Jest of Great Western War A.S. XLII
By Baron Malcolm Alberic
Great Western War.
A.S. XLII
The story you are about to read is true, only the background was changed to protect the dream
Fall AS XVII It was at the end of summer and the beginning of the harvest when we first became aware of the trouble. Trade from the north stopped coming over the pass, as well as crops from Wintermist and Nordwache. The seriousness of the situation was apparent to all. Throughout the kingdom granaries and warehouses were running low and waiting to be restocked for the winter to come. Concerns of possible food shortages had all the nobles of Caid worried. I for one knew that Dreiburgen was enjoying a good harvest, but I did not relish the idea of subsisting primarily on oranges and dates.
Although it had been a dry year, the reports from the north confirmed that this year’s harvest was good. Riders were dispatched to Wintermist to ascertain what had happened to our shipments. Those men were never heard from again. More men were selected to perform a covert reconnaissance of Wintermist; the dispatches they sent back were even more alarming. Treason! Warlords of the central valley had seized control of Wintermist and were blocking all trade from the north. Their plan was shrewd and well timed. If they succeeded in keeping Caid from being supplied, the kingdom would be crippled and less of a threat to them.
Crops and goods coming from Wintermist, Nordwache and the West Kingdom are shipped to Kern Lake at the base of the mountains via the Kern River and a series of canals, the largest of which is known as the Caidan Aqueduct, which stretches all the way to the West Kingdom. The treasonous army was reported to be massing at the main junction of the Kern River and several of the canals. Word was sent throughout the kingdom to all brigades, units and fighting households. Every able man at arms was called to march on the traitors. Dreiburgen immediately mobilized — supplies were gathered, wagons readied and men prepped. With the need for haste, Lord Ranulfr and Lord Ivarr were sent ahead with half the Dreiburgen column while I continued to amass the rest. I also sent word to Captain Conner and advised him of the situation. In his response he indicated that he would take the La Via a Broka up the Angles River and drop anchor in Hansen Lake. Beyond that the locks would be far too small for the La Broka to continue. From there they would make the overland trek to rendezvous with us at Kern Lake. I then consulted with [[Dreiburgen Light Horse|Light Horsemen] Elzbeta Bells As a holder of land in Wintermist, her extensive knowledge of trade routes was of great help.
The sun was high on Tuesday morning when I arrived at the lake where the Caidan army was massing. There I was met by Her Ladyship Vivienne Duval, who showed me where Dreiburgen was making camp. The next few days were spent greeting troops as they arrived, assembling patrols and dispatching scouts. 143 By Thursday most of the army had gathered, and the king called for all the commanders to meet and lay out an attack plan. Connor’s men had hauled some of the La Broka’s guns over the pass, so as is often the case, the Dreiburgen Irregulars and our privateers were assigned to the Caidan Royal Artillery Corps.
Friday morning we were preparing the artillery, whilst the rest of the army attacked the traitors guarding the nearest river harbor. By the time we had brought the artillery into position, the army had secured both the docks and one large river ship. More ships loaded with enemy troops were reported to be sailing down river. We quickly loaded our captured ship with soldiers and readied the sails. Those who stayed on shore with the artillery moved back out of sight, and the engines were cocked and loaded.
The first approaching ship, seeing only a lone ship loaded with Caidan soldiers still tied to the south bank of the river, took the bait and engaged. The traitors brought their ship alongside ours and began their attack a critical mistake, for now they were between our ship on the south bank and the Royal Artillery on the north bank. The engines let fly. The initial volley took out their rigging, and the traitors on the deck first knew of our artillery when falling timbers, rope and canvas struck them.
I watched as Lord Fergal cranked Widow Maker and Lord Tomaso loaded her. The next barrage decimated the rudder control. With no sails or steerage their ship was now helpless. Trapped by the boarding hooks, their only option was to try and take our ship. Targeting the hull, the barrage continued. The sound of screaming men and splintering wood filled the air. Soon the bow of the ship began to drop; she was taking on water. The traitors knew the end was near. With a roar the intensity of the attack increased with a last desperate attempt to board the Caidan vessel.
Their last hopes were dashed as our men cut the boarding ropes and their ship started to drift with the current. The C.R.A.C. fired another volley and the ship started to slowly roll, dumping men into the water. Some swam to the banks only to meet our troops; the current took others, but those in heavy armor simply sank out of sight. The ship turned crosswise of the current and her keel snapped in two. Within minutes there was nothing left but broken lumber drifting down stream.
Our men on the ship started preparing to attack the next vessel, while we on the shore quickly pulled back to reset the trap. The second ship fell victim to our ruse, for no sooner had they engaged us then the artillery let fly. The pattern repeated itself as this second ship took a beating. In an act of desperation two of their men took to a rowboat, and in the hope of stopping our artillery began to row toward us. As the saying goes “There are old soldiers and bold soldiers, but there are no old bold soldiers.” These heroes made their last desperate play to try to save their ship and like most heroes died in the attempt, for they did not see until they reached the pier that the might of the Dreiburgen Irregulars lay in wait for them.
The third ship came quickly behind the second, and having witnessed the fate of the second ship they could not be fooled. They readied rowboats as they steered towards our ship. We pulled the artillery behind the gatehouse. From that position the Royal Artillery would be firing blind. Ranulfr and I climbed to the top of the tower on the right side of the gate to serve as observers. With a loud crash of splintering wood they rammed our ship, pinning it to the riverbank. Ignoring the troops on our vessel, they quickly jumped ship and took to the rowboats. The boats were approaching fast — the artillery fired. “The barrage fell short!” I called down.
Photo copyright Esmeralda of the Lakes
The first group of boats reached the dock, unloaded, and turned back to bring more men. The engines loosed another flight. “Long” I shouted. The engines reset as the next wave rowed toward us. I watched their speed and position. “LET FLY!” I yelled. A number of boats were hit, but my attention shifted to the action on the dock. The traitors had fought their way to the gate and a number of them were trying to reach Ranulfr and myself in the tower.
We held off the first attack, giving me enough time to call for another barrage. I watched as a ballista bolt struck a man in the front of a boat. The bolt plowed through his head and continued through the bottom of the boat. It quickly swamped, and the rest of the occupants went swimming. At that moment another group attacked. Their numbers were too great, and they forced us to abandon the tower. Spying nearby an unattended boat, we jumped out the window into the water. Scrambling into it, we rowed hard for the safety of the far bank.
By the time we reached the shore all of the treasonous forces were at the gate, having left their ship unarmed. I promptly boarded and claimed it, raising Dreiburgen’s banner on the forecastle. From there I observed as the traitors fought at the gate in their effort to try and retake the pier. Their efforts were in vain, for they had no idea of the size of the army that lay behind that wall. They hammered down the gates only to find a superior army waiting to engage them. I watched the battle play out. The traitors gave it their all, but that did not last long. The docks as well as both banks of the river were now secure. Prisoners were being interrogated; the rest of us returned to camp to celebrate the day’s victory.
Later that night I made my traditional rounds of camp. Seeing a fire still lit in the Darksail encampment, I decided to drop in for a visit. Captain Conner and Damashi greeted me warmly and related to me some trouble with which they had dealt. It seemed that a few traitorous strays from the day’s battle had been sneaking around the shoreline of the lake, evidentially with plans of ambush and sabotage on their minds. “They weren’t very good at it either,” added Damashi. “We could hear them coming a mile away.” “What did you do?” I asked? “We laid in wait and dispatched them with no trouble,” Damashi replied. “Zounds, you ambushed the ambushers!” I exclaimed. We shared a drink, and I returned to my own camp, anticipating another large battle on the ‘morrow.
I awoke to the breakfast call. Dressing, I joined my fellow Dreibergundians at the tables, and over breakfast reviewed scouting reports and battle plans. The traitor’s main army was entrenched at the main trading port where the East Side and West Side canals met. It was six miles northwest of us behind the Elk Hills, and it was our hope that no one had made it back to bring warning of the previous day’s battle. We would load the two ships we had captured with every man they could carry and sail up river; the rest of our army would march over land. The plan was to bring the ships into the harbor just before our overland troops came into view over the last ridge. Then if luck was with us, we would engage the enemy, drawing them towards us. If we timed it right our land forces would take their rear by surprise.
The winds were favorable, but much depended upon timing. I released the helm ship I had claimed for Dreiburgen to Captain Conner and his crew; their expertise would be needed. We set sail.
When we arrived at the port, the plan appeared to be working. With our banners hidden, the men at the dock took in our mooring lines, believing that it was their own ships returning. Better than half of our men had come ashore before they realized that anything was amiss; the alarm went up and the enemy rallied to battle. I raised our banner and the formation call was given. As soon as our line was tight a charge was called. We ran to meet them and the clash and clatter of battle began, my duties of command requiring me to hold back where I could observe the action.
I looked to the ridge hoping to see the banners of Caid rising over the top. Alas not yet. I looked around me. I was alone. My fellow Caidan officers had joined the battle seeking personal glory. I looked to the lines. For now the sides were even but that wouldn’t last long; more of their men would be answering the call to arms soon.
Our men were spread fairly evenly on the battle line, while the enemy’s were concentrated in the middle. As I watched, their main body started to slide to the left, but our men held their position. Theirs continued to shift left. “THEY ARE GOING TO FLANK US!” I yelled. Some of our men started to extend the line to meet them.
They continued to move, leaving a thin line only two ranks deep to keep us engaged. Our units along with their officers were too busy with the soldiers in front of them to notice the mass of their army was circling around. I was the only commander aware of the situation, and before I knew it they had completed their half circle. There was no time left, the only choice I had was to save my men! I ran in yelling “LOOK TO YOUR REAR! TURN AROUND THEY ARE BEHIND US!” “They’re behind us?” I heard Conner reply. “YES!” I yelled. “Turn about and pull back to the pier!”
With the extraction of Dreiburgen’s units the rest of our forces noticed that our units were in trouble. Our losses were heavy, but we managed to redress the line at the pier, unfortunately not before I sustained a serious leg injury. I limped aboard our ship, where from her aft castle I took full measure of our situation. We had lost a lot of men and the traitorous army had grown to their full strength. They were redressing their line and preparing for the attack when I saw Caid’s banners rising over the ridge.
A little late but still a beautiful sight. It wasn’t the two front surprise attack we had planed, but the arrival of our reinforcements was surprise enough. I watched as their line pulled back to address this new threat. Our forces joined and the final battle ensued. Ground was gained and lost as the battle moved back and forth. For them it was in vain; our army was now superior and it was only a matter of time before the enemy routed.
Calvary was dispatched to hunt down the few retreating traitors that fled the field, while Dreiburgen’s men boarded our ship and set sail down river to camp, another victory on our belts.
