War of the Three Emperors
"Brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, the realm was torn asunder. And so the fruit of Lothar's folly was the ruin of Holmgard."
Background
The War of the Three Emperors was the penultimate event that split the Holmgardian Empire into three feuding nations. By the late 6th century, the Empire had entered a steep decline. The Battlemage Revolt and the retreat of the dwarves had caused a precipitous loss of learning throughout the realm. The constant stream of war booty that had helped fuel the Empire's economy had become a trickle, as enemy nations were either too powerful or too distant to attack.
Lothar III, Emperor of Holmgard, knew that drastic measures needed to be taken. Believing the Empire too large to manage, he decided that his three sons would jointly administer the realm upon his death. But the terms of this arrangement were left unclear, and when Lothar became suddenly ill, his eldest son Rhuduar was away on campaign against the Sciaran elves. In a shocking decision, Lothar III bequeathed the wealthy heartlands of the Empire to his middle son Cardalos, rather than Rhuduar. Rhuduar, meanwhile, was given the militarized Western hinterlands and the Barrowmark. Finally, the youngest son Arthendain was given the elf-populated territory of Ostmark.
Naturally, this decision angered Rhuduar. As Lothar died, he swore vengeance on Cardalos, who he believed had stripped him of his birthright. With most of the Imperial Legion at his back, he marched towards Holmgard.
The War
Background
The War of the Three Emperors was the penultimate event that split the Holmgardian Empire into three feuding nations. By the late 6th century, the Empire had entered a steep decline. The Battlemage Revolt and the retreat of the dwarves had caused a precipitous loss of learning throughout the realm. The constant stream of war booty that had helped fuel the Empire's economy had become a trickle, as enemy nations were either too powerful or too distant to attack.
Lothar III, Emperor of Holmgard, knew that drastic measures needed to be taken. Believing the Empire too large to manage, he decided that his three sons would jointly administer the realm upon his death. But the terms of this arrangement were left unclear, and when Lothar became suddenly ill, his eldest son Rhuduar was away on campaign against the Sciaran elves. In a shocking decision, Lothar III bequeathed the wealthy heartlands of the Empire to his middle son Cardalos, rather than Rhuduar. Rhuduar, meanwhile, was given the militarized Western hinterlands and the Barrowmark. Finally, the youngest son Arthendain was given the elf-populated territory of Ostmark.
Naturally, this decision angered Rhuduar. As Lothar died, he swore vengeance on Cardalos, who he believed had stripped him of his birthright. With most of the Imperial Legion at his back, he marched towards Holmgard.
The War
The Battle of Isenach
Sigred peered over the round rim of his shield down a gentle but rocky slope. To either side stood his battle brothers, armed to the teeth with mail, blade and spear and bearing the sigil of Tyr. Beyond the slope lay rolling fields and a treeline about 200 feet away, and further yet, the gently shimmering lake, while to each side rose the great Irontooth mountain range.
From the heavens themselves, a bolt of lightning interrupted their prayers. A nearby cry, and another thunderous crack. And another. Sigred looked to each side; none of his comrades had been struck by the barrage. He smiled, knowing what was to come.
The response was devastating.
The treeline stirred for a brief moment, and was consumed by a conflagration. A chorus of screams echoed from the woods, and he saw them. Winged lancers, armour glinted in the sun, silhouetted by a growing firestorm borne of Valmeric spellcraft. Tyr's lightning may have been with them, but the loyalist army had allies.
They charged up the incline, some burning all the while. They too asking for Tyr's blessings, for an Emperor's protection, bearing the very same banner of the crowned wolf. All that marked them as the enemy was the black eagle of Rhuduar and their unnatural, winged appearance that the loyalist army had so learned to fear.
The shield wall braced for impact.
Conflict Type
War
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