Golden rays of brilliant sunlight streamed down from the high windows of the palace keep, illuminating a great round table, covered with a detailed map of the city of Maegwyn. Arrayed in a circle around the great stable stood ten men. Each of these men was large and heavily muscled, covered in old scars and an adornment of more significant injuries, whether they be missing eyes, legs, or even hands, all having been replaced to the utmost with functional wooden prosthetics.
These men were hardly noblemen, strutting about imperious dress of silk and luxuriously dyed cloth with which to wear to formal functions, but fighting men, veterans of the civil war that had been called together in the Empire’s crisis to captain the burgeoning ranks of the Home Guard. Ordered to muster in the palace for the discussion of the defense of the city in light of the Empress’s message of dire import, they entered wearing the only symbol of status that mattered, clad in elaborate ensembles of mail, light enough to wear casually, but heavy enough to grant, alongside their gruff appearances, an intimidating aura that brooked no disrespect.
Secondary tables were scattered through the large room, each covered in reports to serve in the city’s defense. A general inspection of the various ancient fortifications defending the city had been ordered, the pages upon pages of its findings scattered about both on the tables and in the hands of several men, deep in conversation. Other reports touched upon the progress of the Home Guard’s mass conscription and training, detailing planned training regimens and material requirements to support its ongoing expansion. Further were pages detailing the inventories of the city’s stockpiled weapons, taken from audits of dozens of armories and workshops from both the palace and scattered around the city. Numerous receipts floated about the room, orders made to the local artisans of the city on the behalf of the Lord Protector for weapons, armor, and food to serve both the growing numbers of the Home Guard and the inevitable masses of troops raised in the surrounding countryside.
Around each of the lesser tables, dozens of men stood, neither calm of demeanor nor quite approaching the realm of outright anger, they argued over various agreements and the content of the reports scattered throughout the room. Two manners of individuals numbered among them, the first being the quartermasters of the Home Guard, one in attendance for each of the companies raised therein. They were simple of dress, but aggressive in their discussions despite the lofty status of their foes, betraying their belligerent attitude for accomplishing their goals. The second were the various officials in attendance representing the artisanal guilds of the inner city, there to represent the interests of the craftsmen too occupied with work to be present, that had and would continue to in the future serve the vital role of providing the city with much needed war material
It was the morning following the Empress’s arrogant command to defend the city in the face of insurmountable odds, and Nathaniel had gathered the remaining captains of the Home Guard, along with their various lieutenants and representatives of the city’s industrial base, to discuss its defense. He had compiled the information needed to plan the likely futile defense, its accomplishment in only a single night made possible only by the already considerable existent base of knowledge compiled during his tenure as overseer of the Home Guard’s expansion. To put it succinctly, the situation was grim.
Projections of the conscription within the city indicated an upper limit of a mere ten thousand half trained peasants by the end of the month, a paltry amount in comparison to the upwards of thirty thousand professional soldiers they would be set against. If the gods at all favored the Empress’s victory, then those raised elsewhere would be of much greater quantity. He had already made the decision to completely abandon the miles of farmland and villages radiating from the city, the Home Guard would stand no chance in a field battle against such a superior foe.
A general evacuation order would be made by the palace in the days to come, ordering the movement of accumulated food stores to the capital. Every able bodied farmer would likely be conscripted, although not in the ranks of the Home Guard, but by local lords in the Empress’s name. Thankfully the enemy had chosen autumn as their time of invasion, and the seasonal harvest was already well underway and would be expedited under the Empress’s order. By the time of their arrival, there would be naught but barren fields and empty pastures between them and the city.
The freely flowing coffers of the imperial treasury had ensured that the food supplies, needed to feed the tens of thousands of troops expected to soon mass at the city, would be well compensated for. The families of the farmers, flush with cash following the mass purchase of crop and livestock alike, would find solace in far off cities alongside a general relocation of the infirm of the city itself, sent far off from the fighting in preparation for a great siege. While every able bodied man that the crown could conscript was required in its defense, the weak and sickly would add only extra mouths and act as vectors of disease that would ravage the already dubiously competent peasant army to an even greater extent than the upcoming fighting.
The state of the city walls was grave. Raised centuries ago, in a time in which men on foot and horse, supported at most by artillery capable of hurling stones of middling size against them, they were now hopelessly archaic. In modern times, great bombards were employed in considerable numbers, capable of hurling heavy balls of cast iron against walls, swiftly cracking the cut stone or brick of their construction to bring them tumbling down.
During the civil war, the outer walls of the city had come under such fire, swathes of their crenellated peaks being smashed into rubble, their very foundations quaking. However, the outer walls had survived, and their half destroyed ruins were deliberately lowered to a height of just twelve feet, the lowered bulwark being shielded from without by great earthworks built along the outskirts of the city. At present, the outer wall, still bearing many of the scars from its previous battles, was the only wall so modernized, as feeble as it was, while the inner walls and palace walls, untouched from the fighting during the civil war, remained tall and proud, simple targets for siege cannon.
Therefore, with the inner and palace walls generally indefensible from enemy artillery, it would be imperative to hold the enemy back at the outer walls and the earth works from whence the sheer range itself would protect those vulnerable targets from bombardment. The earth works themselves, many feet thick and completely surrounding the city, were its best hope for defense against the enemy artillery. The thick earth could absorb the impact of cannon fire with ease, sparing the city, and its great height would obscure the outer walls and city behind it from the hungry gaze of the enemy’s artillery. They would be rather difficult for the city to hold, however, against the enemy infantry.
With vanishingly few hunters or other skilled marksmen left in a capital region that had long since levelled its wild forests into naught but tamed groves and copses, the Home Guard lacked the capability of providing a sizeable force of skirmishers for their defense. Spanning outwards even from the sprawling outer city of Maegwyn, the earthworks stretched for miles and miles, straddling both sides of the uncrossable, roiling river that bisected the city. It was far too great of a distance for the inconsequential numbers of the Home Guard to defend, they were trained to fight in large formations for an entirely different order of battle.
When Nathaniel had first ordered the conscription of the Home Guard, he had decided on two primary weapons for their ranks, knowing the meek men of the city and how little time they would have to prepare. Spears, he had decided, would be sufficient for the majority. With spears even minimally trained men would be able to form sturdy blocks to hold the gates and to push back men scaling the walls, although they would never be able to stand against a disciplined enemy formation. The minority would be made up of crossbowmen. Demanding far less strength and skill than the more ubiquitous longbow within the imperial legions, the crossbow could hurl missiles at almost as great a distance and with as much or more penetrative power as an arrow, while needing a fraction of the strength required to wield the longbow. They would be capable of piercing thickly armored Aachish footmen from atop the walls, where they would be protected during the lengthy period of resetting the crossbow by crenellations and the great height of the walls.
At the time, he had hoped for a mostly close order battle, knowing the Aachish preference for close combat, he had intended to defend the walls and gates with massed ranks of spearmen. With the Aachish forced to scale the walls via siege ladder, even as short as those walls were, the spearmen of the Home Guard would be able to repel them with ease as they approached one at a time. Had the invading Aachish forces taken the time to scavenge the outer city for wood to construct siege towers, the scattered cannon mounted upon the city’s outer wall would be able to pick them apart at their leisure. Had they even assembled rams, intent upon smashing the gates, the crossbowmen stationed atop the wall would be able to fire en masse down upon the ram bearers, sending them scurrying back to their encampments. With confidence, he had made his plans, expecting an invading army to be more interested in the swiftness of the attack, than its ferocity, lacking the extensive baggage train and artillery that would be required to actually crack through the city’s outer wall.
His hopes however had been dashed upon learning of the betrayal of the Duke and the fact that, it would not be primarily the Aachish footmen he was facing, that while possessing numerous arquebus and crossbow, would still be majorly pikemen and swordsmen. Instead, it would be fellow men of Albion, survivors of the civil war and capable of hurling the might of massed formations of archers against him. With the complicity of men of his own country, the attack would clearly not be a mere Aachish raid, but likely a ferocious attack supported by numerous bombards. With the walls themselves in danger, he could only hope that the men of the Home Guard could hold the earth works and outer wall, but even in that they were hopelessly outmatched by the massed longbowmen of the Duke.
Able to draw and fire rapidly, devastating in massed volley fire against any foe whether armored or bare, the longbowmen of Albion were a fearsome enemy against any foolish enough to be caught exposed. Crossbowmen that would need significant time to reset their weapons in between shots, would be at great disadvantage if they were needed to hold the earth works. Unlike the outer walls where they could safely gain cover behind its well designed crenellations, they would only be impeded by the thick earthen barriers protecting the outer city and be helpless against any massed infantry charge without the height of the wall to separate them. They would make poor skirmishers, and a poorer match against the experienced archers of the Duke’s traitorous army.
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It seemed that the fall of the earth works was a foregone conclusion, an inevitability and that, while they must be protected in the short term, they could only be abandoned lest he risk losing the mass of his few available men. The outer city itself however, could perhaps be more defensible in these trying circumstances. Its twisting and winding dark alleys confused even the residents of that downtrodden district, let alone men from hundreds if not thousands of miles away. With significant numbers of crumbling ramshackle dwellings, there would be a plethora of available timber with which to construct barricades and road blocks that could break the disciplined formations of pikemen and longbowmen that the enemy may send. Fighting in this dense urban sprawl would perhaps allow his masses of spearmen to fight on a more even footing, being far more familiar with the layout of the city, against the professional fighting men of the Duke. Even then however, the disparity of numbers would certainly overwhelm them, and fighting atop the outer walls would be an inevitability. It would seem that there, the fate of the city would be truly decided.
Nathaniel thought to his previous discussions with the Empress, upon her urgings for him to supersede her authority in such conditions as he found her lacking in experience and wisdom. This was such a time he thought, where the fate of tens of thousands of men hung in the balance, their lives already considered lost, necessary sacrifices by a capricious ruler. He would not let them die in vain, not if the city would fall regardless of their sacrifice, and damn the witch borne consequences. If the outer wall of the city should fall, he would personally ensure that the survivors could escape the city. Even if they could not win this battle, there would be others, and as long as the Empress retained at least a few loyal men she could always live on to fight anew.
“Silence! I will have order in the war room, I have an announcement for the ears of all men present.” Turning to the large assemblage of men standing before him, Nathaniel addressed the crowd, his voice loud and clear, booming over the din of dozens of conversations.
“As you have known, I originally commissioned the mass expansion of the Home Guard for the defense of our venerable city, blighted as it may be, against an Aachish incursion, one mighty enough to lay low our most beloved hero, the Duke of Brackenweir, and all of his men. However, the circumstances have changed drastically. As certified by our own scouts, it is not the Aachish incursion we have feared that is approaching, but something far worse. The treachery of the Duke of Brackenweir has seen him align with Aachish mercenaries in open revolt, and as we speak he is marching upon Maegwyn with an army thirty thousand strong, intent on pillage and slaughter. I have called all here this day to organize our resistance to this invasion, knowing that our prior plans will need to be amended. For this purpose, the Empress has granted that the Imperial treasury will be opened wide, not an expense shall be spared for the defense of this city and all those who live therein. That will be all, I expect for the quartermasters and guilds to answer our new expectations in the procurement of material and the preparation of our soldiery as directed by their captains.” As my booming announcement ended, a hush spread over the crowd.
Instead of the raucous discussion that had preceded it, in the wake of my announcement only silent stares awaited. Many were struck dumb, slack jawed by the almost impossible to conceive notion of the betrayal of the Duke of Brackenweir. Others were fearful, their expressions contorted into that of worry as they pondered the odds. A few, notably those of the representatives of the artisanal guilds, wore expressions of barely disguised greed. With no thought of their own danger or the plight of their fellow countrymen, they only pondered the prospect of untold wealth promised by the opening of the imperial treasury. The captains of the Home Guard on their part mostly retained a stoic silence. Here and there, an eye twitched or a hand curled into a fist betraying their anger at the betrayal. Waiting several minutes for the spell of silence to be broken once more by the revival of fervent discussion, only incensed by the preceding announcement, I turned to the captains of the Home Guard.
“Ten thousand peasants will not be enough. The Empress intends on having the local lords raise their own armies once more to fight in the defense of the city.” I let my words run through their heads, their former stoic faces now visibly crumbling into that of anger.
“What was even the point of the civil war we all fought and bled for, if the moment the Empress dislikes her chances she gives those bastards back their old powers? They cannot be trusted. If given leave to amass an army, they are just as likely to stab her in the back with it as to aid her.” Spoke a large, brown haired man, Alexander Reed, the seventh captain of foot and in command of a company of spearmen. Several cries of support for his position rang out, although it was far from universal, but all gazes turned towards Nathaniel, demanding an explanation.
“I am well aware of their propensity for treachery. If one of the caliber of the Duke of Brackenweir was so easily swayed by blind greed, after receiving naught but grace from the Empress no less, then those who have only suffered her wrath shall forever remain suspect. However, it must be emphasized that the rate of expansion of the Home Guard has been far too lax, and must be accelerated greatly, doubly so if you are to counter the influence of the nobility. If we are to avoid betrayal, we need sufficient loyal soldiers within the city to make remaining loyal the more attractive option than the alternative.” He clarified the Empress’s decision against their feelings of ideological betrayal. While Nathaniel may have normally reprimanded any that spoke out against the competency of the Empress, these old veterans had long ago earned the privilege of questioning her, and it would not do to sow dissent antagonizing them further.
“Aye, I’d agree to that. But how do you suppose we increase our expansion? While men and materials we have aplenty, if we allow our standards to slacken the Home Guard will be all but useless against our current foe.” A squat, heavily bearded man of brown locks asked, the third captain of foot Nolan Derby, in command of a company of crossbowmen.
“The Empress’s coffers are open wide and I have been invested with the utmost of imperial authority for all matters as pertaining to the defense of the city. I hereby grant you all the authority to impress into service any veteran of the civil war to serve as drill masters, whether they be artisans thinking themselves safe working contracts for the Home Guard, the affluent hiding behind their riches, or the lowliest beggar on the street. Additionally, I will arrange for the transfer of several of the Empress’s Shield to serve as drill masters. While more bodyguard than actual soldier, they should be able to, at the very least, instill the rudimentary discipline needed to form a formation of spearmen.” He offered generously, a slight smile raising his face as the expressions of shock dawned on his assembled officers over the sweeping powers now granted to them.
“We are much obliged for your assistance then, Nathaniel. We should at least be able to muster fifteen thousand – nay, twenty thousand men with such authority. You had me convinced the Empress would demand every feeble bodied layabout in the city repel those traitorous fiends with naught but a spear and the fear of her wrath.” A slender, reedy man with a mop of blonde atop his head exclaimed enthusiastically, the fifth captain of foot Roland Everet, another commander of a company of spearmen. The mood brightened amongst the crowd, in agreement with Roland’s enthusiasm, twenty thousand peasants atop the city wall might make a difference.
“Do you really think we have much of a chance you fools? Even with twenty thousand half trained men, they will still be naught but a motley crew of soft city borne boys. With nary but defenses, crumbling and archaic even two decades past during the civil war, you expect them to face a foe superior in both number and skill? Our feeble quantities of cannon alone, earth works or not, spells our doom against an army prepared to take a city of this magnitude.” The dissenting voice of a massive man rang out, not a trace of hair upon his scalp or eyebrows, it having burnt off long ago, the first captain of artillery, Bartholemew Brookens. The light hearted atmosphere that had struggled its way out amongst the crowd in these dark times was instantly extinguished, forcing all present to take a second guess at their chances, eyes downcast.
“No, I do not expect us to have much of a chance at all, merely to slow the enemy. Our forces are inexperienced and unprepared while our enemy is both and more numerous as well. However, while we shall certainly lose this city, we can win elsewhere. Bloodied by battle, our survivors will link up with the third and second legions, already recalled from the east. With that, they will form an army great enough to beat back the Duke and whatever mercenaries he has gathered to his banner.” Having already betrayed the Empress’s entreaties to defend the Spire at all costs in my heart, I confidently spoke of my plans for the future. All present looked relieved, even that of the dissenter, the captain of artillery.
“Do not inform any of your men of this however, this decision has been made by me and me alone using the power invested in me by the Empress. Even she cannot be allowed to hear such, but I shall require you to prepare. The Empress herself has expressed her intent to let every man in this city die before it is allowed to fall, an act of madness, but I will not allow events to proceed as such. Upon the loss of the outer wall, there will no longer be purpose in defending the city and I shall order a breakthrough made in the direction opposite the breach. No matter how many men the enemy possesses, the city is vast and if they dare to encircle it they will be but feeble in number, easily swept aside by our massed ranks. At that time, I will ride to the palace and personally extract the Empress, forcefully if necessary, to continue to serve as sovereign in our retreat. Unfortunately however, due to her obstinance over the defense of the city I am certain that few if any of the Empress’s Shield will survive the battle. The loss of the most experienced and skilled regiment in the Empire will be much mourned in the days to come, I am sure.” With a hushed tone to conceal my treasonous plan, I informed the captains of every detail.
Stone faced, the previous relief of their faces draining as they realized my intent to go against their sovereign’s will, they digested my words. As the Home Guard had already been expanded specifically because of the Empress’s mishandling of the Empire’s military following the disappearance of her uncle, they certainly possessed doubts in her ability to make strategic decisions. Additionally, even to those enthused by my granting of sweeping power to expand their ranks, the expectation of the Empress to hold the city against such odds seemed like an act of madness. However, given the betrayal of the Duke, felt deep within the hearts of each man present as all had fought at his side during the tumultuous days of the civil war, the prospect of betraying the Empress for which they had already devoted their lives, even if that betrayal was to further her cause, sat poorly with them.
“Thank you, Nathaniel for doing your duty as Lord Protector, and retaining a clear mind as all the world seems to turn on its head. We will need such effective leadership in the days to come if we are to retain any hope of defeating the Duke of Brackenweir in battle. I believe I speak for all assembled as I pledge my support to your plan.” A blond haired man of middling height, looking almost mundane in comparison to the rest of the captains present, spoke solemnly as he bowed to Nathaniel, his clenched fist pressed against his heart. This was the first captain of foot, Ethan Garrow, and the overall commander of the Home Guard, the most levelheaded among the officers present.
After overcoming their own collective internal turmoil over conflicting loyalties, one by one the rest of the captains proceeded likewise in bowing their heads and pledging their support. With such unilateral agreement with his plan, Nathaniel felt confident that he would, at the very least, be able to save half of the men amassed in the city’s defense. They would, hopefully after thoroughly bloodying the nose of the Duke of Brackenweir, be half trained peasants no more but survivors, veterans wielding vengeance for the slain in their hearts, ready to form the blade of the spear that will pierce the heart of the treacherous Duke and sweep the invading foreigners out of the Empire.