Defender’s Report: The Defense of Haven

[Menry]

Official Account:
After receiving word of the retreat from Meadowmere, our party followed instructions to bring the refugees to Haven. The journey was successful and without incident. Once we had arrived, we were briefed on the war situation. Though the majority of the fighting was occuring in the surrounding area, Lady Gilette had a strong personal interest in assaulting our position at Haven, likely as revenge for rejecting her demands during the summit. Haven itself rests on a long, thin strip of land that is difficult to defend effectively without spreading one’s forces equally as thin. Supply shortages further exacerbated the problem, as well as occasional sniper attacks. Later in the day we were granted a boon however, as a defector from the opposition forces smuggled several refugees from Meadowmere as well as vital equipment. In the evening, Captain Arnor of the De Jardin forces arrived in town with Lady Gillete for parley. They demanded our surrender, else a contingent of 150 troops would bear down on us. We refused surrender, but were able to bargain for a few prisoners that had been captured during the Hexhaven raid.
The next morning, we received supplies that had been delayed just in time to defend against the coming raid. Initially, our forces were concentrated toward the essential buildings, but it immediately became clear the De Jardin’s plan was to capture any position in the town they could hold along our flanks. Several buildings in the east had already been captured before we became aware of their movements. Thus, we opted to spread our forces along the whole length of the town. This gave us a better opportunity when the second wave came in from the west. The morning saw the worst losses, with 17 shelters pillaged by the largest waves. I was charged with defending the eastern flank, which was further from the city center than the west, and was also more meagerly defended: I only had one or two other men with me at a time. I counted our losses at 6, despite being heavily outnumbered. In the afternoon, the tide turned at the front, and the amount of forces in each attack was severely reduced. The De Jardin resorted to sneak attacks and quick retreats, but had minimal success.
Early in the evening, a town meeting was called to discuss the retrieval of a beastfolk artifact near the front. The details of this mission can be found in other reports; I was personally tasked with the continued defense of the town while a party went to the front for a push. Though a few desperate vandalism attempts were made at the far ends of our flanks, the De Jardin forces were clearly preoccupied with the sudden reinforcement on the front, and these attempts proved unsuccessful (though we were unable to locate whatever stragglers were responsible). There were no further attacks made through the night.
In the morning, the Lady De Jardin arrived in town to provide political and strategic assistance. Our orders were to eliminate Captain Arnor, to nullify his influence over her and create a political opportunity for the cessation of hostilities. Duke Royce and his entourage also accompanied us, and we met what was left of the Captain’s forces (with Lady Gilette accompanying) at the field near the middle of town. We refused his call for surrender, and immediately engaged him. As they were at this point outnumbered, they were easily routed and killed in the fighting, Lady Gilette included. This marked the end of the defense of Haven, with a successful outcome in the Order’s interests.

SENSITIVE INFORMATION – JUSTICAR AND HEADMASTER EYES ONLY

– There is clear evidence the De Jardin forces poisoned our personal water reserves. I cured the illness by potion; the majority of the militia elected to participate in a ritual to attempt to cure it, with marginal success. It is clear some there attempted to quietly sabotage the ritual rather than contribute.
-The “bargain” of a “few prisoners” was basically a needless concession given by the ranking millitary captain to free the captured Captain D (see the previous report for details) and a hat. Some of the militia found it amusing to offer money for Lady Gilette.
-The defector mentioned in the official report was the People’s Champion … He played a pivotal role in attempting to sabotage Captain Arnor’s efforts, and fought on the De Jardin side incognito in the final battle. Unfortunately, he was slain in the chaos.

Personal Remarks

This was the first time I’ve mourned the death of a foe on the battlefield. He was an enemy only in the colors he wore, but he stuck true to his honor and died fighting for his house. I have been moved by his self-sacrifice in the shadows; a silent martyr. Fighting not for glory, but out of duty. Now I have his helm, a symbol of righteous service. I only hope I prove to be of the same mettle to wear it.

[Author]

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