SIEGE OF KORVACZ

[Tide1 4535]

 

THE SIEGE OF KORVACZ

✠ “Your keep just got shot up so bad that people call it holy” - Azhug’Gorkil ✠

Dawn at Camp Euler

 

‘Soldier, where is King Haakon?"

 

“Milord, he left an hour ago - he's already out there.”

 

“Konansson did WHAT ?!”
 

Tiberias van Aert emerged from his tent early in the morning, yet it seemed King Haakon of Norland had gotten an earlier start. Men were still preparing their artillery crew by the time the Holy League’s finest soldiers had left the camp under their guidance. Even earlier than that had been the beginning work of Sion Marsyr, expertly calculating the siege weapon trajectory. Rumor circulated throughout Camp Euler that he had spent the whole night preparing his calculations. Given how extensive the planning had been, this seemed to be the case, but all the better for the Holy League’s Accuracy. Tiberias took a diagram for his own trebuchet and climbed to the vantage point upon which it had been stationed.

 

He took out a spyglass and surveyed the positions of the army. The Albans and Ravenmirians had taken up forward positions on the cannons, alongside a handful of Norlandic siege veterans. Just behind them were Krugistan and Sólgaard mercenaries, preparing their trebuchets' aim. Haelunor's scholars were with them, ensuring that the engines would function properly even under the strain of battle. Tiberias’ attention turned northeast next, surveying the woods for Haakon’s forces. It was difficult, given how well they had positioned themselves in cover, yet it was clear that the forward group, composed of the best warriors among all descendants, was prepared. Meanwhile, Anorhil had prepared a rallying speech for the Numenedain, which the Adunian forces took to with a mighty rallying cry.

Lastly, Tiberias’s gaze fell upon the Haensemen’s fort. Its construction had been poor, and a closer look revealed its men to appear tired and fearful. Even so, they stood at the ready. The battle would soon begin…
 

The Beginning of the Battle

The men in the forward force braced themselves for the artillery fire to commence. Captain Vangelis Mareno rallied the Grensewacht’s cavalry, whilst Haakon prepared the Norlandic and Savoyard infantry. Keen elven eyes of Caurost took up positions in the treeline, watching for Camp Euler’s signal that the battle had started.

 

The first horn sounded, Calias Mareno blowing a familiar grensen goat-horn from the siege camp, and the first volley was released. Trebuchets on both sides flung their boulders, and cannons fired their shots. Adjustments were made efficiently between two trebuchet teams led by a Sólvikingr and an Uruk, eager to win a wager. The eyes of the advance party watched with bated breath as projectiles seemed to fly in slow motion. Then, suddenly, the sounds of explosive impacts could be heard. Haense’s cannoneers had aimed short, striking the ground in front of Camp Euler in a complete miss, but it was much the opposite; they received. Sion’s calculations proved correct as the Holy League fired several direct hits upon their foe’s fort. Some landed upon walls, causing them to crumble, whilst others struck soldiers directly.

The second horn sounded from Calias, calling for the forward force to initiate their attack. Haakon directed the troops forward, but even before this, the Oni of Koyo-Kuni charged forward without hesitation, placing ladders all along the fort's vulnerabilities and engaging in combat. They were soon joined by the rest, clashing against the defenders of the Northern Wall.

Then began the cycle of perfect coordination, which could only be possible under the command of leaders such as Tiberias and Haakon, as orders were relayed through the Marenos to skirmish upon the north wall yet withdraw just before the firing of siege equipment. Thus was it done, where the Holy League’s forces would inflict heavy casualties upon their foe with alternating attacks of offensive charges and artillery. The soldiers of Haense, Petra, and Balian were trapped like fish in a barrel, witnessing their commanders among the first casualties of battle. Meanwhile, the elves of Celia’nor either fled deeper into the fortress for refuge or perished under the relentless bombardment.

 

✠ A depiction of one of Haense’s commanders dying in battle. ✠
 

This harsh but efficient strategy persisted for hours, making Haense’s defense increasingly precarious. Their walls fell apart, and their troops started to panic in the absence of their leaders. Haakon’s leadership of the advancing force was so skillful that almost a third of the Haensemen were lost, resulting in very few casualties on his side before the battle resumed.

The third horn sounded, and the remaining warriors of the Holy League’s forces advanced from their siege camp. A full-frontal assault commenced against the scant remnants of the castle’s walls. The Haensemen retreated immediately into their courtyard as the soldiers of the Holy League scaled the ramparts and pressed on with their charge. 

The outcome was catastrophic. Haense’s army faced certain defeat the moment they left their fortifications. They had ensnared themselves within their defenses, and their only route to escape was through the destruction wrought by the Holy League. However, confronting them was a force much stronger than their own. The Holy League encircled them, starting with Haakon’s troops, followed by Calias’ and then Tiberias’, as the Haensemen had no choice but to either flee or accept their doom. The fort had been taken.

The Eve After

The soldiers of the Holy League reveled in their triumph. Many celebrated amid the remnants of the keep they had just conquered, while others journeyed back to their homelands, basking in victory. Some even shared the parchments they had picked up from Haense’s fallen, where attempts were made by the Raev and the Balianite to proclaim success or victory. Unsurprisingly, this sparked uproarious laughter among the troops, now adorned with freshly acquired Haeseni helmets. A halfling managed to persuade a small group of drunken holy knights and Norns to place bets utilizing cannonballs and rows of helmets in a peculiar version of ‘bowling’.

Celebrations lasted deep into the night as many shared their personal accounts of the battle. Hordespeaker Azhug’Ghorkil gallantly rescued King Haakon from a front-line trench. Sir Honk the Auspicious single-handedly took down four foes. Captain Vangelis Mareno bravely charged a horse through the heart of the enemy and managed to escape with only minor injuries. Numerous other tales of victory filled the night, with many being recorded in journals or turned into ballads.

 

Spoiler

SPOILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVulflPf6Ig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ8Ju6YsNyU

https://youtu.be/7454hdHLakU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV8p9biQi5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6CtEdoEIK0

 

 

Tiberias van Aert, Duke of Burgundy, Captain General of The Holy League

 

[Jihnyny 5233]

“...”
Louis looked for his cases of wine; the very same he had
given to the Ravenlords to treat themselves with before the final push of the siege;
though it seemed, alot of the supplies were missing.
 

Spoiler

help me become the #1 minecraft youtuber

 

[Qaz_The_Great 1394]

Lord Purifier Ægir raises a tankard in great hall of the Under-City; toasting to the first victory of the war!

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 15456]

Kato Ena recounts the horrors of a ballista bolt tearing a shrine maiden in half to some of the ashigaru in an explanation of why they duck and cover in an artillery shootout.

 

Despite the hard fought breach through a world that slowed down and seemed to sputter around them - he found some respite in occupied, and some would argue retaken, Korvacz.

 

”For the Iron Lady,” Ena saluted his fellow soldiers of fortune.

[Frisket 4538]

As those council members of Celia'nor spoke amongst themselves in a huddled table across the bridge and inside the tavern. Ember and Jarad greeted the defeated men back into the clinic, along those who of the alliance were left. Ember spoke simple apologies to those of the diraar recruits and those left of the elite veterans.

[ArgentEra 459]

A single musin sits in his library, a pair of glowferrets coiled about him as he sketches his memories following the battle he had never hoped to see waged firsthand. Though he may have seen little, being so far back on the rear lines, the sounds are something he would never forget.
Inkwells of grey and orange sat nearby, readied to paint the banners strapped to the shields of the warriors of Urguan depicted in charcoal and ink, manning the canons readily.

 

[DancingZebra267 1626]

Holy Ser Vincenzo emerged from the battlefield, his once-white tabard now soaked in the crimson of the enemies of GOD. With fire in his eyes and blood still fresh upon his blade, he turned to face his brothers.. Lifting his sword high into the air, he called out. "Deus Magnus! GOD watches as we vanquish His enemies! Let the righteous stand tall, for the wicked have fallen beneath His justice!" He then strode toward the shattered remnants of the enemy’s hold. The stone and ash beneath his boots. He drew the banner of the Order of the Grail, and planted it firmly atop the rubble, the wind catching its fabric as it unfurled in triumph. "This ground has been reclaimed in the name of GOD!"

[Werew0lf 24180]

Sir Honk ‘the Auspicious’ walks outside the defeated fortress, before taking a seat upon one of the boulders resting out a bloodied moat. He stares up into the clouds, his armour dented and battered from the long fight.