Boer vs. Avan #63

[DM B]

Duchess Aubrae suggests sending her and some men to Ashien, to unsure nothing untoward happens to the capital. She also urges you to try contacting Cloene - he is one of her father's allies, and she is sure that is why he has risen in rebellion (Kaven gets the impression that he's not the only one doing some behind-the-scenes work in Brosengae). But beyond that she has no real military experience, and defer to your judgment.

[DM B]

Move 6. Orders?

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

Move on Brosien. While marching, Kaven detaches the cavalry under Ser Hadrian and orders them to ride away to patrol, in case the irregulars from Marilen appear, at wich point they can try to run them down on (relatively) open ground.
Outriders on the left, to deterr enemy scouts and keep an eye on enemy troops.

4 Avaneese units are detached to go to Ashien with the Duchess. Kaven wishes her the best and makes certain she departs without any issues.

Outriders: - Deterr and report
Outriders Diemed Mercs E (from Brosien detachment)
Dragoons Vet Diemed W
Lion Outriders 2nd Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Scouts Ghieste Mercs B

Cavalry Detachment:
Ser Hadrian (Commander): Veteran Avanese commander (Prince's own guards)
Lancers Elite Carr W
Lancers Elite Carr E
Dragoons Vet Diemed B
Dragoons Diemed Mercs E
Knights Legendary Avanil (NEW) W
Knights Crack Diemed B (from Hill)
Knights Crack Avanil B (from Hill)

Avanese (incl. vassals and mercs):
Ser Tael Brosuine (Commander):
Pikes skilled Avanil merc B
Pikes skilled Avanil merc E
Halberdiers Veteran Avanil (NEW) E
Crossbows Green Avanil (NEW) W
Crossbows Green Avanil (NEW) W
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) B
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) E
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) E (from Carrida detachment)
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) W
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) E
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) W
Irregulars Avanil Green (NEW) E
Regulars skilled Avanil merc E
Regulars skilled Avanil (NEW) E
Artillerists Elite Avanil (NEW) B
Mounted Armsmen Veteran Avanil B
Mounted Armsmen Crack Avanil (NEW) W
Halberdiers Veteran Carr W
Halberdiers Veteran Carr W
Pikes Veteran Carr OK
Pikes Veteran Carr E

Diemans (incl. vassals and mercs):
Baron Kaven Enlien (General): Field marshal (i.e. acting battlefield commander)
Pikes Skilled Endier B
Crossbowmen Skilled Endier E
Archers Veteran Medoere OK
Regulars Green Diemed B
Regulars Diemed Mercs E
Pikes Diemed Mercs E
Halberdiers Skilled Endier B
Archers Diemed Mercs E
Archers Diemed Mercs W

Lions:
Merc Officer Dael Nichaleir (Commander)
Lion Armsmen 1st Ghieste Mercs B
Lion Armsmen 2nd Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Regular 3rd Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Regular 5th Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Regular 6th Ghieste Mercs E
Lion Crossbows 1st Ghieste Merc E
Lion Crossbows 2nd Ghieste Merc B


Detachment (Ashien) - Bring the Duchess to her throne
Duchess Aubra Avan: Mage/ruler of Taeghas
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) E
Regulars skilled Avanil merc E
Regulars skilled Avanil (NEW) W
Regulars skilled Avanil (NEW) B


Detachment (Caer Carr) - Secure Caer Carr
Ser Maelcom (General): Ghieste contingent commander.
Duchess Aubra Avan: Mage/ruler of Taeghas
Lion Mt. Armsmen Ghieste Mercs B
Regulars skilled Avanil merc B
Regulars skilled Avanil merc E
Crossbows Green Avanil (NEW) E
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc W



Detachment (The Hill):
Ser Cereval Shaeme (Commander): Grievously injured (if he can do anything, like rest but still give orders to troops and make decisions, then he might actually be able to help here.)
Balistae Raw Ilien E
Artillerists Skilled Endier  E
Swordsmen Veteran Roesone B
Pikes skilled Avanil merc B
Pikes Veteran Ilien B
Lion Crossbows 3rd Ghieste Merc B
Lion Crossbows 5th Ghieste Merc B
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc B


Detachment (Coere)
Archers Veteran Roesone Detached
Archers Veteran Roesone Detached
Mounted Armsmen Crack Diemed Detached
Mounted Armsmen (RCS Templars) Crack Medoere Detached
--> Regulars Diemed Mercs B (from Hill)
--> Armsmen Diemed Mercs B
--> Swordsmen Veteran Medoere B


Prince Darien Avan (General): Left for Avanil
Hit by heavy arrow fire; fought Boer core troops.


Destroyed:
Destroyed in War move 5
Outriders Diemed Mercs W
Destroyed in War move 4
Lion Outriders 1st Ghieste Mercs D
Partizans Green Avanil (NEW) D
Pikes Veteran Avanil (NEW) D
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc D
Pikes skilled Avanil merc D
Crossbows skilled Avanil merc D
Pikes Veteran Avanil (NEW) D
Balistae Raw Ilien D
Pikes Veteran Roesone D
Swordsmen Veteran Roesone D
Lion Regular 2nd Ghieste Mercs D
Destroyed in War move 1-3
Armsmen Elite Medoere D
Regulars Veteran Medoere (Alamier) D
Swordsmen Veteran Medoere D
Swordsmen Raw Ilien D
Lion Regular 1st Ghieste Mercs D
Lion Regular 4th Ghieste Mercs D
Pikes Skilled Endier D
Halberdiers Skilled Endier D
Skirmishers Green Diemed D
Crossbowmen Skilled Endier D
Crossbowmen Raw Ilien D
Scouts Green Endier Detached/Destroyed in Coere in turn#62

[DM B]

Your reach Brosien. The enemy holes up in the castle and refuses to give battle. The garrison is commanded by Charles Alexander Myles , Earl of Winter’s Deep (Talinie).

[DM B]

The reinforcements reach Coere; the added numbers allow for better reconnaissance. 

It reveals a small rear-guard retreating out of the province (into the mountains to the North/west) across terrain not generally considered passable to armies. Further investigation reveals that A) The locals wish them the best of luck B) They were accompanied by some ogres C) The main bulk of the units started moving out during war move 5, so should be across the mountains now.

OOC: There is INTENTIONALLY no info on WHERE they went.

[DM B]

Move 7. Orders?

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

ooc:

Some points:
- Are there any news as to the whereabouts of Baron Bacaele's forces?
- Am I understanding correctly, when assuming that Coere is "liberated" now? If so, the relatively fresh units should bloody well double back and prevent Barisen from being overrun by ogres (though it is probably too late, if that is their destination... will forcemarching help in any way here?).
Likewise, the Prince, General Maelcom and Ser Shaeme should be made aware of 2 units of ogres playing hop-scotch in the Taeghan mountains
 with some of Boer's forces in tow.
- the Hill in Barrisen now holds some sort of Field Fortification (started in war move 3), or is that next move?

Kaven requests a meeting with the Earl to discuss the possibility of surrender and makes a show of having the artillerists begin to assemble a primitive siegeweapon in view of the defenders. (they give some siege points, and I assume it is derived from their ability to build something like small stationary siege-thingies?)

[DM B]

OOC:

- The main Boer (i.e. commanded by Bacaele) is still in Isilen; you have no idea what they are doing since your outriders got chased away. Not good.
- Coere was never taken by the enemy; they just neutralized the castle and fought a battle there. You have full command of Carr units and can order them where you want them.
- The Field Fortification is done this move (3-4-5-6); and ready for action on move 7 (which should be sufficient, it was not attacked during move 6).
- The ogres have been unaccounted for...and you have no real idea what those Boer units (2-4?; you don't really know, you were never provided with good intelligence) from Coere are up to, nor do you have track on the irregulars (Ser Brosuine counted 4 units) from Marilen.

You send out warnings/updates to your sub-commanders.

The Earl refuses you offer of surrender. The enemy appears to have a unit of heavy catapults in the castle...

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

ooc: Lol...  I sense something disastrous about to happen.

The Outriders are too battered to return to active duty? The idea was to lure Baron Bacaele out and engage them some way from the castle. Well, I guess Dragoons can act as outriders, though they are really not suited for that role.

Reading up on the Siege rules I just quickly decided, that I really do not want to assault, defensive fire with +10 is something I do *not* want to tamper with... Neutralizing the castle would take 8+ units.
Lack of information is killing me here. Pull the army out of range of catapults and camp on favourable ground facing Isilien (ie. prepare to fight a foe that might not appear.. Ser Brosuine will probably know the best place), while someone (I don't care if it's footmen running with news, as long as I get them) locates the Boer army. Neutralize the keep in the meantime.

p.s.
Ser Brosuine doesn't know of any secret access-options for the castle, does he? No?... didn't think so 

[DM B]

You've invested the castle and sent up came for the main army.

What units are sent to Isilen to keep track of the Boer army? I'd like to now, because they have a good chance of getting engaged.

Move 8. Orders?

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

You've invested the castle and sent up came for the main army.

What units are sent to Isilen to keep track of the Boer army? I'd like to now, because they have a good chance of getting engaged.

Move 8. Orders?

Well, some of these units got ambushed and had to retreat in move 5... if they are able to return to active duty, they should do so.
It's a fairly large force, and I've attached Dael the Mercenary Captain, to get some added juice (and hopefully to get some reports I can use)

Edit: I completly forgot: Muster Militia in Brosien (can I still do that for move 7? Otherwise 8 will have to do.)

Outriders:
Merc Officer Dael Nichaleir (Commander)
Lion Outriders 2nd Ghieste Mercs E
Outriders Diemed Mercs E
Dragoons Vet Diemed W
Dragoons Diemed Mercs E

Watching the castle with an appraising eye, and looking to the sky, sniffing at the weather, Kaven walks the perimiter of the army facing Caer Brosien.
Even though the sheer amount of manpower behind him meant that he could surround the castle completely, effectively blocking out anything that was not his plan. Instead the faster moving Irregulars had been posted as pickets, while a single unit of battle-weary dragoons and some scouts patrolled to the east, watching for enemy troop movement from Marilen. The main gate was blocked, as was every other portal leading into the castle, and he had ordered a range of circumvallation built around what parts of the besieged fortification faced the camp (ooc: started in war move 7, when "investing"?). He did not relish the thought of having to recall troops from the flanks, if the Baron Bacaele approached... No far better to do things this way, and have the army ready to act within minutes.

The Baron sniffed once more and took a few jumping strides to clear the earthen rampart, stopping at the top to look out over the army camp. On the other side, the beginnings of a contravallation, a second line of fortifications outside the circumvallation, where also on it's way. If he where to commit to one or the other, Kaven wanted this to go propperly.
 
Looking towards the contravallation, sections where archers where to be positioned could be spotted at intervals, just as Kaven now strode down the ramparts towards such a position on the northeastern side, stopping to pick a bundle of arrows and examine them. The arrows and supplies left behind at Carrida by the foe should work well... He had some qualms about firing the enemies own fletching against them, but remembering the strikes of lightning and rock-hurling giants, he decided that he could live with that. Far better, that the archers could take position and use their longbows to rain a storm of steel-tipped pain into the ranks of the enemy at a rapid rate, than having to suffer yet another close encounter with otherworldly beasts at the 'hands' of Arlen Innis.

The Baron of Medoere sighed. This could turn out to be a mistake still, but at least he felt confident that they would have a chance to take the castle, if Ser Brosuine and the Crack Armsmen from Avanil could do, what he intended to request from them.
"Come winter, the way into the mountains shall be in Allied hands", he muttered to himself, as he placed the arrow into the bundle once more, and strode towards the main tent used for military preparation.

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

At Caer Carr Maelcom works in significant earnest to clear the earthworks and siegeworks emplaced around the fortificationand. While resting as many men as he can he maintains patrols and checks upon the readiness of the local militias. Letters and dispatchs are sent to the local settlements and vassals of the former Baron making clear the situation and where the legal authority now lies.

His style is brisk and efficient, getting to know the officers of the Avanese regiments quickly and sharing tasks out according to merit and skill sets as opposed to personal connections and he takes pains to maintain a seperation between himself and the troops while also entering into a certain form of comradery with them.

[DM B]

Nothing much happens; your scouting-in-force force establishes contact with the Boer force, which has established itself in a position where it can threaten Ashien, Carrida, and Brosien. Its not as good as their Carrida position though, so that is a slight comfort. They've taken over a low-level (2) manor fort in Isilen. They are, unsurprisingly, being supplied by sea. Though battered, they remain a formidable force, and you cannot really dislodge them without reinforcements.

In Brosien the siege continues. Their catapults are a threat of course, but you can dig siege lines to counter them. And they will have limited ammo, so their utility is limited.

Though you lack any reports to the effect, you fear that Marilen is on enemy hands; too bad you lack resources to scout it out.

Barisen militia have begun mustering.

Move 9. Orders?

[X-Medoere & RCS/KE (Thorsten)]

Unless anything happens, Kaven intends to sit still, giving the soldiers time to rest while building the circumvallation and countervallation for besieging the castle. By his reasoning Baron Bacaele wants to assault a defended keep as little as Kaven himself does, so the field army here in Brosien will be the target he is most keen on engaging. Besides, if the keep here can be taken, the path into Boeruine can be plugged.

Irregulars will continue to act as pickets, scouts keep an eye out for enemy movement from Marilen and regular dispatches sent to both the Duchess and General Maelcom in Carrida to keep a good line of information.

[DM B]

A Dieman galley fleet arrives in Ashien; they have struggled for weeks against the Brosen high seas fleet, and lacking a naval base in the vicinity they have failed to accomplish much.

For action against Boer transports in the coastal waters of Isilen they should do much better.