The Ragged Wars

The Ragged Wars were the result of bandits organizing under one leader who had grand plans to rule. There have been 3 Ragged Wars to date, this is a recounting of the last one so far.

The Conflict

Prelude

With the Seaborn taking everyones attention, the bandits in Serferine were slowly being united under one banner. The absence of patrols and guarded positions led to a bold approach by the usually careful criminals.

Deployment

The bandit army split into several large groups to cover as much ground as possible. They would take over the smaller towns first, recruiting who they could and continuing on to the larger towna to gain a foothold in each region.

Battlefield

They fought in open fields, wooded areas, marsh lands, mountain sides and in the middle of towns. The battles spread like wildfire across the land, almost nothing was spared from the smoldering ruin of war.

The Engagement

The many bandit clans fought against the troops of the Freehand Counties and the Serferine Kingdom. Because many of the bandits are from the Freehand Counties, if they took over a town there, nothing much changed except for taxes now going to the bandits war effort. While in the Serferine Kingdom they might not be as merciful.

The two sides fought in many places, the biggest ones took place near North Branch at the border of the Grove, Serferine and the Counties. On the hills near Hannagrey and in the town of Honey Oaks, where the Cyning Bandit was killed by Arson.
The Battle of the Border Branch was an intense magical tit for tat between the Elven Witch Hunters backed by Centauran mages, against the chaotic magic of the Hedge Mages. The concussive explosions and brightly charred bodies littered the grounds like autumn leaves. The wind whisked the screams of the injured throughout the grove, and fed the animals for months with the amount of dead that was left.
The Battle of Honey Oaks was more of a personal nature. With a battalion of satyrs Arson personally led the defense against the Cyning Bandit. The citizens hid in their homes doing their best to escape, while the clanging of spears and swords rung thru their windows. Arson slew dozens but flew into a rage at the audacity of the Cyning to directly attack his people. With few soldiers left on either side the two leaped into battle. They fought a crippling stalemate covering each other with wounds and bruises. Arson achieved victory when he burned the Cyning, killing them but also burnt down the town in the process.

Aftermath

Arson the Satyr was now looked down upon in his community and sequestered himself. Creating the Heirs of Arson. Entire towns were wiped out in the fighting, lots of bandits came away alot wealthier when they escaped into hiding. Which caused lots of smaller bandit groups to bide their time and pop up later.

Historical Significance

1. The first Ragged War was started by the a man known as the Spear. He wrested control of the bandit groups by force, impaling all who resisted him. He stole resources and forced people he kidnapped to build him a fortress. He attacked with a massive force. He held control of one third of Serferine for 15 years before he was defeated.
2. The second Ragged War was started as a collective decision. They planned for months, picking off key military leaders to weaken them. But they were routed after months of fighting due to infighting getting the best of them.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

1776

Ending Date

1779

Conflict Result

Serferine fought back and defeated the Bandits. Keeping ownership of the territory.