Battle at Ŋëvra-Vïn

The Battle of Ŋëvra-Vïn was a major engagement of the First Ýlëntukian War that occurred from 11 to 13 Heta-Eimarae, 25015 AYM. It occurred at and around the area known as the Vanýst-Lhrúuŋðarr, that is, the three cities of Dlaýe-Vïn, Ŋëvra-Vïn, and Waðë-Vïn, and marked the beginnings of the Northern Campaign between the tribes of Varhoŋïð-Khalúš and Lrhúuŋðarr, and saw the blossoming of relations between Lhrúuŋðarr and a section of the Kairn Tribe named the Khërn-Švere. The Battle at Ŋëvra-Vïn and the much later Battle of Ïbhaažrrt-Ýhöýhašúk in 25003 AYM bookend the Northern Campaigns and represent two of the largest battles of the Heta-Ýmor-Vëtam Period.

Background

The Battle of Ŋëvra-Vïn, and the Northern Campaigns in general, came as the last and longest of a series of lengthy engagements all categorized as part of the First Ýlëntukian War. These engagements comprised the Khalúšians' various attempts to achieve their goal of conquering the Ïlýrhonid Tribe, whether by directly invading territory or by attempting to gain strength in resources. The coalition of tribes that opposed them included the Kairn and Maðúšýï Tribes, both of whom successively constrained the Khalúšians to a thin strip of land stretching between the cities of Güðün and Óm-hayïd.

Following the failure of these operations, Hŋýïŋïkki, the ruler of the Khalúšians, would lead his army out northeastward around 8 Heta-Eimarae, beyond the Volain Forest, in an attempt to completely circumvent the forest and reach the Ïlýrhonid Tribe from the east. This was the operation known as the Northern Campaigns.

Battle

Initial Warning from the Khërn-Švere

The Khërn-Švere was a subgroup of the Kairn Tribe that inhabited the northern segment of the Volain Forest, that is, the portion of the Forest delineated by the two rivers of the Kairn River System. Due to this geographic separation, they conducted and aligned themselves culturally and politically with their neighbors the Lhrúuŋðarr Tribe, inclduing establishing small-scale trade relations at the city of Dlaýe-Vïn. Given the Kairnian responsibility of protecting the Volain Forest from all threats, the Khërn-Švere guarded the entire length of the northern Forest border. It is this thorough guard that spotted the Khalúšian army in the distant desert area approaching the city of Ŋëvra-Vïn in 8 Heta-Eimarae. As such, they would promptly alert the Lhrúuŋðarr, and both groups armed themselves, the Šverians at Dlaýe-Vïn and the Lhrúuŋðarr at Ŋëvra-Vïn. This latter group, yet unprepared for combat, would rally around the relatively inexperienced leader Nmëbýbyvmn, who was a member of the Alëhadic Expedition and previously an integral part of the efforts to construct the Palïŋ-Lhrúuŋðarr. From the records of the time, the Šverian army numbered around 750-800, and the Lhrúuŋðian Army some 4,500. Due to losses suffered in the earlier conflicts, the Khalúšian army had shrunk from around 5,500 in 25020 AYM to 3,000-3,200 by 25015 AYM.

Engagement at Ŋëvra-Vïn

Understanding the strategic importance of the Vanýst-Lhrúuŋðarr, Nmëbýbyvmn would position his army just west of Ŋëvra-Vïn, intending to slow the Khalúšian advance between they reached the city. In midday of 11 Heta-Eimarae, the two would clash