Siege of Minden
This battle recalled the worst horrors of centuries past. The full might of the Circle clashed with all the power of the Lucidians. The poor commoners of Minden were caught up in the middle of it. The city and its inhabitants were sacrificed to ensure the annihilation of the Lucidian Order.
The Conflict
Prelude
In 952 the Circle of Magi and The Lucidians had been engaged in open warfare for several years. The Circle had generally enjoyed the upper hand, but had suffered several major setbacks and losses. They enjoyed the support of the Myzian Empire and the Church of Sol along with several other countries and organizations. Yet their goal of destroying the Lucidians eluded them. The greatest threat to the Circle was Rhea Lucidia who led the Lucidian Order. Widely recognized as the "greatest sorcerer of this age" she was the foremost target of the Circle. Yet she kept eluding or defeating those sent to dispose of her. In 952 Rhea's hiding place was finally discovered. Spies in the employ of the Myzian Empire discovered a Lucidian base in the Free City of Minden. The Circle was informed, and at once began to assemble a force to deal with the Lucidian leadership, once and for all.
Deployment
The Circle assembled the full might of its High Council. They moved to isolate Minden from the outside by placing enchantments and spells upon it which kept the Lucidians from fleeing by way of magic. Meanwhile the Church of Sol dispatched paladins and clerics to lend additional martial might to the initial Circle presence. The Myzian Empire mobilized its Southern Army, and began marching it towards Minden with all haste, sending the cavalry ahead of the infantry force.
Battlefield
Minden itself was a mid-sized Free City. The city stood atop a small island, linked to the mainland by a wide built up bridge. The city's harbour being separated from the city proper by about half a kilometer. The highest point in the city was the Lord's Tower, which stood at the peak of the hill, and towered more than 60 meters above the surrounding houses. The Lucidians had taken up residence beneath the tower, and had covertly infiltrated the ruling family, and thus controlled the city's defences.
The Engagement
The battle itself began when the Lucidians attempted to break out of the city before the Myzian army and the majority of the Church forces could arrive. This first attempt failed, with most Lucidians being driven back into the city, while some died and only a very few managed to get out.
Following this failed attempt the two sides engaged in negotiations. The Circle demanded the unconditional surrender of the Lucidians in the city, and the disbandment of the Order. This was rejected. The Circle then attempted to storm the city with the aid of the Church forces. This attempt was repulsed, but did succeed in gaining the Circle control of the harbour. Many believe that the Circle attempted this attack in order to defeat the Lucidians before the arrival of the Myzian forces, so that they needed not share credit with "wordly forces". Yet the Circle denies this.
With the arrival of the Myzian forces the siege became more methodical. The Myzians constructed used modern siege equipment to reduce the ancient walls of Minden. They dug trenches to allow troops to approach the walls, and dug tunnels for their sappers and infiltrators to use. Eventually - and at great cost - they forced a number of breaches in Minden's defences.
Finally the combined forces of the so-called "Alliance of Convenience" attacked the city in full force. Desperate street fighting turned into a horrorshow as the Lucidians unleashed every weapon in their arsenal upon their attackers. High Magic was used upon mortal men, and duels between mages of great power sent shockwaves across the fabric of space and time. The Lord's Tower was utterly destroyed along with much of central Minden. Parts of the city were sunk into the ground or fell into the ocean. The fiercest fighting lasted less than an hour, but killed more than half of the city's inhabitants.
With the fighting turning decisively against them the Lucidians attempted another breakout attempt. A group of Rhea's apprentices attempted to distract the High Council of the Circle. Meanwhile Rhea and a few companions attempted a ritual of ascension atop the city's clocktower; hoping to elevate Rhea to such power that the Circle would be helpless against her. However, a group of seven archmages of the Circle ascended the tower in pursuit. A final duel then erupted. Thee of the seven archmages killed, but Rhea's ritual was disrupted, and her body destroyed.
With Rhea gone the Lucidians collapsed. Minden was looted by the Myzian troops. Its inhabitants were interrogated, then taken away and re-settled in the Empire. Minden was abandoned.
Conflict Type
Battle
Start Date
07.11.986 IC
Ending Date
24.11.986 IC
Conflict Result
Alliance of Convenience victory. Lucidian Order scattered. Circle control of High-Magic use re-confirmed.
Location
Belligerents
Alliance of Convenience
Strength
- Circle:
- 24 Archmages
- 362 Mages
- Ca 400 Apprentices
- Contructs, Fey, Elementals and Demons
- Church of Sol
- Ca. 200 Paladins
- Ca. 200 Clerics
- Ca. 400 Knights
- Myzian Empire
- Ca. 40.000 Soldiers
- Lucidian Order:
- 10 - 15 Archmages
- 80- 100 Mages
- 50 - 60 Apprentices
- Various constructs and elementals
- Many demons, devils and other horrors
- Minden:
- Ca. 100 soldiers and knights
- Ca. 3000 militia
- Many thousand undead (late in the siege)
Casualties
- Circle:
- 6 Archmages
- 48 Mages
- 30 Apprentices
- Church of Sol
- 32 Paladins
- 16 Clerics
- 38 Knights
- Myzian Empire
- Ca. 7.000 Soldiers killed
- Ca 10.000 Soldiers wounded, sick, captured, deserted or missing
Near total
Objectives
The Destruction of the Lucidian Order
- Survival of the Lucidian Order
- Escape of the Lucidian leadership
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