Part of Winds of the World - Winter 222
For a year The Stand has been the foremost concentration of Bordevarian and Concordian forces attempting to hold the line against the Onyx Aristocracy. The warriors stationed there spend their time watching the horizon, cleaning the grime from their equipment and trying not to catch the eye of their more violent comrades.
Over the summer, as the merciless sun beats down on fields of wheat and the once muddy roads cure into hard clay, the 1st Andashi Army and the 1st Banner of Bordevar rallied together to defend the Kingless Kingdom once again. On the horizon a single banner flew, a white gauntlet on a purple field. An antique artefact that could only be of Bordevarian design. Beneath its ragged magnificence are the foul spectre of knightly nobility, bloodsucking imperialists whose spirit has been traded for immortality. The Order of the Marble Gauntlet, with their broken Grandmaster and their abominable reanimated son marched on Bordevar, pursuing their only goal in death as in life. With thousands of raised Bordevarian peasants, man-at-arms and soldiers at their back.
Banners of waning moons, of noble houses and of faith flew against them. Under the command of experienced Concordian generals the defence would hold. The forces of The Concord had been here too many times to have pride or hubris. Theirs would be a balanced defence. The parry and riposte of holding the line and sending out skirmishing forces. Undead knights of lost heroism clashing with skilled Andashi Janissaries, Bordevarian rangers shooting down reanimated Aristocracy infantry. Crisp, clear nights broken with the discord of combat, wretchedly hot days spent waiting for predicted assaults.
As autumn broke and the first rains fell, the hatred of the Marble Gauntlet had been measured and found wanting, just like their martial skill. While the number of Dead Knights slain was low, it was not none and their supporting army was a wounded beast of what it had once been. The neophyte warriors of the lost knighthood are snarling bloodsuckers,raging against their defeat. The ancient crusaders of their order are lost in ruined minds. While the tactics of the undead were surprisingly dangerous for their kind, the ferocity of The Concord could not be matched. Once again, The Onyx Aristocracy are defeated in Weiland.
But all is not well, again rumour swells through the camps. Rumour that some Concordian soldiers have not seen the worst of war. That they are the weakness that causes their losses. That too many of them are soldiers of peace and politics. Those who have hardened their hearts and turned away from the honourable mercy of Arcadian will see to that
Game Information
The 1st Banner of Bordevar and the 1st Andashi army squared off against a host of superior foes and held firm. A difficult conflict, but one with lower losses than expected that was particularly harsh to the enemy. A valiant victory for the forces of The Concord.
Numerous Concordian mercenaries serve alongside the Andashi and Bordevarian forces. Characters who wish to have spent the summer fighting on the front lines of Weiland will likely have stories of a well organised campaign, with constant reappraisal for new tactics and approaches. The enemy is brutal, more like the Illsevir than the previously encountered Onyx Aristocracy forces, with heavily armoured juggernauts in the form of Undead Knights, supported by legions of raised Bordevarian forces. Unlike the Illsevir these forces are quite talkative, spouting all sorts of insults, curses and nonsense about honour and justice.
Losses are carefully tracked and the balanced style of the campaign assists in keeping losses spread evenly. No mercenary forces suffer losses beyond what is expected and can be replaced.
Bordevarian characters who elect to have fought on the frontlines during this last season may take either of the following roleplay prompts:
“I have fought and slain the faces of my country folk, marred by necromancy but still clad in recognisable garb.I am unsure if Bordevar can truly stand if we have lost so many.” “I have fought and slain the faces of my country folk, marred by necromancy but still clad in recognisable garb. I am sure of Bordevar’s continuation when we defeat foe ssuch as these.”
The infighting that plagues those Concordian forces that were present at Bolsterlee continues to be present in this season in Weiland. Again there have been a series of fights and murders within the allied camp at The Stand. However it appears to have been lessened somewhat by the nationalisation of the 1st Andashi Army, as trouble troops are reshuffled around The Concord in an attempt to create a completely Andashi force.