Betwixt the Hazel Rods - LOTR SBG Battle Report

In the age of vikings, a tradition existed known as fighting within the hazel rods. Simply put, this allowed for a staged battle or combat in an area of land marked out by hazel rods. By having a clearly defined battlefield, it was assured that tactics and trickery did not play a part in the victory. The hazel rods allowed a straight fight to the death, with the better fighter generally being the one to come out on top. Since the vikings valued their military prowess, this method of figuring out the winner of a conflict was deemed fair. Although most often used for single combat - similar to a dual of later centuries - it was not unheard of for full scale battles to be fought within a marked off field.

It is one such battle between the hazel rods that I present for your consideration today. Rolf Wulfson and Harlad Cnutson are neighboring lords in the newly Danish kingdom of Northumbria. Both of them wish to extend their lands, and seeing as they are neighbors, neither is very happy about the others intentions. According to ancient traditions, they determine to fight a winner take all battle between the rods. The lord who wins gets all of the lands and belongings of the loser, who is exiled if he isn't already dead. Both men agree to bring all of the men they can muster to the river that divides their lands; there to decide the fate of both estates.

Both forces are evenly matched, having their lord with his 5 man bodyguard as well as 22 lightly armed bondi taken from the men of the estate. The battle was fought using LOTR SBG rules. The game would last until one of the lords was killed or one of the forces routed. Each time a lord won a combat, each soldier in his force increased their courage value by one. Each time a lord lost a combat his soldiers courage was reduced by one. Men do not want to serve a lord that can't fight!

Rolf has his men place wattle fencing around a field to mark where the battle will take place. Harald marches his men across the narrow bridge and arrays his shield wall, ready to take what should rightfully be his. The river at his back and the wattle fencing all around make sure that there is no funny business.

In the first turn of the game, Rolf won priority but decided to hold his shield wall in place and wait for the enemy to attack. Harald formed his men into a boar's tusk formation with himself at the head, and surged towards his hated enemy. The tusk formation is designed to pierce the enemy shield wall and shatter it, leaving any survivors as easy pickings.

The second turn also had priority go to Rolf. Seeing Harlad's formation, he diverts men to his center to strengthen it and defend his own hide. To counter Harald's relatively week flanks, Rolf moves his own forwards. He plans to envelope the boar's tusk as it bogs down in the strengthened center. Harald completes his charge into the now strong enemy center. At the head of his men, he crashes into the first enemy, giving a mighty shout and killing him outright. His men harden their resolve seeing the valiant effort by their leader. 

Turn three sees priority again go to Rolf. He charges his whole shield wall forward, taking on the enemy leader himself! He is hoping that his flanks will win and wrap around Harald's force. If he can kill his hated enemy this will not even be necessary.

The combat is a disaster for Rolf as Harald defeats him and forces him back un-wounded. Courage falls on Rolf's side as their leader is pushed back. The right flank crumbles and six men are killed by Harald's skilled spear men. Only three of Hralds men are killed in the melee.

A lucky priority roll allows Rolf to reorganize his wall before Harald can capitalize on the gap in the right flank. Rolf cowers behind his force as Harald again urges his men forward.

In the clash of shield walls, Harlad displays his prowess and kills another foemen. His men's courage is raised. They know they serve the greater man and will shortly have the day. In response they kill another 5 of Rolf's men. However, in their hubris 4 fall victim to a weakened but still strong enemy. 

On a crucial priority roll, Harald finally wins and moves into combat with Rolf. His men tie up as many of the enemy as possible so that their lord has room to finally kill his rival.

Harald beats Rolf into the grass, unable to inflict a wound but humiliating him even more. 5 more of Rolf's men are skewered as well, lowering their number to the breaking point. With their courage destroyed by their lord's horrible fighting abilities, the men flee the field, hot on the heels of Rolf himself. Despite losing 4 more men in the last turn, Harald stands victorious and proud. His victory today means he has doubled his holdings. His men will tell of how he killed tow men and defeated Rolf in single combat for many years. 

The battle went well. The defeat of Rolf's right wing in the first turn made it difficult to come back despite winning priority on every turn but the last. Rolf's inability to win any combats meant that as soon as his force lost sufficient numbers they ran away, Even if he had been able to kill enough of Harlad's men to force a courage test, it is likely that Harald's victories would have held his men on the field.