Battle of Wardu's Flats

The **Battle of Wardu's Flats** was the final battle of the Northern Madamsrest Expansion War, a colonial struggle between the lizardfolk militia of the Dionychus tribe and the Madamsrest Expeditionary Force over control for the swamps north of Madamsrest. The battle took place amongst the ephemeral pools of Wardu's Flats.

## Prelude

Captain Karel Schuiter lead the Madamsrest Expeditionary Force in a series of skirmishes against the Dionychus tribe, forcing the lizardfolk to retreat into Wardu's Flats where his cavalry would easily be able to outflank the lizardfolk militia. However the Madamsresters were using outdated maps of the area, drawn during the dry summer when the ephemeral pools of the flats were dried up. Chief Komo-Odo had learn of this and ordered his troops to fake the retreat and to hide into the pools to lay in ambush.

## Battle

As Captain Karel Schuiter and his Expeditionary Forces entered the Flats they were faced with an empty marshland and a thick mist hovering low over the ground. His units turned themselves into three columns of three wide and slowly walked over the remaining dry land. Once most of the soldiers had entered the Flats the lizardfolk jumped out from the water and pulled man kicking and screaming into the bog. The expeditionary forces tried to shoot into the pools, but the water was too clouded with mud and blood for them to get a clear shot.

Captain Schuiter ordered his cavalry to charge into the Wardu Flats from their flanking position amongst the surrounding trees. The calvary rode out into the water, but as they reached the deepest parts of the water both mount and rider were pierced by lizardfolk spears.

Komo-Odo jumped out of the pool amongst the now routing Madamresters, and with his club in hand he dashes strait for Karel Schuiter. The captain was able to reflect Komo-Odo's blow, and the two duelled amongst the orgy of retaliatory violence that the chieftain had unleash upon the intruders. Steel met obsidian time and time until Karel Schuiter was able to get a good kick into the lizardman's chest and force him on his knees. Komo-Odo was able to reflect the blow coming for his chest, but he felt the strength of Captain Schuiter push down and soon the invader would break Komo-Odo's guard. The two rivals were face to face when Komo-Odo let out a loud gargle and spit his venomous saliva into Schuiter's face. The saliva hit the captain straight in his eyes, and he dropped his weapon as the venom began to dissolve them. Komo-Odo stood up, walked upon his screaming opponent, and bludgeoned the interloper to death with his club.

## Aftermath

With the death of their captain and the trauma of seeing their fellow soldiers being pulled into the depths, never to be seen again most of the remaining expeditionary forces went home. After the news arrived to Madamsrest of their crushing defeat at Wardu's Flats the merchant's guild quickly brokered for peace with Dionychus tribe. They promised to cease their northern expansion and to acknowledge the Dionyschus tribe's claim on these lands.

## Legacy

Over the years the figure of Komo-Odo and the battle of Wardu's Flats have become a popular story for the lizardman of the Alweald Swamplands] to tell each other. Many find solace and inspiration in the chieftain's ingenuity and cleverness that allowed him to overcome a numerically and technologically superior foe. In Madamsrest however Komo-Odo has been turned into a character of the real man. Madamresters present the chieftain as a barbaric and dishonourable snake who uses lies and tricks to deal with others, contrasted by the nobility and bravery of his rival Captain Karel Schuiter.