Battle of the Bees

Part of history of Otheia
The Battle of Esey Field, also known as the Battle of the Bees, is a legendary battle of the Age of Kings.
The Kingdom of Hasal began to conquer vast swathes of land surrounding it, and came to the Free Town of Ahcer, with the intent to destroy it for daring to resist him. The Council of Ahcer appointed Recerel as Captain-General of the garrison, and he hatched a plan to defend the town from the much larger forces.
The town of Ahcer was and remains well known for its production of honey and beeswax, and thus, Recerel had several hundred beehives relocated to, and buried just beneath the ground of, Esey Field, about three miles from the town. Equipping his soldiers with bee-suits to wear over their armor, Recerel then positioned his men on the far side of the field, behind a small stream.
The army of Hasal arrived and took position opposite them, and began the battle with a thundering cavalry charge, intending to route the peasants arrayed before them. However, the trembling ground disturbed the bees, which began to swarm angrily toward the horses, beginning a stampede. Undeterred by the initial failure, the commander, King Kaldor of Hasal, attempted to send his infantry across the field, however, they refused to advance, and the bees rapidly began swarming toward their force. A route began as the bees flew angrily, and the army fled the field, pursued by both the bees and the citizens of Ahcer, protected by their suits.
The large army was eventually bottlenecked at Alloh Bridge, and many were killed as they attempted to flee, both by bees and by attacks by Recerel’s forces. Men drowned as they attempted to swim across the river in heavy armor, and yet more were stung to death or felled by arrows and swords, including Kaldor.
The Hasal army was destroyed that day, and the kingdom would be swiftly conquered and divided by neighboring realms. Recerel was enshrined in legend for his ingenuity, and the town of Ahcer would remain unconquered until the Warlord Period.
Category:History of Otheia