Battle on the Plain
From Srafopedia
Contents |
Introduction
In TAS, the forces of the Authority attack the forces of the Rebellion. The Rebels, under the command of Lord Asriel, had built a Republic of Heaven on another world, fortifying themselves with a gigantic Basalt Fortress and gathering free people from all the worlds to defend the new Republic against the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven. Metatron, the Authority's regent, brings the Clouded Mountain into the Rebel world and attack the Basalt Fortress. On the plain before the fortress, the forces of the Kingdom and the Republic do battle.
Forces
Rebels of the Republic
Peoples
Armaments
- Gyropters
- Intention Craft
- Artillery
- Rifles
- Bows and Arrows
- Torches
- Spears
- Swords
Kingdom of Heaven
Peoples
Armaments
- Flying Machines
- Rifles
- Flamethrowers
- Artillery - both standard and poison-spraying
- Spears
- Swords
- Tridents
- Nets
Stages of the Battle
Early Skirmishes
In the time previous to the Battle, the Kingdom of Heaven sent out various raiding and scouting parties to test the defenses, consisting of angels and a motley assortment of other fliers. One such party was completely wiped out by the intention craft.
The Invasion and Preparations
The Clouded Mountain eventually arrived within sight of the Basalt Fortress, signalling the beginning of the invasion. Lord Asriel sent angels to scout out the Mountain, but they found no entry. Reinforcements arrived for both sides, including Panserbjørne. Both sides make camp on the plain in front of the fortress.
With Basilides' knowledge of the Alethiometer, the Rebel high command learns that Lyra and Will have been separated from their dæmons. The purpose of the battle, from the Rebel point of view, is simply to find the childrens' dæmons, reunite them with the children, and then get the children to safety with their dæmons. To that end, King Ogunwe is given command of the defenses, Madame Oxentiel is put in charge of the search for the children and dæmons, and Lord Asriel himself decides to attempt to destroy Metatron.
The Attack
The next day, the forces of the Kingdom launch an all-out assault on the Fortress. Both sides do battle on the plain chaotically. The Kingdom's artillery pounds the fortress, and all different peoples kill each other in their own particular ways. The battle is going poorly for the Rebels, but then the forces of the Kingdom pull back to make way for the Specters to feast on the Rebels. But then the ghosts enter from the World of the Dead and hold off the Specters. Rebel witches make an attack on the Clouded Mountain, or Chariot, and are met by troops of enemy angels.
The Destruction of Metatron
Mrs. Coulter flies to the Mountain in the intention craft and seduces Metatron. She lures him to the Abyss, where Lord Asriel is waiting. The two fight Metatron and manage to drag him into the abyss. All three tumble to their deaths.
Lyra and Will
Lyra and Will enter the battle through a new window from the World of the Dead with the warrior ghosts, who fight the specters. Will and Lyra search for their dæmons, initially unsuccessfully. They come in danger from Specters, whom they can now see, and also from Riders. They disperse a troop of Cliff-Ghasts which had been attempting to break the Authority's crystal litter, abandoned on the field. Then they open the litter and the Authority dissolves. The troop of Gallivespians locates them. They help free Iorek Byrnison from a net, and then they find their dæmons being attacked by Specters. The ghosts hold off the Specters long enough for the two to claim their dæmons and escape to another world.
