Vorstuga River - Wickan Fortifications [Quest: Complete]

Scout's had been from Atlanticus. They were told to follow this river. What they had followed through The Phoenix State and into the Teutonic State had been fruitful. Their intention was to see if sea ships could navigate the river. The scouts made sure to stay away any known hostile zones and to move only in the dark.

Giplor was a Brother of the Sword, and he had to do his part. While his brothers were focused on ground combat, Giplor was going to see if he could apply the Royal Navy of Atlanticus to this future battlezone. They'd continue until the river came to an end. Even if the ships they were currently building wouldn't work, they could always build a shipyard on the river for smaller ships.

"Dietrich. I am sending you and Komtur Heinrich and Komtur Gustav, as well as our mercenaries," Konrad pointed at Krypt, "through the swamps. You'll be ambushed, no doubt, but I trust you'll make it to the river. Only skirmish for the time being. Minimize our casualties as best you can, and on my signal charge over the river and prepare to win this battle."

Dietrich grunted and slammed his fist on his chestplate. "It will be done my lord." Dietrich, Heinrich, and Gustav left the area. They'd be taking at least a thousand mercenaries with them through the forests. "Adrian, we shall lead the main force north, and then east to meet this Navy of Giplor's... who I shall now promote to Grand Komtur for his outstanding support for the Brotherhood. Are you ready?"

"Yessir," Adrian responded.

---

Upon reaching the Atlantian Royal Navy, Hochmeister Konrad and Adrian would request to come aboard to speak with the captain.

General Vykas and the bulk of his warlords were gathered at the vanguard of their main force, which had assembled along the western edge of the river. "The Brothers shall suffer losses coming through the forests-"

"At the expense of my men," growled one of the chiefs.

"They volunteered, Chieftain Grimwall, how could I deny them the opportunity to find peace? Now... they shall suffer losses. And when they come to the river, we shall shower them with arrows and rain magic upon them... then chase them as they try to flee, cutting them down. With this momentum, we shall sack Salem and raze it to the ground. Any objections?"

Vykas looked sternly at the men and woman gathered (which may include any Wickan allied players).

Oliver gazed over the soon to be battle ground before him. He stood upon a hill that gave him a view both up and down the river, and over the forest on the other side. Any invading force would have to cross the river and climb the steep bank to enter the Wickan lands. A battalion of archers stood before him awaiting his orders.

Oliver shifted his attention to General Vykas as he began spoke. He had no objections. The plan seemed good to Oliver's, though he lacked the battle experience to know either way. "My archers will advance behind the main army to give support and cover during the advance." Oliver gave his part of the plan. "My scouts up and down the river will send word down the river to the vanguard if enemies try to attack us from the side."

"There is a fleet of ships coming down the river!" The scout reported. Scouts lined trough the forest used a system of bird calls to relay messaged up and down the river. If one scout failed to respond to a call another would investigate. They also had a system of horn calls worked out. "There are two heavily armed galleons and several smaller ships carrying soldiers."

This had been expected and planned for. "Send Ferndale's and Haffalk's squads up the river to intercept them." Ferdale and Haffalk both led squads consisting of 10 short bowmen and 2 fire mages. "They are to hide in the forest along the river and shoot flaming arrows at the ships. They'll use gorilla tactics. One squad will fire, retreat, and regroup in another spot. While the first group repositions the second will fire." Ferdale and Haffalk both knew the plan already, but it was Oliver's job to give the order nun the less.

Ferndale waded through chest high muck, holding his bow above his head. He was covered in mud in order to blend in with the swamp. Ten archers and 2 mages followed single filed behind. The swamp was treacherous, full of hidden drops and quicksand. This was, however, home for the Wickans. They knew routs through the swamp between hidden fortifications constructed on hummocks and islands. They reached a small hill that protruded from the muck. Dug into the hill was a small bunker, low enough to kneel in. It had numerous holes and entrances concealed behind shrubs that one could enter or shoot from. Many of these hidden bunkers were concealed around the swamp. They had been stocked with extra arrows and bow strings as well.

Ferndale's group arrived at the hill and acted fast. The enemy galleons were just beyond the hill. "Archers nock and mages light." Ferndale commanded, but his men were already in action. "Draw." The archers drew the flaming arrows. "FIRE!" A volley of flaming arrows flew out of the hill and arched into the ships. "Retreat!" But the archers had already slid into the water and were swimming away with nothing but the bows and quivers held above water. They would scatter and regroup at the next fortification.

"I don't like killing either...and I don't like swamps. They ruin my clothes."

Vain follows alongside unhappily. Andraste's moving too slowly for him to fly, and walking through the mud is slow and tiring. He brought along a book, but it was quickly ruined by the damp. He pokes at the smoking corpse with a stick.

"I still don't see why you couldn't send someone. You're the minister. That's what you do, you delegate."

Vain steps over the unconscious attacker.

"Don't you know any healing spells yourself, Andraste? If you can summon demons, surely healing isn't too hard."

He rummages in his pockets and pulls out one of his few remaining pieces of butterscotch candy, popping it into his mouth.

"I suppose it isn't too bad. It could be raining."

The minor skirmish which occurred in the western swamps would prove fairly short and unsuccessful for the Wickans. The mercenaries were more than capable of fighting these more-primitive tribal folk. However, the Brothers and their allies had not yet faced the true enemy that day...

As OrdenMarschall Dietrich carved a bloody swath through the western swamps, Hochmeister Konrad and Adrian rendezvoused with the Atlantian Navy. Another skirmish broke out in the northern marshes between Ferndale's own men and those of the Navy.

---

Konrad, Adrian, Atlantian Navy
Konrad held his heated shield up beside him, to his left, as flaming arrows were launched from the trees. "Shields up," Konrad ordered. The Brothers wasted no time raising their shield, being as experienced as they were. "Make shore, make shore," Konrad's voice boomed all around and the ship he was on, now catching fire in some places, began making its way to the shoreline. It did not take to long, being they were in a river, and wooden bridges were laid so as to allow the men down onto the swampy shores.

Water splashed and boots dug into the mud, but squadrons of Halftbruders readily formed up and created a shield wall with their tower shields and long spears. The more experienced Knight-Brothers took up positions behind them. Many Halftbruders had fallen from arrow fire, but an effective line was formed nonetheless.

Adrian came up beside the Hochmeister, who had made his way somewhere in the middle of the battle lines. "Sir, what's the plan?"

"The Elfin Archers are attacking from the north... we'll push in from the west and force these pathetic devil-worshipers east or south - wherever they run to! Now let's go!"

Konrad and Adrian's forces of mainly Halftbruders (tower shields, spears, swords/axes/flails, medium armor) would push forward against Ferndale's forces as the elfin archers were pushing down south.

Dietrich, Heinrich, Gustav, Kinzokan, Silas, Andraste, Vain
Krypt would not satisfy himself killing a leader at the moment, but the last wave of pagans would sate him no doubt. Wildly swinging their two axes, shirtless, tattooed men with white skin and bald heads came charging into view. They bellowed loudly and seemed to be under the effect of a drug - which enhanced their rage.

Dietrich gladly welcomed the challenge and fought them with vigor. Heinrich and Gustav on the otherhand, took a little more cautious approach. "Stay together men, stay together!"

The bellowing men clashed and a brutal melee ensued, causing severe casualties among the mercenaries. "There," one roared, pointing his axe at Andraste, "her blood will satisfy the Gods beyond anyone else's! Slay her! Slay the bitch now!"

This was the last wave of Wickans for the mercenaries, and these howling men seemed intent on slaying Andraste with their brutal, lightning-quick attacks. Andraste's spells would affect them, but the men were so hellbent and affected by a drug, that they would not notice her spells.