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Post by Ladorak on Nov 24, 2009 11:17:57 GMT -5
The old weasel frowned, contemplating this. "Well a cavalry attack directly against infantry is suicide." he murmured. "All they'd do is form squares and beat them back. No....cavalry should only ever be used for hitting infantry on it's flank when it's attacking you or...reconnaissance, so I would strongly urge against an unsupported cavalry attack." Farrand said, holding his paw up in a cautionary manner.
"And it's like you said too...that slope is too risky. Just send the infantry in Duke Augustine." Farrand suggested, addressing the Duke very formally. The way I see it you still have...." the weasel paused now, doing a head count. Not a literal head count of course, as Augustine had close to 13,000 troops under him. Clerfayt on the other paw....it appeared the horned lizard had considerably less, and even less than that now that he had had to detach some over to von Lilien.
"Well....seeing as how Clerfayt had to move troops over to my sector, I'd say he's only got about 3,000 troops under his command now. That's at least 3 to 1 odds. You should be able to give him quite a good whack even with the terrain. Also in order to avoid him launching a cavalry attack on your flanks I might even be so bold as to suggest not stopping to deploy into line formation and just keeping your troops in column. I know that that's risky, and if they get stalled then most of your troops won't be able to come into action because they'll be all stacked up BUT....at the same time it serves as sort of a wave almost, with beast upon beast behind the front row, pushing that one forward. I know it's risky but it would prevent Clerfayt from using his cavalry provided your charge doesn't stall."
Wiping his whiskers a bit now from perspiration (despite it being cold out the weasel was still sweating as he watched his troops slowly continue their recrossing of the Haine.....almost there....they were almost there....), the weasel sniffed, having a bit of a stuffy nose due to the cold atmosphere. It wasn't cold enough to snow, but it was still pretty nippy. They needed to conclude this battle and capture Bruxelles so that they could move into winter quarters.
"That's my opinion on it at least, and what I would advise, especially if the lad is being sent in first." the mustelid looked over at the jaguar now, hoping he was ready for his first real trial. "And even if it doesn't work you...Beurnonville would go in and clean house so to speak." He clasped his paws behind his back, nodding now as the cannonballs whistled overhead, not many of them striking in their vicinity due to von Lilien aiming more for Farrand's troops rather than a set of lone beasts way in the back.
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Post by Carrow on Nov 24, 2009 12:25:00 GMT -5
"Couldn't have said it better myself!" Duross exclaimed. "As had been mentioned, there was a possibility, however slim, of a cavalry chrage going awry due to the terrain. And of course, it wouldn't really be advisable against infantry. Under different circumstances, it might have produced results, however - things just aren't stacked our way as far as that's concerned."
The mustelid General thwacked his rudder on the ground in a decisive manner. "Farrand's right. Sending your infantry in would be the best option, Duke," the otter told Phillip, also using formal address. "I've felt somehow that the numbers are going to be the principal deciding factor in the outcome of this battle, and now's a better time than ever to try something such as that out and see what we come up with. More than three to one odds. Remember that."
Duross looked over to Farrand, smiling. "Yes, it does seem risky, but then that's always been what this battle's been about, right? Taking risks? Send the infantry in in column fashion, now there's a proposal I can put myself behind! We're more than capable of pulling this off if we continue to work together, you know."
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Post by bookity101 on Nov 24, 2009 23:12:19 GMT -5
((I forgot what era i was in there for a moment, Been reading all of these books on the middle ages, forgot about the guns...))
Phillip looked at Beurnonville, "I think that will work sir." He looked over at where he could see the battlefield more clearly. "We will need to keep the pressure up on Beaulie so he doesn't come attack us from the side." He looked over at Beurnonville. "Maybe if we mount the offensive at the same time, you at Beaulie, and mine at Clerfyt." Berny nodded and jumped up, slapping his knee as he did.
"By jove, I think that will work lad." He rushed over to the mounts. As he lead both of the them over, the corporal that he sent off came back.
"Here's your coffee sir." Berny paused in the midst of hoisting himself up.
"Oh, yes.." He glanced over at Farrand, noticing his dripping snout and remembering his sniffles from earlier. "Thank you lad, I'm in a bit of a hurry now, so you go ahead and pass that off to the good General Farrand over there." With that Berny finished hoisting himself up, calling as he did. "Lets be off Phillip, sooner the better on that attack." Phillip scurried over to his own horse and vaulted into the saddle. Berny huffed a bit, "Show off ye young sprout." Both beasts threw a quick salute, turned their horses and cantered back to their own spots, Berny calling orders as he went.
Corporal Rodgers gulped and moved over to Farrand, a fellow weasel. "Sir, here's some coffee. Complements of Gen. Beurnonville." He held out the cup, careful not to spill. *********
15 minutes later, the barrage that had been rather slow, increased tempo to almost triple what it had been. Two lines of blue* coated Rosferians were forming, one along the river, one at the bottom of the hill. In just a few moments the call would be given, and the Rosferians would charge, just as soon as Farrand engaged the troops, which would give Beurnonville time to get his own troops across the river.
Phillip couldn't hold still, and his twitching was making his horse nervous. Just a little bit longer...
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 25, 2009 2:03:41 GMT -5
"Oh yes...thank you." the weasel nodded, a bit surprised at this. He only hoped that by going against Duross they wouldn't mess things up too much. Beurnonville attacking Beaulieu again was good, and probably advisable...the only problem was that it left nothing in reserve just in case Augustine's attack didn't work...but that's precisely why Farrand had to ensure that his own attack would succeed...in order to help out the rest of the battlefield.
His troops were still crossing...and the battle was stalled. He could see that Beurnonville and Augustine were waiting on him. Blast it all.....his plans were always very slow...but then again he was only a garrison commander before at one of Rosferia's major border forts. He wasn't even technically supposed to be out here...yet he was, and he was going to do his job.
Well if they were waiting on him then fine...he'd relieve the tension. His troops finally completed their crossing and were coming up on the rear of von Lilien's troops. The wolf commander wasn't the first to notice this...in fact it was the Archduke Darius that did. "General von Lilien sir! Behind us!"
"Hmph?" the wolf snorted, turning his horse about to see the blue horde bearing down on him. "Now where did they come from? Darius! Wheel your troops about and engage! I'll take care of the front!" And take care of the front he would need to do, as Farrand was ordering his troops forward, pushing them at the wolf's lines. Front and back....von Lilien was in a tight spot and he knew it.
"About face!" Darius was calling, getting his troops to face the other way and prepare for an attack from the rear. At this point that half of Farrand's troops were charging, and soon the front was charging as well, and the lines began blasting away at each other.
"OK...work on surrounding von Lilien and cutting him off!" the weasel cried, hoping to overlap his lines and cause them either to collapse or surrender completely as they would have nowhere to go. Well gentlebeasts...here's your battle...at long last, he thought to himself as his charges stopped, both in front and back as they met that wall of lead they were expecting. They had numbers on their side though, and kept up a withering fire on the Kostritz line. Come on you blasted wolf....break.....Farrand urged silently as action became general in his sector.
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Post by bookity101 on Nov 25, 2009 11:45:41 GMT -5
Both Rosferian general's saw the Farrand engage von Lilien and Darius. Within moments Beurnonville had called for the charge of his troops. Half of Beurnonville's forces charged across the bridge, getting in firing distance of Beaulie troops quickly because of the bridge of debris that they had made wider while they waited.
General Farrand didn't have to worry about reserve forces. Beurnonville hadn't thrown all of his forces into the fray, many of them were held back to support Augustine. They had just put enough into the fray to keep Beaulie tied down.
Phillip heard the call as Beurnonville's troops engaged Beaulie's. He drew in a steadying breath. One of his attendants trotted his mount forward.
"Sir, Orders?" Phillip looked over at him.
"Sound the advance, as quick as they can get Commander." He nodded and drew another breath, watching as the order was given. In mere moments they would engage and the battle would be on.
[Cal go ahead and auto the clash, I wouldnt know what to do..]
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 25, 2009 13:10:09 GMT -5
((OK Book, but never be afraid to post your own stuff. It's not about running the thread how it "should" go after all. But yes I can understand if you aren't familiar with the formations and such...I should post about that at some point in the OOC.)) As the fighting was occurring on the Kostritz right, with Farrand and von Lilien, Beaulieu once again became engaged on the left. Albert watched as the fox general once again entered combat though this time it looked as if Beurnonville wasn't using all of his troops. What was that guinea pig planning? Why was he leaving behind a reserve? Albert considered his options. Well...the logical reason was because he wanted to use his troops somewhere else but...where? It was only now that Albert realized that even if he wanted to do something about this he couldn't. He had no active reserves to throw in anywhere. Over on the right, von LIlien, and more importantly his adopted son, seemed to be in trouble of being surrounded. Most of Albert's attention was focused there. But he had no troops left to spare. He'd given von Lilien all he could from Clerfayt's wing, and it seemed too that Clerfayt himself was going to be attacked as Augustine's troops started forward as well. Clerfayt was directing his artillery, but they were being smothered for the most part by the Rosferian pieces. Riding up and down the line, Albert looked for any potential danger spots. Clerfayt could hold his own. He was a talented officer after all, and the polecat Duke had every confidence in the horned lizard's ability. As for Beaulieu, he was doing well. Beurnonville wasn't committing enough troops to break him....merely keep him occupied after all. As for the center, a sudden cry rose up as Augustine's blue clad troops surged forward. Clerfayt noted that they weren't even stopping to get into line formation. What were they trying to...."Fire!" he called out, once the jaguar's troops reached musket range. But they didn't stop. Row upon row of beasts were pushing forward, like a giant wave that had rolled in from Rosferia. Clerfayt swallowed heavily as that mass of beasts kept charging. No...this wasn't good! He only had about 2,000 troops! He wouldn't be able to stop 13,000 charging beasts, no matter how much he wanted to! They bore closer...closer....closer.....and then his own troops broke, starting to run for the rear. At first it was only a few, but like a domino effect it seized hold of his entire division, and just as Augustine's troops reached the crest of the ridge the Kostritz center caved in, giving way under the pressue. "RETREAT!" Clerfayt yelled out, a moment too late as his troops were literally shoved off the ridge by the weight of the jaguar Duke's numbers. Streaming down the reverse slope, Clerfayt knew he had to do something to stem the tide. The Kostritz center had now been pierced, and Beaulieu was cut off from von Lilien and vice versa. "RALLY! RALLY TO THE FLAG! RALLY TO ME!" the horned lizard shouted, riding among his retreating soldiers and trying to get them to stand their ground. He knew what he had to do. The situation now hung by a thread. If Augustine turned to either his right or left then he engulf one of the remaining wings of the Kostritz army. Fortunately though, Clerfayt's division did not have low morale, and getting them to rally and form up again wasn't that difficult. He had charisma and demanded a real respect from his troops after all, and he soon had them back in fighting condition. "Look! I know we don't have the numbers to push them off that ridge but by the blasted blazes we have to hit them again to prevent them from attacking our right our left! Keep them busy as long as possible! Let's go! CHARGE!" he drew his sword and waved it forward, leading his gray host back up the slopes and straight at Augustine. He knew he had not the beastpower or numbers to push him off that ridge, but he could very well keep him tied down with a fight in order to try and salvage the rest of the situation. As his troops fired off into Augustine's massed horde, Clerfayt looked to his right. That wasn't good.....von Lilien wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer and if he caved.....then the whole line would be wrecked now that Clerfayt no longer held the center. ((I'd say Kostritz is officially screwed heheh. )
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Post by Carrow on Nov 25, 2009 16:28:17 GMT -5
Duross packed in with Farrand's creatures, firing away as best he could, once again willing to lend a paw in this attempt at securing victory. The mustelid had known that sheer strength in numbers would work rather decisively in their favour at some point in time... but the mustelid had never envisaged any kind of impact like the one it had on the Kostritz forces. The otter roared triumphantly as he glimpsed the foebeasts pushed off the ledge and hurled into space. The blue tide was now unstoppable in this situation. Duross' eyes shone bright as diamonds as he realised just what an effect that charge had had.
Still though, the General could not afford to be complacent in the slightest. Things seemed to be going Rosferia's way at last, but if there was one thing that the mustelid had taught his troops, it was to expect the unexpected at all times. He threw himself into securing this vital upper paw, hoping that Clerfayt's beasts would be hit as hard as it seemed they were going to be. They would go down fighting, the otter was sure of it. Things were finally starting to turn out for them, but the time for celebration was a while off yet. Just keep going, he mentally urged those around him.
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 26, 2009 1:05:07 GMT -5
At this point von Lilien realized his battle was lost. He was on the verge of being completely surrounded. He was being snapped like a twig between Farrand's pincer movement, and the wolf could do little to stem the tide. His unit was breaking, and feeling he had little other choice than to save his division, the canine did the only thing he could. "RETREAT! FALL BACK TO MONS!" and like that Kostritz right was broken. His troops began to cur their way through Farrand's line, getting out through a rapidly closing corridor. Mounting his charger, von Lilien spurred his mount forward, galloping away like made.
Albert could see the disaster unfolding on his right flank. Von Lilien was finished. But what about Darius!? Was the marbled polecat safe! The regular polecat began to worry as he saw the gray host snap and begin dashing away. Farrand could sense victory and had both wings charge, crushing the Kostritz unit between and capturing those that could not get away in time. 400 prisoners were taken, being completely cut off. They simply threw down their guns and fought no more.
Darius had just barely managed to get his horse moving in time. He wasn't easily visible, but he was one of those that got away as well.
Seeing his right collapsing and now being left up in the air, Clerfayt knew the jig was up. Knowing they were being rolled up, the horned lizard decided enough was enough. He broke off his brief attack against Augustine, and he too ordered a retreat to Mons. The moment his troops disengaged and began streaming away, the caught Duke Albert up in their retreat as well, the polecat commander being unable to stop the rout. His horse was caught up in the retreating flood, and he began desperately looking for Darius, calling out his name and trying to find his adopted son.
"Darius! Darius!" his angular head frantically scanned the crowd, looking this wy and that. Where was he...where was he!? "Von Lilien!" he spied the wolf, kicking his horse in the flanks to catch up with him. "Von Lilien! Where's my son!?" he demanded.
The frazzled wolf shook his head. "I'm not sure sir...back there somewhere. I know I saw him get away."
"Father!" the cry came out to him, and with great relief Albert could see Darius riding up to join them.
"Thanks Gates you're safe...we've lost this battle! We should retreat via Mons! I've lost my protectorate!" the polecat Governor moaned.
But there was one still standing firm on the field. There was one refusing to yield. Johann von Beaulieu realized the battle was lost...but he was determined to buy as much time as he could for Albert, Clerfayt, Darius and von Lilien to escape. The old veteran scrunched his eyes, something he was prone to doing when thinking very hard. "Alright.....we have to stall the Rosferians! Launch cavalry into Beurnonville's flanks and push him back! Direct your main attention to holding up Augustine!" the vulpine barked, and turned to look at what was transpiring.
Von Lilien and Clerfayt were done for, in the process of streaming towards Mons. Farrand's troops were too exhausted from the marching they'd done all day to mount any real pursuit, and stood there cheering their heads off and dealing with their prisoners as they watched the gray hoard melt away before them.
"We'll bloody their noses a bit then withdraw ourselves." Beaulieu muttered, and soon his cavalry was thundering down on the guinea pig Marquis's flanks. This was a deadly maneuver, very effective against infantry at close range. So long as he could drive Beurnonville off and delay Augustine.....Albert could get away..though not to fight another day. Eastern Mordenz would fall into the paws of Duross at this rate...he'd won the entire province, that much was clear. Winter was coming, and that would put a stop to all battles....and also the Kostritz Occupation Forces would need ample time to lick their wounds before they could ever fight again.
Turning towards Augustine's troops, the fox's soldiers began hammering away into them, trying to buy as much time as they could for the retreat to conclude....
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Post by bookity101 on Nov 26, 2009 10:57:56 GMT -5
Berny watched the gray suited Kostriz ranks break rank afterr rank fleeing towarrds Mons. Yes! they had them routed, now he just needed to either force Beaulieu to break ranks as well, or capture him.. He began to roar out orders "Keep at them Rosferians! THere on the run!" He rode his horse hard to over where the reserves were still holding their posiston... barely.
He rode up in front of them. "What are you waiting for? Make sure they don't come back!" The reserves rushed forward. In a more orderly manner than most, he had held groups of more expeiranced beasts back. It made for an orderly sweep of the field, engaging Beauliu at an angle, pushing his lines back towards the other fleeing soldiers.
Augustine Phillip held his horse in check. Wanting to rush forward to help his beasts, but knowing he shouldn't get in their way. he waited, growing more impaitent with every passing moment when he heard Beurnonville coming up behind him.
"Hello there Phillip!" Berny's eye's were blazing with excitment. "How are you feeling about the battle now lad?" Phillip turned to him and took a deep breath.
"Its been, exhilerating. I'm just glad that we win. It would have been bad for our army if we didn't win here." Beurnonville nodded and directed some of the units from the hospitol unit to where there was a clump of wounded soldiers.
"Yes now we just have to deal with all of the wounded. Good thing we have all winter to heal them up." He dropped down from his horse, kneeling by one of the less wounded and giving him a drink from his canteen. "Phillip, keep an eye on the troops, if something happens, teel me and we'll see what to do." Phillip nodded and passed his own canteen to one of the passing wounded.
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Post by Carrow on Nov 26, 2009 11:46:45 GMT -5
Two down, the otter General thought. He decided to get in while the getting was good and head for the last collection of Kostritz fighters. Many of the creatures around him had the same idea, and so they packed in against Beaulieu's creatures, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the foebeasts retreated wholesale.
Notching up another few hits, the mustelid was still going strong even after all the day's events. Things were drawing to a close now, but his creatures would give everything until the very end. The otter felt immensely proud of his troops. Sure, they were far from disciplined fighters, but as long as they had heart in battles like this, Duross was sure that they would do all they could. And quite the heartening thing it was that they were improving all the while. In fact, it made his heart soar.
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