The Battle of Korina

The Battle of Korina marks the last day of Casban's Journey. She earned her wizardhood with bravery and resourcefulness. It also marks a new era in the history of magic. The ritual that ended the battle and created the infamous Dome was ultimately fueled not only by sacrifice but also by the Standing Web , consuming the last great work of magic in this era.

The Conflict

Prelude

A bright light is seen in the evening sky coming from the direction of the capital, Tarith. In the following week reports start trickling in of undead ravaging the countryside. At first they are not taken seriously but then a small band of adventurers arrive, led by Journeymen Casban and Dast. They confirm the capital is overrun by undead and rally the local men-at-arms. Hasty fortifications are prepared. Casban and Dast leave to petition the Archmages for assistance and one of their companions leaves with a different destination.

Deployment

Korina fields its renowned, but few, elite cavalry and the city guard. Half the city is pressed into the militia and ordered to man defensive positions along the half-done field fortifications and the city's low walls.  All in all, around 3000 soldiers and 5000 militia are deployed.

The undead simply march. First as a trickle, then a stream , then a flood. In the end they are estimated at 60000 strong.

Battlefield

The scout reports make it clear that this fight cannot be won. Without time for proper defensive works or to construct siege engines, the defenders opt for a fighting withdrawal on the open plains to better utilize their cavalry and buy time for the citizens to evacuate. The city's southern pastures are marred by hastily dug ditches and berms, stakes and stone rings in different stages of completion.

Conditions

The undead vanguard makes first contact with the defenders at daybreak. The summer day proves hot and sunny until noon but later turns cloudy. By midday the ground is churned and difficult to traverse.

The Engagement

The undead start trickling in in small unorganized clumps that are quickly dispatched by Korina's outriders. As the main undead host approaches, its members become better organized and start to display rudimentary tactics. A little before noon their numbers begin to push the defenders back disregarding their mounting losses. When they come up against prepared strong points, the undead leadership is revealed as a cadre of powerful ancient liches that sweep the defenders away.

As the defenders despair and are about to break in the face of magic unseen in seven centuries, a majestic flight of five golden dragons joins the fray. Without any warning the dragons begin raining fire and destruction on the undead, circling above and using their fiery breath in turns on the biggest concentrations. They land and wreak havoc when they spot beleaguered defenders. The undead are forced to spread out and give the defenders a brief respite. Korina takes the opportunity and horsemen begin picking off the smaller groups.

The liches modify their tactics to deal with the dragons and begin challenging them directly. They unleash spells of immense power and the colossal leader of the dragons simply disappears, his fate unknown. Another dragon is badly hurt and forced to retreat. The rest become more careful and unwilling to land but continue strafing the undead with fiery ruin. The undead resume their pressure on the defenders and in a spot reach and even breach the walls. Unparalleled heroism on the part of the militia and the injured dragon hold back the invaders until early afternoon but they begin to buckle under the unrelenting push.

Casban and Dast's pleas go unheeded at first but the scale of magic being used moves the Archmages to action. They hatch a hasty plan and for the first time since the Great Purge  they act. Five Archmages lead by Yllantir the Harpmage himself teleport in at different places on the battlefield. By sheer luck Loiran comes across the breach and helps Dast's companions to hold it against further incursions, while Silgar and Dol draw the attention of the liches off the dragons. Xanthia draws her blade and protects a defenseless Yllantir as the Haprmage weaves spell after spell, slowly, carefully, subtly with the sweet sound of his harp. She is aided by Dast and Casban, who are forced to exhaust their creativity to cope.

As the sun begins to set, the Korinians are on their last leg. The undead cannot be held back anymore without sacrificing every one of the defenders. The retreat is sounded and the dragons rush forward to hold back the surging undead so the living can escape. Only a few select men and women remain with the mages while they put the finishing touch on their ritual. As the last rays of the sun disappear, the Archmages teleport away with the survivors of their makeshift bodyguard. All except Yllantir who stays to anchor the last spell. A great Dome of lightning descends covering the battlefield all the way up to the breached walls of Korina, trapping most of the undead host within. Two of the liches escape in time and are responsible for the March of the Dead a few years later, but the city is saved  and the immediate threat is averted.

Conflict Type

Battle