Battle of the Drifting Legionnaire
The battle of the Drifting Legionnaire was the bloodiest battle in the history of the Republic. The fervor of the legions worked up by the churches of their patron gods as well as the river and rain washing away many of the dead leading legionnaires to not realize the severity of the combat and battle lead many of the legionnaires to continue fighting long after most would normally route. Many of the centurions and legates attempted to get their soldiers to retreat and fall back, but could not hear the orders of the din of battle and the fervor in their attack. Many observers who watched the battle said that the legionnaires fought far more ferociously than normal and many times they would break their battlelines leading to chaotic combat that legionnaires are usually drilled and drilled to prevent.
The Conflict
Prelude
Vernican reinforcements had arrived from Albion after it was determined that the threat of rebellion had been dealt with. The legions boarded ships in the port city of Velia and crossed the strait and landed north of the River Darruson, the river which leads from the Darrus lake to the Fair Sea. The recently raised legions in Solden marched their way and set up south of the river preparing to engage Vernica's forces. Vernica's legions began setting up camp when a massive thunderstorm hit with torrential downpours of rain. The newly promoted legate of Solden's legions thought this was an excellent time to catch Vernican legions off guard and ordered his legions to ford the river. Many officers begged the new legate to rethink this strategy, but the legate saw this as an excellent way to increase his prestige in the senate giving Solden a quick victory so they could immediately march south and help engage Viira's legions. The Prima legate of Solden's legions, whose name has been struck from history books, ordered the legions across the river regardless of the protests of his officers. The legions ever dutiful marched across the river to engage Vernica's forces.
Deployment
Solden's legate marched his legions across the river and concentrated them on an attack between a set of hills along the embankment that was relatively unguarded by the forces of Vernica. Through the rain it took a long time for Vernica's guards to spot the advancing legions giving some credit to the new legate's plan allowing them to establish themselves on the other side of the river. Vernica's legate Yurin was a Luclanan native experienced in fending off the orc attacks was used to being outnumbered and found this a pleasant change of pace. He split his legions in three sending one to guard the hills that Solden's legions were marching towards while the others would attack from the west and east of the hills between the rivers. Several officers also expressed concern fighting so close to the river during the storm, but Yurin said that it would be a problem for Solden and not them. The officers were still hesitant with the plan but realized there was some truth to Yurin's words and planned on keeping to the hills. The Vernican officers deployed their legionnaires on the slopes of the hills ready to receive the charge of the Solden legions.
Battlefield
The battlefield was fought in a fairly small area, most combat happening along a couple mile long stretch in an attempt by Solden to mitigate their smaller size. Solden's legate was planning on making it through the lightly defended pass between two hills and sweep around to catch the remaining Vernican forces in between the river. Legate Yurin of Vernica managed to spot the attack early enough and got his legionnaires positioned on the hill right before the Solden legions began their engagement. The fighting took place entirely on the two hills and the pass as well as in the Darruson River.
Conditions
The downpour had caused the ground to be wet and muddy making it difficult to quickly move troops around the battlefield. Solden's Legate plan was to probably engage segments of Vernica's army and overwhelm them individually before they were able to reinforce each other. The legate obviously didn't do enough reconnaissance as he chose a point almost entirely in the middle of the Vernican's forces allowing Yurin to flank him negating the difficulty of crossing the muddy terrain. As the battle wore on the rain only began to pour harder.
The Engagement
Cavalry was next to useless in this terrain and both sides elected to keep them in reserve. The light skirmishers did what they did throwing javelins at the other allowing the legions to march forward and meet each other. The Solden officers began to get word from the skirmishers as they fell back that the Vernicans were able to get most if not all of their legionnaires to the battlefield. The Legate of Solden in charge told them not to worry and that if they focused on the weaker right flank they would be able to route it before the Vernicans could engage their center. The officers were starting to get even more worried, but when the legate bellowed his command to attack the legionnaires with almost glee in their eyes began to slog through the mud to engage the enemy forces even though they had to charge uphill.
It was at this time that a lighting bolt from the storm struck the top of the right hill causing trees and debris to loosen and start a mud slide. The mud began cascading down the hill sweeping up the Vernican's right flank and bringing them to the edge of the river before they were able to regain their footing. It was at this time the Solden Legionnaires engaged the Vernican forces in a disorganized melee very unlike most combat seen at any point during the legions' history. The fighting on the right flank was brutal with soldiers being caught up in the water and mud still flowing from the hill dragging legionnaires from both sides into the river. Yurin immediately ordered his remaining legions to back away from the river to less hostile terrain, but the storm prevented his orders from reaching most of the centuries.
Solden's legions saw the mudslide and thought it was a gift of victory from the gods. Little did the other centuries know that both sides were taking absolutely staggering casualties and rushed to meet the remaining enemies. Some of the Vernican centuries received the order to retreat and began making their way away from the river. When they noticed that most of the other centuries were not falling back and had engaged the enemy. They decided to turn around to assist their comrades. The rain began to increase in intensity and the western hill began to loosen up creating a minor mudslide slowly forcing the combat into the swelling river. The legionnaires continued fighting in knee deep water even after repeated commands from their officers to fall back. Thousands of legionnaires began to drown as their gear became water logged and dragged them into the river. The legionnaires from both sides finally realized the majority of their allies had fallen or were swept away by the river. They came out of their stupor and rage against the enemy and both sides disengaged from the other.
Yurin realized that his remaining legionnaires could barely fill two legions. The Solden Legate was nowhere to be found and was assumed to have perished in the conflict. The remaining officers took count of their troops and reorganized the twelve legions into three understaffed legions. Yurin took his troops and boarded his ships and returned back to Vernica and when Solden spotted the fleeing legions they went to reinforce garrisons around the province of Solden as many towns began to panic at the destruction of their forces.
Outcome
The manpower of both Solden and Vernica were greatly diminished as most of the legionnaires were killed in the combat.
Aftermath
This battle left a bad taste in the mouths of both Solden and Vernica. Both consuls ordered their legates to take a far more cautious approach and attempted to take down the other side with less direct means.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The Republic sees this battle as one of the greatest breakdowns of discipline ever and is used to teach the necessity of keeping legionnaires in line and maintaining formation. The Evocati have viewed the reports of this battle and opened an inquiry after the events of the sundering to see if there was any cause for concern at the lack of discipline, but determined it to have been mob frenzy and the stress of war taking root in the minds of the legionnaires reinforcing the legion's need to instill discipline in their soldiers.
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
29 C.E.
Belligerents
Solden
Vernica
Strength
12 legions each containing roughly
3,680 Legionnaires
1,200 light Skirmishers
250 cavalry
15 legions each containing roughly
4,160 Legionnaires
800 light Skirmishers
150 cavalry
Casualties
38,280 legionnaires
8,230 Light skirmishers
52,840 legionnaires
5,400 Light skirmishers
Objectives
Bring a quick end to the reinforcing Vernican legions
Defend against the Solden attacks
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