Cressian Field superiority?
Okay - maybe we should run through another field engagement. In conference with the generals of Thelia and the some of the most respected Huntsmasters of Cressia, and the enigmatic Auselen Sorceress Mogan, one of the Cressian Generals develops a plan. Being from the northern moors near Stempa (and the current conflict), he is one of the Aetae - the descendents of one of the Hill Folk tribes.
The ancestral weapon of the Aetae is the atlatl, and the Cressian high command see the utility of this weapon pretty quickly. They equip ten hunts of experienced militia with these weapons. Mogan sells another four zombies to the Cressians at exorbitant rates (two of them recycled from the earlier battle). The Cressians also assemble ten packs of their best Deltane beastmen, sending half of the weaker Deltanes to other cities, leaving Karvos (the city which was freed by Mogans’ gargantuan Zombies) defended by the elites. Though they have to take Deltanes from other cities (which means the Ta’Jinn manage to grow even bolder) the High Command feels its’ worth it. They also get a pack of Druids - though only fifteen strong, they are some of the more experienced Druids around. Also, one hundred and fifty Thelian veterans of the Tarthusian War are pledged in exchange for Cressian aid in the siege of Belephthos. Lastly, five scribe sept Bards come with them.
Meanwhile, to the south of Karvos the remaining 1650 Ta’Jinn are licking their wounds. They have encamped in a small, narrow valley, about two days south of Karvos., and are low on food (a Cressian ambush managed to wipe out most of their supplies in transit). The heaviest losses were among the men from a province north of the Heaven River valley called Khamer. Feared, agile, and worthy warriors in their own right, they are disgruntled with the leadership of the last battle. Stempan spies have observed this, and one of the Scribe sept of Cressia volunteers for a dangerous mission - using Tongues and Alter Self, she will sneak into the Ta’Jinn camp disguised as a Khamer war dancer, sent as a messenger, and spread dissent.
The Cressians begin their march south, on a cloudy dawn, towards the Ta’Jinn (Found by scrying). The Godsblood Wu Xian, a reknowned archer (sorcerer multiclassed with fighter) is awoken by his griffin - who indicates the Cressians are moving from Karvos. Wu Xian takes up his bow, stamps out his fire, and climbs onto his Griffin. Cautiously, he leaves the bluff where he has encamped to watch Karvos, taking care to keep the rising sun on the other side of the Cressians - so he will not be silhouetted against it.
Knowing the range of the Cressian Javelins, he decides to take a closer look, eager to find the composition of the force, and maybe practise his archery on the Cressian dog-men. He is seen on his first low overflight. Unfortunately, he fails to complete his second, as he is struck by a storm of Javelins, and dies, as does his mount (Mogan later accepts the corpse in lieu of payment for the Zombies - Redath developed griffins, Mogan knows little of the magic used to create them.)
The march continues south, and the Godsblood riding north to relieve Wu Xian is set upon by several giant eagles (Think-tank innovation), one ridden by a cloaked Cressian druid (Stempan spies have reported the Godsblood‘s system of rotation). The Ta’Jinn dies - but manages to send a message via whispering wind. The Ta’Jinn have never had their aerial superiority threatened, and they unfortunately (for them) are much more concerned about what the Cressians have developed to attack griffins - so they send twenty centaurs to investigate rather than risking a griffin.
Scouting Deltanes find the centaurs at dusk, and they are killed when they try and stand off to shoot - used to the superior range of the long-bow, they make Wu Xian’s mistake, and Deltanes with atlatls mananeg to wound and kill several. Deltanes and Druids polymorphed into panthers pursue and finish off the survivors, managing to kill all of them, though not without some difficult chases.
The Ta’Jinn await the centaurs, and after marching through the night the Cressians arrive at the Ta’Jinn encampment. The Khamer and Heaven River troops have fires going, as does a small force of Stempa from Lesthen - equipped with Khopeshes. Deltanes kill the sentries, with the Bards silencing the conflicts. The Druids then pull out the wands of Faerie fire they have made over the last week. All but one - the highest level, cast faerie fire towards the centaurs (do centaurs sleep standing, like horses?) and the highest level quenches the fires of the Khamer, Heaven River, and Lesthen. Atlatls send javelins humming towards the Centaurs - who are now highlighted with Faerie Fire on an overcast night, being fired upon from outside of 60 feet. Nine of the packs of Deltanes kill pretty much with impunity among the Jinn humans. About ten of the Khamer escape up to the Cressian lines - the Cressian operative has convinced them that the Zombies are now able to be mass-produced.
The Centaurs not caught with Faerie fire attempt to attack the Cressian spear-throwers, but the line of protective Thelians manage to stand firm - not without some assistance from Druids, and the fact that the centaurs are unable to attack in strength. The Deltanes then retreat, and the Zombies of Mogan are released into the already panicked troops of the Ta’Jinn. The atlatls cover the retreat of the Deltanes and the less-mobile Thelians , then retreat into the woods.
The Druids, Deltanes, and atlatl soldiers all harass the Ta’Jinn as they attempt to retreat to the Tamarch’s forces. Three hundred and twenty-eight return to the south - nearly all of them centaurs, most of the Heaven River troops succumbing to the ambushes of the Cressians on the march.
What intelligence do the Khamer give? How will the Centaur who slew a Deltane with a ceremonial silver dagger used in the dawn worship service use his knowledge? What of the Cressian air force? Will the armies of Lesthen ever get to use their khopeshes ;-)? Can the Cressians repeat their success without their elaborate set up? How do the Tamarch react to loosing three and a half wings of men?
What do you all think?
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