Conflict at the Trenches [Open Prompt]
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:59 am
F O R M E Z • V O S • B A T A I L L O N S
Searing 13, 122 Age of Steel
At long last, the small-scale skirmishes that had characterized a war of maneuver had begun to heat up. Forces were amassing south of Kalzasi for a general offensive, bolstering an effort to claim a vital strategic outpost. Upon the far banks of the great rivers that demarcated the rough border lay an immense expanse of rugged country, foothills of the Astralar that connected all of Karnor's mountain ranges. The simplest and most navigable passes hugged close to the water itself, but what precious few land routes existed had been guarded by fortresses for decades. Should those be breached however, there was little preventing movement through Zaichaer's agricultural core.
If the rich soil and waters to the High City's north could be seized, the regime would immediately be put under extreme pressure even before an army could manage to range far enough south to set a siege with all the horrors that would entail. Perhaps they could even force Zaichaer to the table without ever coming in sight of the Presidium, but few believed victory would come that easily. Most in Kalzasi assumed that this would be a long and bloody struggle, for after having stolen the Prince it would be bizarre in the extreme to simply capitulate.
Before any such matters could be considered however, Zaichaer's northern outposts had to fall. Once more, the Jewel of the Northlands had sent out a call to arms, and once more her citizens had answered. By this point, Avamande was not certain if they could be considered a civilian anymore. True, they had sworn no oaths to the Sky Guard, but twice now they had promised to bear arms against Kalzasi's foes, the first a mere week prior. It said something to the need and respect for mages of their caliber that this situation was tolerated at all.
There would be no surprise in this phase of the conflict. Trenches had already been dug all along the line, and the Zaichaeri outpost was in a well fortified position. Its northern face came up to the river itself, and its walls extended towards rugged country that would be difficult to maneuver in. An Avialae general had command of the army, a hard charging son of House Novalys whose blood was up at the prospect of claiming a measure of vengeance for his stricken Shokaze and stolen Prince, men who were not merely his leaders, but his kin.
Daily fighting peppered up and down the line, skirmishes and probing attacks launched by both sides, all to little avail. An influx of reinforcements may prove just what was necessary to turn the tide in Kalzasi's favor. Or perhaps all it heralded was yet more death and struggle.