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Post by King Njal I on Aug 28, 2020 20:04:35 GMT
Timestamp: Turn 2, end of summer 677 Months ago, the people of Theòrsa had been attacked by undead. Now, a new threat loomed in the horizon. Two longships with a hundred dwarven warriors sailed over the Pentland Firth from the Orcades. As they reached Dunnet Head, they could be seen from Theòrsa. Two majestic dwarven wooden ships with large red flags and countless shields on its sides loomed an hour away with their terrifying dragon shaped bows pointed straight at Theòrsa. The weather was favorable for the people of Theòrsa, but perhaps fouler weather would have prevented the incoming dwarves from coming here. The next question was what these ships was bringing? Did they bring words of peace? Maybe they brought goods to trade? More likely, they had arms and ill intent by the look of the shield, sail, and bow.
The dwarves aboard the ships were clad in two different colours. One colour was black, and the other was red. Njal had shortly briefed the younger and inexperienced black coloured dwarves prior to their voyage, telling them to stick to groups of four and following the orders of the red dwarves. Now, Njal stood holding the dragon's neck on the bow of the front ship filled with red dwarves. The feel and smell of the sea was not unfamiliar to him as he often travelled to the Hebrides, but the thrill of the oncoming battle weighed on him. Was this the right decision?
Njal turned to his kin and addressed them, "Dwarves! Soon we will be upon Theòrsa in Katanes, what the human folk call Caithness. Bade in groups o' four, two black and two red dwarves. Pillage and loot whatever ye wish, and engage the enemy when win is certain. If ye encounter dwarves, arm them with clubs and staves in the dreams that they will join our fight, but dinnae turn yer backs tae them afore yer sure ye can trust them. When ye see our fires by the ships it signals a retreat and we shall return tae Kirkwaa with our newly acquired loot. This is our foremost step in reclaiming our lands. For Demacia!"
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Post by Muirchertach Somhairle on Sept 19, 2020 12:18:13 GMT
In the moors nearby two men patiently lay in wait hidden in reeds. Observing a fishtrap they conversed in hushed tones and enjoyed a quiet day of the simple things in life.
At this time in Theorsa a woman patching together a net looked up for a moment and stilled. Rising, dropping the now forgotten net, she climbed on the low stone wall at her side and peered out at the sea. Some minutes later the center of the small town was roused by running feet and a cry of raiders. Some panic ensued until the head of a family of import appeared with one of the warriors of the mercenary warband that helped the local folk earlier in the year. After a short and heated debate men were sent to gather all the folk of the town, the female warrior running with two locals to light the beacon that was supposed to warn of another undead assault.
Meanwhile in the wetlands the men were looking at an otter running off with a large fish and started talking about who exactly was supposed to secure the catch, Muirchertach or his trusted companion Larcwide. This friendly familiar argument was cut short as black smoke rose in the direction of the town. Looking at eachother they started running towards the town. When they reached the town some time later they slowed down for a moment seeing some of the very old and very young coming out of the town, instead of seeking shelter inside. A old woman fearfully shouted at them that raiders were come from the sea and that they were seeking shelter in the moorland.
Arriving in the center of town they were met by the warrior woman who in clipped tongue explained the situation. She swiftly took them to the hall they had received welcome in the last short week, where they were met by a handful of grimfaced men and women in battle dress. Hurriedly but efficiently arming themselves they prepared themselves for battle. While his comrade was tying up his mail Muichertach turned his head slightly and quipped; 'It seems we won't be needing that fish for dinner anyway.' Larcwide laughed nervously in response, his refined bearing clearly different from those surrounding them. He looked on as the warbandleader started riling up his band. It seems a quiet time was never a possibility in this land, hopefully there would still be a chance come dawn.
Dividing up in two groups the well armed veterans, and one frightened scribe, joined the locals in their hasty defence of the fishing town. Taking up command as if it was to be expected Muirchertach quickly decided to focus the defence of the town on certain parts, leaving others at the mercy of the raiders. The argument on this was settled harshly with the words 'You can be alive with us, or dead alone in a ditch.' Most of the defenders grudgingly accepted the simple wisdom of this, thought they wept for their belongings. The plan appeared to form a strong defence in one place, and have what could be gathered of bowmen first meet the raiders as they landedt. The bowmen would retreat swiftly to this hold, to make the raiders think the townspeople had all gathered there and would spread out to pillage. In the meanwhile small dedicated groups of the defenders would roam and try and seperate and slay these spread out raiders.
Calling upon on of my Instincts here: - Never will I be found unarmed, neither by fate or the bailif's toadies. My Beliefs for this adventure are:
- Lives are more important than wealth. I will try and keep as many alive as possible, we can always raid back our wealth later. - We life by the blade and if attacked I will meet the enemy head on and hold them back. - As lives are more important we will make the raiders pay in blood, capturing them where possible. Ransom is income.
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Post by King Njal I on Sept 21, 2020 8:47:49 GMT
The dwarven ships sailes aggressively into the bay towards Theòrsa as its inhabitants set up a defence. The two longships followed each other and aimed for the beach about a kilometre to the west of town. This enabled the dwarves to make landfall with little resistance but would cost them when they retreated, a decision Njal had decided would be best as the dwarven experience with seafaring combat was limited. The landfall wasn't completely without resistance, and a few dwarves fell as they made their way on to the beach.
Only a handful of dwarves remained by the two ships as the rest paired up in groups of four as they made their way towards Theòrsa with shields and axes. Njal paired up with a crossbow wielding dwarf with red on his shoulders and in his helmet. The two black clad dwarves were armored with shields and axes while wearing large red beards. The two black clad soldiers were jogging first with Njal and the crossbowman following. The jog from the beach to Theòrsa seemed much farther than Njal would ever have thought. Once they came closer to town, a rain of arrows came flying and caught the first groups of raiders by surprise. The rest of the dwarves picked up pace and raised their shields. For a minute, the dwarves dashed through a hail of arrows. Some dwarves were slain while others wounded. Groups with wounded dwarves retreated back to the ships while groups with slain dwarves regrouped and joined the back of the race.
Njal pushed the attack, but didn't aim for the more heavily defended area where the arrows were coming from. The land was open, but coming close to town enabled the dwarves to use the buildings as cover as they started searching the buildings for valuables and for local dwarves. Not having been in the first wave, Njal was still moving with the two red-bearded black-clad dwarves and his crossbowman. He took cover up against a stone building. He quickly tried to catch his breath before ordering the two black-clad dwarves into the nearby large building that looked the wealthiest. They dashed, with their shields raised. There were thumping sounds from the arrows, and whether they had gotten hit or not was hard to tell in the adrenalin fueled chaos.
Once at the building, Njal hoped to find dwarves within, based on the architecture, but prepared his men for anything, "Secure the building first. If ye see any dwarves, let me talk to them. We'll loot everything afterwards. Ye two, go in first. I will take the rear while we get cover from that crossbow o' yers. Stay close tae the walls and check doors and corners. Move!"
Njal is using various skills, such as Axe, Armor Training, Shield, Formation Fighting, and Command. He is also upholding his oath: "My uncle, the previous king, has told me to expand our holdings; this I swore." He is also using one of his affiliations with the two black-clad dwarves: Axe Wielder squad Also, Njal has the following beliefs driving him: "I will uphold my oath to my liege and expand his domain." and "I will lead my people to great discoveries." Finally, Njal may end up using any of his instincts: "If threatened, I take a defensive stance." or "I will always try to talk my way out of a situation first." or "If any of my people is in danger, I will throw myself in between."
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