Battle of Mudon Hill

The Battle of Mudon Hill was the first battle during the Lamion War, fought by the Nirvan Republic and the Elves of Lamion. The battle helped show Vibius Calenus and the Nirvans that forest warfare was very different compared to their normal style of combat.

## Command

### Lamion

The head of the Lamion forces was King Mirion, whom they had all pledged their loyalty to, including Elves from the forest and not necessarily from the city of Lamion.

The main force would be directly commanded by Mirion, while the force on the side was under the command of his cousin Laegdir.

### Nirvan Republic

Vibius stood again as overall commander of the Nirvan army, surrounded by a triarii legion led by his right-hand man, Decimus Auxilius.

On his flanks he had a mix of Nirvan and Lorenzen cavalry, each commanded by a trusted Lorenzen as they were more knowledgeable when it came to mounted combat. The right was commanded by Silas Ludvigsen and left by Philip Markussen.

From right to left, the legions were commanded by Aulus Balbillus, Decius Grumio and Appius Longinus. All were newer to command, but had been made well acquainted by Vibius.

## Battle

Already conditioned to suspect ambushes due to his travels to the hill, Vibius took things slow and cautious. Advancing with his soldiers and using the cavalry on the flanks to act like scouts, searching for anywhere the enemy could be hiding. On the wings, he kept them slower, so that his army could adopt a square formation if needed and defend attacks from all sides.

Unsurprisingly, mid-way through the advance, the Nirvans spotted some Elves in the trees, who subsequently attacked.

Quickly, Vibius ordered Legate Aulus and his legion to adopt a defensive stance to protect the flank, aided by Silas and the other cavalry. On the left, he ordered Philip to do a proper sweep of the area, aided by the Zelan archers who had used similar tactics in the Zelan Campaign.

Decimus was ordered to remain where he was, sending cohorts to go and aid the front whenever possible, but to keep enough behind so that if the enemy were to come from behind, they could defend.

In the centre, Decius and Appius still marched ahead, raising their shields the moment they entered the range of Mirion’s archers.

### The Centre's Clash

Rising up the hill, Decius and Appius continued to hold their shields high, protecting them from the volleys of Elven projectiles. The moment they entered the range, they charged, hitting the Elves and pushing them back slightly. Because of the maneuver of Aulus’s legion, they were flanked on the right, but the Thurim elite soldiers moved up, instead placing the Elves on the backfoot.

On the left, they gained the flank. Hitting both Elven spearmen and their archers.

### Laegdir Retreats

Placed against an entire legion and their cavalry, Laegdir and his surprise troops were taking heavy casualties. At one point Laegdir himself had to fall back a bit when a Lorenzen Knight broke through and almost stabbed him, instead killing one of his lieutenants.

Making the difficult decision, Laegdir and his troops retreated back into the thick of the forest, leaving Mirion to fend for himself. The Nirvans chose not to follow, realising they would be at the mercy of the Elven archers that had yet to play their part.

### Mirion Retreats

Now that Laegdir had effectively been driven off, Aulus, his legion and the cavalry now marched to the main battle where they charged again into the exposed flank of the Elves, despite it being uphill.

In the centre they continued to push ahead, Appius’s legion making headway with their flank, forcing some of the Elven archers to pull back, causing a group of Elven spearmen to get surrounded.

On the left, Philip and the Zelan archers began their advance around the enemy lines to hit them from behind, aiming specifically for King Mirion.

Realising the battle was lost, Mirion called for his troops to retreat. Creating a magic fog to help block the enemies vision.