Collaborative Campaign Years 10-11: Part 1

 The Year of the Goat (Campaign Year 10) saw an unusual calm spread across all lands. The following Year, however, saw business as usual for the Empires of Ziguria and Picenia, with their leaders plotting new ways to expand their territories.

Year 11 (the Year of the Snake) sees Xeroz, King of Kings, all tremble before his name, once again attempting to subjugate the ancient land of Pylonia... (text and photos are the intellectual property of Martin Smith and are posted with my thanks for his input)

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 The Second Battle of Raphan 

Over the past six years Zigura’s King of Kings Xeroz’ incursions into Pylonia had met with unexpectedly strong resistance. For such a decadent state the Pylonians, under their despotic God-King Hipohap XXXVI, had proven a tough nut to crack, and had sent the battered remnants of two Ziguran Royal Armies fleeing homewards. 

But still coveting the resources Pylonia might afford, Xeroz now reenlisted the services of his retired Master of Horse, General Mahariz. A decade ago this wily old commander had quashed the rebellion of Toshibaz, the King’s brother, and had also captured Pylonian territory through victory at the Battle of the Ypokos River, in the Year of the Pot Bellied Pig (Year 3). His objective, he was informed, was to take the coastal province of Raphan, held for Hipohap by Governor Hepu. 

After a few months of preparation the Master of Horse dutifully set out westwards, at the head of yet another Ziguran Royal Army, with the cream of the horse-riding nobility leading the advance. Yet secretly he prayed to Taran that this would be his last campaign…but would the god listen to a mere mortal?

Meanwhile, in Raphan, information from Governor Hepu’s well chosen spies in Zigura flowed steadily west along the trade routes to the astute Pylonian, who made his preparations to stop the Zigurans in their tracks. Picking a battlefield near the Ziguran border, Governor Hepu summoned the levies and the few regulars under his command and marched out. Deploying across the coast road, anchoring his line on a swathe of sand dunes, he patiently awaited the Zigurans, having devised a cunning plan involving the Cyraenian mercenary spearmen in his service…

Soon a clear night saw the two armies awaiting dawn within a few bowshots of each other, sleeping in their assigned positions, for fear of surprise. With the glow of dawn behind him, and mist clinging to the shoreline, Mahariz gave the signal, and the Ziguran forces lurched forwards. The sun, he calculated, would soon be in the Pylonians’ eyes, hindering his enemy while aiding his own troops. 

Inland the Ziguran mounted nobility led off on the left, with the Regulars following in the centre  and the Ziguran Militia advancing astride the coast road.

First contact was on the left, where the Ziguran noble cavalry hurled themselves upon the densely packed Pylonian levies. These initially resisted well, but then began to become disorganised, while their light cavalry supports delayed their Ziguran opposite numbers with admirable zeal. Overseen by Mahariz in person, the Ziguran Regulars of the centre now joined the fray, but were hindered by sand dunes, much as Governor Hepu had planned, though eventually the Pylonian right began to falter.

Nearer the coast the Ziguran Militia made good progress, and assaulted the Pylonian left, in a slow grinding clash. But behind them the shoreline mist cleared to reveal Cyraenian boats disgorging armoured spearmen onto the beach - Hepu’s plan for his mercenaries was thus revealed as they slowly, steadily advanced towards the Ziguran baggage train. Mahariz despatched skirmishers to stall the Cyraenians, but the bronze-clad spearmen proved unstoppable and fought their way into the Ziguran camp, causing consternation in nearby Ziguran ranks.

Mahariz’ attention was, however, focussed on a group of heavy chariots which, led by Governor Hepu himself, were breaking up parts of the Militia’s advancing line. Undaunted, the old Ziguran general moved to confront his opposite number and a swirling clash of chariotry ensued, in which Mahariz’ earlier prayer to Taran was answered: this would indeed be his last campaign, as, in the dust and confusion, he fell to a hurled javelin.

Word of the death of the much-loved Master of Horse and loss of the baggage train soon spread, and Ziguran resolve crumbled, units turning to run from the exhausted but jubilant Pylonians. 

Yet again a Royal Army of Zigura had failed to defeat the indefatigable Governor of the Pylonian border province, whose clever use of seaborne mercenaries had paid off, and saved Raphan from the covetous Xeroz and his subjects.

The Victor

The passing of Mahariz

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Be careful what you wish for is today's "Thought for the Day" . Another failure for Xeroz; will his throne be threatened?

Thanks again to Martin for another cracking report - looks like that was a fun game.