Battle of the Traitor's Axe

### Result

Execution of Thane Wulfgrim, and his followers. Further consolidation of the Loyalist powerbase.

## Statistics

### Participants

Barbarian Kingdom LoyalistsBarbarian Kingdom Rebels

### Deployed

Estimated 5,700 (Loyalists)Estimated 7,300 (Rebels)

### Losses

Estimated 3,450 (Loyalists)Estimated 5,000 (Rebels)

### Remaining

Estimated 2,200 (Loyalists)Estimated 2,200 (Rebels)

The Battle of the Traitor's Axe was a battle between forces of the Loyalists of **The Barbarian Kingdoms**, in service of the Barbarian King, and Rebels who had risen up against his rule.

## Origins

When King Bjornwulf took power, he initiated numerous unpopular edicts throughout the Kingdom; Notably, Crows would no longer be treated as slaves. He made extensive attempts to reform the roving raiding bands that roam the seas in search of plunder into a much more efficient fighting force, and has largely attempted to make peace with the other parts of the world, to focus on fighting mutual threats. This has been an unpopular sentiment among many of the Jarls and Thanes, although no Jarls have attempted an uprising. Instead, it was Thane Wulfgrim, a Thane of the Town of **Asar** who went to Jarn-Burg, and threw his axe at King Bjornwulf's feet in an act of spite, hatred, and open rebellion. As it was a Gathering of Jarls and Thanes, Wulfgrim could not be struck down, lest Bjornwulf wished to cause more to rise up against him for breaking a time honored tradition of peace during these gatherings.

Although he had immediately called his banners, Thane Wulfgrim had prepared his forces to rise up against the King, and both sides began to gather their forces in full. The Loyalists, aiding by many adventurers, struck many decisive blows during skirmishes against Thane Wulfgrim, before the forces of the two armies met in battle.

## Forces

### Loyalists

The Loyalists had with them many proud Veteran Shieldbrothers and Shieldsisters, as well as several tamed monsters, including the famed Ice Trolls.

### Rebels

The Rebels were more focused on bringing monstrous, tamed creatures to the fore; drakes, wyverns, and more. They also, notably, had pulled out a rather famous piece of Artillery from the warehouses of Asar, that had once belonged to Dwarves; long taken from them many years ago, this Artillery was infused with Ice Magic and used against the Loyalists on several occasions before it was put down.

## Battle

Rather than one single battle, it was more of a series of smaller conflicts on multiple fronts. The Loyalists and Rebels did not fight in solid battle lines, and instead, spread out across the north, blood staining the snow in numerous fronts. Shieldwarriors fought side by side against one another, monsters descending upon them to fight, with Jarnvikings taking to the fray with glee. Horse-mounted Marauders roamed the battlefield, seeking easy prey, while simultaneously fleeing from other horsemen when the battle became too pitched. Dire Wolves were loosed to hunt down prey, hardly knowing friend from foe. It was chaotic, and bloody, and few truly know the extent of what happened.

## Conclusion

Thane Wulfgrim was eventually cornered by King Bjornwulf, who fought him in honorable single combat, and in short order, killed him. This caused the total collapse of Thane Wulfgrim's forces, and what few other Nobles had followed him were either captured and executed, or went into hiding.