+Khorne
Battle of Ice River, Tales of Old
While the Long War is mostly remembered as a conflict between Oléon and Corrington - with a later Mardierian Intervention - the Northern Kingdoms were not the only battlefields, as the conflict coalesced with other simmering wars. Many decades before the start of the Long War, knightly orders and agents of the Faith were already encroaching on Pontilla's territory, seeking to "civilize" the pagan lands and carve out their own monastic state, loyal to Oléon.
Over time the small border skirmishes and taunts turned into a full-fledged war, with several crusades launched into the Grand Duchy - mostly headed by the Oléonder Ordo Poseidonis, the Knights of Poseidon.
The Pontillans managed to stand their ground for a long time, thanks to the employment of clever tactics and reliance on early gunpowder weaponry.
In 347AE the infamous Battle of Ice River was fought, which is widely regarded as Grand Duke Basil's finest victory. Through clever maneuvering and usage of the terrain, the Pontillan host under the Grand Duke's command managed to lure the battle brothers of the Knights of Poseidon across a frozen-over river. When they realized the danger, many turned around and fled to a safe bank. Others dismounted and foolhardy pressed on under the barrage of ranged weaponry. The few that made it to Pontilla's side were swiftly cut down. However, retreat was becoming impossible as the ice started to give way under the weight of the soldiers and knights and was beginning to crack. Many men drowned or died of frostbite in the aftermath.
The Grand Duke then ordered the heads of fallen enemies or prisoners cut off and mounted on pikes along the banks of the river as a warning and grim symbol of victory. The chronicles of the Knights bestowed him the moniker "the Mad Lord" for this action, which is sometimes erroneously copied as "the Bat Lord", assuming it mistakenly refers to Basil's personal coat of arms.
Sadly for the Pontillans, the hubris of their victory was not to last as they were soundly defeated by Oléon in 349AE. With its army broken and Basil supposedly slain on the battlefield, the rest of the Grand Duchy was subdued and in 352AE officially annexed by Oléon.
However, control over the country is fickle and Pontillans remain defiant. Remnants of loyalists have fled to the ghastly Darkwood where it is whispered they are regrouping and biding their time. Indeed, patrols have reported rumors of sightings of armed groups adorned with bat-like imagery or claims of dark rituals and others practices the Knights label as "witchcraft" and "heresy".
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For the BOBS prequel Tales of Old, on Eurobricks.
Battle of Ice River, Tales of Old
While the Long War is mostly remembered as a conflict between Oléon and Corrington - with a later Mardierian Intervention - the Northern Kingdoms were not the only battlefields, as the conflict coalesced with other simmering wars. Many decades before the start of the Long War, knightly orders and agents of the Faith were already encroaching on Pontilla's territory, seeking to "civilize" the pagan lands and carve out their own monastic state, loyal to Oléon.
Over time the small border skirmishes and taunts turned into a full-fledged war, with several crusades launched into the Grand Duchy - mostly headed by the Oléonder Ordo Poseidonis, the Knights of Poseidon.
The Pontillans managed to stand their ground for a long time, thanks to the employment of clever tactics and reliance on early gunpowder weaponry.
In 347AE the infamous Battle of Ice River was fought, which is widely regarded as Grand Duke Basil's finest victory. Through clever maneuvering and usage of the terrain, the Pontillan host under the Grand Duke's command managed to lure the battle brothers of the Knights of Poseidon across a frozen-over river. When they realized the danger, many turned around and fled to a safe bank. Others dismounted and foolhardy pressed on under the barrage of ranged weaponry. The few that made it to Pontilla's side were swiftly cut down. However, retreat was becoming impossible as the ice started to give way under the weight of the soldiers and knights and was beginning to crack. Many men drowned or died of frostbite in the aftermath.
The Grand Duke then ordered the heads of fallen enemies or prisoners cut off and mounted on pikes along the banks of the river as a warning and grim symbol of victory. The chronicles of the Knights bestowed him the moniker "the Mad Lord" for this action, which is sometimes erroneously copied as "the Bat Lord", assuming it mistakenly refers to Basil's personal coat of arms.
Sadly for the Pontillans, the hubris of their victory was not to last as they were soundly defeated by Oléon in 349AE. With its army broken and Basil supposedly slain on the battlefield, the rest of the Grand Duchy was subdued and in 352AE officially annexed by Oléon.
However, control over the country is fickle and Pontillans remain defiant. Remnants of loyalists have fled to the ghastly Darkwood where it is whispered they are regrouping and biding their time. Indeed, patrols have reported rumors of sightings of armed groups adorned with bat-like imagery or claims of dark rituals and others practices the Knights label as "witchcraft" and "heresy".
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For the BOBS prequel Tales of Old, on Eurobricks.