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

[GlassEye]

Silas gives Caramip a grateful smile before turning back to the task at hand. I wish Lord Kalnian were here; he's much better at this sort of thing... As the state of their arms becomes more clear Silas realizes that he is woefully lacking able-bodied men. Picking out a militiaman that he recognizes, he begins barking orders, "Janse, get those militia men swords and position them just behind the barricade. Give the others halberds. Armored militia in front. You there!" He points at a group of older men. "Grab a spear. Spread out and line up behind. You!" He points at another group of older men. "Grab bows and ready yourself to fire. Arrows over our forces to rain down on orcs. Hurry, get ready..." At that moment he sees the howling orcs descending upon them like a cloud of locusts. I need more time! Shoving doubt and fear down he tries to present a collected face to his fellow Dorinthians. "Bowmen! Fire!"

Silas grabs a nearby woman. "Get women to help you but get those children into the creek and out of sight. Make your way to the town square. Grab a knife; you may need to defend yourself."

Lacking more time he'll cast Shield upon himself inwardly seething that the magics remaining to him are of little use in battle. "Stand firm!" he yells. Hefting his staff he rushes forward to support their meager line of swordsmen and to meet the oncoming orcs...

[sblock=OOC]
Armored militia with swords and halberds in the front.
Old guys/women with spears and halberds interspersed but a step behind.
Old guys/women with bows just behind them.[/sblock]

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Silas and Caramip
[sblock]
OOC: Sorry, I should have been clearer. You have 100 militia men and 2000 old men (ages 50+), women (all ages), and children (ages 0-15) civilians. You have the following weapons:

60 spears, 20 halbers, 110 bows, countless arrows, 20 longswords, 50 short swords, and a couple hundred knives.

Your milita men have leather armor while the civilians have nothing. The militia men are ready to grab spears and halberds like you've requested. That leaves 20 more free, and they can either take the longswords, become archers, or use the short swords or knives for fighting a little closer and more personal.

How would you like to distribute your forces and weapons?
[/sblock]

 

[hafrogman]

Ventus stands by, uncomfortable as he watches the debate between Cal and Randal. His hand rests uneasily on his sword as he looks in the direction of the flanking force. His first instinct is to await orders. His time as a soldier taught him to follow instructions from those in a position to better judge the larger picture. But it was clear here that nobody knew ultimate goals, tactics or disposition of the orcs.

He turns to face Dartis.

"In times when there is no correct choice, the only mistake is to not choose."

 

[GlassEye]

[sblock=OOC]Post #71 edited to reflect better understanding of forces available.[/sblock]

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

She does what she can where she can and prays that everything else will take care of itself. In her mind, she has a hard time ignoring the connection of what had happened to her so long ago and how this battle is turning out to be. She prays that she has the courage to prevent history from repeating itself. Despite how she feels, she does her best to keep her emotions buried and away from the surface, especially around the children.

As the horde comes into view she hastily makes her way towards Silas and takes her place on their make shift barricade. Fires have spread across some parts of the town, and she can now begin to make out the blood thirsty eyes of horde. Wish you where here Nik… She thinks to herself as her eyes drift to the novice militia For your healing will be in much need.

Her drums increase in rhythm and sound. Ahead of them are hundreds of crimson drinking killers. Behind them, lying in wait with fear and prayer, are a thousand more innocent women and children. In between, rests a small militia with nothing but hope, determination and iron. “This is what legends are made of.” She states with a small look towards Silas.

Currect Effects:
+3 Attack; +4 Damage; +2 Saves vs Charm & Fear to everyone who can hear us
Preparation Actions:
Cast Resistance 3x (Silas if needed & on 2 would be Lt.’s), Drink Protection from Evil Potion, & Load Crossbow

Current Spell Count: 1st Round
1st: 3/6 – 2nd: 2/5 – 3rd: 1/3

 

[GlassEye]

Silas blinks, wide-eyed with surprise at Caramip's last comment. Finding his tongue he quietly says, "I would much rather have a quiet life." He glances back to where he last saw his wife then clenches his jaw and turns back towards the upcoming battle.

 

[Fenris]

Dartis listens to the cousel of Kyle and Cal and is silent a moment as the horns echo in the square.

"In times when there is no correct choice, the only mistake is to not choose."

"And to choose how to die. What kind of a man is Silas? He is a damnfool of a scholar that wades into combat more often than is good for him, when he should have his nose in a book. And he is as dear to me as a brother and I would not see him dead by a barbaric orc if I can help it. But neither shall I sacrifice those that are here.

The square is our best hope of defense and where the main attack lies. This shall be our stronghold. Kyle, keep your reserves here there are needed here. Cal, keep ten archers here, take thirty to the flank facing the refugees and harass that flank of the main column. Once they close with the barricades I want you back here to keep the square from being overrun.

Kyle, this is Ventus. I trust him completely and this is his kind of fight. Put some men under him and let him run the front lines while you manage the remaining lines.

Danica, keep that deadly aim of yours employed here and well as other gifts of yours. Nikolos, I know your healing will be much appreciated here, and I am thankful to have you and your skills among us.

Cal, I will take ten of your fastest archers to try to intercept the flanking orcs. If I can I mean to buy the refugees some time to get here, otherwise I will stay there to defended the rest of our people.

Barok, I could sure use an experianced hand to help me guide those refugees back here, and there's room on Swift.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Ventus, Barok, Danica, Nikolos, and Dartis
[sblock]
"Well, it's a plan at least," Radnal says in approval and begins to direct his men to follow Dartis' idea. He leaves Ventus in the center of where the incoming orcs can be now seen coming while giving last minute orders to the rest of the men on the flanks.

The men begin to grumble, however, as Ventus takes command of the front line. He is an Imperial after all. Cal observes with a calculated gaze for a moment before he says aloud, "So, you haven't run away and have decided to stand and die with us after all, Imperial. I'd venture that your more than earning your place with us." He then rides away to pick ten horsemen to accompany Dartis, but leaves a much relaxed unit ready now to take Ventus' commands. Cal delivers the ten riders consisting of five paladins, three fighters, and two rangers; all experts with bows.

Nikolos and Danica take their place next to Cal, who is busy making Kyle Radnal's one hundred archers into two small companies of bowmen. He then draws his sword and stands up on the stirrups of his horse. "Cavalry! .... Dis-mount!" The remaining riding paladins, rangers, and fighters... all minor nobles and former estate owners, dismount from their horses and send them into the center of the town square with young squires. "Cavalry! ... Ready ... bows! Cavalry! ... hold fire...!"

Kyle Radnal is equally loud, as he moves back and forth amoung his flanks. He has roughly 150 men on each flank, while Ventus has another 150 in the center. Forty more foot soldiers stand at the ready to the southern part of the outer circular defense and can also act as reserves since that sector so far sees no sign of the enemy. The militia is mixed with the town guard and wear leather armor compared to the guard's chain shirts. All carry either spears or halberds and short swords. "Protect the archers! Hold them back and let the bowmen do their work!"

As the orcs begin to climb the northern barricades to get at your positions, ten horsemen led by Dartis and Barok burst forth from the southern defenses in an attempt to stop an army of orcs from slaying thousands of their kin. From where they come forth they can already see that Silas' defenses are beset by a couple of hundred orcs. Three hundred more orcs are trickling towards their position and forming a long column via one of the main streets. None of the orcs notice Dartis' band so far.

Nikolos, Ventus, and Danica have their own problems to worry about, however. The mass of orcs are coming right down the center and Ventus' line is beginning to bow backwards from the weight of the assault.

"Cavalry, aim at the orcs in the center! Archers, aim over the barricades! Fire!" The foot archers shoot over the barricades with the hope of decimating the orcs' ranks behind the first. The elite and horseless cavalry have an aim that is unerring, helping to slow the assault.

"Push them back! For the Rider! For your families! For New Dorinthia!"
[/sblock]

Silas and Caramip
[sblock]
The orcs begin to come over the barricades, and the newly-made archers take the opportunity to fire at will, injuring or killing a couple dozen of the initial attackers. The next volley goes over the barricades to impact against unseen orcs. Men with halberds and spears take care of many of the others. The orcs that fall and are not outright killed are slaughtered by old men with spears.

The abjurer and the gnome do their part while motivating the troops, with staff crushing skulls and short sword stabbing downwards. In the midst of this violent encounter, a young woman runs up to the two heroes.

"Orcs! Orcs are trying to swim at us from the creek!" All your defenses are concentrated on barely holding the line, and you have nothing but huddled civilians by the creek.

[/sblock]

 

[hafrogman]

Ventus stands firmly, shoulder to shoulder with the Dorinthians as the orcs press their attack. He tries to assemble the men it to some semblance of a shield wall, wishing that he had a good old Imperial Legion at his back like he used to. He shakes off his idle wishes as unimportant. He is no longer a legionaire, all he has is himself and the men beside him to hold off this attack. He braces for the first impact of the orcs.

"STAND FIRM!"

And then the orcs are upon them. His sword darts out from behind his shield as he strikes wherever he finds the opportunity. He does his best to aid those beside him, pushing himself harder than he dare ask of the townfolk. When the line begins to falter under the orc attack he calls for one of the reserve to take his place in line.

"Cal was wrong. I have no intention of dying today!"

Gathering around half of the remaining reserve force he moves to reinforce the line where it has been pushed back, hoping the renewed assault of the fresh troops and his own aid will be enough to get the line back into shape.

 

[Nephtys]

Dartis listens to the cousel of Kyle and Cal and is silent a moment as the horns echo in the square.

...


Cal, I will take ten of your fastest archers to try to intercept the flanking orcs. If I can I mean to buy the refugees some time to get here, otherwise I will stay there to defended the rest of our people.

Barok, I could sure use an experianced hand to help me guide those refugees back here, and there's room on Swift.

"As you say sir."

ooc: DT: Just out of curiosity, which way does the wind blow?