The Tales of Benthor

[zeit]

It's time for something beyond tactical and strategic planning, don't you think?

410 BC

For whoever gets to read this.

My name is Benthor, Corporal Benthor of Gathering Storm's army's 112nd heavy infantry battalion. And I'm not in Monsoon anymore.

Major Stromhammer said to us the other day that we embarked on a journey to change the face of history, to drive out the darkness that has taken over our land, to fight off the enemy in his territory...

The rest was the same babbling, and I wasn't listening. I knew exactly what this meant, and so were many of my friends in the company- we're going there first, probably without cover for quite a while. We were briefed and drilled tens of times in the last couple of months, but the Voxian grasslands just didn't look like the training grounds back in the Desert of Tears, and the hardships of spending days with full armor on a boat at the mercies of the great sea was not particularly rewarding.

It's not about the sailors- heck, they're this world's finest, and you'd be suprised what they can do with some jerky and dried vegetables... But the sea is the sea.

We've heard the stories about the Voxian army- their troops are highly disciplined, and are ready to follow orders even in the most desperate situations. With my own eyes I've seen them being pounded by our artillery, only to keep on moving deeper into our territory. I almost felt sorry for some of them, until I saw our boys who survived the carnage. No one really wants to talk about it, but it was soon known to all that the battered remains of two Voxian platoons eliminated two of ours, after which they succumbed to our superior forces.

We heard other stories of glorious victories against unprotected Immortals down at the Spinebreakers Valley, but we were no cavalry, with only our feet to use for charging, and no chance of running away if something goes wrong.

So much for Stromhammer inspiring speech.

But I do have trust in myself, my pike and my friends, to carry me through this day, and perhaps the one to follow. We're here at the designated hill, codenamed Inchon, and we're about to make history.

Wish me luck

Cheers
Benthor.

[notyoueither]

I wish him and his fellows the best of luck.

[Shiber]

I really enjoyed reading it!
We're gonna have to change the part about Vox's desperate moves if we're thinking about publishing it in the public forum though, or we'd look arrogant.

[alva]

I especially loved this part...

We've heard the stories about the Voxian army- their troops are highly disciplined, and are ready to follow orders even in the most desperate situations. With my own eyes I've seen them being pounded by our artillery, only to keep on moving deeper into our territory.

Some very nice imagery

[zeit]

Thanks for the compliments. I wanted to give it a feel of a modern-WW2 styled thing.

My concern regarding publishing this on the public board was whether or not this contains sensitive info, because I don't think there is any form of arrogance in the writing- Vox moves weren't deperate, it was the situation that was desperate.

I thought of posting this after Vox plays their turn, so they won't have time to start Iron trade negotiations or any other diplomatic move in response to the landings. If you think something needs to be changed (or that is shouldn't be posted at all), feel free to say it.

[vulture]

You might want to change the date to 410 BC, rather than 710 BC.

[Arrian]

Good story. Real good.

I might feel better if we didn't mention exact numbers of casualties, but it's not a big deal.

Oh, and there is only one "l" in until.

-Arrian

[DeepO]

I like the story, but I agree with Arrian: we shouldn't mention specific casualty numbers. Perhaps just say "a couple of platoons"?
And, shouldn't "but we were no cavalry" need to be "but we are no cavalry"?

Other then those minor things, I would post it asap in the war report thread, even before Vox gets their save. There's already a small teaser there anyway, so they know something is happening

DeepO

[Theseus]

zeit, what role did / do you have in the military?

It's the non-comms that get it done, and have always got it done...

Ground-pounders. Dogfaces.

Hoplites and Legions, Pikes and Rifles and Infantry.

Grunts.

Well written! Kudos, and let's see more!

[zeit]

zeit, what role did / do you have in the military?

It's the non-comms that get it done, and have always got it done...

Ground-pounders. Dogfaces.

Hoplites and Legions, Pikes and Rifles and Infantry.

Grunts.

Well written! Kudos, and let's see more!

That's so funny- I actually have no experience in being deep inside the military organization.

I havn't even had basic training yet. Mine is due for september, and would last for a mere 4-weeks (also known as the 4-week outdoor camping). That is the "Job'niks" (hebrew slang for those soldiers who have an office job as their service) basic training, so I don't think I'll get any inspiration from that.

Where does the inspiration come from- If you're an Israeli, you'll know alot more about military and warfare than almost anyone leaving anywhere else. That's pretty sad, but it feels like we eat, drink and breath military stuff. The IDF is HUGE when you consider the mere 4-5 people who can be drafted (and you won't catch me going into politics here...), and you see soldiers everywhere. Our culture is militaristic in many regards, and maybe that's where the inspiration comes from.


That and American war-movies, of course!