Post by Ladorak on Oct 30, 2009 10:50:57 GMT -5
Briefing
Background: With Gradvar having retreated from Rosferian lands, the country is now safe for the moment from invasion. To keep Gradvar occupied, a Rosferian army under the command of Count Adam Custine has launched it's own invasion of Gradvar, and in a brilliant and surprising turn of events has managed to capture the large Gradvarian border fortress of Mainz without a fight. With Gradvar thus occupied and winter coming on, General Carian Duross has moved his army back up to the Mordenz border as per his original plan. His orders are to invade Kostritz controlled Eastern Mordenz and liberate it from foreign rule before winter sets in. Doing so will provide Rosferia with a valuable ally if all of Mordenz can be liberated from Kostritz's iron rule. Mordenz has both an army and especially a navy that Rosferia could really use to help in their fight against Gradvar and Kostritz. The Mordenz population by and large desires to be free of Kostritz control, but they need the Occupation Forces to be dealt with first before they can openly support Rosferia. Biding his time at the border fortress of Valenciennes, Duross has finally moved his troops across the Mordenz border towards the Kostritz Occupation Forces under the Governor of Eastern Mordenz, Duke Albert. Albert had recently mobilized his forces to invade Rosferia in support of Gradvar's invasion, and did briefly manage to besiege the border fortress of Leel before Duross drove him off. Having taken up a defensive position to block the road to Bruxelles, the capital of Eastern Mordenz, Albert was hoping to go into winter quarters and receive reinforcements from Kostritz by next year, but Duross is not giving him the chance. Marching swiftly upon his position, Albert is being brought to battle near the village of Jemappes, and the contest for Eastern Mordenz now commences......
Rosferian Situation:Thanks to the lack of border fortresses in Eastern Mordenz, Duross was able to move his force with little difficulty into Eastern Mordenz itself, and has fallen upon the position of Duke Albert's Kostritz Occupation Forces. The Rosferians heavily outnumber the Kostritz forces, but occupy low ground and have to make attacks uphill against a good defensive position. Duross has numerical advantages in every field, including infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The disadvantages are the low level of training his troops have, but Duross is counting on their numbers and high morale to win the day. If Albert is driven off the ridge he occupies, the Rosferians will be victorious, so their main objective for this battle is to drive Albert's troops completely from the field by the end of the day in order to win this battle. Anything less than complete victory is not possible as winter is quickly coming and Duross needs to defeat his foe before then. If the Kostritz forces retreat, Bruxelles will be open for capture and can serve as an excellent winter base for Duross.
Size of Force: 43,000
Commander: Carian Duross (otter)
Advantages: Superior numbers, high morale
Disadvantages: low ground, inadequate training
Recommended Strategy: The Rosferian force should attempt to hit Albert with everything they've got. He'll be in a defensive position and his troops are highly trained, so it could take awhile to hammer down his resistance, but provided Albert retreats by the end of the day, the Rosferian forces can claim victory. They MUST drive the Kostritz army off the the ridge it holds in order to win. Flank attacks will be difficult due to the Kostritz force's position, but they aren't impossible. Concentrating either on the flanks or the center would be recommended, but the key is to be FLEXIBLE and revise strategy if the initial one does not work. The Rosferian left is under the command of Farrand, the center is under the command of Augustine Philip, and the right is under Marquis Beurnonville.
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Kostritz Situation: The Kostritz position is incredibly strong yet incredibly dangerous as well. Both of their flanks rest on a river, so flanking them will be time consuming and difficult, but not impossible. Their line extends on a ridge line from the Haine River down to the Trouille River. On their right is Franz von Lilien, with the Emperor of Kostritz's younger brother Archduke Darius in their ranks. He's here to learn the ropes and fundamentals of military command. The Kostritz center is under the command of Count Sebastian Clerfayt, and the left is commanded by Johann Beaulieu, who is probably the most able of the commanders. Duke Albert himself has no actual combat experience, and is relying on his subordinates to see him through this battle. His position is very secure yet dangerous because of marshland in his rear. There are only two causeways over which his army can retreat, so cutting them off can prove easy for the Rosferian forces provided they can penetrate the line successfully. Albert's objective is to hold the ridge by the end of the day. If he fails to do this it is likely that he will have to abandon all of Eastern Mordenz to Rosferia.
Size of Force: 13,000
Commander: Duke Albert (polecat)
Advantages: Highly trained, high ground, excellent defensive position
Disadvantages: Outnumbered, dangerous defensive position
Recommended Strategy: Albert MUST block the road to Bruxelles. If he fails to do this he loses the battle. He should just sit tight and defend his position, as he has nowhere near the numbers necessary to take the offensive. The most he can do is hope Duross will be unable to pierce his line.
And now I'll open up various characters that any player may feel free to play for this battle. If you want to play more than one character that can be permissible for this battle, but just let me know before the battle starts. I'd say no more than two characters per author. Also please note that if you do what I'm doing (dividing your characters onto both sides) then you won't get as many points because I have to divide that fairly. However, if you just want to play a character on the other side but want your predominant character to be on one side (say you want to mainly play Rosferia but don't mind helping out on the Kostritz side) then tell me and I will count your points for strictly Rosferia or Kostritz, depending on where your primary character is. Like me, I'm primarily playing as Duke Albert, so my points will be counting for the Kostritz side if they win.
Duross (otter): Skipper (it's his character after all
)Farrand (weasel): Cal (I'll just play him in this battle as he's not a vital character)
Augustine Philip (jaguar): Bookity
Marquis Beurnonville (guinea pig): Bookity
Duke Albert (polecat): Cal
von Lilien (wolf): Cal (I'll just play him as well since he's not that vital)
Count Clerfayt (horned lizard): Cal
Johan Beaulieu (fox): Cal
Here's some background on the characters:
Augustine Philip: this is the cousin of King Augustine. Unlike his cousin however, he enthusiastically supports the Revolution along with his father. He is very young, at 21 years of age, and is seeking to learn about the military and gain experience on the frontline as per the wishes of his father, the Duke of Orleans. Commands the Rosferian center
Marquis Beurnonville: An officer with previous combat experience in other wars. Younger than Duross however, at the age of 40. Was in command of the wing that Duross sent to lift the siege of Leel, and was responsible for driving off Albert and sending him back into Mordenz. Commands the Rosferian right.
Clerfayt: Talented Mordenz officer who chose to join Kostritz (unlike most of his fellow countrybeasts). Has the most experience behind Beaulieu and commands the Kostritz center. Is 49 years old right now.
Beaulieu: the most talented and experienced of the Kostritz officers. Is expected to give a solid defense for the battle. Keeps his cool in stressful situations, and is also from Mordenz, like Clerfayt. Commands the Kostritz left. Is currently 67 years old, so that makes him the oldest commander on the field.
Rosferia vs. Kostritz
