The Tragedy of the Sacred Valley
The attack of King Grivin II on the valley of Lor'San is perhaps the most infamous battle in Osylanian history and a prime example of someone poking the bear.
King Grivin had recently ascended to the throne and, convinced by ill-meaning advisors, decided to strike back at the Orcs, which had occasionally raided settlements on the western fringes of the kingdom. The plan was simple. Devastate the orcs, which are difficult to strike as a whole due to their splintered tribe settlements. The one uniting factor, their faith, was therefore to be the target.
Deep at the foot of the Razorcrest Mountains lies the sacred valley of Lor'San, where the oldest place of worship on Noria Lor'San'Hairm is located. The Osylanians sought to destroy Lor'San'Hairm, to inflict a wound on the collective soul of the orcish faith.
While the attack itself was initially successful, eventually the indomitable orcish combat fervor came through and the knights of Osylana were repelled under significant orcish losses. But the knights had been partially successful. Fires raged throughout the valley, and ate ever closer to Lor'San'Hairm. The fire would have eventually reached and consumed the sacred buildings in the center of the valley, if it had not been for a great sacrifice of the orcs. A majority of the adult orcish population gave their life to stop the fire, shielding Lor'San'Hairm from the flames using their bodies themselves. The orcs immolated themselves, saving the citadel by sacrificing their lives.
But the consequence of the conflict rang true for eternity. Lor'San'Hairm had survived and the attack had not scattered the orcs, but provided a rallying point for the orcs, who retaliated with fury some years later. Korratt, an orcish chief who first came to Lor'San after the attack and found the scattered survivors, mostly children, would become Tai of all Orcs in Noria, forming a horde and ruling until his death decades later.
The Conflict
Prelude
Under counsel by his advisors, Grivin II of Osylana, the recently crowned King, last of his name, raised a small host of his most competent knights to strike back at the Orcs of the Norian Mountains, for a recent series of raids on settlements at the feet of the Razorcrest Mountains. The host set out from Grivin and rode into the mountains, arriving near the sacred valley Lor'San in the morning of the summer solstice. The host prepared oil and torches, and rode to attack in the evening of Tai'San 4.
Deployment
The Knights of Osylana rode in from the east, rapidly gaining towards the settlement in the center of the valley. The orcs were spread out throughout and unprepared against the attack.
Image source: Lor'San in flames by Ninodonlord via Midjourney
CW: Contains descriptions of combat and death by fire.
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
284148 ATO Tai'San 4.
Ending Date
284148 ATO Tai'San 7.
Conflict Result
Retreat of the Osylanian forces after setting fire to the settlement surrounding Lor'San'Hairm.
Location
Belligerents
Strength
A host of ninety three heavy Osylanian knights, as well as six hundred light Osylanian cavalry.
Around eight hundred orc warriors/bowmen, and three hundred civilians (elders and children)
Casualties
~ 200 killed, out of these 27 knights, as well as the same amount of horses
~ 40 wounded, escaping with the host of the king.
~ 40 wounded, escaping with the host of the king.
~400 warriors (during the battle)
~the remaining warriors and 200 civilians (after the fighting)
~the remaining warriors and 200 civilians (after the fighting)
Objectives
The destruction of Lor'San'Hairm, the sacred citadel.
Repelling the Osylanian army, the protection of Lor'San'Hairm.
Battlefield
The main fighting took place on the eastern end of the settlement of Lor'San'Hairm, where the orcs managed to rally. A secondary battlefield was forced, when a small host split from Grivins army to set fire to the western end of the valley as well.Conditions
The summer had been dry and so the grass of the valley caught fire without any delay. The smoke filled the valley, which eventually helped the orcs, who could force the scattering of the front, engaging smaller compartments of the Knights and forcing bitter losses. The setting sun was also to the advantage of the orcs as it set in their backs, slightly blinding the Osylanian forces.The Engagement
The fighting got worst as the Knights pushed into the settlement and the orcs grew more desperate. Eventually, the guard of Rogôk, the Lor'tai and the chief himself were forced to invoke the Last Stand, which sowed fear into the knights who had almost reached Lor'San'Hairm itself. The Knights dropped the oil intended for the sanctum, and set it to burn before fleeing, resulting in the retreat of Grivins army.Outcome
Severe casualties to the orcs of Lor'San. The ascension of Korratt as a great Tai of the orcs.
Lor'San after the Osylanian attack (via Wonderdraft) by Ninodonlord
Aftermath
The retaliation by the orcs of the Norian Mountains, which descended from the Razorcrest Mountains in a great horde led by Korratt. The orcs raze every settlement south of the Losserei, before crossing and sacking the captital Grivin in 284154 ATO.Historical Significance
Legacy
The provocative attack by the Osylanian spelled the end or their realm in the long term. They tried to recover after the orc-storm, but the plot of the Ksrizka to topple Osylana destroyed any hope of return. In the end, the attack was the inciting incident for Osylanas downfall.Fire at Lor'San - An Orcish Poem
Down the wind pushed.
The flames it fanned with a roar;
And with their approach we heard hushed
Voices crying out more.
The enemy had been repelled,
the silver devils been slain.
But in their retreat they had left us
nothing but suffering and pain
The flames rose higher and higher
and licked at the sacred doors.
As we shaved off our manes,
We spoke our goodbyes at the pyre,
felt the heat pierce into our pores,
And we walked into the flames
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