The battalion marched down the road in column formation. Hundreds of pikes and halberds reflected brightly under the light of the early morning sun. Banner bearers held the imperial flag of Steelhawk high in the sky.
The flag was a black hawk with a crown on it's head atop a dark blue background. In its left talon it held a long scepter and in its right a halberd. It was the flag of the mightiest of the human empires on the continent of Avengard.
They had set off from Fiferidge in order to reenforce the garrison at the southern border. A new offensive by the Southern League had caught Steelhawk off guard. This was right after dealing with a series of large scale pirate raids in the Middle Sea which threatened Steelhawk's lucrative trade routs with the Zurians. These factors caused manpower to be stretched quite thin in the southern peninsula of Avengard which Steelhawk controlled half of.
About 2500 soldiers were marching towards the southern frontier, most of which were poor quality. Many of them were peasant conscripts, others mercenaries. Among their ranks were many immigrant soldiers.
Steelhawk's immigration policy was in order for a foreigner to become a full citizen with rights a foreigner must serve 2 years in the army. Once their two years were up they would be given a small plot of land out in the frontier for them and their family. It is for this exact reason they are used as cannon fodder in battles.
The whole column was armed quite poorly with an assortment of old weapons and scavenged armor.
About three miles away from them the Blitz Brigade, numbering around 400, waited within the woods.
"Fine day isn't it," said cavalry officer Zernico Tolero.
"Sure is, its nice and warm today eh," said an immigrant soldier Zernico had come quite acquainted with.
Zernico had started his military career 3 years ago when he was 16. Coming from a poor family with no prior military history it was surprising he was able to rise to the rank of officer. His talent had caught the eye of Captain Ivacov Grent who allowed him to rise through the ranks.
"Everything alright there Zernico," said Ivacov.
"Yep,"
"It's about 10 more miles to the frontier."
"Good to know."
The column came past the forest and was about three miles from Stonenburg when the first bolts fell. A hundred twangs rang out from the darkness of the forest as a barrage of crossbow bolts fell out onto the column.
A bolt hit Zernico's friend straight in the head with enough force to cause one of his eyes to pop and spraying blood and brain matter from the hole the bolt made in his head. He fell lifeless right next to Zernico on his horse.
"What the fuck!"
A bolt of magic hit Zernico's horse's head blowing it to pieces spraying gore all over Zernico blinding him. The horse fell taking Zernico with it trapping him under the dead beast's weight.
Crossbow bolt and magic attacks surged out of the forest before the cavalry charged. In the chaos the soldiers were scattered. The small fraction of soldiers which were able to be effectively commanded by the officers formed into pike squares and were taking defensive positions. Imperial crossbowmen mounted a half-assed counter volley before getting shot down.
The cavalry thundered out from the forest like demons from the pits of hell shouting obscene and maddening war cries. The black armored cavalry of the Blitz Brigade were led by the cruel Commander Yegar. A force of elite shock infantry followed behind led by Fangrim. The cavalry cut down the scattered infantry, impaling them with lances and beheading them with swords. Yegar's crow like laughter rose from the cries for mercy and chaotic sounds of battle.
With the scattered infantry run down and mauled the small group of imperial cavalry began to prepare an attack. Zernico crawled out under the headless corpse of his own horse, face scarred by the bone shards which got thrown into his face. He wiped the blood from his face just in time to witness the disorderly countercharge by the small force of imperial cavalry.
Horse and blade collided just in front of the imperial pike squares. Zernico drew his sword and began rushing past bloody and wounded bodies to get to the safety of one of the pike squares. The imperial cavalry was swiftly obliterated by the more experienced and better armed Blitz Brigade.
"HOLD YOUR GROUND MEN! DON'T BREAK FORMATION LEST YOU BE CUT DOWN BY THE ENEMY CAVALRY!" shouted Captain Ivacov Grent on his horse in the middle of one of the pike squares.
Commander Yegar raised his bloody blade and shouted, "Mages fire at the pike squares!"
Fireballs shot out from the forest at the static pike squares, where pikes and halberds stuck out like spines on a porcupine's back. The troop density of the squares backfired on the imperials as the fireballs crashed into the squares blowing people to pieces and sending charred, bloody chunks of flesh flying into the air.
Ivacov looked around him and immediately realized his mistake.
"Dam it I was too cautious, I should have attacked in stead of holding a defensive position," he thought.
"CHARGE! ATTACK!"
Fangrim's forces charged at the imperial's like a pack of wolfs on their prey. The moved with superhuman speed and struck with terrible and unnatural strength.
What little order was left had completely disintegrated by now amongst the ranks. Soldiers were either fleeing the battlefield or fighting off the Blitz Brigade.
Zernico was now charging at the enemy, long sword in hand. He ran straight into the fight pushing his way past the bodies, people, and dust to fight the enemy. A few imperials had engaged Fangrim's shock troopers and were fighting hard. The battle lines were lose and mostly scattered.
Zernico ran the the battlefield before encountering one of Fangrim's shock troopers. Zernico ducked a swing from an axe and smashed his blade straight into the enemy's helmet. He stumbled back and Zernico dashed forward and impaled the enemy through his chainmail and dirty white surcoat. The blade had impaled The enemy's heart and blood gushed out from the wound.
Another shock trooper came behind and attacked with his short spear. Zernico dodged the thrust but got bashed in the chest by the enemy's round shield making a small dent in Zernico's breastplate. Zernico swung with his blade which grazed the horns on the enemy's helmet. The enemy unleashed a flurry of thrusts and swings with his spear. Zernico dashed back and parried the attacks.
Zernico lunged and thrusted with his blade which was blocked by the enemy's shield. Quickly Zernico kicked the enemy in the chest causing him to drop his spear. Zernico's blade arched in the air before decapitating the enemy spattering crimson all over Zernico and sending the enemy's head flying through the air.
Suddenly something bashed into Zernico's back sending him falling on his face. A sharp pain surged through him and Zernico looked at his side, an arrow had hit him.
The shock troopers of the Blitz Brigade were destroying the imperial infantry. Fangrim led them with his twin axes, each strike cutting down three men at a time. He zipped around the battlefield with great speed, moving like a tiger, cutting down entire groups of imperials with ease.
"KAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA! Look at that, Fangrim's berserker abilities are always fascinating to watch! The imperials are falling back let us join this slaughter my horsemen!" shouted Yegar.
The cavalry charged down upon the scattered imperial forces, like black thunder prepared to obliterate the imperials.
Zernico crawled himself up and watched as Yegar's cavalry attacked.
A horseman rushed Zernico with his long axe at swung it at him. Zernico rolled out of the way and swung at the horseman. The horseman parried the swing and countered with his own attack. The axe bashed into Zernico's breastplate making him fall. One of the horses hooves bashed into Zernico's chest making him cough up blood and pinning him to the ground.
The horseman raised his axe to strike down Zernico yet before the axe fell a mace bashed into the horseman's head crushing his skull. The mace then quickly bashed into the horses head killing the horse instantly. Both man and horse dropped onto the floor and Zenico looked up to see Ivacov upon his great white horse in front of him.
Ivacov was greatly wounded, 5 arrows stuck out of his body, blood poured out from him his closed helmet and his armor was dented and broken. Holes in his armor from which blood spurted and poured. He lifted the visor from his helmet to reveal his bloodied and broken face.
"Zernico, you are most trusted officer. I am dying Zernico, I shall not survive this battle. My foolishness and indecisiveness has led to this slaughter. Take my horse and go to my brother Volvgar at the frontier, tell him of our destruction at the hands of the Black Dagger Bandits. For the love of Terra, warn them..."
Ivacov dropped from his horse, dead. Zernico stared at the dead body in absolute horror.
"I must respect the final wishes of my commander. Crying for his death shall do nothing, I must take action."
Zernico hastily hopped on the horse and fled the battle, weaving past the bloodthirsty bandits and the bodies of his slaughtered and butchered his comrades.
By now the entirety of the imperial forces had fled or had been killed. On the blood stained battlefield the bandits scalped and beheaded the dead soldiers. The several supply wagons which were at the back of the column were being sacked and looted.
Zernico had made great distance already on Ivacov's horse. He looked behind him to see his captain's scalped head suck upon a pike. He turned away with new resolve to destroy the Black Dagger Bandits.
After about an hour, Yegar and Fangrim met on the bloody field to talk.
"How many did we lose Commander Yegar."
"About 34 and we cut down about 1400 imperials."
"Excellent Commander Yegar, once again you genius leads us to victory."
"How many imperials did you kill Fangrim."
"Somewhere around 150 sir."
"Excellent I killed 200. You were only 50 off from my kill count, better than last time Fangrim Espada. KAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA!"