Another medieval battle

[AndrewL]

Wulfmaer's men now desperately charge forward, trying to drive back Waltheof's attackers. They do this despite -- or perhaps because of -- the panic and confusion on both flanks of their line. Can they demonstrate to their comrades in Aubrey's and Remigius's divisions the courage needed to win the day?

Seeing the crisis, a body of mercenary pikemen, lead by their captain Alexander, move forward to try to fill the gap now opening in the centre of Aubrey, Wulfmaer and Remigius's line.

[AndrewL]

[OK, the chronicler needs to take a break now. Rest assured, though, he'll come back in due course to finish the story.

And yes, I am an evil little so-and-so  , leaving a (momentary) cliffhanger like this  ]

Cheers,

AndrewL

[WarriorOfToys]

WoooHoo!
Great battle Andrew, I hope your break is not too long.

[AndrewL]

Right, now... Back again! Where were we? Ah, yes...

With Count Remigius's men suddenly panicking, the mercenary billmen under their captain Eadric now enter the fray, trying to make sure the whole left wing of the three lords' line does not collapse.

And behind them, a body of mercenary crossbowmen, lead by their captain, Hubert, wait for a chance of a clear shot at the enemy.

[AndrewL]

And having rallied after their failed first attack, Adhemar's cavalry charge again, this time in the centre of the opposing line. Beyond the farmhouse, viscount Carlos's men advance to harry the panicking pikemen who have given way.

[AndrewL]

Adhemar's charge strikes the opposing line, and at the same moment, a lucky (or unlucky, depending on your point of view) crossbow bolt strikes the mercenary captain Alexander, going right through the eye-slit in his helmet, killing him instantly. How will his men react?

[AndrewL]

Marshal Odo leads his few remaining men in a charge against Earl Wulfmaer's troops, and landgraf Wolfram's men are now heavily engaged as well...

[AndrewL]

Having momentarily faltered, Earl Aubrey's men recover their composure and, under his astute direction, redeploy to allow their remaining longbowmen a clear shot at the enemy.

[AndrewL]

Rather than flee, the red and white mercenary pikemen choose to seek revenge for the killing of their captain! They advance, set their pikes, and help stop Adhemar's second charge in its tracks.

[AndrewL]

With the gap now plugged by the mercenary pikemen, Aubrey and Wulfmaer's line stablises, and a lucky (or unlucky, depending... you know the rest!) blow from a halberd strikes down baron Adhemar.

[AndrewL]

There is now a determined, bloody struggle all along the line...

[AndrewL]

On the far left of his line, one of Waltheof's other vassals, Osbert (the swan knights) sends his infantry forward to attack Earl Aubrey's men, accompanied by a small body of mercenaries (red tunics with blue arms and legs) under their captain Robert.

[AndrewL]

After nearly fleeing once before, Adhemar's men are in no shape to continue after seeing their lord killed: they turn and run, this time for good.

And taken aback by the staunch defence put up by Aubrey's men, as well as the flight of Adhemar's followers, the horsemen of lord Geoffrey are thrown into confusion. Geoffrey tries to hearten them, and renew their assault on Aubrey's line.

[AndrewL]

Odo and his Templars make what turns out to be their final charge...

[AndrewL]

The battlefield is now one giant melee: confused and chaotic...