Editing Battle Of Vranik Forest (section)

=== <u>Course of the Battle</u> ===


The Volkshearth army mobilized in force, marching south to secure the territory of its ally. At the head of it, the symbol of the Skeydan resistance to Church repression and the oldest rivalry to grace the north. In the snows of the Beroskian wood is where the doom or ascendance of the Skeydans would be decided. Marching from the opposition, the determined forces of House Rykov under the banner of Lord Pavel Rykov who had successfully united them behind the cultural creed of the Conclavist creeds. 

In the south at Silvershore, an army raised in House Visegrad marched in due fervor in defense of their ally. Despite the noble cause, they were only able to muster 22,000 men for the war. Standing at the border, the captains remain restless in their desire to engage the enemies in the north. 

The battle for the Vranik Forest began with the vicious assault by House Volkshearth armies on those of Rykov, who were attempting to join the Norinn siege. Large, burly huskarls rushed from the treeline, arrows striking the hardened Kremiyan lines as the first sign of blood heralded commensurate lust from the warriors who sought it. The first clash saw the Rykov army unprepared for such a sudden attack, as the Volkshearth army fell into them with great intensity. 

Great axes struck shield, as holy battle missionaries rallied the Rykov ranks in valiant holy crusade. Blood drenched the snow as the battle lines drew away just to clash once more, horsemen getting caught and butchered among the bushes and trees. Kaiyusa Takeda fell upon the frontline of House Visegrad, leading a remarkable counter charge that ended in the death of several large huskarl infantry. Chants invigorated the lines as the holy armies of the north brought the blessed sword and the ecclesiastical rod. Still, on the flanks the Rykov army could not consolidate in time to effectively stave off a prepared ambush. Heavy infantry clawed their way through Rykov lines, spraying blood with each swing as the backlines featured a mixture of lighter armored units and supply lines. The poor morale of the Janissaries suffered under the brutal attack, and their Commander Takeda knew this. A horn blew, and soon the Rykovs began their retreat. 

The first bout went in favor of Volkshearth, as Kaiyusa Takeda expertly rallied the army away from further disaster. In all, 6,000 janissaries and 3,000 Rykov troops were slain, to 1,000 of Volshearth’s army. New skirmishes marked the snowy fields and woods, as House Volkshearth began to press their advantage. Takeda’s army, numbering in the tens of thousands, finally stabilized their position in northeastern Wielzebjin. Well supplied and with the support of Norinn’s army, they faced a precarious situation with the Visegrad army to the south and an invigorated foe to the north.