The Campaign Outside Aden
Having consolidated his position and created a source of provisions and healing potions, the Second Legion’s General proceeded with caution. He did not attack the City outright, but in a lightning strike overran the Dread Army camp and Celoran Village. The Orcish archers and catapults, which played such an active role in the campaign, first saw action during this stage. The General of the Dread army was just able to escape, and entered Aden, just before the city gates were closed before the Orc armies. He surrendered before the Mayor, offering his services in the defense of the city. The offer was, however, not received with much enthusiasm. Th idea of the Dread Army as reliable allies did not appeal to him, especially considering the centuries spent defending the city against them. A temporary lull in the fighting happened as the Orcs settled down to consolidate their positions; Aden having been surrounded on two of the four sides. Some of the defenders realized that Nymath, with its Orc troops lay straight North of Aden. If so, the Orcs had surrounded Aden on three sides. That, however, did not appear to cause much disquiet among the Clans.
The Clans failed to come up with a successful strategy to deal with the menace, considering the Orcs a mere passing inconvenience. Internal arguments and dissentions continued to divide them. Many wondered idly as to who was the brains behind the Legions, seeing that a mere Orc could not possibly lead an invasion of this brilliance. They wondered and they fiddled while the surroundings of Aden burned and the siege of the city began in earnest.
The General of the Second Legion, Korgan, launched an open appeal to the Citizens of
Aden to surrender and be spared any further bloodshed and inconvenience. The Orcs’
goal was to bring peace and order to the realms and offers prosperity to those who
followed them. He offered the people complete freedom to follow their cultural practices
and said that trade would continue as before.. He reiterated that the Clans had never done
anything to further the interest of the common man of Aden, since all they cared for was
their own power and prestige and “honour”. Was it not the arrogance of a now dead clan
that had denuded the city of its defense, leaving only the few Blue Sashes in the streets?
Others felt that supporting the Orc would bring them benefits. Orc spies infiltrated the
ranks of the defenders of Aden. It was thus that Aden was lost, not through inferior strategy,
but the lack of it. It was complacency that brought the City down.
News of the death of the General Snaga, commander of the First Legion reached the Orc and Korgan was recalled by the Imperator for consultations and to attend to the funeral. While he was away, a Third Legion moved in from the North (strengthening the suspicion that the Orcs of Nymath were somehow involved) and made an attack to block the road linking Aden to Prexion. Pyken, the Mortal Leader of Maelstrom attempted to arbitrate with the Orc and seek a diplomatic solution to the impasse, but his offer was bluntly refused. The Third Legion marched on the Music Academy, but failed to coordinate with the other nearby Legions. The Orcs were defeated in a long and weary battle and the path cleared. The General of the Third was slain in the battle. The remnants of the Legion were scattered leaderless across the plains.
As decided, the city Gates of Aden were flung open and the remaining battle weary remnants of the Third Legion, lead by its Primi Pilus (First Spear) Centurion enter and occupied the city. The Orcs were, however, wary of such an easy surrender (especially coming on the heels of such a big defeat) and appealed to the Imperator for reinforcements and a general to unite them. Korgan was sent back, armed with the Supreme Command for the operation. At the same time, Phrez, the Orc Spy was sent to investigate this occurrence. The Mayor of Aden admited to the plans under torture. Korgan with another Legion (the Fourth Legio Orcanum) struck camp near Aden waiting for Pyken to strike. Aden was captured by the Orcs and the Orcish Banner was raised at the Altar of the Aden Temple.