Imperial Expedition to Crestfall

Imperial Expedition to Crestfall
Date 16.X.1680 AN Location Duchy of Brookshire
Belligerents
Shireroth Palatini Corps 4a Sazn Ahtaneï 5a Sazn Kampioneï 7a Sazn Bivarhinseï 2a Furgsadda Brun 1a Furgsadda Droþ 8a Furgsadda Holïur Ŝḥenĉeł'yhe Myćyierehe Ġ°eg°yuenek°'ynyrł'yhe Fortis Militia 1a Gauht 2a Gauht 3a Gauht 4a Gauht	Army of Caverden Banners of the Northern Marches Banners of the Eastern Marches Banners of the Southern Marches Banners of the Western Marches BAAL
Strength
1,440 mechanized infantry 3,360 mounted Ŝḥenĉeł'y fighters 2,000 infantry militia 56 tanks 32 self-propelled guns 16 self-propelled SAM launchers	15,000 bannermen at Isenbury 20,000 bannermen in the Guttuli borderlands 41,800 living as "gentlemen of the road"

The Imperial Expedition to Crestfall is a military campaign launched by The Imperial Republic of Shireroth to reclaim control of the City of Isenbury and the Crestfall Downs, following the city's rejection of Imperial authority in 1680 AN. The campaign is personally led by Kaiseress Salome, flying the Banner of Ayreon as her war banner.

Imperial War Council

• Salome, Kaiseress

• Iessei Ameunin, Lieutenant for the Golden Mango Throne to the Crestfall Circle
• Jamie III of Octavius-Leilani, Imperial Interpreter and Cultural Liaison
• Bernice IV of Octavius-Teleni, Prefect of the Camp
• Bethany V of Octavius-Leilani, Personal assistant to the Kaiseress

• Arn bi Płentek, Bivarhins Ahmst Tazstraneï
• Hænrek Kuldraþ, Bivarhins Ahmst Tazstraneï
• Olf bi Arnæst, Bivarhins Ahmst Tazstraneï
• Uta bi Suirsva, Bivarhins Ahmst Tazstraneï
• Miruih Afrgalb, Bivarhins Ahmst Tazstraneï
• Admir bi Łestkin, Bivarhins Ahmst Tazstraneï

• Uezei Isseiq°e, Myćyiereheme ia-Syretḥemat
• Ahyim Dźasbatyq°e, Myćyiereheme ia-Syretḥemat
• Ḥeẑ° Ietyq°e, Ġ°eg°yuenek°'ynyrł'yheme ia-Syretḥemat

• Alder Edzard, Gauhthvaszhaldan Fortis
• Raïnuld Bakavan, Gauhthvaszhaldan Fortis
• Adun Hvapak, Gauhthvaszhaldan Fortis
• Baþun Halmods, Gauhthvaszhaldan Fortis

Battle of Samback

On 4.XII.1680, screening units of the Imperial Expedition encountered their counterparts in the Banners of the Southern Marches, south of the road to Samback in an abandoned farming estate. The Imperial Expedition secured the area and made camp at this estate. The bodies of "gentlemen of the road" who had been encountered between the towns of Mastun and Samback were nailed to trees along the roadside, bearing signs that identified their various attempted crimes.

On 5.XII.1680, Kaiseress Salome detached the Ŝḥenĉeł'yhe under Uezei Iesseiq°e with orders to locate and define the disposition of hostile forces located around Samback. Encounters between skirmishers continued throughout the day.

On 8.XII.1680, a battalion of poorly-trained soldiers under the Banners of the Southern Marches launched an attack on the estate and attempted a feigned retreat towards a location identified as a location where Banner troops were massing, on the hills west-northwest of Samback. After this failed, the Banners of the Southern Marches, having gathered its strength in and around town, opted to strike.

The force was divided into three wings, to take advantage of their numerical superiority:

• The Center Wing, under Uitih Baen, would consist of the bulk of their forces, mostly lightly-armed and inexperienced troops -- its mission would be to hold the Imperial Expedition in place
• The Left Wing, under Kæïl Sunfriþs, would circle around and cut off the Imperial Expedition from being able to retreat back towards Mastun.
• The Right Wing, under Valmir bi Aþałn, consisting of well-equipped veterans, would annihilate the Imperial Expedition

The attack, scheduled to begin in early afternoon on the 9th, was uncoordinated, allowing the Imperial Expedition to destroy the Banners of the Southern Marches in detail. The Left Wing initiated its attack in the morning hours and deployed too spread out to be able to concentrate its forces effectively. The Center Wing waited until early evening, once the Right Wing had already been defeated, then attempted a disorganized retreat back to Samback.

By this time, the column of Ŝḥenĉeł'yhe under Uezei Iesseiq°e had been able to clear the town of any remaining opposition forces and set up a defensive line along the western edge of town, turning the town's encircling farmland into a killing field for the demoralized and retreating Center Wing to march into. Captured soldiers were forced to make submissions to the Kaiseress, and the Banner of Ayreon was raised above the town.