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Post by Eirik Reyksol on Jul 15, 2011 23:35:31 GMT -5
We had been routed, more soundly than in our history. And as so many followed me, I bore the responsibility of it. I was so angry that I could barely contain it, but I had to, because only one thing would make this better - to strike back. And to do that, I needed people behind me. I gave a stirring speech to my dejected populace, then stormed into the tent that had been hastily erected for me in the neighboring clan, calling for men to follow me so that we might discuss our strategy. I had something in mind, a bit radical for us, but that was what gave the idea strength, the D'angelines would never expect it.
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Astride Schevlok
Military
Warrior of Skaldia
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you. - Leon Trotsky
Posts: 41
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Post by Astride Schevlok on Jul 16, 2011 0:07:06 GMT -5
For once – just the once – I was united with Eirik Reyksol in anger. I'd hated the shame of retreat, and hated just as much losing a captive to a D'Angeline oaf. I'd have her back, or another, at any rate. So I'd gone to listen. I'd not cheered. No, instead, I'd listened attentively to every word he said.
When the time to plan vengeance over D'Angeline scum came, I went, storming with the others, and found myself waiting, arms crossed, and listening to what he had to say. Ready, as it were, to give whatever plan he had a twist of my own.
After all, it was in my blood, regardless of rank.
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Post by Fálki Pórbrandr on Jul 16, 2011 13:10:51 GMT -5
The plan that Eirik had told all of us was a daring one, but also complicated. The more moving pieces a thing had the more that could break, but we were not the stupid, animal-men that the d'Angelines seemed to believe we were. With all of us united there was far more we could accomplish than most could ever suspect, and while I believed as strongly as any other here in the importance of the Skaldi ways of independence and clan our current leader had greater vision than the rest of us. He knew how to join us to one cause, to organize us to our greatest strengths and how the d'Angelines worked.
My place was as ever by our leader's side as his second in command and I listened calmly, arms crossed but not tense as I waited for what was to be said, as well as my part in it.
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Post by Kai “Ill-Begotten” Ungewollt on Jul 16, 2011 13:29:42 GMT -5
It was the first time that I stood in with the other warriors - I'd gone mostly because Falki had given me a significant look – a silent order, and because not going left me alone with the women and the babes. While I preferred that option... it would reflect poorly on my already uneasy reputation. Best to blend in, I mused.
So I slipped into the tent quietly and tried to make myself as discreet as I could, giving my height, and listened in quietly.
I had no intention to make any kind of decision, I had no plan of my own, and I felt, a little bit, like this D'Angeline vengeance was deserved. It seemed we were going towards an escalation – and that worried me.
I'd be there because I'd been told to be there, as usual. That didn't mean I had to like it - and that, again, was my own business.
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Post by Eirik Reyksol on Jul 16, 2011 23:49:27 GMT -5
Once everyone was settled, I unrolled a map and pinned it up to the wall of the tent. I had a stick of charcoal in my hand as I turned to face the group that had gathered.
"For whatever reason, the D'angelines think to attack us, to push us out of our homes, and so far they have been successful. That stops now." I paused for the grumbling to subside. "I propose an attack they won't expect," I continued, taking the charcoal and drawing a line where the salt waters connected to their city of Marsilikos. "We do not have a navy, as such, but we do have longboats, and we can sail in the cover of darkness and land on their shores. Lest they suspect anything, we will also leave a force to attack them on the land they took from us, and to push back into Camlach if we can."
I stopped then and looked around, in effect opening up the floor for discussion. People named me a leader, but a good leader took advice where he could, if it was sound, and I was not above hearing what everyone had to say.
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Astride Schevlok
Military
Warrior of Skaldia
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you. - Leon Trotsky
Posts: 41
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Post by Astride Schevlok on Jul 17, 2011 0:45:22 GMT -5
The plan was a daring one – and I liked it. Looking at the map, I calculated – our troups, theirs, and looked at the border. Doubtless, the D'Angelines had troops all along their eastern borders, all the way up to Azzalle, and down to Eisande.
“Some of us will have to stay here,” I said quietly. “To create a distraction, harass the D'Angeline scum enough to let them think nothing is amiss. A smaller group, mayhap, but one with determined warriors, for it would be a thankless and harrowing job.”
A dangerous one, too – but I could do it. I knew myself well enough. Besides, that kept me in the vicinity of Johanna, which was not a bad thing in itself.
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Post by Heribert Reiterin on Jul 17, 2011 0:52:40 GMT -5
I sat with the crowd and watched as Eirik unrolled a map and pinned it to the wall. I listened quietly as he spoke of what his plan was. I wondered if we truly had enough men to split up in such a way. It made sense to hit from Marsilikos, they wouldn't be expecting us and we could do a lot of damage. However, I felt we should really be working towards getting our ground back. Surely we could do that easier if we were altogether. I looked around to see if anyone was thinking the same as I was. I wasn't of a huge rank in this clan, and I didn't want to go over my boundaries.
When no one said anything for a moment, I spoke up, "Do you think it wise for us to split up our troops and fight from two locations? It seems it might be a harder hit to go full force..." I shrugged my shoulders lightly in a attempt to make it seem more like a casual comment. I looked around to see if any of the other men agreed with me.
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Post by Fálki Pórbrandr on Jul 17, 2011 12:14:09 GMT -5
Eirik liked to use things like maps and diagrams to illustrate what we were about to do, and while I understood the images well enough I could never for the life of me read the foreign scrawl on them. The idea was simple enough though- we split our forces and attacked them from all sides, far enough away that they couldn't fight us off as a coordinated group and that some of their troops would be confused or displaced. So long as we had the element of surprise and a decent distraction it should work to deal them a blow they wouldn't soon forget.
"A harder hit is exactly what they're expecting," I said in a steady, confident tone, looking around the room at those who seemed unsure of this plan. "And why they will continue bringing more and more of their forces to hold the land they've taken. If we strike where they don't expect it they will be confused, weakened and will spread their forces thinner to try and keep us out. These angel-children won a clever victory against us but they won't go away from it unscathed. Once they start to question their position we can take back the lands they've stolen."
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Post by Kai “Ill-Begotten” Ungewollt on Jul 17, 2011 13:34:42 GMT -5
From what I was hearing, it seemed that there would be few of us left to look after the captives, the elders, the women and the children. Regardless of where the main troops went, those would still be behind, as would the captives – what of them? They needed protection too.
“The element of surprise is an important asset for us to have – we've seen how helpful it was to the D'Angelines,” I said from where I stood in the back, arms crossed. “But Heribert speaks the truth too: divided, we are weaker, but so are they, and that needs to be thought about too. Besides, no matter where the bulk of our warriors go, some will have to stay here to protect the people, too – they may attack another time, and the women and children can't be left undefended.”
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Post by Eirik Reyksol on Jul 17, 2011 21:33:17 GMT -5
I nodded as some people expressed their concerns, and they were right.
"I have considered these things, and let me address them. First, the elderly, the women, the children, they will all be taken with a small escort to one of the clans further from the border. I have already sent runners to all of the other clans, and some of them I know will be sending soldiers to assist us in this endeavor. As many of you know, several clans have already joined with me, and I anticipate that several more will do the same now that Terre d'Ange has made its intentions plain.
As for the men who will be staying here to attack in Camlach - I will take only volunteers for it. Many will perish distracting the D'angelines so that the rest of our forces can strike a blow in Marsilikos..." I paused and looked again at the map, drawing another line into Azzalle. "And into Azzalle. Those two forces will have the most fighters, because it is there we intend to hurt them the most. Those that stay here and fight will do so in a different way, harrying the enemy and keeping their focus as long as possible." I looked again at every man in the tent, meeting every eye that met mine.
"It will be difficult, we will take losses, but it is still preferable to doing what they expect, which is to lead one force into Camlach. That would be suicide, because they are prepared for it. They do not think that we will use strategy, they think we are savages and barbarians, they think that they can kill us at will. I think that it is time we teach them that they cannot! For too long they have dismissed us, but that time is over now, and by the end of this, they will be sorry they ever set foot in Skaldia."
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Astride Schevlok
Military
Warrior of Skaldia
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you. - Leon Trotsky
Posts: 41
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Post by Astride Schevlok on Jul 17, 2011 23:28:59 GMT -5
Eirik spoke, and when his eyes met mine, I looked back without flinching. I'd spoken of harrying the D'Angeline. It was expected that I would back my own suggestion. “I will stay in Camlach,” I said, and “take it upon myself to lead the D'Angelines to madness.”
I smiled, then, sharp as a blade, and moved forward. “We will ambush them on our own terrain, make prisoners, take their women. We will not present ourselves as an army on a field, but a small group of devils, unseen, giving quick deaths from the dark.”
“Who stays in Camlach?” I said, voice rising. “Who wants to distract the angel's whelps? Who wants D'Angeline blood to fill Camlach? Who will come, and put the fear of Odhinn in them all?”
Oh, I wanted it – the charge to lead this, to show that I could, against all odds, survive for the greater good of Skaldia.
I wanted to show my valor, too, and to win the chief's pretty sister for myself. That she had pretty eyes was a good bonus. That she was Eirik's kin... it was priceless.
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Post by Fálki Pórbrandr on Jul 18, 2011 19:25:36 GMT -5
All of the talking seemed to be of two sorts- Eirik's plan, and the possible flaws in it. Our leader's words made sense to me but I knew there were always risks to any plan, whether it was the traditional one or a new sort. The women and children would be away, our captives would still serve as hostages they would have to consider in their retaliation and we would still have some forces left here, as well as the other clans who wouldn't be eager to have d'Angelines closer to their border either.
Then Astride stood up and as much as I wanted to applaud his determination and willingness to fight for the cause I remembered well the way he'd disobeyed Eirik's call to leave the earlier battle. Blood-lust was a powerful thing, but it made some men unreasonable and there was as much danger in that as there was in our forces being weakened. Crossing my arms I watched him closely for a moment, then glanced at Eirik and made a note to speak to him later about that matter.
"It's not Camlach yet," I simply said in a stern tone, then glanced back at the map before looking at Eirik once more. "Nor will it be if this works. If it is in the plan to do so I ask to lead the forces into Azzalle, where their god of pride makes his home. We will strip that arrogance from them."
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Post by Heribert Reiterin on Jul 18, 2011 23:45:17 GMT -5
I listened to what Falki and Kai had to say. It seemed that I wasn't the only one with those thoughts. The more Erik spoke, the better I understood and supported his plan.
When Astride asked who would join him, I raised my hand, "I will join Astride in Camlach. I relish the opportunity to soak the soil in their blood." My words were firm and serious.
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Post by Kai “Ill-Begotten” Ungewollt on Jul 19, 2011 12:29:35 GMT -5
There seemed to be some sort of tension between Astride and Falki – perhaps it was because Astride could be stirring, too, in the way dark charisma could be. Sometimes I thought he was all that I hated in Skaldicness – but it was untrue, even I felt stirred by his words.
Heribert spoke in support of Astride, and I waited, staying quiet, arms crossed at the back, observing.
For myself, I almost felt as if I had a responsibility to the female captives to stay as well, so as to balance out Astride's bloodloss – and I glanced Falki's way, quietly consulting.
I would do as I was told. I hoped I'd be told to do something I wanted.
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Post by Eirik Reyksol on Jul 19, 2011 22:15:15 GMT -5
I was pleased with the overall mood in the room, though I had known that things would fall out the way I planned, not because of me, but because it was a good plan. I nodded to Astride, he was making a name for himself, though I had heard he had had difficulty with the order to retreat. But he had retreated, despite his personal feelings, and for that I was grateful. Dissension in the ranks would kill us faster than any D'angeline.
"Astride, you will have the command here, Heribert, you may accompany him..." I neatly began to split the men in the room into where they would be most useful, based on what I knew of them. "Falki, you will lead the charge into Azzalle," I told him, then named off some of the men who would go with him, most of them clan chiefs who would bring their warriors to the cause. My eyes fell on the half-D'angeline and I had to fight to keep the frown from my features. I could not trust him on the battlefield, so instead I assigned him to go along with the guard for the women and children. At last, I finished by noting the men I would take with me on the longboats, where we would sneak into Marsilikos and burn as many of their ships as possible.
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Post by Kai “Ill-Begotten” Ungewollt on Jul 20, 2011 1:59:40 GMT -5
Assignments were given, and when mine came, I was relieved by it, though I found odd that a sniper archer wasn't deemed useful for the type of guerilla warfare Astride would likely be using. Then again, I could feel the mistrust in Eirik's eyes – my blood condemned me in his mind, I could almost taste it.
It wasn't something new, so I nodded, and said nothing, though I was firm in my resolve to protect those who would be assigned to my vigilance.
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Astride Schevlok
Military
Warrior of Skaldia
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you. - Leon Trotsky
Posts: 41
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Post by Astride Schevlok on Jul 20, 2011 2:06:37 GMT -5
Under my shirt, I was wearing the necklace Johanna had given me, and I smiled at her brother, nodding.
“We will not rest until their eye is fully upon us, and away from Azzale and Eisande,” I said. “You will not be disappointed, Eirik.”
And truth be, neither would his sweet sister, or the gods of war. I would make this an exploit to be remembered. That Heribert had volunteered did not surprise me - he was a good warrior, strong and capable. I could have used a few more like him, and less D'Angeline whelps...
... though he'd have his use to0, in time.
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Post by Fálki Pórbrandr on Jul 21, 2011 10:32:04 GMT -5
Things were settled easily enough and I nodded in agreement, listening as the young men boasted and the older ones looked to make ready as soon as they were allowed to depart. "Azzalle will not know the fury they have fallen under," I replied in a steady, confident tone, a slight smile on my face as I took note of the names of the men who would be coming with me, all of them well-known warriors with powerful clans of their own. It was an honor to be given such a task, even though I had no illusions that it would necessarily be easy. Prepare for the worst and you can let the best surprise you.
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