Greetings everyone, both those who remember my weekly after action report series from last season and to those of you who are new! This season I'm mixing things up a bit, and trading out the civil war theme for a medieval/fantasy theme. As such, say goodbye to General Urban Francis Meyer, and say hello to your new Liege Lord: Lord Urban of Meyer, Duke of Columbus and Lord Protector of Ohio.
Day the First of the Ninth Moon, Year Two Thousand Ten and Eight of the Fifth Age
T'was ever thus that once confined by dark curse and threat of plague, severed from his host and from his retainers and bannermen by dint of the knavery of the exiled Lord Smith of the Naughty Artefacts (benighted grandson of the famed Earl of Bruce), Lord Urban of Meyer could but watch from his tower as his armies did surmount the parapets of Columbus to ward against the incursion of the foolish Beavermen, the Oregonians.
Commanding the armies of Ohio in Lord Urban's stead, the young and courageous general and strategist, Ryan, Earl of Day. Day, wise beyond his years but untested, entrusted the ramparts to a young knight of distinction and repute: Sir Haskins of the Strong-Arm. Seeing the motley horde of Oregonian Beavermen with their flat tails and (admittedly rather frightening) squared teeth, Sir Haskins did but scoff, lifting his lance, lowering his visor, and charging from the very battlements on his steed into their disorganized ranks. His fellow knights, among them Sir Bosa the Younger, Sir Chase the Even-Younger-than-Bosa, and the firm friends Sir Dobbins and Sir Weber, did ride hoof-on-heel upon the soon collapsing ranks of the Beavermen, smashing many formations, burning many tents, and capturing many a standard from the trembling hands of their lesser foe.
But even as the day was won, there could not be avoided some regrettable deprivations--the unskilled, rude-handed, poorly trained (if still as yet valorous and honorable) men-at-arms who feigned call themselves "linebackers" could not secure the portcullis against determined attack, and before they were driven to the swamps and woods, a host of Beavermen did breach the wall and seize what ill-gotten gains they could from the markets and stores of grand Columbus.
With the Beavermen vanquished, Lord Urban was pleased, but to his chagrin could not even afford the pleasure of anointing his victorious and gallant retainers in person, able only to send a messenger raven from his high spire, likening Lord Ryan to a demigod, and extolling the most excellent virtues of the noble and dauntless Sir Haskins.
Still trapped in his tower, awaiting the day that the curse against him might be lifted, Lord Urban would continue to send his missives, instructing his charges in their duties and forming a strategy to defend Columbus whilst its craven enemies conspired against it. Hark, for to the east a new host approached: the wily Scarlet Knights of Rutgers.
