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Most of the Turkish forces would be lightly equipped and highly trained, but mounted archers are a threat to any infantry.
Standard doctrinal responses to mobile firepower would be improved defense (covering vulnerable body parts with armor or shields - heavy and expensive) or developing a cavalry force to counter.
The biggest danger from mounted archers is that they tend to pull the other side into counter-attacks and chop up the enemy force in detail. Separating the enemy cavalry from infantry is particularly deadly... for the enemy.
Oh, and mounted archers are terrific at 'hit-and-run' ambush attacks on moving columns. So good intelligence, maps and scouting - all Byzantine strengths - are a must!
I don't suppose you could hire any crossbowmen from the Italians, and it takes time and money to make them from scratch. So be careful - and inventive - in using what you have.
The characters are nicely drawn. You're giving enough details of the politics for us to know what is going on but not so many that we are swamped. I look forward to reading more.
Standard doctrinal responses to mobile firepower would be improved defense (covering vulnerable body parts with armor or shields - heavy and expensive) or developing a cavalry force to counter.
The biggest danger from mounted archers is that they tend to pull the other side into counter-attacks and chop up the enemy force in detail. Separating the enemy cavalry from infantry is particularly deadly... for the enemy.
Oh, and mounted archers are terrific at 'hit-and-run' ambush attacks on moving columns. So good intelligence, maps and scouting - all Byzantine strengths - are a must!I don't suppose you could hire any crossbowmen from the Italians, and it takes time and money to make them from scratch. So be careful - and inventive - in using what you have.
The characters are nicely drawn. You're giving enough details of the politics for us to know what is going on but not so many that we are swamped. I look forward to reading more.
Originally posted by Valdemar
Thanks guys
War is coming, slowly but surely
V
And about time.
Good build up Val. Wasn't the tenth legion Caesar's favorite legion?Joe
Originally posted by Storey
And about time.
Joe
Apparently so: The Roman Legions. This page lists two X Legio. One won fame under Caesar, the other was instrumental fighting Jewish rebellions.
Originally posted by Valdemar
Actually I just installed Dungeon Siege, could be there I got it
V
Gotta love Dungeon Siege. My brother and I played that over my home network for a couple of weekends to finish it up. It's a lot of fun...
Dungeon Siege is too linear for me. I'm holding out for the expansion to Morrowind due out next month.
Well a certain software corp. gave to me and a colleaque for christmass hoping that I would be pursuaded to buy a certain CMS server
Unfortunately I haven't had time to install it until now, and it is going to be a hard time to find time to play it, got as far as the entrance to the bloody crypt, but I've got a feeling I missed that secret door, with the small cryot (found the maps on the net )
Thank you all for reading
V
Unfortunately I haven't had time to install it until now, and it is going to be a hard time to find time to play it, got as far as the entrance to the bloody crypt, but I've got a feeling I missed that secret door, with the small cryot (found the maps on the net
)Thank you all for reading
V
Chapter Three, part four
The ceremony took place in the Throne room right after the regular Council meeting, the whole court was there at the double ceremony where two new commanders would be appointed.
The preceding Council meeting had been a heated one, Theodosios and his army had been ordered onto the fleet transports first thing in the morning for a ride to Morea. He had heatedly claimed that he needed more men, and had to the last fought to take away parts of Svend’s regiment or the city’s garrison to boost his troops. In the end he had been allowed to levy additional three thousand men in Morea upon his arrival there, but in Svend’s opinion it was a clear sign that Theodosios’ army wasn’t ready for this, even against Athens, and that the general knew.
The Huge pillared room with the Empire’s throne in the center was slowly filling with courtiers, foreign dignitaries, and officials of both army and state. Slowly the room quieted and the air filled impatience. Finally the huge double doors swung open and the Emperor slowly walked across the floor followed by his guards and Nikolos his Chancellor. Robed in Purple and crowned with the Crown of the Empire the elderly man slowly ascended the stepped dais and seated him self.
The room fell silent and the Emperor nodded to Nikolos who raised his hands, the double doors opened again and the old Chancellor began to speak,
“In his wisdom the Emperor have granted the Empire with three new commanders of his regiments. Under full allegiance to his imperial highness they have each been chosen to lead his forces. Further the Emperor has decreed one full new army to be created under his command, to be lead by a new commander, and composed of both a new infantry and a new cavalry regiment.”
He paused and motioned at the double doors, “Would the three new commanders step forward.”
Slowly, Svend moved into the room flanked by Ulf and Alexios, the three men slowly walked towards the dais, be fore finally kneeling. The Emperor slowly got up and raised his scepter, the three commanders, one old and two new, bared their swords and placed them in front of their Sovereign who swore them in, removing Svend from the Guard and bestowing upon him, both the new infantry regiment and the new army and the title of General, Ulf was sworn to uphold the safety of the Emperor’s person as new commander of the Guard and Alexios got the title of commander of the new cavalry regiment.
Usually Alexios’ promotion would have been dealt with inside the army, but with the creation of the new army, Svend had argued that the new regiment and its commander would benefit from the honor and possibly attract more experienced officers if it was perceived it had the Emperor’s attention. All this rushed through Svend’s head as he bowed to accept his command and retrieve his sword, now all he lacked was a proper name for the army, Army of Thrace was taken, and besides, he wanted to create a myth and separate his command from the existing army.
For now he had some training to do, with Theodosios’ men bound for Morea, his new army and the garrison of the city was all that was left to hold Thrace, once the declaration of war that everybody was waiting for was delivered, Theodosios would be tied up in Athens for many months, if not years. He shook his head slightly as he stood up, he would have to worry another day, now he would celebrate, Sofia and the rest of the family was here and the Emperor himself was rumored to join the festivities later. The whole room bowed as the Emperor descended from the dais and left the room; once he was gone the room erupted in noise.
*****
The following day the Council met again, Theodosios was present and reported that about a third of his army was loaded unto the galleys and had started the trip to Morea, the remainder would follow in a week, leaving time for the first group to set up supply and communications and begin the march north.
Stefanos wanted to go to Athens himself and deliver the declaration, but in the end Nikolos had to forbid him going, no need to give the adversary a better card, even if they supposedly wouldn’t break the rules of diplomacy.
*****
Three weeks later Theodosios was ready and in place, most of his army stationed near the northern front, Nikolos dispatched the Emperor’s decree, The Empire was at war.
Svend quickly left the Council meeting to join with his new army outside the city, Angelo D’Urbino had been given a generous amount of money and priority to the armory and weapon smiths. He had made good use of this and the time at his disposal and now the entire army was reequipped, with the latest weaponry of his Italian design, it would be the last thing to go to the new army for a while, from now on the war in Athens occupied all resources and everybody’s mind.
That suited Svend fine, he needed the time and lack of attention to turn these recruits into a fighting force. He had disbanded the army training-regime for one of his own, a mixture of close combat training like the guard and Angelo’s infantry training, this would slow down the learning of the new recruits and properly double the training time, but Svend hoped that they thereby would increase drastically in quality over the regular army, something he desperately needed with every enemy around being numerically superior.
The ceremony took place in the Throne room right after the regular Council meeting, the whole court was there at the double ceremony where two new commanders would be appointed.
The preceding Council meeting had been a heated one, Theodosios and his army had been ordered onto the fleet transports first thing in the morning for a ride to Morea. He had heatedly claimed that he needed more men, and had to the last fought to take away parts of Svend’s regiment or the city’s garrison to boost his troops. In the end he had been allowed to levy additional three thousand men in Morea upon his arrival there, but in Svend’s opinion it was a clear sign that Theodosios’ army wasn’t ready for this, even against Athens, and that the general knew.
The Huge pillared room with the Empire’s throne in the center was slowly filling with courtiers, foreign dignitaries, and officials of both army and state. Slowly the room quieted and the air filled impatience. Finally the huge double doors swung open and the Emperor slowly walked across the floor followed by his guards and Nikolos his Chancellor. Robed in Purple and crowned with the Crown of the Empire the elderly man slowly ascended the stepped dais and seated him self.
The room fell silent and the Emperor nodded to Nikolos who raised his hands, the double doors opened again and the old Chancellor began to speak,
“In his wisdom the Emperor have granted the Empire with three new commanders of his regiments. Under full allegiance to his imperial highness they have each been chosen to lead his forces. Further the Emperor has decreed one full new army to be created under his command, to be lead by a new commander, and composed of both a new infantry and a new cavalry regiment.”
He paused and motioned at the double doors, “Would the three new commanders step forward.”
Slowly, Svend moved into the room flanked by Ulf and Alexios, the three men slowly walked towards the dais, be fore finally kneeling. The Emperor slowly got up and raised his scepter, the three commanders, one old and two new, bared their swords and placed them in front of their Sovereign who swore them in, removing Svend from the Guard and bestowing upon him, both the new infantry regiment and the new army and the title of General, Ulf was sworn to uphold the safety of the Emperor’s person as new commander of the Guard and Alexios got the title of commander of the new cavalry regiment.
Usually Alexios’ promotion would have been dealt with inside the army, but with the creation of the new army, Svend had argued that the new regiment and its commander would benefit from the honor and possibly attract more experienced officers if it was perceived it had the Emperor’s attention. All this rushed through Svend’s head as he bowed to accept his command and retrieve his sword, now all he lacked was a proper name for the army, Army of Thrace was taken, and besides, he wanted to create a myth and separate his command from the existing army.
For now he had some training to do, with Theodosios’ men bound for Morea, his new army and the garrison of the city was all that was left to hold Thrace, once the declaration of war that everybody was waiting for was delivered, Theodosios would be tied up in Athens for many months, if not years. He shook his head slightly as he stood up, he would have to worry another day, now he would celebrate, Sofia and the rest of the family was here and the Emperor himself was rumored to join the festivities later. The whole room bowed as the Emperor descended from the dais and left the room; once he was gone the room erupted in noise.
*****
The following day the Council met again, Theodosios was present and reported that about a third of his army was loaded unto the galleys and had started the trip to Morea, the remainder would follow in a week, leaving time for the first group to set up supply and communications and begin the march north.
Stefanos wanted to go to Athens himself and deliver the declaration, but in the end Nikolos had to forbid him going, no need to give the adversary a better card, even if they supposedly wouldn’t break the rules of diplomacy.
*****
Three weeks later Theodosios was ready and in place, most of his army stationed near the northern front, Nikolos dispatched the Emperor’s decree, The Empire was at war.
Svend quickly left the Council meeting to join with his new army outside the city, Angelo D’Urbino had been given a generous amount of money and priority to the armory and weapon smiths. He had made good use of this and the time at his disposal and now the entire army was reequipped, with the latest weaponry of his Italian design, it would be the last thing to go to the new army for a while, from now on the war in Athens occupied all resources and everybody’s mind.
That suited Svend fine, he needed the time and lack of attention to turn these recruits into a fighting force. He had disbanded the army training-regime for one of his own, a mixture of close combat training like the guard and Angelo’s infantry training, this would slow down the learning of the new recruits and properly double the training time, but Svend hoped that they thereby would increase drastically in quality over the regular army, something he desperately needed with every enemy around being numerically superior.
So "the Emperor" is moving to finish off one the leftover Crusader states. Good for him. I just hope for Svend the Turks won't take this opportunity to join the fray .
.
Chapter Four, part one
News from the war were sketchy at first, not much action took place as the army cross the border into the Duchy of Athens and quickly pacified the border lands, couriers took their time getting from Morea to Constantinople by ship and the Council had nothing but week old dispatches to go from.
As the weeks turned to months the army of Thrace penetrated deep into the mountains of the Duchy and the recruits that had been levied in Morea completed their basic training and awaited marching orders as soon as the army made contact with the enemy.
First news of battle came from Theodosios, he reported engaging the enemy in mountainous terrain on his way to Athens. Another report followed shortly claiming a tactical withdrawal to strengthen supply lines.
Svend looked up from reading the dispatch and raised a quizzical eyebrow at Stefanos, seated across the table,
“Strategic retreat, eh? And this is what he wants you to present at the Council?”
“Just read on.”
Svend looked back at the dispatch, “another ten thousand infantry to replace losses and garrison the supply route. He must have lost a battle, this is not the result of a tactical withdrawal, more like a rout.”
“I thought the same, I’ve asked Benedict to fish for the truth, but all I have so far are the rumors that came in with the courier on the galley.”
“And?”
“It seems he was attacked in the mountains, his cavalry getting stuck in a narrow valley and not being very useful, then instead of dismounting them or retreat to regroup he had the infantry charge, they were so much annihilated as they where routed and the whole army fled more than retreated back towards Morea.”
“That fool, he didn’t use combine tactics before and now that he does, he manages to do it in the mountains, where his cavalry is of no bloody use.”
“Indeed, but we are committed now, what can be done to help him, we cannot allow this to be a failure, we have to conquer and be victorious.”
“Yes, well, he will not accept advise or even support from me or my officers, at least another three thousand men are waiting for him, the Duchy cannot field that large an army?”
“Benedict says the estimates are no more than ten to fourteen thousand at the most, many of those spread on garrisons, I would venture no more than eight met Theodosios in battle.”
“Against his more than twenty, the man cannot be that incompetent?”
“No he was ambushed, let him regroup and add the fresh recruits, then try again, I’ll add an observer to his officer corps through Benedict.”
“Try again?” Svend slammed his flat hand on the table, “we have no time for trying again, already the minor Italian states are rumored to be mobilizing, even if the Venetians are able to stop them at sea, we need this over and done with before the Ottomans cancel our treaty of access and exploits the situation, I cannot hold those close to sixty thousand that it is rumored they have amassed.”
Stefanos held up his hands, “I know Svend I know, what do you propose I do?”
Svend sighed and tossed the dispatch on the table, “I don’t know, I’m sorry, it’s not your fault, know.” He sat for a while staring out of the window. “How is the creation of an eastern alliance going for the Turks?”
“Slowly, they have some internal problems, but so far nothing has erupted into open combat, they have opened overtures to Teke among others.”
“Can you stall it?”
Stefanos looked at the new army commander incomprehension painted on his face.
“I mean can you make those negotiations slow down?”
“You mean so that they take longer, hoping that that will prevent them from turning their attention to us?”
“Yes.”
Stefanos rolled his eyes, “I’ll try sending some one to Teke, but its hardly like I can just send a note of protest to the Sultan of Teke and ask him not to talk to his brothers in faith.”
Svend smiled, “I know, just try and see if you can do something.”
“All right, now about Theodosios?”
“I’ll send someone, if you or Benedict can get him accredited somewhere in the officer corps, then I can get better intelligence, I’ll try to get the Duchy to meet us on the open terrain outside Athens, that is his best bet, then they can use the harbor for supplies.”
“Any word on the Venetians?”
“Apart from whatever trouble they are creating in Italy? I heard from Carmagnola that they are rummaging around in Italy, but without his army, they are stuck, their fleet did sortie though, rumored to be heading our way, if that can stop the Italian allies of the Duchy to come to their aid, then I think that is all we can ask for, our fleet is no match on its own.”
“So they are living up to their end of the bargain?”
“So far, I guess the potential loss of business is worse than a few sailors, no troops have been committed so far. I’ll be surprised if they can give this level of support come the day we have to tackle the Turks.”
*****
Arn looked out across the mountains surrounding the enemy capital, taking in the shallow bowl that contained one of the oldest consistent cities in the world. Athens was rumored to be older than Rome, looking down from his low mountain slope Arn could see the sudden high rise of the ancient temple and fortress rock in the center of the city, that would be hard to take, and they first had to subdue the Duchy’s confident army, arrayed around the city and on the opposing slopes.
The Council had decided to appoint him to be their ears and eyes with Theodosios, though in the dispatch to the general the appointment was described as a learning position so that the young son of the new general could learn to command by his elders as was once the tradition. The pompous general swallowed the explanation, basking in the perceived glory of being chosen as tutor for the young man.
Arn had on his father’s suggestion taken along D’Urbino, the young Italian veteran was unknown to the officers of Theodosios’ Greek army and he was considered nothing more than an aid. In reality however, he had proved an invaluable advisor to Arn, who in turn had surprised the officers by one intriguing suggestion after another on their march here from Morea.
That they now sat outside Athens superior in numbers if not in position was not a fluke, but to everybody else’s knowledge, it was mere beginner’s luck from a young son of a veteran officer.
The return to the Duchy from Morea had begun like the first with a march up through the mountains, constantly watched by enemy patrols. It was soon very apparent that a repetition of the last attempt was eminent, the Army of Thrace being monitored be the ever-present patrols, allowing the adversary to choose time and place for their defense.
One week’s march into the enemy territory and two days march from the last disaster a staff meeting was called in the general’s quarters, an appropriated farmhouse. Theodosios lounged in a large chair while his senior officers were gathered around a crude table covered with outdated maps and dispatches. The rest of the officers and aids hovered in the shadows.
“Gentlemen, we are now in position to revenge our misfortunate retreat. Let me hear your ideas how to crush the lapdogs of the Pope in Rome.”
A young officer leaned closer to Arn and whispered, “Or repeat our failure.”
Arn coughed to cover his laugh and Theodosios quickly turned his gaze towards him,
“Young Arn, perhaps you have something to add?”
Arn slowly turned red and was about to stammer an apology when he thought of his father and why he had placed him and Angelo here, “Well sir, with your permission I suggest we retreat, about one days march, in high speed.” The room fell deadly quiet as Theodosios struggled to believe what he had just heard, Arn quickly continued, grasping to remember what he and D’Urbino had discussed last night,
“I mean this is the same route, will they not be expecting us?” A few courageous officers nodded slightly. “If we retreat one days march and then choose another route then they will be caught off guard, all their plans will be void and we can choose the place.” A few more nods encouraged, but an aid of Theodosios spoke up,
“They will find us again, an army of this size cannot go through the mountains unnoticed.”
“Off course they will, but it will take time and they will need even more time to prepare a proper defense.” He looked around at the officers, hoping his father’s reputation for surprises had rubbed off on him. “Especially if we send the army through several passes, at the same time?”
A gray haired veteran rubbed his grizzled chin, “That would speed up the march considerably, my Lord.”
Theodosios didn’t comment and his officers all began to pitch in.
“But also make it easier for them to strike at us one by one.” The aid still favored the tactic of his General.
“Only if they find us,” Arn was losing the momentum, but was rescued by the officer whose comment had caused it all, “This valley is the widest for days, if we leave a sizeable force, including cavalry and hide them before dawn, then we can mob up any patrols that comes looking for us here, with any luck we can stall or block the entire force that our scouts suspect is out there.”
Old gray hair looked at the two young officers, “and if that succeed there will be no one to tell them where we’re gone, then they’ll have the problem finding us out in the wilderness.”
Theodosios looked from one officer to the other weighing his options. He could go along, loosing face for letting the small upstart steal his meeting, hope for a victory and if something went bad, blame it on Svend and his son. Or, he could trump him with rank, but that carried the danger of accepting all responsibility.
For a long moment it all hung in the balance and the animated discussion that had followed Arn’s original plan suddenly froze as all attention turned towards the commanding General. Theodosios slowly threw up his hands in the air in feigned resignation before turning on the young man, casually throwing a glance to the corner to make sure the scribes were writing this down.
“Young man, were is your respect?”
Arn swallowed something, but didn’t answer.
“Young man, your plan has merit, but carry a lot of risk, a risk I’m uncertain whether or not I as commanding officer responsible for the well being of this army and it’s success. However we need something to get out of these blasted mountains and your father’s reputation carries a lot of weight in this army, perhaps now is the time to see if his ideas stand the test?”
Arn felt it blackened before his eyes, in one swift move the old general had managed to tie his father’s reputation, with that of his own success. His father’s political rise had been a thorn in his side and it was obvious even to the young man that his father’s political rise may very easily be jeopardized here and he didn’t even now about it. But I’m not my father, and these are not his ideas, or his responsibility, they are yours. He wanted to speak it out loud, but knew that it would only sound like he was backing down, like he couldn’t stand up to his own words. He merely nodded, committing more than his ideas on a different and unknown battlefield, not of his own choosing.
The plan was set in motion immediately, orders for breaking camp at dawn was supplemented with order for a retreat and orders to one infantry regiment to hold the pass leading out of the valley, while one regiment of cavalry was ordered to disperse onto the valley floor and hide on the edges of the small plain, in the deep shadow of the mountains.
The morrow, or perhaps the day after would show the value of Arn’s tactics.
News from the war were sketchy at first, not much action took place as the army cross the border into the Duchy of Athens and quickly pacified the border lands, couriers took their time getting from Morea to Constantinople by ship and the Council had nothing but week old dispatches to go from.
As the weeks turned to months the army of Thrace penetrated deep into the mountains of the Duchy and the recruits that had been levied in Morea completed their basic training and awaited marching orders as soon as the army made contact with the enemy.
First news of battle came from Theodosios, he reported engaging the enemy in mountainous terrain on his way to Athens. Another report followed shortly claiming a tactical withdrawal to strengthen supply lines.
Svend looked up from reading the dispatch and raised a quizzical eyebrow at Stefanos, seated across the table,
“Strategic retreat, eh? And this is what he wants you to present at the Council?”
“Just read on.”
Svend looked back at the dispatch, “another ten thousand infantry to replace losses and garrison the supply route. He must have lost a battle, this is not the result of a tactical withdrawal, more like a rout.”
“I thought the same, I’ve asked Benedict to fish for the truth, but all I have so far are the rumors that came in with the courier on the galley.”
“And?”
“It seems he was attacked in the mountains, his cavalry getting stuck in a narrow valley and not being very useful, then instead of dismounting them or retreat to regroup he had the infantry charge, they were so much annihilated as they where routed and the whole army fled more than retreated back towards Morea.”
“That fool, he didn’t use combine tactics before and now that he does, he manages to do it in the mountains, where his cavalry is of no bloody use.”
“Indeed, but we are committed now, what can be done to help him, we cannot allow this to be a failure, we have to conquer and be victorious.”
“Yes, well, he will not accept advise or even support from me or my officers, at least another three thousand men are waiting for him, the Duchy cannot field that large an army?”
“Benedict says the estimates are no more than ten to fourteen thousand at the most, many of those spread on garrisons, I would venture no more than eight met Theodosios in battle.”
“Against his more than twenty, the man cannot be that incompetent?”
“No he was ambushed, let him regroup and add the fresh recruits, then try again, I’ll add an observer to his officer corps through Benedict.”
“Try again?” Svend slammed his flat hand on the table, “we have no time for trying again, already the minor Italian states are rumored to be mobilizing, even if the Venetians are able to stop them at sea, we need this over and done with before the Ottomans cancel our treaty of access and exploits the situation, I cannot hold those close to sixty thousand that it is rumored they have amassed.”
Stefanos held up his hands, “I know Svend I know, what do you propose I do?”
Svend sighed and tossed the dispatch on the table, “I don’t know, I’m sorry, it’s not your fault, know.” He sat for a while staring out of the window. “How is the creation of an eastern alliance going for the Turks?”
“Slowly, they have some internal problems, but so far nothing has erupted into open combat, they have opened overtures to Teke among others.”
“Can you stall it?”
Stefanos looked at the new army commander incomprehension painted on his face.
“I mean can you make those negotiations slow down?”
“You mean so that they take longer, hoping that that will prevent them from turning their attention to us?”
“Yes.”
Stefanos rolled his eyes, “I’ll try sending some one to Teke, but its hardly like I can just send a note of protest to the Sultan of Teke and ask him not to talk to his brothers in faith.”
Svend smiled, “I know, just try and see if you can do something.”
“All right, now about Theodosios?”
“I’ll send someone, if you or Benedict can get him accredited somewhere in the officer corps, then I can get better intelligence, I’ll try to get the Duchy to meet us on the open terrain outside Athens, that is his best bet, then they can use the harbor for supplies.”
“Any word on the Venetians?”
“Apart from whatever trouble they are creating in Italy? I heard from Carmagnola that they are rummaging around in Italy, but without his army, they are stuck, their fleet did sortie though, rumored to be heading our way, if that can stop the Italian allies of the Duchy to come to their aid, then I think that is all we can ask for, our fleet is no match on its own.”
“So they are living up to their end of the bargain?”
“So far, I guess the potential loss of business is worse than a few sailors, no troops have been committed so far. I’ll be surprised if they can give this level of support come the day we have to tackle the Turks.”
*****
Arn looked out across the mountains surrounding the enemy capital, taking in the shallow bowl that contained one of the oldest consistent cities in the world. Athens was rumored to be older than Rome, looking down from his low mountain slope Arn could see the sudden high rise of the ancient temple and fortress rock in the center of the city, that would be hard to take, and they first had to subdue the Duchy’s confident army, arrayed around the city and on the opposing slopes.
The Council had decided to appoint him to be their ears and eyes with Theodosios, though in the dispatch to the general the appointment was described as a learning position so that the young son of the new general could learn to command by his elders as was once the tradition. The pompous general swallowed the explanation, basking in the perceived glory of being chosen as tutor for the young man.
Arn had on his father’s suggestion taken along D’Urbino, the young Italian veteran was unknown to the officers of Theodosios’ Greek army and he was considered nothing more than an aid. In reality however, he had proved an invaluable advisor to Arn, who in turn had surprised the officers by one intriguing suggestion after another on their march here from Morea.
That they now sat outside Athens superior in numbers if not in position was not a fluke, but to everybody else’s knowledge, it was mere beginner’s luck from a young son of a veteran officer.
The return to the Duchy from Morea had begun like the first with a march up through the mountains, constantly watched by enemy patrols. It was soon very apparent that a repetition of the last attempt was eminent, the Army of Thrace being monitored be the ever-present patrols, allowing the adversary to choose time and place for their defense.
One week’s march into the enemy territory and two days march from the last disaster a staff meeting was called in the general’s quarters, an appropriated farmhouse. Theodosios lounged in a large chair while his senior officers were gathered around a crude table covered with outdated maps and dispatches. The rest of the officers and aids hovered in the shadows.
“Gentlemen, we are now in position to revenge our misfortunate retreat. Let me hear your ideas how to crush the lapdogs of the Pope in Rome.”
A young officer leaned closer to Arn and whispered, “Or repeat our failure.”
Arn coughed to cover his laugh and Theodosios quickly turned his gaze towards him,
“Young Arn, perhaps you have something to add?”
Arn slowly turned red and was about to stammer an apology when he thought of his father and why he had placed him and Angelo here, “Well sir, with your permission I suggest we retreat, about one days march, in high speed.” The room fell deadly quiet as Theodosios struggled to believe what he had just heard, Arn quickly continued, grasping to remember what he and D’Urbino had discussed last night,
“I mean this is the same route, will they not be expecting us?” A few courageous officers nodded slightly. “If we retreat one days march and then choose another route then they will be caught off guard, all their plans will be void and we can choose the place.” A few more nods encouraged, but an aid of Theodosios spoke up,
“They will find us again, an army of this size cannot go through the mountains unnoticed.”
“Off course they will, but it will take time and they will need even more time to prepare a proper defense.” He looked around at the officers, hoping his father’s reputation for surprises had rubbed off on him. “Especially if we send the army through several passes, at the same time?”
A gray haired veteran rubbed his grizzled chin, “That would speed up the march considerably, my Lord.”
Theodosios didn’t comment and his officers all began to pitch in.
“But also make it easier for them to strike at us one by one.” The aid still favored the tactic of his General.
“Only if they find us,” Arn was losing the momentum, but was rescued by the officer whose comment had caused it all, “This valley is the widest for days, if we leave a sizeable force, including cavalry and hide them before dawn, then we can mob up any patrols that comes looking for us here, with any luck we can stall or block the entire force that our scouts suspect is out there.”
Old gray hair looked at the two young officers, “and if that succeed there will be no one to tell them where we’re gone, then they’ll have the problem finding us out in the wilderness.”
Theodosios looked from one officer to the other weighing his options. He could go along, loosing face for letting the small upstart steal his meeting, hope for a victory and if something went bad, blame it on Svend and his son. Or, he could trump him with rank, but that carried the danger of accepting all responsibility.
For a long moment it all hung in the balance and the animated discussion that had followed Arn’s original plan suddenly froze as all attention turned towards the commanding General. Theodosios slowly threw up his hands in the air in feigned resignation before turning on the young man, casually throwing a glance to the corner to make sure the scribes were writing this down.
“Young man, were is your respect?”
Arn swallowed something, but didn’t answer.
“Young man, your plan has merit, but carry a lot of risk, a risk I’m uncertain whether or not I as commanding officer responsible for the well being of this army and it’s success. However we need something to get out of these blasted mountains and your father’s reputation carries a lot of weight in this army, perhaps now is the time to see if his ideas stand the test?”
Arn felt it blackened before his eyes, in one swift move the old general had managed to tie his father’s reputation, with that of his own success. His father’s political rise had been a thorn in his side and it was obvious even to the young man that his father’s political rise may very easily be jeopardized here and he didn’t even now about it. But I’m not my father, and these are not his ideas, or his responsibility, they are yours. He wanted to speak it out loud, but knew that it would only sound like he was backing down, like he couldn’t stand up to his own words. He merely nodded, committing more than his ideas on a different and unknown battlefield, not of his own choosing.
The plan was set in motion immediately, orders for breaking camp at dawn was supplemented with order for a retreat and orders to one infantry regiment to hold the pass leading out of the valley, while one regiment of cavalry was ordered to disperse onto the valley floor and hide on the edges of the small plain, in the deep shadow of the mountains.
The morrow, or perhaps the day after would show the value of Arn’s tactics.
Chapter Four, part two
Dawn came slowly on the valley floor, as the sun slowly rose into the sky, revealing the massive number of men and beasts that were the Army of Thrace as they slowly pulled back the way they came.
The army couldn’t completely clear the valley in a single day and still retain surprise so a sizeable screening force was send forward deeper into the valley to prevent any enemy patrols from finding out exactly what was going on.
There was no hiding that the army was retreating, but as long as they maintained a sizeable presence, it was doubtful that the forces of the Duchy would discover the hidden cavalry force, that had dispersed on the valley floor during the night.
As the second night after the decisive staff meeting began to decent on the mountains, the screening force slowly pulled back pout of the valley, doing so in the most obvious manner possible, leaving only the hidden infantry in the narrow mountain pass that controlled the exit, and the dispersed cavalry regiment on the valley floor.
The night slowly settled in the now quiet valley and as the morning sun once again crept over the mountains it revealed to the trained eye a series of small patrols, carefully entering the now deserted area.
The commander of the cavalry had dismounted and stood with a couple of couriers, high on the eastern slope. Below him, covered in the deep shadow of the steep mountain, was one of the veteran cavalry regiments. His eyes followed a series of dots and movements across the plain, the enemy forces rarely seen, but more sensed as their presence disturbed birds and animals.
Slowly the disturbance fanned out from the other end of the valley and as it grew nearer he was able to pick out the individual groups of men. The enemy slowly converged on the abandoned campsite in the center of the valley and for a long time, nothing happened as they rummaged through the debris left by the army, then as the sun crept higher and threatened to destroy the deep covering shadow, the enemy began to stir, more patrols slowly moved forward towards the far exit of the valley and the hidden infantry and one small patrol sped of to where they came from, the cavalry colonel surmised to carry news of the departure and bring forth whatever force was hiding in the far off mountain pass.
As the noon sun destroyed the last vestige of cool morning air, a small force of infantry appeared in the valley and headed straight for the far of exit. The Colonel dispatched a rider to inform his own counterpart in the infantry, with strict orders not to be seen by the patrols. The man was a veteran scout and the Colonel had faith in his abilities.
The small enemy force quickly covered the open ground; certain in their belief that their scouting patrols had cleared the area. As they neared the exit of the valley a number of shouts could be heard across the valley and the Colonel quickly dispatched his second courier to alert his own troops.
The infantry had been discovered.
The Colonel on his perch above the pass watched as the enemy pulled in the patrols to act as flanking units and forming up his own force on the plain below.
He allowed them to get close, secure in his defensive position and the knowledge that with the patrols gone the risk of discovery when the hidden cavalry moved into position behind them was reduced.
The enemy moved in, firing one volley of mixed bolts and arrows, skirmishers most likely the infantry commander thought, deadly shots, the cavalry would take casualties, but be able to ride them down. He lifted his and when it dropped a ragged volley spread along his lines, not doing much damage, showing his men’s positions, but also, most importantly, showing his numerical superiority.
The enemy fired another volley at the now revealed positions, counting light casualties, the Byzantine being to well dug in. They showed no sign of retreating; the Byzantine began a steady shower of arrows, using the height advantage, but still they pressed, their speed and open formation keeping their losses down.
The cavalry commander had descended to the valley floor and mounted his horse, now his force slowly gathered in the shadow and moved out, looping in far behind the enemy patrols. Once completely behind the battle the cavalry fanned out again and closed in at a slow trot.
A few patrols hanging back from the battle, acting as rearguards, were the first to spot the advancing cavalry, a shout went up, but was smothered by the low thunder as the cavalry acting as one man increased speed to a fast trot.
One patrols sped to warn the doomed infantry troops while the rest tried to outflank the advancing cavalry and get word back to Athens, the colonel nodded once and his regiment burst in to full gallop and two elements peeled of each flank and headed for the fleeing patrols.
The enemy commander saw the wave of humans and horses bearing down on him and did the best he could to gather his forces for a stand on a small rise on the valley floor, they managed to loose another volley and he was satisfied to see men and horses fall. As the second volley hit it looked for a moment to him like the wave faltered, only to find it change shape into a more compact form, several files deep.
With a resounding clash the cavalry hit the defense line on the left side, the colonel felt his spear shatter on a shield and raised his sword to bear down on an exposed helmet. Blood splattered as his weapon connected and then suddenly he was back out in the open, his regiment had thorn straight through the side of the enemy formation and opened it up. He led his men in a wide turn across the meadow, churning the grass into mud under their mounts.
The Byzantine infantry commander had watched the engagement develop and quickly redeployed his troops to take advantage, while a majority of his archers remained in their positions and fired volley after volley only pausing to allow the cavalry its first and second attack, the remainder of his force quickly formed up on the valley floor and began a quick march to attack the enemy and keep them off balance.
The fight was short, brutal and ugly, once the tow infantry forces were locked in combat, the arrows seized raining down on the Duchy’s forces, only be replaced with a constant pressure from the cavalry. Before the sun had crept another hour across the sky, the Byzantine commander could send riders to the army commander, claiming complete victory and the destruction of every enemy force in the area.
He spent the night in the valley tending to his wounded and burying his dead. The following morning they broke camp and headed out to join the rest of the army on what they hoped to be an unobstructed journey to the plains outside Athens.
Dawn came slowly on the valley floor, as the sun slowly rose into the sky, revealing the massive number of men and beasts that were the Army of Thrace as they slowly pulled back the way they came.
The army couldn’t completely clear the valley in a single day and still retain surprise so a sizeable screening force was send forward deeper into the valley to prevent any enemy patrols from finding out exactly what was going on.
There was no hiding that the army was retreating, but as long as they maintained a sizeable presence, it was doubtful that the forces of the Duchy would discover the hidden cavalry force, that had dispersed on the valley floor during the night.
As the second night after the decisive staff meeting began to decent on the mountains, the screening force slowly pulled back pout of the valley, doing so in the most obvious manner possible, leaving only the hidden infantry in the narrow mountain pass that controlled the exit, and the dispersed cavalry regiment on the valley floor.
The night slowly settled in the now quiet valley and as the morning sun once again crept over the mountains it revealed to the trained eye a series of small patrols, carefully entering the now deserted area.
The commander of the cavalry had dismounted and stood with a couple of couriers, high on the eastern slope. Below him, covered in the deep shadow of the steep mountain, was one of the veteran cavalry regiments. His eyes followed a series of dots and movements across the plain, the enemy forces rarely seen, but more sensed as their presence disturbed birds and animals.
Slowly the disturbance fanned out from the other end of the valley and as it grew nearer he was able to pick out the individual groups of men. The enemy slowly converged on the abandoned campsite in the center of the valley and for a long time, nothing happened as they rummaged through the debris left by the army, then as the sun crept higher and threatened to destroy the deep covering shadow, the enemy began to stir, more patrols slowly moved forward towards the far exit of the valley and the hidden infantry and one small patrol sped of to where they came from, the cavalry colonel surmised to carry news of the departure and bring forth whatever force was hiding in the far off mountain pass.
As the noon sun destroyed the last vestige of cool morning air, a small force of infantry appeared in the valley and headed straight for the far of exit. The Colonel dispatched a rider to inform his own counterpart in the infantry, with strict orders not to be seen by the patrols. The man was a veteran scout and the Colonel had faith in his abilities.
The small enemy force quickly covered the open ground; certain in their belief that their scouting patrols had cleared the area. As they neared the exit of the valley a number of shouts could be heard across the valley and the Colonel quickly dispatched his second courier to alert his own troops.
The infantry had been discovered.
The Colonel on his perch above the pass watched as the enemy pulled in the patrols to act as flanking units and forming up his own force on the plain below.
He allowed them to get close, secure in his defensive position and the knowledge that with the patrols gone the risk of discovery when the hidden cavalry moved into position behind them was reduced.
The enemy moved in, firing one volley of mixed bolts and arrows, skirmishers most likely the infantry commander thought, deadly shots, the cavalry would take casualties, but be able to ride them down. He lifted his and when it dropped a ragged volley spread along his lines, not doing much damage, showing his men’s positions, but also, most importantly, showing his numerical superiority.
The enemy fired another volley at the now revealed positions, counting light casualties, the Byzantine being to well dug in. They showed no sign of retreating; the Byzantine began a steady shower of arrows, using the height advantage, but still they pressed, their speed and open formation keeping their losses down.
The cavalry commander had descended to the valley floor and mounted his horse, now his force slowly gathered in the shadow and moved out, looping in far behind the enemy patrols. Once completely behind the battle the cavalry fanned out again and closed in at a slow trot.
A few patrols hanging back from the battle, acting as rearguards, were the first to spot the advancing cavalry, a shout went up, but was smothered by the low thunder as the cavalry acting as one man increased speed to a fast trot.
One patrols sped to warn the doomed infantry troops while the rest tried to outflank the advancing cavalry and get word back to Athens, the colonel nodded once and his regiment burst in to full gallop and two elements peeled of each flank and headed for the fleeing patrols.
The enemy commander saw the wave of humans and horses bearing down on him and did the best he could to gather his forces for a stand on a small rise on the valley floor, they managed to loose another volley and he was satisfied to see men and horses fall. As the second volley hit it looked for a moment to him like the wave faltered, only to find it change shape into a more compact form, several files deep.
With a resounding clash the cavalry hit the defense line on the left side, the colonel felt his spear shatter on a shield and raised his sword to bear down on an exposed helmet. Blood splattered as his weapon connected and then suddenly he was back out in the open, his regiment had thorn straight through the side of the enemy formation and opened it up. He led his men in a wide turn across the meadow, churning the grass into mud under their mounts.
The Byzantine infantry commander had watched the engagement develop and quickly redeployed his troops to take advantage, while a majority of his archers remained in their positions and fired volley after volley only pausing to allow the cavalry its first and second attack, the remainder of his force quickly formed up on the valley floor and began a quick march to attack the enemy and keep them off balance.
The fight was short, brutal and ugly, once the tow infantry forces were locked in combat, the arrows seized raining down on the Duchy’s forces, only be replaced with a constant pressure from the cavalry. Before the sun had crept another hour across the sky, the Byzantine commander could send riders to the army commander, claiming complete victory and the destruction of every enemy force in the area.
He spent the night in the valley tending to his wounded and burying his dead. The following morning they broke camp and headed out to join the rest of the army on what they hoped to be an unobstructed journey to the plains outside Athens.
Cool! Mark up the first small victory for the Byzantines! Well written battle scenes, Valdemar, I could picture it all happen. It sounds realistic, with attention to the ugly sides of battle.
Thanks all,
Yeah, I played this on 1,04 (I think) and was a bit unlucky getting beaten a few times despite HUGE numerical superiority.
But it's nothing like my current game as Austria under 1,07 (my first in that version)
I constantly get beaten by rebels a third of my size to the extend that I'm considering dropping it all together and revert to 1,06
More battle coming up, next week properly
V
Yeah, I played this on 1,04 (I think) and was a bit unlucky getting beaten a few times despite HUGE numerical superiority.
But it's nothing like my current game as Austria under 1,07 (my first in that version)
I constantly get beaten by rebels a third of my size
to the extend that I'm considering dropping it all together and revert to 1,06More battle coming up, next week properly
V
Oh, well said! What an excellent description - clear, concise and just enough detail for spice.
What an excellent description - clear, concise and just enough detail for spice.
Bring that duchy back under the banner of the empire! Good post, and very nice battle scene!
Chapter Four, Part three
Arn turned his gaze away from the city and on to the plain, to the two armies, camped opposite each other.
His plan had worked even better than expected; the apparent disappearance and rapid advancement through several mountain passes of the Byzantine army had obviously caught the Duchy on the wrong foot.
Apart from a small skirmish at one hastily thrown up defense at one mountain pass, the army of Thrace had proceed unhindered until it found it self on the plains before Athens, in time to catch the Duchy’s army of balance, trying to set up a defense on the most like route of advancement of the Byzantine force.
Theodosios for once acted immediately and with decisiveness. On the reports of the enemy army still in the valley, he ordered whatever forces of his own that had made it to the valley to advance in double speed and block the Duchy from reentering the city. The Byzantine army was therefore now camped outside the walls of Athens, between the city and its main army, caught outside the walls, with no chance of getting inside and aid the defense, except beating and routing the Byzantine forces.
Once it was apparent that his gamble was successful, Theodosios had ordered a large cavalry force to patrol the road to Piraeus and the sea, to avoid supplies and reinforcements to enter that way, before he could completely encircle the city and begin his siege.
Over the next couple of days, both armies prepared their positions and received the remainder of their forces. As regiment after trickled out of the mountains to fall into position, Theodosios strangely decided to weaken his own forces, by sending a substantial force to cover and if possible besiege Piraeus.
That night’s staff meeting, everybody impatiently awaited his reasoning,
“It’s easy, I wanted three things, a short siege, an easy battle here, and secure supplies, once the battle here is over and the defeated Duchy retreats into the mountains.”
A few officers nodded, but it was obvious that hey didn’t understand.
“Let’s try again, I send the infantry to relieve the cavalry, which I need to win this battle. I know I could keep the infantry here, but that would allow for the city to get supplies, or the Duke to flee down the road to Piraeus.”
“But that force cannot cover the road like the cavalry? Or even hope to capture the Harbor?”
“True, but what happens, when we beat the Duchy on the morrow? Where will the remainders of their forces retreat to?”
“The Mountains?”
“YES, and that’s where our supplies go through, I’d rather capture the harbor quickly, than detail hundreds or thousands of men to protect the supplies through the mountains.”
“So you will resupply by ship?”
“Exactly, and I deem the cavalry will be more decisive tomorrow than the infantry.”
Arn nodded, it made sense, but if he had been in charge, he would have kept the infantry here, pulled cavalry in as late as possible, then move on Piraeus, leaving the road to the sea unguarded for a few days.
The following morning dawned blustery and wet, heavy, gray, rain laden cloud formations chased across the sky, dowsing the armies with showers every once in a while. Arn was standing on small knoll overlooking the coming field of battle, both armies arrayed before him in all their splendor.
The forces of the Duchy had tried to make the best of their situation, utilizing their knowledge of the terrain to reduce the numerical superiority of the Byzantine. Their formations were spread out on the valley floor, anchored between a number of smaller, steep rock outcroppings that formed a wide low crescent in the center of the valley, rejecting the higher ground in favor of the relative protection these small buffs gave their flanks against the cavalry.
The Byzantine arrayed their troops with the archers in front, secure in the knowledge that the enemy would not attack, and the infantry in even formations behind, ready to advance through the archers, once the initial bombardment was over. The cavalry was waiting on the wings, but with the choice of defensive position, their role could very well be limited, perhaps the choice to send away the infantry had been a bad one. The Duchy possessed no cavalry to speak of, and now the only real strength of the Byzantine, apart from their numbers had been negated, by choice of battlefield.
Theodosios saw the formations from the same knoll as Arn, and knew he had to change them, but how? Opening with a cavalry charge was all very well, but it would have to be head on, and that would be suicide for the cavalry, not to mention that they would block the way for the infantry charge. Despite the public reputation Theodosios wasn’t a bad commander, though he was traditional and old fashioned, so he could easily see the problem in front of him, but not any apparent solution. With a sigh, he gave the order for the archers to commence firing and for the infantry to move forward after a few volleys.
Arn looked down at the mess about to happen, when he noticed somebody moving on top of the outcroppings, enemy archers or scout no doubt, but that meant... He quickly turned and addressed the General.
“Sir, with your permission, may I suggest something?”
The general slowly tore away his gaze from the battle, “Yes?”
“Once you commit the infantry, could I be allowed to take one regiment of archers and,” Arn outlined his plan.
The General looked hard at the layout of the valley, “You’ll need more time,” then he turned and told the infantry to wait another half hour before attacking and then back to Arn, “you have that extra time, take the regiment on the left, pull them back through the infantry first, then I’ll order the cavalry on the right flank to make a few probing attacks to distract them, after that I’ll attack, whether or not you’re in position.”
Arn nodded and signaled for D’Urbino to follow him, an aide gave him a dispatch to the regiment commander, but right as they where about to mount, another aid came running up, “The general orders you to take two hundred infantry with you, as protection.” Arn nodded and spurred his horse, The old codger is not that keen of telling Father he failed to protect me. Then he smiled to himself and steered toward the left flank, while runners sped to the right.
Once there he quickly located the necessary commanders and began the cumbersome process of withdrawing through the massed infantry, the procedure was aided by the extra two hundred men he had to pull out. Just as he finished and began to trot in the slow wide arch that would take his, by now close to six hundred men, out and around the battlefield, new orders arrived for both the cavalry and the infantry, but Arn was too preoccupied with his task to inquire as to their nature.
Arn turned his gaze away from the city and on to the plain, to the two armies, camped opposite each other.
His plan had worked even better than expected; the apparent disappearance and rapid advancement through several mountain passes of the Byzantine army had obviously caught the Duchy on the wrong foot.
Apart from a small skirmish at one hastily thrown up defense at one mountain pass, the army of Thrace had proceed unhindered until it found it self on the plains before Athens, in time to catch the Duchy’s army of balance, trying to set up a defense on the most like route of advancement of the Byzantine force.
Theodosios for once acted immediately and with decisiveness. On the reports of the enemy army still in the valley, he ordered whatever forces of his own that had made it to the valley to advance in double speed and block the Duchy from reentering the city. The Byzantine army was therefore now camped outside the walls of Athens, between the city and its main army, caught outside the walls, with no chance of getting inside and aid the defense, except beating and routing the Byzantine forces.
Once it was apparent that his gamble was successful, Theodosios had ordered a large cavalry force to patrol the road to Piraeus and the sea, to avoid supplies and reinforcements to enter that way, before he could completely encircle the city and begin his siege.
Over the next couple of days, both armies prepared their positions and received the remainder of their forces. As regiment after trickled out of the mountains to fall into position, Theodosios strangely decided to weaken his own forces, by sending a substantial force to cover and if possible besiege Piraeus.
That night’s staff meeting, everybody impatiently awaited his reasoning,
“It’s easy, I wanted three things, a short siege, an easy battle here, and secure supplies, once the battle here is over and the defeated Duchy retreats into the mountains.”
A few officers nodded, but it was obvious that hey didn’t understand.
“Let’s try again, I send the infantry to relieve the cavalry, which I need to win this battle. I know I could keep the infantry here, but that would allow for the city to get supplies, or the Duke to flee down the road to Piraeus.”
“But that force cannot cover the road like the cavalry? Or even hope to capture the Harbor?”
“True, but what happens, when we beat the Duchy on the morrow? Where will the remainders of their forces retreat to?”
“The Mountains?”
“YES, and that’s where our supplies go through, I’d rather capture the harbor quickly, than detail hundreds or thousands of men to protect the supplies through the mountains.”
“So you will resupply by ship?”
“Exactly, and I deem the cavalry will be more decisive tomorrow than the infantry.”
Arn nodded, it made sense, but if he had been in charge, he would have kept the infantry here, pulled cavalry in as late as possible, then move on Piraeus, leaving the road to the sea unguarded for a few days.
The following morning dawned blustery and wet, heavy, gray, rain laden cloud formations chased across the sky, dowsing the armies with showers every once in a while. Arn was standing on small knoll overlooking the coming field of battle, both armies arrayed before him in all their splendor.
The forces of the Duchy had tried to make the best of their situation, utilizing their knowledge of the terrain to reduce the numerical superiority of the Byzantine. Their formations were spread out on the valley floor, anchored between a number of smaller, steep rock outcroppings that formed a wide low crescent in the center of the valley, rejecting the higher ground in favor of the relative protection these small buffs gave their flanks against the cavalry.
The Byzantine arrayed their troops with the archers in front, secure in the knowledge that the enemy would not attack, and the infantry in even formations behind, ready to advance through the archers, once the initial bombardment was over. The cavalry was waiting on the wings, but with the choice of defensive position, their role could very well be limited, perhaps the choice to send away the infantry had been a bad one. The Duchy possessed no cavalry to speak of, and now the only real strength of the Byzantine, apart from their numbers had been negated, by choice of battlefield.
Theodosios saw the formations from the same knoll as Arn, and knew he had to change them, but how? Opening with a cavalry charge was all very well, but it would have to be head on, and that would be suicide for the cavalry, not to mention that they would block the way for the infantry charge. Despite the public reputation Theodosios wasn’t a bad commander, though he was traditional and old fashioned, so he could easily see the problem in front of him, but not any apparent solution. With a sigh, he gave the order for the archers to commence firing and for the infantry to move forward after a few volleys.
Arn looked down at the mess about to happen, when he noticed somebody moving on top of the outcroppings, enemy archers or scout no doubt, but that meant... He quickly turned and addressed the General.
“Sir, with your permission, may I suggest something?”
The general slowly tore away his gaze from the battle, “Yes?”
“Once you commit the infantry, could I be allowed to take one regiment of archers and,” Arn outlined his plan.
The General looked hard at the layout of the valley, “You’ll need more time,” then he turned and told the infantry to wait another half hour before attacking and then back to Arn, “you have that extra time, take the regiment on the left, pull them back through the infantry first, then I’ll order the cavalry on the right flank to make a few probing attacks to distract them, after that I’ll attack, whether or not you’re in position.”
Arn nodded and signaled for D’Urbino to follow him, an aide gave him a dispatch to the regiment commander, but right as they where about to mount, another aid came running up, “The general orders you to take two hundred infantry with you, as protection.” Arn nodded and spurred his horse, The old codger is not that keen of telling Father he failed to protect me. Then he smiled to himself and steered toward the left flank, while runners sped to the right.
Once there he quickly located the necessary commanders and began the cumbersome process of withdrawing through the massed infantry, the procedure was aided by the extra two hundred men he had to pull out. Just as he finished and began to trot in the slow wide arch that would take his, by now close to six hundred men, out and around the battlefield, new orders arrived for both the cavalry and the infantry, but Arn was too preoccupied with his task to inquire as to their nature.