Two armies stood formed some distance away. They encountered on the crossing of river Emot. On the invading side stood the massive army of the coalition comprised mostly from drafted men with little training. The coalition grouped several kingdoms and while officially called a coalition of was a fully fledged empire which forced the nations it conquered to join unconditionally. The army of Emot’s kingdom, which took the name from the river that crosses the capital, was mostly volunteers with training. Although the coalition had bigger numbers overall they were matched.
Prudan watched his men; they all knew this harassment mission was dangerous but vital. He was wearing a breastplate, shin guards, gauntlets, a sallet and a blue armband that marked his status as the party leader. Every piece of armor was engraved to strengthen the body of the wearer. They were the standard equipment of someone who was part of Emot’s magical corps. The green gambeson he wore under the breastplate showed the colors of Emot.
Emot unlike other countries focused on training magical soldiers meaning people with martial arts and magical arts. Although magic was common and accessible to anyone only few countries trained their soldiers in anything more than basic magic protection. That was because magic was a force multiplier but it required training and time to be effective not to mention it was not almighty. While a magic soldier would beat two normal soldiers of the same skill they would be overpowered by three. This was what common sense dictated of course there were cases above and below the norm.
Prudan’s unit was making its way on the forest west of the crossing looking for a way to cross the river. They intended to conduct a skirmishing action against the rearguard of the coalition’s army. Sometime after they safely and covertly crossed they river a roar filled the sky it was a war horn. The ground shook and trembled over the sound of thousands of feet marching in unison.
The battle had begun.
Without wasting time Pudan’s unit which consisted of 20 magic soldiers set off to harass the enemy. They located the left flank of the coalition phalanx and started shooting their missile type magic. Even though they suffered some casualties the phalanx pressed on moving.
On the other side of the crossing the Emot’s army was in a horseshoe formation around the area shallow enough to walk. The plan was to hold the enemy while the skirmishing parties hit the exposed flanks of the enemy.
Sadly the coalition wasn’t stupid enough not to respond to the threat and soon multiple small encounters developed between the Emot skirmishers and coalition forces.
Prudan could see a group of enemy soldier part from the main force they objective was to intercept Prudan’s group no doubt. He knew that if it degenerated into a melee they were going to lose so he decided to thin their numbers from a distance, he then quickly ordered his men to scatter and to fight the enemy while peppering them with magic. The enemy group consisted of approximately 50 soldiers.
The enemy group kept advancing despite the barrage. Although they had magic defense some 10 men had fallen. Now they were some 20 meters away and closing.
A soldier clad in red charged towards Prudan. He quickly shot an ice lance at his enemy to disrupt his charge. Because his momentum was too great the soldier took the lance head on and stumbled a little, not enough to fall but he had lost the initiative. Now Prudan swung his mace aiming at the left leg of the soldier, the blow was parried. Swiftly the squad leader prepares a water ball and launches it against the soldier’s face, the soldier flinches; using the opening the squad leader unleashed an overhead strike killing his opponent. After all there are not many people who can survive a mace hit to the head.
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He had however no time to rest as there were two more soldiers rushing towards him. He side stepped the first blow that aimed for his shoulder, and countered with an icy lance, he had prepared as soon as he saw the charging soldiers, at point-blank range aimed at the chest of the enemy soldier. One down; the other one took a defensive posture while closing the distance. The soldier launched a sweeping strike, Prudan parried with his mace and while trying to shoot a water ball at the enemy (because it took too much time to prepare an ice lance) he was shield bashed. He staggered a little but soon regained his balance. The enemy soldier stabbed at Prudan, but he dodged and struck the soldier’s arm. The soldier receded in pain; not losing the opening Prudan delivered the finishing blow.
He took a moment to ascertain the situation. He saw most of his men engaged in at least a 2v1. Luca, with whom he had served two monster extermination campaigns, was cut down. At least he took 3 men to hell along with them he never was anything if not a sore loser.
Knowing his unit was doomed if they stayed he shouted at his men “RETREAT”; while preparing a wide area magic. A blizzard to be more precise. Because wide area magic doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe it is rarely used in battle as most of them are centered on the caster. He intended to buy time for his men to retreat back into the front lines along with the rest of the skirmishing parties. He charged straight into the enemy formation; the coalition’s soldiers could not believe their eyes. All they saw was a men running towards them with a dangerous fire in his eyes.
As soon as he reached the soldiers on the front he released the blizzard at the same time he was stabbed by a lance. A deafening roar could be heard; then an explosion that sent the soldiers of the phalanx flying. Prudan had strong magic but not that strong. Unbeknownst to him he had attacked the supply corps of the enemy and they were carrying magic crystals which worked like gunpowder. When the blizzard hit a crystal it detonated creating a chain reaction. Either way he was happy at the destruction and confusion he had sown.
He could see his man making their way to allied lines. Emot’s amry took the chance given by the explosion to charge the disorganized enemy formation. Although they suffered heavy casualties the coalition army rallied and prepared the defense.
When Prudan returned to his senses. His armor had fallen, or maybe he had taken it off. He could feel a hot burning sensation on his back as if he was being branded with an iron. He realized his wounds were fatal and while stumbling towards the enemy army a smile flashed on his face knowing his comrades were safe; then he fell unconscious on the riverbed. As his consciousness faded he heard a voice.
“If you die now it’s no fun…”
Prudan could not make sense of what was said but it didn’t matter to him.
Little did he know he was later considered a hero for his actions (although the story might have been exaggerated) on that battle. With the king of Emot going as far as naming a medal after him. Well it didn’t matter to him honors for dead men are meaningless to the men; he was already dead so he couldn’t bask in the glory.