Battle of the Lipsig Hills
Second Battle of the Sarzin Conflict
The horses and those simple-minded riders on top of them seemed visibly in horror as our innocent-looking staffs roared like thunder, sending a line of bullets into their ranks
The Battle of the Lipsig Hills was a violent encounter that involved the forces of the Peasants' Republic of Aussel, their allies from Pessen and the mercenaries hired by the Aristocratic Republic of Rükenland to ravage the Ausselian countryside. It was the second major battle that took place during the Sarzin Conflict and the first military victory that Aussel had achieved since securing their independence.
Prelude
Less than two weeks prior to the battle, the Chancellor of Rükenland, Kilas ven Leiberge-Kattel, invaded the island of Sarzin, starting the Sarzin Conflict. It took the Ausselians on the mainland a few days to realize what had happened and before the warnings had reached each corner of their relatively small country, it had been too late to rally the militias.
The city of Lipsig received their warnings and the news of the attack on the same day as a horde of Ualish horsemen crossed the border into the Peasants' Republic of Aussel.
Aue's Assistance
Count Gawin Aue of Pessen, a Rükish nobleman and a direct vassal of the chancellor, had spies in Eekberge who had learned of an argreement between his liege and the Ualish. The malcontent lord was displeased with his government and sought to assist other devout Hillenists like himself from the pagan hordes, even if it meant going against the men hired by his chancellor.
Since Aussel and Rükenland weren't offically at war, he figured that attacking the mercenaries wouldn't have been an attack on his own country. Around the same time as the Battle of Teuholz occurred, the Pessenians were on their way to Lipsig.
There hadn't been enough time to unite the local militiamen into a cohesive army and so the Lipsig Defense Force, an army of skilled heavy infantrymen and archers, was called to action. Their leader, Jekel Kantz, brought the army to the hills near the city, hoping that the rough terrain would benefit them and especially their archers.
On their way there, they came across a messenger who bore news of an allied army of faithful Hillenists who were ready to protect their brothers and sisters against the pagan horde. The two allied armies met in the hills and prepared to face the incoming wave of horses and men. The Pessenian handgunners and pikemen hid behind a hill while the forces of Lipsig stayed in front of one with the archers on top of it. It took the Ualish another half an hour to arrive after the allies had readied themselves.
The men of Pessen had brought with them their hand cannons. Thunderous and magnificent, we had hoped that their horses would panic upon hearing the loud explosions. Many wondered whether they'd make our archers obsolete.
The Battle
The battle occurred on a cool autumn afternoon on the 3rd of Tiennor, 1540 AA. The skies were covered with dark grey clouds, blocking much of the sunlight. The ground had been slightly wet as it had rained during the night before the battle, but by the time the fighting had begun, it was had dried enough and no longer affected anyone's combat prowess.
Defense of the Hills
Upon entering what would become the battlegrounds, Takai Ha Alar, mercenary captain of the Ualish, split his forces into three. Two units of light cavalry were sent on each flank to outmanoeuvre and flank the defenders. His personal unit of skilled and highly experienced horse archers charged down the centre of the field, right towards the heavily armoured Ausselian infantry.
The defenders prepared to their archers to loosen their arrows into the closest horses and their riders. The barbarian horde lacked decent armour and the only things protecting their skins, and vital organs were their thick coats.
First Blood
Hearing the hoofsteps of the approaching cavalry, the Pessenian units moved up the hill so that they could put their hand cannons to use. Around the same time, the archers on the hill let loose their hail of arrows upon the incoming mounted archers. The arrows landed in many a horse and man, forcing them to topple down only to be trampled by their fellow comrades. Unfortunately for the Lipsig Defense Force, their efforts to break their foe's spirit had failed.
In retaliation for the death of their brothers-in-arms, the Ualish riders attacked the vulnerable medics who had found themselves exposed. The devastating accuracy of the veteran mercenaries had caused havoc among the defender's lines. As arrow after arrow was let loose, the lightly armoured unit of healers perished. Only a few remained, but their hearts had given up on the fight, and so they fled. While they were in the midst of fleeing, the thunderous roar of the Pessenian hand cannons sent shivers down everyone's spines. The loud explosions were quickly followed by the screeches of the cavalrymen who had found themselves a victim of a weapon previously unknown to them.
Craven Captain
After the gunshots had gone off, the mercenary captain and his men were in awe and horror. Even from a distance, the archers on their elevated position saw their panicked movements, and they capitalised on it by giving them more things to worry about.
Another volley of arrows hit the horsemen, sending the whole unit into a disorganised rout. One of the arrows had found itself into the captain's shoulder, but some of his more disciplined men had managed to get him out of the fight. The other Ualish units continued on, however.
Our employer had kindly forgotten to mention the fact that we were to face demons with powerful thunder-rods. Had we known beforehand, we would have been able to perform the necessary rituals to ward off such evil.
The light cavalry units near the northern hill charged up toward the handgunners. The slope had reduced the impact of their blow, but they managed to overcome their initial fears, and several gunners were slain. A unit of pikemen moved in to counter the cavalry but their heavy armour had slowed them down, and so they failed to arrive in time to protect their friends. Near the southern hill, the Ualish attempted all they could to flank the Ausselian infantry at the base of the hill.
Broken Spirit
The mercenaries kept up their attacks against the gunners, but the pikemen had arrived to provide assistance. During the melee combat, the majority of the hand cannon wielding men had been forced to rely on their swords. A few select soldiers were ordered to reload their hand cannons, and as they kept firing, the horses panicked. Eventually, they were able to force one of the units to rout.
Down at the southern hill, the Ualish used their speed to their advantage and assaulted the infantrymen from both sides. They had hoped to crush their resolve, but the men of Aussel stood their ground. As the archers on top the hill launched volleys into the enemy ranks, their morale was crushed, and in a shameful display, they fled from the field of battle.
Flight of the Horses
Having lost the majority of their army and their previous numerical advantage over their enemy, the final two units of light cavalry pulled out of the fight and with great speed, they fled back to whence they came. The Ausselian archers had managed to inflict more casualties upon the broken horde, but the barbaric invaders had eventually escaped far enough to be safe from the bowmen.
- Lipsig Defense Force
- Aue retinue
- Takai Band
- Lipsig Defense Force
- Aue retinue
- Takai Band
- Lipsig Defense Force
- Aue retinue
- Takai Band
The map layers at the end really add a nice touch. Great job!