Battle of Silverblood
Date: Summer, 299 HH
Location: Silverblood Forest
Result: Decisive House Fortis Victory
The Battle of Silverblood was a battle fought between the allied forces of Leo and the Imperial Army against the barbarian tribes of Oolacaryn. The battle ended with a decisive victory for Leo and the Imperial Army and marked the shift from pacifism to expansionism for House Fortis.
The conflict started when Chancellor Devon agreed to provide military aid to Leo for the upcoming invasion of Blencathra. His petition to Emperor Damian requesting for permission to mobilize the Imperial Army was promptly approved and General Nigel, a mighty warrior serving under House Myerson, was appointed the Commander-in-Chief, putting Nigel in charge of the 40,000 imperial troops sent to fight against the barbarians.
The initial plan was that Donovan would lead 10,000 Cavalry to ransack the villages of Blencathra to obtain supplies while General Nigel would lead the main army to Asopeos to rendezvous with Leo. However, this plan had to be aborted after General Nigel repeatedly refused to send reinforcements despite Donovan’s multiple pleas for immediate assistance as the looted supplies were running low.
A week later, General Nigel issued the order for the main army to set up a new military base along the River of Blencathra. Besides the Silverblood Forest that surrounded Stronghold Bloodfeet, the River of Blencathra was the only remaining natural border left to separate the imperial army and the barbarian tribes. The following day, when the imperial army was marching across the river to attack Stronghold Bloodfeet, gushing waves suddenly swept down and drowned many imperial troops. This also prevented the bulk of the imperial army from getting across. Taking advantage of the situation, the barbarians immediately launched an attack. This caused the annihilation of all the imperial troops that had crossed the river, with Nigel himself amongst those who had been slain. Donovan immediately issued the order to retreat, leading the remnants of the Imperial Army to flee back to his base to rendezvous with House Fortis.
The final plan was formulated after considering the impracticality of a frontal assault on Stronghold Bloodfeet. It was decided that through coordination with a spy named Furtim, they would deceive the barbarians into leaving the sanctuary of their stronghold by relaying the false message that Silverblood was under attack. Meanwhile, the Imperial Army and the Fortis troops would be hiding in Silverblood Forest, the thick vegetation surrounding Stronghold Bloodfeet. As soon as the barbarians left the stronghold, waves of arrows were launched at them, wiping out hundreds.
Seeing that the barbarians were in disarray, Donovan immediately issued the order for his elite cavalry units to engage with them. While the Imperial Army was engaged with the barbarians, the Fortis troops who were positioned on the other side of the stronghold proceeded to enter the stronghold from its back entrance, attacking the unsuspecting barbarians from behind.
The battle resulted in a decisive victory for House Fortis and the Imperial Army, allowing Leo to reclaim Blencathra from the Southern Barbarians.
Combatants
House Fortis Silverkin Clan
Imperial Army
Commanders
Leo Oolacaryn
Nigel
Strategists
Raion Wyatt
Donovan
Generals
Claw Thomas
Mane Timothy
Fang Tobias
Caesarion Tristen
Strength
5,000 Fortis Troops 40,000 Barbarians
40,000 Imperial Troops
Casualties
500 Fortis Troops 18,000 Barbarians
11,500 Imperial Troops