The Tax Man Cometh - Part 2

Viking Berserker 

If you missed Part 1 of this Battle Report, look here:
http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2011/06/tax-man-cometh-part-1.html

When we last left our heroes, the Lad was embroiled in a fight around the Bishop's residence, Ken and Owen were fighting their way to Church, and my warband was being systematically destroyed by a ferocious, foul-tempered bunny....

The Lad managed to fight off the Saxon defenders and a bunch of reinforcements, and in fact did so without taking a single casualty.  He then packed up all the goodies into a handy cart (actually two handy carts, but he realised he couldn't make it with two carts and dumped one) and then began a slow withdrawal in good order while an increasingly large mob of Saxons tried to build up enough courage to charge the Viking line.

Back at the Church, the Vikings decimated the first Saxon shieldwall, and advanced upon the next wave, who sensibly hunkered down around the Church entrance to use the stone walls to secure their flank.

And while his oar-mates were being dispatched by the foul rodent, my Champion had challenged the Saxon garrison commander to single combat!

Dueling at the Village Crossroads

Victory!!!!

My boys then went on to mop up the rest of the Saxon defenders, burst into the Church and slay the pesky Tax Collectors (much to the chagrin of Ken and Owen, whose boys were still engaged outside the Church).  After a turn or two scooping up all the gold the could carry, these two jumped out the back window of the Church and scarpered into the woods!

Inside the church - the comfy chair was very temping to outfit the Dragonship!

Meanwhile the shieldwalls clash outside the Church

Meanwhile, back at the Cave entrance I finally managed to scare off (scare off, not dispatch mind you!) the evil bunny, and finally enter the cave... (This was a fantastic bit of terrain Pete had made up in a box lid)  The glittering of treasure on one side was offset by the hideous visage of the 3 stooges Troll in the other corner!

The Cave of Wonders!

A cautious advance ....

"Intruders? Why I oughta..."

Charge!

Luckily for me, the Troll put up less of a fight than the Rabbit and my Hersir dispatched the gruesome foe.
At this time, the Saxon Army Commander and his continent of Huscarls dramatically entered the board, intent on stopping this unwanted incursion and taking back the stolen tithe!

A mighty Saxon Hero leads his men!

As they entered the Fray, Ken and Pete were mopping up with shieldwall, and Ken called out the Mighty Hero to a duel which went back and forth for a few turns as the two combatants were closely matched.

And the Lads lads got their cart over the ford in the stream, just as more Saxons came on to oppose them:

An angry Harold the Missionary leads more men to take back the Church's gold

But the fearsome Vikings challenge them from the other bank, and their courage fails them!

At this point the Saxon hero fell the Ken's axe and the Saxon defences crumbled.  Having looted the Church, the Cave and the Bishop's residence, the Vikings had taken a good haul of loot and made their way back to the Dragonships.  The funeral pyres burned brightly on the beach for some of my departed lads.

Battle Epilogue: Hours later in in misty dusk, the Saxon hero regained consciousness, having been left for dead on the battlefield.  Binding a serious wound on his leg, he knew the Ealdorman's wrath would fall upon him for loosing the tithe revenue.  Swearing vengeance upon the Northmen, eternal hatred for them would burn deeply...