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 infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANATb5IW9XuTD
110 Abring (Steppenziege tribes): 80 ranged cavalry, 30 ranged infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANAG55ESPA3jQ
170 Abring (a Steppenziege tribe): 170 ranged cavalry590Please respect copyright.PENANAbZsF5Hp6xJ
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 machines590Please respect copyright.PENANAnEEInmFL4I
670 Macdha (Petty Kingdom of Swerthoweard): Hysemann Gwerborne, 600 cavalry, 120 ranged cavalry, 40 spellcaster infantry, 300 ranged infantry, 150 infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANAovyeKVTewA
530 Macdha (Courier Knight Guild): Forelad Deorhelm I, Hysemann Deorhelm II, 80 spellcaster infantry, 150 ranged infantry, 300 infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANAwLm4mIbzES
2460 Abring (Camesh Shebeteth and Steppenziege): Ralethan Janimheth, Holunder Ziesch, 60 cavalry, 1800 ranged cavalry, 450 ranged infantry, 150 infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANAvLH0RuXrXl
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 women590Please respect copyright.PENANAsNC0qgHWDg
Macdha (Petty Kingdom of Swerthoweard): Cyning Hwelanmaeg, Ealdorfreo Gwere,590Please respect copyright.PENANARUFQfYa6zu
Macdha (Kingdom of Freir): Hysemann Winterburne, 60 cavalry, 20 spellcaster infantry, 100 ranged infantry, 150 infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANArkztN4UuhH
Macdha (Courier Knight Guild): Ealdormann Deorhelm II, 840 cavalry, 450 ranged infantry, 150 infantry590Please respect copyright.PENANAegVZwBrHqq
Scentral (Draeksong Duchy): Emperor Vorthun, 180 spellcaster cavalry, 480 cavalry, 1800 spellcster infantry, 750 ranged infantry, 2700 infantry, 160 siege operators, 8 siege machines590Please respect copyright.PENANAQMocRVE6WR
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 machines590Please respect copyright.PENANAUiHoQjXSrz
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 women590Please respect copyright.PENANAtpcABzPPTf
Macdha (Kingdom of Freir): Ealdormann590Please respect copyright.PENANAEFa8XNOrmo
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,590Please respect copyright.PENANAC5pu7OO8rq
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)590Please respect copyright.PENANA6p6SXEjg42
Shebeteth = (Abring) Tribes (south Abring region)590Please respect copyright.PENANALo9NRu2KFi
Dohtorbyrg = Daughter Dwelling/Fort (Abbret fort)590Please respect copyright.PENANASfxLlFgw5k
Ealdgeard = Old Garden (Drubeorg town and castle)
Cyning = (Petty) King590Please respect copyright.PENANA2Pr3uKgKHG
Aethelcyning = High/Holy King590Please respect copyright.PENANAgUutmf4ZDu
Aethelcwen = High/Holy Queen590Please respect copyright.PENANAOfa9JS7RvV
Ealdormann = Elder Council Man / Lord/Landholder / (literal) elder man590Please respect copyright.PENANArEIqKPM3a4
Hysemann = Young Council Man / Young Landholder / Son of a Lord/Landholder / (literal) young man590Please respect copyright.PENANAMA7U4pd3yn
Ealdorfreo = Elder Council Woman / Wife of a Lord/Landholder / Lady Landholder / (literal) elder woman590Please respect copyright.PENANA5Yy9eRVoFq
Forelad: Chief Leader / (literal) chief/front lead590Please respect copyright.PENANATAZTCDoS06
Ralethan = Chief (of the Shebeteth tribes (central Abring))590Please respect copyright.PENANALacH1wOUiY
Holunder = Elder (of the Steppen tribes (north Abring))
Abbret = near Abring (kingdom on Macdha-Abring border)590Please respect copyright.PENANABN62e2qQcv
Swerthoweard = Holy (of Scaelda) Ward/Fortress (kingdom on southern Macdha-Scentral border)590Please respect copyright.PENANAq8jTyZUIG5
Drubeorg = Dry Mountain (kingdom on Macdha-Scentral border in mountain region)590Please respect copyright.PENANAGUImbSvR1o
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)590Please respect copyright.PENANA4nLZK2Xub3
Camesh Shebeteth = South Man Tribe (central Abring tribe)590Please respect copyright.PENANAURup21ZaR3
Camesh Ber = South Man Village (Camesh village in north Abring)590Please respect copyright.PENANAsSBgYmedEc
(Camesh = combines words Canth (for South) and Mesh (for Man))590Please respect copyright.PENANA5v7iDVS6kX
Steppenziege = Plains Goat (north Abring tribe)590Please respect copyright.PENANAlC1SqiU78B
Steppenziege-Hirte = Plains Goat Shepherd (Steppenziege village in northeast Abring)590Please respect copyright.PENANAt588VgUGbN
Scoldwalla = Holy (of Scaelda and Molda) Heaven (duchy of southern Central Province)590Please respect copyright.PENANAr2DuCJrGwv
Kathyfieth = Fief/Land of Kathryn (legendary lady warrior) (county on Macdha-Scentral border)590Please respect copyright.PENANAvhU7MnJh7H
Lowercent = (duchy of southwestern Central Province)
People (titles according to EY378-399):590Please respect copyright.PENANAJjjYJLlhl0
Abbret:590Please respect copyright.PENANAEXBEepc3Pm
Frithscield = Sun/Fire Shield (king of Abbret)590Please respect copyright.PENANAeK5ZHk5rCQ
Cirwalfan = Good-humored Servant (marshal and general of Abbret)590Please respect copyright.PENANAuEQ6486Jj6
Ides = Virgin/Maiden (wife of Cirwalfan, council lady of Abbret)590Please respect copyright.PENANA6XH8SCnjHQ
Gweorhelm = Roaming Crown / Eye Crown (son of Cirwalfan and Ides, general-apparent of Abbret)590Please respect copyright.PENANAVQVz4p10XL
Swerthoweard:590Please respect copyright.PENANA0ib7IGCvER
Gwerborne = Born of Gwere / Born of a Farmer Woman (son of Gwere, general-apparent of Swerthoweard)590Please respect copyright.PENANApLWbGYx1tV
Gwere = Plough / Farmer Woman (general of Swerthoweard)590Please respect copyright.PENANAKKucYEYEwo
Hwelanmaeg = Rage Might / Mighty Rage (king of Swerthoweard)590Please respect copyright.PENANAAxMIVLDid0
Drubeorg:590Please respect copyright.PENANAgZNL1wyoWe
Dunhelm = Mountain Crown (king of Drubeorg)590Please respect copyright.PENANACTqP5ZsCCm
Stielenhelm = As hard as steel Crown / Crown as hard as steel (prince of Drubeorg)590Please respect copyright.PENANA27m6k2ZfvL
Hornheard = Horn Hard (marshal and general of Drubeorg)590Please respect copyright.PENANATTEsWs6Nik
Freir:590Please respect copyright.PENANAoiEIV6uzCv
Woldfath III = Strong Faith/Fire (king of Freir)590Please respect copyright.PENANAKGOISN4yfb
Aelfdaflind II = Deafening Holiness (queen of Freir)590Please respect copyright.PENANAcFRFtyMAfs
Winterburne = Winter Brook/Stream/Spring (general of Freir)590Please respect copyright.PENANAEzziBOTVJg
Deorhelm = Deer Crown (I general of Freir, founder and first leader of Courier Knights; II son of Deorhelm I, second leader of Courier Knights)590Please respect copyright.PENANA87Kq1pR5nL
Shebeteth Abring:590Please respect copyright.PENANAF4ETxjZl14
Janimheth = Gift of Hel (Hel is the guardian of the Underworld) (chief of Camesh Ber)590Please respect copyright.PENANA3l7ZweRVjt
Steppen Abring:590Please respect copyright.PENANAjXEV0a7Eug
Ziesch = Goat Shepherd / Remembrance (elder of a Steppenziege tribe)590Please respect copyright.PENANAU399pTAEeQ
Scentral:590Please respect copyright.PENANA2xCsA758Wt
Vorthun = (emperor of Scentral, duke of Draeksong)590Please respect copyright.PENANAhzNoeBB3zi
Domini = (duke of Morriggon, ex-marshal of Scentral)590Please respect copyright.PENANAM9NJmi1WDe
Dei = (son of Domini, duke-apparent of Morriggon, marshal of Scentral)590Please respect copyright.PENANAJ119udQDrO
Pruspos = (duke of Lowercent)590Please respect copyright.PENANACDntknD5RK
Raimont = (Scentral count, vassal of Pruspos)590Please respect copyright.PENANAaerSn31Nbr
Gundnath = (marshal of Lowercent)590Please respect copyright.PENANAvRDzLMy99x
Dorthenwald = (duke of Scoldwalla)590Please respect copyright.PENANATtA8xK6JPz
Meirthod = (Scentral count, marshal of Scoldwalla)590Please respect copyright.PENANAVFyQgASJD9
Yldas = (sister of Yldonn, marshal of Kathyfieth, vassal of Yldonn)590Please respect copyright.PENANAG1NYg2kRb1
*Yldonn = (count of Kathyfieth)590Please respect copyright.PENANAjKNVn5Pacj
Wesson = (duke of Outnorth, count of Hel's County)
* not mentioned in the passages
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