Turn 4 Battle Phase
It is spring, although you wouldn’t know it from the endless clouds covering the western side of the island. In the mountains winter still holds all in thrall keeping the passes frozen for another season. In the hills, endless lashing rain chills those who must endure them. Yet in the jungle summer reigns, a dry heat that saps water from the body and surroundings both. If any doubt remained about the unnatural nature of the weather, it has been thoroughly squelched.
This season the Iqua bring to battle a new elite unit in the Dreadmonks who wield fear as easily as a blade to fell all before them. Dressed in black they arrive at the battlefield both masked and unmasked as they spread out to join the rank and file. The archers of Iqua meanwhile have been seen bearing a new type of scroll known as the Scroll of Blooming Shadows. Large enough to form a mat to stand upon, these ‘scrolls’ summon up black flower petals to obscure the battlefield with darkness. By contrast, the officers and Blademonks have switched to a new white armour clearly an outgrowth of their Moonlight Sabre, this Moonlight Chainmail is likely the equal of the steel fielded by the Loji.
The Xi Shan only seem to be deploying one new design this season, the Earth Runner. A vehicle that can carry their armies at competitive speeds to the carts of Loji. Lacking any wheels it is not clear how they float above the ground, but the simple deployment of soldiers to push the runner forward while riding the sides is certainly a more obvious method of propulsion.
Rumors speak of a fortress risen in the lands of the Loji, that mighty crowned kings and queens stalk its halls, masters of weather magic known as the Stormcrown Tongues. That the weather has changed to favour the Loji cannot be denied, yet as they remain absent from the battlefield the truth remains murky. More straightforward is the addition of new chanters to their armies. Poorly trained and equipped these chanters are not of the elite but the rank and file all using a single chant to deploy a cold wind against their enemies.
The Jarls of the Maelstrom bear arms a notably paler shade of blue. This Stillborn steel strikes with an unnatural weight and momentum. Meanwhile, the crossbowmen of Loji receive another upgrade in the form of vicious-looking bolts with barbs along one side. When shot they begin to glow with what looks like a lot of heat.
The MountainsWith the freezing of the waters that would usually block the path into Loji lands, the Xi Shan have found the way left open for a test of their new Earth Runners. Floating over the snow they travel downhill with little to impede them. For the Loji here at least there are to be no more easy escapes by cart. Yet they are not out of options either choosing to gradually gather together in the face of the advancing earth runners crossbows at the ready.
On sighting the enemy the Earth Runners do not stop or even attempt to slow down. The Xi Shan warriors are intent on closing into melee in the fastest manner possible. Many of the Earth Runners are enveloped in darkness, red light blazing out the front to light the path forward. The Loji use their carts as makeshift barricades and firing platforms, waiting for the ideal distance to release their first volley of Dreki Fangs. Some nervously eyeing the oncoming darkness. Then the command shout is heard and the crossbows go to work. Fangs leap out in small mismatched groups as each individual crossbowman reacts to the call to fire. Halfway through their journey, the bolts blaze to life as the heat grows in each bolt. They seem to become less bolts and more packets of light dragging metal fins like an inverted shark swimming backward.
Where they land the screams of tribesmen and the smoke and flame of burning wood can be found. The Earth Runners are ill-protected against the fires of Loji and many are set to blazing long before they threaten to overrun the Loji position. Inevitably some Runners are burnt to the point that whatever magic keeps them floating above the ground runs out sending them dropping to a sudden halt and sending those still aboard sprawling. Others approach close enough for a Jarl to step forward and chant, their magic bringing the Runner to a halt in short order. One already on fire and largely empty strikes a cart set as a blockade with a crash of splintering wood that sets both vehicles aflame.
Loji successfully
defends the mountains.
The HillsAt the heart of the island, the storm falls lopsidedly. The forces of Iqua are wet and miserable having slogged through increasingly muddy ground, their cloaks wrapped around them for what small protection from the weather is offered. Lady Adiva lends her crystal clear voice to lead her archers in song and one by one the soldiers straighten up and march on proudly through the thunder and the rain.
On the other hand, the Loji have suffered no more than light drizzle as they have ridden to battle in their carts. The Loji are predominantly armed with their crossbows the few exceptions being chanters and those reserves required in the event necessity calls for them. The Jarls of the Maelstrom, of course, stand ready to protect the rank and file when Iqua fear and pike threatens.
As the Iqua advance, it is the Loji chanters that open proceedings. Chilling the air and numbing the senses. Clothes wet from the rain, freeze. Miserable soldiers trudge forward hoping to face the flames of their enemies.
The Jarls confident that they can weather the weak curses of Iqua stand ready to inspire. They have reckoned without the Dreadmonks. For through masked and chattering lips are spawned nightmares seemingly given flesh by the magic of the chant. Green fires displaying prophetic futures filled with dying Loji warriors. Fear enough to freeze the advance of even a Jarl and set them to rethinking facing the might of Iqua.
The Dreadmonks are not the only source of fear. For the army pikeman and archer alike marches forward with its dread words upon their lips. Silencing crossbowmen and fouling their shot. Still, the pikemen march in formation and even a missed shot can find an unintended mark. The screams of the suffering before the terrible heat of these wound lodged bolts soon blunts the chorus of fear. The unmasked Dreadmonks charge on heedless, some not even stopping in the face of being struck by a Dreki Fang. For what fear remains for a fiery death before the possibility of a return to their studies?
Before the Jarls they are too few and too maddened to be worthy opponents. The Jarl’s chant stopping even their monstrous fear born strength, though they seem less hindered than the rank and file. In the stillness, the Jarls do not step forward but slaughter with a certain inevitability all who stray within reach. Perhaps the pikemen might represent a greater threat were it not for the sniping of the crossbows, bolts passing unhindered to strike down those few organised and persistent enough to threaten.
Lady Shrivastava and her elite archer contingent used the assault to creep forward on the lee of a spur until they reached an uncontested ridge overlooking a weak point in the Loji position.
At her signal her subordinate unrolls the scroll of blooming shadows and prepares it for activation, standing in the centre. Channeling the mana of the scroll, the green flame blazes and extends beyond the scroll as in the centre a great flower blooms obscuring the caster in darkness. Adiva took a moment to admire its terrible beauty as she watched it grow above her and put everything else in the shade. The flower petals bloom and shed expanding the darkness outward. Her vision washing out of all colour as the world is reduced to shades of grey excepting only the green flame rapidly spreading inwards to devour the mat. Leaving only the runes behind in floating green flame.
Then it is the time of her archers hidden in darkness to put their bows to work. The terrible bolts of the enemy misled by the endless falling petals to fall short or pass overhead. Their dispersed formation protecting somewhat even from those few that threaten to fly more accurately. With chant of fear upon their lips that seamlessly draw their symphony arrows upon their songbows and deliver poisonous death to their enemies.
Against this volley the Jarls can only invoke a chant of their own, fighting their Dreadmonk induced fear to put up an empty wall before which every arrow must slow and die to fall lifeless to the ground. Although some few arrows dropped on target, she found herself vexed by the loss of surprise from her first volley. The maneuverability of her opponents would likely soon force her to abandon the position. Distracted, she lost her place within the chant, fear momentarily slipping its grip on the Hellbringer seeking to complete his chant through choking fear. Then a second blooming occurs as the great flower protecting her from the vision of her enemies is set alight. In an instant, shades of grey turn to shades of flame as all descends into a sea of fire.
The Lady Adiva’s shrill screams of suffering and pain maddened promises of vengeance as she is dragged away from the battle puncture the atmosphere. The general of the Iqua forces opts to pull back with the aid of the fear chant to quit the field before casualties escalate further.
Loji Advances.
The JungleSummer comes early to the jungle and with it endless mist, fog and smoke. The Loji are here to burn the Iqua out with burning bolt and chanter’s flame. Yet with the amount of water in the air it may yet be summer before the jungle is reduced to ash.
They face a new predator in the masked Dreadmonks who have chosen this field of battle. For the endless fog, smoke and trees merely serve to remind them of their training as they slip into the shadows and stalk their prey.
Visibility has dropped to the point of creating a labyrinth of mist, smoke and trees. The rank and file of both sides sent out on patrols blunder past each other unaware as often as they meet. Those times they do meet it is more by accident than design for both sides, simultaneous retreat the most common outcome. Yet the outcomes are not entirely equal.
The Loji must content with a new predator stalking the jungle. A terror that drives crossbowmen to firing desperately into the mists and Hellbringers to reducing patches of jungle to ash. They strike at shadows and madness. Isolated incidents build-up, sapping morale on this front as even the Jarls succumb to fear, cowering in the mud and hoping the Dreadmonks do not find them.
As the smoke clears, a new jungle is revealed. A ragged jungle filled with patches of burned ground and dead trees. The jungle will likely be much easier to navigate next season.
Iqua Advances.
Known Equipment
Elite Unit
Voiceguard: Holy magic users dedicated to the chanting arts.
Shroudweavers: Capable of deploying smoke to the battlefield to obscure vision.
Windsingers: Bring forth the wind under their control.
Enkindlers: A wind filled with embers that can set fires and distract those subjected to it.
Hellbringers: They deploy columns of flame that descend from above to burn all in their path.
Jarls of the Maelstrom: The Jarls of Loji were once leaders, rulers and warriors. Now they have sought to leverage the secrets of magic to become warriors without peer. Armed and armoured in the finest equipment Loji can produce, each item glowing with runic symbols. axe and chant with deadly effect.
Equipment
Longsword: A double-edged blade and a cruciform hilt. A versatile weapon capable of cuts, slices and thrusts. Requires training to wield, can be used one or two handed.
War Axe: Can be used as a tool in a pinch, this is a single-handed weapon that does well against heavily armoured foes. Can be used with minimal training.
Northman’s Shield: A round wooden shield with a metal spiked boss. This shield is reinforced with metal around the edges. These shields are carefully painted with unique designs to help identify the hero who wields it.
Pavise Shields: Metal reinforced, wooden shields designed to be worn on the back to protect a crossbowman while they reload their crossbow.
Brigandine Armour: Strips of Windforged Steel cushioned by wool and linen on both sides. Only the vital organs are protected with steel in order to keep costs low. Cloth gloves and hood help to ensure that every part of the body has at least some protection.
Scale Mail: Scales of iron on a leather hide backing. Includes a conical helmet with cheek guards, greaves and bracers. The scaled shirt is lengthened to cover the upper arms and the knees.
Light Crossbow: Based on the bow and mounted horizontally on a frame. Powerful, but reloading is slow and dangerous. Each crossbow has been standardised, allowing even lesser skilled crafters to build a functional weapon of war.
Medium Crossbow: A larger, steel reinforced crossbow. This crossbow has a metal stirrup and claw reloading method. Improved bolts allow for greater effectiveness against armour. It also has a superior range compared to the light crossbow.
Standard: A flag used to identify units and maintain order in battle.
Wind Cart: A four wheeled cart with a hollow cylinder in the back. This cart is travels at walking pace. It provides shelter for crossbowmen, allowing them to fire and reload on the move.
Sail Cart: A four wheeled cart that offers no protection from arrow fire or the elements beyond the sail used to propel it. The front wheels tilt allowing the cart to turn.
Cone of Chill: A chant that chills the air inside its cone of effect.
Dreki Fangs: A barbed bolt that heats up in flight.
Windforged Steel: All metal equipment has a blue colouration with the strength of steel.
Red Steel: As strong as Windforged Steel and carrying a painful heat.
Stillborn Steel: Unnatural weight and momentum.
Stormcrown Fortress: A defensive location positioned to defend the route to the mountains.
Hero
Lady Adiva Shrivastava: A skilled archer and leader, this golden haired warrior is a proud warrior of Iqua.
Elite Units
Blademonks: An order of chanters dedicated to calm contemplation of battle, capable of cutting down all in their path. They carry a number of Moonlight Sabres and wear Moonlight Chainmail.
Dreadmonks: An order of chanters dedicated to mastery of fear, capable of berserk strength and suicidal resolve. They wear Moonlight Chainmail and wield Moonlight Sabres.
Equipment
Sabre: A single-edged blade that favours cavalry combat over infantry combat. Requires training to wield, one-handed.
Spear: Essentially a dagger on a long stick. Very cheap, requires minimal training to use. Can be used double-handed, or single handed with a shield.
Pike: A longer spear, the butt has a bronze spike for embedding in the ground when defending against a cavalry charge. The pike is best wielded two-handed without a shield. This design is well balanced with a leaf-shaped blade of iron.
Wooden Shield: Couples well with a spear, cheap, easy to replace. Works best in heavy melee. Can be used with minimal training.
Hands-Free Hardened Shield: A smaller shield with a metal spike in the centre. It has a strap that allows the shield to be hung around the neck and handled a little with the shoulder. This allows it to be used by soldiers whose hands are otherwise occupied with two-handed weapons.
Padded Armour: Very cheap, just layers of cloth, but doesn't protect against much. Well ventilated in hot conditions.
Chainmail: Interlinked riveted iron hoops. Very effective against most weapons.
Songbow: A medium bow with draw strength greater than our normal composite bows. They are not practical to use while riding a mount.
War Horn: A musical instrument made from a ram’s horn used to communicate over a distance. Used to deliver orders and sound the alarm in the event of an attack.
Symphony Quiver: These quivers contain a variety of arrows each envenomed with a poison known to the Iqua. Currently two types of poison have been seen. One inflicts bleeding and the other fatigue.
Swan Pike: A pike with a poisonous blade. The venom is a inflicts bleeding. Notably the blade flexes a little, allowing it to cause wounds even when the blade is blocked.
Dragon Pike: A pike with a poisonous blade. The venom inflicts fatigue. Notably the blade flexes a little, allowing it to cause wounds even when the blade is blocked.
Moonlight Sabre: A sabre made of a white iron that is as hard as steel.
Flamequencher Cloak: A dull black cloak that protects the wearer from fire.
Scroll of Fear: These scrolls inked in green flame, grant its reader the ability and the knowledge needed to speak its chant for a season.
Scroll of Blooming Shadows: These mats inked in green flame, summon a black rose that blooms into great black flower petals that expand to obscure a squad in darkness.
Elite Units
Nightblades
Covered in darkness, these mysterious warriors wield thin blades that strike without warning.
Equipment
Wooden Short Spear: A sharp wooden spear designed for jabbing.
Wooden Shield: A simple shield of wood.
Composite Recurve Bow: Constructed of a composite of horn, wood and sinew laminated together. The shape of the bow curves away from the archer. This recurve increases the draw weight of the bow, storing more energy without breaking. This bow is designed to fire arrows with simple metal tips.
Furs: Patchwork armour constructed out of the pelts of small animals caught by the hunters of the Xi Shan. Iron plates have been added to protect vital areas.
Nightmare Pot: A clay pot filled with poison that chills those struck and subjects them to ongoing nightmares.
Nightmare Arrows: Some arrows carry the same poison as is used with the Nightmare Pots.
Earth Runner: A floating cartbed capable of carrying a squad into battle.
Author
Topic: Arms Race: War of the Rune (Read 6789 times)