Skirmish of Kholinar

Part of Conflict Rethian Crusade
The Skirmish of Kholinar was the first encounter in the Rethian Crusade between the Theiosists and the Rethians, it happened outside the city on the hill of Kholinar, the Réthians bringing out a huge war elephant to combat the Orthodox Forces. It was a long battle leaving hundreds dead but in the end the Réthians lost their elephant & gave up and retreated into the city.
== The Battle ==
=== March from Aethus ===
After the Orthodox landing in Aethus, they marched south with all their men & horses. When Réthian scouts learned of the landing and notified the Akar Surena · he geared his men prepared a war elephant and marched out of the city believing his home advantage & diverse troops would deliver him a quick win before the besiegement of the city.
=== Confrontation in Kholinar ===
Alyzan, Burzahktur of the Orthodox forces saw the Réthians set up on the plains of Kholinar · his advisors advised against attacking the Réthians because of their war elephant & superior archers but Alyzan was conceited, prideful because of his ancestry & then so he marched his army towards Kholinar and both sides prepared for battle.
==== The Skirmish ====
In formation Surena & Alyzan, leaders of opposing factions, their forefathers once cooperated for the greater good of one state spoke in aggressive language · Alyzan called him a heretic and then shouting "THEIOS VULT" · then so they charged into battle with the Réthians and the sky turned gray. Alyzan's father was the master of the battlefield and trained his son so · the Rethians were a new nation Surena was a politician and a philosopher therefore the Orthodox were better organized, efficient and in better formation with the Réthians being more messy.
It was still a long and hard fought battle lasting hours with hundreds of casualties but the Orthodox managed to pass from the Réthian west flank & managed to defeat the elephant which made the Réthians lose hope so they retreated and fortified in the city trying to rebuild after their defeat.
=== After-Math ===
The Réthians were put on the backfoot and entered their city fortifying it & replenishing their losses preparing to defend their city, the Orthodox followed them & set up camp outside the city to also replenish forces. Conclusion being Orthodox victory, push into Réthian land & preparations for a lengthy siege of the city.