The Fifth Crusade, "The Winter Crusade"
The Conflict
Prelude
Few times in history has war been declared solely to kill one man. However such was the reason the Fifth Crusade was called. For a year, a dreaded Hell Sorcerer under the name of Auramon Gauntfeather, had been terrorizing the lands of Nilush, reducing whole villages to mutated arcane blasted ruins. His following was going bigger and bigger by the day, but no one could pin him down and find where he resided. However this would change one day as a strange man referring to themselves simply as "The Watcher in the Dark" would approach the then current Pope, Pope Maximus Montgomery, and show highly credible intelligence on where the fortress of Auramon lay, deep in the North Pole. Knowing that these attacks would only get worse, Pope Maximus called a lightning crusade to send a (relatively) small but mobile force of warriors to storm the fortress and put an end tp Auramon's reign of terror.
Deployment
The force was headed by one Lord Götz Von Balmer "The Iron Handed" (named so due to the advanced metal prosthetic hand he sported after losing said hand to a demon), who was a veteran Crusader Lord of his Order. Chosen for his veterancy and his unwavering faith, he made sure the forces under his command were properly vetted so as to lower the risk of total corruption when going to such a cursed realm. They would go to Northern Neundorf where they took boats to sail up across the Leanan Sea, past Iadith, and finally arriving at the North Pole. Being in the realm most occupied by Hell Tribes, Lord Götz made sure his men steeled their souls for the task to come.
Battlefield
The North Pole, under the shadow of the Northern World Spear
Conditions
It is said no words can describe how horrific the conditions were, for once the crusaders got close to the fortress they were taken to the realm within hell itself that housed the fortress. Many simply lost their minds just trying to march to the fortress, and the fact that little time for breaks were common amongst the march, led to many becoming tired and weary.
The Engagement
Much of the fighting early one was comparatively small, with scattered tribes causing local resistance to the Crusading Force. However the further they got into the land, the more organized the defneses became, with dread castles of Hell Knights and demons started to become common. However Lord Götz, was a highly skilled commander, and would help lead his forces through these terrible challenges. However the real difficult part was when they got within the edge of sight of the fortress of Auramon, for they walked into literal hell itself, as the fortress existed in a sort of pocket reality. The battles there were truly nightmarish, and not a word in any language can accurately convey the horror the crusaders went through. However, on they marched with the Flame's prayers on their lips. Reaching the fortress, the crusaders laid siege, and with a cleric and a local wizard from the Nulia Tribes, managed to breach the fortress gates and rush in. The fortress itself was a confusing magical maze of traps and other vile things, but eventually Lord Götz and his men would breach the inner sanctum and confront the great sorcerer lord Auramon. The battle was fierce, but would end as Lord Götz severed the head of the sorcerer. After his men collected the skull, Lord Götz was considered lost as he held back a tide of demons by himself to buy his men time as they escaped the crumbling fortress. Having completed their task, Lord Götz's second in command Sir Otto Lechner, helped lead the men back to the safety of Nilush.
Outcome
The victorious crusaders returned home with celebration from the people of Nilush, for Auramon's reign of terror over the people of Nilush was finally at an end. They would be celebrated as they rested for many days after the long time they had spent on marches.
Aftermath
This crusade managed to provide the church more understanding of how hell worked, and more effective means to combat demons and demonic incursions. Lord Götz, was honored with a great monument to him and his men, however some prophets speak that he is merely trapped in the Realms of Hell, fighting them to this day. Time in hell flows differently then the Mortal Realm, so it is entirely possibly he lives yet still, waiting to be freed form his infernal prison.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
2230
Ending Date
2233
Conflict Result
Crusader Victory, and an end to Auramon's reign of terror
Belligerents
Lord Götz's Crusader Force
Auramon's Dread Cabal
Strength
Around 32,000 Men
Estimated around 40,000
Casualties
High, about 23,000
Total
Objectives
To put an end to the Dread Sorcerer's vile raids and see his fortress put to the torch
To destroy the weak southlander forces and protect Auramon and his fortress
