Grendel War
| Location | Eastern Otan |
|---|---|
| Start Date | Nawriz 12th, 238 IM |
| End Date | Kazan 7th, 251 IM |
| Result | Signing of the Concord of Kala Astanals, formation of the Council of Nine |
| Territorial Changes | None |
| Belligerents | |
| Leaders |
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The Grendel War began...
Background[edit]
A quick look at a map of Otan will make things obvious to anyone. Humans control most of the continent; seven nations in total. After the Great Erasure the various races of Otan struggled to determine why this was so. Without memories or a history, there were certainly those taken aback by the apparent unfairness of this newfound situation.
The Ælfes were content with their two nations, and even the Kuulik seemed content with their tiny peninsula, but the war-like Grendel were not. For over 200 years Grendel discontent grew into an unbridled rage. In many cases, their rage was justified. Grendel were rarely safe outside of Maercland. Often treated as monsters, their diplomatic delegations, trade delegations and lone adventurers alike were often slain without mercy.
Unable to expand their territory or even their quality of life through trade, the situation finally exploded. On a cold Senbi morning on the 12th of Nawriz, 238 IM, Grendel forces invaded Soltustik. The Grendel War had begun.
Grendel Aggression[edit]
Emboldened by the powerful Half-Grendel warlock, Zoranthar Zhanat the forces of Maercland mobilized. From what was understood about the Grendel strategy, there was a design to smash all human countries with Grendel axes. The Grendel imagined, however, that they could bring about this strategy one human nation at a time.
The initial surge into Soltustik was wildly successful, seeing Grendel forces take over more than half of Soltustik territory in little less than a year. Cities of Ayaz, Kolgap, Salem, Muzduk and Sana fell almost immediately. Special forces from Shuwalu assisted the Grendel, helping to ensure that the Soltustik didn't try to turn the tide of the war using spellcasters.
The nation of Ælfwode intervened on behalf of Soltustik, helping to keep the city of Itter from falling to Grendel forces.
Ortalyk Intercession[edit]
With things started turning from bad to worse in Soltustik, Nickar Nurzat enlisted the help of Tsar Anvar Zhurek or Ortalyk to enter the war and join Soltustik in putting an end to this egregious Grendel aggression. The Tsar agreed and made plans with Nickar on how best to thwart Grendel ambitions.
In the spring of 239 IM, Ortalyk forces landed on the southern coast of Maercland. From there they marched inward to lay siege to the city of Sogis Kirgin. The walled city put up a valiant defense, considering all of Maercland's seasoned troops were on the Soltustik front. The city lasted about a month and fell to the forces of then Prince Batil Zhurek on the 25th of Sawir.
Batil Zhurek, who would eventually become Tsar of Ortalyk, held the city until the end of the war, running operations from there into both Maercland and later, the Ungirsi Federation.
Ungirsi Reprisals[edit]
The Ungir had had enough of human aggression by the end of 240 IM and their forces spilled into Ortalyk during the Holy Week of that year. Even the Grendel limit their aggressions during Holy Week so as not to tempt ill fate from the gods. The Ungirsi forces ravaged most of Neim Province and Karagay Province, taking the cities of Muyiz and Uyenki.
The unusual tactics of the Ungir had the Ortalyk military stumped for some time, having no idea how to deal with the myriad tunnels that the Ungir would dig. Where a normal corps of military engineers would build earthworks to go over, or through city and citadel walls, the Ungir would go under them. The tactic was tremendously effective in the early part of the war.
Unfortunately for the Ungir, their diminutive size was a great disadvantage. Even with overwhelming numbers, they rarely routed an enemy until it was too late for them to flee. As the war wore on, their losses grew to be heavy, taking a huge bite out of the Ungir population. The Ortalyk military was not able to drive the Ungir out of the country until near the end of the war in early 251 IM.
Aydahari Discontent[edit]
By the end of 248 IM, the Aydhar Confederation and decided to enter the war. When they did it was pandemonium for the Ortalyk military. Cavalry horses instinctively fled from the dragons employed by the Aydahar. Without cavalry to keep the Aydahar crossbow regiments in check, the Aydahar swept through Ortalyk forces earlier in their campaign.
The Ortalyk cavalry would later learn to use special blinders on their horses, so as to prevent them from seeing overhead dragons and fleeing in battle. Once this discovery was made, the two military forces were somewhat evenly matched with a slight advantage given to the Aydahar with their unreliable, but terrifying air support.
Meanwhile, Grendel forces had taken most of Soltustik by this time with a few cities including the capitol of Nuz having survived the Grendel onslaught. Neighboring Batis was beginning to raise forces, if not to help Soltustik, then to defend themselves. Their army was too young and poorly trained, however, for the Batis government to risk losing them all on an offensive action.
War Expansion[edit]
Alarmed by the entry of the Aydahar Confederation into the war, the Caliphate of Ontustik and the Sigis Empire began to prepare their forces for war, specifically a simultaneous incursion into the Aydahar Confederation. It was reasoned that with the Ortalyk military holding its own, the Ontustik and Sigis forces would be virtually unopposed. In response, the Aydahar redoubled their war effort in preparation for these new foes.
On the 26th of Jeltoskan, 250 IM, Tsar Anvar Zhurek fell in battle while attempting to lay siege on the Aydahar Confederation city of Konir. The Ortalyk military immediately withdrew all of it's offensive forces from the border, taking a defensive stance. Meanwhile the Aydahar Confederation took this opportunity to shore up their defenses on their eastern and western borders as clashes were becoming more numerous.
Prince Batil Zhurek was recalled from his stronghold in Sogis Kirgin and returned to the capitol to take the crown and assume control of Ortalyk and of course, mourn the loss of his father.
It was shortly after this event when an Ungir general by the name of Daniar Erbolat, anticipated that he would be able to overwhelm the Ortalyk military at Sogis Kirgin in the absence of their leader. He was successful in taking the city and put all the Ortalyk soldiers within to the sword, taking not a single prisoner. After securing everything of value for his own personal horde, Daniar Erbolat immediately ceded the city back to the Grendel, who have remained ever since.
The Garis Threat[edit]
Also near the end of the war, the Garis Triumvirate began saber rattling. Sightings of the Garis military were becoming common on Garis borders. Their military seemed to have semi-magical weapons in huge quantities. While no demonstration of these weapons ever made it to a battlefield, all nations involved were relieved that the war ended shortly after these revelations, though before they became widely known.
Peace Secured[edit]
By the end of the war, progress was still being made by all belligerents. Muz was about to fall to Grendel forces. Ortalyk had all but driven back the Ungir. For reasons still unknown, however, a powerful and sagacious sorcerer named Shardenzar Sardarbek was able to secure a meeting with the wizard Nickar Nurzat and the warlock Zoranthar Zhanat.
Shardenzar Sardarbek was able to convince the two powerful spellcasters that the war would end badly for all of Otan and that peace should be immediately restored lest the entire continent be put in peril. The nature of this peril has never been revealed, but convinced the two warring spellcasters to agree to cease hostilities, so far as they could convince the combatants that they had driven to war.
In the end the Concord of Kala Astanals was drafted and signed in the city of its name, Kala Astanals by the leaders of each of the warring nations including the Garis Triumvirate, who had never formally participated in the war. Also included, were provisional signatures from Nickar Nurzat and Zoranthar Zhanat who agreed never to foment war again.
The concord called for the creation of the Council of Nine, an organization with the sole intent of working to prevent large scale wars in Otan. The three spellcasters were assisted by the new Tsar Batil Zhurek in creating a home for their council, the Towers of Eriquat.
Aftermath[edit]
The Concord of Kala Astanals called for a number of things which were put into action. Borders were returned to their pre-war state with no concessions of territory on any side. Belligerents were encouraged to allow and even promote trade between formerly warring nations. The only out of place provision required to gain the signature of the new Tsar Batil Zhurek was that Ungir would be barred entry to Ortalyk indefinitely: the new Tsar likely having been distraught over the loss of his former military comrades.
"No Ungir shall ever step foot on Ortalyk soil." - Tsar Batil Zhurek
Construction of the Towers of Eriquat continued for two years following the war, after which the Council of Nine took possession of it.
True to the spirit of the Concord of Kala Astanals, trade relations have resumed between formerly warring nations, often brokered by the Kuulik Trade Company, a country (or corporation depending on your view), which has little time for grudges when there is a profit to be made.
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