ROCC: Raid (Quest)

[Xiang Yu]

The speech had been a great success, but the troubles of the masses was cut short a day after the initiation of recruitment. He had employed 500 men of talent and worth, and had only just re-assembled his newly designed army when the scouts had come thrashing their reports. They spoke in sequences unbeknown to Cao Cao, their words a far cry of trauma and hesitation. It had seemed the Yellow Turbans had finally moved north – in small war banded parties ready to spill the blood of the populace.

It was exactly what Cao Cao had wanted to hear.

He had trained vigilantly for this very moment, when the people were flocking the streets in fear, and for when the small band of turbans would set up camp and prepare the notion of war. Yes. This is what he had wanted – and he prayed to the heavens for allowing the opportunity to bless him so.

“Wait!” He cried the call with haste, seeing men and women flee the streets. They turned to his cry, their eyes bulging with sweat and grief – they had felt the blows of the Turbans before, and his previous speech had now come true. It was ironic how a simple lie could really turn the heavens tide, yes – a lie turned to a reality, a dream all the more loving to his desires.

“Do you flee when the wolves hunt your cattle or ruin your stock? Do you flee when the tides of the heavens spits on you its drought, or do you preserver through the hardships of man and stand united as one!”

He moved to the centre of the growing crowds, their fear evident – their sweat on display.

“Do not fear this menace, for Cao Cao is here to tame the beast that ravages these lands. But do me a favour – and I will face these bandits right now!”

He hushed the tone as the silence settled. He had them exactly where he wanted them, and they looked upon him now as the beacon of light to their city. Yes, he would be their hero – and with his victory he would achieve much more in the land.

“Send messengers to every town, city and port – and speak of the enemy that ravage these lands. Tell them the beast has reared its head and takes the life from the poor cattle that live peacefully here, and then – speak of a roaring dragon in the name of Cao Cao, a dragon who repels the beast back south, and who brings with him wrath even the gods admire!”

They smiled, though he spoke too soon and their fear had yet to be masked by the false hope of his victory. It was all that was needed, a simple word – a simple truth, and their bodies united as one. They moved steadily, and the messengers were already fleeing the city, he did not care if they returned, they would forever remember the barking call of Cao Cao, they would indeed spread his message far and wide.

Now…now he turned to the south, where the bandits would come and when their wars would be fought and lost. Yes, no beast was a match for a dragon, no worm out of reach for the clutches of a swift eagle or hawk. They would all die – that was his promise, and Cao Cao hated to break such important bonds of men.

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[Lu Xiang]

[Bo Cai]

The large division of Yellow Turbans was sent North, roughly a little less then a quarter of its full strength. Divided into several split groups to cause enough chaos to distracted the forces of the Han and to draw them away from their powerhouse. Bo Cai sniffed, his wasn't feeling too well. Claimed had been expressed that he himself had been captured by the plague. His face was pale - but he strived on.

"My lord, the city of Nan Pi lies ahead."

The man strokes his face before nodding gently, coiled up around the reigns of his horse like a sickly dog. He himself would rather be in bed. The unit steadily marching with blades of little use and weapons - that couldn't even be considered deadly. No doubt the Han forces would be prepared, as usual. He sighed, it wouldn't be his first raid.

"You know the drill boys, take everything from them!"

He said scratching his head and then signalling the assault upon the place. They were prepared with ladders, rakes, mauls anything to destroy their opponents and a strong heart in faith. Bo Cai sat back on his horse, watching as the flood of Turbans flocked the fields infront of Chen Liu, scattering. No formations, no discipline, no training. He spat to the floor, spinning his own spear in front of him.

"For the new age!"

The heavy gallops upon the firm ground, trampling across the freshly planted rice - his lungs pounding at exhaustion.

[Xiang Yu]

Cao Cao

Cao Cao had quickly gathered whatever intelligence existed in the territory, sending a few messengers the city provided to scout the area. They marched from Chen Liu, making their arrival a point of deep interest for the hero of chaos. They would come across open fields and battered crops, and although the farmers begged him the time to pluck whatever crop was salvageable from the fields he knew that time was against him.

He planted his men in front of the city, so that his ranks scattered across the field in large open lines dwarfed only by the sheer height of the cities fortifications. The battle would be over as soon as it began, that he knew, but he could not help but wonder how his enemies would fair in the crossfire.

He had ordered Li Dian and the cavalry to take up the right flank, giving them an area where they could attack easily from. To the centre, his royal guard stood firm, with sword and spear set behind the superior guardsmen. The fore front were his archers, men trained with precision and accuracy – it would be a skirmish no doubt, but he had no intention of letting them get away from the onslaught.

They came.

At first he did not notice their call, but Li Dian soon signalled the approach and Cao Cao sat amazed at his general’s keen eyesight. He could only see the dust rise from the feet of his charging enemies – and he had to squint gingerly to notice the lines of formations, or lack thereof in the growing distance.

“Here they come.” He muttered, though to no man in particular. His men already knew what they were destined to do, and Cao Hong stood in the front line with Cao Cao not too far behind, awaiting the enemies charge.

They could see ladders, mauls and stamping men, though no discipline or formation was noticeable. Just a little longer.

The wait seemed to last for hours as the enemy slowly charged the open fields, there were no forests to the south, no moving current to wash away their poised arrows, no – nothing would save them from the onslaught Cao Cao brought…Nothing at all.

“Archers…fire!”

The first order, the first command and the 400 arrows sliced the air without hesitation. For arrow headed stings darted the air, cutting it in two before descending upon the ranks of his enemies. Yes, order one of many had been done. Now it was time for the grand finale.

“Steady, begin the stratagem!”

He did not need to issue each command, for Li Dian and Cao Hong would do the rest just fine. Yes, the war had started – and Cao Cao drew both of his swords and moved his horse into a trot. The army moved behind him.

---

Cao Hong

Cao Hong stood in the ranks behind Cao Cao. He did not know what his master had in mind for the turbans, though he knew what his own orders had been. He set up small platoons within the royal guard, and had the archers deliver a few more volleys before they retreated to the security of the rear line. Should his army fall, he knew his archers would at least have the time to fire a few more times before it was over. It would be enough, he hoped – and gripped the spear within his hand as he marched ahead.

Cao Cao was upon him now, and they both gazed ahead as the army charged wildly towards them. Their cries deafening to the ears of civilised men. They came as a horde, a flock of angry beasts – and he gulped uneasily at their impending charge.

---

Li Dian

Not all had left to encounter the army, as Li Dian led his cavalry into a small crevice behind a hill, where he awaited the enemy’s movements. He had been told to perform a very basic strategy – and he planned for it well at all costs. He watched the two armies come closer together…yes – the battle was about to begin. He moved his cavalry beyond the hill and moved further south. The strategy was just about to begin.

[Lu Xiang]

[Bo Cai]

1000 Peasents

His force ran at the ranks of the Han forces stationed at the city, he didn't care who was inchage as long as they broke the ranks and caused terror. The only thing that mattered was that all the lords were consumed in battle. Even Bo Cai joined in charging to the front upon his horse.

"You are the blessed, die as sons of the Heavens!"

He shouted, casting his spear one last time forward controlling his steed narrowing his eyes and breathing heavily. Though they were untrained, undisciplined and under armed. Their attitude could not be matched. Strong, bearded, untended to men. Men who had been stricken from sex and alcohol. Men who would take everything from you. Pirates, vagabonds and worse - All going to war against the Han in a volunteer way.

The collision didn't shock anybody, such underarmed men were going to get slaughtered. But their overall numbers promoted strength, they had more of a reason to fight for - their own lives and their future. They pounded and mauled, smashing and teaming up assisting eachother - the corpses of their brothers lay dead around them within seconds of the frontlines. The arrows rippled through the air, annihilating the charging men sending a whole line down to meet the cold hard ground.

"We embrace death, it is much better then the world you can offer us, Han criminals!"

Bo Cai shouted, dismounting from his horse before stamping his blade into the ground and removing his cloak, revealing a thick veterans armour. He cracked his knuckles before picking up the blade again.

Yellow Turban Losses

200 Peasents - From Arrow Fire & Engagement of Battle

Cao Cao's Forces

35 Swordsmen - From Engagement

[Xiang Yu]

Cao Cao was among the ruins of blood and guts as the enemy leader made his proclamation. He did not do it with words, but with actions – and the armour he had come adorned in reflected that of an officer turned ‘bad’. It was no excuse, even Cao Cao had felt the poised sting of the Han’s corruption, and even when his father’s fortune had been near depleted for no apparent reason he held true to the Han name and ideology. This rebellion would only incite war, war that as a result Cao Cao would embrace willingly.

It was too late for mercy now, too late to rectify the errors made by the foolish. He did not doubt their power, or their resolve – but in the end those against him were peasants, untrained and undisciplined, what could cats do when faced with a lion, surely…nothing at all.

“Now!”

He cried the call, though he could not remember what it was for. His mind had been too absorbed in the fight, and he brought his sword down to severe a head from a limp corpse. He did not just kill – he defiled. He would make an example of these people; he would destroy their body and their soul.

He raised his sword to counter a hesitant blow, and swirled his body in a clock-wise manner, bringing his fear sword up and into the reach of its victim. The man cried quietly, dropping moments before Cao Cao regained his stepping. It was easy, always so easy. He was a trained warrior and these men acted like fools before him.

He could see Cao Hong had made progress, leading the royal guard and snapping their ranks in half, the enemy was divided, split so that the centre of the Wei line pushed the middle, leaving the flanks exposed, but for what?

Ahh yes...the strategy…

Li Dian appeared from nowhere, four hundred cavalrymen travelling across the hills they had emerged from. They crashed into the exposed open rank of the turbans, shattering the lines as the horsemen divided into two groups, each with two hundred men. The first group quickly moved north after their charge, remembering their lords orders to never stand still whilst mounted. The other two hundred went further south, passed the Cao Cao army and hurling itself into the other flank of the enemy. He did not know how it would work essentially, but the cavalry was fairly safe with the royal guard pressing both sides and with the spearmen and swordsmen hacking and slashing.

The cavalry would do their job and then retreat, as they always did.

Cao Cao was among the fore of the royal guard, dual swords in hand. He charged the man he suspected to be the leader, feigning an attack with his left sword before doubling back and thrusting forth his right sword. He was purely aggressive today – and nothing anyone would do would stop him in his grand ambition. He would not die; no…he would not die!

Cao Hong joined him moments later, driving his spear head into an unsuspecting victim before using the shaft to throw back another crazed warrior. He had received a beating, a maul of a lucky warrior having crushed the mail on his shoulder, bruising the bone and muscles. He would live, and his injury bore no effect as he skilfully swirled his spear around the defences posed by those against him.

The ground was blood-filled, his enemies would surely die soon..surely!

[Lu Xiang]

"Retreat, we're being slaughtered!"

Shouted one peasent, running for his life before being trampled right in front of Bo Cai's very eyes. The man turned into an anger fit, his eyes tightening even more picking up an axe and launching it into the horsemen, sending him flying of his still sprinting horse.

"You would run away?"

He questioned his men who had already begun sprinting away, understanding that this never was a good idea. Dropping their weapons and begging for mercy. Others fought on only to find their demise. Bo Cao, snapped left and right. Going on a frenzy, sweating in his condition. He was ill already and the excessive exercise from battle didn't help. His heart racing like a heroin addict.

Thud.. thud.. Thud.. thud..

Pounding at his chest, like a psycho within a barricaded door. They fell, again and again. They all seemed to run at him in slow motion. A simple slash to the left.. and then another to the right. Horses and remains scattered at his feet.

He looked up, looking inside of himself. The Turbans scattered around him. Only a few left to fight on - no more then fifty. He brushed his sweaty hair choking and coughing on his own flem and blood. Then out of no where, a large arrow impaled him in his chest. Sending him to his knees, piercing his left lung completely both front and back. A fierce ringing interupted his thinking, his eyes shadowing over.

"Is this... the end?"

He questioned his faith, he questioned his life. Would the land truly be ruled by the Han? He snapped the arrow off, leaving the main fragment inside of him. He was a warrior. Arise. Stand firm. Meet the enemy. Five foot and seven inches fight with the mark of the hunter in his chest.

"Remember me! I join my ancestors!"

He shouted, throwing the arrow to the floor and charging straight for the enemies front lines. No expectation to live. Not wanting to live. To live in shame; would be dishonourment for himself.

Losses
Yellow Turbans
550 Peasents

Cao Cao's Forces
52 Spearmen

[Xiang Yu]

Cao Cao could see the man beckon his call for revenge, watched as he snapped an arrow-head from an unshaken chest and then charge his way into his decisive swords. He would die; yes…he had to die.

Cao Cao feigned the attack as planned, feeling the man’s retaliation on that very left side before thrusting his own sword straight for the man’s throat. It was time to end the fighting; for enough blood had been spilt this day.

“Finish up, show them no mercy – dogs do not join the ranks of lions.”

He turned around and cleared the path to the city he had just defended, and unbeknown to him a large crowd had gathered – officers and soldiers from the various towns coming to watch Cao Cao in his prime. Yes, so his messengers had indeed delivered his message, and the world would soon bow to his feet.

It was perfect!

“So you see, are the turbans really THAT powerful!”

He laughed, and the city followed him in his praise, for he had just given them life when before there was none. No, no man present would ever forget the act Cao Cao had done. Even with a fight still existent, Cao Cao would stand before them and smile and jest – an act of courage and bravery. He was fearless and he was soon to be feared.

His cavalry kept moving, dividing in groups of one hundred to mop up any unit that fled. In the mean-time, Cao Hong and Li Dian returned to their master’s side, and together they looked at the joy they had created.

“Remember me, and know that when I come – I come with the wrath of the heavens.”

The people paused, and then started jeering after Cao Cao burst into another fit of laughter. Yes, laugh, he thought, for one day he knew he would revisit this city. Then they would remember this day, and they would cry for mercy, and he would deliver them none!

[Lu Xiang]

Rewards

+20 Fame
+3 Leadership
+3 Feared
+500 Gold for defeating officer
+500 Gold for completing quest
-52 Spearmen
-35 Swordsmen