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Imperator - stories The history of the Black Orda We heard about Black Orda first time on the sixth year of reign of the Emperor Augustus Maximus from merchants coming from the east. They brought information about refugees from many villages destroyed by nomads from the north steppes. Their were led by cruel Baal Chanan, the king of the evil tribe of Black Angels, who worship the evil god of war Harab Serap. Their army is always surrounded by flock of ravens who serve as scouts. Next year the wave of refugees reached the border of the Turynian Empire. They told us stories about burned cities and citizens slaughtered or taken north as slaves. And about the size o nomads’ armies. There are many of them and almost every of them can capture a city. In the winter of the eight year of the reign of Augustus Maximus the Empire was attacked from the north by small groups of barbarians and packs of werewolves. They crossed frozen border rivers and legion’s garrisons and infiltrated the interior. But that was only the beginning. When spring come, the Empire was attacked by the nomads’ army from the east. But they did not attack Edessa, the biggest city of the east of the Empire, but went around and attacked small towns and villages between Edessa and Turyn. They robbed and burned everything on their way. But when the second legion moved against them, they escaped back to the east with their booty. Everybody in the Empire believed that this was the end of the invasion. That nomads were afraid of power of the Empire fortresses and legions. However the next year showed how wrong we had been. In the spring the Norsman from the north terrorised northern part of the Empire. That kept the fifth legion “Burgundy”, responsible for this area, busy. Then, in the early summer, the big army of Nomads attacked Edessa from the east. This army was ten times bigger than previous and included Black Angels, demons with black wings. These demons destroyed the unit of Angels, who were trying to stop them and captured one of the gates of the city. When they opened the gate, the nomads invaded the city. Fights inside the city lasted all day. Nomads killed everybody who tried to resist them. Rest of the citizens they sent to the east as slaves. The Emperor sent the second legion “Talia” against nomads. In half a way to Edessa legion was attacked by surprise from the north by another nomadic army. The battle lasted for two days. Nomads did not want to fight with our soldiers hand to hand but they were riding around all the time and were shooting with their bows. Only our cavalry managed to charge one unit of nomads’ light cavalry, but their escaped. Instead they were counterattacked by nomad’s heavy cavalry and were destroyed. On the second day our infantry was tired of doing nothing and could not stand any more casualties from nomadic horse archers. The commander ordered withdraw back to Turyn. All the way back they were under the fire. Only half of the legion came back from this expedition. Also the third legion “Grekia” moved from the south. When it reached Edessa the city was ruined and nobody was there. Then legion turn west to meet second legion. But they did not meet anybody. Instead they get information that the second legion lost the battle with nomads and now Turyn is under siege. When the legion was marching to help Turyn small groups of Nomads attacked few times legions’ rear guard. The third legion moved to Turyn without big casualties. In this time the Nomadic army which destroyed Edessa moved south- east to avoid the third legion and marched south- west towards the rich city Damietta. Damietta was defending itself for two weeks. Then the nomads gave up the well prepared city and moved back to their steppes. That was the second year of the war with the Black Orda. Jahve keep us under Your protection. Sebastian Piotrowski
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