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Post by talis on Feb 3, 2015 6:54:12 GMT
Messengers were sent ahead of the retreating Firetooth army, and even before the survivors returned to the city the last dregs of the militia were called forth to serve the Clan in its time of need. The city's ancient stone walls had luckily been refurbished the season before. Now a hastily-erected palisade was also constructed and defenses prepared. Houses and buildings alongside the walls were demolished to open firing lines and deny the attackers cover, a ditch was dug along the palisade and lined with spikes, and great stocks of bullets, powder, heavy stones and hot oil were stored all along the wall. Noncombatants were evacuated behind the stone walls.
Prayers and services were held nonstop, both in the old temple and the newly constructed Cathedral of Erasmus.
There would be two focal points of defense: the great longhouse of Thundercrown Keep, which overlooked the city from atop one of two hills, and walled-in Temple District, which encircled the second hill. Batteries of cannon were placed atop each hill, and each point would have reserves of 1 Regiment of Musket Militia, 1 Regiment of Veteran Militia, and 1 Regiment of Pike militia. The rest of the Firetooth forces would be stationed wherever they were most needed to counter the enemy.
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Post by aspenivan on Feb 4, 2015 0:55:56 GMT
The only Imperial troops that would be present for the initial engagements of the Siege of Thundercrown were the four regiments of Yvorom who had fought at the river. They remained dutifully attached to King Azlyn's army, prepared to serve either as cavalry or as infantry as needed. Under the present circumstances, the Southerners did not hesitate to join the orcs in their worship. The whole city and all of its defenders would need Aed's strength.
In Elonese territory, General Stanizla Haan had received word of the defeat at Gasvan's Ford. Deliberations in the war-tent were long and arduous, but in the end the General and his officers agreed that sending more forces to the Firetooth would leave the position at Elon too vulnerable. Instead, the Army of New Byrnis marched West into the Elonese borderlands: General Haan was unsettled by reports on the havoc mercenaries were raising in the western Elonese fiefdoms, and hopefully the presence of his army nearby would deter any further misbehavior.
Meanwhile, the Grand Survaek Empire mobilized another army to support the struggling front. General Ishui Jaou marched from the Hessnya garrison with two-thousand soldiers and, at the Twin Forts, gathered nearly five-thousand more. It was about time for the Surv-Akur to settle this mess once and for all.
__________
Army of New Byrnis:
COMMANDER: General Stanizla Haan (Surv-Akur General) (Human) - 100 knights/10 horse artillery
3x Warrior Retinue (Ranged) - 600 Jezail Skirmishers
8,000 Survaekom Square Infantry (8 units)
2,000 Byrnian Guard (2 units)
1,000 Imperial Sappers (1 unit)
1,000 Khaitis Knights (2 units, Warbulls)
80 Emperor Guns/400 soldiers (4 units)
Army of Ishui Jaou:
COMMANDER: Ishui Jaou (Surv-Akur General) - 100 knights/10 horse artillery
2x Warrior Retinue - 400 Jezail Skirmishers
3,000 Survaekom Square Infantry (3 units)
3,000 Yvorom Cavalry (6 units)
40 Emperor Guns/200 soldiers (2 units)
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Post by Vaklu on Feb 4, 2015 6:11:17 GMT
MOD MARK
Winter season would see a great shuffling of forces on all sides. While the Horde settled in to begin it's siege of Thundercrown the Ikegami and Cerdigon forces moved for an outflanking maneuver by moving north then west around the mountains. To the south the Jotun and Imperials mustered their forces to go to the aid of the Firetooth, as well as keeping bored mercenaries in line.
Outside the city itself Hulgark would find a far better defended Thundercrown than his spies had reported a year ago. Only a sigle district stood without fortification and the Warchief was loath to send his men into such a warren unprepared. The horde would spend the winter building siege engines and scaling ladders. The forces inside the city and horde would only have a handful of skirmishes until the spring.
Losses due to skirmmishes
Wastelander
300 Archers
200 Roundshiers
Firetooth
100 Muskets
200 Roundshiers
Vaekirate
400 Zealots
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Post by Vaklu on Feb 4, 2015 6:36:34 GMT
Jotun
With all his troops at his disposal Gudrik would begin the march north to help lif the siege Of Thundercrown. with nearly over 6,000 Jotun warriors and reports of Imperial forces joining the fray from Hessnya the Thane was confident that they could remove the pressure from the city. The only thing he wasn't sure what to make of was the Vaekirate detachment and the young woman they escorted.
Jotun Relief Force
Jotun Troops
Thane Gudrik
Wulfric Thunderfist
Deilia Longleaf
2 Musketeers
4 shock
4 Roundshiers
2 Archers
1 Pike
Imperial Detatchment
General Stae Pjjokhat
1 Imperial Survaekom Square
2 Imperial Yvorom Cavalry
Vaekirate Detachment
Lagertha Haakonsdottir
1 Mounted Vaekirate Guard
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Post by ravigen on Feb 5, 2015 17:24:22 GMT
The Ikegami-Commonwealth Coalition had continued their march around the mountains to outflank the Wastelanders, the Samurai horsemen had been sent forward to act as scouts for the main force and soon enough they would make it to the Ford. From there they would cut off the Wastelander's supply route and swing down to hit the Enemy army from behind, hopefully smashing it against the defenders of Thundercrown.
With the addition of the Fire Eaters mercenary company the coalition force numbered nearly 30,000 strong. |
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Post by cerdigon on Feb 6, 2015 1:02:21 GMT
The Allied army had swelled to nearly thirty thousand strong. Tens of thousands of infantryman and archers, thousands of cavalry, yet it was still only half the size of the Wastelander force. King Aeron was not content to simply march his army towards the fording points that the Orc's themselves had crossed only weeks prior. Instead, the King had dispatched scouts and his own agents to determine if winter had frozen the river enough to allow the army to march across. Failing that, the Allies could at least determine the size of the force that no doubt waited to confront them at the crossing.
-- King Aeron (espionage action) dispatches spies and scouts to determine the size of the enemy forces awaiting the Allies at the ford and if the river is frozen enough to cross (thereby avoiding the worst of the Orc strong points).
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Post by talis on Feb 6, 2015 6:23:43 GMT
As the enemy prepared to assault Thundercrown Garlog and the Firetooth did everything in their power to make the enemy orcs uncomfortable. Sharpshooters manned the ramparts at intervals and made it a habit of sniping any orc who left himself too exposed; they especially preferred to pick out war leaders and commanders. The Firetooth soldiers were supplies with warm food and clothing in contrast to the wastelanders resting out in the bitter cold. On freezing knights Garlog would send Veigan Dirgeheart and the other bards out and order the fires stacked high so that the barbarians could see how comfortable the Firetooth were. On moonless knights Garlog would send out operatives to sneak into the enemy camp and burn down shelters or destroy supplies in hopes of increasing their suffering.
Inside the walls the soldiers continued to dig in. The wooden palisades were reinforced with mounds of packed earth to resist battering, and the city streets were divided up with defensive barricades. The Docks District, the only part of the city without walls, was filled with traps both devious and deadly now that it was evacuated. But always a strong watch was kept up and the soldiers kept at the ready for an attack.
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Post by cerdigon on Feb 6, 2015 20:27:30 GMT
Frost had begun to grow like a weed across his breastplate. With a grunt, King Aeron settled his cloak over his shoulders in an attempt to ward off the biting chill of the wind while the scout reported.
'' My King, we have found no major enemy force near the fording point. Orc cavalry patrols have been sighted but nothing to impede the advance. '' The Sylph said, kneeling, eyes downcast at his King's horse.
'' An opportune moment then to seize the Ford... '' and the glory of being the first across. A wary glance was tossed towards the Ikagami banners that now outnumbered his own nearly two to one.
'' There is something else Your Grace.... Jotun have been sighted! Marching up the riverbank in great numbers. ''
The only thing that King Aeron found more detestable than his Ikagami Elven kin was the Jotun whom had terrorized his people for many generations. But it was Jotun grain that was keeping his people fed at the moment, and he would need it to stop any flames of discontent from spreading.
'' Dispatch a messenger to the Jotun. Tell them we are seizing the crossing and are preparing to march on Thundercrown. He is welcome to join our host. ''
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Like a great host of carrion birds, the Sylph infantry descended on the opposite side of the Ryn river. Soldiers cursed, officers shouted orders to get their soldiers into formation. Beora Brightheart watched the chaos as the first regiment of many thousands crossed the river. But unlike the Elven folk, the Sylph's did not need to get sopping wet with icy water. Instead their great wings allowed them to skirt across untouched. Two thousand light infantry had begun to form up followed by Sylph longbowman that would offer a shield to hammer any Wastelander forces that attempted to intervene in the Commonwealth operation. The next to ford the river would be the horse archers and Sylph cavalry, to be followed by the heavier formations of knights and heavy infantry who would be cumbersome, vulnerable, and slow in crossing it.
SUMMARY:
-- With reports from scouts and spies informing the King that there is little in the way of Orc opposition near the Ford, the Commonwealth moves to seize the crossing points and continue the march to Thundercrown, pinning the Wastelander's between the Allies and the walls of the city.
Beora Brightheart leads a Sylph detachment (flying to the opposite bank) at the head of two thousand light infantry, followed by two thousand longbowman. The detachment will secure the bank from Orc attack so that the Allied army can cross unmolested. Light cavalry and horse archers will follow before the main host.
Commander: Beora Brightheart (Warrior / Melee) / Sylph detachment
-- 2000 Light Infantry (Sylph)
-- 2000 Longbowman (Sylph)
Commanding: King Aeron
-- General Silveon De Forn
-- 2000 Shieldwall Infantry (Elf)
-- 1000 Lancers (Sylph)
-- 1000 Knights (Elf)
-- 500 Horse Archers (Elf)
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Post by ravigen on Feb 6, 2015 20:35:34 GMT
The Ikegami crossing was slightly longer but no less determined, the smaller Ikegami cavalry were the first across, treading the water carefully on powerful steeds, once on the other side, the Ikegami horse archers fanned out to scout further down the river bank for enemy patrols, led by Captain Trell who'd cast a hateful glance at the Commonwealth soldiers before hurrying to her duty, Ikegami Sayoko and Yukimura took position to secure the crossing as the first of the Samurai came across in formation, Masateru riding alongside them as they forded the river.
The musketeers came next, their powder and rifles in sealed wagons to prevent contamination while the rest of the levy forded behind them, then followed the Fire Eaters and the last of the Samurai alongside Naozumi himself who had volunteered to hold the rear guard.
Once across the Ikegami immediately set to work to preparing for the march to Thundercrown, battle was imminent, the Samurai sang songs of glory, told tales of the past and generally were high spirited and eager, the levy less so but still they joined in the songs and chants as the army crossed.
Ikegami
--Ikegami Masateru (General/Mounted (50 Bodyguards)
--3 units of City Musket levy (2,400 men)
--3 units of City Pike (3,000 men)
--2 units of City Roundshier (2,000 men)
--1 unit of City Shock (1,000 men)
--4 units of peasant archers (4,000 men)
--1 units of Peasant Roundshier (750 men)
--2 units of Halberdiers (2,000 men)
--2 units of Longbow (2,000 men)
Ikegami Naozumi (Monarch/Mounted)- 30 Mounted Royal Guard
Ikegami Sayoko (Warrior/Melee/Mounted)- 75 Mounted Warriors
Ikegami Yukimura (Warrior/Melee/Mounted)- 150 Mounted Warriors
Captain Trell (Warrior/Ranged/Mounted)- 110 Mounted Warriors
300 horse archers
Gorfang's Fire Eaters
2,000 musket 2 units
2,000 shock, 2 units
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Post by aspenivan on Feb 7, 2015 0:37:13 GMT
Shortly before his column would have reached Thundercrown, General Pjjokhat received a missive bearing the seal of the Vizier. He was to leave the Jotun army and join with the Imperial relief force under General Ishui Jaou. As much as he preferred his role as (unpredictable) parallel commander with Thane Gudrik, he wasn't about to risk his reputation over it.
Once fully consolidated, the Army of Ishui Jaou marched to the Firetooth capital. The Grand Survaek Empire would not abandon its vassal to the vagaries of barbarian Westerners.
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Post by Vaklu on Feb 10, 2015 13:12:57 GMT
MOD MARK
Outside thundercrown the siege raged on with no end in sight. The Firetooth held the walls against sporadic attacks for a month before the situation would be turned on it's ear. All the armies of the Ikegami, Imperials, Jotun and Commonwealth had surrounded the wastelander horde. With over 140,000 warriors squaring up to fight the fields in front of the city would soon become the bloodiest battlefield the north had ever seen.
Battle of Thundercrown will take place
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