Blood of the Frontier (CK2) Completed.

Battle of Yamatau Part 1: Opening Moves

Ionnos tightened the grip around his rains as he surveyed the battlefield that was before him. It was not an ideal one, considering what he and the rest of the army had run into. The Mongols had already laid siege to Fulk's fortress, but it seemed the army'ssudden arrival caught them off guard.

There were quite a few soldiers that were without horses, the fearsome Mongol horse archers seemed to suffered the most attrition from laying siege to Fulk's Fortress. Ionnos smiled at that little detail. The battle was now in his hands. They lacked the mobility that made them so fearsome, and it would take precious time for them to get into more advantageous positions on the battlefield.

That time was what he needed to set up the cannons in their proper positions in the line. The cannons were near the front of the lines, but teams of strong men with great stamina stood by each one to hoist and haul them further back once the Mongols were charging.

"Ionnos." Ionnos heard his name called out from his left. He turned to see the helmeted face of Jory. He could see that underneath Jory's helmet, half of the old Scotsman's face was painted blue. "Are you nervous?"

Ionnos took a deep breath. "How could you tell?" He asked.

Jory looked down. "Your hands are shaking." He stated.

Ionnos looked down and saw that his hands were indeed trembling. "It's cold." Ionnos tried to play it off.

"It's okay to be nervous," Jory said, putting his hand on Ionnos' shoulder. "Happens to the best of us. Just close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and focus on what's in front of you."

Jory then rode off to his infantry companies, where he knew he would dismount and join them in the vicious melee that would come from the Mongol's dismounted troops.

Ionnos looked at the other flanks that were farther to the front, remembering the plan that Vasily had made. He just hoped that it would work.

Basilius was commanding troops of his own on the left flank. A task that Vasily deemed too important to give anyone else. While he was not near the front line, he was not going to be anywhere near the brother who for so long had been the one who protected him.

He looked to the right flank where the Calvary was waiting for Vasily and Zima's signal to charge towards the Mongols and the fort.

Hopefully Fulk would be able to help, but Ionnosdoubted that. If they had been in there for long, they might have been weakened by hunger. It would be hard for the men to gather their strength on an empty stomach.

He took a deep breath and counted to three. When he opened his eyes, he saw the red banner, the signal for him to load the cannons.

There was no hesitation in Ionnos' voice."Load cannons! Archers to your marks!" He ordered.

The men took their positions and Ionnos started to pray to God for strength. If He was watching, Ionnos hoped He would answer.

(POV Change)

Wilhelm kissed the simple wooden crucifix in his hand before stuffing it inside his armor so that he would not lose it. He looked at Alfonso and his companion nodded, his hands wrapping around his warhammer.

(POV Change)

Ashford stood in front of his men, a red cross painted on one of the extra white cloths for the banner. His sword was drawn, his shield rested on his back. "In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Victoria erit nostrum. Protego nos ex-malum. Dona nobis victoriam." He paused, seeing the worried faces of the men who were under his command. But then he remembered the battle cry of the the third Imperial Legion, the Martyred Legion, who tried to liberate Jerusalem. One that makes any god-fearing man stands his ground and feel the power of the Almighty. "DEUS VULT!"


"DEUS VULT!" The men shouted. And faces light up with hope, the men who were not eager for battle were given new found confidence.

Gavin heard the screams from the infantry lines as the chants of Deus Vult carried their way through the ranks. He couldn't help himself but whisper. "Deus Vult." When he said it, he merely readied his bow, needing to mark the range of his archers.

(POV Change)

Zima did not feel the same need to cry a chant to God for victory. Something else was occupying her mind. She was frightened not for her own safety, but for Vasily and her born and unborn children. She was not going to let the family she loved die if she could help it. So she prayed for them to be safe.

(POV Change)

Vasily gritted his teeth and felt his blood boil. Not for the plea for victory to God that his men were chanting, but more at the anger inside of him. The Mongols would die, and nothing would stop himfrom ensuring their deaths personally. He trusted all of his companions to play their part.

He glared out into the distance and saw the Mongols mounting a charge to the left flank.

"Raise the Banners!" Vasily barked the order so loud that it carried over the chants of Deus Vult.

(POV Change)

Ionnos heard the order as clear as the day was upon them, and seeing the banners raised meant only one thing. Fire.

"All Cannons! All Artillery! FIRE!" Ionnos shouted.

And God's thunderous fury was the answer to his order.


The artillery's first volley unleashed hell upon the Mongols vanguard. Across the battlefield, the sounds of horses whinnying and men being ripped apart from the falling rocks and the balls of iron that sailed towards them echoed over the clamor of metal thousands of voices. The ground itself rumbled at the impact of the cannon balls, exploding upward with such force that men and horse alike were sent flying.

The Mongols advance slowed to a crawl as their horses bucked and scattered, sent into a blind panic by the sudden thunder.

"Reload and fire again!" Ionnos ordered. Crews hurried as fast as their legs could carry them, relying on their training to not do anything wrong. Ionnos felt his heart thump in his chest, beating so hard that he thought he was going to faint. What he just saw and heard horrified him. This power was akin to the wrath of the Lord, but wielded by men.

Ionnos swore he'd do anything in his power to be on the other side of cannons.


The next volley was even more destructive, firing at targets that were both closer and still attempting to regain control of their frightened horses. The devastation on the vanguard was not even close to complete as Ionnos shouted. "Reload and fire again!"

Ionnos looked to his right to see his banner bearer get ready. The Mongols were about to become too close to fire the cannons and artillery safely without causing friendly fire. "Prepare the men to cease fire and move the cannons and artillery back twenty paces behind the reserve line. And get a runner to signal the charge."

"Yes, sir!" The man yelled, preparing his banner to signal the other flanks. "GET ME TWO RUNNERS!"


(POV Change)

Basilius saw the devastation that the cannons had done to Mongols and felt himself take cover behind his shield as the enemy Mongols counter attack began, the arrows blotting out the sky.


"Push Forward!" Basilius ordered, joining his shield wall, spear at the ready. His men pushed forward, each step heavy as they all struggled to stay together, ready to taste the enemy in a furious melee.

The few archers that were with him rained down volley after volley from behind them, making little to no effect onto the Mongol horse archers who were already wheeling back towards their lines to make sure they were not caught by his men. But Basilius continued forward. He was going to find a way to force the Mongols into a melee with his men.


Basilius made his move. With a sprinting burst of speed, the line managed to ensnare large group of Mongols that strayed too far forward. The bloodthirsty Russian soldiers, their long awaited revenge now at hand, in pulled men from their horses before stabbing them in the eyes, or killed horse and rider in the same sword-stroke. The ferocity of the men of the Rus delivered against their enemy was a sight to behold, an immense and cathartic brutality. At least, in Basilius' eyes.

These men had lived in fear for too long, and they were letting it all out in battle.


(POV Change)

Zima saw the Lancers, the Mongol's Heavy cavalry, charge towards her flank with speed, trying to get around her and towards the cannons in the center. But it slowed, the thunderous sound and fury of the cannons shaking the hearts of men and horse alike. They were no longer fully committed to the charge, afraid that they were going to get caught in another volley of stone and iron that would decimate thousands of men.

She suffered no such hesitation, raising her banner to order the charge.

There was a pause, the world was silent, save for the thunder of hooves that were coming towards her. And then Zima screamed. "Polska na zawsze!"

"Polska na zawsze!" Zima's men, the men of Poland chorused, and they started to ride forward, preparing their lances for a change.

Zima felt an unsettling feeling from the pit of her stomach, and it wasn't the two little ones growing inside of her. It was something else. Dread and fear. But she shoved those thoughts aside, to the far reaches of her mind. She needed to focus.


Zima felt relief as her lance broke on an enemy soldier. Her skill, despite her condition, was not completely gone. But she needed to pull back, grab another lance and charge again. To raise hell and continue the momentum.

And then Zima saw an arrow strike her horse'shead, and he went limp. The pause in the movement was brief, but enough for Zima to get her left foot out of her stirrup and jump from her horse it could collapse on her.

Zima tumbled, heavy armor feeling heavier and heavier as she tried to get out of the mud.

And then she saw a khan, carrying a scimitar rather than the normal Mongol sabre, walking towards her.

She barely had time to draw her sword when the attack came.

Duel Commenced!:1D20 => 3+5= 8 vs 1D20 => 6

She blocked the first strike that was to her left, then parried another one before trying to stab the man, but to little avail.

Her body was tense, waiting for the slightestmovement from the man in front of her so that she could kill him.

But then the man charged at her, and Zima felt the children inside her kick her, throwing off her focus.

Counterattack: 1D20 => 8+5=13 vs 1D20 => 19

Zima blocked a blow that would have killed her, barely having time to react when her feet came out from under her in the churned mud, throwing her onto her back. She couldn't move, and all she could see was the steel of the sword coming down to kill her.

Vasily Interrupt: 1D100 => 95 vs 1D100 => 25
Zima saved, Vasily takes over the Duel.

And then she saw Vasily, his armor soaked in blood, blocking the sword that was meant for her with his own.

End part one of the battle.

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