Battles
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Battles are the turning points of wars, the moments where words and preparations give way to steel and blood. Unlike the prolonged movements of armies or the endless negotiations of rulers, battles bring immediate consequence: they decide borders, alter dynasties, and shape the memories of entire peoples. Scholars of Eseron, much like those who catalogue the beasts of the forests or the plants of the fields, have long sought to study and record the nature of battles. Through careful classification, they have identified the many forms these clashes may take, whether fought in open plains, before the walls of a fortress, within ambush-laden forests, or across the uncertain seas. To understand the character of a battle is to better comprehend the art of war itself, and how strategy, terrain, and fate intertwine to shape history.
Classifications
Within the long and turbulent history of Eseron, countless wars have been waged, yet it is in the battles themselves that the true struggle of arms is most vividly remembered. Whether fought upon open plains, beneath the shadow of fortress walls, or across the storm-tossed seas, battles shape not only the fate of armies but the course of kingdoms. Each type of battle carries its own character: some born of planning and strategy, others of chance and circumstance. To understand the classifications of battle is to grasp better how commanders wage war, how soldiers endure it, and how the land itself, be it forest, mountain, or ocean, can become a decisive weapon in the hands of those who fight upon it.
Pitched battle
Pitched battles are large-scale confrontations in which two opposing forces agree, whether formally or by circumstance, to meet upon a chosen field. These battles are often decisive, involving careful planning, massed armies, and commanders seeking to outmanoeuvre one another. Victory in a pitched battle can change the course of a war in a single day.
| Pitched battles | |
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| To be announced! | |
Siege
A siege occurs when an attacking force surrounds and attempts to capture a fortified settlement, castle, or stronghold. Siege warfare can last for weeks, months, or even years, relying on attrition, starvation, and the breaking of walls or morale. Defenders often endure immense hardship, while attackers risk their strength being drained by time and disease.
| Siege | |
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| To be announced! | |
Ambush
An ambush is a sudden, unexpected attack by a hidden or waiting force. Typically smaller in scale, ambushes rely on deception, timing, and terrain to catch the enemy unprepared. Though brief, an effective ambush can inflict disproportionate losses, disrupt supply lines, or shatter morale.
| Ambushes | |
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| To be announced! | |
Skirmish
Skirmishes are small engagements between limited forces, often fought by scouts, raiders, or advance units. They rarely decide wars, but they shape campaigns by testing enemy strength, harassing supply routes, or delaying larger armies. Skirmishes can serve as preludes to greater battles or as distractions within a larger strategy.
| Skirmishes | |
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| To be announced! | |
Meeting engagement
A meeting engagement arises when opposing forces encounter one another unexpectedly, without prior planning or prepared positions. Such battles are often chaotic, as commanders must react quickly to shifting circumstances. The outcome depends heavily on discipline, initiative, and the ability to seize advantages on the spot.
| Meeting engagement | |
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| To be announced! | |
Naval battles are fought upon seas, rivers, or lakes, where fleets clash for control of trade, territory, or supply routes. These battles test seamanship as much as strategy, with wind, tides, and terrain playing critical roles. Victory at sea can cripple an enemy’s economy, isolate armies, or open new fronts for invasion.
| Naval battles | |
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| To be announced! | |