The Elysium Encounter

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Elysium Encounter
Part of the Tenth Nordling War

goldenfield.png


Date: 1st of Sun's Smile, 22 S.A.
Place: Elysium, Kingdom of Norland
Result: Minor Imperial Victory
Belligerents
Holy Orenian Empire:
OrenianFlag.png Holy Orenian Empire
Kingdom of Norland:
norland.png Kingdom of Norland
Commanders
OrenianFlag.png Iskander Basrid, 2nd Count of Susa
OrenianFlag.png Erik Ruthern, Count of Kositz
OrenianFlag.png Anastasia O'Rourke, Countess of Halstaig
OrenianFlag.png Erik Othaman, Count of Valles
norland.png Eugo de Astrea, Duke of Elysium
norland.png Liluth Solros
Strength
~11 Infantry ~3 Infantry
~6 Civilians
Casualties
~0 Dead or Wounded ~8 Dead or Wounded

The Elysium Encounter, otherwise referred to as the Massacre of Elysium by the Kingdom of Norland and many others, or Operation Golden Field by the Holy Orenian Empire, was an Orenian offensive expedition focused on crippling Norlandic food supply in addition to decisively engaging the Kingdom on their own lands. While the Operation ended up as a minor success for the Holy Orenian Empire, the nation received major backlash from members of the Church of the Canon, Talon's Port, the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the Jade State of Yong Ping, the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, Silver State of Haelun'or, Rexdom of Krugmar and most prominently the Kingdom of Norland, who dubbed their opponents 'Child Killers'.

Prelude

On the 13th of the First Seed, 22 S.A., the Kingdom of Norland declared war on the Holy Orenian Empire, starting the War of Three Kingdoms. Unlike during the Rubern War & the Sutican War, and in the wake of the Raid on Southbridge perpetrated by the Norlandic army, the Holy Orenian Empire chose to go on the offensive, starting Operation Golden Field. On the 23rd of Tobias's Bounty Oren rallied a force of eleven elite infantry units near Lake Providence. In the morning of the 24th, the Orenians rowed up the River Eada into Norlandic territory until they arrived at their destination; the Duchy of Elysium, a Norlandic farming village.

Docking at the westernmost side of the town, the Orenian forces split, stationing a number of men near the belltower to prevent a rally before moving their main force up towards the Ranger Keep where the Duke of Elysium was along with two women and two children, one of which was still in its mother's arms. Imperial forces quickly surrounded the Duke and the civilians, demanding their surrender. The Duke attempted to reason with the Orenians, explaining the civilians were not part of the Norlandic warband, however, the attackers flippantly dismissed these claims before attacking. It was during this time when five Elysium Rangers and civilians arrived behind the Orenian force, trying to prevent them from attacking the Duke and civilians.

Battle

The overall battle was short-lived, with the civilians of Elysium fleeing into their homes, while the Duke, Liluth Solros, and two other Rangers retreated into the Elysium Keep. The Imperials led by Iskander Basrid & Erik Othaman followed, storming the keep, and killing the two Rangers, further taking the Duke and Liluth as prisoners of war. On the rear guard, Erik Ruthern & Anastasia O'Rourke led a charge into the Norlandic soldiers and civilians, chasing them toward their homes in the eastern side of the Duchy. The Orenians trailed behind, breaking down the doors of the homes and killing the people within. A notable survivor was Lex O'Hara, a child of ten, who lived thanks to his door jamming against attempts to break it down.

Aftermath

Following Operation Golden Field, the Orenian force returned to Providence where they put both Liluth and the Duke Elysium into Imperial State Army cells. They were released from custody after being forced to denounce King Sven II [1] along with announcing a secession of Elysium from the Kingdom of Norland [2]. Upon the news of the secession of Elysium reaching Norland, citizens of Elysium criticized the secession and Oren, claiming that the announcement was Orenian propaganda [3]. Immediately after his release, the Duke of Elysium revoked his announcement of secession and pledged his total support to the Norlandic war effort, with Liluth also retracting her statement as being made under duress [4].

In the following month, Joaquin Nuñez of Osanora, a member of the Canonist clergy publishes a petition, calling for the Orenian leaders of Operation to answer for crimes against the Church of Cannon [5]. After a reply from Father Vinzent var Ruthern to Joaquin, nothing comes out of the petition. On the 15th of the Amber Cold, the Imperial's publish an official response to the occurrences during the raid [6]. Shortly after however, Father Basil Moroul decided to open an unofficial inquiry into the allegations.

Further denouncements came from various nations and prominent figures, with Talon's Port going so far as to break political ties with Oren over the events. This included the breaking of their non-aggression pact[7].