Battle of Ragnokina

Belligerents	
Za'ah 	
Vidstos
Commanders 	
General Za'rah Eze'leah Nisane Ja'Yah Ja'wah Devayani
Ar'yah'na Ko'ofeah
Ar'yah'na Jah'lisse †
Ar'yah'na Ha'pa'zu	
Sturozi Varedi
Ranir Haddadi †
Mellak Artadi
Bassel Varedi
Athalf Castar
Strength 	38 000 	52 000
Losses 	7402 	15241
Result 	Victory 	Defeat
Consequences	Za'ahene advance across Ragnokia river	Death or capture of more than 700 Vidstos nobles and 5000 levies, retreat of Prince Sturozi to Veigholmoä.
The Ragnokina river is 30-50 metres wide, and has a broad and relatively easy wading area which the Za'ahenes needed to pass and the Vidstossi need to hold. The Vidstossi were holding the northern side of the river, while the Za'ahenes were marching from the south.
The Vidstos army consisted of 52 000 troops, of which 1000 were cavalry from which the nobles command their army, 2000 were heavy infantry, 13 000 were medium infantry, and the rest were archers and light levies conscripted from the karldoms and the knights.
The Za'ahene army was smaller, consisted of 8000 Vez'yah, 21.000 Ar'yah, 2000 men in chariots (3 man crews, armed with spear and bow), and the rest being archers and even some Áskh loyalists.
As both armies stood up on the windy field, separated by the river, they made themselves ready for the largest land battle in recorded history. The sun was warm, there was a strong wind from the west blowing, making the banners flutter, as the two most powerful empires in the world clash together.
The Vidstossi cavalry deployed to the Vidstossi left flank, while the Vidstossi right flank started to move over Ragnokina river, the lighter equipped levies running forward first and bravely smashing into Za'fah Devayani's Ar'yah.They were supported by archers and by the heavier "maze units", forcing Za'fah Devayani to redeploy some of her troops.
Meanwhile, the main Za'ahene right flank, with the newly established Vez'yah units at the helm, marches on a broad front, smashing into the Vidstossi left flank, composed of weaker and lighter equipped levies. The screen of levies resisted for about five minutes, before breaking against the systematic slaughter by the Vez'yah. There were more body parts than whole bodies scattered around. However, the main Vidstos forces were still unharmed.
The Vidstossi right flank continue to move over the river at the western low point. While the spearmen were retreating, the maze-men, also known as the Gar Corps, wade down into the river. The Ar'yah pushes lead to the collapse of the Vidstossi spearmen units, and over 1000 drown during the retreat, and another 1000 are taken captive.
On the Vidstossi left flank, the Vez'yah continue to press forward in two columns, one moving north, and one pressing north-west, against what was arguably the weakest point in the Vidstos line. Effective deployment of the spear units still left in the screen are prevented by Ar'yah from the Za'ahene centre moving against them, engaging them in a brutal battle.
As the Za'ahenes press forward, many thousands of peasant levies are engulfed by the Ar'yah units running after the Vez'yah, and either taken captive or being slain.
General Ranir, who commands the Vidstossi left flank from Sturozi's horse, is rushing with his unit of cavalrymen to aid his army where it is breaking apart. Meanwhile, Sturozi is marching with bronze-wielding gar warriors on the right flank, ready to fight Za'fah Ele'zeah Devayani...
The Vidstossi advance on the right flank is halted and the Gàr are retreating in good order over the river, taking heavy losses. The Vidstos move two Gàr units over to the collapsing left flank.
The Za'ahenes make an attempt to break through the Vidstos left flank, but the Gàr units manage to hold the line with heavy losses, and were also reinforced by the rear guard of lightly equipped levies.
The Cavalry unit led by Ranir Haddadi is soon to find itself encircled if not any regroup is made. The Za'ahene Vez'yah forces use their bronze weapons to cut off the legs of the horses or eviscerating the poor animals, before killing the riders. Over 288 Vidstossi knights and 17 young karls are killed. The sun was almost blot by ravens circling over the battlefield.
The Za'ahene rear-guard approaches from the forest.
The Vidstos right flank make a sudden surprise offensive which is taking the advancing Za'ahene forces with surprise initially. The Vidstos macemen make some advances and forcing the Vez'yah to yield some ground. General Jah'lisse is not withdrawing as fast as the rest of her corps and falls over a the guts of a slain horse, when a Vidstossi horse that has lost its rider runs over her, breaking her jaw-bone and neck. A Vidstossi spearman kills her through the eye later.
However, the Vidstossi counter-offensive is followed by a Za'ahene counter-offensive, and the tightly locked Vez'yah warriors are moving forward assisted by Ar'yah from the rears. breaking the weakened enemy units. Ranir Haddadi, who has dismounted from his horse and now fights amongst the macemen,  encounters a Za'ahene Vez'yah officer named Eh'zi. He falls over the Za'ahene elite trooper, breaking his spear. The Za'ahene seems to trip on the ground, which by now is slippery from blood. He rolls on the side, using the sharp remainder of the spear to cut off the hamstring of Ranir Haddadi. Ranir falls on the ground, then Eh'zi calls on an Ar'yaha to come and cut off Ranir's head at the upper jaw.
The half-head is then impaled on top of a Za'ahene battle banner.
Bassel Varedi is killing three Ar'yah, but is then having his shoulder crushed by an obsidian blade. He is captured. Upon the loss of Bassel, the right flank is starting to disintegrate.
Meanwhile, Sturozi's left flank flees west, towards Veigholmoä, an autonomous Syannic city state inside the Gate Kingdom. Seeing that opportunity, Za'af Yah'ja'wah Devayani blows the horn for her corps to cross the river, attacking the enemy with full force. Two units of Gàr manage to sacrifice themselves to allow the rest of the army a time to pass. The Za'ahenes make landfall, but are partially hindered by two bronze-equipped Gàr units.
The Battle ends with a devastating Za'ahene victory. Prince Sturozi narrowly escapes being captured by the Za'ahene Army, but manage to escape on a raft together with a group of his closest warriors. Over 5000 Vidstossi levies are taken captive, and the South-western Gate Army is dissolved, though several thousand men are fleeing into the woods to continue their resistance there.
Over 700 Vidstossi noblemen were either killed or captured alive, including the bulk of the sons of the karls, jarls and knights living in the region around and south of Rodmuthana.
Category:Battles
Category:History
Category:Za'ah
Category:Vidstos
Category:Empires