Saturday 28 January 2017

Blood in the Sand : Retreat to Olynthus

After the battle of Actae the Chalcidian army was forced into a rapid retreat. General Kyknos lay dead on the field whilst General Triptolemus the Mygdonian leader celebrated his success. He was drinking heavily with his close friends and officers when the news  was brought to him that rather than dispersing in disarray elements of the Chalcidian army had regrouped. Spilling his wine as he lept to his feet he ordered the advance guard to chase them down immediately. His plans had been to spend a couple more days celebrating and then take the good news back to his king to receive what he hoped would be a trophy statue set up in the famous Mygdonian hall of warriors, his fame and future name secured in marble. Now as he stumbled to his horse he faced the prospect of shame and disinheritance for allowing the Chalcidian dogs to escape. Threading to kill any man who stopped in the chase he relieved himself against his horse and then clambered into the saddle.......

After two days and nights of hard chasing the falcon had its prey in its sights. The rear guard of the Chalcidian army, now under the command of Nikeratos a seasoned captain had been cut of close to the village of Paphasa. This would be the last chance on the retreat to Olynthus for Triptolemus to cement his victory as beyond the arid flats land around Paphasa the Chalcidian peninsula was protected but fortified villages and towns.

(An opportunity then to play a small game using Lion Rampant rules, 28 points each side, one slight modification allowing the better trained Hoplite Phalanx's to move albeit slowly even when formed up, we played the hammer an anvil scenario straight from the book πŸ˜€ the battle clearly took place at dusk as the photos are a bit dark !)
General Triptolemus and his Royal Companion Cavalry gallop forward, he had hidden two units in amongst the rocks by the village, the Archers and some slightly untrustworthy Galatian mercenaries. In the distance the Chalcidian rear guard immediately realise they have been trapped, with forces in front and dust clouds appearing behind them (the scenarios forces the blocking force to split its army into three and some has to be brought on behind the enemy from turn two)
A better view of the village, the Chalcidians are looking to force a way through on the west whilst pinning the Mygdonian light troops with light cavalry.
Chalcidian light cavalry, Hoplites and Slingers moving through the village. What you can't see is the unit of Mygdonian Royal Cavalry which having charged on behind rolled a terrible 'double one' and fled the field, the general will have them flayed if he catches them😑
Meanwhile the Galatians, very noisy and smelly are demonstrating at the light cavalry but the cavalry are too clever to be caught
The General has seen the risk that the Chalcidians will escape down the flank and brings his heavy cavalry across....
Only to see the lighter cavalry scamper past....(the objective for the Chalcidians is to get as many units as possible over the battlefield)
The risk now is on the other flank, so whilst the archers hold the centre ground Triptolemus brings his cavalry across the other side.
Again the light cavalry using its greater speed is able to scamper past off to safety, the infantry however, is much slower and the Royal cavalry charges wildly into battle, despite taking significant casualties the spearmen and leading Hoplites are beaten and scattered.
The battle still in the balance is turning the way of the Mygdonians and Nikeratos is forced to pull back to a low hill outside the village.
The hill of the last stand.....which has ever since been called the Hill of Nikeratos
Rather than waste his own valueable troops Triptolemus sends in the smelly Galatians and the poorly armed Slingers are no match.

Finally then the battle was up only the light cavalry had been able to escape and General Triptolemus was happy that he could now return to Mygdonia a celebrated hero, only the Blood in the Sand remained where the carnage of battle had taken place. Of course with this level of open hostility it would only be a matter of time before King Laertes III would be looking for revenge.

6 comments:

  1. Lovely figures and terrain, a beautiful report!

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  2. When you say that he "relieved himself against his horse and then clambered into the saddle", do you mean he stood close beside his horse to urinate? Or that he urinated onto the unfortunate animal?

    I fear an unfortunate, new, nickname for General Triptolemus is in the offing!

    [the game looks a blooming good 'un, by the way]

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    1. I fear the exact details are lost to the sands of time....so we shall never truely know the level of his unpleasantness.

      Thanks for watching πŸ˜€

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  3. Great battle, I'll make a list of troops. Off to check out the York as how Web site

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  4. Very picturesque, a treat for the old eyes. Nice to see a bit of colour after viewing khaki and grey all day.

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