NationStates Jolt Archive

Prince Thor sat in his empty council room looking over some old maps of the Old Empire in its younger days, before the nation took up the call of St. William and began to follow the one true God.

"Shambles,", he muttered to himself,"full of heretics and barbarians."

He sat down in the grand chair that headed the table the Council discussed business over, he began to daze. He was startled by a sudden commotion outside the door.

-"We must see the Prince, the Empire is under great threat!"

-"The Prince is resting, he does not wish to see anyone" replied the Guard

There was a clatter as the guard was thrown aside, the door was thrust open and three robed men stood in the doorway. They were the three most senior Cardinals in the relm.

-"Sir, we come with grave news. Our spies in the court of Tobal warn us of a planned attack on our Empire, they say we are heretics and wish to destroy us, and bring down the Church of St William so that it may never recover"

-"Hmmm, this should not stand, I want as many men mustered as possible. Bring me all of my advisors, this matter must be discussed"

-"Yes your majesty"

OOC: Nice beginning! I'll post properly as soon as I have time.

The Prince sat at the table in the centre of the Council chamber surrounded by his most senior advisors.

-"Sir," said one "if these reports are true we must secure the borders, send men to meet them before they even get near any border towns."

-"And how shall we know where they will attack?" said Thor "I cannot put men all along the border, they will be spread too thinly and will be crushed."

-"Then secure the border forts and castles, defend." said another advisor "We must garrison the towns and forts, if they take them we are at a big disadvantage, it must be done my Lord"

-"This seems much more acceptable, however we still have had no threat other than Court rumour, if we begin to fortify then we may lead them to believe that we are an agressor. However, I would rather be safe; we have six border towns with Tobar, I want a 2000 man garrison in each. Mobilise the Nobles, there is no need for a general muster, yet, I was too hasty"

-"Yes my Lord"

Lord Telson controlled most of the northern part of the Empire's border with Tobal. He was sat in his chambers, deep in study, when a knock came at the door...

-"Come..."

-"Sir, this comes from the Royal Court"

The messenger hands over an envolope, Telson duely opens it and reads the contents.

-"This is a matter of great urgency. I want you to send out messengers across my lands, we need 3000 strong men to bolster the garrisons in our border towns. I want them there as soon as possible. Also, tell the border watch towers that any sign, and I mean even the smallest sign, of military activity in Tobal then light the warning beacons."

-"My Lord"

Telson knew that if it came down to it, those garrisons would need more support, they only really had two ballistas and one catapult each; with the men he sent there would be 750 archers and 1000 swordsmen and 250 cavalrymen in each town.

They would definatly need support if an attack came, but the Prince's orders were his own, and he understood the need for discretion.

“A report is in from Chanveer, Holy One. The border is secure, and Fendar’s Spear is free to act.”
High Priest Sarkol smiled. “That is excellent news. Give the orders to march, as we have been planning. We shall slaughter these infidels of the so-called St. William, crush their false church, and claim their land for the glory of Fendar. With these gains to increase our strength, we shall finally defeat the cursed city of Marshahnk. Victory will be ours, and soon there will be none to oppose us!”
“Who is to command the invasion force, Holy One?”
“You shall have the command, Tergon. There are none I would trust more with this task.”
The 4th level priest shared his commander’s smile as he strode from the room, silver ornaments glittering against the dark blue cloth of his robe.
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A great column snaked across the arid plain toward the Empire of St. William, thousands upon thousands of Tobalite soldiers marching to battle. This army, weapons gleaming under the harsh sun, was Fendar’s Spear. Behind came a vast train of wagons, carrying the supplies needed for the attack; black clad Daggers of Fendar, the elite warriors of Tobal, guarded both sides. The Tobalite light cavalry, called Fendar’s Javelin because of its speed, scouted the area ahead and patrolled both sides.

For the first time in many generations, the Holy Empire of Tobal was setting aside its ancient struggle with Marshahnk. The servants of Fendar were going to war!

It was eairly morning and two guards were on partol on the western perimeter wall of Dovet, a border town with Tobal. One looked far to the horizon, straining his eyes to see...

"The beacons! The beacons are alight!" he shouted

The town bell began to ring as soldiers scurried to the walls to see. The commander stepped onto the wall, saw the lights and promtly rushed down the staircase to find a messenger.

"You! Ride with haste to Lord Telson, tell him the becons are alight, it seems war looms"

The Commander moved back to his chambers to prepare for any defence. He ws sure the town guards in the other border towns would be doing the same after seeing the lights.

Lord Telson was strolling through his gardens when the news arrived, he promptly sent men out onto the lands to gather an army. He then sent another man, most trusted and loyal, to the Prince to tell him of this news and their impending danger. The message would not make it there until perhaps tomorrow, he told the rider this was an urgent matter that needed great speed.

Telson the walked back to his Castle, as he did so he could hear cries around him of "General muster! We are under attack! All men must take up arms!". He had already decided to defend his lands, he would lead them to the border.

A guard rushed to Tergon's tent, calling "Commander! Urgent news!"

The priest came out a moment later. "What is so urgent that you must interrupt my sleep, soldier?" he demanded.

"We've been spotted, Holy One. The infidels have lit warning beacons."

"Very well. There is no way we can take them by surprise, then."
He raised his voice. "Awake! Servants of Fendar, we march at dawn. Soon our swords shall taste the blood of the hated followers of William of Orange! Someone send me a messenger; I have news for the High Priest."
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"Ride as swiftly as you can to [name of capital (OOC: I wish I had my map here.)] Deliver this letter to the High Priest himself. Do not let it fall into any other's hand. May Fendar guard you, soldier; this could be critical."
Holy One,
I believe there may be spies in the Court, or at least somewhere in the capital. The infidels seem to have known we were coming. They set beacon fires before they could have seen anything but a few horsemen.
-In your service and Fendar's, Tergon.

A train of men moved towards the border; men from across Telson's land had taken up the call. Lord Telson led the one army to Dovet, that was where the message had come from, he suspected that would be where the action would be. Other armied had been sent to the other border towns, but he led the largest due to his personal garrison. This army had raised 2000 spears, 500 swordsmen, 1000 horses and 1000 archers; Telson's garrison consisted of 500 highly trained, and battle hardened men.

It was a whole days march to Dovet, if the beacons had been lit then Telson feared they may be late to the start of the battle, but he knew the town could hold out with the supplies it had.

The sun was up and a new shift of guards patrolled the outer fortifications. One looked towards the horizon, the beacons... they were not alight anymore. This could only mean that the enemy was on the march, the men on the watchtowers must be on thier way back, Tobal's army was too close.

Sure enough, four men could be seen on horses, galloping towards the town; they rushed through the gates seeking the commander.

"Commander, the enemy is marching, thousands of men are heading across into the Empire."

"Very well." The Commander then walked up onto the walls and began to spoke loudly "The enemy comes, it seems they will be here before we get support. All men are on alert, sharpen you swords and spears, find your sharpest arrows for soon war is upon us. Do not doubt your weapons, God is with all of us, they shall not take this town easily!"

A fresh horse and rider were put aside to ride for help when the attack came.

The Prince was enjoying lunch with his reletives and allies when the feast was interupted by the top clergyman in the relm. The Prince and Cardinal stepped outside of the hall.

"Sir, Lord Telson sends word that Tobal is mobilising to attack, he has raised several thousand men to defend the border, however, he may need the help of the whole army."

The Prince murmered as he thought...

"Very well, I want 10,000, spears, 3000 swords, 3000 horses and 2500 bows. We have 10 catapults yes?"

"Yes my Lord"

"Then I want them with the army too."

"Sir, that will take days, war is upon us now. May I suggest the monestaries also? That will give us 2500 extra swords who will be ready at a moments notice. They are fanatical in thier loyalty to you and God, they will die for the Empire.

"Mobilise them then, march as many as you can towards our western border. And the army may take days to muster, but if Telson can hold them up, we have time."

"This will be done my Lord."

10,000 soldiers and a great many Tobalite Priests march up to the city from the west. They halt well out of bowshot, except for a priest in a blue-green robe and two soldiers. The sunlight glints on a large Fendar's Eye pendant as he advances to the edge of the wall's long shadow. He waits while the soldiers build a small fire next to him, then bellows "Surrender!! If you give up now, we will permit those of you who wish to leave to do so in safety, with all of their possessions that they can bring with them. If you refuse, we will destroy you!"


The rest of the army had slipped around to the other side of the town, circling a great distance around it to avoid being seen....

The Commanders voice echoed back in reply to the call by the Tobalite Priest...

"Do you think us fools? How could we ever trust your benevolence? You are the invader, you wish to destroy all we hold dear; our homes, our families and our Church. My men will fight to the last, you will pay for this incursion into our lands; God's power, through us will destroy the heretic invaders. No surrender, no mercy, no prisoners!"

At those final words came a deafening roar from inside the town walls, ten arrows were loosed from the fortifications at the three men below.

A bird flies by overhead....

OOC: Sorry about the delay, I have less access to the internet on weekends.
IC: The three Tobalite messengers fell, pierced with several arrows each. Immediately, every Tobalite who was watching gave a roar of rage and charged. A hail of over 1,000 arrows whistled toward the top of the wall.
When the soldiers to the east of the city (the Daggers of Fendar and the entire Tobalite cavalry force) heard the shout, they also charged toward the city.... The sun, low on the horizon behind them, would make it harder for their opponents to see, giving them an advantage.

The arrows flew towards the fortifications of the town, most men crouched behind the parapet, but an unlucky few did not move fast enough; 83 swordsmen fell. Some of the arrows flew over the wall and into the town, 47 civilians were killed or wounded. Most of the arrows bounced off the outer wall due to the range.

This was it, the attack had begun, the gates were barred, it would take a ram to get through them. The archers replied with 500 arrows towards the iniial charge and 250 loosed arrows towards the oncoming cavalry. One heavy ballista on the outer wall fired its huge arrow towards the western charge, a thing the length of a horse, flew towards the oncoming men. The catapult also threw its huge rock over the wall towards the army. A second ballista fired towards the oncoming cavalry.

Swordsmen prepared to brace the gates and those on the walls took up spears to throw at the enemy below when they came closer to the walls.

352 of the charging soldiers fell, and many got arrows in their shields. The others retreated. From near the supply lines, a massive seige ram began to advance...
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Two of the cavalry were killed by the ballista fire, and about 100 fell to arrows. The remainder quickly reached the wall, where they started firing at the defenders with short recurve bows. A black-clad member of the Elite Guard jumped of each horse as well, and threw a grappling hook towards the top of the wall.
(The grappling hooks have sharpened edges and small spikes to make them harder to remove, and the first three feet of their rope is chain....)

On the western wall attention was being turned towards the huge ram being brought forward. The Commander ordered all ballsita and catapult fire to be aimed in the ram's direction, he knew the gates must not be breached. Other than that things were going well, the enemy had retreated; things were not looking so good on the eastern wall however...

Guards were throwing spears at the Tobalites down below, 350 rained down. Some men were caught by the arrows from the cavalry; in total, as grappling hooks began to come over the walls, 87 men lay dead on the eastern wall. Some men tried to release the hooks, but many were solidly embedded in the parapet.

A ballista bolt buried itself in the ram's sturdy roof; a massive stone crashed into the ground near it. Under the urging of a band of priests, hundreds of Tobalite soldiers ran forward and began pushing the siege weapon, increasing its speed significantly. Bands of archers also began moving forward, focusing their fire primarily toward the soldiers near to the catapults.
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132 Tobalites fell to thrown spears under the eastern wall. The cavalry continued firing arrows at the defenders while the Daggers of Fendar swiftly climbed the knotted ropes toward the top of the wall. More of the Elite Guard, and a number of priests, were arriving on foot.

18 men had fallen on the western wall but the catapults were temporarly disabled as the operators were either dead or taking cover from arrows. Arrows continued to be released from the western wall towards the advancing forces; guards readied themselves with spears to throw as soon as the enemy was close enough.

On the eastern wall the arrows continued to come in from the cavalry; 52 men lay dead. The archers attentions were turned to the men trying to scale the walls, they released 75 arrows towards them.

The Commander knew they could not hold out if the walls were breached. They needed the army of Lord Telson; this force was nearing, it would be at Dovet by dusk, but would the town hold out?

The archers to the west of the town turned their fire upon their enemy counterparts, exchanging arrows with the defenders. 37 more soldiers had fallen under arrow fire, but the ram was almost to the gate….
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63 of the climbers on the eastern wall fell, slain by arrows, but the others didn’t pause, and those who fell were quickly replaced by reinforcements. By this time there were several soldiers on each rope, and almost 500 people were in the process of scaling the wall.

On the western wall the defenders continued to take losses, 26 lay dead. The ballista and catapult were able to fire once at the enemy ram before it got too close. Arrows were still going at the enemy and now 350 spears were launched from the wall by the defending men.

Over on the eastern wall things looked bad, a further 41 had fallen to arrow fire, but the archers would not give up, they continued to attack the cavalry and climbers down below. The climbers were getting close to the top, 350 men threw one last volley of spears and drew thier swords. Concentrated around where the grappling hooks were embedded in the walls, they waited to engage any who dared appear over the parapet.

A massive stone struck a glancing blow to the ram, making the entire structure shake, and another ballista bolt buried itself in the wooden frame, spearing one of the soldiers, but soon after that the Tobalites reached the main gate of the city. Dozens of soldiers pulled back the log, then let it swing forward to crash against the gate... Boom!! They repeated the process as quickly as they could.
83 soldiers fell to spears and arrows. As many of the Tobalites as were able to sheltered behind, next to, and within the ram; the archers continued to fire at the defenders, forming a line just out ot range of thrown spears.
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In the east, 97 more fighters fell before the first of Fendar's Daggers reached the top. The first of them slashed with his sword just above the wall, then flung himself onto the wall top. He was immediately slain, but this took a moment, and others were right behind him.

"Brace the gates!, the Commander cried as the ram neared. Nigh on 60 men rushed forward to brace against the door. They were thrown backwards at the first hit but surged forwards again. Behind them, swordsmen started to come down off the wall, they drew their swords, ready to rush into battle if the gates were breached.Up on the walls a further 34 men were slain by the Tobalite arrows.

Over on the eastern fortifications the archers continues their defence. Men had started to come over the parapet, this was just a trickle at first, they were slain and slung back over the wall. But the main mass was not far behind them. There were no casualties as of yet from the climbers, one man was cut in the face, but his bravery kept him fighting on.

The Tobalite forces continue their attack....
42 more soldiers fell on the west, and 57 were slain near the eastern wall, but the ram continued its relentless pounding and the elite guards were, by now, frequently reaching the top of the wall.

Boom....boom... The ram continued to batter the gates and the men continued to brace them. However cracks and splinters were forming; eventually the ram clattered through the gates, 4 men were impaled by massive splinters of wood, others were thrown to the ground. 750 drew thier swords to recive the attackers... the archers covered the gate from the walls above, though thier numbers were falling due to enemy arrow fire; 32 more lay dead.

Over on the Eastern wall, men were now pouring over the walls. Many were jumped upon by St. William's glorious soliders but 73 were dead, they could not hold them off; where was Lord Telson?

... the sun began to set

With a triumphant roar, the Tobalite soldiers charged, pushing through the smashed gate. Many fell to arrows, but the others pushed on, brandishing spears and swords.
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The daggers of Fendar were the best fighters in Tobal. The defenders always hold an advantage, but these elite warriors were able to match them as soon as they had a decent foothold on the wall. Soon, they were taking fewer losses than their oppponents.
"Finish them off and open this gate!" shouted a priest from below.