Third War of Mielschtaff Agression

The Conflict

Prelude

The ruling council of the Mielschtaff Confederacy chaffed under the strain of internal national debts. The region was overpopulated and produced a surplus of resources, yet the class imbalance within the states of the Confederacy grew the inner tensions to a boiling point. Having long coveted the lands of the ever-expanding state of Git Aphtonia to the east, the Soaring Hawks lobby used the tumult to put in motion a set of political manoeuvres that over the period of several months turned the national zeal toward the so-called "reclamation" of the Brundelwir forest that the two nations shared. The clout grew so clamorous, that the ruling Throne-warden Gustav Köengiff had no choice but to ratify the resumption of hostilities - only 20 years after the 2nd Mielschtaff-Git Aphtonian war concluded.

Meanwhile, the Aphtonians enjoyed a period of peaceful progress, which through international trade secured two diplomatic deals vital to the coming war. Firstly, their blossoming trade relationship with the Free City of Hyggelgard secured their northern border from surprise wrapping manoeuvres, assuring the city-state's neutrality in the event of any conflict with their large neighbour. Secondly, they secretly signed a defensive pact with the magocratic city-state of Syu Wana, which exerted an influence and power far greater than its size would suggest. Both states promised to come to the other's aid in the event of a defensive war against the Mielschtaff Confederacy, unbeknownst to the other nations of the region.

Deployment

Despite everything, Mielschtaffian army still enjoyed the complete superiority in numbers, training, equipment, and technology. Their mages were second in number and skill only to their Syu Wanan counterparts, and they commanded a naval advantage on the Katremir lake. The Confederacy troops spread around the Brundelwir forest, ready to enter from three distinct positions, while two full squadrons of lake-skiffs followed by transport ships stood ready along their coasts.

Meanwhile, Aphtonians who still weren't aware of the looming hostility, kept only a ranging patrol through the woods, augmented by their allies from the Circle of Shepherds - purely peace-time token force, more suited to protecting citizens from the dangers of the forest, than from an invading army. Similarly, having only recently acquired lands along the coast of the Katremir lake, Aphtonians had only simple fishing vessels patrolling their coastline.

Battlefield

The main battles of the conflict were fought inside the Brundelwir forest, and along the northern Trade Road, where the siege of Nicodian Fortress took place. The Katremir lake saw use only to ferry troops to open a second front in the Aphtonian heartland and only saw true battle during the final engagement known as the Razing of Glassy Sands.

Conflict Type

Military Campaign

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

5122 AoUP

Ending Date

5125 AoUP

Conflict Result

Stalemate / minor Aphtonian victory

Location

Dol Teroth

Belligerents

Mielschtaff Confederacy

Alliance of Git Aphtonia and Syu Wana

Strength

Approximately 15000 soldiers

This includes ~500 war-mages

Two squadrons of lake-skiffs with transport auxiliaries

8200 Aphtonian soldiers

20 Druids of the Circle of Shepherds

50 Brundelwir Rangers

300 Syu Wana war-mages

50 Elite Syu Wana Disc Riders

Casualties

Estimated to be around 25-30% of their initial numbers

Full destruction of their lake flotilla

Estimated up to 50% of Aphtonian soldiers.

All of the initial defenders of Brundelwir (Druids and Rangers).

Fewer than 50 Syu Wana war-mages and no casualities among the Disc Riders.

Objectives

Annexation of the entirety of Brundelwir forest and the northern Trade road.

Establishment of dominance over their expanding eastern neighbor.

Defense of the present border going through Brundelwir forest.

Maintaining the northern Trade road route with Hyggelgard.

End of conflict with the Mielschtaff Confederacy.