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Post by aspenivan on Apr 3, 2015 0:11:06 GMT
A few thousand Wolfwyrd soldiers and thousands more workers and settlers lay asleep at camp when the Firetooth Clan made its decisive move. The sentries guarding the camps and the quarry under construction had their attention drawn mostly to a camp of two-hundred Firetooth, but the real threat lay in a much larger force approaching under cover of shrubs and darkness. Thousands of muskets backed by thousands of swords, and they would have had artillery to boot had they not been forced to leave the guns behind when an ammunition carriage collapsed.
The proverbial twig snapping that saved the Wolfwyrd army from near-total destruction was one of the many risks that came with the southern Clan's heritage: A wheelock mechanism set off unexpectedly, sending a loud pop and a lead ball flying into the night sky. Suddenly shouts were being raised from the camp and soldiers were pouring out from their tents hundreds at a time. The advancing Firetooth musket line, aware of its discovery, hastily took position and began firing from their present vantage point. They had managed to secure an advantage in height, but the distance was too far to unleash the full devastation of a proper Firetooth volley.
As dawn's first light rose, the two armies formed up: The Firetooth overlooking the Wolfwyrd from a slope to the East of their camp, bringing the latter into the light while the former was shrouded in darkness. The terrain was definitely in the attackers' favor, but they had inflicted only a fraction of the casualties they had hoped to with their first volley because of bad luck. Now the Firetooth militia would have to face the professional warriors of the Wolfwyrd Clan head-on.
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ORDER OF BATTLE
Firetooth Clan (Talis)
Tavian Azir (Human) (General) - 50 Bodyguards
5 Musket Levy Regiments (5,000 soldiers)
3 Roundshier Levy Regiments (2,500 soldiers)
Wolfwyrd Clan (frostwander)
2 Lochaber Regiments (1,884 soldiers)
1 Longbow Regiment (979 soldiers)
NOTES:
-- Wolfwyrd units have taken casualties from the Firetooth surprise volley and therefore suffer minor penalties to cohesion and morale
-- Some Wolfwyrd workers and settlers have been killed: Village will take 1 more turn OR 2 extra Gold to found if successfully defended.
-- Firetooth levies are being forced to fight in de facto foreign territory during the Harvest season, and therefore fight with reduced morale.
-- Firetooth forces are currently shrouded in shadow, making them harder to track and target.
-- Firetooth muskets are at the edge of their effective range and therefore operate at reduced efficiency.
-- The Firetooth army occupies high ground.
-- This battle will consist of 2 Moderation Marks
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Post by talis on Apr 3, 2015 1:09:06 GMT
"forty-one-two-three... four-five-six" Tavian Azir's aid-de-camp counted the small red flags the commanders lifted hastily to indicate that all the men in their unit had reloaded. The little flags covered most of the musket line now.
"Fire." Tavian orderd.
The volley went off in a rumbling of pops and snaps, gouts of fire and smoke bursting from musket ends in a long, angry growl across the mountainside. Immediately there were cries of "Reload!" and five thousand hands reached for ramrods and bullet packs. Tavian watched the destruction below him unfazed from atop his horse. At this range full volleys were appropriate. The distance might make their shot erratic, but five thousand muskets was nothing to sneeze at. Fired in a full volley enough of those bullets were going to hit something to cause some damage. And the distance and position eliminated the major fear of musket commanders everywhere: the melee charge. Even if the enemy charged at this moment the musketeers would get another three to six volleys off before contact was made.
Hell, some of the enemy were still trying to get their armor on. If a bullet hit them He'd have liked to see the faces of those snobbish Surv-Akur at the Imperial academy now. "Unorthodox tactics" his ass! If only the cannons had made it victory would be almost guaranteed.
"Signal the detachment." He ordered his aid. "They're to skirmish around the battle to the north. Cut off escape. Do not engage in melee." Tavian was still learning Firetooth signalling, but he could pick out a couple of the horn-tones and their meanings. Down below, he could see the 200 orc detachment that had been here since yesterday begin moving. "Skirmish" orders meant to fire on exposed or approaching enemies while moving.
The situation was almost ideal. All he need to do to win this battle was to continue firing volleys. The onus was on his Wolfwyrd counterpart now to come up with some tactic to even the playing field.
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Summary:
- Musket troops hold position. Fire Full Volleys into enemy ranks below (focus enemy Lochbar regiments)
- Roundshield Infantry hold position
- Guard detachment of 200 skirmishes around the battle to intercept northern escape route
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Post by frostwander on Apr 3, 2015 4:13:01 GMT
"Fall back! Form up loose, and fall back!" Captain Kirz gra Daniae screamed to be heard above the explosive volley of the musket line a hundred yards away.
Though some of the Wolfwyrd troops fell, she saw from the spray of earth and sparks on the stony ground that many of the bullets were falling short. She grabbed the nearest two orcs and yelled orders, pieces of a strategy falling into place in her mind.
"Take the Jackals to cover the workers' retreat. Get them away and northwest, use the ground to cover." She gave the orc a push and he ran to the assigned regiment, gathering the troops to the workers as instructed. "Go tell the archers to fall back west another 30 yards, then put shafts to those musketeers. Keep back pace if they move in, fire as you go, use their range against them. Don't wait for volleys, string and shoot in clusters as targets are seen. They're thick enough."
Kirz turned to watch what she could see of the Firetooth troops preparing to shoot again. "Crow, to me! Fall back in front of the archers, loose groups! Use the camp for cover and keep distance, but keep the archers clear and screened!"
The captain moved to join her troops as they followed her commands, their extensive drilling and practice lending quick discipline to follow orders.
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Summary:
- Settlers fall back west then north with 1 Lochaber regiment escorting them, moving loosely to avoid being clumped targets.
- Archer regiment falls back outside of the muskets' range then returns fire at the musketeers, shooting in small clusters instead of single volleys
- 2nd Lochaber regiment falls back slightly less far than the archers, using the camp and partial construction for visual cover and remaining spread out. They will not engage, but will be in the way and ready to charge if the musketeers close distance to fire on the archers.
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Post by aspenivan on Apr 3, 2015 19:43:18 GMT
Moderation Mark
The first several minutes of the battle for the quarries of Itziar would not be especially decisive for either side. After their first volley, the five-thousand Firetooth musketmen had trouble tracking their enemy at all through the smoke. Though they managed to land some scattered hits in two more volleys, their third landed almost entirely short of the now-displaced Wolfwyrd lines. Only then did General Azir, peering through his old Surv-Akur battlefield telescope, catch that his foes had fallen back. The Wolfwyrd, for their part, moved with the utmost professionalism despite the circumstances. The main formation fell back with the grace of a receding tide even as blood spattered and warriors fell along the way. Once in position, safe from enemy fire at least momentarily, the archers were quick to turn about and let loose with a disciplined shower of arrows. The Firetooth, in a tight formation and able to loose shot at a paltry third the rate of the smaller but better-trained Wolfwyrd, would take the brunt of the exchange of fire. Nonetheless, the impact on either side was hardly visible from a distance. The blocks of attackers remained legion and largely undisturbed, while the defenders's banners held stalwart behind the light cover of scaffolds and huts. More important was the smaller fight on the North end of the battlefield. The regiment of Lochabers and the battalion of muskets approached one another in surprisingly good order, Wolfwyrd holding fast under fire and Firetooth moving swiftly even as they fired in cycles. Even the workers and settlers behind the axes endured their trials admirably; perhaps it was a shared instinct for survival or a trust in the wisdom of their war-weathered leaders. Yet, there was soon a clear victor: The Lochabers were approaching too fast, and the militiamen did not have the stomach to take them on when so clearly outnumbered and outclassed. What began as a tactical withdrawal broke down into an all-out rout for the Firetooth, clearing the way for the Wolfwyrd civilians' retreat. The question now was whether either army could inflict a decisive blow against the other. As it stood, the skirmish was a stalemate with superior Wolfwyrd archers trading shots with far more numerous Firetooth muskets. Either one army would take a risk and be rewarded or punished; or the two armies would expend their ammunition, forcing the Firetooth to retire by default. __________ ORDER OF BATTLE (mid-battle estimates)
Firetooth Clan (talis)Tavian Azir (Human) (General) - 50 Bodyguards 5 Musket Levy Regiments (4,750 soldiers) 3 Roundshier Levy Regiments (2,500 soldiers) 1 Musket Levy Battalion/Partial Regiment (200 soldiers) -- ROUTED, will not participate in the rest of the battle Wolfwyrd Clan (frostwander)2 Lochaber Regiments (1,800 soldiers) 1 Longbow Regiment (950 soldiers) NOTES: -- Wolfwyrd units are no longer surprised -- Wolfwyrd main line is now beyond the effective volley range of Firetooth muskets; the attackers must advance (and lose the high ground) to inflict any serious damage -- Wolfwyrd settlers/workers now free to retreat safely, but may be threatened again if Firetooth send more troops to attack them -- This battle will consist of 1 more Moderation Mark
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Post by talis on Apr 7, 2015 0:51:06 GMT
"When I give the order, you're to ride ahead and lead the infantry in their attack." Tavian told his bodyguard. "I only need my aids to stay here and help me coordinate the battle."
"That will leave you dangerously exposed." One of them pointed out.
He almost laughed. "I bet my entire career on this attack. One more risk will matter little." He glanced around quickly, carefully factoring in the shape of shadows and light, and the distance to the small Wolfwyrd force below. When he thought the time was right, he gave the order for the advance.
A horn bellowed, and the entire Firetooth force advanced: roundshielders in front with shields raised, muskets just behind. They moved at a quick step, as fast as they could go while keeping formation. Tavian's bodyguard had detached and now rode just ahead of the formation, exhorting the men forward and reassuring them as veteran soldiers while he and his aids stayed behind, carefully watching the light shift.
A little more than halfway down the hill the horn piped again. The musket militia stopped completely and the roundshielders broke into a battle-cry and charged down the hill with the full weight of 2,500 orcish soldiers. Naturally with such numbers the line of roundshielders their line extended wider than the Lochbar regiment's - a good few hundred Firetooth would have the opportunity to wrap around either flank and press them from the sides.
Tavian didn't intend to simply gamble on his militia overwhelming the hardened, professional enemy below however. He had timed every possible advantage. The hill would give his men the momentum they needed for a strong charge. The bodyguard in front would provide a small but solid core of mounted, professional soldiers. Tavian himself stayed back and, when the time was right, gave the order for the musketeers to fire on the Lochbar infantry. Their fire would provide a strong morale shock and disrupt the Wolfwyrd's halberdiers just before the charge hit.
The sun too was on his side. The shadows were getting shorter, and he had timed his advance carefully. About the same time they were hit by 5,000 musket rounds and 2,500 charging orcs, the sun would be coming out from behind the mountain, putting a straight glare in their faces but to the Firetooth's backs.
If the Lochbar Infantry fell, the Longbowmen would be exposed to an easy attack. If the assault failed and the Roundshielders routed, his muskets could provide covering fire for a retreat.
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Summary:
- orcs advance down the hill with roundshielders first providing shield cover
- Muskets stop just out of charge range. Roundshielders advance and charge.
- Muskets fire off a volley at Lochbar Infantry just before the roundshield charge hits
- General's bodyguard detaches and leads the infantry in their charge.
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Post by frostwander on Apr 7, 2015 17:39:45 GMT
Kirz gra Daniae watched from the shadow of one of the partial buildings as the Firetooth orcs began to move, the shield infantry moving in front of the musketeers and the whole formation advancing. Gaining distance as she had earlier had allowed for a shootout to the Wolfwyrd advantage, with few casualties on each side, buying time for the settlers to get clear and the troops to regain their cohesion. She quickly worked a way to turn this new move into a more decisive clash, and turned to the runners who had assembled near her as soon as the enemy movement began.
"Tell the archers to ignore the shields, arc fire over to thin the musketeers. And set one squad to sharpshoot, see if they can pick off those riding leaders." The advantage of having a melee engage between the two firing lines would be hers, as the muskets required a straight shot that stood a strong risk of friendly fire, but archers could easily reach the advancing muskets with a rain of arrows.
"Crow, form and brace for a charge! Spear in an mix it up with the shields, rotating clusters." She turned to the last runner as she hefted her own broad axe. "Get to the north end of the line and signal the Jackals to return once the enemy is in full momentum."
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As the shieldbearers charged, Kirz stood among her troops, taking deep breaths to keep herself calm. If all went well, her soldiers' discipline would carry the battle, and if not ... she'd have an impressive story for her mother, at least.
When the Firetooth militia were no more than twenty paces away, she held the breath a moment longer, than screamed out in her best battlefield roar, "Now! Carve them up, Crow!" The Crow regiment roared in response, a massive shout of sound, and split into circles to meet the charge, driving forward a few steps to break the enemies momentum and sweeping forward with their lochaber axes.
North of this charge, the regiment that had covered the workers' escape came rushing back southeast, aiming past the edge of the roundshiers at the reloading musket line, with a single squad separating further to rush the slope.
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Summary:
-Archers begin by arcing over the tops of the shields at the musket line. 20 Archers specifically aim to pick off the leading mounted bodyguards.
-The 2nd Lochaber regiment with Captain Kirz meets the charge by splitting into several wedges of soldiers, forcing their way into the roundshiers to break up the solid front.
-The 1st Lochaber regiment charges back in from the north in a spearhead formation to reduce their profile and drive into the musket line once the roundshier charge away from them. Archers cease fire once the Lochaber reach the muskets to pick off stragglers.
-One squad of 20 Lochaber from the 1st regiment splits off to attempt to capture or kill General Tavian.
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Post by aspenivan on Apr 8, 2015 5:20:35 GMT
Moderation Mark
The Wolfwyrd longbows' skirmishing was erratic at first, with the rising sun just cresting the hill and getting in their eyes. But as they kept loosing their shots, the archers adjusted to the circumstances and managed to cause the Firetooth musket line a great deal of pain on its approach. Relatively unharassed at first, by the time muskets reached their stopping point they were dropping like ninepins with arrows piercing deep into their bodies. A smaller stream of arrows flew at the Firetooth armored cavalry vanguard, but it was only enough to whittle their numbers down, not break or annihilate them. The invaders, on the other hand, had only one shot to damage their enemies before the imminent melee. Still suffering under the rain of longbow fire but too numerous to dissolve from it, the Firetooth muskets halted and prepared to fire somewhat hastily. Though a little disorganized, the ensuing stream of fire and smoke had more or less the intended effect. Scores of Lochaber infantry were pierced by the hailstorm of musket-balls, but many of the shooters' comrades ahead were caught in the volley. The blood of both sides sprayed and mixed in the air in that moment. Then, finally, came the charge and the counter-charge. One one side three-thousand Firetooth militia with swords and shields, not quite in lockstep but holding a solid formation. One the other side two-thirds of a single Lochaber regiment, making up for their limited numbers with discipline, creative organization, and sheer ferocity. The sideways charge of the Lochaber blocks initially caught the Firetooth off guard, and the four relatively small wedges cut a swathe through the ranks of roundshiers and threw them into disarray. But they did not succeed in breaking the enemy entirely, and slowly but surely they were surrounded by their foes. As the shock of the charge wore off and matters settled into a bloody meatgrinder, the melee grew more and more desperate for the defenders. Then, a ray of hope met the Wolfwyrd with the blows of horns from the North. The Jackals had arrived! The Firetooth muskets, with a rare second opportunity to shoot something, wasted no time in sending their lead popping and whizzing towards the enemy reinforcements, but they were unable to stop the relief force. The Jackals were tired and their formation was rough to say the least, but the sight of near a thousand more Wolfwyrd approaching was enough to shake the Firetooth infantry into a moment of hesitation. When the charge connected, the hesitation turned to panic. " RETREAT!" One cry, then several rose from the ranks of militia. If one severely reduced regiment of Lochabers had already done so much damage in a head on collision, there was no telling what another would do hitting their flank. As the infantry broke ranks and ran back to the hill, the muskets rushed to find their marks and cover their allies. Still taking heavy casualties from longbow fire and having trouble distinguishing friend from foe in the pell mell before them, the first musket volley was an erratic mess that felled as many friends as foes. But after the roundshiers had passed the musket-line and all that remained in view were the exhausted Wolfwyrd growing closer and closer in desperate chase, the Firetooth namesake was justified. Thousands of pops at close range wrung the flesh of hundreds of enemy orcs from their bodies. Then and there, any chance of pursuit was crushed. And this rear guard action, in a rare moment of military history, would decide the fate of the battle. With their backs clear, their feet back on high ground, and their general's banner near, the roundshier militia halted their retreat and rallied before their commander and his aides. They turned back around and charged again, and that was all they needed. The Wolfwyrd, as brave and disciplined as they were, had simply lost too many soldiers to stage an effective defense. The last Lochabers were swept up in a tide of angry Firetooth militiamen, slashed and beaten to a pulp or simply trampled beneath their foes' feet. The longbows were a little more fortunate: They were able to escape with their lives. With their infantry screen annihilated they had nothing to protect them, and with the settlers gone they had no innocents to defend. They had done their duty up till now, but fighting to the death was too high a price for a simple piece of dirt and rock in the mountains. They fell back in good order, one section covering the next with deadly accurate archery, until they were safely away from their foes. For their part, the Firetooth militia did not bother pursuing too far. They had suffered more than enough today. __________ ORDER OF BATTLE (end of battle estimates)
Firetooth Clan (talis)
Tavian Azir (Human) (General) - 30 Bodyguards 5 Musket Levy Regiments (3,000 soldiers) -- 2 regiments DESTROYED 3 Roundshier Levy Regiments (1,200 soldiers) -- 1 regiment DESTROYED 1 Musket Levy Battalion/Partial Regiment (200 soldiers) -- ROUTED
Wolfwyrd Clan (frostwander)
2 Lochaber Regiments (1,800 soldiers) ALL REGIMENTS DESTROYED 1 Longbow Regiment (900 soldiers) -- ROUTED
NOTES:
-- Firetooth army is exhausted, and must rest at least a day before moving -- Firetooth routers will rally at the artillery battery further East -- Wolfwyrd routers will rally the nearby Iron village RESULT: FIRETOOTH COSTLY VICTORY |
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