If You Go Down To The Woods Today

After a gap of five long months, Steve C and I finally got together for a game today at his war-games room in Goldhanger - thanks Covid-19 !

My Romans had to go foraging again in Barbarian territory. They will arrive in and around this path.

The German Barbarians have to stop them getting food and weapons from two of the three settlements seen here.

The Centurion doesn't hang around  - a column of three groups marches up the track as archers appear around the woods on the left

Allied cavalry have deployed from rough ground ahead and they have shot off to "shut down" an enemy deployment point

Here's the afore mentioned archers

and another group appear at the point the cavalry deployed from

German slingers appear in front of the high ground opposite the first group of Roman archers

which attracts the attention of another Roman cavalry group

the Slingers evade back onto the rocky high ground

More emerge from cover in front of the main Roman advance - and they are hit by Roman arrows

Good shooting !

The cavalry have used an Infamy card to go along a hidden track in the woods as Auxiliary troops "step out" ahead of the column of Legionaries

Out of nowhere, two groups of Barbarians ambush the Roman cavalry in the woods - and they destroy them. Roman morale takes a dip.

but the Roman infantry quickly react. The Auxiliaries charge the Barbarians in the rear and the Legion follows up to add support

The Barbarians are caught out

 Their fervour keeps shock at bay but not the kills

With the Legionaries joining in, things can only get worse for the Barbarians

they break off the fight and retreat through the woods

the Roman cavalry out on the left have taken some hits from the enemy slingers so move away, leaving the archers to deal with them

Back in the woods, the Centurion leads his men forward again

However, before they can reach the battered enemy Mob, they are ambushed by a group of lunatic fanatics

the Romans took some casualties but the fanatics are destroyed

A fresh Barbarian mob lead by their Warlord now charges into the Roman line

but they stand firm

the Barbarians are coming off worse again

they retreat too and the Warlord has been injured

Roman archers and cavalry advance as the Auxiliaries "loot" the first settlement

The Barbarians try a last desperate charge but this fails too and their morale has dived to zero

Roman victory and they can loot the other settlements without further disturbance.

This was the start of a campaign so the Roman centurion has gained some status with this result and will start the next game with higher morale.

Great to get back to Goldhanger again - and yes, we did visit The Chequers for lunch !