Lordaeron's Order Official Report: The Shadow of the Plains
Posted February 28th, 2012 by Lerrington
The Shadow of the Plains
A Warning
It was few who listened to me. It was the few who dared to believe me, when I rode into the Ruined City of Stromgarde, trying to get a meeting with the Lord-Commander. But blasted he be, he weren't there. I thought he'd know better, to hold the banner high, and lead the defenses. He must had suspected something... But there is nothing to be done. He wasn't there, and it was only because of the Captain, and Greymoss I managed to warn Stromgarde about the return of the Manipulator... -
-" ... I had seen a shadow growing in the north, and no time was to hesitate."
And with the help of Greymoss and the Captain, everyone gathered and listened. Now believing, Stromgarde was in a chaos of people panicking, only a few remained calm.
And so, the Northern Forces were rallied together, and after a short vote was casted, I were chosen to be the leader in the Lord-Commander's absense.
The Northern Forces
The Skies of Darkness
The ever darkening skies swept over the Arathorian steppes like a tide, and with it, the shadow from the North. We only managed to get to our posts, as the Manipulator showed himself, with an army large, siege vechiles plated with metal plates, with huge Taurens to load it with the large debris rocks. It wasn't only the Eastern Horde he had brought, but even the Western too! An army that outnumbered us five to one, but we did not give up...
... Greymoss took command at the front-gate, while the Captain took care of the Deathstalkers from the rear. And while all of this happened, I were everywhere I could be, directing orders. We were ready to face them. -
- But before a single blood was shed, the rain came.
The Ruined Keep is Ruined
Though, before they charged with their main force, the Manipulator stepped out, and usually we would give a speech, but he only gave one single command, and that was; "Fire!". This sole word was enough to spread destruction amongst us, the catapults and debris they fired ruined our walls, and forced our Rangers there to retreat down to the main group. And only one second after, he had yelled another command, "Kill them all!", and our forces were overrun by the savage beasts, and the shadowy Undead.
The next thing that happened was something I did not take into account, I was not prepared. They destroyed the gate even more! Forcing debris down upon us, and forced us to fall back to beneath the bridge. And even yet, they got the debris away, and charged up upon us without hesitation. This was madness. We had no choice but to rally up all our Rangers and alike upon the bridge, but that was a mistake... The next catapult barrage hit the very bridge itself, and half of the Rangers were killed in the process.
First Gate
"Fall back! Fall back to the first gate!"
Was the command Greymoss yelled, as we all tried to make our way through the debris, and over to the first gate of the Alliance square of the Ruined City. Yet again, we lost a lot of men. Seven to one, it was now. A fool's fight people would say, especially the Amber Gauntlet. But yet, I would not give up. This was not the fight for Stromgarde, this was the fight for the very North itself. And it was under my command... That would have scared any man away by itself, yet. I held my ground for aslong I could, and the tides were soon to be turned.
"Greymoss! Hold the Heavy Infantry at the first gate! I will take the Rangers through the Ruined City, there's Deathstalkers everywhere!"
It was a command I did not wish to give out, but I didn't have a choice. But it proved out later to be a wise decision, with that the Deathstalkers fell easily. Surpringly enough, and we managed to get back and help the Heavy Infantry, and it was the very Captain who pushed them back soleman, by taking out a whole group by himself. We had the upper-hand now, we had the charging role.
Catapult Barrage
Do not underadministrate the Manipulator, it could had been our end. It did not take five seconds before he gathered his catapults back in, and he fired upon us as we were but animals! However, one of the present Rangers Amindel, managed to take down one of the Taurens loading a catapult. Gave us some time.
I had to sound the order of retreat, and we pulled back to the ruined bridge. We had the choice. To either jump down and flee out of Stromgarde, and admit we lost the battle. Or find a way to get over the bridge, and fight to the last man for it.
However, it came to me. I thought back on our escape from Tirisfal to Arathi, and how we used a rope to get over Thoradin's Wall... We could do the same here, but it would take time. A lot of time, but it was the only plan we had.
And I gave the Rangers the task to get the rope over and get us all over, while we held the Manipulator's forces back. And we succeded, but we lost atleast six men during the process. But we were over the bridge, and we had time to prepare, until the Manipulator got his forces over.
Hour of Lordaeron
After a short arguement with both Greymoss and the Captain, I managed to hold them staying. They wanted to flee, and to leave Stromgarde in their hands. I'd not allow this! If Stromgarde falls, the North falls! Our last bastion. And a short thought came to my mind, but I did not have time to explain it to both Greymoss and the Captain, so I gave them the quick intructions. But they had to follow them without hesitation. But luckily, they did.
They pulled all of the forces - besides Lordaeron's Order - into the Sanctum, while I took down the Order to the Crypts, and we waited there. Until the battle-cries of the Alliance could be heard, making their last stand inside the Sanctum.¨
I marched the Order up through the Crypt, and as we stood there by the side of the Sanctum hidden, I blew the Horn of War, and gave the battle-cry.
"For Lordaeron!"
That day, Lordaeron's Order along with the Northern Forces forced the Horde back out, we drove them out. And we pursued them to the very ruined gate, and to say, atleast one out of three quarters of their forces were taken out, during that charge. We won, victory was ours. Stromgarde was safe once more.
Signed by Jonathan S. Lerrington
Ranger-Captain of the North