Editing Battle of Illusk

{{Infobox_Battle
|quote=''"The gate's been breached; more men to the gates!"''
|quote_author=[[Illusk|Illuskan Captain]]
|summary=Illusk was a human port city located at the mouth of the River Mirar. The city served as a trade hub and accepted activity from as far as [[Netheril]]. During the early months of 1767 [[History#Nether_Years_.28NY.29|NY]] a warband of orcs, lead by a sizeable giant contigent swept through the [[Illusk]] country side and eventually came upon the city of [[Illusk]] itself.<br><br>A [[Netheril|Netherese]] relief force organised by [[Jeriah Chronos]] was sent to try and lift the siege however their arrival failed to save the city and was ultimately forced to escort those who could flee the city to safety.
|title=Battle of [[Illusk]]
|image=[[File:GiantAttack.jpg|frameless|400px]]
|description=Ogre's raiding the [[Illusk|Illuskan]] border fort.
|date=1756 [[History#Nether_Years_.28NY.29|NY]]
|location=[[Illusk]]
|result=[[Illusk]] destroyed; Giant Victory<br>- [[Illusk|Illuskian]] Refugees depart<br>- Warband incursion halted
| faction_group_a=[[Illusk|Illuskan Army]]<br>[[Netheril|Netherese Relief Force]]
| faction_group_b=Orc Warband<br>Giant Warband
|commanders_group_a='''(Illuskan Army)'''<br>[[Jeriah Chronos]]
|commanders_group_b='''(Giant Warband)'''<br>[[Vrush'Mor]]
|strength_group_a='''(Illuskan Army)'''<br>~5,000 Footmen<br>~2,500 Marksmen
|strength_group_b='''(Orc Warband)'''<br>~6,000 Orc Footmen<br>~3,000 Orc Marksmen<br>'''(Giant Warband)'''<br>~500 Ogres<br>~100 Hill Giants<br>~50 Frost Giants
|reinforcements_group_a='''(Netherese Relief Force)'''<br>~3,000 Footmen<br>~100 Mages<br>
|reinforcements_group_b=None.
|casualties_group_a='''(Illuskan Army)'''<br>~4,000'''<br>(Netherese Relief Force)'''<br>~2,000
|casualties_group_b='''(Orc Warband)'''<br>~5,000'''<br>(Giant Warband)'''<br>~300
}}


== Background ==
Within the [[Spine Of The World]] the Frost Giant [[Vrush'Mor]] had spent a number of years previous conquering the local tribes of hill giants and ogres, alongside a number of the tribal orc clans. What inspired [[Vrush'Mor]]'s greed south towards [[Illusk]] is unknown, however in the early months of 1767 [[History#Nether_Years_.28NY.29|NY]] he gathered his forces and descended down the mountains and into the lands of [[Illusk]] with over six-thousand troops; a mixture of orcs and giant-kin.

== Pre-Battle ==
Marching towards [[Illusk]] the city, [[Vrush'Mor]]'s forces initially came upon the garrison of the [[Illuskan]] northern border fort. Caught by surprise and against such a sizable number were swiftly crushed. With the border fort behind them, the monstrous band swept through the northern countrysides, raiding and plundering the local farmlands as they went. 

As new of the fort's destruction reached [[Illusk]] word was sent to the [[Netheril|Netherese]] requesting aid, which when received lead to [[Jeriah Chronos]] organising a relief force and marching to [[Illusk]].

== Battle ==
Six days following the destruction of [[Illusk]]'s northern border fort, [[Vrush'Mor]] and his army arrived at [[Illusk]]'s walls, laying siege and continuing their raids of the surrounding farmlands. The next two days involved a number of failed offensives against the walls by the warband, however the [[Illusk|Illuskans]] effectively drove back the invaders and held the walls. On the third day a renewed offensive was attempted, with the focus against the city's main-gate, resulting in it being effectively breached and a desperate defense thrown together to hold the gap. 

A few hours after the initial breach, the cohesion of the defenders began to fragment and wavering soon broke into a mass route with the populace and soldiers flooding out of the nearby gates. Their fleeing columns were met by the arriving [[Netheril|Netherese relief force]] under [[Jeriah Chronos]]. Committing their forces to the fray, the [[Netheril|Netherese]] arcanists thundered into fray with explosive spells while their footmen surged into the gaps torn apart by the spells. [[Jeriah Chronos]] moved among the [[Illusk]] banners, re-organizing their routed lines to join in the renewed counterattack, resulting in a re-surged counter-charge against their prior-pursuers.

The fighting between the [[Illusk]]-[[Netheril|Netherese]] coalition and [[Vrush'Mor]]'s Warband continued on for the next half-a-day before resulting in a stalemate. On account of the casualties incurred the coalition were unable to unseat the giants and their warband, opting instead to safely escort the survivors back away from the ruins of [[Illusk]].


== Aftermath ==
[[Illusk]] was abandoned as a result of the failure to unseat [[Vrush'Mor]]'s forces, however on account of the losses [[Vrush'Mor]] was unable to continue his  incursion to the south and a week or so later withdrew back to the [[Spine Of The World]], with the spoils of [[Illusk]] in tow.