Game 47 Mini-Siege

This game was played using 40mm figures by Tom Nolan vs his son Sean & myself
 
This was a game that would have benefited from a bigger table but we had fun anyway. Sean took command of the tower with 5 archers, a ballista and 5 of Count Hubert's wall guards. King Thom had brought along 10 armoured cavalry and 5 heavily armoured foot, I added 5 archers and 10 lightly armed warriors on foot, a Visigoth raiding party perhaps. Some quick die rolling determined the breech would not be ready till the 2nd day but the returning foraging party would return mid afternoon on the 1st day.  So the game began with the appearance of Preisages, 4 of his Alans and 5 local spearmen.

Tom's Sash & Saber figures trying to drive off the returning foraging party.   

King Thom's cavalry quickly closed in on them from the East while a line of infantry started forward to block the way to the gate on the West. At first it looked like the Alans' superior mobility would enable them to evade the enemy while the bow fire might cover the return of the party but in the end only 2 foot soldiers and 3 Alans made it to the gate and safety. Tribune Johan in the tower received an arrow in the neck whilst peering over the rampart but luckily he was patched up and ready for battle the next day.

The 2nd day began with the arrival of Duke Stephen and the wagon train simultaneously with the assault on the breech, the fighting was bloody and renewed  but at the 3rd assault Tribune Johan went down again and the besiegers carried the breech. The eagle was borne back up to the top of the tower and the archers drew swords for a last stand.

Meanwhile, the relief party made slow work of  crossing the ford but Duke Stephen and his knights  rode ahead and  the Alans sortied out to meet them. At the 1st clash, Duke Stephen's charge rolled over the Visigoth cavalry although his helmet appeared to save him from an enemy blow, he reeled in the saddle as the next wave of enemy cavalry rode forward and his squire led him from the field. (I'm sure that's what boxcars on his morale test meant). Seeing the duke leaving the field, all of the relief party, apart from Prince Michael and 2 spearmen, took to their heels. High atop the tower a handful of lightly armoured archers drew swords as the heavily armoured Visigoths climbed the stairs. The outcome was never really in doubt and within minutes the Dragon banner waved from the tower top.