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>>1654718

Reaching the village with a small detachment (the main army waited just outside the forest, setting up camp on the plains,) you are pleasantly surprised to see several banners with the Black Cross of the Teuton order hanging on the backs of the village homes on the outside of the village.

Sharing a meaningful look with Kathrin, you ride into the village center, where you are greeted by Father Donaidh MacAodhagain, the monk who you left behind in the village, surrounded by the four knights that you left to guard both him and the village, two of whom, you note, have squires standing behind them, dressed in Teutonic tabards.

"Victor, how goes it? It's been a while, has it not? Come, tell me why you are here!"

Dismounting Gunnar, you clap him on the shoulders and smile.

"It is good to see you, Father. I have come to check on the village, and see if I cannot find any huntsmen willing to join with our army."

Nodding genially, the Scotsman smiles, and scratches his chin, while thinking. "Well, I suppose that I can help you out in that regard. Aquilus and Benedict, the two lead hunters, have just had their sons come of age, and they are now men of the Lord, due to my diligent efforts. So I suppose that they can be persuaded to leave with your army, along with two young, unmarried men who might wish to earn glory in war. I am afraid the others are too young, or too old to be of any help, my Brother."

"Very well, it shall have to do," you say, somewhat disappointed by the low turnout, (you didn't expect the whole village to pack up and become your camp followers, but more competent archers would have been useful,) "have them mount up, and say their farewells before midday. We're in a rush, I'm afraid."

Bowing, as he leaves to do his duties, Father MacAodhagain gives you a little wave, and he strides off, headed down well-worn paths to the hunters' lodges.

----------------------------------------

Little more than an hour later, the four men are in your party, and after a short benediction from Brother Donaidh, you set out, back towards your main force, four men the stronger. Although that might not be much in an actual battle, their abilities, when training the refugees from the razed village, are going to be invaluable.

>(Gained +4 Yeomen)

It takes the better part of a day to reach your force, and they've set up an informal camp, one that's easy to tear down at a moment's notice, and are resting when you approach. The sun lower in the sky, you rejoin your companions, and call a meeting among the Knight-Captains.

There is still enough daylight to squeeze some travel out of the day, but nightfall happens quickly, here on the plains. You could, instead, maintain the informal camp you already have here, and rest for the remainder of the day, but, as you recall, the last time you did that, you were ambushed by hedonistic "Dark Elves", and captured.

What did the Knight-Captains choose?

>Keep going.
>Stay.
>Write-in.

>>1654793
>>Stay.
Make sure to set out early tomorrow however.

>>1654793
>Stay
Getting ambushed on a plain is way worse

>>1654805
>>1654812

>Stay.

Writing.

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>>1654793

There's no need to hurry, you reason, after all, there was no limit on how much time you had to reach the valley, and besides, you have no idea what is up there. No reason to rush to destruction.

Also, there is the matter of a possible ambush on the open plains. The Dark Elves must have had some sorcery, the way they were able to ambush you undetected, or they were possibly just that capable at stealth. The fact stands, though, that you'd rather not get caught with your trousers down again, and it'd be much worse on the plains, than here in the copse, just off the plains.

The night passes quickly, and without significant event, and you head off early the next morning, army marching at a decent pace, not wanting to tarry near where knight-brother Berthold had fallen.

And thus, you travel north, to the valley, not slowly, but most certainly surely, making your way through a foreign land that no one, not even the Elf in your band, had been to before.

The plains gradually gave way to a more hilly country, and ever so slightly, you saw more scrub and brush in patches, here and there. However, there was one thing that gave you pause, in the distance.

Kathrin spotted them first. Or, more accurately, her falcon did, letting out several cries, and dipping a wing to Kathrin.

"My lord. My falcon, Schwarz, has spotted a large band, due north. And, that's not all, sir." Motioning to Cellica, who rode nearby, Kathrin said, "Tell him what you can see, Cellica."

Nodding, Cellica uttered only one word, that filled you with resignation to the inevitable trouble that wait in your path. "Carrion."

-----------------------------

Calling the column to a halt, you send for the other Knight-Captains, who look at you skeptically as they approach.

Aedilhun is the first to speak.

"So... what might be so important that you stopped the march, and called a meeting, my friend? You are a sensible fellow, I know, so it isn't frivolity."

Sighing, you explain the situation to them, and they are all experienced enough in the arts of war that they know what the signs mean.

"So there's an army blocking entry to the valley, then, and there was a battle recently," Sigmund says, taking the facts in stride. "Very well, then, shall we send scouts forward, or shall we ride upon them right quick, surprising them entirely?"

The other Knight-Captains don't seem to want to be the first to speak up, each weighing the pros and cons in their own private thoughts.

>Send scouts. It won't do to be unprepared.
>Ride at the army quickly, and aggressively. You can catch them unawares, whomever they are.
>Do both? Send scouts out, and wait a few hours, before following with the bulk of your forces.
>Write-in.

>>1654975
>>Send scouts. It won't do to be unprepared.

>>1654975
>Send scouts. It won't do to be unprepared.

>>1654975
>Ride at the army quickly, and aggressively. You can catch them unawares, whomever they are.
Are we not German? Blitzkrieg!

>>1654982
>>1654983

>Send scouts. It won't do to be unprepared.

Writing.

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>>1654975

"I feel that we should send our group of scouts ahead, first, and feel out the situation first. Wouldn't do to attack a force we have no quarrel with."

Agreeing, for the most part, the Knight-Captains went back to their places in the column, and, sending out the scouts, waited.

-------------------------------------

The news was not entirely pleasant at all. At the site of a battle, with corpses in piles at the bottom of hills, stood at least seven hundred and fifty men, dressed out in Roman armor, which, Natalia and Cellica confirmed, were the uniform of the Imperium Fulminata. The majority of corpses were from kilt-wearing tribesmen, but there were a decent amount of Legionaries on the piles, as well.

The main problem, however, wasn't the number of men, no, rather, where they were placed.

There were nine groups, each with eighty or so men to them. Six of the nine groups, (most likely centuries, from the description,) were standing idle, blocking the valley pass, while three more centuries stood atop of a nearby hill, guarding a command tent at the top. The terrain up the hill rocky, it would be a slugfest if you were to try and charge up it.

One consolation that you have, however, is that, from Cellica's descriptions of the men, they seem to be ruffians, criminals, and all sorts of baseborn folk, even lower than lowborn freeholders, clad in, not the steel one would expect, but rather, bronze. Quite easy to replace, with access to a supply line, and easy to break with a charge.

Taking this in, you confer with your fellow Captains, and formulate some sort of a plan.

>Character Assessments

>Victor: “Though outnumbered, I am sure our horses and armor give us a definite advantage.”

>Kathrin: “I am confident in our tactical advantage. One Knight is worth ten foot soldiers, no matter how disciplined.”

>Cellica: “I trust Victor’s judgement, although the thought of battle on this scale makes me uneasy.”

>Sebastian: “Ehh, no big deal. A good charge will send them into a rout.”

>Gunther: “Ah’ve faced wurse ahds befar.”

>Veit: “This shall go wrong, I know it will…”

>Natalia: “With the strength of the LORD and faithful conviction, we shall reign victorious.”

>Guies: “My Chevaliers stand ready, no matter the numbers against us!”

>Aedilhun: “We’ll get past them, no trouble. The strength of our arms shall bring us the day.”

>Marcus: “I trust my Captains and my friends to not lead me astray.”


What plan did you come up with?

>Break their center with a charge, and set the archers after the command tent.
>Send all forces at the center.
>Send all forces after the command tent on the hill.
>Write-in.

>>1655204
>Break their center with a charge, and set the archers after the command tent.
If it comes to it, dismount and go up the hill.

>>1655204
>Break their center with a charge, and set the archers after the command tent.

>>1655204
>Break their center
More likely than not it will dissuade the other smaller group to join in the conflict once they see our numbers

>>1655226
>>1655228
>>1655230

>Break their center with a charge, and set the archers after the command tent.

Writing.

>>1655204

It was decided. You'd break their center with a charge, and send your archers to harass the three centuries on the hill, keeping them in position, while you annihilated those blocking the valley with a massed lance charge.

And so, that's how you found yourself at the head of your line, in the middle, and somewhat ahead of the rest of your men, who rode side by side. Next to you, Cellica and Kathrin ride, steeling themselves for battle, and further down the grand line, to your right, you see Natalia, and acknowledge each other with a nod. Taking a deep breath, you exhale, and look to Cellica.

"Cellica, I want you to go with the archers. You're the best markswoman we have, and there's no real place for you in a lance charge."

The elfess nods, and hesitates, before blurting out, "Alright. Be... be careful, okay Victor?"

You simply pat her on the shoulder, and say, "As careful as I can be." Watching her leave, and join the archer group, you sigh. She wasn't made for war, despite how well she does in a fight.

Turning to Kathrin, you look her over, without a lance, but instead, a spear, a broadsword and shield, and several javelins. You simply raise an eyebrow, and she answers, giving you a curt, succinct answer.

"If I were to couch a lance, sir, I'd be launched out of the saddle, and my arm would break. It's just a fact of life." Motioning to her weapons, she says, "However, with these weapons, I can help guard you in battle, after the lances break."

Grunting, you shift the straps on your saddle. Makes sense. She's not built quite as strong and durable as Natalia, but she does have muscle on her, enough to swing a sword with a deadly, dancing quickness.

Carrying your banner, beside you, is Edgar, who seems to be... remarkably self-assured about this whole, "carrying a banner with naught but a longsword and buckler into battle," issue.

However, the enemy is within sight, just behind the next ridge, so the time for thought and conversation is over.Now all that remains for your to do is lead your warband in battle, and hope for the best.

>Give a rallying speech (Write-in)
>As soon as you're over the hill, identify the best place to charge towards.
>Steel yourself, make your nerves as hard as steel, and ready yourself for what you must do.

and

>Roll 1d20, best of 3.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>1655479

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>1655479
>As soon as you're over the hill, identify the best place to charge towards.

>>1655527
>>1655504

>18
>As soon as you're over the hill, identify the best place to charge towards.

Writing.

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>>1655479

As soon as you're over the hill, you tell yourself, you're going to figure out the most vulnerable point in the Centuries' formation, so you can lead your men right into it.

And so, you do.

Between two of the Centuries, where they are pressed up right next to each other, there's a slight hole in their formation. It's not purposeful, you look for all the markers of a trap. You find none, and you now have a place to drive a wedge into their formation.

Perfect.

You see the enemy, now, scrambling to raise their shields quickly, startled by the sudden appearance of an army, such as yours. You can only imagine what it must be like, to see yourself on the ridge, banner flapping in the breeze, a juggernaut plated in steel. The Legion before you, why, they must be terrified.

You know you would be, clad in bronze, on foot, with scum and ruffians as your companions, seeing gods of the battlefield before you.

Looking to your fellow Knight-Captains, you lower your lance, and shout out those sacred words in unison.

"DEUS VULT!"

>Roll 1d20+1, best of 3.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>1655731

Rolled 20 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1655731
The Power of Christ compels you!

>>1655779
Jesus fucking Christ, looks like it does, anon.

Rolled 143 + 20 (1d160 + 20)

>>1655779

>21

Writing.

>>1655731

The thunder of hooves all around you. The screams of the enemy before you, and the battlecries of your brothers beside you. This, this is what a battlefield should be like. Couching your lance, you ride down the ridge, toward the shaky tetsudo formation, and make sure your lance is on target.

You are the first one to spear a man, catching his face through a gap in the shieldwall, and shoving your lance through his skull, gore and bits of bone flying everywhere. Gunnar tramples the man in his way, crushing him beneath his own bronze tower shield, and turning him to a crushed, bloody mess..

Not one to give up after one try, you manage to catch another man in the throat with the point of the lance, causing him to cough up blood, and fall to the ground, twitching, scrabbling at his neck, now sticking out the back of the Legion soldier's head, before it is wrenched forcefully from your grasp, and splinters, falling apart.

Quickly unsheathing your sword and cutting men down left and right, Gunnar's charge is slowed to a slog as he pushes forward against the mass of men, trying to trample them or shove them forcefully out of the way. Beside you, your brothers are now doing the same, mowing men down left and right, blood practically spraying in the air about them.

Kicking a man in the head, and stabbing him through the eye, you see something interesting. It's the Centuries' commanders, trying to get away with the standard bearers, and a small contingent of soldiers. Now that simply won't do.

Kicking Gunnar's sides, you have him leap forward, trampling the rest of the soldiers before you, breaking their bodies, and raise your blade, pointing it at the escaping officers.

"Knights! To me!"

Heeding your rallying cry, your men push and butcher their way through the broken lines of men, and follow you in a charge towards the leaders of these two Centuries.

They are, quite frankly, run down like dogs.

Hacking and slashing through the scores of men, you reach the officers and standard bearers, who get on their knees, and lay their weapons, and standards, down. Quickly looking behind you, you see that all that is left of the two centuries is a bloody, gory mass of twitching bodies in their death throes, and wounded men crying out for mercy. Satisfied that no one will attack from behind, you approach the officers, while keeping an eye on the battle around you, and you....

>Kill everyone. No time for quarter, nor do they deserve it.
>Kill everyone except the most senior officer. He should make a good ransom.
>Ransom the officers, slaughter the standard bearers.
>Take them all captive.
>Write-in.

>>1655949
>>Take them all captive.

>>1655949
>>Take them all captive.

>>1655949
>Take them all captive.
What exactly would we gain gain by killing them?

>>1656011
Time, mostly. You also have to set a guard to take them off the battlefield.

>>1655957
>>1655963
>>1656011

>Take them all captive.

Writing.

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>>1655949

"You ten, take these men back to our belongings, and secure them there, in a wagon. We'll arrange a detail for the wounded after the battle."

Nodding, and saluting you, the ten men you indicated, ride forward, giving their newfound prisoners impulse to move with the flats of their blades, which were still bloody from the slaughter of their comrades.

With the matter of battlefield honor out of the way, you focus on the rest of the battlefield around you.

To your right, the line has absolutely demolished the Centuries out in the open, with some knights already escorting prisoners back to the temporary camp, like you did. There is but token resistance from one Century, from an thinning line that becomes ever smaller as its troops desert.

Looking to your left, what you see heartens you.

With a constant barrage, most likely coordinated between Cellica and the yeomen, the three Centuries, who greatly outnumbered the archers, were unwilling to shuffle forward in their testudo formation, for fear that an arrow would make its' way through the shields. However, they're going to get desperate enough to charge, soon, or the archers will run out of arrows.
>Help the archers, dismount and charge up the hill.l
>Find another way up the hill that you can ride up.
>Join the other knights in chasing down the routed enemy.

>>1656134
>Help the archers, dismount and charge up the hill.
If possible, detail someone to
>Find another way up the hill that you can ride up.
Maybe we don't charge, but we hold our ground to buy the cavalry detachment maximum time to find a way round.

>>1656134
>>Find another way up the hill that you can ride up.

Sorry for the short run, I'm packing it in for the night, open voting and all that jazz

>>1656154
Fair enough, not everyone has the time to just run for a day or something. Thanks for the good run so far, Ath, looking forward to tomorrow.

>>1656134
>>Help the archers, dismount and charge up the hill.l

>>1656141
Supporting. Help the archers, but not by charging while dismounted. We have shields, right? We should be able to protect the archers from the centurions' first javelin volley and initial charge, giving the horsemen time to find a flanking route.

>>1656141
+1

>>1656134
>Join the other knights in chasing down the routed enemy.

Sorry for the huge delay, I've been abducted by Crusader Kings 2. I should have the thread going again tonight or tomorrow afternoon.