their God, Phwoar.

   Their arrows had little effect apart from annoying their already permanently angry foe. The Vikings failed Command Test after Command Test in their bid to close the enemy and made little progress. 

                     In the centre field both sides readied themselves for a bloody fight. 

“CHAAAAAAARRRRGE!”

 Impact! Hurled defensive javelins bounce harmlessly from vambrace and helm.  Desperately, but cleverly, Mark charges the skirmisher into the flank of the charging knights so that the knights will fight with half their dice in the ensuing combat.

  The Good Omens continue to exert their influence however, as the Knights (and Imrahil) roll 12 dice 10 of which are 5 or 6!

Hagar the Disagreeable is equally effected by his Bad Omens however, the Bondi and the skirmishers are wiped out and rolling Risk to heroes Hagar is cursed by the Snake Eyed God and rolls bones! He rolls a six on the Hero Death Table, can Imrahil thwart this last attempt? Imrahil rolls a six, neatly blocking Hagar's axe with his vambrace! This single devastating charge has cost the Vikings dearly. And the flank was open!

                                            Midgard battles LOOK like battles!

Behind Gondor’s right flank, a unit of Warriors has inclined ready to meet the expected Viking charge. Duinhir has encouraged the Archers to keep up a rain of arrows.

On the left flank the knights have charged home and in the middle the Men at Arms are getting to grips with their opponents

One of the great things about Midgard is the use of markers to show what is happening. One glance at this picture, if you know what the markers stand for, tells us that there is one combat where the Vikings have advantage and one which is tied.

  We can see that both the Gondorian units have used their javelins, that the Gondor unit on the right has taken one stamina loss and that Forlong has both Mighty Deeds left, while Magnus has used one of his.

In the background , the triumphant knights charge into the flank of another Bondi unit. In the centre , the Men at Arms and the Hearthguard of Lamedon charge into Magnnus Madmansson’s main force.

Mighty were the deeds that day! Red the blade and aye, red the arm that wields it!

  Much sorrow was founded upon the brows of the Norsemen that day for they were found wanting, not in courage, for they were fey and mighty in thew, no, it was good fortune and the favour of the Gods they lacked and the evil crows did despoil their bodies piled in mounds upon the bloody field, and did not think it too many

For, thereupon, Magnus Madmansson was also cast down and he did also roll bones! A mighty shout of “HooohOO He’s DEAD!” did ring across the field and for a moment there was a hush as everyone in Bristol Independent Gaming paused in their Age of Sigmar tournament and great wonder was there came upon them that a game so far undeclared, unnamed, and a million miles from GW could bring such a cry of elation!

 The final positions. The Death of Magnus did cause Marks goblet to Spilleth over and the victory was had by Gondor in the third turn.

My regular worthy adversary. Wise in the ways of war, well schooled in strategy, an able tactician and a bit silly really Above all, his face is inscrutable!