The Pacification of Abrinden Rise
Early in E.Y. 1586, as the snows thawed in the passes through the mountain range known as the Abrinden Rise, scouts of the Tor Harrian Winter Wolves brought home the first reports of an increase in incursions by goblinoids from the Wicked Vales into the Imperial territories at the foot of the Dyrnspines. At the same time, several Delver Enclaves reported similar attacks, including some attacks from the goblin warrens below the mountains, previously thought to be abandoned.
In late 1586, as the passes were about to close, the first major push of what would become a war occurred, as the Delver Enclaves of Califax and Mendfirth, and the Imperial town of Bremen, were attacked and occupied by a coordinated force of goblins, bugbears, and hobgoblins. From these towns the invading forces began sacking and pillaging the many smaller towns and villages of the Principality of Harrian. The Winter Wolves, unprepared for the magnitude of the onslaught, were initially pushed back, eventually establishing a perimeter south of the Empire Road.
For another year Imperial forces would hold the Empire Road, occasionally managing to liberate a village occupied by the invading forces, until eventually, in late 1587, the Winter Wolves, bolstered by forces from Tor Huma and the Principality of Serryn, launched a concerted push north that would end, in early 1588, with a bloody battle on the outskirts of Bremen. As it looked like the Imperial Forces might lose the day, the united Delver armies from Safeholds Goldvein, Silverspit and the great Mithril Safehold entered Bremen from the north. A unit of Elven mages known as the Unyielding Company reinforced the Imperial forces to the south, and Gryffonry from Tor Sionis began to attack from above, combining to drive the goblinoid forces back to the mountain passes and warrens from whence they had come.
Thus began years of warfare across the mountain ranges, with Delvers fighting a Guerilla war against goblinoid invaders in the deep tunnels below Abrinden Rise, and Imperial and Elven forces fighting the goblinoid host back across the mountains. The war was fought to a standstill, but as news began to filter through to the Imperial forces of goblinoids beginning to organise into a coordinated force in the Wicked Vales, the Empire decided to push forward while they held the advantage. A plan was formulated - the Delvers would push forward through the warrens to attack from below, while Gryffonry would carry the best troops of the Winter Wolves over the mountain passes to attack from above, while the rest of the army summited the rise through the mountain passes before winter snows closed them completely.
Unfortunately, the weather conspired to bring ruin to the carefully laid plans. An unusually early and harsh winter in the late months of E.Y. 1597 made the mountains almost impassable; many of the Winter Wolves died in the passage to Kharrak Vale, and the remaining army arrived sapped and exhausted. Despite this, it appeared that the imperial forces might prevail against the goblinoids, until the dead of both sides began rising and pushing the Imperial forces back. The attack ended in a rout, and Prince Consort Altrecht, leading the Imperial forces, was slain in combat with a Hobgoblin wizard of great power.
In the aftermath of the Rout of Kharrak Vale, scouts began reporting word that a great Necromancer had arisen and was uniting the Vales to form a great army to march on the Empire.
Imperial forces again established a border across the foot of the Abrinden Rises, as imperial forces regularly clashed with Goblinoid soldiers and undead attempting to either cross the passes or the warrens beneath the mountain.
As clashes grew more violent, in the middle of 1600, imperial spies began to send word that the army massing in the Wicked Vales was preparing to march on the Empire while the weather was favourable. Imperial forces from Harrian were bolstered by new forces from the other Principalities as the Empire prepared for a preemptive strike.
A band of great and elite warriors were dispatched to invade the Wicked Vales by stealth to sow discord and destabilise the army prior to the Imperial attack. The Charge Through the Warrens ensued as the band were harried through the tunnels beneath Abrinden Rise. They emerged in the Wicked Vales and attempted to carry out their mission but were attacked and forced to retreat, the survivors being rescued by Imperial Gryffonry. The disruption appeared to delay the plans of the Necromancer, but spies reported that he would still march before winter snows began to fall.
Several months later the survivors of the first attack launched another covert mission; this time more successfully, the Hobgoblin generals being killed and the necromancer being greatly weakened in their attack. With the goblinoid armies being thrown into disarray, Imperial forces were able to launch their attack, led by the Blood Prince Stollar of Tor Harrian, breaking the back of the goblinoid armies and completing the pacification of the Abrinden Rise. In the final battle the Commander of the Unyielding Company fought the Necromancer, both being killed in the battle. The Pacification of Abrinden Rise ended in late 1600, as the goblinoid armies disbanded following the death of their generals and the Necromancer.
The Conflict
Prelude
The rise of a necromancer within the Wicked Vales.
Conflict Type
Military Campaign
Start Date
1586 TER
Ending Date
1600 TER
