Of Gods and Kings: A Medieval Character RP [OOC/OPEN/REBOOT]

[Ravea]

There's no reason to suggest that a single knight was worth twenty barbarians. Barbarians weren't trained soldiers yes, but they weren't that bad.

There are about forty thousand barbarians near Brinehold, led by Angus the Cael. Angus is wanting to end the siege of Brinehold as quickly and bloodlessly as possible, so he can move against other fronts. A few dozen warbands are being sent to flush any enemies out of the swamps and act as a scouting force for enemy units and supply caravans. The main force, under Angus, is has massed and is about five hours' ride from Brinehold proper, having spent the better part of several weeks raping and pillaging the countryside for supplies and loot.

A force of five thousand cavalry will be traveling ahead of the main warband to scout ahead and destroy any supply caravans and isolated enemy units. The warband will arrive in full force with about three thousand peasants taken captive and marched in front of the warband. Angus will send a messenger to deliver his terms. If they aren't met, the peasants will be slaughtered in front of the gates. Alongside Angus are two small catapults, which will be used to fling to corpses and rocks over the wall. Once the slaughtering has been done, the assault will begin.

Yeesh. Harsh.

Yeah, I don't think that knights would outmatch barbarians that badly either. Even with five hundred cavalry Brinehold's still outnumbered over four to one and most of its soldiers are kind of crappy levy infantry. Knights are incredibly disciplined, so that many of them might at least turn a battle from likely inevitable slaughter to a "maybe we can hold the walls" sort of situation.

[The Nuclear Fist]

There's no reason to suggest that a single knight was worth twenty barbarians. Barbarians weren't trained soldiers yes, but they weren't that bad.

There are about forty thousand barbarians near Brinehold, led by Angus the Cael. Angus is wanting to end the siege of Brinehold as quickly and bloodlessly as possible, so he can move against other fronts. A few dozen warbands are being sent to flush any enemies out of the swamps and act as a scouting force for enemy units and supply caravans. The main force, under Angus, is has massed and is about five hours' ride from Brinehold proper, having spent the better part of several weeks raping and pillaging the countryside for supplies and loot.

A force of five thousand cavalry will be traveling ahead of the main warband to scout ahead and destroy any supply caravans and isolated enemy units. The warband will arrive in full force with about three thousand peasants taken captive and marched in front of the warband. Angus will send a messenger to deliver his terms. If they aren't met, the peasants will be slaughtered in front of the gates. Alongside Angus are two small catapults, which will be used to fling to corpses and rocks over the wall. Once the slaughtering has been done, the assault will begin.

Yeesh. Harsh.

Yeah, I don't think that knights would outmatch barbarians that badly either. Even with five hundred cavalry Brinehold's still outnumbered over four to one and most of its soldiers are kind of crappy levy infantry. Knights are incredibly disciplined, so that many of them might at least turn a battle from likely inevitable slaughter to a "maybe we can hold the walls" sort of situation.

Well how do you want to go about this?

[Ravea]

Do you want to start us off? We haven't really had any barbarian perspectives yet. I'm starting to write up my own post as well, and I assume Valloria will want to get in on this too.

[Valloria]

It would be very difficult for them to be swarmed, think Boudicca vs. Romans. They'd be taking the High Road to Brinehold, which gives them an elevation advantage. The barbarians have what, 20,000 troops? 30,000? We arrive in the middle of the night, so maybe half those numbers are awake for the beginning of the battle, and all the troops are there for is to escort the others, so once the gates are closed behind all of our stuff, the troops will flee. No-one wants to chase after those troops all the way to Wharland. And if the barbarians do, three thousand riders will meet them in open combat, along with whatever remains of the 5000 infantrymen.

So, what? Are Edvard and Allister meeting?

Oh, yes. All four kings will meet on the morn in the Royal keep, no? At least that's what I am lead to believe, considering the mourning period for Arthur's mother.

Vall, I'm actually planning for Alistair (The younger) and Arthur to meet, just to see how they interact with one another. The problem is, I don't have a context for their meeting. Ideas?

Allister is with his father at the Embassy. He will be attending Court tomorrow. Keep in mind, King Allister is sort of like Tywin Lannister, whilst Prince Allister is akin to Littlefinger, at least in their personality traits. But both are kinder than those characters.

There's no reason to suggest that a single knight was worth twenty barbarians. Barbarians weren't trained soldiers yes, but they weren't that bad.

There are about forty thousand barbarians near Brinehold, led by Angus the Cael. Angus is wanting to end the siege of Brinehold as quickly and bloodlessly as possible, so he can move against other fronts. A few dozen warbands are being sent to flush any enemies out of the swamps and act as a scouting force for enemy units and supply caravans. The main force, under Angus, is has massed and is about five hours' ride from Brinehold proper, having spent the better part of several weeks raping and pillaging the countryside for supplies and loot.

A force of five thousand cavalry will be traveling ahead of the main warband to scout ahead and destroy any supply caravans and isolated enemy units. The warband will arrive in full force with about three thousand peasants taken captive and marched in front of the warband. Angus will send a messenger to deliver his terms. If they aren't met, the peasants will be slaughtered in front of the gates. Alongside Angus are two small catapults, which will be used to fling to corpses and rocks over the wall. Once the slaughtering has been done, the assault will begin.

Yeesh. Harsh.

Yeah, I don't think that knights would outmatch barbarians that badly either. Even with five hundred cavalry Brinehold's still outnumbered over four to one and most of its soldiers are kind of crappy levy infantry. Knights are incredibly disciplined, so that many of them might at least turn a battle from likely inevitable slaughter to a "maybe we can hold the walls" sort of situation.

I'm talking basic footsoldier Barbarians with no armor and little training when I say they could kill 20. Riding several down would be easy, and they are highly trained with lance, spear, and sword. The food and medics will be enough to hold the city for at least a year, and the knights will help the raiders. I think that the Barbarians should surround the 5,000 infantrymen just after they deposit the goods in the city. That battle would be interesting, to say the least.

[The Nuclear Fist]

Do you want to start us off? We haven't really had any barbarian perspectives yet. I'm starting to write up my own post as well, and I assume Valloria will want to get in on this too.

I'll go ahead and get a post up in a couple hours. The issue is I don't want to commit to anything until we have a plan on how this whole fiasco will go. I guess I could post about clearing out the swamps, a meeting between Angus and co., and the cavalry spotting/attacking the caravan and their escort.

[Sveltlana]

Good luck, Brinehold!

-Rormund Tullestedt

All they have to do is open the gates and kneel before Angus if they want to avoid the worst atrocities.

It's funny because either the Dunedwaithe or Enedwaithe army could act as excellent relief armies, although they're too single-minded with their own interests and concerns to bother with a stronghold deep in the marshes.

Rormund himself is actually purging you filthy heathen from Dalandt. Might as well man the walls again.

[The Nuclear Fist]

All they have to do is open the gates and kneel before Angus if they want to avoid the worst atrocities.

It's funny because either the Dunedwaithe or Enedwaithe army could act as excellent relief armies, although they're too single-minded with their own interests and concerns to bother with a stronghold deep in the marshes.

Rormund himself is actually purging you filthy heathen from Dalandt. Might as well man the walls again.

Angus will pull their steaming entrails out through their shrieking throats in time. He is the Scourge of All Gods.

Though, it may not be Caelish barbarians specifically. Many other barbarian groups fled Gailla as the Caelish united and started expanding. Like the historical barbarian migrations.

[Cymrea]

I thought it was implied that the man Warren apprehended was a Christian terrorist. Jord might mind that, unless he didn't care to begin with. I guess we should wait for Jord's input. At which I will make my post then.

Well, Richard and the Swords of Solomon are, of course, sellswords, which means they will take contracts from anyone with gold. I had implied that the southerners (Persica) had orchestrated the raid/fire, and my men just carried it out. I wasn't thinking about the Christians, although I could probably change it if Jord so desires it.

I'm good with the Swords of Solomon being covertly contracted through Persican noble houses. The duchies and baronies on the northern borders would be most interested in continuing to foment chaos in Ghondra.

[Ravea]

Do you want to start us off? We haven't really had any barbarian perspectives yet. I'm starting to write up my own post as well, and I assume Valloria will want to get in on this too.

I'll go ahead and get a post up in a couple hours. The issue is I don't want to commit to anything until we have a plan on how this whole fiasco will go. I guess I could post about clearing out the swamps, a meeting between Angus and co., and the cavalry spotting/attacking the caravan and their escort.

All righty. I think Brinewall will decide to fight if the supplies are delivered (relatively) safely but i think the city will eventually fall. The city might be able to get a couple of thousand refugees up river but if the city get taken the vast majority of its citizens will be trapped and killed. Any nobles would probably get the first boat out though.

[Sveltlana]

It's funny because either the Dunedwaithe or Enedwaithe army could act as excellent relief armies, although they're too single-minded with their own interests and concerns to bother with a stronghold deep in the marshes.

Rormund himself is actually purging you filthy heathen from Dalandt. Might as well man the walls again.

Angus will pull their steaming entrails out through their shrieking throats in time. He is the Scourge of All Gods.

Though, it may not be Caelish barbarians specifically. Many other barbarian groups fled Gailla as the Caelish united and started expanding. Like the historical barbarian migrations.

The Twins never stray far from each other. Their combined armies would be actually quite large: IIRC they have like 14-15k foot each and 6-7 horse. Although their armies are acting more like smaller units clearing the areas of small barbarian warbands rather than a coherent force. They're probably using a big part of that garrisoning their forts and all, so in the field they should have a combined total of 10-11k foot and 4-5k horse each.

And then you have the Royal Army, which is 42k foot strong... although, to be fair, most are levies.

Those three armies are at around the fertile centre of Royeg, ensuring that the crop isn't damaged more than it has to by outsiders.

I'm having the Vogeler armies try to stop the advances of the Western barbarians too, although the Vogelers are probably going to get wrecked, forcing the Royal Army to go fight in the west.

[The Nuclear Fist]

So what exactly am I fighting here?

[Chedastan]

Christ on a bike Ched, I knew the poor soul had been tortured, but a quick slash of a sword would have been enough. Now someone's gonna have to clean out all the blood in the wall.

That's Warren for you.

Also since Arthur is pissed, I'm beginning to wonder how he will respond to Warren and his party showing up. Hopefully it will be rather interesting.

[Ravea]

So what exactly am I fighting here?

Let's see...two thousand professional footmen armed mostly with spears, shields, and axes, three thousand mercenaries of questionable loyalty, four thousand low quality garrison/peasant levy troops, and five hundred rangers, pretty much all of whom are out in the swamps picking off barbarians right now. Brinewall's primary wall is about fifteen feet tall and four feet thick; the secondary wall is twenty five feet tall and six feet thick. The inner citadel walls are around twenty feet high and the Smoke Tower rises about thirty feet. The outer walls are defended by 25 arrow towers in total and six ballista towers. The vast majority of the men manning these will be levy troops, though the artillery has dedicated crews. The inner walls sport 15 towers but no ballista. Smoke Tower is surrounded by eight smaller towers. The inner fortifications will be defended lightly compared to the outer walls.

It is possible to send a force up the river, but the harbor choke point is well-defended.

Then there's the Wharlish reinforcements which I think number 5,500, most of which are guarding supplies, and all of which except the knights will be departing after the delivery. Siltshield rangers will be able to provide them some support but for the most part they are on their own until they get to the shadow of the walls.

The marshes themselves are nasty. We're talking disease, crocodiles, snakes, low visibility, and generally bad roads. Not a place you would want to move an army through and definitely not a place anyone wants to retreat through. Rangers occupy most of the swamp and will pick off as many as they can before the main army can move on the wall.

[The Nuclear Fist]

I've got warbands moving through the swamps/marshes to flush out the rangers there. Cael has some pretty shit, swampy rainforest areas so some of the clans are right at home there. I won't be moving my armies through them, though. Too many horses, and I'd be leery of moving all the plunder and prisoners I've captured through it. I'm imagining bloody skirmishes there, slowly grinding the rangers to a nub.

So defending the city is:

9,000 troops that consist of:

-2,000 infantry men-at-arms with spears, shields, and axes

-3,000 dodgy mercenaries

-4,000 peasant garrison levies, armed with what I'm imagining is mostly pitchforks and whatever is on hand

There are also five hundred rangers out in the marshes, but they won't really be a threat in the battle itself. Might pose a bit of an issue to the baggage train, but I figure a 1,500 skirmishers should be able to see them ground down.

On top of that, there are 5,500 Wharlish troops moving in to resupply Brinehold

That leaves me to attack the city with:

38,500 warriors consisting of:

-18,000 horse archers armed with composite bows, javelins, lassos, and swords

-10,000 heavy lancers armed with ironwood lances with iron tips, javelins, lassos, and swords

-8,900 light infantry armed with shields, swords, axes, spears, and javelins

-100 men between two catapults

-600 men manning 30 birlinns with 25 aboard each

First thing is first, I'm going to be sending scouts to find the Wharlish party and then I'll bring the brunt of my army down on them. Those supplies will make things tricky. The river is another issue, but I'm thinking that I'll keep my birlinns hidden hugging the shorebed, so when ships try to pass in or out I can hit them with a lightning raid.

That leaves me with the option to either use my ships as a trap against anyone trying to flee that way. Or when I go to make my demands, I could let the defenders know that they won't be getting out that way. Hmm.

The battle plan so far is to prevent any resupply of the city, or at least damage it as much as possible. To that I'll need to secure the roads, and to keep my baggage train safe I'll need to flush the marshes. So what I'm thinking is using my barbarian skirmishers to fight in the swamps whilst my army moves up the main roads, and I use some of my cavalry to locate the resupply caravan so I can annihilate it. Afterwards, I'll move the horde up to secure my grip on Brinehold's neck and begin the siege. I'll make my demands and then launch my attack.

[New Jordslag]

First post is up. Tell me what you think.

I thought it was implied that the man Warren apprehended was a Christian terrorist. Jord might mind that, unless he didn't care to begin with. I guess we should wait for Jord's input. At which I will make my post then.

It wasn't. No Christian Terrorists were involved in the plot. Christian Terrorists exist, but the bombing was not their fault. I can't tell you who it was, however, without tipping Ghondie's hand.

However, it's likely that you just arrested a random Christian, because Victorian Forces are Pro-Trinity and don't quite get along with Christians. It would make sense to arrest opposing Religious figures, after all.

[The Nuclear Fist]

Where is Brinehold exactly, by the way? Is there a political map I can see?

[Sveltlana]

Where is Brinehold exactly, by the way? Is there a political map I can see?

I'll draw up a quick map of Royeg.

I think it's on the Northeast of Royeg, pretty close to Wharland.

[The Nuclear Fist]

Where is Brinehold exactly, by the way? Is there a political map I can see?

I'll draw up a quick map of Royeg.

I think it's on the Northeast of Royeg, pretty close to Wharland.

Yeah, one of my issues here is I have no idea where anything is, and I don't really know all where I'm supposed to be attacking.

[Asyir]

Does anyone have a need of some crack mercenaries?

[Ravea]

I've got warbands moving through the swamps/marshes to flush out the rangers there. Cael has some pretty shit, swampy rainforest areas so some of the clans are right at home there. I won't be moving my armies through them, though. Too many horses, and I'd be leery of moving all the plunder and prisoners I've captured through it. I'm imagining bloody skirmishes there, slowly grinding the rangers to a nub.

So defending the city is:

9,000 troops that consist of:

-2,000 infantry men-at-arms with spears, shields, and axes

-3,000 dodgy mercenaries

-4,000 peasant garrison levies, armed with what I'm imagining is mostly pitchforks and whatever is on hand

There are also five hundred rangers out in the marshes, but they won't really be a threat in the battle itself. Might pose a bit of an issue to the baggage train, but I figure a 1,500 skirmishers should be able to see them ground down.

On top of that, there are 5,500 Wharlish troops moving in to resupply Brinehold

That leaves me to attack the city with:

38,500 warriors consisting of:

-18,000 horse archers armed with composite bows, javelins, lassos, and swords

-10,000 heavy lancers armed with ironwood lances with iron tips, javelins, lassos, and swords

-8,900 light infantry armed with shields, swords, axes, spears, and javelins

-100 men between two catapults

-600 men manning 30 birlinns with 25 aboard each

First thing is first, I'm going to be sending scouts to find the Wharlish party and then I'll bring the brunt of my army down on them. Those supplies will make things tricky. The river is another issue, but I'm thinking that I'll keep my birlinns hidden hugging the shorebed, so when ships try to pass in or out I can hit them with a lightning raid.

That leaves me with the option to either use my ships as a trap against anyone trying to flee that way. Or when I go to make my demands, I could let the defenders know that they won't be getting out that way. Hmm.

The battle plan so far is to prevent any resupply of the city, or at least damage it as much as possible. To that I'll need to secure the roads, and to keep my baggage train safe I'll need to flush the marshes. So what I'm thinking is using my barbarian skirmishers to fight in the swamps whilst my army moves up the main roads, and I use some of my cavalry to locate the resupply caravan so I can annihilate it. Afterwards, I'll move the horde up to secure my grip on Brinehold's neck and begin the siege. I'll make my demands and then launch my attack.

The rangers will give the clansmen some serious trouble in the swamps, but little trouble out of it. Siltstriders are the only real elite troops Brinehold has and are at their best on their home turf. They also wont engage in direct combat unless the city is threatened. They'll do a number on anyone going into the swamps but that many skirmishers will probably be enough to at the very least pin them down and inflict some serious casualties.

Any naval engagement will probably be one-sided. The extent of Brinewall's navy are a half-dozen small frigates, a collection of trading and transport vessels, and a few dozen rafts. Forcing your way into the harbor will be hard due to the walls, but not impossible.

[The Nuclear Fist]

The rangers will give the clansmen some serious trouble in the swamps, but little trouble out of it. Siltstriders are the only real elite troops Brinehold has and are at their best on their home turf. They also wont engage in direct combat unless the city is threatened. They'll do a number on anyone going into the swamps but that many skirmishers will probably be enough to at the very least pin them down and inflict some serious casualties.

Any naval engagement will probably be one-sided. The extent of Brinewall's navy are a half-dozen small frigates, a collection of trading and transport vessels, and a few dozen rafts. Forcing your way into the harbor will be hard due to the walls, but not impossible.

Well Angus' plan is to shock the defenders into surrender. If he can crush the Wharlish reinforcements, or at least keep them from supplying Brinehold, and get his ships to blockade the river mouth, he hopes that the defenders will realize the hopelessness of the situation and open the gates to the horde. At which point he'd loot the place of valuables, take some of the food, and be on his way.

Or maybe he'd make the local nobility kneel before him, and swear fealty to him as their king.

If you want, I'll let you RP the skirmisher battle. I'm not really good at that sort of thing. Just don't slaughter all my guys.

[Ravea]

The rangers will give the clansmen some serious trouble in the swamps, but little trouble out of it. Siltstriders are the only real elite troops Brinehold has and are at their best on their home turf. They also wont engage in direct combat unless the city is threatened. They'll do a number on anyone going into the swamps but that many skirmishers will probably be enough to at the very least pin them down and inflict some serious casualties.

Any naval engagement will probably be one-sided. The extent of Brinewall's navy are a half-dozen small frigates, a collection of trading and transport vessels, and a few dozen rafts. Forcing your way into the harbor will be hard due to the walls, but not impossible.

Well Angus' plan is to shock the defenders into surrender. If he can crush the Wharlish reinforcements, or at least keep them from supplying Brinehold, and get his ships to blockade the river mouth, he hopes that the defenders will realize the hopelessness of the situation and open the gates to the horde. At which point he'd loot the place of valuables, take some of the food, and be on his way.

Or maybe he'd make the local nobility kneel before him, and swear fealty to him as their king.

If you want, I'll let you RP the skirmisher battle. I'm not really good at that sort of thing. Just don't slaughter all my guys.

Sure! The rangers are being led by Æðelric Siltshield (Kennick's firstborn son Anseal is the actual head ranger but he's more or less catatonic/dead right now). I was planning on him maybe surviving the battle if Brinehold falls and having him become a PoV character, following the Caelish as they head north and trying to chip away at their army bit by bit. The rangers are spread out all over the place and are mostly scouting so they won't be able to hit anyone particularly hard. And I'm not gonna lay waste to your army or anything with 500 hungry, tired dudes no matter how well trained they are.

[Valloria]

I'll draw up a quick map of Royeg.

I think it's on the Northeast of Royeg, pretty close to Wharland.

Yeah, one of my issues here is I have no idea where anything is, and I don't really know all where I'm supposed to be attacking.

I took the liberty of making a political map quite a while ago. Let me just go and find it.

[Sveltlana]

A quick little sketch I just made up:



Brinehold would be somewhere in The Marshes area.

I could make a better map during the weekend.

[Ghondra]

A quick little sketch I just made up:

(Image)

Brinehold would be somewhere in The Marshes area.

I could make a better map during the weekend.

Holy shit that's an amazing map!

And Jord, how do you feel about what I've done to Andrew, you can find it in the first page of the IC.