Battle of Bradfort Lake Forest

The Battle of Bradfort Lake Forest, also known as the Battle of Burning Forest, was an attempt by forces of the Federated Empire to dislodge and the Lucky Sixteen from a small encampment they had created, and destroy them. It resulted, in spite of considerable differences in manpower, with the defeat of Imperial forces without significant damage to the party. The battle, though small, was a notable embarrassment to the Federated Empire following their failure to imprison the group in Bradfort itself.

The battle took place over a day in June 1204, lasting a short amount of time due to the insufficient manpower on either side to bring about a prolonged conflict, as well as the tactical burning of trees utilised by both sides in order to inhibit movement. As such, several areas of the forest were significantly damaged in combat due to the use of pyrokinetic aether in combat.

Background
Bradfort Lake Forest, located in reasonable proximity to the capital of the Federated Empire, was taken as a strategic retreat for the Lucky Sixteen and Ice Bear having fled from the City itself following their brief arrest by Imperial Excubitors a day prior. Baron Myles, as an experienced mercenary, was able to locate a clearing within the forest and the group established a small, unfortified encampment for the group to spend the night.

During the period of rest for the group, forces of the Federated Empire began to gather around the forest, sending squads to scout the forest in the morning. The offensive force consisted of primarily demoralized generalized guard forces, though included auxiliary Aethite pyrokinetic casters, as well as siege weapons which had been set up prior to the engagement near the edge of the forest.

Instigation of combat
Combat was instigated between forces of the Federated Empire and the Lucky Sixteen following the discovery of a small scout detachment by Baron, who alerted the majority of the group. The two scouts were discovered, revealing the nature of their mission and alerting the Lucky Sixteen to the incoming battle. As such, the group began to adopt an uncoordinated defensive strategy, with the more martial-orientated members of the group and Taras Borisov moving further into the forest whilst Sver Morgenstar and Ice Bear recovered the few supplies left at the encampment. At this point, the Empire's pyrokinetic support began to start a forest fire in order to tactically dislodge the Lucky Sixteen, whilst the group began to fight a number of squads who had already moved into strategically advantages within the forest, taking advantage of the treeline.

Destruction of siege weaponry
Taras, following his movement out from the clearing, utilised aether teleportation in order to quickly arrive at the outskirts of the forest, discovering the additional forces and siege equipment that had been prepared for the battle. Whilst maintaining a considerable distance from the forces operating the works, Taras fired two beams of otherworldly aether energy into a siege weapon in order to render it dysfunctional. The beams, having successfully pierced through the weapon, reacted with the gunpowder inside, igniting the chemical explosive and producing a large explosion, killing around 45 in the immediate blast, with further sustaining grievous burns and injuries. The blast caused notable damage to the area around it, with the wall of Bradfort itself being reported as having been scorched in areas closest to the fighting.

Stalling and psychological warfare
Following the successful assault against the Imperial siege works, Taras created an aether-powered ward around himself and moved to the outskirts of the forest in order to slow the approach of Imperial forces attempting to enter the forest itself. Following a similar method to the pyrokentic tactics of the enemy, Taras began to set alight sticks and foliage in the area of forest bordered by a squad of guards. Utilising a vine which could produce a protracted fire when burned, a barrier of fire was created, able to slow the advance of the enemy.

Furthering this attempt to reduce the amount of troops who could enter into combat with the Lucky Sixteen, Taras engaged in psychological warfare with the nearby guard, forming a telepathic bond to threaten and further demoralize the hesitant enemy. After assertions by their commander, the squad was escorted back into combat, though scattered and fled after seeing the figure of Taras behind the crudely constructed burning defences, leaving only the Commander and Taras in the area, with the latter making a verbal jab towards the Commander for failing to rally his forces into defeating such a small force.