The Battle of Do'rville

[callmedelta]

The road to Do’rville



“Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite,” Private Silas Larese chuckled, patting the neck of his horse, Arval. The curious Tafatu child reached her hand up in awe, slowly moving it closer and closer to Arval’s neck. Finally, she pressed it to the horse’s neck, before quickly pulling it back as if she’s wake a sleeping bear. Arval, of course, did nothing except continue to chew at the grass. Seeing that yes, the big scary horse didn’t really bite, the child began to rub Arval’s neck more and more.



Larese’s unit was the furthest checkpoint set out on the road to Do’rville, and they had set up camp in a small village along the main road called Ylisse. Silas had to admit, it wasn’t Franerre, but…he’d taken a liking to the place. It was cozy. Quiet. Peaceful. Ironic, considering the war. A woman, presumably the girl’s mother, walked over to check on the child with a bucket of water in hand. Silas was about to make a comment, when Arval abruptly lifted his head and stared at the road.



The source soon became evident as a haggard looking soldier shambled down the road. He was soon joined by another, then another, until a few thousand shambling men looking more like walking corpses had materialized along the road. Silas spurred Arval onward, leaving behind the Tafatu woman and her child. As he approached the lead soldier, he raised his hand weakly towards Silas. Silas handed his canteen to the man, who proceeded to drink the entire thing, even tapping at the bottom of the water bottle to try and get any last drop he could. When at least the man had finished, he spoke only four words. “The Union is coming.”



~



Do’rville, two days later



Major General Rizzolo acted swiftly once he heard the news of General Lex’s defeat and the size of the oncoming Union army. Riders would be sent back to Franerre to call for reinforcements. Any outlying villages not already evacuated would do so now, the 1,000 Dragoons manning the checkpoints along the road being prepared to leave as soon as they saw the Union arrive, giving the men preparing Do’rville all the time they could. The defensive positions outside the city would be reinforced with what little time they had available, fallback positions being made to retreat to when the outer trenches would be routed. Any civilians who wished to fight would be given whatever rifles could be scrounged up to defend the city. Rizolo had 26,348 men, 5 Artillery guns, and one Gatling under his command for the time being. They could not hold Do’rville, but they would make the Union pay for every inch.

[Greywall]

Falau's forces arrived in mass, a massive hulking force of 200,000 troops. He sent scouts ahead and determined the Franch were weakened following the battle at the crossroads. He positioned his troops into the South and prepared for a siege, placing over 600 artillery guns within range while sending riders flying white flags to demand the city and its defenders surrender. 

Taking Do'rville would seal the Eastern front in favor of the UST and allow for a proper counter invasion of Frannerre, Falau had his orders from Taronki "Burn them" should the city attempt to resist Falau would order a ceaseless barrage of his artillery into the city. Anything standing would be destroyed, he placed his infantry into rows and had his engineers begin digging ditches for them to squat in for cover should the Frannerre attempt to sally forth. His carabineers would be ordered to split once again going far East and West of the city to circle around and cutoff supplies and communications to Frannerre. 

"It'll be here, we make the decisive blow to the Franch invader. Once we take back the traitor city, tell the men they can loot and do as they please with the Tafatu residents. If some want to unleash their pent up frustrations on the citizens they are allowed to do so. They need an reward for their hard labor." Falau said, he looked at a map into Frannerre grinning, "We'll do much worse to the Frannerre citizens". 

[callmedelta]

The Battle of Do'rville

As soon as the Union's artillery entered the 12,000 yard maximum range of Do'rville's own 5 artillery guns, they opened fire. The survivors of the Crossroads learned one lesson well: letting the Union bring their overwhelming artillery advantage to bear would lose them the battle surer than anything else. There would be no surrender on Franerre's part. With any luck, reinforcements from Franerre would arrive soon to relieve them. Until that happened, the defenders of the city would hold, or perish. 

As for the Carabineers, around the city they didn't find any incoming Franerri supplies or outgoing messages. What they did find was nearly every entrance barricaded by the ruins of several controlled demolitions on the part of the Franerri defenders. There was one entrance unblocked, however. The farthest north entrance to the city, it was guarded by 6,000 men and the sole Gatling the defenders had to her, manning barricades of dirt. Dirt that came from the 10ft deep, 7ft wide pit dug along the entire entrance to discourage any flanking cavalry charges. The defender did have some makeshift bridges safely stored away nearby in case an escape was needed, but they had a very different surprise for anyone unlucky enough to fall into that pit. 

~

Fort Mercer, Franerre-Tafatu border

The rider sent from Do'rville arrived, haggard, to a bustling Fort Mercer. General Claude Riegan was the man in charge of the troops marshalling to Do'rville, but only 10,000 Dragoons, 10,000 Carabineers, 50,000 Heavy Infantry, 4,000 Special Infantry, and 500 Mortars had arrived, about half of the total number he should have. But with a situation this dire, there was no time to lose. The army would move out for Do'rville.

[Greywall]

Falalu got a response before his rider made it back, the Frannerre artillery slammed into the UST forces hustling them to deploy their own artillery, they quickly realized how little the Franch had however. "Is that it...oh this will be good." Falalu said, "Ceaseless fire once in range".

Once the UST artillery was in range all remaining 589 guns opened salvo into the city with unrelenting cruelty. The UST infantry were ordered to remain in their ditches and await a sallying strike, they all cheered as a torrential hell rained onto the city from the mass of guns opening fire.

Meanwhile, the 12,000 carabineers from the crossroads were probing for weaknesses. They found the Northern entrance, but the gatling gun made it less than ideal, some unfortunate riders would fall into the pits dug by Frannerre. With the numerical advantage the commander decided to launch a full charge at the defended position, with a bugle blown thundering hooves would charge at the Franch gatling gun and defenders firing their single shot carbines before moving to sabers. They would attempt to dislodge the Frannerre and force them to retreat into the city locking down their exit and supply line.

[Greywall]

Casualties

UST loses 10 field guns, 30 infantry, 40 carabineers.

Frannerre loses 302 infantry from the artillery barrage.

Heavy civilian losses within the city from UST shelling.

[callmedelta]

The Frontlines



There was little Franerri forces could do against the sustained artillery assault, aside from continuing to try and destroy Union guns with all the ammunition they had. Trying to charge into that army under ideal circumstances would be suicide, let alone under a sustained artillery barrage. There was one positive to the artillery barrage, however: rubble made great cover.



~



The Rear



The Union's charge would be met by a stream of bullets from the Gatling and single shot rifles of the defenders, as well as their special surprise: 'Okeema Gin,' one local had taken to calling the makeshift firebombs the defenders threw into the pit. Alcohol from the civilians, Franerri wine rations, kerosene, any flammable liquid in the city was bottled up with a soaked rag at the top, kindling at the bottom of the pit meaning any Union advance had to cross a line of smoke and fire seemingly from hell itself to get to the Franerri. The defenders would be firing blind if the smoke got too bad, but lookouts on nearby buildings would be there to ensure they were at least firing into the enemy.

~

Outskirts of Do'rville

General Claude and his men arrived to a Do'rville under siege. The continuous thunder of artillery from the other side of the city could be heard, and it definitely wasn't Franerri artillery. General Claude's forces would just catch the aftermath of the UST's cavalry charge as they arrived, the smoke making it nearly impossible to tell what had happened from such a distance. He would leave 10,000 Infantry and 500 Mortars to ascertain the situation at the rear, taking the infantry of the army to flank around the west of the city, while the cavalry went east.

~

Fort Mercer, Franerri-Tafatu Border

The remaining 60,000 Heavy Infantry, 3,500 Special Infantry, and 600 mortars had assembled at Fort Mercer and begun their march to Do'rville.

[Greywall]

The UST artillery barrage continued to slam the city, the thunderous deafening sound of hundreds of guns firing would continue on and on. Falalu kept his infantry close but would receive some ill news.

"Order from General Taronki sir." a rider had come overnight, Taronki wanted more than half of his deployment moved to Ferville immediately. "What is this garbage!?" Falalu demanded, 500 of his field guns were to be taken to Ferville along with more than 120,000 infantry. Severely cutting his numerical advantage, "General Taronki believes you'll have more than enough here still to win General, follow your orders." the rider would leave and Falalu had no choice, his monstrous force would begin marching South heading for Ferville to reinforce the 12th for a massive showdown with the coalition. Despite his anger he knew losing the breadbasket of the region would cut the war of attrition considerably.

"Continue firing what we have" the remaining 90 guns would fire relentlessly into the city.

Meanwhile in the North the Cavalry charge was disastrous, "Fall back!" the commander called as his men were brutally cut down by Franch gunfire and fire pits. "Gods be damned, prepare for another assault" the commander demanded, but his riders weren't as confident anymore. They had taken considerable losses and the horses were now spooked from the hell they witnessed.

[Greywall]

Frannerre losses: 453 infantry

UST losses: 120 carabineers

[callmedelta]

The Frontlines

The five Franerri artillery pieces were beginning to run low on ammunition. They slowed down their fire, taking extra time to double check the ranges to ensure they could accurately hit the firing Union guns.

~

The Rear, inside the city

The Okeema Gin had worked like a charm. The smoke was still too strong for the defenders to see anything, but as the rifles fell silent the only noise to be heard was the burning of the fires.

~

The Rear, outside the city

With the Union cavalry retreating from their charge and in disarray, the 10,000 infantry and 500 mortars opened fire on the cavalry.

~

The Flanks

10,000 Dragoons and 10,000 Carabineers took a long way around the city on the east, trying to get at the Union’s rear, while General Claude’s main force of 50,000 Heavy Infantry, 4,000 Special Infantry, and 5,000 Mortars engaged the Union’s army from the west.

[Greywall]

"The gall" Falalu angrily muttered, the approach of Frannerre forces from the West prompted him to relay half of his artillery to redirect fire on the approaching forces and for his infantry to engage them. "Keep burning the city" he would order the other half of artillery to continue shelling Do'rville.

When Frannerre eastern flanking forces arrived, the UST was forced to pull infantry to engage them. A bloody open engagement ensued the Southern field of Do'rville now a violent battlefield. Gunfire and artillery fire deafened the entire area as Falalu's forces fired at the Frannerre.

The UST cavalry were now in full retreat, unable to hold their position and were galloping East to regroup. If they could, return back to friendly lines, however the influx of Frannerre reinforcements would complicate that.

Falulu angry at his forces being cut down sent a rider to Taronki asking for additional troops and support. He stated if he could defeat Frannerre here he could launch an invasion of the Kingdom.

[Greywall]

UST losses 345

Frannerre losses 202


Both sides have entered a stalemate

[callmedelta]

The City

There it was, the last shell fired from the five artillery pieces inside the city of Do'rville. Their crews would abandon them and take up defensive positions inside the city. Seeing now would be his only chance, Major General Rizzolo ordered the survivors of his cavalry to muster and charge at the distracted Union lines. The defense of the city was now left to the infantry only, precariously weakening the city's defenses.

~

The Rear, outside the city

The 10,000 infantry and 50 mortars would pursue the fleeing cavalry the best they could. Meanwhile, the remaining 60,000 Heavy Infantry and 3,500 Special Infantry had completed their march from Fort Mercer. With the smoke from the defense of the city's rear clearing, half would join in the defense of the city while the other would join the 10,000 infantry pursuing the cavalry. 

~

The Eastern Flank

There was really only one option available to the Franerri cavalry at this point: charge. The Union's guns needed to be silenced, and this would be the best opportunity they would ever get to do so. It was a risky job, but such was the lot of cavalrymen.

~

The Western Flank

The Franerri forces stubbornly held their ground. With plenty of ground behind them, normally a retreat out of artillery range would be preferred under the circumstances, but they needed to keep the pressure on the Union to give the two cavalry charges the best chance of success. Still, advancing under these conditions would be hellish. Being a constant pressure on the Union's main line would be the best of both worlds. 

[Greywall]

--Rear--

The cavalry would attempt to continue going East to escape the Franch pursuit, if they could get out of range they would head South before making their way back to friendly lines.

--Eastern Flank--

The cavalry charge would be met with rifle fire and artillery fire, they would hold their position as best as they could and see if they could break the charge.

--Western Flank--

The Franch forces would be met with hell, the UST artillery not firing on the cavalry were now firing on the Western advance. The UST infantry were firmly remaining in their dug in position.

General Falalu was however frustrated as his forces were now trying to break the Franch assault.

[Greywall]

UST losses

431 infantry
32 Carabineers
20 field guns

Frannerre losses

4,998 dragoons
5,002 carabineers
1,341 heavy infantry
20 special infantry
101 mortars

UST forces hold their line on the trenches, continue sustained fire at enemy assaults. City bombardments have cease, UST cavalry escape East.

[callmedelta]

The Rear

With the Union's cavalry escaped, the now 20,000 Heavy Infantry would continue to advance along the eastern flank of the city and dig in once they got within mortar range of the UST, guarding for any flanking attempts like at the beginning of the battle

The Cavalry

The combined cavalry charged had been disastrous. So many men dead, so few guns destroyed. The charge had run its course and the men were faltering. It was all the commanders of the charges could do to retreat the cavalry in an orderly fashion. Those sallying forth from the city would return there, and those who had charged from the Eastern flank would retreat north, away from both the Union forces and Do'rville.

The City

With the Union artillery occupied, the new 60,000 Heavy Infantry and 600 mortars would take up whatever defensive positions they could find within the city, trying to find the best perches to fire on the Union from

The Western Flank

With the cavalry charges failed, the Franerri forces on the west flank were now the only target for Union artillery. They began to make a withdrawal back out of the Union's artillery range, pounding away at the Union with their mortars.