Battle of the Gate
The Battle of the Gate is a small engagement early in the Ten Winter War that had a huge impact on the war's ultimate outcome. Fought at the very gates of the City of Manmor near the Aman River mouth between a single Company of 108 well trained, well equipped Dwarven Legionaries and more than 2,000 Orcs, the battle would be fought for five days and five nights of brutal combat, ending in three near-suicidal charges by the Dwarves against attacks on the gates themselves.
The Conflict
Prelude
Early in the month of March, the lead elements of the invading Orc horde began to cross the Arial River in force using any means available. Within days, a beachhead of some 20,000 Orcs had been established and attacks began to range out towards the interior of the County of Manmor.
Deployment
Only two weeks prior to this Orc river crossing, two Legions of Thorahl had arrived at the City of Manmor to aid in the County's defense. As most of the local knights and nobles had mustered the summer previous and already left to fight the invasion, the area around the city was nearly undefended. The Count of Manmor asked the Legions to aid the City in its defenses while other forces were called up from the interior and from neighboring Fangort. One Legion was tasked with advancing towards the river to stem the flow of Orcs into the immediate area of he city walls, while the other was assigned the actual defense of those walls.
Battlefield
The City defenders found themselves facing a growing horde of Orcs with each passing day. Of the 1,050 Legionaries assigned to the walls and gates, one Company in particular found itself tasked with the defense of the City's main gatehouse. Consisting of two large round towers standing more than 50' and a double gate of banded oak doors and iron portcullis, the Company of 108 Dwarves found only a moderate supply of crossbow bolts, practice arrows and sling stones stockpiled within the gatehouse. These missiles, along with the weapons and materials the Legionaries had brought with them, were all they had to fight off nearly 2,000 raging Orcs.
The Engagement
On the first day of the battle, against the advice and counsel of the Company's sergeants, the Captain of the Company walked out of the gate to challenge the Orc warchief. The warchief walked towards the Dwarven Captain carrying a spear and a shield. The Orc hurled the spear with such force that the weapon pierced the shield entirely and killed the Captain instantly. The mob of Orcs then rushed the gates, and in the rush to secure them, another spear killed the Company Adjutant, as well. This left the Company in command of a young but talented Company Sergeant named Brannic Hornhem, who mustered the defense of the gate and secured it. He then mastered the defense of the gatehouse for the next five days and nights.
Outcome
After five days and nights, the defenders of the gatehouse were relieved by a force of mounted Fangorian knights moving in from the east. Upon seeing the 1,500 charging knights, the last several hundred Orcs dropped their weapons and ran towards the river. In the end, 9 of the Dwarves were killed (including the two commanding oficers) and 20 were seriously wounded. For the attacking Orcs, it was estimated that the death toll exceeded 1,600.
Aftermath
The successful defense of the City of Manmor marked the furthest extent of the Orcish invasion north of the Arial River.
Historical Significance
Legacy
Brannic Hornhelm would rise to the rank of Lord Commander of the Walls of the Legions of Thorahl, due in large part to the name and reputation he earned for himself leading the defense of the Gates of Manmor.
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
March 5, 108 AF
Ending Date
March 10, 108 AF
Conflict Result
Victory for the defenders
