“The Spire has endured for millennia, at its foundation a kilometer in-breath, so tall that even till today its height remains unmeasured, ever grasping at the skies surrounded by tall walls. It serves as the residence of the Tyrants and Empresses of Caecus for hundreds of years, it also serves as the harness for the southern mages and warlocks of the Vosterian school. Contrary to popular belief it wasn’t built by the Caicasi, on the Contrary, It was discovered in the Tidal Isle after the Exodus, no wonder all the Tyrant lose their minds, who cannot think himself to be a God living in that” - Travelogues of Humbass, Hendelian Explorer & Merchant
The colony of Valendria, Red Cost City-States, the Year 1329 AE Regaling Calendar
Today the last of the Aeranians will be driven back into the Starving Sea, thought Reas passing the sappers, preparing for the final assault on the eastern green skin fortress, which was commanded by General Black Eye, the siege has gone on for 18 months which has been grueling for both the sides, the walls though extremely damaged still stood somehow. Imperials have faced a typical Aernian defense facing sapper prepared grounds, trenches, stakes for cavalry assaults but the main reason for the protracted siege were the Vostrian mages.
“It will end tomorrow” came a voice from behind him “the ritual is complete the mages will bring the tower down by dawn, the Vosterian gets would be bought to half their strength,” said the lieutenant who was in her armor already.
He retorted “something similar to that was predicted by the high generals 8 months before as well instead we were met with massacres on all the breaches created on the walls, the enemy mages and grenades ended the assault”.
Renas after adjusting her lieutenant rank plate on her arm calmly contradicted “this time its different we have a chosen mage leading the ritual, it will break the mana wards unlike the last time”
The sun will rise in probably an hour thought Reas, it will be the final Assault tomorrow. The alliance had accumulated all its forces ready to cleanse the Red-Coast of the forces of evil coming from the isle beyond, suddenly a wave of strong winds hit them both Reas and Lieutenant stumbled along with the soldiers around them.
A ray of light jutted from the center of the allied camp striking at the city, the moment it hit the wards it appeared as if the barrier would withstand the strike like the last time but it cracked and eventually broke under the pressure then finally the light struck the tower.
There was a deafening explosion followed by a blinding light when our vision returned, the tower was gone along with the central plaza of the city.
The flares lit up the sky, “that’s our signal” she said pulling her sword out of her sheath, it might really end today thought Reas, as he prepared his unit for the assault the trebuchets started their bombardment on the Walls, as the soldiers of the allied armies were pouring out from the camps and were forming ranks in front of the City walls for the final push, the city had layered defenses so this won’t be the final stand of the enemy but the Holy See has sanctioned city-wide bombardment, occupied or not the city was going to suffer after this.
Finally the musketeers and archers provided cover fire for the advancing soldiers accompanied by mages, but unlike the last time they were able to damage the Mages of Vosterian School along with the archers on the walls, without the tower they lacked the harness to conjure their powers in full capacity, new breaches were opened along with the older ones that were filled with debris or makeshift barricades to prohibit entry, the siege engines on the bastion and walls were cutting down swathes of imperial and allied forces approaching the walls, the arrows and sorcery were taking there toll as well but the allied and imperial armies were relentless, finally the infantry were approaching the base of the forty feet battered wall, where they were met with a web of trenches manned by the bridge burning green skin legions, there rank were filled with goblins and some short heighted Orcs who were responsible for preventing tunnelling by our sappers below the walls, armed with guns and cross bow although they were able to fend of the first line of Veterum peasant levies they were no match for the Imperial Heavy Infantry accompanied by the flagellants of the holy see the trenches were being cleared one layer at a time, it was evening till the soldiers were able to secure breach heads into the city through the walls and contest the walls and its bastions along with the every fortress jutting out form these walls with ladders brought to the forefront.
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Reas sheathed his sword as his condottiere company had secured the fortress, there was some resistance but the green-skins along with commander Black Eye had fled into the city, I approached the lieutenant examining the prisoners of war who had surrendered on the bastion of the fortress top, “your men were exceptional, without the Imperial support the losses the company would have been tremendous”, without turning the lieutenant replied “It’s the will of the Emperor the black empire of Caecus must be destroyed” I nodded in approval after instructing his adjutant to count the prisoners she asked, “I suppose you were hired by a Veterum noble?”
“yeah the dominion wants to cleanse the land of the Caecasi with this city cleared the Red Coast will be free of dread empire’s influence, driven back to the Tidal Isle where they should be” I moved forward to get a closer look at the prisoners, they were bound in chains made to sit on the ground unarmed, a few green-skin Orcs, three or four goblins along with the usual men and women of Mainlander and Aeranian descent, as he has ventured this south for the first time since the beginning of his mercenary career this was his first time looking the Caecasi this close, who were not trying to shove a sword into his gut.
The Orcs and the Mainlander wore heavy plate armor over a grey tunic along with dark leather trousers, the armor appeared enchanted to stop bullets and arrows, however, the Aeranian wore the standard khaki kurta with leather armor rather than wearing a helmet, they preferred wearing turbans and scarfs to cover their heads logical for mobility I guess, lastly the goblins wore black leather with pieces of metal over the vitals the burning bridge insignia visible on their arm, the quality of equipment was visible though The Empire of Caecus known for a standing professional Army unlike the continental nations, they spent almost double on their individual soldier be it human or green-skin in comparison to any other nation in the continent both on equipment and the training duration.
My attention was broken by the argument going on between captured Aerenian and Caecasi officers and the Imperial Adjutant.
“We need shelter and provisions for the soldiers we cannot be left out here in the cold like animals in a pen,” said the Caicasi officer, bleeding from his forehead Paled skin pointed ears typical of a Caecasi “ this our right under the treaty of Handeln, civil treatment of the prisoners of war” added the Aeranian, brown-skinned and lean.
“Stay back you fucking slavers we don’t care what you want, stay in line or worse will follow” the adjutant had his soldiers pushed them back into the crowd.
“what will you do with them?” I finally asked the lieutenant
“they will be executed by midnight, the siege hasn’t ended the second and the third wall are still under Caecasi control and our soldiers are still fighting for every street of the outer city, the high generals don’t have decided that we don’t have the manpower to keep prisoners”
I glanced at the city beyond, the central plaza was still burning occasional sound of musket fire and grenades going off in far off distances along with clashing swords could still be heard the siege for the outer city was almost over.
With the tower gone, it’s only going to be a matter of weeks before the city is going to be retaken and the original monarchy reinstated, finally the blot being removed from the coast.
“Is it true, The rumors of the Crusade?”
The lieutenant shrugged “you can ask the high clergy about that not me, though I have heard a few black cross knights talking about it”
“…how are they going to cross the starving sea?”
“let us see my friend, the people are exhausted though remember evil is ever grasping and ‘there be monsters’ the horrors and damned will continue to pour from the Tidal Isle towards north, with their flying fortresses, Dragons, magic plagues, undead you name it and lastly but the most dreaded the demented chosen,” said the lieutenant looking at the city.
“may they never arrive”
“may they never arrive” repeated the lieutenant.