Battle of Sestacia

Midarian depiction of the capture of Earl Alton de Claevitall, Chancellor of Iadria, following the destruction of his cavalry at Sestacia.

### Location

Sestacia OasisGrand Epherian Western Emirate of Metidos

### Result

Decisive Epherian victoryCapture of King Richard

Destruction of the 3rd Royal Legion

Outbreak of the Navinian Succession Crisis in Iadria

### Leaders

King Richard I NavineChancellor Alton de Claevitall

Emir Husain aid-Barakat

Grand Vizier Raziin al-Shahan

The **Battle of Sestacia Oasis** was a decisive engagement and turning point in King Richard I of Iadria's Great Crusade against the Epherian Empire. Having broken through into formerly Midarian lands at the Battle of Muria Stronghold, the Iadrian Dragon-King sought to rapidly liberate the fallen Outer Kingdom's capital of Artylos with a forced march through the Metidos desert. Richard planned to advance quickly to Sestacia Oasis through treacherous terrain, where his forces were to surprise the Epherian garrison and use the Oasis as a springboard for an attack on Artylos from the largely undefended south. The advance began in late February, the King leading a host comprised of his Royal Guard, the Navinian Frontier Army, the Third Royal Legion, and a compliment of Knights Jareche. However, King Richard's force was itself surprised upon its arrival at Sestacia, where a massive Epherian army had gathered in anticipation of the oncoming Iadrian attack. The ensuing battle would prove to be one of the Kingdom's greatest defeats, and lead to a new phase of the Great Crusade and the onset of the Triumvirate in Iadria.

Unaware of the true size of the Epherian host or the loss of their element of surprise, the Iadrian Royal Guard advanced on Sestacia, attacking into the jaws of a hidden Imperial pincer. As the Guard made significant progress against the weak Epherian center, King Richard led the Frontier Army forward to assault the Imperial left flank, while the Royal Legion advanced on their right. Hidden in the wooded hills surrounding the Oasis to this point, the massed Epherian reserves broke out into the open as the Iadrians committed their forces. The sheer numbers and superior positioning of the reinforcing Imperial armies allowed them to perform a double envelopment of the Iadrian force, even as their original flanks were engaged on both sides. The Third Royal Legion was the first to collapse under the shockingly powerful Epherian counterattack, crumbling under constant bombardment and repeated cavalry charges. The Royal Guard, now trapped deep behind enemy lines and under heavy attack, attempted to break out to the King; simultaneously, Chancellor Alton de Claevitall led the Frontier Army's cavalry in a valiant charge, aiming to break through the Epherian envelopment and rescue the Royal Guard. Met with an Epherian counter-charge and an array of dark magic, the Navinian cavalry was halted, then shattered by a determined Epherian assault. Struck from his horse, the Chancellor himself was taken prisoner, striking a deep blow to the morale of the remaining Navinian troops.

As the hours wore on, the Frontier Army began to collapse under the weight of attacks from all sides, while the Royal Guard's strength rapidly bled away as their attempts to break out repeatedly failed. King Richard, realizing the gravity of the situation, ordered a retreat; leading the charge personally alongside the Knights Jareche, the King and his remaining Iadrian forces staged a desperate and final attempt to escape the Epherian trap. Despite the bravery and ferocity of this last push, the Iadrians were exhausted, overwhelmed, and stunned. Led personally by the Grand Vizier Raziin al-Shahan, a regiment of Imperial Mage-Cataphracts fought their way into the center of the Iadrian army, driving a thin spearhead directly to the Dragon-King. In a final, brutal engagement, the elite of the Imperial army clashed with the last line of Royal defense, hundreds falling in minutes as the Iadrian troops were cut down in swathes, desperately fighting to protect their monarch, though they had no chance of victory. Finally, after a full day of vicious battle, King Richard was brought to his knees. Bloody and battered, his crown cast aside, the Dragon-King was forced to surrender to the Empire or see his entire army slaughtered to the man. The defeated King was put in chains, paraded before the remnants of the Iadrian force, most of whom were taken prisoner as well. Only a few Iadrian stragglers managed to escape into the desert, and even fewer would reach safe haven across the Midarian border.