Siege of Pearlhal

The siege of Pearlhal are probably one of the most important battles during The Decade of 5 Emperors as it cemented the fact that the loyalists were on the winning side of the conflict and the rebels underleadership of Cedana Astalles were going to lose the war, the war had been going bad for the rebels ever since they lost the battle of the ..... were a loyalist army had defeated the rebels in a major battle for the first time in several years.
The rebels had taken Pearlhal a few years before which had a calming effect on the war as both sides had taken huge losses and were in no condition to conduct major operations just following the fall of the capital. The loyalists fled into the interior of the Empire of Dercia were they licked their wounds and slowly rebuild their forces and in a twist of fate, conducted the same guerilla tactics that the rebels had done in the start of the war, raiding for supplies and attacking small patrols.

The Conflict

Deployment

Despite the attack a few years earlier, Pearlhal were still a well-fortified city, so the first thing the loyalists were doing was to surround the landside of the city by building a small wall that would help them defend against any potential attacks from the defenders if they were to sally out. From the seaside, the loyalists were trying to make a blockade but lacked the fast ships to hunt down blockade runners so sometimes a ship slipped past the blockade.

Attackers:

The loyalists would deploy various siege engines, these would include ballistae, catapults and battering rams, the goal was to breach the city´s walls or gates, archers and slingers from the legions would rain projectiles upon the defenders with the goals of keeping their heads down and weaken their morale.

Defenders:

The rebels would employ boiling oil, rocks and any other type of projectiles to hinder the progress of the attackers, likewise, archers and javelin throwers would rain down a relentless barrage targeting the siege towers or troops attempting to scale the walls.

Conditions

The siege continues for weeks, with both sides engaged in constant skirmishes and battles. The loyalists have challenges in breaching the city's defences due to the defenders' resilience and well-entrenched position.
Both sides face logistical challenges. The loyalists must maintain their supply lines and keep their forces fed and equipped, while the defenders face dwindling supplies within the city walls and even with the random blockade runner making it through, it's nowhere enough for the city.

The Engagement

After several weeks, the loyalists managed to to gain a foothold on the wall, the following few days the defenders managed to contain the breach but the heavy casualties were unsustainable for the defenders and the loyalists broke through the containment and into the city, the defenders would begin to surrender in masses once they realised that the walls were breached and the loyalists were through the containment. The loyalists would begin to establish control over the city, securing key positions, organising places for the prisoners and the hunt for Cedana Astalles would begin.

Conflict Type

Siege

Start Date

1150

Ending Date

1150

Belligerents

Loyalists

Led by

• Emperor Malthin II
• Emperor Zane Astalles

Led by

• Cedana Astalles

Strength

6 legions
ca. 24.300 soldiers
ca. 3500 cavalry

Artillery:
ballistae and onagers

3 legions
ca. 15.300 soldiers
ca. 500 cavalry

Artillery:
ballistae and onagers

Casualties

Total: 10.200
killed: 5310
wounded: 4890

Total: 9200
killed: 6310
wounded: 2890

Objectives

Retake Pearlhal

Defeat the loyalists and keep the Imperial capital.