WR - FW: BG - The War Company of Bryn Gwlad at Gothic War

[Chiang]

  His Grace, duke Kein gave me permission to forward this account of the
Gothic battles. Read and enjoy.
  Chiang, recovering Autocrat

-----Original Message-----

Greetings friends,

Fourteen of those brand new surcoats were on display Saturday morning as we
began the day. There were three or four others who were members of the
company but did not yet have surcoats. We examined our complement and
realized that we were somewhat shield heavy. I spoke to my friend Earl
Daffydd and it appeared that he had a contingent about the same size as ours
from northern Ansteorra. Their complement was heavily oriented towards
spears and polearms. It was a match made in heaven.
>From the beginning, we had thought that we would fight with the Europeans
against the invading Mongols. Apparently many others had the same idea. When
the numbers lined up on the field it appeared that it would be a very short
Mongol invasion. I decided to move our alliance of Bryn Gwlad and the North
to the other side, so we were Mongols from the beginning of the battles. The
Mongols consisted of ourselves and our northern allies, Duke Stephen, his
squire Guy, Sir Romanius, Baron Cadwalder, and about five or six others.
Approximate total number in the beginning: 45.
In the first field battle we also had the support of the King and about 5 of
his retainers. This battle went well, though, I don't take much glory in it.
We outnumbered the Europeans by 10 or so fighters. Our unit behaved well and
we swept the field with little difficulty.
In the second field battle, the King and his retainers switched sides to
even the numbers. It actually gave the Europeans a slight numerical
advantage. We lined up with the Bryn Gwlad main unit to the right of center.
We put a strong attack force on the far right led by John of Severn and
consisting of Duke Stephen , Guy, Caladon, Earl Daffydd, Sir Asoph, Sir
Alrek, and about 4 others. The left flank of the army was led by Sir
Romanius and consisted of the various other fighters that were there. Baron
Cadwalder led four fighters as a reserve. Our center was weak. On Lay-on The
Mongols advanced Bryn- gwlad's main unit was lined up with the European's
left flank which consisted of a melee unit out of Elfsea called the Fray. As
we approached , the Fray charged and our unit took the brunt of that charge
while our strong attack force swept past them into the back field. On the
far left Sir Romanius' group faced the Aurthurian Company and traded blows
well. On Bryn Gwlad's left, the forces from the Coastal region, led by Baron
Ulsted, came through the weak middle and struck our flank. Your humble
narrator died at that time. Gideon took command of our troops and led them
into the swirl of battle. The War Company showed that training paid off by
regrouping no less than five times, each time attacking a new opponent and
destroying them. A glorious, hard won victory for the Mongols.
The next battle was the first bridge battle. We gave Sir Romanius and his
troops the point of honor on the bridge as our strategy was to form an arc
of shields and spears at the end of our bridge and let them charge into it.
And charge they did. It was a glorious site to see the Fraymen, many of whom
are very large, and who practice charging almost exclusively, pound into Sir
Romanius' unit. Sir Romanius is not known for size, or rather he is known
for his size and he is known to be small. Many of his troops were small as
well. Our own Lady Bronwen stood in that wall. The Fray charged, the line
bent, but did not break. Our spears and poles took deadly toll and the
Fraymen died. Each European unit charged into our killing cup and each died.
Finally the killing cup had done its work and I called "Advance to Engage!"
The battle was ours.
In the second bridge battle our foemen used the lesson that they had learned
in the first. Again Sir Romanius' troops had the point of honor. This time
our opponents sent pulse charges against us. Each time they would charge,
they would engage our shields and then fall back. Our spears and poles would
pursue and their archers would shoot our polemen. Lord Charles made a good
shot and killed one of their archers but not before the archer killed two
knights with spears. Soon, they made a push and Earl Alaric and a squire of
his stormed into our backfield. I went to meet this threat and as I struck
down his squire, Earl Alaric dealt me a fatal blow. The mongols were soon
overwhelmed.
In the third bridge battle the Mongols died of too much success. I put a
hand- picked unit of large shieldmen, led by John of Severn, in the front
line, then I put a line of polearms behind them. As the Fraymen advanced,
this hand-picked line met them on the bridge and the Fray melted like butter
on a black helmet in the noonday sun. Sensing success our line advanced
across the bridge and were slowed down by the shields of the Arthurian
company. We were at the end of the bridge and our fighters died at the end
of the spears of the King and the Coastal region. More of our fighters
followed the first group and died. I saw the problem too late. I had our
remaining troops withdraw, but the damage was done. The Europeans soon came
across the bridge and forced us into the field. Lady Bronwen and Gideon
stood back to back briefly as the last Mongols alive.
The next battle was a resurrection battle for possession of a well. The heat
had taken its toll of our various allies. Baron Cadwalder did not take the
field nor did others of the group that Sir Romanius had been leading. The
War Company and our Northern allies were at almost full strength, however.
There were a little over 30 Mongols left and 37 or 38 Europeans. The battle
was joined and it was glorious. A long thin line spread across the field and
fighters walked up to the line, fought for a while, were killed, and then
walked back to resurrection. 15 or 20 minutes into the battle the Europeans
were dominating the field. I wasn't worried, though. In our resurrection
point I saw Sean and Gideon and 8 or 9 other Mongol fighters resting with
their helms off taking water. I knew that they would be on the field fresh
at the end. I did most of my work on the right side. I saw Caladon do good
work there as well as Sir Cowin's squire, Kale. Close to the end, the War
Company took the well. The Europeans charged but most were killed. At the
end the Mongols held the water.
I will try to name all of the fighters who fought with us. If I leave anyone
out please forgive my faulty memory. Myself, Bronwen, Esteban, Katina,
Ysfael, Elinor, Sean, John, Gideon, Caladon, Charles, Duncan, Alfred, and
Guy. I'm sure I've forgotten someone. Please speak up if you were there and
I haven't included you.
Overall it was a wonderful day and a glorious debut for our War Company.
I'm sure that I echo the sentiments of all when I thank Lady Aerin and all
others who helped create our surcoats. We looked splendid.
I also want to thank all the members of the War Company. You have gone to a
lot of effort and it is paying off. Let's continue on this path.

On to Trimaris!

Kein MacEwan




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