The Wasting of Hiems

[Gauls]

Brgthng 4, Cycle 1, Month of Kalendryas, in the Season of Winter,

Era I of the Celestine Mandate,

Era XV Post Fractum

The hamlet of Hiems was a village that was a mere wide spot in the road from Peda to Aestas. For such a tiny place to have suffered so badly over the eras as Hiems has makes one think that the place was jinxed. The last invaders to attack this small village were the Blood Moon Raiders who cut the numbers of residents here from around 400 to the now 200. The village never recovered. Now, the only people left there were the ones that were too poor to go anywhere else. The hope and purpose sapped from the hearts and minds of the few that remained.

The village itself had fallen into such disrepair and what was worse was that the people still living here saw no need to rebuild any of the crumbling structures or defenses. The whole village was surrounded by small family plots of land that were being farmed to feed the family and nothing more. The farmers would walk from their homes and pass right through the gaping holes in the old palisade instead of going through the old wooden gate that has been missing its doors now for eras. Nobody seemed to mind.

Kids played barefooted around the village center among the rotting wood and rusted nails lying upon the ground that once made up the walls and roofs of the now run down homes and buildings in the village. It is a wonder why none of their parents were not concerned for their safety. Many of the elders were either sitting on their front porches in wood chairs or simply sat upon the ground in front of their houses watching anything that moved... they were just that bored.

There was no school, no inn, no theater, no meaningful work, nothing to do but sit and wait for something to happen. With such a poor outlook in life it was almost certain that the people of Hiems would have no idea how to handle what was sneaking up on them this brightening.

The sun had just started to rise and had yet to get very far up from the horizon. Some of the kids that were playing in the village center stopped when they noticed critters running into the village through the holes in the palisade. This was indeed odd and at first the were excited and chased a couple of the rabbits they had seen around the dirt roads and between the houses. The elders watched but didn't say anything at first. Then came more animals, larger ones. A deer jumped through the palisade, small field rodents were seen bolting across the roads in various directions. One child looked up and saw flocks of disturbed birds flying overhead in great numbers. What was causing the animals to panic?

One old man sitting in front of his home was looking up then looked down and across the street at a neighbor's house where a lady was looking up at the sky at the birds as well. The old man looked then toward the center of the village where the children were and noticed one of them pointing up into the sky. At first he thought they were pointing at the birds and so he looked up and saw a swarm. Bees? He was thinking.

Suddenly, a child cried out. Looking back down toward the group of kids, the old man saw the first of the arrows hitting the ground around the kids and some piercing the children where they stood. Six kids fell in heaps before the other two ran in opposite directions.

"What the...?" was all that came out of the old man's mouth before an arrow pierced the man in the left eye killing him instantly.

More arrows flew in, these were flaming arrows. They immediately caught the thatched roofing materials of the homes on fire. Fire sprang up quickly everywhere. Now screams from the grown ups could be heard. People were seen darting for cover as more arrows flew into the village center. Then came a crash, then another. Orcs came bursting through the rickety palisade. A great horde had descended upon Hiems with such a force that some buildings that were already barely standing didn't have a chance. They fell as the orcs tried to burst through the doors of the homes. One home collapsed upon an orc and a family as the orc broke in and began attacking the villagers within.

There was no resistance. Again, all the males were either called away to join the Provincial Army or many of the younger families and those with money had left back when the Blood Moon Raiders last invaded and never saw the point in staying. The mere 200 that did stay in Hiems were now meeting a fate even worse than had befell them eras ago. It was surely going to be the end of this poor village once the orcs were finished with it. The whole village was put to the sword.

Secrets : (Battle Location) Mission: Wasting of Hiems Units/PCs Engaged: (1)Shamen Ushtar,+(9,623) 6th Ushtar Time: (cutoff) 1 brightening from (Brghtng 4 Cycle 1, Kalendryas) Outcome: 6th Ushtar victors. They sack Hiems. Orc losses - 1 KIA - 6th Ushtar Civilians - 200 killed GM Gauls

[Gauls]

Brgthng 6, Cycle 1, Month of Kalendryas, in the Season of Winter,

Era I of the Celestine Mandate,

Era XV Post Fractum

The looting of what could be taken from the heap that was now Hiems lasted a whole brightening. The food supplies were not enough to warrant sending off to the Narim Castellum and so the gothmog of the 6th Ushtar stored it to use as his own supply. Having this supply depot made it possible for the horde to move off quickly if needed. The runners were sent last brightening to tell the Gothmog Ushtar of yet another victory. The 6th could not move on until new orders were received telling them how much farther to advance and if any help was coming. The current losses of the Horde were virtually nothing but a whole Fury was stuck in Peda awaiting a relief force. The orcs would have to wait but they would not be idle.

Orders were given soon after the looting stopped to build defensive structures to protect against an Imperial couter attack on Peda. It was no doubt that the Legions would have to pass by Hiems at least to reach Peda. The 6th would not give up the ground they were so proud of gaining for their gothmog.

The very wood and stone that made up the homes and old palisade of Hiems was torn down and constructed into the favored abbatis that the orcs loved so much. Not just for its simplicity but also its effectiveness in blocking massed formations from assaulting in force. Trash, dead bodies, dirt, and thatch from the roofs was stacked up in a makeshift defensive berm all along the orc front with the abbatis set up in front of the berm. This would funnel the Imperials to specific spots where they could be more easily controlled and counter attacked if they broke through. Everything seemed to be in order. Now the wait for orders and support has begun.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

8th Brightening of the First Cycle of the Month of Kalendryas in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Eyvind had decided to ride around Deepwood instead of losing time crossing it like the rest of the Manjet was currently doing. The 9th would arrive in Hiems to prepare the counter-attack on Peda in about eight Brightenings. It wasn't exactly the quick response he wanted but it was the only he could give to the Horde right now. Orders had been issued the plan was unfolding, now all he had to do was make sure that no other settlements of the Sherian was lost. To his misfortune it was too late for the people of Hiems. His eyes opened wide when he saw the makeshift defensive system built in front of the once peaceful town. From the top of the hill where he stood along with the Manjet's and Silvered Blades' cavalry he saw the and smelled the ruin of Hiems. Although he was too far to see it by himself he knew that the amount of casualties had been great, and it hadn't been the Orcs the ones perishing. The smell of decay and decomposition could already be felt in the air, it meant that Hiems had fell before knews of Peda's fall arriving in Taralon.

The world was coming down on him. Sheria was open to the Orcs! They could have marched as far as Everdark without anyone knowing! And now here he was, with a force too small to attack such a well prepared position. He would need the entire Legion to take this place and it wouldn't be easy at all. The Orcs were far more organized than he could ever imagine, he would not underestimate them again, that was for sure.

"We can't deal with them, yet. Let's wait for the 9th and 10th to arrive, they will mount their camp on this hill, until then I want this Cohort to go around Hiems and position themselves in the woods West of Espian Tower. You will be hidden there and will no allow the passage of runners and messengers. Do not risk yourself in needless battles, use your ranged weapons if needed and retreat to a safe position. That's an order."

The Cencoris leading the Cavalry Cohort nodded and they departed, keeping themselves as hidden by the terrain as possible. As for Eyvind, he rode back to meet the Manjet along with the cavalry of the Silvered Blades.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

16th Brightening of the Second Cycle of the Month of Kalendryas in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

It had been hard to explain the Officers his plan but they had agreed in following it. The Manjet and the Silvered Blades were now arriving in the low hills between Hiems and the Hills of Peda. The ranks of the Legions spread around the highest hill they found and started building defensive positions similar to the Orcs', but the Legionnaires didn't use deadbodies and decaying meat like their enemies. The trenches and abbatis were built with martial discipline. Traps were placed in "no man's land", huge holes with spikes inside. Abbatis defended the trenches and some watch towers were built to enable a wider view of both Hiems and the surrounding countryside. Seen from the sky above the defenses resembled many concentric circles dug around the hill. This was the Manjet's hill and no one would take it from them.

Eyvind already expected some sort of relief force, thus his orders to the engineers and soldiers to build defenses all around the camp. When everything was ready, and it didn't take as long as one may imagine for they were highly trained and motivated Legionnaires, the enormous siege engines were prepared in special trenches, many of them with removable covers made out of leather that could easily be weeted to extiguish whatever fire the Orcs could throw back.

After riding himself to as close to the Orcish line as he could and where he knew he would be heard he shouted.

"You have incured the wrath of the Empire! Surrender now and your lives will be spared! Resist and your fate is sealed!"

Then he rode back to his camp and if the answer of the Orcs hadn't been satisfatory he would order his catapults and trebuchets to start bombarding the enemy line. If the Orcs accepted his terms he would wait them to walk into "no man's land", where he would procced to removing their weapons and preparing them to be arrested for crimes of war.

A few candlemarks later the 5th Regiment of the Provincial Army arrived and joined their Legion comrades in the trenches and other positions.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

16th Brightening of the Second Cycle of the Month of Kalendryas in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Zeton Navarch Ssloth Caarg, Commander Phondra Anchors was on the deck of flagship AFS Carmichael. Following his were eighteen other ships all with one purpose in the minds of every captain. Bombard Hiems until submission if the Orcs didn't surrender. It had been a few days since the fleet had departed Taralon and they were now arriving to the southern coasts of Sheria. As they approach Ssloth barked orders while walking back and forward on the deck. Sailors climbed up to the masts and folded the sails as the fleet came to an halt.

Some Officers approach the Zeton Navarch as he took out his scope and used it to look for something inland. There it was, the Manjet's Hill as the men now called it and southwest of it the defensive line built by the Orcs and further southwest, directly in front of them, Hiems.

The ships were ready, the cannons aiming to the tastiest target they could find. They just needed the signal to unleash Aeternia upon the Greenskins.

The Siege of Hiems had began.

[Isil Telperion]

After helping build some of the defensive structures, Isil went to his horse. The animal was fine and he decided to take it for a ride in and around the camp. It was important to have a clear picture of the structures and field. Returning to his unit he found himself a space in the second trench of the hill, next to some siege engines.

He went to his men and told them that if they were to stay there for some time, they should begin the construction of devises to practice their skills. But the rest of the day he decided it was better to rest from the trip and rising of the camp, until further orders. He could see Tarfuss giving orders thought his rest wouldn’t last for long.

[Tarfuss]

Tarfuss and the rest of the 9th were in the center of the line. They would likely recieve the brunt of the assault. "C'mon you Legionairres! You see what they did to the people of Hiems. That'll be YOUR families if we don't stop them here. See how they desecrate the dead? That will be your wife, your mother, your son! Dig these fortifications deep! Don't skimp on the labor, lads, we won't get a second chance here." Having given as much of a pep talk as he was inclined to he joined his Troops in digging in. There was no glory in preparing. It was hard, sweaty work, but it had to be done and it had to be done well. He had given thought to the placement of the works in his area and he intended to have them done as good as they could be done.

His hatred of the orcs was reaching new and untold depths. He knew he'd need to save that emotion and release it when he needed it, not let it consume him and cloud his mind. There would be time for a pay back. They would make the orcs pay.

[Alexis Sapientia]

"Action stations!"

Marines were at the ready, every blade sharp and every eye focused on the shore. The cannons were primed and ready, with the powder-monkeys standing by, the ship's officers all waiting with baited breath, quite ready and willing to unleash aeternia. They had waited long and hard for this brightening, this candlemark, this very moment. All the pent-up frustration and anger at what had happened, has been happening, and no doubt, was still happening, would be released to great results. The Phondra Anchors were ready.

The officers had been busy marking targets by means of their spyglasses, directing their sailors on the ballistae where to aim and likewise checking the lie of the land with the angling of the cannon. While they did their best to stay out of the range of any missile fire from the shore, that didn't mean that they could relax their guard, just yet.

With her battle-flags flying, the Imperial Standard at her stern, reversed, with the crimson side up as the Empire was at war, so did the AFS Carmichael and her cousins begin th process of watching, and waiting.

It would depend on the mudeaters at the shore, but they sailing service was ready to do theirs, as well.

[Sheng Kaldres]

The lines were set and Imperatis Cassandra Saddon rode in along with her mage detachment. The mage detachment consisted of Provost Moham Renau, Master of Sorcery, Provost Semon Banks, the halfling Thaumaturgy Master, five Sorcery Adepts and five Elementalism Adepts.

The Imperials were ready to lay siege to Hiems.

Despatching the messagers, Cassandra waited for the commanders of the Legions to gather and to lay their plans for this siege.

[Aegis Labyrinthine]

TS:9th Brightening of the First Cycle of the Month of Kalendryas in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Dooooo dooooooo! The first horn sounded off from the distance, indicating that The Wild Flames of Sheria had arrived to the hill at last. A group of archers were the first to arrive as they had been spread out about a kilometer ahead of the 2nd Regiment in order to scout and track. "Gods be good! We have made it!" One of the archers exclaimed as they greeted the other soldiers. The thunderous clap of marching grew louder and louder as the rest of the 2nd Regiment appeared in the distance, making haste when they heard the archer's horn.

Aegis Labyrinthine marched in the front lines with his ten Captains, followed by 50 Lieutenants, 1000 bowmen encircling the regiment, 250 dwarven hammermen, 250 heavy infantrymen, 500 halberdmen, and 3000 pikemen. Shouts of soldiers ready to win this war cried out among the regiment as they approached their brothers of war. Fists raised in the air and swords glistened in the light of the two suns.

When they approached Aegis, wearing his dwarven steel breastplate, shoulder armor and gauntlets, shouted an order that was quickly echoed by his Captains to the Lieutenants to the bannermen to the rest of the troops. "Wild Flames, take defensive position. Archers encircle the second and third trench, Pikemen and Halberds encircle the first trench. Heavy Infantry and Dwarven Hammermen I want you men split between the first and second trench for now. I want eyes in all directions, but I want a focused force to the southwest facing Heims." The Regimental commander had studied the map of Manjet's Hill before departure.

When Aegis had reached the command center with his captains and lieutenants he searched for his brother at arms and commander, Eyvind Redbeard. He greeted his old freind with a smile and a salute which consisted of him placing a massive steel gauntlet over his chest and bowing his head, before extending his hand for a handshake. "My friend, I see the brightening is good to us. I hope you approve my choice of troop placement."

[Adder]

Modplan

The scene was set, the players were in place. The orcs appeared to be dug in and given the array of forces set against them surely it would be foolhardy for them to give away their advantage to sally forth. But then they could never win a purely defensive battle so they must have some other plan, or perhaps they never expected to survive - there were other victories than just that and death in battle was a victory in its own right.

As for the Imperial and Provincial forces, surely their victory was assured for they had assembled an overwhelming force. It seemed that the next move was in their hands, but who knew?

[Sheng Kaldres]

The stage was set for the confrontation and it was up to Cassandra to give to orders.

“Sent the signal to the Imperial Navy ships to start their attacks on Hiems.” Cassandra said to one of the signalers and then turned to the Imperials signalers readied at the side. “Also signal to the siege engines to begin their assaults upon the Peda. Let the catapults and trebuchets start their attacks first. If there is still response, the battering rams will move in with support from the infantry units.”

“The infantry units are to support by throwing the javelins into the walls. This will keep the enemy from disturbing the battering rams. But if the enemy response by opening the gates and rushing at the catapults and trebuchets, the infantry units are to protect them by throwing the javelins first and then form the line in front of the siege engines to attack the orcs. Keep the First Dao of the Ninth Legion is reserve. The mages will also be kept as a reserve at this moment. At the same time, the cavalry units are to keep their alertness and prepare for a counter attack if the orcs tries to flank us.”

“However, ask the commanders to keep a lookout for a long horn sound. If the horn is sounded, this means that I am going to use the mages. So the commanders should retreat from the enemy while the mages will prepare their spells and attack the enemy. Otherwise, the mages will hit our own men.”

Then, Cassandra sent the signalers off to relay the orders and for the response if there was any problems with the orders. The battle would start.

[Alexis Sapientia]

"Fire!"

There was nothing more pleasurable to a sailor than the sound of cannon displacing its deadly cargo. The fact that orcs lay on its receiving end added to the satisfaction.

Zeton Navarch Ssloth Caarg had received the relay message, and nodded accordingly. Aboard the AFS Carmichael, starboard batteries with a clear line-of-sight began opening fire, to be followed by that of seven other vessels.

"Prime cannon! Load grape!"

A few leagues to the west, the remainder of their party, some ten more frigates, began unleashing the rest of the barrage on the city that was Peda.

Grape shot, blackpowder, and metals from the Vorgan mines began unleashing havoc on unprotected materials and personnel. Blood would spill, and that is what the Imperial Classis wanted. The blood revenge for Narim began in earnest, Imperial Marines standing at the ready, sailors at the crow's nest checking to see the extent of the damage.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The honor of shooting the fire arrow, the signal to the navy ships, belonged to Daekin Dougan of the Black Shields. Aiming it high in the air he released the flaming projectile with the grace of a falcon. With a satisfied nod Eyvind moved on carrying Cassandra's orders. He walked down the three tiers of the Manjet's Hill. The first reserved for the headquarters of the operation, the second to the long ranged trebuchets that could throw heavy boulders over no-man's land and deep into enemy lines, the first tier where the extraordinary number of one hundred catapults lined, prepared to open fire at a whisper of an order and finally the front trench, turned directly to Hiems. As he walked men lined behind him, leaving their tents and positions to form in up outside the fortified hill.

A simple nod informed the siege engineers' commander that it was time to send some gifts to the greenskins. "Send death to those beasts, boys!" echoed as the man shouted his orders and the moment the sound of firing cannons was heard so did the catapults and the trebuchets start shooting. Enormous stone flew high in the air and began raining upon the vile Orcs. Their improsived constructs vanished under a cloud of dust and smoke as explosive barrels started being hurled along with the stones, setting building alight and sending debris flying.

As ordered by Imperatis Cassandra the army formed up in no man's land, leaving the First Dao of the Ninth Legion in reserve. It meant that four fifths of the