NationStates Jolt Archive

General Information:

Osteia is located on a landmass that resembles RL Italy. The climate and weather remain the same in most areas, but in others there are many swamps and marshlands that are almost always foggy and dreary. The nation of Osteia was in a dark time during the middle ages, without a king the lords of the lands each controlled their own territory and lived in their own large estates and castles having the people of their property pay a directly to them in goods which are traded or sold.

Life in Osteia:

The people who work their lords lands were given a afew acres of land to which they may build their homes and start a family having only to pay a small tax. Many large villages, towns and small settlements are scattered across the nation, some of which do not belong to any lord and the people live in free but are without protection.

Military:

In Osteia the military has always been a tradition.all Osteian units exist but are split up between all the lords of the lands, Units include Heavy cavelry(they resemble Gothic knights, but are not of nobility), infantry equiped with templar helmets, chain mail, battle axes, spears, swords and sheilds. Cavelry are slightly more lighter than the heavy cavelry and wear the colors of Osteia, black gold and red, they wear plate and chainmail armor also equiped with templar helmets, their weapons consist of sharp lances and broadswords. Archers are lightly armored and equiped with longbows. Finally the knights wear bright colors and the finest of equipment that cannot all be specifyed due to the different weapons they use, the knights are nobles, land owners, lords who join their men on the field of battle when the time comes.

After the rebellion all the legions were disbanded and went to work for the lords, very skilled veteran soldiers were left without proper employment, some had been soldiers all their lives and knew nothing else. The man noticed for having the largest force to his name and the most land is Lord Locke, he inherrited it from his grandfather who had been one of the commanders during the revolution, Lord Locke is also the owner of the most heavily fortifyed fortress/castle in Osteia, 'Locke Castle'.

History:

Osteia had rose to power in the ancient times. It was known for having a very organized military being well disiplined and professional while on the field of battle. After the Emperor Xavier's death, Emperor Cerious came into power, the cousin of Xavier, Cerious was not near as fair, caring and loved as his great cousin was and he knew this when people would speak of it.

After awhile Cerious snapped and declared himself a god, he disbanded the senete using afew crooked friends he had managed to make to carry out his evil biddings. Years past, Cerious had gotten greedy and ignored the rights and freedoms of his people, laws which were the foundation of an Osteian socity were constantly broken, then one day all hell broke loose. A group of nobles had gathered and planned to over throw Cerious and kill him but he could not be gotten to easy, no legions were on Osteian soil so only palace guards would be a problem to the attacking group. Each noble rounded up his fighting men and attacked Cerious's palace quietly, in the end 54 of the palaces guards were dead and 62 of the nobles men...Cerious was also killed.

One man, Byron Locke restored order to the lands and was called a saint. People moved to the land he owned where they were treated fairly, disbanded legionaires swore alligence to him massing his ranks. The Locke's held the oldest nobility in the land due to the fact the followers of Cerious were killed in his palace making them the closest thing that existed to Royalty.

Byron Locke passed away of old age but passed his estate and everything he owned to his grandson Reginald Locke, including his title and knowlage. Reginald is currently attempting to bring all the lords togeather once more and restore Osteia to it's former greatness.

Language: Latin, (English is taught in schools)
Religion: Roman Catholic, Pagen

Osteian knights:

http://www.knebworthhouse.com/gallery/GalApr01jousting/images/2_The%20Knights%20Arrive.jpg

Castle Locke:

http://www.today.ucla.edu/2003/images/030225beaum2.jpg

Osteian Heavy Cavelry:

http://www.arador.com/gallery/15c-3.jpg


I will post statistics soon as i have them done...

Finally, i had the others eaten by NS! lol..well not really that funny...

By the way..this is not done, more will be added as we go along...

The air was damp and thick fog was all around a group of men strolling through the forest with bows, quietly they moved arrows drew back when all of a sudden a loud crack of bushes was heard and a deer came shooting out of the trees making a run for it's life,

**Woooosh**

One of the men let off an arrow just as quick, the deer ran for a second longer then crashed to the ground and slid..

"AHA! Good shot Reginald! you got him!"

The young lord lowered his bow and strolled over to his catch which lay on it's side, hollow eyes staring up at the sky, he knelt down and touched it..

You were quick, but i was quicker..go in peace, thank you.. he said quietly

The others laughed,

"Talking to deer are we, ahaha"

An older man with a grey gote and three more men of nobility, along with three others stood around Reginald and the deer,

"Respect must be shown to man aswell as beast..."

He rose up and signaled to one of the men following the nobles to retreive the catch,

"lets head back it's getting dark..."

The group strolled to a group of horses just outside the treeline being held by Osteian heavy cavelry in full armor, Reginald Locke walked over to a pure white horse where he climbed into the saddle, three more deer lay on the ground about to be placed in a wagon,

"Count St. Clair, Lord Baxter, Lord Christian, the hunt went well..perhalps tomorrow you will join me at my castle for dinner"

The other lords nodded to Locke,

"Ah, well all the best to you gentleman, i will take my leave"

With that said, Lord Reginald Locke rode off followed by six Osteian heavy cavelry and two more carrying banners and flags. After crossing green rolling hills they eventully came onto a dirt path and followed it speeding up, looming in the darkness, Castle Locke, the largest heavily fortifyed castle in all of Osteia, candle light flickered in many of the windows...

After cantering across the narrow bridge over the moat they entered through the gates into the courtyard.

Lord Locke sat in his great hall eating when the doors flung open and in strolled a heavy cavelry officer, he stopped and lowered his head..

"My lord, News from the south.."

Lord Locke continued to eat then took a sip of wine, after setting the mug down he looked up,

"What is it commander?"

The cavelry officer replyed,

"Lord Kerigin, and Lord Mcdonald have agreed to unite with us sir..we have just received their written reply"

Lord Locke nodded slowly lifting his mug once more,

"Good, send a personal invite to Lord Haliburton and the others aswell..i have requested that Count St. Clair, Lord Baxter, Lord Christian attend aswell to hear me out.."

"Very well my lord"

The soldier waited at attention,

"You are dismissed Commander, return to your dutys at once..."

"Yes m'lord"

"Oh and commander,"

The man stopped as he was going out the door,

"Take a patrol west of my lands to make sure everything remains in order"

"M'lord"

The soldier left the room shutting the doors behind him. Reginald Locke would present his request to join all the lords of the land tomorrow during the dinner at his fortress.

OOC: My nation is now open to diplomatic relations, feel free to send persons who wish to establish a foundation for friendship.

"Lord Ivloski, what are you doing here?"

It was early morning, the sun was still hidden from view and Lord Ivloski was standing with his guard and a Lamp at the doorstep of Lord Crobil, Crobil was still raking out the crud which had gathered in his eyes which stang for more sleep.

"Crobil, I have come to collect you."

Crobil rubbed his eyes again and showed a curious glance to Ivloski, Ivloski gave his always sterile face back to Crobil, never smiling just staring in his usual way at the man in the door.

"I am an orders from Aeteius, we are to leave soon for Ostia in order to gain relations."

Eyes still hurting Crobil knew immediatly that he had to pack away his items, he rushed into the Slave room and awoke Misalas, his personal Slave who he had been friends with since the invasion, quickly he got together his Sleeping Roll, his Sword and other assorted items, the door was closed and Crobil stood beside Ivloski.

"We are taking a Trade vessel to Ostia, we should arrive within a day."

Ivloski stated in his heavily Slavic accent, he then walked out towards the edge of the Village and was followed by his Guard, Crobil and Misalas.

**** **** ****

(OOC: making diplomatic relations... hopefully...)

The following evening all the lords of the surrounding lands were assembled inside castle Locke seated around the outside of a large table eating and drinking, Lord Locke stood up and started to speak,

"Welcome friends, i would like to thank you all for attending this evening and offering your ears, for this, i am greatful"

All the lords sat paying attention to Locke,

"When i was a boy, i used to hear tales, tales of a great Empire called Osteia that was known for it's great leadership, how organized and how well trained it's imperial soldiers were, ferice warriors who faught and died to make the empires name live on forever in greatness..."

"Now, things have changed drasticly..all our nations nobles care little or none at all what happens to our great nation..."

He paused and glanced at all the faces looking at him, some didn't appear to be very impressed,

"But, those of you who have showed up reasure me there is still hope.."

"We live under King Ralish, would you not prefer to have a king of your own...one who would restore order and take responciblility upon himself, here we are receving table scraps from The Ralish's nobles....THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!"

Some of the men around the table nodded their heads slowly wispering to eachother...

"We must prove to them we are capible of making our own decisions, we are able to do it and i know we can! so i ask you..please, give me a chance and hear me out..you all know of the great things my grandfather did, he taught me everything i know...he freed us against Cerious, give me a chance to gain our independance..who is with me?"

Lord Christian spoke up,

"I will stand, but first.. what do you have in mind Reginald?

Lord Locke continued, he glanced at the others who gave him their full attention,

"We mass our armys, we all share the same equipment..therefore it will not look like a bunch of rabble...we march to our borders and take up position, they are still fortifyed....there we make a proposal, if it fails...we demonstrate, we will still remain friendly with The Ralish but independant under our own king..but we will not discuss that matter at this present time"

Lord Kerigin and Mcdonald stood, Count St.Clair stood aswell followed by, Baxter and Haliburton,

"Freedom....it's a beautiful word and not far away...."

____________________________________________

The next morning the rain poured down and lightening streaked the sky, a low rumble of thunder echoed through the air as Lord Locke emerged from his castle gates followed by a long coloum of heavy cavelry,cavelry and infantry, then Longbow men close behind headed for the borders flying their lords colours.

All other lords that had attended the meeting also brought fourth their armys, word had spread across the country a stand and proposal was being made therefore civilians came fourth with weapons such as swords, axes, pitch forks, bows, spears and large hammers forming a militia to the main forces rear that was falling in togeather as they marched the civilians chanted,

"Freedom, freedom.."

After three hours of steady marching the border came into veiw, all the banners of the united lords were fluttering in the breeze. The bright coloured knights of Osteia cantered proudly infront of their soldiers capes soaking wet draped over their horses, Lord Locke watched the army halt and come to attention, such a force had not been seen in Osteia for years, removing his fine crafted templar helmet lord Locke looked to a cavelry messenger,

"Deliver the message, white flag of truce.."

"Aye my lord"

The rider took off full speed.....

Lord Locke watched as the lines straightened out, the soldiers drill was rusty, very rusty but that could be fixed. Once all was quiet Lord Locke cantered out in front of the army that was massed behind the postion where they waited,

"Welcome soldiers of Osteia! today! we make our stand, here we prove that we will no longer receive what others decide to give us! the days of receiving hand outs are over!"

He rode down the line then stopped yelling as loud as he could,

"All we needed was to be united, to have a plan to better the way we live! i promise each and every one of you will gain that freedom today! no longer will we be told what we can and can't do in fear of those greater in size...for we are GREATER IN WILLPOWER! it is not the size of our army that will win us this battle here if it happens! it will be our WILL to fight for EVERYTHING WE MAY GAIN IN THE END! sure...some of us will die, but by god if it is the cost of our childerns and their childerns freedom SO BE IT! I AM READY TO TAKE THAT CHANCE! WHO'S WITH ME!"

"AHHHHhHHH!"

"WHO'S WITH ME!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" the soldiers yelled at the top of their lungs shaking their weapons high in the air......

"Lord Ivloski, what are you doing here?"

It was early morning, the sun was still hidden from view and Lord Ivloski was standing with his guard and a Lamp at the doorstep of Lord Crobil, Crobil was still raking out the crud which had gathered in his eyes which stang for more sleep.

"Crobil, I have come to collect you."

Crobil rubbed his eyes again and showed a curious glance to Ivloski, Ivloski gave his always sterile face back to Crobil, never smiling just staring in his usual way at the man in the door.

"I am an orders from Aeteius, we are to leave soon for Ostia in order to gain relations."

Eyes still hurting Crobil knew immediatly that he had to pack away his items, he rushed into the Slave room and awoke Misalas, his personal Slave who he had been friends with since the invasion, quickly he got together his Sleeping Roll, his Sword and other assorted items, the door was closed and Crobil stood beside Ivloski.

"We are taking a Trade vessel to Ostia, we should arrive within a day."

Ivloski stated in his heavily Slavic accent, he then walked out towards the edge of the Village and was followed by his Guard, Crobil and Misalas.

**** **** ****

(OOC: making diplomatic relations... hopefully...)



Your trade vessel will be welcomed in any of our port citys, Bellomo, Leown, Tripoli, Kersh.....you decide...

(OOC: Oh it's not one of my Trade vessels, it's an independant Trader, I have no Med based Ships cos I just plain don't like Naval Warfare (guh, too much to consider and reconsider) if I did have a fleet I'd definantly not come in a Trading Vessel, i'd make a show of it and arrive in a giant Vessel)

Crobil awoke, he rocked slightly and scampered away from the Burden Beast which was sniffing his arm in a hungry way, he staggered onto the top deck and pained his eyes towards the sun, he loved the colours it produced in his eyes, he turned to the front of the ship, there was a coastline at last which wasn't Toopoxican, the Captain seemed busy but not busy enough to continue his flamboyant boistressness.

"Lord Crobil."

Ivloski had snuck up behind Crobil and quite startled him.

"We will be arriving in Tripoli soon, awaken Misalas and collect your items."

(OOC: much appreciated if you could RP the entrance, I have no idea what Tripoli looks like and would rather hear from the person who knows rather than me make up somthing crap...)

OOC: I will rp the entrance from an Osteian point of veiw, but so you can continue....Tripoli is very tropical looking, sunny, rich with fruit, white sandy beaches....not at all like the north..

**I will post the description here...**

Well... down there.....

:)

OOC: I don't fancy alot of naval activity either, Osteia has no REAL navy...Imperial ships but they answear only to their lords.

Word that the Lords in the north had massed their armys had spread quickly to the south, though not egar to fight two decided to march north and assist their countrymen with the proposal. Lord Jensen slowly rode down the large hill that lead up to his fortress near the port city of Tripoli, behind him roughly 100 heavy cavelry, 150 archers and 200 infantry marched, the word was the army in the north was well into the thousands by now and it was even said civilians had joined the ranks with any weapon they could find. The last three lords in the south could not be convinced victory would come out of this rebellion, they needed some real convincing.

A lone merchant vessel was suddenly spotted by a man fishing on the docks, the sun glistened off the clear blue water as his attention went back to the task at hand.

During the early morning the rain had stopped, mist crept across the wet field,

"Still no messenger my Lord" said Lord Locke's aid Charles..

Lord Locke scanned over the open field watching for any movement, the remainder of the army that was still resting rose to their feet falling into formation,

"I want scout reports from our flanks immeaditly"

"Yes m'lord"

The aid climed on his horse and galloped off full speed towards the left flank, Lord Christian, a knight cantered up on his horse,

"We have been waiting all night...where are they at i wonder"

He manouvered his horse around in a circle,

"I don't know...maybe they havn't received the message yet, or...waited till morning to reply..the weather was nasty"

"Aye"

"We continue to wait..."

As Lord Locke finished speaking a heavy cavelry soldier rode up to him,

"M'lord"

"Go on.."

"Word is two more lords from the south are on their way, not sure which though.."

Locke smiled,

"Ah haa! i knew some would see our cause....very good return to your post sergent"

"Yes M'lord"

The rider galloped off down the line......

Where are they.. thought Locke shaking his head slowly.....

Lord Locke had asked Lord Christian to take a detachment to the capital of Apollo making stops along the way offering employment in the army, 200 civilians would be sent to a training camp, fully equiped with gear that suits their best ablilty all paid for by Lord Locke. The military and knowing how to defend one's self is tradition in Osteia and always has been, fathers would instruct their sons at a young age as their fathers before them had done in the art of warfare incase it was ever needed.

Lord Christian left the border heading through the countryside towards the first village with a detachment of 20 heavy cavelry and 20 regular cavelry following close behind, they galloped away from the main force and slowly it was out of sight......

The fog of the countryside made it almost impossible to see through the slits in their helmets, they had been riding for two hours without rest but they were moving at a relaxed pace,

"M'lord, the village of Atillia is ahead...there..."

A heavy cavelry sergent pointed out a small town in the distance,

"Alright men, double time!"

Lord Christian sped up quickly and the sound of thundering hooves echoed through the air as the group moved....

After spreading the word as quickly as possible and gaining three recruits they were back on the road headed for the town of Sutherland.....

the cavalry men may not have been able to see much, between their helms and the fog...

but that didn't mean they couldn't be seen.

a pair of eyes vanished into the murk... the owner's master would be ... interested.

Lord Christian and the group rode into the town slowing their speed so not to run any civilians over. The group stopped in front of a pub where the knight dismounted followed by the sergent, flinging his long yellow and light blue cape over his shoulder he spoke,

"You! take four men to the southern part of the town and put the word out"

He walked down the line and spoke to the rest of the men,

"The rest of you hold postion here and have permission ot dismount, the Sergent and i will go inside and see who we can get to join us..."

Christian walked through the doorway into the pub and removed his helm, the sergent did the same,

"Attention! we are posting a message on this wall by order of Lord Locke, all information will be included...if you have any questions please see my sergent"

The people in the room looked startled upon hearing the loud voice of the knight in their presence, Christian looked around then sat in the corner where a man hurried over,

"What can i get you my lord?"

He replyed,

"Some recruits good sir, some recruits..no i will have, some fresh water and some fresh vegtables aswell...peas, carrots and some bread"

He removed his armored gloves(?) and wiped his brow....

four people were standing in front of the notice, three of which could not read therefore the sergent read it out loud....

The four heavy cavelry soldiers cantered to the south of the town, their armor and the horses clicking and clattering....

ooc: the word for armored gloves, assumeing i'm spelling it right, is 'gauntlets'

IC: the pub contained many people, and of those who took an interest in the notice, not all were doing so with the intent to enlist, or even out of idle curiosity.

one of those who read the notice and left considered his current status to be more than satisfactory... but there were people who would wish to know about this turn of events.

The heavy cavelry and regular cavelry outside were all dismounted and standing around chatting, a person came out of the pub and a soldier approached,

"Are you a patriot? if so join our ranks, you will be paid and provided with the same equipment you see us wearing...regular service, non militia!

The others looked...

The sergent who was assiting those read noticed that a person who had left read the notice themselves, he walked out the door and signaled to another soldier to go in..

"You there! are you educated? your lords require educated people to serve in their army, YOUR ARMY!"

The soldier who had already addressed the person took a step back....

The riders in the southern end of the town went down the road delivering the message by yelling to get people passing by's attention, also those in their homes,

"Enlist in the army today so that we may gain freedom and independance! you will be paid and fully equiped for regular service!"

As they slowly rode by they repeated it....

OOC: Thank you, Oh and it was random that your charactor had been approached...educated people are valuble...

the man spoke in reply, honestly enough "i like my current position well enough, but i may join the army none the less. i am a patriot, and would be insulted had you asked me under any other curcumstance. the fact remains, however, that i serve my master, and have many responcibilitys which i cannot just leave. i go now to consult him first. mayhaps i shall join the army, or my master's need, and by extention my own use to the nation by a different path, may be greater. we shall see."

The sergent stood there with a look on his face others could not see behind the helm,

"Uh, ...uh, good, good, if you get the consent you need please return and sign the list inside the pub..thank you for your time citizen.."

The Sergent was really unsure of what to say to the person and let them continue,

Well, i didn't expect all that..usually a yes or a no..

Lord Christian came out of the pub hand resting on his sword handle,

"Sergent! have the men mount their horses..we move out"

"Yes M'lord, where is our next destination?"

"Several miles from here...the town of Vasilla where we will stay the night, the men have been constantly moving today..even before we left...carry on!"

Once the segent had rounded up the men, they formed up and headed out of the town. During the afternoon the sun started showing signs of comming out, the air got warmer as they traveled farther south. They were slowly moving through a dark forest down a well used path that was met by a bridge across a small river......

Northern Osteia

The passing of the combined Osteian army was noticed by many loyal subjects of the King. Merchants who feared a disruption of intercontinental trade during any imperial instability, visitors from Alshor, military liason officers, and dedicated spies, many amongst them sent riders north and returned to their light sailing vessels to head east. Of course, many beat the mustering army to the frontiers of the Empire-proper, and panic began to spread even faster.

Along the way, Ralish priests called their followers in Osteia to think carefully about the path they chose, many demonstrating the wonders of the faith with gimmiky water, fire, and steam-operated whistles and bells and clouds of mildly hallucinogenic smoke making a mystical show of a lot of spinning and jumping gold. The temples were headed by a senior priest, and staffed by young men, fighting and working priests who kept the temples running and guarded their treasures against bandits, serving for years before getting the chance to become senior priests entrusted with the secrets of the high-science behind Ralish religious magic.

The Southwestern Empire

While the Osteians marched, and then waited, the western provinces of the Empire mustered troops on the rear faces of foothills just to the loyal side of the border, while the more quickly deployed local light militias gathered in trees on the forward side.

Hundreds of miles away, signal fires carried advance word around the Agentian coast to the western shores of Alshor, and not far behind horsemen in relay on the imperial roads bore slightly greater detail at hundreds of miles per day: Osteian army in full array.

The signal fires told Alshor of trouble within hours, but nothing specific. Still, men were called to arms and began to settle business of immediate importance, just incase they were asked to march. Messengers, meanwhile, rode flat-out from one roadside post to the next, rousing the guards there and passing the message on to a fresh rider, who would ride on to the next in equal hurry. Often, the next rider was already out and waiting with the local militia, alerted by signals ahead of time. Azaria would know within a few days, and then the King would have to send back his orders, and it could all take more than a week.

Meanwhile, local commanders of the militias and the regional Alshorian Guard detachments continued to muster force quietly just inside the borders of true Empire. Militia captains assumed that an invasion was to be faced-down, Guardsmen supposed that they would be consuming a rebel movement and breaking the back of an independence movement.

Silence, so far, on a diplomatic level.

OOC: I assume you have received my terms, all is not lost...the lords in the south remain loyal....just gotta get past my border...

Waiting for angerman...also to the Ralish, you don't know where my army is....also you have an empire to uphold, will you not restore order?

The Osteian soldiers were all awake for the second day of being posted at the border, still The messengers had not returned from The Ralish's kingdom... it was making people worried, the troops morale remained as high as possible and others joined their ranks. After three days Lord Locke was growing restless and spoke to lord baxter,

"Cowards, pretty soon i will not be willing to carry out a peaceful agreement......but..if we can avoid a fight, all the better..."

A large formation appeared on the horizion marching at a steady pace, a southern flag was spotted,

"M'lord! that isLord Jensen's banner alongside Lord Lattah..they join us!"

The colourful knights Lord Jensen and Lord Lattah rode gracefully ahead of the others in their bright colours and VERY FINE knights armor, th majority of their force was heavy cavelry and infantry......

"perfect, our nations best..."

ooc: i'd love to know why you're waiting for me, given my last... several... posts dierected at you :p

also, you forgot to stick an "ic" tag once you switched back out of ooc.

Im waiting for somthing weird to happen in the forest....

ooc: you mean that something i have now said, several times, won't happen? at any rate, this should be in the ooc thread.

A sickly thud on the moist grass, and the wet rustle of the blades pushed down as this macabre article roled a few times before stopping short of the Osteian vanguard near the border.

The Ralish knew exactly where the Osteian army was: after all, it was marching through a subject-state of the Empire and quickly over-taken by riders, sailors, and signals from those loyal to King Ralish. Now the head of a messenger looked up with frozen eyes, waiting to be discovered. A good part of the spine was still affixed, and on the bones running down it were cuneiform notches in the Alshorian tongue. Traitors Prosper Thusly.

Some yards distant, more flesh, an unrecognisable lump wrapped in Osteian cloth. Written in the blood of the victim Woe to the Conquered. Then, just in sight, another sad item, a foot with another message of the sort.

In fact, running back across the border was a line of body-parts, messengers well and truly shot for bringing unfavourable information. The trail headed into the Empire-proper, along a track that ran around the foot of a wooded hill and off into the distance.

In that woodland, imperial soldiers mustered, sheltering under the canopy and eating cold soup and bread, lighting no fires. Behind the hill, many more soldiers living similarly.

Close by, in Osteia, Alshorian temples continued to serve as centres of espionage, collecting and dispatching information on the movement of Osteian nobles and armies.

OOC: Is this reallydrunk?

these events, also, were reported to the wide spread and highly decentralised spy network of the House of Shadows. the implications were significant, in many ways.

Hera Lonphel medJustik, Darkz Mistress within the house of shadows, member of the yeHigh Kort of the moon, and innkeeper in Apollo, made a decision.

messages were sent to the other memebers, and contingencys kicked into effect.

Hera would offer her services, and those of her network, in the aid of Osteia's fight. well, untill such a point as doing so would be disadvantagious to Angermanland, of course.

and with this initiation went requests for all pertinant information. at roughly the same time, Zenkath was initiating his own plans through the same network, and agents in the Ralish capital were sending reports of the demise of the Caladonnian ambasidor.

the resulting storm of information and messeges making their way around the continent came dangerously close to being observable.

of course, there was the inevitable delays as there were several days travel time, at best, between one significant node and the next in the network. never the less, actions began to be taken.

more imidiatly relivant, so far as the Osteian military was concerned, was the sudden appearance, in their commander's tent, of a 25 year old woman, dressed as a fairly ordinary bourgher, a man of similar age who appeared to be a mid ranking member of a wealthy house, and a... slightly disturbing man who's eyes seemed to watch.... everything.

no one would acknowledge having seen them arrive, even if one found it nessisary to ask.

"Lord." the woman spoke, before any other had an opertunity to even react. "the Fates have deemed, it would seem, that you recieve our aid. the House of Shadows is at your disposal."

OOC: Sorry, i was REALLY busy with work...catch up time...i will be posting soon, my last posts were rushed.....

And yes Blackhelm, this is reallydrunk.

OOC: I have taken the liberty to write about some ~20,000 Madnestians serving in the Ralish Imperial Army all around the Empire. If it's ok with everyone, I'd like to get involved with this Ostian Rebellion-conflict with few thousands of men that are part of Empire's forces, as I can't RP Madnestan as a nation yet (since it really isn't one ATM, just a big group of clans and tribes).
Because of that, I write them to be sort of a "rapid deployment force" that is stationed along the borders but quickly sent whenever it seems like there could be a conflict or rebellion coming so that I could get to play with them a bit before coming up with a character strong enough to unite the country.
I know I have taken quite of a liberty with this, so if it isn't ok with Ralish, I will naturally delete this post and edit my factbook.

IC:

"Ghürran, Ghürran, Sumadara Ghürran..."

Deep, dark voices of almost 1,600 marching Madnestians echoed through the forest near the Ostian border. These men were coming from the Empire's Northern border, where they had been stationed, and had marched as quickly as humanly possible. These feared warriors, "The Wolfmen of The Eastern Mountains" formed together with the local Alshorian Guard detachments the tough core of the forces that were now deployed to counter the threat that this silly little lord of that silly little peninsula possessed.

"Blood, Blood, Blood of The Enemy..."

Warchief Serim of The Seven Hawks clan, leader of this mercenary battalion, rode few dozen metres ahead of his marching column, and was the first one to move to the top of a small hill. Once there he suddenly stopped, raised his two-bladed battleaxe and swung it high in the air, roaring to the other side of the hill;

"GRATA JIGARAI HAWAAA!",
the traditional greeting of Madnestian warriors in the campaign. The translation went something like "Nice to kill with you!".

His men behind him fastened their march, singing even louder, for they knew that they had finally reached their destination.
From the woods behind the hill marched dozens of men, their brothers from other two battalions that were already there, singing and greeting them. They were guarding the road that Serim's unit was moving along, and told that the camp was only some five kilometres from here, but that there would be several improvised watchtowers and guard groups between it and this hill.

Warchief Serim nodded expressionless, but smiled in his mind. The camp was well protected. A good sign. It told that the Ralish were serious about this.

As the unit started to march again, Serim sung even louder than before.

"Ghürran, Ghürran, Sumadara Ghürran..."

It seemed like they would soon get what the ancient song asked for.

OOC: Sorry, i was REALLY busy with work...catch up time...i will be posting soon, my last posts were rushed.....

And yes Blackhelm, this is reallydrunk.

O man! Whats up dude!

O man! Whats up dude!
Please go away. This is not the right thread for your chatting. We have a RP going on here.

A Caladonnian longboat has arrived on the coast of northern Osteia, bearing a Praetor wishing to speak with the Osteian leader.

OOC: Oh, it was fine, he's an old friend..Blackhelm/Exponent :) umm..where can we chat?"

Scouts had brought word back to the Osteian side of the border that a very large force was approaching the line and many 3 messengers did not report, the Osteians had lots of time to prepare and had various defences in place along with afew surprizes in store. Lord Locke stood in his command tent with the other lords and some officers, upon hearing voices he looked up,

"Who the hell, and how the hell did you get in here!" Lord Baxter shouted..

Lord Locke turned around and slowly lifted his sword from the wooden table,

"Baxter, did you hear them..they offer assistance from the house of shadows?, do tell us miss, what is it that you offer...we have just realized that we are in a serious situation..i have heard rumors about this house of shadows from the Angerman lands correct?...none that ever sounded to be true, didn't you know my fellow lords that can make themselves invisible to others!"

The other Lords eyes darted from the man to the woman, no one could figure out HOW they got passed the sentrys at the door without being stopped....

____________________________
Town of Vasilla:

Lord Christian and his soldiers rode into the town of Vasilla, night had fallen and the moon shone brightly in the sky,

"We take up position in that barn, i will be staying in the inn...sergent, move your men there now"

"M'lord!"

The Sergent signaled the men to follow and the rode off towards the barn while Lord Christian cantered towards the inn. After he arrived he dismounted and went inside removing his helm,

"Clerk, your best room..."

He poured some gold coins from a leather bag and the man behind the counter quickly scouped them up,

"Yes M'lord.."

ooc: dig up the old planning thread, or use pms or telegrams. there is a link to the planning thread in my fact book if you have lost it. oh, and there are two men there. both of whom the reader has met before.

IC: "how is not important, as it works to your advantage. as for who... now, why would i tell you that? know simply that i am in a position to offer you aid and assistance, such as is within my power at any given moment, and advances the goals of my people. which, for now, is anything which advances your own, for the two run in parallel. i am, however, slightly surprised that you have heard of us, Lord Locke. unsubstantiated rumor exagerated into fact by way of time, distance and the retelling, i hope. or perhaps previous contact with one of my peers. 'else there are going to be some rather... significant changes to our orginization. hopefully it will not come to that.

at any rate, the nature of our aid is simple. ask, and we shall deliver. information, subtle tampering, a knife in the dark of the night, propaganda, rebellions, poisons... our talents are many, though we tend towards the more... passive... of them when possible.

ask not how you shall contact us, for we can Always contact you, and would come close to always knowing when you wished our aid, if not exactly what for.

as i am sure you have realised... the Ralish shall not accept your terms, and have infact murdered both your messengers, and their own who brought such news, scattering their dismembered remains along the path to the capital, and your border there. the remains have been desecrated further, for they have messages engraved upon them and writen in blood.

i suspect you wish to retaliate some how... if you simply give up, you are not the men i and my siblings had thought, andy our knowledge of who and what i am becomes a significant liabilty, of the sort most dangerous to your continued existance.

A Caladonnian longboat has arrived on the coast of northern Osteia, bearing a Praetor wishing to speak with the Osteian leader.

OOC: Osteia has no leader....the only people of power are the remaining lords to the south who will not follow Locke yet. But sence you have landed on the northern coast you will be met by people that are loyal to Locke and what he's doing. I gave you four horses Caladonn because i figured you wanted to bring some guards....? was it enough?

The longboat was spotted by a group of cavelry doing a routine patrol of the coastline,

"Sergent! there, a boat comming in on the beach!"

The sergent raised his hand in the air then dropped it signaling his men to gallop full speed towards the people. Once the request had been made that the visiting delegate wish to speak with the Osteian leader it was explained that Reginald Locke was leading the revolution against The Ralish Empire and had took an army to the border,

"Come! we will take you to the camp, you four! dismount and proceed to Castle Locke and get new horses then report back to the border, quickly now"

Castle Locke was six miles away from the coast, the cavelry men started walking as the others took off full speed. The patrol knew of the forces massing to fight them, if Caladonn had come they may offer support....

ooc: dig up the old planning thread, or use pms or telegrams. there is a link to the planning thread in my fact book if you have lost it. oh, and there are two men there. both of whom the reader has met before.

IC: "how is not important, as it works to your advantage. as for who... now, why would i tell you that? know simply that i am in a position to offer you aid and assistance, such as is within my power at any given moment, and advances the goals of my people. which, for now, is anything which advances your own, for the two run in parallel. i am, however, slightly surprised that you have heard of us, Lord Locke. unsubstantiated rumor exagerated into fact by way of time, distance and the retelling, i hope. or perhaps previous contact with one of my peers. 'else there are going to be some rather... significant changes to our orginization. hopefully it will not come to that.

at any rate, the nature of our aid is simple. ask, and we shall deliver. information, subtle tampering, a knife in the dark of the night, propaganda, rebellions, poisons... our talents are many, though we tend towards the more... passive... of them when possible.

ask not how you shall contact us, for we can Always contact you, and would come close to always knowing when you wished our aid, if not exactly what for.

as i am sure you have realised... the Ralish shall not accept your terms, and have infact murdered both your messengers, and their own who brought such news, scattering their dismembered remains along the path to the capital, and your border there. the remains have been desecrated further, for they have messages engraved upon them and writen in blood.

i suspect you wish to retaliate some how... if you simply give up, you are not the men i and my siblings had thought, andy our knowledge of who and what i am becomes a significant liabilty, of the sort most dangerous to your continued existance.

The Osteian Lords stood there giving the visitors their full attention, when the one who had the floor was done speaking lord Baxter spoke

"How can we be sure you do not work for them, and your intentions are against us...trickery"

Lord Locke placed the sword back on the table,

"Officers, leave us..nothing of this conversation leaves this room"

"M'Lord" they all said one by one and left the tent...

"I swear on my familys bloodline i myself will never back down to them!"

Locke looked right into the eyes of the visitor who was speaking, one by one the other lords agreed,

"We do require your assistance and any services you may provide, we have somthing planned and it will make our point VERY CLEAR while you handle things behind..the lines.."

"We are outnumbered, but we are not fighting simply because some one tells us too..each and every one of our men believe in our cause and will fight and die ...they will take as many as they can down with them...till their dying breath..! now.....we need to spark this.."

Lord Baxter stepped foward,

"We may be able to get our terms accepted! we must talk!"

Locke turned around,

"IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY WHY DON'T YOU TURN TAIL AND RUN TO THE SOUTH!"

Baxter opened his mouth to argue but closed it quickly...

"Any ideas on how to get them going?"

"Oh, and Lord Mcdonald..if you could bring up the nessasary peices of equipment?"

"It would be my pleasure.."

Lord Mcdonald left the tent quickly moving past wooden wagons carrying supplys, outside the stars shimmered in the night sky....

"we can cause problems and disruptions and bring you information... but one cannot always garantee the consequenses of such actions. admitedly we are better than most, but there is always an uncertainty when one starts things at such a low level as we tend to.

Lord Baxter is right to distrust us actually... if it ever did advance our goals, we'd work against you as easily as for you. however, i can say with absolute certainty, our goals do Not include helping the Ralish. but be warned, my siblings and i arn't too fond of huge empires. your plans are for your own independance, yes? this we shall help you with, and any damage done to the Ralish in the process is to the good.

should you seek to Replace them, rather than remove them, however, you shall find that our goals no longer coencide.

i would expect, apon looking at the maps we have available, that the first thing you should do is punch north untill your borders meet those of Terra Incognitia. there are significant mountain fastnesses in the way, unfortunatly, but their ability to do much beyond impead your progress if you try to go Through them, should be limited.

i would suggest swinging your main forces around as you advance, so that the new border faces north east, and then send a secondary force, or perhaps encorage the other nations bordering the area, to take the Ralish lands to the west.

this imidate action may lose you a small portion of your eastern lands, temporaraly... that part to the very east, see? but you will gain much to the north, and be in a stronger position, as well as having degnied the empire everything west of you.... assuming you can gather the aid you need to perpitrate such acts.

infact, it might be best to take that border yourself, Then have those nations take the land to the west, rather than acting simultaniously, as this could well allow them to take it without actually officaily going to war themselves, thus preserving their strength.

skillful politics on your part are going to be as important as military might in this task....

i hope you are up to the job."

The Imperial forces on the Osteian frontier had observed the curiosity of outsiders, picking over the trail of bodyparts that, if one were highly optimistic, have lead the slovenly rebels to wander into a trap. As this was clearly not going to happen, the silence of the operation began to fall away, replaced by Alshorian thunder and lightning.

Suspicious travellers were now subject to the most intense scrutiny, men from the Rus standing-out most blatantly, especially as they observed troop movements and examined dismembered messengers. Travelling across hundreds of miles of Empire, such people would find their profession increasingly dangerous, as militias became suddenly more keen to investigate their activities. "What, by Alshor, are you doing so far from home? Rustican, isn't it? No merchant, you, without a caravan! A spy on the frontier, is it?" [Thump!]

Most likely, the Angerji didn't care to be called Rustican, for that was an idly-applied generic term in the Empire for anyone immediately north of Aridiris, and made no distinction for sub-groupings within that vast range.

Near the Ostein border, Warchief Serim likely found himself amongst the highest ranking Imperials. The militias had nobody beyond sergeants of local constabularies, and only 800 Guardsmen were attending.

Of these 800, only 600 were really Alshorian. The rest were born to Alshorian parents who'd migrated to this part of the Empire. Ethnically they were 100% Alshorian, but the Empire's religion cast a shadow over the extra-Alshorian off-spring. They were only recruited to fill minimum quotas... but, in truth, they were every bit as dedicated and skilled as the Alshorians... why should they not be?

Still waiting for details from Azaria, nobody knew who was in charge, and Serim's word probably, for now, carried as much weight as anyone else's, since he controlled 2/3rds of the professional troops on hand!

OOC: Osteia has no leader....the only people of power are the remaining lords to the south who will not follow Locke yet. But sence you have landed on the northern coast you will be met by people that are loyal to Locke and what he's doing. I gave you four horses Caladonn because i figured you wanted to bring some guards....? was it enough?

The longboat was spotted by a group of cavelry doing a routine patrol of the coastline,

"Sergent! there, a boat comming in on the beach!"

The sergent raised his hand in the air then dropped it signaling his men to gallop full speed towards the people. Once the request had been made that the visiting delegate wish to speak with the Osteian leader it was explained that Reginald Locke was leading the revolution against The Ralish Empire and had took an army to the border,

"Come! we will take you to the camp, you four! dismount and proceed to Castle Locke and get new horses then report back to the border, quickly now"

Castle Locke was six miles away from the coast, the cavelry men started walking as the others took off full speed. The patrol knew of the forces massing to fight them, if Caladonn had come they may offer support....
OOC: I know, but the concept of disunited lords is pretty alien to the Caladonnians...

IC: The Praetor quickly agreed to the cavalryman's request. He picked three trusted companions, and they mounted, albiet clumsily. Cavalry was practically unkown in the martime fastness of Caladonn. The Praetor was eager to meet with this Lord Locke, hopefully he could provide military and diplomatic support enough to give the Osteian rebels the full support of their countrymen... though Caladonn would soon be engaged in the north militarily, no doubt he could convince the Imperial Senate to send a small fleet to aid Osteia.

Lord Locke listened carefully then replyed,

"I am up to the task, it's not going to be an easy one but anythings better than living under someone else..we are not going for a large and vast empire, we just want to be united and free..."

"I will have my forces all get into formation now, we must fight! let the damned cowards cross and face us after we rain hell down on them.."

"Captian! move the trebuchets and Catapults foward, we are going to start a fight!"

After a captian poked his head in the door and heard his orders he quickly left,

"M'Lord!"

All the troops started falling into position, Cavelry and heavy cavelry cantered by as infantry and longbowmen went to their ranks. Once the artillary was all in postion, the Osteian battleflag was raised high in the air, Lord Locke looked at everyone in the tent,

"Lets go..."

One by one they filed out, Locke stopped and nodded to the House of Shadows spys,

"Help me, i will help you..." he placed his helmet on and left....

Outside troops moved quickly to get into all their spots, Lord Locke climbed on top of his horse watching the army prepare to fight. Lord Baxter rode up to him and spoke,

"I trust in you Locke...everyone else seems to"

"Thank you, now...if these cowards don't march out to meet us it says somthing about them..doesn't it now.."

"Aye, im going to join my men.."

Locke nodded and watched the colourful knight ride off, slowly he moved his horse out infront of his ranks,

"Fire!!!" he shouted..

One by one all the artillary peices fired lobbing projectiles towards the enemy forces, some peices were heated shot...

_______________________________________

The cavlery quickly moved with the visitors from Caladonn behind them, the ground was soaking wet and water shot up as the horses sped through the countryside full tilt. On the way Lord Christian was spotted galloping full speed back towards the front with heavy cavelry and cavelry behind him, behind them another lord from the south marched a fair distance behind, the banner described him as Count Deville, that still ment 3 lords in the south still would not join the fight and it would probably stay that way.

OOC: We are calling you out Ralish/Madestan....

ooc: technicly, even when used on the feild, those are seige weapons, not artillary. just an fyi.

IC: Hera and her companions left much as they had arived. there was work to be done, and mischife to cause. this was, after all, what they did.

the first order of business would be, like as not, the nation to the north... perhaps they could throw the ralish out of the mountains.. if not, they could at least take the lands to the west.

Certainly the birds were gathering in the sky over a great hulking Empire. But, thus far, no beast had drawn blood, and the Empire remained in posession of all its fangs and claws. Until something happened to wear it down, the Eternal Alshorian Empire had the means to raise armies of impressive scale.

One of the dirty birds had to strike before all starved, and, it seemed, the Osteian crow would be first.

The Alshorians had watched the erection of artillery, and wondered at its purpose. Huge trebuchets and the like were hardly mobile.

"They want to smoke us out, brothers. Shall we go?"

The question from an officer was, to all intents and purposes, a call to advance, at least in the Ralish ear. A few horns blew, and a slack drum was struck to an eastern beat. Shrill, throaty woodwind and piercing metal whistles joined in, here and there, and skirmishers started to appear from the treeline to advance down the face of the foothills.

Guardsmen went with the rabble, 200 of them spread through the ranks, assured to stand until death and provide a visible stoicism upon which to anchor the lesser troops. The Ralish began to make southwest, towards the enemy's left flank as he saw it, aware that turning a trebuchet wasn't the easiest thing in the world and concerned for the moral of the part-time soldiers in their ranks.

Probably more than two thousand were marching, not in very good order. A lot had shields, variously of wood, leather, and wicker, the Guardsmen having far more metal on their persons. Most in the untidy front rank and up the flanks had at least second-hand armour, and some had pole-arms of various types. Amongst the mass were many spearmen. Some had heavily evolved javelins and throwing-arms.

The Madnestanis, apparently, were left to their own devices. Their Warchief, in some measures, outranked anyone in the Imperial force on hand, but rather than address that issue, the Guardsmen thought to allow the barbarians to play themselves as a wildcard.

Over the low foothills at which the Ralish had -in their Imperial might- decided to draw the Osteian border, larger forces mustered. Potential observers were being detained by the militias: anyone who did not hail from the local villages could be identified by... the local villagers, and detained 'for the duration' if they were suspected of even seeing anything (what're they going to do, call the police? Sue? Not this century, in this Empire!). Thousands of men were massing. It was taking time, but this was exactly why the Ralish had delayed in engaging the rebels. They were mustering an army that would, ultimately, be more than twenty thousand strong, over the low hills, and gathering weapons and other resources.

As the two thousand advanced, Alshorian priests in Osteia continued to plead for reason! For faith in King Ralish! "Do not follow the greedy ambitions of the knights! Remember the Empire, your fellow peasants from here to Tudkaha! Think of the temple, the spices on your dinner, the opiates you smoke! Think of the roads on which you travel! These are the results of your tax money! Now, think on Osteia alone, fighting the Alshorian Empire! Your taxes will buy nought but swords for your sons! War will be your home, not roads and luxuries from the east!"

A convincing case? To fight the Empire, taxes must increase... but import of luxuries will crash. Do you want your son to fight Alshor, or do you want him to work in the mine and bring home a coin or two to season your meat with exotic spices? It makes sense to the nobility, but to the masses? Who can connect best, the nobles, or the priests?

Lord Locke nodded to one of his officers and watched the enemy soldiers advance across the field on their flank,

"Raise the blue flag, they are comming on our flank...the easist way they seen possible! archers!"

My plan has worked.. thought Locke...

Slowly as the troops advanced across the field Ostiean longbows came over the hill but still held their fire untill the enemys bulk of forces just crossed over the border then all of a sudden the front line of Osteian longbows stepped aside allowing others with arrows on fire to step through,

"FIRE 1!" the blue flag was swung back and fourth...

A massed volley of fire arrows flew through the sky, as the arrows hit the ground the oil that had been poured all along this section of the border ignited into flames dividing and lighting men on fire and their screams echoed through the air,

"Fire two!" a red flag was raised and swung back and fourth...

Massed Osteian archers fired their longbows into the divided ranks,

"I would have moved on the flank with artillary pieces aswell...keep it on them and prepare for another attack"

"M'lord" an officer replyed not taking his eyes from the scene..

Another Officer approached,

"M'lord, Preists within our borders are speaking against the nobles...pleading with the people to go against us"

"Hah..windbags...round them up and have them returned to THEIR LANDS"

"M'lord" the officer rode off....

Shortly after a group of Osteian cavelry was dispatched to round up all the preists without causing them harm, they would be sent back across the border.

OOC: The artillary was to draw you in, i had the plan set up all along the front where we were postioned to fight...and..it worked :)

As the group neared the sound of screams could be heard, as could roaring fire?,

"It's just up here!"

The group rode past infantry and cavelry soldiers preparing themselves behind the hills,

"There! thats our Lord Locke! he's in command!"

The group rode up to Lord Locke who was on horseback, he slowly turned around face covered by templar helm,

"What is it Lt?"

"Sir! these are messengers from the great Caladonn...they wished to speak with our leader"

"Very good Lt, cavelry retire..."

"Retire!"

As the group was about to ride off the Lt looked down at the field, then to Locke and the Caladonn repersenitives, after he nodded the cavelry rode over the hill,

"I am Lord Reginald Locke, commander of this army...how can i help you sirs?"

As the group neared the sound of screams could be heard, as could roaring fire?,

"It's just up here!"

The group rode past infantry and cavelry soldiers preparing themselves behind the hills,

"There! thats our Lord Locke! he's in command!"

The group rode up to Lord Locke who was on horseback, he slowly turned around face covered by templar helm,

"What is it Lt?"

"Sir! these are messengers from the great Caladonn...they wished to speak with our leader"

"Very good Lt, cavelry retire..."

"Retire!"

As the group was about to ride off the Lt looked down at the field, then to Locke and the Caladonn repersenitives, after he nodded the cavelry rode over the hill,

"I am Lord Reginald Locke, commander of this army...how can i help you sirs?"
"Greetings, I have come from Caladonn to negotiate an alliance and mutual support between us in our war against the vile Ralish. Caladonn is willing to offer you naval and diplomatic support, as well as other things you may require.

For the moment, however, it appears we are engaged in battle. Would you mind if my men and I join you, when the enemy approaches? My companions and I are good shots with the longbow, and can fight in the shield wall as well as any man. I understand that you Osteians fight from horseback, but we prefer to do so from foot."

Lord Locke nodded,

"Many thanks, we can honestly use all the help we are able to get"

Lord Locke glanced down at the fires burning the men alive, meanwhile hundreds of other arrows were loose flying through the air mass murdering their targets,

"Yes, it seems were are in battle...you are welcome to join, i would expect they will send another group or turn tail and run..and..did you happen to see another Osteian army approaching on your way in..?"

Locke grinned behind his helmet,

"Aye us Osteians do ride, but today sence we have gained a new friendship i will join the infantry on the field, fighting beside you and your men..your bows are welcome to take up any postion they wish"

The Osteian infantry finished falling into their formations behind the hill, Osteian heavy cavelry with their long sharp lances rode past headed for their spot.

The cavelry was already in postion awaiting orders, Locke was waiting for his entire army to arrive before he moved, untill then he was hoping to hold off the enemy at the border.

amongst the Ralish army... those of them not currently rything in screaming, burning heaps upon the feild of battle, men in Hera's employ (ordinary soldiers of the normal type, all) made sure the information spread through the army.

exagerating the horrer of death by burning, as if it weren't bad enough already, enlarging on the number of troops available to the Osteians, wondering as tot he likelyhood of the nations to the north causing problems, implying that the were as likely to attack them as the enemy... anything that would cause problems.

some minutes passed...

and then a fire started amongst the Ralish army's supplies. more operatives at work, again, ordinary citizens or soldiers with the fortune to be asigned to guard them, and the belief they could escape in the ensuing confusion were responsible.

this information too, was spread as quickly as possible through the army.

Locke watched from the hill joined by some of his officers, there was a fire in the distance, black smome rose in the air,

"Sir, there...smoke rising in the distance.."

Locke smiled behind his helmets cover,

I wonder what could have caused that..

"Have our trebuchets fire at their center, split their formed ranks, have our catapults fire at their sides giving them limited options when it comes to where they can run.."

"M'lord!"

More catapults were brought foward on the Osteian flanks. After the few minutes it took to get them firing ready the order was given,

"FIRE!"

The artillary rained hell on it's new targets with the hope of breaking the enemy lines and causing complete and utter chaos..

All seemed to be going well as the heated shots exploded in flames...

OOC: Well done angerman, an army can't fight or move without supplys and a full belly. I have had time to plan how i wanted to carry this action out, i still have some things in store...my men were here before The Ralish's therefore had time to make the nessasary actions to put up a good defence.

Osteia

The King Ralish VII Temple in western Osteia was quite typical. Named for an early king in the formative days of Empire, before Osteia was ever annexed, it was kept by one old priest and two juniors, helped-out by two infant boys likely to end-up priests themselves. When soldiers came to evict them, the Alshorians appealed again to the faithful, to any and all converts made in the generations during which Ralish authority existed over this land. The elderly priest challenged the intruders to question their orders or knock-down an old man of the golden faith. Behind him, a little bronze item, shaped not unlike a weather vain but kept in the still air of the temple, began to rotate, turning faster and faster without being touched by hand or wind, until it was spinning quickly enough to blur before the eye and a high-pitched continuous whistling filled the temple. A shaft of sunlight, coming through one of the carefully positioned windows and always, by virtue of a polished metal mirror, landing upon the spinning object, seemed to be flung wildly about the room by this holy trinket, and the golden walls danced with points of light.

"Alshor denounces this sacrilege!" Cried the old priest.

The two young priests would fight with skills learned by the Empire during its wide-ranging expansions and honed into a true martial art, being employed partly to defend the temple's treasures against bandits. But, against soldiers, they would fight first in hopes of driving them back, and then, if compelled by deadly force, only to defend the temple's doorway until those treasures could be smuggled out through passageways and false walls or, failing the opportunity for such escape, smashed and set to burn.

To the north

The Ralish, having not marched their army anywhere, as yet, were not immediately concerned by the situation of supply, and, besides, a vast imperial road right behind them was lined with protected granaries. Precious little material damage was done by fires in the rear, but there was no mistaking the negative emotional impact.

And the relative insignificance of the act in material terms wouldn't save anyone who was captured on suspicion of sabotage. It was an Imperial-level crime, and death by torture would be proper.

Forward, the contingent sent towards the enemy's left flank was more hurt by that fire. But there is only so much oil to be had, and lying for so long across such a large area of land at the bottom of hills down which water was inclined to run, the ferocity and reliability of the blaze was not all that one might have hoped for.

Still, men were injured by fire, heat, and smoke, and much distracted by these things as more conventional arrows descended upon them. The Guardsmen were struggling to convince their lesser peers to hold steady: one man would see another using his spear as a crutch as he scrambled back towards the foothills, whimpering in pain or coughing and spluttering uncontrollably, and would look around to see if this was an isolated condition. His eyes stung by smoke that reduced visibility even further than would be usual in such a crowd of men, he would be unable to see that, down the line, Guardsmen were keeping good order. It was down to each man to gamble on whether or not his comrades a few dozen, a few hundred yards away were standing like him or staggering back in pain like the man he'd just seen pass by, and to decide whether to press on or make a break for it.

Perhaps half decided to stay, half not to gamble and instead to run... but their flight in turn allowed the others to rethink perhaps I miss my guess! The ranks ARE breaking!

Soon, all but the two hundred Guardsmen and as many men as they could physically hold on to were running back towards the wooded slopes from whence they'd come, some members of the Alshorian Imperial faith believing that the fire was a bad omen from the very hide of the Empire. Several dozen men were dead or breathing their life's last, and more than a hundred were lying or crawling about, hit by arrows, burned about the legs, coughing violently, or even crushed in the stampeed as a good fifteen hundred ran and limped back north, leaving just two or three hundred men in good armour and new-found isolation. The only difficulty for the trebuchets would be that so few men remained as to present a smaller and more nimble target!

The Guardsmen tried to press on, some shouting that they must meet any fast forces sent to run-down their comrades, and make the fleeing men see that the battle was not lost.

Madnestians, those 1,600 that were part of Warchief Serim's original battalion and about 150 from a separate company that had been in the camp before their arrival, had stood in the treeline behind the advancing Alshorians. These warriors were bloodthirsty, and extremely eager to storm the ranks of Osteians that were clearly visible on the hill. Warchief, however, had ordered them to halt and wait. He had a good instinct in the matters of war, and something told him that everything wasn't like it seemed to be. His warnings to the Guardsmen hadn't found many listeners, and he didn't press the matter, as he didn't want to look like a coward to them.
Now, the burning militiamen told him and his fierce fighters that he had been right, and had his raising and culture allowed, he would have smiled in a self-satisfied manner.

However, the clever oil trap hadn't been as effective as it had first looked like. Losses weren't unstandable, and a disciplined force would have stood it with relative ease. Unfortunately this was not the case with these pathetic, soft peasant soldiers that the brave Guardsmen were trying to encourage. Madnestian Wolfmen despised the common levy soldiers of the Empire, but even they had to respect the ferocity of the Imperial Guardsmen. These elite fighters were now left alone against the Ostian ranks, as the rest of the army fell back in panic behind them.

Serim glanced at his men standing besides him. Their faces were emotionless, but he could read their body language. They were struggling with themselves, to not to charge forward at that very moment.

Warchief raised his axe.

"FORWARD! KILL EVERYONE THAT TRIES TO STOP YOU, AND DON'T STOP BEFORE WE'RE ON THAT HILL!"

With this, the long line of 1,750 bearded, heavily armed 6 feet tall warriors rushed straight towards the retreating peasants, swinging their massive two-handed weapons high in the air, roaring in deep, thundering voice. The peasants slowed down, facing a rather interresting situation:
if they'd return to the hill, they would have to fight the Ostians and risk their lives.

If they would continue running, they would certainly be grinded down within minutes by the rapidly approaching wall of huge barbarians and their thirsty blades.

Their response was rather obvious.

Locke watched from the hill then gave a new order,

I think not, reinforcements..hah..

"Left flank in, right flank in, cavelry up the middle..."

"M'lord!" exclaimed a young officer

He deliverd the message to two officers who rode off, one to the right, one to the left, two green flags were raised in the air...

Heavy cavelry rushed out of the trees on the left flank, heavy cavelry rushed over a hill to the right charging at the enemy, from the middle a mass of cavelry rushed over the hill full speed at the guardsmen,

"Infantry support up the middle, move now.."

"M'lord"

The officer relayed the message to an infantry commander who raised a light blue flag, Osteian infantry moved foward behind the cavelry,

"Heavy artillary support, full bombardment on their main force...commence!"

"Commence full bombardment!" a purple flag was raised high in the air...

All artillary fire was concentraited on their main force, the heavy horse on the left flank crashed into the advancing guardsmen trampeling them into the ground.....

"Archers advance fire for effect"

"M'lord!"

A green flag outlined in gold was raised and the Osteian longbows advanced further down the hill then stopped at a better firing position,

"Main force, let them have it men! COMMENCE FIRING!"

Every Osteian archer that could fit into formation on the Osteian side of the border opened fire in the direction of the enemy main visible force, they had moved foward to gain better range and were prepared to stop firing only when the two armys were completely locked in combat.....

"Reserves!" Locke shouted...

A black flag was raised...

A large group of infantry soldiers advanced from more groups formed up ready to enter the action, but held position on the top of the hills and on both flanks. More heavy cavlery and cavelry reserves fell into position on the flanks. Locke watched his heavy cavelry in action, truly impressive, it was rumored that the Ostieans were the best mounted warriors known to man, as the riders got closer some were slightly intimidated by the new arrivals but as they got closer and closer slowly lowering their massive lances then..CONTACT, the charging enemy was moving fast and showed no signs of slowing as the cavelry faught on stomping and trampling them cutting through them like a knife in butter...

The Osteians knew that if they did not win this battle here today each and every one of them would face the courts and be tryed as a rebel within The Ralish's empire..that ment death, they faught for their lives, their freedom and respect.

Lord Locke nodded,

"Many thanks, we can honestly use all the help we are able to get"

Lord Locke glanced down at the fires burning the men alive, meanwhile hundreds of other arrows were loose flying through the air mass murdering their targets,

"Yes, it seems were are in battle...you are welcome to join, i would expect they will send another group or turn tail and run..and..did you happen to see another Osteian army approaching on your way in..?"

Locke grinned behind his helmet,

"Aye us Osteians do ride, but today sence we have gained a new friendship i will join the infantry on the field, fighting beside you and your men..your bows are welcome to take up any postion they wish"

The Osteian infantry finished falling into their formations behind the hill, Osteian heavy cavelry with their long sharp lances rode past headed for their spot.

The cavelry was already in postion awaiting orders, Locke was waiting for his entire army to arrive before he moved, untill then he was hoping to hold off the enemy at the border.
"I would not waste a chance to fight the insidious and vile Alshorians, as well as their barbaric minions the Madnestanians, you can be sure of that.

In fact, I did see an Osteian Lord with some troops moving in this direction... hopefully he should arrive in time for the battle.

My Lord, I would not presume to keep you from your position in the saddle- it is well known that Osteian knights are some of the best fighting machines known to man, and if you wish to fight on horseback I will not keep it from you. For now, I will join the Longbowmen, and when your infantry advance me and my men will be with them.

For now, my Lord, I bid you farewell, and congratulate you on a battle perfectly executed so far."

The Praetor and his men ran off to join the Longbowmen, pulling out their Longbows and joining the massed ranks to fire at the enemy.

Proconsul Niamar Kvarnes stepped ashore on the clean white beach of northern Osteia. Behind him, against the backdrop of the clear grey ocean, were 50 ships- 20 from the Caladonnian navy, and 30 additional trading cogs comandeered to bring the expeditionary force to Osteia.

The Praetor sent to Osteia was despatched before the Imperial Senate really knew that the Ralish and Caladonn were at war; his was mainly a diplomatic mission. However, when the death of the diplomat sent to the Ralish was confirmed, the Imperial Senate realized that, for probably the first time, events far away in the Mediterranean Sea would play a decisive impact on Caladonn. Thus, the Senate voted to despatch a 4,000-man expeditionary force, along with the distinguished general Kvarnes, to aid their new allies the Osteians.

Kvarnes raised his hand, and a herald nearby blew his trumpet, sending a clear ringing note over the massed ranks of infantry and longbowmen mustering on the beach. The last of the troops disembarked and were formed up, and the fifes began playing as the column moved inland, for Caladonn and Osteia.

The retreating men went pale on seeing the Madnestians falling down upon them.

"Reserves!" some shouted, taking heart and turning around to join the rush, upping its numbers past two thousand.

"What of it?" asked others "Alshor does not approve of this war! The earth burns us!" and they tried, hopelessly, to escape by the sides. Still others, having made it above the smoke and now able to look down from the hills, saw that the Guardsmen were standing. With the Madnestians charging, this changed everything. Perhaps a thousand turned back, five hundred still too shocked or afraid to do anything but run and face being cut-down by their own side. They were too scared to offer any opposition, and did not hurt the mercenaries at all.

So, just over two thousand were advancing when the rebel cavalry moved in.

The Guardsmen, only two hundred strong plus one hundred worried auxiliaries, crouched down in a square. From their shoulders they dropped large baskets, three or four feet tall and thick with supplies. These stood on short legs as palisades! Behind them, the Guardsmen braced with long spears ready, the perfect opponent to cavalry... it made sense, for the Guardsmen were an infantry force, of course they should be prepared to face their natural foe!

The basket palisades were obstacle enough to cause many horses to refuse, draw-up short, where upon the remaining auxiliaries would toss javelins from inside the square. The Guardsmen stood firm, closing their formation a little each time a man fell to bow-fire. These men had fought phalanx in Agentia, and picked-up their ideas, and this was a continuous wall of long spears against mounted assault.

Effective, but outnumbered and hurt by the longbows, until the Madnestians began to arrive.

Then, on the foothills at which the Ralish had chosen to draw their border, more men began to appear. The vast Alshorian reserve was moving up. The Madnestians had, if nothing else, stopped the fleeing of the skirmishers who may, on another day, have caused panic in the reserve. Today, no fleeing men made it so far back, for the mercenaries stopped them dead. The reserve was in fine spirits, and appearing in massive quantity, a line hundreds of yards wide.

But, 80% of the Ralish army was yet uncommited to the fight. The Osteian horsemen were engaged with 200 Guardsmen and the Madnesians, plus the retreating men they'd managed to turn around, not with the 18,000 bulk of the Imperial army.

As the enemy cavalry closed on the Guardsmen, and the longbows ceased fire, the Ralish began an advance, again on the left flank of the enemy. 2,000 more men followed the faster-moving Madnestians, a rabble of militia and part-time men-at-arms. The enemy cavalry must be bogged-down, and the enemy archers prevented from firing on their own bogged-down men.

Alshor

He did not yet know it, but King Ralish was moments away from being convinced to send a substantial bounty in gold to the Madnestians. These barbarians, he would be told, were the world's noble savages, not like the piratical barbarians of the west. Madnestan, for the helpful attitude of its peoples, stood to profit like a province of the Empire... without the taxes.

OOC: A little organized for being in panic yes?.. also my heavy cavelry horses are armored...see page 1 picutres,...also 20,000 men is kinda ridiculous, i wouldn't even have a chance. I think the guardsmen are the only soldiers who could put up a decent fight, after the disastrous annihlation of those 2000 men at this point, and given the low morale and lack of supplys..i think your forces would be ready to break, my troops are better equiped and highly trained, peasents would not stand a chance....PLEASE SEE OOC THREAD FOR DETAILS....

The Ostian cavelry on the left flank seen the guardsmen form their sqaure as they charged towards them, the cavelry commander signaled his flag bearer to break right as he did so the majority of the force followed their commanders signal to break off and go around the square which was a deadly threat, those who did not see the signal crashed into it full speed causing them to be thrown off their horses. The right flank and center cavelry ranks followed by their infantry rushed towards the Madnestians to engauge them, Locke watched from the hill as he seen the assulting force was caused to divert to the sides of the square,

"Order our archers to take out that square NOW!"

"M'lord, we'll hit some of our own men..."

"We must! or we will face defeat...NOW!"

An officer rode off to relay the message to the ranged commander, every archer in sight aimed their bows high...

"Loose!"

Arrows cut through the air straight up then fell towards the guardsmen below,

"Reserves..."

"Which reserves sir.."

"All 1500...now sergent.."

"M'lord"

We are taking this field..

The Osteian infantry reserves moved over the hill quickly towards the battle keeping their ranks, reserve cavelry and heavy cavelry also moved over the hill slowly. The battle raged on and the square was taking extreme heavy fire, the Osteian infantry finally reached the battle behind the cavelry as it clashed with the Madnestian elite warriors, they sliced their way through the mob fighting with every bit of strength and hope of victory they could muster.

Minimal heavy cavelrymen were hit in the archery fire compared to the damage everyone hoped it was inflicting on the square....

Proconsul Niamar Kvarnes stepped ashore on the clean white beach of northern Osteia. Behind him, against the backdrop of the clear grey ocean, were 50 ships- 20 from the Caladonnian navy, and 30 additional trading cogs comandeered to bring the expeditionary force to Osteia.

The Praetor sent to Osteia was despatched before the Imperial Senate really knew that the Ralish and Caladonn were at war; his was mainly a diplomatic mission. However, when the death of the diplomat sent to the Ralish was confirmed, the Imperial Senate realized that, for probably the first time, events far away in the Mediterranean Sea would play a decisive impact on Caladonn. Thus, the Senate voted to despatch a 4,000-man expeditionary force, along with the distinguished general Kvarnes, to aid their new allies the Osteians.

Kvarnes raised his hand, and a herald nearby blew his trumpet, sending a clear ringing note over the massed ranks of infantry and longbowmen mustering on the beach. The last of the troops disembarked and were formed up, and the fifes began playing as the column moved inland, for Caladonn and Osteia.

Lord Christian was riding towards the front when a noise echoed through the air, sounding like soldiers,

"What the hell is that?" he exclaimed...

The twenty mounted soldiers stopped to see a large army of Caladonnians approaching from the coast,

"Come men! they have came to assist us..."

The group rode towards the approaching army to greet them. Word had spread that Osteia was gaining allies against the Vile Ralish Empire, these must of been some of them....

**Bump***

OOC: This has to get cleared up...

The Guardsmen were suffering, the square was soon lost of its peasant centre, and the walls were hurt. Surely many a rebel cavalryman was lost in breaking it, especially as arrows fell, but the square could not hold in isolation forever. It collapsed, having taken however many horsemen with it.

Guardsmen began to run. A rare sight indeed.

But, on the wooded hill, sixteen thousand infantry including six-hundred guardsmen. And, below, whatever the Madenistanis had committed, along with two-thousand local peasants.

Now, seven, eight hundred men were fleeing. The bulk of the Guardsmen, 6 8ths, tried to reassure the rest. This was according to plan: we'd slowed the enemy heavy cavalry, and now the Madenistanis were falling upon them!

20,000 men on the field of battle was easy to the Alshorians. Pressing any victory they may win was another matter, and it occupied all the major forces of Pyrennia and the northern Balkans on-top of anything else.

Most of the Imperials watched the battle unfold, told time and again that it was all according to the plan. They waited, soon to envelope this small rebel army.

Recent reports of enemy activity had been brought fourth to Lord Locke informing him that the enemys army far out numbered his own and therefore he gave the order to retreat back across the border and was done so quietly from behind the front lines to ensure many escaped. All reinforcements were recalled and troops engauged in battle were also given the order to retreat and started falling back towards the fortifyed Osteian line under the cover of artillary and archers...

The battle is yours,.. yes...but...the war is ours..

Locke nodded to the Caladonn offical and soldiers present,

"Meet me at castle Locke...we wil discuss further plans.."

Locke and a long line of officers rode off followed by escorts, Osteian rear guard stayed with the support of artillary and three hundred longbowmen to cover their soldiers escape. All flanks had fallen back and were in full retreat towards castle Locke 6 miles away, the battle was lost but the men believed more than ever in their cause...fellow countrymen did not die for nothing at all on this day.

The sky started to turn the many colours of sun set as the soldiers pulled back over the hills and into the countryside....all along the border the dead and dying lay crying for help..

The retreating soldiers destination....

Castle Locke

Three hundred longbowmen was not enough.

Ten times that, maybe. But three hundred? The Ralish were giving pursuit. Casualties were heavy, and the peasants would have broken. But the rescued Guardsmen and the mercenaries were to move forward.

Follow! Follow the retreating enemy! Give him no respite!

Madnestianians would be urged on, along with the Ralish peasants and the 600 Guardsmen who came down from the hill. The Ralish had committed not even 20% of their force to this battle, and victory was theirs. It was hardly an effort, and word was spread north, east, and west. The Osteians were in full retreat, and the light cavalry went forth to run them down.

Woe to the conquered! Woe!

Hera watched the retreat from a high branch of a high tree. such a shame. interesting that the Ralish were mostly unconcerned by the loss of their supplies. ahh well, she'd just have to make the point clearer.

as the troops charged or flead off the feild of battle, Hera gave orders. such a large force could not be supported, even within it's own lands, by the land in it's imidiate vecinity. true, the loss of the supplies stockpiled may have been no big loss... but they were pushing into hostile territory, now with no supplies but those which were being brought in each day...

if bandits, say, were to waylay those wagons...

Hera's grin was ... predatory, to put it mildly.

the Ralish were in for a fight much harder than they expected.

Three hundred longbowmen was not enough.

Ten times that, maybe. But three hundred? The Ralish were giving pursuit. Casualties were heavy, and the peasants would have broken. But the rescued Guardsmen and the mercenaries were to move forward.

Follow! Follow the retreating enemy! Give him no respite!

Madnestianians would be urged on, along with the Ralish peasants and the 600 Guardsmen who came down from the hill. The Ralish had committed not even 20% of their force to this battle, and victory was theirs. It was hardly an effort, and word was spread north, east, and west. The Osteians were in full retreat, and the light cavalry went forth to run them down.

Woe to the conquered! Woe!

The three hundred longbow men fired steady, there were roughly a little over 200 men still in retreat, the 1500 men of the Osteian rear guard fell into position on the top of the hill preparing to make contact with the enemy. Lord Baxter had stayed and watched all the other lords retreat with their men close behind, the colorful knight drew his sword and turned his horse in a full circle,

"NOT ONE STEP BACK! HOLD THE LINE!"

The enemy soldiers were still some distance away and slowly moved closer...

All the artillary and longbows continued to fire quickly, into the mass of troops moving towards the Osteian border.....

The sky started to get dark....


Night had fallen, Locke and the fastest of the retreating forces arrived back at the castle, as time passed more and more troops showed up flooding through the gates. Locke stood on the ramparts above the first gate,

"Sir, Lord Christian has arrived with 4,000 soldiers from Caladonn, their lead by a man..a..certian Proconsul Niamar Kvarnes, he's located in the main courtyard..."

"Very good...we need to figure out our losses from today, we can only imagine what happened when the enemy forces reached our rear guard and the defending archers..good bless them, we never would have escaped..plus dusk was on our side....

"M'lord, it was lord Baxter who held the line....."

Locke nodded and sighed...

"That will be all, i must meet with this General..."

Osteian forces from the battle continued to stream through the gates....

OOC: I left a line of defence behind, yes i know what will happen to them... their sacrafice was great...but for an even greater cause...

Proconsul Kvarnes met with Lord Locke in the courtyard of the mighty castle. He was greatly impressed by the fortifications- there was nothing of its like in Caladonn, and even the new fortresses in Gibraltar and Tangier would be hard pressed to meet it for sheer survivability. The 4,000 Caladonnians were already ranged along the walls, Pikemen on the ground ready to rush out, and men-at-arms with the Longbowmen on the walls to defend against any attacks.

"Greetings, sir," said the Proconsul, with a bow. "I am honored to meet the leader of our great ally in this war. I have heard tales of the battle you have fought; you could not have done better, considering the odds.

However, now, to business. The Ralish has won the day, but the war will be ours, I am sure of it. Together, we number 16,500 men, with my 4,000 and your 12,500, correct? The Alshorians, around 18,000 and with many untrained conscripts among them, do not dare assault these formidable fortifications under those odds. However, I would advise against sallying forth either.

Thus, I propose another plan. Caladonn has fifty near-empty ships in your harbor, and you have many reinforcements from the south; I will send my Praetor, whom you already know, along with these ships, to collect your reinforcements and bring them here. With such a force, even the Ralish will not dare to stand against us."

Proconsul Kvarnes met with Lord Locke in the courtyard of the mighty castle. He was greatly impressed by the fortifications- there was nothing of its like in Caladonn, and even the new fortresses in Gibraltar and Tangier would be hard pressed to meet it for sheer survivability. The 4,000 Caladonnians were already ranged along the walls, Pikemen on the ground ready to rush out, and men-at-arms with the Longbowmen on the walls to defend against any attacks.

"Greetings, sir," said the Proconsul, with a bow. "I am honored to meet the leader of our great ally in this war. I have heard tales of the battle you have fought; you could not have done better, considering the odds.

However, now, to business. The Ralish has won the day, but the war will be ours, I am sure of it. Together, we number 16,500 men, with my 4,000 and your 12,500, correct? The Alshorians, around 18,000 and with many untrained conscripts among them, do not dare assault these formidable fortifications under those odds. However, I would advise against sallying forth either.

Thus, I propose another plan. Caladonn has fifty near-empty ships in your harbor, and you have many reinforcements from the south; I will send my Praetor, whom you already know, along with these ships, to collect your reinforcements and bring them here. With such a force, even the Ralish will not dare to stand against us."

Lord Locke returned the bow and listened closely to the General as he spoke,

"Thank you friend, i gave my best effort..they were...just too many.."

He glared off in space for a moment then replyed,

"The enemy would be crushed if the dared attack this fortress, the sea behind us gives us a direct route to supplys even under seige...Caladonn's navy is known to be the most powerful on earth protecting that, and yes my current forces stand at roughly 12,500, many of which escaped the battle today...they want revenge and believe in the cause more than ever"

"I am also outraged, a dear friend of mine stayed back to hold the line and i am uncertian of what has happened to him, his sacrafice will not be forgotten for it saved many more....my men inflicted heavy damage on The Ralish forces attacking my lines, the only decent fighters i seen out there today were those mercenarys and Imperial guardsmen...fine soldiers..."

Lord Locke started to walk slowly to the side with his hand brought to his chin,

"The Lords in the south will open their eyes now, Lord Christian shall acompany your praetor to the south...their armys will return by sea and reinforce us, and we shall have our over all victory in our enclosed fists...hand in hand we shall defeat the pathetic group of peasents and mercenarys with professional soldiers, thousands of them...all united..."

"The orders will ge given immeaditly...ready your vessels General"

Locke slapped the generals shoulder twice then gripped it nodding his head.