Battle of Walking Grass

The Battle of Walking Grass was the final retaliatory stroke by the peoples of Arron son of Solun and Anjes son of Jaron against Kasoi son of Harkin.

The Conflict

Prelude

For years the Kasoi have raided and robbed the Arronites' land in the Ronai Mountains after having tasted giant blood in their first conflict of the Battle of the Fens. At last the Arronites, with the aid of their blood brothers the Anjeans, mounted a final retaliatory strike.

Deployment

The morning of the battle, Arron arrayed his forces on wide hill overlooking the Great River, not twenty miles from where he first faced the Kasoi. Anjes separated his force into two divisions. The first was a smaller division made mostly of Thermosis magi, would slowly sweep around the battlefield and towards the Kasoi encampment. The second, a larger force made up of fighting men and magi, stealthily moved his men through the tall grasses forward of Arron's right flank. Meanwhile the Kasoi arrayed their main force near the river and left a token guard to protect a small camp and a flotilla of boats they could use to flee across the river if necessary.

Battlefield

Arron and Anjes chose a dry, grassy land south of the Great River. Arron's biggest disadvantage in his first battle against the Kasoi (besides surprise) was that his heavier giants kept getting stuck in the muck of the fens and became easy pickings for the Kasoi so he opted for a dryer, upland battlefield.

Conditions

Despite threatening rain clouds the day before the battle, the battlefield remained dry. Arron began with a slight uphill advantage.

The Engagement

In the morning, when Kasoi saw the giants arrayed on the hilltop, he laughed. Alongside his lieutenants, he mocked the giants for seeking this battle, and for thinking a low hill would save them. He arrayed his forces against the giants and marched through the tall grasses towards the giants. Several times his son, Kasek, noticed the tall grasses to their left flank seemed to move against the wind. He asked his father to send a detachment to check it out. Kasoi said, "if there are giants lying in the grasses there, we will slay them as well, but first we look to Arron." Kasoi had little fear of the giants' high ground because he had a range advantage. His men were arrayed with strong war bows and throwing spears, and were highly skilled in their use. But the giants had each made for himself a tall shield of wood and hide. When arrows and spears flew, very few giants were struck as they hid behind their shields. While the Kasoi skirmished, Anjes' two detachments were moving on, the smaller detachment of magi working closer towards Kasoi's camp and rear guard, the larger positioning themselves towards Kasoi's flank. Tiring of waiting, Kasoi sounded for attack. His men charged the field and the giants charged in return. As soon as the two sides met, one of Arron's sons sounded a great horn. At that time, Anjes' divisions attacked. The smaller group attacked the camp, overpowering Kasoi's token rear guard. The larger charged Kasoi's flank from almost directly behind them. Soon, a rout started on Kasoi's left flank, men ran but only to look in dismay and horror at the sight of their camp destroyed and their boats burning. At that time, Arron's retinue broke through to Kasoi, and Arron and Kasoi joined in single combat. Arron's size and strength was matched by Kasoi's speed and ferocity. Several times Kasoi made small cuts on Arron with his knife, and small stabs with his spear. But when it seemed speed would trump size, Anjes stabbed Kasoi's leg with his own knife and Arron brought his massive stone-capped club onto Kasoi's head. Thoroughly demoralized by the flanking maneuver, the loss of their leader and the destruction of their camp, many Kasoi threw down their weapons and begged for mercy and many were struck down anyways by furious giants and their dwarven allies before Arron called a halt to the massacre and the battle was over.

Outcome

The Kasoi promised to no longer raid the Arronites. Their territory south of the river was given up and Arron built a series of fortified watch towers south of the river to ensure the Kasoi stayed true to their word.

Aftermath

The Kasoi shifted from a warrior culture to one of trade, knowing further raids would bring the wrath of the Arronite giants and their tough dwarven friends. The Kasoi built lasting trade alliances with their former enemies and other surrounding nations, eventually becoming the third member of the Counsel of the Sun.

Historical Significance

None of the nations involved in the battle were particularly literate at the time so the story of the Battle of Walking Grass was carried on through the oral tradition. For centuries it became a favorite tale of giants and dwarves. Even the Kasoi tell it, though focusing more on it being a catalyst to bring them to their prosperous present rather than on a military defeat.

Legacy

For centuries the Kasoi saw themselves as merchants and traders rather than raiders and soldiers. And despite the bitterness between the Kasoi and the Arronites beforehand, eventually they became allies.

In Literature

The Battle of Walking Grass became one of the first historical events to be recorded in literature and versions of the story even exist today.

Technological Advancement

A lot of technology was demonstrated during this battle. The Kasoi were master bowyers and spear makers and their army was well trained in their use. But also the Arronites developed the large tower shields of wood and hide to protect them from the initial barrage. But perhaps the most important technology present was the Anjean's use of Thermosis is the first known battlefield application of that circle of magic and it is said they received it as a gift from the Pillar of the Sun which they passed on throughout Nov Matar. In that day the Anjeans didn't yet have much skill in the art and luck or the Archenlord made it so the Kasoi camp was not near the tall grasses or their spraying fire might have engulfed the whole area.

by Dwayne Trawick

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

-3638

Ending Date

-3638

Conflict Result

Arron and Anjes were victorious over the sons of Kasoi, killing Kasoi himself and forcing his son and heir, Kasek to sue for peace.

Belligerents

Arronites and Anjeans

The Kasoi

Strength

4000 giants and 3000 dwarves including 450 magi.

11,000 men

Casualties

~600 giants and ~300 dwarves.

~3,000

Objectives

Defeat the Kasoi, eliminate opportunities for retreat in order to force a peace.

Destroy the Arronites and make their ability to fight off further raids impossible.