Havocke's Folly

Havocke's Folly was a siege during the ongoing War of the South Lake. It pitted the attacking Count of Welldale against a Lacrivian garrison led by Signeur Emerie Yves-Thermout, a vassal of House Richeleu.
== Background ==
Until October 762, Dunfleasel had been neutral in the War of the South Lake. The Count of Welldale, John Havocke, had however been expecting his country to become embroiled at some point. He had ambitions to expand his holdings west by taking the Lacrivian fortress of Mont-Sarmans.
In late October, the war came to Dunfleasel with the invasion of a combined Lacrivian and Scanbroughan force from the north. The Count of Welldale saw this opportunity and, having never particularly cared for the Dunn noblemen whose holdings were threatened by this invasion, moved his forces across the border on the 2nd of November.
== The Siege ==
Havocke's venture was fraught with misfortune from the very beginning. His closest advisor, Sir Jeremy Penthaile, fell from his horse and broke his ankle on the first day of the march. Two days later a fire broke out in the wagon corral and rendered half his food stores useless.
When the force reached Mont-Sarmans on the 5th of November, they were greeted by a fortress far vaster and more well-equipped than Havocke had envisioned. It quickly became obvious that the Count and his four hundred men would be unable to take the castle, but Havocke refused to listen to his advisors' counsel and continued the siege.
The attacking force was forced to forage for food from late November, an act which earned them the enmity of the locals, and foraging parties were attacked by farmers and labourers on more than half a dozen occasions. A small bout of plague also struck the attacking camp in mid-December, killing upwards of twenty men and confining far more to their beds.
On the 16th of January 763, Havocke received an envoy from his liegelord, King Aostin Hercourét. He was required to make for the city of Armel at once to join the royal army. Over the next two days, Havocke packed down his camp.
On the day Havocke was to leave, the 18th of January, the defenders raised a flag of truce and their commander, Signeur Emerie Yves-Thermout, gifted Havocke with enough provisions to return home, as well as giving his condolences for the Dunn soldiers lost during the siege.
Category:Events
Category:Dunfleasel
Category:Lacrive