Autumn: phony war against Bandar Log for Fort Batimor
Early autumn (18): encirclement of the Bandari army
On early autumn, a large Ermorian army has gathered to fight against the impressive Bandari army. But the strategic situation is more impacted by a small army of Shadow Vestals led by the Thaumaturge Sextus, who had conquered a province East of the Ermorian fort in late summer. In early autumn, Sextus defeats a large group of tiny Markatas supported by a handful of Atavi archers in the province South of the Ermorian fort.
Shadow Vestals, protected by the astral bless granted to them by Sextus, rout the Markata horde.
At the same time, Abysia has re-conquered a lost province nearby, connecting he three empires. As a result, the mainstream Bandari army besieging Fort Batimor is now cut off and completely encircled.
In Early Automn, the Bandari besieging army is surrounded on all sides as a result of Sextus’ bold moves and Abysian counter-offensive
Mid- and late Autumn (19-20): a war of maneuver for nothing?
Ermorian and Bandari main armies all conduct operations without engaging each other, while several skirmishes take place.
Operations of mid-autumn
The Bandari main army leaves a small force of Tiger Riders to conquer and occupy the fort in Batimor while the main group moves south to break the encirclement. Sextus attacks South the province immediately West of Bandar Log, but is defeated by a significant force of Tiger Raiders coming toward the front – he alone survives and escapes. At the same time, the main Ermorian army, led by the Thaumaturge Attilus, moves from Ephesibor to take back Batimor. A breach is immediately done in the walls of Fort Batimor, now controlled by Bandar Log.
The next month, Attilus easily conquers back Batimor Fort, in spite of the brave resistance of the few Tiger Riders left as garrison.
Heroic but desperate resistance of Bandari Tiger Riders at the gate of Fort Batimor
Following a season of skirmishes and maneuvers, the situation gets stabilized as both Ermor’s and Bandar Log’s attentions are called elsewhere by more urgent matters: the Abysian war for Bandar Log and
a massive attack by Pangea on Ermor's Eastern provinces for Ermor. Throughout this first war, no major engagement took place in spite of the large armies mobilized, but Ermor consolidated its holdings in Bandar Log’s sphere of influence, with now two provinces controlled.
Geopolitical situation by early winter. The Ermorian army moves North as a new threat emerges, while Bandar Log lunches a new offensive against Abysia. Ermor has protected her holdings in the area.