REPORT: The Skanarri Encounters

Issued in the year 198 S.A.

Certified by the Government of Blackworth

FOREWORD

The following report is published to the Government of Blackworth and the Royal Crown of Ravenmire. Under the accounts of the previous month's attack, the report contains two reports, one from The Patrol of 1993, and The Seige that occurred in the Duchy of Blackworth. This report details the sequences of events, casualties, and resources within the two battles, and determines the threat of the enemy.

It is without saying that the Native Northerner Clans of the Skanarri are not to be compared with other foreign entities, they possess similar capabilities as the raiders of Ailmere who are led by the entity known as the Harrower, and contain higher numbers than expected. The Crown must consider them a possible threat to the Sovereignty and peace of the Northern lands. 

The Patrol of Rhosmark, 1994

{First encounter}

Written by Constantine L. Haverlock, Warrant of the Order of the Holy Goat

We had heard reports of a camp of Skanarri north of the Margrave of Rhosmark, so I was tasked by my Lord-Father with scouting them out and if possible eliminating them. We then headed out with only a few good men on horseback because I knew the savages had little experience fighting cavalry. Leading the charge was myself and Squire-Warrant Lucien Martell. On the back of our individual horses were Warrant Jasper Clay and Levyman Ley-Ite Lustafaus respectively; both utilizing short bows.

After a bit of travel, we saw the small camp containing only a few warriors at the time. We had the advantage of surprise, so I decided to take out the threat. We quickly charged and got a few lucky shots with our bows before the barbarians were able to form a primitive shield wall. I then commanded the men to go around the Skanarri and to keep up the barrage of arrows. We were able to eliminate a few more before they started to use their own axes as projectiles. An ax directly hit the horse I was on, and Jasper and I tumbled to the ground. I was barely able to get back onto my own feet before I saw them take a step forward towards us. 

Seeing their advance, I pulled out my emergency blasting potion as the other men kept them distracted, giving me the opportunity to throw my potion in the middle of the pact. Half of the Skanarri died in the glass shrapnel, which exposed to me the weaknesses of their armor. Their armor is often old and poorly maintained, thus leaving fatal gaps. After observing the destruction, I implored the remaining three warriors to put down their arms and surrender. For a moment it seemed the Skanarri were going to be unwilling to surrender until one spoke and told me a ritual among their people.

If I were to challenge their chieftain to single combat and defeat him, the rest would put down their arms, so naturally I accepted the challenge. For a moment there was peace, until I saw a man come from the trees. He was as large as an Uruk, and in his hands was held a warhammer the size of a man. I will not tell you the words we said before the battle, but I will tell you this beast's name; “Tormun the Bonebreaker”.

  The battle only lasted a few moments after the introductions, I ran at him with my spear, only for him to grab my spear with his large hands. I then had to pull out my short sword and run behind Tormun, trying to stab at his back. I was only able to create a small wound on his back before he turned around. Swinging his warhammer at me as he does so, I was barely able to block it with my shield. But this gave me my opening to end the duel. I went to stab my sword up into Tormuns head as his armor did not protect his neck. The giant of the man quickly landed on his back and the rest of his warriors, then surrendering to me soon after.

The Siege of Illation, 1994

{Second encounter}

Written By Nicole A. Teufel, Levyman of the Order of the Holy Goat.
 

  The beginnings were a bit of a haze. The horns first blared near the western walls towards our gates. Upon its calming, the levy sprung to life and the chimes of the bells echoed across the city. All of us began to gear up and station ourselves along both sides of the western wall. It was not long before we saw the approaching horde. Rows of men walking unto our fields within the dense rain, holding weapons made from crude steel. It was then that I noticed no leadership was accounted for, Thus by such I took initiative until Warrant Constantine L. Haverlock and Dame Corinna Winburgh formerly Radenmarch came onto the scene. Command was then handed over per procedure.

  The plan was drafted; Initially, two teams were to be set in on both ends of the walls. Three selected individuals would man the cannons and attempt to shred the armies down for our infantry to smash through and force them to retreat or to simply slaughter them. However, the plan soon fell out of motion upon initiation of the battle. I was unsure what happened. Whether Emony Scath, Lucien Martell or Ley-ite Lusterfaus busted up the cannon, filled it with too much black powder or simply the cannon was too old, but it had erupted in an explosion. The entire plan that we had made was foiled, and it allowed the enemy to gain time to ram the gates in and proceed with their assault upon the city.

Upon such, my accounts only come from the testament of others, however I was thrown into the moat, successfully fending off four of the invaders. A handful found themselves being dogpiled or dragged away to be captured. Dame Corinna Rademacher was one of these people who was grabbed and tied up, only to be dragged away before being rescued by Sir Gaspard Winburgh and a civilian auxiliary soldier sworn to House Rademacher by the name of Sir Hodrick. Others were in similar positions, as the Skanarri began to attempt to take more individuals but found themselves unsuccessful due to the efforts of the Blackworthian levymen.

At the end of the siege, the levy was able to push the invading horde back. Many suffered injuries, and our only casualty was one Emony Scath, a Goblin levyman and local medic of Blackworth. Furthermore, one cannon was lost, and the western gate was temporarily damaged.
 

Signed testaments by

Nicole A. Teufel, Levyman of Blackworth

Constantine Leopold Haverlock,, Warrant of the Order of the Holy Goat, Baron of Goldcross