Collaborative Campaign Year 7: Part 2

 Once again attention turns Southward, to ancient and dusty Pylonia, where the expansionist Zigurans are continuing their land grab...

Text and pictures are courtesy (and copyright) of Martin Smith:

The Battle of the Wastelands

Sent west by mighty Xeroz, King of Kings and Favoured One of Taran, General Amukar knew he had a tough task ahead of him. Only two years before a Ziguran force sent on a similar mission had encountered stiff Pylonian opposition on the shores of the Great Sea near Raphan, ending in a rapid retreat and the shaming of Zatrab Balshezbu, commander of the Army of the Magreeb, and, by default, of all Zigura’s nobility.

Now, in the Year of the Petulant Pony, it was Amukar’s chance to take his revenge. Avoiding the coastal route, with its boneyard reminders of a former failure, he chose instead to approach across the wastelands to the south. Desert tribesmen had assured him that water could be found, and that they would remain undetected, raising the possibility of a certain level of surprise, and a greater chance of wrong-footing the godless Pylonians. But water had proven scarce, and the tribesmen, as unreliable as ever, melted away as the days dragged on, thirst and indiscipline soon spreading among the Ziguran soldiery.

In Raphan, Governor Hepu received early warning of the movements of his adversary. Payments to the camel-riders of the desert had secured much useful information, with regular reports on the delayed progress of the Ziguran invaders, buying him time to assemble a force to intervene. Some of the assembled throng, around one third, were of unknown loyalty, being bowmen and spearmen from the southern borders with Maraway, but others were true Pylonians, veterans of the Battle of Raphan and firm supporters of their Governor. God-King Hipohap having given his blessing, Hepu now marched out to meet his foe. 

Approaching the encamped Zigurans from the west with much haste, Governor Hepu aimed to break them before they could fully deploy. The fleet footed Maraway contingent would lead the attack, while Pylonians would support and bolster them. Noting the wheel-clogging sand dunes further south, Hepu also ordered his cavalry and chariots to redeploy towards the left, to form up north of the bow-wielding tribesmen. Staunch Pylonian spearmen would follow on, filling any gaps which might appear, and preventing any rearward movement by their untested allies.

But General Amukar had placed his pickets well, and warnings soon arrived of the Pylonians’ advance. Cursing the fickle men of the desert, Amukar now arrayed his force with admirable professionalism. His dishevelled and demoralised spearmen to the far left rested secure against a large expanse of dunes, avoiding any outflanking risk from the Pylonians’ feared chariotry. To the immediate north of the spears, his centre of archers continued the line, leaving a small patch of rough ground to their rear as they deployed. Issuing last from the army’s camp, Amukar led out his heavy chariots, with them forming a formidable right flank. 

So as the heat of the day increased and the Maraway tribesmen moved into range, a deadly duel commencing with the Ziguran regulars. These latter proved more stalwart than the tribesmen opposite, who were outclassed and soon fell into disarray. Seeing his Maraway contingent in disorder, ruining his plan for a rapid win against an unprepared foe, Governor Hepu faced a dilemma….either to fall back, at the risk of retreat becoming a rout, or to roll the dice and attack. 

Fear of his master the God-King may have driven him on, for as his repositioned cavalry formed up about his chariot squadron he offered a silent prayer, ordered the Battle Standard of Raphan to be waved and, risking all, led them on to death or glory.

Watching from his command chariot at the right of the Ziguran lines, General Amukar and his escort looked on in amazement as, out of the dust and confusion, the Pylonian cavalry and chariots surged forward, the standard of Pylonia at their head in the unmistakable battle-wagon of his opposite number. Despite his plan to hold, and let the decadent Pylonians dash themselves fruitlessly against his forces, he could not let such affrontery go unpunished, and immediately commanded his charioteers to attack, and with all speed. As the lines met, confusion reigned: poorly mounted Pylonian battle cavalry fell to stinging volleys from Ziguran hill men, and the skirmishing horse to Amukar’s front fell back before his charge, drawing him on in pursuit. 

But Governor Hepu’s squadron were less easily dealt with, and his onwards rushing chariots now crashed into the dense but yielding mass of Ziguran bowmen, breaking them and driving them in flight into the rough ground behind. Showing the self-control which had earned him his most trusted position, Hepu halted and turned his squadron, before unleashing them upon the exposed and unprotected right flank of the remaining Ziguran archers. 

Chaos spread, chariot horses trampled Ziguran infantry and the invaders’ centre wavered and then broke in rout. Despite his local success, with the Pylonians before him in retreat, Amukar felt an icy chill as the realisation began to sink in that this battle in the wastelands was lost. More and more of his weary foot soldiers were succumbing to the spreading panic, as pursuing Pylonians rode them down. Despite their initial repulse of the Maraway many Zigurans were now feeling the burning need to be elsewhere, away from Pylonian arrows, away from the shrieking axles of the wheeled bringers of death and destruction.

Defeated once more, the invading host fled with all speed into the desert whence they had come, and set course for the safety of the Ziguran border, preferring to face the wrath of Xeroz, and the feared pronouncements of the High Priests of Taran than the pitiless swords and arrows of their Pylonian enemies. Many of them would not arrive…

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Many thanks to Martin for another splendiferous (apologies, I'm running out of superlatives) battle report. Ziguran expansion may have reached its high-water mark? Perhaps it's time for Pylonia to strike back...?