| Fourth Battle of Chumo-Sheh
|
| Date |
RY765 Resplendent Earth |
| Location |
Ford of Chumo-Sheh, Madura |
| Result |
Decisive Azerbani victory |
|
| Belligerents |
| Scarlet Empire (4th Imperial Legion) |
Azerban |
| Commanders |
| Sesus Halaud, Sesus Naomasa |
Anathema-Voivode of Azerban, Rolstovik the Axe of Azer |
| Strength |
1,500 Realm Legionnaires
2,000 Maduran auxiliaries
49 ballistae
12 Dragonblooded |
5,000+ Azerbani soldiers
200+ Maduran soldiers
25 catapults
1 Solar Anathema
2+ Godblooded |
| Casualties and losses |
800 Realm Legionnaires
80+ Maduran auxiliaries
600+ Maduran auxiliaries (fled)
1,200+ Maduran auxiliaries (defected)
21 ballistae
28 ballistae (captured)
7 Dragonblooded |
2,000+ Azerbani soldiers
50+ Maduran soldiers |
|
Preceding Events
The Fourth Battle of Chumo-Sheh was an engagement between the Realm’s 4th Imperial Legion and the armies of Azerban during the Campaign against the Anathema-Voivode. Though named the ‘Fourth Battle’, it was the first at the location in that campaign, the Third Battle of Chumo-Sheh having occurred during the suppression of Azerban by Prince Sesus and the 8th Imperial Legion in RY259, and the ‘First’ and ‘Second’ battles existing apocryphally in Azeri legend.
Prior to the Battle, the battle lines of the 4th Legion and Azerban had settled along the Thousand Rushes River between Azerban and Madura. Though small raiding parties had been making river crossings for some time, the only place where a large force could make their way across was the Ford of Chumo-Sheh, and this was where the largest concentrations of each army had taken up defensive positions, the 4th Legion having stationed a significant force centered on the whole of its 3rd and 4th Dragons on the southern side of the Ford, along with a detatchment of medium infantry from the 6th Dragon, slingers from the 12th Dragon, and significant Maduran auxiliaries, and artillerist scales manning dozens of Ballistae. The expectation amongst nearly all of the 4th’s senior officers was that the Azerbani would launch their assault across the Ford in an attempt to breach Imperial lines, where their numbers would be devastated by superior Imperial soldiery, followed by a counterattack into Azerban that would sweep northward to Azer and put an end to the rebellion.
This prediction proved in error, as in the Battle of Birch Temple Azeri troops crossed the river at another location in large numbers, before splitting to cut off the 4th Legion’s strategoi and 1st Dragon in the Battle of Varad and flank the Imperial defenders of the Ford… their strength bolstered by a large number of captured Legion catapults.
The Battle
The massing of Azerbani troops across the river was easily noticed, Imperial defenses ready: at the center, slingers and archers behind wooden palisades, heavy infantry at the rear for the counterattack. The formation was flanked by scales of ballistae aimed towards the Ford, less reliable Maduran auxiliaries deployed to secure the artillerists and Legion camp forts behind the line. However, the Azerbani seemed as unwilling to cross the river as their Imperial counterparts, and so troops were forced to remain at post lest they be caught flat-footed. This wore on all the soldiers involved, but the Realm’s heavy infantry most of all due to their weighty plate armour. Some younger officers agitated to advance across the ford while their troops remained rested, but the commanders, dragonlord Sesus Halaud of the 3rd Dragon and dragonlord Sesus Naomasa of the 4th Dragon held back… when he ascended to generalship, strategoi Sesus Dochao mused the two knew that whoever marched first would have his forces too mauled to continue on to Azer, leaving the other to seize the loot and glory.
A handful of Azerbani catapults opened fire during the first two days of the battle, but their heavy stones landed midstream on the ford rather than reaching the other side… misses eliciting chuckles from the 4ths officers, sure the Azerbani had placed too far back, wanting to remain outside the reach of the Imperial Exalts and war machines. It was not sufficient to escape the powers of sorcery, however, and the Anathema’s artillery was finally silenced with blazing fire, from 4th Legion sorcerer Cathak Salah.
It was this spellcraft which seemed to serve as signal for the forces of the Anathema, for it was at that moment that the Anathema-Voivode made its presence known. Due to the high number of casualties and general confusion in Imperial ranks following the battle, no definitive account of events exists.
“... it was a demon-giant, standing tall to steal from the Unconquered Sun himself. Stole the light from the sky, stole the light from the sorcerer, even stole the light from my head, sir, I don’t remember what happened next...”
- Legionnaire Quivering Curd
“... the creature’s form flared, sending light and shadow into the morning sky. Fanglord Salah fell dead in an instant, the soul of a sorcerer not pure enough to resist such potent evil. Though traitors and cowards were all about, I fought bravely to cut a corridor for my men to pull back… our commanders had made terrible mistakes, and I was determined to salvage what I could and help the Legion recover under the peerless command of dragonlord Dochao...”
- Talonlord Sesus Naotsugu
And then, stones began to fall upon the right flank of the Imperial force, shattering ballistae and soldier alike, not from across the river but from down the southern bank: a great force of Azerbani had crossed the river in the Battle of Birch Temple, and flanked the Imperial position. There were no berms and palisades to defend against assault that had been dismissed as impossible, as Realm troops reeled and repositioned the flankers charged, as the forces on the opposite bank followed their Anathema in charging across the ford. The ballistae standing on the left flank of the Legion position opened fire to good effect, but the catapult stones launched earlier proved good shelter for the advancing foe, and worse was yet to come.
The power of the Anathema and the flanking attack had shaken the Maduran auxiliaries on the flanks, and many simply dropped their weapons and fled the field. Worse, others sought to earn the demon’s favour by disabling Legion artillery.
Following the doctrines of the Thousand Correct Actions of the Upright Soldier, a formation of five Dragonblooded officers was formed and sent out to lead a countercharge and engage the Anathema directly: the 3rd Dragon’s winglord Sesus Tuwana led talonlords Sesus Kammu and Melon Ball of the 3rd Dragon, talonlord Second Bastard of the 4th Dragon, and talonlord Nirik the Spear of the 6th Dragon.
The course of the battle from this point is poorly detailed in the official record, a fact attributed to the heavy casualties amongst the Legion officers present along with the concurrent loss of strategoi and her staff (though one will note an accurate account may also have reflected poorly on a number of the officers who survived the engagement). The Exalt fang failed to stop the advance of the Anathema and her army, dragonlord Halaud was slain, and though casualties were significant dragonlord Naomasa led a withdrawal down the road to the southwest, towards the Maduran capital of Rabenna.
Aftermath
Though the battle was a severe defeat for the 4th Imperial Legion, inflicting heavy casualties on the units involved. However, due to a variety of deployments, only the 12th Dragon was removed from the order of battle: The 3rd Dragon’s 1st Wing was on inland patrol south of the river, and was unable to return for the battle, instead engaging the foe in the Western Slope Withdrawal; The 4th Dragon’s 2nd Wing winglord and 2nd talon were stationed in Rabenna, negotiating with the supply station there to secure provisions for the expected advance to Azer; the 6th Dragon’s headquarters was outside Rabenna and thus its dragonlord along with its 1st Wing’s winglord and 2nd Talon were on station there. Additionally, the 2nd Talon of the 4th Legion’s 4th Dragon managed a withdrawal without suffering any casualties, along with their dragonlord (and several other units withdrew reduced but not beyond recovery). These survivors would not remain unbloodied, as on the heels of the battle came several others, with almost all engaged in the Ravaging of Rabenna which followed on the heels of defeat at the Ford.
An official inquiry conducted in Isesu by a tribunal of senior officers (dragonlords Sesus Hsung, Sesus Marand, and Sesus Naomasa) established that the five officers engaged the Anathema and her entourage and were defeated, that the Anathema brought terrible magics to bear to confuse the minds of those standing against her, that there was no evidence of any Legion officers turning traitor in the battle nor that there was any truth to rumours that some officers thought slain when the Anathema rose to power had been spotted serving at her side. The most senior officer present, Sesus Halaud, who had perished in the battle, was found responsible for several poor decisions which weakened the Imperial position, and thus ultimately responsibility for the defeat, but had sold his life bravely to save Imperial troops and thus deserved no censure. Dragonlord Naomasa’s conduct was deemed flawless, his masterful command of the withdrawal exemplary, but some are certain that questions outside the official record shadowed his bid to take the strategoi’s post, and he abandoned this effort immediately following the inquiry.
When Sesus Dochao was elevated to generalship and launched a mass reorganization of the 4th Legion, he rewarded Naomasa with appointment to lead his former command, the 10th Dragon, a medium infantry formation. Assuri Gyra, commander of the 11th Dragon, replaced him as dragonlord of the 4th Dragon.
Officers in the Order of Battle
3rd Dragonlord Sesus Halaud (slain)
- Winglord 1 Mnemon Nikkal (absent, patrol)
-- Talonlord 1:1 Sesus Senbeyn (absent, patrol)
-- Talonlord 1:2 Cynis Hibare (absent, patrol)
- Winglord 2 Sesus Tuwana (slain)
-- Talonlord 2:1 Sesus Kammanu (slain)
-- Talonlord 2:2 Melon Ball (slain)
4th Dragonlord Sesus Naomasa (withdrew)
- Winglord 1 Sesus Naobiki (slain, mortal)
-- Talonlord 1:1 Sesus Naotsugu (withdrew)
-- Talonlord 1:2 Second Bastard (slain)
- Winglord 2 Sesus Naotaki (absent, Rabenna)
-- Talonlord 2:1 Cynis Irigunto (withdrew)
-- Talonlord 2:2 Blade of Ascending Iron (absent, Rabenna)
6th Dragonlord Mnemon Borodir (absent, Rabenna)
- Winglord 1 Sesus Liliara (absent, Rabenna)
-- Talonlord 1:1 Sesus Arbela (absent, Rabenna)
-- Talonlord 1:2 Water Child (slain, ‘mortal’)
- Winglord 2 Cathak Pulcher (withdrew)
-- Talonlord 2:1 Peleps Heartlance (slain, mortal)
-- Talonlord 2:2 Nirik the Spear (slain)
12th Slinger Dragonlord Nellens Jadeon (slain, ‘mortal’)
-- Winglord 1 Nellens Treasure (withdrew, ‘mortal’)
-- Talonlord 1:1 Niolo Pandercrest (slain, mortal)
-- Talonlord 1:2 Navado Isesu-born (slain, mortal)
- Winglord 2 Sesus Osrohene (slain, mortal)
-- Talonlord 2:1 Noble Blessing (slain, mortal)
-- Talonlord 2:2 Lantern Post (slain, mortal)
Artillery Talonlord Assuri Singijen (slain, mortal)
- 1st Sorcerer Scalelord Sesus Lantus (absent, Isesu)
-- Fanglord Endless Flame (absent, Isesu)
-- Fanglord Pechpipat Supvarodom (absent, Rabenna)
-- Fanglord Mnemon Hammuri (absent, Isesu)
-- fanglord Cathak Salah (slain)
