Chapter 75: Convergence at Flamegate
Two weeks passed in a whirlwind of focused preparation. Across Dragonsden County, the designated units of the Black Dragon Corps finalized their readiness, the air thick with the anticipation of the coming campaign. In Dragonsden City, weapons were sharpened, armor was polished, and supplies were meticulously loaded onto wagons.
On the appointed morning, the main contingent of the northern assault force assembled outside the city gates. Major General Tatsuo Ryujin, astride his powerful Ironmane Lion, Pyre, surveyed the troops. Beside him rode Lady Anya Stillfire, 1st Class Clash Commander, her expression composed but alert, ready in her dual roles as Personal Aide and Commander of the Prince Guard. The 550 soldiers of the Prince Guard formed a disciplined core around them. Joining their column was the formidable Range Regiment commanded by 1st Class Clash Commander Sir Gust Farstrike, its thousand gunners and thousand archers (Elven and Human) ready to unleash devastating volleys. Tatsuo had made the difficult decision to leave Blackcrimson behind; the Proto-Drake, though growing rapidly, was still too young and relatively small for the rigors of a full campaign.
As Tatsuo gave the signal to march north, other elements were already in motion. High above, Rare Commander Valerius Thorne led his squad of ten Wyvern Knights, cutting through the air towards Flamegate Fortress to secure the skies and conduct final reconnaissance. Separately, Junior Vanguard General Ragnar Sternguard marched at the head of the 1,000 specially detached Hobgoblin Heavy Infantry, their heavy tread shaking the ground as they took a parallel route northward.
The journey to Flamegate Fortress was swift, aided by well-maintained roads and the disciplined pace set by the Prince Guard. Though Pyre could have covered the distance far faster, Tatsuo matched the pace of his troops. After a full day of travel, the formidable silhouette of the newly constructed Flamegate Fortress rose before them against the evening sky. Built of sturdy stone and timber, it projected an aura of functional strength, a clear statement of the Black Dragon Corps' presence on the border.
Chief Vanguard General Rota Uno stood ready at the gates to greet his commander. "Your Highness," Rota said, bowing respectfully as Tatsuo dismounted Pyre. "Welcome to Flamegate Fortress. All preparations are proceeding as planned."
"Well done, Rota," Tatsuo acknowledged, glancing at the strong walls and organized deployment of 1st Flame Division troops within. "Report."
They walked briskly towards the fortress's central keep and into the main war room. Inside, the air was thick with strategic focus. Maps of Greenvein Viscounty covered the large central table. Already assembled were Junior Vanguard General Ragnar, who had arrived earlier with his Hobgoblins; Clash Commanders Gust Farstrike and Anya Stillfire; Rare Commander Valerius Thorne, reporting back from his aerial mission; and 1st Class Clash Commander Sir Reeldos Umbra, Rota's second-in-command. Various other key battalion commanders from the participating units stood at attention around the room's periphery.
As soon as Tatsuo took his place at the head of the table, Reeldos stepped forward, holding a dispatch. "Your Highness," he reported, his voice crisp and clear, "our latest intelligence confirms the situation within Greenvein Viscounty remains unchanged. Patrols are standard, defenses are not heightened. All indicators suggest they are not expecting an attack."
A grim satisfaction settled over the commanders. The element of surprise, a crucial factor in Tatsuo's strategy, was still intact. Tatsuo nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the map of the lands they were poised to invade. "Excellent work, Reeldos. Their complacency will be their undoing."
Okay, here is the continuation of Chapter 75, describing the attack on Ashford Town:
Tatsuo absorbed the crucial intelligence: surprise was on their side. He wouldn't let the opportunity slip. "They don't expect us," he stated, his voice sharp with command. "We will use that. We attack Ashford Town tomorrow."
A ripple of focused energy passed through the commanders.
"Rota," Tatsuo ordered, turning to his Chief Vanguard General, "you will command all cavalry units – Lion, Blackrose, Hobgoblin, and the new recruits. You will shatter their outer defenses and secure the approaches."
He then faced his Junior Vanguard General. "Ragnar, you lead the vanguard. Take your Hobgoblin Heavy Infantry and smash through their gate or walls once Rota engages. You are the breach."
His gaze shifted to Gust Farstrike. "Clash Commander Gust, your Range Regiment will provide suppressing fire. Silence their walls. Cover Ragnar's advance."
Tatsuo looked at each of his commanders. "Anya, Reeldos, coordinate from the command post with me. Valerius Thorne, your Wyverns will control the skies and report any approaching reinforcements, but do not engage directly unless absolutely necessary – maintain the element of surprise as long as possible."
He set the timeline. "The assault begins tomorrow afternoon. Move swiftly, decisively. Let the Blackhorn Duchy feel the fury of the Black Dragon Corps."
The following afternoon, under the glare of the descending sun, the attack on Ashford Town commenced with terrifying speed. Chief Vanguard General Rota Uno, leading nearly four thousand horsemen, thundered across the fields towards the unsuspecting town. The ground trembled under the combined charge of Tall Lions, warhorses, and the heavy Hobgoblin cavalry mounts. Any patrols outside the walls were instantly overwhelmed, the sheer speed and scale of the attack catching them utterly by surprise. Rota's cavalry slammed into the town's perimeter defenses, lances splintering wooden barricades and swords cutting down shocked defenders.
Simultaneously, Clash Commander Gust Farstrike's Range Regiment unleashed hell upon the town walls. A coordinated volley of gunfire from the Gunner Battalion, whistling arrows from Elven longbows, and disciplined shots from human archers and crossbowmen swept the ramparts, silencing defenders before they could properly react.
Then came the vanguard. Junior Vanguard General Ragnar Sternguard roared, leading the 1,000 Hobgoblin Heavy Infantry in a devastating charge towards the main gate, already weakened by Rota's initial assault. The Hobgoblins, clad in heavy armor and wielding massive weapons, crashed into the gate like a living battering ram. Wood splintered, hinges groaned, and under the relentless assault driven by Ragnar's own immense strength, the gate burst inwards.
Ragnar and his Hobgoblins poured into Ashford Town, their ferocity unmatched. Gust Farstrike's ranged units shifted their fire, providing cover for the advancing infantry and cavalry that followed the breach. The town's defenders, caught completely off guard by the speed and multi-pronged nature of the assault, offered scattered and disorganized resistance.
The battle, if it could even be called that, was brutally short. The element of surprise, combined with the overwhelming force and coordination of Tatsuo's commanders, proved decisive. Less than three hours after the initial charge, the sounds of fighting died down. Ashford Town had fallen.
Standing at the command post just outside the town, Tatsuo received the reports from his swift couriers. "Your Highness," a messenger reported breathlessly, "Ashford Town is secured! Resistance has ceased."
Tatsuo nodded, allowing a grim satisfaction. The first step into Greenvein Viscounty had been taken, swift and decisive. "Excellent," he replied. "Relay my orders: Secure the town, take inventory of all resources and prisoners, treat the wounded – ours and theirs – and establish a defensive perimeter. We consolidate our position here."