Battle of Nairain Ely
| Conflict | Sundering[1a] |
| Location | Meadows of Nairain Ely, Ellyrion[1a] |
| Outcome | Victory for forces of the Phoenix King[1a] |
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| Army of Nagarythe, Cultists.[1a] | Army of Ellyrion, rebels of Nagarythe, army of Caledor (reinforcements)[1a] |
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| Kheranion[1a] | Athielle[1a] Finudel[1a] Alith Anar[1a] Dorien[1b] |
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The Battle of Nairain Ely was an early battle in the Sundering. [1a]
Having determined that the forces of Nagarythe had captured the Pass of the Eagle, the Ellyrians sent several hundred knight ahead to scout out the enemy as they gathered their main army and marched to meet them. When they were within two days of the pass, Athielle and Finudel called their commanders together to discuss their strategy - Alith Anar told them to flee and when they would not accept this - told them to ambush the enemy in the pass but Aneltain countered their cavalry would be useless in the rocky terrain. [1a]
Prince Dorien was leading the army of Caledor towards Ellyrion following their victory at the First Siege of Lothern. He had received a message from Athielle and Finudel that Eagle Pass was likely to be attacked by the Druchii. [2a]
Contents
Deployment
The Ellyrians placed their infantry on their right, with their flanks protected by a loop of the River Irlana, their host of cavalry on the left which gave them the freedom of the meadows to ride upon with half commanded by Athielle and the other half by Finudel. The smaller force of rebels from Nagarythe was further south, with Alith brooding alone in his tent. [1a]
The forces of Nagarythe marched onto the battlefield in great columns of silver and black whilst the knights of Anlec deployed to face the enemy cavalry. Above the host was the Kheranion on his dragon and a number of sorcerers and sorceresses prowled between the regiments. Noting the presence of the elf who had killed his father, Alith finally mustered his warriors to fight, leading the Shadows himself forward. [1a]
Battle
The Nagarythe bolt throwers began the engagement, firing deadly volleys into the infantry as Alith led his force forwards, the long grass keeping his warriors concealed - when the enemy artillery was within 400 paces he ordered the Shadows to split into groups of five and target the crews. Although many were killed and their machines disabled, a sorceress countered with her magic, killing Nermyrrin and several other Shadows. Alith ordered them to retreat, taking their dead. [1a]
The two main battle lines advanced, exchanging clouds of arrows with Athielle's knights firing and retreating out of range of the repeater crossbows. Seeing the magic users beginning to cause havoc, Alith had his Shadows target them next, using his own hunter's magic to remain unseen. A number of sorcerers and officers were cut down until spearmen and repeater crossbows were employed to drive them back again. [1a]
The main Nagarythe host drove onwards, pushing the Ellyrian infantry back as the knights tried to cover their retreat towards the river. As the Dragon flew above, the druchii infantry lengthened their line and Alith realised they were forming a barrier that kept the Ellyrian infantry and his Shadows pinned in - most of his own forces still well to the south near his camp. Alith decided that the battle was lost and ordered his remaining Shadows to make for a nearby ford and then lose themselves in the trees of Athelian Toryr. [1a]
Even as they fell back in despair, Alith saw light glittering on the armour of Athielle, likely soon to be overwhelmed by the tide of darkness. He took a magic hunting horn from Khillrallion and sounded a long note, seeking to draw at least some of the enemy to him. The horns of the Ellyrion replied and they unleashed a great storm of arrows into the knights of Anlec, throwing them into disarray. [1a]
600 knights were detached to attack the Shadows who fled to the river, plunging into it and swimming to the other side, seeking to conceal themselves in the reeds before moving into the trees. Once within the forest, the saw Raven Heralds and Alith, seeing a sign from Morai-heg, ordered his warriors to target the knights as they followed them into the trees. As the knights of Anlec charged they were hit in the flank by several hundred Heralds, aided by flights of crows. Elthyrior explained that Athielle had asked him to gather those Heralds that opposed the darkness of Anlec. [1a]
Returning to the battlefield, Alith was horrified to see Kheranion pursuing the princess on his dragon, although her escort did what they could to protect her. As he rode towards her however, he saw a great host marching to her aid with four dragons flying fast above them - the Dragon Princes of Caledor had arrived. [1a]
At first Kheranion did not see them, intent on capturing Atheille and her brother alive to torment before handing over to the Cult of Khaine. It was Bloodfang, his mount that scented the threat first and turned away, frantic to get into the air and escape the two dragons bearing down on him. His rider was impaled by the Caledorian but although wounded, Bloodfang escaped and fled for the Inner Sea. [1a]
Although their arrival turned the tide, the Druchii fought hard until dusk when they finally broke and ran for the pass, hotly pursued by the Dragon Princes and knights. [1b]
Location
It was decided, to the anger of Alith, to gather on the meadows of Nairain Ely which lay less than a days march from Eagle Pass. [1a]
Order of Battle
Ellyrion
- Princess Athielle.[1a]
- Prince Finudel.[1a]
- Prince Aneltain.[1a]
- Approximately 20,000 cavalry - Ellyrian Reaver Knights. [1a]
- Approximately 20,000 infantry. [1a]
Nagarythe rebels
- Alith Anar. [1a]
- Tharion, Veteran captain. [1a]
Nagarythe
- Prince Kheranion, mounted on Bloodfang, a Black Dragon. [1a]
- A number of Sorcerers and Sorceresses. [1a]
Reinforcements
Caledor
- Prince Dorien on Nemaerinir.[2a]
- Prince Thyrinor on Anaegnir.[2a]
- Earethien on a Dragon.[2a]
- Findeir on a Dragon. [2a]
- Several thousand Infantry. [1a]
Raven Heralds
- Several hundred Heralds. [1a]
Sources
- 1: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Shadow King (Novel) by Gav Thorpe
- 2: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Caledor (Novel) by Gav Thorpe
- 1a: Eleven: The Black Dragons, pg. 850
