The Battle of Greenway

Greenway is the common name for the region between the wheverwood and larathorn in northern Raiven. It is remembered in modern history as the battlefield where one of the most pivotal clashes between the Vellan Dominion and the allied forces of the north was met. It is in this conflict that the prophesied Liad of Atreus proved himself more than a mere boy of 20, but the avatar-blooded hero of legend come to protect his people. Here follows the account of the battle as told by Duan the scribe: It had rained for three days, muddying the open lands upon which our allied forces had placed their defenses. The elven wonderworkers from Larathorn had done great works throughout the greenway, shifting the land and raising great impediments so our enemies would find themselves herded to a field of our choosing, and this was it. While abatis lined the way for miles in either direction, here the path to meet us was dotted with the few iron horses we were able to bring across the mountains and scattered wolf pits hidden with woven grass and days of caked mud. Enemy forces driven east by skirmishes with our Adamanta and Feyn allies had joined with the small force camped on our southern horizon and it was clear they meant to overwhelm our line with their greater cavalry. Our young leader had ordered that we go to every length to disguise our true numbers from approaching foes despite the relatively open lands of the greenway. To achieve this our own sizable cavalry were hidden a fair ways distant which left us vulnerable should those arrayed against us strike more swiftly than predicted. Still, our defenses were stronger than they appeared from a distance and our archers were supported by magus Wullarth and magus Jamsyn, as well as a pair of fiery fauns who'd come from the Wheverwood. I saw him before it happened on that day. He looked to me like any young man, no prophesied hero of legend, and he seemed filled with uncertainty that he covered well with bravado when the men were near. Though I knew magus Urnous had named him the Liad, I doubted. In the night our enemies crept closer to us. On the fifth morning since they'd first been seen in the distance we woke to find them close enough to charge our lines. Still our commander told us to hold position and call for no reinforcements. That entire day he walked among the foldiers guarding the defensive line, never resting, never out of sight longer than a moment. In late evening a group of scouts were sent out, I knew not where, but at this point it was easy to see the Vellans moving to what would likely be their final position before attack. Disquiet spread among the defenders. I'd barely slept that night, expecting death to sweep over us in the morning, yet when I roused from fitful rest I found our camp scrambling with activity long before Raiei stepped from behind the world. Magus Wullarth and magus Jamsyn were nowhere to be found, but every soldier in our camp was readying to make our stand, with half our archers hidden in silence behind the tents. Few words were spoken, but looks of fear were shared. With the first cut of daylight into the retreating night we heard the Vellans and their horses approaching. I rushed to the line, desperate to see what I already feared in hopes that my mind had elaborated on the truth. When I arived I saw him, the supposed Liad, in his full armor the magi had provided him and holding a castle forged hammer that shone red-gold in the dawn. He stood shoulder to shoulder with the men and waited for the charge as any soldier would. The Vellans swept out to the sides, clearly seeking to encircle us as their leading forces navigated our iron horses. They picked up speed and it was clear no formalities would preceed the attack. They'd been pushed from the Wheverwood and they were after blood to demoralize us. He shouted a command I could not make out, but it rapidly travelled down the lines. A moment later I was nearly blown from my feet as the work of the scouts and fauns was revealed. Long walls of fire erupted from the earth to either side of the line, burning what I could only assume was oil they'd laid in long trenches. The sudden flame was puncutated by archers bursting from concealment and loosing upon the encircling wings of the Vellan cavalry. Veering inwards many plunged into the outermost wolf pits, cries of impaled horses and riders echoed across the field. The enemy center was still further out and some were able to slow, avoiding a similar fate, but now they were in range of our line. The first archers loosed, but still our hidden forces lay silent in the camp behind. Many fell to our arrows, but most were able to retreat beyond our range and regroup. We could only watch as the enemy formed a shield phalanx and carefully picked their way across our fields, avoiding the remaining wolf pits. A few arrows bounced off shields here and there where an opening had briefly opened, but the Vellans were well prepared for this sort of engagement. Orders were shouted and our soldiers prepared to engage at close range. The last few feet the Vellans broke into a charge and crashed through our line. I saw him, right as they came through smashing aside shields with his hammer. I admit now it was inspiring to see a commander geuinely being the first to fight and it was made even moreso by his youth. He moved as an experienced soldier, yet with the vigor of youth and a seeming fearlessness in the face of death. I don't know how long they held, but the Vellans numbers were clearly overhwelming, yet still our reserves laid in hiding. Suddenly horns sounded that brought hope into my despairing heart. Our cavalry and arrived. I heard the young commander call to fall back and the Vellans advanced into our camp with cheers of assumed victory, clearly believing the horns to be a sounding of retreat. I can only imagine their shock when our cavalry swept forward through the enemy forces and around back to the right. Our infantry fell back and dropped down as our reserve archers stepped out from their hiding places, loosing volley after volley into the Vellans. Caught between the field of wolf pits and our archers, the Vellans that had come forward were slaughtered. Still, the bulk of the enemy forces were cavalry and they were undoubtedly no longer interested in testing our defenses. Before they could determine a new avenue of attack, I saw magus Wullarth and magus Jamsyn ride up with a warhorse for the commander. They joined the cavalry and rushed down a secured avenue to attack the Vellans. Clearly our foes hadn't expected a counterattack and they scrambled to meet our advance. Magus Wullarth and magus Jamsyn rode ahead of their lord, warping the land to stave off enemies and flinging great stones and Vellan corpses alike into our foes, like so many bloodsoaked sacks of potatoes. Behind the cavalry charge, I saw the fauns raise and shift the earth, clearing a path through our defenses for the infanty to charge through. True battle was met and through blade, spear, and hammer, not to mention the firey magic of the fauns and the forces of the magi, things were not going well for the Vellans. I did not join the fray myself, my own physical shortcomings not welcoming me to battle, but I had to see the event, to record what happened. By the time I reached a point where I could see him, our commander was deep into the conflict and no longer astride his steed. I saw him reach to protect another soldier only to have his shield torn from him. He rolled, snatching up a spear and kept enemies at bay on all sides. His spear swung in large arcs, keeping foes from his back while his hammer crashed into shield, helmet, or mail. He seemed at once a perfect dance of martial prowess and a mad beast cornered and enraged. He held on longer than I dreamed possible, until magus Wullarth sent a wave through the earth tossing Vellans to the ground. He tried to pull the commander onto his horse, but the young man refused and instead pointed to the wounded behind. More of our infanty flocked to his side even as mags Wullarth gathered up wounded with his magic and ferried them away from the battle. Never after was such a dire moment thrust upon the commander, and the Vellans sounded a retreat of their own. Our men pursued. I am told, for I was unable to keep pace with the running battle, that the Vellans were pushed back until they encountered our allies from the west coming to our aid. All who were not slain were sent back to Vel disarmed and demoralized. With certainty I say it will be a long age before these dark men of the south threaten our allies again. Not while the Liad rules Atreus.

The Conflict

Outcome

After the devastation of so many of their forces, the Vellan Dominion was forced to focus on southward expansion for many long years after this defeat. They've never forgotten their embarassment though and it is believed that Atreus remains a hated foe of Vel throughout the many Dominates who've ruled throughout the interim.

Aftermath

This victory, and the resulting coronation of the Liad as king of Atreus, raised Atreus up as one of the great powers of the north. Where previously they'd held a position as an agrarian kingdom with a few great minds, they were now seen as one of the dominant nations in Raiven.

Historical Significance

In Literature

Countless retellings of this conflict have been created throughout the years, some historical accounts and research, others fantastical retellings and high art. The most trusted source is the recounting of Duan the scribe who claims to have been there upon the battlefield following the Liad to war.

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Land

Conflict Result

The Vellan Dominion was routed and forced to flee back south to their own lands