*'War of the White Dragon' -Defender Meeting*
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Call walks into the meeting as Genzir is giving his report, sits himself down beside Jerr, he listens silently
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Based on our work flying over the central plains and surrounding areas, before Norwick was taken, I made the following estimates:
I estimated about 1000 orcs on the plains, not including the fortress, one out of ever fifteen or so was a spellcaster, most of them were peons and warriors. I also counted 200 frost giants, also mostly warriors.
I have determined that most of their food comes from hunting animals in the woods. Most of their supplies come from raids on Jiyyd, Norwick or caravans.
It is also now known that the approach to the central plains is guarded by a shallow moat, barricades, and traps on their side.
The number of giants on the plains was only about 30 when they took the orc fortress, so that means they are likely getting reinforcements from the mountains, and without going through the cave, which is still closed. One assumes that the population there is finite, as well, but they are said to number in the "hundreds and hundreds," so they could probably bolster their ranks, somewhat, given time. That said, I imagine their appetite for untimely death is also finite, especially when their strongest elite troops have died in numbers–there were around half a dozen elite axers, as many spellcasters, and a dozen or more berserkers in the last attack, all dead.
According to Mord, Norwick militia had orders to destroy any useful supplies if the town was in danger of falling, so Norwick should not be a windfall for them.
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Leaving his panther to attend the meeting in his stead, Ezachiel quickly walks out of the hall, polymorphs into his usual eagle form, and takes off into the skies.
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with the pouring in of folks… Lily slowly whispers to herself as she casts True sight. With Lyte's information she looks to Gen or Dwin to follow her lead. Though she's quite certain she'll be holding Sam's hill with whomever chooses to defend it. She listens to where best her healing touch might be utilized for the combined success of Norwick and Jiyyd.
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Catching sight of her husband Will and Aelthas, Raver makes her way over to stand near them.
As Lyte begins to speak, she look immensely relieved that at last, there will be an organized plan between the towns. Leaning her head towards Ael, she whispers quietlyMe an' the fellas went south an' had a look….
I'll ask ta speak a bit later, an' fill everybody in on what we saw.
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Calendel, Legion Corporal and Advisor to Chancellor Lucidious, sits at the back of the room taking all the discussion in. He appears to be focused and listening but many know he has thoughts of his fellow Norwickians on his mind.
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//I'm playing this that we announced the meeting before the big attack, and that the meeting is being held as we settle into the new situation a day or so after the battle.
It's Easter, so, let's run this thread for a day or two, so everyone can see it and respond as they like past the holiday, but assume it is taking place over the course of a single setting of several hours time.
General Lyte steps up, after everyone is settled in and people seem ready to work.
_"I've asked you all here today to discuss strategy and share intelligence so that we can all work together to overcome the overwhelming force that we face under the combined armies of the White Dragon Sharn.
Until today, I have mostly met, written and spoke to separate towns, guilds, companies and communities. While we have cooperated together and everyone has given fully and of their utmost to this cause, there is nothing like comng together, to really interlace our strategy into a combined whole.
I have been acting as a the head of this united host by simple reason of necessity. This war stretches out over a huge front, from the frosty mountains many leagues distant to Jiyyd's east, to the roads leading into Peltarch on the north, to the icy caverns under the Gypsy Camp to the west, and finally, to the bugbear warrens and goblin caverns south of Norwick.
Coordinating who is doing what, seeing to defenses at various points, appointing troops and doling our resources is a difficult task on such a large scale.
It has been my thought that each troop, be it shields from the legion, loosely aligned tribesmen of the nars, or gypsy archers, will always work best as separate and distinct units under the full control of their respective leaders.
I have no wish, and no authority, to order anyone around.
But, I think it is important that we all understand the need for a centralized point of organization. We need a place all leaders can send requests and messages, if help is needed to hold a strongpoint, if baracades or a catapult is desperately needed, and, I am willing to continue to act in this regard.
I will be working out of Jiyyd's Western Defenses, just west of Jiyyd, on the eastern most cliff, until this war is over. We have taken great pains to baracade all access to this area, and this is our Headquarters where you can find me, and I will have an aide here on hand, always for messages, and a squad of couriers for for sending urgent communications.
I would like us all to establish a simple system of communication via flares or bonfires, to keep in touch quickly. Let us discuss how best to get that working simply.
Now then.
The problems at hand.
We face a foe much vaster their our own forces. The reason they have been able to take Norwick, for the time being, is due not to any lapses of trying, nor to any bad decisions from anyone.
They are simply more numerous than us, and when they are able to focus on one area with great force, if we are not focused in that a particular spot with everything we have, it is difficult, if not impossible to hold without extremely strong defenses.
In taking the town, the enemy has gained a supply base and raw materials for a long campaign. However, this victory has not come cheaply to them.
Shortly, I will ask Captain Genzir to share our intelligence with you on the enemy orc and giant numbers and strengths, and one thing seems very clear to me.
In taking Norwick, the enemy bled a great deal of the frost giants elite numbers on Jiyyd's walls.
Line upon line of their very finest elite fighters, shieldmaidens, and other casters fell trying to breach the Jiyyd defenses, and in keeping us occupied during the Norwick assault.
I am not talking about a couple of giant mages and an elite warrior or two. Scores of their best giant berserker fighters, elite warriors and frostmaiden casters fell.
Taken together with the hordes of orcs and giants that have been cast against Jiyyd's defenses, this adds up to very serious losses on the enemies side, so, while we grieve at the losses our friends in Norwick have suffered, we are not lost, and we will prevail yet, winning back the town in the end.
I estimate the giants have lost some 30% of their force in total, and most of those killed make up their very best troops, leaving largely giant soldiers and crossbowmen left to deal with.
I will also ask Commander Dwin to speak with us today on the status of his defenses being formed south of Sam's Hill, and what he needs from us all to see that it is strongly manned.
If the two entrenched and defensible positions there, at the Spell Keep and the Temple can be held, this will form a future jumping off point to taking back Norwick.
I think it would be wise to also reinforce Sam's Hill behind this position, which sits adjacent to the Jiyyd's defenses, in case the Keep or Temple positons are overun."_
Lyte pauses, placing her palms down on the table in front of her
_"Jiyyd will never forget that there were many Norwick miltia busy defending her gates when Norwick was attacked. The battle here as Norwick was assaulted was not a diversionary feint, and it was a very close thing, with elite giant troops breaking out into the open beyond our gates.
Dwin, if you will give us a list of materials you need for these defenses, I will get on that at once.
Following Captain Genzir's enemy intelligence report, and Commander Dwin's assessment of the situation near Norwick, I would also like to hear from our Siege Weapon team of Sir Dentin, Engineer Sudoc and our Dragon Lore Specialist Corporal Elridith.
They have been working, respectively, on our siege weapon capabilities, and on a somewhat secret project to deal with the white dragon Sharn, should he appear during the battle.
Before we start listening to these presentations, I would like to offer Jiyyd's sincere thanks to all who have come to her immediate aid. The city of Peltarch, though it is far off, has kindly sent most capable troops. Lyte nods slightly to those attending The Camp has provided many, many archers to defend our cliffs and towers. Norwick has bled much for us. The Helmites were among the first to defend the long road against the enemy. The Sisters has provided a hospital, workers and support in our endeavors. The Council of Moradin has offered their axes to the cause. The druids of the Glen have done huge amounts of work to bolster our defenses, with special thanks to Wolf, for his endless efforts.
Great thanks to Dwin, to Z, and to the other crafters for providing much needed iron….and especially to Ginger, who seems tireless in this regard. Thanks go to her and Major Uchi for fine steel gates, wall reinforcement plates, iron points at the tops of walls, and the steel cap for Jiyyd' well.
Special thanks to Captain Genzir, for his ideas for a cliff side defense.
Many, many others have given their time to this cause, my apologies for lacking the time to name each indivdual. I know in my heart that such hard work will lead to our thrashing of this enemy, in time._
Lyte draws attention to a covered easel,revealing a large map of the region between Jiyyd, the Camp, and Norwick. She uses a pointer, focusing on various details.
http://www.pixhost.com/pixd/dukstuf/dragonwar.jpg
_In order to understand the situation we face, I have prepared this map for your perusal. It shows the general distances to various places, and the vital link that the long road provides for supply from our allies to the north. Jiyyd's Western Defenses are marked in tan. Commander Dwin's proposed defenses that are now in the works are shown as well.
Please carefully look over this map, as our speakers make their presentations.
I will continue with some notes on some specific actions I see us needing to make, after Commander Dwin, Captain Genzir, and the others speak. Anyone with important specific projects being undertaken, are welcome to share them at this time._
she nods to whomever is going to go first, and invites them up to speak.
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A tired and bloodied looking Akanxan joins Andreas's side and stands quietly, waiting for the meeting to begin. All the while, he keeps his shield covering his left side to conceal his wounds.
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Mords eyes stop and Kresha a moment and nods when she makes eye contact. He continues to survey the room and his eyes linger on Raver a moment, then discard her and move on.
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Kresha strolls in bristling with crossbow quivers and looking a bit weather worn. She looks around the room and spots Dwin and Lucidious. Her eyes stop briefly on Aelthas and the company about him. Quietly she makes her way over to the wall behind Dwin and the Chancellor and has a seat.
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Lilin arrives at the last minute, with notebook and writing untensils in hand, taking a seat near the front, looking very academic like
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A quiet Raver stands off near a far wall, listening…. waiting
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Keira sits near Jerr, listening and watching the group. She seems content to wait until the group organizes itself.
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Dwin, standing with the rest of the bloodied Norwick contingency, stands and clears his throat.
Lets get this meeting going. Every second we waste is time for those farkin bugbears to ruin more of our town!
He pounds the table with his fist sending Lucid's wineglass flying up 2 feet in the air….
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Arikess strolls in with his grand yet somewhat rugged robes, ever with the regal mannerisms, and sits at the seat near Genzir and Eldrith. He pours himself some wine and sips, staying very silent, with the same flat look awaiting and listening to whatever plans and conversation to be discussed, assessing them in his mind without comment, yet…
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Tending to those she could, Lily wanders into the meeting battle weary and tired. Taking a seat in the first available one.
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A dour Mord arrives and searches out the room with his eyes. He is in full armor and Norwick colors and peace bonded Weapons and full plate glisten in the flikering light. He finds Dwin and Lucid and moves up near them, whipering quietly a moment, He hands them a folded sheet of vellum, frowns a moment then says one last thing All that can be accounted fer then settels down. Eyes roving over the room.
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Alvah arrives puntually and leaves his cloak and massive crossbow by the door. He quickly moves over and takes his seat beside Dentin and Sudoc.
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A worried looking Laucian watches silently from a lonely corner of the legion hall, making no indication of any intentention of sitting with the others.
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((for the sake of continuity, this meeting is taking place after the fall of Norwick, right?))
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Though not often seen at the battlements, the archdruid arrives. Silent, robbed of sleep, and perhaps crestfallen.
