NationStates Jolt Archive

in the dim reaches of ancient history there existed a struggle for power in a remote section of what is now called Jitano. In this time there were two camps, the Barbarians, a brute race of people savage in battle, and terrible to behold, to counter them were the Imperials, the race now common to Jitano, tall and fell were they, their eyes gleamed like jewels in the twilight, they knew many secrets of technology which the Barbarians did not. It came to pass as it always does that these two peoples went to war, the first recorded war of Jitanese history, what follows hereafter is a slightly exagerated account of it...


Isonis stood upon the walls of his city, looking out over the plain, for five years he had fought the Barbarians, and for five years, he had waded to the hips in the blood of the dead, the losses on both sides mounted until finally he withdrew his people to the walled cities, which the barbarians did not comprehend.
" It is time now, time to put an end to this war.' he said, turning to his aide " Summon my generals, have them meet me in the palace, hurry!" as the aide scurried off, Isonis lifted a great horn to his mouth, the horn was of ivory, carved from the tusk of a fallen elephant, with it he blew a strident tone over the entire city, war had come to them...

Shoztok tossed some bones idly as he gazed out across the new city of tents and yurts surrounding the Imperial Fortress. His was sitting on a fine, patterned rug (looted) outside his well stitched silk command tent (stolen) on a small hill a few miles from the walls. He looked at the shape the bones made on the rug. They made no sense to him. "What they say?" he asked suddenly, consulting the small battallion of Shamans he kept around for that very purpose. They looked at the bones and went into a huddle, muttering something about "Cross-path alignment of Jupiter".

Several minutes later, one of them stepped forwards. "They say great victory ahead, master." He announced, behind him all the others nodded in a very sagelike manner.

Shoztok sighed, "They always say that." He was beginning to think that he was throwing weighted bones. As he looked out across the army, his army he corrected himself, he noticed a group of Beserkers marching through his own warriors to the command yurt. It was hard not to notice them, really. For one thing his tribesmen never grew taller than 5'9", whereas no Beserker ever came shorter than 6'3". "See," he pointed out to his Shamans, "Why do the bones never tell me when I'm going to get a visit?"

The chief of the Beserkers, Geruf (the Mad-Mangler) of the North, pushed his way into the command tent of Shoztok.

"Me name Geruf. Me 'ard fighter. Your name Shoztok, yes? Shoztok hep Geruf stomp metal men inna fight, yes?" He said, with a dim grin on his scarred face.

The Beserkers behind him started making dim laughs, but were quickly silenced by Geruf kicking one of them in the chest and shouting, "Stop laffin, stoopid bugmen! You couldna fight moomoos good!"

Metal men? Ah, the enemy wore tin suits for fighting in. Shoztok never understood why, it just made a nice crumply noise whenever Big Bertha stepped on one. He didn't have a clue what was meant by bugmen, and as for moo-moos? He shook his head, it seemed his friend here had recieved one head-wound too many. Or several.

"Yes." He said slowly and carefully. "Me Shoztok. We stomp metal men and take their shinies. But first we have to break their shell! They hide behind it like turtles. They think they safe. We show them!" Shoztok did a little jig on the carpet, stopping when he noticed the look of blank incomprehesion in Geruf's face. He may have talked too fast. He decided to wait a moment to see if the beserker chief would catch up.

Geruf's face remained blank for a few seconds. Then he blinked, before nodding.

"Stomp 'em all! Splat, splat, plat!" He said happily, punching his left hand to emphasise the splats. "Den wot? Dat's alla the metal men in dere, yes? We mash dem all, den wot?" His face brightened with the sudden idea that came into his head. "We burn da place an' leave nuffin' but a big burny hole in da ground!"

Tag for later, no energy to make a decent post now.

Isonis looked over the fields ahead, the barbarians had massed an incredible number of troops, he glared at them with undiguised hatred
" Filthy beggars, all of them, were are Nothik Taris and Ustan? and summon my son, I need to speak with him, send word to ustan and have him send a few companiues of cavalry through the caves and have them come in behind the barbarians, have them destroy any kind of food or supplies, and be vicious, after that, try and draw the barbarians away from the city, i'll need room to mass our army, not too many men though eh? we'll need them, and have the archers start shooting at those animals from the walls, those barbarians haven't mastered siege tactics yet, so if they can't force the gates, they'll give up." he then blew his horn again, a mighty sound which disheartened even the fiercest foe

General Taris smiled down at the barbarians below as he approached his lord, the great king Isonis he instinctively kneeled to show his respect, "My liege, I am here at your disposal, what are your orders?" After serving the emperor for as long as he had been, Taris could tell that the king was planning something... something big...

Nothik strode into the chamber of King Isonis.
"Master" he said as he approached the great man, "My men and I will fight to the death for thou". He kneeled down as a mark of the respect which he held for King Isonis. He drew his longsword and swept it across his left side. It gleamed in the light which flooded through the arching window. "My Liege, the enemy is nigh. I see their numbers have a-massed at edge of the city. Is it your wish or us to begin firing upon them? My men are possitioned well to attack, we can reduce their numbers greatly". Nothik paused and slid his sword into its scarab before looking out the window once again. "Tell me leige, is Geruf leading the enemy, afterall-any advantage is an advantage!" At that the pair broke down in laughter and Nothik took a seat.

"My friends, a great opportunity is upon us, we have here the greatest amassed army of barbarians ever, and we have the capabilityt to wipe them from the face of the earth, Taris, once Ustan has led the barbarians away from the city, you and your men will form up on the plain to wait for an attack, before anything else however, Nothik, you must go upon the walls with your archers and harass the enemy as best you can, make him mve away from the walls, they fear the sound of horns, so don't be afraid to sound yours whenever you can, once they are away from the city we will send out the heavy cavalry, they will draw the elephants away from battle, Nothik, if you can, tip ymany arros with fire, elephants fear it greatly, yes, nothik, it appears to be his banner, the stick man breaking another stick man, as you say, an advantage, war is come to Jitano, we will sweep these barbarians from the field, and that will be the end of their threat here!"

Geruf took an opportunity to shout a threat at the people inside the looming fortress.

"WE'RE GONNA STOMP YOO LOT FLATTER DAN A... FLAT MOOMOO!" He roared, followed by a loud "Hurhurhur!" laugh.

"You heard the man" said Nothik as his men took up their arrows atop the Castle. [i]"FIRE"[I]!!. As the first arrows rained down on the Barbarians Nothik blew hard on his horn before taking up his own bow. He watched as wall of fire fell upon the enemy, and then he did the same. A ball of fire erupted from his arrow, soaked in pot-ash it started blazing fires on the ground.

"Nothik, aim for the elephants, if we can get them to stampede those barbarians, we'll have broken there backs"

OOC: I don't think even the barbarians would be stupid enough to just park the elephants at the very foot of the walls. They'd be oin reserve anyway.

IC:

Shoztok shrugged as the arrows fell. They tribals within bowshot of the walls were panicking and running back. Well he had plenty of stupid tribesmen.

OOC: sorry, computer troubles, were the hell is baccardi? i've tgramed him a bunch of times, and a crossbow can hurl a bolt a good long way

IC: Isonis looked over the damage his archers had caused among the ranks of the barbarians, many lay dead or wounded beneath the walls, he smiled grimly and turned to his aide,
" Go and find Ustan, tell him to get those horsemen out there now, or i'll skin him and hang him from the walls!"

Gothiks Longbowmen stepped back giving way to Cross-bowmen who began propeling bolts into the thick elephant skin at the rear of the barbarian group.

OOC: *coughs*nothik*coughs*

"You summoned me, Father?" asked Brand as he trotted up to Isonis.


ooc: Brand favors the long bow and uses 2 long knives as backup
He leads 300 archers who use short swords and knives in close combat

OOC: I suppose I'd better give this place a shot of life...

IC:

Geruf's Berserkers ran into cover, a few of them with arrows sticking into them, others lying on the ground and not moving (Even when they were kicked).

Geruf hated hiding, but sometimes he simply had to if he wanted to stay alive. This was one of those occasions. From behind his rock, he yelled various insults at the defenders on the fortress.

OOC: sorry, was off for the weekend, if ustan doesn't post today we'll assume he's been killed and i'll take command of the cavalry

IC: "Brand my son, take your archers and move to the east wall, there are many barbarians there, thin their ranks somewhat," he said pointing his son towards the walls, he motioned to the Pandion knight to his left " Follow my son, see to it that he is not harmed" he said quietly, the knight nodded and ran off after the young prince " Taris, have your men make ready, we're going out to face our enemy,

"Yes emperor..." Taris stood up, "I shall go inform the troops..." Taris turns and walks over to speak with his troops on the other side of the fortress. He opened the doors to the banquet hall to see his soldiers slacking off and lounging about.

"Stand tall men! The emperor has decided to finish this war once and for all! Inform the rest of the men that any moment now we will wipe the barbarian scourge off the face of the earth!" The troops cheered and quickly organised eachother.

Once Brand got to the East wall he ordered his men into triple rankes and gave the command.... "Fire!" Hundreds of arrows rained on the Barbarians, forcing them away from the wall.

Isonis looked at the young men before him, those standing in the proud uniforms of the Empire, he smiled grimly and turned to face the plains were the barbarians waited for the Imperial onslaught, arrows rained upon them and their casualties mounted, he blew a strident note upon his horn and the barbarians quailed for a moment then shouted back obscenities, he turned back to face his troop
" Soldiers of Jitano, this day you come from your peaceful lives, whether you were of noble house, or more humble beginnings, you stand together here in this great city at the call of your Emperor, i see you here before me ready to fight those uncouth barbarians who are bent upon the merciless destruction of our Empire, but be they warned, we shall never surrender, we shall overcome them and drive them back to the stinking mudholes from whence they came. Know those of you who stand here before me, you are brothers now, and forever, in that you fight for the same cause, look upon your brothers then, and protect them and they shall do the same for you, I look upon you as my brothers, as you should look upon me, I say to you now, that this day shall we begin the age of peace, but before peace can be achieved, war must be ended, by one means or another, so what say you, shall we go to the eternal peace of the grave, or send them to the arms of whatever brute gods they worship?" the army let out a massive cry, and Isonis blew again upon his horn, and the barbarians quailed...

OOC; i'd like to see some casualty reports from the barbarians, and Baccardi Tgramed me and is still on as Ustan

and a-bump

((Were those my troops you were just preaching too? I'll post once Ustan does his thing))

OOC:that was to every troop in earshot

The Archers roared as their commander spoke, and took up their arrows to the flaming gauntlet. They stood astride the Fortress walls as a symbol of the Imperial power, their arrows burning brightly against the damp air. Across the field of battle stood the remainder of the Barbarians, ready for war a war which Nothik believed over.

Nothik who held a longbow propelled a burning arrow, the signal yelled one archer, looking back at the small catapult like contraptions behind them. As he said so each fired a hail of pots, filled wth pitch. The flying pitch carriers smashed and covered Barbarians with the stuff. (OOC: Pitch is as close to napalm as they could have gotten, and the only way to stop the burning is to roll arround and have your mates pee on you, water doesn't work, hitting it doesn't work....). A wall of arrows tipped with orange flame erupted from the ranks of Archers, whilst crossbowmen picked off individuals from distance. As the arrows struck the ground the pitch ignited, engulfing many barbarians in flame.
Antoher screem came up from Nothiks faithfull men.

OOC: Dregruk? SW? you guys gonna post?

Geruf jumped on the spot angrily as the cowardly imperials hid in their fortress and set fire to his men. The majority of his lads were still OK, but a good number had been incinerated or impaled on the deadly rain of arrows.

OOC: Really, we can't do very much while you stand on the fortress and pick us off. Our army revolves around close quarters stuff, remember? And elephants can't knock down a fortress...

OOC-I cant help ya there, Archers don't really "excel" at CQ combat. lol

OOC: right screw it, Ustan can come in later for now I'm taking command
woohoo! one year ago today i joined NationStates!

IC: "Pandion, have the cavalry form up in the caves, send them out behind those barbarians and have them begin attacking the rear, try and draw them away from the city so the infantry can get out there, send 200 of the regular cavalry and keep the rest in here with us, tell the heavy cavalry to make ready, as soon as the barbarians form up, i'll want them ready to charge, wait, belay that, have Taris and his pikemen ready to hold off a charge, position crossbowmen in the pikememns' ranks and hide them until the barbarians get in close, that way when they stop the charge, if they do, stupid beggars, the crossbowmen will be able to put a bolt through at least two ranks of them, if that cretin Geruf thinks he can trap us here he is sadly mistaken, go Sir Knight, make ready the attack, once we've drawn them back in, take the cavalry you have left and charge their rear."

ooc: my archers were light scouts before i took command and are well trained in most forms of combat.


ic: the arrows slowed as the barbarians drew out of range. Brand called to his second in command"Pwent, go inform the Emporer that some crossbowmen would serve better than us at the moment"as Pwent scampered of he turned back to his men and ordered"kill any barbarian that is or gets in range"

Isonis looked at hi sons messenger gravely and then turned to Nothik
" We'll need some of your crossbowmen to go over and support brands scouts, say fifty or so."


Meanwhile in the caves beneath the city, Teslar, the Pandion Knight the Emperor had commanded to lead the cavalry led his men at a trot through the caverns, their torches cast grim shadows on the walls, when they turned a corner they saw a dim light ahead,
" The opening!" cried out one of the younger men, Teslar silenced him " we're very close now, once we get outside i want you men to prepare a charge, into their elephants, use your torches, and burn them if you can, and for gods sake don't get trampled, try and scare as many as you can, and mind, no loud battle cries neither, wouldn't want to spook our prey." he said smiling viciously, the horses were almost overjoyed to get outside, teslar rallied his men and waited for the signol...

Nothik peered into the eyes of Isonis and spoke.
Yes my leige, I can spare 50 crossbowmen to the cause

He pointed to a group of men who had just spent time firing Crossbows, and they filed out following Brands Messenger.

Men he cried We're playing dirty! Into the ditch!

The men began shaking their heads as they clambered down flimzy ladders leading to the ground. They were out of barbarian sight from here, but Nothiks plan would re-unite him with his Cavalry Archers whom had waited patiently. They began making their way slowly toward the barbarian lines, but remained out of sight in a small patch of forrestation. Their commander, Nothik used hand signals to direct them to the edge of the tree line where they found themselves in perfect range for launching a surprise attack. Every one of his men was assigned a target, and they tookaim to it with prescission. The Cossbowmen were seperated into groups of 3, and each group was to target an elephant. Nothik knew from experience that 3 bolts would not kill a health elephant, but would render it useless for the remainder of the battle.
The Longbowmen took their aim upon infantry men, which was tricky as the complete lack of discipline meant no one man stood still in the Barbarian stronghold. Nothik had gathered his fastest arrowmen to one side, and with them he prepared to mount the assault. They set fire to a small bowl filled with dry grass and vegitation ad tipped their arrows with the flame. The 30 men launched arrows and before sing the result held another arrow aloft, and fired.
Meanwhile in the main longbow ranks waves of fire were being systematicaly fired from the cover of the trees as targets were steadily picked off. The sheer shock that the barbarians were struck with had put them in danger immediatley, and it seemed that many of the casualites had been taken then. As fire continued the Barbarian ranks became organised slightly, and before Nothik knew it a small line o 50 to 100 Barbarian fighters were charging at an uneaven pae right across the battlefield. It appeared that their numbers were halfed by the time they reached the half way point of the battlefield, by exaustion and the firepower of Nothiks men.
A roar erupted from the left of Nothiks men, as the cavalrymen burst into action galloping across the front of the Barbarian line and firing seige arrows at them from close proximity. (A seige arrow is basicaaly one arrow which has 4 or 5 heads loosely fixed to it, sort of Shrapnel effect) The pain was evident on the faces of those who were struck, as arrow heads tore skin from their faces and broke bones. Some were lucky enough to die quickly, most were not.

Upon defeating this wave of attack and causing serius damage to the army of Barbarians Nithik pointed across the field to were he could see cavalry units rising from the ground. He quickly made sure that he and his men were safely positioned back in the fortess before any charge was repeated by the mourning Barbarians.

Teslar motioned his men to silence, they trotted silently to the rear of the barbarian positions
" All right men, you know what needs to be done, if you find yourselves riding in green fields, with the sun on your face, then you are in the holy land of Ison, and you're already dead!" a hearty laugh from the assembled cavalry " Know this, you fight here not just for you or the Emperor, you fight for your family, and theiur descendants down through the echoing succession of centuries, Jitano Holman!" which in the old language meant glory for the Empire,a great cry rose up from the cavalry as they charged " Jitano Nogreth Hil!" which means, "The Empire's warriors are upon you" and has been a battle cry for millenia, the horsemen charged into barbarian postions, hurling their spear at the legs of any elephant they could, they rode through the barbarians, cutting them down as they would, Teslar brought his great broadsword down on the head of a huge barbarian, he collapsed twitching, He stopped to form up his charge, and sounded his horn, a long blast that deafened those around him, he turned the charge and galloped back to the openings of the caves, his men following, lossing arrows from short bows as they rode through the frightened and demoralized barbarians...

Ustan Received word of the Massed armys and rode full force towards the front lines. Upon arrival the dismonuted off his horse followed by his aides into the Command tent:

"What is my emperors bidding! his wish is my command! i must be told of what is to be expected on the enemy line, i truly apoligize for the delay but i was on leave in Baccardi!

Ustan paused then jestured towrds the door of the tent, " i have 560 troops out there, 280 are battle ready...the rest i am holding for reserve..they are filthy beggars..the lowest scum of the earth..who knows what they have up their sleeve my lord...

Ustan waited for a reply...


OOC: sorry for the delay, i am in the reserve Military in RL but i am prepared to RP now

The great Berserker chief threw back his head and let out a massive roar of glee. The battle had dissolved to what his troops excelled in; mindless, brutal close-combat. He led his troops into the mass of Imperials in front of his men...

OOC: we kinda have to get out of the city first dregruk

OOC: Dangit! I thought you were actually fighting us! Isn't someone in the melee?

As always when men gathered in war, crows and ravens flocked in the area and vultures circled above the battlefield. Behind one bird's eyes, another consciousness watched....
OOC: Tag. This is impressive, and I want to watch it.

OOC: no, the cavalry is leading a few of your men away so we can get out of the city and maneuver

IC: the infantry marched steadily out of the gate, long lines and straight ranks and a solid stomb of boots hitting the stone of the cause way, the pikemen followed dipping their long spears to get out of the fortress, in an almost too long succession they took their place at the forefront of the legion, a few crossbowmen filtered into their ranks, archers from the city marched next, taking their place beside the infantry, and then came the cavalry that had not gone with the Pandion Teslar, the ehavy cavalry and thier huge chargers cam next waiting to the rear of the army, then, finally, the Emperor upon his midnight black stallion cam forth from the city, his Knights behind him, he turned at looked at his army, pride filled his heart and he was glad, he spoke:
" If we die here today, than it is a glorious death!" he sounded his horn, and the barbarians chasing the other cavalry stopped and turned to charge his army,
" Jitano Nogreth Hil!"...

"Pwent, go inform Emporer Isonis that we would like to fight in melee combat against these dogs" Brand cast a digusted look over the Barbarians."and Pwent "he lowered his voice."make sure to leave some for me."

*oops*

Isonis regarded Pwent gravely for a moment then nodded, the young man ran back to Brand, and Isonis looked out over the plains,the barbarians were still running after the cavalry, he took up his horn and sounded a mighty blast upon it, the barbarians turned, and ran back towards the city and it's army,
" Pikemen! ready the charge!" he yelled, the pikemen simultaneously loweered their lances, " Charge!" the men gave low shout then steadily began a quick ground eating trot, the barbarians edged closer and closer, and the pikemen picked up their trot into a run, a yell from their ranks, suddenly they stopped and raised their lances, laughing at the barbarians, who kept running, but ran confused, as the regular cavalry came in from the flanks and decimated their ranks, the pikemen leveled their lances again
"HOO!" came the shout, and a horn blast and they ran into the barbarian host, barbarians impaled themselves upon the lances of the pikemen, but kept coming, another horn blast and the sound of many running feet, and the infantry joined the fray, Isonis rode through the barbarians, hacking them to pieces were he could, and shouting insults at them, he sounded his horn as the barbarians regained some measure of composure and tried to turn the charge...

and a-bump

"GET DEM!" Roared Geruf wildly, leading the mass of frenzied lunatics into the attacking Imperials.

"To the gate!!" Brand led his soldiers in a brisk trot to the gate where his father was. "I know we can put a dent in them"he thought. As they passed the enterance to the tunnels he got a brighter idea "Men, through the tunnels!!"

Isonis roared his fury at the barbarians horde as he rode through them, his men close behind savagly assaulting the cretins, the pikemen kept the berserkers at bay while the rest of the infantry engaged in the melee. A great horn blast shook the earth as the Pandion knights rode to their master, Isonis hacked at the barbarians, and none dared approach him, for his eyes gleamed red in the dull sunlight, and his sword was coated in blood, his armor too was stained with the blood of the fallen, yet still more came...

Quietly, oh so quietly, Brand and his scouts left the tunnels and hid in tall grass, trees, ect. As he fingered some of his prized possesions, a hand crossbow and 20 poisoned darts, he looked for his target, a large barbarian that was usualy on an elephant.

*oops*

ooc:slutbum wallah, degruk, you guys gonna post

OOC: Not much we can do. Just assume that my guys are piling into combat.

OOC: you could RP it

......Fire!.......
200 of Brands archers opened fire on the closest barbarians. Remarkably most of them didn't stop .... for the next two seconds then, a sizable amount of them fell down, never to get up. One burly barbarian led the small charge at the hidden archers, less than half made it close. For those who did found the other 100 of Brand's scouts, the hard way, for they didn't see the hidden scouts ,weapons drawn, until the very last moment

Isonis lay about himself with fierce blows from his sword, smiting those who came too near, he saw not far, a crazed elephant trampling through ranks of both armies, setting his teeth he rode for it, riding through it's massive legs, he swung his sword and caught the stomach the beast on his way through, the elephant roared and raged smashing through other troops, the barbarians atop were long dead, felled by many arrows, Isonis paused and took a long spear from the ground, and hurled it at the elephant, it struck true, piercing the thick hide of the massive creature, the elephant sagged, and buckled under it's own weight, and fell to the ground with a long despairing sigh, as the breath whooshed from it's lungs, Isonis looked back at the barbarians, more came still, yet many had died there, he took up his sword and charged upon his horse directly into their ranks, striking and felling all who stood before him, for in his wrath he was terrible to behold, his sword glinted red with blood in the dying light of the sun, and still he fought, though his arms felt as lead, he plowed through the barbarians, hacking at them as they faced him, and they quailed before him and were afraid, Isonis blew his mighty horn, a note of triumph ringing across the plains, and the men of Jitano cheered and were renewed n their strength, and charged again...

"Wedge formation!" yelled Brand
Brands scouts formed into 3 wedges weapons drawn."Pwent, you and cadderly take command of the left and right wedges, follow my lead."

"Jitano nogreth hil!"
The three wedge formations plowed into the barbarian ranks spliting them into smaller groups. "Split and fire!" the wedges suddenly exploded and incinerated the barbarians close by. "Pwent, Cadderly keep everyone together!" Brand yelled as he ducked one barbarians huge axe then took him down with both his knives staight into his heart and head."and follow me!" he then plunged back into the fray, immediatly taking out another barbarian to his left with a knife in the heart, then another knife in the belly. A scout to his right was suddenly ducking,dodging, doing everything in his power to keep out of one deadly barbarian's reach " Jitano nogreth hil"shouted Brand as he chopped the man down with a wild overhand sweep. "You ok? he asked then dropped to the ground, wrenching a dagger out of his belt and throwing it into a smiling barabarians's face as the man made a whide sweep with his axe right where Brand had been standing the moment before. "That outa wipe the smile of his face" he thought then jumped up and hit another barbarian painfully in the groin and the head then finished the man with the axe of with a back stab then grabbed his dagger "Thank you" he muttered.

Brand kept his scouts together, then yelled"3 50's!" At that word his scouts split into 2 150-man groups and flanked an elephant that was charging at them. Almost immediatly 100 arrows launched themselves at the barbarians atop the behomoth, none escaped with their lives. "Gutbuster brigade charge!"yelled Brand as he and 25 others including Pwent and Cadderly launched themselves at the elephant stabing in with spears and swords throught the elephants thick hide. Then, it died from one of Brands darts, penetrated deep and well into a vein of blood.


ooc: brand has lost 67 men none Gutbusters who are the best, toughest, stongest, smartest and quickest of his men.

OOC: "Nogreth" not "Norgreth" I think this has really died, a shame I think

oops ill change that :oops:
where are those barbarians?!?!?!?!?