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Post by pontifex on Aug 4, 2020 18:30:20 GMT -5
Ser Richard plunged into the wood, pursuing the enemy. His horse had been reduced in pace, but it did not dissuade him whatsoever. He was heavily armored, certainly he would find and strike down some foes before the main line caught up. The whole army was moving now, it was just a matter of time. Waterford struggled to keep up.
"Forward!" Ser Richard shouted as some stragglers were overtaken and dispatched.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Aug 5, 2020 7:40:52 GMT -5
The sweat had started to bead when the knight of Stonehelm found his way back to the encampment of Lord Waters, the brave few filtering in behind him with eager relief. Raising a bloodied sword, Swann let out a cry of "For the king!" He was no woman, to feed honeyed whispers to his betters, nor was he a king, to speak of concepts of crown and throne and realm. No, he was a knight who led by example, through tradition and culture. And with a bloody sword.
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 5, 2020 11:05:23 GMT -5
Waters held Widow's Wail in his right and Crab's Pincer in his left, and quickly lowered his visor after mounting a destrier taken from the stables of Storm's End. The Crowned Stag fluttered over them, black on gold, on banners as big as bedsheets. Beside it was Waters' own device of a black seahorse, and a score of others from the Stormlords that had rode to support Tommen. They were waiting in the woods for the opportune moment, waiting for Swann to send a rider with the news they wanted to hear. In the dense trees, cunning counted for more than strength.
"Tommen! Tommen and victory!" Yelled Aurane, prompting a cheer from those who wore the stag over their breasts. The rest stayed silent, hardened mercenaries and sellsword captains that had no love for their king nor a stake in his victory, save for a fattened purse of coin.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Aug 5, 2020 15:09:42 GMT -5
Eddard Umber, the towering giant with the strenght of a bear led the Vanguard to the fight. Among titans of battle he fought and he persevered through sweat and blood. Thrusting steel to many men as he executed the orders of his overal commander.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 6, 2020 19:32:53 GMT -5
Aurane (Left)
Resilience: 3
Charisma: 6
Intelligence: 2
Authority: 3
601 light inf
338 archers
338 heavy inf
181 light cavalry
106 knights
Donnel (Center)
Resilience: 3
Charisma: 3
Intelligence: 0
Authority: 4
603 light inf
339 archers
339 heavy inf
183 light cavalry
108 knights
Norys (Right)
Resilience: 7
Charisma: 2
Intelligence: 1
Authority: 3
601 light inf
338 archers
338 heavy inf
181 light cavalry
106 knights
The Rainwood was utter quiet as Morrigen's men entered the thick trees of the Stormlands. A low rumble was heard overhead before a drizzle began to wet the leaves and the trunks of the trees. Swann's men had seemingly vanished into nothing, yet their tracks remained, if there were any huntsmen among their ranks. For awhile, Morrigen's men went deeper into the woods till the tree line had vanished... then Waters sprang his traps.
In the center, Eddard's vanguard was slammed into by the sudden appearance of Donnel Swann. The Northmen and his Stormlander allies, in the center, were hit hard, very hard, and sent many to their graves as spears and swords pierced them before shields could be raised. However, things improved as Caron's men joined Eddard to reinforce his line. Then new war cries, further back. Caron would see his men going into the trees and the screams of hidden men followed. An ambush! Isnardo's position had been exposed and Caron's soldiers were starting to hack them to pieces. Rolland left the vanguard to Eddard as he went to command the advance upon Morrigen's left.
Aurane Waters ambush had been successful as they came down to slam into Morrigen's right, the flank commanded by Lester himself. However, the resulting counter was devastating. Morrigen's men quickly reformed and threw back at Waters with even greater force! Though Waters had dealt a good blow to Lester, the Stormlander turned and gave it back to the pirate tenfold! (This was a Nat 20 by Morrigen after Aurane's successful ambush)
It would be sometime, however, before the Valemen could arrive at the scene.
(Next rolls, an additional roll will be set to see if the Valemen arrive or not (50/50 chance)
FORWARD!!
Rolland bellowed to his men as he shifted himself back to command his troops. It seemed they had come across a potential ambush and had foiled it with ease.
FORWARD!!
Lord Caron's voice bellows as men surge forward to push Aurane's right flank away from the battle. Isnardo had failed the ambush, he could only hope that this would not become a rout.
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Post by pontifex on Aug 6, 2020 19:43:12 GMT -5
Lester heard the cries before he heard the enemy. "A trick!" he called. His Squire, Penrose, sounded the horn cry. "Form up. charge!" It was as it ever was, a charge of heavy horse, the crunch of foes beneath his charger and those beneath his command. His sword was naked in his hand, and he slashed to either side. "Stannis! Stannis King!" He shouted as his battle cry. "Ours is the Fury!" They cut deep into their brigand foe, a good result thus far. Lester led his men deeper into the ranks of his foes.
Robert Morrigen joined the fray in the center, hacking left and right. He was still ahorse for now, but that may change at any moment. The brigands did not seem as organized as many of their previous foes. "Stannis King! Kill them all!" he added his voice to the general din.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Aug 7, 2020 3:27:31 GMT -5
Eddard Umber plunged his great sword through the middle of a man storming at him with his sword. With a great roaring "Yeaaah" he plunged the sword to its hilt into the man. Being force to abandon it as someone else came charging at him. Eddard catches the lad by his neck, taking tremendous strength to raise him up in the air and throw him at another enemy soldier before he feels a sharp pain in his leg. He had been stabbed. Eddard immediately started pounding at the offender and soon had killed the unfortunate fellow who could no longer be identified.
The bear from the North arose and gazed at the chaos of fighting. Men that were shitting themselves, were crying for their mothers or men who's guts were spilled all over the forest. War is no pleasant sight. In the chaos of battle Eddard spotted the corps that had kept his great sword safe. As he walked there he felt at his leg and saw the blood on his fingers. A minor inconvenience he thought to himself as he pulled his great sword out of the corps it was in. He rose it and roared "Northmen!" with a small pause before he would add "Push!" and so they rallied to his roars. The men of Last Hearth fought with fury! And as they did the Umber heir roared for his southern troops. "Men of the South, PUSH!" and so did they too reform the lines and pushed for the death of their enemies.
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 7, 2020 11:35:22 GMT -5
Aurane waded into the battle on horseback as the chaos overtook him, the world itself drowned by the screams of steel and death. As thunder rumbled above and the heavens opened over their heads, the men of the Stormlands went about their bloody work. There were no more tricks, no more stratagems, just the bloody butcher's work that would see them victorious.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 7, 2020 14:40:26 GMT -5
In the next phase of the battle, Morrigen's pressure on Aurane's flank begins to intensify. His luck seemed to have been good with the ambush, but once alerted, the Stormlanders seemed rather focused on his troops. Sellswords and levies fell by the dozens as Morrigen's standards advanced against Aurane's troops. This forced the center and left flanks of his army to begin to shift and break apart.
In the center, Umber seemed to have the upper hand, but just by a margin. The presence of Caron's reinforcements did help some against Swann's troops, keeping them from advancing. However, Umber wasn't forcing them back like Morrigen's troops were against Aurane. The center shifted in favor of Swann, then into Umber's favor. The gods would likely determine who would be the ultimate victor!
On Morrigen's right, Norys seemed to have recovered and pushed back against Caron's men. Rolland's troops seemed a bit stretched between obeying their orders and aiding the vanguard, while also preventing this Qohorik pirate from flanking against the whole army. Still, the Valemen had not appeared yet. They seemed a ways back, having just formed their camp and their marching orders lagged behind Morrigen who sprung into action due to Swann's raid.
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Post by pontifex on Aug 7, 2020 15:51:33 GMT -5
Ser Robert dismounted, in the thick of the center a man ahorse was a target. He had his dirk in one hand and his sword in the other. "To me!" he cried, gathering a small force of his own retainers and Waterford around him. "Forward to victory!"
He led his small band charging into the fray. He lost his dagger in the eyesocket of some pirate with a painted beard. A mailed fist would have to do for now. Soon he was punching and stabbing his way deeper into the line. "Umber! Kill them all!"
---
Lester surveyed what he could of the field of battle favorably. Still mounted yet dripping with visceri, he pointed his bloody sword forward. His counterattack had been successful and this earned them a moment's respite. His lance was behind him, an a man transfixed to the hard ground with it. He could recall the moment of impact, releasing his lance expertly to draw his sword and bring it swinging down upon the next man he encountered. He had done it a dozen times since the start of the war. Penrose was still by his side. "Keep up lad, you're doing better than I had any right to expect." He raised his voice. "Forward and into them now - the Lord of Light is with us this day! Charge!" He spurred his horse against and crashed into the enemy's lines, hacking left and right.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Aug 7, 2020 17:06:27 GMT -5
Hundreds, his eyes told him in a heartbeat. The enemy were pouring forth in their hundreds, so much so that he could hardly tell tree from man. They had all become timber, good men and bad. I am the axeman, went his darkening thoughts. He raised his sword as a serjeant launched himself at the knight of Stonehelm. Half-step. Sword falls. Man dies.
"For the king!" He cried as he took a lurching pace forward. "To victory!"
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 7, 2020 21:10:55 GMT -5
As the Umber's advance, Swann turned around, rather suddenly, and unleashed a fierce counterattack upon the Umber-led vanguard. Umber's leadership seemed to hold the cohesion, but damage was dealt rather hard against his formation. On the left, Caron was still reeling from Isnardo's counter. He seemed unable to turn things around from the earlier discovery of the ambush. Norys' men fought tenaciously and fiercely under the banner of Waters and Tommen Baratheon. Still, Caron fought on and hard to prevent them from penetrating into the center.
However, the true leader of this army saw his flank continue to crumble against Morrigen's advancement. Waters' left flank was now torn from Swann-led center as Morrigen continued to push outward, slashing down tens upon tens of sellswords and Stormlander levies that followed the banner of Tommen the Pretender.
Despite their best efforts, the crumbling of Aurane's flank was a great loss to the morale of the army. His flank had began to disappear from the sight of Swann's men and they began to lose heart. The army, loyal to Stannis Baratheon, had held firmly and nothing could seem to break them. The army began its retreat when the banners of the white seahorse vanished into the trees, followed by Morrigen's banners. Yet, the disorganization of their retreat was evident as they fled away from the victorious Stormlanders. A great number were slain as they attempted their retreat.
Post-Battle Statistics
Baratheon Loyalist Victory!
Lester Morrigen gains +1 Authority for rolls!
Donnel Swann gains +1 Authority for rolls!
Lester Morrigen: 53 + 4 = 57 (Free)
Richard Morrigen: 77 + 3 = 80 (Free)
Rolland Caron: 38 + 6 = 44 (Free)
Eddard Umber: 22 + 7 = 29 (Minor Wound, -1 Resilience for 2 irl days)
Aurane Waters: 89 + 3 = 91 (Free)
Donnel Swann: 5 + 3 = 8 (Major Wound, bedridden for 3 irl days)
Norys Isnardo: 7 + 7 = 14 (Serious Wound, =3 Resilience for 2 irl days)
Baratheon Loyalists: 13% (981 men lost out of ~7500)
Water-led Loyalists: 23% (1081 men lost out of ~4700)
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 7, 2020 21:17:53 GMT -5
Rolland Caron was fighting tooth and nail with the Isnardo-led counter-advance. His leadership was stern enough to keep the formation intact, but losses were starting to mount. Then, something happened. He saw the men before him starting to flee. A knight reported that the banner of the seahorse had vanished into the trees with Morrigen hot on his tail and the enemy was falling apart. Lord Caron finally could advance! He waved his sword and bellowed.
Advance! Kill as many as you can!
His soldiers roared with approval and advanced against their fleeing enemy, cutting down Stormlander and Sellsword alike. Unbeknownst to them, Norys had fallen with a serious wound, one that went through his shoulder and nearly severed his arm entirely.
Even though the battle had been won, fresh horns sounded from behind them as men in blue and white flew by and around the Stormlander's formation. The Valemen, slow in their progress through the trees, had finally arrived and flung themselves forward. Knights in shining mail and mounted horsemen rode through the trees, flying the banners of House Arryn and the other nobles of the Vale. They had been late to the party, but they would join in ensuring Aurane Waters and his goons would not escape the Stormlands alive!
Harrold Arryn approaches the center of the army, raising his visor. The banner of the fiery falcon held tall by his mounted standard bearer. A cadre of his knights behind him.
Damn... we missed the fighting!
Harrold grits his teeth. His guides had not been good in getting his army through the trees. He looks around, not seeing the banners of Morrigen.
Who can tell me where Lord Morrigen went?
Lord Arryn calls out.
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Post by pontifex on Aug 8, 2020 15:00:37 GMT -5
Richard Morrigen pursued the enemy in the center, cutting many down as they fled. It was another glorious victory.
----
Lord Lester Morrigen was pleased. He had driven the enemy from the field once again, but this time as the commander in chief of the army. He broke off, still mounted on his by now dread war horse, and proceeded to the back of the line. His bloodied sword was resting on his shoulder and his visor was raised. He had heard horns behind his force but since he knew no enemies would be coming from that direction, he could only assume Arryn had rejoined him, or else reinforcements from King's Landing. His squire rode by his side with half a dozen household knights. He not longer looked to be a minor lord, but perhaps the most important lord of the Stormlands. He broke through the trees once more, heading north with his entourage. He spotted Arryn banners and made for them. His armor, banners, and sword was stained with blood and gore. "Well met, my Lord Arryn. You just missed this latest battle, but I am happy to say that it has been won all the same."
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 9, 2020 13:34:53 GMT -5
Horns blared, trumpets sounded, and Lord Waters called the retreat as he found himself being pushed further back into the woods. Those that were quick escaped into the trees, making back towards Weeping Town where the ships and Tommen Baratheon waited. There was nothing left for them here, their only recourse to make for the seas and hopefully slip across the Narrow Sea before treacherous weather or Stannis’ fleet prevented a crossing.
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