The Battle of Rylosin Forest

The Battle of Rylosin Forest was one the most monumental events to shape the future of the Kingdom of Rethem. A decisive battle with an outcome no one expected.

The Combatants

The Royal Army

Chafin III, by Artbreeder

Clan Araku, by Columbia Games

The royal army is led directly by the bold and ruthless King Chafin III Araku.

Major elements of the royal military include;

• The Royal Guard (the Champions of the Golden Stag)
• Order of the Red Shadows of Hepra
• The Companions of Roving Doom
• Order of the Cohorts of Gashang
• Order of the Warriors of Mameka
• Various mercenary companies
• A large feudal levy of hundreds of men of arms and knights.

However, all is not as it seems. A large component of the army is made up of the levies of the Earl of Techen. Techen is considered an unreliable vassal as the King had to threaten him to get him to join his army. Furthermore, the Cohorts of Gashang are poorly led after the recent death of their commander, and there is considerable animosity and infighting between them and the Red Shadows of Hepra.

Royal Battle Plan

King Chafin's plan was simple, the bulk of the army will advance on the rebels, and the Cohorts of Gashang will attack from the left flank, and the Red Shadows of Hepra will attack from the right. However, the King has a powerful hidden unit poised to strike at a critical time.

The Rebel Army

Earl Denyl Lynnaeus

Clan Lynnaeus, by Columbia games

The rebels are led by the cunning Denyl Lynnaeus, the Earl of Tormau.

This army is somewhat smaller, having fewer feudal levies but more mercenary companies. These are supported by large numbers of Kuboran Barbarians and Ivinian warriors. Additionally, he has the support of elements of the Company of the Copper Hook and the Sisterhood of the Crimson Dancer.

The Earl has made clandisine diplomatic overtures to both the Red Shadows of Hepra and the Earl of Techen. As yet, neither has made any commitment to change sides.

The Rebel Battle Plan

As the enemy nears the boundary of Rylosin Forest, he will attempt to provoke the royal army's vanguard into a premature attack by sending the Baron of Quiso to lead the initial engagement. Outnumbered, he will retreat, followed by the forward elements of the invaders. At the same time, the Kurbora barbarians will attack the rear of the army dominated by the considerable forces of the Earl of Techen. He most likely will be held in place for a time while he deals with this threat. This will stretch out the Royal army out so that the Rebels can deal with its vanguard, center, and rear, each, in turn, negating the King's numerical advantage.

How the Battle Progresses

Initial Engagements

The Companions of Roving Doom attack Ithiko in an attempt to draw some of the rebel army away. This fails and Ithiko's defenders retreat to their strongest fortifications while the barony is looted and set aflame.

The Baron of Quiso leads his forces at the enemy's vanguard as they emerge from the forest and are soundly beaten. They flee the battlefield, and the Baron narrowly escapes with his life.

The royal vanguard pursues the fleeing Baron of Quiso, and the Earl's Kuboran allies attack the Earl of Techen located at the royal army's rear. This spreads out the royal army, at least for the moment.

The Armies Clash

King Chafin sends the forward elements of his army at the rebels and orders the Cohorts of Gashang and the Red Shadows to mount attacks on the flanks. The Red Shadows claim the orders were never received and stayed in place.

The battle is evenly poised. However, King Chafin does not commit his reserves. He has other plans.

The King's Gambit

The Cohorts are poorly led and withdraw, relieving pressure on the rebel's right flank. Meanwhile, the Earl of Techen drives away the Kuboran Barbarians.

King Chafin is confident. He has a nasty surprise in store for the rebels. The night before, under secret orders, the Warriors of Mameka have maneuvered to the rebel's rear. This is a small but dangerous force of well-armored knights, fighting on foot and grenadiers using a terrifying array of alchemical weapons.

The Warriors strike with complete surprise at the Earl's lightly defended encampment. Only some poorly trained levies, the Earl's sparse reserves, and three squadrons of Sisterhood of the Crimson Dancer cavalry are available for defense. The battle is brutal, the warrior's grenades cause havoc, and the knights move forward, decimating the Earl's reserves. As the knights advance, the Crimson Dancer cavalry run down the grenadiers and then turn to attack the Mamekan Knights. A heroic squad of Mamekan Knights withstand five furious charges and break into the Earl's camp. The Earl of Tormau is wounded but survives, and the Mamekans are destroyed.

Last Roll of the Dice

The rebel army is are inspired by the energy and charisma of the elderly Earl of Tormau, who has escaped from near-certain death. The gods must be on their side. They repel multiple determined attacks, and the balance of the battle tilts in the Earl's favor. King Chafin orders the Red Shadows and Earl of Techen to attack however they do not respond to his messages. With no other choice, King Chafin commits his remaining reserves and leads his still ill Royal Guards in a final attack.

The result ended in disaster. King Chafin is cut down mid-charge.

Victory

After the death of King Chafin and the destruction of the Royal Guard, the remaining elements of the royal army routs.

The rebels are far too depleted and tired to continue fighting. With the King dead, the Red Shadows turn on their hated rivals, the Cohorts of Gashang, and massacres them. They then return to their fortress of Menekai. Meanwhile, the Earl of Techen sues for peace and retreats.

The Last Act of a Tyrant

However, the King has one last nasty surprise, on the night of the Earl of Tormau's greatest victory, he is assassinated in his bed.

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For more information on the behind the scenes events in this battle, refer to Session 153 - The Battle of Rylosin Forest.

The battle-map artwork is the author compiled from VTT screenshots.