The Clash of Swords (The second part of the total war RP's - Closed)

Setting:

The situation in Tamriel is tense, The Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion are preparing for war. After failed negotiations in The Imperial City the factions started preparing for the coming war in Cyrodiil.

As Tamriel will bleed, warhorns will sound, swords will Clash and one shall stand and one shall fall.
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Troop locations:

The Empire and its allies:

In High Rock: Ten thousand Bretons are at High Rock.

In the Iliac bay the Breton and Nordic fleet have massed (545 ships).

In Skyrim: Five thousand Nords are at Skyrim.

In The Reach: Two thousand Coaliation soldiers are at The Reach.

In Cyrodiil: Forty-eight thousand Soldiers are at the city of Cyrodiil (Twenty-two thousand Bretons, thirteen thousand Nords, seven thousand Imperials, six thousand Coaliation soldiers.)

Seven thousand Imperials are at the Imperial City (Eight thousand with its normal garrison).

Three thousand Imperials are at Skingrad (Four thousand with the garrisons of Skingrad and Kvatch).

The Imperial fleet (100 ships) are defending Cyrodiil's shores.


The Aldmeri Dominion:

In Valenwood: Thirty-five and a half thousand Dominion Soldiers near Arenthia.

In Elsweyr: Thirty-five and a half thousand Dominion Soldiers are at Elsweyr.

In Alinor (The Summerset Isles): Four thousand Soldiers.

Half of the Dominion fleet (300 ships) is located north of Summerset, between the Blue Divide and Anvil, the other half of it (300 ships) is located South of Elsweyr and Valenwood.

Hammerfell

Sixteen thousand Redguards and all of their fleet (150 ships) are at Hammerfell.

Five thousand Bosmeri rebels are at Hammerfell, having joined it ranks in Exchange for protection.
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All informtaion can be found here: http://www.tesof.com/topic-the-second-gr...t-planning
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((I will usurp the honor of making the first post ;) ))

In High Rock

"Finally we will have some justice..." A Knight said as the men-at-arms sat in the wagons, tricking those that saw that they were a supply convoy for the Thalmor Embassy of High Rock. It was night and most would be sleeping, and the embassy were already secretly surrounded, no-one would escape or send messages.

Instead of food fifty Soldiers were hidden in those wagons, to take down the heart of Dominion Power in High Rock by arresting the Thalmor for their crimes. The Justiciars in High Rock had during the last Day been secretely arrested and the most executed, the rest were held captive, now only the embassy remains free from Uthyn's Wrath. He had sent a Courier eagle with the orders from his massive army at Chorrol.

Equipped with enchanted armor that resisted magic a dozen Soldiers guarding the "Supply convoy" and a hundred men-at-arms hidden in it along with several wizards they would bring justice to the Thalmor.

They reached the gates, Ser Arniel was one of the dozen men-at-arms that were guarding the wagons. One of the two Thalmor guards was about to ask something but Arniel interrupted "Here you have your supplies can you let us through?" The guards regognized Arniel and made a nod, though he kept a loathing gaze at Arniel as he unlocked the gate.

As the wagons were entering Arniel made a nod to a Soldier near the second Thalmor guard. "Also I have a matter of justice to take with you..." Arniel started, Before pulling out his longsword and ran it through the guard's throat. The Soldier did the same to the other guard and the High Elves collapsed, blood spraying from their throats. Now the blankets were thrown of the wagons and the men-at-arms jumped out from the wagons and into the yard. Five guards ran forward to stop them, only to start backing when they saw the numbers. They sent spells at the Bretons that did no damage, and recieved several Arrows and spells. They all laid dead in the matters of a few seconds.

They ran to the barracks first and kicked in the door. "Yield or die!" Arniel shouted, but as the High Elves in there only started looking for weapons Arnield said "Death it is then, take the commander alive, kill the rest." the bretons ran forward with their weapons, the spells sent at them had no effect.

The Bretons started cutting down the High Elves whom most were only dressed in robes, they siezed their commander and knocked him out with mailed fists. Arniel split a skull open of one Elf and ran his sword through a chest of Another.

The High Elves did not try to surrender, though few actually attempted to fight. The most were trying to get away from the Soldiers and lock themselevs inside rooms. The Bretons cut through the High Elves, leaving a trail of dead were they passed in the building, and after searching the rooms quickly for survivors and grabbing important documents the Bretons started running towards the Embassy itself, were the majority of the documents were and the Thalmor leaders.

A face peered out from the window, only to get pale and start screaming when he saw who were coming. A wizard sent a fireball at the door and blasted it open. The same Words were shouted again, yet this time the most did yield, the rest died as in the barracks. The Bretons quickly spread out and located the leaders in a room, they had been holding a meeting when the Bretons arrived. After searching the embassy for documents, and finding loads of them, the prisoners were rounded up on the yard and put in chains. They numbered in dozens.

What was of value and importance along with all documents were placed on the wagons, the corpses of the Thalmor were left to the maggots and whatever else might want them, no burial would they be given.

The prisoners were to be lead to Daggerfall not very far away. Arniel was glad that he had not failed his king.

In the first light of the next day, the FREEDOM INSTAURATION left Imperial City's harbour. The negotiation failed due to a breach of the most recent contract between the Empire and the Dominion, commited by no one but the Empire. Having arrived in the agreement of council leader Ignatius' strict arrestment and final execution for a crime commited by the Breton King Uthyn, the Empire suddenly decided to break this agreement, with which a war could have been avoided. Furthermore, future negotiations were canceled and every single Dominion citizen was banned from the city. Declaration of war was pending.

High Official Danotar would have smiled. But the High Elf with his shaved skull never did flinge his perfect flesh mold Aldmeri face. This was the most delightful outcome, the Empire being responsible for the war. He slightly touched the pendant around his neck. A fragment of the destroyed Crystal-like-law, the fallen Tower. Soon this world would follow, after the extinction of men, only one or two thousand years more. He wouldn´t see it. But Dawn would be there.

In this moment of first triumph and perfect moral, Danotar received a message, brought to him by the last breath of a Thalmor. This he doubted, but it was what was written. After reading he placed the document on the table next to him. His gesture made an adviser and a goblin slave come closer.

"Uthyn Murderer-King has justified his name once more. In an act of aggression the Thalmor embassy in High Rock was ravaged, all guards murdered in ambush as the majority of its civil clerks and sfaff."

Danotar's perfect mood was slightly flawed as he witnessed a facial reaction of his adviser.

"High Rock, the Empire and men therefor have comitted the first war crime, even before the first beating of the war drums."

It was hard not to show his feelings. Dead Thalmor and human barbarism. There was nothing better for his cause.

"Make sure men knows whose hands are drenched in blood and whose not. This time in the precious beginning."

Danotar arose from his chair and took a few steps to another table. This ground he could walk on, crystal and solidified sun light made. There he started to write five short letters:

"To our Combined Forces south of Arenthia: Split up. 5000 Bosmer and 2500 Khajiit from Tenmar forest move Southwards and defend our northern jungle border. 28000 soldiers move Eastwards, through jungle and northern desert. Destination Bravil."

"To Army Group Elsweyr: Mobilize. Move Eastwards. Destination Leyawiin.

"To Nothern Armada: Hold Position, recruit pirates and buccaneers as reinforcement if needed."

"To Southern Armada: Move Eastwards. Destination Niben."

"To Men: We're coming for you in every one of your quarters, Sons of Talos. None shall survive."

He handed the letters to his adviser, to make sure they would find their designation and to have them copied and spread among the other Dominion leaders. Then the High Official stepped up out to the upper deck of the left prow of his three prowed, physical law mocking ship. The rays of ascending Magnus touched and made sparkle the hundred other glass ships, gold ships, sunlight ships, which left the Imperial city for unflawed home.

A sad display? Defeat? Flight? Partially, but the fleet of refugees from the Moth city would meet half way with the fleet which would lay fire to the very waters.

Uthyn arrived at Chorrol two Days after recieveing Word of that his orders had been carried out in Cyrodiil. Near fifty thousand Soldiers were encamped here. High Rock, Skyrim, The Reach, Cyrodiil... They had all risen up in arms against the Dominion.

The majority of banners was the blue and White lion banners of High Rock and the blue and White bear banners of Skyrim. But the dragon banners of Cyrodiil and the banner of the Reach was there aswell.

His scouts reported that the Dominion was moving towards Bravil and Leyawiin. He nearly laughed at that, Bravil was a slum and of no use. They would only waste Soldiers on it. Leyawiin was too far away for Uthyn to be able to do anything anyway. The most troubling news was that Dominion ships were heading towards the Niben. Yet the Imperial City was very strong. And besides that a part of the Imperial fleet were guarding it, aswell as eight thousand men in total. Even if the Dominion could take it... It would cost them tens of thousands in an attempt. And with the new defences Uthyn had created, for examples dozens of new scorpions and more. Their ships would take some high risks in an assault on it, and while their ships would be shooting at the massive stone walls of the Imperial City, the defences of the Imperial city would be shooting at ships mostly made out of Wood. He smiled at the thought of filling Lake Rumare with the wrecks of Aldmeri ships.

Yet he needed to tread carefully here, arrogance was likely the best way to lose a war and Uthyn were experienced with warfare. For now he would remain at Chorrol and Watch, the Imperial City was very well protected and would be able to withstand tens of thousands of Soldiers and a long siege, Skyrim is walled up behind the Jerral Mountains, High Rock behind the Drudanach ones, for the Dominion to enter that way they would have to move their troops slowly through them while constantly under constant harrassing assaults from the Reachmen and the Iliac bay protected by the best part of the Imperial loyalist's naval Power. A fleet that would be able to defend its own Waters against the Dominion massed naval Power and be able to defeat one of the Dominion fleets in an open battle. And then there was also the Redguards... The Redguards would not tolerate assaults on lands near their own.

There was Little that he could do for Bravil and Leyawiin, they would fall but he could only hope that the Soldiers there would make it as expensive for the Dominion as possible. They were small cities, yet had several hundred men to protect them. Enough to man the walls well, and if tried to be taken by strom he expected the Dominions causalties to be a few times higher than the number of men defending.

He kept riding towards the great city of Chorrol with his head filled with thoughts.

Uthyn did not waste time, the first he did afgter he had come to the castle was to gather a war Council. Several generals and prominent people such as the Jarl of Whiterun was expected to come.

He looked out from The castle as he waited. Beneath him the streets of Chorrol was teeming with soldiers. Out on the fields outside the city within a great palissade tens of thousands of horses were kept. The most of the cavalry of the Imperial loyalists.

Wereever he looked the great alliance's banners flapped proudly. But would all this strength be enough to face The Aldmeri Dominion? Only time would tell.

Ragnar and a small group of troops approached Chorrol, it felt as though an age had pasted since he had set foot in Cyrodill. Rounding upon the gates, they stopped and waited whilst the gates were unsealed and opened. They rode inside the city, setting their horses at a near by stables, and posted a small number of them to tend to the beasts, whilst the rest walked in unison...more or less, to the castle.

Apparently the Breton king, had started a council of war and was expecting him there. Taking a quick glance around the city the group entered the castle. The soldiers waited while Ragnar and Bjourn walked onwards towards were they presumed the planning was to take place.

They found the room a few moments latter, the door open and the Breton stood there. "We are expected?"

Several generals, legates and chiefs were already there when Ragnar and Bjourn entered. Uthyn stood leaning over a massive map of Tamriel on a richly carved table. He looked up and replied "Aye, the Dominion are on the march. We need to decide what to do next."

Ragnar nodded, and walked over to the table peering at the map. "The Altmer have a strong navy, do they not? I say if we can break their strongest link, then we use their naval disadvantage to our advantage." Ragnar answered, he had been giving the land battles much more thought, but a naval advantage had won wars before.

Uthyn nodded "Yes they have. However their navy is too weak to successfully defeat mine own combined with yours when our ships are defending our own waters. And do not forget about the Redguards, they will not tolerate naval assaults on me from the Dominion and with their navy we would exceed teh Dominion in naval power. They have split up their navy in half. If we did destroy their navy on the sea between Hammerfell and Alinor it would leave our fleet heavily weakened if we did not have the support of the Redguards. The most of the Imperial fleet is at Anvil though. Yet I'd prefer it to stay there for time being. The other half is sailing up the Niben, yet we have little to fear for the Imperial City at the moment though. The City exceeds their firepower with the new defences I have constructed there and it is defended by eight thousand men. Most of them seaoned men from the legion. Wooden hulls make a poor match against massive stone walls dont you agree? Also a part of the Imperial fleet are at the Imperial City, so they would not be the only ones to have ships there. Their fleet has little to do against the Imperial City. The only way in on land are the bridges that are heavily guarded and fortified. Or by sea if you are suicidial enough to attempt to. The Imperial City we'll need to start worrying about if one or both of the Dominion armies reaches it..."

He pointed at Bravil "This is my main concern. The City will soon be under siege, and in the difference of Leyawiin who we cannot do a thing to help it this city are also more important as it gives control over the southern Niben. Yet it would be unwice to march at them. To gain access north Skingrad lies in their way, that is by far more heavily fortified and defended. Unless they try to cross The Niben to get stuck in that bloody marsh that they call The Blackwood. I think that we should remain here for time being, and you?"

Ragnar nodded In agreement "Aye, to stay here for the time being, would be the best course" he answered. By the sounds of it the Dominion, was in a somewhat tight spot, and if these defences in and on the imperial city held then they would essentially, dash themselves against rocks.

Simultaneously the Combined Forces in the north close to Bravil and the Elsweyr Army Group close to Leyawiin invaded Cyrodiil. They neither tried to conceal their presence while crossing the border nor met any resistance, which would have been futile. To arrive in the same moment, the Elsweyr army group had been marching at a slower pace, especially as it followed the order of purging the land from all remaining human. Valenwood had been purged before, while there were no humans on the Blessed Isles naturally. Approximately the manual removal of humanity was completed to up to ninety five percent in the Dominion territory.

Though, there was only the order to kill Bretons, Nords and Imperial on spot. There was no doubt that they due to their Nedic origin were contaminated with Lorkhanic influence. Their bodies were the descendants of soldiers of Lorkhan, who were defeated by Auri-El himself in the war against the pathetic wanderers so many eras ago. Their mundane existence was linked to the doom drum, and from the death of the mundane the Altmer would reach divinity. Atleast it was a step into the right direction.

There was no order to kill Redguards. Not only that the Redguards were not of nedic blood, their religious views – how ever flawed they were – were closer to the truth than the Nedic ones. They viewed Lorkhan – Sep – as an evil being and they did not embrace material existence like other impure humans. They even wanted to ‘jump’ to the ‘far away shores’. It was there for questionable whether they were Lorkhan infested or just victims of the Doom Drum, like the Elves. However, there also was no direct order to spare Redguards.

Orsimer were usually enslaved, joining the goblinkin, Argonians dismissed, Dunmer, Velothi-nil heretics, killed or captured. Civilian Bosmer and Khajiit, who were no citizens of the Dominion were spared while Altmer were detained. For all Altmer living outside the perfect society were nothing but banished dissidents or the offspring of such. Argonians were dismissed.

In that manner, all villages, farms, holds and other settlements in the county of Bravil, along the Green Road between Bravil and Leyawiin burned.

Donator stepped to the upper deck. His flagship, the FREEDOM INSTAURATION sailed amid one hundred golden ships,made of crystal and solidified sunlight. Their multiple prows elongated into swirling Sun-Birds, and were armed with gem-encrusted mini-trebuchets fit for sailing which fire pure aetheric fire. Instead of sails they had banners and banners, banners, banners, listing the sailors´ ancestors all the way back to the Dawn.

With these 100 ships, Danotar moved towards Bravil, to shut down its harbor. Another 100 ships he had left to do the same at Leyawiin. And another 100 ships sailed upstream to close the upper Niben where it flows from Lake Rumare and to conquer the bridge over the Niben, just like 8000 mer of the combined forces.

“We have arrived at the coordinates.”

Danotar looked up. On the western side of the river was located Bravi, the city of dirt and slums. How fitting, to rot out this human rat nest at once. South of it, the High Official could spot columns of smoke and the golden reflections of the approaching 20000 mer.

“When will the troops arrive?”

“They will in the afternoon.”

“And when will they have drawn a circle around this skeever nest?”

“This will be done in the evening.”

“Status of the Elsweyr army group?”

“They will arrive at Leyawiin in the afternoon and will have surrounded the city in the evening.”

“And the fleet?”

“The 100 ships at Leyawiin’s harbor are ready. Just like the 100 ships here.”

Everything worked as planned.

“Orders: As soon as the cities are surrounded, the ships will close the harbours. The land forces will start to construct trenches and palisades just after they put up their camps. I want atleast one circle of trenches and palisades finished before midnight. Just outside the range of their towers. Then the troops may have rest. Tomorrow multiple more rings of moat and palisade will follow. The camps and siege rings will be fortified over the next 222 days of planned siege.”

The High official looked north.

“The 100 ships and 8000 mer should have reached the brigde over the Niben by now. They shall close the bridge and the Green road. No refugee is allowed to survive. Construct a fortified camp at the Green road – Ring road crossing. Destroy the bridge if the enemy armada approaches. Trap their ships inside lake Rumare. But by now we let the upper Niben open.”

Danotar turned away. For this day he had done all he could. Now he could only wait.

"If i may recommend." Olaf 'The Twisted' Whitemane said. Most of the other generals had missed him walking in with his commander, Jarl Ragnar. "Fire Ships. To burn the elven ships to a waste of ash and Mer remains. It shall give us a naval advantage in the Niben river, and give the garrisoned forces at Leyawiin and Bravil a little help. And at the cost of only some wood and very little lives per boat, unless they do not lack the skill to exit the situation." He continued as he gulped some mead.

Uthyn looked over at Olaf "There are only twenty ships from the Imperial fleet in the Niben, I shall not waste them on fire ships, my idea is to turn their ships into fireships as they enter lake Rumare, thus entering the range of the defences of the Imperial City. Bravil and Leyawiin has likely been closed off already from the sea for all I know, and the Dominion will soon be upon them if they havent reached the cites already. I am thinking about the Imperial City, The Dominion is a swift force, and I am actually unsure if it can withstand an attack from both the sea with hundreds of ships and tens of thousands by land. For sure tens of thousands would die in an assault like that, but losing the capital of the Empire would not be a good thing. The Imperial City's defences consists of trebuchets, scorpions, catapults... Among the eight thousand there is many battlemages. The Dominion would be utterly stupid to make a sole naval assault on it. The range on the defences will stop them from reaching the Waterfront unblooded. And there the Imperial ships will be waiting. I expect them to close off the Green Road at first, then likely move on to the Gold Road or the bridge there. It would not be the best if the bridge to the Imperial City will somehow get destroyed in any future assaults from the Dominion, I hope that the Imperial ships and the defences can keep them away from it. But in any case the bride is strong and heavily fortified, it will not fall for just a few hits from a catapult. And I believe that if any Dominion ships got past the Imperial ships and the constant firing artillery on the walls of the Imperial City they would be destroyed then."


He looked at the map again "They could try to cross the Niben and make for Cheydinhal, in my mind that would not be a wise act as having large armed forces that near southern Morrowind could provoke the Argonians or the Dunmer, perhaps both. Nor is there much up there. But if they did it, it would more be Bruma that I would fear for, Skyrim is walled up behind the Jerral mountains and pretty much out of their reach, but Bruma would lie right in their way, and it is an important link to the northern Tamriel. Not that I would allow them to take the city though, we know those lands by far better than them, we better can take the cold up there, and we have our main army, this one, pretty much a day's swift march from here. For now the best we can do is remaining here. Let them have a slum and a marsh, let them waste thousands on taking it. I want Skingrad to send out several hundred men to raid their supply lines, little food shall be reaching them through there, and to the thousands of their soldiers that are marching north rather near the Green road will have much of their foold coming through the area Skingrad shall raid. I want them to be careful and have many scouts that at the first sign of a larger armed force fall back. But with any luck they will be down to eating their own horses soon if we have the luck on our side. I hope that it may soften up their forces before we even can do battle with them. Yet it will harldy stop them. Holding Chorrol means a strong link to the northwestern Tamriel, aslong as it belongs to us we know that we will have sure passage to Skyrim or even High Rock if need be."

Uthyn paced restlessly around the room, thinking. "Does anyone think that we should do something else than remaining here and holding Chorrol?" he asked.

Tom thought about what he said about Bruma. "You know the land better, but what if they show up with superior numbers? If the others cities are so well protected the only way for them to break through the North would be to take that area. Do you have any new information on their troop movements to see where their concentrating their forces?"

Uthyn looked at Tom and replied "We have near fifty thousand soldiers here at Chorrol, they are attacking with a little over sixty thousand. I daresay that we will not be desperately outnumbered. And if they send their forces up there we'll smash them against the walls of Bruma. Besides, Bruma is defended by several hundred soldiers, its at the foot of the Jerrals rather high up, wich means that an attacker must attack the city after first climbing up to even get to the walls, wich only increases the range of Bruma's defences and decreases the one of the enemy. Nor is it a land easy to live off, an attacking large army would have large problems getting food for everyone. Bruma is currently of little concern.

Currently their forces are concentrated at Bravil and Leyawiin, though a smaller force of several thousand soldiers are moving up north near the Green Road and the bridge over the Niben there. What I want to know is what they will do after they have taken Bravil and Leyawiin."

Olaf took a look at the map and the dominion fleet. "I would suspect the Altmer will be using their fleet to take one of two places. Anvil, is a possibility as it would give the Altmer their own land in mainland tamriel, and the land can be easily reinforced with Altmer or Bosmer soldiers. They could also be thinking to assault Daggerfall, it would give them a flanking position on the Empire," He looked at Uthyn. "and would most surely result In the majority of your Breton army returning home and leaving the Cyrodiil forces weaker." My proposal is this, dispatch five thousand soldiers from Chorrol to Anvil. We may also need a portion of the Breton-Nordic fleet to help defend it's shores. I also suggest having seven of the Bretons in High rock to defend that city," Olaf then took a look at Ragnar, "I'm sure that the other Nordic commanders would't hesitate to send some troops over to fill in the other lowly reinforced cities of High rock."