The Realms Asunder Part Two
Kreaborg levies fresh from fighting the undead of the Cairn Fenns found themselves rerouted to come to blows with their own brethren and countrymen
Though the surprise attack by the forces of Llanling had payed off, trapping the High King in his citadel in Abingdon before any alarm or warning of rebellion had been effectively issued; it didn’t take long for the news of the rebellion to spread far and wide. Disseminating all over the Mercidians Realms within the space of a few weeks and reaching as far as the central Isles after almost a month. In response many nobles of the realms grimly prepared to chose a side and fight for their country as they or their fathers had done decades earlier with the darkwood rebellion. Even further afield hungry eyes and plotting forces also turned their attention to Mercidia, viewing the divided realm as ripe for the plundering. Despite this the first two months of the war, were quiet. Proclaimed High King Jared was no where to be found within his supporters lands, and his rival was besieged in his capital.
Indeed the first actions of the war, would come from the Kingdom of Kreaborg. Determined to never again make the mistake of declaring himself neutral again, the King quickly ordered the men encamped on the Cairn Fenns to march to the relief of Oswald, under charge of his nephew Erick. Declining to march straight through the southern regions of the Kingdom, where intelligence suggested a force of 4,000 Llanling levies stood rallied, he marched his army north, hoping to cross at the three-river ford, where the rivers, Lute, Shaw and Trut, he then planned to attack the forces encamped on the banks of the Shaw opposite Abingdon.
His plans immediately hit a snag, on arriving at the ford, he was met by a small force of 2,000 levies commanded by a strange white haired woman. Counting on his superior numbers he sent his forces forward, as a skirmish erupted over the banks of the ford. Many men-at-arms were felled as their heavy armor bogged them down in the water leaving them vulnerable to the crossbows and archers encamped on the opposite bank.
Recognizing that his plan wasn't working, Erick pulled his forces back, leaving behind over 300 of his men dead for little enemy casualties. Creating a cunning plan, his forces feigned a disorganized retreat. Believing her enemy to be defeated, the white haired woman, sent a large portion of her army across the ford, determined to break the Kreaborg forces and pursue them deep into their own lands. Yet as soon as the lines clashed, Erick sprung his trap. Flanking cavalry, thought fled from the battlefield emerged behind the Llanling lines, while the infantry quickly recovered and formed formation. Though the Llanling forces held bravely as they were cut down, and Erick once again led his now vastly superior force to the banks of the ford, where force scantly a quarter of its previous side tenaciously held the opposite bank.
Meanwhile on the home front of Kreaborg not all was well. Traders from Finarfell and Arrain had continued to spread the plague throughout the region, while the lack of a response from the nobility gave it rampant ability to spread throughout the Kingdom. Even worse news came from the forest borders, were it was heard that some kind of foul and dark creature was preying on the mortal men who made a living near the lush greenery. By most accounts and records it was believed that the beast had killed nearly 270 people in the space of only a month.
While apart from fighting in the west as the levies of Kreaborg fought at the three river ford, the conflict remained relatively fight free during the early weeks of the war. Instead the civil war turned to one of words and diplomacy. Ravens dispatched from Abingdon citadel braved the hail of arrows from Llanling sharpshooters and hawks that preyed on them to spread news of the rebellion and call for aid from the remaining Kingdoms. These ravens often managed to reach Tarthian lords who were quick to rally the levies they had raised and began to march on Abingdon, desperate to save their liege lord from potential death at the hands of desperate Tarthian levies. Meanwhile the Northern border with Arrain became increasingly active as those many attested to a large number of Arrainian diplomats and persons of note crossing the border into Kreaborg, Llanling and the northeast. One in particular, a former Arrain merchant made earl, by the name of Gledmun, sent representatives through the Northeast preaching support for Jared Myers. While in the north his events proved fruitful, his antics in the south were taken with quite a bit less of enthusiasm. Indeed it spelt his demise. The King of the northeast, a man who was grisled and had no patience for who he saw as an up jumped commoner and a foreigner too, had planned to stay out of what he saw as petty bickering, prefering to keep manning the forts in the east and maintain his watchful presence over the dwarven holds. Yet his rage when this insolent Arrainian, suggested that he betrayed the very man who had made the measly commoner an Earl was enough to force the Kings hand, he bid that the Earl come to his capital, ostentatiously to discuss terms of his support for Jared, but upon the Earl’s arrival instead had him arrested on accounts of treason. A sham trial soon ensued, whence the merchant was pronounced guilty, to which the King was more than happy to answer with the execution of the scheming Earl. Marshaling his levies the King raised his banners and prepared to march in support of High King Oswald, and with him he would bring a gift: the head of Geldmun le Mechand.
But the machinations of this insolent earl had payed off, and even as he called to raise his levies, many disagreed. Banding together in treason the nobles north of Lake Wyve declared their succession from the Northeast, forming their own Kingdom of Strathart and pledging support to their High King, - Jared Myers.
And so it was that as the third month of the civil war raged on, the attention of the region turned to the capital of Abingdon. Despite many people concerns of the Llanling forces camped on the river Shaw marching in support of their brethren in Abingdon, their liege Myers remained aloof, and unaccounted for, with few willing to risk his wrath if they acted without his approval the army sat on the banks and waited. So it was that after three months a force of 3,600 Tarthian forces gathered before the gates of Abingdon. While the early battle was bloody with the first assault being forced back from the walls, the numbers were too one-sided and the battle never in doubt. Caught between the forces outside the city, who slowly pressed their way forward towards the citadel, and the surviving garrison who after a successful attempt to break out, managed to capture several notable commanders including the forces general, the Llanling forces were left with no choice but to surrender. The siege of Abingdon was lifted, and High King Oswald was once again free to lead his armies and turn his wrath on Llanling, Jared Myers and any who thought to betray him and deny his crown.
(the plague runs rampant in Kreaborg, A dark creature stalks within its realm. - 272 population. Corman50 loses 566 levies, fails to cross the ford but remains encamped with 3,633 levies under command of Erick)
(iisbroke controls the other side of the ford with 643 levies - 267 Llanling levies and 376 other levies. Llanling loses 733 levies, Maxwell uses 624 levies)
(Northeast Kingdom declares for Arrow, Kingdom of Strathart suceeds and declares for Maxwell, + 5,656 Northeast levies for Arrow, + 2,424 Starthart levies for Maxwell)
(Geldmun le Mechand has been executed by the forces of the Northeast)
(Sneakflaps raises 5,000 levies and sails for Mercidia)
(Siege of Abingdon is lifted, - 740 Llanling levies, - 1,056 Tarthian levies)
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GM NOTE: the civil war will now be continued in regular updates any player may use orders to get involved if they wish.
P.s. sorry duke_dan you got the worst possible roll
