Counterattack , Final part

Western Anuire, Erntenir 1585 H.C (Haelyn's Count), Reign of Emperor Kendar Kalien the I

Characters involved:

Imperials:

1. Lord Mourde Daelor, Commander of the 1st Avanese Horse Company, Marshal of the Offensive , ofτen reffered to as General of the armies.
2. Lord Agelmore Taliern, Lord of Glocaester, Captain of the Imperial Heavy Cavalry.
3. Jarod Thalles, the Pirate, Commander of the Mieran Mercenaries.
4. Slevan Klingea, former Captain of the Five Star mercenary company. Captain of the Mieran Cavalry.
5. Lord Toeran Avan, Steward of Daulton, Regent of Avanil in absence of the Prince.

Boeruineans:

1. Commander William Noeld, Captain of the Archducal Guard, Right Hand of the Archduke Boeruine.
2. Alexander Katleaf, Seargent of the Archducal Guard
3. Lord Endre Reanlien, Lord of Caelwyn
4. Archduke Edric Boeruine the I, Archduke of Boeruine, sovereign of the West.

Slashing with his sword, Captain Endre Realnien fought hard on the left flank of the allied line. Rallying his men to form a new line, the Boeruineans now fought on trying to break out to the fields. With Commander Jarod Thalles and Slevan Klingea down from their wounds, it's up to Captain Endre to lead the attack while Captain Bhaler led the mercenary contingent to support the push.

Across the plains, nearer to the city of Coere, William Noeld, Captain of the Archducal guard, hammered away with his greatsword. By his side, a fellow soldier protected the flanks of his c:ommander as his spear stabbed away at the lightly armored crossbowmen of the Imperial force. The Archducal reinforcements are gaining ground, but with the Imperial army approaching, the infantry-based force will be at the mercy of the legendary Avanese Lancers.

"Men! Forward push! Now!" The burly Boeruinean roared as he forged forward, his unit of mixed infantry following. Adapting a new fighting style, the Coerian contingent fought in units of swordsmen, spearmen and even crossbowmen. Blocking an overhead chop, William noted with approval as a bolt struck his opponent on the side. Glancing to the side he could see the shooter reloading his weapon while being protected by spearmen engaged in the melee.

Roaring with every step, the edge of the left wing surged ahead of the contingent as the Boeruinean units swung forward, the left column of the defending line engulfing the engaging Imperials in a deadly embrace.

"Men, Duplex Acies!" Bhaler yelled to his nearby sergeants as the trumpeters around him blew a synchronized series of signal notes. Catching the pre-planned formation, Endre pivoted his units forward until they were face to face with the Mierans, his rear-most men being chased by the enemy. As the Imperials began to catch up with the Boeruinean forces, the entire force turned, now to face the Imperials head on.

After the execution of this maneuver, the allied forces had shortened the length of their line, but doubled the breadth of the formations. In the Duplex Acies, the allied forces arranged themselves into eighty-man units, in two lines of equal length. Spearmen covered the flanks with spears which filled the ranks of Endre' reserve force.

As the Boeruineans, turned, huge shields were put out before them, locked together in a tight shield wall. Instead of taking turns to retaliate against enemy attacks, they held their ground, letting the enemy waste their attacks on the heavy shields.A Imperial soldier chopped his axe against the shield, but his weapon simply bounced off the guard. Expecting to be stabbed, he jumped back; his small shield protected his midsection. However, the wall stood, not wavering from the press. Wondering what his enemies are doing, the soldier never registered the shift of tempo on the earth, as soft vibrations could be felt along the line.

"Hold the formation!" Endre yelled as he struggled his way to the front, moving through the breadth of his followers. Captain Bhaler looked to the east, and nodded his approval.

The Imperial, shaken from his thoughts, found himself slightly unbalanced. Searching for the source, he looked to the west, where their Avanese reinforcements are still at a distance, he looked to the east, a look of pure dread was etched on his face, as the thunder grew audible for all to hear.

Avanese and in extent Imperial General Toeran Avan, is a man of great influence. Even as the Avanese rode towards the battlefield, his men marched in perfect order, mostly with pikes held high.

After raising the Avanese host and joining it with his army, Toeran noted that his army would not be enough to march on Coere and Bindier, and decided to aid Mourde and secure the city of Coere for thetime being. Never did he expect to see a host of Mierans across the fields.

"Men, form up. Infantrymen in the center, heavy cavalry to the front." The general ordered.

As the infantry closed in from the flanks, the soft rumbling of hooves can be heard as Toeran's heavy lancers rode into position. Nodding, the general need not fear from any cavalry, as the Avanese cavalry has always been the most powerful in Western and Central Anuire. Armed with the sturdiest lance, and protected by some of the thickest armor in Anuire, the Lancer has no need for a shield, and is a pure offensive weapon.

"Forward, keep in line and charge on the signal."

The Mieran cavalry slammed into the Imperial troops at full gallop. Infantry were tossed high into the air and skewered by long lances protruding from the cavalry men as they entered the battle. Seeing the shield wall, the cavalrymen on the sides have been wary to shift the charge to a point where they will keep a safe distance from the allied infantry along the charge. After the devastating charge by the Mieran, a horn blasted along the lines of the allied infantry as they surged forward. Heavy shields put to the side, swords an maces replaced most of the other weapons as Boeruinean forces charged into the melee.

At the other side, William Noeld and his elite guard fought on, glad for the lessening of the press from the devastating charge. Swinging his heavy sword, the seasoned warrior had no trouble cutting through the mass of leather-armoured enemy troops.

Bhaler moved his troops in quick order. Keeping the Duplex Acies, he brought his formation around to face the oncoming Avanese forces. Already, the Mieran cavalry are turning back to secure the flanks of the formation as the remaining Imperials are being mopped up in a rapid fashion. However, there remains one problem, and it could be a grave one indeed.

In the recent times of warfare against both the Boeruineans as well as Ghoerians, the Avanese Heavy Cavalry has proven itself to be a formidable fighting force in the plains of Anuire, thoroughbred warhorses are mounted by nobles whom trained hard to be knights of their kingdom. Now, with the Mieran cavalry concentrating on the Imperials, the Avanese Lancers under Toeran Avan's finest Guard took the front of the formation, Iances raised high towards the heavens as they advanced onto the battlefield.

"Infantry, double pace Crossbowmen form up in the center! Trumpeter, sound the charge!"

A deep note was blown from the man next to him. At the cavalry lines, a lancer rode ahead and signaled with a piece of red cloth, and the wedge was formed. 300 heavy lancers, of Avanese’s best garrison, rode forth on the first row. On the flanks and forming up the second row, another 600 lancers, making up nearly the entire number of heavy cavalry force In Southern Anuire, now rode forth towards the confusion. Another note was blown, with more confidence, as the first line expanded, to a line four horses deep, with such precision that marked their disciplinary experience in Avanil. A cavalry man from the Mieran brigade saw them coming, but his force is caught up in the sweep, relieving the infantry, that no sizable force would be able to counter the charge. The cavalry man looked on, as the lance caught him by the shoulder, and the last thing he felt was the crush of horseshoes when he hit the ground ...

"No! The Avanese have entered the fray!"

Bhaler roared as he saw the Mieran cavalry fall under the charge. He heard of the battle prowess of the Avanese Cavalry, but never did he expect to experience the horror of their power in a real battle. Passing tactical command to his second-in-command, the captain rode back to the reserve line, where General Anders and the Archduke where commanding the fight. Frantically he passed the commanding tent guards and screaming he launched himself in.

"Enemy lancers, they have broken through, even now our Infantry are getting killed by the dozens!"

Standing up with such ferocity, General Ander in his late 60s walked out of the tent and saw the battle with his own eyes.

Allied cavalry being cut down by the Avanese, who have the advantage of direction and surprise, and Avanese spearman marching In soon. The main power of the allied force will soon be reduced to naught if nothing is done quickly. The Archduke much younger and surely less experienced in tactical warfare from the tent entrance called out at the guards.

"My horse, here! Captain, its time for your cavalry to pull back, let our infantry knock those lancers off, I will sweep across the right flank and face those cavalry head on.!" A cheer rose as the Archduke rode on his heavy Boeruinean stallion, with a personal guard of eighty heavy guards. As the company was readied, a hand reached out at the stallion of the Archduke attracting the quick reaction of his bodyguards.

"Slevan ... "

The wounded captain hobbled up to his friend. From his current state, Slevan could not even run, much less swing his sword in a fight. "Rest, we'll handle these Imperial scum.”

"No, I know that these Avanese are killing our cavalry in a ratio which would turn the tide. Ride, but carry this with you."

Slevan handed a banner to his friend; the Archduke looked at it, and recognized it in an instant.

Slevan's flag. Nodding, the Archduke reared his horse to summon his company, but took on a different route.

He rode ahead of his column to the side the reserves, where many wounded lay. Riding ahead, he rose the banner as a strong note was blown from his bodyguard horn. A not which every mercenary heard before every assignment.

"Ride! For our country, for our allies! For honour! Ride for your brothers! For your Captain! For Boeruine!"

He passed by a field of men, where a mass seemed to flow towards the tethered horses. Mounting their warhorses, the force of Slevan's riders rode forth, joining the Archdukes cavalry at the rear of the column. He passed by the wounded, where many heard and saw the summons. Picking themselves up, those whose wounds are properly dressed fetched their horses, and joined the Boeruinean. Riding past the outpost, the Archduke brought his column around, and rode towards the west, where his men are fighting hard against the still-charging Avanese.

The second line has joined in the charge, trampling down the heavier cavalry men and lancing those infantry in their way. Tough as they were, the shield walled infantry could not withstand a double charge by the heaviest cavalry In central Anuire. Tossed like the Imperials before them, when the Mierans charged, the tired Infantry held on the line in order.

The Archduke Edric Boeruine and his cavalry arrived, with numbers greater than the Avanese, and eased the push for a bit, before the lancers on the flanks charged into his column. Cursing, the Archduke knocked off a lancer who missed him with a lance, only to be stroke on the other arm by a passing Avaneseman. Focusing totally in front of him, he managed to block a thrust aimed for his chest as he slashed, severing the arm from the lancer. The lines are breaking ... He knew, and hard as it was, the Archduke knew that they have to hold. The main infantry force is not far ahead, five minutes at most, before a counterattack could be mounted. He also knew, that the main infantry force of the enemy is not far either, for all he knew, a pike could knock him off his mount at any instant.

"Pull back, we're prone targets here!"

Managing to turn his horse around,  took up the rear as his men forcibly cut a way out of the melee, intent to break into the north, where the Boeruinean infantry under the command of Endre Realnien managed to hold off the lancers with massed spearmen. As he broke free, blood running from many wounds, Endre saw a second cavalry force heading towards them. However, he saw that it's not the Avanese. He recognized the outfit they wore, and saw the direction their heading, with lances lowered, and for those at the flanks, javelins poised to strike.

"Charge!" The Archduke's force slammed Into the reeling Avanese, whom have turned to pursue Endres' unit. Slevan's cavalry men threw their javelins and spears Into the Avanese lancers, the sheer force of the weapon knocking them off their horses.

Meanwhile, the Avanese charge has been stopped, only to be replaced by a mass of pikes as the Avanese pikemen moved in, formation tight and neat, forcing the allied infantry back with every step.

Running to the front, Bhaler drew his sword as he rallied a force of swordsmen.

"Men! We have to move in close so their polearms would be useless! Follow me!"

Running out of the formation, Bhaler chopped away the nearest pikes and ran straight into the first pikeman, his sword piercing the Avaneseman's chest with such might that the blade struck the man behind the corpse, piercing the enemy In the lung. Pulling his weapon free, Bhaler blocked a flurry of spear and dagger strikes as his men poured forth engaging the enemy in melee.

Going into the offensive again, Bhaler barely feel the punch that spun him around and stop his charge. Stumbling backwards, the Bhoeruinean saw a shaft protruding from his shoulder, and looked around to see his men similarly hit by crossbow bolts. Looking back to the front, several Avanesemen were his by their own bolts, but the second line was prepared for this event. Bhaler knew that they were trained to accept this tactic, as no pike could be thrust so quickly into his ribs, and pulled out before he has a chance to cry out in pain. He fellfeeling his blood flow from the wound. It’s not serious, he thought, the pike used on him has a thin but sharp point, and was meant to wound, more than kill. Of course, he thought, the killing would come when the pikemen trampled over the wounded, letting those behind finish them off. But his surprise was complete, when a number of hands grabbed him and pulled him back, away from the pikes, back into a new shield wall formed by infantry men !

"Tough tactics, good thing we managed to pull quite a few in."

Endre muttered as he felt a bolt clang off the shield that he was supporting. Looking at the wounded Bhaler, the Boeruinean knew that it was him who would take the command of the tactical battlefield.

"Get those reinforcements forward! A hundred more menwill finish the job! Its only how many more we would lose before Its done! Go!" He yelled at the group of runners assigned to him by the mercenaries, and they immediately dispersed.

The Boeruinean has a smile, with a few hundred more , he would overwhelm even the Avanese lancers, even though they have killed over a great deal with their first charge.

Toeran Avan frowned.

His lancers did a perfect job, sweeping the Mierans away from the field, and letting the pikemen move in close. However, a new force of cavalry disrupted his formations, the flankers were sent in, only to be flanked, by a second and more deadly force of Boeruinean cavalry.

Even now, his Infantry are wavering under the press of this new 'army', or a mass of Infantry running for the battle in his eyes, as the enemy numbers where pushing his battered men back to the hill.

"Gather the lancers, we'll ride towards Daulton."

"Sir, what about the infantry? Do I give them a signal to follow?"

"No! Let them fight, and prove their worth as a rearguard to me. Perhaps we'll see them again, in the not too distant future."

Turning, the Avanese General gathered the remains of his cavalry, and together with his bodyguard, rode towards the east, he rushed to cross the border guards of the Avanese realm.

“ You have won this day, Boeruinean, but not the war yet.”