NationStates Jolt Archive

On January the 19th Shamonia, incensed by the competition in police ratios of its neighbour Rezephua, declared war. Today, the war begins in earnest.

OOC: This is a war with a humurous bent, caused by the backgrounds of the nations involved. As such, to prevent godmodding and things generally getting out of control, first I'm going to lay down some agreed-upon ground rules.

1. The war shall be conducted in the spirit of fun. Those being agressive or overly competetive shall be ignored.

2. Each entrant into the war shall define their nation's abilities, weaknesses and military capacities, justifying the last with economy and population.

3. The technology base will be Medieval.

4. Anyone may join. Both I and Shamonia have already recruited some allies to fight alongside us. However, if you wish to enter, please remember these rules, declare whose side you are on, define your forces and try not to unbalance it, i.e. a powerhouse economy with a population of 2 billion joins the winning side. That would be no fun.

5. The winner can impose a peace treaty on the loser

And now, on to the definition of Rezephua's forces.

Rezephua is a Democratic Socialist nation, with an Imploded economy and a population of 202 million.

According to its political views, only 1% - 2020000 - of its populations fight in the military, and, because of its economy, their equipment is of a low standard - cavalry being rare to non-existent. The composition of the military is this:

2500 men form Rezephua's navy, sailing its 20 military vessels. Due to its poor economy, Rezephua's ships are battered and much-used, but have been proven in battle - the fact that Rezephua, most of its landmass consisting of dense forest, has access to vast amounts of wood and skilled carpenters, means that the ships are extremely-well designed, relatively large, and heavily-built, so as to resist most damage. Their captains are experienced men, who know their ships well as the prospect of making new ones is unviable, forcing the military to conserve vessels as long as is humanly possible. Their biggest weakness perhaps is the fact that Rezephua cannot afford steel guns, so the cannon of its navy are made cheaply from iron and prone to rupturing.

500 men form Rezephua's cavalry, armed with lances and outdated armour. While vastly inferior in equipment to the cavalry of other nations, Rezephua's knights are experienced and lack the impetuousity and arrogance that wealth and the noble ideal of honour brings, making them more controllable and survivable on the battlefield.

Rezephua possesses 100 scout foresters. These are perhaps the best troops in their role the nation can provide - trained by a lifetime navigating the dense forests and swamps of their home, they are expert scouts, and armed with short, composite bows that pack a powerful punch at short range, making them ideal in an ambush but a waste in a pitched battle.

1016800 men form Rezephua's main fighting force - the men at arms. For the most part armed with iron swords and broad, wooden shields, these men wear outdated mail armour and are helmetless. They are mostly experienced soldiers.

The remaining 1000000 men are Rezephua's longbowmen. Again, due to the widely available resource of wood, but poor economy and lack of skilled craftsmen, Rezephua has had to use the most cost-efficient weapons, unable to produce crossbows or warmachines in anything like enough quantity to arm an army. Therefore it relies on a peasant levy, each member of which serves around 2 years in the army after he is called up, armed with longbows - a fast-firing, cheap, but effective weapon.

The pay of Rezephua soldiers is relatively low - however, as an incentive to join the force, the government of Rezephua allows soldiers to keep any and all loot they may find. This makes them inordinately keen when assaulting settlements, but also causes a drop in morale when on the defence or when fighting over an open plain. The livery of Rezephua's soldiers is a plain, dark green, which shows on their flags and on those soldiers which can afford tabards.

Finally, ocassionally Rezephua's ruling caste take to war. Rezephua's ruling caste, however, are not human at all...

...they are toads. Not ordinary toads, mind you. These beings are extremely powerful. Firstly, they are extremely intelligent, beyond the reach of any human mind. Secondly, they possess powers that could be described as psychic by today's people, but are merely known as magic to the populace of their country:

1. They can control the minds of sentient beings. However, vapid or unintelligent humans, or drunks - generally, people who are not focussed or strong-willed - are resistant to this, as their minds are unfocussed and hard to control. A good analogy for this power would be to think of the frog's mind as a sledgehammer, a strong-willed, intelligent person's mind as a walnut, and a drunk's mind as a fog - the toad can smash the walnut without any kind of problem, but the hammer merely whistles through the fog.

2. They have relatively potent control of the weather, as they can use their minds to raise or lower the pressure of zones, and initiate electrical reactions. Thus they can conjure storms from blue skies, and howling winds from calm days.

3. They can use the above power to create a constant upwards wind directly below them, causing them to levitate.

However, the toads have several weaknesses. Firstly, their extra-dimensional brains are so highly developed as that there is a certain degree of instability, rendering them prone to paranoia, megalomania and kleptomania, while at the same time tending to see the actions of lower beings as a sort of joke.

Secondly, the toads are toads. A well-placed boot would be the end of one.



I now leave it up to the other participants to post their capabilities, so that the war can begin!

correct me if i am doing anything wrong here:
my inniatial army is 2% of my population, a force of 1940000. Later I can summon an army of 970000, to join my current army.
My economy is reasonable and my country also consists of lush forests so i can use the wood and the increased technology to aid the build of siege towers, as well as the use for the creation of bows and ships. My navy consists of 130 military ships and 16250 men. 50 of these ships are from a friendly nation. But many of these are poorly made due to the lack of preparation among the navy for the war. Not only this but many of the navy's recruits are hardened pirates, who despite there experiance are hard to control. However 50 ships within the navy are the best of the navy, ships made by the best of the carpentars of the country with the finest wood within the land. These ships show the finest technology including steel weapons and their captain are experianced generals, used to the ways of war.
There are 100,000 kninghts and 10000 of the light cavalry.Shamonia's cavalry consists of a mix between lightly armoured and quick to manouver soldiers and heavily armoured knights. The knights, although they show arrogance, they also show bravery from their campaigns abroad.
Shamonia also makes use of 500 scouts, nothing much can be said about these, apart from saying they have talent, but are not overly talented. There only strength is training in a variety of environments.
There is a total of 150 devices ready for siege and 2000 mechanics for these devices,Shamonia's siege consists of trebuchets, siege towers and ballistae very simialar to that used by the Romans. There are also catapaults. There is a total of 150 devices ready for siege. I will not specify how much of each, except to say it is largely made up of ballistae and simple catapaults. The people trained for these devices however lack experiance, despite their training, no one is sure if they will be able to use these devices successfully.
Shamonia's standard infantry are well armed and toughened by war, ready for any battle. There are 700,000 of these.
Shamonia also makes use of peasants, poorly equiped and fearfull, no-one expects these to hold. Shamonia's best chance is to chase them towards the enemy. there are 20,000 of these.
There also 100,000 crossbow men and 600,000 bowmen. Both of these groups are lightly armoured but well trained with plenty of ammunition. They are unlikely to break.
Now to make use of my countries special weapon the dragon. Also a being of great intelligence, there ability to fly is unbeatable. within my army there are three types of dragons: black heads, wind warriors and The One. The black heads, 500 of these are controled by 3000 tamers. These lack the ability to fly, but have the ability to drag carts and other tasks in the army, and also to be released into ranks of the enemy. many of times have armies broke under such a fiersome attacks. A further 1000 are the wind warrior dragons. These fly and are used to give aerial attacks. These are ridden by a further 5000 men. Attached to each dragon are 3 riders armed with bows. these are experianced for riding dragons. The One Dragon is the general. This almost all powerful being made the alliance between man and dragon in Shamonia, and it (no say him!) he also is a dragon of great combat and flight. 1556750
There are a further 3250 men used to help transporting and setting up the siege weapons as well as a reserve force of 380000 infantry and kinghts, prepared for war.
Have fun!

"My navy consists of 130 military ships and 16250 men"

*chokes*

Oh good lord I'm dead...even the British in WW1 only had 74 warships...and look what they did to the Germans with 50 ships...

I give Shamonia control of 100,000,000 infantry

They are heavily armed, well trained and are not able to feel pain. Although this does not make them invincilbe it does mean that they are fearless and never run from battle.

the renegades rented out 50 ships for my navy. Sorry i forgot to tell you this

i think he means 10,000,000 men

I give Shamonia control of 100,000,000 infantry

They are heavily armed, well trained and are not able to feel pain. Although this does not make them invincilbe it does mean that they are fearless and never run from battle.

OOC: I think he means 100,000 men. There is no way that he could produce that many soldiers, or even 10,000,000 men without conscripting his citizens. And if he did do that, then I would strongly see this as god-moding. If he conscripted men to fight in someone elses war, when he is that small, then his economy would be dead by now because of his workforce being off in a war. Also, I think this is future tech because of the "not feeling pain" thing.

OOC: I am tempted to get involved in this, but I will have to leave for approx. a 3 hour time gap.

I hope you won't think I'm being pedantic, but Jim's Renegades has vastly over-committed himself.

The maximum military, according to NS rules, should be 5% of your population - less if you are democratic. 5% of Jim's Renegades' population is 8,850,000, so he is 1,250,000 over the maximum military he is allowed, not counting the ships. Then his economy is 'reasonable', and yet, running over the maximum military allowance, his men are heavily armed, well trained and fearless. Then he is an 'Inoffensive Centrist Democracy', which logically should reduce the size of his armed forces...

In my original post, I said:

"The remaining 1000000 men are Rezephua's longbowmen. Again, due to the widely available resource of wood, but poor economy and lack of skilled craftsmen, Rezephua has had to use the most cost-efficient weapons, unable to produce crossbows or warmachines in anything like enough quantity to arm an army. Therefore it relies on a peasant levy, each member of which serves around 2 years in the army after he is called up, armed with longbows - a fast-firing, cheap, but effective weapon."

Do not be confused by the words 'Cheap' or 'Peasant'. I quote from a historical source:

"Benjamin Franklin, no fool, reckons that the American rebels would have won their war much more swiftly had theybeen practised longbowmen, and it is quite certain that a batallion of archers could have outshot and beaten, easily, a batallion of Wellington's veterans armed with smooth-bore muskets."

The longbow, in the real world used only by the English, was a powerful weapon. The peasants who fielded it used it from an early age to hunt and to practice archery, and thus developed a 'bowman's build' - squat, with broad shoulders and a barrel-like torso. The bodkin arrows used could rip through armour, simply because the shaft behind the arrowhead was weighted, so that in its arcing flight, the arrow came down with the weight driving its tip, and quite often struck the head or neck. Therefore, unlike regular bows, the longbow was in fact a superior weapon to the crossbow, while less accurate.

OOC: Ah, what the heck. Medieval tech, sounds fun.

Basic Overview of Frenrir:

We are a Communist Nation with a Thriving economy and 796 citizens. We are very industrious, and have large supplies of iron from the mountains in our homeland. There is little farmland, but we make due with what we have. There are also multiple ports along our northern coastline which can be used for military purposes, but only a fool would try and attck them by sea because of the temperature is also so low, and because of all the iceburgs.

Standard Military Force: ~ 4,000,000 men, 98 Warships, 147 Trebuchets.

Our strength lies in our, well, strength. The nation of Frenrir is a nation of Barbarians who inhabit the artic mountainous region of Everfrost. Therefore, we are inheirantly strong and durable as warriors. We also have a large supply of iron which can be used to make weapons, armor, ect. They are also a bit faster than humans, but with their strength, they shouldn't be slowed down much from all the armor.

Unfortunately, their weakness lies in their size. They are also taller than humans, and therefore make easy targets for arrows. They are also not as smart as Humans, so often times they will make risky charges against enemy posistions. Their chrisma is also quite low (because they are all warriors), so they will have a hard time getting support from the local populations (if force is not used).

Unit Breakdown:

98 Warships make up the Navy, and each is armed with Greek Fire, 3 Culverins, 50 Crew Members, and 25 Marines per ship.

Calvary is scarce, becuase the environment is not compatable for horses to live in it. But, there are a few calvary forces in our army. 2,000 Heavy Calvary armed with Iron Lances, Shields, and Plate Armor; these are often used for charging. There are also 800 Light Calvary armed with Swords, Crossbows, and wear Studded Leather Armor; these are often used for scouting and support roles.

Our seige weapons are primarily made up of trebuchets. We have 147 of them at our disposal, and have a crew of 7, and are used for attacking fortifacations.

The vast majority of our force is made us of Infantary. 1,200,000 men are Spearmen. Armed with Iron tipped spears and armored with plate armor, these troops are often used for "holding the line" against enemy charges. 2,000,000 men make up the Heavy Foot Soldier ranks, armed with swords, Shields, and equipped with plate armor, these troops are heavily armored and armed, making them ideal troops for an attack. The remaining 791,000 troops make up the Crossbow ranks, armed with Crossbows, Leather armor, and Tower Shields (which are used as walls) these troops are often used defensively to support the Spearmen. The reason that these troops are so powerful though, is the fact that their crossbows and bolts are made from evergreen trees; so their shots are more power, and inflict more damage against their target.

IC:

The Communist Empire of Frenrir has reviewed this war, and have decided to act. Rezephua is a socialist nation that has come under attack from another nation who is vastly superior; but we plan to tip the scales. With our stronger economy, with our united State, and with our power as soldiers; The Communist Empire of Frenrir will hereby pledge our support to Rezephua, and will declare war with the nation of Shamonia. For the State! For the People! For Victory!

//signed//
Grand Myrmidon Kronodos Bloodsabre,
The Communist Empire of Frenrir

My ships have left port with the first of Frenrir's military. The enitre Army will arrive in Rezephua in approx. 3 RL hours. They will come in seperate waves, so not all of my force will be there in one trip. Until then, my forces are all centered in Rezephua's capitol city, waiting for the rest of the army to arrive. My forces will remain under my control at all times, but will work with Rezephua's troops as allies.

A point on medieval technology for Frenrir: Plate armour. Plate armour was so expensive (it had to be custom-made, so cost a hell of a lot) that only the noble classes of medieval Europe could afford it, and even they had to pass armour down through the family, making modifications as they went along to fit the new wearers. A hauberk in 1100 (that's not full plate, but the next step down - plates only cover the chest, upper arms, groin and upper thighs) cost 3 warhorses or 12 oxen, and the full equipment of a knight cost upwards of 25 oxen. Therefore the nobles, and the retainers of especially rich overlords or the King, were the only ones who could afford even half-plate or a hauberk. Men-at-arms such as spearmen or pikemen could not afford any such equipment, and any lord trying to equip his vassals with them would be bankrupt in an instant. Also, in the half-plate of around 1200, knights, men trained in armour from the age of about 16, could only fight on foot for about ten minutes before becoming exhausted. The weight of the armour, while not as restrictive as popular belief makes out, actually prompted most knights to have cheap horses in reserve, held by squires, in case their horse were slain.

The standard equipment for a man-at-arms might be a chainmail tunic and a habercon, a kind of padded suit that would guard against poor arrow hits. Richer men-at-arms might be able to afford segments of plate, such as the gut-armour. However, no matter your economy there is no way that such vast quantities of plate armour could be produced.

Having said that, may I express my extreme gratitude at you having joined the cause :D. I only point this out because it would be unfair to criticise my enemies but not my allies for similar actions.

scouts layer out the forest infront of them, the infantry march. the dragons fly above. The cavalry traveling on the flanks, keep an eye out for enemy. Further back dragons drag carts along the ground. The carts are heavy but these are dragons after all. It seems nations gather to fight the Shamonian/renegade army. Further back 10,000 renegade infantry march on the open plains along side the forest. scouts patrol layering the ground. It seems nothing can escape the eyes of the Shamonian army.
Further out at sea the Shamonian/renegade fleet rushs out to intercept the Frenrir new threat, if they miss them, they will head for the rezephua docks.
In the rezephua capital city: Three men walk through an street. Their destination: the slum. oil is spread across the wooden area. 5 dragons plummet from the air unleshing fire from their nostrils, the fire spreads across the city, people start screaming, latter dying...
An offering to the Frenrir. Although i may look to be the aggressor, i see my self as a liberator of the rezephua people, who have been so mistreated by their leaders. He cannot look after his own country. Their leader toads care more about fly catching then helping their people. Besides the rezephua will also recieve strong allies soon, from countries known to me. You are tipping the scales well beyond balance, as in time my country will be outnumbered according to certain sources, by 5:1.

oh by the way my % of a army was judged when i was a dictatorship, when i made my first post. it changed, but i will remain with the same size of an army.

The Lord of Rezephua gazed out as the dragons soared ominously overhead, and grinned. Being a toad, his face was set in a natural grin, but this was an extra big one.

There was a strange squealing noise as the air over the city seemed to twist, pressures plummeting. Saint Elmo's fire flickered from rooftop to rooftop, crackling off weather-vanes, as storm clouds began to rumble towards the city over the mainland. Howling winds drove them hard, blowing the soaring dragons to one side as the clouds crashed in overhead, torrential rain lashing from their bulging underbellies. Struggling, their wings thrashing frantically in the wrath of the tempest, two dragons lost control and began to fall, the rain turning to hail and ripping bloody holes in their wings. They crashed hard against the burning houses below, scattering the converging watchmen as the citizens of Rezephua attempted to quench the blaze. Another was struck by a searing arc of lightning in mid-air, faltering in its flight before beginning to fall, smashing to the ground in the middle of a busy high street with a crash that shook the ground.

Howling in fear, the two remaining dragons wheeled and turned, but now Tlaloc, the Lord's second-in command, turned his gaze to one of the two beasts. His ancient presence quashing the dragon's mind like a ton of bricks, the toad's inherent grin broadened as he wheeled around, flaming the sole remaining dragon's head off before stooping, its white-hot flames ripping a burning streak through the Shamnonian soldiers before a ballista bolt brought it down, crashing to the floor in a fall that crushed many.

"Give the word for the ships to leave port. Cross the flank of the Shamonian line and give them a full broadside, then wheel on their rear. Our allies must arrive in safety."
The armoured man guarding the amphibian ruler turned and blew a massive mountain horn, an answering, faint boom of response echoing back. The Frenririan ships and the line of Shamonians advancing on their flank were visible on the horizon, and as the Shamonians closed range the ships of Rezephua let loose sail, speeding loose in the storm's wind with every scrap of canvas flying. Shouts echoed back from the docks as those defenders on the walls turned to face the sea.

OOC: My loss assessment from Shamonia's attack:
The Northwards section of the city is aflame, being quelled by rain and watchmen.
150 civilians and 40 of my Men-at-arms die from dragon-flame.
50 civilians and 10 of my Men-at-arms die from crushing by dead dragons.

Shamonia, in your loss assessment should include deaths from your army by being flamed/crushed by the controlled dragon, plus the destruction of the dragon flame squadron.

Do not be decieved by Shamonia: It is true I have two powerful allies who will arrive soon. However, Shamonia has another two allies as well, one of whom is extremely powerful, and if he is bright enough he may be able to recruit a fourth, immensely powerful ally.

Whoops, double post

OOC: Frenrir, I need you to follow this up with your fleet. If you don't my navy may well be obliterated.

Captain Skeats stood at the bow of his ship, watching the Rezephua fleet form a line of battle, crossing the 'T' of the Shamonian line. The Shamonian ships were pulling around, attempting to give the speeding vessels of their enemies a volley, but the Rezephua ships had the weather-gage, the wind from the summoned storm blowing them forwards at a tremendous pace while the Shamonian vessels struggled to come around in the face of its force...

There was a crack of cannon-fire that could be heard from the mainland, two Shamonian ships losing their mainsails as they pulled around. Smoke rose from one of the Rezephua fleet as two cannons, overloaded with powder, broke open in a blaze of fire. Keeping the wind behind them, the Rezephua captains shouted the word and a second, tightly-packed volley tore into the Shamonian flank, the crash of breaking timber and the screams of the wounded carrying back to the Rezephua fleet.

Now the Shamonian vessels had managed to pull around, and, the copper below their waterlines showing as they heaved themselves into position, fired a devastating volley. The Pride of Rezephua a 72-gun ship of the line, began to tilt as it was holed below the waterline in several places, the repeated fire of the Shamonians breaking its masts away as it sank. Howling with rage, the crew of Justice and Vengeance hauled their ships around to face, their heavy cannon smashing the offending Shamonian vessel apart and leaving it, sinking and adrift, they turned and crossed the flank of the turned Shamonian ships again as the rest of the fleet drove along behind the advaning Shamonian line, their broadsides smashing rudders and throwing broken timbers into the air, while the Justice aimed a deadly accurate volley at the nearest Shamonian ship, breaking apart and dismounting its starboard guns in shrieks of metal and the screams of those crew who had been crushed under the cannons' shattered bulk. The Vengeance, however, had no such luck, two cannon on its larboard deck misfiring and its volley going wide. Two consecutive cannon-shots broke off its mainmast and ripped across its deck, killing a score of men.

OOC: One Rezephua ship lost, one crippled and crew depleted. Crippled ship and another both suffer from misfires, reducing their firepower. Crippled ship and one other positioned across the flank of the Shamonian line, remaining 17 sailing at high speed behind it, firing on the sterns of the ships with their starboard (right) broadsides. Wind is behind the Rezephua fleet, and blowing from the right flank of the Shamonian one.

Please specify Shamonian losses.

in the last conflict with the rezephua: 10 men-at-arms killed
5 engineers killed
12 dragon riders
4 dragons
in the naval conflict: 2 ships completely sunk
2 crippled but reached shore to be repaired in a new
shamonian camp
55 sailors killed out of 120 remaining fled to shore
tell me if i got this wrong....
The army begins it attack on the Capital city, ignoring the rain from the sky. 10 siege towers line up onto the walls, dragged by the black head dragons. 1 collapses, but the others continue their slow progress
. trebuchet fire and catapault fire begins bringing about horrendous damage upon the Rezephua soldiers upon the wall. Not only this but 20 flying dragons lift a black head onto another wall. In anger the beast slashes out killing a air born dragon, but thankfully it falls upon the enemy wall instead of the main army. 10,000 arrows pour from the sky as the Shamonian archers begin to fire over the wall. Unfortunately a catapault snaps and the rope unleashed like a scythe kills the 15 surrounding mechanics.
The siege towers reach the wall, and a further 30 air borne dragons with their passengers harry the remaining rezephua soldiers. Finally the towers open, unleashing large amounts of men at arms upon the wall. The wall is breached.....
Elsewhere at the new Shamonian encampment a braul breaks out between renegades and shamonians. 5 shamonians men at arms are killed as well as 1 renegade

Loss count: 1 air borne dragon + 3 riders
15 engineers + 1 catapault
120 Shamonian soldiers + 30 wounded
10 renegade soldiers
1 siege tower

Remember you lost forces on the wall, and those within the walls as well, killed by arrows, the black head, siege attacks and when the men at arms reached the wall.

although it seems all ships are distracted by the rezephua attack, a further 40 renegade ships avoid the battle. They are held back:
Jim, the leader of the renegades heres about the shamonian conflict:
"all forces its our time to act. Attack the next wave of Frenrir forces while the rezephua ships are distracted." the message boy is given the orders and runs to the naval leaders. the ships depart towards the Frenrir ships......

The men of Rezephua retreated from the outer wall, allowing the slums to fall into flames behind them. The cumbersome siege towers could not follow them through the narrow streets, and as they fled inwards the gates of the main citadel that enclosed the inner city swung outwards, allowing those who had fled the outer defences in. Longbowmen rose and nocked their bows in a clatter of arrows as the first wave of Shamonians who had broken the wall swept towards them, out of control...

There was an arching flurry of arrows, then a second, a third, a fourth. The screams and yells of dying Shamonians were so great that they echoed up to the defenders of the wall, the longbows continuing their lethal rain as a second wave swarmed along the streets. The wave died to a man, their armoured bodies clogging the highways.

The massive gates swung shut as the last of the defenders of the outer wall fled inside, the howling Shamonian troops coming at the walls again, now hoisting salvaged ladders. Keen for plunder, they were disorganised and scattered, but still some managed to reach the walls, swarming up their ladders with swords drawn. Shouldering the archers aside, men-at-arms met the first attackers to reach the top, blades flashing and carving the exposed besiegers apart. Other men rushed up, pushing the ladders from the walls with axes and barge-poles salvaged from the docks, while all the time the archers continued their volley fire. Shamonian officals rode through the streets, bellowing the order to retreat as their men drew back.

The dragons began to round on the walls, but then nine of the Wind Riders stopped in mid-air, beating their wings, as the attention of the toads turned on them. Rolling and diving, they pitched the riders from their backs and flamed the retreating Shamonian troops below, before coming at their loyal brethren from below. More of the dragons fell, disembowelled by their traitorous kin as the controlled dragons slammed into them. Forked lightning split the sky, sending more fleeing in panic as three of their number were electrocuted, but the fury of the storm was relentless - hailstones rattled against the hides of the dragons, puncturing wings and sending many tumbling to the ground below, smashing into the outer city.

OOC: 2,500 military casualties amongst from the initial assault, men retreat inside inner citadel. The citadel has high, thick walls, and siege towers cannot be brought against it as the streets of the outer city are too narrow. The storm has increased in intensity, and is now hailing.

Your losses should include the absolute slaughter by longbowmen of those men who rushed the citadel.

The seventeen ships behind the Shamonian fleet line altered course as their enemies began to turn to face as a whole, cutting in at a 45 degree angle towards the line, guns firing incessantly down the line of the Shamonian fleet, aiming at masts and cannon batteries with mixed success, as three cannons blew themselves apart but five ships of the enemy ship lost timber and rigging, their massive masts collapsing onto the decks and maiming many. As the Shamonian guns finally found position, the Rezephua ships, two to every one enemy vessel on their part of the line, slammed home...

Boarding parties swarmed over the sides, swords, axes and boat-hooks flashing. As the free Shamonians closed on the now-locked Rezephua ships, the drifting Vengeance and her sister-ship the Justice opened fire from behind, tearing away the rudders of two Shamonian ships. Unable to steer, the crews cried out as they were carried past the conflict at an awkward angle, unable to fire.

Five Rezephua vessels had disengaged now, coming around with broadsides ready to meet the closing attackers as the three ships they had boarded followed them, their Shamonian crews slaughtered to a man. The boom of cannon rang out as the two lines engaged, one recently-taken ship practically exploding from the hits it took while a Shamonian warship was holed below the bow, sinking with alarming speed. More and more Rezephua ships were disengaging from their boarded targets, and now nine captured vessels followed, the Justice sweeping across the rear of the Shamonian fleet with cannon pounding, tearing planks and rudders apart and driving the Shamonians on into the teeth of Rezephua fire, many of the enemy unable to turn at all since their sails and rudders had been smashed away. Turning to cross the line of advancing Shamonians as the enemy vessels wheeled, the Rezephua ships and their prizes opened fire, two Shamonian ships simply shattering and sinking under the broadsides. A third ship had its mainmast smashed away, and a fourth was holed and began to lilt in the water, the pumps working furiously but to no avail. The Justice closed on another Shamonian vessel as their line broke order, trying to bring their guns to bear. A close-ranged volley tore apart the larboard flank of the ship and killed many crewmen as the Justice swung in beside it, angry crewmen pouring over the broken deck and seizing the ship in a brief battle, the terrified Shamonians fleeing into the cabins where they were cornered and butchered. Seeing the ship to be no use in its damaged state, the crewmen set its course and left, allowing the dead vessel to smash into another of its kind, immobilising the two as a Rezephua ship and a captured vessel took the crewed one on either side, blowing away its gun batteries and holing it several times.

Moving in staggered formation through the Shamonian line, the Rezephua ships began to take losses as they came broadside to broadside with their better-armed enemies. A Rezephua ship sunk, and a Shamonian-ship-of the line blew the masts from one of the prizes before closing, re-taking the ship. However, the skeleton crew of Rezephua sailors were loyal to the last, torching their powder supply and blowing their own ship and the Shamonian boarders sky-high rather than let the enemy take it back. Shouting the order, Keats withdrew his ships, tacking against the wind as they made for the docks, turning and giving one last, parting volley to the feebly pursuing Shamonians that splintered decks and maimed crewmen, but did no significant damage.

OOC: The Rezephua fleet captures nine ships, of which one is destroyed as well as one of their own. Most of my ships have now lost guns to enemy fire or to misfires, and are making for port with their battered prizes. The Vengeance, masts and rudders lost, now drifts out to open sea in front of the Frenrir fleet.

I think the main battle has now been broken off, as both sides take stock and re-group. Let us wait for our allies to arrive before a second assault on the citadel or a Rezephua sally takes place - in the meantime Shamonia still has the attack on the Frenrir fleet to amuse him.

One thing I would like - please don't take the Citadel in one post. The outer walls I could stand, but the Citadel is a very strong fortification and will take a long time, and many assaults, to crack.

The disposition of my forces at the moment:

The Rezephua navy now has 17 ships, many with misfired cannon. It has 8 remaining ships that massed boarding actions took over from the Shamonians, with minimal crews, and all vessels are headed for port. Once I can press enough sailors and repair battle-damage, this will give me 25 ships, 8 with steel guns.

1,550 Men-at-arms are dead, leaving me with 1015250. 1,000 longbowmen are dead, leaving me with 999000.

I agree, but the naval attacks are just getting embarrassing. Final post for now:

5 ships leave the Shamonian port out towards sea. As the approach the rezephuan dock 5 dragons burst forth attacking a couple of rezephuan ships. fireballs are hurled at one ex-shamonian ship till a fireball strikes the gun powder supply. The ship explodes destroying a rezephuan ship next to it. the 5 dragons retreat to the 5 ships and take up a pentagon position. each one emits a low moan loaduly across the sea. from the depths of the sea explodes leviathan, the second greatest dragon of them all. It stops, sniffs then heads out towards the approaching enemy ships, the frenrir. This beast has skull with defences to the toads. It is strong and powerful, but not invicible. it also lacks the ability to fly, but instead swims five times faster than the nearest fastest ship. It is basicially a very very strong and fast ship.
elsewhere...... a further 40 ships leave the Shamonian harbour. These fan out around the rezephuan harbour. a naval blockade.
at the Shamonian camp: 20 men at arms executed for the act made earlier on in the day, all leaders of the chaos caused by the looting.

The battle so far:
the loss of 14 ships either through capture or destruction
30 dragon riders
4120 men at arms
20 engineers
100 sailors
30 archers
0 cavalry
12 air dragons
1 siege tower
1 black head
1 catapault

OOC: Sorry guys, but I got some bad news. I'm not going to be able to RP today due to family member's birthday party, so I'll be on tomorrow and pick up where ever the RP has left off.

Also, I read the post about Full Plate, and I'm changing that. All the troops that had Full Plate are being changed to having Chain Mail aromor instead. (my bad).

Until I get back, my ships and men are still at home preparing to be sent off to the front. I'm not engaged in the war yet. Sorry.

Suddenly, a detachment of Blood Angels lands and butchers everyone on the planet.... War over (sorry, I remember this from one of your previous RP wars)


Anyway, Swordsalot is an armed republic only around 50 km West of Rezephua. While having a relatively small of around 20 million, it has high conscription rates when it feels it is under attack, and these soldiers tend to be well equipped by the wealthy government. Although most of the troops are the eqivalent of a peasant class, they are reasonably well trained and led, with most sports having been banned in preference for hunting, riding, fencing, wrestling and shooting practice. Although they know that their army of only 800,000 cannot have much effect in a pitched battle with anyone else's army, and no navy to speak of, with their bows they could ambush anyone entering their realm, from the thick forests surrounding their villages, and from mountains to their North. The Capital is built into this mountain range. Every single soldier carries a bow, sword and tough leather clothing, acting as a weak armour. Around 50,000 peasants own horses, which they will be using to form a light strike force, wherever they may be needed.

OOC:
So, I will be neutral, defending my own realm with 750,000 guerilla fighters spread thinly around my lands and a force of 50,000 light cavalry to react to any major attacks.

"Sir we have found the Free land pass" spits leutenant Corun "Not only do they have to pass through Swordsalot land to reach the rezephua, but they have to come through an Great toad valled. This has recently desetered by the rezephua to defend the city. It is a narrow valley, easily defended by a small force. The only alternative is a six month walk through the mountains"
General Ronoc stares into the fire......"Right! send 100,000 infantry to the pass, along side them 10,000 crossbows, 10 ballistae and 80,000 longbows."
The army marches nearly all approaching allies pass through the valley. the Shamonian army will hold it.

Else where......leviathan awaits the arrival of the Frenrir. whether its today or tomorrow, it will wait.

OK, so I've lost 2 iron-cannoned ships and 1 steel-cannoned one, leaving me with 22 ships, 7 with steel cannon.

I'm confused by your last post. Who are Free Land? What is Great toad valled?

IC: The toads look around at the vast mass of shifting Shamonians from their towers within the citadel, their grins lessening. There were so many of these dragons...something would have to be done. Chilipepa, the Lord of Rezephua, turned his eyes to the sea, noticing the great, scaled shape swimming through the water. They were besieged and surrounded, and their allies were in danger.

A thought-impulse brought three other toads looking round to Chilipepa, and the Lord quickly communicated what needed to be done. The storm clouds overhead rippled and bulged, building to an insane size as they spread out over the city. Hail returning once more to rain as the black clouds rolled over the Shamonian encampents, the crossbowmen, who could not unstring their weapons, ran for shelter as their powerful bows were soaked. Lightning flickered, striking the mast of one of the blockading Shamonian ships and setting it alight, men diving, alight, into the water as their vessel tilted and went down, its mainmast blazing to the end. More lightning sizzled in the seawater, the electricity running rampant around the blockaders and starting many small fires. Another ship blew itself apart as a fire reached its powder magazine, crumpling and sinking into the water.

Two massive trebuchets in the Shamonian camps were smashed by a bolt of forked lightning, their burning timbers raining down on the men-at-arms below. As the army struggled to disperse, they found the earth beneath their feet turning to mud, bogging them down as yet more bursts of white electricity ripped down from the crowds. More bolts crashing against the water around the Leviathan, the great beast screaming in pain as electricity crackled in the water around it, scoring black lines across its body.

A corridor opened in the storm, however, as the Frenririan ships neared port, safe passage amongst the raging sea and sky...

Great toad valley, is a valley within your lands that most allies who aim to help you must come through. We called it the Free Land pass because we are to defend it against the Free land owners, when they come.
Losses
2 ship
2 trebuchets
10 sailors
5 engineers
HOWEVER Leviathan is still alive and will be back in combat within 2 days. Only the first wave of frenrir as made a safe crossing, which is about 20 ships and 400 men/ sailors. He does not have enough ships to transport his whole army.

The One stared at the great citadel, its anger and frustration evident. ROAR ROAR ROAR. It rose in the air rleasing jets of flames towards the citadel. men, believing their safety behind the great wall were fried alive. A toad steped forward, a broad grin forming on its face. The One froze in mid air for a second, then released a jet of fire into the toads quarters. The room was set ablaze, the toad fried. Great flames struck a small gun powder supply sending killing all the men within the room.
Within the claws of this great enormous animal are 3 black heads, that are dropped deliberately in the baracks to hunt down any humans they find away from the toads. They explode into a room 20 soldiers reach for their swords but are cut down in seconds. 5 men run into the room, and quickly run out. the leader of the black heads leaps unto one, crushing him immdeiatly and paws at the other men. The beasts strike through the building, covered in enemy blood, hungry for more, with deliberate orders to avoid the toads quarters.

The great general Ronoc stares across the Citadel, watching the smake rise from the burning within.
He turns to his leutenants: "start the construction of 4 forts, one in great toad valley, 3 surrounding this ugly city. use the nearby forrests. Also construct new siege weapons"
The general stares back at the citadel

Their howls of rage at the death of one of their number ringing through the minds of those nearby, the toads rose into the air, shrieking winds bearing them skywards as The One flapped back towards his own lines. The great dragon felt his mind caught between four others, and yowled and struggled in the air as he felt his jaws swing involuntarily open. Fire raked from his jaws down upon his own troops, playing left and right to the screams of dying Shamonians. Shaking off the control of the toads, the One suddenly spasmed and began to plummet as one of its wings snapped involuntarily shut, regaining control only at the last moment. Lightning arced around it, and, yowling in fear and pain, it fled back behind its own lines.

The other four toads floated towards the rampaging black heads within their own lines, their troops fleeing before the ferocious assault of the dragons. One by one, the dragons turned and walked calmly over to the gates of the citadel, stopping just behind them. Their minds crushed by those of the toads, they had lost all control of themselves, and guarded the gate against the Shamonians.

OOC: 25 men-at-arms dead from the black heads' attack, 75 archers and 1 toad dead from the flames of the One. The three black heads are now under the control of Rezephua.

The Which King has allied himself with Rezephua And aids his lake of cost and tech by supplying gold, silver and iron along with repeter crossbows able to fire 5 shots in the time it takes to shoot 1 crossbow bolt and 500 dragon warriors Led by Lord Calador the king of the Dragon warriors and if he is already defeted The High one will take it back and hand the throne to the most able peson let the Dragons of Calordor Show what war is

losses:
3 black heads
10 men at arms

The One retreated into cover.
"Lord a new enemy approaches" screams the messanger to Lorn Ronoc. "500 dragon warriors approach the pass!"
"500! hahahaha" laughs Ronoc
at the pass......
500 dragon warriors approach but as they near the pass 800 arrows arc through the sky. within seconds the warriors numbers decrease by half as well as their mounts. A further 500 cross bow bolts scream into the remaining dragon warriors. But these warriors are brave. The remaining ten reach the infantry line. the dragons ridden by the riders are overcame, and the riders are slaughtered. The Calador king is held ransom in a secret location.
45 dragons are captured
elsewhere across rezephuan territory.....
groups of Shamonian light cavalry attack various villages stealing anything of worth. 800 people are taken into slavery and sold.
a further 600 people are used to build the Shamonian forts.
losses:
5 light cavalry
2 men at arms

Catapaults and trebuchets have all metals covered up, lightning strikes are even less likely
WHOMP! another rock smashs into the great citadel wall. At the same time archers unleash arrow after arrow over the walls.
WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP!
the wall stands.
a black head belonging to the rezephuan is crushed under a mighty stone.
arrow after arrow screams over the wall. the archers quickly retreat. newly constructed battering rams crash into the citadel gates. BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!. The gate resists. arrows come from the the rezephuan walls. soldiers retreat....
Lord Ronoc watches the attacks that are repeated through the day and night.....
losses:
30 men-at-arms
10 long bows

The Shamonians were massing for another attack, their hastily-constructed portable rams being dragged through the streets by teams of oxen.

"All longbows to the walls!" came the yell, Rezephua longbowmen in their distinctive green livery rushing onto the ramparts, the heavy crenellations of the walls shielding them from enemy fire. The Shamonian crossbowmen tried to lend their firepower, but their damp bowstrings plucked and twanged in a miserable effigy of bowfire, failing to propel their bolts with any speed or range. There was a clatter of wood from behind the ramparts and then the longbowmen stood as one, firing volley after volley down upon their enemies. Men died in swathes, the rams running up over ridges of fallen bodies as arrows hissed around them, slaying the crews of many. As they reached the walls, buckets of boiling quicklime were upturned, falling with great speed from the high ramparts and scalding men to death below them.

Still the battered rams came on, nearing the gates. With a great screech of metal, the gates swung open and the two controlled land-dragons surged forwards, backed by the full force of the Rezephua cavalry. Lightning flashed around the Shamonian assault force as the intensity of Rezephua bowfire increased, the screams of the dying tremendous. Both controlled dragons hit the milling Shamonian lines like sledgehammers, arrows from the Rezephua walls stippling their thick hides without a show of pain Behind them, the cavalry formed into a galloping wedge, driving hard into the mass of Shamonian infantry and slicing through their disorganised ranks, the terror and confusion caused by the dragons preventing the men-at-arms putting any real resistance against the mounted warriors. Crashing through the Shamonian lines, they broke through the band of men-at-arms and rode hard at the archers, hunjering low and shielding their bodies with broad, wooden shields as arrows rattled against them. Many died in the charge, but finally they crashed home, sending archers and crossbowmen fleeing in all directions. A wholesale slaughter was taking place, the knights breaking from their wedge into a loose formation as they rode down the fleeing enemies, bowmen and crossbowmen hacked down or trampled. Following on the impetus of their charge, they rushed and swarmed around the war-machines that had been brought against the walls, butchering crews and torching the wooden constructions in great numbers. Finally, making the most of the confusion as it lasted, the cavalry turned and retreated, the arrows of those surviving archers clattering against their armoured backs. The gates clanged shut behind the last retreating knight as the Shamonian horde overcame the two dragons, regrouping and retreating over the bodies of the dead.

OOC: 75 of my 250 heavy cavalry, 50 of my longbowmen and the two remaining dragons under mind-control are dead, in return for a wholesale butcher of the Shamonian missile-troops and war-machines. Men-at-arms take heavy losses from the two dragons and Rezephua longbows.

The nomadic tribes of Calordor wish to show their good will to Shamonia we shall give them 10000 troops for him to comand but not to misuse. whith them I will send 50 Ships with repeter bolt throwers and these will assist with the defence of the freedom pass but only for this fight and any futher conflict might force us to withdraw

As do the corsair of Korhedron will supply 50 ship with a regiment of corsairs each to houner the new lord of these terrertoris

Delayed by the preperation of the troops, and the condidtion of the weather, the Frenriran Navy was underway for Rezephua. And eventually, they reached the shores. The F.N.S. Red Sea was commanded by Comrade Commodore Travinof, his orders were to aviod any engagement with Shamonian ships until after the Army had disembarked on Rezephua soil. Unfortunately, that did not seem possible.

"Comrade Commodore, there is a fleet of warships blocking the coastline, we cannot land the men until we break through their line!"

"Is there another way around?"

"Yes, Comrade Commodore, but it would take another hour, at least."

"Where would we drop the men if we went around?"

"The Great Toad Valley, Comrade Commodore. There lies a great citidel under Rezephua control. We could organize the men there, and then move them out to attack Shamonia."

"Very well, but we will need to keep the enemy fleets busy. Hmm,"

After 5 long days on the open seas, the Commodore's senses were begining to fade. Luckily though, he had an idea.

"Send the 8 ships with the crossbowmen aboard to intercept the fleet, and keep them busy. We will sail around, disembark the men, and then return to the battle here and allow the crossbow ships to disengage and drop off their soldiers in the Great Toad Valley."

"Yes, Comrade Commodore, it will be done at once!"

With that, the 8 ships with crossbowmen aboard set quarter sail for the enemy fleet; while the rest of the fleet set full sail for their trip around. Knowing that the crossbow fleet would sustain heavy casualties if the rest of the fleet did not arrive quickly, the Commodore had put top priority on his ships' speed, hoping to be back within the hour.

The ships that were placed with orders to engage were put under the command of Comrade Captain Darion from his ship the F.N.S. Red Lightining. He felt that he was leading his men to their doom, but he felt that the men would all become great soldiers for their State, which is the greatest honor of all.

losses:
200 men at arms
400 longbows
200 crossbows
20 of the biggest catapaults

Lord ronoc looked on his new allies swelling his armies. Frenrir Ships appeared heading for great toad valley. ROAAAARRRRR
Leviathan explodes from underneath them, unfortunately for them they had disturbed him. The dragon tore apart 3 ships within a matter of seconds. At the same time 40 renegade ships long forgotten struck the Frenrir fleet. Corsair ships pour into the Frenrir enemies. Utter destruction.
ROAR ROAR ROAR. The dragon grabs two more ships, and drags them under the sea. A further 3 ships are captured by the corsairs, who quickly command them to the Shamonian port. The 40 renegade ships swing past the Frenrir firing as they come parrallel to them. The Freneri enemies fight back, but too late. one renegade ship is smashed as closed fire smashs its hull, but finally the Frenrir ships seeing the possible destruction of their whole navy mutiny fleeing in great fear pursued by the renegade ships and the Leviathan.

losses:
10 corsairs
1 renegade ship
20 sailors

General Ronoc laughs at the sight at sea, then turns back to the Citadel.
Great effort was being made to break the citadel. It resisted well compared to the outer walls of the city. More catapults were brought forward.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Walls were crumbling, but not destroyed.
More rams came forward BOOM BOOM CRASH the gate fell
men poured in to find dismounted knights. the knights were over came within seconds and butchered. They poured across the citadel hacking and slashing. baracks of soldiers were wiped out. crossbow men finally got their crossbows working and quickly wiped out the upper wall of archers.
the soldiers regrouped remembering previous mistakes, and smashed through the milling rezephuan infantry. Finally the Shamonian were pushed into a retreat, and could only watch as the rezephuans baracaded the gate. Despite this the rezephuans had lost heavily in knights, archers and men at arms. The shamonians quickly reformed and awaited the next signal of attack.

losses
5000 men at arms
300 crossbows

The Black Corsairs are assisting the Great Shamonia by supplying a army of 1000 men plus 30 ships and 1000 Jakels, fast troops that can jump as high as most walls to help in the destruction of the Great catical

The Black Corsair Leader Shadowblade has just requested we get all Animals such as sheep and cows to put on the plain of Anubis for sacrafice.

Before I continue, I must protest. You demolish the gate and crumble the walls for the loss of 75 people, when the walls are lined with nigh-on one million well-protected longbowmen. Also, you lose only 75 missile troops from my sally!

Also, this is merely my suspicion, but I think that "Black Corsairs", "Korhedron", "Naggeroth" and "Calerdor" may be the same person using many puppet nations. This I gauge from the similar typing style, unanimous low post count and the fact that the names are all taken from two similar Warhammer races.

I will admit that but I don't Know how to post when I accerdently post them (I Write replies and accedently post so ignor black corsairs as I don't use them any more)

OK, well for your information, using puppet nations to supply extra armies in RPs is frowned upon. Please decide upon one nation to use. I entirely appreciate that you may not have understood, and thank you for being honest :)

I will try to post a map of the region soon, so that engagements can be clearly tracked.

OK the population of the kingdom of James the mighty is 219 million it has a pwerhouse economy, a large amount of its funding directed into the military and a black market weapons trade, coupled with this it has been fighting a war with the MMM for 3 months (real time) so i think that they should have 3.1% of their population in their army = 7 million men who are describeded below.

The armies of james the mighty are colourful and varied, built upon a strong faith in their god (Sarig) they believe that they gain honour in killing for their lord also due to their long covert war withy the MMM aside from some elite units their army has seen little action but their spies and assasins are experts in fighting behind enemyt lines, creating disruption and chaos in enmy forces.

infantry; the army of sarig contains 4 million trained heavy infantry, this army lacks skirmishers the heavy infantry have a rigorous fitness routine which allows them to fight for a while despite their meadium to heavy armour and their weighty polearms and swords. the infantry are slow and are vulnerable against skirmishers but in close quarters can carve infantry apart and even hold their own against cavalry as long as they keep their battle line intact because due to inexperience the soldiers may break if hit by confusion


the army also has 1 million religious fanatics these men believe that the're perpose in life is to die in battle they are little more than peasants and get slaughtered by any form of archers but fight with incredible ferocity. useful in close quarters, quite fast vulnerable to archers, skirmishers and cavalry

ranged troops: because of wide spread deforestation the armies of Sarig are poorly equipped for ranged warfare, long ago they chose to use the crossbow ver the bow and now carry a very heavy crossbow which allows their crossbowmen to make up for inaccuracy with the power of their weapons. some elite units use pavises=1 million crossbowmen. good against cavalry or heavily armoured infantry will get slaughtered by enemy archers or most things in close combat. poorly trained bcause the faith of Sarig thinks that honour is highest in close combat

cavalry: the main strength of the forces of sarig are their knights templar who served well in the wars for Atlantis and China they are heavy cavalry of the finest order slow but hitting like a hammer and encased in steel armour weilding lances which they then discard for a variety of swords and axes. strong cavalry quick to tire due to heavy armour slow but hit like a hammer on the charge

1 million men

I shall enter this on the side of Rezephua!

My army:
5 million strong (excluding logistics). I have 2% of the population in the army; this is due to the Mendanau crisis that forced FOFLO to put more spending into the army and to recruit more troops. However my economy is weak so I have little in the way of armour.

What it consists of:
1 million light infantry equipped with Dacian hook swords. (A Dacian hook sword is a huge double-handed sword that curves outwards. The spike at the top of the weapon is what is used to split the skull of the foe on the downward stroke. The charge of this type of troops is devastating, although if the enemy holds then they are likely to loose the combat as well as many, many men.)

1.5 million Horse archers (These skilled riders wear little or no armour and carry only a short sword in the way of combat protection, however they carry the formidable composite bow and have mastered firing from the saddle. These riders are extremely vulnerable to combat attacks, although you would be a lucky man if you managed to catch them, they can out run any form of combat cavalry and always fire on the move which means even archer fire is hard pressed to hit them. They will either work in fairly small groups harassing the enemy or in huge numbers so they can rain down their arrows on the enemy lines. The composite bow is a short ranged but incredibly powerful bow that is perfect for horse archers.

1.5 million light/medium cavalry (These riders wear light chain mail and open bottomed helms. They carry both a short sword and a heavy weight spear for offence as well as a round wooden shield for protection. Although not as damaging or armoured as heavy cavalry these troops rely on their movement and decent punch on the charge to buckle infantry lines. They attempt to go round the flanks as opposed to the head on charge that is common with heavy cavalry. Vulnerable to sustained combat or missile fire, these riders really benefit from the hit and run style of attack which they have learnt to use to their advantage so well)

0.5 million heavy cavalry (

250,000 javelin throwers

250,000 heavy cavalry



i will finish this off in a few hours. Please ignore untill then :)

Atlantico is pledging 3% of it's 179,000,000 population to the aid of Shamonia and The Renegades. The total army size is 5.37 Million.

2 Million of these are highly skilled, highly trained swordsmen. These troops are shouded in mystery, and wear black cloaks - They are equiped with expensive forged steel swords. As they are surrounded in mystery, they cannot be controlled, so they cannot act together. They never flee battle and fight to the death.

I am commiting 500,000 catapaults, that will be positioned along the mountain pass. They will be extremely weak to close combat units, but as they are located on the ridge they cannot be easily reached.

I am also going to build towers along the ridge of the pass. They will vbe built using imported wood from Shamonia, as my forests are non-existent. This will slow their production, but they will increase the defence of the pass. They will be built with the help of my 500,000 engineers. These engineers will also maintain the seige weapons on the ridge.

I will send 1 Million Heavy Cavalry to defend the entrance to the region, and they will be only used for defensive purposes for the moment.

Finally I have 500,000 Elite short range archers, that although are not very accurate at long ranges, have an extremey high rate of fire.

The rest of my army will be kept in reserve.

I have a Thriving Economy, and my region type is Inoffensive-Centrist Democracy.

The empire Of Lesser Tsurani will supply 300 Kraken to destroy the navy of Shamonia and will assit Rezephua ater his navys destruction to creatures of the deep. A blak robe Sorrceror will assist the kraken.
Plus 50 ships shall attack the position with them.


OOC This is going to set things right. All of my armeis besides Lesser Tsurani have withdrawn dew to internal probolams, so any support from them is null and void. That meanes Shamonia has lost 70 Or 80 ships. and jakels and stuff

I'm sorry, but I must ask you to withdraw, or at least to read the rules of both this RP and the general RP rules. 1. You are a small nation, therefore your army should be weak, 2. your forces are rather ridiculous. The 'Black Sorcerer', I have been informed, is an immensely powerful mage, and Krakens, from general mythology, I gauge to be immensely powerful. 300? You will have naval dominance on a scale hitherto unseen! 3. With the addition of FoFLO and James the Mighty, this fantasy army overbalances the scale of power towards me to such an extent as to make this conflict pointless.

Damn, double post

In the interests of preserving the balance of power, I now declare this RP closed (apart from Ix Ta, who we know is still to join the Shamonian forces).

Here s the final thing, I will tell you what I am doing later. :)

I shall enter this on the side of Rezephua!

My army:
5 million strong (excluding logistics). I have 2% of the population in the army; this is due to the Mendanau crisis that forced FOFLO to put more spending into the army and to recruit more troops. However my economy is weak so I have little in the way of armour.

What it consists of:
1 million light infantry equipped with Dacian hook swords. (A Dacian hook sword is a huge double-handed sword that curves outwards. The spike at the top of the weapon is what is used to split the skull of the foe on the downward stroke. The charge of this type of troops is devastating, although if the enemy holds then they are likely to loose the combat as well as many, many men.)

1.5 million Horse archers (These skilled riders wear little or no armour and carry only a short sword in the way of combat protection, however they carry the formidable composite bow and have mastered firing from the saddle. These riders are extremely vulnerable to combat attacks, although you would be a lucky man if you managed to catch them, they can out run any form of combat cavalry and always fire on the move which means even archer fire is hard pressed to hit them. They will either work in fairly small groups harassing the enemy or in huge numbers so they can rain down their arrows on the enemy lines. The composite bow is a short ranged but incredibly powerful bow that is perfect for horse archers.

1.5 million light/medium cavalry (These riders wear light chain mail and open bottomed helms. They carry both a short sword and a heavy weight spear for offence as well as a round wooden shield for protection. Although not as damaging or armoured as heavy cavalry these troops rely on their movement and decent punch on the charge to buckle infantry lines. They attempt to go round the flanks as opposed to the head on charge that is common with heavy cavalry. Vulnerable to sustained combat or missile fire, these riders really benefit from the hit and run style of attack which they have learnt to use to their advantage so well)

0.5 million heavy cavalry (These guys are not as heavily armoured as most heavy cavalry, although they are ferocious warriors - the equivalent of Avar nobles in MTW. These are faster then most heavy cavalry and have the same punch, although they are far more vulnerable then common heavy cavalry. The horse wears a heavy mail skirt, which makes it more armoured then its rider who wears fairly light armour and carries a tear drop shield. This is so the rider can remain agile whilst on horse back and is not caught off guard by flank or rear attacks. This is further helped by the fact that the rider does not wear a full-face helm, which increases the rider’s visibility.

250,000 javelin throwers (these un-armoured skirmishing troops are the bane of heavy infantry, although very vulnerable to both missile fire and light cavalry. The main advantage of these troops in their speed and equipment. Having no armour means these men can run at full pelt, outpacing heavy infantry, whilst their weapons are short ranged but powerful, capable of puncturing even the toughest of armour.

250,000 Master Infantry (Equiped with a light bow, shield, light mail, open bottom helm and a single handed hook sword, these guys are pretty good at everything. But very vulnerable to a cavalry charge).

oops

Elsewhere at the the Free pass:
scouts of Shamonia fan out, ready for any enemy movement, each armed with a flint and sufficient oil to light a fire arrow that would act as a signal.
Light cavalry also scout the pass, and dragons patrol the skies.

The retreating Rezephuan army is harrassed as light cavalry uses swift lighting raids upon the vunerable army. Not only this but soldiers are shot at constantly by longbows. When the source of these arrows are found, the archers quickly flee to safety. 5 dragons swoop from the sky unleashing a scorching shot of flames into the closed formation infantry, arrows come up to meet the dragons, but the dragons quickly pull out of range. Despite this a dragon is pitched to the ground crushing five men around it. Various ambushes continue as the Rezephuans flee ever fearfull of the possibility of a open battle, which would lead to immediate Rezephuan death.

Elsewhere at the the Free pass:
scouts of Shamonia fan out, ready for any enemy movement, each armed with a flint and sufficient oil to light a fire arrow that would act as a signal.
Light cavalry also scout the pass, and dragons patrol the skies.

losses:
1 dragon + 3 riders
3 longbows

by the way i expect heavy rezephuan losses from the siege, much more than what the Shamonians suffered icluding the various ambushes outside the capital city. Any attacks on the pass will alert my forces straight away, so i am allowed 1 post before the attack actually happens.

I am not happy :(.

1. You still have not noticed the main (and achieved) purpose of the knights' sally. The citadel walls are extremely high and thick (I had a very good economy at one point, before my priorities went to the environment). A massive and concentrated barrage would be required to break them. Your large original war machines are unable to move through the streets of the city, as they are too big. The ones that can are too small to really damage the actual structure of the walls. The only war machines capable of damaging the citadel walls would be ones built on site - which my cavalry burnt! You simply haven't got the capacity to do what you said you did.

2. You do not understand the ratios of a siege (not an attack on you, merely an observation). In many strategy games, a wall is an obstacle. In real life, it is defended by men, standing on the ramparts. These men are not only armed with missile weapons, but also have a superb vantage point when attacking anyone trying to scale the ramparts. The battlements shield them, and they have the advantage of height as well as the opportunity to push opponents off the walls and overturn scaling ladders while they occupy a safe position. A castle is a "point of power" - a body men in a castle, depending on its design, are worth about three to ten times as much from a strategic standpoint as a body of men of equal size, skill and equipment, standing on an open field. Therefore it is very difficult, even with superior numbers, to overwhelm castles, and the attacker will almost invariably take extremely high losses. An example - in the film "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", about 2,000 men hole up in Helm's Deep against 10,000 Uruk-hai. Even armed with explosives and heavy armour, the Uruk-hai take insane casualties and take a very long time to capture the outer walls. Only a small cavalry force is required to break the siege, such are the losses they suffer, due to the fact that the men are in a castle.

When you consider that they were half conscripts, armed with bows and there were 2,000 of them, and that I have 990,000 trained longbowmen stationed on my walls, backed by over a million combat soldiers...

3. I asked that you did not take the citadel in one post.


BTW, the map is being problematic to upload. I hope I'll have it up soon.

As the Shamonian war council sat around a master crafted table eagerly waiting cooks world famous stew, a messenger from the FOFLO troops arrived. Bowing the man entered the tent and delivered his letter. Bowing again he began to read it:

"I come at the head of an army of 50 million men. If you surreneder now we will allow you to leave this region alive, failing to comply will result in the extermination of your soldiers. - RasputinII, leader of the FOFLO army."

As he listened the Shamonian general spat his food out crying withy disgust. The FOFLO messenger added, "And the leader of JTM's army said that next time his agents won't just put avocado in your food!"

A part of the 1% has arrived to match the new enemies building up= 651500 men
By the way is there a rule that states that as you join the war, your army is only the % of your population has you join the war, e.g. as your population grows it does not affect you joining the war. the remaining % are on their way towards the pass
So my new army:
30,000 elite foot soldiers. These are heavily armed and have tons of experiance as well as being disciplined. The have breast plates, chain mail and a sword and shield. The men are largely funded by the slaves sold by the Shamonian's and the loot collected. They have never been beaten by an army of the same size or lower.
100,000 Long bows, same as before
2000 airborne dragons + each with 3 riders
3000 black heads with 1000 tamers
200,000 light cavalry, same as before
20 Catapaults funded again by loot and slavery + 500 engineers
100,000 standard infantry
50,000 inexperianced cavalry archers
40,000 peasants
50,000 heavy cavalry
20,000 crossbows
50,000 light armoured/inexperianced infantry
4000 special siege technicians trained in the ways of how to break a siege

Here is the map:

http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL306/1773808/3413953/44098642.jpg

The reduction in size has blurred it a bit, but basically here is the key:

White circles are towns or villages, marked by a T or a V. This is very hard to distinguish here, BUT doesn't matter that much.

Pale brown lines are roads.

Lumpy, dark green is rainforest and forest.

The lighter green to the North is open grass plain.

The very light yellowish-green to the South is steppes.

Ferns indicate swampland

If a town or village has smoke rising from it, the Shamonians and their allies have sacked it and occupied it.

Red tents (they look like blobs due to the reduction of the map) indicate the encampments of the Shamonians and their allies.

The blue dotted line indicates my border with Swordsalot.

The red dotted line indicates my border with Shamonia.

The blue is the sea.

The green, two-layered thing which most of the roads converge on is the city. The inner layer represents the citadel and the docks.

Mountains are represented by pretty pictures of mountains.

Great Toad Valley is the gap in the mountains, where two red tents are placed representing the Shamonian and Atlantico defences. The words saying "Great Toad Vallye" have unfortunately become blurred.

The green word in the sea, for those who can't make it out, says "Frenrir", and is indicating the direction from which the Frenririan ships will arrive.

The lone red tent on the coastline is the makeshift port of the Shamonians.

@Shamonia: No, there's no problem with you bringing in a new army, especially since my largest allies have emerged. However, they will, I hope, not just be appearing next to my walls now that we have a map: I have marked the Shamonian border. I myself may be using my now-improved economy to better equip my troops, and maybe try to stage a peasant rebellion in the occupied Northern towns.

My losses from the thing where you surged in and burnt barracks before being driven back: 1950 Men-at-arms in their barracks, 900 civilians sheltering within the Citadel, 25 of my knights.

Now, 2 occurrences: The Rezephua fleet attempts to break the blockade, and the defenders of the Citadel strengthen their defences.

IC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAVAL ATTACK

Admiral Aubrey extended the brass telescope, watching the Shamonian blockade around the port of Rezephua. Forty ships-of-battle, varying in size and guns, floated with broadsides presented to the docked fleet of Rezephua. His ships had the advantage in size and experience, but the Shamonian ships were better gunned and fresh, while his ships vessels were weather-worn and battle-scarred. Any attempt to run his fleet of 22 into the blockade would be naval suicide, death in the face of the superbly arrayed guns of their foe.



“Midshipman Atkins!”

“Aye, m’lord?”

“Run up the signal flags. Fleet to remain at dock until further sign. Tell the men to run up a white flag on the mainmast, and bring us around to centre dock, before the fleet.”

“White flag?”

“White flag, Atkins. Set Sails!”

His last remark, boomed at the top of his voice, set the sailors aboard the RRS Dauntless a-scurry, lifting the battleship’s massive sails in drifts of light green as they began to bar the ship forwards. There were shouts and cries aboard the Shamonian fleet as they saw the white flag flying above the Admiral’s vessel, a midshipman and a lieutenant being lowered over the side of the Dauntless in a dinghy, with a crude sail attached.



Now the signal-mast of the Dauntless was brought around to be visible to the captains of the blockade. As the signals of treaty rippled up the mast, Aubrey lifted a cone of tin and held it to his mouth, the echoing tube amplifying his voice enough to drift over the waters to the blockade commander as he bawled into it.

“We are sending a man with our agreements! Prepare to receive him aboard!”



The Shamonian command vessel ran out colours of truce, sailing forwards as the dinghy moved towards it. At last, the Shamonian sailors lowered ropes - but no-one pulled back from the dinghy. Looking down, they saw that the figures they had seen descending into the dinghy as it cast off were two casualties of the last battle, dressed in uniform. They barely had time to speak before the fuses on the barrels of gunpowder they were sitting on wore down in a growling splutter of sparks...



The white flag aboard Aubrey’s ship flashed down as the Shamonian blockade command ship was blown apart, flaming timbers and bodies raining into the water. Trumpets blew across the Citadel as the Rezephua fleet surged forwards into the leaderless blockades, forming a line of battle between the promontory walls of the port. The Dauntless was already firing, swinging round with a creaking of timbers as its 80 24-pounders heaved forwards, releasing a broadside that smashed the bowsprit from the nearest Shamonian vessel and holed it below the bow, water rushing in over the frayed and splintered timbers and tipping it below the waves with alarming speed. By now the two lines were drawing up, the Rezephua ships separating into two forces as the Shamonians ran out their gun-ports, the crack and boom of cannon-fire echoing over the waters as smoke rolled between the two lines. Jettisoning weight to gain speed as the wind built behind them, the Rezephua ships ran in all sails to close range, the RRS Vindicator taking a hit below the larboard waterline and beginning to tilt as the water came rushing in. With a thunderous roar of cannon, the southern group of Rezephua ships opened fire as one, blasting away the decks and masts of the closest targets in hails of wooden shrapnel. Another Shamonian ship began to list towards the stern as a tight volley of chain-shot demolished its mizzen-mast and rudder, small holes below the copper letting in a slow trickle of water. Flames blazed over the RRS Interceptor as a heated shot tore across its deck, before its gunpowder arsenal detonated and ripped the Rezephua ship apart in a hail of shattered planks. Another ship of the fleet took a direct hit to the mainmast, losing motive power and crashing into the Shamonian line without control. Firing its cannons at point blank range, the Rezephua vessel ripped the guns from the sides and holed repeatedly the two nearest Shamonian ships, before their dying gunfire sunk it explosively.



Elsewhere, the point of the two flanking Rezephua spearheads punctured the blockade, deadly broadsides from the Dauntless and the Justice ripping the rudders and masts from two Shamonian vessels. A Shamonian ship tried to turn to face the Justice with its starboard broadside, but the larger Rezephua ship hoisted all sail and surged forwards, its prow cannon cracking and booming to suppress the enemy fire as it bore down on it. The Justice’s prow ripped into the side of the Shamonian ship i a splintering scream of wood, men firing pistols from the higher Rezephua deck as the Shamonians scrambled to either end of the bisecting vessel. With a final tearing screech, the ship collapsed in two sinking beneath the waves, and the Justice unloaded its full larboard broadside at the stern of an oncoming Shamonian ship. The mast buckled, but stayed upright, and as the Shamonian vessel completed its turn a deadly accurate volley, gutting its cannon battery and holing it below the waterline. The great ship wallowed and began to tilt towards the prow, sinking below the water. In return, the crew of the Dauntless, incandescent with rage at the destruction of their sister-ship, swung their cannon to bear and slashed a volley of heated shot under its bows, ripping into its powder magazine and blowing it out of the water. Pulling back on the Northern flank, the Rezephua ships made all sail for the chaotic rear of the Shamonian formation, broadsides firing constantly. Three more ships bellied and sank, smoke drifting upwards from the water. The Shamonians were trying to withdraw, to form a line of fire, but as Aubrey drove his Souther Group further up their line and the Northern ships swung along their back, they had no choice but to flee. Pulling back their ships, they formed a loose arc, and the Rezephua fleet made sail back for the harbour, knowing it could not break the Shamonian fleet without the constriction of the dock-walls.

OOC: I’ve lost 3 ships there, and others have suffered misfires and been damaged or battle-scarred. The Shamonian blockade-line has been pushed back and spaced out but not defeated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Men ran across the ground of the Citadel as their comrades held the barricade of the broken gate, officers yelling commands.

"Strengthen the walls! Rubble buttresses, pavise timbers! Bring forward anything you can spare!"
Another captain stood by the gate, the visor of his helmet lifted to shout orders.
"We need timbers! Catapult shot, broken wood! Make a rampart of the gate!"

Any soldiers not guarding the walls dragged forth broken timbers, planks and bits of masonry from the barrack blocks near enough the gates to have been smashed by the Shamonian attack. Soon they had managed to construct several makeshift braces behind the walls facing the Shamonian forces, and had built a rampart of piled earth and rubble ten feet high in the place of the broken gates. Sharpened stakes jutted at angles from the rampart, and behind them rose a low palisade wall, reaching to a man's belly. Longbowmen and men-at-arms wielding long pikes garrisoned this structure, blocking the gate from further attack, as more workmen began to construct makeshift emplacements to either side, creating a crossfire across the approach to the gate with two recently-repaired cannons that had been taken from the ships. More longbowmen were scurrying up to stand behind them, reinforcing the broken gateway as the remains of the vast gates were used to brace the rampart itself. The defences were now strong enough to hold another assault, the cannon ready.

OOC: The gate is now held by a powerful force of longbowmen and pikemen, plus two repaired cannon that were removed from ships after minor misfires. In case you are unaware of the use of the pike, the pike is a spear of about three times usual length. It is braced against the ground, and the idea is that to reach the unit you have to run through a thicket of spear points. The spear-heads of the people in the fourth rank actually protrude further than the actual people in the front rank, so you have to charge across four rows of points before you reach them. This weapon is poor on the offense, useless in a charge, and excellent in defence.

the armies of the FOFLO and Sarig had been marching northward towards Reephua for 2 days now before they hit the forest it was dense but marching out of it came Swordsalot's rangers. there were 800000 of them who had snuck through the mountains the day before and were now joining to aid rezephua the High priest of Sarig Lord Smelly Belly smiled.

The armies now camped down at the edge f the rainforest preparing to march on it in the morning and there was a massive party among the armies of as they drank and toasted to the fortune of their allies (although many of Swordsalot's men who were standing sentry and the knights of Sarig who abhore all alcahol didn't join the party)

the following morning the commander of FOFLO woke up feeling like crap before looking around at his men they were lying still, his allies were moving around normally and had formed a circle around the army of FOFLO then the commander realised what was a about to happen.

he nudged one of his men who lay at his feet but he didn't move "Wake up! Wake up!" but the man lay still as a green substance came out of his mouth. The commander yelled at his cavalry to mount up but many of his horses had been driven away by the rangers and Sarig's men during the early morning his men were surrounded out numbered and many of the men who were lying among his were enemies. then the knights that surrounded the army of FOFLO charged as lonbows fired into the mass of incumbant men.

OCC; if that was confusing the situation is that swordsalot and myself doublcrossed Reephua and FOFLO so that now FOFLO is surrounded, most of his cavalry is without mounts and his men have been drugged along with most of my infantry. oh and 1 million knights supported by my fanatics are chgarging you

remember that your men are unlikely to have their weapons on them while they sleep and party when you write your reply and remeber that i haven't actually killed any of your men.

ok i'd say that my 5 million infantry and crossbows were allowed to get involved in the party so they're lying incumbant on the floor while the other 2 million men are about to hack you to pieces

oops

oops

Hehe - one tiny problem, JtM. Horses, even trained warhorses, will not run over a man who is lying down. This was one of the cornerstones of Ghandi's Indian passive resistance movement. Your cavalry are useless.

Also, you've posted 3 times. I know why, and I say to everyone on this thread: If you get an error message after pressing "submit", DO NOT REFRESH. Your message has most likely already gone through.

FOFLO has been having problems posting, but e-mailed this to me to post for him.

"OOC: Well done James. You have managed to destroy the contingent of my army that was marching with you. But as usual your over eagerness got the better of you. You might have got away with it, if you hadn't blabbed at lunch and then launched an attack before I have said where I was attacking from. As it is you have picked the one spot where I was not planning to attack from. But as it is you will soon learn the error of your ways, but unlike you I am not going to just tell you from where I plan to attack. I will let you wait and see. It will probably be tomorrow now. As it is you have a weeks march ahead of you until you reach the city. So that is next Tuesday. Your men aren't half going to be tiered now are they, in their heavy armour that will begin to rust in the rain forest. Have fun :

You have killed a grand total of 700,000 men. 300,000 light/medium cav. 250,000 horse archers, 50,000 heavy cav, 50,000 dacian troops and 50,000 master infantry. Althose Javeline sare still alive, and faster then you :. I guess you would loose about 100,000 men as well, 50,000 at the very least. After all this is a fun RPG and not a power gamers RPG. I am being fair, Im saying you killed all of that contigent of my army. Not one man escaped. Well if he did I will ensure he gets executed : Dacians are bloody good with their drink."

As the mighty fleet on Frenrir made their dash for the northern coast (what they thought to be the Great Toad Valley), disaster had struck them. Their fleets had come under heavy attack from the Shamonian fleet protecting the coastline near the Rezephua Capitol. This was quite an unexected turn of events, because it had left time for the ships with the crossbowmen aboard to scramble through the lines to the Rezephua Capitol. Unfortunately, the main fleet that was headed north, was hit pretty bad. The dragon had caused most of the damage, but was also hurt by the use of Greek Fire against it. (NOTE: Another attack on ships by this dragon, would result in its death due to the qualities of Greek Fire and its ability to burn stronger with water) The ships had fought their hardest to assist their allies, but they has failed. The enemy was just too strong. Comrade Commodore Travinof was reluctant to, but was needed to, give the order to retreat from the battle. The enemy ships, he learned, were only as powerful when the dragon had assisted them with their firing (by holding down the enemy ships with close combat); the Commodore would use this new information in their next engagement against their determined foe.

Losses:
24 Warships
4,500 Foot Soldiers (soldiers being transfered, number is of those who could not be saved)
8,000 Spearmen (")

Fortunately, not all was bad. Comrade Captain Darion was able to sneak through the blockade lines during the comotion regarding the rest of the fleet. Six of the seven ships under his comman were able to sneak through, as one was self-sacraficed by the commander of the ship inorder to destory a scout ships which had spotted the fleet. Comrade General Kollmonski, who was placed in command of the Frenririan Expectency Force (FEF): Crossbow Division, had landed safely with 12,000 of his finest crossbowmen just south of Rezephua's central citidel. The ships would remain there, because by now the blockade had been re-established. General Kollmonski and his men marched to the southern side of the citidel, and requested that they be let in to speak with whoever is in charge of this castle. Kollmonski figured that he would rest his men there for the night, and then march to the nearest front where Rezephua troops were already fighting in the morning. Unfortunately, he also knew that the forces under his command would have to take up defensive posistions in this war, for crossbowmen are a good force to be attacking alone with.

A division of men-at-arms pulled open the small southern gate, allowing the crossbowmen through. Soon, the Frenririan troops stood inside the grounds of the Citadel, the rain lashing the ground around them.

"Get your weapons under tarpaulin!" yelled one of the men-at-arms, indicating a massive shelter that had been erected next to the central keep. "This rain ruins crossbows - the toads brought it on to deny the Shamonians their weapons!"

As the troops stowed their weapons below the shelter, Commander Alberic of the defenders hurried to see the Frenririan officer.

"The toads say there is a way for your fleet to make a full landing. If the beast in the water took concurrent lightning strikes, that would be enough to finish it off. Our ships can then assault the blockade from both sides and smash it in two, and you can dock within the Citadel,"

losses roughly speaking since the rezephua post is a little confusing and long (a few lost in pursuit of the Frenrir fleet):
13 ships

however did not the Rezephuan harbour collapse? how did the Frenrir's land?

Ronoc laughed at the betrayals within the mad jungles of Swordswalot and immediatly ordered his most trained woods men archers into the forrest occupied by the JTM + FOFLO forces.
The new army marched and rode up to the pass, and new contruction and changes to the land were made. Trenches were dug then many of them concealed. Within them lay sharpened spikes. these zigzaged across the plain, at its most concentrated infront of the Atlantico siege. Further new pikes were carved for a mjority of the infantry, the perfect counter of cavalry.
Elsewhere at the Rezephuan citadel a new attack began. 900 Dragons, each carrying 2 barrels flew above the Rezephuan citadel. A storm of arrows shot from below, but the dragons were well out of range and it came of great difficulty for the long bows to shoot in the torrential weather of hails. the barrels were dropped: on the walls, within the baracaded courtyard, unto the barackes. Unfortunately for the rezephuans each barre contained them most explosive contents known to man: dragon urine. not only this but some contained flammable spirits. The dragons dived unleashing fire arrows and jets of flames. 4 dragons plummeted to the ground as arrows shot into them but the dragons only stayed within range for seconds. The contents of the barrels blew up and the walls were set up with a wall of flames. more men died in the explosions that rocked the citadel, the smell of buring flesh hit the air. BOOM BOOM BOOM, as the final barrels exploded. spldiers were torn apart, and most of those who survided were at least stunned or knocked unconcious. bodies of the dead were lying everywhere.

At the same time infantry poured into the blockaded gate and dragons swooped from the skies attacking the stunned citadel soldiers. the thousands of infantry made their way over the baracade and were finally met by resistance as rezephuan infantry recovered. However many of the infantries sight were temporarily gone and were hacked to pieces within seconds, a few archers still able on the walls fired arrows down upon the infantry, but the dragons turned their attention upon the archers and quickly attacked them. archers followed the infantry and began their devasting archery fire upon the Rezephuan survivers. The weather suddenly changed to its normal states as the toads who now were under deep unconsiousness. Crossbows unleashed even meatier fire upon the now recovering infantry. The rezephuans were butchered in their thousands. Finally most of the men were fully recovered and counter struck pushing the Shamonian infantry backwards. dragons retreated to safety and Shamonian archers and infantry poured out of the citadel. However Shamonian cross bows remained, and as the Rezephuan infantry gave a brave charge 20,000 bolts stopped it within seconds. Great bravery drove the infantry forward, and just reached the crossbows line when 15,000 bolts hit them again. The Shamonian longbows rushed back in and helped the retreating crossbows escape. Finally the shamonian army escaped the citadel bow range. The attack had been successful, killing thousands of rezephuans.

losses:
3,000infantry
10 dragons + 35 riders
1,000 longbows
1,000 crossbows

your losses just be absolutely MASSIVE, as this attack was brutal from the start when the barrels were dropped to when my army reached your inner walls. you may say the 1 million archers would kill more, but they were mainly dead or knocked sensless from the dragons.


elsewehere at the Rezephuan harbour:
47 Shamonian ships and renegade ships formed around the harbour. Levianth smashed forward at frightening speeds, bringing waves behind it with its unatural powers that smashed into the rezephuan/Frenrir fleet. However before risking further damage it retreated under water out of the rezephuan/Frenrirs sight into the safety of the deep seas. The Rezephuan fleet no longer had the strong winds due to the unconciousness of the toads and knocked out of order due to the strong waves that just struck them, could only watch as the superior fleet pressed forward unleashing cannon fire as they went. BOOM BOOM BOOM each shot delivering horrendous damage as they struck. a rezephuan ship was holed and went under. More shots were unleashed by the Shamonian fleet. Dragons leapt from the Shamonain ships dive bombing the enemy ships unleashing jets of flames. a mass was set alight, a gun powder supply struck, the enemy fleet driven into confusion from the ferocity of the attack. The Shamonians held much rage at the loss of the command ships, ESPECIALLY THE WAY IT WAS LOST! the Shamonian fleet never ceased its attack driven into rage. But finally the rezephuan fleet counter attacked. A shamonian ships was holed, and dipped under the sea. Another Shamonian ship was just blown to pieces as a stray cannon ball struck the gun powder supply. it was sent spinning into another ally ship. The Shamonain ships, suddenly realised their attack was reaching a level of folly, retreated out of the harbour to reform the blockade. Howevr five ships remained unleashing more cannon fire into the rezephuan fleet, sinking a ship. These five ships plainly ignored the commands of their new command ship, as these were pirates who had lost much kin within the previous rezephuan naval attack....

losses:
4 ships
15 dragons + 45 riders

right i lose 35000 crossbows and 40000 heavy infantry losses to teh cavalry are minimal because they are charging on scattered, disorganised and outnumbered infantry.

right i will march through the rainforest but i must warn you that, my men like most armies in the 14th century wear steel or chainmail with leather over it to protect from rust also i throw out Swordsalot's army ahead of mine to act as scouts, please remeber that this is 800,000 guerillia's who are highly experienced at the art of fighting in forests (not rain forests I'll grant you but still) and they will have a basic knowledge of the terrain because they liv next door.

I head up the path leading to reephua with my scouts thrown out ahead to the sides of the colum with the soldiers. with a detachment of 50,000 crossbows with 60,000 heavy infantry guarding my back

question what is the condition of this trail in the rainforest

The air above Rezephua rent and bulged as the toads began to regain consciousness, their mental howl of rage screaming through the minds of those within a mile. With a howling roar of gale-force winds, the storm exploded into being once more, clouds of monsoon-rain rolling outwards towards the rainforest as the main tempest slammed across the retreat path of the Shamonian troops. The nine hundred dragons that had bombed the Citadel were caught in the brunt of its wrath, some turning with murder in their eyes as the toads not occupied with the raging weather turned their minds to them. Traitor dragons and lightning tore a bloody swathe through the fleeing reptiles as the gales smashed many to the ground, great bones breaking and necks snapping as the massive beasts were crushed like flies against the earth. None survived.

Now the storm was at full fury, arcs of lightning booming at an unnatural frequency from the sky. Shamonian troops, some already having been crushed by the falling dragon-corpses, screamed as men were broken apart by bolts of searing white – Leviathan gave one, last, gurgling scream as a bolt hit it full-on, nearly ripping its head from its neck in a weal of cauterized flesh, before its body sank below the waves.

Riding on the new wind, the Rezephua ships tore at full sails towards the scattered Shamonian blockade, the waves and the gales breaking the Shamonian formation. Forming a line of battle, the larger Rezephua ships let loose, two Shamonian vessels wallowing and sinking slowly as they were holed below the waterline by enemy fire. Lightning screamed from the heavens, smashing down the masts and exploding another two ships as the guns of the Dauntless struck the powder magazine of one of the pirate vessels, setting it alight in a floating inferno as parts of its deck ruptured and blew out, screaming men diving into the sea.

Shamonian fire sent the RRS Gallaghan listing the port, its guns discharging harmlessly into the air as it sank. Returning fire, the Dauntless smashed the offending Shamonian ship out of the water in return as to its left the Rezephua line hove in on the scattered group of pirate ships. There was a rumbling rattle of wood against wood as two Rezephua ships drew up against each pirate vessel that presented itself, men swarming over the decks and butchering the privateers. The Shamonians that could see pushed in, damaging the Dauntless and sinking one of the pirate ships as it disengaged, but the Rezephua ships and their captives were concentrated and in formation, while the Shamonians were scattered and leaderless. The two Shamonians nearest the Rezephua line were shattered by multiple broadsides as the Rezephua line of battle swung around, all guns blasting. The only enemy ship remaining on their left was holed and sunk as the RRS Sylvan took a direct hit to the hull and broke the waves, sinking in a wallowing, graceless lurch that took down all hands. Too little, too late to stop the line breaking through the Shamonian blockade, however – most of the Shamonian ships were in open retreat as the captured pirate ships bore down on their bows, cannon fire splashing in the water around them. Lightning flashed around them, turning their retreat into a full rout, ships turning and fleeing with all sail. Cheering, the Rezephua sailors turned and returned to port.

OOC: 4,000 longbows dead from bombing
5,000 men-at-arms dead from the attack
4 ships dead from your previous naval attack.
2 ships destroyed in this assault, plus one of the ones I captured.
5 Pirate vessels captured, putting my navy at 21-strong.
The storm is returned, and now monsoon clouds (heavy rain of a kind you’ve never even imagined) have swathed the rainforest to the south. The storm winds are now so strong that all sensible dragons are grounded – anything flying in this wind and weather will be smashed against the ground by the wind and turbulence like a fly under a fly-swat.

James the Mighty, the rainforest path is now drenched by the monsoon rain.Thick, claggy mud, followed by swamps. Oh yes, and say goodbye to your crossbows.

IC again:
The foresters, Rezephua’s elite scouts, watched the forces of James the Mighty and Swordsalot enter the forest, grinning as they watched the foreign scouts stumbling over the unfamiliar terrain. Slipping to one side and sheltering beneath the boles of trees and in the indent of the track, they watched as Smelly-Belly led the first of his cavalry, the elite, along the track, towards their prepared position…

With a howl, ten men leapt upright, bows drawn and nocked. One knight templar threw himself before his lord, but one quick-thinking man was not enough to stop ten deadly accurate arrows. He and Smelly-belly were punched from their saddles, bristling with deadly quills as the arrows had driven deep inside their ribcages, blood oozing out over the armour. Some of the knights around them cried out in outrage at the ignoble way in which their lord had been struck down, spurring their horses forwards, but the mud and roots of the trees stopped them from running the scouts down as the ten assassins scurried away into the darkness of the deep forest…

OOC: That’s a warning that also serves to cut the head off the snake of Sarig: my men are waiting. With the rain and harassment from my men (who will soon be receiving the aid of FOFLO’s javelineers), this week’s march track will be more like a month’s hard slog.

Enjoy :twisted:

Meanwhile, at the citadel:

IC: More men were rushing to bolster the gateway rampart, lifting its defences further as the old ones were built over. An onager built within the city was dragged up towards the gate, sheltering between two battlements of longbowmen and men-at-arms as it was loaded, ready for any assault. More troops were being brought up from the reserve now the dragons were grounded, the walls well-defended.

The Frenririans had brought with them the trade concessions that Chilipepa had been awaiting. Turning the huge sacks of gold out onto the table, the man carrying them grinned. The toad grinned back.

Throughout the city, the hammer and chop of carpenters and the clanging din of blacksmiths rang, the workshops of the citadel turning out engine after engine of destruction. Onagers and ballistae were carted towards the walls, setting up atop towers too high to be scaled by ladders, where their long shots would have a good gauge on their opponents, the wind behind them. In the docks, the Dauntless and those other ships damaged by the ongoing naval battle were being re-fitted and crewed with newly hired sailors, their cannon repaired and polished. With the blockade gone, more transports carrying gold and iron could hopefully arrive from Frenrir. Already the blacksmiths had used most of their stock in turning out thin coats of scale mail for the men-at-arms, to be worn over the chain hauberks of those men guarding the breached gate.

More timbers from bomb-blaster buildings were being used to prop the walls, and now pavise shelters were being constructed atop the ramparts, allowing the longbowmen to fire out of their hide-wrapped shelters without fear of reprisal. However, the further fortification of the already formidable castle was not the concern of the toads.

There was a howl of wind as the RRS Pearl of Rezephua, the fastest ship in the Rezephua navy, unfurled her sails, the sleek ship slicing out to sea, past the floating, smashed timbers that marked where the Shamonian blockade had been. Making North along the coast, she skirted around the makeshift port of the battered Shamonian fleet with ease, all sails flying as the wind assisted her. She bore a batallion of two hundred men-at-arms and a stockpile of freshly-forged weapons, escaping the citadel to spread the word among the occupied Northern villages and towns: rise up.

As dawn broke the next day, General Ronroc stepped out of his luxurious tent, ready for another day's hard siege. Suddenly, he heard the shouts from the rear of his camp, and turning to face North he saw three pillars of black smoke rising to the North - the towns on the coast. The skeleton garrisons must have been overwhelmed, he thought. A peasant rebellion, the farmers and workers of Rezephua ever-loyal to their benevolent masters, was in full swing, and now his army was threatened from the North while it laid siege to the South.

OOC: With an improvement in my economy and the shattering of the blockade, I have built warmachines along my walls, repaired my ships and granted heavier armour to the pikemen defending the gate. The RRS Pearl of Rezephua has slipped out across the waters and landed 200 men-at-arms with a stockpile of 1000 extra swords and shields in baggage carts, attempting to incite the peasants to rebel (and with great success, as they are loyal to their former masters). The skeleton Shamonian garrisons in the two villages on the coast and the nearby town have been overwhelmed, and now an army of 50,000 peasants, armed with the carried weapons and their own implements, is heading inland for the remaining Northern settlements, killing all Shamonians before it. This army consists of:

30,000 peasants: untrained, armed with scythes, pitchforks and knives. Angry though.
10,000 civilian horsemen: Those citizens rich enough to afford horses. These unprofessional soldiers carry mainly cheap weapons looted from Shamonian barracks, but are angry at the destruction and occupation of their homes. Some wear looted Shamonian armour.
1,000 armed peasants: Equipped by the men-at-arms, these peasants carry swords and shields and have been drilled in the basics of war.
8,800 Peasant bowmen. Armed with the formidable Rezephua longbow, while not drilled in battle these archers instead adopt a skirmishing formation, making them surprisingly manouvreable and effective in battle.
200 trained men-at-arms. Among their ranks are officers who organise the Shamonian battle-effort. Many of these soldiers have switched their inferior equipment for the looted armour and weapons of the Shamonians, giving their cast-offs to the peasants.

This army will swell drastically in size as it pushes across the land.

i dont think you understood the ferocity of the attack, your losses were much higher and your citadel only just survived capture.

losses:
900 dragons + 2700 riders
7 ships + Levianth
300 men at arms


the 40,000 elite guards of Shamonia marched to meet the swelling
peasant army, backed up by 30,000 longbows and 10,000 heavy cavalry.

the peasant army saw the Shamonian infantry, as Shamonian archers and cavalry hid behind the trees and hills. The peasant archers rushed forward, but their arrows did little to the Shamonain infantry. The peasants infantry and cavalry charged, thinking their enemy outnumbered, but the elite infantry cut them down in their thousands with little strain. Then the 7,000 heavy cavalry struck the peasant line smashing them to the ground brutally hammering them down in their thousands. 30,000 Shamonian longbows rushed forward, and with their superior range destroyed the peasant archers. 3,000 heavy cavalry rushed into the archers hacking them down. The peasant cavalry was completely destroyed , while the peasant infantry tried to flee. However the Shamonians circled the peasants. A Shamonain official came forward:
"Name yourself and your village and you may be spared!"
The peasants quickly submitted the names. They had signed their doom.
The next day the whole peasant army was executed, their heads cut off.
At the same time light cavalry rounded up the villagers of those villages named before. Every single member was sold to slavery, a total of 40,000 people.
losses:
8 elite infantry
20 heavy cavalry
OOC: the peasants have zero or little chance of having another rebellion. If there is another one, it is unlikely to be large. You lost 90% of the peasant infantry including men at arms, 70% of the archers and 70% of the cavalry. I now have a "good economy" so i am calling up another 200,000 elite infantry (renamed: Charon) as well as 50,000 heavy cavalry and 300 dragons + riders, and 30 heavy catapaults. this is also funded by the sale of slaves. i am also trying out certain breeding programs to produce the ultimate soldier, but you will see this later. and new ships are being sent up to the rezephuan harbour: 5 in total.

fair enough ignored, new dragon attack though:
The One stared at the pass, and approached the forest. It let out a loud echoing roar: ROOOAAARRR!!. 300 Black heads burst forth into the forest. Their enemy: JTM.

OOC: a brief description: Black heads are wingless dragons, with great strength and speed. They can adapt to any environment, they hunt in packs, and are known to use great cunning in their attacks. They are called black heads because of their great black skull. Their skin acts as a armour far better than any created, and hardly slows down the great beast. Here they have been trained to fight co-operatively with my longbows in the forest. In this case they are backed up by 5,000 forest longbows and 200 scouts. They can also emit jets of flames and their claws contain poison able to paralyse and later kill an enemy. Many of times has an army broken under the might of a black head charge.
It either takes a lot of strength and men to kill a black head in close combat, or an arrow in their eye or soft underbelly.
There strategy will be guerrilla war fare.

OOC: My peasant army is scattered and destroyed. No problem there, I was just trying to draw troops away from your army and weaken your siege on the Citadel.

However, there is still a problem: You still don't seem to understand the mechanics of a siege! My defences are extremely strong. Since you are forced by the walls and ramparts to engage my men across an even front where my bowfire rules supreme, you take incredibly high losses reaching the defences and then when you reach the defences the defenders are in a superior position, having the advantage of the ramparts. You write of 'butchering' the men at the gate, with no real explanation: my men are armoured, armed with PIKES, the supreme defensive weapon, backed by warmachines and longbowfire, behind a high rampart with a double row of defensive stakes in front of it. By any logic, a force assaulting the gate defenses would be the one who got butchered, not the other way round, as in the confined space of the gateway there is no way to bring numbers to bear, plus the boiling quicklime and rocks dropped from the gatehouse are constantly raining down.

Then again there's this thing of running inside and bombing my food supplies. 1. the food supplies would be located within the keep, 2. if you could get in I'd already have lost. The POINT of castle walls is to keep the enemy out - so far there is ONE weakness in my walls, which is admirably defended by cannon, onagers, longbows, quicklime cauldrons and a batallion of pikemen, plus a makeshift rampart and earthworks. So really there is no logical way the attack you described could succeed.

You may be thinking that this makes it a bit one-sided, that I can sit inside my walls and taunt you with impunity if this state of affairs continues - but it is what real medieval warfare was like. And the medieval attackers found ways round it. Under small walls they dug passages, which they then collapsed, taking out the foundations of the walls. A protracted siege could also starve the enemy out, aided by the decaying bodies of livestock which the attackers threw over the walls using trebuchets. Another tactic widely used by the English in the Hundred Years' War was called the chevauchee - the French scurried into their superbly defended fortified cities, and so the English said "Bugger that" and went and torched the countryside, looting and destroying farmland and leaving the rest of France a waste. The French were forced to either allow the rampant destruction of their homeland or ride out and meet the English in battle.

Therefore, I hope you won't mind me ignoring the last part of your last post. Nothing short of a full-comittal attack with horrendous Shamonian casualties, i.e. 50% or more of your army, can overwhelm the defences of the Citadel. I have pointed out the weaknesses I have left open by retreating within my castle walls - it is up to you to exploit them in a logical, realistic way.

Thanks

the Shamonian general Ronoc listened to the jtm's messangers plees. There would be peace between the two nations.
"here our demands!" roared General Ronoc:
"1 JTM forces are only to be used to Fight the FOFLO forces at the free pass and in the dense jungles of swordswalot. Entering further rezephuan lands without permission will be seen as an act of war"
"2 they will never camp or remain in close contact with any Shamonian/allies forces"
"3 they will give go home when ordered" The messenger ran for his horse, and Ronoc turned his stare back to the citadel.
he gave the following orders: "alert the longows and black heads that their new opponent are the rezephuan and FLO forces in the jungles"

in the jungles:
The longbows quickly stopped their planned attack on the jtm forces, at the order of the messanger Just in time, as a devasting attack had been carefully planned. They departed into the thick jungle, tracking the signs of a Flo encampment. Finally after a long 10 hour walk in the harsh conditions, the longbows/dragons reached the camp. The black heads burst forth into the sentries, who quickly gave the signal of alarm. as the javelin men burst forth from their tents, black heads leapt upon them, emitting jets of fire into the tents. Swiftly before the javelins ould actually retaliate, the black heads retreated while arrows after arrow poured from behind the trees into the milling soldiers. When enough men gathered to counterattack the longbows, they realised they were gone.

losses:
1 black head

Smally dingy's departed from the Shamonian fleet (no, not inflatable ones)
A total of 1500 men were in the dingy's, battling their way through the dangerous storm around them. One dingy capsized, its passengers dragged screaming under water. The dingys reached a Rezephuan boat, whos sentries had long since retreated into the cover underneath. After all what force would hurt them now in the ferocity of this storm? Ropes were thrown unto the ship and the men bravely scrambeled up. They creapt into a room and were met by sailors, who could do little as the longbows came out and unleashed a short range blast at them. men at arms within the crew ran forward, to be met by 3 Dark link knight's. a men at arms brought his sword down in a swining arc, that was blocked by one of the knights who spun on his heel to slam the sword into the guards stomach. The others were cut down by arrows and swords. The knights continued their progress into the gun powder room, where a fuse of 3 hours was lit. The kinghts quickly retreated to their dingys and made it to the next ship. Unfortunately a guard saw the dingy, but as he rose his horn to blow a warning an arrow slammed into his throat. He dropped silently into the sea. A similar process occurred again, the knights outwielding their brave opponents. This time a crew was placed in position able to handle the ship out of the harbour. The knights and longbows continued to the third ship. It turned out to be Frenrir, who’s guards were more alert and awake than the rezephuans. A fire arrow leapt to the air, that was quickly extinguished. Another guard attempted to blow the horn, but 20 arrows slammed into him. The third sentry ran to his comrades below deck, and quickly hastened defences unto the deck. The crew reached the deck to find two knights scrambling unto the deck. The sailors with superior numbers ran forward. One rose a broadsword above his head slamming it down, but the knight grabbed his arm spinning on his heel, so that he cold use the momentum to throw the man overboard. The other knight was pushed backwards by the hacking and slashing of the men at arms/sailors before the remaining group of Shamonian/ Atlantico forces rushed to help him. The now outnumbered Frenrir were ruthlessly slaughtered. Another ship captured. A hour and half had passed.
The dingys were sent out again and another Rezephuan ship was captured. Finally at the fifth ship, roughly 2 hours had passed, the Frenrir sentries sounded the horn at the sight of the dingy’s that blared above the storm. More horns answered. The rezephuan ship closes to the offending ship shot out of the harbour, unleashing cannon fire upon the Frenrir ship that was parallel to them. The Frenrir ship went under, but with the last shot the ship was pulled apart by a misfiring gun. The ship went under. The other Frenrir ship and rezephuan ships captured by the Shamonian’s fleeded to safety, linking up with the naval blockade.
The last ship was blown sky high, spinning unto land where it collapsed, shattered and brocked. The dingy’s quickly fled, but a toad sensed them and sent a thunderbolt into two of the dingy’s that exploded. The remaining dingy’s made it into the safety of the naval blockade and upon their ships.

Losses:
50 longbows
1 knight

captured 3 ships.

And from what I can gauge from your post I've also lost 1 from it having its gunpowder trail set alight.

IC: Heralds ran down the docks, shouting for the ships to be made fast with all rope as the storm clouds over the harbour billowed and the winds howled. Sure enough, incensed at the attack on their navy, the toads were retaliating - the waves further out to sea began to rise in ferocity and speed, one Shamonian ship losing control and swinging into the stone harbour wall, smashing itself apart and sinking below the waves. Lightning screamed from the billowing clouds like the wrath of a god, many Shamonian ships catching alight as the white fire slashed down their masts. Seconds later, the fast-spreading fires had raced across the tarred and pitched decks, reaching powder supplies...

The explosion was deafening, as those Shamonian vessels which had caught ablaze from the lightning strikes were ripped apart from the inside, broken planks raining, still alight with flames, into the waters. One, nothing more than a shattered hulk, spun sideways, its falling masts and blazing timbers entangling another ship and dragging it down with it as the waves crashed over both decks.

However, these were only the side-effects of the toads' attack. Slowly, the blockading ships began to be dragged towards the centre of their line as the waters around them bucked and heaved, forming into a steadily swirling spiral. The fast-forming whirlpool was vast, causing the wood of the Rezephua ships at dock to creak against their ropes and anchors with its force. Crying out in alarm, the Shamonians gave the order to drop anchor, but the size of the whirlpool made it such that the anchors merely swung out towards its suction, dragging the ships faster towards their doom. Ship after ship swirled and smashed into oblivion, their broken timbers falling to the seabed below the howling vortex. Masts folded and cracked, hulls broke and rudders smashed as vessels began to collide inside its swirling confines, more and more Shamonian ships being pulled into its maw. As those few ships far enough away began to pull up their failed anchors, making all speed out for the open sea and away from the deadly harbour, the remaining ships that had been too close were dragged under, the screams of their crews echoing faintly over the howling roar of the storm.

losses:
10 ships

After great effort the Shamonians and cleared a large amount of buildings in the city in a small amount of time. The storm roared above, but the shamonians had worked hard, achieving their goal. Not only this but 200,000 Charon infantry had marched all day and night to reach the citadel 12 hours ago. They were now relaxing. 40 Catapaults were rolled into place and immediatly bagan a barrage of shots into the rezephuan siege. A rezepuhan catapault collapsed as a Shamonian missile smashed into it. This fire continued destroying large amounts of the rezephuan siege compared to 1 lost catapault in the Shamonian sige that broke due to a misfire. The Shamonian fire began again, but rezephuan noticed something different about the missiles being thrown at them. It was the heads of the rezephuan peasant revolt. Screams of terror came from the rezephuan side of the wall. next 13 siege towers were dragged to the wall, dragged by specially chosen black heads who lacked intelligence do do anything else but what their tamers told them. The remaining rezephuan siege began fire on the tower, but only managed to knock one to the ground. The others reached the wall. Shamonian infantry rushed out of the towers, to be met by a hail of arrows. The second wave rushed unto the walls while the archers reloaded. Shamonian archers joined the wall from the towers, and began fire at the infantry behind the rezephuan baracade. At the same time Shamonian Charon, 100,000 in total, marched towards the baracade. Few archers above could fire arrows down on them, as the men at arms charged the rezephuan longbows. The few that did hardly pierced the heavy armour. The Shamonian Charon reached the baracade, but were pushed back by the defenders pike man and the other various defences.
More Shamonians reached the walls, including more Shamonian Charon. The Shamonian archers rained arrows down upon the rezpehuan baracade, giving the Shamonian Charon enough space to break the defences. Finally the Shamonians controlled the walls as their infantry fought the rezephuan archers who had little defence in close combat.
Charon marched into the courtyard and fought their way through the rezephuan infantry. 100,000 Dark link knights ran to aid them as well as 200,000 renegade infantry. The Shamonians/allies gained the upper hand in the courtyard, as the rezephuan infantry lost formation. More Shamonian infantry ran to aid the Charon in the courtyard and on the walls. Thunderbolts struck from the sky unto the Shamonians/allies, but now the allies outnumbered the rezephuan. More infantry rushed into the citadel, aiding the Allied soldiers there. The walls were captured, the rezephuan infantry pushed out of the citadel and into retreat, as they reformed and fled. 8 small figures in the sky were seen fleeing through the air, the wind used as transport.

OOC:
losses:
40,000 renegade soldiers
50,000 Shamonian men at arms
40,000 longbows
20,000 Charon
20,000 Dark link knights
1 siege tower
2 Catapaults

You recieved simialar losses, although slightly higher. The remaining soldiers of your army retreated. Your citadel is captured, and this very moment being repaired to be reused by the Shamonians. I suggest you have three options from now on: Guerilla war fare, meet us in open battle or wait for FOFLO forces then engage in open battle. I have examined this attack, and i believe it is realistic enough to not be ignored.

OOC: Yes, the Citadel is captured. I lose:
50,000 longbowmen
50,000 men-at-arms

Which comes to 100,000 men, compared to your 170,000, which I think reflects the advantage granted by the walls.

IC: The Rezephua fleet left dock as the whirlpool began to give way, unleashing a tightly focused barrage of cannon-fire upon the citadel keep. The toads already safely aboard the Dauntless and the other battleships, they watched with chagrined frowns as their home was blasted apart by their own guns, rather than allow it to fall into Shamonian hands. Rezephua citizens, no use to the army, were burning all they could find, setting light to the armouries and granaries and igniting powder supplies. This damage would take years to repair, and now the already hungry Shamonian forces were without food stores.

The Rezephua forces moved out of the Northern gate, moving at a full march. The cavalry were first out, their four hundred lances breaking the loose Shamonian encampment before the smaller gate and allowing their troops to escape. The storm was lowering and spreading, lightning striking the stone of the Citadel and bringing weakened walls down on the marauding conquerors, crushing many. The driving wind and rain prevented the Shamonians making any kind of pursuit as the Rezephua troops slipped out onto the Northern plains, making a full march Northwards. In the harbour, the Rezephua ships, carrying their precious cargo of toads, slipped anchor – setting full sails with the storm’s wind behind them, they swung out in tight formation, through the shattered remnants of the Shamonian blockade. Two Renegade ships, disorganized and acting without orders, headed for the fleeing fleet with broadsides ready – suddenly one, its crew controlled by the toads, swung to bear and unleashed its already-loaded guns on its brother vessel, sinking the Renegade ship. Bringing their ship up alongside the Dauntless, the Renegade crew joined the formation, their minds utterly erased by the toad.

Five of Rezephua’s fastest ship branched eastwards, sighting the distant sails of the frigate sent to initiate the peasant revolt ahead of them. Joining the Pearl of Rezephua, they struck out, summoning the Frenririan fleet to their aid. The six ships blasted the one Shamonian vessel that could catch them out of the water with their united fire, all sails setting forth for the distant Frenririan fleet. With the incredibly heavy losses the Shamonian fleet had incurred, when their allies arrived the forces of Rezephua would have achieved naval dominance. In the meantime, the main ships-of-the-line were heading up along the coast, following the progress of their fleeing army.

A week later, the Rezephua forces in their entirety found the town of Odienne, still occupied by a small Shamonian force. Surging across the town, the angry Rezephua troops butchered the garrison to a man, the townsfolk joining them in their march. The armouries of the burnt-out town were emptied, as were its food stores.

OOC: So at this point I have taken a week’s march north, my fleet escaping harbour in the breaking of the blockade caused by the whirlpool, and dispatched fast ships to summon the entire Frenrir navy to my aid. My troops have taken the town nearest the coast, and its population have taken up arms.

This adds:
200 medium to heavy cavalry, who have looted the armouries and stables of the town. They carry a mixture of sabers, swords, heavy spears and axes, and wear heavy mail cuirasses or half plate.
10,000 peasant militia. Armed with anything sharp, untrained, unarmoured.
20,000 peasant soldiers. Many with previous military experience, armed with blunted, old swords and leather armour or old mail tunics. They can maintain enough discipline to fight in formation.
20,000 peasant bowmen. Armed with longbows, but otherwise unarmed and armourless. They lack formation or training, but do fight in an effective skirmish formation.

I have also sent out the call for a second army to be formed. The southern towns which are still free will hold half of this army, while the northern inland towns have risen and are destroying the Shamonian garrisons, who fled without resistance as the threat of the first army was near.

I hereby conscript 3% more of my population, giving me:

7410000 men.
Of these, 4,410 ,000 are the ill-organised army that has risen in the North. This is its disposition:
1,410,000 armed men. These men carry personal armour and weapons, mostly battle-axes and swords. While angered and fierce at their homeland’s destruction, they are disorganized and ill-trained.
1,500,000 peasant longbowmen, lacking training but skirmishing and with a good knowledge of the land.
300,000 medium cavalry. Using the horses of the Northern plains, these men wear mail and carry long spears.
1,200,000 men-at-arms, wielding infantry spears.

The other 1,000,000 are from the South, and are better-organised, since these towns are still under Rezephua control.
Their disposition:
1,500,000 composite bowmen. Like my elite foresters, these men carry compact hunting bows, and are essentially the same troops, but lacking the training. They still have a knowledge of the land that can prove deadly.
750,000 forest fighters. They wear leather armour and carry single-handed axes and bucklers. They are extremely stealthy, and have lived in the rainforests for most of their lives. Their fierce attack is to be feared, but on an open plain they are of little use as bowfire can cut them down with ease.
150,000 light cavalry. Mounted on light horse, these men carry composite bows and sabers, wearing leather armour. They are useful to destroy enemy warmachines, baggage trains and stragglers, as well as to flank infantry formations, as they are extremely fast, but are of little use in a protracted fight.
600,000 heavy infantry. Armed with falchions (a heavy, single-edged sword that is an extremely brutal and efficient weapon – similar to the swords of the Uruk-Hai) and wearing full mail hauberks, these troops bear tower shields and heavy helms. Extremely proficient on an open field, as their heavy armour and shields make them resistant to most missile fire, they are also effective in sudden, brutal attacks, where their specific weapons come to the fore.

In addition, the accessibility of timber and the improvement in economy has financed the building of a second fleet in the South. This fleet consists of 10 double-hulled warships, armed with iron cannon in three decks.

My losses from taking Odienne: since there was only a skeleton garrison, 100 men-at-arms.

My movements: The Southern army is entering the rainforest at its border, shadowing but not attacking JtM’s and the Shamonian forces. The Southern Fleet is striking north-east, intending to meet up with the Frenririan fleet, as are the speediest North Fleet ships. My army takes up residence in Odienne, the town nearest the sea to the North, while my new Northern army occupies Kalazendra, the town nearest the mountains on the plains. And don’t forget that my navy and the storm blew the Citadel apart as they left.

I plan to marshal my armies, then meet your forces in open battle to the North once Frenrir and FOFLO arrive (BTW, when the grand battle comes about, it shouldn’t just be one post – different moves should be made in different posts, i.e. you write your charge, I write my defence, Frenrir writes his counter-charge, James the Mighty writes his flank attack, etc.)

One last thing:

IC: The hundred or so scouts were watching as the Shamonian forces met the army of James the Mighty. Or at least fifty were watching – the other fifty were doing something quite different.

Smelly-belly rasped from within his tent, where his doctors were tending to the arrow-wounds he had received earlier:
“Where are the Northern patrolmen? They should be back by now.”
“They have not reported, sire. This forest is like a maze.”

Among the ranks of the soldiers of Sarig, fifty men, dressed in the uniforms and armour of the others, were making their way. Clad in the uniforms of the Northern patrol, who had had their throats cut, the men formed into a line facing the slumbering Black Head dragons – and drew their bows.

The Sarigians hardly had time to shout before the first volley let fly, grievously wounding one dragon and waking the others with its screams. Seeing humans in Sarigian armour firing on them, they came to the logical conclusion and gave a series of deafening roars, smashing into the ranks of James the Mighty’s troops. Flames belched from their mouths as the scouts ran, at least a score dying before they could escape, but it was worth it. The armies of their enemies were in utter chaos, those dragons which had raided the FOFLO encampment earlier wreaking untold havoc among the Sarigian lines. Men shouted for them to stop, but could not be heard over the din of battle, and as the troops of James the Mighty began to assume that the Shamonians had betrayed them they turned on the Shamonian bowmen, butchering them at their camps. The Rezephua scouts slipped away into the forest…

OOC:25 scouts dead. There is now an open, unstoppable battle between the Sarigian heavy infantry and the dragons. :twisted:

OOC:

losses:
3 ships
500 men at arms at the

i have to ignore that last part as my dragons and men were to stay out of the way of all jtm forces, not to even look for them so they would not meet.

I am calling up 1 more %. This will probaly break my country if we lose, but i simply must accept that. General Ronoc leads my forces into folly. My strong economy means only the best sodiers will be conscripted. I am also building a large navy again.

The citadel is currently being restored to a good state. Various food supplies have already reached the Shamonian camps, and hunt expeditions are regular. It is highly unlinkely we will starve. please present a map of any remaining rezephuan land not on the map.

My armies so far: 2719500 men have been called up of this i have lost 70000 not including sailors engineers etc. leaving me 2649500 men. And i can call up more. I have lost roughly 40 ships.

IC: The Shamonian army/allies army forms on the plains, a large and well armed army. 200,000 Charon took up the centre, behind them 600,000 longbows. On either side of the Charon forces march 500,000 men at arms. At one flank are 75,000 heavy cavalry, at the other 75,000 as well as 100,000 light cavalry on either side of the Charon. Scouts are weary of the enemy, and keep look out. 2000 Black heads are also present to guard the army backed up by 2000 air borne dragons. Lord Ronoc commands the army masterfully, as soldiers slip into position with ease. The army marches to meet the rezephuan army in the northern plains.
Along side this army march 300,000 renegade infantry and 1 million Atlantico infantry knights (Dark link knights is what he call them). These are all flanked by 500,000 Atlantico heavy cavalry and 250,000 Atlantico archers. 500 air borne dragons scout this area, along side other land scouts. All other remaining soldiers guard the pass, the new Shamonian estabilishments and the rezephuan capital.
Remember! The FOFLO forces must come through the heavily defended pass first. This is guarded by 1million dark link knights and his catapults, archers, siege and renegade infantry as well as Shamonian soldiers. It is heavily trenched with towers, forts and soldiers. Also defending it are those 10,000 quick firing crossbow men donated by that person. It will probably take the now weakened FOFLO forces a very long time to break through, and cannot be done in 1 post.

OOC: You have lost 70,000 men? But in your final assault on the Citadel alone you lost 170,000! Explain.

The map shows Rezephua! There are no other significant lands, merely the Southern border which goes onto the steppes (open, snowy plains) of the Neo Arctic.

IC: The new Northern army was on the march. The forces of Shamonia had dictated a battle on the open plain, and so it was to be. With the force of the toads, hopefully the day could be won.

The Northern army was forming into a line of battle, ready to swing in on the Shamonian flank, while the main army of the City took up a defensive position to the East. On the plain of Artois would the invaders be met and repelled.

Even now, the first army was preparing its defences. A large hill had been occupied before the town of Odienne, and now the men-at-arms and archers were hard at work.

OOC: It would be wierd and confusing to describe what I'm doing IC, so here's a breakdown for you:

The archers and men-at-arms of the army you are marching to face, as I said, are fortifying this hill. The hill is large, a long ridge which leads onto higher ground to the North, and has the town behind it. I have occupied the very top of this ridge, in a deep, defensive line.

What my men-at-arms and archers are working on are my defences. These are as follows:

The first 20 or so meters in a perimeter around the top of the hill where I am have been dug with small holes, about a foot deep and a foot wide. These may seem strange, but they are an extremely potent defence against cavalry, as their density means that the hooves of most horses will get into one, and at a full charge a horse will break its leg doing this, incapacitating the horse and pinning its rider under its weight.

Then, behind these are my men-at-arms, in a line of defence. The front ranks bear the standard large kite-shaped shields and iron broadswords, but behind them are ranks of men with spears, pikes and cavalry lances improvised as pikes, taken from the armouries of Odienne. These will provide a bristling wall of spear-tips, deadly against a charge of infantry or cavalry.

To the flanks and behind the men-at-arms line, on slightly higher ground, are the archers. These men have been digging more holes, in which sharpened, wooden stakes are placed at a 45 degree angle. A horse charging onto these makeshift barricades will disembowel itself, and throw its rider to the floor where the archers can stab him as he lies helpless on the ground - an infantryman charging them will have to slow to such a pace as that the archer can just give him a good stabbin’ before he can strike.

And of course, I’m on a hill, so I have the advantage of high ground.
The scale of the advantage this emplacement grants me would best be demonstrated to you if you read the accounts of the battle of Crecy, in the 100 years war.

Also, my new Northern Army marches on your flank.

To make these battles viable fun, I suggest this as a way of writing them: NEVER directly engage. Always write up first a post displaying your army’s deployment, in which you show how your own troops are forming up and give your enemy a chance to form up his. After one post each, the combatants can engage, but should always leave the results of their actions to the other player. Players who always just decide that “what you did didn’t work…I just fought you and won” will be shunned. A good reason should always be displayed for foiling an enemy movement. People performing actions should also state the intended result so that their enemies know exactly what they are trying to do and can shape their results based on that.

[ok, i'm new at both NationStates AND at roleplaying, so tell me if i'm making mistakes ;) ]

The Commonwealth of Matvia answers the call for help of The Armed Republic of Rezephua, by sending a quarter of it's military forces.

Matvia has a population of 36 million
UN Category: Corrupt Dictatorship
Civil Rights: Very Good
Economy: Fair
Political Freedoms: Rare

Our army is small, but well-trained. It consists of 250,000 men, of which 62,500 will be placed under direct command by Rezephua.

20,000 of these are heavily armoured cavalry wielding sabers, spears and shields.
20,000 bowmen with powerful crossbows
20,000 foot soldiers wielding swords, axes and large shields protecting the bowmen while they shoot.
2,500 men serve as operators for the 100 trebuchets and catapults Matvia is sending along.

The Matvian army will arive in a city of Rezephua's choice in 2 days time.

If you march from the Northern border, you can soon arrive at the town of Odienne, where my army is making its stand.

They're marching as fast as they can. Hopefully they'll arrive in the town of Odienne in time ;)

The Rezephua soldiers on the hill at Artois watched as to the South the great storm that wracked the captured Citadel began to break apart, its swirling clouds eddying North and South-West. The south-west direction linked the ragged ribbons of grey with the swelling monsoon rain-clouds over the rainforest, while the larger part which had split north built, cloud rolling in from over the water and from the Northern plains to join it in a second tempest. The distant dust trail of the advancing Shamonian horde was made invisible by the shadow of the clouds forming over them, the distant rumble of thunder audible and the smear of rain visible even from the hill. Clouds were still rolling in, and the Rezephua troops saw lightning flashing through the broiling mass, gales howling across their position and causing many men to stumble, bearing clouds low overhead in a roiling thunderhead of grey. The winds struck the Shamonian force, and a chorus of yells and cheers went up from the forces of Rezephua as they saw the flock of dragons, mere pin-pricks against the sky at this distance, forced to the ground.

The toads watched from behind their lines, their faces fixed in the ever-present grins...

OOC: The trademark storm is now overshadowing the advancing Shamonian army, slowing their advance, demoralising them, making crossbows useless and forcing all dragons to ground.

Five Rezephua men are on guard near a forest, it has been a long day and the men do not really want to be there. As one of the men yawns, a knife appears athis throat,
"Which lord do you serve?" asked a dark voice from the dark behind,
"The High Lord Rezephua" said the man, who noticed that the other four men also had knives to their throats,
"then" the man said "you live"
"oh please god no.....wait, what?!" exclamied the man
"Take to your lord, my Lord says that he wishes to talk to the wise one, about his current problems, as it where"
At this, fifteen men steeped into the firelight, all wearing the nation uniform of SlakJar.
"We will join you, and we shall victor"

OOC: Hey everyone, thought it was time i fianlly entered. I have a pop. of 60 million and i'm a police state, with a resonable economy, how many troops can i take (confused a bit by the way its done ( :P ) ) right, lets get down to some fighting

From the Shamonia boarders now marched a large army (the 4th %), 980000. Of this were 500,000 Charon, 100,000 Longbows and 280,000 of the new Shamonian unit: half dragon half man. Relatives of the black head, their skin acts as armour but they walk on two feet. They also have skills like fire breath, but no claws. They carry large axes, and large bows, that weigh nothing in their hands. They can run faster than any man, their strength is prodigious; they are fearsome and never retreat or run away unless ordered. Their intelligence is of that of a human. Their bows, due to these beasts strength, fire double the distance of any longbow. These arrows can pierce any armour.
This army currently marches to join my army marching on the plains, and will arrive very soon.

The other Shamonia/allies army:
The army suddenly stopped. Let the Rezephuans keep their hill for now! The army turned to face the northern rezephuan army, to meet them head on.
OOC: before I meant 80,000 losses; 170,000 was me and my allies.
At this very moment my fourth army marches to aid the battle above. 500,000 atlantico knights are also marching here from the pass.

To make these battles viable fun, I suggest this as a way of writing them: NEVER directly engage. Always write up first a post displaying your army’s deployment, in which you show how your own troops are forming up and give your enemy a chance to form up his.

I posted that for a reason! My Northern army was not right on your flank - it was about a day's march away! You did not give me a chance to deploy, utilise tactics or withdraw! :x

Then you attack the Matvian troops - which are behind my lines. How did your troops get there in the first place? And in a large enough force to defeat 60,000 men? Your "guerilla forces" could never defeat an entire army on the march, much less massacre it as you have written. ALSO, your force does not seem to have been mathematically accounted for - your assault on the citadel was at full strength, as it could hardly have succeeded otherwise, so how did this army get where it is now? :evil:

So, if you'll excuse me, I'd rather if you'd change your actions in that last post. Turn to face my Northern army in a line of battle, yes. Attack it without a chance for me to fight back, no. Attack Matvian forces and anhiilate them with a guerilla force that has not been mathematically or logically accounted for, no.

After several weeks of cunning manuvers the Free Land Owners have positioned their army on the north border of Rezephua. Due to their worldwide influence the FOFLO troops have manged to move through Shamonian territory.

The substancial army has had a recent overhall, and are now equpied with far superiors arms and armour - of the same type as previously said. The army has begun to move due south towards the current Rezephurain troops position.

I will post later when I will bring them into the battle. But for now they are moving at speed southwards - and you dont know about it. None of your messengers have escaped from my sight :)

See you soon :)

I am joining the forces of Rezephua! joy!

I will not be taking part in this enough to control my forces, so I delegate control of my armies to Rezephua....your all going to lose

My armies will march from the northen border together with the FOFLO troops.

I am a libertarian police state with a population of 68 million. My economy is good, and therefore I commit 2% - 1,360,000 men - of my population to the war.

This army is entirely of well-armoured infantry, armed with the SlakJar pike. Rezephua has already detaied the effectiveness of pikemen, however these men are also trained to operate in a phalanx, making their weapons also powerful on the attack, although they cannot charge well.

You're all going to die :twisted:

I am joining the forces of Rezephua! joy!

I will not be taking part in this enough to control my forces, so I delegate control of my armies to Rezephua....your all going to lose

My armies will march from the northen border together with the FOFLO troops.

I am a libertarian police state with a population of 68 million. My economy is good, and therefore I commit 2% - 1,360,000 men - of my population to the war.

This army is entirely of well-armoured infantry, armed with the SlakJar pike. Rezephua has already detaied the effectiveness of pikemen, however these men are also trained to operate in a phalanx, making their weapons also powerful on the attack, although they cannot charge well.

You're all going to die :twisted:

OOC: ok i accepted your ignores. BUT i am not happy with your method of opening and closing the rp. It is changed by you to benefit you only! Not only this but you now use 4% of your population ( i hope its of your original one at the start of the rp)! i thought you were a inoffensive centrist or something? If you can do that, i can probaly gather a army of 8%! Maybe i would have accepted this but jtm has pulled out of the war! And all these ways into your country! i thought there was only one (the free land pass), so i could use this as an advantage despite your allies superior numbers. It turns out theres 3! answer some of these questions.

Army 1: inniatial % 890000: Mainly at citadel/ parts at pass
Army 2: secondary % 980000: Largely at citadel/ pass
Army 3: tertiary % 980000: Mainly marching on Northern rezephuan army
Army 4: 4th % 980000: Marching to aid battle against northern army
Army 5: 5th % 980000: Called up at Shamonia, but not actively marching
Army 6: 6th % 980000: Not called up, but arms and weapons ready.

This means of shamonian men, the rezephuan northern army will be facing a little under 2 million. Of course if you add allies (atlantico: 1.5 million contribution, renegades: 0.5 million), it will be an army of 4 million
I can call up 6% because i am a dictatorship democracy: I only have puppets as competition for power. My other allies are at the pass (mainly atlantico) and at the citadel (mainly renegades). the renegades contributed, since this was never clear before: 3 million men. Atlantico contributed a little over 5 million.

IC:
a scout watched the FoFlo forces march. Ronoc better know about this. He ran for his Black head and burst into a sprint. The enemy horses tried to follow, but nothing can outrun a black head.
5 hours later...
"sir! sir! we have sighted FoFlo forces!"
"Right get ready! Get the first army out of the city and ready for battle"
"But sir we dont have the Charon with us!"
"Damn the Charon! we will have to do without. Right call most of the second army here. When they arrive, we march to join the battle against the rezephuan northern army. We concentrate our forces, then sledge hammer the enemy. The pass is safe as is the citadel. Leave our allies to guard them, there not doing anything else!"

OOC: about 95% of my army now marches to meet your northern army. previously captured ground is held by Renegade/ Atlantico forces, but we are still aided for the battle on the northern planes. By the time the battle starts, my army will probaly reach the hill and then be able to fight your northern army.

IC: 10 hours later General Ronoc's great speech:
"So the enemy ammasses against us. But will they stop the glory of the dragon? NEVER!"
the army roars and begins to bang their weapons together
"Should we lie dead upon the plains of rezephuan, will our living stop striving?"
"NEVER!!!" roars the army, all standing now.
"Remember when the toads enslaved our people, with those non stop civilian attacks! Will we let this continue?"
"NEVER!!!" roared the crowd.
The beating of the drums begins, as the second army reaches the rezephuan capital.
"Now we march to Death or Glory! BUT WILL THE ENEMY STOP US!"
"NEVER"
picture this: that music from lord of the rings when it shows the massed armies of the orcs. The great Shamonian army marches!

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. Opening and Closing the RP: My closing the RP was merely to keep out the belligerent newbie nations who were screwing it about. They seem to have lost interest now. The allies who I am now bringing into the war are here on personal request. I have been fishing about for allies and I have found some. If you bring more allies I have no problem with that.

2. A country would hardly have only one way into it, would it? I mean, trade would be non-existent if there were only one way into Rezephua. As it is, I followed up your idea of the Great Toad Valley as closely as possible - the ENTIRE Western Border is mountainous, with only the pass as an easy way through, the undefended Southern Border means that any forces arriving from it must make a long slog through the rainforest, which is inordinately large, the entire Eastern border is coastline, and your navy has blockade control, and the Northern border is half mountainous, as well as actually bordering onto your country! Rezephua is still difficult to get into. Look at Frenrir - with 4 million men, so far he has managed to land about six thousand crossbowmen and he has been in this war from the beginning.

3. I now have a conscription rate of 4%, and am still a Democratic Socialist Nation. The high conscription rate is due to the fact that the country of Rezephua is threatened with anhiilation! If you look at the British army in WW1 you'll see a parallel - originally convinced that "The War will be over by Christmas" only the standing army (in this case my original, proffessional 1%) was committed. When the reality hit home, a much larger conscript army was drafted, despite the fact that Britain at the time was under the control of the Liberal party.

The Kingdom of Rhhodgen declares for Rezephua. May we fight to the last to regain his capitol and free his lands from invaders.

Important OCC note: I have read this entire thread, and I believe I understand everything that is going on, except the map of Rezephua did not load for me, so if I make any geo mistakes please correct me.

I am sending 1 million men (about 0.35? of my fighting force, pop:288million), composed of:

250,000 bowmen. Due to the lush forests in Rhhodgen wood is readily available and the bows are of exceptional quality. My men grow up with their bows, and are also exceptional marksmen, as that is their primary weapon and way of getting food. The bows can shoot around 100 yards with killing ability, piecing decent armor.

250,000 regular swordsmen. Most boys are trained in the use of the sword, it being held in high regard. The swords themselves are made from tempered steel, and are very strong.

500 horsemen. Due to the fact the Rhhodgen has no horses, and must import them I have almost no cavalry. These serve mostly as scouts, being lightly armored.

25,000 Knife throwers. Whatever use they might be, they just wanted to come along. Lightly armored, easily killed. Used mainly in ambushes, never on the front.

25,000 trained eagles. Average wingspan: 6-8 feet. Record wingspan: 12 feet. Talons are sharpened razor sharp. Trained to swoop down on enemy troops tearing at flesh and armor and then fly off. These are pretty powerful beasts, in terms of strength, but they are not armored.

200,000 spearmen. I should say pikemen. These are heavily armored and move slowly. But they pack a punch in the face of even the best horsemen, that being the nature of the pike.

250,000 Rhodhiil. These troops are the cream of the army. Trained to use virtually any weapon, they are taken from their homes at an early age and trained in the art of war. Similar to the Spartans of old, they never show any emotion don’t acknowledge pain. They feel it, but that does not deter them in the least. They wear chain mail, and all carry short swords in addition to the rest of their gear. They are accustomed to long spells without comfort, food or sleep. All are good marksmen, and can use a bow in a pinch. As I said there is not a dominant weapon but a mixture. They are organized into companies of 500 hundred, adapted to fighting alone or together. They are accustomed to forest fighting and fighting on open plains.

Note, I am not sending any peasants, all my troops are trained, obey orders, and fight in formation. These are all men, no young boys. This army was prepared, not raised in a hurry and thus sacrificing quality. I have long been sending my men to camps throughout the world for extra training from the best.

(IC) Rhhodgen's lands lie to the north of Shamonia, and marching through his lands to Rezephua. As the battle is in Rezephua, I ask that you let my army march quietly, we will not disturb the people unduly. As I cannot see the map, I am not sure exactly where I will end up, but I go to join Rezephua's army wherever that is.

The Northern army could see the river ahead of it. Once it had crossed the waterway it would be on the southern sector of the plains - in position to threaten the flank or rear of the Shamonian advance.

A messenger burst into general Hawley's tent, bearing a scroll marked with the Toad Seal. "The Shamonians have got wind of your advance, milord. They have ceased their advance - our peasant scouts say they turn to face you. And a second Shamonian force advances from the South on your own flank."
Hawley's face paled.
"They are marching?"
"As fast as possible, sire, although the storm is slowing them."
"We must make a retreat for Odienne!"
"I have here your orders from High General Skeats," said the messenger, unfurling the scroll. "Retreat at once to village north-west of Odienne - name unknown. A direct northward march for your forces. Make all speed to escape Shamonian forces."
"How far away are the Shamonians? Can we lift camp in time?"
"About half a day's march. The storm has swollen the river, so that may present an obstacle.
"Quite. Tell all men to pack tents and stores, on the double! Any man dawdling will be flogged. Despatch ten riders to burn the bridge - I'd like to see the Shamonians follow us without a path across the river in this rain. We march in an hour!"

The messenger nodded and bowed out of the tent, calling for heralds to spread the word. Soon the camp was full of the hustle and bustle of men, rushing to and fro, aware now of the dust cloud churned up on the horizon by the advancing Shamonian troops. A detachment of riders galloped southwards out of camp, the rain hissing off their chainmail as they bore pitch-soaked torches and buckets of oil towards the bridge. By the time the men were finished packing, the riders had returned, a plume of black smoke rising from the location of the bridge, their oil and torches gone.

"Move North!" yelled Hawley. "March!"

OOC: Meanwhile, at Odienne...

IC: The Rezephua army was strengthening its defences, another ten square foot perimeter being dug with hoof-pits around the flanks while makeshift ramparts of broken timber and earth were constructed to anchor the vulnerable ends of the Rezephua line. Pikes and pavise shields were being churned out in the town behind them, clattering towards the fortified hill in a succession of wagons and carts to further equip the troops of Rezephua. The hill was being turned into a veritable fortress, earth-mound barricades with stakes embedded in them being built before the men-at-arms. The toads drifted around behind the lines, borne on their own eddies of wind that allowed them to hover several feet from the ground while around them the gales howled, whipping men's hair up into their faces. A crow, croaking, flapped its wings and leapt from one of the ramparts, trying to fly free, but the gale caught it and slammed it against the ground, killing the creature instantly.

Chilipepa grinned even wider as High General Skeats came to him with the reports of SlakJar, Rhhodgen and FoFLO reinforcements.
"Rivet," said the toad, nodding his head. The nervous-looking interpreter standing next to him began to speak, translating the toad's words.
"The Lord of Rezephua greets you, and wishes to know the disposition of the troops of our allies."
"Chilipepa, the SlakJar, Rhhodgen and Free Land Owner forces advance from the Shamonian Border, having taken the road through the land of our enemies. They will be here in three days, maybe two if they make exceptionally good time."
"Rivet?"
"His High Lordship demands to know the disposition of our enemies and our own troops."
"The Shamonians advance upon our second Northern army with two forces, one from the South and one from the Citadel originally bent on assaulting our position. The Northern army has burnt the bridge and is retreating to link up with FoFLO, Rhhodgen and SlakJar. Our Southern Army now makes progress through the rainforest since James the Mighty has retreated its forces."
"Rivet Ribbet Rivet Rivet!"
"His High Lordship wishes you to send a commander to the SlakJar and Matvian forces delegated to us. He says, send them to the village North-West of here to meet up with our Northern Army, then turn back and crush the Shamonian forces in conjunction with FoFLO and Rhhodgen."
"It shall be done, my lord."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: I have made two maps, zooming in on the area we are fighting over and showing firstly the positions of all our armies and secondly the intended movements of mine. Unfortunately, I am posting this from a public computer that won't let me get to the maps now - I'll post them this evening (English time).

The Shamonian forces were finally reunited at the base of the hill.
General Ronoc looked upon the hill, and new again there would be a long and bloody battle. He turned to his leutenants:
"Bring up the siege! I want 30 Catapaults from the citadel, and 20 of Atlantico's at the pass"

Elsewhere deep in Shamonian land on the dragon plains:
5 shamonian messangers rode up to the local herd of black heads, the largest herd within the land of about 1 million of the beasts. They dismounted and met their chieftain:
"Lord Ronoc, Commander of the armies of Shamonia, asks for a force of 100,000 Kushnash (for that is their formal name), to be riden into battle in the lands of the Rezephua. If this deed is committed this great tribe will be given a section of land once we have won the war, upon the large flats of the rezephua."
The dragon listened patiently. The thought of humans riding black heads was disgusting, and many black heads that were ridden were looked down on. However the idea of the new land was appealing.
"We will let you command these dragons" (the dragons were never ones for speech.)
The 100,000 dragons ran for the hill, their speed meaning they would reach their destination within a day.

OOC:
New camps are being set up at the base of the hill, to accomadate the 4 Shamonia armies as well as their allies. Do not come under the illusion that you can simply run down the hill to reach the Shamonian camp. There is still a large gap between the hill and the camps.
When the new black heads arrive, my cavalry will be trained to ride the beasts. This should not be difficult as the beasts respond to vocal commands, and have intelligence. Not only this much of the Shamonian cavalry has ridden these beasts before if they have not been trained to ride them.
The rezephua capital city is under great repair, and 1 million Renegade soldiers as well as Shamonian crossbows and Longbows guard it. The citadel lis largely recovered, but the outer walls of the city and the city itself still require large amounts of repair.

One point: You say 4 armies, and say how your dragons can be at the hill without delay. All well and good - but to reach the hill your dragons will have to pass through the combined armies of SlakJar, FoFLO and Rhhodgen, as will your two armies that have not yet been called up. The alternative is taking the slower route, off-road.

Here are the maps (bear in mind that the Shamonian movements in the last post were not incorporated when I drew these up, therefore the two red dots out on the plain should really be one big red dot at the base of the hill, and the big green arrow on the second map would be pointing right towards Odienne and the fortified hill). Brown stands for Rhhodgen, dull blue stands for FoFLO, sky blue stands for SlakJar, deep blue stands for Matvia, green stands for Rezephua, red stands for all attacking forces. Note that the red dot in the southern rainforest would be JtM, as he has decided to remain in the war.

If you can't see the maps, go here: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3648623&uid=1889492&members=1

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL252/1889492/3648623/44899566.jpg

And my intended movements (which, since Shamonia has taken about 2 days' march in that post, would be about to be completed: the forces from the North would be united and marching towards the hill) - the green arrow shows the second stage of movement, the black arrows show the first stage:

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL252/1889492/3648623/44899613.jpg

General Hawley's army was now marching with the allied forces from the North, the vast mass of men heading back towards Odienne. Rhhodgen Eagles soared over the army, scouting the area for miles around, at the same time as Rezephua foresters splayed out in a wake behind them. Hawley was riding with the leaders of the allied troops when a rider wearing his livery galloped up alongside them, out of breath and panicked.

"Shamonian troops and dragons advance from the North! They threaten the rear of our advance!"
"Describe them."
"The men are well-equipped but fresh. There are many of the land-dragons with them."
"Very well. Call up the SlakJar troops - they will station themselves at the village we left, and engage the Shamonians in open battle as they attempt to cross the border. Their armour and training should be enough to see off the Shamonian levy, and their pikes should be more than enough to deal with the dragons..."

OOC: well i wasnt gonna send my 5th and 6th army yet, but hey what the hell? And charon, fresh? Although the 6th army is a little fresh, raised due to conscrition, the 5th army are a mix of the Dragon lords guard and the royal guard e.g. Charon and man dragons/dragons. I doubt Slakjar will hold them. unless you meant the 4th army, but i thought they were already at the hill. Make it clear which army you thought was where

IC: "Sir! Sir! enemy slakjar soldiers sighted on the boarder!" screams the messanger to Prince Flagrada.
"An act of invasion! Ronoc did not expect this!" spoke the prince (OOC: if you havent guessed this is a misinterpretation, not by me)"Get together the Charon, send a messanger to the One!"
A dragon departs to the sky, and shoots to the dragon flat lands, where the One rules. The messanger dismounts and bows:
"Lord! enemy soldiers are sighted at the boarders. They threagthen Shamonia itselfs!"
The One roars in rage and rises to the air, departing across the plains. Herds of dragons on the plains look up, hearing the roar. A signal of war!
Immediatly 500,000 half dragons run to meeting point of the Shamonian capital with 480,000 Shamonian Charon (forming the 5th army), There they would march to face the army. The black heads remain, to guard the rest of the land.
5 hours later the 5th army meets and marches up to the Shamonian boarder. As they further their marching they meet up with the 100,000 black heads to form a army (OOC: and if you want the 4th army, depending on what your opinion is on their location e.g with the 1st-3rd army, or still within Shamonian land?). The 6th army also remain to guard Shamonia, while at the same time being heavily drilled and trained for war in preparation.
OOC:
I hope the slakjar's ready, because the army being sent his way is the greatest of all my armies. enjoy! :twisted:

OOC: well i wasnt gonna send my 5th and 6th army yet, but hey what the hell? And charon, fresh? Although the 6th army is a little fresh, raised due to conscrition, the 5th army are a mix of the Dragon lords guard and the royal guard e.g. Charon and man dragons/dragons. I doubt Slakjar will hold them. unless you meant the 4th army, but i thought they were already at the hill. Make it clear which army you thought was where

IC: "Sir! Sir! enemy slakjar soldiers sighted on the boarder!" screams the messanger to Prince Flagrada.
"An act of invasion! Ronoc did not expect this!" spoke the prince (OOC: if you havent guessed this is a misinterpretation, not by me)"Get together the Charon, send a messanger to the One!"
A dragon departs to the sky, and shoots to the dragon flat lands, where the One rules. The messanger dismounts and bows:
"Lord! enemy soldiers are sighted at the boarders. They threagthen Shamonia itselfs!"
The One roars in rage and rises to the air, departing across the plains. Herds of dragons on the plains look up, hearing the roar. A signal of war!
Immediatly 500,000 half dragons run to meeting point of the Shamonian capital with 480,000 Shamonian Charon (forming the 5th army), There they would march to face the army. The black heads remain, to guard the rest of the land.
5 hours later the 5th army meets and marches up to the Shamonian boarder. As they further their marching they meet up with the 100,000 black heads to form a army (OOC: and if you want the 4th army, depending on what your opinion is on their location e.g with the 1st-3rd army, or still within Shamonian land?). The 6th army also remain to guard Shamonia, while at the same time being heavily drilled and trained for war in preparation.
OOC:
I hope the slakjar's ready, because the army being sent his way is the greatest of all my armies. enjoy! :twisted:

"Scout reporting sir," said a rough dark haired man.
"Speak," returned general Fradef, commander of the Rhhodgen army.
"We have seen Shamonian men advancing towards Slackjar, I don't think he is strong to hold them off. There are many dragons"
"That leaves us with a hard choice then, turn back to reinforce Slackjar or march onwards towards Rezephua's army."
"If you want my advice sir," the scout said.
"Speak up."
"I say we turn back. We have a better chance with Slackjar's men."
"Then we must do it," Fradef said. "Start turning the troops around."

(OCC) The troops turned back to reinforce Slakjar, positioning themselves on the right flank. The men are busy driving stakes into the ground, and stop to take a meal. One never fights better then with a full belly.

OOC: i will just answer the question, the Shamonian armies in the south of odiene are my armies 1-4 + 2 million renegade (who have over the last few days been arriving) and 3 milllion atlantico (who have also been arriving over hte last few days.
IC: "Sir! Sir!" whined the annoting scout
Flagrada looked upon the messenger
"go on"
"Sir! the Rhodegen are arriving to aid the Slakjar, their combined armies roughly 2 million!"
"damn it! 2 to 1! call up the 6th army! we gotta stop this invasion!"

5 hours later the 6th army arrive: 1000,000 soldiers (using an easy round number here if you dont mind, even if it is slightly above 1%) of which there are 500,000 raw recruits, who have faced 3 years training but no actual war with heavy armour, and 500,000 half dragons.

The two armies gathered and turned to face their enemy. They march towards their enemy, before their enemy can build such a defence on the other side Odiene. They march upon the wide flats, where the batlle would take place.......

OOC: the battle will take up the flats, avoiding the high ground around odiene as this area is on the Shamonia boarder. In the battle i have 1 million half dragons, 480,000 Charon and 500,000 young and normal infantry. Along side these are 100,000 rider-less dragons. The Charon take up the centre, with the other infantry on either side. Behind them are half a million half dragons, and on either side of the main infantry are the remaining half dragons. 100,000 black heads wait at the flanks.
To make this fun i think it should be between the rhodegen + the Slakjar armies (under rezephua control) against me, so that both sides have roughly equal numbers. please state the slakjar army (i heard you mention pikes, so there should be alot of them) as well as both nations formations. I suggest no extra soldiers should be brought into the battle in the idea of general fun.

I am joining on the side of Shamonia. I present him control of 2850000 or 3% of my population. I am a inoffensive Centrist Democracy with a good economy, but I have recently mobilized due to calls for battle made by Shamonia recently. Of this army I have the following soldiers:
1 million Roman like soldiers: heavily armored, disciplined, armed with short stabbing sword, a shield and a javelin.
850,000 Longbows, with forest and jungle skills as well as light armour and a short sword, their bows out reach most Longbows of other countries.
850,000 men at arms, equipped with shields and spears.
A navy of 20 ships with the latest in technology guns + 500 sailors + 700 ship stealers (men used to capture other ships, equipped with medium armour and swords). They are also very fast, no matter the winds.
150,000 Heavy cavalry
These armies have reached Shamonia and are currently marching through to reach rezephuan land.

3%!?

How much of an army did you leave to guard your own lands?

I call this amount into question. One never sends his whole army into another country to fight for an ally. I sent less then half of mine, and that calculated at 1% of my population. And your economy is only "good", mine is a "powerhouse". Not to brag at all, but just pointing it out.

Also, Ix Ta, you have superb equipment but only a 'Reasonable' economy.

OK, Shamonia, prepare for battle! My SlakJar forces and Rhodgen against you. When you post your deployment, could you please say exactly how big and powerful the normal types of dragon are? Only with the numbers you are fielding I think I've got an image of them as more powerful than they're meant to be.

Rhhodgen, I've deployed your troops according to a battle-plan, if that's OK. If you don't like the way they're set up, post before the battle begins and change it.

IC: SlakJar pikemen formed up into a serried series of phalanxes across the field, their heavy armour glinting in the sun as they lowered a wall of pike-points before them as the Rhhodgen spears took up position on the Western flank. In echelon formation, behind the Eastern flank, stood the Rhodiil and the Rhhodgen swordsmen.

Towards the rear of the line and the western flank were the Rhhodgen Knife throwers and the eagles, as well as the light Rhhodgen horsemen.

OOC: Our army looks like this, with |_| standing for blocks of pikemen, ~ standing for Rhodiil, - standing for swordsment, ^ standing for light cavalry, * standing for eagles and " standing for knife throwers. Dots are just me spacing the symbols.


|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
..................................................----~~~~
^^****..........""""""""............ ----~~~~
...................................................----~~~~

I am joining on the side of Shamonia. I present him control of 2850000 or 3% of my population. I am a inoffensive Centrist Democracy with a good economy, but I have recently mobilized due to calls for battle made by Shamonia recently. Of this army I have the following soldiers:
1 million Roman like soldiers: heavily armored, disciplined, armed with short stabbing sword, a shield and a javelin.
850,000 Longbows, with forest and jungle skills as well as light armour and a short sword, their bows out reach most Longbows of other countries.
850,000 men at arms, equipped with shields and spears.
A navy of 20 ships with the latest in technology guns + 500 sailors + 700 ship stealers (men used to capture other ships, equipped with medium armour and swords). They are also very fast, no matter the winds.
150,000 Heavy cavalry
These armies have reached Shamonia and are currently marching through to reach rezephuan land.

This strikes me as utter bullshit. An army of close to 3 million pops out of nowhere? Recently mobilized civilians, yet disciplined? There isn't a democracy in the world where you could pull that off without major riotting in your own land. You rather need that army to keep control of your own ppl ;)

OOC: speaking for the Ix ta, you need to know a couple of things. a) he has conscription, well i think he does as he selected he very agreed with that question when he set up the nation b) his post was outdated, when he said that number it was even less thatn 3%, it was more like 2. c) maybe his numbers are rediculous but he is taking a passive view to the rp, so if you are still unsatisfied i will have to persuade him to change it, so instead i will just say he has sent 1.5 million men into Shamonia, 1 million of the roman types, and 500,000 of his archers. happy now?
oh and black heads are roughly double the length of a large horse, but far more muscular. Also there legs are closer to the ground, and more muscular. Though it is unlikely they could break through a pike wall, so have no worries if you think i am godmodding. A half dragon is about 6 ft 2 standing on two feet. They have dragon skin and a dragon head, but their arms are more humanish where the dragon skin is the thinnest. The same can be said about the legs, but they have very large muscles to power them forward and to support their weight. Oh and they dont have wings

IC:
At the Shamonian boarder.....
The Shamonian Charon marched forward, the black heads retaining the flanks. They came close to the pike wall, but remained a normal bow shot of distance away. However the half dragons, with their tremendous bows and strength could easily reach the rezephuan ranks. Arrows were shot from the half dragons from behind the Charon, while parts of 6th army assembled into a position guarding them, at a right angle to the Shamonian Charon (like the position of the rhodhill and the swordsmen on the right side of the rezephuas diagram). The Shamonian arrows, so powerfully pulled by the half dragons, punched through armour and flesh. The arrows were also heated by the half dragon flames, to turn an normal wound into a fatal one. Other half dragons prepared their arrows for any eagle assault. The Shamonian's have made the first move.

*is happy and is gonna watch his troops getting slaughtered*

OOC: Whoops, I forgot the Rhhodgen bowmen. They'd be behind the line in front of the knife throwers.

The SlakJar troops crouched low, bracing their pikes and spreading their feet as a wind began to ruffle the banners of both armies, picking up force with astonishing speed. Half-dragon bow-shots span in the air and thudded pitifully against the ground, about a hundred feet short of their marks in the face of the gale, their flames going out. Rhhodgen bowshots slashed with additional force and range across the Shamonian line as the wind drove them hard from behind, even puncturing the hard hides of the half-dragons. Clearly a toad was watching this battle from afar...

OOC: Rhhodgen will be along this evening with his troops' main movements. Please don't post before him, what he's going to do is important.

(OCC) So sorry it took so long, here goes:

(IC)
Cries of terror filled the ranks as the burning arrows found their marks. Men who were normally brave shouldered as they saw their comrades fall beneath these terrible weapons.

The general raised a horn to his lips and blew one loud short note, and the horsemen galloped around the pikemen into the face of the dragons, turning the brunt of the fire upon them. The eagles quickly rise high into the air, in a matter of minutes out of sight.

The pikemen and bowmen started slowly marching forward, for the moment out from under attack.

As suddenly as the eagles left, they return, literally dropping from the sky like bullets. Many eagles were punched from the sky by half-dragon bows, but the angle the birds were swooping from made it so that the arrows that missed came straight down again on the Shamonian troops.
The dragons faltered, many crashing into each other, falling and entangling more and more of the great beasts in the thrashing limbs of the blinded monsters. The charge of the reptiles was halted, the Shamonian infantry charging against the still-solid wall of pikes unaided...

The eagles, finding their task complete left once again for the skies, this time only flying above bow range, circling and waiting for the signal to attack.

(OCC) My losses:
3632 (just kidding, make it 4000) eagles leaving 21,000
1000 pikemen
1000 horsemen

This is from Rezephua
(IC)
"There was a shift in the clouds overhead as the half-dragons behind the advancing Shamonian line began to stagger, their flaming arrows guttering and going out in the sudden wind that blew in their faces. Now, with the wind behind them, the red-fletched arrows of Rhhodgen were sailing far and hitting home with force, whereas even the powerful draw of the dragon-men was not enough to stop their arrows cartwheeling in the wind, falling feebly back or even hissing back into their own lines. The Shamonian advance was slowed, even further confusion being sown among the dragon herd as those which were still upright found themselves forced, stumbling, over the bodies of their fallen, blinded brethren. The SlakJar and Rhhodgen troops crouched low to keep steady, still presenting a bristling wall of pikes to the Shamonians from every block. Clearly a toad was assisting this battle from afar.

OOC: Effect: Shamonian bowfire is reduced in capacity, flaming arrows go out, Rhhodgen arrows are hitting with extra range and power."

OOC: about the last post. its a bit conveniant that as soon as your army has no method of defence, archers appear? But i will let you have it anyways. And as for charging my dragons and my infantry, i made no such order (to be honest i had the unrealistic hope of you attacking), so i will ignore those losses. However i will accept the attack of the eagles and the friendly fire, as well as the decreasing affectiveness of Archers:
400 men at arms
100 half dragons
80 Charon
10 black head's

IC: The Shamonian infantry held their shields to the sky, blocking the enemy arrows. The orders were given. The Shamonian Charon marched forward till they were 30 m from the enemy spear wall. More half dragons ran in front of them, and began arcehery fire, ignoring the enemy archery fire. The arrows, at such close range retained the affectiveness cleaving through the pike men armour despite the strong winds. Suddenly the black heads hooked in to the enemy centre. The black heads managed to gain control against the strong winds. Just in front of the pike wall the black heads leapt bravely over the pike line landing in the centre of the enemy, where they began to slash and burn the enemy around them, who hardly at the time or the space to turn their pikes upon them. As the enemy line began to turn to face the dragons, Charon marched into the enemy supported by the parts of the sixth army. The Shamonian half dragons turned their arrows to the enemy rhodill who faced outwards on the flank, the arrows punching through their unprotected backs due to the short range. The dragons were now being opposed by the enemy, but the Charon now attacked the pike men, who were torn between the decision of fighting the dragons or the enemy in front of them. The rest of the sixth army turned to face the cavalry threat, racing their spears so that the enemy rode upon them. The Shamonian army was pushing through the pike wall, while protecting tiself from the enemy cavalry and archers.

I assure you, we had the archers all along (look at the post of Rhhodgen's initial army), but I just forgot them in my deployment.

SlakJar losses: 700 pikemen.

IC: A SlakJarian officer yelled the order to advance, the second, third and fourth ranks of the phalanxes clashing into position and driving the black-heads out of the SlakJar formation with an impenetrable wall of pike-heads. Advancing at a steady march, the wall of organised pike-shafts drove ever forwards, gutting many dragons who tried to turn and resist. Flames and arrows screamed across the SlakJar lines, killing many, but with perfect cohesion more men took their place in ordered ranks.

Still loosing arrows, the half-dragons suddenly found themselves face-to-face with the pikemen as the pikes of the SlakJar troops drove hard into them, killing many while the others were forced back, their axes and swords useless against the incredibly long pikes. Stumbling backwards away from the enemy, the monstrous warriors broke the formation of Charon behind them, confusing and entangling men while all the time the SlakJar phalanxes pressed forwards, their pikes ripping through the compressed front rank of Charon and half-dragons and killing almost all of them, loosing the corpses from their pikes then stepping forwards and killing the second rank, loosing corpses, the third rank. The shouts of the SlakJar troops and the cries of dying Shamonians seemed curiously separated by the fifteen-foot gap of pike-shafts, as more Shamonian troops were inhumanly gutted by the ordered advance of the phalanxes. The Black-Heads, driven back into their own lines, could hardly move without crushing their allies underfoot, and their flames at these close quarters roasted Shamonian and SlakJarian alike. Still the pikes pressed, a pocket of Black-Heads being forced back and then gutted as the front rank of the phalanx pushed forwards and upwards, their pikes ripping open the bellies of the beasts.

OOC: 300 more pikemen dead from dragon-fire, archery, and what little effect troops without polearms can have on a phalanx attack. Your troops are disorganised due to being squeezed together, and taking v. heavy losses from the ordered advance of the phalanx, as well as being pushed backwards.

Again, I ask you to wait for Rhhodgen before posting.

OOC: i wont attack, im just giving the order to reform and stating my losses. oh and as for "killing almost all of them" your being a bit presumptious at how strong the half dragons and the Charon are, despite any bad conditions.
losses:
3000 half dragons
1000 Charon
200 black heads
400 men at arms
The black heads gave a roar, warning their allies around them to make room. The Shamonians had just enough room to allow the black heads to break free. The black heads turned west and fled and full speeds. It seemed the battle had been too much for them. The Charon quickly retreated from the wall of spears, reforming quickly and with order. They would have to fight fire with fire. 2 wagons that came with the 6th army spilled its contents for the Charon and the men at arms to use. Long pikes. Both the Charon and the men at arms had been trained in the use of them. The Charon swords were held at the Charons back, while the 6th army just dropped their slightly shorter spears. The army took up their old formation, everyone fully prepared.

OOC: When I said 'almost all of them', that was just referring to the ones who had come forwards to shoot.

IC: "Phalanxes! Form UP!" roared a SlakJar commander, stepping to the front of the line. With a rattle of metal and wood, the slightly disjointed phalanx of pikemen reformed, keeping tight order.
"Second rank - drop pikes! Draw swords!"
The second line of spears went down, the SlakJar soldiers in the second rank drawing heavy swords of iron - their auxiliary weapon.
"Phalanx - condense!"
The ranks behind the front stepped forwards, bringing their formation into a sardine-like press of ordered bodies. Now the spear-points of the fifth rank as well were presented before the warriors of the first rank.
"Phalanx - advance!"
The SlakJar troops came on at a fast walk, their pikes clattering and clashing with those of the Shamonian pikemen - while trained recently in their uses, the Shamonians were not lifelong pikemen as the SlakJarian troops were, and the two large wagons had not been enough to supply pikemen in enough numbers to face off head-to-head with the trained phalanxes of SlakJar. Serried walls of pikes clashed as the SlakJar front rank deliberately broke cohesion, pressing forwards while the second rank stepped between the thrusting pikes of the Shamonians, their swords smashing entangled pike-heads from their shafts. Pikes were now being passed up the line as the front line of Shamonian pike-points was pulled apart, the second rank re-equipping and continuing their relentless, pressing attack. The round shields of the Shamonians deflected the occasional wild arrow-shot as they ground forwards, their dense formation almost like a steamroller in its steady advance, pushing harder into the Shamonian line. The front rank of pikes became entangled and disorganised as the remnants of the half-dragons got among their shafts, but the ranks behind reformed and drove the monsters back over the bodies of their fellow soldiers, shouting in rage. Both lines were now locked in combat, the wall of SlakJar pikes steadily pushing back the mass of Shamonian soldiers as the outnumbered pikemen of the enemy were gradually worn down, leaving the outreached regular infantry to fight against the thrusting steel of the phalanxes.

OOC: In case you're confused about how my 2nd rank swordsmen succeeded whereas infantry are usually skewered against pikes - my swordsmen were in the second rank, with a rank of pikemen protecting them.

Don't bother specifying losses - all I'm doing here is re-engaging the lines. With proper organisation this time, your men and my men will be deadlocked.

Rhhodgen's actions should come now.

The Rhodhiil and swordsmen, after a command from their leader turn and face the enemy.
"Charge!"
Advancing at a steady trot the men crash into the flank of the Shamonian line, the Shamonian's falling away beneath the weight of the charge.

(OCC) This attack is absolutely devastating, since no formation or organized defense can be presented against a flank charge, and since having enemies attacking from two directions is very unnerving it often also causes those subjected to it to break ranks and flee.

(IC)
The eagles, their powerful wings beating, follow a command to attack again. Splitting into two groups, the bigger group flies into remnant of the dragons blinding them and creating confusion. The second group flies over the Shamonian lines to where the Shamonian prince stands watching the battle. Ripping out his eyes, and tearing his throat open, two of the biggest eagles lift him off his horse, climb to a high altitude and drop him. The Shamonian troops cry in dismay as they see their great leader fall from the sky.

(OCC) The Shamonian men are now are very dismayed, and confusion reigns in their ranks.
Losses:
2000 eagles
Shoot, I really have to go and can't finish, um, Rezephua can figure the rest out.

IC:
The Shamonian half dragons turned to face the enemy charge. Drawing their axes they met the enemy swordsmen head on. The half dragons used their superior numbers and strength to counter the charge, killing the enemy in there thousands. The rhodill and swordsmen were suddenly surrounded, the half dragons slaughtering them. The rhodill and the swordsmen began to panic, but they were surrounded by million half dragons and there was no escape as the half dragons closed in.....

OOC:
your gonna loose pretty much all these men unless you dont do something about it.

IC:
The Shamonian sixth army and the Charon were afraid, the loss of their leader terrifying but a figure suddenly a figure appeared in the air. The One, which could fly no matter the weather. The Shamonians roared at the sight of the new leader, and reformed. Any ideas of fleeing were now gone. The huge dragon was doing something strange, compressing fire into spheres. Suddenly 40 of these spheres were flung into the compressed slajar ranks, and the fireballs exploded killing all men around them. Another 40 were thrown, then another and another. The smell of burning flesh was in the air, the phalanxes panicked. At the same time the black heads returned under the call of their leader, and charged the unprotected Slakjar flank where the swordsmen once dwelt. The few pike men that remained were leapt upon and killed. More fireballs shot from the air, roasting the remaining few on that flank. the flank collapsed....
The Charon restarted their attack on the centre backed up by the 6th army. This time they could match their enemy with pikes, and even use the gaps created by the One's fire ball. the One suddenly flew at the enemy eagles, huge jets of flames killing the beautiful creatures. Once a number of the eagles were destroyed the one grounded, and awaited victory.....

OOC: if you want my honest opinion i think this is the winning post, but i will leave my losses list for your next move.

oh btw i opened another rp, very different from this one. If anyones interested go to "The Golfen Hawk (open rp)"

What in glaveney? Where the heck did those half-dragons come from? I though they were fighting the SlakJar troops.

IC: "Retreat!" bellowed the SlakJar commanders, pulling their men back in an ordered retreat. The One roared and came after them, its fire roasting more men in their armour as the swordsmen and Rhodiil began to pull out, the Knife Throwers running forwards to distract the Half Dragons.

The clouds over the battlefield were massing in a boiling, black mass, and the howling mass of Shamonian troops suddenly began to quiten down as they formed into the face of a toad, distorted by anger. The One gave a whimper and suddenly jerked around in mid-air as the mind of the far-off amphibian took control of its arms, hurling its fireballs into its own troops. It was as if the great reptile was having a spastic attack - it jerked wildly as different parts of its body fought for control. Its jaws snapped open, a blazing spray of fire slashing across the half-dragons as it looped and flopped wildly in the air, its wings beating spasmodically. Overhead, the clouds massed, a mental message of panic and terror rolling over the Shamonian troops like a shockwave as many men, driven wild by the mind of the toad, fell upon their friends with swords hacking. Flames ripped across the half-dragons as the monsters turned on one another, the screams of burning dragon-men echoing over the building rumbles of thunder as the One piroutted madly over the battlefield, twitching like an insane marionette. Only one toad had this kind of power - the lord of Rezephua himself...

Suddenly there was an ear-splitting crack of thunder and lightning tore from the clouds, three bolts of white power impacting simultaneously on the One. The Shamonian troops, freed from their madness, watched with horror as the great dragon, small fires burning on its wings, swayed in the air...it was still alive...

The lightning struck again, five bolts of blinding, eye-searing lightning tearing a bloody hole through the creature's neck. A wail of terror went up from the Shamonians as their great ruler fell, the dragon's blackened corpse folding in on itself and crashing down amidst their lines. Rain howled now across the battlefield, the retreating SlakJar and Rhhodgen soldiers slowing their backwards walk and presenting their weapons...

OOC: SlakJar losses: 1,000 pikemen from combat, flames, etc. I'm afraid the storm will have badly damaged our eagles, Rhhodgen. Sorry.

Rhodiil and swordsmen, acting on SlakJar orders, have pulled out. Phalanxes have retreated, so there's now a gap between our forces Your loss count should incorporate your last post, the general slaughter caused by a flank charge, the kills of the phalanxes, the madness that swept across your army and the fireballs the One threw at your own side.

IC:

The One lay dead (OOC: im not gonna lose two leaders for nothing! An eye for an eye). It had lived a long life (roughly 3000 years), death in battle seemed a good death. Suddenly a Shamonian man died in front of the great beast eyes, an arrow through the man's chest. NO! Time to fight! Time to strive! SAVE YOUR PEOPLE! The Great dragon skin began to peal like an orange. Out came a spirit of pure flames. From the flames came 1000 fireballs, a dragon’s last wish. 300 of the fireballs wrapped around the great toad face, compressing the face into a large sphere of flames. The flames slammed into the great Slakjar line, leaving a clearing of death. Elsewhere the great toad died. The other 700 fireballs slammed into the slakjar line, destroying it completely. The Shamonians gained their minds, and immediately slammed into the slakjar line. Unfortunately the slakjar’s held no formation due to the flames, and the Shamonians obliterated them. Black heads leapt among the Slakjar. The half dragons tuned their attention on the knife throwers, and destroyed them in close combat using their axes. They then charged the Slakjar and rhodegen. The enemy were crushed under the fury of the charge, but resisted bravely. Finally a horendous black head charge broke the remains of the enemy formation. A group of slakjar's held the rear guard, but were quickly wiped out. Few escaped. The great spirit fell from the sky. And died in knowledge it had killed its greatest opponent, the great lord of rezephua, the toad. The Shamonian army regrouped around their dying leader, having defeated the opposing armies. The flames crumbled into dust. In distance a great Ix ta army marched to unite with the Shamonian army.
Elsewhere deep in Shamonian land in a cave, a shell began to shake, then cracked open. The great leader’s son was born. And in future times it would lead its country.

OOC:
Losses:
300,000 men at arms
200,000 Charon
300,000 half dragons
4000 black heads
The One
Your losses should include the loss of roughly 1.5 million men, and the great toad. The rest have fled to meet up with your army, having escaped the black heads. please accept these, as i had to let the wrath of a dying dragons smite ye.

The toads' heads suddenly whipped around in their base camp as their leader erupted in a spout of flames.

[Translated directly from toad-speak, which just sounds like croaking]
"What the hell happened there?"
"I don't...know...oh crap"
Looking North, the Toad's minds flew out, grappling onto that of the first allied soldier they saw and looking at what had happened.
"Rhoddgen's forces are fleeing and damaged, SlakJar's armies are all but destroyed. Chilipepa destroyed the One and ripped apart the enemy army - but the One got him in return."
"Then the One is dead?"
"The One is dead."
"Then our course seems clear."
The toad grinned and unshackled his mind from that of the fleeing soldier, as the other six joined him, their minds swelling and rising over the distant, confused mass of battle. Stopping dead in their tracks, the Shamonian troops began to stagger and scream as they felt minds on a scale far larger than their own press down on them, many falling dead with blood running from their ears. Others turned on their friends while yet more turned their weapons on themselves, the self-destructive madness seizing every man, dragon and half-dragon in the army as all six toads bent their will to the task, the clouds over the southern Shamonian forces rippling oddly with the strange forces unleashed. As the Rhoddgen army and the shattered remnants of the SlakJar troops fled South, the Shamonian armies destroyed themselves behind them.

OOC: My losses from the battle: Only 100 SlakJar pikemen remain.

The toads' heads suddenly whipped around in their base camp as their leader erupted in a spout of flames.

[Translated directly from toad-speak, which just sounds like croaking]
"What the hell happened there?"
"I don't...know...oh crap"
Looking North, the Toad's minds flew out, grappling onto that of the first allied soldier they saw and looking at what had happened.
"Rhoddgen's forces are fleeing and damaged, SlakJar's armies are all but destroyed. Chilipepa destroyed the One and ripped apart the enemy army - but the One got him in return."
"Then the One is dead?"
"The One is dead."
"Then our course seems clear."
The toad grinned and unshackled his mind from that of the fleeing soldier, as the other six joined him, their minds swelling and rising over the distant, confused mass of battle. Stopping dead in their tracks, the Shamonian troops began to stagger and scream as they felt minds on a scale far larger than their own press down on them, many falling dead with blood running from their ears. Others turned on their friends while yet more turned their weapons on themselves, the self-destructive madness seizing every man, dragon and half-dragon in the army as all six toads bent their will to the task, the clouds over the southern Shamonian forces rippling oddly with the strange forces unleashed. As the Rhoddgen army and the shattered remnants of the SlakJar troops fled South, the Shamonian armies destroyed themselves behind them.

OOC: My losses from the battle: Only 100 SlakJar pikemen remain.

As the Shamonian army destroyed itself, a few of the Rhodhiil and swordsmen regrouped and escaped.

(OCC)
Losses:
All eagles
All Pikemen
All Knife Throwers

Left with:
500 archers
5000 Rhodhiil
2000 Swordsmen
500 horsemen (scouts who had watched the battle from afar)
This is basically nothing considering the army I brought over. I now hand these over to Rezephua, for him to command. General Fradef of the Rhhodgen was killed in the battle.

I too, delegate control of my armies to Rezephua. My computer does NOT like this forum, so unfortunately I haven't been able to post and won't be able to in the future (this is a public computer). Just assume they've been going to meet up with him at the hill as we planned before.

The Shamonians suffered, killing themselfs in the confusion. Although the rezephuan lord was dead, other toads wrecked havoc. The remaining sane men were unsure of their course, but had enough mind to form into a a protective group. The half dragons were largely unaffected, and only watched the madness from afar with impassive glances. The loss of their leader had shaken them. The madness was finally brought to a finish, as not even the toads could command the men's minds for so long, especially without their leader. they collapsed, either unconcious or out of action for a while (OOC: thank god!)

OOC:
losses from madness:
20,000 men at arms
10,000 Charon
5,000 half dragons.

so of my total losses from the battle in the 5th and 6th army are:
320,400 men at arms 179,600
221,080 Charon leaving 278,920
308,100 half dragons leaving 691,900
4,210 black heads leaving 95,790

Hmm roughly 0.85 million men dead. not bad, although i could of lost less men.
IC:
The Ix ta army marched over the hill, meeting up with the Shamonian's. The Ix ta saw what could only be described as a bloodied army. An Ix tan soldier threw up at the sight of the dead bodies, strewn everywhere. The Ix tan army looked tired having marched for long hours, but relatively fresh. The now Shamonian general, having been promoted from colonel, was called Rulke. He quickly walked to meet the Ix ta leader.
"what happened here?" exclaimed the Ix tan general Swift, garbed in white, a perfect contrast to the Shamonian general, who left blood in his boot prints.
"Death! We march at dawn, attacking the rezephuan forces from two sides. Make sure your soldiers are ready. Send a skeet to Ronoc. He needs to know the news, and we need a strategy to defeat the toads."

An hour later a skeet swoops into Ronoc's tent. The tamers run forward, and quickly take the skeets message. The skeet is put in a cage, in the tamers tent.
"Hmm these toads are bastards. well at least their leaders dead. Now to kill the rest. Send the following assasins: Toonar, Iggur, Lian, Tensor and Pitlis. Dragonsto fly them while the weather is normal, dragons to be black; they wont see them. Give the men Rezephuan armour."
The dragons leapt into the night sky, and fkew like bullets above the rezephuan camp. The dragons landed within the camp, the men departing. The sound of footsteps told of rezephuan soldiers approaching; The Dragons leapt back into the sky. Its the men's turn now....

OOC: These are very good assasins, infiltrating your camp to get your toads. The toads are unconcious, with little defence. They work individually, to avoid all of them being caught in the case of a accident. Be ready.

The Shamonians suffered, killing themselfs in the confusion. Although the rezephuan lord was dead, other toads wrecked havoc. The remaining sane men were unsure of their course, but had enough mind to form into a a protective group. The half dragons were largely unaffected, and only watched the madness from afar with impassive glances. The loss of their leader had shaken them. The madness was finally brought to a finish, as not even the toads could command the men's minds for so long, especially without their leader. they collapsed, either unconcious or out of action for a while (OOC: thank god!)

OOC:
losses from madness:
20,000 men at arms
10,000 Charon
5,000 half dragons.

so of my total losses from the battle in the 5th and 6th army are:
320,400 men at arms 179,600
221,080 Charon leaving 278,920
308,100 half dragons leaving 691,900
4,210 black heads leaving 95,790

Hmm roughly 0.85 million men dead. not bad, although i could of lost less men.
IC:
The Ix ta army marched over the hill, meeting up with the Shamonian's. The Ix ta saw what could only be described as a bloodied army. An Ix tan soldier threw up at the sight of the dead bodies, strewn everywhere. The Ix tan army looked tired having marched for long hours, but relatively fresh. The now Shamonian general, having been promoted from colonel, was called Rulke. He quickly walked to meet the Ix ta leader.
"what happened here?" exclaimed the Ix tan general Swift, garbed in white, a perfect contrast to the Shamonian general, who left blood in his boot prints.
"Death! We march at dawn, attacking the rezephuan forces from two sides. Make sure your soldiers are ready. Send a skeet to Ronoc. He needs to know the news, and we need a strategy to defeat the toads."

An hour later a skeet swoops into Ronoc's tent. The tamers run forward, and quickly take the skeets message. The skeet is put in a cage, in the tamers tent.
"Hmm these toads are bastards. well at least their leaders dead. Now to kill the rest. Send the following assasins: Toonar, Iggur, Lian, Tensor and Pitlis. Dragonsto fly them while the weather is normal, dragons to be black; they wont see them. Give the men Rezephuan armour."
The dragons leapt into the night sky, and fkew like bullets above the rezephuan camp. The dragons landed within the camp, the men departing. The sound of footsteps told of rezephuan soldiers approaching; The Dragons leapt back into the sky. Its the men's turn now....

OOC: These are very good assasins, infiltrating your camp to get your toads. The toads are unconcious, with little defence. They work individually, to avoid all of them being caught in the case of a accident. Be ready.

The Shamonians suffered, killing themselfs in the confusion. Although the rezephuan lord was dead, other toads wrecked havoc. The remaining sane men were unsure of their course, but had enough mind to form into a a protective group. The half dragons were largely unaffected, and only watched the madness from afar with impassive glances. The loss of their leader had shaken them. The madness was finally brought to a finish, as not even the toads could command the men's minds for so long, especially without their leader. they collapsed, either unconcious or out of action for a while (OOC: thank god!)

OOC:
losses from madness:
20,000 men at arms
10,000 Charon
5,000 half dragons.

so of my total losses from the battle in the 5th and 6th army are:
320,400 men at arms 179,600
221,080 Charon leaving 278,920
308,100 half dragons leaving 691,900
4,210 black heads leaving 95,790

Hmm roughly 0.85 million men dead. not bad, although i could of lost less men.
IC:
The Ix ta army marched over the hill, meeting up with the Shamonian's. The Ix ta saw what could only be described as a bloodied army. An Ix tan soldier threw up at the sight of the dead bodies, strewn everywhere. The Ix tan army looked tired having marched for long hours, but relatively fresh. The now Shamonian general, having been promoted from colonel, was called Rulke. He quickly walked to meet the Ix ta leader.
"what happened here?" exclaimed the Ix tan general Swift, garbed in white, a perfect contrast to the Shamonian general, who left blood in his boot prints.
"Death! We march at dawn, attacking the rezephuan forces from two sides. Make sure your soldiers are ready. Send a skeet to Ronoc. He needs to know the news, and we need a strategy to defeat the toads."

An hour later a skeet swoops into Ronoc's tent. The tamers run forward, and quickly take the skeets message. The skeet is put in a cage, in the tamers tent.
"Hmm these toads are bastards. well at least their leaders dead. Now to kill the rest. Send the following assasins: Toonar, Iggur, Lian, Tensor and Pitlis. Dragonsto fly them while the weather is normal, dragons to be black; they wont see them. Give the men Rezephuan armour."
The dragons leapt into the night sky, and fkew like bullets above the rezephuan camp. The dragons landed within the camp, the men departing. The sound of footsteps told of rezephuan soldiers approaching; The Dragons leapt back into the sky. Its the men's turn now....

OOC: These are very good assasins, infiltrating your camp to get your toads. The toads are unconcious, with little defence. They work individually, to avoid all of them being caught in the case of a accident. Be ready.

The Shamonians suffered, killing themselfs in the confusion. Although the rezephuan lord was dead, other toads wrecked havoc. The remaining sane men were unsure of their course, but had enough mind to form into a a protective group. The half dragons were largely unaffected, and only watched the madness from afar with impassive glances. The loss of their leader had shaken them. The madness was finally brought to a finish, as not even the toads could command the men's minds for so long, especially without their leader. they collapsed, either unconcious or out of action for a while (OOC: thank god!)

OOC:
losses from madness:
20,000 men at arms
10,000 Charon
5,000 half dragons.

so of my total losses from the battle in the 5th and 6th army are:
320,400 men at arms 179,600
221,080 Charon leaving 278,920
308,100 half dragons leaving 691,900
4,210 black heads leaving 95,790

Hmm roughly 0.85 million men dead. not bad, although i could of lost less men.
IC:
The Ix ta army marched over the hill, meeting up with the Shamonian's. The Ix ta saw what could only be described as a bloodied army. An Ix tan soldier threw up at the sight of the dead bodies, strewn everywhere. The Ix tan army looked tired having marched for long hours, but relatively fresh. The now Shamonian general, having been promoted from colonel, was called Rulke. He quickly walked to meet the Ix ta leader.
"what happened here?" exclaimed the Ix tan general Swift, garbed in white, a perfect contrast to the Shamonian general, who left blood in his boot prints.
"Death! We march at dawn, attacking the rezephuan forces from two sides. Make sure your soldiers are ready. Send a skeet to Ronoc. He needs to know the news, and we need a strategy to defeat the toads."

An hour later a skeet swoops into Ronoc's tent. The tamers run forward, and quickly take the skeets message. The skeet is put in a cage, in the tamers tent.
"Hmm these toads are bastards. well at least their leaders dead. Now to kill the rest. Send the following assasins: Toonar, Iggur, Lian, Tensor and Pitlis. Dragonsto fly them while the weather is normal, dragons to be black; they wont see them. Give the men Rezephuan armour."
The dragons leapt into the night sky, and fkew like bullets above the rezephuan camp. The dragons landed within the camp, the men departing. The sound of footsteps told of rezephuan soldiers approaching; The Dragons leapt back into the sky. Its the men's turn now....

OOC: These are very good assasins, infiltrating your camp to get your toads. The toads are unconcious, with little defence. They work individually, to avoid all of them being caught in the case of a accident. Be ready.

The assassins began to move surreptitiously towards the quarters of the taods. Stepping inside, they drew their knives and quickly despatched the sleepy guard.

It was dark in the tent. Stepping forwards, one assassin felt something squish beneath his foot - looking down, he saw it was a toad. He grinned broadly - then gulped as two yellow eyes snapped open in the darkness. A toad was keeping watch...

With mechanical precision, the assassins slowly turned, walked out of the tents, and stabbed themselves, first in the eye, then in the chest. They fell down, dead.

OOC: One toad squished. It is not up to you to tell me whether my toads are awake or not, but for your information, while the others are sleeping one alwys keeps watch.

The storm is back up to full capacity, by the way.

IC: The FOFLO troops had finally reached the camp, along with the Northern Rezephua army. The top of the hill seemed to seethe with men - almost ten million soldiers now occupied the crest of the high ground.

OOC: It will take your troops from the North about 3 days to reach the hill, as they're tired. Please don't take that in one post - I'm planning something in the meantime.

Duke Bas-Try had all the men in ordered ranks in their coulars. Salador on the left Bas-Try in the center and the Earls and Barons troops in the ceter. He awaited the Blak Robe with a smile. He Had mustered 500,000 warriors (I don't say men as only half are human) and was moving to the Rift that the black robe had made. He would send Embasseriys to the toads and requets an allience befor coming throuh and assist with all avaliblty.

OOC I am soory if this is not allowed but have no time to do an arrivl. The 1 black robe is not that good so don't tell me I carn't have him. I will await a reply. I have 175000 Samuri Like warriors, 175000 black Dragon riders ( my cavaly, They are not huge just thew same size as horses and no breath) 250000 other spices of animals.

OOC: a question for the last post: Where will your army be? a lot has changed since your last post.... I guess they will come from the Free land pass. If so you will face 1 renegade million infantry, and 400,000 Shamonian/atlantico archers. And 360 catapaults. And trenches. And 10,000 quickfire crossbows. Oh and 1000 airborne dragons + 300 black heads who came from the rezephuan jungles recently. Attack through the pass, since your army has appeared so quickly it is the only realistic option. (see the map for proof) Same rule for normal battles, each post you make, you must give me a post to defend. oh btw rezephua your toads were asleep due to exhaustion from the gripping of my northern army. You may have lost a toad, but in the madness i lost 30,000 men.

IC:
An army appeared at the great toad pass. The soldiers sharpened their pikes, prepared their armour, and assembled into postion. The pass was zigzagged with trenches, some hidden containing sharpened pikes, others plain but ever deadly. Small holes were dug, capable of dragging a dragon down should it be unfortunate to run into them. Two large forts alsdo rested in the centre of the pass, walls capable of holding back a small but not a large force. The allies prepared for battle.
At the same time the Shamonian and Ix tan army began theri long march to attack the Rezephuan army. The weather was greatly reduced now, the toads no longer had the numbers to send such chaotic weather.
1 day later and the allies were 1/3 of their journey to the rezephuans. The allied southern army prepared for battle.

You'll find that even one toad can control the weather to a large extent. In no point of my definition of forces did I say that exerting their power tired the toads. Weather conditions: The rain is no longer of such a deluge that the ground itself turns into a mire, but is still very heavy. Winds still run at gale force, as these are the most important part of my weather strategy, grounding your dragons. Lightning control is now limited in order to keep full manipulation of the winds.

Armies now at the top of the hill at Odienne:
Original army: 1939925 men
Northern army: Around four and a half million
FOFLO: Around 5 million

IC: A single messenger entered the Shamonian camp, bearing a message from the toads. "Surrender now, and leave in peace, or be destroyed. Ten and a half million men of our armies await you at the top of the hill."

OOC: These troops are all encamped at the top of the hill, and will attack your camp when I give the word. Imagine time is frozen - no forces are advancing until my next post. You can accept my ultimatum - retreat, accept a lenient peace treaty and end this war or stand your ground and have the army at the bottom of the hill absolutely obliterated, while the massive horde turns on and destroys your other armies one by one, and accept under force of arms a harsh peace treaty. There is no way you can hold against nearly 10.5 million men, esepcially as we will be charging downhill, and since yur dragons are grounded by the gales and since six toads back this assault IN PERSON. i.e. they're right there, they can mind control masses of your army with ease.

I will be away for a while, so bear with me - post your response, and then wait for me to post the actions of my army before troop movement resumes.

This war can end in peace.

OOC: Well just so you know I have a combined force of 9.5 million men at the bottom of the hill, and there are various defences around the camp (trip wires, trenches, sharpened spikes in trenches, we have been busy). Also I have a combined force of 2.5 million men, within 1.5 days march from the north.

IC:
A lieutenant turned to Ronoc:
“But sir, what do we do about the toads!” yelled the lieutenant.
“There’s only one thing for it: we gather all the mages available to combat this strange spell of madness”
A strange old man was brought into the tent. The general told him the problem.
“I know a brew that can stop these toads from entering the mind of the soldiers. We need these herbs: (gives a long list), and I’d imagine for the size of this army 10,000 Barrels to contain it.
The mixture was made over the next 5 hours, medics, engineers even ordinary soldiers helped. It then took another 3 hours to feed the army. Only ¾ of the Shamonians + allies got it, but more of the mixture was brewed. It would be ready later. A rezephuan messenger ran in giving his message.
Ronoc spat at the messengers feet. “We will never surrender!” the messenger fled from his anger.
Ronoc turned to his lieutenants and colonels: “Prepare the soldiers, dig more defences. Give everyone their pikes” The various orders were given, the Shamonians assembled into position. Newly built ballistae were dragged into postion, 2000 of them, a massive number. The 50 catapaults were also dragged into position. Various barricades were set up, more sharpened spikes set up, more trenches dug. The Shamonians were truly ready, aided by atlantico and renegade forces.


OOC: now I have a defence to your mind powers, well ¾ of my army does. Be prepared, I had never considered wiping out your toads before now, but if their minds are used….. Well be ready. I could at my best do another summoning, better than all the ones before including the One. Imagine the god of dragons with all its minions pouring from the sky. Yep now you scared. I know you are already, otherwise you would not have asked for peace.

*Cough*

I'm not going to have time to attack before I leave, so I ask you to keep time 'frozen' as it were.

However, I have two protests to make:

1. The mind-control thing is my version of dragons flaming everyone or a devastating black-head charge. How would you like it if I decided I would get all my clever bods together and made some kind of potion that made them absolutely immune to fire, and gave it to 3/4 of my army? I mean apart from it being in clear violation of the rules at the beginning where you define your capabilities and stick to them, you're on an open plain facing an enemy army and somehow you manage to find enough herbs from a long list to prepare this brew for about 7 million men? Another thing about this is that anything your 'mages' would know about would definitely be known by the toads (read definition at beginning - hyper-intelligent toads) and therefore any attempt to make it would be immediately mind-controlled and ruined, or struck by lightning.

2. These 'summonings'...they were not in the definition of your forces. Playing in this way, I could just as easily decide to contact the pan-dimensional civilisation which the toads came from before they got cut off on earth and bring down a swarm of thousands of toads armed with all sorts of mental techniques such as control of the earth, control of fire, etc...

And one minor problem - where are you getting the wood for these massive amounts of war machines? I built a line of barricades by emptying the wood stocks of the town behind me - but you're stuck on a plain, with no forests outside about five day's march and the Citadel a similar distance away.

OOC:
right fair enough, but i think you must see the unfairness of you taking the minds of my 7 million army with 6 toads, and getting them to kill each other. There is only one way of me combatting that, and you would probaly complain about that too. And this one way is really really really rubbish. I mean i might as well lay down and die.

don't worry I am to many forums as it is just ignore the post. Not because I am scared or amy thing I am just so busy I only play in a few. I had holidays when I posted but they finished today.

On that matter, there's very few ways of me dealing with the immense damage your thousands of dragons cause. We both have weapons that our opponents find it extremely difficult to deal with. As I have with dragons, you are going to have to weather the storm rather than find a way to stop it if you want to succeed.

BTW, I found out the French word for Toad is "Crapeau", pronounced "Crappo". Isn't that funny?

IC:

The Shamonians crouched low behind their defences as they saw the FOFLO and Rezephua troops begin to descend from the ridge, the peasant levy moving at a slow run in front of the marching professional soldiers. The ballistae, the tarpaulins that had shielded their permanently strung bow-strings from the rain pulled away, began to be loaded as the enemy advanced down the hill, a dark tide of thousands upon thousands of men, weapons held high. Around the eastern flank, where the ground was a bit more level, the allied enemy cavalry were coming at a canter, moving off at a considerable distance to the actual Shamonian line.

The bowmen of Shamonia moved forwards, loosing a hail of arrows against the wind and the horde that advanced towards them. Their projectiles spun in mid-air, only a few of the peasants shielding the main force falling, but then the warmachines opened fire with a thudding rumble of bolts. Huge arrows smashed home amidst the peasant line, every ballista finding its mark amidst the dense mass of men that confronted it.

In return, the Rezephuan bowmen opened fire, their arrows hissing overhead with the wind behind them, falling on the rear ranks of the Shamonian force with deadly strength. Men cried out and fell - a whole rank cut down, like wheat to the sickle. The advancing bowmen fired again, the already overcast sky becoming black with arrows as they rained death upon the front of the Shamonian line, compensating for the wind in their shots. The men began to back off as the barricades were clogged with arrow-spiked bodies, the archers of the enemy too thinly spread for their ballistae to target, and advancing behind the swarming shield of peasants.

Suddenly a great commotion went up to the Eastern flank, as the Shamonians there lost formation in trying to turn. The combat cavalry there were forming into wedges far out on the plain, turning to face along the line of the Shamonian barricades. Meanwhile, the FOFLO horse-archers were breaking off in a vast, rugged mass, coming at a gallop towards the rear of the Shamonian line. They raced past, their powerful bows slamming arrow-shots into the rear troops and panicking the back ranks as they became convinced that a new enemy was attacking from behind, the horsemen flying along the rear with bows hissing as the longbowmen in front kept up their rain of arrows, driving men backwards towards the milling confusion behind. There was now at least six feet between the front-line Shamonians and their barricades, the soldiers physically unable to hold their position because of the weight of bodies. Slowly, the pikemen, weapons presented, were brought to the front to stop this weakness.

The two toads not concerned with the control of the weather over the country drifted forwards overhead, unaffected by the howling gales as they floated in their own personal bubbles of calm air. Looking down from the very top of the hill, behind their line, they saw the mass of Shamonians regain its order.

Suddenly, screams of panic flared across the Shamonian army as flames jetted from every dragon, the thousands of grounded wind riders and the tamed black heads turning upon their human allies and roasting them, full-power flames ripping left and right, killing untold warriors. As the dragons shook off their sudden madness, the horse-archers came back for another galloping run across the back of the line, the dragons seized by madness again and beginning to trample and rend their own men, flames still spewing from their gullet. Many attacked each other, rolling in lethal struggles and crushing the men around them. Their flames had wreaked the heaviest toll amongst the pikemen of the front line, and now the serried wall of pikes was disrupted and broken as the Rezephuan troops came within a charge's distance, arrows still raining from their line as the ballistae thudded. From the front, longbows rained death, from the right enemy cavalry massed with lances levelled, to the rear their barbaric foes rushed with bowshots raining, and around them the beasts that aided them were being seized by fits of spasmodic insanity, crushing, burning and slashing their friends in incalculable numbers. It was more than most soldiers could bear.

The horns of the Rezephua line sounded loud, and to the east, the cavalry spurred their steeds to a charge, the men directly before them breaking and fleeing as their enemies crashed along their line in thunderous cavalcade. As they began to bog down in more stern resistance, deeper in the enemy army, the cavalry sounded their own horns and the peasants parted in one place, a vast horde of FOFLO Dacian warriors charging forwards, their wickedly hooked double-handed swords swinging as they smashed a terrible gap in the Shamonian line, swarming over the abandoned, body-strewn barricades. The peasants and men-at-arms charged behind them, swarming in an innummerable mass over the wooden defences as behind the line the horse-archers swept around in a third strike, their bows slaughtering at point-blank range. Panic began to seize upon the Shamonians - outnumbered, caught on open ground, with the toads seizing scores of dragons in the vices of their minds and turning the great monsters upon one another...

OOC: I have typed this as what I think is a realistic representation of the results of my moves in addition to your taking a defensive formation, behind your barricades, in combination with the conditions the toads have generated.

My losses:

1,000,000 peasant levy are slain, either from the pitfalls, stakes or Shamonian bowfire.
1,000 losses amongst the men-at-arms from Shamonian firepower, since they were shielded by the peasants

Your losses should reflect three things:
My bowfire and its increased potency due to the wind(If you look at the sheer number of longbowmen present plus the horse-archers firing at short range you'll see the kind of losses you'd be incurring)
The madness of the dragons. The toads would be mind-controlling about a hundred dragons at a time, and the dragons would be under their control for about twenty seconds before their attention switched to a different group.
The twin impact of the cavalry, along the flank where there are no defences and the men are demoralised, in an extremely penetrative wedge formation, and the infantry. The peasants and men-at-arms will be in a deadlock, outnumbering your troops but inferior to them, while the Dacians will be smashing a bloody hole in your line.

When you type your reply, please incorporate the fact that the troops who can actually see what's going on will be absolutely terrified and panicked due to the multiple directions of attack and the dragons' madness.

OOC I have a lager population and school was a no homework week so

IC The Prince was moving with all the Troops at the front of the Colunm. He lead a full 4000000 Warriors in assistance of Rezephua. He was in awe of the great Lord Corrino who had lead the armys of the north to victory against the 7 gods of Chaos and won. How the enemy had fled befor his blade. They saw the Free pass and readyd the Black dragon riders. The full number of these creatures amazed even Corrino. But 1500 was not that many truly but it would be nessersary. The lessr Dragon riders where forming up in front of the infantry and the Cho Ja where on the flank. The Grey and Gold uniform of the Impirial house and the Aray of coulars readyed the armys. This was a long shot but they would wait for the enemy to ready there dragons then suprise them.


OOC the lessr Dragon warriors ride the things I described in the earlyer post.

The Legions aproched with the Black Dragons taking a breath in Befor they flew into the skys all breathing acidic gas into the ranks of Renergade infantry. The Lessr Dragons came strait after into the surrprised infantry. The Drangons of Shimoma where in the skys and the air was full of falling dragons. The infantry had hit from a nice position and the forces where in combat. All the While Corrino sttod with a indifferent expression.

Bump

Where did everybody go.

OOC: I have been out for ages, but im back to get ur goddamn toads. I will record losses after counter strike. This maybe a little unclear...

IC:
The Shamonian line was panicking, as fear set in. The hell around them seemed too much. But Ronoc was one of the greatest generals of all time, and threw great study he knew how to combat the toads. A large dragon was brought forward, one of the few successes when the black head/ air borne dragon breeding took place. There had only been 0.8% survival rate, compared to the human/black head breeding where there was an 80% survival rate. Muscular wings were spread wide, and the beast leapt to the air. The wind did little to hinder the great beast’s strength and immediately it lunged towards the vulnerable toads in the sky.
A toad spotted the dragon, and immediately hurled a couple of lightning bolts in the beast’s direction. It missed, and instead sent the bolt into the centre of their allied dacian line. The dragon came along side the two toads, and the 5 archers turned their arrows on the toads. The two beings fell through the sky, arrows sticking through them.
Ronoc turned to his lieutenants:
“Light the charge! In 20 seconds I want to see that hill gone!” he roared
It seemed that the Shamonians had not been idle at all in the last two weeks of peace. The orders were given, and a small man ran down to a tunnel that was dug into the ground. He lit the gun powder trail and twenty seconds later an explosion ripped through the ground, right from under the charging rezephuan + allies army. BABOOOM!! 1000’s of rezephuans and allies were ripped apart by the explosion, but the worst was yet to come. A massive crater formed in front of the shamonian line, and suddenly the Charon stepped forward. The enemy closes to the Shamonian line, who had survived the explosion were driven backwards into the deep crater, by the sheer force of the Charon. At the same time the rezephuans + allies ran straight into the crater, unable to stop the horde of soldiers running down hill. The thousands of men in the crater, a large amount of the rezephuan + allies army, were trampled by each other, as the crater filled with soldiers. The Atlantico archers ran to the rim of the crater, and aimed arrow after arrow down into the crater….
40 Shamonian catapults were brought forward, and immediately began fire upon those enemies who began to make the distance around the crater and on the other rezephuan soldiers. Shamonian archery fire concentrated upon these soldiers, and the battle finally seemed to be turning. The Charon held the centre against the hordes of enemy, backed up by dark link knights. Neither of these groups of soldiers had any equal.
The dragons were gaining control of their minds, at the deaths of the two toads. The black heads leapt at the enemy cavalry, tearing the riders from their mounts. Men at arms aided them, and suddenly the rezephuan and allies saw a mighty sight. The Shamonian heavy cavalry charged the enemy flank. In large numbers they tore the peasants and men at armstp pieces, who had escaped the explosion. Shamonian men at arms backed up the Charon and the enemy charge was stopped flat. Now they were on the back foot. Enemy peasants were already fleeing, and cut down by their own archers for their treachery. However the Shamonians still suffered from the enemy archers, who gathered upon the hill. Shamonian light cavalry immediately charged them, avoiding the heavy battle at the middle of the base of the hill, instead hooking around the flanks.
At the same time after the Shamonian victory against the slakjars and rhodegen, the blacks heads were sprinting towards the enemy rear. Each mounted with one archer and one man bearing a lance, they made a formable force. The speed of the beasts just meant 1 day now, and the enemy did not know about their presence. The horde bounded on.
Further back were the half dragons that ran easily. Just 2 days for them, at the speed they were traveling.
Even further back were the Charon and men at arms, marching at a steady pace. Just 2.5 days now. Along side them were the Ix Ta.

OOC:
My losses:
700,000 men at arms
100,000 Atlantico knights
30,000 Atlantico archers
40,000 Charon
10,000 Longbows

What about the battle against me I have been waiting for so long and you don't even answer. Bull.

IC The Lessr Dragons where killing any horese that came near them and the Infentry drew their swords The had swords in the shape of a leafe (like Gandalfes sword) and with the fine blades the diciplend infantry cut thru the renagades like a warm knife thru butter.

OOC: your at the freedom pass so ur not with the rezezephua? good. Tell me ur numbers please.

The enemy charged into the defences of Shamonia and its allies. Catapault fire rained from the sky, as the atlantico catapaults threw rock after rock into the enemy lines. The Lessr Dragons ran through the pass, a couple fallining into a concealed pit. Their bodies were impaled upon spikes.
The renegade infantry were taking losses, but they held. Suddenly they parted, and the 10,000 quickfire crossbow men unleashed bolt after bolt into the enemy, backed up by Atlantico archers. A bunch of black heads were released, and immediatly cause havoc among the enemy. Air borne dragons dived with jets of flames, unleashing fire into the enemy. The renegade infantry suddenly slammed forward, and pushed back the enemy. The Lessr soldiers were confronted with hell, as arrow after arrow fell into their ranks. Atlantico knights rushed into the fray, hacking and slashing. The Shamonian allies were holding the enemy.
The highest ranking officer at the pass, Colonel William, turned to his aides: "Prepare the charges, the enemy wont know what hit them" (OOC: you dont know about this but you will find out later.)

OOC:
losses:
5000 renegade infantry

You oviouly didn't read my post but I have to say that 5000 deaths when I have 1500 Dragon rriders and That is proper Dragons not lessr and they hit your renagades hard before engaging your dragon knites in the pas. 5000 is petty compared to the number of different attacks I have lanch, I mean with the lizard men and Cho Ja on 1 flank and lessr Dragon riders in the middle I would exspect at the very lest 20,000.

My losses, 10000 lessr Dragons.
20,000 infantry.

fine i lost 25,000.

Corrino stood atop his Blue Dragon watching the battle. He saw that he was slowly winning but he didn't have time for this.

"Bring out the Hellblasters and Black powder (gun powder) weapons Now I want them Targeted at the artillary."

"Yes sir" Said his second in command.

The sound of hundreds of cannons and gunners marching and rolling towards the battlefeild filled the air. The gunners aimed at the middle of the enemy and fired. for most shots fired one hit because they where to close together for a shot in that area to miss. The artillary fired at the enemy catapults and hit the area they where on with tomendos force. The enemy greatly hit with artillary fire lanched their weapons crushing 3 cannons. The enemy was happy with this and a great roar came from the hill that the catapults where on.


OOC When I say hundreds I mean 100 cannons and lots of handgunners. I lack archers because the arrows are not as afective. My main ranged units are Crossbowmen, Repeter bolt throwers and gunmen. The crossbowmen carry repeter crossbows witch can fire 5 shots in the time it takes to fire 1 normal one.