The Battle of Cesana

 

Where the Irrana mountains and the Vaults meet there is a large valley which acts as the main connection between Bretonnia and Tilea. Where exactly the border falls is open to some interpretation, and many battles have been fought over this question.

In the Autumn of the year 2491 these issues were once again tested when an unusually large band of marauding Greenskins came down out of the inhospitable Irrana mountains. The numerous villages which dotted the road main road between Tilea and Bretonnia called out for aid. However, the Count of Marguilles, a figure of ill repute named Gui deBague, announced that as the area was claimed as Tilea, the prince of Miragliano was duty bound to protect them.

The Count must have been aware that Miragliano was currently menaced by the undead and unable to respond. Perhaps, he was planning on taking the area after it had been ravaged by the orcs, but he hand not reckoned that others would move to defend the valley.

Kazad Frukund was not a powerful hold, in fact it was considered rustic by the larger Karaks, but the dwarfs of Kazad Frukundhad had long profited from the trade that flowed through the valley. While they did not get involved in the squabbles between men, orcs and goblins were a different matter!

At the same time Ravola was overflowing with refugees and soldiers from Udolpho and the villages across the north who had fled from the undead and Skaven. To last the winter, every scrap of the harvest would be needed and the grain from the valley was too important to loose to rampaging orcs, so a force made up of Ravolan soldiers, Uldolpho survivors and a mix of mercenaries set off to defend it.

The village of Cesana was one of the larger ones in the valley. Situated near a small mountain pass often used by the dwarfs, it boasted many large fields, now full of golden wheat. The people had already begun to flee when the first dwarfs began to march out of the pass. It was less than a day later that the Ravolans arrived.

The location of Cesana.

The leaders of the two forces met at the now famous l' auberge de plume noire, the Black Feather Inn. It was hear they decided that the dwarfs would take a slightly forward position in the foothills of the mountains, while the Ravolans and their allies would gather just beyond a little river that fed the town's watermill. The first wolf riders were spotted only the morning after this meeting, and the allies rushed to take up their positions.

Gutsmash Rok'ed was thick, even by orc standards. It was often whispered amongst the goblins that his ever-present Wyvern, Toofy, was the brains of the two. The orcs that followed him had no such doubts, he always found a good scrap, and that is all they needed.

It was Snigrab, the goblin wolf-boss who found the village. He had tried to explain his plan. “Da village is full of dat yellow grass, da 'umies love dat stuff, dey will fight for it, an if dey don', den we can smash up da village anyway.”

Gutsmash had just looked at him, eyes staring emptily and slowly lifted his finger to point vaguely into the distance. “Fight?” At Snigrab's confirmation Gutsmash let out a loud bellow and the whole warband set off.

 

The battle.

The Greenskins surged out of the forest, all following the plan. The flank facing the dwarfs was made up of a horde of goblins and a large number of Orc bowmen. The centre which was also going to fall upon the dwarfs contained all the strongest greenskin forces, the black orcs, big'uns, savage orcs, 2 giants and Gutsmash himself. The flank facing the town of Cesana and most of the empire forces was the night goblins and orc boys led by Burn Eyes. It seemed like the orcs planned to overwhelm the dwarfs before the empire forces could join the fight.

Where the empire and dwarf lines meet.

The defenders of the village.

The battle started badly for the allies when a shot from the rock lobba destroyed the dwarf cannon. Deamonseater, the giant, also suffered an injury from a spear chukka.

The allies responded by by rushing the empire up, with deamonseater charging the wolf boys who were too close. A shot from the dwarf grudge thrower hit Gutsmash, but both he and Toofy were unscathed, demonstrating why he was called rock 'ed. The pistoliers road up to harass the orc boys near the town. Some orcs fell to shooting, but it was not many, however one of the greenskin giants was badly wounded.

Some of the wolf boys were flattened by deamonseater, but not enough and they continued to fight.

Deamonseater battling the wolf riders.

 

The boys advance is blocked.

Now the greenskins showed their true colours, with the goblins and savage orcs all squabbling and holding up the advance. Toofy was also distracted and failed to charge the dwarfs. The pistoleers trying to delay the orcs were caught by the unusually reactive boys. The quick shout and a few shots were all the aspirant knights could manage before they were clubbed from their horses. The rampaging orcs then continued on, coming to a halt just in front of the wizard Edward and his crossbowmen. The wounded giant charged into the empire knights and crushed 4 before they hacked him down with their great swords. Deamonseater only flattened 1 of the wolfboys, and then, seemly afraid of the howling wolves, he turned on his heels and fled away through the dwarf lines, escaping the pursuing wolves.

The block is removed.

This flurry of movement had left the orcs badly positioned and the empire pounced. The greatswords crashed into the flank of the boys while the halberdiers charged the front. Angelica and her demigryphs charged the wolf boys, who tried to flee, but were run down and scattered. The demigryps ended their spent charge in front of the black orcs and big'uns. The knights and Capitan McCoy continued forward closing on the night goblins. A fanatic was hastily pushed in their way, the whirling goblin smashing 4 knights with his great ball and chain. 

The fight in the center.

The dwarfs, also sensing the momentary confusion of the greenskins, began to move forward while their guns and war machines fired. Half the savage orcs were cut down, the giant wounded and a rock from the grudge thrower struck Smashgut, knocking him to the ground and badly wounding Toofy. The orc boys beat down some of the men they faced, but hit in the flank they broke and were run down, Burn Eyes among them. One of the engineering brothers, Lofarr (known as Luigi to the local Tileans) aimed his hand gun and brought down the crazed fanatic who had just crashed through the knights.

The boys and Burn Eyes the shaman meet their end.

The greenskin flank is wiped out.

Things were going wrong for the greenskins, but orcs are still orcs. The heavy center crashed into the demigryps, while the wounded giant charged into the dwarf clansmen. The orc bowmen tried to charge the advancing longbeards on the far flank, but failed to make the distance. The savage orcs also failed to hit the dwarfs. “Chef” 'amzy now saw his chance, the goblin shaman first cursed the long beards to slow them and then gathered as much power as he could to unleash the bad moon curse. The power was too great for the runesmith to stop. However, Edward, sensing the power of the spell, even from across the battle field, read from his dispell scroll, ending the threat before it had begun. With this, the dwarf flank had been saved.

The giant fighting the clansmen, picked up the shouting champion and unceremoniously smushed him in its great hand, even as his fellows failed to hurt their massive assailant. However, the dwarfs held position. 1 demigryph was hacked down by the black orcs, but 6 orcs were killed in return. The black orc boss leading them challenged angelica and was able to wound her before her demigryph ripped him apart.

The last desperate charge.

The battle was now coming to an end. McCoy and his remaining knights ran down the night goblins. The black orcs were able to fell the last of the demigryphs, only to be obliterated by the dwarf organ gun. Angelica broke and caught the big'uns. The giant was felled by the clansmen, who then saw off the savage orcs after a short fight. The orc bowmen were broken by the longbeards and run down. The vast goblin horde was slowly pushing back the missile dwarfs on the far flank, but seeing the rest of the army crumble, they began to withdraw. Only Toofy remained, wondering around the center of the battlefield in confusion until night fell and he flew off.

The goblins, nearly turn the flank, but not quite.

Yngvi sat at the war council which had been gathered at the Black Feather Inn. Outside the sounds of merriment could be heard as the soldiers, townsfolk and even dwarfs celebrated the victory. Casualties had been moderate, but a larger number than expected were wounded rather than slain. At the head of council sat Yngvi, with the human, McCoy as his second. The human woman, Angelica as well as a wizard named Edward were there. Yngvi had not met them before, but he had heard of the woman. To his right sat the dwarven leaders. Munin and Lofarr, the engineers were well know to the Tileans, and had been among the strongest supporters of the venture. The runesmith, Uri was like most of his profession a conservative, and had only accompanied them after much bargaining. Yngvi knew where the runsmith had failed, the human wizard had succeeded, and in doing so saved countless dwarven lives. He hoped that this would bring new understanding to the ageing runesmith. With a cup of watery human beer in his hand, Yngvi cleared his throat and began to give the victory speech.