Ambush at Teyacapan Gorge - Forgehall Close Victory

[Zurajai]

"Formations! Into formations!"

Up and down the lines chaos was breaking loose as spears plummeted into the column taking goblin lives with them to their afterlife as they buried themselves into solid shields, soft soil, and hot flesh. Screams of panic were thrown up in the levies as their morale started to waver from the spears falling down around them, threatening to break at a moments notice. Morale was lifted as Olga Nakbaji, First Immortal of Forgehall, called out to the line with her booming, magically altered voice.

"Stand fast Goblins of Forgehall! We fight for the Saints and for our ancestors!"

The clever goblin quickly realized the direction from which all the spears were falling and did her best to send the order down the column to organize into battlelines facing south towards the supposed attackers. Casualties had already mounted but nothing could be done about that except mourn later; now was the time for shields to be held fast.

---

ORDER OF BATTLE

Confederacy of Tikal
Tikalan Legionnaires (1000) [1] (Medium Armor / Handweapon & Shield / Professional / Warbeasts / Camouflaged)
Jaguar Warriors (1000) [2] (Medium Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Camouflaged)
Jaguar Warriors (1000) [3] (Medium Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Camouflaged)
Hrasha Tribesman (1000) [4] (Light Armor / Bow & Handweapon / Militia / Scouts / Camouflaged)
Spearmen Levee (1000) [5] (Light Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Javelins / Camouflaged)

Goblins of Forgehall
Grandmaster Olga Nakbaji (HERO / Lich)
Hayani Infantry (900) [1] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Warbeasts)
Toreyani Guard (889) [2] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Toreyani Guard (968) [3] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Toreyani Guard (911) [4] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Javalineer Levy (932) [5] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (891) [6] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (915) [7] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (970) [8] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (897) [9] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Ranger Levy (976) [10] (Militia / Infantry / Bow / Light Armor / Scouts)
Ranger Levy (989) [11] (Militia / Infantry / Bow / Light Armor / Scouts)
Pike Levy (915) [12] (Conscript / Infantry / Pike / Light Armor)
Pike Levy (952) [13] (Conscript / Infantry / Pike / Light Armor)

Teyacapan Gorge:

Notes:
-- The Forgehall army had been marching west to east (left to right) before being ambushed from the south.
-- Both armies have marched long distances to arrive at this location. Goblins are tired and Lizardmen are winded. Both will not last long in protracted melees and maneuvering levies will be slowed.
-- Goblins have taken initial casualties from the ambush and are starting at reduced numbers.
-- This battle will consist of as many modmarks necessary for either total annihilation or full retreat of one force.

[killer spork]

Goblin screams of pain, panic, and fear. It was music to General Tayute's ears. The veteran commander cast one beady golden eye over the assembled Goblin horde. It was a mighty force and the General knew that the chances of victory were indeed slim. Tayute's real objective had been to slow the enemies march and buy time for Tikal to muster troops to defend its holdings. He had succeeded in that goal but now he had to bleed the enemy, as much as possible before they arrived.

'' SOLDIERS OF TIKAL! ADVANCE! '' Horns blew, drums sounded, and the last true soldiers of Sotek advanced, blending seamlessly into the surrounding terrain to avoid the worst of the Goblin arrow fire. The Tikalan Legionaries slammed into the Toreyani Guardsman with the force of an avalanche. Riparian lizard packs tearing into packed formations of the column as the Goblins struggled to reload and deal with the new threat. Iron weapons would scarcely give them time to do so, hacking and slicing through flesh and bone. Further down the line, a regiment of Jaguar warriors was charging into Goblin militiamen, a chaotic symphony of noise and death the result.

Beware the Immortal. The warning a constant reminder as he cast his gaze throughout the goblin force, hunting for the Goblin warrior that had lead ruthless raids on Tikalan villages. The General snarled orders, his warriors keeping a tight formation. He had to buy more time for Battle Captain Kawil to do his work.

---------------------------------------------------------------
The real thrust of the Tikalan attack was aimed at the poorly trained conscripts that made up the rear of the Forgehall army. Two thousand heavily armed militiamen struck toward the rear of the column. Spears lashed out towards flesh, as they drove forward. If Kawil could spark a panic in the tightly packed units, then perhaps it could cause a route and force at least some of the enemy to scatter in the chaos of the attack. The thrust was supported by Hrashan tribesman, the bowman sending volley after volley in the enemy ranks from their position in the treeline. With the enemy so close together, it was indeed difficult to miss.

SUMMARY:
-- General Tayute leads an attack on the front of the column, attempting to cause chaos and confusion by isolating the enemy General from giving orders.

-- In the rear, a force of Tikalan's attacks the poorly trained and equipped enemy levies with Hrashan bowman acting as support in an attempt to spark a panic.

-- CAMOFLAGUE is used to avoid the worst of Goblin arrowfire as the assault force moves in.

(1) Tikalan Legionaries (attacking Forgehall 3)
(2) Jaguar Warriors (attacking Forgehall 5)
(3) Jaguar Warriors (attacking Forgehall 11)
(4) Hrasha Tribesman (attacking Forgehall 11 / RANGED)
(5) Spearmen Levee (attacking Forgehall 13)

[AspenIvan]

Front of the Column

Grandmaster Olga Nakbaji considered pulling the two arrows out of her neck and shoulder, but she decided against it. Better to put her powers on display to hearten her troops and frighten the enemy.

The situation had seemed dire at first, but Olga's worries had faded now that the attackers were emerging from their hiding-places. With the column facing South and a vastly outnumbered enemy, the Disciples had a decisive advantage. But that didn't mean they could afford to hesitate.

"TOREYANI FOCUS SOUTHWEST, HAYANI ON ME!" The Westernmost Tikalans advancing on the column's front seemed to be made of grass and twigs from the ground itself, but as long as they were moving they were visible at least. In the meantime, the First Immortal of Forgehall would personally lead the Hayani to block the enemy unit's attempt to hit the crossbows.

Then she heard the growls and hisses of lizard-dogs. "RELEASE THE DOGS!" she ordered immediately. Hundreds of the ferocious mammals sprinted out from the Hayani ranks, eager to challenge their reptilian counterparts and plenty capable of smelling out what they couldn't quite see. As the first crossbow bolts whizzed over her head, the Grandmaster smiled. Things were as good as settled here, now to pass on orders to a courier for the rest of the column...

_

Column Center

"SHIELDWALL AND ADVANCE!" cried the courier.

"Shieldwall!" called dozens of captains in reply, causing the mass of Forgehall militia to tighten ranks, present shields forward, and lower spears.

Then, as expected, "Advance!" Thousands of goblin feet marched Southward, and upon further instructions from the courier the mass split into two groups. As the Forgehall lines and enemy lines drew close, javelins poured out from the Disciples' ranks and rained on their lizard foes. And then, finally, shields and spears crashed into one another in glorious battle.

_

Column Rear

Goblins flinched and ducked as arrows whistled to and fro, but with the initial surprise over the ranks were holding fast...at least for now. Archers skirmished with their counterparts, trading shots with their elusive assailants as best they could.

Then, the runner made his way down shouted "ARCHERS! FOCUS ON FOE INFANTRY, NOT BOWS!" Simple enough orders, though a little unintuitive, until the goblin skirmishers noticed the masses of friendly spears heading for where the arrows seemed to be coming from. With renewed vigor, as much as their strength allowed, the hundreds of scores of scouts turned their aim Eastward and began to loose volley after volley in the direction of the enemy infantry advancing on the very end of the Disciples' column.

That end did not require the order that would come its way: "SPEARWALL SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST!" The peasants were not proper soldiers, but they had enough experience working lands in common that words passed from one formation to the other could end in a reasonable consensus. The Southern unit had its pikes pointing South, where the soldiers had been ordered to face and where the enemy seemed to be coming from. The Northern unit, not in much of a position to add extra strength in the same direction, opted to cover its neighbor's flank. It would be a tough hedge of spikes to crack, especially with the archers covering them.

__________

(1) Hayani Infantry + First Immoral Olga Nakbaji (HERO) move to intercept Tikal 1. Hayani use beasts to counter beasts.

(2), (3) , and (4) Toreyani Guards focus fire on Tikal 1

(5) and (6) Javalineer Levy attack Tikal 2 / shieldwall formation + throw all javelins

(7), (, (9), and (10) Javalineer Levy attack Tikal 3 and 4 / shieldwall formation + throw all javelins

(11) and (12) Ranger Levy attack Tikal 5 / RANGED

(13) Pike Levy stands ground and forms Spear Wall facing Southeast (Towards Tikal 5)

(14) Pike Levy stands ground and forms Spear Wall facing East to cover flank of (13)

[Zurajai]

(I wrote a detailed reply but I just deleted it by trying to edit something up the page. You get a summary instead. The frustration is real.)

---

-- Tikalan Legionnaires (1) successfully charge Toreyani Guard (3) while Hayani Infantry (1) along with Olga Nakbaji fail to intercept. Hayani Infantry (1) successfully charge Tikalan Legionnaires' (1) flank.
-- Jaguar Warriors (2) successfully charge Javelineer Levy (5) and force a rout. Routing Javelineer Levy (5) flees through Javelineer Levy (6) and Javelineer Levy (7), successfully disrupting formation so they are unable to complete orders.
-- Jaguar Warriors (3) successfully charge Ranger Levy (11) and successfully cause morale to waver in the skirmishers now threatening to break formation and flee. Jaguar Warriors (3) then flanked by Javalineer Levy (9) and have their own morale damaged.
-- Spearmen Levy (5) successfully charge Pike Levy (13). Both are evenly matched but Pike Levy have increased morale from having flanks secured.

---

Confederacy of Tikal
Tikalan Legionnaires (803) [1] (Medium Armor / Handweapon & Shield / Professional / Warbeasts / Camouflaged)
Jaguar Warriors (910) [2] (Medium Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Camouflaged)
Jaguar Warriors (872) [3] (Medium Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Camouflaged)
Hrasha Tribesman (1000) [4] (Light Armor / Bow & Handweapon / Militia / Scouts / Camouflaged)
Spearmen Levee (934) [5] (Light Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Javelins / Camouflaged)

Goblins of Forgehall
Grandmaster Olga Nakbaji (HERO / Lich)
Hayani Infantry (900) [1] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Warbeasts)
Toreyani Guard (889) [2] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Toreyani Guard (792) [3] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Toreyani Guard (911) [4] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Javalineer Levy (907) [5] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (891) [6] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (915) [7] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (970) [8] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (897) [9] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Ranger Levy (976) [10] (Militia / Infantry / Bow / Light Armor / Scouts)
Ranger Levy (778) [11] (Militia / Infantry / Bow / Light Armor / Scouts)
Pike Levy (915) [12] (Conscript / Infantry / Pike / Light Armor)
Pike Levy (857) [13] (Conscript / Infantry / Pike / Light Armor)

Teyacapan Gorge:

Notes:
-- Tikalan Army morale remains relatively high from successful ambush but is being damaged by lengthening battle against the numerically superior foe. Jaguar Warriors (3) are begin to waver as they're flank charged.
-- Forgehall Army morale remains moderate after successful ambush and charge by the enemy. Morale is boosted by Olga's presence on the western flank. Morale is wavering in the center from fleeing allies but remains steady for now. Morale is strong on eastern flank except for Ranger Levy (11) who are currently engaged in melee combat after a successful enemy charge.

[killer spork]

[] I wanted to write a better post but I worked a twelve hour day yesterday annnd now I'm about to head back into work to do it all over again. Forgive me and hopefully this somehow makes sense. []

Success. The Tikalan's were experiencing brief spurts of it but Tayute knew now that he had achieved his strategic objective, it was now time to withdraw. The longer the Tikalan troops remained engaged, the more he stood to lose. Having inflicted two to one casualties on the Goblins, Tayute's goal of bleeding the enemy was off to a solid if unspectacular start. The General motioned a nearby Battle Captain over, his voice struggling to be heard over the din of combat.

'' Begin the withdrawal. '' There was a brief flicker of disappointment on the Captain's face before a nod was given. A horn blew, banners hoisted into the air to communicate with their comrades to the East. The withdrawal wouldn't be swift and sudden, instead, one by one, the units would begin pulling back towards the rocks and the neighboring treeline. They would use their camouflage to blend in with the surrounding foilage and disappear. With the enemy ranks broken and confused, now was Tayute's chance to enact his armies escape.  

SUMMARY:
-- The Tikalan's begin a phased withdrawal back into the treeline and surrounding rocks where the enemy will have difficulty following.

(1) Tikalan Legionaries (covering 2's retreat, will withdraw once they have disengaged)
(2) Jaguar Warriors (begin withdrawal)
(3) Jaguar Warriors (begin withdrawal)
(4) Hrasha Tribesman (covering 3's withdrawal / RANGED, will cover 5's withdrawal after 3 has retreated successfully)
(5) Spearmen Levee (covering 3's withdrawal, will withdraw once they have disengaged)

[AspenIvan]

Things were not going as planned, but for the most part the line was holding, if the couriers' reports were to be believed.  First Immortal Olga Nakbaji grunted as she pulled a javelin out of her right forearm -it wasn't pain exactly, but uncomfortable nonetheless-.  Without a moment's hesitation, she made a swing with her left and the spear was away like a ballista bolt, finally lodging itself into an unsuspecting lizardman's eye.  She was at the far right of the Hayani formation, the spear-line to her left and open ground to her right.  But now that open ground was starting to fill with lizards.  Was it a flanking maneuver?

"What's that?" she snapped to a runner trying to give her a message.

"Milady, some of the lizard banners are falling back!" the young goblin-man repeated, mustering all the breath his tired lungs had.  That's when Olga knew this was the critical moment.  The lizards couldn't retreat properly if the goblins were hot on their tail, not with the river to their backs.

"Bring this order down the line: FULL ADVANCE!" she shouted back quickly.  "Spears, pikes, and any shooters engaged hand-to-hand are to push forward with all haste!  Tell the Commonwealth Militia to break shieldwall and charge!  Unengaged archers cover the advance!"

At that moment, a sword plunged into the Grandmaster's back and all the way out through her collar-bone.  It had hit the weak point in her armor just below her neck.  The runner gasped and jumped back in fright, face growing pale, but Olga only shuddered a bit at the sudden force of attack.  She threw her elbow back, catching the lizard in the snout with a crunch, before turning around and grabbing the creature's face.  A form of attack that would have taken considerable energy even for a strong goblin was eerily simple in her new form: Thumbs into the eyes, squeeze until the eyes pop, dig in until her gauntlets' metal hit the soft mush of brain and gave it a good beating.

She turned back around to the runner without even bothering to take the sword out of her chest.  "Don't just stand there, boy, go!"

__________

Grandmaster Olga Nakbaji (HERO) orders FULL ADVANCE. Goal is to pin the enemy between her army and the river.  All troops with javelins remaining are to throw them ASAP to better facilitate the push.

(1) Hayani Infantry and (3) Toreyani Guard press attack on Tikal 1, pursue if retreats.

(2) and (4) Toreyani Guards split fire between Tikal 1 and Tikal 2 / RANGED

(4) and (6) Javalineer Levy (and (5) if rallies) charge Tikal 2

(7), (, and (9) Javalineer Levy and (11) Ranger Levy charge/press attack against Tikal 3 and 4 (whatever the broad advance can reach/hit)

(10) Ranger Levy focuses fire on Tikal 4 to suppress enemy archery

(12) and (13) Pike Levy press attack against Tikal 5

[Zurajai]

The fighting was over within the hour.

All across the battlefield the cries of the wounded and dying went up as the Goblin army held the field and Forgehall banners whipped triumphantly in the air, proud of their victory. The Forgehall dead had already begun to be piled in proper ranks to be burned or buried; their lizard alternatives were left to rot or worse, found on the field to be unceremoniously executed.

---

-- Tikalan Legionnaries (1) hold back the Hayani Infantry and the Toreyani guard before being surrounded and surrendering soon after.
-- Jaguar Warriors (2) successfully retreat while under fire while receiving light casualties, eluding the Javelineer Levies chasing them.
-- Jaguar Warriors (3) fail to retreat and are caught by the Javelineer levy before surrendering to the Goblins when surrounded.
-- Hrasha Tribesmen (4) successfully retreat with few casualties suffered.
-- Spear Levy (5) successfully retreat after breaking ranks and escape with the Hrasha Tribesmen.

---

Confederacy of Tikal
Tikalan Legionnaires (783) [1] (Medium Armor / Handweapon & Shield / Professional / Warbeasts / Camouflaged) [SURRENDERED]
Jaguar Warriors (887) [2] (Medium Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Camouflaged)
Jaguar Warriors (862) [3] (Medium Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Camouflaged) [SURRENDED]
Hrasha Tribesman (983) [4] (Light Armor / Bow & Handweapon / Militia / Scouts / Camouflaged)
Spearmen Levee (913) [5] (Light Armor / Spear & Shield / Militia / Javelins / Camouflaged)

Goblins of Forgehall
Grandmaster Olga Nakbaji (HERO / Lich)
Hayani Infantry (798) [1] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Warbeasts)
Toreyani Guard (889) [2] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Toreyani Guard (687) [3] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Toreyani Guard (911) [4] (Prof / Inf / Crossbow / Light Armor)
Javalineer Levy (907) [5] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (891) [6] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (915) [7] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (970) [8] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Javalineer Levy (885) [9] (Militia / Infantry / Spear&Shield / Light Armor / Throwing Weapons)
Ranger Levy (976) [10] (Militia / Infantry / Bow / Light Armor / Scouts)
Ranger Levy (678) [11] (Militia / Infantry / Bow / Light Armor / Scouts)
Pike Levy (915) [12] (Conscript / Infantry / Pike / Light Armor)
Pike Levy (857) [13] (Conscript / Infantry / Pike / Light Armor)

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