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Post by ashenmoon on May 18, 2015 17:50:22 GMT
Turn 8 - ends on Wednesday 20Link to map: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14467358/eclipse/eclipse_republic_tactical_ag80135dgva_008.jpgGeneralThe sun sinks glowering redly through hazy distances. Rim not yet touching the horizon, early bright stars glimmer faintly alight in the east, far removed from the chaos below. Commodore "Black Jack" Taniel CorsoReturning to the bridgehead, the Commodore found his own units were abandoning their posts - the Pioneer regiment stationed at the crossing was leaving over the remaining bridge, leaving only token defences. He soon found out they were heading west on the First Citizen’s orders. Gazing nervously into the distances, he could spy only great towering pillars, clouds of madness, hints of the battle going on. Closer by, the Inquisitors were successfully keeping the water beasts at bay, and the Pioneers he had brought were beginning to reconstruct the broken bridges. General Garrek (Renal Sistorian)The Dominii charge swept over his positions, at one point even reaching one of the artillery batteries - both had now been damaged. But the Templar regiment held them off… Until suddenly, the zealots melted away. First Citizen Avus GulaFive thousand Republican soldiers marched in step at his call. The peasant rabble fought, pathethically, trying to hinder them - bloody ruin was all they won. Artillery howled over his head, shattering their morale. Resistance to his onslaught was futile. He was the First Citizen of the Republic. High Inquisitor Pietro GoriFor a moment, Prince Kansar seemed to charge- Until the High Inquisitor saw through the ruse, a magical illusion, and dispelled it with a disdainful snort. The truth of the circumstance was even more strange: the cavalry which was crushing his force was, in fact, retreating! In the few short minutes before the northern enemy charge arrived in strength, the High Inquisitor arranged the evacuation of what men he could - a mere two or three regiments. Rushing east, they were soon involved in a running battle, cavalry companies doing their best to keep the enemy at bay.
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Post by kerrah on May 20, 2015 19:05:02 GMT
Garrek cursed with every swing of his sword. He was already resigned to death, comforted by the presence of the letter in his breast pocket, his final confessional to the world, when he saw the First Citize's army swooping in. "Finally", he said a bit breathlessly. "East! March east! Rally with Corso at the river! Organised retreat! DO NOT RUN, THEY HAVE CAVALRY! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T BREAK FORMATION!" Turning his horse around, he thrust his general's baton eastward, and rallied his troops.
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Post by Zula on May 20, 2015 19:22:25 GMT
He had choosen well his First Citizen, he had proved his worth once more. And now it was time to join forces with Garrek and retreat beyon the river before night fell.
He knew that if any dammed spirit beast came near and attacked them he would bind him to his will. Even if it was a fucking mastodon.
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Post by kharakian on May 21, 2015 0:55:14 GMT
OOC: Get the bridges finished so the rest of the army can cross is primary priority. Also keeping the water monsters away. All guns, maximum fire on any hostiles that stray into range. Heavy discouragement of lingering near the river via concentrated cannon fire.
Commodore Taniel Corso was annoyed and anxious. This felt far too much like a naval battle. He could see his allies but he couldn't get to them to assist. The battle was pitched... and he was stuck here with his cannons. He paced over to the nearest gun and stared at the apparently routing enemy across the river. "Come a little closer..." He muttered to himself as he watched the battle. "Just come in range of my guns for a few minutes."
The gun crew gave a hungry growl at that, they were eager to pay the enemy back for the damage they had inflicted on the Republic army.
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Post by Sp00ky on May 21, 2015 0:58:44 GMT
OOC: Having achived the desired result with the forward charge, Unit 7, 8, 6, 2, 9, 4, 12 and the First Citizen himself + elite calvery (yellow) and unit 2 and 2 (green) will begin an orderly and organized retreat towards the river crossing where Commodore Corso and his artillery is stationed. They will all form a phalanx around cannon 10 and cannon 6 (blue) as they head towards the river crossing - cannon 8 (blue) will fire in case enemy calvery unites decide to give chase. The force will pick up cannon 8 (blue) once they get within range of it on their to the river crossing. The phalanx will be organized in such a way that all units with anti-calvery capacities will shield all other units from any potential calvery charges, with all other ranged units ready to provide support in case of Dominion attacks. Keeping an eye not only on the enemy forces to the west and the retreating peasents, but also on the approching forces from the north.. no foe will take them by surprise. The Phalanx will open up (though not weaken itself) to Kerrah and Mateo's forces should they get near it, so that it may shield them as well. Their men will then be asked to join the phalanx in the defense of the cannons during the march to the crossing. The organized retreat will match their speed with that of Kerrah and Zula, the Republic army will not be devided a second time. The reunited host is to reach the guns of the Commodore in an orderly fasion, so that it may begin to complete the task it was sent here to do.. any Dominion force which may seek to follow them would soon hear the thunder of the Commodore's battery.. IC: The First Citizen, having just given his orders to the rest of the army, then turned his attention to the officer in charge of the military musicians "This is no retreat" he said to him with a firm tone in his voice "We are moving forward to glorious new victories.. let the enemy hear the hymn of our glorious republic... let them hear it loud and clear!" This, he reasoned, would not only demonstrate their resolve to the ignorent dominion fanatics, but also raise the moral of his army and all the heoric individuals who made up its numbers. The officer nodded in agreement as he motioned to the men at his command.. what followed would echo across the battlefield..
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Post by ashenmoon on May 21, 2015 16:59:57 GMT
Turn 9 - sunset - ends Monday 25th Link: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14467358/eclipse/eclipse_republic_tactical_ag80135dgva_009.jpgGeneralThe sun setting at their backs, the Republican army retreats, step by step, while fighting off wave after wave of the Dominion onslaught. Leaving thousands of their dead on the ground, almost it seems they have made good their escape - when, wearily stumbling down the slopes, their formation drifts apart for an instant. It is enough. The Dominion forces plunge into the weak spot - within minutes, a small mistake threatens new disaster. Through the dusky darkness flashes lights from the distant island of Aemilon. The dull whine of artillery falls harmlessly on the plains, short of the milling Dominion forces there - but not far short.
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Post by kharakian on May 25, 2015 4:59:28 GMT
OOC: All guns, maximum rate of fire on any hostile in LoS and range. Suppress them and try to support the fall back. Yellow 11 and Blue 1 across the river to reinforce the army. Send orders to the units I left on the bridge to the north to push across and wipe out the enemy there. Then secure the bridge.
"KEEP FIRING! DRIVE THEM BACK!" Taniel shouted over the roar of the cannons firing at the enemy. The army of the Republic was in danger of being overrun... and he could do nothing but try and drive them back with supporting fire. Well, that and a few other things.
Taniel grabbed one of his runners. "You! Take orders to the units guarding the north bridge. They are to push across and wipe the enemy out. Then secure the bridge and await further orders." He paused for a moment. "Repeat back what I just said."
"Sir! You want them to push across the bridge, wipe out the enemy and then secure it." The runner replied with a quick salute.
"Good! Now get moving." Taniel said clapping the man on the shoulder before he started walking forward. "Marines!" He bellowed to the commanding officer of the marine detachment. "Sappers!" He called to the officer.
The two men moved over to Taniel, the roar of the cannons in the background never abating. "Organize your men, take them across the river and reinforce the First Citizen. You are under his command one you reach him. Help stop them from being overrun." He ordered quickly. "Minutes matter here, be quick."
Both men gave salutes and nods, nothing else needing to be said. They rushed back to their men and began to order them to move back across the bridge. "Now... lets see if we last the night." Taniel muttered to himself.
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Post by kerrah on May 25, 2015 20:56:02 GMT
[OOC: Whatever Zula said.]
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Post by Sp00ky on May 25, 2015 21:42:31 GMT
OOC: Everyone (the units I mentioned in the last post) will keep retreating as instructed, efforts are to be made to restore the formation without charging forth.. we will not allow them to devide us a second time..
"Keep formation!" The First Citizen shouted "Do not let them push you! We are almost at our destination.. Keep formation, proud sons of the Republic.. and moist the soil with the blood of fanatics!"
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Post by Zula on May 27, 2015 17:06:01 GMT
OOC: Priority is to rebuild our formation, and mend the breach by any means possible. Artilley should focus on the southern flank, while any non crucial and engaged regiment on that same flank should help in whatever means possible to mend the breach. If they try any magic thing, inquisitors are there to stop it. Including the binding of any potential spirit beast. Sapper regiment 12 thats there on its own, should march in directo to the breach to provide support while reinforcements come from the other side of the river. If the southern hordes rush to artillery, a signal through magic should be made to the artillery beyond the river to focs on them. The Main priority here is to avoid our ranks from disentigrating, and letting the bulk of trained troops rush past them. docs.google.com/drawings/d/12DBNFAVWuUIGBwjpKgcbWH4R6DFtwtZ5vQJ9zWPrXhE/edit
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Post by ashenmoon on May 29, 2015 19:14:34 GMT
Turn 10 - early night - ends Monday 25th Link: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14467358/eclipse/eclipse_republic_tactical_ag80135dgva_010.jpgRepublic General~ (turn 9) Spurred on by the Prince of House Sistorian’s war cries the Dominion cavalry rushed forth, shunting companies of Republican outriders aside, chasing after the High Inquisitor’s banner. Peeling layers of defences off like a snake shedding skin the column of retreating Republicans fought a running battle, first leaving thousands of their kin surrounded in the hills, then hundreds more scattered across the plains, trapped between the pincers of Sistorian cavalry in the south and Jahimi reinforcements from the north. In the centre, the First Citizen’s force met with the remains of General Garrek’s command. Skeins of Dominion zealots drifted about them while they formed a hasty square, while mere minutes away came Gori’s fleeing men at the tip of a charge of ten thousand Dominion soldiers. Abandoning their spiked cannons, the Republicans rushed to the shelter of the First Citizen’s formation as the enemy charge washed against them. From the south the Thunder Inevitable, the mastodon spirit-beasts, announced themselves and joined the cavalry charge, driving a wedge into the milling confusion. Entire regiments of Republican soldiers were driven apart from the main force and destroyed to a man. Hundreds fled north, only to be hemmed in by new Dominion lines marching across the valley floor. The heat of battle yet upon them, the Dominion force turned on the still-shaken Republican formation and charged. Singing their gods’ praises, they thundered across the ground, lances lowered. One volley, then two of gunpowder discharge - but not enough to stop them. Bloody melee unfolded across the entire front lines. The first ranks of the Republican lines were swallowed whole, inundated, disappearing beneath the weight of the Dominion onslaught… … and like the rocks of the sea, reappeared as the momentum of the charge was lost, and the Dominion fell back from the hard, fast bayonets and unwavering, bristling pikes. Republican trumpets blared the signal for retreat. Shuffling, crushed shoulder to shoulder, confusion still reigning after absorbing the survivors of the western forces, the Republican lines crept back a short distance. Then the Dominion swept forth again. The Thunder Inevitable, tusks sweeping through men like scythes, and Archonic Knights blistering with magic. The Republican lines were riddled by a hundred swift strikes, seeking weaknesses… and finding none. Again and again, the Republic yielded a hundred steps, then two hundred, before the ocean of Dominion warriors swept against them once more. It seemed the Sistorian cavalry were all but exhausted, and the Republicans were descending the first slopes towards the safety of the far-away river, when fresh Dominion forces arrived. Charging downhill, they found a weakness in the joint of the Republican flanks where the retreat had drifted them apart - and a breach was made. ~ (turn 10) The Dominion crashed into the breach. Less a charge and more the inevitable force of a dam collapsing, the pent-up weight of their attacks was unleashed all at once. Companies of Republican soldiers were swallowed whole, disappearing behind Dominion lines as thousands pressed into the opening, forcing it wider. Too crowded to maneuver, the Thunder Inevitable brayed above, shoving themselves forward, triumphantly leading the way. Laughing with elation, the Dominion - flush with victory - cried out as one: “Ten thousand years!” The Dominion charge had become, for an instant, concentrated on a single point. With a sound as of worlds colliding, with the scream of a thousand dying, the Republic met that charge… Gori, High Inquisitor Gori, Pietro Gori of the flames and unforgiveness, stood the breach and two of his elite cadres, and several hundred more of their initiates, were there with him. For a moment, a second sun rose, blinding and bright. Outlines against its light, they were shadows, wavering yet unyielding.
… and stopped it. The light winked out. And the Thunder Inevitable, howling in inhuman despair, turned on each other. Senseless, the beasts crashed head-to-head, caring nothing for their own lives or those of their former companions. Death came swirling down. Hundreds died in the first few minutes alone, trampling one another in their rush to escape. The momentum of the charge was turned against them as those in the back pushed forward, while those in the front lines fled the raging mastodons, recoiled from the tips of Republican pikes, or sought shelter from the unceasing patter of blackpowder discharges falling among them like rain. The Republican lines had ground to a halt. For the first time since the battle began, they held their lines and let the Dominion break itself against them. The tide of the Dominion receded. Knots of survivors made their way up the slopes, away from the battle. Thousands of reinforcements were yet pushing on from behind, not having had a chance to join the battle - the opportunity was not yet lost, they still had the strength to carry on. Chafing, they made their way across the blood-soiled ground… Artillery exploded among them. The day was over. ~ Commodore "Black Jack" Taniel CorsoThe charge north across the bridge has barely made it across to the other side. Dominion magi tried to destroy the bridge, but were only partly successful after the Inquisitors foiled the attempt. However, the Dominion magi greatly outrange the Inquisitors and are keeping the attack contained. Your captains there request Pioneer backup to repair the bridge, and artillery to push the magi back. After the troops being stationed at the bridges were sent across to help the main force, the water beasts made a final charge at the bridges and smashed through them all. Now the pioneers have returned and are busily rebuilding - already one passage is completed, connecting across the small island. While the water beasts suffered greatly in their final charge, the remnants disappeared south along the river. Perhaps an Inquisitor party could be sent to scout the river and drive the last of them out?
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Post by kerrah on Jun 2, 2015 16:22:34 GMT
As the lines were finally formed, Garrek looked around, despondent. All of his foreign regiments were gone, every single one. He saw no sign of General Otakar anywhere. The Grand Inquisitor's banner was up ahead, and the First Citizen to his side. "Start hauling those cannons across the river, to Corso! The rest of our lines should retreat in an orderly manner to join them there after the cannons are clear", he barked at the nearest under-officer (he wasn't sure who the man was supposed to answer to, but he seemed to nod along with what Garrek said).
"We'll burn the bridges once we're safe", he said as the man turned to leave, not sure whether he was heard or not. Garrek suddenly realised he was standing. He'd lost his mount at some point during the enemy push, but he wasn't quite sure when it had taken place.
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Post by Zula on Jun 2, 2015 16:27:47 GMT
Order, finally, after the chaos that almost doomed them all. It was time to cross to the island and prepare to endure the night.
He heard reports of some strange water demons that the dominion used, once he crossed to safety he would take his mounted Inquisitors alongside his elite, to see if he could deal with them. Even try to see if he could bind them.
He gave instructions to everyone that they should be careful when they set camp, since the Dominion had flying demons, they could easely spot their camps during the night and strike. They had to prepare a trap of sorts, some sort of fake camp where they could ambush them in their own ambush.
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Post by kharakian on Jun 2, 2015 16:33:51 GMT
OOC: All cannons but Unit 9 and 4 are to regroup to the north by Blue 2 Pikemen to make room for the rest of the army. Cannon 9 and 4 are coming North with Taniel to make sure the bridge is secure. All of Taniel's units will be sleeping in half shifts while the army regroups. Blue 1 should regroup and make sure the bridge is secure for now.
Taniel sighed as the sun slipped beneath the horizon. "Well, we lived until Sundown..." He said to himself, causing the runner to look at him oddly. "Oh right..." He turned to the runner. "Get back to the men and tell them I am personally bringing reinforcements to secure the bridge." He nodded and gestured to the North. The runner took off to deliver the message.
He looked across the river, the light making it hard to make out what was going on. "Right... no time to be weary." He marched over to his cannon setups. "Get yourselves moving! We need to clear space for the rest of the army to move over here." He left unsaid 'what was left of it' but judging by the looks of his officers, they were all thinking it. "Roger and Liam, you two are coming with me. Get your cannons packed for travel, we need to secure the north bridge off this bloody speck of land."
With that said, he went to find a horse. He had hours of work to do and he hoped to get some sleep before the sun rose.
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Post by ashenmoon on Jun 4, 2015 19:33:51 GMT
Turn 11 - ends Sunday 7th Link: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14467358/eclipse/eclipse_republic_tactical_ag80135dgva_011.jpgFirst Citizen Avus Gula
The First Citizen had already heard a first draft of a poem celebrating his successful charge against the Dominion zealots earlier in the day, before he joined the command centre of the Republican army. The great tent was boiling with activity as scouts, quartermasters, generals and Inquisitors bustled around, reporting on the events of the day and counting the casualties. The foreign troops under General Garrek had been all but wiped out. Out of two companies and nine regiments, only a single regiment - somewhat worse for wear - remained. High Inquisitor Gori had fielded three parties, three companies and four regiments to the battle. Two regiments had seen heavy engagements and had lost over half their numbers, but otherwise, his force remained in quite good shape. Of the Black Jack's ten batteries of cannon, two had been lost. Other than that, his forces were mainly intact. Finally, the forces under the First Citizen's own command had numbered one company and twelve regiments in the morning - now the cavalry company, his nominal bodyguard that had joined the cavalry force under Gori, was gone. A regiment of infantry had also been lost. In total, then, out of twenty-seven regiments, seven loose companies, and ten batteries of cannon, about ten regiments, three companies and two batteries had been lost. Almost a third of the Republican army, that is to say. Looking around at the assembled Republican high command, fear, anger and disbelief was writ plain on their faces. Commodore "Black Jack" Taniel CorsoThe Commodore arrived to the north bridge just in time - several hundred, maybe thousands, of Dominion troops had been drawing close to retake the bridgehead. However, as soon as cannons began firing at them - led by guiding flares lit by the Republican troops - they retreated back into the darkness. The bridge was secure... for now. Who knew how many more troops the Dominion was mustering? If these gains were to be kept, the Republic would need to march forward and drive the Dominion out of the nearby town to the north, which was named Orian. High Inquisitor Pietro GoriRiding swiftly, following the trace of magic, Gori and his Inquisitors tracked the magical water-beasts - a form of mutated sharks - first south along the river, then north across a narrow channel. Once making contact, his Inquisitors blasted the foul beasts - but the shark-men simply retreated south down the river. Watching them lurk in the waves just outside his range, Gori wondered how long he would be forced to play cat-and-mouse with the now quite decimated demonic beasts. Perhaps it was time to look to the north... to Falor. General Garrek (Renal Sistorian)The Republican army camped on the island of Aemilon. The first hours of night passed without much of note, as soldiers prepared themselves for rest. The Pioneer regiments, guarding the set of bridges they had built - and rebuilt - during the day remained busy at their construction site. Suddenly flashes lit up the darkness from the nearest ridge of the Ediren hills - Dominion long-range magi firing arcane missiles at the pioneers on the western shore. As Garrek pondered if the western shore should be entirely abandoned, a small group of wild-eyed, soaked-through men came up to him. With a start, he recognized them as soldiers from his command of foreign troops... The Western FrontAlmost four thousand Republican soldiers had been fully encircled by Dominion forces earlier in the day, as the rest of High Inquisitor Gori's command began a desperate retreat across the full length of the Ediren hills. Those four thousand men, forming a defensive square, as well as several more regiments and smaller companies separated from the Republican main force, were all but forgotten as the battle progressed eastwards. It was assumed that they had all been wiped out - killed or imprisoned - by Dominion forces. This, however, was not the case. After hours of tenacious battle, throwing off waves of Dominion attackers, a decimated portion of the encircled troops - about fifteen hundred men - managed a breakthrough near sunset. Making their way south to a small village, they rendezvoused with several more surviving and forgotten companies. Soon their numbers swelled to a considerable force of some four or five thousand men in total - maybe more, though nobody knew exactly. General Otakar was presumed dead, but a colonel Lorenzo di Allegari of the 1st Foreign Guard regiment took command. Though the Dominion generals must surely be aware of the existence of surviving Republican regiments, Lorenzo surmised that they must be unaware of their numbers. Spreading out his troops, so as to avoid enemy scouts realizing their newfound organization as well as their total numbers, Lorenzo ordered the regiments to make their way east through the darkness. Knowing by the sounds of artillery that the main force must have made it across the river to the island of Aemilo, Lorenzo sent a few able swimmers ahead to attempt to make contact with the Republican main force. While a few men might be able to cross the river, the surviving cavalry and the several thousand infantry burdened by their equipment, would need some assistance in rejoining their compatriots...
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