Thursday 29 September 2016

Lady Hilda's hearthguard ...

After the battle at Piggesforde, Lady Hilda had returned to Wuduceastre.  In order to provide more fighting power she decides on 'arming up' her hearthguard.

Lady Hilda and some of the women watch as the newly equipped female warriors practice....
[ new items: female warriors - 6 valkyries from ShadowForge; 5 assorted females (Captain Bill's, Hinchcliffe medievals); 4 male warriors from Steve Barber miniatures.]

Saturday 3 September 2016

The Battle at Piggesford ...

The saxon fyrd approach the river Wendsum,  the largest group are sent on to block the ford, while a small group crosses downstream, a couple of men have taken control of the small islet....
The saxons have reached the ford, the vikings approach ....
a little skirmishing starts ...
The vikings form up, preparing to attack across the ford, while the saxons position the rest of their troops, placing some men into their left flank in the pig pens and in the wood ...
The vikings cross the ford and attack the saxons, meanwhile the saxons attack the viking left flank guard ....
The saxons have held the viking attack, but have been pushed back; more vikings cross the ford while some of them also slowly wade across the deeper river upstream of the ford ....
The vikings are across the river and into the woods while the fighting at the ford continues ....
The saxon troops fall back from the ford after losing many men ..
The vikings surge forward again ....fighting in and around the pig pens is fierce ....
the unit of fyrd which had held the ford breaks and runs, the vikings form a shield wall ..
The vikings have won the battle for the pig pens and attack the rear of the nearest saxons; the rest of the fyrd are unsteady but they hold their ground...
The rest of the vikings charge forward ........
the saxons left flank fails completely and the vikings move on to attack the saxon centre ...
The viking attack is repulsed, but the saxons fall back; the rest of the fyrd is in disarray....
Only Lady Hilda and her female hearthguard remain intact - they retire some distance from the enemy trying to rally the fyrd to the standard.  The vikings continue their march back to their ships.