Sirion (Realm)/Death of Hortar Lurdigala
Sir Hortar Lurdigala was a well-liked knight of the Limbar region. More importantly, he was a hero of the realm of Sirion. His bravery and honor have inspired many, both noble and commoner alike, and his death at the hands of the Fontan forces will always be remembered.
The following are accounts of that fateful day.
Battle Report
Collected from the scribes of many lords and nobles that participated in that day's bloodshed.
An Eye-Witness Account
From an account of a scribe in the employ of Sir Atanamir of Umbar:
"Young Sir Atanamir stands in Tabost with his 50 men, the Haradrim, powerful two-sworded warriors, ready to die for their master at any time or command. His banner, from his father's side of the House of Umbar, black and red, flies over his head. His head, which carries his father's helmet, the famous Lion Helmet of Umbar, a helmet with the shape of a lion head, golden, made for his father in the Golden City long ago. They are part of the assembled powerful army of Sirion which sees on the horizon already the hordes of enemies approaching. Strong and fearless stands the Elven army facing their enemies approaching, awaiting only one command to let the slaughter begin. Young Atanamir can't await his first great battle to come either and follow the path of his father into the great history books of the East Continent.
To his right stands Sir Aryk and to his left Sir Tavius with their men, also ready to engage the enemy upon command. And then it begins...trumpets and war horns sound through the melee and banners are held high...the enemy approaches and the Elven army moves. First waves arrows - friendly and hostile - fly over Sir Atanamir's head, deadly searching for their prey. Then Infantry of both sides collides one against the other. Deadly duels begin and first casualties are taken on both sides. Young Sir Atanamir takes then his sword out of his haft and the enemies around him are dazzled by the blade and stumble backwards! He holds Glinluin, the legendary One Sword high and with its blue glow on its blade it seems as the sword seems to be happy to be used again against the enemies of his family and his realm! Two-handed he begins now to handle his sword mowing down enemy after enemy who drop like flies as Glinluin enjoys so much blood on its blade again!
Suddenly he sees Sir Hortar charging alone with his few loyal men into the attackers ranks spreading death and terror! But his attack is quickly halted and soon Atanamir sees Hortar and his men surrounded by hostile troops trying to get him off his horse. Sir Hortar keeps slaying from his horse one after the other but they are too many and they get more and more furious seeing their comrades cut down by the Elf. Suddenly a pikeman attacks with his long pike and Sir Hortar's horse rears up and he falls on the ground. Quickly he is surrounded by the enemy who shows no mercy to the Sirionite hero. Atanamir and the rest of the army see this and charge forward toward the body of Sir Hortar. Many nobles on both sides are already wounded at this time but merciless are the elven swords now and enraged their carriers' faces as they fight their way through.
Seeing that the Infantry suffers heavy casualties, in very same moment the General and Duke Ecthelion charge ahead and lead a mounted attack into the enemies ranks taking off the pressure from the others who try to get through to Sir Hortar's body. Their heavy armored Cavalry stomps the Fontanese and Westmoorian Infantry down and they break the enemy lines like walls made out of paper. But their intervention was too good meant and both of them get dragged off their horses as they have split too much from their supporting Infantry. They get captured and carried away from the battlefield immediately.
In the meantime, Atanamir and the other nobles have reached Sir Hortar's body. Dead he lies down, his beautiful horse and his loyal men around him, dead as well. But also many enemies lay down here, he had taken many with him before they could get him. A Hero dead, the General captured, the Elven nobles decide to carry his body away back out of the battlefield. Those who still can, cover them, Atanamir among them, slaying his opponents and with his Helmet he looks like a Lion who defends his territory, biting any other rival to death.
Finally, as Sir Hortar was carried away, the signal comes to have the Infantry retreat and leave the remaining rests of the decimated enemy force to the judgment of the Elven archery in the rear of the Elven army. And the judgment was cruel. As the Infantry gets behind the Archers, the pursuing hostile troops get into one volley of arrows after the other. Most of them die, before even reaching the elves, the rest dies in a short man to man combat phase where the Elven archers prove to handle their sword or daggers excellent as their bows.
The rest of the enemy retreats and the day is Sirion's. But the price was high and a Hero has fallen. Still, once more Sirion has proven its tactical superiority and quality of its army. and the enemy has been thrown back again. And one thing is sure as well: tonight the Sirion river will be red."
