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Post by aspenivan on Feb 8, 2016 19:24:20 GMT
 With every new raid, the tales of the Jotun Vikings under the fearsome Thane Gudrik grew larger and wilder, and in turn the Thane's fleet grew larger to meet them. When the Blood Dancer turned his attention to the coasts of Vinaya, he did so with over forty ships bearing some three-thousand soldiers. The wind favored him along the way, strong gales thrusting the fleet forward towards its prey.
Yet, one morning, little over a day from their intended target, the Jotun saw the wind turn against them. The clouds above were getting heavier, turning the grey sky darker and darker until the usual early Autumn drizzles had intensified into heavy rain and thunder. They would have to go the rest of the way by oar, struggling against the air and rough waters. Of even greater concern was the signal fire that began to burn by the shore, soon joined by a row of pyres stretching Southwestward along the coast. Hours later, Vinaya's proud galleons arrived on the scene to face the raiders. Though much fewer in number than their adversaries, they had an important edge in endurance and firepower that might turn the tide of battle.
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-- Deployment Phase begins! Expect Battle Forms soon!
-- Vinayan fleet is approaching from the SOUTHWEST, the Jotun from the NORTHEAST.
-- Weather is STORMY and waters are ROUGH.
-- A strong wind is blowing EAST, favoring the Vinayans at the expense of the Jotun.
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Post by aspenivan on Feb 10, 2016 20:28:13 GMT
Deployment Phase
The battle began with the pounding of frontal cannons, audible but muffled by the storm. It was more a formality than anything: Hardly any shots hit. Two iron balls landed against the Vinayan lead galleon's hull, causing consternation and some shrapnel wounds but no serious damage, while one Jotun ship saw a hole driven through its deck and three crewfolk gravely wounded. In truth, both sides faced greater danger from the storm than such shooting. Even the great galleons swayed and creaked disconcertingly in the rough weather, and many Jotun ships were taking water from the sea's unpredictable swells. True battle waited for the fleets to get closer, and in this regard the Vinayans had the upper hand. The storm interfered with the navigation and steering of all vessels, but the line of galleons succeeded in out-maneuvering the larger Jotun flotilla, in effect crossing their enemies' "T" by bearing across their left flank. Dragonships rushed to intercept, but a moment passed when the giants realized they were too late. Dozens of heavy cannons pointed menacingly at a clump of dragonships, only a few in position to return fire. In a wave of smoke and fire, their hulls and decks were ravaged. And then came the second, third, and fourth ships, smaller but dangerous nonetheless, each pounding the Jotun in turn. The first engagement of the battle was clearly in favor of the Vinayans. As the smoke began to clear, the humans' vessels remained tall and proud while the giants' left flank lay in shambles, with its damaged remains struggling to regroup. However, as the galleons pushed East past the Jotun line, any of the smaller ships that could turn properly would have the wind at their backs. Vinaya had made a masterful first stroke, but now the combatants would be on more even footing. __________ NOTES (Known to both participants)
-- Engagement Phase begins! Expect Battle Forms soon! -- Vinayan fleet has just passed the Jotun LEFT FLANK and is currently sailing due NORTHEAST. -- Jotun LEFT FLANK has taken heavy damage. -- Weather is STORMY and waters are ROUGH. -- A strong wind is blowing EAST, currently favoring neither side as the Vinayans are no longer West of the Jotun. |
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Post by aspenivan on Feb 13, 2016 23:43:28 GMT
Engagement Phase
Once again, the Jotun dragonships and the Vinayan galleons raced to maneuver, and once again the Vinayans won. After a brief exchange between the Jotun forward guns and the main galleon's rear cannons, the line turned about to deliver another barrage of broadsides. What was left of the Jotun left flank was obliterated, and the squadrons pushing through the wind and rain to help suffered a rain of destruction that left several ships broken and sinking.
Yet, this time, the damage was not enough to entirely stop the Jotun advance. And, with the galleons now facing West, they finally lacked the wind to outrun or out-maneuver their opponents. Only a single race-built galleon's crew managed to re-load their guns for a third volley in time to meet the dragonships, spraying the would-be boarders with canister. Yet, one vessel made it past the smoke and fire in range to board. The other Vinayan ships shook as one, then two, then more of the fearsome Jotun Viking ships hit their hulls. The ensuing battle would be a bloodbath for both sides.
In the rain and rough waters, the giants had a difficult time climbing onto the enemy decks, particularly as muskets, swivel guns, and the occasional cannon spewed lead and iron into their ranks. Their own musket fire was useful in clearing the gun-ports but could do little against the fire raining from above. Nevertheless, the giants pressed on relentlessly. Once the first vikings were aboard, the Vinayans knew where the Jotun reputation came from. Despite the disorganization of their climb, every giant on deck was cause for fear as their axes smashed sailors and marines into pieces. Terrified, the defenders fell back wherever they could, most to the fore and aft castles. Unfortunately for the Jotun, the giants' boarding action was too scattered and disorganized to capitalize on the humans' fear, and even as their enemies retreated it seemed only a trickle of vikings could make it up without immediately getting shot down.
The turning point came when a second wave of dragonships, all the way from what had been the Jotun right flank, arrived on the scene. Aboard them were two great warriors of the Jotun, Valskor Ironside and, by far the most fearsome, Thane Gudrik the Blood Dancer. Each made it onto one of the smaller Vinayan galleons, and in each case they waded through the smoke and death like it was home sweet home. Gudrik in particular lived up to his reputation, existing as a flurry of metal and blood that cut dozens to pieces. Both ships surrendered rather than face more than ten seconds of the warriors' wrath or the hundreds of reinforcements behind them.
The remaining ships, full galleon shielded by its especially high deck and its smaller cousin by its successful close-range volley before boarding contact, managed to steer away in the confusion, slowly gaining wind-power as they swung South and then East. Both ships' captains were wounded beyond recovery, and their replacements had no stomach for more fighting; the crews might have defied their captains anyways, rather than smear the decks with more of their own blood.
The Jotun now had the choice of whether to pursue their remaining enemies or regroup after the bloody battle so far. The race-built galleon was careening away faster than the giants could reasonable give chase, but the greater galleon was moving more slowly than expected, some form of damage or perhaps a lack of crewfolk holding it back. Was it a prize worth trying to take, or would the Blood Dancer restrain his fleet?
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NOTES (Known to both participants)
-- Ending Phase begins! Expect Battle Forms soon!
-- Jotun LEFT FLANK is ANNIHILATED.
-- Jotun CENTER has taken heavy damage.
-- Jotun Clans have CAPTURED 2 Race-Built Galleons and their remaining crews (60 marines, 110 sailors), but took heavy casualties in the process.
-- Remaining Race-Built Galleon is fleeing EAST too fast to pursue.
-- Full Galleon is SLOWED and can be caught if pursued.
-- Weather is STORMY and waters are ROUGH.
-- A strong wind is blowing EAST, giving the retreating Vinayan ships a head start as the Jotun must turn to pursue.
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Post by aspenivan on Feb 15, 2016 23:58:23 GMT
Ending Phase
The Battle of the Vinayan Coast ended with both sides tired and hurting. Rather than pursue their fleeing enemies, the Jotun fleet regrouped: Floating survivors were picked up, the wounded were tended to, and ships were patched up best as the rough weather permitted. A new, lone Vinayan galleon appeared on the horizon coming from the East, but seeing that the fleet it had come to reinforce was gone, it turned around at the first scattering of cannon-fire from the thirty-odd giant vessels.
The fleeing Vinayans on the race-built galleon would be able to recuperate as well, making good speed for the capital, but those on the full galleon were not so lucky. With the reinforcing galleon missing them in the storm the first time, they took on far too much water before it had turned around and finally found them. An attempt by the intact galleon to tow its damaged cousin to safety resulted in the gut-wrenching, deep cracks of the wooden hull tearing apart. As the weather finally began to clear, the Jotun would see the sinking frame of what had been the full galleon, its deck seemingly bent or twisted awkwardly to the side through the middle. Mercifully, most of the surviving crew found shelter on their belated reinforcmeent vessel before their own ship sunk.
Victory belonged to the Jotun Clans this day, but at a far heavier cost than they were accustomed to. Whether this would be a mere bump or a true obstacle for the future of Jotun raiding remained to be seen.
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NOTES (Known to both participants)
-- JOTUN VICTORY
-- Both fleets are greatly damaged
-- Storm is beginning to clear
-- Final casualty/prisoner counts to be sent to players via PM
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