Turn #71 - Scouting & Raiding Osternord

[DM B]

WM 1: No activity.

WM 2: No activity.

WM 3: Ongoing.

[DM B]

WM 3+4:

Nothing happens.

WM 5:

Begins.

[DM B]

WM 5+6: Nothing

WM 7: Ongoing.

[DM B]

WM 8: Scout reports indicate some enemy activity in Osternord

WM 9: Irregulars stage a raid from Osternord into Rohrgaard. They are repulsed with negligible losses to the defenders.

[DM B]

WM 10: Scouts report increasing enemy presence in Osternord. From the reports it looks like a force of scout, irregulars/skirmishers and some light cavalry.

[X-Coeranys/WD (Greg)]

Lord Rockhammer, upon hearing of these reports, gives consideration to moving to Osternord (vs. Rohrmarch), but instead (for now) decides to continue to move his troops as ordered to Rohrgaard.  Rockhammer sends a messenger to Archduke Osoer and Baron Deaulen conveying what he knows about these reports, and what - if any - actions should be taken...

[DM B]

Osternord Force: Unit (Owner; Experience/Status)
William Osoer (General)
William Deaulen (Commander)
Celestial Guard (Followers)
Outriders (Osoer; Veteran/W)
Outriders (Osoer; Skilled/OK)
Scouts (Osoer; Elite/OK)
Scouts (Osoer; Green/OK)
Knights (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK) (Bait - Flying High the Colors of King Alaric)
Armsmen, Mounted (Osoer; Skilled/OK) (Dismounted)
Archers (Osoer; Skilled/OK)
Archers, Mounted (Osoer; Elite/OK) (Dismounted)
Archers, Mounted (Osoer; Elite/OK) (Dismounted)
Skirmishers (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)
Skirmishers (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)
Regulars (Osoer; Skilled/OK)
Regulars (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)
Regulars (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)

[DM B]

Osoer, along with Deaulen, begin setting the stage for an epic trap for the Osternord force.  Osoer forth the knights (dismounted) to take up duty on the siege of Oden and thusly freeing some additional light infantry (primarily Archers) and some regulars, to participate in the trap.

Using the screen force and a unit of knights as bait, they attempt to draw the enemy force into terrain that hinders their ability to easily retreat, and allows them the ability to attack from high ground.  Regulars are kept with archers to protect them. Once the trap is sprang, the idea will be for the flanking sides to rain death upon the force, while a second force (light infantry and scouts, as well as Dragoons/Outriders) moves to envelope the enemy.

Osoer will lead the decoy/flanking units, Deaulen will lead the enveloping units.

[DM B]

WM 11:

The province of Osternord lies at the northeastern edge of Rohrmarch. It is effectively the end of the world. Beyond it lies awnsheghlien territories - the lands of the Vampire, the Swordhawk - and if he's still alive, the Gorgon. Small towns and villages dot the forested province, connected by a web of poor roads and trails that wind between and over the hilly terrain.

Osternord is not a place that's suitable for classic Anuiren warfare. Cavalry is largely useless. Heavy infantry is disadvantaged. This is light infantry country - the home of the skirmisher. The skirmisher doesn't need fine roads or great fields to battle on - he moves easily across broken ground, and can fight with missile and melee weapons as needed.

Osternord is also lightly fortified - much like Werthangen. Fortified holdings mostly. Enough to protect the place from raids and such, but not enough to deter a real invasion. But then again, who would want to invade Osternord?

The Archduke's plan is good enough. A little naive perhaps, but not entirely without merit. There is only one flaw - it assumes the enemy wants to pick a fight on Anuirean terms. The enemy does not oblige. Instead the enemy keeps harassing the Anuireans as they advance - but avoid anything that might smell of an open battle. And the Anuireans fail to force them into one. hampered by a lack of roads and the presence of enemy fortification the enemy easily attack and evade, attack and evade. Crusader losses are fortunately quite limited. Enemy losses are also very light.

It is estimated that the enemy brings approximately:

2 scouts
8 skirmishers
4 spears
4 archers/crossbows

[DM B]

WM 12 begins: The crusaders are still in Osternord. Do they stay, advance or retreat?

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

Osoer stops the advance and withdraws to Rohrgaard, where they will en masse assult the castle there.

[DM B]

Osternord Force: Unit (Owner; Experience/Status)
William Osoer (General)
William Deaulen (Commander)
Celestial Guard (Followers)
Outriders (Osoer; Veteran/E)
Outriders (Osoer; Skilled/OK)
Scouts (Osoer; Elite/OK)
Scouts (Osoer; Green/E)
Knights (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK) (Bait - Flying High the Colors of King Alaric)
Armsmen, Mounted (Osoer; Skilled/OK) (Dismounted)
Archers (Osoer; Skilled/OK)
Archers, Mounted (Osoer; Elite/OK) (Dismounted)
Archers, Mounted (Osoer; Elite/W) (Dismounted)
Skirmishers (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/E)
Skirmishers (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)
Regulars (Osoer; Skilled/OK)
Regulars (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)
Regulars (Auxillery (Alaric); Unknown/OK)

[DM B]

Osternord ends the turn in enemy hands.