The Battle of the Western Wood

Military: Battle

The Battle of Western Wood was the final battle in the Second War of the Two Kings; involving 5,000 men on both sides, the battle ended with the death of Prince Yedne, son of King Tankuuthwar, at the hands of Prince Hea Haab, son of King Hal Haab.

It was in the early morning, a few hours before the sun rises, when the glowing embers of burning ships danced across the horizon. Those manning the Docks of Shee didn't know it, but they were witnessing the doomed fleet of King Hal Haab. Viewable from the Acropolis across the Southern Wood, the silhouettes of the victorious fleet were approaching the harbor.   King Hal Haab ordered the immediate mobilisation of his son, Prince Hea Haab, and that of his company (numbering some 5,000 men) to march around Saad Cove and meet the invaders at the border of the Western Wood.   The commander of King Tankuuthwar's fleet was his son, Prince Yedne; King Hal Haab had lost 10 ships, while Prince Yedne had only lost 2.   At dawn, Prince Yedne's fleet anchored at the Dock of Shee unopposed, and by midday all 5,000 men had disembarked. Realising that a confrontation was imminent, Prince Yedne gave the order to march North towards the Western Wood. By the evening, both sides met on the borders of the forest.   Due to humans ability to see clearly in the dark, the battle commenced with great determination; one side fighting for their land, the other fighting to conquer that same land. The crash and bash of metal on metal rang throughout the woods and cove, attrition claiming its share of life, and suffering ever growing. By the next morning, half of both armies remained combat worthy.   It was in this moment that Prince Hea Haab ordered a tactical retreat to the forest. Prince Yedne was confused; was it a trap he asked himself. The situation would become more clear when a soldier with a broken blade approached Prince Yedne's front lines. At that time, this was the universal symbol of parlay for humans.   The correspondence was written in Prince Hea Haab's own hand and read:   "Tis a shame to so needlessly shed the blood of thy brethren. On behalf of my most noble sire, I request that combat be one-to-one, for we must not ask of those we lead to undertake tasks we would otherwise turn our backs towards?"   Prince Yedne, a noble man of principles - at the conclusion of the sea battle, he ordered his able ships to help those enemies in the water - sent in response a letter of confirmation; they were to undertake a duel to the death.   The next day, the two Princes met at the south border of the Western Wood. Both men were in leather armor with a shield and bastard swords. Standing over 7 feet tall, both Princes were considered tall among men. The duel would last for almost two hours, with every violent swing of the sword met with a fleet footed side-step, parry, or block of the shield. Initially, Prince Yedne had the upper-hand; more experienced in combat, his tactical superiority was a marvel to behold. However, as the fight went on, Prince Hea, known far and wide as a quick learner and excellent student, slowly built a strategy to beat the opposing Prince.   Getting impatient, Prince Yedne tried to end the encounter swiftly; however, what he did not expect was Prince Hea's patience. By becoming impatient, Prince Yedne allowed gaps to appear in his technique. That is when Prince Hea struck the killing blow. Side-stepping and repulsing Prince Yedne, Prince Hea dragged his sword up the Prince's leg, forcing him to the ground. Immobilized and effectively disarmed, Prince Hea requested he surrender; but the Prince would not, he said, "strike me down, but cleanly, for I die with honor, and for I hold no grudge in my heart against you, I submit my request that my company may not become prisoners of war, but they should be free to return to their ships?".   Prince Hea agreed, then with his sword, ran his sword cleanly through the Prince's breast. The battle of Western Wood had ended; the casualties stood at over 5,000 men dead and Prince Yedne. The soldiers were allowed to return to their ships, with the prisoners picked up in the water allowed to return home. In the following days peace accords would be negotiated at the Manor of Kings on the Island of Andal between Prince Hea Haab and King Tankuuthwar, with Prince Yedne's body being returned with dignity to his father.