(1875-07-05) The Battle of Alasce
The Battle of Alasce
Summary: Jordan, the Duke al'Morena meets the forces of White Hall in a decisive strike to reclaim his Ducal Seat.
Date: 2019-07-05
Related: Concurrent with The Battle of Water Steep. Followed by The Reclaiming of Alasce Castle
NPCs: Jeremy of Alasce (NPCed by Ivo), Sir d'Martine (NPCed by Dertan)
Players:
Astrid  Jordan  Valeria  

Aequor - Province Evelle - Alasce
Rocky upcroppings punctuate the oak savannah that characterizes the wild places of Province Evelle, where the coastal oaks and grey pine whisper above tall grasses run rampant with eyebright and white clover. Where the Rytone cuts through there is a band of rich greenery with strawberries and bay trees easy to find. Gulls and terns are common here, with herons stalking the catgrass. The road here is dry and still shows memories of wars with Galenthia the closer one gets to Castle Highwater and the city of Alasce, with rusted spearheads occasionally surfacing in the grasses.
1875-17-05

It has been four days since Duke al'Morena began his two pronged offensive against the White Hall Invaders. Though a little haggard, the Aequoran forces are in high spirits and the banners of the River Kingdom and the Duchy of Evalle flutter in the breeze, the pennants displaying proudly their colors and proclaiming the courage of Aequor for all to see.

Before them a different set of banners flutter in the breeze. Simple lines on a triangle flags denote individual Jarls, the White Hall Lords or Clan Leaders. While the Flag of Bitralund, the Red Elementi with White Hall Knots in Blue surrounded by that same Red snap on their own white field. The men are formations, many with the feared bearded axes so favored by White Hall. Steel glints for their armor, and in their eyes as they stare down the Aequorans who dare to attack them. Standing with the Vigamandr of Bitralund are what have become called Eastermen by the Njorvolk. Former Aequorans who have thrown their lot in with Bitralund for the promise of a life outside the Peasant driven Serfdom of the River Kingdom. They have a different sort of look in their eyes. Determination.

Determination to NOT return to that life and to defend their newfound freedom with their lives.

In front of all that stands Astrid Fe' Falkrin Hoyd, Jarl of Falcon's Rest in Bitralund. Her banner flutters below the Kingdom's, proclaiming her the commander. She stands with Axe and shield, flanked by her Valkyries, women of Falkrin's Hoyd who defended their right to be a clan when their warriors had fallen in battle. She watches the Aequoran lines form and smiles deeply. This was going to be a real battle, and she was going to do everything she could to win it.

-

Near to the banner, in place to help guard the precious object, a knight clad in scratched and dented plate and a surcoat in the rich red and black of house d'Martine leans on the hilt of her greatsword and stares out across at the enemy gathering on the opposite side of the field.

-

Jeremy of Alasce was never a man who looked for war. He'd been a tanner before the invasion. Not the most pleasant of occupations, but he was skillful, diligent, and earnt enough to support himself and his small family. With no great ambition to be anything but a tanner, and to raise a son or several to follow him, the arrival of the White Hallers had been rather a large inconvenience. Had he been in Alasce at the time maybe he'd've died, or maybe he'd be enjoying the 'freedoms' of the Eastermen, but as it happened he was up river negotiating for hides with farmers and had found himself cut off from home and family. Were he but a mere journeyman he might have jsut shrugged it off and played his trade elsewhere, but with wife and kids relying on him to save them there was really only one thing he could do. He'd done well too, learnt how to handle a sword, and showed enough zealous fervour with regard to killing 'Bitralunders' that he'd been awarded the honour of carrying his unit's banner into the fight. Armed with that, and a perfectly serviceable sword, he tucks a few inches of his chain hauberk over his belt to let his hips take a bit of the weight, then offers up a prayer to The One that they will be victorious this day, and that happy reunions await.

-

The Aequorian army is in a standard formation. That is to say the banners of the various houses that have provided the troops are seen spaced out between the different groups but the Legionaires are mostly up front with spears intermingled with them for extra reach over the shieldwall. The Men at arms hold the flanks along with the crossbowmen for effective closer ranged attacks. Behind the overall formation are the archers flanked by lancers to route any attempts at flanking the infantry formations. Someplace a bit further off can be heard the stomp of heavy war horses and the creak of the artillery pieces settling into position to rain fiery death upon the enemies of Aequor. With the artillery this time is a unit of spearmen with shields to protect the vital equipment. Heavy cavalry is kept in reserve for that massive overwhelming charge. Near his banner is one Jordan al'Morena sitting atop his horse, a fancier sword than usual at his hip and his strung bow sitting on his lap as he looks over at the enemy forces. "Volley of arrows…. At half range to establish range markers. Have the siege artillery prepped to fire on the no man land on the other side of that arrow line."

-

Astrid's smile is almost a smirk. To think these Eastern Folk had the Audacity to stand before the might of the Vigamandr? She rolled a shoulder. "SHOW THEM WHAT WE'VE GOT. IF YOU FALL, I EXPECT TO HEAR THE TALES OF YOUR BATTLES IN THE SUMMER HALLS WHEN I FINALLY JOIN YOU! FOR KING RAGNESSON, FOR BLADUR, FOR THE TUSKANULD - " The very air tenses before she drops her axe and surges forward, "CHARGE!!!"

It's like a string had been cut. The entire Bitralund army surges forward, screaming at the top of their lungs. The ground shakes and over the lines come the booming of artillery as trebuchets, Cannon, Catapults, and Ballistas fire at the Aequoran lines. Crossbowmen rush forward, then kneel, firing bolts into the massed Aequoran lines.

They charge into incoming fire. Shields are raised, as dirt erupts form Artillery spraying them with hot rocks and mud. Men scream from the impacts as Artillery rips into the charging lines, as well as the arrows that rain down on them. But despite the withering fire, the Bitralund forces slam into the Aequoran lines. It's a crunch of metal. The THUNK of shield against shield. The roar of thousands of voices screaming at once. The two sides begin to hammer at each other. Men dying on both sides.

Astrid walks forward her eyes searching for one person. One Aequoran. She calls out, "PRESS THEM! PRESS THEM AND KILL THEM! DROWN THEM IN THEIR OWN FUCKING BLOOD!" She is sprayed by dirt form a earby artillery blast. Raises her shield as a flight of arrows sails at her and slams into her blue and black shield. She narrows her eyes.

A real battle indeed.

-

Jeremy would have prefered to be fighting White Hallers, but finds himself arrayed against a unit of the traitorous Easterlands. "Repent! Surrender and repent!" he calls to them as the lines clash, "throw off the shackles of these invaders!" There's a lot more colourful language too mind, but thats from both sides, particularly at that initial crunch of the lines, but here at least it seems that the loyal Aequorian lines have born the brunt rather than buckle before it. With banner pole in one hand, and sword in the other he's cut down two before a familiar face appears in front of him. Not family, thank The One, but neighbour. He freezes for a moment, but luckily so does the other and it's a race to see who recovers first from the shock of it. Luckily it's Jeremy and he rams his sword into the other's gut, muttering a quiet apology to his old friend, well, former friend, as the corpse slides off his blade.

-

Sir d'Martine screams along with the rest of the unit as the two armies smash together, her great sword smashing down onto enemy shields as the lines, on both sides hold through that initial impact. She yells a lot of things. Some of which would make sailors go green around the gills. But the insult that falls from her lips most often is that of "COWARD!"

-

Jordan sighs as he watches the forces commit to a full charge, "Typical pagans." He looks over at his messengers, "Brace the line. We will hold here. Sound the trumpet call for the archers. Fire full volleys aim at the center mass of those pagans. Artillery is to fire into them until they've passed through the range markers then they'll shift fire into the enemy artillery. Prepare the heavy cavalry. If this is an actual full on charge we'll be flanking and destroying their archers and artillery. If not prepare for them to try and do the same." He sits there and watches the impact on the lines, "HOLD THE LINE! These PAGANS will not go one step further!" As the battle begins in earnest he frowns some then motions for a messenger, "Pull a small unit of lancers. No more than twenty and send them out to scout the flanks. No full on engagements only harrying attacks unless they can destroy that artillery. But ensure they understand that their mission is to get information BACK to us to work off of."

-

Sometimes it did a body good to lead from the back. Well, at least they were making forward progress, weren't they? Valeria's complement of men at arms were not the first into battle, but they were more than happy to make up for the lack of timeliness, as they charged onto the field, crashing into the enemy unit closest to their position. Easterling, White Haller, they did not seem to care. If they were not allied with the Duke, they would fall by the Duke's blades. the sheer ferocity with which they attacked, sweeping through and bolstering the existing al'Morena forces was enough to inflict some quick losses to the enemy forces.

Whatever else Valeria might be, on the field, she did one thing and one thing well. She laid waste to her enemies. That she had a bevy of swords supporting her only seemed to drive her forward, carrying the wave of destruction with her as the tiny knight waded into the battle, supported on both sides by her men. They carved a wide swathe through the enemy troops, giving no quarter as they sought smash into and overrun the enemy troops.

-

A stumble, or the rippling effect of an attack further down the line, breaks a chink in the bitralund shield wall and sir d'Martine immediately takes advantage. Swinging her greatsword in a great arc she slays a man as he's still trying to get his shield up and then surges into the gap. That massive sword, in the close confines and the chaos of the space just behind the enemy shield wall, reaps several souls. Two. Three. And the gap left by the knights progress starts to widen into a gaping wound.. Four.. five.. She swings at the sixth but finally the blade meets a blockade of shield and muscle. Shouting in frustration the woman keeps up her assault. Pushing through deeper into the interior almost by chance..

-

It takes a few moments for the shock of what he's just done to hit Jeremy, but when it does it nearly staggers him. He knows he has to focus and push forward against the enemies of the King, but he grew up with that guy, they played in the streets as kids… Staring at the corpse for a few more moments he's shocked out of it as an arrow dings off his helmet and remind shim that there is work to be done yet. Lifting his sword once more he can do little more than parry for the moment, waiting for an opening to reappear in the line so he can get stuck in properly once more.

-

The lines collide and the warriors of Bitralund cleave into the Aequoran lines. Shields splinter under the heavy strikes of the bearded axes, and over the shoulders of the people in the front, heavy throwing axes sail and hit shoulders or faces. Men scream while Spears are snapped and the White Hallers press into the ranks of the Aequorans.

It's not all like this though. The line of Men at Arms commanded by Valeria hold their ground well, cutting down every White Haller or Eastermen who step to them. Some of her men take injuries, but her line is strong, and pressing back against the tide of enemy that she faces.

Artillery continues to fire back and forth. Devastating where they hit, and loud if they hit or miss. The ground shakes with each impact. Arrows and Crossbow bolts fly back and forth. Some finding purchase in shields, others punching into armor or finding exposed unarmored space. Men and Women scream and die all up and down the battlefield.

Astrid frowns. While on one had her forces where doing well. Her lines were suffering under the weight of those Men at Arms. She could see the lines there beginning to waver. "HOLD DAMN YOU!" She bellows to the Jarl over there. "HOLD AND EARN YOUR PLACE IN THE HALLS OF SUMMER YOU DAMN CRAVEN VITCHES!"

The Lancers, under orders from Jordan ride forth and then twenty minutes later return. The commander reigning in near Jordan. "Your Grace. The Heathens have fortified the area around their Artillery. They also have a unit of Cavalry in Medium to heavy armor, but no barding waiting in the wings. We took Crossbow fire, and I lost a quarter of my men, but It doesn't appear they have anything else up their sleeves. If I didn't know better Your Grace, I'd say this was an all or nothing battle for them."

-

Jordan nods as he looks over the lines that are starting to buckle, "Go back and prepare to sally out and attack those cavalry." He turns to one of the messengers, "Order the heavy cavalry to wheel about and charge into the rear of their infantry. Your lancers will stage to counter charge their cavalry when it attacks." He wheels back to look at his lines and where they're starting to get pushed back and points at that spot, "FOCUS ARCHERS THERE! REGAIN THE LINE Don't let those pagans push you back another step!"

-

While he has now fully recovered his wits, Jeremy is finding it hard to regain the momentum he had when the lines clashed. The ground beneath his feet is getting slippy with blood, there's a fair degree of jostling back and forth, and he has to keep swatting away opportunistic attempts to grab the banner from him. He's vaguely aware that things are happening around him, and occasionally there's a thunder of hooves that shake the ground, but he's not paying attention to anything but the area a few metres infront of him as he tries to slice up his former fellows before they slice him up.

-

There is a problem with pushing through the enemy lines. Even when armed with a greatsword. Whilst momentum is in her favor Sir d'Martine is a veritable killing machine. The relatively unprepared men behind the shield wall fall before her and she gets deeper and deeper into the lines. But then the last man in her streak goes down and her momentum is broken by a small, temporary, shield wall. Oh dear. Screaming in a mixture of frustration and battle rage she raises her sword to hack and slash at the line but its not enough. It holds against her onslaught. And the enemy starts to curl around behind her. She notices of course and training kicks in enough to make her adapt and step back, her motions going to keep range between her and her foes as much as it is intended to kill and maim. It works too, keeping swords and axes well away from her. But a spear snakes through and punches through her backplate, staggering her, and making her spin to face this new problem. Charging again she yells "Go to hell!" Such creative insults.

-

Astrid growls under her breath. Somewhere. Somewhere that damn Aequoran Duke who took her King's Eye was hiding, and if she found him, she was going to end him. Then she was going to split his head open. "KEEP KILLING THEM!!!"

The Forces facing Valeria's Men at Arms shatter. The Eastermen, not nearly as tough as the Vigamandr break and begin to run from the battle. Many of them are cut down as they turn to flee. However as they break, Astrid growls and grabs one of the men near her. "Send in the Cavalry."

"How many Jarl?"

"All of them. Light and Heavy. We have to staunch the wound."

With that the man runs off, and minutes later hooves pound in the dirt, only to be answered b more hooves as the Aequoran Cavalry answers. The Two Cavalry Forces slam into each other, and then the Aequoran Lancers hit the flank of that Cavalry battle.

Astrid Screams and looks to the main line. She knows he's there, but she can't loose this fight. She grabs her Valkyries with a long loud whistle and then charges Valeria's unit. Three Hundred Women scream a battle ry to the gods, and they're led by Astrid herself.

Meanwhile, the Artillery continue to fire. Almost at the same time a Bitralund Trebuchet is destroyed by an Aequoran Cannon with a shattering of timbers and an eruption of fire, which is accompanied by an Aequoran Cannon taking a direct his from a Carroballista. While the cannon isn't destroyed, it is blown off it's firing mount, and the crew are shredded.

Missiles form both sides continue to fire and rain down on the forces. Though Aequor is suffering, it appears to them they are winning.

-

Valeria's forces seemed, rather than falling back as they took injuries surged forward, to take such great offense to the forces against them that they only increased the ferocity of their attack. Whatever hell the White Hallers hoped to reach, well, the men at arms were more than happy to send them there. When the flurry of the battle waned, Valeria could see the blonde female Jarl and did what she was want to do. She charged her.

-

Jordan frowns some as he watches the armies fighting pointing at some spots, "Push more troops into there and there reinforce those lines. Archers target there there and there." Pointing over at some of the other spots that the enemy are strongest at. Then he looks some more, "Artillery target their rear. I want them to have to retreat over their dead. Continue to hit them even as they retreat. Cease attacking if they surrender."

-

At last! An opening! Diving in sword first Jeremy somehow manages to surprise the Easterman in front of him, despite holding a sodding great banner apparently, maybe the other chap is having a bad day? Well, there's no maybe about it a moment later as solid Aequorian steel slides through filthy traitorous flesh and ends the life of another of those who embraced the invaders. "For the King!" he roars, as he brings his sword back once more, looking for another target, "For the Duke! For Aequor!"

-

The Valkyries and Valeria's Men at Arms slam into each other. The Women of her personal guard fight like warriors born to this, but can't move the Aequorans who not only stand their ground, but hold their own. They exchange attacks and slam shields against each other, but the two sides continue their battle with no serious upper hand given to either.

The Cavalry slam into each other, the Aequoran side getting the better end of that deal. Horses scream, and men are sent flying form lances from both the heavy cavalry and the Lancers. The White Hallers give their fair share as well, but nothing compared to the Aequoran charge. Centuries of practice and tradition gave them the upper hand and it shows.

The Main line is hammered by the loss of that unit, and the ensuing battle by the cavalry. The Aequorans press in and Astrid knows it. She curses under her breath. "Damn it." She says as she casts about. Then calls out: "FOR THE TUSKEULD!" And continues to fight. There was nothing for it at this point.

She would win. Or she would lose. It was up to the Gods now.

-

Things aren't looking to good for Sir d'Martine. She takes another wound, this one to her eyebrow, but luckily the blood trickles a trail down and around her eye before soaking into the padding of her coif. It doesn't take the fight out of her and she fights on. The earlier yells and screams quietened into angry words between harsh breaths. "Be Steadfast!" she states like a battle cry at one point. On and on the battle rages and she struggles to get away from her current problem. Scoring another minor wound, this one from a spear point slipping between the gap between vambrace and armguard, as they fight.

-

Valeria meant to press every advantage that she could, and she called out to her men as they crashed against Astrid and her honour guard. Weak points were found, but were also defended, the two forces seemingly fighting each other to a standstill. The men at arms were undaunted. They would take them a piece at a time if they had to. Damage would be done on both sides, but if luck favoured them, the Duke's forces would prevail.

-

With a surge the Aquorans break the White Hall Lines. The route is a trickle at first with a few groups of men fighting to the bitter end, but it does end. Withing minutes the enemy is retreating. Cavalry breaks off, men and women run southwest toward the Bitralund capital.

Astrid stands there for a moment. She spies her people breaking and she knows that she has now failed. She has failed her King, she has failed the gods. She has failed. She couldn't even die in battle, and couldn't yet, as her King MAY still have use of her. She calls to her guard. "Fall back."

Her second spins to look at her. "Astrid. No. We can still fight."

She nods to her friend and grips her shoulder. "Which is why we will retreat. So we CAN still fight." She locks eyes with the other woman who then nods. The Valkyries turn and flee with the rest of the Army.

A Knight dismounts near Jordan as a cheer goes up along the Aequoran lines. "Your Grace." He says kneeling before Jordan. "We did it. The enemy is in full retreat. Your Orders?"

-

Swords clash around him, and the vibrations of the ground as the cavalry engages with gusto are hard to miss, but Jeremy is still needing to keep focused on the area directly in front of him. Blocking one blow he as to side step to avoid a second but there's just not enough room in the lines and a blow glances off the mail on his arm and momentarily numbs everything below his elbow. It's not enough to make him drop the banner, but it's close. Seeing the enemy start to retreat he sheaths his sword and switches the banner to his good arm and raises it high, "go get 'em lads! See them run before Aequorian valour!"

-

Jordan sighs as he watches the enemy route. "Signal a cease fire. They're beaten." He looks towards his ancestral home. "Sound the order to press onto the city. Establish siege lines if they're holding it. Pull one squad of militia to start pulling the wounded back to be treated by the healers."

-

"Cowards!" Valeria's voice rose above the sound of the retreat. "You will return to your king as cowards," Valeria's voice was hard, as she saw the women turn to run, "Is this the heart of White Hall?" Valeria's basket of you know whats was completely empty. She signaled her men to follow her lead as she heard the sound of the command to continue on. They had their orders.

-

Sir d'Martine doesn't immediately realise that the bad-guys are leaving but when she does the tip of that massive sword droops down to kiss the soil and rather than chasing after them she just yells "Thats it! Run away!"

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