Battle of Fort Collis

Within two decades of seizing power in Aquila, Scorpius Tyrannus had made a concerted effort to reverse the state’s apathy to military preparedness. He embarked upon a programme of building outposts and fortifications across the Aquilan border to maintain a vigil on all possible approaches to the capital. Over the years these forts and way stations allowed the Aquilan outriders to intercept Dwarf scouting parties and thus prevent the Dawi from gathering intelligence that they might have otherwise used to organise a massed attack.

The Dwarf-Aquilan war had drawn the attention of the Holy Sigmarite Empire. The Emperor Karl was eager to enter into an alliance with the Dwarves- the fickle Elves of Mellvellon and the inscrutable Lizardmen had reached an accord for mutual military support without consulting or inviting the Empire, in spite of Karl’s overtures to alliance with the two powers. Moreover, the predations of Kaalroen tribesmen to the north and the raiding of the Dark Elves along the coast left the Sigmarites dangerously isolated if a synchronised attack were to be launched against them by their enemies. So it was that Emperor Karl negotiated a coalition with the Dwarf Kings in the Treaty of Sudhafen, sealing the pact by despatching a grand army in support of the campaign against the vampires of Aquila. He hoped that one day the favour would be returned should the Empire find itself beset by foes.

Grand Master Godwin von Helveg led the Imperial Army’s first strike on Aquilan soil in his attempt to seize control of Fort Collis, a sizeable outpost on the northern border. The fort stood on a broad high hill that overlooked a great swathe of the Tiban valley that, if taken, could serve Godwin as a base of operations for further sorties against the undead. Reports indicated that Collis was lightly defended by Skeleton legionaries but that the monster Scorpius was himself leading an army to relieve the fort before it could be sacked.

Within a week Godwin had managed a forced march deep into enemy territory and was within striking distance of Fort Collis. He tasked the devout warrior-cleric Ranalf to take the stronghold, giving him command of the company of Royal Guard to storm the defences whilst Godwin himself covered their advance- Scorpius’ legions had by now reached the foothills around Collis and appeared to be assembling for a counter-attack.

Ranalf and the Royal Guard charged fearlessly against the gates of Fort Collis, smashing them to kindling and sweeping inside the keep. Yet they found themselves humbugged by Scorpius, who under cover of night had secretly changed the garrison. He had withdrawn the legionaries and replaced them with savage tribal ghouls drawn from the hills by the promise of carrion. In the dark, close confines of the fortress the Royal Guard struggled to bring their two-handed swords to bear against the animalistic ghouls that tore at them with fang and claw.

Meanwhile, on the slopes around the fort, battle was met as Scorpius brought up his infamous Wight Legion to envelope the attackers. Neither bolt nor shot nor shell could stay their advance. Under the gleaming eagle standard of Aquila they surged forward, implacable and dreadful to behold. The Dictator unleashed his bestial Gladiators, hulking vampiric monstrosities clad in armour and hefting swords as long as tree trunks. They crashed deep into the Imperial lines and scattered men in their wake. In an heroic attempt to buy Ranalf and the Royal Guard more time to complete their assault, Godwin sounded the charge against the Legion. He personally led the Alptraum Household Cavalry down the slope in a headlong charge, yellow and black banners and pennants fluttering in the wind and horns blazing as the very earth shook beneath galloping tons of horse and steel plate. They careened into the shield wall of the Wight Legion but the foul sorceries of Scorpius could not be undone. The proud knights were torn from their saddles and horses were cut down from under them as the wights fought with an unearthly strength and vigour imbued by the master’s dark will.

As Godwin and the few survivors turned to retreat the last of the Royal Guard fell to the gnashing jaws of the ghouls in the fort. Ranalf barely escaped with his life. The Imperial army sounded the withdrawl as Scorpius closed on the crest of the hill. The golden eagle of Aquila was raised in victory above the keep of Fort Collis.