The Khan Philokrater led a strong force of lancers, a forest of spears to cast shade on the enemy. He had summoned the customary allies and followers from the clans of Alans, eager as ever for battle, under their Prince Patrick, and did appoint his son Anaxander to lead a further contingent of lancers and hill tribesmen, while his daughter Philomena was appointed in charge of the reserves - a sworn band of followers on horse, with a scattering of archers and hill tribesmen. The Khan kept the Townsmen militia under his own hand, deeming them the best of his infantry.
After much stumbling around Anatolia in search of foes worthy of his steel, he did come upon the Imperial Army, led by the Monk Gregory from his position among the baggage, the wine and the women. Unfortunately, this was rather by accident, as the whole army did stumble through apparently endless banks of fog: however, as soon as the scouts reported enemy nearby, the Khan did sally forth, seeking to win glory for himself and his tribes.
The Imperial army, as it later turned out, was comprised of a large number of infantry wielding bitter spears, backed by a force of archers reputed deadly in their fire. They were assisted by a small number of savage Vikings with axes, named as Varangs or Childeaters, and there was a numerous cavalry of Byzantines, armoured and be-weaponed splendidly, but bearing within them the typical craven Roman heart. The whole was supplemented by a small number of splendid Western Warriors, Franks as they are known, and a cavalcade of horsemen completely encased in armour, and the usual smattering of skirmishers ahorse and afoot.
The battlefield that the Khan stumbled on was deemed suitable for action, and the Khan sent the Alans on a wide sweep to the left of where the Byzantines were thought to be. Captured natives had indicated the presence of a long hill, and a village, so the Khan sent the redoubtable Anaxander to seize this village, and sweep around it, while himself leading his forces to confront the Byzantines directly, hopefully enticing their horse away from their foot by his apparent weakness. Philomena was positioned behind and between the Khan and the Alans, in order to be able to support either at need, and if necessary fill any gap that opened between them.
At dawn, or thereabouts, the Sarmatian Host rolled forward, deployed in numerous columns, probing for the enemy. The first we knew of it was hearing the Yip!Yip!Yip! of the Alans as they sighted a column of Byzantines on our left. In the Centre, Philokrater swung his columns wide of the hill, wary of possible ambush in the fog, while Anaxandros rushed his hillmen auxiliaries into the village almost immediately.
Almost immediately after this, the fog lifted, revealing the Byzantine rabble. Unfortunately, the plan to outflank them on the left with the Alans was foiled by a considerable column of Roman horse and skirmishers, but Philokrater blessed his luck on seeing the gap between this and the main body of the Byzantine Foot, and their Commander with his Knights. The Khan swung his column of Lancers left, rapidly gaining the top of the gentle ridge that divided the field, and hid the advancing column of Philomena from the Byzantine Commander.
On the Left, the Alans deployed smartly, and started trying to envelop the Byzantine Right Wing. After a couple of rapid successes, destroying the accompanying Light Horse, the combat deteriorated into a slow push and shove match, with the Alan numbers (and the Byzantine cowardice) matched by the superior armour of the Byzantines.
In the centre, the Khan led his column of horse up the ridge, detaching a couple of clans to deal with the Norman Knights, who sallied forth unsupported to try and disrupt the Khan's plans. With the able assistance of some of the Townsmen Militia these clans saw off the threat of the Normans smartly. The Byzantines were meanwhile having apparent difficulties getting their Skutatoi Foot to re-align themselves, hampered further by overwhelming demand for the General's attention elsewhere: but the Catafractoi and Cavalry started moving forward and deploying into more battle-worthy formations.
On the Right, Anaxander made sure of the possession of the village, then led his lancers forward, throwing them into the fray against a slightly larger number of Byzantine Horse. The Varangs moved up to threaten the village, but got distracted by our skirmishers in the centre, so milled around in some confusion.
Philomena moved her reserve force up smartly, between the Alans and the hill. She detached a company of Townsmen to help the Alans, which was enough to tip the balance in the Alan's favour, slowly. Meanwhile, she led the remainder of her forces further up the field, brushing aside a paltry line of skirmishers in short order, then surmounted the very tip of the main ridge.
The Khan had meanwhile deployed his lancers on the crest of the ridge, rallying the victorious clans from pursuit of the Normans and appending them to the end of the line. The Byzantines had meanwhile deployed their mounted force into a long line near the foot of the ridge. The Khan watched and grunted in anticipation, seeing the enemy as corn ready for the harvest. As he had hoped, the Byzantine mounted were out of reach of their foot, indeed were blocking the foot from any attack upon him, so he called for the general charge.
The lancers swept down upon their foes, using the impetus of the slope, and harvesting them with glee. On the right of this line, the Katafractoi proved formidable foes, slowing the clans down, and driving some back in confusion, but the centre was driven back in fine style, while on the other end of the line Philomena led the reserves around in a looping drive that pierced the flank, and partly enclosed the rear of the Byzantine cavalry. She led her bodyguard in a fight against the Byzantine Commander, crushing his troops and capturing him herself, while the Katafractoi were driven back by a fresh charge of the lancers. At this, the remaining Byzantine horse, fearful of having their retreat cut off, fled pell-mell. However, the drunken monk in their baggage induced the Skutatoi to stand, with blood-curdling threats of the punishment the Emperor would deliver if they ran.
Meanwhile, on the Right of the battlefield, Anaxander was having a protracted struggle with the Byzantines. Every time he gained a small advantage, some piece of ill-luck would right the balance, and the whole struggle proceeded bitterly. Eventually, Anaxander detached himself from the combat briefly, and ordered a portion of the tribesmen out of the village, to support his lancers. These proved sufficient to bring victory to Anaxander and his men, by closely supporting one flank, and driving back the harassing skirmishers in front of the village. With this small advantage, Anaxander renewed the struggle, and started rending holes in the Byzantine line. In a peculiarly timely stroke, he cast down the Byzantine general, just as, far away on the left, the Alans finally broke the Byzantine Right Wing.
At this, the Skutatoi finally melted away: fortunately, as the ragged lancers of the Khan had nearly reached them, and the Khan was dreading the awesome execution of these archers among his followers.