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Post by Father on Jan 5, 2020 21:23:19 GMT 1
Oldforge is a like a gaping wound carved into the hillside, what once must have been a lush valley has been stripped and crisscrossed with shafts and tunnels, the village itself is nested in the middle, the miner's guildhall occupies pride of place where many of the pious would consider rightfully should be devoted to the seven, although they might not notice on account of the second largest building being a den of sin. The homes of the miners and craftsmen seems to be built around these wherever there is space, there is no sign of any sept, so those who live her would need to walk an hour or so down the valley, given the size of it, most probably make infrequent visits. The workshops are positioned further away, spaced out to prevent any fire from the forges to engulf everything.
Blackwood Forces Commander: Ser Mikel of Harroway 5 Squads of Trained Freeriders 5 Squads Trained Scouts
Bracken Forces Commander: Ser Arthur of Widow's Wash (tertiary knight) 5 Squads of Trained Guardsmen
Battlefield conditions -Buildings provides cover (+2 CD) against marksmanship (full cover if not engaged in melee) and prevents charging from horseback. -Victory: Defenders yield if the number of Blackwood squads with a better than routed condition are at least 4 times greater than the number of Bracken squads.
Special option: Smoke them out -By setting fire to the village, you may remove the cover benefits of the opposition.
Consequences: -Taking Oldforge: +1 VP -Retreat without taking Oldforge: -1 Influence, +1 VP to House Bracken, +2 Bracken Strength (morale). -Putting the village to the torch prior to the battle: -1 Chivalry, 2 points of war crimes, +2 Blood. -Further choices and consequences after the resolution of the battle. -Burning down the village after the battle would yield at least one blood point while mitigating at least the chivalry if allowing the inhabitants to leave first.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 18, 2020 7:34:49 GMT 1
Mikel had wanted every advantage and so in their travel the scouts were heavily used and their chosen route was difficult and out of the way, decreasing the likelihood of any random encounters. It had taken more time to get there doing things the way they had but once they arrived Mikel felt sure that surprise was theirs. They came to their final point of pause before they would attack, but Mikel wanted to move no sooner then full night. So the men made their final preparations and checked them over and over while some kept watch and others rested. A party of scouts had gone out for a final look and when they returned Mikel was roused for their report. "They know we are near -" Fuck. "and seem to be standing to."
Mikel held a meeting between himself, the senior man of the scouts, Alyn, and the senior man of the freeriders, William. If what they had been told to expect was accurate then from what the scouts had been able to make out most of the guards in the village were up. Then they all agreed that they hadn't been followed and it was unlikely any patrol had come across their trail. More likely a local had been traveling between villages, hunting, or gathering something and saw them then ran back to raise the alarm. They debated their position and best courses of action until Mikel made the decision. "We have lost the advantage of surprise and so will wait until first light and offer a parley. That will give us a better look at them, and perhaps prove fruitful in other ways. Double the watch, when its time to rouse the men ensure they are briefed on the plan and the contingencies. We're not going to move because if somebody is out here looking for us we will do better with a doubled watch then moving around and making noise in the dark. Questions?" None. "Good work, get to it." And off they went.
Mikel will parley with Ser Arthur of Widow's Wash (if Ser Arthur accepts)
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Post by Father on Jan 19, 2020 22:09:50 GMT 1
The little meet does not prove particularly fruitful, Ser Arthur does not relish his prospects, but he and his men are protecting their homes and livelihoods, such motivations does make for determined defenders even against unfavorable odds.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 20, 2020 7:55:03 GMT 1
Mikel offers the chance for Ser Arthur to evacuate his village, and allowing his villagers to carry what they can so long as it is a timely affair. "I would not oppose your men escorting them away, still armed and armored. I have no wish for yohr people to suffer or come to harm."
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Post by Father on Jan 20, 2020 19:30:21 GMT 1
A fine gesture perhaps, but from a knight serving their hated enemy, it is not an offer to be truly trusted, if someone renowned for their gallantry, like Ser Aubrey Ambrose made such an offer, then it might have been different, but he is not fighting for those pagans.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 21, 2020 7:53:16 GMT 1
"I understand your reservations, and respect them Ser. Before we part I would at least like to offer you the opportunity to form your men up in front of the village so that we are not fighting inside of it." No harm in asking.
If they formed up outside the village Mikel could put his scouts to work feathering them until they charged to end the rain of arrows, and when they did that his freeriders could counter charge. That way they wouldn't have to run into wall of shields behind a wall of spears. But if they fought from within the village he would find advantages for his men there too.
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Post by Father on Jan 22, 2020 17:53:07 GMT 1
While Ser Athur might be defiant in the face of likely defeat, he was not born yesterday. In the narrow paths between the houses, Mikel's numbers would be negated.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 24, 2020 6:43:09 GMT 1
After the parley each Knight had ridden back to his men. Mikels had been armed, armored, mounted - and they and their horses had been watered and fed before he rode down. As he approached Alyn and William he explained what had transpired, when he finished Alyn gave him the most recent report made by the scouts. With it they finalized their plans and Mikel sent for each squad's leader to join them. When everyone arrived he explained the plan, answered questions, and addressed contingencies. After everyone demonstrated an understanding of the plan Mikel said, "They have as many men as us but we are made up of twice as many units and mounted. We are going to use our flexibility and mobility to our advantage. We are going to use more of us from different directions against less of them; and roll that line up until they don't want to fight anymore." The squad leaders were dismissed back to their squads to address their men and get them formed up while Mikel, Alyn, and William spoke a few heart beats longer then made way to their mounts. Harold assisted Mikel with his gauntlets and after he swung up onto his saddle handed him his helmet, which for the moment he let rest on his saddle horn. He didn't have the men wait long, there was no reason to. Putting on his helmet he left the visor up as they rode towards the village, his men filling out their positions in the formation as they went. They were spread out with the scouts in front and freeriders spread out behind them, showing a long line with more depth in a final thrust at enemy morale before the killing started.
At a signal from Mikel, relayed through his senior men and then their squad leaders, the freeriders went from a trot to a canter as they passed through the scouts and moved to form up on the right, and the scouts sped up and formed on the left. The squads closed their spacing and broke into a gallop to close the last of the open ground before slowing back to a canter as they entered the village to close with their enemy.
[OOC plan, visual rep., and command rolls]I am under the impression the enemy will try to stay squared up with Mikels forces as they move in. Mikel wants to focus his strength on one side at time. It should look like this. G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 S1S2S3S4S5 F1F2F3F4F5I am also under the impression that we are at 'move/attack' distance and since Mikel's units have higher speed so this should be within reason. Scouts will be using spears and Freeriders will be using maces based on my understanding that these weapons will be more effective in this situation then bows/lances. Definately learning as I go, but here it is: T1-F5 to move up to the side of G5 and attack. (Move/Attack) T2-F4 will move/attack G5. T3-F3 to move up to the side of G4 and attack. (Move/Attack) T4-F2 to move/attack G4. *Mikel is attached to this unitT5-F1 to move up to the side of G4 and cautiously attack (Move/Hold the Line). [P3a1 Scorched Earth] Rd 1, 1st 5 Commands, Mikel att.#2., Warfare (command) v. TN 9: 5#5d6k4 10 17 17 17 11
*Units 2, 3, 4 receive +1 in their attacks. *My understanding is that units 5, 3, and 1 will receive a +1b to flank - unless the enemy faces the first to attack it, then units 2 and 4 will receive the +1b to flank. *I will hold off on my attack rolls and further command rolls to see if this is good so far and if my understanding of the flanking is correct to save from any rerolling. Info: Training lvl 3, morale dice 3D+1B, Command TN and ability 0, Speciality +1B Trained Scouts - CD 9 AR 1 Health 6 (Awareness 3, Fighting 3, Marksmanship 3, Survival 3)- Hunting Bow, Spear, Rounsey, Padded, shield. Trained Freeriders - CD 9 AR 4 Health 9 (Animal Handling 3, Athletics 3, Endurance 3, Fighting 3)- War Lance, Spear, Mace, Rounsey, Ring Armor, Large Shield.
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Post by Father on Jan 25, 2020 14:30:40 GMT 1
They are lining up in shield walls and uses buildings and each other to cover their flanks and rears, so until one of them breaks, they cannot be engaged in melee by more than one unit at a time.
Burning down the village would deprive them of this advantage.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 27, 2020 0:55:00 GMT 1
Having that information will change Mikels approach, and he now believes it is necessary to burn the village to prevent a fight which favors the defenders.
He will order his free riders to stand ready for an attack as the scouts begin lighting thatch roofs. He also orders his scouts to use horns (to get the inhabitants attention) and shout that if they flee the village to the North, they wont be harmed.
Il make a better narration for this post when I have the opportunity.
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Post by Father on Jan 28, 2020 0:41:01 GMT 1
Roll attacks whenever ready.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 28, 2020 1:24:55 GMT 1
With no buildings, are they in a shieldwall 'box' or in a shield wall on line?
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Post by Father on Jan 28, 2020 8:21:43 GMT 1
First roll fire attacks and we'll see.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 28, 2020 20:39:08 GMT 1
I didnt know if fire attack would get a B die so if it doesn't: [P3a1 Scorched Earth] Rd 1, Fire Attack: 5#3d6 12 8 11 7 13And if it does: [P3a1 Scorched Earth] Rd 1, Fire Attack - w/ bonus die: 5#4d6k3 13 8 18 15 10And just to be safe incase I need them, more order rolls: [P3a1 Scorched Earth] Rd 1, Fire Attack orders (1-5 Freeriders 6-10 Scouts): 10#5d6k4 11 16 12 15 16 16 11 15 18 17scouts light, freeriders provide security. Stressed to warn villagers (horns, shouts) to flee north of village where they wont be hurt. As they approached the village Mikel saw glimpses but it wasn't until they crossed into the village he definitively saw how the enemy was deployed - and he immediately signalled for a halt. Thank the gods the men are trained. He thought as the signal was quickly passed left and right and all units came to a halt before coming close enough to worry about an enemy charge taking advantage of their lost momentum. From a canter to a halt and the Freeriders and Scouts wheeled around moved back, alternating between covering the enemy and moving out until they made it the short way back out of hte village. Breaking their momentum was a bad thing, it wasn't just a physical halt but mentally and emotionally taxing. But he couldn't regret the decision, not after seeing how the enemy had positioned itself. Its arrangement would have spoiled his plan to mass, so they would have had to take on prepared shieldwalls one by one, and the last thing he wanted was a fair fight. He sent Harold for shout for leaders to rally on him and made a mental note to get more squires or at least acquire a page or two or three if he planned on continuing playing at commander after this time. Soon they were around him, he explained the enemies positions and their new plans. To their credit they listened, confirmed what they heard, and set to task without any lost time. The Freeriders spread out and watched for any enemy activity. The scouts got to work lighting the thatch roofs along the edge of the village, using their horns to get the villages attention and screaming for anyone who didn't want to burn to flee north out of the village where they wouldn't be harmed. It was all Mikel could do, and understood the extra time that it took might end up playing against him but he accepted that risk over the increased likelihood of burnt bodies.
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Post by Father on Jan 29, 2020 14:03:17 GMT 1
Oh, my mistake, it was the other mission that had that sort of mechanics.
They'll be forming up in a battle line with shieldwall, so their two flanks can be attacked in melee by two units each, while the three units in the middle can only be attacked with one unit.
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