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[Deny]

With the Abbess

Ssyrith squeezed his claws together for a moment, tail starting to twitch about again as his fury started to mount, before letting out a deep breath. "Very well, I accept your, terms, but if your chosen "sisters" cannot understand my teaching do not blame me."

Start training the sister to be Erika's decoy
Start teaching the other sisters on my potions and poisons

[micelus]

Ambros listened to the Eel's advice, who while utterly repulsive, was correct in his assessment.

"The Jarl is completely correct about the city, my Princess. As much as I would prefer to bomb our targets from afar, we cannot afford alienating your subjects, especially ones so close to your palace. As such, I would recommend we only use artillery as a last resort and instead make use of our remaining spies to stir the populace to our aid. Let us establish camp in view of the city's residents; just far enough to avoid bombardment. Make every attempt at showing our superior firepower and the righteousness in our cause. All the while, spies could be sent into the city, making deals with certain parties to open the gates during the attack or hinder the Prestoners.

Once this preparatory work is complete, artillery could be used to open up a few holes in the wall. Make them near enough that our troops can reinforce each other but far enough that the Prestoners are spread thin. Should the gates be opened from the inside, our troops could also use those instead. From there, it will be utter chaos and I cannot recommend much more. Urban warfare leaves little to stratagem beyond the decisions of the regimental officers.

Once we enter the city, I would recommend being...lenient towards the bourgeoisie. We must not allow looting or any form of lynching, even towards the Prestoners. Their business and continued support is far more useful than short-time gain."

[filiusenox]

Jonathan smiles, giving the man a nod.

"Of course, sir. I'm in-- Sheepstead?"

Go with the guard--but if they attempt to cuff me, make sure they do it in front or else don't go with them. Use sword. Profit.

[Ardas]

Flavia listens to the strategic overview by the Jarl and considers the opinion given by Hoffenburg.

"Whatever approach we take, we will be faced with urban combat. People have to be watched for, we cannot afford civilian losses. There are ways of making this fast, but only if we prepare the attack well. I think infiltrating their defenses and preparing paths though the city would help - its a real maze and not everyone knows the capital. Who knows, maybe we could encourage the people to help us."

She looks over the maps on the tables.

"The real trouble will be the Citadel - we can round them up inside and bombard it, but that would mean ruin for the entire city center. I believe that whatever we do, we need to secure our entrance there as fast as possible. Hoffenburg, Your Highness, men are ready and awaiting your orders."

Jonathan smiles, giving the man a nod.

"Of course, sir. I'm in-- Sheepstead?"

Go with the guard--but if they attempt to cuff me, make sure they do it in front or else don't go with them. Use sword. Profit.

[1] The guards manhandle you and before you know it, they bend your hands behind you and cuff you. Or so they try, before getting an elbow each to their throats. While they fumble and struggle to recover, you are given a moment's respite - but in the distance you can hear shouts and more Prestonians arriving at the scene. You could fight the platoon, but you don't judge your odds too highly, each of them has a musket with a bayonet on it. You look for a way out, but you are surrouded and staring down several gleaming muzzles, all pointed at you.

"Alright, you come with us quietly, or we put you down, here and now."

[Iituem]

"Agreed.  Hassir, I want your men in the city as soon as possible - find sympathisers, allies, whatever you can and prepare our entry routes.  Even if they won't fight for us, we want them to at least not oppose us.  Hoffenburg, keep the artillery in reserve - if things get really bad, we'll need it, but I don't want to shell my own people.  If they pull artillery on us, you have my permission to use precision shots to take their artillery out.  And as you say, pass the word down - no looting, no lynching.  Orders to the officers are to mark anyone who does for hanging afterwards - and make sure the enlisted men find out, but not directly from them.  I expect a bit of looting anyway, but anything over the top needs punishing.

"I want pikes and raiders down on the street level - this is going to be a bloody melee, and the line infantry won't be as much use.  Instead, I want them on the rooftops where possible, providing overwatch.  I'd like suggestions on the best use to make of the militia here.  Once we fight our way to the walls, either the Raiders climb and kill their way to the gatehouse to open it, or we get someone on the inside to do it for us.  Hassir, offer any man who opens those gates a lordship - if we're lucky, he might not survive to collect it, but if not he'll have earned it.

"Once we have the walls, we should take the mills, followed by the foreign quarter.  Hassir, have your people promise better working conditions to the mill workers - it's a reform I planned to pass anyway, and it should get their support or at least ambivalence.  Since we're in wider quarters, we can revert to tercios for that part.  We should make it clear we don't plan to destroy their property, if possible.  If not, we might have to in order to prevent flank ambuscades.

"Once we get to the palace, no artillery unless we have to.  Those 'old historical buildings' are a vital part of our nation's spirit, and keeping them intact will make holding Elbreth a lot easier.  The last thing I want is people saying I'm just another conqueror, crushing the traditions of the past.

"Suggestions for how else to take the Citadel are welcome.  We should certainly offer them a surrender at the very least."

[micelus]

"A wise choice, without doubt. And I shall relay your commands down to those who need to know, your...majesty."

[Deny]

"It will be done your majesty."

Send agents into Sheepsetad to gauge the general mood, gather intelligence and sympathizers, and to prepare routes for the Elbrethian army.
Have my agents quietly inform the Mill workers of the promise of better working conditions should they help Elbrethian army

[Ghazkull]

The Siege of Sheepstead. Part 1: Outskirts of the City

As the Army arrives and you settle down you become aware that what seemed like industrial haze was in fact the Prestoners trying to burn down the huts and buildings directly in front of the wall. More interestingly the wall is broken down at several places. Alternatively you could climb over all the shacks.

What you see of the Preston Army seems to be  only a Vanguard sent to defend the gates as long as possible...to delay you propably.

[6+1] Ambrose Strategic Acumen will first of all allow your troops to sneak through the slums within 3 tiles of any Prestonian Unit. He also deducts that the Prestonians will propably try and delay you long enough to improve defenses in the Citadel Quarter.

Spoiler:  Sheepstead Slums (click to show/hide)

Red - Preston Free Police
Teal - Preston Guards
Blue - Elbreth Regulars
Purple - Weyland Raiders
Lightblue - Militia
White - Hospitaller Sisters

Preston Army



15 x Preston Guards: WS 3, BS 3, Health 10, Armour 2, Morale 5, Movement 1
2 x Artillery: WS 0, BS 5, Health 5, Armour 0, Morale 10, Movement 1(0)
3 x Free Police Company: WS 3, BS 1, Health 10, Armour 2, Morale 10, Movement 1



Elbreth and Allies

Queen Erika Sigurdson
Ambros von Hoffenburg - Strategist
The Abbess

1 x Hospitaller Sister Knights: WS 2, BS 3, Health 10, Armour 1, Morale 15, Movement 1, can heal 1d5 of any one unit after a battle
10 x Militia: WS 1 , BS 1 , Health 10, Armour 0, Morale 10, Movement 1,
4 x Medieval Infantry: WS 3, BS 0, Health 10, Armour 2, Morale 10, Movement 1,
4 x Line Infantry: WS 2, BS 3, Health 10, Armour 1, Morale 10, Movement 1,
4 x Artillery: WS 0, BS 5, Health 5, Armour 0, Morale 10, Movement 1(0),
3 x Dragoons: WS 1, BS 3, Health 10, Armour 2, Morale 15, Movement 2,

Jarl Halfdan "The Eel" - Wroth
5 x Weylandish Raiders: WS 4, BS 2, Health:20, Armour 2, Morale 20, Movement 1

[Ardas]

"It will be done your majesty."

Send agents into Sheepsetad to gauge the general mood, gather intelligence and sympathizers, and to prepare routes for the Elbrethian army.
Have my agents quietly inform the Mill workers of the promise of better working conditions should they help Elbrethian army

(Subversive bonus negated due to combat conditions)

[4] The city knows something is about to happen and they are ripe for it. The demolishing of slums and general hatretd of the occupation means that whatever civilians you will encounter will help you out, albeit in finding a way around a block, ad hoc help in fighting and overall knowledge of who is where. Not many are armed, but the attackers can count on help.

[6] The workers take you up on the offer, more wildly than you anticipated. They pick up their tools and begin looting the stores of weapons. An angry mob has gathered and wants to fight, awaiting arrival of the soldiers to bolster them. The problem might be in getting them back to work after the fighting, as the factories were owned by Prestonians and the workers did not miss a chance to demolish as much of the equipment as possible. (1 regiment of militia joins Elbrethians!)

[Ghazkull]

As you establihs camp, your men run into a regiment of Preston Guards placed as pickets, upon seeing the Elbreth army they retreat back to the walls, raising the alarm. Some Wild Scrambling happens at the gates.


Meanwhile, Sheepstead Citadel
[2]

...And then we finally retreat to the Citadel, where we still have two last trump cards, High Factor. Meredith Reed grinned smugly at the High Factor. Her plan would work perfectly. The Elbrethians would bleed themselves dry in the house-to-house fighting and then-

That seems cowardly. I don't like cowardly. Most importantly the Dynast demands clear cut victories. They want us to crush this rebellion before miring and suul think they can do the same. It won't be seemly if Preston looks weak. I want you to move all troops to the City Walls and repel them there

But Sir, the Citadel walls are better and stronger and allow us to bring the artillery to bear.

I don't care Reed. Fire into the slums if need be, to many useless loafers around anyway, i want it to look like a glorious victory over this rebel. It must seem like this peasantry fell before they even got into the city. Burn the entire slum down if you have to i want this victory.

[GiglameshDespair]

Follow the plan, mainly because it'll probably work, I'm not much of a tactician, and can't remember what it is

[micelus]

Follow the plan but be as flexible as required. Viva la Elbreth!

[Deny]

Use scrying magic to attempt to get a glimpse over the wall

[Ghazkull]

Ssyrith

While you studied magic theory and had some contact with minor spells during alchemic processes, you never cast a spell like this. Scrying is an ancient art and you are not really sure how exactly to do it.

Nonetheless grabbing a copy of Examinations and Theories on Scrying you set yourself down at the frontlines in sight of the walls and start your business...

[1-1][6][5] Something, somewhere went terribly wrong. Instead of scrying the army you are inside, what feels like a million minds at once. You scream in agony as a thousand minds dash against yours, whatever the gods you are doing it is painful. You calm down concentrate and reestablish control, you calm the thousand voices in your head and start looking closely. You are in fact somehow in the minds of a thousand soldiers at once...an entire regiment of Preston Guards...and you can control them. The feeling is oddly exhilarating once you calmed the voices and took control. You let them look around and count the numbers...which is at first difficult as you count the same regiment a dozen times till you realize that you counted it each time you looked through another pair of eyes...nonetheless you are successfull after a while and add the extra Regiments to what you know:

25 x Preston Guards: WS 3, BS 3, Health 10, Armour 2, Morale 5, Movement 1
2 x Artillery: WS 0, BS 5, Health 5, Armour 0, Morale 10, Movement 1(0)
5 x Free Police Company: WS 3, BS 1, Health 10, Armour 2, Morale 10, Movement 1
1 x Mage Cadre: WS 1, BS 1, Health 5, Armour 1, Morale 30, Movement 1

What you see is something you don't like, they have an entire unit of mages there. [3] You can recognize that they are not Dalannur Mages, which is good, because it means they are random conscripts and propably not as skilled in Battle Magic than the Dalannur folks. However one of them suddenly notices you. [1] Before you can pull out in time he alerts his brethren to your presence. Great, now you can deal with an entire group of mages the rest of the battle.

[Playergamer]

Eastern Sheepstead Gate

The young knight held the reins of his warhorse and waited for the messenger to arrive. Around him stood the rest of his cavalry platoon, about twenty mounted conscripts, and a few regiments of the Preston Guard. Down the road, he spotted an old mercenary, galloping down the road and hanging on for dear life. The knight couldn't help but laugh, and walked out to meet the man. The mercenary barely pulled his horse to a stop, and slid off, falling into the dirt. Hathcock offered him a hand, helping the mercenary to his feet, and studied him. The man was probably twice Ryan's age, with a long scar on the right side of his face.

The mercenary brushed himself off, before standing at, he probably thought, attention. The knight winced at the man's obvious lack of discipline, before gesturing for him to speak.

"27th Guards reported in. They've spotted the main rebel host. Estimate thirty regiments, with artillery."

Hathcock turned to stare down the road, looking in between the huts, and nodded. He could clearly see an Elbrethian banner, raised above the small shacks, off in the distance. He sighed, before turning back to the mercenary.

"Alright. I know my orders. We can handle it."

The mercenary nodded, and turned around, staring at his horse before slowly, carefully remounting it. The knight chuckled under his breath as the mercenary rode away, riding like a sack of potatoes, before climbing onto his horse. He put his helmet on, a nasal half-helm with a large white plume, before turning to face his men.

"Alright. We're the only cavalry in Sheepstead, so we've got an important job. Identify the enemy artillery, charge, silence the guns. You're all good men, born horsemen. Get this charge over with in half an hour, and we'll head back home for drinks."

A few of the men laughed, and they went back to preparing their equipment for battle. Hathcock grinned, before turning in his saddle and studying the Elbrethian banner, flying in the wind. He shook his head, and glanced around to make sure nobody was watching, before leaning over and whispering in his horse's ear.

"Don't be nervous, Beorn. We're just going to scare off some rebels. No need to be scared."