Turn #67 - Avanil

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

Outriders are ordered to scout into Bhrein, avoiding encounters. Baron needs any possible info of the actual situation.
Roesonian Dragoons will screen the vicinty to avoid possible ambush.

[DM B]

The outriders (who are now presumably bringing up the rear - seeing as you're headed back to Duriene and they keep watch against the enemy in Bhrein?) quickly becomes entangled with enemy outriders, scouts, and dragoons. They can keep the enemy at bay for a while, but unless they are allowed to run away - or reinforced - they will be worn down by the enemy over a period.

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

How many enemy units are we speaking of?

[DM B]

Best guess is two scouts, two outriders, four dragoons.

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

The main body (dragoons + knights)  turns around and under baron's command reinforces the slowly retreating outriders. Baron does not want real fight, only to the extent that drives away the enemy scouts and relieves the outriders. Then continues to Duriene, outriders and dragoons screening.
By the way, from where arrived the enemy army to Bhrein - from north?

[DM B]

They refuse to do battle...and the situation repeats itself. It's something of a conundrum - if you stop to help your screen whenever they come under attack you become greatly slowed down, but if you do not the screen will eventually fail and you'll become exposed. The general in you realizes that your position is becoming worse by the hour...you are rapidly losing the initiative. You must use your superior speed and escape or you must stop and fight.

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

Will retreat deeper into Duriene solve the situation? If so, baron chooses to retreat. If not, he'll need another plan. He's considering the possibility to turn from Duriene to Nabhriene or Taliern.

[DM B]

Speeding up and letting the outriders fend for themselves will prevent the enemy from pinning you down. If that happens you will be in big big trouble. Where you want to move sort of depends on what you plan to do next...

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

Retreat to Duriene and then Taliern at full speed. Outriders are allowed to maneuver and retreat freely to minimize the damage they'll take. Their commanders do know the general route plan to allow them to catch up later.

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

On the way, baron sends a swift courier to Tael Brosuine in Bhaine. General Brosuine is ordered to reinforce the garrison in Seamist using the units from Bhaine and block the pass from Seamist to Nentril. Only screening force has to be left in Bhaine.
Signed, Aruvor Raemel.

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

Baron, riding amongst his personal guard, waved at the nearest Knight-Commander. The mid-level and skilled soldier he saw the signal and rode nearerSir?
I need information about the state of our light cavalry - immediately. I'm also interested in insights of other officers about the first engangement, especially observations about our enemies - the composition of the units, the expected direction, and the like. After we stop, I'll call all the officers for a meeting, but unfortunately It's not possible now.
Commander nodded and rode back to his men, in his head creating the orders needed to fullfill the task he got.


OOC :
Baron is working on a new tactics against the irritating enemy cavalry - does he know if he can count with some/any of his outriders? It is unclear if any of them made it safely ...
And, is it known to Baron which direction the enemy army was marching before the attack? General direction is more than sufficient (heading north or south).

[DM B]

Your outriders have been destroyed, but the rest of your army is in good shape. Presently hiding/whatever in Taliern. There is no enemy presence here. It would appear that the bulk of the enemy army has continued west (they came from Daulton by way of Bhrein - some units may have gone north to Tuor's Hold instead) towards the Seamist Mountains. Presumably they intend to cross. Perhaps Brosuine can hold, but you doubt it. He has too little and not enough time to prepare. You can only pray that weather or the gods intervenes.

You also get final confirmation on Daulton. The city lies in ruins after being torched. The death toll must have been immense. They say that Prince Avan is among the dead, that he refused to leave his castle.

[DM B]

WM 8 begins

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WM 6 spent moving to Bhrein, fought battle, retreated to Duriene.
WM 7 spent moving to Taliern, scouting, sending dispatches, etc.

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The enemy army is presumably in Nentril in WM 8.

[X-Roesone/SG (Shido)]

In the evening after receiving the sad news about the Daulton's fate, Baron called for his officers.
"Perhaps it's still too early for condolences and mourning, but I'm almost sure our fight for Avan's cause is over. What remains is fight for our comrades. We left a part of our army behind Seamist mountains and we owe them something.
I'm almost sure our army in Northern Taeghas will be crushed by the horde that we met back in Bhrein. Even with our help is the fate of the army questionable."
baron felt into silence for a moment.
"What I wanted to do now may seem as a suicide for most of you. Indeed it is. But it is also what we owe to our units in Taeghas. And with Cuiraecen's favor there's always chance for a good end."
"We will move back to Duriene and Nentril, using our speed to catch the enemy. As we lack the light cavalry to scout, we'll use our dragoons as the close screening.
We'll advance in wide formation, dragoons in front and both flanks, till we reach Nentril border. In such foramtion, we'll be able to catch and encircle possible enemy scouts if we're lucky. At the border of Nentril we'll stop and only one dispersed dragoon unit will scout for us.
It should be enough - because we do believe we know what's our enemy doing - his units will attempt to cross the Seamist mountains. And as we can't count with strength suepriority and surprise and our enemy will have some countermeasures ready for sure,
we need to catch him and strike at the very moment his rear units will be the only what reamins in the open plains of Nentril. The rest of enemy army will be unable to react quickly due to the heavier terrain, giving us the opportunity to strike at weaker enemy and disengange.
We may even consider a night attack at the enemy's rear.
Any comments?"

[DM B]

Given the great successes under you command thus far there are few, if any, objections. The men look forward to more victories and more glory. A few pragmatic officers, however, rise the question of pay: If Avan is now dead, where is reward money, lands, and so on coming from? If none is forthcoming...why fight at all? Why not negotiate for some sort of settlement?