Fire Festival

in 889, two groups of raiders met in a dirty sandbowl valley to clash for dominance in a celebration of death and warfare they called the Fire Festival. In the early morning of DATEREDACTED the two bands met and shouted their gang cries upon each other and sang together the song of death, after which both generals shook hands in a friendly gesture of equality and shared a small strong drink. After this, into the night, both camps separated and celebrated separately, burning effigies of the enemy and singing and feasting. At the dawn of the next day, they met again, and sent forth their champions (not necessarialy the generals) for an opening duel. Immediately upon one champion's death, both factions cried their battle yell and charged. After hours of bloody skirmish less than a handful of participants remained standing, who agreed they were the victors and went to task looting bodies, but not after a stiff drink, hearty meal, and tendind to their wounds.
A few non-combatants came to witness and celebrate, and when the last warrior had left, they too turned about and left the mess to the crows and carrion-eaters.

The Conflict

Prelude

Friendly jousts, combat competitions, and old rivalries slowly brewed into a excited interest in this mortal competition. Some preparations were made concerning spectators and refreshments, and agreements were made between parties before setting the date of the event.

Deployment

Into battle they carried pikes, spears, slings, clubs, handaxes, daggers, wrapped bare fists, scythes and other farm implements, and one sword.

Battlefield

A shallow bowl of dirty sand about an acre's width saw to this bloody spectacle. Afterward, 'twere a punchbowl of gore for the rats' feast.

Conditions

The day of battle was hot and cloudy with sandstorms that raged high overhead. All the participants ended up sticky with sweat which was not unusual at all amongst raiders.

The Engagement

After the initial duel, both sides charged in an initial clash of strength. Both generals displayed cunning strategy in thier management of units, calling back exhausted men to be replaced by second-rank soldiers. A battle that normally could take a couple hours lasted most of an entire day, due to intense defensive formations, repeated rallies, and quick snacking and drinking provided by non-combat tenders of the same faction. After a long pitched battle seeing heavy losses on both sides, a victory was claimed by the most brillliant strategest of the two and five solitary soldiers.

Conflict Type

Skirmish

Start Date

889

Ending Date

889