Battle of Lesthem
| Battle of Lesthem | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Second Age of South-East Island | |||||||||||
 The Funeral Pyre of the heroic Pontifex Phear, who perished during the Battle of Lesthem | |||||||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||||||
| Attackers | Defenders | ||||||||||
| Taselak | Toren | ||||||||||
| Commanders | |||||||||||
| Dennis, Baron of Falens, Marshal of the Shield of Falens | Averyll, Fiduciary of Toren, Countess of Jerelin, Marshal of the Army of Tor | ||||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||||
| 12793 CS | 13018 CS | ||||||||||
| Formations | |||||||||||
| None | None | ||||||||||
| Casualties | |||||||||||
| 642 | 708 | ||||||||||
There have been many battles in the region of Lesthem on the South-East Island, but the Battle of Lesthem usually refers to one very specific battle that forever changed the course of history for the Second Age of SEI. It occurred on March 17th, 2007, and brought about the death of Phear Fantom, a hero who had ruled over Toren since the first days of the Second Age, and thus ended the Golden Age of Toren. Cyperus Sarracenia, the Duke of Toren Stronghold who was favored by most of Toren's nobles to be the successor to Phear, was also wounded during this battle and thus was unable to campaign for the title of Pontifex. In his absence, the title fell to Averyll Arete, also known as the Butcher of Lesthem and later as the Tyrant of Toren, and so the Battle of Lesthem ultimately ushered in the Dark Age of Toren.
Prelude
The Second Age of SEI began with Widfara as the Pontifex of Toren. His reign was short-lived, and Phear soon became the new Pontifex. Phear was considered to be a brilliant political strategist, and his skills in the art of diplomacy saved Toren from annihilation on numerous occasions. More specifically, he masterminded the alliance between Toren, Taselak and Ikalak against Sandalak, which ultimately resulted in the Fall of Sandalak. Shortly before Sandalak City fell to Ikalak, Phear created a new alliance between Toren and Ikalak against Taselak. He had preferred an alliance with Taselak against Ikalak, but Taselak declined and instead focused all of their military power against Toren regardless of any assaults initiated by Ikalak. Consequently, the borders between Toren and Taselak were in constant fluctuation, and one of the most contested regions was Lesthem.
By the time the famous Battle of Lesthem occured, Lesthem had been subjected to many Hostile Takeovers (HTO) by both Toren and Taselak. Averyll Arete, one of Toren's Marshals (as well as the Countess of Jerelin and the only Fiduciary left on SEI), suggested that Toren initiate a Friendly Takeover (FTO) to persuade the peasants to support Toren over Taselak; however, Taselak was the first to attempt a FTO. Consequently, the peasants came to dislike Toren immensely, and this made HTOs much more difficult. Averyll became frustrated with the military council for missing the opportunity for an FTO, and requested that the responsibility for future takeover attempts to be placed in her hands, and Phear agreed. She decided to counter Taselak's FTO with a Brutal Takeover; however, her call-to-arms was so filled with bloodlust that many Toren nobles, including Jean II who would later become the Count of Lesthem, stated that they were ashamed to be a part of a realm that would endorse such behaviour. Nevertheless, they obeyed Averyll's orders, and the people of Lesthem were so devasted that its population was reduced to 66, hence Averyll's nickname: the Butcher of Lesthem. Regardless, Averyll's strategy worked, and Lesthem remained solidly under the control of Toren for many months. However, Taselak obviously wanted it back, and so Toren sent its forces back into Lesthem to defend it's new region. The last such battle became known as the Battle of Lesthem.
