>bumping with updated area map. Blue square is the second force, arrow is the enemy's line of advance.

>bumping again, guess I'll just have to try again thursday or something with the way things are looking right now

"Hopefully the other maniples will deal with the shield swiftly and as humanely as possible. We can't save everyone. However, I need you to begin the organization of our men to the wagons and cavalry to be ready to go at a moments notice with our elementalist cadre to take down the force trying to slip past us. The faster you do it, the quicker you can arrive on the main battlefield as a flanking cavalry force against the lords.

>bumping with world map, one more after this I guess

>>15486471

"Our job is to stop the enemy force from bypassing or flanking our allies, not worrying about our allies' jobs."

I've got no other responses, really.

>>15486471
Yes, we have intelligence about the number of Uurlanthi we will fight. We also know that they have brought quite a few skilled earth elementalists judging by the base they have created. But this initial assault is a gambit, to count our archers and use up our traps before the real strike occurs, I believe

You shrug "Our job is to ensure that no force bypasses the line set by the other maiples. I trust them to do their jobs, and they trust us to do ours. Gaius, Cornelius, Sansa, as I will be away, it is your responsibility to ensure that the maniple is loaded on wagons, and the cavalry ready to ride as soon as we are aware of the direction that our foes are moving. As to the main enemy force, it is simply a probe, to count our archers and deplete our traps."

The three you singled out all nod, but do not set off, waiting for your leave. "Commander, will we be taking a separate wagon, to ensure that we will be able to reach the rest of the maniple?" Kyria asks.

Degrian tugs at his mustache before interjecting "If you did, could take four heavy repeaters with extra space. No loss of speed. May wear on beasts pushing wagon however."

I say we take the repeaters with us. Find the enemy, intercept then put the smackdown on them.

>>15486921
Leave the heavy repeaters. The time to set them up will take too long. Let the other commanders use them. And yes, Kyria, we will leave a wagon for you and your men.

rolled 4, 8 = 12

When it comes down to it, we'll need to let loose HELL on those slaves in the first place so they don't reach the traps and set all the good ones off.

You nod "We will take them, the wagon will be large enough to fire all four once the soldeirs have disembarked." you look about, everyone ready to do their part "This is just the first fight in what is certain to be a difficult campaign. Stay sharp, and be mindful of losses, we have a long road ahead of us."

The others at the table salute, rise, and disperse to ready their soldiers. Kyria, however, walks over to you "Aside from observing aerial combat, and providing support to our forces, what do you hope to accomplish by riding out with me instead of remaining with the rest of the maniple? Not that I'm complaining..." she trails off, falling into step with you as you leave the tent.

>your response will be worked into the start of the first action post of this battle. Battle screens wont be up immediately however, as you are not going to be in command just yet.

>>15487127
"Its important to take the measure of an enemy. What we observe now will have bearings on all future combat.

rolled 1, 10 = 11

>>15487127
I expect the enemy will be probeing with their earth elementalists, and I will working to slap their patetic lot asides while lena gets her chance to make them a charred spot on the ground. Maybe a little alone time with you, which is a pleasure within itself.

>>15487182
That's about it, really.

maybe add "I want to see how they fight before really stepping up."

You shrug "I would not be surprised if our foe has some elementalists hidden inside this probe, so I will negate their pressence. On top of that, first-hand information on a foe is always the best when one is attempting to measure a foe. And of course, spending time with you..."

Kyria smiles "Not the most personal outing, but since I have to share, I'll take it."

-----CQ-----

An hour later Kyrias rangers are deployed in front of the auto-wagon you rode in on, one side of it pulled off, four Heavy Repeaters angled upwards on it. Your entire detachment is off to the right flank of Commander Renols forces. The entire force is grim in its demeanor, all of them good Degnarians, and as such, abhorred by the prospect of slaying slaves, rather than breaking their bonds.
>cont'd

The enemy force approaches, A wing of griffon knights, and one of pegasus knights casting large shadows on the slaves the midday summer sun. A matching force of Degnarian aerial cavalry streaking towards them. Lances and greatswords leveled and held ready respectively. On the ground the slave throng rushes onward, most of them wielding homemade weapons of varying sorts, wood, stone, some poorly wrought iron. You raise your arcane detection crystal, which promptly begins shifting from one indication to another. Either the slaves were never screened, or each of the mail-clad, whip wielding slave drivers has arcane talent. As the throng reaches the first traps, Renol signals for his archers to hold their fire, even as the slaves begin using their wooden staves to probe the ground before them.

Above you, the flying cavalry wings collide, into a chaos of high speed maneuvering, diving, dodging and killing. Lances abandoned into the chests and limbs of foes, elongated weapons smashing against each other with tremendous force. And slowly, the combat moves into your own soldiers range. Much as the slaves and their drivers approach your own range. Lena looks to you for approval, her eyes set, her face determined... your foes within her range, she awaits her orders, as do all of your soldiers.

rolled 93 = 93

>>15487377
Give the command for "At mid range, unleash hell"

making a test roll

rolled 27 = 27

>>15487405
Wow. I know what I really don't want to be doing tonight.

rolled 76 = 76

One last test roll. If no-one else shows up soon, I'll go ahead with a command roll.

Command roll go!

>>15487444
it goes in the email field.

rolled 100 = 100

>>15487444
whups, wrong field. Stupid noko

rolled 34 = 34

>>15487377
Wait for the slaves to reach the accurate fire range of our archers, then unleash a storm of fire from all we've got simultaneously. Concentrate as much devastation in a single volley as we reasonably can.

Rolling for it.

rolled 62 = 62

Non-noko command roll

rolled 51 = 51

>>15487448
That's my second 100 in this quest...

>>15487464
One more and you get voted off the island.

>>15487448
Lets botch this

>>15487526
No need. Dice rolls that have been noko'd don't count.

You wait until your foes are within your optimum range, already the slaves are through the worst of the outermost layer of traps, and breaking into the first, and smallest of the three internal rings of traps. Feeling dramatic, you draw your blade, holding it out, and pointed to the east, when they enter your range, you drop the blade. The heavy repeaters and Lena begin unleashing their wrath into the aerial combat, Degnarian riders breaking away mere seconds before the begining of the initial volley impacts the flyers. The chaos deepens, as the enemy forces seem to split, half of them, mostly the Griffon knights, golden towers proudly emblazoned on their shields, dive for your emplacement, their mass allowing them to pick up frightening amounts of speed, though they are joined of some of the Pegasi knights, crimson scorpions on thier barding. As the terrifying screach of a furious griffon fills your ears, the beast swiftly bearing down on the autowagon, several others diving with it, though more than a few are falling to bolts from the repeaters, the first enemy elementalist makes his pressence known.

He punches a hold through a large portion of your traps with a pulse of earthen stakes. The ground behind his assault rough, but the wide arc it encompassed means the slaves will deal with a good deal more traps than had been planned for. The slaver is near you, but it would be a breach of formation to charge and deal with him personally.

Kyrias rangers begin switching out boxes of bolts on their repeaters, most of them looking up to the rapidly closing griffons, rather than the slaves rushing through arrows and traps towards teh anvil that is Commander Renols maniple.

>>15487448
>>15487451
>>15487455
Botch with these three?

Archers attack the slaves when in range.

Lena to engage targets at her own discretion, although ask her if she can snipe off enemy air cavalry with accuracy.

rolled 33 = 33

>>15487548
Elementalism roll to his the slaver.

Let Lena and our troops worry about the griffons.

Deal with the enemy earth elementalist. A few Earth spikes on his position. This will minimize collateral damage to our traps.

Command roll, since TRO already rolled elementalism.

rolled 46 = 46

herr durr me forgot roll

>>15487548
Lena should be able to wipe those griffons from the sky. If nothing else, she can make a shield over our autowagon and laugh as the griffons smack into it like birds hitting a window.

We take out that elementalist with our own elemental powers.

"The flyers!!" you shout, gesturing upwards as you center yourself. The torrent of arcane and mundane projectiles lances into the diving knights. In the air, enemy flyers begin to fall back, victorious Degnarian riders circling about in victory, not wanting to risk being set upon by fresh Uurlanthi sky knights.

You lash out with your own elementalism, your spikes easily crashing against your foes just before they strike your traps. Any holes he attempts to close, you hold open. It is not easy, but you can feel that you have an edge over the Uurlanthi elementalists. A brilliant flash to your right lances upwards, incinerating a diving griffon, fuck they are getting close. "Thank you Lena" you chirp before blocking another enemy attempt to clear traps.

A pegasus bucks as a small forest of crossbow bolts appears in its chest, the motion causing it to sail over the autowagon, instead of crashing into it. "What about me, love?" Kyria asks, beaming up at you.

You collect your breath, though you wish you hadn't taken your guard down, as Lena catches a small storm of stone quills on an arcane wall. An incredibly angry looking slave driver stalking towards you, all manner of stone killing implements orbiting him. In the distance, a second wave of slaves begins its charge.

rolled 81 = 81

>>15487728
Let's teach this fucker how a REAL earth elementalist rolls! FUCK HIS SHIT!

ELEMENTALISM ROLL

Botch. Roll guys, roll.

Any enemy air cavalry still diving at us? Our troops should deal with whichever is closer to killing them, be it the enemy air cavalry or the slaves.

We'll deal with the enemy earth elementalist personally. Is he in combat range yet? Can we attack him without breaking rank?

rolled 100 = 100

>>15487764

Lena, shield us. Kyria, put an arrow through that man's head, would you kindly. Command roll

rolled 18 = 18

Botch for elementalism roll.

rolled 55 = 55

>>15487800
The shit is this! /tg/dice , /tg/ dice everywhere

>>15487800
We would like to have a word with you on the IRC regarding this roll

>>15487800
>>15487764
GOD FUCKING DAMNIT

Taffer, you are cordially invited to conference in the IRC room. We need to decide which horrible roll to use our botch on. -_-

rolled 42 = 42

>>15487800
Fuck it, we botch for this one instead. we can take an 81 roll in just about anything, but a 100 for a command roll will fuck up the whole army.

Okay, after consulting Pax in IRC, the 81 elementalism roll won't kill or wound our own troops. So we are botching the command roll.

"Lena, Kyria." you nod at both of them, before inclining your head at the oncoming elementalist.

"I have it under control, love." Kyria replies, firing into the oncoming elementalist, how easily deflects her bolts with a stone shield, as you advance under Lenas shield, until the two of you are too close for enemy missiles to be safe to use on you. as soon as you lash out with a stone spike, the man twists to the side, before crushing your attack with a massive, unshaped rock. He lashses out with a stone arrow, which bites into your leg, after blasting through the wall you hastily attempted to erect. Before you can back off to collect yourself, he strikes again, this time be shattering the arrow in your leg. The pain is excruciating, to say the least. You drop the man into a pit, buying yourself the time to check on the progress of your own soldiers, who are easily polsishing off the last of the aerial cavalry.

You feel the earth shift below you, just as you notice Jayne riding towards Kyrias battalion, even as they aim their repeaters towards the second wave of slaves. Then, the earth drops out beneath you, and you find yourself in a circular pit, its sides curving inwards, the makeshift arena itself much larger than the hole through which light streams.

Above you, a familiar owl passes towards your force, its feathers blue and yellow. The crack of a cruel whip draws your attention, the slave driver wearing a predatory grin, whip in one hand, stone arrows orbiting the other, as he slowly circles you, shortsword on his belt.

rolled 61 = 61

>>15487972
Rolling for combat.
Just kill this guy. Close inside of the whip's distance to use the Wolf Stance.

rolled 60 = 60

>>15487972
FUCK HIM IN THE FACE WITH EARTH SPIKES

You sigh, and draw your blade "Truly, you are a fool, chainmail and a whip against Degnarian Adamant?" you shake your head, and lash out with a series of stone spikes. as useful as they are on the battlefield, on a personal scale... Stones the size of your head obliterate each spike as you raise it.

Not that you are overly worried, the spikes were merely a distraction to allow you to close the gap with the slaver. You lunge forward, a horizontal slash aimed for the mans midriff... which is cought on his whip. the whip feels heavier than should be possible, as if it is made of meteorite, or adamant. Before you can get a proper feel for the weapon, it is away from your blade, and trailing behind the slaver as he circles you in the shadows of the large chamber, while you turn on point in the shaft of light. The slaver lashes out with a massive boulder, which you easily block with a small stone wall, before launching the stone fragments back at him, disappointed to see them suffer the same fate you had just salvaged them from.

The slaver cracks his whip at you, a strike you easily sidestep, shifting you into the shadow. Not relenting, he strikes again, impacting on your shield. And a third time, this blow wrapping around your blade, which you slash through the air, freeing your weapon before you can be disarmed. "Now that we know each other... the fun can truly begin." the slaver quips, stepping back into the shadow, keeping pace with you as he circles the chamber.

rolled 18 = 18

>>15488125
DETTE TERINGKAST VIL SKIDE ENDE DIG!

ROLLING FOR ELEMENTALISM!!

rolled 46 = 46

>>15488125
Combat roll again. Try to stay in Wolf Stance range.

>>15488149
I have successfully channeled viking rage.

So is anyone else having connection problems with the IRC channel or is it just me?

You growl "You will never know me... nor any others." At that, you riase a quartet of stone arrows to orbit your sword, as you raise it into the Wolf Stance. In rapid succession, you launch the projectiles, replacing each as soon as you fire it. The first few are dodged, the next two blocked by stone spikes. As you bound ahead, you dodge past one whip-crack, catch another on your blade, clearing it instantly. A third strike you leap over, as one of your stone spikes imbeds itself deep within the mans strong arm. Seconds later you bring your blade down, clearing the other arm from his body. You lash out with your armored boot, throwing the screaming scum to the ground. With a third stroke you end the bastards life, his head rolling to the side, frozen in a mask of pain.

You raise the central area of the arena, to see the first wave of slaves dying on Commander Renols maniples blades. No flying cavalry is left above the field, though Jayne is nervously pacing on Stormcloud. You can feel your leg mending itself as you approach her "The first force that will attempt to circumvent our main line has departed. They are breaking hard south, no doubt hoping to avoid our prepared defenses altogether. We will be able to catch them at our lines if we leave now, the rest of the maniple is already in place. Captain Corinth has the exact numbers.

>IRC is bineg weird, I'll be back in once its working right again

>>15488223
Been working fine for me. Have you tried using the imbedded chat box on suptg?

>>15488231
Let's get to it then. Today, no Uurlanthi survives the viking rage!

>>15488234
suptg wasn't loading for me last I tried.

>>15488231
Time we head out then and see how much the enemy has. Hopefully he has an idea on what they have too. Let's hope they can deal with any other elementalists that come their way unless you guys think we should leave behind some of our lesser ones to help them out.

>>15488223
Not just you. I've been disconnected as well.

>>15488231
The other maniple commanders seem to have this part of the battle well in hand. Perhaps we should go and attempt to intercept the mobile force now.

You nod, and signal for your forces to prepare to move "It would Seem Malcius and the others have this portion of the battle well in hand. Let us deal with the first group of fools that thinks they will be able to avoid our wrath."

By the time your detachment is on the move, you can see that most of the traps have been neutralized, and a proper force is gatehring onthe horizon "They arent wasting any time." Jayne notes as she rides beside you. On the wagon, you notice Lena petting Tassadus', a calm, content smile on her face.

------CQ-----

Your command staff is gathered off a good hundred yards from the main force, who are patiently waiting, assembled, but not truly deployed, most of them sitting in the grass, resting their muscles.

Two sheets of parchment sit on the table pulled from one of the autowagons, on one is your force, on the other, the observed enemy force. You opt to look over the latter first. "But no lord is leading the force" Gaius pushes "They expect this force to falter, or it would not be some knight who has the command."

>lists inbound

Ramon:
Knights 50/50
Chainmail, Spears, Javelins, Circleshields, Velociprey

Knights 50/50
Chainmail, Spears, Javelins, Circleshields, Velociprey

Sergeants 250/250
Chainmail, Spears, Circleshields

Vistyek:
Knights 50/50
Surecoat over Breastplate & Chainmail, Bucklers, Sabres, Javelins, Velociprey, Elves

Knights 50/50
Surecoat over Breastplate & Chainmail, Bucklers, Sabres, Javelins, Velociprey, Elves

Knights 50/50
Chainmail, Greatswords, Javelins, Lances, Pegasi

Knights 50/50
Chainmail, Greatswords, Javelins, Lances, Pegasi

Elven Riders 100/100
Velociprey, Leathers, Javelins, Falchions, Circle Shields, Spears

Elven Riders 100/100
Velociprey, Leathers, Javelins, Falchions, Circle Shields, Spears

Elven Light Infantry 160/160
Leathers, Falchions, Circleshields

Elven Light Infantry 160/160
Leathers, Falchions, Circleshields

Elven Light Infantry 160/160
ChainMail, LongAxes

Elven Light Infantry 160/160
ChainMail, LongAxes

Zales:
Knights 50/50
Scalemail, Poleaxes, Sabres, Heater Shields, Griffons, Elves

Armored Sergants 200/200
Surecoats over Breastplate & Chainmail, Falchions, Circleshileds

Armored Sergants 200/200
Surecoats over Breastplate & Chainmail, Falchions, Circleshileds

-190th Centurian
Gaius Rex
200/200
excellent
-454th Legionary
Cornelius Hoursch
200/200
excellent
-98th Warlords
Uurist Titius
150/150
excellent
-76th Deadeyes
Aurelius Caspius
100/100
excellent
-50th Dwarven Scouts
Finian Gaurush
100/100
excellent
-65th Dwarven Rangers
Kyria Esfelda
100/100
excellent
Estren Infiltrators
150/150
Lacerta
Staros Nimulus
excellent
Javelins, Slings, combat axes
-House Garlian Uursan Cavalry
Lady Jayne Garlian
50/50
excellent
Skyrus Thunderers
50/50
Dwarves
Doruth Mantes
excellent
Uursan, Plate Armor, Lances, Battleaxes
-Vohzd Lennis Riders
50/50
Vohzd Lennis
Excellent
Horses, straightswords, atlatl/javelins
-House Morlan Griffon Cavalry
Orin Trestus
50/50
excellent
-Daimus Skywings
Damian Corinth
Personal wing
Chainmail, polearms, valkeries
50/50
excellent
-Windet Cloudscreamers
50/50
Tomas Grentar
excellent
Valkeries, leathers, breatswords
-Blacktusk Raiders
75/75
Blackbird
assorted gear
excellent
-Elemnentalist Cadre 25/25
5 earth
6 nature
5 fire
4 water
5 air

>>15488306

Did our Heavy repeaters follow us or did they remain behind? If they returned with us, they can take care of the pegasi and griffons easily.

So many Velociprey riders... But they'll be moving at speed which is good. A simple trench should take care of them.

And no archers... This should be interesting.

Once the airborne cav has been taken cared of our's can fly about the units without javelins and rape them with their repeaters at range.

Did Kyria's unit come back with us?

If we still have a choice, I say keep her unit where it was, instead of leaving Renols's right flank exposed.

>>15488361
Disagree. We're going to need all our firepower to deal with these guys.

>>15488294
"Let's hope they're not sending out another force then and smash this one. If we can grab the knight alive, perhaps he'll be able to reveal a little more about their plans. Hopefully our repeaters will allow us to take control of the air and make wiping them out easier."

Think we should leave behind a few of our elementalists to help hold the front line?

>>15488374
Alright hammering out a bit more of a plan. Head out towards them in the wagons with our repeaters in the middle of the formation and our melee leading as a shield. They should focus on the cavalry both land and air although air is preferable. Have our land cavalry stick close to our formation for now since I don't want them getting picked off by the mass number of enemy cavalry. Hopefully we can mess up their formations with some elementalism before the lines meet.

The enemy force has two key weaknesses. No ranged air cavalry, and no archers.

I say we engage their flyers and try to kite them over to our lines. If we can focus fire on them without worrying about ground forces we may be able to force air superiority.

The enemy force has no archers, so our air cav can rain bolts on them with impunity.

>>15488306
That's a lot of cavalry, and no archers.

After winning the air battle, our air cavalry will need to harass the enemy velociprey, get them distracted enough for us to spike them.

Our infantry has to pin down superior numbers, protect our archers, and try not to get flanked.

Our archers need to whittle down enemy numbers before they can engage.

Our cavalry will need to keep the enemy velociprey off of our flanks and rear, until our air cavalry can distract them.

"We can't just let them past our lines, lord or no lord. Let's go!"

>>15488445
I was going to suggest the same thing.
The enemy force has limited ranged capability, and while they have a lot of cavalry, they're also mostly infantry.

I wonder if we could use the same tactic we used against the remnants of Khalless' rebel forces, firing artillery into them at range, then pulling back to a safer range when the enemy approaches.

If they try to use a cavalry charge, they'll have to do it without infantry support.

But in order for this to work, we need to wipe out their air element in the first few minutes of the fight.

>>15488321

Based on our units, perhaps the standard 2up, 1 back formation should be applicable.

Our heavy infantry in a general melee line with our lights behind to reinforce/flank and charge the enemy once battle is joined.

Our urrsan cav wings can cover over flanks and the repeaters behind.

The enemy is looking to break through our lines so our fliers will be our claws. Their job will be to hunt down enemy units looking to bypass our column completely and fire till their repeaters are dry.

On our part our earth elementalist and us should be making trenches to foul our enemy.

Water elementalist should try to make the area directly infront of our line muddy. That should foul up any charge and make troops slip and fall before they make contact. If we need to move up, they and the air elementalist can freeze it up.

Should we take a ride with our airborne cav? They'll expand our range and let us deal with more cav by making trenches.

>>15488445
I support the idea to lure the enemy air cavalry into the range of our heavy repeaters.

Our air cavalry should use skirmish tactics. Get into repeater range of enemy air cavalry, hit them with our repeaters, retreat before they can get into melee range with us. Rinse and repeat. Slowly draw them into our fire zone while skirmishing.

Winning the air battle is crucial. Otherwise there's no way we can prevent getting outflanked by that many enemy velociprey units.

Pax, are our air elementalists specialized in wind manipulation or lightning?

I'm wondering if they can create localized cyclones to cause enemy air cav to crash to the ground.

>>15488518
>a bit of both, and creating a powerful enough cyclone to do that is more advanced than they have had time to train up to, however

What's the grass height where we'll be fighting? Man-tall? Dwarf-tall?

>>15488535
What about giving our arrows, bolts, and ballistae bolts a tailwind to increase their range? Or maybe increase accuracy?

Or are they more lightning experts, and so we should use them to create cascading lightning strike?

I'm thinking we just send Blackbird and his men into the grass and tell them to "have fun".

Said "fun" should commence on the rear ranks of the enemy infantry units, once they are engaged in melee.

Guys, may I suggest that as soon as the enemy is in range, we do a quick scan of them, so we know if we need our elementalists on counter-elemental duty, or if we're free to go on the magical offensive.

>>15488564
Second.

>>15488538
>just above a short dwarfs head

>elementalist skill list
5 earth
--2 terrakenisis, average
--3 fissures, average
6 nature
--2 healing (in camp, very skilled)
--4 enhancement, above average
5 fire
--4 fire controling, above average
--1 combustion, below average
4 water
--2 water-chaneling, average
--1 ice, above average
--1 steam, below average
5 air
--3 lightning, average
--2 wind, below average

>>15488600
Form three teams of: enhancement + fissures + lightning. Attach to our infantry units. Flanking velocipreys get fissures opened underneath their claws. Anyone within javelin range get lightning bolted.

Wind and telekinesis elementalists should assist archer units.

Fire elementalists in reserve. Starting a huge firestorm is probably plan D or E. I'm assuming that Laelith is skilled enough to attack without setting the whole grass plain on fire.

Water elementalists should make the ground beneath the enemy muddy, and the ground beneath our troops dry.

>>15488708
This is the plan.

>>15488306
1 griffon air cavalry unit
2 pegasi air cavalry units
6 velociprey cavalry units
3 medium infantry units
4 elite light infantry units

And all this is just a probing attack that the enemy does not expect to survive. -_-

>>15488708
Agreed with all your points except the fire.

What if we use them as 1 team: Combustion creates an explosion, and the 4 fire controllers siphon off of that to become a flamethrower squad. They're above average so they should be able to keep from burning the entire plain down around us.

>>15488841

I doubt the usefulness of such a squad. A 4 man team of all our fire elementalist to create a short ranged weapon.

A volley of arrows or javelins would destroy them. It's not worth using them like that.

>>15488853
We should indeed be careful. The only reason I'm sending out the three smaller teams is because:
1. The enemy has no archers, only javelin throwers.
2. Our academy will soon be churning out replacements to cover our casualties.

Otherwise they'd be all huddling under Lena's shield.

>>15488874

Well because they are the most experienced elementalist in the realm, therefore we have to take care of them. In fact, its well over due that we rotate them back to the academy to teach the next generation of elementalist, instead of having them fight fight and fight until they are dead here out in the field.

You sigh "A standard battle-line to receive their charge should suffice. Captains Corinth, Grentar, and Trestus, you will attempt to lure the enemy aerial cavalry into range of our own missile units. Once they have fallen to modern tactics and technology, our archers to put all of their efforts into whittling down the enemy force before they strike our lines. Our elementalists will split into several teams, an elementalist skilled in lightning, fissures, and enhancement to three teams, one team to Cornelius, Gaius and Uurists battalions. Fire elementalists in reserves, and the rest to disperse amongst our archers."

"And the Cavalry?" Jayne asks, as the others nod in approval.

"You will flank our foes once that becomes an intelligent action to take, wait in the flanks for now." you reply confidently.

Blackbird looks back, and chuckles "They come to their slaughter as we speak." You look yourself, and see the enemy force on the horizon.

"Have you any specific orders on how we are to form this battle-line? Which battalions positioned where?" Finian asks, as you do your best to make out which units are where.

Jayne chuckles "Wide formations for their cavalry, more chevrons than wedges really. Not as effective for a full charge, but considering that these lords are known for skirmishing and light cavalry and infantry..." she trails off sounding almost worried, though her voice and posture still show great confidence, in you if in nothing else.

>>15488909
First thing's first: scan that center unit of 5 for what type of elementalists they are.

I think we're going to need to concentrate fire on the center formation of Sergeants with their extra-long spears. We didn't come up with a counter for them, so I think we'll just have to kill them before they enter engagement range.

>>15488909

Front rank:
Warlords in the center, to meet their sergeants spears.
Legionares on the flanks, to meet their armored sergeants and light infantry.

Back rank:
Scouts in the center.
Hunters and Rangers on the flanks. Be ready to flank the enemy's light infantry flankers.

Uursan cavalry on far flanks.

Remind our air cavalry that they are to harass and engage enemy ground cavalry, once the air battle is over.

Blackbird and their men go do what they do best: Make the enemy crap their pants.

>>15488949
My answer to the extra-long spears is a Dwarven war-axe to the shaft.

>>15488954
Agreed with your deployment plan.

Should we have Blackbird try to sneak behind and assassinate the elementalist team before doing what they do best to the rears of the other enemy units?

Or should we have Lena try to vaporize the enemy elementalists with arcane plasma shots instead?

>>15488954

I like this. Thinking about the viability of putting the fire elementalist with the centurions to burn their extra long lances.

But before that, have Lena burn a nice big whole through their formation and if she can kill those 5 in the middle.

>>15488954
Infiltrators with the Rangers, behind Cornelius' unit. Have them ready to provide a flanking support once the enemy is pinned down by the legionaries.

>>15488969
You mean put the fire elementalists with the Uurist's Warlords, right?

>>15488991

Whichever unit is going to be facing the extra long spears. Thought the centurions would be a better choice with their upgraded armour.

>>15488966
Ugh. They'll probably have at least one mage to counter her. Lena should keep the enemy elementalists occupied while ours work. Of course if she can one-shot them or even two-shot them, she should go for it.

Blackbird is not really an assassin, and I'm not sure if he can go against enemy elementalists and win. I want him harassing the rear ranks of the elven light infantry once they engage our flanks. (And with those numbers, some WILL make it to our flanks.) Pulling elves down to their deaths in the tall grass, blow-gun dart in the neck of an enemy captain, etc.

Justinian with Uurist's unit. We can break up that spear phalanx with an earthquake. Then the warlords can wade in and KILL.

Retinue placement:
Laelith and all fire elementalists: center formation, behind Uurist's Warlords in order to burn away the enemy center and destroy their spears.

Sansa with the artillery to provide fire support command.

Collin to provide some extra punch to the Infiltrators when they flank the enemy.

>>15489008

This battlefield will probably have us moving about quite abit. I'd put that we should finally mount Spike and go with the Uursans this time.

>>15489008
Alright, you have a point.
If this was night-time, Blackbird would probably have a better chance at killing the elementalists.
As it is, you're probably right that he won't be able to take them out without severe losses.

Seconding your deployment plan for Lena, Blackbird, and Justinian.

>>15488969
And then someone drops their burning spear and then we have FUCKHUGE firestorm in the dry grass.

Good news: The battle is over, lots of enemy troops dead, the rest are retreating.

Bad news: Lots of our troops are dead too.

>>15489014
I'll support this if Laelith thinks that this won't turn into a "everybody died in a firestorm" scenario.

>>15489025
I really want to break that spear phalanx before the warlords charge them. Maybe have Spite on standby?

Oh, oh, oh, Jayne: DIAMOND formation.

>>15489039
I don't know; the grass isn't THAT dry.
Besides, it'll likely get pretty wet, with all of the Uurlanthi blood we're going to spill today.

>>15489106
Okay, then. Justinian, Laelith, all of our other fire elementalists, and Uurist's warlords in the center. RIP and BURN into their spearmen. Force the elven light infantry to draw inward to protect their own elementalists instead of flanking us. I like it.

Just, uh, don't turn this into a re-enactment of Cannae. Pull back if it looks like we're in danger of being surrounded. Keep our lines straight. Resist the urge to charge only with the center.

Oh, and deploy as far away as we can.

You pull out your arcane detection crystal, and wave it at the Uurllanthi battle line as it approaches. You get a the complete arcane rainbow, and silently hope that not all of them are trained. You hear the flutter of wings as Tassadus flies back to the camp, beside you, Lena bristles "Mages... 4 shadow and one shining."

Gaius swears "At least we know why they didnt bring any archers. Please tell me that they dont have elementalists as well, commander..." he trails off as you put the crystal away.

"You have the north flank, Uurist in the center, Cornelius south. Aurelius, Finian Kyria for the second line. I will ride with Jayne on the north flank, Vohzd Lennis and captain Mantes to the south."

Lena shakes her head "Do you wnat me to stay with the siege engines, commander? Or should I move to confront the enemy elementalists directly?" she asks as the maniple moves to foramtion. Aerial cavalry from both forces already streaking towards each other.

You delay the answer, as you are close enough to shout to her when you decide. In the skies above, repeater bolts, and lighting bolts flash back and forth, adding to the mad replay of the aerial battle you had been watching not three hours ago. You know when mage ranges have almost been reached before Lena give you her usual notification. You will have to decide soon.

rolled 27 = 27

>>15489168

Vohdz Lennis should be our reserve. His horses will recoil from the velociprey so we'd best not set him on them.

4 mages? Fuck. Have Lena counter them. They'll savage our ranks if we give them the chance. Conserve her juice to protect our men.

Might as well start. Elementalist trench the velociprey once they start charging.

Archers to open fire on the cav first. The troops will still take some time to arrive.

Water elementalist to muddify the area.

Command roll

rolled 9 = 9

>>15489168
Elemental roll.
Earth spike the enemy mages; let our other earth elementalists worry about the enemy cav.

>>15489268
Now that sirs is an elementalism roll.

rolled 32 = 32

personal combat roll, if we get engaged in melee

Pax, you're missing our merc unit.

>>15489168
Lena's priorities are:
0. Keep herself alive.
1. Counter enemy mages.
2. Protect the siege engine crew.

Vohdz Lennis has probably dealt with velociprey before. His cavalry are skirmishers as well, so they won't be going hoof-to-claw with the velociprey anyway.

Our ranged troops should attack whatever is not covered by the enemy mage's shield.

Our heavy repeaters should go after the enemy air cavalry as soon as they are in range.

And Pax, PLEASE tell me that we have ballistae bolts ready with anti-magic and transference runes.

"The strongest is the shining mage... probably stronger than I" you hear Lenas voice echo in you head. Growling, you lash out with a thick field of stone spikes at the group of mages.

"TAKE THEM!!!!" you shout to Lena, as the shadowmages leap away to a new position. At the exact same time, a trio of brilliant golden shafts streak down from the sky. The central one impacts on a shimmering silver shield, the other two crash into legionary battalions.

Lenas voice resonates in your head, terrified and awestruck "Manastrike... one of the most powerful offensive techniques a brightmage can learn... incredibly taxing." to your satisfaction, your pushing the spikes higher reveal the brightmages corpse. At least he only managed to unleash a single salvo.

As your archers begin to fire into the approaching infantry, the telltale terrestrial carnage of earth elementalists trying to negate each others attacks. Joining that madness, you can see bolts of lighting colliding with each other, even the odd fireball or two streaking forward. For the first time, you are fighting on what seems to be an even arcane footing, and though very few casualties have come from that yet... it frightens you.

rolled 32 = 32

>>15489403
Elemental roll.
Center of enemy formation, enemy sergeants with spears. Earth spike wall.

rolled 28 = 28

rolling for command... here goes nothing

>>15489268
>>15489403

That was a righteous curbstomping. Keep it up lads!

rolled 49 = 49

Lena, take care of the remaining enemy mages. Eliminate if possible. Counter if not.

Infantry to hold steady. Counter-charge at the last possible moment.

Scouts should fire into the spearmen at the center. Hunters and rangers fire into the elven light cavalry on the flanks if in range. Otherwise focus fire on the spearmen.

Cavalry should hold as well.

Heavy repeaters attack enemy air cavalry. Other siege engines should hit the enemy's infantry formations.

Command roll.

rolled 91 = 91

>>15489531
lets use this strategy with my roll. Also we need to make sure that our uursan cavalry engage the velociprey when the time comes because velociprey spook horses

just to clarify I meant that we should use this roll >>15489484
with the tactics in this post
>>15489531

As you begin to lend your own elemental power to the maelstrom of stone, lightning, ice and fire, Lena sprints forward, Bellatrix struggling to keep pace with her. Her targets leap skyward, firing at your battalions, the salvos of arcane bolts smash against a shield Lena hastily placed before your soldiers.

As the shadow mages fall, surrounding Lena, the enemy cavalry surges ahead, and the madness of the earth rending and repairing itself moves before them. One solid push in your own forces favor to the north flank may be able to clear out the riders. As you begin to focus yourself for an allout assault on one of the units of velociprey riders, Spite growls, and tries to move towards Lena. You reign the uursan in, as your eyes are again drawn to her battle, where, thus far, none have fallen. Blades of pure shadow slice at the waifish girl, but all of them are avoided with dancer-like grace, or blocked by arcane shields. Beams of pure energy lance out in all directions, and a shadow mage or two will periodically be launched away from Lena, as an explosion of magical energy emits from her flattened palm, at the end of her outstretched arm.

Observing the field, you know that contact will be made soon, with the enemy infantry closing in their formations in anticipation of making contact. In the skies above, the enemy flyers are beginning to break off, your own flyers beginning to pursue.

rolled 7 = 7

This is important. Just before the enemy spears engage our warlords, open up a pit underneath their formation.

Elementalism roll.

rolled 53 = 53

Lending some support to Lena with an elementalism roll.

LET'S ROCK

>>15489659
Well, at least you had a better roll.

rolled 70 = 70

Rolling for command. Have the valkyries break off, circle back and start disrupting the velocipreys as much as they can with bolt fire. The gryphons can continue running own other flyers and isolated ground targets.

>>15489667
I'd like to make a change to this. Have the merc valks pursue the fleeing enemy air units. They are our least trained unit. I want our main valk unit and the griffon unit to rain HELL down on the enemy velociprey units.

>>15489685
Second.

>>15489306
Pax, just reminding you that we still have that combat roll saved up.

All at once, the chaos of the field intensifies. You signal for your aerial cavalry to cease their pursuit, but as Spite begins to barrel forward, you doubt that your mercenaries saw the arcane flare. As the tarrying velociprey knights begin to advance, the grass around them comes alive, and nearly half of their numbers are pulled down, or fall from their saddles, dead.

Then, Jaynes wing smashes into the riders on the inside of the flanking group, the rapid hammering of heavy repeaters only pausing for long enough for Jaynes wing to pass. As you bury your spear into the lead rider of your opponents chest, your realize just how right Jayne was, the chevron is much weaker for the charge, but it is allowing far too many enemy riders to pass trhough your ranged fire unscathed, and with the room it leaves your foes now that combat has been joined...

Too your right you see an uursan rear up, stretching out its paw to scoop up a speeding velociprey by its neck, slamming the beast to the ground as the uursan returns to all four paws, the Degnarian rider slaying his elven foe at the same instant those paws feel earth again. To your left, a velopcipry leaps high, its massive claws shredding the body of the uursan rider, the elfs falchion severing the back of the mighty bears neck.

All around you the chaos is the same, you glance to your right, having just enough time to drop a pit underneath the sergeants, hoping it will negate the advantage their spears give them as Uurists unit bears down on them. As the infantry collide, and you take another elfs head, you notice, much to your chagrin, that the old commander you relieved was right. The Uurlanthi soldiers are excellent light infantry, their fomations loose, their motions quick, always dancing away from retaliation, striking out at the soldiers who step forward to slay their commrades in twos and threes.
>cont'd

Not that the Uurlanthi steel is quite sharp enough to pierce Degnarian armor every time, but these are not the scared smallfolk you have been fighting, that much is clear. As the elven infantry begin to move around your infantries flanks, you see Lena make a breakthrough, launching one shadow mage back into a spear that had become lodged into the ground with her left hand. while her right hand puts a beam of shimmering silver light through another shadow mages chest.

The battle is quickly beginning to spiral out of control, and you know it. You slay a leaping Velociprey, and smile as Spite takes its riders head off in a single bite. Something will need to shift soon, or more enemies than you like will make it back to their camp.

rolled 76 = 76

ELEMENTALISM! DROPPING CAVS AND SPIKING CHAVS!

rolled 99 = 99

>>15489845
/tg/DICE DO NOT LIKE SHITTY RHYMES :(

rolled 99 = 99

Valks, pursue. Griffons, return and attack enemy velociprey.

Hunters (76th) move north and protect our siege engines.

Scouts and rangers and siege engines, focus fire on enemy elven infantry attacking our flanks.

Uursan cavalry, wheel about and hit the elven infantry's rear ranks.

COMMAND ROLL!

>>15489878
>>15489845

This much is certain ;)

rolled 59 = 59

combat

rolled 14 = 14

combat

>>15489883
>>15489878
/tg/ dice why u mock us.

...fuck

All we need s a pair of 98s and our eternal damnation will be complete.

>>15489954
I forgive you it could happen to any of us

Assuming we survive with these horribad rolls, anyone else feel that we should try training a mage to snipe other mages specifically? If we didn't get lucky with spiking that light mage, things would have been much worse. If we could train a mage to have a single superfast to make it hard to dodge, and highly penetrative spell so shields won't do much, we might be able to get over the fact that they somehow highly outnumber us mage-count wise. They could be specialized in this one spell instead of AOE spamming. Another one trained for shielding would also be good.

You raise your arm to signal, got a falchion crashing against your gautnleted hand, resulting in a different uurlanthi rider gecieving a faceful of arcane lights. Grimacing to yourself, you attempt to make it seem like you had intended to do that, though your effectiveness is dubious. To your south you hear Lena cry out in pain, the two remaining shadow mages circling her like predators, eying up Bellatrix as the red haired mage works to heal the magically inflicted gash in her leg.

The Elven light infantry that had bypassed your line infantry begins to recieve an abundance of arrows, bolts, stone and ice shards, though their won elementalists are clearly working hard to negate as much damage as possible. East of those uinits, Uurist and Colin lead the formers warlords into the deep pit you dropped the serganst into, droping into the crippled, unordered, terrified mob of soldiery like a cleaver into meat. Spurts of blood and body parts flying up and out of the pit as the dwarves drop in.

Everything flashes orange, and gets even hotter, somehow, as Laelith and your fire elementalists begin spewing flame at the southmost unit of elves, to devastating effect. However, that good news is offset by Vohzd Lennis riders being charged by the velociprey knights that the Skyrus Thunderers were unable to reach.

As the rapid hammering of repeaters fades, the siege engines targest retreating, as eager to escape your maniple as the knights that were subjected to Blackbirds tender mercies are. You catch a blade on your helmet, and dispatch the insolent elf that struck out at you. At least you still seem to be holding the edge, you think to yourself.

rolled 75 = 75

>>15489996
Break formation and ride out to help Lena. Can't have her dying on us. Wulf would kill us.

Combat roll.

rolled 61 = 61

command roll to redirect the gryphons and repeater valks

rolled 89 = 89

>>15489996
Elemental roll.
Earth spikes to impale the two shadow mages, blindsiding them since they're concentrating on Lena and Bellatrix.

>>15490055
This is the kind of sinkhole I want us to be making.

>>15490074
Looking down that is like staring into a black hole...

>>15490143

Kind of like staring into your moms... you know... nevermind.

You roar out, signalling to your aerial cavalry to wheel back to provide support, which they finally are. You attempt to break free, to aid Lena, both with your elementalism and, if you could only reach her, your blade. However, the depsaration of the doomed riders prevents you from making it to the girl. As you hack away at an elf that simply refuses to die, you see Belatrix catch a beam of shadow on her shield, obliterating the chunk of metal, and sending the older of the sisters flying back. Not to be outdone, Lena retaliates with an even larger lance of arcane power, incinerating the offending mage, even as her sister lands some 50 feet back, not perceptibly moving at this distance.

As Uurists Dwarves finish off the sergants you had trapped, you notice that some of the other uurlanthi units are breaking off, but your men remain, seemingly fighting phantoms. The Uurlanthi units still engaged seem to have accepted their fate, unfortunately, and are making all effort to cause your maniple as much damage as possible.

A tired looking Lena circles a mostly fresh looking shadow mage, and the remnants of the southern cavalry units continue to hack away at each other, Vohzd Lennis men clearly taking the worst of it.

rolled 50 = 50

Elementalism

>>15490167
Spike the shadow mage and fissure the enemy units that are within our lines.

rolled 79 = 79

>>15490167
Combat

rolled 30 = 30

Command

Get those regiments on the line to stop fighting ghosts, turn around and deal with the men behind them, Jayne too. Flyers are to mop up the enemy cavalry.

Once that is done signal everyone capable to run down the fleeing enemy.

As you ride with Jaynes wing in an attempt to pick through the ruined mess that is the ground before you, you bellow out "THEIR ILLUSIONS YOU FOOLS!!! THE REAL DOGS ARE RUNNING!!!!" which, luckily snaps most of your men out of their magic induced confusion, and sets them to turning back on the elven infantry that nearly caught your ranged units.

You twist in your saddle, sending a phalanx of earthen spikes at the last mage Lena has to deal with. You do not hit him, but you are able to prevent him from avoiding Lenas next blast. The young mage is sprinting back to her sister before the corpse is on the ground. The thunderers wheel about, smashing the rear of the sole surviving unit of enemy cavalry.

Finally, everything is going how it should be. You think to yourself. Then your aerial cavalry begins swooping down towards random, empty patches of land. You howl in rage as in the distance, you see a raised dias materialize, seemingly from nowhere. A single man standing, and the remnants of a group of what you can only assume to be life elementalists surrounding him, many passed out, but enough of them remain for him to manipulate all of your flying cavalry yet. Even at this distance, you can make out a golden tower on the banner, and recognize the mocking salute the mystic throws at you, though he is ittle more than a silhouete at this distance. Knowing you will never reach him, and that a good deal more enemy soldiers than you had planned on will escape, you howl in rage.

>gah, I'm dead tired, calling it here.
>someone archive please
>I'll be back thursday at 9pm server time
>if you have any CQ/setting questions e-mail me at paxcomquest@yahoo.com