Vale, Basileus - Calradic Campaign #20 Post-Event Summary

The West is shaken. The Basileus of the Western Empire, Garios, prepared for an eventual assault on the former Vlandian Castle of Usanc. His generals all convened in the castle a few nights before the field battle. A heated discussion had taken place; diplomacy with other nations had faltered after Vlandian diplomats had forced the Northern Imperial Republic to vote on their allegiance, with the North firmly standing on the side of Vlandia. Days before, a messenger gave grim news from Aserai lands; Despite previous agreements with the Western Empire, the Aserai have declared support for Vlandia, rekindling their old alliance against Garios. The cards seemed stacked against them, however the Grand General of the Legions had a bold plan. If they cannot be trusted, then his legions would pound them into submission, but first he would march on Vlandia and show the world it would not be wise to turn against the strong arm of the Empire.

So, he and his generals put forth a bold strategy. They would march from Usanc castle and go through the Epiric Hill pass for the city of Sargot. The city had been sieged and almost taken by the Battanians not long ago and was still rebuilding its defenses. It would be an easy target for hardened legionnaires. Or so they thought.

The Vlandians had long prepared for this fight, with both the forging of alliances and building of fortifications along the borderlands. Once word of the march reached the ears of King Derthert, he silenced his bickering barons and arguing Archdukes, and ordered them to raise the banners to march. Derthert knew if he was to be victorious, he must intercept the legions in the pass between Sargot and Usanc. The bannermen were quick to move at the word of their King, all with a sore memory of their loss of Usanc.The armies met in the field between the pass, where a small Vlandian hamlet lay deserted after word of the armies’ marches got around. Garios was quick to garrison the cemetery with his men while his hardy Cataphracts formed a vanguard; their exceptional kontoses being a strong deterrent of Knights and Vanguards alike. King Derthert however, took a more fluid approach, positioning his Sergeants between a manor and the hamlet square. As Garios moved, Derthert would counter as a high stakes game of chess unfolded on the battlefield.

Believing victory was at hand in the town square, Garios sent his men forward to take it. However the scouts of Vlandia were quick to report his movements and once Derthert saw his plan, the warrior King counter by sending his sergeants to intercept. Caught in the open, his legions fought bravely, but were felled by a volley of crossbow bolts from the town as the sergeants stalled them out. Most notably, Derthert held his Cavalry in reserve until the sergeants made contact, wary of the aforementioned kontoses. While Garios’s Cataphracts were worn down by riding in vanguard by crossbow fire and skirmishing with Vlandian light cavalry. The Vlandian Cavalry proceeded to sweep up the remaining legionnaires of the first wave.

Garios was undeterred, however, and reformed his legions at the cemetery again, this time he attacked the manor house, believing he could garrison it and force the Vlandians to attack him instead. Derthert was quick to maneuver his crossbows onto the balconies and had his sturdy sergeants hold a shieldwall in front of his rival’s march. The Legionnaires proved unable to break the line again, and were felled by crossbow and sergeant blade alike.

Frustrated, Garios stepped back and reassessed his strategy. He pulled his forces back into a feigned retreat as Derthert marched to secure the cemetery. Though victory seemed his, Derthert did not lower his guard and ordered his men to keep an eye out for the enemy. His enemy did reappear, this time on the other side of the town, though a march to Sargot could have been done, Garios knew a deception like this would be temporary if he could not wipe the Vlandian host from the field, and any siege of Sargot would end horribly if he tried. So, from the opposite side of the town, he attacked the Vlandians who held the cemetery. Garios took advantage of the Vlandian’s own strategy and forced their forces into the town. A bloody battle took place, but morale on both sides soared as each saw the other’s demise at hand. The town proved difficult for Vlandian cavalry and the Vlandians were eventually forced to pull back.Garios, smelling victory at hand, charged his legions into the field, only to see the Vlandians turn around and meet them head on; a feint by King Derthert, with his crossbows well positioned and his Knights now free to run through the legionnaire lines in the open field, brought Garios’ ambition to a quick end.

The legion’s forces were wounded, but not broken. Garios fell back to Usanc and prepared to give the Vlandians a bloody nose. However, Vlandians knew Vlandian castles, and they set up their siege lines accordingly. Several waves of peasant levies charged the castle as siegeworks broke the walls. Once the walls broke, Sergeants followed behind and cleaned up the mostly depleted legions. Fighting continued throughout the streets until Garios finally relented and called his remaining forces to retreat from the castle, ceding it to the Vlandians.

Meanwhile, Derthert sent his Archdukes forward to Thractorae castle, defended by few, but elite legionaries of Garios led by one of his trusted generals. The Archdukes pounded the castle with siegeworks as the legions attempted sally-outs to halt the attack. However the levies of Vlandian proved too numerous for the elite legions and they were forced out once the walls broke, with many casualties Vlandian and Imperial alike.

After the sieges were successful, and both castles were taken, King Derthert gave a speech to his soldiers and lords, declaring this to be the beginning of the end for the West Empire, thanking his allies and his men for their valor. His soldiers, though many wounded, were high in spirits and a grand feast was held in Sargot after the march back.

Meanwhile, Garios, despite his best efforts, was unable to overcome all odds against him. Placing the blame on himself, he called his generals and announced his resignation. The Empire must be led by the strong, and therefore he is not fit to rule. He then named his successor, the talented Cavalry General Deos Vulpes. “We may falter, but we are not beaten. Give them hell.” the former Basileus’ tells the new Basileus.

Outside the battle, the news of Garios’s departure has shaken the courts of every kingdom, and its consequences are not yet known. One thing is known for certain though, the West is shaken, but it is far from defeated.

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IN META TERMS

The Vlandians defeated the Western Empire in the field and moved on to victory at the siege, winning Usanc Castle and Thractorae Castle.

Thanks for participating in the twentieth event of the Bannerlord Calradic Campaign!

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Submitted October 08, 2023 at 01:00AM by Blademaster1215 https://ift.tt/warPGA0