Battle of Red Copse
The Battle of Red Copse was a battle fought between the Doric forces led by Surcount Veli of Ilkweir and the Aijian forces led by Hedfeld Tarmus of Mertan. The battle would be fought on a field slightly off the route leading from Torsten to Asjaer in an apple orchard or copse which gives its name to the battle. The Army of Surcount Veli was travelling north from the previous Massacre at Torsten, heading to regroup with the army of Grand Duke Arttu I. The Surcount's army was intercepted by that of Hedfeld Tarmus who was planning to ambush his opponent on the main road. Though greatly outnumbered, the army of Hedfeld Tarmus outmanoeuvred that of Surcount Veli due to their use of light cavalry and skirmishing infantry units. Throughout the small encounters between the army, the Doric suffered the greatest losses, this continued until a precise cavalry charge by the Doric forces entrapped the light cavalry led by the Hedfeld between themselves and a Mixed Billmen unit. Hedfeld Tarmus was slain in this encounter leading to the rest of his forces retreating from the battle. Though a victory for the Dorian forces, they suffered tenfold the casualties of their opponents.
The Conflict
Prelude
The actions of Surcount Veli and his army had caused uproar amongst the nobility and populace of Aijia, leading to many of the more prominent nobles of the region seeking to bring down the Red Terror. Tarmus of Mertan was one of these nobles, having found himself detached from the Ajian forces held up in the Siege of Asjaer, he was free to manoeuvre and plan strategic strikes against the Doric attackers from the west. Surcount Veli would complicate his situation, as the "Red Terror" sought to suppress the smaller settlements of Aijia, leaving death and destruction in his wake, Tarmus would elect to delay plans to attack the besieging force and instead attempt to intercept Veli as he moved north from his latest atrocities in Torsten.
Battlefield
The main road leading from the lowlands of Aijia towards Asjaer were often flanked by fields and orchards, Tarmus would use light cavalry and the treeline to screen his approaching army from Veli, coming into sight of one another roughly halfway between Torsten and Asjaer. Veli's army was very distinctive due to the bright red colours of his personal guard and that of his banner nobles, who had set up an initial defensive position on the road. Hedfeld Tarmus had his light cavalry position near the Doric forces in the copse to distract them while his main force uphill to the west positioned itself to gain an advantage against their more numerous enemy.
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
11th Loka 7662
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