Storm of Chaos IC

[Haval]

After dismounting, Tuli accompanies Asyrha to the top of the tower where she could be most useful. If the Northmen broke through she could probably rely on the two knights to hold the line. If they could not, she was content to meet any invaders on the stairs if she had to.

At the top she'll smile at the sight of their enemy choosing to come to them. 'They save as the bother of having to hunt them down.' With effort born through years of practice she'll start loosing arrows at the oncoming horde. She'll make a point of targeting the Beastmen first. Even if she couldn't kill them outright, she could bleed them and blunt their attack.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Swift Attack on the Beastman for three rounds unless stopped by something. Anything over 34 yards is long range, so that'll go away eventually.
vs. BS 55 (-20 range). Any hits are -1 to armour for Sure Shot.
1st round
(1d100)[26]
(1d100)[19]
2nd round
(1d100)[93]
(1d100)[5]
3rd round
(1d100)[12]
(1d100)[42]

Damage in the ooc if it's needed

14/20 Regular arrows

Perception to notice anything worth noticing
vs. Int 32
(1d100)[77]

[Janwin]

Realizing that cavalry isn't going to be of much use or advantage given the current tactical situation, Sir Gottfried dismounts from his destrier and pulls the morningstar from where it hangs in front of the saddle. He then moves to join the soldiers on the front line.

"Stand true, men, and I shall stand with you. We have the advantage, and our foe shall fall in their futile attack upon this keep! Reinforcements will be here soon!"

He hoped that knowing that a Knight of the Reiksguard fighting beside them would be sufficient to bolster their courage and resolve.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

For the first few rounds, Gottfried will direct troops to where they need to be and try to maintain the morale of their own force.

[Lord Athos]

Just like Sir Gottfried, a dismounted Sieur Armand busied himself organising and reassuring the pikemen into sensible lines, before taking his place at the forefront, just like Eisenhauer and the Reiksguard Knight.

"A question of battle etiquette, Sir Gottfried, if you would." Sieur Armand said casually. "I would leave the privilege of engaging their Champion to you, since it is your Emperor's soil we're fighting on, or is there an Imperial custom that says otherwise?"

[DrK]

Chaos breaks out in the tower as the wave of savage looking Kurgan and few massive muscled beastmen burst from the tree line and start running or galloping on their hooves towards the wooden gates that bar the tunnel under the tower. Arrows start falling on them from the Ostlanders in the tower, soon bolstered by the red and green jacketed archers that had scouted forwards with you. Most of the arrows fall wide of the mark, the norseman running with shields outstretched and both them and the beastman moving fast ignoring the fletched arrows thudding into the ground around them. Two of the norseman fall, one of the beasts taking an arrow in the leg that barely slows the savage creature. It stops moments later as Tuli reaches the rampart about the tunnel, a pair of arrows thudding into the creatures chest... it takes a half dozen more strides before topppling over. Amos down below fires a pair of arrows through the slit in the gate but both go asray before he turns and starts to canter across the bridge. Atop the tower beside Tuli the Eladrin Seer calls down the winds, wind whipping and thrashinga round the tower top but the wild threads of Azyr run amok and instead a great clap of thunder like a trio of cannons echoes across the riverside.

With in the gate tunnel the two knights and Bella rally the troops. THe half dozen militia men clutching weapons and breathing hard, even with the reassuring presence of the two heavily armoured knights in their midst. With a thunderous crash the doors creak and heave as the first norsemen and beasts slam into the door. THe stench of the beasts and the norseman - sweat, blood, faeces is strnog ni the tunnel mixed with the sharp tang of urine where two of the soldiers shook with fear. THe men old the line pushing back against the door, others jabbing spears and halberds through the viewing grates against the mass of flesh and leather on the far side. The door shakes under the heavy axe strikes, all 3 of the experienced warriors realising that the door is unlikley to hold for long! On the battlement there is a pair of screams as two men topple, one falling forward onto the ground where he is butchered by a pair of norsemen, the other falling by Tuli's feet a throwing hatchet buried in his face!

Spoiler: OOC

Show

It will take Amos a while to get across a 200 yard bridge and then another couple of hundred of yards up the hill. He can see Ludenhof shouting at the men and people quick marching down the hill. He may want to turn around and come back.


ALl players - you've ~2 rounds before we worry about the door cracking. Feel free to take a couple of rounds of actions

[Haval]

Tuli grimaces as she saw the man next to her fall. Oh you'll regret that. If she notices which Northman threw the hatchet she'll try to bring him down in vengeance. If not there were plenty of other targets.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Perception vs. Int 32 to shoot the right man
(1d100)[94]

Round 1 (Swift Attack, extra -1 AP)
vs. BS 55
(1d100)[75]
(1d100)[66]

Damage
(1d10+3)[12]
(1d10+3)[7]

Round 2
(1d100)[45]
(1d100)[94]

Damage
(1d10+3)[5]
(1d10+3)[4]


FP:1//2
Regular Arrows: 10

[dojango]

Amos's horse cantered out into the central span of the bridge. Up on the other bank, he could see the rest of the battallion making haste to come to the relief of the tower, but they were so far away... and the crowd of raiders had cut him off from the relative safety of the keep... an old trick came to mind. He turned his horse back, and rode to within 30 yards of the horde, and fired quickly fired two arrows into the milling mass at the door. Once he gets their attention, he'll shout out in Kislevarin, "Hey! You goat-lovers! There ain't no goats inside there for you, you'll have to get buggered somewhere else! Hey, how many beastmen does it take to keep your mothers happy? Hah! Nobody knows, cause your mothers are too ugly for the beastmen to touch!"

Spoiler

Show

Hmm, so that might not have been such a great idea. Still, in the heat of battle, people can make rash decisions! So I'm on the span of the bridge, the northmen are trying to break into the keep on the northeast side of the bridge, and our reinforcements are still ~12 rounds away. At least my horse is fast! Movement 8 for a light warhorse. Are any of the northmen mounted? From the first description, they seem to all be on foot. Gonna try and old scheme on these guys. Basically, try and get a bunch of them to chase me into the oncoming reinforcements. Hopefully our gunners/archers can drop them for me. Can't think of an applicable skill, and even if I could, I probably don't have it, so here's a roll to see how many of the raiders are taunted away: (1d100)[25]

If they don't chase me, then I'll just stay at range and pepper them with arrows. Here's the first two shots v. 58. (1d100)[47], (1d100)[19], (1d10)[4], (1d10)[6]

[Janwin]

Clearly a bit amused by Armand's question, Gottfried looks him square in the eye and says, "Friend, in a battle such as this, where you're fighting a foe without honor, the honor of killing the enemy's champion goes to whoever..." He then raises his voice for the benefit of the soldiers around them, to try and futher bolster their resolve. "...kills the bastard first! A cannon or an archer will probably take him down before he even gets to us anyway!"

He readies his sword and shield for the eventual reality of the enemy breaking down the door, and prepares to block the gap as best he can to allow the spears and polearms to do their work safely behind him. As soon as the axes manage to hack any sort of hole in the door that might allow him to stab out at the foe on the other side, he jabs his sword through the gap at whatever flesh he can find.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Probably only 1 round where it might be possible for him to stab out at the attackers before they manage to break in the door.

(1d100)[9] vs WS 69
(1d10+6)[10] damage

(1d100)[84] vs WS 69
(1d10+6)[13] damage

[Lord Athos]

"Imperial pragmatism then. I should have known." Sieur Armand replied.

"Steady, men, steady. Those savages will impale themselves when they break through, and do the work for us." Armand ordered the men stoically.

As Sir Gottfried stabbed through a gap in the door, the Bretonnian Knight raised his sword to his face, lowering his head in silent prayer.

Our Lady of the Lake, I beseech you, grant your humble servant your blessing. Guide my swordarm in the coming battle, so I may strike your enemies down, in your name, and to your glory.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Spending a fortune point to ask the lady for the Might of Purity, which essentially makes Armand's weapon a two-handed sword in regards to damage. Since Armand has the Virtue of Purity, he gets it immediately without any action necessary instead of having to pray for those absurd 12 combat rounds.

[Erulasto]

Asyrha released the weave of Azyr as the thunderous roar echoed across the riverside with a gasp. The rot in the land; dark magic and ruination, had spoiled her magic.

Seeing two of the soldiers go down nearby, the Spellsinger stepped a pace back from the crenelations and stilled her mind. She could not allow herself to fall to the sway of bloodlust and mania - a calm mind would be needed to work what enchantments she could.

First, Asyrha opened her mind to the twisting strands of Fate, tethering herself to them with bonds of Azyr. Being able to manipulate the outcome she desired was the most pressing task.

Then, when she had accomplished that task, she stepped forward once more and raised her hands to the sky, calling down a searingly bright blue-white lance of lightning, before she twisted her body - throwing the bolt down into the fray with a peal of thunder.

Her target? The Norcan leader.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Round One:

Channelling (1d100)[54] TN 83
Casting First Portent of Amul - TN 6
(2d10)[10][4](14) +2 if channel works
Spell grants one reroll next round

Round Two:

Channelling (1d100)[1] TN 83
Casting Lightning Bolt - TN 10
(2d10)[3][9](12) +2 if channel works

Reroll from First Portent of Amul if necessary
(2d10)[4][8](12)

Damage (1d10+6)[16]

EDIT: Reroll wasn't necessary. But damn. Max damage on the lightning. I cant recall if Magic triggers Ulric's Fury....

[rax]

"Right then! Archers! Form two ranks behind the shield wall and halberds! Nock arrows and as soon as those savages come through the gates, you shoot! Clear?"

"The rest of you, do as the knights say - form ranks! Those of you with shields, form a shield wall with Sir Gottfried and Sieur Armand. Spears and halberds, you're the second rank with me. Anyone that can't squeeze in, congratulations! You're the reserves."

"We're not letting any of these bastards through, am I right? You're Ostlanders! Even a Talabheim girl like me knows that Ostlanders never give up and never give in! Strong as bulls and tough as old leather, the lot of you! Now grab your balls and your weapons, and get ready to send these savages to an early grave!"

OOC: Bella straps on her helmet then busies herself getting the men in formation. Plus, using Charm to make a (hopefully) rousing speech to raise morale. Public Speaking allows her to affect up to 50 listeners.

Charm test vs. Fel 50 (1d100)[6]

Pre-emptive FP re-roll if needed (1d100)[84]

[DrK]

Even as the beasts and Norsemen run through the grass and brush and a few more fall to the archers on the tower. As the savage norsemen batter and hew at the gate arrows fired from near point blank range pierce helms or shatter shoulders. Amos and Tuli add to the confusion both finding a marks as two more of the invaders fall. In the tunnel there is a clamour from the doors being chopped and splintered, rents and gaps appearing in the strong wooden gates even as blood seeps under the gate from the beast and three more invaders killed by the spears and halberds jabbing savagely through the gaps in the wooden slats and finding marks as the attackers are pressed hard against the gate.
Bella and the knights ready the men, Bella stabilsing the line and standing by the archers who look to her with grim steadfast determination, a hint of a smile on their faces as she speaks of the strength of Ostlanders.

The pressure on the gate lifts suddenly as there is a great flash of blue lightning and the stench of ozone fills the tunnel, beards and hair standing on end as the gate is illuminated for a second with blinding light. From the walls Asrhya release a great torrent of the celestial wind and casts down a massive bolt of lightning. A cheer sounds around her as the Norse warleader is hit - for a second he appears illuminated by the light, a shadown of black and white trapped in the crackling bolt before he is thrown yards through the air, an arm and a leg separating as the charred body is blown apart by the massive blast!

A shudder runs through the norse attackers, a moment of weakness, the rear most half dozen turning and starting to run towards the woods. Others by the gates, pausing, the hammering on the gates slowing as their nerve wavers in the face of the relentless arrows from above and the magical and explosive death of their leader!

[Haval]

Tuli laughs at the effect of the lightning on the beards of the attackers. To Asyrha, 'Tor is with you Wise One.' Even Northmen knew better then to stand up to the God of Storms. Leaning over the defences, she'll target whichever enemy was closest to the gate.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Full Action - Swift Attack (-1 AP for Sure Shot)

vs. BS 55
(1d100)[67]
(1d100)[88]

Damage
(1d10+3)[4]
(1d10+3)[7]

FP:1/2
Regular Arrows: 8

[rax]

"That shook 'em!" Bella shouts. "Spears and halberds! Back to the gate and kill some more of 'em!"

Hustling the men forward, she looks for holes in the gate that are large enough to let her attack with her catchpole. Failing that, she draws her sword and stabs at any enemy that's close enough to hit.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Half action: Move to the gate.
Free action to draw sword with Quick Draw if catchpole can't be used through the gate.
Half action: Standard attack with catchpole or sword (1d100)[54] vs. WS 57 (catchpole) or 52 (sword)
Damage: (1d10+5)[11]+Snare (catchpole) or (1d10+4)[6] (sword)

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
(1d100)[56] vs. WS 57 (catchpole) or 52 (sword)
(1d10)[9] extra damage

Wounds (remaining/total): 13/13
FP (remaining/total): 3/3

[dojango]

Amos is as surprised as everyone at the lightning blast that tears apart the Northman leader. Somewhat subdued, and watching them start to run, he keeps firing arrows into the remaining mass of men and beast at the keep's gatehouse, taking time to carefully aim his shots to make them count.

Spoiler

Show

(1d100)[8] v. 68, (1d10+3)[13], (1d100)[30] v. 68, (1d10+3)[8], (1d100)[5] v. 68, (1d10+3)[6] Next three rounds, three shots, aim + shoot, fast reload.

[Lord Athos]

This was no fight, this was jabbing at mouse holes.

Sieur Armand moved into position near the gate so he could intercept any beastman or north man that actually broke through, if any. It seemed he had vastly overestimated their foes, or, at least, their morale.

"En avant!" he commanded his horse to approach slowly. They'd probably break and run soon, and then it was time to ride them down.

[Erulasto]

Watching the Norscan warrior being ravaged by the power of Azyr, Asyrha felt a searing thrill singing in her blood. It was the battle-song of Khaine that all Elves felt in their hearts. But she would not allow herself to dance to the tune; not yet. There was no Wild Hunt, and these foreign lands would not be conducive to letting go of her tightly compartmentalized rational mind.

”Indeed.” She said, breathlessly in response to Tuli’s exclamation. While the battle was still ongoing, it was unlikely that another potent display of magical force would be necessary. Gathering her staff into slender hands once more, the Wood Elf clutched at it tightly while she opened her senses to the flowing Winds of Magic.

Asyrha was not looking to manipulate the Winds, for the moment, simply see if there was any sort of resonance or reaction to her own manipulations. If there was a sorcerer of the Enemy nearby, she would find them.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Magical Sense skill.

(1d100)[66] TN 73

[Janwin]

Gottfried laughs a bit as the lightning strikes and then comments to Sir Armand, "It seems the honor went to your elven companion, sir!"

As the horse approaches, he cautions Armand, "We're not going to sally forth, sir. The two of us won't ride down many of them, and it's more likely we get cut off by whatever reserves they have. Better to stay inside and keep this place fortified for their inevitable second attack."

[Lord Athos]

""Another attack?" Armand asked, still staring at the movements behind the gate, sword and dragon-crested shield in hand.
"They surely saw von Ludenhof's men move over the bridge. It seems they are a small warband, who saw their chance at glory, and failed. I highly doubt there will be another attack. At least not right now."

[rax]

"Maybe...not...this lot!" Bella grunts as she thrusts her polearm at the shapes outside the gate. "But like Sir Gottfried says - it's...likely...that they've got friends out there in the woods. No telling how many." With a quick look over her shoulder she adds: "Get the archers to put some arrows in a couple of 'em, but not kill 'em. Make it easier to track them if they're bleeding. If we decide to go looking for 'em, that is."

[Lord Athos]

There was an 'Improbable' already hanging on his lips, but he swallowed the word back down.

Humility, he reminded himself. He thought it wouldn't make sense to attack an enemy during a short moment of weakness with only a token force if one had many more men lying in wait, but he hadn't had the time to think about the situation more thoroughly. Maybe there was a perspective that eluded him.

So, Sieur Armand stayed silent and ready to strike, if they somehow regained their composure.

[DrK]

THe men at the gate, heartened by the sudden loss of pressure on the gates and the crackling death of the Norse leader redouble their efforts, also inspired by Bella as she wades into the fray, catch pole thrusting through the slits and tearing norse flesh. The half dozen bodies at the gate pile up, blood slicking under the gateway before as Amos neatly fells another kurgan with a pair of arrows to the chest and the sustained fusillade from the wall above the remaining raiders begin to flee!

It ends in an instant, the pressure and the war cries replaced by panicked screams as the survivors turned and fled, around a a dozen bodies left piled by the gate or bleeding and pincushioned with arrows, the surviving 20 or so raiders starting to run hell for leather for the trees

[Erulasto]

Seeing the Northmen and what straggled remains of their beastmen allies were left fleeing for the forest, Asyrha gathered her belongings from the battlements and gracefully turned to make her way downstairs.

Before she took two steps, the Asrai paused.

"Wonderful shooting, Tuli. You do your kin proud."

And then she was gone in a flutter of white robes.

Downstairs, she made her way across to the gate where her other companions had held firm. As she approached, she took in the scene of violence with a secret glee. Her blood was still singing with Khaine's influence, but she held it in check behind a placid mask.

"Are you injured, brave Armand? Sir Gottfried? Arabella?" Her vividly blue eyes did not see any immediate wounds, but first looks could often be deceiving.

[rax]

"Not a scratch, m'lady," Arabella replies with a quick smile. "You two - open the gates. Archers, get up here and give them a parting volley! You three - let's check the enemy fallen. If we find one alive, bring them inside. We need prisoners to interrogate." She snaps out orders to the Ostlanders and the Hochland archers.

OOC: The idea is just to open the gates for long enough to allow Bella and a handful of soldiers to check the bodies for survivors while the Hochlanders provide covering fire. Any sign of the enemy and we rush back inside on the double. Unless our knights really, really want to take the opportunity to ride a few of them down...

[dojango]

Amos sped two more arrows towards the fleeing raiders while jeering them, once again, in Kislevarin. "Run back to yer mamas! And get them ta teach you how to swing a sword, mebbe!" Once done, he'll ride back towards the entrance to the castle. "The rest o' the battalion'll be here double quick," he says. "Suppose we could see about payin' them back, although I don't like the thought of those pikemen blundering around the woods."

[Haval]

"Wonderful shooting, Tuli. You do your kin proud."

'And yet there is never enough arrows.' Tuli will continue firing on the Northmen's backs as they ran. After, if no one objects, she'll take some from the dead Ostlanders to restock her quiver before going downstairs.

She'll catch the end of what Bella was saying, 'Prisoners are good if you can find one that knows anything useful. Otherwise, better to make sure we finish off any wounded.'

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Full Action - Swift Attack (-1 AP for Sure Shot)

vs. BS 55
(1d100)[98]
[roll]1d100[/roll

Damage
(1d10+3)[11]
(1d10+3)[12]

FP:1/2
Regular Arrows: 6

[Janwin]

"The fighting did not manage to reach us, good elf, and we are quite unharmed."

The knight sheathes his sword and returns the morningstar to its hook in front of his saddle. After all, the slaughter of those who were already downed was work for the commonfolk, not a Knight.

[Lord Athos]

"You shattered their resolve, Asyrha." Sieur Armand stated, while sheathing his unsoiled sword. "They did not even break through the gate." there was a strange hint of... regret in these last words.

Sieur Armand silently watched the Rabble who had sworn to the ruinous powers flee. It was a mistake to let them run. But that was not his greatest concern right now.

[Erulasto]

”You will forgive me, Armand, for depriving you of a chance to whet your blade then.” Asyrha said softly, with a wistful smile on her elegant features. The Asrai had comed to know how important it was to Armand – his honor and his valor – to be able to face the enemies of the world and best them.

For the time being, the Spellsinger simply waited with her companions as the clean-up was handled by the soldiers.

”I wonder how long Captain Ludenhof intends to hold here.” She asked of her companions. ”Would it not be wise to press ahead to Wolfenburg? Or…perhaps this raid was simply to lure us out to the forest where more are waiting?”

[DrK]

The two men by Bella look at her with wide eyed surprise before nodding and pulling the heavy bars from the gate and heaving it open, bodies sliding on the wet mud. As the gates swing open the archers along with Amos and Tuli let loose a flurry of volleys, the whistling of arrows loud by the pair of knights. The arrows are quickly followed by screams as 3 more of the kurgan fall, each one with with several arrows in their back, other Kurgan limp away, arrows jutting out of shoulders or legs before they reach the shadow of the tree line.

THe Ostlanders and the Hochlander let out a cheer. Cries of "The Bull", "Up the Second", "Sigmar be praised!" shouted from the top of the tower and the from within the tunnel. A pair of the soldiers by the gate cautiously roll over the bodies piled by the open gates, "Lady Ser," one shouts to Bella, "This one be alive, not fer much longer, but he's still breathing" he punctuates the statement by rolling the kurgan over with the butt of his spear and spitting on the fallen man who lies stricken, an arrow in his leg and blood pumping from a massive gash across his chest... Its clear that the Kurgan without the ministrations of a healer is not long for this world.

Atop the tower and following her down the stairs the men cheer loudly as Asrhya walk by, though a savvy person would note many make the sign of the comet or the wolf as she passes, a ward against witchcraft and bad magic. The largest of the Ostlanders looks up at the two knights. "Thanks to you my lords. We weren't likely to be breathing still if you hadn't arrived. What you be doing now? You heading to Wolfenburg to help the Count and the rest eh?"

---

A few minutes later, there is a clatter of hooves and the solid hammer of marching feet as you see the 1st company, shields in hand and in a fine singing voice begins to pour across the bridge led by two dozen more archers. The bald and grizzled Jann Gotten nods to the knights and Asyrha, a more friendly wink to Bell, Tuli and Amos he gathers up is twenty other men. "Spread out, advance towards the treeline. Careful lads aye, no-one wants to spill their blood today in a this ****ty field..." THe archers nod and begin to scurry forward slowly, all the men giving wide berth to the few dead beastmen...

The infantry pour into the tunnel, their leader the veteran greybeard Master Erik Voss atop a fine black stallion nods to the knights. "A fine start Ser Knights. The lads did well did they? Got get them blo..." his voice tails off as he see's the still smoking remains of the Kurgan chief and connects that to the flash that they thought they saw as they marched down the hill. "Captain Ludenhof will be here in a moment with his brother and the Magister. We are to set up a a defensive line in the clearing. He asked if youd await him atop the tower."

Assuming you agree he bellows some orders to his bannermen as they start spreading the men out in a rough line ~30 paces in front of the gate, a few stabbing down hard at the bodies to double check the kurgan were dead, others just whilst they laugh as Master Voss heads upstairs. A rough cheer and clapping many of the Ostlanders on the arms as he heads up. A constant stream of green and red uniforms filling the bridge as the militi and handgunners of the 3rd and 5th company begin to cross as well.

-----

About 15 minutes later as you head up to the roof you can see the tree line is quiet, the archers at the edge of the trees waving a hand to show no further trace of the enemy raiding party, a few brave pairs of scouts setting up pickets in the trees and down the stairs there is a clink of spurs as Captain Ludenhof comes to join you. With a long face the young man is more bony than distinguished but you've been quite impressed by what you've seen so far. He offers a low bow to Asrhya and the two knights and a nod to the others. "A good start. You blooded the enemy. Do you think it was an attack or a foraging party?" Looking at the trees and the sun, just getting to its noon day height. "Advance or hold, what do you think?". Even as he speaks a disheveled woman arrives atop the tower, a strong smell of mud and fur accompanying her as she looks about with sharp eyes under a mass of wiry, twig and leaf filled hair. Her eyes resting on Asrhya a bit longer than the others. Her voce is strong when speaks, "The forest cries in pain Ludenhof. The ground convulses with the stain of Chaos. They must be driven back, the land cleansed. The taint removed."

[Erulasto]

The Magister of the Brown Wind, Ghur, was right. The land was crying out in pain. The blight of the Ruinous Powers was spreading far and wide. If they didn’t find a way to stop it, to blunt the vile forces of Chaos and their assault, the blight would soon enough reach even the shadowed boughs of Athel Loren and beyond.

”You are correct.” Asyrha said concisely, ”There are sorcerers afoot as well. I fear for what foulness we shall encounter on the road to break the siege.”

Northern berzerkers and reavers - even beastmen - were one thing. They had not encountered the warriors of Chaos yet, nor the more hideous of their abominable thralls.