"But what if they too have bows? They might just opt to shoot us off our horses."
"Not if we made our move just before dawn. It would be too dark for bows, but light enough for melee."
"They might have bows, but we can ride out of their range if they elect that route. Sachsens like to fight hand to hand though. They are individualistic and seek glory before their gods. They fight as single warriors, not as one. Even in the unlikely event all of them ignore us and stay in the camp, we would lose nothing in the attempt. It's certainly worth trying before any variation of a direct assault."
Gunthar nods at the lord agreeing with his plan.
"And do we split our forces and hope to encircle them, or keep our men together and risk allowing the Sachsen escape?" asks Lo.
"Total extermination need not be our goal. Our objective is to break this camp. If they scatter and run to whatever other rat holes plague this countryside for the rest of the winter that's acceptable as well. They will all face a reckoning in spring when the King arrives. Besides, we don't have the men to make an effective encirclement of their camp and attack. It would only serve to dilute the power of the few spears we have. Do you not agree?"
"Break the camp and rescue the women. Those are our objectives. Once we succeed, we should completely destroy the fortifications, so they will have no incentive to rebuild."
"We need to revenge the women and signal to these pagans that they've gone too far."
"Well, it sounds like we have a plan then," Brechthalt says, smiling. He reaches into his pack and pulls out a small leather flask. Unscrewing the cap he says, "Korn...from my lands in Aachen. It's quite strong, but a long sip each won't hurt anything." He offers the clear grain liquor about to the other knights first, then takes a long drag. "Father Reolus, will you lead us in a prayer to bless our upcoming endeavor?"
Gunthar sips as long as the lord and passes it along. Then, he goes through the Christian motions with Reolus.
"Of course, my Lord."
Dropping to his knees and crossing himself, Reolus holds his hands up to heaven and says, "Holy Father, we thank you for this day when your holy justice will be meted out. Strengthen our arms and bolster the courage of all your servants. Let your angels and saints fight along side us, so that fear and trembling will strike at the minds and hearts of our enemies, and that they will see your glory. In nomine Patri, et Filii, et Spiritu Sancti. Amen."
"Amen." Brechthalt leans back onto his bedroll. "We ride before dawn," he says turning over onto his side and closing his eyes.
Gunthar rolls over to sleep.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
In the morning the troops are arrayed in the grove where the knights made their first camp, the night they discovered the Sachsen presence. Approaching from an angle that is guaranteed to not be seen is a time consuming process and they have to head out well before dawn. Brechthalt mounts his warhorse and waits for the other knights once the spear men are hidden in the trees.
Lo draws a deep breath, his shortbow in hand. Glancing at his fellows, he asks “Ready?” in a voice that suggests he’s uncertain he’d be able to answer the question were it aimed at him. A brief chuckle passes his lips. “Better mutter a prayer for us as we ride, Reolus, he concludes, “because if we dawdle any longer my courage will escape me!”
With that, Lo kicks Balder’s flanks firmly, and the sturdy, dark warhorse bursts out of the trees and launches into a steady canter across the grey moor. Lo’s aware only of the silence of the dawn and how loud are the sounds of Balder’s pounding hooves and jingling tack, and his own clanking armour and excited breathing. Slowly the enemy camp takes form in the dim, predawn light. A good way short of his foes he draws Balder to a halt. As soon as the warhorse has settled, he knocks an arrow to his bow, stretches it back at angle to give the missile lift, and releases at the closest Saschen he can see. With a hiss the arrow climbs into the steel-grey sky, announcing the battle to come. At such long range, cutting down his opponent will be difficult, but it should certainly get their attention.
Gunthar follows the routine that his father had drilled into him to avoid the anxiety of his first battle: breakfast, armor, weapons, Sigi, gear, all at their time in their place. When he mounts Sigi and rides next to Brechthalt, he is as ready as he will ever be. He stows his lance in its holster and readies his bow double-checking the draw to his quiver for the third time.
Reolus, through a combination of prayers, exhortations, and a good deal of arm-waving, directs everybody to stay together well. For two rounds, starting on his next turn, everybody within 30 feet will have +1 morale bonuses to attacks and skill checks.
All three of the knight's arrows miss their marks by a meter at least. They do however get the attention of the five sentries who start shouting a call to arms. They snatch up wooden shields and form a small group on the side of the camp the knights are attacking from.
"There's only four of 'em?" says one of the pagans.
"We better go after 'em lads! They bring them Minden boys down on us we're right f*!*ed," another replies.
"Oh aye...Step to ye lazy swine f$*~ers! Four idiots attackin' the camp! Wotan's watching and cowards don't go to Walhalla!" a third shouts back into the camp.
"They got horses, we can't run them down!"
"We've got to try! Maybe they think they can take us since they got mail and horses. Bathin' in our brudder's blood at Verden got them thinking their dead god won't let them fail. Let's show 'em what the real gods can do!"
On Reolus' turn, the co-ordinate goes into effect; +1 to attack and skill checks.
Reolus successfully continues to guide his horse with his knees. This round, he mutters a prayer to God to guide his aim as he did King David's, and he adds a stone to the volley of arrows.
I guess God wasn't listening this time.
Reolus’ prayers help calm Lo’s excitement (or is that fear?). As the sentries begin to move towards them, and the camp comes to life, he knocks another shaft and takes aim. The arrow shoots skywards.
Gunthar draws and fires another arrow.
Gunthar and Lo's shafts strike one of the men in the group of sentries, and he drops to the ground, unmoving. The men shocked into action by the arrows hitting their friend form up into a tight group and hold their shields up above their heads. Meanwhile half a dozen more men come running out of the camp, also wielding spears and shield, and join the others. It appears the rest of the camp is fully awake now, and men rush about amongst the tents preparing for combat.
Gunthar draws and fires another arrow.
“One slain already, this should be easy! jokes Lo as the camp continues to stir. Seeing their foes still gathering their forces, and no counterattack yet in evidence, Lo holds his ground and fires another arrow, shifting his aim beyond those with their shield wall formed to the lesser protected men hurrying to join it.
Reolus spends another full round praying, exhorting, and directing, so that the co-ordinate bonuses don't lapse.
All three of the knight's arrows miss again. In the meantime a dozen men assemble in front of the camp. Looks like they will begin the chase soon.
Another arrow thrums.
Gunthar draws and fires another arrow.
Gunthar and Lo manage to fell another of the Saxons as they begin to charge across the open moor towards the knights with a great shout.
Gunthar looks to Brechthalt to coordinate.
"Time to put some distance between us and them," warns Lo, wheeling his horse back towards where the infantry lie in wait.
The infantry is back by the trees, right?
"They're coming after us! Protect Sister Maria and the girls!" Reolus shouts out.
Hit
Hit
Gunthar and Lo drop another of the Sachsens as they continue to sprint forward at full speed.
Gunthar and Lo drop another of the Sachsens as they continue to sprint forward at full speed, right on the knights heels.
Nine Sachsens remain when they finally catch up to the knights. There's a front line of what are clearly hunters and farmers poorly equipped with mere shields and spears , however two in the rear appear to be proper warriors . They've got hide armor, and well used battle axees which they pound against the rims of their shields as they scream, urging the others onward towards the knights.
Gunthar will continue withdrawing and holster his bow. He then draws his lance and wheels to charge.
"Don't be a fool Gunthar!" shouts Lo, [b] "Stick to the plan!"
Brechthalt whirls his steed, throwing his bow to the ground. "I do not fear these pagan mutts! Run if you will, but I will fight for our Lord! JESUS!" he screams whirling his charger and whipping his longsword from its sheathe.
Miss
Hit
Miss
Hit
His horse bites and kicks at one of the sachsens, destroying the man's face and chest with two vicious hoof blows. He falls over instantly dead. Brechthalt balances in his stirrups, slashing down at another pagan with his longsword.
Miss
The terrified farmer manages to get his shield up just in time to avoid have his head removed. Brechthalt's longsword cuts a large chunk from the man's shield.
"Don't be a fool Gunthar!" shouts Lo, [b] "Stick to the plan!"
Miss
One of the Sachsen's stabs at Lo's mount ineffectually as he retreats.
Reolus, unwilling to abandon Brechthralt, edges his horse closer to the Sachsans. He moves his horse 15 feet north east.
not sure if being on a horse counts as higher ground or not.
Not sure if being on a horse counts as higher ground or not.
Nine Sachsens remain when they finally catch up to the knights. There's a front line of what are clearly hunters and farmers poorly equipped with mere shields and spears, however two in the rear appear to be proper warriors. They've got hide armor, and well used battle axees which they pound against the rims of their shields as they scream, urging the others onward towards the knights.
Gunthar carefully withdraws from the huffing sachsens, putting away his bow and drawing his lance.
"Don't be a fool Gunthar!" shouts Lo, "Stick to the plan!" he continues, as he urges his horse to gallop away from the sachsens. One of the Sachsen's stabs at Lo's mount ineffectually as he retreats.
Brechthalt whirls his steed, throwing his bow to the ground. "I do not fear these pagan mutts! Run if you will, but I will fight for our Lord! JESUS!" he screams whirling his charger and whipping his longsword from its sheathe. His horse bites and kicks at one of the sachsens, destroying the man's face and chest with two vicious hoof blows. He falls over, instantly dead. Brechthalt balances in his stirrups, slashing down at another pagan with his longsword. He hits the man in the neck, chopping down to the spine. The man falls over, with a spurt of red from his neck.
Reolus, unwilling to abandon Brechthralt, edges his horse closer to the sachsens. He urges the mount to attack the next sachsen in the line. The horse's hoof catches the man in his temple, and he crumples like a sack of roots. Then Relous leans over, and whispering a prayer for the man's soul jabs his spear through the sachsen's heart, killing him.
The sachsen rabble roar in terror and rage, charging Brechthalt and Reolus, jabbing at them with their spears. One of the sachsens manages to stab Brechthalt in the chest, piercing the nobleman's armor a half inch deep with the tip of his spear. Another catches Reolus in the thigh, slicing open a gash.
The veteran warriors try to cut the legs out from under Reolus's mount. One of them misses the rearing steed, but the second hits the horse with a heavy blow in the front-right leg.
________________________________
Hit
Miss
Miss
hit
miss
hit
;-)
Lo groans as his comrades swiftly lose all appearance of knightly discipline to fall upon the pursuing Saschens, but his dismay turns to pleasure as Reolus and Brechthalt chop down several, even as they suffer wounds of their own. Not wishing the others to pay for their foolishness with their lives, he turns his horse about and let’s fly another arrow.
he shouts, waving the spearmen out from their cover amidst the trees.