Battle of Dyilima-Parnúc

"'Every son of Vaedisia knows the name of the man who was felled, and every daughter knows the name of the woman whom he was felled for.'""— Last line from the eyewitness account 'Mordtiea Lanucusta an-dey Veron', written by Court Historian Lilucard de Parne"The Battle of Dyilima-Parnúc was an important and catastrophic event during the Second War, which would ultimately culminate in the Vaedisian withdrawl of the war, and subsequent subjugation. The battle itself took place in Auste 1522 5E, on the 12th day, though the events leading began at the turn of the year. The battle was a strategic and political victory for the Bretish, whom in one unintented deceisive battle, killed both Grand Duke Mercutio de Veron and some 100 de Veron household members. The battle broke the spirit of the Vaedisian people, and led to their unconditional surrender.

The battle occured on the fields of Lanyden, between the village of Dyilima and town of Parnúc. It was here where the Bretish 3rd Royal Army marched to face the Vaedisians, reinforced by the 12th Acrevine Reserve Army whom were sent from Bretland sometime during early 1522 5E. The Vaedisian contingent consisted of the Verone 1st Army, the Vaedis Royalis, and most of the de Veron household staff, retainers, and Godguard.

Following the Vaedisian surrender, the Bretish were reemboldened to continue the war against a now outnumbered Franika, whom had heavily relied on Vaedisian support prior. The aftermath of the battle also led to the Tourniquet Rebellions - a series of bloody civil wars fought between the remaining de Veron dynasty against the Bretish-backed de Arapas dynasty for control of the Vaedisian throne.

Background
After the Battle of Tiluce, during the Spring of 1520 5E, the Vaedisian War Council opted for a much more defensive strategy of only operating within the Vaedisian borders. Any offensive action by the Bretish would be met with staunch resistance, with Grand Duke Mercutio adamant on delaying any long term occupation of Bretish forces. The Vaedisians would begin to shore-up costal cities with food and weapons, and would enforce mandatory military drills amongst their populace.

The drastic change in Vaedisian strategy, from previously playing the largest role in the war to one now operating in the background was not without it's dissidents. Allies, particularly in Franika were infuriated by the War Council's decision, and tensions between the two nations increased. With a new Bretish invasion on the western coast of Franika, and Menneian mercenaries enlisted by Gerlondish nobles raiding the south of Franika, King Bohemond began decreeing 'immediate lordships' over his realm to fill the positions of dead barons and indisposed knights to stabilize his lands. To help remedy the souring situation, Mercutio would marry his second daughter, 17 year old Vanalysa to Tancred, son of King Bohemond. After the marriage ceremony, Mercutio would send the garrisons of multiple cities and towns to reinforce the Franikan coast. The bulk of these garrison reinforcements were levied indiscriminantly from all Vaedisian cities and towns, including the more relevant Parnúc.

After 4 months of Vaedisian reinforcement, Bohemond would move to revoke these quickly bestowed lordships as he once again regained control of his realm. This decision was met with fierce opposition and many of these 'peasant-lords' organized a rebellion, led by Sambelu au Villacondre. Sambelu's rebellion proclaimed Bohemond a traitor, whom had sold out Franika to the Bretish and Vaedisians, and mass riots followed as Vaedisian casualties increased. With no sign of Bretish invasion on the coast of Vaedisia, Mercutio sent another retinue of 20,000 freshly mustered Cittatorre from across the Vaed to reinforce the Franikan loyalists. Among the retinue, 500 Godguard - the elite household guard of de Veron - were sent.

Sir Geoff of Morraine, Commander of the Bretish Navy overseeing the invasion of west Franika was informed by his spies of the rising tensions in Franika, and the abandonment of Vaedisian garrisons. Geoff organized a parley with several Menneian mercenary companies to continue ravaging the Franikan countryside while wearing surplus Bretish uniforms, and to pitch tents in the royal colours. Geoff would then take the bulk of the Bretish force, around 35,000 men and sail them across the Menna Sea to the shore of Vaedisia. By the time they had arrived, winter had come and the Vaedisians did not expect such an assault until early spring.

6 Months before battle
Sir Geoff of Morraine intended to land 200 miles east of Verone, near Charchule, which was the same city first taken by the Bretish 23 years ago, during the First War. Morraine, acting under the command of Bretish King William de Beachmont, had the majority of the Bretish spy network assemble at Charchule. These spies would stand attention at the docks on Ranseuvalla, a Vaedisian end-of-winter holiday and ward off any late-night pedestrians, with bribes being placed on dockguards beforehand. When Ranseuvalla came on the 17th day of Ebba, two Bretish lineships with 400 royal marines poured fourth. The garrison that received the Bretish was quickly slaughtered, with the Bretish storming the keep and killing Count Gaudier de Ieuesic. By early morning, the city of 400,000 was occupied by a Bretish force of 35,000, with 500 ships of varying size laying in the bay of Castu Virida. Morraine would then send 450 ships back to the Bretish mainland to transport over more troops.

Grand Duke Mercutio de Veron, upon hearing the blatant disregard of respect for Vaedisian tradition, and the savage assault and murder of his close friend Count Gaudier threw the calm, concise man into a drunken frothing rage, assaulting Bretish prisoner Sir Raymond of Whenser. The commotion brought many within the Veron court, and upon seeing his daughter among the crowd broke his rage and returned to his senses. Mercutio would begin mustering his men, though the snows had yet to melt and took up to 4 months for his troops from across the Vaed to rally. It is said that Mercutio's son, Eothred, cut the hands off Sir Raymond of Whenser and sent him to the Bretish force at Charchule.

Bretish forces immediately began skirmishing and foraging across the north of Vaedisia, reaching as far as Tarrega and Meroa, though no large-scale battles began for 3 months. Mercutio was hesitant on recalling his forces stationed in Franika, as it would jeopardize not only their alliance, but also the validity of King Bohemond's reign, whos realm had been largely stabilized due to Vaedisian intervention. Ultimately choosing against recalling his troops, Mercutio realized that his ability to muster capable men would only extend so far, and with many cities now deplete of their militia force - tasked his children to rally the Sefratorre across Vaedisia, while he assembled the main body of the forces in Verone. Mercutio hoped that his children would voice the dire necessity of the situation, and pressed them to have all ducal armies accompany them to Verone, not just retinues.

Eothred would venture south, along the Gondus Lake to Tresima, Bruc-se-Bar, and Alessa. Eothred would also cross to Vis-se-bar, in Franikan territory and enlist the aid of the Visian 7th Retinue, of which were 2,000 Franikan Knights and horsemen. Gothred would travel the Permaine river - the highway of trade in all Orbis - and would hire out mercenary barges, aswell as rallying the cities and dukedoms of Permaise, Casavrona, Druima, and Zerrec. Rienna would journey across the north of Vaedisia, and most notably would enlist the aid of Vaedi Hillmen. Rienna, unlike her brothers, would not stop at settlements and wait for the men to muster before heading on, as she would simply notify the brigades to head to Verone. Because of this, on a visit just outside Palanno, her retinue was overwhelmed and killed by bandits. Rienna would be taken hostage for a month, until information reached Bretish spies that Crown Princess Rienna was being held hostage, whom promptly rode to 'free' her, taking her with them to Charchule.

Rienna's treatment varies according to Bretish and Vaedisian accounts, with the Bretish stating that she was treated with respect. However, what is known amongst Vaedisian spies is that Rienna was locked in the Charchule Keep's tower - the Aviendre Calum - rarely ever seen out amongst the populace for fear of this news reaching the general populace. Sir Geoff of Morraine would notify King William of the capture of the Vaedisian crown princess, who advised against informing the family de Veron. Furthermore, William would recall the Bretish 6th Army fighting in Vosst and Skaania, and begin mustering the 12th Acrevine Reserves to be sent to reinforce Morraine.

3 Months before battle
Though the main body of the new Vaedisian army mustered in Verone, this process would take much longer than usual. The Vaedisian people were not only tired of the war, but 1 in 7 Vaedi citizens had - in some way - contributed to the war effort, and the wounds of the war had yet to be treated. All across the Vaed, great roving bands of brigands sought to make their own fortune from the plight of the common citizen, and to the laments of the nobility. Furthermore, both the lower nobility and greater dynasties were enraged at the idea of their own household guard being 'conscripted' by the Vaedisian state, which many saw as a gross overstep of power by Grand Duke Mercutio. The combination of these factors led to roughly 4 months of mustering from across Vaedisia, and as more banners rallied at Verone, so did they bring their feuds.

Grand Duke Mercutio's main host was almost fully mustered by the 21st of Meia, and preemptively split into two armies. The first army was under the command of Gerio de Druisa, who would move to construct forts, and reinforce cities along the Vaedisian coast. Gerio's army totaled to about 40,000 men, most were Vaedisian Cittatorre and Ducal Sefratorre reserves. Mercutio's main force totaled between 60,000 men, with 42,000 men mustered from the personal household of dukes, counts, and barons across the Vaed. 10,000 were of Franikan descent - reserves spared by Bohemond and under the command of his son, Tancred. The remaining 8,000 men were mercenaries, sworn brotherhoods, and hillmen of varying origin. This army, one of the largest in Vaedisian history since the Trade Wars was officially known as the 1st Vaedis Royali, though was quickly dubbed as 'the Pride of Ursannon' - a homage to the chief God of the Vaedisian pantheon.

During the time of Mercutio musterering his men, Morraine had his spies offer hefty bribes to the more 'morally malleable' Vaedisian lords, many of whom would purposefully waylay the arrival of their men, or would prepare devious acts for the campaign ahead. Morraine hoped to buy time for the arrival of the Bretish 6th Army, and reinforcements from Bretland proper, though as weeks turned to months and the royal banners never spotted from the towers of Charchule, Morraine grew desperate. Morraine knew both that Crown Princess Rienna was a popular figure in Vaedisia and that Mercutio was unaware of her capture, but was hesitant, as he dared not tempt the wrath of Mercutio, but also wished to encourage the Grand Duke to make rash, impulsive decisions. With no word from King William in months and growing unrest amongst the Bretish force, Morraine would send a rider to inform Mercutio of his daughter's capture, and offered her safe return for a disbanding of arms, and surrender of Verone.

Upon receiving the Bretish terms, Mercutio quickly mobilized his still mustering force and marched it east 70 miles in about a week's time. By the 29th of Meia, Mercutio pitched camp just outside Meroa in the village of Dyilima. Morraine received word of the Vaedisian movements and ordered Sir Ersel of Mattoch to take a contingent of 1,000 Bretish outriders and burn the farmsteads northeast of Meroa leading to Charchule. By the 14th of Jiun, nearly all farmsteads and villages had been pillaged and burned. Morraine furthermore requested that his spies within the Vaedisian camp set fire to the food carriages, and of the 214 carriages, only 74 remained. This action caused the Vaedisian camp's tensions to rise, with most Vaedisians blaming the Franikan reserves, and vice versa. The Grand Duke - with the situation already appearing grim so early in the campaign - resolved to split his army into much smaller contingents to avoid future infighting and discrepancies. The Grand Duke himself would set out for Charchule with a contingent of 45,000 men, with 5,000 harassing the countryside, and the 10,000 Franikan reserves that would remain at Dyilima and forage the southwest of Meroa in the event of an emergency.

The Vaedisian host, led by Grand Duke Mercutio de Veron arrived at Charchule on the 21st of Jiun and constructed a siege camp surrounding the city. Palisades were set around the perimeter, with lookouts routinely posted during all hours of the day. The camp would immediately begin suffering from attrition due to the shortage of rations and dwindling supplies. To remedy this, Mercutio tasked his two sons, Eothred and Gothred to each take a retinue of 7,500 and forage along the coast north of Charchule, taking as much provisions as they could carry. Nearly half the women - acting as camp followers, cooks, nurses, and confidants for the army accompanied the foraging expedition in the hopes of finding a sustainable food source for the siege, leaving Mercutio's siege camp with around 25,000 troops - now outnumbered by the 30,000-35,000 large Bretish garrison. The Bretish garrisoned in Charchule, from their pillages and extortion of the countryside for roughly 6 months amounted in nearly 2 years worth of food for the garrison - the Bretish also evicted most Vaedisian men living in Charchule to stave off any organized rebellion, sending them out to join the Vaedisian siege camp in the hopes that they would further feed off Vaedisian provisions. With both armies in a standstill, Mercutio send word back to Verone to have his wife, Grand Duchess Lourraine au d'Sempa to send for 200 merchant ships to blockade the port of Charchule. This standstill prolonged for nearly 2 months.

1 Month before battle
In under a year, Grand Duke Mercutio had both doubled the capacity of the Vaedisian military, infringed on countless century-old rights, and incited numerous feuds - all undoubtedly done unintentionally - in the attempt to save his daughter and protect the Vaed from foreign aggression. The Vaedisian military at this point in the war was roughly 250,000 men, with 30,000 maintaining order in Franika, 40,000 reinforcing the northern coast, and 60,000 near Charchule. The other 120,000 thousand either maintaining garrisons in Vaedisian cities, or in other war theatres.

Over the previous two months, Mercutio's army had encountered relatively low armed resistance and was complacent at starving the Bretish out of Charchule. Believing that he had the Bretish outmatched, Mercutio offered terms that for every 1,000 civilians spared from the city, he would offer one more day without besieging the city - which Sir Geoff of Morraine accepted. Mercutio would hope for an inevitable surrender, and a bloodless battle with the safe return of his daughter.

Rising tensions began amongst the ducal families, with Mercutio's hesitance to assault the city and tyrannical behavior over the past year - the Grand Duke was hard pressed to find anyone to trust outside his immediate household in his camp. Mercutio would rescind Duke Gerio de Druisa's position in reinforcing the northern coast. Druisa was a longtime friend of the crown, and brought his retinue to Charchule and charged the defense of the Vaedisian coast to his steward. Furthermore, Mercutio would entrust the northern and eastern portions of the Charchule encirclement to his sons, Eothred and Gothred. As Vaedisian duke, count, and baron awaited their lord's orders, feuds began to fester amongst themselves - which one-by-one - slowly directed their hostility on the Grand Duke. The families de Arapas and de Allese - paid for with Bretish coin to sabotage Mercutio's war effort - had done a splendid job at waylaying the Vaedisian advance, and over time were organizing terms to present on the Grand Duke - assault the city, or remove himself from leading the army.

These tensions would eventually boil over when the Vaedisian camp had received word that a large Bretish army had been sighted moving south from Vosst, numbering around 20,000. Knowing both that the morale of his men were low, and that maintaining the encirclement of Charchule would lead to his swift demise, Mercutio ordered for the siege of Charchule to commence at sunrise, on the 18th of Julli. The Siege of Charchule, officially chronicled as the '33rd Siege of the city of Charchule' would last for 5 days, with Mercutio unable to gain any ground. The double-curtained sixty-foot tall walls of Charchule, coupled with the outgrowth of buildings on the wall's exterior made it near impossible to breach without dedicated siege equipment - the closest of which were at Meroa. Also underestimating the sheer ferocity of the Bretish forces at repelling those Vaedisian troops that did get inside Charchule, many of whom were grizzled veterans from western Franika, contrary to the quickly mustered Cittatorre of Mercutio.

The Vaedisians, judging by the pace of the Bretish army approaching from Vosst gave themselves over a month in continuing the siege of Charchule. Over this time, acting as a Bretish intermediary Anya de Arapas would ferry information from the encircled Bretish in Charchule and messengers from both the Bretish 6th Army and King William de Beachmont through the use of couriers. While Mercutio was aware that the de Arapas family were opposed to de Veron rule, he was reluctant to suspect any treason from his former ward. Through the information of these couriers, the Bretish 6th Army under the command of James de Randevou came to realize the tenuous Vaedisian position, and split his force in half, with 10,000 levies and inexperienced troops heading to Charchule, and his more experienced force on to siege Tarrega. Furthermore, through this exchange Anya de Arapas learnt that King William's force of 12th Bretish Army Reserves had set sail from the Bretish coast weeks prior, and was set to land in the San d'ac Ellard Bay, between Verone and Charchule - and was completely unknown to the Vaedisian military. Anya de Arapas would persuade many dukes that victory was achievable at Charchule, were they only to persist, hoping to buy as much time for the Bretish invasion.

Betrayal at Charchule
Grand Duke Mercutio would maintain his siege of Charchule for just under a month, convinced by his council of dukes that victory was attainable. By this point, Mercutio cared not for the populace of the city, nor the general welfare of his own men - all he wished for was his daughter's safe return. The scale would ultimately tip on the 8th of Auste, when Duke Gandrë de Merdoe and Count Venris de Teppe both died, the former being the father of Athored de Merdoe, and the latter being the only heir to his county. This blow broke the morale of the Vaedisian force, whom up until this point were confident in their victory if they continued the assault. This situation was only soured when Grand Duke Mercutio received word that the 6th Bretish Army would be at Charchule by the end of the week, and that another army was besieging Tarrega. Still believing that the approaching force was 20,000 strong, and believing that another similar sized army had besieged Tarrega, Mercutio assembled his war council.

While amongst his war council, Mercutio stated that he would not break siege and allow the Bretish in Charchule to return to Bretland with his daughter. Over the sound of the bickering of war councillors, advisors, and dukes, Anya de Arapas volunteered to maintain the siege camp, were the force left behind able to stand against the Bretish 6th Army. Anya stated that Mercutio and the main body of the Vaedisian army could retreat to Meroa, and restock on provisions and supplies and return to Charchule with weaponry to pierce the walls of Charchule. After much deliberation from war-tired dukes whom seeked reprieve, Mercutio agreed and left Anya a force of roughly 15,000 men, many of whom were heavy infantry and crossbowmen, but most being camp auxillaries. Before Mercutio's departure, he ordered all major and minor gates of Charchule bombarded shut by heavy ballista fire, and had 'mock soldiers' made of grainbags and armor-scrap assembled and placed along the palisades to give the impression that a much larger force was left behind than was leaving.

By the end of the day, Mercutio's army was retreating to Meroa numbering around 42,000 men, many of whom suffered from malnutrition from poor rations during the siege. Mercutio ordered his horsemen to saddle the bodies of deceased Vaedisians to return home and give proper burials, which allowed for his men to move much faster than were they carried by foot, but still much slower than they'd like. By the 2nd day of their forced march to Meroa, being about 25 miles from the city, Mercutio received news that the Bretish 6th Army arrived much faster than expected and decimated the remaining Vaedisian force, and that Anya de Arapas and the remainder of his army had been taken prisoner.

In reality Anya de Arapas, a day after Mercutio's departure rode to the Meidi Gate of Charchule and parleyed with the Bretish, speaking directly to Sir Geoff of Morraine. When she rode back to the Vaedisian camp she would announce that she had negotiated the Bretish surrender, whom stated that they were starving. Anya would order the clearing of rubble from the gates around Charchule by the 3,000 Infantry that Mercutio left her with. When the rubble was cleared, Vaedisian troops were greeted with disarmed, surrendering Bretish soldiers, though when they went to restrain them were ambushed and slaughtered by Bretish men from corridors and alleys. With the death of soldiers loyal to Mercutio, Anya organized the general surrender of the Vaedisian camp, and sent a de Arapas courier to the Grand Duke to inform him of a false version of events. With the siege lifted the Bretish were free to communicate with the Bretish 12th Army Reserves whom had just landed in the San d'ac Ellard Bay and the Bretish 6th Army. Anya informed Morraine that Mercutio would likely return his army to his camp at Dyilima, and that it was garrisoned by Franikan troops. With this information, Morraine would command the Bretish 12th Army to assault the camp immediately before Mercutio would return, and to follow the Byrenna Road leading to Meroa and Charchule incase a battle would begin before a synchronized, combined assault on the Grand Duke. Morraine would also chose to persue Mercutio before the Bretish 6th would arrive, and would order them to maintain Charchule and keep the Vaedisian Crown Princess safe.

Upon hearing that the siege camp was slaughtered, Mercutio stopped his army and intended to return but was halted by his advisors - whom urged him to return to his camp at Dyilima - which unknowingly to them all - was being attacked by the Bretish 12th Army. Mercutio agreed and ordered a hastened march from his war-weary troops in hopes of resupplying as soon as possible, to return to the siege of Charchule and free both his daughter Rienna, and former ward, Anya.

Battle
"'... within each of you is the spirit of Lavus, the ferocity of Atheroc, determination of Beirandir! We are the sons and daughters of the fertile vale, and we stand here against our invaders and say - enough! We say so with steel in our hands, we say with our families in heart, we say so while amongst ourselves, brothers shoulder-to-shoulder! Let the Bretish know that we halted their advance 23 years ago, and we shall do so today, and we shall do so 23 years ahead!""— Quote from Grand Duke Mercutio de Veron before the battle, from the eyewitness account 'Mordtiea Lanucusta an-dey Veron', written by Court Historian Lilucard de Parne"It was late afternoon on the 7th of Auste, 1522 5E, when the clouds darkened and a heavy downpour came across Vaedisia. Mercutio, whom was born on a rainy, stormy day in the dead of winter saw this as a good omen, hoping that the Gods were favoring him and his cause to both secure his lands, defend his people, and protect his family. Mercutio's brow would furl when he and his retainers noticed large smoke-trails coming from beyond the trees, just before the fields of Lanyden between his camp at Dyilima and the town of Parnúc.

Mercutio ordered Gerio de Druisa to take 600 Vaedisian Knights and investigate, and if their camp was torched to give pursuit or begin tracking the force. Gerio's retinue encountered the torched remains of the Dyilima camp, with weapons strewn aside and near decimated Franikan force skirmishing with a disorganized Bretish force, no greater than 1,500. Gerio rode and routed the Bretish, killing all who laid in his path and rallied the broken Franikans. When the Franikans regrouped their numbers were approximately 1,000 strong, with 90% of the force routed or dead. Tancred, son of Bohemond had supposedly returned to Franika weeks prior to aid his father against Sambelu's Rebellion, and charged command of the Franikan force to Captain Algernon au d'Naville, whom was killed in the assault. Duke Gerio promptly greeted and informed Mercutio of the situation when he arrived 1 hour later. The Franikans stated that 3,000 Bretish troops ambushed the unexpectant camp, and that there was likely a small camp of Bretish harassers nearby - which was unknowingly the 30,000 strong Bretish 12th Army Reserves. Mercutio ordered a perimeter to be set and to pitch tents and salvage what remained of the previous Vaedisian camp. The camp rested on high alert, while Mercutio stayed up all night, unable to sleep.

Just before dawn, at around 4:00AM, Mercutio ordered 5 retinues to forage the surroundings, and wrote 5 mandates with royal decrees for the seizure of food goods from nearby villages. At 6:00AM, a mass of disorganized Vaedisian riders rode into the camp and informed Grand Duke Mercutio that a large Bretish force, around 30,000 strong had marched through the night and were 6 miles from the Dyilima encampment. Mercutio informed his dukes and advisors, whom were surprised and did not suspect Morraine to give pursuit so quickly. War drums sounded and Vaedisian war musicians played their deployment march, and the camp bustled with activity, with troops throwing on their armor and sharpening their blades.

The Vaedisian army left their camp around 6:50AM and marched to the fields of Lanyden, just outside Dyilima and within eyesight of Parnúc. There they took up a defensive position, with two lines of Vaedisian Heavy Infantry near the bottom of the Belye Hill and Crossbowmen near the top. Flanked on the ends of the army were Vaedisian Knights and Horsemen, and at the back were the ducal retinues of many Vaedisian nobility including Mercutio's, with a sizeable contingent of Godguard. War musicians played a constant, beating rhythm and Vaedisian medics would disperse small bowls of Cilyon d'Grads and Rinwater to the army, whom had skipped their morning meal at camp. The army itself totaled to around 43,000 men, with 129 members of the 453 large de Veron family present from all corners of the Vaed and abroad, bastards and true-born, sons and daughters. At around 7:45AM, the sound of heavy marching could be heard just over the plain, on the other larger Vildu hill. To Sir Geoff of Morraine's surprise, the Vaedisians were not only expecting his force and positioned accordingly, but were also much larger than he expected. Surveying the battlefield, the fields of Lanyden were hilly, but also flanked by dense woodlands on the sides of the Vaedisian formation. Morraine sent his couriers to the Bretish 12th Army to mobilize immediately and head for Lanyden and to lie in waiting in the trees to ambush the Vaedisians at their weakest. After sending his couriers he would form the Bretish battle line. Morraine purposely made the infantry spread the width of the field, so they were on the outskirts of the treeline and informed them that on a triple-horn blow they would all perform an organized retreat - hoping that the Vaedisians would give pursuit and overextend. Morraine would position both his levy bowmen and the famed Bretish Longbowmen at the top of the Vildu, and have his cavalry mirror the Vaedisian horsemen.

A standstill persisted for two hours, with both sides unwilling to make the first move. At around 10:00AM, Morraine would order his camp auxillaries to pitch tents for a camp at the top of the hill, and cut wood from the treeline on the opposite side from where the Bretish reinforcements were expected. This decision warranted a quick skirmish as Vaedisian cavalry rode to attack the loggers, prompting the Bretish to send their cavalry in to counter. When the Bretish reclaimed the woodland, they had quartermasters forge spare makeshift arrows for the Longbowmen. The Bretish spent roughly 30 minutes firing these arrows into the Vaedisian infantry line, not expecting casualties but to instead instil psychological terror. At 11:00AM, Morraine received word from his courier that the Bretish reserves would be in position shortly, and Morraine thusly decided to begin the battle that would change Vaedisian history. As Vaedisian medics made their second round through the infantry line serving lunch, the sound of bodkin arrows whistling through the wind erased all notion of a bloodless day. Many of the arrows killed the women serving lunch, which infuriated the Vaedisians and felt prone to charge, though upon seeing the Bretish infantry marching towards them formed a shieldwall. The Vaedisian war musicians sounded the signature Lymnn - an instrument similar to a foghorn - to commence the battle, as Vaedisian cavalry galloped down the slopes to drench their blades in Bretish blood. Morraine knew that with his current army he couldn't hope to defeat the Vaedisians in open battle, and his eyes would dart constantly between the treeline and the battlefield before him. As the Bretish and Vaedisian infantry lines met, brutal combat ensued - though the Bretish infantry were remiss to melee thoroughly, knowing that a feigned retreat was the heart of their strategy.

At around 2:00PM, as both Bretish arrows and Vaedisian bolts darkened the skies of Lanyden, Mercutio gave the order for 500 Godguard to mount their horses and strike at the undefended Bretish Longbowmen. When Morraine realized this, surveying the battlefield and noticing the obvious Bretish infantry losses, sounded his horn thrice. While this sign was only meant for the Infantry to retreat, all Bretish forces retreated back to the base of the Vildu Hill. The Vaedisians were not expecting what seemed like a quick surrender and retreat from the Bretish, and while Mercutio ordered the cavalry to pursue the fleeing Bretish, many of the Vaedisian Infantry line followed suit. Mercutio rode down the centre of the line, down the hill in order to restore control of his frenzied troops, and as the entirety of the Vaedisian formation tried to recompose themselves, the thundering battlecry of thousands could be heard coming from the forest to their northwest.

Death of the Grand Duke
In one fell minute, tens of thousands more Bretish were upon the Vaedisians, whom had forefeited their strategic position and defensive battle strategy for a greedy unauthorized pursuit. Mercutio ordered the Vaedisian Infantry to form a shieldwall, which was overextended and patchy, with most infantry on the opposite side of the battlefield still giving chase, unknowing that another army had joined the battle. Grand Duke Mercutio would ride through the charging Bretish force alone, cutting down 20 men before he rode back to the top of the Belye. There, he ordered his sons Gothred and Eothred to take 200 Godguard and rally the Vaedisian cavalry to the east of the battlefield, and to ride to where Sir Geoff of Morraine is at the top of the Vildu and take him hostage. Mercutio would then take his remaining 221 Godguard and ride headlong into the Bretish Longbowmen who were firing from the woodland, by this point the Bretish Infantry charge had impacted with the fractured Vaedisian line, of which were giving ground up quickly.

By now, the rain which had started the day prior gave way to sunrays and overcast, with a great vista of clouds overhead which certainly gave hope to both Morraine and Mercutio that victory would be near. As Mercutio charged down the hill, his retinue of Godguard would gradually thin, shot down by Bretish Longbowmen, of which were intentionally firing into the line in hopes of breaking the charge. Mercutio would ride alongside Brunos de Tyoln, his longtime mentor as they struck down the men of Bretland. It was when Mercutio looked to the top of the Vildu in the hopes of checking upon the status of his sons when his horse was struck out beneath him by Sir Barathold of Rhendonshire, Commander of the Bretish 12th Reserves. Seeing that the fate of the war laid seemingly in his hands, Sir Barathold sought to murder Mercutio, rather than take him captive as a prisoner as was custom. Not letting the Grand Duke a chance to get up from his dead horse, Barathold went to strike him with his longsword, which was parried. After a lengthy duel, Barathold was slain, but the Bretish charge did not break, and by this point many Vaedisians were beginning to waver.

Brunos de Tyoln unsaddled himself from his horse and told Mercutio to ride to his sons, and take Sir Morraine alive in hopes that it would end the battle. Brunos remained fighting side-by-side the Vaedisian infantry as their numbers gradually grew thin. As Mercutio rallied the last few Vaedisian horsemen and Godguard on the battlefield, he rode up the Vildu Hill and was greeted with the sight of his son, Gothred, dead before a Bretish blade, and Eothred taken captive. The Godguard that rode with them cut a considerable swathe in Morraine's personal retinue, but were brought down by the sheer quantity of arrow volleys from the Bretish Longbowmen, many of whom were stuck with 7 or more arrows.

  

Mercutio would unsaddle from Bruno's horse and confront Morraine, complementing him on his cunning performance at Charchule and now Dyilima, but stating that neither himself nor Morraine would be leaving this battlefield alive. Mercutio would challenge Morraine to a duel to decide the victor of the battle, but Morraine would refuse. Mercutio would then ask Morraine what could be done to have both his son, daughter, and army leave the battlefield with their lives. Morraine stated that -  'You're too dangerous to be kept alive, but if you lay down your arms, and meet the Father - or your Gods - at this moment, your children and the people of Vaedisia, and all victims of this war, will be freed.'

 

 

Within Vaedisian society, suicide is abhorred, as it as seen as cowardly and damning in the eyes of the Gods. Those whom commit it for any reason are barred from the afterlife, and supposedly damn their entire lineage to the dust. Knowing that the Bretish had already soiled Vaedisian tradition thrice, Mercutio would not take the chance, and charged at Morraine in a bull rush, tackling the man to the ground. With a clear decision made by the Grand Duke, the remaining Godguard charged Morraine's retinue, and the Vildu Hill was soon engulfed with bloodshed that mirrored the battle below. Morraine would be aided by Bretish Knights, who sought to kill the Grand Duke but were unable to do so, though they did occupy Mercutio long enough for Morraine to regain his footing, whom retreated to the command tent. During the exchange, the Lymnn of the Vaedisian army was sounded twice, signifying a general retreat. Mercutio knew that within minutes the Vildu would be overrun with Bretish forces, and broke through the Bretish Knights into the command tent to find Morraine.

Mercutio would be presented with a cadre of Bretish Royal Guard, Morraine, Anya de Arapas, and his son Eothred, in which Mercutio would slowly cut his way through the Royal Guard. The fighting was broken by the shouts of Anya de Arapas, whom held a knife to Eothred's throat and stated that Mercutio had lost the battle and to forfeit. Mercutio would ask where Rienna was, to no response from either Morraine or Anya. When reinforcing Bretish infantry ran into the command tent, Mercutio would drop his longsword - Gvyeila, and take out his broadsword and dagger, Rigoste and Vanura.

Now surrounded, the Grand Duke would fight alone and against all odds versus the Bretish, every man cut down added a new wound to his body. It would be 26 men that Mercutio would kill before unable to stand, to which Morraine - conveniently or not - deemed the Grand Duke 'too wounded' and that a 'mercy kill' would suffice. While this truth may be evident, Morraine and all within the Bretish military knew the prestiege that Mercutio de Veron commanded, and that he needed to die while they had the chance. Morraine asked any of the Bretish to mercy-kill the Grand Duke, though none would obliege, as none wished to have the blood of such a famed man on their hands - for they feared the unbridalled rage of many Vaedisians to come down upon them. After a minute, Mercutio spoke his final words under the gurling of blood - "Nothing to suit the tales more than an Arapas cutting the throat of a Veron."

 

Anya de Arapas - despite being from a lineage that was diposed by the de Veron centuries earlier - stood and took Vanura from Mercutio's hand. Though tears welled in her eyes, she cut the throat of Mercutio de Veron, to which Morraine promptly left the command tent and announced the Bretish victory. Morraine had his outriders ride after the routing Vaedisian force and bring back as many as they could to the battlefield to address them. Morraine would proclaim the deaths of Mercutio, Gothred, and Eothred - and that the Vaedisians were now under Bretish rule, and to promptly carry the corpses of the fallen Vaedisians soldiers to Verone. Morraine would then march the still hostage Eothred de Veron to the woods, where he would be executed, and his body burnt. After the battlefield was cleared and his army rested, Morraine had his army march to Meroa, where they carried the bodies of all identified Vaedisian nobility on pavise shields in full display to the Meroan populace.

Aftermath
"'Two years ago, the kindred of our people was shattered by the blade of the Bretish, and for two years we have endured their ilk, but no longer. My nascent child is not the spawn of the vile and contemptable Geoff of Morraine, but that of a true-blooded son of Vaedisia! I ask you, sons and daughters of Permaidi, follow me, follow my young Mercutio, and avenge this injustice done upon our land.'""— Rienna de Veron announces her infidelity, and pitches her son's claim to Vaedisia, before the Tourniquet Rebellions, 1524 5E"After the battle, the combined Bretish 12th Army Reserves and Bretish 3rd Royal Army sheltered at Meroa for 2 weeks, which was so depleted of both it's garrison and will to fight that they simply let the Bretish in without conflict. While Sir Geoff of Morraine attempted to keep his men composed, his words would fall on deaf ears, as the Bretish simply kicked the doors into Vaedisian households and would board there for the night. An 'unofficial pillage' took place, where Vaedisian belongings were plundered, men being beaten, and women being violated. When Count Benvoli de Laine attempted to aid one such woman in distress, he was struck and killed by the drunken Bretish troops. The following day a riot of Meroan women killed 13 Bretish soldiers - which was clause enough for Morraine to pull his army out of Meroa.

Morraine decided to then take his combined armies back to Charchule though this decision was short-lived, as King William sought to both reward, and cement Bretish control over Vaedisia by marrying the hostage Crown Princess Rienna to Sir Geoff of Morraine. This decision saw Morraine in direct control of Vaedisia, as Rienna de Veron was the heir to the throne after the death of Mercutio and his two sons. Rienna was barred from all actions political, and was forced to endure the Godscastle being flooded with Bretish nobility for two years. Following this marriage, Sir Geoff of Morraine was officially named the Governor of Occupied Vaedisia, and named as Lord, instead of Sir. Morraine would be lauded for his exploits against the Vaedisians, and would have a university constructed in Acrevine to further commemorate his accomplishments.

Anya de Arapas and Ranimede de Allese would eventually come to double the size of their realms within Bretish-occupied Vaedisia, but while Ranimede was complicit with this state of events, Anya de Arapas would grow to dispise the Bretish rule for their inexorbant taxation, and their disregard of Vaedisian tradition - particularly the Ondrielle. Over the next two years, Anya would ally herself with the southern Vaedisian realms, particularly Allese, Givrona, Casavrona, and Bannare. This union would eventually come to hold an open revolt against the unexpecting Bretish, and would throw them out of lower Vaedisia. With the de Arapas family once again rising to power, Anya de Arapas would send couriers to Romikka, to the Danre Vellorum, the largest prison on the Orbisian continent, to free her father and brothers. With the return of Gauldier and his sons, Aldrus and Rencelt, and a significant swathe of land, Gauldier proclaimed himself Grand Duke, and said - "I will not rest until Verone is Arasall once more."

The Bretish, seeing that a Vaedisian Civil War was nigh ordered the complete evacuation of Bretish forces from Vaedisia, as their victories since Dyilima had been few and far inbetween. Lord Geoff of Morraine would subsequently leave his wife, and Rienna de Veron was left to defend upper Vaedisia and the de Veron dynasty. While married to Geoff of Morraine, Rienna had become a particularly revilled character against her own will, forced to voice speeches of Bretish propaganda to the wider population. With the Bretish withdrawl, she would once again have to reclaim the trust of the Vaedisian people. While her marriage with Morraine did result in a child - Simon - this child was considered 'Bretish', and thusly did not hold a substantual claim to the Vaedisian throne. To remedy this, Rienna would elope with Ulleo de Druisa, and have a child with a worthy claim, whom was named Mercutio.

Rienna de Veron, acting as regent in place of her infant son would offer Gauldier de Arapas a truce which was denied. Gauldier, whom spurned the idea of a Veron ruled Vaedisia would risk open war in favor of his claim, and rallied support from long-time backers of the de Arapas family. The de Veron family, for the first time in centuries became increasingly unpopular with both merchants and nobility, whom had suffered the most from Mercutio de Veron's actions before Dyilima, and thusly allied themselves with de Arapas. With a lack of manpower amongst upper Vaedisia, Rienna attempted to mend relations between the de Arapas and de Veron, with an invitation to the Veldiavennou celebrations - commemorating the first year of life for Rienna's son, Mercutio.

While at the celebrations, amidst a mask-banquet on the fifth day, Rienna and Gauldier went to dance to show to the nobility that no ill-will was among them, when a crossbow was fired from a balcony and struck Gauldier de Arapas's calf. Vaedisian medical staff would rush toward the situation and Rienna would take a tourniquet from them and attempt to treat the wound of Gauldier, whom pushed her off him. To Rienna's dismay, Gauldier would place blame of the event on her, and state that she had contracted his death. When Gauldier was well again, he would leave with haste and return to Mevosa. This event, which many among the court named as the 'Tourniquet Rebellion' would lead to a bloody 7-year long conflict in contention for the Vaedisian throne.