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Bringing You the Most Important News Since 1678
1877, Third Age
New Grand Patriarch Elected!
The Independent
VATIKAR – A new Grand Patriarch has been elected overwhelmingly by the Council of Cardinals; Grand Patriarch Cecil Acelin of Vergone. The Cardinals, after venturing into a closed-door prayer session emerged with Acelin as the chosen spiritual leader of Naggarium's Holy Church.
Little is known about the bookish Acelin, whose knowledge of church history is renowned throughout the ranks of the clergy. What exactly Acelin's election means is of some concern to leaders throughout Ede Rame as the fear of an unknown leader in the church has many worried.
No New Archbishop!
The Independent
VATIKAR- Unlike the smooth election in the Holy Church of Naggarium, the election of a new Archbishop for Miran, the Council of Cardinals has proven to be deadlocked. The Council of Cardinals has been unable to elevate a Cardinal to the office of Archbishop. Many are concerned about what this means for the future of the church, although the Cardinals have promised to return to their prayer circle to “seek Miran's infinite wisdom in choosing new leadership.”
Elfwar!
The Outlook
A long struggle between
the Grand Dutchy of Batogne and the Kingdom of Vecchio over the island of Takmi
has led to increased tensions between those two nations. After months of
political wrangling, no agreement was possible. The Vecchite Foreign Ministry
referred to the Batognese behavior as a “betrayal of Vecchio's trust.” Vecchio
and Batonge both responded by removing their respective ambassadors and rumors
of circulated the continent, despite any actual declarations of war.
In Batogne, however,
High Command feared a potential sneak attack and ordered their fores on
full-alert. A general mobilization was issued and hundreds of thousands of dark
elven soldiers were called up and sent to forward positions along Batogne's long
borders, notably along the northern and western borders with the Kingdom of
Vecchio and the Kingdom of Vergone, where they immediately began to prepare
battlefield fortifications.
Batogne's enemies,
however, were ready for war. Apparently the Kingdom of Vecchio had been
successful in convincing the Correllians and Vergonians in supporting them in
the struggle. As such, despite Batogne’s preparation, their prodigious
reconnaissance patrols located no fewer than three different army groups,
marching from three different countries into Batogne. In Vecchio, Supreme
General Fiocco de Neve was recalled from his work in Ves Siet and placed in
command of the Vecchite Second Army Group which was composed of 50,000 Trench
Infantry, 20,000 Bersagliere, 20,000 Cavalry, 50 Steamtanks, 50 Clockwork
Knights, 100 Speedshooters, 100 Cannonade, and a cadre of Battle Magi.
Supporting this was the Second Air Corps which was composed of 120 Military
Biplanes and 50 Airships. Amidst much fanfare, this force was paraded through
the streets of Rame, the ancient capital of Vecchio and immediately marched
eastward, into the mountain passes of the Peninine Mountains, preparing for
battle with their enemies.
Facing them was the Armee du Centre, composed of 30,000 Grenadiers, 60,000 Trench Infantry, 10,000 Lancers, 200 Speedshooters, 100 Cannonade, and 300 Bombardum. General Dufiche, commanding, was responsible for the defense of the western frontier and ready for battle. Overhead the 3rd Aile d'Air patrolled, with the famed Air Marshal Renard dans le Ciel, noted for his ability to locate enemy positions. Thus, as the Vecchite forces began to advance into the mountain's passes, Dufiche was ready and waiting.
Dr. Beatrix le Cour, “The Elfgate War: The Western Front,” The Journal of Military Studies in Ede Rame, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
General Rene-Nicolas Dufiche, knew that the enemy could not hope to break through the mountainous passes with the amount of troops that he had at his disposal and thus ordered the mountain passes blocked to the enemy, pre-positioning his artillery and speedshooters to cause the most damage and waited for the enemies forces to arrive.
As Supreme General Fiocco advanced, he realized that he was going to have considerable difficulty in advancing through the rough terrain against such a dug in and ready opponent. Nonetheless, Fiocco knew he had a duty to perform, as well as allies to assist, and Fiocco ordered his forces into the mountains.
The first engagement came at DeCardi Pass, a wide ravine which General Dufiche had prepared to defend. The Vecchite advance force came upon the pass and immediately sent word back to General Fiocco. Fiocco, himself riding forward on Griffin-back, arrived at the pass and surveyed what awaited him. The rough ground and entrenched enemy meant that there would be considerable bloodshed, but Fiocco knew that no war was won without great struggle and immediately began to pick an assault force. Realizing that he could not hope to advance his tanks through the terrain, opted instead to bring his Clockwork Knights and Bersagliere forward, knowing that these troops were his finest and most likely to make the necessary breakthrough.
Massing his Clockwork Knights and Bersagliere, Fiocco ordered them forward, knowing the cost in blood would be high.
As the vast, lumbering Clockwork Knight moved forward, their pilots sweating as they worked a veritable battery of levers and toggles to keep the complex machines working, as swarming Bersagliere raced forward themselves. Almost immediately, speedshooters and artillery began to pour their fire into the chasm. The hurried barbed wire strung by rushed dark elven soldiers began to tangle a fire Bersagliere, however most was swept away by the vast steel limbs of the clattering Clockwork Knights. Shell after shell landed amongst the attackers and soon elven shrieks filled the air. Several Clockwork Knights, unfortunate enough to receive a deadly direct hit went up in flame, their pilots dying trapped in the burning wreckage of the mechanical man.
The causalities were heavy, but the Clockwork Knights made advance possible. While Cannonade and Bombardum could destroy Clockwork Knights, speedshooter and rifle fire bounced off of their heavy armored hulls and the advance continued.
At the other end of the ravine, dark elven soldiers waited, huddled in their hastily assembled fortifications. Lacking any armor support themselves, the dark elves were fearful, but held in place by their commander, Captein Ettienne, many noted for his battle effectiveness. Immediately ordering runners to General Dufiche, Ettienne readied himself for battle.
With burning hulks of Clockwork Knights in the distance, the Vecchites continued the advance, finally hitting the Batognese lines. As Vecchite Bersagliere and Batongese Trench Infantry and Grenadiers clashed, massive Clockwork Knights waded into the melee, spraying fire and stomping on dark elven soldiers. Still, the wild melee continued, although the dark elves began to be pushed back almost immediately, due to the presence of the Clockwork Knights.
Despite this, Col. Ettienne held his forces in place, his troops firing into the Bersagliere until lines broke down and hand to hand combat ensued. However, Ettienne knew that he could not hold the enemy at bay any longer and a general retreat was ordered. Ettienne managed to keep his troops in good order, ordering a retreating fire leveled against the enemy. As the Vecchite troops continued to advance, firing into Ettienne's forces, General Dufiche responded, ordering his Battle Magi through the mountain's treacherous passes to support Col Ettienne.
The Battle Magi, clad in battle fatigues began to hurl lightning and fire into the oncoming Vecchite mob, specifically targetting the clattering Clockwork Knights. At this point, the fighting became even more brutal with Batognese magicks facing off against mechanical monstrosities. As Captain Ettienne led his troops to desperate acts of bravery, General Fiocco ordered more and more of his troops forward. Behind the lines, General Dufiche continued to send streams of trench infantry forward, attempting to stop the invader.
The fighting ended in a rather anti-climactic fashion. Ultimately, groups of soldiers began to flee the melee themselves, on both sides, as the endless slaughter continued. So many were the bodies that elven and dark elven soldiers had problems advancing through the gore. By the late afternoon and early evening, the fighting had winded down.
Immediately, newspapers in both countries declared victory.
Through the rest of the summer and fall inconclusive fighting continued throughout the mountainous terrain, with neither side making much headway. General Fiocco found, at every turn, there were simply too many dark elves for him to make much advance, despite his nominally effective Clockwork Knights. The terrain was too difficult to dislodge the enemy and he had too few of the expensive Clockwork Knights to truly make a breakthrough. As such, the western front bogged down into tit-for-tat fighting with no conclusion through the remainder of the year.
Dr. Beatrix le Cour, “The Elfgate War: The Northern Front,” The Journal of Military Studies In Ede Rame, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
In the Kingdom of Vergone, King Lorrain I announced over national radio that “hostilities have begun between our glorious people and the Grand Dutchy of Batogne. I ask that your prayers be with our soldiers as we fight for the survival of our way of life!”
The Army of the Combined Assembly, under the command of Grievous Duke Drakko et al del Stein, of some fame for his campaign in the Shattered Lands the year before, was composed of 75,000 Zouvaes, 20,000 Lancers, and 100 speedshooters. Drakko quickly pushed across the border, finding the Batognese waiting for them.
The Armee de Nord, commanded by General Etienne Pasquier, was a formidable force, numbering 10,000 Grenadiers, 30,000 Trench Infantry, 10,000 Lancers, 100 Speedshooters, and 100 Cannonade. Pasquier had dug his forces in, throwing up breastworks and trenches, readying himself to meet the enemy’s assault.
Drakko urged his men forward, resolutely pushing them his hearty infantry to the Batognese forces. Drakko was acutely aware of his lack of heavy equipment, notably in the form of armor or, more importantly, artillery. As such, Drakko knew he would have to close with the enemy to make sure that his more numerous and more heavily armed infantry could dislodge the enemy.
Pasquier, too, was aware of this. The Vergonian Zouvaes were noted for their quality training and great élan. While his own Grenadiers were a match for the Zouvaes, they were heavily outnumbered. However, Pasquier could rely on his dug-in Trench Infantry to fight better from their trenches. His greatest advantage lie, instead, in his 100 cannonade and 100 speedshooters, which could chew-up many of the enemy and break an advance before they were able to collide. Pasquier held his Grenadiers in reserve, ready to deploy them where needed to bolster his line where needed.
The Vergonian forces arrived and General Pasquier attempted to locate a way to use his Zouvaes greater mobility, but to little avail. While the enemy was dug in, Pasquier had taken efforts to fold his trenches back in against themselves, arraying his speedshooters to prevent a flanking maneuver. As such, Drakko was left with no choice to assault the enemy trenches directly. Still, Drakko was a master of infantry tactics and ready to take the fight to the enemy.
Drakko readied his men outside of the range of the enemy guns and gave the order for a general advance against the enemy, hoping that his men would be able to push through the Batognese trenches. As soon as the elven forces came within range of the dark elven guns heavy shells began to land amongst the advance forces, causing significant damage. Nonetheless, Drakko’s men continued forward, shouting their traditional Zouvaes battle songs, amongst the carnage until they closed within range of the speedshooters which opened up, spraying considerable destruction into the advancing elves. Still, the elves came on and they began to dive into the dark elven trenches, engaging in wild melee.
The Zouvaes, amongst the most efficient and well-trained infantry in the world were more than a match for their Batongese Trench Infantry counterparts. However, they were haggard and many still suffering injuries, while the French Trench Infantry were fighting for their lives.
Even so, the hearty Zouvaes appeared that they would dislodge the Batongese, just as Pasquier ordered his Grenadiers forward to bolster the line. Many dark elves who were fleeing the trenches were caught up the Grenadier’s forward movement, turned and lept back into the fray.
The Zouvaes had had enough and began streaming out of the trenches as Grenadier hand-bombs began to fall amongst them. During the flight, dark elven speedshooters and cannonade began to open up, killing many of the brave elven soldiers.
Through the rest of the summer and fall, there was little action on either side. While Pasquier had enough heavy equipment that he felt he could push back the enemy, the Zouvaes had inflicted a number of causalities on his men and few of his men wanted to come face-to-face with those men again. Further, Drakko, realizing his lack of heavy equipment meant that there was little he could hope to accomplish. Drakko knew that he might be able to break through if he was willing to spill enough of his men’s blood, but to what end? If his own army was butchered in the process, the breakthrough would mean little, as he wouldn’t have enough troops left to hope to keep to subdue the dark elves. As such, Drakko was content to keep his men largely idle, engaging in only limited skirmishing with the enemy, hoping that good news might come from Supreme General Fiocco in the west of the Correllians in the east.
Dr. Beatrix le Cour, “The Elfgate War: The Eastern Front,” The Journal of Military Studies In Ede Rame, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
The United Kingdom of Correllia and Augutain had mobilized its forces to assist
its neighbors Vergone and Vecchio in their war against the Batognese. The First
Royal Guards, the First, Second, and Third Royal Air Corps, and the Royal Armor
Corps were chosen for the assignment by the personal hand of Queen Graciosa
herself. Together, these units were composed of 100,000 Trench Infantry, 200
Clockwork Knights, 200 SteamTanks, 300 dirigibles and 300 military biplanes, a
formidable force indeed.
Opposing them was the Armee de Nord, commanded by Major General Jean-Louis Gericault. This force was composed of 30,000 Grenadiers, 60,000 Trench Infantry, 10,000 Lancers, 200 speedshooters, 100 cannonade, and 300 bombardum. Batognese High Command had foreseen the possibility of such a sneak attack and Gericault was prepared for the attack. However, High Command had determined that the greatest threat from aerial attack would come from the west or north and thus Gericault had precious air power at his disposal.
General Marquis Luis Corazon de la Plianada, in overall command of the Correllian armies and answerable only to Supreme General Fiocco of Vecchio, ordered his forces to cross the border into Batogne. Due to his vast air power, Plianada knew the exact location of his entrenched enemy. Looking over his orders to “destroy the enemy army,” the Marquis immediately set his forces forward to seek out and destroy the Armee de Centre.
Gericault was somewhat nervous, having received advanced word two days earlier of the Battle of DeCardi Pass and the appalling causalities on both sides. He also knew that in the north the Vergonians were bearing down on the Armee de Nord. Nonetheless, he was determined to do his duty and stop the invader and thus readied his men to meet the onslaught.
And an onslaught it would be. Though the terrain had allowed the Armee de Sud to slow the enemy and the lack of heavy equipment amongst the Vergonians allowed the Armee de Nord to stop that advance, Gericault had no such favorable odds. What little intel he was getting from his heavily outmanned aerial patrols and some forward cavalry patrols indicated the Correllians lacked any artillery or speedshooters, they had more infantry than Gericault’s forces and a good deal of Steamtanks and Clockwork Knights at their disposal.
Immediately sending word to High Command about his need for additional aerial support, Gericault readied himself to meet the enemy.
The Marquis wasted little time, pushing his forces forward, ready to hit the enemy quickly and grind up the defenders. Arriving at the enemy’s position, the Marquis surveyed the situation. Knowing that the Batognese artillery would cause trouble for his Clockwork Knights to advance into the enemy’s trenches and unleash their flamethrowers, the Marquis decided to rely on his airships to engage the enemy from afar.
Overhead, 300 dirigibles bobbed gently overhead, their calm demeanor belaying their vast destructive potential. Around them swarmed over 300 biplanes, a heavy guard despite the lack of attackers. Below the dark elves huddled in their trenches, their artillery sitting silent, waiting for the enemy to get into range. The vast shadows cast by the airships caused many to panic, but the Batognese officers kept their men steady, keeping them in their trenches and at the ready.
Eventually the laboriously slow advance of the airships arrived at their targets and well-trained crews scrambled to drop their destructive payloads. Hundreds of the heavy bombs were dropped from the airships, sowing destruction on the dark elves below. With no guns capable of hitting the Correllian airships or biplanes available, the dark elves had no choice but to duck and wait-out the attack.
While the airships were destructive, their accuracy was limited. Nonetheless, the airships were able to drop much of their payload on the artillery positions of the dark elves, disabling many of the heavy guns. After nearly an hour of bombardment, the airships had depleted the last of their payloads and began to turn away. On the ground, dark elven soldiers scrambled from their bomb-blasted trenches, while General Gericault was shouting orders attempting to get his forces back into battle formation.
The Marquis, however, was in no mood to allow his opponent the opportunity to fully recover. As such, he ordered a general assault, spearheaded by his SteamTanks and Clockwork Knights. Lacking any artillery support, the human waves were forced un protected.
Immediately those dark elven artillery pieces capable of firing opened up, with orders to target the Clockwork Knights and Steamtanks when possible. Still, the great host of humans continued to advance, although many Steamtanks and Clockwork Knights began to shrudder and stop, victims of mechanical problems. Still, the vast bulk continued to advance, with columns of infantry hiding behind their thick steel skin to protect them from incoming speedshooter fire. Those few mines that the dark elves had placed popped ineffectually against the under-armor of the heavy steel beasts, while barbed wire was crushed beneath their steel treads.
Thus were the Correllians able to close with the dark elves’ trenches.
Within a desperate melee occurred, with Dark Elven Grenadiers and Trench Infantry desperately trying to hold back the human onslaught. Had it just been the infantry assault, the dark elven force likely would have succeeded, however the enormous SteamTanks rolled into the fray, spraying the enemy with speedshooter and cannon fire while great lumbering Clockwork Knights sprayed hard-pressed dark elves with murderous hell fire.
Gericault knew that his men were badly overmatched and if he were to hope to save his army from destruction, he would have to abandon the field entirely. Thus, a general retreat was ordered and the dark elven troops happily complied. Working tirelessly, it was a credit to the Batognese officer corps that they did not suffer a complete rout, but instead managed to keep their forces together. Gericault ordered his Lancersinto the battle, launching desperate attacks to hold the humans forces back while Gericault abandoned the field.
The Correllians were all-too-happy to let the enemy withdraw. Despite their crushing victory, causalities had been stiff. Plus many of the SteamTanks and Clockwork Knights required maintenance and repair and the Marquis was unwilling to continue to face the enemy without his armored corps at top possible strength. In addition to this, the Correllian forces needed to sorted out and confusion and chaos were great.
Thus, Gericault had some reprieve. Still, he had lost many men and much of his artillery. Setting a rendezvous point at the city of St. Margrieve, Gericault began to assembly the remains of his forces there. Further to the north, Gericault received word of the stalemate to the north and a trickle of reinforcements made their way south from the Armee du Nord, although there would be nothing from the Armee de Sud, whose survival was at stake in the desperate mountain fighting.
However, Gericault was able to receive some aerial assistance, a swarm of biplanes, sent by the High Command from other units to create a makeshift defensive force, to prevent another disaster as had occurred earlier that year.
Nearly three weeks later, the Marquis continued his attack, pushing his troops forward, ready to hit the defenders in St. Margrieve.
Gericault had ordered the city evacuated and his soldiers had thrown-up considerable barricades in the city streets. Hoping to allow the city’s broad avenues to be used as interior lines, to allow him to move his troops more quickly about as needed. Attempting to turn the city into a fortress, or barring that, a deathtrap for the human attackers.
The Marquis’s forces advanced on the city, while desperate aerial battles took place overhead. Dark Elven and human biplanes whirling together, fighting and dying, while below the Marquis’s forces engaged the enemy, as clattering Clockwork Knights led hard strikes into the city itself.
Once within the city, desperate fighting took place. The city’s avenues, though broad, did manage to reduce the mobility of the SteamTank and make them more vulnerable to dark elven attack. As such, the Marquis withdrew many of his SteamTanks from the city itself. Even so, the great Clockwork Knights were rampaging through the city, spraying flame in all directions, kicking over hastily-assembled barricades, and knocking down buildings that housed dark elven troops. Even so, in the confines of the city, even the Clockwork Knights were taking causalities.
The city itself had become a nightmare. Fires burned throughout and wild night fighting had become common. Animals deserted the city once soldiers took to killing dogs, cats, and other former pets as food to sustain them when cut-off from their main forces. Deprivations began to grow on both sides, and acts of brutality became increasingly-common.
The Marquis knew that it was only a matter of time before his forces broke the Armee de Center, although he was taking appalling causalities. His healer, Commandante Monsignor Rodrigo Aranjuez was working around the clock, his magicks being depleted as ever-larger numbers of causalities began to stream out of the city.
Gericault did not know what to do, but knew that he could not abandon the city lest the Correllians continue their advance, yet neither could he hope to drive the Correllians back. As such, he traveled about the city, urging his soldiers to ever-greater acts of bravery amidst the ruins of the once-beautiful city.
By the end of the year, the city was ruined, and
the fighting continued to drag on. No new reinforcements were forthcoming for
either side and Gericault knew that unless the situation was changed, he could
not hope to continue holding the human attackers at bay for another year.
The Grand Canal... of Batogne?
The Sentinel
The nations of Batogne, Eboracum, and Waagehaus undertook a vast project this year, with vast sums of money and labor being invested in a vast new canal project being undertaken. As orcish and human engineers arrived, huge armies of dark elves were put to work on the new project, causing a plummet in that nation's unemployment.
Citing concerns about the ease with which international trade was threatened with regards to the Andlan-Manlu dispute over the Great Canal of Manlu, the construction of an ambitious new Canal project will dwarf its predecessor. Being more than twice as long and requiring three times as many locks, the new Canal is being designed to allow for the passage of the largest ships in the world, and promises to be one of the great wonders of the world.
However, the recent invasion of Batogne has cast shadow on the completion of the program. As the fear of human or elven invasion makes many wonder if the fighting might prevent the Canal from ever being opened, although representatives from the governments of Batogne and Ebacorum have made it clear that they are not concerned about any disruptions.
Pirate Raids in Manlu... Again!
The Globe
OLIPIS- The Manlu suffered another pirate raid this year, of even greater significance than that of 1875. This year, Captain Chin Yun, now referred to as the “Pirate King of Carrichi” by sailors across the sea, launched a devastating raid on the Manlu city-state of Olipis.
Yun’s pirate fleet consisted of more than fifty ships, and at least four submersibles, completely lacking any type of uniformity. The fleet was powered by coal and wind, and some claim to have seen an oar-powered trireme amongst the fleet. At least two enormous Dreadnoughts were amongst the fleet. Ofix Mytyr, a resident of Olipis and the greatest shipwright in that city’s history, commented on the dreadnoughts:
“They were clearly older models, the type used extensively twenty years ago… if I had to guess I’d say they were elven, but I couldn’t be sure. They had so changed the dreadnoughts that it was amazing. The already heavy armaments were supplemented by heavy batteries of speedshooters… I’d guess so that the huge platform could also be used to seize ships rather than simply sink them. Also, the pirates had adorned them like a great heathen god, covered in wild, fearsome paint and animal skins. Also the ships were faster than they ought to have been… probably even faster than those now in commission amongst the Great Powers. I can only guess that the Pirate King must have a fine engineer amongst his murderous crew.”
Yun’s fleet came upon the Olipis Coastal Defense Force, The Manlu ships, three Corvettes and two Corkscrew Prowlers, with no warning. The Olipis captain put up a brave defense, but it was to no avail and the great pirate fleet entered Olipis harbor amidst the burning wreck of the Manlu ships.
As in Patrae two years earlier, a great host of pirate marines disgorged from their fleet. The city watch was quickly overrun by more than 15,000 widely disparate fighters, from all the known races of the world, including several unable to be identified by the people of Olipis. The city was occupied, with many citizens shutting themselves into their homes to avoid pirate violence.
The first movements that the pirates made was to seize the city’s prisons and release all of the prisoners, taking most with them to introduce them to the world of piracy. Yun himself came to land, under a marine escort to wander into the poorer sections of town, extolling many to join him, promising “freedom and prosperity on the high seas!” In GardenVale, the Pianta-Cacaton quarter of the city, many were willing to join Yun’s fleet to escape poverty and hopelessness.
Further, the city’s treasury was emptied as well as most of its bank vaults.
Of greatest interest though, was Yun’s apparent primary target.
Olipis’s greatest engineering marvel was the construction of a Beam Generator. The generator was the largest building in town, with its vast bulk casing a long shadow over the city, its green-blue energy beams connecting it to the city’s various sub-stations. The Beam Generator provided most of the people of Olipis with cheap energy, affordable to even the most poor citizens. Once the city was secured, more pirates came into the city, seeming to be less pirates warriors and more workers/engineers. This great host descended upon the Beam Generator and immediately turned it off, shutting off electricity through the city.
Then they began dismantling it.
For over a month the city languished under pirate occupation, as the Beam Generator was dismantled and loaded into a great number of transports, some pirate vessels, other simply commandeered Olipis transports. Once the process was completed, Yun loaded his forces up and set sail, first re-fueling his coal-fired ships in Olipis’s harbor. Yun’s fleet then sped southward, avoiding any pirate-hunters and vanishing from sight.
There are many fears about what exactly Yun’s raid was meant to accomplish, furthering inflaming his infamy. Further, the concern about a public-health disaster has led many other Manlu city-states to begin donating aid to the people of Olipis, given its now uneven electricity and public sanitation situation.
Dr. Ecci Shi, “The Final Year of Field Marshal Lee’s Rule in South Koku,”
The Journal of Military Studies in Ost Rame, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
The fighting continued in South Koku as the Northern Strike Group continued its advance. General Eso, buoyed by a great deal of new troops from Maveren itself, was ready to subdue the Kenku in the name of the Emperor.
Unfortunately for Eso, these new troops were green recruits, nonetheless, their raw numbers were useful in freeing-up many trained or battle-hardened troops from tedious tasks such as guard duty or maintaining supplylines. As such, Eso had the vast bulk of his efficient, well-balanced troops ready to continue pushing Field Marshal Lee from the battlefield.
Immediately ordering a strong push out of the Kenku capital, Eso began to spread his cavalry out in a wide screen, searching for Lee’s forces. Almost immediately, the minotaurs began to come into contact with Lee’s advanced pickets, most of who surrendered without even fighting.
Field Marshal Lee, watching as many of his demoralized soldiers slip away, realized that it was only a matter of time before he was a spectacle in the court of the Emperor of Maveren. Even if he managed to stop the minotaurs, there was little hope of him maintaining his dictatorial grasp on the nation as word of his defeat the year before spread. As such, Field Marshal Lee gathered to him a small group of loyal men and abandoned his post, leaving his second in command in charge. Upon Lee’s desertion, the last of the Kenku forces collapsed and Eso’s job changed from wrapping defeating his opponent to arresting the handful of diehards who resisted the minotaur invasion.
Within three months the General Eso had wired to the Emperor: “South Koku secured. Advance into North Koku begun.”
Dr. Ecci Shi, “In the Shadow of the Emperor: Crown-Prince Yong and North Koku”
The Journal of Military Studies in Ost Rame, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
Crown-Prince Yong of North Koku, who spent
fifteen months watching the fighting in South Koku against the formidable Field
Marshal Lee, knew that the Emperor of Maveren would never be satisfied with only
South Koku and thus Yong readied his forces and ordered a vast review of his
massed forces in the capital, Lan Shuh. Numbering over 100,000 warriors armed
with the finest spears, wakizachi, and crossbows in Ost Rame, the North Koku
forces were ready for battle. In addition to this, a considerable number of
siege weapons had been amassed, including trebuchets, catapults, and ballistae.
Yong moved his forces into the great stone castle of Matsue-Jo. Taking 30,000 of his best-trained soldiers into the castle, Yong immediately began to place his vast numbers of siege equipment to make the most use of it.
Eso, however, wasted little time with fanfare this time around. Knowing that there was little that his enemy could hope to accomplish against him in the field, Eso began to send his cavalry forward en masse, pushing Yong’s few pitiful pickets away with ease.
Reconnaissance have quickly located the fortress and Wong with relative ease, Eso immediately pushed his eager troops forward. Many had begun to sing march songs dedicated to the increasingly popular Eso’s name, calling him the “Konqueror of the Kenku” or “Feather-Plucker.” Eso pushed his men, with large cavalry squadrons brushing aside any Kenku partisans
At Matsue-Jo, Wong moved amongst his troops, keeping his men in high spirits. As the Minotaur forces began to close on the fortress, however, the mood began to darken.
Eso, upon finding the castle, immediately ordered the castle surrounded, sending SteamTanks, Clockwork Knights, and Trench Infantry all around the great stone castle. Eso ordered his 250 Cannonade prepared. In the castle itself, Yong’s men began to lose heart at the sight of the minotaur force, notably the clattering Clockwork Knights.
After a day and half of preparation, Eso gave the simple order: “Bombard the enemy.”
The vast number of cannonade began to pound the old castle, immediately sending showers of stone, mortar, timber, and Kenku in all directions. The screams were drowned out by the continuous bombardment as enormous Minotaur gunners lobbed shell after shell into the castle, quickly reducing its walls to ruin.
By the end of the day, Matsue-Jo was nothing but a pile of ruin with handfuls of Kenku warriors staggering from the ruin. As Eso ordered his men forward, they began to assist the survivors, mostly those huddled within the basement. The Crown-Prince himself was discovered amongst the dead.
In the capital, there was much concern as government officials scrambled in the aftermath of the Battle of Matsue-Jo to determine who would succeed the Crown-Prince. His son, however, was merely ten years old and his brother was amongst the defenders of Matsue-Jo, his status unknown. However, Wan He, the Minister of Defense took matters into his own hands.
Wan He sent orders to all Kenku commanders to “lay down” their “arms to the invader.” Wan He also sent messengers to General Eso, surrendering the country, begging “mercy and dignity to my countrymen.”
After the announcement, Eso ended combat
operations and began to spread his forces across the country, mopping up any
last remnants and occupying all government buildings. In the capital itself, Eso
established his command post, declaring, “North and South Koku reunited… under
the command of the Emperor of Maveren.”
Khulovite Construction in Wacla
RANE- Despite the considerable of war with the Waagehaus, Correllia, and Ebacorum over their occupation of Wacla, the great Czar of Khulov ordered a number of construction projects within his new province this year. While exact details are unknown, considerable amounts of quarried stone, cement, and steel were being shipped southward along with a great number of engineers. Beyond that, a new census project was undertaken in the province, designed to “more fully determine the needs” of the Urks of Wacla.
In addition to this,
new monies were allocated for the improvement of Wacla’s medieval infrastructure
with the goal of better integrating the territory into the Empire. Further, the
construction programs have also been accompanied by missionaries, whose
religious fervor has dared them to venture deep into heathen territory.
The Orcs of Waagehaus have completed a vast
structure outside of the capital of Nysburg. The enormous citadel is a wonder of
magic and machines, a vast complex erected through the efforts of the orcish
Geomancer High Mukamuk Shaman Hans Gorebiter and hordes of orcish steelworkers.
The Spire casts a long shadow over Waagehaus, its numerous cannonade and
bombardum emplacements a formidable Totem to War, a grim reminder of the
military efficiency of the Orcs.
BURLON- President Martin Landon of New Andlan has announced the creation of the “Deeru Development Agency.” The goal of the agency is to assist the development of the Deeru as a people through the construction of “roads… schools, and modern medical facilities” to the Five Civilized Deeru Tribes.
Early Deeru sympathizers were suspicious of the announcement, calling the Agency an attempt to “destroy the Deeru’s traditional lifestyle.” However, these complaints were silenced when President Landon requested none other than Senator Charles Summer, a noted advocate for the rights of the Deeru. While Summer politely declined the offer, he stated publicly, “the President has shown great wisdom in his desire for closer relations with the Deeru and thus we cannot help but join him in this noble effort. I certainly believe that we can work more closely with the President in the future in this great endeavor.”
Wemic Wars
The Imperial Review
The great Sultan of Ras Faraj, growing frustrated with the lack of progress against the Wemics last year, ordered a new year of warfare be made against the elusive tribesmen. Instructing his men to “quell the Wemics” the great armies of the Sultan continued their struggle to win over the new provinces for their master.
In The Vekkar, the Sultan's forces continued to round up many tribes of Wemics, engaging in some savage, but local, fighting. Most of the Wemics simply attempted to flee in the face of the halfling advance. This time, however, General Bay, commanding the Army of the Shining Lion, was not going to bring word of a half-completed conquest to his master. Instead, he ordered Siphai Heyreddin Beg, Air Marshal of the Divine Will of Saphir, to “gun down resistant Wemic tribesmen.”
Across the windy
savannah, military biplanes raced, seeking out any form of resistant Wemic
tribesmen. Once known resisters were located, the biplanes would come in low,
opening up with their murderous speedshooter fire, staffing any who resisted the
will of the great Sultan. By mid-summer, all of the Vekkar had been secured for
the Sultan.
Saladin ip Musarra “The Sultan's Order: The Subjugation of the Wemics of Eve Vekkar.”
The Journal of Military Studies in Arrale, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
The fighting in Eve Vekkar was of much
less concern than in neighboring Vekkar. Making use of many of the tactics that
Caliph Tala Bey had perfected in subduing the Wemic tribesmen, Kurt Ismail
Pasha, commanding the Army of the Foreign Lands, was able to make short work of
any resistance.
Pasha, commanding a host of 25,000 Trench Infantry, 50,000 Kapikulu, 100 SteamTanks, 100 Clockwork Knights, 100 speedshooters, 100 cannonade, and 100 bombardum was ready for battle. Having been denied the opportunity for battle the year before by the surrender of the Djer King, Pasha sought instead to seek glory in the savanna of Eve Vekkar.
Landing unopposed, Pasha's enormous force found little of any significance in his way. The tribes of Eve Vekkar were as disunited as their cousins to the west and few Wemics put up much of a fight as the halfling force rolled through, nabbing territory and establishing minor outposts throughout the country.
Where some reluctant Wemic tribes fled, Pasha ordered his air forces into battle, gunning down any who resisted, making examples of those who believed that the Sultan's grasp was not so great.
Unfortunately for Pasha, he never managed to find his great battles. Instead, his advance was very routine; ordering reprisals for the few Wemic raids on his supply lines, negotiating terms of surrender/incorporation, and sifting through mountains of logistical paperwork.
By the end of the summer, Pasha sent a message to the Sultan simply stating: “Resistance ended. Eve Vekkar is now part of the Empire. Request transfer to area of greater action.”
The Sultan's reply: “Good work. Request for transfer denied.”
The Five Civilized Tribes… and a Great Speaker?
The Burlon Gazette
BURLON – Word of the
election of a Great Speaker for the Five Civilized Tribes of the Deeru has
reached the office of the President. Great Speaker Mannissi of the Pequon was
elected amongst the other tribal leaders for this high office. While Deeru
politics is generally ill-understood amongst most Ede Ramites and New Andlaners,
Professor Gerald Winifield, a Professor of Deeru Studies at the University of
Burlon, noted that, “the changes in the west continue to astound me. I never
dreamed that the Deeru should undertake such transformations and certainly not
within my lifetime!”
Of Gnomes and Wolvers?
The Daily Reporter
DAUBER- A new organization, The Pan-Republican League, has begun to appear on the streets of Dauber and other cities across Dauberkamp. The Pan-Republican League has made public its desire for a “greater Union of Republican states, an unassailable Republic dedicated to freedom and dignity for all.”
The Pan-Republican League has also hinted a political union with the Republic of Ravorek to its north. Its chief spokesman, Hans Lambert, has noted that, “our Wolver brothers to our north were the first to embrace our revolution, the first to remove the shackles of monarchy and enjoy the freedom of Republicanism!”
Many in Dauberkamp question such a union, given the high degree of nationalism amongst both people, however the long peaceful relations of those two states does have some appeal.
Labor Unrest in Maradeen!
The Daily Worker
Considerable unrest has rocked the Thanedom this year, as apparently spontaneous strikes shut-down industry in many parts of the nation. Many workers took to the streets, demanding, according to one protestors, “an end to the use of the worker’s blood to lubricate the wheels of capitalist industry!”
In many places the unrest became significant, causing property damage. As such, the High Thane was forced to call National Guard and, in some cases, even Army units, to restore order.
The trigger for such outbreaks remains unknown although rumors fly about, everywhere on the continent, with many whispering the fear of a communard insurrection within the heart of even the Thanedom itself.
The Sultan Blockades the Straights of Amah!
The Daily Reporter
The great Sultan of Ras Faraj, Sultan Ummul abn Sarradan declared that the Straights of Amah shall be closed to the shipping interests of Vergone, Vecchio, Andlan and Correllia and Augutain. The Summed Fleet of the great Sultan took to the straights in force to make sure that none of the merchant marines from these states made use of the Straights.
While most of the trade affecting the western nations of Ede Rame had passed through the Great Canal of Manlu, there were economic concerns. A minor loss of income was noted amongst the Vergonians, Vecchites, Andlaners and Correllians.
The move surprised many in Ede Rame, signally a definite shift in the policy of the Sultante. In Ebacorum, the Lord-Prefect announced that this was, “only another sign of the need for a second Canal,” while others condemned the action as destructive to “trade and peaceful co-existence.”
The Sultan, characteristically, did not reply to these attacks.
The World Gazette
RANE- The Ministry of Defense has announced the completion of its campaign to finish off the armed forces of King Chewen. King Chewen had, apparently operating on the advice of his military adviser General Thu, fled into the swampy northern lands of Ves Siet, hoping to wage a guerilla war against the elven invader.
However, the Vecchite forces proved to be too capable to be stopped by the best efforts of the guerilla soldiers. Led by the ever-effective Captain Pieta and the skilled Ranger Bonito Guardia, Vecchite soldiers were re-organized into small bands and began to hunt the Fronnu defenders down with considerable brutality. For eight months the brutal fighting continued until Bonito Guardia, leading a squadron of Bersagliere soldiers, managed to locate the camp of the Ves Sieti King.
According to Guardia’s official report of the incident, “all attempts were made the capture the King, although the fanatical bravery of his guard made this impossible. King Chewen was killed in the crossfire, although his son was secured safely.”
Two weeks later, General Thu himself was captured leading a raid against elven supply lines. With Thu’s capture, Fronnu resistance all but collapsed and within another three months all remaining resistance had been “eliminated,” according to the office of Captain Pieta.
Following the ending of hostilities, the Ministry of Colonial Affairs announced the movement of 125,000 settlers into the lands of Ves Siet. These settlers were generally composed of the poorest members of elven society, subsistence farmers or poor laborers who jumped at the opportunity for a new life in Ost Rame.
Further, according to government policy, all Fronnu leaders and landholders were stripped of their ranks and lands and these were turned over to elven lords. Many elven lords of comparatively low rank within the Kingdom of Vecchio proper chose to relocate to the colony, taking vast fiefdoms from their former Fronnu lords. Those Fronnu lords seized by the Royal Army were systematically executed, causing those few not within the grasp of the elves to flee the country entirely.
All resistance was crushed by bullet or bayonet.
This has caused a great movement of Fronnu refugees to flee from Ves Siet itself, most moving into the vast Empire of Zendoh or, to a lesser extent, the Great Plains of Mandru. However, order has been restored in Ves Siet and Captain Pieta has deemed the efforts of colonization, “a smashing success” and has requested more settlers and an open policy of elven colonization into the fertile lands of Ost Rame. The Ministry of Colonization is also considering the legality of Vecchite Pianta colonization into the colony.
Building Program in Vecchio!
The Outlook
RANE- A new building program being undertaken by the government of the Kingdom of Vecchio has had many throughout Mun amazed.
Apparently inspired by Ras Faraj’s “Great Sultan” project, Vecchite Enchantineers have completed the construction of a vast new analytical engine. Called the Arcano-Algortithmic Super Analytical Engine. This new machine has been designed to “[deconstruct] magical incantations into mathematical equations.” Magi across the continent have expressed interest in working with the new machine and many Magi have traveled to Vecchio in hopes of such an opportunity.
The new Waste Transmogrifying Plant has also earned praise. This new magi-tech plant has been designed to transform industrial waste into “useful material.” Many elves have praised the efforts as an attempt to preserve the ancient beauty of the elven forest homelands, while many capitalists are pleased that at this new cost-effective waste-management solution.
The forces of the United Kingdom of Culohill and Andlan were prepared to complete the objective set for them by High Command: “Subdue the enemy. Secure Neldheim.”
The combined armies of Neldheim and Megrati were under the command of General Ajax, the former military governor of the Canal Zone. Together they had 40,000 Manlu Infantry, 10,000 Lancers, 15 motorguns, 15 cannonade, 20 Clockwork Knights, and a swarm of gyrocopters overhead. Ajax had at his disposal the Neldish hero, Stratark Olan, a warrior noted for his ability with his fearsome, modified Clockwork Knight, Phalanx.
Arrayed against them was the Second and Third Royal Andlan Army, the First Royal Andlan Air Force and the Crimson Band, a mercenary force of Manlu hired by the Andlaners to assist in the advance. All told, these forces consisted of 195,000 Royal Marines, 30,000 Lancers, 50,000 Trench Infantry, 100 SteamTanks, 100 Clockwork Knights, 500 cannonade, 200 bombardum, and 200 speedshooters. In addition to this the Crimson Band, commanded by the mercenary Stratego Huko, consited of 5,000 Lancers, 10,000 Manlu Infantry, 100 speedshooters, 100 cannonade, 100 Clockwork Knights, 10 recon biplanes and 10 gyrocopters. The Manlu were heavily outnumbered, although mercenaries continued to stream in Megarati and Neldheim, seeking employment in stopping the Andlan advance.
General Wolseley, placed in overall command of the Queen’s forces, moved quickly and aggressively against the enemy forces… towards Neldheim, not Megrati. The Manlu had believed that Megarati would be the site of the enemy assault, given the claims that it was Megrati authorities, not Neldish authorities, that were responsible for the sinking of The Maine.
Thus, the Manlu force was on the wrong side of the Canal.
With General Ajax’s force removed from the fighting, the Neldish had to rely on the City Guard and a host of mercenaries. However, they did have Stratego Antigus to command these forces, a man noted for his abilities in maneuvering his infantry. However, he had at his disposal a mere 10,000 Neldish Manlu Infantry, 200 speedshooters, 200 cannonade, and a host of mercenary auxiliaries of questionable quality. While these troops would be willing to fight for pay, effectively, they were not willing to spend their lives in what they viewed as a hopeless situation. As such, the Antigus did not attempt to meet his enemy in the field, which was Manlu tradition, but instead kept his forces in the city, fortifying it as well as he possibly could.
Ajax, for his part, was desperately trying to find some way to get his forces across the Canal. However, Admiral Horatio Nelson had moved some of his lighter Corvettes into the Canal itself, their massive guns deterring any forced attempt to cross the Canal. As such, Ajax found himself hemmed in, waiting desperately for some word from Neldheim.
Wolseley wasted little time and sent his formidable 10 gyrocopters, 300 military biplanes and 100 Destroyers over the city. The Antigus decided not to spend the lives of his few pilots in attempting to stop the attack and thus the Andlaners were able to completely dominate the skies above the city. The Destroyers, pregnant with a murderous payload, floated overhead, casting grim shadows below, constant reminders of the death hanging overhead.
The Andlan force advanced quickly, despite its numbers. The roads were thick with Manlu fleeing the Andlan advance, abandoning their small towns in a state of complete fear. As they arrived outside of ancient Neldheim, Wolseley began to prepare his artillery for a heavy bombardment.
In the city, Antigus braced his men, moving amongst them, attempting to keep spirits high. Outside the city, Wolseley gave the order: “Bring the rain.”
Overhead, the Destroyers began to release their heavy payloads, enormous aerial-dropped bombs shattering ancient stone buildings in a matter of moments. Outside of the city, the Andlan guns began to open up, taking aim on the city walls, attempting to form breeches in the wall. The great stone walls were slowly reduced, forming great gaps that Wolseley was hoping to use to send infantry streaming into the city.
In the command tent, Stratego Huko watched the destruction of the city impassively.
Antigus was unprepared for the Destroyer’s attack and ordered his few gyrocopters up to desperately attempt to stop the bombardment. There were no Neldish survivors.
The aerial bombardment lifted, only long enough for the Destroyers to return to the airfields in the Canal Zone to rearm. In the city, Antigus was dazed, finding uncontrollable fires burning, with no fire brigades available to fight. Water lines were busted in dozens of places. His own soldiers were abandoning their positions along the wall, which was now little more than wreckage and pierced in a dozen places. As such, Antigus knew that he had to surrender the city. Sending world to the Assembly, Antigus immediately sent up the white flag and sent runners to the Andlan forces, begging mercy.
Wolseley graciously accepted the surrender and made sure that the Crimson Band was the first unit to enter the ruined city. Andlan soldiers immediately set to fighting the fire, while dazed groups of Neldish infantry threw down their weapons and joined in the fire-fighting.
General Ajax, upon
hearing word of the taking of Neldheim immediately declared that, “This is a
dark day. Yet our forces remain in the field and we shall liberate Neldheim in
the coming year!”
The Invasion of Zenkoh
KOTO- The Emperor of Maveren has continued his aggressive policies in Ost Rame, this time challenging the greatest great Yakitaur Sky Emperor of Zendoh for primacy in Ost Rame. Thus, the Emperor of Maveren ordered the formation of the Northern Strike Group B, under the command of General Kenzo. This army was composed of 2 cadres of battle magi, 23,000 Samurai, 100 cannonade, 100 Clockwork Knights, 30,000 Bicycle Troops, and 10,000 Lancers.
Setting out from South Koku, the invasion force crossed the border into the northernmost province of the great Empire of Zendoh, the Zenkoh province. Given that most of Maveren’s naval power was concentrated in the south, assisting the advance against the Turno of Chu, the Minotaur advance required supply lines stretching from northern Maveren, through South Koku southward into Zenkoh.
Dr. Ettihi Chu Wung, “When Emperors Fight.”
The Journal of Military Studies in Ost Rame, Vol. 2, Issue 3.
General Kenzo took his force rapidly southward, sending his Lancers ahead to scout the terrain, due to his lack of aircraft for reconnaissance. The territorial governor of Zenkoh, Governor-General Qasba, appointed by the Emperor of Zendoh himself, received word of the advance while at the Zuh-Han Temple in the territorial capital. Reportedly he turned to the altar of Cluo and said, “Have mercy on my enemies.”
Immediately sending out orders to gather his soldiers to him, Qasba knew he would have to act quickly to hold the enemy at bay. Ordering riders to the Imperial capital, Qasba requested assistance, although he knew that the Sky Emperor was gathering his vast host for an assault on Denhow. As such, Qasba took matters into his own hands.
While the Minotaurs were securing most of northern Zenkoh, Qasba had amassed his forces in the territorial capital. Gathering to him a host of 20,000 Immortals, 20,000 Mounted Archers, 25,000 Pikemen, 25,000 crossbowmen, a dozen ballistae, and six Giant Tortoises. Further, he also had the ArchMagi Wu-Fong at his disposal, a man of no small skill in war magic. As such, Qasba felt he was ready to engage the enemy.
Moving slowly northward, Qasba began to grab peasant conscripts in his wake, pressing them into his force as fodder to use against the enemy. General Kenzo, by this time, was made aware of the enemy forces and moved to engage them.
Sending his Lancers to raid Qasba’s forces, the Minotaurs found surprisingly strong resistance from the Yakitaur forces. Qasba kept most of his Mounted Archers together in large groups, capable of driving off smaller numbers of Lancers. Nonetheless, Qasba's forces were taking higher causalities as the rifles of the Minotaur lancers.
Kenzo settled his forces along the River Wannet, a moderately-sized river that ran from east-to-west. Kenzo placed his cannonade and readied his Samurai and Bicycle Troops, throwing up some breakworks to meet the advance. As the Yakitaur force advanced, Kenzo felt secure in his preparations and waited for the enemy to close.
Upon arriving, Qasba knew that he would have to act brilliantly to dislodge the enemy. The river was only waist-deep on his Yakitaurs, yet this would slow his assault considerably. More than that, the enemy would be raining rifle and speedshooter fire into his men, to say nothing of the heavy cannonade. Nevertheless, Qasba concocted a plan.
Arranging his enormous Giant Tortoises in a wide, Qasba took what little he had read about Ede Rame's armored warfare and attempted to replicate it. Qasba lined his best warriors up directly behind the heavy tortoises and placed his numerous Mounted Archers alongside each flank, ready to charge. Looking through his field glasses, Kenzo was puzzled at the formation, but kept his men steady and waited for the attack.
It was then that Wu-Fong came forward.
The wizard, rumored to be over one-hundred-and-fifty years old, shuffled forward, his long mustrache drooping to nearly nearly to his waist, the Yakitaur was bent with age, but rippling with arcane power. His crimson robes hanging off of his comparatively thin frame, Wu-Fong held his hands into the air and screams the liquid syllables of magic, calling on ancient and frightening magicks. The river began to bubble and boil, steam rising from it. Many of the Minotaur bicycle troops began to balk, but the stern-faced Samurai kept them in line.
Soon the river was a roiling cauldron, fit for cook rice. And, suddenly, unexpectedly, it froze.
Qasba ordered his men forward. The great, lumbering Tortoises strode forward, the wooden towers fastened to their backs rocking wildly back and forth while trained Yakitaur archers looked for enemies to strike at.
The Minotaurs immediately began to open fire, speedshooters ripping into the front ranks of the Yakitaur advance. While the bullets mostly bounced off of the heavy tortoise shells, vulnerable Yakitaur flesh was not so sturdy and many warriors went down screaming. Incoming artillery began to pepper the attack and one particularly well-placed round landed directly in front of a great tortoise, spraying it murderous shrapnel and sending the great beast to the ground to die a shuddering death. Kenzo's battle magi were hurling hexes at the great beasts as well, spraying the giant beasts with death spells until one of the great creatures collapsed, its turtle-scream deeply unnerving.
Qasba was taking heavy causalities, but ordered more of his men forward, hoping to overwhelm the enemy. On the flanks of each army, Lancers clashed with their more numerous Mounted Archer opponents and the dying were piling up.
In the center, the Yakitaur were finally able to collide with the breastworks, with Yakitaur Immortals scrambling over the top, hurling themselves into melee with Minotaur Samurai.
The Yakitaur Immortal was a formidable opponent. Raised in the ways of combat since early youth, the Immortal was trained to wield spear, blade, and bow while wearing thick, steel armor. However, in his opposite, the Minotaur Samurai, he found a worthy opponent. All along the line, Immortal and Samurai clashed and steel rang on steel.
The speedshooters continued their deadly work, grinding up Yakitaur reserves, flung into battle behind the first wave, although in several places wild Immortal charges were able to overrun speedshooter positions and kill the crews. Still, causalities were heavy for Qasba, but he held his ground.
The only thing that kept the Yakitaurs fighting was the presence of the Giant Tortoises. While most of the wooden towers had long since been blasted away by rifle or speedshooter rounds, the great lumbering creatures still charged into the fray, their nearly-mindless charge scattering some Minotaur soldiers, despite its lack of riders. To make matters worse, Kenzo dared not call his cannonade down on the great beasts, lest its shells land amongst his own men. Still, his battle magi were providing some assistance, spraying fire and lightning into the roiling mass of Yakitaur soldiers.
However, two more of the Giant Tortoises went down, their very death-collapsing killing Minotaur and Yakitaur alike, the massive bodies landing amongst the desperate warriors.
Qasba was becoming desperate. While his fighters were facing the Minotaurs face-to-face, he knew that his crossbowmen would be of little use in the fight. Seeing no option, however, he ordered the rows of warriors forward, hoping that their sheer numbers would be of some use.
Desperately, Kenzo held on. Racing along the line himself, Kenzo cheered his men and through his reserves wildly into the fray to stop a breakthrough. Yakitaur pikemen were now joining the melee and many of the minotaur's bicycle troops were reduced to wielding their sidearms to keep the jabbing pikes at bay. Into this, a smattering of crossbow bolts were being fired, a poor opposite to the rifle's deadly work, but deadly nonetheless.
Finally, Kenzo realized he had but one option.
On boarkin back, Kenzo raced to the extreme right flank of his force, taking personal command of the Lancers there. Screaming wildly, Kenzo personally led a charge... across the river, into the enemy's camp.
As Mounted Archers turned to intercept, Kenzo led his men into battle, firing his sidearm once he ran out of rounds for his rifle. The Mounted Archers broke, fleeing in all directions, while the Minotaurs raged into the main camp itself, most of the men reduced to only their heavy cavalry saber.
Qasba had had enough. With the enemy only a few dozen yards from him and his men scattering in the wake of the Minotaur charge, Qasba began to rally a few of his crossbowmen, screaming for Wu-Fong. The ancient wizard ambled over to the Governor-General and nodded. Holding his hands aloft, the wizard shrieking flat, harsh syllables and pointed at Kenzo's force, hurling mystic flame into the body of cavalry.
Kenzo watched several of his men go down, screaming. Seeing the assembling crossbowmen, Kenzo turned, ordering his men back, returning across the river as crossbow bolts fell short.
Along the breastworks, the fighting was as intense as ever. However, the Yakitaurs were still having the worst of it. The Giant Tortoises were all dead or had lumbered away from the battlefield and the Samurai were still clinging tenaciously to the wall of breastworks. Kenzo, himself exhausted and ready to collapse from his saddle readied his cavalry for another attack when he heard a piercing horn blast.
The Yakitaur were retreating.
They began to move away from the wall, Immortals breaking off combat with their fearsome foes, scrambling back across the icy river. Few of the Minotaurs even opened fire on their retreating enemy; not out of sentimental honor, but out of pure exhaustion.
Qasba ordered a general withdraw from the field of battle, leaving many dead and injured behind him. The Yakitaurs moved only three miles southward, before Qasba knew his men could not hope to continue the march. Setting camp for the night, Qasba set considerable guards on duty.
They needn't have bothered. Kenzo's men had had enough fighting for that day, Kenzo included. Many simply slumping over in their positions in exhaustion, Kenzo knew that he had performed a miracle and held back a much larger force, despite its poor armament. Further, he had faced a powerful Arch-Magi with no magical assistance of his own and made the spellcaster flee the field.
Through the rest of the summer and fall, neither side moved much. Kenzo kept his troops north of the river, sending only small cavalry raids across, to keep his opponent guessing. Qasba, for his part, attempted to rebuild his shattered forces. His causalities were considerable and his men disheartened. While his Immortals had gained considerable battlefield experience, many of his other troops were severely disheartened by the stalemate.
At the end of the year, however, the Sky Emperor of Zendoh sent runners to Qasba, informing him that he would have additional reinforcements shortly, better-armed men capable of matching the enemy. Thus, time appeared to be on Qasba's side.
War in Chu!
To the south, the Emperor of Maveren was prepared to continued his aggressive expansionist policies. The King of Pel Chu had already submitted merely under the threat of violence and prostrated himself before the Emperor of Maveren.
The Kingdom of Chu, however, chose to resist, something the growing Minotaur Empire could not abide. As such, the Emperor of Maveren ordered the Southern Strike Group A to “subdue the lands of the Turno in the name of Maveren.” The strike force set out from Pontatu, shielded by the Southern Strike Fleet. The modern, battle-tested forces of the Maveren Navy swept aside the inferior ships of the Turno and landfall was made at the city of Uhco.
Once there, General Huiyan, of fame for his campaigns against the Fronnu further to the south, established a command post and presented his army in force. Crown-Prince Neshwan II, ruling monarch of Chu and noted military commander had mustered his forces to face the Minotaurs on the field of battle.
Marching quickly towards Uhco, Neshwan intended to face his opponent quickly. However, word had reached him in the field of a second Minotaur force landing in northern Chu. This force, Southern Strike Force B made a landing in force in the capital itself, quickly overrunning the city's guard. Neshwan, realizing his supply lines were compromised and he was, in effect, surrounded, immediately sent runners to General Huiyan, seeking terms for surrender.
Huiyan accepted Neshwan's surrender, ordered by the Emperor to speak in his name and to be “generous” with the defeated Turno.
Reportedly, the terms of the agreement left Neshwan with the title of “King of Chu” and allowed him to keep an honor guard of 500 of his most loyal warriors. While little else has yet been made publicly known, it is clear that the reach of the Emperor of Maveren stretches far and wide.
Clynite Colony Established in the Shattered Lands
The New Andlan Post
BIELSKO- The Undead Lords of Clyne have announced the construction of a new colony in the Shattered Lands. The colony remains along the blasted shorelines of the perpetually-dark lands, a lone group of Ede Ramites amongst the endless waves of the undead.
Field Marshal Szlacta of Ardow was selected to lead the expedition. Landing his force of 25,000 Trench Infantry and an unknown amount of heavy equipment, Szlacta immediately began construction of the colony. First building barracks to house his troops and a crude wooden wall, later to be replaced with something more elaborate, Szlacta's primary goal was to develop quality port facilities which his men set out to do.
The purpose of the colony, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to, “establish a base from which we might export the wild zombies, after some modification, to Clyne where they might be used as labor. In effect, Clyne is embracing the elven concept of 'recycling.'”
Dispatches
Speaker Bael Eloc of Karthago announced the disappearance of a goblin exploration fleet sent southward to explore the southern Carrachi Sea.
The gnomish Prime Minister announced a comprehensive new construction program aimed at improving older infrastructure and transportation.
The Sultan of Ras Faraj declared that King Dver of the Djer is “henceforth considered a memner of the House of Sarradan.” In recognition, the Dver was declared Satrap of Nakistan and a new Fungal Palace was built in his honor at the Sultan's expense.
A new economic treaty and non-aggression treaty
was signed between the Dutchy of Cvek and the Empire of Khulov. The terms of the
treaty involved the trading of Adamite to Khulov in exchange for the opening of
Khulovite Universities to Urkite students and a corps of engineers to improve
infrastructure.
New refugee camps have been opened in Eboracum
for Urkite refugees from Wacla. Many have applauded the efforts of the
KingPriest to assist “the poor savages of Wacla.”
Impressive sums of money have been invested in new technology in the Republic of
Ravorek. Delegates from several Urkite states as well as the Republic of
Dauberkamp were invited to view the display of such new technologies.
The
Vergonian military has withdrawn from the Shattered Lands. Those forces were
instead re-deployed to Ves Siet, currently held by the Kingdom of Vecchio.
The
Batognese ambassador in Velchi was murdered, apparently by an anti-Batognese
faction amongst the islanders. Details of the murder remain vague. Imperial
Emissary Valere du Pont, currently on assignment elsewhere was unavailable for
comment.
Reports
of military and economic aid being delivered to Wacla Urkite resistance fighters
in southern Wacla. Eboracum and Waagehaus have been specifically cited, although
no firm evidence has been brought to light.
The Minotaurs of Maveren have established a trading post in their colonial possession of Pontatu. Attempts by merchants to reach Maveren proper, or even sail up the western coast of Ost Rame for exploration were turned away politely, but firmly, by the Imperial Navy.