Defending the Imperial City

[keylek3]

i would quarenteen the districs [close all the gates of the districs and lock them] but first get all people who cannot fight and put them in the palace so it would be harder for the enymies to get at them, i would then guards the first districs with gates and put archers on the walls, wilst this is happening the elder scrolls would be serched for some powerfull spells to fight of the hord, and if all is lost the elder scrolls would be burnt to make sure they are not used for the power of evil.

[Nalestom]

Well, considering there are a lot of useless wooden tables, stools, cabinets, etc. just laying around in Imperial City...

 

I would assign citizens who are not willing to fight the oncoming force with the task of building defensive barriers, traps, and the like along the outside of the city walls, but mostly centered around the major entry points of the settlement. I would assign a few soldiers to supervise these civilians as well as lookouts to sight any charges or skirmishes sent by the incoming army.

 

While the citizens who are not willing to fight are fulfilling those tasks, I would instruct local blacksmiths to create durable, sharp weapons and protective armor for those citizens who are willing to fight so that they might have a chance. Merchants who sell these goods would also be instructed to distribute dull, common weapons that are not very valuable for free and sell the rarer or better conditioned weapons at a heavily reduced price. Every last citizen who is fighting should be armed and protected with the items of their choice.

 

Archers would be assigned with a somewhat difficult task. They would be commanded to cut small holes in each of the gates to the city and set up bastila positioned to fire through these holes. This would hopefully prevent any large siege engines or ramming attempts. Catapults would also be set up, but behind the walls of the city a good distance. Nothing ruins a battle like a wall being destroyed by your own catapult.

 

Alchemists would be instructed to create Magicka-restoring potions for magicians, as well as Health-restoring potions for the actual fighters. The magicians would fire spells (some would be assigned to cast large, powerful, but exhausting spells, some would be assigned the smaller, individual spells) into the army, but not near where any of the Empire's warriors are fighting. Those skilled in Conjuration would summon and sustain minions of various sorts to help fight off the impending forces.

 

Before the battle, the archers would coat all of their arrowheads into the sewer system. A warrior who was injured with one of these arrows would suffer from a sickness, which also impairs their ability to fight. The disease would spread throughout the army, firstly to the healers who help the injured. Once a healer is infected, anyone who becomes injured and is in contact with them would soon watch their mortality rate drop quickly. Not only that, but once the healers die from the disease, there will be nobody to help the wounded, which would also increase the number of deaths. After the arrowheads were coated, the archers would be placed among the barricades.

 

Now, the way I see it, I would be unable to send a message for any troops from other cities, as the other cities would have been destroyed already. The entire continent is "united under one flag", so to speak, so all the cities contain allies. Since all of the other cities are smaller, it would be logical for the army to destroy them first before attacking the capital city. However, because the other cities (hopefully) put up a fight, the army wouldn't be as large as it was when it first arrived.

 

Fire. Fire is not only extremely hot to the touch and kills slowly, but it also has a psychological affect too. A blazing fire can melt a person's bravery faster than any weapon or massive army can. Therefore, I will order 2/3 of the remaining soldiers to chop down the trees and other sources of wood and gather them around the outside of the barricades that were constructed earlier. When the battle is about to begin, an invisible soldier will light the wood. The fire should prevent the army from reaching the barricades, sparing hundreds of casualties on both sides of the battlefield. However, there is the possibility that a magician will notice the flames and attempt to extinguish the fire. Hopefully, the fire would already be out of control, preventing the army from attacking until the fire died out.

 

If the army was able to extinguish the fire and attack the barricades, then the archers would begin firing at the army. The positioned catapults and bastilla should begin firing upon any siege engines (if present) and then begin attacking any cavalry or heavily armored infantry. Unless the attacking empire had an extremely large supply of resources, the majority of the infantry should be equipped in leather or fur armor, which does not provide adequate protection from arrows or sharp blades.

 

If the army manages to reach the barricades successfully, then a squad of approximately 150 soldiers will reinforce the men already stationed there and fight off the enemy. Archers will retreat inside the castle and fire arrows over the city walls into the army. From there, it is a matter of preventing the siege of the city. After a while, the diseased arrowheads- and the relentless willpower of the defending soldiers- should take affect and weaken the army, causing them to retreat. Afterwards, 2/3 of the surviving soldiers should mount their steeds and charge after the retreating army, making sure a great number of them are killed or that they have retreated many miles and are no longer an instant threat to the city.

 

It is a crude battle plan, but in the heat of battle, it should work- in theory, that is.

[wasder]

Very good, but my plan is a hell of a lot easier. Sail down to Bravil and shove everyone into the Shivering Isles, then close the gate. Easy. (they may all go completely bonkers though)

[Nalestom]

But couldn't the army run down to Bravil and sail to the Shivering Isles as well?

 

Besides, the scenario is that you have to defend Imperial City, not just run away from the city. Protecting the citizens and not letting the city fall into enemy hands is the main objective. Your plan saves the citizens, but not the city. Half of your objective is complete.

[Guest deleted829424]

Looking at it from a defensive point of view, I would much rather be the attacking force then the defending one. Pulling information from the large sieges of our history, the IC is simply not defensible. I mean, look at it! 'Tis basically a big wheel. It has too many entrances to it. The sewers can be an easy entrance to the city. Caving in the sewers is not a viable option, depending on the chance of reinforcements. If this army had already cut off all chance, caving in the sewers would be suicide, as the IC will soon become a veritable magnet of disease and disgust, as it was during the past. Also, having two protruding, easily conquerable islands does not help the situation at all. Thirdly, the walls are simply too short. It will be too easy to sling arrows over the walls, thus weakening the morale, if not the population in it's whole. Lastly, White Gold tower in itself is a large liability, as the enemy could quite easily sneak explosives into the basement and blow it's foundations, making it fall, and leaving a large gash across the city, killing hundreds and injuring hundreds more.

[VincentAlliath]

No offence, but why in HELL'S NAME, would you fall back to the Bastion? So your plan is to fall back to a corner? No. Fail.

 

 

In a siege such as that, you would want every man worth his fighting salt on the walls. Everyone who was good enough to hit a target at 300 feet (no, I would not waste time testing this) would have their bows out and shooting. The rest of the men would be rallied around the doorways into the city (Where the Market District is, Arboretum, and Talos Plaza. The Prison District would be abandoned, as would the Arcane University once everything of value (Altars, expensive books) was removed.

That smaller wooden bridge would be collapsed into the water, and palisades would be set up on every hill, so that all of them would have to clamber over slowly.

 

Runners would be sent out to cities and patrols in any way possible, and those forces would be rallied in a fort ruin somewhere, where they would await a signal to attack the enemy force from behind along the bridge.

 

The Battlemages would all be at the forefront, setting off massive spells at the enemy, and the current Archmage would definitely be at the forefront with Hrormir's Icestaff, if it was still being handed down to each and every Archmage in a line.

 

There would be more, but I can't think of much at the moment.

 

 

Any information on what this enemy actually is? Are they Daedra, Creatures, Warlords, what?

[Nalestom]

No, but you could send out scouts to find information on the race of the army, the approximate number of soldiers, the layout of the army (heavily armored, lightly armored, hardly any armor, large swords, blunt objects, whatever the case may be) and what the strategy they will use to attack the city might be (just from the layout of their army, and also how each class of armor and/or weapons is organized).

[Master Marksman]

Regardless of the enemy, in a siege you would want to hold the wall and main and only gate.

 

-Preperation-

You would have to do other mundane tasks such as evacuating villagers through the market exits via boats, place wooden barricades across the bridge, and most importantly, seal off entry and exit points. It may not leave you with a plan of escape, but its better than being hit from two forces from the front and rear. This means sealing off the market and arcane gates as proficiently as possible as well as the sewer manholes. However, do not in any way lock the gate. As the defenders, you must establish kill-points. Also, DON'T sink the bridge. You want the enemy to cross it so you can blast them down with a torrent of arrows. You may also decide to recruit guardsman and fighters/mages guild members from other towns to bolster your garrison. This may help if the enemy breaches your gate.

 

-The Unaldultered Killing- (i.e the battle)

The Talos plaza district and walls is the first and most important kill zone. Placing a large force across the walls that are skilled in long range attacks will slow down, injure, and impede enemy forces crossing the bridge. the wooden barricades (if you didnt forget to put them there) will make it harder for the enemy to manuever and move efficiently for your bows and spellcasters. If you have one, cast a 1 second large scale paralyze spell from the battlements; ot slows them down tremendousely as well as making them easier targets. Because this is the only way in, the enemy will have to come this way, so any force you have will have to meet your barrage head on. Swimming may be a problem, but it really makes them harder to hit when their in the water.

 

If by some small miracle they make it to the gates, be prepared for this before hand. Send whatever forces beforehand to form a few ranks of heavy infantry on the left, right sidestreets and forward mainstreets. They will have to counter charge the enemy. This will probably destroy them, as no matter how they are arrayed, you will definately flank one side of their column. On top of this, the archers on the walls may be ordered to fire on the inside of the city towards the closer enemy ranks. These two advantages will allow you to take the enemy on quite easily, without taking in the fact that a well armed and skilled player character can take on the army himself/herself.

 

-Retreat-

theres no good way to put it. In the event of a retreat, you are completely screwed. You have no back doors. Running heavy infantry will get cut down by enemy forces. Your archers can jump off the walls to die quick and painlessly or be flanked on either side by infantry climbing up the battlement towers and stairs. There is a bleak hope that retreating to the palace may offer you a last ditch defense, and that the old way may offer a temporary refuge. But retreat is not an advisable option. You are better dying with sword in hand than sword in sheath.

 

Happy Hunting

[Skolhamarr]

IC is a island city, that works 2 ways for you our against you more on the against you side. bad side of thing... Blockages, Naval attack, Naval troop carries good... there is only 1 main way into the city add into the factor of naval assault there is multiple way into the IC.

 

waterfront would be first the place to go and give the enemies a forward command point

the IC would not be the first thing to be attacked but the ICP and AU would be first 2 place that really could mount a difference.

 

Send out a call to call city around to send aid.

bride the enemy is another choice

Skyrim send word to them ask for help in return they would get more freedoms and possibility of less imperial involvement in there lands. I would rather nord warriors than imperial soldiers any day...if you can have both why not...

 

2nd option of thought

Turn a Bendick Arnold, sell out the city claim the riches for yourself.... Dragon armor, Dragon Armor! all that work and this is what I get.... pffftttt

 

 

3rd option of thought

Leave the IC for better place to mass a better defense, Skingard could be a better choice

[Ihoe]

Hire a Darkbrotherhood assassin to kill the Leader of the enemy...

 

But Seriously:

 

1.Order the workers to start building siege weaponry around the walls,

2.Order the navy to Stay Low profile at bay.

3.Evacuate the Civilians (Man Woman Child, Does not matter, it's not their war...) to the Temple-Waterfront Tunnel.

4.Order the Imperial Legion Cavalry to send a Messenger to the Foe to try and Calm them down and end the war.

5.Order the Imperial Legion Infantry Swords men to Create a 9 man Phalanx and march to the enemy.

6.Make hot Boiling water and Oil and put them in Large Pots to Cook the Enemy infantry men.

7.etc.

 

or we could trade with the foe.

or Leave the city to em.

pray to acatosh?

open an oblivion gate next to their encampment and...

 

Really, We Could do a Lot of things but they Divide Between Logical and The Special Word "lol".(lol.)

 

Hehhehe......