NationStates Jolt Archive


Birth of a Nation (PT)

Ichen
18-02-2008, 00:59
Birth of a Nation

Yoran
Province of Yort
Year – 0

Hector the Mighty, the first King of Ichen sat atop his powerful shire horse as he cantered it gently back and forth across the front of his amassed army. In the passed five years he had risen from the lord of a single fiefdom to the master of a nation. Some of the men who stood before him had started the great campaign with him but most were fresh to war or had few battles behind them.

Hector surveyed the amassed army of a thousand men-at-army, three thousand archers, five hundred cavalry and four siege towers. It had been three weeks since they had arrived at the gates of Yoran, the last fiefdom to defy his rule as sole king of Ichen, and a great city of tents grew into the distance behind his army.

“Men, today the nation of Ichen lives or dies” Hector started “Our blacksmiths have made weapons for us, our engineers and carpenters have constructed the great siege towers and our women have pleased us, but today we shall seize Yoran and slay the fools who govern their” Hector paused as he looked over his men again “We are wolfs amongst sheep, come let us feast”

Men ran from their hundred man formations to the huge siege towers and pressed their strength into moving the wooden hulks towards the castles curtain wall. More men followed behind the siege engines protected from the defenders arrows, which were wasted on the wooden towers, and ready with weapons drawn to storm the ramparts.

Four hundred men moved with the towers as the crashed into the castles curtain wall.
Running up the steps from level to level, until they reached the ramp at the top of the towers, and as the ramp dropped onto the castles defensive wall men rushed forward towards the defending men-at-arms and archers.

Defenders swords and arrows slammed into the attackers shields as they fought their way on to the rampart, men fell with their guts spilled onto the stone wall or a sword thrust into their throats. Blood rushed down the sides of the curtain wall as more men pilled across the ramps into the melee of metal and flesh. The defenders of Yoran were pushed back, down stairs that lead down to the courtyard and across the curtain wall towards the gate tower.

Hectors horse snorted and padded the grassed field as it sensed the carnage developing a thousand yards ahead and like its master it yearned to be amongst the slaying. Hector watched his men intently as they fought towards the gate tower and forced their way inside. As the portcullis rose slowly he drew his sword and held it pointed at the gate tower. At this signal the remaining men-at-arms began to march towards the castle, his cavalry prepared themselves for the charge.

In the gate tower his men hacked and slashed their way towards the pulleys that would raise the portcullis and lay the castle open to their king. It was short work and cost only three men their lives and as the portcullis reached its limit the men let out a roaring cheer as the made for the door back onto the curtain wall to rejoin the fight.

Hector and his cavalry cantered towards the castles gate, passing the left flank of his men-at-arms. When they were just two hundred yards from the gate tower they broke into a charge Hector leading them in.

Inside the castle the first wave of attackers forced the defenders back in to the courtyard as the king charged his horse into their rear trampling men under his horses hooves and slashing his sword at the necks and faces of others. An arrow dug into the breast plate of the king’s armour and threw him from his mount. Landing on his back his sword fell from his grasp.

Hector was in the middle of the melee as defenders fought for their lives and attackers fought to end them. Hector struggled from his back to his hands and knees, a defender brought his sword down in a powerful swing but before the killer blow could be delivered the captain of the king’s cavalry sliced his sword through the mans raised arms. Leaving him screaming in agony as he quickly spent his blood across the cobbled courtyard and nearby men

King Hector grabbed his sword and thrust it up into the groin of a defender and rising to his feet forced it into the throat of another. As the few remaining defenders were slaughtered the king’s men-at-arms made for the castle keeps thick wooden doors and attacked it with axes and swords, turning it from a barrier into kindling.

The first man through was killed by an arrow through his face, the second took the archers life as he tried to flee further into the keep, more men piled in through the open door way and fought their way through the keep till the lord of the castle was discovered cowering in his bedroom with his wife and son.

The men-at-arms formed a semicircle around the defeated lord and his family as Hector walked into the bedroom. The lord began to beg for his life, but managed only a few stumbled words as Hector thrust his sword into his chest and then his sons. As he turned to the lord’s wife he hesitated as she sobbed, then spoke to his men “kill her when you are finished with her. Traitors to the king deserve no mercies” he spat on the dead lord then left the room.

Later that day when Yoran’s keep had been cleared of its previous lord and servants Hector the Mighty, King of Ichen sat on a large chair in front of a burning log fire in the great hall and called over one of his captains.

“As a nation we will need friends, and trade, send men to every nation to find those who could be useful allies and trading partners”

The captain of forth man-at-arms regiment gave a slight bow “Your will my liege” and disappeared to carry out his task.