Alexander And The Rats

Cluny's Horde are the matched-pair opponent of my Redwall army. It was created as a stand-alone army, but it quickly became obvious that with all the book-specific stuff removed and some replacement elements added it could make a perfectly find Rat army in its own right. So years ago I did that, but to be honest the army hasn't seen much table-time in that format.

So whilst it was out on the table after this weekend's World Cup game I decided to give it an outing in its generic format. For an opponent I selected my Renaissance Alexander The Great army. 

The Rats defended with eight hordes, two shooters, two beasts, two lurkers and three warband (one of which was the general).

Alexander attacked with a hero general (guess who!), six spears, a warband, two lurkers, one rider and one knight. 

The Rats formed up with their flank on a small settlement, whilst Alexander's army had to deploy in groups broken up by some fields and a wood. 

The battle started with lurkers appearing in the rear of the Rat's archers in the settlement.

They were ruthlessly dealt with. 

Alexander slowly brought his army out of the areas of bad going and into the open. He'd avoided deploying the the bad going because of the threat of enemy lurkers. 

The Rats advanced as rapidly as their hordes would allow, hoping to catch Alexander's army before it could properly form up. But they weren't fast enough and Alexander soon had an imposing line.

The two armies got stuck in. 

It went badly for the Rats as Alexander's army fought hard and destroyed three horde elements. 

Alexander's cavalry engaged some giant rats on a hill on his right. The attack was a risk, and the cavalry were driven back, but being impetuous beasts the rats pursued and were now fighting on level ground. 

Alexander's pikes continued their slaughter of the rats. 

But the Rat general right in the centre destroyed a double-ranked group of pikes.

And teh giant rats destroyed Alexander's light cavalry.  This now left Alexander down by 8AP. And most of the Rat losses were replaceable hordes. 

The Companions (knights) destroyed some giant rats. 

The Rat general was pressing his attack. If he could destroy another double-ranked pike group then the battle was his. But the phalanx fought hard and drove him back. 

More hordes appeared on the Rat baseline. 

The Rat general fell, but with Alexander having taken more losses the Rats would keep fighting. 

However the knights rode down the remaining giant rats ...

... Alexander destroyed a horde and on Alexander's left his warband swordsmen finally destroyed their Rat opposite numbers. 

These losses were enough to break the Rat army.

The Rats lost 10g to 8, in what was a close battle.