Wildermark - Lioness of Lodenbach

>>897052
It has been more than a year since the heavens burnt. The Emperor of Demons had sent his flying fortress to the heartlands of Garetya.
Thargrin has a vivid recollection of her Father - an officer with the Imperial Army - donning his armour, getting his sword and calling for his Riders.
He left on a bright sunny day in 1027BF, never to return.

For the 14 year old girl the short war that followed - dubbed the Year of Fire subsequently - was mostly faraway tales.
She was dimly aware, back then, of the Iron Heart of the Empire, the great City of Wehrheim, being burnt with Demonic Fires.
She was told that her father had disappeared, and her Mother never did acknowledge his death, and sometimes when her mother was not cautious enough, the servants or travelling folks would tell the young Lady of the Battle on the Mythrael:
How the Armies of Man marched in Formation, how they marched to their Death, how the Earth swallowed them up, how the Rivers boiled away and left but rocky beds, how the Sun was darkened out and an entire city swallowed by undead hordes.
More than a year now she'd had nightmares of these days, and the battle on the Mythraelfield became a dark spectre over her dreams.

Thargrin was grimly and frustratingly ineffective in persuading her mother to action.
The Empire had dis-integrated around them, Knights and Nobles had fled the land. One heard talk of Evil Mercenarys just 20 Miles away to the east in Immlingen,
the Empress having vanished on the Mythrael - Thargrin imagined the Battle as a dark Monster crushing both her Father and the Empress - and chaos ruled the land.

For naught. Corrupt Nobles ran the Land, people of questionable Morality assumed power in large parts of the Empire. To the North a group of revolting Nobles prevented the Dukes of Weiden from establishing Order. To the West at Griffons Crossing the Ork had come over the Mountains and the Margrave had shut himself in his tower.
To the south: Large Forests, a faraway capitol burnt in the War, and closer: Wehrheim and the Mythraelsfield.

.

On this first day of the year, the 1st of PRAios 1028, the Nameless Days have passed. The Summers heat has reached its Climax,
and Thargrins Mother has passed away from a heatstroke mere hours ago.

15 years old, inheritor to a small cottage and village - and in Name inheritor to the peasants of the immediate surrounds and Forest to the East, Thargrin of Arpitz sits in her study, stone faced.
She couldn't bear to visit her mother in the crypt, where she knew the old lady would be lying on a stone altar, conserved by the cold, waiting for a priest of any one of the 12 gods to come by.

>>897053
Outside the study, in the small room which housed a half dozen books and therefore bore the hightrodden name of Library, three people were waiting for the young Lady.
Rodrick, her Master at Arms and Commander of the Houseguard: An old and grizzly man who had been on the Mythrael and never talked off the battle itself with words - unable to articulate anything, the horror of that battle made his lips tremble, his hands shiver and his eyes go wide. Thargrin had never seen him afraid. Not even when she was just 6 summers old and a giant Boar had attacked her. Rodrick was a brave man. But broken from the Mythrael.
Leon is the eldest Son of her Fathers late Gamemaster. Leons father had died on the Mythrael as well, and he was a couple of years Thargrins elder, but a quiet and subservient Boy who dreamt of Knighthood and loved to hear tales of chivalry.
Lastly, Peraineve. Thargrins cousin and a moderate beauty of age to be married of. Her parents both had died on the Mythrael.
Everybody had died on the Mythrael.

Eventually, Thargrin figured, she'd have to go out there. She'd have to confront those three and lay out her Plan: For she knew ambition.
To the north, some ten miles of road apart from her own Homestead, lay a couple of small towns. A couple of hundred inhabitants, knightly Households claiming Dominion.
To the south... a band of former Knights, disposessed and displaced, a ragtag band of mercenaries and soldiers. Deserters who came to call themselves the Lions of Lodenbach.

She would have to get some intelligence on the surrounding Area.

Dear mother had always kept Thargrin away from all decision making.

No longer.

First she'd have to figure out how to organize her Guard.
With Luck, she'd be able to muster a total of a whole Banner comprising of 50 men.
She could plunder the old arms and armour decorating walls and corridors, maybe even the crypts...
She could get some Hunters to catch wild Horses, maybe?

In Thargrin of Arpitz' Head a plan formed...

####

>>897054
What's going to be your focus, /qst/? If you were a young Lady, not knighted or properly educated yet, pressed to form a Milita and go from there,
which of the Following broader categories of Troops would be your Focus?
> Footmen
Young men and women are made to fight and die. For your Glory and Honour, but foremost for the protection of their home.
Maybe you should try to conscript the boys and girls from the surrounding Farmsteads, those whom you grew up with?
Many would gladly follow you, out of loyalty. Others might feel obligated to fight for a restoration of order...
the Proud ones might feel shame over the loss of loved ones, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters on the Mythrael.

> Riders
the close Woods have a breed of sturdy horses, and you might commandeer some of the Farmers to give up their Steeds?

> Archers
The same young men and boys could always start making bows. There is a couple of Hunters under your command, and Leon is a capable leader,
one who looks out for his men and women.

> Siege Engines perhaps?
The Woodworkers from the Forest could build rams or catapults, you figure - although, being a rather young girl, you don't really know if they'll have any strategic worth at all.

> or would you perhaps go the more pious route: Priests, Holy Men and Believers?
There must be some, you'd need to invest some time and gold to search for them, but you do figure that you should be able to recruit a Priest or two from the Surrounds.

> maybe... maybe you could recruit a Magician..?
A young Druid called Temudschin lives in the Woods southeast. You heard your mother sometimes talk of him.
In the cities they have seeresses and maybe even a proper witch. Those you could surely use,
or maybe even a proper Magician, one from the Academies in the far South of the Empire?

.

Also, you need to find your bearings. Leon and Rodrick could ride out today to bring you news of the Towns up north or the mercenary crew down south.
Or maybe you send them on recruitment of specialists?

####

Make your choice, /qst/,
> where to send the old man Rodrick and the young hunter Leon?
> what Focus should your Militia have?

also, please be so kind as to roll 6d6

>>897056
24 minutes pass, not a single reply.
/qst/ is rather dead, eh? Sad! :D I had such many maps prepared, so many coats of arms photoshopped, and there is such adventure to be had.

Rolled 4, 1, 3, 1, 5, 5 = 19 (6d6)

>>897056
>Archers
sounds good. If we kill them at range, our losses in melee will go down.

Send Rodrick and Leon to gather intelligence. We need to know what's going on before acting.

>>897126
####
Of Friends and of Enemies
####

Alveria of Lodenbach is five years Thargrins senior. A Maid of about 20 summers, not a beauty but Noble. She would be the rightful Baroness of Lodenbach. Her Name is Testimony to that.
But she's away many a days ride. Thankfully so. And she is preoccupied - for the moment - with orcish incursions along the River Dergel, which is the formal Border to neighbouring Duchy of Griffons Crossing.

Thargrins three confidants had waited many hours while she made her plans in the study, patiently.
The old man Rodrick looked concerned when his young Lady finally graced the trio with her presence.
"Mylady, I think this might be the time to find a husband for you," he proposes before Thargrin can say anything. A short period of Silence, before the young lady shakes her head.
"No, Sir Rodrick, I shan't marry before I have come into my right."

Confusedly the three listen up. "But," Rodrick tries, "you're not a Knight yet Milady, and you'd have to be seated in this House by the Baroness first. If not Marriage then, we should travel to Lodenbach."
The young Mistress smiles calmly, and the old man thinks it an invitation as he continues: "We should visit Baroness Valeria. Hers and your Father were good friends, cousins twice removed. You Father and his entire line has brought Honour to the House of Lodenbach - even though your Line is a bastard House of the Barons Family..."

"No," the young lady declares. "I shall be Baroness before long. Sir Rodrick, if your honour were to demand it, I would give you leave of your duties and set you free. But as it stands I won't be bending the Knee to my distant Cousin."
The Baroness had always been a bitch, when the two of them were smaller kids, and just last year as well. Not a single letter of condolence for her Fathers sacrifice, not a single envoy to assure Thargrins Mother, nothing. The Baroness was not Family. She was an enemy.
"But should you elect to stay, I shall task you with forming a Militia. Too long have Women like the Baroness and my Late Mother stood by and watched as chaos and disorder spread like a disease. Not yet has our Home been ravaged by Hunger and hars Winters, but before long the Ork will be on our doorstep. And if not the Ork, then surely it will be Mercenaries from the Black Lands, Galotteska left behind after the Year of Fire, or the Undead will finally make their way here. Two years will not go by and leave us the only people in this Land to be untouched by these tragedies."
In the Eyes of the young Huntsman, Thargrin catches a glimmer. A Spark of Hope, a speck of Light shining back at her as his face assumes a determined demeanor. He leans forward, seriously:

File: Lodenbach Prunkwappen.png (254KB, 387x420px) Image search: [Google]

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>>897168
"No Knight am I, but a Huntsman. But Mylady I shall follow you. For I have seen what lurks not a weeks ride from here, be it North or South, be it East or West: Dark Clouds collect on the Horizon, and I shan't sit by idly. Your words ring true. The Baroness and your Mother both have been apathic for more than a year. We should have hard times, were we not to start fighting for what is right."
Finally, Sir Rodrick nods in acceptance, and Cousin Peraineve smiles. "Cousin, your Mother is to me as dear a loss as if she were my own. I feel with you, and our blood ties us together. I do fear the Baroness will send her knights and guard for us eventually - but if it is in my power, I will do your bidding. Maybe, if I do get lucky, there's a proper husband in it for me?"
A small joke in grim times. Outside the summers warmth has vanished, the glow of the sun been blotted out. Rain has set in and pours down from the Heavens above, transforming fields and ways into muddy disasters. A cold chill comes through the Hall of Arpitz, as you look up at your Coat of Arms.
She always was a loyal thing, Cousin Peraineve, the young Lady thinks and smiles.

"We shall make this Land a better one," Thargrin finally declares, "The House of Arpitz will call to arms the farmers sons and shepherds daughters, and we shall crusade for a better tomorrow. Now, this is what we're going to do..."

####

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>>897169
After receiving your Orders, several days pass. Rodrick is busy going from farmstead to farmstead, finding young people willing to join up in the newly formed Militia.
Leon and the woodworkers start working on simple Bows and Arrows, while both of them gather both supplies as well as company for their trip.

Not even a week after Mothers death, Thargrin is blue and green all over, having brought some of the stable boys to fight with her each and every day. A bleeding lip and some stitched cuts in the face have given the young Lady a rather adventurous look.
Leon and Rodrick both make their farewells a week from Mothers death. Rodrick first, hitching with a trader going north to the group of three towns, accompanied by Cousin Peraineve.

Meanwhile, the week long recruitment effort before the two men left has provided you with some men, warm bodies have filled up the ranks:
> 39 Infantrymen from the surrounding farms have gathered and started training with each other.
> 26 People have formed what is the beginning of an Archers contingent. Some experienced hunters, but mostly villagers and commoners who are being taught now.

Luck was with you, though you did not get any Riders for your Militia, the Gods have smiled upon you.

> Simiadan Greifenfurther
is a Blacksmith and Priest of Ingerimm, the fiery god worshipped by dwarves and men alike, Lord of Craftsmenship, Metals and Fire.
He came through town with one of the merchants whom Rodrick has accompanied and heard your speech. It was what Thargrin had told her three confidants a week earlier, but a little bit refined for the People.

Furthermore, an Elf has come your way

> Navarion Sehnentreu
knows little of the ways of man, but feels the dark forces at work in this world.
He sings Songs of Demonic Trees driving their roots into the earth as if they were claws, corrupting the deepest and darkest parts of the Forests surrounding you.
He had been sent himself to find allies in the struggle against these forces, and, knowing little better, felt it appropriate to spend some time with you.

While your two men are away, gathering Intelligence,

would you outline your plans for the mediate future?

How, pray tell, would you approach this task of becoming Baroness in the Baroness's stead?

File: Löwen von Lodenbach Prunkwappen.png (286KB, 416x420px) Image search: [Google]

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>>897172
> 9th or PRAios, a week and two days after Thargrin of Arpitz' Mothers death.
# Leon returns from the Village of Solys some twenty Miles south of Arpitz.

The young Huntsman loogs ragged. Only absent for a couple of days, he has obviously been robbed of his knife and what little silver he was carrying.
However, him and the four Boys who had accompanied him have returned unharmed all five of them.
" It is some folk of Robbers and Mercenaries in Solys, calling themselves the Lions of Lodenbach, " he explains,
" As I have heard in the Tavern, they consider you their Rival, Mylady, though are not overtly hostile. I have also heard, however, that they consider themselves Enemies of the Empire and have little love for the Baroness proper. "

Good news, you ponder. As a red letter " A " you have made your Coat of Arms: Being a Bastard House of no Noble status, your Family had always carried the Colours of Lodenbach.
Proper true and honest servants they were, your father and his fathers and your mothers side of the family the same.
You kept the Coat of Arms, just put your familys Initial ontop in red. That should do.
> Maybe you should send an envoy to the Baroness, to demand Nobilitation?
Honesty might be a way forward... but who knows how she might react, the bitch she is?
Just change the Colours, update the Banners in the Village, and let a couple of weeks pass before the Baroness hears of your secession.

" The Lions of Lodenbach know Violence, Bribery and Poisons, I have heard, " Leon elaborates, " but are open to Negotiations and Alliance. If we were to pay them... "

But you can't. Not now. Harvest is coming up, your family has never had fortune and riches. Maybe if you were to raise the taxes sharply. Then you could pay the Mercs from Solys in the south...

.

" I do like your new Colours, Mylady, " Leon explains, after he is done writing down the Strength of the Lions of Lodenbach:
> Lions of Lodenbach
> The Coat of Lodenbach, but with a Lion ontop, a bastardized coat of arms very much like yours
> 24 Men of good equipment, battle hardened
> they have some Scorpion Boltthrowers, 3 or 4
> a Wizard, a battle mage from the Capitol is in their ranks, a vain man only interested in riches.

" I could, Mylady, return to Solys and try to negotiate with them. Should I offer them something? What say you? Or would you Rather I go into the woods, visit faraway farmsteads and try to find more volunteers for your cause, Mylady? "

.

What shall Leon do? Or maybe the Baroness wants him to have a couple of vacation days?
Maybe not, time is of the essence. As soon as the Baroness hears of your actions, she will come for you.
Of that, Thargrin becomes surer and surer as she sees her newly founded Milita train...

>>897206
Try to find more volunteers. I doubt the baroness will go down without a fight. We will need every last man. If we manage to overthrow her, we might have the coin to recruit the lions.
Still, we shouldn't openly attack her. If she came to our lands, we could use the terrain to our advantage. We should know it better than her.

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>>897229
> 16th of PRAios, two weeks and two days from Mothers death
# old Sir Rodrick and Cousin Peraineve return from the North

" Of Virilys, mylady, I sy this: They are cowards, and the House of Virilys would crumble or even flee at the first sight of trouble, "
old Rodrick looked sternly, " they are also in opposition to the Baroness of Lodenbach. Potential Allies - natural Allies, I say. "

Cousin Peraineve remains silent, until the old Man has finished his report:
> 20 Men at Arms
> 30 or so Archers and Hunters
> 1 Witch at the Court of the Noble House of Virilys
" Their forces would be valuable. We could try to marry off your Cousin Peraineve to gain favour and forge the Alliance, " old sir Rodrick proposes,
single minded, simple and old he is, Thargrin thinks. Cousin Peraineve doesn't look thrilled about the Idea of marrying a coward of a man for limited political gain.
( pic related, the coat for the cowards of House Virilys )
... cont...:

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>>897259
" Of the other Towns I have heard on the Market, " Rodrick continues, " of Masnathey say that they are loyal to the old House of Rabenmund, and know little Allegiance to the Baroness. You see, she did not answer the call of Ucurian von Rabenmund a half year ago. They are cautious... "
> Markettown of Masna
> Ruled by House Wilmot, loyal to the Empire
> some 40 men under arms, some small siege engines

" from further North in Menna I heard even less. They too are loyal to the Empire and neutral to the Baroness, but they are cruel despots there. I knew this of course, their family has always been harsh with their subjects.
Offensively, they contribute little: Stone Walls and Towers protect their Town, they can have a hundred Men to defend their Gates within the hour, but do not posess any force to speak of to attack anybody. "
> Town of Menna
> Ruled by the House of Menna, who are paranoid and megalomaniacal
> Strong defenses positioned on the Street to the Baroness' Castle
> but little offensive Power
> Allegedly supported by a single Wizard.
( pic related, House Wilmot of Masna )
... cont:

File: Menna und Rabenmund.png (274KB, 375x420px) Image search: [Google]

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>>897266
( pic related, the Cruel Knights of House Menna and Rabenmund )
####

Meanwhile Leon has been absent for more than a week, not having sent a single word.
The Forests are Deep, communication is slow. Another two Weeks to go until the summer Harvest.

Old Rodrick needs a couple of days of Respite after his travels.
Bellowing with his strong voice, he uses this downtime to drill your Militia. He too fears the Baroness coming down from her Castle sooner or later.
Cousin Peraineve meanwhile takes care of the young lady and the household.

Waiting for Orders:
> Old Sir Rodrick ( currently training the Militia )
> Elf Navarion Sehnentreu ( currently sitting in the fields and playing a flute all day )
> Simiadan Greifenfurter, the Priest of Ingerimm ( currently making arms and armour for the Militia, forging a simple plate in a couple of days, he figures that he could fully equip the militia with either armour or arms within a month

Would you maybe like to send Messages, Letters, Calls to Arms or somesuch to your Neighbours?
Would you like to send Old Sir Rodrick back out again and maybe try his hand at forging an alliance with one of the neighbours?
What would you provide as a bargaining chip for him?
Maybe send someone after Leon, to make sure he is allright?

Will follow if it survives, but tonight I don't really have time to read all this.

>>897307
:D that's alright.
There's a first time for everything, and this is it for me. I do hope however, that maybe some more people join up. :)

>>897319
I could use some sort of tl;dr I don't have the time right now to read all that, but if this survive I might join later on, once I get some time

>>897278
> the 22nd of PRAios
# Leon returns.
A good dozen Men in his Retinue, Hunters and Gamekeepers from the small villages in the Woods have followed him.
In all, he was able to persuade some twenty families both northwest in the Berughanawoods and southeast in the Arpitzer Hills and Woods to join up.
The young Hunter had an easy time in getting the self reliant woodland farmers and woodcutters to get behind the Idea of Thargrin von Arpitz.
Old Sir Rodrick smiles brightly, remembering his own youth and idealistic dreams. "The truth is, most of these boys will be either wounded or dead, if the Baroness comes down here," he explains grimly,
but Leon will have none of it. He seems determined to go back out.

"Give me two weeks, Mylady, I'll venture deep into the Berughanaforst, westward, I'm convinced I can find even more families willing to join our cause, Mylady!"

And so it is. But pretty soon, no matter if you send Leon out again and again, the young Ursupartor Baroness Thargrin von Arpitz knows, that she will hit a ceiling.
She'll have to make promises, she'll have to trade favour. Marry off her Cousin? Marry herself?

Or, of course, she could sit tight. Wait a couple of weeks, train the Militia, wait for the Baroness to come down from her Castle and try to beat her in battle?

Time knows only the way forward.

######
Current Militia:
> 39 Footmen with shields and improvised weapons (currently in the process of being equipped by Simiadan)
> 0 Horsemen
> 37 Archers, a ragtag group of youths and Hunters
> 1 Magic User, the Elf Navarion Sehnentreu, who seems like a fickel and absentminded soul.

Most of the Footmen and Archers have now been training for the better part of a Month,
you can spot progress, and Thargrin herself has made some progress, rigorously challenging herself day after day in trying to compete with older Boys during training,
spending the nights with even more exercise and some lessons in tactics provided by old Sir Rodrick.

>>897331
:D Most of it is already tl:dr, sorry.
Basically:
> shit went down
> empire is going to shit
> warbands all over the land
> Nobles are apathic
> Baroness not doing anything
> your Mother dies
> the Heroine decides to take matters into her own hands

and now she's organizing a Militia and will eventually have to confront the Baroness.

There are some neighbours (see the OP for a map and the immediate surroundings), and she might be able to barter some kind of Alliance with some of them.

>>897278
We should try to find out more about the Virilys nobles. What kind of people are they? Is their heir a handsome guy that might as well sweep Peraineve off her feet completely? This would make so many things easier.
Also, how many men does the Baroness have under her command and how well are they trained and equipped?

>>897362
Very good questions indeed.

Old Sir Rodrick estimates, keeping the losses of the last years in mind,that she could easily muste 4 Knights on Horse, as well as 20 archers, surely. Most her Men at Arms and Guard have been spent on the Mythrael.

However, he has also heard rumours that the Baroness has amassed a magical force: Her court houses a half dozen wizards, witches, a druid maybe...

Her Castle is almost two weeks Ride away, news travels slowly and one is not usually prone to divulging such information freely.

The Old Sir volunteers: " If you send me to the Court of the Baroness, I could try to de-escalate things, for one, but also I might be able to figure out how strong her force is..."

The Danger of such an undertaking is obvious. Old Sir Rodrick might very well be beheaded right on the spot for Treason and Rebellion. The Baroness is a bitch, she could easily murder the good old man.

" Now, there is something else to consider, " old sir Rodrick continues, " should the Baroness march along the street and come our way, along the way more men might flock to her Banner. Maybe a dozen or two dozen farmboys, very much like our Militia. But more importantly:

Coming from Burg Lodenbach in the Northwest of the Barony, she will pass the villages of Humrich and Trollfurcht, who could have a couple of men join her. After that, she would come via Menna and Masna and by Virilys... "

Should she come your way, this is clear, and you have not made Alliances and Pacts with the Towns to the North, those might very well see themselves forced to follow the call of the Baroness.

.

In Regards to the Virilys, old Sir Rodrick can add this:

" Their Town has some 300 Folks living there, so it is rather large. Leopelt Jasuff von Virilys is Head of the Family - and a coward as I have told you. They are also of darker Skin: Their Ancestors were ofthe Tribe Nebachot, from Perricum way down in the South, many many weeks beyond, in the old Capitol of the Duchy.

Now, their son:

Matthesch is a Playboy, he Rides true and has Grit with the Sword. But I have seen him with his men: He does not understand the first thing about how to lead people, neither has he a mind for strategy or tactics. "

Cousin Peraineve is quite sure that she could handle him, she also reaffirms her readiness to be married off to keep the family going.

As things are, she reminds you:
" Should you or I die, right now and here, our Family would be over. That would be it. Better to have a capable idiot whom I may control for a husband and continue the line, than face extinction. "

(cont)

>>897412

> Forces of the Baroness (immediate Control)
# handfull of Knights on Horseback
# some two dozen Men
# maybe a half dozen Sorcerers

> Forces of the Baroness (Militia she might easily recruit)
# maybe two dozen Men

> Forces she might accumulate En Route
# most extreme Case: up to 100 Men from Menna
# some 40 Men from Masna
# some 50 Men from Virilys

############################

> Thargrin of Arpitz' Forces
# Thargrin, old Sir Rodrick Armoured and on Horseback
# Leon and 37 Archers from the surrounding Lands
# Simiadan the Priest and 39 Footmen
# the Elf with magicks and fighting ability

Now, if you'd like, you could ask Old Sir Rodrick quite some things more. He can also draft some strategies and propose them to you, if you wish.
Or maybe, you have a strategy of your own?
I always am in the habit of rewarding creativity! :)

>>897451
Would it be possible to somehow stealthily create unrest in the northern cities? Somehow turning them against the baroness without making it obvious that we are doing it? She wouldn't like to march against three cities that can't really stand her, I guess.

>>897497
Generally speaking: Of course.
However, as of now, you don't have anybody skilled in intrigue, deception or diplomacy in your ranks.

How would you try to go about sowing discontent?

>>897525
Then, I would like to recruit someone like this.
I'm not completely sure, but we should take the Virilys by making them afraid, the Masnathey by their loyalty and the Menna by their megalomania.

>>897547
" Deception... "
Old Sir Rodrick does not approve, but he is alone in this: Leon keep quiet while Cousin Peraineve strongly agrees with Thargrin.

"You're right, Cousin. We should find someone like this. Hopefully we can trust him... or her. What's your plan? Wait for a merchant to come through here, and recruit him? Or would you rather we go and scout for someone? Rodrick and me could go north again and look for someone in Virilys or Masna, and maybe get lucky there? What would you have Leon do in the meantime? And maybe... maybe talk to the Elf? He's sleeping outside, and the Farmers are creeped out by him..."

>>897588
What kind of magic can the Elf do? Can he magically whisper words of rebellion against the Baroness through the wind? If he can, we should do this. People will think it's their thoughts or someone near them whispering.

>>897430
Our best bet may be to send a messenger along the route the bitch would take and turn them to our cause. Include some hunters proper hunters they gotta have some skill to pull this off or they'll just get themselves kill for guerrilla warfare and harassment tactics. For the ambushing their obvious orders are to target the spellcasters are the priority targets.

If we can get them to turn on her then we would have very nasty infantry surprise lying in wait. Good news is she is a complete bitch and even a playboy would be willing to listen to another option. Nobody likes working for a complete bitch if we are nice that alone would put us ahead.

Make sure the priest smith creates some maces for dealing with heavy armor for our militia.

>>897588
Playing dirty if we are desperate is to call upon the criminal element. In other words go to our jails and give the criminal/bandit scum an offer.

If we do it right we can use them as a nasty bunch of raiders to harass the bitch and other people we don't like.

Its unsavory yes very...but it WOULD have a very nasty effect. Especially if we let the criminals be 'inventive' with their tactics. Anything from lighting buildings on fire to targeting of supplies and more.

But the real question is would we be willing to stoop that low?

Certainly could easily find those types in these dark times but still.

>>898581
>>897668
####
Dirty War, Disinformation and Propaganda
####

> The Field surrounding Arpitz, Thargrin of Arpitz, Ursupator, self proclaimed new Baroness of Lodenbach meets with Navarion Sehnentreu, the Woodelven Ranger

It is quiet out here. Yells of Farmers and their children are faraway from this place in the shadow of some large trees right on the Border to the Berughanaforst Woods.
Thargrin is bruised all over, some older wounds have been stitched together and she looks more alike a Bandit than a Knight. Then again, she ponders, she is not a Knight.
The Elf is almost hidden, invisible like a Chameleon sitting in the bushes, leaned against a Tree. But he is not silent: A heavenly melody flows from his flute and his large eyes keep the world in their gaze.
Every once in a while he puts down the flute to incantate some old ballad. Two voices at once, one male one female, come from his throat: Such are the elves, distant and disconnected from the world.
" Bian Bhao Bha'ladin, " he greets the young Mistress Warlord, the Lady Urspuator, a smile of joy on his lips. " It is with a bouncing heart that I receive you in these woods: They are not yet tainted by the demonic seeds of the Arkhobalim. "
Many more things he says, and most of them the young Warlordess can't follow. His Language is strange and his worldview even stranger, leaving her almost no chance to put in a single word.

"Lord Elf, I come to ask of you your assistance," she tries, and weighs her words carefully: The Elf might very well be incapable of understanding her concepts of deception and falsehoods. Instead she choses to lief to him, a little bit, confident that he won't be able to look through the deception.
"My Enemy, the False Baroness of Lodenbach whose Name is Alveria von Lodenbach, will come down the street from her Castle in the Northwest of the Barony in some weeks. I fear greatly for the security of the people in these mine lands: The False Baroness will surely poison the hearts of the other local Noblesse with violence and hate,"
Thargrin waits for a Moment, and only after she sees a slow change in the elven Face she continues.
"She would come by the Village of Trollfurcht and reach the Town of Menna, where she could recruit some one hundred Men to her cause. I plead with you, Lord Elf, go North along the street and find the People of Menna. Talk to the local Nobleman if you wish - but he is cruel, too. His Coat of Arms is green with a Yellow arrow pointing upward, and it is a woman whose heart has been tainted.
She whips and punishes her people violently. So be careful of confronting her. Instead, in the fields you will find good people. Talk to them and spread to them a message of Peace. Use your Magic to prevent them from taking up arms, if you can."

>>901041
A short Silence, the Elf takes up his flute again and intonates a sad melody. For an Hour and then two and finally three Hours he plays his melody. Thargrin had almost left him, before he finally nodded.
" I shall go North, and my Yiama will play songs of Peace and the Song from my Heart shall make the People calm, so as to no leave fruitful fields for the dark words of the false Baroness to fall upon, " he explains.
.
Leaving the Elf, Thargrin feels the subtle Sorcery he had cast upon her: Not for anyone or anything would she have waited hours and been as patient for such a simple thing and easy command.
Maybe, she ponders, the strange Magic of the Elf is just the right thing to pit the False Baroness against the People whom might take up arms in her cause and against Thargrin. His words might well hold strong arcane power.

>>901043
> The Halls of Rittgut Arpitz, the Ursupator Baroness and her close advisors
Dark Times and grim necessities. The Ursupator Baroness had many days to ponder her course of action, until she finally could decide on something.
"Cousin Peraineve," the young lady smiles as Thargrin adresses her first. "I shall send you to Virilys and if Old Sir Rodrick can manage, I would have you marry the young Heir to their Knighthold. I leave this up to you, though: Should you find him unfit to be your spouse, you have my leave to return here. I won't be your pimp selling you off for cheap gain and against your happiness."
A sigh of relief, a shy nod, Cousin Peraineve catches the Eyes of the young Ursupator Baroness: " As you command, Cousin, I will take a look at that boy and make haste with this assignment, " she agrees.
Thargrin turns to Old Sir Rodrick, "you, Old Sir, have been one of my truest servants. I would have you accompany the Lady, but leave her in the Care of House Virilys. Your Duties shall have you busy in the Town, and if needs be shall have you go north to Masna and even further north to Menna. The Lord Elf Navarion will be there, calming the people and sowing seeds of peace to dissuade them forming an Alliance with the False Baroness, once she does march south.
Now, your Task shall be this: You will get into the Taverns and talk to Merchants, and you will try to recruit some shady folk. Murderers and Rapists, Arsonists and Thieves alike shall be sufficient for our cause: Take what little silver we have till harvest season comes and pay them off. I want them to travel along the street in a direction which would have them meet with the False Baroness Alveria.
Have them set Fire to the Stores and Houses along the Way, in Humrich and Trollfurcht and the surrounding lands. The False Baroness will surely be slowed by this, and people will be too preoccupied with managing the fires and getting storage space for the close upcoming summer harvest. She won't be recruiting a Militia from these Lands of hers she travels through whilst coming our way."
A Silene, Old Sir Rodrick looks apalled, shocked. That his young Lady would propose such criminal Tactics, that she might set ablaze the farmsteads of good and innocent people.
" Impossible, " he tries, " Mylady, we shan't be so low - we'd be as bad as half the Warlords and Bandits and Dark Knights roaming these lands outside our Border, I beg of you, mylady, do not make me do this. "

>>901044
Cousin Peraineve comes to your aid, as does young Ranger Leon. They are in agreement: These Times make Beasts of Men, and you will need to be a Monster among Beasts to survive these Times and restore Order in these lands.
The look on Old Sir Rodricks Face mimics that of a beaten dog. To the floor he looks, finally back up at you, grimly, before accepting your order:
" As you command, Mylady of Arpitz, " he concedes the argument.

"Now, as to you, my friend Leon. We will gather what Militia we have, the Archers foremost. We shall go through the Berughanaforst and the deep woods via the ways you and yours know well. We will lay an Ambush between Trollfurcht, where the immediate Influence of the Baroness ends, and Menna, where our friend Elf will make sure no help will come to the False Baroness's aid...
we shall lay there in waiting for her, and we shall kill her and her men once they come. I will accompany you, and Old Sir Rodrick once he has set loose the Arsonists and Criminals shall join us. He shall walk along the Street from Menna to Trollfurcht, and we shall find him there, so his sword is by our side."
.

>>901045
####
The Ambush of the Berughanaforst and the Trollocher Land, Northern Parts of the Barony of Lodenbach
####
> 29th of PRAios, almost a month after Mothers death

It has been a couple of days since Thargrin and her ambush crew made camp. The street is close, but you keep to yourself and hidden away. Your lookouts can alert you to any passer by, and two days ago you got reports of the first couple of Barns going up in flames.
So it has started. Old Sir Rodrick let loose the Arsonists of your War. Traffic along the street is slow, a few couple of traders coming by on their carriages, but you gave out strict orders: No molestation of passers by. You may be at war, but you try to keep a semblence of legitimacy.
Eventually however, as the summer rains keep up and thick plumes of smoke keep climbing into the sky, a small group of riders comes along the street. They carry the Colours of the False Baroness. And so you set your Militia of Farmboys and Huntsmen to work.
Qucikly they move in infront, to the sides and the rear of the riders, before you yourself expose yourself.
" Yield and state your business, " Thargrin of Arpitz demands of the Riders, a trio of two young men led by an older one.
Old Sir Rodrick is by your side, and Leon is in the crown of a nearby tree. Those three are no threat to you, and they soon come to realize they are trapped.

" Mylady, we ride for Arpitz, for the Baroness has heard Rumours of Rebellion. We are sent as envoys to sort things out, we come in peace. "

Or so he claims.

For as you ponder his words, you see him looking towards the burning little villages only a few miles afar.

.

What is your Plan, going forward?
What is your Plan, regarding the three riders you just captured in your ambush?

Feel free to formulate a larger strategy, the more detailed your plan, the further I can advance the plot :)

also: Good Morning! :) I'll be checking in every three quarters of the hour, and should there be some player input, you can expect at least one update from me every hour :)

>>901049
now, as an overview:

> in the woods, between Dorf Trollfurcht and Stadt Menna
Thargrin von Arpitz, Old Sir Rodrick and Young Leon ly in ambush with about 40 archers, preventing the Baroness from reaching the larger Villages

> in the Area of the VIllages of Menna, Masna and Virilys
The Elf Navarion Sehnentreu is pacifying the populace, supported by his magic he can be very persuasive, though he is limited in the scope of his agitation by his alien elven mindset.

> in the Town of Virilys
Cousin Peraineve is getting a measure of the Heir and trying to broker a Marriage to support your claim for the Barony.

> Back home in Arpitz
The Ingerimm Priest Simiadan Greifenfurther is taking care of the estate, arming and armouring your footmen Milita of some 40 Men left behind to secure your Home.

####
> Lands Claimed by the Ursupator Baroness Thargrin of Arpitz
You own:
> Your Homestead, the Rittgut of Arpitz ( some 100 Civilian pop )
> the woodland heights to the southeast of your homestead, Arpitzer Hügel ( some 100 Civilian pop )
> about half of the population in the Berughanaforst to the northwest of your Homestead ( some 100 civilian pop who joined your cause when you sent out Leon )

####

If you have any questions, feel free to ask - I shall try to answer as best as I can :)

>>901055
>>901049
New orders for the criminal scum is to target merchants so as to disrupt their trade and make their way deeper into her/ally lands causing mayhem. Once it gets too hot they can retreat back to our own lands which will offer safety. So long as they are smart enough to not target our own people and lands. There is no way they don't have or know poachers who can guide them through the woods so they'll be just fine. Especially being made up of a bunch of sneaky criminal scum. So long as we offer refuge we can use them again and again...not to mention their pillaged goods to boost our own forces and peoples.

Man it would be so much easier to use them properly if we had a decent spymaster, but with the trouble they'll cause her. She is going to have a very hard time deploying her soldiers against us. When her own lands are in such deep trouble.

Very dirty tactics but damn if they ain't effective.

Especially once we throw in some good old fashion guerrilla warfare...which reminds me. When our forces have been trained up properly send lighter infantry and archers through the forest closer to her lands and her supporter lands for ambushes, harassing, and guerilla warfare. Make sure we hire poachers around those lands who will know the woods and will serve as guides as well as reinforcements to aid them. The poachers we will no doubt be able to find thanks to our new found criminal contacts.

So long as they listen to the poachers they'll know when to bail, good ambush spots, and the best ways to lose any pursuit.

With such chaos and problems in her lands. This is when we begin our counterattack with the rest of our forces. Make sure to approach the peasantry on the way about our cause and offer them aid. Try to recruit them to join us. We shall turn her own people against her!

...get it? We cause all those problems...throw in her shitty nobles and attitude and the trouble times we got ourselves some aid. Best of all...we can easily fix their 'bandit' problem considering they are working for us...and they'll be able to keep enjoy benefits so long as they don't turn on us. Once we finish up here then we'll find someone else to throw them at! Ah...profit.

Hell with the income the criminals bring in for us we might just be able to hire those mercs causing problems. We could really use the magical aid...she has quite a few spellcasters apparently.

We really need to recruit our own spellcasters. I don't wanna get in a straight up fight without magical support. Hence the dirty tactics.

>>901055
What are spellcaster capabilities anyway?

File: Lodenbach, Ingamekarte 002 Status 29th PRAios 1029.jpg (821KB, 1556x1267px) Image search: [Google]

821KB, 1556x1267px

>>901055
and here is an updated map,
reflecting the situation after about one ingame month :)

>>901068
Hey! So, this Quest is set in the World of The Dark Eye (which got an english translation on occasion of it's newly released fifth edition). It's not real low-fantasy, but it's nowhere near as phantastically spectacular as, for example, D&D

Spellcasters Abilities vary highly, both on the background of the specific spellcaster, but also on their experience level.

An academy educated Battlemage for example could throw an average of two Fireballs, which will explode for devastating effect in tigh formations. After that, he's basically spent.

An Elf like our friend knows some influence magics (Bannbaladin makes people be friendly towards you for a short while, Elventongue and Satinwords will make him very persuasive for a while) as well as magics enhancing his abilities (making him faster, hit harder), some little healing and some support in the Wilderness.

As of now you know little of the Baroness's alleged half a dozen Magicians - but depending on who they are and how experienced they are, they can spell trouble.
Now, in General, Magic is not as high powered as in - for example - dungeons and dragons. However, for a small warband such as yours, a wizard or two are a real danger.

>>901068
great input btw, though I'll give it another half hour before I'll write the next update, maybe someone else will have some input as well :)

cheers! :)

>>901068
Now for excuses regarding the usage of criminal scum...not all criminals are in fact pure scum. Some people just wanna eat. Which if your under a tyrant can be most difficult to make a good honest living. What we are doing is in fact reforming criminal elements...using their talents for a much better cause and by keeping them in our employ...where we can watch them. We can keep a MUCH better eye on them! Thereby limiting the amount of problems they can cause.

Also sometimes you just gotta play dirty and who can possibly out dirty the criminals hm?

>>901068
Well since we have plenty of time to prepare giving all the chaos I guess it wouldn't hurt to maybe delay a bit more and recruit/prepare some more. The more time we buy the more time we can get people to our side and the better prepared we'll be. So send out more recruiters into the surrounding lands. People in the woodlands make for excellent rangers, scouts, and guerrilla fighter material thanks to the terrain where they grow up in. So focus our recruitment efforts there because its those people we need the most for our current combat needs. Though come to think of it we need more heavy infantry if we ever wanna attack more fortified positions and longer fighting engagements.

Especially if we can keep up the problem causing in her lands slowing her down. Throw in some good old fashion ambushes and guerrilla warfare. We'll do real well...

For civilian affairs make a request to the bowers and fletchers for more bow and arrow. Leatherworks we can ask them to create hard broiled leather armor to equip our forces with. While the women and cloth makers we can request for padding cloth armor to be made to help equip them. For smiths ask for war axes they are easier to make then a proper sword and battle hammers they aren't too much different from a normal hammer. Both can be made much faster thankfully then swords not to mention less metal. They'll help us crack open those knights and heavy infantry. Carpenters we can ask them for shields.

How much metal do we have access to?

I noticed there are plains nearby what are the odds we can recruit farmers and riders there? Given they'll actually have some horses available.

>>901069
oh baby those criminals...are doing such an amazing job.

Worth every penny they are. I look forward to their services.

She is going to have a hell of a time engaging our forces and we get plenty of time to prepare...

>>901074
Good thing I requested for those tactics then. We would get screwed in a straight up fight.

So keep up the ambushing, guerilla tactics, harassments, hit and run stuff.

Cancel the counterattack orders. In this fight with no magi we gotta stay mobile and keep using dirty tactics. We really need to recruit our own magi...or at least find people who can counter hers.

>>901079
you haven't adressed yet:
> 3 riders sent from the Baroness
> captured
> they claim to be on diplomatic mission
> wat do with them?

> Metal
functionally, for the time being, you have sufficient metal to supply your milita with breastplates and swords or axes, eventually you'll have to trade for more or look around for some mines

> Additional Recruiting
Harvest is coming up and/or already running, your militia is already some 80 men strong in total, while you have a civilian population of about 300 people supplying your guys.
Eventually, most of them will need to go home (for harvest) as one thing, eventually you'll run out of food (though you have maybe a month or two before that happens), but most importantly: Your Militia is already insanely large, measured against the population supporting you. Additoinal recruitment (without expanding somewhere to find untapped manpower) at this point is basically not possible.

>>901079
Long term strategy...we cannot get into a heavy or long term engagements. Her spellcasters will eat us alive should we end up in such a fight. Not to mention she'll be able to better use those knights and other infantry.

So basically we got fight like a bunch of dirty assholes.

Eventually she is going to realize her only hope is to attack us somewhere we can't run from...which is our towns. Which unlike with the other engagements we can't really afford to run from. In such a scenario are best bet if we can't come up with some infantry and spell casters to screw her forces with. Is a constant repeated harassment tactics. Pick at them the entire way there...by the time her forces get there they'll be exhausted.

Which is our only hope as we gotta make sure those spellcasters are too wiped out to cast their spells. In which case we would actually stand a chance then!

>>901083
Ask them what their diplomacy matters are. After that disarm them and take their horses. We do have some prison cells to hold them in? Otherwise depending on their answer we would be better off killing them.

So expand into untapped sources of manpower then...and with the harvest this is gonna be tricky. As we would have to give ourselves time to bring in the harvest...which would create an opening in which they could exploit.

In which case we would have to rely upon the criminal scum to take over the combat duties and hope that the harvest will be brought in time before her forces can properly exploit the opening.

God what I would give for some assassins to kill those spellcasters.

How badly would the harvest effect her forces?

If we can cause enough problems and she can't afford the loss of manpower. We could potentially buy ourselves enough time to do the harvest and start up the tactics once more.

Otherwise we are going to be in deep shit.

>>901049
Are we able to persuade the riders to join our side somehow? Every man that is ours isn't hers anymore.
Maybe these guys would be helpful in setting up a working ambush for the Baroness.

####
The Bandits Camp - Thargrins Ambush
####

In the woods, the summer rains and intense heat are distant. Here, the climate is rather cool, a slight breeze running now and then. The three captured Riders have been disposessed of their horses, and Thargrin found some willing youngsters out of the Ranks of her Archers to get in the saddle and start practicing.

The two young ones were easy to persuade. "A Knighthood for you both, and a set of armour to be made in my homestead, should you join my cause." Both of them bent the knee to you, the Ursupator Baroness. The elder men were not as easy.

Escalating your banditry and disruption, offering shelter to the arsonists and spurring them on in their misdeeds has made Old Sir Rodrick turn rather sour and quiet. A Knighthood for two defectors who betray the oaths of fealty to the Baroness proper?

Old Sir Rodrick does not approve. He is joined in his disapproval by the old Man you captured, the leader of the Trio.

"The Baroness sent us to clear the air. She had no Idea you were in full Rebellion," he angrily explains, distaste making every word out of his mouth sound like a sneer. "Hanged you should be for Treason.You little brat are the cancer eating away at our lands all over, and here you sow the seeds of War, burning Farms and Barns and rebelling against the legitimate Baroness of Lodenbach."

Talks were hard. You couldn't really stand the old man, and he couldn't stand you. Eventually he agreed to go back to the Baroness' Castle and make an offer of peace. If she were to promise not to step in... if she were to promise you liberty, you figure, you could expand into neighbouring Baronys, or maybe south. Of course it was mostly bogus what you sent the Old Man home with: A bone you threw to a dog in order to confuse and delay him in his inevitable response.

The same day you set free the Old Man to return to his Mistress the False Baroness, you sent home most of your Militia. Harvest needed to be tended to, your Arsonists kept reaving north of the Forest and disrupting the False Baroness and her Lands.

You kept only a dozen of your Archers, plus Old Sir Rodrick, plus Leon and the new total of 5 Horses. Most likely the Baroness would be delayed sufficiently to bring in the harvest and call in the Militia again.

It was a waiting game.

Very much so: Three and then four weeks went by. No word in reply from the Baroness. You and your Band of Archers kept in your Camp in the woods, poaching some Game for food and keeping an eye on the street, waiting ,patiently, while the harvest was brought in.

The fires had subsided, what little you heard of people coming along the street was, that the Arsonists and their supporters had crossed the river and left the Barony with their plunder once things got too hot.

Four weeks go by, two months now since your mothers death. The days got cooler, and being in the shade of the forest, cooler still for you. The Priest, Simiadan, sent word: He was basically done(cont)

>>901118
Your Militia back home, though only retained in part due to the farmers being needed in the fields, had kept on training. Irregularly they sent foodstuffs your way, and then some leather and plate and chainmail. What little ressources your Priest had in steel and leather he used wisely, also using harder woods to reinforce the leather a bit.

While you lived like Bandits and Roamers, the street kept quiet. Eventually, you figured, you'd have to break this cold war. Harvest would be over in a week or so. Time to maybe make a further move.

Then, another week had passed, a messenger came to your camp. A lonely footman from your militia. He had been travelling for some days and looked exhausted. His News was dire:

From the tower Leuenturm and Gut Abalsruh House Berughana - appearently loyal to the Baroness - had come down from the heart of the woodlands, collected some more men in Rittgut Sonnfeld and Dorf Sonnenstein.

A week ago that day, they had attacked some farmsteads and raided your Homestead. While the Militia had been assembled, fighting was fierce. Eventually, they did retreat, though none can tell wether they'd come back.

The Baroness had gathered some support amongst local Nobles and come in from the south, bypassing Solys and the Lions of Lodenbach.

Good News was reported as well, however: The Family of Viriliys had just announced that next week would see the Marriage of their Heir, young Playboy Knight Matthesch, to your Cousin Peraineve.

(cont)

>>901122
Status now:

> Harvest is basically over
> Peraineve will Marry the Heir to Virilys, putting some 50 additional men on your side, though offensive action would have to be negotiated and planned
> You kept a Dozen Archers and have a group totalling 5 Horsemen (yourself included) at the Camp in the Woods blockading the Northern Road coming in from the Castle of the Baroness
> At home there is an as of yet unclear amount of casualties in the wake of an attack by Houses Sonnfeld and Berughana
> You Militia at home had kept training and is almost properly equipped now.

The date, should you care, right now is:
> 12th of INGerimm 1029 BF, two and a half months from your mothers death

File: Lodenbach, Ingamekarte 003 Status 12th INGerimm 1029.jpg (834KB, 1556x1267px) Image search: [Google]

834KB, 1556x1267px

>>901127
new map:
(pic related)

>>901127
So they flanked us...well fuck.

Time to let loose our merry band of misfits(criminal scum) on her allies lands. We should even recruit more of them which will be even easier. I swear at this rate we might even acquire some of those nasty dark knights! Or even better their magical equivalent.

Ah probably wont happen but can't blame a guy for dreaming...

Doing so will disrupt her ally forces and prevent the pincer attack they are no doubt planning. Really they should of waited. Them attacking so soon completely showed their hand way too soon. Then again they might be expecting the bandit attack...in which case their attack meant to do some damage before they prepare for a defensive campaign. Not bad not bad at all. Shame they aren't on our side.

If they had waited attacked together in a pincer attack we would of been completely fucked. That mistake is going to cost them dearly.

Orders for criminal scum is as follows, burn their army supplies to the ground and feel free to loot it but they gotta know it HAS to be burned. DON'T target the civilian supplies. We need them to...forcefully liberate it from their hands for us. This will cause civil unrest which we can utilize. They are to target the merchants as per usual causing trade disruption and help fill our own coffers.

By now they should of recruited some more and be ready for another foray. Besides the above orders they are also to target their forces when able for attacks, steal horses, and raid their militia armories. They do this right and their entire military is going to be crippled.

For shits and giggles encourage them to shoot fire arrows in places they can't reach or are willing to attack. Start some fires in their defenses. Lets make it a chilly winter...

They shall do this along with gathering more of their number through their lands and make their way to the bitches lands. Tell them to move to the next area whenever it gets too hot and feel free to ship the goods. They will have the horses and wagons available. Lets make this trip a lengthy one if possible. As per usual they can come back when they are finished and its otherwise too risky anymore. They cannot however target our own lands and should they find other criminal scum who do so they should be dealt with. You know nothing better to hunt a thief then with another thief.

Not to mention we could use those horses, stolen gear, and goodies heheh...no really we do actually need them. From the sounds of it we don't actually have the gear to equip any heavy infantry. Hopefully we can have enough to hire some damn mercs.

Now that covers the plan for our criminal scum who knowing them are no ready to go and already recruited some. Now for the orders regarding our official soldiers.

Now that the harvest is in...its time for the next part of the Plan.

>>901134
Does her newfound allies possess any magi?

And people who would be interested in allying with us?

>>901141
> Magi with the southern Allies of the Baroness
House Berughana has two people in their employ, both have been spotted during the raid: #1 a Dreamseeress and #2 a Medium with affinity for spirits. Neither seem to posess any obvious tactical value.

> Magi with your ally:
House Virilys whom your Cousin is marrying into have an Oracle in their employ who has limited insight into future events.

> Magi with possible ally
Menna and the despotic rulers there hav a proper Battlemage in their employ.

####
" I wouldn't propose such tactics, mylady, " Old Sir Rodrick explains, whincing, " but I'll get word to your arsonists and get them back on the job, as you wish. But right now, while their entire warband is - allegedly - in the vicinity of our Homestead and said Homestead is defended by our Militia at Home - we could possibly launch a raid on Abalsruh with little repercussions, or we could... we could setup another camp on the Road between Dorf Sonnenstein and tower Leuenturm to attack them while they are retreating. "

Any which way, it is quite obvious, your forces - in bulk - can rival the southern Nobles from Abalsruh and Sonnfeld. Split up for ambushes they might inflict disproportionate casualties on the enemy, but might just as well be overwhelmed if the enemy is dedicated.

What's your further strategy going forward?

>>901141
With the bandits they'll be expecting them to cleave their civilian lands...oh how wrong will they be. Them getting targeted is gonna catch them by surprise with their pants down and now the criminal scum know we keep our word. Make sure they send us messengers who will provide us with intel while they are doing their thing. We need to know about their forces and how they are reacting.

Very important that last part. Since that means both sides have now reached a mutual understanding...which is critical for future operations and loyalty purposes both. They KNOW they can trust us...so even if someone tries to flip them on us...how can they trust that other guy? Hm?

Hahah. Having them do ambushes, hit and run combined with guerrilla warfare happens to fit the criminal experience and skills to a T. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if they were better at it then our own guys. Hence why I wanted the poachers to help guide our forces.

They know the woods...very well and they know how to move about them undetected even better. Not to mention how to lose any chasers. We will need their services for this next operation.

Our forces are going to be split into two depending on if we know her allies have magi or not. If they do then ignore this first part.

First Part(only if no combat magi)
Make a plan with our ally for the extra men. They will be needed for this.

With the equipment we have acquired we are to equip our infantry with heavier and better gear. They with our allies are to march on the southern enemy with infantry using the info we got from the bandits. They are to assist the commoners to resist the attempts to have their food stores pillaged by the their liege's forces. Send the elf to help persuade the villagers and equip them with...well our newly available equipment. Make sure they have plenty of warm clothing included we don't want them to freeze out there.

Which he will.

Without a doubt.

He KNOWS we are coming and he will need the supplies.

With the merchants getting taken out, his forces being targeted without the commoners being so, and his own stores being targeted they are going to be in quite the pickle. Not to mention our own supplies...well we are going to be very well supplied. Thank you bandits and well taken care of harvest. We have the provisions.

Preferably by the time we are doing this the bandits have moved onto the next area and thus his closest allies...are occupied at this point.

Our troops objectives are simple help the peasantry and force his troops back as far as we can. If we can pin them down in their main fortifications and we have the countryside...at this point we can consider our objective attained. Especially with the people on our side. Especially once they stuck there with low supplies, low armaments, and preferably burnt fortifications. After awhile they should be willing to talk terms.

>>901153
okay, I'll try to cohesively summarize what you said:
> get Arsonists to Arson again, targeted at the Baroness's supply
> prevent Baroness from coming down the street

> have Virilys allys + our Militia at home engage the southern Nobles who raided us
> abandon camp, get the 5 riders and 12 archers plus yourself down Home and help in the fighting

is this correct?

>>901149
In that case...send the bandits to ambush them further afield option and our own forces shall take the other route. Orders are simple do as much damage as possible but then bail before the enemy can react properly.

As for the previous bandit orders...that wont change much. We need them to give their army as much problems as we can and avoid messing with the peasantry. We need them to piss their own commoners off. Which will happen if we can ruin their supplies.

An army marches on its stomach after all and they need gear.

If the bandits succeed we can cripple their forces and cause civil unrest which we can then exploit. The other time...was admittedly desperation. We would of been screwed if they were able to bring their forces to bear on us. The bitch has some serious magic support which we can't handle at this point.

Once the ambush has finished with our own forces except for some archers send them with the allied forces and our infantry. The rest are to engage in in some operations in the bitch's turf.

If we send our some of our infantry down there with enough archers and allied troops we can trick her into thinking there is now an opening. With the bandits occupying the other forces...this is when we prepare our ambushes around her turf. Our forces will need to be light and hit hard. Preferably do so a bit closer to our own turf but still a safe distance's away to give us time to react should it go wrong and rally some forces together. The trick is going to be to hit hard enough that we force them into retreat and we can harass them the rest of the way back. If we get lucky we can even take out the magi. If its night or we find them in camp hit them fire arrows and a quick attack before dashing away.

>>901162
Arsonists are to target her allies first. Once they move on to the next area. When their forces try to force the peasants to resupply them because we torched their supplies. Is when we move in with enough troops to convince her that this is a big move. Especially once we throw our allies into it. The troops are to be well supplied because this might take awhile. The troops are to help the commoners and push their army as far back as we can.

By this time we would of sent the rest of our forces north to ambush the attack force she is going to send. After that we harass them as much as possible if they try to keep pushing without retreat we can send word to change the plans. Otherwise we hound them back into their turf.

Basically its a feint attack that isn't actually a feint.

Bandits are to soften then up before our 'main' attack force engages and rallies the commoners to our side. In truth this operation is nothing more then a feint that isn't a feint to fool the bitch into sending down her attack force. That attack force we will ambush in route and harass as much as possible.

Because she THINKS there will be an opening...but we held some forces back so its not. We wanna bait her into an ambush. Hopefully we keep her forces occupied long enough for the bandits to swing over yet again and target her military. Eventually if we are super lucky we can even slam them between our two combined forces.

Crushing the heavily exhausted survivors.

It is admittedly a bit of a long plan and should the bandits leave the second area to her area. Hopefully our 'decoy' force after helping the commoners besiege their lieges will move on to trouble the next area so as to prevent reinforcements. As they would of just gotten a break from the bandits only to get slammed by our army with allies included.

This SHOULD hopefully keep them well occupied and her falling for a trap. Problem is its going to require us to get the aid of our allies to sell it properly. Without them she will doubt it and believe it to be a feint(which it sorta is).

Basically send our big force away to serve as a bait/lure AFTER the bandits move on and after the peasants now in trouble getting screwed out of more supplies because we destroyed/looted their army supplies, we help the commoners pushing the enemy back while building goodwill with the peasants, and to cause her allies problems. Make her think THAT is our big move combined with the ambushes are adviser suggested.

Make her think that the attack with the ambushes convince her its us sending most if not everything...but its bullshit.

We WANT her to think that and send her forces down into a trap. In truth we keep units back from the ambush for the trap we have planned for her forces when she sends them down.

She cannot resist the bait. Our main forces are away and her allies are troubled...but we on the other hand are open for an attack...

If she is the bitch we think she is. She wont be able to resist the opening.

>>901182
Now there are three ways at the ambush things can go wrong.

1 ambush occurs but we fail.

Answer is to resort to harassment tactics and call in reinforcements who can participate in said tactics. The others if they come will just get murdered by the magi then mopped up by the infantry.

her forces never arrived and chose instead to hold position.
Which is bad but not super bad as it meant we just wasted our time...again.

2 she isn't actually a total bitch and decides to help her allies.

If this happens...well this is worse case scenario because it will mean they would rally together and form a single large warhost which would sweep down crushing our army+allies if they don't retreat. but if they DO retreat

They might get attacked from the flank by the survivors of the other army OR the other army rallies with the war host. At this point our forces are in full retreat.

...and we would be 100% FUCKED!

As it would literally combine all their forces into a single large army with all their casters. At that point the only thing we can do is ambush and harass them while desperately praying they break apart for some reason. Such as the bandits tearing through their lands again.

If they don't divide and keep coming at us despite the harassment...its game over.

We WILL lose our lands at this point.

but that requires her to not be a selfish bitch...and them to be willing to stay together.

If it happens though there is no way we could win. At All.

I am just saying that is the worst possible event.

>>901182
I'm honestly confused and can't properly follow what you say, sorry :D I'll be getting some food and will be back in an hour :)
Then I'll try to wrap my brain around what you said! :)

LG

>>901187
Those are the three problems should everything else go as planned.

Even though I forgot to label 2 and the one that was labeled 2 was actually 3.

>>901162
Yes abandon the camp....but not completely make sure we keep some watchers there. In case anything should happen.

We are going to need them for the ambushes. After that we will need forces for last ambush against the bitch's personal force.

As for the arsonists...that target is suppose to be their LAST stop before returning back home.

They are part of the feint operation with us sending all our resources to fuck them up.

Truth is we are holding enough people back so while they are occupied we will ambush the forces she takes that were meant to attack us while we looked weak and our forces were away.

It is a trick.

Is there anything else you need me to go over?

Its late here and I am about to crash...also I very much enjoy this kind of game. So your doing very well. Sadly I am not familiar with the source material but i have always been a very good plotter and tactically minded.

>>901188
2 ambushes occur one by bandits and the other by our forces. Both are to retreat before they rally properly so as to prevent losses.

The bandit ambush is to to go into fuck with their military resources of the hill and mountain lord. After they do their thing and its too hot they are to move on. Their goods are to be sent back and message carrier are to report back. Once this happens most our forces(but not all)+allies are to invade after that opening. But only after the commoners start getting forced by the Army to resupply them. That is when we move in and and work with the commoners who are getting robbed by their own lords to fight against them. With the goods we got from the bandits and our own supplies. We should have enough to arm them and start a rebellion. Which we will support until we forced them back as far as we could before moving onto the next area to do the same thing.

If possible we even help the peasant besiege their former lieges. Tell them we will support them but there are people in need of aid who just suffered the same thing. So leave some guys hear to oversee everything while the rest go.

Their next target is the forest lord but only AFTER the bandits have done their work and moved into the bitch's domain for the last of it. Yet again they will rally together with the peasants who are getting forced to give up their supplies. We will stop this and help the peasants rebel against their liege. Drive them as far back as we can and do what we did before.

By the time thee bandits finish hitting the bitches lands. they are ordered to rally together with our ambushers who hit her army that tried to sneak down. That is when we send in the army to the bitches lands to cause trouble. Whom we tell commoners that SHE is the one behind ALL OF THIS. So we come to END her vile tyranny! With our army, the bandits, and her remaining forces from the ambush is now we strike here to finish her.

Which should only occur AFTER we weakened their forces from the ambushes and their magi can't fling spells. By this time we should have lot of equipped peasants who decided to come along to fight tyranny and here is where we should end it.


IF the ambush fails despite there being bait. Bandits are to retreat into our lands. The ambushers are to keep up the harrasment. Our army meanwhile will assist the commnoners to overthrow their lieges.

>>901188
Part 1

Follow the advice to ambush them and do so. One with our forces and again with the bandit forces. Do as much damage as possible before retreating.

After that the bandits will target the hill lord for hitting his military supplies, attacking his forces, stealing horses, and robbing the militia armories(which we will need for rebellion). Basically the bandits keep on them but also cause other problems.

When they are finished they are to send a message with the the loot they send back before going up to the Forest lord.

In forest lord land's they are to do the same thing.

At this point though our army+allies send their forces into the hill lord's lands but only AFTER the bandits left and long enough for the peasants to get their supplies taken by force. We move in stopping this and incite a rebellion. Supporting them with goods we just looted by the bandits. Together with the peasants they push the enemy back to their main hold where we besiege them with mostly peasant but leave a few guys behind to help them.

After that the Forest Lord should be clear now that the bandits left GOING to the Bitch's place after sending us a message with a loot they took to our army. So they know its time to advance. THAT is when the army marches forward doing the same thing above.

Once its completed the army then marches into the Bitch queen place. The bandits there causing trouble are eventually to meat up with our ambushers and help them finish off the those they were chasing. If that doesn't work then the army moves in and we incite rebellion among the populace to help us. With the arsonist loot we equip the peasants with ti and march onto the her main place. ONLY if she doesn't have any of her battle magi however.

Otherwise divert forces back to the forest and hill lords to finish off their sieges. Once that is handled we use ALL our forces to march upon the Bitch to finish her off.

That contains all the parts and I am really dying here from being so tired. I wish you ran later op I would totally participate every time.

>>901195
I'm good, I think! :)
Sleep well,
in your little bettgestell! :)

>>901238
Part 2

Is the ambush which should of happened since our main forces were away. They were to ambush the Bitch's forces she sends down to our vulnerable flank. Instead they eat an ambush and we hunt them until reinforcements arrive to finish them off then.

If we killed her magi we can just besiege her keep right away and end this. After that dealing with the other lord's will be SO much easier.

Otherwise we have to deal with the other lords first by swinging back the other way to help the armed peasant siege. Once both lords fall we take all our new forces back to the Bitch and order her to surrender.

In the meantime we keep ambush force ready in case she leaves so we can attack them.


>>901243
Holy this describes everything...it was VERY long plan and I listed what could go wrong how that should be dealt with.

I do believe its everythint...shame you didn't run later otherwise I would of played. Love this entire idea.I just don't know the fluff sadly so hopefully my strategic mind and tactical prowess with being a good plotter will help.

Now its time for bed...

>>901246
Our main charatacter should be based at home or wherever its most important. Really we gotta have the info to do things with. Like us staying out in the woods for long was a TERRIBLE idea. We should of been home overseeing things from afar.

So wait WHY should we send our MC along?

When is it a good thing?

When is it a bad thing?

What are the consquences. I do believe this is critical need to know infromation we could really use.

Now I am gonna creash.....way....wy tooo ttired.

Love what you have done so far op...but be aware that not all anons would be able to handle these kinda things. I just so happen am one of the few who could. and there is special reasons for it. So don't rely upon my presence. I like your playing hard which I personally can handle but I don't know about other anons could do so so easily. I wont be all the time much as I love what your doing.. Seems like they would be in trouble. SO what are you gonna do about that exactly?

Shee I really need to sleop.

>>901265
first I'll properly visualize your plan,
then I'll make a "what actually happens" map,
and then I'll write something for it.

as for>>901265
>Love what you have done so far op...but be aware that not all anons would be able to handle these kinda things. I just so happen am one of the few who could. and there is special reasons for it. So don't rely upon my presence. I like your playing hard which I personally can handle but I don't know about other anons could do so so easily. I wont be all the time much as I love what your doing.. Seems like they would be in trouble. SO what are you gonna do about that exactly?
I don't know. I'm just running a game, failure and death are possibilities :D

thanks for your participation so far! Nice input! :) Sleep well!

File: Lodenbach Battle #1 . 001 Status Quo, 12th INGerimm.jpg (796KB, 1556x1267px) Image search: [Google]

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>>901274
Visualization time!
the very first battle... One way or another
1 of 6

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>>901485
2 of 6

File: Lodenbach Battle #1 . 003 Attackplans, starting 20th INGerimm.jpg (841KB, 1556x1267px) Image search: [Google]

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>>901489
3 of 6

File: Lodenbach Battle #1 . 004 Disruption and Resupply after 25th INGerimm.jpg (852KB, 1556x1267px) Image search: [Google]

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>>901491
4 of 6

File: Lodenbach Battle #1 . 005 Psyops.jpg (850KB, 1556x1267px) Image search: [Google]

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>>901495
5 of 6

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>>901497
6 of 6
this is the plan outline above...
I hope! :) I'll get to writing about what Reality holds in store for that plan

Just dropping in to say this looks like the most old text-rpgish thing I've ever seen on qst. I approve.

Also, "Yaoemogo" is the most name-like ID ever.

>>901499
Ugh being outnumbered and out armed sucks hard. I would of preferred to avoid using criminals but desperate times call for desperate measures. Hence all the dirty tactics and such...we can't win in a stand up fight.

Plus can we send our MC away from the ambush site? I don't see why we need to be there and can we reinforce it a bit? They will need the troops for the ambush.

If she decided to help her allies though we are fucked. The amount of combined troops and magi will utterly destroy us.

Hopefully the bandits bring back enough profit so we can hire some mercs...