Well, Lord Renaldo’s wheels took a little longer to grind than promised.

The Zanj defeat raised several questions requiring resolution before the campaign continued.  These were 1) how much of the Zanj force was destroyed in the battle; 2) could the Zanj civic leaders be persuaded to provided the Sultan the additional resources to recruit more troops, and, if yes, 3) how many; 4) could the Sultan convince the Inland Natives to abandon their policy of hostile neutrality and provide assistance, as well as 5) convincing local Chinese merchants to seek Ming aide.

Answers to these questions were generated using the Campaign Table (which this process revealed to be flawed and in need of work), D6, and Yes/No/Maybe dice.

While the Zanj  fled the battlefield at Ejiro in great disarray, only two units had been shattered (D6/2).

The army conducted an orderly retreat to the south.  The Sultan hurried to Mwenye to implore local merchants and leaders to provide more support for his army, promising much (hopefully for him, he can keep those promises).  His entreaties were successful (re-roll on government support chart), and he was able to gain four units (D6) in reinforcements.

He also met with  local Chinese merchants, convincing them the Portuguese threat was real.  These merchants agreed to send a representative to the Ming leader in Aden. (Yes die rolls for the two questions).

The energetic Sultan Efe then contacted the leaders of the Inland Natives, requesting they reevaluate their position of hostile neutrality.  Again, making extravagant promises, he persuaded these leaders to at least be neutral, and to re-evaluate their position at an upcoming meeting of clan elders (re-roll on neutrality chart).

Hearing rumors of these activities, Lord Renaldo decided to turn north, and attack the port city of  Behefe.  The rationale is still to gain a victory over the weak defenders, gain a port, and let those results drive events both with his own government, and the local leadership.

His scouts are already determining the extent of the resistance…….

Here’s the campaign map with city names and site of first battle.

Now that my rule gaffes have been corrected, I fought a brisk 60-minute action this afternoon.  Scenario and set-up were the same as described earlier.

The Portuguese were able to hurt the Zanj with missile fire before stopping their charge (the result of some consistent lucky rolls).   On the other hand, some poor die rolling contributed to a general weakening of the Zanj units locked in melee, with the Portuguese able to withdraw one crossbow unit, and plug its gap in the line with charging targeteers led by Lord Rolando.

This charge caused two Zanj units to scatter (one as a direct result of melee), with others’ resolve dropping to “one” (wavering) leading to a controlled withdrawal from contact.

A final volley by the (now) disengaged Portuguese muskets and bows caused the withdrawing Zanj to flee the field.

However, Sultan Jabir Efe was able to rally the bulk of his army withdrawing south towards Mwenye.  It is rumored  he intends to redouble his diplomatic efforts to enlist the help of the inland natives, as well as contact local Ming merchants to explain the catastrophic effect the mercantile policies of the Portuguese will have on their business interests.  He hopes the  merchants will ask Imperial forces located in Yemen to intervene

The Portuguese leader, Lord Ricardo Nicolau Rolando, must now decide whether to pursue Efe’s forces, or turn north and take the (now) isolated port of Behefe.  It is rumored that the town has only a small garrison augmented by a civic guard of uncertain size and quality.  Regardless of decision, Rolando is confident that another Zanj defeat will cause the inland natives to ally themselves with Portugal, providing supplies and troops.  And, a treaty with the natives promising gold, ivory and other exotic items, should convince his government to provide greater assistance.

Rolando’s decision will not be long in the making…..

After a break, I continued playing the initial encounter between the Portuguese and Zanj.

The battle turned into a real slug-fest, with the Portuguese Crossbowmen able to extricate themselves from melee, and the Targeteers, led by Lord Rolando, charging into the Zanj tribesmen.  On the left, the Zanj had enveloped a Portuguese Musket unit.  But wait…..there was something very, very, very wrong…….Take a look at the picture, which shows a real pounding in progress, but then read the caption.

Yes, I completely screwed up the rules (Shocking!).  Once resolve drops to a “one” a unit must withdraw 1d3 movement units directly to its rear, maintaining its facing, and cannot initiate melee until its resolve increases.  And, if this unit was in melee (as are all of these), its foe can attempt to pursue.

Oh My…….kind of changes the dynamics, doesn’t it?

Reset!

Rhonda drew up a nice generic campaign map based on my ham fisted scrawl.  Put it on a half sheet so other half could be used for notes, etc.  The southern two cities are connected by a good road, the others with tracks.  Cities, road, tracks can be removed when necessary.

Click on it for the full sized map.

The Portuguese completed an unopposed landing, without loss, and advanced along the coastal track towards the northern port town of Mwenye (I used a random name generator which is found here).  Since the inland natives’ relations with the coastal Zanj are bad, the Portuguese inland flank is secure.

A Zanj force moved to block the advance, with the two sides meeting at the forest/oasis of Ejiro.  This would be  a set piece battle with the Zanj occupying a fairly strong defensive position.  However, some Zanj units were effected by an cholera epidemic.  As a result, their resolve was lowered, while skilled medical care kept the Portuguese healthy.

Here’s a pictorial overview of the initial stages of the battle.