Well those Rassit rolls were a bit unlucky but the centre fight more than made up for that (even if I could have really done without that Jinhai rally re-roll). Still while I guess we could let them retreat and hope that we have an easier time replenishing as well as that a "loss" will hurt his morale /result in desertions, I personally think this is the perfect time to press the attack and really heap on the hurt.
I am a bit uncomfortable doing the same thing we did so far after that look into Jinhai mind showed us how confident he still is, but I still think playing stuff slow should be to our advantage.
I wonder what interesting knowledge Jinhai has though. It is a shame the chance of him and Kiralo having a nice chat after this is so low.
If Jinhai's second rally roll wasn't so good it would be a rather easy choice, but as it is it was a critical success and we shouldn't underestimate him tactically.
Strategically, we don't need to push so we shouldn't. We raided their supply lines earlier on with our Rassit and can likely do so again, in general our supply situation should be better given he's the rebel while we're the Emperor's army, we have reinforcements coming, we have the better terrain with the hills and it's going to be a nightmare morale wise to get Jinhai's forces to assault it again given the soldiers that survived would be the lucky ones; and they would have seen just what happened to the unlucky ones.
There's also the political consideration that as this is happening both Hari-Os and Basrat are being raided, and if you're region is one of those being attacked and you've just witnessed this stale mate of a battle when Jinhai needed a clear victory, then you reconsider how wise your presence here is.
As on aside for the battle itself, I'm rather disappointed we didn't see the Imperial mages given I believe we're meant to have both a higher number and a higher quality there, given the Academy is within Csrae.
If Jinhai's second rally roll wasn't so good it would be a rather easy choice, but as it is it was a critical success and we shouldn't underestimate him tactically.
Strategically, we don't need to push so we shouldn't. We raided their supply lines earlier on with our Rassit and can likely do so again, in general our supply situation should be better given he's the rebel while we're the Emperor's army, we have reinforcements coming, we have the better terrain with the hills and it's going to be a nightmare morale wise to get Jinhai's forces to assault it again given they would be the lucky ones; and would have seen just what happened to the unlucky ones.
There's also the political consideration that as this is happening both Hari-Os and Basrat are being raided, and if you're region is one of those being attacked and you've just witnessed this stale mate of a battle when Jinhai needed a clear victory, then you reconsider how wise your presence here is.
As on aside for the battle itself, I'm rather disappointed we didn't see the Imperial mages given I believe we're meant to have both a higher number and a higher quality there, given the Academy is within Csrae.
It's already taken some toll on the right side, but I do admit that I didn't get to show much of the left-side fighting, since of course Imperial Mages were involved in that.
Actually, you haven't seen Jinhai try any major battle magic at all! Most of his tricks have been mundane so far.
From what I see we aren't in a strategically precarious enough position to go all out in a desperate push that for all we know could be countered HARD with a few lucky rolls.
It's already taken some toll on the right side, but I do admit that I didn't get to show much of the left-side fighting, since of course Imperial Mages were involved in that.
Actually, you haven't seen Jinhai try any major battle magic at all! Most of his tricks have been mundane so far.
Wait, have we atleast seen the majority of the mages we suspect he has among both of his pushes? Because I fear they might be preparing some kind of grand ritual or something.
It's already taken some toll on the right side, but I do admit that I didn't get to show much of the left-side fighting, since of course Imperial Mages were involved in that.
Actually, you haven't seen Jinhai try any major battle magic at all! Most of his tricks have been mundane so far.
If you count thousands of magically enslaved Sea Raiders as mundane.
Kueli's attack had it's intended tactical effect in that his targets couldn't move forward to support Jinhai and his cavalry are off fighting ours over there rather than constraining our infantry movements. The actual fighting was pretty bad though - I don't think our light cavalry has another big move in them. Hopefully the mere fact of their lurking on that side of the battlefield will create difficulties for Jinhai. Wow that personal stunt of Kueli's though! That will put a little gloss on the morale.
[X] Don't. Recover and prepare for his next push
Time continues to be on our side. If they were routing and/or cut off a pursuit would be worthwhile but with the way the rolls went it would be too much like a fair fight.
I mean, until now the Prince has basically been some kind of shadowy enemy running things from the background, so I'm just glad to finally actually see him and know some of his thoughts instead of basing our entire picture of him on conjecture and hearsay.
I mean, until now the Prince has basically been some kind of shadowy enemy running things from the background, so I'm just glad to finally actually see him and know some of his thoughts instead of basing our entire picture of him on conjecture and hearsay.
It's one of the hard things about certain kinds of Quests. If you actually meet the enemy, it's hard to justify it not being 'someone dies tonight' kind of, you know?
I have plans, though, for if it gets back to Courtier stuff.
It's one of the hard things about certain kinds of Quests. If you actually meet the enemy, it's hard to justify it not being 'someone dies tonight' kind of, you know?
I have plans, though, for if it gets back to Courtier stuff.
Well, in war often people who might have been friends in another place and time wind up killing each other.
It's just easier to demonize the other guy after they killed your dudes.
It's one of the hard things about certain kinds of Quests. If you actually meet the enemy, it's hard to justify it not being 'someone dies tonight' kind of, you know?
I have plans, though, for if it gets back to Courtier stuff.
What immediately comes to my mind is some "If the dice had fallen differently" Alternate Universe Interlude where Jinhai managed to get Kiralo to become his ally somehow. Would maybe be a nice way to show both what he was like and why he was doing what he is doing now. Bonus points if Jinhai swings the right way to allow the two to have become a cute couple.
It is just some random idea though. I am looking forward to what you have planned.
How was it that they were already to after the battle, when the battle had not ended? It was an odd feeling, picking through the dead and injured, and Ishiro wasn't sure he liked it. He was supposed to find those who were wounded and use the spirits that he'd been told about to keep them alive so that they could be dragged back to the medic's tent.
That was the first odd thing, in the eyes of the young man. The orders said anyone who was still alive, but to note which was an enemy and which was an ally. From what Ishiro knew, the enemies would be last in line for what healing and surgeries could be done, but they wouldn't be left to rot, or die when the next barrage of fighting pushed over them and through them.
Ishiro, who had joined to fight and yet wound up scavanging among the dead for life, hadn't thought about how like cow manure it would smell, all of these dead bodies. He'd hated life in Hirand, and yet he was back a few dozen miles from his home, on a vast battlefield for the fate of the world.
And yet his part in this great undertaking was hearing people moan and scream.
That was another secret: the aftermath of a battlefield was loud. Dying men begged for their mothers or let loose a stream of profanity that would probably have them whipped through the streets by an official if they'd done it in any other public place. Ishiro didn't know half the words they were using, and didn't mind to, either.
His clothes were soaked in blood that wasn't his, and he'd never known that blood could stop smelling: in fact, even the shit was beginning to smell like nothing at all, and he didn't even try to count the bodies.
History would later try to count them, of course. They'd throw around words like thousands. A saying would go, quite inaccurately, "Ten thousand died below pitiful hills." Sages would say it with great meaning, as a warning against charging an emplaced enemy with cannons, even if the fortifications were not all that dangerous.
If ten thousand had died just there, then this war would be all but over.
The bodies stretched and clustered, the wounds greater or lesser as it were. Even a little wound could put a man down if he was trampled past on the way for another enemy, and the formations had not stood perfectly still. People had tried to press back, or had pressed forward with often misplaced fury and died.
They had died like dogs did. And now the Judges would have their work cut out for them tonight, though of course they had their work cut out for them every night. Ishiro was not a devotee of the Judges, not compared to the Gods that did more in his life, but he knew the stories of their great and impeccable judgement, how even the richest and most powerful killer would find himself judged worthily and honestly.
"Stop slacking! We have work to do!" his superior yelled.
Ishino hurried forward, only to slip on something it was better not to look at, and falling on the ground amid guts and vomit.
Oh Gods.
Join the army and see glory.
Glory was all over his armor, now.
*******
"Anything?" the courier asked, startled.
"Yes. Anything." Kiralo turned to another scribe and said, "Make sure to tell the commanders of the right that their actions were most commendable. And Jun is to receive the official thanks of myself for his actions. Make sure that this accidentally slips out to his men, as well as the fact that I am going to recommend him for an Imperial Thanks."
He turned to the next, eye still on the courtier. "Do they need any more bandages? Do they lack for unguents?"
"Not yet, though if it keeps up like this," the doctor said, wearing the blue robes of an official, "we will be overwhelmed. Why are you saving the enemy?"
"At the end of this battle, they will no longer be the enemy, except their commanders," Kiralo said, bluntly. "Remember, priority is for men who can be confirmed to be ours, but if you can't tell, then--"
"Really anything?" the courier repeated, urgently.
"You are an experienced diplomat. Anything except Jinhai's life and freedom, in case he takes it. But if you need to promise full amnesty for everyone except him and perhaps his family, do it. He's not going to let it happen, but we need to put the wolf among the sheep," Kiralo said. "And on the left, Cs-Yamino is to be complimented for his leadership. We need to know who exactly his sergeants were, so that they too can be called out. All men are to not have an extra ration of wine now, but after the battle, we will have to indulge them. But those who wish to eat can. We have extra rice, and those who are too wounded to fight can guard the camp."
Kiralo turned back to the courier, already seeing four or five other people, including a General, gathering outside his tent. "I trust you to do it. Move under a flag of truce. Try to make sure that it is not just Prince Jinhai that you speak to. What matters is distracting them, after all."
"V-very well, sir."
Kiralo nodded, turning to the next person.
*******
An army wasn't a thing that broke easily. Despite the losses, both sides were still formidable. On both major fronts, Jinhai's forces had suffered more casualties, and had been less able to keep those from being deaths, but it was not a one-sided slaughter. Even under the guns, they'd fought with bravery and determination, and had come closer to achieving their goal than one might think at first.
Clearly, the stronger of the new and raw recruits had been sent to Jinhai's left, under the assumption that even in the best case, it'd take people who could march away from defeat.
And unlike Jinhai's right, they'd taken losses that should have broken any forces. Yet one of them stood defeated, humiliated, barely able to retreat without routing, while the other, despite worse losses, was still capable of fighting, was still proud and strong.
Jinhai's army had a morale that was not like most armies, and Kiralo did not know how much it would take to break them. Armies could break at the oddest times, for the oddest reasons, or hold on beyond all logic and reason.
It was the nature of war.
Kueli had nearly died, and Jun was badly hurt, and yet both viewed themselves as not just victors, but conquerors. The enemy was aware of them, and twice the forces of the traitor had tried to destroy them. Victory had energized the Rassit and the Light Cavalry, but it had also used them up.
Men were dead, and the enemy was still out there, if their morale didn't make them unwilling to engage.
*******
Kiralo watched the green flag travel across the battlefield, and began to count. How long? How long could he still for while his men ate and prepared and he began to think of his next move.
Not long enough.
There was no army on the horizon when the courier rode back under the flag of truce.
*****
At this time, a less confident general would call a meeting. He had time, at least a little, but he knew what Jinhai was going to do. A direct assault hadn't worked, and retreating now would just meant that he fought again soon, in a worse situation. Imagine a war where Jinhai won here, and then defeated the Hari-Nat reinforcements. He could then evade the army coming from Irit, and his men would be confident that it wasn't cowardice, not after two victories.
Then he could hurry his way along towards the capital.
And then?
Jinhai was a man with schemes. Jinhai had a mole on the inside, that seemed the only explanation for his actions, other than arrogant madness that was going to doom his cause.
So, he was going to win this battle. How? He still hadn't used his Mages as aggressively as he could, though he had lost the local battles for magical control on both fronts when he'd been forced into it. But now would be the time for a second magical trick, one that was not prepared ahead of time as obviously as the Sea-Raiders must have been in retrospect.
But the first step would be to make the cannons meaningless. That meant outflanking Kiralo.
That much was clear, though he had to think back through his logic to justify it, since it was as much a feeling and an impression, a guess as to what was going on, as pure knowledge. He'd extend his line to Jinhai's left, Kiralo's right. And then he'd try to wrap his forces around, shifting so that the cannons could no longer attack his forces nearly as well from where they were positioned.
And if he outflanked the army, he could surround the cannons, and once those were gone…
But it'd be stretching himself thin, certainly. It was a difficult maneuver to do, especially since Kiralo would be watching and ready to match him, and he no longer had the superiority of numbers.
So what would he do? The obvious move was the smartest: use the cannons to stage either a feint or demonstration, depending on which seemed most practicable. An actual attack as a Feint might be necessary, but would be costly, while a demonstration was the cheap option, but only if it fooled Kiralo.
So, a cannon duel preceding what seemed like a general advance, only to stretch outwards.
And become a flank. Meanwhile, he'd probably be advancing on other fronts, preparing for a general engagement if his plan failed.
The question was, then, how to counter it?
Counter?
[] Pretend to be fooled by massing a thick line of troops behind your main body, which doesn't seem to extend fast enough. And then swing them around to make a line at a point where the enemy is already nearly engaged and see what he does.
[] Don't be fooled. Move as he moves, and advance forward. Force this into a general engagement, and his plan is foiled.
[] Refuse your flanks. It's time to get Oblique here.
[] Write-in. Coordinating ideas can certainly be useful, such as thinking about how to use your Light Cavalry, Rassit, and the small amount of Heavy Cav you have, or the Hanin, in conjunction with any of the above or separate.
Choose One Magical Attack (1 because of lower priority towards large attacks)
[] If you know where the enemy cannons, perhaps it's time for a massed charge… of fire and gunpowder spirits.
[] There is nothing more demoralizing than being killed from a distance without being able to respond. Rouse up a large number of spirits at one area of high engagement that will catch the bolts and arrows, making it a one-sided action. (Hint: Deploying the Hanin correctly would increase the efficacy.)
[] Sometimes slaughter is what you need. Use a spirit charge to break up an enemy march, slowing them down and weakening them before a main engagement.
[] Roll out the dust. Use dust storms and heavy winds created by spirits to obscure movements and try for a surprise. (Hint: Should be done in conjunction with, you know, a plan that involves surprises.)
[] Write-in, please feel free to be creative, though subject to my veto.
What should the Rassit Do? (You can separate them from the Light Cavalry if you wish)
[] Left.
[] Right.
[] Stay with the reserves.
[] Write-in.
Demanding Terms: 1d100+12 (Kiralo)+5 (The Losses)=32
Demanding Terms #2: I shit you not, 32 again.
Stalling for Time?: 1d100=41
Stalling for time, extreme edition: 1d100=54
Ehh, some time gained, but enemy is going to be moving in position.
[X] Refuse your flanks. It's time to get Oblique here.
[X] Sometimes slaughter is what you need. Use a spirit charge to break up an enemy march, slowing them down and weakening them before a main engagement.
[X] Left.
