| Battle of Five Fangs |
| Date |
RY759 Ascending Water |
| Location |
Seyan (Northern Threshold) |
| Result |
Victory for the Realm |
|
| Belligerents |
| Scarlet Empire (Vermillion Legion, 6th Imperial Legion) |
Varajtul |
| Commanders |
Ragara Jalin
Tepet Elana |
(unknown) |
| Strength |
500 Realm Legion skirmishers
(10,000 Realm Legionnaires
3,500 Realm Legion skirmishers
2,000 Seyani warriors
250 Seyani cavalry) |
50,000 Varajtul warriors |
| Casualties and losses |
475 Realm Legion skirmishers
(2,000 Realm Legionnaires and Legion skirmishers (injured)
1,500 Seyani warriors) |
27,000 Varajtul warriors |
|
Overview
The Battle of Five Fangs was an engagement in RY759 between the cannibalistic Varajtul and the Realm on the northern border of Seyan, a Realm satrapy in the Northern Threshold.
The Battle began as a relief effort to support Seyani troops, who had been mauled in battle with a great horde of Varajtul barbarians driven south and east by a particularly harsh winter season. Two Legions were dispatched: the Vermillion Legion was already engaged in anti-barbarian sweeps in the North, while the 6th Imperial Legion was redeployed from its station in the northern Blessed Isle.
Opening Engagement
Varajtul forces moved more quickly than expected, and swept into Seyan itself before the 6th Legion had reached the satrapy. The Red Piss was ordered to drive the invaders back unsupported... a mission guaranteed to be heavy in casualties, but typical of those assigned to the Vermillion. Unfortunately, even the most pessimistic estimates failed to recognize the strength of the Varjatul, who numbered over fifty thousand. When the battle was joined, the Seyani regulars were smashed into retreat in short order and the Vermillion Legion itself was badly mauled, suffering mass casualties as it attempted to hold the line. Pleas were sent to the 6th, but they were delayed, unable to reach the battlefield for five days.
An Order to Retreat
The Vermillion Legion fought for five days against the endless Varajtul hordes, but hundreds were slain and thousands were injured, many too hurt to be moved. The strategoi of the Red Piss, Ragara Jalin ordered a retreat, the wounded providing a last service in distracting the hungry cannibals while the surviving soldiers fell back. A dragon of slingers was placed under command of Dragonlord Tepet Elana to further cover the retreat, but Elana instead ordered her troops forward to defend the injured.
The 'Five Fangs'
The dragon and their commander fought through a day and a night, until of 500 soldiers only 25 ('five fangs') remained, but at that time Seyani cavalry and the 6th Legion vanguard reached the field, and the Varajtul were driven back in disorder.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the battle, Tepet Elana was stripped of rank for disobeying a direct order, and immediately appointed as an Imperial Magistrate by the Scarlet Empress. Ragara Jalin was reassigned from the Legions to the Northern Juche Militia, many believing this dishonour was due to her cowardice.
