Concentrating our strength and add to it daily by winning over to our side those barons who are vassals of the enemey. Then, when the enemy stands alone, like a tree shorn of its leaves and branches, we will attack and destroy the root.
~Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Part I: Honour may exist between the worst of enemies. The Godslayer elite does battle with the Dragon Legion
*tricks and traps and cunning were cast aside for this battle. This was warrior against warrior. Dragon legion vs. the Dragon's host. It did not take long for them to settle in to the horns of the bull formation: (description: The bulk of the troops remain in the center, going many ranks deep, from the front 2-4 ranks more troops are spread out and at their end are 3 ranks forward, so that it resembles the horns of a bull. when the enemy reaches the center, their momentum is checked by the deep ranks, which then push back, at which point hte horns snap against the side of the foe like a pair of scissors, cutting the front ranks off. the troops in the rear then rush up in support of the former horns, and the battle spreads as it will from there, the rear troops move to support any troubled flank or position, to keep themselves refreshed and new troops coming into the mix)
*this was their counter move to the charging tines of the Warlock Order's dragon legion. Their numbers were nearly equal and their training, while varying wildly, was equal. This led to a truely chaotic battle in which many brave elves and blind warriors (the elite humans who need no sight to best their foes) the ax weilding dwarves were glad to spill the blood of the Dragon legion, and not shamed to lose their blood in turn on an enemy's sword. Worthy foes, like honored friends, are to be valued in life, for it is that challenge that brings out our finest, and it is they which, through victory or defeat, make one another's names immortal on the lips of every bard* Those were the thoughts of Yamana Yoyta, the commander of the elite Dragon's host, as he closed for combat with the very center of the enemy, led by his dwarven counterpart.
Part II: Nothing is more demoralizing, than watching your brother run away, whilst ye run forth. The last battle against the hobgoblins begins:
*when the highland strike effectively decimated the first rank, the elves did not sit idly by and congratulate one another, instead they spread ranks out, to give full use to their natural lithe stature and quick mobility, and more importantly, their long slender blades. They do not attempt a second highland strike, to obvious, instead, they work as a squad, in what was the counter to the highland strike. Each elf strikes at the enemy advancing on the man to the right of him. (the result i intend is this, most are right handed, even amongst hobgoblins, so their weapons are used in the wrong hand to stop a blow from the right in the middle of the charge, the blade will go right into their left lung, left side of the neck, or through the gut. a few lefties would survive, but they'd be taking on two or three at once with the deaths of their comrads. not something easy to cope with, if they even stay to fight after that)
Part III: anticavalry, antidragon?
*the advantage of the great sword against cavalry is clear, it can slay the horse or the rider, it has great reach and it puts much power behind it. against tight formations of cavalry in an ambush or charge or in defense, it is the ultimate weapon as feared as the lance. but against a dragon with room to maneuver, it has difficulties. the first being that the weapon is large and heavy. which means it can be swept down, to the side, or at an angle, making it an easy to predict weapon, and so it comes to a sword duel between dragons and the WO adapted anticavalry units. The Godslayer's dragons spout flame at the approaching foe, and those that get past that, must meet in a sword duel in which the dragons, who carry their own blades and are skilled in their use, have the advantage in manueverability*
Part IV: Reckoning for the Baron, two rivals meet, one will walk away.
*as the rain began to fall, Archos's blood sang in his veins. This was his fate for so long as the sun continued to rise. He would return again, and again, and again to do battle and fight wars. Part of him hated it, but part of him loved it and lived for it. This had been an epic struggle against what must surely have been one of his most worthy opponents. But at last the Baron had clearly lost, all over the line by now troops would be abandoning their posts, fleeing in disorder that quickly was turning in to a rout. But Archos still had one task before him and his personal guard. The Baron Crispin must die. The tent was not hard to spot, even in the steadily pouring rain. As Archos of the Zyan line, founder of the Godslayer hearth, approached his waiting foe, he raised his blade in customary salute. When at last he was only thirty feet away, he halted. "Thou hast lost, Baron Crispin. Like thyself, thy lords do nae tolerate failure. Ye art now given a choice. Take thy life, or I shall take it from thee. An thou dost take thine own life, i shalt give thou the honour of leaving thy body intact and giving thou a proper resting, further, as thou'lt die err the battle ends, thou'lt go to thy grave without the stain of defeat on thy soul. An thou dost force my blade to sever thy head, then it shall be a prize, and rest in the spot where Kayin Dreadslay's skull once resided. Make thy choice." he tosses a blade carved of solid bone at the baron's feet, and waits for the choice.
((Godslayer casualties are the most extensive yet, over 3,000 dead, and by battles conclusion it should be around 6,000, not counting wounded ambulatory or othewise))
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