Or, 

"Ukraine, You Saw, You Conked Out..."

Epsom on my mind. This time there was more of it - my mind that is. (Honestly !!!!)

I had had enough sleep, we had picked a half decent army and knew how to use it, and we didn't really care what result we got anyway. Nice. Or, as they say in the branch of McDonalds found in the Ukrainian city of Kiev, "so, you want some spears with that, or wot?"

Game 1 - vs Sung Chinese

A game of novelty. The Sung - an unusual choice so we thought - had a compulsory waterway, but as attacker our options were limited - we didn't want H(S), or any RGo, and given they probably had more LH & Cv than we did, we elected to put down the WW anyway, making sure it was wide !

They then deployed novelty terrain - a transverse river (fortunately on their base edge), and a fortified BUA in our deployment zone on the WW. WW-wow! 

The BUA was a real twister - it was full of Bd (I) - behind palisades, so virtually untouchable - and Art (S), keeping us away - but also two herds of Thunder-bomb Oxen, ready to rush out to nail us should the chance arise. All in all, a fairly handy place to keep the compulsory ally command as well....

As is the law in the Ukraine, we had flank marched with a large command, but so had the Sung!! Of course, we were going to be bigger, so to support the imminent arrival of fleeing Chinese and smug Rus, we also launched a psiloi attack on the She allies Bw (I) on the left, supported by our Bulgar allies. 

As the attack progressed, and we kept away from the scary BUA, the flank march arrived. 

Hoorah! (in Ukranian)

erm - guess again. The Chinese flank march was bigger!!!!

Poo ! (again in Ukranian).

(the use of the English translation rather than the original words is not meant to be patronizing, but is considered totally necessary, as the Rus worlds of Poo and Hoorah sound very similar. 

In fact, they both sound , to an untrained ear, something like the English word for "Spears". Unsurprisingly, this is something they also have in common with many other Rus words)

The Rus skillfully managed to march back on with a roll of 1. Great. So, when the Chinese arrived, we were staring at the wrong side of a load of blades & bowmen, plus in the center we were about to take on the Sh Wb (F). Ooops!

Luckily, the Rus in the middle were not so disheartened, and with the mighty Rus Battle Cry "Eat My Spear-Point, Motherf@@ker!!!", they charged , and won! 

By now, the flank marchers were well engaged in combat - Ordinary (but, I think you'll agree, pretty reasonably painted, even if I say so myself) Spears vs Inferior Blades.

A game of nip and tuck.

Except where the general was concerned.

Because he was cavalry - and had come on supported by some Bw (O) - still tough opponents these days, but not quite in the blade category.

And the Rus wanted revenge - for the shock - nay, humiliation, of being a SMALLER flank march had been replaced by righteous indignation, and their blood was up and boiling.

The spearmen (well, what else, honestly?) re-organised, and started to mount a concerted attack at the general.

It was a long drop off the edge of the table.

Especially as we were playing at the end of a row, so it wasn't even like being pushed back into someone else's waterway, just a small recoil, and you are on a light blue cloth instead of a dark green one. Oh no - this was a real, genuine, 3'6" drop, down into the darkness.

Down into oblivion.......................and down he went

and so did the She, as their Bw finally fell foul of the wave of Rus psiloi.

10-0

(thanks to the flank march.... I suppose!)

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4