Horizon of War Series

Chapter 182: Battle for Nicopola

Battle for Nicopola

Nicopola

A man in plate armor, with graying hair but sharp eyes, rode in front with the cavalry, followed by a formation of troops. The banner of blue and bronze with a grey skull at the center was hoisted high, fluttering against the wind. This was Sir Servius' new coat of arms, the Iron Skull.

With the hook that replaced his right hand, Servius motioned to his officers of the Free Legion to close up. "Bring in as many who value their lives. But don’t act on false hope," he warned, his voice cold and clear. "Blood feud runs deep between us and them. If they draw their weapons, do not hesitate."

His lieutenants voiced murmurs of affirmation.

Soon, his army formed a line, and then a thousand troops began to fan out, combing a large swath of land, capturing mercenary survivors, or granting a quick death to those who were severely burned. Meanwhile, his riders rounded up groups, taking their surrender or decimating those who still wished to fight.

Servius observed the Dawn cavalry and army approaching from the west, making their presence felt, while his Free Legion encroached from the east. As planned, the two forces would entrap the mercenaries and their militants who could only hope to cross the river to escape, leaving behind their armor, tents, and supplies.

As the Iron Skull Legion advanced steadily, Servius was drawn to the scorched landscape and the burning wreckage of the wooden fort that blazed brightly. He had sent scouts and knew it wasn’t an easy target, with tall palisades, a watchtower, and accommodations inside to house hundreds of men.

To see it reduced to burning cinders in just minutes was nothing out of the ordinary. He sighed and his nose twitched from the sharp scent of burning, then turned to his aide, who quickly came to his side.

"Make sure to write about this," Servius instructed. "Then, send a fast rider to Hill Fort. From there, the nomads will bring it to Korelia."

His aide was still memorizing his instructions when a lieutenant who rode with them suddenly reported, "Sir, Lord Avery has moved on," pointing at the sky where three leviathan-looking airships flew westward.

"Aye, he has plenty of things to do," Sir Servius acknowledged. "The campaign to reclaim Nicopola begins now."

Servius spurred his horse and advanced in front of his army with a heavy escort.

...

High in the sky, Lord Avery continued westward after witnessing his army link up with Sir Servius and the Free Legion. Their joint attack and coordination were nearly flawless. Now, he only needed to wait for the two forces to meet, effectively tying a knot around the enemy's position.

Today's victory would liberate the Dawn Barony-Nicopola border from raider strongholds that had been plaguing his land for the past two winters.

This result was the culmination of his alliance with the Lord of Korelia, now the Shogun of the Steppes. With a guaranteed steady supply of warhorses and the allied Free Legion by his side, Lord Avery could attempt a grand plan to restore order in the vast province of Nicopola. With two dozen cities and towns, over five hundred villages, and a population from the last century’s census of three million souls, only a large army could establish order without risking destruction.

While Lord Avery wanted to adhere to the tradition set by the founder of his House—who had taken an oath never to expand, to appease the August Emperor, since they were originally not native to the Imperium—current circumstances forced him to adapt. It had become clear to him, as he bided his time in his barony defending against raids and incursions for two winters, that in this turbulent era, the paradigm was either to rule or be conquered.

The raiders' persistence and savagery had strengthened his personal belief that in times of crisis, one with strength and a moral compass must bring order from the ashes or be subjected to the anarchy of the mob.

"My Lord, the next target should be in sight," Angelo reported, with the wind breezing past them and the sun at their tail.

"Noted," replied Lord Avery, then turning to the crew at the rear, "Tell the other two ships to follow and conserve their loads."

"Any reason why, My Lord?" one of his bomb crew asked from their seat.

"Because I'm magnanimous by nature," he quipped, eliciting chuckles from his crew.

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"Today, we make these mercenaries rethink their lives as they sleep rough in the open. We're going to send a message they'll never forget," Avery declared.

***

Spring of 4426: Despite the fall of the Imperium and the presumed death of the Ageless Emperor, the pacification of Nicopola province had started.

With a combined force of two thousand men-at-arms, three thousand volunteer militia, and three hundred horsemen, House Dawn and the Iron Skull Legion poised themselves to bring order to the lawless province.

On their first day, they secured the area south of the river separating Dawn Barony from the southern exterior of Nicopola. In the process, they captured a fortified site at the river crossing, destroyed several large strongholds, and liberated at least seven villages.

The day ended with the deaths of over six hundred mercenaries and their accomplices, with no fewer than three thousand men and women captured.

That very night, to alleviate the captured people’s fears that the mercenaries might seek revenge, a hasty court was assembled. Lord Avery and Sir Servius formed a council where every mercenary deemed responsible for provoking raids on Dawn Barony or involved in armed rebellion was dragged in, questioned, and, if found guilty, sentenced to death.

It was far from fair justice, but it was all they could manage in the face of mounting risks. Consequently, hundreds more faced their demise. There was no pit, but the river was dyed red with the blood of the greedy and ambitious.

The council only hoped that they had not condemned any innocents to death, but it was likely that several were sentenced merely by association.

The condemned's heads were put on pikes erected along the road to the river crossing, accompanied by a wooden warning: "The Rebels Who Rob and Ate Their Kin."

It was a brutal end, but the campaign had just started. To deter further opposition, many messengers were sent under heavy escort, along with captured, burned victims, to spread the tales. The message was clear: surrender or face a similar fate.

However, Lord Avery wasn’t about to give the enemy time to think; he continued his air bombing campaign over Nicopola's exterior, dropping one or two naphtha payloads on each raider's or mercenary's stronghold as a warning. Many places were reduced to burning wrecks.

Despite this clear disparity in strength, the mercenaries' command decided to be foolhardy and escalated the situation by amassing their troops once again. In just one week, a formation of nine thousand rallied and began their march south toward the Dawn border. Thus, the flames of war were rekindled in Nicopola, burning with renewed vigor.

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***

Korelia

The news of renewed conflict in Nicopola and Lord Avery’s early victory swept into the great hall, filling everyone with a wave of surprise. Lansius himself bore a smile, touched by the rare joy of triumph. “Finally, good news,” he declared to his court.

His court responded with a chorus of murmurs, their faces brightening with smiles and nods.

“Lord Avery continuously proves himself a capable ally,” Sir Harold remarked, his tone satisfied.

“Indeed, this is certainly auspicious,” Sir Michael agreed. "We should send him our congratulations and support."

Meanwhile, Sir Omin remained tight-lipped, his gaze distant, likely calculating the future implications of this victory. His silence did not escape Farkas, who discreetly observed the nuances of the room, as his training had conditioned him.

The chamber was still euphoric when Lord Robert entered, his presence commanding immediate attention. "More good news," he declared jovially, accompanied by a man not as old as him but similarly built, with a sharp jawline, tanned face, and strength in his eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the Lord of Galdia," Lord Robert announced, his voice tinged with theatrics.

"The Lord of Galdia, at your service," the man replied in good spirits, bowing slightly and allowing his brown shoulder-length hair to sway, with his hands open at his sides, like an actor concluding his performance for the day.

Lansius quickly stepped down from his seat and hurried over with a clean silver goblet filled with refreshing pale ale. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord of Galdia," he offered the goblet to the guest, who took it graciously.

"The honor is all mine," the man replied, pleased and polite despite his warlike appearance, which included scars on his cheek and even neck. This was a man who had battled all his life, much like the storied Lowlandian warlords.

With the Lord of Galdia joining, the Shogunate's members rose to six:

- The Lord of Korelia and South Hill

- The Lady of Korimor

- The Lord of White Lake

- The Lord of Three Hills

- The Lord of Umberland

- The Lord of Galdia

Before he was fully absorbed in welcoming the Lord of Galdia, Lansius made time to prepare something special for Lord Avery as a token of his support for the Nicopola campaign. He believed that it would be well received and might provide valuable experience in action.

The following week, Korelia buzzed with activity as Lansius summoned the shogunate members to formally accept the new member and to ratify dealings, along with arranging land for the Lord of Galdia’s future estate in Korelia.

In between feasts to celebrate the allies' victory in Nicopola and the new member of the Shogunate, Lansius and the other Lords discussed the current situation.

"First, I thank you for the news; usually, we receive news from the Capital in half a year, if at all," the Lord of Galdia began. "Mind you, we in the east also have a strained relationship with Midlandia, who seldom pass us information. We often learn things faster from Salceslia, who hears news from the Navalnia sea traders."

"That’s Midlandians for you," Lord Robert snorted. "They see us as barbarians on horses."

Lord Jorge commented in jest, "I have high hopes for our Lord Shogun to improve our relations with the Midlandians. Alas..."

Everyone, including Lansius, chuckled.

"I can't believe that Midlandia has a new Lord whose first course of action was to threaten the Lords of Lowlandia," the new member said, his expression amused, viewing the new Lord of Midlandia's actions as foolish.

"Let's set aside that matter for a moment," Lord Jorge interjected smoothly, steering the conversation with his charm. "How stands the situation in Galdia?"

The tone of the Lord of Three Hills was polite, even alluring, subtly coaxing the new member to reveal his inner motive. This shift caused the Lord of Galdia to turn serious. "My original intentions remain unchanged. While I believe I am still a fierce warrior, the years have not spared me. The assurances that I can secure my lands and manor, uphold the legacy of my House to be handed down to my son—all while retaining a measure of authority—are too valuable to disregard."

Everyone nodded, satisfied with the answer.

The Lord of Galdia continued, "Those reasons alone are enough to convince me. And then later, I learned about the fall of the Imperium." He paused gazing at the other lords. "Call me paranoid, but I think the eastern border is not going to take this quietly."

"Navalnia?" Lord Robert asked with concern.

"There are rumors that the Marquis of Edessa is not to be trusted. We don't know where his loyalty stands. And without the Imperium, he might even bend the knee to the Eastern Crown," the Lord of Galdia replied.

Lord Jorge breathed deeply, capturing everyone's attention as he said, "We're lucky to have this Shogunate. Even though I doubt they'll be interested in our grass and sheep, if they are foolish enough, like that Reginald of Midlandia, then we can show them what a united Lowlandia can do."

They all turned to the Shogun, with glimmers of hope, respect, and pride in their eyes.

"I'm a peaceful man," Lansius responded calmly. "I'm mostly interested in trade and innovation. But if they provoke us, historians for years to come will be writing about their tragic demise."

***

Nicopola Campaign

Lord Avery continued his aerial bombings behind enemy lines, while his army and the Iron Skull reinforced their gains and prepared for battle.

His persistence was rewarded. Before the two sides met in the field of battle, the populace under the mercenaries finally buckled. They became hysterical over the great bat of fire, rumored to have been summoned by Dawn to devour cities and towns. As soon as their city or neighboring town received a fire warning, many fled to the surrounding forests or villages. For the first time, the remaining mercenaries were unable to control the panicked masses.

News spread and the morale of the great mercenary army plummeted, leading to mass desertions in their ranks. Still, their command stubbornly pushed forward. They believed that once the Dawn army was defeated, the status quo would be retained.

They were further emboldened by the news that the Capital had been overtaken, signaling that no Imperium relief force was in sight. With the fall of the Imperium, many of the largest mercenary groups, which had heavily profited from the raids, believed they possessed the perfect opportunity to lay claim to the title of King of Nicopola.

With thousands of forces still loyal, they marched, ready to seize victory and make a name for themselves, oblivious and almost blinded by the lure of fleeting glory.

***

The Pride of Korimor

Ten days prior, after a long-distance flight from Korelia, the ivory airship, informally named Horsie but formally named The Pride of Korimor, returned to its original berth in Dawn Barony. It was there to be refitted as the Lord and Lady of the Steppes wished to lend their support in the ongoing Nicopolan conflict.

The airship's arrival and the evidence of modernization surprised both its maker and designer. Initially, they were skeptical and concerned upon seeing the ship's front area, which now appeared sharper. However, their interest grew as they noticed that many of its surfaces had been further smoothed.

More than just superficial changes, the gondola was radically enlarged and revamped, equipped with comfortable seats and new storage areas. They also noticed some cleverly designed, weight-saving small holes that were covered with canvas. Yet, that wasn't the most surprising aspect.

What intrigued them the most was the beautifully crafted new wing with surface control, which possibly allowed it to fly more efficiently. Meanwhile, they also lowered the distance between the gondola and the balloon, making the connection rigid and seamless, as if integrated into the structure. This likely aided in maneuvering.

From the conversations they had with the pilot and crew, it was evident that these features allowed the old vessel to be fitted with a larger gondola without sacrificing buoyancy or range.

Another impressive change was how the Korelians were able to come up with simpler, yet effective controls. The combination of a stick, throttle, and foot pedals for yaw earned the Lord of the Steppes enduring respect from the maker. They studied these innovations in detail and made many notes. They began to view Lord Lansius as a fellow innovator and many wished to visit Korelia to discuss airships and flight.

In honor of Lord Lansius' contributions to airship advancement, the Dawn did more than just a rearm and refit. They outfitted the vessel with the latest volatile oil furnace available, enabling it to have an even leaner fuel usage and the ability for a rapid, almost explosive heat when needed, or in emergencies.

As armament, the airship was equipped with a new wooden platform designed to hold two rows of four amphora-sized containers on each side, totaling sixteen payloads. As necessary, the vessel was also fitted with optics, not as advanced as those used by Lord Avery but far superior to the naked eye.

Lastly, it finally received a coating that protected and maintained its rubber silk skin, giving it a shade of black. The Pride of Korimor completed its refit just in time to participate in the campaign.

Along with three other ships under the command of Angelo, they would take to the skies at midnight. It would be a half-day flight to their destination, aiming to reach their target early in the morning.

As midnight cloaked the skies, the crew of the newly refitted airship braced for their first combat mission. However, the newly fitted payload bays lay empty; instead, they still retained their long canvas seats, as they were entrusted with a different role.

Two groups from the newly formed Search and Rescue, armed to the teeth, would attempt to retake Kapua city, one of the most heavily fortified towns on the outskirts of Nicopola. The great mercenary army had just passed, leaving the city laden with supplies. Furthermore, the city's historical significance made it too valuable to be razed to the ground.

Previously, the only option was to set the city ablaze to disrupt the enemy's supply lines. Now, a glimmer of hope arose—a slim chance that this small group of elite fighters could infiltrate and take control of the gatehouse or the citadel, holding it long enough for reinforcements to enter the city.

Thus, the race for City of Kapua began. The fleet of four airships commenced their operation while, on the ground, Lord Avery and his elite brigades continued to traverse the forest, bypassing the great mercenary army with the mission to reach Kapua undetected.

The risks were certainly monumental, but the potential rewards were even greater. Securing Kapua intact would deal a severe blow to the enemy's morale and could decisively tip the campaign in their favor.

***