Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[Todd Kaeser]

In the year of our Lord 2008 the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem and Rhodes set sail to travel to the Council of 5 Nations in Schenectady, NY. The Knights brought a full compliment of soldiers (1600 points in 15mm) into their galley. The Knights knew that this was going to be a trip of great distance so they boarded their ship and set sail about an hour or more before the break of dawn (5:30 A.M.). They were traveling East so they knew that the enemy would have the rising sun in their eyes and prevent the Knights from being seen upon their arrival.

Grand Master Pierre d’Aubusson 2E Knights of Justice Reg A SHK L,, ½ Sh + PA (229)
Fra’ Antoine Gautier w/ 2 Knights of Justice + 1E Serving Brethren Reg A/B SHK L, ½ Sh + P (156)
Turcopiler John Kendal w/ 2 Knights of Justice + 1E Serving Brethren Reg A/B SHK L, ½ Sh + P (156)
2E Knights of Justice Reg A SHK L, ½ Sh (130)

4E Marinarii Reg C LHI CB,2HCT ½ Sh (130)
4E Marinarii Reg C LHI CB,2HCT, ½ Sh (130)
4E Marinarii Reg C LHI CB,2HCT, ½ Sh (130)

6E Greek Bowman Reg C LMI B ½ Sh (94)
6E Greek Bowman Reg C LMI B ½ Sh (94)
4E Rhodian Militia Reg D LMI CB ½ Sh (50)
4E Rhodian Militia Reg D LMI CB ½ Sh (50)
4E Rhodian Militia Reg D LMI CB ½ Sh (50)

2E Turkopoles Reg C LC Jls,B,Sh (50)
2E Turkopoles Reg C LC Jls,B,Sh (50)
2E Turkopoles Reg C LC Jls,B,Sh (50)
2E Rhodian Skirmishers Reg D LI CB (18
2E Rhodian Skirmishers Reg D LI CB (18
2E Rhodian Skirmishers Reg D LI CB (18

In the opening battle the KoSJ faced off against Feudal Samurai generaled by Ewanie McNai. The field of battle consisted of a fast flowing stream in the Japanese right flank and flowed close to their rear. There were also three pools of swampland bordering the stream on that flank. A gentle hill was on the right flank of the Knights. The Samurai set up behind the stream but they soon crossed the stream to meet the Knights’ forces in the middle of the battlefield. A small contingent of crossbowmen and light infantry were sent into the dreaded swampland to harrass and delay the Japanese positioned there. Turn 3 of the battle saw the first opening for the knights. Near the right side of the Knights battle line two units of crossbow did send a flight of arrows into a 24 man Samurai unit putting them into a state of disorder. The knights of justice who were heading for the center of the battle pealed off to the right and launched themselves into the disordered foe. The samurai responded bravely and did not show fear as the knights recoiled them. A small samurai unit counterattacked the knights as another responding knight unit lead by Fra’ Antoine Gautier valiantly sent himself into the reeling samurai unit. Tragedy thus descended onto Antoine Gautier when his horse tripped and unhorsed the bishop (down 3). Quickly set upon by ferocious samurai his body was quickly pierced by naganatis and yuris alike. At the same time of the horrific fall the reeling samurai unit had their prayers answered and found a ferocity they had not often felt come upon them (+4 roll, +6 vs. the knights of justice). Beset by a ferocious samurai unit to the front and another fanatical unit on its flank (+5) the knights were routed as was the now commander-less unit previously commanded by the bishop. The Knights’ support troops on the right flank did not respond with the bravery accustomed to and found themselves trembling and some even were put to flight making the command useless. With the right collapsing the center tried to hold when a Marinarii unit took the charge of not 1, but 2 large samurai units. After recoiling disordered the Marinarii unit expected to be relieved by d’Aubusson and John Kendal. When only one of them could charge their knights home the Marinarii were routed. Even the contingent sent into the swamp was caught in charges by the wild samurai and the Knights were firmly defeated 5-1.

After regaining our strength by feasting upon some warmed beef, cheese, mushrooms and unleavened bread the Knights did attempt to regain their honor. Opposing the Knights on a battlefield deficient of terrain besides a small marsh on the Knights right and a gentle hill in the center were Edo Kollmeropoulus and his Spartan forces. Early in the battle the Knights turkopoles were forced to fall back due to the larger contigents of light horse and light infantry of the Greeks. Once the turkopoles were supported by the Rhodian crossbowmen did the light forces of the Greeks feel the power of the crossbow. Retiring in disorder from the flight of bolts the Knights did press forward. The main class of battle did open up when a unit of Marianarii did collide with a unit of unarmored unit of hoplites in column. The next turn saw John Kendall and the knights of justice charging their lances home into a unit of Gauls who did not yet understand the power of an armored knight. With the center of the Greeks bowing inward from the knights pressure more combats soon took place up and down the line of battle. When the dust did clear the Knights were victorious over the forces of Sparta and their honor was regained.

In the evening the Knights did have to face an army that they have not seen before. Numbering in the thousands the camel riders of Midian lead by their general Dennis Shourthousibai. Fortunate for the Knights the battlefield was covered in rough terrain with two woods in the center and left flanks and the Lord did see to help the Knights by placing a steep hill between the two forests. The main crux of the battle took place on the right flank of the Knights were space allowed for their two units of bowmen and two units of Marianarii. Much skirmishing did take place across the battlefield. The hill in the center would also see bloodshed. The arabs pushed toward the gap on the Knights right with 4 units of 18 double mounted camels, where the center hill a lone unit of Marianarii were asked to hold the gap between the woods and hill against two units of 18 camels. Opportunity first came to the Knights as the lone Marianarii unit caught a unit of light infantry and had forseen routing it in order to charge into the camels behind them and not have to face their mighty bow power. Alas, the lights did breakoff and the Marianarii did not catch the camels. However, they would have another chance. The next opportunity the Marianarii did survive the blight of arrows shot at them and then charged the camels. Sadly, even thought the camels were slowed by the steepness of the hill they did find extra energy (rolled long) and escaped the death from halberds. On the right the bowmen tried to exchange bowfire with the hoards of camels. Despite a valient effort the bowmen did take much more than they did receive. However, a central camel unit did taste the sting of bowfire enough to be sent into confusion of order. Subsequently the camels were charged by the knights of justice and through strain and effort the knights did finally break the lone camel unit. Overall, the battle was one of little bloodshed and both sides left feeling unsatisfied that their foe was relatively unscathed (198.5 to 90 in the Knights favor)

After three grueling battles the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem and Rhodes packed their troops into the galley, bid their friends goodbye and farewell and set forth back west to their safe harbor. After finding food from a scarlet, pony-tailed young girl, consisting of ground beef, bread and potatoes, the Knights sailed off into the darkness entering their harbor well after midnight. Sleep came quickly, but it was a restless sleep. The Knights had felt that they could have fought harder and will someday find victory on another battlefield.

[scott holder]

Todd:

Best AAR ever.