Andy's Wargaming Blog: February 2016

Wednesday 17 February 2016

The Annals of Linnius Chapter 11: Raid on the Wagon Train

"Early Spring in the year of Our Lord 476 AD. These are the chronicles of the kingdom of Linnius, recorded by myself, Publius Librarius, scribe to his Royal Majesty King Mascuidius.

For months now the land has been quiet. No sign has been seen of Saxon raiders coming from the North from the lands around our old Royal city. It seems strange to wake in strange halls, to walk unfamiliar streets and to sleep in halls that, fine as they are, in no way resemble home. But this is where we are, brought to this by the Saex raiders from north of the Humbre river.

Shortly after the last frosts of winter, spies in the old kingdom did report that the Saex lord’s men did grow restless. It is said that they did grow bored, fat and lazy, living off the fat of the land…OUR land stolen from us after the Great Defeat. Hearing this news, the Paefectus Andrucius did double the guards, increase the patrols and increase the training of the levy in preparation for the new campaign season.

It began sooner than we thought. The Praefectus did march his main force North towards the border, taking wagons full of supplies to the Decurio Maximius Minimus who did command the garrison of the newly constructed fort at Slea-Ford through the winter.

Marching through wooded and marshy terrain just south of the fort, the wagon train did fall victim to dastardly ambush by the Saex! Fortunately, the Saex lord’s men were not under good control and did spring the ambush early, thus allowing the Praefectus to deploy the shieldwall in defence of the wagons while the diminutive decurio could be seen bringing levy from the fort to his aid.

The fight was fierce and in the balance for some time. The Saex hearthguard did resort to their goading, thus allowing their companions to shatter the shieldwall and drive the milites back into the woods. The decurio Geraint did attempt to bring the levy to their aid but was caught by a Saex charge and driven back with the milites into the woods. This did result in two wagons being lost to enemy, although the Praefectus did soon regain control of his men, forcing the Saex back, shattering a group of the enemy hearthguard whose volleys of javelins did simply bounce ineffectually from the shieldwall.

Maximus Minimus did undertake sterling work with the levy and did prevent the remaining Saex warriors from cutting the remaining wagon off from the fort. The levy under the diminutive decurio did earn much accolade in this fight for their shieldwall did hold firm under the heathen assault!

Eventually, the Saex lord did withdraw from the field, leaving two of the wagons still in the Praefectus’ possession. While the Praefectus will no doubt mourn the loss of the food and the handful of spears within that one wagon, its loss will not greatly disadvantage the kingdom. The Saex did lose more men in this fight, largely due to the shieldwalls holding firm and this is more important to the kingdom."

This was the first time that Mike and I had played Dux Britanniarum since late 2012!! We felt it was time to resurrect the campaign and this game was the result. We made very few mistakes despite feeling very uncertain of the rules! In the event, the game was tense and very enjoyable, although Mike did consistently roll below average dice, whereas mine tended to average out. Of particular cringeworthyness was the 12 dice rolled for 'strong arm' javelin attack which caused no hits at all!! Also, my shield walls were particularly effective in this game, especially the levy under Maximus Minimus near the fort!

Here are some pictures.....