= EVENT STORY =
After ambushing the representatives at the most recent Moot, an act denounced unanimously by all of the Clans, Clan Grimward and their new Clan Stonetooth ally put their plan of conquest into motion and begin to spread like a fire toward their neighboring clans. Clan Grimward troops take a majority of The Pass through the Great Wolf’s Hackles mountains and deny this route of travel to everyone. Warpacks bearing the heraldry of both Grimward and Stonetooth are seen in the south-west, patrolling the Yurnai River and testing colonist defenses. Warpacks of both Clans push north into Clan Shattered Spear territory, forming a massive invasion force. Based on rumors from the Moot and the lack of their banners on the battlefield, Clan Ironmound has yet to take action or make a declaration of their status in this war. Word takes time to reach the various Clans and Colonies who are caught completely off-guard by this sudden aggression, leaving many clambering to comprehend the conflict that has been thrust upon the continent. War has returned to Mardrun; the Conquering has begun.
Clan Stormjarl
Scenario #1 (Saturday)
Almost 5 years ago, Clan Stormjarl and Clan Grimward signed their own seperate treaty to end the fighting that lingered between the Clans, despite the Ulven Civil War having ended years prior. The conquered lands of Stormjarl became known as Haygreth’s Scar, a constant reminder to the Clan of the cost of the conflict. In this time, the people of Clan Stormjarl have not forgotten the hostiltiy between their Clans and has not let their guard down. Effort was given to grow the martial abilities of many warriors; the training of elite sailors known as Viknar more present than before. The expansion of the Clan’s holdings through the Stormborn coast and former Clan Squalborn lands allowed many families to resettle after being displaced by the civil war. A campaign of bolstering defenses and training warriors on the Stormjarl-Grimward border was a vigilant promise to be ready if war broke out again. Half a decade after the fighting stopped, war has returned to Stormjarl lands. Despite the preparation, martial training, and defensive outposts the fact remains that Clan Stormjarl is still considerably smaller than Clan Grimward and their isolation caused news of the war to reach them slower than most. This difference being made greater given that Clan Grimward has a new ally. As chaos unfolds at the recent Moot, Grimward warpacks had already begun to test the defenses along Haygreth’s scar and had setup patrols to make anyone crossing the Yurnai River to reach Stormjarl lands by foot very dangerous. What is most concerning is the fleet of ships that have sailed down the coastline, raiding and hitting harbors, their obvious target being the Clan’s potent ships and coastal sailing capabilities. As defenders are sent to coastal settlements to defend and repel these raiders, notable damage has already been caused to Stormjarl’s ships and docks. A call for aid has been sent to any who will help Clan Stormjarl, with ships ready to ferry over willing reinforcements.
In this scenario, Clan Stormjarl warriors and their allies will fight to hold and defend a coastal settlement, their efforts crucial to the success of maintaining the Clan’s seafaring capabilities which are both a potent martial counter and critical sailing route for allies and supplies. The success, or failure, of this scenario will significantly influence the southern front of the war and Clan Stormjarl’s standing.
Clan Shattered Spear
Scenario #2 (Sunday)
After taxing their supplies and martial abilities last year in a long campaign against the Mordok and the maddening corruption, Clan Shattered Spear finds themselves the target of the combined assault of both Clan Grimward and Clan Stonetooth. The shock of the announcement of war at the recent Moot still grips the continent, but Shattered Spear leaders shake it off quickly when the banners of conquering warpacks cross into their territory and the smoke of razed border settlements become visible in the distance. This initial push is met with little resistance; with the border settlements being rapidly burned through by the overwhelming invasion army. Without immediate and overwhelming support there is almost no way for the Clan to quickly organize against this threat. Despite their best efforts and the considerable martial abilities of Shattered Spear warriors, the people of Shattered Spear are being pushed back or defeated time and time again at numerous engagements due to the clan’s crippled state. Warriors are slain and many are taken prisoner, with it being unclear if the invader’s goal to be the subjugation or elimination of the people of Clan Shattered Spear. The Warleader of the Clan has called forth warpacks to be deployed to areas to help evacuate settlements and buy time for forces to regroup for an upcoming counter-attack. These warriors will do what they can to stall the invading forces and provide an organized retreat against an overwhelming enemy. The harder they fight and the longer they hold, the more settlements that can be safely evacuated which will directly impact Clan Shattered Spear’s ability to recover from this crippling blow. Despite the clan’s warrior spirit and known martial prowess, a desperate call for aid has been sent to any who will help Clan Shattered Spear.
In this scenario, Clan Shattered Spear warriors and their allies will fight and stall incoming Clan Grimward and Clan Stonetooth invaders, their efforts crucial in the success of nearby evacuations for the Clan. The success, or failure, of this scenario will significantly influence the northern front of the war and Clan Shattered Spear’s standing.
= EVENT SUMMARY =
Blood covers the earth and fills tides as war covers Mardrun and flames cover the landscape. Villages burn and battlefields lay askew with steel and broken flesh as Grimward and Stonetooth banners march across the land, both north into Clan Shattered Spear and along the coast against Clan Stormjarl. Both these two clans started the war on the backfoot and recoiled to respond to the rapid and prepared attacks from their enemy, but allies came to their aid to help them stand.
Clan Stormjarl:
The surprise raids against the seaborn clan cause notable damage before reinforcements can arrive from other lands, but after landing on Stormjarl shores these allies are quick to push back against Grimward and Stonetooth on the main roads. The raiders are forced to combat these arrived forces to continue their raid in neighboring areas, but the defenders soon find themselves struggling to continue pulling the raider’s attention as more Grimward ships arrive. Faced with a decision, the local leadership decides to focus on saving the lives of their warriors while slaying more of Grimward’s larger army, instead of taking the risk to focus on stopping their raiding. The refocus of their efforts paid off well, as the local forces and their allies fought defensively and protected each other’s lives. As night falls and the remaining raiders back off, the price of this choice came crying for help at the entrance of camp. The few surviving ulven of a neighboring village stumbled through the dark; bleeding, wounded, and sobbing of their burning home. Clan Stormjarl slew greatly more warriors than they lost that day, but were unable to stop Grimward from their goal. As fires cover the clan’s coastline through the night, the morning brings Stormjarl bodies floating on the tide and their ships shattered. Clan Stormjarl stands firmly in their homeland, but their ability to fight Grimward on the sea or counter with their own raids has been severely crippled.
Clan Shattered Spear:
Rain and mud sweeps west across Clan Shattered Spear’s lands while Grimward and Stonetooth forces sweep from the south. The mud turns crimson as the outnumbered Shattered Spear forces attempt to hold the line and buy time for rearline warpacks to be formed to better fight the invaders in the following months. As the clans clash Shattered Spear quickly finds it’s lines overwhelmed and cracking, but with the critical assistance of their allies the clan was able to withstand for long enough for villages to be evacuated and lives to be saved; but they can only hold for so long as they are pushed closer and closer to their own support camp and as blacksmith and healer supplies run out. Eventually the camp itself becomes under attack and their remaining reinforcements had to be routed to a different battlefield, causing Jarl Iros the Northtaker to make a last stand with his last warriors. Making Grimward pay with blood, Jarl Iros was slain during a ferocious fight as he bought time for the clan’s allies to escape with their lives. Time for Clan Shattered Spear was paid for with blood and steel, but these coming months will determine if the clan can hold out or if their succumbing fate arrives.
In the east, the cries of the loss have turned into promises of revenge. Clan Nightriver has awoken.