War for Crawford's Hay

Background

"While fences may make good neighbors, noble houses do not, and their rivalries often promulgate to even the farm level." - Excerpt from "Anhara, Territories, The Vestral Downs"

In the Vestral Downs, the breadbasket of Anhara, the following of the Familial Movement is fierce. Here, even down to the level of individual farms, strong loyalty and nationalism is felt towards one's house, and the slightest insult by a neighbor of a different house is returned twice fold. Resulting from this strong feeling of loyalty to one's lord, as well as the close quarters shared between many houses, is frequent skirmishes and the occasional full-blown war. Thus, in 230AM, the brief War for Crawford's Hay began.

Instigation

"The Patriarch sits not just at the head of the noble family, but as a father to all his people. In return for his protection and guiding hand, his children owe him assistance until his dying day, and their utmost love and loyalty." - The Familial Movement

The Crawfords, a family of farmers owning a few hundred acres of land along the South Etan's Stream, were strong believers in the superiority of their liege's house, House Leone, over their neighbor's House Moray. It is important to note, however, that rivalries and fighting in this region are seldom instigated by the nobility of any house, rather the peasants under their control believe so strongly in the general tenets of the Familial Movement, and the superiority of their lord's house, that the lower classes often instigate conflicts themselves.
The Crawford farm bordered, to its south, the farm of the Murphy family, patriotic peasants of House Moray, and tempers had been running high for years. However, one evening in 230AM, during the harvest season, a small group of Murphy children stole onto Crawford land and absconded with a cart full of hay, and one horse to pull it. The Crawford family quickly, and rightly, came to blame the Murphy family, and rushed north to nearby Creekside, the very seat of House Leone.

Escalation

"This leads to intensely partisan loyalties in the citizens of the Vestral Downs, and colorful flags, buntings, and the occasional farm raid are not uncommon." - Excerpt from "Anhara, Territories, The Vestral Downs"

In Creekside, the Crawfords told their story to all who would hear it, and quickly gathered a band of hundreds of farmers, craftsmen, and even some merchants to rush south and relieve the Murphy farms of their harvests. Upon entering Moray territory, this rag-tag band of peasantry spotted the very cart and horse, and after dispatching it back north, began setting fire to the Murphy's fields. However, unfortunately for the Murphy family, their lords' family seat was not as nearby as Creekside.
The Murphys retreated to a nearby village, gathering their own band of peasants, as well as some guards, and rushed back north. However, in telling their tale of tribulation to the local authorities, they may have exaggerated some events. Thus, by the time word reached the Moray seat of Firthwatch, the rapid system of riders and the many mouths through which word passed led the Morays to believe a full invasion had been launched from the north.
Quickly, a force of professional Moray soldiers were sent north along South Etan's Stream to reinforce the border, and retaliate against what must have been a sizable Leone force. However, upon arrival the soldiers found the Murphy farm burnt down, and the horde of Crawford-allied peasants had returned home. Believing the Leone soldiers to have been so frightened by their arrival as to retreat, the Moray forces pressed north and attacked farms surrounding Creekside itself, leading to a pitched battle with the actual Leone army.

Peace

With over 500 dead in the fields around Creekside, for what would turn out to be very little reason, communication was finally begun between Lord Moray and Lady Leone, for the Leone family is always ruled by a Matriarch, themselves. The Murphy family was awarded an indemnity for their farm, and the situation put to rest, until the next conflict.

Major Noble Houses of Anhara

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Present Major Noble Houses of Anhara

Conflict Result

Small Idemnity