The Battle of Cliffwall - Round 2

[tomcat]

The sound of horses charging thundered across the field as Thuidmar's heavy cavalry advanced on the Sagath horsemen and wains. From the cliff, arrows flew from Éothraim bows in an attempt to soften the enemies defense before they were struck by the oncoming lances. Unfortunately, the initial range was to great for the arrows to disconcert the Sagath and Harizän's riders quickly prepared to defend a charge.

The sound of thunder was soon replaced with the cries of men and steeds, and the crunching and snapping of wood and bone. Men pitched forward with fletched shafts protruding from their bodies, or fell back from the smashing mass of oncoming chargers. Swords rang as the horsemen of both armies jostled together and commanders yelled to their ranks to reform.

After a period of time, Thuidmar saw his units reform and pull back from the enemy in preparation for another attack. Standing on the cliffside, the King had his trumpeteers step forward and blare their horns. The sound swelled on the field below and the Éothraim soldiers were inspired. Harizän gave orders for attacks of his own and he too revealed his inspiration.



ROUND 2

Step 1: Terrain and Situational Modifiers: The terrain offers no benefit in Arena 60 Plains (East); Situational mods have been stated on the Battle Map page and bonuses and penalties have been figured into both armies stats.

Step 2: The Order of Battle: Unit Leadership test for initiative-

Harizän
TN n/a Seige-craft +3, Specialty +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+5: 1,3,+5 Total:9

Thuidmar
TN n/a Seige-craft +5, Specialty +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+7: 1,2,+7 Total:10

Step 3: Leader's Position: Thuidmar is on the Outskirts; Harizän is in the Thick of Battle

Step 4: Manoeuvres:

Thuidmar's army:

Manoeuver 1: Commit Archers - archers from Arena Cliffs East commit attack on Easterling Light Cavalry formation in Plains East...
TN 10 RC +10, Manoeuvre Mod -10
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+0: 3,1,+0 Total:4 FAILED

Manoeuvre 2: Press the Attack - heavy cavalry from Plains East commit attack on Easterling Heavy Wains formation in Plains East...
TN 15 Melee +18
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+18: 2,3,+18 Total:23 SUCCESS [+2 bonus to all armies for Melee combat attacks]

Bonus Manoeuvre 3: Inspire - Thuidmar blows his horns
TN 10 Seige-craft +5, Specialty +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+7: 4,2,+7 Total:13 SUCCESS [+3 bonus to all armies Toughness]

Harizän's army:

Manoeuver 1: Commit Archers - archers from Plains East commit attack on  Éothraim  Light Cavalry formation in Plains West...
TN 5 RC +10
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+10: 5,6,+10 Total:21 SUCCESS

Manoeuvre 2: Move - light cavalry from Plains East moves to attack Éothraim Light Cavalry in Plains West...
TN 5 Mo +16
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+16: 2,3,+16 Total:21 SUCCESS

Manoeuvre 3: Stand Firm - heavy cavalry from Plains East prepares for attack...
TN 15 Seige-craft +3, Specialty +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+5: 2,3,+5 Total:10FAILED

Step 5: Launch Attacks

Thuidmar attacks in Plains East with all available formations:

Plains West heavy cavalry attacks Easterling Heavy Wains
TN 19 Melee +18, Man Mod +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+20: 3,5,+20 Total:28 Superior success [26 units imperilled, but there are only 14 to imperil... so 14   ]

Plains East Light Cavalry attacks Easterling Light Archers
TN 11 Melee +12, Man Mod +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+14: 4,2,+14 Total:20 Superior Success [8 units imperilled]

Plains West light cavalry attacks Easterling Light Cavalry
TN 12 Melee combat +12, Man Mod +2
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+14: 5,3,+14 Total:22 Superior success [10 units imperilled]

Harizän counterattacks in Plains East and West with all available formations...

Sagath heavy wains attack Éothraim heavy cavalry
TN 27 Melee +18
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+18: 1,3,+18 Total:22 FAILED [not good for the bad guys! ]

Sagath light cavalry attack Éothraim light cavalry in Plains West
TN 21 Melee +11
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+11: 4,6,+11 Total:21 Complete Success [5 imperiled units]

Sagath archers attack Éothraim light cavalry in Plains west
TN 21 Ranged +10
-------------------------
Roll(2d6)+10: 3,6,+10 Total:19 FAILED [Damn! Sagath screw ups.]

Step 6: Determine Casualties

Thuidmar has 5 Light cav units imperiled (Support is 6): 13, 15, 14, 14, 12 - all live! [changed rules to require a TN 12 support test to shake off imperillment]

Harizän 10 light cavalry, 14 heavy wains, and 8 archer units imperilled:

Light cavalry (Support +6): 11, 15, 16, 14, 11, 12, 11, 16, 16, 11 [4 die]
Wains (Support +8):  [1 dies]
Light archers (Support +6): [2 die]

Step 7: Leaders' Fates Both leaders are uninjured


Step 8: Fighting On Of course!

[tomcat]

[OOC:] Finally! Round 2 is posted and Battle map page has been updated. I will have Round 3 done tomorrow in the AM, and then you guys can start thinking about how you want to use your troops to attack in Round 4.

Again, sorry for the delay!  

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: Who will be leading the unit(s)?  Will each of us have our own or will one of our group lead the unit while the others engage in hand-to-hand combat?

[tomcat]

[OOC:] I am leaving that up for you guys to decide, although Reyvold has kind of deffered to Durgil. Since Patrel answers to Reyvold, there is no other direct person in charge... but you guys decide it.

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: Just to be sure, how many units could be made up of the number of men from Ilanin... 1 cavalry, 2 light infantry?

The night before the troop from Ilanin was to engage the Sagath upon the plains, Durgil ushered the men who would make up the war council for this force of arms.  "Tomorrow we shall meet the enemy upon the battefield with the wind at our backs and fire in our hearts.  But more than just morale, do we have leaders who know of fighting on such a scale we are about to fight?  It looks as like we have enough horses for one or two units on horseback and maybe twice that on the ground.  Though I have prowess in the saddle, I am more skilled on the ground as a light infantryman.  What say the rest of you?" he asks pointedly at the men of Ilanin for he had a good grasp of the capabilities of his comrades but he didn't know their hearts in how they wished to fight tomorrow.

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael looked to Durgil as the young man spoke. He was quickly growing into the leader he was born to be, and had become an even greater asset to Dirnhael and the company since they left. His sister - sweet Ioreth, so far away - would be proud of him.

"Thuidmar's men will be facing the brunt of the attack head-on. Our role will be to wreak havoc from their flank; separate their divisions and weaken their front line by doing so. But, their archers must have clear shots if they are to help us when Harizan regroups."

He looked to and fro, taking the measure of these men as he spoke.

"When we push through, we cannot separate our thrusts, lest we become accidental targets. We must trust one another in this battle. Watch your brother's back and he will watch yours."

He sat down to draw battle plans with the leaders of the war council. It seemed to him that their cavalries should seek to stop their war machines; catapults and siege engines, along with their archers if possible, perhaps with Fengel (being adept on horseback) and Ilanin's finest horseman (Reyvold?) leading their charges. Their infantry, where both Durgil and Dirnhael himself would be of the most value, would come up the middle, taking on Harizan's men directly and driving deep into their ranks to avoid a counterattack from the Easterling's horses. Thuidmar's men would then be free to attack Harizan's front lines, or better yet, his cavalry.

When he found a moment, he spoke to Edrahil and Fengel. To the former, he asked if he could figure out a way to get the message to Thermon and Thuidmar - to get their archers to attack Harizan's horses. Then Dirnhael's men could fight on the ground freely, and Fengel's cavalry could decimate their newly-stationary targets. He wanted the Elf out of the fight; he feared for his health, and would not send him into battle with sword in hand.

To the latter, he spoke while clasping his arm in a warrior's handshake. "The field will be yours, for you and for your people, should you choose to engage Harizan," he said. "But choose your moment carefully. Durgil and I will drive through the middle and try to offer support. Offer this villain no quarter; for he has no honor and will not respect yours. If things go ill, we will stand by, ready to assist you."

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Are many of your unhorsed men skilled with a bow?  If there are enough to spare, I could lead a unit of archers to soften the enemy lines before the cavalry and infantry strike."

OOC: FYI, Durgil has no Siegecraft skill, so this is his attempt to earn his stripes so to speak.

[sdrotar]

"Are many of your unhorsed men skilled with a bow?  If there are enough to spare, I could lead a unit of archers to soften the enemy lines before the cavalry and infantry strike."

OOC: FYI, Durgil has no Siegecraft skill, so this is his attempt to earn his stripes so to speak.

Dirnhael nodded at Durgil's suggestion. The noble was effective with bow in hand, and Dirnhael would be more comfortable knowing that Durgil could keep the archers together.

[Palandil]

To the latter, he spoke while clasping his arm in a warrior's handshake. "The field will be yours, for you and for your people, should you choose to engage Harizan," he said. "But choose your moment carefully. Durgil and I will drive through the middle and try to offer support. Offer this villain no quarter; for he has no honor and will not respect yours. If things go ill, we will stand by, ready to assist you."

Fengel gripped Dirnhael's arm with determination.  "Aye, Harizan will rue the day he engaged the might of the Eothraim.  We shall cut a swath through their midst!"

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: I *think* we have come to a conclusion with Fengel leading the cavalry (and maybe one of Ilanin's men if there is enough for a second unit), Dirnhael will lead the infantry (and maybe one Ilanin's men again if there is enough for a second), and Durgil will be with the archers.

[sdrotar]

OOC: I *think* we have come to a conclusion with Fengel leading the cavalry (and maybe one of Ilanin's men if there is enough for a second unit), Dirnhael will lead the infantry (and maybe one Ilanin's men again if there is enough for a second), and Durgil will be with the archers.

OOC: Sounds about right. Gives everyone something to do. Is our Thermon player still with us? It's been a while... hope he stuck around.