Following the defeat of Rigvald Norrvakt at the stronghold of Nastrond the young leader, Einarr Norrvakt had rallied his bannermen for a final assault against the usurper Vilhelm. While the previous battle had resulted in the deaths of all of Einarr's men, losses were also sustained on the defenders of Nastrond. The rightful heir knew that a head on assault would be the best solution as it would not allow Vilhelm to call forth new defenses in time. Einarr also was aware that if such a rush would succeed they would need to capture various checkpoints along the outskirts of Nastrond in which to station reserves. The first of such checkpoints was Jern Høyde, a ruined fortress along the forest lines.
The ruins had only a portion of Vilhelm's men stationed there, the bulk of his forces were at the stronghold of Nastrond to counter the forces of Rigvald. Einarr and his men stationed themselves along the tree line. Accompanying him were all the bannermen he had rallied, the levies, the freelancers. The entirety of Einarr's army waited in the woods near Jern Høyde. Among his bannermen, Baldur Fenross. Baldur looked to his liege awaiting the orders to rush the ruined fortress. Einnar, from his own cover, watched the peak of Jern Høyde, waiting for the watch to lay down their eyes for a moment to allow a few meter advantage in the attack.
A few moments pass and Einarr begins his rush from the brush, the men around him began to follow suit, falling into the valley before them. Baldur stepped forth from his cover, drawing his horn to his lips, allowing for a powerful blow to emanate from the instrument. The forest roared with life with the horn echoing over the tree tops. Men in the hundreds rushed from the cover of the forest, charging upon Jern Høyde.
The plan had worked as the watch stationed by Vilhelm hadn't time to rally their own defenses as they scrambled to position for a siege. But it was all for nothing as the Young Cub's Army found themselves at the base of the fortress. Baldur and several other large bannermen hacked at the aged wooden door. A log which had been felled at the start of the rush was brought up as several of Einarr's freelancers rammed it into the door. They did this two more times as the men within Jern Høyde cast down stones and rubble at the attackers. Very few on the attacking side died during this retaliation, estimated around twelve of the total number.
The door cracked and splintered as the log was cast aside. Skagger warriors, led by Baldur Fenross rushed through the initial defenses, hacking the men down with ease. Meanwhile Einarr led his own group to take the guard tower at the back of Jern Høyde. The Feer-Drakken swordsman cut down several of Vilhelm's men as he made his way through the rubble of the ruined fortress.
Within an impressive forty three minutes all of Vilhelm's defense had been either killed or gathered in the courtyard. The survivors had totaled seventeen at this time. One by one the men were brought forward, Baldur would use a flaying knife to cut the left ear off of each man before Einarr would bring down his Zweihander at the nape of their necks, severing the head from the body. Finally the seventeenth man was brought forward, in tears, trousers soiled as he feared for his painful end. A wooden box was brought forward and the sixteen ears were placed within. The man was brought to his knees as Einarr stepped forth bidding the man to return to the stronghold of Nastrond with the box. Baldur addressed the point that there were only sixteen ears in the box and yet seventeen men had been captured. Einarr thought on it for but a brief moment, agreeing that it would be dishonest to send sixteen ears. The seventeenth man was grabbed as Baldur came forward, drawing his head to the man as he bit into his ear, gnashing his teeth with all of the strength his jaw could maintain. The seventeenth man screamed in agony as Baldur tore the ear back and spit it into the box. The man was released and given the box and a horse with the explicit orders to deliver the parcel to Vilhelm.
Thus concluded the second battle of the Young Cub's War at Jern Høyde. The next step was to take the stronghold of Nastrond itself.
The ruins had only a portion of Vilhelm's men stationed there, the bulk of his forces were at the stronghold of Nastrond to counter the forces of Rigvald. Einarr and his men stationed themselves along the tree line. Accompanying him were all the bannermen he had rallied, the levies, the freelancers. The entirety of Einarr's army waited in the woods near Jern Høyde. Among his bannermen, Baldur Fenross. Baldur looked to his liege awaiting the orders to rush the ruined fortress. Einnar, from his own cover, watched the peak of Jern Høyde, waiting for the watch to lay down their eyes for a moment to allow a few meter advantage in the attack.
A few moments pass and Einarr begins his rush from the brush, the men around him began to follow suit, falling into the valley before them. Baldur stepped forth from his cover, drawing his horn to his lips, allowing for a powerful blow to emanate from the instrument. The forest roared with life with the horn echoing over the tree tops. Men in the hundreds rushed from the cover of the forest, charging upon Jern Høyde.
The plan had worked as the watch stationed by Vilhelm hadn't time to rally their own defenses as they scrambled to position for a siege. But it was all for nothing as the Young Cub's Army found themselves at the base of the fortress. Baldur and several other large bannermen hacked at the aged wooden door. A log which had been felled at the start of the rush was brought up as several of Einarr's freelancers rammed it into the door. They did this two more times as the men within Jern Høyde cast down stones and rubble at the attackers. Very few on the attacking side died during this retaliation, estimated around twelve of the total number.
The door cracked and splintered as the log was cast aside. Skagger warriors, led by Baldur Fenross rushed through the initial defenses, hacking the men down with ease. Meanwhile Einarr led his own group to take the guard tower at the back of Jern Høyde. The Feer-Drakken swordsman cut down several of Vilhelm's men as he made his way through the rubble of the ruined fortress.
Within an impressive forty three minutes all of Vilhelm's defense had been either killed or gathered in the courtyard. The survivors had totaled seventeen at this time. One by one the men were brought forward, Baldur would use a flaying knife to cut the left ear off of each man before Einarr would bring down his Zweihander at the nape of their necks, severing the head from the body. Finally the seventeenth man was brought forward, in tears, trousers soiled as he feared for his painful end. A wooden box was brought forward and the sixteen ears were placed within. The man was brought to his knees as Einarr stepped forth bidding the man to return to the stronghold of Nastrond with the box. Baldur addressed the point that there were only sixteen ears in the box and yet seventeen men had been captured. Einarr thought on it for but a brief moment, agreeing that it would be dishonest to send sixteen ears. The seventeenth man was grabbed as Baldur came forward, drawing his head to the man as he bit into his ear, gnashing his teeth with all of the strength his jaw could maintain. The seventeenth man screamed in agony as Baldur tore the ear back and spit it into the box. The man was released and given the box and a horse with the explicit orders to deliver the parcel to Vilhelm.
Thus concluded the second battle of the Young Cub's War at Jern Høyde. The next step was to take the stronghold of Nastrond itself.
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