NationStates Jolt Archive

year 755 of the Freiburg dynasty.

for ten years the land was in turmoil. now there remain only two significant factions, all others destroyed or subjugated by one of the two.

in the north, the Kyo family of Kant, lead by Lord Akira Kyo, and in the south, the Locke Clan of Braxton, lead by Lord Byron Locke

these two great houses, exhausted from the years of fighting, reached a stalemate in 753, and settled into an uneasy peace.



at the beginning of the tenth month, that fragile peace is shattered, when Akira Kyo, now confidant in his strength, marches forth, with the intent of initiating battle at the strategic town of Three Rivers.

word reaches Locke on the 7th day of the tenth month at 5:30 pm. he immediately mobilizes his forces, hoping to position his army so as to use his powerful cavalry to maximum effect.

Akira arrives at three rivers first, on the 10th day of the month, while Byron is still two days march away.

hoping to draw Akira out of his position, Byron sends forth Lord L'Roche with two thousand men, ahead of his main force.

Akira, however, is not so easily fooled, and rather than reacting as Byron had hoped, sends forth Richar Meitarna with a similar size detachment, to keep L'Roche occupied while he completes the preparation of the defenses.

so it is that on the 11th day of the tenth month of the year 755 of the Freiburg dynasty, battle for control of the land is once again joined.

7am.

mist. lots and lots of mist. mist and trees and mist and the occasional patch of mud just for variation.

Richar spat. "i hate river valleys in autumn."
his companion, a tall man by the name of Aphallee simply nodded.

harness jingled as their force moved through the woods. most of the men were quite quiet, wearing mostly leathers, but there was no way to make the horses follow suit.

"miserable place. can't see a damn thing." Richar muttered.

"m'lord!" an eel trooper, one of the scouts appeared beside him from out of the mist, giving Richar such a start that he barely stayed on his horse.

"damnit man, don't Do that!"
"my apologies sir. i have come to report. the scouts say L'Roche's men are deploying a kilometer and a half to the south east."
"huh. ground?"
"mist, light rain, trees, same as here. enough to disrupt a decent cavalry charge, not enough to remove the threat of their heavy cavalry all together. remarkably flat. the trees and mist make the jobs of my men much easier sir."

"good." turning, Richar called out "give the order, we attack!

light cavalry circle to flank, and try not to get lost! heavies to the rear, and quietly! go!"

the forces of the north moved quickly through the mist.

Early morning...

The mist made everything barely visible as Lord L'Roche and the 2000 soldiers placed under his command moved towards the last known enemy postion reported by their scouts. L'Roche rode slowly by his troops, the sound of armor was the only noise that could be heard as the soldiers trudged on to face the foe...

All of a sudden a light rider approached L'Roche,

"M'lord! the enemy forces are a kilometer and a half away from our current position..."

The lord replyed in a commanding tone,

"Light rain, mud at our feet..we can fight today and possibly get them with a decent charge if these trees thin out any time soon, we continue on our course..have the scouts advance and keep track of our enemy's positions, saftey our flanks, take half our cavalry pull them to the rear fan out the infantry and prepare for contact..we can't see a damned thing in this bloody weather, go!"

"M'lord!"

The rider took off to pass on the orders, L'Roche could hardly wait to make contact with the enemy forces and gain the ground which he had done so many times in the past....

"right. halt the men." Richar spoke softly now, as the distance had closed, "if I've got this right, the lancers should be hitting the enemy flanks soon.

Aphallee, have the knights disburse to lead their men. we don't have enough to risk them in a cavalry melee. i want five groups of one hundred each archers and halberds. each group in block formation, and all the groups in a line.

send the eels forward. quietly. they're to wait for the best moment and act as they have been trained"

the tall man nodded and turned off to give the orders.

in the distance, a trumpet sounded, and an eddy in the mist allowed Richar to see a single enemy flag.

"well men" he said quietly "now we wait. for death or glory."

"right. halt the men." Richar spoke softly now, as the distance had closed, "if I've got this right, the lancers should be hitting the enemy flanks soon.

Aphallee, have the knights disburse to lead their men. we don't have enough to risk them in a cavalry melee. i want five groups of one hundred each archers and halberds. each group in block formation, and all the groups in a line.

send the eels forward. quietly. they're to wait for the best moment and act as they have been trained"

the tall man nodded and turned off to give the orders.

in the distance, a trumpet sounded, and an eddy in the mist allowed Richar to see a single enemy flag.

"well men" he said quietly "now we wait. for death or glory."

The scouts on the secured flanks seen incomming horse and gave the call to the heavy infantry,

"Horse!! incomming!!"

Their commanders yelled the order,

"TURN THE FLANKS OUT!!"

Both of L'Roche's flanks turned on the call dropping their sheilds to the lock position raising their five foot spears resting them on their support grooves just as the cavalry was about to make contact...

Lord L'Roche himself was alert and snapped into action as did the others around him,

"LOOSE FORMATION MIDDLE AND REAR!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, he heard the orders repeated a dozen times...in the distance on the flanks he heard the crys of horses and men,

"Middle heavy horse, half left flank, circle around nice and wide! then hold the line, no one advances without my order!! we are blind!"

250 heavy horse took off towards the left flank going wide around their rear hoping to come up behind the enemy attackers...

"SOUND OUR HALT FOR THE MAIN BODY!"

"M'lord!!"

The fog was not clearing and all the troops were on alert but could hardly see a thing.., Lord L'Roche turned his horse in a circle and drew his sword,

"TO ARMS! BE READY! WE TAKE THE FIELD ON THIS DAY!"

a horn sounded as the second group of Richar's lancers charged out of the mist, this time towards the enemy's right flank.

seeing the shield and spear wall they faced, however, they turned off towards the rear. still gaining speed, for their commander had misjudged the charge distance to their original target because of the mist, they came up on the rear of L'Roche's heavy cavalry, and enjoyed one of the greatest joys available to any light cavalryman. ripping into their heavier counterparts, they did what damage they could, then withdrew into the mist before the heavies could really react.

****

in the trees above, and the mist all around the enemy formation, eel troopers stalked, awaiting the right moment to strike.

****

Aphallee, helmet-less and with his taiaha ready, trotted his horse forward and into view. raising his weapon, he brought his horse to a halt and called out in a loud voice " Sniveling Dogs! is any among you man enough to face the White Fury?"

a horn sounded as the second group of Richar's lancers charged out of the mist, this time towards the enemy's right flank.

seeing the shield and spear wall they faced, however, they turned off towards the rear. still gaining speed, for their commander had misjudged the charge distance to their original target because of the mist, they came up on the rear of L'Roche's heavy cavalry, and enjoyed one of the greatest joys available to any light cavalryman. ripping into their heavier counterparts, they did what damage they could, then withdrew into the mist before the heavies could really react.

****

in the trees above, and the mist all around the enemy formation, eel troopers stalked, awaiting the right moment to strike.

****

Aphallee, helmet-less and with his taiaha ready, trotted his horse forward and into view. raising his weapon, he brought his horse to a halt and called out in a loud voice " Sniveling Dogs! is any among you man enough to face the White Fury?"

The right flank seen the enemy cavalry incomming and prepared for the impact that never came, they simply turned off and went for the rear where the un-suspecting heavy cavalry waited for further orders,

"CAVALRY!"

The heavys turned to engauge but were caught off guard, there was a small skirmish leaving a fair number of them dismounted or put out of comission on the ground, ones that were dismounted could not get back on their horses due to the amount of armor they wore..

"Don't give pursuit! HOLD THE LINE, BE ALERT AND HELP THOSE MEN SOMEBODY!"

On the left flank....

The heavy infantry first line survivors had turned and rushed behind the second due to the fact they had only slowed the charge but didn't stop it, the second barely held the line taking casulties then the reinforcements of heavy cavalry came to their aid crashing into the rear of the foe,

"CHAAAAARRRRGEEE!" Yelled their senior officer as they clashed...

L'Roche was near the front of his coloums and seen the single man approach yelling some insults, he replyed..

"You bastard swine! keep your insults to your insignificant self for you will surely die!"

L'Roche started to ride foward when his best heavy cavalry Captian, Captian Hebert raised his arm signaling his commander to stop and he rode foward slowly driving his long lance into the ground he drew his sword.....L'Roche's troops let him through on his heavily armored horse, his face hidden by the large steel gothic helm, he raised his blade and pointed it at his opponent..

as the melee on the left flank dragged troops out of position one way or another, the second lancer group returned, charging the end of what remained of the lines.

crumpling the last solid defense on that side, they veered into the general melee, most dropping lances in exchange for their maces for close in fighting.

****

"what, you are angered by mere taunts? Fool. let us see if you have talent elsewhere than wit. surely you must, if only in the feeding of worms!" so saying, Aphallee spurred his horse into a full gallop towards the other man, raising up in his stirrups as he did so, tasseled point of his taiaha flicking around, creating a visual distraction to foe and mount alike.

Captian Hebert did likewise, blade at the ready, expecting to clash at around the mid point.

what happened next, however, was very much not what he expected at all, for Aphallee, far from bracing himself for impact or readying a swing, Lept up and forward from his mount, swinging his taiaha in such a way as to bring it's blade down from over his head, gripping it right near it's point for maximum leverage.

straight
onto
Herbert's
horse's
head

dead center with enough force to split the armor protecting it.

Captian Hebert was thrown into the air and was clueless to what had just happened during the charge, he hit the ground and rolled to the center of the clearing where he seen the enemy lines through the fog, he attempted to rise but his strength and weight of his armor were key factors in keeping him down..

L'Roche waved his sword in the air and called out at the top of his lungs,

"Enough of these games!"

"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!"

Every single soldier under his command rushed foward letting out ferice war crys,

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

he then turned to one of his bodyguards..

"SEND THE REMAINDER OF MY CAVALRY LEFT! ALL IN!! VOLLEYS OVERHEAD!!"

"M'lord!!"

The longbowmen opened fire shooting volleys into the air, their ranks aimed for different effects as the enemys position was still unclear but earlyier scouts reported main bodys position...

Aphallee dashed for his horse and remounted as quickly as he could, riding back towards the lines, waving his taiaha above his head in a preset pattern.

and as the Locke army charged in behind him, they were met with volley after volley of longbow shafts flying out of the fog.

it didn't stop there.

this was the moment the eels had been waiting for. dropping from the trees, they smashed riders from their horses, then leaped to the next horse, or dropped down and stabbed unready infantry the in the neck, severed nerves and necks...

Aphallee dashed for his horse and remounted as quickly as he could, riding back towards the lines, waving his taiaha above his head in a preset pattern.

and as the Locke army charged in behind him, they were met with volley after volley of longbow shafts flying out of the fog.

it didn't stop there.

this was the moment the eels had been waiting for. dropping from the trees, they smashed riders from their horses, then leaped to the next horse, or dropped down and stabbed unready infantry the in the neck, severed nerves and necks...


L'Roche's longbows ceased to fire while infantrymen hit the ground wounded or killed by the arrows comming at them through the fog, if they hadn't been in a loose formation or the fog wasn't thick and they could seen that groups of two or three of their commrades were falling at the same time, they may have turned back but there was no turning back now, this was it..and there it was the line of Halberds in front of them,

"AHHHHHHH!!" they clashed, the sound of steel on steel rang though the air, screams of the dead and dying..the smell of blood and sweat.....

Meanwhile the heavy cavalry faught against the light cavalry which they outnumbered on the 'left flank' as it was but also had to deal with the menacing eel troopers that dropped from the branches dismounting them forcing the ones who could stand to fight on foot..

L'Roche followed by his escort charged towards the position where his cavalry battled, he cut down two eel's on the way in two swift movements of his blade...

This battle would cost the lives of many as each side knew the value of this ground to their factions....

ooc: gotta remember to clean up some of the eel related confusion in the last few posts.

IC:

the fighting following the impact was intense. the first wave hit and all but impaled it's self upon the Kyo force's halberds. the second, however, damaged the defenses significantly, and one block was broken open, leaving the archers within to fend for themselves. which they did. poorly. the third wave broke another. then the halberds from the rear of the blocks moved up, and combined with the damage the eels had been inflicting, the force of the charge was drained.

it was then that the knights entered the fray, Aphallee at their head, swinging a large assortment of personal weapons and hacking down enemy infantry like wheat before a scythe.

while this took place, the light cavalry on the Locke clan's left flank sounded a withdrawal and began pulling back, freeing up the enemy's heavy cavalry once more. they had been unable to continue fighting, it appeared, down to under half their starting number.

seeing this, Richar himself called the retreat, and with the knights screening their withdrawal, the infantry began to form and pull back, into the mists. they'd done enough for now.

perhaps they would fight again later that day, perhaps not. regardless, enough damage had been done that L'Roche's force would be significantly delayed, at least.

ooc: gotta remember to clean up some of the eel related confusion in the last few posts.

IC:

the fighting following the impact was intense. the first wave hit and all but impaled it's self upon the Kyo force's halberds. the second, however, damaged the defenses significantly, and one block was broken open, leaving the archers within to fend for themselves. which they did. poorly. the third wave broke another. then the halberds from the rear of the blocks moved up, and combined with the damage the eels had been inflicting, the force of the charge was drained.

it was then that the knights entered the fray, Aphallee at their head, swinging a large assortment of personal weapons and hacking down enemy infantry like wheat before a scythe.

while this took place, the light cavalry on the Locke clan's left flank sounded a withdrawal and began pulling back, freeing up the enemy's heavy cavalry once more. they had been unable to continue fighting, it appeared, down to under half their starting number.

seeing this, Richar himself called the retreat, and with the knights screening their withdrawal, the infantry began to form and pull back, into the mists. they'd done enough for now.

perhaps they would fight again later that day, perhaps not. regardless, enough damage had been done that L'Roche's force would be significantly delayed, at least.


Although some of the defence blocks had been broken and the archers within slain by heavy infantry the force of the charge had been halted, the men exausted from the intense fighting did not give chase to the enemy once they started to retreat....they simply watched as they sank back into the mist, the men were unsure to weather they cheered for victory or the fact the battle was over, but never the less they cryed out raising their weapons in the air..

The heavy cavalry heavily depleted the number of thier foes that they had been locked in battle with, but under the order of L'Roche did not give chase to the enemy units that had broken and retreated with their fellow commrades it arms,

"DO NOT GIVE CHASE! WE HAVE MEN TO ATTEND TO WHO LAY ABOUT THE FIELD..WE MUST HELP THEM NOW, FOR THEY NEED OUR ASSISTANCE!"

The cavalry rode foward slowly untill they met the infantry who were already tending to their fallen brothers in arms.

Later that day the fog had cleared revealing the aftermath of the battle, for such a short time so many had been lost, a mixture of the enemys dead and their own lay together, tattered banners fluttered in the light breeze....


Lord L'Roche approached a heavy cavalry officer knelt over a downed horse with his helmet off..

"Captian Hebert...i will need a casultie report as soon as possible"

He began to walk away, then spoke once more looking over the corpses scattered about..

"Our enemy wounded are to be given water and treated..none shall be executed.."

Hebert picked up his helm and stood up,

"M'lord..i will see to it immeaditly.."

"And Hebert..good to see you made it!"

He took one more glance at his fallen horse, then L'Roche and went to give the orders to the others....

clashing in the River Woods, Richar and L'Roche fought to a stalemate.
at 7:30 am, beaten and bloodied, Richar withdraws.

however, L'Roche's forces are in no shape to follow up on his success, and halt to await Locke's main force.

this allows the main Kyo army the time they need to complete their preparations, constructing wooden fences and low earth barricades.

that evening, the main southern army arrives in the Three River valley, and makes camp.

due to the haste of their gathering and advance, the units under the command of Captains D'bois and Cyrus still trail behind, and many of Locke's supporters are too far away and unprepared to offer any assistance at all.

faced with this situation, Byron orders his men to concentrate their attack on the Kyo army's left flank, incidentally pitting Hebert against Aphallee once more, hoping to capitalize on the open spaces there.

the next morning the two forces deploy in the mist and make their final preparations. as the mists lift at 10:35 am on the twelfth day, horns sound, and the Battle of Three Rivers begins.

The cunning of Akira.
The Spirit of Byron.
The winner of this battle could very well decide the fate of the Empire, and the world.

When Lord Locke arrived at River Wood he had seen his men under the command of Lord General L'Roche had not advanced but were held up caring for wounded from the battle early in the morning. Locke was not impressed and flew into a rage immeaditly when he seen L'Roche and his second in command, Captian Hebert but was somwhat pleased at the battles outcome, the fact L'Roche forced the enemy soldiers to retreat....

The wounded were cared for, enemy wounded were given quarter and detained where they would be sent back to the Locke's lands. Later on that day the force that was still able to move joined with Locke's army advanced towards three rivers to meet the enemy once again, this time to fight for the rivers that lead directly into one anothers territory.

10:35am:

The mist had just cleared and the open fields were green, the rolling hills that surrounded the valley enabled Locke to get a good veiw of the area, he spotted the town resting on a hill in the middle of the valley, to the side of it was a lush forest...the sun was comming through the clouds, what a glorious day for a battle..

"There..the town resting on that hill..that is where Akira will make his stand and they will stay right where they are..the cowards will not march to meet us in open warfare"

L'Roche nodded in agreement with his commander,

"Im going into the valley, send two of our finest knights to acompany me L'Roche, my colours with one of them..white banner with the other.."

"M'Lord!"

"You, and you..go!"

Lord Locke followed by the two knights rode into the valley, L'Roche turned on his horse to see the army of the Locke clan advancing as one force behind him.....

Lord Locke stopped in the middle of the valley and waited to parlay with the enemy commander....

Akira sat in his tent. he knew full well where Byron's army was, but he did not see much point in watching their every move. this is what he had under-officers and scouts for.

"my lord! Lord Locke has come forth, with but two men, baring his banner, and that of parley." a messenger ducked his head through the flap to report

Akira smiled "so, the great general seeks to spare his men's lives by surrendering before battle is joined. very well. call Gerard and Aimei. full plate, weapons, my banner and the banner of parley. we shall see what he wants, refuse it, and crush him."

as the messenger ran to do as he was bid, Akira placed his helmet on his head and, taking up the Black Wind halberd, Akira swept out of his tent.

mounting and trotting through the camp, it was but minutes before the two he had called for joined him, in the full armor that hid their identities so well as to necessitate heraldry for battlefield identification.

passing through the small town and out the other side, they approached the position Byron had taken up.

"Byron Locke!" Akira called out as they approached, his voice filled with a quiet sort of mockery "what has the Great General to say to the Fox of the North?"

Akira sat in his tent. he knew full well where Byron's army was, but he did not see much point in watching their every move. this is what he had under-officers and scouts for.

"my lord! Lord Locke has come forth, with but two men, baring his banner, and that of parley." a messenger ducked his head through the flap to report

Akira smiled "so, the great general seeks to spare his men's lives by surrendering before battle is joined. very well. call Gerard and Aimei. full plate, weapons, my banner and the banner of parley. we shall see what he wants, refuse it, and crush him."

as the messenger ran to do as he was bid, Akira placed his helmet on his head and, taking up the Black Wind halberd, Akira swept out of his tent.

mounting and trotting through the camp, it was but minutes before the two he had called for joined him, in the full armor that hid their identities so well as to necessitate heraldry for battlefield identification.

passing through the small town and out the other side, they approached the position Byron had taken up.

"Byron Locke!" Akira called out as they approached, his voice filled with a quiet sort of mockery "what has the Great General to say to the Fox of the North?"

Locke sat upon his white steed, proud in the middle of the two colourful knights at his sides bearing the banners....

"You think too highly of yourself General Akira, i have came to give you an option before i take the that hill and the town that rests on it..."

He paused briefly then continued...

"Spare the lives of your men and surrender three rivers to me and i will not take it by force, i will let you return home in honor with your colours..your men will not have to lay down their arms but simply sware never to fight against me again, i am fair and will offer employment to your soldiers in my own army if they wish....there is no need to continue the blood shed here today? if you need time to consider i will grant you one hour...what say you general? that is a most generous offer..."

Akira simply looked at Byron, an amused sparkle in his stone gray eyes.

"Great General, there is no honor to return in when one has assumed an advantageous position, with superior numbers, adequate supplies, a strategy superior to any one's opponent can even conceive.... no, there is no honor to return in if one has such overwhelming advantage and surrenders before battle is fought.

though perhaps if one sees that one's foe has these advantages, and withdraws, that could be said to be honorable." grinning, Akira turned and began riding away, but called over his sholder.

"i won't need that hour for thinking on this, Byron, but i have other matters that will occupy the time while you ponder your fate. the best method of taxing conquered territories, perhaps." he laughed as he rode out of earshot.

Akira simply looked at Byron, an amused sparkle in his stone gray eyes.

"Great General, there is no honor to return in when one has assumed an advantageous position, with superior numbers, adequate supplies, a strategy superior to any one's opponent can even conceive.... no, there is no honor to return in if one has such overwhelming advantage and surrenders before battle is fought.

though perhaps if one sees that one's foe has these advantages, and withdraws, that could be said to be honorable." grinning, Akira turned and began riding away, but called over his sholder.

"i won't need that hour for thinking on this, Byron, but i have other matters that will occupy the time while you ponder your fate. the best method of taxing conquered territories, perhaps." he laughed as he rode out of earshot.

Lord Locke simply lowered his head once to show he understood what his foe was saying to him and watched as he rode away, one of the knights at his side reached for his crossbow once Akira made his comments when he rode away but Locke shouted,

"AHH! NO..he was under parlay..come on man, HONOR!! YAA!" He spurred his horse around and rode back towards his own lines full speed...

When he arrived Locke took up his previous position beside L'Roche but didn't say a word about what went on but started to give orders..

"That main road there...i want the 11th up the center under Hebert, and the 3rd right behind them..NOW"

"M'lord!"

The signal flags for the detachments went up, the plan had already been discussed with their commanders and they knew their first move...

The soldiers moved foward....

as they rode back to their own lines, Gerard noticed what was occurring behind them. "hah. they had no intention of keeping their word, it seems."

"or they had some signal prearranged to be given only if we accepted. either is possible" Akira responded cheerfully. "it doesn't matter. they shall break upon our forces like waves upon a cliff."

"mmm. but given time, even the cliff will fall."

"this is why we do not give them time, trust me, i did not lie when i said i had a plan. now, i grow bored with this talk, and we have things to do. onward!"

so saying, he spurred his horse back to the town, his two companions doing likewise so as not to be left behind.

upon reaching their camp, Akira called for a messenger and sent orders to but two units. "have Richar move his forces to the front edge of the town. Simon can move his men up to replace them."

"and now" his smile was foxlike as he spoke to his guards, "we wait."

Fourteen thousand of Locke's soldiers advanced for five minutes then the halt was sounded, the archers took up position in a loose formation so to hit more targets and waited for their order to fire while a screen moved in front of them to take up a defencive position five lines strong...
Meantime..

The 6th was sent around on the right flank supported by 4th, cavalry on the flank formed a wedge formation......


Then the signal was given for the archers to open arcing fire at the enemy forces guarding the entrance to the town..

"LOOSE!!"

three thousand arrows in the first volley were fired into the air raining death down on the enemy lines directed at their heavy cavalry...

Locke watched from where the main body of his troops were waiting, the 1st was crossing the river back to join the main body if troops, they had arrived late and were on the wrong side...

All other forces moved slowly foward from their original postion so they were slightly closer...

as the arrows fell, Duc Zachi d'Sailmei was silently glad of his poldroons, helm, and the curve of his armor. likely the knights and other heavy horsemen around him were too. their armour rattled as arrows glanced off it, for the most part. a few horses fell, a few unlucky soles had their armor punctured in unfortunate places, and one fool who'd had his face plate up was struck in the eye, dead before he started to fall, let alone hit the ground.

"Pull Back!" grabbing the nearest man, he sent a message "tell Ethian to pull back as well, he'll be the next target, and his men are not so well armored as ours." the messenger ran off, as Zachi noticed some men had stopped to try and gather up the fallen knight "leave him! he's dead because of his stupidity, I'll not have you die for it as well! move!" with that, he turned and rode back as well.

****

"humm... it would seem, Aimei, that the Great General is doing something unexpected. unexpected, but not unprepared for" Akira laughed as his men began moving, himself and his bodyguards at their head.

turning to his messengers, mounted on the swiftest horses available, he gave orders
" Aphalee is to advance, the horsemen will take his flanks. give those archers a taste of their own medicine. those units in the woods on the right flank are to filter back into and through the town, one at a time, providing a constant stream of re-enforcements. Locke is a fool to leave that side of the river unthreatend, it frees up so many men!

Zebadiah is to wait for the enemy to close. the fortifications there should protect them well enough from arrows and horsemen. Richar is to move to re-enforce them when the situation appears most advantageous.

have Mecai and his infantry follow us around the town, as well. there are threats on the flank to deal with.

go!"

he had a glint in his eye. "and now, we March! MOVE!" he made a chopping motion with his hand, and his own unit, easily the largest on the battlefield, set into motion.

The 11th and the 3rd were signaled to charge,

"AHHHHH!!"

They closed the gap as quick as they possibly could...

The 6th and the 4th also rushed in on the flanks in a charge upon their commanders orders, their cavalry support hung back as the infantry charged at the town, the cavalry had withdrew as planned....

The enemy at the front was heavily out numbered...

Locke drew his sword and pointed fowards,

"ADVANCE!!!"

The soldiers went into a slow jog then orders were given by Locke to his officers,

"Into the town! we cut them off while the others keep those men behind that wall at bay!!

"CHARAAAAARRRRGE!!"

"AAHHHHHHH!!"

Locke's remaining forces ran towards the town in an all out effort to keep the enemy back...

ooc: been busy. finally posting. remembering the convo we had, i Think this is right. I've redone the map. doesn't quite match the old one, and some of the units are out of place because the way i do it doesn't allow for overlaps, but...

edit: [deleted large paragraph] i really need to talk to you about the edit you made there, i think.

IC:

Zebadiah watched in amazement as twenty thousand infantry charged his position. it was suicide, even allowing for the fact that they were encircling his men.

around him stood a square of some ten thousand men in heavy infantry plate, armed with halberds. that was a dangerous formation to attack in it's own right, but it's defensive potency had been increased by many times with the construction of the large wooden fence around it. this was one of the defenses Richar's men had fought to allow the Kyo army time to build.

the fence was made of solid timber posts, two feet by three feet by twelve every six yards. these were braced half way up by angle beams just as thick stuck into the ground, while beams almost as solid at ankle hight, half way up, and a few inches from the top allowed them to support each other, and provided an means of attaching the palings. palings that were an inch thick in their own right and securely attached on both inside and out just far enough apart to allow men shoulder to shoulder to place their halberds in the slots. it was an obstacle to give any attacker pause.

this fence ran around the full front and rear of the unit, and most of the way along the sides, save where it opened up to facilitate entry and exit. there it bent in a little, then left a gap that was covered by a second fence placed further back, forcing any attacker to turn to either side to gain entry, and allowing their way to be bared by halberds from the other side of the secondary fence, as well as exposed men guarding the gaps themselves.

the fence alone was enough to stop cavalry. combined with earthworks, it all but completely protected from most archery fire, provided one stayed in it's shadow, and with the defenders using halberds, a swordsman didn't even have a hope of reaching a foe. attackers with spears might be able to fight through it, while axes might break it down in spite of it's defenders, eventually...

well, twenty thousand men were a threat, he supposed, on the other hand...

when a unit is ten thousand men strong, and it's fortification is built to surround it while in a formation several ranks deep so as to provide resistance to impact and re-enforcements to it's front, it's frontage, even all faces taken into account, is not as large as you'd think. the attackers would find this out, as in truth maybe eight thousand of them could attack effectively at a time.

as the first all but ran into the halberds and began to die, Zebadiah just shook his head. time would tell.


*******


Aphallee, now with Ethian and Zachai's horsemen on his flanks, came into bow shot of the enemy, distracted as they were by the attack on Zebadiah. only their cavalry remained attentive it seemed. considering for a moment, he deployed his troops into line, two of halberds and four of longbows. the cavalry formed echeloned lines on his flanks for protection, the light on his left and the heavies on his right.

"Aim for their horses first!" he called. "make ready!" he looked down the line "UP!" checked again "UP!" one last check, the archers appeared to be aiming at the right distance and direction. the details were, of course, up to the individual men's luck and skill. "DRAW AND LOOSE!"

five thousand arrows hissed towards the Locke clan's cavalry.

"BARRAGE!"

every one of Aphallee's five thousand archers knew the meaning of that command. it was one few commanders were willing to give. it was the order to ignore how many arrows were in their quivers, ignore anything the enemy might do, and ignore all orders save the one to cease fire. each and every man simply loaded, drew, and shot his arrow at the point he was now aiming as quickly as he could. Even Aphallee was not willing to let them do this for long, but at anything from five shots a minute for the below average archer in the unit, to the occasional seven for those who trained especially in this skill, it could be devastating even when brief.

****

Charmente, commanding the eighth unit of the Kyo army, had been given a specific task, Akira had informed him of it prior to the battle, in private. if, at any time, he was ordered to pass through the town of Three Rivers, he was to prepare it for a fire attack. not to withstand one, but so it would burn more easily.

now, he didn't know what the point in that was, but he did know it was bound to be spectacular, and that the Fox of the North was rarely mistaken in his strategy or tactics. he also knew that it was best if the enemy didn't know what he was doing, so when he went about this task he made sure to stay, at least mostly, in the back half of the town. the results promised to be spectacular. hopefully not to many of their own men would be caught in the conflagration when it was set alight.

*****

from the back of his horse, watching the enemy's movement as his own unit advanced, Akira, Lord of the house of Kyo, the Fox of the north, laughed. this was what he lived for, really, a well laid plan, with many outs for abandoning failed endeavors or reacting to new situations, with a trap his opponent walked right into.

fools wasting their strength beating themselves like waves upon rock. unlike waves, they were not driven by the force of the tide, and unlike the sea, they were not infinite. they would smash themselves on Zebadiah's positions, fall like wheat to the scythe from Aphallee's arrows, burn like oil doused coal in the town named for it's waters.

and when the time came, be cut to ribbons upon the shore by a creature of the depths.

abandoned due to arsehattery. good night.