Highvale Family/Cedric/Battle of Rettlewood

The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and the metallic tang of spilled blood. A grim silence had settled over Rettlewood, broken only by the mournful creak of ancient trees and the soft whimpers of the wounded. I, Cedric Highvale, knight of D’Hara, stirred amidst the carnage, my body wracked with pain. As I pushed myself to my feet, the full extent of the slaughter became sickeningly clear. My once proud Emerald Blades, forty-four strong, were now scattered across the forest floor, their lives extinguished in a tide of monstrous fury. Their vibrant green cloaks, once symbols of hope and valor, were now stained crimson, a testament to the brutality of our defeat.

Mere days ago, we had been feasting in the great hall of Paisly, the laughter and merriment echoing through the ancient stone walls. We had just left to rejoin the army in Celtiberia when I received the news, whispered urgently by a soot-streaked messenger - tales of monstrous creatures terrorizing the humble folk of Rettlewood, their cries for aid echoing through the surrounding lands. As a bannerman of D’Hara, duty compelled me to answer their pleas. Despite the warnings of my advisors, who spoke of the monsters' fearsome strength and the treacherous terrain of Rettlewood, I rallied my Emerald Blades, our hearts filled with righteous fury. We marched into the forest, our banners held high, our resolve unwavering.

Now, the wind whispered through the shattered branches, carrying with it the echoes of the battle. The clash of steel, the guttural roars of the monsters, the desperate cries of my men – all replayed in my mind, a haunting melody of despair. Fourteen brave souls had been lost, their lives offered up as a sacrifice to the insatiable hunger of these cursed monsters. Twenty-eight more lay scattered amongst the fallen, their bodies broken and bloodied. Each fallen soldier was a dagger in my heart, a reminder of my failure as their commander. My own armor, once gleaming proudly in the sunlight, was now battered and torn, a reflection of my own shattered spirit. A deep gash on my shoulder pulsed with agonizing pain, and my head throbbed with the memory of a monstrous blow.

Yet, even amidst the despair, a flicker of defiance remained. I would not allow this defeat to be the end of the Emerald Blades. We would rebuild, we would return, and we would avenge the fallen. The monsters may have won this battle, but the war was far from over. With a heavy heart, I knelt beside the fallen, offering a silent prayer for their souls. Then, summoning the last of my strength, I turned my back on the battlefield, rallying the injured to leave, my eyes fixed on the horizon. The road ahead would be long and arduous, but I knew in my heart that the Emerald Blades would rise again, stronger and more determined than ever before.

-Firsthand account of Cedric Highvale

=Battle in Rettlewood=

message to all nobles participating in the battle in Rettlewood

No.	Role	Army	Unit	Commander	Realm	Unit	Formation	CS
1	A		The Emerald Blades	Cedric	D'Hara	44 Inf	box	631
2	D		Monsters	(Monsters)	(rogue)	10 other	line	605
3	D		Monsters	(Monsters)	(rogue)	4 other	line	335
4	D		Monsters	(Monsters)	(rogue)	10 other	line	895
5	D		Monsters	(Monsters)	(rogue)	10 other	line	505

Total:
1 attackers (44 Inf)
4 defenders (34 other)
Total combat strengths: 631 vs. 2340

The region owner (rogue) and their allies defend.
The D'Hara troops attack because they are at war with (rogue).

Strong winds and gusts are making ranged combat a game of luck.

(legend: I=Infantry, M=Mixed Inf, A=Archers, C=Cavalry, S=Special Forces, U=Undead, M=Monsters)
Turn No. 1

1 (44-I)

2 (10-M) 3 (4-M) 4 (10-M)

5 (10-M)

The Emerald Blades (1) advance towards the enemy.
Monsters (4), Monsters (5), Monsters (2) and Monsters (3) advance towards the enemy.


Total hits suffered: Attackers: 0 (0 from close combat and 0 from ranged), Defenders: 0 (0 from close combat and 0 from ranged)

Turn No. 2

1 (44-I)

2 (10-M) 3 (4-M) 4 (10-M)

5 (10-M)

The Emerald Blades (1) advance towards the enemy.
Monsters (3), Monsters (4), Monsters (5) and Monsters (2) advance towards the enemy.


Close Combat (Attacker Line 1):
3 D'Hara banners are visible in the melee.
Monsters (3) score 107 hits on The Emerald Blades (1).
Monsters (4) score 839 hits on The Emerald Blades (1).
The Emerald Blades (1) score 180 hits on Monsters (2).
The Emerald Blades (1) score 75 hits on Monsters (3).
The Emerald Blades (1) score 153 hits on Monsters (4).
Monsters (2) score 266 hits on The Emerald Blades (1).
Total close combat hits suffered: Attackers: 1212, Defenders: 408

Monsters (3) take 75 hits in close combat, which cause 1 casualties.
Monsters (4) take 153 hits in close combat, which cause 1 casualties.
The Emerald Blades (1) take 1212 hits in close combat, which cause 22 casualties.
Cedric Highvale, Knight of Paisly has been wounded by Monsters (3).
Monsters (2) take 180 hits in close combat, which cause 2 casualties.
Total hits suffered: Attackers: 1212 (1212 from close combat and 0 from ranged), Defenders: 408 (408 from close combat and 0 from ranged)
Total casualties: 22 attackers, 4 defenders

Turn No. 3

1 (22-I) 2 (8-M) 3 (3-M) 4 (9-M)

5 (10-M)

Monsters (5) advance towards the enemy.


Close Combat (Attacker Line 1):
3 D'Hara banners are visible in the melee.
Monsters (2) score 181 hits on The Emerald Blades (1).
Monsters (3) score 115 hits on The Emerald Blades (1).
Monsters (4) score 770 hits on The Emerald Blades (1).
The Emerald Blades (1) score 90 hits on Monsters (2).
The Emerald Blades (1) score 38 hits on Monsters (3).
The Emerald Blades (1) score 98 hits on Monsters (4).
Total close combat hits suffered: Attackers: 1066, Defenders: 226

Monsters (2) take 90 hits in close combat, which cause 1 casualties.
Monsters (3) take 38 hits in close combat. No casualties.
Monsters (4) take 98 hits in close combat, which cause 1 casualties.
The Emerald Blades (1) take 1066 hits in close combat, which cause 20 casualties, making the unit retreat from the battlefield.
Cedric Highvale, Knight of Paisly has been seriously wounded by Monsters (4).
Total hits suffered: Attackers: 1066 (1066 from close combat and 0 from ranged), Defenders: 226 (226 from close combat and 0 from ranged)
Total casualties: 20 attackers, 2 defenders

Defender Victory!

The battle does minor damage to the local infrastructure. Production falls 2 %.

Serious Wound!

(Personal message)

You have been very seriously wounded during the battle in Rettlewood!

Battle Results

(Personal message)

Your unit participated in a battle in Rettlewood. Your scribe has written down a battle report.

The battle lasted for 1 hours.

You have gained 2 Honour and 1 Prestige.
You have improved your swordfighting skill.
14 of your men were killed and 28 were wounded in this battle.
Morale of your troops falls by 26 points. Your men's equipment suffers 14 % damage. Combat training increases by 1 points. Unit cohesion rises 1 points.