The Lizardfolk Wars
A short but bloody conflict between the native lizardfolk tribes and the people of the Coralous Union. Entire tribes of lizardfolk were wiped out in the course of the conflict, despite their greater numbers, largely due to their inability to overcome the magic and metallurgy of the settlers. When the Union arose victorious it established their uncontested control over the southern portion of the island.
The Conflict
Prelude
In response to the growing number of settlers moving inland after The Fall of New Coralous, concerned lizardfolk elders sought to bind together and drive the people of the Union out of their lands. A call to action was sent out to all of the disparate tribes in southern Coralous, seeking to make a coordinated attack against the "soft-skin" menace. Many of the nass'isra lizardfolk tribes joined the effort, while a majority of those among the ahh'rasha'kak lizardfolk saw little gain in this kind of aggressive action, and declined. In the end, roughly three-quarters of the native tribes decided to take part in the war, equaling just under two-thirds of the total lizardfolk population in the area. Unfortunately, not having a set calendar and trying to plan over great distances meant that what was intended to be a combined attack on many of the Coralous Union's most vulnerable holdings instead turned into a week's worth of unorganized attacks. By the time the last of the attacks was underway the residents of the Union were already starting to rally a defense against their enemies, and the war started in earnest.
Outcome
A cessation of hostilities occurred when an envoy of the Krh'shi'sn Tribe, the last of the mighty lizardfolk tribes to participate in active combat with the Union, arrived in Riverbend and announced that they would no longer siege the town or its allies. Some factions within the Union, particularly those most in conflict with the lizardfolk, suggested seizing the offensive and launching an attack on the tribal home, but a young Stavin Yzerman won over the war council by cautioning against "chasing the bear into its den," reminding them that the worst battles of the war were fought on the enemies' home turf.
No official terms of peace or armistice were ever negotiated, but the city leaders declared the war to be over, marking the date of the messenger's arrival as a holiday across the Union.
Aftermath
Despite the lack of official terms of peace, there has been very little conflict between the settlers and the native tribes since the end of the war. Those tribes who fought alongside the Union settlers (or at least abstained from the fighting) were offered places in the Union, but none accepted membership, preferring to maintain a friendly relationship but tribal autonomy.
Meanwhile, many of the remaining tribes that fought against the Union ended up dwindling out when they couldn't sustain themselves with the loss of so many hunters and caregivers. As such, many of the smaller belligerent tribes ended up being completely wiped out in the war, reducing the population of lizardfolk in the region around Union control by almost half. Also, some tribes, like the Hess’kik’ik, lost much of their land as part of their surrender, meaning that they had to start forcing a reduction in their own numbers to keep themselves from over-consuming their reduced natural resources. In the end, while all of the surviving tribes still control their lands, and may refuse Coralous citizens entry as they wish, the constant shadow of the Coralous Union has lead most of the tribes to at least attempt a live-and-let-live relationship with their new neighbors, if only for self-preservation.
The Krh'shi'sn Tribe, on the other hand, having never officially surrendered, still controls most of their original territory. The slow but steady growth of Riverbend, however, has led them into regular conflict with those who wander near their territory. As a result, Riverbend locals have a very antagonistic relationship with their lizardfolk neighbors, and there are regular calls to action whenever a traveler or homesteader goes missing in the borderlands.
Historical Significance
Legacy
In modern times, the end of the war is celebrated throughout the Union, either as a great victory by veterans and those who revere more martial gods, or a day of peace and restoration by those who follow more passive or natural gods. The size of the celebration depends on the settlement, and how much of an impact the conflict had on it, but there is usually a potluck style gathering of community members and an honoring of veterans and the fallen.
Sometimes members of friendly lizardfolk tribes join in the celebration, but the tendency to vilify the lizardfolk aggressors has left a sour taste in the mouth of would-be celebrants from among the native people. Among non-friendly tribes, the war itself is either seen as a terrible loss, or even an ongoing cause, and there is no recognition of a celebratory "end date."
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
9 Gozran, 4675
Ending Date
12 Arodus, 4681
Conflict Result
The Coralous Union defeated the various lizardfolk tribes, creating a lasting, if uneasy, peace
Location
Belligerents
Strength
The unified Union managed to assemble the disparate militias into a military force of nearly two thousand, most of which were untrained civilians. The Halis'allah and other allied lizardfolk tribes also contributed just over two hundred warriors to the cause.
Estimates place the number of lizardfolk hunters and warriors between 1500-1700 during the war. Many tribes ended up fighting to the last member, however, leading to innumerable civilian losses.
Casualties
Over a thousand confirmed casualties from start to finish. This number is expected to be under-representative of the actual losses.
Almost half the lizardfolk population was wiped out during the war, including several entire tribes, placing estimated deaths in the mid thousands. Of those lost, roughly two-thirds were trained combatants, with the remaining losses belonging to non-combatants of all types.
Objectives
Defend the holdings of the Union and stop the lizardfolk aggression.
Kill or drive out the colonist invaders and reclaim the lands of Kul'ssin (Coralous Island) for their own.
Maps
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Southwest Coralous Island
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