Battle of the Northern Ridge

Battle of the Northern Ridge
Date	approx 9 IC
Location	Fifty miles south of the coast [1b]
Outcome	Victory for Norsca and Warriors of Chaos
Combatants
Norsca, Warriors of Chaos	Jutones, Thuringians, Udose, Unberogen [1b]
Commanders
Cormac Bloodaxe [1b]	Sigmar [1b]
Strength
	8,000 Warriors [1b]
Losses/Survivors
About 1,000 killed or captured. [1c]	About 300 killed or wounded. [1c]

History

Whilst Sigmar was destroying the Roppsmenn, Cormac and Kar Odacen had built a mighty fleet of 500 wolfships and an alliance with many Chaos worshipping tribes to destroy the newly created Empire. ^[1a]

When they landed, they were delayed by the Udose under Conn Carsten, giving time for Sigmar to raise an army and march to meet them in battle. ^[1b]

Battle

Sigmar's army deployed on a forested ridge in disciplined formations, anticipating that the northmen would attack in a frenzie but disorganised mass. As the tribal warriors waited under the many colourful banners, the weather shifted abrubtly, storm-clouds suddenly appearing as rain and lightning began to fall upon them. ^[1b]

As the army of the Empire advanced, a bolt of lightning arced down to incinerate the banner bearer of the White Wolves, riding with Sigmar and the rain quickly began to turn the battlefield into a quagmire. ^[1b]

Now under the skull banner of Cormac, the Norsii and their allies march forth, not in a fluid horde but also in regiments. The advancing Thuringians were first harressed by horse archers and then as they faltered, they were charged by heavy cavalry on huge steeds. ^[1b]

It was only the intervention of the Jutones lancers that saved them and Count Otwin was wounded, having to be carried from the field by Marius himself. The battle continued in the same vein, with every strategem that Sigmar tried being countered by the Norsii until by the evening, it was obvious the battle was lost. ^[1b]

He sounded the retreat and it was as the warriors of the empire fell back that the discipline of the northern tribes finally broke down as they as they fell upon the wounded. ^[1b] The Jutones lancers and mercenary crossbowmen covered the survivors, preventing it from becoming a rout. {{Fn|1c}

Sigmar's forces marched through the night to esape the enemy, heading for Middenheim. ^[1b]

Order of Battle

The Empire

• Sigmar, commanding and leading the Unberogen. ^[1b]
  • White Wolves, Heavy cavalry. ^[1b]
• Conn Carsten leading the Udose. ^[1b]
• Count Marius leading the Jutones. ^[1b]
• Count Otwin leading the Thuringains. ^[1b]
  • Ulfdar. ^[1c]
  • King's Blades: Fiercest of the Berserkers. ^[1c]

Norsii and the Warriors of Chaos

• Cormac Bloodaxe^[1a]
• Kar Odacen
• Azazel
  • Iron Wolves. ^[1a]
  • Avag^[1a]
  • Gharhar^[1a]
  • Hung^[1a]
  • Kul^[1a]
  • Tahmak^[1a]
  • Varg^[1a]
  • Wei-Tu^[1a]
  • Yusak^[1a]

Sources

• 1: Legend of Sigmar (anthology): Empire (Novel)
  • 1a: Fifteen: The Price of Betrayal, pg. 539-540
  • 1b: Seventeen: Wolves of the North, pg. 567-570
  • 1c: Seventeen: Wolves of the North, pg. 571-572

Great Tribes
Tribes	Asoborn - Brigundians - Cherusen - Endals - Jutones - Menogoths - Merogens - Ostagoths - Taleutens - Teutogen - Thuringians - Udoses - Unberogen
Characters	Adelhard - Aldred - Alfgeir - Aloysis - Alessa - Artur - Berongunden - Björn - Bysen - Conn Carsten - Cradoc - Cuthwin - Ebrulf - Egil - Eoforth - Freya - Fridleifr - Garr - Gerreon - Govannon - Griseldis - Henroth - Idris Gwylt - Krugar - Laredus - Leovulf - Maedbh - Marbad - Marika - Marius - Markus - Myrsa - Notker - Otwin - Pendrag - Petra - Ravenna - Redmane Dregor - Redwane - Siggurd - Sigmar - Sigulf - Trinovantes - Ulfdar - Ulrike - Wolfgart - Wolfila