The Skirmish of Amstead

How many good soldiers have you lost, Amuk? How many lives have been wasted over this feud? Too many. Together, we already control this Abyssal Gate. Think of everything else we could accomplish should we join forces. After all, there are three more gates waiting for a leader to command them, and a world full of fools who are waiting to kneel.

— Queen Eril Ignacio

The Conflict

Prelude

Queen Eril sent a fleet of ships across the Amstead Sea to deter others from sailing to the Scar of Amstead. She sought the magical power seeping from the sealed Abyssal Gate for herself, to improve upon the abilities of the army at her command.
This was seen as an act of violence against the Dragon Isles to the east of the Amstead Sea, and so Emperor Amuk sent his own fleet to destory Eril's blockade.

Battlefield

For the first few years, all of their major skirmishes against each other happened across the Amstead Sea, mainly in the areas surrounding the Scar of Amstead.
Soon, their skirmishes escalated. What started out as ships warring against one another became ships disguised as traders, anchoring up at docks on either side of the war and setting the enemy ships alight before they even set sail. Eventually, troops were shipped across the Amstead sea and made land, outright attack outposts, villages, towns, even cities if the soldiers managed to get close enough. Most of these land battles were carried out on the Dragon Isles, for Queen Eril had the superior resources of a unified Aeris at the time, and her fleet was able to ward of more stray ships from the Dragon Isles whilst her foot soldiers could take out any stragglers.
This often left Emperor Amuk on the defensive, but playing the defensive was his advantage. His people knew the land and terrain better, and the outposts of the Dragon Isles had the means to defend from foot soldiers.

Outcome

The short term effects were seen in the four years after their call for an alliance. With the entirety of Aeris united, their military prowess was unimaginable and unmatched by any of the other continents. They spread out across Garlan¹, planning to claim each of the Abyssal Gates for themselves.
Their unity of an entire continent is the reason they ever got so close to claiming The Pilgrim's Rift and the Scar of Willowcreak. Varenfall, though it's military might was also a sight to behold, could not convince it's leaders to unite in the same way, so their tactical skirmishes against Eril and Amuk were not as effective as they could have been. Marithell, on the other hand, had an even smaller military force, one that even if their leadership could agree to use, they would fail against the might of Aeris' soldiers.

¹ See the Almost War.

Aftermath

When Eril and Amuk surrendered in 1208 AS, the world as everyone knew it changed. Those in power recognised what harm a united front could cause against the unsuspecting world, and so they devised the Azure Council and the Shields of Amarynth in order to ensure that an all out war never came this close to unfolding once more.
With the formation of the Azure Council came a number of peace treaties, each one tailored to fit the alliances between one continent and another, and even between the smaller kingdoms. Every member of the council had a say in the peace treaties, every action was voted upon before it was enforced.
Now, the Azure Council and it's Shields are seen as the overall judge and jury of the land. Where a kingdom or country cannot come to an agreement, or laws are not enforced, the council shall step in to ensure the proper processes are followed. And although the council is flawed, there has not been another world wide war since their implementation.

Start Date

1189

Ending Date

1204

Conflict Result

Alliance between Queen Eril and Emperor Amuk

Belligerents

Aerisyn Militia

The Dragon Isles

Strength

2,035,460

1,205,540

Casualties

78,050

59,180

Objectives

• Capture the Scar of Amstead
• Kill Emperor Amuk of the Dragon Isles
• Prevent soldiers of the Dragon Isles from reaching land owned by the Queen

• Capture the Scar of Amstead
• Defend the Dragon Isles from invading forces