Three Must Decide.

Part 30 Wrecks.

Chapter note. the first 3 chapters have introduced you to the Three. Each faction is controlled, to a degree, by a real life person so decisions have to be made.

Hidden consequences.

A role of a dice can change what appears to be an unstoppable event.

Decisions..

With her fleet engaged and suffered rouin from fire the Grand Duchess had to decide on focusing on the enemy ships and the enemies on both sides of the wide river or to go to the aid of faltering ships. Saving ships could allow her enemy space to attack again or retreat to safety but leaving the ships could result in casualties to great to bear.

Read on to see what they have decided.

"Archers stay at your posts" roared Lord Godbolts as he stormed along the deck of his ship to reach the bow and stare down at the second enemy fire ship that had reached them. They had pushed the first away and as he leaned out to look down on the vessel that now crashed in to their side to grind along her ships side he could see that once again the Drathan fire ships were not big enough to over whelm his flag ship, not while her crew could still defend her. they would push it away and douse the fires as long as the archers could answer the continued fire from the far bank that was being focused on them. "force those archers back or we burn" he roared again and then ran to the port side of the ship and looked back to the stern where he could see one of their ships being consumed by a vicious blaze. He could only hope that they were far enough apart as both ship were stuck fast, caught on the sunken wrecks that littered the bottom of the river, scuppered there to trap them. turning back to the starboard he could see his archers were doing enough but it was hard and bloody work. Another member of the crew fell before him and he stopped to lift the man to his feet and take him to a hatch which lead down to the lower deck and safety before he looked again out to the second ship that had been lost to the trap and fire. It was a horror to see the flames and those trying to espace them. Rage filled him and he called for tenders to be lowered on the port side. 3 ships had been caught but the Saxifarange had smashed through and brushed away any fire ships that had be sent against her and her might had made the way for the rest to make it through. 

Even so the Saxifange was only accompanied by two others of thier fleet to face the remaining enemy fleet which were now trying to close with them to allow them to board. 

lord Godbolts planned to take what crew he could to join the two other ships who's captains where taking them directly in to the rivers bank together before the fires which they were trying to hold back took thier ships and commited them to the same fate as the two now burning hulks of their fellow fleet ships. they would not burn they would drive their ships in to the shore and face the Crown Swards that waited for them. better to die fighting on your feet than be taken by flames or dragged to the bottom of the river.

Lord godbolts reached the rail and was pleased to see tenders already in place and soilders climbing in to them. It would take time to ferry those aboard and free to join the fight on shore rather than save his ship but they would join those heading for the shore. It looked to be a grim fight. The Crown Swards could see the ships coming and where ever they would land they would have time to prepare. The True Order would be fighting with mud beneath their feet, up a bank against a prepared shield wall of the best and most loyal that Bronze Gate could field with no advantage in numbers. 

 Little hope in getting up that bank, when he reached them he would help them hold the watery line they will have made and hope that the Saxiafrange could come to their aid before the line was broken. Before he went over the side to join those already in the boat he ordered a signal be sent to her. The balistas, giant artillery crossbows, on his flag ship had either been thrown off their carriages when she went aground or where useless because of the angle the ship was laying at, trapped on the wrecks below but the Saxiafrange was big enough to carry them as well.