[OOC] Tverios: The Conquest

[Eschatologist]

It is indeed. Once again, while a distraction would help Myra get the gate open [most likely, but it depends on how careful they are in their distribution of garrisons], it would make forcing a surrender more difficult. The more combat-ready enemy soldiers in a place where cavalry cannot fuck their day up, the worse things get for the Winds, and the slower and more costly a surrender will be for both defenders and attackers.

[Lexicon]

That actually brings up a few other things.

@Vahir I know you said you didn't want to control the Etruscan forces, but...I mean, somebody should. Even just giving us a general idea of what they're doing and letting us fill in the details should be fine. That way you can still get Oromis involved without head-jumping too much. Just my two cents.

@RyanTadashi Methinks that, once we get through the initial gate attack and everything, maybe your character could run into folks allied with Oromis? Heck, maybe he recognizes someone from the Forlorn Hope platoon or something? If you want to PM me so we can talk about ways to possibly get you involved, unless you have your own ideas, let me know.

[RyanTadashi]

@RyanTadashi Methinks that, once we get through the initial gate attack and everything, maybe your character could run into folks allied with Oromis? Heck, maybe he recognizes someone from the Forlorn Hope platoon or something? If you want to PM me so we can talk about ways to possibly get you involved, unless you have your own ideas, let me know.

@Lexicon

Yeah, thanks. Sorry if it seems like I've been inactive; I've just been enjoying all of your writing and thinking about how to get involved! Apologies if I'm holding you up, but you guys are quite enthralling :)

[Vahir]

Finished Lexicon's post! Good job keeping quality with that much quantity.

It is indeed. Once again, while a distraction would help Myra get the gate open [most likely, but it depends on how careful they are in their distribution of garrisons], it would make forcing a surrender more difficult. The more combat-ready enemy soldiers in a place where cavalry cannot fuck their day up, the worse things get for the Winds, and the slower and more costly a surrender will be for both defenders and attackers.

@Eschatologist

The city will be poorly-defended anyway, with all the real soldiers marching south. There's maybe 1000 irregulars guarding it (militia, watchmen, diverse mercenaries), and 400 or so proper soldiers (most belonging to the Duke of Lafferand's retinue).

VAHIR'S PREDICTIONS FOR THE BATTLE

1. The Winds can approach the city undetected without too much trouble; the outer region's almost uninhabited anyway.

2. Again, making it past the outer wall shouldn't be too difficult, just a matter of climbing over rubble in most places. The only
difficulty will be getting siege equipment (ladders, that ram) through the walls, and the ruins. Maybe send some scouts ahead to
search for a clear way through; still, you'll have to have soldiers clearing obstacles in front of the heavies and cavalry.

3. Assuming the Winds make a beeline straight for the inner wall, they should be detected only when they're quite close. The
defense would be chaotic and unorganized, with random militiamen rushing to the walls. The longer you guys take to capture the
walls, the harder it will be, but given the martial skill of the Winds, they should be over the walls after a short scuffle.

4. After the inner walls are taken, it should be a simple matter running down the watchmen and seizing the city. The hard part is
what comes after. Duke Lafferand is a cold bastard: he'll hold back his personal army during the battle, and when the inner wall
falls, he'll just fortify himself in the Holy Quarter, which is built like a fortress. At that point, you'd have to siege him,
or negociate (He's planning on defecting if Oromis starts winning anyway, it's just a matter of convincing him now's the time).

So there you go, the main challenges I see in the siege: Getting all that cavalry and siege equipment past the ruins, and cracking Lafferand's citadel.

@Vahir I know you said you didn't want to control the Etruscan forces, but...I mean, somebody should. Even just giving us a general idea of what they're doing and letting us fill in the details should be fine. That way you can still get Oromis involved without head-jumping too much. Just my two cents.

@Lexicon

Yes, I'll be showing what's going on with Oromis (Whether by his PoV or someone else's, I haven't decided). I'll also continue having Lafferand as a main PoV of mine (I created him specifically to solve this problem).

[Lexicon]

Per my last talk with Eschatologist, I don't think there will be a ram to worry about anymore.

[Vahir]

Well, it still affects the cavalry. Good luck getting horses through rubble, and still be able-bodied afterwards.

[Lexicon]

True. Getting more and more excited about this. You know, it's a good thing the Etruscans in the city aren't numerous enough to hide out in the uninhabited ruins surrounding the Inner City. They could set up all kinds of ambushes and sneak attacks, hiding in the rubble and then leaping out to surprise the Gray Winds. Thanks, Oromis, for saving us from that lol.

[Eschatologist]

Thanks Oromis, for sending cavalry to a siege battle. No-one in the winds is happy about this.

Regardless, I am looking forward to it. My next few days are very hectic, as I go back to college on saturday, so I will be slow on posting, but I'll try to get something up sharpish. Regardless, assume Claes is where you want her to be and feel free to move her around as you see fit.

[Lexicon]

I'll probably hold off on making another post until someone else puts something up. Unless we go like a week with no forward movement. I'm thinking my next post will get Myra and company into position in southern Lyvresse. They will wait for Claes' say so before moving on the gates. Maybe I'll have Myranda talk to Captain Tressida about what's wrong with Thond or some such.

[Eschatologist]

I think our friend the GM should be the next poster, mostly because I can't do it.

[Vahir]

Luckily for you, your friendly neighborhood GM is currently a third of the way done a post that looks like it will rival Lexicon's in length.

(Before you ask, yes, it is a competition)

[Lexicon]

You guys...will never beat me! Lol, kidding, kidding. Looking forward to it. Hands down, this has been one of the most enjoyable and exciting RPs I've ever been in.

[Vahir]

Boom! I don't like to brag, but this iiiiiiiiis a little over 1000 words longer than yours was.

I just had a crazy inspiration to write up what the Meridans and orcs were doing all this time. I hope you guys enjoy the battle description as much as I enjoyed writing it. I even added maps of the Battle of Capora for you fellows who need a visual reference.

(I have a very rushed writing process, and don't really review my posts before posting, so if someone notices a derp in it, feel free to point it out.)

[Lexicon]

Nice post, Vahir. Poor Cristobal. Can't wait to see what happens in Tolos. I'll start hacking away at another post to get Myra into position to receive Claes' orders. I just need to work out exactly what it is I want this post to say...

[RyanTadashi]

"...and the corpse of the King, stripped naked except for his golden crown, and nailed to a post. "Your Grace," he said respectfully as he bent the knee. One always had to show respect to a King."

Gruesome. Love it!

[Vahir]

Can't wait to see what happens in Tolos.

@Lexicon

Hopefully something better. You can't really get worse.

[Eschatologist]

Yeah man that post was hot.

[Lexicon]

Iiiinteresting. Well, my plans might have to be altered then now that young master Aksel has found his way to the Four Sisters. J and T are remarkably well-informed lol. Hmmm...okay, RyanTadashi, I'm going to send you a PM because I definitely want our characters to talk, but I also don't want us holding up the attack.

[Vahir]

Yup, interesting to see the characters finally meeting up. Don't split the party.

I should point out that there aren't really Nerwainese bandits, or at least, that the ones I mentioned in my Etruscan post were actually the Grey Winds, with vague rumors of fighting downriver and people just assuming it was them northern ruffians. Of course, this IS a country at war, and as they say, when the cat goes away the mice come out to play, so there'd certainly be bandits around. Just want to make sure I wasn't misunderstood.

[RyanTadashi]

@lexicon

Feel free to just address me in the beginning of your post and carry on. Aksel is definitely not there to be a bother!