Battle Of Palm Hill - Turn Seven

Situation at the end of turn six

I win the dice-off (4-2) to see who goes first.

My Issacharite javelinmen edge down the western slope of Palm Hill to hurl their javelins at the oncoming Egyptian chariots, scoring two hits (and very nearly three - I rolled 6, 5 and 4). Neither hit is saved, and, despite the charioteers being elite, a base is lost, the rest of the squadron falling back 3cm. However the charioteers pass the compulsory morale test.

Benjaminite slingers on top of Palm Hill, having reorganised, advance and shoot at at the Egyptian archers to their front, but ineffectively.

The other band of Benjaminite slingers line up to shoot at the other unit of Egyptian archers, but also fail to score a hit.

My auxiliaries behind the eastern rocky ground advance around it, but having to turn to face the approaching Egyptian spearmen uses up half their movement allowance.

Next I fight the continuing melee in the rocky ground, but only the Sherden score a hit. However, I roll a 6 saving-throw to negate it.

Finally I pull back slightly the three-base auxiliaries on top of Palm Hill, and once again leave the Ephraimites where they are.

Casualties can expect to start mounting as the armies close in

Pharoah starts with his left-flank chariots shooting at the Issacharites, scoring two hits. I save one, and the other is resolved as the unit falling back 3cm.

Next his right-flank archers shoot at the slingers ahead of them, also scoring two hits. Again I save one, and again the other hit is resolved as forcing the unit back 3cm.

The other archers shoot at the same target, scoring one hit, causing the slingers to fall back a further 3cm.

Next up is the melee in the eastern rocky ground. This time my Simeonites inflict two hits, while only suffering one. However, Pharoah's saving throws both come up 5, which is enough as the Sherden have medium armour. I also roll 5, but that is not enough for men with only light protection. However, my resolution roll of 3 causes the Simeonites to fall back 3cm, rather than lose a base, as they are elite. This forces them out of the rocky ground, and the Sherden follow up to initiate another round of hand-to-hand fighting. The result is again two hits to one in favour of the Simeonites. But again the Sherden's hits are saved, while mine is again resolved as forcing the unit back 3cm, taking the men to the edge of the battlefield. Naturally the Sherden again follow up, but this time inflict no hits, while suffering two themselves. Neither hit is saved, and the Sherden are forced back 6cm. I now choose to exercise my option to follow up, but the only hit is scored by the Sherden, and once again my men are forced back 3cm. The Sherden again follow up, and both sides inflict two hits. One of mine is saved, but the other results in the loss of a base, although the Simeonites' morale remains steady. One of the Sherden's is saved, and the other forces them back 3cm. Since my men lost a base, there is no possibility of them following up, and so the epic melee ends, at least for this half-turn.

The right-flank chariots advance and shoot at the auxiliaries who have just emerged from behind the eastern rocky ground, scoring a hit, but it is saved.

The Egyptian spearmen advance towards the same auxiliaries.

The fighting between Palm Hill and the palm grove is likely to prove pivotal for the battle