Valerica: Difference between revisions
→Century of invasions (17th century): First Asernic invasion continues
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In 1642 Great Morstayblishia once more turned it's eyes towards Valerica. Lord Verlhanz Asern, named General of Staynish forces in modern day Axdel had gathered and invasion force of 115 000 infantry and 10 000 horsemen. Contingent of 45 000, alone larger than the force of the first invasion, marched towards Fort Siefer guarding the road connecting Axdel to Valerica south of the Zycannes. Along that force advanced a large Morst navy carrying tens of thousands of men, while rest of the forces were initially held in reserve. To face this force Serenissimo Jannes Stinje was able to muster a force of 90 000 men, 35 000 from Lieca, 30 000 from Baecca, 15 000 from Morlca and 10 000 from Serraca. Yet due to the threat of naval invasion the force had to be split between guarding the cities and Fort Siefer.
June 12th saw the Morst army arriving at the fort, as well as the first assault upon it's walls. Yet this rushed attempt failed against the fortresses mighty walls, only managing to take the furthest ditches before a group of Valerican cavalry sallied out and pushed the attackers back down the hill they came. After the initial attack, Morst forces were content to just sieging the fortress for several weeks. Around the same time Lord Asern sailed together with the fleet towards the capital of Valerica, Baecca. Since the start of the war, Stinje had rushed to build naval fortifications to protect the capital from an imminent attack. The weeks that it took for the enemy navy to arrive were filled with stress and hurried building from morning to evening. Then on the June 28th the Morst flags finally became visible on the horizon. The Valeric navy, clearly outnumbered rushed out to face the enemy. The two fleets faced at noon and battled for several hours, during which
By evening Valeriac fleet was scattered or sunk and the Morsts made landfall covered by their cannons. The forces that met eachother as darkness fell were about equal in size, almost 30 thousand men both, yet the Valericans were clearly demoralized. It was the first time an enemy force had managed to enter their capital, let alone capture it's massive harbor district. Though there was some skirmishing throughout the night, both sided also rested, as
Come morning Stinje and members of the city council were arguing about whether they should commit to a possible long and grueling battle for the city, or save the city and their army by withdrawing. According to legend whilst this was going on a young captain arrived to the city hall leading his ragged group of soldiers. Upon arriving he is said to have raised his voice and said "Stop here, stay here". These simple commandments were then heard by the arguing men inside and with them the argument decided. This was their city, the city their fleeing ancestors had settled to. They wouldn't allow it to fall to the same enemy that drove away their ancestors.
The next day this story spread throughout the Valeriac ranks inspiring them to stand and fight once more. Several times the Morsts charged and several times they were driven back, before finally counterattack managed to actually push the invader back towards the harbor. Seeing this developement Lord Asern ordered a proper retreat back to their ships. Yet what traditional Valerican historians choose to omit is the fact that this retreat was both voluntary and well organized. Nonetheless the city stayed in Valerican hands. Lord Asern then landed his troops further north to the mouth of the Baeccan peninsula, near the city of Lieca. His original plan had been to assault Baecca from both land and sea, but during the fighting in the city it had become clear that his supporting forces where to where they should have. So his force sacked the towns of Laec and Vhirje and then camped some 10 miles west of Lieca.
Had the Liecan garrison now sallied out to meet their foe it is more than likely that their superior numbers would've carried the day. Yet as Morst ships blockaded each of the Valerican free cities and as Lord Asern's force intercepted all messengers coming from Baecca, they had no way of knowing what had happened. Rumors ran rampant and many believed that the force camped 10 miles away was the full Morst army.
▲By evening Valeriac fleet was scattered or sunk and the Morsts made landfall covered by their cannons. The forces that met eachother as darkness fell were about equal in size, almost 30 thousand men both, yet the Valericans were clearly demoralized. It was the first time an enemy force had managed to enter their capital, let alone capture it's massive harbor district. Though there was some skirmishing throughout the night, both sided also rested, as it was clear that should the Valericans fail to throw them back to the sea, they would eventually lose.
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