"Well we would not want to disappoint the gods, would we?" replied Salen, grinning as he took out his own sword from it's scabbard. It was an old elven blade with a thin basket handle designed as a cluster of small leaves, and looked more than a little sharp.

"But you have it right, Bulwyf. Let us not tarry, not to kill or for any other purpose - we have Swift within our number, let our actions live up to her name!"

Ovo looked at his companions and gave a long drawn out sigh. The kind one has when one finally makes a very hard decision that he wishes he did not have to make.

"Very well! Friend Salen, give me best to yer sister and me Queen. For she shall ever be that. I wish ye the best my friend. Save ah few o' them goblins for me."

He turned to Swift "Ye have proved yer metal many times over. I think if anyone kin bring these folk to the forest ye can. Good Luck ta ye. I'll do wot I may ta make yer job easier."

Finally he turned to Bulwyf "I nay had the pleasure o' meeting ye but I wish ya well. I ask only one boon o' ye. Do all ye may ta keep these two n' the rest safe as ye kin. Mayhaps we'll be see'n each other sometime later."

Then he turned to the old warrior with a grim smile.

"Me folk have ah say'n He who fears death invites it to visit. We'll soon find out if it be true o' nay that brave men and dwarf's can dodge death's grip. I'll go above... yer men be gud but I be ah bit better."

Kilren pauses before approaching the gate, waiting to see if his weapon is effective, hope plain on his face. As the pots smash, causing not even a pause in the enemy assault, his face returns to its usual sternness, all weakness gone from it. He approaches the newcomers, his longbow ready in his hands. He doesn't introduce himself, and nor does he question the presence of the newomers. Instead he focuses on the matter at hand. "Let us kill some orcs."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Tue 25 Sept 2012.

Speaking to the dwarf, Ovo, "They will live to see the forest. On my word sir." conviction in his voice, and a nod. Bulwyf gives one more nod for Kilren, noticing as he had, that the orcs hadn't even slowed yet. "We will wade through there blood friend. Let's go then!" When everyone is ready, Bulwyf will be as close to the front as he's able to be, no sense letting someone who might not be able to handle the coming punishment face it first.

Kilren moves to stand beside the first human to call him friend in many years, his bow in one hand, an arrow in the other, ready to rain death upon any who get too close. Despite the fact that neither has said much over the past few days, he feels a growing bond to the other scout.

Swarms of goblin skirmishers, lightly equipped, run ahead of the great rolling siege towers.

Some of what the Gray Legion lacks in youth and energy they make up for in experience.  They know exactly what the enemy is up to.

"They see the open gate," the Gray Legion warrior in the gateway says.  "They know we did this on purpose.  They're expecting a sally towards the siege engines, so they're throwing their fastest runners in the way of it.  And if they can, they'll seize the gate if they can."

"Close the gate?"  another man asks.

"Can't.  Too many people gotta get out.  It's going to be a bloody mess if the magic fails.  I can't see if it's doing anything.  We're hitting them... but I can't see what's happening."

But then, the siege tower on the far right, crossing through the fields of winter oats, suddenly stops.  The other four keep moving, and then the one second to the right stops.  Both are just out of arrow range.

There is a shout from the battlement above:  "No more at those two that have stopped!  Switch to the ones still coming!"

If anything, the siege tower on the road itself picks up the pace.  The Goblins charge forward.  On the far flanks, great mobs of Orc troops can be seen, but as of yet they are not getting near the siege towers.  Weapons like that draw attacks, and they know better.

* * * * *

This map isn't in the usual scale- note one box is 20 feet.  That was necessary to get the right size for this.
At the moment the party is all together in the gateway.  The people fleeing the city are right behind them, to the left of the map.


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:35, Wed 26 Sept 2012.

Kilren looks about the assembled group, checking for readiness. Then, without further hesitation, he charges out of the walls. Aiming for a cluster of goblins, he fires a flame burst arrow, before calling over his shoulder. "Let's hold them back, to let some refugees out!"

Swift looks at the approching goblins and wishes she had an army behind her, actually more like in front of her. Oh well, she figured these fights had a clue but she sure wasn't going to lead the charge, she was not bright but she was not that stupid. She stands to the side of the gate.

Bulwyf follow Kilren, swords flashing in the air as he closed the distance to the goblins.

The situation looked hopeless, and Salen found himself wishing his hippogriff Veltar was here, so that he might fly out of harm's way. Then again, that had every chance of turning him and steed into pin cushions, so down here was just as bad a place to be.

He watched the newcomer (Kilren) and Bulwyf charge into the fray, heedless to their own safety, and knew what he had to do. Salen turned to Swift and smiled, then looked back to the goblins and drew his sword, then charged with the others.

Ovo moved up the towers leading to the catapults. Over his shoulder he called to the old warriors!

"Do ye have any casks o' oil. Mayhaps we kin put a wall o' fire between those that need the forest n' the Huns. Until then we shall try to bring down some o' those siege towers as well!"

Swift sighs as looks up as if asking the gods to watch over them and looks at the man charging forward. She runs after them, trying to hide behind them.

Up on the battlement, Ovo finds the artillerists.  In fact, a good portion of the city’s defense is right here.  The “Grey Legion” volunteers number about a hundred fifty.  If they were spread over the entire length of wall they’d be too thinly spread to be of any use.   They are instead concentrated in a few strong points, with the rest left to illusions.  From up on the wall, Ovo can see that the battle stretches north and south paralleling the city walls- and there is simply nothing left to stop the massive Hun armies out there.

Right here, though, in this one place, they can do something.

”We can’t reach more than 900 feet,” the artillery captain tells Ovo.  “That’s it.  They’ve got a few miles before they start reaching woods.  The best we can do is keep the Huns attention on us, and cause them as much trouble as we can.  And we’ve got some trouble left we can dish out.”

Approaching the gate are the massive siege towers.  But one by one, they’ve been stopping.  Now the last two come to a halt.  At this range, normally Ovo would expect that archers on the top of the siege tower would be pelting the battlements with arrows… but that’s not happening.  There are only a few shots being taken.  It leaves the artillerists free.

”Last of the Elven stones!” one calls out.

“Switch to oil!” the artillery captain replies.

Alara draws her crystal sword, and goes forward with the others.  Reithar Riverlight’s two other Elven warriors join as well- Reithar himself has not yet returned with Ayren.  They are amazed to see that more Elves have come to help them- Salen, certainly, and Alara… well she looks somewhat Elf…

Behind them, there is a crowd of people.  Ahead… the enemy must be puzzled this pitifully small counterattack.  A direct counterattack against their siege towers was expected… but by a large cavalry troop, maybe.  A mere handful of warriors.. what do they hope to accomplish.

Kilren’s fire arrow burns a few goblins and scatters more.  The Goblins look back and up at the siege towers, probably wondering… why aren’t you raining arrows down on these morons?  Why did you stop?  What are you waiting for?

* * * * * * * * *

Because of the nature of this battle, in which the characters are in a very small front of a battle area that stretches over miles, I have put up 2 different maps.  The 10’ to the box scale map shows the location of the characters.  The 20’ per box map gives a broader view of the area.

Swift is not on the map because I wasn’t sure where she was going.  I’m thinking she is probably behind the front line, looking for some good opportunity.

Assume the 10’ map rules in the event of any discrepancies, the 20’ map is there to give you a broader view!
 


The 20' view:
 

Ovo nodded to the captain and smiled a grim smile.

"Tis good Captain yet we could do ah bit more. The two catapults on the outside switch ta oil like ya said. Ye kin then give them below ah pathway o' sorts. Fire ta either side should keep the orcs from closing in. While the two on the inside use stone! We'll clear their path ah head. Starting wi' those two siege towers. Them gone the goblins may lose heart. Archers on the walls kin send ah few arrows into them as well."

The last was said as Ovo readied his own crossbow. He then shouted to his friends!

"Stay tight as ye may! Run as fast as ye kin!"

Ovo lined his sight at one of the closest goblins and fired!

OOC: 21:42, Today: Ovo Goledshield rolled 27 using 1d20+7. Ovo's Crossbow Attack.

Swift stays behind the front line, hoping to find a way to slip around and strike at enemies as she helps the front line. She will wait to see if she can slip into the tower and cuase some havoc.

Bulwyf will, once close enough, begin fighting as if he were the only person standing against this orcish army. The fury he feels for the loss of life the huns have brought, the anger for the slavery he's seen, what Zerova had put him through, his will to see Cassandra again, all these emotions led him on into battle. His swords would spill much blood this day.

Salen charged in with the others, sword swinging, but all the time he was looking to see if a gap had opened up, enough to let the last residents of Bruxzella out and toward the freedom of the forest. He intended to take his fight that way, not senselessly throw his life away against impossible odds - a diversion was all well and good, but the making of the path was the clear objective here, in his eyes.

The Goblins are not dangerous opponents... not with the fighting skills of Bulwyf, Alara, and Salen in the front line.  Kilren and Ovo provide deadly missile weapon support, and Swift, finding that Bulwyf's massive frame makes excellent cover in an otherwise sparse battlefield, attacks any that "leak" through.

Moments after the two forces collide, half the Goblins are lying fallen on the field before the gate of Bruxzella, and the party presses on towards the great, strangely inert siege towers.

There are about ten goblins remaining, and they are scattering in a wide arc, unwilling to face the deadly cluster of blades.

The catapults begin to launch fire bombs, aimed at the fields on either side of the siege towers.

Behind the party, people are pouring out of the gate.  Most are unarmed.

But now there is a new threat.  Obviously aware that something has stopped their siege towers, the commanders of the Hun force have sent fast reinforcements to investigate.  Worg Riders.  The party sees a pair of the giant wolves running down the road towards them, and more in the distance.

From his perch up on the wall, Ovo can see that off to the flanks, around the perimeter of the city, the Orcs sense that the defenses onthe wall are weak.  They press forward.  Ovo knows they have scaling equipment.  There is nothing that can stop them from breaching the wall in their hundreds, and when the do, the defense at the gatehouse becomes irrelevant.

 

Ovo had a tough decision to make. If he turned the catapults upon the orcs, then the folk fleeing the city would be left vulnerable. If he continued to support the refugees and his friends, then the city would be lost and quickly. To split his siege engines to cover both might mean the failure of both. The dwarf quickly remembered his words to the old human warrior.

"We keep up our current field o' fire. The catapults will put flame ta either side o' the fleeing folk. If the orcs come ta the city let's let them. They will be leave'n the refugees alone. Archers! Send ah volley into those wolf riders. We'll soften them up ah bit for our laddie's swords!"

OOC: 21:35, Today: Ovo Goledshield rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Ovo's Crossbow Attack, at Worg.

OOC pretty sweet map boss, it does help a lot :) wish I had chosen calm animal as a spell lol

Bulwyf, satisfied with the attack thus far, notes the worgs, "Kilren, hit the Worgs, worry not about the riders!" his voice full of conviction, he held his poise, knowing how many people behind him were relying on them, on him. He felt responsible for these people, and that gave him something to fight for, that sense of duty made him more dangerous. Bulwyf had never let anyone down, and today would not be the first day it happened. Bulwyf will look to start towards the woods now that the goblins are avoiding them, trying to steer the group that way.

Steeling himself for the charge of the worg riders Salen settled his eyes coldly upon them, preparing to meet them with keen elven steel. The goblins were no match, as expected, but this would be tougher. Still, they were buying the fleeing citizens precious seconds, and perhaps more.

Stepping into sight of the charging warg riders, Kilren draws a white phosphorous arrow. "I see them." Releasing the arrow in an arc, aimed in the path of the lead rider, he hopes to slow their charge with burning smoke, and give his allies time to prepare to receive them.

Swift stays behind the fighters and waits till the riders get to her. She hates being out in the open "Should we try to get to one of the towers and set it on fire?"

Pots of flaming oil from the catapults begin to burn in lines to either side of the road, as the catapult crews, still thanking the gods that the return fire from Orcish archers is next to nothing, follow Ovo's recommendations.  And Kilren uses an arrow which creates a ball of dense white smoke.

The civilians from the city press ahead, seeing that the effect is to create a pathway in which they are hidden from view.

Alara and Bulwyf intercept one Worg rider, Salen moves to other but he finds his target obscured in the smoke.

Keeping herself in “reserve” position behind Bulwyf and Alara, Swift takes a good look at the inert siege towers and thinks about fire.

Siege towers like this are not built to withstand attacks by fire indefinitely.  But for a while, they can survive.  The intent is to keep them up long enough to get the walls and breech them.  Some engineers have even used metal cladding, but these have a much simpler and cheaper means of protection:  thick wet hides blanketing the walls of the siege towers, tied on.  While they are on the siege towers, it would take a long time for fire to cause damage.  The wood of the siege towers is thick.

At the base of the siege tower, behind the wooden shell, Swift sees… feet?  Mostly Human feet!  A few Orcish.  But they all seem to be standing or sitting around, doing nothing.
There are sounds from within the siege tower- angry Orcish shouts.  Swift speaks their language.  She hears things like “Wuddafugiz wrong youse?  They’s around us outside now! Move, you lazy slugs!”

A few Orcs have begun baling out of the immobile towers.

The "front" of the battle is now in an around the lead towers.  The battlefield was more or less a blank... now it has "terrain".

Ovo comes to the shocking conclusion that if the battle gets any bigger he could be excluded from the tactical map!

 

In reply to Ben (msg # 38):

Ovo nodded in satisfaction. So far the plan was working. He shouts a slight change in orders now.

"Ye two inside catapults stay on yer line o' fire n' keep the fire go'n on either side o' path of the refugees. Ye two outside, give them orcs on the flanks some such ta think about! Archers? Ye can nay fire forward. Ye'll risk hit'n our friends as well as foes. Hold yer fire till those orcs com into range. Then fire at will. Someone be ready to shut the gates once all the refugees be out!"

Ovo sees a likely orc target(the one to the right hand side and ahead of Salen) to the side of the smoke. Its only an orc n' not much of a threat yet its one less sword stroke his friends will have to make.

OOC: 01:00, Today: Ovo Goledshield rolled 18 using 1d20+7. Ovo's Crossbow Attack, at orc.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Fri 05 Oct 2012.