Hagar the Horrible's Vikings Face the Futile Irish

A Headless Body Production

Location:  Regency at Providence Community Center, Phoenixville, Pa
Event:        Providence Gamer's Game Knight
Players:    Phil Gardocki, Steve Turn, Garth Parker, playing the Futile Irish, led by Larry, his brother Darryl, and his other brother Darryl
               Bruce Potter and Eric Turner, playing the Vikings, led by Hagar the Horrible, Sven the Savage and McBeth of Alba.

Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, about 200 points per side.

Narrative: 1000AD, Monday.  
"Wake him up!", and with that, what was left of a hogshead of Cenel nEogains best was dumped on the snoring figure.

The figure rose and roared, "Cool Tone aa, brísfaídh mé do magairlí", before grabbing his head and collapsing in the mud.

"He wants to fight, that is good.  Stand him up."

The muddy figure was hoisted by his shoulders, a bit less rougher then he could have been,  He wiped his face and blinked in the morning sun.  "Brian?" he asked?  "What are you doing here?  I thought you were kicking the Lochlannach out of Dundalk?"

"I was. and I left you in charge of this sgìre.  What are you doing about Dun Fionnachaidh?"

"Well, we were mustering the ag èirigh a-mach and..."

With a gesture from the King, Larry was released, where he promptly fell to the mud.

"That's enough excuses.  You have gas chaorach too long.  We cannot let the Lochlannach get entrenched.  Besides, this narrative is far too long and fails to amuse me.  Larry, you will get your iongantach brothers, and you will march on Dun Fionnachaidh today.

"But.."

"TODAY Larry, Clan Ramsay and the Balaich à Stafford are already on rathad Leitir Ceanainn."  If you don't catch up with them by this afternoon I'll have your retched clann bheag tossed in the nearest  ceàrr."

For the third time Larry stood up, and this time on his own power.  He gave Brian Boru a nod before stating firmly, "Yes, my liege."  And with that he turned and stormed towards a nearby tent shouting orders.

The Forces:
Futile Irish
Larry, Darryl and Darryl, all Competent
      2 Nobles, Heavy Swordsmen, 2HW, Elite, representing the clans Ramsay and Stafford
      2 Nobles, Medium Cavalry, Elite

      4 Kerns, Javelinmen
      4 Light Infantry, bow and javelin
     12 Warriors, Medium Swordsmen, 2HW
      1 Levy from  Dungloe (That is a real name)
Breakpoint of 26

The Lochlannach and Scottish Mercenaries
Hagar the Horrible, Sven the Savage and McBeth (not THE MacBeth, who has ostentatiously appended that "a" into his Mc), all Ordinary.
      6 Huscarls, Heavy Swordsmen, Armor, 2HW, Elite
      6 Viking Warriors, Medium Swordsmen
      7 Scottish Warriors, Medium Swordsmen
      3 Irish Mercenaries, Medium Swordsmen
      1 Slingers, Light Infantry, sling

      Break point 23

Scenario: The Vikings have taken the Irish village of Dun Fionnachaidh, and this time it seems they intend to stay.  Larry has mustered the Kerns in Kumacrenan and Falcarragh to show them the way out.

Deployment:

Hagar doesn't so much win the initiative and as was waiting for his hangover to clear before making decisions, so the Larry will be attacking in the plains.  Hagar has Viking Fyrd on his right, and Scottish mercenaries on his left.  His center is held by a strong force of Huscarls.  

Larry guessed this deployment, and put his warriors, all armed with two handed weapons on his flanks, and put his skirmishers in the center.  Taking advantage of the road, his two best units where going to march up the Viking right flank.

The Board:

The machinations of the Vikings to cone down the board were to no avail as the expected coastline disappeared due to the rapidly retreating tides.  So too, an nearby gully inexplicably was filled by a roving road crew.

 

Add caption

 The Norse Gods Elli and Mimir pull up a seat.

The Savage Sven's Viking Fyrd are positioned to defend the village.

Hagar the Horrible's Huscarls defend the camp.

While the wily McBeth (Not the MacBeth, see above) covers the road from Letterkenny.*

Facing Sven, Darryl has command of the Irish Warriors.  His 2HW should give him the edge against Sven's warriors.

Facing Hagar, the Larry has a command of Medium Cavalry and Javelinmen.  All skirmishers, and with luck the Huscarls will never swing an ax.

Facing McBeth, The other brother Darryl with more Irish Warriors and Nobles.  All with 2HW.  The Nobles are on the road.

 Turn 1:

Darryl steps forward lively.  His Light Infantry double moves up the edge of the board.

Larry keeps pace with Darryl.  He is in no hurray to meet the Huscarls.

Darryl keeps pace with Larry.  Clan Ramsay and the Boys from Stafford keep pace by following the road.

Sven and Hagar step forward as well.

McBeth enters the field.

 Turn 2:

Darryl has a shortage of command points, and so only pushes his lights.

Larry keeps pace with his other brother Darryl

Darryl enters the field, revealing an ambush.  It's Shawn's youngest don't you know!  What are they doing there?  Ashamed, or confused, they flee back to McBeth's lines.

Facing their second greatest enemy, the Scots charge. 

Taken by surprise, the Irish falter in their advance.  Losing 3 of 5 fights.

 Turn 3:

The attack on the left, despite it's advantages, is going badly.  Time to bring up plan B.  The lights are running for the Viking camp, while the Irish Warriors approach their Viking counterparts.  It is 2HW Sword verses Sword, so this should go well.

Larry attacks the right flank of the Scots.  He turns the flank with one Warrior, while the other slams his opponent.

The Nobles on the road, Clan Ramsay and the Boys from Stafford turn the other flank of the Scots.

But the Irish still manage to lose 5 of 6 fights.

Sven's Vikings hold their ground. 

Hagar's Huscarls approach to charge reach. 

Both Viking commanders are waiting to see how the Scot's will do.  The Scot's line is flanked both port and starboard, so it looks like they won't need to pay out much for the mercenaries.

One thing about Scotsmen, if there is money on the line, they will fight like demons.  Five units of Irish fall in one bound.

 The Irish have 12 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 4 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

 Turn 4:

Darryl moves to charge reach.  The unprotected Viking camp is only 2 moves away!

Larry's Javelinmen skirmish in front of the Huscarls.  His Warriors take a Scot in the flank and destroy it.

The Scots have a shortage of foes.  They turn their flank guards on Clan Ramsay and The Boys from Stafford.  It is Medium Swordsmen against Elite Heavy 2 Handed Swordsmen.  And both battles pull a tie!

The Scots have embarrassed the Vikings for their timidity, so Sven orders a charge.  The Fyrd was well motivated, and win 6 of 6.

 It was at this point, in full view of it's compatriots, I sacrificed the low performing die to the trash gods.

Hagar's Huscarls charge, and Larry's Javelinmen flee.

The Scots turn on their tormentors and destroy another Irish Warrior, but the Boys from Stafford obliterate their opponents.

 The Irish have 19 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 7 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

Turn 5:

Everyone agreed, the Irish had a good plan.  They numeric and quality advantages on both flanks, and could avoid contact with the Viking center of Huscarls, tying up 6, 13 point units with 4 7 point units and two cavalry units.  Then the dice fell...

The Irish Horse charge, destroying one Viking Warrior on contact, but it is way too little, way too late.

 The Irish have 21 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 9 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

There is nothing else Larry can do.  The Huscarls would make short work of his Javelinmen.

Even the Irish Nobles, despite even up odds, have taken damage.

 The Irish have 21 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 7 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

Shouting "Spara en för mig"!, the Fyrd wrack up more points.

 The Irish have 23 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 8 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

Larry's Javelinmen throw their spears and disorder a Huscarl.

 The Irish have 21 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 8 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

The Nobles hold their ground, but the last of the Irish Warriors are obliterated.

And with that the game was called with a decisive win for the Hagar, Sven and McBeth.

*The road is labeled as the road from Letterkenny, not to.  Where this road goes  is a mystery.  It doesn't go to Dun Fionnachaidh, and if you line up this field to a map of the area, it doesn't go anywhere else either.