Brigands of Thoralinar - turn #63

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage does the following: While Duke Ghorien is dispatching scouts and outriders to see if the brigands come up for air somewhere (which I assume he will be doing), she quickly examines if there is any chance of getting through the rubble.
(OOC: Sorcerers have a few options for this - Blink, Stone Shape, and Fabricate comes to mind, though she would have to have them on scroll or wand to do it... which is not impossible. There's also options like using Planar Binding (which she will have) to summon an earth elemental or )
If she manages to get through the rubble, she won't try to catch up with the brigands, simply try to get a clue about where they are going. She does this while they are waiting for Duke Ghorien's scouts to return, she will take his que if he decides to move the army out.
Otherwise she spents the time quickly checking out the camp, looking for signs on who these people were and where they could be coming from.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Ghorien begins the process of moving the army into the fortified position to await the responses from the scouts and outriders he has despatched towards the north initially - both have orders to locate but not to engage the enemy. He curses their escape but realises that a lucky find in the night may mean a battle at midday and with a bit of luck with an enemy that has had to move all night.

[X-DM Jon]

The camp reveals it's secrets readily enough. First and foremost there is quite a lot of merchandise left behind, stolen goods of both Ghoeran, Roesonean, Osoerdan and Elinien origin. It's clear enough that they left the more bulky things behind before marching off. Including the wagons to carry it on.
 You find stolen goods to a value of 4GBs in total.

 Meanwhile, the Swordmage fiddles around with the cave opening, but only manages to collapse it more. It's clear enough that something powerful has brought the whole shebang down - and a long way in. It can probably be reopened, but it requires a professional mining crew to make it really stable.

 The scouts disappear off to the north and scout around. A week passes before they return. War move 3 begins.

 Any plans in the meantime, before you get the report?

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

As his men busy themselves Ghorein works studiously over maps and compares his knowledge of the trade flows of the area and the provincs to compare and contrast against the goods and wagons abandoned so recently as he attempts to work out the previous journies of the bandits.

His men are set to work on the fortifications and gain rest in cycle before the works that are due over the next few days. Drill is organised, with thought and consideration of practice given against likely threat and funeral arrangements are made for those patrols who were killed so skillfully in the dark. It is with some care he investigates the site of those deaths, searching for signs of what creatures or men did the work and assesses their skill - knowing what the enemy has up his sleeve should never to be underestimated.

[X-DM Jon]

It seems clear enough that the brigands are using Thoralinar province as a staging area for raids all into all neighbouring provinces. But this hill isn't really good for strikes into the south and east, it's more of a base camp, so they must have an alternative camp somewhere up in the mountains, perhaps on the other side, across a mountain pass.

 The scouts return having scouted the entire province this side of the range, they found no brigand army or traces of it. However, they are followed by a group of miners who inform you that they've been plagued by the brigands for months. They're good and tired of the situation and are willing to help you cross the mountain range. They know of a pass going south-west and one to the south-east.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Examining the maps Ghorien elects to go South East, wishing to cut the Bandits off before they run across the borders with Oserode and cause more issues than already stand between the nations. He pens missives warning Osoerde of the possible danger to it's borders and hopes that they get there in time.

[X-DM Jon]

OoC: You have a further choice to make here.
a) Spend a war move waiting while some of your units get the stolen goods back to the nearest law holding.
b) Detach a unit to bring the stolen goods back to the nearest law holding while you press on ahead.
c) Leave the loot, hoping noone discovers it and press on.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

The Duke smiles grimly and arranges for the goods to be quickly hidden inside the mouth of the cave and behind and/or under some of those handy rocks that strewn the area before the whole of the army gives chase to the bandits and through the pass.

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage gives what aid she can hiding the goods, collapsing more of the cave on them if necessary (preferably in an orderly fashion). She seems dedicated to pursuing the brigands as soon as possible.

[X-DM Jon]

War move 4:
You do what you can to hide the goods and then march off to the south and into the more mountaineous region of the Grey Hills.

 The journey quickly becomes an arduous one and it is clear that without local guides, you would never have gotten this far this fast. The paths into the Grey Hills are so convoluted and narrow that the 2000 man army is soon snaking it's way in single file over several kilometres.
 And even though this range isn't comparable to the peaks of the west or east, it is still a most imposing experience.

 You march from the foothills into more mountaineous regions, across a narrow passage going southeast, probably sparing you a week's worth of travel and a lot of danger. Still it takes you a week of arduous work, simply because the horses slow you down to a crawl almost. And soon, you're in the southern reaches of Thoralinar province, looking out over a secluded valley. Beyond it lies the Osoerdan and Elienien provinces of Chalsedon and Achiese.
 Indeed a most perfect spot for raiding in all directions.

 And sure enough, in the valley below you lies a settlement. Well secluded and protected by forest and strategically placed up against a steep hillside, quite impassable to all but the most daring mountaineers. It is apparent enough from your place in the morning sun that the valley and settlement is crowded with people. A lot of people. Enough to constitute a small army.

 War move 5 begins.


OoC: Click image for larger version

[X-DM Jon]

There really isn't many options for maneuvering here, your army is still in the process of snaking it's way up behind you and you will need some form of staging point with enough space to gather the troops into formation.
 Your scouts has acted as the advance guard, carefully moving ahead of your advance. They are the first to arrive and inform you of the situation, you arrive with the light and regular infantry (archers, regulars and such). Following behind is the heavy infantry and bringing up the rear, your slowly moving cavalry.

 There is a wider path down in front of you and a lot of steep and lightly forested hillside. Your light infantry can traverse the steep hillside, but the heavy and cavalry definitely need to use the path, further delaying their arrival.
 Below, fields of corn stretch out, making a fine staging point. But the enemy will have spotted you far before you'll have a chance to gather the entire army there.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Ghorien scowls at the less than ideal situation. With quick instruction and hand gestures he starts the positioning of the lighter troops and issues orders to the cavalry units to proceed with all haste and a measure of caution. The Duke's aim is to get as many of the troops as possible to the corn fields for full battle deployment while allowing the heavier troops and cavalry to catch up and form as qucikly as possible on that field with all the cavalry deployed to one flank as a "punch" unit, out of sight if possible.

He will also prepare heralds and papers for offering surrender, pardon and oath taking for those who live here if they wish to take that route - an option he will be sure to give them before battle is met.

[X-DM Jon]

The Tornilen archers are first into place in the field, sending peasants fleeing into the settlement. Soon the alarm is raised there.
 The regulars and crossbows arrive soon after, taking up position in the field as well.

Your scouts and outriders have also traversed the difficult slopes without too much trouble and take up a place on the flank.

 Meanwhile the armsmen are cumbersomely making their way down the snaky path, a tough job for any heavy infantry. And your dragoons are having a tough time as well, having to lead their horses down by hand, while your knights seem almost stuck, moving ahead at a snails pace. Their heavy armor and heavy horses are simply not viable in this kind of territory and are forming up the rear.

 At this point you see the enemy advancing from the highland town, you found them allright...

Orders?

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

His Grace dispatches forwards a herald, at a slow pace, under a flag of truce, with the following message.

"We the rightful rulers and authorities of Torlinen and Ghieste do hereby grant you leave to surrender. If you yield you shall be treated with mercy and with grace, you shall be offered pardon and you, your friends and your familes shall be found roles within our nations that our suited to your skills. If you do not yield then it will be our sore and heavy duty to destroy you in this place and in any place you or yours run to. No more shall we suffer the vagaries and delapidations of your rogue actions upon our peoples and our lands. No more shall we let such travesty occur and with this chance only shall you be offered so generous a settlement.

It should be noted that neither the Sword Mage, Duchess of Torlinen or Ghorien Hriele, Duke of Ghieste are known for their mercy though both are recongised as practical people. Take this opportunity while it is present and it will be your advantage. Refuse it and you will die."

[X-DM Jon]

The brigands chuch stones and fire a few arrows at your herald and keep advancing.

 The herald manages to escape with a few bruises and races back to your line.