An Experimental Game-2- Crusading Warfare 4

 

 

“The archery of the nomad cavalry was extremely dangerous, killing the precious knightly war horses before a coordinated charge could be launched.”

The Crusader Armies by Steve Tibble 2020

 

Keukburi’s Turcoman loose more arrows and then retire, but not too far. The Templar spearmen are nearly finished, they’re no longer able to provide a protective wall of shields for all of the crossbowmen.  The Master retires his division to regroup. 

The Templar withdrawal aligns with Conrad’s division but leaves King Guy’s men exposed. Conrad orders the crossbows back to work.  This time to little effect. He decides on drastic measures and leads his knights in an uphill charge against the nearest Ghulam formation.  The Ghulam evade riding off to join Zahir Ghazi who is still rallying their comrades.  Conrad has taken the high ground and if he can get his infantry on it, he can hold it.

Al Afdal’s Turcoman focus on disrupting and provoking King Guy’s newly isolated command.  They cause casualties.

Keukburi’s Turcoman re-join their master.  They are still game but are almost out of arrows.

Al Afdal’s Turcoman, also running low, shoot once more, causing more hits and retire behind their armoured compatriots.

Once the Turcoman are out of the way King Guy sees his chance. He leads the knights of Jerusalem in a furious charge against Al Afdal and his Ghulam.  Al Afdal orders his men to shoot and counter charge.  The Frankish charge proves irresistible. Al Afdal is wounded, his Ghulam’s dead or scattered beyond rallying. King Guy has lost a third of his knights but rescued his reputation.

Keukburi decides to intervene, he orders his Turcoman to shoot at the royal knights, and leads his Ghulam forward, the shooting starts in earnest. King Guy’s knights collapse around him their horses going down under the blizzard of arrows.  Miraculously the King is unharmed and rides hard for the safety of his infantry.

Keukburi’s Turcoman have shot all of their arrows. 

King Guy is now isolated with his infantry.  His knights are dead or wounded.

The battle is in the balance.  If the wounded Al Afdal can lead his troops forward and combine with Keukburi they may be able to overrun King Guy’s division before help arrives.

The Master of the Temple considers life with King Conrad.  He exhorts his brother knights and leads the charge against Keukburi’s Ghulam.  It never connects as Keukburi and his men evade contact.  King Guy is safer than he was.

Somehow, no one can explain it, Keukburi has been seriously wounded in the escape from the Templar charge.  His men gather round to defend him.  They will now only fight to protect him.

That was the second turn of the game.  So far, so like a Crusades Battle. I’m pleased to say.  Casualties, it has been bloody, are about equal but the Franks can certainly feel the Deity is with them. On the other side Ayyubid command is in disarray with only one leader still fully functional.  The battle field now looks like this.

If you have been following this series you may be wondering where is Taki Al Din and his men?  You might also want to know what happened to Keukburi? All will be revealed in the report of the next turn.