Second Battle of the Ryn River

The boom and thunderclap of cannons could be heard for miles.

In accounts given to historians later, the bombardment could be heard as far away as Dovvwyn. It was there that citizens awaited their fate.

On the right flank, the famed Elonese rangers began their push. The Elonese rifleman hammered the Grenadiers on the right but only until the Almur mercenaries began firing back. The Almur, towering in the rear ranks over the Vinayan's, used their superior range to keep the elite riflemen at bay. The Vinayan line was caught between the great guns of the Almur behind them and the Elonese in front, without the range to engage in the fight themselves.

More than one giant came toppling down, crashing into the rear Vinayan ranks with a crump and scream of some poor human pinned under them. Yet the Elonese lacked the cover to keep up their barrage. Their slow firing rifles meant that the Rangers under Lord Harys slowly were being forced back.

Yet they would not get the chance.

Trumpets blew.

Horns sounded.

The Elonese heavy cavalry made their charge, pinning the Elonese rangers between the Almur guns and their own cavalry that came bearing down on them.

Whether it was due to the impatience of Lord Oswin or accurate Vinayan artillery fire from Lombardo Hill hammering them from on high, the Elonese nobles attacked over the muddied ground of the floodplains and ran down their own men.

It was a charge that was hindered due to the poor terrain that the Demi Lancers found themselves in. The mud meant that warhorses slipped, sending their riders crashing into the rain soaked earth or pinned underneath their own mounts. The closer the Elonese came, the worse the barrage from the Vinayan line began. Almur artillery and Vinayan infantry guns ripped man and beast in half.

Yet the knights came charging, a smaller core of nimbler cuirassers following in their wake, and even thousands of more infantry with bayonets fixed.

The Vinayan line caved in, lances impaling men, hooves dashing skulls and brains, swords slicing through unarmored torsos as the knights cut a red ruin through the enemy ranks. The Vinayan Line stumbled and then gradually steadied as Almuric hussars came swarming in on the flanks. Oftentimes knights found themselves being isolated in groups and cut down one by one.

The Elonese infantry took a similar pounding crossing the open ground. The mud and corpses that the cavalry left in their wake meant that they struggled to keep formation.

Yet when the banner of Lord Oswin fell, it was panic that flew through the Elonese forces. Confusion over the chain of command and the shattered morale of the conscripts advancing on the left soon meant that after the disastrous charge, the Elonese Army was in full retreat.

During its withdrawal, it was under constant barrage from the hilltops.

Only the eventual lack of ammunition from its stores forced the Vinayan's to stop firing and allowed some Elonese formations to retreat intact.

Yet the Vinayan victory did not come without casualties. General Lombardo personally commanding on the right had been grievously wounded, losing his right arm to a marauding knight that had broken through his ring of bodyguards. The Freekorp Grenadiers that had so steadfastly held were broken as a combat formation.

Even the Almur had not escaped unscathed, the battle with the Elonese and the near breakthrough from the cavalry meant that several hundred giants lay mixed in with the Elonese and Vinayan dead.

Yet the way now to the capital was clear.

The Vinayan's only needed to reach out and take it.

SUMMARY:
-- DECISIVE VINAYAN VICTORY!
-- High Lord Oswin is KILLED IN ACTION.
-- The body of Lord Harys, the famed leader of the Elonese Rangers, has not been found with his men and it is assumed he has escaped with a core of followers.
-- See Grand Campaign for effects.