Military Ambush & Giantspire Defense: Geroldine's Western Reinforcements
-
Military Ambush: Geroldine's Zhentarim Western Reinforcements
Objectives:
Destroy & repel invading Zhentarim soldiers.
Kill Ludwig Palehand.
Kill Col Geroldine.
Tentative Time - Subject to change:
Saturday, January 18th, 2025, at 11:30 AM Eastern Time
Background:
Zhentarim Second Eastern Commander Col Geroldine has launched a campaign to subjugate Narfell. Documented records of the meetings that took place between Col Geroldine and the Golden Geese indicate that is for one of two possible reasons: first, the presence of Bennek Sepret in the region, the man who liberated the blue dragon Villalgarviladral; or, second, the weakened Temperance of Gulderhorn, held captive in Peltarch's gaol cells. Geroldine has demanded the trade-over of either party in exchange for permitting Narfell's continued liberty from the Zhentarim empire. This offer was refused, thus beginning the campaign.
The City of Peltarch has mounted a defense of Narfell against the invasion, together with its current allies of Norwick, Moonreach Keep, Helmite Temple, Siamorphan splinter forces, Tuigan Riders, Knights in Silver, and the Waelvor elven delegation. Battles were fought on the Eastern fronts surrounding the village of Cloudhaven as a key outpost and route hub, to the south in the town of Norwick, at the Aelthasson Barony, to the north at Porttown, and in between the foregoing.
Geroldine's initial invading force has been repelled, but he is soon to be joined by 2,500 reinforcements from the west, led by Gol Geroldine's lieutenant Ludwig Palehand. The allied forces have arranged to meet the final invading force for a final defense against the invaders at the Giantspire Mountains, dedicating nearly all of their remaining forces and resources to this defense front.
It is that defense at the Giantspire Mountains that the Golden Geese, the City of Peltarch, and their allies, now prepare for.
Particulars, correspondence, numbers, and battle histories, and more general additional background information to Geroldine's invasion and the defense efforts can be found by clicking here.
Thematic Music:
Under A Pale Hand.
Consideration:
This is a scheduled plot event. Party decisions will affect plot and character outcomes, which may involve altered NPC alliances and/or permanent NPC deaths.
Scheduling & Planning:
Participants, please post your OOC availability below, both for the above date and for any in game meeting plans you intend to make between now and then.
You may also use this thread for IC planning.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
-
Full Zhentarim Invasion happens tomorrow, 11:30 EST, in precisely 13 hours 40 minutes from this message.
-
We are good to go tomorrow morning. Please note the updated time:
Saturday, January 18th, 2025, at 11:30 AM Eastern Time
-
Should be fine.
-
I can confirm the 18th now
-
All good for me!
-
Works for me!
-
It should work for me.
-
Is the 18th OK with everyone else?
-
I think I can keep the 18th available, barring any early Chinese new year celebrations. I can confirm tomorrow.
-
Good for me. ^.^
-
I'd like for everyone who has been involved to be there for the finale. Since Sundays don't work for Acme, and this upcoming Saturday doesn't work for WBB, how is Saturday the 18th?
For this weekend, I have something else/interesting/peculiar in mind that I think people will enjoy.
-
I'm good pretty much any Saturday or Sunday, so long as I don't get called into work.
-
It currently looks like the 12th would work better, but I'd probably not be able to show up before your 1pm. That said, if everyone else is good to go this Saturday, you probably won't find a better time.
-
I'm available all Saturday and as usual would have to leave any Sunday session early.
-
I'll most likely be available Saturday and Sunday.
-
Sunday January 12th might be possible for me as an alternative. Would that time work?
-
((Unfortunately, Saturday is unlikely for me, and I will be late to the party if I do make it.))
((That said, assuming I will not be around to make any calls;)) as IC actions George will send Lt. Grant to head his land component, while leaving Lt. Miller in command of his naval component. Trusting Juniper's plan to evacuate the city in time, the naval component is tasked with guarding the Icelace shores nearest the Giantspire during this battle. This to intercept any stragglers coming out of the passes, or to stave off any unexpected reinforcements along this route.
If worse comes to worst, and no magical means are provided, it will also provide Narfell's forces an area to fall back to and be transported back to the city.Leaving both these components in capable and experienced hands, George turns his attention to the arbalester auxiliaries in the final weeks before this strike. Having left their basic training to Lt. Miller, he takes stock of how far they've come, and starts forming units. The severity of the situation being apparent, he leaves the Mariner officers and NCO's with their own men, separating the greenhorn arbalesters from them.
While he does not yet raise any officers from their ranks (commissioned or otherwise), he does understand the need for structure and formality in the heat of battle.
To circumvent official appointments while also meeting this need, he attempts to foment a feeling of camaraderie within these units, and names the more capable and headstrong ones "ventenar", an archaic term for a leader of twenty. These men and women simply get a brightly coloured band around their arm to identify them to their comrades. They are made to understood, however, that they are not officers by any stretch of the imagination. Yet.While not a crossbowman himself, he has often enough stood in a pike square with ranged units at its center. As such, he begins to train the men to do just that, supplementing their crossbow training with training in halberds and pikes.
He also funds these weapons for these troops out of pocket if need be.Understanding that none of these men and women have taken part in skirmishes before and are not accustomed to its chaos and fear, he sends a request to the Helmite champions. For these unwavering, dutybound knights to act as his officers and to each stand at the center of such a square, and ensure the greenhorn Defenders hold ranks and follow orders.
Lastly, having faith in his officers to lead his regular components, he opts to lead these greenhorns to war.
He does, however, request the means to communicate by magic with his officers, Gom and the Geese.((While I cannot be there, I might yet be able to follow the Discord, so DM's can be sent my way if any of you need a decision or opinion from George))
-
Available all day that day and in fact every day up until the 7th January. Vacation would be sweeter minus being sick, but I should be back on form til Saturday!
