The War of the Well

"You know, there are many myths and legends out there, about dragons, knights ,adventurers, gods and monsters. But bards seem to delight in bringing up that business about the war started over a damned horse."
"Well, they know their audience, and honest it was a bit of an embarrassment. Even if nobody outside of Firos thinks it really happened."
"Just no justice in the world."

---

There are few wars regarded as pointless and useless as the War of the Well. It literally was only a minor skirmish, and is perceived as a war only due to official documentation having been presented to name it as one after the fact. This was largely seen as a face-saving gesture by each of the kingdoms and their rulers so they could claim to each of their populaces there had been a war and each were the victor.

The Conflict

Prelude

During a drought, two units of Shaniran soldiers pushed into lands controlled by Firos and began to seize water sources with the intent to contain and take it back. Four forces commanded by neighboring Firosian knights approached with the intent to fight, while more Shaniran units were brought in to make it clear a war would begin if they picked a battle. After much discussion between the leaders of the kingdoms, however, an agreement was reached to split the water between the two kingdoms. However, the presence of so many armed people in the area was a recipe for trouble and would only require the slightest spark to ignite.
On the 4th day of the 6th Moon, a farmer was retrieving his allotment of water for his crops when a Firosian soldier inquired as to the price of the farmer's draft horse. After several refusals to even discuss selling, each one growing more heated, Shaniran soldiers attempted to step in and defuse the situation. However, the farmer brought out his horsewhip and pointed it at the offending Firosian with an angry denunciation - only to be shot by one of the onlookers who had been growing more nervous about the incident. Shaniran soldiers claimed it was from the Firosians, the Firosians claimed it was the Shanirans, and a battle broke out briefly before the Firosian forces took the horse and cart and fled to a nearby wooded hill.

Deployment

The Fifth Bowguard of Firos deployed their forces inside the woods and declared their intent to fire on anyone who approached without showing a friendly flag. The Shaniran Third and Fourth Foot, the only forces nearby with heavy armor and complete numbers, encircled the woods with the intent to starve out the Firosians and their Sixth Cavalry also set itself to keep any allies from breaking the siege. On the side of the forest deeper in Firosian territory, the forces of Lord Gaoun deployed with their own colors flying rather than those of their kingdom to demonstrate they were there without official sanction; on the 6th Lord Gaoun personally met with the commander of the Shaniran forces and explained the renegades must be seized with as little losses as possible and made an example of. As such, the heavy infantry of the Third and Fourth were moved in the night to the flanks of the Sixth Cavalry.

Battlefield

The forest, which after became known as "Firosian Folly", was just large enough to hide a unit of a hundred men and their gear. Outside the forest itself was open plain, making it rather difficult to approach without being fired upon by Firosian longbows. On the other side, however, the Shanarian forces were more heavily armored and could withstand an attempt to break out as they put up canvas barriers to prevent arrows from being easily fired into their siege.

The Engagement

The engagement itself was brought on after two days of staring across the open area, as the Shanarian cavalry charged at the woods from one direction as the heavy infantry approached from their flanks. Due to the lack of water and provisions, as well as the considerably smaller force, the Firosians were forced from the forest and into the waiting forces of Lord Gaoun. Due to the lord flying his own colors instead of the Firosian banners, many of the disoriented renegades fought back and were justly slain for their troubles.

Outcome

Unsurprisingly, a hundred desperate men had no chance of surviving and were quickly rounded up. Of those hundred, forty-five officers and soldiers were taken prisoner and the rest buried without honors - only the barest of rituals to consecrate the ground. The Shaniran forces lost fifteen soldiers from the infantry and four cavalry riders, while Lord Gaoun lost twelve members of the guard and suffered a minor wound when he personally attempted to shame the last renegades into surrender.

Aftermath

After the last of the Firosian renegades were taken into custody, Lord Gaoun marched them to the capital and the king was livid about the whole affair. To make an example, each soldier was given an opportunity to confess their crimes and suffer only a discharge with no honor - but promises they would be paid if they publicly explained their involvement and suffered two days in a public stockade for humiliation. Officers were given no such luxury, discharged and given the same two days before being executed for failing to keep the peace. The commander of the unit, privately claiming he was forced into the situation by the hotheaded soldiers, was given an apology by the king personally before a public execution.
The whole battle lasted less than an hour, but for two moons following the City of Roses was turned into a spectacle of public shaming and execution. The king of Shanir wound up endorsing peace and withdrew most of his forces as a sign of respect. The king of Firos then declared the dissolution of the 'Well Watch' as had been decided upon. Diplomats took several moons to arrange matters to prevent either of the kingdoms from looking foolish and this ended up being one of the reasons Shanir soon agreed to become a part of Firos.

Historical Significance

Legacy

As mentioned above, bards are often very entertained to tell this tale to patrons at roadside inns, embellishing it for entertainment purposes. Those who live in the former Shaniran lands tend to retell this story often and make certain they point out there was no side in this whole matter which was reliably able to claim being in the right save for the farmer's family - this is often used internally with the people of Firos of "something which should have been simple and got completely out of hand due to a rough year on everyone".

Start Date

5th day, 6th Moon

Ending Date

7th day, 6th Moon

Belligerents

Firosian Renegades

Led by

Strength

Fifth Bowguard: 60 Archers, 35 Light Infantry, 5 Officers

Casualties

55 killed, 45 captured

Objectives

Lord Gaoun's Guard

Led by

Strength

Gaoun's Personal Guard: Pikemen (30), Bowmen (30), Light Infantry (100), Heavy Infantry (40), Officers (10)

Casualties

12 slain, 45 wounded

Objectives

Shaniran Forces

Led by

Strength

Third Foot: Heavy Infantry (150), Archers (40), Light Infantry (60), Officers (10)
Fourth Foot: Heavy Infantry (180), Archers (30), Light Infantry (40), Officers (10)
Sixth Cavalry: Light Cavalry (40), Heavy Cavalry (10), Officers (3)

Casualties

Third Foot: 9 Dead, 25 Wounded
Fourth Foot: 5 Dead, 42 Wounded
Sixth Cavalry: 4 Dead, 13 Wounded

Objectives