"We found a small path to cross the ford that was guarded by a small tower and managed to get some intel from it. The northern fords consists more heavily on demonologists that can create demonhosts while the southern fords contain demonologists that specialize in binding demons to weapons.

I think it might be best for the forces crossing the ford to hit the southern side. Although they will be much better armed, the wielders of those demon weapons will be mortal and easier to kill. Sending Blackbird and his unit to the crossing we used to hit the tower might also be a good idea to have him start scouting the area beyond the ford and perhaps come around for a flank attack once we're engaged."

>>17663099
I agree with attacking the souther crossing. It's also closer to Drans Ferry.

>orange pentagon is the abandoned Elemental fort, your crossing is at the red arrow

"Actually, I have information on that as well from a small ford I took as a scouting mission." you reply to the open question "The southern fords demonologists specialize in binding weapons, as opposed to the demonhost focused northern fords demonologists. So, while better armed, the southern ford will be less difficult of a fight, I believe."

Malcius nods "My scouts spotted a single battalion of demons at that ford, but, I agree with you commander, we will cross at the south and move to support the bridge from there."

Gabriel nods "Perhaps Commander Trentz could send his raiders across the small ford he took to slow any reinforcements sent from the north? Information I received from one of my infiltrators indicates that once we are past the river, the laws that created this force guarding the river from straying too terribly far from their posts. Once we are clear of the Grayrun we should be free of our undead and demonic foes."

"You have a thief in your employ." Jarin deadpans, though he seems pleased by the news nonetheless.

Chuckling, you add "And I keep a 'blade' in mine. While unsavory, that sort is useful in reconnaissance and weakening emplacements before they are struck." you glance about, and realize that Wulf is not present, though he knew when and where the meeting was. Sighing, you add "My protege learned of an abandoned Elemental fort from the Great Rebellion, his absence here means that aside from the fact that it exists, its location, and that some portions have not been opened since the Fey abandoned it tells me that we know no more." you interject, rolling out the map, and indicating the new marking on it.
>cont'd

Gabriel shrugs "If large enough, it could prove a useful staging area and place to store our loot once we move south. As you found it, and have the most arcanists, I think it only fair and logical that you are allowed to crack it, and take whatever useful items are inside, Justinian."

Malcius and Jarin both nod in agreement, before the former adds "Do we have anything else that needs planning for as a full group, or are we clear to split off to our respective Command Tents to plan the minutae of this operation?"

Jarin nods, though he does add "I would like to be part of the team moving to clear the abandoned fort, when that time comes. But no, I do believe that I am ready to move on to my planning with Gariel for how we will take the bridge."

>>17663607
I can't remember if we've given the info to the others but we should probably go over what we know about the undead and demons with them one more time so they know what to expect. Such as how killing nearby necromancers won't just make the undead die, etc. After that I think we can go on. Any plans for assaulting Drans Ferry or hitting other villages and such can be done after we see how much damage this crossing does to our units.

>>17663625
"As we plan to hit the main crossing from two sides I would suggest we do our best to make sure that nobody escapes. If we encircle them it will allow us to more easily destroy them completely and prevent the Uurlanthians from learning of our current tactics or abilities."

>>17663720
going with this

Shrugging you give your peers a brief rundown of what to expect from undead and demonic foes, before agreeing that it is time to split off for planning. It may be increasingly late, but your command tent is quickly filled with both your command staff, as well as Malcius' command staff. Your peer is the first to speak, announcing "I think we should lead with our shock infantry, which is mostly mercenaries in my case, to break up formations so that our cavalry can pass through to thin out enemy ranks, then our line infantry can advance through the pieces."

Cornelius shakes his head "I can see leading with the mercenaries, Comamnder Renol, but I dont think attempting to have our cavalry pass though our own forces, then our foes will work. Unless you have a unit of Uursan mounted heavy cavalry."

One of Malcius legionary captains nods in agreement "I agree. Lancers would be useless after passing through friendlies, no matter how dispersed."

One of Malcius mercenary captains shakes his head "My lancers have the precision to make it through friendly formations in a chevron, and the uursan riders could follow us. I doubt the undead, spears or no, will be able to take that much heavy armor that quickly."

is posting on?

>>17664141
It's a risky tactic, but it could work if the units can allow the cavalry enough space to get by and quickly attack the front line. I suggest we have our Uursan cavalry lead, as they would be better suited for punching through a front line unit.

>>17664141
"While your lancers may be precise enough, I am unsure if our uursan can follow your well enough to make the plan go off without a hitch. And if the enemy does have a way to stop the charge or delay it, our cavalry could be stuck in the ford or amongst our infantry. It might be best to rely on our infantry to push forward with our ranged units to soften the foe."

It kind of worked last battle so maybe we should take some men aside from our dead eyes and such and make a small arcanist hunting unit to focus on enemy spellcaster. Oh right - we should probably lend some of our elementalists to the bridge push to help them survive against the enemy elementalists as well as Blackbirds unit.

>>17664404
sorry for the post above but posting has been a bitch for me for the past few days.

how about using the uursan heavy cavalry to punch a hole through uurlanhi lines so the lighter cavalry can come in and cause havoc in their ranks.

>>17664513
second

You shrug "Perhaps we should lead with our Uursan cavalry, punch a hole in the enemy formation and capitalize on that for the rest of the battle."

Cornelius nods "After the cavalry the line infantry could move in to hold the hole open, then shock infantry and light cavalry move through to deal with the rest of the enemy rearguard."

Jayne frowns ever so slightly "I will lead with my house cavalry, but I am not sure that I like the idea of being in the middle of the enemy force with no arcane support."

A dwarven captain adds in "I agree with Lady Trentz on that, as one of Commander Malcius two mercenary uursan rider units." A Lacertan male sitting next to him nods in agreement.

Lena smirks "Perhaps a unit of arcanists riding with the House Morlan grffon riders to support them then?"

>>17664793
"a good idea, is it feasible though?"

>>17664793
What type of arcanists?

>>17664793
"Having some of our arcanists support the cavalry in their charge is a fine idea. They would also be more able to engage the enemy at the critical places on the battlefield this way, as opposed to simply being in front line units"

If I'm not too late, I recommend attacking the ford with the demonic weapons, rather than the demonhosts. That way we can loot the weapons afterward.

You nod "What sort of arcanists would you take, Lena?"

She smirks again "The air, water and fire elementalists from two separate arcanist teams."

Jayne nods "With Lena with them, I think that would work quite well."

Malcius nods in agreement "It would seem that we are all in agreement then. The Uursan cavalry will lead the charge, followed by the traditional heavy cavalry, then line infantry to hold the hole open."

Gaius nods "Then the light cavalry and assault infantry will move through the hole to support and relieve the uursan riders."

"I do believe that I will see you all tomorrow morning then. I must away to bed so that I will not be tired for the battle." Malcius adds, leaning back in his seat and smiling contentedly as the gathered command staffs make lazy salutes and begin sauntering off to bed."

>so, which units will you put with which groups, map inbound

>>17665469
"I would suggest our maniples stand side by side each other when we enter battle and the cavalry charge goes between our them. Have a good nights rest everyone "

Justinian maniple order of battle

Wave 1:

Shock Infantry:
98th Warlords (in center)
RedSteel Elites
The Unshakables
+ arcanist support (earth, life?)

Wave 2:

Air Cavalry:
House Morlan Griffon Cavalry
Daimus Skywings
+ arcanist support (air, water, fire)

Heavy Cavalry:
House Garlian Uursan Cavalry

Wave 3:

Light Cavalry:
Vohzd Lennis Riders

Heavy Infantry:
190th Centurions
454th Legionary

Medium/Light Infantry:
Trilius Defenders
Kestrin Raiders
Damians Chosen
Dyrol Myrmidons

Archer troops provide ranged support.

General battle plan:

First, alpha strike with our archers and siege weaponry. Take out as many mortals wielding demonic weapons as we can. Maybe use one of the blast emerald grenades, filled with pitch plus metal shavings.

Then, like Brick suggested, each maniple's infantry takes one half of the attack column. Cavalry can ride through the middle, with as many wedges as it will fit.

Give the shock infantry a head start so that they and the heavy cavalry make contact with the enemy at the same time. Our shock infantry should use their blunt weapons (maces, war-hammers, blunt end of war-axes, etc.)

Air cavalry will fly in concurrently with arcanist support.

Behind this wave are the spearmen/pikemen. They will seek to literally push over any remaining resistance with a wall of spears/pikes. Then the light cavalry can ride in and finish off the undead/demons/enemy troops that got knocked on their butts.

>>17665712
>>17665836

A good plan. I would suggest we add the Kestrin Raiders to the first wave though. The first wave units should also have priority in receiving blunt weapons for dealing with undead.

>>17665836
Might be worthwhile to seperate a small unit to target arcanists specifically. The heir did mention it would be a good idea to get a mage hunting unit prepared ahead of time and this is a good time to start forming one for field use.

>>17665878
The Warlords and the RedSteel Elites are mostly equipped with blunt weapons to begin with. I believe some of the Warlords have huge battle axes. Maybe hit the Undead with the flat edge of the axe?

The Unshakeables should get some blunt weapons, I agree.

Maybe the Kestrin raiders can follow behind, and provide short range fire with their throwing axes.

>>17665920
We can have the Deadeyes and the Zentas Snipers target any enemy arcanists they can see.

>>17666036
It's not just a matter of having our units target arcanists though. IIRC, the heir said forming a legit mage hunting unit would be very beneficial for our long term plans or he at least hinted at that. Especially since the 7th's job will be involved with that.

>>17666036
The Kestrin Raiders are trained for light axes. I would think that they would do fine on the front line with light blunt weapons.

The next morning, as the sun rises, your force is readying itself to charge across the ford. You need to be in motion before late morning, as that is when the other half of the invading army is striking. as the assembled soldiers shift about, you notice the undead force standing in the center of the ford, intimidating, and motionless before you. Your utter a curse, as Collin ambles up to you "Must'a herd us coming from the towers, er have arcana watchin'fer us. Catalinas already with'tha Warlords, but th'resta yer retinue's waitin for yaer deployment orders, Commander."

>last chance to modify your deployment. Light blue is the ford, dark is crazy fast river. Grey squares are watchtowers.The Demonologist units are demonologists AND their bodyguards, and yes, it is safe to assume that there are more guys inside the towers.
>Yes, the undead units with necromencers in them will fight better

>>17665469
I'm guessing that Wulf should go with the air units due to being the best air elementalist

>>17666573
I say have Collin with the 98th, Justinian joining Jayne's unit, Sansa with the deadeyes and I'm not sure on the rest yet. Thoughts guy?

Also, can we get our water elementalists to attempt to wash the undead on the ford into the fast part of the water?

>>17666573

Lena - supporting cavalry charge - riding with land cavalry
Laelith - with the 98th warlords
Justinian - supporting cavalry charge - riding with land cavalry
Catalina - with the 98th warlords
Sansa - with Justinian in the cavalry charge
Colin - with the 98th warlords
Wulf - supporting cavalry charge - riding with air cavalry

Justinina -> Garlian Uursans
Sansa -> Deadeyes
Collin -> Warlords
Laelith -> Morlan Griffons
Lena+Belatrix -> Morlan Griffons
Wulf -> Morlan Griffons
Catalina -> Warlords
Autronius -> sit this one out as mystics cannot into undead

>>17666690
Hmm. How many waifus can we fit on Spite? :D

Panda proposes tactical stratagem: DEEP COLUMN

>>17666690
going with this

>>17666691
this minus bela

>>17666825
>forgot to say where to send bela
Bela should go to the warlords with colin

>>17666842
and going with this now Hey I'm can to change my mind

Compromise?

Justininan -> riding Spite with House Garlian
Sansa -> Deadeyes
Collin -> Warlords
Laelith -> Warlords
Lena -> w/ Justinian
Bellatrix -> Warlords
Wulf -> Morlan Griffons
Catalina -> Warlords
Autronius -> sit this one out as mystics cannot into undead

>>17666868
This works for me

I thought Lena volunteered to lead the arcanists with the Morlan Griffons? Why do you want her on the front lines?

>>17666945
So she won't die a horrible death from falling I'm guessing

>>17666945
Sure. Lena riding piggy-back with Wulf? (Awwww)

Thinking quickly, you reply "Everyone but myself, Wulf, Lena, Sansa and Autronius with Uurist and his warlords. Sansa will direct the archers from the Deadeyes, and I will ride with Jaynes cavalry."

Collin nods, grinning deeply, and jogs off to relay your orders. It doesnt take much longer to set the battle lines, and, with the rising of the sun, its glare lessened by some arcana that Malcius has spread one of to each battalion. The shock infantry begin moving forward at a reasonable jog, not a proper charge, which is no doubt confusing the few thinking soldiers arrayed against you. However, when they spread out, and the cavalry wedges begin to pass through them, just as your archers first volley lances into the enemy formations, each strike flashing a brilliant green for just a moment, before the undead soldier bursts to dust.

A Heartening warcry goes up through your ranks, the men steeling themselves against the horrors they now charge into battle against, many even going so far as to join in with Catalina as she starts crying out the invocation to summon consecrated flame, her whip already sanctified against the consecrated inferno crackling along it. With seconds to go before you impact the tight formation of hammer-wielding demons, you steady yourself on spite, and couch your spear in your arm.

>combat, ele, command, you guys know the drill

rolled 59 = 59

>>17667022
Damnit. Now we can't try to wash them out with water elementalists since we risk hitting out own. Can't really think of any orders to give just yet other than hopefully have our deadeyes snipe the necromancers but I doubt we'll be that lucky. Rolling command.

Can our siege engines hit the enemy's rear lines?

I say don't bother with elementalism until we get closer to the towers. Someone else roll combat please.

rolled 76 = 76

Combat

rolled 93 = 93

>>17667022
rolling ele, I want an earthquake, earthquakes always seem effective, just a quick one, to disrupt anything that might fuck up our charge, centered around their rear line obviously

rolled 75 = 75

>>17667105
well I derped

>>17667105
We should probably just save our juice/mana for when we make it to the opposite shoreline. :)

And don't forget that we have to fight another battle at the bridge by noon. Let's pace ourselves.

rolled 73 = 73

test roll to see if I should roll today

>>17667118
Agreed. Lets save the botch for now

rolled 10 = 10

>>17667122
so I guess a no

Seconds after readying your spear, the wedge strikes home, crashing into, and through the demonic ranks, your spear ripping into a lone demon before Spites momentum and speed carry your through them and into the skeleton swordsmen. To your right and left wedges of uursan smash through skeleton spearmen, taking damage, though the skeletons stay shattered without a necromancer to raise them, thanks to Catalinas blessings, which now have all of the weapons shimmering a slight green.

Stabbing out at whatever skeletons are in range, your shield making it so that even Spites claws and teeth are as lethal as usual, the first arcane strike from the flyers strikes home. A quartet of pure white lances burn into the northern inner unit of skeleton spearmen, while the southern is wracked by several bolts of lightning. As you shatter yet another skeleton, you realize that every undead on the river is now frozen in its place, making blows struck against them doubly effective. Behind you, the sound of men preparing to attempt to do exactly what you and the cavalry just did fills your ears, as the waves behind them begin ramping up to a proper charge. Realizing that you will soon be in range of the undead archers, you attempt to create a quake beneath them, but sadly, the water prevents you from exerting much of anything on the earth from your current location.

rolled 54 = 54

Combat Roll These Undead NEED TO DIE

rolled 49 = 49

>>17667203
and it's not gonna be today

rolled 69 = 69

>>17667196
Still not much we can really do in terms of command. I guess have the archers start to focus on the spearmen across the river now. Sigh. I'm not going to enjoy it when their archers go crazy on our cavalry. Rolling command.

rolled 2 = 2

>>17667196
Rolling for ELEMENTALISM! SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THEIR FAITH! THESE DOGS ARE NOT EVEN WORTHY OF THE UURLANTHII DOG'S NATIONALITY, AT LEAST THEY FIGHT WITH /SOME/ FORM OF HONOR!!!!!!

*queue shaking the towers possibly fucking up their foundations*

See if we can locate and slay the necromancers in the units we're engaged with.

>>17667218
Are the towers going to topple on top of the undead troops?

rolled 93 = 93

>>17667267
It would be nice wouldn't it......

Onwards you plunge, sighing in relief as your wing bursts through the undead ranks mostly unscathed. the sounds of bones shattering and men shouting still close behind you, again you force yourself to focus, casting out your will to the towers flanking the ford, willing the earth to quake beneath them. And quake it does, you can hear the sounds of splattering flesh and and pulping bone. The thunder of stone cracking and heavy wood doors exploding to splinters deafents the field for a brief moment. The towers do not topple, but they list terribly, and the casualties inside and atop them are only the first of what are certain to be many or all.

So great is the destruction that you fail to be fazed by the mostly innefectual archer fire, or your own barely average preformance just moments before. The cry of "A LANCE UP YOUR ASS YUP NECROMANTIC UURLANTHI DOG!!!" The brief lull in the thunder of feet as the shock troops allow the second wave of heavy cavalry to pass through the enemy ranks first barely registers as you attempt to ascertain the damage you did. The northern tower is already stabilizing at its new tilt, though the southern looks set to sway for a good deal longer. Couching your spear again, you prepare to charge through your second spear wall of the day, as the undead bowmen ready their bows, aiming nearly straight at the onrushing cavalry.

rolled 98 = 98

>>17667394
Okay combat roll now

>>17667403

rolled 42 = 42

>>17667394
Can't really adjust our plan much at this point. Archers fire a volley on the oncoming spears and let's hope it disrupts them a bit to make our charge a little less painful. Hopefully our troops engage their lines soon since I don't want to be isolated behind them for too long. Might be worhtwhile to just charge right through them again. Rolling command.

rolled 65 = 65

>>17667394
YOU KNOW WHAT! FUCK YOU UNDEAD!
ROLLING FOR ELEMENTALISM!
I'M TIRED OF THESE DAMN SPEAR WALLS!

*Queue a shitton of telekenisis if we can to soften the spear wall in front of our calvary, hey, a flying blunt weapon is still a blunt weapon*

rolled 4 = 4

>>17667403
Let's see if a potential botch can fix this debacle.

rolled 92 = 92

Botch roll for combat.

>>17667430
I recommend another earthquake instead. Flying projectiles are unlikely to be effective against undead skeletons.

Earthquake to disrupt their spear wall.

>>17667433
Yes Botch

Have Catalina bless a blast emerald hand grenade, filled with pitch and metal shavings, then throw it into the skeleton swordsmen on the shore with her prehensile whip.

>>17667504
And Saint Catalina raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "O Neshai, bless this Thy hand grenade that with it Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits, in Thy mercy."

Fully realizing what you are about to charge into, you fire off stone spikes into each of the rapidly approaching formations of armed skeletons. That, combined with the successfully received orders to fire into the spears softens the impact of both the leveled spears, and the arrows striking the roaring wedge of cavalry wedges. Still unnable to personally slay very many, if any undead with your spear you press onwards.

The sound of the Collins gleeful battle cries compel you to twist around in time to see Uurists warlords roll through the last of the demons with contemptuous ease. Moments later, Catalina fires off a great blast of consecrated flame, sending scores of undead back to death in the blink of an eye. Her whip lashes out wrathfully as the warlords continue into the two formations of skeletal swordsmen beyond the demons.

The formations, still loose from having several wedges of heavy cavalry slash through them are unnable to stop the heavy infantry as they charge through them, their wanton slaghter unstopable by the raised dead. The weakness of your foes is compounded by another strafing run by your flying cavalry, more pillars of brillaint white lance into their ranks, bolts of white-hot lightning incinerating more and more of their number as blessed repeater bolts reap their wrathful toll. Onwards you plunge, to the far side of your foes formation, the archers on the towers all but leaderless, ineffectual in their firing as the northern tower finally finishes settling, and the southern continues its terrifying swaying and crunching.

rolled 88 = 88

>>17667567
Command roll go. Nothing to do but keep charging to mess up their formation and get those archers in the rear.

For whoever is going to roll elementalism, I suggest we take out dem towers.

rolled 31 = 31

>>17667567
Okay this gone far enough I gotta end this Combat Roll

rolled 48 = 48

>>17667567
Elementalism.
Earthquake, epicenter on the still reeling southern tower to bring it down completely.

>>17667602
I would have thought the northern one would have been better just due to how many elementalists they had within the towers still but I guess a guaranteed tower down isn't bad.

>>17667620
I wanted to go for a sure kill, before attacking the one that might not be damaged all that much.

Trying to join you guys atm, but mibbit is being a cunt and won't do anything.

As you move through yet another rank of undead, you spot a robed man... it is piteously easy to drive your spear through his head, making a grisly trophy of it until the constant impacts of shattering bones smashes it from your spear. Glancing to your right, and sweeping your shield down, at once using the motion to focus another quake on the still listing tower, and break the arrows from the face of it on the top of a skeletons head. With great satisfaction you watch the tower crumble to pieces in the early morning sun. AS the thunder of armored paws and well shod hooves continues to shatter skeletal formations, you again look behind you.

With a roar of wrath the warlords push on through the skeletal swordsmen that stand in their path. Many of them seem more encouraged than frightened by the brutality Catalina displays as she wraps her whip, blazing green and indifferent of the constant arcs of destruction it had been sent through, around a necromancers neck. Witha cry of religious wrath, you see the soul of the necromancer shredded, much of it absorbing into the whip, though a piece of it can be seen flowing into Catalina. Behind the vanguard warlords, the other assault infantry push through the wide, barely there ranks of dead soldiers, the undead guardians too stupid, or slow, to reform their ranks. Some of the lighter armored units are having a hard time of it, but already you can see the combative corpses being forced aside to leave the passage open to the light infantry. Part of you wants to continue to watch, but the siren cry of battle calls you back to what is ahead of you, just as Laeliths burst of flame shifts to green seconds before it strikes, and incinerates a large group of skeletons. And yet another volley of arrows, one of them expertly fired through your own ranks, and striking not a single Degnarian soldier.

rolled 97 = 97

>>17667703
Command roll. Finish our charge through and prepare to circle around to hit them in the flank I suppose. Let's hope we can inspire those mercs that are starting to waver. If our archers can, maybe they should try sniping the arcanists in the northern tower now.

rolled 39 = 39

>>17667703
Alright, another earthquake, targeting the northern tower. Let's see if we can get it to crumble as well.

rolled 12 = 12

>>17667703
Let's wrap this up Combat Roll

rolled 71 = 71

First wave infantry: Push through and attack the undead on the shore.

Second wave infantry: Make contact with the undead still in the ford.

Command roll.

I recommend someone else roll elementalism to tear down the northern tower.

As your cavalry charge shatters through the last few undead, your spear finally fully cleaned by pulping bone instead of accumulating more gore, your head snaps to the northern tower. Leveling your spear cross-body at the thing, and roaring in triumph, the tower is stricken by another quake, and crumbles to rubble. As the cavalry begins to slacken off their charge, awaiting clear orders, you glance behind you.

It all seems to be happening at once, though in reality it is carefully timed mayhem. First, the assault infantry clears the initial undead line, bits of bone and the last vestiges of demonic ichor falling free from the warlords weapons, another blast of consecrated fire sent out as a parting gift to the first line. the units that had been immediately to the warlords right and left break through next, turning the undead along their shields, allowing the trailing units of shock infantry to trample and push more than hack and cleave through the undead mass that were neat ranks not all that long ago.

Seconds before the line infantry hits, the aerial cavalry strikes again, pillars of white-hot energy decimate one of the units of skeletal spearmen not touched by your charge, as entropy and decay slowly begin to eat away at the units to the south of your cavalry charge. The undead, once frozen in place, now find themselves being washed towards the rushing Grayrun as the water elementalists again set to work. In addition to finishing the work started by the assault infantry, it destroys even more animated corpses, as they are either washed off the north of the ford, only to be smashed against it moments later, or simply carried away far downstream. The northern skeletons catch the worst of it though, as the air elementalists turn their full fury on the now thoroughly drenched undead, the fury of their lighting leaving not even dust of those undead touched by it.
>cont'd

Then, the Legionaries and Centurions hit, permanently boxing the undead warriors into a position agreeable to your plan, and clearing the way for the light infantry to pass through. Tower shields and longswords blessed by holy men and women of Neshai merciless cut down the mostly leaderless masses of undead still in the river. You almost feel sorry for the corpses as you watch the grim efficiency with which your soldiers smash though them... but the dead feel no pain and no fear.

>gah, I have work at noon today, and its already 4{30AM, I need sleep
>calling it here since there a SHIT-TON of this huge battle left, sorry guys
>someone archive please, I need to fall over
>I should be back thursday at 9pmish server time

Thread has been archived. Be sure to vote.