Siege of Fort Dunamis
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The Siege of Fort Dunamis, or the Siege of Dunland, (Dwarven: Krazdan eron Kal'Dunamis) was a four month long siege during the Eighteen Years' War of the Urguanite castle of Fort Dunamis by the Imperial forces of John I, Holy Orenian Emperor and his generals Josef Vladov and Henry Rothesay. The Urguanite defenders were commanded by Grand Marshal Belegar Ireheart, with Danis Revlis, the new marshal of the Horde of Dunamis, taking charge of the Dunamian defenders. Emperor John I saw Fort Dunamis as a testament against Imperial strength, with the mercenary group having taken numerous offensives against the Empire. The Horde was also one of the last remaining allies of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. A capture of the fortress would have been both a tactical and symbolic victory.
Prelude
Danis Revlis assumed full control of the Dunamis mercenaries after the death of his late Marshal, Richard Revlis, in the Battle of Marnadal. The keep was fortified in advance of the battle and Revlis focused on reforming the companies broken by the previous battle as well as organizing the dwarven, orcish and Khalestinian survivors. The Imperial corps quickly traveled to the fort after the battle, laying siege on the 14th of the Sun’s Smile. Due to heavy casualties from Marnadal as well as allowing time for fresh Imperials and Vanders to reinforce, they would not begin an assault until almost a year later, on the 19th of the Grand Harvest.
Battle
The assault began with a mass bombardment of the fortress by the Imperial siege camp, numbering around 20 trebuchets. Dunamis counter-siege were hastily dispatched by the bombardment, only returning a few volleys before being eliminated. Imperial forces, suffering from a plague as well as a loss of funds, mostly due to the Taxman's Conspiracy, half-heartedly surrounded the fortress and exchanged fire with the defenders. The fortifications prevented a full Imperial assault and were able to keep Orenian forces away from the gate and a small breach formed by the siege equipment.
Danis, knowing that the fort could not hold up to sustained Imperial fire, took note of the diminished Imperial forces. Alongside Jorik Grandaxe, future Grand Marshal of Urguan, they devised a plan to drive the Imperials away from the fort. Using an undiscovered tunnel as well as the undamaged gatehouse, the defenders would split their forces, planning to hit the Imperial host from two sides.
At the crack of dawn on the 21st of the Grand Harvest, the trap was sprung. A small band of orcs led by Rex Ubba'Ugluk emerged from the tunnel, drawing the main bulk of the Imperial force to them. Whilst this was happening, the dwarves, Dunamites, and Orc's charged out from the main gate of Fort Dunamis. Imperial footmen were quick to overwhelm the small orcish band but were not able to reorganize before being hit from behind by the secondary force. Rex Ubba'Ugluk was felled in the charge, poisoned by an arrow that pierced his ankle. Emperor John I saw the battle was lost and ordered a hurried retreat from Fort Dunamis. During the bloody withdrawal, Emperor John I drowned in the River Eroch, leaving Oren to his firstborn John II Sigismund.
Aftermath
The death of John I and the failure of the Dunamis campaign resulted in mixed feelings throughout the Empire. Treacherous Savoyards were overjoyed to hear of the Emperor’s demise, feeling that Ser Emery was avenged and the Taxman's Conspiracy fulfilled. The Carnatians were distraught to learn of their liege’s death, and blamed Savoy for his end, heightening tensions almost to pre-Dukes’ War levels. Finally, Courlandic peasants were hopeful with the death of “The Relentless”, praying for an end to the war. The shortcomings of the campaign left the Empire without a way to continue the war. Knowing this, Emperor John II sued for peace with the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.
