So I had been waiting for iron to come before drafting a full military, (actually I was just sidetracked doing other projects) and a full mounted goblin invasion arrives.
I had three dwarves in my military. All were legendary warriors, groomed from embark to be future captains. (I'd had 4 such units, but an ambush from a previous season caught them in copper gear and one of the warriors was pincushioned from the first volley of bolts) Each posessed a masterwork steel short sword, and iron armor of middling to low quality.
The battle started as you might expect, my men entering martial trances, sneaking hits in here and there, lopping off limbs, blocking errant bolts, (only enemy ranged units were three captains) and, mostly, dodging and rolling out of the way. As in real life, an out-skilled attacker usually resorts to tackling their enemy to the ground, and this is what those cowardly cave crawlers and goblins did. From the combat logs, my men spent most of the initial fight stunned and on the ground getting back to their feet. I knew they would tire out before this battle was over.
Steadily, they caused casualties to the invaders, whose numbers were growing. Trolls then arrived, fresh, while my men were covered in sweat and blood from head to toe, having butchered only half of the first two mounted goblin squads. What had started as a tight battle in the open fields in front of the fortress entrance had dispersed into three seperate melees, one finding my militia commander backed into a rampless hillside corner, a swarm of enemies surrounding him. The other two swordmasters were also surrounded waging their own one man wars.
At this point I assigned the war dogs of the fort as pets, 10 in all, among my desperate men. They would be a while getting to the fight, as they were 15 z levels below in the dining hall. (I don't seal the fort)
A few more invaders go down before the first injury happens on my side. A swordmaster has lost his foot, and is now retreating south away from the entrance, a gaggle of invaders following him, to his benefit perhaps, as the space provided by his retreat has enabled him to more easily single out and slay individual persuers. Not to be outdone by their comrade, the other swordmaster and the militia commander also give up a lower leg and a hand, respectively. The swordmaster does as his brother and commits to the retreat and slay tactic, while the commander finds himself suddenly with room to breathe.
See, apparently the invaders considered this battle won; after causing such grevious wounds to my pitiful numbers, they began a mass charge of trolls and mounted goblins towards my fortress entrance/barracks alcove. The commander, finally able to move at will, is in lingering persuit, hacking down stragglers with his good arm while leeching enemies from the desprate legless Swordmaster to the west and my barracks alcove to the north, which is now being destroyed.
The barracks having been successfully overturned, the remaining trolls and cave crawlers attempt to gain passage to the fort entrance. The timing of the dogs of war could not have been better. More than half of the dogs were immediately slain, but two of the more robust individuals succeeded in extending the melee, getting a kill or two. All of the dogs succeeded in buying my commander time to mop up from behind. Unfortunatelly only one dog lived.
Seeing the failed attempt at gaining entrance to the fort, the invaders began to retreat.
Both swordmasters had lost one leg and the other foot, effectively fighting almost half the battle on bloody stumps. They would not move, but any that came to finish them off were beaten back or slain. Each had sustained massive bloodloss; I feared for their lives greatly. The rest of the commander's arm was chopped off as well, and I think he also lost a foot before the battle was over.
In the end, none of the three recieved medical attention, (my doctors were on coffee break) but all lived. My fortress would succumb to a tantrum spiral about 4 months later, since I started a mass draft of 37 dwarves and accidently set their uniforms to replace clothing, before I had time to forge all their copper armor. It would have been the end anyway, since another full invasion of goblins led by an elf general arrived while the naked recruits were outside beating each other to death.
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Topic: Great Victories or Fails thread (Read 5355 times)