Sack of Shadebeach

The Sack of Shadebeach was an early engagement of the Lakelands Conflict. It was fought between the House Guard of the neutral House Phyre and a 100 strong force of bandits under Tarrel "The Dread's Dog", Dontar's second-in-command. House Phyre had previously refused to contribute to the fight against the Brotherhood, despite their close proximity to the area where the fighting was occuring. The sack was eventually relieved by forces under the command of Sir Ed Rocke. 
== History ==
=== Background ===
With the decisive Brotherhood victory at the First Battle of The God's Lake in 398 AF against Lord Anron Rocke's Army, the Brotherhood were left uncontested over the lands south of The God's Lake, west of The Green Lakes and east of Shadebeach. They heavily pillaged the controlled lands, primarily small homesteads and farms, over the next year until the near end of 399 AF where Dontar ordered his second-in-command, Tarrel "The Dread's Dog" to take 100 men to Shadebeach and sack the town in an attempt to draw the forces of House Rocke out into battle again. 
=== The Sacking ===
The 100 Bandits quickly broke into the town and overwhelmed the House Phyre Guard of around 50 men who promptly withdrew from Shadebeach under the orders of Lord Tylan Phyre. They camped outside of Shadebeach for a week while the town was sacked, looted and razed by the occupying bandits. Many of the town's women were abducted by the bandits and transported elsewhere along with a sizeable population of the town's men being killed. 
After a week of occupation, Sir Ed Rocke and 100 Rocke riders turned up and with the 50 House Guards, relieved the town and the outlaws fled.
=== Aftermath ===
Lord Tylan expected Lord Anron and the Rocke Army to arrive and assist them in retaking Shadebeach but Lord Anron informing Lord Tylan that his decision to not participate decided the fate of his holding but he would send Sir Ed and the forces he could spare. He was instead preserving his forces ready to make a second offensive at The God's Lake, also sceptical of a larger plan by Dontar, an assumption he was correct in. Lord Tylan respected Lord Anron's decision and committed his House to the cause from there onwards.
It would take House Phyre a while to rebuild before they could provide any substantial assistance to the fighting but it was a moral boost to those already fighting upon seeing more Lakelanders joining the fight. 
The Sacking of a large town, as well as earlier defeats, would reach King Warren and in 400 AF he deployed Prince Ronan and 100 Boyce Guard to the region and would largely command the efforts at the Second Battle of The God's Lake, providing fresh and experienced troops to the fighting as well as battle-tested elite troops. The Sacking of Shadebeach would be the last major Brotherhood victory.
Category:Lakelands Conflict
Shadebeach
Category:399 AF