Lightstar Family/Xarnelf/Roleplay 10
Siege of Akanos
Xarnelf gazed upon the stronghold of Akanos in slight distress as the sun started its slow ascension on the allied army's right. It would not shine at their backs this day and hinder the enemy as the ensuing battle progressed. The knight sighed, shaking his head in an attempt to clear away his worry and angst.
He looked around again, taking comfort in the presence of the ten infantry units behind him and the two other units of archers next to his Farsighters. Though greatly admiring the man's heroism, Xarnelf still puzzled over High Marshal Sabastian's decision to take the forefront all by himself with his sixty brave men, Liberation and Solitude.
Standing at attention in neat ranks with their banners waving lazily in the calm wind, the gathered armies waited for the signal to commence the siege. Finally, a horn blared from the rear, Count William Draconius's cue to commence the siege. As one, the combined armies of Svunnetland and Taith Aenil strode forth at a trot to meet their foes.
As Liberation and Solitude drew within range of the defending archers, they let loose a resounding war cry and charged the southern gates. The enemy on the walls responded with a deadly storm of arrows. Screams and curses rent the air as over a dozen fell, intermingled with the continuing battle cry, which strengthened in volume with the men's hardened resolve.
Close on their heels came the archers and infantry of the allied force. Growing increasingly frustrated as more of the vanguard fell, Xarnelf called out to his captain. "Jint! Draw a sight now!"
Nodding at his leader, Captain Feralgem checked his charge and let fly with a probing shot to gauge the distance before running to catch up with the advancing unit. It fell short, striking the city's walls. Xarnelf waited a few more seconds and then shouted his orders.
"Farsighters! Prove that you are worthy of your name! FIRE!"
His men drew up short and began shooting back at the defending archers while the Black Bowstrings and Kaleigh's sharpshooters advanced for better positions. The infantry thundered forward past the archers, splitting into two groups: the left turning to assault the western wall with siege towers and engines, and the right continuing forward to bolster Sir Sabastian and his beleaguered men approaching the gates.
When Liberation and Solitude were finally joined by the others, most of them had already been wiped out, many dead but even more laying injured on the field. Suddenly, Xarnelf understood the general's intention in taking the forefront. He realized that theirs was a great and noble sacrifice which ensured, by drawing all of the enemy's fire, that the others would reach the walls intact and unharmed with their siegeworks to begin the real battle. The young knight blinked away his tears as he continued firing beside his men; now was not the time to mourn, and it would not do for the others to see him in such a state.
By now, the Ladies Kali and Kaleigh's archers had begun sending their deadly shafts towards the defenders, proving their greater experience with more shots striking home. As the siege towers connected with the walls, and the infantry squeezed upwards to engage in melee, Xarnelf ordered the Farsighters to advance, hoping to obtain a more favourable angle of attack with the wooden obstructions in the way at their current position in the rear.
Once they moved even with the other two units of archers, the knight observed that the close combat had begun. It was too late now to continue firing for fear of inadvertently injuring friendly soldiers. They could only stand watching at the ready and hope that the two-pronged assault plan came to fruition.
(two and a half hours later...)
Xarnelf stared in growing dread as the armies of Svunnetland and Taith Aenil were forced back from the walls. The tide had slowly turned in favor of Lasanar as the western assault was foiled, producing no break in the walls. The defending archers resumed releasing continuous hails of arrows down upon the severely weakened allied troops while the last of them were pushed back to the field.
Horns from various units began sounding for retreat. Injured men hobbled away from the walls in the arms of comrades where fortunate, and by themselves where not.
Lady Kali yelled out orders for her archers to lay covering fire for the retreating men. Lady Kaleigh and Xarnelf immediately followed suit. Now, all that was left standing were five of the original eleven infantry units, lead by Lords Morthwyl, Helios, Titus Van, Amedeo, and Glorawarthien. Unfortunately, Lord Amedeo had been wounded earlier and was being attended to by several of his men.
Then all of a sudden, the gates opened and out charged Lord Daran leading his decimated, yet still formidable, group of cavalry in a daring retaliation attack. Lord Helios's Steel against Steel and Lord Morthwyl's Mountain Lancers courageously met the charge, buying time for the wounded men to retreat. Rallying to them, the Faithful of Lord Titus Van, the Axe Bearing Fools of Lord Amedeo, and the Caravan Guards of Lord Glorawarthien counter-rushed at the Liberation Force of Lord Daran. Now they held the line as Lords Morthwyl and Helios retreated with their troops.
Soon, the four Lasanar banners fell, and Lord Daran's cavalry were sent routed back into the city. Next, the Caravan Guards retreated with their injured, leaving two infantry units still standing and fighting bravely to the end. Once again, in an ultimately futile attempt to take the walls, the Faithful and the Axe Bearing Fools scaled the fortifications. They were repelled, and Lord Titus Van got wounded in the process.
Concerned for their leader's safety, the Faithful withdrew from the field. Stubbornly, the Axe Bearing Fools tried a final time to scale the walls, but they were pushed back and forced to retreat. Now, only the three archer units were still fighting against Lasanar.
The gates opened a second time and out charged four infantry units determined to wipe out the archers as well. Starting to lose his nerve, Xarnelf called out to his men.
"Farsighters! Draw your swords and prepare to meet the enemy! We must try to hold as long as possible to give time for the wounded to retreat!"
The valiant archer troops met the infantry attack, but they inevitably lost ground with every second that passed. After seeing that most of the injured troops had gotten clear of the field, Xarnelf yelled out to his captain.
"Urjintah! Signal the retreat!"
Upon hearing this, Captain Feralgem removed a small horn from his belt and blew four short notes. The Farsighters gathered their wounded and withdrew from the field. Looking back, Xarnelf noticed that the Black Bowstrings of Lady Kali and Lady Kaleigh's sharpshooters were still struggling against the Lasanar infantry. He shouted back, hoping they would heed his words before they were wiped out.
"Lady Kali, retreat! It's too late now! Lady Kaleigh, it's no use dying unnecessarily! Our allied infantry wounded have all gotten clear! Come on!"
After five more Black Bowstrings fell, Lady Kali finally signaled the retreat. All that remained now were the sharpshooters of Lady Kaleigh, fighting desperately to the end in a heroic effort. Soon, they could hold no longer and withdrew with their wounded in tow.
The defenders of Akanos had held the field, winning the grueling battle which had lasted for five long hours.
