Wars of the Renewed Pact (so called, as Kiri were allies in centuries past) are seen a culmination of factors originating from the very first Heresy, and the split of the Orthodox temple. The Land-empire in the west began a concentrated effort to bring into heel the Mihurite, and conquer them. Mölqara was forced into a field of battle, as armies marched back and fro the Midlands. Mihurite lands in the west, and the North Sea saw very vicious fighting. Even the southern colonies saw intense combat, as empires sought to strangle their lines of commerce, land and sea both. Rick, cot and tree were scorched, cities brought to ruin, nations fell prey. Eventually the Land-Empire gained the initiative, and laid siege to the city of Cal Mihur.
However, the entire field was laid level by the enterance of the Coalition Horde, headed by the Duke of Harkgan at the behest of the King of Tergaled. These eastern warlords came to assume control of much which the Qaran Empire - so named, officially, whilst besieging the Mihurite capital - had before conquered. They, men like Tar-L'ostav, Tar-Lamkonn, Marshal of the Fringe Malmüth Arhukk, Yoniar the Striped Tiger and about two dozen others to have held independent command, had radical approaches to combat, and were utterly ravenous for land and an empire. Spake the Countess of Khaerlemmen, that these men were of the utmost ability and nothing more they desired than a kingdom of which to be king.
The Conflict
Prelude
For the Kiri, a century long stint of plague and continued isolation from the rest of the world saw the nation quickly fall into depression, economy and culture, all, yet extreme population boom in the 7-620s saw an immense spike in population. Jingoist elements in the society called for vengeance agains the Kingdoms of Tergaled, Rämenara as well as the Mihurite temple, for having watched an entire generation die and whither. Eventually, discussion for Tergaledian right to farm oysters near a Holy site lead to the killing of several officials on both sides, and a hasty neutralization of hostilities by several key figures. Lamkonn the Old, Thems'k Khórr as well as several Tergaledians, who saw war as pointelss for the matter. However, the fuse was lit. It was the Issqarans, the ones under whose watch the killings had happened invaded the Fringe, and sought to batter Tergaled into submission before they had the oppotunity to rally their Dukes and nobles. Thems'k Khórr, a hero of legend, so say many, lead a sizeable force to capture the Tergaledian West, particularly the Summer Palace of Giras Gurupan. They were given little support after their initial success, and were eventually forced to retreat as the now mobilized Tergaledians streamed into the Fringe as well as two other major routes into the Houselands--
The war was lost for the Houses, the Tripartite. A lord of the Issqarans, the son of Harkgan called Eregieth, was made Duke by the king, as he was strictly real politik-oriented, as well as critical of the Adherent, or the Mihurite temple. His majesty's trust was placed well, and the Issqaran economy flourished with few concessions towards the foreign religion. The Harkgan was seen a harmless, naive alcoholic, who had long passed his prime a soldier, and merely pushed quill day and night, in the hopes of pleasing his master. Little did the now very powerful Kingdom know, that in the shadows the Harkgan was making alliances to strengthen his position, and gather information. Very quickly, as the Duke was suffered to gain retainers and vassals, the Harkgan had gathered around him a considerable number of Kiri lords and ladies, and had them swear fealty to 'himself' and not the King. As the Issqaran homeland was home to an extremely important university, as well as a massive amount of raw materials to be used in war (such as natural gas to form gunpowder) the King of Tergaled did nothing but observe. Eventually, the Adherent came before the King and demanded the Harkgan to be exiled and his house dismantled for breaching agains the Book. The Harkgan along with his retainers demanded the delegation of Adherents to leave, as they were to be seen as commoners with a grievance, as the King did not recognize the concept of 'nobility by cloth'.
Years pass. Issqar is the strongest of the Duchies, and the Harkgan is deemed an enigma to all. The man to have switched sides, and then rebuild his country, having the King of Tergaled himself be wary of him-- He obeys, and pays taxes, and homage, yet for his oddly high position in succession to the throne, is feared by all other nobles, and hated by many. Assassins attempt his life, yet fail for his yet excellent martial ability. He is seen amongst the more cunning lords, and is dubbed the Fringian Hawkmoth after an insect with the perfect camouflage.
The Coalition Horde marched through the rugged terrain east of the City, with the Qaran army being uncertain if they were watching a Mihurite fragment and their pickets, or a foreign army-- in one less than two weeks, the entire army had crossed the Caradi-ara, as well as established communication with Mihurite stragglers, some of whom agreed to engage in guerilla warfare against the Qaran army.
Meanwhile, Tergaledian naval forces established a supply and communication chain from Cal Carad to Issqar, and prepared to move quickly-- what transports the army had available were used by the lord of L'ostav to capture any and all coastal forts, as well as camps seen to be safe in the West-Caradian coastline. By the time these small-scale, yet critical battles were fought, the main force had cut off the entire Caradian coast. L'ostav accepted the surrender of Lord Moroc Ruhaziz upon the Qaran general realizing he had no way of contacting the Qaran fleet in anchor at Cal Mihur in time-- This set the stage for Qaran defeat.
The Coalition proper had marched virtually unopposed all the way to Cal Mihur, having been defeated and occupied after a brutal assault, and the Harkganite Kiri were now universally known to be at war with the Qaran Empire.
Battlefield in general was around the City of Cal Mihur, especially the fairly open fields north of the City, as well as some engagements fought in the Caradian coast. All in all, open ground, with low hills and rather few properly prepared field works.
No sea battles were fought, indeed the Tergaledian navy, known to fight in low, light and shallow crafts, ran aground with the Tide, and camouflaged ships that way to evade the Qarans, who apparently never even spotted the main transport fleet!
Weather during the week-long main campaign was sunny, with light rain in the Mihurite Late Spring. Harkgan would remark later, that the excellent Mihurite roads both won him battles, as well as allowed the Qaran army to retreat, costing him in the long run. Supplies, reinforcements and messages were moved with startling alacrity, with the Coalition command being surprised of just how good the infrastructure in the Caradian coast, as well as heartland Mihur was. Continuous streams of orders helped the Coalition to make good of their wins, yet much of advantage of speed bestowed by the roads was on Qaran side.
The three major battles were quite lopsided, and Qaran forces were virtually shot down before they were able to bring their mass to bear, as the tactics, weaponry and aggression - training, mentality - of the Coalition was by far a century ahead their competition. Finally, the L'ostavian army to march from the Caradite coast with 21 000 men as well as some 11 000 auxiliaries from Mihurite lords, outflanked and confused the Qaran army, whose II, IV and VII corps were stripped of their artillery, as well as most of their baggage due to a daring flank march by L'ostav. This oepened the door for Harkgan to link up with L'ostav, and bring equal numbers to bear in the third battle, that of Mangyn. His message to Kuqtharag were simple:
'As you have deemed retreat non-viable, I deem your desire to do battle to stem from yon peace being intolerable to your Imperial Grace.' - Lord Harkgan, Raventop Eregieth
His battle orders were simple, and terrifying.
'Erase the enemy masses.'
In one week, the Kirian army overwhelmed the heavily armed and armored Qaran army. Three major battles saw more dead than had been recorded during the previous twelve. Qaran army left in the Mihurite countryside with little supplies, many units cut-off command, with the Southern Winter approaching--
Lord of Harkgan deemed by many to be incarnate to the God of War and Deception, Axay-araz, and certainly inspired by him. The figure of an obscure, grey cloak-clad figure carrying a scythe was said to have been seen in the woods in the Southern part of yon battle-- some said this was the god choosing the Kiri side.
The King of Tergaled was now less than equal to the Coalition Command in power, and went on to hastily consider ways to remove the Lord of Harkgan somehow--
Historical Significance
The role of the Harkgan, or merely Harkgan (the title was deemed smaller than the man, thus, his name) was considered to be massive by contemporaries, yet later historians disputed this. His ability to delegate and prepare were seen the major factors in victory, and not the inspired leadership of an incarnate. Harkgan would later be deemed a great reformer of land and politics, as he and his ministers sketched a set of laws to serve during wartime, which made sure the gained lands remained in *Issqaran* control, and not Tergaledian.
Heavy armor in combat was finally abandoned. Qaran forces began arming in half-plate, and utilizing pikes to counter the Raq'huemean chargers. Artillery reform for Qara; extended retraining of all officers; increased meritocracy; officer class in Fertile Qara deemed land-owners, and thus gained Gilded Council (á la upper house) franchise (important!). Sarlükkan rebellion intensified; Mölqaran nationalism; proliferation of the Adherent faith, as well as legalisation of many secular theories and innovations in former Mihurite lands under Harkgan.
Some military effects would be felt for nearly a century.
Most libraries in any university possess contemporary items of Harkganite edicts, propaganda, or newspapers. Everything from novellas to caricatures were scribbled, cans of coffee carrying the Seal of Harkgan, decorative swords in the likeness of his famous symbol of office... Mangyn became a verb, as well as an expression to victory by more advanced methods or technology.
Literature abounds of the Wars, and most if it is utter poppy-cock.
Culture overall was changed much by the Harkganite era, as well as the books written before, during and after the war, many of which denounced the moderate nature of the Adherent, whence it came to battle. Chivalric codes of honour and the doctrine of killing being below a noble knight - a warrior, soldier - were utterly dismissed by the Kiri. The original treatise of Harkgan 'Strategy of the Victorious' went on to sell as much as it caused controversy-- the book was banned by hundreds of nobles, some of the bans being lifted only after being absorbed by the Issqaran state.
There are disagreements on extremely basic matters Harkganite, such as if the Duke was truly drunk during the Seven Days Battle, or if this was a cunning stratagem to create hestiation in his noble enemies-- Was the moniker Axay-araz shared by many contemporaries, and if they truly believed they were marching with the God of War?
"History is nothing but a fable agreed upon."
The Harkganite Wars saw an extremely rapid rate of technological advancement. In twenty years, the time to venture from Issqara (7-640 -> 7-660) to Cal Mihur was cut from roughly 10 days, to less than one. Railways were being theorized even in the 7-500s, yet the need to connect the entire Empire proved the tipping point.
Grey-powder (the gunpowder used by Temesans, or Harkganite soldiers) became a highly sought after commodity, highly protected whence it came to trade, and very expensive to buy - works were built all over Issqar to produce weaponry to utilize the gunpowder, as well as the powder itself. Qaran chemistry and engineering started to advance rapidly.
Issqar and Tergaled were deemed by later historians to have begun lasting industrialization by one year after the 1st War of the Coalition Horde.
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