Burro Creek War 1982

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Burro Creek V
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Location: Atenveldt Date: 02/13-15/1982

From The Page (April, 1982)

Le Roman de la Guerre * d'Honnour*

The word went out across the land. The forces of the proud Atenveldt were preparing to gather in vast number on the sandy desert of Burro Creek. Their gallant King Amayot was to appoint fierce and wiley Jarl Sir Heinrich der Jaeger his general. Their staff, so spies reported, were prepared to do battle on any terrain. King Radnor, the West's true king, met this challenge, calling to himself a staff of loyal knights; the valourous Prince, James of the Mists; battle veteran and battle scarred Grey Wolf, Duke Sir William; bold and cunning Viscountess Sir Maythen; dour Duke Sir Aonghais, Commander of the Southern Cross; war leader of the Lance of Gryphon d'Argent, Sir Brandon; young but wise Sir Thomas called the Incomplete. As so assembled they made their plans. Messengers were dispatched to CAID's mighty King Gregory. Vows of brotherhood were exchanged between two courteous kings. The plans for war were shared. It could be done, perhaps, if enough forces were raised. Messengers were sent north to young An Tir. "Support us, brothers," was the cry, and they gave their word. Alfric, Prince of Cynagua called forth in fealty his own tribe Rotmahne. The Duramen, Earl Sir Strider raised House Persistant to arms. Silver Desert, Southern Cross and Westermark did arm. Duke Sir Armand hastened to arm his Lance of St. John. Lyondemere, Heatherwyne, Dreiburgen, each levy called forth their best. Dhaemohn called his Guard. Mishra Kahn and the Abbey and Tryggvi and the Drafn joined the cause. King Gregory called his advisors and Sir Robear du Bois' expertise was sought. Sir Aethelred and Sir Guy de Coldrake their Liege willingly did attend.

Great Battle Wains rolled up to the battle site and camp was made. The dawn of battle broke. King Gregory stood ready with his forces. But where was West's Mighty Monarch? In serene aspect of that fairest and most courteous lady, Queen Esmirelda gave assurance that only direst cause could have kept her Lord from War's grim side, and although in her heart she may have feared for him she gave show of good courage to the assembled field. At her command Sir Maythen spoke an Order to the Army of the West and placed them under Gregory's command, he who as a Western King had been the last to rule over an undivided vast Western Land.

And so the allies of three great Kingdoms marched as one. They met the foe first upon an open field. CAID took the right flank with An Tir in reserve, while Mists held the left with Cynagua for support. And the battle was joined. In two great spear-heads, left and right, together and at Gregory's signal, the Allies smashed the Aten line and routed them. So sure and swift it was.

Aten's warriors retreated to a broken terrain along a river but the West-CAID-An Tir force, now joined by Sir Knarlic and his brother Ansteorran knights and squires, followed Atenveldt hard on. They met amoungst the thorn bush and jagged rock, where Aten, still reeling from the day's first blow chose to make a stand. Allied archers took a great toll. In their ranks a young commander, Lord Stephen of Bellatrix proved again a bold warrior and noble son of noble name. Duke Sir Armand held the sandy beach to the left, hard by the river. There he me the brunt of the Aten army, and inflicted heavy casualties upon them but at great cost to the St. John's Lance and their fellows from bright CAID. The Southern Cross held the narrow passage to the right. Gryphon d'Argent with awesome skill cut through to aid when suddenly a thrust to the right broke through. Rotmahne wheeled right to support the growing weakness in center of the line and with Sir Brandon's lance crushed the valiant attempt by House Rolling Thunder to hit the Westland allies.

Weary veterans returned to camp for a brief respite, when the glad word came. "King Radnor is arrived with his personal guard." Gracious words had he for His Queen and for his brother King before the assembled army. Scouts reported in. The mighty Aten army was assembled at a bridgehead not far away. The only way to them lay in not one bridge but two laid out like an "L". "There is no choice. We must split our forces and attack on both fronts." So the commander declared. Fair Gregory and his knights boldly claimed the wider right hand bridge, knowing that is where the main thrust would come. James, Prince and Duke, would stand guard the treacherous left lest a heavy charge there open the allied back to flanking attack. The army approached the bridge. "Look! They are gathered but not yet on either bridge. CHARGE!" Then came a rush by both armies to claim a bridgehold, but the Aten seized the greater span and the crash of weapons in that charge and counter-charge must surely have been heard in far Jerusalem. A long and bitter fight ensued as toe to toe the foreman fought. CAID indeed took the heaviest charge. Sir Robear with cleverness and skill deployed his reserve. Sir Guy, once trapped upon the other side, heroically took war's ill fortune for an opportunity and turned upon the Aten line to break a hole for his CAIDan brothers. On the other front the Mistlands fighters held a solid and relentless front. Toward dusk the Western King committed his last reserve. It seemed his army held, but in that tangled mass of lances, pikes and swords not much was clear. Jarl Sir Heinrick, in a last great gesture lept the pile of dead, four deep and eight feet wide, to throw himself at Mists strong line, and died a Viking's death. And then that line broke through and clamoured to the center of the bridge, and in the heat of battle and the crashing and the din could scarce be heard "Hold, brother" from the opposing line. "It is CAID" "It is Armand" "Our lines are joined." "The day is won!"

And so the armies retired for the night to dress their wounds, repair their gear, and drink and tell good tales of cheer.

Again too soon a cold thin drawn brought readiness for war. CAID's armed Queen, Arianyn, who stood with longbow against the Aten charge the day before, now led with drum and courage the Allied armies to the field. And then a span of silence not longer than a heartbeat. And Radnor winded the horn, and the Allies charged. The Aten, stunned by the sudden fierce and thoughtful attack did counter-charge, and broke the center, but a center left to decoy, and Mist's own Prince with his mighty liegemen pounded right across the field while CAID swept the left. The momentary success of Aten's charge turned quickly to defeat as they were crushed between two giant paws of the armored beast they faced.

The Aten banner then was captured and King Radnor held it as his own until the battle ended. And then upon that very field of honour with utmost courtesy he returned it to the Aten King saying, "With honour you bore it. With honour we return it." "With honour we receive it." Amayot did reply. The greatest sorry of that fray was that King Gregory had fallen and was taken to the healers. "Royal Commander, we salute you."

But all this that went before would soon seem as squires' melees within safe castle battlements to what was yet to come. So fierce the sun. So long the fray. So many heroes fought that endless day.

By skill of healer there was not one upon that field of honour who did not rise as if from Death's feared pallour again and again to return to battle. King Radnor took his banner into the Wasteland. It must not fall to Aten hand. And on a sandy hillock he made his stand. Duke Sir Steingrim, green An Tir's kin, himself twice King of Western shores, with knightly Blakhand and Morgan stood by their ally. Lance commanders claimed their ground, "Be not so far as to be out of sight nor so hard on that you can be flanked." And all stood waiting, searching each and every compass point with eye and ear. At last the scouts espied the advancing horde. "A large body to the right, Your Majesty." "A smaller one, some 30 souls comes to the left." And the army stood and waited. And then the waiting ended. Every Aten warrior heaven ever spawned, knights without number, men-at-arms without end, came charging, striking, pounding to that hill. And yet the West banner held. And again the eerie silence. Aten numbers ever large, it seemed while West-CAID's war weary band dwindled in number. And still they held. Once into camp there slipped an Aten youth and snatched the banner but died in the attempt. Now by the rules of war the banner could be moved. But where to flee in this unforgiving land? No tree or hill, no rock nor rill was there in which to hide. Run, run with all and Aten army at your heels, and who to choose.

Sir Brandon spoke. "My squire, Jay d'Argent, is skilled and swift." And so the task was given him if all should fall. The King looked out over the sandy field, and another youthful hero left the Aten line and suddenly the King lay wounded. As he fell he gasped to Steingrim, "You have command." And then he went to the healer's tender care. The Duke espied a force approaching. "Who are they?" "I see two Aten knights are in the van." "We cannot hold against such numbers." The banner stood ready to flee. "Wait, the Aten knights are down. It is Sir Robear du Bois. They are ours." And so reinforcements came. But the last two waves were yet to hit, the allies fell to the man. Young Jay, his lady and some friends made bold escape the banner for to hide. The allies routed formed again only to be laid low. Then Radnor, newly healed had a plan. "Sir Robear, go forth as decoy, but rejoin us when with the Aten is battle joined." And so the Western-CAID-An Tir army sought and found the Aten stronghold and in furious battle the banner was regained. In that encounter in the brush, King Radnor, in his golden surcoat seemed to be a dozen places all at once. Yet once again the Aten army reappeared, healed as if by magic, and fell upon the Allies weakened by the recent clash. At last, but a scant score remained to face the Aten horde.

Duke Sir Armand, Duke Sir William and Vicountess Sir Maythen stood on the hill and sang the song of Harlech's men, and fell, at least, in place. The banner fell as night approached. The Aten king lay wounded by its side. But Chivalry is a stronger force than even Death, and he arose. He bore it with a guard to King Radnor and in the words once said to him he spoke, "With honour you bore it. With honour we captured it. With honour we return it." "With honour we receive it," said King Radnor. The two royal cousins embraced as friends.

Have ever there been those more bold? I think not. My tale is told.

(The author is Maythen of Elfhaven)

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