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Post by zurajai on Sept 13, 2017 18:13:15 GMT
The Battle for New Crimsimara
Jotun warships entered the mouth of the lake with little to no resistance. Excitable locals, armed as they were in the fashion of Grey Elf frontiersmen, frequently fired potshots and made small yet vigorous attacks of the vessels with little to no harm done beyond the scratching of paint and the denting of shields. With no naval resistance to speak of the plan progressed without a hitch. Jotun troops disembarked in their predesignated areas, as per their commander's previous directives, while dragonships sailed into the bay to prepare for the upcoming bombardments. The Jotun warriors shared in hearty laughs and loud boasting as they drew weapons and prepared to engage the enemy in full; it seemed the city was ripe for the picking.
Within the streets and behind the strong redoubts of the cities defenses were the numerous conscripted forces of the Union, holding tight their weapons as more experienced officers organised them. Standing atop the walls of the Army District's defenses, Legate Brunhilda Sikyas gave a rousing speech to the assembled officers and soldiers. With the stories of Jotun raids well known throughout the North, especially to those who'd suffered under their hands before as the Gurd had generations past, the conscripted troops showed a mix of fear and cold rage; they would not allow their families to be taken, their homes to be sacked, and their country to be burned at the hands of these monsters. They said as much with shaking hands while they marched into position as those experienced officers shouted out orders.
SUMMARY
-- The Jotun have taken no casualties in their landings around the city.
-- No skirmishes have yet occurred as the forces size each other up.
-- The battle will consist of at least one additional modmark.
-- Please respond to PM's as soon as possible.
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Post by zurajai on Sept 14, 2017 21:22:36 GMT
 Modmark
"These 'Esharans' are even more cowardly than that Firetooth paymaster said!"
There was a general sense of agreement and a rousing cheer of impending victory as the well-armored Jotun raiders watched the sails of their ships escape from view as thick fog rolled in to eclipse their movements; Aed had been on their side, in that. The fog would do an excellent job of obscuring any further movements by the ships and make good their escape if they needed to make a hasty retreat. For now, as it began to pour over the lake from the west, it seemed like the perfect metaphor for the Jotun's arrival. Each marine bore a surprising lack of uniformity in an age of bright uniforms and matching soldiers, their plate dulled intentionally and their weapons a crude assortment of what were nevertheless incredibly effective weapons in the hands of the giants. The finishing touches to armor and equipment were made as straps were tightens and shields were raised, ready for the advance. The order was given and the formation moved forward, four thousand giants armed to the teeth and hungry for all sorts of treasures.
The city loomed in the distance, an impressive sight to be sure, with its white washed buildings nearly blending in with the thick snow. The warriors squinted and leaned in, keeping their eyes out for any sort of defenders; a shout went out and the appearance of enemy soldiers was shared throughout the line! At last, time for some excitement! The city seemed unfortified, as was reasonable for a city well away from the front lines of either war the Holy Union was engaged in. So it was that the blue clad regulars of the Holy Union stood waiting, in the snow, for their deaths to arrive. The giants closed with horrendous speed belied by their mass, their assortment of firearms and blades drawn. What was first a low lope became a full charge as the less experienced commanders of the marines roared their troops up into a frenzy to get at the soft enemy lines. It felt as if the earth shook, such was the weight of their advance, with a great gout left in the dense snow back in their wake. As range was met for their firearms rounds were loosed and some casualties were inflicted, inciting cheers from the charging host! First blood was theirs! Just as they were about to enter the range of enemy guns, ready to contemptuously shrug off whatever return fire might come, the unthinkable happened.
Out from the city marched more of the bastards! Whole brigades exited the city through the many small roads making up the southern district under the shouted orders of commanders leading from the front. The giants kept up their charge, throwing themselves forward unwilling to not meet the enemy. The first volley from the enemy rolled forth, vomiting a great cloud of grey smoke into the air that discolored their surroundings; it seemed a whole different kind of fog was spreading from the city. The volley was tremendous, with well trained hands specifically drilled to fight against these particular foes raking through them. The front rank of the giants was cut down as shields deflected rounds away only to be punctured by half a dozen more. A shout of warning was made as a second line of enemy infantry wheeled about on their flanks, then a third! They were boxed in! A second bang as the two new flanks opened up, unleashing a hail of lead on the giant invaders. Then a third, the front rank switching out with fresh troops behind! The guns, they wouldn't stop firing!
Despite their thick armor and mighty shields the giants died, one after the other, or simply were felled as their legs were knocked out from under them. The dint of enemy fire, however, was not enough to halt a Jotun charge; far from it! They hurled themselves forward, over the mounting dead if they had to, to meet their enemy face to face! Out from the infantry lines rode a wall of horses and glittering armor just as the lines refreshed and unleashed another hail of lead, pumping the giant ranks full. With a roar drowned out even that of the giants, the front lines from which the cavalry burst forth erupted like a tidal wave as they joined their commander in the charge. The two sides crashed together, slamming into each other like two opposing rams, the crash of combat audible. The giants laid in with everything they had, despite their tremendous casualties, with sometimes even five of the enemy dying at their hands for each of their lives spent. But it was never enough. If the surviving giants had kept up that pace they still would not defeat their foe! And then the trap closed and the flanking forces advanced and unleashed a new volley into the rear of the giants, snapping the camels back in the process. The giants broke as their banner fell and a general rout began. Some carried their fallen comrades, others simply ran, while one courageous giant after another fought and died to raise the flag and drag it with them. The southern advanced collapsed under the din of tens of thousands of muskets but the price of that early victory was not cheap.
They'd met the enemy! Despite the unknown failure of the southern force, the Northern force showed little trouble. The army advanced with teeth bared and weapons at the ready as rifleman led the way clearing houses. It was slow going, with caution being key as the sound of gunfire opened up to the South. The enemy was here, somewhere, and they would find them. There was a crack of gunfire as a rifleman thumped a high caliber ball into a window and a person fell screaming from it, garbed in the military uniform of the Unionists. A torch was held in his hand, unlit, but the threat of their plans were suddenly made real! An order was run back swiftly to Prince Skarpi, leading the riflemen at the time, raising a warning of enemy treachery. The southern part of the advance had engaged with a several enemy infantry who seemed, at least based on their equipment, to be preparing to set fire to the town. The risk of fighting in a burning environment for such large creatures who already struggled with the tight confinement was worrisome; at least, it could be said, that they had prepared for the city-fighting well before the battle. The lines remained in complete cohesion, moving through buildings with skill and precision whilst occasionally ignoring a building due to its especially goblinoid size. Despite this, the potential risk of being trapped within a burning city was very real if the enemy saw fit to deny them even the buildings in their spite.
"Jarl! My Jarl! Look!"
The advance had halted, if only for the smallest moment, as a distraction reared its head worthy of any Jotun; mountains of treasure. As the warriors had advanced through the streets and buildings, clearing with ever increasing effectiveness and efficiency, a number of rifleman leading the way had discovered what could only be a number of warehouses serving as the primary storage space for incoming trade goods; and it was stocked full. There were wares from all over the North, though most notably those from the United Kingdoms, Ikegami lands, and Vinaya. A wealth of treasures the likes of which only the most experienced raiders had ever seen; this was no village worth of family heirlooms but a glut of coin, precious stones, and all manner of valuable hand crafted goods. Aed had showered his favored raiders with his love this day!
"Let that Firetooth coin-thrower rot! Look at all this! We could haul this off and make more money on the markets than the Firetooth would pay us for the whole season!"
SUMMARY
-- A thick fog has now covered the lake and is beginning to creep towards the city. The risk for decreased sight lines exists though has not occurred yet. Maneuvers by the Jotun navy are now difficult to identify.
-- The battle has been joined in the south where a vastly overwhelming Union force has successfully routed the unsupported and shipless marines. Despite attempts to turn the rout into a massacre the giant's easily outpaced their enemies and their honored was restored by the retrieval of the raiding banner.
-- The advance through the northern portion of the city has been slow and methodical and has discovered Unionist forces in and around the port district with assorted equipment necessary for setting fires across the city.
-- Advancing through the market district, Jotun forces have discovered the warehouses of the port city. Exact numbers of gold and assorted goods will be PM'd to the relevant party.
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Post by zurajai on Sept 18, 2017 2:03:28 GMT
New Crimsimara Burns As the final hours of the night fled before the rising of the sun the great irony of that time came upon them; the sky darkened and light flowed not from above, but below. The Jotun, in the perfidious cruelty, were not about to give up their raid without leaving their foes a parting gift. Bruised but unbeaten the main force of the Esharans marched northwards along the main highway, speeding towards the market with all due haste. Great gouts of fire erupted before them upon their march, engulfing the path to the eastern districts of the city and blocking all routs to the giant invaders. Smoke billowed from the flames, burning black as ever thickening clouds. Smoke mixed with fog and churned into an intense, roiling miasma that hid the enemy from view. The defenders took to the flames like moths, rushing to stem the blaze while the invaders made good their escape. Completely blocked from view were the maneuvers of the Jotun fleet, fleeing from the port with all haste.
Perhaps as a final kindness of whatever god was watching, the great clouds dragged behind the fog opening up the unleash a great tide of quenching rain. Even as the sails of the Jotun fleet disappeared down river, steam billowed from the burned remains of the numerous buildings. What was left was charcoal, ruin, and, most importantly, the flag of the Holy Union still flying true. A victory had been achieved by the Esharans; the raiders were gone, the city remained in Unionist hands, and the city had been saved from utter destruction.
Esharan Victory!
-- The Esharans have taken the day as the Jotun fleet returns down river.
-- Despite this victory, most notably the successful counter attack by the Esharan commander Brunhilda Sikyas, the Jotun have escaped with considerable wealth and renown for their successful raid.
-- Replies in the individual campaign PM's to come.
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