1868-09-04: Onward, to the West!
Onward, to the West!
Summary: Brigadier Baron Thomas Chandus lays out the Goldhollow garrison's plan for an offensive in the city.
Date: 04 Septembre, 1868 IE
Related: All Goldhollow logs
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Aethelwulf  Belladona  Dertan  Helena  Jarret  Sonya  Thomas  Wulfred  Varian  

The morning was dark and foreboding, the late summer sun covered by low, angry clouds. The air smelled of rain, but rain it was not to be - not yet, at least. Baron Thomas Chandus, Brigadier and commander of the Goldhollow garrison, ate his simple breakfast of salted porridge in silence, going over the plans for today's operation in his head. It would either work and buy them time and breathing space, or it wouldn't, and then they would have to seriously consider abandoning the city to the forces of Rikton. He hoped that the glum weather was not a herald to their chances. At least, once it finally did rain, it would wash away whatever deaht, detritus and destruction that this battle produced.

Thomas rose from his seat, handing the mostly empty bowl to one of Goldhollow's citizens that they were employing as mess staff. He brushed himself off and stepped towards the Keep's study, which had long been converted into a war room and a headquarters for the garrison. He was early. He always liked to be early. It meant that he could get his staff, composed of a combination of Chandus, Burnished Spur and a few local officers, to arrange things just perfectly. Once this was done, Thomas settled into study the map. He was never fond of pacing or nervous movements. He preferred to spend his time instead going over information.

As the various knights, officers and serjeants of the forces involved in today's operations filed in, the Baron turned to face them, his expression impassive, his watery blue eyes judging the state of their morale. Without comment, he motioned to the wall map and launched directly into his orders.

Above the map in large bold letters it said,

Strike and Withdraw - 04 Septembre, 1868 IE

Goldhollow_SW.JPG

Thomas grabs an ashen stick off of the table and begins speaking right away, gesturing to the red enemy symbols on the map.

"Knights, officers and serjeants. We are here for the upcoming strike and withdraw operation. I will begin with the enemy. Rikton forces in vicinity of the south stronghold appear to be composed of approximately two companies of spearmen supported by a platoon of men at arms and a company of crossbowmen. The enemy presence in this sector is therefore comparatively light and weak, which likely indicates their marshalling of soldiers somewhere in depth for an offensive in the city, location undetermined.

Rikton's forces continue attempt to seize stronghold positions and destroy their garrisons, rotating in and out fresh forces to accomplish their objectives. They retain significant reserves of soldiers and likely still outnumber the garrison by more than three to one. Their most likely course of action is to continue to attrite our forces by rotating in fresh reserves and conducting local offensives daily until we are forced to retreat under pressure, as well as continuing to clear barricades on the northern and southern flanks. Their most dangerous course of action would be to marshal a significant body of heavy troops and engage us at a weak point in the defences in a concerted push in an attempt to affect a breakthrough."

The Baron's stick lowers to the blue, friendly symbols.

"Now, as for us. The intent of the Lord Marshal is still, of course, to defend Goldhollow as long as possible with the aim of defeating Lord Captain Tusca and forcing the troops of Rikton to retreat. Doubtlessly, you've all heard the rumours that the Lord Marshal himself remains under siege in Oracla and is in no position to relieve us. In the north, the Knight Marshal and his Kentarish adversaries engaged in a bloodbath and neutralised each other for the time being. It's simply us here.

The local commander of the Strike Force will be Viscount Varian, who will be leading his fifty Dragon's Claws at the centre piece. Supporting him will be the Number Two Reserve Group of dismounted Burnished Spur Knights, Spur Pike and Spur Long Cannons, commanded by Lord Wulfred de Ufford. The pike themselves will be led by Sir Jarret Sokar and Sir Helena Shepherd. In depth, two of the light Stronghold Platoon Groups, both Numbers Four and Five will be in reserve should anything come up.

Lying in wait will be a raiding platoon under Viscountess Sonya Kaedon, composed of a mix of Shadow Snakes, Njorfolk and some Goldhollow Levies. Sir Dertan Sokar shall have command of all archers and crossbows, and of course Lady Belladona Ulsen will be in command of the dressing station. Finally, we've brought up two mobile scorpions that Sir Dertan has had afixed to the reinforced wagon platforms, to act as support.

To the north of the offensive, the stronghold continues to be occupied by our platoon groups in strength, as does the south stronghold from which this offensive will be launched. In the rear are our garrison reserves, awaiting orders to move forward should they need and to our south are the screening forces composed of levies and militias. Keep in mind that, as usual, there is debris absolutely everywhere and that the streets are narrow. The enemy is very likely to have their crossbows on rooftops as they've been doing for the last two weeks. Keep shields up and archers, scan the roofs."

Thomas pauses for a moment in order to let the assembled soldiers take notes down. He waves off a question silently, and the motions to the drawings coming out of the blue friendly symbols.

"Our mission, then. The Goldhollow Strike Force will conduct a limited incursion west of the south stronghold until the Street of Smiths, clearing the enemy and then forming a hard fix there. As the enemy is pushed back, Raiding Platoon will ambush them with the explosive wagons Sir Helena dreamed up, as well as screening to the south to ensure that we are not attacked on the flank. Once the fix is formed, this will enable both north and south strongholds to withdraw to the secondary positions in vicinity of the Cathedral. Beyond enabling our withdrawal to secondary positions, the key is to cause as many enemy casualties and if possible, to rout them in the local area.

If the enemy is routed in the south sector, then the Strike Force may withdraw at their leisure, once the strongholds are evacuated. If the enemy does not rout or conducts an offensive of its own, the Strike Force will delay the enemy and withdraw under pressure, using a combined arms force of sword, pike, missile and artillery to push the enemy back and keep enough distance to render themselves back into the new friendly lines. Crucially, you must NOT advance beyond the Street of Smiths, whatever happens. This is the boundary for this operation.

Keep in mind that I wish the two old strongholds to be destroyed with explosives and barricades collapsed behind the retreating forces in order to frustrate the enemy's advances."

Thomas now turns back to the officer who'd raised his hand previously. "Any questions?"

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License