by Igon Seld » Fri May 26, 2006 1:45 pm
** Player Note - Most of this has been quoted from the "Battle of Fjaga" but changed to suit Igon's point of view and to leave out some things the Kaldorian noble need not know
"It is a long tale My Lord, but if you wish to hear it I will endeavour to be quick about it."
Taking a breath and pausing for a second to consider his thoughts, Igon begins...
"News reached us after we took Leriel. When the word came that Bjan Verakaar had raided Geldeheim, seized ships, and then returned to Tandir, King Alegar ordered the bulk of his forces to return to Geldeheim
for he would punish Tandir once and for all. Upon arriving in Geldeheim, he learned that he would not be facing the Verakaar - they had been utterly defeated - by the forces of the King of Tharda. Perplexed, but
undeterred, he determined to regain control of the Akag peninsula - so close to his stronghold and primary strength. He called together his war council, including his sons Meraag, Raabaas, and Alegar, and the lords
of Vaagel, Fjaga, Ebein, Aaldem, Daagen, Tawheim, and Zynholm. They all agreed that it would be intolerable for Alegar to permit this insult, and that the army must engage the enemy as soon as practical."
"On the morning of the 17th of Azura our army emerged from the Hjael Pass, marching towards Fjaga just as the fog burned off. To our surprise, we found the army of the King of Tharda arrayed against us, blocking
the head of the pass. We could exit the pass unhindered, but could not proceed further. King Alegar was incensed. He thought that these upstart southrons had no business intervening in his kingdom, especially at
this time when the Jarin had once again risen against the proper order of things. What was more interesting is how the southrons found out we were marching there. it was the opinion of Bjan Drogo that Arren was employing foul witchcraft."
I led the Seld warband and stood near to the King under the command of Prince Meraag. As part of the army of the King, our Clan had been through much. Called together months before to punish the Jarin of
Leriel who were defying the royal will, they had seized Pethwys and invested Leriel. After months of siege, the Jarin in Leriel had run out of water, and the craven Jarin lords had slipped away under cover of darkness.
King Alegar had left his kinsman Hunris Hamarkel, the Valhakar of Shien to hold these castles and marched his army back to Geldeheim to face the threats to his rear. Our King smiled grimly. “Look,” he said to us
that stood near, this foolish young King has put his head in the noose. If he were more experienced, he would have corked us up in the pass behind us. Instead, he’s let us come through and deploy. Even so, we
yet hold the high ground. Look how this valley slopes gently down - we shall have the advantage in the attack. The foothills protect our position, but the field is exposed. I did not expect battle here, but this is ground I will accept.”
We could not believe that the Thardic King would allowed us to deploy, nearly 160 huscarls and 500 light foot, with almost a fifth of the light foot archers. We did not know what numbers were arrayed against us,
but we were certain that our troops, inspired by the Ljarl, would prevail. Our King called his senior commanders together and they surveyed the Thardan forces. A line of medium foot stretched across the front rank, perhaps three or four deep. Behind them at to either flank could be seen hundreds of archers. On a slight rise, the King of Tharda and his nobles waited, attended by no more than forty mounted knights. Nearby, clearly in reserve, more infantry - well armored - waited."
Igon pauses a moment then continues... "this part was told to me by Bjan after the battle, as I was too far to hear his words..."
[ King Alegar turned to Bjan Drogo and the Valhakar of Vaagel and mused, “Not many horsemen. We had been told the Thardans had many horsemen. And what of that infantry they hold in reserve - they seem
better armed than those in the line.”
“The standards proclaim the First Legion, my King,” replied Drogo. “They say they are the elite of the Thardan troops. When we defeat them, we shall have repulsed the best the Southrons have.”
“Without horse, they will have no choice but to engage us,” said Lord Vaagel. “The infantry are no match for our warriors.”
“Yes,” agreed Alegar. “Keep the archers and light horse in reserve, order the clans forward. Let Prince Raabaas command the attack and Prince Meraag the reserve. We shall engage the Southrons directly. Bjan I tell you, by the end of this day we shall have that whelp’s head on a spear.”]
Igon shakes his his head... "We were so confident, and so foolish... we did not respect Arren's abilities, if we had, a different plan might have succeeded."
"The fog had now burned completely off, and the sun stood high in the sky that day. As the army of Tharda stood athwart the mouth of the pass, we marched forward to contest. As we moved into position, and began
to beat our spears upon their shields. Battlecries rose up from our ranks which were terrifying in their savagery. I noticed that soldiers of Tharda’s I Legion stood in their ranks, silent, and in good order. Then, as war chant died down, the young King Arren II rode forward to the front of his troops. We could not hear his words, but after a few minutes, the cry was heard across the field: Arren, Arren, ARREN, ARREN, ARREN!
As the legionnaires reached a crescendo, they raised their swords and cheered their King who turned to face the our line.
At this moment, Raabaas gave the signal to advance, the host moved across the field. Prince Raabaas commanded the center, the Valhakar of Vaagel commanded the right, and the Valhakar of Ebein commanded the left. . The troops of the Valhakars of Aaldem and Daagen were held in reserve under the command of Prince Meraag along with the bulk of the bowmen. My Clansmen chafed to move forward, discontented to be part of the reserve. For Prince Raabaas would no doubt make short work of the southrons and leave no glory for the rest. Our horns sounded, and Raabaas charged the field. At once, they came under fire from the Thardan longbowmen. Volley after volley rained down on the charging men, decimating their dwindling ranks with each set of loosed arrows. We knew they had to cross the field as quickly as possible to avoid the shafts of death being loosed by the Thardan bows. The Thardan medium foot held their ground, spears at the ready, until our troops were nearly upon them. Then they charged, spears forward, and engaged the Raabaas's line. The melee was bloody and close, with each side giving no quarter. The Lord of Ebein’s forces were especially mauled.
My clansmen and I watched with horror as the attack of Prince Raabaas was repulsed.“Order the reserves forward. Now!” Came the cry.... And then Prince Meraag gave the signal and we marched forward to reinforce his brother."
"Jorst Seld, a huscarl of the clan and my cousin (Igon points out Jorst) helped me lead our clansmen as my second. As the senior clansmen, it was my duty and honor lead them into battle. As we crossed the field, several of the clan’s light foot had been cut down by the Thardan archers, but the bulk of the Selds made it to engage the enemy. Ulauf Seld and Laenvan Hawkeye (Igon again points to his friends in turn) attempted to use their bows to support the clan and fight as a unit as their kinsmen fought, but it was difficult. Sword and axe flashed repeatedly and the cries of the dead and dying could be heard over the sound of battle... we
acquitted ourselves but were badly outnumbered. The slight height advantage the gentle slope gave us didn’t seem to be effective. As the melee raged, the cry went up, horns were blown, and then we Selds looked west in dismay to see hundreds of Thardan knights charging the flank of the the King's army. Many broke through, and though Laenvan and Ulauf were sure they had unhorsed several knights with their arrows, they had to fall back under the weight of the onslaught."
"Suddenly, trumpets blared from the enemy line, and as the Thardan cavalry flanked us, the Thardan heavy foot moved forward from reserve to join the fray, halberds flashing redly. Our entire line began to collapse under the advance of the fresh troops. In the confusion, Laenvan here, saw the young King of Tharda himself move forward with his heavy infantry, and thinking to end this now, raised his bow and loosed an arrow. Arren II was less than a hundred yards away, golden crown on the brow of his great helm shining in the sun, and Laenvan saw him clearly. The arrow streaked true, but to Laenvan’s astonishment, King Arren seemed to perceive the flight of the arrow, and raised his hand. The shaft, on a deadly course, suddenly turned away harmlessly. Laenvan in shock tried to fire another arrow, but was forced to retreat by the advancing legionnaires before he could loose it effectively."
Igon smiles slightly.... "If Arren were but a mere man, instead of some Deryni witch, the battle would have been one with that bolt. As it is, Arren survived and we were now forced back, overmatched. A cry arose again, and we watched in as a group of Thardan knights broke from the main body and made for the position of King Alegar."
"Prince Meraag attempted to rally his men and interpose his force, but was pushed aside by the mounted Thardan knights. Bjan Drogo raised his sword to defend the King, but was surrounded and fell. King Alegar
tried to defend himself, but was captured by the knights of Tharda and carried off the field. At this, many of our forces broke and ran. The battle became a rout, and less than half of the King's troops made it back to Geldeheim. The light horse, held in reserve, valiantly tried to cover the retreat of the army, and were annihilated."
Igon again pauses as the grim memories push to the front of the line...
"The retreat itself was not arduous, but the shame was. The Army of Orbaal retreated in inverse of its advance, with the forces of Prince Meraag now in the lead, and the broken ranks of Prince Raabaas in the
rear. The forty or so Light Horse covered the retreat, and fought bravely as the Thardan knights overwhelmed them. Still, they sold their lives dear, and kept the Orbaalese forces from being overrun. As I remember, there was little talking in the ranks and a grim and bitter mood hung over all. All knew we had suffered a terrible defeat, and had lost our King. He had not gone down in battle, but had been ignominiously bundled onto a horse and taken behind Thardan lines."
"Our warband had fared comparatively well. Some of our light foot had been lost, but none of the huscarls and none of the close kin. Still, it was with dread that I approached Seldholm, and I thought that this was no time to face the Valhakar, my father. But our honor was in vengeance, and so we marched on. It was a tired, and demoralized army that arrived in Geldeheim late that evening. There had been no sign of pursuit from the victorious Thardans, and with pickets set, the army slept. Those that had shelter made for it; those that did not, slept under the stars on the Hagined Common. The Seld warband retired wearily to our clanhouse."
"Over the next week, more men trickled into Geldeheim. The casualties were high - of the 660 in King Alegar’s army, less than 300 remained. The light foot militiamen had taken it worst as they were relatively unarmored compared to the huscarls. The army had lost over half its archers, who had fought with sword and spear towards the end of the battle and had been run down by the knights. The huscarls hadn’t had nearly as many casualties, thanks to the mail or scale hauberks they wore, but only two of the horsemen had escaped the battle. They came later, bearing Bjan Drogo, wounded, but alive. Of the Lords Albyn Staeld of Fjaga and Taebaal Gydasael of Ebein there was no sign.
Lord Daasen of Daasen had been wounded, but had escaped the field. Men searched the camp for friends and family, clasping arms in silent relief when they found one, and others searching on fruitlessly. No one knew how many were dead, and how many had been captured. The next day the Princes held moot to decide on what course of action to be taken. Scouts were sent out to see what the Thardans were up to, and when all of them had returned and the information discussed, the Princes sent us forth to find troops and allies... for Arren is a conqueror, and he will not stop until he has all."
"We must drive the evil from our lands!"
Igon Seld