The Assault on Stratholme

On the 4th day of the 11th month of the 619th year, My party has arrived at Hearthglen for my reporting to the High Command on the status of the Crusade in the Kingdom of Stormwind. I do not know how much of my time these meetings will require, but I am eager to return back to my new command in Duskwood. This will hopefully be a quick journey. On the 7th day of the 11th month of the 619th year, The first rounds of discussion have gone well. Grand Inquisitor Isillien is pleased with our steady progress in fighting the undead around Stormwind, and they have even begun to discuss sending another company of soldiers to bolster our efforts! We may now be able to adequately secure the southern lands in no time at all if this trend continues. On the 12th day of the 11th month of the 619th year, In a discussion today, I believe I made a grave mistake. Inquisitor Isillien wished to push for a fanatical assault upon Stratholme; however I spoke up in opposition of it, fearing that the casualties we would surely suffer would result in a catastrophic blow to our cause. The table fell silent as I spoke up. Instead of anyone taking the time to address me, they continued with the early conceptualization of the assault… On the 14th day of the 11th month of the 619th year, After another week of meetings, it has come clear to me that the previous good will I experienced earlier has quickly diminished. Perhaps it was pre-emptive of me to hope for such, but I will still try to convince the High Command otherwise. Instead of returning south now, I am organizing the priestly detachment that will accompany the Inquisitors suicidal attack. I desperately hope that once I have finished with this task, I will be allowed to return to my own post. On the 27th day of the 11th month of the 619th year, It has just been confirmed to me. General Abbendis has appointed me commander of the planned assault upon Stratholme. I can only speculate as to why this honor has fallen to me as many other highly devout and experienced commanders are already stationed permanently here in Tyr’s Hand; but nonetheless, this war is now mine to win.

From the Clerk of Grand General Abbendis, To Scarlet Commander Embophur Ka’Qilri Special Strike Force, Regiment 101 Dossier Operation Righteous Fury General Overview: Special Strike Force, Regiment 101 (herein referred to as 101st Regiment) is comprised primarily of four battalions, two heavy infantry, one rifle, and one heavy cavalry, a hand-selected attachment of priests and arcanists, eight heavy guns, and a logistics and command attachment.
 * Inserted between the pages here is a paper detailing the assault force; a large, pale red watermark of TOP SECRET covers the page*

Command Personnel Commanding Officer: Commander Embophur Ka’Qilri Decorated junior officer Commander of the Scarlet Battalion Newly appointed Bishop of Duskwood Executive Officer: Lieutenant Commander Kietal Domhnall Decorated junior officer Five years staff officer experience, Tyr’s Hand Master Sergeant: Sergeant Trygve Coleman Former battalion champion Four years senior sergeant experience

Unit Detail 2nd Heavy Infantry Battalion Strength: Full Strength – 1.000 Heavy Infantry Experience Rating: Excellent 9th Heavy Infantry Battalion Strength: Full Strength – 1.000 Heavy Infantry Experience Rating: Newly formed 3rd Rifleman Battalion Strength: Full Strength – 1.000 Riflemen Experience Rating: Moderate 1st Heavy Cavalry Battalion Strength: Two companies – 400 Heavy Horsemen Experience Rating: Exceptional 135th Special Attachment Strength: 50 Priests, 50 Deacons, 60 Magi Experience Rating: Mixed 5th Heavy Artillery Command Strength: Full Strength – 8 Dwarven-made self-propelled heavy cannons, 40 crewmen Experience Rating: Moderate Regimental Command Strength: 100 Support Staff, 50 Wagons, 100 Elite Guards
 * End dossier*

My support crew seems competent enough. Two seasoned veterans of the Scourge have been appointed as my direct subordinates: Kietal Domhnall is a highly skilled officer who I have met with many times on my journeys and adventures up north; opposite him is a strong paladin named Trygve Coleman. The total regiment is a strong group of soldiers, a mix of new recruits and battle-hardened elites. Our official mission task now is to establish contact with Light’s Hope Cathedral and subsequently relieve and extract the Scarlet garrison there. It seems simple enough, but I still have my reservations. From now on though, I suppose such forebodings are to be relegated to these pages. On the 1st day of the 12th month of the 619th year, After a feast last night, our regiment has departed from Tyr’s Hand. We marched to nearly a mile away from the undeads’ outlying camp which surrounds the bridge into the city. I have just finished finalizing the attack plan for tomorrow—we intend to be at the gates by the setting of the sun tomorrow. On the 2nd day of the 11th month of the 619th year, I awoke early this morning knowing fully that I would probably not see the comfort of sleep for some time now; it was to be a very busy day. I can see the fires are starting to be rekindled by the soldiers as they too make their final preparations during their last hours of peace. I have lead valiant charges and necessary retreats; heroic victories and narrow defeats. However, none have been on this scale. Light shine on us. –0600 All units are in their attack positions. I have ordered the heavy fire volleys to decimate the undead scum’s outer perimeter. The cannons roar about my tent even as I write this. All is coming together. –1025 We have defeated the Scourge’s outer guard. We are now attempting to secure the bridge. –1700 The Scourge around us has scattered. What could escaped into the city’s walls; the rest are no longer a worry to us as they fled. Unfortunately the walls were crumbled behind the undead as they retreated to inside the city walls, and they no doubt are planning to choke us there now. My chief engineer has told me it will take several days at least to prepare the explosives perfectly to blow our way back into the city. Until then, we hold our position and wait. –2000 On the 3rd day of the 12th month of the 619th year, Nothing of great renown has happened today. Several small undead parties have tried to raid our camp, but they have been no match. I have been told that our losses from yesterday were minimal at a mere fifty, and my engineers now inform me we will be able to continue our attack by tomorrow afternoon. On the 5th day of the 12th month of the 619th year,