Third War for the Frontier
The Third War for the Frontier is an ongoing military conflict between Holzreich and the Grand Duchy of Novaya.
Siege of Grunga (Summer 201 IE)
The Third War for the Frontier opened with The Siege of Grunga from the 2nd to the 8th of Rising Sun, 201 IE. Holzreich meticulously planned the assault, leveraging Dwarven expertise to dig tunnels beneath the city's western walls. On the morning of the 2nd of Rising Sun, approximately 10 tonnes of explosives were detonated beneath the walls, creating a massive breach. This allowed the Reichguard forces, led by their elite units, to storm the city. The initial assault was met with fierce resistance from Novayan defenders and civilian volunteers, who fought desperately to hold the line. Despite their efforts, the Reichguard overwhelmed the defenders, systematically clearing the city over six days of intense urban combat. The siege culminated in the capture of Grunga Castle after sustained artillery bombardment, with the surviving Novayan garrison surrendering. In the aftermath of the siege, the Reichguard executed many captured Novayan soldiers and began preparations for an advance deeper into Novayan territory.Guerilla Warfare in the Frontier
Following the fall of Grunga, the Reichguard initiated their push into the Novayan Frontier. However, the Grand Duchy of Novaya adapted quickly to the new phase of the war. The remaining Novayan forces, now vastly outnumbered and outgunned, resorted to guerrilla tactics to slow the Reichguard’s advance. Novayan skirmishers—primarily composed of Plainsfolk horsemen and irregular levies—executed hit-and-run attacks on the advancing Reichguard columns. These skirmishers targeted supply lines, ambushed small detachments, and employed knowledge of the local terrain to their advantage. They would strike swiftly, inflict casualties, and then melt away into the dense forests and rolling plains of the Frontier. This phase of the war proved costly for Holzreich. Despite their superior numbers and firepower, the Reichguard struggled to deal with the elusive Novayan forces. The logistical difficulties of maintaining a large army in hostile territory were compounded by the constant harassment from Novayan skirmishers, significantly slowing the Reichguard's progress. Heinrich Prager, the younger brother of Konig Albert Prager, visited the Frontier with the intent of winning the hearts and minds of its inhabitants and investigate avenues for a conditional ceasefire with territorial concessions from Novaya. However, Heinrich was assassinated during a visit to the renowned Stag Brewery by an unidentified sorcerer. Any hopes for a peace settlement were quickly dashed, with the Division of Internal Affairs advising the Holzreich leadership that it was likely the work of a Novayan agent.The Stalling of the Reichguard Advance
As the war dragged on, the onset of winter in late 201 IE posed further challenges for the Reichguard. The harsh Novayan winter was particularly unforgiving for the Holzen soldiers, many of whom were ill-prepared for the extreme conditions. Snowstorms and freezing temperatures made movement difficult, further hindering the Reichguard's advance. The Novayans, familiar with their homeland's climate, used the winter to their advantage. They intensified their guerrilla tactics, launching night raids and ambushes when the Reichguard was most vulnerable. The cold and the constant threat of attack wore down the Reichguard, sapping their morale and leading to increasing casualties from both combat and exposure. By early Spring of 201IE, the Reichguard's advance had effectively stalled. Supply shortages, combined with the relentless Novayan resistance, forced the Holzreich commanders to reconsider their strategy. The early gains by the Reichguard subsided as they were gradually bogged down in a war of attrition, unable to deliver the decisive blow they had hoped for. Additionally, Grand Duchess Tatyana Nosov commenced the raising of levies and gathering of plainsfolk cavalry in the eastern most regions of Novaya yet to be touched by the war. The Grand Duchess’s host grows by the day as it slowly meanders its way west towards the fighting. As a result of this however, the Duchy’s capital of Trigorod has been left precariously exposed with its defending forces consistently only of its usual garrison. Should the Reichguard achieve a tactical breakthrough and surge forward beyond the confines of the Frontier, the capital will rapidly find itself under threat.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
Rising Sun 201IE
Ending Date
Ongoing
Belligerents
Strength
45,000 Reichguard Troops
3000 Dwarven Mercenaries
40,000 Levies
Unknown Number of Plainsfolk Horsemen
Casualties
9500+
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