The Battle of the Swordbridge

The Battle of the  Swordbridge marked the end of Norionor’s march and Lothen’s expansive war on The Mainland. Norionor Whiteshield, whom Lothenians claim was the greatest King to rule after Vheod Whiteshield, agreed to fight a champion named Element in a single duel on a stone bridge that connected the kingdoms of Rose and Mooncry.

The fight took place on the 12th of November in 1003 AC in Swordbridge during a flare of a phenomenon known as “The Tears” when fire pours down from the sky instead of normal  Rain. Norionor knew little of his enemy, the Element, and information regarding his life and origins is still vague. It seems that the Element was created by magic but resembled an Elf. The Element was allegedly designed to defeat Norionor by powerful individuals who sought to stop Lothen’s expansion.

The bard Istilian Veriam wrote a verse imagining Norionor’s dialogue with the Element. The poem is called “Words of Fire” and became famous in many kingdoms, as people believe it suited Norionor’s temperament and style of speech.

The Element killed Norionor and was never seen again in  Vitallia. The king’s body was left on that bridge to burn under the rain of fire. When his body was found, his hair and clothes had been burnt and his body was covered in ashes. The Battle of the Swordbridge stopped Lothen’s expansion and forced the Lothenian armies to return to their kingdom, gradually losing their claim over the lands that were conquered during The March of the Lion.

Excerpt from “Words of Fire”

- What kind of rain is this?

- They call it “The Tears”. It is the dust of the Meteor that returns to the earth as liquid fire.

- You are the Element. We finally meet, I am tired of hearing about you. What kind of name is that?

- It is not a name; it is a force.

- What type of force?

- A force of balance.

- And you are going to restore balance? By killing me?

- Yes.

- And what are you going to do after? Are you going to fight the Black Knight alone?

- No.

- Are you a Maor Elf? From some warren from within the earth?

- I am not, but I bear this form.

- I met an elf, a beautiful lady with blue hair.

- I know, she tried to save you.

- I explained to her that I do not need saving. I promised her a winter flower from the north.

- You shall not deliver. The March of the Lion ends today.

- Whatever magic you possess Element, it cannot kill me, there is not a spell known to mankind that affects me.

- I do not possess magic, I am magic, I am the end of your line.

Included under Conflict

The March of the Lion

Conflict Type

Duel

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

12th November, 1003 AC

Ending Date

12th November, 1003 AC

Conflict Result

The end of Lothen's expansive war on the Mainland.

Location

Swordbridge