The Spear-Road Push
The Conflict
Prelude
A hard winter thinned the forests; hunger drove the clans to anger; and Druan-Mór, the Stone-Crowned, rose among them claiming the spirits had revealed the Alesii’s weakness. With old hatreds stirring, the clans followed him, and the borderlands burned once more.
Outcome
- Collapse of Pictish Unity
- Alēsii Regain the Frontier, Slowly and Painfully
- Heavy Losses Among Border Clans
- Retaliatory Alesii Sweeps Into the Woods
- Pictish Retaliation Fades Into Low-Level Raiding
- Alēsian Fortification Efforts Begin
- Fear and Rumour Spread Along the Border
Aftermath
- Alēsii Reorientation of Patrol Lines
- Pictish Clan Movement & Shifting Forest Boundaries
- Alēsii-Western Clan Prestige Shift
- Alteration of Trade Routes
- Pictish Spiritual Fragmentation After the War-Shaman's Death
- Residual Hardship in Border Villages
- The Stage Quietly Set for the Next War
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
5,090 BA-5
Ending Date
5,100 BA-5
Conflict Result
Alesian Victory
Belligerents
Strength
Elguismici - 6,000 to 8,000
Obisodici - 5,000 to 6,500
Biturii - 4,500 to 6,000
Nantuatis - 4,000 to 5,000
Sexovellavi - 8,000to 10,000
Trivicasses - 3,000 to 4,500
Oralassi - 2,500 to 4,000
≈ 33,000 – 44,000 warriors
Obisodici - 5,000 to 6,500
Biturii - 4,500 to 6,000
Nantuatis - 4,000 to 5,000
Sexovellavi - 8,000to 10,000
Trivicasses - 3,000 to 4,500
Oralassi - 2,500 to 4,000
≈ 33,000 – 44,000 warriors
Clan Brýggach (Wolf) - 3,500 to 4,500
Clan Skarnuach (Boar) - 3,200 to 4,200
Clan Máthruin (Bear) - 2,800 to 3,800
Clan Tarthach (Raven) - 2,600 to 3,500
Clan Brannach (Stag) - 2,500 to 3,400
Clan Gairmach (Hawk) - 2,300 to 3,200
Clan Ruscairn (Fox) - 2,200 to 3,000
Clan Dúrloch (Wildcat) - 2,100 to 2,900
Clan Aurnach (Serpent) - 2,000 to 2,800
≈ 24,200 – 34,300 warriors
Clan Skarnuach (Boar) - 3,200 to 4,200
Clan Máthruin (Bear) - 2,800 to 3,800
Clan Tarthach (Raven) - 2,600 to 3,500
Clan Brannach (Stag) - 2,500 to 3,400
Clan Gairmach (Hawk) - 2,300 to 3,200
Clan Ruscairn (Fox) - 2,200 to 3,000
Clan Dúrloch (Wildcat) - 2,100 to 2,900
Clan Aurnach (Serpent) - 2,000 to 2,800
≈ 24,200 – 34,300 warriors
Casualties
20% – 30% of participating forces ≈ 7,000 – 12,000 dead
≈ 35% – 45% of the hostt ≈ 8,500 – 15,400 casualties
Objectives
Push the Picts back behind the frontier forests
Protect frontier villages and grain-holds
Kill or break the unifying shaman (Druan-Mór)
Demonstrate Alesian strength to deter future incursions
Spill Alesii blood to satisfy ancestral hatred
Seize food and grazing needed after the harsh winter
Break Alesii border strength
Follow Druan-Mór’s vision
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