Down But Not Out

October saw a regular circulation of the Battle of Ucles out on the table.  By my recollection, four battles were fought over several weeks.  The four games were fought with three different sets of players.

Today's episode looks at Game #4 in the series pitting a rematch between Steve and David.  In Game #3, Steve and David faced off.  In Game #4, they meet again.  This time, they switch sides.  Steve commands the Christians.  David commands the Muslims.

Sometimes, the battle is never over until it is over.  This is one such instance.

Let's see how the battle played out. (Arrows: White=move; Yellow=retreat; Red=melee).

The battle lines are drawn.

Battle opens with both armies advancing.

Christian knights throw caution to the wind
and charge into the Muslim center.

The knights crash into the Muslim line.

The shock of impact sends Muslim cavalry to the rear.
Pursuit is only stopped by intervention of heavy foot.

The white knights are put to flight

as the camel lancers move up.

While the Muslims attack on the left,
two more Christian knights prepare to attack.

Two bodies of knights ready the charge.

The knights charge into the heavy Muslim foot
 and the infantry are pushed back. 

The knight's momentum is stopped by Muslim camel
lancers moving to protect their brethren.

The continuing Christian pursuit carries it into the camels.
The leftmost knight is repulsed when it charges
a steady large unit of heavy infantry. 

The camel lancers are driven off.
The Christian right comes under attack from light cavalry.

While the Christian knights continue to dominate
the center of the battle, Muslim light cavalry cut down
    skirmishers and sweep around the flank. 

Two knights head to the rear!

Still, the knights continue their rampage
 deep into the enemy center.

Scattering the enemy in pursuit,
the knights are wreaking great destruction.

Another Muslim cavalry units meets it ends.
Victory looks within Christian grasp.

The only concern for the Christians is that their left is
weakening.  Units are wearing down from hard fighting.

A closer look reveals that the Christian left
is in flight save for a few skirmishers. 

Like the rise of Phoenix, the Muslims strike back.

Brushing aside the Christian skirmishers, the two units of horse archers attack the rear of the retreating Christians.  In quick succession, three units of retreating Christians are cut down and their baggage sacked.  

The Muslims have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat!

What a miraculous comeback!  Only a breath away from almost certain defeat, the Muslims capitalize upon the crumbling Christian left and sweep it away while capturing the baggage.  History repeats itself.

Wow!  What an exciting finish.

Congratulations to David on a last-minute victory.  Steve and I watched, stunned, as David pulled this one out of the fire.

Well done!