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The clank of steel echoed through the once peaceful forests of Elvenesse as an Imperial warband intruded upon Malin’s peace. These butchers sought naught but blood, quickly snatching the High Prince of Elvenesse. It took but a moment before warhorns sounded across the Elven realms, calling their domains to battle, and the response was swift. With the High Prince in their capture, the Imperial warband worked to haul him off as the Mali of Elvenesse rushed to arms, perched upon their walls.
Suddenly, the call of warhorns echoed through the forest, and a detachment of Ivae’fenn soldiers poured forth from the foliage and fell upon the Imperials. From behind their shields, the Snow Elven soldiers pushed at a dead run, their spears and swords hewing through Imperial armor. The shocked exclamations of embattled Imperials rose above the metallic din of battle as they desperately fought for their lives, but it was not enough. Their men cut down in droves, the cowards quickly turned to flee with their royal prize as the Ivae’fenn swept over them like a wave.
This prize soon proved to be short-lived. The stragglers from this engagement with their royal bounty soon ran smack into a detachment of soldiers from Elvenesse. A brief scuffle ensued, and in the process, all of the Imperials present were cut down – including their commander, who fell while attempting a desperate escape with the High Prince. With the High Prince safely back in Elven hands, the party returned to their forested homeland once more.
This was not to be the end, though. Aware of their defeats to Malin’s children, another fresh detachment of Imperials formed up, and stormed south to recapture the High Prince whilst the forces of Elvenesse were still en route to Aegrothond. Unfortunately for them, they happened not upon the High Prince and soldiers of Elvenesse, but upon an ambush of the Snow Elven Ivae’fenn. In a fierce engagement, the Imperials fell upon the spears of the waiting Ivae’fenn. Instantly, the Imperial detachment tried to flee, but were pursued and cut down during the rout – and only a couple escaped with their lives. As quickly as it began, the day’s hostilities drew to a close, and the din of battle died away to naught but the cries of the wounded and dying.
Thrice they attacked, and thrice they blundered. Malin’s children are a peaceful people, but unwarranted foreign aggression would not be left unchecked anymore.