The Great Pelagic War

Military action

The rapid expansion of the Cerulean Empire came to a head when the Antarian Federation pushed back and the Great Pelagic War began.   The war between the Elves and the Humans lasted for almost eighty years.

Imperial expansion in the early 5570s had begun to accelerate. At that time the Cerulean Empire controlled almost have the known lands.   Almost the entire western side of the continent from the edges of the Kaszur Jungle in the north-east, to the border of the Dukari Plains in the south flew the cerulean flag of Emperor Teraknian Jehen.   There had been resistance over the previous thirty or so years of expansion of course, but the well trained Imperial Navy and the Cerulean Army had made short work of any rebellion.   It was the campaign in the Hool Marshes where things began to turn. The Lizardfolk were canny survivors and fought a guerrilla war against the better equipped army, who could not be supported by the mighty navy in the swamp waters.   The Lizardfolk were eventually effectively subdued, and the armies moved east towards the Kaszur.   Having condemned the, as they saw it, brutal domination over the isolationist Lizardfolk the Antarian Federation decided enough was enough, and began to fight back.   The Elves were fewer in number, but the Alugach had the incredible Antarian Navy, the Drow made superb sappers and commandos, and the Grugach could fight guerrilla warfare even better than the Lizardfolk.   When the Eldgach began to get involved things started to take a turn for the worse for the Cerulean Army and their advance was halted.   Thus began the Great Pelagic War.   Over the next decades a slow, attritional war was fought on land. On the seas the Alugach quickly bettered the mighty Imperial Navy, forcing them back towards western waters and gaining control of Trent's Channel.   Eventually, after many bruising and infamous battles, the Cerulean Empire was beaten all the way back to Keymouth, the Imperial capital.

The ships of the Antarian Navy were inside the harbour of Keymouth, and the Drow and Eldgach were are the city gates. Defeat for the Empire and it's allies was assured.

And then, without warning or explanation, the assembled host of the Elves withdrew and sued for peace. The Great Pelagic War was over.

Though none on the Imperial side knew why the Antarian Federation had decided to withdraw, the strange change in fortunes was painted as an incredible victory for the brave troops and citizens of the Empire. To this day the war is still remembered as an unqualified triumph against cruel elvenkind, even though the truth is very different.