Post
by Coolant » Wed Apr 21, 2004 4:03 am
And so he returns...
It has been ages since he last set foot this far south, away from the snowy mountains of the North. His self imposed exile was a necessary one, years of war and battles had cost his people much suffering and they needed time to regroup. His economic and military infrastructure were in shambles after his last great battle on these southern plains...
The veteran warrior gazed far and wide and he remembered... Yes, it was here... The Great Battle of the Three Hills... He remembered.
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*The sound of battle could be heard all over the place. Men and horses screaming in pain and agony as blood stained the fields*
"Sir, Calidus has reinforced his forward positions with Barbarian mercenaries. Nearly 8 companies are marching on Saladin. Nemesis' cavalry are trying to flank us." The breathless messenger reported as he tried to stop the blood gushing out of his shoulder.
Coolant "The Cold," Emperor of the North looked westwards, towards the lines of his clanmate Saladin. Could Saldin's tired, but experienced troops hold?
More enemies were on the horizon, he knew... His treaties with Undertaker and Allister Fiend were over and his spies told him the First Family were on the move. They had overrun lands belonging to the Balance of Time, which he hoped would have acted as a buffer, giving Saladin and himself time to finish off the Circle of Nine.
"Bring the 9th and 21st Divisions up, I want 4 companies of Shieldbearers to reinforce our center wing. Use the Rankbreakers and our Irregulars to hit Nemesis' right. We must force him to commit his last reserves. Tell our archers to continue the pressure on Calidus' phalanx and use our own pikemen to box in their cavalry. Keep the 3rd Division on reserve, but tell them to be ready at a moment's notice" Coolant calmly ordered, as he fingered his Great Sword, Coffee... His tone and demeanor hiding the dread that was growing within him. When would the First Family arrive?
*Suddenly, loud thumping noises could be heard and before Coolant's very eyes, Nemesis' lines opened wide... And out came Heavy Calavry bearing the Banner of Undertaker!*
*His own pikemen were horribly out of position, moving to engage Nemesis' cavalry, which seemed tiny compared to this group*
*Knights armed with lances came thundering down on his swordsmen, their range far exceeding that of the northern soldiers*
*Without even pausing for breath, the knights broke through the line continuing their charge cutting down all in their path... His two divisions which were on their way to attack Nemesis were caught in the path of these knights. They had no support and most died where they stood.*
"Messenger! Tell Saladin I will buy him as much time as I can... My pikemen should annihlate Nemesis' cavalry and I should be able to divide his infantry. My archers have weakened Calidus significantly, Saladin should attack immediately and destroy the Circle of Nine, then turn to engage the First Family. I will do my best to hurt them..." As the messenger rode off to carry his last order of the battle, Coolant turned and looked behind him at his elite forces, his household unit.
"Praetorian Guards, to ME!" Coolant bellowed as his horse surged forward carrying him directly into the path of Undertaker's knights... Thousands of fierce Northern Berserkers plunged right in after their Emperor... The thundering crash as they met Undertaker's knights shook the very earth...
That was the last anyone saw of Coolant "The Cold"...
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That was nearly 20 years ago... Though he survived the battle, his forces were decimated. Three quarters of his famed Praetorian Guards perished in that battle. Of the 15 Divisions he brought to the battle, twelve were lost with no survivors.
After the battle, Coolant also learned that the First Family, supported by Ar-Sereg knights had taken 5 cities, all major industrial centers belonging to the Northern Empire...
His forces in tatters, the Cold One had no choice... He retreated back to his homeland in the North, the source of his power. For 20 years, he had rebuilt his military and the economy. Now, the time was right for his return.
Already 4 neutral cities had surrendered and sworn alleigance to the Northern Empire, a name the locals had not heard for many years... Now the rumours were everywhere... The Northern Hordes were back!
"Sir, Lord Xwing's encampment is right ahead... We have been told the rest of his clanmates belonging to the Square of 144 are there with him. They are expecting us." The Captain told his Emperor proudly.
"Very well." Coolant nudged his horse and with a wave of the arm, the Great Northern Hordes were on the move...
Tens, maybe hundreds of thousands followed behind him, the banners of the North like trees in a forest. His proud Praetorian Guard surrounded him, in their bright red armour.
The Cold One has returned...
Coolant "The Cold"