Brigands of Thoralinar - turn #63

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

The Duke smiles at the attitude shown and decides he can hardly blame them. Ordering the unfurling of his personal banner in the line he commands the regiments on the field to fight defensively, holding position while the heavier troops come to the field with missile troops to concentrate their fire on the forward units of the brigands. From his vantage point he watches for the officers of the enemy, planning to move him and his personal guard into engagement with them as directly and quickly as possible.

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage takes up position among her archers, her eyes gleaming with bloodlust below her bladed helmet. She is an imposing figure, standing in a robe seemingly made of blades and swords that shimmer and shift.

Standing among the archers, her men gives her wide berth, letting a few attendants stand close to her, who are told to stand there and hold her components while she casts spells. Lightning begins to gather around her hands as she waits for the brigands to come within range.

OOC:
Veteran Archers:
Archers, AnInfLt, Speed: 3, Def: 15 (14+1(hero)), Morale: +7 (+4+1(exp)+2(hero)), Cohesion: 4/3/2/1, Melee: +4, Ranged: +11 (+8+1(exp)+2(hero)), Range: 4, Mod: +2 Missile vs. Mounted, Special: Indirect fire, Rapid shot
As far as I understand we are not using the battlemagic rules (0th level realm spells), if we are using those, she will not attach herself to the archers but instead bombard the enemy. Otherwise, just stick with the archers and fling lightning bolts and fireballs.

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

Ghorien waits for the missiles and then the charge, knowing that he needs to hold his men here and the holding of the enemy here is a matter of timing, that the scouts and light cavalry he has played to his right have orders to frustrate and retreat, frustrate and retreat without commiting full engagement all in a needed bid to let the heavier troops arrive in turn onto the field and what starts as the weak right flank gains bulk and weight until it drives onto the enemies flank with all the weight and pain of a well judged lead weight in a sock to the back of the skull.

Around him stand his Ghosts, his personal guard at the heart of which stand Bareather and Kouralis, both skilled in combat in their own right. In his black leathers and half plate he looks every inch the seasoned general, with shield and axe at the ready for the blooding that is to come. Round him all are greys and blacks, every man and woman checking the ease of draw on secondary weapons, the movement of a piece of armour or the strength of a vital knot. Patience is tested in the day's sun but each of the soldiers present has been through such a thousand times it feels and each knows that his biggest enemy is his own gut and the fear that sits within like a hungry beast, waiting to consume him in those key moments.

[X-DM Jon]

The brigands march down upon you, four units in the front line. A mix of goblins and human infantry, mostly light. A unit of archers behind. There are possibly more of the brigands marching up further back, but you can't see them from here. At least you caught many of the brigand units unaware, buying you time to get your forces in place... If you can just stop this advance force from tearing your thin line apart!

 You send out your scouts and outriders to harry the enemy's advance. They close to missile distance and exchange volleys with the skirmishers, but fail to do any damage. Luckily the enemy is just as ineffective. However as the forward units get too close for comfort, they shift their fire directly on the goblin infantry, sending many of the gray pests to an early grave and causing the unit to rout.

 Then your skirmisher cavalry withdraws from the advancing enemy. At this point your crossbows open fire, a murderous barrage of steely bolts tear into the enemy ranks, causing another unit of goblins to rout.

 Their archers are now within range and exchange rapid fire with your archers. Many of your men fall, but the unit holds firm under the direction of the Swordmage and fire with great certainty into the enemy archer unit, killing many.

[X-DM Jon]

Two units routed seems to be enough for the advance force and they decide to beat a hasty retreat. Screened by their skirmishers who exchange fire with your rapidly moving force of scouts and outriders.

  Despite being under fire from two units AND your crossbows, their skirmishers manage to hold your light cavalry off the backs of their retreating comrades who withdraw from the corn field behind the walls of the settlement (OoC: Another field fortification).

 The skirmishers leave behind many dead and wounded however.

 The field is yours!

[X-DM Jon]

Current status

Tornilen force,
 Archers      W   Veteran - commanded by Duchess Marya Tanar.

Ghieste field army, general is Duke Ghorien Hiriele
 1st Dragoons      OK   Veteran   
 1st Armsmen      OK   Elite   
 1st Regulars      OK   Skilled   
 1st Crossbows      OK   Skilled
 1st Knights                OK    Skilled
 1st Outriders             OK    Green
 1st Scouts                E    Green   

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

The Duke orders his men to deploy in field formation upon the field of battle, Armsmen central with the Swordsman to the right flank and the xbows on his left, with all the cavalry formed up on that same left flank as a heavy charge when needed. The Scouts are to flank the swordsman while also keeping back slightly to rest them a little, with the Archers and the SwordMage sitting behind the Heavy Infantry of the Armsmen. He also requests the recovery of some of the enemy wounded from the field to be "spoken to" about the strengths and commanders of the opposition.

Arrangements will also be made for the collection of the enemy that are left on the field, under armed guard and their holding in front of the armed lines of his army. A herald will then be dispatched again with the same message as before, making it clear that should surrender not be made then the vengence upon this field will be terrible to behold. Should the Herald be refused then one by one the prisoners who will not yield and swear to the banners of Torlinen of Ghieste will be executed for treason. Publically. In front of their walls, though out of shot range.

[X-DM Jon]

The few survivors are soon dead in front of the walls. But the defenders won't budge.

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

Now cursing their stupidity Ghorien waves his men forwards. A pointless fight now, but one that must happen. The aim will be to use the missile troops to clear the fortifications and supress any return of fire while the Armsmen and Swordsman escalade the position and clear the way for the cavalry to push past and rout the remaining troops, using any information gained from the captives before they were executed to guide the actions in the field. Again the Duke will be looking for enemy commanders to take down as quickly and efficiently as possible, with a wry grin when he sights them.

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage has been striding through the arrows hitting her unit, completely ignoring them. Around her the men have fallen, but seeing her unfazed has helped them hold position. As they take position as ordered by the Duke, she reminds them not to switch to fire arrows, she desires the settlement intact.

She picks the troops and fortifications under fire from the crossbows as her target, blasting both men and buildings with incandescent bolts of lightning. She is holding back on her power, saving the best parts for any eventual surprises.

Suddenly she halts and grasp the closest runner by the throat.
"Go find Duke Ghorien! Tell him to send the remains of the scouts to our rear, this seems too easy. They can catch any surprises early. Go!"
Then she turns back to the fortifications.

(OOC: If the SM needs to detatch herself from the archers to exercise her full fire power, then she does that.)

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

At the Sword Mage's shout Ghorien nods and wonders whether she has spotted that all the cavalry are positioned to respond to such a threat along with the scouts sitting back from the combat that is about to ensue, but he issues further orders to the Scouts that they are to maintain eyes and ears in case of ambush.

He hopes that the withering fire from the crossbows and archers combined can limit the effectiveness of the enemies defences, allowing them to be penetrated and removing the delays and interruptions that they would otherwise cause the heavy cavalry.

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage leaves the archer unit and moves a little back on the battlefield, finding a position where she has a clear line of sight to the enemy behind the fortifications.

Around her the remaining wheat sizzles and burns, as the trampled mud starts boiling from the discharges from her magic around her. Lightning and fire flies from her hands toward the fortifications.

[X-DM Jon]

Your interrogation of survivors reveal that they were led by one Commander Gaine Alward. You seem to remember something about him as one of Gavin Tael's Steel Guard commanders. He reputedly fled after Tael's death, attempted a few insurgencies, but was handily defeated each time. A nuisance still it would appear. But what is even more strange is the fact that you discover that he is not the leader of this force... The brigands you interrogate, shudder and speak of glimpses of a terrible horned monster. Two to three times as tall as a man and completely invincible!

 It also soon becomes clear that the force you chased off was nothing but an advance guard. The whole might of the enemy is behind those palisades - and there are many of them! Goblins and unwashed men alike leer at you from the walls.

A blast of fire sets a section of the wooden palisades ablaze! And almost as a sign, that starts the barrage of fire. Archers and crossbows on your side open the battle, archers on theirs.

 Your infantry march forward in order to give the archers behind them range enough and they come under fire from the many skirmishers in the brigand army.

 Meanwhile your scouts investigate your rear for hidden enemies. There are none, you have caught the enemy unaware and they have not had time to set up traps and ambushes.

 And your cavalry, including your outrider unit, sit idly on the left flank. Waiting...

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

Until now!

The signal is given and the left is released, with the aim of approaching as fast  and as wide as possible to the field fortifications using the commitment of troops on the centre to allow the cavalry easier egress to the settlelent beyond and flanking the main body of the enemy.

On hearing of the giant figure they are to face the Duke has also made sure of the deployment of lassos and nets within his ranks to allow for the taking of the "invincible" figure without having to pernetrate his hide.

[X-DM Jon]

Your archers rapid fire riddle a section of the palisades with arrows, striking the unit of brigand regulars, who cower behind their shields, unscathed by the barrage.

 They are, however, struck by return fire, many men fall and the only thing keeping them from routing is the presence of their regent, the Swordmage.

Meanwhile, on the left flank, your crossbows also open fire on the palisades, on a unit of hobgoblin regulars, but fail to penetrate the barricade.

 And you are still outside the range of their skirmishers...

 At this time your estimate is as follows:

Left flank; hobgoblin infantry
Left wing; human light troops
Centre; human regulars
Centre; human light troops
Right wing; goblins
Right flank: goblins

 And archers in the rear.