.png)
The Battle at Pannu Yakuta was the first major battle of the Gate Rune War. It was fought between the Toran Liberation Army and the Scarlet Moon Imperial Army.
After McDohl, Gremio and Kirkis had left Toran Castle for a reconnaissance mission in the Great Forest region, survivors of the Imperial attack on the former rebel base at Lenankamp arrived at the castle. This bolstered the restructured Liberation Army's numbers enough to engage in battle with the Imperial forces at Pannu Yakuta Castle.
Although outnumbered, dismissed by Imperial General Kwanda Rosman and entering their first battle, the Liberation Army managed to secure victory. Following the battle, General Rosman attempted to destroy the victorious forces with the Burning Mirror but was thwarted by the dwarves' Firewind Cannon.
Following this, the Liberation Army infiltrated the castle and finally ended the battle when its leader defeated Kwanda in a one-on-one duel atop the castle roof, forcing his surrender.
The battle in detail
Records depict a detailed clash between the Imperial and Liberation armies. These records depict a Liberation Army force of roughly 6,500 battling the 9,000 strong garrison at Pannu Yakuta Castle.
To mitigate the potential of the Burning Mirror as much as possible, the Liberation Army chose to initiate a night battle. In the days prior, imperial scouting patrols were ambushed, allowing the undetected approach of the rebel forces.
Lepant led the Liberation Army's vanguard, drawing the forces of Kwanda Rosman into battle before feigning a northern retreat. Units led by Pahn and Valeria would then ambush the pursuing imperial forces from either side of the forest. Meanwhile, Humphrey Mintz commanded a unit providing support as required while Kirkis led 500 archers as support.
Although this initial plan went according to the plan, the sortie of additional soldiers from Pannu Yakuta would put pressure on the smaller Liberation Army, reversing the pincer situation on their ambush forces. Pahn and Valeria's units would separate to combat the two forces, further stretching their capabilities.
The tide would turn again with the arrival of reinforcements from the kobolds, led by Kuromimi, and Humphrey's unit providing relief for the beleaguered Pahn unit. With the battle now even, Liberation Army strategist Mathiu Silverberg would order the advance of Viktor and McDohl's units, securing primacy on the field.
However, despite their momentum on the field, the Liberation forces were unable to captured Kwanda Rosman, who made it safely back behind Pannu Yakuta's walls. There, the general would attempt to use the Burning Mirror as the sun began to rise, but was thwarted by the dwarves' Firewind Cannon.
The battlefield now secured, the Liberation Army was able to breach the walls of Pannu Yakuta after a token defense from its remaining soldiers and, following the defeat of General Rosman in single combat, gained his surrender.
References
- Genso Suikoden: Soul Eater 2 (ISBN 4-8402-1410-4), pages 73-89
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), page 222
- Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia, page 87