Antonio races ahead to lead the horse guard to the flank.

Mordacious plummets out of the sky, growing from a tiny dot to a
forty-foot monster within moments; ballistae fire and miss as the dragon
pulls out of the dive just above the ground, and Virgan troops writhe
and burn as the dragon cuts a long line of fire through their ranks
before reaching for the sky once more.

The Virgan lines falter under the wave of fire.

As the dragon's fire dies down, the thunder of hoofbeats resume on the
edge of the battlefield. Rank upon rank of Amber cavalry charge toward
the terrorized Virgans.

The Virgan commanders scream orders at their men, and somehow, the lines
hold, shields coming together to form barriers, pilums jutting out
between.

The legionnaires on the left flank wheel to face the rapidly forming
horse guard.

The Rangers continue to push the lightly-armed mercs to the middle of
Virgan troops.

Amber's medium cavalry sets its lances and shields, and charges toward
the Virgan force. A man sits to the center of the first rank, garbed in
red and black. At a gesture, the light cavalry circles from behind the
medium, and darts toward the open Virgan flank.

Hastily, the exposed Virgan flank acts to close up its gaps, lowering
their pilums towards the charging medium calvary, preparing for the
onslaught.

A gong is sounded behind Amber's lines and the pikemen in the middle
halt their slow retreat. At the same time the horse guard begin their
charge.

The reserves of the Rangers join the fight at the sound of the gong.

Up on the hills to the rear of the Amber lines, Martin studies Amber's
progress, as his scouts keep an eye out for any Virgan reinforcements.

Most of the Rangers have joined the melee, but one small group of a
dozen or so Rangers are in good firing position dropping exposed Virgan
commanders, sergeants and standard bearers with accurate fire.

A tall man in Laminan clothing appears to be the leader of this group of
sharpshooters.

Antonio leads the horse guard into the fray, attacking the flank just as
the cavalry attack the rear.

The Virgans maintain their lines, despite being heavily pressed on all
sides.

The light cavalry set about carving pieces off of the Virgan flanks, as
the medium cavalry crashes into the Virgan rear. The screams of dying
men and horses, and the splintering of lances echoes through the ranks.

Where the Amber troops have crashed through the Virgan lines, the battle
is chaotic, with horses being speared, and men engaging in bloody
swordfights. The ground is getting churned up and made slick with blood
and gore.

Antonio leads the horse guard towards the cavalry.

The first rank of medium cavalry veers as they plant their lances in
Virgans, and draw sabre to support the light cavalry's assault on the
flanks, Gavin among them. The next rank charges at the sound of a horn.

The battlefield is mayhem as the Virgan lines begin to break.

Medium cavalry continues as it has...the ranks that charge veer along to
assist the light cavalry. Men are torn from their horses, and speared by
pilums, though Gavin still sits astride his horse. His shield is no more
than a buckler, however, and he shouts something, leading his rank in a
slow withdrawal, allowing fresh troops to take their place.

The Virgans to the rear, in particular, seem to be hardest hit. As
fresher troops come to the front of the Amber calvary, the Virgans seem
to lose heart.

The cries from the legion sergeants echo across the field as they
attempt to rally their troops.

Up on the hills, Martin notes the growing state of disorderliness in the
Virgan army and sends runers to the ground commanders, directing them to
hit the Virgans in certain key areas, adding to the Virgans' confusion.

Antonio cuts his way through the Virgan troops, him and his horse almost
one creature. Behind him the horse guard quickly follow driving a wedge
through the lines of the legions.

The sharpshooters make pin cushions of several merc sergeants, as the
Rangers apply more pressure. The merc lines start to break.

Elsewehere, as to the rear, the Virgan forces are in disarray. Too many
of their comanders have been shot down. Too few are left to effectively
direct the legionaries.

In the rear, the Virgans throw themselves into a last, desperate assault
against the cavalry. They're no longer fighting to attack, but to
escape.

Gavin's rank settles back to mop up work, as another rank crashes into
the Virgans. After a few moments rest, and another charge, Gavin leads
his rank back to the cavalry's staging point for remounts and fresh
lances. His rank takes its place awaiting another charge, just as others
seem to be doing.

First one section and then another. Soon the entire rear is routing.
The pikemen press their advantage and begin pushing the Virgan front
back.

As the rear of the Virgans rout, the news somehow spreads throughout the
remainder of the Virgan forces, and they, too, begin to panic. Driven by
the pikemen in the fore, and the Rangers and Horse Guards in the flanks,
the Virgans battle to flee southwards.

As the Virgan army collapses, the co-ordination of the ballistae
falters; Mordacious descends to lay sheets of flame in the path of the
enemy flight.

Antonio orders a company of his horsemen to wheel and harrass the
fleeing Virgan rear.

At a trio of horn bursts, the light cavalry reforms to chase down the
fleeing Virgans, while the Medium Cavalry continues to slam into the
shattered ranks of remaining Virgans.

The horns also signal the end of anything resembling an organised
defense as the Virgans flee in terror from the Amber forces.
The Rangers carve into the flank of the remaining Virgans.

Those legionaries and mercs caught behind hack their way through the
medium cavalry, fighting with a zeal borne out of desperation. It's
every man for himself now.

The pikemen leap forward, dropping their pikes and drawing their swords
as they attampt to chase down the legions.

Unfortunately for the Virgans, the cavalry is cavalry, and thus is
mounted. Another trio of horn bursts, and some shouted commands, and the
medium cavalry veers to chase down the Virgan force, while the light
cavalry rides ahead to cut them off.

Antonio leads his remaining horsemen to cut off those from the front
ranks of the legion.

Some of the fleeing Virgans pause to give battle, but most just run for
it, casting off arms and armor as they can to lighten themselves. Many
just get round down under the hooves of Amber horses.

The sharpshooters descend from their position down to the Rangers. Soon
afterwards several patrol sized groups of Rangers detach from the main
group and start towards Arden, not directly after fleeing Virgans.

Antonio draws rein and watches the slaughter from atop one of the nearby
hills.

The Virgans plunge into the trees in an attempt to flee the pursuing
Amberites.

The medium cavalry is called to a halt, though the lighter horses pursue
further into the forest. Gavin leads the medium cavalry back towards the
battlefield in a slow canter.

Mordacious breaks off, gaining altitude.

A cheer suddenly rises up from the Amber soldiers as they realise that
they have won the day.

Martin and his officers clap one another on the arm, sharing
congratulations, and then turn to the task of overseeing the counting
the dead, searching for the wounded and sifting through the prisoners.

The returning cavalry joins in the short-lived celebrations with
shouting and blasts from horns. Exhausted horses are left to rest while
the men dismount and join the others in cleaning up.

Antonio smiles and waves absently as the troops offer congratulations.
He remains aloof however. A lone rider upon a a hill in the middle of a
smoldering battlefield.

The Rangers are silent as they see to their wounded and dead.

Antonio calls over the remaining officers as soon as he draws rein.

Gavin leaves the cavalry to deal with their wounded, and starts toward
Antonio.

Mordacious eventually returns, landing nearby and ambling towards
Antonio and the officers gathering at the tent.

Slowly, Martin makes his way down from his vatage point, leaving the
officers to report to him when they're done.

Daneel makes his way towards the commanders tent walking slowly and with
apparent difficulty. A couple of Rangers follow him.

Antonio waits until they are all near.

Supporting himself on a crutch, Martin limps towards the command tent,
probably among the last to arrive.

Gavin stops with the other officers in front of Antonio.

Mordacious settles nearby.

Antonio raises his voice so all the officers can hear.

Daneel stops little bit further from Antonio than Gavin to Gavin's left
side.

Antonio says, "Well done, everyone. We taught them a lesson in combat
tactics today. A lesson that cost them thousands of lives."

Martin leans heavily on his crutch, the last several days' exertions
evident in his features.

Antonio pauses before continuing. "But the battle is far from over."

Gavin stands tall, similar weariness evident for him as well. He sets
his hands at his sides, and nods up to Antonio.

Antonio says, "There was method in their madness when our foe chose to
flee to the south this day. Gathered a half-day's travel away are at
least another twenty thousand fresh Virgan troops."

Antonio lets that information sink in.

Gavin scowls in response, and nods, yet again.

Martin's jaw sets in a grim line, but he says nothing.

Daneel waits for Antonio to continue, his face revealing nothing.

Antonio lowers his voice, "So we still have plenty yet to do."

Gavin grumbles something unpleasant, and then, "On the defensive again."

Antonio pauses before continuing, "Therefore we're not going to tend
their wounded and taking of captives is to be discouraged. We're going
to need every man to fight. I don't wish to waste any guarding
prisoners."

Martin seems to nod, once, a barely perceptible gesture.

"Pass the order onto your men, "Antonio says. "Briefing will be in two
hours. That is all."

Gavin nods.

Daneel turns around and starts walking back to the Rangers.

Gavin turns. He sets about gathering officers, and giving them their
orders.

Martin turns to hail down a nearby runner, and passes Antonio's orders
onto him to relay to the rest of the officers still on the field.

Antonio slides from the back of his horse and heads over towards his own
tent.

Martin turns to follow Antonio to his tent.

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2/4/98