Nikephorian Byzantines versus Sassanids

At the club my Byzantines confronted Mark B's Sassanids.

 Outscouted, the Sassanids knew exactly where the Byzantines where.

 But the Byzantines got in the first hit 

(unit of Sassanid cavalry far left)

 The Byzantines then closed for the kill,

but after the Sassanids survived on a throw of a 1,
a betrayal was announced.

It failed miserably when they threw another 1.

 Turn two and further bow fire saw more damage to the Sassanid cavalry.

 The Elephants made a mess of the legions

but it is not going all the Sassanids' way 

with yet another of their cavalry units getting mauled.

 The battle reaches its climax:

there is an infantry battle next to the vastly diminished elephants 

and then there are two generals stuck in a cavalry battle.

It was a close run thing, 

but the Byzantines triumphed!

Phew!

Turcopoles

These were at the almost completed stage when I received the Carthaginians to rebase.

Not sure I actually need these "young turks", but they served during the period of the Crusades, as locally recruited mounted archers and light cavalry employed by the Byzantine Empire.  I have depicted them as provided with standard arms and equipment worn over individual dress.

 Boring, bog issue shields.

 I made three bases out of the single packet.  

Could have made more, could have made less.  

Hopefully three will be plenty.

 Those spears are very bendy.

One was broken and has been replaced.

I was tempted to do them all, 

but settled on straightening as best I could 

and reinforcing with PVA glue.

I went overboard with the variety tufts.