War of Tears
The War of Tears began in the Autumn of 1135, starting what would be over 100 years of brutal warfare between the Kingdom of Breaton & Driston Empire. The war began in the city of Areguá when a detachment of soldiers from Phancaster & a group of Rangers from Stockcross fought at the city gate. The Rangers were seeking shelter from a vicious snowstorm and were pleading with the guards for entry into the city. The guards, fearing that this was a trick denied them entry. No one knows who drew their weapons first, both sides claim it was the other. The resulting battle ended with the Rangers dead and the guards at a quarter of their strength. Officials from both cities sent emissaries to investigate the incident which unfortunatly escelated tensions. The bodies of the Rangers were buried the following day in secret, Areguá hoped to avoid a diplomatic incident between the two factions and did this without informing the leaders in Phancaster. However, word would reach the ear of the recently crowned King Maellin Breaton who flew into a rage at this news. Rumours say that the messenger mysteriously dissappeared that night and was never seen again.
The Kingdom of Breaton would make the first full military move of the war by sending an army of 3000 troops to Castle Gelda, with a support detachement of nearly 2000, departing from Stockcross on the 18th of Elent. The King rode his warhorse straight to the gate demanding their unconditional surrender and in return the defenders lives would be spared. The garrison refused this 'offer', sealed the gate and prepared for seige shouting "LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" and began to unleash a storm of arrows, magical spells and other projectiles to repel the invaders.
The Seige of Castle Gelda would last only a week before the keep was taken in a brutal assault, once the castle secured the army of King Maellin Breaton set about fortifying their position in preperation for a counterattack from the Empire, but that attack never came. Empress Lillith Driston had sent her army along the southern coast straight into the heart of Breaton territory, capturing the port town of Farre in less than a day. The army of the Empire was nearly 10,000 strong by some counts, counting over 100 fully equipped navel galleons and 200 support ships.
Minor skirmishes occured between the two factions for the next year while both Kingdoms mobilised their forces, and the first full scale conflict would take place in the foothills of the Yillan Ridge in the spring of 1137. The Kingdom of Breaton still held Castle Gelda and were preparing to defend it from the encroching forces. A second detachment from Ostervand had arrived a month ago and doubled the garrision of 2000 armed men. Sending a force of 3000 troops south to the borders of Areguá they were met with an opposition of double their strength, better equipped and better prepared. Amazingly, the Breaton's broke the lines of the Empire, routing them and killing or capturing over 1000 troops in the ensuing chaos. This would be the first of many defeats that the Driston Empire would suffer at the hands of the Kingdom of Breaton.
With the port town of Farre still held by the Empire King Maellin Breaton demanded that it be retaken at any cost, for his Kingdom was suffering greatly due to the rising cost of the war. Stockcross had strong trade ties with the Phirean Dynasty but ships had recently been intercepted by the superior navel forces of the Driston Empire within Stillwater Sound that used Farre as their base. The King sent 5000 troops to take the city, and they were met by an equal force that had turned Farre into a full military base, with a large pallisade and the startings of a stone wall surrounding the town. The King & his forces successfully launched a surpise assualt from the sea in the first week of the siege, buring over 30 ships docked in port. This broke the moral of the Empire's garrison causing hundreds to desert and flee along the coastline both North & South. Eventually after a brutal three month siege the town was taken in a bloody battle that lasted two days and nights. At the end of the siege, the losses were extreme on both sides. This would prove to be the largest, bloodiest and most costly conflict within the war, with the Kingdom of Breaton losing over 3000 men and the Driston Empire losing over 4000. King Maellin Breaton would be slain on the second day of fighting by an explosion of magical energy created by a Driston War Mage.
The next 11 years were somewhat peaceful with only minor skirmishes between patrols & both sides launching Autumn raids on farming settlements to cripple each other, stealing harvests from barns, slaughtering livestock & burning buildings. This period of peace saw the advancement of technology for both sides and a change in tactics, all future battles would become less violent compared to the past but more destructive in nature as magically gifted soldiers were deployed to suppliment the dwindilling armies. Conscription would also become law in both the Kingdom of Breaton & the Driston Empire shortly after.
In the Spring of 1148 an Empress Lillith Driston launched an assault on the city of Oxbow seeking to shut down the fishing industry operating from here. The resulting battle was brought to a sudden halt when the Driston Empire's forces were destroyed in a display of magical power from a group of mages atop the wall in Oxbow. The resulting explosion of arcane fury sunk a large portion of the island in a matter of minutes, this has resulted in a vortex that decends deep into the sea. Any vessels that were approaching Oxbow from the North were sucked into the vortex. This ended the assualt from the Empire, costing them both their fleet & over 3500 footsoldiers.
The Conflict
Prelude
The War of Tears began in the Autumn of 1135, starting what would be over 100 years of brutal warfare between the Kingdom of Breaton & Driston Empire. The war began in the city of Areguá when a detachment of soldiers from Phancaster & a group of Rangers from Stockcross fought at the city gate.
Aftermath
Many citizens in the east of the Kingdom of Breaton hate Dristoners and will actively berate and abuse them should they discover their heratige.
Settlements close to the border of the two factions have been heavily reinforced and redeveloped to prevent such easy occupation from either side.
The Treaty of Castle Gelda has ensured that Stillwater Sound remain a neutral location.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
Autumn of 1135
Ending Date
Winter 1242
Conflict Result
The Kingdom of Breaton was victorious after many long years of brutal conflict. There was no crushing final blow, both sides were suffering fatigue and agreed to peace.
Belligerents
Kingdom of Breaton
Driston Empire
Strength
Casualties
Objectives
Maps
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Beru
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