The Third Crusade, "The Demon Wars"
Hell Hath Fury
The Conflict
Prelude
The Second Crusade was, for the most part, a massive success for the Church and Ashenfeld. Both enjoyed an age where the Church held unparalleled supremacy, and Ashenfeld entered a mini golden age of economic prosperity and civil unrest was practical a myth. However, none knew that dark forces worked under the noses of those faithful to the Light and the Flame. Many cultists secretly worshiping the Dark Gods of Hell would work with the Hell Tribes still alive to begin a dread spell. When the Black Moon was closest to the world, the cultists would enact a ritual that involved the mass suicide of 100 cultists. This ritual would open a large tear into reality that led directly into hell. With this, demons would pour through, being able to manifest in the world and begin their rampage.
Deployment
The forces of hell were less an organized force and more simply tidal waves of destruction. Meanwhile the forces of Ashenfeld were caught completely off guard, and for the first months of the war, no one knew what was happening or had an organized force. Finally when the Church of the Flame managed to get a small organized force and declare a defensive crusade, the forces of Ashenfeld and the Flame became unified.
Battlefield
The Kingdom of Ashenfeld
Conditions
Though Ashenfeld is of fair climate and terrain to wage war, the forces of hell corrupt the land they conquer, leading many parts of Ashenfeld to be confusing and nightmarish realms of madness and corruption. This coupled with the hellish forces killing every man, woman, and child in their way, led to this being a war to prevent total genocide for the Ashfeldians.
The Engagement
The first months of the war were pure chaos, as the demons ravaged the lands, killing and burning all before them. Entire villages simply vanished before they hit the large cities. This would lead into a general and widespread panic that swept the nation, and prevented effective means to organize a force against the hordes. This led to many military forces simply being cut off and forced to stand their ground against tidal waves of demons, cultists, and barbarians. However, Pope Isadore Landon (commonly know referred to as the Warrior Pope), managed to unite a sizeable force of church crusaders and Ashenfeld levy forces. He would manage to liberate the city of Coltherstone from siege, and using the legion stationed there, declare a defensive crusade to drive back the demonic invaders. This led to the force desperately fighting their way around the country to liberate and link up with the isolated pockets of resistance, while trying to fight back the demonic corruption. Eventually they managed to locate the source of the tear, that being within an isolated village Rimefield within Eastern Ashenfeld, and after an appallingly bloody battle, manage to seal the tear. This led to all demons being banished back to Hell, and the cultists and barbarians quickly became easy prey as they fled to the Forbidden Lands.
Outcome
Victory had been one, but the cost was said to be titanic. This war ended the small golden age Ashenfeld had been enjoying, and many years were required to completely remove the taint of hell corruption form the lands. The Church would step in to help with much of this, forever integrating itself almost directly with the leadership and king of Ashenfeld.
Aftermath
It is said this war and the soon to happen War of Green are what nearly broke the nation of Ashenfeld, and it would remained weakened for some time. Though some fighting did spill out into other nations borders, namely Vebastonne and Neundorf, most were simply small isolated pockets of demons and were swiftly crushed.
Historical Significance
Legacy
Pope Isadore would be forever remembered as one of the greatest Popes the Church of the Flame would ever have, and he also commissioned an entire wing of the Church to house the names of all those who gave their lives in the name of fighting the demons. It is maintained to this day. Pope Isadore would actually refuse his name being put on there or a statue being made of him, saying that "his actions are all that need be remembered".
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
1940
Ending Date
1941
Conflict Result
Ashenfeld Victory, though incredibly costly
Location
Belligerents
The Defenders of Light
The Despoiler Hordes of Hell
Strength
Said to be about 200,000
Countless demons and cultists and tribals
Casualties
Estimates around 130,000
civilian casualties never given a number
Unkown
Objectives
To beat back the demonic incursion, and defend their homeland.
To bring about ruin, death, and destruction to all the world
