Magnus did not harbor any dislike for the Wazifi, or at least he had not before several had tried to kill him and his friends. Now, unexpectedly face to face with them, clad in only the rough spun tunic he had taken to wearing around the fort, he felt exposed, and he felt wary.

The reason was soon clear enough. Yes they had killed Wazifi, they had even killed Wazifi prisoners, albeit accidentally. They had also looted the ruin of everything worth taking, in fact the axes used to cut kindling for the cook fire could have been pried from cold Wazifi hands.

But, what Magnus could not figure out, is why they were drawing attention to the fact that a Wazifi mage had been dead set on starting a war with Megalos, and unearthing God knew what in order to gain an edge in it. He would have thought that they would have tried their best to not bring any more attention to an already incriminating situation.

Magnus was not about to part with anything they had fairly taken, especially if they were so keen to fight already. It would be bad enough to pay off the enemy, it would be even worse to surrender a weapon that could very well be brought to bear against some of the garrison here in the Fort. He was fairly sure the Captain cum Major would see it the same way.

He met the mans stare with his own, those large black eyes not betraying much sympathy for their plight. However he was not about to pick a fight either. It was as if he was looking through the messenger, or at least, that's how he had intended it.

"Ah."  Maimun responds, letting the silence build for a moment as a thin smile builds on his face.  "But captain, I have just given you knowledge of the expedition.  All that is needed now is your assurance that you shall find the perpetrators and return their spoils to the rightful owners.  This much is the minimum acceptable response."

Brashear's eyes narrow slightly as he sets his jaw forward.  "I am afraid I cannot make any assurances until I have all the facts.  Certainly the Sheikh will be able to see this.  Patience is a virtue, one to which truth and justice are bound.  Without patience, rash decisions and chaos reign.  Your wise sheikh will know this."

Maimun sighs emphatically, half turning before he ends the conversation with a few words.  "Your answer is disappointing.  I shall inform the Great Sheikh Hamid Jinar of your response and I shall caution him against violence... though I cannot imagine he will take well to the condoning of self serving vigilantes...  I shall take my sword."  Maimun turns towards Giles, his hand held out, waiting for his weapon.

"First Sergeant Spratt will see you out."  Brashear nods towards Spratt, who moves quickly and efficiently to just behind the messenger. "He will return your weapon as you leave our gates, lest you would have us think that you plan to do violence in the meantime.  Giles, you stay, I need a word."

Maimun turns to face Brashear one last time, his paper thin smile gleaming in an expression of victory, before he is ushered out the door by Spratt.

"Giles, close the door."

Brashear's voice is instantly cold and precise, his eyes already straying to a chart on the walls that displays the local topography.

"Shit!"  Brashear slams his fist on the desk as soon as the door is closed, rattling the two glasses and sloshing the bottle of rye...  "I knew something like this was going to happen.  Giles!  Who is on watch with you now?"  But before Giles can answer it seems, Brashear is already thinking a step ahead of him.  "Stice!  He's fast as hell on a horse, and he'll barely put the thing under strain as short as he is."

"Ok Giles, here's what you need to do.  Swing by the mess, grab four solid men and double the guard at the gate and have them grab longbows and a full quiver.  Keep your eyes peeled for Wazifi forces... send word the moment you see any of them and for god's sake put the gate up.  Send Stice to the stables to grab the fastest horse that hasn't been worked today... I'll have a message for him to take to headquarters at Craine by the time he's saddled up and ready to go."

Brashear's eyes flit this way and that, his mind racing behind them, trying to come to terms with the situation.

"Magnus, you'll have to get out of here now if you want a shot to get out...  You'd probably better tell Rudyard the same, he's got about 30 minutes to get out of the gate otherwise I'm not letting him out...  It's likely already not safe out there..."

"Fuck!"  Brashear barks the explative in the middle of his own thought, his eyes racing to Giles.  "Are Kalid and the others back yet?"  Brashear shoves his jaw forward, his fist clenched.  "We can't send out a group to find them... not now.  We're blind until we know what the hell these Baiji assholes are up to and I don't trust for even a second that they are going to let our patrol come back without harassment."

Brashear shakes his his head as his running thoughts seem to end, his eyes going back and forth between Magnus and Giles.  "What am I missing?"

Giles nodded at the instructions, making note to collect the four best archers in the fort, and then couple them with some less talented ones, so that at any given point on guard duty will be sniper-level archers.

"Under normal circumstances, sir, I would suggest that no actions would be immediately following the Wazifi's departure - until at least the Sheikh has had his response. In this case though, I wouldn't trust them to have not already instigated some action. However, it seems the only purpose for the messenger would be to asses our internal forces and the security of the fort. If mobilised action was to be taken, I suspect it might be directly harrying us here - though I'd hazard to bet that they wouldn't breach it without a sizeable force.

It might be worth mentioning to Craine that we could require relief in short order. In the mean time, we should be able to find some rangers to scout for incoming forces. Quick horses should avoid any direct losses.
he said at length, and then paused a moment to consider.

He added then "But I will have this place safe and secure within the half hour. I'll also have our quartermaster check what stocks we have in, should my cynicism prove truth.

I'll go find Stice in the meantime... he said, nodding to the occupants of the room before exiting.

He headed straight for the mess hall where people were presumably still eating and entered in a hurry.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:10, Tue 24 Mar 2020.

Magnus felt like he had been caught up in a whirlwind at the departure of the messenger. The garrison, normally relaxed and jovial when not engaged in drill, seem to instinctively pick up tempo, like an ant hive that had been kicked.

While Magnus had carried arms for all of his adult life, he was no soldier, and he found the whole thing damned impressive.



"I'll stay." he told the Captain in a tone that was far calmer than he felt. Even now a little voice in the back of his head was telling him he was an idiot. He was no soldier, he was not even being paid, and given the Captains behavior they were obviously going into something ugly.

But that was what made him say it, he was not going to tuck tail and run while these guys fought for their lives. He had been part of the group that had riled up the Wazifi after all, it was in a way partially his fault. Besides, these were as near to his "people" as he had ever known. Megalan's, Christians, and men that had laughed and sweat alongside him.

No, he was going to stay and fight. And besides, he was not all that fast anyway.

He inhaled deeply and held it for half a second. "I'm gonna go get ready...I'll see you out there." And with that he turned to go before their engagement back in the ruins flashed through his mind. He stopped, leaned back in the door frame and said firmly. "Uh, Water maybe? Buckets...They tried to burn us out last time" And then he was gone, nearly colliding with a another soldier in his haste to go warn Rudyard.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

Brashear nods at Giles's remarks, actually laughing when he mentions telling Craine that they will need relief in short order.  "I've been telling them for months."  The captain replies, shaking his head.

Still, it seems that Brashear is much along the same lines as Giles and without much need to expound on his ideas, Giles runs downstairs to take care of the business he has been asked.

Magnus is not much in trail, pausing only to advise Brashear of the tactics the al-Hassan Wasifis had used when they had been holed up in the close confines of Perdition just outside the small shrine the Wazifis had been hiding in.  "Good to know."  The Captain nods and Magnus does not waste another moment, looking to alert Rudyard of the danger.

Though the real details of the encounter with Maimun was held between the Captain, Giles, Magnus, and Spratt, it seemed to only take a few minutes for the whole of the fort to recognize and spread the word like wildfire that something was going on.  Giles went straight to the mess, pulling the first two bodies he saw that were leaving, demanding they grab a bow, then ran to the ramparts where he advised Stice to get a horse ready as fast as he was humanly capable of.

It seemed to make little difference.

It was not even ten minutes - not even enough time to run to the stables, fully saddle a horse and be ready to ride off, Stice was not back yet, though Brashear had made his way out into the courtyard, a handwritten note clutched in his fist.   There was no doubt that Rudyard had not even a chance to put the yolk on his lead mule...  Giles stood on the ramparts with his three soldiers, his eyes peeled into the distance beyond.  Somehow the courtyard had begun to fill with soldiers making their way out of the chow hall.

Giles was the first one to notice the riders again, this time much farther out... somewhere near the limits of bowshot.  "You have been deemed liars and infidels!"  The familiar voice of Maimun sounds off in the distance, his voice clear despite the low hanging clouds overhead and the intermittent thunder.  <small>"So you shall die in obscurity, or if you wish to seek the path of truth and righteousness you will give us those spoils which you have stolen from our kin!  This is your choice!  Lay down your pride and call for peace or starve like the dogs you are!"

---

The siege had lasted for two weeks so far with little hope of breaking.  Though Stice had not been able to break the walls of the fort before the encirclement was in place, Giles had not seen him since since that first day and had strong suspicions that the soldier had absconded under the cover of darkness under Brashear's orders, heading northward to Craine with the fort's plea for aide.

More concerningly, Kalid and the other three men of the patrol had not returned that evening... nor had they heard any word of capture from the Wazifis.  The second day most had still held out hope for their safe return, though when it had come and lapsed rumors seemed to dominate that Kalid and his men had been captured by the Wazifis, or else killed in an engagement.

Now, Brashear had called in those leaders who were left, himself, Spratt, Giles, Lieutenant Hetrick, Lieutenant Broskow, and he had offered a hand to Magnus to attend, the last of which had accepted, wanting of any way to help the fort, not to mention help himself to be removed from the inconvenient situation.

Now the six sit, sweating in the midday heat of the oppressive summer, pouring over a chart that is pressed against Brashear's desk displaying the local geography.

"...If Headquarters had wanted us to receive relief on station, they would have been able to manage it by now."  Brashear continues, his shoulders back, though his face tilted down towards the map in front of him in serious concentration.  "Which means it is up to us to create the means of our own liberation.  It isn't likely that the Wazifi's know when our last replenishment was, though they have been standing at our doors for a fortnight, and they must know that we will either make a move in desperation soon, or else resign ourselves to give in to their demands when we run out of strength.  In short, the longer we wait, the more anxious they will be to expect either our fervent action, or fervent surrender."

He looks to each of the five surrounding him and continues.  "Those who have ever held a conversation with me will know that surrender is not an option... we simply cannot condone threat of violence or give in to blackmail.  However, frontal assault is just as bad of an option... for surely they will exploit it politically in order to stoke the fires of war that already churn along this border.  Instead, we must find an option to disperse them quickly and while minimizing bloodshed.  In addition, the possibility that we have comrades held prisoner within their camps may put a shadow over our options.  Ideally, we will find a way to rescue our compatriots while routing the enemy..."

"Based on the campfires, and what little scouting we have afforded ourselves during the hours of darkness, our enemy has company level units located here."  Brashear jabs his finger at the map in three locations just between the fort and the river.  "Here and here.  It seems their primary objective is to keep us from accessing the river as well as the road that travels eastward toward Bannock, cutting us off from any supplies that might reach us.  Our objective must be to induce panic, and cause the ranks to break without committing to an emplaced battle... and to rescue our fellows if we have the resources.  I have my ideas but I want to hear from you all how to best employ our small force here without overreaching our capabilities."

OOC:  I'll get you guys a map of some sort with enemy and troop concentrations once I have the time and effort to draw it out.  For now, the Fort is opposed by three units on the southeast, south, and southwest sides of the fort (the only gate is on the south side, and the road travels eastward from that gate).  They are far enough away that shooting them from inside the fort isn't reasonable.  I know you guys aren't steeped in military strategy and history, I'm just looking to see what ideas you can come up with and see if any of them are worth running with.

If you have the skill, you may roll straight up vs. Strategy.

Magnus had felt like more of a burden than an asset over the past few weeks, as his bulk seemed to represent a draw on the forts dwindling resources. At the least however, he had not chosen to run, lest he had suffered the same fate that had befallen the patrol.

No, he remained, amid the flagging morale and the grumbling of the rank and file. The constant stress of knowing that the enemy was so close at hand, and that an attack could come at any time had worn them all down, and it seemed that every cough or sneeze was treated as a prelude to some contagion sweeping though the garrison.

But it was a double edged sword. If the men had not been keen on bloodshed before, they certainly were now. The "low" and "cowardly" feint by the negotiators had done little to endear them towards their Wazifi enemies, with Magnus sharing their sentiments.

But concerning strategy? He was out of his depth there, and he knew it. But when it came to "inducing panic" , that he could do. Humans had been fighting each other from time immemorial, but Magnus wagered that few had ever stood toe to toe with an inhuman foe. If the quality of the Wazifi conscripts held true to rumor, a rush into their ranks and with the power of his new weapon brought to bear, it might contribute greatly to forcing a route.

Or so he thought.

He was silent for the moment, letting the more intelligent among them and the seasoned veterans to have their say first.

The news hit like a hammer and Giles felt his feeling for the Wazifi dwindle each passing day. He'd spent most of his time on duty organising the forces, and ensuring as best as possible that the fort ran smoothly, He'd thought it prudent to reduce the food quota of the men as a measure to extend their supplies, offering stories of relief from Craine as means to smooth over any grumblings about it - but was certainly keeping a close eye on morale.  It seemed that the wishful optimism was diminishing with each passing day that Craine had not sent relief forces.

"Don't worry, this is just temporary until Craine sends relief, which should be in short order now..." was his go to statement.

---

During the two weeks Giles checked in with Magnus, one of their guests-cum-impromptu defender and ensured that he was fed by the kitchens, had somewhere to sleep regularly and in general wasn't cast aside by the buzzing of the fort.

"Interesting that you opted to stay... I mean no offence when I suggest that maybe a wiser fellow would have taken his cut and gone, but it does say a lot about the kind of ma... person you are. Either way, we're glad to have an extra set of hands to help with these Wazifi.

If there is anything you believe you can contribute out around here, then please do let me know, we're keen to have all hands put towards our liberation as the captain put it."

He strolled with the minotaur, leading him on a tour of the fort, just to ensure that any soldiers holding resentment to the 'foriegner' would be seen to be in contest of Giles, and the officers' support.

"Not quite sure what we can do about this lot..." he said honestly.

---

In the meeting Giles spoke up, putting words to his own meandering thoughts. "I think there are really only two options. And only one of them is panic. The first is to make them fearful to fight us at all, though should we just be mere mortals, such a thing is difficult. So convincing them of our non-mortality, or even higher numbers could help here.

The panic, well fire is the easiest way to cause panic in an army, but without it moving wildly out of control - and magic is the only way I've seen such things happen - a panic would need to be followed with a strong and fast assault before they could re-align themselves against it. A few moments of panic could give us enough for a direct assault, even if the idea is distasteful.

I would venture that a final option could be to encourage a hasty attack and let them spend their men attacking us. Enrage them enough to lose some reason and attack. We can at least thin their numbers, elevate our own morale and reduce theirs... They really do love their God and prophet... he would have added a touch of something to his voice to colour it if he wasn't so tired and hungry.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:54, Wed 25 Mar 2020.

Magnus nodded as he followed along. He and Giles had been thinking along the same lines, at least as far as thinning out their numbers.

"I know I wouldn't want to attack this place." he chimed in. "But they're probably itchin for some action, anything, if it means they get to go home faster."

He took a deep breath with his hands on his broad weapons belt. "If we could just get them to attack, their numbers wouldn't count for nearly as much, funnel them towards that gate and just hammer the hell out of'em from above, arrows, rocks, hot sand. The'd be jammed in at that point, be real hard to turn that many men around..." he mused aloud.

"But how to get them to attack...". Giles idea about their prophet was inspired. Even if just the fanatics lost their heads and charged, the others might feel compelled to follow suit. "Anybody ever actually read that book of theirs? Any experts on Islam around here?"

Brashear nods at the suggestions of Giles and Magnus, smiling forlornly at the suggestion of 'forcing them to attack'.  "Yes, it would be quite convenient if we could incite them to attack us, to come close enough to our walls that we could rip through their numbers with arrows to thin them through before they threw themselves against our gates.  But I think that our foes are more savvy than you give them credit for.  They have played their hand quite politically, without anything but the threat of violence.  I doubt even enraging them will tempt them to assault the fortress, and how you suggest to enrage them without getting yourself killed is a whole other matter."

"As for numbers, our hand is cast drawn.  We have what we have, and we shall use everything we can spare.  I doubt very much we shall have any sort of advantage as far as numbers are concerned, even if we should lower the gates and send for everyone to strike at their position."

"Then why not just wait for reinforcements from Craine!"  Broskow grunts, his arms crossed across his chest which is turned to the side, away from the table with the map, his jaw jutted forward in consternation.

"Because we have no proof they are coming."  Brashear repeats with none of the patience he had for Giles.  "If you have some knowledge that none of the rest of us have, please share Einion, otherwise, let us content ourselves with what we know.  Holding out for hope of reinforcement is as likely as not to deplete our stores and our chances before we ever see a single soldier from Craine."

The words settle distastefully in the room, with Broskow turning his head and Brashear taking a moment to shake the ill feeling.

"No, I think our foe has planned this entire campaign to be bloodless.  I think they count on us to sit within our defenses, waiting for an attack that will never come while we slowly starve.  That, I think, is what gives us some small edge.  Some chance at a surprise engagement if we play our cards to the best of our ability."

"Here is what I was pondering.  Their removed positions gives us some flexibility to sneak troops out especially under the cover of darkness.  We could sneak out some forty men... likely archers, or at least a large contingent of archers with a handful of other types.  They would reposition themselves here."  Brashear again points at the map, just east of the three depicted enemy units.  "to engage the enemy at first light... Mass chaos, mostly volleys of arrows to set fire to their tents and equipment, and to render any of their soldiers incapable that we can.  The rub will be that we must disengage the force before the Wazifis can mount a successful counter... we cannot spare forty men to the cause even if they are successful at slaying a hundred.  Ideally in the midst of the confusion, we will be able to slip away, back to the front gate before the enemy can know what is going on."

Brashear sighs forcefully, shaking his head.  "Will this cause the enemy to flee?  If they are not disciplined soldiers I think it will, or at least it will cause enough of them to flee to drastically change the fight.  Perhaps though, it will just escalate our fight, which can only help us since we are severely limited in time.  But I see few other options than picking apart our enemy apart...  Of course, that leaves us with the possibility that if they have captured Kalid's patrol and if everything goes as we hope, they may still exact their revenge by way of our friends...  I would like to get them out...  Though I know of no good ways apart from accepting horrid levels of risk..."

Magnus nodded along with the Captains assessment. A quick dawn raid might have a chance to work, especially if they are able to burn up some tents and supplies along with any wounded or killed that they might manage.

But Magnus was no archer, and he was not the type to go sneaking around looking for captured Legionaries. While the term would have been alien to him, the concept of "Heavy Infantry" was easy enough to imagine. His skills, equipment and experience lay in front line combat, toe to toe, and the thought alone of having to sprint back to the Fort in full kit made him tired.

But he was not about to sit here and starve either.

"If we can figure out where they are first, might have a chance to snatch them in the chaos. Doubt they would leave behind more than a few to watch 'em if they really thought they were under attack. Probably not their best either..." Magnus chimed in when the time felt right.

"Pack in some weapons for them maybe, then make a run for the gates. Hope and pray they didn't bring many horsemen." He chuckled grimly.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:12, Wed 25 Mar 2020.

Giles considered, ignoring the mood of Brashear It might work, an assault from the rear, from mostly archers, and then a liberation of our men from a few people that come from the castle, should the opportunity permit.

If the whole attack was just a focused set of volleys of arrow, rather than a full attack, we'd be able to disengage well enough without becoming engantled. Having a show of infantry too would cause them to rally, leaving the prisoners more exposed, perhaps. A dozen or half of horsemen could be able to run through and pick them up, though. If, as Magnus says they have cavalry, then extracting our friends on horse may be a good method.


Perhaps the idea could be extended, rather than a single assault, perhaps we add in our most capable ourdoorsmen and rangers and when the unit breaks, they can stay out, and harry the enemy, focusing on the unit most decimated and just harry their troops. Even with five men capable of living outdoors, and with a good aim we could kill perhaps one or two Wazifi each additional night.

After such an attack, the harrying force would certainly have an adverse effect on enemy morale, if each morning they had new names of those dead. he offered.

"I think that's the best idea we have, so far. he added, nodding to both Magnus and Brashear.

Brashear nods at Magnus's comment, his face going back towards his map as he taps his lip.  "Now you are thinking...  It may just work if we cause enough chaos...  Of course, that means we'll have to buy more time... a simple volley of arrows won't do the trick for that."

Brashear's face sours significantly when Magnus mentions the horses.  "Of course you are right... the riders that were here last night is enough to be sure that they will have at least some horsemen.  Their horses are small, but they ride well enough and they never seem to tire... a bad combination if we are trying to remove Kahlid and the others who may be exhausted and starving by this point."

As Giles begins talking though, Brashear begins to shake his head almost immediately.  "No, the whole purpose is to get them to break ranks and flee.  I want to leave their south side open...  If we give them the impression they are surrounded it's possible they will dig in and fight to the death.  Especially if we are outmanned, as I expect we are, I want to avoid that at all costs.  I don't think pulling out Kahlid with horses is an option either... we need to prestage that party well before the attack starts, and there simply isn't any way to get horses out of the fort without lowering the gate, which is likely to draw their attention."

Brashear bites his lip, shaking his head again as Giles continues.  "No, you are missing the point.  We want them gone, without causing a reaction from Al-Wazif...  It's inevitable that we will have to kill some of them, but I'd rather not kill a single one more than is necessary.  It buys us nothing if in a month there is another army looking for reciprocity...  I think you are right though."  Brashear puts his finger down on the fort.  "We'll need to bring the full weight of the fort in on this attack, and cavalry from the fort is much more likely to send them fleeing than anything else."

"How's this."  Brashear tries again, putting his finger down on the southern side of the enemy troops, close to the river.  "We send a small team on the far side of enemy lines, five or six men, during the thick of the night.  Their primary objective will to be to take down a sentry, scout, whatever they can manage without creating a disturbance.  They will need to find where Kahlid and the others are being held.  Once they have that information, they sit and wait until the attack starts."

"Meanwhile, we put another team, forty or fifty men, archers and light infantry for fast movement here."  He points to one of the hills closest to the eastern enemy encampment.  "At first light, they open fire, trying to burn and destroy whatever they can in the enemy camp.  No heroics.  If you are pursued, cause whatever casualties you can while you retreat, but I will not accept everyone being overwhelmed to satisfy anyone's need for valor."

"Once the confusion starts, our team infiltrates the enemy camp, pulls out our four men, and gets the hell out of there however they can... causing whatever additional havoc is possible without drawing attention to themselves.  Once they have everyone, lay low and wait for the battle to be over."

Lastly, Brashear jabs his finger down on the gate of the fort.  "Fifteen minutes after first light, or earlier if we can assess a confounded enemy, we send forth the rest of the troops, seventy heavy cavalry with the objective of crashing through the enemy flank and routing them.  We'll leave a skeleton watch back at the fort...  If at any point the retreat is sounded, it means all hands back to the fort."

"Sound reasonable?"  Brashear looks at the others around the table.  "We'll need volunteers to lead each of the forces.  I'll command the heavy cavalry coming from the fort.  Who wants to be a part of the other forces?"

OOC:  Over to you guys for comments or additions.  Totally fine if you guys want to be in the same, or separate parties and you can volunteer for any of the three.  Just realize that the timing is going to be a thing, so if you are in different groups, there may be some wait for timeline adjustment.


Rough map of the area.
The boxes with the 'X' are enemy unit locations.

Giles nodded, and did voice the opinion "... we do seem to be going to a lot of effort to avoid conflict where they are flaunting and rattling their sabers in attempt to cause one. I would politely remind that currently in our situation we are the defending force. he said not to be nitpicky but remind the Captain primarily that any blame for bloodshed in this situation would not lie with Megalos. A small stealthmission to prevent an evil necromancer and a three company strong army invading and laying siege to a fort were not the same, whatever way you would lay it down. Giles felt sure that any command staff from Craine or wide-Megalos would see that.

The man also felt that he should lead one of the forces, but was not a skirmisher, not stealthy and could barely point a bow in the right direction. I'd be reluctant to rely on my own stealth. I would be happy to be with any of the forces, though. I just want to see the back of these Wazifi. he offered simply.

"I feel that I could take the archers and make sure they get out early enough, and not become too carried away with the shooting. Though, I'd accept that I'm not the best archer out of our officers. However, even this force will likely require some swordplay, even with a full retreat, it's likely some steel will meet. He said, before adding. Perhaps Magnus could be part of this group also? I do not wish to speak for you, friend, but perhaps you'd be best suited to that group</purple> he said, thinking it best not to state vulgarly that Magnus may not be a natural cavalryman or inconspicuous in the middle of enemy camp.

[5 blank lines suppressed]

OOC: I'm in favour of actually keeping the thread flowing - but not opposed to sitting in different parts of the force, in separate parties. I'll go with consensus on this.

Magnus had been all set to volunteer for the rescue team. The realities of sneaking around hundreds of men, or the consequences should he be spotted still distant, not quite tangible things to him.

Giles helped to bring him back to reality.

"Yeah, that sounds good." he nodded. Safer, definitely, and he had his sling for what little it might add to the mass of fire. More realistically if the archers were caught in some kind of bottle neck, like trying to get back into the fort however, having a few more heavily armed troops to hold the line might at least buy them some time.

At least in theory, all of this, including the sheer number of men involved was new to him.

"I'll help you protect the archers then, and hopefully buy a little time for whoever might volunteer for that rescue."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Sat 28 Mar 2020.

"Avoid conflict?"  Brashear's eyebrow dips is an mingled expression of confusion and irritation.  "Giles, this is about avoiding war.  You must be able to see that."  He turns his body to face Giles directly.  "I don't care how this battle may be seen except for how it affects the troops in this fort.  These Wazifis are proud Giles.  And humiliating the men who are besieging us, and cutting them down as they flee, crystalizing the hate in their hearts is only going to bring a fight against three thousand on the next occasion rather than three hundred.  Let them flee.  Let them count themselves lucky and saved by Allah, but let them flee.  Yes, some will die... and possibly so will some of our men.  But far better they live today and go back home stung than that one man makes it back, wringing his hands and coercing his entire nation to fight."  Brashear sighs.  "I can't guarantee that won't happen anyway, but I will take every possible chance to spare this fort from being the first domino to fall in a new border war."

Brashear pauses for a moment and then lets the matter drop, going on to the matter of selecting the teams.  "Good.  Giles, you will lead the archers, and take Magnus.  Expect to be clad for movement, not a pitched fight - so leathers, not mail.  Take a handful of scouts with you, it's imperative that your force not be found before you let loose your first volley."

Lieutenant Hetrick waits for the lull and raises his own hand.  "I'll take the rescue mission... I've been here the longest.  I'll make sure our men get out."

Brashear nods.  "Thanks Gunnar.  You've got your pick of the men.  Rodrickson might be the best translator and interrogator we've got, but he's not our best soldier.  Over to you for what you need."  Brashear nods again, looking back at the last officer still not assigned a job, though the glance is short before he turns to his first sergeant.  "Colton, you have any preference?"

"I'll go with Lieutenant Hetrick sir.  We'll get our men out."

Brashear nods again.  "That leaves Einion and I for the cavalry charge.  Looks like this plan is shaping up gentlemen...  Let's all go get ready, we have much to prepare for."

---

"Just like old times 'eh sir?"  Corporal Edenburg grins wildly towards Giles, not that the expression is easy to make out.

If there was ever a night to conduct a covert action, this was it.  The thick layer of overhead clouds blots out even the faintest light of the stars and with the new moon being just a few days ago it would be the thinnest of slivers if indeed it had even made its way over the horizon by this time of the early morning.  A gentle breeze brushes by Giles's cheek, cooling some of the sweat which was still beading on Giles's forehead despite the early hour.

It was even worse for Magnus, who couldn't lose the thick layer of fur which cloaked his entire body.  Though if you asked him, it was possible he was sweating in anticipation of the short climb down.

At least it wasn't midday.  If it were, it would probably be too hot to move.

Giles smiles at Edenburg, though he busies himself with the details of the plan, grabbing the end of the thick rope and peering out of the wide second story window onto the high brown grasses of the plains below.  They were to descend down one at a time and regroup in the valley near the back wall of the fort before pushing onward to their staging area just east of the Wazifi positions.

Everything depended on not being found.  They would have no lights, and needed silent movement all the way until first light broke through this thick layer of cloud.

Giles sighed.  He supposed now was as good of a time as any to get things started.

OOC:  It is 0230 on the 16th of July and about 80F/27C outside.  It is a starkly overcast night with not even the hint of a moon making its way through the clouds.  This puts things at a -9 penalty for perception (luckily, for both sides).  I need a few things.  Firstly, let me know what equipment you are taking with you.  I'll probably post whatever you list in my own notes so that I don't have to mess with what you own on your character sheet.  Then I'll need some rolls.  From each of you I need a climbing roll (defaults to DX-5).  This is not penalized at -9, as I'm assuming that you are taking your time enough to make up for the penalty of darkness, not to mention the fact that you have the fort walls to help you repel on the descent.  Even if you do fall, it's not that far, though it may be a little loud.  Please don't assume you fall just because you fail the roll, that may not be the case.  I'll also need an HT-4 roll from each of you to see how tired you are and if you managed to get any sleep before the expedition started.  Fit applies normally to this roll.  Giles, I'll also need you to make some decisions for the group.  How far are you going to push the scouts ahead?  Answer please in the form of a modifier, essentially 0 (with the main group), +1 (in eyesight), +2 (in shouting distance), +3(far enough that it may be a little trouble to have them find us again).  I also need a similar modifier for stealth, saying how fast you are going between 0 (normal daytime hiking pace) and 3 (nearly a crawl).  Then I need you to roll vs. Perception and Stealth for the group.

So to sum things up:
Both:  HT-4, Climbing
Giles:  Modifiers for Stealth and Distance, rolls for stealth and perception.

As a reminder Giles, Edenburg was with you for both your mission into the harpy den and the mission where you found out about the Necromancer.

Magnus fought down the jitters that kept creeping into his mind as he readied himself in his little guest chamber. Part of him was kicking himself for being here at all, not only was he not a soldier, he had volunteered to go straight into battle without even the promise of payment. He was too nice, too worried about making the very best impression he could.

On the other hand these were good men, fighting to keep the borders safe, his borders safe. The Wazifi were clearly in the wrong here, and were just stirring up trouble for the sake of pride, or mischief, or whatever their superiors had in mind. He knew he would regret running, if not before especially now.

He was committed at this point, in any case.

He left his mail hauberk, as nice as it was it still rattled like hell and was nearly forty pounds in itself, and assembled a stripped down version the bag he normally carried. Some water and a meal in case things ran long, some bandages and a torch along with the means to light it.

For weaponry he took his mace of course, his sling and his "new" scutum on a leather strap, this one plain and without Legion markings. A hand full of sling stones in a pouch were all he bothered to scrounge up.

He felt naked in his tunic, but glad for some relief from the heat as he gathered with the others. Despite rumor and extrapolation, he imagined that he saw no better than most humans in the dark, although he had come to realize over the years that did did see more of everything given that their eyes were so far forward.

Without a word but with a few nods and reassuring pats he shuffled forward in line, waiting for his turn at the rope. He felt good, he felt ready, and he was glad things were finally moving forward after what had felt like a long day of discussion and debate.

He shot Giles a grin that could barely be seen in the wane light when he saw him in line.

With his mace resting in the ring on his belt, and tied with a simple knot that could be easily undone with a pull, he cinched up his bag and made sure his shield was snug against his back before he stepped up, and eased himself gently onto the rope for the climb down.

Giles nodded to Edenburg when he joined the group, glad to have a familiar face with them. "Glad you're with us Edenburg, we could use your skills to good effect. he said before making down the rope.

He was determined to get into place but maintain a stealthy enough approach to get into position well enough without causing undue attention.

"Alright everyone, we'll be taking it easy, keeping low and trying to avoid any drawing any undue attention. Scouts, I want you staggered, half stay signalling range, then another half into signalling range of them, and finally we'll have one wide scout who can still see the farthest rank of scouts. We'll relay messages as they're needed.

Everyone else, take time to be careful and stay unseen. As long as we're there before sun up we'll do well. This will also give our scouts ample time to see anything coming.


As they walked, Giles was constantly hushing the men, pointing out any sources of noise and indicating the noisiest to fix their problem, whether footing or equipment.



OOC:

He'll wear leather armours, and take his Chakram, and sword, he'll also have a bow/quiver on his back and a long knife in his boot.

Note: Giles requires little sleep.


Giles:  Modifiers for Stealth and Distance, rolls for stealth and perception.
Stealth: Slower than hike, but not a crawl. +2 stealth
Scouting: I'd say divide between +1/+2/wth 1 man +3, so on 'average' that might be a +1 or +2 bonus, probably the +2.


20:55, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 9 using 3d6.  Leadership.
20:54, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 12 using 3d6.  stealth.
20:54, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 9 using 3d6.  perception.
20:47, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 14 using 3d6.  HT-4.
20:46, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 11 using 3d6.  climbing.

// bad rolls for GIles.

Giles takes the moment to lay out his plan, being clear with his intent but giving enough latitude to the men so they could use their best judgement in the event of a situation.  And with that, the men begin to descend the rope, scouts first, followed by Giles and Magnus, then the others.

The task seems easy for the majority of the soldiers, Giles knew that there were some ropes hanging on a sort of strength course a short walk from the gate that many of the men used in the cooler months, though Giles himself had never used it, nor had much of any experience at climbing at all.  While the others simply flung their feet over the side, pressing their heels against the wall as the slowly walked down, Giles spent a good fifteen seconds merely hanging, his body pressed between the stone wall of the fort and the thick coil of rope as he wrapped around it with forearms, hands and legs, just trying to get his bearings in the inky black.  Slowly, painfully, he started slipping his way down, never really getting the hang of using his feet for anything other than kicking some space between himself and the stone wall when he got to feeling too claustrophobic.

Magnus fared little better, his single-toed hooves hardly made with the flexibility or traction needed to repel, in the end he simply let himself down the rope hand over hand, feeding the line between his lower thigh and calves to keep friction on it at all times as his body slowly spun around and hit the stone across his hands and sides.

Though it took near a half an hour to get everyone down and over the palisades, eventually everyone is ready and the scouts have pressed out ahead.

"showing us how it's done 'eh sir?"  Edenburg roils Giles as the platoon departs, though Giles hushes the man, not punitively, but rather to demonstrate the seriousness of their mission.

Giles sets an easy pace, thinking they will have plenty of time and wanting to prioritize their secrecy.  Though he has every intent of keeping a silent unit, he finds quickly that the task is near impossible with forty men around him.  The impenetrable darkness precludes any real details of what they are stepping on, so men often stumble or shift in their steps, their equipment sliding as they catch themselves.  Giles corrects one or two of them, though he quickly finds that he is as bad as any of the others, his quiver of arrows jostling and his feet rustling the dry plains grass no matter how carefully he steps.

Their route is slightly circuitous, for the walk to the Wazifis encampment was short and both Brashear and Giles agreed there would likely be enemy scouts or patrols in the separating distance.  They would try and mitigate that possibility as much as they could though they were sure to keep a tight leash on their bearings, keeping the black outline of the fort within their view as they transited through the saddles of the hilly plains.  Giles was thankful that the men were so familiar with this terrain... In truth, he could easily see himself getting lost in this darkness with nothing but the bleak outline of the hills to help him navigate.

[Language unknown: "Lama.  Erin!  Oerou wh catic?  Hazeem?]   The voice sounds from over the next ridge before a strangled cry that dies into silence after a brief moment.

Giles throws his stealth to the wind for a moment, hastening to get a view of whatever has just happened.

"I think we're ok sir."  Sergeant Mills whispers several moments later as he kneels over the body of a dead Wazifi, three separate arrows sprouting from his chest from various directions.  "He didn't get off an alarm and I haven't heard any others moving either."

Though Giles would love to have some certainty, he sees little choice in the matter - the whole plan hinged on the initiating the attack at sunup.

---

It does not take the full two hours before sunup for the men to make it to their position, a small hill some hundred yards from the eastern enemy encampment.  In the distance, Giles can just make out the details of the watchfires flickering and the brown hues of their tents.

Several steps away, Magnus looks up at the thick layer of cloud, the plumes and ruffles just beginning to show contrast in dark greys and blacks.  "It's almost time."  The minotaur says simply, putting a hand down to pull the buckler shield off his back.

OOC:  It's 0440 on the 17th of July.  It's still completely overcast and the darkness is just barely starting to break.

Disclaimer: this will be my first time using the mass combat rules.  As always, I hope to make things completely transparent to you guys, but that being said, bear with me.  Giles, give me the general idea of what you are going to do and how close you want to get before you open fire.  The hill is about 100 yards, which is well within range of your bows.  You could however get closer to add effect to the attack (though also increase the risk to your men).  You could also decrease the risk to your men if you retreat slightly after the first few volleys of arrows.  Also, each of you please give me a modifier for Risk from -3 to +3.  The closer to -3 the less likely you are to get injured, the closer to +3 the more likely that you will do something that will significantly help the fight.  This won't entirely be done in mass combat turns, but will sort of be an overlay of the two modes of combat... We'll see how everything works.

Every man, or soldier, was forced to come to grips with the reality of what they were about to do. While no Legionary, Magnus had known his fair share of sell swords throughout his life, and had seen them turn to drink, or God, or any number of other things to try and numb themselves to the task at hand.

He had no wife or child to fret over, and while he worried about his parents waiting in vain for a son that would never return, it was a distant thing. No, "the run of the mill" maiming, infection, amputation, disfigurement, or capture was more than enough to occupy his mind as was.

But, the men were counting on him. He had drank, and told stories and laughed for days about smashing Wazifi's, bringing low ancient constructs and doing battle with the very dead themselves. He was big, strong, and on their side...they would be looking to him to back up his words...too smash into the enemy like a mailed fist into a face agape.

He could do that, but between the roiling anxiety there was another extreme...the possibility of that beast within looming up, it had happened before, and it both excited and terrified him.

One thing was certain, they were only going to get one chance at this, so they had better make it count.

Magnus will give +1 Risk to the cause.

Giles grew anxious, and then furious at the noise and clatter the troops were making and his hushes and snarls to be quiet became all the more vicious until he realised that there was nothing they could do, nothing he could do to avoid such things. They were just not stealthy men and neither was he. The emotion culminated into ice cold and surreal dismay when he heard the Wazifi speak, and he had a response on the top of his tongue "Quick, look at this" which seemed stupid in retrospect.

---

They got there in the end and Giles thanked whatever God may have looked down on them for a moment before the unease started creeping, the same unease everyone felt before battle. He noticed many of the men had gone quiet and were in their own inner battle with fear but he whispered to the group around him.

"Just before light, we move up onto that hill, and rain down death on them. We'll be gone before they can come back at us, and Brashear will hit them right in the back with a full troop of horse... All you have to do is shoot, and run when I say." he said reassuringly.

As like broke, he spoke softly. "Lets move, and aim true" he said, patting Magnus on the back as they set off. "We stay close, so I can watch your back friend" he said softly.

OOC:

The goal is to take the hill and hold the top of it for as long as possible, if stragglers come at the archers, we won't move, but if it seems that either horsemen or any coordinated force is coming our way, then Giles will signal the retreat.

Giles will stand at the front of the archers (presumably where magnus is also stood, and will be part of the group to cover any retreat, or deal with people coming to attack (should they be stragglers). Which ever risk rating that justifies +1 or +2.

In the thin, pre-dawn light, the scouts dig a shallow and narrow trench, knocking down and cutting away all of the grasses nearby.  The soil is packed down hard, and when the light is thick enough to start showing the details of the encampments below, Giles leads his men up onto the hill, testing the wind before the battle commences.

Each of the archers has two quivers.  One loaded with five, bulky arrows with fat, blunt tips.  Some sort of oil-soaked ball of peat and sinew that could burn and hold together long enough to strike a target a hundred yards away and set the thing ablaze, though it depended some on what the target was.  Giles had seen them ignite a mockup of a thatched roof in an instant and he few doubts that the wide, canvas tents would provide little more protection against the blaze.  Even if they missed, setting the plains around them ablaze would surely get their attention...

The other quiver was stuffed full of the normal sort of arrows, and the scouts had been tasked with taking boxes of replenishment ammunition, setting it out behind the archers in places that were easy enough to grab once they had depleted their own stock.

All in all, Giles had to say, his small band of fifty were ready for battle...  He just hoped the tide would quickly turn in their favor.

The heavy blanket of cloud saturates the air overhead, completely blotting out the sunrise, so Giles simply waits until there is enough light for his archers to see by before he gives the command.

One of the scouts lights the small ditch of oil which springs up into a thin line of yellow flame, sending winding rivulets of wispy black smoke skyward.

"Ready.  Aim.  Fire!"  Giles holds his sword forward and a ripple of arrows scream forward, sailing into invisibility in the low morning light.  Disappearing for several moments.  That is, until they hit the encampment below.

The last moments of quiet ebb gently away, a thin rustle of breeze pulls on Giles's back as he watches small trickles of yellow bead up in the distance like pinpricks before they slowly grow, one quickly widening and sending black tendrils skyward at the center of a massive canvas pavilion.

"Fire!"  Another volley of flaming darts is sent skyward and before it lands Giles can already start to make out shouts and screams of the Wazifis below.

"Fire!

Wave after wave of the flaming darts launches skyward, and after a minute or more the encampment below has descended into chaos.  Flames and smoke obscure the valley, though shouting and movement make plain the fact that the enemy is not yet fleeing.

"Aiiiieee!"  One of the soldiers screams a short step away from Giles, an arrow suddenly protruding from his chest.

[Language unknown: "Be waher atimenoun antie!"]  A man shouts from a few dozen paces away, low and behind them on the hill before he too has a dart lodged in his upper thigh and has fallen to the grass, screaming.

The man is quickly dispatched by one of the scouts, his bow and arrows removed and added to the stock for the archers.  "Keep an eye out!"  Edenburg shouts as he looses another arrow down into the valley.  "There may be more of their watch near!  Keep an eye on the flanks!"

Minutes pass, and Giles continues the onslaught.  Once, a handful of soldiers make a charge at their position, though it seems ill organized and Giles holds position, cutting down most of the two dozen men before they make the hill, with only one making it close enough to engage Magnus, who quickly bashes the man's head into a crescent moon with the thick of his mace.

Down below however, the chaos seems to be stemming, and the Wazifis seem to have chosen to fight, rather than run.  Another group of men, this time likely just under a hundred charge forward, several horsemen in their ranks waving sabers over their heads.  Though the archers have ammunition to fight on, Giles is wary of defying Brashear's orders... though he does not like the thought of turning his back to cavalry...

OOC:  A successful tactics roll will reveal that fleeing from cavalry on foot is a general bad idea.  I'll let you pick your tactic again between three options:  1. Attack! (keep firing).  2.  Retreating Attack! (keep firing while trying to get out of there) 3.  Get out of here! (Let the cavalry take care of the Wazifi forces.  Again, each of you please make a risk modifier regardless of what strategy you choose.

The air was crisp with the chill of night and Giles, prepared for the battle felt a new glory in the floral scent of grass coupled with the oil pitch for the fire arrows. "DOn't you just love that smell in the morning?" he said empatically referring to their current aroma. (OOC: HAd to make the reference)

As the rain of fire began, Giles stood at the front of the column, sword ready in hand, next to Magnus and prepared to dispatch any forthcoming enthusiasts, it gave him plenty of time to witness the effect of their archers' barrage, and how quickly the camp had seemed to erupt into conflagration. Giles smiled.

Good work everyone, nice shooting! he praised.

It took a moment for The lieutenant to even realise a man had fallen beside him. Glancing at his soldier the reality of the death did not have enough power to affect Giles at all, caught up in the moment as he was. Perhaps there would be time to mourn their losses later, but now he just focused on the potential for enemy scouts Scouts, keep eyes and ears open for flanking or sniping attacks! he shouted into the amassed bowmen.

It didn't take long for men for men to start charging their source of threat, and Giles prepared himself, dropping into a bent legged fighting stance, and encouraging an overly-enthusiastic first strike, giving him clear openings to counter.

"<Deity> be fucked by pigs!" he shouted at them in Arabic as they approached, hoping to set up his perfect riposte.  ( The thrill of the moment, and battle surged in him when he landed his first strike and felt the familiar sensation of steel cutting through flesh and bone. It sang a note within him that flashed a thought into his mind of being precisely where he was meant tobe at that moment in time. He became lost in the moment and felt all the weariness of the previous weeks fall away as he mended the wounds in his spirit one cut at a time.

"Bloody hell Magnus! You took his head off! he said, having dispatched his own foe and turning to see Magnus cleave a Wazifi head with his mace.

It was then that he noted the amassing of a more organised force, probably double their number, with horse, intent on killing the archers. Not a great situation at the best of times, but they did have high ground advantage and Giles would use it.

"AIM FOR THE HORSES!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, gesturing to Magnus and Edenburg and others to pass the word. He would not flee while horses could route them.

OOC:

Giles is at the front of the mass of archers, I guess that's first risk here +2 He will also ensure that he is 'first in, last out and will leave nobody behind'. That might warrant a +3

I would choose "retreating attack", however as we currently have the high ground, a retreat would give the enemy the crest, and potentially obscure us from view of our supporting cavalry (meaning they wouldn't know we were in trouble).

So the goal, currently, is to aim all shots at the horses, to fell as many cavalry as possible, and then retreat.

Magnus stood and watched the proceedings through eyes narrowed by the approaching morning sun.

Here they were, out to kill each other. Likely dozens of sons of hundreds of worried parents would not see out the day, all that effort, all that love and affection, the joy or pride they had felt at having an able bodied child of their own...wasted. And for what? Pride? Some trinkets? Some lines on a map? The interpretation of an ancient book?

It saddened him, even as it angered him.

The young arab that he had killed did not even have time to recognize his own mortality, one moment he was the hero of his own story, the next the arcane powers thrumming through the mace had shattered his skull like a clay vase filled with blood and viscera. At least it had been quick.

"He should've stayed home!" He shouted back when Giles congratulated him, and then raised his shield and side stepped an arrow that was further from the mark than he had estimated.

When he saw the Calvary he felt that little shiver run through him. While the horses were in the smaller side they could literally run circles around the formation of archers, cutting down or lancing through the outliers. It would be ugly.

Few horses would run willingly into danger however, and so he resolved to look an menacing as possible with his horns bared and a bellowing roar in his throat.

Magnus will remain at +1 risk.

Bowstrings thrum as the arrows continue to rain down the battlefield.  Giles shrieks his commands, trying to rise above the din of battle, as Magnus and some of the scouts run down the line, repeating his direction.

The mass of Wazifi soldiers pushes forward... and even as they do, Giles can see in the distance the gates of the fort have been opened, and the mass of cavalry streaming out of the front.  At the bottom of the hill, the enemy pushes on, unaware or uncaring of the new front, their numbers swarming towards the next of archers that have raked their numbers so viciously.  Giles orders his men to give ground, shooting as the cede territory in a hinged maneuver, making their way towards the roughest and rockiest slope of the hill that will likely give the horses some trouble.

"Fall back!"  Giles roars, as Edenburg thrums another arrow, which buries itself deeply into the chest of one of the advancing horses, sending the rider hurtling forward and off his mount as his steed's forelegs crumple underneath of it and it falls on it's neck and shoulder.

"There's no time!"  And indeed, as Giles turns he finds two charging steeds only a few moments from taking the summit.

A stone's throw away, Magnus is directing the last of the men down the rocky face and his head turns at the shouting...  He sees Giles and Edenburg arguing rather than retreating... and Edenburg plucking another arrow from his quiver to place in his bowstring...

"Sir?!"  One of the archers shouts from beside Magnus, turning and kicking his heel and he begins to run back up the hill.

OOC:  Combat map below.  The oval lines are elevation lines, with each one being five yards of elevation gain.  Wazifis are on the left side.  The one hundred man unit has been significantly eaten away at by arrows, though there are still a significant number of them charging their way up the hill.  The horses have been thinned out to 2, who have just left the group and are running at speed to take the summit.  Normally you would be able to roll vs. Tactics to choose your place, but your +2/+3 risk modifier left you out as the lead man in the assault Giles.    Note that most of the fighters here are on a template, scouts or archers for the good guys, fighter or horseman for the bad guys.  The picture is mostly just a reminder to me of which template to use.

Declare what weapon you have in what hand and where your  other stuff is.  Please choose a defense.  You cannot retreat from the horsemen, but you can do a diving dodge if you wish.  Two seconds worth of action please.  Also, please note your fatigue level on your character sheets.  This is due to the sleep you did/didn't get and how tired you are after being up for 36 hours (if that is the case).


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:50, Fri 10 Apr 2020.

"We can't get away now! Fire! FIRE FIRE! he commanded, still instinctively stepping backwards up the hill towards the mass of their bodies.

It was no use turning from the remaining horses, they'd just be cut down and have lower numbers to deal with the foot. "Make stand! Kill the horses!" he shouted, moving his feet and shuffling to become in time with the horses' gallop, and drifting to the right side to be closer to Magnus, and force an engagement with a single horse rather than both.

Looking at the field, he lobbed his Chakram at the horse closest to him, hoping he could score a hit or at least throw the rider enough to give him opportunity to cut as it passed. Here it was, the final moment, Giles glanced back at his men, knowing they had made the best of their situation, and it now all rested on their skill with steel and bow. After the Chakram left his hand Giles roared his challenge  and pointed his blade to poise it for the next stroke, hoping that his sudden energy and ferocity would encourage the others.


OOC:

Okay.

Round 1:
 - Take a step diagonally back up the hill towards Magnus.
 - THrow Chakram at the closest horse. (aiming for any target, +1 for large horse/rider)
 - 15:05, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 12 using 3d6.  Chakram.

Round 2:
  - Strike random location horse/rider (+1)
 -----> 15:09, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 8 using 3d6.  Attack (14) (-2/-1 deceptive attack) (rand loc). hit

  - rolling dodge to avoid the strike (OOC: This is assuming that the horses have charged close enough that he'd have time to get back up before the infantry caught up)
 -----> 15:10, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 12 using 3d6.  Dodge +3.
Success, I believe


- Also, regarding fatigue, is there consideration taken that Giles only requires 4hrs sleep per night?


This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Sun 05 Apr 2020.