The Battle of Willford and the Death of Mirina

[Soccercalle]

My PCs may be involved in the plot to replace Mirina as the Feathered Horse Queen and I wonder if there is more written about the Battle of Wilford and/or the death or Mirina than the Glorantha Sourcebook and the Guide. Or if anyone has created their own story.

[jajagappa]

There's a brief note in Wyrms Footnotes #15, p.56-57, which shows Broyan's army emerging out of the Shadow Plateau and arriving at Valadon/Willford where he defeats the FHQ and then goes to Nochet. The key result is that Single Matron Woman and the Luminous Stallion King die and the Grazers do not join the Lunar Siege of Nochet.

You can find bits and pieces in King of Sartar. (p.96) Jarsandron Tenherds would have been the Luminous Stallion King leading the Grazers to that battle. 

(p.195) "Sixth was “Single Matron Woman,” who vowed to take no husbands. She loved war, and was killed in battle in Esrolia." 

and "The next queen was “With Bitter Heart,” for she sent her own son to avenge the tribe upon a vile foe. She helped him to become warped, in shadow, and then deserted him when his task was done. She encouraged war bands, and was the first to send vendref clans away, in migration. She fought against her own sister, but was betrayed by the worm within herself. When Jandetin the Avenger danced, she was slain when it ate itself out of her womb. She was alone, without prayer or weeping of the people, yet the Goldeneye came for her."

[Note: With Bitter Heart was the one who joined the Dragon conspiracy, presumably aiding Kallyr in the effort.]

 

[jajagappa]

My Nochet: Adventurer's Guide p.63 references this battle as a possible Character Background event with the options noted below.

The implications for the campaign are these:

• Broyan learned of the joint Grazer/Lunar plans (a land/sea effort to conquer Nochet, drive out Samastina, and restore Hendira). It probably should have had Fazzur's Tarshites, but Fazzur was replaced and didn't send any aid.
• Broyan decided to shortcut the Grazers and drive them back, then shore up Nochet's defenses.
• Broyan's shortcut was via the Shadow Plateau. He had to ally Obash Broossmasher, a troll hero, and gain some of their forces - he was successful.
• Broyan's forces were joined by troll and trollkin skirmishers who attacked the Grazers and their supply lines by night.
• The Grazers were caught along the Lyksos River near Willford/Valadon (Willford is the main city - IIRC it's on the west bank; Valadon is the old town with the Earth temple and on the left bank). The Queen of Valadon likely aided Broyan here.
• The Luminous Stallion King and the FHQ were both killed in the battle. The Grazers turned and went home. Broyan's victorious army proceeded to Nochet, the trolls returned to the Shadow Plateau after plundering the battlefield.