Skirmish at Cair Andros (MESBG)

King Theoden rode for the fields of Pelenor, but in his wisdom he left a small party of Rohirrim behind to guard his rear and the Island of Cair Andros. Later that same day, a Nazgul and his orc warband tried crossing the river, hoping to strike the host of Rohan in it's rear and dooming Minas Tirith.

~

Not too long ago we played our first battle using the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game rules. We played this game as kids, and returned to it recently. The orcs are painted by Barend and are a combination of Oathmark and Medbury models. The Rohirrim are Gripping Beast Goths which Merijn usually uses for Saga. The orcs are played by Barend's brother, while the Rohirim are played by Merijn.

Initial deployement. Orcs are crossing the river, the Rohirrim try to force them back

The Rohan captain sent in his cavalry to slow down the orc advance as much as possible. This attracted the attention of the Nazgul and some orc archers. A couple of riders fell to magic and orc arrows.

Orc archers and warriors. Troll in the background.

The riders moved in close to the orcs and loosed a hail of javelins, killing and wounding some orks, but most of them remained agressive and motivated to move forward. The Rohan infantry moves in behind the cavalry and starts attacking their hated enemies.

While the orc soldiers were not that effective, the trolls and the Nazgul slew many riders and footmen of Rohan. After a couple of turns most riders were dead, only the captain remained. Even the Banner fell to the ground after it's bearer was slain.

Rohan cavalry advances.

The Rohirrim captain charges a group of orcs, while his bodyguard try to kill a troll.

The Rohan captain tried to strike down the Nazgul, but two consecutive succesfull faith rolls kept the Wraith on the battlefield. More orks started moving across the river. The Rohirrim had little time left to stop the advance!

A Rohan captain armed with a bow hits the Nazgul with an arrow
(rolls needed of 5, 6, and 5 in that order, Merijn rolled exactly that!)

The tide slowly began to Turn, more orcs fell and even the Nazgul was banished from the battlefield by a brave warrior of Rohan. The Game ends in a stalemate, with more orcs crossing the river, but the Rohan warriors ahead in kills. The orc officers and the Nazgul are slain.

The Rohan captain bowls over 4 orcs in his charge

After being weakened by the arrows, the Nazgull falls 

by the blade of a lowly warrior of Rohan.