Chapter 2: The First Sighting
It was upon the bloody fields of the Black Peninsula where the Gold Dwarf would first be spotted. The Wars of the Black Peninsula were raging during this time. Two minor city-states had engaged in all out war over a recent found goldmine within the area. Over eight thousand men clashed in a series of skirmishes and raids upon each others territory. The City of Monchella was the stronger of the two having hired nearly a hundred mercenary knights to serve in there already large war-host. Monchella's rival, Torrini, was the weaker. Although it boasted a significant navy, it's own army was largely made up of local peasants, conscripts, and anyone else who would join at the sight of a few feeble copper coins. Although normally the wars of men would not concern us. (Author's Note: The original dwarf author means it would not concern them in a military sense. Other than that they are always selling weapons to the highest bidder! Greedy indeed!) However, it was a different case here. The lord of Monchella had offered our own King over a thousand gold and the rights to forty percent of the gold mine if we could win the war for him. (Author's Note: Typical dwarven greediness! The tales about dwarfs are very true within the Empire!)
Oaths were sworn and within a week sixty dwarfs from the King's own clan had set out towards Monchella. Led by Valg IronBack, the King had predicted the war would be over within a few weeks. Although, I would later find out he was very wrong about that and nearly everything else. (Author's Note: Typical dwarven politics! The original dwarven author seemed to have a thirst for power!) Despite I myself was not present at the battle, I have garnered enough sources to cement the following story. Sources including first hand accounts from surviving soldiers and our own mercenaries. Valg IronBack himself returned with the grim news of the story. A tale of the last Battle of the Black Peninsula where nearly three thousand men were slaughtered.
We arrived by ironclads in four days. As soon as we stepped foot upon the Black Peninsula we were greeted by our employers in the form of the army of Monchella. A total of four thousand soldiers met us on the coast, bringing word that we were to march with them to confront the Torrinians in what was to be the largest battle in the entire war. Least to say were skeptical, having had specific mercenary contracts worked out before we landed.
The contract Valg refers to is the Contract of the King, made and signed a week before Valg landed. Our dwarfs were to land and make way towards the gold mine on foot. The gold mine itself had been held by the Torrinians since the start of the war. (Author's Note: Most likely due to the fact that it was indeed closer to Torrini!) Valg and his warriors were to meet up with a small force of Monchellan raiders and with there numbers bolstered, take the gold mine and hold until the rest of the Monchellan army arrived. Angrily our King noted that this did not happen. Therefore, upon Valg's return a dozen grudges were entered in grudge book of Barak Varr. (Author's Note: Grudges are a form of recompense ordered by the dwarfs when they feel that they have been wronged. Some even recquire people to be killed!) Thankfully I lived to see this come true at the sacking of Monchella. (Author's Note: The sacking of Monchella will be foretold of in another volume! Curse dwarfs due to there slowness!)
We were angered that the manlings chose not to follow or even acknowledge our Contract. However, for the good of the King and the Hold's Coffers we went along. The Monchellan army itself was numerous and impressive, as far as manling hosts go. The vanguard itself consisted of over five hundred cavalry that included mercenary knights and the city's own heavy cavalry. The bulk of the army was no doubt the well armed and armoured pike-men. Although other elements of the army included several hundred crossbowmen, swordsmen, and even a few of the short folk. They sparingly used gunpowder, having only a hundred handgunners and barely four cannons. Other than that it was a solid army, said to be vastly superior to the Torrinians we were to be facing.
We marched for six days with the vanguard encountering only a few Torrinian scouts and war-bands. According to the General, Vespucci the III, the bulk of the Torrinians were gathering in there own army to oppose us. I found this to be true when we first met them at the Viniel Hills. Our vanguard reported a force numbering over four thousand. Which was said to be three quarters of the standing military of Torrini. They were poorly equipped, wielding bows to our own crossbows and handguns. Swordsmen within there army were scarce, with a long majority of them carrying little more than clubs. Pikemen were present as well, although wielding inferior copper tipped pikes and wearing a lighter armour. It would be an easy victory with our heavily armed knights. And the fact that sixty dwarf warriors armed from head to toe were part of the force! With the spirit of Grimnir in us we did battle.
Things went well. My own warriors holding the right flank with the artillery while the Monchellan pikes held the front. The swordsmen stayed in reserve only a regiment or two seeing action on the left flank were the short folk protected three of the cannons. Our own position put us on the front line where the horse-drawn cannons could wreak havoc upon the enemy. With our better position and the aid of several of the crossbowmen we slaughtered many of the enemy, until they eventually gave up on the right flank, preferring to send there lighter cavalry against the manling knights. To say the least, we slaughtered them during the first few minutes. Until there superior numbers managed to break through the first rank of pikemen, engaging the reserve swordsmen. By then the entire battle-line was encompassed in the bloodshed, save for us. Who continued to reign death from our own rifles and pistols upon the enemy. It took myself mere moments to realize what the enemy had done. However, there was little I could do, but continue to protect the right flank.
Cleverly the enemy's light cavalry reserve had repositioned themselves and managed to attack the left flank en mass. The short folk were slaughtered and the entire left flank overran. Without wasting time the enemy capitalized on this weakness and began to overwhelm what was left of our center. In the name of Grimnir and Gold I ordered my men to charge leaving the swordsmen left to defend the left flank. By either Grungni or Ghazul by the time we reached the battle the entire right flank was nothing but ashes! A volley of cannons had decimated what was left of our own artillery. With our guns silenced we relied only on our skill to win. But, quickly we found the Torrinians were losing heart. The unseen cannons seemed to be reigning death upon the Torrinian center! Thinking that reinforcements had arrived, General Vespucci rallied our men and sent us forward with renewed vigour. It was then that we meant him and the true enemy!
A dwarf covered from head to toe in shining gold armour cut through dozens of Torrinians with ease. A retinue of similar dwarfs followed behind him crushing all foes before them. The Monchellans were stunned not knowing if they were friends or foes! That was there mistake, because when the Gold Dwarf fell upon our lines nothing stopped him. They were far better equipped and skilled than the Monchellans and obviously had control of the unseen cannons that continued to reign an obvious rune enhanced barrage upon both the Monchellan and Torrinian lines. Cowardice seemed to plague both the Monchellan and Torrinian commanders who both withdrew at the same time. It by the time that General Vespucci himself was hacked down from his saddle that I ordered my warriors to retreat. We ignored the Monchellans, knowing our only way for survival was to make it back to Barak Varr. In our ordered retreat it was then that I saw the Gold Dwarf up close. Although his face was hidden by a golden war-mask I knew he saw us. With his own golden warriors outnumbering us, it surprised me when he chose not to attack. He merely nodded to us and continued his renewed assault upon the fleeing men around him.
Those words were from Valg himself and uttered to both the King and I upon his return to Barak Varr. Originally there was speculation that the Gold Dwarf (as Valg and his warriors named him. A name that has stuck ever since!) was hired by the Torrinians. Which is unlikely due to the fact that, according to Valg the cannons reigned down upon both lines and that Torrini could probably not afford such seasoned mercenaries. One thing in my opinion is obvious, the Gold Dwarf was either hired by the Monchellans as a secret, but dangerous weapon. (Dangerous due to his apparent bloodlust and inability to reign his cannons solely on the Torrinians.) Or he was a third faction trying to complete his own mission. The second is more likely due to the fact that, according to Valg, the cannons were so devastating and most likely operated by very well trained crews. Despite, the fact that not a single one of our own warriors were harmed by the Gold Dwarf and his retinue, it is disturbing how he came out of knowwhere. Not only did he cost the death of over five hundred Monchellan warriors he wiped out over half of the city's own artillery. It is only lucky that he did more damage on the Torrinian army, wiping out over two thousand Torrinians. The bloodiest battle of the war had ended with neither a victory for the Torrinians or the Monchellans.
It was grim indeed. Grim that our own mercenaries had been cut out of a deal and forced into a battle they were not contracted to fight. Grim that so many had been slaughtered by the appearance of a single dwarf and his retinue. The only thing that made it even bleaker and darker was the fact that the appearances of this bloodthirsty, cruel dwarf would only continue. And worsen...