Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 4- The Second Invasion)

[Nephtys]

"Hey, we're all fools, or else we wouldn't be here. Now, let's show those savages what a pack of brave fools can do.
"Let's divide your kobolds into two groups, those who have skills in stealth and those who don't. Divide the stealthy group into several groups of three, arm them with the gear they need to set their fires and have them spread out in a ring in the woods around the camp. When they hear the war-cry 'Dul Keyar' from the side of the camp facing the town they should then advance and set fire to the wagons and tents in the rear and to the sides. Then they should retreat and hide. If they then hear the war cry 'Eroll' they should advance again, evade any groups of orcs that may have been sent out to hunt them down, and attack the rear of the camp with hit and run tactics, advancing stealthily and setting new fires until they face serious opposition. Tell them to run if they face bad odds, but to exploit any weakness and confusion to cause maximum damage. If they find any women and children they should use them as hostages, but if that's not possible it's better to kill them than to leave them behind."

"The second group should be held in reserve at this position. If the orcs weaken their defenses to the front in reaction to the threat to their rear this group, under your leadership and with my aid, will then launch a fullscale attack on this sector. If our attack is successful we will press it, and call in the first group to attack again. If our attack encounters impossible odds we will retreat, setting fire to the camp as we go, and scatter into the woods."

"It's risky, but even the success of the first part of the plan may be enough to demoralise our enemies and weaken their attack on the town. A complete success will get us both glory and riches (it damn well better), and perhaps some noble titles as well. Either way, your people and mine will have bound their futures together, and the trade will flow as thick as the orcish blood on our blades."

"Are you with me?"


ooc:
How many defenders appears to be guarding the camp? Do the woods give cover to the groups of arsonist kobolds? Is the position we're in now hidden enough to hide a large group of kobolds? If not, is there a nearby position that is?

ooc: I've been planning to buy some healing potions ever since the battle with the Ogre, but never got around to putting it in writing. Has Barok managed to find some potions on the bodies of the slain orcs?

 

[GlassEye]

Silas smiles broadly when he sees Dartis and his small force of horsemen. "Lord Kalnian, the Dorinthian Irregulars are under your command!" The relief that accompanies that statement floods through Silas though he knows the battle isn't over yet...

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

“Greetings!” Beams Caramip as Silas and her make their way towards Darkis and his mounted warriors. “Hope everyone is enjoying this rousing game of Hide’n Go Seek!” She says in witty banter.

She looks between the civilian force and the mounted cavalry with an excited smile. Shifting her gaze, she turns to the two leaders of the pack and asks, “So, Generals, what’s the plan?”

 

[Fenris]

Silas smiles broadly when he sees Dartis and his small force of horsemen. "Lord Kalnian, the Dorinthian Irregulars are under your command!" The relief that accompanies that statement floods through Silas though he knows the battle isn't over yet...

Dartis grins back, noticing the blood stained staff Silas holds in his hand
"If you continue to insist on participating in combat my friend, you must let me teach you the sword" says Dartis with a broader grin as he reaches down to clasp the Caernite's hand.

“Greetings!” Beams Caramip as Silas and her make their way towards Darkis and his mounted warriors. “Hope everyone is enjoying this rousing game of Hide’n Go Seek!” She says in witty banter.

She looks between the civilian force and the mounted cavalry with an excited smile. Shifting her gaze, she turns to the two leaders of the pack and asks, “So, Generals, what’s the plan?”

"My thanks to both of you for your valiant leadership and valor in saving these people. But come, much remains to be done and our brothers are solely pressed."

Addressing the mass of people around them Dartis draws his sword and calls out "Dorinthians! I know you are tired and wounded. I know that you are scared and weary. I know another enemy has arrived on our doorstep. But just as we fought the Tallione, so shall we fight against any who dares march on Dorinthia! You stalwart citizens have already driven off a large horde of maurading orcs. Your bravery and courage is an inspiration and a fitting tribute to our great ancestors. But the time for rest is not yet. We must get you to safety. And yes we must still fight! Our brothers hold the city square, but are falling back. We must go and save them, we must go save our brothers, and mothers and children! As you have fought here, go and fight one more time. Follow the leadership of Silas Eyrstan and Caramip Ashhearth who have lead you to victory here. Follow them to the city square and join our kinsmen and let no orc stand between you!" cries Dartis brandishing Shield and sword.

To Silas and Caramip he adds "Take them to the square, break through orc lines into the square if you can otherwise take to the buildings and harass the horde with the archers. But get these people off the street. My men and I will ride vedette and make sure there are no surprises and hold off any incursions against you as you move. But you must lead them hence"

[sblock=DT] Activating the Shield for Cha bonus for my speech [/sblock]

 

[GlassEye]

Dartis grins back, noticing the blood stained staff Silas holds in his hand
"If you continue to insist on participating in combat my friend, you must let me teach you the sword" says Dartis with a broader grin as he reaches down to clasp the Caernite's hand.

"Likely I would just cut my own fool head off. Much harder to do with a stick," he says as he returns Dartis' firm hand clasp. Quietly he says, "We would have been overrun if not for Caramip's quick thinking and action..." Now if anything happens, thinks Silas, and I don't survive this, she'll at least get some recognition for her actions today.

Silas listens with admiration and not a little trepidation as Dartis addresses the gathered Dorinthians and nearly groans when the nobleman tosses leadership back into his lap. Taking a deep breath he again buries his dismay and presents a collected front. "Not far now. So ready yourselves. We have work to do!"

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

With a smile she looks up the mounted warrior and says “General!” There is a slight pause so as to be sure that she has Davik’s attention continuing. “I am wondering if remember Commander Naissirlac’s little maneuver at the Battle of Tanaab?” She flashes Silas a wink before continuing her story.

See OOC comment.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Dartis, Silas, and Caramip
[sblock]
You watch as the central defenses almost become overrun and realize that your force might be able to harrass them, but not break through. Caramip suggests going after the leadership and chopping off the enemy army at the head in order to bring this battle to a quicker end. The three of you agree to lead a small contingent of a couple hundred young lads, militia, and old men to seek out and destroy the camp. The archers are all taken, but fifty women are given spears in the hope that they can deter any force from taking the inlet and civilians within. It's a gamble, but one that your party is adament about trying. Besides, Dartis has a general idea about where the enemy camp is after listening to Nikolos' report.

The group does not travel unimpeded, and several skirmishes are won over small bands of orcs that are occupied with looting and setting fire to several houses. Despite the street to street fighting, your group finally makes it through the majority of the town, only to suddenly see several fires springing up in the area that the enemy camp is believed to be located. Like a beacon, it draws your attention and from the shouts on that now fiery hill you can tell that chaos has just broken loose in the orc camp.

You think you see a man being chased down the large hill by five others, but you cannot tell who they are. It is evident, though, that they intend to kill him as he tumbles away from one of their blades. He is about two hundred feet away, at the base of the hill.
[/sblock]

Barok
[sblock]
Barok takes two groups of kobolds and places them on different parts of the hill, both with a dozen humanoids. Rix heads the other group and splits them into three packs of four firestarters while Barok leads the other dozen into a spread out group of crossbowmen. When the scout yells "Dul-Keyar" he is rewarded with the yipping of angry kobolds and the surprised looks on the orc leaders' faces as the wagons and tents behind them begin to catch on flame. They begin to yell at each other in the orcish language, and en masse they all draw weapons and race towards the small humanoids, murder in their eyes. That's when Barok and his irregular formation springs forth with his kobolds firing into the backs of several orc leaders before racing back into the woods.

Chaos erupts in the camp, and as the orc leaders are trying to figure out which threat to worry about more, Barok yells "Eroll" as he retreats, causing the braver kobolds to burst forth again for another go. A couple are cut down by random orc camp followers, but a handful get through and light up a few more supplies before fleeing for good into the forest.

That's when the orc chieftain and a four of his right hand men charge towards Barok's voice and the rogue decides it's time to go. Yelling to his kobolds to scatter, the scout finds that the enraged group of barbarians are quickly gaining on him. The thief hears the crash of a large orc and the whistle of a blade behind him and tumbles forward in time to avoid being cut into two. Instead, the side of the tree near his head explodes from the barbarian's sword swing, throwing wood chips into the night air.

As the rogue retreats down the hill and back towards the town, five barbaric orcs on his heels, he suddenly realizes that he is in trouble...
[/sblock]

Nikolos, Ventus, and Danica
[sblock]
"Here they come again!" Radnal yells out a warning as the orcs come at the interior barricades with strong force and better organization. It's as if they are being led by barbarians with better experience than the last group, and you notice that older, more experienced orcs are now appearing in greater frequency. A few dozen break through where some of the milita are unable to hold them back.

It's Cal who rushes forward with some of Radnal's town guard under his command and plugs the hole, but the orcs that made it through either sneak into the administrative building where Alexander and Syra are or take the time to attack behind your lines. Cal engages these also with the help of Ventus and a handful of men. The Imperial and noble Dorinthian fight hard, but are eventually separated by the brutality of their conflict. Ventus is able to hold back two orcs at once with his shield, but Cal goes down to a large and scarred barbarian. As the muscular orc is about to drive his axe into the fallen noble, Baron Dorin rushes forward and swings his longbow like a club, splintering it against the barbarian's face and throwing off its aim. With a roar, the orc attacks once more, mortally wounding the baron with a blow to the chest. Cal screams in shock and drives his longsword upwards with two hands as he rises back up, impaling the large orc in the heart with such force that he actually lifts the dying enemy inches off the ground.

With the threat halted for the time being, Nikolos and Cal rush to the dying baron's side in a futile attempt to save his life.

"Ah, son. I see why you enjoyed riding so much with the men. This... this made me feel alive... Still... I would ... would have preferred to... have seen my old garden... than war..." With that, the mild-mannered baron closes his eyes and dies.

A pitiful wail bursts forth from Cal's lungs, and the dryad's necklace begins to glow around his neck. The wail is taken up by others, as they notice their baron has fallen. Instead of falling to despair, however, you see a rage burning in the eyes of the Dorinthians around you. It is all Radnal can do to hold them back from a tactical mistake in the midst of the battle. As you watch Cal, however, you see his skin become like bark at the same time that the necklace begins to dim. With his new protective hardened skin the noble picks up his blade and looks as if he is ready to go over the barricades by himself. It is Ventus who first gains the courage to grab Cal before he does something foolish, magic protection or not.

That's when Nikolos suddenly spots the fires that now erupt all over the suspected location of the orc camp on a hill to the north. Absolute chaos has broken out in the enemy encampment and the attackers begin to slow down as all wonder what it means.
[/sblock]

 

[Nephtys]

Barok
[sblock]
Barok takes two groups of kobolds and places them on different parts of the hill, both with a dozen humanoids. Rix heads the other group and splits them into three packs of four firestarters while Barok leads the other dozen into a spread out group of crossbowmen. When the scout yells "Dul-Keyar" he is rewarded with the yipping of angry kobolds and the surprised looks on the orc leaders' faces as the wagons and tents behind them begin to catch on flame. They begin to yell at each other in the orcish language, and en masse they all draw weapons and race towards the small humanoids, murder in their eyes. That's when Barok and his irregular formation springs forth with his kobolds firing into the backs of several orc leaders before racing back into the woods.

Chaos erupts in the camp, and as the orc leaders are trying to figure out which threat to worry about more, Barok yells "Eroll" as he retreats, causing the braver kobolds to burst forth again for another go. A couple are cut down by random orc camp followers, but a handful get through and light up a few more supplies before fleeing for good into the forest.

That's when the orc chieftain and a four of his right hand men charge towards Barok's voice and the rogue decides it's time to go. Yelling to his kobolds to scatter, the scout finds that the enraged group of barbarians are quickly gaining on him. The thief hears the crash of a large orc and the whistle of a blade behind him and tumbles forward in time to avoid being cut into two. Instead, the side of the tree near his head explodes from the barbarian's sword swing, throwing wood chips into the night air.

As the rogue retreats down the hill and back towards the town, five barbaric orcs on his heels, he suddenly realizes that he is in trouble...
[/sblock]

"Ah, bloody hell" He curses as he rolls out of the way of another swing. This wasn't going quite the way he'd planned. "Rix, buddy, a little help here..." Looking around he finds he's on his own and therefore turns deeper into the forest in an attempt to shake off his pursuers and hide, hoping to use the terrain, his smaller bulk and greater dexterity to his advantage.

(ooc1: He would have tried to hide immediately when it became apparent that he couldn't beat his pursuers in a fair fight, but I don't know if that would have made a diference since it depends on the terrain.)

(ooc2: I don't know if it's in the rules, but it makes sense that his dexterity and slightly smaller size should help him pass quicker trough broken terrain and thick vegetation. Maybe a series of balance checks to avoid tripping on roots and such could be used.)

 

[Deuce Traveler]

OOC 1: Sorry, but it wasn't the hiding in the brush thing that led them to you, but the yelling of commands to the kobolds, several guys looking for the source in a general centralized vicinity, and their darkvision that let them zero in.

OOC 2: Good plan.

 

[Fenris]

Dartis leaves the militia to continue their march as he takes five of the cavalry (leaving five with the militia) and rides quickly to investigate the commotion at the hill.