Author Topic: Year 488 - War on the Continent  (Read 9358 times)

Geoffrey

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #270 on: March 19, 2019, 09:38:59 AM »
Geoffrey pressed his attack, this was taking too long but they had little choice now.  The knight just had to pray that luck would find them...soon.

[OOC: Shield bash attack roll result 5 vs skill 18, success.  Damage roll 15.]

GM Craig

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #271 on: March 19, 2019, 09:58:47 AM »
Character   Roll   Opponent Roll   Opponent   Result
Sir Geoffrey   15(success)   12 (success)   Frankish Footman #2   inflict (15-12) 3 damage
Northman #2   14 (success)   13 (critical success)   Frankish Footman #4   inflict (22-12) 10 damage

You slam your shield into the shield of the Frankish footman, but your strength overpowers his, and his own shield smashes into his face. It comes away, revealing blood pouring from his nose.

Beside you, weapons clash, but the Frankish spear finds its mark and buries the head into the gut of the Northman. He goes limp, and the spear head shears off as the big scout goes down. The Frank staggers to a knee, gasping for breath. He looks like he is about to flee.

[Actions?]

Status
Sir Geoffrey 26/34 (unarmed)
Northman #1 21/30 (giving chase)
Northman #2 1/30 (unconscious)
Frankish Footman #2 27/30
Frankish Footman #3 3/30 (unconscious, major wound)
Frankish Footman #4 12/30 (unarmed)

Geoffrey

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #272 on: March 21, 2019, 10:08:55 AM »
This was not good.  He needed to drop his target now.  Lord, give me strength, the man prayed silently as he rammed his shield into his opponent once more.

[OOC: Shield bash roll result 6 vs skill 18, success.  Potential damage 27.

Please let this one hit.]

GM Craig

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #273 on: March 21, 2019, 12:52:44 PM »
Character   Roll   Opponent Roll   Opponent   Result
Sir Geoffrey   6(success)   5 (success)   Frankish Footman #4   Fleeing   

The Frankish footman tries to take a swing at your leg, but you move first and slam your shield hard into his face as he goes down for his swing. Bone and helmet break, and the Frank staggers back a step or two before collapsing on the ground, blood flowing from his ruined nose. He is alive, but effectively out of the fight as he moans and cradles his now ruined face.

The remaining Frankish footman breaks and runs.

Farther down the hill, your Northman ally catches the Frankish footman. He takes a swing, and the near-panicked Frank manages to deflect the blow, but is focussed on defence and does not counterattack.

[Actions?]

Status
Sir Geoffrey 26/34 (unarmed)
Northman #1 21/30
Northman #2 1/30 (unconscious)
Frankish Footman #2 12/30 (major wound)
Frankish Footman #3 3/30 (unconscious, major wound)
Frankish Footman #4 12/30 (fleeing)
« Last Edit: March 21, 2019, 12:54:38 PM by GM Craig »

Geoffrey

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #274 on: March 25, 2019, 11:47:52 AM »
Geoffrey picked up his sword and began to give chase.

[OOC: Dex roll result 18 vs modified DEX of 2 (stat 12 - 10 for armor penalty), failure.]

GM Craig

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #275 on: April 05, 2019, 09:38:00 AM »
Character   Roll   Opponent Roll   Opponent   Result
Northman #1   11 (success)   15 (fail)   Frankish Footman #4   inflict (15-6) 9 damage

Sir Geoffrey tries to give chase, but the lightly armoured Frank quickly outdistances him. Fortunately, the last standing Northman moves to intercept. The Frank, focused on escaping, tries to dodge, but the Northman lands a solid axe blow square on the Frank's chest. He goes down like a sack of flour. The Franks are down, but one of them did get away - Sir Geoffrey has lost sight of him in the trees. It's only a matter of time before more Franks come searching.

[Actions?]

Status
Sir Geoffrey 26/34 (unarmed)
Northman #1 21/30
Northman #2 1/30 (unconscious)
Frankish Footman #1 10/30 (escaped)
Frankish Footman #2 12/30 (major wound)
Frankish Footman #3 3/30 (unconscious, major wound)
Frankish Footman #4 3/30 (unconscious)

Geoffrey

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #276 on: April 12, 2019, 09:00:02 AM »
The knight sheathed his sword.  It was unlikely they'd find the last Frank before he had time to alert his friends and they had a wounded they needed to carry out.  The endeavor hadn't been a complete failure, but it definitely hadn't gone well.

"Let us get your comrade and return."

GM Craig

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #277 on: May 06, 2019, 12:56:14 PM »
You manage to round up your fallen Northman and make your way back to the horses. By this time there are signs of a search underway, but they seem to be a ways off so far.

[Actions?]

Geoffrey

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #278 on: May 07, 2019, 09:03:29 AM »
"We need to move." the knight said has he heaved the unconscious Northerner onto a horse before climbing onto his own and leading the group away.

[OOC: I'm assuming the route back isn't basically a straight line, but if it is, he'll head off on something of an indirect route towards their main force until they're a mile or two away.]

GM Craig

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #279 on: June 10, 2019, 05:34:35 PM »
It is late afternoon before Sir Geoffrey is seen returning to the column. One of his horses to not have a rider. There is a body draped over the saddle, though they could just be badly injured and not dead.

The senior members of Sir Cedwyn's column meet to the side of the column as Sir Geoffrey rides up. Sir Geoffrey and one of the Northman scouts have been injured, though certainly still able to fight. Another Northman scout is unconscious with serious injuries.

[Up to you guys now. Sir Geoffrey has a good layout of the spot where the Franks have set up and confirmed numbers.]

Arne

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #280 on: June 10, 2019, 07:38:40 PM »
Arne cursed as the riders drew closer; the warrior draped over the saddle was one of their own.  He strode over to them and gave Sir Geoffrey a short bow, and then turned his attention to the Northman slumped across his horse.  Gunnolf.

Arne placed a hand on Gunnolf's arm for a moment, then held his palm close to the fallen man's face.  Still alive.  Turning around, he barked to his men, "<Four of you over here, and be quick!  Get Gunnolf here off of his horse, and be careful about it!  Get him to the healers and see if they can do aught for him.>"

He turned next to the senior knight.  "Sir Cedwyn, do we have any læknar . . ."  he shook his head irritably and fought to remember the Cymric word, ". . . chir-urgeons with our host that could tend to Gunnolf?"




Warriors don't show their heart until the axe reveals it. - Floki, Vikings

Geoffrey

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #281 on: June 20, 2019, 09:44:22 AM »
"Sir Cedwyn." the knight began.

"The Franks await us below the line of a hill.  My guess would be they plan to catch us while on the move and before we can form ranks to defend ourselves.  There were six banners on display and they number about one hundred, however they are fairly well armed and armored.  Our hired Irish will likely not stand up well against them.

Unfortunately I was not able to locate their camp or another route around them before we were spotted and attacked by a patrol.  One of the patrol was able to flee so we were forced to end our reconnaissance and return."

Cedwyn

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #282 on: July 17, 2019, 09:34:56 AM »
Cedwyn shook his head at Arne. The knight was less than happy with his financial situation and the Thulian made a legitimate request. Cedwyn would hopefully remedy the situation in the next summer but for now, it was not to be.

"Unfortunately not, Good Arne. We lack the available coin to pay a chirurgeon and must make do as we may. With the main host, it is possible to get aid but not here on the march."

He turned to Sir Geoffrey, "Six lords and they number fewer than our 200 but they are fixed in place. We must confront them as they will harrass us regardless of a new route. I'm of a mind to split off part of our force and march ahead with just my men and the Irishmen. Geoffrey, Arne, and Valka...you would then come-amarching up on their flank as they have committed to engaging us."

"Your thoughts?"

[OOC: Craig...tell me about the tactical considerations that Cedwyn would know but I don't]

GM Craig

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #283 on: July 18, 2019, 10:08:10 PM »
Your troops should be able to hold against them, provided the knifers hold up, at least long enough for the other forces to get into position. However, if you kept the flankers to just knights, you could do a lot more damage, and have a much larger element of surprise. Troops marching on their flank would give the enemy commander a chance to pivot before his forces were engaged, though he's be in a much less advantageous position. The centre of the valley would become a killing ground, likely for both sides, but you have the numbers to overwhelm them. Also, if you did force a pivot, they would have a much harder time escaping, and would therefore be more likely to break.

In summary, troops marching likely means more casualties, but has good odds of producing a significant victor, possibly destroying the enemy force entirely. Knights on the flank would be safer (for the foot soldiers, not necessarily the knights), so fewer casualties, but the enemy would be more likely to escape.

That's the tactical analysis of the chosen overall tactic. There's also a standard battle array - it would be a quick fight, and you're pretty certain you could force the enemy to withdraw without much effort. If you get lucky, they could even break, but you casualties would be lower.

Arne

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Re: Year 488 - War on the Continent
« Reply #284 on: July 19, 2019, 10:25:44 PM »
Arne thought about the knight's plan and the terrain for a few moments, then spoke up.  "We could crush the enemy here and now if the knifers' courage holds and our timing is good.  We have more warriors than the Franks have.  Their courage and discipline will be important here, though.  Cut them off, and they could fight with the ferocity of cornered wolves - or they could break."
Warriors don't show their heart until the axe reveals it. - Floki, Vikings