The Battle of the Red Sands

The Battle of the Red Sands was a key battle during the War of the West between Directus and Samarkand. The battle took place in 2072 between Linyoa Kannan, Emperor of Directus, and Sparklelord, Khan of Samarkand. Both sides fielded their best troops in the battle, including the 1st legion of Directus. The battle is generally considered the most important of the war and it caused the capture of Sparkelord, leader of the Samar. Nevertheless severe causalties were inflicited on both sides and it is one of the most bloody battles in history. The battle earned its name from the red color the sand was dyed post battle due to all the blood.

One of the main reasons the battle was so bloody was that Sparkelord unveilled a weapon that Linyoa had never yet witnessed; elephant artillery. Elephant artillery were elephants that had light caliber cannons on there backs as well as cannon crews. This allowed Sparkelord to deploy highly mobile cannon crews that could not easily be attacked. Throughout the all-day battle Sparkelord deployed and redeployed his artillery on ridges so as to continously rain cannon fire down on the 1st Legion. Linyoa's troops harrased and attempted to eliminate the artillery throughout the battle but were unsuccesfulll. Only once Sparkelord was forced to deploy his elephants in hand to hand combat was Linyoa able to eliminate them, albiet at a high cost, allowing him to win the battle.

Linyoa latter commented

"There is nothing I hate more than Sparkelord's fucking Elephants."