The Siege of Brackenfels

The Duke has fallen to the Seven! Change your hearts! Repent! Don't follow the evil Duke and the Thirteen will have mercy on your soul.

— The propagandists of the inquisition

The Conflict

Prelude

The rule of Duke Egor of Brackenfels was harsher and significantly more militaristic and driven by power politics than the rule of his father. Many in his fiefdom did not approve of that and wanted him gone. So did the king, though he could not afford to act in the open. On the 7th day of the Evergreen, accusations were raised that Duke was a follower of the Tyrant. While these accusations were in fact true, nobody knew at the time. At this point, they were merely a rumour spread by the Duke's enemies.
As Inquisitor Arathorn Lightblade started his investigations, Earl Barn of Bogholm had secretly been very supportative of the actions against his liege. Within a month, he had not only convinced the inquisitor but also arranged an alliance with Earl Karl of Halfoss, Duke Egor's other vassal. This alliance referred to themselves as "The Guardians of Faith". As the Duke was not expected to surrender voluntarily, there had to be war.

Deployment

With the church's priests already spewing propaganda among the ordinary people, two fleets set to the sea: Earl Barn's men, together with the inquisitor sailed from Bogholm to Kapheim, while Earl Karls men sailed from Halfoss towards Kelp.
Without expecting an attack from his former allies and not having a large standing army on land, Duke Egor was unprepared for what was to come. By the time he got word of the incoming fleet, the knights and soldiers aboard had already been deployed and the ships were on the retreat. Now, he could only hastily gather able men to fight this war. However, the church's propagandists had done their part well and not many heeded that call.
Kelp and Kapheim were taken within a day and without much resistance. The hosts marched the remaining five days onward to Brackenfels. Knowing he lacked the manpower to pick a fight, Duke Egor gathered his few men at his castle and prepared for a siege. As his fleet still held supremacy on the water, he expected to hold out long enough for help to arrive. On the 15th day of the Radiant, the two armies set up camp outside the walls of Brackenfels.

Battlefield

Brackenfels is a strongly defended concentric castle built upon the cliffs of the northern cape. It can only really be attacked from one side and the attacker would have to fight through an entire city and 3 separate walls.

Conditions

The midsummer sun was burning high during daytime, but the nights at the end of the month were dark because it was new moon.

The Engagement

The defence did not at all work out as planned. The Duke was being betrayed. On the first night, someone opened a gate to the outer wall, allowing the attackers in. The darkness helped them conceal their presence, leaving the defenders no other choice but to retreat behind the second wall.
The second night, the same repeated: a gate in the second wall was left open and the attackers fought their way right in front of the inner wall. The Frostguard fought well and many more of the Guardians of Faith died that night than members of the Northguard, but ultimately the sheer difference in number made them fail: Only one wall remained to be breached. At this time, only the closest allies of the Duke remained in the castle. All others had either been captured or killed by the two Earls. Thus, Duke Egor believed the third night would be different. It wasn't!
By the time Egor found out his own knight and captain of the guard had fallen to the church's propaganda and ordered the gates to be opened every night, he had only enough time left to execute him, before the inquisitor entered the chamber.

Aftermath

Duke Egor and his family were banished to an island in the Frosty Bay, only his son Finn Tervo could escape. Earl Karl was granted Brackenfels for his support in the campaign as previously arranged. He proclaimed himself the new Duke, handing the rule of Halfoss to his brother.

Historical Significance

Legacy

On the long run, the short war left many silent supporters of the Duke still free and untouched. As a result, sixteen years later, the Duke's son, Finn Tervo, arranged the assassination of Duke Karl. This started another war with the same sides.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

7th day of the Radiant 4052 NV

Ending Date

1st day of the Highking 4052 NV

Conflict Result

The Duke was defeated and Brackenfels taken

Location

Brackenfels

Belligerents

The Northguard

Led by

• Herzog Egor

The Guardians of Faith

Led by

• Arathorn Lichtklinge

Strength

300 swords

700 swords from Bogholm, 700 swords from Halfoss, and another 200 men of the inquisition.

Casualties

50 dead, 250 taken prisoners

200 killed

Objectives

Maintain power over Brackenfels.

Overthrow Duke Egor and take Brackenfels

Maps

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  Nordkap von Arendir