The Battle of Raejisa

[Thanasi]

The Velkan army expected a battle, a great resistance from the Khursites as they marched into Raejisa to reclaim Dejan's home. For how could they not when they hold such a prize? Yet there was no battle, no great resistance as the Velkan army marches into Raejisa as liberators to the cheers of the crowds of their fellow faithful and giving thanks to Dejan and the New Wolf for their salvation... Which is slightly odd given how Anastasi II hasn't been declared to have achieved partial ascension yet but the Commandant isn't going to question it. Instead he has occupied the city and has ordered the men to dig in, prepare everything they can for a defensive battle. Commandant Matvei Ralian has been around long enough to know things are never this easy, so he is waiting for something to go wrong.

 

"Commandant, report from the forward scouts, the armies of the Eyes are approaching and are about two days out."

 

And there is the thing that went wrong. "Numbers?"

 

"By current estimates, we are outnumbered three to one."

 

The commandant sighs, 18,000 vs 6000 then. He gazes down at the map of the city and reflects on his orders, personally told to him by the Keeper of Family Virtue before she departed on her own campaign, a diversionary assault towards Khur itself, done under the assumption that Khur would defend Raejisa, not entirely abandon it and so forcing them to break off troops was deemed a good idea. Her tone was grim, proclaimed without question.

 

"These are my orders and heed them well, Commandant. Khur plans to hand Dejan's homeland over to the Eyes, over to slavery, the destruction of our halls of faith, and murder of good and faithful men and women. We cannot allow that to happen, you are to retake Raejisa or die trying. The heart of our faith must not be sullied by those who profane the name of Dejan and the Empire. Either return victorious or return a corpse."

 

And now here he stands, with the Sixth Wolf Guard, the Third Frost Guard, and his own beloved Second Engineers. Velka has mustered every combat ready unit for this campaign and the diversionary assault and he can only hope it will be enough. But even in dark times, Dejan still provides what aid He can which is proven by another officer arriving, this time with good news.

 

"Commandant, report from the third scout platoon, the armies of the League of the Hundred Pearls are about a day's march out."

 

The commandant sighs in relief, he didn't expect them to actually make it. "Thank Dejan they made it in time." He doesn't expect much from them but sometimes what one needs is bodies and he needs every body he can get. "Make all efforts to welcome our allies into Raejisa and send their commanding officers to me for briefing. I don't care who they sent to command them, if they want any chance of winning it will be under Velkan leadership."

Edited October 2 by Thanasi (see edit history)