The Battle of Three

The Human army marches South to meet the Elvish army. But as both armies move towards each other a force of Centaurs are right in the path of both sides, leading to the largest battle yet in the war...

The Conflict

Prelude

As the Human army advanced south, through The Reaching forest as to avoid detection, they became aware of another force in the woods, Centaurs, racing through the trees, the Humans readied to be ambushed but none came, as they continued south for a few hours they noticed more and more Centaurs moving almost in parallel, heading to the same place they were...

Deployment

Eventually they saw why, in a large clearing there were several Elves speaking with Centaurs, both sides looking angry. Yarri tried to get close enough to hear but there were hundreds of Centaurs gathered around making it impossible. As the Humans drew closer the Centaurs became aware of them, suddenly shouting about an ambush by the Elves. The Centaurs speaking with the Elves almost immediately raised their staffs and clubs, swinging at the Elves, in return the Elvish army began to fire volleys of arrows, and use sparking magic to cut down the charging Centaurs. As the Humans called for an attack on the Elves it became impossible to not also fight against the Centaurs, who were charging down both armies.

Battlefield

The Reaching forest is a difficult battlefield to fight on, there are many small hills and sudden drops in elevation making it hard for non-centaurs to navigate. The trees can be very dense and the thick undergrowth can cause smaller beings like Humans to get caught up and slowed down constantly.

Conditions

It was a warm, dry day, which led to the fires the Elves caused to spread quickly.

The Engagement

The Centaurs were as fast as horses and twice as strong, knocking down ten men easily. Spears were useful but the Centaurs used small axes and sharpened stones to throw as they raced around. Yarri brought together his fighters and moved against the now scattered Elves. He could see well over a thousand soldiers fighting the Centaurs in every direction. The chaos granted Yarri a chance to engage the Elves as well, which was the goal of this campaign.
Yarri began to fight against the better armed Elvish soldiers, but Human strength and aggression won out and the Elves began to lose significant numbers. The Centaurs began to come back around and cut off Yarri's force from the rest of his army, who had become entrenched further back in the forest. Yarri desperately called for his men to gather and not allow the Centaurs to divide them, but it was of no use. In the chaos of the battle his men scattered, trying to return to the main army. hundreds were cut down by the Centaurs, Yarri managed to move back north with what was left of his army, avoiding Elvish mages who had let go of any care for the forest and began to send fireballs in every direction, causing most of the wood to become engulfed in flames.
The sight of this caused a major retreat from the Centaurs, who had no ability for combat magic. The Elves fled East to get out of the woods, as did the Humans. The two broken armies left the woods and were gathering at the edge as they realised the other side was there, many drew weapons and began to ready for another engagement but a cry for help from the Humans left most quiet, the soldiers looked as the body of Jarrak was brought out from the woods, his body bloody and cut from Centaur weapons. Yarri knelt beside the body of his fallen brother and, as legend goes, broke his sword on a nearby tree.
Yarri looked away at the Elves, who had gathered and were waiting expectantly for a decision to be made on what to do next. They had no leadership it seemed, many were resting, and many were simply leaving, with no ambition to fight left. It had started to rain, which was beginning to stop the forest fires within the woods.
Yarri approached the nearest Elves, after seeing the death and destruction that was being caused he made the decision to try and end it. "Go and tell your leaders we are finished! We want no part in this fight anymore. You tell whoever you need to that this war is over! We will venture no further than the river north of Rinas Mal, and neither shall you. The river and its towns are yours, but we will not leave our homes! You tell them that!" Yarri shouted as the Elves began to leave, heading back to the capital.

Outcome

Temporary end of fighting between Humans and Elves

Aftermath

Peace talks and negotiations between the Humans and Elves

Historical Significance

Legacy

Jarrak is heralded as a brave and selfless man, who led his men to aid the South without regard for his own life. Yarri is remembered as a great fighter who made the decision to not seek war with the Elves but instead sue for peace.
The Elves are looked at by the Humans as being dangerous with magic and a reckless enemy, while the Centaurs are seen by the Humans as a rabid race who should not be seen as equal to the civilised races.
The Elves and Centaurs look back at the events as a terrible misunderstanding between the three groups that could have been resolved better if it weren't for the Humans ambushing them.

In Literature

Songs like 'The reaching war' and 'A Northern flame' tell of the losses suffered by the Humans and their bravery, and paintings by humans often show them as brave, with the Elves and Centaurs looking aggressive, uncontrolled and dangerous.
Elvish songs and art show the horrors of the war and how the Humans were attacking the more peaceful Elves and Centaurs.

Technological Advancement

This was the first main battle for the Humans and Elves to use more even technology. Shields and swords were common, with spears being also common with the Humans. The Elves had better armour (a lot of metal) and the Humans had more leather armour.
The Centaurs used thrown weapons and clubs, along with sharpened staffs.

Included under Conflict

First War

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

5015 - Agnos

Ending Date

5015 - Agnos

Conflict Result

No Victors

Location

The Reaching forest

Maps

• 

  The Central Continent

  The most populous and politically important continent in the known world. Home to the majority of Humans and many High Elf families. There are groups of Wood Elf in the North and Centaurs across the southern woods and forests.
  Key:
  1-Yarrin, Capital of the Human crown 2-Queenstown, Major Human city 3-Ozryn, Large Human city 4-Laketon, Large fortified Human City 5-Kings Manor, Residence and royal castle for the monarchs family 6-The College, Large complex of schools and scholarly houses 7-Ashton, Human City 8-Pran, Human city with a large High Elf population 9-Carhill, Large Human town 10-Springmount, Human town 11-Solstice Castle, Large Human castle to strengthen the Northern border 12-Amberhall, very old town dating back to Elvish times 13-Nordpass, Small human city isolated on Tide Isle 14-Tidebreak Castle, Incredibly fortified castle on Tide Isle 15-Ridgemot, Human town 16-Leelside, Medium Human city 17-Arbor, small Human town with a keep 18-The Nightfort, Large fortress that protects the Southern border of the North 19-Balmar, Large Human city built onto the lakes 20-Alcove, Large Human town built in large clearing in the woods 21-Fieldfire Castle, Damaged castle built on the site of a great battle 22-Goldside, medium Human mining town 23-Mountmend, Large Human mining and trading city 24-Oxhost, Small Human town 25-Oxforth, Human town 26-Rivermot, Human city with a lot of damaged and ruins 27-Cetari, Centaur stronghold and holy site 28-Vaes Dor, Elvish ruins of a large city 29-Halgen, Small Human city 30-Estford, Human town 31-Forpass, Small Human town 32-Northshore, Very small Human town 33-Winthaven, Medium Human city 34-Stormarch, Small Human city 35-Bleakmount, Large Human town 36-Winter's Edge, Large Human city that acts as the capital in the North, very fortified 37-Snowmelt, Small Human town 38-Craghar, Human town 39-Briewind, Human town 40-Erast, Medium Human city 41-Ecrin, Large Human city 42-Clayton, Large Human town 43-Oakmore Castle, Small but very fortified castle 44-Southgate, Human town 45-Midmount, Large Human town 46-Oakheart, Large Human city 47-Zeffari, Large Human city, acts as capital in the South 48-Baredale, Medium Human town 49-Westwend, Large Human city 50-Ruins of Andlis-Harh, Ancient Elvish capital destroyed hundreds of years ago 51-Oldtown, Supporting town to Andlis-Harh, now Human town 52-Andrie, Once independent Human isle that now submits to rule 53-Red Heart, small Human town 54-Tydespire Castle, Small Human castle 55-Tarrin, Large Human trading city 56-Pavv, Large Human city 57-Littlehill, Medium Human town 58-Three Fingers, Large Human fishing and trading town 59-Thornwood Fortress, Very large fortress and prison, acts as the main prison for the continent 60-Northforge, One of the dwarven cities and mines, is open to trade/diplomacy 61-Southforge, The other dwarven city, closed its gates many years ago and silent since 62-Nuxvar, Large Human trading city, home to the largest naval force 63-Sudhere, Small Human coast town 64-Rinas Mal, Elvish ruins of a fort and town 65-Tris Dorne, Elvish ruins of a large town 66-Rias-Dori, Main home on the continent of the Tarfen, a minotaur like race. Many were brought to the continent by slavers and traders. 67-Wydwin, Small Human town.

Belligerents

The Humans

• Human Crown

Led by

Strength

~6500

Casualties

~5000

Objectives

Engage the Elvish army

The Elves

• Elvish Crown

Led by

Strength

~5000

Casualties

~4000

Objectives

Engage the Human army

The Centaurs

Led by

Strength

~600

Casualties

~350

Objectives

Force the Elvish army out of their woods, turning into a fight to get them and the Humans out.