Post by aspenivan on Dec 20, 2015 21:12:48 GMT
THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE TWIN FORTS
Background: Early in the Fifteen Years' War, several mercenary bands joined the rebellion under various patrons, most notably disaffected nobles from within Juturna. They saw an opportunity to strike a blow to the Empire and liberate their homeland when the Juturna Corps, an elite Surv-Akur army of native Juturnans, left the Protectorate to fight in Elon and Firetooth lands. The mercenaries chose a winding path to the West of Juturna, to avoid passing through Elonese territory.
The mercenaries won a string of victories against the Empire's first defenses, poorly-prepared and questionably-loyal Juturnan levies. However, in the First Battle of the Twin Forts, fought not far from the two castles on Juturna's western frontier, they would face tougher opponents. The 1st Juturnan Home Guard Regiment was outnumbered and outgunned, but it would not yield easily to the mercenary onslaught. The Juturnans knew victory was unlikely, but they had been tasked with holding off the enemy as long as possible.
ORDER OF BATTLE
Imperial Protectorate of Juturna
Commander: Baron Valion Eudokia (General) (50 soldiers)
-- Alatriste (Warrior - Ranged) (82 soldiers) [had taken casualties from previous battles]
-- 1 Survaekom Square (600 musket, 400 pike)
VS.
Mercenaries
Commander: Sir Hallark (General - Mounted)
-- 1 Cannon Battery (10 guns, 200 soldiers)
-- 2 Cuirassier Regiments (600 riders)
-- 1 Pikes Regiment (1,000 soldiers)
EVENTS
Phase 1 (0:00-0:41 in the video): Mercenary Cannon Battery bombards the Juturnan Survaekom Square. The latter takes casualties, but maintains good morale and cohesion. With the mercenaries' supply line dragging behind schedule, the guns run out of ammunition after only a few volleys.
Phase 2 (0:42-2:00): Sir Hallark orders his Cuirassier Regiments to CHARGE the enemy Survaekom Square, hoping to capitalize on the bombardment's effects to overwhelm his opponents. The Juturnan muskets thin out the mercenaries' numbers as they approach, and then retreat to the cover of the pikes as per New Model doctrine. The cavalry inflict some casualties from pistol fire, but the brunt of their charge is neutralized by the pikes. With their cohesion severely disrupted, they eventually withdraw. Neither side has taken significant casualties.
Phase 3 (2:01-5:04): Sir Hallark orders his Pikes Regiment to ADVANCE on the enemy formation, presuming that it has been softened up enough to be overrun by superior numbers of armored infantry. The Mercenary pikes meet the Juturnan pikes, with both exhibiting good order (cohesion). However, as the melee drags on, both forces lose cohesion, and the fight devolves into a general melee. Ultimately, the attacking Pikes Regiment's inferior cohesion and the contribution of the Juturnan Warrior causes its formation to fall apart faster. Under the cover of Cuirassiers who SKIRMISH with the enemy, the attacking infantry ultimately withdraws. However, the defending Survaekom Square has taken great casualties and stands at half-strength. It is only the presence of their General that has allowed them to maintain their morale intact.
Phase 4 (5:05-10:02): Sir Hallark declares a PARLEY to discuss terms of surrender with the enemy commander, Baron Eudokia. Eudokia, who is wounded, sends Alatriste to lead his delegation. Hallark offers decent terms, such as allowing the enemy to retreat with their arms and banners, but Alatriste refuses in order to remain true to his mission. This period of ceasefire allows both armies to regain their cohesion and morale.
Phase 5 (10:03-end): Unwilling to wait for resupply to make further use of his cannons, Sir Hallark orders his Cuirassier Regiments to CHARGE once again. This time, outnumbering the enemy, their pistol fire is more devastating, and they manage to overrun the Survaekom Square. They kill the Warrior Alatriste and capture the General Baron Eudokia, who dies shortly afterwards in captivity.
Aftermath: Although the battle was a victory for the mercenaries, the defenders succeeded in slowing, tiring, and bleeding the enemy. When a relief force of more professional troops arrived the next day, Sir Hallark was forced to order a retreat and abandon the field. The mercenaries would never make it far enough to besiege either of the Twin Forts themselves. The First Battle of the Twin Forts proved the strength and durability of so-called "New Model" formations derived from Survaekom models, harkening the adoption of the Survaekom Square (and later other variants) throughout the North.
The mercenaries won a string of victories against the Empire's first defenses, poorly-prepared and questionably-loyal Juturnan levies. However, in the First Battle of the Twin Forts, fought not far from the two castles on Juturna's western frontier, they would face tougher opponents. The 1st Juturnan Home Guard Regiment was outnumbered and outgunned, but it would not yield easily to the mercenary onslaught. The Juturnans knew victory was unlikely, but they had been tasked with holding off the enemy as long as possible.
ORDER OF BATTLE
Imperial Protectorate of Juturna
Commander: Baron Valion Eudokia (General) (50 soldiers)
-- Alatriste (Warrior - Ranged) (82 soldiers) [had taken casualties from previous battles]
-- 1 Survaekom Square (600 musket, 400 pike)
VS.
Mercenaries
Commander: Sir Hallark (General - Mounted)
-- 1 Cannon Battery (10 guns, 200 soldiers)
-- 2 Cuirassier Regiments (600 riders)
-- 1 Pikes Regiment (1,000 soldiers)
EVENTS
Phase 1 (0:00-0:41 in the video): Mercenary Cannon Battery bombards the Juturnan Survaekom Square. The latter takes casualties, but maintains good morale and cohesion. With the mercenaries' supply line dragging behind schedule, the guns run out of ammunition after only a few volleys.
Phase 2 (0:42-2:00): Sir Hallark orders his Cuirassier Regiments to CHARGE the enemy Survaekom Square, hoping to capitalize on the bombardment's effects to overwhelm his opponents. The Juturnan muskets thin out the mercenaries' numbers as they approach, and then retreat to the cover of the pikes as per New Model doctrine. The cavalry inflict some casualties from pistol fire, but the brunt of their charge is neutralized by the pikes. With their cohesion severely disrupted, they eventually withdraw. Neither side has taken significant casualties.
Phase 3 (2:01-5:04): Sir Hallark orders his Pikes Regiment to ADVANCE on the enemy formation, presuming that it has been softened up enough to be overrun by superior numbers of armored infantry. The Mercenary pikes meet the Juturnan pikes, with both exhibiting good order (cohesion). However, as the melee drags on, both forces lose cohesion, and the fight devolves into a general melee. Ultimately, the attacking Pikes Regiment's inferior cohesion and the contribution of the Juturnan Warrior causes its formation to fall apart faster. Under the cover of Cuirassiers who SKIRMISH with the enemy, the attacking infantry ultimately withdraws. However, the defending Survaekom Square has taken great casualties and stands at half-strength. It is only the presence of their General that has allowed them to maintain their morale intact.
Phase 4 (5:05-10:02): Sir Hallark declares a PARLEY to discuss terms of surrender with the enemy commander, Baron Eudokia. Eudokia, who is wounded, sends Alatriste to lead his delegation. Hallark offers decent terms, such as allowing the enemy to retreat with their arms and banners, but Alatriste refuses in order to remain true to his mission. This period of ceasefire allows both armies to regain their cohesion and morale.
Phase 5 (10:03-end): Unwilling to wait for resupply to make further use of his cannons, Sir Hallark orders his Cuirassier Regiments to CHARGE once again. This time, outnumbering the enemy, their pistol fire is more devastating, and they manage to overrun the Survaekom Square. They kill the Warrior Alatriste and capture the General Baron Eudokia, who dies shortly afterwards in captivity.
Aftermath: Although the battle was a victory for the mercenaries, the defenders succeeded in slowing, tiring, and bleeding the enemy. When a relief force of more professional troops arrived the next day, Sir Hallark was forced to order a retreat and abandon the field. The mercenaries would never make it far enough to besiege either of the Twin Forts themselves. The First Battle of the Twin Forts proved the strength and durability of so-called "New Model" formations derived from Survaekom models, harkening the adoption of the Survaekom Square (and later other variants) throughout the North.
