Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[OverKnight]

The Battle South of Edessa, 1276

Matthias was in a fell mood. Conrad Salier was dead, a carefully recruited and trained army fell with him, and he had been forced to commit his own army to the fight before he had planned to.

The one consolation was that Kitbuqa the Wrathful's depleted army was still isolated from the rest of the Mongol Horde. Like a wounded animal, it could be separated from the herd, chased down and killed.

Matthias had attacked from the north to cut off the Mongol General's line of retreat back to the Horde. Instead, Kitbuqa had fled south, fearing the numbers of the new army and not wishing to be caught against Edessa and a vengeful Jan von Hamburg.

It had taken a bit of doing to keep Jan back at Edessa, but he and the garrison were in no shape to strike again this year. This would be Matthias's fight, Jan's vengeance would have to come later. The Chancellor pursued the Mongols south into the desert until finally they turned to fight.

Matthias deployed the bowmen in loose formation in front of the infantry line. The Knights were concentrated on the left flank.

Kitbuqa turned to face him. The Mongol Horse Archers galloped forward to exchange missiles with the Pavise Crossbowmen.

Soon every Mongol with a bow was firing on the Imperial bowmen. Matthias smiled grimly, they were taking losses, but the infantry was nearly untouched. Tiring of the long distance battle, Matthias ordered his footmen forward.

The Mongol infantry retreated, trying to stay at arm's length. Ignoring the Horse Archers on the flanks, the infantry line rushed forward, with the middle units attacking the Mongol Lancers and Kitbuqa's bodyguard.

Matthias gave a terse order to his bugler, and a single note pierced the din of battle. The unengaged infantry, which had passed the Mongol General, pivoted and charged into the melee, striking from the flanks and rear.

Kitbuqa, after a fierce resistance, was rolled over by his horse when an Imperial spearman killed the animal. With his left leg crushed, he was easily captured.

Many of the Mongols units remained on the field fighting, but they were isolated and leaderless. Imperial foot and cavalry hemmed them in and they were destroyed. Only 27 of the 751 Mongol warriors were able to flee.

After the battle, Matthias approached the prisoners. Kitbuqa the Wrathful must have been fearsome when whole, but the man before him on a pallet with a shattered leg was pitiful.

Matthias knelt and asked, "Where is the body of Conrad Salier?"

Kitbuqa looked up, his face a mix of pain and anger, "Your King died like a pig! You think you can stop us? We will kill you all!"

"We did stop you", Matthias replied, ice in his voice, "And if one of us falls two will take his place."

Matthias grasped the Mongol's shattered leg and tightened his grip. A gout of blood leapt up as Kitbuqa screamed.

"I ask again, where is the body of Conrad Salier?"

The Mongol moaned and whispered, "I took his head, it is in my saddle bags."

Matthias, with a flick of his hand, sent a guard to check. His gaze swung back to Kitbuqa as he cleaned the blood from his hands.

"Thank you. If it is any comfort, you have inconvenienced me. The destruction of your armies might be pushed back a year."

Matthias drew his dagger, placing it underneath the Mongol's chin. He stared into the man's eyes as Kitbuqa began swearing wildly.

"Of course, it will matter little to you."

Never breaking his gaze, Matthias thrust his dagger up into the Mongol's brain.

King Salier was avenged, the Reich's honor regained, but this was only the beginning.

Matthias spoke over the dead body of his enemy, "I shall give thanks for the hardships we bear, for they serve to purify the soul."