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| Action Id: 1774 | Crisis: | Participants: Preston, Rey, Rand and Terese | |
| Status: Resolved | Submitted: March 3, 2018, 8:52 p.m. | Public: True | GM: Puffin |
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Silver: 30000 Military Resources: 200 Action Points: 240 |
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Action by Preston
Preston and the Templars will be marching up north to crovane en masse, under the full banners of the Templars and the Faith - and any dusty old banners they can dig out and repair from the old crusades they will do so. Ensure there is little doubt what army it is that is coming. The column will divide into 7 Battles of c. 10k each to better allow them to move without having to organise the column as a whole. This will also allow them to camp separately, so no one Battle will exhaust local land or risk large disease outbreak but within range to mutually support one another should any come under attack. As they advance they will also leave men at the Solace waystations along the way with horses, enough to allow for a messenger circuit once they are in the north for important information.
Preston will bring with him engineers and lumber to assist Crovane in construction of trebuchets (resources attached), but also to palisade the war camps near to Stormwall that will be needed to host the armies. The trebuchets will, with Redrain's consent, be placed in squares and on walls of the city to ensure that the enemy cannot advance too close to the city itself, and to allow for some cover along the coast.
To cover a broad swath of coast, Preston will again stick with 7 battles, just allowing that bit of distance but without denying mutual support on a tactical level.
On arrival of the Templars, Preston and the Godsworn will lead a mass prayer of the Faithful (and those who wish from the defenders of Stormwall), calling for Gloria and all the gods to help them defend the innocent, to preserve the order of the Gods, and to see the land cleansed of corruption and evil, and restored to rule under the Pantheon.The Faith Militant will not take part in shamanic rituals, nor co-host with shamans.
The aim of their presence will be to alert to any landing and mobilisation of the enemy, and to summon the defenders of Stormwall to the attack (Those currently taking part in @action 1822. And to engage the enemy, if required, long enough for others to support should the enemy land far enough away from Stormwall to render the efforts of the defenders useless RE: siege weapons and to mean other engagements take longer. (Phase 2 of @action 1822).
In terms of engagement, the Templars want to bring the enemy to a decisive battle, not adopt any strategy of inferior position. If the enemy lands close to Stormwall or at Stormwall, where trebuchets can keep the enemy fleet away, they will engage the enemy close to the beach. If they land down coast, where trebuchets cannot keep the enemy ships from shore, they will obviously have to allow the enemy some movement inland so as to avoid engaging the enemy while under fire from enemy vessels. When they do engage, the Templars will maintain a volley fire of arrows to cover a mass charge of the cavalry force using lances, the cavalry will then peel back to be replaced by infantry in shield wall to hold the enemy, hopefully, while pikes stab through, and arrows pierce down. The mounted knights will then act to counter any break throughs. This should be compatible with the actions taken by the others in the North.
It is very much the intent of the Templars not to go on the defensive, not to fall back behind walls, but to face the enemy and defeat them. Pitched battle. Still. Should the lines break, should the Faith's allies break and run for Stormwall, the Templars will withdraw - hopefully in good order - but they will withdraw south along their lines of supply and back towards Arx.
If the enemy advance still on Stormwall, and the defenders within seem ready to sally, the Templars will charge to pin the enemy between the sally and the walls, but if Stormwall evacuates (So proceeds to phase 4 of @1822) the Templars will withdraw slowly to the south, with a strong rear guard, and send riders south with the news.
Just as a note, following on from the ritual to Lagoma, Preston will be having Balian carry the lamp of Lagoma's eternal flame that they have. Held along with the banners of the faith, it will guide their way. He'll assign burly men to guard Balian and the flame.
Action by Rand
Rand travels north with the Templars, attached to the contingent surrounding and protecting the trebuchet and attendant supplies. He intends to be ready in defense in case of harrying action by the enemy.
Rand participates in the mass prayer to Gloria and the rest of the Pantheon as noted. In addition to the listed topics of prayer, his personal prayer is for courage and that "Norhing gets past me while I still stand."
In battle, he leads by example because him no words good. Whether in defense of the listed battle objectives, of his brother and sister Templars, or the city and its inhabitants generally, Rand intends to follow the plan of battle with discipline and endurance. If anyone wants to break and run at any point, they will need to do it without Rand and live with their own shame. He doesn't want any more of that particular feeling in this lifetime.
Action by Rey
Rey joins the Templars on their trip north as a Mercy, ready to tend the sick and wounded. Her last "adventure" in the north didn't end well, so she's not going to be looking to go "adventuring" again, but rather, she'll stay in whatever centralized location is set up as a hospital.
Action by Terese
Terese rides with the Templars and will act as a liaison between Templar and the combined defense forces of Stormwall. Using her social position as a Valardin princess and paladin, she'll assist Preston in ensuring Templars are not let loose and always overseen.
Military activity pre-battle: Specifically during the time at Stormwall, she'll take a unit of the knights to do a mounted patrol along the beach and coast watch. Should any enemy units be seen, one rider will be sent back to the main forces to report to Preston. If the enemy units are small, she'll use her mounted knights to engage the enemy with a cavalry charge on the beach and then attack.
Military Battle: Terese will be leading a cohort of templar knights on horseback. She'll act as part of the defense of the city, utilizing the high ground to run her mounted unit down in a charge wherever Preston orders (be it flanking, pincering, cutting right through the thick of things, etc).
Daily Knight Life at Stormwall: Terese will try to inspire her knights and non-templar fighters that they work alongside by showcasing her orthodox faith, her passion to the gods and her focus on constant training: whether it's facing Sanctum to the west whenever she prays multiple times during the day, listening to the priests that minister during daily chapel services, doing a good deed to help any of the poor within the city, practicing her swordsmanship and riding.
Result
At Stormwall, the Compact's soldiers have worked hard to fortify the city. They evacuated as many as possible, they came up with a coherent first plan that didn't last beyond the first engagement with the enemy (as plans never do), and they responded to the insane strategies of what must clearly be a madman directing the troops. And miraculously, it worked - or it seemed to at first. Gradually though, Compact forces were overwhelmed as wave upon wave showed up to press into the city.
And then, seeing what they faced and the numbers that came at them, they put into motion a brave (and possibly insane) plan of their own - they strategically trapped the enemy in the city, and they burned it down around their ears. It was one of those plans that you only put in motion when all other hope is lost. One that has no reason to work. One that only the truly desperate would use - and those who understand that the value of a place is not in its buildings but in its people.
And it succeeded. The enemy died where they stood. Those who fought that day watched the ships retreat and wondered if they would come back - but they knew that the day was theirs. Those who saw the end of the Battle at Stormwall were left to lick their wounds, patch up who they could, and bury the rest. And there were so many to bury.
And yet the Pirate King did not get a toehold in Stormwall. And Redrain lands remain free. A victory, if at a staggering cost.