[i]The Battle at Imud[/i]
[b]Grand Emperor Aedrius Derith Irenaeus the Ascendant (0-34)[/b]
[quote=Royal Scribe Eusebius, 33] One could not pry his own mind from the thought, that which lingered. As much as he had respected his better, he could not shake the feeling of doubt as he sat perched, upon his horse, staring down the lines of the cursed Paledunes. Cursed belief, thought he. What vile and sickening feeling it was, that nature of man, the doubt when faced with the cold blade and stubborn will.
 
“Aedrius?”, asked he, pivoting his own gaze to him, which himself sat upon a fine thoroughbred with iron will. “Some may count nearly one million in their ranks, standing against fifty-thousand. I am ill with thoughts of what may happen were we driven back. Have you anything to say which might satiate these thoughts?”
 
Irenaeus pursed his lips then, uttering a phrase which forever was stuck in the mind of the General. Aedrius spoke calm, but cold, “One million stand against fifty-thousand?” Aedrius paused. “Ascended help those heathens.” He spoke in regards to the Paledune men which stood opposite of our own columns. He roared seconds later the phrase to battle. “To your flanks, men! May your phalanxes be tight and your sarissas whetted!” Spurring his horse moments later, a great cloud of dust was drawn as his staff accompanied him at double quick towards the companion horsemen drawn up (on the far) right.
 
As General Sunwalker turned to spur his own steed, his eye was drawn to a figure upon the ridge nearby. Upon examination, the demeanor of General Eriokles became revealed to Dalleio. They regarded each other with the nods of their heads in that moment, and turned their own ways of which to ride, on to battle.
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[quote=Royal Scribe Eusebius, 33] Some time (it took) for Sunwalker to take his command, a sizeable portion of the right wing of the army, being hoplites and sarissamen alike. He turned his steed rather sharply, regarding his own staff with a hail, and not but moments later did the horn sound. A drumbeat, one might’ve regarded it, but No! ‘Twas but the movement of the lines, a steady pace of which each phalanx advanced, all in step, as if a musical cacophony of war drums were assaulting one’s ears.
 
And it began. From each flank were hordes of horsemen from both our own lines and other lines alike. And how they streamed! How was it that men with such grace in the saddle could ever draw blades against one-another! Pure beauty, until dragged back to the stifling heat was the General. The clopping of hooves and the thumping of feet was not the only orchestra that filled the air. Wheels! Chariots! Each phalanx called to brace for the blasted vehicles of destruction, and the lines were extended under the cover of slingers and peltasts, an enfilade of fire which was never seen before striking down those golden carriages!
 
And the men parted the formation, as the Ascended had parted the very seas to create the land! The chariots sailed through, steeds cut down and riders impaled. The very charge broke before Sunwalker, which uttered a prayer to the Ascended as the phalanxes advances once more. Oh! Heard his prayer, had the Ascended! For the cavalry had collided with one another, and the Paledunes broke! The Heathens had turned tail, and left their own exposed! Beautiful chaos ensued, and the main lines began to collide in a haze of glory! Sarissas, blades, and pole-shafts thrusted through, and as if a supernatural force simultaneously directed them away, those Eastern men routed! The most glorious pursuit one could ever see! None could harness the fury of the men under the Grand Emperor! It had to have been a distance of most of the Goldsea the men pursued before they could dare keep calm enough to make camp.
 
How Holy! The Ascended blessed all that were true to Them that day! The path of conquest was open and prepared for the soles of the brave!
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