To Train a Hound, Episode 1
In which Tessa and Gino defend Amber against Hrafnkel employing rotten vegetables.
The area is a warehouse district, with wide cobblestone streets sloping gradually up from the docks to accommodate cart traffic, that connect the large collections of buildings. Most are multistoried and vastly broad, though the designs are variable. The present building is one of the largest, and is surrounded by an expanse of pavement. There are several buildings in this fenced off enclosure, though all the warehouses are similar.
Hrafnkel nods to both, with a jerk of his head motioning for the two to walk with him as he explains. "These exercises are designed specifically for counter-siege training, in which the Gulls and Hounds might need to cooperate to protect the city. I'll be running the opposing force, to simulate attackers."
Gino listens to Hraf and nods. "Are we to hold a particular building or run the bill up on realestate?"
Hrafnkel nods as he leads the pair into a large structure, nodding to Gino as though expecting the question. "I've taken the liberty," he explains, "of bringing enough practice weapons, appropriate to both your forces, except, obviously, crossbows. I figure the first objective will be a king of the hill scenario." Inside the warehouse, he points to a large mound of crates. "Up there, at the top is a flag. My men will start at the end of the street. So we'll have to traverse streets, alleys, stairs, slopes and doorways to reach it. All the same sorts of terrain that you two would need to defend."
"I see." Tessa responds, tracing in the way of Gino as they go. "I suppose we will determine our strategy between the two of us then?" For a moment, she seems distracted by some sensation at the edge of her awareness before shrugging. "Hmmph, no /matter/. It will be a challenge. I hope the Hounds are prepared for it."
Hrafnkel nods to Tessa. "Precisely. You two can coordinate... or not, by your strengths as you percieve them."
Gino grins "Well then, off you go commander, and a nights drinking says your men won't get through the doors."
Hrafnkel laughs at the exuberance of both, but not in a disapproving way. "We may have time for a couple goes. I'll arrange my force, and give you time to arrange yours and coordinate. But, there'll be no signal to let you know when I'm coming." He fixes each with a grin, in turn. "If I take the flag too quickly, I'll give you another try."
Hrafnkel says, "But here's how it will work."
Hrafnkel says, "You're not actually going to compare to me. You guys can pose what youre doing, I'll show you what happens, and I'll give you +challenges to try at the appropriate times, based on how well it seems you prepare or counter."
Hrafnkel says, "The better your plans, the easier your challenges will be."
"I am not putting any bets that may involve emptying my pockets." Tessa mutters, "I am paid much less than either of you." She pauses as Hrafnkel states the plan, and announces he is planning on organizing his forces soon. The Gull CO takes a step back to speak with Gino. "Agreed. Though there is the matter of this not /actually/ being the city, it is better to play and operate as if it is. Make sure every unit you have has at least one or two of my men to serve as a guide to popular chokepoints and coordinate ambushes. The Gulls will play standard reserve soldier positions."
Hrafnkel nods his approval to Tessa's thinking, but not wanting to influence them, withdraws. "Good luck," he calls, as he slips from the door.
Gino listens to Tessa and nods sagely as she speaks , "Well thought out, I believe we should try to use the heights where we can, using the roofs to flank, we should also block as many alleys as we can to funnel his men to us, he can create kill pockets.
"We do not have any ranged weapons, but I am not against any of those suggestions, sir." Tessa responds, waiting as Hrafnkel moves out. "You notice he did not state if there was to be a warning before he started? Let's start organizing at least a defense for our flag." With that, she makes a sharp motion to some of her men. Just a handful. "Guard the flag from as high a position as you can, if a force threatens it, alert us with your Watch Horns before engaging the attacking squad with delay tactics."
Gino looks around and smiles as Hrafnkel leaves, his fingers twitch and three hounds step forward with bulging sacks of slightly bad potato's and cabbages from the palace kitchen. "We don't have crossbows...."
The sacks of slightly rancid veggies are dropped near to Tessa and Gino, "I like your plan, save it is too defensive, I think we should have harasser snipers on them as soon as they begin their march."
"Well, having two commanders will only slow us down, sir." Tessa points out, "If you want snipers, I will further split my men to allow that." She motions again, "Ten of you, arm yourself. Your job will be to take to the rooftop and pinpoint attacks... the men defending the flag are using a one-one... one blasting. Your code with the horn, upon spotting their position, will be one-two-three. Understand? Good! Take the vegetables and move out!" Now down to thirty Gulls, she looks to Gino. "Now what, sir? I'm down to near half strength."
In answer Gino looks to his hounds. His fingers twitch and groups of five fan out, they begin to tople creates and whatever large object they can find into the smaller alley's then begin to take cover in the shadows of doorways and stair cases over looking their fine mess "I leave the first move to you this time watchman Tessa, When you make your move we will back your play." That said he drifts to a shadowy pearch atop an old stair case.
Tessa nods, "Remember, to take a man to help guide the Hound's way." Whatever force she has left, assumably not very impressive, she motions to fall into step as she settles up about halfway up the incline of the hill.... to wait.
Tessa is barely in position when her first warning can be heard. The men are marching, in a tight, solid unit until the signal makes clear they've been spotted. Then, with a bellow that echoes up the streets even more clearly than the horn, they charge!
Tessa closes her eyes as the enemy comes into sight, positioned at the head of the organization. "If I fall, Gino is your commander." Just a gently reminder, before she turns to face the forward approaching unit. She attempts to discern how many men is currently engaged against her. She draws her sword with her left hand, and kneels to clip on her shield with her right. "I don't want the Gulls to get shown up here. Make your hits count!" She is in the best position she and her depleted team can be in, so she sets her feet, and waits for the enemy to hit her hard and in the mouth. Gino's troops will have to be the dealbreaker.
The hounds hold their concealed positions letting them charge into the jaws of a trap, hands adjust upon weapons a they wait the command to attack. A grim smile crosses Gino's face as he lifts his sword arm, still waiting to unleash his hounds.
"Farggin' HELL" erupts one of the gulls under Hrafnkel's command, caught solidly with the less than pleasant tactile and olfactory experience offered by a lobbed potato. The rapid fire volleys of unwholesome veggies takes a toll, but a small one. When a cabbage or potato strike a man, Hraf, in proper fair play, chides the individuals, "You're dead. Sit it out, you're dead, too. Off to the side and look properly agonized!" His front rank is slightly demoralized by the missiles, but in a way, it also makes their surge more eager to slam through Tessa's defensive line. They hold admirably, but begin to weaken as the raiders begin to seep through the forming cracks in her line.
As the forces clash Gino lowers his sword and the hounds hidden along the lane to either side pour out hammering the flanks of the attackers. Gino stands upon the stir maneuvering the hounds with short shap commands, or gestures that seem to convey what he desires.
Boxed and pinched, the attackers take horrible casualties. But the front element is not stopped, and of the fifty, it looks as though in excess of a dozen might be breaking through the front to the house.
Gino bounds down the stair "On me" he barks then prepares to hack through to the front group "They don't get to have my flag!" Gino snarls then points with his sword "On!"
Tessa is forced to give way slowly, but surely, their depleted ranks from the sniper and the reserve flag guard hurting them at this moment. Tessa herself is hard pressed by two, giving ground readily, ducking and weaving and using her shield to simply preserve her 'life' as it was. Desperately, her attention darts around, hoping to pinpoint Hrafnkel's move. A sheer forward advance up a high ground? No, doesn't make sense. Hrafnkel is a professional Commander of Men. "Gino! This has to be a feint!"
Gino holds up his hand to halt his relief group and looks back down the street. Then to the rooftops wishing a Hound were there to give him a sitrep.
The mass of men that stormed the hill do seem somewhat less than the hundred that Hraf is supposed to have. But, the melee continues, and a number of his men are breaking through towards the warehouse.
Gino gathers a group of men and leads them through an alley and around to the back of the ware house. He orders his men into the main area through windows, to redeploy for a defence of the flag. He orders his war horn to sound a withdrawal to the flag.
"I cannot hold!" Tessa informs Gino, taking up her horn and blowing a series of notes. Requesting, nay, begging for help from her men stationed on the rooftops to clear the streets. Then, her force is forced to give way to that forward pushing advance. What men she has are forced to take to the alleyway as well, and retreat to secondary defensive positions alongside the Hound, except for herself and three others. With the exodus of most of the Hound, she and others decide to take up a last desperate stand to slow the advance as long as they can with the assistance of her sniping team.
Hrafnkel's reserve seems to be composed entirely of hounds. About 20 of them, larger and tougher than the others, and they barrel head now that the defensive formations are disrupted, and some are turning towards the warehouse. Howling like berserkers, the polearm beaning men strike in an attempt to simply bowl over remaining resistance.
Set your feet, grit your teeth. Tessa has only a second to take a calming breath as she and her three men with the distant support of her sniper units who are without guidance attempt to give Gino the moment he needs to win victory against a matching force. There is a sense of hesitation in the crowd as they envelope the bubble of resistance, the smashing of practice weapons against hide armor, desperation lending incredible strength; might is never enough. In this case, they were outplayed. One man goes down to a clubbing blow to the back of the neck. Another is struck by a 'sword' to the kidneys. Then, back to back, Tessa and the last man are overwhelmed under an incredibly coordinated series of attacks from all angles. Before she falls, though, she calls out. "Gino! Take command of the men still at the flag!" Then? Well, er, silence?
The men who burst through the door get a surprise, a group of Hounds waiting to punish, as the doors push in the force is met by Gino's relief force, they hit them in a tight formation spears and halberds, men are driven back, jerked from their feet. As for Gino he watches from his pearch next to the flag.
The remainder of Hraf's vanguard ties up the defenders as his second wave rushes the field, their charge cataclysmic, leave toppled foes in their wake. Cabbages and potatoes still assail them like foul smelling rain, but Gino is shortly left with trying to halt the forward wedge alone, with his remaining hounds and the guards left within the warehouse.
Gino holds his place by the flag. The snipers now slip onto roof top catwalks. "Steady" Gino says calmly as the remaining me form a line.
Fouled with rotting vegetation, and disgruntled at spending their friday night in drills, the men that charge at Gino's line are anything but steady. There is a clash and clank, and grunts and growls. And for a moment, it looks like it can go either way.
Rotting vegetables rain from the sky, pelting the attackers when they flinch the counter charge is ordered Gulls and Hounds drive into what's left of Hrafs men sweeping them from the warehouse. Gino calls hold when victory is assured.
Tessa is just sitting in the middle of the street, a piece of rotten cabbage in her wild black hair, chin in hand.
Gino swats his men on the back as he makes his way to Tessa, offering her his hand. "You did very well"
All remaining motion halts as Hraf blows a whistle. He is looking around with concern, then. "Where is Tessa?" He calls, "Officer Tessa?" then spots her, looking relieved. "There you are. Okay... everyone in gather round." He makes a motion and some water bearers bring out large vessels to begin quenching the men's thirst. "Well fought!" he calls to them both.
Tessa takes the hands up, smiling at Gino before knocking the vegetable out of her hair and attending Hrafnkel.
Gino folds his arms across his chest "A frontal assault?" he asks Hrafnkel.
The two hundred troops are left in the clearing around the warehouse, as Hraf assists Tessa's devigation with a few pats on her back and shoulder. Unlike the men outside, there is wine and fruit waiting inside. "Alright. Obviously you two did pretty well," he begins, motioning them to seats to relax.
Gino takes a seat and a glass of wine as he waits for the debrief.
Tessa mutters thanks for Hrafnkel's assistance in at least repairing her state if she never quite cuts a fine figure as a soldier. Then, like Gino, she migrates to the chairs.
Hrafnkel smirks at Gino. "My frontal assault almost worked," he quipps. "A large force moving quickly is pretty hard to stop.... but I want your thoughts?" he asks, looking between them.
The area is a warehouse district, with wide cobblestone streets sloping gradually up from the docks to accommodate cart traffic, that connect the large collections of buildings. Most are multistoried and vastly broad, though the designs are variable. The present building is one of the largest, and is surrounded by an expanse of pavement. There are several buildings in this fenced off enclosure, though all the warehouses are similar.
Hrafnkel nods to both, with a jerk of his head motioning for the two to walk with him as he explains. "These exercises are designed specifically for counter-siege training, in which the Gulls and Hounds might need to cooperate to protect the city. I'll be running the opposing force, to simulate attackers."
Gino listens to Hraf and nods. "Are we to hold a particular building or run the bill up on realestate?"
Hrafnkel nods as he leads the pair into a large structure, nodding to Gino as though expecting the question. "I've taken the liberty," he explains, "of bringing enough practice weapons, appropriate to both your forces, except, obviously, crossbows. I figure the first objective will be a king of the hill scenario." Inside the warehouse, he points to a large mound of crates. "Up there, at the top is a flag. My men will start at the end of the street. So we'll have to traverse streets, alleys, stairs, slopes and doorways to reach it. All the same sorts of terrain that you two would need to defend."
"I see." Tessa responds, tracing in the way of Gino as they go. "I suppose we will determine our strategy between the two of us then?" For a moment, she seems distracted by some sensation at the edge of her awareness before shrugging. "Hmmph, no /matter/. It will be a challenge. I hope the Hounds are prepared for it."
Hrafnkel nods to Tessa. "Precisely. You two can coordinate... or not, by your strengths as you percieve them."
Gino grins "Well then, off you go commander, and a nights drinking says your men won't get through the doors."
Hrafnkel laughs at the exuberance of both, but not in a disapproving way. "We may have time for a couple goes. I'll arrange my force, and give you time to arrange yours and coordinate. But, there'll be no signal to let you know when I'm coming." He fixes each with a grin, in turn. "If I take the flag too quickly, I'll give you another try."
Hrafnkel says, "But here's how it will work."
Hrafnkel says, "You're not actually going to compare to me. You guys can pose what youre doing, I'll show you what happens, and I'll give you +challenges to try at the appropriate times, based on how well it seems you prepare or counter."
Hrafnkel says, "The better your plans, the easier your challenges will be."
"I am not putting any bets that may involve emptying my pockets." Tessa mutters, "I am paid much less than either of you." She pauses as Hrafnkel states the plan, and announces he is planning on organizing his forces soon. The Gull CO takes a step back to speak with Gino. "Agreed. Though there is the matter of this not /actually/ being the city, it is better to play and operate as if it is. Make sure every unit you have has at least one or two of my men to serve as a guide to popular chokepoints and coordinate ambushes. The Gulls will play standard reserve soldier positions."
Hrafnkel nods his approval to Tessa's thinking, but not wanting to influence them, withdraws. "Good luck," he calls, as he slips from the door.
Gino listens to Tessa and nods sagely as she speaks , "Well thought out, I believe we should try to use the heights where we can, using the roofs to flank, we should also block as many alleys as we can to funnel his men to us, he can create kill pockets.
"We do not have any ranged weapons, but I am not against any of those suggestions, sir." Tessa responds, waiting as Hrafnkel moves out. "You notice he did not state if there was to be a warning before he started? Let's start organizing at least a defense for our flag." With that, she makes a sharp motion to some of her men. Just a handful. "Guard the flag from as high a position as you can, if a force threatens it, alert us with your Watch Horns before engaging the attacking squad with delay tactics."
Gino looks around and smiles as Hrafnkel leaves, his fingers twitch and three hounds step forward with bulging sacks of slightly bad potato's and cabbages from the palace kitchen. "We don't have crossbows...."
The sacks of slightly rancid veggies are dropped near to Tessa and Gino, "I like your plan, save it is too defensive, I think we should have harasser snipers on them as soon as they begin their march."
"Well, having two commanders will only slow us down, sir." Tessa points out, "If you want snipers, I will further split my men to allow that." She motions again, "Ten of you, arm yourself. Your job will be to take to the rooftop and pinpoint attacks... the men defending the flag are using a one-one... one blasting. Your code with the horn, upon spotting their position, will be one-two-three. Understand? Good! Take the vegetables and move out!" Now down to thirty Gulls, she looks to Gino. "Now what, sir? I'm down to near half strength."
In answer Gino looks to his hounds. His fingers twitch and groups of five fan out, they begin to tople creates and whatever large object they can find into the smaller alley's then begin to take cover in the shadows of doorways and stair cases over looking their fine mess "I leave the first move to you this time watchman Tessa, When you make your move we will back your play." That said he drifts to a shadowy pearch atop an old stair case.
Tessa nods, "Remember, to take a man to help guide the Hound's way." Whatever force she has left, assumably not very impressive, she motions to fall into step as she settles up about halfway up the incline of the hill.... to wait.
Tessa is barely in position when her first warning can be heard. The men are marching, in a tight, solid unit until the signal makes clear they've been spotted. Then, with a bellow that echoes up the streets even more clearly than the horn, they charge!
Tessa closes her eyes as the enemy comes into sight, positioned at the head of the organization. "If I fall, Gino is your commander." Just a gently reminder, before she turns to face the forward approaching unit. She attempts to discern how many men is currently engaged against her. She draws her sword with her left hand, and kneels to clip on her shield with her right. "I don't want the Gulls to get shown up here. Make your hits count!" She is in the best position she and her depleted team can be in, so she sets her feet, and waits for the enemy to hit her hard and in the mouth. Gino's troops will have to be the dealbreaker.
The hounds hold their concealed positions letting them charge into the jaws of a trap, hands adjust upon weapons a they wait the command to attack. A grim smile crosses Gino's face as he lifts his sword arm, still waiting to unleash his hounds.
"Farggin' HELL" erupts one of the gulls under Hrafnkel's command, caught solidly with the less than pleasant tactile and olfactory experience offered by a lobbed potato. The rapid fire volleys of unwholesome veggies takes a toll, but a small one. When a cabbage or potato strike a man, Hraf, in proper fair play, chides the individuals, "You're dead. Sit it out, you're dead, too. Off to the side and look properly agonized!" His front rank is slightly demoralized by the missiles, but in a way, it also makes their surge more eager to slam through Tessa's defensive line. They hold admirably, but begin to weaken as the raiders begin to seep through the forming cracks in her line.
As the forces clash Gino lowers his sword and the hounds hidden along the lane to either side pour out hammering the flanks of the attackers. Gino stands upon the stir maneuvering the hounds with short shap commands, or gestures that seem to convey what he desires.
Boxed and pinched, the attackers take horrible casualties. But the front element is not stopped, and of the fifty, it looks as though in excess of a dozen might be breaking through the front to the house.
Gino bounds down the stair "On me" he barks then prepares to hack through to the front group "They don't get to have my flag!" Gino snarls then points with his sword "On!"
Tessa is forced to give way slowly, but surely, their depleted ranks from the sniper and the reserve flag guard hurting them at this moment. Tessa herself is hard pressed by two, giving ground readily, ducking and weaving and using her shield to simply preserve her 'life' as it was. Desperately, her attention darts around, hoping to pinpoint Hrafnkel's move. A sheer forward advance up a high ground? No, doesn't make sense. Hrafnkel is a professional Commander of Men. "Gino! This has to be a feint!"
Gino holds up his hand to halt his relief group and looks back down the street. Then to the rooftops wishing a Hound were there to give him a sitrep.
The mass of men that stormed the hill do seem somewhat less than the hundred that Hraf is supposed to have. But, the melee continues, and a number of his men are breaking through towards the warehouse.
Gino gathers a group of men and leads them through an alley and around to the back of the ware house. He orders his men into the main area through windows, to redeploy for a defence of the flag. He orders his war horn to sound a withdrawal to the flag.
"I cannot hold!" Tessa informs Gino, taking up her horn and blowing a series of notes. Requesting, nay, begging for help from her men stationed on the rooftops to clear the streets. Then, her force is forced to give way to that forward pushing advance. What men she has are forced to take to the alleyway as well, and retreat to secondary defensive positions alongside the Hound, except for herself and three others. With the exodus of most of the Hound, she and others decide to take up a last desperate stand to slow the advance as long as they can with the assistance of her sniping team.
Hrafnkel's reserve seems to be composed entirely of hounds. About 20 of them, larger and tougher than the others, and they barrel head now that the defensive formations are disrupted, and some are turning towards the warehouse. Howling like berserkers, the polearm beaning men strike in an attempt to simply bowl over remaining resistance.
Set your feet, grit your teeth. Tessa has only a second to take a calming breath as she and her three men with the distant support of her sniper units who are without guidance attempt to give Gino the moment he needs to win victory against a matching force. There is a sense of hesitation in the crowd as they envelope the bubble of resistance, the smashing of practice weapons against hide armor, desperation lending incredible strength; might is never enough. In this case, they were outplayed. One man goes down to a clubbing blow to the back of the neck. Another is struck by a 'sword' to the kidneys. Then, back to back, Tessa and the last man are overwhelmed under an incredibly coordinated series of attacks from all angles. Before she falls, though, she calls out. "Gino! Take command of the men still at the flag!" Then? Well, er, silence?
The men who burst through the door get a surprise, a group of Hounds waiting to punish, as the doors push in the force is met by Gino's relief force, they hit them in a tight formation spears and halberds, men are driven back, jerked from their feet. As for Gino he watches from his pearch next to the flag.
The remainder of Hraf's vanguard ties up the defenders as his second wave rushes the field, their charge cataclysmic, leave toppled foes in their wake. Cabbages and potatoes still assail them like foul smelling rain, but Gino is shortly left with trying to halt the forward wedge alone, with his remaining hounds and the guards left within the warehouse.
Gino holds his place by the flag. The snipers now slip onto roof top catwalks. "Steady" Gino says calmly as the remaining me form a line.
Fouled with rotting vegetation, and disgruntled at spending their friday night in drills, the men that charge at Gino's line are anything but steady. There is a clash and clank, and grunts and growls. And for a moment, it looks like it can go either way.
Rotting vegetables rain from the sky, pelting the attackers when they flinch the counter charge is ordered Gulls and Hounds drive into what's left of Hrafs men sweeping them from the warehouse. Gino calls hold when victory is assured.
Tessa is just sitting in the middle of the street, a piece of rotten cabbage in her wild black hair, chin in hand.
Gino swats his men on the back as he makes his way to Tessa, offering her his hand. "You did very well"
All remaining motion halts as Hraf blows a whistle. He is looking around with concern, then. "Where is Tessa?" He calls, "Officer Tessa?" then spots her, looking relieved. "There you are. Okay... everyone in gather round." He makes a motion and some water bearers bring out large vessels to begin quenching the men's thirst. "Well fought!" he calls to them both.
Tessa takes the hands up, smiling at Gino before knocking the vegetable out of her hair and attending Hrafnkel.
Gino folds his arms across his chest "A frontal assault?" he asks Hrafnkel.
The two hundred troops are left in the clearing around the warehouse, as Hraf assists Tessa's devigation with a few pats on her back and shoulder. Unlike the men outside, there is wine and fruit waiting inside. "Alright. Obviously you two did pretty well," he begins, motioning them to seats to relax.
Gino takes a seat and a glass of wine as he waits for the debrief.
Tessa mutters thanks for Hrafnkel's assistance in at least repairing her state if she never quite cuts a fine figure as a soldier. Then, like Gino, she migrates to the chairs.
Hrafnkel smirks at Gino. "My frontal assault almost worked," he quipps. "A large force moving quickly is pretty hard to stop.... but I want your thoughts?" he asks, looking between them.