The Freir War (otherwise known as the War for West Reign or the Macdha-Scentral War) took place from EY 388-399, and before the official war, longtime tensions concluded with early battles between non-Freir Macdha and Scentral forces from EY 378-388. These are important battles during those twenty years and some descriptions of what occurred in those battles. (All numbers are approximations.)
Skirmish of Steppen Fields, North Abring in EY 378
290 Macdha (Petty Kingdom of Abbret): Cyning Frithscield, Ealdormann Cirwalfan, 40 cavalry, 10 spellcaster infantry, 30 ranged infantry, 100 infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANAytJY3gaRZg
110 Abring (Steppenziege tribes): 80 ranged cavalry, 30 ranged infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANAO4c7VSlQBT
170 Abring (a Steppenziege tribe): 170 ranged cavalry478Please respect copyright.PENANAdc2Uj1XINj
350 Scentral (an independent slaver caravan): 90 spellcaster cavalry, 70 ranged cavalry, 190 cavalry
The first major encounter between Scentral and a Western kingdom was in the north of Abring Country, in the dry plains near the Scentral-Abring and Scentral-Macdha borders. It included the kingdom directly north of Abring, the Macdha Petty Kingdom of Abbret, a small Abring tribe, and a large Scentral slaver caravan.
Scentral had been slaving Southern tribes for a long time, but in EY 375 Abbret and the Abring village of Steppenziege-Hirte made a pact agreeing to trade of the goats Steppenziege-Hirte possessed so long as Abbret protected every Steppenziege tribe from threats. The pact was made public and the Scentral populous definitely knew of the contract, justifying the battle on Abbret's side. The Abbret general, Cirwalfan, was accompanying his king, Frithscield, when they were conducting a meeting between all of the Steppenziege tribe leaders, with 110 tribe troops and 180 Macdha troops (it was a small company because they did not want to intimidate the tribes). There was a delay in one of the leader's arrival, so scouts were sent out and it was discovered that the entire missing tribe were being chased by a slaver caravan from Scentral. Cyning Frithscield and Ealdormann Cirwalfan led their small army of 180 (40 cavalry, 100 infantry, 40 ranged infantry) in the direction of the tribe and slavers, while scouts were sent to the tribe to divert their course into the meeting place where the Macdha army was marching out of. The other tribe leaders did not have their full armies and made only 110 troops, 80 cavalry and 30 infantry, so they went under the command of Cirwalfan, the superior strategist amongst all of them. During the time the tribe was fleeing, they lost about 70 of their 170 riders and had already engaged in a short melee. After several hours, the three armies met in a nondescript field in the Abring country.
Cirwalfan led the cavalry to flank the enemy while Cyning Frithscield led the infantry and a veteran tribe liberator, who was experienced fighting slavers, led the ranged infantry. Once the Steppenziege tribe fell behind the infantry lines of their allies to regroup, and Cirwalfan set the cavalry into position, the slavers knew they were going to fight a small Macdha army and their tribe allies. They had an opening to flee, but the slavers stood ground, thinking that their superior combat thaumaturgy would win them the battle. Thus, the battle commenced, and the 100 tribe horsemen joined the rest of the 120 cavalry. Firstly, the skirmishers and spellcasters fired their missiles at the frontline enemy, and after the hail halted the first charge of 40 Macdha horsemen commenced. They attacked the flank while the tribe horsemen fired missiles all around the enemy, nearly completely surrounding the front, left, and right flanks. Afterwards, when the skirmishers ran out of missiles, they charged the opposite flank and the frontal flank. The spellcasters continued until they tired, where they then joined the front flank. The ranged troops continued to fire at the rear flank of the enemy, avoiding most friendly fire, and the infantry advanced behind the enemy and charged into the rear flank. By now the slavers were surrounded and in a tight space, and the ranged infantry finished their ammunition on the center of the enemy, then charged both of the side flanks. The result left over 220 Abring warriors and 150 Macdha troops dead or wounded and all of the slavers dead or wounded. The surviving slavers were left to run away back to Scentral, and most of them died of their wounds on the way, but they still managed to tell the Empire of the skirmish that occurred.
The battle is important because it is the first encounter of a Western king directly battling subjects of Scentral since the Empire was founded. Although it was not a battle between militaries and instead a petty army against an independent caravan, this was used in a Casus Beli when Emperor Vorthun Scentral declared war against Aethelcyning Woldfath Freir III. The battle also established the protectorate relationship the West kingdoms would come to adapt with the Southern tribes, defending their lesser neighbors from the slavers of Scentral. In trading with Abring, most of Macdha Country was exposed to sheep, sheepwolves, and foxbirds, extending the capability of their markets.
Battle of Fort Dohtorbyrg, Abbret of Macdha in EY 381
1010 Macdha (Petty Kingdom of Abbret): Ealdormann Cirwalfan, Ealdorfreo Ides, Hysemann Gweorhelm, 20 cavalry, 40 ranged cavalry, 80 spellcaster infantry, 450 ranged infantry, 300 infantry, 120 siege operators, 4 siege machines478Please respect copyright.PENANAOHdCj0KTJz
670 Macdha (Petty Kingdom of Swerthoweard): Hysemann Gwerborne, 600 cavalry, 120 ranged cavalry, 40 spellcaster infantry, 300 ranged infantry, 150 infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANAsZd4FWdfFf
530 Macdha (Courier Knight Guild): Forelad Deorhelm I, Hysemann Deorhelm II, 80 spellcaster infantry, 150 ranged infantry, 300 infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANANBwxJQkkV6
2460 Abring (Camesh Shebeteth and Steppenziege): Ralethan Janimheth, Holunder Ziesch, 60 cavalry, 1800 ranged cavalry, 450 ranged infantry, 150 infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANAPo6h3f2sqZ
3540 Scentral (Lowercent and Scoldwalla Duchies, Kathyfieth County): Duke Pruspos, Count Raimont, Marshal Gundnath, Duke Dorthenwald, Count Meirthod, Marshal Yldas, 60 spellcaster cavalry, 120 cavalry, 300 spellcaster infantry, 1050 ranged infantry, 1650 infantry, 360 siege operators, 18 siege machines
Battle of Ealdgeard, Drubeorg of Macdha EY 388
Macdha (Kingdom of Drubeorg): Cyning Dunhelm, Ealdormann Hornheard, 120 cavalry, 180 spellcaster infantry, 900 ranged infantry, 1500 infantry, 1000 peasant women478Please respect copyright.PENANAsqUjnHTPnt
Macdha (Petty Kingdom of Swerthoweard): Cyning Hwelanmaeg, Ealdorfreo Gwere,478Please respect copyright.PENANAoIdJOlERjr
Macdha (Kingdom of Freir): Hysemann Winterburne, 60 cavalry, 20 spellcaster infantry, 100 ranged infantry, 150 infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANAnKmZVBzveT
Macdha (Courier Knight Guild): Ealdormann Deorhelm II, 840 cavalry, 450 ranged infantry, 150 infantry478Please respect copyright.PENANAMrLhACiskE
Scentral (Draeksong Duchy): Emperor Vorthun, 180 spellcaster cavalry, 480 cavalry, 1800 spellcster infantry, 750 ranged infantry, 2700 infantry, 160 siege operators, 8 siege machines478Please respect copyright.PENANATDkXwPZIBx
Scentral (Morriggon Duchy): Duke Domini, Sir Dei, 60 spellcaster cavalry, 840 cavalry, 900 spellcaster infantry, 1050 ranged infantry, 3600 infantry, 500 siege operators, 25 siege machines478Please respect copyright.PENANAh4M1nAIUFK
Outnorth (Nithernorth and Hel's Counties): Sir Wesson, 120 spellsword infantry, 60 cavalry, 150 spellcaster infantry, 450 ranged infantry, 900 infantry, 80 siege operators, 4 siege machines
The first battle where the Emperor himself, accompanied by his Marshal, Duke Domini, led troops against the Macdha kingdoms. The siege of Ealdgeard, a town of Drubeorg, lasted approximately 40 days, enough time to start to starve the town's inhabitants. During the last 2 days, elderly and children were released from the fortress to go to the Swerthoweards and Courier Knights who arrived on about day 15 and 16. However, the elderly and children would first have to pass through the enemy siege lines first, and while everyone expected Scentral to have mercy, the Marshal ordered the troops to take the children to be deported into the Empire as slaves and have the elderly killed. Spies from Swerthoweard relayed what the Empire's forces had done, and so the two allied forces outside of the town prepared to attack promptly. The Empire's forces were preparing to attack the walls, but they had an undesirable number of siege weapons and towers, so they were going to wait until about day 50, when they would have completed at least 1 more towers and 2 more sets of ladders. But because of their treatment of the peasants coming out of the fortress, they had to prepare to defend from a battle with the outside enemies. In early EY 388 on a winter day, the Swerthoweards and Courier Knights commenced an attack to free their allies inside the town of Ealdgeard.
Once the inhabitants of the town saw that the Swerthoweards and Knights were attacking, they too took up arms on the walls and behind the two main gates. Scentral forces diverted to protect their rear guard and to assault the Ealdgeard walls with catapults and trebuchets. The first charge of all of the Swerthoweard and Knight cavalry went into the front Scentral flank, but in a split formation, attacking the farthest sides of the long front line Scentral had employed.
This battle is incredibly important, as if was the first, although unintentional, action the Freir had in the Macdha-Scentral wars and the Scentral conquest. It was also the first battle the Scentral Emperor participated in, along with the Marshal-Apparent, Dei Eslient.
Battle of Druhorn's Deep, Drubeorg of Macdha EY 388
Macdha (Kingdom of Drubeorg): Cyning Dunhelm, Ealdormann Hornheard, 120 cavalry, 180 spellcaster infantry, 900 ranged infantry, 1500 infantry, 1000 peasant women478Please respect copyright.PENANAE3mnIQ2Lqp
Macdha (Kingdom of Freir): Ealdormann478Please respect copyright.PENANA2pZPRHNBah
Scentral (Morriggon Duchy): Duke Domini, Sir Dei, 60 spellcaster cavalry, 840 cavalry, 900 spellcaster infantry, 1050 ranged infantry, 3600 infantry, 500 siege operators, 25 siege machines
Siege of Merrio Weall, Freir of Macdha EY 397
Macdha (Kingdom of Freir): Aethelcyning Woldfath III, Ealdormann Winterburne,478Please respect copyright.PENANAYFlyj1PAKQ
Macdha (Courier Knight Guild): Forelad Deorhelm II,
The start of a two-year siege by Scentral forces against Macdha forces, and the beginning of the last battle of the war, the Siege of Merrio Weall echoed throughout the Wicthwine region, even well after the end of the war.
Battle of Ceaster Merriodha, Freir of Macdha EY 399
Macdha (Kingdom of Freir): Athelcwen Aelfdaflind II, Forelad Deorhelm II,
Extra:
Steppen = (Abring) Plains (north Abring region)478Please respect copyright.PENANAuHlWWrU5mD
Shebeteth = (Abring) Tribes (south Abring region)478Please respect copyright.PENANA15oF8SBCG6
Dohtorbyrg = Daughter Dwelling/Fort (Abbret fort)478Please respect copyright.PENANAW9xtGEGTY2
Ealdgeard = Old Garden (Drubeorg town and castle)
Cyning = (Petty) King478Please respect copyright.PENANAPVcp2cHhBD
Aethelcyning = High/Holy King478Please respect copyright.PENANAUNUnzXdFd5
Aethelcwen = High/Holy Queen478Please respect copyright.PENANAGeZ9PbdtZs
Ealdormann = Elder Council Man / Lord/Landholder / (literal) elder man478Please respect copyright.PENANAbtLrnJX3wn
Hysemann = Young Council Man / Young Landholder / Son of a Lord/Landholder / (literal) young man478Please respect copyright.PENANA7gucgXfZQM
Ealdorfreo = Elder Council Woman / Wife of a Lord/Landholder / Lady Landholder / (literal) elder woman478Please respect copyright.PENANAV9rbhcTuYd
Forelad: Chief Leader / (literal) chief/front lead478Please respect copyright.PENANAsaBp0wFdg8
Ralethan = Chief (of the Shebeteth tribes (central Abring))478Please respect copyright.PENANAkyPnJLcEfB
Holunder = Elder (of the Steppen tribes (north Abring))
Abbret = near Abring (kingdom on Macdha-Abring border)478Please respect copyright.PENANAoI3EHteNtd
Swerthoweard = Holy (of Scaelda) Ward/Fortress (kingdom on southern Macdha-Scentral border)478Please respect copyright.PENANAP5hV4Nqapb
Drubeorg = Dry Mountain (kingdom on Macdha-Scentral border in mountain region)478Please respect copyright.PENANAhQH6EKL3Qt
Freir = (from Fyr and Hat, meaning Fire and Hot (originally Fyrhat, then Friarhet, then Freir)) (kingdom in central Macdha on westmost border; considered oldest and most respected Macdha kingdom)478Please respect copyright.PENANAQTBZzLGU0R
Camesh Shebeteth = South Man Tribe (central Abring tribe)478Please respect copyright.PENANArU0ekkxq5Z
Camesh Ber = South Man Village (Camesh village in north Abring)478Please respect copyright.PENANAmRfz3oMSB8
(Camesh = combines words Canth (for South) and Mesh (for Man))478Please respect copyright.PENANAGrcCacO6w3
Steppenziege = Plains Goat (north Abring tribe)478Please respect copyright.PENANAugf911xO0w
Steppenziege-Hirte = Plains Goat Shepherd (Steppenziege village in northeast Abring)478Please respect copyright.PENANAOlh9DU4pCv
Scoldwalla = Holy (of Scaelda and Molda) Heaven (duchy of southern Central Province)478Please respect copyright.PENANA7jIsYYXeBM
Kathyfieth = Fief/Land of Kathryn (legendary lady warrior) (county on Macdha-Scentral border)478Please respect copyright.PENANAE9eSMij16m
Lowercent = (duchy of southwestern Central Province)
People (titles according to EY378-399):478Please respect copyright.PENANAilVzC1ewUM
Abbret:478Please respect copyright.PENANAdnFRBxJr41
Frithscield = Sun/Fire Shield (king of Abbret)478Please respect copyright.PENANADtAOi8Ftb0
Cirwalfan = Good-humored Servant (marshal and general of Abbret)478Please respect copyright.PENANAwVxko89ng6
Ides = Virgin/Maiden (wife of Cirwalfan, council lady of Abbret)478Please respect copyright.PENANAq8i5dKegVZ
Gweorhelm = Roaming Crown / Eye Crown (son of Cirwalfan and Ides, general-apparent of Abbret)478Please respect copyright.PENANAqgIHLeqTly
Swerthoweard:478Please respect copyright.PENANA6uUr8fDl1C
Gwerborne = Born of Gwere / Born of a Farmer Woman (son of Gwere, general-apparent of Swerthoweard)478Please respect copyright.PENANAIjnBxx7vtS
Gwere = Plough / Farmer Woman (general of Swerthoweard)478Please respect copyright.PENANAnKQQlsUwOh
Hwelanmaeg = Rage Might / Mighty Rage (king of Swerthoweard)478Please respect copyright.PENANAYo0auUdXip
Drubeorg:478Please respect copyright.PENANANFZOSwIdz2
Dunhelm = Mountain Crown (king of Drubeorg)478Please respect copyright.PENANAWGVL9jlALV
Stielenhelm = As hard as steel Crown / Crown as hard as steel (prince of Drubeorg)478Please respect copyright.PENANA9wS3e6p3TP
Hornheard = Horn Hard (marshal and general of Drubeorg)478Please respect copyright.PENANADT7BKcSRzg
Freir:478Please respect copyright.PENANAs0JCfGTmMQ
Woldfath III = Strong Faith/Fire (king of Freir)478Please respect copyright.PENANAbLdPeNqkV8
Aelfdaflind II = Deafening Holiness (queen of Freir)478Please respect copyright.PENANAt391o8FOm4
Winterburne = Winter Brook/Stream/Spring (general of Freir)478Please respect copyright.PENANAE81uPgDWOs
Deorhelm = Deer Crown (I general of Freir, founder and first leader of Courier Knights; II son of Deorhelm I, second leader of Courier Knights)478Please respect copyright.PENANAUjFkvzLgmV
Shebeteth Abring:478Please respect copyright.PENANA3GEillQkxZ
Janimheth = Gift of Hel (Hel is the guardian of the Underworld) (chief of Camesh Ber)478Please respect copyright.PENANAfqyRPvH4xO
Steppen Abring:478Please respect copyright.PENANAhMcEASJ66D
Ziesch = Goat Shepherd / Remembrance (elder of a Steppenziege tribe)478Please respect copyright.PENANAYKbJoVq4k3
Scentral:478Please respect copyright.PENANAfJ1fZukDPY
Vorthun = (emperor of Scentral, duke of Draeksong)478Please respect copyright.PENANAd5RMU00hhn
Domini = (duke of Morriggon, ex-marshal of Scentral)478Please respect copyright.PENANAkDx4p3Ki2z
Dei = (son of Domini, duke-apparent of Morriggon, marshal of Scentral)478Please respect copyright.PENANAnvTqt7HgJ8
Pruspos = (duke of Lowercent)478Please respect copyright.PENANAxtPfUlUZ7k
Raimont = (Scentral count, vassal of Pruspos)478Please respect copyright.PENANAPrjtvTTbUG
Gundnath = (marshal of Lowercent)478Please respect copyright.PENANAzjt5YR38Lr
Dorthenwald = (duke of Scoldwalla)478Please respect copyright.PENANAPUUFTpkVYh
Meirthod = (Scentral count, marshal of Scoldwalla)478Please respect copyright.PENANAOQG2acLeu6
Yldas = (sister of Yldonn, marshal of Kathyfieth, vassal of Yldonn)478Please respect copyright.PENANAgS1tOvVfIS
*Yldonn = (count of Kathyfieth)478Please respect copyright.PENANAgDmZldl5uA
Wesson = (duke of Outnorth, count of Hel's County)
* not mentioned in the passages
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