OG: Chapter 42

The Battle of the Alynda Turnip Field opened with the Gors of the enemy force charging into a hail of Gunfire from my Dragoons. Their Streltsy Revolving Autorifles pumped out a veritable wall of lead even as the Gors attempted to close. At six shots per cylinder, working based on a combination lever-action and revolver principle, the front few ranks of charging Gors never stood a chance, especially with how the bullets were packed full of Alchemically-enhanced Gunpowder. While Gors were tough, they weren't so tough as to be capable of tanking more than a bullet or two, and the front ranks practically dissolved under the hail of gunfire from my Dragoons.

Of course, there were more Gors coming, but they were having difficulty negotiating the veritable carpet of dead that preceded them, allowing Ruggiero's battered force to stream past the line of Halberdiers, from both my own guards and Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers, and back toward the gates of Alynda. As that happened, my Dragoons remounted, reloaded, and wheeled about, moving around the Turnip Field on a wide course to attempt to flank the enemy. Now, Quintevalla's Quarrelers attacked, firing their Miraglanese Crossbows into the ranks of the charging Gors, scything down even more Gors and weakening the attack. They fell back as the Halberdiers set their Halberds against the charging Gors and began to cut down the weakened line.

All this, I watched through my spyglass from my position among the cavalry forces, grinning as I realized that in the opening phase of the battle, the enemy force had been cut down from nine hundred Beastemen to around six hundred between the gunfire, crossbows, and halberdiers. However, Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers and my Halberdier Guards were stuck in against twice their number of Gors, and while I was confident they could hold the line, they would be hard-pressed to hold indefinitely. That was, however, where I came in, alongside the Strigany Cavalry and Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen. At the fifteen-minute mark of the battle, I drew my Runeblade and pointed it at the flank of the enemy force, kicking my heels into the flanks of my mount.

"Advance!" I ordered.

Ion took up the cry, as did Francois de Montjoie, and soon we began to charge toward the right flank of the Gor line. As we did so, Radamenes kept pace with our charging horses easily. I gritted my teeth as I began to run the numbers, and time slowed down. Between this charge and the flank attack of my Dragoons, it should be enough to utterly annihilate the enemy, rolling up their line like a carpet and encircling them. Sure enough, as time sped back up and the flank of the Gor line loomed, I prepared to hack down on the Gors from my elevated position. That was when the first sign that the enemy had begun to realize what was happening occurred.

A hail of javelins, tipped with crudely worked copper, iron, bone, or stone, flew our way. I cut one out of the air that was flung in my direction, and many of Ion's Strigany Cavalry were able to avoid the shower of projectiles, but some of Montjoie's Mounted Lancers fell to the javelin attack, loosening cohesion as we came closer. Ion's Strigany flung javelins or darts in the fashion of the ancient Reman Empire back at the Gors, downing some and wounding others. The enemy formation, if it could even be called that, was weakened further as the Strigany drew their spears or blades, and we crashed into the enemy flank.

Immediately, I cut out with my Runeblade, slashing down at an enemy Gor with some sort of crude, bronze axe. My Runeblade cleaved into the top of the Gor's skull, splattering brain matter onto the ground and carving off a ramlike horn. The Gor that took its place in the line was pounced on by Radamenes, whose daggerlike teeth shredded the crude hide armor it wore and allowed my Feline Companion to carve into the Gor's chest with his claws, flaying it open as it died. Next to me, Ion's spear punched through the Horn-like Scale of a Gor's crude lamellar chest protector, impaling the Beastman through the heart even as he drew his sword to parry a strike from a club from a Gor who was himself cut down by Francois de Montjoie's Knightly Bretonnian Arming Sword.

I returned my attention to the task at hand shortly after seeing that, carving the flint head off a thrusting spear and drawing my enchanted Streltsy, firing it with one hand into the offending Gor's face, thanks to my enhancements allowing me steady aim even with a single hand. That Gor's head broke apart like a smashed melon, and I was forced to sway aside from a blow from a spiked, two-handed club swung at me from another Gor, my riposte slashing its throat out and killing it as it choked to death on its own blood. Nearby, Iron cleaved the top of another Gor's skull off with his blade, as Francois de Montjoie hacked apart a blocking wood and bronze spear before plunging his Bretonnian Knightly Arming Sword into the snarling maw of a Gor, the tip coming out the back of the Gor's skull as it died. Radamenes, too, got into the action, tearing out a Gor's knee tendons with a claw swipe before biting out its throat as it fell to the ground.

Looking about, I saw an important-looking Gor in a black iron breastplate and black iron helmet, wielding a black iron axe, clearly a leader of some sort. A flick of my wrist had the lever action working on my Enchanted Streltsy with one hand, and I brought it up to fire at the Gor Captain. The mystical bullet struck the Gor Captain in the chest, slamming it down to the ground and wounding it, though the armor it wore seemed to have protected it from certain death. Working the lever action once more, time slowed down as I engaged my Sandy and Kerenzikov. I took a breath and sent a second bullet down range, this one punching through the eye hole in its helmet and splattering its brains out as soon as it got back to its cloven hooves.

With their Captain dead, the Regiment of Gors holding the flank began to waver. As I cut out with another slash of my Runeblade, cleaving the arm off another Gor as it tried to raise a wood and hide shield to avoid death, I looked out to see the Gorebull that was commanding the Beastmen raise a curling, crooked, horn to its snoutlike mouth and blow a single, long, keening note. Suddenly, a hulking chimerical monstrosity flew out of the badlands. Part beast, part bird, part reptile, with insectoid eyes, birdlike wings, beastlike horns, and scaly reptilian skin, the Jabberslythe began to get close to the battling army. A beast so dreadful to look at and to be near that some armies would break and flee at the mere sight of one. I raised my Runeblade and, drawing upon the Leadership augmentation given by my Helm, I tried my best to rally my men.

"Come on, Lads! Show them your courage! Don't cut and run before a single blow has even fallen! Strike back and the enemy will surely quail before your strength of will!" I called out.

Thankfully, my own Guards seem to be made of sterner stuff than the norm, because they held their ground with a bit of encouragement from me instead of fleeing back for the safety of Alynda's Walls. Likewise, Ion's Strigany seemed somewhat inured to the Horrors of the Ruinous Powers, because they also held their ground. Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers wavered for a moment before Augustus Von Hagedorn steadied them personally, bulling his way to the front of the line and running through another Gor Captain after exchanging a swift trio of swordstrokes with it. Quintavalla's Quarrellers likewise wavered, though they were hardened enough to know running wouldn't save them and continued to fight, albeit more poorly than before. Montjoie's Mounted Yeoman, however, seemed to begin to panic, with half of them fleeing back toward the gates of Alynda and the other half fighting more poorly than before, even despite Francois de Montjoie's attempt to rally them.

The Jabberslythe touched down behind the line of Gor and began to approach the melee, sensing weakness in Montjoie's formation now that half his Yeomen had begun to run. If it reached the line, it would do a good amount of damage, thanks to striking where we were weak. It might even repulse our flank attack entirely. Fortunately, that was when the quartet of Gryphon Gun-Howitzers began to open up, their crews targeting the Jabberslythe. The first few cannonballs were ranging shots, plowing furrows into the turnip field and landing to the left and right of the Jabberslythe, however, the next shot struck dead on target, slamming into the Chaotic Beast's head and cracking off one of its horns as it let out a half-bleating, half-shrieking, cray of pain. The gun crews reloaded and hit it again. This time, a full salvo from the battery of four guns hit on target, now that they had the range. They blasted the Jabberslythe back, forcing it away from the lines, before a final shot pulped its chimeric head into so much blood, brain matter, and ichor.

That seemed to force the Beastmen to lose all hope, and they began to panic like animals. Unfortunately for them, but at this point, they were surrounded on three sides, with the fourth side having our Gryphon Gun-Howitzers zeroed in on it. They couldn't escape without going through a hail of cannonfire. They tried, of course, as they panicked like animals, meaning they lacked the reasoning skill to puzzle that out. They failed, however, dying in droves even as our forces squeezed in on three sides.

The Gorebull, on seeing this, began to turn about, looking to save its own skin. I wasn't having it. I sighted down on it and fired my Enchanted Streltsy, the revolving autorifle spewing out a torrent of bullets as I worked the lever action as swiftly as I could, even while I began to run the numbers, calculating angles and using my Sandy and Kerenzikov to ensure that I was able to accurately target every bullet I sent out. Three shots fired, three hits, all of which punched through the armor and shaggy hide of the Gorebull Commander, staggering it. Surprisingly, it was still alive, though barely. That prompted me to wheel my mount around and charge for the commander, riding in a wide loop around the melee that had devolved into a slow, crushing vise that was killing the Beastmen. As I did so, I took my Runeblade and whirled it about my head with a battle cry. The Gorebull looked up, and tried to bring its axe to bear in a parry, but my Runeblade sheared through the haft of the Gorebull Commander's Axe and slashed into its head, cleaving its skull in twain and killing it.

An hour and ten minutes after it had begun, the Battle of the Alynda Turnip Field was over. Our own casualties amounted to one-hundred-fifty men killed or wounded, mostly wounded, and mostly among Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers and Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen. Beastmen casualties were total. Nine hundred Beastmen were dead, including all commanders and a Jabberslythe. I ordered the Turnip field turned into a pyre and set alight. The flames would cleanse the taint from the battle and eventually make the field usable again, but the farmer wouldn't be planting any more turnips in this particular field any time soon. Thankfully, I had more than enough coin to compensate him, and he also had two more fields, one of barley and one of cabbages that he could lean on for this season.

In the end, we would recover our hundred or so wounded with the aid of Alchemical Healing Items and be ready to march out by the end of the week. Fortunately, the same held true of Ruggiero's force, as well as Ruggiero himself, who had been hit by a club in the head that had split his scalp open beneath his helmet and given him a bad concussion. Once he had been given his alchemical healing potions, however, I invited him into the great hall of Alynda to talk about what had happened at Vimera. What Ruggiero had to say was far from encouraging, however.

"We set out to attack the flank of the Beastman Army under Prince Harmis Detz's direction. It was too good an opportunity to pass up, you understand. There were one-thousand-eight-hundred Beastmen besieging the Town of Vimera, that's around half of the Corpsecaller's estimated army strength. Anders warned us it was too good to be true, as did Prince Detz's wife, the Lady Averil, a Battle Wizard of some power. The Prince's Blood was up, though, and he wouldn't have it." Began Ruggiero.

"So what happened?" I questioned.

"What do you think happened? It was a trap, now wasn't it?" Queried Ruggiero with a scoff.

"Let me guess, the Corpsecaller showed up with the other half of its force just as soon as Prince Detz's army was stuck in against the other half of the Beastmen Forces to hit you all in the rear?" I asked.

"Of course it did. Anders managed to get into Vimera with a mere one-hundred-fifty reinforcements. Prince Harmis Detz, Lady Averil, and four-hundred-fifty Border Guards and Forces from Cabanal and Mantreba were wiped out to a man. I took what was left and rallied them into a retreat. We've been on the run ever since, dogged by that damn Gorebull and a quarter of the Corpsecaller's Forces." Scowled Ruggiero.

"A Battle Mage of Lady Averil's caliber doesn't just die like that. What happened?" Questioned Ion.

"The damned Bray-Shaman used some sort of foul magic to force Lady Averil to erupt in a number of pustules which caused her concentration to slip as she tried to cast a fire spell. That caused a backlash to hit her, from what I've been able to understand, which exploded and took fifty Border Guards and Lady Averil with it." Informed Ruggiero.

"So, from an army containing just under half the fighting strength of Khypris, only six hundred troops remain?" Queried Ion.

"Unfortunately, it seems that way." I nodded.

"It could be even less if Anders can't hold Vimera. It's been three days already." Warned Ruggiero.

"Either way, we'll need reinforcements if we're going to win. Altogether, we have one-thousand-four-hundred-fifty troops against the Corpsecaller's two-thousand-seven-hundred remaining Beastmen. I'm going to call up Martine and see if she can't march with her forces to aid us. In the meantime, we'll be equipping your forces with better gear." I insisted.

"The Khypris Border Guards and the Cabanal and Mantreba Guards are already equipped with Breastplates over Mail." Pointed out Ion.

"True, but our breastplates over mail are a lot better than the stuff they sell in Khypris City. Plus, the Militia that has been called up have leather and padded jacks, if that. I'll want them to have at least a sleeved mail coat and helm before sending them back into the fray." I pointed out.

"Right, who do we send to Port Donkerzee to get Martine?" Asked Ruggiero.

"I know just who to send." I intoned.

"Who?" Questioned Ion.

"Is Lavinia ready to travel?" I queried.

"You want to send the Strigany?" Asked Ruggiero.

"Why not? Martine knows her, after all." I shrugged.

"If she isn't ready, she can be." Offered Ion.

"See to it. As for the rest of us, I want us ready to march as soon as Martine and the Port Donkerzee Guards arrive." I ordered.

"Right." Confirmed Ruggiero.

And with that, the impromptu meeting broke up, and I made my way out to the Mercenary Camps where Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers, Quintevalla's Quarrellers, and Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen were encamped. There had been a whole lot of loot that the Beastmen had stolen that we had recovered after the victory, which needed to be apportioned. Given their performance, I apportioned the most generous shares to Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers, with Quintevalla's Quarrellers getting the second largest share, and Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen getting the smallest shares.

"Why are you giving those Imperial Dogs the largest share of loot?" Questioned Francois de Montjoie.

"We stood our ground and fought while half your poncy Bretonnians cut and ran at the sight of that thing the cannons dealt with, that's why." Scoffed Augustus Von Hagedorn.

"So did we, but we haven't received an equal portion compared to you, now have we?" Queried Ernesto Quintavalla.

"You did, but your forces fought less effectively." I responded.

"I see. So if we fight more effectively, we will get more of a share of the loot?" Asked Francois de Montjoie.

"It seems that way." Affirmed Augustus Von Hagedorn.

"I take it as a challenge, then." Smirked Ernesto Quintavalla.

"Good. For now, though, I will be sending you some new equipment. Better armor and arms for your troops, along with a store of Alchemical Healing Items." I intoned.

"Not those autorifles your own forces have, though?" Questioned Augustus Von Hagedorn.

"No, not those. Alchemically Treated Sleeved Coats of Mail and Breastplates, Repeating Crossbows, and the like." I explained.

"Repeating Crossbows? Such as the ones from Grand Cathay?" Queried Ernesto Quintavalla.

"Sort of. These ones have decent punching power, though." I answered.

"That is all well and good for them, but what of my Yeomen? We already have breastplates and sleeved coats of mail. What for us?" Asked Francois de Monjoie.

"The Alchemically Treated ones are better, but I'll also be giving your forces specially forged weaponry as well. For your Yeomen, that means better spears and swords, while for the Halberdiers, it means better halberds and swords." I explained.

"Very well. You're pulling out all the stops, it seems." Mused Augustus Von Hagedorn.

"Indeed." Agreed Ernesto Quintavalla.

"The situation must warrant it." Opined Francois de Montjoie.

"It does. Be ready to move out when I give the signal." I warned.

And with that, I headed back to the Kremlin of Alynda to begin some design work on a repeating crossbow and start up production. It would take ten days for Martine to arrive with her forces. By the time she had, I would have everyone kitted out the best that they could be. Hopefully, it would be enough, because we didn't really have time to wait any longer with the situation as dire as it was. As we would come to find out on our trip north, however, Vimera was close enough to falling that the Corpsecaller felt confident in detaching forces to attack other settlements such as Aldium and Mantreba.

This we would find out as we approached Mantreba to see a Beastman force of six hundred mixed Gors, Ungors, and Gorebulls besieging Anders' City. They had almost managed to break through the gates held by the skeleton force of Guards and Militia that Anders had left behind when we arrived to hit them in the flank and put an end to the attack. The Battle of Mantreba would be the second major engagement I would fight on Mundus.

And much like the Battle of the Alynda Turnip Field, it would wind up being a slaughter. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter. Once again, this was meant to go out last night, but a surprise visit from family derailed those plans. In it, we see the Battle of the Alynda Turnip Field be a massive heroic victory for the forces of Khypris, just when it was most needed, and we also get a handle on the situation in the Northern half of the Principality. It isn't great, with much of the remaining military force of Khypris either besieged, dead, or fleeing, and both Prince Harmis Detz and his wife, the Battle Wizard Lady Averil, being slain in the fighting. At least Ruggiero and Anders are still alive for the time being, though.

Now, however, the counterattack masterminded by the MC is beginning. It is starting with an attack on the Beastmen Forces attacking Mantreba, who have almost managed to break into the City. It's likely to continue from there, although it's also likely to be a slaughter, and not even on both sides, especially as the MC's Forces significantly outnumber the Beastmen at Mantreba.

At any rate, the next chapter will involve the Battle of Mantreba and will also include our first look at how Martine has outfitted her own forces. They're a bit different from everyone else's, based on the suggestions of House De Roelef. I'll also have a character sheet update and a few more images out before then as well.

Stay tuned. . .