Battle of Haddatin Pass
15/08/25 Two weeks into my new job, and with a free weekend coming up, I decided to have another solo wargame using Fantastic Battles by Nic Wright. After finishing my write-up of the 2nd Battle of Temple Hill, I had spent a bit of time creating more of a back story to the Human Kingdom of Mantineia. This had added material to the Olde Worlde Chronolgy and it's offshoot, the Lesser Chronicle. Amongst this material was a brief account of a major battle in the Great Orc Wars of some fifty years before the current campaign date. As I had recently dug out my 10mm Fantasy collection, it seemed like a good idea to try Fantastic Battles a second time, and play with my 10mm figures.
Rules: Fantastic Battles
Scale: 10mm
Table Size: 1200mm x 900mm
Ground Scale: 1 BW = 40mm
Game Size: 1500 points per side
Background
Central part of the Olde Worlde
In the 888th Year of King Deldrach of Ruvaen, in the spring following the Sack of Jasphar and the death of Prince Anaxandros of Mantineia at the hands of Rotgob of Mazoga and the army of the Great Orc Alliance, in the month of the Harrier, King Eumenes V, his son Prince Lysander, the Noble Count Lysander of Skynarnos and his brothers Eumenes and Akron, marched north with the army of Mantineia against Rotgob.
On their march, King Eumenes and his army were joined by the Noble Lord Merellien Umeneiros, Questing Knight of Dassinis, and a force of Elves, both on Foot and on Horse, out of Dassinis in the fair Vale of Ossil.
Crossing the Nessain Mountains via the Haddatin Pass, they encountered the Army of the Great Orc Alliance and their Wildmen allies on the high moorland beyond.
The Opposing Forces
King Eumenes' Force:
King Eumenes personally commanded four companies of Knights, while his son, Prince Lysander, had command of two companies of Elven Outriders, loaned to him by Lord Merellien of Dassinis. The Noble Lord Merellien commanded four companies of Elven Knights and two companies of Elven Outriders while Thalanil Qilith had command of six companies of elite Elven Foot. Count Lysander of Skynarnos led three companies of Foot Knights and two companies of Crossbowmen, while his brothers, Eumenes and Akron each commanded two companies of Pikemen. Greshedar the Green had command of two companies of Billmen, while Artelligan the Artificer served as a magical reserve.
King Eumenes' Army numbers 1250 Cavalry, and 4250 Infantry.
Rotgob's Army:
Rotgob of Mazoga had personal command of four companies of Orcs. Oguk the Hairy commanded two companies of Wolfriders and two companies of Wargriders on the right flank while Rilug Toadspitter commanded a similar force of wolf and warg riders on the left. Snedril Evil Eye supported Oguk with six companies of Orc soldiers while Aret Stump commanded four companies of Ogres and six companies of Orc skirmishers in the centre. Brugagh Black Cloud with four companies of Orcs formed a reserve. Keilfron Crook-nose was in charge of two companies of mighty Mammoths, and Long Uldral and Hyalsnog Irongrip each commanded two companies of Wildmen out on the left flank.
Rotgob of Mazoga's army numbers 740 Mounted, 4740 Infantry, 750 Skirmishers, and 24 Mammoths
The road runs north-eastward from Haddatin Pass proper, over high moorland between the out-thrust north-west and south-eastern spurs of the Nessain Mountains. A small marsh dominates the north-western side of the valley, and there is a small wood to the east of the road. A patch of rough ground to the south-west is the only other feature in the valley.
Having received word that the Army of the Great Orc Alliance was approaching, King Eumenes deployed his army for battle.
On his left flank (right hand side of photo), the Noble Lord Merellien of Dassinis threw his Elvish Outriders out wide on the lower slopes of the south-western spur, with his four companies of Elvish Knights in support. To their right, Thalanil Qilith formed up four companies of Elite Elven Infantry, with another two companies in reserve.
To the right of the rough ground, Eumenes of Skynarnos formed his two pike companies into a column, behind the crossbow companies and beside the Foot Knight companies commanded by his brother, Count Lysander of Skynarnos. On the right flank of the Foot Knights, the third Skynarnos brother, Akron, deployed his pike companies in line. Supporting the pikes, were two companies of Billmen under the Mage Greshedarn the Green.
To the right of the Billmen, King Eumenes, accompanied by Artelligan the Artificer, Wizard to the Court of Mantineia, led four companies of Knights while on the extreme right, Prince Lysander had charge of two companies of Elvish Outriders, on loan from Lord Merellien of Dassinis.
Spreading out across the valley below the Pass, advanced the Army of the Great Orc Alliance.
On the right flank - the left of the photo - Oguk the Hairy had charge of two companies of Wolfriders and two companies of Wargriders. Behind them in support were six companies of Orc Warriors in three regiments under the Human Mage Snedril Evil Eye.
To the left of the marsh, the Ogre Captain Aret Stump led four companies of Ogres, with six companies of Orc Skirmishers thrown out ahead of them. Behind the Ogres came Rotgob of Mazoga's contingent of four companies of Orc Warriors. To the left of Rotgob's regiments came the Orc Mage Brugagh Black Cloud with a further four companies of Orcs, while Keilfrorn Crook-nose, Warchief of the Wildmen of the North, had charge of two companies of enormous War Mammoths.
To the left of the Mammoths, Rilug Toadspitter led two companies of Wolfriders and two companies of Wargriders, while Long Uldral and Hyalsnog Irongrip each led two companies of Wildmen.
When deploying his army, King Eumenes had to allow for two units that were late arriving though, fortunately, not too far out of position. Sickness was also beginning to break out in the Army due to the earliness of the season and the inclimate weather. Discouraged by the conditions, one company of Knights quit the Army and headed back to Mantineia.
Rotgob's Army had come away from the siege of Jasphar with Camp Fever spreading through the ranks. This delayed the march of some units, and a company of Brugagh Black Cloud's Orc Infantry and a company of Rilug's Wolfriders took the opportunity to desert.
With a lowing of horns and a rattle of drums, the Army of the Great Orc Alliance advanced across the field. On the right, the wolf and warg riders dashed forward.
In the centre, one of Rotgob's regiments formed into column to avoid the marsh, as the Orcs advanced behind the Ogres.
On the left flank, Wolfriders and Wargriders pushed forward around the wood.
The Mantineian Centre, under the Count of Skynarnos and his brothers, advanced along the road.
In the foreground, Snedril Evil Eye's brigade of Orcs are swinging around the marsh to advance in support of Oguk the Hairy's Wolf and Warg Riders. The Elven Cavalry, closely supported by the Elite Elven Infantry, marches to meet them.
The Elven Outriders, to right, are just coming into bow range of the Orc Wolfriders and a fierce archery exchange followed by mutual charges, is about to take place.
Fierce hand to hand fighting erupts as the mounted wings engage.
On the Mantineian right, King Eumenes and his knights advance against Rilug Toadspitter's Wargriders, while Prince Lysander's Elven Outriders and the Wolfriders loose arrows at each other. The Wolfriders, already under strength as a company deserted early on, are quickly dispersed.
On the left flank, the mounted combat continued while the Elven Infantry engaged the leading Orc regiments of Oguk the Hairy and Aret Stump.
In the centre, two companies of Elf Foot engaged some of the Orc Skirmishers, as Aret Stump's Ogres bore down upon the Mantineian battle line. Keilfrorn Crook-nose's mammoths pushed forward to flank Akron of Skynarnos' pikes.
Charging the Wargriders, King Eumenes' knights were locked in combat as the remaining company of the other units of Knights moved up on their flank. Prince Lysander's Elven Outriders, braving the throwing axes and javelins of Hyalsnog Irongrip's band of Wildmen, poured a hail of arrows into their mass.
The Mantineian Crossbowmen proved ineffectual skirmishers with their slow rate of fire, but they distracted the Orc Bowmen from otherwise shooting up the Foot Knights and Pikes behind them.
Back on the left flank, the Elven Outriders and the Wolfriders both dispersed after a hard struggle, while the Elf Knights dispersed the Wargriders. Ogluk the Hairy was caught up in the rout
After dispersing a unit of Orc Skirmishers, the right-hand unit of Thalanil Qilith's Elven spears moved to take one of Aret Stump's Ogre units in the flank.
From the Mantineian lines, all eyes were fixed on the wave of Ogres descending upon them.
Keilfrorn Crook-nose's Mammoths charged into the Akron of Skynarnos' Pikes while Greshedar the Green rushed her Billmen up in support. Artelligan the Artificer, skirting the edge of the wood, managed to hit the Mammoths with a Magic Missile spell, but this did minimal damage.
On the right flank, with King Eumenes and his Knights still locked in combat with the Wargriders, the extra company of Knights managed to slip passed them and hit the Wargs in the flank. Hyalsnog Irongrip's Wildmen charge the Elven Outriders who nimbly evade, shooting at their opponents all the while.
Attacked from the front and from the flank, the Wargriders were quickly dispersed, with Rilug Toadspitter caught in the route.
In the centre, the Mammoths charged into the right hand pike block, even as Akron of Skynarnos challenged Keilfrorn Crook-nose to a duel. The mighty Wildman of the North quickly dispatched Akron, as his mammoths broke and dispersed the pikemen of Skynarnos.
On the left flank, the Orcs rapidly collapsed as the Elvish Knights and Elite Spearmen ran amok.
In the centre, the Ogres crashed into the Crossbowmen, even as a regiment of Elves crashed into their flank.
The Mammoths charged home against the Foot Knights, even as the Wildmen archers rained arrows down upon the Knights and Greshedar the Green's Billmen. Artelligan the Artificer fires Magic Missiles into the Mammoths.
Greshedar the Green's Billmen march to attack the Mammoths while coming under a withering fire from the Wildmen archers riding the huge beasts.
King Eumenes' Knights charge home against Long Udral's Wildmen.
Prince Lysander's Elvish Outriders continue to evade the Wildmen of Hyalsnog Irongrip, drawing them further and further away from the battle on the Mantineian right flank.
The Orc Right Flank has completely collapsed.
In the centre, the Crossbowmen are dispersed by the charging Ogres. The Elf Spear Unit hitting the flank of the Ogres does minimal damage. The Mammoths charge the Foot Knights, inflicting heavy damage. Count Lysander of Skynarnos is killed in the struggle.
On the left flank, Merellien of Dassinis turns his victorious Elvish Cavalry inwards towards the centre.
In the centre, the Ogre band attacked in the flank turns to face the Elves, and then Eumenes of Skynarnos' Pikes charge the Ogres in the flank. Meanwhile, a band of Orcs has charged the Elves in the flank, even as they are strongly Cursed (-2 Melee) by Brugagh Black Cloud. Snedril Evil Eye, fleeing the collapse of his contingent of Orcs to the safety of Rotgob's warband, casts Magic Missile on the Elves attacking Rotgob but, shaken by the loss of his Orcs, his spell goes awry.
The other band of Ogres charges into the Foot Knights, already engaged with the Mammoths, as Greshedar the Green's Billmen charge in against the Mammoths.
The struggle between the Wildmen and the Knights continues on the right flank.
As the Elvish Cavalry moves towards the centre, Rotgob's Orcs are dispersed by Elvish spearmen. Both Rotgob and Snedril Evil Eye are swept away in the rout.
On the right flank, King Eumenes' Knights disperse the Wildmen and Hyalsnog Irongrip joins the rout.
In the centre, Eumenes of Skynarnos is killed at the head of his pikes, even as the Ogres and Mammoths disperse the Foot Knights, shaken by the loss of Count Lysander. The Mammoths are finally broght down by the Billmen and Keilfrorn Crook-nose flees.
At this point, with Rotgob of Mazoga fled, and 23 companies dispersed against 12 of the Mantineians, the Army of the Great Orc Alliance lost heart and left the field.
Aftermath:
An epic battle, and an exciting, multi-unit hand-to-hand struggle in the centre of the field. Both the Ogres and the Mammoths are brutal and dangerous. The Foot Knights only lasted as long as they did because they were a three-company unit and multi-company units add their resolve (AKA hitpoints) together. At 6 Resolve per company, the Foot Knights started off with 18 Resolve - most of the rest of the Mantineian Army, on 5 Resolve per company, were on 10 Resolve. The Orcs, as one would expect, normally only had 6 Resolve per Unit but, with cheaper companies, could afford more units. The Elvish Cavalry were very effective but, after several melees, were blown (ie down to 2 - 3 Resolve).
I think for the next battle, I may experiment with larger units of Orcs, at least in the battle line, to see if that gives them more "stickability". The fact that the Orc units can also shoot did give the Elf Infantry some problems, which balances their unreliability.
Magic did not dominate the battle, but did play a part at crucial junctures. Artelligan the Artificer's Magic Missile sniping at the Mammoths didn't defeat them, but weakened them sufficiently that the Foot Knights and then the Billmen were able to bring them down, and Brugagh Black Cloud's energetic Cursing of the Elf Spearmen successfully blunted their attack on the flank of the Ogres.
The game reflected the "historical" account in that the Skynarnos brothers all fell in battle, though the reported battlefield duel between Rotgob and King Eumenes never took place (they were in different parts of the battlefield). It is possible that King Eumenes received the wound that, eventually, claimed his life during the series of combats he led his Knights in - against the Wargriders and then against the Wildmen. Or his death, three years later, may owe more to political machinations in the Court of Mantineia and the story of his heroic deeds on a distant northern battlefield was a convenient cover for more sordid events. Given that his son, later King Lysander III, is also believed to have been murdered by his Royal Wizard (in Lysander's case, Malichor the Magnificent), it makes me wonder whether Artelligan the Artificer may have had a hand in Eumenes' eventual death.
Taking stock after the battle, the Great Orc Alliance had suffered a heavy defeat. Of the Orc leaders, Rotgob of Mazoga, Rilug Toadspitter and Ogluk the Hairy either fell on the field, or perished in the rout, while of the Wildmen, Long Uldral also perished. Keilfrorn Crook-nose and Hyalsnog Irongrip of the Wildmen survived, as did Brugagh Black Cloud, Snedril Evil Eye, and Aret Stump the Ogre Captain. Amongst the other ranks, 2176 Orcs and men and 24 Mammoths perished, or 35% of the Army.
The Mantineians marvelled at their victory. Count Lysander of Skynarnos, and his brothers Eumenes and Akron fell on the field, while King Eumenes and Prince Lysander, Merellien of Dassinis and Thalanil Qilith, Greshedar the Green and Artelligan the Artificer all survived. Losses amongst the other ranks were 643 or 12% of the Army that marched north.
Figures Used:
Orcs: A mix of Magister Militum Orcs and Goblin Wolfriders, now sadly out of production, and Copplestone Castings Orcs, Man Orcs and Orc Wolfriders.
Ogres: A Unit of Black Gate Miniatures Ogres and a unit of Armoured Ogres from Chaos Temple - though, I see that Chaos Temple, which used to be Trolls Under the Bridge, has remodelled their Ogres since I last bought some.
Wildmen: Pendraken Barbarians.
Mammoths: Mammupach from Eureka Miniatures. These are big models so I ended up only putting one on an 80mm x 40mm base for stability. The crew and supporting infantry are Pendraken Barbarians.
Humans: The City Pike, Foot Knights, Billmen, and Knights are all from Pendraken's Medieval and Renaissance Ranges.
Elves: Elf Knights, Outriders, and Elf Spearmen are all from Magister Militum's out of production 10mm range. One unit of Elf Infantry from Eureka Miniatures.