Ambush on the Road - LOTR SBG Battle Report

After a meeting of Saxon lords on Eoforwic, the Lord Osbert and lady Aethelwyn are returning to their stronghold in Northumbria. Escorting them are 2 captains each in command of a 9 man troop. The Saxons are spread out in column along the narrow roads, with a vanguard and rearguard. The lord has 4 mounted warriors riding ahead as scouts.

As the column enters a valley, Osbert muses on the possibility of an ambush. The rocky hill to the right and the wood beyond the ford to his front both look like a possible hiding place, and the Scots have been somewhat ambitious lately. He considers lodging at the inn to his left, but decides to push on. 

Despite misgivings and ale cravings among the men, the column continues forward past the inn. Osbert just wants to get his wife home as fast as possible. 

As the horse's hooves clatter on the rocks of the ford, shouts and war cries erupt all around the column as Scots burst from every possible hiding place.

Two Scot warlords with a combined force of 27 men have successfully sprung their ambush. A small force is placed to block the ford, while two forces to the rear are well positioned to tear into the panicked column.

The Saxons react immediately to the threat. The cavalry spur through the ford and into an open field, ready to add support when needed. The vanguard pushes towards the ford with the lord and lady. They plan to punch through the small Scot shieldwall as fast as possible and then outrun the men to their rear. The rearguard forms a shieldwall in an attempt to hold off the Scots until the lord can make his escape. 

 The Scots on the left charge the Saxon rearguard. The aggressive charge catches the Saxons off guard and 3 fall to the ground with ghastly wounds.

Keeping initiative, the Saxon lord orders his men into the ford to meet the small Scot shieldwall. Timing their charge perfectly, the Saxon cavalry hits the Scot rear while they are distracted by the men to their front.

The Saxon rearguard remains engaged while Scots begin to bypass them and rush towards the ford.

Another Saxon falls in the rearguard. At the ford, the cavalry charge cuts down 4 Scots! 

With the situation in the rear dire, Osbert consolidates the shieldwall their himself. The ford is nearly in Saxon control. If the new wall can hold off the Saxon mob to the rear for long enough they should be able to make a fighting retreat to the edge of the field.

The Scots rush the newly formed wall and are met by spears and shields. 2 men from each side fall to the ground.

At the ford, the Saxon cavalry continue to mop up Scot survivors, felling 3. The Scot lord at the ford manages to dispatch a single Saxon warrior. 

The Scots gain the initiative as the Saxon shieldwall falters. A Scot warlord and his men  push in to surround the Saxon lord. Other warriors move to tie up the Saxons in combat so none can support their lord. A single warrior makes a rush for the lady and grabs her around the waist. She shrieks as he howls in triumph.

Disaster strikes for the Saxons! Osbert's head is swept from his shoulders by the Scot warlord's ax. Spurred on by the death of their lord, the Saxons manage to kill 5 Scot warriors while only losing a further 2.

The Scots maintain initiative despite dwindling numbers. They begin to drag the lady off the field. She will form a fine trophy. The lord organizes his men to make a fighting retreat. Seeing their lady being dragged away. The Saxon troops rally and charge the Scot wall, killing 2 while losing 2 more of their comrades.

Seeing his numbers fall dangerously low, the Scot warlord turns and flees the field! Many of his men follow hot on his heels. The few brave enough to stand and fight retreat with the lady to make a last stand in the rocks. 

The Saxon cavalry crashes into the Scot's final position, killing 2 and routing the rest. The Scot holding the lady sees that their is no way to escape with her. He casually slits her throat before beating a hasty retreat from the rampaging Saxon cavalry. It is a bittersweet victory for the Saxons as both their lord and lady are now corpses.

This battle was a lot of fun. The Scots almost had the day. By losing too many men they were forced to take a courage test. The lord failed as did almost half of the remaining men, sealing their fate. I plan on re-fighting the battle, but with the Saxons retreating to the inn and defending it instead of pushing for the ford.