Battle of Gasvan's Ford (WASTELANDER VICTORY)

((I'd appreciate a description of the ford and the land on either side of it. Since the Firetooth Sea routs from Thrundercrown pass through here and are still seaworthy style boats, I assume the water is at least 5 feet deep and since it wasn't stated otherwise I will assume the turf on either side is solid and relatively flat. Other than that, how wide is the ford? Is the water clear enough to see hazards on the river bed and how fast/effective is the currant here?)) 

Admiral Guard stationed his ships just south of the ford, leaving space for the the Firetooth to shoot across the river, without his ships getting into the crossfire, but still in good range for the musket men mounted on the Drommons platforms. The city troops would pepper the Waistland orc's southern flank, from their elevated position on the ships' decks, while his marines focused on maintaining the ships's defense, putting out any fires that started and guarding against any attempt by the orcs to board the ships.

In case it became necessary later on, the marines had prepared a series of wide gang planks, which could be placed between the ships to form a temporary dry bridge over the river. This way the Firetooth artillery and muskets levies could cross without worrying about getting their gunpowder wet. For now these planks were hidden, but the marines and Elonese musket men had spend some time practicing the maneuvers necessary to set up the floating bridge.    

The Yvorom would use their bows to shoot over the Firetooth gunlines and help thin the enemy ranks as the orcs crossed the river. Then lead the calvary charge. 

Azlyn organized his calvary behind the Firetooth gunners and musket men stationed about 100 feet from the shores of the ford and along the river banks just north and south of the crossing. He planned to hold and give the gunlines a good chance to fill the orcs with led before running out and risking getting hit by friendly fire. He'd wait until they enemy was mostly across, then signal with trumpet blasts in order to maintain cohesion and coordination with the rest of the allied armies. He'd ordered the Yvorom captains to time their charge in order to hit the orcs as they were coming up out of the water on to the shore. Their goal would be to drive the orcs back into in to the water and defend the firetooth artillery and gunlines. They would have to break the initial enemy charge, or better yet hit the orcs before they could get a chance for a proper charge. He stationed the Yvorom center field, facing the river head on. As the largest unit, mounted on ferocious wargs, they would be the main driving force of the calvary charge, hopefully strong enough to break the force of the Wasteland shock troops. The Broken Lances he stationed on the northern end of the shore. Once the Yvorom were engaged they would charge and hit the waistlander's northern flank, keeping the enemy contained in the river ford and protecting the gunmen lined along the north shore. Azlyn himself, along with the Heirs of Estryn would be stationed on the southern end of the shore, protecting the Firetooth along the south shore and charging from that side in coordination with the Broken Lances, so as to pin them from three sides. Azlyn was stationed with the smallest unit, but would have the Drommons for cover against the archers on the far shore and the musket men under Admiral Guard's command would be there to cover their charge. If the initial charge failed to drive the enemy back into the river, the mounted troops could fall back behind the Firetooth roundshields and regroup for a second charge.     

---

Azlyn could hear his heart pounding in his chest, as he sat astride Rassesslas, weather in was a excitement, anxiety or a a little of both, he wasn't sure, but he felt like a fierce wind was trapped inside him, trying to burst forth and carry him like a storm into the battle. He'd done his best to give an encouraging speech to his troops and his face still felt flush from the excited energy of his words. His trumpet was close at hand, ready to signal. Over his head flew the blue bander of Elon and he could see others flying from the masts of the ships. Around him were the faces of his royal guards. This was his first real battle and Azlyn was determined to prove himself a bold and reliable leader.

Sir Bronsyn was stationed with the King's bodyguards along with the five other rangers he'd led out of the waists. Compared to the royal guards they seemed shabby and rough, but he knew his rangers probably had more fighting experience. But like Azlyn, Bron also had something to prove. He needed to show himself capable of being a loyal nobleman, something more than a scruffy ranger from Dorn. He'd stick close to the king and defend him the best he could.

---

The embarked musket men will fire in coordination with the Firetooth artillery and gunmen, shooting the orcs as they approach the river and wade through the water. They will also cover King Azlyn's charge.

Primary Goal: Kill as many enemies as possible before they can reach the eastern bank.
Secondary Goal: Cover King Azlyn's charge, but cease once melee is in full tilt to avoid hitting allies.
Defense: Marines will put out fires, attend to any major damages that can be fixed quickly and fight off anyone who tries to board. 

The calvary will hold until the gunmen have had a good chance to thin the enemy ranks and until the orcs are reaching the nearer shore then charge from three directions. The Yvorom will be center/main force with the Broken Lances hitting the north flank shortly after the main charge and Azlyn hitting the south flank in coordination with the Broken Lances.

Primary Goal: Drive the enemy back into the river
Secondary Goal: Keep the enemy from reaching the gunlines.
Defense: Can fall back behind Firetooth Roundshield levies to regroup.

Note: All unit captains have horns to signal their charges or possible retreats. Army commanders (Azlyn, Hallark and the head captain of the Yvorom) have trumpets with unique keys in order to be to be recognized. Signals have all been agreed on ahead of time.    

Without preamble the wastelanders began their attack. 3,000 Rounshiera would be the first to attempt the fording of the river. The 4,000 pike holding behind the with 5,000 archers firing over their heads and into any foe in reach. On the banks closest to the Elonese drommons a force of a further 2,000 roundshiers came forward as cover for 3,000 Archers who began raining arrows onto the ships. At the rear of the host orders were passed on with large colored flags. Further 3,000 rounshiers and a equal number of Light infantry as well as 5,000 heavy troops stood in reserve.

MAIN FRONT

The sound of horns and drums echoed through the plains as the wastelander army sent forth its first attack. Hundreds of banners fluttered and thousands of feet crunched against grass dry from summer heat, while thousands of arrows whistled over their heads and onto the defenders.

The day was crisp and clear, with hardly a cloud in the sky, allowing soldiers on each side to behold each other's ranks and flags in eery detail...until the wasteland infantry hit water. That was the point when eleven-thousand Firetooth muskets belched out fire and smoke, covering their side of the field in a billowing grey haze. And when the other side of the field was covered in a thinner but more unsettling haze of red from the tremendous weight of lead hitting flesh.

It was too much for the relatively small vanguard to endure all at once. Not even halfway across the ford, those who were not dead or dying turned tail and fled for friendly lines. They might have retreated further if it were not for a handful of soldiers who heroically rallied their comrades before meeting the pikes and archers.

“Warriors of the wastes! Brothers! Hold the line before the gunner-scum see us past the smoke! Hold the line here, now!”

Miraculously, the shouts were echoed through the struggling formation-in-retreat. “Halt!” “Hold the line!” “Cut the retreat!” Whatever the infantry vanguard had lacked in courage, it made up for in remarkable cohesion as it reformed in good order just beyond the wastelander side of the ford. It also helped that the archers had been continuously covering their retreat with devastating arrow-volleys, disrupting the Firetooth lines enough to keep them from loosing a second volley of their own on the retreating infantry.

Horns blasted once again: The roundshiers were making a second attack. This time, they had smoke-cover to help them, and their enemies' tight ranks were struggling under light but constant rain of arrows. The second Firetooth volley was more sporadic and less precise than the first, and though the over ten-thousand muskets still hit the wastelanders with considerable force, the fire was not enough to break them. Soon, the defenders could hear the taunts and battle-cries of their advancing enemies.

“They've hit our side of the ford!” Though the burnt-powder haze was thick, Firetooth captains could make out wasteland banners and silhouettes getting dangerously close.

“Load that next volley, damn you!” “Fire the cannons!” A horn sounded from the defenders of Thundercrown, followed immediately by the thunderous boom of forty cannons vomiting musket-balls and shrapnel onto the approaching host. Seconds later, the militia finally followed up with another volley, this one in a bit better order than the last.

Surely the wasteland infantry couldn't withstand this much...but there they were! Banners still grew closer, and marching boots louder! With so much smoke obscuring their views, the allied commanders could only make their best guess as to what exactly was approaching, and they rationally came to agreement that there had to be more than the paltry vanguard here. Clearly the enemy had bolstered the advance under cover of smoke. And that meant it was time for the Survaekom-Elonese forces to take action.

The proud, armored ranks of Yvorom warg cavalry, who had been raining arrows on the enemy to strengthen the Firetooth gauntlet of fire, now buckled their shields and drew their swords. Three blasts of a horn signaled their charge, and three horns were blasted in reply from each flank: Azlyn and the Heirs of Estryn to the South, the Broken Lances to the North. The entire force of human cavalry catapulted forward in a ground-shaking thunder of hooves, warg-claws, and battle-cries.

The fact of the matter, however, was that the small wastelander vanguard had actually made it all this way on its own, pressing forward even at a shell of its former strength. But there was no holding ranks to the sound of so many animals and the sight of so many fast-approaching banners. They might have lured the humans into a deadly crossfire at the river, but their badly-shaken spirits had not the strength to stay put the extra few moments they would have needed to execute a proper feint. Their captains, at the very moment they heard the horns, preferred to rush their orders than to risk losing the few survivors they still commanded.

“Fall back! Fall back!”

The retreating orcs, few as they were, managed to keep formation and good order as they ran; they had pulled of the feint perfectly in the mechanical sense. But it was still too early. When they reached friendly lines, the enemy horse hadn't even hit the river, and by then it was clear enough to the cavalry commanders that they couldn't keep pursuing without running headlong into the enemy pike, or worse. Instead, the Yvorom engaged in a short skirmish with the wasteland archers, bringing their bows back out to trade shots before pulling back with the rest of the cavalry.

In the end, the attempted feint cost the wastelanders more casualties than they inflicted back, and the relative positions of the two opposing armies remained the same.

_____

SOUTHERN FLANK

Finding themselves under concentrated attack, the Elonese dromons were not able to participate in the main battle as intended. With so many musketeers crowded alongside the marines, the soldiers were nearly packed like sardines when thousands of arrows came pouring down. The humans tried to trade shots with the wastelanders, but their volleys were uncoordinated and inaccurate under so much sudden pressure.

As the skirmish stretched out over several minutes, the carnage among the soldiers of Elon only grew more horrible, while the enemy formation hardly seemed dented from return fire. Arrows pattered relentlessly into a virtual stew of bodies, volley after volley, until the decks were covered in blood. Soon, there were more people dead and dying than alive and well aboard the dromons; the former were piled up as makeshift barriers to protect those who could still shoot.

But the wastelanders wouldn't have an easy victory. When they finally called forth the infantry assault, the hardened survivors aboard the decks were ready. The Elonese had stopped trying to skirmish in vain, instead hunkering under cover and waiting for their foes to get closer. The roundshiers approached to eerily silent ships noticeably lacking in any puffs of powder-smoke...until they got within twenty meters. Then they were greeted with shot and fire, literally blasting away much of their front line.

This sudden provocation pushed the orcs to an all-out, pell-mell attack. “Chaaaaaarge!” Swordsmen trudged and waded through water with all their strength, rushing to be the first to punish the upstart menfolk and silence their guns. They had the right idea rushing the enemy, but their haphazard advance made them easy pickings for the musketeers as they fired at will. It would be a full six minutes until the orcs got a foothold on the ships, and another five of bloody melee until they secured them. Even worse for the wastelanders, two of the enemy crews managed to cut anchor, dragging their ships and the boarders down the river.

Regardless, the invaders now had control of three ships, each with a supply of gang-planks that could be used to make bridges. This tactical victory was hard-earned, but might turn the course of battle in their favor.

__________


ORDER OF BATTLE (Current Forces):

Allies (no set post order)
Firetooth (talis)
- Garlog Whiteshot (Warrior-ranged/General) (50 Royal Guard, 50 Bodyguard, 200 warriors)
-- 10 Muskets(10,000 men)
-- 6 Roundshiers (6,000 men)
-- 2 Field battery (200 soldiers, 40 guns)

Elon (MissMilkMaid)
- King Azlyn Christallo (Warrior-Melee) (50 Royal Guard, 200 Warriors) Mounted
- Sir Hallark Von Gerrack (General) (50 bodyguards) Mounted
- Heirs of Estryn (Zealots/Melee) (200 men) Mounted
-- 2 Lancers (1000 men) Broken Lances
-- 1 Knights (500 men) Broken Lances
-- 4 Imperial Yvorom (1,800 men)(Warg Mounted)

--1 Squadron of Dromons (5 ships, 150 marines-muskets) ANNIHILATED
--1 Muskets (1000 men) embarked ANNIHILATED


Wastelander Horde (Vaklu)
- Fulgram Wildhammer (Warrior-Melee) (200 Warriors)
- Yontai Furtaker (General) (50 Bodyguards)
-- 3 Light Infantry (3,000 men)
-- 5 shock (5,000 men)
-- 5 Roundshiers (4,500 men)
-- 8 Archers (7,500 men)
-- 4 Pike (4,00 men)


Notes:
- Wastelander Horde now controls 3 Dromons along with gangplanks
- This battle will consist of at least 2 more moderation marks

Garlog sat mounted upon a great wolf, surrounded by a dozen aids on smaller wargs. They rode to and from in the battle, gathering news, reporting the situation and delivering messages. In time and with training they would become full retainers, but for now they fulfilled another job just as important.


"Switch cannons 1 through 12 change to roundshot. Fire on the Elonese ships." Garlog ordered, peering over the smoke as one aid recalled the disastrous management of the Elonese cavalry. He hadn't expected much from the soft southerners, but even this disappointed him. Now he would have to account for a potential crossing from the ships as well as the ford. Twelve cannons should be enough to sink the ships; he would sink them to the bottom of the river, and any barbarians who tried to cross on them as well.

As for the rest of the battle, things continued as he planned. The musketeers didn't need to be able to see their targets, only to hold position and continue firing as long as the wastelanders were trying to cross. This was by design: good order and simple instruction would keep the musketeers confident and the enemy at a distance. The smoke also acted as a safety screen, preventing the enemy from knowing the Firetooth's movements or the exact position of their troops.

Through the haze and smoke, the Firetooth guns had only a partial view onto the captured Elonese ships. The crews did their best to estimate the proper angle of fire given the distance to the river, but it was nigh impossible to adjust. Matters only grew worse when one of the cannons in the twelve-gun group burst, vaporizing its crew with fire and shrapnel. The two adjacent crews were also hit, silencing their fire and strewing their positions with blood and carnage.

This did not mean the vessels would have an easy time, however. The wastelanders were not renowned as sailors by any stretch, and being under cannon-fire was a difficulty no matter how inaccurate or sporadic the bombardment. Hardly ten seconds into rowing, one of the dromons careened far to the left and smashed into a rocky section of the river-bank. Another barely made it to the crossing, but to the wastelanders' dismay it simply stopped and would not slide any further in despite the rowers' best efforts. The vessel was stuck where it could only protect the army's Southern flank. Finally, one vessel hit its mark, driving into the crossing enough to guard the center and a bit of the Northern wing, but by and large the invaders' left flank would have to remain exposed.

The second attack of the Battle of Gasvan's Ford began with three coordinated volleys by the wasteland archers, sowing injury and discord through the Firetooth musket-lines. Then came signals from flags and drums: The advance began.

For the first half of the crossing, only the Northern wing of musketeers could fire on the invaders, but they did plenty of damage. There had been time for the smoke to clear enough for a decent aim, and to boot the wastelanders were packed tight to stay covered from the other wings. Hundreds upon hundreds of orcs found themselves with holes suddenly punched through their armor and flesh, adding more blood and bodies to the hungry river current.

Once the attackers emerged from behind their makeshift barrier, the whole line of muskets opened up, but the effect left something to be desired. Firetooth commanders quickly noticed that because the enemy was coming at them in a thin column wrapping around the grounded dromon, the Northern wing remained the only one that could truly punish the barbarians with full force.

By the time of the third volley, wasteland boots were hitting the shore. But whatever their formation could do to minimize musket damage from the front and South, the cannons were another matter: Grapeshot from this range would rip through bodies like butter. Premature shouts of encouragement and battle-lust were transformed to cries of horror and pain after the guns had spewed hot lead right into the advancing column. Nearly a fifth of the formation's length was wiped out in an instant with a literal spray of blood and carnage: The army's entire complement of roundshiers was annihilated but for a scattering of survivors who fled for their lives.

However, to the dismay of the defenders, the attack continued. Behind the massacred roundshiers were the true force of the assault: Wasteland shock infantry with greataxes and greatswords. Apparently unshaken by the annihilation of their comrades, they held together and charged forward. Through the smoke and chaos, Azlyn's cavalry wing and the Imperial Yvorom were barely able to rally a charge in time to meet the enemy. Although the response was rushed, it made the Firetooth roundshiers' job much easier, more mopping-up and filling gaps than blocking an entire army. This allowed the musketeers and cannon crews to abandon their positions in good order.

On the North wing, things didn't go so smoothly for the defense. Whether because he was too slow to notice or his soldiers too slow to form up properly, Sir Hallark failed to organize a counter-charge in time. Perhaps as punishment for their disproportionate success in killing wastelanders, enough invaders wrapped around the roundshier screen to hit the musketeers, but only briefly. The shooters had no desire to stay and fight when there were no orders requiring them to, and soon it was not them but pathetically static ranks of mercenary cavalry receiving the brunt of barbarian rage. Needless to say, without the momentum of a gallop, the lancers were hopelessly cut down. The well-armored knights held better, but they were gradually forced inwards to a semicircle around their leader. Only a timely intervention by a company of Yvorom saved the Broken Lances from total destruction, for the moment.

The wasteland army had succeeded, finally, in connecting a punch with the Firetooth lines, but they had taken far more losses and were struggling to hold onto their meager gains against the combined forces of human cavalry and fresh Firetooth infantry. Within a minute of their success in reaching the enemy, the shock infantry were wavering; many had begun fleeing already. That was, until horns sounded in the distance and cheers broke out from the main army on the opposite bank.

“JOD-SAR! JOD-SAR! JOD-SAR! JOD-SAR!”

The army, marching in on the Firetooth side of the river from the South, did not look like the force Jodsar the Swift originally rode with; there were thousands less wargs than Furtaker and Wildhammer had been expecting, and thousands more infantry who didn't even look like orcs. But there was no mistaking those banners. Reinforcements had arrived!

__________

ORDER OF BATTLE (Current forces):

Allies (no set post order)

Firetooth (talis)
- Garlog Whiteshot (Warrior-ranged/General) (50 Royal Guard, 50 Bodyguard, 200 warriors)
-- 9 Muskets (8,800 soldiers)
-- 6 Roundshiers (5,100 soldiers)
-- 2 Field battery (175 soldiers, 37 guns) GUNS ABANDONED

Elon (MissMilkMaid)
- King Azlyn Christallo (Warrior-Melee) (50 Royal Guard, 180 Warriors) Mounted
- Sir Hallark Von Gerrack (General) (40 bodyguards) Mounted
- Heirs of Estryn (Zealots/Melee) (170 men) Mounted
-- 2 Lancers (1000 soldiers) Broken Lances ANNIHILATED
-- 1 Knights (350 soldiers) Broken Lances
-- 4 Imperial Yvorom (1,700 soldiers)(Warg Mounted)

--1 Squadron of Dromons (5 ships, 150 marines-muskets) ANNIHILATED
--1 Muskets (1000 men) embarked ANNIHILATED


Wastelander Horde (Vaklu)
- Fulgram Wildhammer (Warrior-Melee) (200 Warriors)
- Yontai Furtaker (General) (50 Bodyguards)
-- 3 Light Infantry (3,000 soldiers)
-- 4 shock (3,500 soldiers) WAVERING
-- 5 Roundshiers (4,500 soldiers) ANNIHILATED
-- 8 Archers (7,500 soldiers)
-- 4 Pike (4,00 soldiers)

+ REINFORCEMENTS
- Jodsar the Swift (Warrior-Ranged) - 82 Mounted Warriors
- Fergus McFenir(Warrior/Melee) - 200 Warriors
-- 1 Horse Archers (200 soldiers)
-- 1 Lancers (400 soldiers)
-- 4 Light Cavalry (1,700 soldiers)
-- 3 Shock (3,000 soldiers) Fergus' Longfangs

NOTES:
- Firetooth muskets are currently unprepared because of their tactical retreat; they must take time to reform or take penalties to accuracy and cohesion
- This battle will consist of 1 more moderation mark

Azlyn hesitated when Garlog's messengers brought order to cover the Firetooth retreat. He could seen that the Wasteland shock troops were wavering and his instinct was to break their line completely and scatter them, but Garlog was by far the more experience warrior and he'd pledged his calvary as protection and support to the main Firetooth army. Besides it was quite possible he wouldn't have the numbers and moral to break the waistland lines, even if they were wavering. The arrival of reinforcements was an unfortunate boost for their enemy. 

Nodding to the Firetooth messengers, Azlyn lifted his trumpet and to sound the orders and his dispatched swift messengers of his own, to make sure their was no confusion. They would trust Garlog and follow the Firetooth lead, or, at least most of them would. 

"You said Garlog is going to stay and dismantle the cannons?" he asked one of the orcs.

"Yes. We can't let them fall into the Waistlander's hands, even if they are ignorant savages."

"Right. I told him we were here to guard him and his guns. I can't very well leave the leave the battle field without him." Sheathing Windroar into the saddle holster, Azlyn drew a pistol he made sure it was properly loaded. Guns were relatively new in Elon, but he and his personal guard and retainers had taken some time to practice with them and carried pistols as a back up ranged weapon. They'ed practiced enough to hopefully get in a couple good shots, before an enemy could close then they could resort back to their usual melee weapons.

Azlyn ordered the Heirs of Estryn to rally with the remainder of Sir Hallark's men and help the Yvorom in covering the rest of the Firetooth retreating, but gave word for his warriors and royal guard  to ride with him and meet Garlog and his men at the wreckage around the the cannons. They wouldn't have the knowledge to help with the dismantlement, but hopefully would be able to guard the Firetooth chief's back and keep the Wiastland army off of him long enough for him and his men to do the job and get out of the field.   

Meanwhile, south of the battle field, Sir Bronsyn and the party dispatched to track the two remaining drommons, were staying carefully on task when they saw Jodsar's troop passing by just to the east of them and realized the Wiastlanders had somehow crossed the river already. Fortunatly the orcs didn't notice the Elonese rangers and the 50 Yvorum on the road. "Liam, Josey," Bron said, coming along side two of the other rangers. "Keep following the ships, but stay out of sight. Everyone else stay quite and group into formation here under the cover of the bluff. Be ready to charge out and fire arrows at the flank. We won't have enought to fully engage, but harass them with arrows. Hopefully we can so some confusion."

Bron himself kept his eyes on Jodsar's banner as he ready his bow. When they charged up over the bluff sheltering the road, he planning on taking careful aim firing his arrow directly at the Waistlander Chief's head. With the element of surprise and a flank ambush maybe he'd have a good chance too take the leader down. 

----
Call calvary to regroup and cover the Firetooth retreat
Send the Heirs of Estryn to reinforce Sir Hallark's Knights
Azlyn and his retinue will guard Garlog and his men.
2 rangers continue to track the drommons, taking stealth as they do
3 rangers and 50 Yvorum prepare a surprise flank ambush on Jodsar's riders, to harass with arrows and create a rear distraction, but do not plan on closing into melee.  
Bronsyn Targets Jodsar the Swift.


((Sorry this took me so long to post. I was out of town for the weekend and had a crazy past few days.))