The Battle of the Geistwasser

The Battle of the Geistwasser
In April of ID 7971, the Giant King Nohv sent four raiding parties to attack the Empire with the apparent goal of plundering Province 32. In reality, the attack served multiple purposes. Foremost, the warlord Seblinsk was gaining an uncomfortable number of followers among the orcs subjugated by Nohv, and the Giant King needed to reinforce his position as a successful raid leader by giving the tribes ample targets to plunder. Secondly, Nohv wished to attack the Empire in reparation for Safrax’s insult to the sovereignty of the Giant King. Thirdly, he wished to test his theory that the Empire was little more than a paper tiger, unable to defend its vaunted borders. Finally, he wished to create the appearance that the majority of his forces were occupied far from Titan’s Fall, to fool his brother into attacking into a waiting trap.

The attack itself was planned as four simultaneous raids into the Empire, with minor attacks on Stations 4, 5, and 6 while a larger force marched through the Letzter Atemzug and crossed at the abandoned Station 7. Luckily, the rangers of Station 5 were warned about the attack by Battlemaster Tsbor, and were able to share that information with Majors Astor and Mattisbach. When the rangers were sent out again to find independent confirmation of the threat they were able to obtain battle plans for the assault, giving the Empire a critical edge in the conflict.

For officially unknown reasons, General Safrax extended his lines to include the town of Fairfax during Nohv’s muster, disrupting his supply lines and interfering with the Giant King’s troop movements.

Knowing that the main attack was going to fall on Station 7, Oliver Redding was able to construct a time dilation generator by repurposing the stasis chamber used to imprison Farnas. Knowing that the plan could potentially fail, Major Drummond garrisoned the Station while Lt Rossini prepared dams and river obstructions to flood the crossing.

When the raids began, Station 7 was protected by the time dilation field; however, Stations 4, 5, and 6 were still hard pressed by orc tribes and their giant overlords. Station 4 was relieved by Safrax as he marched his forces toward Pairetoria. Station 5 held, and ultimately subverted giant control over the attacking force, redirecting them to support Station 6. Tragically, when news of the fall of Pairetoria reached the defenders of Station 6 the Condarrian auxiliary forces deserted, leaving the station hopelessly undermanned. They had already fallen when their aid arrived.

The rangers from Station 5, along with the orc survivors of the attack on their station, intercepted the raiders that had destroyed Station 6. They challenged and defeated the giant leaders, incorporating the remaining horde into their forces. They then ordered a counterattack on Titan’s Fall. The Empire had won the Battle of the Geistwasser.