The Midden Incursion

The war that brought Midden into the Alatrion kingdom. A war that launched the Golden Company into fame and affirmed Carrathor's seat of the throne. The battle that raged for months over the course of hundreds of miles and was wildly accepted as one of the greatest victories for the Alatrion Crown in centuries.

The Conflict

Prelude

Midden was a commonwealth of closely associated city-states and farming communities that lived in peace with their neighbors, Alatrion Kingdom, to the south. Possessing only a few elected officials that acted like low level governors, they possessed no centralized government or military. Each town had their own militia, but they were volunteer and not very well armed. Human barbarian scouts from the north are said to have lived with the people of Midden for sometime and learned of these weakened defense. Either way, having freshly reunited the human, goblin and orc clans together in one great army, Midden was ripe for the taking. The first waves of the army hit so fast three or four towns were completely wiped off the map without a trace in the course of several days, and not one person in Midden had a clue. After increasing reports of active were heard, a council of mayors, governors and representatives got together in the town of Erengrad to discuss military actions. They brought together thier militia into the first Midden Army, which marched north to meet their foes. The army was wiped out in 30 minutes to a man upon meeting the horde in combat. The Erengrad council, sent bird after bird and messenger after messenger to King Carrathor in the south asking him to take the people of Midden in as refugees so no more death can occur. They refused to ask him for help as he was still a young man at the time and unproven in combat. Carrathor answer the call for asylum by marshalling a great Alatrion army north.

Deployment

King Carrathor Marshalled 3 armies comprised of 15000 men and woman not knowing what what the barbarian horde was comprised of. He rode north in Olarune and arrived near the Telmoran pass in the middle of Theredor a month later. Keeping on army in reserved he marched is other two armies side by side encompassing the pass. There he met the vanguard force of Gogoroth's horde and became entrenched in a long stalemate along the Saabrow river.
Gogoroth's army was roughly twice as big as Carrathor's and was comprised of mainly human lead bands of Orcs and Gobliniods, as they followed strength not race, and Gogoroth's command was ultimate. He used the beastmen as a vanguard and skirmishing force to keep the Alatrion army from pushing north, giving him time to reform his horde North of the Telmoran pass as they were focused in the West throughout Midden. It was said that his forces contained great siege beast but no were ever fielded against the Alatrion forces.

Battlefield

The battlefield was mostly fought through out the entire eastern valley of Midden starting the Telmoran Pass and moving north over the course of month until the eventual defeat of Gogoroth in the Kassiden pass, in the northeast of Midden. The terrain was open, there was hills, creek beds and small fissures for cover in some parts but the battlefield was generally open making long engagements with archers deadly. This terrain gave calvary the advantage of speed, but the disadvantage of surprise.

Conditions

The battle raged throughout summer. Summer in midden as a moderate temperature and heavy rainfall making the ground constantly sodden and there were many days in the battle where there was no sun.

The Engagement

After meeting the Vangaurd in the Telmoran pass, Carrathor's forces established a foothold and began their long push, the inital engagments were over very short gains as Carrathor would wait until the horde's forces would smash against his front and then when they fought them back they would pursue with Knight lead Calvary until the found the enemies encampments, there they would push with archers and man-at-arms until the horde was forced to pull back. Counter charges from Gogoroth's forces were often expected, but they happened mainly under the cover of darkness, exhausting troops even further giving them a greater disadvantage as the battle waged ever onward. Carrathor used his reserve army to relieve losses and bring fresh troops to the front, this cycle of rest created a war machine that was capable of the combat march north. Gogoroth was marching more and more troops south making thier army seem inexhaustible and it was said that unnatural means were used to keep is troops satiated as his forced marched them night and day south into the spears and swords of Carrathor's men. At some point, The Golden Company was ordered by Carrathor to kill Gogoroth's siege beast and find the unnatural means of their unbridled stamina. Alfric's put together a small strilke force and pushed North and found the beast, killed them on the spot turning some on to the camp they were in and found that foul Illithid's were using magics to turn their forces into a inexhaustible killing machines. Alific and his men kill the mindflayers and hurried to the Alatrion front. Knowing the enemy camp was in disarray he lead a night covered charge into the camp killing most of the vanguard and putting Gogoroth's forces into a long retreat. Following the retreating forces northward, the arrived at the stonghold in Kassiden pass where Carrathor wasted no time putting it under siege.
The weather was getting colder at this point and Carrathor knew that we would either have to act quickly and possible break the stronghold or loose his army, or get froze in and loose his army either way. So he increased the siege and stopped the rotation keeping his men engaged longer than they should. It was during this time frame that in a scouting action the Golden Company located the entrance to the Pale Pass, a small valley pass mostly hidden that lead perpendicularly straight into the heart of the Kassiden Pass, where Gogoroth's HQ lie. Carrathor and Alfric lead a small contingent of men into the heart of the camp where Carrathor fought Gogoroth in one on one combat. Carrathor too a deep wound and was going to be killed when Alfric stepped into defend his friend. Gogoroth and Alfric fought in and arouind the camp before moving up the side of the pass where Alfic struck the killing blow to Gogoroth. Alfric presented his Sword to the camp ontop of the cliff and routing the barbarian army with a shout. Without defenders the stronghold fell and those that did not retreat to the winds, northward were killed without mercy.

Outcome

With Gogoroth dead, the Orc and Goblins began to fight the human tribes, who in turn fought each other. This shatter the very fragile northern alliance and forced those lands back into a perpetual civil war. The farms of midden would take a while to recover as most of the stores and lives stock had been killed or eaten. The stronghold in Kassiden Pass was dismantled.
Carrathor recovered from his wounds and award the Golden Company with prestigious award of King's Chosen.

Aftermath

Stromhold was founded when Carrathor, seeing the tactical importance of Kassiden pass, left an army there to defend the pass. Midden was absorbed into the Alatrion Kingdom, doubling the size of the Kingdom. Funds, laws, trade and people were brought to the people of Midden and under King Carrathor began to prosper more than they had then they were independent.

Historical Significance

Legacy

This marked the first great Victory for Carrathor, it affirmed his claim on the throne and put the Kingdom at rest as they had worried that having a young King could be their downfall. The Golden Company gain fame and honor among the troops of the armies for their apparent ferocity and skill in battle. Alfric became some what of a role model for the perfect solider.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

413 AU 3rd of Theredor

Ending Date

413 AU 7th of Lashan

Conflict Result

A decisive victory of King Carrathor and Alatrion.

Belligerents

Alatrion Army

• Alatrion Kingdom

Led by

• Alfric Breman

The Barbarian Horde

Strength

15,000 Troops broken down as followed: 40% Archers 33% Men-At-Arms 26% Calvary

30,000-50,000 Men, Orcs, Goblins and Beast.

Casualties

Carrathor's army took heavy losses, less in the latter months. 5,500 men and women were loss on the field of battle.

20,000-40,000

Objectives

Push back the barbarian horde and allow not an inch of ground.

Ravage the lands and collapse society.

Maps

• 

  Osterria

  World map of Osterria show casing it's diverse biomes and continents.