Post by zurajai on Sept 18, 2017 5:30:59 GMT
The Battle of Suvaneh Plains
The marching tune of the Esharan army played a fantastical melody in time with the sound of hobnailed boots crashing to the paved stones of the Sacryan highways. Nearly half a continent away stood the cities of the Holy Union where the homes of young Union boys remained one lad short of the norm. Now they marched in their well tailored uniforms with their well made weapons on some plot of taigan-plains in order to defend a host of blood-mad giants; and they were smiling. No matter what they knew that their Recimir led them towards what mattered most; not victory, not spoils, not glory but the true and good of what was right. Here they were were ready to fight against the denizens of Orcland because it was, in all their eyes, the truly Esharan thing to do.
The bang of rifles and long-muskets was quiet there, on the road, but their determined pops were audible none-the-less. Skirmishers from the two sides had identified each others locations and had shared sparse fire between each other but the battle itself seemed to be shaping up to be a far longer affair. The initial push, heralded by the leading captains and their companies, was luckily reigned in by both sides as the chain-of-command flexed and brought those early glory-hounds to heel.
The first obstacle that lay before the Esharan advance was clear as day; it seemed, at least, that the Firetooth had no interest in subtlety in these earliest of stages. Orcish lines, fortified only in the sense that they had chosen strong positions, dotted the eastern side of the Northernmost village hereto identified as the village of Yrik. It was here that the first fighting occurred between forward screening elements of the Orclander army and the advanced Esharans. Despite the report of gunfire and the baying of wargs, no casualties were inflicted on either side; it seemed, at least, that the battle would wait for later. A particularly magnificent control of the reins of command was displayed when, out of desire to respond to incoming inaccurate cannon fire, the fourth company of the Esharan Foreign Legion under one Captain Illio Forendi prepared to engage a detachment of orcish Hussars. Noticing this display of aggression from his position upon a high cleft overlooking some of the field, Recimir Aulus was able to turn what could have potentially started the battle too soon into a moving action that led to an over extension by the hussars and their rapid withdrawal to correct the mistake.
Moments like these would no doubt define the first day as commanders on both sides vigorously reigned in both the enlisted men of their respective armies and the more excitable officers beneath them. The day would end with the small threat of a clash ending in Firetooth cannonfire and retreating Esharans. No blood had been shed but for a few twisted ankles and minor shrapnel wounds inflicted by cannon fire. The gods, at least for the day, were kind to the fighting man.
The battlefield, as defined by Orcland commanders through shrewd selection of terrain, seemed to be poised to take part in the northern half of the region. Orclander forces had occupied the village of Yrik, a formerly Sacryan village that had since been abandoned and ransacked by looters. The village was just about a quarter-mile wide at its widest point and nearly the same height wise. The small strip of houses and several stores and commercial facilities was not in any way fortified by the most simplest of visual searches, lacking even the most basic of earth works. Several lines of orcs had been assembled east of the village to defend its outskirts with the majority of both forces still hidden from the other. The small creek that hugged the north was shallow but vigorous, providing for at least a partially difficult time marching across if speed of maneuver was desired. Despite this, commanders on both sides assured their superiors that they could certainly cross if commander; it might just take a little time.
To the north of the main highway were a number of mountains, craggy things with rough stone outcroppings forming a near impenetrable fortress around the valley. It would be difficult indeed to pass over them for even light infantry and skilled mountaineers but the hillocks at their feet were easily negotiable. The only issue both sides could identify with fighting on the steep hills at the base of the surrounding rough faces were thick piles of soft and yielding limestone, no doubt fallen from the outcroppings that they in turn lay piled about. Adding to it all, a light layer of snow and frost could be found in many places including parts of the river. Though light, the potential for the cold environs to threaten maneuvers did exist and a savvy commander would be especially cautious when dealing with the possibility.
SUMMARY
-- The Battle of Suvaneh Plains begins with no casualties on either side as both forces see excellent control of their troops exercised by their respective officers. Due to these early cautious steps several details of the enemy forces have been noted but little has been determined about the makeup of either force.
-- As stated, a small number of Orclander troops have assembled on the east of the North-Eastern most village of Yrik with little to no fortification or entrenchment involved. Small skirmishes have occurred with no battlefield casualties beside light wounds.
-- Both forces fail to force the other to give up the initiative and thus reach the night with no true engagements, leaving both sides in the dark about their enemy while simultaneously planning for the next day.
-- PM's will be sent out with this post asking for further orders in the coming night/morning/day.
The bang of rifles and long-muskets was quiet there, on the road, but their determined pops were audible none-the-less. Skirmishers from the two sides had identified each others locations and had shared sparse fire between each other but the battle itself seemed to be shaping up to be a far longer affair. The initial push, heralded by the leading captains and their companies, was luckily reigned in by both sides as the chain-of-command flexed and brought those early glory-hounds to heel.
The first obstacle that lay before the Esharan advance was clear as day; it seemed, at least, that the Firetooth had no interest in subtlety in these earliest of stages. Orcish lines, fortified only in the sense that they had chosen strong positions, dotted the eastern side of the Northernmost village hereto identified as the village of Yrik. It was here that the first fighting occurred between forward screening elements of the Orclander army and the advanced Esharans. Despite the report of gunfire and the baying of wargs, no casualties were inflicted on either side; it seemed, at least, that the battle would wait for later. A particularly magnificent control of the reins of command was displayed when, out of desire to respond to incoming inaccurate cannon fire, the fourth company of the Esharan Foreign Legion under one Captain Illio Forendi prepared to engage a detachment of orcish Hussars. Noticing this display of aggression from his position upon a high cleft overlooking some of the field, Recimir Aulus was able to turn what could have potentially started the battle too soon into a moving action that led to an over extension by the hussars and their rapid withdrawal to correct the mistake.
Moments like these would no doubt define the first day as commanders on both sides vigorously reigned in both the enlisted men of their respective armies and the more excitable officers beneath them. The day would end with the small threat of a clash ending in Firetooth cannonfire and retreating Esharans. No blood had been shed but for a few twisted ankles and minor shrapnel wounds inflicted by cannon fire. The gods, at least for the day, were kind to the fighting man.
The battlefield, as defined by Orcland commanders through shrewd selection of terrain, seemed to be poised to take part in the northern half of the region. Orclander forces had occupied the village of Yrik, a formerly Sacryan village that had since been abandoned and ransacked by looters. The village was just about a quarter-mile wide at its widest point and nearly the same height wise. The small strip of houses and several stores and commercial facilities was not in any way fortified by the most simplest of visual searches, lacking even the most basic of earth works. Several lines of orcs had been assembled east of the village to defend its outskirts with the majority of both forces still hidden from the other. The small creek that hugged the north was shallow but vigorous, providing for at least a partially difficult time marching across if speed of maneuver was desired. Despite this, commanders on both sides assured their superiors that they could certainly cross if commander; it might just take a little time.
To the north of the main highway were a number of mountains, craggy things with rough stone outcroppings forming a near impenetrable fortress around the valley. It would be difficult indeed to pass over them for even light infantry and skilled mountaineers but the hillocks at their feet were easily negotiable. The only issue both sides could identify with fighting on the steep hills at the base of the surrounding rough faces were thick piles of soft and yielding limestone, no doubt fallen from the outcroppings that they in turn lay piled about. Adding to it all, a light layer of snow and frost could be found in many places including parts of the river. Though light, the potential for the cold environs to threaten maneuvers did exist and a savvy commander would be especially cautious when dealing with the possibility.
SUMMARY
-- The Battle of Suvaneh Plains begins with no casualties on either side as both forces see excellent control of their troops exercised by their respective officers. Due to these early cautious steps several details of the enemy forces have been noted but little has been determined about the makeup of either force.
-- As stated, a small number of Orclander troops have assembled on the east of the North-Eastern most village of Yrik with little to no fortification or entrenchment involved. Small skirmishes have occurred with no battlefield casualties beside light wounds.
-- Both forces fail to force the other to give up the initiative and thus reach the night with no true engagements, leaving both sides in the dark about their enemy while simultaneously planning for the next day.
-- PM's will be sent out with this post asking for further orders in the coming night/morning/day.
