The War in the Sutherlands
May 4, 596- Battle of Sweetbrush. Army of the South defeats Sutherland Army near Sweetbrush.
May 23, 596- Battle of Authomonagga. Army of the South defeats Sutherland Army north of the Authomonagga River. First major battle of the campaign.
June 15, 596 - Battle of Lythia.
Lythia is a very small crossroads village near Vetinari Keep (Vetinari Keep-
see below). Sutherland forces surprise the lead unit of the Army of the South,
the 12th Queens Lancers, as it marches. The battle is quick, fought mainly to
slow down the progress of the Southwatch army. Brigadier Jel Scott, commander
of the 12th Lancers, is killed. He is replaced by Major Roland Hampton.
June 16, 596- The Army arrives at Vetinari Keep. The Keep lies halfway between the Authomonagga River and Sutherland City. Sutherland City is the capitol of the Sutherlands. General Zachariah decides to lay siege to the Keep. It is deemed too dangerous to pass around the Keep and leave it in the Army's rear. Also, the Sutherland Army appears to be making a stand here.
June 27, 596- Innisfree, a town in the barony of Sahde, is liberated by the 1st Southwatch Irregulars. Control over most of Sahde Forest is secured. This firmly protects the right flank of the Army of the South during the siege.
July 596 (overview of the whole month)- Nobody likes a siege. Morale begins to lower in the Southwatch army. Most duty is confined to skirmishing. Some patrols sent out to scout the area between Sahde Forest and the Keep, but most action is confined to Vetinari Keep. A massive attack is scheduled for mid-August, with the arrival of the 1st Dwarven Engineers (a new unit from the Dwarven Kingdom near Tyrangel) and the siege engines they will build. Rumors that a Sessuar unit was fighting alongside the Sutherland Army at the Battle of Authomonagga are confirmed.
July 14, 596- Raid sent to Trestar, capitol of the Barony of Rossanoe. Little resistance is encountered, but the city is devoid of any real resources. A small garrison is left, mainly to alert of an attack from that area.
July 30, 596- News arrives that Chancellor Rel Morian will be arriving at Vetinari Keep to inspect the Army and check on its progress. Count Daleron announces that he will remain at the front instead of attending the Market Day in Tyrangel.
August 6, 596 - Count Roderick Daleron and General Zachariah, commander of the Army of the South, are assassinated at their camp by Sessuar infiltrators. Both bodies fail to dissipate, and it is believed they have died their final death.
August 7, 596- Chancellor Rel Morian arrives on his inspection tour. He immediately takes command of the Army of the South. The unit left to watch the town of Trestar (2nd Therendry Foot) is forced to fall back toward Vetenari Keep in the face of an overwhelming enemy force coming from Sutherland City.
August 8, 596- Defying military logic, Chancellor Morian leaves only one regiment (17th Royal Dragoons) to keep an eye on the enemy inside Vetenari Keep and moves the rest of the army to intercept the enemy forces closing in.
During the late morning, the Army of the South engages the Sutherland Army, now
heavily reinforced by Sessuar legions, on the banks of Trestar Creek (the creek
flows southeast toward the town of Trestar). The largest and costliest battle
of the war so far is fought. By the end of the day both armies are exhausted.
Chancellor Morian refuses to quit the field, and braces for a night attack.
Several miles to the rear, the Sutherland forces come out of Vetenari Keep and
try to capture the road to Trestar, thereby cutting off the Southwatch Army.
The 17th Dragoons, fighting valiantly, prevents them from doing so.
August 9, 596- No night attack occurs. The Battle of Testar has ended. In the morning the Army of the South begins a withdrawal to Rossile in northern Rossanoe.
August 13, 596- Reports begin to circulate that there has been heavy fighting in the Gallyamath Forest between the gnolls who live there and an invading force. Most rumors point to the Sessuar being the adversaries.
August 16, 596- Manath, situated at the mouth of the Gateway River, is captured by the Sessuar. It appears as if the Sessuar are in control of the seacoast south of the Gallyamath Forest and have now captured Manath itself. Prince Miles Tegg commands the mobilization of all militia units in Therendry. All members of the militia and armed forces are to report to their units immediately.
August 13, 596- The Army of the South arrives at Rossile, having withdrawn after the Battle of Trestar. The 1st Dwarven Engineers are there to meet them. Construction begins immediately on defensive works around the town, and the building of siege weapons ie. ballistas, catapults whatever could be used on the battlefield.
August 15, 596- The Sutherland Army arrives outside Rossile. They are not strong enough to encirlce the entire town, resulting in a partial siege.
August 16, 596- Isles de Hoenig liberated.
August 16, 596- Manath is captured by the Sessuar Imperium.
August 23 to 25, 596- Massive attacks upon the Southwatch Army at Rossile. Most attacks are made by very large numbers of undead. Casualties moderate, Rossile holds, the Battle of Rossile is a victory. On August 25 a large portion of the Sutherland Army attempts to circle around the town from the east and cut off the Army from the Authomonagga River. The Army of the South meets this force with as many units as possible, resulting in the Battle of Roan's Hill. The battle is a victory for Southwatch and the Sutherland Army retreats to its original position around Rossile. The situation remains precarious.
August 27, 596- A large force of Sessuar are spotted traveling north from Manath along the Gateway River. It is intercepted by militia on the 27th. The militia is defeated. The Sessuar are now outside of Quilldale.
September 5, 596- Battle of Quilldale. Sessuar troops defeated near Quilldale and retreat to Manath.
September 16, 596- After a fifteen day ride through the Sutherlands, Southwatch cavalry capture and hold Trestar.
September 23, 596- Battle of Arwyn's Keep. The Sutherland Army retreats from Rossile to Sutherland City. Along the way it is intercepted at Arwyn's Keep, where a small battle is fought.
September 24, 596- Prince Miles Tegg arrives in the Sutherlands to personally oversee the fight against the rebellious duchy.
September 24, 596- Isle de Hoenig recaptured by the Sutherland Navy and Army. The Rand Massacre follows.
Situation on October 9, 596- Southwatch forces hold most of the Barony of
Rossanoe and northern Barony of Sahde. The Army of the South and the Sutherland
Army are encamped near Sutherland City, the capital of the Duchy. The Isles de
Hoenig have been recaptured by the Sutherlands. A force of Sessuar hold Manath,
cutting off the Gateway River in Tyrangel.
October 19th 596- Battle of Manath.
Southwatch units under the command of Brigadier Erik Lawton storm the port city
of Manath at the mouth of the Gateway River. Fierce fighting. Some Sessuar
evacuated the city. Currently, reports are vague as to the complete success of
the battle.
October 29th 596- Battle of Sutherland City. After retreating to Sutherland City following the cavalry raid into its rear, the Sutherland Army took up camp outside of Sutherland City, the capital of the duchy. The Army of the South followed and camped nearby. With reinforcements rushed from the abandoned city of Manath, the Sutherland Army attacked. They massed their forces on the right flank of the Army of the South, and surprised the militia unit stationed there. A desperate fight ensued as the outnumbered Army of the South fought back. However, at the last minute, the regiments under Brigadier Lawton arrived from Manath. After heavy fighting they were able to stem the advance. However, Gen. Morian decided to retire the Army further north after the end of the battle.
As winter approaches, it appears as if both sides have ended hostilities for
the campaign season. Both armies have begun to set up winter quarters.