Explosion of the Royal Keep

Commanders| **King Jiri** (WIA)* Prince Conraquis
* Heuteclere Nilsson
* Lannes Hay

Strength| 400 men (in assault)* 1 100 men (outside)

Explosion of the Royal Keep occurred in April 294 Charles Perickard decided to blow up the castle and kill all the forces of King Jiri with him. Jiri survived the explosion, but suffered great injuries and was crippled. The Explosion also saw the deaths of many valuable veterans of Jiri's army. The effects of the explosion however, were not enough to save the Kingdom of Boria.

## Battle

The Royal Keep, which never was the greatest defensive structure, still had a formidable gate and walls surrounding it. However, the Keep was very poorly defended with only 50 men of the Royal Guard. This was probably because King Charles intended to explode the Keep and didn't want to waste good men in the explosion, thus the entire Royal Guard was not only small, but fitted with fresh conscripts besides Erich of Wielen, a proper warrior chosen to die by Charles.

Major General Erich, the commander of the Royal Guard inside Royal Keep, had become frightened by the approaching Royal Army and decided to become a turncoat and leap to King Jiri's side. Erich decided to do this by gaining the trust of Prince Conraquis, son of King Jiri, who had been held captive inside the Royal Keep. Conraquis agreed to help Erich and Erich's friend Reinhard.

When the Royal Army reached the Royal Keep wall, Erich opened the gates to the Royal Army and was taken captive by the Royal Army. Following the opening of the gate, the Royal Army flooded into the Royal Keep. The green Royal Guard that had been poorly trained was absolutely crushed by the experienced troops of King Jiri.

King Jiri personally lead the charge into the castle and marched in front of his troops. He saw many nobles around the Keep that were begging for mercy, but to no avail. Jiri's men slaughtered all. Some nobles tried to fight back, as the rookie Royal Guard didn't even try to defend the nobles. During this incursion into the castle, King Jiri didn't lose a single man whilst the entire defensive force of the Royal Keep was destroyed.

King Jiri reached the top of the Royal Keep, where King Charles waited for him. What followed is unknown to us in the archive as well as the populace as a whole. Apparently, King Charles threatened King Jiri with something, that most likely attributed to Jiri's descent to madness post war. Nevertheless, King Charles had laid a trap for King Jiri by setting massive amounts of explosives in the castle. The entire Keep blew up in a spectacular explosion, however, with quick thinking, King Jiri leaped out of the Royal Keep window and miraculously survived the fall when he hit the water. He was rescued by his soldiers who had been waiting outside the Keep during the assault.

## Aftermath

This event was was actually a morale booster for both sides. King Jiri's men's fervor grew as their beloved King and Commander was gravely wounded. As for the Borians, they spread false information that King Jiri had died and that King Jiri exploded the Royal Keep. This propaganda increased the wrath against King Jiri among the Borian Army.

The Explosion of the Royal Keep is seen as a strategic victory for the Borians, however, succeeding the Explosion a chain of Royal Army victories followed and the Borians couldn't get a grip of the war.