Please Note
This Task is not Live until 18/11/2025
This Task is not Live until 18/11/2025
Battle of the Furnace
"No retreat, no surrender, kill them all!" - Angry Sith Lord
Imperial forces loyal to Darth Véhemen are preparing to land upon the scorched world of Vestus, where the Ninth Scar have entrenched themselves within the mighty fortress known as The Furnace; a sprawling citadel carved into the cliffs of a vast desert canyon.
Under the command of The Dark Lord and General Cruse, the forces of Perfidious will deploy into the canyon and advance, laying siege to the fortress’s towering walls. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Imperials must first overcome the outer bastion — the Fang — before they can breach the gates of the Furnace itself. Every metre gained will be paid for in blood and fire, but if the Imperials can reach the inner complex and disable its shield generator, nothing will stand in the way of the enemy’s total annihilation.
From the moment the first assault ships break through the upper atmosphere until the final foe is slaughtered, the forces loyal to the Dark Lord will face endless barrages of enemy fire, waves of fanatical defenders, and the merciless glare of the Vestan sun, a crucible from which only the strong will emerge.
Now that the battle is finally joined, your characters will have a chance to head out to the front lines and join the fray, serving alongside one of three commands: Colonel Pieter, Major Ocelo and Major Sands. In doing so, your character will generate contribution points that will help dictate the outcome of the fighting: The more contribution points a command acquires, the more likely they are to win. On the other hand, too few points and they might be destroyed, leading to a defeat.
Your character can head out to the front every day (from 18/11/22) and then use the rules below to generate your character's Contribution Points for that day. But beware, there is a chance your character will be injured in the fighting, or perform especially poorly and damage the change of victory.
At the end of each week, the total contributions made by all characters will be totalled up and major updates on the battle's progress will be provided. To make totalling this up easier, please use the example format shown in the reply to this post for your own posts.
Although overall command of the battle will fall to the Dark Lord, there will be scope for players to agree where to best place their contributions to maximise the chance of victory based on daily tactical updates.
Base Contribution Points
Below are listed your character's base contribution points according to their rank.
Rank | Points | Battle Re-rolls |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Lord, Lord Prime | 6 | 4 |
| Lord | 5 | 3 |
| Senior Sith, Sith Prime | 3 | 3 |
| SOG2, SOG3, Sith | 2 | 2 |
| SOG1, Sith Incipient | 1 | 2 |
Modifiers
Below are listed modifiers which may increase your characters' contribution points.
Modifier | Effect |
|---|---|
| Wrote an Update yesterday | +1 |
| Inspiring Trait | +1 |
| Knowledge of Warfare Trait | +1 |
| Desert Commando Trait | +1 |
| Suffering Modest Injuries | -1 |
| Suffering Major Injuries | -2 |
| Suffering Critical Injuries | -5 |
Battle of the Furnace Experience
Once you have identified your base contribution points and adjusted with any modifiers, you can then make a D100 roll to discover what happens to your character during their day in the battle.
Throughout the course of the Battle of the Furnace, you will be allowed to re-roll your D100 encounter a limited number of times based on your ranks Battle Re-rolls. Once these re-rolls have been exhausted, you must accept the first roll you get.
The narrative provided is just intended as a jumping off point, and you make of course flesh out their experience, provided it adheres to the narrative point listed. This means that if you are told your character retreats, they must have done that. If you feel your character had not done, you are of course welcome to embrace character death.
Alongside your narrative is the effect of your characters experience on their contribution points. Add this to the value you established from your base contribution plus modifiers. For example, a Lord with the Inspiring Trait who wrote an Update the prior day (7 Contribution Points) who rolled 6 (-4 Contribution Points) would total 3 Contribution Points for that day.
When you make this roll (in the Battle Rolls channel) you may not edit or delete any posts made in the channel. If you do so, you will be banned from further participation in the event. The roll you make will also need to state your total points and which unit your character is joining.
For example "I have five contribution points before my roll, I am joining Major Sands".
Roll | Narrative | Effect |
|---|---|---|
1 –5 | You are caught in the midst of a relentless assault by Ninth Scar warriors, their crimson armour gleaming in the dust and flame. Their coordination is brutal, their will unbreakable. You are struck down amid a sea of corpses as blaster fire rains around you. When Imperial scouts finally reach you, you are half-buried beneath the dead. You suffer critical injuries and are evacuated to medbay. You cannot rejoin the fighting for three days, your critical injuries last one week. | -5 Contribution Points |
6 –10 | A Ninth Scar champion singles you out amidst the chaos, their precision and hatred focused entirely on your death. The duel is fierce and punishing, you are on the cusp of victory when blaster fire strikes you from behind. As darkness closes in, you hear the Fanatics chanting in triumph. Later, Imperial medics recover you from the rubble. You suffer major injuries and are evacuated to medbay. You cannot rejoin the fighting for two days, your major injuries last four days. | -4 Contribution Points |
11 –15 | You lead an advance against what appears to be a weakened enemy line, only to find yourself outmanoeuvred by a cunning Ninth Scar officer. Their troops feign retreat before unleashing a devastating counter-volley that tears through your formation. You are forced to fall back under heavy fire, suffering modest injuries and shaken but alive. Your modest injuries last for one day. | -4 Contribution Points |
16 –20 | The battle around you erupts in chaos as artillery and heavy weapons rain destruction upon the field. The shockwave from a nearby detonation hurls you off your feet, searing your armour and sending shards of molten metal into the dirt beside you. You recover, suffering modest injuries, your body bruised and your ears ringing from the concussion. Your modest injuries last for one day. | -3 Contribution Points |
21 –25 | A horde of screaming Fanatics surges forward, heedless of their own lives and driven by blind devotion. They throw themselves into your line with knives, clubs, and raw fury. The melee is savage and bloody; you are forced to retreat as your comrades fall around you. The smell of burning flesh clings to you long after. | -3 Contribution Points |
26 –30 | Amidst smoke and confusion, a Ninth Scar strike team emerges from concealment, cutting through the flank of your formation before vanishing back into the haze. You fend off their assault but not before taking several hits and losing many soldiers under your command. Exhausted and wounded, you fall back to regroup. | -2 Contribution Points |
31 –35 | You are dragged into brutal, close-quarters combat with a frenzied Fanatic, blades and fists meeting in a desperate struggle. You prevail, but your victory is pyrrhic: bloodied, breathless, and surrounded by the wounded, you are forced to withdraw before more enemies close in. | -2 Contribution Points |
36 –40 | Prolonged fighting, exhaustion, and exposure take their toll. The air tastes of iron and dust, and every breath burns. Your unit’s stamina collapses, morale falters, and you find yourself unable to continue fighting effectively until reinforcements and supplies arrive. | -1 Contribution Point |
41 –45 | In the confusion of battle, you fail to detect a flanking manoeuvre until too late. The sudden strike tears through nearby ranks, and several Imperials are cut down before you can restore order. The weight of their loss hangs heavy on Imperial morale. | -1 Contribution Point |
46 –50 | You fight hard through the day, trading volleys with the enemy and holding your ground, but the engagement yields no decisive result. The field remains locked in stalemate, you survive, but victory is still far away. | N/A |
51–55 | The fighting drags on through choking dust and heat. You stand your post with grim endurance, neither faltering nor excelling. It is a day of survival, not glory, but even survival has value in a war like this. | N/A |
56 –60 | You spot a squad of Imperials pinned under fire and rally nearby troops to aid them. Through grit and quick action, you guide the survivors back to safety, their gratitude evident even through exhaustion. The rescue bolsters morale across the line. | +1 Contribution Point |
61 –65 | In the midst of confusion, you notice a weakness forming in the defences: a gap the enemy could exploit. Without hesitation, you coordinate reinforcements, sealing the breach and holding the line firm. The quick decision earns quiet respect from your peers. | +1 Contribution Point |
66 –70 | With a small detachment, you take the initiative and strike deep into enemy ranks, using cunning and speed to sow panic among the Fanatics. By the time they realise what has happened, their formation has already collapsed into chaos. | +2 Contribution Points |
71 –75 | Under intense bombardment, you act swiftly to evacuate exposed units and reorganise the defence. Explosions roar around you, yet you remain steady, guiding soldiers to safety through fire and confusion. Many owe their lives to your command. | +2 Contribution Points |
76 –80 | Amidst the smoke and shouting, you catch sight of a Ninth Scar officer coordinating the enemy’s movements. You cut them down in a precise, brutal engagement, scattering their followers and turning the tide in your sector. | +3 Contribution Points |
81 –85 | You discern an enemy ambush before it springs, reacting with deadly speed. Turning their trap against them, you lead a sudden counter-assault that sends the enemy reeling and secures a much-needed advantage. | +3 Contribution Points |
86 –90 | You fight with terrifying purpose, carving a path through waves of Fanatics who hurl themselves at you in suicidal devotion. Each strike leaves bodies in your wake. The spectacle of your fury steels Imperial resolve, your name shouted over comms as a rallying cry. | +4 Contribution Points |
91 –95 | You gather scattered troops and launch a decisive assault, coordinating fire and fury into a single devastating push. Enemy ranks crumble before you, their banners falling into the dirt as your soldiers cheer your name. | +4 Contribution Points |
96 –100 | In an act of unmatched skill and ferocity, you intercept a Ninth Scar counter-charge before it can break through the Imperial line. Through strength and sheer will, you crush the enemy’s momentum and lead a roaring counter-offensive that shatters their formation and turns defeat into triumph. | +5 Contribution Points |
FAQ
Q1 - When does my character visit the front lines in terms of times?
A1 - The best time is through the day outside of core hours so you can still have them return to base in the evening for roleplay.
Q2 - How will this impact Influence?
A2 - High contributions (according to your rank) may lead to higher influence scores later, reflecting your characters contributions to the war effort.
Q3 - Can I do something outside the box to influence the battle, say a ritual or some unusual plan?
A3 - We would broadly prefer these initiatives are limited to in-game events, but if a group of 5+ player characters can come together with a plan, submit it to the Officer Inbox.
Q4 - How do I use the narrative prompts?
A4 - They are intended as a baseline and things your character can react to in-game or via updates. Are they frustrated they let loyal Imperial get killed in an ambush, or are they jubilant about their own contributions?
Q5 - Where do I post my narrative update?
A5 - A few lines in the Battle of the Furnace channel is all that's needed, guaranteeing you a contribution point the following day.
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