Snowballs at Dawn

Military history is filled with tales of glorious victories and humiliating defeats. It is also filled with tales of confusion, misinterpretation and mistake. These are more enjoyed by the veterans than the former, but understandably have a lesser part to play in the official histories and annals. This is one of those.

The Conflict

Prelude

Late in the first centuary MD tensions were high between the Moran Duchy and the Kingdom of Mor as they sought to establish control of the Durran in the region between the North Durran and the Little Durran. To and fro the border had moved as first one side and then the other made advances with both sides looking to achieve control of both banks of the river. By 93 peace of a sort reigned though both sides taunted and abused the other - but more to give them something to do than out of active animosity and as Frostfall gave way to Olyer the sector around the Little Durransaw this taunting get quite competetive. That winter was unusually cold and the forces of either side gathered round their fires to keep warm while hoping for their replacements to make it to them.

Battlefield

The skirmish took place on the banks of the Little Durran roughly half way between Broxholme and the south branch of the Durran. At this point the Little Durran is around 5 strides wide and waist deep with steep banks setting the river a man's height below the surrounding ground.

Conditions

Snow had fallen overnight leaving an ankle deep covering on the ground; thick fog wasm just beginning to clear as the first snowballs were exchanged.

The Engagement

At dawn in 3rd Olyer, parties from both sides drew up on the banks to shout abuse at each other as had become the custom. Thick fog meant they could not see even half way across the river but both knew where the other would be. The "Ranter" from both sides had just made their opening taunts when a shout of "Why don't you just solkiff home you bunch of dillywads!". They were stunned: such profanity! Three months earlier such a taunt would have been normal but was now an insult to the rules of engagement that had emerged. Had it been summer then they might easily have tried to get across the river but waist deep freezing water is a better barrier than any field fortification; had they had missile weapons to hand things could easily have escalated to the bloodiest skirmish of the year. Absenting better options, both sides reached for the only weapons to hand that could reach the enemy - snowballs.

Outcome

The snowball fight petered out as the fog lifted and it became apparent that a waterfowler's punt had become stuck on the defences that had been rammed into the river banksand that it was realised that it was his shout that had triggered the fight. Snowballs are not hugely effective weapons and neither side chose to cite the event in their battle honours or to call it a victory.

Conflict Type

Skirmish