Battle of Green Gorge

Early spring,inland from Bae y Môrwyn, The colonial forces of Teyrnas Caerellin marched into the foothills near Coed Nythfog to investigate reports of weapons smuggling and growing tribal unrest. There is reportedly a cache of supplies in a cave in the Green Gorge, a lush but treacherous area of rough ground that is named for the vivid green moss and ferns that carpet its steep cliffs. A local tribe, the Tama’Rin, have accepted gold and rifles from smugglers and are now fiercely guarding the route.

Princess Morwenna’s colonial army high command has ordered Brigadier General Emyr Cadan Trevelyan to seize the gorge, capture the weapons cache, and drive out the bandits. His ad hoc brigade consists of the Industani Scout Guides, The Goorka Rifles, The New Llandrindod Foot, The North Caerellin Rifles (NCR), and the Nordbrann Light Horse. The Brigadier is know as a steady and tactical leader that works well with the foreign troops in the service. He is an old-school officer that believes in discipline and honor but distrusts flamboyant adventurers. He is loyal, but worried about the Princess’ aggressive maneuvers on the frontier and the constant muddling from Lord Rhuddlan.

The Guides and the NCR led the advance on the left and right respectively. This advanced force cleared several pockets of hostile tribesmen, sometimes at great cost from the ambushing enemy. The path to the caves relatively clear, General Trevelyan committed the Goorka’s to a bold attack supported by the New Llandrindod Foot. The Light Horse dispersed a last group of tribesmen and then screened the left flank. As the attack went in, Al-Zafiran Askari camped beyond the foothills moved to disrupt the brigade. The NLF provided excellent support with deadly accurate rifle fire as the Gooka’s stormed the makeshift barricade. The first attack beaten off by a bandit counter-charge, the second company won the day and took several prisoners. The battle came to a close after a series of sharp engagements on both flanks between the Askari and defending guides and NCRs. General Trevelyan though he had captured the notorious “Black Sun” bandit, but it turns out the fiend had fled the battle leaving a decoy to his cruel fate. The retiring Al-Zafirans marched away in good order taking as many of the supplies and weapons as they could.

Brigade casualties were heavy, especially during the clearing actions to open the battle:

--Total: 22

Industani Scout Guides: 8

Goorka Rifles: 5

New Llandrindod Foot: 0

North Caerellin Rifles (NCR): 9

Nordbrann Light Horse: 0

The Green Gorge area

Bandit position

Industani Scout Guides clear the way from hostile tribesmen

The terrain is very constricted in spots

Rifles on the right flank

Clearing a pass

Rifles are ambushed and take heavy casualties

The commander is later admonished for not using the advantage of his rifles' range

Reinforcements

The Rifles clear the last of the tribesmen on the right

Light Horse move up behind the Guides

Guides keep up a lively fire

Rifles reorganize

Guides clear the left with a flank attack

The main effort moves up the center

Light Horse ride down some tribesmen

Four regiments are now moving abreast

The NCR protect the right flank

Goorkas advance

NLF support on their left

The left flank is secure

The main attack gets ready

But Al-Zafiran Askari are moving out of camp

The bandits await the onslaught

NCR and Askari exchange fire

Goorkas attack

Supported by expert rifle fire

NCR losses mount

The 1st Goorka company breaks in

But is forced back by a counter-attack

NCR send the Askari in retreat despite their losses

2nd company clears the bandits

While the 3rd company enters the cave to find the enemy has fled

A hard won victory