Battle of Hel Fenn

The Battle of Hel Fenn was the final climactic battle of the Vampire Wars. Mannfred von Carstein was defeated by a coalition of Imperial and Dwarfen troops lead by Count Martin of Stirland.

Background
Main Article: Third Vampire War

Mannfred von Carstein was the final Vampire Count of Sylvania. In the campaign leading up to Hel Fenn, known as the Winter War, he had laid siege to the cities of Altdorf and Marienburg, but was repulsed in both locations. A game of cat and mouse ensued. Although many battles were fought, neither side could gain the upper hand in the war. Eventually, Mannfred was forced back into Sylvania. Hiding in the woods, it took the Imperial forces many days of searching to locate Mannfred. They did not expect that he would be able to muster a large army. Eventually, he was located near Hel Fenn. The amount of undead he had been able to summon was astounding. Word was sent to Stirland's allies, and the forces prepared for battle.

The Battlefield
"We rode into the open plain at Hel Fenn and our eyes were drawn across the plain. Fog drifted through the twisted trees before us, moving sluggishly on the breeze that came from the stinking swamp."

- Martin of Stirland The Battlefield at Hel Fenn consisted of an open plain, sloping up to a ridge in the middle, and surrounded by forests. The human armies deployed on the ridge, which was nicknamed Thunder Ridge by the artillery crews positioned there. At the bottom of the ridge was a road raised up from the rest of the ground. On the Empire's left flank was a fortified farm, and on their right was an abandoned fort.

The position of the Empire army was very well defensible. Count Martin only needed a way to make sure that Mannfred was forced to attack him, rather than the other way around. Therefore, he set up the following ploy: The majority of his army was deployed directly behind the ridge, out of sight from Mannfred. A thin battle line of Free Company Militia and Empire Huntsmen in front of them. He hoped to use this forlorn hope as a means of drawing Mannfred's army towards him. Meanwhile, knowing that Mannfred would attempt to encircle his numerically inferior human army, Martin placed his strongest units, including the Ostland Black Guard in the abandoned fortress and fortified farm on the flanks of his battleline.

Mannfred von Carstein knew that the Empire's army was smaller than his, and their Dwarf allies were still some distance away. Therefore he planned to attack quickly and separate the two force, each one being easier to defeat on its own.

The Battle
At dawn, regiments began forming up. It was clear the battle was to occur that day.

Mannfred's first move was to attempt to take the abandoned fort held by a contingent of Ostland Black Guard and handgunners.

Empire Forces
Martin of Stirland was the chief commander of the Empire's armies. However, he diplomatically gave the other elector counts and dwarfs a say in the decision making process.


 * Axelbrand, Archlector of Taal lead a contingent of Priests of Taal. They were taken to Hel Fenn to counter Mannfred's unholy magics.
 * Lord General Kristian Heff

Undead Forces
"From out of the forest marched the undead. My horse shied and a thrill of fear ran up my spine. I caught the stench of rotting flesh. more poured out from the forest, endless columns of perambulating skeletons, loping wolves, and the sky became black as a flock of fell bats converged in swirling clouds. And then, we saw him, just a distant smear in the dusk's light, but his outline was unmistakable: Mannfre von Carstein. He threw his arms into the air and lightning trembled and flashed around him. We looked agahast at the size of his army."

- Martin of Stirland The size of Mannfred's army is not know, but historians guess that it was between twenty thousand and three hundred thousand strong.

Commanders

 * Mannfred von Carstein
 * Adolphus Krieger, Necromancer
 * Gothard the Undying Knight, Wight leader of Mannfred's Black Knights

Troops

 * Zombies
 * Skeletons
 * Wights
 * Sylvanian Peasant Levies
 * Dire Wolves

Source

 * The Empire at War (Lore Book)
 * pg. 26
 * pg. 27
 * pg. 28
 * pg. 30
 * pg. 34
 * pg. 36