(02) First Battle of Agrina [Ezrian Major Victory]

The Dwarven cavalry crashed into the assembled Ezrian line and the whole, at least for Ezrian and Dwarf alike seemed to deafen into silence. The thundering hooves quelled any doubt about what was about to occur, and a split second later all hell broke loose. Ezrian and Dwarf alike scattered with feather and bird being skewered and throttled. The cavalry charge had been effective due to the Dwarves' superior number of cavalry. 1,815 mounted soldiers raced directly into the assembled line of 1,190 Heavy Infantry. The Ezrian line was simply not long enough to compensate for the entirety of the Dwarven cavalry force and a hefty portion of the Dwarven Light Cavalry met their charge against Ezrian Light Cavalry, which quickly stagnated into a heated, pitched battle.

The Ezrian Light Infantry's bows continued to sing and reign unholy steel down from their protected rear while the two catapults loosed their first volley. The first stone slammed into the earth just to the flank of the marching Dwarven Legion. The Ezrian engineers quickly realigned the weapon and half a dozen soldiers began to roll another huge stone onto the catapult. The second however was much more successful and slammed directly into the marching formation of the Dwarven Light Infantry on the Dwarves' right flank. The Dwarves continued their march, with the space between them and the battle front small, they would be engaged soon enough. They didn't know where the stone came from, but such a time was not for thinking.

At Battlemaster Kulash' orders, the small contingents of heavily armored gryphons on each side of the battle line were given the order to charge. They complied and kicked their steeds into action, veering wide to gain adequate momentum then turning in and slamming into the flank of the marching Dwarven formations. Already the second charge of the day. Only a handful of Dwarves had enough time to properly turn and formulate a defense, most Dwarves not on the outer line hadn't even known what hit them! The Heavy Ezrian Cavalry was now engaged with the Dwarven Infantry as well as some elements of the Dwarven cavalry who had engaged the Ezrian infantry.



Casualties

Kingdom of Ezria
224 Heavy Infantry
76 Light Cavalry
34 Heavy Cavalry


Republic of Ever-Winter
297 Light Infantry
157 Heavy Infantry
27 Heavy Cavalry
110 Light Cavalry


Forces

Kingdom of Ezria
-- 966 Heavy Infantry
-- 1,325 Light Infantry
-- 1,421 Light Cavalry
-- 638 Heavy Cavalry
-- 2 Catapults

Republic of Ever-Winter
1,755 Light Infantry
1,484 Heavy Infantry
1,090 Light Cavalry
573 Heavy Cavalry
1 Battering Ram (20 Dwarves + Battering Ram)

(300 at the Base of the Hill)


Notes
-- This is Moderation Mark 1.
-- Catapults will be able to fire at Moderation Mark 3.
-- Sundown occurs at Moderation Mark 12.
-- General Hulagu will receive at Moderation Mark 2.
-- The winner of the Battle of Agrina controls the Avian city of Agrina.

(OOC: There should be a whole tear meaning 600 Light Infantry Dwarves at the camp so another 300 Light Infantry shouldn't be at the battle from my side.)

The drums of war sounded off informing the commanders as well as General Sid of the immediate danger that the dwarves were in. Somewhere behind the mass of Avians there was at least one catapult that rained down death upon the 3rd Light Infantry Tear. Although the siege weapon wouldn’t be ready to fire so quickly it posed a great threat to the 3rd Dwarven Legion. Luckily the sky was clear once more without the heavy barrage of arrows by those nasty birds. A godsend for the dwarves.

The surprise caused by the huge rocks from those catapults had caused the 1st Heavy Infantry Tear to falter. The unexpected cavalry charge on the flanks had taken its toll as well. The initial charge had costed a good number of dwarven lives to be lost.

General Sid though would not be deterred by such simpleton tactics though. Yelling to his drummer over the dim of battle, “Have the 6th Heavy Infantry march to take the spot of the Heavy Cavalry Company on the left. The 1st will disengage these horsemen and double time it to the front as well. The 5th Heavy Cavalry Tear are to fall back from the front. They’re to wheel a company to each flank and slam into the enemies own Cavalry.”

Listening to a new report the General quickly continued with his orders, “The 7th Heavy Infantry will splint into companies and engage the Cavalry on our flanks. The 5th and 3rd Light Infantry Tears will push their way and guard the rear of the Light Cavalry Tears from these foes on our flanks. The 7th will march forward and fill the gap ready to assist in any breach.”

As the general gave orders the drummer had begun his beat informing the rest of the Legion of the plan. When the drummer had finished he then waited for the signal from the General which would cause the plan to be put into action.

“Sound off the Heavy Infantry first then the Light Infantry once the Heavy Infantry are in place. Our cavalry in the middle will fall back as soon as the infantry are in place!” the general of the 3rd Dwarven Legion shouted, barely heard over the din of battle.

Summary:

-Heavy Infantry move into position. The Heavy Cavalry then begins to fall back.

-As soon as this happens the Light Infantry move into their new positions, thus allowing the Heavy Cavalry a clear path to perform their wheel regrouping charge against the Avian’s HC.

-Once the 5th Heavy Cavalry Tear is clear the 7th Light Infantry will move into their position behind the front line.

Numbers are of the troops full strength not with their casualties of previous battles or the most recent battle mod mark:

Spoiler:

Kulash watched the line stagger as it absorbed the hammer blow from the Republican cavalry. The deafening noise was horrifying, the screams, the pop of bones being crushed to pulp, the clash of steel. Gradually the ranks were stabilized, those whom were killed in the front were reinforced by their fellows behind. Even over the screams and crash of weapons, Kulash could make out the bellowing voices of officers shouting their troops back into formation and could discern flags of each individual Ezrian regiment stubbornly waving in defiance as the battle became more heated.

The dwarves were like waves crashing against the rocks of a shoreline, yet the rocks held stubbornly and began their own push into the Dwarven units. On the right and left portions of the line, the fight had devolved into a brutal clash of cavalry. For now it seemed as if no side yet had the clear advantage in the battle that continued to ebb and flow. The Dwarves were packed so tightly that Kulash knew it would be difficult for them to maneuver and use their superior numbers and elite heavy infantry to maximum advantage..The Dwarves could move forwards and backwards easily enough but on the flanks was where they were most vulnerable, the Kashig (HC) that Kulash ordered forward took advantage of this. They were eager to avenge their ineffectiveness at the Battle of Agrina Commons.

The second charge of the day caused the Ezrian's to smash into the stunned Dwarven units on the flanks, the Kashig pressed forward determined into their hastily organized defenses. They had to keep their momentum going until reinforcements could arrive behind them to exploit the gaps that they had opened that would come when Hulagu did. For now however, Kulash's plan was to continue his envelopment of the Dwarven lines and sow panic in the ranks by appearing unexpectedly as he had on the Dwarven flanks. Now it was time to achieve a breakthrough on the right and left portions of his line so that he could reinforce his heavy cavalry.

'' Corba. '' He said turning to his fellow commander and leader of the Nukur. '' Proceed. '' Kulash barked. The Battlemaster saluted before dismounting his Gryphon and marching towards the light infantry which had been up to that point firing hundreds of arrows. Now their supply was nearly exhausted, it was time to put them into the fight. The Dwarves were no doubt caught off guard by the surprise assault on both it's flanks, it was time to achieve a breakthrough against the Dwarven light cavalry troops and hopefully cause them to rout. He was sure that the Kashig on both flanks could hold their own until Hulagu's troops arrived.

The flapping of wings could be heard as the Avian force split into two groups, the right and left portions of the line had long become saber to saber combat. The initial charge was over and lances had since been discarded. The Ezrian cavalry only outnumbered their Dwarven counterparts only slightly. The Nukur (LI) would change that as they took to the sky, swinging wide (and high to avoid arrow fire from the ground) to come resting at the flanks of the Everwinter light cavalry forces. The roar of over a thousand screaming Avian's commenced as 700 light infantry on the left flank, and 600 light infantry on the right flank threw themselves into combat against both units of the Dwarven light horsemen. They worked desperately with the Ezrian Lubichten (LC) to begin pressing into the Dwarven units in a new charge where they would attempt to hamstring horses or rip their lightly armored riders off their mounts and promptly slaughter them. Now in the direct fight, the Ezrian's had a two to one advantage at least on the right and left involving the light cavalry battle.


TACTICS:
The Ezrian Light Infantry take to the sky using their wings and attempt to outflank the Dwarven light cavalry to try and force a route of the now outnumbered Everwinter cavalry, while the Kashig (HC) attempt to hold their own until Hulagu's troops arrive. The Ezrian's are hoping that the cramped formation will make it difficult for the Dwarves to re-deploy rapidly and effectively and by the time they have...Hulagu's troops will have arrived.

Battle of Agrina
Campaign Day 3 (Battle Day 1)

The cacophony of battle made orders difficult to hear, flags incomprehensible to the eye. Screams and caws were the symphony of the skirmish and all around blood and flesh seemed apt to meet with blades of steel. The Kingdom of Ezria was fighting for it's lifeline, the agricultural center of its lordship, Agrina. They had decided not to evacuate the settlement to give the soldiers fighting for the city something tangible to fight for, something real. If they failed here, nearly a third of their empire would fall into the hands of the Republican forces that marched against them. Battlemaster Kulash surveyed the battle from atop his armored gryphon, he had stayed back near the catapults, and only a handful of standard bearers flanked his majestic and hawkish figure. He squawked incessantly to a nearby flag bearer and they turned and promptly gave the order for the Light Infantry to commence flanking maneuvers. The sun was temporarily blotted as over a thousand soldiers briefly took to the sky, twisting and extending their huge wingspans before diving to the flanks of the Dwarven line. The battle was pitched, and only the Avian Light Infantry still had leeway, their temporary ability of flight (made temporary by their cumbersome armor) allowed them to maneuver on a much quicker scale than other armies, like the Republican Army.

The Dwarven Heavy Infantry was a genuine force to be reckoned with: stout and unyielding. They were soundly beating the Ezrians at the front line and small bulges from the Dwarven line were beginning to form in the Avian line as small groups of soldiers sauntered forward intending to take the fight to the Ezrians. The battle was not over, merely tipped in the favor of the more powerful Dwarven army. The line continued to advance, even as Ezrian cavalry slammed into the Dwarven lines and suppressed their sideways extension. The individual Ezrian soldier, who fancied himself superior to all other races, was in fact less than that to the basic Dwarven soldier who underwent far more difficult training. The more numerous and better trained Dwarves, especially those in the secondary formations behind the front line found themselves stepping over mounds of Ezrian bodies as they advanced forward. The battle was looking desperate for Battlemaster Kulash, who continually kept an eye on the far western reaches for sign of General Hulagu's army.

The battle was a proverbial meat grinder. Following the committal of the Ezrian Light Infantry, one hundred percent of both armies forces were engaged, save for a unit or two of the Republican army who waded behind the primary two fighting units. General Sid of the Republican 3rd Legion could see that the Ezrian rout was inevitable, but his mistake to reorder the formation of his entire army during a pitched battle would forever be remembered in the annals of Dwarven history as a mistake too costly to be allowed to make a second time. The order went through and was dispatched via the drummers who strummed their message along over the screams of battle. Units began to move, slowly. Units committed to the front had began to maneuver backward, something was wrong! The message had been misconstrued and units were moving when they weren't supposed to be. Dwarven Cavalry, ordered to wheel around were stopped dead in their tracks when flocks of Ezrian Light Infantry came screaming from the sky, some Ezrians even intentionally slamming into mounted Dwarves and taking them and their mounts to the ground. The far right Dwarven Light Cavalry collapsed, over sixty percent of their soldiers dead from the Ezrian cavalry charge and prolonged fighting at the front line. They would not retreat, there was no honor in retreat, but it was futile anyway, they would fight to the last man and take as many Ezrians with them as they could. With the right flank collapsed, Ezrian Heavy Cavalry and Light Infantry began to advance forward and begin a second front, causing many Dwarves to turn and have to fight against the right flank as well.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Along the western horizon, where the plains of the Agrinan Valley ended and the Ezrian Mountains begin, a column of soldiers could be seen marching. Battlemaster Kulash was notified immediately, and Dwarven observers also notified General Sid as well. They were still a long ways off however and would not be able to assail the Dwarven forces so readily. They had been marching a long way and were fatigued, though fresh for battle. They would begin to form up abreast into battle formation and begin their march toward the Dwarves' left flank.

Casualties

Republic of Ever-Winter
44 Light Infantry
146 Heavy Infantry
121 Heavy Cavalry
297 Light Cavalry

Kingdom of Ezria
177 Light Infantry
313 Heavy Infantry
197 Light Cavalry
148 Heavy Cavalry


Forces

Kingdom of Ezria
-- 653 Heavy Infantry
-- 1,148 Light Infantry
-- 1,224 Light Cavalry
-- 490 Heavy Cavalry
-- 2 Catapults
TOTAL : 3,615 Avians.

(Reinforcements : )
-- 1,300 Heavy Infantry
-- 600 Heavy Cavalry
-- 700 Light Cavalry

TOTAL : 6,215 Avians.


Republic of Ever-Winter
1,411 Light Infantry
1,338 Heavy Infantry
793 Light Cavalry
452 Heavy Cavalry
1 Battering Ram (20 Dwarves + Battering Ram)
TOTAL : 4,014 Dwarves.

(600 at the Base of the Hill)



Notes:
1. This is Moderation Mark 2.
2. Catapults will be able to fire at Moderation Mark 3.
3. Sundown occurs at Moderation Mark 12.
4. The winner of the Battle of Agrina controls the Avian city of Agrina.
5. Kingdom of Ezria' reinforcements have arrived under General Hulagu. They will be able to engage the Dwarves' next Moderation Mark.
-- 1,300 Heavy Infantry
-- 600 Heavy Cavalry
-- 700 Light Cavalry

General Sid grumbled in anger muttering curses. "Damn those birds and their reinforcements." Looking to his drummer he ordered. "Inform the Left Flank and Middle that their fighting will increase. They'll take the nessecary precautions... And order the the 7th Light Infantry to aid those remaining Cavalry on our right flank. Have both flanks try to finish off the Heavy Cavalry they're engaged with."

The drummer began beating his drums. "Repeat Message. Left and Middle enemy Reinforcements coming. 7th Light reinforce right flank light Cav. Enemy Heavy Cav inflict heavy Casualties before reinforcements arrive."

The Drummer repeated the message as company drums took up the orders as well as tear drummers. The orders grew louder and clearer to hear.

The Heavy Infantry at the front or middle of the formation upon hearing that enemy reinforcements were en-route doubled their efforts against the front. The more castualties and deaths this force had would force the reinforcements to spread their own troops out. On the right and left flanks the company of Heavy Infantry and two companies of Light Infantry began putting pressure on the Heavy Cavalry whom they were at a stand still fight with.

The heavy cavalry whom were ordered to wheel back and charge the Avian's own Heavy Cavalry would accomplish the manuver now if they hadn't been able to perform it earlier.

(OOC: Not sure where the Heavy Cav are hench that last sentence.)

Kulash couldn't help but watch for Hulagu's reinforcements, his army was like a boxer on the ropes. It had begun to reel under the continued pummeling of the elite Dwarven Heavy Infantry, casualties were continuing to mount. His only hope now was that Hulagu's troops would get here..and soon or there wouldn't be an army left for Hulagu to reinforce. Then something miraculous happened, Kulash could make out several notes belonging to a drum. He thought that the order was perhaps to command a fresh charge into the Ezrian ranks to account for the charge of the Kashig (HC), but instead the Dwarven General had decided to re-order his entire line of battle to compensate for the attack.

The mistake would cost him as confused units ordered to withdraw became tangled, the order was further complicated when at the perfect time Kulash's Nukur (LI) plunged out of the sky and barreled into the Dwarven ranks on each flank. The far right of the Dwarven line collapsed, and like a damn bursting the Ezrian's poured through the new gap. The Lubichten (LC), the Nukur, and the Kashig unit on the right flank began to push to expand their new foothold on the right portion of the line and hopefully relieve pressure off the battered Ezrian center which had seen horrific casualties.

What was left of the isolated Dwarven light cavalry on the right was either hacked down by the tidal wave of Ezrian's or ignored as the Ezrian's streamed past them. The Dwarven light cavalry unit cohesion had broken and their effect on the course of the battle would be a minimal one at best. Battlemaster Corba on the right flank wasn't about to commit major resources to picking off each individual pocket, he had to keep the momentum of his charge going.

The Ezrian's continued to hammer the tangled and mish mashed Dwarven units, hoping to take advantage of their confusion. Meanwhile, the engineers of the two catapults had completed reloading their war machines and had begun hunting for new targets. The obvious targets were the rear ranks of the Dwarven Heavy Infantry attacking the center line (whom were now also under assault from Corba's troops on the right), and the Dwarven light infantry trying to reinforce the already shattered right flank. The Ezrian hope was to wreck any chance of a Dwarven counterattack by taking any momentum out of units trying to push through the center, with the various factors at work it was a real possibility.

The Kashig meanwhile on the Dwarven flanks had been in brutal combat since the battle began, the constant fighting was beginning to take it's toll but they only had to hold out for a bit longer. The cramped conditions of the battlefield meant that the Dwarves likely wouldn't have the room to create a massive charge into the Ezrian Gryphons on either flank, yet they were prepared for the next onslaught. Bloodied falchions were raised as the fanatical Kashig pressed forward.

A horn blast and loud Ezrian war drums changed everything however. The Ezrian's had not only managed to lob a massive counterpunch into the Dwarven Army, but to follow it up the promised reinforcements from Coronne had arrived. Nearly 3,000 fresh troops had formed up into battle formation and had begun a march on the left flank. The Ezrian's took heart, they could sense victory closing in. For Hulagu had come. '' ONWARDS! '' came the cry from officers as they lead their troops into the meatgrinder. A hard fight lay ahead but the Ezrian's were hoping to carry the day with superior numbers, the anarchy present in the Dwarven ranks, and a little luck.


Summary:
- With the breakthrough on the right, the Ezrian's attempt to expand their foothold and take pressure off the battered and bloodied Ezrian center.

-The Ezrian's on the left flank fight to commit a similar result as on the right, hoping to shatter the left flank and leave the Dwarven center ripe for encirclement.

-The catapults have been reloaded. One fires into the Dwarven light infantry unit attempting to reinforce the right flank and the second aims for the highly cramped units in the Dwarven center that are attempting to barrel through the Ezrian line.


Note:
The Ezrian HC on the right and left flanks has yet to be encircled so if needed they can fall back, though that will be as a last resort.

Battle of Agrina
Campaign Day 3 (Battle Day 1)

The battle for the Republic was lost. It was not an atrocious defeat, but rather a defeat born out of a mistake that could have turned the tide had it been successful. Axes and sabers clanged without end, but any further continuation of the battle was simply delaying the inevitable. Appropriately positioned Heavy Infantry Tears had established defensive positions at the base of Death Trap Pass and would supply the retreating Legion with a resting point if the Ezrians decided to follow them, a very distinct possibility.

Within a grave nod, General Sid ordered the retreat. The drummer callously switched his frantic drumbeat into a monotonous thumping that made half of the standing forces turn and begin the retreat. The other half stayed, at least temporarily to ensure that the entire Legion wasn't cut down in the process. Casualties were inflicted, but for the most part the retreat was sound, if haphazard.

The Ezrian forces gave pause to alow for General Hulagu's forces to meet up with their own battered forces. At about the same time, Ezrian scouts reported to the Ezrian command that they saw what appeared to be another full Dwarven Legion to be climbing the hill on the other side of Death Trap Pass.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Casualties

Republic of Ever-Winter
119 Light Infantry
28 Heavy Infantry
189 Light Cavalry
99 Heavy Cavalry

Kingdom of Ezria
88 Light Infantry
144 Heavy Infantry
71 Light Cavalry
62 Heavy Cavalry


Forces

Kingdom of Ezria
-- 1,809 Heavy Infantry
-- 1,060 Light Infantry
-- 1,853 Light Cavalry
-- 1,028 Heavy Cavalry
-- 2 Catapults

Republic of Ever-Winter
1,892 Light Infantry
1,310 Heavy Infantry
604 Light Cavalry
353 Heavy Cavalry
1 Battering Ram (20 Dwarves + Battering Ram)

TOTAL UNIT LOSSES (King Casimir's War)
Kingdom of Ezria:
-- 2 Heavy Infantry Regiments
-- 3 Light Infantry Regiments
-- 2 Light Cavalry Regiments
-- 2 Heavy Cavalry Regiments

Republic of Ever-Winter:
-- 9 Light Infantry Regiments
-- 7 Heavy Infantry Regiments
-- 6 Light Cavalry Regiments
-- 3 Heavy Cavalry Regiments

(Although the war will continue, as no peace treaty has been signed. These units will be deducted from their respective unit pools now)


Notes:
1. This is Moderation Mark 3.
2. Catapults will be able to fire at Moderation Mark 3. (The catapult is no longer in range).
3. Sundown occurs at Moderation Mark 12.
4. The 3rd Legion has retreated to Death Trap Pass.
5. The Kingdom of Ezria has won a Major Victory.