CAUSE
No one knew why this six day battle happened as both the Kalaran Empire and Teutonia were still recovering from the infamous mass invasion declared on both fronts. [*] Due to the nature of engagement, this battle should be seen as a war rather than a battle.
[*]: Mockingly known as Aital's Rape by Teutonia and the Empire, this expedition was declared by the Great Vahn during that time, Aital Dinayev. As it turned out, Vahn Aital claimed to have been raped half a dozen times and he declared war on Teutonians and Kalarans alike as a result. Ironically, Aital Dinayev was never a he, but rather a she. Even more ironic however, was the fact that this war ended through Aital being exposed as a woman by her own men and carried back to Slarvea as a sex slave for those previously riding under her banner.
[*]: Mockingly known as Aital's Rape by Teutonia and the Empire, this expedition was declared by the Great Vahn during that time, Aital Dinayev. As it turned out, Vahn Aital claimed to have been raped half a dozen times and he declared war on Teutonians and Kalarans alike as a result. Ironically, Aital Dinayev was never a he, but rather a she. Even more ironic however, was the fact that this war ended through Aital being exposed as a woman by her own men and carried back to Slarvea as a sex slave for those previously riding under her banner.
THE COMBATANTS:
KINGDOM OF TEUTONIA
LEADERS:
BERIAD SONG
(RANK: WAR COMMANDANT)
SER CYEN VILLEAS
(RANK: GENERAL WHO HOLDS THE FORT)
SER KITH LAMBIS
(RANK: GENERAL OF GLORY)
SER NICEAS BAUZ
(RANK: GENERAL OF THE SWIFT CAVALRY)
ROBBART KORE*
*He was also husband to Annui and father to Alesis the Fiercely Beautiful
(RANK: LORD MASTER OF THE OAK)
ANNUI OF CIES*
(RANK: FIRST BOW OF THE FIANNA)
*Whether Annui truly participated in this war remains unknown due to word of this being hailed as rumour.
Note:
Annui was pregnant with her only child, Alesis of Grainne, two months prior to the conflict.
However, she might have given birth by then.
KERSTEIN DE BLADEFORT
(RANK: WRAITH LORD OF THE SHADOW BROTHERHOOD)
Leader:
Ser Beriad "The Beardless Wolf" Song
Total strength:
Around 10000
Casualty:
Around 3000 to 4000
Note:
Numbers were muddied due to inclusion of mercenaries
(Infantry)
Halberdiers
Leader:
Ser Cyen "Fat Bastard" Villeas
Halberdiers
Leader:
Ser Cyen "Fat Bastard" Villeas
Total strength:
Around 5000
Around 5000
Casualties:
Around 2000
Around 2000
(Heavy cavalry)
Knights
Leader:
Ser Kith "Old Stallion" Lambis
Total strength:
Around 150
Ser Kith "Old Stallion" Lambis
Total strength:
Around 150
Casualties:
No more than 20
No more than 20
Note:
Teutonian knights are regarded as the best warriors born with noble lineage, be they on foot or mounted.
Teutonian knights are regarded as the best warriors born with noble lineage, be they on foot or mounted.
(Light cavalry)
Reivers
Reivers
Leader:
Ser Niceas "You're Busted" Bauz
Total strength:
Around 300
Ser Niceas "You're Busted" Bauz
Total strength:
Around 300
Casualties:
Around 50-70
Around 50-70
(Auxiliary)
Aegil Orden
Aegil Orden
Leader:
Robbart "Henpecked" Kore
Total strength:
Around 400
Robbart "Henpecked" Kore
Total strength:
Around 400
Casualties:
None
None
Note:
Official figures due to minimal engagement with enemy forces.
Official figures due to minimal engagement with enemy forces.
(Assault)
Fianna
Leader:
Annui of Cies
Fianna
Leader:
Annui of Cies
Total strength:
Unknown; speculated to be under 100
Unknown; speculated to be under 100
Casualties:
Unknown; rumoured to have one single casualty
Note:
Actual numbers unknown due to shrouded secrecy surrounding this much feared warrior band.
Unknown; rumoured to have one single casualty
Note:
Actual numbers unknown due to shrouded secrecy surrounding this much feared warrior band.
(Reconnaissance/Skirmishing)
Mercenaries
Leader:
Kerstein de Bladefort
Note:
This is assuming that the mercenaries have a common leader
Total strength:
Unknown due to lack in official figures
Note:
At least the Tamurians and Shadow Brotherhood were known to be involved in the war.
Kerstein de Bladefort
Note:
This is assuming that the mercenaries have a common leader
Total strength:
Unknown due to lack in official figures
Note:
At least the Tamurians and Shadow Brotherhood were known to be involved in the war.
Causality:
Unknown due to lack in official figures
Unknown due to lack in official figures
Note:
Mercenaries are looked down upon in Teutonia, hence the lack in official figures all round.
Mercenaries are looked down upon in Teutonia, hence the lack in official figures all round.
A/N: The Shadow Brotherhood is the most renowned mercenary organisation where their word is the most valuable gem in The Known World. Membership will only be allowed to Elves and Half Elves.
KALARAN EMPIRE
LEADERS:
LOUTHES ELIADEN
(RANK: VANGUARD COMMANDER)
VALAD TEIPOS
(RANK: HAND OF THE PIKE)
STEUBAS OUSER
(RANK: HAND OF THE ARMOUR)
RONCO KEBLAS
(RANK: HAND OF THE WIND)
LEADERS:
LOUTHES ELIADEN
(RANK: VANGUARD COMMANDER)
VALAD TEIPOS
(RANK: HAND OF THE PIKE)
STEUBAS OUSER
(RANK: HAND OF THE ARMOUR)
RONCO KEBLAS
(RANK: HAND OF THE WIND)
Leader:
Louthes "The Wise Owl" Eliaden
Total strength:
Around 6000
Casualty:
Estimated more than 4000
Note:
The war had also claimed Valad and Steubas while Ronco was hanged as a deserter at Louthes' orders
(Infantry)
Legionaries
Leader:
Valad "Old Pike" Teipos
Total strength:
Around 5000
Casualties:
At least 3000
Louthes "The Wise Owl" Eliaden
Total strength:
Around 6000
Casualty:
Estimated more than 4000
Note:
The war had also claimed Valad and Steubas while Ronco was hanged as a deserter at Louthes' orders
(Infantry)
Legionaries
Leader:
Valad "Old Pike" Teipos
Total strength:
Around 5000
Casualties:
At least 3000
(Heavy cavalry)
Knights
Leader:
Steubas "King Raper" Ouser
Total strength:
Around 400
Steubas "King Raper" Ouser
Total strength:
Around 400
Causality: around less than 10 survived
(Light cavalry)
Sagittarii
Leader:
Ronco "The Swift" Keblas
Total strength:
Around 600
Around 600
Causality:
Around 50 in all survived
DAY 1
[1]: Title conferred by the Quintet Church. However, immunity is not included for such individuals, for a High Governor must be someone appointed from any of the three feuding Causacean factions, i.e. Kalaran Empire, Teutonia, and Slarvea. In short, anything still can happen. Just that someone needs to enforce the law, order, and social well being of the people there.
[2]: Also known informally as Sigurd the Single Handed due to him being a fearsome swordsman despite his right hand missing since birth. Rumour has it that this was down to an unsuccessful attempt at royal assassination.
[3]: This is a title conferred only during times of immediate war. Upon conclusion, this title will be revoked.
[4]: Named after the legendary hunter and founder of Aegil Orden, Leon Talonarc. Teutonian folklore has it that his lady love, Ellen Lowen, blessed his oaken longbow, Fail-not, with her parting tears before she got married off to another man against her will. Thus, it's been said that Leon has never erred any aim ever after with every shot fired proven lethal. Leon's Hold, incidentally, was the name of his unbreachable fortress built from uncut stones with Ser Bran Stonekeep being its architect and builder.
Around 50 in all survived
DAY 1
The Kalaran Empire drew strategic first blood when they took the disputed land of Geran by surprise. The High Governor [1] at that time was Leric Rahm, a good administrator, but a poor commander. He was promptly hanged, his wife and daughters getting raped and burnt alive below the gallows. The Teutonian residents were given a choice: surrender as slaves or share their fate (Leric's for men and boys; his wife and daughters' for the women and girls). Few chose the former and many chose the latter.
DAY 2
The High Lord of Teutonia, King Sigurd XIII [2] entrusted the post of War Commandant [3] upon Lord Beriad Song. Against vocal protests from the Unseelie, Beriad went ahead with his plans of meeting the threat with a lesser force. By then, the Kalarans had occupied the defensive high ground known as Leon's Hold. [4] Encamped at the other end of Mourners' Ford, Beriad adopted a closed formation as the sole preventive measure.
DAY 3
By then, surrounding settlements had been seized by Sagittarii outriders. Tales of horrendous atrocities worse than that of Geran goaded the defending forces to their breaking point. Yet, Beriad refused to budge.
DAY 4
Expansion from the Kalaran side was swiftly halted with staying back and defending whatever land taken being the only measure. Sensing reversal at hand, Beriad sent forth his entire army of Reivers [5] to recapture a fixed portion of the lands rather than trying to take as much as possible. To all bar any Generals under him, an untested War Commandant had truly gone insane. However, his risky gamble paid off handsomely as only minimal losses were suffered. As it turned out, the residents were shaken but unharmed. Five settlements were retaken while the Empire retained control of the remaining six. [6]
DAY 5
Request for reinforcement [7] soon reached the main forces back in Geran. In response, Beriad planned a preemptive deployment instead of halting the enemy's backup troops. So long as his halberdiers stayed their ground, nothing would be lost. Out of nowhere, the Kalarans executed the final throw of die by sending their entire battalion of knights on a frontal assault position with legionaries deployed in advance at either wing. Being familiar with the terrain, Beriad displayed a masterful show of reverse psychology. [8] Steubas Ouser personally led the fully armoured knights' frontal charge, the Teutonian infantry suffered severe losses as a result [9], but knowledge on the other front made them remaining steadfast. The Empire paid dearly for this rash mistake with less than ten in total surviving.
Come the midnight moon, Beriad deployed a mercenary assassin with a hundred Reivers summoned back as assault decoys. [10]
DAY 6
In the final night, the Teutonians burnt at least half the Kalaran encampment as Louthes Eliaden managed to rally his men in time for their decisive retreat. They had lost the battle while the Teutonians stayed to true to their motto of honour. [11] With the Fianna providing the killing blow, the Kalarans were thrown into disarray as death via friendly killings [12] far outstripped the actual casualties killed by the Fianna. As arrows, blades, and spears were flashed all over, hooded riders charged and trampled every enemy in sight. Louthes Eliaden was also crippled for life due to an arrow lodged at the back of his knee.
Around the same time, the Shadow Brotherhood managed to play a crucial role in retaking Geran via a daring assault with eighty of their numbers. [13]
CONSEQUENCES
Upon Geran seized back, Beriad ordered his men to exact vengeance upon the Kalaran folks remaining behind due to the aggressors' hasty retreat. [14] Only the finest of womenfolk were spared from death and even then, their fate wouldn't be likely anywhere better than a harlot. Due to Steubas' erroneous decision costing the lives of his men who were part of the nobility, House Steubas was officially deseated. [15]
[1]: Title conferred by the Quintet Church. However, immunity is not included for such individuals, for a High Governor must be someone appointed from any of the three feuding Causacean factions, i.e. Kalaran Empire, Teutonia, and Slarvea. In short, anything still can happen. Just that someone needs to enforce the law, order, and social well being of the people there.
[2]: Also known informally as Sigurd the Single Handed due to him being a fearsome swordsman despite his right hand missing since birth. Rumour has it that this was down to an unsuccessful attempt at royal assassination.
[3]: This is a title conferred only during times of immediate war. Upon conclusion, this title will be revoked.
[4]: Named after the legendary hunter and founder of Aegil Orden, Leon Talonarc. Teutonian folklore has it that his lady love, Ellen Lowen, blessed his oaken longbow, Fail-not, with her parting tears before she got married off to another man against her will. Thus, it's been said that Leon has never erred any aim ever after with every shot fired proven lethal. Leon's Hold, incidentally, was the name of his unbreachable fortress built from uncut stones with Ser Bran Stonekeep being its architect and builder.
[5]: It was later on revealed after the battle that the Aegil Orden had played a major part by setting up traps and sniping the enemy from afar. Utterly unnerved, Ronco Keblas committed a major tactical blunder by committing his men to an imminent death pursuit. With morale utterly wrecked, it only took Niceas' Reivers minimal effort in harassing the legionaries stationed at the surrounding high ground. Under Kith's orders, every Teutonian knight sounded his warhorn upon every fixed interval while riding about alone. This caused the people to revolt in surest hope that they will be liberated. In the end, it was a second contingent of Reivers combined with the full force of Teutonian knights, which took the enemy defenders by surprise. Indeed rumours of atrocities were just that: rumours.
[6]: The Teutonian forces responsible for the subsequent defence were the entire battalion of knights under Kith Lambis. However, biggest credit should go to Ser Jon Wood the Young due to well coordinated deployment of reinforcement troops beforehand as the Marquis Warden back then.
[7]: In response to the Kalaran's backup deployment, Beriad inexplicably ordered Cyen to lead half his halberdiers marching to the eastern valley of Hallid via the few narrow detours securely guarded. As it turned out, Robbart had already stationed his Aegil Orden beforehand in waiting for the enemy troops to arrive before their hidden sight. This was down to the five aforementioned cities already secured, hence freeing up the Aegil Orden. In the end, the Kalaran supply troops were brutally trapped and sniped while their main troops got themselves tactically gridlocked.
[8]: Upon news of Beriad's tactical response, the Kalaran knights swiftly charged them en route. Much to the Kalaran field commander, Steubas Ouser's dismay, only his knights were engaged in battle as reinforcement coming from Geran was annihilated.
[7]: In response to the Kalaran's backup deployment, Beriad inexplicably ordered Cyen to lead half his halberdiers marching to the eastern valley of Hallid via the few narrow detours securely guarded. As it turned out, Robbart had already stationed his Aegil Orden beforehand in waiting for the enemy troops to arrive before their hidden sight. This was down to the five aforementioned cities already secured, hence freeing up the Aegil Orden. In the end, the Kalaran supply troops were brutally trapped and sniped while their main troops got themselves tactically gridlocked.
[8]: Upon news of Beriad's tactical response, the Kalaran knights swiftly charged them en route. Much to the Kalaran field commander, Steubas Ouser's dismay, only his knights were engaged in battle as reinforcement coming from Geran was annihilated.
[9]: During the resultant armed confrontation, Beriad manned the defence masterfully as his men had already understood his intention. In spite of massive numbers of halberdiers wounded or dead, the enemy onslaught was repelled with Louthes' son, Aries, slain in single combat by Beriad himself. Indeed Steubas' decision to maintain the legionaries' presence would mean the charging knights having no support at all.
[10]: Unlike what one may think otherwise, it was an unnamed assassin starting the motion via mere appearance in front of the sentry guards. Yet, the Reivers ended up striking first with the Tamurians wielding bardiche axes pressing forward from natural cover. Such a dual layered offensive would ensure the Tamurians pinning back the Kalaran defence on every front due to the Reivers' mobility sustaining the disruption. The plan, however, was declared a half-failure since only Steubas Ouser was slain. The assassin got captured as a result and was never mentioned again.
[10]: Unlike what one may think otherwise, it was an unnamed assassin starting the motion via mere appearance in front of the sentry guards. Yet, the Reivers ended up striking first with the Tamurians wielding bardiche axes pressing forward from natural cover. Such a dual layered offensive would ensure the Tamurians pinning back the Kalaran defence on every front due to the Reivers' mobility sustaining the disruption. The plan, however, was declared a half-failure since only Steubas Ouser was slain. The assassin got captured as a result and was never mentioned again.
[11]: "Vengeance and Boon all by Word of Honour"
[12]: Causacean euphemism for death between friendly units through stampede and chaos.
[13]: Actual assault alone would not be enough. By disguising as merchants via altered documents, the infiltrators led by Meister Elder, Huan de Weon, managed to poison the main well. The subsequent frontal raid was a success with Kerstein de Bladefort proving his skill in the blade at most forefront.
[13]: Actual assault alone would not be enough. By disguising as merchants via altered documents, the infiltrators led by Meister Elder, Huan de Weon, managed to poison the main well. The subsequent frontal raid was a success with Kerstein de Bladefort proving his skill in the blade at most forefront.
[14]: It was rumoured that the Gaffer of the Red Lions' Teesside Division, Moggray Tonn, was part of the military personnel involved in the war. If so, then that would truly explain why his family have stated him to be a broken man soon after.
[15]: The act of removal from noble status. This can be applicable to either individuals or an entire noble House.
[15]: The act of removal from noble status. This can be applicable to either individuals or an entire noble House.
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