They are mustered in short order

With the capital of Sorik besieged, the Yanikaran armies under Akarsu quickly muster at the Hacinga Plains with no time to waste. With an army two hundred thousand strong, they faced off against a Hasoungan army one hundred and sixty thousand strong, the rest deployed to maintain the siege and break Sorik's reinforcements.

At his camp he listened to reports given by frantic messengers, and after dismissing them he heaves a heavy sigh.

"So we've been forced into a corner," Akarsu muttered, "And now I have to tackle this army alone without assistance."

"It is not all that bad, Aik-Serdar," Said a female voice, lilting with joy, "At least we don't have to worry about other obstacles standing in our way."

Kivanc Turkoglu, a young woman in her early twenties and dressed in light scalemail, stood by Akarsu's side, offering him a cup of hot tea he gratefully took.

"Still, for them to have anticipated all our moves... Hasounga houses some truly great talents for generals," Said Akarsu, "Be on your guard, Kinvanc; he may yet hatch machinations to bring us down."

"You are the greatest of the Three Lions, Lord Akarsu," Said Kinvanc, "Few can ever hope to truly match you. But rarely do I see you this concerned."

"Yes, you're right," Said Akarsu, "Have Erdemli and Arin arrived yet?"

"Indeed they have, Lord Akarsu," Said Kinvanc, smiling happily, "To be frank, I did not think we would even be able to stir these tigers from their slumber."

"Yanikara has been the most threatened since the Three Lions were first formed decades ago," Said Akarsu, "Of course they will answer the call to arms."

Seeing the confident smile on Akarsu's handsome features brought a smile to Kinvanc's face, and she felt a warmth spread across her cheeks, which she hid by averting her face.

Ah, so dashingly handsome and reliable as always...

She shook her head, patting her cheeks.

Indulge in your fantasies later, stupid girl! Win the battle first, think happy thoughts later!

Steeling her resolve, swords sharpened and armour polished, she went to attend the strategic meeting called by Akarsu within his command tent.

Erdemli was a giant of a man with the burly physique to match, his amber eyes like a patient yet hungry predator. In his hands was a giant glaive, held with big meaty hands that could crush an infant with nary a squeeze. The epitome of stoicism, his face was expressionless.

Arin was equally massive but less muscular than his counterpart, and his eyes were so narrow they seemed eternally closed to onlookers. His facial hair was groomed into a neat moustache, which he twirled with a smile that never reached his eyes.

"Aik-Serdar," Erdemli said with a salute, "I confess we did not expect to be called into this fight so soon."

"And since you have, this new enemy of ours has proven quite the challenge for you, Lord Akarsu," Said Arin, his smile never fading.

"Alas, that is the case, my dear friends," Said Akarsu, "However, with Hasounga having waged the entirety of their military might on this campaign, the moment we destroy them is the moment we end the threat of Hasounga for good and smother the Kaiser's and Kaiserin's ambitions in the cradle."

"Indeed, Lord Akarsu," Said Erdemli, "Yet I must also confess that to hear of the Dark Elves of Ganadonia participating in an invasion of our lands now, especially after centuries of peace between our nations."

"I was similarly puzzled by this, but they are determined to conquer us nonetheless, and with the passive Kalgoli suddenly stirred to action, to leverage diplomacy like this? To attack us from three different directions with hundreds of thousands of troops?" Said Akarsu, "It means they have their eyes set on a prize they absolutely do not want to forfeit no matter what?"

"A prize so valuable to necessitate this high-risk gamble?" Said Arin, "...Could it be their former homeland?"

"It is possible," Akarsu said noddingly, "Ashalim was their ancestral homeland before it was conquered, and the Dark Elves forced to flee. And since we're the ones occupying the land route-"

"Reclaiming their ancestral homeland means destroying and occupying our homes, what righteousness is there in that?" Said Kinvanc with anger, "Forgive me, I spoke out of turn."

"It is forgiven, Kinvanc," Said Akarsu, "And yet, I feel there's something else at play here. I can't put my finger on what it is, exactly, but I feel they're just using Ashalim as an excuse."

"What do you mean, Lord Akarsu?" Asked Arin.

"Ashalim is their prize - a likely condition for Queen Olga's marriage to Xarric Crown," Said Akarsu, "It's just not their immediate prize, or priority for that matter. In fact, whatever they're aiming for, Yanikara's just a steppingstone to that end."

Kinvanc trembled with anger at this, fists clenched until they turned white.

"...To think they could be capable of such arrogance," Said Erdemli, eyes narrowed, "It seems we Yanikarans must humble them by demonstrating the might that has repelled countless would-be invaders and protected the Sultanate since the time of the Bloody Decades."

"A lesson we shall teach them in spades," Said Kinvanc, drumming her fingers on the pommel of her swords.

"Gentlemen, to your positions," Said Akarsu, "Carve into these plains the name of the 'Battle of Immeasurable Loss'."

"As you command, Lord Akarsu," Said Arin smilingly.

Hoteac overlooked the Hacinga plains, wide and expansive with barely any vegetation and other obstacles in sight. Only a few patches of grass touched the ground, and even they will not be spared devastation under the thundering boots and hooves of the two great armies about to clash.

For Akarsu's army, out of 200,000, they had 80,000 in the centre wing commanded by Akarsu himself, and his aide Kinvanc, 60,000 in the left wing helmed by Erdemli, and 60,000 in the right wing under control of the scheming Arin.

For Hoteac's army, out of 160,000, they adopted a confounding formation; only five thousand held the left and right wings each, while the bulk of the army was concentrated in the centre wing. And Briolforn and Claudia were to lead the right and left wings respectively.

To observers this was like a gesture - a taunt - to Akarsu, as if Hoteac were saying: "Please hurry and attack my flanking wings."

It could easily conceal a trap, yet if they powered through the traps, then Akarsu could easily box in the Hasoungan centre wing and annihilate them in one sweep.