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Sokol, a leader of the loyalist retinue, rallies the men around him.
"On me! Throw back these dogs!" He waves his blade through the air, hoping that it might inspire his men in the chaos. He's pressed in tightly with the men around him. As soldiers die and disorder takes hold, organization and formations begin to crumble.
He muscles his way to the front line, quickly coming face to face with a rebel soldier. Sokol reacts instantly, lunging forward and skewering the man with his sword. He wipes away the rebel's look of surprise with a bash of his shield, sending the man violently careening into the ground.
A blade flashes at Sokol's face. He pulls away reflexively, and the weapon slams against his helmet. Sokol steps back, dazed, taking a few moments to recover.
Sokol turns to the desperate men around him. "Forward! Kill them all!"
Once more, he pushes forward into the jaws of death.
Next
You watch from atop Aurora as terrible violence erupts across the line. Thousands of infantrymen, now all locked in terrible combat. The enemy cavalry on your left continue to tear into your flank. Their momentum may be slowing, but they're able to target your army from the side. They need to be dealt with. All the while, the enemy knights on your right stand in formation, a hundred yards from the battle itself.
They're watching the ongoing battle, same as you.
[Regimentation]
Your well-drilled and disciplined retinue serve as the backbone for the rest of the army.
[Formation Fighting]
Your retinue proves especially lethal on the battlefield. They tear into the untrained rebel levies.
The violence is terrific and brutal. Elya watches silently, her face full of disgust and horror. You, Velinor, and Darin, on the other hand, watch on with the cold, dispassionate eyes of men of war.
The men that are truly incredible to watch are the Kroridian veterans. These are hardened, terrifically skilled warriors. The rebel levies stand little chance against them.
Your ranger militia are equally incredible. They fight, not necessarily with refined skill, but with a terrifying ferocity. Even you, despite your experience, are unnerved by their brutality.
From what you can estimate based on your years of experience, eight hundred of your infantry have been cut down by the enemy, costing the rebels seven hundred men in return. Despite your losses, your army remains in formation. However, its cohesion is depleting at an alarmingly quick rate.
[86 / 100 Loyalist Cohesion Remaining]
Scanning across the rebel line, it's clear that they're only getting started. Their formation is intact, and their men are eager.
[93 / 100 Rebel Cohesion Remaining]
Yet the day is young.
And the flow of battle can prove turbulent.
Next