Dhakaan Goblins
02-07-2006, 07:52
It was the final day, and everybody on both sides knew it.
One side, the ones who were winning, had the opposing forces totaly outmanuvered, outgunned, and outclassed.
One side was slow, their tactics useless in the swamp, their weapons unsuited to the environment, and their commanders dead (or running away, but in Dhakaan it was the same thing).
The other side had all the high ground, they occupied the rocky outcroppings and cliffs, forcing the opposing forces to find the small patches of ground in the swamp that were firm enough to support weight. They had few supplies left, and their numbers were dwindling, whittled down over days by the relentless skirmishers and sappers of the Flarg Clan.
The Human army had left their capitol a proud force, gleaming armour and shining weapons, only rifles and the occasional sabre were deemed best for killing the Goblin savages, because it was well known that Goblins did not have the intelligence to use tactics.
But their armour had been part of their downfall in this case, after Blade Pass the firm ground had vanished, the smart ones had simply dumped their armour by the roadside, and they were the ones that were still alive. The slow ones, the ones who kept their armour, were arrow and dart-riddled corpses leaving a trail from Blade Pass to Skar Peak, where the two-day siege of the Goblins capitol had cost the humans fifty thosand men, five hundred beasts and most of their supplies. Their siege weapons had been rolled into the fortress as spoils for the King.
And now the Humans were making their retreat, attempting to get to the other end of the Flarg, the pennensula that guarded the entrance to the Sea of Nirn. Their path took them through the heart of the swamp, and they had left half of their remaining force behind them.
Looking over the edge of the cliff, Ker threw the ramrod down the barrel of his rifle one last time, making sure the 'mini ball' (damn silly names these humans came up with, the bullet was larger than the roundball he had used in the last rifle he had owned) was firmly seated on the powder. Beside him a sapper was tapping a fuse into a grenade, inspecting the device to make sure it wasnt a dud. The forges at Thunderhammer could produce some of the finest armour in the world, but for some reason about a quarter of their primers simply didnt work.
Ker nodded, gesturing emphatically to the Goblin next to him, who grinned and punched him in the shoulder by way of response.
The raids entire attention now focused on the Shakac, who was glaring at the camp as if hoping he could simply wish it away. He held up a fist, then pointed to Ker, and then to one of the few humans still in armour. The Goblins beleived this to be the last officer present, and also thought him to be a pompous fool. He apparently kept his beast in full regalia, dyed cloth that made it stand out like an enraged ogre on some mind altering herbage. He must have been good with a sword at least, because he was still alive. That he could move at all in the heat and humidity while wearing full armour was amazing.
Unfourtunatly for the Human captain, strength was not valued above all else in Goblin culture.
Ker took carefull aim, and spread his brains over the servant who was washing his beasts coverings.
Taking a moment to appreciate the snipers handiwork, the Shakac leapt over the rock, hurling himself down the hill towards the human camp, followed by the rest of the Goblins. Arcing over their heads, a barrage of grenades promptly exploded over the human camp, spreading shrapnel throughout the tents and shanties that the invaders used to cover themselves.
Goblin strategy dictated that an enemy could be defeated in three phases. The first was the Lure, draw the enemy into a place where whatever advantages they had where nullified.
In this case, the Humans armour and horses could not be used to their full effect in the swamp. Since the average Goblin was only three or four feet tall, the only effective way to deal with a beast-mounted human was to remove the horse from the equation, or slow it down enough that you could swarm them. In any case, the Humans were down to five beasts after the Siege of Skar Peak.
The second was the Trap, securing your enemy in the place where you wanted him, and then wearing him down. Another option was to force an enemy through a place where he would suffer casualties and morale damage, if you did not have the force to do it the 'fun' way.
As has been demonstrated, the invaders were worn down quite well.
The third phase was the attack, the decisive battle where your foe was destroyed by overwheling force, like shattering a crystal that had been tapped with a hammer over a few weeks.
And now, this final phase of the Tactics was being enacted, as it had been many times before. Humans thought in terms of years and seldom remebered what had happened a mere decade before, and so often they simply forgot the events of a short ten years ago. Goblins put it down to relying on books too much.
Dropping his rifle and throwing himself down the ledge, Ker watched as the humans formed a ragged line at the base of the hill, bayonetted rifles pointing upwards towards the onrushing wall of Goblins, not noticing the obvious until it was too late.
Even so, they got a volley off before the charging Goblins could reach them, killing or wounding many in the front row, and tearing a chunk out of the Shakac's ear.
Then the skirmishers appeared, as if by magic, from their tunnels. Havoc enveloped the human lines as Skirmishers slashed throats with their short, curved knives. The ranks broke and the soldiers scattered, many threw down their arms and tried to surrender, dying with their fellows as the green tide flowed over them.
In the center of the camp the last few humans had formed a square, and were managing to hold off the tide.
Watching from the back while cleaning his scimitar, the Shakac whistled loudly and threw up his hands, then vanished.
Within seconds, the Humans were alone.
(OOC:
Anybody want to take over the Humies? I left their descriptions as vauge as possible, so a modern person can take them if they wish.)
One side, the ones who were winning, had the opposing forces totaly outmanuvered, outgunned, and outclassed.
One side was slow, their tactics useless in the swamp, their weapons unsuited to the environment, and their commanders dead (or running away, but in Dhakaan it was the same thing).
The other side had all the high ground, they occupied the rocky outcroppings and cliffs, forcing the opposing forces to find the small patches of ground in the swamp that were firm enough to support weight. They had few supplies left, and their numbers were dwindling, whittled down over days by the relentless skirmishers and sappers of the Flarg Clan.
The Human army had left their capitol a proud force, gleaming armour and shining weapons, only rifles and the occasional sabre were deemed best for killing the Goblin savages, because it was well known that Goblins did not have the intelligence to use tactics.
But their armour had been part of their downfall in this case, after Blade Pass the firm ground had vanished, the smart ones had simply dumped their armour by the roadside, and they were the ones that were still alive. The slow ones, the ones who kept their armour, were arrow and dart-riddled corpses leaving a trail from Blade Pass to Skar Peak, where the two-day siege of the Goblins capitol had cost the humans fifty thosand men, five hundred beasts and most of their supplies. Their siege weapons had been rolled into the fortress as spoils for the King.
And now the Humans were making their retreat, attempting to get to the other end of the Flarg, the pennensula that guarded the entrance to the Sea of Nirn. Their path took them through the heart of the swamp, and they had left half of their remaining force behind them.
Looking over the edge of the cliff, Ker threw the ramrod down the barrel of his rifle one last time, making sure the 'mini ball' (damn silly names these humans came up with, the bullet was larger than the roundball he had used in the last rifle he had owned) was firmly seated on the powder. Beside him a sapper was tapping a fuse into a grenade, inspecting the device to make sure it wasnt a dud. The forges at Thunderhammer could produce some of the finest armour in the world, but for some reason about a quarter of their primers simply didnt work.
Ker nodded, gesturing emphatically to the Goblin next to him, who grinned and punched him in the shoulder by way of response.
The raids entire attention now focused on the Shakac, who was glaring at the camp as if hoping he could simply wish it away. He held up a fist, then pointed to Ker, and then to one of the few humans still in armour. The Goblins beleived this to be the last officer present, and also thought him to be a pompous fool. He apparently kept his beast in full regalia, dyed cloth that made it stand out like an enraged ogre on some mind altering herbage. He must have been good with a sword at least, because he was still alive. That he could move at all in the heat and humidity while wearing full armour was amazing.
Unfourtunatly for the Human captain, strength was not valued above all else in Goblin culture.
Ker took carefull aim, and spread his brains over the servant who was washing his beasts coverings.
Taking a moment to appreciate the snipers handiwork, the Shakac leapt over the rock, hurling himself down the hill towards the human camp, followed by the rest of the Goblins. Arcing over their heads, a barrage of grenades promptly exploded over the human camp, spreading shrapnel throughout the tents and shanties that the invaders used to cover themselves.
Goblin strategy dictated that an enemy could be defeated in three phases. The first was the Lure, draw the enemy into a place where whatever advantages they had where nullified.
In this case, the Humans armour and horses could not be used to their full effect in the swamp. Since the average Goblin was only three or four feet tall, the only effective way to deal with a beast-mounted human was to remove the horse from the equation, or slow it down enough that you could swarm them. In any case, the Humans were down to five beasts after the Siege of Skar Peak.
The second was the Trap, securing your enemy in the place where you wanted him, and then wearing him down. Another option was to force an enemy through a place where he would suffer casualties and morale damage, if you did not have the force to do it the 'fun' way.
As has been demonstrated, the invaders were worn down quite well.
The third phase was the attack, the decisive battle where your foe was destroyed by overwheling force, like shattering a crystal that had been tapped with a hammer over a few weeks.
And now, this final phase of the Tactics was being enacted, as it had been many times before. Humans thought in terms of years and seldom remebered what had happened a mere decade before, and so often they simply forgot the events of a short ten years ago. Goblins put it down to relying on books too much.
Dropping his rifle and throwing himself down the ledge, Ker watched as the humans formed a ragged line at the base of the hill, bayonetted rifles pointing upwards towards the onrushing wall of Goblins, not noticing the obvious until it was too late.
Even so, they got a volley off before the charging Goblins could reach them, killing or wounding many in the front row, and tearing a chunk out of the Shakac's ear.
Then the skirmishers appeared, as if by magic, from their tunnels. Havoc enveloped the human lines as Skirmishers slashed throats with their short, curved knives. The ranks broke and the soldiers scattered, many threw down their arms and tried to surrender, dying with their fellows as the green tide flowed over them.
In the center of the camp the last few humans had formed a square, and were managing to hold off the tide.
Watching from the back while cleaning his scimitar, the Shakac whistled loudly and threw up his hands, then vanished.
Within seconds, the Humans were alone.
(OOC:
Anybody want to take over the Humies? I left their descriptions as vauge as possible, so a modern person can take them if they wish.)