Battle of Onin Bridge
Onin Bridge Battle Accounts
To Grand Duchess Maudette of Bara 1st Eighth Moon
Your Royal Highness,
Having found the army of Queen Indrana drawn up to defend the Onin Bridge position on the 28th Seventh Moon, we determined to assault it on the morrow. So we formed in battle array ready to attack at dawn. The day started fair with a light breeze from the Northeast. We Baratreans were stationed on the extreme left of our army with the foot on the left and the Missiles on the right, supported by Daimyo Katan San’s Jedonese. To our right were Commander Kloktes large unit of Oblivian Regulars.
Facing us across the river were some trolls, ,Countess Redsun’s Wisentor’Militia and a unit of massed Aughed archers. Behind the trolls we could see the heads of some giants. Queen Parsifa’s orders were that we should all advance first to medium bow range. Then the missile units should stand whilst the shock units should continue advancing. The carts and the Mangonels were to stand . The latter opened fire once the signal to advance was given. As we went forward, the enemy loosed showers of missiles at us. Though to the rear in the fifth rank, I was just thinking it might be advisable to take hold of my new shield,. It was hanging from my saddle with the Vinkalik ,when everything went BLACK! { Morgana had been struck by one of the large arrows fired by the Flachsfeld Giants, strike -2 with a strike throw of 6. Alan diced for which of the three riders was hit and then to decide whether the strike was on her or her unicorn, a 7 and it was on her! A strike of 4 against her denoted that she was crippled. Another throw indicated that she was not further injured by the fall from the unicorn. Lady Clarisse immediately dismounted to treat her and thus improve her from crippled to wounded. Dame Aura held the unicorns and eventually helped Clarisse load Morgana back onto Harold. They then moved back out of range. In the interval after the first four moves of the battle [lasted a week] I threw a percentage dice under the Adventurers Crippling Rules (Page 24) obtaining 14. This indicated that the arrow struck her head stunning her. Subsequent throws indicated that she would recover to a Dazed state after 13 more moves!}
I had been struck on the head by a larger than normal arrow which spoilt my hennin and rendered me unconscious. I was thrown to the ground but fortunately it was not too hard or muddy. I did not regain full consciousness for around an hour, so the next part of this account is from what Dame Aura and Lady Clarisse told me. Obviously I was not able to call up Igual Gapode to support our units. Lady Clarisse recovered my damaged hennin and bandaged my head, whilst Dame Aura held the unicorns. Then they mounted me back onto Harold and with one either side in support , retired us out of range. They did not want anyone to know of my unconscious state. Meanwhile our forces had advanced with the missiles halting, to exchange fire and the foot proceeding to the river bank. In the centre, the great war elephant Stampa was killed by springald darts,, having rashly advanced towards them! At the attack on Menoste Castle we had found that springalds were the biggest danger for Elephants, with Doze Handor’s Umbala being sore wounded there. We should have held Stampa back until the springalds were destroyed or at least masked!
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Our Baratrean forces plodded on into the hail of arrows. Both our foot and the missile unit suffered heavy casualties and the missiles broke and fled! The foot lost their Commander Sir Reginald Polle but still went forward. To their right Commander Kloketes large unit of hoplites engaged the enemy on the far bank, despite being hampered by some caltrops laid in the river bed.
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Don Esso was felled but they carried him off. I fear he will
be left with a limp when he is recovered. But our shock troops suffered the most. Their leader Sir Reginald and my old friend Sir Dino Rinocero were both killed. Sir Gilbert le Brun was wounded and captured by the enemy and Sergeant Paul was sore wounded. In total we have lost twenty of our forces out of forty-six so no one can say we did not play our part! The enemy had the advantage defending the river bank for the few who reached it. Not long afterwards both the Millien Militia and the large Oblivian Regular unit were also routed. They had found their part of the river was sown with caltrops.
These reverses coupled with other disasters on the right flank causedQueen Parsifa to sound the recall. Fortunately we still had enough troops in hand to form a substantial battle line. So I eventually awoke to find myself and my two ladies on the extreme left of it next to the Intact Jedonese. We thought the foes might try a counter attack but of course the village and their own caltrops, deterred them in the centre. So we stayed waiting till noon. At lunch we held a counsel of war. We decided that there was no point in trying to force the position again, as it was too strong! Queen Parsifa decreed that we should retreat back to Supply depot one. It had a strong fort on a ridge and would furnish a reasonable defensive position. But if Indrana does come after us, I fear for the morale of many of our battered units. We immediately started the Mangonels and the carts moving back along the road, whilst the rest of the army stayed in position. My Ladies and I were sent off to try and collect as many of the routed troops as we could. In fact I think all of them had rejoined by noon of Workday the second. Having stood until dusk the main army marched through the night to reach the fort.
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Journal of Messalinda, Grand Mistress of the Swartze Shwestrin
Her Royal Highness’ army advanced towards the capital, reaching the River Onin on the 28th of the Seventh Moon. The bridge with its palisaded village was held by the enemy, whose army lined the far bank of the river. We knew that at this time of year it would be easily fordable but the rock strewn bottom would make crossing safely a slow process. Her Majesty deployed the Baratreans on the left bolstered by a unit of Jedonese, with the Oblivians and Stetians in the centre, with the four Mangonels facing the village. General Lathik’s Narchadians and Kaosium reinforcement units held the right wing. Her Majesty’s orders were for once the Mangonels opened fire, the whole army would advance. Once the missile units were in medium range they would halt to start firing, whilst the shock units would carry on to try to force their way across the river. Her Majesty herself would stay beside the Belmanian Army Banner. The slow firing Mangonels fired at an enemy pike unit guarding the bridge. Showers of missiles came upon our advancing troops and the small unicorn unit on the left was halted. Worse, the great elephant Stampa which was advancing along the road, was slain by springald darts. We had expected a lot from its fearsome might! However its accompanying archers carried on regardless! Arrows from the village fell so heavily on the Oblivian Mangonel engineers, that the survivors fled. As did the Millien half elves, Sir Quatren’s mercenary bills and the Brutyrs on our right. Undaunted the Tan Dorks and Glevan Trolls surged into the river ready to drive the enemy back.
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Alas when they reached the far side they were bested in melee and routed away. This left General Lathik’s giant ogres ready to continue the assault. To support them were still the Narchad regulars and the Eye Aughed, although these were not close. Far behind them Sir Quatren’s mercenary bills rallied and turned to face the enemy once more.
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On the left both Sir Reginald’s foot and Kloktes Oblivian hoplites were repulsed, fleeing the field. These were rated our best troops, so Her Royal Highness ordered the recall. General Lathik’s giant drum stopped beating and all his troops fell back. Despite our enormous losses we still had enough troops in hand to form a strong battle line. We deemed it important not to take down the banner until dusk. Commander Menes had the melancholy task of sawing off Stampa’s great tusks. Apparently they were rated as the property of the Nizander of Oblivia. We stood until lunch when we held a council of war. Her Majesty decided that after nightfall we would retreat back to Supply Depot One. This had the standard stone fort on a low ridge with a brook behind it and would be a reasonable battle position. There we would stay until we knew whether Indrana intended to attack us or not. If not we could besiege Hol Nelgar Castle, held by its Markess for Indrana. Her Royal Highness ordered the Mangonels and the baggage carts to begin the march back, so that they would not delay us. We reached the Supply depot by midnight and put the wounded into it under Doctor Kural.
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General Lathik’s Report as compiled by Dame Delilah
We reach the Onin River on the 28th of the Seventh Moon. The bridge village and river was manned by the enemy. We agreed to attack on the following dawn. Our army was deployed on the right, less the Jedonese and Azzyrans who were sent to bolster up the Lawic allies. Queen Parsifa ordained that upon the Mangonel’s firing all, our forces would advance. On reaching medium range the missile troops would halt whilst the shock troops would carry on to force the river. The General ordered Drummah to beat his drum which he did to stiffen our forces resolve.
We advanced as ordered but met a veritable storm of missiles. So heavy were the losses that the half elf bowmen, and the Brutyrs, both from Millien fled! They had been beaten before in earlier actions. Unfortunately their panic also affected Sir Quartern’s mercenary bills but they were Stetian hirelings. There remained the core of our army the Narchadian regulars, the Eye Aughed, the Tan Dorks and the Glevan trolls, who carried on undaunted.
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The Tan Dorks and the Glevan trolls fought hand to hand with the Palim and Sigis Militias but standing on the boulder strewn river bottom and fighting to gain the river bank, they were bested. First the Glevan Trolls and then the Tan Dork survivors fled. The Narchad regulars were concentrating on firing their archers a small way back whilst the Eye Aughed were still back further, nearer the village. This left only our unit of ogres left able to engage the foes hand to hand. Would they flee at the approach of these fearsomely large creatures. I confess that I myself had serious misgivings when the General decided that he would attach himself to them. They are so big and there are seven of them. The most impressive is Sergeant Mobb with his great mace but all are frightening to look at. They are led by the human Dame Ulrika whom they trust implicitly. She is expert at feeding them with the foods that they like. So Hagoth permitting we will at last obtain a toehold on the hostile bank?
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Alas it was not to be! We went forward with Drumah beating his great drum, until a springald dart felled him. His drum floated away downstream. The Palim Militia facing us had stout hearts and sharp spears. Two ogres were slain and the General ordered us to retire, just as trumpets elsewhere sounded the recall. We joined some routed billmen who had rallied and with our Narchad regulars and the Eye Aughed we formed the right wing of the army. We stood all day but the enemy remained on the far side of the river. After noon Parsifa started sending the Mangonels and carts to the rear, back all the way to Supply depot Number one. The main army left when the banner was taken down at dusk, with us being the rear guard.
We reached the Supply depot around midnight and went to sleep.
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Lady Mira’s record of Queen Indrana’s rule continued
Her Royal Highness Queen Regnant Indrana arrived at the Onin Bridge Village in the afternoon and began deploying her troops as they arrived. When he came with his engineer unit, Marshal Gildelm reported that he had brought fifteen square hets worth of caltrops from the Southwest Tower store. These had been made by the now departed dwarves, so no more would be readily available. Her Royal Highness directed that these be placed in the river at the places that she chose, during the hours of darkness. The leading troops of the enemy appeared and began to set up camp well short of the river. They were in great force and their Giant Elephant could plainly be seen. “My Queen, can we prevail against such a mighty host think you?” asked Count Sharda. “We shall essay it and with the strength of this position we may win through. Even if we are turned and have to retire to the city, we shall inflict such losses, that the foes shall rue the day!”
In the darkness before dawn the enemy could be heard marching to their positions, so we did likewise. Her Royal Highness had considered having some missile troops stationed on the flanks over the river but decided against it. She did alter some of her original dispositions with the Springalds brought forward to the river bank and the Flachsfeld giants being transferred to the right wing. Her Headquarters unit with the prisoners was posted behind the village, with the Banner on its right where I took my post.
When the dawn broke fully, four enemy Mangonels opened fire killing two Groz Aughed on the bridge. This was the signal for the enemy host to begin their advance. Our missilemen began to fire on them but they came on regardless.
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Our Bolgburz bow Aughed shot well and a large unit of light enemy archers were broken and ran. The Flachsfeld giant archers did well against the knights and spearmen, who still advanced across the river. To their left was a mass of hoplites who marched into the caltropped area of the river and suffering as a consequence. They were engaging the Aughed and the Yrshidim Militia. To the hoplites left came the Millien Militia with their Mimomar monster amongst it. Then were the Stetian regulars who halted to fire their crossbows. So far we were doing well but who knows how it would end? Her Royal Highness is muttering about when to stage a counter attack. Mighty Hagoth preserve us!
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Commander Essik came to us saying that he thought the enemy would drive us back on the left. They still had some giant ogres crossing the river. Her Royal Highness then ordered that the Flachsfeld giants be returned and that Marshal Gildelm’s engines also be sent that way. These movements were occurring when the word came that the enemy were calling off their attacks. Both the ogres on the left and the Oblivians and Baratreans on the right had been repulsed at the river bank. They still had substantial units under control but these merely fell back to form a long battle line.
Matrigna Maskula suggested that now would be the time to begin a counter attack. Marshal Gildelm objected. “We cannot attack in the centre because of the village and our own caltrops! If we try to attack from either of the wings they may defeat us in detail. Why risk it?” We then proceeded into the village and mounted the east tower the better to see the enemy. Truly their numbers still seemed to match ours! However they now made no move to resume their attack. Our troops looted the bodies lying in the river. Her Royal Highness had hoped to recover the giant ogre’s drum, as a trophy but apparently it had floated away downriver. They did find the dinosaur bone that had been used as a drumstick but Mark Fler claimed it for his village, as it had been their springald that had slain the drummer.
We waited inactive until after lunch. Then we could see the enemy Mangonels being towed away, followed by their large number of elephant and ox carts. Matrigna Maskula again suggested we mount an attack whilst Marshal Gildelm again shook his head. Her Royal Highness pondered a while, then, “Yes there is no need to risk it! The piles of arms and armour we can send back will proclaim our victory. Make sure all the wounded are sheltered in the village. Where will Parsifa retire to think you?”
“It will be to Supply Depot One I would think!” answered the Marshal.
“What is there?”
“The standard stone fort, with tower and high walls! Eight ladders and a ram should take it. It is on a low mound and has a bridge over a brook behind it. For an army position it is bounded by two scrub woods used for providing firewood. With their army dismayed at this reverse we should easily best them once more?”
“We will think about it. Our successes should be convincing the Counts to come to our coronation! But as you say their morale must be low.”
Apart from their baggage the enemy stayed formed up under their banner until dusk. Then we heard them marching away. Our men went forward to loot the bodies that still lay on the far side of the river. Her Majesty had hoped to gain the tusks of the slain giant elephant but the foes had sawn them off!
However the beast provided enough meat to feed our entire army!
So we feasted through most of the night in celebration. In the morning Sir Gonar’s hunting unit was sent off to find where the enemy had gone. Prince Gumbo had offered his unit for this task but Marshal Gildem said that they knew too little of Belmanian affairs. The army was set to bury all the dead they could find. Some had been washed downriver. After dark, Matrigna Maskula was allowed to select six corpses, which she sent away to a temple of Khali.
Around noon one of Sir Gonar’s dogs arrived with a message tied to it.
‘Enemy army camped at Supply depot One.
Look to be intending a long stay! Gonar’
That afternoon with some supply carts from Regalis a unit of thirty archers from Zythay arrived. Intended for the Narchad front they had spent many moons travelling rarely used roads. For the last three they had been impounded in Durgan by the Ruling Council. Now apparently our victories at Shone and Shid had convinced it that Queen Indrana should be supported after all!
Her Royal Highness then decreed that we should march for Supply Depot One on the morrow, Woeday 3rd of the Eighth Moon.
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To Markers Missifah of Sigis 2nd Eighth Moon 707ATN
Beloved Wife,
Hearing of a great host under Queen Parsifa advancing through Palim, Her Majesty Queen Indrana marched us with the rest of her field army, to Onin Bridge. This we reached yesterday the 28th of the Seventh Moon. Her Majesty posted our own two units on the extreme left, lining the river bank. To our right between us and the palisaded village, were the Porcian goblins and Odd Gaffmaker’s Norsemen. A second line included the not very reliable Palim Militia, the Tempanian Axemen and the female Khmer Orange. Further back were the Angmar Aughed.
At dawn the firing of four enemy Mangonels gave the enemy the order to advance. As soon as they came into range all our missile men started firing. They shot exceedingly well! First some Brutyrs facing us and then a unit of bow armed half elves broke and ran. With them went some billmen and the crews of two of the Mangonels. However two units of large trolls entered the river and were splashing towards us!
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There ensued a grim melee at the river’s edge between the Porcian Goblins and our Sigis Militia against the enemy. But first one unit and then the other of trolls had had enough and fled. Some Narchadian longbows were firing at Jarl Odd’s Norsemen backed by some spearmen and there were some large Eye Aughed coming slowly towards us to their right. But the main remaining threat to our flank from the Village, came from some absolutely massive ogres surging across the River. They had a drummer beating out rolls like thunder! If we could repel them we may yet prevail but our people were feeling understandably a little nervous.
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Now the ogres are gone and a springald dart from the village slew their drummer. The Palim Militia took most of the shock, losing five whilst we lost not a single man! They have now one great mace whilst I have the other as trophies. Her Royal Highness had started some reinforcements to aid us but they were not necessary. Things had gone badly for the foe on the other side of the village, so they had sounded the recall. Though many had fled and maybe lost a hundred slain, the foe formed a very respectable line of battle.
No orders were given for us to mount an attack so we salvaged what we could of the enemy’s equipment. In the afternoon their carts and siege engines began to retire so we knew they would not be attacking us again. However the rest of their army stayed under their banner until dusk. Then we were able to cross the river to search the bodies slain by missile fire.
Today we helped to bury the dead and rest. In the afternoon we were joined by a unit of Jedonese speaking Zythayans. Shortly after I was told that we are going to march to Supply Depot One tomorrow. The theory is that the enemy will be so demoralised by their string of defeats that we should easily crush them and end the war! Time will tell!
Your own husband Sharda
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