The Storm-riders slowly gather around and hail Phil as their new king. Once it's clear that the violence is finished, the priestess heals Phil and Markham's wounds, and the former king is sent away after his brother, his torc given to a cousin in his family.
"Okay," Farwell sighs, rubbing at his temples. "Now what do we do?"
"Well," Rez looks around for Mattias . . . and realizes he's still not reappeared.
"Mattias, if you're still around, could you show yourself? We've planning to do, and not much time to do it."
"There are four things that must be dealt with. First we must collect those who are at the temples and add their strength to our own. Second we must ensure that the women and children are safely escorted to the mountains so that they are safely out of the way so that we may all battle with a clear head and heart. Thirdly, we must free loremaster Eske. Fourthly, we must begin our attacks on the dreadmarch." Dracos demands.
Dracos looks over the map in the table, swiftly planning.
"Hmmm... Most of us should stay together, forming a raiding group to head out. A second group with the women and children should head swiftly as possible to the southern mountains. It must be as small as possible. Mathias, I'd like you to go with this group and help hide them as well as rescue Eske and try to bring down the seal. Farwell, I would like you to lead this second group."
Dracos
Dracos nods. "We'll have to get our supplies on the way. Do our scouts have any idea where the current enemy supply line runs?"
Dracos
Farwell nods. "Not a problem, cousin," he agrees. "Mattias?" The loremaster finally reappears after a moment, peering about warily.
"That's fine ... once I free Eske, we should be able to move the women and children to safety, and bring the remainder of the forces to meet back up with you," the loremaster says.
"Good luck, cousin, and may your feet move swiftly. Now, who is in charge of our scouts?"
Dracos
"Mmm," Farwell grunts. "I'll see to it. We'll leave in a few minutes, but leave behind a few wagons and supplies for you. The rest, we'll take into this pass," he says, indicating a spot on the map. "If that's not open, we'll continue down the range until we find one that is. Peace be with you, cousin, and remember, Hamar watches over us all." He salutes, then, one fist over his heart, and wheels about, calling out orders before he's even left the immediate area.
"We will stay with you," the priestess volunteers. "It seems likely you'll be in need of our aid far more than they."
Mattias nods, and bows low to the ground before following Farwell.
After a moment, the man you encountered in the advance guard ... yesterday? Time is screwy, here ... approaches. "I'm in charge of the scouts," he says, nodding. Liandrall sizes him up, then nods approvingly. "What would you have us do? And will you send any of us ahead with Lord Farwell?"
"What is your name and how many scouts do you command?" Dracos quickly asked.
Dracos
"I am Erik," he says, bowing again. "One hundred and twent-- er, one hundred and nineteen scouts run with me."
"Pick out one trusted commander and fifty of your fleetest. Know that while they will not face as great danger as those who stay, their eyes and speed will be the matter of life and death for the families of all here. Gather them with Sir Farwell before they move out. Go now, Eric and when you are finished, return here."
Dracos
He nods, and runs off. The priestess cursties, and excuses herself, her guards following like loyal watchdogs. It's just you, Nathan, and a handful of storm-riders hanging around in case you have any other orders, now.
Dracos hmm'ed, glancing at one of the other soldiers. "You there, go among the troops that are staying and make sure they are ready to move out. Everyone should be ready to move within the hour. When you are done, return here."
Finishing that, he turned towards Liandril. "A busy day. Would you do a favor for me, Liandril?"
Dracos
Two of the soldiers run off, each of them crossing the camp in a different direction.
Liandral raises an eyebrow. "What do you require?" he asks.
"This is a large force to command, therefore I will need people I trust to help manage it. I need you to find out what we have to work with. Sir Farwell will take those who can't fight, but I need to know what resources we have in terms of combat and tactical potential. What is the current organizational scheme, how many archers we have and how skilled you think they are, how many swordsman we have, any other forces or combat groups I am unaware of that are around here. I need to know who the commanders of various squadrons are, their names, and generally how trustworthy think they are. Take another soldier to help you navigate and get done what needs to be done. I also want to have twenty fighters specifically assigned to making sure nothing happens to the priestess. It can't hurt to have the favor of the gods with us. Can you handle that for me, Liandril?"
Dracos
"I couldn't if I needed to sleep," he says dryly. "Consider it done, though." With that, he runs off.
Dracos sits down in one of the chairs, memorizing the general map area for a moment, waiting for Erik and the other soldier to return. If he does not return before Dracos hears the noise of Farwell's contingent starting to move off, Dracos heads out to see them off.
Dracos
Erik returns first. "We've skived off 50 of our scouts to accompany Farwell; he's requisitioned about four hundred additional swordsmen to protect the caravan, as well," he reports.
Dracos nodded. "Good. Now, the current plan, Erik, is to attack the enemy supply lines and possibly disrupt their siege equipment. In order to do this, we first have to find where their supply lines are and what is defending them."
Dracos pointed to the map, in the area between where the dreadmarch was currently camped out in the millions and the dark citadel. "The supply lines will likely be around here. We will be moving in that direction shortly. I would like you to gather the scouts immediately and get moving in that direction. We'll be following with the main force within the hour. Set up the scout patterns as you see fit, Erik, I leave it to you. Report to me when you have any important information. Do you have any questions?"
Dracos
"Will we be establishing any kind of permanent camp out here, or will we be keeping ourselves as mobile as possible?" he asks, peering at the map, probably already calculating routes in his mind.
"As mobile as possible. We can't allow ourselves to risk getting trapped against the dreadmarch. They've already stolen one march on us. If they catch us by surprise again, it might be the end of us."
Dracos
"Understood. I'll go brief my men, then," he says, waiting on your permission before he leaves.
"You may go and may Hamar brighten your path."
Dracos
He's gone. Now it's just you, Nathan, and the map.
Dracos glances at Nathan. "Wild day?"
Dracos
"Didn't bother me that much . . . I think you had more fun than I did. Although I gotta admit, that sword-toss was pretty wild. How'd you get so much distance, anyway?"
Dracos laughed. "Bleh... I really don't know. Though I can try it out on you."
Dracos
"I dunno, given your accuracy last time, I reckon your target might just be the safest place to be. Nyah!"
Rez snickers.
"Anyhow...getting serious. You up to being a commander?"
Dracos
Rez grimaces.
"Yeah, if I have to be. Not really my forte, but then, neither is hitting people with greatswords."
"You'll just have to deal, Number one. Anyhow... Let's get these men moving while we wait for Liandril to finish his report."
Dracos heads out, looking for the soldier he'd sent off to get people ready and ascertaining the status of the army remaining himself.
Dracos
Farwell's already assembled everyone who's about to leave, and they're making their final farewells as you emerge from the tent (and the second you leave it, warriors scurry to disassemble it behind you) Liandrall is strolling around the men, asking a question here and there, but still in sight. Everyone else appears to be gathering their things up in preparation to move.
Dracos headed out towards Farwell, watching silently for the moment with approval.
Dracos
Farwell looks up as you approach, and nods. "We're ready," he says. "Luck to you, cousin. We'll meet again."
In the distance, the moon rises, lighting up the plains.
"Luck to you as well." Dracos agreed, looking up. "At least we'll have moonlight to light our way."
Dracos watched them depart, waiting for news back that the soldiers remaining were ready to go and gathering his own things as well.
Dracos
After Farwell has left, Rez turns back to Drac.
"So, what'd you have in mind for me to do, anyway?"
"At the moment? Not much. We're going to just be hiking quickly until we get more information from the scouts."
Dracos
At this point, Farwell takes his escort and the women and children off, and they break away. Everyone that's left very quickly gets ready to move on, looking to Phil and Nathan for guidance.
"Anyhow...time for being Kingly." Dracos turned from Rez to the army before him and particularly the commanders. "If all is ready, we march west. Everyone, we must move quickly. There is no time to waste. The time for words has long since passed, and only by deeds may we yet survive to see another sunrise. Now let's be off!"
Dracos promptly turned, leading with swift strides in the decided direction, intending to travel for until it became obvious that the men needed to rest, Liandril got back to him with the report, Nathan had something to say, or Erik returned with more information.
Dracos
Erik checks in once in a while to report that all is well, and none of the scouts have been lost. You're heading roughly west, but you know when you've reached the Dreadmarch's passage. Most of the snowy waste is hilly, which hints at the ground that lies underneath it.
But now you see something that makes you wonder if that's accurate. The path of the Dreadmarch wore into the snow deeply -- you'd known that the snow was scraped from the ground before the keep, and you'd seen the raw stone of the mountains to your north.
But here, you can see that the wake of the Dreadmarch's passage is a wide valley in the snow, cutting clear through it, down some five meters below the average 'surface' of the waste.
What lays beneath is not soil, or stone, but a glacier, and in places, it's been worn by the passage as smooth (and clear) as glass. This passage extends as far as you can see both north, and south, and looks to be a half a kilometer wide.
Occasionally, bits of discarded junk lie at the bottom of the valley. Scraps of cloth, wood, or metal, nothing recognizable, and save the wood (which is at least burnable) nothing of any real value. The men slow down at this, and realize that one way or another, the truth of the matter is that the Dreadmarch did get there first.
Liandral approaches at this point, and says, "I've got the command structure down. I don't know about loyalty, really, since you probably should know these people better than I. For what it's worth, though, anyone in the same clan as you supports you fully. Anyone in Farwell's clan -- the Rabbits -- supports you almost as much, followed by those in the Bear clan -- no torc, so no leader, but they seem to favor your 'madman', after rumor got out that he destroyed the beast which slew his father, and so will do as you say.
"The biggest dissidents would be those of the Caribou clan, which is about one sixth of the forces here. Of those, they seem loyal for the moment, but probably won't be if you appear weak, if you make any mistakes, or if their leader challenges you for rule. Their torc-wearer was included in the force to protect the women -- Farwell's choice -- which they see as an insult and a sign that you don't trust them. Which you probably shouldn't, since two of them tried to ruin you.
"Eagle isn't committing, or already knows what information I'm digging for, and only says that they do as you say, because you're the king. Oxen say they won't influence anything, since that's never been their role. Cryptic, but I get the idea they just don't want internal trouble." Liandral shrugs after delivering this bit of information, as the men stop at the tracks to investigate things -- Erik's sent the scouts further afield to see if there's any obvious supply-lines following the valley, or running parallel to it.
"For the command structure, it goes like this: You're the king, so you're number one. What you say, goes. You're the top of the food-chain in every court. Your officers are basically one per clan, each with a different duty. For what it's worth, everyone's a soldier. The officer of the Bear clan is Sir Warrick Aubron; he leads the majority of the swordsmen. The officer of the Wolf clan is Sir Harold Volter; he leads another third of the swordsmen. The officer of the Caribou clan is currently with Farwell, so their brevet leader is Sir Edward Carst; he leads the final third of the swordsmen. For the Rabbit clan, we've Sir Edward Durin; he manages your pikemen. For the Eagle clan, there is Sir Erik Kethel; he takes care of your archers and your scouts. And finally, for the Oxen, we've the esteemed Lord Roger Lowry; he manages your axemen.
"Now, the command structure is this: Whoever's in charge, yells. Everyone who hears them, does what they're told. I'm thinking that you can probably improve on this." Liandral heaves a sigh. "Anything else?"
"Good job and thanks. Any ideas on the standard tactics they are used to using? Everyone just charge in or is there actual experience with more complicated strategy? Additionally do we have any trained strategists on staff?"
Dracos
"Well, they usually form into small groups based on clan, which is good for raiding parties, or smaller groups of foe ... I'm not confident I expect the tactics to hold up well against a sufficiently large force. And I'm guessing you're our foremost strategist at the moment."
Dracos whistles. "Well... Time to do what I can. Can you gather the commanders to me? I think it's best if we start by working on maximizing our strengths. If Erik is busy afield, do not bother him. I can pass along orders to him later."
Dracos
Liandral nods, and runs off. After a minute or two, the six commanders are in front of you (Erik being free, since the army's come to a stop).
"Greetings commanders. In consideration of the size of the foe we face and the dangers they represent, I have called you together to help organize and plan our strategies. While I stand solid in my strength and the strength and bravery of all who are assembled here, there will be times where mere brute strength is not enough. We will also need both cunning and strategy to deal with the foe we face and to survive. I cannot be everywhere at once, nor can I see everything that is there. I will be relying on you to see what I do not see and be where I am not to keep all of the men organized. You know the men directly under you better than I, therefore I will have an open ear to your advice and knowledge. That said, neither can you be everywhere at once, therefore I propose developing a heirarchy of organization for our clans as whole. I would like each of you to divide your forces into groups of 100 and assign to each of them a subcommander to answer to you personally. Pick men who you trust and who you have found to be insightful and wise to the ways of battle. For each of these, make sure they have five runners as well in order to convey commands and status back and forth. For each of these hundred, I want you to split them into five groups, four of 20 and one of 19. Each of these should have a captain that is responsible for the twenty directly below them. Everyone in that captain's squad answers and follows the commands of the captain first. The captain, in turn, follows the orders of the subcommander, passed back and forth by runners, one to each group of twenty and one to the subcommander. As each of you will be overseeing a group of several hundred, select several runners to carry your orders to the subcommanders you choose. I will, prior to any fight, lay out a general plan of battle with you. During the fight you will be responsible for handling your parts and conveying this down the order of command. I will need a set of runners myself, one from each of your clans, to handle communications in the chaos of battle. Remember, as we are outnumbered we must be willing to retreat or otherwise adapt to conditions swiftly. If you find yourselves cut off, I expect you to look out for the men under you and make sure as many survive."
Dracos breathed in. "In terms of battle, I would like to generally lead off with the archers under Sir Erik, pinning down the enemy as we approach then shifting to other parts or fading backwards in retreat once the main force. The main force will be composed of the warriors under Sir Warrick, Sir Harold, and Sir Edward. Your forces will make up the mainstay of our army, tackling the enemy in melee, striking hard and fast, doing as much damage as possible, and then retreating in an organized retreat. I emphasize this, do not be fools for glory. With the size of the enemy we face we will need to wear them down and we cannot afford to have a squadron get slaughtered just for a bit of glory. Lord Durin, I believe your warriors would be best served by being slightly off from the main force. In most cases I will group you with them, but in others I will want you ready to loop around, take advantage of position and make it appear as if we are more than we are. Lord Roger, I would like your forces to handle the important business of destroying their equipment, stealing their foodstores, and getting out quickly with them. If possible kill and destroy whatever seige equipment you can get your hands upon. Basically be as destructive as possible. Don't worry so much about engaging the forces directly in battle. The main force should handle that. Now that said...I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Any objections to reorganizing as such?"
Dracos
"I like this," Lord Roger says, the first to break the silence. "This whole ... sub-commander thing is a funny business, but I have no problems with my orders."
The others hedge a bit, mulling it over, but ultimately accept the idea of your proposes chain of command -- though, to them it seems much more like you're telling them, "Get your successors lined up in case you die, to minimize confusion." Unless you give them further orders, they go off to organize their troops.
Dracos lets them leave, waiting until they are out of view to brush a hand back along his head in a habitual nervous gesture. "Well, at least that went well. Hopefully we'll hear back from the scouts soon. Hmm..."
Dracos
The scouts don't find any sign of supply trains that have already been through. More likely than not, none of the supply trains have arrived yet.
"Hmm, We can either stay here, head north, or head south. What do you think, Nathan?"
Dracos
"Well, that would depend entirely on what your objective was."
Rez smiles cheerily.
"... Wipe out the supply lines you cocky idiot. You know this."
Dracos
"Send some scouts south to survey the tail end of the dreadmarch army, which is most likely where a fair chunk of their support will be . . . but we should probably be heading north or northwest. Mixing it with the army proper won't gain us a great deal, and the more distance we put between them and us the longer it will take them to do something about us hitting their supply trains."
"Hmmm...I like that plan. A squad south to commence raiding under the cover of darkness while the majority of us head north in two groups along the sides of this path hunting for their supplies."
Dracos
"Mm. Basically, they check out the rear of the dreadmarch and try to ascertain how much in the way of supply wagons they brought with them . . . and probably try to do some damage to what's there."
Rez hums.
"I'd like to volunteer for that, actually."
Dracos raises an eyebrow. "Antsy? No crazy heroics. If you find out that they've already got most their supplies there, get back quickly. I'll need to know that. I was thinking more like ten scouts, but to do what you just suggested you'd need more. What are you thinking?"
Dracos
"Get some rough intelligence on what they do have, and if we get the opportunity . . . sneak in and break shit, really, then run as if all the armies of darkness were behind us. If nothing else it'll sow some confusion."
"Hum... Small force still though. No more than a hundred, including the scouts."
Dracos
"How many scouts is up to you. Frankly, anyone who's capable of being sneaky and good in a fight will do the job here."
"I send scouts, because I think you'll need those trained to be sharp eyes and stealthy. hmm... Two squads of archers, two of axemen, and ten scouts. How does that sound?"
Dracos
"I don't think we need so many archers, given that the point is to sneak in there. Hm. Admittedly, I'm not much of a tactician."
"I'm a believer in the idea of having some archery cover if you need it on escape is a good thing. Though you are right, a smaller group might be more useful. So...seventy soldiers and you. Think you can manage a group that size?"
Dracos
"Swap one of those squads of axemen for a squad of swordsmen, I think, but I reckon I can handle that."
"No. But if you want to switch a squad of archers with it I'm fine with it."
Dracos
"I'm considering. What do we have in the way of combustibles, by the way?"
"As far as I have been informed, we don't."
Dracos
"Hm. What do we use for torches and stuff, then? Should we be asking Liandral? I mainly ask just because setting things on fire is always an awesome method of sabotage, and anything to speed that up is good.."
"Pitch," Liandral answers, frowning. "Unfortunately, we've no free pitch ... and while fire is good, smoke is a beacon visible from miles away."
"Mm, but if we do end up sneaking in and breaking things, the noise will be a beacon from imles away too. And at night, it isn't such a problem. I guess we'll just make sure everyone has tinder . . . and a torch, just in case."
Rez considers.
"Roughly what direction are you planning on heading in, Drac? We'll probably just come back here and follow the army's tracks, but . . .
"North. Along the glacier. Hopefully we'll catch them in a pincher strike and harass or destroy them on their way down."
Dracos
Rez considers.
"I need to pick up a bow, come to think of it. But yes, anything else I'm forgetting?"
"Hmm...not that I can think of."
Dracos
"The minions of the Dreadmarch can see smoke at night as clearly as we can in the day," Liandral warns. "Spare arms are in that wagon," he adds, pointing to one of the supply wagons that Farwell left you.
Rez blinks.
"This might be a silly question, but can they see -everything- as well at night as we can during the day?"
"Yes," Liandral says, shrugging.
"I take it their not crippled by daytime at all. Otherwise this would be a rather silly fight."
Dracos
Rez sighs, then shrugs. "Drac, swap those swordsmen for archers again. And that does change things. And not necessarily, Drac."
He cocks his head, waiting for Liandral's answer to Drac's question.
"Most of them die when exposed to sunlight, actually," Liandral notes.
"Well, either way, that isn't going to help us," Rez sighs, "Oh well. Anyway, is there anything else I've forgotten?"
Dracos shrugs. "Nope. I'll have soldiers assigned to help you as soon as possible, so you can get ready."
Dracos
Once decisions are made as far as who is in which party, Nathan is sent off with his soldiers, pausing only to manage some issues of stealth before moving further south.
Nathan now moves to Think We're Alone Now (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=34342#34342)
Dracos, on the other hand, leads his army slowly north generally along the path made by the army, cautiously following the sweeps of the scouts far ahead. His intent being to locate the forerunners of the supply lines, split his arm in two along the sides, and catch the supply trains in a pincher attack.
Dracos
The scouts come back with news, lots of news, and most of it not very good.
You've got about twenty nine thousand five hundred troops, but the supply train you're about to run into (and they are sticking to the valley already carved out) contains reinforcements. There's an assortment of foes amounting to probably about ten thousand soldiers as an escort.
More importantly, in addition to a wealth of supply wagons, the train is also escorting a Jotun.
Dracos nodded pondering for a moment. "How are they generally arrayed? Towards the front? The back? Is the guard strong along the sides? How aware do they appear?"
Dracos
Erik taps his chin. "They didn't see the forward scouts. If we hold here, they'll be on is in two hours; we've time to hide on the banks of this channel they've carved ... only their own scouts, ranging on this height, and the Jotun will be able to see us. Most of the troops, say, a third, are to the fore, another third at the rear, and the remaining third split in half on either side of the wagon trains," he says slowly.
"hmm... Okay. We'll have to move quickly. Good job, Sir Erik. Mind going and grabbing the other commanders quickly?"
Assuming Erik does go do that, Dracos takes a moment to ask Liandril some questions softly.
"Okay, what's a Jotun?"
Dracos
"What, a frost giant?" Liandrall asks, frowning.
"Okay, frost giant. That's more informative. General capabilities and size? Those types of creatures are but myth where I came from. I'll need to take them into account for the strategy here."
Dracos
"Uh ... I've never seen one, myself," Liandral says slowly, frowning. "But, yeah, that's what a Jotun is. I'm afraid I don't really know."
"Hmm... Okay. Well, I guess that's the best I can hope for." Dracos waits for the commanders to arrive.
Dracos
They show up fairly quickly at that point, and look to you expectantly.
"Okay, as you may have heard, our scouts have found the enemy supply lines along with their defenses. We will be dealing with an army of ten thousand warriors and a Jotun. While I'm fairly certain we can take that many by sheer brute strength and bravery, I don't want to accept that high losses. So here's the plan. We'll swiftly break into three groups in order to ambush them and strike at them from multiple directions. Sir Erik, I would like you to be responsible for dealing with their advanced scouts and keeping your forces on the fringes. If we can blind them quickly to our presence prior to the battle, it will go better. Once that is done I would like your archers to focus on raining arrows on the front of the convey on my signal. Sir Edward Durin, Lord Roger, and Sir Edward Carst you will be the ambush group. I would like you to lead your forces and hide them along the left side of the path. When I give the signal to go, I want you to wait for a full count of two hundred before going in. That should give the enemy enough time to be disorganized and unprepared along that flank. I will want you to charge in, the swordsman and pikemen handling dealing with the enemy and the axemen in charge of doing as much damage as possible. Be careful of the Jotun and if possible kill it. From when we separate and until we reunite, Lord Roger we'll be in charge be careful, but be bold. For the final group, I will lead. We will handle the most dangerous job. Sir Warrick and Sir Harold, your forces will accompany me. We will move and hide upon the right bank of the path. When I give the signal, we'll charge, making as much noise and ruckus as possible and smashing into the side of their forces, trying to kill and overwhelm them swiftly."
"As regards the communication lines, I will give the signal with my horn. I will give the start signal with one loud burst and the retreat with two. If you do not hear it, You may begin on the battle cries that shall certainly be loud enough as we charge. When I sound the retreat, retreat as fast as you can safely. We'll swing far out to the sides, back to the north, and regroup. Remember though if the situation changes, retreat then. No foolish heroics. Do as much damage as you can and get out. Any questions?"
Dracos
"Aye, that'll do, then," Lord Roger agrees, looking somewhat pensive at the mention of a Jotun.
"Archers might help annoy the Jotun," Erik supplies thoughtfully. "The axemen could close in from behind and hamstring it; that loss of morale would send the rest of the Dreadmarch fleeing, and we could have reserve pikemen planted along the banks of the valley -- with superior numbers and height,we've time to make this a deathtrap."
"Yes," Sir Durin nods. "If we let any escape, they'll warn the main army we're out here. It's inevitable they'll discover us, but the longer we have to sap their strength and supplies before they realize it, the better we'll fare."
Carst just grunts, waiting for you to take this advice into account.
"Hmmm... Make it so. We'll aim for taking a Jotun's head today."
Dracos
"That will be worthy of remembering!" Erik declares, before everyone goes off to assemble the ambush as you've ordered.
Dracos takes a moment once they've left to double check the condition of his sword and armor, as he's been neglecting to do since the fight.
Dracos
Your armor needs mending; there's a cut across the chestplate. Well, not much you can do about that now, anyway.
Your troops get into position, hunkering down into the snow to hide themselves from anyone standing in the valley. Ahead of you, you can see the Dreadmarch (now) progressing down the valley, and southward. There's tons of them, just like you were told, and you can see the Jotun, too.
'Ice-giant is right'. It's got blue, somewhat translucent skin that reflects the moonlight, is wearing some form of armor -- looks like sewn together pelts -- and is wielding a tree as a club. Some branches still protrude from the head of the tree-trunk.
At about this time, you pull back further to remain out of sight, while the archers prepare to rain arrows on the charge.
Even lying in the snow to hide yourself from the forces below, the Jotun is tall enough to look down on you -- the thing is a good eighteen meters tall. You know that it's going to spot you, first. There's just no way to hide thirty thousand armed men on a flat plain, especially with that much of a height advantage.
But, some luck is with you, as the Jotun is in the middle of the caravan, and doesn't notice until he's just inside the main pincers of your two forces. He rears back, as he's noticed your forces specifically, and starts drawing a breath -- probably to sound a warning cry.
Dracos sounds the horn of battle, dropping it back to his side and pulling out his blade, gesturing forth and leading the charge against the side, attempting to inspire his men to greater fervor.
Dracos
By sounding the horn to set in a charge just before the Jotun can below out a warning, the majority of the orcs below (and smaller, and slightly larger creatures, too; quite an assortment of them all, really) look up in time for a rain of arrows from either side of the gorge.
<@Brian> roll 4#3d6 for general archer accuracy
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 = {13}, {5}, {6}, {7}.Well over half of the defenders are already dead by the time the footmen begin their rush. Due to the surprise attack, and the effeciency of the archers, the defenders are unable to set themselves effectively to create a shield wall or any other defensive structure.[10:52] <@Brian> roll 3#3d6-4 for general footman effectiveness
[10:52] <Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#3d6-4 for general footman effectiveness --> {7}, {6}, {5}.
The net result is that the storm-riders have effectively dispatched everything except a few small pockets of resistance, and the Jotun.
Philip finds himself, four axemen, and two pikemen, facing off against the beast, because it's making a bee-line for Phil.
Dracos rushed forward, swinging hard at the Jotan's leg. "Strike it's legs, unbalance it!"
Dracos
<Brian> You're on the ice-field below the snow-line, with your axemen and pikemen, and the Jotun towering overhead.
<Brian> It's wearing a suit of thick furs -- they look like mixed wolf and bear hides, stiched together, and its weapon really is just a tree-trunk.
<Brian> We'll start on phase zero, which is everyone with a held action; the Jotun spent his last action charging towards you, and thus, has nothing.
<Brian> Dex order: you first, Dracos. The Jotun is about 10 meters away.
Dracos charges blade raised to swing at the Jotan'
<Dracos> s leg and swinging hard when I reach range to do so.
<Brian> Alrighty, you rush, and the pikemen flank you. The axemen spread out at an angle behind you.
<Brian> roll 4#1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#1d6+1d3 --> [ 1d6=6 1d3=1 ]{7}, [ 1d6=6 1d3=1 ]{7}, [ 1d6=3 1d3=1 ]{4}, [ 1d6=6 1d3=2 ]{8}
<Brian> Arrows pelt the Jotun, but he really doesn't seem to notice.
<Brian> Segment 6, speed 2s go.
<Brian> You're currently two meters from the Jotun, though the highest you could reach on this thing would be just above the knee.
<Brian> Dex order, Dracos first.
Dracos runs just past him, spinning and bringing the blade along the back of where the knee is as hard as he can.
<Brian> Your called shot raises the Jotun's DCV to ... 1.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to push your strength.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Your strength is increased by 15 points, for 15 END.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll to hit.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for pain
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for pain --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> That's a hit. Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 4d6 for pain!
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 4d6 for pain! --> [ 4d6=16 ]{16}
<Brian> The Jotun screams in pain -- you cut through a tendon.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6 for bravery
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 for bravery --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for pike damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for pike damage --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 2d6 for pike damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 for pike damage --> [ 2d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 3#2d6 axe damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#2d6 axe damage --> [ 2d6=11 ]{11}, [ 2d6=5 ]{5}, [ 2d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 4d6 axe damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4d6 axe damage --> [ 4d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> Dracos, please roll the stun multiplier of 1d6, which will then be applied to the total damage.
<Dracos> Roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> As slow as the Jotun is, it hasn't quite figured out that it's in pain. That means it's going to make an attack before it goes down.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> The club slams into a section of ice.
<Brian> No storm-riders are nearby.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6-3 dive for cover
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6-3 dive for cover --> [ 3d6=12 ]{9}, [ 3d6=11 ]{8}, [ 3d6=9 ]{6}, [ 3d6=11 ]{8}, [ 3d6=13 ]{10}, [ 3d6=13 ]{10}
<Brian> The storm-riders dive out of the way as the Jotun goes down, slamming into the ice.
<Brian> This means...
<Brian> roll 20#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 15#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=5 ]
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> The ice beneath the Jotun cracks. It creaks alarmingly, as spiderwebs shoot through the ice in every direction across the valley carved into the snow ... and does not break.
<Brian> But judging by the discoloration you can now see below, what's underneath the ice (not sure how thick) is liquid.
Dracos does a quick visual survey of the area and the current status.
Dracos
The pikemen are keeping the remaining foe at bay, and the archers are divided into two groups -- those who are picking off the orcs still left, pinned down by the pikemen, and those who are picking off the ones that are trying to flee.
The axemen are working on severying the unconscious Jotun's spinal column, which looks to be slow, grisly work. Jotun blood is not red, nor is it hot. It's thick, blue, and where it touches the ice (and the little water that's welled up from below) it freezes instantly. It also causes the water to freeze.
The smaller creatures and the orcs have a viscious, black blood, which smells horribly foul, and the ogres have blood that's somewhat green in hue, and thinner than any of the other enemies. Funny what you notice in the adrenaline rush, once the battle's pretty much over.
Of your own forces, you've lost (at a glance) about thirty people; you're not sure how many of them just need healing (the priestess is looking after them) and the walking wounded, which are cleaning their own injuries.
Dracos breathes in, glancing about for his runners.
Dracos
The runners collect themselves from the mess of the aftermath, and jog to your side. Of primary concern is: were there any escapees? The scouts are working on that one.
Of a secondary concern, now that the enemies are effectively routed, will you destroy their wagons and supplies, or just steal them?
Dracos sends out a message to make sure no one escaped and gives the order to swipe the supplies as well as begin preparing to move the army west as soon as everything was ready to move.
Dracos
They check out the supplies. Food! Well, food components, anyway. Looks like a whole lot of mushrooms, some kind of scrapped and wadded moss or lichen, and a whole mess of heavily salted reindeer and bear meat. No fish, no flour, no breads.
Dracos gives the order to gather up the supplies and destroy what can't easily be carried, priority given to preservable foodstuffs and any equipment that can be swiped.
Dracos
The axemen hack open a hole in the ice (stuff looks like it's about three meters deep) and just sink everything they can't carry. You don't see a bottom; the goods just vanish into the murky darkness below. The bodies get shoveled in, and they all sink, too.
There's no way you can hide the fact that there was a battle here, in all honesty, though. Some of the men ask you if it's okay to take a few of the wagons before they sink, and make a pyre for the fallen soldiers.
Dracos nods in agreement, joining them to help out.
Dracos
They assemble the pyres by chopping up the wagons, and basically making a raised stage in the snow with the wagon beds, and some of the runners -- these wagons don't have wheels, after all, they have sleds. Once that's done, the dead are ceremoniously placed atop them, some of the pilfered and otherwise useless stuff stacked around as tinder.
Their greatswords, or axes, or (in the case of pikemen and archers) long daggers inscribed with their lineage are retrieved to be returned to their next of kin, and then the pyres set aflame on the ice. While the flames are starting, the priestess says a prayed for the departed, and the smoke from the flames vanishes, though the light will still be a beacon for miles around.
Most of the men don't seem too broken up by the losses, as few as they were.
Dracos waits until all prayers are finished, and then a little while more, but then sends out the order to get moving to the north east, wanting to put several hours of marching between them and that spot.
Dracos
Your forces gear up to move, the worst of the wounded riding with the supply wagons. Just before you're about to set out, however, Erik reports that some of Nathan's forces have returned from the south.
They're almost all badly wounded.
Dracos promptly sends for the priestess to help out and looks for either Nathan or someone to tell him what happened.
Dracos
No sign of Nathan. When you question one of the less wounded, he explains that Nathan headed east, laying a false trail behind him to mislead any pursuit.
The priestess is able to get about half of the thirty-some people back into fighting condition, and the rest into walking wounded.
Dracos hums, takes in the condition of the men and just shakes his head, moving on to more important things. "Let's get a move on. We have more dreadmarch to kill."
Dracos
You head north-east for a few hours. Even though you essentially walked through your enemy, your forces are tired, and would like some rest. Once you're a couple kilometers from the supply route, some of the men begin making noises about making a camp for a while.
At about this point you notice that the moon is close to setting.
Dracos, as per his plans, sets up camp, asking for a some volunteers who are feeling energetic to handle the guard watch, if he gets enough, he tells the scouts to get some rest. Once everything is set in motion, he goes to make a circuit of the camp, seeing how the men are faring, being comraderly, and generally trying to keep spirits and morale high.
Dracos
People are pretty happy, all things considered. The complete route of the dreadmarch forces earlier doesn't leave them with a lot to fear. When they hear that Nathan's forces of 100 men took on a force of 250, and still won, losing only half of their number, they're even happier.
A rumor is circulating the camp that Nathan is wielding the ancient ancestral blade of his ancestors, too, and with it, he could sunder and foe of the dreadmarch that opposes him. A few Eagle-clan scouts whisper that he's going to take on the dreadmarch single-handedly.
Other than that, all seems well, if many of the men are drowsy after all the marching, and the battle.
Dracos smiled as he returned to his tent after eating with the men and gets to getting some sleep himself.
Dracos
You wake up some time later, when Liandral wakes you up. "Erik is here," he says. "Most of the men are waking up now, too." The moon is gone from the sky.
Dracos shakes his head, smacking himself a bit to quickly get up, and get on his feet and presentable. As soon as he does so he, ignoring the possible odd looks from Liandril, he steps out, glancing for Erik. "Greetings Sir Erik. I take it there is news?"
Dracos
"So far, we've been undetected," he confirms, nodding. "But some of our scouts caught sight of movement in the supply line a few kilometers from us. It looks like another supply train, but this one is on the bank closest to us, so we will not be able to surprise them as we did the last."
"Numbers, resources?" Dracos instantly goes for information. "How are they arrayed and do they look ready and warry?"
Dracos
"They look like they just woke up and set out once the moon had set," Erik replies. "Mainly archers, it appears. There's no Jotun with them, and they number only about five thousand."
"Animals? Carts? Liandril, go get the troops moving. With those numbers, we'll rush them, fast and strong and crush them like so much snow beneath our boots. If we close with them fast they should fall easily."
Dracos
"More wagons, actually, and only Oxen to pull them," Erik says. "I would guess that they didn't expect any attackers on this side of their advance. But it is inevitable that they will bring in many more Jotun, and probably soon -- right now, those at the Keep are already facing the first day of the Dreadmarch."
"We will crush their support, without food and and will all support vanishing, they will be forced to come out to hunt us, breaking off forces from battling the keep. They also will likely turn on themselves as the food runs low. We just have to keep it up. Hum. I may be able to do something, Get the men ready, we move now."
Dracos
"Right," Erik says, saluting sharply, and mobilizing the men. Liandral hovers near you like a shadow, obviously unhappy about this course of action, but still committed. It's the work of a few moments to get every one awake, and ready to go. Since the storm-riders travel so light, it takes no time to get ready to go.
Once everyone's standing, they begin the march, eating dry-rations while walking. After about twenty minutes, once everyone has eaten, and had something to drink, the pace increases to a slow jog.
You reach a point probably about two kilometers ahead of the enemy forces. The valley is to the west, and the approaching supply caravan is north of you. Either they haven't seen you, or they don't care, yet, but it's not going to be easy to hide that many men.
Dracos takes a moment as they continue to approach, focusing his mind on the oxen among the enemy forces, shouting into their minds "RUN AWAY, FLEE, DEATH APPROACHES" and gesturing to his own forces to break into a full run towards the enemy.
Dracos
<@Cless> Roll 8d6 for incite oxen riot
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Cless ... : 8d6 {34}
<@Brian> Well!
<@Brian> Their egoes are about 4 and 6 each.
<@Cless> ^^;
<@Brian> I'd like you to roll for a presence attack, and add one HALF of your telepathy roll to the result.
<@Cless> Let's see, that'd be 3d6+17?
<@Brian> Yes.
<@Cless> Roll 3d6+17 for FEAR
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Cless ... : 3d6+17 {32}As your forces charge towards the enemy, the oxen and cattle within their supply trains break into an uncontrollable stampede, draging their carts helter skelter, mindless of the whips, or of trampling their masters. The confusion wipes out a handful of the enemy before you even approach, and only half of their archers are able to mount a coordinated offensive against the storm-riders. <@Brian> roll 3d6 for general dreadmarch archer accuracy
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 {8}
<@Brian> Alrighty. Dracos, roll 2#3d6 for general storm-rider archer accuracy.
<@Cless> roll 2#3d6 skewer
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Cless ... : 2#3d6 {11}The Dreadmarch archers get one shot off before you effectively enter melee range, and they make it count, dropping about seventy warriors from your charge. Your own archers break from the charge, and fire in return. Their accuracy is less than stellar, but having as many archers as their total attacking force, they still do a significant amount of damage before the fronts meet in a melee struggle.<@Brian> Okay, Dracos, now, roll 3#3d6 for general footman efectiveness.
<@Cless> Roll 3#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Cless ... : 3#3d6 --> {12}, {7}, {8}
<@Cless> GO MY MINIONS, CRUSH THEM!
<@Brian> roll 3d6 for dreadmarch defense initiative
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for dreadmarch defense initiative --> {11}The defensive wall behind the panicked oxen is only able to slow down the charge for a half-second, and then the battle is 34500 against about 2000, so they don't hang in much longer. The priestess is already trying to tend the wounded, so you don't know what your ultimate losses are going to be.
The battle was short, and decisive. There's a lot more supplies this time around, and there's no conveniently Jotun-cracked ice-sheet to dump them through, either. If you try and hide them, they might be found and recovered, and it's far more than your army would need for another two weeks, at least.
Dracos briefly consults Liandril alone if he can, "Thoughts on where to go from here, Liandril?"
Dracos
"Well, we don't want to turn the oxen loose, or slaughter them ... if found, they'd be eaten, which would fuel the Dreadmarch, even if only a little bit. If slaughtered, it wouldn't spoil in this cold, and could be recovered. We could take the oxen we captured last time, and have twice the oxen pulling the same load. That could help us move faster, but we'd still be slowed. I'd suggest sending everything we don't need, our wounded, and a number of capable defenders after Mattias, to augment our defensive position there. If they free Eske, then everything we've stolen can be taken into the keep, and we'd neatly rob the Dreadmarch of their supplies."
"Hmm...That is a good plan. It shall be done. Hmm, but we need someone to lead them, would you be willing to take on that task, or should I see if one of my other commanders are willing to handle it?"
Dracos
"I'd rather not leave you," Liandral says. "As far as commanders go, why not take an entire small section out of the chain of command you established? We could probably make half a regiment with our wounded, fill out the rest with able-bodied defenders, and send off about four-hundred troops with the supplies we've stolen, and our wounded. They should actually make better time with so many oxen, and such a small force. The risk, of course, is that any sizable force they encounter will probably stop them, and then all of the goods end up in enemy hands. So, how many will you commit to that task?"
"Hum. You are right, you're too valuable help to have wasted out on that. Two regiments. Eight hundred men should be more than enough to handle any scouting troop. If they get cornered by anything much larger, it won't help to have sent more. Have them rush east as long as possible, staying far north of the enemy and then dip south and west to swing around along the mountains. A bit longer but they should be fast enough to make it. Leave the bodies of the enemy here. If the enemy sees it, it'll help demoralize them at best and they'll know we're out here after missing two shipments with that many troops."
Dracos
Liandral nods, and goes about procuring an even division of the forces to escort the supplies. The men look a bit restless, and Erik sends scouts a bit further afield, since the army is stationary for the moment.
Dracos nods, heading to somewhere he could address the storm riders and trying to get their attention (Blowing his horn if need be), before beginning.
"Storm-riders, hear me, in the last two days....fifteen thousand dreadmarch have fallen to our blades. Victory twice has graced us! Even in these dark hours, Hamar guides our blades to glory! But this is not the end. This is only the beginning. We shall stand firm as we continue the fight against the darkness! We shall march bravely and crush them, piece by piece until not a single dreadmarch soldier can be found along the lands! Who among you will be the first to claim fifty heads of dreadmarch soldiers? Who among you will be there, sword, spear, axe, or bow in hand as we take another Jotun head? They will know we are here now. They will hear our shouts of courage. They will wonder where their troops went, their supplies. Hunger will strike them and they will know the fear of dealing with the storm-riders! They will come from the north and the south, but we will meet them, our courage unfaltering as our blades deal them death. Now, we march north. For as long as we can let us be the thorn of hunger in the side of the beast! Let us tear their hopes of support down!"
Dracos
You raise a deafening cheer from the assembled storm-riders that can hear you. The rest get the speech relayed to them, and still find it worth cheering about. A good number of the men haven't even gotten kills yet, after all.
Dracos, not one to let a good ruckus go unrewarded, leads the army north along the trenches, scouts ahead to try and find the next group along the enemy supply lines.
Dracos
You've reached the western fringe of the crescent-shaped mountain range at this point, and everyone thinks that hiding in the foothills for the next while would be fabulous. There's a height advantage to survey the land, it's got hills you can hide contingents behind to rush oncoming forces ... and the wind blows up into the cloudy mountain tops, so you could actually have cookfires without worrying too much about the smoke.
Dracos agrees, setting aside though some men to go through the area and assess the possibility of arranging defensive traps, just in case. Until he hears more from the scouts he busies himself with overseeing the settling in of storm-riders, letting them enjoy the first warm grub in probably a while for lunch/dinner.
Dracos
Yeah, warm food is nice. Defensive emplacements are pretty easy. Some of the extra dead-weight wagons you've been hauling are broken into huge, nasty splinters of wood, which then make nice little icy pit-traps in every direction except a pass which gives you a height advantage, should you need to defend yourselves. It's not perfect by any stretch, but it's a damn sight better than lying in the middle of a featureless plain that stretches as far as the eye can see.
You're not emplaced for too very long when Nathan returns, bringing a few non storm-rider guardsmen with him, and additional healers (which is going to be handy; one priestess alone has her hands full trying to look after some 30,000 men). He's led past the defensive structures by Erik, and brought to you.
"Greetings Friend Nathan, I see you've made well to do." Dracos greets Rez hardily.
Dracos
Probably misuses a word.
Rez raises a skeptical eyebrow, but nods.
"Didn't quite manage what we were planning, but yu take what you can get. Did the rest of my men make it back?"
"Aye. And I'm glad to see you did as well. Eaten and rested yet or not?"
Dracos
"No, not as yet. Soon. I'm actually not that tired right now."
Rez sighs.
"So, yes. We headed south for several hours, but we ended up being spotted by advance scouts of the dreadmarch and they sent a two hundred and fifty strong force at us. We probably could have evaded, but given that we weren't going to be able to do any damage I changed the plan and decided to see if I could convince them that the Stormriders were up to something to the SOUTH . . . apart from the fact that if we retreated they'd be able to follow us back here without much trouble. So we set up an ambush - thankfully they were lead by an idiot - and we managed to wipe them out completely."
Rez grimaces.
"And I got half of my men killed in the process, but I honestly didn't see a better option. We took some supplies off their bodies to try and make any scouts think that we must have been operating from close by - then I sent my wounded north, and went east to lay a false trail indicating that our group had headed that way. Ideally I wanted to lead the dreadmarch towards the fort, and think that a decent-sized group of storm-riders had been using that for their base of operations. We ended up finding the actual inhabitants of the fort, and dragged them back here. We did what we could to avoid pursuit, and I think we managed the distraction role fairly well, but we shall see."
"In any case, I left two men with orders to conceal themselves on the edge of the Dreadmarch Trench for two days, and if they saw a sizeable force moving north, to get here as fast as they possibly could. I have no idea where they are or how they'll do, but I didn't have enough men to set up a line - and I figured that if they move north, since these people seem so unimaginative, they'll track along an area that's already packed hard as opposed to wading through thick snow. Much faster that way."
Dracos nods solemnly. "I see. Either way, take some time to rest Nathan. No wearing yourself out so early in this mess."
Dracos turns to Erik. "Any news from our scouts otherwise?"
Dracos
"Another caravan from the north," he reports. "Less reinforcements, but ... they've got another ten thousand soldiers, and at least six Jotun with them. I think they didn't plan for the possibility of any storm-riders attacking their supply-trains." He frowns. "Which seems strange, given that ... Markham's brother was apparently working with them. They'd have to know we'd be out here, if he saw to it the Dreadmarch cut us off from the keep."
Rez muses, "They probably thought that the traitor would either succeed, where the storm-riders would head north and not cross near to their supply line . . . or if he failed, the stormriders would get to the keep. They probably didn't expect him to fail after successfully delaying us . . . Either way they'll realise their mistake very soon, but the longer it takes them the better. I hope Mattias hurries up and frees Eske."
"Oh, the answer to that is quite obvious. They knew where we were. They knew where they planned on us heading. I highly suspect had we made a direct route to the keep, we would've found ourselves in a planned out ambush with at least twice our numbers, more than enough to ensure that we'd be slaughtered to a man. Why plan for us attacking their forces when they were expecting us to be demoralized and fleeing like dogs to a trap? It'd be a waste of manpower that would be better used making sure the trap was unescapable. What's more curious is how many soldiers they have. The numbers are insane, ten thousand men per supply caravan? Eh, no use complaining. We need to starve them out, so, any good areas for ambush along the route they are taking?"
Dracos
"They seem to have enough to spare a few thousands, and you know what they say: ten thousand here, ten thousand there, and pretty soon you're talking about real numbers," Rez grins.
"Just the terain, here. It's a good fifty meters of coverless snow between the last foothill and the supply route. We've gotten men to work at piling up the snow, so we can hide footmen for a charge behind a levy. More of our men can conceal themselves in the snow around the area, but not too densely. I suspect you'll want to harry them with concealed archers, and while they try and rally to counter the archers, drive into them with the main body of our assault force?
"There's no doubt in my mind we'll win ... it's just a question of the Jotun. I'm worried that the six of them might shatter the ice, and trap us all in the deeping prison."
"It's rare, on the snows, to encounter Jotun in such a number that it's a danger. But this trench is dangerous," Liandrall adds.
"how many archers do they have?"
Dracos
"Not possibly more than two thousand," Erik says, shaking his head. "Even then, most of their number are not troops, save what would be needed to fend off wild animals. Except for the Jotun, who I imagine are just being brought in late, they're essentially unarmed."
"hmm... Heres a thought. Forget their men and their archers. Let's get every able armed archer we can concealed nearby. Instead of aiming at the army, let's aim at the Jotuns. They may be huge, but several hundred arrows into their hides should be able to take them down, no? If we can take them all down together while we're safely at a distance, they should shatter the ice, taking the entire force with them into a watery grave. We wouldn't be able to salvage the supplies, but we have enough already, and if we can do a ton of damage with little risk to our men, that's the best action to take. Do you think we could pull that off?"
Dracos
"Interesting," Rez pretends he knows exactly what a jotun is (norse mythology - giants or some such?), "What about dreadmarchers who turn to flee? Are we going to try and have people in position to cut them off, or just let them go?"
"An archer can cause pain to a Jotun," Erik says slowly, "but I've never heard of one falling to arrows. Their hide is thick." Shaking his head, he says, "It may be possible, however, and we lose nothing to try. The worst that could happen would be that we lure them out of the trench, to where they are less dangerous." He realizes what he just said, and rolls his eyes. "For Jotun, at any rate."
Liandral looks thoughtful. "I'm very good with a bow," he says matter-of-factly to Erik. "I could put an arrow in a Jotun's eye -- would that kill it?"
"Even if it didn't, it'd blind it," Erik says thoughtfully. "No real loss there."
The leaders of the other clans, realizing that a discussion is under way concerning tactics, make their own approach. "There should be more than enough of us to run down any who flee," Sir Edward Durin says.
Rez stretches and tightens his fingers, looking at his right hand.
"You know, I could probably stand to get a little practice in with the bow as well, if we're letting them come to us. I might be a tad rusty, but I reckon I can still shoot tolerably well."
"Hum... True. Then let's aim for an ambush, the archers blinding and stunning the jotuns, hopefully causing a few to fall over and the rest of us waiting in ambush to pick off the army as they come to us. Hum, anything we can maybe slip onto the arrows to make them more painful to the Jotuns?"
Dracos
"How tall are the jotuns? Can they see out of the trench? Concealment could be a problem, in that case . . . and you could maybe use some of our supply of torches to improvise some fire arrows, but our archers wouldn't be trained to compensate for the unbalanced arrow, so . . ."
"Sir Shuker?" Erik asks Nathan questioningly. "We hunted a band of three Jotun down some years ago, the caves near the black citadel...."
"They don't like fire," Liandral agrees. "But we don't have what it takes to make a proper fire arrow -- for that you need cloth. Real cloth -- hide and fur won't pick up something flamable well enough. Then, of course, you need something that burns, like pitch. The brands we carry are brittle, and the wrappings can't be re-wound around arrowheads."
"Then we will make due with what we have. Let's set out now to surround the trench. The more time we spend preparing the ambush, the better we should be able to handle their offensive. As planned, I want the archers to go after the Jotun, the rest of us will wait in guard on either side of the trench and smash into their forces as they try and clear the sides. I will stay fight with the main force on the left side of the trench. Nathan, Lord Roger, and Lord Durin, will take the right side. Half the archers to either side to force them to split up. Any other questions before we start moving?"
Dracos
There's a general agreement that everyone understands, as they all hurry into position.
Once everyone has cleared out, leaving Dracos and Rez alone again, Rez checks that nobody's in earshot before quietly poses the obvious question.
"So, giants? Anything crucial I need to know about them, or just 'don't let them hit you'?"
"They are big, cold, and wield giant clubs. Also don't let them fall on you. Also, next time stick with the I Know What I'm talking about routine, anyhow, let's get moving."
If Rez doesn't have more questions, Dracos heads out to help prepare and lead the ambush.
Dracos
"I've also got no idea how deep the trench is over at the ambush point, but whatever. Now if you'd like to tell me which ones Roger and Durin are, I'll be on my way . . ."
A faintly ticked expression on his face, Rez walks off after the aforementioned two once Drac points him in the correct direction.
You line up in position. <Drac-sick> roll 3d6 for stealth for relm
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Drac-sick ... : 3d6 {6}Nathan runs out with the other archers, and half-buries himself in the snow, covering up with the cloak and all but vanishing.
The other archers cloak as well, leaving the majority of the troops hidden behind the snow wall that had been carved earlier.
This time, you can measure the approach of the enemy by the rumbling of the Jotun's footsteps reverberating through the snow and ice-cap beneath you.
Then, the appointed time comes:
<Relm> roll 3#3d6 for Shooty Shooty POWA
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Relm ... : 3#3d6 {17}, {5}, {8}.
<Drac-sick> Roll 3#3d6 for CRUSH THEM
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Drac-sick ... : 3#3d6 {16}, {10}, {7}.
The archers pop up from the snow and let loose a flight of arrows, just as the footmen break from their positions, and move to flank. The first flight of arrows, however, largely goes awry, and disrupts the wrong army. In short order, however, they recover, just as the Dreadmarch supply train is starting to react defensively. Three Jotun to a side, and thousands of foot troops -- of course, with the successive flights of arrows, the Jotun are left looking like pincusions, though, largely unconcerned about the arrows sticking in them.
<@Drac-sick> roll 8d6 to cause panic!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Drac-sick ... : {30}
Phil, your telepathy causes the oxen to try and stampede, and this slows down their defense, allowing the archers to switch away from the Jotun (which seem not to care about being shot) and focus on the army charging up the slopes of the trench. <@Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> {7}
<@Brian> roll 1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> {8}The Jotun immediately charging towards Phil's position is tagged in the right eye by Liandral, and this actually downs it -- the other archers haven't yet had any luck hitting such a small target. The giant goes down, crushing some of its own forces beneath it.<Relm> roll 3#3d6 for Eat This, Bitches!
<Chibi-Suu> {12}, {6}, {4}
<Relm> roll 1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> {5}
<Relm> roll 1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> {6}
Nathan actually manages to down another Jotun, placing an arrow in each eye before it, too, goes down. None of the other archers were able to take a Jotun down, and now the remaining four clear the trench walls. The archers fall back, taking shots when they can, and trying to stay out of reach; the axemen and pikemen prepare to close.
In the meantime, the collapsing giants have actually caused the ice beneath them to shatter, and a fault-line is breaking through the surface of the trench. In a few seconds, the entire trench is going to open up and swallow everything in it; oxen, supplies, dreadmarch archers, and footmen. Realizing this, they mount a frantic charge towards the banks of the trench.
Dracos, having gotten the oxen moving, turns his attention to the coming horde, waiting patiently for them to near the top of the trench before leading his forces into them, hoping to spinter and crush them.
Dracos
No patience is required for this wait.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Here is the situation. The trench between you is a slowly widening and deepening river of death. You're on opposite banks of it, however.
<Brian> Nathan, you're on the western bank with a few thousand axemen, pikemen, archers, and Erik.
<Rez> And Alec?
<Brian> Dracos, you're on the eastern bank with everyone else.
<Brian> Rez: Yes, actually. He's standing pretty close to you.
<Rez> Rocking.
Dracos completes his last posted action then =)
<Brian> As stated, this is not a wait that requires patience. Each of the pikemen braces in an array two men deep (so the spear-wall is pretty thick), and has swordsmen and axemen to back him up once an enemy comes too close for him to fight off.
<Brian> Your troops have superior numbers, equipment, and a terrain advantage. Against the orcs.
<Brian> The Jotun, however, are going to be something of an issue.
<Brian> Either just fumbling towards you (Dracos) blindly, or picking you out of the crowd, two tree-club wielding Jotun rush, bellowing loudly.
<Brian> Their action, first.
<Brian> roll 2#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> The one on the left swings a club at some of the spearmen in the way, and misses. The one on the right pulps a trio of storm-riders without effort. Both are continuing to tromp towards you.
<Brian> Rez: Maybe you're less interesting, or something, but only one of the Jotun is going after you; the other is going towards Erik.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> He bats a pair of axemen to one side, knocking them into the icy ravine of death.
<Mutsumi> [Faceless] Damn those Casanova other-selves!
<Brian> Phase 4, speed 3s.
<Brian> Rez, this is you.
Rez draws his sword and moves towards the jotun.
<Brian> Okay, the thing's some distance away. It could probably reach you in one turn, but it'll take you two turns (at a full-move) to reach it.
<Rez> Oh.
<Rez> In that case . . . I'll brace and take a potshot with my bow. Called shot to the eye.
<Rez> Both +1s to OCV.
<Brian> Okay. Go ahead and make your roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Shootyness
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Shootyness --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You miss, barely.
<Brian> Now, phase 6, speed 2s.
<Brian> Dracos?
Dracos charges at the Jotun, aiming to run between the two and staying low, bringing his sword to strike along the one to the left's leg.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your roll.
<Dracos> first, combat point is to DC
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3 for Trippsies!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 for Trippsies! --> [ 2d6=6 1d3=1 ]{7}
<Brian> You whack at the leg, and cut through the beast's furs. You don't think you did a whole lot else, though/.
<Brian> The people around you rush to help.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=17 ]{17}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Some of them are even effective!
<Brian> roll 4#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> They're attacking it from the sides, and have certainly gotten its attention. The other Jotun is being slowed down by Sir Durin, behind you, which helps.
<Brian> Phase 7, speed ones.
<Brian> Dracos, the Jotun before you yells, and raises his club to try and pound you flat.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
Dracos tries to dive for cover out of the way.
<Brian> In the future, you cannot abort to dive AFTER the attack roll has been made by your enemt.
<Brian> However, how far away are you trying to jump? Go ahead and make your roll -- your goal is 13-(meters).
<Dracos> Roll 3d6 get out of the way!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 get out of the way! --> [ 3d6=3 ]{3}
<Dracos> Out of the way of the club?
<Brian> Well away. You hop to one side, and the club slams into the snow where you were, sending out a cloud that whirls around your feet.
<Brian> Phase 12, Dracos, you aborted your last action, so now recover.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=14 ]{14}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 6#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}, [ 2d6=4 ]{4}, [ 2d6=8 ]{8}, [ 2d6=5 ]{5}, [ 2d6=11 ]{11}, [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> The other warriors have managed to stun the Jotun in front of you.
Dracos recovers, adjusting his stance and bringing his blade back around in preparation.
<Brian> Everyone gets an automatic recovery now.
<Brian> ... and we'll get back to Rez in a bit. Okay, phase 6, speed 2s.
Dracos moves around the Jotun, swinging again at it's leg hard (Haymaker?) in an attempt to unbalance it.
<Brian> Okay, that'll be your action, then. You will be delayed in taking your action a full phase, however, which means your attack takes place in your dex on phase 7.
<Brian> The Jotun, being a speed 1, acts on phase 7.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=6 ]{6}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=14 ]{14}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#2d6 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{10}, [ 2d6=6 ]{6}, [ 2d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> The Jotun takes a pike to the lower back, but shrugs it off, yelling his rage at you.
<Brian> What's your dex?
<Dracos> 13.
<Brian> The Jotun acts first.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> It misses you by a hair. You nearly lose your footing from the disruption to the landscape ... but you weren't hit!
<Brian> Now you can roll your haymaker.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for haymaker slash of doom!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for haymaker slash of doom! --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> This is a hit. Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 4d6 for STING!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 4d6 for STING! --> [ 4d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> Please roll your stun multiplier.
<Brian> Your blade hums slightly as it cleaves through fur, through flesh, slows down a lot as it severs a bone thicker than your thigh, and finally needs to be wrenched free of the Jotun's leg about sixteen CM short of removing his leg completely, just below one knee.
<Dracos> roll 1d5+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d5+1 --> [ 1d5=4 ]{5}
<Brian> The Jotun takes 10 body, and 85 stun. He goes down, blue blood spraying everywhere.
<Brian> Everyone in the vicinity has to make two dex checks (this includes yourself, Dracos).
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for please
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for please --> [ 3d6=4 ]{4}
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for please
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for please --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> You manage to avoid both being crushed, AND being sprayed with blood.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 6#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> One of the spearmen doesn't get out of the way in time, and a spray of blue blood spatters across his armor, which then shatters, leaving him looking stunned, and severely frostbitten.
<Brian> We now return to the battle, already in progress.
<Brian> Nathan, you've lost sight of the far side of the trench, and you're not sure what Phil is up to, but hey, you've been hauled out of your comfortable life of coding that funky 3D Star Trek chess game, and are now standing ankle-deep in snow, wearing fur, and squaring off against a charging, foul-tempered, and fouler-smelling ice-giant.
<Brian> That was so not what you were picked as 'most likely' for in your yearbook.
<Brian> Segment 6, speed 2s.
<Brian> Alec and four other skirmishers try and get the giant.
<Brian> roll 4#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=7 ]{7}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> Alec misses. The pikemen seem to know what they're doing, however.
<Brian> roll 4#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#2d6 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}, [ 2d6=3 ]{3}, [ 2d6=6 ]{6}, [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Not that it slows the Jotun down.
<Brian> It charges towards you -- if it wasn't before, that shot towards its face certainly got it angry.
<Brian> It raises its club to try and smash you into the snow.
Rez aborts to: dive for cover.
<Brian> How many meters? 1, 2, or 3? That amount will be applied to your check as a penalty.
<Rez> 2.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your roll, then.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for DUUUCCKKK!!!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for DUUUCCKKK!!! --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You roll across the snow, as unknown tons of tree slam into the snow, sending a thick white mist of dislodged flakes around the area. If you hadn't jumped, you would have been flattened.
<Brian> Phase 8, you recover from your aborted action.
<Brian> Phase 12, everyone (except the Jotun) acts.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for get UP!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for get UP! --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You hop to your feet effortlessly, mobile and ready to move.
Rez drops his bow and draws his sword, dashing forward to try and get behind the jotun.
<Brian> Okay, that's your action.
<Brian> roll 4#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> The pikemen continue to stab at the Jotun, which is moderately disturbing; it really doesn't seem to care.
<Brian> roll 4#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}, [ 2d6=10 ]{10}, [ 2d6=7 ]{7}, [ 2d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Alec is attempting to hamstring the giant.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> An attempt that, while unsuccessful, DOES seem to piss the giant off.
<Brian> Everyone takes a recovery. Segment 4, speed 3s.
Rez steps behind the nearest leg and lashes out with a wild swing, also attempting to hamstring the giant. (Haymaker, +1 to DCV and +1 reserved in case I need Dive For Cover)
<Brian> Your action is delayed, so we'll let all the speed sixes act first.
<Brian> ....
<Brian> Okay, go ahead and make your roll.
<Rez> :)
<Rez> roll 3d6 for SMACK
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for SMACK --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You hit.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll for damage.
<Rez> roll 3d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6+1 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{7}
<Rez> roll 1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=2 ]{2}
<Brian> Your sword kind of ... nicks the giant's ankle. It seems annoyed.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s.
<Brian> The pikemen keep trying.
<Brian> roll 4#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=16 ]{16}
<Brian> roll 4#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#2d6 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{5}, [ 2d6=11 ]{11}, [ 2d6=5 ]{5}, [ 2d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Only one of them seems to do any real damage.
<Brian> Alec takes another swing at it.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> This whack seems to do some real damage, but not actually sever the tendon.
<Brian> Now it's segment 7, and the giant acts.
<Brian> He takes a step away, and turns to face you and Alec. He's probably going to swat you both with the same swing.
Rez falls into a crouch and sweeps his blade upwards at the jotun's club, trying to deflect it up enough to fly over his head.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Rez> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Well, you hit the weapon's hex. Which, given it's size, is all you needed to do.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll for your weapon's special effect.
<Rez> roll 4d6 for I Hope This Works
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 4d6 for I Hope This Works --> [ 4d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> There's a spark of some kind of light, for that moment, when your weapons meet. Then, the moment passes, and your body is slammed to the side.
<Brian> roll 4#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> roll 12#d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 12#d6 --> error: malformed expression
<Brian> roll 12#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 12#1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> You realize that Alec shoved you down just about the same time you see him fly across the battlefield over your head.
<Brian> Phase 8, speed 3s.
Rez darts between the jotun's legs, swearing, and attempts a haymaker again on the leg Alec was working on earlier.
<Brian> Actually, you spend this phase climbing to your feet.
<Rez> Can I use acrobatics to do so fast? :)
<Brian> You can try.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for get UP
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for get UP --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> That does it, then. The Jotun is still following through on its swing.
<Brian> You act on phase nine. Make your attack roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for GET HIM
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for GET HIM --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> That's a hit on the Jotun.
<Rez> roll 3d6+3 for Damage
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6+3 for Damage --> [ 3d6=9 ]{12}
<Rez> . . .
<Rez> roll 1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{1}
<Brian> You finish the work that you and Alec started, and finally sever the tendon on this thing.
<Brian> It roars, and wobbles unsteadily. The pikemen move back, expecting the fall to come shortly.
<Brian> Segment 12, everyone acts.
<Brian> Your forces are giving the giant room to go down, and it looks like it's going to fall away from you.
<Rez> Does it look like it can turn around?
<Brian> Not realistically.
<Brian> Dracos: Across the trench, you can see that Nathan has apparently critically wounded a Jotun. It's about to collapse.
Dracos notices, but focuses on the fact that as far as he is aware, there's an active melee still around. If he can't join the others attacking the remaining Jotun, he looks for the closest enemy and slashes hard, heading in that general direction.
<Brian> There's room at the Jotun; Durin is having trouble with it.
Dracos takes the opening, haymakering towards the Jotun's leg.
<Brian> Okay, the Jotun will act before you again.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 12#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 12#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
<Brian> Durin goes down.
<Brian> Dracos: Make your attack roll.
<Dracos> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> You hit.
<Brian> Roll your damage.
<Dracos> Roll 4d6 for 2 of 2
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 4d6 for 2 of 2 --> [ 4d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your stun multiplier.
<Dracos> Roll 1d5+2
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d5+2 --> [ 1d5=2 ]{4}
<Brian> The giant notices you, at any rate.
<Brian> Segment 12, everyone acts.
<Brian> Dracos?
Dracos swings around coming around from the other direction with a quick blow.
<Dracos> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll for damage.
<Dracos> roll 4d6 for coming down
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 4d6 for coming down --> [ 4d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You whack at the giant with your sword; this one seems more resilient.
<Brian> roll 6#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=7 ]{7}, [ 3d6=6 ]{6}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 6#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#2d6 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}, [ 2d6=8 ]{8}, [ 2d6=6 ]{6}, [ 2d6=11 ]{11}, [ 2d6=6 ]{6}, [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> Only one of the pikemen seems to do any noticable damage.
<Brian> Everyone taks a recovery.
<Brian> Segment 6, speed 2s act.
Dracos strikes again, continuing to try and sever the same leg.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for pushing strength?
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for pushing strength? --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You add 5 to your STR.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 to hit?
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 to hit? --> [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> Since you made your target OCV by more than 10, we'll just say you did maximum damage.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll for your stun.
<Dracos> roll 1d5+2 for MAX STUN!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d5+2 for MAX STUN! --> [ 1d5=1 ]{3}
<Brian> You amputate the giant's leg with the skill and precision of a surgeon. It blinks, and tries to take a step towards you before it realizes that it's missing a leg, and begins to fall.
Dracos dives for 'not getting crushed!'
<Brian> Go ahead and make your roll.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> You make it to the side as the giant goes down, plowing deeply into the snow, and bleeding out very quickly. The storm-riders give the bleeding stump a wide berth, and a pair of axe-men immediately go to town on it's spinal column.
<Brian> Rez: Erik's south of you, fighting a Jotun, and not apparently doing too well. Alec is presumably north, though you can't see through the storm-riders running south to assist Erik.
<Rez> Rez gets the attention of a couple of pikemen, and asks them to go north and find the axeman who got hit by the jotun's club - and get him to a priestess if he's still alive.
<Brian> They do this.
Rez hauls ass south towards where Erik is having trouble.
<Brian> Okay, you get there a turn later.
<Rez> Sword still glowing?
<Brian> Erik is trying to avoid the club of this beast, and give everyone else room (and time) to stab at the Jotun.
<Brian> Yes.
<Brian> It's segment 4, speed 3s act.
Rez darts forward and attempts to haymaker the jotun's hamstring. If The Simple Tactic Works . . .
<Brian> Alrighty, go ahead and make your attack roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> That's a hit, roll your damage.
<Rez> roll 3d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6+1d3 --> [ 3d6=8 1d3=3 ]{11}
<Brian> You nearly sever a tendon.
<Brian> Roll your stun multiplier.
<Rez> roll 1d5+2
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 1d5+2 --> [ 1d5=2 ]{4}
<Brian> It howls in pain, and whirls towards you.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s act.
<Brian> roll 4#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> The spearmen scratch the Jotun up, and Erik plants an arrow in its shoulder, but it seems focused on the guy with the faintly glowing golden sword.
<Brian> Segment 7, speed 1s.
<Brian> Rez, the Jotun is going to try and attack you with an overheaded club smash.
Rez dives for cover.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for AAAAHHHH!!!!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for AAAAHHHH!!!! --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You make it.
<Brian> The giant turns slightly; he was feinting. Now he's aiming a haymaker at you (which will land in segment 9).
Rez aborts his next action: first, I try and use acrobatics to get to my feet.
<Brian> Make a roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for up!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for up! --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You pop up to your feet, nearly overbalancing and slipping forward onto your face again.
Rez promptly dives for cover again.
<Brian> Make a roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> You sure do a lot of this ... but you go into the snow at about the same time the spot where you were standing explodes in a shower of icy shards.
<Brian> Segment 12, everyone goes (and Rez recovers his lost action).
<Brian> roll 4#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=7 ]{7}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> roll 4#2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#2d6 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}, [ 2d6=2 ]{2}, [ 2d6=7 ]{7}, [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> Er.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> Erik and the others just don't seem to be doing a darn thing to this giant....
<Brian> Segment 4, speed 3s go.
Rez does the fast-get-up thing.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Acrobatical
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Acrobatical --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Man, this is starting to tire you out -- especially in that armor.
Rez runs around the side of the jotun and lashes out at the wounded tendon with another haymaker.
<Brian> Go ahead and make a roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for SMACKDOWN
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for SMACKDOWN --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Rez> roll 3d6+1d3 for Eat this!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6+1d3 for Eat this! --> [ 3d6=14 1d3=2 ]{16}
<Brian> You sever the tendon, and the bone, and the ankle, and the giant goes down!
<Rez> Towards me?
<Brian> Yep.
Rez would sigh, but is too busy diving for cover.
<Brian> Make your roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Clear the bridge! DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Clear the bridge! DIVE! DIVE! DIVE! --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You make it!
<Brian> You think maybe you'll just stay lying down, and see if that solves things for a while.
Now, in the aftermath....
About 120 men were wounded by the Jotun. Of those, only about half were saved by healers; the rest just didn't make it, or vanished into the icy water. Men (and orcs) who fell in didn't float, but sank like stones, vanishing from the light instantly, and silently.
Alec was one of the few who not only lived, but was able to walk and move normally after being healed; most of those who got struck by a Jotun, and then healed were worse off, and ride in supply wagons.
Some very few supply wagons (about twenty on the west bank, and about a dozen on the east bank) were salvaged. This is important because of the damage to the trench.
The trench is no longer a flattened channel ... but with the ice broken, it's a half a kilometer wide river cutting through the wastes. It doesn't flow. It doesn't move. And it doesn't re-freeze, except where the Jotun blood flows into it.
Nathan and his compliment of soldiers (about 17,000, evenly divided) are cut off from the rest of the storm-riders.
Rez says yet another foul word. He's been using his quota of late.
Looking around the camp quickly, he finds out what in the way of officers (like Erik) he has around here.
Nathan now moves to Winterstorm (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=931).
Dracos quickly commands a hundred soldiers to head north and a hundred soldiers to head south, both groups to try and find a way around for the separated part of the army.
"This...I should have foreseen." Dracos gestures to the rest of the army to return to base, leading the way.
Dracos
Your scouts quickly run out to assess the damage. They return to the base camp a few hours later, reporting that the trench appears to run as far as they can see in either direction, however, and if Nathan's group is already headed north, they'll cross over as soon as they find a place where they can do so.
Dracos ponders what to do next, checking on his commanding staff and walking among the troops to get an eye of the current condition of the army, their morale, etc.
Dracos
The moon rises while you're on your way back to your tent, Liandral following you silently.
The men see this and start raising a rousing cheer around you.
When you get into the tent, your advisors seem pleased, too, and Liandrall quietly excuses himself; likely to do some investigative work of his own.
Sir Edward Durin is in a chair (you have no idea where it came from; they may have chopped up a spare wagon to make it for him), and looks very weak, unable to sit up easily. A younger storm-rider is standing at his side to assist, and the rest are sitting on the blankets in a rough circle in the middle of the tent -- save for Lord Roger Lowry. Everyone wears their hair long, except for a man with red hair, and a short, neatly trimmed beard, and all of them (except for the young storm-rider assisting Edward Durin) have beards.
Some of these faces are new, as well. Roger assaults you with a bear-hug, and shouts, "And a good battle it were! I do so enjoy t' fellin' o' the Dreadmarch ... and envy ye the Jotun ye've slain!
"Now, with the separation of our forces, and Sir Shuker t' manage t' other half, let me introduce ye t' the seconds in command," he says, putting one arm around your shoulder companionably, and pointing to each of your new sub-commanders in turn.
A young looking man with dark hair, a scar across one cheek, and a hooked nose is pointed at. "Sir Garret Herrid," Roger says. "Eagle clan, and a cousin o' Erik's."
"I live to serve," Garret says, bounding to his feet energetically, and bowing very low.
"Good boy," Roger rumbles to him, as Garret sits back down. "Ye do your father proud. Now," he says, pointing at another younger man, this one with blonde hair, who looks like he may have a familial resemblance to Markham. "This would be Sir Norman Karls, of the Carbious clan." Norman's lips compress into a flat line, and he bows (without rising) wordlessly. "Eh," Roger grunts, pointing to the next in line. This is the young man with relatively short red hair.
"This is Sir Dwaine Garde," Durin says from his seat, nodding. "A cousin, and a kinsman." Dwaine's face is expressionless, but he rises, and bows before reseating himself. If you remember correctly, Durin is of the Rabbit clan.
Roger then points to the next in the line, this one with dark brown hair, and a very solemn expression. "This is Sir Willis Path, a cousin of Sir Volter." The young man rises, trying to hide a smile, and bows to you deeply before reseating himself.
"Ye should already remember Sir Edward Durin," he says, pointing to the injured man. Durin manages the best bow he can from his seat.
"This is my younger brother, Harold," Durin adds, indicating his assistance, who bows to you nervously.
"And of course, Sir Warrick Aubron," Roger continues, pointing at a very severe and reserved looking man. His hair was probably once black, but is now shot through with gray, his beard solidly that color. Warrick bows to you, as well. "And now that this particular mouthful o' painful titlage is out o' the way," Roger says, removing his arm from your shoulder and jokingly tugging at his Oxen-marked torc, "let's forget titles and speak on the level, aye?"
"Aye." Dracos nodded, pleased, a broad smile at the proceedings.
Startingly, he turned to Durin, "How are you doing, Edward? That was a mighty blow you took from that Jotun, make sure to rest and recover, no acts of bravery until you are back to fighting shape. Last thing we need is a great warrior such as yourself getting himself crippled because he pushed himself too much."
Dracos waits for his answer and then turns to the whole group. "Now, as we've all seen, the first night is ours, and the force of our blows does shatter even the ground before it. I'm proud of the lot of ye for the strength that has been shown so far. We can't though rest on our laurels, let us continue on. First off, we must figure out a way to reconnect with the rest of the army. While I don't truly fear for either group's safety, we need our strength focused for dealing with the darkness, and not splintered. Second, while we could continue raiding, it's obvious their path has been destroyed and they will know we are here. So we must be ready and vigiliant if they turn their full might against us."
Dracos
Done longer without the actual responses between posts since you're asleep.
Durin chuckles in embarassment at that, and ducks his head, but doesn't say anything in response.
"Right," Roger grunts, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "This place is mighty well defended. So, what should we do?"
"I'm of the opinion that we've a very fortified and defensible position here," Dwaine offers. "Garret, how far does the trench run?"
Garret blinks, as though just remembering he was in a meeting. After a long, awkward pause, he says, "Oh. Oh. The scouts are still exploring it north and south. Sir Shuker's already headed north, so if there is a crossing, I expect he'll take it."
Norman and Willis say nothing, merely eyeing eachother cooly, as though uncertain how the other managed to get invited to this meeting.
Warrick frowns at Garret, who doesn't seem to notice, and says, "They'll most likely know we're here, now. And they'll want their supplies, too. I expect that if that crack in the ice ran far enough, they'll know it from the site of the siege, and already be assembling a force to head north.
"Though, I have to wonder which side of the trench they'll favor, in that case, or if two forces will be sent. Either way, I think we can expect reinforcements to come after us soon."
"We've a good opportunity here," Dwaine says. "We can lure them into the trap, here. Our brothers are headed north, so if they pursue on that side, they can do nothing to them. Once our brothers find a point to cross, they'll head back to us, so we'll have warning before they can come at us from that direction, and reinforcements beside."
Roger grunts at this, and looks at Warrick.
Warrick rubs his chin, and shakes his head, turning to you. "I don't like abandoning this position, which is the most advantageous thing we'll find in the waste ... but there's just as good an opportunity that we won't be able to accomplish anything from here if we remain. I'm not certain."
"Haste makes waste. We're stable here and until we get more information, rushing off would not be prudent. I would like to join our allies in the keep, but to do that we have to hear back from Maithias and Farwell. Additionally, we should give Nathan time to bring the rest of the troops around. I think our time right now is best spent fortifying this place more, preparing traps, letting the wounded recover, and keeping an eye out on the area. Hmm..."
Dracos
"That's a plan, then," Roger says. "Let them all come to us, and then let them all die. Hah!"
Dracos grins, "Aye, and feast we shall. For we have victories to celebrate."
Dracos
"Aye," Roger agrees. "I'll see t' the additional defenses, first." He rises, and bows, and then the rest of the commanders excuse themselves, Durin hobbling out last, aided by his brother.
Dracos, left alone, ponders how tired he is. If he's not too tired, he heads around camp again, looking out for Liandril.
Dracos
You're a bit tired, andn it'd probably be a good idea to get some rest while you can, but you could stay up a while, yet.
Liandral shows up after you spend a few minutes looking for him. "Hey," he says, when he sees you. "Just checking out how the army in general is taking the division."
Dracos nodded. "I thank you for doing that. How are they doing outside the eye of their 'king'?"
Dracos
"Fairly well, for the most part," he says, shrugging. Dropping his voice, he says, "Most of the dissenters are just saying you're the best choice of a bad situation, and if that's the worst thing that can be said about you, so much the better. One of your new commanders isn't so keen on you; Sir Norman feels that someone else -- probably Sir Roger -- would do better. He's not going to oppose you openly, but if you make a mistake, he'll jump on it.
"Sir Willis is on your side, but honestly, maybe a bit too much so. He's a clansman, though, so you'd have to manage him with a gentle hand. He thinks that the entire Caribou clan is without any redeeming qualities. He won't attack them, but I doubt he'd be too willing to help protect them if their forces were together."
Dracos brushed his beard, his face serious. "Then I'll have to remember not to pair them up. Hmm, bleh. I dislike subtleties. Oh well. Thank you Liandril."
Dracos
"Think nothing of it," he says, waving a hand dismissively.
Dracos, seeing that it is late and has been a long day of brutal jotun slaying, heads to sleep.
Dracos
You're woken some time later by Durin's younger brother, calling for you from outside the tent. "Lord Bloom! Lord Bloom!"
"Aye?" Dracos shakes his head and gets up, thanking his morning person heritage. "What is it?"
Dracos
"Dreadmarch sighted south of us, my Liege," he says somewhat nervously.
"How many? How well armed? Send some men to get the troops up and at 'em."
Dracos
"We're not sure at the number," he says apologetically. "Sir Garret says probably almost twenty thousand, but at least no Jotun."
"Twenty thousand. That'll be a tough fight. Where's Sir Garret? Hurry, go get the rest of the commanders, we meet now. And send out the archers, I want them hidden and treating the force like a pincushion for as long as possible."
Dracos
"Yes, M'lord!" he squeaks, running off to collect the commanders. Lord Roger shows up almost instantly, with Willis on his heels. The rest of the commanders assemble shortly, Garret the last.
"I've got a report for you," he says, trailing off when he sees everyone already there. "Oh," he concludes, rather lamely.
"Out with it, Sir Garret. What's the status of the army approaching our position."
Dracos
"Oh, well, there's about twenty thousand of them, and they're coming up along the trench from the south," he says without preamble. "No visible supply wagons, and no Jotun."
"Eh," Roger grunts. "That's where the traps are set, anyway."
"That's good. How prepared did they look? How many archers? How were they arrayed? Any visible commanders?"
Dracos
"None of them stood out. They look to have a good number of archers -- I'd guess a full five thousand of them. The rest have polarms of various kinds -- spears, pikes, halbers. The ogres are carrying axes, it looks like," Garret adds.
"Then it's best to wear them out, split them up, hit them against our traps, and then prepare to crush what gets through. How are they making it through our traps down there so far? Or have they not reached them yet?"
Dracos
"They've yet to enter the foothills; I give them twenty minutes," Garret says. "Our archers are already lining the hilltops to get them once they charge the barricades."
"I'd best oversee my men," Lord Roger says, frowning. "Any last minute orders?"
"Keep an eye out for any giving commands or rallying them. This isn't a supply caravan, so they have to someone leading this pack of beasts. Destroy that and it should leave them less able to react to any movements on our end. That's all. Let's go."
Dracos
Roger nods approval, and you storm to the defensive line.
The way that the foothills are set up, you're basically in a shallow valley, the floor of which is a good twenty meters higher than the wastes proper. You remember one of these hills you climbed with Liandral, not long after you first arrived; and does THAT ever seem like it was a long time ago.
The hills are not impassable, just very steep. There's a much easier way up if someone were to wend their way through the gaps between the hills, but these avenues, which are no more than six meters wide, are all lined with spiky barricades, pit traps, and over-looking archers.
More likely than not the Dreadmarch would have the best luck trying to charge the hillsides themselves, which just puts them at a severe height disadvantage, while your pikemen keep them at bay, and your archers fire arrows at them from the relativel safety of the hilltop.
Even though you're facing a superior force, one that nearly outnumbers you 2:1, you've got a superior defensive position. Hopefully, you manage to get rid of the dreadmarch before they do too much damage.
Dracos breathes in, checking his blade and getting in position, keeping silent and waiting for the sound of screams from the traps.
Dracos
No challenge there; you can hear the yells of the Dreadmarch once they start hitting pit-traps, and the archers reason that anything with hearing range is also within shooting range, so pop up and open fire.
<Brian> Okay. You're jumping out from ... behind a barricade? Running down a hilltop? Where are you planning on showing yourself?
<Dracos> Where are most of my swordsman arrayed? I suspect the Spear/pikemen are up front taking advantage of the fact the surroundings give them an advantage more than pretty much anyone but the archers.
Dracos would likely be joining the swordsman and moving about to anywhere that seemed weak as he fought.
<Brian> The swordsmen and axemen back the pikemen up, so that when the defensive line breaks, skirmishers can give the pikemen cover to pull back, and use their weapons at an effective range.
<Brian> Essentially, you'd be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a pikemen, and when someone got past his weapon, he'd step back, giving you room to maneuver.
Dracos nods.
<Dracos> I'm fine with that.
<Dracos> That's where I am then.
<Brian> In that case, you're standing on a hilltop with a bunch of pikemen -- there's about eight archers immediately behind you, and you've got a decent view of the battlefield.
Dracos nods.
<Brian> The archers can't see their targets across the crest, but the area is so thickly littered with orcs and ogres, it doesn't really matter. At least half of their arrows are hitting, and the Dreadmarch archers haven't gotten into any kind of organized formation yet. The defensive line is sixty pikemen wide, every other spot between them filled with a swordsman, or an axemen.
<Brian> Since your swordsmen outnumber your other troops 3:1, more are in reserve, ready for you to lead a charge. There's about 240 swordsmen, and a few more axemen behind you, waiting for the command. From where you are, you can also see that the next hills over are equally well defended, Lord Roger handling the one east of you (which is under heavier assault), and Warrick to the west, which has a coordinated Dreadmarch archer squad.
<Brian> The pikemen are braced, and ready to fall back, and the Dreadmarch charge is about twenty meters away.
Dracos waits for them to get close enough, giving the archers and pikemen as much time as possible before shouting "Attack!" and leading the charge.
<Brian> Okay. The Dreadmarch rushes the wall, and tries to use their own weapons to batter aside the pikes and get into the lines; this means that your short-range melee crew is basically dropped inside the Dreadmarch pikemen range, as they didn't think to have any shoter-range melee foot-soldiers.
<Brian> The pikeman to your right is falling back, and there's an orc in front of you, trying to stab him with a sturdy looking spear.
Dracos roars, attempting to intimidate as he slashes the orc in front of him, aiming to at the least, force his spear down and away from the pikemen.
<Brian> It's now phase 0, the archers have formed a rank behind you, and are focusing on the sides, where none of your own troops are.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your attack.
<Dracos> Roll 3d6 for "That's my pikeman, thank you"
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for "That's my pikeman, thank you" --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> That is a hit.
<Brian> Roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Center of mass.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 3d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6+1d3 --> [ 3d6=12 1d3=2 ]{14}
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=3 1d3=2 ]{5}
<Brian> Chest is normal body, x3 stun. Normally, you would have done no damage against his armor, but your weapon is penetrating, so you do 2 body, and 15 stun.
<Brian> This gets his attention, and you've put some nasty tears in the orc's greasy chain shirt.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s.
<Brian> Dex order, first is you, Dracos.
<Dracos> Describe scene directly around me?
<Brian> Your pikeman is pulling back -- to your left, someone with an axe is hacking into another orc, to your right, a swordsman has taken a spear to the gut, and is being pulled back by another swordsman. Orcs are in front of you, pretty much as far as you can see.
Dracos brings his blade horizontally at the orc, striking hard and stepping a bit to the right.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 to hit
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 to hit --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3 for Orcs are only chest-high!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 for Orcs are only chest-high! --> [ 2d6=11 1d3=2 ]{13}
<Brian> Center of mass -- this time, your sword sweeps clean through him, though, separating his chain shirt like a wet tissue, and his spine with scarcely more resistance.
<Brian> Another orc rushes to fill the gap, and more melee storm-riders crowd in behind you.
<Brian> Phase 12, speed 2s.
<Brian> Dracos, again, you have the dex advantage here.
Dracos slashes hard downward at the orc, moving forward.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> You missed.
<Brian> The orc counters and tries to skewer you with a spear.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> He hits!
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> Good thing you wear a helmet.
<Brian> roll 1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1d3 --> [ 1d6=4 1d3=2 ]{6}
<Brian> The stun multiplier is x5, so before defenses, take 6 body, and 30 stun.
<Brian> After defenses, you take 0 Body, and 5 stun.
Dracos shakes his head, grinning at the orc.
<Brian> Post segment 12, everyone takes a recovery.
<Brian> Segment 5, speed 2s, Dracos, you first.
Dracos attempts to sever the orc!
<Dracos> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> Whiff!
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> He hit your thigh, which is, unfortunately, where you are unarmored to provide maneuverability.
<Brian> roll 1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1d3 --> [ 1d6=2 1d3=3 ]{5}
<Brian> Take 5 body and 10 Stun, no defenses apply.
<Brian> The orc seems a little puzzled by you not dying, and grunts something, pulling out his spear and preparing to stab you again.
<Brian> Segment 12.
Dracos is smiling. The smile of OW, FUCK IT.
<Dracos> Roll 3d6 as I bring my blade about to try and strike him down for once
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 as I bring my blade about to try and strike him down for once --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> Roll 2d6+1d3 for orcs are only chest high!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 for orcs are only chest high! --> [ 2d6=5 1d3=2 ]{7}
<Brian> This one's wearing much less durable leather armor, so you cut him pretty badly, but he's not dead. Though, you have dazed him.
<Brian> Segment 12.
Dracos brings his blade back around for the finishing strike!
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Legs -- unarmored.
<Brian> Roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3 for "Orcs are only chest-high, one way or another"
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 for "Orcs are only chest-high, one way or another" --> [ 2d6=6 1d3=3 ]{9}
<Brian> That finishes him off. The body tumbles to the ground -- you've felled Jotun, what's an orc to you? -- when the body is crushed beneath the foot of a heavily armored orc wielding a nasty looking axe.
<Brian> From what you can see of the battlefield before he rushes at you, the majority of your swordsmen are stuck in the press, unable to make a charge that will let all of them attack. Below, the Dreadmarch archers are forming ranks.
<Brian> If you can get rid of this orc quickly, there's an opening behind him that you can lead a charge into, to try and press for the archers before they can get ready.
Dracos shifts his footing, trying to protect his wounded leg as he aims for the axe hilt, moving low. If he can get both axe and orc at the same time he does so.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You do not push your strength. Go ahead and roll to hit.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for please hit
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for please hit --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Center of mass. Roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for DAMAGE
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for DAMAGE --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> The ogre grunts, but is not dazed (though his blood is getting all over his rusty plate mail).
<Brian> He brings his axe to bear.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> He hits your legs, which are armored.
<Brian> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=7 1d3=1 ]{8}
<Brian> You receive 8 body and 16 stun before defenses.
<Brian> After defenses, you take 0 body and 0 stun.
<Brian> Segment 12.
<Brian> You're running out of time....
Dracos roars, pushing his strength and trying to take out the ogre in a single blow.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 to push the strength
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 to push the strength --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Dracos> roll 3d6 to hit
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 to hit --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You push your strength by five points, and that is a hit.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Chest. Go ahead and roll your damage (3d6+1).
<Dracos> roll 3d6+1 there is no chest!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6+1 there is no chest! --> [ 3d6=12 ]{13}
<Brian> This staggers him, and he is now dazed.
<Brian> Segment 6.
Dracos slams into him, intending to knock him aside, one way or another, his blade leading the way as he charges through.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 to hit
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 to hit --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> That's a hit. Roll your damage.
<Dracos> Roll 3d6 for stay down, I'm going through
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for stay down, I'm going through --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> That does it. The stomach stab and the knocking the ogre to the ground leave you at the head of the storm-riders who were penned behind the lines, which quickly follow in your steps, racing towards the enemy archers.
Dracos rushes down, trying to close the distance before the archers can start raining arrows.
<Brian> You're still moving at a good clip when another orc with a spear jumps in front of you, and tries to stop you.
<Brian> Segment 12.
<Brian> You will (still) act first.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for moving through
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for moving through --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for DAMAGE
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for DAMAGE --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> He didn't need that head.
<Brian> The orcs are now charging OUT of your way, and you've got a clear path to the archers, who are breaking formation at the sight of the charge headed at them.
Dracos rushes into them, slashing at the first archer within range, intending to shatter their organization.
<Brian> Segment 6, the archer's trying to flee, but you can get him.
Dracos slashes at his back as he keeps running into horde.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for backstabbing
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for backstabbing --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> This is actually good enough to hit, though barely.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for I hope you have armor!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for I hope you have armor! --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> You take off an arm.
<Brian> While he's still alive, he's not liable to be shooting anyone any time soon.
Dracos ignores him, moving right to the next archer.
<Brian> Segment 12.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your attack roll.
Dracos charges ahead, bringing his blade around in a wide arc trying to hit as many archers as he can.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Are you actually trying to sweep multiple targets, or Move-By multiple targets?
<Brian> To move-by three targets, I need you to make three attack rolls, each at a -6 OCV penalty.
<Dracos> roll 3#3d6 for I am crazy
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3#3d6 for I am crazy --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> All three attacks hit.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage, which is going to be 2d6+1d3.
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=8 1d3=2 ]{10}
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=6 1d3=2 ]{8}
<Dracos> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=4 1d3=3 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 3#3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}, [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> Stomach, legs, and head. You think one of them (the last) is dead, but they all fell down, and were ar least KOed.
<Brian> This seems pretty swell, even though that took a lot out of you. You've actually put a little distance between yourself and the rest of your charge, though.
<Brian> Another of those large armored ogres charges you from the mess.
<Brian> Segment 6.
Dracos breathes in and attempts to send the ogre's axe flying with a hard strike of his blade.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your Disarm roll.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> That's a good hit! Now roll 1#1d6 for every 5 points of STR you have.
<Dracos> roll 5d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=28 ]{28}
<Brian> I'm sorry, that was 5d6, not 5#1d6.
<Dracos> roll 5#1d6 ;_;
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 5#1d6 ;_; --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> roll 4#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> The ogre barely manages to retain control of his axe.
<Brian> He's pretty shocked and unhappy about this, too.
<Brian> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Dracos> Abort to block!
<Dracos> roll 3d6 to deflect that
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 to deflect that --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> That successfully blocks the incoming attack.
<Brian> This is one confused an unhappy Ogre.
<Brian> segment 12
<Brian> You act first (because you blocked).
Dracos tiredly stabs the ogre, trying to get some room to catch his breath.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> That's a hit. Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for stupid ogre
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for stupid ogre --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> You shorten the ogre by the height of its thigh. Too bad he didn't think of armor.
<Brian> Your charge catches up and flows past you at this point; you can either follow, or stay back and catch your breath. That last attack cost you STUN.
Dracos stays back for a moment, spending some time to recover.
<Brian> We'll declare combat over here, since you just took out their commander, they're overwhelmed, and Rez's forces are falling on them from behind.
<Brian> Currently, Erik, Farwell, and about 17000 other storm-riders are running next to you, right into the read-guard of the Dreadmarch forces that are between you and Phil. If you can cut your way through about three thousand armed rear-guard, then you've got almost nothing but archers to fight, and they tend to suck at melee.
<Rez> Tend to.
<Brian> The approach is currently a gentle slope, though it's quickly going to turn into a trap-filled pass, or a steep hill, with storm-rider pike-men at the top.
Rez grins cheerily. Some people are exceptions!
<Brian> Alrighty. You're coming up on the rearguard, who see you coming (it's difficult to conceal 17k charging barbarians screaming bloody murder), and set to receive a charge. The orcs and ogres have a defensive line that you're going to need to breach to reach their archers.
<Brian> If you fail to breach the line, they rain arrows on you and your forces. This is a bad thing.
<Brian> Unfortunately, this defensive line is lined with orcish spears (and a few storm-rider pikes -- which is unsettling).
<Rez> Good thing we ain't cavalry, I guess!
<Brian> You are still rushing them, which means unless you stop to shoot at them, they'll get the first attack on you.
Rez continues charging. You don't stop in the middle of a mass rush, you get trampled!
<Brian> Okay. You rush a spearman. He's going to get the first attack on you.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> He's also going to hit you.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
Rez is going to try to smash his spear out of the awy and block, if I can . . .
<Brian> I'll let you.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Blockage!
<Brian> Go ahead and make your block roll.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Blockage! --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll for your transfer.
<Rez> roll 4d6 for Suck it down!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 4d6 for Suck it down! --> [ 4d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> The spear disintegrates with a 'foom!', your sword is now humming and shedding a (visible, in this darkness) golden light, and the orc's eyes have become saucer-sized.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed twos act, and you blocked, so you go first.
Rez is speed 3!
<Rez> Not that it affects the order here.
<Brian> True. Phase 4, speed 3s, then.
Rez drops his two +1s onto Damage Class, and runs first and chops down onto the now unarmed (but not armoured) orc.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Chop Chop!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Chop Chop! --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> This is a hit.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Damage!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Damage! --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You sever a limb, and he goes down, howling in pain. He's probably not dead, but doubly-unarmed, he's probably not as big a threat as the next orc running at you.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s.
Rez sidesteps as he goes down, and holds his sword ready for the next orc.
<Brian> Another orc rushes to fill the gap in the defensive wall, and tries to run you through with a spear.
Rez aborts to block.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Go ahead and make your block roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Blockage!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Blockage! --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> That's good, you deflect his spear.
<Brian> Roll your transfer.
<Rez> roll 4d6 for Transferance!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 4d6 for Transferance! --> [ 4d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> That's enough to crumble this weapon into fragments, leaving another stunned looking orc before you. This kind of power is pretty awesome....
<Brian> The sword is now shedding enough light that the orcs can't look directly at it.
<Brian> phase 8, you recover your action.
<Brian> phase 12, everyone acts, you first.
Rez grins darkly.
Rez keeps his +1s on Damage Class, and lunges forward in an attempt to run the orc through.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for Thrust! Parry! Riposte!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Thrust! Parry! Riposte! --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for SMACKDOWN
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for SMACKDOWN --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Your sword smoothly severs both jugular veins, without interfering with the spine. The orc's head snaps back, and it bleeds out before it hits the snow.
<Brian> Post segment 12, everyone gets to take a recovery.
<Brian> Your men are rallying behind the fabulously deadly and glowing sword, but the enemy is also pressing their most powerful warriors at you, as well.
<Brian> Having a sword that glows brightly does make you stand out; better hope you can get to those archers soon.
<Brian> Segment four, speed threes.
Rez glances around - where's the nearest orc or whatnot?
<Brian> There's three armored, shield-bearing, axe-wielding ogres bearing directly towards you, shoving the lesser orcs aside in their haste.
<Rez> How far?
<Brian> You could reach them with a half-move, or hold your action, and they'll reach you on segment six while you've got a held action.
Rez raises his sword and yells loudly, "FLEE, WRETCHED ORCS, YOU CANNOT STAND AGAINST THE MIGHT OF THIS BLADE!"
<Rez> roll 11d6 for GET OUT OFF MY YARD!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 11d6 for GET OUT OFF MY YARD! --> [ 11d6=37 ]{37}
<Brian> The average orc's ego is 13.
<Rez> :)
<Brian> At 20 higher than their collected egos, the orcs flee.
<Brian> The ogres, however, stand their ground (though, they don't look happy about it), and the storm-riders behind you raise a deafening battle-cry.
<Brian> It's worth noting that the only directions that the orcs can flee, due to flanking, is into a cliff wall, or off the sides of the trench to the west.
<Rez> "THEN COME FORTH, AND FEED MY WRATH!"
<Brian> Regardless, the orcs are running to their own deaths, and the ogres, are marching towards yours.
<Brian> They hope.
<Brian> It is still your action.
Rez holds it and waits.
<Rez> Both my +2s are on OCV.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s. Three ogres, and one storm-riders.
<Brian> The ogres act first, and are all going to (obviously enough) attempt to hit you with their axes.
Rez whirls his sword, and moves to parry.
<Brian> roll 3#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Okay. All attacks will hit you (thanks to the cumulative attacker penalty) unless you can block them.
<Rez> roll 3#3d6 for Block-fu!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3#3d6 for Block-fu! --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> Surrounded by a cage of whirling axes, you deflect the axes of the ogres.
<Brian> It's worth noting, at this point, the exhilarating rush of realizing that at least half of the skill you're exhibiting here is skill you've refined yourself. Skill with a blade you've honed since being newly introduced to the snowy wastes, so far away from the earth you were born on.
<Brian> Skill that, in all honesty, probably just saved your life.
<Brian> Now go ahead and roll your transfer.
<Rez> roll 3#4d6 for And now, you die.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3#4d6 for And now, you die. --> [ 4d6=13 ]{13}, [ 4d6=15 ]{15}, [ 4d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> All three axes are dusted; your sword is vibrating in your hands -- you think if you set it on a solid surface, the blade would sink through steel like butter. The light doesn't blind you (or the enemies) but it's shedding enough light to illuminate everything for nearly a hundred meters in day-bright detail.
<Brian> Alec acts.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=8 1d3=3 ]{11}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> And he actually decapitates one of the ogres.
<Brian> Segment 8, speed 3s.
<Rez> Both +1s on OCV, I sweep them - once each.
<Rez> roll 2#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 2#3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You hit -- barely, the second time.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damages.
<Rez> roll 2#2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 2#2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{8}, [ 2d6=7 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 2#3d6 for hit locations
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#3d6 for hit locations --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You snag a femoral artery on the first ogre, who collapses, and smash through the breastplate of the next.
<Brian> Even though it's gratuitous at this point, roll your transfer versus his armor.
<Rez> roll 4d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 4d6 --> [ 4d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> His armor explodes into dust, just like the axes did. If the light brightens, you can't really tell at this point.
<Brian> This ogre is not dead, though he's certainly not in a good way.
<Rez> Rez doesn't say anything, and simply glares death at the final ogre, raising his blade ready to strike again.
Rez draws in a breath.
<Rez> "YOU CANNOT STAND BEFORE ME, WRETCH! GET YOU GONE BEFORE I CLEAVE YOU IN TWAIN!"
<Rez> roll 14d6 for COWER, mortal!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 14d6 for COWER, mortal! --> [ 14d6=42 ]{42}
<Brian> The last few pockets of resistance turn and flee towards the abyss, throwing their weapons as they go. You never even got to the archers, but they're already running.
<Brian> (Combat is over at this point).
<Brian> The storm-riders who ran with you are currently holding you in complete and total awe.
<Rez> Rez raises his sword and cries a wordless yell of triumphant exaltation!
<Brian> When you march over the rise, you find what Dreadmarch didn't dive to their deaths rather than face you, and Phil.
The first thing Rez does is walk towards Drac's force, bringing the army with him.
The second thing is to consider, briefly, the fact that he really is - personally - getting to be good with both the sword and the bow, and not just relying on the skill that's been gifted to him. It's a good thought, but one that he shelves for consideration later.
The third thing Rez does is eye off the battlefield to ascertain roughly how much damage got done to Drac's forces before they arrived. His own casualties, he figures, should be pretty minimal if the archers didn't even get off a volley.
The fourth thing Rez does, while walking towards Drac's force, is to eye off the battlefield and see if there are any supply wagons around.
Insult to injury, even if Dreadmarch rations do taste like crap!
The first thing Dracos does once he's caught his breath is glance around the battlefield to see if there's any points of heavy resistance still happening.
He checks his wounded leg and breathes out. "A bit late to the party are we, Nathan? Good to see ya made it anyway." Dracos jabs playfully, heading over towards Nathan.
Dracos
The dreadmarch force of twenty thousand soldiers did haul a good hundred or so supply wagons, most of which you charged past to get to their forces.
The battlefield around you is clear, except for the priestesses (and their vassals) tending the wounded Storm-riders. The pikemen that Nathan encountered are finishing off any wounded or just knocked out orcs and ogres with the military precision you'd expect from such, and Lord Roger is (quite enthusiastically) leading a force of about a thousand foot-men in a charge that's going to push the last remnants of the attacking force into the trench in about a minute.
The total losses for the storm-riders, even with their defensive positions, probably number in the hundreds, though with the priestesses around, this may turn out to be less.
'"Late? Late? Rez hefts his Portable Light Source for emphasis, "I think my timing is, as usual, nothing short of perfect!"
And frowns.
"Hows the leg? Not looking so good there . . ."
"No. It doesn't. In fact it stings a good deal. I think I probably should have it seen to. Orc got a lucky hit with a spear. Though he didn't last long afterwards."
Dracos
"Yech," Rez winces in sympathy, "Well, I brought your army back for you. And, as a special one-time bonus, we even brought the Gatemaster with us."
"Ah...now, let me see if I can find a priestess to heal this as I don't like spilling blood all over the place, and we can see how Loremaster Eske has managed."
Dracos looks for a priestess to heal his wounds.
Dracos
"Oh no you don't," Rez grabs Drac's shoulder, "You'd have to be a complete moron to try walking to a healer on that."
Turning to one of the stormriders that followed him, he calls out an order.
"Go and get one of the priestesses, or failing that a healer of some description. Lord Bloom's being an idiot again."
There is a short pause as the stormrider runs off.
"So how's your killscore going, anyway?'
"Ah, tis but a...very painful leg wound. Fair enough. I'll stay here." Dracos grinned weakly.
"hum..." Dracos ponders ponderously. "Think I'm at about tweleve heads, countin' the Jotuns of course as one a piece. Yeself, Nathan?"
Dracos
"Awww . . . you know, I think you're beating me." Rez counts on his fingers, "The mess in the pass, an ogre down south, three jotun in that ambush - although really I have to credit at least one of those to Alex - two more orcs and two more ogres in that charge."
Rez hums.
"Technically you're winning. I'm not sure how many of the goblins and the like I got in the fight way down south, it's sort of a blur - and if you can't count them, they probably don't count. Do orcs that I sent running away, screaming into the trench count?"
"Got to get 'em with your own blade. And it'll be a measure for you to keep better count!"
Dracos
"Pfft. See, that's where I have a problem."
Rez glances meaningfully at his still glowing sword.
"This is an awesome weapon, but the orcs start -running-! How am I meant to catch up if everyone runs away?"
"Oh blaming your sword, Nathan? Come now, you've got to have a better reason than that!"
Dracos laughed, his spirits cheered by the idiotic bantering.
Dracos
"Well, that and the fact that I'm getting higher quality kills. How many of your kills were orcs, hmm?"
"Whine, Whine whine. It's got a blade and can shout, don't it?"
Dracos
"It can stab too, apparently. Man, you need to work on your defense . . ."
One of the vassals is run over (since Phil's move is relatively minor) and tends the wound. It's cleaned (briskly, which is a bit painful), then dressed and wrapped, and the vassal says a quick prayer over it; the pain lessens instantly, though the wound is still there.
"Leave the dressing in place for at least twelve hours," the vassal instructs. The healers are going to have their hands full, but rank has its privelages.
At roughly the same time, Lord Farwell and Lord Roger approach, discussing the effective route companionably. Roger is sporting a cut over one eyebrow that runs from just over his left eye, to just over his left temple, and presses a cloth to it occasionally, until the vassal opens his supply kit and starts tending that wound, too.
A new man you haven't met yet, dressed nearly identically to Farwell and carrying a pike stands slightly behind Farwell and Roger; he's wearing the torc you last saw on Markham.
"Ah, that were a good battle," Roger says, clapping Nathan on the shoulder with a friendly blow that would probably be classified as assault back on earth. "Yer timing is flawless, Sir Shuker. You do yer forefathers proud."
"Agreed," Farwell says, nodding. "Cousin," he says enthusiastically, grabbing Phil in a bear-hug. "I'm glad to see you well!" Releasing Phil, he asks, "What happened? Sir Shuker told me some of it, but I'm sure there's more?" Liandral lurks nearby, retrieving arrows from some of the orcish corpses.
Once the vassal finishes tending Lord Roger's wounds, he bows to all assembled, and runs off to tend the next. Additionally, Alex is leading two men in robes towards you. You both know Wardmaster Mattias, and Phil can guess that the new arrival is Gatemaster Eske.
Rez does the introductions, 'cause he's helpful.
"Gatemaster, this is Lord Philip Bloom, King of the Stormriders. Lord Bloom, may I present the reason we arrived so fortuitously . . . Gatemaster Eske."
"It is a bright day indeed. Greetings Gatemasker Eske, Wardmaster Maithias, Cousin! A much brighter one than it first looked. We should be moving soon if they already know we are here, but we have time to fill each other in. I'd gladly continue where he left off, but I do not know where he stopped." Dracos smiled comradely hoping for a cue on what they already knew.
Dracos
"Well, Nathan spoke of some difficulties and tribulations, and the ice splitting. But more than that ... you've the look of great success about you." Lord Farwell nods approvingly.
"Oh, aye," Lord Roger agrees. "We've cost them dearly. If a supply train shows here up t'morrow, it won't get t' the Dreadmarch for two more days yet."
"On that note, we actually ran into the remnants of a supply train that got caught in the trench . . . which is where most of them seemed to be travelling. How sad, hm?" Rez grins.
"Well, then that means their army will be a week and more without food," Mattias says, brightening. "Good tidings for us!"
"Agreed," Farwell says, stroking his beard contemplatively. "One might almost think it was given that we be sent here, where we do the most good, instead of to the keep. Against such a sizable army, we are like rabbits gnawing at the roots of a great tree." He grins, especially liking this analogy, and fingers his torc briefly.
Dracos laughed. "Indeed, Cousin Farwell. But we must plan to continue. They know we are here. So while we cannot stay long, we can make this place yet another thorn in their side. But first, tell, how has it gone for you? Aside from the obvious success."
Dracos
"Little to tell," Farwell says, shrugging. "We had fortune, and did not meet any minions of the Dreadmarch until we were already in place. It was ... boring, in all honesty." Lord Roger raises an eyebrow, and Farwell quickly adds, "Not that I wouldn't want our women and children looked after. Merely that nothing happened."
"That is fortunate," Lord Roger agrees. "Let's get us into a tent, and some food into ye, Farwell."
Farwell nods sheepishly. "Of course," he agrees.
Dracos laughs, clapping farwell in the back and leading them to the tent. "Yes, food for the weary travelers and those who've fought."
Dracos
"So how many orcs have we knocked down thus far, and how many casualties do you reckon we've taken?"
"At least fourty thousand, maybe some more. Depends how many got caught in the trench. And maybe a few hundred at the outset. It'll have to see on this day as this has been the worst of it so far I think."
Dracos
"And this was one of the most brutally one-sided bloodbaths I've ever seen."
Rez hums.
"You said you couldn't take us to the keep because it was under the seal, Gatemaster - but can you take us south of it? And how much do you and the Wardmaster know of the seal, in any case?""
"It's a wall in ... a shape I can't explain easily. But the result is that the mountains that encircle the northern reaches are a barrier to my ability,' Eske says, shaking his head.
"The seal blocks his gates," Mattias says, frowning. "And while some of my magics can penetrate it, whoever set the seal will be aware. If I speak to Loremaster Radagast again -- as I had earlier -- whoever set the seal will know it. I have been scrupulous in using my power since I came to this realization."
"I could create a door that emptied at the base of the slope leading to Stormwall keep," Eske adds after a moment, sitting down on the snow and catching his breath. "But it would drop us in the fore ranks of their army, not the safety of the keep's walls."
"I've scattered some stones about to try and monitor the Dreadmarch as they leave the army and pursue us," Mattias continues. "But my powers are limited, unless we should give away our true location ... though, I suspect the Dreadmarch knows where we are now, anyway.
"There ... is the fact that there are those still out here, in the wastes, who were awaiting Gatemaster Eske. The priestesses and vassals of the three kingdoms are here, and will not be any match for the might of the Dreadmarch, should any sizable force stumble across them."
"Well, I actually gave this some thought - not a WORD," Rez rolls his eyes at Drac, "- and, well . . . The Dreadmarch obviously know exactly where we are, and they know their traitor failed. They also know what we've been doing, and, of course, they know Lord Markham is no longer in command. So. We have two objectives, as I see it, since we can't get to the keep. Firstly, we need to keep the women and children safe, and secondly . . . we want to finish the job on this supply mess. They won't be getting any resupply for a good week, which will hurt - but now that they know what we've been doing, by the time we find another supply caravan it will probably be surrounded by so many troops that an attack would be simply prohibitive. So . . ."
Nathan trails off.
"Tomas was meant to drag us north - Markham advocated attacking the citadel, as you may recall. I have very little doubt that had we marched straight north the dreadmarch would have trapped us with an overwhelming force and in turn we would have been crushed. The situation, however, has changed. They know what we've been hitting their supply caravans, and I bet it's becoming a major concern - they'll have to move what forces they do have down south to defend what's left of their caravans, and to hopefully catch us between them and whatever other forces they send north."
Taking a deep breath, Nathan looks around the group to guage their reactions to this.
"Well, now that they know we aren't going to, I'm actually going to suggest we actually do exactly that - go and try to take the dreadmarch citadel. As it stands, we cannot reach and reinforce the keep right now - it simply cannot be done. We'd scout it surreptitiously first, of course, and see what's there . . . but if there are few enough for us to take the citadel - and there may well be, especially since they may have been both moving south to trap us, -and- not expecting us to free the gatemaster . . . we could potentially have the gatemaster drop our forces in the middle of the citadel and, with surprise, take the place in no time flat. We continue to rip away at their support base, we've got a secure base of operations and somewhere safe to leave our noncombatants, we have the gatemaster for mobility . . . and when we eventually DO defeat the dreadmarch, they have nowhere to retreat to."
"They've screwed up by leaving us behind their lines, and I think that with the arrival with the gatemaster, we can start -really- twisting the knife. It's on the surface insane, but: if we scout it and see what they have, and we're careful, we'll find out if we can take them or not. If we can't cleanly take them, we don't fight and we work out another plan. But if we -can- take them, well . . . it'll at least be the last thing they expect us to do."
"While some of us are scouting and surveying the citadel, Eske and others could move to collect as many of those still in the wastes as they could. The bulk of the army could organize here in perparation - if the scouts find that an attack is untenable, when Eske brings us back we simply work out a different plan."
"But ... the citadel and Stormwall are oposite ends of the great circular ward," Mattias says. "We can no more go to one than the other ... though, we could perhaps go nearer the citadel, a gate could not be made into it."
"How near could we get to it?"
"The same as Stormwall," Eske replies. "Perhaps a kilometer or two from the gates."
"That would be as close as I'd want to drop a scouting force, certainly. If nothing else we can at least see roughly what they have there while you move around to empty the temples. Our main force here shouldn't really be moving just yet, as I see it . . . we need a defensible position because once again we have noncombatants to worry about."
Rez blinks.
"Gatemaster, can the dreadmarch detect or track your gates?"
Eske looks at Mattias, who frowns. "I don't think so," Mattias says. "But I can't know for certain."
"I think we should send some people to at least look, unless anyone has a better suggestion as to our plans . . ."
Rez looks around the group questioningly.
Everyone shrugs at this, believing the idea to be worth consideration, at the very least. Finally, Erik says, "We can scout, but there's no way to tell what we will see when we get there. How should we manage this? Unless I'm mistaken, Eske will require rest to regain his strength. If there are Dreadmarch soldiers there, will he be vulnerable?"
"Ideally, Eske doesn't come through the gate. He makes it, he sends some scouts through, and in a few hours time he makes another - by which time, hopefully, the scouts can be back at the meeting point."
Nathan's expression darkens.
"I admit, there's another reason I want to do this as well - the dreadmarch is larger than it's ever been before, better organized than it's been before, and they've even got their own pet loremaster, apparently. If we can get into the citadel . . . I think we might find ourselves some answers. And I think we all want some answers."
"It's a good plan," Liandral says, "except for the fact that if we drop into the middle of a force of the Dreadmarch, I doubt we'll hold out long enough for Eske to open the door back. I say we wait for him to recover, take about twenty, maybe thirty scouts, and him with us. That way, when we need to come back, we can just come back, not need to hold out for two hours, and then have Eske open the door into the middle of an army that's trying to figure out how to get to us."
Rez nods.
"Alright, that makes sense - we should still have a few hours of moonlight to scout with, if we do that. So . . . I suppose the question is, who's going?"
"I'll go," Liandral replies.
"And me," Erik says. "I imagine it wouldn't be hard to round up further volunteers. How many should we bring?"
"Twenty at the most, and the stealthiest people you can find. We'll split up into pairs, and cover as much ground as we can, I think. Sound good?"
"I'll assemble some men," Erik says, running off to do just that.
"I should be rested in a few short hours," Eske says. "I am ... quite tired from being trapped."
In the meantime, the main body of the storm-rider women and children is moved to the center of the encampment, up in the most difficult to reach sections of the foothills.
Rez nods in empathy.
"We appreciate your efforts, Gatemaster . . . we're sorry we didn't know about your plight beforehand."
After getting some rest, and recovering a bit, Eske announces that he's ready to go ahead and try to make a gateway to a point about a kilometer from the dark citadel.
Erik has gathered another twenty men, one of whom is Alex Westwind, who seems determined to stick with you through whatever else happens. Phil nods at you to send you off, and Eske opens the door.
The familiar line of torn space appears, widens into a six-meter square doorway with faintly oscillating edges, and reveals an expanse of snow about a kilometer long, churned into a muddy brown color with mud. It leads upwards in a slope, towards a citadel carved into the highest mountains you've seen here yet -- and the mountain range behind you is pretty big.
The citadel is raw black stone, vaguely reflective of the star-light. There's no sign of torch-light or any fires within, though, nor do you see any Dreadmarch denizens milling around.
<Brian> Rez, you're currently standing before the gateway leading to the Dark Citadel with your strike force.
<Brian> You haven't entered it yet. Eske is standing nearby, along with Erik and his hand-picked 20 men.
<Rez> I don't see anything on the other side?
<Brian> Just the citadel, the mountain wall, and the muddy snow.
Rez keeps his hand on his sword and walks through, turning as he does so to see what's -behind- the gate.
<Brian> And a good thing you do so.
<Rez> I hate my life.
<Brian> Your men are following you as you peek around the gate. Behind it is an army of the Dreadmarch.
<Rez> How large?
<Brian> There's probably a good, oh, million soldiers there, most of them looking towards you with surprised confusion.
<Brian> Directly in front of you, maybe twenty meters away are three that stand out as most likely being commanders.
<Rez> Describe quickly?
<Brian> There's a Jotun, wearing solid plate that covers everything except his face (the face-plate on his helm is up). He's carrying a genuine Jotun-sized sword.
<Brian> There's someone who could be related to Ekim, wearing plate over his stoney skin, only this one's hair is shot through with bronze, instead of plain steel.
<Brian> And there's a third figure, this one unnaturally tall, and unnaturally thin. It's probably about three meters tall, and wearing form-fitting steel plate, carrying a sword that it draws as you watch.
<Brian> "Well," it says in a high, breathy voice. "Meddlers."
Rez draws his sword.
<Rez> "Yes, you could say that."
<Brian> The Jotun grunts, and lowers his face-plate, while the dwarf unlimbers an axe.
<Rez> "ERIK! GET A WARNING TO LORD BLOOM!"
<Brian> The tall, skinny thing gets into a defensive stance reflexively, while Erik rushes towards you. "Run!" he yells. "It's madness to stay here!"
<Brian> The other scouts are already running back the few steps between them and the gate.
Rez steps back towards the gate - and once he's sure that everyone else is going to get back in, he runs for it himself.
<Brian> You and Erik are the only people who haven't gone back -- Eske never even had a chance to step through.
<Brian> The Jotun starts a rush, but you've got time to get through the gate before he gets to you.
Rez dives, in that case, yelling "SHUT IT!"
<Brian> The second you're through, the gate closes behind you.
"Well," says Rez shakily, and to nobody in particular, "I think we're not going to the citadel, but we got the answers I wanted anyway."
He stares at his sword for a few minutes, wide eyed, as the situation percolates through his head.
"What ... happened?" Lord Roger asks, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"They . . . they had near a million orcs there, but their three commanders were just near us. A jotun in plate mail, with a sword made specifically for it. A dwarf, with a large axe, which I didn't believe they wielded . . ."
Rez trails off, staring at his sword.
Three meteres tall, and so frail looking . . . that might have been . . .
"It was . . . striking. It was three meters tall, and unnaturally thin . . ."
"Near a what?" Roger asks, furrowing his brows.
Now that both of you think about it, that word was in plain English. Which you are, you remember, not speaking. It's odd, but now that you actually think about it, you can remember English, and all of your favorite words, but they're oddly distant. The new words you've been using for the two weeks or so since you've come to this world started out instinctive, and are now so deeply ingrained they feel totally natural.
Rez shakes himself.
"A thousand thousands. Sorry, I . . ." he trails off again.
Roger grunts thoughtfully. "That'd be a lot," he mumbles. "What to do, then?"
Rez remains quiet, thinking, and pensively looking at his blade.
"It's obvious for one. We can't stay here. And we now know why the are so so well armed, if dwarves are aiding them. Lord Rogers, I want this place turned into an absolute deathtrap. We'll gate to the east and hide in the plains for now, but either from the north or from the south, they are going to send a force after us that will likely be larger then our ability to handle. It is best if we are not here when it arrives and they waste their strength going through our traps for nothing. From there, we'll have mobility and at least some invisibility from their gaze for the moment. We have to find the wizard who is creating the seal. We also need scouting. Maithias, you said you counted the army back then, could you enlighten me upon your abilities to scan areas and such?"
Dracos
"I haven't placed any further wards for fear of being tracked," he says slowly. "I could also aid in setting traps here, though--" He breaks off mid-sentence, and his eyes become unfocused.
After a moment, he says, "There is an Archon. An Archon with the Dreadmarch. He sent a message to his ally with the Dreadmarch. He said ... 'The storm-riders have evaded the trap.' Someone else ... someone I do not know, replied, 'Join us here, and abandon the citadel.'"
Lord Roger grunts at this, frowning speculatively. "I'll oversee the placement of the traps," Lord Farwell says suddenly, frowning. "You'll want Lord Roger's tactical advice here." Nodding curtly, he marches away to see about crafting these traps.
Rez stares at his sword, and growls angrily, resheathing it.
"I know. But archon or no, I'm, sure he won't enjoy haveing a sword of their own make run through them." He shook his head and turned to look at Mattias, "The one you didn't recognize - do you think it was the same one who cut off our conversation before?"
"Hmm... We've learned something, but now we know they've learned something as well. That's quite bad for those at the keep. This new group will likely bring food with them and resources and another gigantic force joining those at the keep is a bad thing. We need to make the path that they will take as deadly as possible." Dracos frowns, his mind scrambling for options. "Ideas, people?"
Dracos
"That ... that was the same person," Mattias says, nodding at Nathan. "But, I cannot imagine that their message wasn't meant to be overheard by us. They know that I am here -- who else to free Gatemaster Eske? And of course, they saw the gate, so they knew that, too.
"This reeks of a trap."
Eske nods in agreement. "I do not think they can sense my gates, though my range is limited. We could hide in the wastes ... so they must have some plan to take this into account," he adds.
"Hmm... Bleh, that many numbers with subtleties is a fearsome foe indeed. You could be right. And the mere fact that you could be is enough to make it too dangerous to risk. Hmm... We need to figure out some options. Ways to keep safe and still do damage to them. First, we need to consider where we can go to position ourselves from here. They could be planning on us trying to take the citadel while they are gone, but we won't fall there twice. Second, we need to figure out where to attack them. Hum, what about the rear flanks of the army. What are they doing during the attacks on the keep? Could we go deep into the wastes and then storm alongside the rear flanks of the army. And ...Eske, you said the seal was circular? Where would it's center be if it is?"
Dracos
"The center of the wastes," Eske says after a moment. "There's nothing there but snow and ice, though. The seal itself is held in place all along the borders, not the center. If anything, it's ... softer near the center, which is why I can open gates here, but not penetrate the edges itself."
"I could send a message to Loremaster Radagast," Mattias says after a moment. "We must assume that they will hear this message, though. We could, perhaps, use that to our advantage ... but how could we send a message that our allies would glean the true meaning of, without revealing that to our foes?"
"HMm... That's a thought, Maithias. First though we must decide what we do before we decide how we mislead them into thinking we are doing something else. Eske, what holds it in place along the borders? Is it something that can be undone?"
Dracos
"If we could find the one who was maintaining it and stop them ... strip them of the charm that holds it in place?" Eske asks, looking at Mattias questioningly.
Mattias nods. "But we'd have to find him, first," he warns.
"him being the original loremaster involved in it?"
Dracos
"Yes," Mattias replies.
"Is there any way we can track him? Paths left behind when he interrupts stuff or spies?"
Dracos
Rez looks up thoughtfully.
"I think on the topic of getting a message through, I can do a simple cipher. Bjorn, Vassal of Hamar, should be able to break it because I'll give him a key the dreadmarch couldn't know."
"I'd need time to set things up to track him ... but I suspect he's going to be surrounded by an army of the Dreadmarch, either way." Turning to Rez, Mattias frowns. "A cipher?"
Wait . . . this language is pictograms - FUCK!
IDIOT!
"I have an idea . . . but I need to speak to Lord Bloom quickly and see if I'm being an idiot or not."
Rez stands up.
Dracos raises an eyebrow, recognizing the term. "We can discuss your idea later. Privately. The rest of the commanders are here now, Nathan, and we need to decide where to go and what to do. This is more important at the moment then getting back that message to the keep. Though, I do think it has merit."
Dracos
"Aye," Lord Roger murmurs. "And what is our plan?"
"Hum. How about a strike against the flanks of the dreadmarch? Find a spot where they aren't expecting battle, and do some raiding there? Hiding in the wastes for now while we prepare. Between Maithias and our own scouts we should be able to escape any trap that will be coming for us."
Dracos
"Aye!" Roger cheers. "We'll cost 'em dear!"
"At the same," Eske says, frowning, "I'd caution against too much confidence. I cannot fathom how they turned a Dwarf, let alone an Archon, to their side. There may be more yet we do not know of. We could already be in a trap."
Rez shakes his head.
"While I like the idea of costing them dearly, us engaging a million strong column is a little trickier than you're making it out to be. I think, for now, we should be avoiding a fight until they've left themselves open, then stick it to them. Just killing a few thousand orcs will hardly accomplish anything, we need concrete targets like those supply caravans."
Dracos turns towards Eske. "This I know. Which is why we do the most insane action possible. Attacking them directly at the moment is it. Until they start moving, we can't figure more. But we obviously need to be careful regardless. ANything else?"
Dracos
"Now that they know we're out here, and not following any of their thralls, they won't likely leave as many vulnerable targets where we can find them," Mattias says, frowning. "We must be very careful."
"Insane actions are often considered insane for a reason, you know. I've demonstrated a few times that our luck can only be pushed so far."
"Fair enough," Lord Roger sighs, nodding at Nathan.
"Nathan, calm thyself. We have scouts and wizards. We can spy opportunity. I'm not mad, you know. Now enough dour spirits, we're stormriders, just because the odds are against us does not mean we lose heart here."
Dracos
"I'm the last to suggest we can't accomplish anything, but I don't see much to be gained by a flank raid except endangering our men for little gain. If we can find a strategic target, I agree with you, but . . ."
Rez sighs.
"Well, you are the king, and I'll go with what you decide. I suppose I'm not really in a position to be throwing stones."
"Don't worry." Dracos smiled. "Anyhow, anything else or should we all get to lending our hands to getting ready to go through a gate?"
Dracos
"Right," Warrik says, nodding in approval. "We shouldn't stay here for too long, because they know where we are. We shouldn't attack them directly, because their numbers are too great."
"I'm not convinced," Sir Harold says, frowning. "Our options are limited, and I see that we have two choices. Either we throw ourselves into the teeth of defiance and cost the Dreadmarch as dearly as we can, to the last Storm-rider.
"Or we go to the keep, and fight our way to the gates, protecting our women and children, and delivering our information and assistance to the defenders of Storm-wall."
"I'm sure there are more options than that," Warrik says placidly.
"Well," Erik mumbles. "I'd say our scouting mission was a mixed success, either way."
"Hmm... When the moon rises, the front of the keep is clear, isn't it?"
Dracos
"It is," Eske says, nodding. "But ... a wide gateway, I would need to place twenty or thirty meters, thereabouts, short of the battlefield. I expect that would be inside the edge of the Dreadmarch encampment.
"It's entirely possible ... but we'd have to be quite swift -- even if they couldn't enter the field, and we all made it, their archers and any Jotun they had to fling stone ... those things could cost us greviously."
"What about a small one? Maybe half of us? Or less?"
Dracos
"A small what?" He shakes his head. "If you were willing to abandon some of your men -- they might not expect it the first time, but after then, we'd be walking into a death trap if we attempted it again."
"Well," Rez comments, considering, "I suppose the safest plan is to gate around and empty the temples . . . and to try and hunt down the loremaster who's maintaining this seal. He'll be in the middle of the dreadmarch, true, but we can work out what to do about him once we've found him - does that sound logical?"
"Yes. We can certainly try to find that loremaster," Mattias agrees.
"Hmm... There is much to think about. But let's go about bolstering our ranks with those still at the temples. More options may appear."
Dracos, with that, closes the meeting, sending the commanders off to help oversee turning this place into a deathtrap and getting their men ready to go. When they are ready...
"Eske, can you open a portal near the farthest temple from this point?"
Dracos
"Yes," he says. "Certainly. How many do you plan to send there?"
"All of us. There's safety in numbers. If you can handle that, that is, Loremaster Eske."
Dracos
"Certainly," he says. "Will we end up back here, or somewhere else?"
"This place will be no man's land before we leave. We'll camp for a bit when we are done." Dracos gets the map and indicates a spot reasonably out of the direct path between the citadel and the dreadmarch army.
Dracos
"Very well," Eske says, nodding. "When shall we leave?"
"As soon as the men are ready to leave and the place is setup. Would you like some food and a spot to rest before we go, Loremaster?"
Dracos
"Yes, certainly," he says, nodding gratefully. "Those things would certainly not go amiss."
Dracos nodded, and promptly made sure both of the wizards were afforded as much comfort as could be obtained out here until the men were ready to go.
Dracos
Eske and Mattias are glad for the chance to rest. After a few hours, they return, and Eske announces that he's ready, assuming you are.
Rez and Dracos actually aren't ready, because once they were done with the command staff they withdrew to somewhere with some privacy and had a conversation of their own.
"You remember what I said about the whole cipher thing?"
"Yes. Your plan?"
Dracos
"Well. I think getting a secure line of communication with the keep is important, so. We can just use a simple cipher. Bjorn will know how to do it, and I'll give him some hints as to how to construct the key. He'll know what I refer to, but people who aren't of our group . . . won't. This will let us talk to the keep, and even more importantly, exchange notes between you and me and Bjorn. I think that could get very important later, because we don't want the Dreadmarch to know everything that we do."
Rez pauses.
"The downside of this, of course, is that this language uses pictograms, so I'm going to have to do it in English."
"Hum. Do it with Maithias before we leave here. Leave a trail going to here by doing so. We'll gate out right after you are done. Bring him up to date on the situation here as it stands."
Dracos
"Right. This will take me an hour or so to work out . . . hopefully we've got some writing materials around."
Rez goes off to go hunting.
Your army has no writing materials whatsoever. Fortunately, Eske and Mattias do, and you manage to get a few sheets of paper, and a bottle of ink (which is cold, and needs to be stowed under your shirt for a few minutes to thaw).
Rez does, in fact, question Mattias on this before he starts.
"I know another language, and if I write it down I can . . . well, scramble it. Bjorn, vassal of Hamar at the keep, will know how to read what I do - is there any way for me to get a perfectly replicated verbal message to Bjorn? Or can I read it to you, have you repeat it to Radagast, and have Radagast either write it down or repeat it for Bjorn to write down? It'll be fairly long and nonsensical, so I'm not what's practical . . ."
"It would be faster to send an image," Mattias says after a moment. "Why wouldn't I just do that?"
"Because I didn't realize you can do that, which makes the entire exercise about ten times simpler." Rez grins, before heading off and getting to work.
Rez thusly sets to, and it takes him close to an hour to figure out keys and the cipher. Too freaking cold to write properly.
XACCSSWZPRSUVTYLDXCWGGAGNBIMRNGNFENFZNJDYLHRIVXYQXHQXCQRXXZNHMBDGLDDGGTNEWOJXAPAXTUNTZCUFGHIIGNWLGNH
JZGITSUWWTOFFKUQXBQGMRYLXVQWTZLVYNDFPIZXZTPTNFQOIERHMOMIHURQTQAOBCPILCSDHZSRR
GTHISNBNHNYPDYUVMCVRCTXTUVHGTOOXKBIUBQVXYBHXGNRGXXWASDAEMWVXHBXXXPCUBAVXJJLDNVOLWFSNSAZLXHKPKPLTFC
That's the contents of the sheet of paper Nathan hands to Mattias.
"I need you to get Radagast to make as exact a copy of this as he can - he'll know who to give it to. Also give him this message to pass on: The key is in three parts. The first part is a blade the likes of which has never been seen, the second is what you owe me and have been refusing to pay up, and the third is the watermelon girl who hung around the null-space a lot. Combine them and you have the key to the cipher - have fun!"
Rez gives another instruction a couple of minutes later.
"Also, just tell Radagast outright what they already know we know - we found an army of a thousand thousand orcs near the citadel, lead by an archon, a jotun, and a dwarf."
With that done, the army heads off into the gate!
Dracos
You go through the gate, storm-rider women, children, and all.
The first temple you reach, as Eske says before opening the gate, will be the temple of Liena. When you get there, it's completely abandoned, with no signs of habitation.
No supplies, there's absolutely nothing left.
The temple itself is on what amouts to a stone-strewn hill in the wastes, built out of whatever stones were on hand, mortared together who knows how many ages ago.
Rez takes the obvious course of action here, and hunts down a priestess or vassal of Liena to ask if there should have been anyone here.
They all fled ... which is when you ran into them.
Just checking. Really, we had to come out here to make sure nobody else had come, but . . . dammit, we're idiots.
"Next temple, then?"
After examining the area, Dracos checks with Eske. If Eske is up to it, they head out to the next temple. Otherwise, they rest here for a bit.
Dracos
The next temple is the temple of Aestock.
It's a short, rounded building with a single wide doorway. Smoke is coming from a chimney in this building, though.
When you approach, about a dozen vassals pop out of the doorway with swords, ready to fight you to the death. They do relax a little when they see you're not agents of the Dreadmarch, and they recognize Eske in particular.
Three more priestesses and and a total of fifteen more vassals are willing (and eager) to join your entourage.
"That was easy enough."
Rez does, however, have a quick question for Liandral, who he again goes looking for.
"Ahm . . . Aestock is balance, right? So what do the vassals of Aestock concentrate on?"
Dracos smiles, greetings the priestesses and welcoming them to join the Storm-Riders. He then checks on Eske, seeing how the wizard is doing. He doesn't want to tire him out.
Dracos
"Peace of mind," Liandral says after a moment. "I think they can turn invisible in battle. That could just be a legend, though."
Eske is doing pretty well -- he did say that gates that didn't come too close to the seal were easier for him to manage.
Rez nods to Liandral. "Thanks - helpful to know. Anything much of note happen while I was gone, by the way?"
Dracos takes a moment to examine the temple's viability as a defensive structure and it's ability to handle oh, 30000 people.
Dracos
The temple is only about fifty meters across. It can probably only barely house twenty people comfortably, and the defensibility is somewhat questionable. One entrance makes it more defendable, but at the same time, it'd be a death-trap with no escape.
Liandral shakes his head. "Thankfully, only the attack you arrived on the tail end of," he replies.
If there are more temples, Dracos asks Eske to open a gate to the next one.
Dracos
Rez nods. "Mm, I know what you mean. Boring isn't necessarily a bad thing, when one's in a war."
The next temple is the temple of Hammar.
This temple is thinner, taller, and more angular than the other two -- it's also surrounded by a maze dug down through the snow, and carved into the stone of the hill that it's on. Every inch of the maze is lined with traps.
A pair of vassals are sitting on the roof with bows across their knees, looking down curiously. They don't move to fire, though. To one side, away from the temple, there's a huge depression in the snow -- probably almost twenty meters across -- that you can't see into the bottom of.
Dracos stops the army outside of 'traps of doom' radius.
"Greetings, Vassels of Hammar, We've come to gather those still at the temple to battle the dreadmarch."
Dracos
They stare at you for a while, since you're out of earshot. You're about ready to believe that they're just ignoring you, when three more pop up from what looked like a dead end in the maze.
They look at you a bit curiously, and one of them asks, "What are you doing in this godforsaken stretch-- Eske?" He turns when he sees the leader. "What happened?"
Eske just shrugs, and says, "It's complicated."
"That's one way to put it. Anyhow, you like the rest of us are trapped behind enemy lines. We figure that there is strength in numbers, so have been gathering those who've been left behind to our banner. Hopefully, we'll find a way through to the keep soon. I assume from the unblooded fortifications around here, that things have been peacefully dull?"
Dracos
One of the vassals turns to the one you were speaking to, and says, "He hasn't seen the charnel pit?"
The apparent leader scowls, and turns to face you. "My Lord," he says, bowing. "I am Lerris, Vassal of Hammar. We would be glad for the opportunity to work with you; we've managed to destroy the small parties of the Dreadmarch that come after us, but there is little we can do aside from just holding our own here -- a sizable enough force will eventually overwhelm us no matter what."
"Ah, I see. Well then, thanks be to Hammar that we've arrived before they have. If you can gather your men, we'll be heading off."
Dracos
He nods, and vanishes. The other two vassals just look up at you in a very cold and calculating way.
That's the perfect start of an awkward silence, but its robbed of its chance to develop into real discomfort -- one of the vassals on the roof jumps up and points at something that you can't see. Something behind the temple from your current position.
Dracos glances to Eske, "Be ready."
Turning his gaze back towards the vassals he was quite serious. "What's going on? Dreadmarch? Or something else? Do you have some form of signaling to figure it out faster than we can just run around and see ourselves?"
Dracos
Lerris is gone, but the other two vassals look back. One of the ones on the roof vanishes into the building, and the other one waves, pumping his fist in the air three times, and then pointing towards the far horizon.
The two vassals near you frown. "The Dreadmarch is approaching," one of them says.
At about that point, half of the vassals pop out of that little dead-end in the maze (they must have a door hidden there, or something) in their non-ceremonial armor, along with another pair of priestesses. The rest of the vassals show up after a few minutes -- there's 12 additional vassals here.
One of them (carrying a bow, so presumably from the roof) says, "The Dreadmarch is nearly upon us!"
"Eske, open a gate, somewhere in the wastes. It doesn't matter where. Men, prepare for a defensive retreat."
Dracos prepares to get the men through as fast as possible, waiting until they are through before getting through himself. Preferrably, he wants to get out of there before the dreadmarch arrives, but if not, fighting men last.
Dracos
They're starting to line the horizon on either side of the temple when its your turn through the gate. You could have stayed longer, but not much. You find yourselves in some point in the wastes. It's flat, featureless, and completely empty, except for the storm-riders and the others you've rescued.
The women and children seem really taken with this new method of transportation. Eske looks a bit tired here, and asks if he can rest.
"Indeed, and much thanks Loremaster."
Dracos sends out the scouts, checks the position of the moon, sets out a guard, and visually examines how the men seem to be doing.
Dracos
Your men seem pretty good, all told. Not too many wounded, morale seems pretty good (considering the situation, morale is nothing short of remarkable). Eske is okay, after a few minutes to recover.
"Loremaster, where on the plains are we abouts now?" Dracos asks Eske, checking the map.
Dracos
"The center," he says, pointing to -- obviously -- the center of the map.
Dracos nodded. "Okay, feel free to rest, Loremaster. I think we will need your aid later, but for now we'll be staying here."
"Loremaster Maithias, any news along the scanning things that you did?"
Dracos
"Yes," Mattias says, frowning. "I've located the other Lorekeeper ... but he's almost at the keep -- he must be hidden among the Dreadmarch."
"Hmm... Anyone fall for our trap or still empty?" Dracos asked simply while he pondered.
Dracos
"None have arrived yet. But we probably would have gotten word of them from the scouts, if we were close enough for them to fall into our traps so soon," Mattias says.
Dracos drums his fingers against each other. "True enough. How accurately can you see with your magic, out of curiosity?"
Dracos
"Well, that's going to depend," Mattias says slowly. "I can see whatever I set a ward to show me. Getting the ward into a place where it can do its work is the difficult part."
"Are you up to a bit of a scouting mission? I'd like to send about twenty scouts and yourself near the edge of the enemy lines. If you can perfectly hide that number from vision, you could give us some useful information on how organized their back ranks are and if there are any vulnerable points."
Dracos
Mattias nods slowly. "We'll need Eske to recover, first," he warns. "But I could hide twenty or so from sight without too much trouble."
"I wasn't thinking until later. Give you and Eske a chance to rest a bit. Thank you for your aid though. I will go get a group of men ready to go whenever the two of you are ready."
Dracos, if Eske and Maithias have nothing more to say, goes to hunt down Erik. "Hey Erik, got a moment? I'd like twenty of your sharper eyed scouts for a recon mission with Loremaster Maithias."
Dracos
"Didn't we already try this once?" Erik asks, somewhat skeptically.
"Yes, but Maithias as I understand will be able to keep those going invisible. That's why it's such tiny numbers. I know, it's risky, but we need information on their rear flanks if we're to do anything beyond what we've done so far."
Dracos
Rez sighs.
"I'll do it, but I don't really konw what we're going to accomplish other than 'hey, they're there, and there's 2 million dreadmarch between us and where we reckon the lorekeeper is'."
Erik seems to agree with Nathan's assesment. "Well, if you think this will result in anything positive," he sighs.
Mattias and Eske want a few minutes to prepare for this before making it happen, and Erik uses that time to round up willing men.
Rez decides, while he has the time, to question Liandral on something that's been bugging him.
"Liandral . . . under the ice, around here . . . do you know what's there?"
"Not really," he says, frowning. "Why. I saw you messing with it at one point.... What is it?"
Rez blinks, surprised.
"You must have very good eyesight. But it's not water, like I thought it would be . . . it was like, well, very thick and very cold smoke, or fog."
Liandral squints thoughtfully. "I wonder," he muses. "That ... doesn't make sense. How would it support the ice we're standing on?"
"I don't know. I was hoping you knew. There's no apparent way - it doesn't seem to be under enough pressure to be supporting the weight of the ice . . . and the icefields are far, far too wide for the ice to support it's own weight, so . . ."
Rez blinks as another question hits him.
"Liandral, is this world round, or flat, or has nobody ever travelled as far as they could in a direction?"
"Well, if Eske put us in the center of that map, then we're at the north pole," Liandral says. "The world is round, but the sun and moon are ... irregular.
"It shines here for one hundred and sixty years, after all. It's a wonder that this doesn't melt ... or that the storm-riders' eyes can adapt to the darkness."
"Hmm," Rez nods, "Thanks. It's . . . strange, to say the least."
Liandral shrugs. "The days and nights work normally everywhere else, though," he muses.
"They do?"
Rez blinks, then sighs irritably.
"Goddamn magic."
Liandral shrugs wordlessly. Eske and Mattias approach at this point, apparently ready for the scouting mission to the Dreadmarch.
"Let's get this done, I guess," Rez turns to Drac, "Have you anything in particular you want to know? Or do we just walk in, have a look, walk out, and hope they don't spot us or the gate?"
"I'd like you guys actually to wait until just around moonset. I want to see how alert they are in the rear while a fight is going on in the front."
Dracos
"Ah . . . so rather than scouting while there's some light for us to see, you'd rather we scout when there's almost none?"
Rez is clearly not too impressed with this suggestion . . . visibility being bad enough as is.
"Hmmm. Fair enough. Head out now. Surmise readiness, anything that can be hit hard and quick, and that's pretty much it."
Dracos
Rez nods.
"I don't know what sort of information we'll be able to get you, but we'll see what we can do, I guess. When will Eske make a return gate for us?"
"I can either leave it open, or come with you," Eske says. "I don't see anything else as safe enough to risk."
"You can't leave it open, it'll get spotted too easily, and you can't come with us. We're already risking one loremaster on this, there's no way in hell we're risking two."
Eske frowns. "Your choice, then," he says.
"That's . . . no, I don't like this at all," Rez looks at Drac, "I really think this is insane. If dreadmarch scouts are in the wrong place we'll be spotted the moment Eske opens the gate - and then our odds of getting back are very, very poor, Eske with us or not. Even then their loremaster may detect the gate opening, with roughly the same results. I really think this is pushing our luck too far."
No one says anything about this, except for Liandral. "I'm going to have to agree with Nathan," he says apologetically. "We should be really careful when dealing with the dreadmarch. Aside from which, no matter how unready they are, there's no way we'd be able to cut through three thousand thousand of them before they'd mount a successful defense against us. I imagine we could cost them our own number, perhaps twice or even three times that before we were slaughtered to a man." Eske and Mattias just nod grimly.
Dracos brushes his beard. "Perhaps you are right. Too much victory may have gone to my head a bit. Let's call off this scouting and keep to just keeping safe here for now. But I'd like not to just sit powerless out on the plains, so I am quite open to ideas on what else we can do to hamper the dreadmarch while we're stuck here."
Dracos
Mattias pulls out a sheaf of paper and quickly begins making notes on it. After a few minutes, he hands you a paper which has the following on it:The place where Jacob's house is, Nabiki's refuge from idiocy, and the original name of Nathan's ward.
UHBKWKRMYABBWCBGVFLHWSVZFZTNMIEGOLSQNLOMOQLTMUOGCECG
DGAHCGJEUZYNTHRQMPPDEPBBZZXJHHIUAZZEXSSOFYMLSIHCMUJKYHW
YLQEOGYQFHTNFFKIFUBDYFUGQBXFAKUXVZGOHMSSEVMIHOECCSIKKAP
JVTUVUHIMSEJOBDNIYAZMYAB
"Excellent!" Rez grins, "If you guys don't need me for the moment, then, I'll go and work out what this says."
Mattias and Eske look curious; Liandral only tries to glance at the sheet.
Rez doesn't turn it away, barely noticing.
"Can I borrow some more paper and ink, Loremasters?"
Mattias obliges, not really certain how you're able to use this to communicate, and curious about it ... but it looks like it's beyond him, too. Liandral quickly loses intrest after looking at the page for a moment.
Rez, well, wanders off and sets to.
And if nobody bugs him, he spends about an hour decoding it.
At about the same time you're most of the way through decoding the message, Nathan and Phil both feel a very familiar sensation -- the sensation of someone else tapping at a corner of your minds.
Hello, ladies. Did you miss me? And let's try to avoid names -- I'm not sure who else might be listening in.
Mattias stiffens at this, and closes his eyes in concentration.
Rez promptly spills his ink bottle over his decryption.
Mattias, for one. Where the fuck did you pull this from, Mr Mindboard?!
From my usual bag of tricks. And that's the first part of my message. The second part of my message is this: you had best make a pax with Liandral. Is he still with you?
~Pax? Pact? Or... Yes, he is. What's going on? And you realize this is probably tapped by ears other than our two friendly wizards here.~
Dracos
Well, that and they can trace our location. And don't surprise me like that, you bastard, you made me spill ink all over my decryption efforts. So, ahm, why didn't you cipher this? Seems kinda sensitive information . . .
I can't hold a cipher in my head, Bjorn 'writes' peevishly. And if you'd stop bloody drawing attention to it, it would be as ciphered as I can manage. And yes, I imagine others can listen in, and yes I imagine this can be traced, so stop wasting time. Do you have anything you can and should tell me?
~What do you know? We've taken out their supply lines as best as we can and left a shattered river of frozen gas along. There's an army of another million heading south from the citadel though who will likely bring more supplies. They should be a while in arriving though since it's a hell of a march out there. We've gathered up everyone in the temples and are, or were, hiding in the wastes. We'll have to move after this I think. There's also another dreadmarch force near the temple of Hammar. Don't know how many though, we vamoosed before we could really get a count. and I think that's it. Anything we should know on your end?~
Dracos
And, of course, the obvious point that the dreadmarch has an archon leading it. We told Radagast that.
Only news on this front that I'll risk sharing is: we're in deep shit. Likely won't be in touch again, unless disasters arise. Stick to the other channel. Don't get yourselves killed, ladies.
And with that, Bjorn starts to pull the mindboard back.
Hold on a second! 'Make your pax'? How'd you find out, and that's particularly ambiguous as to what you expect us to do . . .
I meant what I said. Make pax with him. There's a hesitation, as Bjorn tries to figure out how to phrase the next bit. He was the third in the message I sent, and the first has been informative. We seem to be walking the same road for now.
Whee, curveballs. I like. Sankyuu for the heads up. There's numerous other interesting stuff but nothing particularly important, unless you want killscores, so we'll see you when we see you. G'luck.
~Curse yer damn cryptic tongue. Okay, that's more informative at least.~
Dracos
Without further ado, Bjorn withdraws the mindboard.
Dracos brushes his beard and in the way of leaders used to brushing things under the table, proceeds to start with a glance over who 'noticed' what just happened, pointedly glancing over Eske and Maithias and Liandril.
Dracos
Liandral seems oblivious, as does Eske. Mattias looks very confused. "Who was that?" he asks after a moment, looking between you. "And who was he talking to?"
"Well," Rez looks faintly sheepish, "Us. I'm not sure quite how he did that, but . . . well . . . we may have some explaining to do . . ." there's a slight pause, ". . . as does Liandral."
Mattias frowns. "I didn't hear anything sent back, though," he says.
Liandral looks up. "What?"
"Pax Arcana, Liandral." Rez says quietly.
He raises his eyebrows at this and says, "So ... Order of Symmetry?" looking at you like he can't believe what he's hearing.
Dracos takes a second to frown at Rez and shake his head ever so much. "I thought I was supposed to be the tactless unsubtle one, Nathan. Loremasters, fellow Stormriders, bare with us a moment, I'll explain in a bit, but what is about to go on here, I'd like not to leave this tent."
Dracos shakes his head again, keeping his form relaxed, though ready to leap to action if things go poorly. "Liandril, this changes things a bit. And yes, you have surmised correctly, though I would have preferred things to be handled a bit more cleanly. Anyhow, I'd like to know what your intent is here. Ours should be obvious, while we are not the most aware, it's clear that the dreadmarch must be stopped at whatever cost necessary. That someone has arranged for the forces of 'good' as I'd call them to be crippled heavily while bolstering the dreadmarch at every possible end. I'd initially assumed it was Pax, getting here before us, but apparently my math was off on that note, as it no longer makes logical sense with you being one and here. So, what is the intent of your group?"
Dracos
Rez is blinking slightly, then when Drac finishes blurts out something else unsubtle and tactless.
"You didn't know?!"
You've certainly created a lot of confusion. Your command staff is surrounding you in the snow, looking at you oddly.
Liandral blinks a few times, and then shakes his head. "We can play the elven game of strategy -- Pax Arcana, later, Lord Bloom," he says. "I do recognize its tactical value as a model of what is happening here, but we've more pressing concerns at this moment."
Dracos coughs, taking the opening. "Right...Sorry. Anyhow, I believe you were wondering what that message was, Maithias? What did you hear of it?"
Dracos
"I heard someone else speaking ... but didn't understand much of what was said." He looks quiet for a minute, and then says, "You heard him sending, too, then, so I imagine you said something to him ... but I couldn't hear that. Was that one of Radagast's other Lorekeepers?"
"You could say that. That was Parthipan, the lorekeeper who'd come with us to protect the priestess of Hammar. It was a bit surprising that he could manage that."
Dracos
Mattias frowns. "Oh," he says, rubbing his chin. "Well, that was interesting. I'll have to meet him, at some point."
Dracos shakes his head tiredly. "Anyhow... let's rest now. In a few hours though, I'd like to move again since if you heard that, others possibly could as well."
Dracos
Your commanders agree, and every pretty much settles down to rest and catch their breath. Your tent is set up for you in this interval.
Dracos heads to his tent, assuming Liandril to follow. If liandril does not, Dracos glances back, "Liandril, please join me for a moment."
Dracos
He does follow, along with Nathan. Once you're ensconced in the privacy of the tent, he turns to look at you expectantly. "And now what?" he asks.
"That's a good question. First though, how much do you know and what are your goals here?"
Dracos
"I know a bit, and I'm supposed to keep you out of harm's way -- which means making sure that the Dreadmarch loses," he says authoritatively.
"Hmm... well then, our plans for at least the short term link up. What do you plan after the dreadmarch is defeated? Or do you have plans that far?"
Dracos
"Once that's done, we're done, and so, we'll leave," he says, shrugging.
Dracos nods. "So a temporary alliance? Who else do you have around here?"
Dracos
"I haven't seen any of the others, except for Lindsey," he says, shrugging. "She's still at the keep."
"Hmm...So, what do you know? We'll have to keep up the front, better than what this surprise just did."
Dracos
"What do I know about what?" Liandral asks, looking just the slightest bit annoyed.
"About the world. I'm curious how well briefed you were before entering. Most of what we have is guesswork."
Dracos
"Oh," he says, relaxing a bit. "Well, we were given the metasituation -- that is, we were told that there would be two contesting armies. Our oracle warned us that the set-up was severe enough that if two factions entered simultaneously, they would be working together instead of in competition in order to try and set things straight. The Seventh Cabal sure did a number on this place, from what I've seen of it, though."
"Quite. As I've seen it were insanely outnumbered and most of the talent on our side has been obliterated beforehand. A real burn the bridge behind them setup. Anyhow, the current setup is such that you're my trusted elven ally. You don't have much position officially in the stormriders. Anything else you'd like to know about the setup here?"
Dracos
"I've been me since Stormwall Keep," he says, smirking. "I've cottoned on to most of that."
Dracos laughs. "I'm...surprised. You kept a good act up."
Dracos
"Well, that's good to know," he says. "So. Now what?"
"Unless you have ideas, I intend to watch and do what I can. We have to move out of here since we may have been tracked, but at the moment I don't see anywhere we can strike to weaken the army or get past the loremaster to join up with those at the keep."
Dracos rubs his beard. "You were 'Liandril' since the keep? Then why were you surprised about the order of symmetry when I told Liandril about that a little after the keep? Or at least hinted strongly at it."
Dracos
"We're not the only ones who can go into the dreams," he explains. "Sometimes, people will do it alone just to try and gain power. They don't ... they don't do anything for the Contest if they do that. But, really. It's power. I thought you were just a pair of ... specials trying to gain enough power to do something. What, I didn't know, and as long as you weren't going to help the Dreadmarch here, I didn't really care."
"Hmm...Reasonable enough. So there are...five of you in here? One with me and one at the keep. Any special tricks you have I should know about?"
Dracos
"Not yet," Liandral says, frowning. "I need time before I can bring my tools into this dream from the waking world."
"Bring tools in?" Dracos raises an eyebrow curiously.
Dracos
Rez is listening quietly to the conversation, not saying anything - because while he's listening, he's got another interesting thought on his mind.
Reluctantly releasing his hold on his other-self's skills, the ones that he's been depending on and honing ever since they left the keep, Rez tries to reach back to his real-world self in the same way he could back in the dream m when he first got the gauntlet - trying to perceive something if he can, but also trying to see if he can feel - and take hold - of the gauntlet.
"Yeah. Things that were on my other body when I came here," he says, nodding.
In the meantime, Nathan finds out that with some effort, he is aware of the glove on his other-self ... but not his other-self. And, unfortunately, he can't pull the gauntlet to himself, either. It's like his etherial 'hands' keep slipping, or he's just not strong enough to yank it through.
"Hmm.. interesting. So the longer we are here, the more options open up for us. That's good to know. Hum. It is certain that Seventh Cabal is out of here, right?"
Dracos
Liandral looks very thoughtful for a long minute, then says, "Well, we know that two people who weren't part of the Contest came in here. We never actually saw them leave, though, so ... they may still be here. But sometimes the exit point for the dream is somewhere else from the entry point. The Seventh Cabal operatives have been seen outside after entering this dream, though."
"Hmm...that's interesting to know. So there's the five of us. The five of you. And potentially two others. Until we know differently, we may as well assume that they are likely among the enemy to deal with. Hmm. Any ideas you have outside of what's been voiced for ways to weaken the dreadmarch while we're still out here?"
Dracos
"Not really," he says. "You seemed pretty on the ball. I don't know how advantageous it is to us to be where we are, now. We've done a good deal of damage to the Dreadmarch, but we're also kind of trapped. Not sure what we can do about that, though."
Rez grows irritably under his breath and resolves to try again later.
"Well, we need to break the seal holding Eske, as far as I can see, and unless you have any cool tricks the only way I can see to do that is the obvious . . ."
"It's not really advantageous anymore at all. Without the benefit of terrain, the main army not moving to give us any openings, and their largest extended force too big to attack, there's not many openings. We could set up a slaughterhouse along the path of the other force coming, but they'd know we were there and it's hard to do that with that large an army. Hmm? The obvious, Nathan?"
Dracos
"Bull-rushing an army of two or three million just to get a single man will hurt, though," Liandral says, shaking his head. "Breaking the ward ... magic isn't my specialty. But ... if we could sneak some men in -- no, wait. The same kind of mage would detect the invisibility, wouldn't he?" Liandral looks pensive.
"Almost certainly. The obvious tactic pretty much is a bullrush . . . but if Mattias can locate the loremaster with the charm, Eske might be able to put a gate next to him. It's risky and bound to be bloody, but we really do need Eske free to move or we're not going to get anything else accomplished, as I see it."
"Hmm...there has to be a better way...hmm...perhaps a swift communication of coordinates to the other loremasters at the keep? Radagast was a master of combat, right? Maithias said he couldn't hear what 'we' said back. We may have a way to communicate the target without them knowing we're targeting them. Enough magic flung that way should do the trick as well and would be safer starter."
Dracos
"Just because Mattias can't hear it doesn't mean that they can't, and you know their Loremaster won't be stupid enough to go by himself. The really unpleasant thing is that once the archon and friends catch up to the main body, he'll likely be hanging around them, making it an even more bloody and unlikely-to-succeed idea."
"Yes, but that should be several days march, Nathan. And who said anything about him going somewhere? If Eske can gate gigantic distances, aren't the odds good that someone has a long range attack that can hit in the middle of their army? Normally wasted energy with the generals unknown, but if we could target their leaders like that?"
Dracos
"Maybe. I don't think we'd survive the attempt either. The main reason I suggest it, though, is because there's a limited window for it . . . and one way or another we have to get Eske free to move, or we'll never make it back to the keep. If we stay in the field they'll eventually run us down and kill us, most likely sooner rather than later."
"So ... what's the plan then?" Liandral asks.
"The plan is to wait till Maithias can locate accurately the other loremaster, then send a secret message to the loremasters at the keep and hope they can take them out. If that fails,we'll have to quickly follow it up with a direct assault while they are still disorganized from whatever raining death the mages can deal out. Any objections?"
Dracos
"I don't like that very much either, although I admit it's safer. See, the Dreadmarch lorekeeper won't go anywhere near the keep so it'll be at very long range, and if they miss . . . the lorekeeper will know we're gunning for him and do whatever he can to thwart another such attack - or set a trap."
"We'll have to be in contact with them during the attack. Coordinate it so that there is not time to organize a trap or set additional preparations. If the first attack fails, the second has to come immediately afterwards."
Dracos
"The only way to do that is . . . well, they'd hear, and they'd know."
"Not true. A notice of 'go in now' sent if it fails, yes, they'd know, but what could they do about it in the very immediate sense when their loremaster is running for his life?"
Dracos
"Make him alert and very hard to drop a gateway directly onto, as well as having copious amounts of dreadmarch soldiers rushing to protect him."
"Then so be it. It's better for the safer and then risker gambit than to just chuck away a few hundred or so mens lives when we could've gotten him without such risks."
Dracos
"This is true, and I'm not saying it's the only way, but it's a possibility. We need to talk to Mattias, and then we need to do whatever has the best chance of working - because if we screw this up, we won't get another chance, and then it's quite likely that we all die out here."
"Agreed enough on that note."
Dracos
"For what it's worth, the path of most resistance might not be such a bad idea," Liandral finally opines. "Eske can work his gateing mojo on the other side of the seal, as I understand it. He can also drop us right before the edge of the army. The mouth of the pass is relatively narrow, right?
"I'm thinking -- this may be a long shot, but it could work -- if he can make a wide gate, wide enough to fill the gap, then any Dreadmarch that comes after us will end up out HERE, while we end up on the tail end of their charge against the keep.
"This is a kind of all-or-nothing gambit, especially if we bring all the women, children, and wounded with us. But we can wait until the moon sets, so we know the battle's started. Open the gate, and cut off their reinforcements. Hit them hard, and with everything we have. Rush the ones we're trying to protect straight into the keep. If we do it right, and crush their General, the day is over, and they retreat -- again, through our own gate, which drops them here.
"We leave nothing of use to them behind, and any who get dropped here then starve or freeze, without any way to reach their reinforcements."
Liandral gives both of you a moment to consider this, and then adds, "And best case scenario, we get their magus, and the whole thing is moot, right?"
"We were thinking about that earlier, but making a gate -that wide- didn't even occur to me . . ." Rez hums, "Exactly how many noncombatants do we have?"
"That's particularly insane. I like it. We have to see if it's fesiable at all though. If Eske can't make a gate that large or close to it, we'd have a problem. I don't think we have that many non-combatants, but you know, I've never bothered having a count taken."
Dracos
"Eighteen thousand non-combatants, not counting wounded, which I think are at about five hundred," Liandral replies. "It's ... if I understand correctly -- I've been watching the magi, because them betraying us is something I classify as worst-case-scenario material -- it's a tradeoff between size and duration when it comes with the portals. And he may not be able to move or defend himself.
"Ideally, he can make something too high for arrows to be shot over, and hold it for as long as we need. We do have the practical upshot of the fact that a wider gate means we can get through it faster, so if there's less time, we may still be okay. But the arrows are something that concerns me, as I've seen zero Storm-riders with shields, and the same number of armored non-combatants."
"Exactly why I was leery about the idea of a mad dash when it was first suggested. Our men themselves can usually afford to take arrow fire because if their armour doesn't protect them, they've usually been hit somewhere that won't immediately kill them - so the healers can save most later . . ."
Rez hums.
"Well. In your plan, Liandral, if the men fail to kill the general, almost none of the noncombatants will make it to the keep - and most of our wounded can't run. This doesn't take into account whatever booby-traps the keep dwellers may have set up. A mad dash, I think, is still too dangerous . . . but the idea of dropping most of our men in the middle, leaving some behind to guard our noncombatants . . . that has potential, and it might be our only hope . . ."
Rez considers.
"Unless we could rout their front line back. That would give us a hope, but it's still very, very risky."
"It'd take coordination," Liandral says, frowning. "But if we knew that the general was in the back, and we could swarm him -- and I'm confident, in all honesty, that we could, taking them from the back unawares -- then we'd have a clear path to rush the innocents to safety.
"We'd need to be quick about it, and it's not risk free ... but I don't know that there is a plan that is. I can't imagine that the Dreadmarch is going to idly sit by and ignore us out here -- and if they do, we've got problems, such as the fact that the ice cap was pretty much cut in half. We've got Eske to help us cross it, but I think they've got something, too -- the entire Dreadmarch army that left the dark citadel made it from there to the temple of Hammar in a veryshort amount of time.
"If we stay here, it's a given we're going to die. They can't expect us to know that, though. It seems to me in all honesty, teleporting into the middle of their offensive of the keep is not only the dumbest thing to do, it's also what they'd least expect.
"But ... I harbor a suspicion that they expect we'd do it, anyway. And that we'd only do it if we had no other plans.
"I think we need to assume that they can communicate ... well, we know they can. But we need to assume that they can communicate without letting us eavesdrop, too. So they'll know if we're desparate enough to make the jump.
"Money says they're ready for us right now, and if we jump, we get slaughtered. What we need to do is fool them -- in every possible way. We need to convince them that we're going to hole up here, so they ignore the threat of us dropping into their front-lines. The second they don't expect it, we jump, crush a general, and are essentially home free.
"I think there's two other possibilities with that seal, too. I don't think it gets in their way ... but I think something prevents them from making gates like ours. Otherwise, they'd just go to the other side of the mountains from the citadel, circle around, and fall upon the keep from behind. It'd take a tiny force to pull that off, and they haven't yet."
Liandral gives you both a moment to absorb this, and adds, "That's what I think, anyway. If you're using a code of some sort, we can use that to our advantage to coordinate."
"They can't have gates. They might have something that lets them move fast, but they can't have gates. Otherwise they would've never bothered with a seal that would've limited them. Eske wouldn't have been as important if they could stick a million men behind the citadel to rush the rear. It'd be strategically dumb to give that up in exchange for us getting a few thousand more men in. They could possibly not have expected it and accidentally trapped themselves, but that doesn't make much sense either. It looks too well prepared not to have considered that possibility. I'm almost never a believer in 'they planned for the plan of the plan'. I can't see any reason they'd be that prepared for us gating into the middle of their ranks. The more pertinant problem is that without any specific plan against us doing this, they could quite possibly end up crushing us under the numbers. No need for subtelty when you have that many men between us. Either way, I think that the road through is probably the best thing to take, if it can be done. Eighteen thousand is a lot to bring through and cover though. Hmm... We do have that secure communication, so we can know where and what traps are there to dodge. We'd have to go right for the general, in the middle of it all. A wedge formation, keeping the woman, children, and injured deep inside the wedge, The strongest of us at the forefront going right towards the general. Time it to coincide with a charge from the keep dwellers as it should get through. While the idea of sending false info is idea... At the same time, how would we do it? Assume they can spy on our preparations? Can we really fake 30000 men holing up while preparing for an attack if they can spy accurately with magic. If we drop info over communications, they'd disbelieve it and know we were coming because we've shown that we can encrpyt it and it'd be silly to say 'yeah, we're staying right here'. Hmm... Any other ideas on doing that? It seems sort of a waste of energy to me at the moment."
Dracos
Liandral considers this, and then says, "It may not actually be too hard. We could return to the death-trap we'd established, and make it look like we're digging in for good there. We could go to the opposite side of the mountain range, and dig in there. The idea is to make it look like camp is going to be more than temporary, which isn't too hard. Just build a few solid looking structures that are visible from a distance -- watch towers, a few extra fires with green wood to make more smoke, if we've got a field anvil in the supplies -- which we should -- we could set up a smithy. That doesn't take too long, with as many men as we've got, but I'm sure it looks like it does."
"Hmm... And that would leave the gate inside the deathtrap. Hmm, not that there should be tremendously much room to move there. Hmm...the other route might be better. Either way though, we're assuming scouts, rather than what is the main risk, magical vision. If Mattias can see through what you describe, than we should assume the other loremaster is capable of it, I think."
Dracos
"Well, we could find out from him, then," Liandral says. "You want me to go get him?"
"Hmm...yeah, why not." Dracos nodded.
Dracos
Liandral vanishes, and returns shortly with Mattias (and Eske) in tow. The two Loremasters look around, like they're expecting to see something, and seem dissapointed when they don't.
"How may we help you?" Mattias says, pulling his eyes up from the floor of the tent and looking at you directly.
"Sorry to bother you, Loremasters, but Liandril had an interesting idea on how to go about getting to the keep, and I'm trying to figure out if we can actually do it. The idea is during the middle of next battle, Eske would open a giant gate and we'd charge into the rear flank of those leading the assualt on the keep, charging for the general and all going through. The gate would cover the whole range, cutting off the retreat and any reinforcements, or at least, dropping them off here, scattered away from the rest of the army. It's figured though that if they expect us to do that, they'll be prepared... so the question is how accurately can your wards detect what's going on, Mattias? I don't think the enemy loremaster is likely to be far more effective than what you'd be capable of in keeping an eye on us, so it'd be a good estimate of what we can get away with."
Dracos
"Unless he thought to place watching wards in the camp before we were there, he wouldn't be able to see much of anything at all," Mattias says after a moment of thought.
"Could you find said wards if he did? Would it be possible for him to have put watching wards over most of these plains beforehand perhaps?"
Dracos
"Yes, and yes. But my guess is that the seal on the mountains really took all of his attention to set up. I have been watchful, but not encountered any wardstones to watch us anywhere nearby," Mattias says.
Dracos nodded. "That's very good to hear. Anything you can do to help protect the non-combatants who'll be at the center behind us when we charge? Anything you can do will be much appreciated."
Dracos
Rez taps his chin thoughtfully as something occurs to him.
"Hey . . . if we were thinking of having the dreadmarch charge forwards through one of Eske's gates, why not have that side of the gate lead into the chasm? That way we don't even have to worry about them starving out here, or any confusion with them popping out and walking -around- the gate to the rest of our forces that haven;t charged through yet."
"That ... is much harder to manage," Eske says, frowning. "Unless the edge of the gate is in front of the chasm, of course. But it's possible. And I can make it wide enough to cover the entire approach to Stormwall Keep.... But I don't think I could make it last for more than ten minutes."
"Hmm... What's the nearest chasm to here? Is there one we can march too easily? I think if we gate, we'll be giving them at least a little hint. And ten minutes to kill a general...I think we may be able to manage that."
Dracos
"There aren't any within a few hours march," Mattias warns. "We could gate to one, though."
"In that case, I'd need time to regain my strength," Eske warns. "I don't know if we could do it during the upcoming battle ... but if there is a next, then we should be able to manage."
"What if we don't worry about dumping them in a chasm or gating now, do you think you could be recovered before moonfall?"
Dracos
"Yes," Eske says slowly. "We could."
"We need to coordinate with those at the keep, though," Liandral warns.
"Yes. We do. But Mattias can convey messages while Eske rests. Rez, can you prepare a secret message informing the keep of our plans quickly?"
Dracos
"Mmhmm. Write down what you want to say and I'll cipher it for Bjorn."
"Eh? Just tell them that we intend to gate in and lead a charge along the rear flanks of the enemy, heading for the general. We'll all be there and it'll be a one shot deal that we intend to use to get to the keep. We'd like to coordinate time of attack with their charge out."
Dracos
Rez nods, and starts scribbling down an enciphered message for Bjorn, which takes him a little while.
WEAREBOREDANDNOWGETTINGASSESOVERTHEREGOINGTOHAVEESKEGATEUSINATTHEENTRANCETOTHEBATTLEFIELD
WILLUSEGATETOBLOCKDREADMARCHFORCESFROMENTERINGBATTLEFIELD
SIGNALUSWHENYOUWANTUSTOGATEIN
"Well," Liandral says. "That sounds like a plan. You should probably all get some sleep, and once the moon starts to go down, we'll make sure everyone's awake and ready for it."
Dracos nodded. "Mind carrying the message to all the commanders, Liandril?"
Dracos
"Not a problem," Liandral says, smirking slightly. "Get your rest -- I'll wake you when it's time."
This thread now becomes Keep Hope Alive (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=35787#35787).