Brgthng 10, Cycle 1, Month of Kalendryas, in the Season of Winter,
Era I of the Celestine Mandate,
Era XV Post Fractum
On the 8th brightening, the orcs at the field works northest of Hiems first spotted the 9th Imperial Legion Cavalry along with the 10th IL Cavalry as well. It was obvious that the cavalry would preceed a larger force and the cavalry would try to select the most favorable ground they could find in which to establish a line. The orcs were not sitting idle waiting for the larger forces to arrive. They were counting enemy forces and measuring up the strength of their opponent as they arrived. There were other eyes upon the 9th IL Cav as well. When the 9th made their ride eastward, they were the ones being hunted, not the other way around.
The orcs at the Hiems works knew something was amiss when the number of troops they had been monitoring thinned out considerably. They were cavalry units and so the gothmog of the 6th Ushtar knew he had to watch his flanks and rear for surprises. They made preparations as best they could from their own position but others took a more direct approach to meeting the threat that the 9th imposed.
By the 10th brightening, the 9th was well situated as they were directed in a position several candlemarks east of Espian Tower on the orc 6th Ushtar's far left flank. This seemed to be a fine position save one thing, it was a well observed position. For two brightenings (from the 8th), the 9th Cav was allowed to establish a camp and grow into a false sense of security in their wooded position overlooking the Hiem Front. The sun had just set on the 10th brightening causing the sky to fill with an orange hew. The few scattered clouds added blotches of white and pink to the sky.
It was at this instance when all seemed calm that they were unleashed upon the unsuspecting rear of the 9th's line. The 3rd Tarbam (Fury), all 875 of the worg riders came crashing into the 9th's line from end-to-end. Any horses encountered that were tied up riderless, were hacked upon by the axe-wielding riders as the worgs lept past them en route to engage the cavalrymen. Whooping cries rose from the orc riders and howls grew louder from the worgs as they drove headlong into combat. The orcs swung their axes on alternating sides of their mounts as they encountered men on foot or horse. The light armor they wore hopefully enabled them to quickly duck, dodge, and parry the incoming swings of enemy blades. The lightning speed of the limber worgs would be counted on to get the orc riders within striking distance of the 9th's ranged weapons.