I put on my command robe and commander's hat.

>bumping since I dissapeared for a week and started a bit early, and with the map from last time again

I think we should have Lena hold fire until she can coordinate her fire with the artillery crews.
Conventional ammo first, anti-mage only if the shields come up.

Aim for the top tower of the 3-tower group on the East Wall, and attempt to make it fall towards the other two in its group.

Let them close to half range of Lena before she starts aiming at the towers. Maybe around 75% range with the elementalists. I want them to underestimate our range if possible. Balistae can fire at normal range but as stated in previous threads, they shouldn't use their rapid firing.

Since it's mostly levies, I think we can afford to do that for now.

You know, as much as I agree with the whole "Fuck gods, we stand on our own!" Ideal, maybe we should ring Ranya up for a boon?

>>14650412
I think the only boon we might want to consider in the near future is when the men are exhausted/weak from lack of food. I imagine the enemy will make an attack around then and it might be worth considering using a boon from Garagush, I think his name was, just to see if he can let our troops fight at full efficiency for the battle. Unless we can somehow get a boon to increase our food stocks.

>>14650412
I see no need for that at this time.
Our projections for this siege show it to be a close thing, but still emminently winnable.

>>14650364
And I suppose I'll second this. We might also want to pitch in with our own elementalism when they get within range of us to see if we can tip them or at least immobilize them.

>>14650438
Well Ranya is the goddess of defense, and we are defending one of our cities from an invading horde. In any case, What I was going to suggest we ask for would be around the same thing you just said, which is to relieve our men of exhaustion and hunger.

>>14650444
True, but it doesn't hurt to have a contingency plan in case shit goes FUBAR, which is very likely.

>>14650509
I say it's worth considering if the food situation gets bad enough. If we can make do without it, I see no reason to cash in a boon.

Reposting suggestion from end of last thread:

"
As for dealing with the siege towers, I think we should attempt to take out the bottom of one side and collapse them onto nearby formations if possible. Using our siege equipment.

If that isn't possible, we could also attempt to "pin" their bases to the ground using our ballistae. put a few logs through the base at an angle to land in the center and hopefully the back half of the bolt will lodge the contraption solid.

If they manage to reach our walls with the towers, attempt to get fire elementalists close enough to torch the innards of the tower to deny the enemy use of the structure.

As for ladders...

either:

remove the ladder by pushing it to the side (not out, as it will likely be at an angle to prevent this and have men holding it against the wall. They'll have a harder time keeping us from pushing/pulling them to the left or right)
hack the top parts to bits with hand axes to make that last step a tricky one
pour oil/throw rocks"

Alright, I'll consider the cashing in of a boon with the gods as CASE RED.

def open with the ballistae when they get in range, have lena probe with attacks to see if there are any defenses or anti-mage set up. if not, have her blast them with a big one. then move her to a diff location to try the same.

"They believe it will, at the very least." you reply, casually signalling for artillery and archers to fire as normal, and arcane measures to hold for now.

The balista bolts lance ahead, and crash into the siege towers, denting the wood, though not damaging it. "Never heard of wood that strong." Gaius observes. Another salvo of massive bolts issues forth from your walls, some imbed in the towers this time, though no apparent damage can be seen. You reach out and try to get a sense of enemy elementalists, and think you feel some, but are not entirely sure.

"Commander, do you want me to hold back, or strike as hard as I can once they are well within my range?" Lena asks, nervously. Again the loud ka-CHUNKf-woo of balistae firing can be heard, again, they strike with minimal effect. Most unnerving.

>>14650828
"Give the artillery crews two more shots. Then I want you to aim a strong bolt at the lower-right side of the left tower in the group of three. I want you to try to cause it to fall onto the other two. Change your position as soon as you fire; they will undoubtedly fire arrows back."

Signal to all men along the wall to put shields and arrow defenses, and to prepare for an incoming volley as soon as Lena fires.

>>14650828
Wood must be magically treated, or protected.

Have her make small probing attacks at the towers or other siege engines.

>>14650828
Think we better get Laelith on the lower part of the wall. If we can't disable any of these towers with what we have at range, hopefully her flames can take care of the enemy up close. Even if she just incinerates people the second they start to rush out of the towers.

I'm thinking we should let them get closer, and then try to summon giant earthen spires up from under them.

>>14650923

Indeed. If those siege towers make it to our walls, at least one of them needs to get gutted by flames as the ramp drops.

Where are our siege engines striking the enemy towers? We might have better luck striking them from the sides and aiming for the back half.

>>14650923
Let's not have her get involved in the actual fighting, just have her use her powers from as far away as she can to burn shit. She is more valuable as a caster than a melee combatant, and I don't want her tiring out or getting injured. She's not only our waifu but the best elementalist we have and leader of our anti-fire crews. We're going to need her if they keep up this bombardment.

Plus, it's just bad form to send your waifu into such peril. We don't want to lose them from an emotional standpoint as well as a utility one.

It's been brought up in the IRC that we originally had Lena and Bellatrix stationed at the South Wall.

I am voting to have that implemented, as the South Wall will need the extra firepower, and Justinian can overturn the siege towers with enough quakes and fissures.

>>14650985
Err, and by this I mean still have her burn the towers, just do so from behind a wall of men with steel in their hands rather than with her scythe and torch up close-like.

>>14650988
True, if we can open the earth under a tower, it'll become an obstacle to the attackers.

Why isn't Laelith setting the ballistae bolts on fire in flight? Have Laelith set our ballistae bolts on fire in flight.

>>14650988

Seconding, and also that from last thread we ordered Wulf to the West wall to counter possible flyer shenanigans there and also put him in a better position to aid the North/South walls should it be needed.

>>14651022
That's a good idea, and seconding.
The siege towers are still wood, and should still burn. Perhaps it would get through their shielding.

Have Lena fire off one shot, then move to the south wall.

>>14650988
Agreed. Since it's only levies and peasant archers, I think we can afford it. Of course, if our earth elementalism doesn't work either, I'm going to be so sad they're at the south wall. I assume this also includes Wulf being on the west wall like he should be in the event the fliers are sneaky?

>>14651051
>I assume this also includes Wulf being on the west wall like he should be in the event the fliers are sneaky?
Yes, you assume correctly.

I think Pax is planning on at least some of the towers making it to the north and south walls.

Let's foil that plan. Lena fire off one shot and move to the south wall. Wulf move to the north wall. Laelith stays with us at the east wall until we figure out how to deal with the towers.

Also, talk to Kyria. See if she has the time to put fire or anti-magic runes on the ballistae bolts, right now.

We really should start training a rune-smith corp.

You smirk "A full power blast then move to your post on the south wall, and make sure Wulf moves to the north."

She nods, and again you see her timid features set as she begins drawing power. You send a runner to tell Laelith to try setting a bolt on fire as it passes her while the brightmage builds power. The next balista shot at this face of the walls northern corner flies out surrounded by arrows, and bursts apart in flames when it strikes the tower. The outside of the construct catches immediately, though the thing doesnt halt its progress. You think you see a figure sprint from the bottom of the tower, though the flash from Lenas arcane blast keeps you from being sure. You look to the tower she targeted, and are satisfied to see its color ripple back to a lighter shade of wood, as opposed to the deep mahogany tone it had shared with the others, a more natural oaken shade now. You are surprised, however, to see that no hole has been put through the tower, just a massive, relatively shallow crater. This time you are certain that you see a lone figure sprinting from the back of the tower, and the distant shouting leaves you believing that they are moving from the top of the tower, prepared to cross over to your walls, to the bottom, ready to flee the dying siege engine.

Enemy arrows begin to bury themselves in the massive wooden arrow-shields Degrian added to the walls as your archers continue to fire down into the approaching levies. "I best move back to my battalion" Gaius excuses himself as Lena hurriedly walks from the observation room of the gatehouse to her proper post.

>roll for elementalism

rolled 89 = 89

>>14651272
Here we go.

rolled 3 = 3

>>14651272
Alright, let's see how my rolls are tonight.
Elementalism roll.

rolled 54 = 54

>>14651272

And here we go.

>>14651298
Damn and blast your eyes, sir.

rolled 65 = 65

Test roll to see if I should just stop rolling tonight.

rolled 38 = 38

>>14651298

Oh christ, I hope the rest of the night doesn't go like this.

>>14651298

rolled 68 = 68

>>14651351
If it makes you feel better, unless this is less than 10, I'm not going to roll anymore tonight.

>>14651272

Id the sprinters as "enemy VIPs" and tell the deadeyes to prioritize them as a target.

Have Laelith set the other towers approaching the east wall on fire as well, same method.

The ballistae should keep firing.

Another volley of archer fire, and another volley of rather effective balista fire, well, in the case of the burning and magically blasted towers at least goes off before your foes are within the range of your purposely reduced range. You gather your will about you, and taking care to lead the enemy tower ever so slightly, you prepare to topple it onto the tower to its south. However, the thunderous crash of a volley of balista bolts piercing through the central tower of the southmost group throws your concentration. Your lead lands far to close to the wall, and a carefully planned minimal use of force becomes massive overkill, as you all but ruin one of your defensive pits. It is still there, though you now seriously doubt that it will be enough to stop anyhting. Cursing yourself, you prepare another attempt to stop or topple the towers before they get too close.

>>14651272

our ballista on the south side of the gate should target the base of the siege tower Lena struck. See if we can cause it to collapse into the side of one of the neighboring towers or onto enemy troops.

>>14651454
... Sorry guys! I'm done rolling for the night. I swear.

rolled 42 = 42

>>14651454
well fcuk

rolled 27 = 27

>>14651454
Another elementalism roll.
Try for a fissure that will topple the top tower of the group of three into the others in a domino effect.

rolled 20 = 20

Elementalism roll on the same tower (second from the top). Try to tip it for domino effect.

>>14651454
We might want to get Laelith down to the southern towers. So she can flame those and hopefully our archers can snipe anyone who runs out of the towers.

rolled 88 = 88

>>14651483
Disregard unless our ballistae can still target the BASE of the siege towers.

>>14651454

Let us try dropping one of the dark towers into a pit again.

Don't worry. We can always redo those pits with our elementalism later.

>>14651522

Don't we also have our other fire elementalists deployed?

>>14651507
>>14651509
EAT IT TOWERS!

Also, have our other fire elementalists set the bolts on fire as well, if they can. Just the tip of the bolts if that makes it easier.

You signal for all elementalists to attempt to ignite the towers while you re-focus yourself. A massive cheer goes up from the northern corner of your section of wall, as the burning tower begins to come apart from focused balista fire. A column of armored men begins to sprint away from the tower, though the archers are far too busy dealing with the approaching levies to take advantage of them.

As Laelith begins sprinting towards the southern corner of the eastern wall, you again attempt to topple a siege tower. This time you use a fissure instead of attempting to elevate a small area of land. As you had feared, the spacing of the enemy towers, and the lack of the 'push' an elevated piece of land would have created leads to the falling tower just barely clipping the next tower in the line. While a massive area of the towers corner is ruined, and the center of balance on the thing is clearly ruined, it continues to trundle ahead, though moving much slower than it had been. You are very satisfied to see that a good portion of the levies in the fallen towers shadow are crushed by it, it is offset again by disappointment that target prioritization will allow the men at arms fleeing the surely doomed middle tower to escape the field.

"No one ever said that Uurlanthi siegecraft was lacking." Aurelius quips, as he knocks another arrow next to you.

"I would almost be dissapointed if it was lacking after millenia of their nation accosting ours." you reply as calmly as you can. This is a probing attack, and you fear your enemy may learn enough for the next one to strike true.

>>14651760
Reprioritize all artillery fire to concentrate on the enemy archer formations. The more of them we take out now, the easier things will be in the future.

>>14651760

Flaming ammunition into the fallen tower. NOW.

Any wounded that burn to death are wounded that won't come back.

Ballistae to the north of the gate are to target the armored troops fleeing the northern tower if they can draw a line of sight.

Runners to get us reports on the neighboring walls.

rolled 96 = 96

>>14651760
One more elementalism roll.
Try to cause the last tower still intact to fall over by creating a pit.

rolled 30 = 30

>>14651892
At least I can say I didn't roll the worst tonight. Let's see if my elementalism roll would have been worse or not.

rolled 29 = 29

>>14651892
Oh great, now I'm getting Maximus' luck.

rolled 30 = 30

>>14651760
Command. Ranged take down those archers.

>>14651907
>>14651903
>>14651892
Voting to botch this. No telling how badly it could damage our defenses.

Botch ahoy!

Agreed. Man the dice hate us tonight... Let's hope this doesn't happen on their main attack.

>>14651919

ignore their archers! We have cover and a height advantage against them. Our archers would be better off hitting the fleeing armored units or firing flaming arrows/bolts into the toppled tower to burn any wounded/trapped enemy troops alive.

>>14651967
But the more archers we kill now, the less they'll have available for their harassing fire raids and for use in providing cover fire for their infantry.

A blazing bolt strikes the striken tower as it approaches, though its crew continue to determinedly push it ahead, despite its empty state. to its north and south Levies continue to rush ahead, accosted by crossbow bolts and arrows. You compel the earth to lash out at the southmost tower, destabilizing and weakening it. It hits the pit before it as the levies do. the massive tower tips, topples, and collapses against your wall, becoming something between a steep ramp and a massive ladder as it does so. the groups of levies that have pits to contend with are not terribly slowed by them. After losing their front few men to the drops, they shift their ladders ahead of them and use them to bridge the pits. Bravely they keep moving along the ladders, ignoring the casualties they take crossing the pits. Before long they are mostly across the pits, and moving their ladders up against your walls. the one battalion that did not have a pit to contend with is already begining to mount the wall, having slowed down so that they would not reach the top of the wall ahead of their comrades. "Fools" you hear one of Aurelius men spit out contemptuously. You will have to shift the archers back soon, to better meet the levies as they reach the top of the wall. At least only one group of armored sergeants will be making it to your walls today.

rolled 33 = 33

>>14652119
Command. One last volley and let the melee units through.

>>14652119
Better set that tower on fire, stop anyone trying to climb it.

Hope it didn't hurt the wall too much.

>>14652176
Indeed. We should go over the walls once the battle is over. Hopefully if there is any damage, our earth elementalists can help with that.

I think we should move the melee units in to guard the walls now and put the archers behind them to volley fire at the archers if they can.

rolled 84 = 84

>>14652119
Elementalism roll.
Spike the armored sergeants group.

rolled 37 = 37

Are the rolls high only when they would count?

rolled 53 = 53

>>14652219
Wow, I think we should put the elementalism aside tonight.

rolled 24 = 24

>>14652219
Sigh../tg/ dice. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? screwing up the namefags like that.

Its weird isn't it when only anons get good rolls. Testing roll in the interest of fair play

>>14652119

North half of the wall:

Legionaries are to repel enemies from the wall.
see >>14650555

Our ranged unit on the northern section should take up any position possible to fire upon the enemy as they scale the ladders or wait to scale the ladders.

Southern half of wall:

Legionary unit is to repel the southern group of levies and also prevent enemy units from scaling the remains of that siege tower.

Warlords are to repel the other levies.

for both units dealing with ladders, see >>14650555 (again)

Ranged units again are to move to sections of wall without ladders and continue to fire upon the enemy.

Lealith should attempt to ignite the top section of siege tower against our wall to deny enemy units the path.

>>14652337
I see no problems with this plan, and support it.

>>14652337

addition:

Target the siege tower we knocked on its side with flaming arrows/ballista bolts. LET THEIR WOUNDED AND TRAPPED MEN BURN!

You signal for one last volley into the levies from the ranged units before they let your melee battalions step forward to see to the quickly approaching levies. you attempt to cause the wall to lash out and push the toppled tower, though you feel that all you managed to accomplish was secure it against the wall. As the levies climb onto the battlements, your men begin their work, butchering the human press as it comes to them. "WE ARE THE LEGIONS OF DEGNAR!!" you hear Cornelius bellow.

"NONE CAN WITHSTAND OUR FURY!" his battalion responds
"NONE CAN BREAK OUR SHIELDS!" Gaius' men echo, as blood, limbs and corpses begin to rain down from the walls.

"WE GUARD OUR HOME FROM'THE WRATH OF THE EAST!!" Uurist continues, his axe cleaving four levies as they climb onto the parapet before him.

"FOR OUR WILL IS STEEL!!" Gaius adds, his blade ending one levy as he punches two more from the top of the wall with his shield.

"AND OUR BLADES FAR SHARPER THAN YOURS!!!" all of the defenders, from all around the city finish the taunting battle-cry. Laelith screams in frustration, and fires off a gout of flame into the sky, where it hangs for a moment before crashing down into the uurlanthi soldiers that had gained a foothold on the wall by sheer weight of numbers. At the ruined tower, you begin to see soldiers climbing through the broken, holed and rent siege tower leaning against the wall, and begin to climb towards the battle on the wall.

rolled 96 = 96

>>14652609
I'm probably going to regret this, but here goes:
Elementalism roll
Terrakinesis. Smash the siege tower the sergeants are using.

rolled 95 = 95

>>14652663
What the fuck, /tg/ dice! WTF!

rolled 57 = 57

>>14652669
>>14652663
Is this going to continue?

rolled 77 = 77

>>14652609
Might as well go Combat then

rolled 60 = 60

This is fucking bullshit.

rolled 3 = 3

No way that this one could be above 50, too.

>>14652609

Repeating the need for Lealith to ignite the top part of that tower ASAP.

Some of our archers (preferably repeaters) need to get on those towers flanking the gate and start unleashing DEATH upon those levies attempting to hold and climb ladders. Then our men on the walls need to get those damned things either smashed or pushed to the side.

Even if we can't push the ladders off, we need to at least get to a point where we're just skewering the thresh while they try to climb over the battlements. Force their dead to fall upon their friends, hopefully knocking a few from the ladders and causing injuries as they strike their fellows.

>>14652785
Second.

Roaring along with the rest of your men after the battle-cry you lash out with stones at the enemy tower. To late do you realize, in your adrenaline fueled battle-lust, that the stones you are hurling are from the pavement atop the wall, and they must pass through your own men before striking your target. Mortified and enraged you push your way over to the press of bodies to your south, only to find yourself hemmed in by your own men, and unable to fight properly, so distracted are you by the unhappy gazes your men are casting upon you. As the armored sergeants begin to throw themselves into the fray you hear Laelith cackling madly, a swirling funnel-cloud of flame forming above her, fed from her arcane torch, her gaze affixed on the offending tower. You mortification at your own folly beginning to wear off as you cut through levies more and more effectively, you brace your eyes for what will surely be a raging inferno.

rolled 23 = 23

Okay, has the dice roller's reign of terror stopped?

rolled 52 = 52

>>14652856
Let's try that again with actually rolling the dice. Combat.

rolled 61 = 61

>>14652856

Spikes into the levies from BEHIND them, preferably around hip level.

rolled 22 = 22

>>14652856
combat roll. hope /tg/ dice don't screw me

rolled 52 = 52

Elementalism roll.
Spikes amongst the southern archer unit.

>>14652929
No. No no no. No more elementalism on the wall. The dice hate us too much and we're doing more damage to our own men at this point. Let's stop using it near the wall.

>>14652929

bah, it ate the original post.

should have been "levies at the base of the wall"

>>14652949
And I'm paranoid enough at the moment that I think we still shouldn't do it. I don't want to overly damage the walls when they're going to be bombarding it more the next few days/week or so.

If the wall is damaged, let's use an elementalism roll to reinforce the wall.

Finally hitting your stride in the battle, you join your men in the slaughter. the Uurlanthi quake in the knees, and their battle-cries sound more terrified than determined, yet they continue up the wall resolutely... for now. Just before you move to trap the poor peasants, Laelith unleashes her accumulated wrath, incinerating the remnants of the tower, and blackening the wall, even slagging some of its face, so hot does her wrath burn. The battle pauses, stunned for a moment. You are among the first to break out of the stupor that had fallen over the field, and take the opportunity to repair as much of the damage you did to the wall as you can with your accumulated focus. Moments later, the killing resumes, the steel song rolling on, the brief rest making its resuming seem all the louder, the gross crescendo clearly in your own favor. The survivors of the tower you toppled fleeing even further cementing your belief that this probe was more to your own benefit than your foes.

>>14653030
Knowing our luck tonight, we'll make it worse... Heh.

rolled 94 = 94

>>14653050

fissure on that burning tower between the two enemy units with ladders. bring it crashing down onto whichever unit the earth favors.

rolled 59 = 59

>>14653050
elementalism or combat roll, whichever doesn't get used.

rolled 16 = 16

>>14653086
... This is why I said no more elementalism.
Rolling combat.

Jesus, it's a cavalcade of horror with these rolls.

rolled 48 = 48

>>14653086
So basically, us.

rolled 82 = 82

let me see how my luck is.

rolled 16 = 16

>>14653201
WELP, nevermind then!

rolled 61 = 61

So, does this prove that the /tg/ dice-roller is a servant of Lamynus, and wants to watch us suffer?

As the slaughter continues, you decide to try once more to destroy the remaining siege tower, and suceed in ripping several fissures beneath it. However, as it falls, you notice that it is falling forwards. As the enemy forces begin to rout from your walls, you realize that it is falling towards you. It explodes into flaming fragments, massive splinters of super-hot burning wood flies upwards and towards your wall. It arcs over the enemy soldiers, and smashes into your arrow-shields, ruining a good amount of them on this facing of the wall. Your men all turn to look at you, frustrated and confused, as your failure to successfully deal with the already doomed tower has robbed a good chunk of the thunder from this victory.

rolled 98 = 98

>>14653228
This is why we don't deal with gods people. They fuck you at the worst opportunity. Combat roll if there's any combat left to be had.

Holy shit, whats going on today.

rolled 56 = 56

>>14653268
>98
I can't even believe this

rolled 94 = 94

>>14653228

Rolling to yell at the top of Trentz's lungs in frustration.

>>14653268
... What. The. Hell. Great. We look damn incompetent in front of the men now.

rolled 75 = 75

When we get back to our room, we are gonna meditate until we get a buff to elementalism. We fucked up bad today. /tg/ dice i hate you.

And i'm gonna roll to see if this is good. I'm a masochist.

>>14653228

Status report from the other towers.

Call for medics and healers.

Time to start cleanup operations and try to save the heads of the enemies. See if we can lob them back at our foes later.

>>14653365

>Status report from the other towers.

Walls I mean, bah.

>>14653228
Sigh loudly and pinch the bridge of our nose.
Order the ranged units to continue harassing the enemy till they're out of range.
Order for the arrow shields to be repaired.
Have the towers removed from the walls, and if salvageable have their wood used in the repair of the arrow shields.
Get reports from the other walls.

>>14653228

Any reports from our runners?

Ranged units are to maintain a 4th of their strength upon the wall. Pick off any enemies that attempt to recover wounded. Report any enemy wounded by sally ports or the gate to blackbird's men. They are to capture 10 that aren't horribly wounded.

Any wounded beyond that are to be shot if they stand. Others are to be left to die where they lay or attempt to crawl back to their line for the time being.

>>14653283
I can't tell if this should be a success or a failure...

rolled 28 = 28

Once the walls are defended, I think we should have a meeting with the garrison commander and Seventus and see what they noticed of the enemy. As well, it might be a decent chance to get another 1-on-1 with Seventus and try to convince him to fess up to what he's done. And I am off for the night. Someone salvage this situation. Please. One last roll for the night to see if the dice roller will spite me with a good roll.

rolled 74 = 74

>>14653492
It's official! The dice gods mock us!

>>14653421
>>14653383
>>14653365
Let's combine the three since they're so similar.

>>14653526

Works for me!

>>14653526

Do it~

You sigh, pinching your nose "Should have stayed in bed today and left this to you men." Looking up you see that your men are chuckling slightly.

"Most of us that got hurt by you arent that bad." one of the men offers helpfully.

"Besides, its not like non of us have never considered accidentally stabbing someone else during the battle when we wont get pegged for it." another soldier offers.

"Like when I caught you fucking my baby sister." the first man adds, glaring at the second to speak.

"Please, for the love of The Ten, and the hatred of the Immortals and Uurlanthi dont do it again." another man, this one with an arm clearly broken by one of your ill-considered stone missiles. Nodding silently in ashamed acknowledgement you stalk off to see how things are faring on the other walls. Both North and south are similar scenes of uurlanthi carnage. Ruined burning towers, a few more sections of ruined arrow shields. You spot Sansa flitting around the wall, already trying to get a handle on the number of wounded and dead. By sunset Degrian and his engineers have the arrow-shields replaced, and the enemy trebuchets are beginning another round of bombardment with pots of oil. Eventually Laelith and Kyria make their way to your room in the barracks your maniple is using in this city, interrupting your meditation.

Bah, I've apparently pulled a critical failure in posting.

We should gather maybe 20 enemy wounded (preferably those that can walk) and "interrogate" them while they're blindfolded. Ask them nonsense questions while attempting to infect them as were-minotaurs. Then we release them outside the walls, telling them "make it back to camp if you can dodge the archers."

Have our archers kill 1 or 2 and let the rest escape.

Hopefully they'll turn into were-minotaurs INSIDE THE ENEMY MEDICAL AREA. Cue win.

>>14653575
We need to get those prisoner volunteers infected tonight if they're going to be transformed.
I suggest we have them transform one at a time in a deep pit with a metal grate, to give them time to acclimate themselves. Feed them some Uurlanthi bodies so that they get over the initial hunger and can try to get ahold of themselves.

And we need to interview any and all people identified as were-minotaurs, especially the guy we captured.

>>14653598
Hm.....I guess it could work.
The re-emergence of were-beasts is probably already occurring back in Uurlanth, so there's no real need to hide their existence.
As was noted in the IRC, the one fear would be if these men were to regain control of their senses too early in their rampage, they might become an annoyance in the future as an Uurlanthi abhuman penal legion.

>>14653598
Unless they have an open-field medical area instead of using tents (which seems really unsanitary), it wouldn't work. The infected person would need to be able to see the red moon.

>>14653598
Okay, seconding this, because it doesn't hurt us to at least get the prisoners readied.
We can always kill them later anyway.

>>14653598
>>14653670
Wait...why not just infect them and mix them in with our Degnarian penal legion?
More minotaurs, the merrier, right? And who cares if we infect them and use them in a suicide attack; they're Uurlanthi prisoners in a siege where the taking of prisoners was specifically dropped.
It's a little on the evil side, but considering how close we're cutting this siege, I think we should do it.

>>14653645
Seems like it would also give them a chance to lose their nerves and think twice about the whole "suicide" aspect of their suicide mission.

Just send them out into the shadow of the city wall. As they walk further away from the city the red moonlight will hit them. Bam. Instant berserker minotaurs that are heading for the enemy camp.

>>14653575

"Yes, my dears?"


We have a lack of oil. A fundamental part of any medieval siege warfare.

A way to obtain this is to cook corpses in order to harvest oil from their bodies. We can then use this in the defence effort like pouring boiling oil on scaling troops.

>>14653715
You have a point. Either way, we need to do this tonight or tomorrow; the Bull Moon will be gone after 2 nights.

As for Laelith and Kyria:
"Ladies, what can I help you with?"

>>14653727
Second doing this; this siege is going to be a close enough thing as it is. We need to wring every advantage we can.

Another crazy idea:

If the enemy continues the fire-bomb launching at night, we send flyers with our own small pots of pitch/oil/burning liquid.

Using the cover of night and our NV paste, they hover over the enemy trebuchets and then drop our pots as they prepare to fire. Idea is that our pots hit the trebuchet/pot about to be launched/crew/area around trebuchet and splatter, hopefully hitting either a torch or the bit lit on their larger pots, igniting.

Heck, we could even try it with rocks, attempting to shatter the pots after they are lit but before they are launched.

Our flyers would drop their gifts from as low as they dare, then fly like bats out of hell back to the city before the enemy can respond.

>>14653727

And uh... If it really comes down to the wire, we have... emergency rations.

>>14653749
I don't know; we don't have the targeting computers needed for that kind of accuracy.
I think it's too risky, unless we do a high-altitude bombing run.

>>14653770

We could also do this as a dive-bombing run. Use the speed from the dive to get out of dodge before they can react.

I'd just like to get SOME kind of use out of our air assets, and we're only going to be able to at night unless we somehow gain superiority.

>>14653712
Yeah, that could work. POWs can get knocked out, and then wake up outside the city walls, with the Bull/Bon Moon climbing over the horizon.

>>14653727
Turning the enemy's own biomass against them? Cook them in their own oil? Brilliant! Disgusting, but brilliant!

Your plans for the potential were-minotaur suicide attack solidifying you stand up to face the dwarf and elf "Is something the matter my dears?"

Laelith shrugs, she never used to do that, most likely a habbit she picked up from you "No, but between Sansa running around looking for revenge and after the tasks you need your aid to see to, and Jayne busy helping her sister campaign for the governorship or your project with the prisoners, we were feeling lonely."

"And" Kyria adds, walking over to you "you have been working yourself far too hard in this city, and the tears from the stress are starting to show."

>>14653812
Trust me, I plan on getting PLENTY of rest after all this. But not while we're surrounded by the enemy.

>>14653749
I'm okay with this as long as they have orders to bug out at the first sign of trouble. We don't have too many air assets left to use.

>>14653812
I cannot believe I'm saying this, but no time for hanky-panky.

Kyria needs to be inscribing anti-magic and fire runes on as many ballistae bolts as possible. Get Finnian to help her if applicable.

Laelith needs to figure out how to counter the shields the enemy are putting on their siege towers. It stopped a full-powered blast from Lena, for Raynha's sake.

>>14653864

The way I see it, if we're not going to use our air assets because the enemy has air superiority, we may as well just give them NV paste and have them make a break for the forest or another city in the middle of the night. Hope that the rations saved by their departure do some good or that they're put to good use by our relief.

>>14653864
I gotta agree.
Seconding all of those, and adding in these:
1. Interview the one were-minotuar guy we caught. It's unfortunate, but unless he can show that he can control himself while transformed, he need to choose either execution or joining the abhuman squad on their night-time assault.
2. Talk with Seventus. We need to try to get him to write out a confession, that we can get notarized and that will be admissible in a court of law.

Idea posted on IRC: Feed the enemy dead to our more carnivorous mounts.

Save the heads. Preserve in lime. Fling'em at the enemy the next time they attack.

>>14653911
We could also use them to get a message out to our reinforcements.
Approximate size of the enemy, where they're camped, their defensive disposition.
If our reinforcements arrive earlier than expected, we could crush the Uurlanthi between the hammer of the reinforcements and the anvil of the city walls. Of course, that's wishful thinking.

>just got here
>reads thread
We need a version of this meme for CQ.

I am okay with a night-time incendiary bombing raid against the Uurlanthi trebuchets.
Make it a dive bombing, and the Skywings only get one shot at this; I doubt that they will be able to do a second one.

Also, we need to have all the siege engine crews be ready with flaming ammo next time. Fire seems to be the most effective counter-measure we have so far against the enemy's shielded siege towers. Once they were lit up, the enemy elementalists inside evacuated.

>>14653988
Oh oh oh! Combine this with the were-minotaur suicide mission! While the enemy is distracted by angry minotaurs eating their soldiers, our valks drop some burning pitch on their trebuchet.

You shake your head "I can rest once this city is saved. and I'll make up to all of you the wory I'm causing you by working myself this hard, dont worry." You pull the dwarf into a tight hug and plant a kiss on Laeliths cheek "But right now I need you getting more balista bolts ready with runes, love. and Laelith, I will need you to discern how it is our foes so strengthened their towers."

The pair sigh, kiss and hug you back, then mope off to do what you set them to, trading worried looks. Surely, your showing earlier today doesnt have them that worried? You spend the rest of the night trying to talk with the captured were-minotaur, who has yet to gain control of himself, and overseeing the infection of the prisoners who volunteered for your plan.

By morning a good thirty of them are ready for their mission, already penned up in a sally port, as you and Jayne make your way up to the gatehouse, where Seventus, Sansa and the captains of the cities garrison and guard are waiting for you. "That assault when quite well, commander Trentz, you must give my regards to your man." the scarred High Commander greets you, saluting.

"And mine to you... daughter?" the commander of the cities garrison adds.

"Either way, what is our first order of business today?" the captain of the guard asks eagerly.

>>14654025
Yes!
Perfect!

More ideas during "the Midnight Dragon's Night of Revenge":

1. Send out that 50 velociprey light cavalry detachment with fire arrows. While the enemy is distracted, sally out from a sally port and shoot fire arrows into the enemy camp. Retreat before the enemy can retaliate.

2. Sneak out of the city ourselves with our earth elementalists. Repair the pit traps and the city walls.

rolled 94 = 94

>>14654051
>>14654025
I can deal with this.

>>14654047

"Giving these men a chance to serve the empire well."

Did we salvage any gear from the enemies corpses? If we can, give them some shields so that the initial run will reduce casualties.

I'd like to try out the plan to fire a bolt/arrow with rope to one of the immobilised towers so that they can use a flying fox technique to cross the killing field faster.

I suspect the elven archers are aiming for our walls since they can see our lighted torches. They should not be able to target rapidly moving objects on the rope.

Cry havoc and let loose the Minotaurs of War.

>>14654025

I must point out again that our supply of pitch is very limited.

A few pots only, according to Pax.

>>14654047
"What were losses like amongst your forces? This was undoubtedly a simple probing attack by the enemy. Unless they have siege towers secreted away somewhere, it should take them a few days to prepare for another assault. Be prepared for harassing attacks until then."

>>14654047
"Daughter? OH! Lena! Haha, oh goodness, no. She's actually from a ghorat to the south that we liberated. I don't have children of my own, though not for a lack of trying, mind you."

If we haven't already, explain our plan with the were-minotaurs.
Have rubble piled up and shaped by earth elementalists to make more throwing stones.

>>14654047

Damage report from last night's bombardment. Are any sections of the wall in need of earth elementalist attention?
Any sign of enemy movement?
Are any units short on sleep?
Do either commanders have any requests? Thoughts on possible weak points the enemy could exploit?
WHERE IS SANSA WITH OUR BILL!?

>>14654094
Well, remember that these are convicted criminals and some POWs, not Degnar special forces. Can an arrow rope even hold their weight?

>>14654133
Second. Also, explain our plans to them. Minotaurs. Valks. Velociprey (if I can get a second). City wall repair.

>>14654162
I'll second the velociprey, with the caveat that they stay on standby, and only sally forth if sufficient chaos has been created in the enemy camp.

You smirk "Lena? no, she is a younger sister to me if anything, and attached at the crotch to my young protege Wulf at that." the other commanders look somewhat surprised, though judging by their faces that does not change their opinion towards the girl at all. "As to our work for today, I have a night raid planned."

The looks of shock dissipate as the sentence leaves your mouth "I suppose this has something to do with the condemned men you have clogging our eastern sally port?" the captain of the guard asks.

"Indeed it does, as once we open the port, and they flee the city that would see them executed, the Box Moon will see them transform into were-minotaurs. Hungry were-minotaurs with a massive feast set out before them, mind you." you reply smugly.

"And how will these frothing maniacs reach the enemy encampment alive?" the commander of the city garrison asks pointedly.

"Their mutated state will increase their physical toughness... and the valkerie riders dropping pots of burning oil on the enemy camp will aid with that as well." you answer the man amiably.

"And how will your riders know where to drop their payloads. at that, what oil will they be dropping?" Seventus asks, confused.

"I have a paste that will allow both rider and mount to see through the night as if it were day. And the oil, well, we will obtain that by destroying the corpses our foes so inconsiderately left littering our wall." you answer, still smiling ever so slightly.

"Your mad, it will stink like hell... and if all of what you say is true it should work almost perfectly." the commander of the city garrison replies.

Seventus and the captain of the guard nod in agreement, and the former asks "Who will render down the corpses then? And, would it be possible to use the heads during the same strike? I cannot see our foe being unprepared enough for this to work a second time."

>>14654181
>>14654162

I'll third the velociprey, seconding NGODs' conditions.

>>14654181
Yep. Agreed.

These are all harassment tactics, of course. If we are not getting sleep then they are not getting sleep. Some minotaurs will not noticeably dent a force of thousands of men.

>would it be possible to use the heads during the same strike?

Don't see why not. figure out how much each man can carry without affecting flying agility.

Yes, of course we can also use the heads?

What's left after oil extraction are rations for our mounts, though.

>>14654208
>render down the corpses
"I'm sure we must have butchers, candlemakers, and undertakers in this city.
"I admit, it will be a grisly and unpleasant business, but it's a chance to give a little back to our Uurlanthi neighbors. I hope that we will have enough businesses willing to assist in my little endeavor.
"As for the heads...We could load up our trebuchet with them, and have it coincide with raid by the Skywings.
"I will need the City Guard ready with their repeaters on the walls; the Uurlanthi will surely attempt to deploy their own air assets to try to take down our own.
"If this works, I hope to destroy much of the Uurlanthi heavy siege weapons, and if we're very lucky, some of their food supplies."

"The city must have enough butchers, candle-makers and undertakers willing to serve the empire for a few dragoons. And as to the heads from our fallen foes, I dont see why the riders couldn't carry and throw them back to our foes while their mounts saw to the pots of oil." You reply amiably.

"Perhaps some of the local noble cavalry would be willing to add a few salvos of fire arrows to the raid." Sansa adds excitedly.

You nod, smiling "Jayne, could you look to that for us dear?" she nods, salutes and heads off to see that it is done.

"Excellent idea love, now, would you be so good to share the Bill from yesterdays engagement with us?" Sansa nods in reply to your question and hands out several sheets of parchment to the men gathered. It would seem that the units you accidentally damaged yourself had the worst of it, overall caualties were very light.

-196th Legionary
Gaius Rex
200/200
good

-454th Legionary
Cornelius Hoursch
190/200
good

-98th Warlords
Uurist Titius
145/150
good

>so, anything else you want to see to before the night raid goes off?

We should also see about getting a few variant ballista bolts made. Perhaps get a few designed to carry a strong rope so we can topple siege towers or use it to slow others? Combine with a hooked head and a good winch... and we might be able to hook the top of a siege tower and topple it FORWARD, since they're usually designed to be placed against a wall. It could also be used to pull towers down after they've reached the wall, or clear a wall of ladders!

>>14654348
It could work.

>>14654330
The only other preparations I want done are that the repeaters that the Skywings carry are fitted with slings, so that they can use both hands to control their valkyries and not worry about dropping the repeaters.

Ask Blackbird if he thinks that he could wage an effective raiding campaign against the Uurlanthi supply lines if he were to sneak out with his men tonight, or if the casualties would be too high.

>>14654348
Wouldn't toppling it forward be the last thing we would want? If you misjudge the distance you'd have it crashing into our walls.

We need the two ballistae on the gate towers on swivel mounts somehow. Then if a siege tower makes it to the wall, the ballistae turns sideways, fires a shot into the side of the tower, and then pull it down sideways? Then again, lots of dead Degnar troops and a damaged wall if we misjudge the distance.

After this we need to train elementalism bad.

>>14654396
We should be training elementalism every spare moment we have, actually.

rolled 47 = 47

Idea Generic and I are tossing and refined in order to increase our defenses against the ladders. Take the two east gate house ballistae and point them down the wall, directly in front of it, with a special hooked tip bolt. Doing so will allow them to hit anything possibly in the path and very sturdy and lubricated rope will be attached to said bolt. Upon reaching the end, it will sit there and at the right moment, the siege crew will begin winching it back in. The hook at the end of the bolt will easily catch soldiers legs, bottoms of ladders, and etc. while being reeled in. This nullifies an entire wave of ladder bearers not to mention is extremely demoralizing to have you and your buddies legs ripped out from under you or falling off a ladder because its being pulled from the bottom.

>>14654389

one of the variants could be a "bodkin" that penetrates, then expands slightly to form a hook when pulled?

That way we'd not have to aim over a tower that has reached the walls, instead just smashing into the tower's side and toppling it.

>>14654447
Bring this up to Degrian as a possible defense weapon. If he says he can do it, work on it.

Also, Pax, are any of the steambows operational?

rolled 54 = 54

>>14654456
Our siege policy will now be just to officially immobilize. Because, the anti-personal/ladder climber ballistae plan requires NO siege engine makes it to the wall. The safe and easy bet to do so, is just to simply immobalize, no fancy shmancy stuff.

>>14654447
Wouldn't this only eliminate one ladder team?

I still think the siege towers are the bigger threat. The levies with the ladders are just a distraction.

Although, building on your idea, we don't have to sacrifice ballistae for this. Just throw the hooked rope over the wall, and then winch it back it in.

>>14654494

the idea is that it just causes the ladder to break or fall and break while also causing carnage and disarray in the enemy's ranks.

rolled 100 = 100

>>14654494
nonono
this would eliminate an entire /wave/ of ladder teams, as in, all across the wall, think of it as dragging a fish hook across the ground and there are sticks all parallel to each other in the path. The sticks are the ladders and the fish hook is the ballistae bolt and rope.

You nod to the assembled commanders, their aids and captains, and salute, signalling the meetings end. Once the gatehouse is all but empty Sansa walks up to you, hald smiling, half looking guilty. "I, I borrowed the recording arcana we confiscated from the cult commander, and..."

She hands you the item, being careful to not activate it in the wrong way. you set it to play back what is recorded within.

"Give your commander my thanks for his aid, and advice." the resigned voice of Quintus Seventus announces.

"You sound unwell, High Commander, are you certain you should be commanding from the wall as you are?" Sansas voice asks, concern in it.

"Sick, perhaps an illness of the soul girl. I know what I deserve." he replies, his voice tired.

"A fine commander such as yourself, perhaps a comfortable retirement in the south." Sansa answers, her voice sounding sincere to all but those who know her best.

"You know my sins girl, no need to play nice. I just hope one of the dogs out there is man enough to spare me what I truly deserve." Seventus spits at her.

Her voice still innocent, unknowing, almost repentant Sansa replies with "Sins, certainly you aren't feeling guilt over having killed so many Uurlanthi men, or something else foolish like that."

"No damnit, stop playing stupid and acting so nice bitch!!" Seventus half shouts "I'm trying to to fucking apologize for killing your brother and ruining your life, now stop acting like I'm the saint half the damned legion still thinks I am and show the right fucking emotions!!" Seventus half shouts, half whispers back at her, pain and regret dripping from his voice.

"But, my brother died for Degnar, and in a foolish-"
>cont'd

Seventus cuts Sansa off "JUST FUCKING STOP!! PLEASE!!!! YOU know as well as I do that thats just what the official reports say. I took a pass at a 16 year old girl and her brother stopped me, so I trumped up some charges, and had him killed for them. when I came to you in your grief, drunk off my ass and tried to have you again, you pushed me off of you, threatened to stab me if I tried it again and stormed off. I sobered up the next morning and had you charged with attempting to murder me. I stole your citizenship, slaughtered your family and ended your career Sansa Kyrosh, you werent the first nor the last woman I did this too, and your probably the only one of them left alive!" he shouts, seemingly on the brink of tears, judging by his voice "Why wont you hate me?"

You can hear boots clapping against stone, and in the distance "Damnit Quintus, you need to stop drinking before battles. Get back to the barracks, I'll lead this fight."

Sansa looks at you, as if she is about to either vomit or scream "Can I kill him now?" she whispers to you.

"If you can make it look like his body just gave out while he sleept. And only if you're sure this is what you want."

>>14654532
Okay...That sounds like it's enough to get him court-martialed, stripped of his rank, maybe even executed for abuse of his rank and murder.
The only problem is, should we do it now, and what is the proper legal protocol for this?
Damnit, I wish we had access to a JAG lawyer.

"Sansa, you've waited years for this moment. Will you give me a few more days to get everything ready? It's not just you that has to get exonerated, it's also all of the other men and women that he's wronged. Can you give me that?"

>>14654514
I'm honestly having trouble visualizing this. Wouldn't the ballistae need to be on ground level then? Would a crossbow do the job? We just want to launch a small hook, right?

>>14654532
"Frankly, I think leaving him alive would be the bigger punishment. I will send this to the Second Praetorian. Do what you must."

When she turns to leave, say, "Revenge won't bring your brother back, Sansa."

>>14654558
If we need something like that, then Sansa needs to talk to Daeseu and Blackbird. I thought she wanted something personal, like a knife to the throat, but if she's fine with the poison...
We'll probably need to call in another favor from the 2nd Praetorian and get this recording to him, so he can get the legal proceedings started.
Doing things the right way takes proper preparation.

A thought I had (and a regret for not getting into the thread sooner) is that we should have replied to the Urlanthi chant with a quip like
"Well, they've got an excellent bass section, I'll give them that, but no top tenors" and then had our men break into whatever the Degnarian version of Men of Harlech is.

It worked for frost giantess quest.

>>14654532
"So much as it pains me to deny you what is rightly yours, I must. Sansa, please understand. That... man[spitefully spoken], may be fate allowing me to glimpse my future. If you stood across the bleak coast with Jayne, Kyria and Lealith... Would you not wish for another to save me from the monster I'd become? How can I condemn what fate may hold in store for me without giving it a chance at redem... no, not redemption, but peace?"


And hopefully the dice have taken my nightly dose of fail...

>>14654629
Heh.

Men of Degnar, stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spearpoints gleaming
see their warrior pennants streaming
To this battlefield

Alright, we seem to be at an impasse.
Some of us want to observe proper legal protocol, others want to let Sansa have her revenge now.

I'm voting proper legal protocol.
How does everyone else vote?

>>14654683

Legal protocol.

The last thing we want is to see Sansa get hurt when the law comes around.

>>14654683
I'm in favor of letting sansa choose, but giving her the "this is heavy shit" speech from >>14654637

>>14654669
P.S. Zulu was a great movie, and the whole thing is up on youtube for viewing.

>>14654683
I vote for proper legal protocol, but I'm NOT willing to resort to violence to force Sansa's hand on this. Try to talk her out of it.

That woman deserves her revenge, but we don't always get what we deserve.

rolled 81 = 81

Legal Protocol, in so far as to make sure that she understands she isn't the only one involved and risked with what she wants to do.....

>>14654683
I'm voting for Not killing.

I'd like to chat with Seventus at some point, and give him a talk. Basically "it would be best for Degnar if you died a hero in this siege." Let him die a hero to the people, while those he hurt are redeemed quietly.

You frown, and pull her into a hug to hide it "Sansa, love. I understand what this man has done to you. And I agree that he deserves worse than death, however... I think this man was brought across my path as a... warning. What do you think it would do to me if I were to lose you, Jayne, Kyria, and Laelith to the other side of the Bleak coast in the space of a month? Then, if my job, all I had left at that point, were to force me to a life of loneliness and sadness through its perils? that is what happened to him."

Sansa falls deeper into the hug "You wouldnt let us all die, and even if you couldnt save us, you would not sink to his level. If you were capable of that, you would not be the man I... we, love."

You nod before responding "I just want you to understand that to let him live, let his suffering and shame be brought fully to bear by the legal system would be a far crueler fate to send him to. If you are still determined to slay that farce of a man I will not stop you, so long as you give me the time to ensure that his crimes will go punished, and you are not caught."

Sansa nods "Let me know when Aquilla is away with the arcana and your letter, or when you receive your response. I can wait that much longer, and after training with Daeseu I will not be caught." she replies, and you can tell that she is being honest.

>gah, I got class in the AM, so I'm gonna call it here
>someone archive please
>I would like to be back thursday at 8pm server time, but with how my schedule has been I cant make any promises
>if you have any settinh/CQ questions just email me at paxcomquest@yahoo.com

>>14654514
This was explained to me as an anchor with sharp edges on the "pull" side. I'm okay with this as long as this ballistae can still fire regular bolts before the ladders reach the walls.

Archive completed. Remember to vote.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14650207/