Battle of the Bloody Plains

The Battle of the Bloody Plains was a battle that took place in the western middle part of the island of **Phados**, between the forces of the **Helios Imperium's** **1st Legion**, and a large raiding party from the **Beast Tribes**.

## Origins

The first battle of the war between the Helios Imperium and the Beast Tribes was destined to happen sooner or later; when the Beast Tribes began to send forces to Phados, to corrupt the native populace of the town the island was named after, the Imperium sent scouts and envoys, only for those scouts and envoys to return as nothing more than heads. The Imperium responded, mustering the 1st Legion to action.

## Forces

### Imperium

The Imperial 1st Legion, known for it's steadfast defenses and deadly artillery, deployed out in force - heavy shieldwalls and lines of spears, backed by crossbows, giving them a formidable frontline. They were also accompanied by their well-trained 1st Cohort, a Cohort of much more skilled troops, as well as two cohorts of Imperial Royal Knights. In addition, they also had a new set of cavalry - Outriders, equipped with deadly explosives that could launch them from afar. Finally, the low caliber, but rapid firing artillery known as Demonblaster Volley Cannons were prepared and manuevered.

### Beast Tribes

The Beast Tribes came with a large raiding party - a beast tribe chieftain, his lieutenant, and numerous other well-equipped and shielded minotaurs, backed by their lesser cousins, and a small contingent of Centaurs, wielding throwing axes.

## Battle

Imperial Scouts caught wind of the enemy army before they could ambush the larger army, and the Imperial Army prepared it's lines; the terrain wasn't favorable. The Demonblaster Volley Cannons could not get an effective angle on the approaching force, which was approaching from a small forest. Despite this, the guns did manage to inflict some casualties on a flanking force of lesser Minotaurs, but the artillery emplacements were effectively useless outside of a few dozen recorded kills.

The main fight took place with the frontlines; the enormous minotaurs, backed by their lesser cousins, smashed directly into the assembled line. Although they did charge directly into lines of spears, the lesser minotaurs were the ones who suffered the most. The larger Minotaurs came in with them, dealing heavy casualties upon the Imperial Forces, while the Centaur cavalry laid down fire.

The Imperial Knights chased away the centaur cavalry, and angled themselves to deliver a charge directly into the flank of several of the lesser herds of minotaur, and the larger, engaging in direct battle with them, while the Outriders began to skirmish with the centaur, consequently annihilating the few Centaur herds that attempted to engage them, the superior firepower of the Outriders proving exceptionally useful against the lightly armored beastmen.

The front lines looked like they may have taken more casualties, were it not for a duel between the Commander of the 1st Legion, **Marcus Arcturius**, who engaged in a duel against the Beast Tribe Chieftain, an enormous minotaur bull. Backed up by his skilled warriors of the 1st Cohort, Marcus Arcturius took to the fight, and after a lengthy duel, the Bull was slain, his army losing their morale and beginning a mass rout.

## Conclusion

The Imperial Forces successfully defeated and routed the large raiding party, dispersing it. A small force of the Beast forces did remain, to attempt to ravage the countryside, but would be hunted down eventually, no doubt. Marcus Arcturius claims a kill over a Beast Tribe Chieftain.