Lords of Europe IC

[Moechi_Vill]

Spoiler

Show

OOC: Yes it is Raz. You may power up Claimoh Solaris, but it'll cost you the scroll (I'll just assume it's gone then).

Lords of Europe has slowed down a lot (actually completely stopped). Just making sure you're still with us and willing to play.

Yes, I'm still around. Just started a thread called 'X Modifiers' and people were tossing incendiaries at me five ways to Wednesdays, but I defended myself quite heroically.

Really appreciate you keeping this up with us, reigning me in. :) I was gonna come around today anyway, but still, thanks.

1st Hour of Battle
After fighting the evil spirits off Davin and his cavalry ride up to the forest. The two point one regiments (2,100) of amphibious Skelkies take up positions as archers, vulnerable to melee and ranged on land due to their decreased mobility but still excellent archers. The Scots take up defensive positions around Stonehenge, digging in.

The English advance on the Scottish lines after fighting off the evil spirits and extracting Daemos until they're in full ranged contact. The wood elves and gnomes in particular do well respectively with their longbows and simple firearms and artillery. The ranged exchange goes well for the south (though the Skelkies in the stone circle go aways to even it out), many of the Scots fall, thus weakening their defensive lines. The massive amount of siege on the south's side in particular creates devastation within the Henge. But this is somewhat evened out by the strength of the stone circle's defensive bonus to the Celtic spirits, Dark Sidhe and Skelkies as the English cavalry and elites charge with a healthy backing of regular English troops. Many of them fall, taking Celts with them, but they fail to break the line. Unfortunately roughly half the Celtic spirits and Dark Sidhe are also felled as they were necessary to hold the front line with their bonus from the Stone Circle.

At this point the battle would be going solidly but yet marginally in the South's favor but for the presence of 1190 Gryphons led by Daemos on his wyrm directly above the henge, raining down fire on the troops below. Also strengthened by the henge, though not as much as the troops directly within it, they rain down firey death and lower the amount of Scottish reserves from within. They take light-to-moderate casualties only as the Skelkies are needed to put down enough of the charging attackers.

Reinforcements arrive, exhausting the current stream, but you can both sense more are on the way... most English and should arrive between sunrise and noon, and a now significant Scottish presence but further away, arriving possibly at afternoon or evening the next day (a day starts when the sun rises).

About half the evil spirits escape the field of battle. Daemos feels a pulse of pain from the sword reach into him, a whispered hush of obsession that he must rid them from Albion (England) after the war or perish.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Southern Casualties: 60 Mounted Gryphons, 65 Orcish Elites+Eq, 10 Undead Feyslayers, 5 Royal Guard, 75 Knights, 100 Horsemen, 150 Swordsmen, 50 Halberdiers, 75 Pikeneers, 50 Pikemen, 20 Guardsmen, 500 spearmen (subtypes abridged), 100 Axemen, 100 Skirmishers, 100 Dagger Militia, 5 Feyslayers, 25 Crossbowmen, 10 Wood Elves, 25 Longbowmen, 50 Bowmen, 75 Huntsmen, 25 Woodland Brigands, 25 Gnomes, 50 Slingmen, 2 Siege Engines w/ 50 men (The Celtic Siege did some counterbattery at first.)

Celtic Casualties: 450 Skelkies, 1285 Dark Sidhe+Eq, Aengus Hunt-master the reknowned Dark Sidhe hunter is slain in battle!,

Spoiler

Show

Hit by Griffin arrow to the top of his head while leading Dark Sidhe at the front (they were a bit worse for losing him). The force of it w/ gravity went right through his Fae helmet. He struggled back towards the reserve leaving his two bodyguards behind, but in pain he was not very able and was hit by another two random longbow arrows and finally incapacitated by a crossbow and arbalest bolt in turn by a platoon of officer snipers (the detachment of English ranged that was sent to close up on melee rather than area volley from further behind) and thus he was unable to avoid the two melon-sized rocks that crushed his head and left knee from behind from Daemos' giant trebutchet. I rolled a 20 on the event for his death.

100 Celtic Spirits, 1000 Lesser Celtic Spirits, 8 Royal Guard, 25 Knights, 50 Horsemen, 300 Swordsmen, 175 Halberdiers, 400 Pikeneers, 800 Spearmen, 300 Woad Raiders, 100 Arbalests, 250 Crossbowmen, 50 Longbowmen, 50 Untrained Longbowmen, 400 Bowmen, 4 Siege Engines w/ 100 Spearmen


Reinforcements: 500 English Marines, 800 English Swordsmen, 1100 English Spearmen --- 700 Scottish Marines (a squadron of Scottish ships has apparently made it to the English channel and disembarked their marines which promptly marched north towards Stonehenge. Some of them fell to skirmishes with militia on the way.), 400 Scottish Spearmen


Current Order of Battle, 4AM, Weather: Clear Moonless Night, Place: Stonehenge
Average Experience: Veteran versus Crack
Average Training: Professional versus Mixed
Average Energy (including both short-term and long-term energy): Warmed Up (Southern) versus Winded (Celtic)
Troop Placements: Scots (Stonehenge), English (Surrounding Stonehenge and Siege w/ Archers further back with militia as defense, Cavalry on flanks occasionally trying to penetrate, Daemos on Gryphons w/ air superiority above the circle, Davin's airborne running defensive interference at the edges above the circle, Scottish landborne reinforcements arrive in the Henge, English Reinforcements arrive at rear w/ siege, English marines approach from northeast, Scottish marines approach from south. Davin w/ cavalry up in woods close to battlefield)

Daemos w/ Reiligh (special wyrm), Galahad,
Gorgoth, Jarr w/ Gryphon
1130 mounted Gryphons
650 Orcish Elites+Eq
1 Giant Trebuchet w/ 10 Ogres, 15 engineers, 300 Orc support staff
90 Undead Feyslayers

Edward III of England, 70 Royal Guard, 280 Guardsmen
2,025 Knights, 1000 Horsemen
85 Feyslayers, 950 Halberdiers, 2,025 Pikeneers, 4,100 Swordsmen, 350 Pikemen, 375 Woodland Brigands, 2500 Marines, 12800 Spearmen, 1000 Skirmishers, 1900 Axemen, 1700 Dagger Militia, 190 Wood Elves, 575 Gnomes, 2025 Longbowmen, 400 Arbalests, 275 Crossbowmen, 950 Bowmen, 625 Huntsmen, 88 Siege Engines w/ 1050 men, 250 Slingmen


Davin Argetlam, Miach
100 Gryphons w/ Lyr
1650 Skelkies w/ Airmed of the Seas
1,100 Dark Sidhe+Eq
1000 Decataurs w/ Fiacha mac Delbaith & Danand mac Delbaith
100 fey hounds
100 Celtic Spirits
1000 Lesser Celtic Spirits

Robert the Bruce, 11 Royal Guard
325 Knights, 900 Horsemen
900 Swordsmen
175 Halberdiers, 400 Pikeneers, 2350 Spearmen
700 Woad Raiders, 700 Marines
600 Arbalests, 1250 Crossbowmen,
400 Longbowmen, 1000 Bowmen,
Siege Engines: 16 w/ 200 spearmen


Ireland and Scotland
Davin receives a missive from the two Irish warlords most hostile to their neighbor, the English enclave. They are located to the northeast of it and plead to campaign against the English should you send a representative to help convince more Irish fey to join their cause.

Daemos receives a missive from Scotland from a confederacy of rogue nobles out in the swamps and remote coastlines and land of the north-north and north-west of Scotland who ask you not to bother their lands if you or Edward are victorious and plan to come north. They threaten that they can defend themselves and insist that they have no involvement in the war.


France
Two French agents are caught in Daemos' settlement, spying. One of them is unconcious and may be dying, the other one is fit for interrogation.
Sporadic low-level skirmishes are reported to have erupted west of Burgundy as the French Crown has begun to patrol it's borders more vigorously.

Daemos Army Purchases
40 Gryphons and (?333/500/1000 pikeneers, pikemen, spearmen or something else?)


OOC: Here's a relevant OOC spoiler I made for fun that should be useful for the players and spectators to gauge the army strengths roughly. :)
To compare the values of the opposing field armies it utilizes hard math, but mostly fuzzy logic (which was bang on accurate for one of the difficult ones, though I guess it would usually be a few percent off).

Spoiler

Show

Celtic Percentage comparative to Southern (includes all troops not directly in combat, but in and around Stonehenge (excepting reinforcements not yet within limits of local area)

VIP (leaders and heroes, any +/- statuses, special weapons, magic items, abilities and other artifacts & etc. included): 106%
<-- (their) Bodyguards: 3%
Airborne: 8%
Cavalry: 93%
Melee, offense: 67%
Melee, defense: 9% (If you're wondering, the the reason the Celts can hold up in defense with so few polearms left is because in a pinch offensive melee can substitute with different tactics and method or improvised weapons. Also they're dug in.)
Skirmishers: 150%
Disembarked: 150%
Archers: 58%
Siege Engines: 17%

[JaviSua]

Improving the Fortresses

Lord Unai ordered the construction of 10 large ballistae, 5 for each fortress, to be sent out to the border strongholds. Small wooden outposts, designed to be manned by 5 Orcs, are set up past the fortresses so as to monitor the extreme borders of Unai's land.

Archers Wanted, Inquire Within...

A new wave of recruiters are seen in the villages, searching for those with skill with the bow, or any men willing to learn. These new recruits are sent to the Castle where they are trained by Lord Tressevian's expert centaur marksmen.

[puppyavenger]

Javisua

Spoiler

Show

the recruiters come back empty-handed. as all the hunter or those martially skilled are out hunting, already joined up, sick, out of town, or some other excuse.

which borders? it will affect what happens. one of the orcs got drunk and burned two of the ballistics's other then that things go as planned.

[JaviSua]

Spoiler

Show

Southern and western eastern borders, where the fortresses are. Damned villagers...

[puppyavenger]

Javisua

Spoiler

Show

which nation do they border?

[JaviSua]

Spoiler

Show

Should be bordering Hungary and the Golden Horde as far as I know... I mistakenly said western border when I meant eastern by the way. Poland to the west and lithuania to the north correct?

[puppyavenger]

Jvisua [spoiler] correct I'm fairly sure

also, a group of Centaur raiders destroy several of the Eastern outposts
[spoiler]

Bulgaria V2

Spoiler

Show

An initial headlong charge into your orcs waiting pikes puts some caution into the Bulgarians minds. They retreat to a safe distance, setting up camp and beginning several construction projects. regular sorties are sent in, attempting to sneak through forests and so on.

your actions will effect causalities form the regular attacks, 100 orcs died in the first attack.

8 hours after arrival

[JaviSua]

The East

Lord Unai, furious at the news of the eastern outposts' destruction, sends 300 Orcs and 100 Centaurs, along with 50 Kerberos, to reinforce the eastern fort. Gryffon scouts are sent out to search for the source of the centaurs and keep a close eye on the borders. Wooden pikes are set into the ground around the fortress as further protection. In addition to the added precautions, Unai sends a short note to the Khan of the Golden Horde, warning him of Centaurs running rampant on his far western borders.

[puppyavenger]

JAvisua

Spoiler

Show

Your force finds a camp of a few dozen centaurs near where your outpost was, their banners have strange Asian symbols on them.

the Khan replies that he is well aware of the fact and would thank you for any help in defeating those near your border.

[JaviSua]

Centaur Raiders

Unai orders a force of 300 Orcs, 100 Gryffons, and 100 Centaurs to surround the camp of centaurs. His leading centaur is chosen to try to speak with them and learn their motives, and whether or not peace and joining forces is possible. Their ultimatum is this: join Lord Unai Tressevian as loyal soldiers, or die. If they accept, they are sent to the fortress and then back to the castle to swear fealty to Unai. If not, Unai's troops move in and show no mercy.

[Moechi_Vill]

The Southerners continue to lay in on the Celts, while Lord Davin and King Robert make the decisive decision whether to break in/out with the cavalry or perhaps something more creative... because suddenly the fey corridor has closed! (No more rapid travel through fey corridors in Great Britain or Ireland and the rest of Western Europe for that matter will be allowed.)

France - Daemos
The wounded spy has not recovered yet as one of your orcs got him but good with an arbalest bolt to the liver.
The captured spy squeals like a piggy. She reveals what she knows in passable English, that the French Crown is planning to wipe your French base of forces and take it over, but is being cautious in order to fully gauge your abilities. You also learn that they are very hostile to fey and have been interning and slaying some of them while recruiting others as enslaved warriors (similar to Jannisaries but without the prestige that they have accumulated). The spy also speculates the Crown may be planning to wipe out the Calais and Britanny enclaves before working down the proper stronghold in Aquitane and skirmish with the Burgundians while their enemy lies low, perhaps a few battles if things go well. She appears to be reasonable certain there's something big in the works, but downright positive you're in the iron sights.
She offers to turn and work for you or better yet, return to the French Crown as a double agent and risk her neck for you for a sizable reward.
"Mercy Signeur!"

OOC: Deadline for Celtic orders before automove (standard AI intelligence), 2 days.

[Eldan]

Alejandro El Dan

Sitting on his coral throne, Alejandro nodded. Yes, it was time to act. His forces had grown considerably in the last time, and they were now worthy of the title "army". He looked over the 100 force leaders gathered before him.
"Clans Clearwater and Pearlskin will continue bringing in tribute from the local fishermen. Don't threaten them, but remind them who their new leader is.
The Clans Blackeye and Redcrest will continue fishing. The people must be fed.
Clan Wavesinger will further fortify the stronghold. Harsh times are coming, and we must be prepared.
The other five clans: take 11 of the gryffon hunts with you. Let them patrol the skies over the sea. Any ship they spot that does not belong to the islands, the Acheans or the byzantine empire will be surrounded by at least two forces and a hunt and then either pay tribute to the new King of the Islands or be sunk.
The last hunt will come with me. It is time to make my presence known.


Later...

It was an impressive sight indeed... fifty golden gryffons swooped down from the sky over the once mighty city of Constantinople, capitol of the byzantine empire. On the largest gryffon sat a man in a red cloak over clothes of the same colour, holding a large banner with the white flag of peace. They landed on rooftops and roads just outside the Blachernae palace.
"My name is Alejandro El Dan, and I have a message for the Emperor Johannes Palailogos the Fifth and Regent Johannes Kantakouzenos the Sixth!
Listen to me! We all know that the Byzantine empire is in trouble! The turks are gnawing at your borders and advancing every day! Old Rome is talking about sending new crusaders to once again plunder Constantinopolis! You are threatened by revolt and civil war! If you are but willing to listen to me, I can offer you a way out, a way back to the Glory of old.
I am the King of the Kingdom of Pearls, the Realm of the Naga. I can offer you the power you need to repell the turks and the mongols and let the world see the Power of Byzantium once again! What is your answer?"



Army

Spoiler

Show

15'000 Naga, organized in 100 forces of 150 each. (45'000 pts)
Additionally, I'm organizing them in clans of 10 forces each, to facilitate orders.
600 Gryffons, organized in 12 hunts of 50 each (15000 pts)

[Moechi_Vill]

OOC: Btw., come to think of it there may be no English Knights left to recruit unlike there are Scottish ones in Scotland, but there are Longbowmen left (and Woad Raiders on the Scottish side, they would never leave completely), especially civilians who haven't been recruited or are part of militias and/or weren't drafted in time.


Cavalry Battle
Battle for the English Base (or siege, or rear)

Minutes
65: Fey cavalry and spirits at standby start charging towards the rear of the south's forces.
70: Fey cavalry halfways, Southern cavalry reformed (with orders from ten minutes ago) to separate the Celts from their base of operations.
75: The Celtic Fey and Spirits and the southern cavalry clash just a few hundred meters from the division of defensive troops protecting the siege and archers right behind them. English long-range siege and giant trebuchet take a few area shots at the cavalry. [-15 Decataurs]

The initial balance is on Edwards side as despite the quality and strength of the fey cavalry Decataurs, the very mobile Celtic spirits and the terrifying lethality of Davin's holy sword Solaris, his mighty skills and that of his Lieutenants, the enemy still outnumber them more than 3:1, and they're no slouches either but a finely tuned fighting machine, just not the agents of massacre and avatars of death Davin, Fiacha and Danand (the mac Delbaith) except perhaps Edward and his royal swordsmen who have mounted their stallions (fifteen point infantry and named characters come with mounts).

[] = total, hero dmg. included
80: - Heroes slay 25 Knights. Edward and Royal Swordsmen slay 5 Decataurs [55 Decataurs, 15 Celtic Spirits, 50 Lesser Celtic Spirits, 15 Fey Hounds, 110 Knights, 1 Royal Swordsman]
90: - Heroes slay 40 Horsemen, Edward & Co slay 5 Decataurs, Archers slay 10 Decataurs, Siege slays 5 Decataurs [95 Decataurs, 5 Celtic Spirits, 25 Lesser Celtic Spirits, 5 Fey Hounds, 55 Knights, 95 Horsemen, 3 Royal Swordsmen]
100: - Heroes fight each other. Fight is largely too intermingled for ranged attack though archers pick off a total of 10 Decataurs, 5 Knights and 5 Horsemen, in pockets of more isolated combat. Davin slays 10 Royal Swordsmen, Fiacha and Danand Mac Delbaith slay 5 Royal Swordsmen, Fiacha mac Delbaith is slain in battle by Edward King of England by decapitation w/ bastard sword (Eddy rolled a crit), Danand mac Delbaith is slain in battle by the Royal Guard by a lance to the heart [(total) 135 Decataurs, 40 Celtic Spirits, 375 Lesser Celtic Spirits, 19 Royal Swordsmen, 45 Knights, 65 Horsemen, 20 Halberdiers, 70 Pikeneers, 30 Pikemen, 100 Spearmen]
The mobile Fey disengage as a few brigades of polearm infantry have caught up with the fight from the rear making their position largely untenable... An effort is made to maneuver around the southern cavalry...
110: Fey cavalry and spirits takes heavy casualties from siege and longbow archers (especially the Giant trebuchet), however Davin is able to shield some of them with the Holy and/or Celtic powers of his sword (saving 25 Decataurs, 3 Celtic Spirits and 10 Lesser Celtic spirits). - [75 Decataurs, 7 Celtic Spirits, 40 Lesser Celtic Spirits]
120: Largely successful the Decataurs clash with the brigade of Longbowmen, doing great damage and continue to reduce them to half a pathetic cadre before they make their escape as a second cohort of spearmen interferes to save them as the south splits two thirds of their force from the third that got into the formation. Davin slays 250 Longbowmen. Edward & Co slay 8 Decataurs - [158 Decataurs, 20 Celtic Spirits, 200 Lesser Celtic Spirits, 800 Longbowmen, 700 Spearmen, 50 Knights, 50 Horsemen]
135: The battle continues as the Fey push heavily to break through, the remaining Decataurs within the circle have taken out about a third of the English ranged and proceed to knock out a regiment of siege escort and seven of their engines, killing some defensive infantry and squads of English cavalry to the aid. Some more lightfooted and/or well-constituted defensive infantry sally out to continue the fight by helping their mounted brethren. Davin slays 5 Royal Swordsmen. Eddy & Co slay 7 Decataurs.
[207 Decataurs, (the remainder of) 23 Celtic Spirits, 260 Lesser Celtic Spirits, 5 royal swordsmen, 800 Siege escort, 7 Siege Engines, 850 spearmen, 200 Arbalests, 100 Crossbows, 50 Longbowmen, 25 Pikemen, 35 Pikeneers, 30 Halberdiers, 75 Knights, 25 Horsemen]
135-180: The fey are pushed back away from direct contact with the siege, archers still fire but most siege are careful due to longer delay before their ballistic objects make contact. After further skirmishing Davin is severely though not critically wounded. Edward & Co slay another 5 Decataurs. Archers and siege take out another 15 Decataurs. The Southern Cavalry starts acting clumsy but maintain an almost even rate of casualties due to their great advantages and active leadership (Davin is wounded badly at the start by English Knights) at this point in numbers and ranged support [120 Decataurs, 125 Knights, 50 Horsemen]. As they disengage and withdraw back to the forest the remaining Decataurs are further reduced in numbers by the hated siege and their archers friend, their scattered and smaller formation is made up for by tired legs that move slower. [-40 Decataurs]

Cavalry, Rear & Ranged (inc. siege) Battle Result: Decisive Southern Victory

Total Casualty List
Celtic
885 Decataurs, 100 Celtic Spirits, 100 Fey Hounds, 1000 Lesser Celtic Spirits
Heroes: Fiacha & Danand mac Delbaith
Leader: Davin is severely wounded.

Southern - In order of descending quality in categories sorted by traditional use on battlefield.
Cavalry: 410 Knights, 325 Horsemen
Infantry: 50 Halberdiers, 105 Pikeneers, 55 Pikemen, 1650 Spearmen
Ranged: 850 Longbowmen, 200 Arbalests, 100 Crossbows
Siege w/ escort: 7 Engines w/ 800 Spearmen
Bodyguard: 28 Royal Swordsmen

60-90: With the siege and ranged somewhat distracted the battle continues as normal for a while in the Henge, though two thirds of the siege and half the ranged Southern forces are still trained on the Celts and are becoming more accurate. While the Gryphons are getting tired and less accurate, though their riders are still relatively fresh and the mass of heavy objects lobbed and shot by the siege (the ballistas finally set up close but defensively at good angles with a bit of escort) and aimed fire continues to scatter and confuse the more static defense of the Celts. Thankfully they have the henge or the Celtic troops, even the humans would probably not stand on for much longer.
The Celtic ranged troops (except the Gryphons) and some of their siege largely run out of ammunition in and around the 80'th minute.

[Southern: 40 Pikemen, 120 Spearmen, 40 Pikeneers, 20 Halberdiers, 75 Crossbowmen, 25 unmounted Daemos Gryphons, 30 mounted Daemos Gryphons, 10 Gryphon riders are also shot down, 3 Siege Engines w/ 80 spearmen (2 ballistas got unlucky and were hit by fire archers and siege and the siege took out another English engine further away)
Celtic: 1 Royal Guard, 150 Crossbowmen, 10 Knights, 35 Horsemen, 150 Woad Raiders, 50 Halberdiers, 100 Pikeneers, 450 Spearmen, 25 Davin Gryphons, 250 Dark Sidhe]

90-180: ...but realizing his forces are slowly succumbing and his position incrementally becoming more untenable Robert decides to attempt to break out (against Davin's recommendation) whilst doing as much damage as possible and hoping to save his cadre. He prepares his troops rapidly, speaking quickly with all the commanders and most of the subcommanders, reorganizing and compounding unit designation, yet managed to do so carefully and once more again they go unto the breach as one at the 125'th mi. Unfortunately the English have dug in and though Robert expertly slays many defenders on his way out with the core of his cavalry, bodyguard and Davin's gryphons, the majority of his horse are shredded to tattered remains. His infantry and archers fight like furious madmen taken with the berserker wisdom, making up for much of their lack of sleep and supplies. The Dark Sidhe, their platoon-sized remnants do their utmost to, as the last wish of many of them is to see their lord again. They all die a noble, gruesome death, exacting an awesome toll of about two thirds of the casualties to every one they take with little more than the sidearms of their ranged troops, offensive melee weapons against dug-in defensive troops. Their sacrifice enables a cohort of Woad Raiders to escape at the 150'th minute, but they too are finished with salvos from English rangers, fey Gnomes and elves and English skirmishers a little before the 160'th minute. His cavalry, while the core was successful the vast majority failed to do what even their infantry did, suffering from an interference by several platoons of mounted and unmounted Gryphons ordered into an airborne surface intercept brigade detachment by Jarr (who himself followed Daemos with the majority of his troops) and were reduced to erratic remnants by the 135'th minute, the rest being largely sweeped up or surrendering by the 140'th minute and are definitely gone (dead or wounded and about to be dispatched on the battlefield) or being led away by the 145'th and the minutes directly thereafter. There were just too many polearms and people with a devoted disposition to making them stay. The skelkies however they had felt about the Scots, stayed behind in that spirit of camaraderie, knowing they themselves would not make it and continued to lob bolts at their enemies. They succeed in taking down another one or two hundred after all the others leave and give the Scots more room at the rear, however once they are overttaken most of them are gutted cruelly as one would fish by the by now hateful English soldiers. The Undead Feyslayers in particular do a terrific job, going so far as to lose many of their numbers in merry and sadistic butchery, goring their way through the amphibians and exacting the price of revenge on the destruction the Celts themselves unleashed to get even.

And then Daemos' gryphons, mounted and unmounted fire the bulk of their their remaining arrows at them before a fell yet clumsy drop (rolled a 1) is executed on them a little away towards the forest at the 155'th to 160'th minute to prevent a linkup with the fey survivors. It was a short battle that lasted for ten minutes, with the flanks off Roberts cadre, the remnant core, butchered off at the sides, the wounded and core fight valiantly but not too efficiently (especially the wounded) losing what little chance they have of breaking through as their formation loosens up a bit in response to the wedge of Gryphons dropping down several feet above ground amidst them and fatefully slows down, thankfully the Gryphons botched attack as well but this is made up for by Daemos' might, his own sword and Excalibur sheathed at his side, and that of his Wyrm Reileigh, and Jarr with his Gryphon (who weathers a close call, losing his Gryphon to a dismounted attacker with a dagger) and the semi-permanently solid Galahad (he's there, materialized are long as you want him there, I hadn't thought of it but it is ok for him to go transparent, just so you know it takes him twenty minutes to an hour before he can rematerialize if you displace his spirit though).
The core fares better, but it doesn't amount to more than another two dozen gryphon fatalities, half their riders dead as well. At last Robert fights to the end but seeing only two of his trusted Lieutenants and eight, no six and then five other Paladins and Cavalier-Knights stabbing at the air, Knights and one and a half squadron of forcibly dismounted Knights holding off the wounded and healthy Gryphons and their riders fighting from a ground and close to ground-level in a half sphere around their enemy, piercing through and wedging up their formations. He takes a cherished dagger from his wife from before he left for war and stabs himself to the right side of his head and dies. Seeing their Lord go down and their hope of Scotland vanquished those who do not keep Davin in mind attempt suicide, only some of them succeeding before they are cut down. A few of those who do can only thank the rest who fought to death by distracting the airborne cavalry, yet Daemos and his troops manage to capture several fighters as well by wounding them or simply landing or tackling them.

The roughed up Scottish Marine regiment detachment witnessing this as they take up defensive positions, not knowing how to link up with their compatriots in the henge and too slow to follow the fey cavalry and mobile troops quietly takes a hint and quickly makes it back to their ships, losing only a hundred members to fighting their way and piercing through a few militias on the way back that summon the courage to bother to deal with them. - SEPARATE - [100 Marines, 130 Local Militia]

In militia battles to the northwest Englishmen take 1000 casualties and the Scots take 2000, both suffering (but mostly the English) from reinforcements whisked away through the fey lands to Stonehenge before they closed. The Scots, five thousand in militia numbers withdraw back to Scotland, setting many an object and person on fire before they make it back. The detachment from the English field army shore up with the remainder five thousand of the local militia as another two thousand are raised from new paupers and orphans and they retake control of the northwest, the cavalry and skirmishers going east to shore up the border on the northeastern side and to provide better policing. - SEPARATE - [1000 English Militia, 2000 Scottish Militia]
+ [2000 English Militia]

(Post Below) Davin Disappears


Casualties

Celtic
*Davin Argetlam*, reknowned leader of the Celtic Sidhe [MIA]
Earlier: *Aengus*, Huntmaster of the Dark Sidhe [KIA]
Fiacha and Danand mac Delbaith, a married couple together on the field of battle as leaders of the Fey Decataur cavalry. [KIA]
Airmed of the Seas, Leader of the Celtic Skelkies [KIA] Executed
The fey army (excepting Miach, Davin [MIA], Lyr, 75 Gryphons and 115 Decataurs.)

Edward - King of England, his bodyguards, The Scottish Field Army

Southern
270 Mounted Gryphons
55 Gryphons, 200 Orcish Elites+Eq
20 Guardsmen, 435 Pikeneers, 225 Pikemen, 125 Woodland Brigands, 45 Undead Feyslayers, 40 Feyslayers, 700 Swordsmen, 500 Marines, 1960 Spearmen, 275 Skirmishers, 600 Axemen, 700 Dagger Militia, 30 Wood Elves, 60 Gnomes, 125 Longbowmen, 25 Arbalests, 25 Crossbowmen, 50 Bowmen, 125 Huntsmen, 50 Slingmen,


This is the post that actually matters.
Final Army Counts

Celtic
Miach
75 Gryphons w/ Lyr
115 Decataurs

600 Marines


Southern
Daemos w/ Reiligh (special wyrm), Galahad,
Gorgoth
835 mounted Gryphons, Jarr w/ Gryphon
50 Gryphons
650 Orcish Elites+Eq
1 Giant Trebuchet w/ 10 Ogres, 15 engineers, 300 Orc support staff
40 Undead Feyslayers

Edward III of England, 42 Royal Guards, 260 Guardsmen
1,615 Knights, 675 Horsemen
45 Feyslayers, 650 Halberdiers, 1,500 Pikeneers, 250 Woodland Brigands, 3,400 Swordsmen, 2000 Marines, 9050 Spearmen, 725 Skirmishers, 1300 Axemen, 1000 Dagger Militia, 160 Wood Elves, 515 Gnomes, 1050 Longbowmen, 175 Arbalests, 75 Crossbowmen, 900 Bowmen, 500 Huntsmen, 200 Slingmen
78 Siege Engines w/ 170 men


Neutrals
Wraiths and Shades of Ages Dark and Past (roughly 150)




The Great Battle of Stonehenge resulted in a Major Southern Victory!

The Great Scottish-English-Fey War of 1346 resulted in a marginal Southern Victory.

Edward III King of England approaches Daemos...

No Celtic troops are in England anymore (excepting Miach's remnants flying and riding/galloping north utilizing the last of their strength. PURSUE AT WILL (The fliers will likely make it, and the characters very much so, but for the purpose of the cavalry escaping north... Daemos' has lots of airborne and they are faster and as previously mentioned the Otherworld Passage/Route/Land has been completely closed to Great Britain for the moment. Not even immigrants are coming atm.).

[Raz_Fox]

Battle

The Scottish army is slaughtered, the fey are broken and flee. Daemos is victorious.

Davin is nowhere to be found, completely gone. There are those among the captured fey that whisper of sleep beneath the green hills, but no more than that is ever found of him.

Miach leads the last few that escaped back to Scotland, mourning Davin.

[Moechi_Vill]

Edward: "I grant you the Dukedom of London and it's surrounding territories and stewardship of Scotland and Wales. Together we shall rebuild and conquer."
"Accept my generous offer o Great Paladin and Sorcerer." he says, people had noticed your exceptionally beautiful and magical sword and the mysterious, figure wearing the ancient white plate next to you after all.
"Honour the goodness I show you now and I shall grant you the hand of any of my daughters in marriage and your offspring shall succeed me to rule Mighty Noble England. Surely I will adopt you as my third son and petition the Roman Church to accept you as a true believer, a fine Christian of the land and the Catholic world."

[Moechi_Vill]

*grumbles something about happily but exhaustively reading for two hours about Trebizond, The Empire of Nicea, the Despotate of Epirus, Trebizond, The Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Sicily (w/ Naples split from it), The Ilkhanate, The Ghazi Emirates (hard to find too since it gets confused with the word Ghazi), Cyprus and their allies Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, the vassal Kingdom of Serbia, Venice and the Mamluk Sultanate for later*

Army

Spoiler

Show

15'000 Naga, organized in 100 forces of 150 each. (45'000 pts)
Additionally, I'm organizing them in clans of 10 forces each, to facilitate orders.
600 Gryffons, organized in 12 hunts of 50 each (15000 pts)

re: Approved.


Alejandro El Dan

Sitting on his coral throne, Alejandro nodded. Yes, it was time to act. His forces had grown considerably in the last time, and they were now worthy of the title "army". He looked over the 100 force leaders gathered before him.
"Clans Clearwater and Pearlskin will continue bringing in tribute from the local fishermen. Don't threaten them, but remind them who their new leader is.
The Clans Blackeye and Redcrest will continue fishing. The people must be fed.
Clan Wavesinger will further fortify the stronghold. Harsh times are coming, and we must be prepared.
The other five clans: take 11 of the gryffon hunts with you. Let them patrol the skies over the sea. Any ship they spot that does not belong to the islands, the Acheans or the byzantine empire will be surrounded by at least two forces and a hunt and then either pay tribute to the new King of the Islands or be sunk.
The last hunt will come with me. It is time to make my presence known.


Later...

It was an impressive sight indeed... fifty golden gryffons swooped down from the sky over the once mighty city of Constantinople, capitol of the byzantine empire. On the largest gryffon sat a man in a red cloak over clothes of the same colour, holding a large banner with the white flag of peace. They landed on rooftops and roads just outside the Blachernae palace.
"My name is Alejandro El Dan, and I have a message for the Emperor Johannes Palailogos the Fifth and Regent Johannes Kantakouzenos the Sixth!
Listen to me! We all know that the Byzantine empire is in trouble! The turks are gnawing at your borders and advancing every day! Old Rome is talking about sending new crusaders to once again plunder Constantinopolis! You are threatened by revolt and civil war! If you are but willing to listen to me, I can offer you a way out, a way back to the Glory of old.
I am the King of the Kingdom of Pearls, the Realm of the Naga. I can offer you the power you need to repell the turks and the mongols and let the world see the Power of Byzantium once again! What is your answer?"


[/spoiler]

1) Clearwater and Pearlskin gather several pounds of gold, some jewlery, coins, fish and grain for you from the terrified and now subservient local fisherman. The plan works remarkably well and there are no violent incidents, though a few of the more well-defended villages with palisades are initially rather edgy with your representatives. This leads your force commanders to report that without an escort at the population centers in question they might have been attacked or would at least not have received tribute.

2) Clans Blackeye and Redcrest continue fishing, your stock of food are now substantial. Not impressive, but substantial and coupled with your ability to continue living off the sea you now have enough stocks of foodstuffs to trade and still retain a decent logistical reserve.

3) The fortification continues and is successful, your defenses have been strengthened and it is doubtful, due to your aquatic nature and your fortifications, that any force in the known world could at the present overcome your base if properly garrisoned. Your fort now requires 1500 Nagas to properly defend it (including a strategic reserve of 500).

4) You sink a figurative an aggregate total of cirka four or five fleet merchant ships and their escorts (and a squadron of military Venetian ships) and lose 75 Gryphons and 350 Nagas but you make up for this with substantial loot (4250 human army recruitment points). 75 Nagas join you from a nearby hidden cove and 25 Orcs that were held prisoner aboard a Hungarian ship with two other military ships and another two merchant ships bound for Constantinople join you. There is also a great coincidence of some 10 wyvern eggs found on a ship by your Nagas as it was sinking. There were more (30 or so in total) but the rest were damaged by the fighting. You've also managed to piss off every non-Byzantine power in the region, including to some extent Achaea since they're allies of Venice and Norman Sicily. Several Venetian ships (whom had the wyverns in the first place) scout the region for your base and when attacked by your Naga request an audience with you, reports indicate their representatives are irate. Other naval powers have not responded, but comeuppance may be forthcoming, or perhaps they're watching the Venetians to see what events will come or planning something else. They could be just scared.

Human (and some sundry) Purchase List: Mermen (2,5 points), Mermaid Caster (4 points), Mermaid Healer (5 points), Spearmen (1 point), Pikemen (2 points), Pikeneers (3 points), Swiss Pikemen (5,5 points), Halberdiers (4 points), Skirmishers (0,75 points), Light Infantry (1 point), Swordsmen (1,5 points), Two-Hand Sword Infantry (2,5 points), Heavy Infantry (3,5 points), Dismounted Knights (4,5 points) Shock Troopers (5,5 points), Knights (10 points), Horsemen (5 points), Cavalry Scouts (2 points), Mages (30 points), Wizards (100 points), Clerics (60 points), Rangers (3,5 points), Axemen (0,5 points), Dagger Militia (0,25 points), (Combat) Ship w/ sailors (175), Company of 100 Marines for (Combat) Ship (200), Transport Ship w/ sailors (100), Crossbowmen (2), Arbalests (2,5), Longbowmen (3), Composite Longbowmen (4), Bowmen (1), Composite Bowmen (2), Light Siege Engines (50), Medium Siege Engines (100), Heavy Siege Engines (150), Trebuchets (200), Giant Siege Engines (400), Cannons (500), Firearms Company, one hundred men, (1000)

Mercenaries come at x0,5 price, fight more conservatively, have lower loyalty and leave after the end of their contract.

5) The Prime Regent and Emperor of Byzantium by the Power of Constantinople and the Roman Empires: "There is little we can give you but subject for us the Achaeans and expel the Normans (the Venetians are occupied with the Genoese and no threat to us at the moment) and we shall be forever grateful. To assuage you that our reward, payment, gratitude and love of our friends is up front by the power of the Roman Empire we hereby declare you King of Thrace. We urgently request that you dispatch Naga squadrons to impede the Emirates' incremental advance westwards and their meddling in the Balkans and Thrace.



Iberia

A vicious war that has been going on for months continues in Granada, with the Christian Iberians and Christianized Iberian Feys grinding down into a disproportionately costly war of attrition on land. The Moors now have fey too and volounteers as well as a few regiments from their southern neighbors, making the war even more difficult and bloody. The Granadan army led by the royalty does well in battle. Were it not for strength of Spain greatly adding to the Elven Lord his army of Orcs, Kerberos, Goblins and Gryphon scouts would have neared collapse. The rural area is devastated, but the army of Joxer III takes the most damage. Still, fey reinforcements are coming in from the rest of Peninsula and the other Christian kingdoms are slowly expressing more support for the cause, promising to send soldiers if it is needed. Some volunteers have trickled down despite a feeling that Castille has more than it needs for this task and as things go slowly, that they will probably shape up by themselves as they need to. Fortunately for the Spanish, the Nagas continue to do well at the coast, gathering up the plunder from their successful campaign and continuing to destroy Mohammedan warships and taking over their merchant ships and even attacking their coastal villages now and on top of it all tolling all Christian merchant activity through the strait as a special 'crusading reconquista' war tax. The last two actions incur some casualties and the third garners some unpopularity but all in all it enables the Joxerite forces to replenish a substantial amount of their losses with mercenaries.

And so the war grinds on, the Moors fight bravely and better than the Reconquistadors, but their superior numbers, training, resources and equipment starts to tell, and the heavy defeats of the Islamic navy at sea goes some of the way to even it out.
By the end of the year, unless something happens, Granada will be no more than coastal and fortified rural and urban holdouts. It is clear that the Fey army regardless of its new recruits will probably not be the same even in victory and that Spain will take time to recover its trained manpower.

[Eldan]

El Dan

Army, with new recruits

Spoiler

Show

14725 Nagas
525 Gryffons
25 Orcs
100 Mermaid Healers
10 Combat Ships
10 Marine Companies on said ships

To the Emperor of Constantinople:
"I do not seek to subject the Achaeans, as I seek to reunite, not conquer. The powers of Greece and Byzantium should stand together against the Golden Horde and the Ghazi Emirates. If they were to unite under one ruler, Byzantium would fall, and with it much of civilisation as we know and love it.
I nevertheless thank you for your generous gift, and swear that I will use the resources of the kingdom of Thrace to stop any and all oriental invaders."

To Achaea:
A scroll
"From the King of the Kingdom of Pearls and Thrace, to the rulers of Achaea:
We greet the mighty rulers of Achaea. In ancient times,many rulers of Greece were allied with the Naga. In these difficult times, we offer once again our alliance to you. It it not conquest we seek, but to unite those who are willing against those who would threaten our borders. Every day, the Ghazi Emirates and the Golden Horde advance, closer to your land and mine. We seek an alliance, to repell these invaders, and reestablish the order of old."

To the Venetians and other mediterranean Powers:
A gryffon delivers a scroll to one of the venetian ships, on it a Sigil depicting a gryffon and a snake, in red wax. Similar scrolls are handed to all tradeships who offer no resistance to the Naga troops.
"I am Alejandro El Dan, by the Grace of God and and the Will of the Naga, King of the Kingdom of Pearls and newly-crowned King of Thrace.
The waters of the northern Aegean and the Sea of Marrmara belong, from this day forth, once again to their rightful rulers. Any ships that are not subject to the Kingdom itself, the Empire of Byzantium or the Achaeans, the rightful successors of Ancient Greece, will pay customs when sailing these waters, 5% of the value transported, in either gold or goods.
If you wish to negotiate these terms further, or discuss other matters, send ambassadors to the Capitol of Thrace*

*I'm trying to find out what the capitol of Thrace would be, but can't find anything on it.

[RationalGoblin]

Army

Spoiler

Show

2000 Centaurs, organized into groups of 250 [Lances] (30000 points)
750 Trolls, organized into groups of 50 [Clans] (22500 points)
1250 Orcs, organized into groups of 100, with one half-strength group (2500 points)
1000 Kerberos, organized into packs of 100 (5000 points)

Janos Von Grunewald

Janos grinned as he heard the news of the fall of Davin to Daemos and the English. An opportunity had arisen...

Messenger to the King of Denmark:

"Good King of Denmark, Janos Von Grunewald sends a message to you. He says that he would seek an alliance with you, aid you, and even serve thee for a while if necessary, if you would help him with a single task. Help him gain control of the Order of the Teutonic Knights, and their land. This he wishes from you. Perhaps he could even help you gain the lands the Normans took from you three hundred years ago, afterwards, if you so chose."

Messenger to the Grand Duke of Poland-Lithuania

"Grand Duke, Janos Von Grunewald has a deal for you. Help him conquer the lands of the Teutonic Order, and he will aid you in acquiring more lands to add to your considerable holdings. Perhaps he could even help you take a Russian Principality for the Grand Dukedom. In any case, aid Janos, and he will aid you in turn."

Actions:
Janos looks over his troops.

The Centaurs, lead by General Dietrich, a skilled commander.
The Trolls, lead by Lord Matthias, a brutal and mighty general.
And the Orcs, lead by Captain Gerhard, a cunning and unorthodox leader.

"I want five Lances, or one hundred centaurs in each group, to spread out, and seek out any villages. Once at the villages, do not attack. Tell the villagers that a new power is fighting against the Teutonic Knights, and that they can serve Lord Janos, the true Grandmaster of the Order of the Teutonic Knights, and be led to prosperity and progress, or that they can serve the false leaders of the Knights and die like animals.

However, make it clear that if they want to remain neutral, serving neither side, that they will not be harmed, but when I succeed, they shall not partake of the spoils, prosperity, or glory of the war when it is over."

Janos turns to the rest of the centaurs.

"500 of you, hunt for meat. 500 of you, build me a barracks. Preferably out of stone, as I wouldn't want to destroy your homes. The last 500, scout out any other resources, especially minerals, that I might need."

The former Teutonic Knight turns to the Trolls.

"One group of fifty each, go with each centaur group. If you encounter any bandits, well-armed bandits, not desperate villagers, either kill them or take them captive. If at all possible, bring the captives to me. Two hundred and fifty, train. The last two hundred and fifty, wait for the centaurs to find any mineral deposits, and then mine.

Finally, Janos turns to the Orcs.

"Ah, orcs. I'm glad I saved you all those years ago. Now, I'll have the surplus 50 of you seek out any other non-human creatures around here. Ask them to give an audience to me. 300 of you, construct a few towers, in each of the cardinal directions, around my castle. 500 more of you, start building a large stone monastery near my castle. The remaining 500, create farms to feed our forces."

After giving the orders, Janos walks down to the castle dungeons. A massive, lizard-like creature trashes about in mighty black chains, clearly made to keep it under control and stuck to the ground.

"Ah, my Lindworm. You will be my mount and my most devastating weapon, besides my sword, of course. You will be an extension of my will. How does it feel?"

In response, the creature roars, an unholy sound that would make lesser men flee in terror. Knowing this, Janos simply laughs.

[DrakebloodIV]

Daemos and Edward gather with their greatest lieutenants around the henge. The smell of battle still permiates the air and Daemos is still clad in steel grey plate. He looks gravely at the damaged circle.

"Do you know the oldest origins of the stone circle Edward? It is human crafted. When I learned of this I wondered why humans would craft a gate to the realm of our enemies. But the task those first spellcrafters and warriors was to restrict where the fey could come from. The land of the fey was once tied much more closely to the earth..."

Taking his blade, Daemos stabbed it one last time into the central spire of the circle. He left it hanging there, for another being in another time to take.

"I am afriad I must deny most of the gifts, for they are ill suited to my duty. I must deny your dukedom, for I promised someone close to me I would not take land nor title in England. I must deny your adoption of me; grant this instead to the firstborn of Robert to solidify your brotherhood with the Scots. The hand of your daughter I must deny as well, for I would not curse a child of men to be bound to me. Nor could I suffer through enduring living with a mortal as she slowly decayed away. I would accept your invitation to be baptized into the Catholic church, but the papacy would have to be senile to accept me into it."

The look of shock and disappointment is evident in Edwards face. Daemos feels guilty for having to strike down his good intent.

"Im sorry, good friend, for ruining your wishes. But I am a man bound in the shakles of his past and his duty. I try to make pennance to the Lord by taking up Excalibur. Now, I have one more duty in this land. Bring me all the remaining fey, the Feyslayers, and whomever is left of Davins army. Together we shall form the Soulhunt and capture those spirits who have been loosed on this land"

[RationalGoblin]

Message To the Teutonic Knights, as well as a declaration to any doubting villages

"I, Janos Von Grunewald, no, scratch the Von off. I am Janos Grunewald, and I have come to take command of the Teutonic Knights, and oust the corruption the lords of the Knights have out. The Order has oppressed and brutalized the peoples of it's lands for too long.

The Order's original purpose was to protect, but it seems it has lost it's mission in between slaughtering the native and oppressing the villagers. I will return the Teutonic Knights back to it's roots. I will protect the peoples of these lands from invaders or bandits.

In short, I, with the Order under my command, will do more for this land then the Knights have done for centuries. All I require is the ousting of the current high leadership. Give me the Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order and his closest minions, and I swear I will not harm either the Order, or the people of this land.

Fail to do so, and I will wage war against those who I consider the traitors of the Order, while eagerly welcoming those who wish to serve the true Master of the Order. Be warned, if you oppose me, you oppose Durendal, the indestructible sword of Roland, the greatest champion of Charlemagne. What say you, Order?"

[Eldan]

Orders

In Thrace, Gryffons now circle the skies, landing on town squares and before guildhalls and palaces. Red-cloaked riders on their backs read messages from scrolls, detailing the crowning of the new king of Thrace, to be held in a forthnight, and asking all vassals of the crown to attend. Orders go out, describing in detail the new tax system, stating that the new monarch only demands a small part of all earnings, but requires every able-bodied man between the ages of sixteen and forty to serve in the militia if needed.

Wyverns:

This was a task Alejandro would not give out of hand for any price. He had gathered ancient tomes and scrolls in his library, along with even more ancient wax and clay tablets, carefully kept away from the sea around his submarine stronghold. Carefully, he added another pinch of arsenic powder to the foul, black liquid in the kettle in front of him, paying attention as not to breathe in too much of the vapours rising up. The most important ingredient was the yolk from the smashed wyvern eggs his troops had brought him. Without them, this would not have worked.
Nodding, he took the kettle from the fire, then carried down into the large dungeon he had his people dig for him, behind his library. It was cold, damp and pitch black, save for a single candle, just as it had to be. Using a silver spoon, he slowly emptied the mixture into the small basin at the lowest point of the room, where the ten eggs were lying, each of them as large as a child's head.
Soon, they would hatch.

[Moechi_Vill]

Note: A small court of messenger (around fifteen people) come to you by ship the day after you are made King of Thrace, and deliver you your crown and a chest full of gifts and money. They announce that you are King and ruler of Thrace, subject to the Empire and Regent, your overlords. (It'll take some time to find the reigns of your empire, at this point you do not have accurate records of soldiers and so on (should be in the low 10's of thousands) and moderate income, but meagre income in reality as much of it is siphoned off by the Capital.
Thrace is a region. I don't know where the Capital is but I will soon (I think the capital actually would be Constantinople. Thrace is the majority of the land they still hold after all, and get money to recruit mercenaries from and sometimes recruit from (so they'll probably still have strings in it after you assume more complete control)).

King of Achaea: "I will sign a covenant alliance with you if you guarantee the independance of Achaea and stop attacking our allies."

Venice: "3%."

Your reception in the areas pointed out by the courtiers sent to you, those regions of Thrace subject to imperial rule, is warm and quite magnicifant though it is clear the area has seen better times. (More info on the region forthcoming.)

The wyvern eggs seem to be coming along well.
One of the orcs is a silver smith, but he knows how to make average quality iron weapons.


Edward: "Surely the welfare of our combined peoples is more important than a hasty promise to this person you speak of. Tell me my son, whom this person so dear you is, so that I too may kin to now them and ascertain the true wishes of their heart." he smiles endearingly at you.
"We shall all be as a family."

[WrathOfLife]

The time of great preparation

Cursed walks out on to the small island, the tatters of his clothes hanging limply around him. It was his time. Starring out at the hoards that face him. He opens his mouth and speaks with a ragged voice. “We are the future of this world! Follow my orders and we will win. But for now, for now we must train. We must prepare!” With that cursed sweeps his arm at the Darkly scaled Naga. “Naga! 2,000 of you are to fish, smoke them, dry them store them. We are many, and we are hungry. 1,000 of you are to patrol our waters, don't be seen, but learn the trade routes, who traffics these waters. 2,000 of you shall also begin to learn the working's of wood and shall begin a hidden dry dock, while 1,000 begin to make ropes. The last 2,000 shall scout the shallows around our island, looking for brothers, resources, or enemies. Do not contact them, but learn there was, DO NOT BE SEEN.”

With that he turns to his Gryffons, there colors pale grays and blacks “Noble beasts, you are charged with searching the island for towns or tribes, keep an eye open for resources while doing this, but as always Do not be seen. Rest often and breed, train your children in our ways, they will be a large part of our future.”

With that he turns to the Orc's “2,000 of you shall begin to gather wood and stone, we shall need tools for our ship making and you shall make them. 2,000 more of you shall scout the land and our might caves for metal and resources. In addition you shall look for signs of life, once again learn there ways, but do not be seen. The last thousand shall watch over the Goblins and assist them in the work. Lead them, work with them. Build our nation.”

Finally he turns to the Goblins. “And last of all the Goblins, you shall be tasked with expanding our home, our cave, our castle, the one and the same. Learn the ways of tunneling, learn the ways of shoring and building. You shall be our constructors and makers. Listen to the Orc's for they will guide you and teach you..” With that Cursed stares out over the sea. “Now is our time. Go to your tasks, and remember do not be seen!” With that he makes his way back into his cave of a castle, his small army rushing to there various tasks.

Deep in his cave Cursed sits down in font of a small bright white orb, starring into it. "Finally, they will suffer."

Spoiler

Show

If time permits the scouts that come back early shall begin to make hand drills for the Naga.
The dry dock should be built in such a way so that sea vessels cannot see it from afar.
Cursed's Island is only around 36 km² and the nearest landmass is Gotlant (itself an island of 3,140 square kilometers).

[Moechi_Vill]

Eldan - Strategic Report

Spoiler

Show

(King of) Thrace (Moderately Prosperous, Well Fortified, Moderately high populated, Population Loyalty: High (Low towards you, for an average of Medium)), Gross Annual Income (10000 resource points (the Crown siphones off 10k, you need another 5k to take care of needs and another 5k to pay for your mercenaries. Net Annual Income: 0)
Bosphoros Pass, GAI (6000 resource points and falling)

(Byzantine Army & Navy (Very Loyal))
500 Cataprachs, 500 Knights, 500 Horsemen
3000 Swordsmen
500 Halberdiers, 500 Pikemen, 2500 Spearmen
1000 Arbalests, 500 Crossbows, 500 Archers
30 Ships w/ Marines, 20 Ships w/ Sailors, 25 Transport Ships
Mercenaries
500 Mixed Professional Cavalry (loyal)
4,500 Mixed Professional Infantry (loyal)
10 Ships w/ Marines (loyal)
1000 Mixed Professional Cavalry (neutral)
4000 Mixed Professional Infantry (neutral)
5 Ships w/ Marines (neutral), 5 Transport Ships (neutral))

14725 Nagas
525 Gryffons
25 Orcs
100 Mermaid Healers
10 Combat Ships
10 Marine Companies on said ships

Regent of Byzantium to El Dan: Your methods are your own. You have received our intelligence and our orders and we expect you to accomplish them somehow. Furthermore we have received news of movements on our eastern front, the Emirates grow restless at our new ally. Send help forthwith.
God's grace be with you.

[Moechi_Vill]

WrathofLife:

Your fishing goes adequately well. Your immediate needs have been covered.
You've learnt the basic of the trade routes, but unfortunately you've been spotted a few times.
The dry dock is coming along quickly.
You have a stroke of luck and stumble upon an army of fey being fought off by a Swedish King paranoid of the new monsters. There's fey of every sort there (2500 Goblins, 1500 Orcs, 1000 Nagas) 500 Kerberos, 150 Centaurs, 200Trolls, 150 Minotaurs, 50 Ogres, 100 Gryphons and 50 Wyverns). They're being besieged though at the end of a peninsula, and they're blockaded by a sizeable navy of a hundred ships w/ marines, not only from the Swedish navy (about fifty of them), but also from the Norwegian and Danish ones as well as several German ones from the Empire.
The rest of the area is empty of fey. Apparently genocide is going on here.
Perhaps this was not a stroke of luck, but a curse? Should you intervene the consequences could be severe.
Your Gryffons discover only well defended towns with a minimum of activity across Sweden as the nation is at war.
The collection of wood and stone goes very well, the mining and metalsmithing in particular comes out perfectly.
The Goblins kinda botch their task a bit, but they are learning and your home is expanding.
(What powers does that orb have, if it does at all? It'll cost you rp pool points. :) The pool btw., is ten points.)
You have time to make drills, they come out substandard but sufficient for the work you're dealing with at the moment.
You couldn't find a good place large enough for the drydock, but there is one with partial camoflauge, but no cover. Perhaps if you wait for another season and modify the terrain artificially a bit. There are areas a camoflauged and well protected dock could be pulled off but it would need much more work.

[WrathOfLife]

Cursed


As his generals deliver there reports, Cursed's face gets more and more shocked. "One hundred warships?! Now this will be an issue indeed. On one hand attacking them will cause a mighty force to come down on me, on the other hand, I doubt there are many more warships out there..." Cursed stares at his Naga generals for a few moments. "Send a messenger to the Fey, no... Send 10 Orc messenger's. Tell them to give them this message:

Brethren it seems I find you in a time of need. I can help you, but in return I need your loyalty. I have a plan to defeat your enemies but it will require your help. If you wish to join me, you will find not only a place of rest and service, but a home among friends. Together let us end our suffering, and together let us start theirs. Send your reply with the orc's until they return hold the Shore's as best you can, do not be disheartened.


I want 4,000 Naga to begin training with the drills immediately. I want a team of 10 of them to be able to sink a warship by using the drills on the hull and have it sunk in under a minute. 4,000 Orc's should focus on mass producing and refining our new War Drills. And I need that dry dock done now, I don't care if its only partial camouflaged, we will need it soon. The ropes need to be made strong enough to haul sunken ships to it. Do this with all haste."

Cursed stares down at the cave floor, the distant sounds of picks from the goblins causing small peddles to bounce. "Its too soon, but we have to act."

Spoiler

Show

Taking naga off of patrols, scouting and 500 each from Ropes and dry dock to make up the 4k of Naga using war drills.
Taking orc's off of scouting and (minus 10 Messengers) joining them with there metalworking partners to help mine and mass produce war drills.

The drills themselves need to be made to quickly drill holes in the hull of ships, the idea being that submerged Naga, can drill holes in the bottom of the ships to cause them to sink.

The Gryffon's will also be issued orders to avoid the fleets, but clear the sky's around it, out of eye range. No messengers birds will be allowed to leave the fleet.

[Eldan]

El Dan

Hiring new troops:
The new King of Thrace sent out various orders all across Europe, gathering soldiers, spending money, raising an army. It would be needed soon.

Spoiler

Show

Spending those 6000 pts. I got:
400 Swiss Pikemen (I mean, I have to get those ) 2200 pts.
300 Composite Longbowmen 1200 pts.
100 Knights 1000 pts.
50 Cavalry Scouts 100 pts.
500 Light Infantry 500 pts.
10 Wizards 1000 pts.

These troops are to move towards Constantinople immediately.

The Naga:
Back in his throne room, El Dan gathered the Naga generals before him.
"Clan Redcrest: I have new orders for you. In these times, I will need specialized troops. Select 100 of your best. They are to be trained in all the arts of stealth, silent movement and combat all our scouts and fighters know. I have brought in specialists from constantinople. The warriors of your clan will become my assassins."
He then adressed the other generals:
"You two will continue with the fishing. I want enough food to provide resources for my growing army. Three clans and all the gryffons will continue guarding the seas. Bring in the taxes from any passing ships. Call in my warships if there is resistance. If you detect any warships, retreat, inform me and wait for orders.
Blackeye, Wavesinger, Cliffdiver and Drifter: you are to start moving against the Ghazi.
Cliffdiver and Wavesinger are to move past Cyprus, to the eastern ends of the Emirates. I know the Turcs are not united, so I want to keep the eastern Emirs busy in their own territories. Make sure to move swiftly, but unseen, I do not want them alarmed just yet.
Drifter and Blackeye: move directly to the western coast of the Emirates. Speak to the people living on the coast: promise them freedom from taxes if they are willing to join us. If you can encounter ships during the night, set them on fire. Harass small ports. Do not engage any Ghazi troops, I want to minimize losses, but take any opportunity to create unrest and chaos.


Comment:

Spoiler

Show

By the way, I'm perfectly okay with some traders trying to run their trade over land. I mean, the silk road is running through there, and if they think the slower and more dangerous land way is worth it, well, fine. 3% is acceptable as a price to pay for faster and safer transport.

[Moechi_Vill]

OOC: I'm changing the price for cavalry scouts after Eldan's purchase to 3-4 points (depending on training, split into Cavalry- Riders/Scouts).

Also, I'll use for spoilers for anyone who does for their own posts, though I've stopped doing it on my own initiative for a while, and I might forget or not have the energy to do so in return once in a while. I'll try though. :)

On resource points, this should be somewhat obvious, but for those who haven't played similar games before: You can spend them on forts and other such things as well, anything really, since this is semi-freeform.


Cursed

A day passes by and you've finished a few more war drills (they're still poor quality though, but they'll probably do the job) and had some time to train on them when 9 of your messengers make it back.
They report that the entrapped fey have lost all their kind and are willing to fight with you to the end and call you brother. Oh how they hope to make their enemies suffer! Even the fliers and nagas have stayed behind, not caring to fly or swim away (though their enemies as they report have magic to try and stop anyone from fleeing).
They request that your aid be swift as the enemy is preparing a final push and they've already suffered a few dozen casualties more to skirmishing.
(The fighting will start in hours most likely. You'll need some time evacuate them. You're not sure if you'll have to fight the enemy fleet or not and if you have the time to save all of them. So for your next post or so I'll need orders on how many people you send and your plans (you have an hour or two more to train if you want to I guess), if you do send anyone.)

Naga scouts report a squadron of five ships are scouting in the surrounding area. They seem to be German and do not carry the same markings as the other Imperial ships among the fleet, yet their operational methods seem defensive and borderline evasive, as if in enemy territory.


Eldan
Approved, now your net balance at the end of the year is 0. You still have 14,000 resource points.

Spoiler

Show

400 Swiss Pikemen (I mean, I have to get those ) 2200 pts. - Yeah, I love those guys too, don't tend to fail. -
300 Composite Longbowmen 1200 pts.
100 Knights 1000 pts.
50 Cavalry Scouts 100 pts.
500 Light Infantry 500 pts.
10 Wizards 1000 pts.

These troops are to move towards Constantinople immediately.

1) You have success in setting up a specialized force, but they will need long-term training to become truly lethal.
2) Your taxing and fishing and other operations go on without difficulties into the late fall season.
3) Your raiding goes well and while the Emirate is aware, it has yet to act. News is that an army of 10,000 has gathered to challenge the isolated strip of Imperial land east of Constantinople and the Emirate corridor. It is guarded by only 5,000 but the area has a few small ports and a number of fishing villages.
4) A few traders take their transport over the land, but only across a bit of Turkey or Thrace towards one of the ports on the side of the Black Sea. But as you mentioned even that does make it more difficult, so the trade lost isn't much and it quickly rebounded after people felt you wouldn't continue your attacks (it was below 6,000, now it's back to the max for normal full trade, but it is falling slowly, currently it might stabilize at 5,000) though it's falling steadily, just a little bit over time. You suspect your customers might be trying to do a bit of trade war against you.

[WrathOfLife]

Cursed

Cursed listens to the new reports carefully "5 German ships you say? Hmmm, we can't have them wondering around, but I don't want to lose to many forces trying to engage them." When the 9 Orc's return Cursed gets a new understanding of the speed required. "Our tactices shall be thus: The 4,000 Naga, armed with war drills, are to break into teams of 40. Each 40 will attack a different ship. You will surface a distance away from the fleet, confirm your target, dive deep, swim across, rise up under the ship, drill holes in the hull, dive deep, swim back out of the battlefield, locate a new target and repeat.

Our Brother Naga will be asked to wait until the majority of the ships are either sunk or in distress before entering the fray. They shall work in teams of 4 grabbing sailors who are drowning or floating on drift wood and bringing them back to our brother ground forces. Any such men who are armed or who struggle should be pulled deep underwater by the team and drowned. This shall continue until the only sailors left are the dead, and then they too shall be taken back to shore.

Our Brother flyers will be given the task of chasing down escaping ships, using some what simple tactics. Rise high above the battlefield, locate a ship fleeing then dive down, hit the sails, rise up again, check the level of damage and if needed dive down again to remove there ability to travel by the winds. If the Naga are having trouble with a few ships, they can fly down and grab sailors from the ships and drop them in the water, before rising above the battlefield. Never get caught down at bow level for long.

Our Brother ground forces shall collect the prisoners and the dead, brought in by the Naga. They shall also deal with any ship that tries to beach itself to escape the Naga, Using the trolls and Ogres to push it back out to sea.

Have our 9 Orc's go back with that message. As for the German patrols, take the Naga off working on the Dry Dock, arm them all with War Drills and rope, have them break up into teams of 200 and ambush the ships from below. Attack using the same method as the four thousand, never surface near the ships and keep attacking till they sink. Once sunk, capture as many of them alive as possible, tie them up, and have 50 of our Gryffon's running flights of tied up prisoners back to our castle. Drag the sunken ships to the Dry dock and beach them near it till the dock can be finished.

Do these things brothers and we will see victory!" Dispite his words Cursed slumped back into his chair, it was simply too soon.

Spoiler

Show

The attack will begin at night, to help the Naga and flyers avoid detection, if possible using the lamps on the ships to locate them, failing that as soon as possible.

The German ships will be sunk with all haste.

[Moechi_Vill]

Battle for Gottland, SE Peninsula Late Fall, Dusk, Fair Weather

The German Ships: You destroy the five ships, taking a fifth of their sailors (100) and one tenth of their marines prisoner (100). You take 25 Gryffon and 100 Naga casualties. You discover another fifteen ships further off.

The Allied Peninsular Fleet: You sink thirty ships, but lose as many Nagas as you save (1000 each) and most of the Gryphons and Wyverns (you save 25 Gryphons and 15 Wyverns). Roughly one third of the sailors and one fourth of the marines aboard survive and crawl on shore where half of them are finished off by the army of fey.

The army on land (I'm not sure if I managed to communicate properly that they were besieged on land as well, it being a peninsula, but they took some bad rolls and I tend to roll on with misunderstandings, blaming fog of war)takes heavy casualties (roughly 25% out of their 15k+ troops) but manage to exterminate the survivors. The remaining ships kill most of the troops that try to swim away, but your Nagas manage to save those who get out of the encirlement while the fleet is busy engaging you... You rescue 250 Goblins, 150 Orcs, 100 Kerberos, 10 Centaurs, 30 Trolls, 1 Minotaur and 5 Ogres)

Total Casualties: 5 German ships, (100 sailors and 100 marines captured in action, rest of crew killed), (35 allied ships 1/6 of sailors survived, 1/12.5 of marines survived, Allied Land Army (roughly 17,500) took 4,250 casualties.
Cursed Casualties: -100 Nagas, +250 Goblins, 150 Orcs, 100 Kerberos, 10 Centaurs, 30 Trolls, 1 Minotaur, 5 Ogres and the 15 Wyverns that fled after the fight with the feet and joined you.
The rest of the Fey Army is extinquished.