Chasing enemies in unknown territory which they themselves are used to? Seems like a recipe for an ambush and a few dozen or more dead cavalry and nothing to show. Let the elves run, there is more than enough to kill/catch later on without losing a company of horse to that. If anything we should only advance with the entire Regiment thats safer.
It would seem this is one of those 'periodic influx' type worlds. The gates are going to close, but if we are very fortunate it will not be for two centuries.
There are imperialistic elves about. They will doubtless be A Problem.
Our troops suck at keeping a watch and scouting. That needs fixing. Also we apparently leave our artillery behind when moving. That urgently needs fixing.
Bronze age tech. Hopefully that is a lack of knowledge and not a lack of iron.
If anything, I'd like to avoid being stuck in this new world if this world is a periodic influx one. We could be lucky and it could be a short amount of time or it could be more than two centuries but that's if it's a periodic influx world. Elves could just have different time frames since they live longer.
The Elves will be a problem but thankfully they don't have the same tech as us. I'd rather just keep on firing at them from a distance rather than get close for melee, I feel like they'd be deadly in close quarters. Also I don't think we leave our artillery behind, its just that there's no roads here so moving them is rough when they can get caught on every little rock and ditch on the ground. As soon as colonization starts and infrastructure begins to be built, we'll likely be able to move artillery much faster.
[X]Plan: Prussian Integralism: Stage 1
-[X] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[X] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[X] Do nothing for now. You will wait for reinforcements to arrive, they make it in an hour or more though.
This plan can be negotiated. I based this on the fact that since our unit is going to colonize this fantasy world, we want to be as integralist as possible without ruining our discipline, training, and relations with the natives.
[] Plan: Hit em while they're running
-[] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[] Send the cavalry to pursue the enemy. The rest of your forces will support and your artillery now finally in position will be able to strike at the enemy from a safe distance.[700 Light Cavalry and 100 Repeaters]
Pretty much the same as Rolen's plan but I want to send out our cav to harass the retreating enemies while we move to superior positions. Plus its the options I had before SV suddenly disappeared
I'm inclined to keep the pressure on our enemies, but sending our entire force after them is unlikely to accomplish much. Let loose the cavalry to do what they do best while we see what the locals can tell us about them.
[X] Plan: Hit em while they're running
-[X] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[X] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[X] Send the cavalry to pursue the enemy. The rest of your forces will support and your artillery now finally in position will be able to strike at the enemy from a safe distance.[700 Light Cavalry and 100 Repeaters]
[X] Plan: Hit em while they're running
-[X] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[X] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[X] Send the cavalry to pursue the enemy. The rest of your forces will support and your artillery now finally in position will be able to strike at the enemy from a safe distance.[700 Light Cavalry and 100 Repeaters]
Well with your plan, the pursue thing is something I'm worried about. The people we're chasing definitely have a better grasp on the terrain, and area. We're also not sure if they're a confirmed hostile, and that scouting force will not have enough troops to support them if they are caught in an ambush. I'm not saying they might be friendly, it's just that it might serve us better to get reinforcements and then go chasing after them.
Well with your plan, the pursue thing is something I'm worried about. The people we're chasing definitely have a better grasp on the terrain, and area. We're also not sure if they're a confirmed hostile, and that scouting force will not have enough troops to support them if they are caught in an ambush. I'm not saying they might be friendly, it's just that it might serve us better to get reinforcements and then go chasing after them.
That's fair but I prefer to strike while the iron's hot. Also, they willingly formed up and fired upon us so to me, they're hostiles. I'm hoping for our cav to harass them as they retreat while we hopefully can convince the friendly natives to help us out with terrain knowledge and info on our enemies once the language barrier has been cracked. Regardless of whether we pursue or stay, reinforcements are coming anyway, so I prefer pursuing them.
That's fair but I prefer to strike while the iron's hot. Also, they willingly formed up and fired upon us so to me, they're hostiles. I'm hoping for our cav to harass them as they retreat while we hopefully can convince the friendly natives to help us out with terrain knowledge and info on our enemies once the language barrier has been cracked. Regardless of whether we pursue or stay, reinforcements are coming anyway, so I prefer pursuing them.
Between the two of our plans, I'm fine with both of them. So if you win, we'll just go with a more aggressive approach, while mine gives us a more stable footing to work on. Either way, it is fine.
Also we are Prussians, our military doctrine is base on initiative, maneuverability, and aggressivness. Pursuing our ennemis seem to correspond to this doctrine. And it would be a good demonstration of force if it's a success.
Well with your plan, the pursue thing is something I'm worried about. The people we're chasing definitely have a better grasp on the terrain, and area. We're also not sure if they're a confirmed hostile, and that scouting force will not have enough troops to support them if they are caught in an ambush. I'm not saying they might be friendly, it's just that it might serve us better to get reinforcements and then go chasing after them.
By what reckoning is 'they lined up and shot arrows at us' not a confirmation of hostility?
Also, being pragmatic about it, if 700 light cavalry backed by 100 repeaters isn't enough to ride down a couple of hundred retreating elves… I for one would like to know that as early as possible. If they are that impossibly powerful in melee then better to learn now when they are leaving then later when we have to fight a large battle.
Interesting find but no. I did not read that fic before making this quest. This idea came as a result of someone suggesting the idea back a few years ago for a grand strategy game with multiple years. I sort of took that idea and made a quest in SB with the same theme around a year later. The quest did not last very long though and I dropped the idea for a while until recently, when I decided to work in mechanics for multiple players playing as various regiments of different nations, while also including native nations as playable for players too.
Overall, I have kept the RP idea on hold for a bit (I think it was a bit over-ambitious) and I have decided to rework the mechanics and make some to make them work for a quest. So far only from the human side.
Adhoc vote count started by Noroboro on Apr 8, 2021 at 2:48 PM, finished with 23 posts and 8 votes.
[X] Plan: Hit em while they're running
-[X] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[X] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[X] Send the cavalry to pursue the enemy. The rest of your forces will support and your artillery now finally in position will be able to strike at the enemy from a safe distance.[700 Light Cavalry and 100 Repeaters]
[X]Plan: Prussian Integralism: Stage 1
-[X] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[X] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[X] Do nothing for now. You will wait for reinforcements to arrive, they make it in an hour or more though.
-[X] Major Manfred Dunajski: From the Prussian Polish territories. Manfred saw that he could only raise his social status through the Prussian military system and has done it quite well. He may be half a decade younger than you, but he seems well-composed and most importantly a confident officer. One whom you can trust to keep his act together even in tough situations.
-[X] Communicate with them to try and enlist their help against the other native enemy. They may or may not aid against this strange enemy but what better way than to strengthen first contact relationships than by spilled blood.
-[X] Send the cavalry to pursue the enemy. The rest of your forces will support and your artillery now finally in position will be able to strike at the enemy from a safe distance.[700 Light Cavalry and 100 Repeaters]
Character Bio:
Name: Viktor Friedrich von Rees
Nationality: Prussian
Rank: Colonel
Age: 40
Prestige: 5+2 (First Contact Battle) = 7
Wealth: $2000 (Savings)
Income: $50/quarter (From Salary) + $100/quarter (From Estate) Stats:
Leadership: 3+1 (Major Manfred Dunjski) = 4
Politics: 4 [+10% Prestige Gain]
Economy: 3
Training: 3
Logistics: 3
Reconnaissance: 3
Traits:
Established Junker: You have followed in the footsteps of your family and have managed to establish your own estate. You will most likely inherit your father's estate almost in full in coming years but at the same time being the family patriarch carries responsibilities and duties in the social and familial spheres. [+5 Starting Prestige]
Explorer: You have a keen eye for exploring, which will come in handy to find treasure and ruins in the world of Arcadia. [+1 Dice to Exploration Rolls]
Prestige: Represents how well known and respected you are within the military circles of your nation. For every 50 prestige, you ascend by one rank with the benefits that it entails in terms of budget increases and possible ranks allowing you to receive a share of the colonial taxes. Prestige can only be gained from completing your nation's missions and by furthering the goals of your nation in Arcadia.
70 Prestige for a promotion to Brigadier General.
85 Prestige for a promotion to Major General.
15 Prestige for $10,000 in Procurement. Can't do this if you already have over 50% of your starting budget in units.
15 Prestige for receiving a random elite unit.
Rank: Represents how high up you are in the hierarchy of your nation's military. As this increases your salary and budget for military purchases increases. If you are ranked high enough it will also involve being able to enact particular policies in a particular region of Arcadia that your patron nation will support either militarily or economically.
Colonel:
Commands a regiment.
Quarterly Procurement is equal to 1/40 of the starting budget. (Subject to Change)
Answers to a Brigadier General.
No Authority over colonial settlements unless martial law.
No Authority to sign deals with Arcadian natives.
$600 Quarterly Wages that can be spent in any way.
Brigadier general:
Commands a Regiment
Quarterly Procurement is equal to 1/20 of the starting budget (Subject to Change)
Immediate Allowance of $50,000 for new units. Only on promotion.
Answers to a Major General
Limited Authority over colonial settlements
Limited Authority to deal with Arcadian Natives
$1000 in Quarterly Wages
Major general:
Commands a Division/Corps
Quarterly Procurement is equal to 1/10 of the starting budget. (Subject to Change)
Immediate Allowance of $100,000 for new units. Only on promotion
Answers to a Field Marshall
Extended Authority over colonial settlements
Extended Authority over deals with Arcadian Natives
$2000 in Quarterly Wages
Trait:
-Fast Reloaders (Inflicts greater damage both to morale and enemy formations)
-Disciplined (Morale Checks are easier to pass)
Outline:
Communication roll with natives: 20
Cavalry Roll: 65
Elf Roll: 65
Auxiliaries:
Natives of Arcadia can be recruited and given weapons, however, you need a friendly standing with an Arcadian nation to begin doing so. Also, natives of Arcadia, while strong depending on their race and particular cultural traits, will not perform as well in roles such as those that an Earth's nation soldier is used to. Instead, they will more likely fight as they have always fought and provide extra muscle for any Regiment in Arcadia. Auxiliaries are levies provided by an Arcadian Nation to a Regiment or Earth nation. In most cases, you shouldn't expect them to die for you and if put in dangerous situations will most likely run rather than stay and fight unless you give them a good reason to do so, although, to some degree, the same applies to your men.
Later on, it is possible to form more "modern" regiments of Arcadian auxiliaries but it will require better training facilities and greater levels of friendship with an Arcadian nation.
Hiring Arcadian mercenaries is also possible, but it also requires a friendly standing with an Arcadian nation to act as an intermediary. Arcadian Mercenaries are composed of professional units and in rare cases also mage units. Which can be useful to deal with the less orthodox of enemies in Arcadia.
The situation at the start of the battle
Legend
On top of the Hill
You watch as the linguist tries his best to communicate the feelings of fighting to beat the elves to the weird eared fellow and the other humans. However, it takes him a while to communicate your intentions with a rather rushed understanding of their language and also through the improvised use of signs.
In the end, though, the natives agree though after a few confused nods. But at the same time, your linguist speaks up. "That's as far as I can go I am afraid. There is little I can comprehend from their language at this point." The linguist says and with that, your communication with them is cut at least for the time being which means that coordination between your two forces will be sloppy at best and nonexistent most of the time.
The weird eared man raises his arm and sends a signal to the rest of his men. In the distance, you watch as loose formations of soldiers begin to march in the direction of your right flank.
"Bows and swords? Reminds me of the Cossacks." Major Dunjski exclaims. Indeed, the soldiers are wearing crude ancient-looking armor. Nothing at all like the orderly and standardized uniforms of your men.
"Hopefully they fight just as well. I heard that they used to give the Russian Tsar quite a lot of trouble back in the day" You say to Dunjski. Hoping that your words are true as with their numbers they could help you quite a lot. However, you return your attention to the incoming fight.
You watch as your two cavalry battalions commanded by Major von Waldeck and Major von Alscher begin to ride against the fleeing the enemy. The sound of hundreds of horses stepping on the ground is something that you can hear and even feel from here. Behind them, a trail of dust forms up as dirt is kicked up from the ground.
Meanwhile, the rest of your forces march forwards. The battalions of Brabeck and Limburg aiming to take positions in the hill that the enemy natives have just left. Then you hear a roar as each of your cannon batteries begins to fire at the enemy. Some of the cannons are aiming a bit high and some of the shells miss and land on the other side of the hills. Hits from the rifled artillery new explosive shells manage to deal a moderate amount of damage to the retreating enemies. Leaving several bodies on the ground and disrupting the enemy formations as your cavalry closes in.
It is almost a perfect textbook example of what artillery, infantry, and cavalry combined can do to a smaller and weaker enemy. Almost...
Alscher's Battalion
Reinhold, the young junker officer, leads the cavalry action against the enemy, he orders the dragoons with their repeater rifles forwards as they begin harassing the enemy from afar. From this distance, he notices that the natives are wearing heavy armor that in theory should slow them down to quite a slow pace but they are marching as if the armor was not there. Reinhold, however, gives no further thought to this as he begins to give orders to his men.
"They want to take the hill. We will stop them before they reach the top." Reinhold tells his men. He spots von Waldeck's battalion also closing the distance with the enemy as they continue harassing them with their pistols. Taking down the few stragglers that are limping towards the top with their sabers.
The enemy forces continue to take a beating as the cavalry closes in at what basically is the point-blank range for them as they discharge another volley from atop their horses. Some arrows are fired back but not enough to stop four companies of Prussian cavalry.
Reinhold decides to seize the day feeling a rush of adrenaline and battle-hungry ness that makes him shout. "Charge!!" to his men. From his lessons he knows that this would be the correct option, the enemy is outnumbered and battered. All that it would take to break their formation would be a simple charge and he feels confident in his chances of success.
But it isn't going to be so easy. The natives stop on their tracks as precisely as a clock's inner gears. The warriors amongst them carrying halberdiers and other sorts of long weapons. Assemble themselves in a line formation facing both battalions. They are outnumbered though and pretty badly, but the determination in their eyes shows confidence in victory. Perhaps Reinhold under other circumstances may have been able to tell that they won't break by a simple charge. But it's too late.
Reinhold's cavalry clashes against the native infantry. It is a very bloody affair. The natives prove to be extremely skilled fighters in close range and in the midst of the carnage Sigmund's horse is beheaded. The major falls to the ground but quickly stands on his two feet watching from up close the carnage of a battle as he grabs the pistol and saber on hand trying to make sense of what's going on.
His vision blurs for a moment and when it comes back. He sees the blonde natives with tall knife-eared ears. His attention is suddenly drawn as he hears the battle cry of one of the natives as he charges at him. He raises his pistol but realizes it's unloaded, he hears a loud bang from behind and sees his aggressor fall to the ground.
"Colonel! You got to get out of here" Reinhold's second in command shouts. Reinhold doesn't answer but follows the voice, he mounts and sees the carnage around him. "Enough. Call the retreat." He tells as a loud trumpet gives the order to the rest of the men. The retreat is messy at best as Reinhold's cavalry is hailed by arrows from behind. The repeaters who had stayed behind picking their targets give enough covering fire reducing the casualties of von Alscher's cavalry.
Alscher's Battalion charges against the natives
von Waldeck Battalion
"Hot-headed lad! They have massacred his cavalry." Sigmund said out loud. His officers couldn't help but agree too, watching as the massacre unfolds in front of their eyes. They saw as the stragglers of von Alscher's battalion ran way but to no avail as they were downed by extremely precise arrows from behind. "Fall back. We should let the cannons and rifles soften them up more." He gives the order and his battalion retreats to the line formed up by the infantry.
Back on the hill
"Not looking good for von Alscher's. Let's hope that Limburg and Brabeck forces can continue to give the natives enough led to keep them at bay. Oh for fuck's sake. Look at that Colonel more of them over that hill." You take a good look and watch as another a hundred-men-strong formation raises over the hill and takes aim at von Alscher's battalion hitting it from the flank as they retreat.
"Not good news for us. Arrange the men in a defensive position, as you said keeping our distance would be for the best Dunajski." He nods and you watch your men take position over the next hill. They are a bit lower than the enemy natives as they have occupied the taller and bigger hill.
The duel of the bow against musket continues with both the enemy and your men suffering casualties. The thunderous and deafening sound of your muskets firing volley after volley seem to have no effect on your enemy's morale to the contrary of what happened to Pizarro or Cortez in their first engagements against natives.
The natives in the right flank finally join in the fray with their own archers but it doesn't take long for the enemy to give up. It seems that in the end your cannons and your numbers advantage were enough to win the fray. From their position at the top of the hill, they begin to retreat once more. "No use trying to pursue them not after what happened to von Alscher. Tell the men to take prisoners and to recover our wounded." You send a messenger to relay the order to your officers.
At the moment all you can think about is the casualties report that you are going to have to read and being fairly honest. The enemy archers were simply too accurate. You remember hearing legends of some English longbowmen that could hit targets from pretty damn far away and these natives would simply surpass them.
The situation at the End of the Battle
A while later
You take a sit inside of your tent reminding yourself that your men are setting up camp under the shadow of the enormous bones that you found beforehand. It is a rather surreal picture that no doubt a painter or two will want to see with their own eyes once the area is secured from most dangers. Major Dunjski snaps you out of it as he continues his debrief of what they have found out about the natives.
"We counted their bodies and ours too. They lost more than a hundred soldiers today and we lost a similar amount. As for the ones we fought today, they look like humans from afar but their features are far different up close and I am not talking only shapes and sizes of their noses and mouths. But that's as far as I been told, their bodies have been taken to Berlin with some of our wounded."
"But the other natives did look quite human to me. Are they not humans either?" You ask Dunjski.
"Yes and no, about half of them are human and they have been quite curious about our rifles. If you don't mind, I gave von Braveck permission to teach to a few of them how to shoot just as a sign of goodwill." Answers Dunjski
"Good that should keep them distracted, but I hope we don't end up with a few missing muskets. It's probably best to leave the option of arming natives to the Chancellor and the War Minister. We still don't know much about them at least they don't look as dangerous as today's enemy."
"They have maintained their distance but seem to be glad about our presence. Maybe we gained their respect after the battle?"
"It could be that but let's leave figuring that out to our experts. In the meantime, I want von Waldeck to send out more patrols. I don't want any surprises tonight or tomorrow. We could have just been engaging the vanguard and when they realize they bit more than they could chew they retreated but they could come back tomorrow with more."
"Understood Colonel, anything else?" Dunjski says to you as he stands up from his seat. His ginger beard and hair looking reddish with the light from the candles inside of your tent. "Nothing more Major. You may leave." He nods and you retreat for the night.
[Losses 1 Light Cavalry Company from von Alscher's Battalion]
[Raise one of your companies' veterancy]
The next morning
You find yourself inspecting the terrain once more. This is, after all, a new land both familiar and foreign at the same time. The wind is as fresh and cool as that from Earth but it carries a different fragrance that for now, you can't explain just yet. A messenger arrives and unmounts right next to you. "Colonel a message from Brigadier General Vincent von Acker" You take the message and begin to read it.
Pick your next mission
[X] "I have received the news of your recent battle and your recent acquaintance with the natives of this land. As per our scouts, it seems that the unfriendly natives you found are part of a larger empire and they have a city not that far away from your position. Another regiment will set up a wooden fort in the hills you described and fortify the position. You are to do the same but also ensure that our relationship with the natives warms up. Just so that we may count on them for supplies and scouting. Gain their trust colonel as I would rather not lose more scouts to these unknown lands." [Continue on current path]
[X] "A recent report from one of our scouts has found out about the ruins of what seems to be an abandoned fortress just south of the Gate. Its position near a river makes it of vital importance that we take it as it would make a perfect outpost in this foreign land. You are ordered to march back to the Gate, where you will meet with the scout that found it and then proceed to take the Fortress." As per the attached description, the fortress seems to be made out of the same ancient material as the gates. You wonder if there is something that you could find out there. [Fortress Capture Mission]
[X] "Colonel terrible news has arrived from a recent gate in the region of Schleswig-Holstein. The Danish tried to keep it quiet but our spies there have told us of an invasion in their lands that the Danish army has failed to contain. We cannot allow our German brethren to fall to the savages from the other side. Your regiment due to their experience dealing with natives is to immediately go through the gate and be attached to the 5th Infantry Brigade." [Offensive Mission / Dangerous]
The Native Camp
"What are you thinking about?"
"Just about how the dragon was right. His prophecy about the arrival of the great kingdom would save us when he was gone. I bet the ones in the village will be happy to hear it." The young man nods, he is wearing light armor made out of bronze forged by the dragon himself to protect his kin.
"Really? I thought I am glad too but because I am not dead. All the stories, we got told were real. I saw no mercy on the elves and the way they fought...we would have not stood a single chance if not for the new arrivals." The other young soldier tells him. He continues sharpening his blade under the moonlight. Just as another of his friends join him in the campfire.
"The foxkin aren't as happy. Tonight they went back to the forest to pray." Athir tells them as he sits facing them. The younger of them smiles and laughs. "Of course! It is not their legend that came true after all. The gates are not supposed to open twice at the same place but ours did. The gods finally smile on us and not on our enemies."
"I wonder if the elves have a legend just like ours? Maybe that is why they sent their scouts to the gate, it doesn't matter now anyhow. They probably know that they will find no way back to their beloved home here. They should probably leave us alone for now."
"Maybe, but we don't know anything about their empire either...only what our elders and the dragon told us. You never know with an elf, they may even appear at night and slice our throats without us as revenge." Athir replied.
"Shut it." One of them tells him. "Just be glad I am not slicing it myself after you tried to steal one of their weapons. God knows what would they have done with us had they found out about you."
"I know but.." Athir begins before the man interrupts him with a frown. "No buts Athir. If they are truly our allies then they will share with us their knowledge as well as their weapons, as I am sure they will but let's leave everything else to our leaders. Do you understand?"
Athir nods and they resume with more casual conversation. Each of them glad that their lives were spared today.
[X] "A recent report from one of our scouts has found out about the ruins of what seems to be an abandoned fortress just south of the Gate. Its position near a river makes it of vital importance that we take it as it would make a perfect outpost in this foreign land. You are ordered to march back to the Gate, where you will meet with the scout that found it and then proceed to take the Fortress." As per the attached description, the fortress seems to be made out of the same ancient material as the gates. You wonder if there is something that you could find out there. [Fortress Capture Mission]
By what reckoning is 'they lined up and shot arrows at us' not a confirmation of hostility? 
