Battle of Arden

Military: Battle

In 780, outside the busteling town of Arden, the fate of Riverhold teetered on a knife's edge. House Greymoor, under King Elandar III, met its downfall against House Starlance's military cunning. The fields echoed with the clash of steel, marking Starlance's rise to power.

As dawn broke over the rooftops of Arden City which gave this event it's name, the horizon was alight with more than just the early rays of the sun. The gleaming armor of House Greymoor's forces shimmered in anticipation. King Elandar III, confident of his house's historical dominance, was prepared to quell the upstarts of House Starlance once and for all. Little did he anticipate the strategic prowess that awaited him.   House Starlance, although relatively new on the political horizon, had swiftly risen through the ranks. Their rise was primarily attributed to their shrewd strategic planning and a military might that leaned heavily on their specialized knight battalions. Under the leadership of Lord Aric Starlance, a military genius of his time, they had consolidated power around the fringes of Riverhold, slowly encircling the heartland controlled by Greymoor.   The confrontation was inevitable. What had started as small skirmishes on the borders soon escalated to a full-scale war. Both houses knew the importance of Arden City, a strategic location that controlled the trade routes and was a vital connection between the north and south of the kingdom.   As the battle raged, King Elandar III's tactics, relying mostly on traditional warfare, became increasingly ineffective against Starlance's combined arms approach. The Starlance battalions, trained to operate in synchronized units, managed to disrupt Greymoor's formations, creating gaps for their cavalry to penetrate deep within enemy lines. The Greymoor archers, famed for their precision, found themselves outmaneuvered by Starlance's swift foot soldiers, shielded by mobile barricades.   By midday, it was clear that Greymoor was faltering. The once-mighty battalions found themselves surrounded, their morale sinking with each passing hour. In a last-ditch effort, Elandar III led a cavalry charge aiming to breach Starlance's central command. But even this was anticipated by Lord Aric, who had prepared a series of pitfalls and ambushes on the plains outside Arden City. Elandar's charge was thwarted, leading to their eventual capture.   With Elandar III imprisoned and their forces decimated, the remnants of House Greymoor had no choice but to acknowledge the ascendancy of House Starlance. The Battle of Arden didn't just mark a change of rulership; it heralded a new era in Riverhold's history – one where strategy and military prowess were paramount.   Previous event