Calabrantine Crusade

Throughout history, various crusades or holy wars, have been waged by the 'god-fearing, pious and righteous' against 'heretics, infidels, blasphemers' and the like. At the turn of the third millennium, a series of crusades were waged in response to the growing threat from the Ghouls. A devastating plague originating in the region of Panormus left millions dead and many more seeking refuge elsewhere. The large numbers of dead attracted ghouls from many miles away and their numbers soon became so large, that various warring states declared temporary truce so they could deal with this new threat.
There were some who saw the breakout of plague and the subsequent ghoulish threat as a sign that the gods were furious and so had punished the mortals of Panormus. Various militant religious orders and faith leaders called on their respective kingdoms to declare a holy war 'to destroy the undead abominations, punish the faithless and appease the gods'. Starting in 2165 CN and ending in 2558, a total of forty-six crusades were declared. The most notorious (though not the largest) of these was the Calabrantine Crusade.
Calabrantium was an affluent city-state on the south coast of Panormus. Many refugees had fled to this city in wake of the plague and its population had inflated to dangerous levels. Most were not allowed within the walls, especially the Alvamfac (Alvar) as they were accused by the Calabrantine government of starting the plague to wipe out men. The refugees instead decided to flee to the Alvar-controlled Free State of Nureen but as many were sick and exhausted, most did not make it.
The ghouls followed the trail of dead and dying Alvar all the way back to Calabrantium within a few weeks, a massive horde of them besieged the city. Fortunately, returning crusaders from a recent campaign were making their way home to Hebronia via the city's port. One soldier among them was sent to relay a message for reinforcements from the main army. The fifth crusade barely ended when the new one was declared and it took many months (and a lot of coin) to raise and muster new armies to check this rising threat.

The Conflict

Battlefield

Calabrantium initially, but soon spread to most of western Panormus.

Aftermath

Calabrantium destroyed, never to be rebuilt

ghoulish threat becomes greater than ever

Conflict Type

War

Start Date

2165

Ending Date

2173

Conflict Result

strategic failure for Crusaders

Location

Panormus