SAGA Battle Report – The Feast of Crows

“My lord Danaan, are you well enough to…” 

was all Hoarst could manage before the shield slammed into him.

“Get me my armor!” bellowed the Anglo-Danish Warlord “I’m well enough to defend my people and land you son of a lame sow!” His armor bearers quickly brought in the leaders mail shirt and helmet. The fearless warlord was still recovering from being struck by sword and javelin just a few months earlier “Now what else was there beside those damnable Welsh!!”

“There is a band of Norsemen also approaching from the east” Hoarst replied, regaining his lost composure. “Both warbands will converge on a farming community just to the north, here” Hoarst pointed out the location on a map laid before the chieftain.

“How long will it take to rally our forces?” Breas questioned.

“We’ll be ready in just a few hours sir” he answered.

“Then let us be off to meet this foe! Tonight there will be a feasting for the crows!!” The lord of the Danes declared and a great cheer from those nearby went up and was carried throughout the village.

The warband marched through the day and before dusk they arrived at the farming village. The Welsh could be seen riding in from the Northwest and the Viking war party was just outside the village to the east.

Breas Danaan placed a hand on his side, feeling the ache in his bones from a javelin that had pierced there months previous. He vowed the Welsh warriors would not get away this time.

“Now we fulfill our oaths and sing the songs of warriors going to see their ancestors!

Abaixo, lá eu vejo meu pai.

Abaixo, lá eu vejo minha mãe, minhas irmãs e meus irmãos.

Abaixo, lá eu vejo a linhagem de meus antepassados de volta ao começo.

Abaixo, eles chamam-me.

Convidam-me a tomar meu lugar em

Asgard nos salões de Valhalla,

onde os espíritos da Verdade podem viver para sempre.

'Lo, there do I see my father.

'Lo, there do I see My mother, and my sisters, and my brothers.

'Lo, there do I see The line of my people Back to the beginning.

'Lo, they do call to me.

They bid me take my place among them.

In the halls of Valhalla...

Where the brave May live...

forever.

The brave warriors surged forward to meet their foes….

This was a three way battle between the Danes, Vikings and Welsh. All three warbands were 4 points and selected the same build. A warlord, two units of Hearthguard and two units of Warriors. The battleground had a copse of trees centered on the table, fields to the north and south and a small pond to the east. There were dwellings, one by the northern field between the Vikings and Welsh another to the west separating the Welsh and the Danes.

The Welsh set up in the Northwest corner, the Vikings in the Northeast and Danes in the Southwestern corner.

Turn one

The Welsh started by moving one unit of warriors south, the Welsh Warlord and a Hearthguard unit moved toward the trees. The other Welsh warriors and Hearthguard moved due east toward the Viking lines.

Vikings responded by cautiously moving both warrior units westward and their beserkers moved slightly to the south. The Viking warlord and retainers held their ground to see which way the battle would flow.

The Anglo-Danish forces moved forward, warriors to either flank, hearthguard units and warlord in the center.

Turn two

The Welsh warlord and hearthguard unit moved to the center of the field between the forest and northern field. Their westernmost warriors advanced warily staying behind the rough ground and dwelling. At the northern end of the battleground the warriors advanced to the edge of the field. The hearthguard doubled their move and advanced into the field, hurled their javelins and slew three Viking warriors.

The Anglo-Danish forces continue their northward march, preparing to engage the western Welsh warriors and get to grips with the Vikings.

Turn Three

In return the Viking warriors attack the Welsh and slay all four Welsh Hearthguard, losing only one warrior in return. The rest of their brethren move toward the Welsh lines.

The Welsh Warriors retreat from the Vikings and the Warlord moves on the double with his hearthguard across the swampy terrain and to the south of the Viking lines. The western warriors move and hurl their javelins at the Danish warriors. They score four hits but the Anglo-Danish “shieldwall” saves them all. The Welsh warriors move and throw again, this time slaying one Dane.

The Danes fall upon the Welsh warriors, slaying all but one! To add insult to the injury, the Welsh hits are all saved. The lone Welsh warrior retreats from the combat. The warlord, hearthguard and warriors advance to midfield

Turn Four

The Welsh warlord and retinue taunt the Viking beserkers to draw them out from the shelter of the dwelling and cast their javelins at the crazed northmen. The Viking use a point of fatigue to raise their armor so nullifying the two hits. The last western warrior attacks the Danes and dies in the attempt but keeps them from advancing.

The Viking beserkers now demonstrate what they do so well. The hurl themselves at the Welsh warlord and hearthguard retainers. With added attacks from their battleboard and extra armor from using fatigue, the beserkers slay all before them and lose only one of their own number to return attacks. Thus the fury of the northmen is dealt out to the Welsh!

Turn Five

Welsh rest their last remaining unit of warriors.

The Daish Warlord and Hearthguard charge the Viking Warriors and slay several but lose three hearthguard in the process so the Warlord Breas Danaan falls back to the eastern unit of warriors.

The Remaining two Viking warriors moves toward the lone Danish hearthguard and the bitter fighting leaves no survivors.

Turn Six

The Welsh remain in their corner as they have no hope of any comeback.

The Anglo Danish warriors, led by their warlord attack the Viking beserkers and slay them but lose three of their own in the melee. The Warlord then attacks the last two Viking warriors slaying them both.

Turn Seven

The Welsh and Vikings both move away from the Danes to deny them any additional victory points, thus effectively ending the game

The hard fought battle left only 8 Welsh Warriors, 4 Viking Hearthguard and the Viking Warlord. The Anglo Danes remaining were a unit of 7 Warriors, unit of 5 Warriors, unit of 4 Hearthguard and their Warlord.

The victory points were tallied for kills and the result was a Viking win:

Vikings = 17, Anglo-Danes = 12 and Welsh = 7

The clear winning fight was the ferocious Viking Beserkers taking out the Welsh Warlord and 4 Hearthguard in one round of combat. This earned the Vikings 7 victory points and the edge over the Anglo-Danish forces.

Breas Danaan lowered his mighty axe and looking from the fallen northmen at his feet, he surveyed the carnage around him. His body gave way to the pains of past and fresh wounds and he leaned heavily on the axe that served him so well.

“It will be several months before they try again sir. I think we’ll have a respite” said Hoarst.

Breas was not so sure. The Viking warlord had left the Danish settlement but only after realizing he was outnumbered and had lost his best men. He’d be back and sooner than Hoarst thought.

“Tonight we honor those who have gone to our ancestors” Breas stated “Tomorrow we worry about the future.”