The Battle of Ste. Marie dans les Navets

 

From the Chronicle of St. Frobenius:

In the Year of Our Lord, 1102, Baron Fulk, bastard son of Count Raymond, did with the urging of Cardinal Berengar raise his Raven banner in rebellion and bring an army of rough and ungodly mercenaries to torment the land of Mantovia. Saracens came from heathen lands to join with the Black Company and landless knights seeking fortune. 

The army of Fulk the Bastard

Count Raymond did marshal his host and met the foe at the church of Ste. Marie dans les Navets. All the chivalry of his court did join his banner. The Red Knight commanded the right battle and the White Knight commanded the left. Even the Hermit Knight left his prayers to command the front line and defend the realm and Holy Church ftom the depredations of rapacious unclean hands.

Fulk did array his host thusly, the Saracens were in the van while the Black Company came next. Behind he did array his horse.

The feudal host of Count Raymond the Good 

The Godly host of Mantovia waited their advance. Shields held before them like the walls of Jerusalem. Horns sounded. Arrows and quarrels found many a mark. Saracens went down into the dust. The Black Company charged three times, crashing against the shieldwall like the sea. The Hermit Knight bellowed over the clash of arms, "Stand ye churls! Stand or by the love of Christ I shall send thee to the Devil myself!" Thus, with holy zeal he held the line firm until the foul mercenaries withered like straw before a flame. 

On the left knights did charge and swirl in great melee. The Black Knight, his lance in hand lead Fulk's knights and did break the shieldwall before him. But Sir Adhelbert kept his bloodied and depleted squadron in hand and did charge the Black Knight stopping his assault. 

On the right, the Red Knight did perceive some rebel horse passing through the uncut barley closest to the village and lead his squadrons to meet them. Through the corn they charged each other but the Red Knight,  a valiant and puissant man at arms did overthrow them all, even into the village pond. 

Seeing his plots overthrown, Cardinal Berengar spurred his horse and bade Baron Fulk to take ship before Count Raymond the Good's men at arms caught him.

This was a big solo game of Lion Rampant with 56 points per side and I didn't even use all of my troops. Each army was divided into 3 battles or commands. I also tried out my ideas for character abilities which added some fun without being too much. I played it out over two days. The irony that I set up an elaborate village which was completely peripheral to the action isn't lost on me either. But it's all about the eye candy.