SkaForHire

Welcome to the right guild, Hobbythom!

In the hand of Dugal MacLean… My Dearest Merith, I hope you are safe. I do not know why you insisted on staying at the siege, we could have used your stable temper in the capitol as the High Lord’s Council meets to discuss the strange occurrences in Kaliphlin this month. You should be representing Eastgate at the meeting since neither Paulis or I can be there. We just hope that our friends make the right decisions. We have made camp near Trigan’s Mill, an old lugging town, now almost claimed by the ever-expanding desert. It has an odd geography, within a mile stretch we have the Red River, the tail end of the Wither Woods, the Oil Road, and the Western Desert. There is only one building standing here, a blacksmith’s shop, with an owner who refuses to vacate his house, even with the battle coming. Our General’s council made up of Sergio, Hailfist, Paulos, Phrixelle, two Aleenridders, Al’Eden Mantherin of the Blue Guard, and Jakon the Invincible – along with a Masa who had stopped by and paid his mercenaries who will be fighting with us – has decided that this would be the best place to hold. It is almost a choke point, as the River on our left protects our flank, while the desert to the right becomes inhospitable quite quickly. So at Trigan’s Mill, the battle of the Wither Woods will be fought. It shouldn’t be more than a Day now before Petera’s men are upon us. I sent the GEAR Co. 4th Light Infantry, you know, your old regiment the “Amazons,” to run a scout and screen maneuver. Besides Lissa and Madini, I doubt you know many of the current ladies in the regiment. They were able to get limited intelligence, but they did capture a diplomat from Petera’s army who had come with surrender terms for us. Unfortunately, the man did not make it to our camp. DSC_1302 by skaforhire, on Flickr Our big worry is that Petera will show here. You must tell DaMaximus to fire off the warning rockets if the Dome disappears around Eastgate, and have him send his fastest dragon rider. We will need all the help we can get. If that dome around the city falls, that means Petera is no longer there and he would be on this very field with me and your brother-in-law. Only fate can save us then, I fear what an open battlefield with such a powerful mage would look like. Still, if the dome falls, make sure DaMaximus presses the attack, he may only have hours before Petera’s return after he finishes us off. From the Amazons we have learned that the leader of the enemy army is Elden Logan, the patriarch of the Logan Clan in Eastgate. I am surprised that Petera has stooped so low to associate with the former kingsblood. Still, the man is said to be cautious and well versed in strategy. Apparently a couple of Petera’s old buddies, Fenghan Wade, who seems to be sporting the colors of the King, and Lord Argentus of Grimstone. These men are also formable opponents on the battlefield. We have learned that the Eastgate 1st Heavy Infantry, the Red Guard are among Petera’s troops – so it seems we will see the battle of the guards, Blue v. Red – well they have been scrapping in Eastgate for 20 years now, I guess the rivalry will be settled. Al’Eden has assured me that he will Eliminated Captain General Flint himself. DSC_1287 by skaforhire, on Flickr That is all the intelligence we could gather, all we know is that Petera currently has a few less troops than us, and that he is not with his troops. We expect that they know where we are positioned. I must go inspect the 1st Heavy Cavalry now, as the “Titans” are anxious to prove to me their readiness. All my love, Dugal P.S. make sure to lead another quest to save me from the pits of the underworld if I fall. Too much to ask? --- OOC A sneak peak at Petera's forces, the baseplates won't be there when the final setup is complete -- it was just to quickly move forces to figure out set up strategies. DSC_1309 by skaforhire, on Flickr

I saw the pic DM, looks good! OK THIS IS THE CUTOFF POINT. all new signups will be treated as reinforcements and will not be there at the start of the battle (you can sign up until the battle finishes) All the rest of the mercenaries have been bought by various NPC lords and will be on the battlefield. I will change the thread title when the first battle posts start going up.

For example, Dugal's side is 15 pages long, and Petera's is only 8

I thought we would have placed units today and got to the first turn, but Dugal has SO many more units that we spent a little time beefing up the other side today and we had company. On another note, we flipped a coin and my brother is controlling Dugal and I am controlling Petera's forces. I think we will at least have a first turn report up Tuesday afternoon.

Just get it up then, I will take your word for it and up the stats on your mercs.

They are brickforge, I believe they still sell them, but the painted ones were only in battle packs last I checked. They went on sale a few years back and I bought dozens of the orange and grey ones... don't worry these won't be the only centaurs at the battle of the wither woods, Petera has acquired a few also. Great MOC, that tent is great.

In the thread I would have called them Leander if I could have found your name for them -- I knew you had one, I just could not find it. We can just assume that the Khajiit are a different division of the Leander. But, yea, awesome MOC!!! I am glad you rose the the challenge of a speed MOC.

Alright, just 8 more to go! We are finishing off writing down stats for all the units and the first initial turns of the battle should be fought tomorrow after the Merc MOC deadline. Mccoyed, I will get a picture up tonight to show you, unfortunately, I could not find my red rice hats, so your people are one of the few that are really altered from the original pic.

Gabe and Hammerhand's troops are reserved.

I forgot to mention this before, but since you participated in the challenges leading up to this battle (last year!) Your character will be significantly more powerful in the battle. Although, I don't have a brown hat, so he will look different.

Hello everyone, this is the last update before we start the battle... Everyone who sent troops had at least part of their troops represented, except Mike S., but we hope to get the parts shipment in with the golden masks soon. If not, his guys won't look as snazzy. DSC_1276 by skaforhire, on Flickr You can see... we have a lot of forces created from all of you. And we have a surprise... MERCENARIES! We have 13 sets of men looking for a patron. All they need is a good master to tell them which side of the battle to fight on. Limit one per member, first come first serve... these guys will fight for whoever you want and your house / lord / warlord / company will receive the glory! They must be paid, so make sure your come up with some coin! Also, anyone who creates and posts as a free build (with link here) of a MOC representing the hiring of their new troops ( approximation of characters is OK) by 3PM Sunday afternoon (EST) will have their Mercenaries receive better stats so that they perform better in battle. So claim your mercs in your first post, and come back with a MOC to level your guys up!!!! Welcome all to the town of Greenbow! I am your auctioneer Rasmus Eckert, and boy do we have some great mercenary companies available today. As you all know, there are two very large armies in the Wither Woods not 15 miles away, and where there are armies, there are mercenary companies lingering nearby! Thirteen bands today, to be exact. But, I know you all want to know more about who you can buy, so without further ado, we will start with the Death’s Head Company. Arvon Colest is a seasoned and fearless battle captain, and unlike some of these bands of mercenaries, his men actually elect him leader before each battle. The Death’s Head Company has fought during the Revolword War and in collective smaller actions for GEAR Company before. They are a bid odd, as they take their mascot, a pig named Pickles into battle with them. No one is sure if this is the same Pickles every time. Style wise, the Death’s Head Company uses an assortment of weapons and are all individual fighters who work and play well together. DSC_1275 by skaforhire, on Flickr Next we have Alfred Hamlin and his band of warriors. They sport both ranged and melee weapons, and are quite versatile on the battlefield. They are all longtime veterans under Hamlin, and are generally known as more loyal troops, even when the battle turns the wrong direction. They finish their contract no matter what. Their medium/light armor allows them to move quickly around the battlefield. DSC_1267 by skaforhire, on Flickr Next we have a former crown knight, Brolin Fontana, and his two friends made in the heat of battle – an earth mage, Carious, and a man known to take down squads of cavalry by himself, Jorn the slayer. These three don’t need any lackeys, as they feel they just get themselves killed. Bid now folks, Carious is the only mage we have on the auction block today! RECRUITED: ROBUKO DSC_1269 by skaforhire, on Flickr Next we have a nice little combat unit, the Fallen Dragons. Former Kaliphlin Guardsmen who left the service after the Guards Strike five years ago. They have been the hired help of many Avalonian lords in the last five years, and are now currently without employer. They are a cohesive fighting unit, with shields in the front and spears fighting over their shoulders. RECRUITED: THeUtilityBelt DSC_1266 by skaforhire, on Flickr Next we have one of our more unique lots. The Pensive Gibblestomp and his unit of gnomes, the Murderous Gnome Cabal. Gnomes don’t normally go out for adventuring, but these gnomes put down their screwdrivers and stopped tinkering to fulfil their secret thirst for blood and carnage. Once these little men get into battle, they will not stop biting, clawing, poking bellies, kicking shins, or cutting the enemy to ribbons until they are dead or the battle is over. RECRUITED: HAMMERHAND DSC_1271 by skaforhire, on Flickr Some of finest heavy cavalry available in Historica today, the Yellow Dragons are led by Vindus Victorious, or at least a man that calls himself that. They have never been on the losing side of a battle, and have ridden down many an enemy. It is rumored that at the Battle of Hedgerow during the Revolword War, they were the ones that slayed Victor’s third in command Clayson Stonefist. Bid now, before they are gone! DSC_1273 by skaforhire, on Flickr Next we have another exotic company, rarely do Centaurs make their way into the mercenary ranks, but Leena Thunderhoof’s band of Kaliphlinian Centaur are looking for some coin in order to build a new village. They are great warriors, and many of them are heavily armored. Their speed, power, and the fear they cause the enemy are well worth their steep price. RECRUITED: GABE DSC_1265 by skaforhire, on Flickr Going along with our theme of non-traditional mercenaries, we have a band of Khajiit warriors. Al’Grumpus, their leader has left the savannahs of Northern Kaliphlin and found a home in the heart of battle. These heavily armed warriors have been useful as merchant’s guards, peacekeepers, and standing soldiers, but they are also keen with coin, and only fight if the price is right. RECRUITED: MIKE S DSC_1264 by skaforhire, on Flickr The strangest of our bands today is this one… I have … never… seen their kind this far south. I can’t guarantee they don’t die of heat stroke before the battle, but these yetis have supernatural strength. Led by Mrrrpstragggleak… er Mark, let’s just call him Mark, these three warriors are sure to crush some skulls. RECRUITED: DaMaximus DSC_1261 by skaforhire, on Flickr Another one of our feature companies, the Black Lions, is available for this battle. Edwin Al’Heisen and his very seasoned warriors come at a stiff price, but they rarely leave a battlefield on a shield. Get them now while they are hot. RECRUITED: JAKON DSC_1260 by skaforhire, on Flickr As we wind this auction down to the last three companies, we have Costa Ortega and the Skull Crackers. These heavy weapons experts hail from Avalonia, and add powerful damage to any side. They are often sought after for long journeys across the ocean, because they are ready to handle whatever new adventure awaits. RECRUITED: HORSSTEN DSC_1258 by skaforhire, on Flickr The Kaliphlin Stars have a long and proud history dating back over 100 years. They have been the crème of the crop in infantry mercenaries for years, and their leader Tonin Drowhunter has led the company for over 15 years without losing more than 20% of his troop in any battle. These mercs won’t go cheap people! DSC_1256 by skaforhire, on Flickr Lastly, we have The Blue Spears, their longtime leader Sir Jarold Martel is known for his one-eyed death gaze as much as the company is known for its blue tip spears. These light cavalry are good on their feet, wielding the massive spears as glaives in the line of battle. They are also quick to run down fleeing enemies on horseback. A strange practice they have… their recruits ride behind them and are given nothing but a buckler and a Warhammer until they have reached ten kills. DSC_1251 by skaforhire, on Flickr So bid now folks, and don’t forget not to wage war on each other UNTIL you get to the battlefield. No fighting in the bar!

LOL joining the side with more recruits? haha. Yeah we have not started yet, so it is cool. Just means Petera will get something scarier to help balance the fight.

We just finished building most of your guys last night, we did pretty well I think. We also stated up a few of them for the battle, and it should be interested. We didn't have paladin rules yet.

Ouch! I hope it heals quickly. The curse is going wild, I have either broke my foot or torn another tendon... I have to go get it checked out. Well, on a happier note, we will bring the entertainment hopefully in the next week here... Still making people's figs and waiting for a few pieces in the mail.

Ok, so, sorry for the lag here... This summer has been hectic. We finished the battlefield tonight. Building troops now, and hope to begin the fight tomorrow. Unfortunately, because of cuts in salary along with little time this summer, the battlefield is not as I imagined. Detail is kind of weak, even for a large battlefield. I will get a more detailed pick up when we do the prelude to the battle, but here is a shot Battle of wither woods battlefield by skaforhire, on Flickr The battle happens about 30 miles outside of Eastgate where the Oil Road, the Red Rive, the Wither Woods and the ever expanding desert meet. It is an old logging camp where the lumber mill has been torn down (it was going to be a working lumber camp had I had time to build it, and had I had the money to buy logs) Also, see the first post about the new due date for the Siege Engine Competition

I added an end date for voting -- we can all celebrate my birthday by finishing voting on that day. haha.

Alright, it has been added.

Hammerhead, throw me the link in this thread. Masa, I fixed the first thread.

Welcome to the voting page. Here are the rules: If you are an Avalonian or a Nocturnan, then you are voting on which side (Kaliphlin or Mitgardia) has won the arms race in your opinion. If you are from Kaliphlin or Mitgardia, you are picking which guild (Avalonia or Nocturnus) has the more impressive fleet. Please post your name, your guild, and who you believe won in the match you are deciding. IE: Scarst from Mitgardia, I vote for Avalonia. or Skaforhire from Kaliphlin, I vote for Nocturnus The list of ships posted below has been arranged by Kai (Thanks Kai!). Remember to take the whole fleet (Merchant Marine / ship of the isles / swamp boat and Warship) in account when deciding. The individual winners will be announced when the Judges have finished judging. All votes should be in by July 5th anywhere in the world. Kaliphlin: Merchant Marine: The VanHorn - robuko The Wayfarer - Gabe The Ahok - nstickney The Sapphire - Thomas of Tortuga Deniz Aslani - Mike S Warship: The Grimm-maiden - TheUtilityBelt32 The Sirocco - qiadris Battling the Waves - Kai NRG Barqan Dromon - Gabe Minik Akrebi - Mike S Mitgardia: Merchant Marine: The Half-Brother - MKJoshA The IceStorm - Garmadon Warship: MNR Thorgills - Tomsche The Aurora of Mitgardia - Etzel Ormr hinn víðfǫrli - The Holdfast - mccoyed The Serpent's Pride - Infernum Sea Bull - Hammerhead Avalonia: Ship of the Isles: The Nendril (category not specified) - HammerBro The Swiftsure - Bregir Gylden Abiron - -Carson Haupt- Warship: The Sea Bull - Hammerhand The Mirror - Gilbert Despathens Nocturnus: Swamp Boat: The Nocturnian Boar - Lord Vladivus Nocturnian Patrol Boat - MassEditor Warship: The Smiling Phantom - Emma

Vikings and golden age pirates had a lot more in common then some may like to compare. Vikings did not raid to protect themselves, neither did pirates for example. It was all a mercantile adventure, finding resources and becoming rich. Anyway, to the original question, it is all about time period. It is the same reason why this forum doesn't deal with Roman are Carthage pirates, Arabian pirates, or even the Golden Age of Chinese Piracy (although I seem to remember that the forum has become accepting of the later)

Ok, I will stoke the flames. We may have taken a hiatus for a bit, but I think we are beginning to move again on the project. We are still talking about when the launch will be. We have many basic ideas lined up, we just have to get everything in working order. The factions are somewhat set, but we do need a few dedicated people to serve as vice leaders, and leaders-in-training once the project opens. You could play an islander allied with any faction at this point (similar to how you could play an elf allied with any faction in GOH), for the time being they will not be their own faction (however this may change in the future!) The Pirates will definitely need islander allies from the beginning though!

NOt too late... I have been pretty busy, and the battlefield is still taking shape. I apparently don't have enough green plates to make a lot of elevation changes... but hopefully we will be done in the next week and start fighting this thing. For being a battle of the witherwoods, there are not a lot of trees: solution, the battle is being fought outside a logging camp!!! haha.

I used them a few times, most notably on the arch in my signature.

This actually happens every year when I run one of these battles, we often get new members this way! haha