Battle of Revod

The Battle of Lorad was the final and decisive battle of the Berzerka in Tresida. The arrival of the Berzerka in Tresidia displaced the group of Tresidians who would ultimately become the Egathrakoi. The ultimate victory of Tresidia allowed the continuation of Southern Parsini religious practice in the modern Tresidian area, and brought the southward push of the Berzerka to an end. It is notable that, although there are many records of the event, there is almost no harmony between the two belligerent sides. The battle continues to have relevance today, as Revod, and the Monument of Lorad are focal points of conflict in the Revod Crisis.

Harmony of the Accounts
While there is little congruence between the accounts of the battle from the Tresidian and the Ursidian perspective, there are a few points that are well know.


 * 1) Ursidian forces had entered the Tresidian ethnic territory in 1095, and had some success in converting the populous.  The majority however were not converted and began to displace in the face of overwhelming military strength.


 * 1) The refugees began to move in a somewhate orderly fashion, towards the Thadonian coast in an attempt to avoid conversion.


 * 1) The berzerka was hot on the trail of the refugees, and were actually very near to overtaking the entire company, who was utterly un-prepared, at one point.


 * 1) Egathrac the Great was leader of these refugees, and he appointed Lorad to fight a defense near Revod in the hopes that time would allow the people to either retreat completely or organize a more staunch defense in the warmer drier valleys.


 * 1) The Battle of Lorad ended with the near annihilation of the Ursidian forces, and the security of Tresidia.

While apparently agreement in substance, this is hot contention about the remainder of the details of the battle.

Tresidian Accounts
Most Tresidian accounts place great stock in the leadership of both Lorad, and Egathrac. They take a bright view of their own history, and are possibily swayed by a sense of nationalistic braggadocio.

Refugees and Egathrac the Great
As stated, Tresidian historians recognize that Tresidians had largely been uprooted from their homes. However, they believe that Egathrac was chosen as leader because he had a series of visions that directed him in what the Egathrakoi should do. Moreover, the refugees were highly organized, and defended both the sides and the rear.

Lorad
According to contemporary Tresidian historians Lorad was the leader of the rear guard. Although not normally a place of trust, he was nominally the second in command after Egethrac, and was put in charge of the rear guard since that was the place where contact with the Berzerka was most likely.

Lorad had no formal military training, but instead was taught what he knew by Egathrac. There are also legends that include angelic instruction, but those are not mentioned by contemporary accounts, and are taken as symbolic by most historians. Lorad was supposedly quite tall, and had long hair which he wore in braids, and lit on fire when he went into battle. Some people speculate that he was a woodman because he did not like to use "neither spear nor sword, instead cleaving asunder man and beast with a great Halberd" or less poetically, a woodsman's ax. Finally, Lorad was said to be a very pious man, who "counted daily his sins, and paid them back threefold, lest he be found wanting at the day of reckoning."

The Battle of Revod
According to contemporary accounts, the battle took place west of the modern town of Revod. Lorad stationed his archers in the mountains around the valley, high enough that they had a clear view of the Ursidian soldiers below, and were safe from counterfire. His infantry he drew up in phalanx across the valley. Also, some historians, but not all, describe a sort of artillery, something like a catapult with which they hurled "flaming corpses" at the enemy to unnerve them. In most accounts, though, it is either implied or specified that those corpses were of cattle.

Once in position the berzerka approached outnumbering the Egathrakoi almost 100 to one. Everyday the Egathrakoi would draw up in battle order, and stand all day. Some days they Berzerka would charge, others they would not. Nevertheless, the Egathrakoi were always there, ready. Finally, on the last day of the battle, more than 90% of the Ursidians had died, and in one final charge attempted to break the lines. At one point it seemed that they would, and a breach formed but Lorad rushed into the breach with his ax and cut down several dozen men, and the final assault was broken. Unfortunately, Lorad was injured by a thrown spear or an errant arrow, and died. He was taken to a nearby spring, where he died.

The Victory allowed the successful withdrawal of the remaining Egathrakoi, and they resettled in Egathrac, choosing not to return.