Difference between revisions of "Battle of Merrilor"
Toral Delvar (talk | contribs) |
Toral Delvar (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
The forces of the Shadow have greater numbers and threaten to wear down the forces of the Light, especially with Demandred and [[Taim]]'s casual use of [[balefire]]. Mat and Tuon fake an argument so that the Seanchan leave the battle site. Taim is killed by Egwene, who dies herself, taking all the Sharan chanellers with her and Demandred is killed by Lan. In the confusion that follows, the [[Horn of Valere]] is blown and the Seanchan return. The Sharan's return to Shara, leaving the Trollocs in two main groups one packed into a corridor between the Heights and impassible bogs to the South and the second attacking the armies at Howal Ford. The Seanchan destroy the Trollocs in the corridor and the other armies defeat the rest. | The forces of the Shadow have greater numbers and threaten to wear down the forces of the Light, especially with Demandred and [[Taim]]'s casual use of [[balefire]]. Mat and Tuon fake an argument so that the Seanchan leave the battle site. Taim is killed by Egwene, who dies herself, taking all the Sharan chanellers with her and Demandred is killed by Lan. In the confusion that follows, the [[Horn of Valere]] is blown and the Seanchan return. The Sharan's return to Shara, leaving the Trollocs in two main groups one packed into a corridor between the Heights and impassible bogs to the South and the second attacking the armies at Howal Ford. The Seanchan destroy the Trollocs in the corridor and the other armies defeat the rest. | ||
==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
| + | Initially, the [[Last Battle]] was intended to be fought on three fronts, plus a fourth at [[Shayol Ghul]] to prevent interference with [[Rand]]. Each battle was to be led by one of the Great Captains ({{amol|7}}), but [[Hessalam]] was able to use [[compulsion]] on them to force them to make mistakes, with the result that at [[Tarwin's Gap]], two thirds of the [[Borderlander]]s were killed ({{amol|32}} and overall, the forces of [[the Light]] lost over a third of their number ({{amol|33}}). As a result of this, it was decided to consolidate the remaining forces at the [[Field of Merrilor]] under the command of [[Mat Cauthon]], who was immune to compulsion because of his ''[[ter'angreal]]'' [[Foxhead Medallion|medallion]] ({{amol|31}}). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mat sets his command tent at [[Dashar Knob]], as it would allow them to watch the entire battle unfold and is not reachable other than by [[gateway]]. Mat's first action is to send a hundred of the [[Band of the Red Hand|Band]] to [[Hinderstap]] so that they can get caught in the trap there and to bring as many of the villagers as possible with them. He then sends them to a narrow canyon a few leagues northeast of Dashar Knob which he judges to be the only good place to block the [[Mora]]. He looks at the [[Heights]] and realizes he will lose if he tries to hold them, but that they cannot afford to retreat from the battlesite. The [[Sharan]]s arrive from Kandor, to the West, with the [[Trolloc]]s not far behind ({{amol|36}}), coming from [[Cairhien]] to the south and [[Tarwin's Gap]] to the northeast. Mat immediately throws out all the battle plans he had made over the previous week as there is too much chance that [[the Shadow]] will know them. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Lan]] leads a cavalry charge against the Sharans and Trollocs to the west of the Heights, with cover from archers, crossbowmen and [[dragons|Dragoner]]s. The Trollocs charge up the slope of the Heights into the pikemen of the [[White Tower]] army, forcing them back. They receive instructions telling them to retreat down the southwestern slope and while they are preparing to do so, the [[Ayyad]] focus on them, overwhelming the [[Aes Sedai]] sent there to help the defence. A gateway opens and Demandred attacks through it. Most of the forces of the Light manage to retreat, though some groups of Tower Guard disobey orders and fight on. | ||
[[Category:Articles to be expanded]] | [[Category:Articles to be expanded]] | ||
[[Category:Wars and Battles]] | [[Category:Wars and Battles]] | ||
Revision as of 06:47, 16 February 2013
Overview
During the Last Battle, while Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn struggled against the Dark One, two battles were fought. One, outside the Pit of Doom in the Valley of Thakan'dar, to prevent interference and the second on the southern border of Shienar and Arafel, at the Field of Merrilor. This battle pitched the armies of the Westlands and the Aiel, led by Matrim Cauthon against the combined forces of the Shadow with a large contingent of Sharans led by Demandred. The battle begins with the forces of the Light holding the field and waiting for the arrival of their enemy. Sharans travel to the top the the Polov Heights, forcing the soldiers there to retreat. The forces of the light are split into two main groups, one, those of the Aes Sedai on the western slope of the Polov Heights, to occupy the Ayyad, with the second group in Shienar holding Hawal Ford. A third force under the command of Tam al'Thor is sent north of the Ford, to prevent the Trollocs crossing the river, with the Borderland cavalry under the command of Lan mobile.
The forces of the Shadow have greater numbers and threaten to wear down the forces of the Light, especially with Demandred and Taim's casual use of balefire. Mat and Tuon fake an argument so that the Seanchan leave the battle site. Taim is killed by Egwene, who dies herself, taking all the Sharan chanellers with her and Demandred is killed by Lan. In the confusion that follows, the Horn of Valere is blown and the Seanchan return. The Sharan's return to Shara, leaving the Trollocs in two main groups one packed into a corridor between the Heights and impassible bogs to the South and the second attacking the armies at Howal Ford. The Seanchan destroy the Trollocs in the corridor and the other armies defeat the rest.
Summary
Initially, the Last Battle was intended to be fought on three fronts, plus a fourth at Shayol Ghul to prevent interference with Rand. Each battle was to be led by one of the Great Captains (AMoL, Ch. 7), but Hessalam was able to use compulsion on them to force them to make mistakes, with the result that at Tarwin's Gap, two thirds of the Borderlanders were killed (AMoL, Ch. 32 and overall, the forces of the Light lost over a third of their number (AMoL, Ch. 33). As a result of this, it was decided to consolidate the remaining forces at the Field of Merrilor under the command of Mat Cauthon, who was immune to compulsion because of his ter'angreal medallion (AMoL, Ch. 31).
Mat sets his command tent at Dashar Knob, as it would allow them to watch the entire battle unfold and is not reachable other than by gateway. Mat's first action is to send a hundred of the Band to Hinderstap so that they can get caught in the trap there and to bring as many of the villagers as possible with them. He then sends them to a narrow canyon a few leagues northeast of Dashar Knob which he judges to be the only good place to block the Mora. He looks at the Heights and realizes he will lose if he tries to hold them, but that they cannot afford to retreat from the battlesite. The Sharans arrive from Kandor, to the West, with the Trollocs not far behind (AMoL, Ch. 36), coming from Cairhien to the south and Tarwin's Gap to the northeast. Mat immediately throws out all the battle plans he had made over the previous week as there is too much chance that the Shadow will know them.
Lan leads a cavalry charge against the Sharans and Trollocs to the west of the Heights, with cover from archers, crossbowmen and Dragoners. The Trollocs charge up the slope of the Heights into the pikemen of the White Tower army, forcing them back. They receive instructions telling them to retreat down the southwestern slope and while they are preparing to do so, the Ayyad focus on them, overwhelming the Aes Sedai sent there to help the defence. A gateway opens and Demandred attacks through it. Most of the forces of the Light manage to retreat, though some groups of Tower Guard disobey orders and fight on.
