Posted to the Legio forums, by Lord Ludwig, 2005
During the weekend of Feb 26th, I went to the Winter War in
the East Kingdom, along with my wife Leslie (who
patiently drove the RV in seriously crappy winter weather), Sir Evander, Laird
Colyne Stewart from Ard Chreag, and two fighters from Bastille du Lac named
Ratanicus and Edward dit Lion. I carried a message to the East Kingdom's
King Thorson from Her Illustrious Majesty Queen Genevieve, and sent Her the
return message. When I offered to tell Their Majesties about the event, They
took me up on it. So, I wrote an Epic Style tale about it. They really liked
it, and I'll post parts of it here if anyone is interested.
I didn't know until a few days ago that Laird Colyne broke
two ribs that day in his last fight, due to the simultaneous landing of two
serious spear thrusts to his chest.
My apologies for the funky spacing and such, since this is a cut-and-paste
transfer, obviously.
Ratanicus is a recent member of the Legio site.
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Ealdormerean deeds done at Winter War in the East
We set out on our journey before the sun had begun to climb into the sky. Our
eyes were full of swirling snow as I and my forbearing wife Lady Katherine
fared our way. We were soon to meet the redoubtable Knight, Sir Evander and his
unfaltering Squire, Laird Colyne Stewart. These two adroit nobles would soon
rain steely blows upon the fearsome
warriors of the Eastern Realm.
We continued our wintery course, and were joined by two of
Sir Evander's stalwart serjeants, Edward dit Lion and Ratanicus. One would be
hard-pressed to find two other footmen more doughty and bold than they.
With our company now numbering six, our contingent travelled
towards the Land of the Tiger, the Eastern
Kingdom. Keeping a
watchful eye for the venturesome troop led by valiant Sir Cennedi, we slipped
across the Border Fords, and wound our way to the Winter War. To embolden our hearts,
I read the missive sent by Her Majesty to her forces, and our spirits soared at
Her inspiring words.
It was with ardent and earnest rejoicing that Sir Evander
was greeted by his companions from the East. It was soon apparent to me that there
must have been a schism in the East
Kingdom. The Eastern
Warriors were divided, and forming up on opposite sides of the field. Our side
was led by the renowned Baron Conrad, one of the comrades of Sir Evander. With
other nobles of high birth and rank, he scanned the field and planned his
campaign.
The other side was commanded by the Ruler of the East
himself, the indomitable King Thorson. The ground shuddered beneath His mighty tread
as he reviewed his warriors.
Donning our armour, grasping our weapons tightly, our company
followed puissant Sir Evander, the Captain of the Ealdormerean forces that day.
The scarlet-clad Lupine Warriors would soon show their true mettle.
Clutching my polearm, I peered out at the enemy line that
faced us, and waited for our signal. The Ealdormerean forces were arrayed on the
left flank of the line. We were to counter any outflanking maneuver to that
side, and charge forth to outflank them if the opportunity arose.
That opportunity did not come. Obviously, the Eastern Army
remembered the might and prowess of the Ealdormereans, and a full quarter of their
line turned to engage us, racing to surround us. We fought bravely, but were
overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of their desperate fury. I saw my companions
turning blow after blow away as a forest spears were thrust towards them and a
legion of pollaxes began to decend. Alas, I was dispatched by a well-aimed
spear, and I fell to the cold ground with only the thoughts of my Kingdom and
my dearest wife to comfort me.
I was revived, and went back to regroup with my company. The
lines were forming again. The plan of attack was the same, with the Ealdormereans
forming the left flank, with the same objectives. We discussed our performance,
and vowed to present a more unified front. I glanced at my polearm, wishing
that I had more length to it, since it was originally constructed for use in
tournament.
The lines met twice more then, with Your loyal troop
resisting any attempt to outflank our lines. Each time we clashed, we were able
to stand our ground longer before being crushed by sheer weight of numbers. The
javelins whistled through the air, falling to the ground behind us, and yet we
resisted to the last remnants of our strength.
Our presence there prodded the chagrin of the opposing
force, for they knew that we would fall furiously apon their flank if given the
smallest chance.
Brave Sir Evander's flashing blade eagerly bit into the
helms and hauberks of his enemies, cleaving them in half as their ruined corpses
fell. His squire Colyne struck down the foes before him as a smith beats with
his hammer- strong, sure, unerring, and unfailing. The two serjeants Edward and
Ratanicus pressed ever forward, like waves that
flash and race to the shore, slicing and carving deep rents into Eastern flesh.
As for myself, I fought behind my steely barricade of comrades, keeping the
East-Realmers back where I could, thrusting my polearm into astonished faces
before me.
The lines then broke into a general brawl. I found myself
before a shieldman, and closed with him. Entangling his sword with my polearm, I
reached for the mace that swung by my side and grasped it firmly. My arm rose
and fell, smashing my weapon down towards his helm and hip.
Alas, my mace must have found no solid purchase, and I
tasted his sword before falling into a confused heap of the dead and dying.
The lines reformed, and as I did glance to the side I was
overjoyed to behold the arrival of valorous Sir Cennedi, accompanied by two of his
squires. He had been deceived by a false and confusing map, a cowardly ploy by
those who despaired before his renowned prowess. It is well that such a
misguided plot failed, as must all that stand against such dauntless courage.
Even so, he had been delayed, and had striven to arrive with great swiftness.
With the increased might of our troop, we were even more
fearsome on the field. I had been given a long spear by the gracious Baron
Conrad, and one of Sir Cennedi's squires held a long polearm. Our company resolved
to quickly do some flanking maneuvers of our own! At the onset of the next
charge, we drove deeply into their right. The two Knights charged to their
right, and a counter-attack was launched against us. I was beset apon by three
enemy warriors, and as I strove to thrust into the face of a foe pressing
Edward, I was struck down by multiple blows.
All this while, my wife Lady Katherine busied herself by
bringing water to the Ealdormerean forces during those lulls when we were regrouping.
She was also keeping a keen eye on the movements of the opposing army. It was
not long before she discerned that the Eastern King Thorson personally led each
flanking thrust. He was going so far as to bend his body and hide behind the
line of his men as he moved to the side that the flanking attack would be
launched, so as to deceive our commanders. She brought this observation to me,
which was then relayed to Sir Cennedi. The honoured Knight then moved to the Commanders,
informing them of this new intelligence.
While I was not able to see it myself, my Lady wife reported
later that the Commanders kept a close eye on the movements of the Eastern King,
keeping adequate forces aside to counter his movements. There were two more
engagements, and our army was victorious in those.
The last charge was a shining moment for Ealdormerean
forces. More swiftly than ever before, we hastened across the field to our left,
then turning sharply and plunging into the back of the enemy line.
Smiting down any enemies as they passed them, the
Ealdormerean Company tore into the flank of the enemy line, filling their
hearts with dismay. With skill and fortitude worthy of any Ealdormerean,
Ratanicus slew King Thorson before the ashen faces of his men.
It was worth noting that the Eastern warriors are savage in
melee, even breaking past their own shieldmen with a barbaric lust to smite and
crush their enemies. Even so, they attack in force, outnumbering exposed
opponents, and as I can well testify, seeking to overwhelm opposing polearms
and spears. They have a great many Great weapons, which they wield in groups
with practiced and deadly proficiency.
During this break between battles, I had the opportunity to
approach King Thorson with the warm greetings sent by Your Graceful Majesty.
Since I have already told of that exchange, I will spare you
those details. He struck me as being a very good-natured man, full of lively mirth
and robust spirit.
The battle then moved to the bridges. I was disheartened by
the lack of spears on our side, but we made plans for "pulse
charges". We felt that if we could break through their lines, that we
could swiftly slay any opposition.
Those of us with two swords, small shields, greatswords, and
shorter polearms waited behind the shieldmen and spears for the command to charge.
Our commander was eagerly collecting javelins and hurling them back at the
enemy spearmen. Sadly, the command to Charge did not come forth, and as the
shieldmen fell, our Squad went forward to fill the gap, where we were quickly
speared.
At the second bridge, we once again waited for our signal as
the spearmen on both sides did their deadly work. A signal was given, but was
only heard by a few, brave Sir Cennedi being one of those. He leapt forward
with two others, crashing into the enemy line with great fury, striking down
two enemies before falling in front of their shields. Ratanicus was then
speared in the leg, and fell to his knees.
Our line had been pushed back, so that I was to his right at
the edge of the bridge. He began to shuffle forward on his knees as enemy spears
began to be leveled at his face. I leaned forward, slapping down the spears
that I could reach with my polearm as he continued to cross the bridge. Brave
and resolute, he went beyond the reach of my polearm, and he struggled on
tenaciously, fending off the thrusts that pushed and rang against his shield
and upraised sword. It was all too soon that his left side became exposed
during that onslaught. He was pierced by a cross-thrust, and perished on that
bridge.
Another call for a charge came, and I answered, pushing
across the bridge with another warrior. We advanced, disrupting the spearmen's attacks.
My polearm battered the heads and faces of the opponents before me, until I
received a crushing blow on my helm, and stumbling back, toppled, fell, and
rolled off the bridge into the water. I cannot say how effective that charge
was, although my wife swears that two enemies fell as well.
We moved back onto the third bridge, and this time, we
wasted no effort on a half-charge. The entire line moved forward, and broke through
the enemy. We swarmed through the gap, and chaos and confusion reigned as
enemies struggled and swirled around each other. I found myself face-to-face
with Sir Richard, and I began a swift series of smashing blows to his head and
shoulders with my choked-up polearm as he tried a glancing blow against my leg.
With each strike, he cried out "not dead, not dead"... which puzzled
me greatly. Nonetheless, I continued my assault as he fell to his knees with
another cry of "not dead..." I felt a sharp rap on my helmet, and
retired from the field, although I was unsure of where the shot had come from.
To say that the Rules of Engagement were being badly bent would be an
understatement, but that is often the nature of war. Shortly thereafter, Sir
Richard came over and laughingly said that the first shot I had thrown had been
good, and that he had been saying "I'm dead! I'm dead!" as I
continued my flurry of blows. We chuckled together and parted to briefly rest.
There then came a bridge battle that was very confusing, if
the truth be told. It was agreed that if a warrior was killed, be should be revived
and join the side that had killed him!
There were men in blue fighting beside men in red, and when
a charge was successful none truly knew who was his friend or his foe.
I took my confusion to be a sign to retire from the field.
My lady wife insisted that I rest and recover from the battles, and I respected
her wise words. My back had received wounds too great to allow me to continue.
The next battle pitched the Peers against the Knowne World.
When the sides were arrayed, the Knights faced four enemies apiece. The non-Knights
charged, chasing their quarry across the field. Sir Evander held his ground
with two Brother Knights before finally falling under the rain of incoming
blows. I was unable to see his fate due to the mass of warriors that surrounded
them. King Thorson ran around the perimeter of the field, out-pacing most and
eventually taking a defensive corner position. Sir Cennedi also hastened around
the perimeter, but was slowed by a squad of five foes. He managed to
slay all five as he passed them. Swiftly, he joined the King of the East. The
throng of warriors fell on them as a swarm of locusts on the grain. The pair
fought bravely, but were slain together, surrounded by a hill of the dead.
There was an "endless resurrection" battle at the
last. The large soft blocks that served as our bridge were now spaced out and transformed
into lava. A touch of one of those bubbling tools was instant death to any
unlucky soul. The lines formed and a general brawl ensued. Again and again the
soldiers fell, went back to their line, and began their assault anew. Groups
flowed and ebbed like tides, breaking apart as the soldiers were slain, and
re-forming in new formations. The Ealdormereans fought on as I watched, bravely
engaging their immortal foes without pause. Edward engaged one enemy
several different times, culminating in an intricate and viscious duel. He was
eventually bested, yet as his opponent back away and began to rejoice in his
hard-fought victory, he toppled into a lava pool. Such is the way of life.
The Ealdormerean forces all fought with great honour,
fortitude, and prowess. There was great wonder in the Eastern Realm at the
number and skill of the Ealdormereans, and we were given many sincere
invitations to return. It should be noted in passing that as we observed the
East Realm holding court, we observed the Royal Family and Retainers turning
somersaults on those large spongey blocks. We were sore amazed to see such
acrobatics during court, but reasoned that it must be an East Kingdom
custom of celebration after war.
The journey home was filled with much snow and ice, and our arrival was later
than we had anticipated. Regardless, the time was filled with much merriment
and telling of tales. It was due to the efforts of my good Lady Wife that we
came to be home safely. Save for a bruised knee for Edward and a sore back for
me, we were all exhausted but whole.
