Y'know i just had an odd thought. Equestria has the two sisters, unaging beings of great power. and what do the griffons have? Beings not from their realm who guide them to success and bolster them in times of need with story and art.

The somewhat eldritch beings are us btw.
 
Omake: My Aim Be True (Canon)
My Aim Be True

The order has been given, the army is to form a defensive line while the Ballistae fire their enormous arrows in the Aqullian army before us.

You are Marcus Greybill, one of the main operators of the Ballistae siege weapons in the service of King Garrick Golden-Feather, and you are about to take the first shots in a battle between two armies that will decide the fate of all griffons.

"This is it." you thought to yourself. "There is no question that this battle will go down in history and whoever wins this battle will dictate how the rest of the war will go on. I cannot fail here, not now of all times."

You and your fellow operators make ready with your assigned Ballistae, ready to fire on your superior's order. You have trained for this, the constant drills and target practices from back home made sure that you and your comrades operate the siege weapon like a well-oiled machine. Maintenance was also drilled into their head to make sure that the Ballistae is working as intended and not breakdown where it mattered the most.

"Like right now for instance" with that thought, you took a quick inspection of your siege weapon. A maintenance inspection was made earlier before the battle but a quick inspection doesn't hurt. For what you can see the ropes are strong, the frame is solid, despite the constant use it had with the drills, it looks like it can go on to fire a couple of hundred arrows before it breaks down.

Soon, the giant arrows are locked in and after a quick look over the enemy army, one target became very obvious for the ballistae to aim at, the Siege Onagers. They were siege weapons that the Griffonian Army used to have but the constant drills made two things very clear between the two siege weapons. For one, the Ballistae out-ranges the onagers. Right now, the onagers are positioned and aimed to fire at Wingbard's capital. If they want them to fire back, those onagers have to be moved to aim towards this position and move forward to get in range before they can start firing. All the while, they would be at the mercy of ballistae fire.

The other thing is that between the two siege weapons, the Ballistae is very accurate. You and your fellow operators marveled on how on point the Ballistae can be during target practice. Its not too much of a surprise though, the Ballistae is essentially an oversize crossbow and thus, can be aimed like one. With the onager's size, they make for the perfect targets for your ballistae to shoot. You are going to turn them to scrap long before they could even fire back.

"I'll make sure of it too" you thought. Even if you somehow miss the first shot, you can fire several more before the enemy can fire back and any shots missed would only make the subsequent shots more accurate as they will be used as reference to make any necessary adjustments in aiming the siege weapon. If you and your team manage to take out the onagers out first, the Aquilians will lose their artillery option and will be forced to charge in the prepared defensive line of the Griffonian army.

"Not unless they fancy just sitting back and letting themselves be peppered with Ballistae shots" you thought, "but that would be too easy now would it?" Your thoughts are suddenly cut short when your superior shouted the commands.

"READY!"

"This is it" you remembered your training, the constant drills and target practice.

"AIM!"

You look at the ballistae and the target, making sure that the siege weapon is aimed at the onagers, wanting make sure that you get it right in the first time.

"FIRE!"

"My aim be true" you whispered, as the Ballistae siege weapons fired and thus, the first shots of the battle was made.

@Questor Here is my omake for the battle that is to come. Hope that it can help, we are going to need it for this historic fight.
 
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Omake: Feathersian Arguments (Canon)
Though the City-States are universally concerned by Brochard's aggression, they remain divided over what to do about it.
Let's see....

Feathersian aruguments

"This is insanity. This is madness!"
"No, this is politics."

The sardonic reply to a councilor's opinion over Aquileia's actions drew more than it's fair share of dirty looks. In response Lord Othello Redwing simply smirked and popped another bite of Ossetra into his beak. Lady Carmanor (currently the unlucky griffin chosen to oversee the council*) tried to will her impending headache away (again). Othello may be a clever griffin with a true talent for turning a profit; but like his ancestor, had a large beak with a nasty wit.

Oddly enough Federico actually looked intrigued at the comment (compared to the slighted Silverplume that was puffing up in indignation). "Oh and what brings you to that conclusion lad? Previously you've been advocating that we fatten our coffers by playing the two nations off each other."

"And it would have worked so long as neither felt that he could win against the other in a war. We'd feed both sides so they stay equal preventing either from getting enough leverage that they can win decisively. Too bad for us Garrick's a merchant and not a warrior like the last king. With him not 'playing the game' the way he's supposed to, Brochard's panicking. That blowhard wants all griffins bending the knee to him one way or another; and with Griffonia ramping up, that updraft he was banking on was vanishing. All this is simply his plan B."

Apheliotes (one of the nobles pushing for neutrality) quirked an eyebrow. "So you're advocating that we stay the course, continue trades to both sides?"

An incredulous stare was his response. "Were you drinking Discord's moonrock juice as a fledge? Nine hells no! My gramps laid out in very painful detail about the mess he saw happen when somebody sold weapons and goods to both sides of a war. Sure you can make a lot of profit in the short run, but sooner or later both sides realize you're playing them both for chumps and come looking for your head. You pick one or the other. "

"Besides." he continued, waving a claw at the stack of papers outlining what various spies and merchants had gathered from Aquileia. "Brochard's broke. He's been bleeding gold to grab as many mercs, wannabes and bandits as he can to pad out the army. Even if he doesn't pay them what he promised and grabs all the money he can from raiding Wingbardy and Griffonia, his vaults are going to be emptier than a troll's skull. No profit in going to him. Just an axe resting on your neck with a polite request that you turn over your everything to him. For the good of all griffin-kind of course."

This of course set off another shouting/argument session as practically every single Griffin in the room began yelling out their own opinions. Carmanor's stone gavel going almost unheard over the din. All talk came to sudden halt as the chamber doors burst open with a dust-covered and panting courier stumbled into the room.

"My-my lords. -wheeze- Urgent news from Griffonia. K-King Golden-Feather has mobilized his entire army! He marches to relieve the siege on Wingbard!"

There was a stunned silence that echoed throughout the room that was broken as Federico let out massive guffaw. "Hah, that's my son-in-law, a Griff after my own heart! A pity he didn't think to invite me to the party as well."

*While the Feathersian nobility tries to keep things civil, a human observing a typical council session would liken the overseer's job very similar to herding a multitude of cats who all want to go in different directions.

AN: Yes, my cracky brain made Othello Redwing the descendant of a griffin-version of a rather well-known character (let's just say long-range teleports could and did happen during Discord's time). Among other things, he's inherited his gramp's coloring and love of a particular food.
 
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My Aim Be True

The order has been given, the army is to form a defensive line while the Ballistae fire their enormous arrows in the Aqullian army before us.

You are Marcus Greybill, one of the main operators of the Ballistae siege weapons in the service of King Garrick Golden-Feather, and you are about to take the first shots in a battle between two armies that will decide the fate of all griffons.

"This is it." you thought to yourself. "There is no question that this battle will go down in history and whoever wins this battle will dictate how the rest of the war will go on. I cannot fail here, not now of all times."

You and your fellow operators make ready with your assigned Ballistae, ready to fire on your superior's order. You have trained for this, the constant drills and target practices from back home made sure that you and your comrades operate the siege weapon like a well-oiled machine. Maintenance was also drilled into their head to make sure that the Ballistae is working as intended and not breakdown where it mattered the most.

"Like right now for instance" with that thought, you took a quick inspection of your siege weapon. A maintenance inspection was made earlier before the battle but a quick inspection doesn't hurt. For what you can see the ropes are strong, the frame is solid, despite the constant use it had with the drills, it looks like it can go on to fire a couple of hundred arrows before it breaks down.

Soon, the giant arrows are locked in and after a quick look over the enemy army, one target became very obvious for the ballistae to aim at, the Siege Onagers. They were siege weapons that the Griffonian Army used to have but the constant drills made two things very clear between the two siege weapons. For one, the Ballistae out-ranges the onagers. Right now, the onagers are positioned and aimed to fire at Wingbard's capital. If they want them to fire back, those onagers have to be moved to aim towards this position and move forward to get in range before they can start firing. All the while, they would be at the mercy of ballistae fire.

The other thing is that between the two siege weapons, the Ballistae is very accurate. You and your fellow operators marveled on how on point the Ballistae can be during target practice. Its not too much of a surprise though, the Ballistae is essentially an oversize crossbow and thus, can be aimed like one. With the onager's size, they make for the perfect targets for your ballistae to shoot. You are going to turn them to scrap long before they could even fire back.

"I'll make sure of it too" you thought. If you and your team manage to take out the onagers out first, the Aquilians will lose their artillery option and will be force to charge in the prepared defensive line of the Groffonian army. Even if you somehow miss the first shot, you can fire several more before the enemy can fire back and any shots missed would only make the subsequent shots more accurate as they will be used as reference to make any necessary adjustments in aiming the siege weapon.

"Not unless they fancy just sitting back and letting themselves be peppered with Ballistae shots" you thought, "but that would be too easy now would it?" Your thoughts are suddenly cut short when your superior shouted the commands.

"READY!"

"This is it" you remembered your training, the constant drills and target practice.

"AIM!"

You look at the ballistae and the target, making sure that the siege weapon is aimed at the onagers, wanting make sure that you get it right in the first time.

"FIRE!"

"My aim be true" you whispered, as the Ballistae siege weapons fire and thus, the first shots of the battle was made.

@Questor Here is my omake for the battle that is to come. Hope that it can help, we are going to need it for this historic fight.
+10 to a roll of your choice!
 
Let's see....

Feathersian aruguments

"This is insanity. This is madness!"
"No, this is politics."

The sardonic reply to a councilor's opinion over Aquileia's actions drew more than it's fair share of dirty looks. In response Lord Othello Redwing simply smirked and popped another bite of Ossetra into his beak. Lady Carmanor (currently the unlucky griffin chosen to oversee the council*) tried to will her impending headache away (again). Othello may be a clever griffin with a true talent for turning a profit; but like his ancestor, had a large beak with a nasty wit.

Oddly enough Federico actually looked intrigued at the comment (compared to the slighted Silverplume that was puffing up in indignation). "Oh and what brings you to that conclusion lad? Previously you've been advocating that we fatten our coffers by playing the two nations off each other."

"And it would have worked so long as neither felt that he could win against the other in a war. We'd feed both sides so they stay equal preventing either from getting enough leverage that they can win decisively. Too bad for us Garrick's a merchant and not a warrior like the last king. With him not 'playing the game' the way he's supposed to, Brochard's panicking. That blowhard wants all griffins bending the knee to him one way or another; and with Griffonia ramping up, that updraft he was banking on was vanishing. All this is simply his plan B."

Apheliotes (one of the nobles pushing for neutrality) quirked an eyebrow. "So you're advocating that we stay the course, continue trades to both sides?"

An incredulous stare was his response. "Did you drinking Discord's moonrock juice as a fledge? Nine hells no! My gramps laid out in very painful detail about the mess he saw happen when somebody sold weapons and goods to both sides of a war. Sure you can make a lot of profit in the short run, but sooner or later both sides realize you're playing them both for chumps and come looking for your head. You pick one or the other. "

"Besides." he continued, waving a claw at the stack of papers outlining what various spies and merchants had gathered from Aquileia. "Brochard's broke. He's been bleeding gold to grab as many mercs, wannabes and bandits as he can to pad out the army. Even if he doesn't pay them what he promised and grabs all the money he can from raiding Wingbardy and Griffonia, his vaults are going to be emptier than a troll's skull. No profit in going to him. Just an axe resting on your neck with a polite request that you turn over your everything to him. For the good of all griffin-kind of course."

This of course set off another shouting/argument session as practically every single Griffin in the room began yelling out their own opinions. Carmanor's stone gavel going almost unheard over the din. All talk came to sudden halt as the chamber doors burst open with a dust-covered and panting courier stumbled into the room.

"My-my lords. -wheeze- Urgent news from Griffonia. K-King Golden-Feather has mobilized his entire army! He marches to relieve the siege on Wingbard!"

There was a stunned silence that echoed throughout the room that was broken as Federico let out massive guffaw. "Hah, that's my son-in-law, a Griff after my own heart! A pity he didn't think to invite me to the party as well."

*While the Feathersian nobility tries to keep things civil, a human observing a typical council session would liken the overseer's job very similar to herding a multitude of cats who all want to go in different directions.

AN: Yes, my cracky brain made Othello Redwing the descendant of a griffin-version of a rather well-known character (let's just say long-range teleports could and did happen during Discord's time). Among other things, he's inherited his gramp's coloring and love of a particular food.
+10 to a roll of your choice!
 
Could we have a tally of everyone's Omake bonuses and whether they'd like them to be used in the battle? And whether they have any preferences as to which bonuses should go to which rolls?
 
Could we have a tally of everyone's Omake bonuses and whether they'd like them to be used in the battle? And whether they have any preferences as to which bonuses should go to which rolls?

It may be a good idea to put up a section dedicated to tracking all the omake bonuses and whether or not they've been used since this quest gets so many of them.
 
Also just a reminder to everyone who has a bonus in this if you have no preference as to where the bonus goes the gm will put it where it is needed most.
 
Could we have a tally of everyone's Omake bonuses and whether they'd like them to be used in the battle? And whether they have any preferences as to which bonuses should go to which rolls?

@Thedudeman400 has a +10 to use from Eyes Up Guardian and a +15 from Grey Warden.

@masterofmadness has a +10 to use from the A letter from Father to Son omake.

@Zaratous has a +10 from the Griffon Versatlity Omake.

I have a +15 From On the Wings of Hope

That is 60 total to be used in the battle as needed.

If the two new omakes are added then that is a total of 80 to be used as needed.
 
Could we have a tally of everyone's Omake bonuses and whether they'd like them to be used in the battle? And whether they have any preferences as to which bonuses should go to which rolls?
Here are all bonus being applied to the battle and their preference
Yeah I remembered, just didn't know where to put it. @Questor can I out my +10 the Ballista rolls?

And I'd like to put my +10 on the Lion knight when they have to do the rapid response.

Give this to any roll that needs it in the battle. Also what would I need to change to get my omake canon?

Add in both my bonuses to the battle.
 
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So that is a total of +80 to be used as needed for the battle. Pretty good amount if I say so. Thanks to everyone that made the omakes.
 
Well, I'm certainly looking forward to seeing this continue. I'll be keeping a watch for updates.

Edit: Also, I've gotta say I'm glad about how the diamond dogs have turned out so far. I honestly quite like them and it was a shame that they where the focus of an entire episode and then never showed up in the show again.
 
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Battle of Wingbardy, Part 2
After a hurried discussion with your subordinates a battle plan is hashed out and you disband to take charge of your respective units. You give your wife a brief but emotion-laden embrace before you are forced to part ways. She had stated beforehand that she wished to fight alongside the Valkyries as she had done before marrying into royalty, and you could not begrudge her that. You would miss her presence alongside you in battle, but you both trust each other to handle yourselves.

The piercing whistles and bugle calls developed what seems like a lifetime ago ring out, and orders are passed along down the chain by banner and courier alike. Battalions take to the skies or assume defensive positions on the ground, forming a wall of flesh, feathers, fur, and steel that stretches upwards and outwards. Warriors interlock their shields and soldiers wielding polearms brace themselves while archers nock arrows. You grip your blade as your soldiers brace themselves for the coming assault. Across the field, standing before the walls of Wingbardy, you can see your opposition has also finished reorganizing itself.

You can see that Brochard has placed his mercenaries and enlisted brigands up front, likely out of a desire to minimize losses among his regular troops and ensure that the soldiers of fortune can't retreat. With spears at their backs as well as their fronts, they'll have no choice but to fight or die. Despite your scouring of the Aquileian lines, you can't seem to locate Brochard. Would he be garbed as a regular officer? You know he's on the field, he would never entrust a battle of such immense importance to a subordinate and simply leave it be. You suppose it doesn't matter too much at the moment. This is a clash of armies, and a single Griffon, no matter how physically strong or politically powerful, isn't going to make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things.

Finally, after an unbearably tense silence, the Aquileian lines begin to advance. Not the entirety of their army though, a small portion remain behind, holding their positions outside the walls. A reserve force, or a rear guard to defend against a potential Wingbardian counterattack?

You can see the Aquileian siege engines being rolled towards you; you don't know what the range on those things is but you've bet an awful lot that they don't have the reach of your ballistae. And it seems you are right: the Aquileians cross into the effective range of your field artillery while still pushing their own forward. You silently raise your arm and bring it down like a guillotine.

(Ballistae vs Catapults: 65+10(A Letter from Father to Son Omake)=75)

With a clatter of wood and the faint whistling sound of great arrows slicing through the air, your mobile bolt-throwers are fired in anger for the very first time. One bolt undershoots and carves a path of destruction through a section of the Aquileian line, but the other four hit home, punching through wood and tearing through coiled rope. Nearly half of the enemy siege engines fall apart under their own weight, their structural integrities compromised by your bombardment. The bandits and mercenaries at the front rank of the advancing force stumble, some even coming to a halt at the sight of such ranged firepower, but the regulars at their backs push and shove them forwards, maintaining their pace.

As the enemy begins to close in, you see the hostile siege engines halt and begin to orient themselves to target your line. Your ballistae signal they are ready to launch another volley only moments before the opposing siege engines toss their own stone payloads.

(Artillery Duel: 56+15(On the Wings of Hope Omake)=71)

Bolts fly through the air as the incoming projectiles reach the arc of their trajectory. Most of the heavy stones fall short of your lines, the crews of the Aquileian siege engines apparently not having time to properly calibrate them in the mad scramble to get their shots off before being targeted by another volley from your ballistae. A volley that has much the same result as the last, with one bolt again falling short of its intended target and the rest striking true, their impacts much more devastating at close range as splinters and shrapnel spray outwards, grievously wounding the Aquileian weapon crews. There is now only one onager threatening your troops, and you still have all your bolt-throwers.

It is not a flawless victory though. One of the carved spheres of rock smashes through a formation of warriors arrayed in the sky, and several of your Griffons fall to the earth in heaps of smashed armor and broken bones. You wince and grip your sword tighter. The first losses of the battle. You know there will be many more dead before this is all over. Still the enemy lines advance, now crossing into range of your archers.

(Archer Volley: 24+10(Feathersian Arguments Omake)+10(My Aim be True Omake)+10(Griffon Versatility Omake)=54)

Your archers loose their arrows, sending a hail of wood and steel falling down upon the advancing formations of the enemy. The Aquileian regulars raise their shields, and many arrows are blocked or are deflected by armor. But the brigands and mercenaries at the front, lacking the armor and equipment of the professional soldiers behind them, take significant losses. Arrows pierce flesh and cut tendons, and scores of Griffons fall.

Once again, the bandits and sell-swords pause, and once again the Aquileian regulars behind them push them forward. It's rapidly becoming apparent to everyone, themselves included, that they are intended as little more than living shields. Even as you think that, your archers shift their fire, for the Aquileians are now beginning to nock their own arrows.

(Exchange of Arrows: 91)

But something goes wrong. Perhaps there is a sudden gust of wind, but the Aquileian arrows go wild. You don't think a single one even comes close to hitting your troops. The Aquileians however are another story. Shouts and the odd fistfight break out amongst their own lines as friendly fire injures or even kills some of them. They are reminded of their true enemy when an absolute storm of expertly aimed shots from your own archers slam into their lines seconds later, felling hundreds. But though your archers keep up a blistering rate of fire, they can't prevent the enemy from advancing, and soon they finally close the distance and charge your lines.

(Clash: 52+10(Eyes Up Guardian Omake)+5(Defensive Formation)=67)

The Aquileians throw themselves against your defenses. The front ranks of the opposing army are impaled upon polearms, beaten with shields, stabbed with swords and beheaded by axes. Some try to flee, only to be shoved back into harms way or cut down by those behind them. Your soldiers take losses of their own, but for every one that falls, two or three of the enemy are also slain. You shift your gaze from the front of the Aquileian army to its rear. It seems Duke Talonuelli is finally making his move.

(Wingbardy Breakout: 45+15(Grey Warden Omake)=60)

Over two thousand Griffons in the colors of the Wingbardy militia rise from the city and descend upon the Aquileian rear guard. Unfortunately they do not face brigands or mercenaries, only professional and well-equipped regulars. But this is their homeland, their city, their soil that has been violated by these invaders, and their time hiding behind the walls has done nothing to dampen their rage. They fight furiously, cutting down many of the former besiegers, even as they take significant casualties of their own. Still, despite their ferocity and the comparatively small numbers of their enemy, it looks like they'll be fully occupied taking on the rear guard for a while. Much as it disappoints you, it doesn't look like you'll be able to surround the main body of Brochard's army just yet.

(Battle Interrupt?: Coin Flip-Heads. Yes.)
(By Who?: 88)

As the battle rages on, you are shocked to see a regiment carrying the banner of Urbirdo enter the combat area, with Federico Montefeathertro himself at its head! Your Father-in-Law lands beside you, cheerily hefting his massive broadsword and grinning ear to ear.

"Garrick my boy, good to see you! I was worried that the scrap would be over before I arrived! And before you ask, no, the League hasn't decided to back you. I figured I'd take a page out of my daughter's book and go do what I wanted to without asking permission."

He stiffens, suddenly serious.

"And if the rest of the council has a problem with it then they can eat seed. If those indecisive turkeys honestly think Brochard will stop at Wingbardy then they're going to have a lot more than their heads buried in the sand if he wins this fight. My troops and I are here to help. Where do you need us?"



What Now?

[ ] Stay the Course: The Aquileians seem content to throw themselves upon your lines, and you see no reason to deny them. Reinforce the frontline and instruct your troops to hold their positions.

[ ] Push them Back: You've bloodied them, but they're not beaten yet. Countercharge against the Aquileians, forcing them back towards Wingbard's walls.

[ ] Up and Over: Most of your forces are already engaged, but several reserve units are still awaiting orders, ready to shore up depleted battalions on the frontline. Order these units to fly over the top of the melee and link up with the city militia, giving them some aid in assaulting Brochard's rear. Be aware that they run the risk of being intercepted or cut off from your own army.

[ ] Write In



The Knights Lion are fresh and stand ready charge into battle at your order. Shall you commit them to the fight?

[ ] Yes
-[ ] Where, and to do What?

[ ] No, you don't want to play your trump card just yet.



The Legendary Noble Mercenary Federico Montefeathertro has arrived with a thousand fighters. Where shall you deploy them?

[ ] The Front Lines: They're needed most where the fighting is thickest.

[ ] In Reserve: Much like the Knights, keep them out of the fighting for the moment to serve as a rapid response force so they can plug any holes or breaches that may appear in the line.

[ ] Write In




Royal Army of Griffonia
7300 Warriors
3600 Polearms
3750 Archers
5 Mobile Ballistae

Knightly Orders
The Order of Knights Lion
Grandmaster Konrad Hardbeak
25 Knights of the Inner Circle
125 Imperial Knights
300 Squires
550 Griffons-at-Arms

Mercenaries
The Valkyries
485 Warriors
The Woodstalkers
180 Warriors
300 Archers
The Black Pikes
475 Pikes
The Crimson Company
450 Griffon Berserkers

Allies
Wingbardy Militia
1200 Warriors
400 Polearms
450 Archers
Montefeathertro's Mercenaries
Federico Montefeathertro
500 Warriors
300 Polearms
200 Archers
 
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A bit worried that we have not spotted our foe so I want to keep something in reserve but father in law showing up with reinforcements!
 
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