Arcaea/Military Archives/The Aenilian Rearguard in Larmebsi
| The Aenilian Rearguard | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of The Third Ethialan Campaign | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Combatants | |||||||||||
| Attackers | Defenders | ||||||||||
| Arcaea and Ohnar West | Greater Aenilia | ||||||||||
| Commanders | |||||||||||
| Lord Protector Aerywyn Haerthorne | None (Orphen Vincent) | ||||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||||
| 657 Inf 22 MI 224 Arch, 64 Cav, 6 SF 12310 CS | 163 Inf 111 Arch 46 Cav 3654 CS | ||||||||||
| Formations | |||||||||||
| Infantry Charge | None | ||||||||||
| Casualties | |||||||||||
| Very light | Heavy | ||||||||||
The Site
Larmebsi had by now been the site of several major engagements between Arcaea and Greater Aenilian forces, yet the region had managed to stay in relatively fine shape due to the decision by Arcaean forces not to loot the region. Due to this the locals viewed the foreign soldiers with some respect and sympathy, although the Greater Aenilian attitude of the nobility towards their northern enemy was reflected in the people they ruled. They would prefer an Aenilian than an Arcaean.
The lay of the land is wide and flat as it is rich in farmlands, and serves as a gateway to the city of Lasop to the north, Talex to the west and Nahad to the south-east. Due to this the region was not just vital for control of grain and wheat supplies, but also for control of the war; Larmebsi had already proved to be the major battleground of the Third Ethialan War.
Riding Across the Plains
Before the battle, the Aenilian army had marched to Arempos so that the battle may be brought to their enemies, and to wrest control of the region away from the Arcaean forces. The combined forces of Arcaea and Ohnar West utterly routed the Aenilians, who were forced to retreat from their positions deep within enemy territory. Following this the allied forces harried their escaped, and though the majority of the Aenilian army escaped, their Emperor and several others were forced to make a stand at the edge of their territory. There was some joking about how Orphen seemed to be rather slow as usual.
320 Aenilians faced off against almost 1000 allied soldiers, most of whom were battle hardened Arcaean veterans from the earlier campaigning in Ethiala and the war with Sartania. Although the local militia came to fight on the side of their lords, there was the shaky realisation that the odds were most definately not in their favour.
The battle itself fell into disarray, as the Aenilian forces responded to the Arcaean charge and caused fighting to break out at three different points in the line. Baron Euran Kandurell led his men to the front and locked with the main body of the Ethialans, cutting a bloody swathe through the more numerous but less battle-worthy militia. As the battle dragged on, cavalry under Sir Galdor and others charged into the Aenilian ranks and broke the enemies morale; a full retreat began. Though Emperor Orphen got away, the Arcaean forces immediately began to assert control over the region.
