| Qatunax Stories: The Mill |
| Summary: | As part of the three pronged assault on the qatunax, Ludovic and Xavier take to the field. |
| Date: | 2018 may 9th |
| Related: | 1874-05-04-qatunax-stories:first-move,1874-05-10-qatunax-stories:Liberation. |
| NPCs: | Xavier Arkanin, Qatunax Chief |
| Players: |
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| The Mill, Hellsmouth County, Aequor |
| Room description |
| 10th may 1874 |
Brigadeer Lord Sir Xavier Arkanin had called the officers and nobility to his tent the night before and laid out a very simple and effective battle plan. That plan as laid out is thus: The army would plit into two parts. The Infantry, which is the vast majority of the forces which will be commanded by him, and the Cavalry which will be commanded by his excellency the Viscount Ludovic d'Korbina. The infantry will march head on to the mill and it's village, which is only loosely defended by roughly twelve hundred of the savages with small minor earthwork defenses. The Cavalry, the night before will have moved to the hills and wait for the signal to be given. They will be screaned by a small force of Wayston Skirmishers whose sole task is to engage the enemy scouts to shield the Cavalry form being discovered. Once the signal, five long horn blasts are given, the Cavalry will ride in, and hit the savages. They will wheel, and hit them again and again in a classic hammer and anvil manuever.
So it is that the forces of d'Korbina, comprised of the house's Cavalry and the entire mounted forces of the Horned Knights minus the squires. The battle can be heard, as the three hundreed spearmen, and three hundred men at arms engage the savages. These fighters are supported by two hundred Wayston Skirmishers, and three hundred crossbowmen. The clash of battle, the sounds of drums guiding the Wayston forces in battle and the screams of battle cries and the dying can be heard over the hills.
It's been a lousy night stuck in the hills without the comfort of fire nor the expectation of safety. The horses were rested, more so than the men, and the cavalry is now huddled out of sight (one hopes) waiting for the horn blasts that signal they should move. Ludovic, and those of the knights that have the means, have converted from standard gear into their heavy battle garb. As a result Ludovic is currently in his rather elaborate full plate atop his heaviest horse wearing its heaviest barding. He glances across at the men around him occasionally, checking that nothing has gone wrong yet, but otherwise is spending the waiting time joking with those around him and generally doing his best to look relaxed.
The horn blast come all at once. The joking stops as the first fills the air. By the last, only the sound of harnesses as they jingle or chain as it rustles or the occassional horse cna be heard. All eyes turn to Ludovic on his horse, waiting for the order to be given. Somewhere a man coughs, and the creak of a hinge as a man lowers his visor into place. The sounds of the battle schoe form the other side of the hill, as those men do not stop their battle.
Ludovic gives the man next to him a last grin before slamming his visor down and raising his hand into a fist. A moment later the signal for the cavalry to move out is given and he spurs his horse into a fast trot. The heavy horse form up at his flanks, intending to form a wedge for maximum effect. That relatively easy pace is held until the structure of the battlefield becomes visible. A target is picked by Ludovic within seconds but he keeps the pace slower until the distance is 'just right'. Only then does Ludovic lets out the shout that is quickly picked up by the rest of the men before dropping his lance into position and spurring his horse into the charge.
As the cavalry comes around the hill, the battle becomes apparant. The infantry of House Arkanin struggle against a line of savages in scale armor covered with feathers. Crossbowmen fire at exposed infantry, and in return the enemy throw spears from atalatles or fire bows at close range form short bows. But horrifying to see ar ethe fire lances.
These weapons are held at the hip and spray a blast of fire over the Arkanin who scream as the fire washes over them. More than one man runs arounds trying to put themselves out as the fire consumes them. Their screams are the loudest.
The Cavalry thunders and easily manuevers into the wedge. The ground shakes as the d'Korbina thunder around the hill. The horses pick up the pace, as the excitement of seeing battle fills their eyes. Heads down, the horses rush toward the enemy trying to pick up speed and bring the heavily armored warmachines that are the Knights of House d'Korbina down on their foemen.
Suddenly there is a battle cry. A long series of whoops and hollars. From the mill come a long stream of poor;y armed men and women. Screaming as they charge directly at the incoming Cavalry and waving their weapons above their heads. The weapons are a series of farming implements, simply clubs and more than one axe.
Mounted on a heavy charger at full speed Ludovic just plows through the slaves and other light infantry streaming across to interfere with the cavalry's charge. Poorly armed opponents go sprawling as they either try to stop a ton of moving horse with their bodies or spring out of the way. He doesn't even bother to hit any of them with his lance, aware it might break, although he does kick someone on the way past. Theres something about this move that just.. aha! "Fire Lances amongst the Slaves!" He bellows. Hoping that it will be heard above the general din of battle. The horn bearer that gets to stay nestled in the middle of that wedge takes a moment to blow a matching warning on his horn.
The heavy cavalry simply runs over and through the mass of slaves that rush at them. This is supported by the lancers hitting and beginning a mopping up motion with sweeping charges through the ranks. It is during one of these sweeps that a line of Fire Lancers, their pike like weapons sparking, suddenly ignite all at once at the lancer's flanks.
The fire is like a sudden summer day along the Great Salt from the distance that Ludovic feels it. It is bright, and his skin instantly breaks out into sweat on his left side. Horses scream in panic and pain as their maines and parts of their body are ignited. Riders fall from horses, the heat hitting them like a physical punch in the gut, the flames licking at their armor and exposed flesh. More than one man screams as they are ignited and begin to burn, flesh melting away in a bubbling evaporating stream.
Smoke curls in the air and the smell of burning hair and cooking meat fills the lungs. The flank that the Heavy Cavalry thunders toward turns, and let's out war cries of their own. One man leaping atop an earthen barrier and screaming "AYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!" and pointing an axe that glitters black in the light. Men with strange arrows leap up beside him. Forty strong and fire at the thundering and advancing heavy cavalry.
A group of Savages meanwhile rushes at the cavalry, recognizing the danger of the hammer and anvil. They too whoop and hollar, but theirs is deeper, and evokes a bit more terror. The garb over their scale armor is spotted and more than one man's helmet appears to be the top half of some large cat. They charge in, screaming their deep war cries and leap at the cavalry. Swinging clubs, axes, and daggers. A weapon in each hand. Or thrust in mid air with barbed spears. They fight like men possesed, skilled and deadly. A different battle style than those in the West, but no less deadly.
Ludovic's lance glances against the first cat-armored savage that the line hits at almost the same time as the wash of heat and sensation from the lancers meeting their unfortunate fate strikes him like a physical blow. He looses his lance as it strikes, his body responding sluggishly, as he shoves everything but the fight around him into a box somewhere deep inside. Snarling he brings his warhammer up into his and begins striking out at any qatunax that dares come into range. One man is swatted to the side by the armored head of his stallion only to have his shoulder shattered by a strike from Ludovic's hammer. Another dies as Ludovic catches his weapon on his shield before bringing his hammer down from overhead to do nasty things to his helm. And the third is simply shoved over by a thrust of the shield so that the man vanishes down beneath the hooves of the wedge. Through all this he keeps pushing his horse onwards. To stop is to die.
The last of the group of four leap at Ludovic, his spear thrusting outward, but is easily swatted aside by the heavily armored knight. As Ludovic breaks through and sees the main line ahead of him, those archers fire. There is a ripple of fire as they hit around him and impact those behind him. The Fluid, once exposed to air explodes, sending fire in every direction. Heavily armored men scream in concert with barded horses as the arrows pierce and explode. Fire washes over the area breaking up vast portions of the wedge as knights go down, or the horses rear in terror over the flames.
Ludovic explodes with a section of Horned Knights through the flames, the main battle line before him. Eyes sting from smoke and the acrid smell of burning flesh and bodies. Both human and horse. The man with the Axe, wearing a feathered cloak and a lion helmet throws his arms wide and charges Ludovic, throwing a spear he picks up as he goes. Once he's close he leaps, miraculously five feet in the air to swing that Axe at the Aequoran Knight.
It's all Ludovic can do as the arrows explode around them to keep his horse on track. As segments of the wedge peel off through death or the panick of a frightened warhorse he tries to twist back and have a look but is rudely interrupted by the sudden arrival of a jumping qatunax. More by reflex than actual planned thought he swings around to meet that leaping threat. His shield with its distinctive lightning flanked bullshead raises to meet the attack only for the enemies axe to sheer through it like it was made of nothing more significant than paper. Ludovic yells, surprise in his voice, and slams his hammer down at the opponents upper body. The hammer strikes home with enough force that most men would give up and go home, slamming the guy out of his leap. Horse and man thunder on several steps before Ludovic yells to the man at his right. "Take over!" and he swings out of the wedge to have another go at this axe wielding fiend.
The Axe wielder rolls to his feet, and spits a glob of blood to the side. When he sees Ludovic wheeling and charging back at him he smiles a bloody grinned smile and begins to charge right back. He draws a dagger with his hand and lets out one of those war cries of his. Ludovic can hear it, and can almost FEEL it in his chest and the deep throated man's voice reaches him. At the last second the man leaps, AGAIN, this time to the side with the shield to try and make it harder for Ludovic to swing at him. The axe and dagger slashing in mid air. The man's eyes, a deep dark brown lock on to Ludovic's.
There is an understanding there. This is a fight to the death, and the man is fine with it. Almost…. Welcomes it.
Ludovic once again raises his shield to take the blow and once again he tries to follow it through with the blow of his hammer. He lets the horses pace slow so that the pair can actually maneuver, attempting to keep the qatunax champion within striking range, and leans into his swing. The trick works to an extent as Ludovic's swing fails to connect.
Landing ina crouch, the man circles, eyeing Ludovic as the man wheels about for another run at him. When the Viscount's horse begins to thunder at him, he spreads his arms wide and screams a war cry to the heavens and then charges right back again. He runs forward and leaps again. This time he leaps and slashes with both weapons at Ludovic's head and shoulders the axe flashing dangerously while the dagger thrusts and slashes.
Around the pair the battle rages. The Horned Knights slam into the main line, while the lancers fight a desperate battle against the Fire Lances. Some brave unit commander circles ans takes a group of those deadly enemies in the back. One exploding as lance impacts the volatile substance in the back.
Everywhere there is fire, as the archers unleash a second volley. Fire explodes around the dueling pair of the Axe Wielder and Ludovic, even as other knights and infantry and simply blasted away or burn.
Ludovic snarls as the qatunax's axe collides with the metal of his shoulder and the qatunax rips him from his saddle. Fortunately Ludovic is well schooled in the art of falling off a horse whilst wearing full plate and he quickly returns to his feet. He's moving fine but there is a visible gash through the pauldron. "Why so eager to die?" He snarls at the Qatunax even as he warily watches and moves to counter the qatunax's circling.
The man tilts his head and says heavily accented, "Why so eager to die." He does however not stop circling the man. Surprisingly he waited until Ludovic had stood up from falling off his horse. Now however he circles. Crouching low and dagger hed backwards before him with the axe raised in a ready position the man walks like a stalking lion. He snarls and feints. Waiting, watching the other man for the best opening. When he thinks he sees it, he is suddenly in motion. He leaps attacking savagely with both weapons. To an outsider it would like his attacks are flailing, but Ludovic can see the skill and precise strikes. He uses every inch of his person as a weapon to try and land a lethal hit with Axe or dagger. Snarling and snapping while he does. His Axe, glinting in the firelight.
The pause offered by the qatunax is noted and a brief nod of something akin to respect offered. When the man leaps into that opening there is no way that Ludovic can close it up except for one. He abandons the very pretext of offense and drops back, letting himself sink onto one knee, so that his shield swings into the space between them both. There is a moment where the axe punctures right through the shield but thankfully the damage this time is mostly cosmetic. As the qatunax backs up Ludovic regains his feet with a grunt of discomfort. "You fight for God?" he tries next. Although he's only partly listening. Now he's on his feet and he's aware he's outmatched he's trying to probe with his sorcery to feel for some sort of advantage. As much as he can do whilst a savage is trying to cut his head off with an axe.
The warrior grunts and thuds a fist to his chest. It clangs as metal vambrace meets scale chest. "Tavat. Tavat Erakaquou sal dovin. Nelar quentast frashir morinath." He nods once as if this explained it all. Then launches again at the Aequoran Knight, Axe and Dagger slashing and seeking to find purchase on Ludovic's armor and or skin.
Ludovic grits his teeth as his probing at the earth only reveals the fact that there is indeed earth under his feet. Then the qatunax is once more trying to kill him and it is everything he can do to simply hold his ground. Each of his swings are met by the weapons of the qatunax and each of the qatunax's own are met either by the shield or Ludovic ducking and dodging. The big man is starting to feel a little worried now that his initial success has melted away in the face of his opponents talents.
The Qatunax leaps at him and Ludovic is in the process of dancing aside when a fire arrow smashes into the ground between them, forcing them both to spring backwards or tumble to the ground.
The man is about to charge again when he tilts his ear. A horn different than those used by Aequor or Galenthia sounds. Low and deep the sound rolls through the valley and up the hills. The warrior looks at Ludovic through the flames. He tosses his Axe into the dirt so it sticks there by the blade then gestures to it, before pointing the dagger at Ludovic. He dips his head then turns and sprints off.
In the distance Xavier can be heard bellowing, "HOLD! DO NOT CHASE! HOLD THE LINES!"
As Ludovic looks out at the flame seared battlefield, where dozens of not hundreds of fires burn, the enemy is in full retreat. Organized, orderly, but full retreat.
Ludovic is just as eager to run back into the melee when this happens. He pauses as the Qatunax looks across at him and then holds whilst he appears to offer Ludovic the axe in a measure of.. respect? He steps towards it but doesn't pick it up just yet. Instead he lifts his voice to augment Xavier's own bellow, hoping that his cavalry know better than to charge off after such organized foes. The axe is probed with his stone sorcery for a few minutes because, let's face it, the qatunax are sneaky vitches. Then he'll pick it up.
Casualty Report:
d'Korbina Losses:
93 Lancers, (60 from house troops, 33 from Horned Knights )
3 Knights killed, 23 wounded.
Xavier Arkanin's Losses:
56 Men at Arms (Militia)
116 Spearmen
23 Crossbowmen (Militia)
48 Archers