Tales of the Exalted

As night fell, the Shining Horde lit as many campfires as it could, drinking, feasting and singing loudly. It was a common thing among the Temujin, though not exactly rare among other armies.
They didn't truly lay siege the way most armies did, preferring to let their enemies witness their ease and smell the food they wasted. It showed confidence that the battle would be short, and victory certain.
And even if it weren't, the Horde's numbers were nigh inexhaustible. Twelve kingdoms with which to conscript an army, and as of yet they hadn't. Their crops would be harvested on time, their trade routes secured by other armies. There was nothing to fear, not even death.

But the Shu Han was not a weak nation by any means. Their Dragon-King, monastic orders and their school of sorcery made the kingdom one of the most wealthy and powerful in the Hundred Kingdoms.
Their leadership would not be cowed by an army of drunk savages, and with the reports of their scouts they set a trap into motion. Temujin honor would not allow them to ignore a challenge on an open battlefield. And while brave Temujin and An-Tir horsemen died to Shu Han conscripts, the true soldiers would fire arrows, siege weapons and spells to devastating effect.

It took some time for the scout's horns to be heard, and longer still to be understood, but soon hundreds of torches revealed thousands of Shu Han spearmen and archers.
The camp exploded into chaos as men searched for their weapons and armor and leaders began bellowing orders.

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Cries were heard across the camp, rousing Rebekah from her papers. The angles would have to wait. She swung her lantern about to try and find reason for the noise. Everything was set up for those blasted walls when a crier came up and pointed out the flood of men coming from Shu-Han. Rebekah spat a curse to the ground and let out a shrill whistle.

Every man from High Water froze and turned to her, waiting for instruction. "Plans change men! change the trajectory away from the wall! Try not to overlap, carry out as wide as you can!"

She stepped off of the trebuchet's level platform and looked around for one of her satchels. They needed to secure as much of the ardent resin as they could. Some would be hurled via siege engine, but the rest was going to be needed for later. Now where was everyone?

Eida was one of the first to hear the horns and watch the gates open. The Nahuatl excused himself from his present company and vanished into the crowd. He sprinted his way forward, weaving between soldiers in his rushed search to warn Mayumi and Callista. His next stop would be at his Warlord's side. He needed to know their scope.

Reaching their tent, Eida slid through the flap with barely a sound compared to the outside as people got news. He waited, the wraith knew he was there, he could feel her eyes. "Mayumi, we need you and the Princess in the center of the camp. Shu-Han moves."

Jill nearly fell out of the chair she had started dozing off in and scrambled to find her pack as she heard the alarms go off. Huffing she wiggled back into the Moonsilver mail and started to look for a rallying point. ”You know, they ought to dye all commander’s heads bright red. It certainly makes it easier to spot you in a crowd. Never mind, scratch that. That would make them too big of a target.” She said turning her direction towards their war machines. ”Was this in the plan? Oh, I may have neglected to mention one other little form I can take but don’t worry, I’m pretty sure you’ll know it’s me and not shoot, right?”

Ruby looked over and laughed. "You're kidding right? She slung a satchel over her shoulder and grabbed a second. as she strode over. "Once these machines are going with the engineers, I'm headed in, and you're coming with me. No way I'm stuck back here and missing the fun." She took the oilskin wrapped object out of its holster and dropped it. In her hand shone a flame piece made almost entirely of glass that sparkled with iridescent greens, blues, and oranges. A short handled bayonet that was more for chopping than piercing was affixed just underneath the barrel of the fragile looking weapon, veins of some obscure metal running throughout the frame.

"Just because our plan went up in smoke doesn't mean we can't return the favor. If the door is open and we can get to it? Let's blast it off the damn hinges."

The ladies in the tent had heard the horns in the distance but had not made any sense of them yet. Callista perched on a small stool by the traveling desk, writing some notes on the day while May took down her dark hair and brushed through it. She had just begun to settle in for the night and had taken off the heavy silk garb in favor of walking around in the pale under dress while she finished her writing.

The sound of several blades being drawn and the small chair falling over could be heard as a male voice was suddenly heard in the princess’s quarters. Upon seeing who it was, Callista put her hand in front of May to stop her from attacking him outright. ”What do you mean Shu-Han is on the move? Are we in danger?” She said, so caught off guard that she was unable to hide the fear behind her words.

”I’d say you’re joking but I’m pretty sure you’re not,” she said as she eyed the new toy approvingly. ”Are you sure you can use that thing?” Jill didn’t even think she needed to say that she didn’t intend to part her from the object but it was a rather interesting item to seen used by non-Exalted. Striding over, she picked up a few satchels of her own, weighting them in her hands as she looked curiously at her friend. ”Alright, if you’re going that close you need to promise to stick near me so I can protect you. What’s the plan?”

The tattoos on Eida rippled darkly as the clamor rose and steel was pointed in his direction. Jaeda was itchy. He flexed his hand and the gold rings on it jingled as gold chain the thickness of thread wove itself between his fingers. The ink on him seemed to expand and reach itself towards his hands as that happened. Eida's eyes darted from the Azuma nameless, to the wraith and rested on Callista, who was most definitely not ready for this to happen. Her clothes stuck to her frame in interesting ways, and her wide eyes made her seem so...exposed, but there was only a moment before she was ushered behind another one of the clan.

"Shu-Han probably realized they outnumber us, wipe us out before the Temujin riders show up. You need to get to the center point of our force. If they have come out this openly, I will guarantee that some force will strike from another direction. Be safe, wear the charm. I leave to search for Donovan and Awilix."

As he turned to leave, a darkness coalesced from his hand, a long blackwood shaft grasped in his hands, adorned with glittering steel on the haft. The faint image of a vicious serpent stretched out and up, shaping itself into an sweeping blade that was defined not by the space it occupied, but by the light that it devoured, an edge of ebon black. Without a glance back, Eida was gone, running to his next ward.

Awilix stalked through the camp like a big cat on the prowl. She snagged men and shouted orders, all the while making way towards the Lookshy woman's camp.
She found the woman and her pet Lunar talking and putting on armor. Awilix grinned as Suku announced their arrival.
"Lookshy, just the woman I wanted to find!" she purred. Her artifact spear was in her hand, he headdress and armor (though most wouldn't call it such) sparkled ready for war.
"I want to convince Chen and the An-Tir to spearhead my warband through to the gates, same plan as before. We bomb the fucking wall. Are you in?" there was a hunger within her, this was just the sort of battle she craved.

Ruby may not approve of the warlord's behavior before the fight, but she sure as hell liked her now. "Wall? Why stop there, I was just telling Silver that I'm aiming for the door itself! High Water!" she turned to face her men as the were adjusting the monstrous machines. "Five teams with me, the rest are on these toys. Remember to be sparing with the resin blocks. Boys with me, load yourself up. If something happens on our way down, I want to see craters!"

A wicked smile had crept onto Ruby's face. Not only was she going to be the breaking point for this assault, but she was going to be moving forward with two legitimate monsters. "They'll be ready when we are, who's next?"

Chen shouted orders, the Temujin heavy cavalry he would be commanding would be ready to ride alongside the Knights of An-Tir or he'd be furious. He searched for his brother, but found Gaheris instead.
"These fools race to their death, brother." he said, clasping the man's hand in a warrior's greeting. Gaheris grinned.
"I'm with our infantry this time, so save me a few worthy enemies to slay." the bastard grinned. He was dressed in his armor already, several weapons hung from the big man's body. He was arguably the best fighter of the three sons, and Chen did not doubt many would die to the man's blades tonight.
"Will do, go ready your men, is Jin-Sahn in his tent?" he asked. Gaheris nodded and the brothers parted ways.

Jin-Sahn waited as captains made their way to his tent. His couriers and scouts were in and out with updated information as he and his closest advisors prepared the map. Soon came Chen followed by Awilix and Stalling as well as the Ogun Chieftain and his sons.
Yokatsu came in along with two lesser Khals and his eldest son. Everyone was abuzz with information and questions. They wanted to hear what they already knew; that battle was the only choice before them now.
Jin-Sahn was frustrated, their plan was going to work, he knew it would. The Shu Han generals must have known about his uncle's forces delay. At least that likely meant they'd been intercepted. But that was little consolation as their strategy was no longer viable.
How many of the men he'd need to hold open the breach would now lay dead on the field without ever touching the walls? He calmed himself as Sanjuro had taught him years ago, there was no sense focusing on what wasn't when there was so much that was.
"We won't be retreating, if any of you are so foolish as to believe I would. But the Dragon-King would not sally forth like this if he did not know of my uncle's delay. Whether that means his force has been defeated or not I do not know, but we can no longer count on that support. Either way, we still have twelve thousand of the finest warriors in the Hundred Kingdoms! We will scatter these farmers and merchants playing at soldier before our wrath, and then destroy the wall as planned. We just won't be able to do it the same way. Ideas?" he asked.

It was as May feared. The Nahautl boy startled her, and she drew a blade on him. Callista's fear was clear, despite her having May lower her weapon. Ayame lowered her own and soon Tatsumaru returned from investigating. The other Azuma likely waiting out front so as not to overwhelm the Princess.
May cursed in her native tongue and searched through a chest she'd brought. Within she found the equipment she'd brought along. She pulled out the traditional Azuma battle gear and lay it on the bed.
"I am going to need the boys to leave as I prepare the Princess for battle." she said softly.

Her hand dropped away from May as she watched the shadows on his body seemed to flex and move. She later realized that there were not dancing shadows but his tattoos playing tricks in the light or perhaps something more.

”Thank you for this warning,” she said accepting a robe from one of the girls as a means of temporary covering. ”Be safe and may you be blessed with a swift victory.” Her eyes had settled on the staff that seemed to spring from the tips of his fingers. Callista did not have to wonder, she knew that she was getting a glimpse of Jaeda, the soul he shared and kept hidden.

While May dug for her things, the princess quietly glided to her saddle bags to pull out a small wooden box. Without a word she slipped the small emerald ring before turning back to the Azuma to prepare.

Eida made his way through the soldiers with practiced ease, headed to the command tent. A small ache in the back if his head came into being when Callista put on his gift. As long as she wore it and drew no blade, that pain would last, letting him know that she is alive. The enchantment would make untrained eyes skim past her to the nearest threat.

He was the last to arrive in the tent and silently took his place at Awilix' side, a binary opposite to her bright energy. He whispered quickly with her, confirming that she wanted the first advance, and they waited for the chaos to be brought to order.

Donovan translated the Warmasters words as he spoke rather than formally waiting for the man to finish and repeat as he so often did in court.
Khal Jin-Sahn. It is time for the Temujin to shine if they would be like water. Our greatest numbers, and our greatest strength are in our mounted units. Their greatest strength is their walls. They have chosen to give up their advantage, but putting us underneath their walls exposes all of us to their ranged assault and neuters our own ability to use our siege weapons.
We fall back, and leave the siege engineers to die by their hands. We post a small regiment of infantry here to act as a wall to hold them back while our other forces can retreat. That regiment must be given orders to break, spending only a portion of their strength as if their valor has departed them for having no support. Them breaking will draw the enemy forces out farther. They will be breaking ranks to charge and cut down our men like wheat ready for harvest. It is then that we strike.
The rest of the infantry will not have fallen back, but will have rallied at the back of the camp, we leave spaces between the lines for the retreating infantry to fall back through and form up behind.
Our horses will not have truly fallen back, but have pulled to the sides and 2 /3 of them close in on the infantry like a bear trap closing in on the beasts leg. The enemy forces being caught then cannot disengage and the infantry moves forward crushing them under foot.
The enemy should never reach the siege engineers, who can open fire at the gate- perhaps damaging it to stay open, perhaps firing at the wall to keep them occupied. Whatever target is best for them.
The light horse we deploy to the east wing and when the horses ride forward they move with the others, but instead of finishing the closing maneuver they push on to take the gate that our opponents have so nicely opened for us. As long as they hold it, the rest of us will sweep in and flood the city with our numbers.

Awilix stepped forwards, aiming to convince the Prince not to use such a cautious strategy. To be bold like his father.
"The old man speaks wisely... were this the true Shu Han army. But think about it, Prince Jin-Sahn, is that the army of Shu Han?" she looked around at the other commanders and advisors before she continued.
"Their army has no hope to retreat! And is not a large enough force to hope to defeat our host! They are bait for what the Dragon King believes is a trap." she spoke with certainty.
"He believes this army lead by a foolhardy Temujin warlord, not the Shining Prince! He believes we will charge into him, smash our strength against a force of conscripts while his real soldiers rain hell down upon us. And that, that is the weakness of his plan. That he doesn't know his enemy." she pointed to the knights, to Chen, to Eida and Ruby.
"The Warmaster's plan will see us victorious to be sure, but what is a victory over the lambs our enemy sent to the slaughter? I say we use our original plan, with a minor adjustment. We use this trap to make one of our own! They expect us to assault their force and then make for the walls weakened. I would have us trap the peasant army against the might of our own, and then with the heavy horse of Temujin and An-Tir, we smash a path for my warband and Stalling's explosives. My men will follow in the wake of the horses, and form a screen for the explosives. So busy will they be reeling from the cavalry and my men charging their walls, they will not notice our trap until it's too late! Now half of their force is away from the breech and our cavalry will be within the walls, all of Shu Han's advantages lost." her heart was pounding in her chest as she imagined this battle and the eventual victory.
The others stood in silence, contemplating her bold plan. But it seemed as though she had won over Chen and Yokatsu at the least. Jin-Sahn was the voice she needed.

The Azuma were already all mobile and surrounding the tent while Callista was trying to compose herself and get into the gear May had provided for her.

”I do not see how wearing this and acting like I am one of you will keep me any safer as I already have you all to guard me as well as Speedy,” she said awkwardly looking down at the nearly skin tight leathers. Callista wasn’t going to openly say that she put faith in the ring the sorcerer had given to her but she somehow felt safer with it on. ”This is most unladylike, it leaves nothing to the imagination! I might as well be naked,” she said flushing deeply.

May shook her head at Callista's indignant complaints.
"Then it is good, Princess, that their imagination shall be of an Azuma and not their Princess." she said, handing her charge a mask.
"You will follow me as if you were my shadow, and none shall know it is you save the twelve of us. Likely not even Swift Wind will see you for who you are." she said with a smile before donning her own mask slowly so Callista could see.
"I will see to it he is guarded as well though." she added.

"Lord Prince, I put faith in my Warlord's plan. The execution may need refining, but waiting here for Shu Han's sacrificial soldiers will only get their deadly rain over our heads. That wall is their greatest defense, let us use it as ours, eliminating at least their siege weaponry. I would suggest a wedge formation of screening horsemen cutting into the near flank of their soldiers as we move not directly through, but along the side. Hold the needed infantry on the further edge and the horsemen will cut down their ranks."

There really wasn't much time to debate this, and giving the Shining Prince a third option under this pressure would do nothing but stall a decision. They were at a point of no return, and needed a decision.