The Nalruthian Incursion (Nahl-ˈRoo-Thee-An)
In 1610 BW, Emperor Vaeril Lazirica decided the Omaceran Empire needed to exert control over the vast Nalruthian Jungle and its many resources. He tasked General Aimer Virrora with the job, and ordered him to utilize as many of their military's troops and supplies as were required.
Rather than dealing with it himself, the General delegated to Lieutenant Colonel Ilthuryn Caisalor the less than prestigious assignment. Caisalor was given a cohort of 500 mostly green Elven troops and the appropriate supplies, then sent off to the jungle.
At the beginning, Caisalor and his troops moved cautiously. The dense jungle required them to hack a path through the foliage to bring through supply carts, significantly slowing progress. Visibility was limited, and even with scouts sent out in front and to either side of the column, it was uncertain if they would be able to spot anything at all, until they were on top of it.
Yet, it seemed that Caisalor and the Empire would have no difficulties at all. Heading into the territory of the Songado Elves, the troops encountered nothing but an empty village. This, they burned to the ground.
For three weeks, they chased the ghostlike tribes into the jungle. On the fourth week, however, they walked straight into an ambush. An Aarakocra flew down out of the trees and dropped a burning fire pot on one of the supply carts, setting it ablaze. This one was followed by several others, and soon the entire supply train was on fire.
Before Caisalor could stop them, many soldiers broke from the column and ran back to attempt to save their supplies. He tried to call them back into formation, when a rain of arrows cascaded down out of the trees on each side. The soldiers who were not struck dove into the underbrush on either side to get some cover. Screams erupted from the bushes, and many of the soliders attempted to rise. That was when Humans and Lizardfolk, armed with spears, erupted from the ground, killing and wounding many of his soldiers, before vanishing completely. More Aarakocra burst from the canopy, dropping large rocks on those below.
There was a pause in the fighting. The cohort gathered together in an outward facing circle, their weapons at the ready, scanning the jungle for any hint of movement. Caisalor cautiously moved some of the underbrush aside to see sharpened wooden stakes planted along the edges. He speculated that they were deployed along the entire length of the column. The natives had been waiting for him, and they were trapped. The only possible option was retreat, and no one knew what surprises had been seeded along the path they had cut.
Four weeks earlier, the border scouts of the Songado Elven tribes had spotted the column making their way towards the jungle. They noted where the Imperial troops entered, and their direction, and immediately went to warn the one village in their path. As the tribe packed up and prepared to move, runners were sent to the other Songadoan tribes, and the border scouts returned to tracking the progress of the soldiers. The chiefs decided this was enough of a threat to warrant a summit of the tribes. As the Elves gathered, there was one thing that was agreed upon - the other Tribal folk of the Jungle should be warned. Runners were sent off to the neighboring settlements, the Mirkent Lizardfolk and the Wild Rain Clans of the Tabaxi. Word would have to spread from there. The Songadoan tribes had gathered and were debating what to do when one of the runners returned, but not alone. She was accompanied by a small delegation of Mirkent Lizardfolk, bearing a letter written in both Mirkentish and Songadian. In it, a Mirkent named Rartuth laid out the dangers of Imperial infiltration of the jungle they called home. Today it was 500, tomorrow it would be 5,000, or more. The tribes could hide and avoid them, but it would be far better to drive them out now, so resoundingly that they did not return. To that end, he was sending letters to all the tribes, with the help of the Qhoora Aarakocra, inviting them to ally and drive the invaders from their homelands. The Songado gratefully accepted any help the Mirkent could give, but did not expect more than that. Soon, though, a goodly number of warriors from both the Mirkent Lizardfolk and the Wild Rain Tabaxi arrived. With them came Rartuth, himself, a chief and, as they would learn, a master strategist. Then others heeded the call, first the Rethabile Humans, who had run all the way to Songado territory. Then Qhoorra Aarakocra arrived, each carrying a fighter of the Otatryr Lizardfolk, a group so far away that they need not have worried about the Empire's troops at all. Rartuth's words of warning had gotten through to all but the most stubborn. Now with a small army gathered, the jungle dwellers could take action. A consensus was easily reached about who should take charge of it, and Rartuth began assessing the skills of his new warriors and laying out strategies. The scouts were still silently pacing the Imperial troops, who had not deviated from their path. It was child's play to predict where the enemy was going to be. Rartuth explained to the assembled tribes that their aim would be to kill all but a handful of troops. This handful would be allowed to struggle out of the jungle and return home, defeated and most likely injured. The hope was that this would cause the Empire to leave them in peace, but if not, then it would buy them time to set up for a full-scale conflict. The artisans, the elderly, and any youth old enough to use a knife safely were set to whittling wooden stakes and spikes. These would not just be placed around the ambush site, but would be littered all along the path that the Imperials had cleared. Some would be placed in the ground and camoflaged, others would be stuck through saplings and young boughs of trees, which would be bent back until a tripwire sent them whipping forward. Clay pots of pitch were prepared, ready to light, and small boulders were piled up in preparation. The strongest folk, both warriors and civilians, were set to digging tunnels all along the chosen ambush site, with enough room for spear-wielders to hide in, and multiple exits where they could surprise their opponents. Archers constructed camoflaged platforms in the trees on both sides, making sure to stagger them just in case an arrow went awry. Rartuth's plan was designed to minimize friendly casualties; in the event of full war with the Empire, they would need all the able-bodied hands available. Soon, everything was in place. The ambush was ready to spring.
Caisalor surveyed the situation. The way ahead was blocked with vines and brush, and probably held more stakes to keep them from going any further. Enemies were on both sides, in the trees and on the ground and the brush was booby-trapped to keep them from getting to any sort of cover. Bunching up in the open area would only buy them time. Without being able to see the enemy, they couldn't fight back. As he was making up his mind, arrows began raining down on them again, this time from the end of their path. It was clear what the enemy wanted them to do, but would any of them survive if they obeyed? Left without options, Caisalor ordered the retreat, double-time. As he suspected, a hail of arrows greeted them as they jogged down the gauntlet that was once their supply train. Breaking free of the ambush area, the troops then ran into a swath of booby-traps, thin, sharp stakes puncturing their feet, and swinging into their faces and torsos. Those who tried to get off the path and into the jungle thicket were speared or shot. The enemy troops were pacing them, and they had the advantage of the terrain. The retreat turned into a rout. The conflict had become a massacre, and few of the soldiers could take the punishment for long. Hoping to spare their lives, the Imperial Elves began to throw down their weapons, raising their hands in the air. Caislor and the other officers soon found themselves ringed by spearmen. Reluctantly, they dropped their swords.
The survivors of the ambush were found wandering shoeless, in their underclothes, outside the jungle along the banks of the Alyi Ilyvre River. They were malnourished, but uninjured. Lieutenant Colonel Caisalor was executed for his incompetence, and General Virrora was demoted by the Emperor, who placed another general in charge of the conquest. Inevitably, more troops were sent, but were greeted a little too warmly at the border by the archers of the newly minted Tribal Confederacy. The Imperials returned home, but as Rartuth had predicted, many more came. The Confederacy was able to fend them off, however, due to two important things: Rartuth's head for strategy, and the strong alliance he had formed. Eventually, the Emperor decided to cut his losses. It was never stated, but the troops withdrew and did not return. However, the Empire did include the jungle within the boundaries of their maps, claiming victory in a round-about fashion. The Tribal Confederacy went into abeyance, as the fear of further attack finally waned. However, each of the chiefs of the various Nalruthian tribes pledged their word to come to the aid of the others, should any attack befall them again.
Four weeks earlier, the border scouts of the Songado Elven tribes had spotted the column making their way towards the jungle. They noted where the Imperial troops entered, and their direction, and immediately went to warn the one village in their path. As the tribe packed up and prepared to move, runners were sent to the other Songadoan tribes, and the border scouts returned to tracking the progress of the soldiers. The chiefs decided this was enough of a threat to warrant a summit of the tribes. As the Elves gathered, there was one thing that was agreed upon - the other Tribal folk of the Jungle should be warned. Runners were sent off to the neighboring settlements, the Mirkent Lizardfolk and the Wild Rain Clans of the Tabaxi. Word would have to spread from there. The Songadoan tribes had gathered and were debating what to do when one of the runners returned, but not alone. She was accompanied by a small delegation of Mirkent Lizardfolk, bearing a letter written in both Mirkentish and Songadian. In it, a Mirkent named Rartuth laid out the dangers of Imperial infiltration of the jungle they called home. Today it was 500, tomorrow it would be 5,000, or more. The tribes could hide and avoid them, but it would be far better to drive them out now, so resoundingly that they did not return. To that end, he was sending letters to all the tribes, with the help of the Qhoora Aarakocra, inviting them to ally and drive the invaders from their homelands. The Songado gratefully accepted any help the Mirkent could give, but did not expect more than that. Soon, though, a goodly number of warriors from both the Mirkent Lizardfolk and the Wild Rain Tabaxi arrived. With them came Rartuth, himself, a chief and, as they would learn, a master strategist. Then others heeded the call, first the Rethabile Humans, who had run all the way to Songado territory. Then Qhoorra Aarakocra arrived, each carrying a fighter of the Otatryr Lizardfolk, a group so far away that they need not have worried about the Empire's troops at all. Rartuth's words of warning had gotten through to all but the most stubborn. Now with a small army gathered, the jungle dwellers could take action. A consensus was easily reached about who should take charge of it, and Rartuth began assessing the skills of his new warriors and laying out strategies. The scouts were still silently pacing the Imperial troops, who had not deviated from their path. It was child's play to predict where the enemy was going to be. Rartuth explained to the assembled tribes that their aim would be to kill all but a handful of troops. This handful would be allowed to struggle out of the jungle and return home, defeated and most likely injured. The hope was that this would cause the Empire to leave them in peace, but if not, then it would buy them time to set up for a full-scale conflict. The artisans, the elderly, and any youth old enough to use a knife safely were set to whittling wooden stakes and spikes. These would not just be placed around the ambush site, but would be littered all along the path that the Imperials had cleared. Some would be placed in the ground and camoflaged, others would be stuck through saplings and young boughs of trees, which would be bent back until a tripwire sent them whipping forward. Clay pots of pitch were prepared, ready to light, and small boulders were piled up in preparation. The strongest folk, both warriors and civilians, were set to digging tunnels all along the chosen ambush site, with enough room for spear-wielders to hide in, and multiple exits where they could surprise their opponents. Archers constructed camoflaged platforms in the trees on both sides, making sure to stagger them just in case an arrow went awry. Rartuth's plan was designed to minimize friendly casualties; in the event of full war with the Empire, they would need all the able-bodied hands available. Soon, everything was in place. The ambush was ready to spring.
Caisalor surveyed the situation. The way ahead was blocked with vines and brush, and probably held more stakes to keep them from going any further. Enemies were on both sides, in the trees and on the ground and the brush was booby-trapped to keep them from getting to any sort of cover. Bunching up in the open area would only buy them time. Without being able to see the enemy, they couldn't fight back. As he was making up his mind, arrows began raining down on them again, this time from the end of their path. It was clear what the enemy wanted them to do, but would any of them survive if they obeyed? Left without options, Caisalor ordered the retreat, double-time. As he suspected, a hail of arrows greeted them as they jogged down the gauntlet that was once their supply train. Breaking free of the ambush area, the troops then ran into a swath of booby-traps, thin, sharp stakes puncturing their feet, and swinging into their faces and torsos. Those who tried to get off the path and into the jungle thicket were speared or shot. The enemy troops were pacing them, and they had the advantage of the terrain. The retreat turned into a rout. The conflict had become a massacre, and few of the soldiers could take the punishment for long. Hoping to spare their lives, the Imperial Elves began to throw down their weapons, raising their hands in the air. Caislor and the other officers soon found themselves ringed by spearmen. Reluctantly, they dropped their swords.
The survivors of the ambush were found wandering shoeless, in their underclothes, outside the jungle along the banks of the Alyi Ilyvre River. They were malnourished, but uninjured. Lieutenant Colonel Caisalor was executed for his incompetence, and General Virrora was demoted by the Emperor, who placed another general in charge of the conquest. Inevitably, more troops were sent, but were greeted a little too warmly at the border by the archers of the newly minted Tribal Confederacy. The Imperials returned home, but as Rartuth had predicted, many more came. The Confederacy was able to fend them off, however, due to two important things: Rartuth's head for strategy, and the strong alliance he had formed. Eventually, the Emperor decided to cut his losses. It was never stated, but the troops withdrew and did not return. However, the Empire did include the jungle within the boundaries of their maps, claiming victory in a round-about fashion. The Tribal Confederacy went into abeyance, as the fear of further attack finally waned. However, each of the chiefs of the various Nalruthian tribes pledged their word to come to the aid of the others, should any attack befall them again.
Conflict Type
Military Campaign
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
1610 BW
Ending Date
1601 BW
Conflict Result
Empire Forced to Withdraw, No Official Declaration
Location
Belligerents
Strength
500
145
Casualties
470
25
Objectives
Pacify the Nalruthian Jungle
Defend their Homeland
Maps
-
Nalruthian Jungle
The Nalruthian Jungle at its greatest extent, approx. 1400 BW
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