=Event Story=
Scenario #1: The Battle of the Yurnai
The City-State of Newhope’s armies march west to the Yurnai River. Their fleet sails the coast, with modified ferry ships moving up river while a combat flotilla makes anchor at the mouth of the river to guard against Grimward’s sea raiders. Many wondered what Newhope had been working towards, and allies begin to scramble to take part with Newhope in their attack plans as the blood of Grimward warriors on Grimward land has been a rarity in this war, but soon arriving days will change that.
While the complex parts of the plan have been left to the strategists and engineers, the basics of the plan quickly reach the ears of their allies. With their group of ferry ships, Newhope will move vanguard and gladiator units across the river along with any aiding allies who understand the risk. The goal being to create a defensive pocket on the other side the river, warriors and soldiers that will have to hold while the modified ferry ships will be rapidly converted into supports for the bridge. With Newhope’s plan and the sacrifice of the ferry ships, the bridge is expected to be built faster than would normally be required, after which the full might of Newhope and their allies armies can march across along with a reliable route for supplies to create a new sustained warfront into Grimward. It’s unclear if the plan is to build a land path to Clan Stormjarl or make a dangerous push towards the heart of Grimward, but strategists expect the pressure to be taken off of Clan Stormjarl as Grimward is forced to move warpacks to this new front on their doorstep. Either way, planning further ahead is found to be difficult with many unknowns that will factor into this critical mission.
The banners of the Newhope don’t stand alone though, as their armies march through Starkhaven and are seen mixed with the banners of their vassals, even including New Vandregon.
Newhope’s long hardkept secret plan is in motion, their invasion of Grimward proper begins now. If met with failure though, Newhope and allied forces could find themselves trapped across the river, and Clan Stormjarl’s homeland may be set to fall as Grimward’s larger army slowly tears them apart piece by piece.
Scenario #2: The Battle for Goldenfield
As morale collapses in the northern-most frontline now called Hammerfall, Clan Goldenfield has found itself in the sight of Clan Stonetooth’s brutal offensive. While bringing forth their own experienced warpacks since Spring, Clan Goldenfield’s people are made famous by their farming skills and not their might in war. This has been found to be worsened by many of their veteran units having been formed from fighting on The Shield and to protect the clan from mordok. While few could deny the endurance and hardiness given to their warriors from working crop fields harder than any other ulven, the clan does not find itself ready to stand alone against the elite Stonetooth warpacks who only have known warfare and advance quicker than Clan Goldenfield lines can reform from their initial retreat.
Clan Ironmound’s banners are found not far behind Stonetooth, although reports indicate that while the two clans are fighting on the same front, they do not seem to be fighting together. The majority of Clan Ironmound units were spotted setting up defensive positions around the Shieldhaven settlement and the Bladehome pocket and against Clan Nightriver’s northern army as they reform, but reports still indicate that some of their warpacks follow close behind Clan Stonetooth in their advance to Clan Goldenfield.
Clan Goldenfield cannot protect itself while also ensuring the harvest. Their longtime ally of Clan Nightriver has found itself strung wide across three fronts of the war and distressingly unable to save its longtime ally yet, but a mix of other allies rush to the aid of Clan Goldenfield in the great clan’s place. If met with failure though, Clan Goldenfield’s may be crippled and its winter-critical harvest turned to ashes or forfeited, which could spell great difficulty for Clan Nightriver and other potential allies who rely on this harvest to bolster their war efforts. Winter is creeping along the horizon.
=Event Summary=
Scenario #1: The Battle of the Yurnai
No plan survives contact with the enemy, except when that plan includes overwhelming support. The City-State of Newhope’s call for aid in their surprise invasion of Clan Grimward is met with reinforcements, supplies, and piles of silver from all across their allies and those who oppose Grimward. The initial vanguard and allied units found themselves in brief but intense conflict as they crossed the river with the modified ferry ships, fishing vessels, and rafts, opening the initial landing grounds for additional troops and support to cross before the ships were moved to begin the bridge construction.
As the reinforcing coalition of forces pushed to make a pocket of controlled land on Grimward’s side of the river, they found themselves encountering resistance from only patrols and small guard groups of warriors, many of which did not even realize they were being invaded until they became surrounded and cut down. Soon after though, stronger patrols and attack groups were sent out as the nearby stationed Grimward warpack gained awareness of the situation and began mobilizing. The coalition was slow to get organized in their offensive, but eventually marched out to meet these groups before they could become a hazard to rear units or even the engineers working on the bridge.
The blood of both sides spilt the ground as the two forces clashed up and down the nearby road and outside the Grimward outpost. While warriors and leaders bravely risked their lives for the cause, several brutal fights proved to be the taker of life for both sides when retreats would cause the wounded to be abandoned. Calling reinforcements at the right time proved critical for the coalition’s offensive momentum as they carefully gauged their ability to advance, but hindsight can only speculate if more could have been done or if the loss of life would have been too costly. In the end, the local Grimward warpack was not bled enough for their outpost to be taken, but the rear units and engineers were safely protected as Grimward’s warpack was battered enough to not be able to pressure the coalition’s camp directly. As long as there are no interruptions, engineers expect to have the bridge completed by the end of November thanks to the over-abundance of supplies that allies have sent. The Yurnai Pocket has been successfully formed to protect the developing bridge, now the taken ground must be held.
Reports from Clan Stormjarl early in the month tell of Clan Grimward’s continued advance through their territory and that Stormjarl has lost half of its homeland by this point, but now Grimward’s conquest has been reported to have abruptly come to a halt as portions of Clan Grimward’s frontline appear to have been routed elsewhere. The initial benefits of the Yurnai offensive have already begun to be seen for the wilting clan.
Clan Grimward may have suffered at the combined efforts of Newhope and various allies around the Yurnai River this month, but is far from beaten. Rumors from nervous scouts speak of the ground rumbling and the wind roaring with horns, an army is approaching.
Scenario #2: The Battle for Goldenfield
Clan Goldenfield finds itself on the retreat without a strong response from allies as Clan Stonetooth invades their lands. Hope is found not in kingdoms, clans, or organized forces, but instead in the individuals who arrive just in time to help local Goldenfield forces. As Stonetooth’s marauders moved with their thralls to pillage the local fields behind the frontlines, the motley group of outsiders and Goldenfield needed to set up camp in a dangerous but necessary position to combat the raider.
Skirmishes consistently broke out as Goldenfield and its allies had to battle, drive off, and slay the invaders. Groups of thralls from Clan Shattered Spear were seen being used as laborers, only to be forced into combat by individual Stonetooth found to be called “Thrall Watchers”; lest their families be killed back home if they show defiance to their conquerors. Warriors, tradespeople, and villagers; all forced to work and die for Stonetooth. Rumors pass that a couple Thrall Watchers were killed by Goldenfield and its allies as means to free the thralls, but this likely has come at the cost of their families being slain back home.
Clan Ironmound’s warpacks were reported in the area and their warriors sometimes seen fighting with Stonetooth, but what was not expected was the arrival of an Ironmound warrior who announced a missive from Clan Ironmound’s Warleader. On the leader’s behalf, the warrior spoke of Clan Goldenfield’s past honors and kinship to Clan Ironmound before the war, and stated that Clan Ironmound will return the kindness by offering honor duels rather than the slaughter. Through the afternoon, chosen Clan Ironmound warriors arrived at the makeshift camp, and each time a challenger bravely stepped forward on Goldenfield’s behalf. With each Goldenfield victory, Ironmound’s warpacks would halt their advance for a couple days; but with each loss, Goldenfield would have to tribute a cart of supplies to Ironmound’s forces.
These duels were non-lethal and fought with honor, with Goldenfield’s ally claiming the first victory. But later, during the second duel, the fervor of clashing steel only reached its peak when the duel was ended by a Stonetooth marauder who cared not for honor, only slaying of the weak. To the shock of both sides, the Ironmond warriors yelled with rage as they turned on their Stonetooth allies and joined Goldenfield in slaying the dishonorable warriors. The unforeseen cooperation was temporary though, as Ironmound’s warriors warned that they would return to being enemies of Goldenfield next they meet.
In the aftermath, the dishonored duel was declared by Ironmound to be a draw despite their warrior having been declared the winner before the interruption occurred. As the sun was setting behind the deep cloud layer, Goldenfield’s champion brought them a second and final duel victory. Sparks of hope in a bleak situation, until they were drowned in the tide as a thrall, knowingly sacrificing the life of herself and her family, came sprinting to camp to warn of the collapse of Goldenfield’s frontline. A desperate and dangerous retreat was made as Stonetooth’s full armies came charging down the road, but no further life was lost thanks to the thrall’s sacrifice.
Clan Goldenfield’s situation has continued to worsen along their whole frontline as they lose swaths of territory with each week, but thanks to the actions of the individuals who came to their aid much of the critical winter harvest was successfully harvested despite Clan Stonetooth managing to steal portions to fuel their ever-advancing army. With victories in the honor duels, news arrives from many contested areas that Clan Goldenfield’s families and communities were able to safely retreat due to the honorable halting of Clan Ironmound’s warpacks for even just a few days. A difference has been made, but Clan Goldenfield’s fall remains looming on the horizon. The cost of war.