Robert Reid answers “At the first stand near the Pass of Ing,...”

Tharpere asked this question about White Light Red Fire:

At the first stand near the Pass of Ing, which specific choices by the defenders turn Ember cavalry strengths into weaknesses, and how does the terrain make those choices work?

Robert Reid The first choice the defenders made was to meet the cavalry where the Pass of Ing narrowed between two steep cliff faces. The narrows were further tig…moreThe first choice the defenders made was to meet the cavalry where the Pass of Ing narrowed between two steep cliff faces. The narrows were further tightened by building two stone bulwarks in the space between the cliffs. The Ember cavalry were further fooled by the fact the defending pike front lines formed in front of the bulwarks thereby disguising the fact that the real front line was only four ten yard channels. As the front pikes were pulled back and the front line of defenders retreated behind the bulwarks the charging cavalry were forced into narrow killing zones of pikes. The attackers had no room to manoeuvre and the speed of the charge became a weakness rather than a strength. Similarly the expertise of the attacking cavalry with their lances was negated by the narrow fighting ground. However perhaps the most important choice the defenders made was to have John Burnett dressed as Lord James Cameron, the sworn enemy of Elan of Ember, the leader of the invaders. The thought of besting his greatest enemy caused Elan to make rash choices which in the end would prove fatal. So the landscape and deception forced mistakes and lust for revenge hastened catastrophe. (White Light Red Fire pages 40-44) (less)

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White Light Red Fire

by Robert Reid (Goodreads Author)

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