NationStates Jolt Archive

Imperial Throne Room; Antalia

Galf sat at his throne, a large troft in front of him, filled to the brink with roast deer and a large pile of minced vegetables. In the immense hall, a large group of men in black armor stood ten feet away, bowing to him as a slave brought forth another large goblet of wine, his third in fact. The dim light shining inward gave the room an almost dour appearance, casting long shadows against the wall.

"...You may rise." Galf said in a dark voice as he rose the goblet in his clawed hand and drank from it, a small trickle of the red liquid dripping down the curve of his lip and down his gray chin, "You have all been informed on why I have sent for you, correct? The gods have willed it so... So the job must be done by my most ordained of soldiers... Gares?"

The largest man present rose, towering at nearly seven feet, the only part of him showing underneath the ominous black armor was his long blonde hair, flowing down his back. Most of the generals grew their hair out long, but the contrast between the armor and hair was almost stunning. General Gares himself was almost never seen without it, and a thrall of mute illiterate slaves were the only ones who knew of his appearance beside Galf himself.

"Yes my Emperor." Gares said softly, staring over at the equally tall Emperor, "Do not waste words on me, for I shall carve you an expanse worthy of your divine name."

"Excellent. Now Tobias..." Galf said with a sneer, waving a claw at a tapestry as the slave pulled it away revealing the map he had been working on, "We know there is some large nation nearby. We shall avoid them for now. All I want are slaves and land. War... While we would assuredly win, should be avoided at this point."

"When shall I leave, Emperor Galf?"

"Immediately. May the gods hasten your travels. I have already seen fit to move an army ahead for you. They are waiting just outside of our Western Border city of Antangee."

"You move fast my Emperor. Then I shall be off at once. It should take me nary a week to get there, and by the end of the month we shall move forward."

"Good. May the gods watch over you my son, as I too shall."

"T-Thank you my Emperor." Gares said, almost in shock.

Antanjyl's Western Expansion
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/AntanjylMapExpansion.png
Gares' Armor = Essentially HERE (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/ch_kishi.jpg)

OOC: Actual attack will come in the next post, with all that gore-filled violence which makes Past Tech the tech to be.

Antangee Border City

The massive fortified city was surrounded by plains, as most of the forest that was around the city went into building the massive walls and garrisons around it. Gares wasn't aware of this, but Emperor Galf had been planning this seige of land for quite some time, perhaps even before Gares' own birth. Not that it matted, for the general's loyalty was absolute to the divine one, and the massive sword on his back was in homage to him. As the seven foot tall warrior looked over at his mighty mount, he nodded in awe at the well armoured beast.

"Orias..." Gares said quietly, turning towards the smaller looking captain, a slight shimmer from behind his eyes. There was something unsettling about those who were closest to the Emperor, something inconceivably wrong, "Are the Raiders prepared?"

"Y-Yes General. We can leave at anytime. The other two commanders are likewise ready with their own forces. Twelve thousand men in each battalion... Are you sure its necessary against such primitives?"

"This is our Emperor's orders. This is a slaving mission as well as a mission of conquest. We shall take them all at once, killing as many as we can, and taking the survivors as slaves for the Empire. Is that clear, Captain?"

"Yes General..." Orias said, looking down in shame at the very fact he even spoke questionably against their divine edict, "I shall inform the others at once."

"Good. Make haste. We leave before noon." He smiled a bit at that, looking over at the distant sunrise. It was truly a great day to live for the Divine one, and with his protection, nothing would go astray, "...Galf..."


Noon; Western Border

The Border was marked by a few uprooted trees painted in blood, with those who attempted to enter Antanjyl through this route impaled at the side of it, with some of them surviving for days afterwards. Even in this day and age, such a thing as the impaled men and women, struggling to live despite the fact that it was now in vain, could make even the staunchest opponents of Antanjyl look away aghast. Thanks to fear, the small groups of native americans at the Western Fringes barely ventured anywhere near the borders due to fear of death. Though now it appeared that the borders themselves would be moving, and with them the waves of death.

Suddenly, disturbing the almost horrifying tranquility around the border was a sound, at first an almost inconceivable distant rumble, slowly rising in volume untill the very earth under foot began to shiver and quake. Far to the East they came into view, like a blackened shadow devouring the land. Thousands of cavalry, all black, their armor reflecting the sunlight ominously as their pitch black steeds trampled forward across the expanse of land towards their targets. At the front of this massive chain of death one of these demons stood out, upon a massive steed which was more beast than horse, the seven foot tall man held a massive sword into the air as the charge moved forward. The Central attacking force had reached the previous border, the Empire's bloody expansion could finally begin.

"For the Empire! Long live Galf!!!" Gares shouted in a voice which carried his men forward, despite the difficulty in hearing him with the thunder like rumble beneath their feet, "Death to the enemy!!!"

it had been a hard few days, make that months or years for the Expaditionary Fleet Ahi of Aust. They had orginally set out from Aust city in '54, sailing northwest to investigate and colonise the mysterious western triangle land.

But then they had encountered a storm in the cape of good hope that had sunk 3 ships and blown the others northwards, They had drifted north for days, rudderless and mastless little more than hulks inhabited by men until the Gods had washed them ashore on a small island little more than 3 miles across.

There they had settled and rebuilt the ships until fianlly all 7 ships where ready to sail again, but without maps or charts of this region they had little idea which way to go. A broken compass had pointed them north so North they sailed, press-ganging the natives of islands they passed to keep there crews numbers up.

And now, 3 years after there luckless voyage had begun they sighted land once again.

Over the past 3 months the waters had become colder and ice flows had become common. Admiral iSiris took this as a good sign, the Austian knew of the Great Ice Land to the South_west of Aust so the Admiral decided to sail south east. But the broken compass decived them again and instead they sailed north-west, heading towards the unexplored lands of northern America.

Now they had reached a strange bay and they docked there, preparing to build a camp that would hosue them while they repaired the ships. First they built a ditch, then a wooded wall, then the log cabins and great hall. it was basic accomidation, but better than many of the sailors had ver had and they where happy there. every day they worked, building more fortifications, hunting, fishing, repairing ships, and with every passing day they began to like there new enviroment more.

A year later there still there. The camp has grown somewhat and the scream and wails of babes fills the air. Last summer a native camp was found, attacked, and the sailors took the dusky skinned women for wives. Admiral iSiris still intends to return to Aust, yet for some reason he find it hard to declare the fleet ready for sail. He has a new wife and child and knows they will nto enjoy leaving there nomeland on a cramped ship so he stays and prays that another Austian Expaditionary force will fidn them.

((Aust, if you'd like to RP running into one of the groups it would probably be the Southern strike force, twelve thousand men, 3,000 mounted Holy Knights coupled with a mix of Dark Knights and Longbowmen. They'll only completely wipe out the first village they all come across to prove as a scare tactic for any that they miss. After that its strictly killing any who fight back and enslaving the rest.))


"Aiieeee!!!" The first of the primitive warriors screamed as the Dark Knights came upon the settlement, Gares himself delivering the opening blow, with such strength that it sent his torso flying underfoot, trampled by another bloodthirsty rider.

"Kill them all! In this village leave no survivors!" Gares shouted as he rose his bloody sword from the enormous mount, his voice an almost fanatical Antanjylian as he immediately rode forward towards a group of fleeing women, slashing into them from behind as they screamed in anguish, "Hahaha!!! Feel the power of Galf!"

"YAHHhhhhh!!!!" The Antanjylian Holy Knights shouted as they rushed in on armored mounts, cutting down the warriors as they fired arrows at them and attempted to get away. However, they were too heavily outnumbered, and though a few of the mounted Holy Knights fell from their horses, the knights quickly got to their feet and continued the merciless slaughter.

Minutes passed, and gore and entrails were everywhere, as the Dark Knights finally caught up with the Longbowmen, launching flaming arrows at the tents and other structures. As this precision burning was going on, the Dark Knights themselves marched forward in long rows, killing the wounded as the Holy Knights still fighting killed those who had previously attempted to flee. In the end, the few survivors were taken upon longspears and impaled, left to writhe in agony for days by the time they left...

The large general looked back at the ruined encampment, now covered in blood and piles of bodies, as those impaled continued to scream out in unrelenting pain. They had lost a few men, but for the most part the natives had not been aware that warriors such as these existed, covered head to toe in armor. The surprise and fear was enough, and the fear created by the hellish scene would only cause more of it. Smoke from the dying flames still wafted into the air, and would no doubt bring more victims of the Antanjylian warriors.

"Alright! Have the messengers fall back to Antangee! We're finished here and will begin taking slaves!" Gares bellowed enthusiastically as he sheathed the massive sword onto his back, blood still dripping from the darkened blade.

This would not be the first... In total Gares' battalion itself struck four more small encampments of natives, forcing the slaves to walk back to the Antangee under threats of death. They were also forced to carry the few Antanjylian soldiers who had died, armor included, so as not to leave anything behind. The largest native encampment was then heavily fortified with stakes as Gares began construction of his own fortification to stage the final portions of his war. Eventually the others would do the same.

OOC: This is the extent that Antanjyl's Raiders are. The X's are forts, the middle being Fort Rungvie, the largest. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/12319.jpg

Fort Rungvie

The massive fort was finally completed, with weeks to spare before the reinforcements would arrive. It was massive, at least in the time it took to build, and the wood used was only temporary, created to house the soldiers from the elements. Like all things, it was built by the slaves, as the soldiers were busy training and going on patrol, keeping the fortified wodden expanse safe from intrustion. All trees within eye shot were torn down to create it, and small walls were already being built to protect longbowmen should the base ever see an attack. The highest portion of the building was five stories, and from a makeshift balcony General Gares stood, looking out over the huge expanse, still in armor as his commanders stood behind him.

"One month... By the end of this month we should reach our deadline. We've lost quite a few men to some of the tribes up here who have wisened up to our armor. Thankfully, before we reach the actual enemy our casualties have been far lower than the amount of slaves taken, not to mention the casualties... Were they taken care of?"

"Yes. Those who fought back were impaled one royal expanse away from the Fortress." A command said quietly, bowing as he was spoken to, "Also, our reinforcements from the Empire shall arrive at the end of the week. They should more than double our men here."

"Good. We'll need to hold onto this land no matter the cost. Any talk from that Western Empire those primitives were talking about?"

"No sir. They appear to be rather well established. Though we should be able to defeat them with our reinforcements. Just give us the word."

"N-no... Theres no need yet. Never underestimate an unseen foe. They are always the most dangerous." He said calmly as he brushed some of the hair back, which was flowing out the back of his helmet, "For now we wait and strengthen our defenses. The others have yet to completely take control of the North and Southlands. We will at least give them time to do that."

"Yes, General."

OOC: Actually I was thinking of your running into me, i'm afraid tactics like that won't help you against the phalnax. You'll just impales yourselves on the 9 feet long pikes. My settlement has about 2,000-3,00 people in it to let you know.

OOC: Of course. Which is why there are about thousands of armed troops following behind the cavalry. If they start running into trouble like what you mentioned they can fall back and let the longbowmen and soldiers deal with it. Though yeah, that would put a dent on my precious Holy Knights. Though seeing as you're not all native american we'll probably not outwardly attack just yet. So I'll send a single messenger, so as not to start a war with some foreigners we don't know about.

Southern Army; Austian "Town"

The Southern Battalion had finally managed to push completely outward, slaughtering thousands of natives and taking nearly an equal number as Imperial Slaves. Now it was just a matter of moving up the coast and returning at their already established fort. So far there was nothing particularly peculiar as the massive cavalry trotted forward, surrounding be an enormous wave of black armor. On their flag was an enormous red snake wrapped around a black tower, one of the three emblems of Antanjyl.

"Commander Zeig..." A soldier said in a seemingly exhausted voice as he rushed forward to meet up with the front of the cavalry, "W-we've found a town to the north! It appears quite large..."

"Oh?" The white haired man said with a sadistic twist of a smile, "Well then I suppose we'll soon have more slaves for Antanjyl then-"

"They're not native." He quickly cut in.

"Hmm..." Commander Zeig muttered under his breath, wresting a gauntlet under his chin as the horse trotted along the sandy beach. Behind him the massive army followed, ready to destroy anything in their path, "Well, untill we know more of them, we will not attack. If they are with that empire we've been hearing about this might spark a war. Grishalm."

"Yes my Commander." A dark haired rider quickly responded as he trotted forward, pushing the common soldier aside, "I am at your beckon call."

"I want you to go North and find out more about these... people. We will set up a small basecamp here. Theres a stream nearby for the horses."

"Aye sir! Yah!" Holy Knight Grishalm shouted as his stead began to charge forward, kicking up sand and smacking against drift wood as it charged onward. Within the hour it would be at the basecamp, and with Grishalm's mastery of Latin, Arabic, and other bastard languages he would have the highest chance of communicating with them.

The guards saw the lone horsemen first, trotting up the rough track the Austians had carved towards the foraging sites. A slave party out chopping wood stared at him, there drivers rasing there weapons.

A single messanger ran towards the great hall where Admiral iSiris was, surrouded by aides and slaves. A famle slave was feeding a grape into his mouth as the messanger burst in. iSiris stood, throwing the girl back and turing over a table in his haste. Food scatter across the floor to lie at the messangers feet.

The admiral waw a powerful man despite his advancing years, tall and well buuilt with a fine crop of graying hair. His hand moved to his sword as he stood, ready to fight against any sudden attack. "What?" he demanded, "Why do you interupt me?"

The messanger fell to one knee as is Austian custom. "Sire, a messanger has arrived at the gate, he wishes to speak to you." The Admiral nodded and called his personal guard to him, marching out of the hall and down the cobbled pavement suprisingly quickly. It was not long before he reaced the messanger who was being prevented from entering the city by a strong force of guards.

"Well?"

The knight raised his visor, revealing his young face as he recognised the language being spoken to him immediately. Holy Knight Grishalm had spent years learning these things as a noble, and to think that they would come of use to the Empire... It was truly a great day to be alive, and the young man was full of pride as he began to speak, his long unkempt hair falling behind him as he removed his helmet and placed it at his side, in a sign of respect.

"Greetings! I am Holy Knight Grishalm of the Holy Empire of Antanjyl!" The man shouted from below, his black armored horse moving side to side from the sudden loud noise, or perhaps the surrounding guards, "One of our messengers spotted this town recently, and as the Holy Empire has laid claim to this territory, we were planning to seize it. However, seeing as you do not bare much resemblance to the other natives around here... Perhaps you could inform us what exactly you are doing all the way in the Primitives' Continent?"

The Admiral stared down upon the young man, he was young and inexperienced to the admirals eyes, headstrong and proud. The Admiral had seen many such men and they where alwaysb the first into battle, and the first to die. Too entustic. Still the man spoke the langauge of the nativews here well, better than the admiral himslef did.

He summoned an aide that spoke the natives lanaguage over to act as an interpreter for him and then spoke to the young man. "I am admiral iSiris of Aust, servent of the Almighty Enproer Tirijian. Myself and my men arrived here by accedent thanks to a unfortunt storm off the choast of Africs a great content to the south. A broken compass directed us north and we did not realise our mistake until we arrived here. With our ships damaged beyond repair we chose to claim the land here for Aust and embed ourselves, a task we have achived well."

This Land is Austian, and it's people are Austian citizens. As far as the eye can see is Austian. The local tribes submited to the Phalnax or where destoyed and we now contol a great feifdom in the name of the Emproer. As the emporers representive in these parts I can establish diplomatic relations with your Empire if you so wish."

The young man raised an arm, "Ah! So this is all your land then?" He said as he stared off in the directions, not smiling as he remained steadfast and calm now. It appeared another Empire was attempting to make it's mark on Galf's land, "I am sure our General Gares will be more than happy to represent our Emperor here! How many townships around here do you own, might I ask?"

He was avoiding the question, as numerous small towns to the south of here were already annihilated, and any to the direct north and west would soon follow. Regardless, Gares would need to be informed immediately of this predicament, as he was in charge of the Expansionary force. However, looking at the large city, Grishalm felt almost a pinge of remorse at what the Empire might do here.

"Should that be alright... I'll tell my fellows to the South of this immediately."

The admiral smiled, he would not give the man the advantage of an answer "Many." he responded, "I presume your people are those that carried out the atrocities to the south. Do not look so suprised, just as you have found us and our people we foudn yours, or at least our expladitionary forces found where your men have been."

Odviously the man didn't know of the considrable naval power the AUstians had built in the ramshackle port, The 8 ships that had sialed into this bay so many years ago where fully repaired, and 4 more had been built since.

"Well our force numbers well into twelve thousand men alone. We are but a small expeditionary force of our Divine Emperor! The Northern God Galf!" The man shouted upward as he rode back a few feet, "I suppose I shall tell our Highest General Gares of the Central Wing of this. I take it you will want to meet him, of course?"

This had so far been a completely ground-based military manuever thus far, though the Northern Cities were loaded with dozens of ships, mainly bringing the slaves back to the Slave Trading Port City of Kinshash. Thankfully however, this was the only portion of the Emperor's Army which was anywhere near the shoreline, which meant such things were thought to be more or less unneeded.

"Indeed, shall we arrange a metting then. Here, at this very gate in 3 days time. Him and 3 retainers, thats all."

"With only three retainers? I fear Gares might opt to send a representative in his stead then." The man said as he rode a bit further away, his eyes still on the man, "After all, we have no reason to trust some strangers from a distant land we've never heard of. I'm sure you understand... Though if you'd like to come to his fortress to speak I'm sure he would be willing to speak face to face."

"it seems that if he shall not come here, and if I shall not go him then we shall have to met in the middle. Do you know Dorsals Fountain? I shall meet him there at noon wiuth 3 men, he shall bring the same number."

"Very well then! I am sure we'll find the location. I will make sure to inform him to bring only three men as well!" He said with a shout as he immediately rode off, smiling assuredly to himself. Now all he needed to do was return to his battalion and have his commander release a carrier pigeon to the fortress, "I hope General Gares can make it on time..."

The Admiral marched away, asccopnied by his retrainers. First job was to get a slave to polish his armour, no that was the second job, the first was to get his men to scout out the location.

As an honourable man he would not rbeak his words and bring more than 3 men, but there was no point in being a fool, making sure help was clsoe at hand should the enermy break TEHRE word was important.

General Gares had likewise sent scouts in advance, and some of which were still camoflauged in the trees further off. Should he need it, there was a good supply of archers in the distance, and he could signal them with a simple whistle. Should they not abide by his diplomacy, the only outcome would need the archers anyway.

With the seven foot tall general were two of his most loyal officers, one a pale young man, the other bearded, and looked as if he had seen better days. Both were dwarfed by the size of their leader, the only part of his body they'd ever seen being that of his long flowing blonde hair, as his helmet was never removed. Most said horrible things were hidden beneath it, others spoke of a deal made with the Godking himself. General Gares never spoke of it though, and responded to any questions of it with complete silence.

The three were wearing black armor, polished so well that it was nearly mirrored. Gares topped it off with the immense ornate helmet he wore, in the guise of a smiling demon. The others simply wore armor below their neck and that was it. They came by horse, and dismounted upon arriving at the location. The horses were also lightly armored, showing their rank and breeding...

"I take it you are the foreign Admiral I have heard about..." Gares said quietly as he looked at the group, his voice quiet, though a bit coarse, as if there was something wrong, "We have heard of your homeland, the distant sixth continent... Aust was it? You are a bit far from your homeland. How do you expect to contain your small colony? Will you pay homage and respects to the great God King Galf?"

OOC: Gares Armor = http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/ch_kishi.jpg

"No," The Admiral said, "we may be far from our homeland but we will never submit to a false god or another ruler. I presume it is poijntless asking you to submit to the Wisdom of the Emporer? What I would offer is this, Aust has the freindship of the people to the south, the Native tribes, the great Empries. The people that you wish to invade."

"Should you attack us they will come to our aid, thousands upon thousands of them, a hard task for anyone to defeat. What i offer is information on each tribes wereabouts and strength, information you need, in return for both a non-agression pact and allince."

"Haha... False God?" Gares said darkly, shaking his head a bit as he let loose with a deep, powerful bout of laughter, "Your God can never come to your aid in these lands... However, I will watch your tongue for now. Thousands of natives are no match for our army... Though I suppose this information may be useful. In exchange we will require one thing of you."

Gares smacked one of the nearest officer's in the chest, as the man quickly pulled forth a few pieces of parchment, looking them over before handing one in particular to Gares. The huge mammoth of a man then leaned forward and handed it to the Admiral.

"You may not understand the language of the Antanjylians, being from such a backward land... But essentially we will take your words for what they are. Should you lie to us or provide false information I will personally see to it that your entire colony is wiped from this world forever. I will not lie to you, we have been given word not to trust your people from another foreign power. Thus, you must not leave this colony... Ever. Should you leave or attempt to expand without the Emperor's permission, you will be all be tortured and killed."

The younger officer eventually pulled forth an ornate, blackened pen, made out of an especially long finger bone. Along with that was a small container which he opened, exposing a black, tar-like substance which smelt a bit like black licorice.

"Sign this, and keep your word. If you do these things your people will remain safe."

"Haha... False God?" Gares said darkly, shaking his head a bit as he let loose with a deep, powerful bout of laughter, "Your God can never come to your aid in these lands... However, I will watch your tongue for now. Thousands of natives are no match for our army... Though I suppose this information may be useful. In exchange we will require one thing of you."

Gares smacked one of the nearest officer's in the chest, as the man quickly pulled forth a few pieces of parchment, looking them over before handing one in particular to Gares. The huge mammoth of a man then leaned forward and handed it to the Admiral.

"You may not understand the language of the Antanjylians, being from such a backward land... But essentially we will take your words for what they are. Should you lie to us or provide false information I will personally see to it that your entire colony is wiped from this world forever. I will not lie to you, we have been given word not to trust your people from another foreign power. Thus, you must not leave this colony... Ever. Should you leave or attempt to expand without the Emperor's permission, you will be all be tortured and killed."

The younger officer eventually pulled forth an ornate, blackened pen, made out of an especially long finger bone. Along with that was a small container which he opened, exposing a black, tar-like substance which smelt a bit like black licorice.

"Sign this, and keep your word. If you do these things your people will remain safe."
"I wonder, which power would this be? The bastard Froztopians, who trechacy runs deep, and there foolishness deeper? And I shall not sighn this document till it is translated into a civllised tounge, till i know what it says. I could be signing my epople into slavery, for all i know and as an Austian I would not be able to do naything about it without breaking my oath-and my Honour."

"Very well then. Look it over and deliver it to Fort Rangvie to the far North. You will have one week, its not long so it should not take much time to think it over. Its not as if you stand much choice though, should you refuse our military in the area outnumber your colony nine times over." Gares said calmly as he remounted his massive horse, "As to the identity of the foreigners, I know very little. They stopped into our Port City of Kinshash, so I was unable to meet with them personally."

The officers likewise got onto their mounts quickly and silently.

"Remember Admiral, the lives of your people are solely based on this decision. We can afford to take casualties in the South, though we do not wish for such a thing. Can you say the same about your own countrymen and family? Remember, one full week, seven days."

The Admiral mountered his own horse and rode away with his retainers, he had a week to prepare then, a weak to work out how to defeat this enermy. He knew that these people wou;ldn't leave the coloney alone until it was totally destroyed, even if he did sign the damn paper.

And he wouldn't do that, not without the emporers permission, persmission he hadn't got. But he could fight. Another two ships would roll out of the harbour this week, brining the Austian fleet up to 13 ships, that was not enough to evacuate many people, but he could evacuate most, should worst come to the worst.

The North wall would be complete this week, which mean that only the south wall would be made of wood, the rest had been built with stone. The enermy would no doubt try to ttack the weaker south wall , but the admiral had worked out a way to stop them from doing that.

He entered the steel gates of the coloney, and began to shout orders, telling his men to dig in and prepare for battle. messages wehre sent to the native tribesmen that the Austians where freinds with, warning them about what was going to happen.

As General Gares rode back, he came across a large row of archers, which had been waiting for his signal to open fire on them all. They were expecting him to give it at any time, as Antanjyl would never accept such talk from mere blasphemous scum! The fact that such people existed so close to the fringes of the Antanjylian Empire disgusted them to no end...

"S-sir... Are you sure this is alright?" One of the archers muttered as he kneeled, "What if they don't sign it?"

"Hah! Even if they do we'll simply take their colony once the natives have been wiped out. If they're smart they'll be bringing their defenses up to par..." Gares said coldly as he continued riding, the archer immediately getting up and walking beside the large horse, "Should they not sign it, we will simply kill them all. It should not be that hard. They are three million, counting their women and children. With our God watching over us, we cannot fail... Keep the Southern Formation to the South and set up a small base camp. I shall return for Fort Rungvie."

"Aye sir..." The archer said with a bow, nearly being trampled as one of his officers' horses collided with the man, "Argh."


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

To the south, away from the beach and into the forest, the Southern Formation quickly began to build their own fort, a small walled encampment to allow them better access to the Southern Natives. It would in no way hold the entire force of twelve thousand, so six thousand were sent to Rungvie, in the hopes of being of some use to them.

Fort Rungvie was a full days ride at full sprint from the Austian encampment, and had been built in two months. With three large outter walls, spiked at the top to prevent climbing over the ten foot things. It was almost like a maze surrounding the massive wooden fortress itself, and had already seen minor conflict with the surrounding tribes. However, upon seeing the uprooted forest around the thing, all used in crafting it, they were almost able to retreat before the Northern and Southern Divisions were dispatched to wipe them out. (I'll draw something on MS paint to show how it was created. Like Antanjyl's cities, its mazelike to prevent most conventional attacks.)

The fortress housed thousands of troops, along with small buildings next to it. Most of the twelve thousand original men and women of the Central Formation, along with six thousand of the North and Southern Divisions, were nowhere to be seen, constantly moving about killing or enslaving Native American camps, to keep them on their toes. The rest were bringing the slaves to the Eastern Fringes of the Empire, to her continental cities.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/FortRungvie.jpg

This is Fort Rungvie, Antanjyl's largest Fortress in North America. Most of the structure is made of wood with small amounts made of stone, since it has yet to be fully fortified. The method used to create it was essentially building the barracks and main citadel(which has yet to be finished), and following this up with large rows of ten foot tall spiked walls, to allow easy targets for those in the large towers. There are six thousand soldiers somewhere within the base at all times, with an additional six thousand camped somewhere nearby, while another twelve thousand report interchangeably to the fort in groups of a few thousand or so interchangeably as they go off slaving in the nearby area.

Time was of the essceense as the Austians slaved night and day to prepare themselves for the assult. They made traps, pitfalls to stop the enermy, boiling oil was made and prepared for use. the great Bastilla where manahndled off the ships and onto the walls for use against enermy seige engines.

The coloney was a 3 sideed square, the east side was water, the harbour where the Austain ships where docked. The North and West sides where long and angular with a great watch tower on the corners. The southern wall was wooden, though large, and it was probably the weakest point in the coloneys defences, facing a large hill that was the perfect site for seige weapons.

Days passed uneventfully at fort Rungvie, as a few slaves toiled away rising the inner citadel and reinforcing the wooden outter walls with stone. Gares himself watched over everything in vague interest, his mind on the small Austian settlement, secretly wondering if they would actually attempt anything in the open, or simply go all out with a defensive or offensive attack.

"I would like..." Gares said quietly as he kneeled in the chapel of Fort Rungvie, looking of the large winged demon, "Should they refuse us... To kill them, and enslave as many as possible Lord Galf..."


Meanwhile, miles south of the Austian colony, the small fortified encampment of six thousand men were finally ready. It was nothing much, simply a few barracks out in the open, defended by spike walls and pits to the South to keep the Natives from getting too anxious. They were also to kill any Austians attempting to get help from the southern natives. As the final day of the week loomed overhead, it looked as if complete war was uneventful against the small colonial holding.

The Asutians where ready and drilled. every single meber of the coloney was inside the walls, 4,000 in all. every single person over 14 and under 40 where armed and ready to fight. The granery was full of pervisions, the wells where safe. The Austians where prepared for a seige.

OOC: Does the Colony have an open harbor?

OOC: Yes.

The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived...



Gares stood at the forefront of the massive Northern formation, riding back and forth on horseback. They were a mere four miles north of the city, and everything had been planned perfectly. With these three thousand men, and three thousand to the south with artillery, all was going according to plan. They also had a hidden weapon, a small group of naval ships waiting off the coast, a dozen of them, armed with the makeshift cannons they purchased from the Valgardians...

"Glorious children of Galf! Today we scourge yet another enemy from the face of our father's earth!" Gares shouted amidst cheers from the black armored men, "To the south new commander Grishalm is likewise preparing for this, and together we will butcher these dogs like the heathens they are!!!"

"Yaaaaahhhh!!! Long live Empire!!! Hooray for Galf! Death to the bastards!!!" The soldiers replied in kind, shouting back in a nearly inaudible roar, if the Austians hadn't been aware of the massive presence, they surely were by that point.

"Now brave children of Galf... Let us take from this land what is rightfully ours!!!"


The battle suddenly began as the first of the eighteen catapults were wheeled forward to the southern hill as the young man, now Commander Grishalm, stood at the forefront in his newly aquired blackened armor. Behind him were a large row of black armored knights, some on horseback though most were not.

"Commence fire!" The Commander suddenly shouted, as numerous ominous horns bellowed across the landscape as the eighteen catapults fired their flaming, tar covered balls towards the enemy's southern wall.

To the North, twelve other large catapults appeared behind and equally large force, launching at the Northern Wall behind General Gares himself. Amidst the roar and cheers of his men, it was almost impossible to make out the orders being shouted by the officers.

As for the Western Naval Fleet, they remained there, due to attack by the end of the day, but untill then ordered to remain stationary and out of the port's visual range...

The Admiral shuddered as he heard the enermy bombarding his forts southern wall, the wall swiftly fell in and the boulders began to smash into hosues and Inns. He ignroed it, looking out only to make sure that the traps he ahd set where not damaged, they wern't.

His men where hidden out of the catipults range, except for two small groups, hidden safley udnerground ready to spring the suprise...

The southern flank suddenly released a large bluish smoke signal from far behind the encampment as the walls fell and the catapults continued reloading with their flaming ammunition, hoping to burn the city a bit before they attack. They would not act untill general Gares from the North gave the signal that he had destroyed the Northern Wall as well...


"Excellent..." The General said with a smile as he noted the blueish wisps of smoke floating upwards, "Once we destroy the North wall we can swarm in and kill the scum..."

"Yes commander. The Northern wall should be falling at any time..."

The southern flank suddenly released a large bluish smoke signal from far behind the encampment as the walls fell and the catapults continued reloading with their flaming ammunition, hoping to burn the city a bit before they attack. They would not act untill general Gares from the North gave the signal that he had destroyed the Northern Wall as well...


"Excellent..." The General said with a smile as he noted the blueish wisps of smoke floating upwards, "Once we destroy the North wall we can swarm in and kill the scum..."

"Yes commander. The Northern wall should be falling at any time..."
The northann wall was taking a pounding but stood still, it's strong granate stonework barley chipping as the catpults fired into it. It's walls where empty, yet below it's sheild the Austians waited to fight back.

The south of the twon burned, yet the north stood untuched except by a few spare boulders.

OOC: A stone wall is extrodanarly strong, it wouled take weeks, even with cannon, to destroy it.

OOC: Ah it must be pretty thick. Ah well!


General Gares sighed from his horse, as he was expecting the walls to not be made of such rich materials. Still, there was another way, to put the fear of their Lord Galf into the scum. The black armored figure turned, facing one of the Catapult soldiers...

"See if you can get the flaming munitions over the wall... After ten minutes of it, we'll signal the Southern Contingent and tell them to go clean up. I was hoping for them to meet us like men, but it appears their gods have led them down a path of cowardice."

With that, the next half hour was filled as dozens of flaming orbs splattered over the wall, lighting any wooden roofs on fire. After the flames could be spotted from the Northern Contingent, a Blackish waft of smoke was lifted upwards from some of the soldiers in the back of the formation. With that, the Southern Contingent could move into the city while the Austians would be forced to fight the fires if they planned on remaining... And if it looked as if the fires were signifcantly put out, they would just launch another volley at the North.


With this, the first wave of attackers, a good thousand armored black knights slowly approached as the catapults continued, stopping only when the first of the soldiers came within distance of the city walls. From there they would spread out into groups of twenty to fourty and march along the streets, firing arrows or killing anyone. The Black Smoke meant death, and should any survive the attack, they would be the lucky few taken as slaves.


The Antanjylian ships waited patiently in the harbor, out of eyesight as they noted the large waft of black smoke. In a time they too would be called in to finish the attack. But for now the captains were more or less content watching the dense clouds of smoke slowly rising upwards.

OOC: You going via the south. I'll RP this any problems.

IC: most of the Asutians where away from the flames, content to let the city burn. A firebrak was already in palce-well actually the Asutians had cleared ground to make a battlesite near the harbour that was mroe suited to there style of fihting.

As the enermy was within 10 meters or so of the walls theyw ould have noticed the ground below them beginning to sag, maybe they would ahev noticed a strange fakeness about soil, as though it wasn't quite thick enough. Then again maybe they where looking towards the enermy city ahead, waiting to capture and kill...

Once the black knights had covered half the 5 meter trap-calculated just a bit further than a horse could jump- the Austians struck, brave men firing the wooden props that held up the sail above. The knights fell onto a specally made pit of spikes, falling 2 meters onto the sharpened points.

"Aieeeee!!! Argghhhh!" Dozens of soldiers suddenly shouted as they fell into the pits, some managing to leap back or to the other side as they collapsed downward, many impaled on the spikes, while others were saved by their armor, or left wounded and dying.


There was a sudden horn sound going over the valley as the remaining soldiers rushed away from the city. It appeared that they gave these Austians too little credit, and this trap proved it. As the wave of black receded. A third burst of smoke flew upwards, this one red. This meant that there was trouble to the South.


General Gares shouted commands in Antanjylian as the massive Northern Army broke off, a good three thousand of them moving the the Western side with the catapults. They would hopefully lure the people out, or starve them. And as the rocks flew in and around the Eastern wall, everyone waited. The City was obviously trapped, and they would not waste men.


As the day waned, and boulders continued flying overhead from the East and South, decimating as much of the wall as they could, and leaving massive flaming piles throughout what remained of the city within, the dozen large warships suddenly appeared at the Harbor.

"For the Glory of Antanjyl! The Emperor watches!" One of the men shouted as they turned to the side, facing the cannons at the harbor, especially aiming at any ships as they commenced firing. The dozen massive ships were outfitted with the best cannons they could receive from their allies, the Valgardians.

The Admiral stood on the Poop of the |Atllysis a massive 4 decked warship crewed by 700 men. Across the water part of the city burned but he knew that the 3,000 sildiers left in the city would survive, eather beyond the firebreak or on the walls. Stone didn't burn or collapse easly and already the fires where beginning to exauhst themselves.

Meanwhile enermy warships had been spotted, coming into the harbour from the north by a fishing boat he was using for patrols. The Austians ships where moving to meet them, siling into a broadside positon so they could use there decks of bastillia-10 on each deck.

The Admiral was doing his maths, he had 12 'ships of the line under his command, that is ships with 3 decks or more. He also had 2 sloops-2 decked ships. This meant he had around 420 shots from the off. 420 shots coated with greek fire, that would be lit moments before they where fired.

OOC: How can you afford to build every house out of stone in a city in North America? Regardless, the smoke from the munitions will eventually suffocate your men, and you have more warships than you originally said. I'll post in a bit though. Note that Antanjyl's goal isn't only to burn anything which can be burned, but to hit your soldiers every now and then, and kill them all with the smoke, thus causing them to eventually leave the trap ridden city.

Ten of the Antanjylian Warships are three decked, with rows of cannons, as they were expecting more or less not many able-bodied ships to put up a fight. Also, Greek Fire is hard to make, and to make that large of a batch seems rather surreal, especially in the climate, and as anyone who left the town or went South near the Antanjylians wouldn't be returning.? Regardless of how dangerous it is to make the stuff, since it bursts into flame upon contact(At least according to historical texts, but you'd still need to light the cannon and hope like hell that the sparks didn't set the greek fire off and blow up the ship. Greek fire was traditionally fired via catapult though). You would probably of had to of had it from Aust, since most of the main components are difficult to find in the colder regions of North America, at least since it was originally from the Medittaranean..

OOC: Also, as this is an annihilation mission, we'd fire at any boats that aren't ours upon seeing them. But it probably evaded cannon fire. Also, Antanjyl as of yet not come in contact with Greek Fire.


"General Gares, it appears that there are no signs of any retreat, or in fact any signs of soldiers at all within the city. What are your orders?" A soldier said, bowing as the sun began to set, as more and more sulfur coated cannonballs flew overhead. They were running short, "As well we are running out of our catapult mixture."

"Our slaves should be bringing in more by Dawn. We can afford to use the rest of our munitions. Mix it with normal stones to keep them off guard. I want all exits of the city heavily guarded. Our ships should easily wipe clean the filth from the harbor."

"Aye sir. The Emperor has recently sent word as well, it appears one of the Valgardian Emperors has died. He also has more pressing news in the form of a letter at Fort Rungvie, you have exactly one week to take the city. Use whatever is necessary at your disposal. He is sending more ships to help your man with transportation. You seem to be needed..."

"Ah... Very well then..."



The Naval ships were prepared as well, especially as a small rogue fishing boat escaped one of their cannon onslaughts. Getting into a naval battle formation, the group prepared by slowly spreading out, each aiming their cannons, 12 per side per deck, as was regular with this type of warship(Most rely on slave power). The massive sails were lowered as well, as with this number of ships maneuevering would not be much work. They would slowly come in by their sides, as they were made for the climate, they could more or less afford to come in slowly, their cannons aimed upwards. Should there not be any opposition, they would instead fire upon the town itself.

As the fire of ship was seen from the crow's nest, slowly followed by the others, numerous horns began to blow as the cannons were further readied. Just as they slowly came into range, the large Antanjylian naval force fired off its cannons, 394 managing to leave the cannon out of the 432 fired. Quite a feat, and as the massive salvo of cannon balls flew overhead, everyone onboard braced themselves...

OOC: How can you afford to build every house out of stone in a city in North America? Regardless, the smoke from the munitions will eventually suffocate your men, and you have more warships than you originally said. I'll post in a bit though. Note that Antanjyl's goal isn't only to burn anything which can be burned, but to hit your soldiers every now and then, and kill them all with the smoke, thus causing them to eventually leave the trap ridden city.

Ten of the Antanjylian Warships are three decked, with rows of cannons, as they were expecting more or less not many able-bodied ships to put up a fight. Also, Greek Fire is hard to make, and to make that large of a batch seems rather surreal, especially in the climate, and as anyone who left the town or went South near the Antanjylians wouldn't be returning.? Regardless of how dangerous it is to make the stuff, since it bursts into flame upon contact(At least according to historical texts, but you'd still need to light the cannon and hope like hell that the sparks didn't set the greek fire off and blow up the ship. Greek fire was traditionally fired via catapult though). You would probably of had to of had it from Aust, since most of the main components are difficult to find in the colder regions of North America, at least since it was originally from the Medittaranean..
OOC: Iw as talking about the walls-the hosues are wood but stone dosn't burn-so being on the walls is safe.

I don't ahve cannon, i haev bastilla. What you do is light it with a long stick and fire immidetly. the fire then spreads along the srrowshaft while in flight.

The Cannon punched through the Austian broadsides, killing many aboard and unseating several of the bastilla. However the Austians where relaoading quickly, using a winch and pully arrangement to pull the Bastilla cords back and placing the arrow in the trough. This porcess took a minaute or so and then the Austians fired again-lighting the bastilla just before they where about to fire.

400 bastilla fired the second broadside, meaning that 20 had been unsteaded.

OOC: and it dosn;'t have to be Greek fire, though most of the early stuff will be. Then the bastilla will just be coated with oil ect.

((Don't expect the Antanjylians to enter the city when they can just hope to smoke you out or wait a few days untill your men are too weak to fight back. Besides, there are plenty of easier ways to get in.))

The Naval ships immediately returned fire, as they reloaded their makeshift cannons, as the initial volley from the Austians had made it such that some of the ships had already begun to take on water, and a few were partially engulfed in flames. Regardless, they quickly began to move evasively, firing from wide arcs at the ships as one of the furthest warships released a slight plume of yellowish smoke from her crow's nest.

Meanwhile, the catapults from the invading force began to launch large rocks intstead of the flammable, toxic sulfur munitions, which were becoming sparse. Behind the large forces, sheltered battering rams and more catapults were being built to the West and North, while the South had taken up the few dead they could and were now launching them into the city as well. Eventually the enemy would give, and the Antanjylian Army could afford to wait.

OOC: You realsie that moving quickly in a sailing ship is about 10 mph, at this range it's nothing.

IC: The Asutians keapt there battleline, keapt tacking, the enermy where taking fire-but so where the Asutians. Several ships where heavly patched. luckly though wooden ships are very coyant and take a long time to sink unless fire catches them.

Below decks it was hell, cannon fire and splinters the size of a mans hand destroying entire gun crews at once. But the Asutians keapt to there stations, keapt firing and hoped for the win.

The good thing about bastilla is that they can be aimed after there 3rd shot. with Cannon by that time it was impossable tos ee, you had to fire and forget your missiles but with Bastilla you could see where the enermy where, move the weapon, fire. You could also duck and dodge the cannon themselves.

In the city it'self things where improoving. most of the flames had burnt out by now and though the fumes had killed one or two men, most had survived.

OOC: Of course, but you're really in no posisition to build more in such a short amount of time. It would be impossible for any mass-exodus. Also, stone walls are greatly exaggerated in stopping power. It doesn't take much to cause them to give way.


The Antanjylian Ships were either on fire or full of holes as the soldiers rushed back and forth, dumping buckets of water onto the enraged flames as some of the cannons were actually falling overboard from large holes in the frame. They continued fighting onward however, using their superior amount of cannons to fend off the fighters, but by the third and fourth shots they slowly begna to turn, attempting to fire off with their other side of cannons, filling the sky with more cannons as half of them began to close in.

From this point on the strategy was to fire as many shots as possible from the wide arc of ships, while the rest moved forward, pushing themselves into the massive wall of enemy ships to begin combat.


As soon as the new siege equipment was constructed another wave of boulders and corpses flew overhead, flinging at the walls of the city, which would by nightfall be their next field of attack. Though they outnumbered the Austians by at least four to one, which was about how much they suspected with a single colony, they were being careful. At least for now, simply readying rams, and every now and then sending soldiers forward to mark off any pit traps along the Eastern Wall.

Once this was readied, a large number of mobile towers were pulled to the front, large numbers of soldiers with armored battering rods and rams on either side. It took less than a minute for the soldiers to charge forward, the entire East, an impressive row of four thousand men charging forward at the wall, smacking into it with rams and siege towers for the walls as the North suddenly began moving more men to the East.

The South took this opportunity as well, after marking off the pit traps they sent forth thier most expendable men, the light infantry and their slaves, towards the now mostly destroyed front gate. All in all, two thousand men would eventually serge forward, killing anything in their path as they carefully entered the city defensively.

the Austians prepared to defend the breach, forming into there 'Phalnax formations udner the cover of the distroyed wall and the smoke from the burning buildings.

***********************
OOC: Water dosn't put out greek Fire. I'm guessing thats what most of the fires are made of.

IC: The Austians ships hwere greatly holed, many of the gun crews dead from the enermy fire. But they keapt moving and firng, rotating the bastilla slightly to get a better angle of fire.

OOC: Sorry for the poor posts, it was a quick one. i'll post more extensivly tomorrow.

As the Austians began to defend the breach that that Antanjylians had created, over three thousand soldiers streamed forward as more catapults began to smash into the more distant walls of the city, to allow a larger force to come in at once. Many soldiers died upon first coming in and meeting the phalanx in battle, but were eventually able to form their own shield and spear formation, jabbing at the shields and creating a small stand still.

While this was going on, another thousand and a half group of soldiers, led by two hundred Holy Knights atop their armored mounts, moved towards the now crippled Southern Gate, the scouts in front showing them away from the pitfalls as they began to rush into the city enmasse.

The North Wall was likewise smacked by heavy fire from the remaining catapults, still trying to create a third hole for the final group of soldiers to charge in.

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

As the first burning ship slowly began to sink, the Antanjylian naval forces quickly took desperate action; turning slightly as they all careened forward, attempting to ram the Austians and board or sink them, a few of the more intelligent-minded among them removing their bulkier armor and drawing swords as they rushed forward, the small cannons on the front, third deck firing as they did so. Under the power of hundreds of slaves these ships ripped through the waves...

OOC: You realise that Asutian ships have rams on the front, don't you?

And the pitfalls are just one long, 3 meter wide trench filled with spikes. Theres no was through.



IC: The Austian ships saw the enermy turning and tacked into the wind, coming round so the Austian ships sterns faced the enermys. The iron rams on the front of the Austian ships moved dangeriously underwater, waiting for there prey.

On board the Austian marines rushed towards the frot of the ships, preparing to fight, archers in the rigging began firing and the bastilla crews left there posts and picked up there weapins.

----------------------
The Phalnax had claimed lives but had suffered from falling masonry and enermy action. Now it was a stalemate-the Austian pikes couldn't pentrate the enermy sheilds and visa-versa. One or two men might die, but barley any.

Finally a trumet rang out from the main building of the settlement-as yet on fire. This was a signal for the Austians to disengage. Throwing down 'smoke bombs-a mix of sulpher and phosprous in a glass vial, to cover there escape the Austians turned and ran, making towards the firebreak where another line of defences was being constructed.

OOC: In that case simply say we constructed some bridges out of wood to get across.

The point of ramming your ships isn't really to destroy them. The small number of cannons on the front will probably break your ram or the bow. If not, you'll need to move out of the way, making the Antanjylians able to board your ships at close range.

IC:

The Antanjylian ships continued their recklass course forward, as large groups of the soldiers onboard the ships prepared to board the enemy, even if it meant destroying their ship. Likewise, large groups were getting small firebombs ready, as well as lighting arrows and pulling out shortened swords. As they came closer, the cannons below deck continued to fire, and just as they were in range of arrows, the archers quickly let loose!

Hundreds of flaming arrows and small blackened fire bombs flicked over at the Austians from slings quickly rushed forward through the sky, aiming for sails and any soldiers on board the ship to make boarding easier. If they did go through with the ram, the cannonfire would cripple the ships enough that they would have no choice but to return to the port, which would soon be in Antanjylian control; or at least thats what the Antanjylian captains thought.

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

As large boards were quickly strewn across the pitfalls by the scouts, the force began to go through the front, the small number of two hundred horses going across first, followed by nearly one and a half thousand other soldiers storming the gates. While their compatriots did battle with the Antanjylians directly, they would slaughter any guards at the South that they managed to find, and make their way through the city, destroying anything in their path with the help of slaves with small battering rams; made to destroy walls or other fortifications.

The Antanjylians that noticed what was going on along the Western Wall cheered as they quickly backed away, their officers telling them not to follow. Instead, the soldiers behind the wall of shields quickly let loose with volleys of arrows. In their eyes, the numerically superior Antanjylians had one this small skirmish, but the Austians no doubt had other plans. Should they retreat to the south however, they would be in a direct line with the other soldiers.

The Austians ran like hell, using there sheilds to defend themselves from the rains of arrows and there own archers to cover the Austian retreat. Some of these archers fell to the enermy volleys but more survived and keapt firing, holding the enermy off as they retreated.

Finally the retreat stopped at the firebreak, which was also being used as a battleground. For 150 meters or so the ground was littered with the reamins of broken hosues, wooden carts and caltrops all placed to try adn slow and halt any enermy charge. To eather side of the sight where the walls, at this point unboken except in 2 places, just before the line so the enermy couldn't climb them.

There was also 2 large piles of boulders-as high as the walls and virtually unclimbable to eather side narrowing the distance the enermy could attack on horsback to 50 or so meters in the center which was rapidly filling up with the phalnax. On these piles the archers stood and waitied, hding beind cover prepariung to fire as soon as the enermy came into view. Should the enermy decided to climb these boulders they would have a hard job-they where steep with only a few flat surfaces-occupied by the archers. To the rear of the piles stood the Austian Admirals bodyguard, waiting to charge the enermy back down the piles should they climb up them.

The phalnax in the middle was 10 ranks deep and bristling with pikes, behind that was 5 ranks of archers.