Battle of Ding Keng.

[Admin]

This battle is now open, please post your troops on arrival so that they can be tallied and losses properly done.


Zao Cheng's men arrived first. Their banners were flying high in the wind and the troops sang an optimistic battle song. Cheng was eager to prove his worth, that he was not incompetent like his late father had been. And he certainly was not going to meet his end at the hands of a scone.

Regardless of his father's fate, Cheng planned to die in the midst of the battle, just like so many men had been recently. Cheng doubted he would see the end of this period of turmoil, he was doubtful that any would. People would sail to Neiko in days to come and find nothing but corpses stretching from horizon to horizon, ghost cities and maybe the remnants of some secluded jungled tribes...

Cheng shuddered and drew his sword.
"This is it soldiers! This city falls now! Come with me and we shall acheive glory!" the soldiers erupted into a massive roar. These were the elite of Li Damu's army. A battle tested core with vicious new weapons, hearts of steel and wills or iron, they would not retreat until the city fell...

National military
600 swordsmen
500 axemen

Siege
2 siege towers

[Alain Lavenstine]

Alain Lavenstine rode his horse to the crest of a nearby hill. He was heavily armoured and carrying both his sword and shield. Alain did not want to let his commander down, for he was the new general of the armies. Alain smiled as he considered that he was the commander in this fight. However, he knew that he would have to be careful in his treatment of Zao Cheng, as he was favoured by Li Damu and had the best troops out of all of them. Alain might have got more, but they weren't quite as good.


Alain brings:
1100 men-at-arms (militia)
250 horsemen
200 bowmen
50 light spearmen,
2 Explosives
1 Ladder set

[Aislin Adar]

Aislin followed close behind her commander, leading her own set of troops. She could not help the slight trepidation in the pit of her stomach as they drew closer. This was her first real battle and she was nervous, it was only natural. She signalled her troops to stop as they waited for orders.

Troops:
300 militia, 50 horsemen, 200 bowmen, 100 light spearmen.

Seige Equipment:
1 Catapult
1 set of Workers

[Ling Feng]

Liao Kan's men were at the central gate of Ding Keng.

Troops
1500 militia
500 bowmen
2 arbelests

[Tae Ling]

at the east gate were men under the command of qiao Wan, an exceptionally capable commander. they prepared to battle immediately, their troops lined along the walls.


Troops:
500 militia
250 bowmen
1 arbelest

[Cao Cei]

(yes this is Peay)

Cao Cei stood on the walls of his city and glared out at the enemy invaders. How dare they come to attack him!? They would pay for this impudence with their pathetic lives!

Troops:
500 militia
250 bowmen
1 arbelest

[Aislin Adar]

Aislin gave a cry out to her gathered troops and seige weapons and she began to lead them forwards. They advanced upon the city, weapons raised, a battlecry calling out. She ordered the workers to hold back and wait for explosives. The catapult was set up quickly.

[Admin]

Zao Cheng sent forward his swordsmen to guard Aslin's workers with their shields. The two siege towers went with the split axemen to each of the west and east gates, leaving the south to the swordsmen and Aslin's soldiers.

[Alain Lavenstine]

Alain's bowmen and horsemen went to the central gate to give support. Alain's explosives went with Aslin's workers and Zao Cheng's swordsmen. 400 militia went with each siege tower whilst the remaining 300 and the light spearmen also went to the central gate with the set of ladders. It would be scaled.

[Ling Feng]

Liao Kan's bowmen stayed vigiliant on the wall and half of his militia stayed up there with him too in case of attack. One of the arbalests was brought to the war to fire on the enemy whilst the other one was left inside the gate.

[Aislin Adar]

Aislins militia and spearmen went with Alains forces to scale the wall and attack the enemy. A catapult was fired at the wall, trying to break through as Aislins horsemen moved forwards.

[Admin]

The swordsmen raised their shields to counter the attacking arbelest and also the firing bowmen. Hopefully the soldiers would be sheltered long enough to prevent any serious damage, although it was difficult to get so many people behind all of the shields.
The siege towers came inexorably closer to the walls of the city as they were pushed on their massive wheels. Surely it would be an intimidating sight.

[Alain Lavenstine]

Little actual defending appeared to be going on. The ladders and explosives drew closer to the wall whilst the siege towers did likewise. It seemed the defenders were idle.

[Ling Feng]

(why do I get the feeling i'm the only guy here...)

Liao Kan's bowmen began firing at the encroaching ladders teams at the same time the arbelest launched its projectiles at the block of swordsmen commanded by Zao Cheng.

[Cao Cei]

(I'm still here! Sorry I was away)

Cao Cei's own arbelest was also on the walls of the city and it was put to good use in firing on the siege tower. As it became apparent that a little more would be needed to put the large structure down Cao Cei sent some of his men running off to get hold of some specific materials.
Siege towers were wooden structures, and wood burned.