[BATTLE] The Ligurian Wars

BATTLE

Naples

The Ligurian fleet, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, made its way towards the Neapolitan coastline, preparing for a blockade. As they passed by Corsica, they caught sight of the Neapolitan fleet approaching them. For the Neapolitan fleet, much smaller in size, had orders to harass Ligurian fleets outside of Corsica.

The Ligurian fleet decided to surround and close in on the Neapolitans, having strength in numbers. Seeing themselves surrounded, the Neapolitans tried to escape, but even after throwing perfectly good supplies overboard in an attempt to be lighter and escape, the Ligurians had them completely surrounded! It would be a fight to the death!

The Ligurian galleys moved in to let off a round of musket fire, but weren't careful enough and a few rammed into Neapolitan boats. Bloody skirmishes broke out as sailors from both ships boarded the other, stabbing and hacking away at any enemy they saw.

While the boarding occurred, the Ligurian galleys and galleons fired, damaging the Neapolitan fleet without damaging any of their own. The Neapolitan fleet, determined to get out of the battle alive, fired back, causing just as much damage.

The galleys turned back, their gunners reloaded, then came back around for another hit on the enemy. The enemy sailors splashed into the water as they were gunned down, things were looking grim for the fleet of Naples.

The admiral, seeing no hope of victory for his men, raised the white flag and surrendered what remained of his fleet. As his own men were arrested and sent to row the oars of Ligurian ships, he roped himself to the anchor and let it drop into the sea, taking the disgraced man with it.

Decisive Ligurian Victory.

Ligurian Losses:

4 galleys

Neapolitan Losses:

12 galleys captured, rest of fleet sunken

Africa

The Ligurian fleet then sailed south to carry out their blockade of Naples, making sure no ships left port under their watch. But in the time it took for them to battle, a small fleet of Neapolitan ships had managed to leave and make their way towards Africa...

The fleet landed a few days later, near Djerba. The army disembarked, then marched inland in search of the Caliph, who was said to be preparing a resistance against Liguria.

And despite marching inland with no guidance except for "the Caliph's, go find him", the Neapolitan army found the caliph after only a few hours of marching. The man was happy to accept, and the army then marched north to the city of Tunis, where they found almost nobody defending.

The caliph was marched into the cheering city, and Tunis was liberated of Ligurian occupation.

Decisive Neapolitan Victory

No losses.

Liguria

Meanwhile, up north in Liguria, the Imperial army marches towards the imperially banned Genoa. In Western Liguria, the Imperial force here encounters only a small fort, and manages to take it with only a few losses. They march onward, then making camp west of the city.

In Milan, the rest of the Imperial army marches south, into the mountains of Liguria. The terrain is narrow and dangerous here, tough for a massive Imperial army to make its way through. To get to the city, they will have to make their way through the Ligurian forts that sit in these mountains- and there's lots of them!

The Imperial army is initially repulsed by the valiant Ligurians, who have hunkered down in their forts, ready to stop any invaders. But there's isn't enough ammunition to deal with such an army of this size! The forts fall after a few days of sieging, and the Imperial army is able to make its way forward, into a very peaceful valley.

But it's not a peaceful valley, not at all! Turns out the Ligurians have set up their army here all along, waiting for them. Crossbowmen disguised as leaves jump out of the trees and begin firing! Musketmen disguised as mud get up off the ground and start blasting! Infantry rush out of the hiding places in the forest and charge into the Imperial units with fanaticism. Cavalry charge down from the mountains, impaling the unsuspecting Imperial forces!

The Imperial commanders manage to form up those that aren't in shock or dead into a counter attack, but it fails to scatter their opponents! The Ligurians attack again, and again, sending more and more men to charge into the disorganized Imperial Army.

Seeing his men dying before him, the Imperial commander organizes a retreat, which turns out to be the best thing the army did in the entire campaign. The footsoldiers manage to outrun the Ligurian cavalry as they flee the mountains and head north into Milan.

Major Ligurian Victory.

Ligurian Losses:

800 Light ranged
800 crossbowmen
400 musketmen
50 cannons
300 sword infantry
500 pike infantry
300 light cavalry
100 heavy cavalry
Forts all badly damaged

Imperial Losses:

700 light ranged
700 heavy ranged
6,000 pikemen
3,000 swordsmen
500 musketmen
1,000 militia
400 heavy cavalry
800 light cavalry
20 cannons

Posted Jul 16, 2017, 7:54 PM UTC