King’s Hall, Citadel, Fawnnorth, Kingdom of Achesia
It was a cold foggy day over Fawnnorth. The white tops cluttered the ocean like leafs on a tree, fishermen sat at their homes betting away their last catch as they could not sail due to the foggy and coming storms. It was a typical Decus day in the capital of the Kingdom of Achesia, the cold winds coming off the ocean could pierce through a man. As most stayed inside on this dreary day the streets of the city were not nearly as busy. The market had closed early due to the incoming storm and city guards manning the walls had already dawned their rain ponchos preemptive action. The Citadel was quiet as most of the yard work had been finished that morning and the servant shad all but left the grounds prepared for the daily storms that have been drenching the city this rainy season.
Inside the court was on break during their noon meal, the King, Lennard Daevus sat at his throne eat a leg of turkey when a messenger arrived wet from the rain that had begun. The messenger wore the sigil of the gull and moon, symbol of the House of Grayhand and the Marques of the North March. Putting down his breast, taking a sip of wine, and wiping his mouth the King recognized the messenger as the man took a knee before his King.
“What news from Grayhand?”
“My liege, the Marques sends his regards and wishes to appraise you of recent troubles happening along the northern border.”
“What troubles our borders good man?” The King stood on his feet and walked forward. The rest of the Hall became silent as the court listened to the news.
“It seems raiders have been making attacks on villages and farms that line the boarder; they say they are tribesmen from tribes in the Wild Lands. They have pillage and plundered lands and made off with horses, crops, women, children, and gold. The Marques requests you send more men to patrol the border as to prevent this from happening again milord.”
The King stood a moment in contemplation. This was one of the first situations of this type he would have to deal with as King. Many of his troops were engaged in keeping his own lands secure as the Kingdom was newly formed. He would however have to act strong in this to show his people the strength of their King.
“I’ll do him one better than that. Please, eat drink, you have done well. When you are rested return to your master and tell him that the King will handle this situation.” The King patted the man on the shoulder and bid him to eat from his court’s table. “Summon Frater Paris Odysseus to me at once. I summon my council to the council chamber immediately.” The King ordered as his men obliged.
It took only a day for the rider from Fawnnorth to reach Castle Fourthand, the home of the I Battalion of the King’s Royal Army. There Paris Odysseus, Frater of the Achari Cultus and Rector of the I Battalion could be found drill his soldiers and commanding the protection of the northern border. Upon receiving the messenger he moved with all hast to his Wyvern, mounting it and flying to Fawnnorth which took only a few hours. He arrived in the early evening of that day, perching his winged’ mount on the battlements of the citadel. Many of the servants and guards awed at his ferocious mount that made strange high-pitched snarls as its master left it on the battlements. They had never seen a Wyvern of Pactguard before and it was something of a spectacle in Fawnnorth.
Paris Odysseus arrived in the King’s hall soon after and took a knee before the throne. “My King, you have summoned me.”
“Yes, I have heard of the troubles of the north, the raiders pillaging their way through my lands.”
“Yes my lord, they move swift to plunder and retreat. My men have only managed to kill few of them.”
“Very well Rector, in action against these barbarians with the blessings of my council I order you to take my Standard Battalion and a few of my court Knights both Koud and Daevus north through the Wild lands and claim it in the name of the realm.” The King’s order came with a momentous applause by his court which consisted of Lord’s Ladies, and other assorted nobles.
“Vestri mos est meus to order” Odysseus responded in the ancient tongue of the Achari Cultus. It literally meant: “Your will is my command.”
Commander Odysseus needed no more bidding. With the King’s sealed order in hand he mounted his beast and flew with all haste to his Castle in the North. There he ordered his captains to rally his men for march, they would leave at morning to meet the King’s court Knights at the border. Then they would cross into the Wild Lands to claim it for their King.
Men rushed back and forth to prepare themselves for the march. Sharpening swords, spears, and other assorted blades, fixing chainmail and saddling horses. It would be a rough journey with no guarantees at the end but that was the life of a King’s soldier, and in the King’s Standard I Battalion they held themselves with great pride to carry the King’s banner to foreign lands.
Captains also went out to the nearby villages to rally the militia for march, this two hundred man forces was important supplement to the ranks of the Battalion.
Morning finally came and they marched. Odysseus upon his Wyvern watched from the battlements as his soldiers marched two by two down the road. He would patrol the skies above his force as they moved forward, his, the commander’s eyes would see everything on the battlefield from his wings in the sky. His Wyvern gave a screech as they neared the frontier outpost where the court Knights were waiting. Three Daevus Knights from the King’s own Presidium, and three Koud Knights from Judgestone awaited them. Before Odysseus swooped in on his mount they were making the usually jests and bickering at each other over simple house rivalries. That ended as the Wyvern swooped in and Odysseus met them face to face, his under a helmet which was shaped as a dragon.
“Rector Odysseus.” The knights acknowledged him with a bow of their heads.
“Sir’s, we march north. It would be an honor for you to take head of my column.”
“The honor’s is ours good Rector.”
With that Odysseus flew off to circle his forces on the march. The Knights looked at each other and bickered about whether Koud or Daevus would take the head of the column. It was finally decided they would ride two abreast, side by side Koud and Daevus. Thus they crossed the border into the Wild Lands, banners held high in the name of the King. (Force -> Move across northern border.)
Action Summery
Forces (I Battalion) -> Move Across Northern Border
ORBAT of Forces in Use
Action: Moving North into the Wild Lands.
Purpose: Annexing Northern Plot of Land
The King's Standard I Battalion- Conflict in the Wild Lands
100x Achesian Men-at-Arms Swordsmen (STR 400, PAY 10,000, VAL 20,000)
100x Achesian Men-at-Arms Spearmen (STR 400, PAY 10,000, VAL 20,000)
200x Achesian Peasant Milita (STR 500, PAY 20,000, VAL 40,000)
50x Achesian Archers (STR 150, PAY 5,000, VAL 10,000)
20x Achesian Crossbowmen (STR 120, PAY 4,000, VAL 8,000)
10x Achesian Light Cavalry (STR 132, PAY 7,200, VAL 14,400)
15x Achesian Horse Archer (STR 82.5, PAY 6,500, VAL 13,000)
4x Achari Cultus Praeter (MAG 40, PAY 2400, VAL 4800)
1x Achari Cultus Rector (Paris Odysseus) (STR 22, PAY 2700, VAL 7800)
Court Knights of the King
3x Achesian Daevus Knights
3x Achesian Koud Knights
**Edited to include loss of 15x Light Cav, 2x Squires
