Battle on the Lybaras Road
| Conflict | War against Nagash |
| Date | -1163 IC |
| Location | The road to Lybaras |
| Outcome | Victory for W'soran |
| | |
| Army of Nagash | Ka-Sabar, Rasetra |
| | |
| W'soran | Prince Heru |
| | |
| approx. 80-100,000 | approx. 500,000 |
| | |
Contents
Preparations
After the fall of Lahmia, a grand strategy had been devised by King Alcadizzar and the other rulers of Nehekhara to defend their lands when Nagash returned. So when word came of a great fleet of bone heading towards the ruins of Lahmia, the plan was implemented. The armies of Ka-Sabar and Rasetra were mustered in 4 weeks and marched to hold back the enemy whilst the rest of the army was assembled. [1a]
Meanwhile a vast army of the dead under Arkhan and W'soran marched from the ruined city but were not prepared to be met in the field so soon. The two commanders argued, with Arkhan annoyed that the cities of Nehekhara were organised against them, W'soran accusing him of cowardice. In response, Arkhan ordered him to defeat them with his own portion of the horde which he immediately agreed to. [1b]
Deployment
The living deployed in line with the heavy infantry in the centre and on the flank with archers before them and wheeled catapults behind, chariots on the flank. [1b]
Battle
W'soran ordered his archers and spear armed skeletons forward who quickly came under heavy fire from the catapults. The undead archers responded as they closed the range - in turn the living archers fired, using magical arrows to ensure the dead struck did not rise again. Seeing the uneven exchange, W'soran was forced to order his archers to retreat as the spearmen moved forwards. They suffered under the bombardment, the lead companies all but destroyed but they were quickly replaced.[1b]
As the living archers destroyed many more, W'soran and his thralls boosted the speed of their soldiers, forcing the bowmen to fall back behind their own infantry. Magically warded and with enchanted weapons, the infantry took a heavy toll, but again the dead were boosted by Necromancy. On the flanks the cavalry and chariots of both sides engaged in a swirling melee. [1b]
Slowly over the next hour the living were pushed back and the dead began to overlap the flanks, but before they could be overwhelmed, trumpets called for a retreat. As W'soran and his minions tried to boost their forces once more, they found their magics countered and a howling sandstorm was raised between the two armies. [1b]
The surviving Nehekharans fell back in good order, even the now horse-drawn catapults safely withdrawing. [1b]
Sources
