650 A.G. - The (First) Ildarian War
Ildarian raids had intensified lately, but nobody expected them to have the nerve to do what they did now. Ildar's son, along with a group of hunters, killed a noble and kidnapped and raped the daughter of Riyanor (some versions did say that he seduced her and killed her suiter in a fair battle)! That was an outrage indeed.
This incidence, led to war between the Ildarians and Riyanons, and although it was the Taludrians, not the Ildarians who were the culprits, only the Ildarians knew this (Elido - Heir of Ildaria knew he hadn't done it), it gave the Ildarians the opportunity for all out war against the Riyanons, their hated enemy.
The Taludrians coat their dogs teeth in bronze and also their claws (kidding
). The Hamsip Throwers were built to throw the Hamsip (crude oil) at Taludrian enemies. Volunteers were recruited although most who had wanted to volunteer had done so last time. The druids changed their focus from Hamsip to wepaons for horsemen fighting on horseback, they created the Sabre which could easily be used by the horsemen while riding the horse and the Taludrian horse divisions were equipped with these. Also, with so many clan chiefs all with the same rank, a chain of command was established by Opri Pelipar Piraip, he recruited the most capable chiefs and made them his Generals and took some of the more able Captains and promoted them so that in battle commands would be more easily communicated.
A message from the Opri suggesting that an attack on Ild Yger by the neighbouring clan chiefs before the army arrived meant that three clan chiefs attacked the city, unfortunately, they didnt have neough men in their personal armies having sent many of their men to the Opri and all they suceeded in doing was laying siege for about a dozen years, but there weren't enough men to prevent supplies getting through and the fighting was a stalemate. There was little loss of men on either side as this was mostly a siege and there were no siege weapons with the fire-throwers still with the Opri's army.
The Gythene Games are finished in Gythos! To celebrate this event, eight nations converged on Gythos to celebrate the Games, the winner was Ildaria, although they had but one bronze more than Filion Ilana, and as such they benefitted from increased patriotism and morale. Luckily these games were held ~610 A.G. and so before the war occurs...Meanwhile, both road systems were continued, and although the Western fleet was destroyed by over-zealous Xia, the Eastern fleet continued its journey and reached the shores of Kyrenica. Lakaedek Polytheism continues to spread into Dalekoda although to the West a small group begin worhsiping Ilana and preach that a union with Filion Ilana would be for the best...
The army was expanded and equipped with iron weaponry, (even the bows
) 300 Phalangites were left as a National Guard, but the remainder of the Lakaedek forces began the march north into Ildaria. At the border, the Generals offered up prayers and offerings to the Gods to ensure divine favor, and then the force split into two, one headed for the south-eastern city of Ild Thraga and the other for the south-western city of Ild Regalia. Taking advantage of this lack of forces, there were barbarian raids to the southern-most Lakaedek city (i dont think its on your map amen), though the barbarians were fought off, there was a huge loss of life and goods and many building burnt, the culprits are believed to be the tribe due east. A force of pirates colonised the two islands not yet colonised by the Lakaedek and raided the third for cattle, sheep and grains.
The Ildarians were forewarned of the Lakaedek invasion by a rogue Taludrian official who sent word, as such they had marshaleld their forces, but they were still at war with Riyanon.
At Ild Thraga, the city was surrounded on two sides by forests and so a full siege was hard, tunnels were dug under the walls at night and fires lit to cause the walls to fall. This worked - to a nextent, the southern wall collapsed and the Lakaedek forces immediately charged over the rubble, but they hadn't trained for street fighting - the horses were useless in the many narrow alleys but the Phalangites and Legionnaires worked well, unfortunately, the citizens, fired up with patriotism (from the Gythene Games win) fought fiercely to defend their city, and the Lakaedek forces had to either check every hiding place in every dwelling or be attacked from behind or have things thrown at them from the rooftops. The soldiers too had high morale and the battle was fierce. Finally however the city was secured although many of the women and children had escaped through the dense forests with many goods including much of the food that was expected to be there.
At Ild Regalia however the city was built on stone and so tunneling was impossible, the Lakaedek attacked at night and at dawn and each time were repulsed, with neither side taking huge losses, the siege continued but the citizens didnt seem to get weak through lack of food. Supplies were brought down from the North and although some were intercepted, some made it through however, ut no reinforcements came as they were all at the eastern front fighting Riyanon. Eventually, the troops from Ild Thraga cam through the forests to the south, the Generals having realised that trying to send a force of hundreds of men and horses and supplies through steep mountains was going to lead to heavy losses, this turned the tide of battle and the Lakaedek managed to get a foothold in the city and open a gate but they still occupied hardly a quater of the city.
Lakaedek Losses: 75 Legionaires, 150 Phalangites, 50 Warriors, 25 Horsemen
Ildarian Losses: 400 Spearmen, 100 Tribesmen (Berserks), 175 Horsemen, 75 Warriors
Riyanon Losses: 200 Spearmen, 75 Archers, 100 Warriors, 100 Horsemen
To the East, the Riyanon achieved early success against the Ildarians and reached the city of Ild Elanor (middle city), however the Ildarians received re-inforcements and fired up with patriotism counter-attacked and managed to capture the city of Tal Efil for its walls were not very strong. They then moved further south and began laying siege to Tal Pel.
The Xia began their road network so as to make travel between their cities faster. The military was again expanded although not as much as last time, public opinion remained low. Militay parades were held throughout the Empire celebrating the new government and the new calendar created 0 A.X. - After Xia was in the year 603 A.G. There was a lot of propaganda which increased confidence in the government if not happiness, and several more Xi Academies were set up with nationwide exams. The script used by the Mohadeen was modified so it was distinctly different and beautiful and is the first true cuneiform writing, development was made to produce parchment made from wood pulp.
New settlements were created and the land cultivatedleading to a population increase, and a large force was sent west to destroy a tribe of barbarians, faced with overwhelming force the barbarians fled westwards while a brave guard remained to face the wroth of the Xia and certain death.
The Hrarklon began to mine copper and silver in the hills to the north and a couple of mining towns sprung up. Priests were sent to explore the land and they sent back maps and reports, and a group met the Qar but were refused travel through their lands. Trade was begun with the Dyzorial but there was little to trade except for grain and the little bit of copper and silver that had been mined.
The Valuans completed their road system having been spurred on to work harder while their Empress was pregnant so that she need not hear any bad news and possibly damage the heir yet to be born, but little elseoccurred while the nation waited for their crown prince/princess to be born.
Gythene Games - 610 A.G. Results
Nation Golds Silvers Bronzes
Ildaria 6 3 4
Filion Ilana 6 3 3
Qar 5 5 5
Taludria 4 8 2
Riyanon 4 1 0
Lakaedek 3 3 8
Xia 2 2 5
Dalekoda 0 5 3
OOC: Das, Sedraip Tapith is the forests yes? I added it to the map on my computer but then forgot to update the map on the front page \o/, it'll come one of these days
below is the Updated map of Ildaria / Riyanon. Just for you das
The little round dots (yellow isnt easy to see) shows where the forces are.
I'm resending you a map.
I like it.
