No Spill Blood

[Bjorn]

"We will array them back from the earthenworks, in front of the Keep walls," Bjorn says, his fingers sketching out diagrams that no one else can really see on the table before him.   "The normal arrangement, spearmen in front, and so forth.  When the Dreadmarch begins to breach the earthenworks, they'll have a choice.  They can either immediately charge our position, in which case they'll come piecemeal, and die easily.  Or they can try to regroup on the near side of the works, giving us more chance to hammer them with arrows.  And if they take too long arranging their ranks, we'll charge ourselves, grinding them up against the moat and earthenwork."

He frowns for a second, and then adds, "We should keep reserves forces off the flanks of the gates, pulled back some distance, as well.  Both to guard against flanking maneuvers on their part, and to hit them in the flanks if the combat should be drawn out."

[Brian]

"Very good ... if we can keep the Jotun's throwing stones from crushing us while we await the charge," Donovan says, looking at Parthipan and Radagast pointedly.

[Bjorn]

"We can spread out until the Dreadmarch comes close to clearing the eathenworks," Bjorn says thoughtfully.  "That will diminish the danger of the Jotun while we wait.  Hopefully, by the time that we have to draw up our ranks, the Jotun will be preoccupied with the actions of the lorekeepers, and less of a danger."

[Brian]

"Very well, then," Kevin decides.  "Radagast's weapons can be used to slow the advance, and possibly help battle the Jotun.  That may give us the cover we need."

[Rezantis]

"If I may comment, maintaining the ranks while jotun attempt to plow through them - even distracted jotun - is a quick way to get obliterated. Take it from me, ranks don't help against jotun . . . anyone fighting against a jotun needs room to move, or it'll be less a fight and more a meat-grinders."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn grunts.  "If the Jotun are used to spearhead a charge, then it will be a different story altogether.  We'll keep some skirmisher groups ready to move forward and engage any Jotun before they reach the main lines.  My suspicion, as I said, is that they'll mostly be held back for artillery support."  He shrugs.  "If I'm wrong, and they commit most of their Jotun to a frontal charge, then we'll break up the ranks entirely."

[Rezantis]

Rez nods.

"You'll need stormriders for that, obviously, since we at least have some experience in taking the things down . . . hm.  What exactly is the plan if or when the general is identified?"

[Bjorn]

"Kill him," Bjorn replies succintly.  "Beyond that... without knowing who the general is, or how he'll show up, there's no way to come up with a detailed plan."  He looks around the room.  "We can't win the battle until we kill the general," he says warningly, "but if we throw away our troops to kill the general, we'll lose the war instead.  Take him out when you have a clean shot at him."

[Rezantis]

"No death squad or anything? I'm almost disappointed.  Alright then."

[Brian]

"Well, Lammermore will not be fighting today," Kevin says succinctly.  "But if Bjorn carries the honourable Sir Breke's blades, and Nathaniel wields a blade of some power, then both should be prepared ... and I believe it was Lord Bloom who showed the power of coordinating efforts in a group in the last battle.  We should not dismiss the importance of that."

[Rezantis]

Rez nods thoughtfully and sits back.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods to Kevin.  "As you say, my Lord.  Another suggestion, if I might: the followers of Aestock would be invaluable on the field as messengers."

[Brian]

"Oh?" Kevin asks.  "Well ... hmm.  Very well, then.  That's a good suggestion.  We'll assign one to each commander on the field to relay messages, then."

[Dracos]

"So...shall we go and get in the troops in position?  Our stormriders already have a messanger system, so our runners can handle messages for our own troops."

Dracos

[Brian]

"Ah," Kevin says, nodding.  "Are you planning on committing all of your forces?  If you would find it acceptible, I was thinking we could combine forces and try to establish more effective squads.  Storm-riders are mostly swordsmen, correct?  The majority of our own forces are spearmen."