Forums
Thoughts, ideas, etc. are appreciated. If any of you actually want to help pick the plot, just someone say so, and I'll tally this forum and the other's to see which way to go.
The repeated clash of steel added a sort of melancholy beat to the screams and shouts of death that pervaded the battlefield. Each clang from sword on sword and sword and shield added its soprano to the alto moans of dying men, with each general the maestro of this death-fueled orchestra. Battered, bloody, and torn, the yellow knights hopelessly attempted to hold their ground against the insurmountable odds and most certain death. Died in the color of blood, the red knights endlessly pursued their enemies, leaving not even the dying in their waste.
The Battle of Fever Hill could hardly be called a battle; most men now a days refer to it as the "Massacre of Fever Hill". General of the Crimson Raptors, 7th Legion of the Formes Army, Morphus Iaenen was the head of this massacre. Known for not only his tactical genius, but his unquenchable thirst for blood, the Crimson Raptors, under his command, quickly became an elite Legion whose sole purpose was to carry out the orders of their King without fail. And so far, under his command, he had succeeded. Men from all across Formes trained in hopes of joining the Immortal Red, the Undefeatable Raptors; getting in would not only mean an unseen income for soldiers, but near certainty you would live until the end of the war.
The war, you say? Like most wars, it appeared to be over territorial disputes. The larger nation of Formes, known for its military might and strength, was naturally the aggressor to the smaller nation of Lilium. A typical case of the absorption of a smaller country by one much larger. Lilium, aside from its calvary, held no special qualities. Although a monarchy, it was led by a Queen, Queen Margret Lilium, who received the utmost respect and loyalty from her people. Yet, despite it's advanced and skilled cavalry, it stood no chance against the sheer brute force of Formes. Fever Hill, the first major battle between the two nations, proved just how immense the difference in power truly was.
Morphus entered his command tent to assest the battle's outcome.
"We lost about 300 of our Knights, and 1200 footmen in the battle from our original 30,000 host. 27 of the knights were nobles, whose families we have already dispatched letters to for their loss. As for Lilium, they were all but decimated, losing almost the entirety of 10,000 host. Maybe a thousand managed to escape, but we have already sent parties out to intercept their retreat."
"Good, good," responded Morphus almost nonchalantly. He appeared tired, a strange sight to see indeed compared to the usual fervor he contained after a battle.
"My lord, is something wrong?" asked one of the war councilors.
"Nothing at all, you are all dismissed. I will see you tomorrow morn, at sunrise, in this tent. 'Till then, a good night, an may Aves grant us similar favor in the battles to come."
The men left the ten quietly, one by one, most certainly discomforted by the lackluster attitude of their commander.
Morphus fell into his bed face first, and breathed a heavy sigh. Something most obviously was on his mind, and it seemed to drain away what vigor he had shown moments before on the battlefield. Clad in a full set of gleaming armor, gilded in red gold, lance in hand, he was a fearful sight to behold, and oft times he was mistaken as a demon by enemy combatants. Yet, in his tent, this washed image contrasted sharply with his battle zeal.
Morphus sat up in his bed and looked at the map.
To the Northeast lay the city of Edno, a fortified city on a highly defensible hill, surrounded by forests to the South East. A perfect location for Lilium to regroup and stage a defensive front from which to later counter attack and repel Formes, at least for a little while. Chances are, the main army would not reach the city any time soon, and given time, it would prove even more difficult to overcome later on.
Due East was a major road that most likely carried supplies from more inward towns to Northern cities in aid of their military defense. Between that road and them was a Ankou Forest, a notorious forest, the kind shrouded in rumors and gossip that one cannot tell the truth form the false. While the main army was tasked with attacking from the north, Morphus' Crimson Raptors were given the duty of incoming from the West. If they successfully blocked Trade to the North, the Northern Lilium defense would quickly crumble, allowing for the the reinforcement of his own Legion and a combined force to take on the highly defensible Edno.
Both proved to not be an easy walk. His heavy host of a little under 30,000, comprised of siege weaponry, heavy cavalry, crossbows, pikes, swords and shields was more suited for a direct assault on fortified cities. But with a major city like Edno, in such a defensible location, this approach would prove to be a difficult endeavor. Taking the trade route to the east proved none the more lighter, as crossing through Ankou Forest would be dangerous for such a slow-moving host. Paths would have to be cut for the larger siege weapons, and all the while they would be susceptible to enemy ambush while spread throughout a heavily wooded area. They could go around the forest from the south, but even despite the slow progression through the forest, a southern route would even take considerably longer, and would force them to capture the city of Devet, further prolonging the journey. That would also risk the chance of being cut from the supply lines.
[Edit] Lol, I forgot my own numbers.
A: Attack headlong int Edno.
B: Cut through the Ankou Forest and capture the Trade Route.
C: Head south and attempt to bypass the Ankou Forest to the Trade Route.
[Edit] Yes, I realize there are a few typos.
Back to top
