Post by The Smith on May 4, 2008 0:42:27 GMT -5
The wind caught the sail and Arerya looked up. This is what I have waited my life for, a chance to truly bring honor to the Isles. He had nearly three hundred ships in his fleet, against a fleet of just under two hundred, or so his scouts told him. It would be a battle for the ages, as Cahrin and his other commanders led the ground forces on Kalior.
Two squadrons of heavy trimienes headed his navy, followed by three of longships, and then a half a dozen of the fast attack ships that had been constructed by his people, and the others were made up of the Braavosi vessels, and the few sellships he had managed to get.
The force was now approaching the inlet that held the city of Kalior, and when Arerya first caught sight of the city he felt the anger that had spread through him on learning of Achillios death return. He drew his sword and turned to the crew of his command ship, looking at his men, burning their faces, faces he doubted he would see after the battle, into his mind.
“That is Kalior! That is the reason Achillios and Dumollio are dead! That is the reason why we wage this war; not only for honor…not only for glory…but for justice! For the lives of all who were mercilessly taken by these people, I implore you to fight, to fight to the very last. This war ends on theses beaches, aboard these ships. End this HERE! Show no mercy! Onward…to battle…to victory!”
The crews boot thundered on the decks, as did the boots of all the men on the other boats who heard, and soon Arerya’s navy was at the mouth of the bay, and the enemy navy had approached. It looked to be just over two hundred ships, and Arerya’s mind suddenly shifted, all emotion leaving, this was war, this was what he was born to do. He began issuing order after order; moving squadrons over and around, and by the time the battle was joined, his ships would be in good position.
The two sides fired catapults and the Summer Islanders fired their long distance bows, but did little damage, only a few ships sunk on each side. Then a squadron of Summer Isle longships screamed headlong into the flank of the enemy, and the battle began, the two sides closed with remarkable speed, and the battle was joined.
The longships hit headlong into the enemy vessels, sinking several in the first moments with their rams, and then they boarded, and all hell broke loose. Both sides went crazy, showing no mercy, it was bloody, and ships by ship the two sides slaughtered the other.
More ships joined, including most of the Braavosi and the rest of the enemy fleet. The fighting was ferocious, and many a man was slain. By midday, Arerya realized that his force would not be able to break the enemy unless he brought his three squadrons in; and so he did.
Arerya steered his squads in as close as he could to the enemy, and then launched a volley of catapult fire and arrows, before attempting to board the enemy. Arerya leapt over the deck into the enemy ship, and all his cold resolve shattered in the face of the men who had killed one of his best friends. He exploded, blades moving to and fro, each blow a deathblow, and with a single swipe he opened the enemy captains throat.
He ordered his men to take control of the ship and board another, and he did the same to the next ship, leading the charge headlong into the teeth of the enemy warriors, and the Summer Islanders again took the ship.
Meanwhile, as the sea battle raged, a dozen ships, heavily loaded with troops approached the beach and let down the troops, straight into a regiment of enemy warriors. –That- fighting was chaotic at best, and after an hour the Summer Isles men broke through and took the beach, prepping the small siege gear that had been set up in the ships to breach the walls.
Arerya knew what had to happen, he and his men had to get to the enemy admirals vessel and end the battle. Both sides were taking –heavy- losses and while he would win a battle of attrition, he couldn’t hope to defend against any other naval attacks if his navy was decimated. “Sail in close, towards the big one!” The ships smashed together, and Arerya leapt aboard, with his men close behind. One cut, two, three, and he was hitting in stride, killing with every cut, and soon enough the enemy troops were falling back across the deck.
And then, oddly enough, they stopped, as if they had hit a wall, and Arerya realized what is was and he froze. Eight men, dressed in flowing blood red armor, and the enemy Admiral, wearing that same armor, save more decorated. This must be the Imperial Guard, Arerya thought, before turning and yelling to his men. “Kill the heathens, they know nothing of true battle. Onward, to victory!”
Arerya and the two dozen men who were near him on the enemy vessel charged forward, hungry for blood, hungry for victory. The battle was tremendous, each of the Elite guardsmen was as skilled an opponent as any Arerya had faced. They ducked and weaved, and his blade flickered back and forth across his enemies, touching for merely a moment before separating. Soon six of the enemy men were dead, leaving the admiral and his best two against six of Arerya’s men and himself.
Arerya lunged forward, cutting down high and then low, attempting to end the fight by killing the admiral. But he brought his blade up and parried, knocking Arerya’s slashes aside, and came around with his own strike, which Arerya then batted aside. The two men charged into each other again, none of there blows connecting. As the two men circled, Arerya realized there might be a weak spot in his enemy’s defense he could exploit. The Admiral was confident in his defense, but his actions were all done on reflex, a simple feint should catch him off guard. And, true enough, when Arerya feinted towards his head, the Admiral raised his blade, allowing Arerya to plant his weapon through a crack in the plate and kill the man.
From then on, the navy, at least, gave up ship by ship, and soon the Summer Isles were landing the second waves of troops to support the ground assault at the beaches.
Results: Arerya Taor improves Naval Battle and Sword to Grandmaster (taking into account training sessions and several land battles since his last skill raise)
Two squadrons of heavy trimienes headed his navy, followed by three of longships, and then a half a dozen of the fast attack ships that had been constructed by his people, and the others were made up of the Braavosi vessels, and the few sellships he had managed to get.
The force was now approaching the inlet that held the city of Kalior, and when Arerya first caught sight of the city he felt the anger that had spread through him on learning of Achillios death return. He drew his sword and turned to the crew of his command ship, looking at his men, burning their faces, faces he doubted he would see after the battle, into his mind.
“That is Kalior! That is the reason Achillios and Dumollio are dead! That is the reason why we wage this war; not only for honor…not only for glory…but for justice! For the lives of all who were mercilessly taken by these people, I implore you to fight, to fight to the very last. This war ends on theses beaches, aboard these ships. End this HERE! Show no mercy! Onward…to battle…to victory!”
The crews boot thundered on the decks, as did the boots of all the men on the other boats who heard, and soon Arerya’s navy was at the mouth of the bay, and the enemy navy had approached. It looked to be just over two hundred ships, and Arerya’s mind suddenly shifted, all emotion leaving, this was war, this was what he was born to do. He began issuing order after order; moving squadrons over and around, and by the time the battle was joined, his ships would be in good position.
The two sides fired catapults and the Summer Islanders fired their long distance bows, but did little damage, only a few ships sunk on each side. Then a squadron of Summer Isle longships screamed headlong into the flank of the enemy, and the battle began, the two sides closed with remarkable speed, and the battle was joined.
The longships hit headlong into the enemy vessels, sinking several in the first moments with their rams, and then they boarded, and all hell broke loose. Both sides went crazy, showing no mercy, it was bloody, and ships by ship the two sides slaughtered the other.
More ships joined, including most of the Braavosi and the rest of the enemy fleet. The fighting was ferocious, and many a man was slain. By midday, Arerya realized that his force would not be able to break the enemy unless he brought his three squadrons in; and so he did.
Arerya steered his squads in as close as he could to the enemy, and then launched a volley of catapult fire and arrows, before attempting to board the enemy. Arerya leapt over the deck into the enemy ship, and all his cold resolve shattered in the face of the men who had killed one of his best friends. He exploded, blades moving to and fro, each blow a deathblow, and with a single swipe he opened the enemy captains throat.
He ordered his men to take control of the ship and board another, and he did the same to the next ship, leading the charge headlong into the teeth of the enemy warriors, and the Summer Islanders again took the ship.
Meanwhile, as the sea battle raged, a dozen ships, heavily loaded with troops approached the beach and let down the troops, straight into a regiment of enemy warriors. –That- fighting was chaotic at best, and after an hour the Summer Isles men broke through and took the beach, prepping the small siege gear that had been set up in the ships to breach the walls.
Arerya knew what had to happen, he and his men had to get to the enemy admirals vessel and end the battle. Both sides were taking –heavy- losses and while he would win a battle of attrition, he couldn’t hope to defend against any other naval attacks if his navy was decimated. “Sail in close, towards the big one!” The ships smashed together, and Arerya leapt aboard, with his men close behind. One cut, two, three, and he was hitting in stride, killing with every cut, and soon enough the enemy troops were falling back across the deck.
And then, oddly enough, they stopped, as if they had hit a wall, and Arerya realized what is was and he froze. Eight men, dressed in flowing blood red armor, and the enemy Admiral, wearing that same armor, save more decorated. This must be the Imperial Guard, Arerya thought, before turning and yelling to his men. “Kill the heathens, they know nothing of true battle. Onward, to victory!”
Arerya and the two dozen men who were near him on the enemy vessel charged forward, hungry for blood, hungry for victory. The battle was tremendous, each of the Elite guardsmen was as skilled an opponent as any Arerya had faced. They ducked and weaved, and his blade flickered back and forth across his enemies, touching for merely a moment before separating. Soon six of the enemy men were dead, leaving the admiral and his best two against six of Arerya’s men and himself.
Arerya lunged forward, cutting down high and then low, attempting to end the fight by killing the admiral. But he brought his blade up and parried, knocking Arerya’s slashes aside, and came around with his own strike, which Arerya then batted aside. The two men charged into each other again, none of there blows connecting. As the two men circled, Arerya realized there might be a weak spot in his enemy’s defense he could exploit. The Admiral was confident in his defense, but his actions were all done on reflex, a simple feint should catch him off guard. And, true enough, when Arerya feinted towards his head, the Admiral raised his blade, allowing Arerya to plant his weapon through a crack in the plate and kill the man.
From then on, the navy, at least, gave up ship by ship, and soon the Summer Isles were landing the second waves of troops to support the ground assault at the beaches.
Results: Arerya Taor improves Naval Battle and Sword to Grandmaster (taking into account training sessions and several land battles since his last skill raise)