BLCC-11

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BLCC-11

Caleus Castle after CC-11

Set 1

The Lion's Roar

Set 2

A Wall Of Men

Set 3

The End

# Rude Awakening

## Lore

*The wounded lion must fend off the raven.*

*Many expected the collapse of the Calradic Empire to herald the demise of the Imperial frontiers, and King Derthert of the Vlandians thought nothing different. Little did he know, the legionaries of the Western Empire were merely waiting for battle. Forced to retreat from the stronghold of Usanc Castle in an embarrassing fashion after hard-fought battle, the Vlandian King has spent the past few months ensuring local defenses around the vital cities of Sargot and Charas remain ready for any Imperial incursion.*

*But Vlandia does not only have one foe.*

*In the North, the Sturgians under Queen Svana smell blood in the water. Following a recent victory against the Battanians, the Sturgians have finally connected Nevyansk Castle to their territories by land. As a result, Queen Svana ordered the ambitious Varyazhe clan under Knyaz Varya to march his finest warriors to Nevyansk in preparation for a total attack on the Vlandians.*

*The northern frontier is not unprotected, however. Archduke Leofric dey Talbot is only second to the King of Vlandia himself in terms of influence in all of Vlandia. As the Marshal of Vlandia, he has assumed responsibility for the upcoming battle against the Sturgians in an effort to solidify the dominance of his clan in Northern Vlandia. With House Talbot already based in the north, the Marshal has a responsibility to both his clan and his kingdom to maintain the frontier, and if possible, expand his own domains through conquest.*

## Post Event Lore

*A record written in the aftermath of the Battle of the Northern Coast by the Duke-Scribe of Vlandia, to be read by those who come after...*

*Today, the lion has once more been humbled. The forces of Kynaz Varya have managed to overwhelm the people of Deriat and Caleus, ravaging the population in a tide of fat, muscle, and mail. Yet so too has the raven been forced to reckon, as they were repelled from the walls of our motte and bailey in the Morcomo Valley, preventing a conquest of Druimmor.*

*The banners of Vlandia were commanded this campaign by Leofric dey Talbot, Marshal of Vlandia and Archduke of Eborica, with Count Aeron dey Talbot as cavalry commander. To our aid came Regent Botarin of Battania to honor our alliance, Senator Veesor of the Republic, and Imperator Ethynol come to aid the realm he was once Crown Prince of. Alas, Sultan Unqid chose to march with Autokrator Garios in aiding the Sturgia, with the goal of repaying a disputed contract when the Imperial Civil War began. He had his satisfaction.*

*The battle began as the marauders disembarked, furiously breaking through the walls. From there, they marched to the settlement stables, where defenders sought to stand stalwart with crossbowmen in the rafters and locking shields on the ground. Against this, Sturgian might overwhelmed the defenders, storming the barn and putting the defenders to flight. The Archduke, waging battle against the enemy and the wailings of mutinous soldiers, regrouped to put the invaders into a kill zone. Alas, the Sturgians courted danger carefully - as some pushed forward in a shield wall, others stormed the alleys. Northern fury burst into the towers, banishing the infantry, hurling the crossbowmen from the towers and putting the host to flight.*

*Great sorrow dwelled in Deriat and Caleus, many Vlandians slain in defense of their homes, but the battle was not over yet. The flagging Vlandian host regrouped within an old motte and bailey in the Morcomo Valley, taking what refuge they could before the storm came for them. Sturgian ladders came up, Calradian fire forced a breach on the outer wall, and the Sturgians stormed the walls. The fighting was fierce, but in the end the Vlandians managed to repel the ladders and the Sturgians on them, and with reinforcements from Duke Alexander dey Vilesin, the Kynaz was forced to fall back.*

*The aftershocks of this will take time to be felt. The Sultan has made a diplomatic overture, sending back arms and armor from the dead to the Vlandians, but the fate of those taken prisoners is yet to be resolved as of this writing. The might of the dey Talbot has been challenged, and many have sought to widen the gap within the Vlandian court. Whether this will lead to the greatest of the vassals to be challenged, or for this second defeat to be used to challenge royal authority, I cannot say.*

*As to the victorious Sturgians? I can only speculate, but I cannot doubt that they are satisfied with their victory. The Bay of Varcheg is now nearly entirely in their control, with only the Corsairs of Ostican as their opposition. They may not have won completely, but they won the main engagement and did so decisively. The northern star continues to soar, and Queen Svana has much reason to be proud of her Kynaz.*

*Thank the Heavens that this record is done, for the wars go on.*

## Aftermath

The Principality of Sturgia took Caleus Castle from the Kingdom of Vlandia.

## Links

Event post: [1]

Wrapup post: [2]