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| Fintan_de_Marin
Posts: 1,511 Status: Duke Karma: +250 [+1] [-1]   |
Subject: Swords, Muskets, Dragons, and Eagles | |||||
| The officers of the great camp met on the evening of the Feast of Berthis, the patron of Gurie, deciding that it was time for battle. That next evening, the tents were left up, with only a handful of men to stoke the fires. On the field outside of Stromwall, the armies took their positions. A spy was sent in to Stromwall. Fintan pushed that it be a well trained soldier, but Keeva, for what ever reason, allowed the Rogricans to go. Specifically one of the Rogrican slaves, because they did not fight it did not mater if they lost their lives. The challenge was answered by Camdules. The two forces would meet the next morning. The dragons and their riders took positions, hidden behind the near by hills. They would be summoned by horn if they were needed. The Elves and Westland archers were put in the back ranks, used to cover the musketeers during their slow reloading process. Shieldmen formed a wall in front of the musketeers. The Arelian cavalry was held in reserve. The Commonwealth lined up, their cannons on their flanks, and musketeers between them. The idea was to attempt to funnel the Royalists in to a easy death trap... Fintan sat amount his pitch black steed, looking out over the entire army, but paying attention to those which he commanded. The Boar Unit, an elite infantry force of heavy weapon fighters, that is they carried weapons from the Age of Darkness. The Arelian Cavalry, the pride of the Empire, they had a reputation in battle for being a devastating force with sword, lance and pistol. The Royal Musketeers, the most advanced fighting force the Inner Veil had yet seen. They were Royal Family's personal bodyguards, and the special operation fighters. If he could time it right, he may be able to push the Commonwealth in to the Grigabon River with only those three forces. He looked around, searching for Keeva. Keeva was not like the High Kings of Westland and Rogric, who had come to command their soldiers. She was in the front lines with her soldiers, while they were in the back, seeing their lives to precious to waste. She was adorned in armor, seated on a white horse. She wore a cream colored battle cape with her emblem on it. As Fintan gazed on his future queen, he noticed she was not the little girl he once knew. Of course she had not been for some time, but Fintan had only just noticed she was just like her mother. Across the field, on the Commonwealth side, there was the sound of a cannon going off. Everyone turned their heads, trying to see what it was. Several of the Royalist shield men were thrown back, Fintan fell from his horse. Someone had accidentally touched the powder, firing off a volley of grapeshot. Fintan's leg had three musket balls in it, and his arm two. By a stroke of luck, his horse was untouched. Robert and Minarebe wanted desperately to break rank and rush to their friend, but they knew to display discipline and stay put. "FINTAN!" Keeva yelled, galloping over. She dismounted and knelt down by Fintan. The shield line broke, opening up as medics rushed over, pulling Fintan behind the lines with Keeva following. The protection of the shield line formed again. "Fintan...can you hear me?" She tried desperately to keep Fintan from loosing consciousness from lack of blood. The medics worked to remove the musket balls from his leg and arm. "DON'T JUST STAND THERE YOU RATS! FIRE A DAMNED VOLLY IN TO THOSE BLACKGUARDS!!!" She bellowed. The Westlanders and Elves drew back on their bows, sending hundreds of arrows singing their song of death through the air. As they neared their targets, the musketeers fired. The Commonwealth could only protect themselves against one or the other. They decided to protect themselves against the arrows, the shield men raising their defensive objects over the heads of the men. Hardly a dozen men fell from the arrows, but the bullets were even worse. The distance was too great, not a single shot met a target. Fintan was having his arm and leg bandaged. He had a few grazes on his side, but hardly more than a tear at his doublet. " We were able to retrieve them from your leg, Mi'Lord...but not your arm...you shall have to quit the field. Who shall I report your command to?" The medic said softly. The medic knew little of Fintan's kind, Infreanins regain their blood back quickly, though Fintan would still have the pain of the bullets. "The Boar...to Robert MacArthur...Cavalry...Marcus Encreiach....I will fight with my musketeers." He heaved as he sat up. "Fintan, your arm is not fit to fight...." Keeva protested. "I will not flee from this field like a dog who has been whipped." He stated loudly enough for everyone around him to hear. "I will fight with my musketeers!" Keeva frowned in disapproval, but knowing he would find some way to get back to the field, she agreed. "Use your left hand as little as possible..." She whispered to him. "Advance the ..." Fintan cut her off. "Musketeers!" He struggled to his feet. "Fintan!" "That was the original plan, Highness...I know we can push them ..In the name of Avalon?." A Great Eagle let out a cry, taking in to the sky, it's compatriots joining it. Fintan caught a glimpse of the one who was leading them to battle. The commander had been outflown, the man Fintan had nearly gunned down, the one who called him 'Field Brother' was leading the charge. "Treacherous fools!" The Rogrican yelled. "Have you no honor to wait for battle?!" "FIRE THE FLARE! SEND THE GRYPHONS!" Keeva yelled. A black flare shot in to the sky, creating black sparks in the blue sky. There was the screeching roar that could only come from the hybrid creatures of eagle and lion. The eagles and gryphons laid heavy siege to the cannons of the Commonwealth. "Fintan...are you ..." "We can handle the blackguards, Your Highness." He said with certainty. "Then go..." Keeva remounted her horse. "Trumpeter, sound the advance of the musketeers and Westland infantry." The trumpeters let out their calls. Five long blasts of low notes, two short high and one long high. The musketeers, behind the cover of the Westland shield wall, advanced forward. "When we charge them, join us." He asked her, before going over to his charge. Keeva nodded. Fintan hurried to join his compatriots, while Keeva trotted back to the cavalry, keeping her eye on the wounded Infreanian. "Take aim!" Fintan called, one hundred yards away from the line. The front rank of musketeers aimed over the shields. The bullets from the commonwealth pinged on the shields, shot the hats of Royalists off. They were within fifty yards of the line. "Wait for it, Gentlemen!" The Commonwealth fired again, and again shields pinged. But some Royalists were struck this time, in the face, killing them almost instantly. Within twenty five yards, Fintan and his men were in near point blank range. "FIRE!" The first rank fired, dropping scores of Roundheads. The gryphons and great eagle riders continued to pick off the Roundheads that they could get to. The second rank fired and retreated to the rear. Then the third rank, along with Fintan. "Formation!" Fintan called, the ranks rearranging. All three had fully reloaded. The first rank aimed, the second rank aiming on their left shoulders, and the third rank on the second's left. Every single musket, ninety nine of them, fired. Smoke filled the air, along with the reeking smell of sulfur. Using the smoke for cover, they fixed their bayonets. Fintan let out a war call. "CHARGE THEM! AND LET NONE LIVE!" He drew his sword, breaking through the shield line and charged the Roundheads. The Boar Unit let out a battle cry, worthy of the fierce animal it was named after. Fintan turned to see Robert pulling his massive two handed great sword off of his back. The three factions joined together on the field, creating devastation in the ranks of the Commonwealth. From the right flanks, Fintan could feel the beat of horse hooves. Keeva had led the cavalry in a flanking maneuver, cutting off the only logical escape route. The Commonwealth had only two choices. Stand and fight, or retreat in to the city. Many, knowing that to continue fighting was suicide, especially when the Borine Elves took the left flank, surrendered. Within only half an hour, the Roundheads were either dead, or had surrendered. However, Camdules was no where to be found among the captives or the dead, the cowardly king had escaped. |
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