Years earlier, when the Elvaan of San d'Oria tried to conquer Bastok, the Humes and Galka used firearm technology to decimate their invaders in the wide-open Konschtat Highlands.
In The Battle of Bastok, the Shadow Lord tried to avoid the same tactical mistake.
The Shadow Lord's army of Quadavs secretly dug tunnels from Palborough Mines to the mining district of Bastok. At the same time, the Antica -- the mortal enemies of the Galka race, recruited for the battle -- marched toward Bastok Mines through Korroloka Tunnel. The armies attacked together in the heart of the Republic. The people of Bastok fought valiantly, but the front line of battle was slipping deeper into city, nearly to the entrance of Bastok Metalworks. It was there where the tide of battle began to shift, and the Humes and Galka could finally hold their ground.
As the battle raged, workers sealed off part of the Zeruhn Mines to block the flow of enemies into the city. Bastok's military leaders knew doing so would force the opposing army to withdraw and attack from the heavily fortified Konschtat Highlands. The plan worked. Holding no advantage in the highlands, the Shadow Lord's army retreated.
The Federation of Bastok was safe, but by no means was the battle's outcome considered a victory. Countless Humes and Galka had died, and the Shadow Lord's army was far from defeated.