Blood & Seawater- Aerlion Assault on Malzentine
Apr 9, 2017 21:43:47 GMT
Post by Prince Ineirin on Apr 9, 2017 21:43:47 GMT
Mist hung over the sea, with no sound but the wind whispering along the surface. Ghostly shapes solidified in the mist- hundreds of ships under full sail that cut trough the surging swells. Ineirin stood at the prow of the largest ship, in full plate with his helm under his arm. Gwythion, his squire, stood behind him as they survey the phantom fleet.
Thousands of Aerlion soldiers filled these ships and the thought swelled him with pride. They sailed for the Malzentine capital city, to besiege and storm the imperial home to cut down off the head of the empire- emperor and their religious leaders. In their views, elves were the chosen of the gods and superior to all others, leading them to enslave non-elves.
But that would soon cease to be the state of affairs once the Sea-King's wrath was poured across the islet. A dark line appeared across the horizon.
"Land ahead!" Ineirin called out. There was a surge of movement across the ship, of weapons drawn and armor clanking. Winches and ropes creaked as ballistae were loaded and the ship prepared for battle- sand poured across the decks and sea-water was poured onto the sails.
Torch lights glimmered on the distant horizon, towering high above the coastline. That was their goal and the flames would rise far higher before they were finished.
Dinghies were dropped into the water with a splash and sailors climbed down on ropes, piling them high with straw and pitch. Stockpiles of torches were set along the edges of the ships. Ineirin drew his own sword, sticking the point into the wood of the deck.
Time passed as preparations were made throughout the entire fleet and the same was true of the second fleet, to the north of the capital as well. But that was not his concern.
Soon, they drew up to the harbor where ships loomed in the dark, their spars stark against the moonlight.
"Prepare the fire-boats," Ineirin said to Gwythion, who nodded and strode to the edge of the ship. Soft-spoken commanders were sent down to the dinghies below and the boats pushed off from the side of the ship, oars dipping quietly into the sea as they rowed forward.
Ineirin waited. Soon, lights sparked in the distance, erupting into pillars of flame. They shone through the mist as the currents carried them into the harbor. The wind picked up, throwing the sparks and flames into the assembled ships. Horns and gongs echoed throughout the harbor and city. He hefted a horn form his side and blew- three long blasts that echoed across the water, picked up by men in the rest of the ships.
The fleet moved forward, carried on tidal currents summoned by Knights of the Gull with the Sea-Blood. Several of the smaller, sleeker ships coasted ahead of the main fleet until the sound of smashing wood echoed across the water. They
"Curses," Ineirin hissed. "Hold the fleet! Harbor chain!"
The sails slackened and the ship slowed. Ineirin flung aside his cloak, Gwythion grabbing it up, and strode for another boat.
"Guard to me!" He called, boots thumping against the wood. "Prepare a boat. We storm the chain." His knights gathered around him, hopping into the boat as it was lowered to the water below.
The fleet has gathered in a semi-circular formation around the entrance to the harbor. The Malzentine fleet lies within the chain, just out of ballista range. The harbor gate is lowered and leads into the city itself. Half a night's march to the North, another Aerlion army has landed on the banks of a river, marching south to reach the city by dawn. The ships at the river have been converted into fortifications to secure the ford.
The Malzentine army is large, well-trained, and well-equipped, as far as the elven forces are considered. Non-elves are mostly conscripted slave soldiers and may be persuaded to switch sides. The city is well defended, with the emperor's court being in the central citadel.
Thousands of Aerlion soldiers filled these ships and the thought swelled him with pride. They sailed for the Malzentine capital city, to besiege and storm the imperial home to cut down off the head of the empire- emperor and their religious leaders. In their views, elves were the chosen of the gods and superior to all others, leading them to enslave non-elves.
But that would soon cease to be the state of affairs once the Sea-King's wrath was poured across the islet. A dark line appeared across the horizon.
"Land ahead!" Ineirin called out. There was a surge of movement across the ship, of weapons drawn and armor clanking. Winches and ropes creaked as ballistae were loaded and the ship prepared for battle- sand poured across the decks and sea-water was poured onto the sails.
Torch lights glimmered on the distant horizon, towering high above the coastline. That was their goal and the flames would rise far higher before they were finished.
Dinghies were dropped into the water with a splash and sailors climbed down on ropes, piling them high with straw and pitch. Stockpiles of torches were set along the edges of the ships. Ineirin drew his own sword, sticking the point into the wood of the deck.
Time passed as preparations were made throughout the entire fleet and the same was true of the second fleet, to the north of the capital as well. But that was not his concern.
Soon, they drew up to the harbor where ships loomed in the dark, their spars stark against the moonlight.
"Prepare the fire-boats," Ineirin said to Gwythion, who nodded and strode to the edge of the ship. Soft-spoken commanders were sent down to the dinghies below and the boats pushed off from the side of the ship, oars dipping quietly into the sea as they rowed forward.
Ineirin waited. Soon, lights sparked in the distance, erupting into pillars of flame. They shone through the mist as the currents carried them into the harbor. The wind picked up, throwing the sparks and flames into the assembled ships. Horns and gongs echoed throughout the harbor and city. He hefted a horn form his side and blew- three long blasts that echoed across the water, picked up by men in the rest of the ships.
The fleet moved forward, carried on tidal currents summoned by Knights of the Gull with the Sea-Blood. Several of the smaller, sleeker ships coasted ahead of the main fleet until the sound of smashing wood echoed across the water. They
"Curses," Ineirin hissed. "Hold the fleet! Harbor chain!"
The sails slackened and the ship slowed. Ineirin flung aside his cloak, Gwythion grabbing it up, and strode for another boat.
"Guard to me!" He called, boots thumping against the wood. "Prepare a boat. We storm the chain." His knights gathered around him, hopping into the boat as it was lowered to the water below.
The fleet has gathered in a semi-circular formation around the entrance to the harbor. The Malzentine fleet lies within the chain, just out of ballista range. The harbor gate is lowered and leads into the city itself. Half a night's march to the North, another Aerlion army has landed on the banks of a river, marching south to reach the city by dawn. The ships at the river have been converted into fortifications to secure the ford.
The Malzentine army is large, well-trained, and well-equipped, as far as the elven forces are considered. Non-elves are mostly conscripted slave soldiers and may be persuaded to switch sides. The city is well defended, with the emperor's court being in the central citadel.