The Battle of Piccola Via del Nord

 

The Battle of Piccola Via del Nord

It had been almost a week since the fall of Udolpho and little had been seen of the attackers. Many peasants from the outlying villages had fled south to the safety of Miragliano's mighty walls, bringing tales of the undead, but little reliable information about what had happened in detail was available.

This all changed when the boarder guard reported a force marching down the piccola via del nord. What was more alarming for the city council was that rather than moving slowly and raising more corpses from the villages and old battle sites, the undead were making good speed following the road. A force of city mercenaries was quickly gathered and rushed north to face the undead on the road.

The mercenaries were under the nominal command of the man who hired them, Prince Loren of Miragliano, also known as “the goddess’s knight” by the common folk of the region. Actual command was split between Captain Yuri, a former empire solider and the ogre mercenary, Captain Hawks, who had brought his band up from the south. There were also 2 wizards, Alhazred and his apprentice, Rashaad. There was also a mysterious woman know as Magrit who had accompanied Hawks and his band.

The force was made up of 1 block of foot, 1 of cavalry, 2 small bands of ogres and a small group of gentlemen at arms. An ogre hefting a huge gun provided ranged support. They faced what looked to be a vast hoard of shambling dead.

Zebulon was once again displeased, he had hoped to be allowed to remain at Udolpho, rebuilding his strength before marching south, but the will of his master could not be denied.

Now in front of him a force of mortals, arrayed across the road the rough land that surrounded it. It looked a strong force and Zebulon was keenly aware of the losses he had taken at Udolpho. All he had now were mainly skeletons and zombies to command. A small number of grave guard which had been in reserve at Udolpho were also there. The positive he could find was that massive skeletal monstrosity that marched with his army. He had found its remains in a marsh, so close to the surface it has been child's play to raise. Now it crashed along with skeletons riding atop it. There are also large numbers of ghouls skulking around the edges of his army, but after the last battle he doubted their worth.

Somewhere nearby was his assistant/apprentice/walking experiment, known only as Gauk, who was hopefully arranging the force into some kind of battle line.

Whit the voice of his master willing him on, Zebulon started off towards the mortals who blocked his way.

The battle

The defenders await the undead.

The Battle of Piccola Via del Nord started off with undead moving down the road while the forced of Miragliano waited to receive them. Only one small group of ogres moved to confront them. The ghouls scampered and skulked through rough ground on the left flank. Cannon fire was able to bring down the necrofex colossus while the small band of ogres held up the skeletons and zombies while the grave guard press on alone.

 

The delay meant that the grave guard were surrounded and wiped out before the rest of the army could catch up, though Captain Yuri was brought down by one of their enchanted swords.

 

 

On the left flank the ghouls faced the gentelmen at arms and after one charge they broke and panicked the other unit. This began a a series of charges where the men at arms would scare off the ghouls, but fail to catch them until at last the scattered from the field near the end of the battle.

The noble gentlemen of Miragliano hunting ghouls.

Eventual the large block of zombies made it to the mercenaries lines, and though some of the mercenaries fell, including the apprentice Rashaad, who was messily devoured, it was clear the zombies were doomed. Seeing this Zebulon took his leave, a few zombies dragging Gauk along as he lad lost his legs to a cannonball.

The final combat where the undead were driven back, though not without cost.

The undead had been driven back, and the northern approaches to Miragliano had been secured