MESBG Battle Report – Muster of Isengard vs Rohan Cavalry (500 Points)

The White Wizard’s Wall: A Reconnoitre Battle Report

The fields of the Westfold were silent, save for the rhythmic clatter of Uruk-hai plate. Saruman the White had stepped from the black tower of Orthanc, his presence a cold weight upon the land. But the scent of horse and leather hung heavy in the air—Theoden King had arrived, and the Rohirrim would not let the traitor pass without a reckoning.

The Forces

The Muster of Isengard:

• Heroes: Saruman the White, and Uruk-hai Captain.
• The Rank and File: A large host of Uruk-hai Warriors equipped with Swords and Shields; one with banner.

The Riders of Rohan:

• Heroes: Theoden King, Eomer (Marshal of the Riddermark), Gamling (Captain of Rohan) with the Royal Standard.
• The Rank and File: A sizable contingent of Rohan cavalry units.

The Scenario: Reconnoitre

The objective was simple: move your army off the opponent's board edge. With the Uruk-hai boasting superior numbers and the Rohan cavalry possessing superior speed, it was a race against time and steel. Outnumbered for the objective, the Rohirrim knew they couldn't just dash past; they had to winnow the Uruk ranks first.

The Iron Shell

The Uruk-hai advanced centrally, locked in a tight, disciplined Shieldwall. Without a single pike in the ranks, they relied entirely on their heavy shields and high Defense to weather the storm. Saruman stood at the heart of this black-iron square, guarded on all sides. As they marched, Rohan horse archers circled like hawks, picking off a few Uruks with well-placed arrows, but the line remained unbroken.

The Thunder of the Mark

Seeing the Uruks closing in on the center of the board, Theoden gave the order. The Rohan cavalry thundered forward in a glorious, terrifying charge from all sides. The impact was devastating. Even the Uruk Shieldwall buckled under the sheer weight of the horses, and many of Isengard's finest were trampled into the dirt in the initial clash.

The Wizard’s Wrath

As the Rohirrim began to hack into the Uruk lines, the White Wizard raised his staff. With a series of blinding flashes, Saruman unleashed Sorcerous Blast after Sorcerous Blast.

First, Theoden King was lifted from his saddle and thrown to the earth. Then, Eomer was blasted back, his mount fleeing the sorcerous thunder. Finally, even Gamling, clutching the Royal Standard of Rohan, was sent crashing to the ground. All three legendary leaders of the Mark were forced to fight on foot, their mobility stripped away by the Wizard's malice.

The Palantír’s Sight

Just as the Rohan heroes scrambled to their feet to lead a desperate infantry push, Saruman gazed into the Palantír. Predicting the movements of his enemies, he ensured Isengard seized Priority at the most vital moment. The Uruk-hai didn't wait to be charged again; they counter-attacked with savage fury.

The tide turned. With the cavalry's momentum gone and their leaders grounded, the Uruks began to win crucial combats. The luck of the dice swung toward Isengard as both horse and rider fell.

The Aftermath

By the final turns, both armies were shadows of their former selves—decimated and exhausted. The Uruks attempted a late-game maneuver to sprint for the Rohan board edge, but the clock ran out. All the heroes remained standing amidst the carnage, but not a single model of either side had managed to escape the field.

Final Score: 0 – 0 (Draw)

Epilogue

The screaming of dying horses eventually gave way to a heavy, suffocating silence over the Westfold. The once-proud golden banner of Gamling lay in the mud, held by a captain forced to walk the very earth he usually thundered across. Theoden King, his armor caked in the dust of the land he swore to protect, leaned heavily on Herugrim; across the field of corpses, the White Wizard stood unscathed, his robes a blinding, mocking contrast to the carnage.

There would be no breakthrough today. The Uruk-hai had failed to pierce the heart of the Riddermark, and the Rohirrim had found their spears blunted against the iron will of Orthanc. As the two tattered forces pulled back into the gathering gloom—one to the safety of the Hornburg, the other to the shadows of the Gap—it was clear that while no blood was spared, no ground was gained. The war for the Mark had only just begun, and the fields of Rohan remained a graveyard for heroes and monsters alike.