Battle at Crystal Brook

The **Battle at Crystal Brook** (1006-7 GD) was a significant conflict between the Golden Claws of Galefridus and rogue Elves from Myvanna. The battle took place along the Crystal Brook river, situated in contested territory between Galefridus and Myvanna that engulfed several nearby galefridish settlements, including the villages of Stancaster, Drumberry and Oakhaven. By the end of the conflict, the surviving members of the Golden Claws were forced to withdraw from the area, evacuating the remaining settlers, while the elves were forced away from the area after a scorched earth action was implemented by Captain Xander to end the conflict.

### Precursor to conflict

In mid 1006 GD, reports of elven incursions across the mutually accepted border of Crystal Brook began to file in. At first, these reports consisted of minor events such as loss of cattle and such. Over time, reports of traders being threatened by elves on the roads to several settlements raised further suspicion in the galefridish government. By autumn 1006 GD, reports of aggressive raids, leading to violence against the galefridish settlers, arrived in Lionburh. Though the motive behind these actions remained elusive, it was determined that the army would be deployed to the area to maintain security at the border.

### Arrival of the Golden Claws

Being stationed in Lionburh, the Golden Claws company was deployed to the border to protect the settlements and show the elves that further incursions would not be tolerated. Lead by Captain Alexander (Xander) of Galefridus, 255 officers and soldiers marched to the conflict zone in the winter of 1006 GD. Xander deployed his company across the three villages of Stancaster, Drumberry and Oakhaven. He informed the settlement leaders that the army was there to protect them and hopefully deter any further elven aggression. Xander established his headquarters at a mill near Oakhaven, atop a cliff that oversees the area.

### Initial contact

Xander deployed patrols along the Crystal Brook river and stationed soldiers in each village. The first few months passed quietly with no incident. Unfortunately, elven aggression resumed in the spring of 1007 GD. A patrol traversing on the galefridish side of the river was attacked by elven skirmishers in the tree on the Myvanna side. The patrol was peppered in arrows and this first contact led to the death of a sergeant and two soldiers. Outmatched, the patrol withdrew and reported the attack.

### A battle of attrition

In response to this attack, the Golden Claws intensified their defense of the river border by deploying more patrols. Over the next few rides, the soldiers were, on occasion, attacked by arrows across the river, but now aware of the danger, few soldiers were severely injured. Despite these assaults and the pleading of both civilian settlers and his own officers, Xander refused to cross the river in force and hunt down the elves in their forest as he saw such an action as a direct act of war against Myvanna.

### Battle of Stancaster

On the 5th of Eleasias 1007 GD, at dawn, the first major battle took place at Stancaster. A significant force of elves crossed the Crystal Brook and assaulted the village before the change of guards. The soldiers on watch perished to the last man, but were able to rouse their comrades and the villagers in time to prevent a massacre. The lieutenant in charge lead a hastily organized defense and was able to repulse the attack, but the elves set many buildings ablaze before withdrawing into the morning mist. Over 30 soldiers died defending the village, along with over 20 local militia. With the village in ruins, the survivors packed up what belongings they could salvage and relocated to Oakhaven.

### Battle of Oakhaven

With one village destroyed, Xander realized that keeping his company split in two villages rendered both locations vulnerable to this aggressive elven attack. As such, he ordered the evacuation of Drumberry and consolidated his forces in Oakhaven, the largest of the three villages. On the 7th of Eleasias, Xander lead a large portion of his company to the only bridge at Crystal Brook and called the elves for a parley. However, after several hours, there was no response. The Golden Claws returned to Oakhaven and prepared their defenses.

Xander established a defense in depth, with himself and his lieutenants commanding forces on the outskirts of the village and a reserve of force led by his most senior sergeant. The local militia was told to hold the small church of Pelor located in the center of the village as the last defensible position. The attack came at the hour of the wolf, with hails of arrow coming from all directions. The Golden Claws had anticipated such an initial barrage and thus, had erected a number of shield walls to protect themselves. Soon, however, came the headlong assault. The elves moved silently and with incredible speed, slipping into the defensive lines. While it seemed like the Gales had superior numbers, the elves danced through the soldiers, cutting them down with longswords, rapiers and daggers. They slaughtered the officers first, but the highly trained soldiers held their resolve and fought back. Unfortunately, within just a few minutes, a third of the defenders were already dead or dying.

With the outer defense lines collapsing, Xander ordered a withdrawl to the interior of the village. For the next hour, the battle degraded into a vicious game of cat and mouse, with squads of Galefridish soldiers being hunted down by the elves. Just as dawn broke, the remaining soldiers regrouped at the church of Pelor and formed a final defensive circle around the building, with most of the surviving civilians crammed inside the church. But instead of charging the Gales, the elves withdrew into the forest once more, setting many buildings ablaze on their way out. The battle of Oakhaven was finished.

### Alone and surrounded

In the aftermath of the battle, the butcher's tally revealed that the Golden Claws had about half their numbers left. Fewer still in fighting condition. Nevertheless, determined to carry out his orders, Xander ordered a runner on horse to go contact the nearest military outpost and sound for reinforcements. The soldiers and civilians spent the day putting out the fires and collecting the dead for burial. However, Xander's worst fears came true that evening. The runner's horse returned to the half destroyed village, but with a headless rider. The road back was cut off. They were surrounded.

### Scorched Earth

His company depleted and with elves in the rear, Xander realized that his position in Oakhaven was lost. Should they stay, they would be slowly killed off. His mission of securing the border now a complete failure, the galefridish captain had only one course of action left. Evacuate the settlers from this area and return them to the interior of Galefridus. However, not knowing how strong of a force the elves had behind him, Xander needed a way to distract his enemies as they made their escape. To accomplish this, he realized that he had only one option, an option that he resolutely opposed at the beginning of this campaign. He would take the battle to the elves, in Myvanna.

On the 9th of Eleasias, at midday, Xander gathered his best archers and led them to the Crystal Brook river. They were not engaged as they patroled the river side and made their way to the wooden bridge. Arriving there, Xander ordered his men to set the bridge afire, destroying the only easy crossing between them and the elves. They remained in place to make sure that the bridge was completely destroyed before they set out to accomplish the second part of their withdrawal. By then, it was almost dusk. Xander ordered his archer to set up and light a line of oil on the ground. At his command, they unleashed a hail of fire arrows straight into the forest on the opposite side of the river. Due to the lack of rain, the trees were dry and easily caught fire. The Golden Claws skirted the river, stopping every few hundred yards to unleash another volley of fire arrows across. The elves must have been surprised by this extreme tactic, as only few arrows were fired back at them. Before long, the forest in Myvanna was ablaze. They could hear elven shouts coming from the other side, but the surviving Gales cared not. They returned to Oakhaven, where the civilians had packed up what they could and the surviving members of the Golden Claws escorted them back to Galefridus. There were no further ambushes.

### Aftermath

Upon returning to Lionburh, Captain Xander took full responsibility for the outcome of the conflict. He was arrested by his superiors for his actions against Myvanna. His trial was expedious, punishing and held in secrecy, for the veteran captain was well liked by his soldiers and respected by his peers. Convicted for breaking the peace between Galefridus and Myvanna, Xander was stripped of his rank and dishonorably discharged from the Galefridish army. The death sentence was narrowly avoided as the judge showed leniency to Xander for his over 30 years of service to the kingdom. Instead, Xander was sent to Waybrook Keep in Brookborough, held in maximum security for the remainder of his life, with no chance of parole. The Golden Claws were reformed and placed under the command of a new captain.