The Battle of Zhaoguan's Shelf
Perhaps the most important part of the Silk Fang War, the Battle of Zhaoguan's Shelf was a turning point for coalition forces.
Fleeing from the Gotan army through the area known as Zhaoguan's Shelf (most notably known for the large slate shelf that hangs in the air over the main road, a unique feature in Gotou), several young but respected commanders suggested that the coalition counter-attack. Arguments went back and forth for the better part of two days as they traveled under the shelf before an agreement was finally reached.
An ambush would be set, pinning the better part of the Gotan army against the shelf, and hammering away at it until it retreated, giving coalition forces a chance to link up with reinforcements and develop a more concrete overall strategy.
Amazingly, the plan went off without a hitch. The Laidrian corps provided the anvil, stopping the Gotan army in it's tracks and causing it's whole column to bunch up, while detachments from Sabháin, Svogan, and Geirstðr swung down the left flank like a great gate closing on a hinge.
The plan was ambitious but solid. Not too complicated, making it hard to fowl up on either side. The shelf provided a natural ceiling that prevented the Gotan gods from flying on their clouds, which they were so fond of.
But it wasn't enough by itself.
They continued to push forward on the main road, hemorrhaging men and material as they ignored the flanking force almost entirely, putting unexpected pressure on the Laidrian corps. It started to fracture, unable to keep the weight of the Gotan army off of it. Laidrian soldiers are known for their steadfast nature and general steely attitude, but many of them were starting to fall to shot and melee. It didn't take long for cerulean uniforms to start leaking through the line of charcoal.
The gap started to widen further, even with several Laidrian gods throwing themselves headlong into the breach, such as Amos Coffee the second in command (but eventual overall commander of Laidrian forces in the war) of the Laidrian corps.
At the last second before the Laidrians broke wide open, the church attaché; one Johanna Farun, rode at the head of her personal guard into the gap. Defying direct orders to stay out of the conflict.
The charge was enough to send the Gotan reeling and let the Laidrians regroup. Despite this, the Gotans held on for another 40 minutes before trailing back the way they came and out of the shade of Zhaoguan's Shelf.
In the end, coalition casualties numbered 9,542 with 45% being Laidrian. The Gotans suffered around 34,000 casualties, though exact numbers are unclear. Coalition forces did not stick around to count the dead, merely grabbing their wounded and continuing their retreat to friendly territory. Nearly 30 gods were slain as well, and half that wounded, though divine casualties were heavily weighted towards the Gotans.
Despite their horrendous losses, the Gotans were not done. The coalition forces felt their dead more keenly, and developed a strategy of nondefinite contact. Using the advantage of their smaller force to dance away before a serious engagement could be forced out, then converging to destroy Gotan forces when they were separated and alone.
Fleeing from the Gotan army through the area known as Zhaoguan's Shelf (most notably known for the large slate shelf that hangs in the air over the main road, a unique feature in Gotou), several young but respected commanders suggested that the coalition counter-attack. Arguments went back and forth for the better part of two days as they traveled under the shelf before an agreement was finally reached.
An ambush would be set, pinning the better part of the Gotan army against the shelf, and hammering away at it until it retreated, giving coalition forces a chance to link up with reinforcements and develop a more concrete overall strategy.
Amazingly, the plan went off without a hitch. The Laidrian corps provided the anvil, stopping the Gotan army in it's tracks and causing it's whole column to bunch up, while detachments from Sabháin, Svogan, and Geirstðr swung down the left flank like a great gate closing on a hinge.
The plan was ambitious but solid. Not too complicated, making it hard to fowl up on either side. The shelf provided a natural ceiling that prevented the Gotan gods from flying on their clouds, which they were so fond of.
But it wasn't enough by itself.
They continued to push forward on the main road, hemorrhaging men and material as they ignored the flanking force almost entirely, putting unexpected pressure on the Laidrian corps. It started to fracture, unable to keep the weight of the Gotan army off of it. Laidrian soldiers are known for their steadfast nature and general steely attitude, but many of them were starting to fall to shot and melee. It didn't take long for cerulean uniforms to start leaking through the line of charcoal.
The gap started to widen further, even with several Laidrian gods throwing themselves headlong into the breach, such as Amos Coffee the second in command (but eventual overall commander of Laidrian forces in the war) of the Laidrian corps.
At the last second before the Laidrians broke wide open, the church attaché; one Johanna Farun, rode at the head of her personal guard into the gap. Defying direct orders to stay out of the conflict.
The charge was enough to send the Gotan reeling and let the Laidrians regroup. Despite this, the Gotans held on for another 40 minutes before trailing back the way they came and out of the shade of Zhaoguan's Shelf.
In the end, coalition casualties numbered 9,542 with 45% being Laidrian. The Gotans suffered around 34,000 casualties, though exact numbers are unclear. Coalition forces did not stick around to count the dead, merely grabbing their wounded and continuing their retreat to friendly territory. Nearly 30 gods were slain as well, and half that wounded, though divine casualties were heavily weighted towards the Gotans.
Despite their horrendous losses, the Gotans were not done. The coalition forces felt their dead more keenly, and developed a strategy of nondefinite contact. Using the advantage of their smaller force to dance away before a serious engagement could be forced out, then converging to destroy Gotan forces when they were separated and alone.
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